Local Digest

By Staff
Gospel Night tickets for Jimmie Rodgers Festival on sale
Tickets are now on sale for Gospel Night, a part of the annual Jimmie Rodgers Festival. Gospel Night is scheduled for May 3, at 7 p.m., at the Temple Theatre.
Tickets are available for $10 at the theatre box office located the intersection of Eighth Street and 24th Avenue. The box office is open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets may also be ordered by phone by calling 693-5353. Seating will be reserved.
For more information about the Jimmie Rodgers Festival, call (888) 868-7720 or 482-8001.
Author hosts book-signings
Author Paige Cothren will hold book-signing today from 1-3 p.m. at Books-A-Million, and from 3-5 p.m. at Bookland in Bonita Lakes Mall. He will be signing copies of his latest novel, "So Great the Pretender," a 413-page hardcover love story and spy/mystery thriller set in Bay St. Louis.
Public invited to upcoming events
Check out these events, coming up in the next couple of weeks in east central Mississippi:
Saturday Duffee VFD will hold its annual spring fund-raiser at the fire department, located at the junction of Chunky-Duffee Road and Highway 494 just inside the Newton County line. Barbecue plates will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For information, call 986-2071.
Saturday Longstreet Masonic Lodge No. 268 will sponsor a fund-raising barbecue from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the lodge. Plates are $4, sold by the pound at $5 and Boston butts are $15 each. For information, call 693-4346.
Saturday The Central Mississippi Spring Review Pageant will be held at 4 p.m. at East Central Community College's Huff Auditorium. For more information, call 683-7985.
Sunday and Monday The Hendrix Family Circus appears at the Lauderdale County Agri-Center. For information, call 482-8498.
Thursday The Main Event Business and Industry Expo will be held at the Lauderdale County Agri-Center. For information, call 482-8498.
Agricultural Museum to hold auction
The board of directors of the Neshoba County/Philadelphia Historical Museum will hold an auction today to benefit the Agricultural Museum.
The auction will be held behind the museum at 303 Water Ave. The museum will be open at 8 a.m. for people wishing to view the items for sale. The auction will begin at 9 a.m., and will last until all items have been sold.
Kemper Academy presents Elvis show
The "Elvis Presley Show," featuring a 12-member cast with a live band and a sound-and-light show, will be held today at 7 p.m. at Kemper Academy Gymnasium.
Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for students. Children under 4 will be admitted free. For more information, call 743-5841, 743-5351 or 743-5888.
Master Gardeners to hold plant sale
East Mississippi Master Gardeners will hold a plant sale today, beginning at 9 a.m., at the Farmer's Market/Train Depot on Front Street and 18th Avenue. Plants will include: Louisiana Iris, herbs, Day Lilies, Antique Roses, Hosta, ferns and many more.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation holds walk
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's "Walk for a Cure" will be held today at Bonita Lakes. Registration is at 1:30 p.m., and the walk begins at 2 p.m. In addition to the fitness and fun, participants can earn prizes. The top fund-raiser in each designated area will win two round-trip tickets on American Airlines. For information, call Laurie Martin (800) 344-4823.
UWA presents spring concert
The University of West Alabama Concert Choir and University Singers will present a "Spring Concert" on Tuesday, at 7:30 p.m., in Bibb Graves Auditorium. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.
Candidates forum set for Thursday
A forum for mayoral candidates will be held on April 26 at the Council of Organizations Building, 814 45th Ave. in Meridian. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. A panel of three will question the candidates, and the audience will also be allowed to ask questions. The forum is sponsored by the Viscounts Civic and Social Club of Meridian.
Nurses to hold convention in Meridian
The Mississippi Licensed Practical Nurses Association will hold its 31st annual state convention Wednesday through Friday at the Howard Johnson Inn. For more information, call Jim or Mae Blackledge, (601) 763-5151; Opal Ezell, (601) 833-1360 or Emily Garner, (662) 566-4611.
Bands to present spring concert
Southeast Lauderdale High School Band and the All-county High School Jazz Band will present a spring concert Friday, at 7 p.m., in the Southeast High School gym. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.
Hilltop Homes collects rummage sale items
Volunteers for Hilltop Home for Boys and Hilltop Home for Girls are seeking items for their annual "Spring Rummage Sale," to be held May 3-4 at the boys' home. All donations are tax-deductible. Items needed include clothes, furniture, knickknacks, appliances and dishes.
Items may be delivered to the boys' home at 7297 Highway 39 North, or the girls' home at 5207 Zero Road. Large donations can be picked up. For more information, call 482-0432.
Rabies clinic set for May 5
To ensure protection from rabies for cats and dogs, public and private partners will offer a series of vaccination clinics on Saturdays this spring and summer. Lauderdale County's animal rabies clinic is scheduled for May 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Highland Park.
Licensed veterinarians will administer the rabies vaccine at a cost of $5 for each dog or cat. For safety, all animals must be on a leash or in a pet carrier.