Thursday, Sept. 20

COMMUNITY · Jenkins Chrysler Dodge Jeep will join parents and teachers at Woodstation Elementary in a fundraiser during a back-to-school picnic from 3:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20. Parents and guests will have an opportunity to earn a $10 contribution for the school from the Chrysler brand by taking a test drive in the 2012 Chrysler Town & Country. Any licensed driver, age 18 or older, may drive and earn a $10 donation for Woodstation Elementary. There is no limit to the number of drives or Chrysler’s contribution. Jenkins Chrysler Dodge Jeep will provide minivans and insurance for the event, and volunteers from the dealership will be on hand to help out with the fundraising test drives.

COMMUNITY · Dalton will host the SPA senior women’s softball championships at Heritage Point Park beginning Thursday Sept. 20. Teams from across the country will be represented in age divisions to include 35-60 year olds and 65+ and 70+ year olds. A Hall of Fame Induction ceremony will be held at Heritage Point Park at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20. The opening ceremony for the tournament is at 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21, at Heritage Point Park. For more information, call the Dalton CVB at 706-270-9960.

COMMUNITY · Coosa Valley Regional Services board will meet at 10 a.m. at 3 Riverside Industrial Parkway, N.E., in Rome. This meeting is open to the public.

COMMUNITY · Dr. James Adams, Professor of Biology, will present “Butterflies and Moths: Not The Wimps They Appear To Be" at a Dalton State Lunch & Learn on Thursday, Sept. 20, from noon-1 p.m. The lunchtime program will be held at the College’s James E. Brown Center at the north end of the campus. Reservations and advance payment are required by Sept. 18, and may be made by calling 706-272-4473. Cost is $10 and includes lunch.

COMMUNITY · The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) Region One Planning Board will hold a town hall meeting from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, in the meeting room at the Catoosa County Commissioner’s Office, 800 LaFayette Street, Ringgold. The purpose of this meeting is to identify unmet service needs in this region for people with developmental disabilities, serious mental illnesses, and/or for those who abuse substances. The public, elected officials, plus those with special interests in mental health, developmental disabilities and addictive diseases are encouraged to attend. Information gathered from this meeting and similar ones being held in other areas will be used to develop the state plan for services. For more information, call (706) 802-5606.

COMMUNITY · The Chickamauga Public Library will hold a “Ready to R.E.A.D.” story time program at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 20 and 27.

COMMUNITY · On Thursday, Sept. 20, Rock City’s Enchanted MAiZE reopens at Blowing Springs Farm for its 11th season. This fall’s maze design is Rock City’s 80th anniversary logo, celebrating the attraction’s 80th year. For operating times, go to enchantedmaze.com.

COMMUNITY · Berry College will host Pulitzer Prize winner Isabel Wilkerson for the Conson Wilson Lecture series at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, in the college chapel. Admission is free and open to the public.

COMMUNITY · Safe Kids Walker County will host free child safety seat checks from 2-6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20 at the Walker County Health Department (East Villanow Street). Parents can bring their car, car seat and child to an event in their area. Certified child passenger safety technicians will be available to provide one-on-one “hands-on” help with installation. In addition, Safe Kids Buckle Up events will continue throughout the year. Parents and caregivers can locate an event in their community by visiting the Safe Kids website at safekids.org.

COMMUNITY · A diabetes education class will be offered from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at Erlanger Chattanooga Lifestyle Center. This class will explore ways to manage diabetes. Call 778-9400 for more information on physician referral and insurance reimbursement.

EDUCATION · Kid's Station Christian Learning Center, Inc., (14237 Alabama Highway, Rock Spring near the Woodstation Community) is accepting Georgia Lottery Pre-K applications for the the 2012-2013 school year. Children must be 4 years old on or before September 1, 2012. Meals are free. Call 706-937-8585 for more information or visit kidsstation.org.

COMMUNITY · Special displays of Civil War weapons, equipment, personal items and recovered relics will be exhibited at Walker County Georgia Heritage Museum and Civil War Center, at 100 Gordan Street in Chickamauga (Railroad depot) now through Nov. 30. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 -.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Adult admission is $2, $1 for children. Call 706-375-4488 for more information.

Friday, Sept. 21

ENTERTAINMENT · Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga (ETC) will perform Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” weekends beginning Friday, Sept. 14-Sunday, Sept. 30. Friday performances are at 7:30 p.m., Saturday shows are at at 2 p.m. and Sunday shows are at 6:30 p.m., in the St. Andrews Center, 1918 Union Avenue in Chattanooga.

ENTERTAINMENT · Fast-paced whodunit “The 39 Steps” will be performed Fridays and Saturdays, from Sept. 14 through Sept. 29, at the Chattanooga Theatre Center, 400 River Street in Chattanooga. The show begins at 8 p.m. Sept. 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, and 29. Tickets cost $18. For tickets and information, call 423-267-8534 or visit theatrecentre.com.

ENTERTAINMENT · “Oliver!” will be performed live on stage at The Colonnade in Ringgold. Performances are Sept. 21, 22, 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $15 adult admission, $12 seniors (age 55 and older), $12 students, and $11 for groups of 15 or more. Call 706-935-9000, ext. 103, for more information or visit the website colonnadecenter.org.

