Local Digest

By Staff
Northeast students announce memory tree'
Nov. 30, 2000
Northeast Lauderdale Middle School students have established the first annual Christmas Memory Tree, dedicated in memory of family and friends who are no longer with us. Rev. Rick Wise will preside over the dedication and lighting of the tree today at 6 p.m.
For a donation of $10, which will help support the Student Activity Fund, a personalized Christmas ball and a light will be placed on the tree and a card placed beside the tree.
For information, call Amy Garrett or Bill Russell at 483-3532 or Betsy Garrett at 679-8523.
Homemakers club announces Christmas fair
The Clarke County Homemaker Volunteers have scheduled Creative Christmas in Clarke County for Friday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Multi-purpose Building in Quitman.
There will be food, crafts, woodwork and much more. Steak plates will be sold for $6 each. The table set-up fee is $6 for each table used. Tables may be reserved by calling 776-3951.
MADD to host candlelight vigil
The members of the Lauderdale County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving will hold their annual Candlelight Vigil of Remembrance and Hope.
This memorial service is held each year to remember the victims of drunk driving accidents, to support their families, to alert the public about the consequences of drunk driving and to express hope for a less violent future.
The service will be held Friday at 7 p.m. at Union Station.
Southeast Lauderdale band to present concert
The Southeast Lauderdale High School Band will present a Christmas concert Saturday at noon at Bonita Lakes Mall, in front of J.C. Penney. The band will also perform Dec. 14, at 7 p.m., at the Southeast High School Gym.
Concert to benefit victims of fire
A benefit concert featuring Jennifer Whitley will be presented Saturday, 6 p.m., at the Temple Theater in downtown Meridian.
Proceeds from the concert will be used to help members of the Grace McGlothin family, who recently lost their home to fire. Josh McGlothin, a junior at Meridian High School, was injured in the blaze. He has not regained consciousness and is undergoing treatment for smoke inhalation in Slidell, La. Family members are optimistic that he will recover, but need help to pay his medical expenses.
Whitley will be singing a variety of Christmas songs. Tickets are $5 a person, children 4 and under will be admitted free. For ticket information, call 481-6938.
Hospice Care Foundation to host fund-raiser
A "Christmas Corner" fund-raiser sponsored by Hospice Care Foundation will be held Saturday at the VFW Post #1493, Highway 16 East in Philadelphia. The event will begin at 8 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m.
Items featured include country crafts and quilting, antiques, home interiors and a bake sale. Limited vendor space is available. Booths are $15 each and may be reserved by calling 389-2006.
Admission is free with the purchase of a plate lunch or a $1 donation at the door. Tickets are available for plate lunches by calling 389-2006.
Proceeds will furnish medicines and supplies for patients unable to afford them at Hospice Care Foundation. The foundation is a non-profit organization that cares for the terminally ill.
MCC holiday concert set for Sunday
Residents can usher in the holidays with Meridian Community College's Ho-Ho-Ho-liday Concert Sunday at 3 p.m. in Ivy Hall Theater.
Bells will be jingling and snow will be falling when the MCC Chorus, the MCC Singers and the MCC Brass Choir roll out a lavish concert. This family program will feature a gift-bearing Santa, elves and a sleigh.
For tickets to this Arts and Letters Series concert, call Michele Thames at 484-8696.
FCA to meet at Blackwater Baptist Church
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes will meet Sunday at 11 a.m. at Blackwater Baptist Church. The church is located on Highway 39 North in Kemper County.
The public is invited to attend the service and share refreshments afterwards. This event is being co-sponsored by the FCA chapters at Northeast Lauderdale High School and Kemper Academy. The guest speaker will be former Mississippi State football player Brian Hazelwood.
Main Street Meridian announces holiday events
Main Street Meridian announces the following line-up of upcoming holiday events.
Dec. 7, art exhibit opening night, Bonnie Busbee Art Frame &Gallery, 5 p.m.
Dec. 7, Meridian's tree-lighting ceremony, 5:30 p.m.; Christmas parade, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 8, Christmas fair with crafts, entertainment, food and beverages, Dumont Plaza downtown, 5 to 9 p.m. Free admission.
Dec. 8, Meridian Museum of Art art auction, 7 p.m.
Dec. 9, The "Nutcracker" by the Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet Guild, 7 p.m., Temple Theatre
Dec. 14, St. Paul's Chamber Music Series "Brown Bag" concert, 12:05 p.m.
Dec. 14, "Men of Style: A Main Street Downtown Holiday Fantasy Men's Fashion Extravaganza," with entertainment, food and beverages showcasing downtown men's clothiers, 7 p.m., Temple Theatre ballroom. Admission is $5. Proceeds go to charity.
Dec. 22-23, Free movies for the kids, Temple Theatre, noon
For more information, call the Main Street office at 484-6841.
Welcome center hosts open house
The Lauderdale County Welcome Center will host "The Season of Lights" at a Christmas open house Friday, Dec. 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The center is located on Interstate 20 West/Interstate 59 South in Toomsuba. The public is invited to attend.
J.C. Simmons to hold book signing
J.C. Simmons, a native of Union, will sign copies of his two recent mystery-thriller novels, "Blood on the Vine" and "Blind Overlook," at Books-A-Million on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 12 noon to 3 p.m.
MLT hosts Holiday Tour of Homes
Meridian Little Theatre volunteers will present the Holiday Tour of Homes on Sunday, Dec. 10, from 1 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the tour. Homeowners featured this year include Danny and Linda Hill, Mark and Leslie Phillips, Ed and Rhonda Poole and Frank and Ricki Tucker.
Tickets are available at the following locations: Rhonda's Connection, Saxon's, Hart Hall, Point Rexall, Reflections and Great Southern National Bank's North Hills location.
For more information, call Mary Anne Catlett at 482-0325 and Kaye Dickson at 483-6406.