THOUGH NOT YET OFFICIAL, FAIR EXPECTS FIRST LADY

Pete Poe thinks this week's SEMO District Fair has one attraction that's hard to top an expected visit Wednesday afternoon from First Lady Barbara Bush.

"This will be a first," said Poe, president of the fair board. Poe said Saturday this will mark the first time in the history of the fair that the wife of a sitting president has visited the annual event.

He said the first lady is tentatively scheduled to arrive at the Cape Girardeau airport at 2 p.m. and at the fairgrounds at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. The first lady is expected to visit the fair for about two hours, Poe said.

But Lloyd Smith, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson, said Saturday night that the congressman's office has yet to receive final confirmation as to the Bush visit.

Smith said final confirmation may not occur until Monday and the time of Wednesday's expected visit could change.

Secret Service and campaign staff members are scheduled to arrive in Cape Girardeau this afternoon to make preparations for the visit, said Poe.

Smith said advance teams are also looking at other sites as possible campaign stops. At this point, he said, it's not 100 percent certain which sites will be visited.

But Poe feels confident Bush will visit the fair. "Right now, it's anticipated she will be in the `R&R' tent for a while, and I am reasonably sure she will stop at the Republican Party tent," said Poe.

Bush, who is stumping for the president, is also expected to visit some of the agricultural exhibit areas at the fair.

Poe acknowledged that the first lady's visit will mean increased traffic. "We will be utilizing all of our parking areas."

Traditionally, Wednesday is the day that special activities are held at the fair for senior citizens.

"We think she will play well to that crowd," said Poe.

Normally, he said, Wednesday's fair attendance is around 10,000 or 11,000. But Bush's visit could double fair attendance, Poe said.

While carnival rides and some concession stands opened Saturday, today marks the start of the fair with a horse show at 1 p.m. in the grandstand. The fairgrounds open at 11 a.m.

There's no admission charge today. But there is a $2 parking fee, Poe said.

Farrow Amusement Co. will offer Sneak-A-Peak, where fairgoers can pay $10 and ride any and all of the carnival rides from 2-6 p.m. today.

There are a number of new attractions at the 137th district fair, including the Big Bull Chute-Out at the grandstand Wednesday night.

Poe said he expects the bull-riding event to be a crowd pleaser. "That's the most popular rodeo event."

The Midway will feature a new attraction, Blood River, described as a "dark, spook-house" ride.

An eight-camel hitch will also be a new feature at this year's fair. "It's the only one of its kind in the country," said Poe.

The fair will have all the traditional culinary delights, from funnel cakes to corn dogs, as well as a new food item turkey legs.

Poe said the fair association for the first time is selling T-shirts that carry a colorful logo, advertising the fair.

It features "Seymour the mule" and carries the words: "One Cool Mule, 137th Annual SEMO District Fair." Poe said the shirts are selling well.