MoChips offers free ID help

The recovery of the child taken in Scott County was great news. As a member Of St. Mark's Lodge No. 93 AF&AM in Cape Girardeau, I wanted to make the people of our area aware of a child identification program run by the Grand Lodge of Missouri AF&AM called MoChips. MoChips is the leading no-charge child identification program in the state and has received national attention.

MoChips collects DNA, dental information, photos, fingerprints, scent information and vital contact information for a school-age child. This info is given in an Amber Alert-compatible package to parents. MoChips retains no information other than a permission slip. We have prepared 70,000 of these packages for Missouri children.

The next MoChips event in Southeast Missouri will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 4 at Wehrenberg Theaters in Cape Girardeau jointly sponsored by St. Mark's Lodge No. 93 and Harold O. Grauel Lodge No. 672. The Wehrenberg company has been a strong supporter of the MoChips program and purchased much of the equipment for the program. Additionally, there will be another MoChips event 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 2 at Coad Chevrolet in Cape Girardeau. This is the second event Coad has hosted.

There will another MoChips event Aug. 29 at Wehrenberg Theaters, and the last 2009 event for Southeast Missouri will be Sept. 19 at the SEMO District Fair. This will be our first MoChips event at the fair, and we are excited. For more information, contact me at 573-382-3375 or druther530@yahoo.com.

DAVE RUTHERFORD, Secretary, St. Mark's Lodge No. 93 AF&AM, Cape Girardeau