The Trussville Tribune – April 17 - 23, 2024

By Chris Basinger Staff Reporter

the future.

Jada Thompson of Hewitt-Trussville was awarded second place for “Flight of a Bumblebee” and Aliza Scott, also of Hewitt-Trussville, got third place for “Portrait of Patience.”

Corinne Caprara was awarded first prize in the mixed Media category with her piece titled “Saraland,” which uses acrylic, thread, and embroidery floss to depict one of her best friends smiling in a field.

“I just wanted to like represent her personality basically and like I was inspired by her creativity so that’s why I did the embroidery because

she really likes to make stuff like that and then she has this tendency to like zone out all the time, so I call it Saraland and so that’s what I named the piece after,” Caprara said.

Gavin Lumpkins of Moody placed second for the piece “Outlaw” and Raymie Brechin of Hewitt-Trussville placed third for “Emotional Reflection.”

The first prize winners received $150, second place received $100, and third place received $75.

The committee also honored the teacher of the first place winners, Layken Rubin of Hewitt-Trussville High School, with a $150 gift certificate to Alabama Arts Supply.

All of the pieces featured in the art show will be on display at the library over the next week.

EWCF’s next event will be its annual golf tournament on May 2 where it will be raising money to support The Red Barn.

“Olive Green” by Ava Jewell.

Kidnapping

From front page

At approximately 3:18 p.m. on Friday, the U.S. Marshals Task Force and Birmingham Police Department’s Crime Reduction Team located a burgundy vehicle in a wooded dead-end area in the 2300 Block of 18th Place SW.

When officers arrived on the scene, they observed the victim, Nakita Chantryce Davidson, 40, of Birmingham, deceased inside the vehicle. “Davidson is the victim of a kidnapping investigation that began on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at 6th Avenue SW and MLK,” Wade said.

At approximately 2:11 a.m., South Precinct officers responded to a call of a two-vehicle accident. When officers arrived on the scene, they observed one vehicle at

Argo Crash

From front page

“Jack L. Rice, 27, was critically injured when the 2012 Chrysler 200 he was driving left the roadway, struck a ditch and overturned,” King said. “Rice was not using a seat belt at the time of the crash and was ejected.”

From Tribune staff reports

among accused

the location. “Officers also observed evidence of a violation crime,” Wade said. “We believe that the suspect, Cedric Dewayne Robertson, shot the victim, placed her inside her vehicle, and left the scene.”

At approximately 6:40 p.m., on Friday, April 12, 2024, BPD’s Crime Reduction Team, the U.S. Marshals Task Force members, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office successfully located and apprehended Robertson in the 2100 Block of Northland Avenue SW. Robertson is in the custody of the Jefferson County Jail and has no bond. According to an update from Birmingham Police, a warrant for capital murder has been issued on Robertson by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office in connection to Davidson’s murder. Cedric Dewayne Robertson

Rice was airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham where he succumbed to injuries and was pronounced deceased. The crash occurred on Interstate 59 near the 149 mile marker, approximately one mile north of Argo, in St. Clair County. Nothing further is available as Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.

TRUSSVILLE – The Trussville Police Department released its latest shoplifting review on Wednesday, which includes eight shoplifting arrests from March 12 through April 9, 2024.

Those accused of shoplifting include Leesa Campbell of Pinson, Aiyana Coleman of Center Point, Tinangica Hawkins of Greenville, Shaquille Lee of Montgomery, Cynthia Marshall of Birmingham, Heather McNeilly of Moody, Christy Pruitt of Childersburg, and Keshanti Wheeler of Montgomery.

“All arrest and arrest photos posted on (our Facebook page) are public information.

This year’s judging categories include Best Use of Color, Best Turf, Best Home Landscape Design, Best Home Overall, and Best Business Overall. Winners will receive a lawn plaque while second place honorees will receive a certificate.

Last year’s winners included

Courtesy of the Trussville Beautification Board.

directed by Brandi McClaran. “Everybody’s super excited about it. It’s an iconic show, I mean, everyone has heard of ‘Fiddler on the Roof,’” McClaran said, adding that it is a favorite among community theaters.

37 volunteer cast members, aged 8 to their mid-60s, will feature in the play that portrays the life of a Jewish family set against the backdrop of Tsarist Russia.

“It’s a story about family and connection, you know, with your community, and there’s a little bit of something in it for everyone that they’ll like,” McClaran said.

The cast, along with five technical crew members, have been preparing for seven weeks ahead of the show’s opening this Thursday.

The production will run for two weeks, Thursday through Sunday, starting April 18 for a total of eight performances. Tickets are available online and at the door for $20 with proceeds going toward future productions and facility maintenance. The council will also be running a fundraiser to re-

The Hoover Police Department released a statement on Friday outlining the incident and subsequent arrest.

According to HPD, on April 11, 2024 at approximately 1:46 p.m., Hoover High School officials and Hoover Police School Re-

source Officers at the school were notified by students of a suspicious person on campus who was making threats of violence.

A lockdown of the school was initiated while Hoover police officers investigated the complaint. Officers located the person, who was identified as a juvenile student and quickly detained them, police said.

Trussville Superintendent

Dr. Patrick Martin said the students were being recognized as part of Music in Our Schools Month in the state of Alabama.

HTHS Band Director Mark Knauss introduced AllState students to the board including Ben Bailey, Riley Morris, Noah Bender, Carson Phillips, Luke Pinion, Parker Smith, Luke Hansen, and Sarah Kate Smith.

Members of the HTHS percussion ensemble. Chris Basinger/ Trussville Tribune

place the curtains in the theater, aptly named “Curtain Call,” where community members can donate $25 to pay for one yard of fabric.

The Leeds Arts Council will open its next production season in July with its musical performance of “Anastasia.”

A thorough search of the campus was conducted and no weapons were located.

Once the campus was determined to be safe, the lockdown was lifted and students were dismissed.

HPD said the subsequent investigation revealed the 17-year-old juvenile male student was wearing a mask and engaged in a verbal altercation with a group of stu-

In addition to their AllState selection, three HTHS students were chosen to be among just 10 students selected from schools across the state to be named All-State SoloFest Finalists. Those students were Riley Morris on alto saxophone, Ben Bailey on euphonium, and Noah Bender on trumpet. Following their reception, Percussion Director A.

dents in the courtyard. During the altercation the suspect made gestures to make the other students believe he was armed with a weapon and he made verbal statements making the students believe he intended to harm them, police said.

The threats were subsequently reported to faculty and a lockdown was initiated. SROs and school staff

J. Adair presented the HTHS Indoor Percussion Ensemble, which was awarded first place in the 2024 SCGC Scholastic A Regional Championships.

Members of the percussion ensemble included Jacob Burdetter, Josh Cahoon, Claire Chen, Andrew Coolidge, Faith D’Amico, Will Davis, Parker Daniel, Sarah Doss, Olivia Evans, Dominic Freeman, Franccesca Garcia, Giada Gumina, Kaylin Head, Caleb Heath, Nicholas Hyatt, Will Jones, Noelle Kay, Abbie Lawley, Grey McManic, Quinn Miller, Olivia Mulligan, Norah Parker, Luke Perkins, Ashlan Perkins, Luis Posadas Vilela, Lilee Richards, Aliza Scott, Wyat VAn Horn, and Joeclyn Van Horn.

immediately began to work to identify the suspect and took him into custody within minutes and without incident.

