Current events

School dedication

Columbia County school officials will hold a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony at 5 p.m. Tuesday for the county's 28th school, River Ridge Elementary, 4109 Mullikin Road, Evans. U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood is scheduled to make a presentation at the event.

Signing party

The North Harlem Elementary School PTA will hold a 2004-05 yearbook-signing party at the school from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday on the breezeway by the physical education building. For information, write Staci Kitchens at skitchens110@ comcast.com.

Cooling centers

Columbia County has two additional cooling centers:

- The Eubanks Blanchard Community Center, 6868 Cobbham Road in Appling, will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

- The Laurel and Hardy Museum, 250 N. Louisville St. in Harlem, will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

For information, call Daniel Causey at 541-2952 or Oscar Taylor at 309-9451 for the Blanchard center, and Kathy Ham at 556-0401 for the Hardy Museum.

School councils

- Evans High School is seeking nominations for parent members of the school council for 2005-06. For information, call Sheila Rodgers at 863-1198.

- Lakeside Middle School's council will meet at 1:30 p.m. in the media center conference room on Aug. 9, Nov. 29, Feb. 28 and April 25. For information, call Felicia Dumas at 855-6900.

First-day photos

Columbia County's public schools go back in session Wednesday, with plenty of moms and dads - and cameras - following the youngsters through the door. Send us a photo of your child's first day of school and we'll publish it in a selection in an upcoming issue of The News-Times.

Mail or bring photos to The News-Times office in the Publix shopping center, 4272 Washington Road, Suite 3B, Evans, GA, 30809, or e-mail them to cnt@newstimesonline.com.