Awareness Program

The Choctaw County Extension Office will host a program to promote Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The speaker for the program will be Dr. Victor Kessler, M.D. of Starkville Internal Medicine. Dr. Kessler is a gastroenterologist and serves many patients in the Starkville and surrounding areas. An American Cancer Society representative will also be in attendance.

Dr. Kessler will discuss who is at risk, symptoms, as well as actions to take to reduce your risk. Everyone is invited to attend this free program. This will take place at the Choctaw County Library on Thursday, March 27, at 6:00 p.m.

We also invite any colorectal cancer survivor, or anyone with a personal interest, to participate and help with the program. Those interested may contact Juli Hughes, County Director, or Traci Mongeon, 4-H Agent, at 285-6337.

Tri-County pageant

The Miss Tri-County Pageant will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. from The Catfish Opry in Noxapater between Louisville and Philadelphia on Hwy. 15. Age groups are 0-15 months, 16-23 months, 2-3, 4-5, 6-8, 9-11, 12-13, 14-17, 18 and up, Mrs. and boys 0-6. Girls 0-11 wear Sunday or Easter Dresses. All winners will advance to the State Pageant! Call 662-803-5394 or 662-779-1128 for more information and entry form. Deadline for entries March 30, 2008. Door prizes will be awarded

Canning Workshop

A Canning Workshop will be held April 8 from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM at the Choctaw County Extension Office. Bring your pressure canner and have it tested. Canning publications will also be available. At noon Pamela Redwine, Nutrition and Food Safety Area Agent, will conduct a program on canning. Everyone is invited to attend. For more information, call the Choctaw County Extension Office at 285-6337.

Christmas Tree Workshop

A Christmas Tree Workshop will be held Saturday, April 5 from 9:30 am - 1:00 pm at Rosebud Christmas Tree Farm in Walnut Grove. This program is for new growers and will cover site preparation, planting and establishment, early care, shearing, basal pruning, pest and weed control. Registraion is $15/individual or $25/couple and includes lunch and Grower Handbook. The workshop is sponsored by the Southern Christmas Tree Association and MSU Extension Service. Pre-registration is needed by April 3. To register call 601-267-8036 or email leake@ext.msstate.edu.

Home-Based Business Workshop

An April 16 workshop will offer hope and guidance to Choctaw County entrepreneurs with a variety of business interests that they want to base in their homes. Workshop hours are 8:30 - 3:00.

The nearest home-based business workshop site will be Mississippi State University. The registration deadline is April 7. The fee is $20 per person.

The most common home-based businesses are catering, child care, cleaning, home renovation, in-home beauty care, pet services, sewing and alterations, wedding consulting and planning, dietary consultation, and concierge services.

Topics to be covered in the day-long workshop include issues related to working from home, legal considerations, insurance, financing, marketing, regulations, taxes, licensing, and business plans. Testimonials from individuals with home-based businesses will be included.

The workshop is sponsored by the MSU Extension Service; the MSU Small Business Development Center; the MSU Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion; and the Women's Center for Entrepreneurship at Mississippi University for Women.

For more information or to register, contact Elizabeth McTaggart at (662) 325-8632 or emctaggart@fsnhp.msstate.edu

Pre-K and K

Registration at WAC

Weir Attendance Center will have Pre-K and Kindergarten registration on April 3rd from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. If your child is in Pre-K this year you DO NOT need to register your child for Kindergarten. To register for Pre-K your child needs to be 4 on or before September 1st and to register for Kindergarten you child need to be 5 years old on or before September 1st. In order to have a successful registration please be prepared with: 1) Birth Certificate 2) Social Security Card 3) Immunization Record 4) Two Proofs of Residency which can be: driver's license, apartment or home lease, automobile registration, utility bill, etc. We look forward to seeing you and your child on Thursday, April 3rd at Weir Attendance Center!

Diabetes Support Group to meet

The Diabetes Support Group will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, at North MS Medical Center-Eupora. The Diabetes Support Group meets the first Tuesday of each month in the hospital's Education Room, 500 Veterans Memorial Blvd. For more information call diabetes clinician Liz Orr, RN, at 662-258-6221 or 1-800-843-3375.

