Community digest 3/7/02

Bingo Friday to raise funds for 'Jerry's Kids'

It has been six months since Bingo World opened and since the Optimists began running a bingo game on Friday nights. On Friday, Optimists are having a Player Appreciation Night, with each player receiving a coupon worth $5 to purchase pull tabs.

This event will be a special fund raiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The Optimists promise to give "Jerry's Kids" $10 for each player over 200 who attends. Larry Loos, chairman of the Joint Optimist Bingo Committee, says they hope to set an attendance record for Bingo World.

He says, "If we can get 650 people there, we will give MDA the extra $2,000. Thus, instead of $4,500, the donation to MDA will b e $6,500, if we can break the old record."

Loos said, "We want as many people as poss ible to come on Friday and join the celebration and help raise money for MDA." Bingo World is at 823 N. Clark St. Doors open at 3 p.m. On Friday there are two "speed ball" games that are played shortly after 6 p.m. and the regular games begin at 6:30.

Cape Girardeau Scout earns Eagle award

Jason Andrew VanCleve, son of John and Mary VanCleve of Cape Girardeau has earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

His Eagle Scout project was construction of a footbridge and lake trail maintenance to improve hiking conditions at Trail of Tears State Park.

His other Scouting achievements include two awards for 50-mile walks at Gila Wilderness in New Mexico and Philmont and Scout Ranch at Cimmaron, N.M.

VanCleve is a sophomore at Cape Central High School and is a member of the Junior Varsity Scholar Bowl team. He is also active in the school's theater program.

Perryville resident wins coffee for year prize

Geri Kimmell of Perryville, Mo., is the winner of the coffee-for-a-year contest held at St. Louis Bread Co.

Kimmell entered the contest at Westfield Shoppingtown West Park in Cape Girardeau.

Kimmell, who is retired, said she hopes to enjoy cinnamon crunch bagels with hazelnut cream cheese along with her prize-winning coffee.

Cape resident finishes leadership class

Scott Manley of Cape Girardeau is one of seven graduates of the Rice Leadership Development Class, which recently completed its fourth and final session.

Graduation ceremonies were held in Washington D.C., where the group met with Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman and Rice Foundation chairman John Denison.

Manley is from the industry-related category of the USA Rice Federation.

St. Patrick's Day dinner set at Scott City

The Kiwanis Club of Scott City, Mo., will sponsor its St. Patrick's Day Dinner, beginning at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Corn beef and cabbage, green beans, new potatoes, carrots and corn will be on the menu, along with desserts provided by Kiwanis Club members.

The dinner will be held at the Mid-town Café.

Living history program to feature area veterans

The Scott City Middle School wants to videotape living histories of area veterans.

"We'll arrange interviews with veterans," said Susie Coomer, a coordinator of the school's character education program. "We would like for veterans to bring their uniforms, medals and military photos to the interview."

A meeting outlining the program will be held at the school's library, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Copies of the tapes will be placed in the school library. A text will be forwarded to the National Archives.

For information, call Coomer or co-chair Vickie Wachter, at 264-2139.

Contestants sought for talent contest

Heartland Talent is seeking contestants, age 3 to 21, to compete in a contest April 6 at Jefferson School in Cape Girardeau.

Dancers, singers, comedians and musicians are welcome. The contest, sanctioned by the Mid-South Fair at Memphis, Tenn., is for amateur contestants only.

Winners will receive a cash award and trophy. There are two contest divisions -- age 3 to 12 and age 13 to 21.

The senior division winner will advance to a talent contest at the Mid-South Fair. Winners of that competition receive a $3,000 cash award and qualify for an audition with CBS in Hollywood, Calif.

For an application or information, call Lisa Boyer at 332-1718.

Library to sponsor "Great Decisions" series

The "Great Discussions" series continues this month at the Cape Girardeau Library.

Meetings are from 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays in the Hirsch Community Room.

The series began Wednesday with a program on the Middle East peace process. A discussion period follows each presentation.

Still to come are programs on Colombia drug trafficking on Wednesday, "South Asia, Focus on Asia," on March 20 and AIDS in Africa on March 27.

Easter egg hunt scheduled in Scott City

The Scott City Park Department will hold its annual Easter egg hunt on Saturday, March 23.

The egg hunt will be at 10 a.m. at the Scott City Community Park.

Children 8 and younger are welcome. In the event of rain, the hunt will be held under the park's Horseshoe Pavilion.

Easter egg hunt coming to Cape Girardeau

The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department will hold its 13th annual Easter egg hunt at Capaha Park on Saturday, March 23.

This rain-or-shine event will be held in three age brackets: 1- and 2-year-olds, 3- and 4-year-olds and children 5 to 8 years old.

The first two age groups will start their egg hunts at 10 a.m., and the oldest group will hunt eggs, beginning at 11:30 a.m.

All contestants will meet at the parking lot near the park's swimming pool. There will be prizes awarded for special eggs found during each hunt.

The hunt is free. Children must provide their own baskets, and parents should escort smaller children.

For information or to register children, call the Parks and Recreation Department at 335-5421.

This year's egg hunt is co-sponsored by K103.