Civic center reopens: Wappapello dances resume

The Wappapello Civic Center is open after being closed for more than a year, and dances are scheduled again.

Board member Judy Wood said the board decided to reopen because the COVID-19 precaution rules have eased and more than 10 people can be together.

After the rules were relaxed “we waited a little longer than we had to because we wanted to give more time for people to get their shots,” Wood said.

“We put up Plexiglas at the concessions stands, at the door, and we scattered our tables out so everybody’s not so grouped together,” she said.

A group coming together can stay together, but the board tried to take precautions, Wood said.

The board raised the fee from $5 to $7 per person. The two weeks the center has been open this year, “we’ve had a pretty good crowd,” Wood said. “We have charged $5 forever and we’ve raised our price to $7. We gave everybody sufficient notice, three weeks, that we were going to raise the fees April 3. You have to make a little bit to keep the doors open.”

“We appreciate everyone’s support and want them to come back,” Wood said. “Hopefully, they continue to support the center, which is a not-for-profit.”

When traveling from Poplar Bluff, the center is located north of the dam. After crossing the dam, turn right on Civic Center Road, which is past the People’s Community Bank.

A school at one time, the building will be 100 years old later this year. The board wants to celebrate the anniversary, but Wood said, “I don’t know what it is, we’re still working on it.”

Dennis Worley and the Red Light Band will entertain Saturday, but no dance lessons will be offered.

The dances are held from 7-10 p.m. in a smoke- and alcohol-free facility. Concessions will be available. Children age 12 and under are free.

Most Saturdays, starting at 6 p.m. before the dance, free dance lessons are given with paid admission. They will be held by instructors Tim and Teresa Pennington.

The Penningtons will teach “just about any dance that they’d want,” Wood said.

Dancing classes include line dancing, country dance and a variety of music like rock and roll and the twist.

Other dates and entertainers are:

April 10, Paul Wisdom / Perfect Strangers Band;

April 17, Charlie Barker / Route 66 Band (no dance lessons);

April 24, Dennis Worley / Red Light Band;

May 1, Paul Wisdom / Perfect Strangers Band;

May 8, Charlie Barker / Route 66 Band;

May 15, Dennis Worley / Red Light Band;

May 22, Paul Wisdom / Perfect Strangers Band;

May 29, No dance - closed for Memorial Day weekend;

June 5, Charlie Barker / Route 66 Band;

June 12, Dennis Worley / Red Light Band;

June 19, Paul Wisdom / Perfect Strangers Band;

June 26, Charlie Barker / Route 66 Band.