NEWS

Plant sale slated

The Cherokee County Master Gardener's Association annual fall plant sale will be at 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Stripling Clinic parking lot, 555 S. Jackson St., Jacksonville. For sale will be favorite and home grown plants from the Master Gardeners' own gardens. Plants will range from African Violets to culinary herbs, Day Lilies to Iris, Malva to Salvias, as well as seeds for spring planting and a variety of trees. Master Gardeners will answer questions.

RHS Alumni Assn.

sponsors chili supper

The annual Rusk High School Alumni Association chili supper is planned for 5-7 p.m. Oct. 26 at the high school cafeteria. Tickets for the homecoming night supper are $5 and take out orders will be available.

Pastor appreciation set

Faith Holy Tabernacle will sponsor a pastor and wife appreciation program for Pastor Sam and Antonett Willis at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21. Speaker will be Pastor Darryl Cranford of Wells Chapel Baptist Church. Dinner will be served after service. The church is located at 1107 North Main St., Rusk. Congressional staff visits Jacksonville Chamber of

Commerce office

Congressional staff from U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling's office will be at the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce board room from 2:15-3 p.m. Friday.

The staff will be available to assist local constituents with dealings with federal agencies. Questions concerning HUD, immigration, IRS, Medicare, military, passports, Social Security, USDA, Veterans Affairs are welcomed.

For more information contact Congressman Hensarling's office at (214) 349-9996.

Methodist women sell

cookbooks, CDs

The women A. Frank Smith United Methodist Church have cookbooks and CDs for sale. To order contact Betty Davis, (936) 858-4708 and the church office at (936) 858-4347.

Spook house tours planned at Rusk State

Hospital

Rusk State Hospital will host haunted house tours 8-10 p.m. Oct. 25-26; 8 p.m.-midnight Oct. 26-27 and Oct. 29-30, 8-10 p.m. Ticket prices for children 6-12 is $1; 12 years and over, $2. Go to the entrance of the hospital and follow the signs.

The spook house tours are too intense for children under six years old; a waiting room will be provided. For additional information call (903) 683-7247.

Haunted hay rides sponsored by Rusk Senior

Finale

Haunted hay rides will be sponsored by Rusk Senior Finale at the Rusk State Hospital Lake. Hay rides cost $5 and will be offered 7-midnight Oct. 27 and 7-10 p.m. Oct. 29-30. Parents riding with children will not be charged. The park is located on U.S. Highway 69 across from Rusk State Hospital. For additional information, please call

903) 683-5486.

Downtown trick or treating

scheduled in Rusk

Downtown businesses around the square in Rusk will participate this year in trick or treating 4-6 p.m. Oct. 31.

This event is sponsored by the Rusk Chamber of Commerce members and will provide a safe environment for the children.

For additional information, please call (903) 683-4242.

Fright Fest planned

Oct. 31

The Rusk Chamber of Commerce will hold the 2nd Annual Fright Fest featuring the "Halloween Festivity" play 6-9 p.m. Oct. 31 at Jim Hogg Park. Ticket prices are $2 per person, two years old and up. Piñatas, popcorn, Kool Aide will be offered. For additional information, please call

903) 683-4242.

Maydelle school reunion

slated for Oct. 20

The 2007 Maydelle School Reunion will be held from 1-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 at the Cherokee County Electric Coop on U.S. Highway 69 north of Rusk. A barbecue meal will be catered and will cost $7. Attendees are urged to bring dessert. A cake auction will also be held to cover expenses. For more information, contact Leon Lloyd Jr. at (903) 586-3025. Democratic Club meets

Oct. 25 in Rusk

The Cherokee County Democratic Club will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at the Southern Motor Inn, U.S. Highway 69 in Rusk.

The Texas Democratic Women will meet at the same location at 6:30 p.m. prior to the full committee meeting.

"Everyone is invited," Joanna Reagan, club president, said. "The meeting will be your opportunity to re-up your membership or join the club for the upcoming 2008 elections."

The club will discuss the upcoming 2007 Constitutional Amendments vote on Nov. 6. There will be a drawing for a door prize at the conclusion of the meeting and a silent auction for presidential candidate T-shirts.

Maydelle school reunion

slated for Oct. 20

The 2007 Maydelle School Reunion will be held from 1-6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 at the Cherokee County Electric Coop on Hwy. 69 north of Rusk. A barbecue meal will be catered and will cost $7. Attendees are urged to bring dessert. A cake auction will also be held to cover expenses. For more information, contact Leon Lloyd Jr. at (903) 586-3025.

Rusk chamber needs to

borrow old photos

The Rusk Chamber of Commerce needs high school pictures from the 50s and early 60s to be copied and displayed at the annual membership banquet in January. The 1950s will be the theme for the banquet.

Persons who have snapshots and other photos are asked to loan them to the chamber to be copied. They will be returned to the owner.

For additional information call Connie Brown at the chamber of commerce office at (903) 683-4242.

Coats for kids drive

is underway

Used or new coats may be donated to the Rusk Coats for Kids campaign at the Church of Christ Annex building on Main Street. Good used or new coats may be taken to the church annex Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

The coats will be given to children Dec. 1.

RHS junior class

sells spirit hoodies

The Rusk High School junior class is offering spirit hoodies, long sleeve and short sleeve t-shirts as a fundraiser for the RHS Junior-Senior Prom. Order forms are available at all school campuses or by calling the high school at (903) 683-5401. The sales will continue until Oct. 26, with delivery being made Nov. 16.

