A weekend for Cape to remember

Glistening hogs. Flying volleyballs. Football fever. Ferris wheels and neon lights. Mini-monsoons. Flashing lightning. Bright sun and powder blue skies. You name it. Cape Girardeau had it this weekend. The town was abuzz with activity.

On Friday night Harley-Davidson riders from throughout the state -- and beyond -- converged on Cape while Central High School football players battled valiantly against a quick New Madrid squad. Stadium lights sent a signal into the cool night air that Houck Stadium was one place to be, while the cars packing the Show Me Center parking lot testified to the excitement of competitive volleyball. Across town, the movie theaters and restaurants served large crowds. And downtown, local rock and acoustic bands cut loose with interpretations of familiar standards. A waitress at Outback Steak House celebrated the arrival of leather-clad Harley riders with the announcement to a friend: "I made five times my normal tips tonight."

It was fun to see the "gangs" of riders on the streets of town, cresting a hill with headlamps blazing, waving back at well-wishers, and seemingly having a great time all the time, even in the rain. On Saturday morning I drove by Houchins Donut Shop and Sands Pancake House. Both restaurants were ringed by bikes, leaning against each other, chrome glistening from the sun and rain. The more I drove around, the more exciting it was to see. No question: This group brought an economic injection into the community.

I ran into Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce president John Mehner, and he made an insightful point that the Harley riders were identifiable (by their bikes and leather garb), thus allowing the public to follow their activity more closely than other conventioneers visiting town. His point underlined how important such conventions are to our local economy, as well as is the importance of the hotel and motel infrastructure developed here by enterprising folks like the Drury brothers.

On Saturday the annual SEMO District Fair began with horse shows, country music, beauty pageants and midway rides, and more cars pulled into town. The mall and Wal-Mart and all of West Cape were awash in traffic while downtown the antique shops and restaurants met visitors and shoppers with cheerful smiles and pleasant service.

For me the highlight of the day, besides the awe of seeing so many Harleys topped by interestingly shaped riders, was the record-breaking Southeast Indian football game, where a red-shirt freshman and his swift receiving corps shredded rival Carbondale's defense like never seen before in this town. Second-year football coach Tim Billings must have given one heck of a motivational speech at halftime.

About the same time Southeast quarterback Jeromy McDowell was zinging passes left and right and deep, the Harley riders, many with flags flying proudly behind, formed a procession down Broadway to a Main Street party that rivaled the busiest of Riverfests in days gone by. Downtown, which has become a music draw at night with the live bands that play in the many clubs, showed its hospitality with melody, flowing drink and endless laughter while powerful engines revved in the background. All traffic had been closed in Old Town, unless you drove a Harley.

Then came the deluge, ending a raucous night with cleansing water and a driving, wet drum roll.

As the sun rose on Sunday with raindrops still in the air, bikers sought out warm breakfasts before joining new friends at the multipurpose Osage Centre (where joggers and walkers dotted the hiking-biking trail that snakes through the neighboring field). Churchgoers flocked to chapel and then to lunch. Professional football kicked off the season with an overtime St. Louis Rams win. And local golfers battled on the links while the Otahkian soccer team stayed undefeated four games into the year.

We live in special times in a special place, awash in colors, sounds, aromas and tastes. How peculiar is this creation of God's, how diverse and wonderful! Without the hard work of a lot of people, however, from fair boards to city council members, university officials, policemen, private businesses, chamber organizations, coaches, parents and volunteers, none of the activity would have been possible. To these people, the rest of us owe a thank you -- and a congratulations.

Jon K. Rust is co-president of Rust Communications.