Ice cream social is Thursday in Russell

An ice cream social is planned from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Russell Community Center. The cost is a free-will donation. All proceeds will go to the Grace First Parish Sunday school. The menu includes hot dogs, chips, pie, ice cream sundaes and a beverage.

Police monument removed after ‘Lord’ references cause split

TEGA CAY, S.C. (AP) — A city in South Carolina has removed a monument to police officers that included a Bible verse and a prayer after upsetting both religious and secular residents.

A Tega Cay resident complained about the religious references at a July 15 meeting.

Pope names deputy spokeswoman as women make Vatican gains

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis named a Brazilian journalist, Christiane Murray, as his deputy spokeswoman Thursday, in the latest important appointment boosting the presence and prestige of women at the Vatican.

Murray, 57, joined Vatican Radio in 1995 and since 2018 has been helping prepare for the Vatican’s meeting of bishops on the Amazon scheduled for later this year. She replaces Paloma Garcia, who resigned Dec. 31, and joins the new Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni.