By Rita Howell
The first weekend in October promises near perfect weather for Batesville’s Showoff on the Square open car show, expected to draw 250 cars, trucks and motorcycles of all ages. The event starts with a kick-off party on the Square tonight at 7.

Registration for the car show begins at 8 a.m. Saturday. Activities include games for children, a parts swap, concessions, and judging in 40 classes, with 120 trophies to be awarded. In addition, a special promotion by the downtown retailers promises a cash drawing for a lucky shopper.

After the trophy presentations, set for around 3 p.m., an exit parade is scheduled, with participating cars exiting the square down Eureka to Highway 6 to Highway 51 to Highway 35. Residents are invited to watch along the route.

The Batesville Exchange Club will get things started Saturday morning with its fall pancake breakfast from 7-10 a.m. in the Batesville Intermediate School cafeteria.

Tickets are $5 and available at the door.

Plenty of football
Tonight, two local teams will be traveling, North Delta to Marshall Academy and South Panola to Olive Branch. In Sardis, the North Panola Cougars host Holly Springs.

Saturday promises to be a memorable day for Mississippi college football fans, with four nationally ranked teams competing. Mississippi State (ranked 12th) will host number 6 Texas A&M at 11 a.m.  Ole Miss (ranked 11th) will host Alabama (no. 2) at 2:30 p.m. Hotels in Batesville are sold out. (See story on page A15.)

Gala in Sardis
The Sardis Chamber of Commerce will present a gala Saturday at the Heflin House Museum to benefit the Sardis Volunteer Fire Department. Tickets are $30 per person and include dinner and dancing. Cocktails will be served at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7:30. There will be a silent auction. Dress is business casual.

Shakespeare in Sardis
Meanwhile, there’s still time to catch the Panola Playhouse production of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. Performances will take place at the little theater in Sardis tonight and Saturday night at 7, with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. For details see panolaplayhouse.com.
NAACP banquet

Rep. Lataisha Jackson will be the keynote speaker for Saturday night’s Panola NAACP banquet at 7 p.m. at the Macedonia Concord Community Center. Tickets are $25 and are available at the door.

Longtown VFD
The Longtown Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary will host a live auction fundraiser at 7 Saturday night.