Local Digest

By Staff
Benefit for Ashley May held today at Newton National Guard Armory
A benefit for Ashley May will be 5 p.m. today at the Newton National Guard Armory.
Gospel singing by The Hedgepeths, The Gibbs Family, The Redeemed Singers, Carl Fitzgerald and Last Call, Tanya Aycox and Southern Heritage will be featured. Admission is free, but a donation is requested.
Ashley is the 14-year-old daughter of Jeff and Teresa May of Conehatta. She has been diagnosed with leukemia, requiring numerous trips to St. Jude's Children' Hospital.
Walnut Grove Day Sept. 1
The 24th annual Walnut Grove Day will be Sept. 1, around the gazebo on the downtown triangle.
Arts and crafts vendors from across central Mississippi set up at 8 a.m. in downtown Walnut Grove. Local civic clubs will serve an 11 a.m. barbecue chicken lunch.
The Walnut Grove citizen of the year will be announced at an awards ceremony at noon. The Rick Tanksley Band and country music band CMS Express from Louisville will perform in the afternoon.
For information, call 253-2321.
Stonewall's Fall Festival Sept. 8
Stonewall's 10th annual Fall Festival will be from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Stonewall Ballfield on Highway 513. A special tribute to all veterans will take place at 1 p.m.
The festival will feature arts and crafts booths, entertainment, games and food. All proceeds go to the Stonewall Volunteer fire Department.
For information, on booth space contact Regina Carpenter at 659-7505 or 727-4561.
Scooba Day' set for Sept. 3
The annual "Scooba Day" will be Sept. 3 at the Scooba Riding Club Arena. The horse show begins at 10 a.m., with sign-up at 9:30.
The day is sponsored by the Scooba Riding Club and Kemper Academy's ninth grade class. All owners must submit Coggins Test papers that show their horses do not carry equine anemia.
For information, call Charlie Irby at (662) 476-9221 or Kyla Moore at (662) 476-5735.
Philadelphia to host Autumnfest
Autumnfest is set for Sept. 8 around the courthouse in downtown Philadelphia. The event, sponsored by the Philadelphia-Neshoba County Arts Council, will begin at 9 a.m. with entertainment throughout the day. Autumnfest is an open-air festival that features events for children and adults, and showcases regional performing and visual arts talent.
For information, call 656-9838.
Registration open for LAWS classes
The Lauderdale Association of Women Shooters will hold classes in gun operation and safety from 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. on Sept. 11, 13 and 18. A morning class is scheduled for Sept. 15.
Instructors certified by the National Rifle Association will teach the classroom and range sessions. The class is limited to 20 students and there is a $40 fee.
For information, call Betty Lacy at 681-8575 or Mildred Thompson at 485-5725.
Central UMC holds divorce workshop
Central United Methodist Church will host a divorce recovery workshop Tuesday nights from 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. on Sept. 11-Oct. 30. A $30 fee includes a study book and resources.
For information, call the church at 693-1521.
NAMI to conduct family education classes
The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Mississippi will offer free Family-to-Family education classes beginning in September for family members of people with schizophrenia, manic depression, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety disorder.
The 12 sessions offer information about mental illness, medication review, communication-coping skills, self-care-support and services. For details or to register, call 800-357-0388.
Pecan Festival set for September
The Mississippi Pecan Festival is taking applications for arts and craft booths at this year's festival. The 15th Annual Pecan Festival will be Sept. 29-30 in Richton. To reserve booth space, call (601) 525-3792 or (601) 964-8201.
Okatibbee Lake to close for winter
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Okatibbee Lake in Collinsville announce that all beaches will close for the Fall/Winter season beginning Sept. 4. The areas will open again in the Spring of 2002.
For information, call 626-8431.
MHS invites Classes of 1975 and 1980 on week-long cruise
The Meridian High School Classes of 1975 and 1980 have coordinated a special reunion date next year for a seven-day Carnival cruise originating in New Orleans.
The cruise is set for June 9-16, visiting Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Playa De Carmen and Cozumel. The classes of 1975 and 1980 had so much fun last year on a similar trip that they're "Cruisin' Again" and offering a reunion alternative to the Classes of 1972, 1977 and 1982.
For more information, call Sharon at 485-4959 or 484-6850 by Aug. 25.