McKendree United Methodist Church’s Youth group will begin a new program, Bridge Ministry, Tues., Feb. 18, in the youth center.

The church was awarded a grant to fund Bridge Ministry in the Massey community and surrounding area. This will be an after school program, where students can learn from their peers about computers. The classes will be held twice a week.

Another program, “The Daniel Plan,” will start in March. This program will be for senior adults to take computer classes. Anyone wishing more information about these programs can contact Lynn Hogan at 256-303-4529 or send an email to bridgeministrycenter@gmail.com.

The youth group will host the Gum Springs Youth group for dinner and activities Feb. 16.

Members of Shady Grove Baptist Church will be offering a special program Sun., Feb. 16, at 6 p.m. with Sheriff Ana Franklin as speaker..

A group of Shady Grove youth and leaders went to Jennie Lee Road, knocked on doors and asked if they could pray for them. This made a big difference to the families. They knocked on one door and could smell meth cooking and the man told them they needed to leave. Before they left, they prayed for the Lord’s protection and had an escape plan. Shortly after that, the man with the drugs left, making the community safer.

Shady Grove Church pastor Bro.Tom Campbell called the sheriff’s office a week or so ago and they said, “The law has not been called to go there in a long time.”

The youth group and several adults ministered to the families on Jennie Lee Road. At Christmas, they brought gifts for the children and fixed a big meal at the church for them.

During the recent cold snap when the temps were in the single digits, the church collected and distributed 42 blankets, 20 knit caps, 15 scarves, 15 pairs of gloves, seven packages of coffee and 250 boxes of hot chocolate. Ten families were helped with this donation.

The students had a great time sorting and giving out these supplies.

Congratulations to Danville Middle School girls basketball team on their Morgan County championship. This is their third year to win that trophy. The coach is Gary Walker. Outstanding players include Jordan Hinkle, Callie Ryan, Brianna Downs and MaKayla Koins.

Christian love and heartfelt sympathy go out this week to the family of Mike Serta and his daughter, Sierra Serta, who was a student at Danville Middle School. They were both fatally injured in an accident on the way to Danville Jan. 31. Heather Vest, Danville Middle School counselor, had helpers ready to work with those students needing grief counseling.

The Baptist and Presbyterian churches at Campground near Gregg’s Grocery on Alabama 157 are observing Black History Month. The Campground Cemetery has some of the oldest gravesites in the Danville and Massey area.

Many of the Hopewell, Danville and Massey community black leaders are interred there. Byrd Wilhite ran a sorghum mill in the Mt. Nebo community in the 1930s. He later moved to the Campground area.

Some of his descendants are living there today. He was loved and respected by all citizens.

Other leaders of 60 and 70 years ago were Wallace Orr, Rufus Sharpley, Mark Elliott, the Bibb family and others. La France Sharpley and his family lived behind Massey School on the Lewis Caperton farm. He was active in community, farm and school activities and later worked for the city of Hartselle until he retired.

There were elementary schools for blacks, but the high school, Morgan County Training School, was in Hartselle. Isaac Stallworth was principal and our area youth were fortunate that he promoted academics and athletics.

After integration, the schools were glad to have the MCTS students. Danville-Neel Elemen-tary, Danville Middle School and Danville High Schools will be celebrating, Black History Month as well. History and social studies groups will learn about outstanding blacks in our nation’s and Alabama’s history.

English classes will study black authors and poets. Science classes enjoy the George Washington Carver contribution of peanut research.

Most students are interested in our Alabama musicians and athletes. Jesse Owens of the Oakville-Danville area was an Olympic gold medal winner in track. There is a park with a monument in his honor at Oakville.

Bo Jackson, outstanding Auburn football star also played professional baseball for the Kansas City Royals. He attended McAdory High in McCalla near Bessemer. Willie Mays and Hank Aaron were professional baseball greats.

Adults and students alike enjoy the musical contributions of W.C. Handy of Florence and Nat King Cole of the Montgomery area. Lionel Richie was from Tuskegee.

He won awards for composing and singing. He also plays piano. His grandmother was a professor in the Tuskegee Institute music department.

The history of black music in this country is popular and all or some types are familiar and appreciated by decades of students and parents. The schools are commended for their efforts this month.

Happy birthday wishes go out this week to Lorene Bryant on her 94th birthday Sun., Feb. 16, Karen Bryant Walker on her 70th birthday today, Feb. 12.

More happy birthday wishes go out to Justin Turrentine on Feb. 12, Ray Edwards and Kayden Self on Feb. 13 and Matthew Terry on Feb. 14.

Belated happy birthday wishes go out this week to Tricia O’Kelley, Wilma Smith, Maddie Woodall, Mason Woodall, all on Feb. 1, James Roden, Tad Campbell, Kelsie Hanline on Feb. 2, Lee Ann Crow on Feb. 5, Alline Clark on Feb. 6, Ainsley Maples on Feb. 7, Jo Ann Alexander and Tracy LaRoche on Feb. 9 and A. J. Maples on Feb. 11.

Belated happy wedding anniversary wishes go out this week to Jimmie and Mildred Lake on their 48th wedding anniversary Feb. 4, Dale and Hannah Burch on their third wedding anniversary Feb. 5, Macky and Evon Vest on their 44th wedding anniversary Feb. 6, and Virgil and Jane Vest on their 43rd wedding anniversary Feb.6.

Happy wedding anniversary wishes go out this week to Harvey and Pat McCleskey on their 18th wedding anniversary on Feb. 14.