Coal Grove Safety Day Saturday

COAL GROVE — If it’s October, it’s fire prevention month, which means the Village of Coal Grove is gearing up for its fourth annual Safety Day event.

On Saturday, the event will kick off with a parade at 10 a.m. followed by safety demonstrations, free food, live music, games and contests for children at the Dawson-Bryant Board of Education office field area, located at 222 Lane Street.

Coal Grove Volunteer Fire Department Chief Gary Sherman said the event has been popular with the community in the past and is important.

“We are able to get a lot of messages out to a lot of people on that day,” Sherman said.

Along with the Coal Grove VFD, other fire departments from around the county will join, as well as the Coal Grove Police Department, the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization, Lawrence County EMS, Ohio Department of Natural Resources and others, to talk about safety.

Forms will be available for free smoke detectors and there will be a demonstration on how to use a fire extinguisher.

Children will also be able to compete in a firefighter Olympics obstacle course.

The event is free to the public.

— Michelle Goodman

Rev. Jesse Jackson visits Shawnee State University

PORTSMOUTH — Rev. Jesse Jackson visited Shawnee State University on Monday, Oct. 3, telling more than 500 students, faculty, staff and visitors about how they make a difference and encouraging everyone to vote.

His main message was to address the War on Poverty that the late President Lyndon B. Johnson started in 1964.

Celebrate family history in October

ASHLAND, Ky. — Boyd County Public Library has two programs planned this month to highlight its genealogy services.

October is Family History Month, a time when libraries and other organizations promote the importance of genealogy and tracing your family roots. More than 80 million Americans are believed to be actively searching for information about their ancestors.

One of the most popular web sites to do family history research is Ancestry.com (BCPL card holders can use Ancestry.com for free). On Thursday, Oct. 13, genealogy staff will show people the newly redesigned site, including better ways to navigate through it. “The New Ancestry.com” program starts at 6 p.m. at the Main Branch, 1740 Central Ave.

Take a step back in time the following week and come to Old Movie Night at Main on Wednesday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m. There will be old movies of Boyd County and Ashland, including some recently converted 16 mm film.

Reasonable accommodation for people with special needs should be requested at least 48 hours prior to the program. Call (606) 329-0518, ext. 1140, for more information. To find out more about genealogy at BCPL, call (606) 329-0518, ext. 1500, or visit www.thebookplace.org.

Library book sale is set for Oct. 6-8

The fall book sale by the Friends of the Cabell County Library will offer more than the usual bargain-priced used books. It will include a chance for sale-goers to meet and talk with an author – juvenile book writer Sarah Dooley.

The sale is set Thursday through Saturday (Oct. 6-8) on the fourth floor of the downtown library at 455 Ninth St. Sale hours each day will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dooley will sign copies of her debut juvenile novel, “Livvie Owen Lived Here,” on Saturday only from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kirkus Reviews called the book “an enthralling tale,” and its publication prompted Publishers Weekly magazine to designate Dooley as a “Flying Start” author.

The sale will feature gently used books, magazines, records and tapes, CDs and DVDs. Shoppers who purchase $20 worth of books will earn a “ Book Buck,” a coupon worth $1 at the group’s next sale.

Proceeds from the sale, one of three conducted by the Friends of the Library each year, will be used to improve library services and facilities. Members of the public are invited to join the Friends for an annual donation of $5 or more. Information on the book sale or on joining the Friends may be had by calling the library at (304) 528-5700 or logging on to its Web site at www.cabell.lib.wv.us.