Celebrate the Fourth inside and out in Sun City

The Recreation Centers of Sun City will honor tradition this Fourth of July with the Ring That Bell ceremony at the Bell Recreation Center, featuring a decorated former FBI special agent as the keynote speaker.

At 9 a.m. in social halls 1 and 2, Sun City residents and friends alike will take the time to honor the prinicples on which the U.S.A was founded.

Ray Mills will emcee the program as Uncle Sam, and with his wife Betty as Betsy Ross, will greet residents. Sgt. Richard Luders, American Legion John Harries Post 101 of Sun City, will present the colors. The Rev. Stan Giza, St. Clement of Rome Catholic Church, will provide the invocation. Bill Lohmeyer, a Sun City resident, will be the vocalist and lead the audience in several patriotic songs.

The keynote speaker for the ceremony will be Constable Ron Myers of the Arrowhead Justice Court, which serves all of Sun City, part of Youngtown, most of Peoria and Glendale north of Bell Road.

Myers is a 1969 graduate of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock with a degree in business administration. In 1970, he became a special agent for the FBI, a position he held until his retirement in 2000. During his career, he served in Albany and Ithaca, New York; Philadelphia and Phoenix. He was assigned to Phoenix from 1973 to 2000.

Myers worked on a variety of cases during his time in the FBI, ranging from background investigations to bank fraud, bank robbery, fugitives, public corruption, interstate stolen property, domestic terrorism and drug matters. During his last three years, he served as the principal firearms instructor responsible for all firearms training for the FBI in Arizona.

 At another event, The Sun City All Stars stage band celebrates its 13th anniversary with a concert at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Congregational Church of Sun City, 18401 N. 99th Ave.

 The All Stars is made up of 22 musicians with a varied background of musical experience. The band is directed by Sherman Handyside and Jane Higgs is the vocalist. The concert is open to the public.

Tickets are $10 and include refreshments - watermelon, cookies, iced tea and soda pop. Purchase tickets at the church office between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. weekdays, or at the door Saturday. For information, call Ed White, 623-9724767.