2024 Upcoming Holiday deadlines: MvT will be closed for Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11. Deadline for Thanksgiving is Friday, Nov. 22. MvT will be closed for Thanksgiving week and will reopen Monday, Dec. 2. Santa Letters deadline is Friday, Dec. 6. Deadline for the Christmas Edition (12-25) & New Year’s Edition (1-1) is Thursday, Dec. 19. We have to submit both papers early due to the printing company being closed for the holidays.
Hale County Animal Shelter Pets of the week
(Meet Juno, a precious lab mix girl who is 4-5 months old, very sweet and smart. Looking for her forever home!
Beautiful Betsy Ross is getting smarter every day! Betsy is a 4-5 month old lab mix. She had had 2 sets of shots and is currently looking for her forever home.
Hale County Animal Shelter, 334-624-8120. Thursday wish list: We could use some clumping cat litter.
Church & Community Events
ANGEL TREE APPLICATIONS
for Hale County will be Tuesday, October 15, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church Newbern Family Life Center (296 Beech Street, Newbern, AL).
You must bring the following items to your appointment:
• Valid Photo ID for parent/guar dian
• Birth Certificate for children 0–12
• Proof of ALL household income
• Proof of residence
EVERYONE IS ASKED TO PLEASE KNOW YOUR CHILD’S CLOTHING SIZE!
Contact Information Church: (334) 624-3700 Cell: (205) 799-5186 NOTE: Grandparents must have documented proof of legal guardianship if they are signing a child up!
Community Foundation of West Alabama Community Grants
The Community Foundation of West Alabama offers two grant cycles in the fall. Applications for these are available at the website www.thecfwa.org. The Community Grants are available to 501(c)3 organizations. The Educational Grants are available to classroom teachers. Applications must be postmarked no later than Nov. 1. The mission of the local Community Foundation is to promote charitable giving for present and future generations. The mission is fulfilled by helping donors achieve their charitable and financial goals through services that facilitate charitable giving, by providing responsible and professional financial management and by distributing earnings from investments according to donor intent and community needs.
American Red Cross Blood Drive
American Red Cross Blood Drive at Robert Young Community Center, 720 Greensboro St. Eutaw, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Thurs., Oct. 10. All donors who come will give blood will get a $10 gift card by email. Call 1-800-red-cross or download the Blood Donor App. For an appointment, please visit redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code “tuskegee”.
Santa For Seniors
Christmas… the most wonderful time of the year! But not for everyone. Many needy seniors never experience the joys of Christmas. Help change this by partnering with the ATRC Aging to sponsor a senior for the 6th Annual Santa for Seniors service project. Seniors are available to adopt between Oct. 1-Nov. 15. To sponsor a senior, go to the Santa for Seniors page on our website, www.atrcaging.com, where you will find non-identifying information about needy seniors within the 10-county region along with a list of items requested. You can sponsor seniors with a click or make a monetary donation through PayPal. According to Director Delia Brand, “While children are the beneficiaries of many holiday programs, people often don’t think about the isolated and lonely seniors who need to be remembered as well during this season. We hope you’ll help bring a smile to a needy senior this Christmas season.” ATRC Case Staff have chosen the neediest seniors in the area as Santa for Seniors recipients. Many are low-income, homebound and alone. Most of the requests are for everyday items such as cleaning supplies, bed linens, adult diapers, and other basic necessities. For more information call (334) 682-5206 or 888-617-0500.
ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division Announces 2024 Fall Boating Basics
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Marine Patrol Division is gearing up for another season of Boating Basics and License Courses offered at locations across the state. Each year, the Agency offers free in-person classes that allow interaction between local ALEA Troopers and provides students with more hands-on training. These courses also provide relevant and important information concerning specific bodies of waters that citizens in the area may visit frequently. Citizens who complete the Boating Basics course will receive a certificate in the mail after Troopers submit the individual’s information to the Agency’s Vessel Registration Unit. The Driver License Division will then add the vessel class to their Alabama Driver License. Please note that it may take up to 10 business days before the customer can go online to alabamadl.alea.gov or visit their nearest county probate office to purchase their updated Alabama Driver License. Children 12 years old or older are eligible for a vessel operator’s license, however, they will not be able to operate alone until the age of 14. For more information, or to enroll in a class, please contact the Marine Patrol Instructor via the email provided on the schedule. A one-time cash application fee will be charged. There will be a issuance fee for the license.
