Holiday deadlines for 2026: Moundville Times will be closed Good Friday, April 3. Early deadline is Thursday, April 2. Moundville Times will be closed for Memorial Day, May 25. Be sure to get your stories, ads and photos by Friday, May 22. Moundville Times will be closed for Independence Day Friday, July 3. Early deadline is July 2nd before 4 p.m. Moundville Times will be closed for Labor Day Sept. 8. Moundville Times will be closed for Thanksgiving Nov. 23-27. We have to submit the paper early due to the printing company being closed for the holidays. Deadline is Friday morning, Nov. 20. Santa Letters are due first Friday in December, Dec. 4. Ads for the Santa Letter edition are due Dec. 11. Both Christmas and New Year’s deadlines are Friday, Dec. 18. We have to submit both papers early due to the printing company being closed for the holidays. Moundville Times will be closed Dec. 21-Jan. 3 for the holidays.
Hale County Animal Shelter Pets of the week
Oscar is male, neutered, fully vaccinated, and 18 months old.
Binx is male, neutered, fully vaccinated, and 5 months old.
Bobbi Girl is female, spayed, fully vaccinated, and 1.5 yr old.
Catherine is female, spayed, fully vaccinated, and 1.5 yr old.
This Valentine’s Day, show some love to the animals who need it the most🐾❤️
We’re creating a WALL OF LOVE at the shelter- and YOU can be part of it!
🩷How it works: Make a donation and we’ll add a heart to our Wall of Love with: *Your name *Your family’s name *Your pet’s name *Or “In memory of “someone special”
💖Donation Levels:
💗$5- Small Heart ❤️$10-Medium Heart 💝$20-Large Heart 💓$50-Large Paw Print
Every heart helps provide food, medical care, warmth, and love to our shelter animals 💕🐈🐕🐾
💌How to donate: 📱Send us a message on Facebook if you want to donate via “Venmo/CashApp” ✏️Put “Wall of Love” + name/message in the notes 📍Or you can send it by mail to 20 Correction Drive Greensboro, Al 36744
📸We’ll be posting updates as the wall fills up-help us cover it in love ❤️🩷🐾
💟 Hearts will be displayed throughout the month of February
🐾💘 Thank you for being the heart of our shelter🐾💘
Autumn Harrison, Hale County Animal Shelter, 334-624-8120.
Church & Community Events
History Lives Here: Celebrating
Black Excellence and Resilience
Join us for a special Black History Month celebration recognizing the strength, wisdom, and resilience of African American history told through lived experience and enduring legacy. Guest speaker will be Jonathan Rossell on Sat., Feb. 28 at 10:15 a.m. at Moundville Health and Rehab., LLC, 121 Union St., Moundville. All residents, staff and guests are welcome.
AARP Alabama Now Accepting 2026
Community Challenge Grant Applications
The annual program aims to make communities in Alabama more livable for people of all ages. AARP Alabama invites local eligible nonprofit organizations and governments to apply for the 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant program, now through March 4, at 5 p.m. Eastern. AARP Community Challenge grants fund quick-action projects that help communities become more livable by improving public places, transportation, housing, digital connections, and more. The Community Challenge is open to eligible 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations and government entities. Other types of organizations are considered on a case-by-case basis. Grants can range from several hundred dollars for small, short-term activities to tens of thousands for larger projects. All projects must be completed by December 15, 2026. To submit an application and view past grantees, visit www.AARP.org/CommunityChallenge.
Red Cross
Help save lives and empower your health! Schedule a time to give now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/Test. Tuscaloosa: 2/12: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., North Engineering Research Center, 1831 Shelby Lane, 2/20: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., North Engineering Research Center, 1831 Shelby Lane, 2/25: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Judy Bonner Child Development Research Center, 651 Peter Bryce Blvd.
Moundville Lithic
Arts Festival
On March 6-7, Moundville Archaeological Park and Museum will host the Moundville Lithic Arts Festival (formerly, Knap-In).
BBCF Associates Connect Is Back:
2026 Virtual Sessions
Black Belt Community Foundation excited to officially kick off Associates Connect for 2026 with two skill-building virtual sessions designed to support your work and strengthen our collective impact across the Black Belt.
Feb. 23, 6 p.m. Level Up Your Digital Presence: Social Media + Intro to AI: Facilitated by BBCF In-House Photographer Tanisha Stephens: Learn how to launch and maintain social media accounts, create engaging content, and explore beginner-friendly AI tools to support digital storytelling and community work. Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CYlzT230TIKxH2Q9jD4uaw
Hale County Spring “Green-Up” Pasture Forage Meeting
Join us Feb. 12, at the Hale County Extension Office, located at 701 Hall St., Greensboro, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. for the Hale County Spring “Green-Up” Pasture Forage Meeting. This meeting will focus on spring green-up of pasture forages as warm-season grasses begin to emerge. Topics will include identifying common warm-season grasses, fertilizer considerations, and proper soil sampling to support healthy forage growth. This is a free event, but we do ask that you RSVP by visiting https://au-academics.my.salesforce-sites.com/pmtx/evt__conf_detail?id=a1RUg000000y9oPMAQ, calling the Hale county office at (334) 624-8710, or by calling Court Green-Johnson at (205) 659-6796.
