Heard on the Street

MY BLUES HEAVEN

The Greater Ozarks Blues Festival returns to downtown Springfield Sept. 8 and 9. The festival kicks off at the Springfield Brewing Company Sept. 8 with music from Chump Change, Blind Mississippi Morris and Saffire Uppity Blues Women. Sept. 9 the festival continues at the corner of South and McDaniel. The event includes the Blues Crawl on both nights, lots of blues and the Gospel Stage, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sept. 9. Ticket packages range from $7 to $30. Other fall events include the Altstadt Festival, an Octoberfest celebration, Oct. 14, and Neewollah (Halloween spelled backward) Oct. 31. For more information on the Blues Festival, visit www.greaterozarksbluesfest.com; for more information on downtown events, visit www.ddec.net.

COMBAT

Community Based Anti-Drug Training will be held 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 24 at the Executive Conference Center, 910 W. Battlefield. The in-depth seminar will provide information about leases and drug evictions, how the legal system handles drug cases, crime prevention, what an actual meth lab looks like and what to do if it's on your property or in your neighborhood, what's involved in meth lab cleanup and how to be part of the solution. Information will be presented by attorneys, Greene County prosecutors, the police and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency. Sponsored by the Greater Springfield Apartment & Housing Association, the program is for homeowners, rental property owners or managers, on-site employees, Realtors, developers, neighborhood association members, civic leaders and community members. The cost is $30. For more information, call 883-4942.

HOT WATER

Local couples will find out just how well they really know each other at the sixth annual "The (Not So) Newlywed Game." Jerry Jacob of KY3 will moderate the event, which raises funds for the Ozarks Counseling Center. Couples in the hot seat this year are Ted and Lisa Hamaker, Barry and Angie Hinson, Gary and Bridgitte Leonard, Marty and Trish Marsh, and Randy and Lisa Rose. The evening of laughs and gaffes begins with opening entertainment and includes a silent auction at intermission. Tickets are $20 and are available from Ozarks Counseling Center at 869-9011 and from OCC board members.

CHICKEN

The Exchange Club's 44th annual Chicken Bar-B-Que will be held Sept. 7 at Pat Jones River Park, 10.3 miles east of Springfield on Division Street. Tickets are $12 and will be available at the gate or from Exchange Club members, and chicken will be served 6-8 p.m. The event raises funds for charitable gifts toward community needs. The rain date is the following Thursday. Call 865-7269 for more information.