On the Street

At the carwash

The Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau will have its annual car wash for tourists 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 13 at the Tourist Information Center, 3315 E. Battlefield Road. The event is the CVB's way of showing appreciation to visitors during National Tourism Week May 10-18.

Healthy deer

According to Missouri Department of Conservation officials, laboratory tests have found no Missouri deer with chronic wasting disease, but the MDC plans to continue testing in the future. The Conservation Department took tissue samples from 5,972 deer killed by hunters during the November 2002 firearms deer season. Also tested were 400 deer taken by hunters in managed deer hunts and a smaller number of apparently sick deer that were reported as part of a surveillance program. None of the deer tested positive for chronic wasting disease, which belongs to a group of diseases known to affect only members of the deer family.

For the birds

For the third spring, the Springfield-Greene County Health Department is collecting information on dead indicator birds in an effort to track West Nile virus activity in the county. The department is tracking three indicator species: blue jays, crows and hawks. Dead animals may be reported by calling the health department at 417-864-1658 or by using the online reporting form available at www.westnilefilespringfield.org. Birds that are decomposed, mauled by animals or that were killed by vehicles should not be reported. The department primarily is looking for birds that died recently, or seem to be dying with no apparent injuries. Residents should note, though, that dead birds can carry a variety of diseases and therefore should never be handled with bare hands.

Slice of nice

The 2nd annual Children's Miracle Network Spring Scramble will be held May 9 at Rivercut Golf Course. The tournament begins with an 8 a.m. shotgun start and concludes with lunch and prizes. The individual entry fee is $125, which covers cart, lunch, gift bag and contest holes. Proceeds will benefit CoxHealth's Children's Miracle Network and its CARE mobile. To register or for more information, call 417-269-5437.

Twice of nice

The 3rd annual Fred Cobb Scramble & Gamble will begin with a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. May 10 at Deer Lake Country Club. Held by the Knights of Columbus, the event benefits The Kitchen Inc. The tournament is a two-man scramble. Following the tournament, charity casino festivities will begin at 6 p.m. The entry fee is $100 per person, which provides golf, lunch, casino and dinner for two. Tickets to the casino festivities are available for $20 per person. Deadline for entries is May 7. Call David Cobb at 417-862-7780 for more information or visit www.kofc698.com.