COMMUNITIES PLAN TO CELEBRATE AMERICA'S INDEPENDENCE DAY

The Jackson Jaycee July 4 celebration, the Oran Knights of Columbus July 4 Picnic and a stop at Cape Girardeau by the Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen steamboats on Sunday will highlight a variety of holiday weekend activities.

The Cape Girardeau Joint Veterans Council will sponsor a July 4 fireworks display on Monday night.

Randy Sander of the Jackson Jaycees said there are several new attractions at this year's July 4 celebration. "In addition to our other events," Sander said, "we'll have magic shows, Indian dancers and a craft fair."

Sander added the activities will begin at 6:30 a.m., Monday, with registration for the July Fourth Fun Run/Walk, at the swimming pool parking lot. The Fun Run/Walk, which is sponsored by the Drug Awareness Council, will begin at 8 a.m.

At 8 a.m., the day-long Mud Volleyball Tournament gets under way in the two mud volleyball pits that have been constructed east of the tennis courts.

From 8-12 noon, registration will be held for the Jaycee Capital Bank Car Show. More than 200 cars are expected for the show. Best of Show Awards will be presented at 4 p.m.

The craft fair will begin at 9 a.m.

At 11 a.m., the Jaycee-Epsilon Preceptor Tau Dunking Stand will open.

From 1-3 p.m., members of the Therapeutic Horsemanship group in Jackson will provide horse rides.

Thirty-minute magic shows will be presented at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4:30 p.m.

The Kids Games get under way at 3 p.m., on the soccer field. Later, the Adult Games will be held on the soccer field.

At 4:00 p.m., the Cape County Young Farmers will sponsor the Kiddie Tractor Pull on the tennis courts, followed at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. by the Ha-Ha-Ka Sa-Pa Indian Dance Team.

The Jaycee July 4 Cow Drop Bingo begins at 5 p.m. At 5:30 p.m., the drawing will be held for the Wal Mart Shopping Spree.

The Jackson Municipal Band will present a program of July 4 music at the municipal band shell, beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The celebration will conclude at 9 p.m. with a $3,500 fireworks display.

The Oran July Fourth Picnic has been a tradition in north Scott County for many years. The picnic is sponsored by the Oran Knights of Columbus Council 4311, and held on the Knights grounds, at the northeast edge of Oran, along Highway 77.

Knights spokesman Terry Seyer said the picnic will feature the traditional family style dinner, served from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., and from 4-7 p.m.

Seyer said, "The price is still $5 for all you can eat, children 6-12 are $2.50, and kids under six eat free."

He added that this year's Oran picnic will have a new attraction: Western Wagon Rides and pony rides, from noon-6 p.m.

The annual horseshoe tournament begins at 1 p.m. Entry fee is $5, and registration begins at noon.

During the afternoon, there will be games for kids and adults, including the bowling game, skeet ball, putt putt golf, a fish pond and miniature train rides.

Charlies Music Review will provide the music for dancing from 8 p.m. to midnight.

The fireworks display will begin at 10:30 p.m.

The Cape Girardeau Joint Veterans Council's third annual community fireworks display will begin at 9:15 p.m., in Arena Park. Council spokesman Pete Poe said, "The fireworks will be set off in front of the grandstand area. The best vantage points will be out and away from the grandstand. Spectators should bring along lawn chairs and blankets so they can enjoy this year's display."

Poe said the display is sponsored by the council and contributions by local merchants and businesses.

The Mississippi Queen and Delta Queen steamboats are scheduled to arrive at the Cape Girardeau waterfront on Sunday at 10 a.m.; they will leave at 3 p.m.

The Queens are racing each other up the Mississippi River in their annual re-creation of the 1870 Great Steamboat Race from New Orleans and St. Louis.

When the boats dock at Cape Girardeau, the Water Street Six and the CVB Paddle Wheelers will be on hand to greet the passengers as they disembark for tours of the city and other special activities.

Mary Miller, director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, said "Cap'n Foghorn's Floating Follies" talent show will be held at the gazebo in Courthouse Park.

Miller said, "The two steamboats have been having competition for the talent show on their way up to Cape Girardeau. The finals will be held on Sunday at the Courthouse Park gazebo.

"We'll have a warm-up piano player, and an ensemble from one of the boats is also scheduled to perform before the talent show begins at 10:30 a.m.

Miller said Dr. M.C. Kasten will serve as the celebrity judge. She said, "Those planning to attend the talent show should bring lawn chairs or blankets."

The Capaha Antique Car Club will display their vintage automobiles on Water Street, while the steamboats are docked here.

In addition, steamboat souvenirs will be on sale from both steamboats at the water front. Prior to their departure at 3 p.m., the steamboats will present a concert of calliope music.

Free parking will be available at Boatmen's Bank, at North Main and Broadway, and at Capital Bank, in the 300 block of Broadway.

Other July Fourth holiday weekend attractions in the region include: the East Prairie July Fourth and Sweetcorn Festival, July 1-4; the Riverfront Festival, July 4, 3-9 p.m., on the Mississippi River levee at New Madrid; and the Kid's Fishing Derby and fireworks display at the recreational complex on North Ingram Road, in Sikeston.