STREET WORK WON'T STOP FAIR PARADE

What would the SEMO District Fair be without its annual parade?

Despite major street construction along much of Broadway, parade chairman Norm Robert said fair-goers won't have to find out, because the fair parade will be rerouted so that it may be held on Sept. 11 as planned.

"We've got to have the parade. It's such a big part of the fair," said Robert. "We never considered canceling it. We were just trying to find a different route that would be acceptable to the people and the police."

The parade has long been considered the kickoff for the nearly weeklong fair. In the past, it has always started at Capaha Park and traveled west on Broadway to Arena Park. However, the city began major construction to widen and make other improvements to Broadway over the summer that interrupted the route.

"We were hoping Broadway might be open, but they're not going to be finished" with the section between West End Boulevard and Caruthers, said Robert.

This year's parade will begin at 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, on the lot of Grace United Methodist Church at the corner of Broadway and Caruthers. The parade will travel south on Caruthers to Independence, turn west and continue to Broadview, then travel north on Broadview to the fairgrounds.

Cape Girardeau police Cpl. Kevin Eudy said the new route is the same one normally used to lead demolition derby drivers into the fairgrounds. Derby drivers will now enter the fairgrounds from Kingshighway, which might become somewhat confusing, but the plan is the best of several routes considered, he said.

"There have been several different routes discussed by the fair board, police department, city engineering and people that would be affected," said Eudy. "With this route now, we'll have to move our traffic direction around a little on how we detour people, but I think this would be the most promising one that's been proposed."

Robert said there is only about one-tenths of a mile difference between the former route and the new route.

About 15 bands are expected to march in the event along with the usual array of farm machinery, animals, politicians and other parade fare.

"It's going to be great," Robert said. "This is always the big kickoff that gets people ready for the SEMO District Fair."