The facts of the case were presented to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office in Bessemer.

The suspect was charged with making a terrorist threat, first degree. Alabama law prohibits any further information from being released due to the age of the suspect.

The suspect was not armed when he was taken into custody, and there has been no evidence discovered indicating he was ever armed with a weapon at any point, HPD stated. Police said the incident was isolated, and there is no ongoing threat at Hoover High School.

The cast rehearsing "Fiddler on the Roof." Courtesy of Brandi McClaran.

From front page Leeds

From front page

the fees for certain construction permitting and discussed a concern raised about development on Norman Drive.

The first item passed by the council was an ordinance to reduce the building and constructing fees for permitting new construction, additions, alterations and repairs.

Mayor David Miller said that this was to bring the city’s fee structure in line with other Jefferson County communities.

“We have looked at the fees around Jefferson County and the areas…and we were on the high side compared to most of the other municipalities around town,” Miller said.

The amendment now has fees calculated at 0.9% of the valuation for construction, as well as demolition, electrical installations, plumbing installations, and mechanical installations.

The valuation is based on the costs of labor, materials, and equipment.

Later during public comments, Joe White, owner of Curtis White Companies, spoke at length and thanked the council for the fee reduction but pointed out concerns about construction costs increasing as a result.

After discussion, Miller said that this would be looked into.

Before the floor was turned over to public comments, Councilman Eric Turner asked the council about pending construction on Norman Drive in which the developer, Steve French, has zoning approval to build 60 apartments. Turner asked about negotiating to allow French to follow through on his original proposal to build 28 R-3 zoned homes instead, saying that the Planning and Zoning Commission turned this down and cited potential issues with traffic.

However, Turner claimed that 28 homes would be better at keeping traffic issues to a minimum with homes likely to have 50 to 60 cars and apartments to have an estimated 120 cars.

“I just think as a city we need to negotiate with [French] in good faith to try and do something to make that happen,” Turner said. Miller said that he did not have an opinion on the matter. Turner said that Planning and Zoning Commission Chair Eddie Cook told him that the entrance at Norman Drive could cause issues with traffic and suggested that the developer buy a property there for taxes that could be used as a new entrance. But when he spoke with, French he was told that it would take three years to take possession of a property if it is bought for taxes.

Turner suggested possibly buying a lot and giving French the right of way. City Attorney Scott Barnett said that buying a lot and giving out the right of way could be done but the commission has jurisdiction of the subdivision and was unsure if it could be worked out.

Turner asked if they could bring French to a future council meeting to hash out an agreement, to which Barnett said they could but the subdivision approval rests solely on the Planning and Zoning Commission.

“I just think rooftops are better than apartments,” Turner said shortly before discussion concluded. “No offense to apartments but we’ve got plenty.”

In other business

the council:

• Renewed its contract with the Greater Birmingham Humane Society for animal control, Waived the penalty for a delinquent business license payment for a deceased business owner’s heir,

• Approved a budget amendment to purchase a knuckle boom truck for solid waste collection for approximately $222,507, Approved an agreement with Blount County 911 Communications District to provide dispatch services,

• Reappointed Chad Anderson to the Leeds Board of Education, and Approved an agreement with Paul Zuckerman to provide dance and exercise instruction at the Senior Services Center.

Meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of every month at City Hall on 1400 9th Street Northeast. Agenda packets can be seen online at the City of Leeds website. Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@ gmail.com.

Irondale

“We are focusing on generational projects that the community will be able to enjoy for decades to come,” Mayor James D. Stewart, Jr. said.

Though construction is already underway, the formal groundbreaking of the new baseball and softball facilities at Ruffner Park will be held on April 17 at 9 a.m.

The project looks to build three synthetic turf fields and add new LED lighting, restrooms, walking paths, and a playground to the park.

In January, the Irondale City Council approved a resolution to enter into a $7.48 million contract with Milam and Co. LLC for the construction upgrades to the park.

The council also approved a $150,000 contract with Goodwyn Mills Cawood to manage the redevelopment for the city and $518,500 for design services.

At the same meeting, the council also voted to spend $558,059 on the purchase of artificial turf, $395,800 for lighting, and an amount not to exceed $350,000 for playground equipment.

On Thursday, April 18, at 3 p.m., the city will bring out the shovels again to break

Chalkville Rd

From front page

load shifted while attempting to turn right from Skyline Drive

After the truck began to turn on its side, Johnson said he jumped out of it. The landscapers then began to direct traffic.

Trussville Police then arrived on scene to direct traffic around the blockage before the vehicle was cleared.

ground at 1032 Grants Mill Road in celebration of the construction of the new Irondale Public Library.

The new 16,000-squarefoot library will double the size of the existing facility, providing room for an upgraded collection, technology spaces, and community meeting areas.

In April, the council accepted an $8.54 million bid for construction services for the new library from The Stewart/Perry Company and approved spending nearly $70,000 for water infrastructure at the site.

As of 2:49 p.m., the truck had been cleared from the road, according to TPD Lt. Clint Riner. The

“The new library will be a hub for learning and discovery as well as a catalyst for community engagement, while the Ball Park will be a destination for children and families to cultivate talents and enjoy the outdoors, especially with the Ruffner Mountain trail located just across the street,” Stewart said.

A concept of the new Irondale Public Library.

A map of the redeveloped Ruffner Park.

onto Chalkville Road.

unbalanced truck blocks Chalkville road while a police officer directs traffic. Chris Basinger/Trussville Tribune

avid Miller on April 15, 2024. Photo by Nathan Prewett.

The Trussville City Council unanimously approved a proclamation Tuesday evening honoring April 7-13 as National Library Week.

Councilor Perry Cook read the proclamation, saying, “Libraries are accessible and inclusive places that promote a sense of local connection, advancing understanding, civic engagement, [and] shared community goals.”

The proclamation also noted the pivotal role libraries play in communities, offering everyone the opportunity to learn new skills, connect with others, and engage in the free exchange of information. “Libraries are treasured institutions that preserve our collective heritage and knowledge, safeguarding both physical and digital resources for present and future generations,” Cook said. He added, “I am very proud of our library and our board and the work that they do. I think we have a great culture and a great network in our libraries and it’s phenomenal for our area.” In

• The council reappointed Jane Alexander and Jennifer Bain to the Historical Board with terms expiring April 4, 2028. The council reappointed John Patterson to the Cemetery Rehabilitation Authority with a term expiring March 31, 2028.

• The council approved three Leadership Hewitt-Trussville projects–the blue light project, disc golf signage, and park directional signage.

• The council approved a resolution amending the FY24 budget and restat-

ing the FY22 and FY23 budgets in order to obtain federal reimbursement on ARPA eligible expenses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The council approved a license with Downtown Trussville LLC for the use of four parking places within the Entertainment District.

• The council approved a resolution amending the professional service agreement with Lathan Associates Architects for the construction of the new athletic field and facilities.

McCaleb Crowned Grand Champion at Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt

By David Rainer, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Despite some challenging weather conditions, the Alabama Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt last week was another resounding success with numerous hunters from across the nation bagging an Alabama bird.

