Community digest 09/30/02

Employees of Jackson mill attend reunion

Employees of the former Jackson Hosiery Mill recently met at Delmonicos restaurant in Jackson for their 16th annual reunion. Thirty-nine people attended.

The mill began operation in 1939. Alvin Kamp and Vergie Seabaugh were both hired at the mill soon after it opened and worked there until the plant closed in 1976. Edith Burgfeld of Humboldt, Tenn., and Jan Miller of St. Louis traveled the farthest to attend the reunion.

A moment of silence was held in remembrance of 10 employees who died since the 2001 reunion. The next reunion is scheduled for Aug. 23, 2003.

Cape Girardeau Dinner Club to meet Tuesday

Maurice Beckham, an artist and criminal investigator, will be the featured speaker at the meeting of the Cape Girardeau Dinner Club, formerly the Cape Girardeau Executives Club, Tuesday. The group will meet at 7 p.m. at Drury Lodge. Beckham's topic will be "Even Heroes Walk on Eggshells."

For reservations or more information, call club secretary Judith Anne Lang at 334-9509.

October is the time to adopt a shelter dog

The Humane Society of Southeast Missouri and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) has declared October to be Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month. The humane society is celebrating the month with these special events and offerings:

Oct. 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- Animal Control presentation at the Cape Girardeau Wal-Mart

Oct. 12 and 13 -- Pet Fashion Show during the Women's Show at the Show Me Center

Oct. 15, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- AVID microchip day at Wal-Mart

Oct. 22, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- Cape Girardeau Police K-9 presentation at Wal-Mart

Oct. 26, 1 to 4 p.m. -- Humane Society of S.E.M.O mobile adoption at Wal-Mart

Oct. 29, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. -- Talk to a vet at Wal-Mart

The Cutest Pet Contest and Supply Drive will be ongoing at the Cape Wal-Mart throughout the month. Contact the humane society at 334-5837 for more information.

Thoma graduates from optometry school

Kory Phillip Thoma, son of Carlton and Jean Thoma of Jackson, is a May graduate of the University of Missouri-St. Louis School of Optometry. He is also the recipient of two awards -- the Contact Lens Clinical Award sponsored by Paragon Vision Sciences and the William R. Jackson Jr. O.D. Memorial Scholarship administered by the Missouri Optometric Foundation.

Thoma plans to practice in Jackson.

Group encouraging tests for breast cancer

The American Cancer Society is encouraging everyone to remind the women they love about the importance of mammography. During "Tell a Friend Tuesday" from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park, the cancer society is asking each woman to call five friends and loved ones and ask them to schedule their annual exam.

It's Marching Band Festival time in Jackson

The 58th annual Jackson Marching Band Festival will be held Tuesday. The day's events will include a parade through uptown Jackson at 4 p.m. and the evening band festival at 6:30 p.m. in the high school stadium. Cost for the show is $2 for adults and $1 for students.

Bands participating in the festival include Central High School in Cape, Charleston, Jackson Freshman, Jackson High School, Sikeston, Valle of Ste. Genevieve, Delta, Kelly, Oak Ridge and Scott County Central school districts.

Aslin to receive Missouri AARP award

Ilena Aslin of Cape Girardeau has been selected by AARP, the nonprofit organization for people 50 and over, to receive the Missouri AARP Andrus Award for Community Service, the association's most prestigious volunteer award.

AARP selected Aslin for her remarkable service and for the impact she has had on the lives of others and on her community. As an AARP volunteer, Aslin serves as a state coordinating team member for community service/education. In this capacity, she helps promote the involvement of national members and underrepresented populations in AARP activities. She also has a role in helping maintain and establish AARP chapters in her area of the state.

In her position as president of the Southeast Missouri Hospital Auxiliary Board, Aslin initiated a daylong retreat, the group's first formal long- and short-term strategic planning session. She also volunteers in the surgical waiting room and substitutes in the cardio thoracic and intensive care waiting rooms.

Employees association to hold annual meeting

The National Association of Retired Federal Employees will hold its annual meeting at noon Tuesday at the Grecian Steak House. Dignitaries from the Missouri Federation of Retired Employees will be in attendance.

Rep. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, will be the featured speaker and present an award for the most outstanding retired federal employee of the Cape Girardeau NARFE chapter.

Women in Agriculture will meet Thursday

BENTON, Mo. -- The Scott County Women in Agriculture will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at the United States Department of Agriculture Service Center in Benton. Mary Engram will present a program on farm stress. Anyone interested in joining the organization is invited to attend.

Crump School Reunion scheduled for Saturday

The Crump School Reunion will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Bethlehem General Baptist Church in Crump. Lunch is scheduled for noon. Bring a dish and visit with old friends.

For more information, call 794-2576 or 243-5294.

VA online courses focus on health concerns

WASHINGTON -- The Department of Veterans Affairs has developed a set of in-depth continuing education courses for health care professionals on the unique health issues of veterans through a special program known as the Veterans Health Initiative (VHI).

The VHI is an effort to help health care providers understand some of the health concerns that can arise from military service, including illnesses relating to combat and different climates and settings. VHI independent study units are written for health professionals and are available on the Internet at www.va.gov/ VHI.

The units feature photos of military scenes, illustrations, bibliographies and, in some cases, firsthand accounts by veterans, in addition to a review of medical management of the condition. At the end, readers can take an online test on their knowledge of the subject.

2003 Girl Scout calendars go on sale

Pocket and wall Girl Scout calenders will be sold from Oct. 1 to Dec. 1. The 2003 pocket calendar offers great new features such as two mini-calendars of the years 2004 and 2005, a full page of significant 2003 holidays and a full page for writing in names, addresses and phone numbers.

Girl Scout calendars cost $2.50 each. For more information, contact the Girl Scouts of Otahki Council at 334-7741 or visit www.girlscoutsotahki. org.

Sullinger-Hitt reunion to be held in Advance

ADVANCE, Mo. -- The Sullinger-Hitt reunion will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Fairview General Baptist Church in Advance, Mo. All family and friends are invited. Bring a dish.

Cape library to hold book discussions

The Cape Girardeau Public Library will be hosting a discussion on the book "Vietnam: Angel of Death" by Harry Spiller from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 8 in the Hirsch Community Room. "Sign Talker" by James Thom will be discussed from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 22. Both events are co-sponsored by the library and the Center for Regional History.

Animal safari to be held at Cape public library

The topic of this month's Animal Safari Kids for children ages 3 to 7 at the Cape Girardeau Public Library is the zebra. Visit the library at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday to discover the world of the zebra through stories, fun facts and romping zebra games. Participants will also be able to make a zebra-print frame to highlight their most memorable photo.

-- From staff reports