Entertainers, changes announced at meeting

SIKESTON - There will be more to look forward to than top-notch country music entertainers, the Sikeston Jaycees told the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce.

The 2003 Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo will bring back some of rodeo fans' favorites and are making some changes designed to improve the event, said Rob Clay, rodeo general chairman, to a packed house at Thursday's monthly SACC meeting.

Scheduled for Aug. 6 through 9, this year's rodeo will begin at 7 p.m. The half-hour earlier start should bring the rodeo activities to an end a little earlier, said Clay.

While this year's rodeo will not include bull fighting, it will include some of the top animals on the rodeo circuit with Dell Hall to again provide the stock for the event. Also returning will be Randy Smutz, who serves as the announcer for the rodeo events.

Rick Young will be back for his 44th Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo as the clown. "Rick has been to more rodeos than our Jaycees are old," observed Clay.

Emphasizing the rodeo is an event for everyone, Clay said the rodeo parade is scheduled for Aug. 2 with events planned with families in mind. Following the parade, the Jaycees will again host a variety of activities, such as a petting zoo and educational booths, for children and their parents at the rodeo grounds.

This year's entertainers are Brad Paisley, Aug. 6; Trick Pony, Aug. 7; Chris Cagle, Aug. 8; and Chris LeDoux, Aug. 9.

Local rodeo fans have the opportunity to buy their tickets today and Saturday at the Rodeo box office. Tickets, which are $14 for bleacher seats and $21 for box seats, will be sold from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday with a $1 from each ticket to be donated to the St. Jude telethon. The ticket office will then be closed until late May.

A ticket order form is available at the Jaycee Rodeo Web site: www.sikestonrodeo.com.

In other news, Missy Marshall, SACC executive director, noted the Chamber's Web site, sikeston.net, is now receiving 47,000 hits per month. "People do look to us for what is going on in Sikeston," said Marshall.

The site includes a list of upcoming activities and Marshall encouraged local groups to add their events to the listing.

Upcoming activities include:

* Monday will be the MAP Test Awareness kickoff with the Chamber members scheduled to greet students in the Sikeston and Scott County Central school districts. Volunteers are still needed, Marshall said, and should contact the Chamber office.

* The Chamber Awards Banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m. April 10 at the Field House. Tickets are available by calling the Chamber office.

* The April Chamber luncheon will be April 24 at the Wesley United Methodist Church.