SIX WIN CHANCE AT MIDSOUTH FAIR

JACKSON -- Justin Johnson and Laura Beth Whittington had sung a nice duet on "It's Your Love" and Alisha Walther soulfully belted out the gospel tune "Pray My Way Out," but Casie Janet appeared to have first place in the Jackson Homecomers Talent Contest won Thursday night.

Tiny Casie's brawny voice and assured stage presence had captivated the audience surrounding the stage with the familiar melody to "My Heart Will Go On" from the movie "Titanic." Then Brooke Burrows walked on in a sparkly dress and electrified everyone with a soaring, Brenda Lee-inflected version of "Unchained Melody."

Casie was one of the first to congratulate Brooke on her performance.

The Pocahontas 15-year-old was awarded first place by the judges and won a spot in the talent show at the upcoming MidSouth Fair in Memphis.

Casie, an eighth-grader at St. Vincent de Paul School in Cape Girardeau, finished second. Walther was third and Johnson and Whittington took fourth place.

None of them should be disheartened. The talent scout from the MidSouth Fair was so impressed with the performers she invited all of them to compete at the fair along with non-placers Dana Heberlie of Ste. Genevieve and Carissa Selvidge and Lindsay Haas, a dance duo from Poplar Bluff.

Walther is 19 and from Jackson. Johnson of Benton and Whittington of Charleston are both 17.

They competed with seven other acts in the 13- to 21-year-old category.

In the 6- to 12-year-old contest, 11-year-olds Jacie Hartle and Lacey Hays of Jackson were spiffily dressed in short tuxes and danced enthusiastically to the smartly choreographed "Go Daddy O" to take first place.

Second place went to Molly Fowler and Ginny Hawn, both 12 of Chaffee, who offered a game of vocal one-upmanship in the familiar tune "Anything You Can Do."

Lacey Hayes was recognized again with a third-place finish for her vocal solo, "Swing Time."

Fourth went to 11-year-old Ashlee Harris of Desloge, who did a dance solo called "Step By Step."

Thursday night's finals were a culmination of a talent contest that drew 78 entries.

Homecomers continues tonight with the Miss Homecomers contest beginning at 7 o'clock, followed by music from the Passive Link Band at 9.

The celebration concludes Saturday with a performance by Robyn Hosp and Company at 7 p.m., followed by the featured act, Two for the Show, at 9.