Book discussion group to meet every other month

Beginning Friday, a morning book discussion group will meet every other month in the Hirsch Community Room of the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

For the first meeting, the book is "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver. Journey with missionary Nathan Pierce, his wife and four daughters to the Belgian Congo of the late 1950s and early 1960s, and see how this change in their lives affects each person.

Ask for a copy of the book at the reference desk or call 334-5279 for more information.

Wilkinson family reunion scheduled for Sunday

JACKSON, Mo. -- The Wilkinson family reunion will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Jackson City Park, Shelter 3. Brings chairs and a dish.

A collection will be taken for the cemetery fund.

Guardian Angel prepares for upcoming dinner

ORAN, Mo. -- The Guardian Angel Home and School Association of Oran is preparing for its dinner to be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Oran Knights of Columbus Hall on U.S. 77.

The all-you-can-eat dinner will feature chicken and dumplings, kettle beef, fried chicken and all the trimmings. Diners can eat in or carry out. The cost is $6.50 for adults, $3 for children 6-12, children 5 and under eat free.

LaLeche League starts new Thursday series

The LaLeche League of Cape Girardeau is beginning a new series of four meetings at 7 p.m. this Thursday in Conference Room A at the Education Center in St. Francis Medical Center. The topic for this month's meeting is "Advantages of Breast-feeding to Mother and Baby."

The LaLeche League offers breast-feeding support and information over the telephone through accredited leaders. The organization has a lending library and regular monthly meetings. The group also provides support and friendship from other breast-feeding mothers.

The league's informal meetings are open to all women interested in breast-feeding. Babies are always welcome.

For more information, call Susan at 243-7769 or Mary Liz at 794-2577.

Program will teach how to survive school

Survive the school year with a little help from your friends at the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

On Thursday, the library will introduce a new monthly program that teaches children in grades three through six school survival tactics, with an emphasis on fun.

Book talks and refreshments will be incorporated into every meeting as topics are explored.

To reserve your space or for more information, call 334-5279 or stop by 711 N. Clark.

Second annual Nitsch reunion held at city park

The Nitsch cousins held their second annual reunion at the city park in Jackson last Sunday.

The family decided to continue having a reunion every year on the third Sunday in September.

Those present this year included: Jarrett and Chas Benton; Marjorie and Melenie Grindstaff; Amanda and Mary Hensen; Roger, Trina, Scott and Matt Lang; Delores Myer; Betty Myer; Dick Myer; Lynette, Jay and Landry Moore; Bob and Gladys Nitsch; Rhonda and Randa Lee Norman; Verna Lee Nitsch; Cindy and Keith Reganyi; Elda and Kenny Siebert; all of Jackson, Mo.

Participants from Cape Girardeau included: Alice and Bruce Benton; Renee and Jake Bennett; Michelle, Caleb and Ethan Hengst; Daisy Koch; Delores Koch; Scott Koch; Jewell Moore; Ann Schwab; and Ruth Wills.

Additional participants included: Mildred and Bill Abbott of Perryville, Mo.; Jennifer, Randy, Adam, Aston and Lindey Elfrink of Scott City, Mo.; Suzanne and Dillon Fluegge of Millersville, Mo.; Dorothy Griffith from Akron, Ohio; Keith, Fay, Taylor and Jordan Myer of Fruitland, Mo.; Bill and Pauline Nitsch of Sedgewickville, Mo.; and Doris, Glendall, Bradley and Shirley Stout of Jefferson City, Mo.

Alexander Co. to auction off delinquent property

CAIRO, Ill. -- Alexander County has completed its tax deed proceedings on properties that were delinquent for real estate taxes in 1998 and earlier. The county will now offer the properties to the public.

The county will offer approximately 234 properties at a public auction at 6 p.m. Sept. 16 in Courtroom One at the Alexander County Courthouse.

Bidding will start at $350 per item. Bidders are encouraged to attend the auction sale. While written bids are acceptable, the county must receive them at least five working days before the sale. The highest written bid received will be announced before the auctioneer opens the oral bidding. Each item will sell to the highest bidder.

For more information, contact the Auction Sale Department of the Alexander County delinquent tax agent's office at 1 (800) 248-2850 or 1 (618) 656-5744 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Emerson mobile office scheduled for Thursday

U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson's mobile office will make stops in Marble Hill and Jackson, Mo., on Thursday.

The mobile office will be at the Marble Hill Library from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and at the Jackson Chamber of Commerce office from 2 to 3 p.m.

Darren Lingle, mobile office director, will answer questions and write down constituents' concerns.-- From staff reports