2025 Holiday Deadlines: MvT will be closed for Good Friday, April 18 and early deadline is Thursday, April 14. MvT will be closed for Memorial Day Mon., May 26. MvT will be closed Fri., July 4th and deadline is Thurs., July 3. MvT will be closed for Labor Day. Deadline is Fri., Nov. 21 for the Thanksgiving edition. We have to submit the paper early due to the printing company being closed for the holidays. MvT will be closed Nov. 24-30. Santa Letter deadline is by Fri., Dec. 5th. Deadline for the Christmas/Santa letter special edition for ads is Fri., Dec. 12. Deadline for BOTH the Dec. 24th and 31st editions is Thurs., Dec. 18. We have to submit both papers early due to the printing company being closed for the holidays. MvT will be closed Dec. 22-Jan. 1 for the holidays.
Click here for local Christmas Events https://moundvilletimes.net/home/christmas-events/
Hale County Animal Shelter Pets of the week
(bottom) One of our newest residents! Meet Lynn. She is very thin but we will have her fat and sassy in no time. (middle) Meet Beck! 35 pounds of cute. Very sweet. (top) Sweet Geneva, 6 years old, finds herself in our shelter. She is a beautiful tortie and is already spayed. She will be getting all shots updated this week. Ready for adoption.
Laurie Nevin, Hale County Animal Shelter, 334-624-8120
Free Spay/Neuter for Hale County Pets on Jan 25th
Friends of Hale County Animals (FHCA) wants to encourage everyone to spay and neuter their pets. To help accomplish this, they are offering pet owners in Hale County the opportunity to spay or neuter their pets for free! FHCA will host a spay and neuter drive for Hale County residents on January 25th, 2025 from 9-11am at Greensboro Veterinarian Services (2201 State Street) and Payne Animal Clinic (507 Demopolis Street). There are a limited quantity of free spay/neuters to be given out to only Hale County residents on a first come first serve basis. When you come to either clinic on January 25th, you will be required to provide proof of Hale County residency i.e. driver’s license or utility bill. (Do not bring your pet on January 25th.) After providing proof of residency, you will immediately make an appointment to bring your pet back for spay/neutering to either Greensboro Veterinarian Services or Payne Animal Clinic. Pets must be up to date on rabies shots and no animals that are in a late term pregnancy will be eligible. Other restrictions may apply. This drive is possible from a Black Belt Community Foundation grant, contributions from our donors, and help from both veterinarian clinics.
Meet Baby girl. On a 7 day hold. She is a young flat coat retriever and border collie mix. She would do best with an active person or family. Baby Girl loves children and can now sit on command. She gets along well with other dogs. She will be spayed in the next couple of weeks. Baby girl will need some work with lead training. She will be available for adoption after the 11th. Laurie Nevin, Hale County Animal Shelter, 334-624-8120 Laurie Nevin, Hale County Animal Shelter, 334-624-8120
Church & Community Events
Safe Kids
Safe Kids will be at Tuscaloosa Fire Station 1, 1501 Greensboro Ave., on Wed., Jan. 29, from 2-4 p.m. providing and installing car seats. You must make an appointment by calling 205-469-1234. Please see information on their facebook page for requirements.
January’s Grow More, Give More Harvest of the Month is Collard Greens
Find growing instructions as well as yummy recipes that use collard greens https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/lawn-garden/january-grow-more-give-more-harvest-of-the-month
FC Launches Rural Bridge Grant Initiative to Strengthen
Timber Transportation
The Alabama Forestry Commission is pleased to announce the launch of its Rural Bridge Grant initiative, effective January 10, 2025. This vital program, established through the Alabama Legislature’s Rural Logging Efficiency Act of 2023 and funded in the FY25 General Fund Budget, is dedicated to upgrading infrastructure and easing costly transportation challenges resulting from the need to route loaded trucks around corridors with statutorily limited bridges in rural areas. The Rural Bridge Grant initiative invites county commissions to submit applications for funding to address rural, county-maintained bridges that are weight-restricted or otherwise hinder the efficient transport of timber to sawmills and manufacturing facilities. Eligible projects include the maintenance, repair, replacement, and construction of rural public bridges. Counties are encouraged to apply for grants up to $400,000, complemented by local matching funds, to facilitate projects that ensure safe and unrestricted transportation routes for timber. Applications must be submitted by close of business on March 14, at the State Office of the Alabama Forestry Commission located at 513 Madison Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104. Award announcements are expected in late Spring 2025. For more information about the Rural Bridge Grant initiative, including application forms, the application process, and contact details, please visit www.forestry.alabama.gov.