Weir Fire Department to host fundraiser

The Weir Volunteer Fire Department will host a fundraiser April 5, 2008 from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Hamburger plates will be sold for $5.00 each. Everyone's' support is greatly appreciated.

Ackerman School Reunion

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Ackerman School Reunion will be Saturday, April 26, 2008 beginning at 2 P.M. at the Ty Cobb Complex on the AHS Campus. Alumni from all AHS classes are invited. Registration begins at 12 NOON and the program at 2:00 PM. There is no charge. For more information go to www.AckermanReunion.com or call 285-6394.

5th Sunday Night Singing

Providence Baptist Church will host their 5th Sunday Night Singing March 30th beginning at 6 PM. Refreshments will be served after singing. Bro. Randle Poss is the Pastor. Everyone is welcome to come and worship in song and fellowship.

Bill and Vicki

Sky in Concert

Bethlehem Baptist Church

Nashville, Tennessee recording artists Bill and Vicki Sky will present a special program of gospel music at Bethlehem Baptist Church Sunday March 30th beginning at 1:00 PM. The church is located on Hwy 12 East Ackerman, MS. The public is cordially invited. Love offerings will be accepted. For more information call 662-285-8635.

Pre-K and K Registration at FCE

French Camp Elementary School will have Pre-K and Kindergarten registration from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Friday, March 28.

If your child is already in Pre-K you do not need to register your child for Kindergarten. Your child must be 4 years old on or before September 1 for Pre-K and 5 years for Kindergarten.

Parents/guardians must bring a birth certificate, social security card, immunization record and two proofs of residency such as 1) Filed Homestead Exemption Application form; 2) Mortgage document of property deed; 3) Apartment or home lease; 4) Utility bill; 5) Driver's License; 6) Voter precinct registration; 7) Automobile registration; 8) Affidavit and/or visit by a designated school district official; 9) Any other documentation that will objectively and unequivocally establish that the parent or legal guardian resides within the school district; and in the case of a student living with a legal guardian who is a bona fide resident of the school district; 10) Certified copy of filed petition for guardianship is pending and final decree when granted from the courts.

Gordon Family Reunion

Descendants of Robert and Narcissus Elizabeth Quarles Gordon will meet for lunch at 11 a.m. on March 30 at the Panhandle Community Center in Choctaw County. All family members, friends and neighbors are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Observatory offers Backyard Astronomy

"Backyard Astronomy" is here for one more week. If you've ever wondered what's going on in the heavens, then Rainwater Observatory offers you a chance to learn what's going on in the sky. This Friday evening March 28 at 7:00 p.m. there will be a free public program at the observatory just outside French Camp. The program will begin with a talk about the ringed planet. After the presentation there will be an opportunity to observe the Saturn and galaxies through the observatory's telescopes. Plan to come and bring the family. Get more information at the observatory web site, rainwaterobservatory.org or call 662-547-6377. That's "Backyard Astronomy" at 7pm this Friday at Rainwater Observatory in French Camp.

CCEDF Annual Banquet slated for April 14

The Choctaw County Economic Development Foundation will hold its annual banquet on

April 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Center on College Street.

Jerry Gatti will speak about operations at the Red Hills Power Plant and the Choctaw Gas Plant. The keynote speaker will be Whit Hughes, Deputy Director of the Mississippi Development Authority.

To purchase a ticket, please contact a Foundation Board member or call 285-3778 by Friday, April 11.

Blythe Creek Baptist Church raising funds for lawnmower

The Blythe Creek Baptist Church is raising funds for the Cemetery Fund to buy a new lawnmower. Anyone wishing to make a donation should contact any Blythe Creek Baptist Church member.

Ackerman United Methodist Youth fundraiser set

The Ackerman United Methodist Youth will be having a Spaghetti lunch Sunday, March 30, 2008 at the Adams Fellowship Center across the street from the AUM Church. We will start serving at 11:00 -until, dine in or carry out plates. Plates consist of Spaghetti, salad, French bread & dessert. Adults: $6.00; children: $4.00. For further information please contact Ashley Williams at 547-9666 or 285-8093.