Guidelines for Submitting your Church/Community Announcements
These are free as long as there are no personal messages and the event is not being charged for (love offerings do not count). Please keep the announcement to one paragraph with who is presenting the event, what the event is, date, time, where it will be held and contact information. Email them to [email protected]. We can not take anything over the phone due to company policy.
2025 Holiday Deadlines: SCRJ will be closed for Memorial Day Mon., May 26 and has a late deadline of Tues., May 27 by noon for the May 29th edition. Deadline for Juneteenth events is Mon., June 16. SCRJ will be closed Fri., July 4th. SCRJ will be closed for Labor Day and there is a late deadline for Tues., Sept. 2 by noon for the Sept. 4th edition. Deadline is Mon., Nov. 3rd for Veterans Day announcements. 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. SCRJ 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. 25th and Jan. 1st editions is Fri., Dec. 19. We have to submit both papers early due to the printing company being closed for the holidays. SCRJ will be closed Dec. 22-Jan. 1 for the holidays.
The City of Livingston Remember and Honor
In honor of Memorial Day and Independence Day, we want to see businesses and citizens fly their flags and decorate from May 19-July 6.
Help Save Lives by Giving Blood or Platelets Now
Emergencies don’t take a holiday. As we head into Memorial Day weekend, the American Red Cross urges donors to keep the blood supply top of mind and help save lives by making an appointment to give blood or platelets. Immediate access to blood products is a key part of summer safety. With millions of Americans expected to travel around Memorial Day and engage in water sports, boating, camping and other outdoor activities, the risk of accidents increases. Though it can be a busy time, making and keeping blood donation appointments remains a critical priority in May during Trauma Awareness Month. Type O blood donors and those giving platelets are essential right now to meet the needs of hospitals. Volunteer blood donors can be the light in a patient’s recovery, especially accident victims who may require hundreds of blood units through transfusions. Shine a light on saving lives. Schedule a time to give now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App. Those who come to give by May 31, 2025, will receive an exclusive Red Cross solar lantern, while supplies last. Plus, all who come to give in May will be automatically entered for a chance to win a U.S. trip of their choice for two. Full details can be found at RedCrossBlood.org/May. Those who come to give June 1-30, 2025, will get a Amazon.com Gift Card by email and will be automatically entered for a chance to win one of two $7,000 gift cards. Terms apply. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/June. Tuscaloosa: 5/22: 2-6 p.m., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 2015 Academy Dr.; 5/30: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 733 James I Harrison Jr Pkwy; 6/3: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., McDonald Hughes Center, 3101 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
York Day June 21
Sat., June 21st at Cherokee Park bring your lawn chair and party at York Day. Free admission. There’s no fee to enter the York Day Basketball Tournament. Games start at 5 p.m. and winner gets $300 in cash. For more information on York Day contact York Com. Jazmin “Jazz” Mitchell or York City Hall at 205-392-5231. For more information on the basketball tournament contact Coach Jazz or Coach Reynaldo James.
Cutting Out Cancer
The Shelton State Community College (SSCC) cosmetology salon will honor cancer survivors during Cutting Out Cancer: Cancer Survivor Beauty and Support Day on Tues., June 3, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. No appointment is necessary for complimentary haircuts, manicures, and pedicures. All cancer survivors are invited to participate. The beauty event is in recognition of Cancer Survivor Beauty and Support Day, which began in 2009 and has been permanently recognized by honorary proclamation in the Congressional Records by the United States House of Representatives, Resolution #494. A nationwide event that takes place every year, this is a day of volunteering for those in beauty and related industries. In addition to this special event, the SSCC cosmetology salon offers services to the public. The salon, located on Shelton State’s Martin Campus, is open for multiple services, including haircuts and manicures. Appointments can be made, but walk-in customers are welcome. Revenue generated by SSCC cosmetology services supports the functions of the salon and allows students to attend classes from product educators and participate in continuing education opportunities prior to entering the industry. For more information about the Cutting Out Cancer event or to inquire about other services, call 205.391.2496.
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!
Harvest Ministries
Harvest Ministries, 6815 Co. Road 32, Lisman, will be open Wed., May 21, 8 a.m.-1p.m. Free clothes, shoes, household items and much more.
