HOLIDAY LIGHTS CONTEST IN EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- Home and business owners will be lighting up for the holiday season in the village of East Cape Girardeau.

East Cape Girardeau has been beautifully decorated for the Christmas holidays during the past few years, said Carolyn Thomas, village clerk. A year ago, the village conducted its first annual Christmas decorating contest.

Judging for the 1999 contest will be conducted Dec. 9, between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m."Residents are urged to have their outdoor lights on during this two-hour period," said Thomas. Cash prizes will be awarded following the judging."There are no entry forms," said Thomas. "We just ask that people decorate and keep their lights on during the judging."People from the area are invited to drive through and observe the Christmas decorations, said Thomas."The contest was really popular with the residents last year," said Thomas. "The village was decorated beautifully, and judges had a difficult decision selecting the top three."