USDA Now Accepting Applications for the 1890 National Scholars Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program, which aims to encourage students at 1890 land-grant universities to pursue career paths in food, agriculture, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines. The application deadline is March 1. Young people around the country are invited to complete and submit their applications online through an e-application at https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/general-information/staff-offices/office-partnerships-and-public-engagement/usda-1890-national-scholars-program. Administered through USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), the USDA 1890 National Scholars Program is available to eligible high school seniors entering their freshman year of college as well as rising college sophomores and juniors.
Parents as Teachers
Are you a parent of a child under 3? Could you use some parenting support and guidance? Rebecca Dye would love to meet you and let you know more about ‘Parents as Teachers’ on Jan. 28 at 10 a.m. at the Hale County Extension Office, 701 Hall St., Greensboro. RSVP by January 21 at 205-914-3568 to attend the training on “Understanding and Managing Big Emotions.” Got questions? Please give Rebecca Dye a call or a text at 205-914-3568, or email her at [email protected].
Black Belt Community Foundation 2025 Arts and Community Grants Cycle Kicks Off New Year!
The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) is pleased to announce the launch of its 2025 Arts and Community Grants Cycle, beginning Jan. 7. The foundation will offer arts grants ranging from $500 to $3,500 to support arts organizations across BBCF’s 12-county service area which includes Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter and Wilcox counties in Alabama’s Black Belt region and community grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 to support community-based organizations and non-profits in the BBCF service area. Grant applications will be accepted through the foundation’s online portal, accessible via BBCF’s website here: https://www.blackbeltfound.org/2025grants. The application period closes on Jan. 24, at noon. To ensure successful participation, BBCF will host mandatory virtual workshops for organizations new to BBCF arts and community granting (who have not applied before) or those unfamiliar with the online grant system. These Zoom sessions are scheduled for Jan. 14 and 16, with both days offering the convenience of a morning session at 11 a.m. and an evening session at 6 p.m. (central times). Following the application deadline, proposals will undergo a comprehensive review process culminating in the BBCF Board’s approval by mid-March of 2025. All applicants will be notified of results promptly thereafter. The grant cycle will culminate in an Arts Grants and Community Grants Awards Ceremony scheduled for May 3, celebrating the achievements and contributions of grant recipients. Key Dates: Jan. 7: Grant Cycle Opens; Jan. 14 & 16: Virtual Grant Seekers Workshops 11a.m./6 p.m. sessions, each day Meeting Zoom Link: www.blackbeltfound.org/2025grants; Jan. 24: Applications Due 12p.m.; Mid-March grants decisions notifications to applicants; May 3: Arts Grants and Community Grants Awards Ceremony, All questions regarding the 2025 Arts Grants Cycle should be directed to Arts Program Director Aaron Head at [email protected], or call 334.874.1126 (office), or 334.419.0743 (cell). All questions regarding the Community Grants Cycle should be directed to Samantha Ledbetter, Community Engagement Director at: [email protected], 334.874.1126 (office) | 334-419-0984 (cell).
West Alabama RPO Meetings
The West Alabama Rural Planning Organization (RPO) will hold the following meetings: 1. Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC): Bibb Co. Mon., Jan. 27, 6 p.m. Brent City Hall, 22 1st Street, Brent; Fayette Co. – Tues., Jan. 28, 5 p.m. – Fayette Co. Commission Chamber, 103 1st Ave. N. W., Fayette; Greene Co. – Wed., Jan. 29, 11 a.m. – James C. Poole Library, 219 Prairie Ave., Eutaw; Hale Co. – Tues., Jan. 21, 5 p.m. – Moundville Library, 279 Market St., Moundville; Lamar Co. – Thurs., Jan. 23, 6 p.m. – Vernon City Hall, 44425 Hwy. 17, Vernon; Pickens Co. – Thurs., Jan. 30, 9 a.m. – Pickens Co. Commission Chamber, 20 Phoenix Avenue, Carrollton. 2. Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC), Feb. 13, 10 a.m. – West Alabama Regional Commission, 4200 Hwy. 69 North, Northport. Also available virtually. 3. RPO Policy Committee, Feb. 14, 10:30 a.m. – West Alabama Regional Commission, 4200 Hwy. 69 North, Northport. Also available virtually. If you would like to participate, please email [email protected] at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. The meeting documents are posted on the WARC website www.warc.info/rpo-meetings/ and www.warc.info/rpo-documents. The RPO serves as a transportation planning process for the rural areas of west Alabama and provides a formal link between the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) and the local governments. The counties served by the RPO include Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, and Pickens. The RPO provides government officials and citizens in these counties an opportunity to advise the ALDOT on road, bridge, and transit projects. All of the meetings are open to the public. Anyone requiring special assistance should contact the WARC at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. For special assistance, call the WARC at (205) 333-2990.
