U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-·čżÍÖ±˛Ą, opened National Small Business Week with a “Terri Talks” virtual discussion featuring Reflections Coffee Shoppe owner Jackie Smith.

The virtual showcase was titled “Sipping on Success: The Story of ·čżÍÖ±˛Ąâ€™s Award-Winning Small Business Owner Jackie Smith.”

Smith discussed overcoming adversity to open her first coffee shop over a decade ago and admitted she stumbled at the start.

“It was a struggle for me, I didn’t make my first profit until seven years,” Smith said. “My success did not happen overnight. I learned the tricks of the trade.”

Sewell said Smith’s triumph against the odds is an inspiration to several small businesses that failed over the years.

“Jackie Smith gave ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą a place to mingle and eat good food,” Sewell said. “She had so many hardships to overcome.”

Smith offered advice to people with small business aspirations.

“Don’t give up,” Smith said. “Starting a business is not easy. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Do what you love and love what you do. Start a business in your hometown. Invest in your community.”

Smith thanked Sewell for always fighting for small businesses, especially in the seventh congressional district.

Sewell said over half of the country’s workforce consists of small businesses.

“Small businesses are the strongest economic engine in our country and the backbone of our economy, and I am committed to doing what I can to help them thrive,” Sewell said.

The post Smith, Sewell hold virtual discussion during National Small Business week appeared first on The ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Times‑Journal.

LIFT Ministries and the Spirit of Luke Foundation are partnering with the Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW) for a community giveaway and health fair on Saturday at 299 Kingsbend Road.

The program, “Reaching Out for Healthier Community,” is a giveaway and health fair from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Food, clothing, medical projects and hygiene items will be given away. Doctors will also be on hand for medical examinations and answer health questions.  

A $10 VISA gift card will be given to the event’s first 20 participants. 

LaTanglia Dozier, event co-chair, said the VFW is important for several reasons.

“The VFW is ·čżÍÖ±˛Ąâ€™s best-kept secret,” Dozier said. “The VFW provides support and resources for veterans, including assistance with obtaining benefits, access to health care, and help with transitioning back to civilian life. They also offer financial assistance for veterans in need. The VFW advocates for veterans’ rights and interests at the local, state, and national levels. They work to ensure that veterans receive the benefits and support they deserve. Overall, the VFW plays a crucial role in supporting and advocating for veterans, preserving their legacy, and promoting patriotism and respect for those who have served our country.”

If anyone wants to participate as a vendor, contact Dozier at 334-412-8168. Transportation will also be provided.

The post LIFT Ministries, Spirit of Luke working with Veteran of Foreign Wars appeared first on The ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Times‑Journal.

Families joined with local, state and federal officials to remember and raise awareness of crime victims in the Fourth Circuit Court District Saturday at the ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Amphitheater for a National Crime Victims Week ceremony.

Families of local crime victims set up tents around the amphitheater area decorated with photos, candles and memorabilia of their lost loved ones. Some even created T-shirts with photos of their loved ones.

At one tent, there was a memorial for Cameron Struggs, Corey Hardy, Antonio Greene and Quienten Thomas, who were all killed in incidents ranging from 2016 to 2023.

Candis Preer, who is one of the families’ members, said events like Saturday are very important for her.

“It’s important to get the word out that violence is not the answer,” she said. “I would never wish this on anyone.”

Tanya McElroy, a loved one of another fallen victim, said it’s comforting to see everyone here. 

“It’s comforting to see all of the families out here,” McElroy said. “It lets you know that you’re not alone. It’s great to see the community out here supporting all of us.”

Kristina Rose, director of the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), was the keynote speaker at the 4th Circuit Victims of Crime Ceremony in Dallas County. She said it is important for those who experience trauma due to crimes to get help, especially for children.

“In communities where violence is so prevalent, there’s a tendency to forget that those who commit the harm are often the same ones who experience harm themselves or suffered trauma as young children or throughout their lives,” Rose said. “And we know that trauma, if unaddressed, can seriously impact the forward trajectory of a child’s life. Ensuring that children impacted by violence and abuse have immediate access to services is critical to their future wellbeing.”

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said more needs to be done to make sure offenders are prosecuted..

“One thing that I recognize is when we gather at events like this, that in some respects it is bittersweet,” Marshall said. “While it is important that we honor the lives of those that surround us at these tables and that are on your shirts, it’s also a reminder of why they’re not here.

“The truth is no one should face violent crime in our country. We should be able to feel safe in our communities in the places that we live. And when violent crime happens, we need to make sure that we hold those offenders accountable.”

