GIRL SCOUT COOKIE TIME STARTS TODAY

Girls Scouts from first grade through high school will be taking orders for cookies starting today.

Orders will be taken through Jan. 20. Seven varieties are available: Thin Mint, Do-se-dos, Trefoils, Tag-alongs, Chalet Cremes, Somoas and new Juliette, which is like a pecan caramel turtle. Cookies cost $2.25 per box and will be delivered after Feb. 22.

By selling cookies, girls earn money for troop activities. A portion of the money from the cookie sales supports Otahki Council in its efforts to organize troops and train volunteers.

"They also develop responsibility, learn how to handle money and to follow through on a promise to deliver a product," said Millie Turner of the Otahki Girl Scout Council. "Girl Scouts with their adult partners work together in their chosen activities to attain self-esteem and self-confidence needed to succeed in the larger world."

Last year Girl Scouts in the Otahki Council sold 164,640 boxes of cookies. The top seller, Emilie Statler of Jackson, sold 614 boxes.

For more information, call 334-1364 or 334-7741.