By BRAD GASKINS/Staff Writer

Shelby County is throwing itself a birthday bash Feb. 6. The county turns 193.

The celebration, sponsored by the Shelby County Historical Society, will be held that Sunday afternoon at the old courthouse in Columbiana from 2-3:15 p.m.

The program is shaping up to be a good one, and I’m excited about covering the event for the paper.

Numerous local and state officials are scheduled to be there, the most notable being Gov. Robert Bentley, a Shelby County native who grew up in Columbiana. Gov. Bentley is scheduled to speak for about 15 to 20 minutes.

There will be a special display in the museum on Gov. Bentley.

Columbiana Mayor Allan Lowe will present Gov. Bentley with a proclamation from the city, and Shelby County Commission Chairman Corley Ellis will present a proclamation from the county.

The county’s proclamation declares Feb. 6 as “Robert J. Bentley’s Day” and urges all Shelby County citizens to celebrate the day.

David Nolen will present Gov. Bentley with a “Pioneer Certificate” from the Shelby County Historical Society. Nolen, Bentley’s nephew, is first vice-president of the historical society.

If you’re not familiar with the certificate and the requirements for getting one, Nolen will explain it during the celebration.

Alabama Secretary of State Beth Chapman will be a guest speaker. Additional guests will include Shelby County Sheriff Chris Curry, Circuit Court Judge G. Daniel Reeves and special music by Michael Mason.

The list goes on: Shelby County commissioners, members of the Greater Shelby and South Shelby chambers of commerce, Shelby County mayors and the Alabama Historical Commission will there as well.

As an added bonus, you’ll have the chance to win a nice door prize, an original U.S. “1818 date” one-cent piece. According to the historical society, if you owned one of these back then, you were a wealthy man.

I encourage everybody to come out and be a part of this historic day for Shelby County.