“We had hot and humid weather to start and then a line of thunderstorms came through,” said Chris Blankenship, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) at Wednesday’s awards luncheon. “But more than a third of people hunting ended up with a turkey.

“It has been a great success. We had more sponsors than we’ve ever had. We had more hunters (62) than we’ve ever had. We raised more money than we ever have for scholarships for our universi-

ties, our Hunters Helping the Hungry program, youth dove and duck hunting, Becoming An Outdoors-Woman, our mentored hunting programs and all the things we do to

promote hunting and fishing and getting people outdoors in the state.”

Not only does the OneShot Turkey Hunt showcase Alabama’s outdoors, but it also puts a spotlight on the many other amenities associated with doing business and living in the state.

“To be able to show how the outdoors we all enjoy here contributes to the quality of life in Alabama but also to use it as an economic development tool,” Commissioner Blankenship said. “We want people to bring their businesses here, expand their businesses here and get to meet our people and see what a beautiful place we live in. It’s been a hugely successful event, not only for the hunters but we’re also thankful for the landowners who gave up their turkeys for somebody else to shoot one of their birds.”

Commissioner Blankenship said although Paul McCaleb was crowned Grand Champion of the 2024 Alabama Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt, he considers Governor Kay Ivey as the Grand Champion of promoting and supporting outdoors initiatives in Alabama.

“When we kicked things off, I said Alabama was blessed with our great outdoors,” Governor Ivey said before handing out the awards.

“I hope you all got a good glimpse of Alabama. It’s not just the best place to visit; it’s the best place to work, build and raise a family, and to also play.”

McCaleb hunted with landowner Russ Newman near Union Springs when they managed to bag the winning gobbler, which weighed 22.3 pounds with a 10.375inch beard and spurs that

The Trussville City Council and the Trussville Library Board gather to celebrate National Library Week. Courtesy of Stacy Frazier.

Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship joins Governor Kay Ivey to present the Grand Champion trophies to Paul McCaleb, right, and landowner Russ Newman. (Billy Pope, Daniel Moultrie)

1.3 and 1.1 inches for a total score of 67.375 points under the National Wild Turkey Federation scoring system. “It was tough that morning,” Newman said. “The turkey we had been seeing was not cooperative, gobbled very little. When he hit the ground, that was it. We had a long day. We got stuck, and I had to walk back about a mile to the camp to get a tractor.”

After lunch the hunters went to an area where some birds had been showing up in a field and started to call.

Lanier Burton and Joby Newman, Russ’s son, also served as guides on the hunt.

“I bet we didn’t call five times, and I looked up and said, ‘Mr. Paul, there’s a turkey to your left. He’s coming straight in.’ He was at 48 steps, and Mr. Paul hammered him; made a heck of a shot.”

McCaleb is a lifelong turkey hunter, bagging his first bird in 1972. He hunts turkeys with his son and grandson on a regular basis on their land in Walker County that is managed for deer and turkeys.

“It was pretty evident that the first turkey we fooled with was an old bird that was used to sitting up in the tree until his hens came up under him before he would pitch down,” McCaleb said. “He stayed in the tree for over an hour. He pitched down and went the other way.”

After getting the truck stuck and eating lunch, the host team took McCaleb to the spot where the turkeys were known to hang out.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better group of guys to hunt with,” he said. “We came in on the creek side so we wouldn’t make much noise. We got set up, and the guys started calling. Within 10 minutes, Russ said, ‘Mr. Paul, don’t move.’ I had a tree blocking my vision on what he could see. I stayed frozen, and the turkey came out in an old logging road. I had picked out a tree he had to come by for him to be close enough for me to shoot.

Luckily, that tree was about four feet wide. When he went behind that tree, I was able to get my knee up and my gun on my knee. He came from behind the tree, took three more steps and ran his head up. That’s when I shot him. It was 1:22 (p.m.).

“It was a quick hunt, but we were whooping and hollering like kids on Christmas morning. It was a very exciting hunt.”

First runner-up Daniel Moultrie bagged a bird in Chambers County with his dad, Dan. The turkey weighed 19.5 pounds with an 11-inch beard and 1-inch spurs for a total of 61.5 points. “We heard them pitch down from the roost, and we started talking to them,” Daniel said. “We started walking down a road and then got set up real quick on a tree. There were two turkeys together. One was standing in the road and the other was walking into the woods. The one I ended up harvesting was the one walking in the woods. Once he got between two trees, I squeezed off on him.” Dan, who recently ac-

quired the property in Chambers County, said they started out on a hilltop to listen for birds because they weren’t as familiar with the topography. Meanwhile, on another section of the Moultrie property, ADCNR’s Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Director, Chuck Sykes, and his hunter, Jon Zinnel from Federal Ammunition, were able to harvest a bird that didn’t quite make the leaderboard.

“We went to a high spot and started listening,” Dan said. “We heard them gobbling. The old rule is you never call to them in the tree. As soon as we heard them fly down. I yelped to them one time to see if they would respond. Then they came right back, double-gobbling. One thing Daniel understated about finding a tree to get set up on was I was saying, ‘Sit down. Sit down. Quick, quick, quick. They’re coming. They’re coming.’ I told him to shoot the one in the road, but the turkey in the woods was coming straight to us and would have busted us and putted if Daniel hadn’t shot him.

“For the last 12 years, we’ve always hunted on Easter weekend and gotten him a turkey. This was our Easter hunt.”

The second runner-up was another Bullock County turkey taken by Jeff Rabren, who hunted with Foster Pugh at Sanctuary Timber and Wildlife. Rabren’s bird weighed 22.3 pounds with a 9.5-inch beard and spurs of .9375 and 1 inch for a total of 60.625 points. “It was beautiful. On the drive in, we saw about 10 deer and a rabbit jump in front of us,” Rabren said. “Our guide, Foster, is a master. We spent the next two-and-a-half hours following birds around. They were gobbling from daybreak until the second before the shot. The shot was thrilling, but the time following Foster around the property with him calling and talking back and forth was as thrilling as the shot itself.”

Pugh said it was a classic Alabama turkey hunt with a lot of gobbling on the roost and then a period of inactivity as the gobblers joined the hens.

“About 9:30, they started gobbling again,” Pugh said. “We got set up and started calling. Within a couple of minutes, they were on top of us. That’s the way you want it to happen.”

Third runner-up John Bricken is another diehard turkey hunter who had been in the turkey woods almost every day since the season started. He hunted with landowner Hunter Smith at High Ridge Plantation outside Union Springs. Bricken’s bird weighed 18.6 pounds with a 10.75-inch beard and spurs just under an inch for a total of 58.8 points. “We got on some turkeys early that didn’t cooperate,” Bricken said. “We got on this one about 8 o’clock. He was by himself in a pine stand that had been burned about a month ago. He had to come over a little ridge to check us out, and that’s when we got him.”

Commissioner Blankenship said the Alabama Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt, which is held every two years, attracts an interesting mix of people.

“You’ve got some landowners and hunters who are diehard turkey hunters, and they want that biggest bird,” Commissioner Blankenship said. “They’ve been thinking about it, keeping an eye on the big birds so they can win this. Then you’ve got other people who have never hunted, and they are excited just to hear a bird or see a bird. To see those smiles on their faces when they shoot their first turkey, that is really priceless. The thing that is most exciting to me is we’re blessed with so many hunting opportunities here. Alabama is such a beautiful place. It is awesome for us to be able to showcase that to these executives looking to do business or expand business here. I love using outdoor recreation to help grow the economy in Alabama. I think that is exciting.

“Governor Ivey has been so supportive because she knows what the great outdoors means to the people who live here but also to get people to move here, work and raise a family. She wants to grow our state.”

Thursday, May 9, 2024 Trussville Civic Center 5:30pm -8pm Tickets $25 (limited number available ) Presenting Sponsor

Friday, May 10 through Sunday, May 26

Dan and Daniel Moultrie, left, and Jon Zinnel and WFF Director Chuck Sykes bagged birds during the hunt. (Billy Pope, Daniel Moultrie)

By Sean Dietrich, Sean of the South Commentary

Hi. You don’t know me. I don’t know you. We’re strangers. But we’re the same, sort of. Only chances are, you drive a nicer car than I do. In fact I guarantee you drive a nicer car.

I drive a 25-year-old truck. The tailgate is rusted, there is a prodigious layer of dog hair on the upholstery. The windshield is cracked, the gas gauge doesn’t work, the roof leaks so that when it rains the interior of my Ford bears the perpetual scent of canine.

There is a sticker on my dashboard which reads “Tomorrow is a day with no mistakes in it.” My old man gave the sticker to me when I was 10. I’ve never parted with it.

So anyway, although

Sean of the South: About Today

we’ve never met before, we have a few things in common. Namely, we both breathe air, we both eat food, we both work for a living. We both hold a deep level of respect for the Internal Revenue Service. We also have bad days. You and me. That’s just how we are. We’re humans. Bad days are inevitable. The reasons for our bad days vary. Maybe we don’t get enough sleep. Or people let us down. Sometimes we get overloaded with work, family, schedules, appointments, commitments, obligations, IRS audits, etc.

Sometimes we receive bad news. Sometimes we have chronic pain. Sometimes we have chronic stress. Sometimes we suffer from the chronic idiocy of our fellow man.

Sometimes your water heater goes out. Sometimes your CV axle needs replacing. Sometimes your football team sucks Sometimes your dog pees in the kitchen.

Sometimes, it’s the oneyear anniversary of your dad’s death. Sometimes your spouse decides they want a new spouse. Sometimes your cat dies. Sometimes your loved one dies. Sometimes the doctor looks you square in the eye and uses the C-word. Sometimes—and here I am speaking of myself— your septic tank needs to be pumped.

Either way, a body can only take so much abuse. After a while, life starts to wear you down. You start to feel overwhelmed. And tired. And “over it all.”

But really, what you’re feeling is just fear. Deep inside, you are actually just

wondering will ALWAYS be this way? Will things always be a mess? Will life always be hard? Will I always be on the wrong side of life? Will you always have chronic back pain? Will you ALWAYS be an insomniac, going through your day like a B-movie zombie? Will you always have problems with your marriage? Will life ever get better? Will anyone ever

understand what I’m going through?

The answer is: I have no freaking idea. I’m just some hack writer on the Internet.

But…

If, by chance, this is one of those days for you, friend; if this is a crummy day that you’d rather not be going through; if you wished today was over before it even started; I’d just like to remind you

something you already know. It will get better. You will get better. Life will get better. It might not happen the way you want it to. Your prayers might not be answered in the way you wanted. But it’s going to be okay. You’re going to be okay. Just hang on. Wait for tomorrow. Because someone once told me that tomorrow is a day with no mistakes in it.

Sean Dietrich (Photo courtesy of seandietrich.com)

Lass But Not Least: Pardon the Interruption

By Ken Lass

You are glued to your TV set, watching NCIS, or The Voice, or a rerun of Judge Judy, or The Bachelor. And just as the bachelor is about to decide whether to extend a rose to the evil, conniving, two-timing brunette, or the sweet and innocent blonde who grew up in an orphanage, the show is interrupted.

Suddenly on your screen is a local weather person standing in front of a multi-colored radar image, telling you there is a thunderstorm warning in Winston County. They switch to a young reporter standing on a street corner in Haleyville, who informs you it’s not raining there yet, but as soon as it does, you’ll see it here first.

You live in Trussville. Or Moody, or Pinson, or Center Point. You glance out your window. Nothing but clear skies and calm conditions. They interrupted an important show like Funniest Home Videos for this?

I get it. You’re frustrated. Maybe you even take the name of the weather person in vain. Maybe after hours of constant weather coverage, it never does rain at your house. They got it wrong again. Why must we have weather every ten minutes, or every six minutes, or every breathing moment of life?

Maybe take a deep cleansing breath for a moment. Let’s pause and look at the big picture (no pun intended). Keep in mind a local TV station is a business. As such, its primary function is to turn a profit for its owner. The station makes money by selling commercial time. The more viewers you have, the more you can charge for those ads.

You generate viewers to your local newscast by doing

stories that people are interested in, stories that affect their lives. So let’s see, what is the one story that affects everybody’s life? Of course, it’s the weather. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who is not at least casually interested in what the weather is going to be like tomorrow.

That information is especially in demand by young mothers with children, the holy grail of TV viewers. Women aged 25 to 49, who must decide how to dress the kiddos for school. Advertisers will pay top dollar to flash their products across the screen to them. So you try your best to attract those viewers by giving them weather. Lots of weather.

Drill it into their brains that, when they want to know the weather, they can come to you. Maybe stick with you. Maybe they’ll watch the rest of the newscast and hang around to see Vanna White’s latest dress on Wheel of Fortune.

Stations rely on the weather people to make that happen. It’s not an easy job. Thankless sometimes. They are tasked with forecasting accurately for an impossibly wide area. The conditions in Tuscaloosa may be far different from those in Anniston. There may be a tornado watch in Cullman, while the wind may not be strong enough to bend a flower in Clanton. In severe weather they are asked to fill continuous airtime for hours upon hours, often with very little new information to report. All the while knowing the station is receiving a million phone calls from angry viewers who want them to switch back to Dancing With The Stars.

Ironically, when a TV station jumps into continuous coverage mode, they actually lose money. All

Bids for the construction of the

those commercial breaks go down the drain. The motives are mostly altruistic. The weather people really are concerned with saving lives and providing adequate warning of dangerous stuff that may, or may not, be on the way. Naturally, there is hope that a by-product of the coverage will be the winning of new fans to more permanent viewership.

I can tell you that most TV weather people are great folks, salt of the earth types. I know this to be true because I spent forty-three years working alongside them in TV newsrooms, thirty of those years in Birmingham. Yes, sometimes you begin to glaze over when they start talking about vortex signatures, or when they excitedly try to explain how the station’s Super Galactic Doppler Ten Million Interstellar Star Crushing Radar system works.

But I also watched them spend countless hours giving of their time to speak to school kids and charitable organizations, educating about staying safe, and raising funds for causes of many types. Chances are both you and your child had a TV meteorologist come speak at your school at some point. Yet they are never completely off the clock. Tornadoes don’t take weekends and holidays off. Weather people learn to take the viewer complaints in stride, secure in knowing they are serving the greater good.

And by the way, they almost always get it right. It’s just that when they get it wrong, everybody notices. Everybody.

