By Darius Cates
May 2024
Second graders from Union Springs Elementary School filled their cafeteria on Friday, May 10, after finishing ten weeks in the Super Citizen Program, they gathered to celebrate their accomplishments and honor local heroes from the stage.
By Felicia Farnsworth
Shannon Dias and her roommates have lost everything in a devastating house fire that occurred on Mother’s Day at her rental home on Fourth Street. Dias heard a popping noise and noticed smoke coming from one of the bedrooms. Her first thought was that maybe it was the oven. Upon further investigation she realized it wasn’t the oven but the fire was ablaze in her roommate’s bedroom. Previous to the fire they had complained to their landlord about having electrical problems.
By Felicia Farnsworth
The Black Women’s Mental Health Institute hosted a Black Belt Community Wellness Workshop focused on Creating a Mental Wellness Plan on Thursday, May 9, at the Richard B. Stone Complex in Union Springs.
Another inmate has died at the Bullock Correctional Facility. According to ADOC, on Sunday, May 12, Wesley Matthew Abernathy, 31, was discovered in medical distress in his cell. He was taken to the Health Care Unit, where medical staff administered life-saving measures, but were unable to resuscitate him. He was pronounced dead by the attending physician.
In April, Tarver family members came near and far to gather together at the home of Tim and Loretta Shields and remember those who have passed on. The Shields’ hosted close to sixty family members with a pot luck meal. The family members had shirts made that said “Ain’t no Family like the one I got!” Family members consisted of grandparents, grandchildren, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews. The younger generations enjoyed a bounce house and games played by all. (Photo taken by Tim Shields)
By Felicia Farnsworth
The Bullock County Art Guild held their May meeting on Thursday, May 2 at the Josephine Arts Center in Union Springs. The meeting began at 12:17 p.m. Art Guild President, Mr. Philip Duvic called the meeting to order. The approval of the minutes from April’s meeting followed. The treasurer was not present, however she gave her report via text message.
On Tuesday, May 7, 2024, Commissioner Don Larkins happened to notice that one of the windows on the courthouse was loose and about to fall out. He immediately contacted Tony Glaze and had the window replaced and fixed the same day. (Photo by Barbara McLaurine)
Tourism in Alabama’s 23-county Black Belt region generated an annual economic impact of $3.8 billion in 2023 and accounted for about 45,500 jobs, according to a new report commissioned by the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association (ALBBAA).
The economic impact of tourism on the Black Belt roughly doubled from 2020 to 2023, growing from $1.9 billion in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, to $3.8 billion 2023.
By Frank Reynoso
Scripture:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
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