Community briefs 05/12/03

Relay For Life meeting scheduled for today

The next meeting of the Cape Girardeau County Relay For Life is at 6:30 p.m. tonight in the Mount Auburn Room at the Holiday Inn in Cape Girardeau. All interested individuals or potential teams are invited.

Relay For Life teams are still forming to raise funds for research, help prevent cancer through education, support legislation to reduce cancer's impact and assist cancer patients and their families.

The event takes place from 6 p.m. July 11 to 6 a.m. July 12 at Cape County Park North. For more information or to register, call 334-9197.

Old Fashioned Day to be held in Chaffee

A pancake breakfast at the Elks Lodgewill open Chaffee's Old Fashioned Day from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday. Those attending can also visit craft tables set up on downtown sidewalks all day long. There is no charge to set up a table. Proceeds from the breakfast, sponsored by the Chaffee Nutrition Center, will benefit the van fund.

Lunch, sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary, will be available at 11 a.m. at the American Legion Hall, followed by a fashion show at 1 p.m. at the same location. Vintage to recent fashions will be modeled.

A plant sale will be held to benefit the public school library at Whitaker Hardware.

Transplant group seeks more organ donors

Mid-America Transplant Services and the states of Missouri and Illinois are encouraging individuals to sign the organ donor registry.

The registry is a computer-based system which records a person's desire to donate. It need only be signed once, and the information is accessible at any time. Intent to donate can be changed at any time.

Any Missouri resident who can sign/print their name may register. In Illinois, one must have a driver's license or another type of state-issued identification. Anyone under 18 must have a parent or guardian as the witness on their form.

For more information, call Breita Church at Mid-America Transplant Services at 332-0070.

Vision 2020 committee to meet next week

The Vision 2020 transportation committee (a.k.a. River Front team) will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 a.m. May 21. Individuals interested in the future of Cape Girardeau are invited to attend. The committee will be planning for the June 17 meeting at Buckners from 9 a.m. to noon. All federal, state, county and city representatives present at the February meeting should plan to attend. Call 335-3683 for more information.

Vice consul will speak to Jackson Optimists

Robert Waller, vice consul of consulate general office in Jerusalem, will be a guest speaker at the Jackson Evening Optimist Club on May 20.

Waller is a graduate of Jackson High School. He holds a bachelor's degree in Near Eastern studies (summa cum laude) from Brigham Young University, and a Ph.D. in Mediterranean studies from King's College, University of London.

Waller's talk is expected to include why Americans should care about what happens around the world, recent events occurring in the Middle East and how foreign policy affects Americans' lives. In addition, he will discuss his career in the Foreign Service and answer questions.

Duggins School to hold reunion in Perryville

The Duggins School will hold its 40th reunion at 10 a.m. June 7 at Perryville City Park Pavilion 20. Bring a picnic lunch.

Wednesday program to honor law enforcement

A program to honor law enforcement personnel will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Cape County Park North at the flag.

An honor guard will place roses at the memorial in remembrance of fallen officers. All family members of those officers are encouraged to attend as well as the public. This year, roses will commemorate the men and women in the armed forces.

Poetry meeting will be at Cape public library

The monthly meeting of the Poetry Coffee House takes place at 7 p.m. May 19 in the Hirsch Community Room. Participants are encouraged to bring original poetry or favorite poems to share. Listeners and readers are welcome.

Jackson Senior Center benefit starts Friday

The Jackson Senior Center walk-a-thon to benefit the Meals on Wheels program and the nutrition center will begin at 9 a.m. Friday. Call 243-4241 for more information.

Cancer benefit will be held at Masonic Lodge

The fourth annual Classy Chassy Country Concert to Cure Cancer will be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday at the Masonic Lodge on Broadway in Cape Girardeau. Admission is free, donations will be accepted and forwarded to the American Cancer Society in Cape Girardeau. A concession stand will be open during the concert.

The concert is sponsored again by Classy Chassy Country and Job's Daughters Bethel 51 and will include Anna Ayers, June Benson, Walt Wilburn, Jo-Jo the Clown and his balloon pets and Classy Chassy Country.

Balloon event to honor military personnel

Heartland Care and Rehabilitation Center, 2525 Boutin Drive, Cape Girardeau, has scheduled a balloon lift off for 10 a.m. Saturday to honor military personnel.

Each yellow balloon will have a message from the residents. Individuals returning a balloon to the facility from the longest distance will be awarded a prize. Everyone is invited to wear red, white and blue and join the residents and employees.

Knaup family reunion to be held May 24

The Knaup family will assemble at 10 a.m. May 24 at Cape County Park North, shelter 5. Bring lunch and any family information or photos to share. For more information, call Bob at 335-7887.

Compas family reunion to be held May 25

The Compas family will assemble at 10 a.m. May 25 at Cape County Park North, shelter 5. Please bring lunch and any family information or photos to share. For more information, call Bob at 335-7887.

Project to offer financial education

Project HOPE (Helping Other People Excel) has partnered with The Great River Community Reinvestment Corporation to financially empower families in the Cape Girardeau/Jackson area struggling toward self-sufficiency.

Participants will receive financial education on asset building, start a savings account and receive additional education in application of the funds toward a post-secondary education degree, purchase or rehab of a home, purchase or start up a business or in some limited cases, acquire necessary transportation. Call 651-0551 for more information.-- From staff reports