This column is designed to give our local readers a place to put news and events that are important to them and others in the community.

Local news such as public meetings, luncheons, events and other non-club local items for not-for-profit associations are listed in this column.

Church events are printed separately in Church News published on Fridays.

To have items placed in the Local Beat column, bring them by the office at 405 E. Collin St., fax them to (903) 872-6878 or e-mail to cmcclanahan@corsicanadailysun.com. Items must have the date of the event, a phone number and must be clearly PRINTED or TYPED.



Sept. 21

Navarro College SBDC will sponsor a session on creating a business plan from 9 a.m. to noon at the Corsicana/Navarro County Chamber of Commerce, 120 N. 12th St. Cost of the workshop will be $20. For more information or to register, call Ophelia Mendoza at (903) 874-0658 or e-mail ophelia.mendoza@navarrocollege.edu.



North Central Texas WorkForce’s Corsicana Center will host a “Workshop Center Orientation” at 10 a.m. and a job search workshop on “Interview Tips” at 10 a.m. at its office, 720 N. Beaton St. “Basic PC Skills” training will be offered at 5:30 p.m. at the center, but seating is limited and you must pre-register for this training. For more information, call (903) 874-8276.



Kerens High School will host “College Day 2006” from 1 to 3 p.m. at Kerens Bobcat Gym. There will be over 20 colleges, universities and technical schools and certification programs attending. This browse session is designed to give parents and high school students an opportunity to get information and ask questions about specific colleges and schools and the programs they offer. With this kind of information, students are more equipped to make good choices about their future education. All high school students, parents, anyone interested in college information is invited to attend.



Navarro County Democratic Women will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Democratic headquarters, 317 W. Third Ave. For more information, call (903) 874-8255.



Chatfield-Tupelo Crime Watch will meet at 7 p.m. at Chatfield United Methodist Church fellowship hall. Capt. Elmer Tanner of the Navarro County Sheriff’s Office will be the speaker. Everyone is invited. Light refreshments will be served.



Sept. 22

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3366, located at Veterans Drive off West State Highway 31, will have Kuttin Edge Karaoke with Bob and Nancy McQuary from 8 p.m. to midnight. The VFW Post canteen will open at 4 p.m. A raffle to raise funds will be held during the evening. For more information, call after 4 p.m. to (903) 872-3811.



Corsicana High School cheerleaders will have a tailgate party from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the home side parking lot of Tiger Stadium prior to the Tiger football game. Barbecue sandwiches will be served. Tickets are available in advance from cheerleaders or on the night of the event for $6. For more information, call Kay Watkins at (903) 872-9726. In case of inclement weather, the meal will be held at the CHS commons.



Dawson High School will join forces with Carter BloodCare, the local blood center, to host a community blood drive from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the band hall of the school, 199 N. School Ave., Dawson. Everyone who participates will receive a T-shirt and be entered into a drawing. For more information, call Sheryl Bragg at (254) 578-1031. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good general health. For more information about donor eligibility, call (800) 366-2834.



Sept. 22, 30

Navarro College Adult Education Department will hold orientation for all students interested in taking free GED classes. Orientation will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All students must complete one orientation session before attending classes. To register or for more information, call (903) 875-7464 or come by the Adult Education Department, located in the lower level of the Gooch One-Stop Student Center on the Navarro College campus.



Sept. 23

Corsicana Public Library will present Terry Burns, western fiction author of over 200 articles, short stories and poetry, at 2 p.m. You are invited to come by, meet the author, and hear tales of the old west. This event will be sponsored by Friends of the Library. For more information about Burns, you may view his Web site at www.terryburns.net.



American Legion Post 22, 632 N. Beaton St., invites members and their guests for an evening with County Sue’s Karaoke from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. No cover charge. Post will open at 2 p.m. For more information, call (903) 874-3938.



American Red Cross will have a blood drive from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wal-Mart in Corsicana. Type O is in critical need. To donate, one must be at least 17 years of age and weigh at least 110 pounds. Please bring picture ID. While appointments will be honored at the drive, they are not required and walk-ins are welcome. For an appointment or more information, call (800) 448-3543.