Small Ruminant Production Webinar Series
Join us in person for a watch party from our recorded monthly Small Ruminant Production Webinar Series session Thurs., May 29 at 2 p.m., Hale County Extension Office, 701 Hall Street, Greensboro. Register for free: https://www.aces.edu/go/5000 These watch parties aim to give rural producers the opportunity to view the webinars and to ask questions in real time. The webinars will cover challenges and opportunities in raising goats and sheep. Learn the best ways to manage your farm to make it successful. Got Questions? Call Lauren Shortnacy 205-809-2297, or email: [email protected].
WIC Income Guidelines increase
Alabama’s income guidelines for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (better known as WIC) have increased, and additional people may qualify. If you are a woman who is pregnant, has had a baby within the past six months, or is currently breastfeeding, or if you are the parent or guardian of a child up to age 5, you are encouraged to contact your local county health department or WIC agency to apply. WIC participants may receive food benefits for each qualifying family member. Cash value benefits are available to purchase fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, with each child receiving $26 a month, pregnant and postpartum women receiving $47 a month, and breastfeeding women receiving $52 a month. In addition to nutritious food benefits, WIC participants receive free nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and healthcare referrals. Alabama’s WIC program provides electronic food benefits, making the shopping experience easy. Under the 2025 federal poverty guidelines, more families may be eligible for the program. WIC is open to participants with incomes up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level. Check the table below to see if your family may qualify: Family Size* Annual Income Weekly Income-2 $39,128 $753; 3 $49,303 $949; 4 $59,478 $1,144; 5 $69,653 $1,340; 6 $78,828 $1,536. *Each unborn infant counts as one in the family size. *For additional family sizes, please visit www.alabamapublichealth.gov/wic. WIC participants must have both a limited income and a nutritional need. Families who receive Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) already meet the income qualifications for WIC. Even families who do not qualify for these programs may be eligible for WIC because of WIC’s higher income limits. For more information, please go to www.alabamapublichealth.gov/wicor call the statewide toll-free line at 1-888-942-4673 (1-888-WIC-HOPE).
CDC announces Salmonella outbreak linked to backyard poultry
CDC investigation notice regarding a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections has been posted: www.cdc.gov/salmonella/outbreaks/mbandaka-05-01/index.html
Seven people in six states have gotten sick from Salmonella after contact with backyard poultry. Backyard poultry, like chickens and ducks, can carry Salmonella germs even if they look healthy and clean. You can get sick from touching your backyard poultry, or anything in their environment, and then touching your mouth or food and swallowing Salmonella germs.
What You Should Do: Always wash your hands for 20 seconds after touching birds, their supplies, or collecting eggs. Use a pair of dedicated shoes or boots for your coop and do not wear them inside your house. Keep birds and supplies outside the house to prevent spreading germs into your house. Protect young children, who are more likely to put items in their mouths or not wash hands fully, from getting sick as their immune systems are still developing. Do not let children younger than 5 years old touch the birds (including chicks and ducklings) or anything in the area where the birds live and roam.
Hatcheries should use best management practices to help prevent Salmonella in poultry and stores should source poultry from hatcheries that take steps to reduce Salmonella contamination. Clean and sanitize poultry display areas between shipments of new poultry.
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 that state’s health department.
Scam alert: beware of text messages collecting tolls
The Alabama Department of Revenue has received reports of fraudulent text messages looking to collect unpaid tolls. These messages may ask users to click a link that begins as “https://mydmv.alabama…”, although there may be several different variations of this link depending on the text message received. DO NOT CLICK THIS LINK.
ALDOR does not collect tolls, and the actual link to ALDOR’s MyDMV service is https://mydmv.revenue.alabama.gov/TAP/_/.
ALDOR does not contact taxpayers through text messages, so if you receive any sort of message that looks like this one, do not click any included links, do not respond to the message, and delete the message immediately. If you do happen to click the link, you may be taken to a site that looks very much like ALDOR’s legitimate MyDMV site. If you navigate through the fraudulent site, you may even notice that many of the buttons and links will take you to legitimate pages.
HOWEVER, buttons marked as “pay” buttons WILL NOT take you to ALDOR’s legitimate pay functions, but rather to the wrongdoers’ fake pay options, where they will gather your personal and financial information to steal your money or commit other illegal and harmful acts. Remember – ALDOR does NOT collect tolls. Protect your information. NEVER give personal details and financial information away if you don’t know for sure who you are giving it to.
