Briefs 10/3/03

First Friday topic is emergency management

Cape Girardeau's emergency preparedness will be the topic of this month's First Friday Coffee, scheduled for 7:30 a.m. today at the Show Me Center.

For more information, contact the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the monthly event, at 335-3312.

Warrant issued for alleged scam artist

An arrest warrant has been issued for a Scott City man suspected of scamming Cape Girardeau residents with false promises of low-priced yardwork materials.

Jerry Wayne Sturgeon, 47, was charged Friday with three misdemeanor counts of stealing.

A bond was set at $15,000.

Last month, Cape Girardeau police warned residents about a man in a blue pickup truck offering to sell them small trees and mulch at below-cost prices.

Officer Jason Selzer said the suspect would ask for a deposit of about $40 and then promise to return with the merchandise.

Selzer said four people fell victim to the scam.

Sturgeon also faces a charge of passing a bad check and three additional misdemeanor charges for stealing for unrelated incidents in 2003.

Pioneer hosting harvest day Saturday in Jackson

The 35th annual harvest day will be held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Pioneer Apple Orchards, Highway 34 West, Jackson. Special events include food stands, crafts, contests, live music, rides, soap-making, apple-butter cooking, cider-making, children's games, animal petting and mazes.

There will be fund-raisers for Shriners Hospital, Jamaican Christian Medical Mission, American Legion and more.

Call 243-8008 for more information.

Crowder College sees record enrollment

NEOSHO, Mo. -- A southwest Missouri junior college is celebrating full parking lots .

The 2,616 students taking classes this semester represent a 52 percent increase, compared with the 1,719 students who attended during the fall semester of 2000.

Chicken and dumplings fund-raiser in Alto Pass

Serving from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday a chicken and dumplings dinner will be held at Bald Knob Cross, Alto Pass, Ill., located 17 miles south of Murphysboro off route 127.

Carryouts are available. Crafters and flea market vendors are welcome to set up.

Welcome center hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information call (618) 893-2344 or (618) 532-8188.

-- From staff, wire reports