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 By  Staff Reports Published 
11:48 pm Tuesday, March 26, 2002

Local Digest

By Staff
March 26, 2002
Silverleaf Manor hosts spring fling
Silverleaf Manor will host a Front Porch Spring Fling Thursday at 2 p.m. Entertainment and hot dogs will be provided. In the event of rain, the event will move indoors. It is open to the public.
MHS Band Boosters to meet
The Meridian High School Band Boosters Association will host a meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday in the new MHS Band Hall. Second semester uniform and transportation fees of $40 per student are now due. The annual MHS Band Banquet will be discussed. Parents of students in the marching band and concert band are encouraged to attend. For information, call 482-2532.
Way of the Cross set for Good Friday
Way of the Cross/Way of Peace, an annual march in remembrance of Christ's last day, is set for Good Friday. The event will begin at noon at the Lauderdale County Courthouse on Constitution Avenue and continue through downtown Meridian, making stops at 14 stations representing Holy places. The public is invited to walk along. For more information, call Sister Andr Burkhart at 693-1321.
International Miss Youth holds fund-raiser
International Miss Youth Development Program will be selling hamburger plates Friday, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., at Highland Park in Meridian. The cost is $5 per plate and orders of five or more plates can be delivered. Proceeds will benefit local girls in the program. To purchase tickets, or for information, call 693-8645.
Martin VFD holding fund-raiser
The Martin Volunteer Fire Department will have its annual fund-raiser beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday. Chicken plates cost $5. Antiques, gel candles, baskets, wood crafts, painted gourds and more will be on sale. All money raised will benefit the department. Martin VFD is located on Newton-Martin Road. For more information, call Robin Shelton at 693-9733.
Easter Egg hunt set for Saturday
The Meridian Parks &Recreation Department will host an Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m., at Highland Park. Children will be divided into four age groups, 3- to 4-year-olds, 5- to 7-year-olds, 8- to 10-year-olds and 11- to 12-year-olds. The hunt includes 2,000 eggs filled with candy and prizes.
Seminar to help fathers set for Saturday
The Seven Secrets of Effective Fathers seminar will be Saturday, from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at Union Station. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
For information, call Bill Harper Sr. at 482-9863 or Barbara Smith at 481-1961.
Calvary Christian School holding fund-raiser
On April 1, Calvary Christian School will raise money to benefit the school. With help from the Meridian Coca-Cola Bottling Co. and radio station Z-102, the school will be selling Coke products as a fund-raiser. The public is invited to participate in the event.
Meet Gene Taylor' set for April 1
The public is invited to special "Meet Congressman Gene Taylor" meeting on April 1, at 3 p.m., at the Quitman Depot in Quitman.
MDA fishing tournament set for April 6
The Gamma Zeta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order at the University of Southern Mississippi will host the 4th Annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Fishing Tournament on April 6. The tournament will take place at Okatibbee Lake on the Collinsville Water Park side. The entry fee is $50 a boat ($25 a person). The weigh-in will be at 3:30 p.m.
For information, call Chris Boozer at (601) 917-7853 or John Elias at (601) 583-2582.
Carousels Abound auction set for April 6
The Around Town Carousels Abound Auction Gala is set for April 6, at 7 p.m., at Meridian Little Theatre. Sen. Trent Lott and actress Sela Ward will host the event. The live auction of tabletop carousel horses will be at 8:30 p.m. Advance reservations are required and tickets are $75 per person. Online bidding is available at www.carouselsabound.com.
For information, call 483-5027 or 485-1122.
St. Patrick School holds fund-raiser
St. Patrick School will hold a fund-raiser rummage sale and catfish dinner April 6, from 7 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Highway 19 North. Dinners are $5 each. For information, call LaFondra Kenney at 482-6044.
Care Lodge needs volunteers
Care Lodge Domestic Violence Shelter is looking for new volunteers. Anyone interested in joining the Care Lodge team should call the office for an application. A Volunteer Training Workshop is scheduled for April 8, from 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. For information, call 482-8719.
Deadline nears for Mrs. Mississippi-America Pageant
The Mrs. Mississippi-America Pageant is now accepting applications for the 2002 competition. This year's pageant will be at the Grand Casino Theatre in Biloxi May 15-16. The deadline is April 12. You must be 18 years old, a resident of Mississippi for at least six months, a U.S. citizen and married as of the day of the competition. For more information, call (228) 872-3872 or e-mail www.mrsamerica.com
Deadline nears for LAWS class
The Lauderdale Association of Women Shooters Class will be held April 20, at 9 a.m., at Bonita Lakes Mall Meeting Place and April 27, at 8 a.m., at the Firing Range. The class covers gun safety, selection, care and legal responsibilities and is conducted by a NRA certified instructors. Those attending will have the opportunity to practice shooting skills once a month as member of LAWS.
Reservations must be received by April 12. For more information, call Virginia E. Hodges at 483-4634 or Mildred Thompson at 485-5725.
Art on display at Welcome Center, Jean's Restaurant
The Meridian Art Museum Artist Group is having an exhibition of member works at the Mississippi Welcome Center in Toomsuba. The work will be on display through April.
The group is also showing at Jean's Restaurant on Front Street in the Blue Room. Since the closing of Weidmann's where the work was shown on a rotating basis in the 1812 Room, the group has been exhibiting at Jean's. Each piece is individually priced and may be purchased at the restaurant.
Vimville VFD holding fund-raiser
The Vimville Volunteer Fire Department is holding its annual fund-raiser. Volunteers will go door-to-door through April 1, handing out flyers about how to make donations through East Mississippi Electric Power Association and Long Creek Water Association bills. Donations will go to training and equipment at the fire department.
Grants available for faith-based organizations
The Partnership for a Healthy Lauderdale County, the local partner for the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, is accepting applications for grants to faith-based organizations.
Applications, which will be awarded in $2,000 allotments, can be obtained from the Partnership for a Healthy Lauderdale County by calling 696-4472 or on the Web site at www.healthy-miss.org.

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