Community digest 1/17/02

Civil War Round Table meeting Sunday

"Missouri's Military in the Civil War" will be the topic of the Cape Girardeau County Chapter of the Civil War Round Table meeting Sunday.

The 2 p.m. session will be held in the Fellowship Room of Hanover Lutheran Church, 2949 Perryville Road in Cape Girardeau.

Guests are welcome. Anyone interested in the Civil War is urged to attend.

Additional information is available by contacting Rob Weeks at 335-8361 or Michael Hahn at 334-1928.

Video to reveal 'Story of a River City'

Dick Withers will be guest speaker at the Cape Girardeau County Genealogy Society meeting at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Riverside Regional Library in Jackson.

Withers will show a video, "Cape Girardeau: Story of a River City," which follows the growth of Cape Girardeau from a simple wilderness trading post to a progressive city on the banks of the Mississippi River. The video takes a look at some county residents, homes and landmarks.

The Cape County Genealogy Society has about 200 members. Additional information is available by contacting Bill Eddleman, 335-1507.

Discussion group to cover Grisham

John Grisham has strayed from his usual themes in one of his recent books, "The Painted House," a story set in northeast Arkansas. The book includes no lawyers.

It's cotton-harvest time, 1952, in Arkansas, and tensions simmer between Mexican and "hill-people" cotton pickers. More will come out during the February Book Discussion Group meeting at the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

Meanwhile, the "The Road from Coorain," which tells the story of Jill Ker Conway's childhood and youth in Australia, will be discussed during the group meeting Jan. 24 at the library.

Paula Gresham-Bequette, reference coordinator at the library, will lead the 7 p.m. "Road from Coorain" discussion.

Poetry Coffee House slated Jan. 28

The first poetry readings of the year will be held at the Hirsch Community Room of the Cape Girardeau Public Library, Jan. 28.

Participants can read their own original poetry, or bring readings from their favorite poets, said Rhonda Cole.

Readings at the Poetry Coffee House starts at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Oak Ridge PTO will serve chili and stew

The Oak Ridge Parent Teacher Organization will host a chili and stew supper from 4:30-7:00 p.m. Feb. 5 in the high school cafeteria.

Chili or beef stew, dessert and drinks will be served. The cost is $3. A hot dog is available for an additional 50 cents.

Masons will meet after dinner

The Millersville Masonic Lodge Westview 103 will hold a dinner meeting today at the lodge.

Masons are invited for the dinner at 6:45 p.m. to be followed by a meeting. Additional information is available by calling Billy Joe Keele, (573) 866-3282.

Dinner will benefit various charities

A ham-and-bean dinner will be held Feb. 17 at the Advance Masonic Hall in Advance.

Cost is $4, and serving will be 1-5 p.m.

Funds from the dinner will be used for various charities supported by Advance Chapter 412 Order of the Eastern Star.

Church will serve pancakes and sausage

Hanover Lutheran Church will host a pancakes and sausage benefit luncheon, to be held 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 27 at Hanover Parish Hall of the Hanover Lutheran Church, 29498 Perryville Road in Cape Girardeau.

Proceeds from the luncheon will go the Howard and Martha Cox Family, victims of a house fire in December.

The luncheon is co-sponsored by the Aid Association for Lutherans and Lutheran Brothers, said Christie Renner. She can be reached at 334-5369.

Emergency shelter classes explain duties

The American Red Cross will conduct three-hour emergency shelter classes at the Chaffee Nutrition Center, 800 S. Main St., this month.

Two classes have been held, but additional classes are scheduled 1:30-4:30 p.m. Jan. 23 and Jan. 30.

Those who complete the classes will be certified to staff emergency shelters in Chaffee or in other local areas and may apply for membership in the Red Cross Disaster Service Human Resource System, which allows them to be assigned to disasters outside the local area.

Persons interested in becoming Red Cross volunteers may call John Halter at (573) 887-3040 or contact Ron MacCubbin or Linda Blumenberg at the American Red Cross office in Cape Girardeau, 335-9471.

--From staff reports