Friday May 17
Ladies’ paint night on tap at CAC
The Charleston Arts Center (CARE building) will host a ladies’ paint night class on Friday, May 17, starting at 5:30 p.m. All supplies are furnished and refreshments are provided. The event is free for ladies, but limited seating is available. Call 662-647-0942 or stop by CARE to register for the event.
Saturday May 18
Calvary Food Pantry to distribute
Calvary Food Chapel, at 36 Ward-Riddick Road, just east of Parchman off Highway 32, will distribute food from 8-10 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, for those living in the West Tallahatchie area and in Sunflower County outside the city limits of Drew (which has its own food pantry). Return empty boxes for refill when you pass through. Be on time.
Cascilla Day slated 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Annual Cascilla Day will be held Saturday, May 18, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. There will be gospel singing, arts and crafts vendors, inflatables, fried pork skins, lemonade and Bloodworth’s catfish. “We are looking forward to seeing you and keeping up the May Day in Cascilla tradition,” said a publicist.
Faith Food Pantry sets distribution
Faith Food Pantry, located at 30028 Highway 32, Charleston, will distribute food from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 18. Please return empty boxes for refill when you pass through the drive-thru. Be on time.
New Hope cemetery service slated
Annual meeting of the New Hope Church Cemetery is set Saturday, May 18. There will be a memorial service at 11 a.m., followed by a brief business meeting and a potluck lunch. For more information, contact William Earl McCammon at 662-647-7541. Dues and donations may be sent to: New Hope Cemetery, P.O. Box 723, Charleston, MS 38921.
Monday May 21
Summer camp registration opens
On Monday, May 20, registration opens for summer camps at CARE’s Charleston Arts Center. Camps for June and July will include art, dance, karate, ceramics, culinary arts and Lego clubs. Camp sessions are for ages 5 to adult. Registration includes completion of registration forms for each child, teen or adult participating.
For more information, reach out to CARE at 662-647-0942.
Tuesday May 21
Wellness Center hosts health fair
The James C. Kennedy Wellness Center, located at 188 Honeysuckle Dr., Charleston, will host a community health fair on Tuesday, May 21, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
There will be more than 25 vendors offering a wide variety of free items and information. There will also be free health checks and free lab work for participants.
For more information about the health fair, contact the Wellness Center at 662-625-7214.
Friday May 24
4-H cooking kits order deadline set
4-H cooking kits are back for June. These kits are meant for youth ages 8-18 to aid in learning how to cook. The kits are $15 each and include ingredients for two recipes and a surprise kitchen item.
Sign up and pay by May 24 to secure a cooking kit. Pick-up days will be June 4-5 at the Tallahatchie County Extension office.
To sign up, call the office at 662-647-8746 or stop by 202 S. Market St. in Charleston.
CHS graduation ceremony slated
Charleston High School commencement exercises will be held on Friday, May 24, in the Morgan Freeman Auditorium on campus. The ceremony is scheduled to start at 6 p.m.
Saturday May 25
WTHS seniors set to graduate
West Tallahatchie High School commencement exercises will be held on Saturday, May 25, in the school auditorium on campus. The graduation ceremony begins at 10 a.m.
Sunday May 26
Hitt’s Chapel deliverance service set
Hitt’s Chapel, located at 3266 Mississippi Highway 32, Webb, will host a praise and deliverance service on Sunday, May 26, starting at 2:30 p.m. The theme will be “From Bondage to Freedom.”
Guest speaker will be Rev. Willie Joe McCall of Greenwood.
All are invited to “help lift up the name of Jesus,” noted host pastor Rev. J.E. Hall.
Saturday June 1
Birdia Keglar Legacy event on tap
The Birdia Keglar Legacy Committee has announced plans for the upcoming 19th annual Birdia Keglar Legacy Community Celebration to be held Saturday, June 1.
The day will begin with a “Drum Call to the Community” on the Charleston courthouse lawn at 10 a.m. Following will be a cavalcade of vehicles to the Charleston Day Center, where entertainment, games and activities, presentations, lunch and awarding of the Birdia Keglar Legacy Scholarship will take place.
A panel of speakers will present on the topic of “Generational Wealth and Financial Development in the Black Community.” Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity geared toward hearing about how to achieve a better and brighter future for us all.
The day will also consist of comments from area officials and community leaders.
“We invite all who will to join us in continuing this legacy celebration, for our children’s and community’s future depends on it,” noted Gwen Dailey. “Your continued support is greatly appreciated and makes this yearly event possible.”
Souvenir T-shirts are available. For information on how to purchase T-shirts and to receive further details on the event, contact Gwen Dailey at 662-609-6701, LaJoyce Stewart at 662-417-4950 or Edith Glaspie at 313-505-9710.
Saturday June 8
Tallahatchie Back to School Expo set
On Saturday, June 8, the Tallahatchie County Back to School Expo will be held in both East and West Tallahatchie locations.
Free and open to the public for students from pre-K through 12th grade, the event offers free school supplies, uniforms, important information, food, prizes, giveaways, music and family fun.
The Expo will be held simultaneously, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the James C. Kennedy Wellness Center, 188 Honeysuckle Dr., in Charleston, and West Tallahatchie Head Start Center, 964 Sturdivant Road, in Glendora.
