Community briefs 12/01/03

Newcomers Club plans to change its name

The Newcomers Club, now no longer exclusive to newcomers, is going to have a new club name. Current activities include a book club meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 8 at Barnes & Noble on "Bell Canto" by Ann Patchett; the Lunch Bunch will meet at 10 a.m. Dec. 8 at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park entrance before going to Suzie's for lunch in Sikeston; and a coffee meeting at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 15 at Panera Bread in Westfield Shoppingtown.

Bowlers support sending gifts to U.S. soldiers

Bowlers from West Park Lane leagues made a cash donation to Operation Shoe Box. At a penny a pin, bowlers found they'd collected $126 the first night. Additional money from MFA in Jackson and Rhodes Convenience Stores resulted in a $500 donation. The cash will be used for postage or to purchase gifts for soldiers stationed in Iraq.

East Prairie pageants scheduled for Sunday

The 2003 East Prairie Christmas Beauty Pageants will be at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 7 in the East Prairie High School auditorium. Pageants are open to boys up to 5 years old and girls between 0 and 18 from surrounding communities. For more information, call Kandi Staples at (573) 649-2702 or Jean Barksdale at (573) 649-2479. Visit www.geocities.com/ christmaspageant for more information.

Agency providing cancer screening

East Missouri Action Agency's Family Planning Department is participating in a project funded by the Missouri Foundation for Health that will provide advanced cervical cancer screenings. Clinics are in Park Hills, Ironton, Fredericktown, Perryville and Cape Girardeau. Call 431-5191 or (800) 392-8663 for an appointment.

Red Cross holding blood drives at university

The American Red Cross will hold blood drives from 12 to 5 p.m. from Tuesday through Friday at the University Center of Southeast Missouri State University. The drives are being sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega fraternity. For more information, call the American Red Cross at 339-1822.

Parents group schedules events

Parents Without Partners has scheduled various upcoming events.

Dances: The group will attend line dance lessons from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Circle S Saddle in Gordonville. The group will sponsor a singles dance from 8 p.m. to midnight Dec. 13 at the VFW Hall in Cape Girardeau and a New Year's Eve dance from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Dec. 31 at the American Legion Hall in Jackson.

Meetings: General meeting/orientation from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Riverside Regional Library in Jackson.

Dinner: Parents Without Partners will have a progressive dinner from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at private homes.

Trips: Members will take children roller skating at Cape Skate from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 13. The group will take a trip to Our Lady of the Snows from 2 to 10 p.m. Dec. 20. The group will meet from 1 to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 21 at Cape Dollar Tree to buy gifts to give at Fountainbleau Lodge; then from 2 to 3 p.m. members will take children to deliver gifts to Fountainbleau Lodge residents.

For more information, call 335-0797.

-- From staff reports