TOWN HALL MEETING TONIGHT AT SALVATION ARMY

The Healthier Communities Committee will hold a town hall meeting tonight at 6 at the Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope, to hear residents' concerns about health and quality-of-life issues in Cape Girardeau County.

The meeting is one in a series being held around the county. Committee members are trying to identify what issues concern residents and how those issues may be addressed, said Charlotte Craig, director of the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center.

Issues identified so far include the need to foster community and family values, provide access to primary medical care, health education, teen pregnancy, transportation, substance abuse, affordable health care, personal accountability for good health, and school dropout rates.

Upcoming meetings include Feb. 29 at 7 p.m. at Oak Ridge High School in Oak Ridge, March 21 at 7 p.m. at Delta High School and March 26 at 7 p.m. in the activities building of the First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau.

The committee is sponsored by the public health center, St. Francis Medical Center, Southeast Missouri Hospital, the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, the Community Caring Council, the Cape Girardeau County Area Medical Society and Southeast Missouri State University.