Community digest 11/29/04

Hospital to present "A Christmas Story"

Music and dance celebrating the holiday season will return this year when the Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation holds its ninth annual "A Christmas Story" at 2 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 5, at Cape Bible Chapel, 2911 Kage Road. Featured performers for this year's concert are vocalists Lacey Hayes, Quitman McBride and Cara Mueller; keyboardist Shane Steck; and dancers from the Academy of Dance Arts. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door. The benefit supports programs and services at the Hospital's Regional Cancer Center. For tickets or more information, call the foundation at 334-9254.

Library offers 'food for fines,' Internet training

The Cape Girardeau Public Library will accept canned and dried foods in lieu of fines during December. Each food item takes care of a 50-cent fine. Also in December will be three beginner Internet training classes. Sessions will be held Friday, and on Dec. 10 and 17. Registration is required. Craft Series I @ the Library will hold its third session in the Hirsch Room on Sunday. Registration is required and there is a small fee.

Children's program offered at Jackson library

Riverside Regional Library at Jackson will present "Here Comes the Snow" from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. and from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. on Dec. 7. The program is for ages 1 through 8.

Host families needed for foreign students

STS, a not-for-profit corporation, is seeking help in locating host families willing to open their homes to teenage students from around the world for the spring and fall semesters of 2005. These students speak proficient English and will attend local high schools. Contact STS Foundation at (800) 522-4678 or visit www.stsfoundation.org

Optimist oratorical contest forms available

The Jackson Optimist Club and the Noon Optimist of Jackson are pleased to present the 2004-05 Optimist Oratorical Contest. This year's topic is "My hero is..." Area youths 15 and younger are encouraged to enter. Participants may win a $100, $75 or $50 savings bond in each gender group at the local club level. First-place winners in each group will go on to compete at the district level for a $1,500 scholarship award. Contact Carol Horst at 243-7916 for application forms and contest rules. The tentative contest date is Feb. 15.

Scott City students plan benefit dinner auction

The Scott City R-1 sophomore class is holding a silent auction and chili/chicken noodle soup dinner for Aaron Stewart, a student diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease. The dinner and auction will begin at 4 p.m. Dec. 7 and will conclude at 7 p.m., followed by the Jackson vs. Scott City boys basketball game. There is an admission fee. All proceeds go toward travel and medical expenses for Stewart and his family.

Ministerial Alliance aids military families

Since the war, many military families have found they were not prepared to have half their support system leave home for many months at a time. The Jackson Ministerial Alliance has helped over 2,200 such families by assisting with minor repairs, mowing, providing food and counseling for the emotional loss of family. With community donations, the Alliance continues to assist these families. Items needed are apple juice, sugar, flour and cooking oil, plus beef stew, chili, canned meats, pancake mix and syrup, creamy peanut butter and grape jelly. Cash donations are always welcome. Donations may be dropped off between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until noon Fridays at New McKendree United Methodist Church, 225 S. High Street, Jackson. Pickups can be arranged by contacting Kim or pastor Dan Usher at 243-8487.

-- From staff reports