Painting raises money for bridge lighting

What could be better than a new, wider, earthquake-proof bridge over the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau?

The same bridge, plus attractive lighting to make it stand out as a nighttime landmark.

That's why some Cape Girardeau residents are taking the lead to ensure that the new Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge shines brightly at night when it opens -- in late 2003, according to the current estimate.

Lighting the bridge will cost $432,880, but a federal grant will provide all but $122,000 of that amount.

Cape Girardeau lawyer John Layton and Dr. Nelson Ringer have been working on the lighting project for quite some time through the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and deserve the community's thanks for their progress.

The latest effort is the sale of "Eastern Access," prints of a painting depicting the new bridge in a view from the eastern banks of the Mississippi River.

Over 100 of the 375 limited-edition prints have been sold at $200 each. The painting was done by Perryville artist Eric Bryant and commissioned by Cape Girardeau advertising executive Jim Riley.

The community can show their support for this effort to light the way for visitors to our city by purchasing one of the prints.