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Thursday, January 9, 2014
New scoreboards needed in Ranburne LAURA CAMPER
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Shannon Tucker
Mary Fredriksen comforts her 12-year-old grandson, Dallas Shepard. Mary cares for Dallas and his brother, Austin, at her home in Cleburne County. Dallas was recently granted a wish through the Alabama chapter of Make-A-Wish.
Make-A-Wish
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After his dream trip to Tennessee in December, 12-year-old Dallas Shepard has new memories to ignite his imagination. Shepard has a rare genetic condition called 1p36 deletion syndrome. He suffers from many of the complications of the disease including low muscle tone, difficulty in swallowing and breathing as well as heart problems, said his grandmother Mary Fredriksen, his caregiver. In addition, he has kidney disease but is unable to go on dialysis because of his heart condition and his seizures, she said. “He never walked,” Fredriksen said. “He never talked.” Dallas can communicate in other
ways, his grandmother said. He lifts up his shirt to uncover his feeding tube when he is hungry, waves bye, he nods yes and shakes his head no, Fredriksen said. Because of his medical conditions, he spends much of his day being moved from his bed to his grandmother’s lap to a recliner, Fredriksen said. But Dec. 7 through Dec. 12, Dallas and Fredriksen, along with Bridget and Austin Shepard, Dallas’ mother and 10-year-old brother, went to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tenn., courtesy of Make-A-Wish Alabama. Fredriksen said the trip incorporated Dallas’ greatest loves: pretty scenery and music. A difficult life Dallas has lived with his grandmother since he was 6 months old, she said. He was diagnosed with the
rare syndrome — experts estimate 1 in 5,000 to 10,000 newborns are born with the genetic disorder — when he was very young, Fredriksen said. But despite being born with a heart condition, Dallas was healthy until he was 4 years old. “At 2, they expected him to have a good life,” Fredriksen said. But at age 4, he could no longer swallow and had to start using a feeding tube. At 9, he had to have a tracheotomy to help him breathe. At 10, he started having problems with his kidneys. Today, Dallas requires 16 medications and equipment that includes a wheelchair, humidifier with a heatn See Dallas page 8
The town of Ranburne is looking to replace decades-old scoreboards at the Ranburne Recreation Park and is hoping for help from the Cleburne County Commission. Recreation Department Director Mike Calvert approached Commissioner Benji Langley with a request for the commission to purchase two scoreboards, one for each baseball field. Ranburne would handle the installation and wiring, Calvert said. Langley brought the request to the commission Monday during a work session. The two scoreboards would cost approximately $7,200, Langley said. The scoreboards currently on the fields are more than 20 years old, Calvert said. “One won’t work at all and one works about halfway,” Calvert said. The old scoreboards were provided by Coca-Cola in exchange for the department purchasing Coke products, he said. But the soft drink manufacturer will no longer service them, Calvert said. Langley said the county has tobacco tax money that is collected for economic development and recreation. He believes the scoreboards would be a good use of that money. The Recreation Department has around 200 children signed up to play baseball, Langley noted. “To me anything that many kids are involved in is important,” Langley said. At the work session on Monday, Commissioners Emmett Owen and Laura Cobb suggested the town ask Coca-Cola or Pepsi-Cola to pay for replacement scoreboards. Calvert said he hasn’t asked the companies, but he believes the volume of product the department buys isn’t enough to entice the companies to purchase the new signs. Langley said Wednesday he would check with the company before the Jan. 21 commission meeting to be sure. “If they’d pay for it, we’ll save our money and use it for another project,” Langely said.
Relay for Life meeting Relay for Life Meeting will be held on January 13 with a committee meeting at 5 p.m. The team meeting at 6 p.m., with a Baked Potato Dinner at the Community Arts Center
Heflin
Industrial Board pleased with website promoting area LAURA CAMPER
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Announcing that the Heflin Industrial Development Board’s website is now live, board members said at their meeting Tuesday they believe it’s the first step in bringing new businesses to the area. “I think we’re going to see some response to it,” said Heflin City Clerk Shane Smith. The board, which was formed to develop the city’s 212-acre industrial park, has been working on creating the website since May. It hired Decatur-based Red Sage Communications on July 8 to design and build the website. In December, the board made the final edits on the site. “It’s fantastic,” said Tanya Maloney, board member and executive director of
the Cleburne County Chamber of Commerce. The new site,cityofheflinidb.org, includes demographic and community information about Heflin and Cleburne County, maps, available properties and tax incentives. Maloney suggested the new website also could be the beginning of a marketing campaign including promotional packets to hand out to developers and representatives of other economic development agencies.The board has already gathered the information for the website. All it needs to do is organize it on paper, she said. “The only way we’re going to get anything is to get out there and market ourselves,” Maloney said. Smith said the city might like to partner with the board on creating the packets so
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that it also could have some of the material to distribute. But Maloney said she wanted the materials to focus on economic development throughout the county, not just in Heflin. Board Chairman Jerry Cash, though, said the handouts could promote not just economic development but also the city of Heflin, the Cleburne County Chamber of Commerce and the Heflin Industrial Development Board. “It would promote what we are,” Cash said. Heflin Mayor Rudy Rooks said at the meeting that he thought the money would be well spent on the materials. The board members voted unanimously to allocate $1,000 to the project and to partner with the city with the understanding that it would also provide $1,000 to
INDEX: Opinion/Editorial . . . . . . 3 Church Sponsor . . . . . . . 5 Sports . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 4
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create the packets. In other business the board: -Heard from Cash that the new fencing and gate at the entrance of the Heflin Industrial Park off Alabama 46 are finished. The board spent a total of $22,376 on improving the road and the entrance into the park. The money came from a $25,000 donation from the Cleburne County Commission. The board discussed using the remaining $2,264 toward recovering the sign in the park. -Voted unanimously to change its name to the City of Heflin Industrial and Economic Development Board. The new name, Cash said, would better fit the board’s expanded mission to bring business of all kinds to the community. Staff Writer Laura Camper 256-4632872. On Twitter @LCamper_Star.
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2 • The Cleburne News, Thursday, January 9, 2014
Heflin Highlights by: Suzanne Payne How About This?
If you can’t impress people with your intelligence, confuse them with your stupidity.
Happy Birthday
CCHS cheerleaders go to Disney Four Cleburne County High School cheerleaders that were named All-American Cheerleaders at camp this summer traveled to Disney World in November. Attending were Kristian Brown, Mollie Owens, Pebbles Brown and Julie Bedford.
Jan. 9-Ann White, Anthony Spurlin, Virginia Estes, Tyler Rigsby and Freda Weathers. Jan.10-Clint Cochran, Jenny Duke, Amanda Page and Holly Laminack. Jan.11-Isaiah Ware, Anna Lillian Newell, Mallory Turner and Deannie Grubbs. Jan.12-Lexie Bennett, Dennis Green, Tony O’Harrow, Melissa Green, Tom Smith, Donna Thompson, Lexie Wilkes, David Houston and Steven Cavender. Jan.13-Elise Butterworth, Margaret Copeland, Steven Charles, Betty Stephens, Melody Lanning, Jimmy Price, Jeremy Whitman, Hoyt Price and Jeromy Owen. Jan.14-Annette Cunningham, Jager Fergerson, Virg Rivers, Hunter Lee Salers, Mike Loveless, Hannah Harbin, Haley Morris, Shay McMichael, Dale Hart, Linda Thomas, Joyce Dollahite, Misty Owen and Abby Junior. Jan.15-Ronnie Payne, Charlie Post, Michelle Davenport, Ronnie Thomason and Alan Smith.
What Happened?
