ANNA ARTISTS' AUCTION TO BENEFIT ANIMALS

Autographed photos of sports, music, television and movie celebrities will be auctioned off along with donations from numerous artists, merchants and individuals during the sixth annual "Artists for Animals" auction and dinner today.

The event is sponsored by Pets Are Worth Saving Inc., an animal welfare organization in Anna. It will be held in the Sunshine Inn, 400 S. Main in Anna.

A silent auction will begin at 5 p.m. The Great Boars of Fire from Anna will be catering dinner from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The live auction begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be conducted by local celebrity auctioneers. Tickets are $10 and include dinner.

Last year's event raised $7,800 toward building the PAWS Adoption and Education Center.

Color photos with autographs up for bids tonight include Al Pacino, Bob Hope, Kelsey Grammer, Charlton Heston, John Travolta, George Strait, Alan Jackson, "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, Tom Selleck, Bill Cosby and Troy Aikman, along with a team photo of the Dallas Cowboys.

Also there will be autographed photos of NASCAR favorites Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Kenny Wallace, Ken Schrader, Jeremy Mayfield, Geoffrey Bodine, Elliott Sadler, Ward Burton and a Ted Musgrave autographed cap.

Artists donations include a stained glass mirror from Loretta Vincent, paintings by Lee and Ellen Spalt, Rita Laminack, Dominic Finochio, Lorri Kidd, afghan by Mary Weakley, embroidered shirts from Sharon Lilly, garden bench from Egyptian Glass, necklace from Mary Zang, wrought iron pieces by Roberta Elliott, table from Cindy and Earl Bond and Santa yard figures from Gene and Mary Casey.

Saks Fifth Avenue has donated men's and women's fragrance baskets, a designer silk scarf, ceramic cat and dog dishes. Classic Garden Ornaments has donated a Pienza Planter, a set of Griffon bookends, a lion-head plaque and a concrete wall plaque.

Other donations include spays and neuters from veterinary clinics, goose hunts, flower arrangements, a granite pet memorial marker, jewelry, wine, hotel stays, massages, Christmas trees and decorations, a dog house and pet grooming.

For more information, call (618) 893-2628.