SAFELY CELEBRATING THE NEW YEAR

In 1910, Joe Klobe of Crosstown and a group of young Perry County men were stopping at farmhouses to fire off New Year's Eve salutes when Klobe's shotgun exploded. He lost a hand.

Similar celebratory misfortunes befell Jesse Willa of Jackson in 1915, Norman Littje of Altenburg in 1933, and Chalmer Trapp of Old Appleton in 1942, Southeast Missourian files disclose.

Shooting firearms on New Year's Eve was an old rural custom that generally has been supplanted by other means of merrymaking. The few fireworks complaints that come in easily outnumber the rare reports of gunfire on New Year's Eve, Cape Girardeau police say.

Discharging firearms or igniting fireworks is against the law in the Cape Girardeau city limits.

In the last half of the 20th century, the drunk driver has posed the primary danger on New Year's Eve. Statewide, the numbers of fatalities on the New Year's holiday haven't changed dramatically despite increased public information about the dangers of drinking and driving.

From 1991 through 1996, 54 people were killed on Missouri highways during the New Year's holiday period. During a similar period in the mid-1970s, when attitudes toward drunk driving were more tolerant, the number killed was 52.

An exception occurred last year, when only two people were killed on Missouri highways during a mid-week holiday period of 30 hours. That was much shorter than the usual 78-hour holiday period.

The dangerous combination remains drinking, speed and inattention, Missouri Highway Patrol statistics reveal. Last year, 52.4 percent of the fatal and personal injury accidents occurring on the New Year's holiday were due to inattention, 34.1 percent were caused by speed and 21.3 percent were due to drinking.

Cape Girardeau police will have extra officers working, including some assigned specifically to DWI enforcement. They find they are arresting fewer and fewer people for DWI during the holiday.

"DWI arrests have been down the last few years," said Lt. Dennis Dolan of the Cape Girardeau Police Department. "It's probably because of the publicity.

"People are expecting more enforcement that night and they're getting it."

Here is how some people in the region will spend their New Year's Eve:

-- The Lake Girardeau Assembly of God will sponsor the church's second annual New Year's Eve Celebration Singing from 9 p.m.-midnight Wednesday. Those who want to sing are asked to contact Bob Collier at 243-6451 or Pastor Bowser at 243-3398.

The church's invitation says, "Bring Jesus, and we'll supply the rest."

-- Laughter is in store at the Holiday Inn, where a Comedy Clubhouse package also covers deejay music and a champagne toast. Another package includes the comedy performance, a prime rib buffet and a room for the night.

The comedians are Steve Baird and Bubba Sonders, whose credits include appearances on HBO, Showtime and the Comedy Channel.

Reservations are required for both packages.

-- At the Drury Lodge, the package includes a room, party snacks, beverages and music by the venerable Cape Girardeau rock 'n' roll band, The Runaways.

-- The St. Louis Iron Mountain & Southern Railway will present a New Year's Eve Murder Mystery beginning at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Reservations are required.

-- The bands Papa Aborigine and Month of Sundays will play at the River City Yacht Club beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Hors d'oeuvres are included in the cover charge. No reservations are being taken.

-- Sharky's in downtown Cape Girardeau is hosting the rock band Turner-Up for a modest cover.

-- At Jeremiah's, A champagne toast will be served at midnight. Club Jeremiah's will be open from 9:30 p.m. on. Vinny, one of St. Louis' top deejays, will play the tunes. The club has no cover until 10 p.m.

-- Those in a black-tie mood for New Year's Eve can attend the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra's annual holiday concert Wednesday night. The orchestra will play excerpts from Puccini's "La Boheme" and Verdi's "La Traviata" as well as Johann Strauss' overture to "Die Fledermaus."

Champagne and pastries will be served during an extended intermission. A black-tie-optional gala will be held afterward at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

-- KRCU 90.9 FM will air a special program from 7-8 p.m. Wednesday by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. The orchestra will play Johann Strauss' "Egyptian March" and "Tales from the Vienna Woods," as well as Joseph Strauss' "Music of the Spheres."