Helena City News by Dave Smith

Hele H elena Ciitttyy New elen Newwss Serving the City of Helena and surrounding area

Back-To-School 2015

FIRST ANNUAL HUSKY PANTHER BOWL SET FOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 21

IT’S FOOTBALL SEASON COME SUPPORT YOUR HELENA HUSKIES AT HUSKY STADIUM DURING HOME GAME FRIDAYS THIS FALL HHS AND HMS FOOTBALL HHS AND HMS BOTH ADD TEAMS PREPARE FOR SEASON FACES TO ADMINISTRATION Pre-season preview articles and schedules for both teams inside

HOMEPLATE COOKING TRIPLES FLOOR SPACE

Meet HHS Principal Brand, HHS Asst. Principals Just in time for all your Fall and Butts & Turner; HMS Asst. Principal Young Holiday Catering Needs

www.MyHelenaCityNews.com / www.CityofHelena.org

FROM THE MAYOR

As summer rolls to a close, I would like to thank everyone for supporting all the great special events that have taken place here in Helena this summer. The Helena Business Association’s Friday night Sundown Cinemas and the Saturday morning Farmers Market have both enjoyed great success. The annual fireworks display on the evening of July the 3rd in conjunction with First Friday was yet another highly attended event and provided fun for all ages. The 2nd installment of Jazz in the Park drew thousands to the Old Town Amphitheatre and provided a relaxing evening showcasing some of the best professional jazz musicians in the country. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all the volunteers who help make these events happen. These events

are a big part of what makes Helena special. I appreciate all the hard work. As students begin their return to area schools, I would like to ask you to please drive with extra care, patience and caution, watching for students and school buses as school traffic begins. By the way, I can’t wait to see everyone at Husky Stadium for another exciting year of high school football! Please come out and support our team as they open the season at Pelham High School on August 21 in the quest for the first ever HHS/ PHS Mayor’s Trophy, to be presented to the winning team at its pep rally by the losing team’s Mayor. It should be quite an event. The APPLE traffic study that was commissioned a few weeks ago is being conducted by the Regional Planning Commission at this time. The study will look at the feasibility and design

of adding a turn lane, among other improvements, on Hwy 261 in the Helena Elementary School area. Once the study is complete, we will begin seeking funding for the recommended improvements to help alleviate traffic congestion problems at this busy entrance and exit from HES. Speaking of funding, as most of you know, the city has a very limited revenue stream. Costs for services, maintenance and improvements continue to increase yearly, so we must find ways to boost needed revenues. With that said, I am very pleased to see the addition of several new businesses in our commercial districts. In particular, Jack’s Hamburgers, Helena Ranch House Restaurant and a new convenience store on 52 west are all set to open late this fall. These important additions to our retail community will not only bring new dining and retail choices for our residents and visitors, but will add much

needed tax revenue to help boost our city’s general fund. Finding and developing new retail opportunities for areas already zoned for this type business is imperative to sustaining, improving and boosting funding for city operations, services and improvements to our public parks, roads and schools. These new businesses will add new employment opportunities as well. Another important aspect of the development of new retail businesses and services is the fact that it should prevent any need for us to ask for future property tax increases from our residents, as needed additional revenue grows from retail sales and fees. In closing, I wish all of you the best as the new school year starts. Please patronize our local businesses for all your needs and remember, Helena is where you want to be! Best wishes, Mark

Mark

The Helena Teen Council is now accepting applications for the 2015-2016 Teen Council. Applications are available on their facebook page at www.facebook.com/helena.teencouncil. The deadline for applications is September 1, 2015. A place on the Teen Council is open to any freshman or sophomore residing in Helena’s city limits.

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Benefit at Sports Complex raises money for “Mr. Billy” Hinds Billy Hinds was a Helena Police Officer back when there was only one officer on the force. “Many know ‘Mr. Billy’ as the police officer that directed the traffic at the elementary school for so many years,” said Sue Acton, Billy’s sister. Unfortunately, he was forced to quit the force after complications surrounding a stroke. He remained active in the Helena community until a few months ago, when a trip to the doctor revealed that he had suffered a second stroke. “This severe stroke has left him in a medical condition that has made it necessary for him to have around the clock care for the remainder of his life,” Sue described. “Many friends have come forward wanting to do something to help his wife, Frances and his family.” An account has been established at Regions Bank for anyone who would care to make a donation. “At any Regions Bank, you can ask for the account that is registered as Charity for Billy Hinds,” Sue explained. The money collected will be donated

to his family to help offset the medical out-of-pocket costs that have spiked this year. Sue and others in the community got together to host a catfish and chicken finger benefit dinner for Billy July 14 at the Helena Sports Complex. Friends of the Hinds family were joined by a steady stream of residents and those who have been touched by Billy’s service and selflessness over the years throughout the night. Sue is happy to report that although their initial projections were for around 200 plates, more than 450 tickets were sold, making it a sold-out benefit! Whiskas Catfish Catering provided the delicious catfish, homemade coleslaw, hushpuppies, seasoned French fries and chicken fingers for the all-youcould-eat event. A medley of cupcakes, cakes, cookies and banana pudding were also offered for dessert. After eating, attendees were asked to fill in index cards on each table with “Billy stories,” memories they have of Billy to share with him and his family in the coming months. The

