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
(Left) Meet Pickles! Sweet boy approximately 10 weeks old. First shots and dewormed. Loves people! (Right) Everyone meet Dolly! She’s wearing her coat of many colors. Beautiful girl! We still have several precious kittens for adoption Laurie Nevin, Hale County Animal Shelter, 334-624-8120. Shelter could really use some wet dog food and clumping cat litter.
Church & Community Events
St. Paul District Association Women’s Convention
The St. Paul District Association Women’s Convention will be held on July 30, at the District Building beginning at 9 a.m. We’re asking all churches to participate with their Mission, Matrons, Red Circles, Sunbeams and Crusaders Auxiliaries. We’re anticipating a Blessed time with our fellowship and your presence. Thanks for being good stewards in supporting our beloved St. Paul District Association.
First Missionary Baptist Church Vacation Bible School
First Missionary Baptist Church, 136 Griffin St., Moundville, Vacation Bible School will be July 16-18 at 6-8 p.m. Pastor is Albert Ike, Jr. Classes for all ages
July’s Grow More, Give More Harvest of the Month is Eggplant
Find growing instructions and delicious recipes at https://www.aces.edu/go/5181
Mt. Hebron Baptist Church Homecoming
Mt. Hebron Baptist Church, 186 Co. Rd. 34, Akron, will celebrate its 182nd Homecoming on Sun., July 27, beginning at 10:45 a.m. Rev. Richard Collier will bring the morning message with 2nd Mile as guest singers. Lunch and afternoon singing will follow the morning service. Everyone is invited. For further information or questions, please call Pastor Rick Crawford, 205-764-2217.
Giving Blood or Platelets with the Red Cross
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. See RedCrossBlood.org/June. Tuscaloosa: 7/18: 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., First Presbyterian Church- Tuscaloosa, 900 Greensboro Ave.; 7/25: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 733 James I Harrison Jr. Pkwy..
Financial Literacy Workshop
James Lewis, Urban Regional Extension Agent, will present a Financial Literacy Workshop, on “Spend and Save Plan” on Thurs., July 24, at the Hale County Extension Office, 701 Hall Street, Greensboro, at 10:30 a.m. Workshop Topics: Track Your Spending, Develop Spending Plan, Saving Plan, What’s Income, Fixed Expenses, Financial Goals. Got Questions contact either: James Lewis at 256-924-1869, or jkl0048@aces.edu.
West Alabama Rural Planning Organization Meetings
The West Alabama Rural Planning Organization (RPO) will hold the following meetings: 1. Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) Hale County – Tuesday, July 15, 5:30 p.m. – Moundville City Hall, 410 Market St., Moundville. 2. Technical Coordinating Committee (TCC), Aug. 7, 10 a.m. – West Alabama Regional Commission, 4200 Hwy. 69 North, Northport. Also available virtually. 3. RPO Policy Committee, August 8, 10:30 a.m. – West Central Region Traffic Management Center, 28 Kirkbride Ln., Tuscaloosa. Also available virtually. If you would like to participate, please email zane.davis@westal.org at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. The meeting documents are posted on the WARC website (https://www.warc.info/rpo-meetings/ and https://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.
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
Shelton State Community College Summer Commencement
Shelton State Community College will host its summer commencement events on July 31, and Aug. 1. Graduation rehearsal will be held on July 30, at 5:30 p.m. in the Bean-Brown Theatre for students participating in Friday’s ceremony. With the exception of graduation rehearsal, all events are open to the public and will take place in the Martin Campus Gymnasium. Additionally, all ceremonies will be live-streamed on the College’s YouTube channel.
2025 Alabama Safe Schools Initiative
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall today announced the application process for the 2025 Alabama Safe Schools Initiative Awards. These awards provide the opportunity to identify and recognize excellence and current trends in school safety throughout the state. The deadline to file an application is Fri., Aug. 15. Attorney General Marshall’s 2025 Safe Schools Initiative process will feature a comprehensive four-phase application and review process designed to evaluate and enhance the safety of school protocols. Independent judges who possess real-world insight into school safety trends will specifically assess applicants for preparation and training, collaboration with local emergency response agencies, involvement of school resource officer or alternate security personnel, structure and innovation of safety technology, community participation, and law-related and prevention education.
For more information regarding the application process and complete instructions: https://www.alabamaag.gov/safe-schools/
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
| July 14, 2025 📰 BEST BETS Creating Effective Wildfire Evacuation Models In a study funded by the National Science Foundation, researchers at The University of Alabama developed a new model designed to implement more effective wildfire evacuation plans. Why This Matters: At the halfway point, the National Interagency Fire Center reported active fires in 10 states, marking the highest number of individual fires in a decade. Some of the more vulnerable homes lie at the intersection of forest and town — the wildland-urban interface. For more information, contact Jessica Nelson at jessica.nelson@ua.edu. CCN, DCH Launch Innovative Care Clinic The UA Capstone College of Nursing and DCH Health System have launched the Supportive Care Clinic at the Lewis and Faye Manderson Cancer Center, addressing a critical need for patients in the West Alabama community. Why This Matters: The clinic aims to provide specialized medical care while educating patients, caregivers, students, medical professionals and the community on caring for patients with serious illnesses. The focus is on alleviating physical, emotional, social and spiritual distress to enhance quality of life for patients and their families. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu. 📅 EVENTS Saturday in the Park: Native American Folktales July 19; UA Moundville Archaeological Park |