Annette Snow, left, and Margaret Vaughan.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Hope your day is joyous.

Thought for today: The Bible says, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.” (Franklin Graham)

Birthdays: Happy birthday wishes to Sharon McCollough Grogan, Scott Fields, Barb Large, Laurie Eden, Melissa Causey, Lisa Abercrombie, Lorie Hart, Michel Haney, Jessica Dorough, Arlene Cooke, Alicia Bethel, Michael Hutchins, Frieda Harmon Polk and Mike Long.

Deaths: Please keep the families of Billy Simmons and Danny Maddox in your thoughts and prayers.

Schools: Congratulations to Pell City Schools, Coosa Valley Elementary and Walter Kennedy Elementary for making U.S. News and World Report’s Best Public Elementary Schools in Alabama list! This is quite an honor, and we are so proud of these schools.

Sports: Congratulations to the Pell City U8, Chelsea Blues Soccer Team. They went undefeated and untied, claiming both the regular season and tournament championships. Jordan Brewer and Chris Beck were the coaches. This is the first year that they played together as a team. Members of the team are: Camden Brewer, Jacob Walker, Liam Dunkle, Nora Bonner, Korben O’Neal, Noah Bonner, Ford Beck and Urijah Coffiey. Congratulations to the the team. What an accomplishment.

Former Pell City Track star, Jack Lowe, is doing great at Jacksonville State University, where he received a Cross-Country scholarship. At the 2023 NCAA South Regional Championship, in the men’s 10K championship, sophomore Jack Lowe paced the Gamecocks once again turning in a time of 31:49.3. The new PR for the Pell City product, was the second-fastest NCAA Regional 10K time in program history behind David Nilsson’s 31:30.7 from 2009.

Local: ALEA Marine Patrol Free Boater Safety Course scheduled for Nov. 18 has been canceled and rescheduled for March 2, 2024.

At the CEPA, the PCHS Spotlight Theatre will present “The Play that Goes Wrong, High School Edition,” on Nov. 16-18 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. Admission is $5 for students and $10 for adults.

The Jacksonville State University Small Business Development Center, the SBA, & the Pell City Chamber of Commerce will offer one-on-one counseling for prospective and existing small business owners at no charge on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 9-11 a.m. beginning Nov. 21.

Christmas in Pell City: Santa Claus will be at Union State Bank! Grab your camera, bring the kids, and come meet good ‘ole St. Nick at the Pell City office on Friday, Dec. 8, from 2–4 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Visitors are responsible for their own photos; a photographer will not be present.

The Heart of Pell City’s 6th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Festival will be on Dec. 6 at 6 p.m. in front of the St. Clair County Courthouse in downtown Pell City.

The Pell City Christmas Parade, The Music and Magic of Christmas, will be on Friday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.

Terry Turner will perform at the Ark, on Dec. 9 from 5-7 p.m., in Christmas on Logan Martin. Also appearing will be country artist, Bart Connell. Tickets are $40 which includes the show and a $20 meal credit. Limited seating so get your tickets early.

Miscellaneous: A good tip: If you put orange peels under your Christmas tree, the cats won’t bother it. I haven’t tried this. If someone does and it works, please let me know.

Remember: Forgiveness involves being more concerned about what someone is doing to themselves than what they did to you. (Joyce Meyer). We are commanded to forgive. It is not an option.

I am currently visiting my sister, so please call my daughter at 205-338-5590, or email info to annette_snow@yahoo.com.