Local Digest

By Staff
Schools to benefit from McRae's sale
McRae's Department store is inviting local schools and school organizations to participate in their annual School Benefit Sale. The event will take place Saturday from 6-10 a.m. The private morning event offers customers savings throughout the store and also gives schools the opportunity to raise funds through ticket sales.
Participants will sell tickets for $5 and 100 percent of the proceeds from the sales go to the schools. McRae's will provide schools with the tickets and advertise the sale in all of its stores. To sign up your school or get more information, contact McRae's Meridian (601) 484-7809.
Homestead exemption deadline nears
The deadline to file for homestead exemption is March 30. The following criteria must be met to be eligible to receive homestead exemption tax benefits:
Be a legal resident of Mississippi;
Own and occupy the property as of Jan. 1, 2001;
Purchase Mississippi license plates for all vehicles owned; and
Comply with Mississippi income tax requirements.
To apply for homestead exemption visit the tax assessor's office at the Lauderdale County Courthouse. For information, call 482-9779.
NOTE: If there have been no changes made, and you do not qualify for any additional exemptions, there is no need to reapply.
Meridian PTA Council to meet March 6
The Meridian PTA Council will meet Tuesday, March 6, at Parkview Elementary School.
The meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m., and feature Kelly Butler, executive director of a national organization called "Parents for Public Schools." She will speak on how to reinvent relationships between families and schools, and schools and communities. The public is invited to attend.
For more information, contact Crystal Wade at 482-6331 or visit www.parents4publicschools.com.
Bonita Lakes Saddle club to meet
The Bonita Lakes Saddle Club will meet Thursday, March 8, at the Ole Farm Beef House. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. with the meeting to begin at 7 p.m. Members and people interested in equestrian activities in the Meridian area are encouraged to attend. For information, call 485-3079.
Transplant support group to meet
If you have had an organ transplant, if you or a family member is in need of an organ transplant, or if you want to learn more about organ transplantation and donation, the Meridian Transplant/Donor Support Group will meet March 10, at 3 p.m., in the Jeff Anderson Hospital Auditorium. The public is invited to attend.
In addition to transplant recipients and those in need of transplants, the support group welcomes members of the medical community and donor family members.
For more information, call James Laird, volunteer coordinator for the Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency at (800) 690-8878 or Robert Everette at 483-3800 in Meridian.
4-H Club presents barrel run
The Lauderdale County 4-H Horse Club will sponsor a barrel run March 10, at 9 a.m., at the Lauderdale County Agri-Center. For more information, call Debbie (601) 482-2601 or Marion (601) 482-1314.
AARP offers free tax advice
Senior citizens have access to free tax advice every Tuesday and Friday until April 15. AARP volunteers will be available every Tuesday, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Meridian-Lauderdale County Public Library. Volunteers will also be available every Friday, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Highway 19 North Trustmark National Bank.
Nurses to hold convention in Meridian
The Mississippi Licensed Practical Nurses Association will hold its 31st annual state convention April 25-27 at the Howard Johnson Inn.
Registration for the convention will be at 8 a.m. on April 25, and the convention will begin at 9 a.m. with three full days of professional workshops, business sessions and fellowship.
Eleven contact hours for continuing education are planned, 10 of which may be used to satisfy the semi-annual CE requirement for the IV Certified LPNs.
For more information please call Jim or Mae Blackledge, (601) 763-5151; Opal Ezell, (601) 833-1360 or Emily Garner, (662) 566-4611.
Jimmie Rodgers Museum temporarily closed
The Jimmie Rodgers Museum at Highland Park will be closed to visitors until March 15. However, group tours may be arranged by calling the Lauderdale County Tourism Bureau at 482-8001 or (888) 868-7720.
Poetry contest deadline April 30
The International Library of Poetry has announced that $58,000 in prizes will be awarded this year in the International Open Poetry Contest. Poets from the Meridian area are welcome to enter. The entry is free and the deadline is April 30. To enter, send one original poem, any subject and any style, to: The International Library of Poetry, Suite 19910, 1 Poetry Plaza, Owings Mills, MD 21117. The poem should be 20 lines or less and the poet's name and address should appear on the top of the page. Entries may also be entered online at www.poetry.com.