A barbecue dinner fund-raiser will be held beginning at 5 p.m. at the Dawson Volunteer Fire Department. Cost will be $6 for adults and $3 for children 10 and under. An auction will follow. Proceeds will go to the Dawson Pee Wee Football Association.



Sept. 25

Emhouse Community Center will meet at 7 p.m. The program will be presented by Robert and Kit Merrill, who are modeling the Emhouse School building. Everyone in the community is invited to attend.



Navarro County Democratic Women will host a reception for Democratic candidates for office in the November election. The event, where a light meal will be served, will begin at 5 p.m. at Navarro County Democratic headquarters, 317 W. Third Ave., across the street from the courthouse. There will be no charge for the event.



Sept. 26

Clogging classes will be held at the Senior Activity Center, 919 W. Park Ave. Beginners class will be at 6 p.m. and the experienced cloggers class will begin at 7 p.m. All ages welcome. Classes are held each Tuesday. For more information, call (903) 654-4980.



Sept. 27

Piecemakers Quilt Guild will be receiving quilts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Warehouse Living Arts Center, 119 W. Sixth Ave. You do not have to be a member of the guild to have your quilt displayed; however, if you want your quilt to be judged there will be a $5 entry fee. The quilts will be on display from Oct. 2-27. For more information, contact Eddie Sue Pryor at (254) 578-1239 or (903) 654-0628 or by e-mail at essie@hughes.net.



American Red Cross will have a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mildred Baptist Church, 5502 S. U.S. Highway 287, sponsored by the Mildred National Honor Society. This drive will benefit Donna Whitgrove. Appointments can be made by calling Missy Grantham at (903) 872-0392. Walk-in donors are also welcome. Donors must be in general good health, weigh 110 pounds or more and be at least 17 years old. Bring a Red Cross donor card, a valid driver’s license with a photo or other form of official picture identification.



Sept. 28

North Central Texas WorkForce’s Corsicana Center will host a “Workshop Center Orientation” at 10 a.m. and a job search workshop on “Resume Preparation” at 10 a.m. at its office, 720 N. Beaton St. “WorkInTexas.com” training will be offered at 5:30 p.m. at the center, but seating is limited and you must pre-register for this training. For more information, call (903) 874-8276.



A retirement reception will be held for Wilma Morgan from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Navarro County Food Pantry, 122 W. First Ave.



Navarro County AARP will meet at 2 p.m. at Northwest Apartments Community Room, 1360 N. 13th St. The speaker will be Paul Hooper, executive director of the Corsicana/Navarro County Chamber of Commerce. All members are urged to be in attendance, and anyone 50 and above are welcome to join. President is Warner Redus. For more information, call Mellie Howard at (903) 872-4172.



Navarro College PALS will have a covered dish luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at The Cook Center on the Navarro College campus. A spokesman from Navarro Regional Hospital will be the speaker. All senior citizens are invited to bring a dish and join other seniors for this meeting of fellowship. For more information, call Annett Tatum at (903) 874-5780.



Navarro County Local Emergency Planning committee meeting will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at Cancun’s Restaurant, located at the Corsicana Inn, 2000 S. U.S. Highway 287. Lunch buffet is $5.50 per person. Presentations will be given by Lee McCleary, City of Corsicana Economic Development director, and Patrick Brady of BNSF Railroad. For more information, visit the Web site at www.navarrocountyoem.org. RSVP by Sept. 27 to ermeyers@ociw.com.



Sept. 29

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3366, located at Veterans Drive off West State Highway 31, will have First Class Karaoke with Jerry and Nedra House from 8 p.m. to midnight. No cover charge. The VFW Post canteen will open at 4 p.m. For more information, call after 4 p.m. to (903) 872-3811.



Sept. 30

American Legion Post 22, 632 N. Beaton St., invites members and their guests for an evening of karaoke with First Class Entertainment, Nedra and Jerry House, from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. No cover charge. Post will open at 2 p.m. For more information, call (903) 874-3938.



