The fourth annual CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) roast is scheduled for Thursday, May 9 at the Pelham Civic Complex.

The evening will begin with a silent auction at 6 p.m. followed by the dinner and roast at 6:30 p.m.

This year’s honorees will be former State Sen. Butch Ellis and Sheriff James Jones.

Probate Judge Patricia Fuhrmeister and County Commissioner Lindsey Allison will serve as masters of ceremony and former honorees Pelham Mayor Bobby Hayes and State Rep. Mike Hill will serve as honorary committee members.

Ellis, who currently serves as county attorney, has hundreds of humorous political skeletons in his closet, and there are people lining up to tell about them.

Sheriff Jones will be retiring at the end of this year and hopes he can go out in style.

However, many of his law enforcement colleagues have other plans for his Bon Voyage Roast.

Those roasting Ellis and Jones will have to remember not to be slanderous, as Butch is still a practicing attorney and the sheriff still has his badge, gun and the right to carry it until the end of the year.

Judge Fuhrmeister and Allison were dubbed at last year’s roast the &uot;Lucy and Ethel&uot; of Shelby County.

They’re sure to be a dynamic duo as masters of ceremony for this fourth year event.

Needless to say, they’re both elated that this year they’re on the opposite side of the ribbing which naturally occurs at this annual event.

The CASA Roast is truly the &uot;Who’s Who&uot; event of the year in Shelby County.

It has boasted a sell-out crowd each year with an income of more than $120,000 during the past three years.

Those interested in attending are encouraged to purchase their tickets ASAP.

Among the silent auction items for the event are weekend get-a-ways to Destin, Fla.; an exquisite oil painting donated by Griffith Art Gallery; various golf packages; dinner packages; and more.

And the funds raised at the event will go toward an incredible program in Shelby County.

CASA is a nonprofit organization that recruits and trains volunteers to go through the court process with abused and neglected children.

These volunteers work tirelessly as a child’s &uot;voice&uot; in court.

Tickets for the event are $50 per person for open seating and $1,000 for corporate sponsors.

For more information on the roast or the CASA program, please call CASA director Beth Chapman at 985-2999