Cleburne Commission considers $3K land deal to get road improvement project on track LAURA CAMPER
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At a work session Monday, the Cleburne County Commission heard that it may have to purchase some property along County Road 10 to continue its road improvement project there. County Administrator Steve Swafford told commission members that along a portion of the road bordered by Ranburne-resident Carolyn Hanson’s property, the right-of-way hasn’t been deeded to the county. The county worked out a proposal purchase the property for $3,000, Swafford said. “It’s not like we’re taking advantage,” Swafford said. “That’s just what you’d expect to pay for that amount of property based on what surrounding property would sell for.” However, Hanson said she is not happy with the agreement. When asked about whether the deal was finalized, she referred questions to her daughter who declined to comment. The county has been working with property owners along a 4-mile stretch of the road beginning at Alabama 46 and ending at County Road 51, to remove fences, mailboxes and other property on the county rightof-way. County officials plan to use
federal dollars distributed by the Alabama Department of Transportation to widen, improve and repave the road. But ALDOT requires that the right-of-way, measured 40 feet from the middle of the road to either side, be cleared of all encroachments before the project begins, according to county administrators. Hanson, who was not at the meeting, said earlier on Monday that she wasn’t happy with the deal. The property in question is less than a mile long, but a fence, which she would have to move back at least 5 feet, confines cattle along the entire area. She said there’s no way $3,000 will cover the cost of moving the fence. She already moved an electric fence that ran along the other side of the road, but she wasn’t surprised by that request, she said. “I could see that because it was so close to the road,” Hanson said. But on the property in question, she doesn’t understand the need, she added. “It’s bull crap,” Hanson said. The $3,000 price would be considered part of the project cost and would be paid out of the funding received for the project, said Ryan Robertson, chairman of the commission.
In other business the commission: -Heard that the Association of County Commissions of Alabama Liability Self-Insurance Fund has agreed to give the county a financial incentive if it renews its contract now rather than waiting until the contract expires on Jan. 1, 2015. Swafford recommended the commission renew the contract. -Heard that Mike Calvert of the Ranburne Parks and Recreation Department requested the county assist the city in purchasing scoreboards for its recreational fields. The cost is still being negotiated, Swafford said. Commissioners Laura Cobb and Emmett Owen suggested Ranburne look into a deal with Coca Cola or Pepsi. “You have to purchase their products,” Cobb said. “A lot of times, they’ll pay for the scoreboard.” -Discussed improvements in the garbage collection commissioners would like to see before renewing the contract with Solid Waste Removal, which expires in November. The commissioners would like to see quicker delivery of garbage cans to residents, more consistent pick up along the county roads and better treatment of the garbage cans by the company’s workers, they said. Staff writer Laura Camper 256463-2872. On Twitter @LCamper_ Star.
Arrest report
• James Bryant Walker, 52, Ranburne - probation rev • Justin Douglas Bowen, Heflin - poss/marijuana, second degree. • Resident of Heflin, 32 sex offender act EFF. • Amanda Renae Barnes, 29, Heflin - forgery second
degree. • Ethan Nathaniel Pirkle, 24, Fruihurst - domestic violence - third degree harassment, use/poss drug paraphernalia. • Kristina Leighann Pirkle, 23, Fruithurst - use/ poss drug paraphernalia, domestic violence third de-
gree harassment. • Gregory Bailey, 57, Heflin - DUI The people listed in this arrest report, whose names and charges are obtained from public records, are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Free ready to work classes begins January 20 Free Ready to Work classes will be offered at the Chamber Job Station office beginning Jan. 20. Classes will be held Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 8 a.m.-noon, for six to eight weeks. Instructors from Gadsden State Community College will teach the classes. Pre-registration is required. Class size is limited; currently 10 spaces are still available.
Alabama’s Ready to Work program provides a career pathway for adults with limited education and employment experience. Ready to Work’s workplace environment provides trainees the entry level skills required for employment with most businesses and industries in Alabama. The training curriculum is set to standards cited by business and industry employers throughout the
state, and the skills cited in the U. S. Department of Labor’s Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills Reports. To register for the Ready to Work program, visit the Chamber Job Station located in the Quintard Mall (near JC Penney) in Oxford, AL. The program is free but pre-registration is required. For more information, call 256.770.7245.
Diabetes Education January 14 Diabetes Education will be held January 14 at Heflin Methodist Church at 6:30 p.m. The topic will be what is diabetes? with Gary Wright, RPh, CDE. January 28 Diabetes Education will be held January 28 at Heflin Methodist Church at 6:30 p.m. The topic will be Problem solving with Gary Wright, RPh, CDE.
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This is not an accidental omission. I do not have one anniversary turned into me for this week. To all of those couples who are celebrating and did not tell me about it, Happy Anniversary! I know you are out there!
Sunshine List
Here is some great news for the new year. Andrea Wise Smith has asked to be removed from our Sunshine List. She is doing much better and we rejoice over that news. She and her family are grateful for the prayers and support shown to them. Jennie Smith, Iris Kent, Jimmy Pentecost, Ken Sanders, Rider Bearden, Jacky Stovall, Merrill Hayes, Sherry Brown, Kerry Smith, Cora Burk, Sara Noland and Junior Jenkins.
Personal Holiday Thoughts
I had a wonderful Christmas and I hope you all did as well. I will have to say that I felt a rewarding sigh coming on this past week when I cut that last strip of tape and placed it tightly on a large plastic storage box. (Decorations are wonderful, but they are a lot more fun to take out than to pack up.) My husband declares EVERY year that I need to cut back on my decorations and EVERY year I use the same ones. He tends to forget his rants from year to year. I tell you what else happened to me as it does most every January. Several days after my careful packing and putting away, I notice something that was left out of the box. This year, it was a huge poinsettia wreath hanging on the kitchen wall! How did I miss THAT? Oh well. It will spend the next eleven months in the back of my closet. My holiday was (as always) made sweeter by the presence of grandchildren. Most all of the four grands received things that beeped, required both a massive number of batteries and agile thumbs. Dolls are not just anonymous dolls anymore. These little girl dolls now come with a given name and a complete family history. It is actually a very cool concept. The ever stylish Barbie made her appearance this Christmas as well. Barbie still looks great even at her advanced age of 54! While the games and dolls were taking a well deserved rest, one of the best times we had was gathering around the kitchen table playing Bingo…plain, non-electric Bingo. The same can be said for the family talent show…ages 10 and under only. The weather was not kind to us at our gatherings. Riding toys had to wait on sunny days. There was also the favorite game of Hide and Go Seek. Note to my grandparent friends. If you are the one hiding…the floor of a small closet with louvered doors is not the best hiding place. Even though it took a long time for “the hunters” to find me, it took them even longer to get me to my feet. (Use your imagination. It wasn’t pretty.) I’m not saying that my Christmas was one bit better that any one of yours. It is just that I am blessed to be able to share mine in this way. I am thankful for that privilege. Contact me with your news at rkpsop816@yahoo. com or mail to PO Box 924.
