This Saturday may be a perfect time to join a national volunteer effort that encourages visitors of public lands to give back to the areas where they hike, bike, swim and explore.
Residents who would like to help repair damage caused by vandals at the Wolf Creek Trail are asked to meet at the trailhead from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.
The effort is led by the U.S. Forest Service-Mark Twain National Forest staff.
“It won’t just look as good as it did, it will look even better,” forest service staff said. “There will also be trail brushing and trash pickup as part of this National Public Lands Day volunteer event. Please bring work gloves, wear sturdy shoes (recommend boots), safety glasses, and ear protection if you plan to operate equipment.”
For more information on this event, contact Danny Olivas at 573-870-0581 or by email at danny.w.olivas-zuniga@usda.gov.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways is also hosting volunteer events at locations along the Jacks Fork River and middle Current River. Registration will begin at 10 a.m. at the Burr Oak pavilion at Alley Spring.
“(National Public Lands Day) began in 1994 with three federal agencies and 700 volunteers,” park service staff said. “It is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance public lands.”
Volunteers will have the opportunity to collect trash or participate in other projects to improve or maintain the park sites below. Volunteers receive a free T-shirt along with one fee-free coupon for admission to any national park after participating in a National Public Lands Day project. Everyone is encouraged to return to the Burr Oak pavilion by 4 p.m. where prizes will be awarded for various categories.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways project locations include: Alley Spring; Bay Creek; Buck Hollow; Blue Spring (Jacks Fork River); Rymers; Two Rivers; Rocky Falls/Klepzig Mill/Roberts Field; Owls Bend/Powder Mill; Blue Spring (Current River); and Log Yard.
For more information, contact Skyler Bockman at 573-858-3397, visit the park’s Facebook page, or its website at www.nps.gov/ozar.
Other upcoming events include:
— 2022 Women Aware Conference, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sept. 22. WHERE Black River Coliseum. COST $40-$50. WHAT Women Aware, Inc.’s annual conference. This year’s keynote speaker is award-winning author Christine Cashen. Tickets available at 2022womenaware.eventbrite.com.
— Butler County Exhibits & More, 5 p.m. Sept. 22-1 p.m. Sept. 24. WHERE Black River Coliseum. WHAT Entries from painting and photography to baking and vegetables. 5-8 p.m. Sept. 22; 7-10 a.m., 4-8 p.m. Sept. 23; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 24.
— Tim Lovelace presented by Patrons of the Arts, 7 p.m. Sept. 23 WHERE Three Rivers College COST $15 WHAT Funnyman Tim Lovelace pairs his award-winning musical talents with crystal clean humor for a comedy concert that will entertain the entire family.
— Shipyard Music Festival, Sept. 23-24 WHERE Century Casino Cape Girardeau COST $37-125 WHAT The two-day event features more than a dozen bands, offering a variety of music. Events begin at 6 p.m. Sept. 23 and start again at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 24. The lineup includes: Friday, The Burney Sisters, followed by Mike Renick, Lowdown Brass Band, Arkansauce and Yonder Mountain String Band: Saturday, Hunter Hathcoat, Wildermiss, Pfunk Dat, Mike Mains & The Branches, Jessie Ritter, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Logan Chapman, Grizfolk, Jeremy Todd, Maggie Rose, Hounds and Samantha Fish.
— Informational meeting, Lake Wappapello, 10 a.m. Sept. 24 WHERE Lake Wappapello State Park COST Free WHAT As part of an ongoing effort by Missouri State Parks to ensure citizens have input regarding the facilities and services offered in state parks and historic sites, informational meetings will be held throughout 2022. Park representatives will provide information on future plans for the facility and answer questions. Visitors are invited to share feedback and suggestions about park services and operations.
— 13th Iron Horse Festival, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 24. WHERE Downtown Poplar Bluff. COST Free. WHAT A day of live local entertainment, food, arts & crafts vendors and free children’s activities such as games, and bounce houses and more. Presented by Sparklight.
