Low cost spay/neuter

A low cost spay and neuter service is being offered by South Miss. Animal Resource Team/Cats in Need Society. Cats - $35, dogs - $45. The price includes an exam, spay or neuter, and rabies shot. Deadline is Jan. 12. Call Pegg Glaser at (601) 729-4039 or e-mail dggpegg@bayspringstel.net for information or reservations.



JCYP social

Jones County Young Professionals will hold its January social on Jan. 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m., hosted at Campanella’s Italian Restaurant.



Business support

The Business Advisory Council is holding a support group for small business owners meeting at noon Saturday, Jan. 24, at Greater Laurel United Pentecostal Church in the Family Life Center. For more information, contact Haile Gaddy at (601) 498-1641.



Better Boys/Girls Learning Center

The Better Boys & Girls Community Learning Center will hold a raffle and gospel show fundraiser in January. The organization is also seeking volunteers for several positions. Anyone who would like to help should call (601) 323-6206.



Watkins supper club

The RH Watkins Class of 65 Supper Club will meet on Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. The location will be Campanella's Restaurant in Laurel (formerly Pasta's) at 602 Carroll Gartin Blvd. All classmates, spouses, and guests are invited. No reservation is necessary. The only cost will be the price of the meal. For more information call Deborah or Mike Welch at 601-763-6148



Waters at Art Talk

Wyatt Waters of Clinton will be the January Art Talk speaker at the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art on Thursday, Jan. 15 from noon until 1 p.m. in the Lower Level Lecture Hall. Waters, an accomplished watercolor artist, will discuss his work and the current LRMA exhibition of the American Watercolor Society. Waters will also conduct a Watercolor Class on Friday, January 16 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The cost for the class will be $40 for LRMA members and $50 for non-members. For reservations or further information call 601.649.6374. Guests are invited to use the North Garden Entrance and bring a sack lunch. Desserts and beverages will be provided.



Caregiver’s support

Caregiver’s Support Group will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 16, at South Central Place, Hwy. 15 North in Laurel.



ICS drawdown

Immaculate Conception School announces its spring drawdown at the Cameron Center from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Jan. 31. Johnny Hosey of the Jagged Edg with his band will be playing that night. Dinner will be served from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. A cash bar will be available. Ticket holders will have a chance to win $5,000. You need not be present to win. We will have a silent auction. Tickets are $100 per couple and may be purchased at the school or by calling 601-428-0129.



Will Graves donations

Donations can be made for Will Graves (Wayne and Mary Margaret Graves) at either Bank of Jones County, 1808 Hwy. 84 West in Laurel, 301 S. Court Street in Ellisville or any Community Bank, 909 N. 16th Ave. in Laurel, 5159 Hwy., 84 West, or any location state wide. Donations through PayPal may be made at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/willgraves



Weight Loss Challenge

A Weight Loss Challenge and course will be held from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays at 4129 Suite B Hwy. 15 North in Laurel. The registration fee is $29 for 12 weeks. Please call Timothy Savell at 601-433-7701 for more information.



Neighborhood watch

A Neighborhood Watch meeting will be held at Sandersville City Hall Thursday at 6:30 p.m.



Republican women

Jones County Republican Women will meet at noon Jan. 14 at the Laurel Hotel and Convention Center (Ramada Inn). Our speaker will be Rita Wray, Mississippi Republican state president. Everyone is asked to take a food or cash donation for the Christian Food Mission and old phones to be recycled for our phone cards for troops program. For reservations call Jean Breland at 649-7245, Joan Martin at 426-2494 or Mary Jo Wedgeworth at 428-0317. Reservations are required.



NAACP meeting

The Laurel-Jones County NAACP Branch will have its monthly meeting on Thursday, Jan. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the Voting Precinct on Cooks Avenue in Laurel. All members and the public are urged to attend. For more information, contact James B. Jones, branch president, at 601-399-2900.



Pancake breakfast

Jones County Republican Women will have a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Jan. 10 at Applebee’s. $5 for all you can eat.



AARP meeting

PineBelt AARP Chapter #4016 will meet at Mt. Vernon Congregational Methodist Church Highway 15 South of Laurel Jan. 19, at 9 a.m. for blood pressure and sugar test given by South Central Regional Medical Center. Senator Chris McDaniel will be the special speaker. Don’t miss this very important meeting.



Mass meeting in Ellisville

A “Mass Meeting” of the Ellisville Municipal Democratic Party will be held at the City Hall at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, for the purpose of establishing a temporary municipal Democratic Executive Committee to conduct a primary election and to serve until a permanent committee is elected in the Primary. All citizens within the municipal boundaries are encouraged to attend.



Homebuyer seminar

There will be a free homebuyer seminar Saturday, Jan. 10, at 9 a.m. at Century 21 Sims Realty (3125 Hwy. 15 North, Laurel). Free breakfast provided! For more info call 601-426-9950 and ask for Mark or Martha.



SJHS reunion

South Jones Class of 1988 will be having a 20th year class reunion at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 at Dixie Electric Power Association. There will be a family picnic from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Jan. 31, at Merchants Park Pavillon. Bring your lunch, gloves and bats. Please send pictures or videos of high school events to Southjones88@hotmail.com. Everything will be returned at the reunion. Tickets will be $10. To purchase tickets send self-addressed stamped envelope to 101 Buffalo Hill Rd. c/o Class of 1988, Ellisville. For more information call Gwen James-Pitts at 601-498-4427 or Angela Buckley at 601-319-0305.



Perry history meeting

A Perry County Historical and Genealogical Society meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at the District One Community Center, Highway 98 in New Augusta. The speaker will be Clifton W. Evans, Sr., president of the South Mississippi Genealogical and Historical Society. The subject will be Genealogy Search for Beginners. The public is invited to attend.