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THE CLEBURNE NEWS, Thursday, January 9, 2014 • 3
OPINION/EDITORIAL
Legislature could weigh in on Common Core The 2014 Legislative Session begins next week. The session starts early in the fourth year of the quadrennium because it is an election year. Legislators want to come in and get out early so that they can go home and campaign. Usually legislatures do not do much other than pass the budgets in a campaign year session. They especially do not try to tackle any controversial issues that could stir up any ire with voters. However, this current group of legislators will tackle anything controversial as long as it has a right wing slant to it. It would be hard to think of any major conservative issue they have not addressed in the first three years of their super Republican majority reign. In years one and two they passed a stringent anti immigration bill as well as dismantled the AEA. Last year, this bevy of reactionary elephants passed an anti abortion bill. They also adhered to the NRA demands to affirm gun rights laws in Alabama. The legislation allowed people to carry guns openly even into their parking lots at work. The Business Council of Alabama adamantly opposed this provision. However, the NRA prevailed. They enacted a controversial private school voucher bill that allows parents of children enrolled in “failing” public schools to take a tax credit for tuition they pay to private schools. They revamped the state’s Medicaid program from the current fee-for-service system into a managed care program. The Governor’s prize victory came when he got his wish to construct an $85 million luxury lodge and convention center at the location of the Gulf Shores
State Park. It will be a joint public/private partnership. The state will own the Steve The project Flowers property. will be funded with BP money from the gulf oil spill. They also voted to allow Inside The Statehouse Alabamians to make a limited amount of beer for personal consumption without a license or fee. We were the last state to allow home brewing. One issue that has remained on the back burner is the Common Core State Education Standard. This Common Core concept spells out specific expectations of what students should know at the end of every grade. It goes from kindergarten through high school. Common Core covers the entire spectrum of learning, including reading, writing, listening, vocabulary and mathematics. It addresses the fundamentals of these subjects. Students are tested and asked details about what they have learned. Conservatives around the country have come out stringently against Common Core. Some Tea Party activists have decried it as being developed by “extreme leftists.” Two extreme right-wingers, Glenn Beck and Phyllis Schafley, have attacked the effort as a dangerous threat from the Obama administration. However, other conservatives, like former Governors Jeb Bush of Florida and Mike Huckabee of Arkansas,
are in support of Common Core. These new standards have the endorsement of major business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is giving grants to support Common Core’s implementation. Some opponents are implying that Common Core is a Washington based idea. Beck and Schafley have stated as much. However, that is not factual. The Common Core concept grew up from the states. Government and state education people developed the standards. State school professionals and legislators were concerned that an alarming number of students entering college were having to take remedial math and English classes before they could take classes for college credit. The federal government was not involved. Today, 45 states have voluntarily adopted the math and English standards. Some critics say that Common Core would nationalize education. Proponents counter that the standards are goals and not mandates. There are no set requirements made upon educators. Teachers choose their own books and suggested reading lists. Two state led groups are preparing the annual assessments that will be matched to the Common Core Standards. They plan to have them ready for the 201415 school year. It will be interesting to see if the GOP legislature will weigh in on this issue. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His column appears weekly in more than 70 Alabama newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the state legislature. He may be reached at www. steveflowers.us
Start out the New Year with laughter, good wishes
I should have a happy year full of fun if the first half-hour of the 2014 is indicative of what is to come. I attended a friend’s New Year’s Eve party, which started at 6:30 p.m. and did not end until 12:30 a.m. Six of us friends, all of whom are grandmothers, met in the hostess’s home in Hokes Bluff. We all pitched in for the evening meal – chili, a big bowl of tossed salad, chips, dips, and way too many desserts. I was in charge of the games. For those who are party planners – such as parents wanting to entertain children or such as friends who want an evening of fun – feel free to repeat any of the following games I found that kept us well entertained until it was time to see in the New Year. The first game was one I had played at a staff holiday party for us teachers at Trinity Christian Academy earlier in December. Each of us placed a paper plate on our head and drew a Christmas scene at the direction of the host. I adapted that game and asked my friends to draw a New Year’s scene with a baby, the words “Happy New Year,” and fireworks – all without the participants seeing what they were doing. The results were hilarious, and the winner was determined by whose drawings were most recognizable. The second game was one I that allowed friends to get to know each other better. The guests wrote down
one fact about their lives that no one else knew. Then, I read the facts while Sherry the guests wrote down who they Kughn thought had written the fact. We learned that someone’s parents married only Sherry-Go-Round three months after meeting, someone else had always longed to play the piano, one of us once kissed “The Fonz,” and one among us grew up near a neighbor who was a “lady of the evening.” Even longtime friends learned new facts about each other. Third, we played the old standby – charades. However, I tailored it for the holiday. We acted out phrases that summed up general New Year’s resolutions. The guests easily guessed “lose weight,” and “read more,” but they struggled to guess “improve vocabulary and “volunteer more.” This game can be tailored to guessing songs related to Valentine’s Day, acting out items related to St. Patrick’s Day, or naming famous Americans for The Fourth of July. Fourth, we each took a pink and a white slip of paper.
We asked a question about someone in the room by writing the question on the pink slip, and we answered the question on the white slip. I mixed them up and allowed each guest to read an unmatched question and answer. The results were funny. Last, we drew pictures of scenes from movie titles. I displayed the scenes in front of the group, and we all guessed which movie each “artist” had selected. So, after all of our convivial activities, which included taking pictures of us with each other’s cell phones, we turned on the television and watched the crystal ball drop in New York City’s Times Square. That meant it was only 11 p.m. Central Time, which gave us another hour to talk and laugh. We welcomed the New Year by toasting our hopes for prosperity and happiness during the upcoming year. Glasses full of sparkling grape juice clinked together, and sounds of firecrackers popped outside of the window. That, my dear readers, is how to make a New Year’s Eve party last for six hours and remain fun from beginning to end. I wish I could place all of the fun that we had in a bottle and share it with my readers who have read and/or responded so kindly to my column during 2013. I wish all of you a Happy New Year and look forward to sharing more of Sherry-go-round during 2014. Email Sherry at sherrykug@hotmail.com
Affordable Care Act is hurting us, not helping
Led by President Obama, progressive Democrats are making “income inequality” the cornerstone of campaigns leading to November elections. In his speech on December 4, President Obama said, “the relentless decades-long trend that I want to spend some time talking about today, and that is, a dangerous and growing inequality and lack of upward mobility that has jeopardized middle-class America’s basic bargain that if you work hard, you have a chance to get ahead. I believe this is the defining challenge of our time: making sure our economy works for every working American.” No one is opposed to “making sure our economy works for every working American.” However, President Obama voices a common misconception as his premise: “middle-class America’s basic bargain that if you work hard, you have a chance to get ahead.” Fifty years ago President Johnson declared a “war on poverty” and signed legislation progressives promised would end poverty in America through government programs. Today the poverty rate is essentially the same as it was in 1965. President Obama spoke of the “decades-long trend” that
Serving Cleburne County Since 1906
began in the mid-60s when progressives passed massive legislation that has cost Daniel $15 trillion, Gardner taxpayers but has had no effect on reducing poverty. American history is filled with stories My Thoughts of people rising out of poverty. Some through education, others through connections, and still others working in companies that offered opportunities for advancement. The notable thing about all these success stories is people advanced from one standard of living to higher standards of living by getting better jobs. In other words, it’s not enough to work hard if you are working in a job that offers no chance of advancing. Currently 46 million Americans are living in poverty as defined by the government. According to a recent annual Census report, in 2011 the poverty rate for those who worked full time was only 2.8 percent, but the poverty rate for those working less than full time was 16.3 percent. The poverty rate was 32.9 percent for those who didn’t work at least one week in the year. The key to helping people get out of poverty is helping
those who can work get jobs, and helping those with parttime jobs get full-time jobs with opportunities for advancement. The goal should not be to reduce the inequality of income gap, but to help those at the lower end get on career paths leading to more rewarding jobs. President Obama’s own hallmark legislation, the Affordable Care Act, which progressive Democrats promised would provide affordable healthcare for all Americans, is projected to cost taxpayers trillions more dollars. So far the ACA has caused more than 6 million people to lose health insurance while the highest estimates say only 2-million people have signed up for health insurance. Businesses are cutting full-time workers back to part-time status, and economists predict tens of millions more will lose health insurance when businesses drop employer-provided health benefits due to ACA incentives. In essence, the ACA, passed solely by Washington’s elite progressive Democrats, is costing workers hours, jobs, and benefits while failing to help the uninsured get affordable insurance. Maybe we’d be better off if progressive Democrats stopped trying to help us? Daniel L. Gardner is a syndicated columnist who lives in Starkville, MS. You may contact him at Daniel@ DanLGardner.com, or visit his website at http://www.danlgardner.com Feel free to interact with him on the ClarionLedger feature blog site blogs.clarionledger.com/dgardner/
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The editorial page provides a forum in which readers may present their views. Send your comments to: Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 67, Heflin, AL 36264 or email news@cleburnenews.com. Deadline for consideration is Monday at 5 p.m. for the following Thursday’s edition. All letters submitted must include a signature, address and daytime phone in case verification is needed. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Letters from groups should either be legibly signed by all members or by one or more names as representatives of the group. No anonymous letters will be published. The Cleburne News reserves the right to select which letters will be published and to edit all letters for grammar, punctuation, clarity, length and content. Letters are published as space permits. Writers are asked to submit no more than two letters per month. Political letters will not be published in the edition immediately prior to an election.
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4 • The Cleburne News, Thursday, January 9, 2014
Jonathan Fordham
Spenser Gibbs (21) going for the loose ball last week and passing the ball off is Mark Smith (12) for the Bulldogs. Ranburne travels to Ohatchee Monday for the first of two area games.
