Calendar

• A benefit account to help defray medical expenses has been established for the Rev. Billy Vaughn, pastor of Bonita Baptist Church. Donations may be made at any branch of Ouachita Independent Bank.

• A retirement dinner party will be held at 1 p.m. July 1 at the Rayville Eugene Center for Alderman George Tennant who is retiring with 24 years of service.

• First Assembly of God, Rayville, will celebrate Independence Day with a Let Freedom Ring Service July 3.

• Poverty Point State Historic Site will host a crafts activity from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 3. Guests are welcome to bring the family and learn about the Poverty Point Culture while children, 6 and under, can make Native American style bead necklaces. Children, 7 and up, will be able to make dream catchers. Guests are also encouraged to browse the museum and take one of the guided tram tours around the site. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic and come on out and enjoy this fun program.

• First Baptist Church, Rayville, will host a Red, White and Blue Jean Celebration at 8:45 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. July 4. The public is invited to join church members as they celebrate Independence Day by wearing a red, white or blue shirt and blue jeans.

• Poverty Point State Historic Site will conduct a tool demonstration program July 4, starting at 1 p.m., with sessions every hour on the hour through 4 p.m. Poverty Point State Historic Site offers visitors the opportunity to study the culture of area inhabitants from 1600 to 1300 B.C. The $4 admission fee provides access to the area museum, video, hiking trail and tram tour. Children (12 and under) and senior citizens (62 and over) are admitted free. For more information call 1-888-926-5492 toll free.

• The Richland Beacon-News and Delhi Dispatch will be closed July 5 for the holiday.

• Rayville Masonic Lodge #209 will meet at 7 p.m. July 8. The lodge meets on the second and fourth Thursday of each month.

• Homecoming for the Richland Parish Training School and Esther Toombs High School will be held July 8-11. Anyone interested in participating should contact Gloria King at 878-2093 or Diana Berry at 878-5393.

• The tenth annual 2-K/Helping Hands Trail Ride will be held July 10 at the 2-K Stables, 836 Waller Road, Epps. Events will include a hay ride, horse show, music and end of the trail ride dance. Concessions will be furnished. Cookers, barbecue pits and four wheelers will not be allowed. For more information, call Charlie Grimble at 341-2570 or Jenie Williams at 341-0133 or 926-5292.

• Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 107 Francis St., Rayville, will host a Solo Revue at 6 p.m. July 17.

• The National Family Caregiver Support Program can provide personal services at no cost to caregivers through the Council on Aging. Please contact the Richland Voluntary COA at 728-2646 or United Home Services at 329-9264 or 888-799-9968 to learn more about the program.

• Rayville High School’s earliest Palmetto issue is the 1927 edition. The school is missing the books for 1929-1941, 1943-1945, 1970, 1974, 1982, 1983, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2002 and 2003. Anyone who would like to donate a copy of any of these years to RHS is asked to call the school at 728-3296.