Heard on the Street

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WOMEN'S TIME-OUT|ret||ret||tab|

An intensive "battery-charging" retreat for business and professional women and stay-at-home mothers panicking at the thought of school being out, will be held June 23-24 in the Mansion at Elfindale. Taught by comedienne-actress Marilyn Harper, the retreat, titled "Igniting the Feminine Spirit," is designed to re-introduce busy women to themselves, she said. "It's going to be a transforming experience for all who take part ... we will be writing, talking, dancing, laughing, crying and maybe even a little drumming to help empower women into moving forward with their lives," said Harper, who has held similar retreats for men and women together. This is her first all-female retreat. Check-in is 3-5 p.m. Saturday. The retreat ends about 6 p.m. Sunday. All meals, snacks and supplies are included in the $155 fee. The fee drops to $130 each for those who bring a roommate. Harper runs Namaste of the Ozarks. For more information call 417-724-2474 or e-mail shobiz2@juno.com.|ret||ret||tab|

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NATIONAL YOUTH SOCCER TOURNEY|ret||ret||tab|

More than 12,000 visitors are expected to descend on the city June 22 for the six-day 2001 Snickers Cup Midwest Regional Championship tournament. Friday's ceremonies begin at 6:30 p.m. at Plaster Sports Complex at Southwest Missouri State University. Tournament play begins at 8:30 a.m. June 23 and continues each day through June 27 at the Cooper Family Soccerplex, 2334 E. Pythian. Admission is free to the event, which is expected to contribute $3.1 million in direct spending to the area's economy, including at least 11,250 hotel room nights, according to the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. Regional champions in age groups under-14 through under-19 will advance to the national championship cup played from July 24-29 in Lawrence, Ind. There are 830 boys and girls teams playing in the four regionals in the next few weeks. The other regionals are in Memphis, Tenn., Albuquerque, N.M., and Niagara Falls, N.Y. U.S. Youth Soccer has added the under-14 and under-15 division to the national finals to give young players a chance to compete, according to a news release from M&M/Mars company, which has sponsored the youth national championships since 1993.|ret||ret||tab|

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MORE WOW|ret||ret||tab|

If you've always wanted to be a shark tank diver, here's your chance. Wonders of Wildlife, the American National Fish and Wildlife Museum will host a "Volunteer Information Day" 8 a.m. to noon June 23 at the museum's administrative offices, 730 W. Sunshine. WOW volunteers "will have the opportunity to be deeply and personally involved in one of the most exciting developments ever to happen in Springfield," said Teresa Huizar-Humes, volunteer coordinator, in a news release. Once open in November, the not-for-profit museum will need 400 volunteers as educators, greeters, tour guides, docents, office assistants, animal caregivers and, yes, shark tank divers. WOW will feature 500,000 gallons of aquaria, 160 species of live animals and many exhibits. For more details call 417-890-9453 or visit the Web site at |bold_on|www.wondersofwildlife.org.|bold_on||ret||ret||tab|

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ROTARY COP|ret||ret||tab|

Springfield Police Officer Arnie Bader was named the Rotary Club Officer of the Year of the Springfield Rotary-Southeast. He was nominated by fellow officers, who described him as highly respected within the department and a positive role model. Bader joined the department in March 1974 and served as a uniformed patrol officer, except for two years as a narcotics investigator. He has filled in as an acting corporal with extra duties, as a major crimes investigator and as acting sergeant, and for 15 years has been a hostage negotiator. Bader will retire in March 2002 after 28 years of service. |ret||ret||tab|

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SLICE OF NICE|ret||ret||tab|

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You "toucan" golf is the slogan of Wild Strokes, the third annual golf tournament to raise funds for the Dickerson Park Zoo. Beginning at 1 p.m. July 20 after a noon luncheon at Bolivar's Silo Ridge Country Club, the tournament ends with 19th Hole Awards and a Zoo "Par-Tee" folowing the afternoon round. |ret||ret||tab|

The fees are $425 per four-primate team (men, women or mixed), which includes four mulligans (do-overs, for the golf-term ignorant). |ret||ret||tab|

Corporate hole sponsorships are available for $500, and a $775 hole sponsorship covers the team fee as well. The field will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. If the afternoon flight is full, an 8 a.m. tee time will be added. Challenges include hole-in-one, closest to the hole, longest drive and other contests to bring out the animal in participants. To register, call Judi Phillips, at 417-890-2120 or Melinda Mancuso at 417-833-1570. Entry forms must be received by June 30.[[In-content Ad]]