The 46th Annual Telethon of Stars, supporting the Community Developmental Services, will be held Saturday, Nov. 9 at the EXPO Center in Paducah. The telethon, which begins at 10 p.m. on WPSD-TV, News Channel 6, is one of America's longest running, locally produced telethons. It is expected to reach the $18 million mark in total money pledged. Actually, the telethon collects more than is pledged each year and expenses usually run about 14-15 percent. That means that 85 percent of the money goes directly to the four Centers. The telethon supports Easter Seals West Kentucky in Paducah; TLC Center in Southern Illinois; CDS Center in Martin; and Easter Seals of Southern Missouri. The telethon is produced entirely by News Channel 6. The 15- hour time slot is donated by the station and fund-raising is done by the co-sponsoring area Lions Clubs with help from hundreds of volunteers. It truly is a shining example of what can be done when people band together to support local people who need help. CDS is a private, non-profit community- based agency serving Lake, Obion, Weakley and Henry counties. CDS works with individuals who are developmentally disabled, helping them to live normal lifestyles in the community. CDS goal is to help these individuals make their dreams come true.
This years CDS Tennessee representative is Richard Yates, who has lived in the CDS Ivie Lane Group Home for the past 27 years. Through all of Yates' trials, he has never given up. He has learned self-help and adult daily living skills and attends the adult day activity center in Martin. The telethon will also feature a number of celebrities. This year's line up includes: Grammy Award winning artist Juice Newton; Ricochet, Winners of the Academy of Country Music's and Country Weekly Magazine's “Top New Vocal Group of the Year” award; and two “Days of our Lives” stars, Thaao Penghlis and Justin Melvey. Penghlis plays Tony DiMera, the new patriarch of the evil DiMera empire and Melvey plays Colin Murphy, a member of the Brady clan from Ireland. The telethon is open to the public, and there is plenty of parking at the right of the EXPO Center in Paducah, adjacent to JR's Executive Inn on the riverfront. Entertainment for the audience begins with a warm-up band, Rebel Storm, at 9. Stars will be available to answer phones. An autograph room will also be set up for those attending the show to get autographs from their favorite stars, as they are available between performances.