In today's ever-changing environment, with new pressures emerging on youth every day, the Boy Scouts of America celebrates a century of leadership and service with a commitment to the next century of building leaders.

The importance of positive adult role models and opportunities for youth to achieve remains unchanged throughout this past century and into the next.  From Tiger Cub to  Eagle, the Boy Scouts stands strong as one of the nation's largest and most prominent values-based youth development organizations.

From September 2009 through December 2010, the Boy Scouts of America will celebrate its 100-year anniversary.  Started on February 8, 1910, the Boy Scouts have helped build the future leaders of this country by developing proven leadership skills involving fun and adventurous activities.  Teaching the basic values of being "Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Clean, Brave and Reverent" as well as instilling a respect and enjoyment of the outdoors are key to building a more conscientious, responsible and productive society.

For 100 years, the Boy Scouts of America has created a strong foundation of leadership, service, and community for America's youth.  Through A Year of Celebration, they will celebrate this legacy and continue to commit themselves to inspire and prepare future generations.

The Greater Jackson County Chamber of Commerce wishes a warm and sincere "Happy Birthday" to the Boys Scouts of America and those in Jackson County who continue this tradition. 

Seventy-eight years after the Jackson County trial of nine black men accused of raping two white women caught the world's attention, officials Monday dedicated a museum they say shows how far the civil rights movement has come. The Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center officially opened with a dedication ceremony, coinciding with the first day of Black History Month.  The museum is located at Joyce Chapel United Methodist Church, the oldest standing African American church in Jackson County dating to 1878. 

 Featured speaker Lecia J. Brooks, the director of Montgomery's Civil Rights Museum and an employee of the Southern Poverty Law Center, said it takes a strong, courageous community to not hide the past.  Brooks said the stories of the nine boys, Judge Horton and so many others will now have a place to be told.  Shelia Washington, Jackson County Multi-Cultural Heritage Foundation Executive Committee member, has spent the last 17 years working on bringing honor to the case of nine black teenagers accused of raping two white women while on a train traveling through Jackson County. 

Kathy Horton Garrett, granddaughter of Judge James E. Horton, who presided over the re-trial of the nine men in Decatur in 1933,  spoke of the convictions of her grandfather.  Garrett, who was 17 when Horton died in 1973, said she really didn't get a chance to discuss the case with her grandfather but learned from the overwhelming number of letters he had received from around the world what an extraordinary man he was.  About a year after all nine men were convicted in a Jackson County courtroom, with eight getting the death sentence and the ninth life in prison, Horton ordered a new trial for all nine because insufficient evidence was presented at the first trial.

History of The Scottsboro Boys

On March 25, 1931, a skirmish between a group of black boys, and a group of white boys broke out on a Southern Railroad freight train. The train stopped in Paint Rock, Alabama, and the nine black boys were arrested on charges of assault. Two girls dressed in boys clothing, Victoria Price and Ruby Bates, were found hiding on the freight train as well. They were all taken to Scottsboro, Alabama, the Jackson County seat. The two girls agreed to testify against the boys on a rape charge.  The men were sentenced to death, despite the fact that one of the girls later denied being raped. They were all eventually paroled, freed or pardoned, some after serving years of a prison sentence.  The U.S. Supreme Court eventually overturned the verdicts under the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause. The court ruled that the right of the defendant's to have competent legal counsel had been denied in the Scottsboro trials and ordered new trials for each of the accused.

However, they will forever be known simply as "The Scottsboro Boys." Their names were Charles Weems, Clarence Norris, Andy Wright, Ozie Powell, Olen Montgomery, Eugene Williams, Willie Roberson, Roy Wright and Haywood Patterson.

The Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center memorializes the struggles of a determined people to overcome the destructive, evil force of racism. It celebrates the positive actions of those of all colors, creeds and origins who have taken a stand against the evil tyranny of racial oppression. It stands as testimony of how faith and Christian values may "move mountains" and change lives for the betterment of our community through education. 

 Visit the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center and learn the lessons of the history of the beginning of the modern Civil Rights Movement in the event our society calls, "The Scottsboro Boys Trials."  Joyce Chapel United Methodist Church is located at 428 West Willow Street, Scottsboro, Alabama.  Their hours of operation starting in March are the 2nd and 3rd Saturdays of the month from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm.  They will also open by special appointment.  For an appointment call 256-244-1310. 

Portions of this article were taken from The Huntsville Times, David Brewer - Times Staff Writer; The Daily Sentinel, DeWayne Patterson - Writer; and Scottsboro Stories Blog, Garry Morgan. 

For more information please visit www.scottsborostories.blogspot.com. 

Russell Cave National Monument, a unit of the National Park Service, is searching for nature-lovers and scientists of all levels to volunteer some time each month fo help the staff. 

Volunteer Activities Include:

• Remove Invasive Species
• Restore Native Habitats
• Identify Pests
• Photograh, Draw, or Paint the natural wonders of Russell Cave

Housing is available for volunteers staying overnight or longer.  For more information contact Kenna Graham at 256-495-2672 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Russell Cave is the only National Monument is Alabama.  They are located at:

3729 County Road 98
Bridgeport, AL 35740

When an early morning tornado struck Jackson County, February 6^th, 2008, several friends came together and planned an event to raise money to be used for aid to the uninsured victims of this terrible storm.  The event netted a much needed $16,000.00.  Not bad for a small group's efforts in a short three week period of time. 

Over the past year, the group has continued to meet to determine the needs for additional efforts to raise money in preparation for future disasters.  As a result, "Friends Helping Friends" (FHF) was formed as a legal entity.   FHF works in conjunction with the Jackson county Emergency Management Agency Office and the Jackson County Salvation Army.

The FHF Board is now offering for sale, beautiful "Limited Edition Prints" of the B.B. Comer Bridge.  Last year local artist John Warr was commissioned to paint the B.B. Comer Bridge.  All proceeds of the sale of these prints goes to the "FHF Disaster Relief Fund".  This is a timeless gift that will look great in your home or office.  Standard Print price is $100.00 (13 1/2" x 24") and an artist's proof is $200.00 (17" x 30").  For information on prints and additional framing, contact numbers below.   

Beginning in 1908, a ferry began transporting passengers and automobiles to and from the Sand Mountain area of Jackson County.  In 1928-1931, the Kansas City Bridge Company built the B.B. Comer Bridge, a long steel bridge that now connects Scottsboro to Sand Mountain.  By 2007, the aging structure was classified by the Alabama Department of Transportation as being a structurally deficient bridge . Construction of a replacement bridge commenced in October 2007, and is expected to be complete by 2012.

The B.B. Comer Bridge, is the two-lane,  steel truss bridge spanning the Tennessee River along Alabama State Route 35 in Scottsboro, Alabama. The bridge takes its name from former Alabama governor Braxton Bragg Comer, who served from 1907 to 1911. Construction of the bridge was carried out by the Alabama Bridge Company.  As of 2007, this was the only remaining bridge of the 15 memorial toll bridges originally constructed by the Alabama Bridge Company.  For more history of the bridge and Friends Helping Friends, visit Penny's Purse.

For more information and purchase price, contact:

Tracey Ridgeway at the Salvation Army of Jackson County, 256-259-4320

John Warr at Warr Art, 256-259-4255 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it