REGION PLANS ACTIVITIES FOR JULY 4TH

Independence Day activities will unofficially commence this weekend with the Scott City Mid-Summer Festival and the Cairo, Ill. Riverboat Day.

But most celebrations in the area will be held on the traditional July 4 holiday. Area holiday events include:

Cape Girardeau

West Park Mall will host special activities July 1-4 in celebration of this year's Fourth of July.

The 135th Engineering Group and the 1140th Group Missouri Army National Guard will display military equipment, high mobility vehicles, a new communication system, weapons, uniforms, and a 1932 Chrysler general staff car at the mall during the four days.

Also, the weekly Municipal Band concert will feature patriotic music July 3 in honor of Desert Storm veterans and those of other U.S. conflicts.

Narvol Randol Jr., a member of the band, said: "We want to get as many Desert Storm people there as possible. Basically, they will all be invited to be our special guests and will be recognized as a group, along with all the veterans, whether they served in Vietnam, Korea or Desert Storm."

Randol said color guards from the various branches of the military also will participate in the concert and there will be a small fireworks display.

"It will be a good show," he added. "The special emphasis will be on honoring our service people."

Scott City

The 15th annual Scott City Mid-Summer Festival will be this weekend at the Scott City Park.

The festivities kick off Friday with a parade from the parking lot of the IGA store to the park. Other activities Friday include a 7 p.m. euchre tournament, the Miss Summer Teen contest and music by TUFA.

An open horseshoe pitching tournament will be held Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. Other activities Saturday include the Little Mr. and Miss contest at 6 p.m., the Puttin' on the Hits contest at 7 p.m. and music by Decade from 8 p.m. to midnight.

There also will be a fireworks display at 10 p.m.

Perryville

Perryville will conduct a Freedom Festival July 4, featuring a parade and patriotic ceremony.

Susan Yamnitz, a member of the Freedom Festival Committee, said the parade will start at 4 p.m., and will go around the city square and conclude in the park, where several state and local dignitaries will speak.

Booths with food and other items will be set up at the park and a sound system will provide entertainment.

Yamnitz said free hot dogs will be available and a community band concert will be held at 7:30 p.m., followed by a fireworks display.

"It usually lasts about an hour, but this year's is supposed to be the biggest display yet," she added.

Marble Hill

In Bollinger County, residents can enjoy Marble Hill's fireworks display.

Joe Russell of the Bollinger County Activities Council said the show will last 30 to 45 minutes and will include about 100 mortars and "a couple special effects."

The fireworks display will begin shortly after dusk July 4 at the Marble Hill ball park. It's the fourth consecutive year the city has had the fireworks display.

If the event it is rained out, the fireworks will be launched July 6. Donations for the fireworks will be accepted, but the event is free to the public.

Cairo, Ill.

Cairo's second annual Riverboat Days will be held June 29-30, followed by a special one-day celebration of "Queens" July 2.

Plans for the two-day event this weekend include a quilt show, art show, queen pageant, antiques and collectible show, and a one-day Magnolia Festival to be held on the grounds of Magnolia Manor June 30.

The July 2 activities will feature competition between the crews of the Mississippi Queen and the Delta Queen steamboats, which will dock at Cairo during the annual New Orleans to St. Louis "Race of the Queens."

A variation of music will be played during the two days, ranging from big band to rock. A round-robin softball tournament is also planned at the park.

An interdenominational church service will be held Sunday morning at 7 at the First Southern Baptist Church, situated across the street at the south end of the park.

The Cairo Historical Association will hold its annual Magnolia Festival June 30, in conjunction with the Riverboat Days. The festival will start at 11 a.m. on the grounds of the historic Magnolia Manor, which once hosted visits of President Ulysses S. Grant. A barbecue luncheon will be held at the historic house.

Dexter

The second annual Dexter Celebrate the 4th will be held at the East City Park from 8 a.m. to midnight.

Sports events will be held throughout the day including a 4K run at 8 a.m.; a volleyball tournament and tennis tournament at 9 a.m.; a slow-pitch softball tournament at 10 a.m., horseshoe tournament at 1 p.m.; and water events at the Dexter Municipal Pool.

There also will be a baby contest, an all-you-can-eat barbecue chicken dinner, live entertainment from 1 p.m. to midnight, carnival games, bingo, and children's pet contests.

A fireworks display after dusk will round out the day's activities.

Other events for the holiday include:

East Prairie

Sweet corn harvest and July 4th celebration. Events include a street dance, parade, pageants, carnival and fireworks in downtown East Prairie.

New Madrid

Riverfront Festival July 4 at Riverfront Park. This event includes food, entertainment and a fireworks show over the Mississippi River.

Caruthersville

July 4 fireworks display.

Paducah, Ky. A June 29 parade and reception in honor of Desert Storm troops. Parade will begin at 1 p.m. at the corner of Broadway and 2nd Streets. Also, a community concert and fireworks display will be held July 4 in Paducah.