Community briefs 10/31/02

Republican women's club to meet Friday

Ballot issues as well as updates on the Nov. 5 general election will be spotlighted at the monthly meeting of the Cape Girardeau County Republican Women scheduled for 11:45 a.m. Friday at the Cape Girardeau Holiday Inn. County Clerk Rodney Miller will be the featured speaker.

Girl Scouts participate in Science Center camp-in

The Girl Scouts of Otahki Council will be the only overnight guests during a camp-in at the St. Louis Science Center this Friday and Saturday.

Participants will enjoy hands-on activities, a special program prepared by science center staff, the OMNIMAX theatre presentation and a visit to the planetarium.

Free blood pressure screening at library

A free blood pressure screening and counseling will be offered by the staff of Saint Francis Medical Center from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday in the Hirsch Community Room of the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

Saint Francis Medical Center is the library's literacy partner for November. Information about its services will be on display in the Hirsch Room.

Book signing planned at new Mounds library

MOUNDS, Ill. -- Gregory Campbell of Radcliff, Ky., will be signing his book called "One Way Out: A Father's Story" from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the new Mounds library on First Street. The book was released about one month ago.

Campbell is a native of Unity, Ill., and a 1979 graduate of Egyptian High School at Tamms, Ill. He is the son of Nancy and Glynn Beegle of Mounds.

Fatherhood program set for Saturday in Sikeston

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Missouri Bootheel Healthy Start Fatherhood First Program will present its fifth annual conference Saturday at the Sikeston Field House at 200 S. Pine.

Les Brown, nationally acclaimed motivational speaker, author and television personality, will be the keynote speaker. Brown is also recognized by many as the former husband of Gladys Knight.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., with the first session starting one hour later. This conference is free to the public and includes lunch and door prizes. Several break-out sessions throughout the day.

Child care will be provided for children ages 2 and older. The conference will wrap up around 3:30 p.m. Last year's conference in Malden drew nearly 300 participants. Contact (573) 472-4949 or (888) 317-4949 for more information.

Jackson St. Ann's Sodality to hold craft festival

St. Ann's Sodality of Immaculate Conception Church in Jackson will hold its annual "Festival of Crafts" this weekend in the new school cafeteria at 250 East Madison Street. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Spaces are still available for anyone interested in exhibiting their crafts. For more information, contact Dolores Bohnsack at 204-0089 or 243-8520.

SADI to provide a ride to polls on Election Eay

The Southeast Missouri Alliance for Disability Independence, Inc. (SADI) will provide people with disabilities who are currently registered to vote in the city of Cape Girardeau a ride to the polls on Election Day this Tuesday.

Call the SADI office on Monday at 651-6464 to set up an appointment or for general voting information. Callers should have their voter registration card in hand when they call in order to determine their precinct location. There is no charge for this service.

Visitors can learn how to preserve family stories

Family stories are gifts to share with loved ones. Join Marilyn Hutchings and Sharon Anderson of the Cape Girardeau Public Library at 7 p.m. Monday as they discuss ways to find and preserve these stories as well as pass them on in oral and written form.

Children and adults of all ages are welcome to participate in this important family tradition. Those interested can call 334-5279 for more information.

-- From staff reports