ARTifacts 5/17/13

Fort D Memorial Day weekend activities set

Fort D will be brought to life during the Memorial Day Weekend Timeline, May 25-27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Civil War re-enactors will honor those who died in military service. They also will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Cape Girardeau with a re-enactment of the attack on the town and Fort D by Confederate troops at 2 p.m. May 25. The weekend's activities will include infantry drills and firings, artillery drills and firings and open sutler's tents for purchasing goods. Civil War, French and Indian and American Indian camp life will be on display all three days. The SEMO World War II Military Vehicle Group will be on site as well. All events scheduled are weather permitting, and the entire weekend is free and open to the public.

Mark Twain appears at Cape library

Enjoy an evening with Samuel Clemens, played by Dave Ehlert, of Branson, Mo., as he presents Mark Twain's "Life Story" wound around all his famous quotes, with a strong emphasis on the importance of literacy. The event will take be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 31 in the Hirsch Rooms at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. The event is free and open to ages 9 years old through adult, and will kick off the Summer Reading Club. Ehlert's appearance is sponsored by the Friends of the Cape Girardeau Public Library Foundation.

-- From staff reports