Sidewalk Project for Pinson now Approved

By Cathy Leslie

Plans for Sidewalks in and around the City of Pinson has been in the works since last year.  The Project is now to become reality. According to Councilor Joy McCain, “This sidewalk project will provide a connection between Pinson Valley HS and the students who currently walk along the road or abandoned R.R. from Innsbrooke subdivision. It will also serve for the track team or other students that run the perimeter of the school along Hwy 75. The City of Pinson has ALDOT's approval for these sidewalks along this section of SR 75.  We received verbal notification that we were approved for a sidewalk grant from MPO's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). We are currently awaiting written notification before we can start.”

Pre-School Students Send Valentine Love to Wounded Solders

By Kayla Edwards

The preschool class at Hopewell Daycare has been busy making Valentine Cards for wounded Soldiers in the combat hospital, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) in Germany, the largest American military hospital outside the United States.  The hospital staff says that when patients are remembered "back home," spirits are lifted.  It means a lot to the soldiers recovering.  It helps them know they are not alone.  The children, ages 3 to  6,  cut, colored and pasted over 100 Valentines.  The cards made by the children will be delivered to hospitalized soldiers in LRMC on February 10, 2007 at a Valentine party planned by the hospital staff. Peggy Whitt, owner and director of Hopewell Daycare said, “after my grandson-in-law, Bryan Simon and  my grandson Wade Edwards were deployed we started sending them care packages." 

Bryan, deployed with the 81st Regional Readiness Company of Huntsville and  Wade, deployed with the Weapons Co., Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations,  the nation’s premier expeditionary rapid-response forces) .  "Both said how much everyone in their units enjoyed getting the packages.   They  are back from deployment now, so we decided to send to the wounded soldiers  recovering in combat hospitals here in the United States and  in Iraq, Afghanistan and Germany.  We sent Thank-you cards on Veterans Day and Christmas Cards during the holidays.  The children enjoy making the cards as much as  the  soldiers  enjoy  receiving them." Mrs. Whitt is an active member of The Silver Star Families of America, whose sole mission is to support, honor and recognize our wounded heroes.

The News heads to Late Night With David Letterman

By Tori Howell

Several months ago The Pinson News editor, Cathy Leslie, was contacted by Tom Foster, staff member from the Late Night Show with David Letterman, requesting copies of the News to be sent to David Letterman to use in his small town segments.  According to Leslie, after sending them a copy of the newspaper, she was contacted again by Foster, requesting a subscription for the David Letterman Show.  Foster said they may use articles from the paper in their small town segment.  Now that changes for 2007 are complete, The Pinson News will be sent, beginning February 1, twice a month for a year, to the Late night David Letterman Show. Leslie said, “I urge the public to watch the show and listen for stories or articles written about Pinson published in The Pinson News.”