Ranburne home against Horseshoe Bend Friday RIP DONOVAN
News Sports Correspondent
Single-digit low temperatures earlier this week led to the rescheduling of Ranburne’s Class 2A, Area 10 game at Wellborn. Initially set for Tuesday, the game will now be played Friday, replacing a home game against Horseshoe Bend. The move gives Ranburne a home game tonight against Spring Garden followed by road games with Wellborn Friday and Cleburne County Saturday. “It’s not going to cause a problem because of back-toback-to-back days because we were already in that situa-
tion,” Ranburne coach Stephen Bailey said. Although efforts continue to find another date for the Horseshoe Bend contest, Bailey was not hopeful Wednesday. “We’re probably going to lose the Horseshoe Bend game,” he said. The Bulldogs will be looking for their fifth Area 10 win in five tries at Wellborn Friday. A 64-37 win at home against Pleasant Valley on January 3 made Ranburne 8-4 overall and 4-0 in area competition. The Bulldogs led 3119 at halftime in picking up their second win of the season over the Raiders. Guard Kyle Lovvorn netted two 3-point baskets and was 3-for-4 at the free throw line on his way to 19 points
against Pleasant Valley. Dylan Wiggins had two treys and 12 points. Mark David Smith recorded nine points and six rebounds. Owen Smith and Jay Smith each scored eight points. Jay led the Bulldogs on the boards with seven rebounds and Owen set the pace in steals with five. Spence Florczak scored five points. Brayden Wilson finished with three points, five rebounds and three assists. On Monday of next week, Ranburne travels to Ohatchee for the first of two Area 10 games with the Indians then Randolph County comes to Ranburne Tuesday. The Bulldogs close the week with games in the Tri-County tournament January 16-17. Cleburne County is this year’s tournament host. The seeding for the tournament was to have been completed this morning.
Tigers look to get back in the win column RIP DONOVAN
News Sports Correspondent
Cleburne County played with White Plains for three quarters but the Wildcats pulled away in the fourth for a 7559 home-court win Saturday. The Tigers trailed 40-35 at halftime and just 54-50
after three quarters. Christian Henson’s 20 points were best for Cleburne County. Henson had five buckets around the basket and 10 free throws. Max Prichard canned three 3-point shots and was 6-for-7 at the free throw line, finishing with 19 points. Jeremiah McLeroy scored five points. Tyler Berry and Isaiah Ware each scored four
points. Matthew Morrow had three points. Blake Pointer and Brandon Horn had two points apiece. The second half was Cleburne County’s undoing in a 57-50 Class 4A, Area 10 loss at Munford Friday. The Tigers trailed 21-18 at halftime then fell behind by 10 points after three quarters. Prichard had five treys against Munford and end-
ed with 18 points. Cameron Kerr scored seven points in the second quarter to help keep his team close and 11 for the game. Henson had eight points. Berry scored five points, Griffin Turner four, Morrow three and Pointer one. Cleburne County looks to get back into the win column when the Tigers play at Saks tonight and host Ranburne Saturday.
Lady Bulldogs look to improve thier record RIP DONOVAN
News Sports Correspondent
Over-confidence almost cost the Ranburne girls a Class 2A, Area 10 win when Pleasant Valley came to Ranburne Friday. The Bulldogs won 60-55, a far cry from the 75-40 beating Ranburne handed the Raiders in mid-December. Ranburne led 17-14 after one quarter and extended that lead to 35-24 at halftime. Pleasant Valley then won the third quarter 19-14, leaving the Bulldogs ahead 49-43. A 3-point basket and two field goals from inside arc by Indiana Morgan
accounted for half of Ranburne’s points in the third. Ranburne coach Tim Smith said Wednesday afternoon that Pleasant Valley got as close as three points twice in the fourth quarter, the last time at 58-55. Two free throws by Lacey Smith with about 30 seconds to play made it a two-possession game and ended the scoring. “I was proud of the girls. They responded to the challenge,” Smith said. Hali Wilson led Ranburne’s scorers with 15 points and also had seven rebounds. Morgan and Jessie Ralston each finished with 12 points. Morgan had two treys and Ralston one. Morgan also had three re-
bounds. Alyssa Smith had 12 rebounds, seven points, two blocks and two assists. Hannah Phillips netted eight points and pulled in five rebounds. Kat Runels contributed eight rebounds and two points. Lacey Smith ended with four points and four steals. Now 3-1 in Area 10, the win over Pleasant Valley improved Ranburne’s chances of finishing either first or second in the area and advancing past the area tournament in postseason play. The Bulldogs look to improve on their 9-5 overall record tonight when they host Spring Garden. Spring Garden is 14-2 and ranked No. 5 in Class 1A in the latest Ala-
bama Sports Writers Association poll. The Panthers are known for sticky defense and pressuring opponents into submission. Smith said his team didn’t contest shots effectively and didn’t box out in the most recent win over Pleasant Valley. “We’ve gotten better. We’ve had a couple of good practices the last couple of days. We had a pretty spirited practice (Tuesday),” Smith noted. The Spring Garden game is the first of a stretch of five games in six days for the Bulldogs. Ranburne plays at Wellborn Friday, at Cleburne County Saturday, at Ohatchee Monday then entertains Randolph County Tuesday.
Gable hopes to end the losing streak RIP DONOVAN
News Sports Correspondent
Looking to end a three-game losing skid, Todd Gable takes his Cleburne County girls to Saks this evening. The Wildcats are 3-9 and have lost six straight. “We’re hoping , starting tomorrow, to get on a winning streak because three losses are tough in a row,” Gable said Wednesday afternoon. Following the trip to Saks, Cleburne County hosts Ranburne Saturday then travels to Lincoln for a Class 4A, Area 10 game Tuesday. The run of three losses began on December 30 when Spring Garden downed the
Tigers 53-22 in the championship game of the Hilburn-Patterson Haralson County Invitational (Ga.) tournament. Gable said his team committed 14 turnovers in the first quarter alone against Spring Garden’s defensive pressure and fell behind 18-2. At the half, Spring Garden led 32-9. Alisa Norton had six points, three assists and three rebounds for the Tigers. Toni Epps and Kaity Zeiders each scored four points. Zeiders had three rebounds and Epps two. Kiara Akles, Shawntavia Boyd, Madison Jones and Bridget McClain scored two points apiece. Boyd also had five rebounds, two steals and two assists and Akles grabbed three rebounds. Grace Conkle had two steals. Norton and Boyd were named to the
all-tournament team. Cleburne County struggled to put the ball in the basket in the early going at Munford Friday and eventually lost to the Lions 38-26. The Tigers trailed 23-9 at the half and 27-19 after three quarters. In the fourth quarter, Cleburne County cut Munford’s lead to five points before Munford pulled away. Norton scored nine points and had three assists. Epps had seven points and three boards. Boyd scored five points and added five rebounds and two steals. Akles had three points and 10 rebounds. Zeiders, who was injured in the second quarter and did not return, had two points and three rebounds. White Plains hosted Cleburne County
Saturday. After a closely contested first half, the Wildcats ran away from the Tigers in the second half and won 46-25. Cleburne County led 8-6 after one quarter and trailed just 12-11 at halftime. “White Plains picked up their intensity and we didn’t,” Gable said of the second half. “We stayed at the same level.” Epps finished with eight points and three rebounds. Norton had five points and four assists. Zeiders scored four points and added five rebounds. Akles and Ware finished with three points apiece. Ware added two assists and two steals and Akles had two rebounds. Boyd had two points, two rebounds and two steals. Jones pulled down two rebounds.