So the next time they break into your favorite program, be kind. Somehow, somewhere, somebody’s life may depend on it.

Ken Lass, Tribune columnist

ing developed to keep pace, so the CDC recommends that all seniors stay up to date with the latest Covid vaccines, including booster shots. All Covid-19 shots are covered 100 percent by Medicare Part B. Flu: Considered an annual vaccination, most people of all ages receive flu shots in the fall when flu season begins. The CDC recommends seniors, 65 and older get a high-dose flu shot for extra protection beyond what a

standard flu shot offers. The Fluzone High Dose Quadrivalent, FLUAD Quadrivalent and FluBlok Quadrivalent are your three options. Annual flu shots are covered under Medicare Part B.

Pneumonia: These vaccines help protect against pneumococcal disease, which can cause pneumonia, meningitis and other infections. The CDC recommends everyone 65 and older get a pneumococcal vaccine. There are several different vaccine options available, so talk to your doctor or pharmacists to find out which is best for you or visit the CDC’s Pneumococcal Vaccination webpage at CDC.gov/vaccines/vpd/pneumo/public/index.html.

Medicare Part B covers both single dose and twodose pneumococcal shots once in your lifetime.

Shingles: Caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox, shingles is a painful, blistering skin rash that affects more than 1 million Americans every year. All people over age 50 are recommended to get the twodose Shingrix vaccine, which is given two to six months apart, even if you previously received Zostavax. In 2020, Shingrix replaced Zostavax, which is no longer available in the U.S.

All Medicare Part D prescription drug plans cover shingles vaccinations, but coverage amounts, and reimbursement rules vary depending on where the shot is given. Check your plan.

Tdap: Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) are diseases caused by bacteria that can lead to

serious illness and death. Therefore, a one-time dose of the Tdap vaccine is recommended to all adults. If you’ve already had a Tdap shot, you should get a tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster shot every 10 years.

All Medicare Part D plans cover these vaccinations.

RSV: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can lead to pneumonia or bronchiolitis and can worsen other chronic conditions common among older adults, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The CDC recommends all adults, age 60 and older, talk to their doctor about getting one of the RSV vaccines (either Arexvy or Abrysvo), usually in the fall and winter months when the virus is most prevalent.

Most Medicare Part D plans cover the RSV vaccine, but not all. If your plan doesn’t cover it, you can ask

for a coverage exception. You can also pay for the shot out of pocket and then follow-up with your plan to get reimbursed. If you pay for the shot upfront, your plan must pay you back.

Other Vaccinations

There are other vaccines you may need depending on your health, lifestyle or travel plans. To help you get a handle on which ones are appropriate for you, take the CDC’s What Vaccines Do You Need? quiz at www2. cdc.gov/nip/adultimmsched. Also, talk to your doctor during your next visit about what vaccinations you should get.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

of each month, 6pm, TCS Central Office

● Clay City Council Meetings: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, 6pm

● Pinson City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, 7pm

● Center Point City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, 6:30pm

● Argo City Council Meetings: 2nd and 4th Monday of each month, 5pm

● Springville City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, 6pm

● Irondale City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, 6pm

● Leeds City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, 6pm

● Moody City Council Meetings: 2nd and 4th Monday of each month, 6pm

Trussville Public Library

● April 17 - Teen Video Game Tournament - 4-5:30 p.m. at the LBK Auditorium. Video Game tournament featuring various games and prizes.

● April 18 - Children’s Storytime - 9:30-10 a.m. and 10:30-11 a.m. at the LBK Auditorium. Join Ms. Alicia for stories, songs, bubble time, and lots of fun.

● April 18 - Understanding Medicare - 1-2 p.m. in the Parkway Room. Educational

seminar about Medicare options.

● April 18 - Yarn Manglers - 2-4 p.m. in the Cahaba Room. Knitters and crocheters, join us for fellowship and creativity!

● April 18 - Pages & Panels Book Club - 4-5 p.m. at the LBK Auditorium. Read the book, graphic novel, or listen to the audiobook “Spy School” by Stuart Gibbs. Then join us as we discuss the books and make a craft!

● April 18 - Alabama Quilts, A Family Tradition - 6-8 p.m. at the LBK Auditorium. Ryan Blocker from the Alabama Department of Archives and History discusses the traditions passed through generational quilting.

● April 19 - Quilting Workshop with the Gee’s Bend Quilters (Two-Day Event) - 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the LBK Auditorium. Required registration now open.

● April 19 - Meet and Greet with the Gee’s Bend Quilters - 5-6 p.m. Say hello and browse their amazing creations!

● April 20 - Quilting Workshop with the Gee’s Bend Quilters (Two-Day Event) - 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Required registration now open.

● April 22 - Yarn Manglers

- 6-7:45 p.m. in the Parkway Room. Knitters and crocheters, join us for fellowship and creativity!

● April 23 - Magic: The Gathering for Teens - 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the

William Randy Parker

was preceded in death by his beloved son, Jeff, by his parents, Sevie and Evelyn Parker, and by his sister, Jean Lane. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Joan Abbott Parker, his son, Andrew Parker, his aunt, Gail Frazier, his cousins, Theresa Frazier,

Arnold Arnold, Jr

july 15, 1942 — april 5, 2024

Arnold West Arnold, Jr was born July 15, 1942 passed away to eternal freedom on April 5, 2024. He was known to many as “Dickie” to many family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Lora Jean Black Arnold and A. W. Arnold, Sr; two sisters Sybil Hudgins and Cheryl Cheek, and his best

Martin; and eight great-grandchildren Aiden, Amelie, Ian, Chloe, Colten, Kieran, John Robert, and Jensen.

Tina Hinton McDonald

march 26, 1958-march 11, 2024

Tina Hinton McDonald (March 26, 1958-March 11, 2024) of Leeds, Alabama passed away at her home on March 11th 2024.

She is preceded in death by her parents Richard and Betty Hinton and her husband Glenn McDonald. She is survived by her children Kyle McDonald, Matthew McDonald and Victoria McDonald. She was a workaholic who believed in always doing the right thing. She could always be found with a cup of coffee or a bowl of chips. She enjoyed life by attending concerts and traveling. Unlike her husband Glenn, she was silly every single day. A celebration of life will be held on Monday, April 29th and the Historic Rowan House in Leeds, Alabama from 6:30-8:00pm.

Joani Brasfied Copeland

october 26, 1943-april 8, 2024

Joani Brasfied Copeland of Pinson, AL passed away this past Monday, April 8th, 2024.

She was a part of the Birmingham Youth Choir

Anna Jean McKee

january 19, 1939 — april 9, 2024

her great-grandchildren perform and play sports. She was the best wife, mother, and MamaJ around. Jean is preceded in death by her parents Gene and Florence Roper, her husband Billy M. Hayes, her son Roy Hayes, and granddaughter Mandy Hayes; survived by her husband James

Janice Cotton Whitten

august 24, 1936 — april 11, 2024

Whitten enjoyed gardening, sewing, mak-

ing clothes and home décor, and cooking for her family, especially corn bread. She loved visiting the beach and collecting seashells. Mrs. Whitten was a lifetime member of First Baptist Centerpoint and wherever she was, she served as

Coping With the Death of a Parent

Losing a parent evokes a mix of emotions, including pain, fear, and deep sadness.

