Community

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All UCHRA county offices are accepting LIHEAP applications between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Putnam County UCHRA is located at 3333 Williams Enterprise Drive, and the telephone number is (931) 528-1285. The LIHEAP program provides financial energy assistance to eligible low-income households one time during the year.

An account has been established at the Community Bank in Cookeville for donations to benefit the family of Aspen McCauley who is a 3 week old baby girl with meningitis. She is currently on a ventilator at Vanderbilt hospital and having lots of seizures. Any amount would be greatly appreciated.

A Benefit and fundraiser for Austin Bryce Wofford who is a 3 year old with heart complications will be held on December 20th from 4-8pm at Grace Pointe. There will be a Chili supper for a $5 donation and a silent auction. Grace Pointe is located at 155 East Spring Street, Suite F in Cookeville.

The Cookeville High School Bookstore has a wide variety of logo items that will make great presents for Cavalier fans and will be open for business while school is in session. Call 520-2123 for more information or to place an order.

They are putting down their hammers and picking up scissors! Everyone is wondering where to go to get gifts wrapped this season. A great way to get that done and help a great organization is to come to Books A Million Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Habitat for Humanity will be wrapping gifts at Books A Million this weekend to raise money to build homes this next year. You can bring in already purchased gifts or buy gifts in the store to be wrapped by Habitat volunteers. All money raised goes to help build hope in our community in 2009! For more information call 528-1711.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol will conduct sobriety checkpoint roadblocks on State Route 290 and State Route 135 in Putnam County on December 19th.

Cookies with Santa is free and open to the public this Friday, Dec. 19th at 9am at the Putnam County Family YMCA. Come join us in the lobby to meet Santa and share a snack before getting your picture taken. Call our welcome center for more details 931-528-1133.

A Candlelight Service will be held on December 20th at 6pm at Ozion Freewill Baptist Church.

Bethel Freewill Baptist Church will have their Christmas program Saturday, Dec. 20th at 7pm. Everyone is welcome. For more information please contact Pastor Clayton Lee, Jr. 528-1174.

Chili Supper at Shiloh Community Center on Dec. 20th at 5:30pm. $5 for adults, $3 for children under 10. Music by the Shiloh Band and other special guests. Proceeds go to the upkeep of the community center. 840 P. Brewington Road in Cookeville.

CHRISTMAS on the HILL - Come and join us at Church on the Hill for an evening of song and worship as we celebrate the birth of Jesus on Sunday evening December 21st at 6pm at Church on the Hill, 3001 Phillis Cemetary Rd. in Algood (right off of hwy 111 at Quinland Lake Rd.)

There will be a Christmas program at Hardy's Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, Sunday, December 21st at 6pm.

Christmas concert with the Nelons on Sunday, December 21st at 6pm at Sparta First Baptist Church. Love offering. For information call 836-2269.

Church on the Hill in Algood will have a Christmas special on December 21st at 6pm.

Caleb Langford and Amber Whitaker will be singing for the 11am service at Post Oak Shade Free Will Baptist Church on Sunday, December 21st.

The recycling center, transfer station, landfill & chip yard all will be closed December 24, 25 & 26 and Jan. 1st; and the Convenience Centers will be closed Dec. 24th & 25th. Only the convenience centers will be open December 26th. In observance of Christmas and New Year's Day there will be no community service.

The Putnam County Trustee's Office will be closed December 24, 25 and 26th in observance of Christmas and will be closed on January 1st in observance of New Year's Day

The offices of UCHRA will be closed Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, December 24th, 25th, 26th in observance of the Christmas Holiday.

The City of Cookeville residential garbage will not run Thursday, Dec. 25th or Fri, Dec. 26th. Thursday routes will be collected on Monday Dec 29th and Friday route on Tues December 20th. Collection for Thursday, Jan. 1st has been moved to January 2nd.

Cookeville Housing Authority will be observing these holiday hours during Christmas and New Years: Dec. 19, closing at 2pm. Dec. 24, closing at 1pm. Dec. 25, closed. Dec. 26, closed. Dec. 31, closing at 2pm. Jan. 1, closed.

Dec. 29th-Jan. 2nd, Bob "Dr. Doom" Dawson's Christmas Break Basketball Camp will be held at Cane Creek Gymnasium from 8am-4pm. Door opens at 7am. Boys and girls ages 7 and up get ready for Jr. Pro and AAU.

BOOK SALE - "Twice Told Tales, A Used Bookstore" - sponsored by the Putnam County Library Friends, will be open from 10:00-2:00 on January 3rd. The store will also be open on Friday, January 2nd from 4:00-6:00 for Putnam County Library Friends only. Memberships are available at the door. Hardbound books are $2.00 and paperbacks are 50 cents. Donations appreciated. See the librarian at the front desk.

Do you enjoy organizing and/or working with special events? UCHRA CASA of Putnam County has a variety of fundraisers planned for the 2008/09 year and could use your skills and energy toward making these events successful. Proceeds go to support CASA’s (Court Appointed Special Advocates’) efforts to provide a voice for abused or neglected children who come into the court system. To find out more about how you can be part of the solution, call 931-520-8733/ ext. 248 or 138.

The Cookeville Cooperative Preschool, a non-profit organization, has openings for three and four-year-olds for the upcoming school year. Being a "co-op", parents take turn assisting teachers with crafts, circle time, snacks, and clean-up, so parents take an active role in their child's early education and social enrichment. For more information, visit the website at http://CookevilleCP.com

In this time of economic stress and uncertainty, many people need help. For the fourth consecutive year, Cash Express, LLC at 402 E. 10th St. in Cookeville is collecting toys, canned food and coats for the underpriviledged. They are teaming with Genesis House to distribute the items. Anyone wishing to drop of items can do so at Cash Express, Sylvan Learning Center, Hill's IGA or Food Lion. Used coats will be cleaned by Coit Cleaners. Anyone in need of help can contact Mundy or Clara at 520-0520 or 520-0518. Donations also accepted at Cash Express, 263 W. Spring Street in Cookeville.

Habitat for Humanity and Books A Million are teaming up this holiday to make a difference in the life of a family. Come in to Books A Million any weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas and get your gifts wrapped by Habitat volunteers and help get a family into a safe, affordable home! It’s just another great way you can change lives with Habitat for Humanity. For more information contact Habitat at 528-1711.

Looking for a way to give back? Be a Santa to a Senior Tree at Wal-Mart in Algood. Find the tree in front of the customer service desk, take an ornament, and purchase a gift(s) from the wish list provided. Then give the ornament and gift to the clerk. Monetary donations would also be greatly appreciated. Sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care.

The Upper Cumberland is in need of volunteers for State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and SMP: Empowering Seniors to Prevent Medicare Fraud. SHIP and SMP volunteers help seniors understand Medicare and find appropriate insurance coverage. They also provide education to seniors on possible fraud and abuse issues. Volunteers can contribute as much or as little time as they wish, and training is provided. If you are interested in learning about Medicare and helping older adults please consider volunteering. If you are part of an organization or club who meets and would benefit from a presentation on our volunteer program, or for more information contact Stacia Drouillard, SHIP Volunteer Coordinator with Upper Cumberland Development District at (931)432-4111 ext. 247.

Events for December at the Algood Senior Citizens Center:

Tuesday, December 23rd, 9:30 a.m. Careall Bingo - Everyone wins a prize.