It seems as of late, if you pick up the paper or turn on TV news or look on the internet, there is nothing but bad news about people hurting for barely any reason at all. That's why it was refreshing this week to receive the news that the annual Salem Camp meeting was just around the corner.

This year's camp meeting runs from July 6-13 at the Salem Campground on Salem Road. The Salem Camp meeting is known as a place for great fellowship and family togetherness sprinkled with some inspirational messages from guest preachers from around the country.

Once again, Mr. Salem Campground himself, our former mayor Sam Ramsey, has made sure some of the finest preachers in the world will highlight this year's get-together. The two guest ministers slated to visit Newton County for this great event are Dr. Winston Worrell, director of the World Methodist Evangelism Institute and Dr. John A. Huffman, recently retired minister of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, Calif.

Dr. Huffman's church is one of the largest Presbyterian churches in the world. Dr. Huffman has preached on every continent and has been a special consultant to the Vatican.

Mr. Ramsey, who never fails to bring the best of the best here, is truly excited and for good reason. Both of these good men of God will surely continue a great tradition.

So mark your calendars for that week in July. Get your singing voices ready and be prepared for the old-fashioned homecoming which is the annual Salem Camp meeting. It's sure to be yet another great time.