CAPE GIRARDEAU WILL UNVEIL NEW CITY FLAGS ON JULY 8

Samantha Roussel designed the winning children's flag entry. The children's flag will be flown ad "kid-friendly" sites throughout the city.

Cape Girardeau's new city flag will be officially unveiled in a special ceremony July 8.

Vision 2000 and the Class of 2000, the sponsors of the flag contest will recognize winning flag designer Jim Parker in a ceremony during a special intermission of the Municipal Band Concert at Capaha Park.

The concert begins at 8 p.m.

Parker, the founding curator of the University Museum at Southeast Missouri State University, is a well-known Cape Girardeau artist.

Samantha Roussel, who designed the winning children's flag entry will also be honored.

Roussel, the daughter of Bill and Sue Roussel, is a student at Clippard Elementary School.

Both artists used well-known symbols of Cape Girardeau in their flag designs.

Parker used the Common Pleas Courthouse and roses. Roussel used the Mississippi River, Cape Rock and, of course, roses.

The city flag will be flown at City Hall and other sites around Cape Girardeau. The children's flag will be displayed at "kid-friendly" sites around the city.

Flags will be available for purchase during a special reception after the concert.

Costs will be $5 for pennants, $50 for 2x3 flags, and $75 for 4x6 flags.

Sponsors are also being sought for the flags. Groups or individuals may make donations of $50, $100 or $250 to help underwrite the cost of manufacturing the flags.

Several sponsors have already signed up, said contest organizer Melvin Gateley.

Sponsors of the contest, judges and contest participants will be recognized for their role in the contest.

More than 200 ballots were cast to pick the winners of the contest. The project grew out of a suggestion by a group of students at Southeast Missouri State University as a way to help celebrate the city's bicentennial.

Cape Girardeau is the home of the woman who designed the Missouri state flag, Marie Elizabeth Watkins Oliver.