Community digest 8/23/04

Cape County Genealogy Society to meet

The Cape Girardeau County Genealogical Society meets at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Riverside Regional Library in Jackson. This informal meeting will be a time of research with no business meeting or formal program planned. Visitors are invited to bring their questions and work with more experienced genealogists at the meeting. The society meets monthly on the fourth Tuesday. Non-members are welcome at all meetings. For more information, call Bill Eddleman at 335-1507.

Operation Troop Support to help soldiers, families

The newly formed Operation Troop Support aims to supply deployed soldiers with items that are difficult to obtain overseas while providing support for families at home with unmet needs. Proceeds from T-shirt, cap and other merchandise sales enable the group of 15 to mail packages containing insect repellent, jerky, chips and personal hygiene products from home. The group will have a booth at the upcoming SEMO District Fair from Sept. 11 to 18 where troop supporters can purchase T-shirts, caps and sweat shirts. The group is also looking for people outside the Cape Girardeau/Jackson area wishing to form similar groups to support troops. For more information, call Rodger Brown at 334-4991. Donations may be mailed to Operation Troop Support, P.O. Box 840, Cape Girar-deau, Mo., 63702.

Mentally Retarded Citizens plan meeting

The annual meeting of the Mentally Retarded Citizens of Missouri is planned for Sept. 17 through 19. An informal evening with food and entertainment will begin at 6 p.m. Sept. 17 at Black Forest Village followed by an 8:30 a.m. "Habilitation Center Crisis" presentation Sept. 18 at Drury Lodge. Other presentations scheduled for Sept. 18 include a 10 a.m. presentation on "State School Curriculum and Progress," 11 a.m. "Sheltered Workshops Marketing to Schools", 2 to 4 p.m. tours of group homes and individual apartments, and ending with the 6 to 9 p.m. "Friends of the MRC 2004" awards banquet. An "Autism Forum" will follow at 9 a.m. Sept. 19, concluding with an 11 a.m. board of directors meeting. For more information, call Jerry at (800) 417-8275.

League of the South coming to area

The Missouri League of the South is now forming local chapters and will meet monthly. Individuals interested in attending a meeting should call Clint Lacy at 238-2266 or visit www.missouricsa.com/ sechapter.

-- From staff reports