Community briefs 03/29/04

Jackson man receives Boy Scouts award

Bob Francis of Jackson received the Special Needs Spirit of Scouting Award at a recognition dinner held recently in St. Louis. The Special Needs Scouting Program's purpose is to give positive experiences that promote self-accomplishment and self-esteem. The program includes classroom students from St. Louis, Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. Francis was nominated by other Scout volunteers for his service to boys and girls with disabilites and contributions to disability awareness. Francis received the council's highest award, the Silver Beaver, in May 2000. Other accomplishments include four years of service on the Special Needs Adventure Day committee, assistant St. Louis area council area 3 commissioner and Camp Lewellen staff for seven years.

Free scrapbooking class for beginners to be held

A beginners scrapbooking class will be held from 10 a.m. to noon April 23 at the McClure Baptist Church in McClure, Ill. To sign up, call Cindy at (573) 266-0094. Bring pictures or supplies you may already have. The class will consist of equipment demonstrations, page layouts and information about available supplies.

Tree board planting

cottonwood Friday

The Cape Girardeau Tree Board will plant a Lewis and Clark cottonwood tree in observance of Arbor Day at 12 p.m. Friday at Murtaugh Park, in the vicinity of the Red House Interpretive Center.

Dogwood-Azalea pageant scheduled for Thursday

The 2004 Dogwood-Azalea Queen contest begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Clara Drinkwater Auditorium at Charleston High School. The contest includes categories of Little Petite, Petite, Junior and Miss Dogwood Azalea Festival Queen. For more information, call (573) 649-3731 and ask for Marsha or Harriet, or follow the pageant link at www.swflc.com.

Scott County Women

in Agriculture meet

Scott County Women in Agriculture will meet at 9 a.m. Thursday at the USDA office on Highway 77 in Benton. Plans will be finalized for the third annual Farm Day for Scott County third-grade students. The group aims to educate others about agriculture and to provide an atomosphere of fun, fellowship and support. For more information, call Kay Dover at the USDA Center at (573) 545-9027.

Beta Sigma Phi sponsors Easter bunny lunch

Beta Sigma Phi will sponsor the annual Lunch with the Easter Bunny from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Sikeston Elks Lodge. Lunch includes a hot dog, chips, cookies and a drink. Other events include an egg grab, bunny bean bag toss, duck pond, balloons and face painting. For more information, call Katie Weems at (573) 471-8018 or Joyce Mays at (573) 472-1532.

Pocahontas guild holding craft display and sale

Handmade gift opportunities from the Bonney Bank Artisans Guild of Pocahontas will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 24 and from noon to 4 p.m. April 25 at the Bonney Bank in Pocahontas. In case of bad weather, call 651-6004 or 833-6952.

Saturday class at park teaching about powwows

The United Native American People, Western Cherokee of AR/LA Territories and the Eastern Missouri All Nations American Indian Council are collaborating to teach area residents about powwows. Due to cutbacks and lack of funding, several annual powwows in the area have closed down. Diana Lawson and April Rhodes, both Cherokees, have organized a free Powwow 101 class to be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Trail of Tears State Park at the large shelter on the left near the river, past Otahki's Grave. Curt and Leigh Brown of UNAP, both Cherokee, will be the main teachers. For more information, contact Rhodes by e-mail at april_rhodes@yahoo.com or at (573) 243-4638; Lawson by e-mail at cdlawson@clas.net or at (573) 794-2575.

Sunday rally to support American troops

A rally to support the troops will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the corner of Broadway and West End Boulevard in Cape Girardeau. The event, organized by Matt Dunn, Air Force ROTC, will give family members of deployed soldiers an opportunity to speak with veterans groups and other supportive organizations.

Dream workshop planned at library in Jackson

A dream workshop will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. April 7 at Riverside Regional Library in Jackson. The event is sponsored by the Eckankar Mo Satsang Society. Call Betty at 335-9290 for more information.

-- From staff reports