The 2005 American Cancer Society Relay For Life for Butler County will arrive next weekend, and organizers are particularly excited about the newest addition to the evening’s entertainment lineup – the Butler County Relay Idol Contest.

&uot;We hope this will become as big of a draw as our annual womanless beauty pageant,&uot; says ACS Chair Joan Reynolds.

All local songbirds are encouraged to enter and do not have to be a member of a Relay team to participate, says Laurie Martin, entertainment chair for the event.

&uot;We do ask that contestants bring their own music – an accompaniment tape or karaoke CD – with them that night. We are going to try to get some karaoke songs, but we really need everyone to be prepared,&uot; says Martin.

The singing contest is tentatively slated for 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., between the luminaria ceremony and the &uot;Dude Looks Like a Lady&uot; Pageant.

Other entertainment offerings on tap for Relay For Life include performances by Miss Greater Greenville, Christen Clarke, and a number of activities for children and adults

such as a hula hoop contest, ski walk contest,

swing dance competition, tug of war and a special children’s play section.

In other Relay For Life-related news, the Annual Survivor’s Luncheon was held yesterday at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center. More than 100 survivors and caregivers from across the county were in attendance.

The

advanced musical theatre group from Booker T. Washington Magnet High School in Montgomery accompanied by instructor (and Greenville native) Randy Foster provided entertainment for the guests. Lunch was provided courtesy of Preister’s Pecans in Fort Deposit and many area businesses and individuals donated door prizes for caregivers and survivors.

For those who wish to purchase luminarias to honor or remember loved ones, ACS Luminaria Chair Ethelyn Watson reminded everyone to clip the forms out of The Greenville Advocate and send the completed forms in along with a minimum $5 donation. The Annual Luminaria Ceremony is slated for 9 p.m. next Friday night.

All survivors at Friday’s luncheon received special t-shirts and were encouraged to attend Relay and participate in the Annual Survivors Walk, slated for 7 p.m. at the fairgrounds.

For more information about next weekend’s Relay For Life, contact

Butler County ACS Chair Joan Reynolds at 382-8048 or 303-9999.