March 6, 2020

Chili Making: behind the scenes at the 36th annual Chili Day

Early Wednesday morning, members of the Cape Noon Optimist Club started making the title fare for the club’s 36th annual Chili Day on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.

Cape Noon Optimist Club president Virgil Jones of Cape Girardeau opens a can of diced tomatoes while sharing a moment with fellow members Frank Glueck of New Hamburg, Missouri, (middle) and Dave Johnson of Cape Girardeau (right) while making chili before the club's 36th annual Chili Day on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.

Larry Essner of Cape Girardeau speaks of the phone as he and Bob Williamson, originally of the Ferguson/Florissant, Missouri, area and now Cape Girardeau, make peanut butter sandwiches before the Cape Noon Optimist Club's 36th annual Chili Day on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.

Cape Noon Optimist Club member Billy Humphries of Cape Girardeau serves customers during the club's 36th annual Chili Day on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.

Doug Lester of Cape Girardeau works with peppers while getting chili ready with other members of the Cape Noon Optimist Club before the club's 36th annual Chili Day on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.

Cape Noon Optimist Club member Frank Glueck of New Hamburg, Missouri, laughs while preparing peppers with fellow member Doug Lester of Cape Girardeau (in foreground) while getting ingredients ready for chili before the club's 36th annual Chili Day on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau. 

Frank Glueck of New Hamburg, Missouri, adds beans to chile being made next to Jim Main of Cape Girardeau before the Cape Noon Optimist Club's 36th annual Chili Day on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.

Jim Main of Cape Girardeau mixes chili as it is prepared before the Cape Noon Optimist Club's 36th annual Chili Day on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.

Cape Noon Optimist Club president Virgil Jones, left, and fellow member Jim Main, both of Cape Girardeau, work with peppers while making chili before the club's 36th annual Chili Day on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.

After announcing "The donuts are here," Skip Heisserer of Cape Girardeau holds up a donut as Pat McCann of Cape Girardeau laughs while getting ready for the Cape Noon Optimist Club's 36th annual Chili Day on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.

Jim Main of Cape Girardeau mixes chili as it is prepared before the Cape Noon Optimist Club's 36th annual Chili Day on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.

Kevin Denton of Jackson, in red, moves around the kitchen with other members of the Cape Noon Optimist Club while making chili before the club's 36th annual Chili Day on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.

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Early Wednesday morning, members of the Cape Noon Optimist Club started making the title fare for the club’s 36th annual Chili Day on Wednesday, March 4, 2020, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.

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