By Staff
A meeting of the Meridian High School Band Boosters Association is set for 7 p.m. Monday in the school library. The upcoming concert band season, the annual MHS Band Banquet and other items will be discussed.
Membership in the association is $5 a year and is open to all parents, grandparents, family and friends of students. For information, call 482-2532.
Meridian to host
Once again this year, Meridian will experience a taste of New Orleans with the 2nd Annual Mardi Gras Celebration downtown in Dumont Plaza. The Friday event will feature live entertainment and New Orleans-style food. Admission is free and the fun begins at 6:30 p.m.
For information, call the Lauderdale County Tourism Bureau at 482-8001.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority hosts
Mardi Gras ball
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will host their Mardi Gras ball from 9 p.m.-1 a.m. on Feb. 2 at the Council of Organizations Building. The best female and male dancer will be crowned at the ball.
Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served. Proceeds will benefit the sorority's Relay for Life cancer teams.
For information, call 482-5438.
AARP to offer seniors
free tax service
AARP Tax Aide Service will prepare tax returns for senior citizens 60 and older free of charge every Friday at Trustmark Bank on Highway 19 North and every Monday at the Meridian/Lauderdale County Library from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The service begins Friday.
Wayne County
Chamber of Commerce hosts banquet
The Wayne County Chamber of Commerce will hold its 44th annual general membership meeting and banquet next month. This year's guest speaker will be Republican U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran.
The dinner will be 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Waynesboro City Auditorium. Tickets are $25 for non-chamber members and are available at the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce office.
For information, call Stephanie Brown at (601) 735-6056.
McRae's begins
school benefit
McRae's officials invite local schools and school organizations to participate in the store's annual "School Benefit Sale." This year's event will take place 6 a.m.-10 a.m. March 2. Participants sell tickets for $5, which entitles the purchaser to special store discounts. For information, or to sign up your organization, call 484-7809.
Nominations open
for arts awards
Nominations for the Meridian Council for the Arts "2002 Excellence in the Arts Awards" are now being accepted. The awards recognize outstanding contributions and achievement in the arts. There are four award categories:
Artist achievement;
Arts educator;
Arts patron (individual); and
Arts patron (business).
Nomination forms are available at the Meridian Arts Council's office on the third floor of City Hall, Room 304. They also can be found at the city of Meridian's Web site, www.meridianms.org.
Nomination forms must be postmarked by Feb. 22. Winners will be announced April 5 at an awards reception at Highland Park to kick off the 31st Annual Arts in the Park Festival.
Time to file for
homestead exemption
Lauderdale County Tax Assessor Jimmy Slay announces that March 29 is the deadline to file for homestead exemption.
Homeowners are encouraged to contact the tax assessor's office and fill out a new application if there has been a change in homestead exemption status for any of the following reasons:
Purchased a new home in 2001;
Death of a spouse;
First time filing for over 65 or disability;
Change in property ownership;
Change in marital status;
Change in use of property;
Change in property description;
Homestead denied the previous year; or
Change in occupancy of home.
If no changes are necessary, and you do not qualify for an additional exemption, there is no need to reapply.
For information, call 482-9779.