By BRAD GASKINS / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – State Sen. Slade Blackwell, R-Birmingham, presented the Shelby County Arts Council with a $5,000 grant check Dec. 1.

Blackwell, along with Rep. April Weaver, R-Brierfield, made the presentation during the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce’s annual Diamond Awards luncheon at Columbiana United Methodist Church.

The grant money is from the state’s Education Trust Fund, Blackwell said.

“All of this $5,000 will be used for arts enrichment programs in our schools in Shelby County to help the kids,” Terri Sullivan, the art council’s executive director, said in accepting the check.