WHAT'S UP

Support groups

Leann Thompson, Director of Medical and Community Projects for the National Kidney Foundation of South Carolina, will be guest speaker at the Cherokee County Diabetes Support Group meeting Monday, Jan. 14, at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria at Upstate Carolina Medical Center in Gaffney. Anyone who has diabetes or anyone who is a caregiver for someone with the disease is encouraged to attend. For more information, call 487-1652.

AA meetings are held at 8 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in the building behind Limestone Methodist Church on Carlisle Street. If you have a problem with alcohol, you are welcome to attend.

To contact the Narcotics Anonymous Helpline call 1- 800-828-568. A group meets at St. Paul's Lutheran Church on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 6 p.m. To contact a member of the local group, call 864-703-4880 (h) or 864-809-5901 (c).

Education

The GED examination will be given in Gaffney on March 8 at the Limestone Community Learning Center. Adults wishing to prepare for the test may enroll in the adult education program on Tuesdays at 5 p.m. or Fridays at 8:30 a.m. For more information or to register call 487- 7150

Special programs

The Cherokee County American Red Cross will conduct the following health and safety courses in January: Jan. 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m, Blood Borne Pathogens, $10 fee; Jan. 19, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Child and Adult CPR, $42 fee; Jan. 26, 8 a.m.-2 p.m, Babysitters Training with ARC first aid kit, $40 fee. Pre-registration and prepayment is required. All courses will be at the ARC office, 405 N. Limestone St. To register call 489-6066.

Upstate Carolina Medical Center in collaboration with the American Cancer Society will host "Look Good… Feel Better" Monday, Jan. 14, at 6 p.m. in the hospital's Classroom. The free program is for women who are undergoing cancer treatment and is designed to help them improve their appearance and self-image by teaching them hands-on beauty techniques that overcome the appearance related side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Licensed cosmetologist, aestheticians, and nail technicians volunteer their time to work with the ladies. Each woman attending will receive a free box of make-up valued at over $300. Wigs, turbans, hats and scarves will also be available. The program is free, but pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, call toll-free 1-866-227-4395 by Jan. 11. Space is limited.

Notices

Area residents who wish to cast absentee ballots in the Presidential Preference Primary Elections may now do so at the Voter Registration Office in the Peachtree Centre, 1434 N. Limestone St., Gaffney. The office is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Republican Presidential Primary will be Saturday, Jan. 19, and the Democrat Presidential Primary will be on Saturday, Jan. 26.

The Cherokee County Democratic Party will sponsor a dutch breakfast Saturday, Jan. 12, at 8:30 a.m. at Ryan's on Floyd Baker Boulevard. Anyone interested is invited to come for fellowship and updates on the 2008 Presidential election. For more information, call (864) 487-2563.