BOATS BRING THOUSANDS TO CITY

Time was when the cry of "steamboat a'comin'" created excitement. All up and down the river, townsfolk grabbed their hats, bonnets and little ones and hurried down to the river to wave at the passing boat.

Things haven't changed that much.

When the lilting tunes of the calliope sounds these days in downtown Cape Girardeau, townspeople still turn out in large numbers to watch the big paddlewheelers churn to a stop and drop the drawbridge.

It has been a frequent occurrence here the past week.

All three steamboats of the Delta Queen Steamboat Co. -- Delta Queen, the Mississippi Queen and the American Queen -- have docked here since July 3. And the Mississippi Queen will stop here at 8 a.m. today and again Saturday morning.

When Mary Miller estimated recently that more than 400,000 people would visit Cape Girardeau to participate in conventions and meetings in 1996, she wasn't counting the riverboat visitors.

"This is a big plus," said Miller, director of the city's Convention and Visitors Bureau. "The steamboats will be making a total of 17 stops in the city this summer."

Counting crew, it means as many as 12,000 to 14,000 visitors will arrive at the riverfront this year.

"We look forward to having the boats here," said Dan Elkins of Hecht's Store in downtown Cape Girardeau and president of the Downtown Merchants Association. "Every time a boat docks the downtown area becomes busy. We've had great traffic during the past week."

Evelyn Boardman agreed. "We've certainly been busy at the antique store downtown," said Boardman, who owns The Stalls Antique and Collectibles. "We've had great traffic."

A new business in downtown Cape Girardeau, In the Wine Cellar, also reported increased traffic during the past week.

Conventions, meetings, special events and riverboats play a big role in bringing people to Cape Girardeau, said Miller. "And three of the larger conventions are scheduled this month."

Miller was referring to the Missouri Rural Letter Carriers convention to be held this week, the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary conventions July 18-21; and the Missouri Department of Conservation Forestry Division conference July 26-28.

The Balloon & Arts Festival '96 will be held July 26-28 at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport.

The letter carriers meeting, which is expected to attract as many as 300 people, will start activities today with registration at the Holiday Inn Holidome from 1 to 3 p.m., said Pat Wells, a member of the group.

The Missouri Rural Letter Carriers Association Auxiliary will hold its state convention simultaneously with the letter carriers.

An early bird tour starting at 3:30 p.m. today will take participants to the Sikeston Factory Outlet Mall, with entertainment, special drawings and shopping specials, and dinner at Lambert's Restaurant.

A highlight of the conference includes an address Friday by Scottie B. Hicks, National Rural Letter Carriers Association president. Also appearing at the conference will be Linda Wise, National Auxiliary Executive Committee chairman.

As many as 1,000 visitors may attend the Legion and Legion auxiliary meetings the following week. "We expect as many as 500 for each of the meetings," said Miller. More than 300 are expected for the Department of Conservation Forestry meeting and as many as 4,000 to 5,000 spectators may turn out for the balloon festival.