Bay Springs A.M. E. Zion Church
Family and Friends Fellowship to be held at Bay Springs A. M. E. Zion Church, Co. Rd. 86, Greensboro, Sun., Oct. 13, at 2 pm. Rev. Laramie Long will be the guest minister. There will also be a number of musical guests. Please come out and fellowship with us. Rev. Joseph Finch, pastor, and Sis. Sandra Constant Program Coordinator.
Hale County Farm Service Agency is Accepting Applications for Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP)
(Greensboro, Alabama) September 30, 2024 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Executive Director, Yakira D. Spears announced that Hale County is accepting applications for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to address damages from severe drought and related insect infestation damage. The EFRP sign-up period will be open from Sept. 30, 2024, until March 31, 2025. EFRP provides payments to eligible owners of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) land to restore land damaged by a natural disaster. Before an application for EFRP assistance is approved, an onsite inspection of the damages by FSA, in cooperation with a state forester, is required to verify the damages and enable an environmental review. The approved EFRP practices under the authorization includes: Hardwood Forest Restoration, Softwood Forest Restoration, Mixed Forest Restoration, and Longleaf Pine Restoration.
“FSA remains committed to helping landowners impacted by this disaster,” said Clifton L. Warren Jr., State Executive Director in Alabama. “I encourage eligible landowners to contact the FSA county office as soon as possible to make an appointment to apply.” To meet eligibility requirements, NIPF land must have existing tree cover or had tree cover immediately before the severe drought and related insect infestation damage occurred and be sustainable for growing trees. The land must also be owned by any nonindustrial private individual, group, association, corporation or other private legal entity that has definitive decision-making authority over the land. For more information on EFRP, please contact your local FSA county office or visit https://www.farmers.gov/recover. To find your local office, visit farmers.gov/service-center-locator.
Oral Rabies Vaccine Distributed in Northeast Alabama October 1-20
The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) announces that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will distribute oral rabies vaccine (ORV) in parts of Alabama October 1-20. The current action is a continuation of a decades-long program to reduce raccoon rabies and the associated public health risks from rabies exposures. In urban areas, such as the Birmingham metropolitan area, vaccine packets are distributed by hand from trucks alongside the tree lines. Low-flying airplanes and helicopters are often used to drop baits in more heavily wooded areas that are more difficult to access. In rural areas with vast wooded lands, airplanes will be used in the vaccination area. From October 1 – October 6, 2024, personnel will distribute approximately 34,200 ORV baits by vehicles in the Birmingham Metro Area and surrounding communities within the bait zone. The ORV baits used for hand baiting the urban/suburban areas are square blocks made of fishmeal and fish oil. The vaccine is contained inside of a plastic packet in the hollow center of the block. A portion of the following counties have been identified as having drop zones: Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Coosa, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, Marshall, Morgan, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega and Tuscaloosa. The vaccine packets consist of a sachet, or plastic pack, containing the rabies vaccine. The outer shell of the packet is coated with fishmeal or dog meal to attract raccoons. Raccoons are vaccinated by opening the packet with their teeth, which exposes their gums to vaccine. Animal exposures are common, but the ORV poses no risk of rabies to humans or animals if exposed. Animal reactions may include mild digestive upset, but reactions are rarely serious. Anyone who finds a bait is advised to leave it alone to allow wildlife to find it. However, if a bait is intact and out in the open, it can be tossed deeper into the woods or brush where a wild animal is more likely to find it. If a packet is found: Handle it with gloves AND Place it in an area where a raccoon may find it OR Dispose of it in the trash. Occasionally, skin reactions occur in humans. It is best to avoid direct contact with the skin, eyes or mucous membranes with the vaccine. If exposure occurs accidentally, then it is recommended that the person wash hands with warm water and soap. Should more serious reactions occur, there is a telephone number on the vaccine packet to call for more information. Dr. Dee W. Jones, State Public Health Veterinarian, states that the phone number on the vaccine packet rings to his office. “I understand the concern from citizens and owners when an ORV packet is found in an unintended place or when there is an unintended exposure, but I am hopeful that people keep the big picture in mind, and that is actually reducing the risk of rabies exposures in Alabama by vaccinating raccoons.” He adds, “The vaccine packets have been proven to be very safe by historical data collected from incidental exposures. I believe the ORV program benefits public health, animal welfare and wildlife.” For more information about the federal ORV usage in Alabama, please contact the USDA at 1-866-4USDA-WS. For more information about rabies exposures, animal or human exposures to the ORV please call ADPH at 1-800-338-8374. Additional information is also available from the website: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/wildlifedamage/programs/nrmp
