Community briefs 9/19/05

Eagle Ridge school expands sports program

Eagle Ridge Christian School on Route K is building a baseball field and a soccer field. The school holds memberships in the St. Louis Metro Christian Athlete Association and the Missouri Christian School Athletic Association. This is the second season of soccer and baseball for Eagle Ridge, which plays other Christian schools outside their conference including schools from Kentucky, Illinois and Arkansas. Nine matches and the state tournament are on this year's soccer schedule. The school offers girls and boys basketball teams.

Cape Girardeau County FCE sponsors contest

The object of the National Association for FCE and members of the Cape Giradeau County FCE contest is to promote ethics in children and encourage students to improve writing and drawing skills. Homeschooled students in fourth grade or those attending a public or private school are to draw a picture depicting "fairness" and write a short story explaining the drawing. The contest runs until Jan. 15. Teachers interested in participating may contact Marilyn Rutherford at 243-8532 or call the extension office at 243-3581.

Scott County geneaology society to meet Tuesday

At 7 p.m. Tuesday the Scott County Historical and Geneaology Society will meet at the Riverside Regional Library in Benton. Guest speaker will be Danny Byrd. Byrd will share his many photographs from the 1900s. The meeting is open to the public. Please enter by the south door. For more information, call Carolyn Frey at (573) 262-2415.

Commerce sets schedule for annual floodfest

The ninth annual floodfest in Commerce, Mo., will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday night is the pageant for 0- to 12-year-olds. Saturday's events include a car show and a meal of chicken and dumplings prepared at the United Methodist Church at 10:30 a.m. The town's mayor will present a new car show, "Anything Shows," at the city park. The horseshoe tournament will be held Saturday and Sunday. Sunday's events include a lawn mower race, food sold by the Advance Boy Scouts as a fund raiser, a mule jump, a karaoke contest and a contest held by the Commerce Museum called "Reunion of Commerce People- --Young and Old." Floodfest attendees are encouraged to bring copies of photos to donate to the museum. The Better Community Club will have a 50-50 drawing, cake walk and other fund raisers. The Commerce City Hall will be open and donations will be accepted for building restoration.

Reunion participants can tour Tower Rock Sunday

Members of the Sewing family wishing to tour Tower Rock at Wittenberg, Mo., should assemble at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Friedheim, Mo. The 34th annual Sewing reunion will serve a catered meal at 12:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Parish Hall in Friedheim. Families should bring table service and a dessert to share. A business meeting will follow lunch. Call Shirley Bishop at 243-5522 for more information.

Genealogical society presents speaker

The Cape Girardeau County Genealogical Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Riverside Regional Library in Jackson. Lorena Shell Eaker will be the guest speaker for the evening. Eaker is a native of Bollinger County and a longtime researcher of early settlers in Southeast Missouri. She will be sharing new discoveries made about a number of these families. The society meets monthly on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Nonmembers are welcome at all meetings.For more information, call Bill Eddleman at 335-1507

-- From staff reports

Building strong families program registration deadline approaching

To assist families in becoming stronger, the University of Missouri Extension has developed a four part series "Building Strong Families." The first session, presented from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 3, is offered in partnership with the United Way of Southeast Missouri, Success by Six, the Family Resource Center and the Community Caring Counsel. Participants at the first session will determine the three remaining session's topics. Session dates are Oct. 10, 17 and 24. Presentations are free but registration is required. Call the CCC at 651-3747, extension 104 to register by Sept. 28.

Jackson welcomes victims of Hurriciane Katrina

The Revival Center director Joyce Hungate will receive hurricane victims directed by FEMA to the Jackson area. Hungate has 30 beds and rooms available to house victims. The Revival Center normally has private rooms for each family, three meals a day, access to donated clothing, jobs connections, and onsite faith support.

Barbeque cook-off held at Jackson City Park

SPONSORED BY WHO/WHAT GROUP?

The third annual barbecue cook-off contest will begin Oct. 7 at Jackson City Park with a seafood competition and mixer. First entries are due at 8 p.m. The Oct. 8 competition will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The deadline to sign up is Oct. 4. Call 204-8848 for more information.

Site preparation training at Scott County

Site preparation for search dog operations will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 at Scott City EOC/E911. Call 262-2070 for more information and to advise of attendance. Seating is limited.

Counseling Foundation plans annual golf tourney

The Community Counseling Center Foundation will hold its 6th annual golf tournament beginning with lunch at noon Oct. 7 followed by a 1 p.m. tee time at the Cape Girardeau Country Club. For more information, call 335-3316 or 334-1100, extension 219.

Annual Jackson alumni golf tournament set for Oct. 14

Start time is 11 a.m. Oct. 14 for lunch followed by a 12 p.m. shotgun start at Kimbeland Country Club. Each four-person team must consist of members from the same graduating class of Jackson High School. Spouses of alumni are welcome to play with their spouse's class only. Mixed-class teams may be formed if the individual's class has no team or already has a full team. Each class can have multiple teams. All proceeds will be donated to the Jackson R-2 School District Foundation. For more information, call Kelly Waller at 243-8000.

-- From staff reports