Local Digest

By Staff
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.
VFW Post 3996 holding annual fish fry
The Frank Foster VFW Post 3996 will host its annual Spring Fish Fry and fund-raiser for the Boys and Girls Club and LOVE's Kitchen on April 6. The event will begin at 9 a.m. at the Kendallwood Building at Highland Park. Plates are $5, sandwiches are $3. Call 485-1813 to place take-out orders.
Care Lodge seeks 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
Tickets on sale for Art of Love and Hope
The Art of Love and Hope, a benefit concert to raise money for LOVE's Kitchen and Hope Village for Children, will be April 13 at Union Station in downtown Meridian. The 6:30 p.m. concert will feature the Del Rendon Band.
VIP tickets are $20 and include a catered reception before the event; general admission tickets are $10. Tickets are available at the Music Emporium, the Sound Shop and the Chunky River Harley Davidson Burell.
Deadline nears for LAWS class
The Lauderdale Association of Women Shooters Class will be 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 Monday, 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.
Bailey VFD holding fund-raiser
The Bailey Volunteer Fire Department is beginning a fund-raiser. Volunteers will be going door-to-door asking for donations and representatives will be calling homes and businesses served by the fire department. A complimentary 10 x 13 family portrait will be given to everyone who donates. All proceeds will to go the purchase of new equipment and supplies for the department.
Kiwanis barbecue
The Kiwanis Club of Meridian will hold its annual barbecue on Wednesday, May 1 from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Farmer's Market adjacent to Union Station. Plates of pulled pork, beans, cole slaw, bread and soft drink cost $6, with all proceeds going to charitable projects of the club.