Local Digest

By Staff
Carousels Abound T-shirts on sale
T-shirts for the Around Town Carousels Abound public art project will be on sale at the customer service desk of Bonita Lakes Mall. The shirts sell for $20 each, with proceeds going toward Hope Village for Children a home for abused and neglected children.
Books-A-Million holds special events
As a part of a special event series, children are invited to participate in the following programs this month at Books-A-Million at 1187 Bonita Lakes Circle. For information, call 482-0760.
Preschool story time: today at 10:30 a.m.
Kids movies: All children are welcome to attend a movie Friday at 7 p.m.
10-step guide to Living With Your Monster: From the bestselling author Laura Numeroff, who wrote "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie," comes this story time event about how to deal with monsters. April 27 at 3 p.m.
Quitman to host job fair
A job fair will take place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. today at the National Guard Armory in Quitman. Twenty employers are registered to participate. For more information, call the Clarke County Chamber of Commerce at 776-5701.
MHS Band Boosters set meeting
A meeting of the Meridian High School Band Boosters Association is set for 7 p.m. Thursday in the new MHS Band Hall. The annual MHS band banquet, uniforms and transportation fees for the 2002-2003 school year will be the topic. Parents of ninth-grade students at Kate Griffin and Northwest Junior High Schools are encouraged to attend.
For information, call 482-2532.
Silverleaf Manor sponsors barbecue
Silverleaf Manor celebrates spring with a country barbecue on Thursday. Entertainment will begin at 3 p.m., with Barry Germany, pianist. Peewee Grayson will play the guitar and sing country music. A barbecue buffet will begin at 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 a person. For more information, call Kerry Brown or Elizabeth Bridwell at 483- 4566.
MLT hosts Spring Variety Shop
The Meridian Little Theatre Guild will host its Spring Variety Shop from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Household goods, furniture, lamps, dishes, appliances, linens and books will be on sale. If you want to donate items for the sale, pick-up service is available. The theater is on Highway 39 North.
For information, call Dorothy Torgerson at 482-0930.
MPD holds Relay for Life fund-raiser
The Meridian Police Department's Relay for Life team will sell pulled pork plates Friday in Dumont Plaza in downtown Meridian. Plates are $5 and will be available from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Delivery of 10 or more plates is available. Fax orders to 484-6812. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.
Sumter Welcome Center celebrates 20 years
The Sumter Welcome Center will celebrate 20 years of hospitality Friday. Festivities will include a program and open house from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The center is on Interstate 20/59 at the Cuba, Ala., exit.
March of Dimes walk set for Saturday
Meridian's March of Dimes WalkAmerica is set for Saturday. For information or to sign up, call Christi Swalm at (800) 842-5117 or e-mail cswalm@modimes.org.
Girls Scouts hosts Camp Meridale tours
Girls Scouts of Gulf Pines Council will host visits and tours of Camp Meridale from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. Girls and their parents can tour the camp, find out about summer programs and meet some of the summer camp staff. Dr. Ron McGough will give free camp physicals 2 p.m.-4 p.m. The camp is seven miles south of Meridian on Causeyville Road. For more information, call 692-2903.
Confederate memorial ceremony set for Sunday
The Winnie Davis chapter of United Daughters of the Confederacy and the W.D. Cameron chapter of Sons of Confederate Veterans will have a memorial service Sunday.
The service is in honor of Confederate History Month. It will take place at 2:30 p.m. at the Lauderdale Springs Confederate Cemetery on Lauderdale-Kewanee Road.
For more information, call David Stokes at 485-5989 or visit www.geocities.com/wdcscv.
Meridian Children's Chorus hosts catfish dinner
The Meridian Children's Chorus will host a catfish dinner prepared by the Back 40 restaurant from 3:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday in the parking lot of Calvary Baptist Church at 3905 Eighth St. Cost is $6 a plate. Proceeds will help fund a choir tour to England this summer. For more information, contact Bill or Lea Ann Goble at 483-6218.
Retiree health fair set for April 30
The 4th Annual Retiree Information and Health Fair is set for April 30, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at Union Station on Front Street in downtown Meridian.
Speakers will include Dr. Eric J. Pearson from the Rush Pain Treatment Center, Maj. Ward Calhoun from the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department and Donnie Waldron from Mr. Discount Drugs. Free health screenings will include blood pressure, bone density, cholesterol and blood sugar tests.
There is a $2 fee. Reservations are required and seating is limited. Lunch will be provided. Call 484-6841 to register.
Kiwanis schedules barbecue May 1
The Kiwanis Club of Meridian will hold its annual barbecue from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on May 1 at the Farmer's Market next to Union Station in downtown Meridian. Plates of pulled pork, beans, cole slaw, bread and soft drinks are $6. All proceeds will help support the club's charitable projects.