— Fisk fall festival, 9 a.m. Sept. 24 WHERE Fisk Park COST Free WHAT During the event, there will be carnival games, a fish fry, barbecue, a 50/50 drawing and a parade with a car show. Proceeds from the festival are utilized for a kids’ Christmas fund as well as future festivals.
— No One Walks Alone - Suicide Prevention Awareness Walk, 4-6 p.m. Sept. 24. WHERE Three Rivers College COST Free WHAT Prevention Awareness Walk sponsored by The Mental Health Coalition. Walk with us along the trail at Three Rivers College to help raise awareness for suicide prevention. This is a free event, open to the public.
— Third Annual Poplar Bluff Train Depot Dinner and Auction, 6 p.m. Sept. 24 WHERE Historic depot, 400 S. Main St. COST Tickets are $45 WHAT All proceeds benefit the restoration of the depot. The evening includes live and silent auctions and a catered dinner by Tasteful Creations.
— Stoddard County Fair Demo Derby, 6 p.m. Sept. 24 WHERE Stoddard County Fairgrounds COST $5-$40 WHAT Race starts at 6 p.m., inspections of vehicles will be from 2-5 p.m. 50 car limit for each class. Payouts of up to $3,000 for first place.
—Sporting Clays Shoot-Out, 2 p.m. Sept. 25. WHERE Black River Ranch, 820 Honeysuckle Ln. COST A two-person team is $100. WHAT An afternoon of clay shooting to support the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Ammo and lunch provided, raffles will be held. Registration begins at 1 p.m., or contestants can register ahead of by contacting Josh Mills at joshmills@fca.org or 573-258-0730.
— Free Senior Health Fair, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 27. WHERE Twin Towers apartments at 506 Hazel St. COST Free. WHAT Health screenings, eye glass adjustments, vaccinations, community services, health education, door prizes and more for anyone age 50 or older. Over 50 area businesses will be on site. For more information, call 573-686-8624.
— College Transfer Fair, Sept. 28. WHERE Three Rivers College campus, Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center, Room 108 COST Free WHAT A chance to meet with four-year colleges about their programs, transfer/admissions requirements, scholarships, and financial aid. More than a dozen colleges are expected to be in attendance.
— Fields of Faith in Malden, 7 p.m. Sept. 28. WHERE Malden High School Football Field. COST Free. WHAT Annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes event featuring worship and a message centered around this year’s FCA theme, “Every,” from Ephesians 1:3. A free tailgate will be held before the event starts. More information is available on the SEMO South FCA and Southeast Missouri FCA Facebook pages.
— Trucks Gone Wild, 9 a.m. Sept. 29 through 4 p.m. Oct. 2. COST Tickets are $25-$250. WHERE Brick’s Off Road Park in Fairdealing. WHAT Second annual Trucks Gone Wild, also featuring Truck Tug O Wars, Mud Bogging, and miles of trails. Additionally, there will be a nightly Dance Party with DJ’s ToGo. Tickets and more information available on bricksoffroadpark.com/events.
— Butler County CRC Community Outreach Day, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 30. WHERE First United Methodist Church. COST Free. WHAT A one-stop shop of free services including housing, medical, grocery, employment, social services, clothing, haircuts and more. ID is not required for the event, but visitors are encouraged to bring two forms of identification if they have them.
— Butler County Fair, gates open 5 p.m. Sept. 30 WHERE Ray Clinton Park WHAT Activities will be held Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, with food trucks and vendors on site through the weekend. Schedule includes: open rodeo 7:30 p.m. Sept. 30; and on Oct. 1, 1 p.m. lawn mower pulling, 5 p.m. live entertainment and 7 p.m. truck and tractor pulls.
— FRSH WATR Worship Night, 7 p.m. Sept. 30. COST Free. WHERE The Historic Rodgers Theatre. WHAT A night of worship for all people. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. All ages are welcome.
Don’t see your event? Let us know what you’ve got coming up and we’ll add it. Just email dailyamericanrepublic@gmail.com.