Hampton couple will be honored
The 22nd pastoral anniversary of Old Bethel Missionary Baptist Church pastor Leo Hampton and first lady Linda Hampton will be observed on Saturday, June 8, at 5 p.m., with a special gathering at Hampton Inn & Suites, 1545 Jameson Dr., Grenada, MS 38901.
Sunday June 9
D-S-4 celebrates 31st anniversary
Local gospel singing group D-S-4 will celebrate its 31-year anniversary on Sunday, June 9, with a gospel concert at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 1051 Walnut St. in Clarksdale. Doors open at 3 p.m. and the program starts at 4. Master of ceremonies will be Bishop Kimberly Randale.
The concert will feature Kaden Morris, Praising Grace, the Cork Sisters, Delta Boyz, Spiritual Soldier, Willie (Sonny) Matthews, Angelic Star, Unity of Tone, D’antre Jackson and Trinity Air, the Kaiser Singers and occasion evangelist Rashunna Rodgers.
For more information, contact Katherine Jones at 662-392-9262.
Thursday June 13
Neighborhood Watch meeting slated
A Neighborhood Watch meeting for the Charleston community will be held at the Charleston Arts Center, aka CARE building, starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 13. All interested persons are invited to attend.
Monday June 17
Vacation Bible School set at Faith
Monday, June 17, through Wednesday, June 19, Vacation Bible School will be held at Faith Baptist Church, located just east of Charleston at 30028 Highway 32.
VBS begins at 12:30 p.m. with lunch and ends at 3. “Breaker Rock Beach” is the theme. Classes are for children ages 3 to school age, and all children are welcome.
Calvary Chapel announces VBS
Vacation Bible School at Calvary Chapel is Monday, June 17, through Wednesday, June 19, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. daily. The church van will run its regular route beginning at 4:45.
This year’s theme is “Breaker Rock Beach.” VBS is for children age 3 to school age, and all children are welcome.
The church is located at 36 Ward-Riddick Road, just north of Highway 32 and seven-tenths of a mile east of Parchman’s front gate.
Miscellany
NWCC reveals spring honor lists
Northwest Mississippi Community College on Tuesday revealed the names of local students who qualified for academic honors at the close of the spring 2024 semester.
Appearing on the President’s List, which includes full-time students who completed the semester with a GPA of 3.75 to 4.0, are:
• From Charleston: Jakesia Davis, Caley Patterson and Nyla Reed
• From Holcomb: Aleigha Harvey
• From Oakland: Janiyah Bland and Aldaesha Carr
Landing on the Vice President’s List, which includes full-time students who completed the semester with a GPA of 3.5 to 3.74, are:
• From Charleston: Kiara Davis, Shakerra Jennings and Joshua Nelson
• From Holcomb: Colt Conway, Archie Daves and Riley Melton
• From Philipp: Taylor Jones
• From Tillatoba: Joshua Harrison and Brielle Shegog
• From Vance: Lynsey Hite
AA updates meeting day, time
With the death of a leader, Alcoholics Anonymous has announced a change in the day and time of its scheduled meetings.
AA still meets at Faith Baptist Church, located at 30028 Mississippi 32, just east of Charleston, but now meets on Thursdays at 7 p.m. (Previously, meetings were Tuesday.)
There are no other groups meeting on Thursdays in the church building, so the AA group has more privacy.
GriefShare support group ongoing
GriefShare, a grief recovery support group that began Tuesday, March 12, will conduct weekly sessions each Tuesday from 6-7:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Charleston.
GriefShare is a video series that features some of the nation’s foremost Christian experts on grief and recovery topics as seen from a biblical perspective. The video seminars are combined with support group discussion of the materials presented in the video.
These 13-week sessions include topics such as “Is this Normal?” “The Challenges of Grief,” “Grief and Your Relationships,” “Why?”, “Guilt and Anger” and more.
For details, call Rev. Joe May at 662-712-5004 or Charlotte Hargett at 662-647-4844.
The sessions are sponsored by First Baptist Church of Charleston and The Jennifer Hargett Foundation.
Earn high school diploma in 22 weeks
The Mississippi Youth ChalleNGe Academy, located at Camp Shelby, is the premier alternative education program for 16- to 18-year-old youth who are struggling in school or no longer attending.
With a focus on job training, social skills and self-discipline, ChalleNGe is a nonprofit high school diploma-producing academy designed specifically to meet the needs of high school dropouts and at-risk youth. It is a part of the Mississippi National Guard Youth Challenge Program. Participants may earn their high school diploma in just 22 weeks. Tuition, room and board are absolutely free.
ChalleNGe also offers college classes through a local university. Both male and female applicants are accepted.
For an application or information, call 1-800-507-6253 or visit msyouthchallenge.org.
Nursing honor guard service free
Northwest Mississippi Honor Guard recognizes men and women who have dedicated their professional lives to nursing, and to pay respects to fellow nurses (retired or active NP, RN or LPN) at the end of their life’s journey, for the devotion and commitment they demonstrated in caring for others.
The service is free. A family member or funeral director can request services by contacting one of the following: Millie Smith, at 601-562-0995 or minniepep@hotmail.com; or Tallahatchie County Honor Guard member Lisa Tucker, at 662-647-4913 or by email to mstuckers@yahoo.com.
