Mobile County Neighbors

• Bay Watch
Special Events

• Corrections
A Business Records column item in the Oct. 5 Mobile County Neighbors should have stated: Geico Insurance and Phyllis Crabtree vs. Antonio Birch and Michelle Birch, 5516 Autley Drive, Mobile; $8657.17 and $337. Crabtree is not one of the defendants.

• Halloween happenings and fall festivals
Chickasaw events

• Homecoming queen Annie Bryant is 'really a special person'
Annie Bryant is royalty.

• McNortons celebrate 70th anniversary
On Oct. 4 at 2 p.m., Ma brey McNorton , 87, and his wife Mary Lou , 89, greeted about 75 guests in the dining hall at Grand Bay Convalescent Center.

• News briefs
Opera events

• People & Places
Strike a pose for MDA Students at Murphy High School recently announced their first Rip the Runway Modeling Competition, which will be held Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in the school's auditorium.

• Retired teacher now educates kids about litter
Phyllis Clardy Wingard spent 26 years in front of kindergartners, teaching them everything from their ABCs to how to tie their shoes.

• Reunions
Family

• She teaches patients the healing powers of laughter
"Laughter is the best medicine, and those who laugh, last," is the sentence that ends every one of Dianna Carlin's sessions on laughter as therapy.

• Youngster recovers from rare tumor
It was a routine day for 5-year-old Kayla Prieto.

• Bay Watch
Special Events

• Dauphin Way UMC offers Thursday classes
It is never too late to learn a new skill or pick up a new hobby.

• General Galvez SAR chapter meets Thursday
The General Galvez Chapter Sons of the American Revolution will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Ryan's Steak House in the Eastern Shore Shopping Center in Baldwin County. Those wishing to eat dinner should arrive in time to pick up their meals before the meeting begins.

• HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST Send us your favorite photo of youngsters trick-or-treating or trying out their Halloween costumes. On Nov. 5, we'll publish some of the best images, from the cutest to the scariest. Here are the guidelines: One photo per entrant, or one photo per e-mail address. Digital photos must be in the form of a JPEG with a resolution of at least 300 dpi. E-mail photos to neighborscontest@press-register.com; please put "Halloween costume contest" in the notes line. Photos must have been taken on or after Oct. 5, 2008. Cropping is allowed, but images cannot be digitally manipulated. Turn off camera time stamp before taking photos. Photos must be taken by Mobile County residents and contain images of Mobile County residents. Information we must have: The full names of everyone in the photo, listed from left to right. The ages of the children and what school they attend. All entries must also include the name of the person submitting the photo and a daytime phone number. Deadline: Photos must be in the Press-Register offices by 10 a.m. on Nov. 1. If you have questions, please call us at 219-5671.

• Halloween happenings, fall festivals
Fall festival

• Man has spent a lifetime in and around country music
Marshall Fillingim, 72, has devoted most of his life to playing, singing and promoting country, gospel and bluegrass music, particularly in the Mobile area. And he has received many honors for his talent and hard work.

• MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Semmes (4-0) defeated Causey (3-1) in a battle of undefeated teams while Burns (4-0) and Booker T. Washington (4-0) prevailed to stay unbeaten in Mobile County middle school football action last Thursday.

• Neighbors Network
Editor's note: Neighbors Network is a free public service to help readers find goods and services that cannot be found through ordinary commercial sources.

• News briefs
Donations sought

• People & Places
Talented tot Torrance Goleman , 4, of Irvington, recently returned from a trip to New York City, where she had the opportunity to showcase her modeling, acting and performing talents to several of the industry's top agents and managers.

• SCIENCE PROJECT
These days, high prices have everyone looking for ways to cut fuel costs. But one young woman turned the gas crunch into a science fair project and became an award-winning semi-finalist in a national competition.

• Student Standouts
Tory Rogers

• Trying to stay a step ahead of litter
Keep Saraland Beautiful has embraced litter prevention, recycling, education, replenishment of resources, public awareness and morale. And it has worked with area businesses, city government, individuals and entire neighborhoods, church members and schoolchildren in its quest to make Saraland a desirable places to live.

• Who's What
Murphy High

• Workday at Allentown Cemetery
Saturday will be a workday at Allentown Cemetery on Wulff Road in Semmes from 7 a.m. until noon. Anyone with relatives buried in the cemetery is invited to bring gardening tools and join the cleanup.

• Bay Watch
Special Events

• Big crowd at Taste of the Bayou
More than 500 folks, eager for a Taste of the Bayou, visited the Bayou La Batre Community Center Sept. 27 for the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event. Another hundred or so participated as servers or booth sponsors.

