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BEGINNING LINE DANCING will be taught at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 6, at the Community Service Center. No experience is necessary; there will be a minimal charge for the lessons. For information, call Linda Hall at 631-3463 (home) or 586-8958 (work).
THE COUNTY'S Staffed Recycling Centers and the Mineral Springs transfer station will be closed on Saturday, Jan 1, for New Year's Day.
THE U.S. ARMY announced last week that it has increased Army Reserve enlistment incentives, bringing bonuses for those with no prior military service to their highest levels in Reserve history. The maximum bonus is now $10,000, depending on the Reserve unit vacancy and how quickly the individual can report to training. Bonuses for those with previous military service have also increased; those who qualify are eligible for a $15,000 bonus if they enlist for six years or a $7,500 bonus if they enlist for three years. To learn more, visit online at goarmyreserve.com or call 1-800-USA-ARMY.
BOTH SYLVA EDWARD JONES offices – Graeme McGufficke's and David Preston's – will offer a free one-hour satellite broadcast titled "Is the Uncertainty Over?" on Tuesday, Jan. 11. Both will offer the program at 11:30 a.m., and McGufficke will offer an additional showing at 6:30 p.m. McGufficke's office is located at 454 E. Main Street, Suite 2, and Preston's is at 7 Colonial Square, Suite 100. The program will feature Geoffrey Colvin, co-host of Wall Street Week, and Alan Skrainka, Edward Jones' chief market strategist. For information or to reserve a place at one of the showings, call McGufficke at 586-2292 or Preston at 586-3848. For more information, visit the Edward Jones interactive Web site at www. edwardjones.com.
MOYA O'NEAL wrote to warn of the same scam Sheriff Jimmy Ashe talks about in his column this week. "I received a telephone call last evening from an individual identifying himself as an AT&T service technician who was conducting a test on telephone lines. He stated that to complete the test I should touch nine (9), zero (0) and the pound sign (#), and then hang up. Luckily, I was suspicious and refused. Upon contacting the telephone company, I was informed that by pushing 9-0-#, you give the requesting individual full access to your telephone line, which enables them to place long distance calls billed to your home phone number. I was further informed that this scam has been originating from jails and prisons. Please beware," she wrote. Readers are advised to exercise caution and not press 9-0-# for any caller.
WE ALSO HAD NOTES from several individuals and groups expressing thanks:
THE BAND AND FFA at Smoky Mountain High School wrote to express their thanks to Jeff Stillwell of Stillwell Brothers' Trucking and Luke Stillwell of Stillwell Brothers' Hydroseeding for hauling the citrus from Florida this year for the groups' annual fund-raising orange and grapefruit sale.
CITY LIGHTS wrote to thank everyone who supported the Giving Tree, which provided books to 113 children. "Anyone who wished to participate but did not have an opportunity to do so will have a chance next year, when the store will sponsor the project again," said owner Joyce Moore.
HAROLD SIMS wrote to thank the newspaper for its help in publicizing his Catman2 shelter and including weekly features on homeless dogs and cats. "This feature has helped people find new pets and has saved the lives of many animals by finding them a loving home," Sims wrote. "You are to be commended for your efforts."
CHRISTMAS STORE COORDINATORS Elaine White and Wanda Kidd sent a note thanking the community for their generous support in providing Christmas gifts for almost 700 children. "Parents were able to shop for more than $30 worth of toys and receive a new outfit, socks and underwear for each of their children. In addition, each family received wrapping paper, books, candy, stuffed animals and a small gift for the parents. We were also able to fulfill many special clothing requests," they wrote. "What makes the Jackson County Christmas Store program different from so many other Christmas charities is that it is truly people-to-people sharing. There are no corporate sponsors, only local businesses who want to help the people of our county. It takes not only the great referral support we get from the Department of Social Services – especially the DSS liaison Becky Green – but so many others who were invited to nominate people who could benefit from involvement in the Christmas Store. Some of the others who assist are public school personnel, Head Start teachers, health department workers and United Christian Ministries volunteers.
"We strive to make certain that each family that needs help is served. We work with other programs in the county to ensure, to the best of our ability, that each family is served by one group. It takes hundreds of people to make the Christmas Store a reality; those who sponsor and shop for a child, those making monetary contributions, those who purchase special requested items to make the child's bag complete, those who volunteer to work at the store and do the never-ending organizing, and those who assist the parents when they come to shop for their children.
"The bedrock of the program was the churches and they continue to contribute to the Christmas Store on every level. Western Carolina University has been involved with the program from the outset. This year, WCU's Angel Wings program contributed money and toys, and there was an outpouring of volunteers from the faculty, staff, student-athletes, and many students who heard about the Christmas Store on campus and simply wanted to help. Smoky Mountain High School faculty and students have been one of our strongest support groups as they have sponsored children and volunteered at the store for 16 years. Beyond churches, WCU and SMHS, the State Employees Credit Union, civic organizations and businesses have found ways to collect toys and funds to make the Christmas Store possible.
"The Jackson County Christmas Store has just completed its 17th year of service. In all that time, we have never had a fund-raiser nor, in recent years, have we had to beg our families and friends to fill in the gaps. We are humbled every year by the generosity and compassion that you all offer those who would not be able to buy Christmas gifts for their children. Just when we need it most, a check will come in the mail, someone will drop by with toys and/or cash, or ask if we need help. The Jackson County Christmas Store is a journey of faith and you have all indeed been very faithful."
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