2025 Holiday Deadlines: MvT will be closed Fri., July 4th and deadline is Weds., July 2. 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.

Hale County Animal Shelter Pets of the week

(Dog) Meet Baby girl! This sweet, and pretty girl is 9 months old and 35 pounds. She behaves good and keeps her kennel tidy. She’s a fast learner. Kittens available for adoption. The shelter could use some dry cat food. Laurie Nevin, Hale County Animal Shelter, 334-624-8120.

Church & Community Events

Giving Blood or Platelets with the Red Cross
As the busy Fourth of July holiday week gets closer, the American Red Cross asks donors to celebrate by making a blood or platelet donation appointment to help power the blood supply through mid-summer. While all blood types are needed, donors with type O blood are most urgently needed. Making and keeping donation appointments now is critical to ensuring blood products are available for all patients – including those in trauma situations that may require several lifesaving transfusions – in the weeks to come. Type O negative blood is often reached for in emergencies when there isn’t time to match a patient’s blood type. Type O positive is the most common blood type, so it’s important to keep type O blood and all blood types on hand at hospitals for people facing both chronic illness and sudden, life-threatening conditions. Don’t wait – add a blood or platelet donation appointment to your summer calendar today by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. The Red Cross and goodr are joining forces in July to remind donors they’re just the type patients can count on. All who come to give July 1-14, will get an exclusive pair of Red Cross x goodr sunglasses, while supplies last. Donors can personalize their one-of-a-kind shades with a blood type sticker! For details, visit RedCrossBlood.org/goodr. Or, those who make it in to give by June 30, will get a gift card by email, plus be automatically entered to win one of two $7,000 gift cards. See RedCrossBlood.org/June. Tuscaloosa: 6/24: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Insuresoft, 1701 McFarland Blvd. N.; 7/1: noon -4 p.m., Alabama One Credit Union, 1215 Veterans Memorial Pkwy.; 7/8: 12:30 -5:30 p.m., University Mall, 1701 McFarland Blvd. E., Suite 100.

Annual Homecoming and 157th Church Anniversary of the Mars Hill Missionary Baptist Church
Welcome to the annual Homecoming and 157th Church Anniversary of the Mars Hill Missionary Baptist Church on July 13, during the 11 a.m. morning worship services. Our guests will be Pastor Richard Bennett and the Palestine Baptist Church family. We’re looking forward to seeing our former members and friends coming home to join us in celebrating this occasion. Welcome home!

CDC Warns of Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Pistachio Cream
A CDC food safety alert regarding a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections has been posted: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/outbreaks/pistachiocream-06-25/index.html Key Points: Four people in two states have gotten sick with the same strain of Salmonella that has been linked to pistachio cream. One person has been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported. Do not eat, sell, or serve Emek-brand pistachio cream with a use-by date of October 19, 2026. Emek-brand pistachio cream is a shelf-stable nut butter cream sold online for wholesale distributors, restaurants, and food service locations nationwide. FDA is working to determine if this lot is in distribution or if other lots or products are affected. What You Should Do: Call your healthcare provider if you have any severe Salmonella symptoms after eating pistachio cream. What Businesses Should Do: Do not sell, serve, or distribute Emek-brand pistachio cream with the production code and date below: Use-by date of October 19, 2026, Production code (PNO): 241019. Wash and sanitize items and surfaces that may have come in contact with the pistachio cream. Follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning recommendations when cleaning and sanitizing surfaces and containers that may have come into contact with products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. About Salmonella: Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps 6 hours to 6 days after being exposed to the bacteria. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most people recover without treatment. In some people, the illness may be so severe that the patient is hospitalized. Children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe illness. If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please call your state’s health department.

Safe Sleep
Do you have a safe place for your baby to sleep? Join Hale Extension Service as we discuss: ABC’s of Sleeping Babies; SIDS; Clear the crib. June 30, at 10 a.m. at the Hale County Extension Office, 701 Hall St., Greensboro. Presented by Janise Norman, BSN, RN, Region II Perinatal Coordinator, Bureau of Family Health Services. Those who pre-register will receive a gift! Pre-register by calling Franchesca at 334-624-8710 by June 26. Got Questions? Call Franchesca Burrell, EFNEP Nutrition Educator, 334-624-8710.

June’s Grow More, Give More Harvest of the Month is Sweet Corn!
Find growing instructions and delicious recipes at https: https://www.aces.edu/go/4272

