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.



Oct. 6

Retreat Volunteer Fire Department will have its fall fish fry at 6 p.m. at the fire department, located at the corner of Farm-to-Market Roads 2555 and 709. Everyone is welcome. Meals will be $7 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under. Retreat VFD Explorers will be auctioning themselves off for a day’s work (four days will be auctioned off), a 50/50 drawing, silent auction, and an auction for a crocheted Retreat VFD blanket. You are invited to come out and join the fun.



Corsicana Opry will have legendary country music at 7 p.m. at Martin’s Music Hall, 201 S. Beaton St. Spotlighted will be Brooke Adams, Bill Baldwin, Jim Barbas, Bobby Fluker, Sherry French, Fred Hayes, Margie Holton, Billy Lewis, Krista Sifer, Matt Siwinski, Zanada Tally and Dave Young. Dining will begin at 6 p.m. Admission for the Opry will be $10 per person. For more information or tickets, call (903) 872-8226.



Pelham Cemetery Historical Marker will be dedicated at 10:30 a.m. The public is invited. Directions from Corsicana are to take Farm-to-Market Road 744, turn left on County Road NW3280 then right on County Road NW 3270.



American Legion Post 22, 632 N. Beaton St., invites members and their guests for an evening of Pure Country Karaoke with Connie and John from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. No cover charge. Post will open at 2 p.m. Sons of American Legions monthly meeting will be at 5 p.m.; to attend meetings, memberships must be current. For more information, call (903) 874-3938.



Mildred Volunteer Fire Department will hold its annual fund-raiser from 5 to 10 p.m. There will be a barbecue dinner, raffle for a 48,000 BTU stainless steel grill, canopy swing set, pool lounger set, and Ira Bradford and Bustin’ Loose will perform starting at 7 p.m. There will be a silent auction and drawings for prizes, all of which will be held at the Mildred City Hall.



Oct. 8

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. All precinct chairmen are encouraged to attend. For more information, reference the Web site at www.navgop.com.



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



Corsicana Band Boosters will meet at 6:30 p.m. at 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.



Oct. 8-9

Mildred Drama Club will present an original play, “Turn of Torrents,” at 7 p.m. in the Mildred cafetorium. Cost will be $5 for adults and $3 for students. Proceeds from this play, written and directed by Chase Springer, will go towards the drama club and the New York fund. For advance tickets, call (903) 875-9431 or (903) 641-1570 or purchase at the Mildred High School front office. Tickets will also be available at the door on the night of the event.



Oct. 9

287 Richland/Chambers Fire and Rescue Volunteer Fire Department will meet at 7 p.m. at the fire station, located 1/10 mile south of Spur 294 on South U.S. Highway 287 (just before the bridge over the lake). Support members, firefighters, and anyone interested in being a volunteer, support member of firefighter are encouraged to attend. For more information, call (903) 872-2336 or e-mail to 287RCfire@gmail.com.



Eureka Masonic Lodge will have a regular stated meeting at 7:30 p.m. Blooming Grove Masonic Lodge will not meet that night in Blooming Grove, but will join the Eureka Lodge to welcome the district deputy in making his official visit. A meal will be served at 6:30 p.m. All masons are invited.



Navarro County Heart Walk kick-off breakfast will be held from 7:45 to 9 a.m. in the Lone Star Room of the Walker Dining Hall on the Navarro College campus. For more information, call Heart Walk co-chairman Mike Fletcher at (903) 874-4778 or e-mail to fletcher.mike@heb.com.



Legacy Outfitters of Corsicana will welcome former Dallas Cowboy Burton Lawless as guest speaker. Lawless played guard with the Cowboys from 1975-1979 before ending his career a year later in Detroit. Skeet shooting is scheduled to being at 5:30 p.m., and the dinner and meeting are scheduled for 7 p.m. at Upland Bird Country off Farm-to-Market 637. For more information, contact John Harper at (903) 654-3395.



Ellis-Navarro Chapter 1191, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, will meet at 11:30 a.m. at Ryan’s Buffet and Bakery in Waxahachie (formerly Fire Mountain Grill — name change only, same location). The program will be given by a representative of Blue Cross/Blue Shield Insurance. All active and retired federal employees, their spouses and guests are invited to attend. For more information, call Herb Shelton, (972) 937-3224; Bob Kral, (903) 874-3092; or G.W. Garrard, (972) 875-2264.



If keeping Corsicana clean is important to you, then join in for a meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the City of Corsicana Collin Street Annex building. The guest speaker, Margaret Evans, will speak on behalf of the adopt-a-street effort.