The Cleburne News, Thursday, January 9, 2014 • 5
Cleburne
Churches
East Heflin by: Bruce Wright
New Zion by: Shelia Sears Cunningham
We pray you were found in the Lord’s House to start off a new year in Christian fellowship. We turned to James 4:7-10, “Commit to Spiritual Vision in 2014”. James shows us how to avoid flip flopping on decisions we have decided to make. We begin a new year making commitments that we need to keep. We start by relinquishing the year to resist the devil. You will never totally resist him. We must take a long hard look at all the wrong sin our life. Not the wrongs in others’ lives. We have to take ownership for Satan does not fear us. To do this, we must resist the year and avoid the traps the devil sets. He knows our every weakness and never forgets. God forgets. Satan doesn’t. Avoid the temptations and don’t go near where they are because Satan will be there to remind you, and others, of what will make you fail. The answer is to rely on God with faith and focus. He didn’t move away, you did. We need quality time daily reading and praying and fellowshipping. If you have no desire to be around other Christians, then you have no desire to be around God for he tells us fellowshipping is nurturing. We must also repent this year. Clean our hands and our hearts of sin. Never fail to clean out your heart and mind. God will help you, if you only let Him. Finally, we must restrain this year. It is not about us but Him. Restrain from our pride. God gives grace to the humble. Restrain from the power for God resists the proud. It is pride that sends more people to hell. They are afraid to set out and accept Jesus as their savior. Don’t let it prevent you from knowing Him or having a greater relationship with Him.
Happy Hill by: Debra Jackson
Hello and a Happy New Year to you. It was a cold but beautiful day at Happy Hill Sunday. The attendance was down and we missed those who were not there. We several of our oldies but goodies. Victory in Jesus was sang in memory of Jane Shockley. Those on the prayer list are Irmalene and Robert Norton, Betty Hayes, Carol Doyle, Earnest Bowen, Butch Pair, Sherry Brown, Ken Sanders, Terry Benefield, Rider Bearden, Alma Jacks and the families of Jane Shockley, Martha Ledford, Wylodine Lines and Evelyn Martin. Consider this your personal invitation to join us at Happy Hill. Sunday School - 10:00; Preaching - 11:00 SENTENCE SERMON Look Back and Thank God. Look Forward and Trust God. THE LIGHTER SIDE One night, Tim was walking home when, all of a sudden, a thief jumped on him. Tim and the thief began to wrestle. They rolled about on the ground and Tim put up a tremendous fight. However, the thief managed to get the better of him and pinned him to the ground. The thief then went through Tim’s pockets and searched him. All the thief could find on Tim was 25 cents. The thief was so surprised at this that he asked Tim why he had bothered to fight so hard for 25 cents. “Was that all you wanted?” Tim replied, “I thought you were after the five hundred dollars I’ve got in my shoe!”
Mt. Olive Church of God by: Susie Smith We welcome you to join to join us anytime. Service times are: Sunday School 10 a.m., morning worship 10:45, evening worship 5 p.m., and Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. Our Sunday School lesson today was “Songs of Faith”; several scripture passages were used. Songs stick in our heart, the songs we sing help show where our heart is. We should sing to God, there’s always something to praise him for. Brother Ronnie’s message this morning was from Philippians 3:7-19. We’re running a race and our goal is Heaven. Brother Ronnie used the example of the “Tortoise and the Hare”; we have to be like the tortoise and keep going, we have a race to win. We have to keep our eyes on the goal and not try and fit in with the world. We should each ask ourselves how well we’re running the race. Tonight’s message was from Corinthians 15:50-58. The next sound we hear could be the trumpet. It will be horrifying to not be ready when the trumpet sounds. Heaven will be beautiful, joy unspeakable; we’ll get to see our Savior and loved ones gone before. It’s not a matter of if the trumpet is going to sound, but when. When Brother Greg Morgan took prayer requests before tonight’s service he reminded us to place all our cares, problems and the issues we’ll face in the coming week in God’s hands. Brother Ronnie’s number is 256-201-9444.
New Hope Ministries by: Veneta McKinney Happy New Year from New Hope Ministries. May the Lord direct your steps this year and guide you along the path! This Saturday night January 11 at 6:30 pm will be our area prayer meeting led by Adam Voss. Come out and pray for our area. We will be beginning a corporate prayer and fasting time starting Sunday January 12. If you need a book that tells the prayer focus each day, please contact Mary Lyner. On January 19 – 21 at 6:30 p.m. Bro. Robin Bullock will be ministering for us. He and his wife, Robin, are favorite speakers at New Hope. Make plans to come and hear a word from the Lord for your life. Remember our TV program “New Hope Arising” can be found on TV 24. The times are Monday evenings at 5:30 pm, Wednesday morning at 9 am, and Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. This past Sunday Pastor Vickey Davis preached on 2014 – The Year of the Open Door. This is the year to get into position and be ready to receive the double portion that will be poured out. Matthew 6:33 – Seek first the Kingdom of God and all that you need will be supplied. This is the time of Rev. 3:8-3 – the open door is set before us. If you keep the command to persevere, He will keep us from the hour of trial which will come upon the whole world. Keep turning to the Lord and He will keep you!
Pastor Jerry Johnson’s Sunday morning message was “Where Are They Now?” The scripture was Luke 17:1115. Many times we forget God once He blesses us and answers our prayers for help. When God pulls us out of our mess we should not forget about Him and His goodness. Our response to deliverance should be all praises to the Lord. We should not allow something that we harbor on the inside to stop us from raising our voices in praise. True praise can come only from a heart with a longing for a relationship with God. That type of longing cannot take place until you leave your past behind. Thought for the week: Live as though Christ died yesterday, rose from the grave today, and is coming back tomorrow.
Pinetucky by: Mary Alvarado Hello, on this new month day and year from all of us at Pinetucky. We had a wonderful service pastor spoke from. After the service was a special day for one of our couples who renewed their wedding vows. They celebrated their 50th on January 4. Joel and Doris (Bearden) Cavender we wish you many more years together. To all of you who have birthday and anniversaries we wish you the very best. Please keep the many folks with health issues and etc, in your thoughts and prayers. Hope your all warm and safe. Let’s all strive to do a better job with our lives this year. Help somebody, tell them you care and mean it. We pray that all of you will have a safe and blessed week, from each one at Pinetucky. Father thank you for being sure and dependable each day.
Verdon Chapel by: Richard Jackson It was another great day to be in God’s House! Pastor Paul Cannon’s message was from Ruth, chapter 1. Because of a famine, Naomi and her family left Bethlehem, the city God blessed, to stay in Moab, a city of cursings. They stayed longer than they wanted to, and Naomi lost everything before she and Ruth returned to Bethlehem. When things get rough in our lives, we tend to want to move away from the place of God’s blessings and stay a while in a place of sin and cursings. But doing so causes us to lose the blessings God has for us, and we must find our way back. Where are you now? Are you in Bethlehem, with God’s blessings, or are you in Moab, lost and undone? Brother Paul’s evening message was from Acts, chapter 28. Paul was bitten by a poisonous viper, but he shook it off and kept going. When we serve God, we will get bitten by all kind of spiritual vipers, trying to keep us from doing His will. Just like Paul, we must shake it off and keep going. God will give us what we need to do what He wants us to do, and we should not let any attacks deter us. Do you feel like you’ve been bitten? Let God show you how to get bit, but don’t quit. Please pray for: Robert and Gladys Baughn, the family of Larry Kimbrell, Jo Simmons, our church and its members.
Wise Chapel by: Dorcas Toney January 12 Bible study resumes at Ranburne beginning at 5 p.m. January 26 we will hold a luncheon for Relay for Life following worship service. Many remain in need of prayer: Lula Mae Camp, Kate Ethridge, Bea Crawford, Rider Bearden, Kit Carson, Grayson Smith, Hunter Rowland, Andrea Smith, Bobbye Williamson, Ronald Edwards, Clarence Noles, Pat McKinney, Nell Fordham, Andretti Daniel, Dennis Boger, Greg Poole, Shirley Kemp, Anne’s dad, little Jessie, Lester Norton, Scott Tunksody, Iris Kent, Mike and Tracey (Barrett) Hooks and their children they lost their house this week to fire. Mary Truett, our troops, nation and national leaders. Our scripture was Philippians 4:4-9. Here we go again, another New Year. Making vows to make 2014 a better year. Making promises to move forward. making resolutions that we will try to keep and the experts say that 19 percent of the folks will actually see them to the end of the year. Most will set themselves up to fail and others will achieve their goals. Focus on the good of life lessons and keep on a positive not not a negative one. God will see you through but we must only trust and believe. Have a great year.
