From staff reports

More than 200 University of Montevallo students received their diplomas at fall commencement Dec. 18.
The commencement speaker was Ruth Truss, professor of history at UM and a Montevallo alumna. Following the address, Dr. Terry G. Roberson, acting UM president, conferred degrees upon some 160 candidates for bachelor’s degrees, 42 candidates for master’s degrees and six candidates for the educational specialist degree.
After students received their diplomas, Karen Kelly, president of the National Alumni Association, inducted graduates into the 21,000-member organization. The following are North Chilton students who received their diplomas:

From Jemison: Kendra H. Cook (BBA), Rachel E. Stephens (B.S.) and Dana M. Price (MED).
From Randolph: Rachel E. Morris (B.S.)

By The North Chilton Advertiser staff

The city of Jemison has made several visible strides toward becoming a bigger city in 2009.
If you have not already done so, just drive up Interstate 65 to Exit 219 and you will see that the north Chilton interchange is one of the most well lit exits between Birmingham and Montgomery.
The lights are the result of a major federal grant awarded to the city and are already starting to open the eyes of prospective businesses looking to expand to developing cities like Jemison.
We talked to a couple of business owners in the area, and they like having the lights there not only for the increased visibility of their businesses but also because the presence of the lights heightens one’s sense of security.
Perhaps the lights will also serve as a deterrent to crime in the area, in addition to boosting commercial growth to bring in more revenue from the thousands of vehicles that pass through every single day.
Another welcome improvement that has been a long time coming are the finished sidewalks along Highway 31 and Church Street (Alabama 191) in Jemison. As the city expands and daily traffic increases, these sidewalks provide pedestrians with a safe thoroughfare from their homes to businesses, schools or wherever.
It’s also impossible to ignore the new municipal building under construction on Highway 31.
All these things are the ingredients for future progress. They are signs that Jemison is being proactive knowing what is ahead. These are things both city leaders and citizens can be proud of.

By Scott Mims

Volunteers served up more than 2,300 plates during Saturday’s community barbecue in Jemison.
Once the grills were fired up Friday afternoon, the barbecuing didn’t stop for 21 hours. But it took only an hour and a half for the food to disappear Saturday.
“We had to actually turn people away because we were out of food by 12:30,” coordinator Keith Mims said.
The event was sponsored by several area churches.
Accompanying each plate was the Bible verse John 5:24, and members of the Gideons handed out Bibles to those in attendance.
Community outreach was the primary purpose of the barbecue.
“It wasn’t really about barbecue. I honestly believe people were blessed to see these nine churches coming together as one, and that the churches care and the doors of the churches are open,” Mims said.
More than 300 church members and volunteers enjoyed barbecue and fellowship Friday night. Among the participating churches were Pleasant Grove, Mars Hill, Holly Grove, St. James Highland, Jemison First Baptist, Pates Chapel, Oak Grove, Pleasant Hill, and Union Springs.
Mims said the response was so overwhelming that people from other churches have already volunteered to assist with the next barbecue, which could be held as soon as spring 2010. He thanked the men and women who participated.
“I don’t think Chilton County has seen anything like that in a long time,” he said. “I think it’s because we need to come together as a community.”