In Our Community

Mary A. Berry recently received her educational specialist degree in special education from Jacksonville State University. She is a retired teacher from the Oxford City School system and now enjoys working in Georgia. She was recently awarded the 'most outstanding school counselor' in her system.

John Burleson of Oxford High School was recently awarded a $1,250 scholarship from the Alabama Power Foundation. Burleson is to major in accounting as a freshman this fall at Gadsden State Community College.

He is the son of Donnie and Joan Burleson of Oxford.

The Gadsden State Community College Division of Nursing Education recently held its inaugural pinning ceremony for the Certified Nursing Assistant Program. Program graduate Geneva Rochester received the 'Shining Star' award for excellence in patient care. The 2008 graduates included: Kyeshia Higgins and Geneva Rochester both of Oxford; Angela Coronado of Pell City.

The Licensed Practical Nursing Program's Valley Street Campus announced its recent graduates to include: Lynne Lewis of Alexandria; Crystal Bloomer, Joanna Kamman, Summer Nelson and Suzie Thompson of Anniston; Heather Reaves of Jacksonville; Mary Carlton and Joseph Mitchell of Oxford; Kristine Harvard of Pell City; Angela Pope, Candice Smith and Marea Trotter of Piedmont.

Tristen Clay Arnold, 5, recently received the "reading 600 minutes" awards at Ayers Head Start School. He had over 4,000 minutes in reading. He was awarded a $50 savings bond and a Leapfrog computer and certificate for completing the program. He will be attending Golden Springs Elementary School in the fall. He is the son of Tiffany Parris and the late Clay Arnold and the grandson of Lynn Arnold, great-grandson of Betty Kittle and the late Edward Kittle.

Graham Nelson of Munford is the July winner of "Lids on Kids", a program sponsored by the Northeast Alabama Bicycle Club, to recognize kids that are wearing helmets while riding their bicycles.