Church Guidelines 1. From this point forward any new participant on our Church page must make their article submission via e-mail to: mpointer@cleburnnews. com Churches now submitting material typed or handwritten will be grandfathered but we would appreciate it if they also would make an attempt to email their article. 2. Again due to space we are limiting each column to 250 words. Your article may include church news, happenings, singing events, title of pastor's sermon with a couple of lines description and if you like you may also
now include in your article news from your community. 3. Thank You's and Congratulations will NO longer be used, they will be edited out and must be considered paid ads. 4. Deadlines remain the same 5 p.m. each Monday with NO exceptions. Free announcements in the Community Calendar (The Cleburne News) do not include reunions, personal yard sales, anniversaries, birthdays, thank yous, invitations or events that charge admission. If these are included within your church news, they will be edited.
Obituaries Clyde Newton McWhorter
Clyde Newton McWhorter, age 78 of Carrollton, passed away Sunday, January 05, 2014. He was born April 18, 1935 in Cleburne County, Alabama to the late Mr. Arthur McWhorter and Mrs. Lucy Hamrick McWhorter. He was a graduate of Cleburne County High School and received an Accounting degree from Alverson-Draughon Business School in Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. McWhorter served in the U.S. Army Reserve and was a retired bus driver for Carroll County Board of Education and the retired owner and operator of Permico. He served two terms as Mayor of Mt. Zion, was instrumental in forming the Mt. Zion Recreation Department and served as Director in its early years. He was a member of Oak Level Methodist Church in Fruithurst, Alabama and attended Pleasant View Baptist Church. Survivors include his loving wife of 51 years, Linda Earnest McWhorter of Carrollton; son and daughter in law, Craig and Donna McWhorter of Mt. Zion; brothers and sisters in law, Charles and Kathryn McWhorter of Huntsville, Al., Claude and Brenda McWhorter of Fruithurst, Al., W.A. and Carolyn McWhorter of Marietta, Ga., and Gary McWhorter of Bremen, Ga.; two grandchildren, Carly McWhorter and Avery McWhorter both of Mt. Zion, Ga. Funeral services were held January 08, 2014 at Martin & Hightower Heritage Chapel with Rev. Myles Brown and Rev. Anthony Puckett officiating. Interment followed in the Mt. Zion Church Cemetery. Pallbearers were Donald Nixon, Randall Crumbley, Earlis McGraw, Harold Henry, Jerrell Nixon, Neil Hendrix, Ricky McGraw, and Tommy Wright. Honorary pallbearers were John Lepard, and Carroll County Bus Drivers. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.martin-hightower.com. Martin & Hightower Heritage Chapel of Carrollton has charge of the arrangements.
Mary Jane Shockley
Mary Jane Shockley, 77, died Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at Stringfellow Hospital. Funeral services were January 02, 2014, at Dryden Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Chris Jackson,and Rev. Philip Morris officiating. Burial followed in Happy Hill Cemetery. Survivors include: Son - Stephen (Ellie) Shockley, Anniston, AL Brother - Robert (Irmalene) Norton, Heflin, AL Brother - Lewis Norton, Heflin, AL Grand Child - Marc Shockley Grand Child - Alex Shockley Grand Child - Samantha “Sam” Boyd Great Grand Child - Taylor Shockley Great Grand Child - Hadlee Shockley Great-Grandchild - Ellie Victoria Shockley Great Grand Child - Madison Boyd Great Grand Child - Caleb Boyd Special Friends - Tonya and Jason Wilkins and Boys Special Niece - Janice Norton, Heflin, AL Pallbearers: Shag Austin, Charlie Norton, Audie Hyatt, Jason Wilkins, Junior McGee and Mark Hilburn Mama Jane was a life long resident of Cleburne County and was retired from the Cleburne County School System where she served most of her career as the secretary at Cleburne Elementary prior to her retirement. She was a Baptist by faith and was preceded in death her husband Howard Lee Shockley. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Happy Hill and Heflin Baptist Churches.
Jimmy Dean Walker
Jimmy Dean Walker, 61, passed away from a soft tissue cancer, Sunday, January 05, 2014 at his residence. Born June 23rd 1952 in Carrollton, GA, but a resident of Heflin, the son of Aledes Newborn Walker and the late Joe Rufus Walker, and grandson to the late Purlas Jackson and Amerson Leola Deese Walker and the late William Thomas and Mary Elizabeth Morris Newborn, all of Heflin. Besides his father and grandparents he was preceded in death by a nephew Hugh Shannon Walker. Survivors include his mother Alades Walker, brothers and sister-in-laws- Rufus Jerry (Jenelle) Walker, Willie Hugh Walker, Rex Edward (Ann) Walker and Fred Allen Walker. Sisters and brothers-in-law, Judy Gail (Travis) Williams, Linda (James) Clark, all of Heflin, and Bobbie Jo (Lynn) Otwell of Ranburne. 8 nephews, 7 nieces, 14 great nephews and 11 great nieces. Jimmy never lost his love for life, family, friends and Christ, even though he spent the last 29 years in a wheelchair, following a motorcycle accident caused by a drunk driver on his 32nd birthday. He was a member of Cross Roads Baptist Church, and was blessed to be cared for by hospice care givers Donna and Candy. Funeral services were held January 08, 2014, at Cross Roads Baptist Church with the Rev. Mac Prichard,Rev. Chester Pesnell,Rev. Skyler Clark officiating. Pallbearers were nephews Nicholas Riddle, Dawayne Walker, Adam Walker, Brian Walker, Derick Clark, Jason Clark, Dean Hassler, Kelly Adams. Burial followed in Cross Roads Cemetery with Dryden Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Deadine is Monday at 5 p.m.
Email news and events to mpointer@cleburnenews.com
6 • The Cleburne News, Thursday January 9, 2014
Buster Miles Ford 1880 Almon Street Heflin, Al 36264 Office, 256.463.2247
Buster Miles Chevrolet 685 Ross Street Heflin, Al 36264 Office, 256.463.2151
Salesmen of the Month
Steve Perry Chevrolet
Tim Pruitt Ford
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L. WAYNE TOWNSEND, DMD Family Dentistry
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Heflin, AL 36264 (256) 463.2426
TO THE ONLY GOD, OUR SAVIOR, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, BE GLORY, MAJESTY, DOMINION, AND AUTHORITY, BEFORE ALL TIME AND NOW AND FOREVER. AMEN
Piggly Wiggly 800 Ross Street 256.463.2295
“Lowest Total Food Bill In Town”
ASSEMBLY OF GOD BETH-EL 5250 Hwy. 46 Heflin, 463-4673 BAPTIST
John S. Casey
Carolyn P. Casey
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Patrick P. Casey P.O. Box 249 126 Burns Street Heflin, Alabama 36264
AI BAPTIST RR 2, Box 220A Heflin, 748-3002 BEULAH BAPTIST CHURCH 1616 CR 57 Muscadine, AL 36269 CANAAN BAPTIST 3808 County Rd. 11 Heflin, 253-2760 CEDAR CREEK BAPTIST 13019 Co Rd 19 Heflin, 463-4220 CHULAFINNEE BAPTIST 6961 Hwy. 431 Heflin, 253-9077 CONCORD BAPTIST RR 1, Box 14 Muscadine, 748-4412
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EAST HEFLIN BAPTIST 189 Evans Bridge Rd. Heflin, 463-5650 EDWARDSVILLE BAPTIST 4062 Burton St. Edwardsville FIVE POINTS BAPTIST 2535 County Rd.6 Heflin, 253-2155 FREEDOM BAPTIST 2124 Frank Ledbetter Mem Dr. Ranburne, 568-2277
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MACEDONIA BAPTIST 3920 County Rd. 48 Ranburne, 748-4460 MARANATHA MISSIONARY BAPTIST 1379 Oxford St.
