Community Q&A 12/30/04

* Name: Amanda Mills

* Lives in: Cape Girardeau

* Family: Husband, Tim; son, Avery,7; daughter, Sophia, 1.

* Job: March of Dimes Southeast Missouri Division community director

* What do you like most about the area? What I like most about the area is the diverse community. I have a background in the arts so it pleases me to see the huge interest and opportunities for the arts in this area. In saying that, it is great that there is such an interest in agriculture as well as politics with not only the community in general but with the young people.

* Favorite food: My favorite food would have to be Mexican food. As a baby I lived in Arizona so my first baby foods were Mexican food -- it has been my first and only love.

* Favorite TV show: "CSI" or "Extreme Makeover Home Edition"

* Best advice: "You will find as you look back upon your life, that the moments that stand out are the moments when you have done things for others."

* Person I most admire: My mother. Not only is she my mother but she has become my best friend. I admire her because she has shaped me into the person and mother I have become. She is always there for me whether it is for advice or just for an ear.

* What would you do if you won the lottery? I would first pay all my student loans from graduate school, then pay off all our other bills, make sure that my children's colleges would be paid for in full, donate a portion of the money to various organizations (including the March of Dimes) and finally (if there is money left) I would go on a fabulous tour of Italy and Greece.