Community briefs 08/25/03

Jackson Area Arts Council meets Thursday

The Jackson Area Arts Council will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at Jackson City Hall. Old business will include the scenic drive weekend, newsletter, chairs for charity and Homecomer art show; new business includes Starcatcher Theater.

Cemetery association elects new officers

The Hitt Cemetery Association, near Arbor, Mo., met recently and elected new officers. They are president Shirley Reimann; vice president Anita Dalton; co-secretary-treasurers Jean Fowler and Troy Smith; board members are Louis and Tom Hodgekiss, Darris Dalton and Julie Seyer.

Donations to help maintain the cemetery may be sent to Jean Fowler, 110 Iva Ave., Delta, Mo. 63740 or Shirley Reimann, 7049 U.S. Highway 61, Jackson, Mo. 63755.

Studebaker to be part of cruise at Pizza Inn

Pizza Inn will hold a cruise-in from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday with memorabilia from the 1960s and a 1962 Studebaker Lark on display.

Workshop on home ownership scheduled

A workshop entitled "How to Own Your Own Home" will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Family Resource Center, 1202 S. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau. Targeted at potential homeowners, all interested individuals are welcome to attend. Speakers will answer questions about affordability, financial options, responsibilities and costs of owning and maintaining a home as well as Habitat for Humanity.

For more information, call Shirley Ramsey, community housing coordinator, at 651-3747.

Parents group to attend line dance class

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

Emerson's mobile office to stop in Perryville

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's mobile office will be at the Perryville County Administration Building from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday.

The office serves as a comprehensive constituent resource regarding the federal government. Emerson's staff forwards to her constitutent concerns about particular issues or votes facing the 108th Congress, as well as initiate individual cases that people have with various federal agencies.

Cape public library to be closed on Labor Day

The Cape Girardeau Public Library will be closed Sept. 1 in observance of Labor Day.

Benton Neighbor Day coming up this week

The 35th annual Benton Neighbor Day will be held Friday and Saturday at the ballpark. The midway and registration for attendance prizes open at 5 p.m. Friday.

At 6 p.m. Friday, parachuters will land on the grounds. At 6:30 p.m., the Little Mister and Miss Neighbor Day contest will begin, followed by the Junior Miss Neighbor Day and the Queen Contest. The band Decade will perform at 9 p.m.

Events Saturday are:

10 a.m.: Midway reopens

10:30 a.m.: Parade followed by an antique car show.

Noon: Antique tractor pull held behind the old school building.

1 p.m.: Horseshoe tournament, races and contests.

4 p.m.: Kiddie tractor pull, with a nominal entry fee.

6 p.m.: Children can try their luck climbing a greased pole.

6:30 p.m.: Parachuters will land on the grounds and a talent show for kids and adults will begin.

9 p.m.: Night Shift will provide entertainment.

10 p.m.: Children can chase greased pigs.

Exhibits, located in the old school building, can be registered from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and from 8 to 9 a.m. Saturday. Ribbons and prizes will be awarded for the best of class and best of show. There is a special division for children 12 and under as well as adult. Local 4-H clubs will be exhibiting crafts immediately following the parade.

Proceeds from Neighbor Day, sponsored by the Benton Chamber of Commerce, are used to finance a scholarship and contribute to many community improvement projects.

Police programs receive Optimist Club donation

The Cape Girardeau Noon Optimist Club recently presented $500 to the Cape Girardeau Police Department for the DARE/GREAT programs. DARE is the Drug Education Resistance Education program designed for sixth-graders. GREAT is the Gang Resistance Education And Training program designed for seventh-graders.

For more information about either of these programs, call the Cape Girardeau Police Department at 335-6621, extension 1124.

Hospital offers program on choosing child care

A free program on choosing quality child care will be offered from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Generations Family Resource Center at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Charla Myers, director of Childcare Resources and Referral at Southeast Missouri State University, will discuss day-care providers, age appropriate programs and health and safety regulations. To register, call 651-5825.

Extension gives program on healthier day cares

The University Outreach and Extension at 684 W. Jackson Trail in Jackson will present an educational program, "Creating A Healthier Home or Day Care Center," from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 4.

Participants will learn about major public health concerns, symptoms of asthma and environmental triggers and methods to reduce the presence of indoor environmental triggers.

The first 10 parents or day-care providers to call the office at 243-3561 by Friday will be registered for free.

Nights to join area Scouts scheduled

Parents and boys may join the Boy Scouts at any one of the upcoming meetings in the area:

Today: 7 p.m., Blanchard Elementary or Eagle Ridge Christian School, Cape Girardeau.

Tuesday: 6 p.m., Deer Creek Christian Academy, Cape Girardeau; 6:30 p.m., North Elementary School, Fruitland; 7 p.m., Franklin Elementary or Alma Schrader, Cape Girardeau.

Wednesday: 7 p.m., Immaculate Conception School, Jackson.

Thursday: 6:30 p.m., Jefferson Elementary School; 7 p.m., Orchard Elementary School in Jackson or Trinity Lutheran School in Cape Girardeau.

Sept. 3: 6:30 p.m., St. Vincent DePaul Center.

Sept. 4: 6:30 p.m., Knights of Columbus, Scott City; 7 p.m. Delta, Zalma or Clippard elementary schools.

Boys will receive a free T-shirt when they attend their first meeting. A fee applies for joining. First-graders are Tiger Cubs, second- and third-graders are Cub Scouts; fourth- and fifth-graders are Webelos; sixth-graders and up are Boy Scouts.

For more information, call the Boy Scout office at 335-3346.-- From staff reports