A free screening for newborns through children 5 years old is planned for Tuesday, July 11, at Marion Presbyterian Church, located at Lawrence and Elm.

One-hour appointments can be made from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The screening will assess development in the cognitive, social-emotional, motor and speech-language areas. Vision, hearing and nutrition will also be checked.

Call 1-877-878-4519, ext. 117, for an appointment.

Jessica Penner earns MFA

Jessica Penner graduated from Sarah Lawrence College May 19 with a master of fine arts in fiction.

Her thesis, titled "Tarred and Other Stories," is a collection of short stories about agriculture and religion in a small Kansas town.

She works as a free-lance editor/writer and instructor of English to speakers of other languages in New York, N.Y., where she resides with her husband, Thomas Smith III.

She is the daughter of Paul and Deborah Penner of Hillsboro.

Centre FFA member attends conference

Kristine Jirak of the Centre High School FFA chapter attended the 2006 Washington Leadership Conference June 13-18 in Washington, D.C.

The conference was held in cooperation with the national FFA organization and the U.S. Department of Education. It helps FFA members improve leadership skills.

Members attended workshops on persuasive communication, character leadership and building relationships.

July 12 open house for Katie Musick

An open house to celebrate Katie Musick's 100th birthday is planned for 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. July 12 at Shiloh Manor Dining Room, 602 S. Kansas, Canton.

Cake, ice cream and drink will be served. No gifts, please.

Peabody UMC to hold jazz service

The Peabody United Methodist Church will host a jazz service performed by New Savoy Band at 10:40 a.m. Sunday, July 9, at 403 Sycamore in Peabody.

The band members are Bill Harsbarger, Tim Henry, Jim Keefer and Keith Woolery.

New Savoy Band formerly played the jazz service at College Hill UMC in Wichita.

Menno Brass to play at Parkview

Parkview Mennonite Brethren Church, 610 S. Main, Hillsboro, is inviting the public to a concert by the Men O' Brass at 7 p.m., Sunday, July 9.

The concert is titled, "Practicing for Heaven."

Florence youth are collecting pennies

The Florence United Methodist Church God Squad is collecting pennies for a 30-hour famine.

The collection project is a competitive event between boys and girls.

Pennies will be counted during their 30-hour famine Aug. 4-5. In addition to raising money, the children will be fasting for 30 hours and doing community service projects on those days.

The "famine," a project of World Vision, is geared toward raising awareness and funds to help feed children in war-torn countries.

For information about penny dropoffs, call Kara Hinton 620-878-4597. For info about World Vision or the 30-hour famine, visit www.30hourfamine.org

Hildred Wiebe to celebrate 100th

The family of Hildred Wiebe invites friends and relatives to help celebrate her 100th birthday from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 8, at the First Mennonite Church in Hillsboro.

The family requests no gifts.