A listing of area events

Announcements

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Winston County Extension Service will be observing Winter Holidays beginning Monday, December 20-January 2, 2005. Office will be open again on January 3, 2005.

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Louisville/Winston County Alcoholics Anonymous meets Sunday, Wednesday and Friday nights at 7:30 p.m. on the second floor of the community house.

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Recruitment and Training Program of Mississippi, Inc. is a nonprofit service provider that focuses on improving the quality of life for youths of the community. RTP of MS, Inc. is currently operating an Out-of-School Youth Program in Louisville and the Winston County area. This program focuses on youth between the ages of 16-21 and assists youths with preparation for college studies and/or a military career. Classes are free and held every day between the hours of 8 a.m.-noon at 919 S. Church Ave. in Louisville.

For more information about the classes, please call Mr. Carl Hathorn in Louisville or toll free 1-866-605-4368.

The Mississippi Partnership Workforce Investment Board and Three Rivers Planning and Development District fund this program.

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Flower Ridge United Methodist Church, located on Highway 15 South, will host its Drive Thru Christmas Pageant December 22 and 23, 2004. The pageant features five scenes with live characters, and it is lit with four hundred candles. It will begin at 6:30 and last until 8:30 each evening. We invite you to come and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with us in a very unique way.

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December 16

The TRIAD monthly meeting will be held Dec. 16 at 2 P.M. at the Annex Building, adjacent to the Courthouse. All citizens of Winston County are welcome. Call 773-7408 for more information.

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December 18

A celebration will take place on Saturday, Dec. 18 at Mrs. Sammie Cole's old homeplace located at 3476 Highway #397 between the hours of 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.

All relatives, friends and neighbors are welcome. Mrs. Cole currently resides at the Winston County Nursing Home. Mrs. Sammie Cole was born in Attala county near Ethel on December 17th, 1904.

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Saturday, December 18th. "Home for Christmas" Annual Concert. Three-time Grammy winner Carl Jackson returns for his annual benefit for the Community Arts Center. Joining Carl this year are Nashville singers and writers Jerry Salley, Larry Cordle, and Valerie Storey along with Starkville based, Larry Wallace Band! Tickets are expected to sell out and are available by calling the Chamber of Commerce at 662-773-3921. Two concerts will be presented: 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm. For more information contact Michael Cravens at 662-803-3369 or Larry Howell at 662-773-8617.

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On Dec. 18, the Longino Volunteer Fire Department will host a benefit for James Jacob McKinney, the 5-month-old son of James and Lynn McKinney, who has numerous medical conditions.

The benefit will begin at 10 a.m. at Longino Volunteer Fire Department, located on Old Highway 15 North, pass Northside Park and to the right in Philadelphia. There will be games for children, food, singings and an auction. Activities will include balloon art, a cake walk, face painting, a ball toss, a ring toss, a toy walk and more. Lunch will be served at noon. Hamburger plates will cost $5 and include a burger, fries, a drink and dessert. Chili, hot dogs and drinks will also be available. Singing will start at 2 p.m. and the auction will start at 6:30 p.m., led by Jerry Weaver, licensed auctioneer (Miss. license 521). There will also be a $100 giveaway, with tickets costing $2 for three chances and $4 for nine chances.

The event will be fun for the entire day for all. All proceeds will go toward James Jacob McKinney's medical expenses. For more information, please call Diane Hobson at (601) 656-4667.

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There will be a southern gospel singing celebrating the birth of Christ Saturday, December 18 at the Woodmen of the World Building, three miles east of Eupora. Singing begins at 6 P.M. with soloists Angela Bennett, Audrey Davis, Lowell Hitt, Becky Roland, Patsy Lawson, Christy Oswalt, and Charles McClellan. Also in concert will be the Freedomland Quartet, one of the best four part harmony quartets in the South. Everyone is welcome. Food and refreshments will be available. Call 258-7726 for more information.

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December 19

The choir of Liberty Baptist Church will present the Christmas program, Celebrate the Gift, under the direction of Dennis Duran, on December 19 at 6:00 P.M. Everyone is welcome, and refreshments will follow in the church hall.

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January 4

On Tuesday, January 4th, the Eiland Middle School T.A.P.S. will hold a meeting in the school library at 6:30 P.M. All T.A.P.S. members are encouraged to attend.

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January 8

Crisis Pregnancy Center of Winston Baptist Association will hold a Michael Combs Fundraiser concert Saturday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m. at the Louisville Coliseum. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Children under 6 get in free. Call 779-1110 for more information.

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January 15

Spend an evening with Ivan Parker to benefit the American Cancer Society Relay for Life Team of Louisville. The concert will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15 at First United Methodist Church, located at 300 West Main St. in Louisville. Doors will open at 6 p.m.

Ivan Parker is a veteran of gospel music. He was voted Favorite Male Vocalist seven years consecutively and Favorite Lead Vocalist for six consecutive years. He has also been awarded Soloist of the Year numerous times by the Singing News Magazine Fan Awards.

He is well known for such great hits as "Midnight Cry" and "I Can Only Imagine." Come spend an evening of worship and fun with Ivan.

Tickets are on sale now for $15 in advance with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.

For more information, please call (662) 803-1296 or (662) 773-3501 between the hours of 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

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January 17

A singing program will be held at Mount Moriah Church on Monday, January 17 at 10 A.M., honoring Martin Luther King's holiday.

The public is invited. Please call 773-7408 for more information.

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January 18

Attention restaurant owners, managers and all food service employees: Mississippi State University Extension Service will offer the ServSafe Food Safety Certification Course Jan. 18-19 in Starkville at the Oktibbeha County Extension Office.

Training will be held from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Jan. 18-19. Registrations fee is $125 for first-time and recertifying participants and $100 for individuals needing to retake the exam. Deadline to register is Jan. 4.

For more information or to obtain a registration form, call the Oktibbeha County Extension Office at (662) 323-5916 or Sharon Haynes, area extension agent in the Winston County Extension Office, at (662) 773-3091.

The Winston County Journal will correct errors or omissions in articles published in our print or online editions as notified.

We strive for accuracy in our content and apologize for any errors.

Visit www.winstoncountyjournal for more information.