Community briefs

Civil War group to meet Tuesday

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Cape Girardeau County Archive Center, 112 E. Washington, in Jackson.

Items of business will include nomination of officers for the coming year.

The Richard J. Oglesby Camp 61 was formed in 1996 to keep alive the memory of the Union soldiers and sailors of the American Civil War, 1861-1865, through patriotic, memorial and educational displays.

For more information, call 471-6721.

Candidate forum scheduled for Thursday

A public forum for candidates in the Nov. 5 election will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Glenn Auditorium in Dempster Hall on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. All voters are urged to attend.

The forum is a joint presentation by the League of Women Voters of Southeast Missouri, KZIM Radio and the departments of communication and political science at Southeast. Its purpose is to acquaint voters with the candidates and election issues.

Congressional candidates for districts 157 and 158 will present prepared statements and address questions from the audience.

The forum will be videotaped for viewing on local cable at a time to be announced. It will also be broadcast on KZIM radio.

Pilots Club meets, plans dinner for Nov. 2

During a recent meeting of the Cape Girardeau Pilots Club, John Ferguson presented the club with a plaque honoring the Jim Dodd family for the $8,000 donation they made to buy the metal for the clubhouse. A weather station was also presented to Rich Schmidt for the labor he donated to finish the inside of the building.

The club is planning a banquet, wine-tasting and silent auction to be held Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Cape Elks Lodge. The guest speaker for the event will be Col. Larry Packer, former Blue Angel Right Wing Pilot. Music will be provided by the Saxy Jazz Quartet. Proceeds will go to the 2003 Cape Girardeau Regional Air Festival. The cost is $25 per person. Call 334-6230 on or before Oct. 23 for reservations.

Newborns get Halloween outfits from organization

Newborns in Need recently donated Halloween outfits for the newborns and babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Saint Francis Medical Center. The "Tiny Hearts" Chapter of the Newborns in Need organization covers 10 counties in Southeast Missouri and often donates clothing to the medical center.

Newborns in Need is a charity that focuses on providing necessities for premature and newborn babies. Volunteers sew quilts, blankets, sleepers and other such baby items. For more information, visit www.newbornsinneed.org.

Update on Great Books series at library

The Cape Girardeau Public Library and Center for Regional History co-sponsor the Great Books series on alternate Tuesdays, Oct. 22 through Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. in the Hirsch Community Room.

The discussion of "Vietnam: Angel of Death" by Harry Spiller has been postponed until Oct. 22. This memoir recounts the experience of a Marine recruiter who had the responsibility of delivering death messages to families in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois who lost loved ones in Vietnam. The author will be present to answer questions and aid in the discussion.

Future titles and dates include "Standing in the Rainbow" by Fannie Flagg on Nov. 5, "Why Terrorism Works" by Alan Dershowitz on Nov. 19, "Narcissus and Goldmund" by Herman Hesse on Dec. 3, and "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling on Dec. 17.

Participants must acquire books on their own. Books may be available at local libraries and bookstores. Call the library at 334-5279 or the history center at 651-2555 for more information.

Cape recycling center will resume normal hours

The City of Cape Girardeau Recycling Center drop-off will resume normal hours of operation beginning today -- Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Saturday.

Rainbow Alliance holds activities this week

The Rainbow Alliance, a student organization at Southeast Missouri State University, would like to invite the community to participate in their National Coming Out Day activities today, Tuesday and Wednesday. Activities and informative programs highlight this national awareness week for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and supporters of human rights.

At 7:30 p.m. today in the University Center Ballroom, there will be a showcase of performances from a comedian to female/male illusionists from the community and St. Louis. At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Indian room, there will be a Gay, Lesbian, Transgender Panel discussion. At noon Wednesday in the Party room, there will be a religious panel discussion.

AVID Microchip Day

to be held at Wal-Mart

AVID Microchip Identification Systems, Wal-Mart Supercenter of Cape Girardeau, area veterinarians and the Humane Society of Southeast Missouri will be placing identification microchips in pets at the Wal-Mart Supercenter parking lot on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The chip is an opportunity to protect pets and give them a "free phone call home" if found and brought to a shelter or vet's office, according to the Humane Society. A $10.25 fee includes the cost of the animal's AVID microchip and PETtrac's gloal registration. For more information, contact the Humane Society at 334-5837.

Adams to participate in Missouri teen pageant

Victoria Adams of Jackson, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Mark Adams, has been selected to participate in the 2003 Miss Missouri Teen USA Pageant. The pageant will take place Oct. 16-20 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Winners in each division go on to represent the state in the 2003 Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants.

Adams is a sophomore at Jackson High School. She is active in band, Family Career and Community Leaders of America and the Health Careers Club. She is an honored Queen of Bethel No. 60 Job's Daughters. She is being sponsored by Mark F. Adams, DMD; J&B Gifts of East Prairie; Eastman Decorating of Sikeston and Cedar Street Restaurant of Cape Girardeau.

Haunted House activity planned for library

The Cape Girardeau Public Library invites all ages to come by the library Tuesday at 7 p.m. and create a haunted house out of candy, icing and graham crackers.

The library will supply the graham crackers and frosting. Bring your imagination and a bag of treats to share. Call 334-5279 to reserve a space.

-- From staff reports