SPOTLIGHT TONIGHT ON STAGE FOR NISWONGER

Mike Dumey couldn't think of a more worthwhile way to donate his time and musical talent than the June 25 benefit dinner and variety show for Cape police officer Dan Niswonger.

"You would be hard pressed to find anybody in Cape Girardeau that Dan Niswonger hasn't done something nice for," said Dumey, who will team up with Cheryl Fortner, Robyn Hosp, Vickie Long and Brett Yount to form the group Spotlight Tonight for the Saturday night gig.

All proceeds for the event will help Niswonger defray hospital costs incurred from the motorcycle accident that led to the amputation of his leg. The benefit dinner/variety show will take place at the Holiday Inn Convention Center. The dinner will begin at 6 p.m. and will be followed by a silent auction at approximately 7:15. The show will begin around 8:15 or 8:30.

Tickets for the show cost $10. Tickets for the dinner and show are $20. "If you just want to see the show, you can do that. Or if you want to participate in the silent auction and take in the show you can do that," said Dumey. "My advice would be to do the whole thing and have a great time for a great cause.

"Everybody involved is donating their time, food or facility to help the Niswonger family out," said Dumey. "The Drury's have been generous enough to let us use the Holiday Inn Convention Center and everybody we approached just seemed so anxious to help out."

Dumey and company has developed a reputation for putting together a rib-tickling, toe-tapping entertainment package that appealed to audiences from all walks of life. But then the band drifted away from the local scene, playing mostly conventions and out-of-town functions.

"Spotlight Tonight got started around here in 1982 and has played at Port Cape Girardeau and other places," said Dumey. "But then about three years ago we slowed it down to have children, build our homes and do what you do when you get to a certain phase in your life. I guess I couldn't think of a better way for us to get back in front of the general public than a cause like this."

Fortner plays keyboards and sings. Brett Yount is keyboardist and handles the sequence of songs. "Cheryl, who is very talented has the whole two-hour show on a napkin," said Dumey. "Brett is gifted enough to be able to do about 90 percent of the sequence of songs before we even take the stage. He affords us a big-band sound for a small payroll." Vickie Long and Robyn Hosp work with Dumey as singers and comedians.

Dumey knew he had finally arrived as an entertainer when someone gave him more credit than he deserved. "A guy at the mall stopped me and said he caught Ray Stevens on the Nashville network singing my Mississippi Squirrel song," said Dumey. "That's when you know you've made it."