Heflin, 463-2159 MOUNT OLIVE BAPTIST 73 Church St. Heflin, 463-5459 MT PARAN BAPTIST FRUITHURST, AL MUSCADINE BAPTIST County Rd. 49 Muscadine, 579-2112 NEW HARMONY 2359 Hwy. 9 Heflin, 463-5840 NEW HOPEWELL 11654 County Rd 49 Heflin NEW ZION BAPTIST 217 Jefferson St. Heflin, 463-1099 OAK HILL BAPTIST 349 County Rd. 823 Heflin, 831-8467 OLD HOPEWELL BAPTIST Co. Rd. 43 PILGRIMS REST FIRST BAPTIST 2211 County Rd. 205 Fruithurst, 463-5636 PINE GROVE BAPTIST 921 Co. Rd. 62 Heflin 748-8701 PINETUCKY BAPTIST 2984 Co Rd 10 PLEASANT HILL BAPTIST Hwy 9 RANBURNE FIRST BAPTIST 2700 Frank Ledbetter Mem Dr. Ranburne, 568-3677
CHURCH OF GOD PO Box 153 Edwardsville EASTH ATH CHURCH OF GOD Fruithurst, 579-1011 HEFLIN CHURCH OF GOD 205 Willoughby St. Heflin, 463-2902 MOUNT OLIVE CHURCH OF GOD 2763 County Rd. 65 Fruithurst, 463-5569 EPISCOPAL EPISCOPAL CHURCH – THE MESSIAH 836 Lakeview Dr. Heflin, 463-2928 HOLINESS Liberty Rock Holiness 2488 Hwy 46 334-707-3585 METHODIST ANTIOCH UMC 12657 County Road 49 Heflin 256-201-7074 Cody Shelton Pastor BETHEL UNITED METHODIST County Road 80 Muscadine 463-2178 CAMPGROUND UNITED METHODIST 24581 County Rd. 49 Muscadine, 463-1123 CHULAFINNEE METHODIST 1834 County Rd. 8 Heflin, AL 36264 253-2692 FIRST UNITED METHODIST 785 Ross St. Heflin, 463-2441
UNION HILL BAPTIST 13621 County Rd. 10 Ranburne,
GREEN’S CHAPEL County Road 36, Heflin
VERDON CHAPEL 12581 Highway 46 Heflin, Al.36264 256-748-2679
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VISE GROVE SEVENTHDAY ADVENTIST CHURCH 303 County Road 116 Heflin, AL 36264 CHRISTIAN RHEMA CHRISTIAN CENTER 8386 Hwy. 431 Heflin, 253-2070 CHURCH OF GOD CRUMLEY’S CHAPEL CHURCH OF GOD 288 County Rd. 644 Heflin, 748-4044 EDWARDSVILLE
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WRIGHT DRUG COMPANY Heflin Diabetes Care Center
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960 Ross Street Heflin, AL 36264
Phone: (256) 463-2188 Fax: (256) 463-2377
Drop by any of these supporters and say thank you for their support of our Devotional page
The Cleburne News, Thursday, January 9, 2014 – 7
CC
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MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE
Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by Xavier Garcia, a married man and Sherrie Garcia, a married woman, to ABN AMRO Mortgage Group, Inc., on the 22nd day of December, 2001, said mortgage recorded in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Cleburne County, Alabama, in Mortgage Book 2002, Page 255; the undersigned CitiMortgage, Inc., successor by merger with ABN AMRO Mortgage Group, Inc., as Mortgagee/Transferee, under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash, in front of the main entrance of the Courthouse at Heflin, Cleburne County, Alabama, on February 24, 2014, during the legal hours of sale, all of its right, title, and interest in and to the following described real estate, situated in Cleburne County, Alabama, to-wit: Situated in Cleburne county, Alabama, to-wit: One acre of land located in the Southeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter (SE 1/4 of SE 1/4) of Section Thirty- six (36), Township Sixteen (16), Range Nine (9), being more particularly described as follows: Beginning at the Southwest corner of the said Southeast Quarter of Southeast Quarter, thence North 1 degree East a distance of 459 feet to a point which is the point of beginning of the land herein conveyed; thence continue North 1 degree East a distance of 210 feet to a point; thence South 86 degrees 15 minutes East a distance of 210 feet to a point; thence South 1 degree West a distance of 210 feet to a point; thence North 86 degrees 15 minutes West 210 feet to the point of beginning. Situated, lying and being in Cleburne County, Alabama. Also: A right of way being described as follows: To find the point of beginning start at the Southwest corner of the Southeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter (SE 1/4 of SE 1/4) of Section Thirty-six (36), Township Sixteen (16) South, Range Nine (9) East; thence North 1 degree East a distance of 669 feet to the point of beginning; thence continue North 1 degree East a distance of 226 feet to a point; thence South 86 degrees 15 minutes East a distance of 15 feet to a point; thence South 1 degree West a distance of 226 feet to a point; thence North 86 degrees 15 minutes West a distance of 15 feet to the point of beginning. Situated, lying and being in Cleburne County, Alabama. Also: A right of way being described as follows: 0.13 acre, more or less, (3300 square feet) of land for driveway located in the Southeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of Section Thirty-six (36), Township Sixteen (16), Range Nine (9), being more particularly described as follows: Beginning at the Southwest corner of the said Southeast Quarter of Southeast Quarter; thence North 1 degree East a distance of 895 feet to a point; thence North 1 degree East a distance of 220 feet to right of way of a paved county road (Horse Block Tower - Belltown Road); thence Easterly along right of way a distance of 15 feet; thence South 1 degree West a distance of 220 feet, more or less, thence West 15 feet to the point of beginning. Property Street Address: 295 County 6 Road, Heflin, AL 36264 THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD ON AN “AS IS, WHERE IS” BASIS, SUBJECT TO ANY EASEMENTS, ENCUMBRANCES, AND EXCEPTIONS REFLECTED IN THE MORTGAGE AND THOSE CONTAINED IN THE RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE OF PROBATE OF THE COUNTY WHERE THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED PROPERTY IS SITUATED. THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD WITHOUT WARRANTY OR RECOURSE, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED AS TO TITLE, USE AND/OR ENJOYMENT AND WILL BE SOLD SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION OF ALL PARTIES ENTITLED THERETO.