Byron Evans representing Rep. Terri Sewell, D-·čżÍÖ±˛Ą, said presented a resolution acknowledging Crime Victims Week. He said something must be done to prevent the crimes from happening.

“While we find solace in the outpouring of support from friends and family and neighbors in the wake of these tragedies, we must truly ask if we are going to do all we can to be proactive to stop these crimes before they happen,” Evans said. “My colleagues and I must work to pass common sense criminal justice reform to combat the rampant senseless violence in this country. It is our responsibility to provide resources that are necessary to break the cycle and protect the communities.”

District Attorney Robert Turner Jr. said far too often the person charged with the crime gets attention in the media, but victims are forgotten.

“We see a mugshot of the person who was charged with the crime, and oftentimes what we don’t do is our feature stories on the victims,” Turner said. “We don’t get the impact that the crime has had on the victims. And one of the things that we aim to do during the course of our administration, and we hope that other people take our lead in this, is to keep the names of the victims and keep their stories alive, keep their stories in the forefront.”

The post Crime victims recognized at ceremony appeared first on The ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Times‑Journal.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall delivers remarks during the 4th Circuit Victims of Crime Ceremony in Dallas County on Saturday, April 27, at the ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Amphitheater.

Kristina Rose, director of the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), was the keynote speaker of the event.

The event was held Saturday at the ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Amphitheater. The event was emceed by District Attorney Robert Turner Jr. and also featured speeches by a representative from Rep. Terri Sewell, D-·čżÍÖ±˛Ą, Dallas County Sheriff Mike Grantham and a representative from the ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Police Department.

The post Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall delivers remarks at victims of crime ceremony appeared first on The ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Times‑Journal.

Kristina Rose, director of the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), was the keynote speaker at the 4th Circuit Victims of Crime Ceremony in Dallas County.

According to her website page, Rose oversees programs and services that support crime victims and survivors.

The event was held Saturday at the ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Amphitheater. The event was emceed by District Attorney Robert Turner Jr. and also featured speeches by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, a representative from Rep. Terri Sewell, D-·čżÍÖ±˛Ą, Dallas County Sheriff Mike Grantham and a representative from the ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Police Department.

The post Kristina Rose with U.S. DOJ speaks at victims of crime ceremony appeared first on The ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Times‑Journal.

On Jan. 12, 2023, Tamicka Newberry lost everything she had to the EF-2 tornado that ravaged downtown ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą.

Fifteen months later, she won the lottery to receive the first new home on Washington Street as part of a coordinated effort between the ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Housing Authority, Black Belt Community Foundation and the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA) to help the city rebuild.

Newberry couldn’t contain her excitement, as she immediately started jumping for joy and raising her hands to God in praise for what happened.

“I just thank God,” Newberry said. “My grandma always told me, God’s not gonna put too much on you that you can’t bear. I just go one day at a time. He blessed me.”

The moment brought tears to the eyes of Kennard Randolph, president of the ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Housing Authority.

“You know, that’s why I have these shades on because I knew that it was going to get emotional, and just to see her overjoyed, I mean, that’s what the work that I do and the work that the housing authority staff does, this is what it’s about. It’s about changing lives, transforming lives to help people become self-sufficient. So this is a part of that process, and I’m just overjoyed that we have our first homeowner.”

‘It’s a game-changer’

Newberry’s home is just the first of five homes already ready to go on Washington Street for qualified persons who will use their Section Eight vouchers to pay the low-interest mortgage on their house, helping them build equity and eventually becoming homeowners, according to Bruce Marks, CEO and founder of NACA.

Marks said his company provides mortgages that require no down payment, no closing costs and no fees with fixed interest rates below market rate and without consideration of anyone’s credit score. For these homes specifically, they are built up to code and assembled on site to keep the cost down while providing a quality, up-to-code home.

The homes range from two-bedroom homes up to four-bedroom homes depending on how much their voucher allows them to have. Those vouchers will then be used as monthly payments to apply to pay off their loans.

“It’s a game changer because someone who starts out with no wealth will end up in 15 years with over $200,000 in wealth,” Marks said. “So instead of using that to pay the landlord and generate wealth for the landlord, we use it for the housing choice recipient to generate wealth for themselves. So in 15 years, they would own it out right.”

More miracles on the way

Randolph said they have five other homes ready to go on the block and five more on the way. And he has bigger dreams than that to help out those go from being Section Eight tenants to homeowners.