outpouring of support from the Helena family was clear to see in everyone’s faces as they talked to Billy’s son, daughters, wife, and family. Each and every person there had a kind word to say about Billy or a funny memory to share. Helena United Methodist Church will be host a second benefit, a golf tournament, Saturday, August 15 at Timberline Golf Club. It will be a four-man

golf tournament, with the cost to enter set at $100 per player. A maximum of 120 players will be allowed to compete. Lunch and registration will begin at 11:30am, with a shotgun start at 1:30pm. Anyone who wishes to sponsor a hole can do so for $50. For more information or to register a team for the tournament, contact Jeff Burdette at 296-8425 or at jeffburdette@ yahoo.com.

Above: Mr. Billy during his time as a police officer, and with his wife, Frances. Below: Billy’s daughter and relatives were happy to see so many turn out for the event. In the other photographs, attendees can be seen enjoying the food and company and checking out the interesting photo collage of “Mr. Billy.”

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$22,640 in Buck Creek Festival funds presented to city groups During a June city council meeting, the members of the Buck Creek Festival Committee presented checks to several deserving city endeavours out of the $22,640 raised at this years’ festival event. Helena Elementary, Middle

and High Schools each received $800, and another $2000 was given in scholarships to deserving Helena students. The Helena Band Boosters received the $10,610 raised through the annual rubber duck race. Helena Kiwanis received

$3,190 and the Helena Lions Club received $700. Helena Police Explorers and Helena Fire Explorers each received $500. The Jane B. Holmes Public Library received $400, and the Helena Belles received $300. Christ Community Church

received $300, and First Baptist Church of Helena received $100. “This brings the total dollar amounts raised from the festival since inception to $227,401,” said City Councilwoman Cris Nelson. “Pretty awesome!”

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LIBRARY DIRECTOR DANIEL DEARING JANE B. HOLMES PUBLIC LIBRARY

230 Tucker Road, Helena 35080 • 664-8308 HOURS: Monday 10:00 AM-7:00 PM; Tuesday 10:00 AM-6:00 PM; Wednesday 10:00 AM-6:00 PM; Thursday 10:00 AM-7:00 PM; Friday 10:00 AM-5:00 PM; Saturday 10:00 AM-2:00 PM; Closed on Sunday. Good day to everyone from the Jane B. Holmes Public Library! Congratulations to everyone who read over the summer. Reading is you key to success. Whether you read for pleasure or for school, it will help you tremendously as you begin your academic year this fall. A special big THANKS to everyone who participated in our program here at the library. Kids and adults alike enjoyed some great programs and prizes here at the library. From Story Times to Magic Shows to visits from our local heroes – The Helena Police and Fire Departments, it was an action packed fun-filled summer. Special thanks to the City of Helena, and the many employees and departments that help make our library a great place to visit. Make sure to visit the library soon! As summer ends, get your parent (or bring yourself) to the library to update or get a new library card. This way you will be set for the fall. If you need to print something, require an extra source for a paper, or would simply like a book to take your mind off of things, the library is here for you. The library is also a great place to meet a friend to study, and to take advantage of the FREE WI-FI. Do Not Forget! August is Book Drive Month at the Jane B. Holmes Public Library in Helena. Bring in books, movies, or music in good condition. The library makes use of many of these items, while some of them end up in our book sale. The library book sale benefits our patrons by providing funding for new items. It also gives residents an opportunity to look for some great books to read at Bargain Prices! Our Book sale is scheduled for Thursday, September 17 at 10:00 AM and runs through Saturday, September 19. Save this Date and stop by to visit! Check out our web-site at www.cityofhelena.or for the latest events and info. Finally, a special thanks to Primrose School in Helena for a kind donation of $700.00! The administration of the school must have known that many parents of younger children utilize the library as a resource for learning and fun. Primrose held a Spring Fling fundraiser with a silent auction and games for

the whole family. It was great fun, and included fundraising efforts for worthy causes. The library was honored to be included. Look for this event next spring! Sincerely, Daniel Dearing, Library Director

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES Story Time EVERY Tuesday and Thursday at 11:00 AM

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Check out our calendar at www.cityofhelena.org for more events and additional information! Stop by soon to check out a book or two, a movie and/or some tunes—we have the classics to the latest releases and everything in between!

TITLES JUST IN… Finder’s Keepers — Stephen King; In the Unlikely Event — Judy Blume; All the Single Ladies — Dorothea Benton Frank; Memory Man — David Baldacci; 14th Deadly Sin — James Patterson; Piranha — Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison; It’s a Long Story — Willie Nelson

GREAT FLICKS… Serena - Starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence; Project Almanac - Starring Jonny Weston; Focus - Starring Will Smith, Margot Robbie; Justified - The Complete Final Season; Killing Jesus - Starring Stephen Moyer; The Spongebob Movie - Sponge out of Water; McFarland USA Starring Kevin Costner; Jupiter Ascending - Starring Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis; American Sniper - Starring Bradley Cooper; Mortdecai Starring Johnny Depp; Still Alice - Starring Julianne Moore We also reserve books, music and audio materials at the Jane B. Holmes Public Library. Ask at the circulation desk or call the library at 205-664-8308 for details. Make sure to stop by the library soon.

