RIVERFEST EVENTS SET; RUNNERS, CRAFTERS WANTED

Crafters and runners are invited to participate in Cape Girardeau's annual Riverfest, June 7-8.

Arts and crafts vendors from several states will be selling items ranging from handmade dolls to artwork suitable for framing. The items will be displayed along Main Street in downtown Cape Girardeau.

Tom and Nancy Ross, who are co-chairmen of the Riverfest Arts and Crafts committee, say other items for sale will include handcrafted pottery, rugs, jewelry, wreaths, baskets, clothing and handmade furniture.

For information about renting space during Riverfest, artists and crafts people may call the Rosses at 335-7955.

Area runners, whether recreational or competitive, are invited to enter the 9th Annual Kohlfeld Riverfest Run to be held June 7. The run will start at 7:30 p.m. at Broadway and Main Streets.

The 5.25-mile run has attracted a growing number of runners each year and it has now become one of the most popular running events in Southeast Missouri, said Joy Gilbert of the Cape Girardeau Road Runners. Gilbert serves as race coordinator.

Gold watches, donated by Kohlfeld Distributing, will be awarded to the top male and female finishers in the race.

A one-mile fitness walk and fun run, a non-competitive event, will begin at the same time and place as the longer run. Youngsters through senior citizens can walk or jog the course on Main Street and receive Riverfest Run ribbons at the finish line.

"With 50 trophies to be awarded in the male and female age divisions, many runners have an opportunity to earn awards," said Gilbert. "But the challenge and enjoyment of participating in this popular Riverfest event, rather than the awards, has become more of a motivation over the years for Cape-area runners and joggers."

Race participants will receive Riverfest Run T-shirts along with refreshments courtesy of Pepsi, Gatorade and Kohlfeld Distributing. Entry fee is $4 for registrations received by June 4 and $6 for entries received after that date.

Race entry forms are available through the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School, the Cape Girardeau Recreation Department, Universal Physique, the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and at Cape Girardeau sports specialty stores.

Interested persons may also contact Gilbert at 335-3617.

Corporate sponsors for Riverfest '91 include Southwestern Bell Telephone, St. Francis Medical Center, Savings of America and Fox-23 KBSI-TV.