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 scrjmedia@yahoo.com. We can not take anything over the phone due to company policy.
Holiday deadlines for 2026: Sumter County Record Journal will be closed for Memorial Day, May 25. We will have a late deadline for Tuesday morning, May 26 By NOON for the May 28th edition. Sumter County Record Journal will be closed for Independence Day Friday, July 3. Sumter County Record Journal will be closed for Labor Day, Sept. 8. We will have a late deadline for Tuesday, Sept. 9 for the Sept. 11 edition. Sumter County Record Journal 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 for the Thanksgiving edition 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. Sumter County Record Journal will be closed Dec. 21-Jan. 3 for the holidays.
Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Training and Certification Program
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System will host a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Training and Certification Program on Thurs., May 14, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in Carrollton. The training will be held at the Service Center Building, located at 155 Reform St., Carrollton. This program is designed to provide beef producers with up-to-date information on best management practices that ensure the production of safe, high-quality beef. Participants will have the opportunity to become BQA certified or renew their certification. We encourage all cattle producers and industry professionals to attend. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Pickens County Extension Office at 205-367-8148.RSVP online via this link: http://aub.ie/CarrolltonBQA
IVVetts Present Confident Beginnings
A free seminar for new and expecting parents with free baby supplies on June 6 at 10 a.m. at 1453 East 4th St., York. Pre-register to reserve your seat by calling or texting 731-343-3925. Yolanda Fredrickson is the featured speaker and a certified childbirth educator since 2017. Sponsored by IV Vets and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
York Clean-Up Day
The City of York is organizing a community wide cleanup to take place on May 16. Times and locations to be announced. Join us as we work together to keep our city clean, safe, and beautiful. Supplies will be provided. Community service hours available. www.cityofyorkal.org
Community Garden Volunteers Needed at the Coleman Center For the Arts Garden
Help us grow our garden and expand our garden programs. Our garden is open to the public; we are happy to collaborate with community groups, churches, and schools to provide garden programming. Email us at info@colemanarts.org for more information, or to sign up as a volunteer.
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.
School Events
Hightower Memorial Library Summer Reading Program June 1–30
Registration is open now until May 1. See you at the library.
Aliceville Public Library is 2026 Summer Reading Program
The Aliceville Public Library is excited to host our 2026 Summer Reading Program! Join us for a fun-filled week of reading adventures, games, crafts, activities, and prizes June 8-12, at 9:30-11 a.m. Ages 6–13 are welcome. Please register with the circulation desk staff. Must have a valid library card with no fines or fees. Parents are welcome to stay and join the fun. Let’s make this summer unforgettable one story at a time! Questions? Call 205-373-6691, Email: avillelibrary416@gmail.com.
AHFA Invites Alabama Kids to ‘Draw Your Dream Home’
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The fifth annual National Homeownership Month art contest sponsored by the Alabama Housing Finance Authority (AHFA) opens for entries May 1. The contest is designed to highlight the impact and value of homeownership during the national observance each year. The 2026 theme, “Draw Your Dream Home,” invites Alabama children between the ages of 5 and 12 to let their imaginations run wild in designing the home of their dreams. “We are asking young creators to gather their art supplies and put on their thinking caps,” said AHFA Single-Family Administrator Carrie Hamaker. “Whether it’s a tree house, a beach house, a castle or a cozy cabin, we want to see fun, unique designs that showcase originality.” Contest details and the entry link are available at woobox.com/ytp22r. Parents can help their kids upload a photo of their designs through 11:59 p.m. CST on Sat., June 6. Contest entry is free. Winners will be notified and prizes awarded in June during Homeownership Month celebrations. To learn more about AHFA Kids programs and financial literacy, visit www.ahfa.com/programs/ahfa-kids.
$100,000 in Scholarships Available for Those Seeking Careers in Construction and Aviation
The Alabama Community College System (ACCS) and the Alabama Association of Resource Conservation, & Development Councils (RCD) are jointly offering $100,000 in scholarships for Alabama residents interested in pursuing high-demand careers in the aviation and construction industry at an ACCS institution. Applications for the ‘Building Futures: Enhancing Lives with Scholarships’ will officially be accepted starting May 4. This initiative will award $2,000 scholarships to only 50 students enrolled in an eligible program at an Alabama community college. The scholarships cover tuition, books, and fees to help traditional, non-traditional, and Veteran students gain job-ready skills. Eligible programs include the following: Aviation Mechanics, Avionics, Construction Management, Welders and Pipefitters, HVAC/R Technicians, Carpenters, Electricians, Plumbers.To qualify for Building Futures, students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA and must be an Alabama resident. Students must be enrolled in one of the listed short-term certificates, non-credit, or associate degree programs. Dually enrolled high school seniors planning to pursue aviation or construction at an Alabama community college are encouraged to apply. The deadline to apply is June 12, 2026. Applications can be submitted online right now through the website: https://www.accs.edu/buildingfutures/
UA Preview: This Week at The University of Alabama
| May 11, 2026 📰 BEST BETS UA Seeks State’s First School of Data Science The University of Alabama will pursue the establishment of the School of Data Science, the first academic unit of its kind in the state of Alabama focused on artificial intelligence and one of the first dedicated data science schools in the southern United States. Why This Matters: Pending approval by The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama, this transformative initiative positions UA as a regional and national leader in data-driven research, education and innovation centered on the responsible use of artificial intelligence. For more information, contact Alex House at alex.house@ua.edu. Students, Alumnus Earn NSF Research Awards Five UA students and one alumnus have been selected for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, which supports fellowships for outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time, research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering or math, including STEM education. Why This Matters: The NSF GRFP is one of the nation’s most prestigious fellowship programs, providing three years of financial support, over five years, to graduate students who have demonstrated potential for significant achievements in research. For more than 75 years, GRFP has played a critical role in developing the talent pipeline required for sustaining U.S. leadership in science. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu. Summer Road Closures Several roadways and service areas across campus will experience temporary closures in summer 2026. Faculty, staff, students and guests are encouraged to plan alternate routes and allow additional travel time in affected areas. 📅 EVENTS Saturday in the Park: Invasive Plants May 16; Moundville Archaeological Park |