The Middlesboro Daily News will publish local events in the community calendar free of charge as space allows. We do not accept submissions called in via phone. All submissions should be emailed to beth.key@harlandaily.com or dropped off at our office, 1275 North 25th Street, Middlesboro. Submissions should be received no later than four business days prior to the event. If received in time, it will be published one or two days prior to the event. Announcements are also available at middlesborodailynews.com.

JAN. 11

The Bell County Cooperative Extension Service in partnership with Bell-Whitley will be offering a parenting class at 10 a.m. on Jan. 11 at Bell Whitley. Parents are invited for a time together to laugh, learn and play. To register, call 606-337-2376.

JAN. 13

Indian Creek Baptist Church’s regular monthly singing will begin at 6 p.m. on Jan. 13 featuring Chelsea Estes and the Blair’s Creek Youth Choir. Pastor Steve Moyers welcomes everyone.

JAN. 14

The Bell County Cooperative Extension Service will be hosting a Blue to You class at 1 p.m. on Jan. 14 at the Extension Office. This class focuses on depression and helps with knowing the signs and treatment options. If you or someone you know battles with depression, then this class is right for you. To register, call 606-337-2376.

JAN. 15

The Bell County Board of Education regularly scheduled meeting for Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. will be held via video teleconference. The primary location where all members can be seen and heard and the public may attend in accordance with KRS 61.840 is the Bell County Administrative Office, 211 W. Virginia Avenue, Pineville, with the anticipation that three board members will be present and two board members will participate via video teleconference as authorized under KRS 61.826.

The Bell County Board of Education will hold a public forum to discuss the 2018-2019 District Wellness Needs Assessment in conjunction with the current Student Welfare and Wellness Policy at 6 p.m. on Jan. 15 at the Bell County Administrative Office in Pineville during the regular scheduled board meeting.

The Middlesboro Board of Education will have its regular board meeting at 6 p.m. on Jan. 15 at the Middlesboro Elementary School gymnasium.

TUESDAYS

Stand in the Gap Coalition (SIGCO), a 501(c)3 nonprofit, faith-based organization, along with local churches in the Tri-State area is hosting an evening out for grandparents and caregivers by providing childcare on the second Tuesday of each month. SIGCO is located at 325 Straight Creek Road, New Tazewell, Tennessee. A service of SIGCO is to provide free saliva based drug testing kits with instructions, called Give Me a Reason (GMAR). For more information on the evening out, addiction treatment or how you can help “Stand in the Gap“ call 423-300-1302 or email standntgap@gmail.com or mail P.O. Box 539, Cumberland Gap TN 37724.

JAN. 16

The Cumberland Valley Chapter of the Kentucky Public Retirees (KPR) will meet Jan. 16 at Golden Corral in London. Mealtime will begin at 11:30 a.m. with the meeting to follow. The guest speaker will be state Rep. Robert Goforth (89th District). Any retiree (and spouse) receiving retirement benefits from KERS, CERS or SPRS is welcome to attend. Membership information will be available at the meeting or at kentuckypublicretirees.org. For more information, call 606-877-0079 or 606-260-0490.

JAN. 17

The Bell County Cooperative Extension Service will be hosting a Painting with Pizzazz class at 1 p.m. on Jan. 17 in the Extension Office. The class is free, and all materials will be provided. Participants will be painting a snowman. To register, call 606-337-2376.

JAN. 18-20

Speedwell Church of God, located at 345 Carr Gap Road, will host a weekend revival Jan. 18-20. Services start at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 6 p.m. on Sunday. Bro. Ronnie Pittman will be preaching. Pastor Daniel Ellison and congregation invite everyone to attend.

JAN. 19

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Diversity Breakfast, sponsored by the SKCTC Office of Diversity & Inclusion, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Jan. 19 at Benham Schoolhouse Inn. All are welcome to celebrate. The special presentation and fellowship are free to all. For $10.95 per person, an optional breakfast includes scrambled eggs, country sausage, cinnamon fried apples, biscuits and gravy, orange juice, milk and coffee. For more information, contact Carolyn Sundy at 606-589-3052 or Erica Farmer 606-248-2180.

JAN. 24

The Bell County Cooperative Extension Service will be hosting a Baking for One or Two Homemaker Leader Lesson at 1 p.m. on Jan. 24 at the Extension Office. To register, call 606-337-2376.

JAN. 25-27

Pine Mountain State Resort Park will present the annual Winter Photography Weekend Jan. 25-27 with evening programs by guest professional Paul Hassell. New this year is the Cell Phone Class (this can be a stand alone entry (entering four images like the other traditional three classes) or as an additional image if you are entering in another class (entering your four normal images, then one extra in the phone class). Also for this year, category suggestions will be accepted. Send suggestions via Facebook message or to Keith.Bowling@Ky.gov. Early bird registration is $30 (two weeks prior to event date) or $40 at the door. For more information, call 606-337-3066.

JAN. 29

The Bell County Cooperative Extension Service will be hosting a Tasty Tuesday class at 1 p.m. on Jan. 29 at the Extension Office. The class is free and participants will make some tasty sweet potato soup. To register, call 606-337-2376.

FEB. 14

Pine Mountain Settlement School will host a Candlelight Valentine’s Dinner at 6 p.m. on Feb. 14. Relax and enjoy traditional Appalachian cuisine in the historic Laurel House. For more information or to register, call 606-558-3604.