This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by said mortgage, as well as the expenses of foreclosure. The Mortgagee/Transferee reserves the right to bid for and purchase the real estate and to credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the indebtedness secured by the real estate. This sale is subject to postponement or cancellation. CitiMortgage, Inc., successor by merger with ABN AMRO Mortgage Group, Inc., Mortgagee/Transferee Rebecca Redmond SIROTE & PERMUTT, P.C. P. O. Box 55727 Birmingham, AL 35255-5727 Attorney for Mortgagee/Transferee www.sirote.com/foreclosures 211714 The Cleburne News Cleburnce Co., AL January 9, 16, 23, 2014
NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE CLEBURNE COUNTY, ALABAMA
Default having occurred in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain Mortgage (“Mortgage”) executed by MATTHEW M. VAUGHN, an unmarried man, in favor of CITIZENS BANK AND TRUST OF WEST GEORGIA which subsequently merged into Columbus Bank & Trust Company and, which subsequently underwent a name change and is now known as Synovus Bank, (“Synovus”) on the 10th day of May, 2003, said Mortgage being recorded in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Cleburne County, Alabama in Mortgage Book 2003, beginning at page 769, as modified by that certain Modification Agreement dated June 20, 2003 recorded in Mortgage Book 2008, Page 3105 in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Cleburne County, Alabama, the undersigned, Synovus Bank, the current holder of the Mortgage and successor to the original mortgagee under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said Mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash, in front of the main entrance of the Courthouse at Cleburne County, Alabama, on the 24th day of January, 2014 during the legal hours of sale, the following described real estate situated in Cleburne County, Alabama, to-wit: A CERTAIN PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED IN THE EAST HALF OF VINEYARDS LOTS NUMBERED 1003 AND 1004, ACCORDING TO A MAP AND PLAT RECORDED IN PLAT BOOK I AT PAGE 85, BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF VINE-
YARD LOT 1002; THENCE NORTH 89 DEGREES 04 MINUTES 06 SECONDS EAST ALONG THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID LOT 133.45 FEET TO THE NORTHWEST RIGHT OF WAY OFLINE OF U.S. HIGHWAY 78; THENCE NORTH 60 DEGREES 07 MINUTES 13 SECONDS EAST ALONG SAID ROW LINE A CHORD LENGTH OF 386.47 FEET; THENCE NORTH 34 DEGREES 26 MINUTES 06 SECONDS WEST 49.23 FEET; THENCE NORTH 02 DEGREES 30 MINUTES 24 SECONDS EAST 166.99 FEET; THENCE NORTH 55 DEGREES 06 MINUTES 26 SECONDS EAST 258.29 FEET TO THE EAST LINE OF SAID WEST HALF OF SAID LOTS AND THE TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING OF THE HEREAFTER DESCRIBED TRACT C; THENCE NORTH 00 DEGREES 19 MINUTES 25 SECONDS EAST ALONG SAID EAST LINE 147.48 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 47 DEGREES 55 MINUTES 26 SECONDS EAST 354.84 FEET TO THE OBSERVED RIGHT OF WAY OF DIRT ROAD; THENCE SOUTH 58 DEGREES 23 MINUTES 02 SECONDS WEST ALONG THE OBSERVED RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF CHORD LENGTH 311.95 FEET TO THE WEST LINE OF THE EAST HALF (E ½) OF VINEYARD LOTS 1003 AND 1004, IF EXTENDED; THENCE NORTH 00 DEGREES 19 MINUTES 25 SECONDS EAST ALONG SAID WEST LINE OF EAST HALF (E 1/2) OF LOTS, 253.85 FEET TO THE TRUE POINT OF BEGINNING. SUBJECT TO ANY RIGHT OF WAY ASSIGNED TO THE POWER LINE CROSSING SAID PARCEL, AS SHOWN ON PLAT. SITUATED, LYING AND BEING IN CLEBURNE COUNTY, ALABAMA. Said property will be sold subject to all liens, encumbrances, unpaid real estate ad valorem taxes and governmental assessments and to all prior restrictions, rights-of-way, and easements of record, if any, appearing of record prior to the date of the mortgage and those appearing after the date of the Mortgage and consented to by Synovus. The Mortgagee reserves the right to bid for and purchase the real estate and to credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the indebtedness secured by the real estate. This sale is subject to postponement or cancellation. This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by said Mortgage, as well as the expenses of foreclosure. Attorney for Mortgagee Travis C. Hargrove Page, Scrantom, Sprouse, Tucker & Ford., P.C. 1111 Bay Ave., Third Floor P.O. Box 1199 Columbus, GA 31902 (706) 324-0251 The Cleburne News Cleburne Co., AL January 2, 9, 16, 2014
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The Cleburne News, Thursday, January 9, 2014 • 8
Cleburne County GOP opens qualifying period for candidates LAURA CAMPER
news@cleburnenews.com
The Cleburne County Republican Party opened qualifying for the 2014 elections on Tuesday, a week before statewide Republican qualifying is scheduled to begin. Tim Sprayberry, chairman of the county party, said local committees are allowed to open qualifying earlier or later than the state party, though the committees cannot alter the closing date. Statewide qualifying for Republicans is scheduled to begin on Jan. 13 and end at 5 p.m. Feb. 7. Sprayberry said the earlier qualifying date doesn’t give Cleburne County candidates any advantage. Potential candidates have been able to announce their intent to run and raise campaign contributions since June 2013. Qualifying just certifies the candidates’ plans to run, he said. Three Republicans have qualified for local elections so far. Cleburne County Revenue Commissioner Joyce Fuller and District 3 County Commissioner Benji Langley both qualified for re-election. Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Dennis Green, a political newcomer, qualified to run for sheriff. Cleburne County Sheriff Joe Jacks said he would be retiring at the end of
his current term. Fuller, of Heflin, will be running for her second six-year term as revenue commissioner. She was elected in 2008 and took office in March 2009, a little ahead of the scheduled term set to begin in October, Fuller said. Her predecessor left the position early and she was appointed by then-Gov. Bob Riley, Fuller said. Since taking office, Fuller has become certified as a tax administrator, a function which requires 120 hours of university classroom instruction. She passed her certification test in March 2013, Fuller said. Fuller said she wants people to know she is eager to continue as revenue commissioner. “This job is very important to the functioning of the county,” Fuller said. Green, a Heflin resident, said he is running for sheriff because he feels he can help make positive changes in the county. His two greatest concerns are illegal drugs and child abuse, he said. Green said he’s worked in the Sheriff’s Office for 23 years and has seen how illegal drugs have driven up crime. He said he’s worked several murder investigations in which drugs were a factor. During interrogations, Green said, he has heard countless people say they stole property to get
Dallas :
“At 2, they expected him to have a good life”
From page 1
money for drugs. “I’ve never heard anybody say they did it to buy food,” Green said. “Get rid of the drugs and it will reduce theft and things.” He said he would start by appointing a second deputy to investigate drug crimes and introduce more drug education programs for local students. Green also said he will work closely with the Department of Human Resources to ensure abused children are placed in safe houses where they won’t experience abuse again. Commissioner Langley of Ranburne is serving his first term. There are several projects underway in the Ranburne area, including road improvements on County Road 10, that Langley would like to see through, he said. “Once you get ’em started you don’t want to just up and leave ’em,” Langley said. Working as commissioner is a job Langley enjoys because he wants to improve the county, he said. “It’s really a job you learn by doing,” Langley said, adding he now has three years’ experience under his belt. Staff Writer Laura Camper 256463-2872. On Twitter @LCamper_ Star.
CCHS wrestlers place at Rumble in the Jungle
CCHS wrestler Preston Jarrell - second place, 113 lbs, Alex Sandmann second place, 220 lbs, Tyler Mayfield third place 138 lbs, and Corey Davis fourth place 138 lbs.
pulse monitoring machine, and a suctioner for removing mucus from his lungs. She has to use a catheter on him every three to four hours because his kidneys don’t work properly, Fredriksen said. Her former living room now houses a hospital bed for Dallas, surrounded by his machines. Next to it is a bed for her. She wants to be close enough to hear if he’s having a seizure or some other problem at night, she said. Nearby are two childsized recliners, a sofa for her and a television for the family. “I had to turn my living room into a bedroom, living room, dining room and bathroom,” Fredriksen said. A necessary break Pam Jones, president and chief executive officer of Make-A-Wish Alabama, said Dallas was a perfect fit for the program. The organization serves Alabama children between the ages of 2 ½ and 18 with a life-threatening illness. Make-A-Wish Alabama accepts children whose parents or caregivers contact them, Jones said. In this case, Fredriksen said Dallas’ social workers told them about the program. The Alabama chapter granted 130 wishes last fiscal year and is on its way to granting 140 this year, all funded through the donations it receives, Jones said. But the organization is only just scratching the surface, she added. “Every year, somewhere in our state over 400 children are predicted to be diagnosed with a life-threatening condition,” Jones said. She believes the trips are more than a respite for the family, because a patient’s morale can have a positive effect on their health, Jones said.
“I can’t tell you how many times a parent, grandparent or caregiver has said that’s the first time I’ve seen him smile since he was diagnosed,” Jones said. Easing the burden Taking care of Dallas is a 24/7 job, Fredriksen said. She quit her job when he had to have the tracheostomy put in in 2009, the grandmother added. It’s meant the family has to live on just $710 a month despite large medical expenses and costly electric bills that reflect the operation of all his equipment, Fredriksen said. But it’s a decision she doesn’t regret. “He’s my precious little baby,” Fredriksen said. But it means that trips like the one from Make-AWish were out of reach for the family and she’s grateful for the opportunity, she said. They were able to enjoy the Christmas lights, three concerts at Dollywood, an evening at the musical dinner theater Dixie Stampede, the Smoky Mountain Opry and Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, Fredriksen said. “The trip itself was unbelievable,” Fredriksen said. “He loved it. His little ol’ eyes was just a glowing.” Dallas’ mother said the trip was the first one she had been able to make with her sons and she had never been to Pigeon Forge herself. “I was very happy because we got to experience something together for the first time,” Shepard said. To contact Make-AWish Alabama about a trip for a child or to donate, call 205-254-WISH (9474) or visit http://alabama.wish. org. Staff Writer Laura Camper 256-463-2872. On Twitter @LCamper_Star.
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