SOAP BOX DERBY PROVIDES FAMILY ACTIVITY

There are some wholesome family activities that endure, providing opportunities for parents and kids to work together on something meaningful.

That means shutting off the television and all of its shady language and sexual innuendo. That means turning off shoot-'em-up video games and radio stations playing hits with titles like "The Thong Song."

One of those wholesome family activities is the St. Francis Medical Center Soap Box Derby organized by the Rotary Club of Cape Girardeau, which allows youngsters to learn manual dexterity by putting the car together, to learn healthy competition by racing against other children and to learn how to be a gracious winner or to accept loss, depending on the outcome.

The Rotary Club is looking for families to get involved. The race is May 19, but there will be construction clinics on March 24 and April 14 in the St. Francis parking garage.

For more information about participating or sponsoring a car, call Rotarian Chap Arnold at 264-2107.