Danville-Neel Elementary School will hold their open house Tues., Aug. 11 at 1:45 p.m. for first and second grades, and third and fourth grades will be at 2:30 p.m. The first day of school for all students will be Wed., Aug. 12. Kindergarten orientation will be held Aug. 12, from 8-10 a.m., and Aug. 13 -14, they will attend from 7:45 to 11:45 a.m. Following the kindergarten orientation, the students will leave with their parents.

Good wishes and prayers are with our public and private school administrators, teachers, support staff, students and parents as a new school year is started. Beginning new classes, starting fall sports and having the yellow buses back are exciting to those active and retired.

Belated happy birthday wishes go out this week to Gary Taylor on July 27, Taylor Jones on July 28, Max Roden on July 30, and Steve Terry and Aleshia Dobbins on July 31.

Happy birthday wishes go out this week for Fred Smith on August 10.

Special belated happy anniversary wishes to my friends, Jolene and Chris Warnick as they enjoyed celebrating their first anniversary on July 26.

Lori Nelson, Mary Turney, Gloria Robertson, Amanda Raley, Donna Cunningham and Ruby Story were committee members in charge of the United Methodist women’s fund-raiser at Forrest Chapel UMC Wed., July 22, at 6 p.m. Several of the women prepared slaw, beans, pickles, chips, cookies and ice cream. The men’s group was in charge of smoking and barbecuing pork. The administrative council members enjoyed the meal in the fellowship hall before their quarterly business and planning meeting. Funds raised will be used for the UMC women’s mission projects.

Shady Grove Baptist Church members express Christian love and heartfelt prayers for the following soldiers: Wes Parker and Justen Terry in Navy, Jeremy White, Anthony Thomas and Jimmy Frisbee in Guam; and Lee Thompson and Brad Wallace. God bless all of our soldiers and their families, and God bless America.

Corinth West Methodist Church will be hosting an all-day singing on the fourth Sunday, Aug. 23, at 10:30 a.m. with lunch at noon in the fellowship hall. At the 1 p.m. convention, gospel singing will continue with shape notes so the whole audience can participate. Darrell Ray Maddox is the chairman. The singing is in memory of Doyle and Stella Walker. Their descendants Linda Walker, Kathryn Maddox, Jacky Walker and Joyce Blackmon and families lead the singing of Doyle’s favorite songs. He was chairman of the singing for many years. The closing song “Will the circle be unbroken?” features two pianos, guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle and bass. Refreshments will be served afterward off the back of a pick up truck by the front porch. Everyone is invited to this all-day music and fellowship.

Get well wishes go out to Glenn Dora Brown Conour of Huckaby West Lacon Road. Glenn Dora is in rehab at Summerford Nursing Home. Get well wishes also go out to Laverne Gray Holladay.

Christian love and heartfelt sympathy goes out this week for the family of Dorothy Nell Hogan Smith, who passed away at her residence July 17. Her funeral service was held at Peck Funeral Home Chapel Sun., July 19, with burial at Andrews Chapel Cemetery.

Special singing for the Summerford Nursing Home’s fourth Sunday, July 26, was provided by Charles Holladay, Vaughn Burden, Joe Fitzgerald and “Pee Wee” Murphy. Residents and visitors enjoyed their quartet songs and the congregational singing of old hymns and gospel convention songs.

The Rev. DeWayne Woodall was the evangelist for Piney Grove Congressional Methodist Church on Hwy. 41 and the Old Corn Road revival July 27-29 at 7 p.m. Brother DeWayne is from the Moulton district. Trillis Hightower was the music director for the services each night. Rev. Dwight NeSmith is Piney Grove’s pastor. He is also from the Moulton area.

Thoughts and prayers are with Renee Tanner Hardin as she is fighting an infection and recovering from surgery. Renee is formerly from the Massey community and now lives in the Fairview community. She is the wife of New Life-God’s Church pastor, Rev. Phillip Hardin.

Many from the news area remember the delicious food and coffee at Java Jaay’s when Vickie Hamilton was the owner, and later it was Java House on Nanceford Road. Everyone is proud to welcome Vickie back to providing us with good eats and drinks at Gracie Renee’s on Hwy. 31 South in Hartselle. She hopes to have a grand opening in August and is now open Monday through Saturday.

Mt. Nebo Baptist Church at Massey had their summer revival Aug. 2 -5 at 7 p.m. Tammy Whitten and Geoff Halbrooks were music directors and presented special songs. The evangelist was the Rev. Jacky Kay. Rev. Greg Compton appreciates the members and community’s support during the services.

Congratulations and good wishes go out to Sandy Fields, the agri-science teacher at Danville High School who is retiring after 29 years of teaching students. Sandy was FFA sponsor and his talents and leadership were known state-wide and nationally. Sandy was born a farmer in the Massey community. He has driven a pick up truck to the pastures and fields since he was young. He had cushions and book props in order to see out. If you met the truck, it was difficult to see the driver. He was a very young tractor driver, as well. Danville High School and the communities it serves will miss Sandy and his dedication to teaching and caring about young people and their futures.

Christian love and heartfelt prayers go out to Kathryn Maddox of Cullman, who is recovering from a fall, broken arm and treatment from the Wound Center. Kathryn is formerly from the Mt. Vernon community. People remember her as a teacher in Morgan and Cullman County High Schools and the junior colleges. Also, she was a long time member of The Corinth Singers group and active in gospel singings in many areas. The late Joe Wayne Maddox was also a college teacher and from a music-oriented family at Corinth. His mother, Hettie Jennings Maddox, was a hymn and gospel songwriter. Joe Wayne and Kathryn’s daughters, Shelley and Melanie Maddox, are also convention singers and musicians.