By Rita Howell

Ole Miss football coach Houston Nutt and Today Show Kid Reporter Deidra Shores of Memphis will share the spotlight as speakers at the Boys and Girls Club annual banquet on March 25 at the Batesville Civic Center. The event is an annual fund-raiser that supports the work of the Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Mississippi, which operates clubs in Batesville, Sardis and Crenshaw. About 350 children are served through after-school programs in the three locations, according to Belinda Morris, executive director of the organization.

Government funding for the program has been reduced this year, meaning the club must rely more on local corporate and individual donations to stay in operation, she said.

“We are thrilled to have coach Nutt and Deidra Shores coming this year,” she said. “We’ll have a special ‘kid’s time’ when Deidra will be talking to the children.”

Deidra Shores gained national attention when she won the Today Show’s Kid Reporter contest in November. She is the daughter of Vanessa Conner who is originally from Como. She attends Colonial Middle School for the performing arts in Memphis where she maintains a 4.0 GPA.

Nutt is in his third year as head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels. He led the team to Cotton Bowl victories in 2008 and 2009. Nutt has been named SEC Coach of the Year three times. He has been an active supporter of Boys and Girls Clubs.

Tickets for the banquet, $50 each, are on sale now at the box office at the Batesville Civic Center. Call 563-1392 to order or order online at www.batesvilleciviccenter-ms.com.