May’s Grow More, Give More Harvest of the Month is Onions!
Find growing instructions and delicious recipes at https://www.aces.edu/go/4994Í
Dugg Hill P. B. Church Memorial Day Program
The pastor and members of the Dugg Hill P. B. Church, 3700 Mundy Rd., Coatopa, cordially invite one and all to our annual Memorial Day Program, Sunday, May 25, at 1:30 p.m. Our pastor, Rev. John Wright and pastor of the Star Bethel P. B. Church, Sweet Water, has consented to deliver the message. Your participation and support are always appreciated.
Pastor Dewayne Charleston, Sr.and First Lady Sister Lablinka Charleston, Pastor’s Appreciation Day
The Pastor and members of the Old Mt. Olive P. B. Church, Boyd, cordially invite you to come and share with us as we celebrate Pastor Dewayne Charleston, Sr.and First Lady Sister Lablinka Charleston, Pastor’s Appreciation Day in honor of his thirteenth year as our pastor, Sun., May 18, at 2 p.m. Rev. Obediah Clemons, pastor of the Greater Outreach Missionary Baptist Church, Meridian, Miss., will bring the word of God.
West Alabama Nuisance Wildlife Workshop
Do you assistance in or want to learn more about managing nuisance and invasive wildlife? If so, feel free to attend this Nuisance Wildlife Workshop at the Marengo County Extension Office on May 30, 9 a.m. -2:25 p.m. covering hog management, livestock depredation, and wildlife around the home. For more information contact Marengo County Extension Office 334-295-5959, [email protected], or Dylan taylor [email protected]. There is a small feel for registration.
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.
Community Prayer
Community Prayer for the Sumter County area will be held every 1st Thursday of each month at noon for one hour at the Bored Well, the Courthouse Square, Livingston. We’re asking all residents, businesses, local leaders, pastors, governmental and city officials to join us as we come together as a community to pray. Submitted by Min. Leola Washington, Volunteer Coordinator for NDPTF, Sumter County.
Alabama Audubon’s 5th Annual Black Belt Birding Festival
The fifth annual Black Belt Birding Festival will take place on August 1-3. Highlighting the birds, history, and heritage of Alabama’s Black Belt region, the festival brings together the joy of birding with the benefits of ecotourism to a region of profoundly important ecology and civil rights history. The Black Belt is the largest natural grassland region in the eastern U.S. Named for its dark soils, grassland and wetland birds thrive here among the region’s ranches, farms, and restored prairies. The Festival starts the evening of Friday, August 1st at 5pm with a kick-off party that is free to the public at Project Horseshoe Farm (1202 Main Street, Greensboro) – a regional nonprofit focused on community health – with live music by Alabama singer-songwriter Rachel Edwards accompanied by jazz guitarist John Holaway. Guided field trips begin Saturday morning across Dallas, Hale, Perry, Marengo, and Sumter counties, including birding from a 100 ft birding tower designed by Auburn University’s Rural Studio at Perry Lakes Park near Marion and a beginners bird walk in Selma while learning about the Civil Rights Movement with Terry Chestnut, Jr., whose father, J.L Chestnut, Jr., was Alabama’s first Black lawyer and represented Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Joe Farm, a 4th generation Black-owned cattle ranch, is among the most popular events of the weekend, where Swallow-tailed and Mississippi Kites put on an exciting show while snatching insects out of the air behind Mr. Cornelius Joe’s tractor. The Joe Farm has been featured on Nat Geo’s Extraordinary Birder with Christian Cooper and a recent BBC Travel Show episode highlighting the Black Belt, and was also lauded in a study by Beyond Green Travel and the University of Alabama Center for Economic Development as a premier ecotourism destination in the Black Belt. For the first time, our event is stretching well into Sunday morning, with events at Old Cahawba Archaeological Park, tours of campsites in Dallas and Lowndes Counties used by foot soldiers during the historic Selma to Montgomery March for Civil Rights in 1965, and a partnership with the Cahaba River Society to bird by canoe on the oxbow lakes at Perry Lakes Park. The 2025 Keynote Address will be presented by author, photographer, and filmmaker Dudley Edmonson on The Browning of Birding and its Impact on Conservation and Outdoor Recreation, where he will explore the intersection of race, representation, and environmental stewardship. Drawing from his compelling book, People the Planet Needs Now, Dudley will share power stories from 25 Black and Brown scientists and activists whose lived experiences and groundbreaking work offer new perspectives on addressing the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges. Through