Local radio reps to go to St. Jude training seminar

Representatives from nearly 200 country music radio stations, including three people from Zimmer Radio Group in Cape Girardeau, will join some of country music's biggest names this Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the 14th annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids training seminar.

"We like to send people who haven't been before to get a fresh perspective," said Nicole Arnzen, promotion coordinator with Zimmer Radio Group. "It gets you excited and is very informative."

The three locals representing Zimmer's K103 country radio station will be operations manager Whitney Thomas, and account executives Dawn Leible and Marietta Obergoenner.

Zimmer has been participating in the event since its inception in 1989. The seminar helps them prepare for their annual St. Jude hospital radiothon, which will be held at the end of March.

During this weekend's training session, country music artists and radio station personnel will have an opportunity to tour St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, meet patients and attend workshops on planning successful radiothons.

Over the years, country music fans have pledged more than $181 million to St. Jude hospital through the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids fund-raising program. K103 has raised as much as $70,000 during one of its radiothons and side events leading up to the radiothon.

For more information about St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, visit: www.stjude. org.

jgosche@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133