1st Bn (Abn), 509th Inf

Battalion wide — Meets Fridays at 8 a.m. at the Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital trailhead for a run/walk. Children and strollers are welcome.

VMS registration

Vernon Middle School is registering new fifth and sixth grade students Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Parents must bring the child’s previous school records, Social Security card, birth certificate and health card (the Louisiana Health Cards can be obtained from the Vernon Parish Health Unit or the Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital Family Clinic). New students must be registered by Tuesday. If your child did not complete a VMS 2012-2013 registration form, the child is not registered. You can download a registration packet from vpsb.k12.la.us (click on schools, Vernon Middle School VMS information, then registration). For more information call (337) 239-3836 or (337) 238-1505.

VMS orientation

Orientation for parents and students attending Vernon Middle School is held Aug. 8. Class assignments will be posted throughout the school. Fifth grade meets from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and the sixth grade meets from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Parents and children are invited to meet the faculty and staff and tour the school. Catfish dinner will be on sale for $6 and drinks cost $1. For more information call (337) 239-3836 or (337) 238-1505.

Semi-Pro Football

The Louisiana Stonewallers Amateur/Semi Pro Football Team is looking for dedicated and committed football coaches and players to lead the team into its second season representing Vernon-Beauregard Parish and the Fort Polk communities. Coaches and players who are interested in being a part of the organization should call general manager Corey Denson at (337) 208-0548/7044 to set up an interview. For more information visit www.stonewallersfootball.com.

Football registration

The 2012 Vernon American Youth Football League is holding online registration through Aug. 30. The cost with flag is $75 and $100 with tackle. Newcomer’s registration is held Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. at Hibbett Sports in Leesville. For more information visit www.sportssignup.com/Vernon-American-Youth-Football-League-Online-Registration.start or visit www.leaguelineup.com/vernonfootball.

Pickering registration

Pickering Elementary School is registering for the new school year through Aug. 7 from 8 a.m.-noon and Monday through Thursday for LA4 and kindergarten through sixth grade. Parents must bring the child’s Social Security card, birth certificate, shot records and previous school report card.

Parents applying for LA4 preschool must have the child’s original birth certificate, proof of household income, shot records, Social Security card and be 4 years old by Sept. 30. For more information call 537-3394 between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The office is closed on Fridays. Those applying for Head Start must apply at the Head Start office, 1409 South Fourth St., Leesville, behind Burger King.

Design Leesville logo

Test your artistic skills by designing the next Leesville Main Street logo and the chance of winning $250. Visit leesvillemainstreet.org for contest rules and regulations. The deadlines for entries is Tuesday at 5 p.m. For details call (337) 239-2444 ext. 9 or mail entries to 1010 West Lee St, Leesville, LA 71446.

Bass Masters

If you like to fish and want to be part of a group with common interests, whether or not you have a boat, the Fort Polk Community Bass Masters is the right club for you. Comprised of active duty and National Guard Soldiers, retirees and local civilians, the club enjoys great camaraderie, fishing and fun. The club meets monthly the Thursday before each tournament. The next tournament is Saturday at the Army Recreation Site on Toledo Bend. For more information call (337) 208-8185, (337) 238-3314, (337) 397-0745 or visit www.fortpolkcommunitybassmasters.com.

Warrant Association

The Fort Polk chapter of the United States Army Warrant Officer Association meets the second Tuesday of each month at Mulligan’s from 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. The next meeting is Aug. 14.

Adult softball

If you would like to umpire youth baseball and adult softball call (337) 537-4744 or (337) 523-0781 for more information.

Acadian Culture Day

Vermilionville Living History Museum and Folklife Park hosts Acadian Culture Day Aug. 12 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Every year Vermilionville hosts this free event for the public to explore how the Acadian community maintains their heritage.

This year’s event will focus on living cultures; activities for the day include: Cooking demonstrations, boat tours and canoeing, artist demonstrations, games and crafts for children, a genealogy station, dance lessons, sharing circles and film screenings. There will also be live music.

For more information visit www.bayouvermilion.org.

Grace Fellowship

Grace Home School Fellowship serves the Beauregard and Vernon Parishes, including the Fort Polk community and supports, encourages and enhances the education of local home school families. For more informationcontact April Meaney at (337) 202-1448.

Trade Days

Main Street Trade Days is held the first and third Saturday of each month on Third Street at the Third Street Market in historic downtown Leesville from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. The next Trade Days is Aug. 4. Call (337) 392-1776 for more information.

Vernon Resource Center

The New Life Crisis Pregnancy Center, 505 East Mechanic St., Leesville, offers free testing and supplies to women of Vernon Parish. Call (337) 239-9863 for more information.

