DAILY DIGEST

MONDAY

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets 5:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays at St. Luke's United Methodist Church. For more info call Linda Myhand at 903-834-6794 or Linda Brotherton at 903-736-8837. TOPS people just love to lose.

TUESDAY

FOREVER IN GOD WE TRUST will host State Rep. Tommy Merritt 7 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Richardson Building at Forest Home Baptist Church, located at 15746 CR 173 North, off the loop between Stone and Dudley Roads. Merritt will speak about what East Texans can do to retain their God-given rights. The meeting is free. All are welcome.

LIVESTOCK THEFT PREVENTION will be the topic of a Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association gathering 5:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at Griffin Ranch, 7151 FM 349 off of US Highway 259 near Kilgore. The meeting includes a free barbecue dinner. Attendees should RSVP by Sept. 15 to Brooke Boddy at 1-800-242-7820, ext. 192, or rsvp@texascattleraisers.org.

PINEY WOODS COUNSELING ASSOCIATION will hold a day-long continuing education conference Sept. 15 at SFASU in Nacogdoches. For more info visit www.pineywoods counseling.org.

THE WHITE ELEPHANT resale shop at the train depot on Commerce Street is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every Tuesday. Proceeds benefit the Kilgore Improvement & Beautification Association. Donations welcomed.

THURSDAY

ALZHEIMER'S CAREGIVER CLASSES will be held 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 24 at Country Place Village, 1203 Chandler St., Kilgore. Topics include "Meeting Daily Challenges," "Managing Difficult Behavior" and "Caring for the Caregiver." Sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association, admission is free and includes complimentary breakfast and lunch. To register call 1-800-272-3900 or visit www.AlzEastTexas.org.

THURSDAY IN THE PATCH on Sept. 17 will feature Debbie Dane, John Whitehead and Mark Fried in concert at the World's Richest Acre, downtown Kilgore. Sponsored by the Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation, the concert is free. Bring your lawn chairs. From 7:30-8 p.m. John and Debbie will sing a variety of favorite tunes. At 8, Mark will sing Southern gospel and contemporary Christian music. TEXAS DEMOCRATIC WOMEN OF GREGG COUNTY meet 5:30 p.m. every third Thursday at Longview Community Center, 500 E. Whaley St. All Democrats, male and female, are welcome. For more info visit www.TDWGC.com or call Mollie Barber, president, at 903-753-1658.

CITY OF KILGORE will host a retirement reception in honor of Patsy Haynes, associate municipal court judge, for her 25 years of service to the city. Everyone is invited to attend 3-5 p.m. Sept. 25 at the City Administration Building, 815 N. Kilgore St. FALL FLEA MARKET at Pirtle United Methodist Church will be Oct. 16-17. To reserve free covered spaces, call 903- 649-4539, 984-9555 or 984-5240.

SATURDAY

LIPSTICK, LIFE & LAUGHTER, a fundraiser for the Kilgore Community Crisis Center, is set for 1 p.m. Sept. 19 at Dodson Auditorium. This event will be featuring Suzie Humphreys and other entertainment throughout out the afternoon. For tickets and other information contact Misty at the Crisis Center, 903-984-3019.

THE CHURCH AT LAKE CHEROKEE will host Shannon Perry, national singer, songwriter and speaker, who will present her new speaking series, "If the Shoe Fits" during a one-day retreat for men and women on Sept. 19. Cost is $25 per person, including lunch. Seating is limited. For tickets contact Sherry Boatman, 903-643-8765 or email sherryboatman@sbcglobal.net.

SABINE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS REUNION for the graduating classes of 1992-95 will be Sept. 19 at The Summit in Longview from 6 to 11 p.m. For more info contact Cori Childress at cori98ny@aol.com or check out the event page on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=444764 49957

CANCER BENEFIT PIE & CAKE AUCTION for Nora Moore is 2 p.m. Sept. 19 at First Baptist Church of Danville, 229 Utzman Road, Kilgore. Donations of pies and cakes are needed. Sponsored by family and friends, this fundraiser will help cover expenses for an extended stay at M.D. Anderson in Houston. Nora is the city's animal control officer. For more info call Diana Jenkins, 903- 238-3228; or Diane Green, 903-736-2655.

CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC CHURCH will hold a "Big Tamale Sale" Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12-13. These tamales are homemade by some of the church's wonderful Hispanic cooks, who will make both mild and spicy chicken and pork tamales. Cost: $8/dozen. Tamales will be sold by members of the Ladies Altar Society 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday in the Parish Hall and after 5 p.m. Mass. Sunday sales are after Mass at 7:30 and 9 a.m., noon and 5 p.m., in the Parish Hall or the church foyer.

SUCCESSFULLY YOU SEMINAR, presented by Kingdom Dominion Encounter, will be held at Holiday Inn Express in Kilgore, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 19. Speaker will be Pastor Stanley Ferrell of Treasures of Excellence Ministries; Lady Trina Geter of EvenSow Outreach will be Encounter Host. Admission is $25, which includes the seminar syllabus and two CDs. For more info call 817-691-5215.

FALL GARDENING CONFERENCE, sponsored by the Smith County Master Gardener Association, is 9-11:30 a.m. Oct. 17 at Harvey Hall, Tyler. Bulb sale follows from 11:30-2:30 p.m. During the exposition local Master Gardeners will provide a help-desk to answer gardening questions and perform demonstrations.