Black Belt Road Trip Photo Contest
The Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association (ALBBAA) wants to celebrate the summer vacation season and all of the region’s amazing activities with the second annual Black Belt Road Trip Photo Contest. The contest runs through Aug. 15. All photos entered in the 2025 Black Belt Road Trip Photo Contest must be taken in the Black Belt’s 23-county footprint and must include people. Selfies or family photos taken in front of an attraction’s sign are welcome. ALBBAA wants to see photos showcasing the variety of activities and attractions available throughout the region – everything from outdoor recreation like fishing, hiking and bird watching to enjoying the Black Belt’s lively food and arts scene, and visiting the many historic and cultural sites. The contest will have a first-, second-, and third-place winner. First prize is a $100 gift card, while the second-place finisher will receive a $50 gift card. The third-place winner will receive a gift basket filled with ALBBAA-themed merchandise. The contest guidelines are similar to other ALBBAA photo contests, including: To enter the contest, photos must be uploaded through the ALBBAA website. The winners of the contest are selected exclusively through online voting. Participants must fully complete the online form with the necessary information, including person (or persons) in the photo and the county where the photo was taken. Participants may submit multiple photos, but only one photo per activity or attraction (i.e. camping, hiking, canoeing, birding, dining, art class, festival, Rosa Parks Museum, etc.). All photos become the property of ALBBAA and may be used for promotional purposes. Visitors to the contest webpage are restricted to voting once per day, per e-mail, per IP address. In the case of any dispute, the decision of ALBBAA officials is final. Entries can be submitted and votes cast online on the ALBBAA website – https://alabamablackbeltadventures.org/news-more/shoot-the-black-belt/roadtrip-photo-contest/ The ALBBAA reserves the right to approve or disapprove of a submitted photo. Cause for disqualification of a photo can include, but is not limited to, the following: The photo content presents the subject in an unethical or disrespectful manner. The photo content is perceived to cast a negative perception of the Black Belt, especially if it reflects unfavorably on management of wildlife. A voting violation which imposes an unfair advantage to others. The Black Belt includes the following 23 counties: Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Crenshaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Russell, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and Wilcox.

Tombigbee RC&D Council Grants
Tombigbee RC&D Council’s 2026 grant cycle will begin on April 1st-June 30th 2025! To submit applications, please access the grant application and information section under our Grants tab at www.tombigbeercd.org/grant-guidelines/. We will be using Foundant for our application forms and reimbursement forms again and this software requires our applicants to create an account with Foundant before you can complete an application. Organizations eligible for consideration must be registered as 501C3 not-for-profit entities, units, or sub-units of government. Projects must take place in one or more of the eight counties served by the Tombigbee RC&D Council: Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, Sumter, or Tuscaloosa. Detailed grant guidelines from the Tombigbee RC&D Council can also be found on our website. It is important to note that all grants awarded operate on a reimbursement-only basis; funds are disbursed upon project completion. We look forward to working with our grantees this FY26 grant season!

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.

School Events

Find MES BTS lists on Moundville Elementary School Facebook.

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

June 23, 2025 📰 BEST BETS  Mohler Appointed 30th UA President  The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees unanimously appointed Peter J. Mohler, PhD, as the 30th president of The University of Alabama. He will assume the role on July 21.    Why This Matters: A distinguished leader with over 20 years of experience in higher education, Mohler currently serves as executive vice president for research, innovation and knowledge at Ohio State University and chief scientific officer of OSU’s Wexner Medical Center. He served as the university’s acting president in 2023, successfully leading one of the largest public flagships in the nation.   For more information, contact Alex House at alex.house@ua.edu.  Propelling Satellites to Space  The Alabama Materials Institute at UA will aid the Air Force Research Laboratory in developing technology related to a new satellite propellant.  Why This Matters: The AFRL-developed Advanced Spacecraft Energetic Non-Toxic propellant, formerly known as AF-M315E, is less toxic and burns hotter than current satellite-based propellants, resulting in greater efficiency.  For more information, contact Jessica Nelson at jessica.nelson@ua.edu.   Capital Campaign Exceeds Goal Ahead of Schedule  The University of Alabama’s surge of philanthropic giving under President Stuart R. Bell has propelled the Rising Tide 2.0 capital campaign past its $1.8 billion goal.  Why This Matters: The Rising Tide 2.0 has reached its fundraising goal with more than a year remaining in the original campaign timeline. The University will continue raising funds toward scholarships, faculty support funds and campus facilities through September 2026, when the 10-year campaign draws to a close.  For more information, contact Alex House at alex.house@ua.edu.  Summer Commencement Date Announced  UA will hold summer commencement Saturday, Aug. 2, at 9 a.m. at Coleman Coliseum on the UA campus.  Why This Matters: Over 1,200 are expected to graduate, with about 750 of those participating in these ceremonies. Each year, UA awards around 9,000 degrees, with graduates infusing the state and nation’s workforce with highly educated talent.  Pre-Medical Students Learn Rural Primary Care  The UA College of Community Health Sciences recently welcomed the 2025 class of the Tuscaloosa Rural Pre-Medical Internship, a summer program for college students in pre-medical studies who are interested in rural primary care.  Why This Matters: The seven-week program allows students to learn about the health needs of rural Alabama residents, particularly in family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics. The students also gain a better understanding of the day-to-day life of family medicine doctors. In addition, the program seeks to enhance their understanding of medical school and increase their competitiveness for medical school admission.  For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu.  📅 EVENTS  Adapted Athletics Camps and Champ Matchup    UA’s Adapted Athletics Wheelchair Basketball programs are hosting campers from across the country during an overnight camp June 25-28 and a day camp June 29-July 2 at Stran-Hardin Arena in Tuscaloosa. Each camp concludes with a championship game between campers led by Adapted Athletics coaches and athletes from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The championship games are open to the public.    For more information, contact Kellcie Temple at kellcie.temple@ua.edu.