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.



Dec. 22

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 to midnight. The VFW Post canteen will open at 4 p.m. For more information, call after 4 p.m. to (903) 872-3811.



Dec. 23

American Legion Post 22, 632 N. Beaton St., invites members and their guests for an evening of First Class Entertainment karaoke 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.



Dec. 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.



Through Dec. 31

Corsicana Police Department will accept alarm permit renewals during December. Any permit that is renewed before Dec. 31 can be renewed with a $5 fee. Any permit renewed after Dec. 31 will require a $25 renewal fee. Any operational burglar alarm system located in the Corsicana city limits is required by City Ordinance (Sec 4.1200) to have a current alarm permit on file. Violation of this ordinance can result in a citation being issued to the owner of the premises where the alarm is located. Permits can be renewed in person from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at the Corsicana Police Department or by mail at: Corsicana Police Department, Records Division, 200 N. 12th St., Corsicana, TX 75110. If you have any questions regarding this matter, contact the Records Division at (903) 654-4924.



Jan. 2

Blooming Grove Historical Society will have its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at Heritage Hall at Blooming Grove United Methodist Church. Mary Johnson will present a program on the Bryan School. All interested people are invited to attend. For more information, call (903) 695-2724 or (903) 673-2635.



Corsicana Chapter 118, OES, 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 Judith Sanders at (903) 695-2526.



Jan. 4

Blooming Grove Crime Watch will meet at 7 p.m. at Blooming Grove Fire Station. Jimmie Spencer, a retired captain from the Navarro County Sheriff’s Office, will be the speaker. Light refreshments will be served following the meeting.



Navarro College SBDC will have a workshop on how to start a small business from 10 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) 875-7667 or e-mail ophelia.mendoza@navarrocollege.edu.



Jan. 6

Corsicana Opry Band will spotlight Olivia Buchanan, Cody Crum, Blake Devine, Judy Draper, Christi Driskell Self, Krista Sifers, Matt Siwinski and Tom White at 7 p.m. at Martin’s Music Hall, 201 S. Beaton St. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Admission will be $10 per person. For more information or tickets, call (903) 872-8226.



American Legion Post 22, 632 N. Beaton St., invites members and their guests for an evening of First Class Entertainment karaoke 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.



Jan. 8

Corsicana Art League will meet at 6 p.m. at The Art Spot, 122 N. Beaton St. Start the new year artistically with a special painting demonstration by professional artist Barbara Jones. This will be an opportunity to see the work of artist Jones and also visit The Art Spot, where she will be giving lessons starting the first of the year. Visitors are welcome and there is no fee for the program.



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



The Republican Party of Navarro County will hold its monthly meting at 7 p.m. on the seventh floor of Bank of America, 100 N. Main St. All registered voters are welcome to attend. For more information, visit the Web site at www.navgop.com.



Jan. 11

Navarro College SBDC will have a workshop on writing a winning 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) 875-7667 or e-mail ophelia.mendoza@navarrocollege.edu.



Jan. 13

A gospel music concert will be held at 7 p.m. at Martin’s Music Hall, 201 S. Beaton St. spotlighting award-winning Southern Joy (Paul Ferguson, Joe Lopez, Rudy Lopez and Elton Raney). Doors will open at 6 p.m. Admission will be $10 per person. Tickets are available at The Ark, 204 N. Beaton St. For more information or tickets, call (903) 872-8226.



American Legion Post 22, 632 N. Beaton St., invites members and their guests for an evening of Walker Creek Karaoke with Loran and Howard 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.



Jan. 17

Navarro College SBDC will have a seminar on “Potholes and Speed Bumps: Guiding Your Business to a Smooth Ride” from 9 a.m. to noon at the Corsicana/Navarro County Chamber of Commerce, 120 N. 12th St. Cost of the workshop will be $25. For more information or to register, call Ophelia Mendoza at (903) 875-7667 or e-mail ophelia.mendoza@navarrocollege.edu.



Jan. 20

American Legion Post 22, 632 N. Beaton St., invites members and their guests for an evening of First Class Entertainment karaoke 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.



Jan. 25

Navarro College SBDC will have “What’s Stressing You Out?” from 11 a.m. to noon at the Corsicana/Navarro County Chamber of Commerce, 120 N. 12th St. For more information, call Ophelia Mendoza at (903) 875-7667 or e-mail ophelia.mendoza@navarrocollege.edu.



Jan. 27

Navarro County Go-Texan Scholarship will have a drawing for a 2007 Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe at 5:30 p.m. at the KC Hall in Ennis. Tickets are $100 each and only 440 tickets will be sold. With each ticket purchase, you will get a steak dinner for two. There will be a cash bar and a live band after the drawing. For tickets, call Randy Bancroft, (903) 396-7760; Eric Meyers, (903) 654-3396; Chris Dyer, (903) 654-3353; Phil Golden, (903) 654-4168; or Pat Reed, (903) 654-3943; or see the following people: Chuck Rash, Kim Spencer, John Paul Ross, Lance Waggoner, Sherman Putman and Harry Dotson.



American Legion Post 22, 632 N. Beaton St., invites members and their guests for an evening of karaoke with Country Sue 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.



Jan. 30

VOICE will host the second annual Lunch-ON! fund-raiser at First United Methodist Church in Corsicana. Tables are now on sale and opportunities for underwriters are now available. This year’s guest speaker will be Dallas sportscaster Mike Doocy from Fox 4. For more information or to offer sponsorship, call Gina Ward at (903) 872-0180 or e-mail gward@voiceinc.org.



Feb. 1

Navarro College SBDC will have a workshop on how to start a small business from 2 to 4 p.m. 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) 875-7667 or e-mail ophelia.mendoza@navarrocollege.edu.



Feb. 6

Corsicana Chapter 118, OES, 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 Judith Sanders at (903) 695-2526.



Feb. 7

Navarro College SBDC will have a workshop on writing a winning business plan from 1 to 4 p.m. 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) 875-7667 or e-mail ophelia.mendoza@navarrocollege.edu.



Feb. 8

Navarro College SBDC will have a marketing overview workshop from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Corsicana/Navarro County Chamber of Commerce, 120 N. 12th St. Cost of the workshop will be $25. For more information or to register, call Ophelia Mendoza at (903) 875-7667 or e-mail ophelia.mendoza@navarrocollege.edu.



Feb. 15

Navarro College SBDC will have a workshop on understanding copyrights, patents and trademarks from 2 to 4 p.m. 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) 875-7667 or e-mail ophelia.mendoza@navarrocollege.edu.



Feb. 22

Navarro College SBDC will have a workshop on government contracting and 8(a) certification from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Corsicana/Navarro County Chamber of Commerce, 120 N. 12th St. Cost of the workshop will be $50. For more information or to register, call Ophelia Mendoza at (903) 875-7667 or e-mail ophelia.mendoza@navarrocollege.edu.



March 1

Navarro College SBDC will have a workshop on how to start a small business from 10 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) 875-7667 or e-mail ophelia.mendoza@navarrocollege.edu.



March 9

Navarro College SBDC will have a workshop on writing a winning business plan from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 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) 875-7667 or e-mail ophelia.mendoza@navarrocollege.edu.



March 22

Navarro College SBDC will have a seminar on “Employee Benefits: What’s the Plan?” from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Corsicana/Navarro County Chamber of Commerce, 120 N. 12th St. Cost of the seminar will be $29. For more information or to register, call Ophelia Mendoza at (903) 875-7667 or e-mail ophelia.mendoza@navarrocollege.edu.