During the grieving process, emotions such as anger and guilt may arise. We may find ourselves directing anger toward healthcare professionals, the funeral director, or our parents and subsequently feel guilty for harboring such emotions. Guilt may also manifest due to unresolved arguments or unfulfilled wishes. It’s important to recognize that these feelings are a normal part of the grieving process.

Grief, the natural and necessary process of saying goodbye, becomes the pathway to untangling the emotional bonds formed with our departed loved ones. Overcoming the challenges of parental loss requires recognizing that grief is a necessary process with no shortcuts.

Springville wins area championship

teams in our area this year, spending most of the season ranked in the top 10 of the ASWA rankings and putting up a 23-9 record to this point. This week, the Tigers faced off against area opponent Fairview, playing three games in four days against the Aggies to determine the 5A Area 11 championship. Springville dominated Fairview to bring home the championship. In game one on Friday, the Tigers got the win in the closest game of the series, a 2-0 victory. Springville got a run in the top of the first inning on a dropped third strike with Grant Martinez at the plate that brought home Kevin Jones. The next two innings would be scoreless for both teams until, in the fourth, Tanner Oakes grounded to shortstop, bringing Martinez home. The rest of the game would be scoreless as the Tigers took game one of the weekend series. Carter Samuelson got the complete-game shutout allowing just three hits and striking out 10 batters on the evening. Jones went two of four from the plate. The second game of the series took place on Saturday and the Tigers had no mercy on Fairview. The Aggies scored a run in the top of the first and held the 1-0 lead until the bottom of the third. Springville put up three runs in the inning, followed by three more in the bottom of the fourth. They added another run in the bottom of the fifth to close out the scoring at 7-1. Alex Holland went the distance and allowed just two

been one

the

See SPRINGVILLE, Page 16

Greenies win area championship over Moody

By Johnny Sanders Sports Editor

– The Leeds Greenwave grabbed a pair of wins over the Moody Blue Devils this week to secure the 5A Area 10 championship and earn themselves a first-round home game in the playoffs this coming weekend.

After a rainy start to the week that required some moving around of schedules, these two rivals finally got to play their series on Friday and Saturday.

Friday, the two teams started out at Leeds for the first of three games for the weekend. Moody looked to put Leeds away early, scoring five runs in the first four innings and holding the Greenies scoreless until the bottom of the fourth. Leeds would put up five runs in the inning to tie the game before a scoreless fifth inning. In the bottom of the sixth, the Greenwave put two more runs on the board to take a 7-5 lead. Not to be outdone, the Blue Devils scored two in the top of the seventh to tie it once again, but could not find anything in the top of the eighth. A Nolan Moore single for Leeds brought home Taylon Gaiter for the winning run, setting the tone for the rest of the weekend with a hard-fought 8-7 win for the Leeds Greenwave. For Leeds,

Dax Phillips went six-plus innings, allowing nine hits and seven runs while striking out five batters. Joseph Bryant got the win, going one-plus innings and allowing not hits or runs and striking out two. At the plate for the Greenies, Nolan Moore and Conner Nelson both had three RBI. For Moody, Bryant Hardin took most of the load on the mound as he went five innings, allowing seven hits and five runs while striking out five. Braden Wright finished the game allowing three hits and one run and striking out a batter. At the plate, Brady Dodd drove in three runs while Landon Cherry had two RBI. Game two looked to be another typical Leeds/Moody baseball game and it did not disappoint. The teams locked up at 1-1 in the first before Leeds pulled away with two runs in the second and another in the third to make it 4-1. Moody would mount a comeback, scoring a run in

the fifth and sixth inning to make it 4-3 heading into the seventh. Leeds would answer with three runs, making it 7-3. Moody needed four runs to stay in it but could only get three in the final inning, making it a 7-6 victory for Leeds and sealing the area championship for the Greenwave. Nolan Moore got the win for Leeds, going sixplus innings and allowing six hits, six runs and striking out nine. Dax Phillips had a tworun home run in the game for his team-leading two RBI. Moody’s Brady Dodd allowed a hit and three runs and got a strikeout from the mound for the Blue Devils. Blaine Burke, Zane Smith and Braden Wright all had RBI in the game for Moody.

With the area championship in their rear view, the Leeds Greenwave took to the field against Moody again on Saturday and Moody got a bit

See GREENIES, Page 16

The 2024 Springville Tigers after winning the area championship. Photo by: Cricket Jones

Leeds baseball players during the national anthem. Photo by: Johnny Sanders

Stallions sink Showboats

By John Goolsby Prep Sports Editor

33-14 loss.

The two-time defending USFL champions have now won ten consecutive games and stand at 3-0.

Head coach Skip Holtz deviated from his previous strategy of playing two quarterbacks. Adrian Martinez got the start at quarterback and went 18 of 28 passing for 334 yards and two passing touchdowns. He added 44 yards and another score on the ground.

Matt Corral, the starter at quarterback the last two weeks, did not see any playing time.

tive

kids have been through so much adversity and continue to overcome it repeatedly,” said head coach Antwan Peake.

“It took us a while to get the chemistry going but right now, we believe we can compete with anyone in the state.”

“They didn’t believe, but God did,” Peake said. Peake points to a player’s only meeting at a restaurant as a catalyst for turning the season around.

“The kids got together on their own to bond, and they’ve been clicking every since,” he said.

The Mounties are 2-4 in 6A Region 10 play with two wins over Woodlawn and four losses to number four ranked Mountain Brook and number five Pell City.

Along with the player’s renewed focus, Peake credits assistant coach Jeremy Nelson for being instrumental in Valley’s late-season turnaround.

The Mounties face 6A number six ranked Gardendale on the road Tuesday night.

On Memphis’ opening drive, Showboat quarterback Chase Cookus was sacked on both pass attempts, and the Memphis offense went three and out.

The Stallions went on a 12-play, 71-yard drive that drained seven minutes off the clock. Birmingham got on the board with a tipped Martinez pass that went directly to a wide-open Jace Sternberger in the back of the endzone for a six-yard touchdown. Martinez threw an interception on the two-point attempt, and the Stallions held a 6-0 lead.

The Showboats went three and out again, and Birmingham began their second drive of the night from their 28yard line.

Martinez fumbled the ball away two plays later, and the Showboats made the Stallions pay and knotted the game at six apiece on a 23-yard touchdown pass to Vinny Papale from Cookus.

The point-after attempt failed after the Birmingham defense forced an incompletion.

Birmingham wasted no time getting back in the end-

zone. Martinez hit Mobile’s Marlon Williams with a 41yard strike to give the Stallions a 12-6 lead with ten seconds remaining in the opening period.

The two-point attempt failed on a Martinez incomplete pass.

Memphis went on a nineplay drive that took almost six minutes off the clock and cut the Birmingham lead to three on a 57-yard field goal by Coghlin at the 9:15 mark of the second quarter.

The Stallions put together a 13-play 58-yard drive that resulted in a 28-yard Chris Blewitt field goal. Birmingham held a 15-9 lead with two minutes remaining in the half.

The Showboats went to their two-minute drill and moved the ball 55 yards in ten plays to cut the Stallion’s lead to 15-12 on a Coughlin 34-yard field goal with 14 seconds remaining.

