SUNNY START FOR RIVERFEST

Following a stormy Thursday night, blue skies reappeared over Cape Girardeau Friday as Riverfest '95 got off to a sunny start.

Although a crowd count was not available Friday, the crowd started braving the 95-degree weather for the festival's 3 p.m. opening. Ten degrees cooler and three hours later, downtown streets of Cape Girardeau started filling up, and when the vintage rock group Rare Earth got into its act, the streets and Common Pleas Courthouse lawn and steps were full.

"I'm real pleased with the crowd," said Tom Ross, president of the Riverfest Board of Directors. "It's difficult to estimate the crowd size at a free-admission event, but a lot of people are coming downtown to relax and enjoy themselves."

The events for youngsters were really well attended Friday, said Ross. Activities for children continue today, highlighted by the annual turtle races and best-dressed turtle contest.

Other events today include the Civil War Encampment and working crafts in Courthouse Park, bicycle stunt demonstrations and strolling entertainment throughout the day, main-stage entertainment by Joy Lynn White at 7:15 p.m., Daron Norwood at 9 p.m., and more.

One of the highlight events this afternoon include the Bud Light Air Show over downtown Cape Girardeau at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Shuttle buses run from West park Mall and the Show Me Center on Southeast Missouri State University campus from 9 a.m. to midnight.

The aerobatic air show caught Riverfest visitors' attentions Friday as veteran pilot Leo Loudenslager went through 20 minutes of paces ranging from dives to flips and turns.

On hand to watch the show was Bob Skiles of the St. Louis Federal Aviation Administration. Greg Chenoweth, Cape Girardeau Regional Airport manager, was master of ceremonies for the aerial show.

"Leo puts on one of the best aerobatic air shows in the world," said Skiles.

Little wonder -- Leo Loudenslager is a world champion aerobatic pilot.

"I've been doing this since I was 19 years old," said Loudenslager after the show. "I became interested in trick flying by watching Bob Hoover, an earlier world champion air show pilot."

Loudenslager built his own plane -- the Budlight 200 -- which is powered by a special 220-horsepower, Lycoming engine equipped with a special oil system to fly upside down.

Loudenslager is retired from competition, but the world champion and seven-time national champion has flown competition in Czechoslovakia, Russia, Austria, and the United States.

"I do about 20 shows a year," he said.

Meanwhile on top of the hill in Courthouse Park, Riverfest visitors can meet with Civil War re-enactors.

Gary Gilbert of Cape Girardeau and a sergeant in the Holmes Brigade, a Missouri Union Volunteer Regiment, is one of the coordinators of the Civil War Encampment, which includes portions of three outfits.

Nelson Berbling of Sikeston, formerly of Cairo, Ill., is commander of the 8th Illinois Volunteer Infantry outfit camped at the park. Others include Commander Walt Yancey and the Big River Volunteers of Fredericktown and Gene "Cannonball" Cameron of Effingham, Ill., commander of the 39th Tennessee Light Artillery Unit of Tennessee.

The Civil War camp starts stirring about 8 a.m. Among events of the day will be a flag-raising at 10 a.m., firing demonstrations at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., with a cannon firing at 5:30 p.m. Camp skits will be presented at 2 p.m.

A number of working craftsmen are also in Courthouse Park. And, in the downtown area, a number of arts and crafts booths are open.