SCHOOLS OUT EARLY FRIDAY

Cape Girardeau schools will dismiss early Friday to allow buses on the streets before traffic is halted for the presidential visit.

"It's for transportation and safety more than anything else," said Dr. Dan Tallent, school superintendent.

President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore will stop Friday on a campaign visit to Cape Girardeau. The president is expected to speak at 1:30 p.m. at Capaha Park.

Central Junior High and Central Senior High School students will be dismissed between 11:15 and 11:25 a.m. Elementary students will be dismissed at noon following lunch.

Buses could get stuck in traffic jams if the schools followed a normal schedule Friday. Closing some streets means more congestion on others, Tallent said.

Students normally are dismissed between 2:40 and 3 p.m. But several city streets will be closed to traffic around Capaha Park at that time.

Parts of Broadway from Perry Avenue to West End Boulevard, North West End Boulevard from Broadway to Normal Street, and Parkview from North West End Boulevard to Perry Avenue will be closed.

Because of the president's visit, the Class of 1986 reunion at Capaha Park will not begin until 6:30 p.m. The class will meet at Peppy's at 9 p.m. after the picnic.