HISTORIC MERCY SEAT BREAKS GROUND FOR NEW AUSTIN CHURCH

 Pastor Mac McCollum calls upon God to bestow His blessings on the new Mercy Seat Church being built, making it successful and bountiful in carrying out the Lord’s mission. (Photo by Marilyn Hampton)

 Rev. Johnny L. Miller praises the congregation of Mercy Seat for continuing its historic tradition of service to Christ and to His people. (Photo by Marilyn Hampton)

 The church leaders & planning committee at the Mercy Seat groundbreaking. (Photo by Marilyn Hampton)

 Ald. Jason Ervin congratulates Pastor Levelle Brown, Sr., & the congregation of Mercy Seat for their perseverance and determination in building a new church at 411 N. Long Ave., in Austin. (Photo by Marilyn Hampton)

Rev. Levelle Brown, Sr., Pastor of Mercy Seat M.B. Church, calls the groundbreaking for the new building a great day for the Lord. (Photo by Marilyn Hampton)

Greater St. John Gets a Commiunity Builders Award

THE VOICE Newspapers Publisher Isaac Jones presents the West Side Community-Builders Award for Faith In Action to Reverend Ira J. Acree, Pastor of Greater St. John Bible Church, 1256 N. Waller Ave., for utilizing his religious teachings to improve the quality of life in his community. The award is presented annually by THE VOICE Newspapers. (Photo by Walter Tidwell)

ONE-STOP TIRE SHOP TURNS INTO A HAUNTED HOUSE FOR HALLOWEEN

The One-Stop Graveyard Maze of the Living Dead. (Photo by Walter Tidwell)

One-Stop Tire Shop is transformed into a haunted tunnel of horrors for Halloween, complete with witches, zombies, and ghouls. (Photo by Walter Tidwell)

 Inside the Asylum of Dead Batteries at One-Stop Tire Shop, 5829 W. Madison St. on Halloween. (Photo by Walter Tidwell)

One-Stop Tire Shop’s Happy Zombies on Halloween. (Photo by Walter Tidwell)

Kevin Jones and his daughter make it through the haunted maze. She says it wasn’t scary because she was with her daddy and she got candy! (Photo by Walter Tidwell)

ST. ANGELA STUDENT WINS NATIONAL GRAND PRIZE IN PARALYZED VETERANS ESSAY CONTEST

Ja-Marea Welch, 8^th grade student in St. Angela Elementary School’s O’Rourke Prep, is congratulated by language arts teacher Sarah Miller for winning a Veterans Day trip to Washington, D.C., to receive the National Grand Prize from the Paralyzed Veterans of America for her essay telling a personal story about a veteran who has made a difference in her life. (Photo by Brad)

A’mere Dale, 8^th grade student in O’Rourke Prep at St. Angela School, is congratulated by Sister Maryellen Callahan & language arts teacher Sarah Miller for being named a Finalist in the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence Poetry Competition. (Photo by Brad)

Harmonie Givens, St. Angela 4^th grade student with her art teacher, Mrs. Lauren Fiorentino. Harmonie is a Finalist in the Paralyzed Veterans of America poster contest. She illustrated her uncle, who served in the Middle East with the United States Army. (Photo by Brad)

ABIGAIL WEBER, MAY ACADEMY 2nd GRADE TEACHER, WINS PRESTIGIOUS EDUCATION AWARD