Not to be outdone, Martinez completed a 36-yard pass to Deon Cain with seven seconds remaining on the clock.

Blewitt was called upon for a second time and answered with a 46-yard field goal to give the Stallions an 18-12 lead as the two teams

A 31-yard Martinez to Sternberger completion on first down appeared to get the Stallions’ offense in gear, but the drive stalled on the Showboat’s 25-yard line and Birmingham had to settle for three. Blewitt’s 43-yard field goal pushed the Stallions’ lead to 21-12 with 3:28 remaining in the third period.

The Birmingham defense forced another three and out and took over on their 25yard yard line.

On first down, Martinez hit Ricky Person, Jr. with a 35-yard pass to move the ball to the Showboats’ 40-yard line.

On the opening play of the fourth quarter, Martinez hit Cain with a 20-yard pass that set the Stallions up on Memphis’s five-yard line.

On the next play, Person, Jr. scored on a five-yard touchdown run to give Birmingham a 28-12 lead with 14:23 remaining in the game.

The Showboats couldn’t generate enough offense and

2024 MIST Champions. Credit: SVHS

Stallions get home win. Credit: The Birmingham Stallions/UFL

2024 Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix: Getting to know Felix Rosenqvist

By John Goolsby Prep Sports Editor

The Trussville Tribune will provide extensive coverage of the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds. IndyCar drivers Felix Rosenqvist, Santino Ferrucci, Scott McLaughlin, and Birmingham’s own Michael Suco, a rookie in the USF Juniors series, will be spotlighted.

Felix Rosenqvist’s 2024 season is off to a good start. The 32-year-old Swede recorded a seventh-place finish in the NTT IndyCar season-opener at St. Petersburg and a third-place finish in the non-points $1 Million Challenge at the Thermal Club. Rosenqvist enters his sixth season in the premier American open-wheel series with a new team, Myer Shank Racing, after three years with Arrows McLaren and two years with Chip Ganassi Racing.

The change has not been a problem for the 2019 IndyCar Rookie of the Year. “Honestly, it’s been really smooth,” he said. “I think we’ve been viving pretty good straight away, me and the team.”

While there is a lot to get used to when changing teams, the most important thing to a driver is the car. “The car has just been really good and suits my driving style,” Rosenqvist said. “I normally try to tell myself that I don’t have a specific driving style, but I think deep down I know I do, and this car has certainly made getting up to speed very easy. We’ve been firing on all cylinders straight out the gate.”

Rosenqvist has been ultra-successful in every series he has competed in. The 2015 FIA Formula 3 Europe-

an champion won 28 races in the series from 2012-2015. He won the prestigious Macau Grand Prix in 2014 and 2015 over current Formula One drivers Max Verstappen, Charles Leclere, Carlos Sainz, Jr., Esteban Ocon, Alex Albon, Lance Stroll and IndyCar drivers Alex Palou, Santino Ferrucci, and Tom Blomqvist.

While Rosenqvist’s ontrack performance in Europe was elite, he was unable to secure the necessary sponsorship for a 2016 campaign in the GP2 series and made the move to the U.S. to compete in Indy Lights. He claimed three wins in ten starts on American soil.

After a successful IndyCar test with Chip Ganassi Racing at the end of 2016, Rosenqvist returned to Europe to compete in the Formula E series, where he recorded three wins over the next two years. Rosenqvist returned to the States as a full-time driver for Chip Ganassi Racing in 2019, where he won Rookie of the Year and finished sixth in the final IndyCar points standings. The fast Swede finished tenth in his first race at Barber and finished ninth last year. Rosenqvist has raced on most of the famous race courses in the world and has high praise for Barber. “It’s one of those track that separates the field a little bit,” he said. “It is definitely a cool track, and it’s interesting how you have to set

the car up and how you have to approach it.”

“Barber has different kinds of corners; you don’t find those corners anywhere else,” he said. “Every corner is very unique, which is cool. The Turn 12, 13, 14 section is like, man, it’s so quick; it’s by far the highest commitment corner we have the whole season.”

“Barber really squeezes out all the strength the drivers have in their arms and neck,” he said. “Also, the fact that there are a lot of right-handers that are quick stresses your neck on that side.”

“Last week, Prema Racing, a European-based team, announced they would field a two-car effort in IndyCar for the 2025 season. Rosenqvist won the 2015 FIA Formula 3 championship driving for Prema and is familiar with the organization.

“They’ll be strong competitors, maybe not the first year, but they will, I think, be a contender pretty quickly,” Rosenqvist said. “I’m sure they’re trying to hire some clever people here in the U.S.”

“I’m super happy they’re coming here, and hopefully, it’ll bring some eyes from Europe onto IndyCar as well.”

Rosenqvist has a great opportunity to move up in the points standings, with the following three races being on street and road courses before the Indy 500.

The Children’s of Alabama Grand Prix takes place April 28-30. Race fans can purchase tickets at indyalabama.com or by calling 877332-7804.

Tickets were sold in 41 states and 12 countries last year and the economic impact to the Birmingham area was between $18 and $27 million.

ACTION TREE SERVICE

Birmingham teen chasing open-wheel dream

By John Goolsby Prep Sports

Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds. IndyCar drivers Felix Rosenqvist, Santino Ferrucci, Scott McLaughlin, and Birmingham’s own Michael Suco, Jr., a rookie in the USF Juniors series, will be spotlighted.

Netflix’s documentary, Formula 1: Drive to Survive, is credited with growing the U.S. F1 fan base by five million viewers and almost doubling viewership per race over the last five years.

Briarwood Christian School senior Michael Suco, Jr. is counted among those new fans. “I had seen some racing videos on YouTube when I was 14, and I had been interested in cars growing up,” he said. “I ended up watching the entire thing and started having questions like, how do I get into this? What steps do I need to take to get there someday potentially?’

For 2024, Suco, Jr. finds himself driving for VRD Racing in the USF Juniors series. USF Juniors will be among America’s most competitive, if not the most competitive, junior category this year.

Suco, Jr. will get the opportunity to race on his home track when the USF Juniors series rolls into Barber Motorsports Park as a support series to the NTT IndyCar series at the Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix on April 26.

Race engineer Jacob Loomis of VRD Racing is happy to see Suco, Jr. join the team. “It’s always nice being able to watch someone like Michael grow as a driver, especially when they have begun their open-wheel career with you,” he said. “Michael is a great listener and a hard

worker, and will be a key part of VRD’s success this season and into the future.”

The path from interested fan to racing driver started with Michael’s father, Mike Suco. Mike had a relationship with an avid Porsche enthusiast named Hafiz Chandiwala. Chandiwala introduced the Sucos to Michael Gay, a Porsche Driving Experience instructor at Barber Motorsports Park who raced karts at Atlanta Motorsports Park.

Gay introduced the Sucos to Doug Evans and his son Erik of Atlanta. Doug would eventually provide Erik’s karts for Suco, Jr. to test and race. Erik did not need the karts as he prepared for his championship-winning assault on the British GT4 racing scene. Evans became the first American to win a British GT title.

A few months after Suco, Jr.’s 16th birthday, he got his first taste of an actual racing kart at a two-day test with the

elder Evans at Atlanta Motorsports Park. Suco, Jr. spent those first two days in a fourstroke kart.

