An archeology slide show and discussion planned at SAU will be held March 9, not March 7. Literature promoting the event contained the incorrect date. The evening will feature Dr. Diana Greenlee and a presentation on Poverty Point. It starts at 7 p.m. in the Bruce Center on the SAU campus.



Caller says she bought gas at the Wal-Mart gas station in Camden, and paid $2.49. She noted that the same station in Magnolia is selling gas for $2.69 per gallon. “That’s a difference of 20 cents. I just don’t understand it,” she said.



Rep. Mike Ross filed Friday for the Democratic nomination to the seat he’s held for five terms. Thus far, Ross, Republican Glenn Ross of Hot Springs, and Republican Beth Anne Rankin of Magnolia are the only three to file for the race.



Diary has noticed that a couple of local races are also heating up. Christine Durham and David C. Graham, both Republicans, are vying for the District 10 Justice of the Peace seat. Three candidates have thrown their hats into the ring for the Sheriff’s position: Johnny Hayes, Mike Loe and Bret McMahen, all Democrats. Filing closes today - look for a final list of candidates, and a number of political announcements, in tomorrow’s Banner-News.



Caller says she wishes more people had table manners. “Some people are so loud, you can’t even hear yourself talk to the people with you,” she said.



Whitehead Animal Clinic and CCAPS are sponsoring a low cost spay/neuter clinc. Fees must be paid by April 1, and appointments are required. For information, call 234-7297. CCAPS is also planning an adoption drive at Atwood’s on March 27. Dogs will be available for adoption.



Caller offered his opinion that city workers are estimating the readings on water meters rather than actually reading them. “One month, the bill is $40, and the next month, it’s $60. I don’t think that’s right,” he said.



Speaking of meter readers, caller claims to have seen an area meter reader shooting cats with a high-powered BB gun while doing his job. “Who do I report him to?” she asked.



Caller responds to the March 2 entry of people working at fast food restaurants to show more courtesy. She said “courtesy works for both sides of the counter.”



The Waldo City Council will meet at 6 p.m., today, at Waldo City Hall.



The Magnolia City Council’s regular monthly meeting will not be held today as scheduled. The next meeting will be April 12.



The Magnolia Regional Medical Center Board of Commissioners meets today in the MRMC board room at 5 pm. The agenda includes a financial, administrative, medical staff and foundation reports.



Caller says County Road 85 between Atlanta and the Union County line is in need of repair. “Union County came out and fixed their side, and it sure would look nice if we could get the other side done,” she said. “It’s in terrible condition.”



Some of the Relay for Life events going on around town:

- People’s Bank will host a hamburger lunch, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., March 12, with all proceeds to benefit Relay for Life. The bank will also be selling T-shirts.

- Summit Bank’s Jackson St. location will host the Easter Bunny, 1- 3 p.m., March 13. Kids can get their pictures made with the Easter Bunny - memorable CDs will be available for purchase. A drawing will also be held for an Easter basket.

- The American Cancer Society Relay for Life will be held Fri., April 9, at the Magnolia High School track. The event will feature a special luminaria ceremony at 9 p.m. to remember those affected by cancer. To purchase a luminaria, see Debbie Arnold at Bancorp South, 300 N. Jackson.



Did you know that you can now find announcement forms for births, weddings, engagements and anniversaries on our website? Visit www.bannernews.net and follow the links.



The Miss Magnolia pageant is set for Saturday, March 20. To register or get more information, call 234-4609.



Political filing began Monday at noon, and continues through March 8. The Banner-News will publish free political announcements until March 8. Announcements not received by the close of the business day on March 8 must run as paid advertisements.



Don’t miss the premiere of AETN’s ‘Silent Storytellers’ at 6:30 p.m., March 11. It features SAU’s Dr. Jamie Brandon and the work the SAU Research Station has done in the field of cemetery preservation. The documentary will also air at 7:30 p.m., March 13; noon, March 14; and 6:30 a.m., March 21.



Time for an update on our policy regarding submitted photos: The Banner-News will gladly accept submitted photos from area organizations and businesses. Submitted photos will be published as space becomes available. Submission of a photo does not guarantee publication. Submitted photos may be dropped off at our office, 130 S. Washington St., or emailed to news@bannernews.net. The Banner-News reserves the right to reject any photo.



The Central Arkansas Development Council is offering free tax return preparation for taxpayers in Columbia County. Visit the tax site at Bancorp South, 200 N. Jackson St. It will be open through April 15. Appointments are required - to make one, call 901-2155.



If you submitted photos for our special Valentine’s edition, the photos are ready to be picked up.



The Banner-News accepts donations of used prescription eyeglasses for the Magnolia Lions Club. The Lions Club redistributes glasses to needy people around the world.



Census Bureau jobs: The Workforce Center in the University Plaza shopping center in Magnolia administers tests to potential 2010 U.S. Census workers at 9 a.m. on Wednesdays, and 2 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The Central Arkansas Development Council office on North Vine Street will offer census worker testing from 2-4 p.m. every Thursday in January.



The Diary wants to hear from you. The Diary seeks news stories that can be told in a sentence or two. Have you heard about something new? What’s the hot local rumor? Have a comment or complaint? Does someone deserve praise, or is there a problem that deserves attention? Call the Diary at 234-5130.





The current list of people named by Diary readers as persons they think should run for Columbia County sheriff in 2010: Johnny Hayes, Mike Loe, Bret McMahen, Mike McWilliams, Truman Young.



