NEWS

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 have an antique car, pickup truck, or even a motorcycle may enter the contest by contacting the chamber. A drawing will be held at the end of the day for the best of show. 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. If she is not there leave your name and number and she will get back with you as quickly as possible.

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.

Heritage Land Bank elects

two new directors

Heritage Land Bank has announced George Hodges of Grapeland and Keith D. Nicholas of Greenville were both recently elected by a stockholder ballot to serve a three-year term on the board of directors. They replace outgoing directors Tom Gay and Bob King who did not run for re-election. Texas Beta Omega meets

with Sarah Summers

The Texas Beta Omega Master Chapter of Beta Sigma met Oct. 2 in the home of Sarah Summers with Rona Long, president, presiding.

Mrs. Long announced that the chapter's nursing home adoptee, Bertha Gipson, had a birthday this month and plans were made to honor her.

Mrs. Summers reported she had picked up the new Footbridge Garden Cookbook and copies are ready for sale.

Anyone wanting a copy should call Mrs. Summers at (903) 683-4848 or Mrs. Long at (903) 683-1024.

Melba Darrow gave a short program by sharing an article written by Neal Barrett Jr. titled, "Now is the best time ever."

Those attending were Melba Darrow, Opal Fitts, Mrs. Long, Mary Madden, Dorothy McClure, Jimmye Watson and the hostess, Mrs. Summers.

The Chapter met Oct. 16 in the home of Jimmye Watson for lunch and revealing of secret sisters. The social committee served as hostess. Plans were made for the Thanksgiving social.

Those attending were Mrs. Darrow, Mrs. Fitts, Mrs. Long, Mrs. Madden, Mrs. McClure, Genelle Richards, Mary B. Hassell, Mrs. Summers and Mrs. Watson. Good Samaritan serves

Rusk area residents

The Good Samaritan Food Bank and Resale Shop is open 9 - 11:30 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 203 W. 2nd St. in Rusk.

The facility operates to help needy family living in the Rusk Independent School District with food. Clothes are offered for sale for only 25 cents per item. Anyone living in the community may purchase items from the resale shop. All donations are appreciated.

For additional information, call (903) 683-2376.

Omicron Gamma Chapter

hears program on jewelry

BY MARLYS MASON SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR

Members of Omicron Gamma chapter of Beta Sigma Phi met at 6 p.m. Sept. 17 at the home of Sandi Hudson in Jacksonville to hear a program on jewelry presented by Maretta Farver. Andra Hassell was co-hostess.

Members discussed different homes to be included in the Tour of Homes in December.

Pam Todd, president, presided at the business meeting.

The hostesses served a meal of chicken and spaghetti with green salad and apple pie with ice cream.

Present were Judy Fountain, Yvonne Goff, Ms. Hassell, Ms. Hudson, Ms. Mason, Diann Norton, Anita Ocker, Mary Ann Patterson, Ms. Tarver, Ms. Todd and Lee Ann Tussing.

6 county residents named

master gardeners

Texas Certified Master Gardener status was recently awarded to six Cherokee County citizens. David Daniel, Helen and Steve Keller, Kathy and Eldridge Moak of Jacksonville along with Linda Cryer of Rusk were recognized for their advanced gardening expertise and volunteer service. As part of the certification, they studied and taught gardening as both art and science. Master Gardener certification is a program of Texas Cooperative Extension and is available in 115 counties.

Fruit, vegetable and ornamental gardening are all studied as part of the master gardener program. In 2006 Texas Master Gardeners designed, installed and maintained more than 125 public demonstration garden sites and provided expertise and guidance to nearly 500 elementary school gardening programs.

They designed and maintained 31 internet Web sites visited by thousands of Texans in search of science based gardening information.

In Cherokee County, master gardeners play a major roll in the Jacksonville Spring Garden Tour, the Best Home Grown Tomato Contest, the HOPE Center vegetable garden, Fourth Graders' Agricultural Field Days, the Horticultural Exhibit of the Junior Livestock Show and the conducting of the Master Gardener classes.

Registration for the 2007-08 Cherokee Master Gardener class is now underway.

Interested persons may register by calling the Cherokee County Office of the Texas Cooperative Extension at (903) 683-5416. Cost of the class is $85. Participants must attend 50 hours of instruction and volunteer 50 hours of service to become a certified Texas Master Gardener. Instruction time consists of two-three meetings a month, September through June.

Eye glasses, cases needed

at Rusk State Hospital

There is an ongoing need for used eye glasses and cases at Rusk State Hospital.

Contact Community Relations at (903) 683-7327.