MUNICIPAL BAND OPENS SUMMER SEASON

The Jackson Municipal Band has opened another summer concert season at the band shell in city park.

Thursday's 8 p.m. concert at the park band shell will feature Coyote Creek, a bluegrass musical group.

The band had its beginnings in 1920 when the Jackson Chamber of Commerce asked A.W. Roloff to start a band.

The band practiced in Roloff's woodworking shop, using sawhorses for benches until the citizens of Jackson passed a band tax, and the gazebo on the courthouse lawn was completed in 1932.

The gazebo served as a stage for the group until July 1976 when the park band shell was dedicated. The band has had eight conductors in its lifetime: Roloff, Leroy Mason, Ed Carson, Richard Partridge, Linton Luetje, Alan Roland, Jim Rhodes and Nick Leist, who is completing his 34th summer.

Band officers are David Thompson, president; Steve Meier, vice president; and Patricia Schwent, secretary/treasurer. Board members include Mike Grebing, Kenny Fluegge and John Thompson.

Special guest for the opening concert June 7 was vocalist Casie Janet, the daughter of Chris and Jill Janet of Cape Girardeau.

Janet, a sophomore at Notre Dame Regional High School, is an honor student and a member of the National Honor Society, plays piano and participates in school and community activities.

She has participated in the renowned Notre Dame Musical the past three years and has been a contestant in the Jackson Homecomers talent contest, where she has won her division several times. She has appeared with Mike Dumey and Robin Hosp on several of their dinner theater productions and recently won first place in the Gaither Southern Gospel Competition. She will use her free recording prize to cut her new CD. Her program will include country, some oldies and some contemporary hits.

Thursday's 8 p.m. concert at the park band shell will feature Coyote Creek, a bluegrass musical group.