Sept. 30-Oct. 1

“Earful of Texas Music Festival” will be held at Hubbard City Lakes Park on State Highway 31 beginning at 11 a.m. Gates will open at 10 a.m. Country music stars Billy Joe Shaver and Roger Creager are just two of the more than 40 Texas singers/songwriters and bands that will be performing. For more information, visit www.EarfulOfTexas.com or call toll free (877) 540-6745.



Hubbard Rodeo Association Slapout Outlaws will host a cowboy mounted shooting at 10 a.m. Sept. 30-Sept. 1 at the Mooney Holloway Arena. Mounted contestants compete in this fact-action timed event using two .45 caliber single-action revolvers each loaded with five rounds of specially-prepared black ammunition. The event will be free to the public. The concession stand will be open both days. Chopped barbecue sandwiches will be available along with other traditional concession stand food. For more information, call J.C. Foster at (254) 576-2347.



Oct. 1

American Legion Post 22, 632 N. Beaton St., invites members and their guests for the annual Central Texas Dart Association banquet. Lunch will be served at noon; bring a covered dish. Awards will start at 1 p.m. Sign up before 1:30 p.m. for the tournament which will begin at 2 p.m. For more information, call (903) 874-3938.



Oct. 2

City of Blooming Grove will hold its monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the City Hall, 200 S. Fordyce, Blooming Grove.



Corsicana Art League will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Senior Activity Center, 919 W. Park Ave. It will be a meeting and set up for painting. The league is starting a new year and welcomes anyone interested to come to the meeting.



Oct. 2-27

Piecemakers Quilt Guild will have its 26th annual quilt show at the Warehouse Living Arts Center, 119 W. Sixth Ave. Quilts will on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Free admission. For more information, contact Eddie Sue Pryor at (254) 578-1239, (903) 654-0628 or by e-mail at essie@hughes.net or the Navarro Council of the Arts at (903) 872-5411.



Oct. 3

Corsicana Chapter 118, Order of Eastern Star, will have a stated meeting at the Corsicana Masonic Temple, 201 N. 15th St. All area OES members are invited to attend. Potluck dinner will be at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call Allie Mae Dodson at (903) 872-6848.



Blooming Grove Historical Society will have its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at Heritage Hall of Blooming Grove United Methodist Church. Richard Hinkle will present a program on L.B. Outlaw, an ancestor to the Dozier/Hinkle family. Anyone interested is invited to attend. For more information, call (903) 695-2724 or (903) 673-2635.



Oct. 5

Navarro County Republican Women will meet on the seventh floor of the Bank of America building. There will be a guest speaker. Please RSVP by Oct. 3 to Sharon at (903) 362-1151. For more information, go to www.navgop.com.



Blooming Grove Crime Watch will meet at 7 p.m. at the Blooming Grove Fire Station. John Paul Ross, Precinct 4 county commissioner, will be the speaker. Light refreshments will be served.



Oct. 5-8

Pelham community homecoming will be held Oct. 5-8. It will be held at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at Union Baptist Church with singing and preaching; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at Brown Chapel AME Church with talent, worship services and motivational speaker; from 2 to 6 p.m. Oct. 7 with Pelham High School alumni day, fun and frolic, family and friends activities at Pelham Community History Museum — food, drinks, games, prizes, jump fun, hay ride, music, Panther country store and raffle, bring lawn chairs, and museum will be open for tours from 6 to 7 p.m.; and homecoming worship services at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 8 with dinner served following services at the Pelham Community Center. If you cannot be present please send a donation to Mrs. A. Jean Porter, 22425 Farm-to-Market Road 744, Hubbard, TX 76648.



Oct. 6

Central Texas Foundation Quarter Horse Registry Affiliate will have a FQHR registered point show. Current negative coggins required. For more information, view the Web site at www.ctfqhra.com or call Charlotte at (903) 288-0043 or AJ at (903) 879-2403.



