“There’s something about being around a long time that puts stuff in perspective.” - Reg E. Cathey, Jr. FREE BLACK HISTORY MONTH Volume 4, No. 23 www.valleyweeklyllc.com Friday, February 16, 2018 AAMU Grad Promoted to Major General New Officers to Lead Forestry Commission Brig. Gen. Patrick OFS falls under NATO’s The Alabama Forestry she serves as scholarship Alabama at Huntsville in Burden, formerly pro- Resolute Support Mission Commission (AFC) elected chair for the organization, 1993. gram executive officer and works to train, advise Jane T. Russell a role she says She is the owner of Kier for U.S. Army enterprise and assist Afghan forces in of Lapine, Ala., she has greatly Realestate, LLC, a real information systems, support of counterterror- as new chair and enjoyed for the estate brokerage firm in will transition to a new ism efforts against Al-Qae- Katrenia Pruitt last 12 years. Huntsville, established by role as deputy com- da remnants. Kier of Hunts- Mrs. Russell and her late husband, Richard mander for the Com- Burden joined the ville, Ala., as her husband are Kier, in 1987. bined Security Transition military in 1987 and vice-chair. landowners and After 30 years, the busi- Command-Afghanistan, was initially assigned to Russell has operate a cattle ness continues to success- the Defense Department Army Field Artillery. He been a member of farm. fully serve Alabama clients. announced recently. served as deputy PEO for the Commission Russell Kier, Additionally, Kier The service branch ammunition and senior since February born in serves as national 2014, and Kier since Febru- Chicago, Ill., has assistant secretary assigned Burden to the commander at Picatinny elor’s degree in computer ary 2016. Although females strong family ties for the National position as part of Oper- Arsenal before he took science from Alabama have previously served as in Alabama, with Association ation Freedom’s Sentinel, on the PEO EIS position, A&M University and a chairs, this is the first time both parents be- of Real Estate a U.S.-backed coalition as well as previously held master’s degree in man- in the history of the AFC ing from Madison Brokers (NA- effort to increase stabil- multiple acquisition roles agement information that both officers have been County, Ala. She REB), and also ity and security across within the Army. systems from Florida women. earned a Bach- as minister and Afghanistan. Burden holds a bach- Institute of Technology. According to Alabama’s elor of Science in Kier youth commit- State Forester Rick Oates, psychology from tee coordinator “We look forward to work- Case Western Reserve for the Greater Huntsville ADC to Hold Annual Meeting Feb. 24 ing with these two leaders University in Cleveland, Interdenominational Min- as our agency faces the Ohio, and received a Busi- isterial Fellowship. The Madison County introduce themselves to challenges of the com- ness Management Certifi- She is a widow with two Unit of the Alabama the attendees, and they will ing year. Mrs. Russell’s cate from the University of adult children. Democratic Conference be permitted to distribute experience as an Alabama (ADC) will host its An- campaign materials. forest landowner combined nual Membership Break- The breakfast will begin with Ms. Kier’s corporate fast Saturday, February at 8 a.m., and includes a knowledge make them 24, 2018, at the Ernest L. one-year ADC member- great assets to the Forestry Knight Reception Center ship and a full Southern Commission.” on the campus of Alabama breakfast. INSIDE THIS ISSUE! Originally from Petrey A&M University, 4900 Tickets and reserved in Crenshaw County, Mrs. Meridian Street, Normal, tables may be purchased LWV Voter Drives, Page 4 litical strategist, Dr. Eddie Russell graduated from Ala., at 8 a.m. from Eddie C. Sherrod at “The Shift” Conference, Page 5 Greene. high school in Luverne The theme for this year’s (256) 508-1782 or (256) All state and local and earned a Bachelor of Private Screening of “Panther,” Page 6 event is “Political Transi- 881-9529, Eva Smith at candidates for elective Science degree in elemen- tion,” and the program will (256) 859-6512 or any A&M Freshman on “The Chi,” Page 7 office will be invited and tary education from Troy memorialize ADC’s long ADC member. Honoring State’s Finest, Page 8 given an opportunity to University. Currently, time member and po- Page 2 The Valley Weekly February 16, 2018 Oakwood University Black History Month Program Dr. David R. Williams Harvard Public Health and African-American Studies Professor February 8, 2017 OU Black History Month Observance Lecture: Dr. David R. Williams, Florence Sprague Norman and Laura Smart Norman Professor of Public Health at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health