Community briefs 02/17/03

Area panel to assess emergency services

The public is invited to meet with members of the League of Women Voters of Southeast Missouri in an examination and assessment of local emergency services at 7 p.m. today in the multipurpose room at Chateau Girardeau, 3120 Independence.

A panel discussion led by Martha Vandivort will discuss availability of services as well as needs for improvement, particularly in communication. Panel members will include Charlotte Craig, director of the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center; Ruth Dockins, public information director for the Southeast Missouri Area Agency on Aging; Mark Hashheider, interim fire chief in Cape Girardeau; and Larry Plunkett of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Prom fashion show to benefit cancer society

The Jackson Chapter of the Future Business Leaders of America will hold a prom fashion show at 7 p.m. Friday at Jackson High School Auditorium. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased by calling the Jackson High School principal's office at 243-9513 or by e-mailing Justin Gibbs at justingibbs14@hotmail.com.

The show will present fashions from The Andrew Jackson, Precious Memories and Weddings and Parties Complete. FBLA members will model over 100 styles of gowns and 20 different tuxedo styles. Dalton's Florist and Sweetheart Florist will provide corsages and boutonnieres. High school students will also provide vocal entertainment. Displays will be set up in the auditorium lobby to cater to the needs of prom goers. FBLA hopes the community will support the Prom Fashion Show while raising money for the American Cancer Society.

Children can work with crafts at Jackson library

Preschoolers will enjoy crafts at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Jackson Public Library, 100 N. Missouri St., Jackson. For more information, call 243-5150.

Jackson heritage group meets next week

As part of its quarterly community information series, the Jackson Heritage Association highlights local history including local authors, speaking events and hands-on workshops. The next event, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27, will be held at the Jackson Junior High School Library, featuring Morley Swingle. The presentation will be on "The most interesting things I learned while researching my novel."

Swingle is the author of "The Gold of Cape Girardeau," a novel about the Cape Girardeau area during the Civil War. A book signing will be held, with copies available for purchase. The Jackson Heritage Association will also have copies of their most recent publication, "History of Jackson," for sale.

Admission is free to all members of the community. Access to the library will be through the doors on the north side of the school. For more information call Kyle Mabuce at 204-0829.

Antiques market to be held Sunday

The first Antique and Collectibles Market for 2003 will be held in Cape Girardeau's A.C. Brase Arena Building from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday. The building is on the fairgrounds just off North Kingshighway at Cape Rock Drive.

Exhibitors from three states will be offering antique jewelry, glassware, pottery, silverware, sports collectibles, paper Americana, dolls, toys, comics, coins, primitives and old tools. For more information, call Mike Newell at 334-5153.

Young adult program set at regional library

A young adult program will be held at the Riverside Regional Library, 204 S. Union, Jackson, at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. Young adults are invited to bring their favorite book to share with the group. Book talks, crafts and refreshments will be presented.

DAR chapter meets at library Wednesday

The next meeting of John Guild Chapter DAR will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Jackson Public Library. The program will be a video, "We Proceed On, The Expedition of Lewis and Clark."

Parents group to attend dance class Thursday

Parents Without Partners will attend line dance lessons at Circle S Saddle, 5455 State Highway 25, at 7 p.m. Thursday. For more information, call 335-0797.

Forum, discussion on relationships scheduled

An open forum and discussion on the state of relationships and community between African-American men and women will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Johnson Faculty Center at Southeast Missouri State University. The event is open to the public. Call 651-2590 for more information.

American Red Cross encourages blood donors

To help maintain adequate blood supply levels, the Red Cross is holding a blood drive at Cape Girardeau Senior Center, 921 N. Clark, from 2 to 7 p.m. Feb. 26.

Oak Ridge High School, at 4198 State Highway E, Oak Ridge, will hold a blood drive from 2 to 6 p.m. March 7. This blood drive is sponsored by the Oak Ridge PTO. There will be a T-shirt for each donor.

Healthy individuals who are at least 17 years old and weigh 110 pounds or more are eligible to donate blood. Federal regulations require whole blood donors to wait 56 days between donations. Platelet donors can donate as many as 24 times a year. For more information, call (800) GIVE-LIFE or visit www.redcross.org.

Class on paganism to be held today

A paganism class will meet at 223 S. Ellis from 7 to 9 p.m. today and will be held biweekly. The class will address what paganism is and what do pagans believe? For more information, call Maya at (573) 380-6413 (can leave a message) or Tara Miller at 339-0572.

Travel preview scheduled at community center

Parks and Rec Travelers, presented by Cape Girardeau Parks Development Foundation in conjunction with the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department, will hold a presentation on autumn in Cape Cod at the Osage Community Centre at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 26. The trip will depart from Cape Girardeau to St. Louis airport on Oct. 1. A representative will be available to answer all questions. For more information, call Amy Roth, recreation coordinator, at 334-2859.

Cape genealogy society meets next week

The Cape Girardeau County Genealogical Society will meet at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Riverside Regional Library, 204 S. Union, Jackson. This will be an informal gathering with board members present to help novices.

The "feature family" will be Fulbright. Bill Eddleman, board member, has assembled material provided by Bernard Schaper and is willing to share. Nonmembers are welcome at all meetings. For more information, call 243-5882.

Events at the Cape Girardeau Public Library

The Book Discussion Group will meet at 7 p.m. March 26 in the Hirsch Community Room. "A Long Fatal Love Chase" by Louisa May Alcott has been selected for discussion. Books may be available four weeks before the meeting date at the reference desk. For more information, call the library at 334-5297.

The Adult Winter Reading Club invites readers to join the club, which continues through March 31. "Read Along With Cape" centers on the citywide reading of "All Over But the Shoutin'" by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Rick Bragg. Patrons may register at the reference desk or by calling 334-5279. Club rules, reading logs and a suggested reading list with other memoirs and biographical type books will be provided. For more information, call 334-5279.

-- From staff reports