One of Shelby County’s highlight events each year is the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce Annual Gala and Golf Tournament. This year’s event is Sept. 9-10 at Magnolia Meadows in Columbiana.

Thursday night promises to be a fun-filled event with music, delicious food and auctions to raise money for scholarships for local South Shelby County students. Linda Cook, owner Busy Hands in Columbiana, is this year’s chair. The dress code is Island Casual, highlighting the Jimmy Buffet theme. Wrist bracelets supporting the Alabama Beach Relief after the disastrous Gulf oil spill will be available for purchase.

A D.J. will provide music and a cocktail supper will be served on the porch overlooking the golf course. Both silent and live auctions will feature items as: a week to a chateau in Gatlinburg; exquisite jewelry from Sonya Lefkovits collection; designer sunglasses from Dr. Stancil Handley; contacts for a year from Coosa Valley Medical Center; a charcoal grill and weed eater from Brown Lumber; two nights at the Hampton Inn in Calera; many gift certificates; $100 custom framing from Busy Hands; wine from Morgan Creek Vineyards; a year membership at Anytime Fitness in Chelsea; a $50 gift certificate from Gordon Timberlands to Busy Hands; $250 cash door prizes from Tim and Martha Wilson, owner of Magnolia Meadows; and much more.

The gala is free, but bring your checkbook to bid on the fabulous auction items which fund the scholarships.

Handley will be the live auctioneer. Serving with Cook are Chamber committee members: the Wilsons, Handley, Kevin Morris (M&F Bank, Chelsea), Linda Wren (AT&T), Billy Jones (Bryant Bank), and Stacy Walkup (executive director of the Chamber).

Evan Major is Chair of the Jeff Falkner Memorial Golf Tournament on Friday. This annual event is one of Magnolia Meadows most supported tournaments. Sponsors are needed for: a hole ($100), tee ($100), and hospitality tents, payable to the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce, P. O. Box 396, Columbiana, Alabama 35051. Registration for a four-person team is $350.

Funds raised from the gala and golf tournament support scholarships to local students from Shelby County High School, Chelsea High School, Cornerstone Christian School, Vincent High School, Coosa Valley Academy, School of Technology, and the Miss Shelby County Pageant.

Come support these scholarships by attending the gala and golf tournament — a weekend of fun to raise funds for a worthy cause, our youth of South Shelby County.

Phoebe Donald Robinson can be reached by e–mail at phoeberobinson@bellsouth.net.