Heard on the Street

TENT'S UP SUMMER'S HERE

The white big-top tent with green-and-orange trim has gone up on the campus of Southwest Missouri State University marking the start of summer and of the SMSU repertory company's 39th season, according to Mark Templeton, marketing director. Three shows are offered this summer starting June 21 "Pirates of Penzance," one of Gilbert and Sullivan's most popular collaborations, "Catfish Moon," a story of friendship, love and loss set in the Deep South, and "Trixie True, Teen Detective," a Nancy Drew spoof, directed by visiting professor of theater and dance, David Moore. Call for tickets at 417-836-SMSU or 888-4-SMS-TIX.

BEAUTIFUL BODIES, HIGHWAYS

Missouri's Department of Transportation has come up with a unique way to encourage volunteers to adopt a highway to keep clean exercise your body and burn calories while picking up trash! In cooperation with the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, the "Pick Up for Fitness" program teaches "Litter-Getter" exercises that fitness experts say can help a volunteer burn up to 300 calories an hour picking up trash, said Stacy Armstrong, MoDOT's Adopt-A-Highway coordinator. Do the "Styrofoam squat" by squatting down to nab a piece of litter, or the "garbage grab" by bending over with knees slightly bent, then reach out and grab a piece of trash to stash. Armstrong said an illustrated version of the 10 Litter-Getter exercises is available from MoDOT's Web site, www.modot.state.mo.us.

COUNTING WILDLIFE ACTIVITIES

As part of its job, the U.S. Census Bureau has started contacting 80,000 households nationwide to check out their wildlife-related recreation habits. The survey, conducted every five years, helps state and federal natural resources agencies to plan, implement and evaluate programs to protect and restore wildlife resources, according to a news release from the United States Department of Commerce. In 1996, the last time the survey was done, it was discovered that 77 million U.S. residents 16 years old and over enjoyed some form of wildlife recreation. That number reflected 35 million fishermen, 14 million hunters and 69 million people who observed, photographed or fed wildlife. Preliminary findings of the new survey will be ready by summer 2002, with a final report in the fall of that year.

TURN YOUR PHONE BOOK INTO LITTER

Another sign of summer is a new telephone book on the front porch. But what about the old ones? The 12th annual Project Redirectory campaign offers drop-off locations throughout the area where old phone books are collected to be turned into cat litter by local company Canbrands International. Or, when you order pizza from Domino's, give the delivery person your old books (along with a tip). Pat Bly, regional manager for Southwestern Bell Telephone, which helps sponsor the project, said "We're encouraging everyone to pitch in to help this important environmental effort ... Picture 17 mature trees and landfill space the size of a typical bedroom, and you have an idea of what is saved for each ton of directories that recycles." Drop-off sites include Dillons Food Stores, Bass Pro Shops Sunshine Street parking lot, St. John's Regional Health Center, Cox Medical Center (north and south), Waste Corporation of American, 2120 W. Bennett and the city's recycling centers at 3020 S. Lone Pine, south of Battlefield, and 731 N. Franklin. In the region, other locations include Wal-Mart and the recycling center in Branson, the Country Mart store in Hollister, Sparta City Hall and recycling centers in Bolivar, Buffalo, Marshfield, Nixa, Ozark, Seymour and Strafford. Other sponsors include American Disposal, Boys & Girls Town of Missouri, Camp Fire Boys & Girls Ozarks Council and Midwest Fiber Sales.

SLICE (OR HOOK?) OF NICE

A benefit four-person scramble golf tournament is set for May 25 at Dream Valley Golf Course in Buffalo to raise funds for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. Sponsored by Relay for Life teams from the Dallas County Division of Family Services and Colonial Springs Healthcare Center in that town, the event will pay cash prizes for four places in four flights. The $200 team entry fee includes 18 holes of golf, golf carts, lunch and drinks, and special contests, including hole-in-one, closest to the pin and the longest drive, according to a news release from Linda Wieland Ankrom of Citizen's Memorial Healthcare in Bolivar. Those golfers needing extra help may purchase two mulligans for $5. In case of rain, the tourney will be held June 15. For more information or to register contact the golf course at 417-345-4653 or Robert McMillian or Bill Goins at Colonial Springs, 417-345-2228.