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.
2025 Holiday Deadlines: 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.
Visit our Christmas Page for upcoming local holiday events, Santa letter coloring sheets, local columnists Christmas Stories, and more at https://www.recordjournal.net/home/christmas/
Alabama Extension Agricultural Outlook Meeting
Join us on Jan. 15, 2026, from 12-2 p.m. at the Choctaw County Extension Office, 218 S. Hamburg Street, Butler, for an Agricultural Outlook Meeting. We will discuss the current cattle market, commodity prices, and the futures market predictions. Hear from two incredible guest-lecturers: Mr. Max Runge – Auburn University Ag Economist Professor, Mr. Ken Kelley – Farm and Agribusiness Extension Agent, This is a FREE event, but please RSVP as lunch will be provided. Register online at: https://www.aces.edu/event/agricultural-outlook-meeting/ or by calling Court Green-Johnson at (205) 659-6796
Christmas Drive Thru Free Food Give’a’way
Wed., Dec. 10 at Sumter County Rescue Squad, 1509 4th Ave., Hwy. 11, York, at 10 a.m. start time. First come, first served. In collaboratoin with West Alabama Food Bank, BlackBelt Gospel Ministry, West Alabama Coalition, Sumter County Rescue Squad, Com. Tommy Armistead, Com. Marcus Campbell, Com. D. Jones.
Alabama Black Belt Adventures launches 14th year of Big Buck Photo Contest
Alabama’s Black Belt has earned a reputation as one of America’s premiere deer hunting destinations, and the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association (ALBBAA) wants to showcase your best buck again this year. ALBBAA is sponsoring its Big Buck Photo Contest for the 14th consecutive year, and the winner will be determined by online voting. The winner of the year’s contest will receive a $100 gift card and a copy of Black Belt Bounty, a coffee table book filled with stunning images, wildlife essays, colorful stories on our hunting and fishing traditions, wild game recipes and more. The contest is now open and voting will conclude on Feb. 13, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Alabama’s deer hunting season began last month for bow hunters, and the gun deer season starts with special youth hunts on Nov. 14-17. The full gun season runs from Nov. 22 to Feb. 10, 2026, in most parts of the state. ALBBAA encourages all hunters to follow all deer regulations for the 2025-26 Alabama deer hunting season, which can be found online.
Here are key rules and guidelines for ALBBAA’s 14th annual Big Buck Photo Contest: All entries must be made online through the ALBBAA website, and the photo must show a buck harvested from within the 23-county Black Belt region. The buck must be taken during 2025-2026 whitetail deer season. The winner of the contest is selected exclusively through online voting. Contest entries are submitted and all votes cast online via the same web page: https://alabamablackbeltadventures.org/news-more/shoot-the-black-belt/big-buck-photo-contest/ Voters may cast one vote per day, per entry, per IP address. In the case of any dispute, the decision of ALBBAA is final. Photo contest winners from the previous two years are not eligible for entry. ALBBAA reserves the right to approve or reject any photo submitted. Cause for a photo’s disqualification can include, but is not limited to, the following: The photo content presents the subject in an unethical or disrespectful composition.
The photo content is perceived to cast a negative perception of hunters and their contribution to the management of wildlife.Voting violation which imposes an unfair advantage to others.
The contestant who receives the most online votes before balloting ends will be declared the winner. Before a winner is declared, ALBBAA will audit voting to make sure all contest rules were followed.
Voting will conclude at 11:59 PM on Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, which will give voters time to cast ballots for any photos submitted after the final week of the season.
All sportsmen and sportswomen should purchase a hunting license online through the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources before heading afield. Additionally, successful hunters are also reminded to report all harvested deer through Game Check. 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.
Ruby Pickens Tartt Library Storytime
Join us every Tuesday at 3:30 as we dive into new adventures! Perfect for kids of all ages, our Storytime is a wonderful way to spark a love for reading and imagination. We can’t wait to see you there!