“These homes are set aside for them,” Randolph said. “We have five more coming, and so we want to get those sold. The goal is to have 27 initial homes that we wanna put down, but the goal is to put up a hundred. And once we put a hundred, we may go to 200.”

Marks said this might be the first time he’s seen this type of program in a community around the nation. 

“This is a miracle –  somebody who was impacted by the tornado and lost everything and now owns a house, free and clear,” Marks said. “I don’t think this happens anywhere else. So I think this is not just a ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą story, it’s a national story.”

For Newberry, this is just a dream come true for her, her husband, children and grandchildren to have a great home with a big kitchen.

“I always wanted my own and I got it,” Newberry said. “It’s awesome. I feel good.”

The post ‘God blessed me’: Newberry gets first new home on Washington Street appeared first on The ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Times‑Journal.

If you’re looking for unusual and unique treasures, you might just find that this weekend along U.S. 80 as the annual Historic U.S. 80 Yard Sale gets going Friday and Saturday.

One of the main stops on the yard sale route is right here in ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą at Angie’s Auctions. The auction house, which is located two miles off County Road 44, has been participating in the event for the last two decades.

Bo Morgan, who owns the business with his wife and professional auctioneer Angie, said there’s no telling what you will find when you go to a yard sale like this one.

“It’s treasure hunting,” Morgan said. “There’s a lot of handmade goods — chimes, a lot of antiques, all kinds of cast iron stuff and a lot of unusual stuff. And we actually have a guy that will refurbish your cast iron cookware. I mean, it’s just everything from A to Z.”

Vendors were already setting up on Thursday, and more are expected Friday when shoppers will be arriving. 

Vendors come from around a 60-mile radius. Rick Burton comes to ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą every year from Meridian, Mississippi to participate in the Angie’s yard sale stop.

“I think this might be the best one on the entire Highway 80 route,” Burton said. “I’ve even seen the guys from American Pickers down here before. I don’t know if they’re coming this year, but you just never know who you’re going to run into down here.”

Morgan said shoppers comes from as far away as 300 miles, saying that people come to their yard sale from Tuscaloosa, Mobile, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia and beyond. 

“And some of ’em a little further because they’re stopping because we’re just part of their route,” Morgan said. “We love them. They expect us to be here every year, and we will. We always do this on the third weekend of April every year, rain shine. It doesn’t matter.”

In addition to the yard sale vendors, Morgan said they will have some food vendors set up offering food from breakfast to dinner. The yard sale begins at sunrise and ends at sunset on both days.

While the treasure hunting is special, Burton said it’s the people that make the yard sale worth it.

“What’s really neat is the people you meet,” Burton said. “That’s the best part. Don’t get me wrong, the selling is nice, but it’s the people you meet is what’s really special.” 

The post Treasure hunting: U.S. 80 yard sale set for this weekend appeared first on The ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Times‑Journal.

This week

• The ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Charity League – Brunch, Bloom, & Bogeys is slated for Saturday, April 13 from 1-3:30 p.m. at Tin Cup in Valley Grande. Tickets are $45 and include admission to the event, all food and beverages and your choice of either a custom-made bouquet or entry into the golf chipping contest. Tickets can be purchased from any active league member.

Upcoming

• The annual men’s and women’s day program at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Orrville at 1:30 p.m. April 21.

• The next regular Dallas County Board of Education meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25, in the commissioners’ chambers at the Dallas County Courthouse.

• Dallas County EMA will distribute 29 pre-programmed weather radios at several locations: Monday, April 29, at E.M. Brown Community Center; Tuesday, April 30 at Safford Volunteer Fire Department; May 1 at Plantersville Volunteer Fire Department and May 2 at ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Fire Department (Station 3). All times are between 10-11 a.m.

• The 26th annual jobs and resource fair will be held from 9 a.m. until noon May 8 at the Dallas County Department of Human Resources.

• The Black Belt Benefit Group is planning Rockin’ Rib Off on Saturday, June 1 at 1122 Water Avenue in ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą.

The post Community Calendar for April 10, 2024 appeared first on The ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Times‑Journal.

Asher HaVon, a contestant on season 25 of The VOICE, will be coming to ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą soon.

The 2010 graduate of ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą High also wants to talk about how being educated in the ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą City School District positively impacted his life.

The post Asher HaVon will visit ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą City Schools soon appeared first on The ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Times‑Journal.

The post Brantley Elementary holds ACAP rally appeared first on The ·čżÍÖ±˛Ą Times‑Journal.