Navarro County Branch of NAACP will hold a general membership meeting at 7 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, 1114 E. Sixth Ave. All members are asked to attend. Your participation is critical to the success of the NAACP. All general membership meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month. For more information, contact the Navarro County NAACP by mail at P.O. Box 284, Corsicana, TX 75151-0284, or contact president Leonard Dixon at (903) 872-3760.



Oct. 10-11

Navarro Regional Hospital Auxiliary will host a book fair fund-raiser in the hospital front lobby from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The savings will be up to 70 percent. All proceeds from the sales will benefit the NRH Auxiliary’s Winona Stewart Scholarship fund for Navarro College students going into a medical field.



Oct. 11

Dawson Masonic Lodge will have a regular stated meeting at 7:30 p.m. All master masons are invited. A meal will be served at 6:30 p.m.



National Depression and Screening Day will be held from noon to 4 p.m. in the Corsicana Public Library Civic Room, 100 N. 12th St., sponsored by Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance and Texas Cooperative Extension. To be screened for depression, you will fill out an anonymous questionnaire on the common signs of depression: sadness, tiredness, anger, irritability, and eating or sleeping problems. Dr. Thomas Sheriff, licensed counselor and advisor to the local DBSA chapter, will be available to review mood surveys and will discuss the first steps toward better mental health. Updated clinician educational resources and information on sleep disorders will also be available. For more information, call (903) 872-6302 or (903) 874-6815.



Oct. 11-14

Pelham community homecoming will be held Oct. 11-14. It will be held at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at Union Baptist Church with singing and preaching; 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at Brown Chapel AME Church with talent and worship speaker; and from 2 to 6 p.m. Oct. 13 with the 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 your lawn chairs. Museum will be open for tours from 6 to 7 p.m. Homecoming worship services will be at 10:45 a.m. Oct. 15 at Wesley United Methodist Church with dinner following at Pelham Community Center. If you cannot attend, you may send a donation to: Mrs. Alva J. Porter, 22425 Farm-to-Market Road 744, Hubbard, TX 76648.



Oct. 12

A free child safety seat checkup will be held from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Navarro Mall parking lot, 800 N. Main St. Bring your child; know your child’s weight. Studies show over 85 percent of child safety seats are misused. For more information, call Paula Butler, Texas Cooperative Extension agent, at (903) 654-3075.



Oct. 13

Gospel music concert will take place at Martin’s Music Hall, 201 S. Beaton St., at 7 p.m. Tickets will be $10 per person and may be reserved by calling (903) 872-8226. Dining is available at 6 p.m. Featured performers will be the Dave Young Family Gospel Band.



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. The Legionnaires monthly meeting will be at 1 p.m. To attend this meeting, membership must be current. For more information, call (903) 874-3938.



Navarro County Animals at Risk Foundation will present its third annual Fur Ball from 8 p.m. to midnight at the VFW Post 3366, 4609 W. State Highway 31, Corsicana. Ira Bradford and Bustin’ Loose will perform. There will also be a live auction to benefit NCARF. Cost will be $10 per ticket to benefit animals in Navarro County. For more information, call (903) 875-8705 or (903) 654-3668.



Collins Catholic School will have its “Bucks, Blues and Barbecue” fund-raising event from 6 p.m. to midnight at the Navarro County Exposition Center, 4021 W. State Highway 22. Tickets are available by calling (903) 872-1751. Tickets will be $20 per person, and take-out meals for $15 per person. Music will be provided by Randy Blue and The Full House Band. Raffle tickets are $1, and raffle drawings will be held all evening. There will also be a silent and live auction.



St. Elmo Cemetery Association will have its annual cake auction and hot dog supper at 6 p.m. at New Hope Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. All proceeds will go to the cemetery. Everyone is welcome.



Coyote Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force will have its next meeting at the N.H. “Tucker” Hardgrave Memorial Hangar at the Corsicana Municipal Airport. Staff will meet at 10 a.m. with the squadron meeting at 10:30 a.m. The unit will be making plans for the next Corsicana Airsho to be held May 10, 2008. A meal will be served and guests are always welcome. For more information, call John Ausley at (972) 279-0033 or (469)387-0992.



An equine health fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cowboy Church of Ennis, located on Interstate 45, just north of the Navarro County line, Exit 244, with roping to follow. Information on the care of your horse including microchip and freeze branding, nutrition, mini-clinic on de-spooking and trail riding, Reins for Life and Drill team demo by Texas Free Spirits, equine massage and lots more. There will be great vendors with something for everyone. Concessions will be provided by authentic Cowboy Chuck Wagon.



Oct. 14

American Legion Post 22 Ladies Auxiliary will meet at 3 p.m. at the post, 632 N. Beaton St. To attend this meeting, membership must be current. For more information, call (903) 874-3938.