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
Shelton State Community College Fall Commencements
All events are open to the public. Ceremonies will take place in the Martin Campus Gymnasium and will be live-streamed on the College’s YouTube channel. It is important to note that doors will remain closed after each ceremony begins. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to ensure seating. Overflow seating will be available in the Atrium. Thurs., Dec. 11: 3 p.m. – Health Information Technology/Respiratory Therapy Pinning Ceremony; 6 p.m. – Nursing Pinning Ceremony. Fri., Dec. 12: 9 a.m. – Technical Programs Graduation Ceremony; 11 a.m. – Academic & Health Services Graduation Ceremony. The College’s commencement guest speaker will be Alabama Community College System (ACCS) Board of Trustees member Llevelyn Rhone. Mr. Rhone is a Project Executive with Direct Invest Development, an impact-focused real estate firm advancing sustainable, community-centered developments across the United States. A fifth-generation Black Belt native, he has more than three decades of experience in operations, economic and community development, entrepreneurship, project management, and management consulting. Through his role on the ACCS Board, including that of past Chairman, Mr. Rhone helps guide a system that includes Shelton State, that serves more than 170,000 learners each year, and contributes over $8.1 billion annually to Alabama’s economy, underscoring his belief in the transformative power of two-year colleges. A resident of Greensboro, Mr. Rhone holds an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University. For more information about other upcoming events at Shelton State, visit sheltonstate.edu.
A Night in Bethlehem
Please join us Thursday, December 11, in the Sumter Central High School Gym at 9:30 a.m., or 6 p.m. for the A Night in Bethlehem play. Admission is free of charge.
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!
UA to Hold Fall 2025 Commencement Dec. 13
The University of Alabama will hold fall commencement with two ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 13, at Coleman Coliseum on the UA campus.
Mediacom Offers $60,000 in Scholarships to High School Seniors
Mediacom Communications is offering $60,000 in scholarship support for high school seniors planning to obtain further education. The scholarship program is in its 25th consecutive year, and Mediacom’s investment will award $1,000 World Class Scholarships to 60 high school seniors. Starting in the fall of 2026, scholarship recipients have the flexibility to use the financial awards to support post-secondary college costs or vocational training from an accredited institution. Award selection is based on academic achievement and leadership accomplishments. Mediacom’s World Class Scholarship application process is hosted online: mediacomworldclass.com. Applications, including letters of recommendation and high school transcripts, must be submitted online. Information has been sent to high schools in areas where Mediacom delivers its high-speed internet services. High school officials are asked to encourage seniors to submit online applications before the January 5, 2026, deadline. World Class Scholarship applicants do not have to be Mediacom customers but must live in the 22-state area served by Mediacom’s fiber-rich broadband network. A complete list of communities in Mediacom’s service areas is available on the World Class Scholarship website. Inquiries about the scholarship may be sent to: scholarship@mediacomcc.com.
UA Preview: This Week at The University of Alabama
| Dec. 8, 2025 📰 BEST BETS Fall Commencement Set for Dec. 13 The University of Alabama will hold fall commencement with two ceremonies Saturday, Dec. 13, at Coleman Coliseum on the UA campus. Why This Matters: More than 2,100 degrees will be awarded. Each year, UA awards around 9,000 degrees, with graduates infusing the state and nation’s workforce with highly educated talent. For more information, contact Alex House at alex.house@ua.edu. UA Museums Hosts Free Holiday Events UA Museums invites visitors to enjoy the holidays with free events at the Gorgas House Museum, Paul W. Bryant Museum and Alabama Museum of Natural History. For more information, contact Rebecca Johnson at rljohnson8@ua.edu. UMC Expands Neurology Care University Medical Center, operated by the College of Community Health Sciences, is expanding neurology care and related services with the addition of one of the state’s largest private neurology groups. Why This Matters: Alabama Neurology and Sleep Medicine in Tuscaloosa joins UMC Dec. 12 as UMC-Neurology and Sleep Medicine and brings to UMC patients additional care for neurological diseases as well as new services for those with sleep disorders. For more information, contact Leslie Zganjar at lzganjar@ua.edu. Gothic Architecture Scholar Wins Blackmon-Moody Award Dr. Jennifer Feltman, associate professor of medieval art and architecture, is the 2025 recipient of UA’s Blackmon-Moody Outstanding Professor Award. Why This Matters: An internationally recognized specialist in French Gothic architecture and sculpture, she conducts research integrating art history, scientific methods, and digital technology to investigate the design, interpretation, and restoration of Gothic cathedrals and their sculptures over time. Notably, Feltman has received acclaim for her role in restoring Notre-Dame de Paris, the world’s most famous cathedral. |