Community briefs 8/1/05

Women in Agriculture meet and tour winery

The Scott County Women in Agriculture will meet at 9 a.m. Thursday at the USDA office on Highway 77 in Benton, Mo. Following the meeting the group will tour the River Ridge Winery in Commerce, Mo. Women who share an interest in gardening, cooking, farming, family and community activities are invited. For more information, contact Kay Dover at (573) 545-9027.

Free four-week class on Past lives and dreams

The Missouri Satsang Society, a chartered affiliate of ECKANKAR, will present a free four-week class on "Past Lives, Dreams and Soul Travel" from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturdays through the month of August at Riverside Regional Library. For more information, call 204-7639.

Sikeston Jaycees begin festivities with rodeo

Sikeston Jaycees will begin community day festivities with a rodeo parade at the Sikeston, Mo., Chamber of Commerce at 10 a.m. Saturday. Prizes will be awarded for float entries. Other events at the Jaycee rodeo grounds will include a petting zoo, jump-in-space and pony rides for children. The James Bayou Catfish Cookers will provide a fish fry from 11:30 to 2 p.m. in the sponsor's building. For tickets to the fish fry or for more information, call the Jaycee ticket office at 471-7196.

Homecoming events start Saturday in McClure

McClure, Ill. -- Registration begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at the elementary school in McClure for the 28th annual homecoming. Breakfast and lunch will be served at 10 a.m. The program and business meeting will be at 2 p.m. at the school. The graduating classes of 1935, 1945 and 1955 will be honored. Homecoming officers are treasurer Don Burchyett, vice president Allie Hill-Hooven and president R. Joann Colyer-Toler . The late Myrtle Brown-Barrett was secretary. She died Nov. 12.

Project Charlie volunteer training coming up

Volunteers from the Cape Girardeau and Jackson school areas are being sought for Project Charlie, a drug and alcohol prevention program taught in grades 2 and 4 in all Cape Girardeau and Jackson schools. Requirements include training and a weekly 30-minute classroom session, teaching from an approved curriculum. The next training session is from 6 to 10 p.m. Aug. 9. Call Jana Jateff at 651-4103 if interested.

Masonic High Twelve Club to meet in Jackson

At 6:30 p.m. Aug. 13 the Masonic High Twelve Club 548 will meet at Delmonico's in Jackson. Paul Arnold will present a program on the Stars and Stripes Museum in Bloomfield, Mo. All master masons and their wives are invited to attend.

Chaffee's centennial includes German Days

Chaffee's German Days, part of the centennial celebration, will be held from 5 p.m. Aug. 12 and from 11 a.m. Aug. 13 at Frisco Park. Friday's events include pageants beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday's events include a beard contest, raffle drawings, fireworks and a carnival. Each night there will be a free dance, food and beverages.

4-H sponsors safety training at Arena Park

The Cape Girardeau County 4-H Junior Leaders are sponsoring a safety awareness day from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 13 at the 4-H shelter in Arena Park. This event is for all youths 5 to 15 years old. Participants must register today at the Cape Girardeau County Extension office, 684 W. Jackson Trail, P.O. Box 408, Jackson. For more information, call the extension office at 243-3581.

Contra dance to old-time fiddle tunes Aug. 13

Cape Friends of Traditional Music and Dance will sponsor a community dance from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 13 at Christ Episcopal Church, 101 N. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau. Dances feature live old-time fiddle tunes and a caller who teaches and prompts the dances. No partner, costume or experience is necessary. For more information, call Judy Hubbard at 334-5289 or John Boyd at 335-7315.

SEMO Iris Society holds rhizome auction Sunday

At 2 p.m. Sunday the SEMO Iris Society will hold a rhizome auction at VFW Hall, Cape Girardeau. For more information, contact Dave Niswonger at 334-3883 or Charles Pickett at 334-1232.

Knitting club to meet at Cape library Aug. 18

At 7 p.m. Aug. 18 the knitting club will meet at the Hirsch Community Room. Beginners and experienced knitters welcome. Bring needles and yarn.

Jackson Soccer Park celebrates grand opening

The grand opening ceremonies for the new Jackson Soccer Park on Route PP, one half mile past the Coca-Cola plant, will be held at 9 a.m. Aug. 27, with open play beginning at 10 a.m. The 27-acre facility was a group effort between the city and the community. Everyone is welcome to attend the grand opening.

Barn dinner, dance set to benefit therapy group

A benefit for Mississippi Valley Therapeutic Horsemanship, a not-for-profit organization offering therapeutic riding for children and adults living with disabilities, will begin at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at Dr. Michael Jessup's estate just north of Cape Girardeau. Dinner will be provided by Wild West Barbecue, live music by Santa Cruz and there will be a quality auction. Tickets are free for children 5 and under. Admission limited to 500. Call 334-6639 or 332-8655 for more information.

Rescheduled pageants now accepting entries

MALDEN, Mo. -- Malden's annual Fourth of July pageants were postponed until Sept. 10 and 17. Entries are now being accepted for the 10 pageants, which will be held at the Malden Community Center. The pageants are sponsored by the Malden Chamber of Commerce. Eligible ages are from birth to 24 years old. For more information or entry packets, call Jackie Bennett, evenings, at (573) 276-6070 or Flo Bennett, at (573) 276-4489.

-- From staff reports