The junior class will also be selling carnations during Homecoming week, Oct. 22-26.

Alto church slates revival

Calvary Tabernacle United Pentecostal Church in Alto will host a youth revival Oct. 19-21. Services are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday. The church is located on State Highway 21 in Alto. There will be preaching by Texas Bible College ministry teams and special singing. For additional information call Jordan Grindle at (936) 569-6901. The public is invited to attend.

Rusk Church of Christ

plans fall festival

The Rusk Church of Christ will host a fall festival from 2-4 p.m. Oct. 27. Each child, 12 and under, will be given 25 free tickets to spend at the booths of their choice. More than 20 booths will be set up in the parking lot at 397 S. Main St. Children are invited to attend in costume.

There will be prizes of toys, candy, drinks, popcorn, sno-cones, balloons, cookies and apples. There will be a spinning wheel, cake walk, face painting and other entertainment. Additional information is available at (903) 683-4003 or (903) 586-3975.

Alto City Council seeks

complaints

The City of Alto is accepting complaints from local citizens regarding service from Rapid Cable Company. Those who wish to complain about their cable service may do so by calling City Hall at (936) 858-4711, or by stopping by at 404 W. San Antonio St. in Alto. All complaints must be accompanied with a name, address, phone number and description of the problem with the cable company.

TSR Rusk depot closed for

Thomas event

The Rusk depot of the Texas State Railroad will be closed at night until the conclusion of the Thomas the Tank Engine event on Oct. 29. Lori Kastrop, marketing manager for American Heritage Railways said the closure is due to security concerns. Ms. Kastrop said the campgrounds will remain open.

Pecan Harvest Festival

preparations begin

The Alto Chamber of Commerce is preparing for the fourth annual Alto Pecan Harvest Festival which will be held on Nov. 3. Every year Cecil Miles brings the antique car show into Alto. Those who wish to enter the contest may do so by contacting the chamber. The entry fee for the car show goes toward renovating the Alto Herald Museum.

Booth spaces may be reserved by calling Bonnie Magruder at (936) 858-1000 or (936) 858-3637.

Alto cleanup days

scheduled

The City of Alto has designated Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26-27 as its fall cleanup days. All trash will be accepted. No household garbage, liquids or paint will be accepted. Metals will be set aside for a later pick up, as well as batteries and mattresses. Tires will be accepted with a $2 deposit for passenger vehicle tires, and $3 for truck tires. No large tractor tires will be accepted. Items will be accepted between 8 a.m. and noon, and from 1-5 p.m. both days.

Lions Club plans chili

supper for Nov. 9

The annual Rusk Lions Club chili supper will be Nov. 9 at the Rusk High School cafeteria. Chili will be served prior to the Eagle-Crockett football game Price is $5.

Laity Day speaker

announce

Dr. Miles McCall, president of Lon Morris College will be speaker for the Laity Day 11 a.m. service Nov. 4 at the Rusk First United Methodist Church. Lester Hughes, lay leader at the church, said the public is invited to attend.

Flu vaccines are available

The Cherokee County Health Department offers flu (influenza) vaccinations for adults and children over six-months-old from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays at its clinics at 593 North Main in Rusk and 510 East Commerce St. in Jacksonville. Vaccinations cost $7 for children, over six months-17; and $20 for persons over age 17. Children younger than six months of age are too young to be vaccinated. Vaccines are given on a first come first served basis. Contact Pam Davis at (903)586-6191 or email pdavis@texashan for information.

ETMC slates blood drive

ETMC Rusk will have a blood drive from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 8 on the mobile bus in the parking lot. All donors will receive a t-shirt.

Donors will also participate in drawings sponsored by Stewart Blood Center. ETMC Tyler, the region's number one trauma center, uses an average of 950 units of blood a month. Each donor can give one unit so it takes a lot of people to help East Texans.

Sixty percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood. However, only five percent donates. One unit of donated blood can help save the lives of up to three persons. Approximately 38,000 units of blood are used each day in the United States. Persons, 17 years of age and older and weighing 110 pounds, may donate blood every 56 days.

VFW Auxiliary will release

balloons at Veterans Day

event Nov. 10

The Ladies Auxiliary will participate in the Rusk Veterans Day celebration Nov. 10. Each year veterans' names are read and balloons are released in their honor. Persons who would like to honor a friend or loved one, may contact a member of the Ladies Auxiliary or call (903) 683 5985. Proceeds will be used for the VFW and Auxiliary Cancer Aid and Research program. A display memorabilia will be on display at the VFW Post 3406 , Loop 62 and US 69. Students from the schools are invited to attend and learn more about the men and women who have served their country from the Civil War through the current conflict.

Following the activities on the square, the public is invited to visit the post and review a display that is presented each year. Persons with memorabilia that they would like to display, may contact any VFW or Ladies Auxiliary member or call (903) 683 5985.

Library receives dictionary

software CD-Rom

Singletary Memorial Library has received a New Oxford Picture Dictionary and CD-Rom from the regional literacy initiative, Gateway to American Opportunities (GAO). Peggy Lustig, GAO regional director, said, "The ESL software and picture dictionary will assist the library's Hispanic patrons improve their English language skills." The ESL materials were purchased by GAO with funds from the Verizon Literacy Foundation Grant of 2006.

The Singletary Memorial Library is located at 207 East 6th Street Rusk, Texas. The library phone number is (903) 683-5916.