Financial Relief from Southern Pine Beetle Damage for Forestland Owners in All Alabama Counties
Financial relief is now available to assist timber owners in Alabama who suffered damages from the southern pine beetle this summer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) today announced that all 67 Alabama counties have been approved for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to restore and rehabilitate private forest lands impacted by severe drought and related insect infestation damage. The EFRP signup period runs from September 30, 2024, to March 31, 2025. The Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) has identified 10,253 southern pine beetle (SPB) spots affecting approximately 3.1 million trees across the state. These numbers equate to an estimated 3.5 million tons of dead wood on the landscape. At current stumpage prices, this is a value loss of approximately $87.5 million. The AFC encourages adversely affected forest landowners to promptly contact their local FSA offices to request funding through the EFRP during the signup period. After EFRP applications are submitted, local FSA county committees determine land eligibility based on on-site inspections performed by a local forester who will assess the type and extent of damage, and the restoration activities needed to restore forest health. FSA will approve applications based on the onsite restoration need. Financial assistance is not provided upfront. Cost-share is reimbursed at no more than 75% of the lesser of the actual costs incurred or allowable cost after a restoration activity is complete. If an EFRP application is approved, the program participant is expected to perform restoration and conservation practices based on the FSA-848A Cost-Share Agreement and the restoration plan provided. The minimum qualifying cost of restoration is $1,000 and the EFRP payment limitation is $500,000. A qualified forest is defined as one acre in size, 120 feet across, with 10% tree cover. Complete EFRP eligibility information and program participation requirements can be found under News & Events at forestry.alabama.gov.To find contact information for your local FSA office, visit https://www.farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator The mission of the Alabama Forestry Commission is to protect and sustain Alabama’s forest resources using professionally applied stewardship principles and education, ensuring that the state’s forests contribute to abundant timber and wildlife, clean air and water, and a healthy economy.
2nd Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk
Join us for the 2nd Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. at Moundville Town Square, Moundville. There will be a special performance by Alpha Esquire, free food, DJ, and resources. Contact 205-737-3752, or [email protected] for additional information.
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: Oct. 29 Hot Topics in Beekeeping, Amy Vu, University of Florida; Nov. 19 Breeding for Varroa-Resistant Honeybees, Frank Rinkevich, United States Department of Agriculture. 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
SSCC Fine Arts Fall Concerts and Performances
As the Community College of the Fine Arts, Shelton State Community College inspires and prepares the artists of tomorrow. The West Alabama community is invited to join these exceptional students as they present their fall concerts and exhibition performances. All events are free, and the public is invited to attend. The Shelton Singers will present their fall concert, “Songs of the Spirit: A Choral Journey” on Tues., Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Martin Campus Alabama Power Recital Hall. Under the direction of SSCC instructor Dr. J. F. Mark Brown, the Singers’ concert will showcase pieces by the group as well as feature solo performances. The College’s Jazz Ensemble will perform their fall concert of big band hits in the Martin Campus Atrium on Thurs., Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m. under the direction of Dr. Elijah Pugh, SSCC music instructor. Also under the direction of Dr. Pugh, West Alabama Winds, the College’s wind instrument ensemble, will present “Forward March” on Nov. 4 in the Martin Campus Atrium at 7:30 p.m. The concert will explore march types for concert bands. Shelton State Dance will host “Dance Up Close” on Thurs., Nov. 7 at 6 p.m. in the Martin Campus D-Rooms. The showcase will demonstrate various types of dance styles with themes ranging from our social climate to emotional support and well-being. Miranda Zapata, SSCC’s dance instructor, is choreographer. To learn more about Shelton State Fine Arts, visit sheltonstate.edu.
Thomas Cole’s Winter Coat Drive
Bring your old coat or jacket to help the needy Oct. 7-28. The donation bin is in the Hale County High School lobby. Hosted by ambasedors Kourtni Jackson and Isaiah Blackmon.
