Community digest 5/5/08

Civil War diary available at county archive center

The Civil War diary of the Rev. Joseph C. Maple, who was in charge of the Jackson Academy and wrote about his observations of the war in and around Jackson from June 1861 to July 1862, has been published and is available at the Cape Girardeau County Archive Center, 112 E. Washington St. in Jackson. Several longtime Jackson families are mentioned in the account. For more information, call 204-2331.

Donate clothing, other items, enter sweepstakes

Anyone bringing donations to the area Goodwill store through June 15 can enter a sweepstakes for a chance at a trip to Walt Disney World. Participants can register for one entry per donation trip and may come back to repeat the process as often as they like. To determine the winners, a public drawing, supervised by the independent third party Humes & Barrington LLP, will be June 20 at the Goodwill headquarters at 1727 Locust St. in St. Louis. MERS/Goodwill is a not-for-profit agency that provides for the vocational needs of individuals who have barriers to employment through disability or economic disadvantage. For more information about MERS/Goodwill, details on its Disney promotion or to find a Goodwill donation center, call 314-241-3464 or go to www.mersgoodwill.org.

Benefit singing held for cancer patient

A benefit singing will be held for Emma McAlister at 7 p.m. Friday at Christian Mission, Highway 77, Benton, Mo. McAlister has been diagnosed with cancer, and church members are raising money to help pay for her treatment and other expenses. All gospel singers are welcome.

Benton Race Park holds Jackson School night

A Relay for Life fundraiser will be at 7:30 p.m. May 16 at Benton Race Park. Free Jackson student tickets will be offered with discounted adult admission. Attendees can meet race park representatives and drivers, receive free tickets and have photos taken during lunch May 13 at the Junior High School. For more information, call 243-9533.

Tailor Institute holds fundraiser event

The Tailor Institute will hold a fundraiser at 6 p.m. Friday at the University Ballroom on the Southeast Missouri State University campus. The event will begin with a cocktail hour at 6 p.m., followed by dinner from 6:30 to 7:30. Entertainment by McAvoy Layne, author of "Hooked on Twain," will follow the meal. There will be raffle for an original watercolor by Taylor Crowe at 8:45. The Tailor Institute is a not-for-profit organization designed for individuals diagnosed with high-functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome who demonstrate areas of giftedness. For more information or for tickets, call 335-9559.

Community resource fair to be held in Sikeston

A community resource fair, presenting information on resources available in Southeast Missouri, will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 31 at the Elks Lodge, 379 Dona St. in Sikeston, Mo. For more information or to set up a booth, call the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Missouri at 717-0569 or contact Kelly Rea at 270-3382 or krea@mersgoodwill.org.

— From staff reports