and Professor of African and African American Studies and of Sociology at Harvard University, spoke at Oakwood University as part of its Black Champion Game Plan forby PrestonLife Brown History Month celebration on February 8. In Mark 9: 22, a con- thew 17:20, Jesus said: If cerned father asked Jesus, we have faith as small as a Spotlight on Our Elders ... Featuring “If you can do anything, mustard seed, then we can take pity on us and help move mountains. Now, a Mrs. Thelma Alexander Fuqua us,” because his son had mustard seed is small but severe mental problems. the life inside of the mus- Born in the small Missis- lege training was eligible to her family. In 1956, she So Jesus questions him tard seed is large. sippi River Delta town of teach under an Emergency and her family moved to and says, “If you can?” So, in order for us to Market Tree, Ark., Thelma Issued Teaching Certifi- Huntsville, Ala. This move Then, he goes on to say, grow our faith, first we Alexander Fuqua enrolled cate. With dedication to afforded her the opportu- “Everything is possible for need to put life into our at Alabama A&M Univer- the education profession, nity to complete her college one who believes.” problems that only Jesus can faith. Then we need to start sity in vocational home Mrs. Fuqua accepted the education. You know, the prob- handle, like we found with putting our belief before economics. opportunity In 1960, she received the lems that so many of us the woman with the issue of our sight. We need to stop After com- to teach and Bachelor of Science degree have is our un-belief. Any- blood who had been suffer- “not believing.” We need pleting two was em- in vocational home eco- time we have a challeng- ing for years until Jesus got to stop saying, “if you can” years of her ployed by nomics, and later received ing situation in our lives, involved and healed her with and start saying “when you college edu- the Lawrence the Master of Science our faith will be tested, the hem of His garment. can.” cation, it was County degree in elementary edu- just like we find with the When we cross this Finally, we need to ask interrupted School Board cation with a concentration father in this text. Now, bridge of faith, we allow Jesus to help our unbelief. due to World as an ele- in special education from there is a “faith bridge” Jesus to come into our cir- The only way to accom- War II. mentary and Alabama A&M University. that we need to cross over cumstance. But our unbelief plish this is to cross over The draft high school Mrs. Fuqua was a dedi- to handle difficult situa- keeps us from crossing over the “faith bridge” that caused a teacher. cated and loyal educator tions. These are situations and staying in a place that God has constructed for that we have to go deeper shortage of She taught who served 31 years in the God did not intend for us to us ... Stay encouraged, my spiritually to get any- brothers and sisters. teachers at all for four teaching profession. be. This is when we need to thing resolved. These are grow in our faith. In Mat- levels and anyone with col- years, married and started February 16, 2018 The Valley Weekly Page 3 Publisher The Valley Weekly, LLC Editor-in-Chief Dorothy W. Huston, Ph.D. rom the Editor Editorial Consultant/ Senior Editor Jerome Saintjones, Ed.S. Brick and Mortar, iPads, Education and Stuff: Editorial Assistants Linda Burruss As children, we learned the old-fashioned way. The teachers taught, we Phyllis Chunn Flistened, engaged and learned. The best teachers provided opportunities for Gary T. Whitley different types of students to excel. So, most of us suc- ceeded. We didn’t have failing schools, even where those Advertising Associate Phyllis Chunn of us who were poor went to school because all of us were expected to be successful at something. We had robust academic and vocational programs. Writer/Sales/Photography Some of the students who enrolled in our vocational programs went on to own their own Reginald D. Allen businesses as barbers, cosmetologists, mechanics, brick masons, home builders, car dealers, day care owners, electricians, supervisors in local, state and national industries where they - Contributing Editors - Reginald D. Allen chose to live and work. Minister Preston Brown Others volunteered for various armed services, advancing as career service men and Ron Hamm women and officers. They saw their service as an opportunity to serve our country, support David Herron their families, and travel the world. Still others became teachers, preachers, doctors, nurses, police and law Melissa Wilson-Seloma enforcement officers, lawyers, researchers, television and media personalities, along with diverse and mean- ingful careers to which their passion led them.