Community briefs 11/21

Millersville Masonic Lodge to meet tonight

MILLERSVILLE -- The Millersville Masonic Lodge Westview No. 103 will meet tonight with dinner to be served at 6:45 p.m. followed by a meeting at 7:30 p.m.

All masons are invited. For more information, call Billy Keele at (573) 866-3282.

Regents approve two reappointments

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents recently approved the reappointment of Thomas Swayne Byrd and Jerrianne Wyman as university representatives on the River Campus Board of Managers.

Byrd is the owner of an architectural firm in Sikeston, Mo., that specializes in commercial and residential work. He has worked on several projects for Southeast, including some initial evaluation and active promotion of the River Campus project.

Wyman is the president of Merriwether Investments, Inc. She and her husband own and operate the N'Orleans and Bella Italia restaurants, as well as numerous rental properties in Cape Girardeau. Wyman graduated from Southeast in 1989.

Great Books series continues at library

The next session in the Great Books series is set for 2 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

This series is sponsored by the library and the Center for Regional History. On Dec. 3, participants will discuss "Narcissus and Goldmund" by Herman Hesse. At 7 p.m. Dec. 11, the book discussion group will explore Amy Tan's "The Bonesetter's Daughter," a novel mixed with fiction and autobiography. The Great Books series ends Dec. 17 with "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling.

These books can be found at the reference desk. For more information, contact the library at 334-5279.

Community council distributes funds

The Community Caring Council Board of Directors recently used funds set aside for community development to stabilize existing community programs.

The council provided the Family Resource Center on South Sprigg Street with $4,000 as a matching grant to a donation they had received from the Breakfast Optimist Club. This will enable the center to pay off the mortgage on its building.

The council also provided First Call for Help with $7,000, which will allow the referral service to replace a part-time staff person and assist in its expansion into Scott, Perry, Bollinger and Stoddard counties.

Local school chosen to receive mini grant

Cape Central High School is one of several schools and community programs across the state that will receive a mini grant through the Missouri Community Service Commission.

The commission recently chose 13 organizations to receive a total of $23,000 in order to help them further their commitment to public service.

Benefit to be held for Jackson teenager

A benefit silent auction and dance will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Deerfield Lodge in Cape Girardeau for Elizabeth Schott of Jackson.

Schott, the 16-year-old daughter of Tom and Marilyn Schott, has suffered two brain aneurysms in a three-month period.

Benefit funds will be used to help defray medical and rehabilitation costs. Donations will be accepted at the door. Swing Town Sound will provide the music. Soft drinks and chips will be available at no charge.

Sponsors include D-Mart, One-Price Clothing and Swing Town Sound.

Old Bollinger Countians to meet Monday

The monthly get-together of the Old Bollinger Countians will be held at noon Monday at Ryan's Family Steak House in Cape Girardeau.

Organizers invite those interested to meet with old friends and have fun.-- From staff reports