COMMUNITY · Safe Kids Walker County will host free child safety seat checks from 2-6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, in the Wal-Mart parking lot in LaFayette. Parents can bring their car, car seat and child to an event in their area. Certified child passenger safety technicians will be available to provide one-on-one “hands-on” help with installation. In addition, Safe Kids Buckle Up events will continue throughout the year. Parents and caregivers can locate an event in their community by visiting the Safe Kids website at safekids.org.

Saturday, Sept. 22

COMMUNITY ·A Benefit Poker Run for LaFayette High School student Brandon Lowe, sponsored by George Wardlaw, will be held from 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Sept. 22, starting at 5495 Highway 151 and ending off 136, mile marker 22 on Highway 151. The first hand is $20, additional hands cost $5. Price includes barbecue and music by Matt Foster. Tickets will be available for door prizes after the ride. The best hand is 60/40, 60 to the benefit and 40 to the winner. Look for signs and orange flags. For more information, go to Facebook page Prayer & Support for Brandon Lowe.

COMMUNITY · The LaFayette-Barwick Airport will host its annual fly-in from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at 141 Gasque Drive in LaFayette. The public can view classic planes, see a sky diving performance, take airplane rides, and enjoy a car show and refreshments. A breakfast to honor veterans will be held at 8 a.m. Cost to the general public is $2 for breakfast. The opening ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. For more information, call the airport at (706) 638-7071.

COMMUNITY · The Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Business Expo on Saturday, Sept. 22 at The Colonnade from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. To register for a booth online, go to http://catoosaexpo.com.

CHURCH · Welcome Hill Baptist Church in Trion will hold a car show and barbecue fundraiser starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at the picnic area on Long Hollow Road just down the hill from the church. Barbecue plates cost $7 each. There also will be special singing. For more information, contact pastor Terry Shores at 706-766-5457 or Larry Bolton at 706-734-3101.

COMMUNITY · Safe Kids Walker County will host free child safety seat checks from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at Jackson Cheverolet off Highway 27 (at the bypass) in LaFayette. Parents can bring their car, car seat and child to an event in their area. Certified child passenger safety technicians will be available to provide one-on-one “hands-on” help with installation. In addition, Safe Kids Buckle Up events will continue throughout the year. Parents and caregivers can locate an event in their community by visiting the Safe Kids website at safekids.org.

COMMUNITY · The Georgia Jewel 100-mile trail run will return to Dalton for the second year on Sept. 22 and 23. Over 160 runners will compete on the Pinhoti Trail and will run either 100 miles, 50 miles, or 35 miles. Registration is open to the public at georgiajewel.com. Awards will be given to the top three finishers in each category. For more information, call the Dalton Convention and Vistors Bureau at 706-270-9960.

COMMUNITY · Crabtree Farms will hold its 6th annual “Big Pig Roast” fundraiser from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29. Crabtree Farms is at 1000 East 30th Street in Chattanooga. The family-friendly event features local food including slow-roasted pork barbecue, local veggies, and vegetarian options prepared by Greenlife. Beer from Big River Grille & Brewing Works and non-alcoholic beverages are included in the ticket cost. There will be live music from the Folk School of Chattanooga and the Hittin’ the Sauce BBQ Sauce Contest. Proceeds go to fund Crabtree Farms’ educational programs, which include Farm-To-School efforts, gardening education, and community outreach. Tickets cost members $30 per person, $50 per couple or $70 per family. Non-member prices are $35 per person, $60 per couple and $80 per family. Tickets are available online at www.crabtreefarms.org. For more information, call 423-493-9155.

COMMUNITY · Hyperflite Skyhoundz World Canine Disc Championship will be held from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, and Sunday, Sept. 23, at AT&T Field in Chattanooga. Admission is free, though a $1 per person donation to the McKamey Center is suggested. The Hyperflite World Championship is the premiere event in canine sports and features top teams from around the world.

COMMUNITY · The Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s will be held Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Dalton Depot in Downtown Dalton. Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's participants will participate in a 5K Walk/Run and will learn more about Alzheimer's disease, advocacy opportunities, clinical trial enrollment, and support programs and services of the Alzheimer’s Association. Each walker will also join in a meaningful tribute ceremony to honor those affected by Alzheimer's disease. Go to alz.org/walk or call 1-800-272-3900.

COMMUNITY · The Chattanooga History Center will present a walking tour, The Environmental History of Chattanooga, in Renaissance Park, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25. Dr. Daryl Black of the center will serve as tour guide. Registered participants should meet at the pavilion building beside the Renaissance Park parking lot on Manufacturers' Road. The fee is $5 per person (CHC members free). Pre-registration is required, and the deadline is Monday, Sept. 24. For more information, or to register, call 423-265-3247.

COMMUNITY · Tryouts will be held in LaFayette for an all-female football team. The North Georgia Thrashers are a new women’s football team trying to gain approval into the Women’s Football Alliance. All tryouts are at LaFayette High School at 10 a.m. every Saturday in September and the first two Saturdays in October. The team is accepting women of all shapes and sizes and ages 18 and older. There is no fee to play, and athletic wear is recommended for tryouts. For more information, look up "North Georgia Thrashers" on Facebook or contact Tyler at 423-315-3147.