This is the first part of January 2010 and I have already began preparations for this year’s 52nd annual Miss-Lou Egg Hunt, which will be at Duncan Park, at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 3.

This year I am lowering the age from 10 to 8 years old. Anyone can attend the egg hunt free, but must be between 1 to 8 years of age to participate.

This reason I am lowering the age is because we are having too many problems with the older kids. Safety is the first concern, and each year we have problems controlling the kids.

Some small kids get knocked down or have their baskets stolen, along with other problems. I feel that lowering the age will eliminate some of those problems. At least I hope so.

This year I need volunteers to help me in preparing for this huge event. I will need someone to help in contacting various merchants and corporations for donations and prizes.

The area we cover will be the entire Miss-Lou — Ferriday, Jonesville, Jena, Harrisonburg, Sicily Island, Wisner, Monterey, Winnsboro, St. Joe, Waterproof, Marksville, Bunkie, Vicksburg, Fayette, Port Gibson, Centreville, Crosby, Woodville, Meadville, Roxie and many others.

Most of the work can be done on the phone. I need all the help I can get, and if anyone needs to get in touch with me, they can reach me at the following phone numbers, 601-442-2522, 601-980-4325, or my cell number is 601-431-6249.

I can also be contacted be e-mail and my address is robertewing123@bellsouth.net.

This event seems to get bigger and bigger each year. When I first took over the egg hunt in 1992, we have about 1,200 eggs and maybe 125 kids, and now it’s gotten to be over 10,000 eggs and last year we had over 700 kids show up for the egg hunt.

Bob Ewing is the organizer of the Miss-Lou Egg Hunt.