Community digest 12/31/01

Masonic lodge meeting scheduled Thursday

Millersville Masonic Lodge Westview 103 will meet for a dinner at 6:45 p.m. Thursday. A meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. For information, contact Billy Joe Keele at (573) 866-3282.

A potluck dinner will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Millersville lodge, followed by installation of the 2002 officers.

Buchheit, customers raise funds for Red Cross

Customers at Buchheit in Jackson, Mo., recently helped raise $2,675 for the American Red Cross. Part of the sales for Carhartt clothing on Dec. 8 and 9 was donated to the Red Cross.

Jackson girl competes for scholarship

Kelley Kasten, a student at Jackson, Mo., Middle School, recently tied for first runner-up and senior speech winner in the Pre-Teen Missouri Scholarship and Recognition Program held in Jefferson City, Mo. Angela Schenewerk of Kirksville, Mo., also was a first runner-up.

Kasten will compete for $25,000 in education bonds, prizes and other awards during the 2002 competition. The program honors female honor roll students ages 7 to 12.

Corrections staff helps needy during holidays

The Missouri Department of Corrections' facilities in Southeast Missouri helped the less fortunate during the holiday season. Staff at the probation and parole office in Cape Girardeau collected and donated toys and clothing to Lutheran Family and Children's Services and also made a donation to the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri. The staff and offenders worked together at the Salvation Army packaging food items for Christmas baskets for the needy.

SEMO District Fair Association meets

The SEMO District Fair Association recently held its annual meeting. Three persons were elected to the voting board: Sam Below of Delta, Mo., Fred Higdon of Benton, Mo., and Vernon Miller of Jackson, Mo. Chris Weiss of Jackson was appointed to the board by the Jackson Chamber of Commerce. Steve Obermann of Cape Girardeau and Cam Mitchell of Jackson were re-appointed by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

Awards for volunteer of the year were given to Bill Huey of Cape Girardeau and Elsie Gerecke of Gordonville, Mo. The Fair Family of the Year award was presented to the Charles Ahrens family of Jackson. Plaques for service to the fair board were given to Bob Nitsch and James Sander, both of Jackson. Nitsch also received a lifetime achievement award.

Officers for 2002 elected at the meeting were Bob James of Cape Girardeau, president; Steve Obermann, vice president; Marilyn Schott of Jackson, secretary; Chris Weiss, treasurer; Cam Mitchell, property custodian.

New appointments to the advisory board were Bob Nitsch, James Sander, Lawrence McBryde and Jim Turner, all of Jackson.

The 147th annual SEMO District Fair will be held Sept. 8-15 in Cape Girardeau.

-- From staff reports