Oct. 15

The Warehouse Theatre’s Corsicana Children’s Company will hold auditions for the children’s holiday production at 6:30 p.m. at the Warehouse Living Arts Center, 119 W. Sixth Ave. Frances Seidensticker Dodds will direct the show, with title to be announced. Scripts under consideration are “The Elves and the Shoemaker,” “Christmas with the Three Bears,” and “The Country Christmas Carol.” Roles will be available for kids ages 8 to 14, older teens and adults of all ages. The production dates are Dec. 6-9. Those who plan to audition should bring school schedules, date books, work schedules, etc. in order to fill out a detailed rehearsal availability form. For more information, call (903) 872-5421.



Christmas in Action will have a team meeting at 5:30 p.m. at United Christian Fellowship, across from Navarro College. For more information, call Alvis at (903) 875-8727.



Oct. 16

Kerens Masonic Lodge will have a regular stated meeting at 7:30 p.m. All master masons are invited. Refreshments will be served after the meeting.



Oct. 16-25

VOICE will offer the Texas Youth Tobacco Awareness Program, a state approved program for minors charged with attempted purchase, consumption, or possession of tobacco and is designed to the mandates of Texas law. VOICE staff is certified to facilitate this program. The class is an eight-hour program divided into four two-hour sessions. Classes will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 16, 18, 23 and 25. The classes are $80 (cash only) for all sessions. For more information, contact John Goodnight at (903) 872-0180 or jgoodnight@voiceinc.org.



Oct. 20

The third annual Kerens Cotton Harvest Festival will be held in downtown Kerens. There will be arts, crafts, jewelry, food and drink vendors. Activities will include rides and games, 3-on-3 basketball, target shooting, a horseshoe contest, a chili cook-off, quilt show, mule wagon rides, tours of an operating cotton gin and a downtown street dance featuring Ira Bradford. Vendors may reserve their space by contacting Betty Partain at (903) 396-7337.



Navarro County Branch of NAACP will have its freedom fund banquet meeting at 7 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, 1114 E. Sixth Ave. The speaker will be Dallas Fire Department Chief Eddie Burns. Tickets will be $20 and can be purchased by calling Barbara Kelley at (903) 872-7973 or president Leonard Dixon at (469) 951-9367.



Dawson Fall Festival will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. in downtown Dawson. There will be something for all ages including food, games, entertainment and more. A street dance will be held from 6 to 11 p.m.



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. The Sons of American Legion will be cooking hamburgers and cheeseburgers from 6 to 8 p.m., cooked when ordered. For more information, call (903) 874-3938.



Blooming Grove/Barry 4-H will have a fish fry fund-raiser at 6 p.m. at the Blooming Grove Elementary School cafeteria. Meal will be $7 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under. A live auction will follow the meal. There will also be games for children.



St. Timothy Lodge No. 68 Free and Accepted Masons will have a regular communication at 11:30 a.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, 1114 E. Sixth Ave. All Prince Hall masons are invited to attend. For more information, call Vernon Jessie at (903) 874-5406.



Oct. 22

Barry Masonic Lodge will have a regular stated meeting at 7:30 p.m. All master masons are invited. A meal will be served at 6:30 p.m.



Oct. 23

Winkler Masonic Lodge will have a regular stated meeting at 7:30 p.m. All master masons are invited. A meal will be served at 6:30 p.m.



Oct. 24

VOICE, in partnership with the Navarro County Texas Cooperative Extension office, will hold a “Healthy Texan” class at 3:30 p.m. at Bank of America, 100 N. Main St., Suite 308, taught by county extension agents. For more information, contact Gina Dieterichs at VOICE, (903) 872-0180 or by e-mail at gdieterichs@voiceinc.org.



Oct. 27

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



Through Oct. 31

Piecemakers Quilt Guild will have its 27th annual quilt show at the Warehouse Living Arts Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Admission will be free. On the last day of the show, there will be a drawing for the PQG quilt. Tickets for the quilt are $1 each or six for $5. Several classes and demos, open to the public, will be given during the show including “Quilting 101” by Judy Green, Cabbage Rose demos, a demo by Jeanette Cobb on how to make easy pillowcases, and a demo on strip piecing by Sue Svrvcek. This will also be the time for members to participate in hand quilting the donation quilt for next year. For more information, call Ann Griffin at (903) 872-7743 or Judy Green at (903) 874-1460.



Oct. 31

The annual family fun fall festival, sponsored by VOICE, will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Bank of America west parking lot on North 12th Street, across the street from the Corsicana Public Library. There will be free games, bounce house, snacks, crafts, trick-or-treat prizes, and lots of fun. There will be a drawing for a prize basket that includes two tickets to Six Flags Winter in the Park. This year’s festival will start at 2 p.m. to cater the first hour especially to younger and preschool aged children. For more information, contact Gina Dieterichs at (903) 872-0180 or gdieterichs@voiceinc.org.



