Local Digest

By Staff
American Red Cross to host open house
The staff of the American Red Cross will host an open house at 12:30 p.m. today at their offices, 1711 24th Ave. Anyone interested in volunteering or seeing the American Red Cross at work is invited to attend.
For information, call the office at 485-5151 or Lee Lauderdale at 483-2732.
UBS issues invitation to open house
United Blood Services will host a Christmas open house today from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Santa Claus will be there from 2 p.m.-6 p.m. to talk with children about their Christmas wish lists.
The blood supply is low and donors are needed.
The local UBS office needs 75 donors a day to meet the daily needs of hospital patients. Blood donations have decreased over the last four months while demand from local hospitals has been heavy. As a result, no units of Type O Negative are on the shelves now.
The staff at Meridian's UBS Center understands the demands on people's time during the holiday season and will be happy to make appointments at times convenient for individual donors. All donors will receive T-shirts.
The center is located at 1115 25th Ave. For more information, call 482-2482.
Learn to play bridge
The Mississippi Bridge Association and American Contract Bridge League are hosting duplicate bridge lessons for anyone desiring to learn bridge from an instructor. Dr. Habib Bazyari will be the instructor.
The classes will be held on Thursdays from Jan. 11-Feb. 22, from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. in The Meridian Room (second floor) at Meridian Community College. To register call 482-7445 no later than Jan. 10.
Duffee VFD selling holiday meats
The Duffee Volunteer Fire Department is selling holiday turkeys, hams and Boston Butts to raise money for emergency equipment.
Orders will be ready for pick-up between noon and 3 p.m. on Sat., Dec. 23, at the fire station. Duffee VFD is located at the junction of Highway 494 and Chunky-Duffee Road, just inside Newton County. To order your holiday turkey, ham or Boston Butt call 986-2071 or 986-8309.
Northeast students announce memory tree'
Northeast Lauderdale Middle School students have established the first annual Christmas Memory Tree, dedicated in memory of family and friends who are no longer with us. For a donation of $10, which will help support the Student Activity Fund, a personalized Christmas ball and a light will be placed on the tree and a card will be placed beside the tree.
For information, call Amy Garrett or Bill Russell at 483-3532 or Betsy Garrett at 679-8523.
Michael's River Walk Garden open to public
Stroll through swaying Spanish moss along the Chickasawhay River, view a depiction of the Christ child, angels, butterflies, shamu, deer and hundreds of lights in Michael's River Walk Garden.
The Garden is open through Dec. 24 (closed Dec. 22), from 5-9 p.m. Drive or walk through. It is located on the Enterprise and Stonewall-Clarke County River Road 320.
For information, call 659-4486.
Boat ramp passes on sale now
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Year 2001 Annual Day Use Passes for boat ramps and beaches are on sale at Okatibbee Lake in Collinsville.
The passes are $25 and a duplicate pass may be purchased for $5 extra at the time of the original purchase. A vehicle license plate number is required for each pass purchased. Annual passes are not transferable.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, call 626-8431. Annual passes are also available daily at Twiltley Branch Campground from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. For information, call 626-8068.
Main Street Meridian announces holiday event
Main Street Meridian announces free movies for children on Dec. 22-24, beginning at noon at the Temple Theatre. For more information, call the Main Street office at 484-6841.