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.



Feb. 11-17

Warehouse Living Arts Center Theatre, 119 W. Sixth Ave., will present “Dead Giveaway” at 2 p.m. Feb. 11 and at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13, 15-17. The cast of Pat Cook’s hilarious comedy thriller are Barbara Erwin, Helen Griffiths, Liz Haefs, Debbie Hanks, Kelly Kovar, Sandra McClure Mahood and Carey Dean Whitfield. Tickets are on sale for $13 for adults, $11 for students and seniors 65 and older, and $7 for kids 12 and under. To reserve tickets or for more information, call (903) 872-5421.



Feb. 12

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



Woodmen of the World Lodge 5 will have a valentine party at 6 p.m. at Liberty Hall. All members, their families and guests are cordially invited.



A financial aid night will be held at 6 p.m. in the Kerens Independent School District cafeteria. There will be three $150 senior scholarships for a drawing to kick off the night. This event is for all Kerens grade levels to learn about college funding, but especially juniors and seniors. Kerens graduates are unique in that every student can receive some type of financial assistance for college. Students and their parents are invited to attend.



Corsicana Band Boosters will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Corsicana High School band hall. Parents of students in Drane Intermediate School, Collins Middle School and Corsicana High School bands, and anyone else who is interested in encouraging and supporting the band program are invited to attend.



Feb. 12-15

Warehouse Living Arts Center’s Corsicana Children’s Company, 119 W. Sixth Ave., will have creative dramatics and acting classes. Classes will last for nine weeks except the fourth through sixth grade class which will be 10 weeks. Seventh through 12th grade class will be from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Mondays beginning Feb. 12. Second and third grade class will be from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Feb. 13. Kindergarten through first grade classes will be from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays beginning Feb. 14. Fourth through sixth grade class will be from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursdays beginning Feb. 15. Instructors will be Frances Seidensticker Dodds, Sandra McClure Mahood and Rebekah Nichols. Tuition costs vary by grade level. For more information, call (903) 872-5421.



Feb. 13

District court jury panel scheduled for 1:30 p.m. has been dismissed.



National Active and Retired Federal Employees Ellis-Navarro Chapter 1191 will meet at 11:30 a.m. at Sirloin Stockade in Corsicana. A program on home fire safety will be presented by James Palos, Corsicana fire marshal. All active and retired federal employees and their spouses are invited to attend. For more information, call Bob Kral, (903) 874-3092; Herbert Shelton, (972) 937-3224; or G.W. Garrard, (972) 875-2264.



Blooming Grove Masonic Lodge will welcome the honorable district deputy at the regular stated meeting at 7:30 p.m. Meal will be served starting at 6:30 p.m. All master masons are welcome.



Corsicana Downtown Merchants Association will hold the most important business meeting of the year at 6 p.m. at Wicklow Inn. Every member is urged to attend.



Impact Corsicana will meet from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Corsicana Public Library Civic Room. Your participation is important as decisions are made to impact the safety and health of the youth of community. A special feature will be the recognition of prevention partners during the past year. For more information, call (903) 874-4263 or view the Web site at www.dpri.com.



Oak Valley board of alderman meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at Oak Valley Town Hall.



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.



AP and Pre-AP parent meeting will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. at Sam Houston Resource Center, 1213 W. Fourth Ave. This will be a question-and-answer session designed to assist you as you determine the right course for your sixth through 12th grade students in Corsicana Independent School District.



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.



Navarro County Board of Realtors will meet at noon at First Christian Church, 3804 W. State Highway 22. Gerry Harris of St. Elmo Country Store will cater. Barbara Moe, Moe & Dunn Attorneys-at-Law PLLC, will sponsor the luncheon. Kellee Casebeer, agent with the Dallas FBI, will be in charge of the program and will speak on bank fraud. Make reservations to the board office by Feb. 13.



Feb. 16

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3366, located at Veterans Drive off West State Highway 31, will have Pure Country Karaoke with John Tilley from 8 p.m. to midnight. The VFW Post canteen will open at 4 p.m. For more information, call after 4 p.m. to (903) 872-3811.



Feb. 17

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.



A community talent show fund-raiser will be held at 7 p.m. at the Blooming Grove High School auditorium, benefiting the Communities in Action library. If you would like to be a part of the talent show or would like more information, call (903) 695-2175.



Chatfield-Tupelo Community Center will host the annual chili cook-off at 6 p.m. Entries must be at the center by 5:30 p.m. for judging. Awards will be given for first, second and third place. After the chili supper, there will be a dance with music by the Lakers band from Cedar Creek Lake. Cost of admission for the evening (including the dinner and dance) will be $7 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. For more information, contact president Toni Miles at (903) 345-7070.



Hat Brand Rodeo will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Navarro County Exposition Center. Cost of admission will be $6.



“Building Your Family Tree,” a beginners workshop, will be presented by the Navarro County Genealogical Society in the Corsicana Public Library Civic Room, 100 N. 12th St. There will be a fee of $5 per person to defer the cost of handouts and forms for the class. Bring any family information you have, so you can get started. Registration will start at 9:45 a.m. with the workshop will begin at 10 a.m. There will be lunch break from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The workshop will end with a question and answer period from 3 to 4 p.m. and a tour of the Genealogy Room and what is available. For more information, call (903) 654-4810, e-mail roots@ci.corsicana.tx.us or jd.dj.hardin@sbcglobal.net, or you may pick up application forms at the library.



Feb. 18

Heart of Texas Barrel Racing Association will host a barrel race beginning at noon in the Navarro County Exposition Center indoor arena. Admission is free to the public. For more information, call Camille McCain at (903) 872-5283.



Feb. 20

Kerens Masonic Lodge will have a regular stated meeting at 7:30 p.m. The honorable district deputy will make his official yearly visit. Refreshments will be served after the meeting. All master masons are invited.



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.



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.



North Central Texas Workforce Center will partner with Carter BloodCare from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a blood drive at the center, 720 N. Beaton St. Everyone who registers to give blood will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gas gift card or a grand prize of one year of free gas. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good general health. For more information, call Carter BloodCare at (800) 366-2834 or go online at carterbloodcare.org. For more information about the local blood drive or to schedule an appointment, call Stuart Schoppert at (903) 874-8276, Ext. 212.



Feb. 23

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



Feb. 24

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 purchased for previous show that was canceled due to the ice storm will be honored. 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 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.



Feb. 26

Emhouse Community Center will meet at 6 p.m. All members are urged to attend. Also, the center welcomes new members at any time.



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 3

Navarro County Child Advocacy Center will have a indoor volleyball benefit tournament beginning at noon at the Wolens Special Events Center on the Navarro College campus. Players will be local law enforcement and fire personnel. The public is invited. There will be no admission, but donations will be welcome. All proceeds will go to the Navarro County Child Advocacy Center.



March 5

Corsicana Art League will meet at 6 p.m. at the Senior Activity Center, 919 W. Park Ave. Program will be a demonstration and paint along “The Still Life as a Stage of Mystery” by Rachel Moore, fine arts coordinator/instructor at Navarro College. Bring your paints or come and take notes. Anyone interested is invited to attend.



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 29

Navarro College SBDC will sponsor a seminar on communication in the workplace from 11 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.