Hickory

Leaders in Hickory's African American community are encouraging fathers of black children to take their children to school on the first day of the new school year.

The Million Father March is intended to lead black fathers to take more active roles in their children's education, said local organizer Duane Muhammad. Fathers of other races are also encouraged to take part. When a father is unavailable, other male relatives and family friends are encouraged to participate in their place.

The effort is sponsored nationally by The Black Star Project, a Chicago-based organization that works to improve black and Latino communities by boosting children's education.

Details: visit www.blackstar project.org or contact Muhammad at 828-308-1709 or dmu hammad.hky@gmail.com. Hannah Mitchell

Mount Holly

Tickets are still available for the Mount Holly Sports Hall of Fame banquet on Saturday.

The event will be held at the Mount Holly Citizen's Center, at 400 E. Central Ave. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased at the following businesses: David's Detailing, Charlie's Drug Store, County Squire, Bel-Holly Printing, Robert D. Black Insurance, the Banner News, McLurd & Dellinger Insurance, Tiny Tot Development Center, The Woodshed, Christie's and Art Shoemaker's Insurance.

Tickets can also be purchased from committee members Perry Toomey, Ray Campbell, Eddie Wilson, Scott Griffin, Bryan Hough, Bobby Black, Lee Beatty and Steward Hare. Joe DePriest

The monthly breakfast meeting of Mount Holly/Gaston area business owners and managers is Sept. 2 at the City Café on Main Street in Mount Holly.

The buffet breakfast begins at 7 a.m.; the program is 8-9 a.m.

The speaker is John Roberts of the new Carolinas Rehabilitation Hospital on N.C. 273 in Mount Holly.

Details: Heidi Huber at 704-578-0767 or heidi.hub er@svn.com. Joe DePriest

Bessemer City

Bessemer City has issued a declaration of water shortage and imposed Stage 3 restrictions.

City Manager Allan Farris said that because of recent high temperatures and lack of significant rain the city has initiated the new guidelines in addition to the Stage 2 restrictions already in effect.

The restrictions include:

No filling or adding water to any pool.

No use of water outside a structure for anything other than an emergency involving a fire.

Fire protection should be maintained by the drafting of ponds, rivers and the like, whenever possible.

The use of throw-away utensils and plates is encouraged and recommended to all eating establishments.

Details: Allan Farris at 704-833-0360, or Public Utilities Director Lee Hayes at 704-833-0390. Joe DePriest