Community briefs 1/15/04

Civil War Round Table to meet on Sunday

The Cape Girardeau County Chapter of the Civil War Round Table will meet at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Fellowship Room of Hanover Lutheran Church, 2949 Perryville Road, Cape Girardeau.

Dr. Frank Nickell, director of the Southeast Missouri Regional History Center at Southeast Missouri State University, will present "Civil War Sites in Our Area." Individuals interested in the historical events surrounding the Civil War are invited to attend. Guests are welcome. For more information call Rob Weeks at 335-8361 or Elroy Kinder at 334-4964.

Tax credits can expand mental health programs

New Vision Youth and Family Services has a Youth Opportunities Program (YOP) Tax Credit that will be used to expand current programs offered, increase the number of youth and families served and develop new mental health programs in the Southeast Missouri area.

For Missouri taxpayers, the YOP Tax Credit allows individuals and businesses to direct where their money goes and deduct contributions from income tax.

To learn more call (573)751-4539 in Jefferson City, Mo. or e-mail yop@mail.state.mo.us.

To learn more about New Vision Youth and Family Services call 334-3486 or visit newvisioncounseling.com.

Jackson Area Arts Council meeting tonight

Thanks to everyone that helped to make the "Chairs for Charity" program a fun and imaginative event. Plans are to include the program in 2004.

The next arts council meeting will be at 7 p.m. tonight at Jackson City Hall. Everyone is welcome. Discussion will include the arts council newsletter, Star Catcher Theatre update, a link to the city's Web site and the 2004 art event calendar. Call the Jackson Parks and Recreation Department for more information at 204-8848.

Local author Dambach to hold book signing

From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dolly Dambach will hold a book signing at Grace Café, located on Broadway in Cape Girardeau. "And that's the Way it Was" is a recollection of Dambach's childhood in the 30s and 40s with a humorous twist.

Community Caring Council meeting Friday

The next Community Caring Council meeting will be at 7:30 a.m. Friday at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, 804 N. Cape Rock Drive, Cape Girardeau. Denis Rigdon from Project Hope is the guest speaker. Project Hope is a faith-based ministry based in Cape Girardeau seeking to match at-risk families with mentors from participating churches.

All interested individuals and agencies are invited to attend this meeting and/or join the council. For more information, please call 651-3747.

Nominations sought for King community award

Nominations for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award, designed to honor an individual or group that exemplifies the ideals of justice, freedom and social betterment through nonviolence, can be made by application through Southeast Missouri State University's Martin Luther King Jr. Web site at www.semo.edu/mlk or may be picked up in the Office of the Assistant to the President for Equity Issues at Academic Hall, Room 302, in Cape Girardeau.

Applications must be received by Friday and can be faxed to 651-5191; hand-delivered to the office of Dr. Mel Gillespie, assistant to the president for equity issues, in Academic Hall Room 302; or mailed to the Rev. David Allen Sr., P.O. Box 504, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0504.

The recipient will be awarded at the 14th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration at 7 p.m. Monday. For more information, call Allen at 651-3698 or Gillespie at 651-2524.

Auditions this weekend for Sikeston Little Theatre

The Sikeston Little Theatre will hold auditions for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 6 p.m. Monday at the Albritton Mayer Cultural Center, 506 S. Kingshighway, Sikeston. Bring a prepared singing number. Roles include 11 females, 13 males and a few children who will audition at a later date. There are no nonsinging roles with the exception of a few possible extras. Assistance will be needed with sets, props, costumes, backstage and orchestra. For more information call the theater at (573) 481-0255.

Scott City plans meeting addressing construction

The Scott City Council is hosting a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday at city hall to gather input to help improve congestion at the Scott City/Interstate 55 interchange.

The discussion includes improvements extending James Street to the I-55 northbound lane on-ramp. Scott City officials are seeking input from residents regarding their thoughts on the proposed project. For more information call 264-2157.

--From staff reports