GOOD HOPE CARNIVAL SHOWS POTENTIAL FOR GOOD HOPES

Good Hope Street in Cape Girardeau has taken a lot of lumps in recent years. But there are indications that the fortunes of the once-busy commercial street may be changing.

There are plenty of area residents who remember when Good Hope was lined with busy and prosperous retail and service establishments. That was when the downtown area and several blocks of Broadway were the shopping centers of the town. But changes came -- changes similar to those in hundreds of other communities that developed indoor shopping centers and catered to the habits and preferences of shoppers dependent on automobiles.

When those changes occurred, established shopping areas faded. New retail districts sprang up, usually along major thoroughfares or, with the advent of superhighways, along interstates.

One by one, Good Hope's businesses closed their doors. What commercial activity is left more than overshadowed by vacant storefronts or empty lots.

Along the way, Good Hope became known not for shopping, but for less desirable activities. As a result, the police department focused on Good Hope as a target for community policing. A substation was opened there to provide a police presence and to establish better relations with neighborhood residents.

Even so, Good Hope's tarnished reputation proved hard to shine up. Too many things kept happening that added to the declining reputation of a once-proud street.

But last weekend something happened that indicated a potential shift in Good Hope's future.

A minister from Scott City, Talmus McAlister, and the owner of a bar on Good Hope, Richard Pryor, put together an event that was positive and fun.

It isn't always easy for ministers to imitate the example of Jesus, who scandalized the religious leaders of his time by reaching out to lepers, prostitutes and, yes, even tax collectors. McAlister is keenly aware that some members of his own flock question his involvement. And Michael Pryor, who owns the Taste Restaurant and Lounge, probably doesn't get offers for a neighborhood party from ministers every day of the week.

But together, McAlister and Pryor put together a carnival that attracted several hundred participants. The day of fun and games involved several off-duty police officers. And when the day was over, there was a pretty good feeling about Good Hope and its people.

There is much to be said for folks who look for common bonds instead of differences.

While the Good Hope carnival didn't resolve all the problems, it showed the neighborhood and the rest of the community that good things can happen there. More events like this could go a long way to change Good Hope Street in ways that government officials could never hope to achieve.

Hats off to McAlister and Pryor for their efforts.