PICNICS, FEW ACCIDENTS MAKE HOLIDAY PLEASANT

People who showed up late to the Labor Day festival in Olive Branch, Ill., went home hungry because the barbecue sold out early.

"I can't remember when we had a bigger crowd," said Jean Roberts, secretary for the Horseshoe Lake Chamber of Commerce. "This is the first year we sold out of everything. I guess we will have to buy more food next year."

The good weather and the community atmosphere of the annual festival brought out more than 500 people Monday. The event is the Horseshoe Lake Chamber of Commerce's main fund raiser, which helps pay the expenses for operating the community center.

Each year the picnic brings in about $3,000 for the chamber. People in the community pay to use the building, but not all of the rental fees cover the maintenance expenses.

"A lot of people use it," said Louis Maze, a member of the Horseshoe Lake Chamber of Commerce, "but in the winter, there are sometimes more bills than what we bring in."

This year, the chamber added a pavilion next to the center and hope to use some of the money to add a concrete floor.

"We just got the roof put in on the pavilion Saturday," Maze said.

The gravel floor did not stop people from using the new pavilion as they ate barbecue, funnel cakes, ice cream and hot dogs, and patronized local businesses with stands set up selling their wares.

People could buy homemade jams and Halloween ornaments from local craftsmen.

Bob and Barbara Hase, of Anna, operated a T-shirt and homemade basket stand with Bob's brother Harold and his wife, Wanda, of Dongola. They travel to about five festivals each fall. The picnic in Olive Branch is close to home and one they enjoy attending.

"Ever since it started, we have been here," Bob Hase said. "It is a good time. The barbecue is great."

While the weather brought out the crowds to area festivals, it also could have been the reason there were only three traffic accidents with injuries in the area.

Missouri Highway Patrol spokesman John Beaton said, "There was a lot of traffic, but not a whole lot going on."

Statewide, nine people died on Missouri roads during the weekend. David Moore, 31, of Dexter was killed after his car while driving on U.S. Highway 60 north outer road Saturday morning. His car went off the roadway near Dexter, overturned, throwing Moore out of the car.

Last year, 13 people were killed on Missouri roads, with 14 percent of all fatal accidents involving alcohol.

In Cape Girardeau, police Cpl. Rick Price said there were no significant traffic problems.

"It has been pretty calm," he said. "Sunday night, we did have an unusual number of domestic problems, but everyone seems to be going home tonight."

There were at least two major instances of domestic disputes that resulted in five arrests Sunday night.