CAP center to celebrate children in April

Published 12:46 am Sunday, March 30, 2014

Events planned in April by the Exchange Club of Vicksburg Child and Parent Center Inc. to recognize Child Abuse Prevention Month starts Tuesday at Vicksburg Convention Center.
The shindig, dubbed Parenthood Rocks!, is from 5 to 8 p.m. and includes seminars, giveaways, door prizes, a raffle for a TV, appetizers and entertainment by the Debra Franco School of Dance.
“This will be an evening that will bring parents together for an evening of food, fellowship and fun,” said Erma Driver, the executive director of the center.
Childcare will be offered for ages 4 to 12 years old.
Driver said, the interactive seminars will include speakers from local organizations including the Center for Pregnancy Choices, Grace Christian Counseling Center, the Vicksburg Family Development Service, the CAP Center, the City of Vicksburg and the Vicksburg Warren School District.
Month-long awareness events will also include:
• A city wide Blue Ribbon Campaign encouraging everyone to wear blue each Monday
• City Hall will offer a commemorative flag display
• Blue Jean/Blue Ribbon Day will be observed at all schools and businesses on Fridays
• April 8-10 — Telling the Story – “Story Time” will be held at the Warren County Library
• April 12 — Party in the Park Carnival at Catfish Row National Exchange Club
• April 26 — Dance Cabaret, a National Exchange Club Foundation Fundraiser, Brandon
For more information, call 601-634-0557 or visit www.capcenter.net
The Exchange Club of Vicksburg Child and Parent Center, Inc. is also welcoming three new board members to the organization.

Melanie Sanders

Melanie Sanders

Melanie Sanders, a former Miss Atlanta and a three-time Miss, joins the board this month. The administrator for Circuit Court Judge Isadore Patrick, Sanders also sits on the boards of several community, festival and social event groups in Mississippi and Georgia and founder of LuxeLife, a public relations and management firm specializing in publicity, image consulting, media and pageant coaching, and brand marketing and retention.

Deowarski McDonald

Deowarski McDonald

Deowarski McDonald, principal of Vicksburg High School, also joins. McDonald is a graduate of Alcorn State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in secondary education. He received his administrative certification from the Mississippi State Department of Education and Hinds Community College and he holds a specialist degree in educational leadership from Mississippi College. McDonald has worked in the Vicksburg Warren School District for 13 years.

Stephanie Stirgus

Stephanie Stirgus

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Also joining is Stephanie B. Stirgus, accounting manager at Ameristar Casino. Stirgis serves on the United Way Allocations Committee and the Vicksburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is an active member of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church and is married to VWSD trustee Jim Sturgis Jr. They have two daughters, Alexus and Erin, and a son, Jay.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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