Back to School Days

Pickering High School hosts its Back to School Days from Tuesday-Thursday from 8 a.m.-noon. These days are set aside so that students may pay school, club and class fees, receive locker assignments, receive student IDs and class schedules, check out textbooks and place money in lunch accounts.

The schedule for students is as follows: Tuesday, Student Government Association members from 8-9 a.m., seniors and high school football players from 9-11 a.m., juniors and band members from 11 a.m.-noon; Wednesday, sophomores from 8-10 a.m., freshmen from 10 a.m.-noon; Thursday, eighth grade from 8-10 a.m., seventh grade from 10 a.m.-noon. For more information call the school at (337) 537-1555.

Join Girl Scouts today

Discover the excitement of being a Girl Scout by connecting with your community or becoming an adult volunteer. New programs are being developed to teach girls leadership development, courage, confidence, integrity and compassion.

You don’t have to have a daughter to participate. For more information call Pat Lore at (800) 960-2093 or (337) 984-1142.

Leesville TOPS

Take Off Pounds Sensibly meets Thursdays at the Vernon Parish Library, 1401 Nolan Trace, in Leesville. Weigh-in runs from 5:05-5:40 p.m. Meetings start at 5:45 p.m. For more information call (337) 208-6025.

DeRidder TOPS

Take Off Pounds Sensibly meets Tuesdays at the Wesley United Methodist Church, 701 N. Texas Street in DeRidder. Weigh-in runs from 5:30-5:55 p.m. Meetings start at 6 p.m. For more information call 531-8107.

Running club

The CenLa Runners Club meets Saturdays at 7 a.m. in the parking lot of Maple Terrace Housing Area on North Fort. Runs vary in distance and terrain. Call (337) 348-2924 for details.

Purple Heart meeting

The Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 727 meets the third Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. in the New Llano American Legion Hall. Recipients of the Purple Heart are welcome. The next meeting is Aug. 18. For details call (337) 238-0170.

Chapter meeting

The Korean War Veterans Association, chapter 180, meets at 10 a.m. the second Saturday of each month at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3106 in Leesville.

Aug. 11. Call (337) 239-7341 for more information.

Eastern Star

The Order of the Eastern Star hosts meetings the second and fourth Monday of each month at the Pride of Leesville Lodge, 1106 Butler St., Leesville. Prince Hall affiliated members are invited. The next meeting is Aug. 13. For more information call (337) 348-9697/6334.

Boy Scouts

Boy Scouts of America meets Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at Rivers of Living Waters Church, 509 N. Third St., Leesville.

Omega Psi Phi

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity meets the second Tuesday of each month. The next meeting is Aug. 14. For details call (337) 208-7059 or (337) 424-2286.

Garden club

The Vernon Parish Garden Club meets the second Saturday of each month from 2-4 p.m. at the Vernon Parish Library. The meeting features refreshments and a guest speaker. The next meeting is Aug. 11. For details call (337) 239-5919.

Experimental aircraft

The East Texas and West Louisiana chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association meets for lunch the first Saturday of each month at the Leesville Airport on Texas Highway west of Leesville. The next meeting is Aug. 4. For more information call (337) 238-1024.

Support groups

Recovery Support Group

The Celebrate Recovery Support Group meets at More Community Church, 112 Lula St. every Friday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Limited child care is available. For more information call (337) 238-8888.

Plant a seed

The Alcoholics Anonymous Plant A Seed group hosts meetings just outside the North Fort gate on 1745 Chaffee Rd. Meetings are held Mondays at 7:15 p.m., Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Wednesdays at noon and Fridays at 5 p.m. For more information call 537-3913.

Al-Anon

DeRidder’s Al-Anon program meets Mondays from noon-1 p.m. and Tuesdays and Fridays from 8-9 p.m. at 107 Wilson St. For more information call (337) 462-1505.

Autism awareness

An autism awareness support group meets from 9-11 a.m. the second Saturday of each month at the Leesville Donut Shop. The next meeting is July 14.

Celebrate Recovery

Celebrate Recovery meets Fridays in the Triumph House at East Leesville Baptist Church. Meetings begin with a meal at 6 p.m. Child care is free. For more information call (337) 239-3733.

Glory Babies

Glory Babies is a support group for women who suffered loss during pregnancy, infancy, adoption or infertility. The group meets the first Thursday of each month in the student building of East Leesville Baptist Church. The next meeting is July 5. Call (337) 238-8385 for more information.

Narcotics Anonymous

Christian Living Fellowship Church, Section Line Road in Leesville, hosts Narcotics Anonymous support group meetings Mondays and Tuesdays from 8-9 p.m.; Wednesdays from 5-6 p.m.; Thursdays from 7:15-8 p.m. and 8-9 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays from 8-9 p.m. For more information call (337) 238-3570.