Charlie Brown auditions scheduled

VALDOSTA, Ga. — Children and former children have annually watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas” on television for a half century. Thursday, children can become part of the tradition by portraying the Peanuts characters. Little Actors Theatre holds auditions for a live, stage version of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” according to the children’s theatre organization. “This play has all the Charlie Brown characters, Lucy, Linus, Charlie Brown, the rest of the gang, and of course, Snoopy,” said Diane Tovar, LAT director. “Perfect starter play for kids.” Like the animated holiday special, the play tells a story of Christmas’ meaning of spirit and caring instead of the commercialism that had already seeped into the seasonal culture by the cartoon’s debut in the mid 1960s. The play is faithful to the TV special written by “Peanuts” cartoonist Charles M. Schulz with Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson. Arguably, the live version is more faithful to the Charlie Brown story’s spirit. There are no commercial breaks in the annual Little Actors show, meaning it is only about 20 minutes long. Little Actors Theatre presents theatre productions for children by children. The show will be performed Dec. 2, 3. Auditions are scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, Little Actors Studio, 1108 S. Patterson St. More information: Call (229) 292-4742.

 

Donate a deer, feed the hungry

TIFTON, Ga. — Sportsman’s Pantry is a program that brings together deer hunters and meat processors with charities that feed those in need. Hunters donate a deer, processors volunteer their work at a reduced price, and then the charities distribute the processed venison. The amount of deer provided to the needy folks is mostly determined by the amount of funds available to pay the processors. This year the Farmers and Merchants Banks are on board with sponsoring funds to help grow this program to higher levels, according to a press release. In the past few years the program has been able to supply the hungry with more than 6,000 pounds of ground venison. Funds can be donated at www.gh-ff.org. A list of participating processors can be found on the Georgia Hunting & Fishing Federation web site.

Some processors in our area include:

• Towson Cold Storage, 301 S. Ridge Avenue, Tifton 229-382-1515

• The Butcher Shop, 330 Church St. Lakeland, Ga 229-482-3510

• Sirmans Hardware & Outdoors, 136 S. Valdosta Highway, Lakeland 229-563-4656

 

Mock emergency drill planned in Murray County

CHATSWORTH, Ga. —  Murray County Schools will participate, along with Murray County 911, the Murray County Sheriff’s Office, the Murray County Fire Department, Murray County EMS, the Chatsworth Police Department, the Chatsworth Fire Department, the Eton Police Department, the Eton Fire Department and Murray Medical Center, in an inter-agency emergency preparedness mock drill on Thursday, Nov. 9, at 9 a.m. The drill will involve a simulated train derailment, chemical spill and school evacuation in downtown Eton.