School board candidate forum to be Thursday

The SEMO Pachyderms will host a "Get to Know Your School Board Candidates Forum" at 7 p.m. Thursday at Dexter Bar-B-Que, 236 S. Broadview St., according to a news release from the group.

School board elections are scheduled for April 8. Club vice president and program chairman Mark J. Welker said the forum is limited to candidates in Cape Girardeau County.

In the release, Welker said candidates from Jackson and Cape Girardeau are expected to participate. From Jackson, Kristi Uhrhan, Brad Noel, Jamie Pfefferkorn-Nipper, Will Adams and incumbent T. Wayne Lewis have said they're coming, as has Cape Girardeau incumbent Don Call, the release said.

Jackson board president Terri Tomlin and board member Bruce Thomas have scheduling conflicts, as does Jackson candidate Larry L. Koenig. Phil Moore, who previously served three years on the Cape Girardeau board, and board president Tony Smee of Cape Girardeau, also will not be participating, the release said.

With just three candidates each, Cape Girardeau and Nell Holcomb school districts do not need to conduct elections.

Other local school board candidates are:

* Nell Holcomb: Incumbents Tammy Brock and Dan Windeknecht, and new candidate Christine Tourville, filed for three positions.

* Oak Ridge: Three incumbents are running for school board -- board president Linda Schoen, vice president Tom Schreiner and Scott Hahs. Challengers Lindsay Berry and George Below also have filed.

* Scott City: Incumbents Sally Porch and board president Scott Amick are running, plus challengers Jeremy Pruden, Heraleen Bowers and Brad Uelsmann. Incumbent Daniel Lance did not file.

* Perry County District No. 32: Incumbents Jeff Weibrecht and Scott J. Hotop filed, plus new candidates Richard Dix, Betty S. Laws, Kathy Carron and Tina M. Littge, who has served on the school board before.

Pachyderm programs are open to the public, the release said. The meal starts at 6 p.m. and a brief business meeting begins at 6:45 p.m., the release said.

Pertinent address:

236 S. Broadview St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.