Outdoor show visits this weekend

Kathy Nicholas said she was not sure how many years she has been helping her husband, Steve, put together the Sports Show that will take place this weekend at the Show Me Center.

But she knows the weather usually isn't as nice as it has been this week.

"I'm glad it's not going to snow," she said. "Every year, we're marking the floor and it seems like it's raining, sleeting or snowing." The Nicholases started promoting the show when Steve Nicholas was employed by a company that produced it, Kathy Nicholas said. They took over the production efforts and have spent time trying to make it bigger and better.

About 50 vendors will be in the Show Me Center this year for the event, which begins today and ends Sunday. The event features typical items for outdoors recreation: boats, campers, jet-skis, fishing tackle and resort information.

Kathy Nicholas said there will be some new items this year, including horse trailers and western wear.

Another new item will be a mechanical bull, Thunderstruck.

The event attempts to cater to families with items for the kitchen and the lawn. For children, a nine-hole miniature golf course will be constructed in the Show Me Center, face-painting will be offered, and a large trout tank stocked for fishing.

Returning to the event for a third-year is crappie fisherman Burt Bennett of Malden. Bennett, coming off a victory in Florida last weekend on the Crappie USA tour, will offer seminars on Saturday and Sunday.

"I try to cover every type of crappie fishing situation you'd be in," Bennett said. "How to find them, what lures and jigs to use."