CITY program sponsors open house

By Staff
Melissa Cason
The C.I.T.Y. program will host their annual open house and silent auction on Thursday, Dec. 5 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Ramona Roberson, director, said this year the open house gives the community an opportunity to come in and see what's going on in the program. The program has been getting ready for the event for the past several months.
"Ms. Carol Poss has been working on our decorations and we are all decked out for the holidays already," Roberson said.
Roberson said students who have completed the program during the year will be recognized and the Friend of the Year award will be given out the night of the event.
"We will recognize over 15 students who have successfully completed the program this year," Roberson said.
Judge Sharon Hindman-Hester will be presented with the Friend of the Year award.
"Judge Hester was judge when our program started in 1999," Roberson said. "All the staff and students appreciate the work she's done for the program. She has a keen interest in the students here."
In addition to the awards and recognition, there will be a silent auction held during the open house.
"This year the women's group at First Baptist Church is sponsoring the silent auction," Roberson said.
Yvonne Lewis, group member, said the ladies group has been working on getting items for the auction this year.
"We wanted to become involved with local mission work," Lewis said. "So we decided to sponsor the silent auction."
Roberson said while there will be different items placed for bidding the two big ticket items are autographed by Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban.
"We have a football and baseball cap signed by Nick Saban that we are going to auction off this year," Roberson said. "We were really blessed to get these items."
Roberson said everyone is invited to attend the open house, which will be held just after the Russellville Christmas parade.
"A couple of years ago we accidentally scheduled the event on the same night as the parade, but it turned out we had more of a crowd so we have had the open house the same night ever since," she concluded.