DOWNTOWN MERCHANTS SPONSOR AUCTION

The Downtown Merchants Association invites the public to its annual fundraiser auction Saturday night.

The auction will be held at the River City Yacht Club in the downtown Port Girardeau restaurant. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the auction starting at 8. A silent auction of several items will continue throughout the evening.

This marks the seventh year for the event, which enables downtown to continues its restoration projects such as the clock, benches, and brick crosswalks.

Donations come from merchants all over the city and are auctioned through the donated services of Chugs Auction Service.

Highlighting the auction will be: tickets to the Cubs-Cardinals kickoff game, a monopoly board game table, a get-away package to Las Vegas, full length mink coat, an antique hand-stitched quilt, and a night's stay at two of the local bed and breakfasts.

The paddlewheeler era will come alive in the gardenia scented them of Showboat '94. Water Street Six will provide a Dixieland Jazz background for the screening of the movie "Showboat." The $10 per person admission includes the hors d'oeuvres buffet. A cash bar will also be available.

For further information, contact Evelyn Boardman at 335-4026 or 334-5723.