vivid storytelling and full-color photography, Dudley will illustrate how these diverse voices are leading the charge for environmental justice and innovation – while emphasizing why the work of land trusts is essential for fostering meaningful connections to nature for all communities. Throughout the weekend, visitors and Black Belt residents can enjoy community-based programming including a special gallery exhibit and artists market at Aaron Sanders Head’s Sumac Cottage, 1107 South St., Greensboro, throughout the day on Saturday. Birders of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities are invited to join Alabama Audubon for an unforgettable weekend in the beautiful Black Belt region of Alabama, where opportunities to experience, learn, and bird at historic sites, working farms, and ongoing prairies restorations abound. Tickets and a detailed schedule of events are available at ALAudubon.org. Founded in 1946 as the Birmingham Audubon Society, Alabama Audubon has since grown to become the state’s leading nonprofit promoting conservation and a greater knowledge of birds, their habitats, and the natural world. Alabama Audubon’s Black Belt Birding Initiative works to bring the economic and environmental benefits of bird-based ecotourism to one of the country’s most economically- challenged rural areas. A certified chapter of the National Audubon Society and an independent 501(c)(3)organization, Alabama Audubon’s mission is to promote conservation and a greater knowledge of birds, their habitats, and the natural world. Find out more at alaudubon.org or follow us on social media @alaudubon (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).
School Events
Ruby Pickens Tartt Summer Reading Program
It’s time to chill and thrill as we get ready for our annual Summer Reading Program at Ruby Pickens Tartt Library in Livingston with programs and presentations for every age group, so parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, get ready for a month of fun and creativity. The theme for this year is “Color Our World,” and we’ve gathered some of the most colorful presenters in Sumter County to make this the most exciting event of the summer. Let’s make reading the hottest item on your to-do list. We promise you won’t be disappointed.
Hightower Memorial Library Summer Reading Program
Hightower Memorial Library is happy to announce our Summer Reading Program Theme: “Color Our World!” For 2025, we invite you to embark on a journey of art and creativity, celebrating the countless ways in which art enriches our lives. Our program is designed to inspire and engage readers of all ages through a diverse array of artistic and reading expressions. All are invited to join us June 1-30. It’s free and fun for all ages! All programs and activities for children, teens, and adults are free and include performers, magicians, authors, presenters, book clubs, and more! Earn a prize for reading a minimum of 8 books and completing one activity this summer! Registration forms are available at the library. Please come and sign up! Space is limited. Your humble librarians: Edna Williams, Glenda James and Glenda Evans.
Koach Jazz Free Basketball Camp
Parents are welcome to bring their kids ages 5-18 to our free camp on July 26-27, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at Sumter Central high School. Our aim is to provide assistance to kids, regardless of their accommodations. The Koach Jazz Basketball Camp will include appearances by local heroes playing at the Next Level, who will help and speak with the children.
UA Preview: This Week at The University of Alabama
| May 12, 2025 📰 BEST BETS Summer Construction and Road Closures Several road closures and lane adjustments will affect travel around The University of Alabama campus this summer. For the most up-to-date information, check the campus map. UA Set to Host Summer Camps UA is offering a variety of youth camps that will provide enriching learning opportunities throughout the summer. For a list of summer camps and registration information, visit the UA Youth Programs website. Professor, Foster Youth Advocate Honored Dr. Sebrena Jackson, associate professor in the School of Social Work, has been named the recipient of the Lahoma Adams Buford Endowed Peace Award for 2025. Why This Matters: The Buford Peace Award is a prestigious universitywide honor presented annually by the School of Social Work during its award ceremony at the end of each academic year. This honor is bestowed on a faculty member who demonstrates exceptional levels of involvement in mediating human disputes, helping overcome prejudice, promoting justice and establishing peace through their teaching, research, professional practice and personal life. 📅 EVENTS The Moods of Dotts Johnson in Song May 17; Rowand-Johnson Hall |