Community briefs 01/13/03

Library aims to help students survive school

The Survivors Group of the Cape Girardeau Public Library will meet at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. This group, made up of children in third through sixth grade, meets each month to explore ways to make the school year a little easier as participants share books, snacks and educational tips.

January's meeting will feature African traditions. Students will make and learn how to play a game called mancala. The program's leaders will share tales of tricksters and traditional African folk.

Registration is preferred. For more information, call the Youth Services Department at 334-5279 or stop by the library at 711 N. Clark.

Blood drive to be held at Cape Girardeau mall

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park in Cape Girardeau from 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday, from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Renewal of pesticide licenses offered

The Outreach and Extension office in Scott County will hold a private applicator certification and recertification training program at 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20.

Each person only needs to attend one session. Call the Extension office at (573) 545-3516 for more information.

Community Caring Council to meet Friday

The Community Caring Council will meet at 7:30 a.m. Friday at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, at 804 N. Cape Rock Drive in Cape Girardeau. Tracy DePriest from the Missouri Community Advocacy Network will be the program's featured speaker.

MoCAN's goal is to provide information and understanding about people with developmental disabilities. MoCAN volunteers provide Respect and Diversity Education Training to all avenues of the community, including schools, businesses, churches and service providers.

For more information about this meeting or the Community Caring Council, call 651-3747.

Health-care roundtables to visit Sikeston, Cape

Beginning today, U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Cape Girardeau, will hold a series of health-care roundtables with physicians and administrators from local health care facilities. Topics to be discussed include medical malpractice, Medicare payments and the uninsured population.

A roundtable will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Malone Avenue Grill, at 1617 E. Malone in Sikeston, Mo. Another roundtable will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. Friday at the Drury Lodge, at Interstate 55 and William in Cape Girardeau.

Call Michelle Dimarob at (202) 225-4404 or (202) 226-8826 for more information or to schedule an interview.

-- From staff reports