FEB. 23

Pine Mountain Settlement School will kick off the gardening season with the annual seed swap from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m. on Feb. 23 in Laurel House (Lunch is provided for free at noon). Heirloom seed expert Bill Best will be on hand. Many rare local bean and tomato varieties will be available for purchase, and be sure to bring your own heirloom seeds to sell or trade. For more information, contact David Hinkle at 606-558-3604 or dhinkle@pinemountainsettlementschool.com.

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Free rat bait is available at the Bell County Cooperative Extension Service, located in the basement of the Bell County Courthouse in Pineville. Business hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Rat Bait Program is sponsored by Bell County Farm Bureau and the Bell County Cooperative Extension Service. For more information, call 606-337-2376.

Several posts of the American Legion will provide new coats and new toys to some eligible Appalachian youth in several counties (McCreary, Pulaski, Whitley and Bell counties) of eastern and southeastern Kentucky during this holiday/winter season. If you wish to support this effort with monetary donations, new coats, or new toys, please contact the Legion representative at Hope.4.estrn.kentuckians@gmail.com.

GED classes are being offered to anyone 19 years or older. Improve your reading, writing and mathematical skills and study to receive your GED. For more information, contact the following: Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College Middlesboro campus at 606-248-3175, Bell County Council on Literacy at 606-248-2014 or the Pineville Learning Center at 606-337-3044.

Volunteers are needed for the Kentucky Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (Cumberland Valley District) to read a while, play a game of checkers, discuss the day’s events, reminisce or just sit and watch TV with a local senior. If you currently visit someone in a long-term care facility or would like to become involved, contact Arlene Gibson at 606-864-7391, ext. 119.

Free saliva-based drug testing kits are provided and sponsored through UNITE and Stand in the Gap Coalition (SIGCO). Give Me a Reason (GMAR) is designed for parents/guardians to use to talk with their children and randomly test them, which gives them a reason to say no when tempted or offered drugs. Kits can be obtained at 44 different distribution points throughout the Tri-State area and at the SIGCO office, located at 502 Pennlyn Avenue in Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. For more information, contact the SIGCO office at 423-300-1302. To pick up a kit, stop by on Mondays from 1 to 5:30 p.m.

The American Red Cross is seeking volunteers with flexible schedules to respond to single and multi-family home fires in the Lake Cumberland service area which includes Casey, Adair, Cumberland, Clinton, Russell, Pulaski, Wayne, McCreary, Whitley, Laurel, Clay, Knox, Bell and Harlan counties. Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers respond to assist families with shelter, support and access to basic needs immediately following a home fire – often arriving on scene even as the fire is still burning. Volunteers may apply online by visiting http://www.redcross.org/volunteer or by contacting Chapter Executive Terry Burkhart at 859-253-1331 or terry.burkhart@redcross.org.

The Lighthouse Homeless Shelter, located at 117 South Pine Street in Pineville, is open seven days a week. For more information, call 606-337-9736.

Lighthouse Lifeline of Bell County non-residential support groups are held at the Lighthouse Mission Center, located at 3609 Hwy. 119 in Pineville. For more information, contact Sharon Teaney at 606-269-2187 or Ules Baker at 606-670-1949. Men’s and women’s support groups meet from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, and at 1 p.m. on Thursdays. Youth support groups (ages 10-18) meet from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Lighthouse Ray of Hope Children’s Advocacy Center, located at 3619 Hwy. 119 in Pineville, is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. For information, call 606-337-9955.

The “Something Different” Narcotics Anonymous group meets at 7 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays at the First Christian Church of Middlesboro, located at 2130 Cumberland Avenue. Meetings are open.

Lighthouse Mission Center, located at 3609 Hwy. 119 in Pineville, will have food giveaways at 11:30 a.m. on the third and fourth Tuesday of each month. Emergency food boxes are available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information, call 606-337-1834.

A military support group for all active, separated or any former military men or women meets at 6:30 p.m. each first and third Monday of the month at the Middlesboro National Guard Armory, located on 30th Street. If you face financial, relationship, criminal, adjustment, substance abuse or other problems, this is for you.

GED classes will be held on Tuesdays from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Lighthouse Career Training Center, located at 980 Old Bell High Road off of U.S. 119 in Pineville. For more information, call 606-337-9955.

Benchmark Family Services, serving Bell, Harlan, Clay, Knox, Laurel and Whitley counties, invites you to become a foster parent. Free orientation classes are held from 5-6 p.m. on any Tuesday. For more information, call 606-526-6992 or toll free at 866-526-6992.

Applications are available for the Lighthouse Medical Clinic, located at 3619 Hwy. 119 in Pineville, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Visits are by appointment only. For more information, call 606-337-9955.

Narcotics Anonymous will meet at the Living Clean Group Wallsend Community Room in Pineville. Meetings begin at 6 p.m. on Mondays; at noon on Wednesdays, closed for addicts only; and at 3 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, call 606-499-0238 or 606-302-6972.

Narconon is reminding families that the use of addicting drugs is on the rise. Take steps to protect your family from drug use. If you know anyone who is struggling get them the help they need. For a free brochure on the signs of addiction for all drugs, call 800-431-1754 or visit DrugAbuseSolution.com. Narconon also offers free screenings and referrals.