In Our Community

The Calhoun County Junior Miss Scholarship program is to be at 7 p.m. today at the JSU/Gadsden State Consortium Auditorium at Fort McClellan. The cost is $5 at the door. The following girls are to participate in the program: Katherine Acker, Christiane Smedley and Haley Elders representing Wellborn High School; Quinterra Floyd, Jillian Miles and Minter Newman representing Jacksonville High School; Taylor Ford representing Piedmont High School; Heather Hill representing Faith Christian; Gilda Osborn representing The Donoho School; and Elisa Boyd representing Weaver High School. Call 393-9853 for more information.

The Saks High School class of 1988 20-year reunion is to be Sept. 6. Call Cherie Walker Prickett at 820-6649 or Temeah Borders Harrelson at 225-2526 for more information.

The Pleasant Valley High School class of 1988 is to hold a reunion on Aug. 30. If you were a class member and have not received any information on the upcoming reunion, please contact Tracy Phillips at 782-7055 or LuAnne Wright at 435-5839.

A Red Cross Blood Drive is to be 1-6 p.m. Tuesday at Heflin Baptist Church fellowship hall, 155 Almon St., behind Colonial Bank. The drive is in memory of the pastor's 31-year-old son-in-law, Adrian Lanning. Call 463-2576 or e-mail Brandon Owens at bowenshbc@centurytel.net for more information.

The Cub and Boy Scouts are accepting membership to its programs. Boys in the first grade to fifth grade are eligible to join Cub Scouting. Boys ages 11 or who have completed the fifth grade can join Boy Scouting. Also, co-ed youth ages 14-20 can join Venturing, a high-adventure program or Exploring, a career-based program. Call (205) 970-0251 for the Birmingham Service Center or 883-7071 for the Huntsville Service Center.

The Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama's registration is open for the 2008-09-program year. The Girl Scout experience enables girl's ages 5-17 to grow into strong young women by providing opportunities that help shape their futures. Girl Scouts explore leadership, business, science, travel, adventure, health, sports and technology. Call Kristi Yates at 237-2825 or e-mail kyates@girlscoutsnca.org or visit www.girlscoutsnca.org for more information.

Doris Hann, trips director for the Elliott Senior Citizens Center and Doris's Friends of Gadsden, announces a trip planned for Nov. 16-27 to Branson, Mo. Deadline for payment is Sept. 10. The cost of $635 is for seven days/six nights and includes seven shows and 10 meals. Call 492-3465 for more information.

The Positive Christian Singles are to meet at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 1 at Western Sizzlin', room 5, in Oxford, call 820-3536 for more information.

A Labor Day BB-Q is to be 6 p.m., open partner dart tournament at 7 p.m. and Karaoke by Shawn Houston at 9 p.m. Aug. 30 at Fraternal Order of Eagles 4295, 4006 Old Birmingham Highway. No cover charge. Proceeds are to go toward various charities. Call 235-2502 for more information.

American Sign Language community classes are to be offered in the fall from 5:15-7:15 p.m. (registration 4:30-5 p.m.) Sept. 2-Oct. 21 at E.H. Gentry, 1105 Ft. Lashley Ave. in Talladega. The fee is $40 per person with a required text, Signing Naturally. Levels one through four and a children's class for ages 6-12 are to be offered. Call Katerri Krebs at 761-4392 or e-mail krebs.katererri@aidb.state.al.us for more information.

The Downtown Farmers Market is scheduled for just two more Saturdays at Zinn Park. Today, enjoy an ice cream social and Street Rod exhibit. On the closing Saturday, Aug. 30, there will be live music all morning long. Door prizes and Starbucks coffee are also available. Beginning Sept. 6 there will be a late season market at Pickette's on Hwy. 21. Call 236-0996 for more information.

The Calhoun County Master Gardeners "White Elephant Sale" is to be 8 a.m.-noon Sept. 13 at Cane Creek Community Gardens at McClellan. Call the County Extension off at 237-1621 for more information.

The Descendants of James Bailey Reed are in search of any known relatives of his, Ed Reed or Earnest Reed. Relatives of Ed Reed settled in the Anniston area in the early 1800s before the Civil War possibly coming from Tennessee, Virginia or the Carolinas. Earnest Reed settled in northern Louisiana. The family is trying to compile some genealogical information and would appreciate any help in this matter. Send any information you may have to Donna Reed Morris by e-mail at d2morris@shelbyed.k12.al.us or by mail to: Donna Reed Morris, 279 Highway 49, Columbiana, AL 35051.

In Ohatchee in past elections, there has been confusion regarding who is allowed to vote in the municipal election. To avoid this situation on Tuesday, please act now. If you have any doubt about your home being within the limits of the town of Ohatchee (particularly on the lake side of US 77), please call town clerk Kelli Lee now at 892-3232 or 892-3233 to verify your residency.

Anniston Noon Rotary Club seeks area professionals for Goodwill exchange to Brazil in March and April of 2009. Young adults between the ages of 25 and 40 who are interested in applying should be employed full-time in a business or profession. Applications are due by Monday. Call Ken Hoffman at 435-7739 or e-mail klhoffman@cableone.net. Eligible applicants are to be interviewed in late September.

A community wellness walk is to be at 9 a.m. (registration 8-8:45 a.m.) Sept. 6 starting at The Bridge, First United Methodist Church on Noble Street. The event, sponsored by Jacksonville State University Wellness-Anniston, is free and open to the public. Call 241-3399 or 241-3397 for more information.

Homemakers and Community Leaders of Calhoun County trips scheduled are to include:

• Sept. 24-Oct. 2, Niagara Falls and New England

• Oct. 3, Birmingham, "Southern Women's Show"

• Oct. 25, Chattanooga, four-hour Fall foliage cruise on the Tennessee River. Buffet lunch and entertainment to be available.

• Nov. 13-17, Branson, Mo., famous shows, showboat dinner cruise and more

• Dec. 13, Birmingham, BJCC Radio City, Christmas spectacular staring the "Rocketts"

Call Elizabeth Williams at 435-6692 or Virginia at 831-1378 for more information on all tours.

Ladies self-defense class sponsored by the Oxford Police Department is to be at 9 a.m. Aug. 30 at Oxford High School gymnasium, 915 Stewart St. Pre-registration is required. Call Investigator Bobby Yancey or Officer Frank Mayo at 835-6136 for more information.

"AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day", sponsored by the Anniston Kennel Club, Inc., and Tractor Supply is to be 8:30 a.m.-noon Sept. 6 at Tractor Supply in Anniston. The event includes a rabies clinic, dog costume contests, meet the breeds, AKC B match. A photographer is to be on site. A dog pen is to be raffled off with proceeds to go toward sponsoring a UCP child. Dogs visiting the event must be current on vaccinations. Admission and costume contests are free. Call 310-7570 or visit www.annistonkennelclub.org/events or send e-mail to Bamakennel@cableone.net for more information.

Stroke and Osteoporosis screening by Life Line Screening is to be at 9 a.m. Sept. 6 at Saks Baptist Church, 2945 US 431 N. The cost is $149 for a Wellness Package with Heart Rhythm. Call (800) 697-9721 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com. Pre-registration is required.