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Submitted photo

Lloyd Phillips posed with his tree.

Giant beech recognized by Illinois DNR

A giant American beech tree located near McClure, Ill., has been named a Champion Big Tree by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The tree is owned by Lloyd Phillips of East Cape Girardeau, Ill., and is located on the Phillips farm at the edge of the Shawnee National Forest.

The tree is 14 feet, 3 inches in circumference, 112 feet high and 77 feet around the crown spread.

Phillips' beech was nominated to the DNR by Larry P. Mahan of Palmyra, Ill. Mahan, a teacher, is researching the large trees of Southern Illinois in preparation for writing a book.

Library to host Valentine 'love bugs' for kids

The Cape Girardeau Public Library will host a Valentine's Day program Feb. 14.

"We'll play some creepy games and explore some crawly stories," said Sharon Anderson, who will conduct the 3:30 p.m. program, to which youngsters in kindergarten through third grade are invited.

Anderson said the group would make "love bugs" from candy bars to keep, give as gifts or eat.

Additional information is available by calling the library at 334-5279.

Family gives early notice of biannual reunion

A Brennecke family reunion will be held the weekend of July 14 at a time and site to be announced.

Descendants of Johann "August" Friedrich Brennecke and Engel Christine "Wilhelmine" Eikemeyer Brennecke will meet for the 2002 reunion.

The first reunion was held in 1975 with more than 200 in attendance and continued annually through 1980. Thereafter, biannual reunions have been held.

August and Wilhelmine Brennecke were born in Germany. The family moved to New Orleans in November of 1844 and later traveled up the Mississippi River to Cape Girardeau, settling between Tilsit and Jackson, Mo.

A third edition of the Brennecke history will be published this year.

Additional information is available by calling Cheryl Brennecke, 334-6273.

Booster club supper planned in Kelso

The St. Augustine Booster Club will host a chili/chicken noodle soup supper on Saturday at the St. Augustine School gym at Kelso.

Serving will be from 4 to 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for children ages 6-12. Children ages 5 and under are free.

Radio station plans Valentine dinner, dance

KRCU Radio will host its fourth annual Valentine Dinner-Dance Feb. 9.

The event, sponsored by the St. Francis Heart Institute, will be held at the Osage Centre. Dinner begins at 7 p.m. and dancing will follow at 8 p.m. with the swing and big-band sounds of the Southeast Missouri State University Jazz Band from 8 to 11 p.m.

The event will feature a buffet dinner menu with a choice of two entrees, beef or chicken, salad, potatoes, vegetables, rolls and a special Valentine desert.

Tickets are $35 and must be purchased before Feb. 4, said KRCU general manager Greg Petrowich. Tickets are available by calling KRCU at 651-5070 or by stopping by the KRCU studios during business hours at 338 N. Henderson.

--From staff reports