Oct. 7

The Corsicana Opry will be held at 7 p.m. at Martin’s Music Hall, 201 S. Beaton St. at Sixth Avenue. Virginia Martin and the Corsicana Opry Band will spotlight Sissy Dee. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Admission will be $10 per person. Tickets are available at The Ark on North Beaton Street or by calling (903) 872-8226. Concessions will also be available.



American Legion Post 22, 632 N. Beaton St., invites members and their guests for an evening of karaoke with Wayne Farmer from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. No cover charge. Post will open at 2 p.m. For more information, call (903) 874-3938.



Oct. 7-28

Dawson Saddle Club will have a buckle series at 6 p.m. Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28 at the Dawson Saddle Club arena, located on State Highway 31 east of Dawson. Age groups will be 6 and under, 7 to 9, 10 to 21, 13 to 17, and 18 and over. Buckle to highest point in each age group. Must attend all four shows for awards. Negative coggins required. For more information, call Ann at (254) 578-3511 or e-mail to ropeup2@yahoo.com.



Oct. 12

Kerens Kiwanis will host a candidate forum at Kerens Volunteer Fire Department on South East Third Street in Kerens. There will be lasagna dinner (by donation) starting at 6 p.m. and the candidates will take the floor at 6:30 p.m. All funds raised will go toward Kiwanis Scholarships that are provided to Kerens students annually. For more information, e-mail ginascottward@yahoo.com.



Oct. 14

St. Elmo Cemetery Association will have a cake auction and hot dog supper beginning at 6 p.m. at the cemetery pavilion, located on Farm-to-Market Road 416.



Bluevalley Bluegrass Gospel Music will be the main theme at 7 p.m. at Martin’s Music Hall, 201 S. Beaton St. at Sixth Avenue. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Admission will be $10 per person. Tickets are available at The Ark on North Beaton Street or by calling (903) 872-8226. Concessions will also be available.



American Legion Post 22, 632 N. Beaton St., invites members and their guests for an evening of Kuttin Edge Karaoke with Nancy and Bob McQuary from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. No cover charge. Post will open at 2 p.m. For more information, call (903) 874-3938.



Oct. 21

Central Texas Foundation Quarter Horse Registry Affiliate will have a two-man feedlot sorting at the Wild Horse Arena between Malakoff and Athens on State Highway 31. Current negative coggins required. For more information, view the Web site at www.ctfqhra.com or call Charlotte at (903) 288-0043 or AJ at (903) 879-2403.



Kerens 2006 Cotton Harvest Festival, sponsored by the Friends of the Kerens Library, will be held in downtown Kerens from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. There will be arts, crafts, jewelry, food and other vendors. To reserve a booth space, call (903) 396-2665. There will be cotton patch story telling, rides for the kids, bingo, target shooting, chili cook-off, mule wagon rides and displays of cotton equipment from over the years. The day will end with a downtown dance.



American Legion Post 22, 632 N. Beaton St., invites members and their guests for an evening of First Class Entertainment with Nedra and Jerry House from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. No cover charge. Post will open at 2 p.m. For more information, call (903) 874-3938.



A benefit for Steve Vandiver will take place at the VFW, West State Highway 31. A benefit ride will leave between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. from the VFW. Entry fee will be $10 per person. For just $5, you can enjoy a barbecue dinner beginning at 6 p.m. An auction will begin at 8 p.m. and dance will follow. All proceeds will go to the Vandiver family.



Oct. 28

American Legion Post 22, 632 N. Beaton St., invites members and their guests for a Halloween party and Country Sue’s Karaoke from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. No cover charge. Post will open at 2 p.m. A contest for the best male and female costumes will begin at 10 p.m. For more information, call (903) 874-3938.



Oct. 31

VOICE will have a family fun fall festival from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on the Bank of America parking lot (facing North 12th Street). Come by before or after trick or treating downtown. There will be a bounce house, games, face painting, and more. Concessions will be available as well. There will be a chance to win a prize pack which includes passes for Six Flags Holiday in the Park. For more information, call or e-mail Gina Ward at (903) 872-0180 or gward@voiceinc.org.