By SCOTT MIMS / Staff Writer

The Highland Lakes community will host its fourth Holiday Home Tour on Saturday, Dec. 14, beginning at noon and ending at 5 p.m.

Each year, members of the Highland Lakes Women’s Club sell tickets and volunteer in the tour’s featured homes to greet attendees and express appreciation for their support.

Proceeds benefit a charity voted on by club members, and this year HLWC has selected the Shelby County Mental Health court program.

“In 2019, we have four gorgeous homes, each decorated in totally different tastes and sizes. From whimsy to traditional, inside and out, these homes will give attendees ideas for possibly decorating their own homes,” said event chair Sherri Mauter. “Our homeowners are to be commended for their dedication to the charity and the Highland Lakes Women’s Club for opening their home to the public to tour.”

HLWC vice president Diane Caldwell said donations from this year’s tour will help defray court program costs for those in need.

“We always keep our proceeds close to home, and this year we voted as a club to support them,” Caldwell said. “More and more we learn of how mental illness negatively affects so many people in our community and often results in non-violent criminal activity. The offenders who appear before Judge Corey Moore at the Shelby court have been fully evaluated and have demonstrated a need of treatment and a support system to get back on track and living productively.”

Tickets are $20 apiece and may be obtained by contacting HLWC president Terry Marlowe at 205-704-4111 or terrymarlowe@yahoo.com. The Highland Lakes community can be found off U.S. 280 situated between The Narrows and Greystone.

“We just feel like our community should show support for the home tour. The homes on the tour are always outstanding, and a lot of work goes into making this event a success,” Marlowe said.