The current list of people named by Diary readers as persons they think should run for Arkansas House seats representing Columbia County:

District 4 (parts of Columbia and Miller counties, and all of Lafayette County) — Jim Garrett, Lane Jean, Raymond Robertson and Lyn Story.

District 5 (parts of Columbia, Nevada and Ouachita counties) — David Fielding.

Have a nominee? Call the Diary at 234-5130.



Magnolia mayor: Cathy Covington, Christine Durham, Lees Kent, Dr. Jason Franks, Bobby Frizzell, Danny Layton, Leonard McKinney, James Moore, Ken Sibley, Zachary Talley, Sam Whitelaw, Parnell Vann



Gasoline price check: Magnolia is $2.57 per gallon. Camden, $2.37 to $2.45; The Banner-News welcomes reports from travelers on prices for regular gasoline they’ve seen. Call the Diary at 234-5130 to make a report.







DO NOT RUN THE FOLLOWING EXCEPT AS FILLER MATERIAL.

SOME OF THIS INFORMATION NEEDS EDITING BEFORE PUBLICATION





We remind readers to pick up wedding, engagement or other photographs they may have submitted for publication on a timely basis. We do not retain photographs indefinitely.



An account has been set up at BancorpSouth to receive donations toward the purchase of a van for the American Legion. The van will be used to transport veterans to medical appointments at VA hospitals in Little Rock and Shreveport. Make donations to American Legion Club/Legion Van.



It is time to remind Magnolia residents of the city’s fireworks ordinance. Fireworks can be set off in city limits from 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. from now until July 10. On July 4th, the time to shoot fireworks are 10 p.m. to midnight.



Fireworks may be exploded in Magnolia from 9:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. between Dec. 10 and Jan. 5. Popping times are extended to 1 a.m. on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.



Powerball Examples (Print Monday and Thursday):



There was no winner of Wednesday’s Powerball drawing, which will increase to $40 million for Saturday’s drawing. Wednesday’s numbers:

8-11-15-32-50

Powerball: 27

Power Play: 3



There was no winner of Saturday’s Powerball drawing, which will increase to $51 million for Wednesday’s drawing. Saturday’s numbers:

7-8-23-41-55

Powerball: 23

Power Play:5



One ticket sold in Kentucky won Wednesday’s $96.6 million Powerball drawing, which will return to the $20 million minimum for Saturday’s drawing. Wednesday’s numbers:

8-12-14-22-29

Powerball: 23

Power Play: 4



One ticket sold in Arkansas won Saturday’s $25 million Powerball drawing , which will fall to $20 million for Wednesday’s drawing. Saturday’s numbers:

3-7-23-27-42

Powerball: 37

Power Play: 3



Banner-News e-mail addresses:

news@bannernews.net

For news and sports items, Coming Events, Diary, Church News, school and civic events.

advertising@bannernews.net

For retail and classified advertising.

circulation@bannernews.net

To start, stop or cancel newspaper delivery or for comments about delivery.

outfitters @bannernews.net

For Office Outfitters, the office supply division of the Banner-News.



National Do-Not-Call Registry: Telephone, 1-888-382-1222. Web site, www.donotcall.gov



A friendly reminder that Banner-News Office Outfitters makes buttons. Want to put your favorite high school athlete’s picture on a button? Does your business have a special promotional campaign coming up? Put it on a button. The first 10 custom-made buttons are $1.75 each.



Legal outdoor burning hours in Magnolia are between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m.



We encourage all secondary school coaches to phone, fax or e-mail results of their sports activities. If you don’t see the results in the Banner-News you want to read, call your coach.







Alcoholic Beverage Control Administration Division

1515 W. 7th St. Suite 503

Little Rock, AR 72201

The telephone number is 501-682-1105. Michael W. Langley is the director.



Weddings, engagements and anniversaries are printed in the South Arkansas Sunday News free of charge. The deadline for announcements is 5 p.m. the Monday preceding Sunday publication.

Engagements are typically published one to three months before weddings.

Weddings must be submitted no later than eight weeks from the date of the wedding, or they will not be published free. There are no exceptions. We do not accept wedding announcements before they take place.

Anniversaries follow the same deadline as engagements and weddings. Free anniversary announcements begin at 25 years.

Forms are available and may be picked up at the Banner-News office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pictures are to be picked up after the announcement has run in the newspaper. Pictures may also be e-mailed to news@bannernews.net



A friendly reminder that newspapers still deliver to your home, plus, it’s less expensive than purchasing newspapers from a rack. Call our Circulation Department at 234-5130 to arrange for home delivery of the Banner-News.



The Arkansas Attorney General’s Office has issued its annual reminder to consumers about what constitutes a cord of wood, which is 128 cubic feet of firewood. To be sure you had a cord of wood, stack and measure it. To be sure you have a properly stacked cord, the wood should measure:

— Four feet wide, four feet high and eight feet long or

— Two feet wide, four feet high and 16 feet long.

The office said that consumers should avoid advertisers that offer firewood in undependable terms, such as “by the truckload, “face cord,” “rack” or “pile.”



The field of Magnolia mayoral candidates should prepare good answers to the questions/complaints we hear the most:

— What are you going to do about dilapidated property in Magnolia?

— What is going to be the city’s policy for dealing with noise complaints?

— What will you do to create more jobs?



Diary will be happy to add more of your questions to this list.



We continue to encourage volunteer fire departments to let the Banner-News know about the calls to which they respond. E-mail news@bannernews.net, or call the news department at 234-5130.