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) Four little male pups, 6 weeks old and have had first shots! Very sweet boys and a little spoiled!
(Right) This guy is BoBo. He’s 80 pound mix. Has some mastiff in him. Very sweet and smart. Also can be a character. Loves to have his chest scratched BoBo is neutered and shots are up to date. 2-3 years old. Good with other dogs. Has not been cat tested. Laurie Nevin, Hale County Animal Shelter, 334-624-8120.

eet adorable and sweet Cujo. Cujo has head 2 sets puppy shots and his favorite pastime is playing with the other dogs!Laurie Nevin, Hale County Animal Shelter, 334-624-8120.

Four precious pups. 2 sets shots and ready for Furever homes. Sweet and oh so cuddly!

Church & Community Events

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!

Tombigbee RC&D Supplies for Success
Are you a elementary school teacher in Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, Sumter, or Tuscaloosa County? If so, Tombigbee RC&D is starting our Supplies for Success program aiming at aiding stocking teachers classrooms. We will be accepting applications until June 15. The application is a simple online form that will assess the needs of your classroom. Recipients will be notified via email by July 15. See the Faceboook page at Tombigbee RC&D for the QR code and application link.

ASF Foundation to Honor Dads at 42nd Alabama State Games
With registration for the 42nd Alabama State Games underway, the ASF Foundation is proud to announce that Dads will be recognized as part of the Honoring Our Heroes program during this year’s Opening Ceremony, which will take place June 13 at Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham. Athletes registering at ALAGAMES.com can register their Dads for recognition through the Honoring Our Heroes Program. Admission to all the June 13 events is free and open to friends, families and the public.

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

BEST BETS  UA System Board of Trustees to Consider Next UA President  The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees will meet to consider the appointment of the 30th president of The University of Alabama today at 1:30 p.m.   The meeting will be livestreamed on the UA System’s YouTube channel. The University of Alabama will follow up after the meeting with more information.  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.   Transformational Gift Names College of Arts and Sciences  Alumnus J. Frank Barefield Jr. has made a $35 million gift commitment to The University of Alabama to name the College of Arts and Sciences.    Why This Matters: The J. Frank Barefield Jr. College of Arts and Sciences enrolls over 9,000 students across 80 majors, minors, concentrations and graduate programs. It is now one of only two colleges at the University to be named.  For more information, contact Alex House at alex.house@ua.edu.   15 UA Students Selected for Fulbright Awards  The Fulbright Program selected 15 UA students for various awards for the 2025-2026 academic year.  Why This Matters: The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers unparalleled opportunities in various academic disciplines to passionate and accomplished graduating college seniors, graduate students and young professionals. Program participants pursue graduate study, conduct research or teach English abroad.