,b>CASA to sponsor dinner-dance

ASHLAND - Court Appointed Special Advocates will sponsor a dinner-dance from 8 p.m. to midnight Feb. 16 at the Ashland Plaza Hotel.

Music will be provided by Stephen Salyers. Cost is $25 a person.

For more information, call Carol Polley at (606) 324-6444 or the Ashland Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at (606) 329-1007.



Award semifinalist has ties to region

COLUMBUS - The founder of Grandma’s Gifts, established to help children and families in Appalachia, is a semifinalist from Ohio for the Volvo for Life Award.

Emily Douglas, a graduate student in The Ohio State University’s Fisher College, is vying for the award. Grandma’s Gifts was founded by Douglas at age 11 in memory of her grandmother, Norma Ackison, formerly of Ironton, who died of breast cancer in 1991.

Douglas, a 24-year-old Columbus native, said the organization has provided goods and services worth more than $2 million and has donated more than 650,000 books and more than 10,000 pounds of food in the area.

To win the Volvo competition, votes must be cast for Douglas by going to VolvoForLifeAwards.com. On the site, type in “Douglas” in the “find hero” box. Then read the “Grandma’s Gifts” story, click the “submit” box and cast a ballot.

If she is one of nine with the most votes, Douglas will become a finalist. She said the $50,000 award would be used to better the organization to help children, schools and families in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky.

Voting ends on Sunday.



Needle arts chapter to meet Monday

CEREDO - The Tri-Area Needle Arts Chapter of the Embroiders’ Guild of America will meet at 6:45 p.m. Monday at United National Bank’s conference room on U.S. 60.

Green Work will be the February class. Guests are welcome.

For more information, call (606) 831-0201 or (606) 928-2410.



Eagle Scout class to honor Perry

HUNTINGTON - The Tri-State Area Council of Boy Scouts of America has named this year’s Eagle Scout class in honor of A. Michael Perry, owner of Heritage Farm and community volunteer and business leader.

“Mike Perry provides a good example for this year’s Eagle Scout class,” H. Ray Franks, Scout executive, said.

“He has lived out his duty to God and country, to others and to himself.”

Perry will address the Eagle Scout class and Scouting volunteers at the event at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the auditorium of the Huntington Museum of Art.

The council also will honor three adult volunteers with the Silver Beaver Award. The recipients are Phil Steed, district roundtable commissioner and Scoutmaster of Troop 134; Greg Wamsley, district commissioner and Cubmaster of Pack 258; and Dennis Watson, district commissioner and council training team member.

A reception will follow the awards presentations. The cost to attend the event is $17.