Community photos 12/19/12

Southside students got a special visit from Bob Tarter, the Director and Wildlife Biologist of the Natural History Educational Co. of the Midsouth, who shared his Nocturnal Wildlife Program. He's shown here with Arnold the fruit bat. (Submitted photo)

Around 50 exotic animals live with Tarter. This year he brought a three-toed amphiuma, a straw-colored fruit bat named Arnold, Sammy the raccoon and BeeBop the bobcat and an opposum named Asher, seen here. (Submitted photo)

Tarter spoke to the children about where the animals live, what they eat and other interesting facts about them. He encouraged the children and teachers to like NHECM on Facebook and email him if they thought of any more questions. Sammy the raccoon gets a ride on Coach Jon Martin's shoulders. (Submitted photo)

Art teacher Andrea McTigue got the chance to hold BeeBop the bobcat. Tarter stresses that these are wild animals and no one is allowed to own them without a proper license. His animals are "rescues" and animals born in captivity. (Submitted photo)

December students of the month at Eakin Elementary School include (not pictured in order), Kindergarten, Mirranda Torres, Savana Henning, Trey Palmer, Cameron Reese, Katrina Johnson, 1st Grade, Jackson Benson, Jaden Cook, Karizma Erwin, A'Nayah Harris, Karma Erwin, 2nd Grade, Kevin Fletcher, JP Bonner, Damonyai Lyons, Sharaid Solis, 3rd Grade, Monica Miguel, Mana Nakamura, Josefina Pascual-Miguel, Kary Merlo, 4th Grade, Casidy Sanders, Caleb Richardson , James Turrentine, Maria Baltazar, 5th Grade, Reyna Hernandez, Aaron James, Juquarus Shafer, Zhimya Underwood, Sebastian Tarrant, ESL/sped/DK, Lizeth Castillo-3rd grade, Nayeli Baltazar-4th grade, Jarvarious Johnson-5th, Lazarian Shelton. (Submitted photo)

December students of the month at Eakin Elementary School include (not pictured in order), Kindergarten, Mirranda Torres, Savana Henning, Trey Palmer, Cameron Reese, Katrina Johnson, 1st Grade, Jackson Benson, Jaden Cook, Karizma Erwin, A'Nayah Harris, Karma Erwin, 2nd Grade, Kevin Fletcher, JP Bonner, Damonyai Lyons, Sharaid Solis, 3rd Grade, Monica Miguel, Mana Nakamura, Josefina Pascual-Miguel, Kary Merlo, 4th Grade, Casidy Sanders, Caleb Richardson , James Turrentine, Maria Baltazar, 5th Grade, Reyna Hernandez, Aaron James, Juquarus Shafer, Zhimya Underwood, Sebastian Tarrant, ESL/sped/DK, Lizeth Castillo-3rd grade, Nayeli Baltazar-4th grade, Jarvarious Johnson-5th, Lazarian Shelton. (Submitted photo)

December students of the month at Eakin Elementary School include (not pictured in order), Kindergarten, Mirranda Torres, Savana Henning, Trey Palmer, Cameron Reese, Katrina Johnson, 1st Grade, Jackson Benson, Jaden Cook, Karizma Erwin, A'Nayah Harris, Karma Erwin, 2nd Grade, Kevin Fletcher, JP Bonner, Damonyai Lyons, Sharaid Solis, 3rd Grade, Monica Miguel, Mana Nakamura, Josefina Pascual-Miguel, Kary Merlo, 4th Grade, Casidy Sanders, Caleb Richardson , James Turrentine, Maria Baltazar, 5th Grade, Reyna Hernandez, Aaron James, Juquarus Shafer, Zhimya Underwood, Sebastian Tarrant, ESL/sped/DK, Lizeth Castillo-3rd grade, Nayeli Baltazar-4th grade, Jarvarious Johnson-5th, Lazarian Shelton. (Submitted photo)

Retirees of Empire Pencil Company recently enjoyed a reunion luncheon. Seated, left to right, Verlon Wiser, Willie Jones, James Arnold, Bobby Gregory and Grover Burgess. Standing, Doug Jacobson, Frankie Shoemake, Roy T. Delk, Milton Price, Billy Boyce, Jimmy Taylor, Donnie Jones, Jerry Cook, Gene Bedsole, Bob McBee, Gary Keele, Steve Carlton, and Roger Williams. (Submitted photos)

Also in attendance, seated, left to right, Thelma Lee, Frances Arnold, Louise LaPaglia, Barbara Smith and Gail Westbrooks. Standing, Venita McGee, Vaughn Whitman, Elizabeth Cook, Geraldine Demombreum, Sylvia Mickells, Patsy Cook, Barbara Reed, Mary Ellen Boyce, Betty Morgan, Patricia English, Linda Stimpson, Kay Naron and Lynn Winkler. Not pictured, Morris Dean Arnold. (Submitted photo)