By Brittney Loiselle

Editor-in-Chief, Liberty Tribune

Years from now, Liberty’s Sparkle Squad will be known simply as “The First.”

For today, they are just trying to be seen, heard and have fun.

The Sparkle Squad teams cheerleaders with those who have disabilities and forms an inclusive pep squad that brings excitement to games and awareness to all who see them.

“We are the first squad to join the Sparkle Effect in southern Nevada,” adviser Erin Murray said.

Cheer team members teach routines to their teammates and perform with them side-by-side at games and other events. The first Patriot Sparkle Squad performance was October 19, during the football game against Eldorado on Freedom Field.

Helping families in need of a Thanksgiving meal in southern Nevada can be as easy as going to the grocery store.

HELP of Southern Nevada is readying the annual 97.1 The Point Turkey-Thon, a program which provides 1,200 Las Vegas families with a Thanksgiving meal, with donation opportunities at Albertsons from November 15-17. 8 News Now is a sponsor of the drive.

Donations of frozen turkeys and fixings also will be accepted from November 15 to 17 at three Albertsons locations:

• 575 College Drive (Thursday, Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
• 9725 S. Maryland Parkway (Friday, Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.)
• 1650 N. Buffalo Drive (Saturday, Nov. 17 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

Those wishing to donate money for the Turkey-Thon online can do so at www.helpsonv.org. Make sure to put “Thanksgiving” in the subject line on the donation page. A family of four can be fed with $35.

Halloween decorations can be spotted around southern Nevada, but decorations for the holidays will start going up this week at one of the most popular spots for lights.

Ethel M Chocolates will start putting up more than 500,000 lights in its Cactus Garden starting Tuesday. It will take crews working seven days a week through November to finish putting lights on all the plants.

The cactus garden is more than three acres with more than 300 species of desert plants. The light display is set to open November 14 and will stay open through January 1. It is free and open to the public.

This year's display will include energy-efficient LED lights and meteor lights that when they're viewed through 3D glasses create the effect of falling snowflakes.