Community briefs 08/11/03

Mental illness group offers support meetings

The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, in collaboration with the Community Counseling Center, offers a family support group every fourth Tuesday of the month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The next meeting is Aug. 26 at the Community Counseling Center.

The group meetings provide individuals with an opportunity to share fears, insecurities, successes, approaches to problems and to reinforce good and appropriate coping skills. Family members can obtain information and support concerning mental illness.

For more information, call the Community Counseling Center at 334-1100 or leave a message at 243-6146.

Annual Farrsu reunion to be held Sunday

Descendants of Alfred and Elizabeth Farrsu are invited to gather at the annual Farrsu family reunion at noon Sunday at Cape County Park North pavilion 8 for a basket dinner. For more information, call Linda Barber at (573) 824-5504.

Ex-hospital administrator to be honored Aug. 28

A benefit for Southeast Hospice, a service of Southeast Hospital, will begin with a social hour at 6 p.m. Aug. 28, followed by dinner and a program at 6:30 p.m. at the Drury Lodge in Cape Girardeau. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation at 651-5510. Deadline for purchasing tickets is Aug. 20.

Former Southeast Missouri Hospital administrator O.D. Niswonger will be honored when Southeast Hospice holds "A Southeast Hospice Salute."

Cape Travelers holding last picnic of season

Cape Girardeau Post M of the Travelers Protective Association will hold its last picnic of the season at 6 p.m. Saturday at shelter 8 of Cape County Park. Pork steaks and all the trimmings will be served, and a washer tournament will be held.

State secretary Gerald Goerger and past state secretary Robert Ruzensky of Post SL in St. Louis have been invited to attend. The state president of Post M, Margret Dickerson, will also be attending.

Library's story time set for Wednesday

Back-to-school story time at the Cape Girardeau Public Library begins at 10 a.m. Wednesday for ages 3 to 5. Children are invited to listen to stories, play a game or two and make a pin to express the person they are. No registration is required.

For more information, call the Youth Services Department at 334-5279 or stop by at 711 N. Clark, Cape Girardeau.

Area bicentennial commission meets today

The Cape Girardeau Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission will meet at 7 p.m. today at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, 100 Broadway, Cape Girardeau. Interested individuals are invited to attend and learn about plans for the Red House Interpretive Center and the upcoming re-enactment Nov. 21 to 23. Plans are coming together and donations continue to be needed. Tax-deductible contributions may be sent to: Cape Girardeau Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission, 1221 Butler, Cape Girardeau Mo. 63701.

Club for newcomers meets this week

The Lunch Bunch of the Newcomer's Club meets at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at BG's in Cape Girardeau.

The Newcomer's Club meets at 11:30 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at Port Cape in Cape Girardeau. Next meeting is Sept. 3. The Newcomer's Club is open to anyone who has moved to the area within the last two years. Visitors are welcome to attend a general meeting or several club functions before making a decision to join.

Parents group going to dance class, water park

Parents Without Partners will attend line dance lessons at Circle S Saddle in Gordonville from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Members will meet at 1 p.m Sunday at the commuter lot by Wal-Mart or 1:15 p.m. at D Mart in Jackson to take the children to the water park in Farmington, Mo. The event is free to members' children.

Shower chairs, bath benches needed

The elderly and disabled are on a long waiting list for shower chairs and bath benches due to insufficient funding to accommodate needs. Clean, used shower chairs, bath benches or new donations are needed. Call Crystal at 651-6464 for more information.

Relay For Life to hold wrap-up meeting

Celebrating success and discussing opportunities for next year are on the agenda at the Relay For Life Wrap-Up meeting held at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 18 at Dexter Barbecue, near Applebee's in Cape Girardeau.

Team captains and committee members are all invited and should respond by calling the American Cancer Society at 334-9197 or e-mail Tim Hahn at tim.hahn@capecountyrelay.org so accurate meal plans can be made.

Morley Swingle to present history program at library

Local author Morley Swingle will give a program about the history of Cape Girardeau and autograph copies of his book, "The Gold of Cape Girardeau," at 10 a.m. Aug. 23 at Riverside Regional Library, 204 S. Union Street, Jackson, Mo. Copies of the book will be available. Everyone is invited to attend this free program. Refreshments will be served.

Supper to benefit woman in need of operation

A fish and chicken supper will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Bell City Community Building in Bell City, Mo. This is a fund raiser to benefit Betty Hasty Dixon, who has an ongoing ear infection requiring an operation. Dixon has no insurance.

There will be gospel singing, and local talent is invited to participate. Donations may be sent to: Betty Dixon Fund, First Midwest Bank, 630 N. Main St., Sikeston, Mo., 63801.

-- From staff reports