Community briefs 8/12/04

Four area women were winners in the 51st Miss Southern Illinois Electric Cooperative Beauty Pagaent. Left to right are: first runner-up Sarah Panici, daughter of Terry and Patricia Panici of Dongola; Miss Southern Illinois electric Kasey Nicole Evans, daughter of Rich and Kim Evans of Jonesboro; second runner-up Stephanie nance, daughter of Robert and Robin Nance of Cobden; and Miss Congeniality Leanna Dailey, daughter of Perry and Sandy Dailey of Metropolis.Back to school pageant on tap in Farmington

The Farmington Universal Beauty Scholarship Back to School Pageant will be held Aug. 28 at Long Memorial Hall, 110 Columbia St., Farmington, Mo. Age categories range from infant to 26 years. Contestants will compete in school wear/sportswear and party dress/evening gown or Sunday best. Preregistration by Sunday is preferred. Cash only entries will be accepted at the door on the day of the event with prior approval. The Universal Beauty Scholarship Pageant is part of the Missouri State Our Little Miss Scholarship Program. Winners will advance to the Missouri State Universal Beauty Competition in Rolla, Mo., in November. For additional information call 471-8055, 471-8345, 481-1123 or visit the Web site at www.ourlittlemiss.com.

Myth of bats to be revealed on Saturday

"Bats: The Rest of the Story" will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Trail of Tears State Park Visitors Center near Jackson. This eye-opening version of a bat's tale will unravel the myth of the common bat.

Registration ending for TRCC fall classes

The last day to register for Three Rivers Community College fall classes being held in Bollinger County will be Tuesday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Registration will be held at 203 First St. in Marble Hill. TRCC's Extended Learning program will be offering college courses at Woodland Hill High School in Marble Hill, Leopold High School, Meadow Heights High School in Patton and Zalma High School. For more information call (877) TRY-TRCC, extension 690.

Local experts speak at annual health seminar

The Eighth Annual Health Issues of the School Age Child Seminar was held Tuesday at Southeast Missouri Hospital. This year's speakers included Cathy Young, a family nurse practitioner and assistant professor in the Department of Nursing at Southeast Missouri State University; Jewell Carter, nurse coordinator with the Washington University Adult Epilepsy Center in St. Louis; and Celynda Brasher, former teacher and current lawyer with the law firm of Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan & Jackstadt in St. Louis. The seminars are open to school nurses, educators, counselors, school administrators and education and nursing majors.

Pottery guild plans future charitable endeavors

The August meeting of the River's Edge Pottery Guild featured a program on "horsehair raku" by area artist Richard Webb. The group discussed the option of starting a charitable program, such as the National Empty Bowls program, utilizing the sale of handmade pottery in a restaurant setting to raise funds for a local foodbank. Plans for future meetings include a glazing workshop for September and a presentation on historical pottery by Dave Boardman of Sikeston, Mo., later in the fall. The group usually meets the first Tuesday of the month at The Garden Gallery above Grace's Cafe on Broadway in Cape Girardeau. Anyone with an interest in handmade pottery is invited to join the next meeting. For more information call Julie Bricknell at (573) 833-6147 or Pam Duncan at 332-8408.

Organizations awarded for child abuse prevention

The Children's Trust Fund recently recognized 14 organizations in Southeast Missouri for their efforts toward reducing the risk of child abuse and neglect. Area recipients were Bollinger County Health Center in Marble Hill, Missouri Mentoring Partnership and New Vision Youth and Family Services Inc., both in Cape Girardeau.

-- From staff reports