- Carousel Christmas canceled --- The Carousel Christmas that was scheduled from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Gage Park has been canceled.

- Flu shots are available --- Stormont-Vail Regional HealthCare Center reported Thursday it would make flu shots available to all Cotton-O'Neil Clinic and PediatricCare patients beginning Saturday. Shots will be given to Cotton-O'Neil Clinic patients from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at 901 S.W. Garfield and to PediatricCare patients from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at S.W. 15th and Gage Blvd. Flu shots will be made available as long as the vaccine lasts at the 901 S.W. Garfield clinic from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The Shawnee County Health Department will give flu shots at its Main Clinic, 1615 S.W. 8th, from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 3 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

- McGruff Give-A-Book program under way --- McGruff the Crime Dog, along with the Topeka Police Department and Shawnee County sheriff's office, has been taking a bite out of crime this week through the McGruff Give-A-Book program. The program has visited Shawnee Heights, Meadows and Assumption elementary schools, and will continue today at Avondale East and Topeka Lutheran elementary schools.

The program provides third-grade students with a personalized "McGruff and Me, Be Smart Be Safe" book, personalized with the child's name, friends and hometown. It contains valuable safety and crime prevention lessons.

Schools slated to receive the book next week include Cair Paravel- Latin School on Wednesday; McCarter Elementary School on Thursday; and Auburn Elementary School on Friday.

- Meal planned --- Laura Thurston Temple No. 1094 and Golden Sheath Council will have a joint dinner from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Midwest Elks Lodge, 1316 S.E. Madison. The menu includes a whole catfish dinner for $7, a meat loaf dinner for $5 and pigs feet for $5. The side dishes are black-eyed peas, yams, green beans, potato salad, corn bread and dessert.

- Clowns and Santa Claus to provide entertainment --- The Arab Shrine Clowns will join forces with Santa Claus on Saturday to entertain youths at Perkins Restaurant and Stormont-Vail Regional HealthCare Center. The planned appearances are at the restaurant, 1720 S.W. Wanamaker Road, from 9 to 11 a.m., and then at the hospital at 11:45 a.m.

- Pipe-smoking contest produces winners --- Two out-of-town pipe smokers won new pipes Saturday at The After Hours Pipe Club's Pipe- Smoking Contest. The winner was Brady Millemon, of Emporia, who burned his allotment of tobacco for 42 minutes. The loser was John Kane, of Waverly, who failed to get his pipe lit but was awarded a $70 Chacom pipe just for trying.

The contest was staged in conjunction with the International Association of Pipe Smokers Clubs and took place at the Vintage Restaurant, 1301 S.W. Gage Blvd. Each smoker received 3.3 grams of cube cut white burley tobacco and two matches. The rules stipulated that smokers had one minute to load and light their pipes.

Millemon claimed the grand prize, an Armellini briarwood pipe valued at $550. The second-place finisher was Dave Alexander, followed by Pat Roberts, both of Topeka, who also received pipes for their efforts.

The Guiness Book of World Records lists the world record for smoking 3.3 grams of tobacco at three hours, 15 minutes and 36 seconds. Tom Fitzgerald, a pipe and accessories supplier from Chicago, was on hand to record the event.

Mike Wilson, the contest organizer, reported the local record was about 90 minutes.

Saturday's event marked the first smoking contest in Topeka in more than 20 years. However, organizers expect to continue it on an annual basis.

- Wish List for foster children published --- The Lutheran Social Service Office has published a Wish List for gifts for more than 400 foster children in Shawnee County. The service intends to deliver the gifts during a Dec. 16 Christmas party and asks donors to drop the unwrapped gifts off at the Social Service Office, 2942 S.W. Wanamaker Drive, Building B. Information is available by calling (785) 272- 7883. The gifts should be new and in their original boxes.

The items listed on the wish list cover the gamut of children's interests and include soccer balls, play makeup and fingernail polish, hand held games, Mickey Mouse blanket, stuffed animals, books, compact discs, Pokemon trading cards or figurines, Barbie Dolls and other dolls, watches, hair clips, a play cell phone, play tools, Pooh Bear toys, Fisher Price toys, night vision goggles, remote control cars and trucks, Game Boy games, toddler toys, models, puzzles, duffle bags, book bags, roller blades and educational toys.

Items need to be delivered to the Lutheran Social Service Office between Tuesday and next Friday.

Copyright 2000
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.