MLK parade

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee is accepting applicants for the Jan. 17, 2009, Dr. King celebration. This year’s parade will feature high school bands, floats, and entries. Plus, the committee will combine the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama to the celebration. For more information, call (601) 498-2365.



Inauguration Ball

The Jones County Federation of Democratic Women are hosting a special Presidential Inauguration Ball at 7 p.m. Jan. 17, at The Reserve, in downtown Laurel. The cost will be $25. The public is invited to this formal ball. Expected guest speakers include the Mississippi President of the Young Democrats and Jones County Supervisor Jerome Wyatt.



Karaoke/live band

American Legion Karaoke at the American Legion Hut is now on Friday nights from 8 p.m. until midnight. There will be a live band on Saturday nights. Phone 601-425-5554. 1108 N. 9th Ave., Laurel.



LHS C/O ‘69

R. H. Watkins High School, Class of 1969, is searching for all graduates to celebrate its 40th class reunion.  The reunion festivities will take place on Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18, 2009, beginning with a dinner at the Laurel Country Club.  Saturday’s events will conclude with the annual “Jagged Edge” Band summer reunion dance which draws alumni from several classes of Watkins High.  All graduates or persons who have current addresses for 1969 classmates are asked to e-mail contact information to the reunion coordinator, Pam Davis at pam-rayner@hotmail.com or call 601-477-9319.  Classmates not able to attend, please contact Pam with regrets and your address to receive a reunion class list.



YWCO serving lunch

Each Tuesday, the YWCO offers lunch from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. for $6 ($5.50 for seniors.) Takeout orders are available. For more information, call the YWCO at 601-428-5694.



Tree orders

The Jones County Soil and Water Conservation Districts is taking orders for hardwood trees, shrubs, fruit trees and nut trees to be distributed in February and perennials in March 2009. There will be no limit on the amount of trees you can order. Prices range from $1.50 to $8 . All proceeds will go toward funding for our Information and Education programs. All orders and donations must be received by Jan. 31, 2009 to guarantee your order. To place your order or for more information about these trees, contact the Jones County S.W.C.D. or the Natural Resources Conservation Service (Laurel Field Office) at 425-4622, Ext. 3 or visit us at 3536 Highway 15 North in Laurel.



Hospice volunteers

ComfortCare Hospice is seeking volunteers. Hospice volunteers are special people who do important and rewarding work by assisting the terminally ill patient and their family. Hospice volunteers are people who want to make a difference in the lives of others. To have an applications mailed to you, contact Bonnie Smith, Volunteer Coordinator, at ComfortCare Hospice at 601-422-0054 or 601-426-4704.



Education courses

The District Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District is located at 910 Sawmill Square Mall, Suite 236 in Laurel, across from the Mexican restaurant. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for students. We service students from 16 to 22 years of age. Interested students must come by and pick up an application to fill out and return with the necessary documents for an appointment. Students are honored with a $100 bonus check when they complete their GED. Applications can be picked up at the office Monday - Friday 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.



Free classes

Free classes are available in literacy, adult basic education, and GED preparation at Pine Belt Education Center on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Registration for the classes is on Monday evenings at 5:30 p.m. If you need to learn to read, upgrade basic skills, or get a GED, call Mary Jo Blackledge at 649-4141 for more information.



Downtown Laurel revitalization meeting

Laurel Express, a Mississippi Main Street project, holds its general meetings the 4th Tuesday of each month at the YWCO, 428 W. Oak St., at 5:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend. Individual membership is $25. For more information, visit www.laurelexpress.org.



WJ Class of ‘98 plans reunion

West Jones Class of 1998 is planning their 10 year class reunion. If you are interested in attending, send your contact information to wjhclassof98@yahoo.com or call 601-577-2405.



Foster grandparents needed

If you are interested in becoming a foster/adoptive parent, please contact Linda Millsap or Georgia McCullum at the Jones County Department of Human Service at 601-426-1292 or 601-426-1277.



American Legion Post 1997 meeting

The American Legion Post 1997 of Heidelberg is meeting every first Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. for men and women. We are proud of the Ladies’ Auxiliary. Join in.



Abuse support meeting

Are you affected by another’s abuse of alcohol or drugs? Help is available by attending AL-ANON meetings each Monday at 8 p.m. 24 Hour Club House located on the corner of 1st Avenue and 7th St. in Laurel. Free and confidential. For local information call 601-426-4688. MS Hot Line - 1-800-344-2662.



Volunteer nurses needed

The Pine Belt Chapter of the American Red Cross is seeking nurses or licensed EMT’s to assist with their Wednesday morning Blood Pressure checks each week. Volunteers are asked to work one Wednesday morning a month from 9-11:30 a.m. at the Chapter in downtown Laurel. The program is designed to monitor blood pressure for elderly clients or those who suffer from high blood pressure and need weekly readings. Working in this program provides work hours for retired medical volunteers to maintain their license in retirement. Anyone interested should contact Peggy at 601-426-9071.



SMPDD accepting applications

Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District in Sawmill Square Mall in Laurel is accepting applications for GED classes (for ages 17-21) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. For more information, call 601-426-9596.



Cancer support group to meet

The South Central Regional Medical Center American Cancer Society Support Group meets the second Monday each month at 6 p.m. at South Central Place. All survivors, loved ones and anyone involved in the fight against cancer are invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served. For more information call Karen Vanderslice at 601-399-0506.



GED testing offered at JCJC

Jones County Junior College is now offering the GED test at night. Advanced registration is required, and the cost is $40. Registration is held every Thursday, at 1 p.m. in the Adult Basic Education Building on the JCJC campus.

For more information, call the GED testing office 601-477-4164.