On the Record

CHILI TIME

The 22nd annual Sertoma Chili Cook-Off to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs is scheduled for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 15 at the University Plaza Trade Center. There is still time for teams to enter the cook-off, and the team entry fee is $75. Teams can include as many as 10 people, representing a business, club or just a group of friends. Festivities will include sampling chili entries that will range from mild or exotic to very, very hot. Area musical groups also will perform and an auction will be held at 2 p.m. for several items including a fishing boat and trailer, a replica Wurlitzer jukebox CD player and a motor scooter. A silent auction also will be held.

Tickets to the cook-off are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Tickets are available from Sertoma club members, at Springfield area Dillon's stores and at Price Cutter stores. They also can be purchased at the Sertoma office at 318 S. Campbell.

Proceeds from this year's Sertoma Chili Cook-Off will help pay to finish the gymnasium at the new Stalnaker Unit Boys and Girls Club and provide a shuttle for the new facility. Details, rules and entry forms for the cook-off are available online at www.sertomachilicookoff.com, or by calling cook-off chairperson Kathy Staudt at (417) 863-1231.

OUTREACH ELECTIONS

Public elections for the University of Missouri Outreach and Extension Councils will be held throughout the state this month, and citizens 18 or older are eligible to vote in their counties of residence. In most cases, polling takes place at local University Outreach and Extension Centers during normal business hours, but voters also can request a ballot by mail. The election in Greene County will be held Jan. 20-24; voters may call (417) 862-9284 to request ballots. County extension councils, which are mandated by state statutes, are the governing bodies for local educational opportunities provided by University Outreach & Extension. Educational programs address several issues, including agriculture, horticulture, nutrition, consumer and family economics, business and industry, community development and youth development.

SLICE OF NICE

Nominations for the Third Annual Everyday Heroes Breakfast must be postmarked to the local American Red Cross by Jan. 31. Area residents can nominate heroes in 12 categories: education, family, firefighter, adult good Samaritan, youth good Samaritan, industrial hero, community justice/Woodruff hero, law enforcement/ Woodruff hero, adult lifesaver, youth lifesaver, medical hero and military hero. The consideration period for heroic acts is Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2002; however, eligible heroes are not required to have saved lives, just to have made a difference. The Third Annual Everyday Heroes Breakfast will be held March 20 at the University Plaza Convention Center. For additional information or to receive nomination forms, call the American Red Cross at (417) 832-9500 or visit www.redcross-ozarks.org.