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Hartselle Enquirer

Missionaries safe after earthquake in Nepal

Kevin Smithson Weldon and wife Cynthia are Baptist missionaries in Nepal. During the recent earthquake, their home was demolished, but they are safe. They were expecting to sleep in a tent with many survivors, but found a van that was saved and slept in it.

The aftershock knocked their power out, so Kevin will be unable to communicate with his mother in Georgia and his Corinth relatives for some time.

Kevin is the son of the late Ronnie Smithson of the Corinth community and Becky Smithson of the Valdosta, Ga. area. His grandparents were the late Ola Bryant Smithson and Paul Crocker Smithson. Kevin and Cynthia are sponsored in Nepal by their hometown Baptist church and many churches and individuals in several states. Kevin asked his mother to thank all of those who are praying for them and the people of Nepal.

Slater Robinson, a 2014 graduate of Danville High School has been selected for the Auburn University cheerleader squad for 2015-2016. The squad’s first activity was the A Day game. They will cheer in the next school year for football, basketball and some of the volleyball and swim team competitions.

Slater participated in Danville High School football, basketball, baseball and track. His parents are Darryl and Marla Robinson of Danville.

Congratulations go out this week to Cody and Kamee Shedd Morgan on the birth of their son, Michael, born Tues., April 21. The Morgan’s are now at their home on Mt. Vernon Road.

Greg Orr of Danville helped the Gurley Soggy Bottom grill and smoker crew prepare pork and chicken for a Mount Moriah Church fundraiser Fri., April 24. They sold meals at the church on Talucah Road and in Huntsville and Birmingham.

The church members are making improvements on the building and renovating the kitchen. Many relatives came from other states for the event on Friday. Mount Moriah is a lovely historic church and is still very active serving the Talucah, Valhermoso Springs and Cotaco communities. Greg Orr is originally from Talucah and helps in their projects as well as Danville’s events.

Special congratulations go out this week to the Danville-Neel Elementary students who participated in the Special Olympics on April 24 at Decatur’s Ogle Stadium.

Participating students were Buckley Williams and Frankie Aldridge, who got first place in running and second place in the softball throw, Trey Thompson and Gabe Shields, who got first place in running and third place in the softball throw, and Jayden Summerford, who got second place in running and third place in the softball throw.

A big thank you to each and every one who helped with this event.

Corinth West Baptist hosted Senior Citizens Day lunch with a bountiful potluck meal Tues., April 21 at 11 a.m. Belinda Ricks was their food coordinator. Joe Shedd gave an inspiring devotional and Brother Glenn Miller prayed for those on the requests list and blessed the food.

Everyone enjoyed four bingo games and their prizes. Gaynell Wilhite will be in charge of the memorial program for their meeting on Tues., May 19, at 11 a.m. in the fellowship hall. David Shedd, Jeff Reid and Brother Glenn Miller will be preparing a fish fry lunch for the community and area.

Carolyn Besnyl, member of Salem United Methodist (UMC) women and Jennie Turney, president of Forrest Chapel’s (UMC) women attended the NW District United Methodist Women meeting Sat., April 25.

Hartselle First United Methodist (FUMC) women hosted the Spiritual Enrichment Spring program. Tammy Moss, (UMC) women president, welcomed everyone while Beth Rozear, vice president presided. Celia Vest of Basham Chapel (UMC) women president, gave the devotional and Vann Stisher sang, “There’s Always a Rainbow” which was the theme of the morning program.

Speakers for the event were Sue Brantley from the Morgan County Mental Health Department talked about depression and suicide and Angie Hamilton, Assistant District Attorney for Lauderdale County spoke of domestic violence. Hamilton organized One Place in her area for all related domestic violence cases to be discussed at a meeting periodically. The host church served a light lunch, and those attending enjoyed the fellowship time. Others who attended from the Salem unit were Elizabeth Vinzant, president of the United Methodist women, Jane Garner and Kathy Cerullo.

Forrest Chapel (UMC)held their Decoration Day Memorial service Sun., May 3. Rev. Patsy Carlberg conducted the program at their 11 a.m. worship time. Afterward, families and visiting relatives enjoyed a potluck meal in the fellowship hall.

Special get-well wishes go out this week to the Rev. Debbie Vest Wade, pastor at Basham Chapel (UMC), Hank Summerford, youth counselor at McKendree (UMC) and Brenda Wise in Decatur Health and Rehab for physical therapy from heart surgery. She is the former owner of Bella Vintage Antiques.

Special belated happy birthday wishes to Abe Saint, who celebrated his first birthday Sat., April 25. Abe is the son of Heath and Codie Saint.

Round Top Community Church honored Abe Sun. April 26 with a birthday party in the Life Center. His grandparents from Round Top are Roger and Kay Saint and Marie Saint.

Danville High football boosters and a donation from Diamond Pro have added to the Hawks weight room with equipment and personalized machines. Coach Josh LouAllen and the football team are very appreciative of the equipment updating the weight room. Thank you Diamond Pro and the local boosters.

Hopewell Baptist Church Cemetery Decoration Day is May 24 on Hopewell Road off Highway 36 West near Danville.

Fellowship breakfast at 9:30 a.m. is well attended at Rock Springs Baptist Church on Sundays. Bible study groups are at 10 a.m. and morning worship service is at 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Evergreen Methodist Church Decoration Day is Sun., May 24, located on Highway 157 in Massey near the Evergreen Road exit.

Shane Lindsey was the former public health environmentalist for Morgan County for the last 18 years. He was very good at his job and is missed by Danville Grocery’s Deli,  Cross Roads Cafe, Gregg’s Grocery Deli and the Dutch Oven Bakery.

He is now supervisor of the Madison County On-Site Septic Systems Solid Waste. Good wishes go out to Shane.

The late Lewie Rogers of Johnson’s Chapel community was proud of his nephew, John Rogers, supervisor of the Morgan County public health environmentalists in Decatur.

Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery will have their Decoration Day Sun., May 24. This is southwest of Mt. Vernon community.

Christian love and heartfelt prayers go out this week for Betty Wilson Parker, formerly of Falkville, who had a light stroke and has been in Brookwood Hospital. Also to Irene Dutton Pope of Andrew’s community, who suffers from arthritis and other health issues. She will have her 100th birthday in July.

At a Glance

PowerGrid Services in Hartselle evacuated for bomb threat

Morgan County

20 under 40: Trey Chowning

Falkville

20 under 40: TJ Holmes

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20 under 40: Spencer Bell

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20 under 40: Shelby Keenum

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20 under 40: Rachel Howard

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20 under 40: Mary Virgina Halbrooks

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20 under 40: Maggie McKelvey

Decatur

20 under 40: Maegan Jones

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20 under 40: Lindsey Tapscott

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‘He lets us have sex’: More details emerge on Hartselle man accused of child exploitation 

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Hartselle church creates Easter-themed escape rooms 

Danville

Family tradition: State livestock show legacy spans generations

Editor's picks

Baseball for Beau: More than $8k raised for scholarship named after Hartselle child  

Falkville

20 under 40: Lela Weeks

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20 under 40: Kalleigh Thomas

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20 under 40: Jaime Hatcher

Hartselle

Veteran Hartselle firefighter charged with possessing child porn

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Cerrowire expansion named finalist in Business Alabama Awards  

At a Glance

Work begins on repairing two bridges over I-65 in Morgan County in coming weeks

At a Glance

Tickets for Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame banquet available

Falkville

Morgan County volunteers celebrated at annual fire department banquet 

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Man jailed for stealing car from jail after earlier release 

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Police: Hartselle man encouraged children to have sex inside his apartment

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