CONFERENCE PLANNING UNDER WAY

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Quinstate Economic Development Conference will observe its 10th anniversary in Missouri.

Representatives from five states were in Cape Girardeau to establish dates for the 1992 conference and discuss plans for the event, which is expected to attract between 200 and 300 people.

"The dates were set for April 2-3," said Judy Moss, economic development director for the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, which hosted Wednesday's planning session. "We're pleased that Cape Girardeau was selected for the 10th annual meeting."

The Quinstate Economic Development Conference is co-sponsored by cooperative extension services from Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee, and local chambers of commerce throughout the region.

Also involved in the conference are the Southern Rural Development Center, Arkansas State University, and the Northeast Arkansas Development Council.

The program is designed to survey what is happening in the region to ensure community and economic development as the 21st century approaches.

"We had some great speakers, and discussed some important topics during the latest conference, held at Arkansas State University's Convocation Center at Jonesboro, Ark.," said James R. Peachey, county extension agent and staff chairman of the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. "Each year we review the speakers. Most of them graded high this year."

Among the keynote speakers were Dr. Richard Poston, professor emeritus, Southern Illinois University, who discussed "Development a Community/Economic Vision for the 21st Century; and Debbie Amberg, properties manager, Hickman River City Development, Hickman, Ky.

Attending the planning session here Wednesday were Cape Girardeau Mayor Gene Rhodes and Carbondale, Ill., Mayor Neil Dillard. Also in attendance were John A. Quinn, extension adviser of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Illinois Health Department official Janet Moore-Stone of Marion, Ill., L.W. Perry, extension agent from Alamo, Tenn.; and William Taylor, extension agent from Dyer County, Tenn.

Others attending Wednesday's session were Phil Kelley, extension service, Bloomfield; Rick Sparks and Susan Mills with the University Extension Service in Jackson; Henry Jones, Jonesboro, Ark., Chamber of Commerce; and David Akridge of Fulton, Ky.