VOTING SET FOR FLAG CONTEST

Cape Girardeau residents can start casting their votes for the winner of the city flag contest Tuesday.

A panel of five judges is working to narrow the entries received to five semi-finalists for the official city flag contest, said Melvin Gateley, one of the contest coordinators.

The flag committee received a total of 12 submissions, including nine for the official city flag and three for the children's flag, which will be flown at local schools and other "kid-friendly" sites.

"The number wasn't large, but we're still very happy, because we got some good quality work and everything's going to work out fine," Gateley said.

The panel of judges includes two art teachers, a historian and two "at-large" members, he said.

The semi-finalist entries will be displayed at the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

Residents can begin voting Tuesday from 11:30 to 1 p.m., Thursday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Voting will continue on March 17 and 24 from 11:30 to 1; March 19 and 26 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.; and March 21 and 28 from 9:30 to 11 a.m.

"We urge all residents to show their community pride by coming out and helping to select a flag for the city of Cape Girardeau by casting their vote," Gateley said.

Contest organizers hope the city's first-ever flag will be unveiled by June 10.

"We're tickled to death with the entries," Gateley said. "We're going to get a super flag that will represent the city really well."

Designs were to be based on Cape Girardeau's history and community spirit.

Vision 2000 and the Class of 2000 are sponsoring the city flag contest.

The idea originated in 1992 when a group of writing students suggested to Vision 2000's Bicentennial Committee that a city flag be made up.

Cape Girardeau is the home of the designer of the Missouri state flag, Marie Elizabeth Watkins Oliver.