TradersGuideofTexas.com

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Best Buy, the national seller of consumer electronics, personal computers, entertainment software and appliances, is giving away free tickets to a movie that will play at Carmike theaters in Longview and Tyler Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 30 and 31 and April 1, 2007.

If you were thinking about seeing Peaceful Warrior, or even if you’ve never heard of it, you might want to check it out. Tickets — first come first served, limited seating — are free, no strings attached.

PHOTO: Nick Nolte

PHOTO: Scott Mechlowicz

PHOTO: Amy Smart

The movie is the story of a talented yet arrogant college gymnast (Scott Mechlowicz) with Olympic dreams and a gold future whose world is turned upside down after a chance meeting with a mysterious stranger (Nick Nolte).

The leading lady is an elusive young woman played by Amy Smart.

If you like tales that combine sports, magic and fantasy, then this PG-13 flick might be for you.

To print out your tickets to the showing Friday, Saturday or Sunday at Carmike in Tyler or Longview, go to www.bestbuy.com/peacefulwarrior.

See listings in the Tyler and Longview newspapers for show times, or, for show times at all Carmike theaters, go to www.carmike.com.

GILMER, Texas — Animal Medical and Surgical Hospital and Gilmer Police Animal Control are sponsoring a low-cost pet-vaccination clinic at the Yamboree grounds, Highway 271 North, under the pavilion, on Saturday, March 10, 2007, from 9 a.m. until noon.

All shots for dogs and cats will be given at discounted prices.

The profit will go to the Gilmer Police Department’s animal-control section.

Vaccinations will be administered by a licensed veterinarian.

BIG SANDY, Texas — KETK’s Danny Elzner headlines the 2007 Big Sandy Chamber of Commerce awards banquet.

The festivities will take place Tuesday, March 6, at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Church of God Big Sandy, 1106 W. Broadway (Highway 80), just west of town.

This is the 21st annual awards event of the Big Sandy chamber.

Mr. Elzner is a sports analyst for KETK, channel 56, Tyler, an NBC affiliate.

He was born in Corpus Christi and attended the University of Texas at Austin and is part of the KETK sports team.

PHOTO: Danny Elzner

Mr. Elzner says he’s lucky to be doing something he really enjoys: covering sports and telling stories.

He is also host of the Elzner Excellence Awards each Tuesday, to showcase the best and worst of sports.

“You cannot watch them without laughing,” he promises.

In his spare time, Mr. Elzner enjoys making tapes for people who appear in his televised reports.

“I like helping to make memories for folks,” he says.

Speaking of the tales he tells: “My two children always like my stories. Sometimes these stories are real. Sometimes they are made up. But the stories on the news each night are very real, always real.”

Besides seeing and listening to Mr. Elzner, banquet attendees will participate in the announcement of Big Sandy’s Woman of the Year and Man of the Year and Miss Big Sandy 2007.

Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 at the door, with special discount tables for 10 people priced at $80.

For ticket information, call Dwayne Canup at (903) 636-4458, Susan Hubbard at (903) 636-5517 or Charles Penney at (903) 636-4521.

The meal will include chicken supreme with all the trimmings catered by local master chef Julie Wilkins.

Chamber directors include Dwayne Canup, Linda Baggett, Vicki Frazier, Wade Frazier, Gerri Thompson Whitlock, Susan Hubbard, Maxey Swanner, Melody Payne and Charles Penney.