HERO PATHs Resiliency WorkshopOur second round of HERO PATHs Resiliency Workshop is 15 days away and we’re getting ready to dig a little deeper into resiliency, building off the strong foundation that many of you have already helped to establish. Let’s go Hale, Tuscaloosa, and Pickens Counties! As you have requested, Saturdays, or at least mid-day, sessions have become a reality in the area, and we’ve offered this workshop at a time that was designed with YOU in mind. It’s not too late to register. This six-week, grant-funded workshop is open to Veterans, spouses, dependents, and organizations that support Veterans and focuses on strengthening your resiliency through: Hope, Empowerment, Resources, Opportunities, Practice, Attitude, Training, and Health = Success. Class Dates: Jan. 24, Jan. 31, Feb. 7, Feb. 14, Feb. 21, Feb. 28 at 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at Shelton State Community College – Martin Campus, Wellness Center, Room 1251, 9500 Old Greensboro Rd., Tuscaloosa. Register: https://sheltonstate.formstack.com/forms/resiliency_workshop_registration?fbclid=IwY2xjawPRytlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFHc2Ywa3VQanB2V1VKUVRHc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpGLaURBPjvngOaNYAdAIeXKp4gbRclc5oRZE8Cg03vBeZLc_WXhpKBwEBCg_aem_illswlC8rnti7__8A1kpBg
(Or click the QR code on the flyer on Hale County-Alabama Extension Facebook page to register.) This is a safe and supportive space to reconnect, reflect, and grow alongside fellow Veterans and families from across our region. If this is your first time attending or if you’re returning for Round 2, you are welcome here.
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 Institutional Scholarships
The Shelton State Institutional Scholarships application for the 2026–2027 academic year is now open. The application deadline is March 1, 2026. Learn more: https://ow.ly/A62050Y8mTj
Help Sessions are available for students needing assistance: https://ow.ly/G0SR50Y8mTg
SSCC’s Terrific Tuesday Concert Series
Shelton State Community College’s Terrific Tuesday Concert Series continues this spring in the Alabama Power Recital Hall on the Martin Campus. Admission is free. All performances will be at 1 p.m. in the Alabama Power Hall unless otherwise noted on the schedule. Upcoming performances and artists include the following: Feb. 17 NATS Musicale, Feb. 24 Piano Recital Wayne Gilreath, piano, March 3, SSCC Faculty Voice Recital Miranda Leonard, soprano, March 10 Student Musicale, March 24 Red Clay Trio Timothy Phillips, clarinet l Amy Catron, cello Benjamin Crook, piano, March 31 SSCC Jazz Combo Martin Atrium, April 7 University of Montevallo Chamber Recital, April 14 SSCC Student Recital Noelle Douglas, mezzo-soprano, April 21 Honors Musicale.
Alabama Cattle Women
Association Scholarships
It’s that time again! Be sure to apply for our $1,000 academic scholarship. Male or female high school seniors can apply. Deadline Feb. 27. Check out the application and requirements on our website. https://alabamacattlewomen.com/scholarships
Alfa Foundation Scholarship Program
Attending a college or university in Alabama next fall? Apply online for your chance to receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Alfa Foundation Scholarship Program! Students must have an active Alabama Farmers Federation membership in their name to be eligible. Applications are also available for the 2025-26 Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation Scholarship! Students must be pursuing degrees in agriculture or forestry at Auburn University, Alabama A&M University or TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY. Applications for both scholarship programs are open at AlfaFarmers.org/Scholarships now through Feb. 2. Don’t delay — apply today!
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
| Feb. 2, 2026 📰 BEST BETS UA Renews Classification for Community Engagement The University of Alabama has successfully renewed its Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement, making it one of only 237 institutions that hold the distinction. Why This Matters: This designation recognizes UA as one of the nation’s premier institutions in community-engaged scholarship, underscoring UA’s commitment to community partnerships that integrate the University’s mission of teaching, research and service. UAPD Communications Earns Accreditation The UAPD Communications Division has received Agency Training Program Accreditation, a Project 33® Initiative, from the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International, recognizing the division’s commitment to nationally recognized training standards for public safety telecommunicators. Why This Matters: UAPD is one of only three law enforcement agencies in the State of Alabama — and one of only two university police departments nationwide — to receive this recognition for excellence in training. Graduate by Hilton Coming to Campus Hilton, Capstone Hotel LTD and Jackson Hospitality Services have announced the iconic Graduate by Hilton lifestyle hotel brand will soon come to Tuscaloosa with the Hotel Capstone converting into Graduate by Hilton Tuscaloosa. Why This Matters: With the conversion comes an entirely new design by Andrew Alford Creative that will introduce Graduate by Hilton’s storytelling-first stays and “newstalgic” design-forward approach to the property. Alford, the hospitality design visionary who designed the first thirty-five Graduate hotels, returns to the brand to ensure the Graduate Tuscaloosa will deliver an elevated, conceptual hospitality experience for guests, locals, and students alike. Completion is expected in 2027. 💬 CURRENT COMMENT Sheena Gregg, a registered dietician nutritionist and director of the department of health promotion and wellness, is available to discuss ways to stay motivated to keep your health and wellness resolutions. Contact Gregg at sqgregg@ua.edu. 📅 EVENTS Growth + Innovation Leaders Summit Feb. 6; The EDGE “Creative Minds” Opening Reception Feb. 6; Paul R. Jones Museum |