Commissioner Barnett is Men's Breakfast Speaker at St. Francis of Assisi

The men of the St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church will hold its Prayer Breakfast on June 18 at 8:30 p.m. in the church’s Parish Hall on 204 Dooley Street. Mr. Jeron Barnett, Waller County Commissioner, Precinct 3 is the speaker. Barnett, first elected in 2012, is seeking reelection in November. Prior to his election, Barnett served as the Police Chief of the City of Prairie View and was instrumental in developing the PRIDE program for the department. Barnett also served on the police department for the City of Katy. Jeron is married to Paulette Barnett, Councilmember for the City of Prairie View and is the proud father of two daughters. All men of the community are invited to attend the free event. Please call 936-857-3272 or write to stfrancispv@sbcglobal.net and confirm attendance.

Sunday, June 19, marks the 151st anniversary celebration of the Juneteenth, which commemorates the freeing of the slaves in Texas in 1865. The U.S. Congress abolished slavery in its territories on June 19, 1862, with the law taking effect on January 1, 1863. Texas acknowledged the order on June 19, 1865 when General Gordon Granger read the emancipation proclamation at Galveston. State Representative Al Edwards, along with other Texas legislators, passed the Juneteenth Holiday bill in 1978, which was signed into law by Governor William P. Clements on June 13, 1979. Happy Juneteenth!

The Greater St. Peters Missionary Baptist Church will hold its Annual Juneteenth Celebration and Parade on Saturday, June 18 at 10:00 a.m. The parade lineup is the VF Factory on US Business 290 in Hempstead. All members of the community are welcome to participate. For information, call 979-826-3343.

Constable Herschel Smith, wife Sharon and friends will host their fifth Annual Juneteenth Cookout on June 19 at 12:00 noon at their home on the University Drive and 102 Dooley Street. Members of the community are invited to participate in the fun-filled event celebrating the African American traditions and culture.

Sunday, June 19 is also Father’s Day, a special day for all fathers, which began on June 19, 1910 when Sonora Dodd, of Spokane, Washington, sought to honor her father William Smart, a Civil War veteran and widower. Smart’s wife died in childbirth and his selflessness, courageousness and sacrifices for his six children led Sonora to honor him in June with the first Father's Day. President Calvin Coolidge declared it a national Father's Day in 1924. Then in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day. Happy Fathers’ Day!

The countdown is on for the 40th Annual Convention of the Prairie View A&M University National Alumni Association on July 20-24, 2016 in San Antonio. More than 500 alumni and friends of PVAMU are expected to attend the four-day event, featuring workshops, seminars, class meetings and the awards ceremonies. For information visit: www.pvualumni.org or call 936-857-5817.

Citizens of Prairie View and Waller County in general, are asked to save the date of August 27 for the 10th Annual Red & White Ball and the 30th Anniversary celebration of the Prairie View Volunteer Fire Fighting Association, Inc. The event begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Willie Tempton Memorial Student Ballroom at Prairie View A&M University. This year’s ball will honor and recognize the women volunteers with “The Waller County Outstanding Women Community Service Award.”

The distinguished event is open to the public, with tickets priced at $35.00 through August 1, 2016. Table sponsorships are available in the amounts of $350.00, $500.00, $750.00, $1000.00 and $2000.00. The committee also encourage the patrons to purchase advertisement in the Souvenir Booklet. Monetary donations and Items for the Silent Auction are welcome. For additional questions, please contact Belinda Lewis at lewisbelinda@hotmail.com.

The members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Epsilon Tau Lambda Chapter of Prairie View invite the 2016 graduates of Hempstead, Waller and Royal High schools who will be attending Prairie View A&M University in fall 2016 to make application for scholarships. Write to epsilontaulambda@yahoo.com for application. Please put Scholarship AP in the subject. Mr. Scott Berry is the Coordinator.

Members of Waller County are invited to the Two Rivers Heritage Foundation’s presentation of an Orphan Train program on June 18 at 2 p.m. at the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church parish hall in Anderson. Historians Alison Moore and Phil Lancaster will present a program of the history of the Orphan Trains. In the early 1900s at least 24 orphans were taken in the Anderson and Plantersville area. Many of their proud descendants are living in the surrounding area. The public is invited at no charge. All are welcome. For information, contact Betty Dunn at 281-507-1671 or email blhd83@gmail.com

GoodNews Food comes to Prairie View to provide members of the community a way to stretch their food dollars. Patrons can purchase food boxes of groceries at 50% less than store prices. For more information, visit www.goodnewsfood.net or call 281-210-3295.

Your prayers and encouragement are welcomed for Ada Beal, Irene Davis, B. J. Freeman, Vanessa Jackson, Evelyn Jones, David Kirkpatrick, Willie Smith, Mary Ann Stubblefield, Arie Walker, Sandra Watson and Douglas Woolfolk. May God’s peace be with you!

HAPPY JUNE BIRTHDAY TO: Alfred Parks (12), Clarence Talley, Sr. (12), Donyelle Muse (13),Monica Harden (18), Kevin McCraw (18), Howard Jones (19), Donnie Pennywell (19), Lee Davies (20) and Karon Neal (20). HAPPY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY TO: Gerald A. & Argilon Christopher (13) and Glen & Debra Berry (18).

A VIEW FROM THE HILL: On June 12, the Career and Outreach Center welcomed 60 students in the 9-12th to its 2016 Pre- College Enrichment Institute. The residential program for talented high school students interested in business, computer sciences and engineering. The program, which runs June 12-24, will help to prepare students for the new school year and assist them in making plans to pursue a college education in the various workshops. Mr. Herbert Thomas is the Coordinator assisted by Mrs. Shadia Washington.

Until next week, in the words of one of my heroes – Malcolm X, "Anytime anyone is enslaved, or in any way deprived of his liberty, if that person is a human being, as far as I am concerned he is justified to resort to whatever methods necessary to bring about his liberty again." Remember the struggle continues! Keep the news and achievements coming to prairieviewtoday@yahoo.com or P. O. Box 2906, Prairie View, TX 77446.