Community briefs 5/23/02

Jerry Ford's Big Band kicks off concert series

Jerry Ford's Big Band, with Pat Blackwell, will kick off the free concert series sponsored by Old Town Cape at 7 p.m. Friday at the Common Pleas Courthouse gazebo in Cape Girardeau. There are six concerts scheduled in the Tunes at Twilight series on Fridays through June.

The May 31 concert will feature a songwriters' showcase.

Documentary on Marine Raiders to air on Sunday

"Marine Raiders of World War II," a documentary on Carleson's Raiders during World War II, will be aired on Charter Channel 23 throughout Sunday. The film will depict the history and activities of the Marine Raiders -- creating special units for amphibious operations and guerrilla warfare.

Evans F. Carlson and Red Mike Edson are credited with forming the special Marine units, said John Mills of Cape Girardeau, the film's producer.

Starting at 10 a.m. Sunday, the film will be shown every hour through 10 p.m.

For information, call Mills at 339-0933, or visit the Web site at Millworkspost.com.

Cape genealogy group plans talk from author

Lorena Shell Eaker will be guest speaker at the Cape Girardeau County Genealogy Society meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Riverside Regional Library in Jackson.

Eaker has written books on the Eaker family and German-speaking people in North Carolina. She has a forthcoming book on the Frederick Wise family.

The genealogy group has about 200 members. Information is available by contacting Bill Eddleman, 335-1507.

Cars in the Park show June 1 at Bloomfield

Cars in the Park will be held at the Bloomfield City Park June 1 to benefit local children's programs through the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Activities will include music, drawings, food and booths.

Dash plaques will be awarded for the first 100 entries. Thirty-four car classes will be judged, and there will be awards for Best of Show, Coolest Chevy, Favorite Ford, Grooviest GM, Mightiest Mopar and Club Participation.

Car registration will be from 8 to noon, with award presentations during midafternoon. Entry fee is $20 a car. Information is available by calling Missy at (573) 624-8588.

Sedgewickville school reunion planned June 1

The Sedgewickville School reunion will be held at noon June 1 at the Sedgewickville Community Park.

Former Sedgewickville students and school staff members are urged to bring a covered dish and lawn chairs.

People can call Ruth Maevers at 243-8506 for information.

Fish and chicken dinner set for Bell City June 7

A fish and chicken dinner will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. June 7 at the Bell City Community Center. The supper, sponsored by the Bell City Community Betterment Committee, will cost $7 for adults, $3.50 for children 6 through 12, and free to those younger than 6. Proceeds go to the community building fund.

SEMO Rainbow Alliance given grant and award

Southeast Missouri State University's Rainbow Alliance student organization has received a Student Programming in Excellence Award and a $500 programming grant from the Standing Committee for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Awareness of the American College Personnel Association of Higher Education.

The Rainbow Alliance, established last fall, was nominated for the National Coming Out Day program held in October at Southeast.-- From staff reports

Netherlands visitors to attend reunion

The Eeftink/Eftink family reunion will be June 9 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Leopold. Fran and Willemien Beusink teMolder and a son, Romuald, will attend the reunion from the Netherlands. Willemien's mother's maiden name was Eeftink.

The Eeftink/Eftink family reunion for the descendants of John and Grada Gastenveld Eeftink is held every other year. Information is available by contacting Theresa Schreckenberg at (636) 797-3138, or Gus Eftink at (573) 238-2135.

Pig roast set June 27 will raise funds for MDA

The fourth annual Muscular Dystrophy Association pig roast will be held from 3 p.m. to closing June 27 at Diana's Lounge in Sikeston.

The cost is $3 for the all-you-can-eat meal. Drink specials, pool tournaments and door prizes will be available.

Proceeds will benefit the Twin Rivers Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Information on the pig roast is available by calling the association's chapter office in Cape Girardeau at 335-4400.-- From staff reports