Caregivers Appreciation Day
Save the date for Sat., Feb. 8 at 12 p.m. at McDonald Hughes Community Center, 3101 Martin Luther King Blvd., Tuscaloosa. Admission is free. Donations are welcome. We want all caregivers to come out for a few hours of fun. We want sitters, nurses, CNA’s, LPN’s, RN’s, Nurse Practicioners, and family members taking care of loved ones, to know they are appreciated. Call Patricia Gooden for more information at 205-643-5970. She may ask you to decorate, donate food, be a vendor, provide music, oversee the vendors, volunteer your time, invite a caregiver, etc. www.tbresidentialliving.org.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
If you or someone you know is struggling to cope emotionally this holiday season, reach out. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free, and confidential support via phone or chat for people in distress, resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Visit 988lifeline.org for more.
Join Us for the At Home Beekeeping Series!
Calling all beekeepers! Our online series is back, offering educational information and updates on timely beekeeping topics. Attend meetings from the comfort of your home using your computer or mobile device. Each session includes a Q&A segment for all your beekeeping questions. For more information, visit: https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/bees-pollinators/at-home-beekeeping-series/ Dates and Topics: 2025 Dates and Topics: Jan. 28 Coming Out of Winter, David Tarpy, North Carolina State University; Feb. 25 Honeybee Nutrition, Priya Chakrabarti Basu, Mississippi State University; March 25 Colony Losses in the United States of America, Geoff Williams, Auburn University; April 29 Honeybee Nest Architecture, Michael Smith, Auburn University. Recordings from this series are available for only two weeks after each session on the Lawrence County Alabama Extension Office Facebook page. For more information on the “At Home Beekeeping Series,” contact Allyson Shabel at [email protected].
Need help paying for high cost medications?
SenioRx is a program offered through the Area Agency on Aging of West Alabama that could help save you money on your prescription drugs, and it’s not just for seniors! The SenioRx Program helps you apply for patient assistance programs offered by pharmaceutical companies to receive your prescriptions at a free or reduced price. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging at 205-333-2990 to speak with someone in the Aging and Disability Resource Center for more information.
School Events
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Success By 6 of United Way of West Alabama is proud to provide Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library books FREE to children ages birth to 5 years old in Greene, Hale, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter, and Tuscaloosa counties. Once a month, your child will receive a new book by mail. You only need to do two things: register your child and pledge to read the books to him/her. Please, climb on board Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library! Since UWWA launched the Dolly Parton Imagination Library: 13,467 children have participated in the program in Greene, Hale, Marengo, Pickens, Sumter, and Tuscaloosa Counties. 10,427 children have “graduated” from the program. 443,856 books have been delivered to children in West Alabama. Sign up at https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/
UA Preview: This Week at The University of Alabama
| UA Preview: This Week at The University of Alabama Jan. 6, 2025 📰 BEST BETS Honoring the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Realizing the Dream Through Struggle and Change” is the theme of the annual Realizing the Dream events taking place Jan. 17-20 to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Why This Matters: The celebration includes the Legacy Awards Banquet, Realizing the Dream Concert, Unity Day and additional events throughout the year. For more information, contact Diane Kennedy-Jackson at [email protected]. Record-Breaking Year for External Funding for Research The University of Alabama research enterprise marked 10 years of continuous growth in fiscal year 2024, with gains in overall funding, new awards and the number of proposals submitted. Why This Matters: New awards classified as research grew by nearly 21% compared to the previous fiscal year. In total, the University received $269.9 million in sponsored awards, marking an all-time high in external funding. For more information, contact Jessica Nelson at [email protected]. Study Finds Many Alabamians with Poor Sleep Health A recent study conducted by UA’s Dr. Adam Knowlden found that many Alabamians are falling short of the recommended amount of sleep, with more than half of study participants meeting the clinical threshold for obstructive sleep apnea. Why This Matters: “Alabama’s high rate of short sleep is consistent with other states in the southeast and Appalachian region, areas that also experience high levels of chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, which are often linked to poor sleep health,” said Knowlden. For more information, contact Knowlden at [email protected]. 📅 EVENTS OLLI Spring Open Houses Jan. 8-9, 13; Tuscaloosa, Gadsden and Birmingham |