Navarro College Halloween Extravaganza will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. with an art show in Caston Fine Arts Building (no admission charge), and a Halloween movie and light show, every 15 minutes, at The Cook Center ($1 admission). The public is invited.



Trick or Treat at College Park Mall in your costume from 4 to 7 p.m.



Nov. 1-10

Navarro College Theatre Department will present “Hope in Hemphill” at 7 p.m. Nov. 1-3 and 8-9; and 2 p.m. Nov. 4 and 10. All performances will be in Dawson Auditorium on the college campus. The public is invited. Admission will be free, but donations will be gladly accepted. This original play written by Shellie O’Neal, theatre department director, is a World War II drama dealing with a Texas family and how they nurture young soldiers about to go to war.



Nov. 10

Day in November annual arts and crafts show will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at College Park Mall, 3500 W. Seventh Ave. There will be handcrafted items, Christmas decorations, jewelry, quilts, jellies and jams, baked goods and much more as vendors from Corsicana, Navarro County and across the state participate in this annual event. For more information, call Deanna Hayes at (903) 872-7486 or e-mail to collegeparkmall@sbcglobal.net.



Nov. 13

287 Richland/Chambers Fire and Rescue Volunteer Fire Department will meet at 7 p.m. at the fire station, located 1/10 mile south of Spur 294 on South U.S. Highway 287 (just before the bridge over the lake). Support members, firefighters, and anyone interested in being a volunteer, support member of firefighter are encouraged to attend. For more information, call (903) 872-2336 or e-mail to 287RCfire@gmail.com.



Nov. 13-15

Navarro Council of the Arts will present “ScrapArtsMusic from Canada.” This group will perform for all Navarro County students in sixth through 12th grades and will present a full free concert for the public at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15. For more information, visit the Web site at www.navarrocouncilofthearts.com or call (903) 872-5411.



Nov. 15-18

Warehouse Living Arts Center Theatre, will present “Forever Plaid” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15-17 and 2 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Palace Theatre, 112 W. Sixth Ave. “Forever Plaid” is one of the most-popular musicals ever featuring music from the fabulous ‘50s. For tickets or more information, call (903) 872-5421. “Forever Plaid” replaces “The Spitfire Grill” as the last show in the 2007 season ticket series.



Nov. 27

Navarro College jazz concert will be held at 7 p.m. in the Dawson Auditorium on the college campus. The public is invited, and admission will be free. The concert will feature the Jazz Band and Collegiate Singers.



Nov. 27-Dec. 6

VOICE will offer the Texas Youth Tobacco Awareness Program, a state approved program for minors charged with attempted purchase, consumption, or possession of tobacco and is designed to the mandates of Texas law. VOICE staff is certified to facilitate this program. The class is an eight-hour program divided into four two-hour sessions. Classes will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 27 and 29 and Dec. 4 and 6. The classes are $80 (cash only) for all sessions. For more information, contact John Goodnight at (903) 872-0180 or jgoodnight@voiceinc.org.



Nov. 28

VOICE, in partnership with the Navarro County Texas Cooperative Extension office, will hold a “Healthy Texan” class at 3:30 p.m. at Bank of America, 100 N. Main St., Suite 308, taught by county extension agents. For more information, contact Gina Dieterichs at VOICE, (903) 872-0180 or by e-mail at gdieterichs@voiceinc.org.



Dec. 1

The second annual Corsicana Downtown R.O.S.E. Association Christmas Market will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on and near Fifth Avenue in downtown Corsicana. There will be Christmas crafts and decor, seasonal items, food vendors, live entertainment and a Christmas tree auction. Master of ceremonies will be Bishop K.D. Davis Sr. Join the community in celebrating the holiday season. Market will be followed by the parade and lighting of Community Park. For vendor information, visit online at www.corsicanarose.com, e-mail to corsicanarose@yahoo.com, or mail your request to P.O. Box 1791, Corsicana, TX 75151.



Dec. 3

Navarro College small ensembles concert will be held at 7 p.m. in the Dawson Auditorium on the college campus. The public is invited, and admission will be free. The concert will feature woodwind ensemble, brass ensemble and percussion ensemble.



Dec. 4

Navarro College president’s Christmas concert will be held at 7 p.m. in the Dawson Auditorium on the college campus. The public is invited, and admission will be free. The concert will feature Christmas music and other selections performed by the concert band and various Navarro College choirs.



Through Dec. 11

Nurturing Program, for parents with children ages 5 to 11, will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 11 at 100 N. Main St. (Bank of America Building), Third Floor, Suite 308. For more information, call Valorie at VOICE Inc., (903) 872-0180.