FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ANNUAL EARTH DAY FESTIVAL TO BE HELD APRIL 20

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., April 12, 2002 - The Preserving Our Planet Society of Southeast Missouri State University announces the annual celebration of Earth Day.

The Earth Day Festival is free and open to the public. It will take place on April 20 from 1 to 9 p.m. on the University Terraces at the corner of Pacific and Normal streets in Cape Girardeau.

"This is the fourth year we have held the Earth Day Festival, and we expect attendance to be over 1,000," said Amy Drewing, president of Preserving Our Planet.

Festival activities will include live entertainment throughout the day from Bob Camp, Bluesman Don Haupt, Colorwill and the St. Louis band Sweet Devine. There also will be prize giveaways throughout the day and free food donated by Schnucks and other local businesses.

During the daylight hours, a number of environmentally related booths will be sponsored by the Missouri Recycles Association, Cape City Public Works, the Sierra Club, Trail of Tears State Park, the Department of Natural Resources and the Southeast Missouri State University Environmental Science Program.

The Preserving Our Planet Society will have an informational booth and Earth Day T-shirts will be available for $10.

For more information, contact Drewing at (573) 339-5689.