Missouri Arts Council workshop rescheduled

A Missouri Arts Council grant information workshop at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri has been rescheduled to Dec. 20 from 3 to 5 p.m. For more information or to RSVP, call the arts council at 334-9233.

Jackson native joins MBU ministry group

ST. LOUIS -- Jackson native Jordan Cox, a freshman at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis, has been selected as a member of the university's premier male ministry group called "Closer." Closer is a musical group that shares a Christian message through song. For more information about the group, visit www.mobap. edu/closer or call (314) 744-5322.

Sikeston songwriter to compete for contract

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Michael Carnell, a Sikeston songwriter, will represent the Nashville area in January to compete for a contract with Embassy Records. The contest selected 30 people from cities around the country to compete. The 20-year-old Carnell, a rock musician, competed for the Nashville spot with 25 musicians from a variety of musical styles.

Dexter author to sign books at Hastings

Dexter, Mo., author Richard Ford will be at Hastings from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday selling and signing copies of his book "Missouri Jim." The book is set in Missouri and tells the story the title character, a remarkable dog. For more information on "Missouri Jim" and Ford's other book, "Streetheart," call (800) 972-8412.

Martin selected to lead River Heritage Association

Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director Chuck Martin has been elected to serve as the president of the River Heritage Association for two years. The River Heritage Association's goal is to develop tourism-related programs and activities for a 12-county area in Southeast Missouri.

Christmas, winter tunes on tap at Cup 'n' Cork

Cup 'n' Cork cafe presents a double lineup of seasonal music on Saturday, with the JJMC Folkgrass Project performing acoustic Christmas songs from 4 to 7 p.m. and vocal group Voce Festiva singing traditional winter music from Europe and the United States at 7 p.m. Admission is free for both shows. For more information, call 651-5282.

Missouri vacation planner for 2006 released

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Tourism Bureau has released its 2006 Official Missouri Vacation Planner, which features a section commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Gateway Arch and photos from the 2005 Missouri Tourism photo contest. The guide can be found at any local chamber of commerce, convention and visitors bureaus and any state welcome center. For more information, call (800) 519-4800 or visit www.VisitMO.com.

Holiday dinner theater at Cache River winery

BELKNAP, Ill. -- Cache River Basin Winery will present a murder mystery dinner theater called "I'll Be Homicidal for Christmas" tonight at 7 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling (618) 658-2274.

-- From staff reports

Carbondale gets set to have a 'Blast'

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The theatrical celebration of music and movement called "Blast" will come to Carbondale's Shryock Auditorium on Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. "Blast" draws on the talents of bugle and drum corps to present a combination of brass, percussion and movement. For more information on the performance, call (866) 646-8849.

-- From staff reports