TEENIE COLLECTORS GO INTERNATIONAL; MCDONALD'S NEW COLLECTION OF INTERNATIONAL BEARS ADDS TWIST TO BEANIE BABY CRAZE

Ty Beanie Babies mimic the animal kingdom. Beanie Babies styles range from anteaters to zebras -- and most everything in between.

But year after year, the most sought-after styles are the sit-up bears.

Enter McDonald's. The restaurants will offer four teenie International Bears, beginning Friday.

The local McDonald's stores are in Week Two of the third annual Beanie Baby promotion. The frenzy was less this year -- partly because of the increased quantity of Teenie Beanies. But the demand throughout the two weeks has been steady.

"The sales have been way better than last year," said Shannon Davis, supervisor of McDonald's stores in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Sikeston and Charleston. "But instead of hitting all at once, it's been a two-week wave. It's been more manageable. It wasn't the realm of insanity we had last year. No one has been staking out the stores."

But that may all change Friday with the introduction of International Bears. They're teenie sized versions of some of the most popular Beanie Babies ever.

The bears will also benefit a good cause. McDonald's and Ty have committed to contributing at least $4 million to Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Britannia and Glory will be introduced Friday. Erin and Maple will follow Wednesday, June 9. Each day, both bears will be available for sale at the same time.

The bears will be sold separately -- $2.49 with each food purchase. There is a limit of 10 bears per customer.

The bears are packaged in a bubble container that colorfully displays the country they represent.

The full-sized Beanie Britannia is available only in Britain; Maple in Canada. Both are hard-to-find and expensive, running in the hundreds of dollars. A reproduction of their country's flag is sewn on their chests.

Red, white and blue Glory represents the United States; Erin proudly wears the shamrock for Ireland. Both were available in the U.S., but are retired.

The bears won't be available with Happy Meals. Davis said they are hoping to get a new shipment of the earlier teenie styles in so that the promotion can continue through next week.

"This is the first time we've done bears," said Davis. "People are saying they'll be there bright and early Friday."

The quantity of bears is a little more limited than the beanies, which could also spur the frenzy.

"They could really go quick," said Davis. "Their packaging in a plastic bubble makes them very appealing to collectors. We might be besieged."

AND THE WINNERS ARE...

Congratulations to these winners of the Southeast Missourian Teenie Beanie Drawing Contest. Each will receive a set of 12 Teenie Beanie Babies. Entries will be displayed at area McDonald's.

Ages 4, 5, 6:

Erika Medlin, Scott City; Mary Beth Vollink, Cape Girardeau

Ages 7, 8, 9:

Jason Green, Whitewater; Rachel Diederich, Jackson

Ages 10, 11, 12:

Kate Caughlan, Cape Girardeau; Stacey Thompson, Gordonville