Salvation Army rings in holidays

The Salvation Army bell ringers have collected more than $30,000 in the two weeks since the traditional bell-ringing campaign began, according to a release.

But with three weeks left until Christmas, the Salvation Army hopes to raise another $55,000 to reach this year's goal - $85,000 in total.

Last year during the Christmas Distribution, the Salvation Army helped about 520 families with holiday food baskets, and within the total holiday effort helped 2,932 people with food or gifts.

Kettle/bell ringing locations include: Albertson's (east and west), the Galilean, Hobby Lobby, J.C. Penney, Kmart, the downtown post office, Safeway (east and west), Sam's Club, the Salvation Army Thrift Store, Sears, Smiths, Walgreens (east and west) and Wal-mart (east and west).

For more information or to volunteer, call 234-2002.

Blue Cross Shootout in Casper

The Wyoming Shootout - the University of Wyoming's annual basketball stop in Casper - will be held on Saturday at the Casper Events Center.

The Cowgirls play North Dakota State at 1 p.m., followed by the Cowboys against Northern Iowa at 3:30 p.m.

Tickets are still available. Prices are $15 for general admission seats and $18 for reserved seats. For tickets or more information, call the box office at (307) 577-3030 or (800) 442-2256, or visit www.caspereventscenter.com.

Learn About the Peace Corps

Teens and adults interested in learning more about or joining the Peace Corps can attend an event at Natrona County Public Library at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday on the library's main floor. Audrey Gray will share stories of her experiences in the Peace Corps, including why she joined and what she learned along the way.

For more information, call 577-READ.

Champions Mentor Office hosts informational meeting

The Champions Mentor Office will host an informational meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Frontier Middle School room 140, according to a release.

The training, which will explain the Champions Mentor Program, is open to anyone interested in becoming a mentor or who is interested in supporting, sponsoring and referring children and their parents to join.

For more information, contact the Champions office at 233-4279.

Winter Wallyball League information available

The city of Casper Recreation Division is offering adult coed winter wallyball leagues, with games to be held each Saturday afternoon or evening beginning Jan. 20, according to a release.

Team managers interested in entering a team into the league should pick up an informational packet at the Recreation Center's reception counter, 1801 E. Fourth Street, or get the information online at www.crlasports.com. League formulation, rules and entry fees are included in each packet. Team registrations will be accepted through Jan. 13.

Walleyball is a relatively new sport, similar to volleyball, but played in a racquetball court. Teams consist of four players, and the ball is allowed to bounce off the walls of the court.

For more information, call the Casper Recreation Center at 235-8383.

College has meat for sale

The Casper College Agriculture Department has a limited number of quality pigs and lambs for sale to the public, according to a release.

Pigs will be priced at $.60 per pound and weigh about 250 to 300 pounds. They will be sold whole or half and bacons and hams can be cured at the customer's request or left uncured. Chops, steaks and roasts will be cut to the customer's specifications.

Lambs will be sold for $1 per pound and vary in weight from 125 to 175 pounds.

The live animal is purchased from the Casper College Agriculture Department, which will then deliver the animal to Kompac Meat Processing. In addition to the cost of the animal, buyers are also required to pay processing fees.

To purchase an animal or for more information, call Casper College at 268-2525.

St. Mark's hosts Christmas feast

St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Casper will host a holiday feast for members, friends and neighbors at 4 p.m. on Dec. 21. The public is invited to the Christmas celebration, which will feature a roast turkey dinner and special treats for the children.

Christmas carols, led by members of the "Oil City Slickers," also are on the menu.

On Dec. 14 and Dec. 21, special services from the Celtic Iona community in Scotland will be celebrated at 10 a.m. with Evensong offered at 4 p.m. on Dec. 14.

Christmas Eve services include a children's pageant at 5:30 p.m. and the Christ Mass with carols beginning at 10:30 p.m. A reception follows each service.

For more information, call St. Mark's at 234-0831 or log onto www.stmarkscasper.com