GMS Volleyball Team Food Drive
Please help the GMS Volleyball Team collect perishable foods. This food drive serves many families in need in our community. Drop off locations are Greensboro Middle School, Hale County Bus Shop, Washington and Paige Funeral home, Oct. 7- Nov. 11, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Shelton State Community College’s Terrific Tuesday Concert Series
Performances will be in the Alabama Power Recital Hall on the Martin Campus. Admission is free. All performances are at 1 p.m. unless otherwise noted* on the schedule. Upcoming performances and artists include the following: Oct. 8 – Faculty Recital | Dr. Elijah Pugh, trumpet | Lillian Wesley, piano; Oct. 22 – Student Musicale; Oct. 29 – Dr. Skip Snead | the University of Alabama Horn Ensemble; Nov. 5 – Addie Hughes | Mezzo-Soprano | SSCC Student Recital; Nov. 12 – Army’s 151st Band |Jazz Combo; Nov. 19 – SSCC Jazz Combo| Martin Atrium; Nov. 26 – Slade Trammell| Piano| Roane State Community College Faculty; Dec. 3 – Annual Holiday Tree Lighting| Martin Atrium Shelton State’s Terrific Tuesday Concert Series is designed to showcase a variety of repertory styles. Weekly performances are offered by guest artists as well as Shelton State faculty and students. ; For more information, contact Lillian Wesley at 205.391.2399 or [email protected].
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 AlabamaOct. 7, 2024
📰 BEST BETS
Fighting Food Insecurity
The 31st annual Beat Auburn Beat Hunger food drive kicked off Oct. 4 at The University of Alabama. The drive runs through Nov. 21 and results will be announced the following day.
Why This Matters: The Beat Auburn Beat Hunger food drive aims to raise awareness about food insecurity while collecting donations for the West Alabama Food Bank. According to Feeding America, one in six people, including one in four children, struggle with food insecurity in Alabama.
For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne at [email protected].
Developing Leaders
Sean Coffman Atchison, a May 2024 graduate, has been named a Fulbright-John Lewis Civil Rights Fellow.
Why This Matters: Atchison was one of 29 awardees from around the nation selected to receive the fellowship that is a new part of the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. This new fellowship provides access to activities such as a dedicated lecture series, leadership training and other professional development activities, as well as a capstone seminar after the completion of each awardee’s Fulbright Program. These activities are in addition to, and complement, the fellows’ Fulbright projects.
For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne at [email protected].
Legends in the Making
UA is again waiving application fees for domestic and international undergraduate, graduate, online prospective students and students applying to UA Early College from Oct. 7-11.
Why This Matters: UA aims to empower prospective students during Free App Week by removing the financial barriers that may keep them from applying for admission.
For more information, contact Jennifer Brady at [email protected].
Upcycling Waste
In a recently awarded grant project led by UA, researchers will upcycle agricultural and industrial waste into affordable and greener construction materials.
Why This Matters: Many rural and poor communities grapple with the intersection of a changing climate and industrial waste. The NET technology proposed has the potential to help remove hazardous materials and generate new jobs and revenue while also contributing to the global effort to reduce carbon emissions.
For more information, contact Jessica Nelson at [email protected].
Inspiring Storytellers
The College of Communication and Information Sciences unveiled the Holle Center for Communication Arts, an incubator and collaborative space for modern storytelling.
Why This Matters: The work of the Holle Center is guided by a commitment to advance narratives through innovative and arts-informed research, community engagement and creative co-operation. The center, located on the fourth floor of Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium adjacent to the Digital Media Center, features a collaboratory for digital storytelling that includes a podcast studio, editing workspace and cyclorama — a panoramic, cylindrical backdrop for filming.
For more information, contact Alex House at [email protected].
Understanding Drought Impacts
In a recently published study, UA researchers at the Center for Complex Hydrosystems Research conducted a comprehensive analysis to determine the impact of drought on hydropower generation during the 18-year period and identify the relative vulnerability of each state to drought.
Why This Matters: Researchers found a considerable decline in hydroelectric power between 2003 and 2020 at a cost of an estimated $28 billion to the sector nationwide. Hydropower facilities not only lost out on revenue, but the energy deficit then had to be purchased from other utilities.
For more information, contact Jessica Nelson at [email protected].
📅 EVENTS
Fiction Collective Two 50th Anniversary Reading
Oct. 7; Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center