“Oh my gosh, it was insane,” he said. “It felt so fast, and it was a little damp, and I was on slick tires, and I managed to back it into a barrier and damage the axle.”

“My confidence was on the floor,” he said.

To his credit, Suco, Jr. regrouped and improved his time by more than a second on day two of testing. His im-

See BIRMINGHAM, Page 16

Felix Rosenqvist - INDYCAR Hybrid Testing. By Chris Owens

Michael Suco, Jr.

Credit: VRD Racing

hits and one run while striking out eight. Grant Martinez drove in three runs while Jake Conner drove in two in the game that secured the area championship.

The final game of the series was a 14-6 blowout that saw the Tigers score in every inning. Kade Willis got the win, pitching four innings and allowing a hit and two runs and striking out five. Ryan King finished things off, going three innings and allowing six hits, four runs and striking out seven. Grant Martinez drove in three runs on a two-for-two day while King added two RBI and Jake Conner had two as well, including a home run.

The Tigers now sit at 23-9 and enjoy a home game in the first round of the playoffs.

“We entered this past weekend against 10th-ranked Fairview knowing we needed to win two of three to be area champs,” said Springville head coach Jonathan Ford. “Friday night was at Fair-

view and hits were hard to come by. Kevin Jones led off the top of the first and scored on a passed ball. Grant Martinez walked in the fourth and came around to score on an error. Saturday, Fairview took an early lead in the top of the first, but Alex Holland settled in and didn’t allow another hit the rest of the game. The final was 7-1, securing the area championship and home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Game three was a 14-6 victory led by a big home run by Jake Conner.”

Ford continued, “We are currently 23-9 headed into the playoffs. I feel like the guys are getting hot at the right time and are very excited about being at home this weekend. We have a tough Ardmore team coming in from Lawrence County and we know we have our hands full. As I told the guys, everyone is 0-0 now.”

The Tigers will face Ardmore in a doubleheader Friday night at home and, if necessary, the two will meet again on Saturday.

were forced to punt. The Martinez to Cain show moved the Stallions to the Memphis 16-yard line on a 40-yard completion two plays later.

The extra point failed on a CJ Marable rush from the one-yard line.

Memphis put together a 14-play drive that ended with a Daniel Isom interception at the Stallions’ two-yard line with 2:13 left on the clock.

With 8:35 remaining in the final period, Martinez scored on an 11-yard run to extend the Birmingham lead to 33-12.

provement impressed Evans, who agreed to provide karts and coach Suco, Jr. The Sucos would travel to Atlanta from Birmingham every few weeks over the following months to test and have one-on-one coaching.

After competing in the Atlanta Motorsports Park winter series with positive results, Suco, Jr. began looking at the faster two-stroke karts.

“Being as old as I was compared to those kids who were driving, I was getting into it at 16; the rate at which I had to move was pretty quick,” he said. After several months of driving a two-stroke kart, Suco, Jr. and his father reached out to VRD Racing, the team Erik Evans had driven for in F4 and F2000.

VRD Racing was founded

of revenge on the Greenies in this one, taking a 6-1 win on Saturday. The Blue Devils held a 2-0 lead heading into the third. Leeds got their only run of the game in the top, but Moody added three in the bottom of the third. After another run in the sixth and holding Leeds scoreless for the remainder of the game, the area runners-up got the win over the champs in the weekend finale. Moody’s Ashton Mor-

The Showboat sacked Martinez for a safety with 1:53 remaining to make the score 33-14. Memphis moved the ball to the Birmingham one-yard line on a 61-yard six-play drive, the Showboats out of the endzone as time expired.

by Brit Dan Mitchell and is based in Dawsonville, Georgia. The team fields numerous entries in multiple single-seater formulas. VRD has strong European ties and will partner with Arden Racing in the 2024 GB3 Championship (British F3).

Suco, Jr.’s first test in a car came at Atlanta Motorsports Park in a Radical SR1 that was limited to 60% throttle. “I was basically walking around this track, but it was a good reference,” he said. “I had driven it [the track] on what I call a simulator…$200 wheel and pedals that I bought from Amazon,” he joked. “I think I was six seconds off in the Radical, and that was with a throttle limiter,” he said. “I was blown away by it.”

The Sucos returned a few weeks later, and Michael got his first test in a USF Juniors car.

“It was unbelievable being

row got the complete game win, allowing four hits and one run while getting two strikeouts for the Blue Devils. A host of Blue Devils contributed to the scoring efforts. Leeds pitcher Conner Nelson took the loss for the Greenwave while Dax Phillips was responsible for the lone run in the game. Leeds head coach Jake Wingo said, “I was very proud of our boys and how they competed. Friday, we were down 5-0 and they did not flinch. They kept battling and fight-

The Stallions rolled up 434 yards of offense. Cain led the Stallions in receiving with 144 yards on seven receptions.

in that kind of car for the first time,” he said. “I had two other guys on track, too.”

The two drivers on the track were Hudson Schwartz and Sam Corry, now racing in USF2000. “They were flying by me, and I think I was four or five seconds off, but I was braking super early,” he said. “I just kept going from there, day after day, and got to where I was really close on pace, and we started testing other tracks with the team.”

In February, Suco, Jr. made his USF Juniors debut for VRD in the YACademy Winter Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “I didn’t perform exactly like I would have wanted to, but it was good enough to have a case to continue to do this,” he said.

Suco, Jr. got his first full race weekend experience at the season-opening races in New Orleans on April 5. The rookie sits 17th in the points

ing a clawed their way back into it. It was an incredible baseball game. Give Moody credit. They made some great plays and we were able to find a way to win late. Great high school baseball game. Then Saturday, game one was another good game. It was close. I’m just proud of our boys and the work they put into it and for beating a really good team like Moody.

The Greenwave will travel to Sylacauga on Tuesday and then host Boaz in round one of the playoffs on Friday

The Birmingham defense held Memphis to 259 yards and recorded eight sacks. Kyahva Tezino led the Stallions with 13 total tackles. Carlos Davis, Jonathan Garvin, and Damarcus Mitchell each recorded two sacks.

The Stallions host the D.C. Defenders at 6 p.m. next Saturday at Protective Stadium.

standings after three races. Along with his father, his mom Shelley, and sister Bella, are his biggest fans. Suco, Jr. expects lots of family and friends to be on site at Barber when he takes the green flag in a few weeks.

Briarwood Christian will well represent the USF Juniors races. While Suco, Jr. will be busy getting his car to the front of the field, Drew Goolsby, another Briarwood senior, will be busy shooting photos as an accredited NTT IndyCar Series photographer. Here is to hoping there will be a Lion reunion in Victory Circle.

The Children’s of Alabama Grand Prix takes place April 26-28. Race fans can purchase tickets at indyalabama.com or by calling 877-332-7804.

Tickets were sold in 41 states and 12 countries last year and the economic impact to the Birmingham area was between $18 and $27 million.

and possibly Saturday. Coach Wingo said the following about those two opponents, “Today is about preparation for the playoffs. Ironing things out. Play sharp, crisp and pitch a lot of guys. Just want to stay fresh. They are a great team, a top ten team this year. Boaz, we get them at home Friday. Last year they made it to the semifinals. They have a tradition of winning, so they are very good. We are excited about the challenge and opportunity. It will be a good first round matchup.”