• Central Plaza residents honored for service
Three Central Plaza Towers residents were recently recognized for service through the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

• Colonial Isle Dauphine today at Fort Gaines
Today, visitors to Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island can see how residents along the Gulf Coast lived prior to the 1840s. Ursula Prince , assistant director of the fort, said that the fort will host the 15th annual Colonial Isle Dauphine during regular operat ing hours, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Community volunteer enjoys giving back
As president of the 400-member Woodmen of the World Lodge 1961 in Semmes and as a member of Friends of Semmes, Maxine Merritt has contributed countless volunteer hours toward the betterment of her community.

• Fowl River Legion post to dedicate plaza Oct. 25

• HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST Send us your favorite photo of youngsters trick-or-treating or trying out their Halloween costumes. On Nov. 5, we'll publish some of the best images, from the cutest to the scariest. Here are the guidelines: One photo per entrant, or one photo per e-mail address. Digital photos must be in the form of a JPEG with a resolution of at least 300 dpi. E-mail photosto neighborscontest@ press-register.com; please put "Halloween costume contest" in the notes line. Photos must have been taken on or after Oct. 5, 2008. Cropping is allowed, but images cannot be digitally manipulated. Turn off camera time stamp before taking photos. Photos must be taken by Mobile County residents and contain images of Mobile County residents. Information we must have: The full names of everyone in the photo, listed from left to right. The ages of the children and what school they attend. All entries must also include the name of the person submitting the photo and a daytime phone number. Deadline: Photos must be in the Press-Register offices by 10 a.m. on Nov. 1. If you have questions, please call us at 219-5671.

• HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS If you're planning a Halloween party, a haunted house or other event for your neighborhood, your school or the general public, let Neighbors help spread the word. E-mail the date, time, place and other pertinent information about your Halloween event to region@press-register.com or mail it to Press-Register, ATTN: Neighbors, P.O. Box 2488, Mobile, AL 36652. Please include your name and phone number.

• Ironman picks up his pace
With a full schedule as an orthopedic surgeon, Mobile's Jeffrey M. "Jeff" Conrad is constantly running. And then he swims and bikes.

• Irvington caregiver helps homeless horses
Life is looking better for Camille, formerly Lady Dee.

• People & Places
Spartans boosters Organizers have started the Saraland Spartans Booster Club to encourage community involvement and promote athletics in the newly formed school system. Board members elected were president, Stephen Trawick ; vice president, Randall Poston ; secretary, Angie Luddeke ; and treasurer, Julie Barnett .

• Reunions
Business

• Calloway-Smith: Four victories, four shutouts
Calloway-Smith remained unbeaten and has not given up any points in four games while Causey and Burns picked up wins to stay undefeated in Mobile County middle school football last Thursday

• Compassionate lady wears red for the troops
Every Friday morning, Margaret East slips on a crimson dress, blouse or skirt before leaving for her job in the General Accounting Office of the Mobile County Public School System.

• Details on early settlers' land grant lineage society
Two weeks ago in this column, information was given on a new lineage society being formed, the Early Settlers of Spanish and Mexican Land Grants. Descendants of early settlers here in Mobile and along the Gulf Coast may qualify for joining this society.

• Hamilton students beautify school
The students in Tamara Ducote's third-grade class at Peter Joe Hamilton Elementary School in Chickasaw have taken beautifying their campus very seriously.

• 'I quickly fell in love with this school'
Missy Nolen is in her first year as principal of E.R. Dickson Elementary School. Her hours are sometimes long, but she says she wouldn't choose to be anywhere else.

• Neighbors Network
Editor's note: Neighbors Network is a free public service to help readers find goods and services that cannot be found through ordinary commercial sources.

• News briefs
Market on the Square

• Pennies for the ship, again
Faculty members and students at Dodge Elementary School in Mobile are spearheading a campaign they hope will spread to schools statewide to raise money to repair damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina on the Battleship USS Alabama.

• People & Places
Firemedic honored Firemedic and driver Ami H. Ingram , 29, was recently awarded September firefighter of the month honors.

• Prichard to hold event on safety
Prichard city officials have organized a Public Safety Day on Oct. 11 as a chance for the community to learn about the duties of police and fire departments.

• Student Standouts
Shaunterrica Junior

• United Way kicks off Live United campaign
The United Way of Southwest Alabama kicked off its 2008 Live United campaign on Sept. 19 at the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center. Approximately 450 people attended the kickoff. The kickoff started with a community wide food drive to benefit the Bay Area Food Bank.

• Who's What
St. Paul's Episcopal