Summer Reading Close Out Party! The Summer Reading Close-Out Party was a huge success! Kids, parents and firefighters joined Library Director Daniel Dearing July 22 to enjoy Kona Ice on a very warm afternoon. Left, Daniel poses with the Summer Reading drawing winner, Aubury Stricklin, along with her sister Alyssa Stricklin, and their mother, Holley Myrick.

Primrose School raises funds for Helena Library The Primrose School of Riverwoods raised money through a silent auction and donations at their annual Spring Fling in May. Through community effort, they were able to raise nearly $1,500 for local reading initiatives. According to David D. Wilson, Director of the Primrose School of Riverwoods, half of the proceeds will go to the programs “Save the Children” and “Reach out and Read,” and the other half will go directly to the Jane B. Holmes Helena Public Library. Salute!

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Thanks to the City of Helena, Highpointe Properties and Newcastle Homes for sponsoring Helenaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second Jazz in the Park event in July. The afternoon was enjoyed by all. Attendees were treated to jazz from artists such as the Raw Jazz Trio and Trumpet Soloist Willie Bradley. Thanks also to Magic City Smooth Jazz, a non profit charitable organization that promotes the arts, managed by Bernard Lockhart.

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Anna Reimers builds nutrition, muscles, relationships at SNAP Anna Reimers has been an ACE certified trainer and coach for eight years, six of those with Snap Fitness in Helena. Anna has an impressive background in fitness. She graduated with a B.A. in Health Promotion from UAB.While there, she competed in Track & Field as a Heptathlete. Anna continues to build her skill sets with additional certifications and CE credits in Spin, Spin Power, TRX and RIP trainer. Anna feels that it is essential to establish a partnership between trainer and client with a focus on both physical and nutrition.“75-80% of meeting goals is thru diet,” Anna continues,“I promote ‘Clean’ eating.” Clean eating involves eating lean meats, fruits and vegetables. “I am very passionate and care about those I

work with,” stated Anna. “Many clients I’ve trained have developed into long term relationships.” On the training side, Functional Training is her methodology. Functional Training mimics the movements used in daily activities.An example is learning how to squat properly.This movement is used in getting out of a chair or a car. Strengthening the muscles used for this kind of daily activity reduces the possibility of injury and can work for any age. “When someone begins to lose their life skills, I concentrate on reviving these daily skills, not on how they look,” Anna explained. “Anna is an excellent trainer who has not rested on her laurels; she is always striving to learn more and stay current,” noted Sam Stuart, Helena Snap Fitness

manager. Two clients Anna is currently working with are Rachel Crumpler and Donna Purvis, shown in the accompanying photos. “I love having the direction and guidance a trainer gives,” Rachel says.“It keep me focused and accountable. Anna knows exactly what works best for me because of her in-depth knowledge and her ability to apply that knowledge to the individual.” “A few months ago,” Donna recounted,“I decided it was time to take steps to improve my health. I found Anna at Snap Fitness. During my time working with her, my exercise endurance has really improved along with steady weight loss. Anna is very personable and possesses a style that offers a great balance of coaching, accountability and the

ability to pull more out of you than you think you can do.” Anna is an identical twin married to an identical twin! She and her husband Christian have a four yearold son, Christiansen and a two year-old, Carson. Recently Christiansen ran his first 5K with his mom, completing two miles! Anna also related a story from her past that encapsulates her philosophy,“When my sister and I were four, our parents sent us to modeling classes.We participated only a short time in those, as our parents decided it was more important for us to concentrate on the ‘inside’ rather than the ‘outside.’” This same philosophy continues to guide Anna in life. For training with Anna or information on BootCamp specials, call Snap Fitness Helena at (205) 664-2600.

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Home Plate Cooking in larger location Helena’s premier take-home food establishment, Home Plate Cooking, celebrated their seventh anniversary by moving just up the parking lot into the former Helena Pharmacy building. “We moved from a 1,000-square-foot space into 3,000 feet,” said Kay Brashier, the owner of Home Plate, explaining the extra room became necessary as the catering side of the business continued to grow. “Around Christmas and during the wedding season, we had supplies stacked in the front where customers were because we had nowhere to put it in the back!” Speaking of weddings, if you’re looking for something extraspecial for that special someone, you have got to talk to Brandon Jones, who will have been with Home Plate for 4 years in October. Brandon is “The Cake Guy,” doing fabulous decorations—he even has the shirt to prove it. Aside from Brandon’s confectionary skills, Home Plate now showcases adorable themed cookies decorated by Barbara

DeLauro. Available now through the end of August are Back-ToSchool cookies, with football and Halloween cookies to look forward to soon. New to the sweets display case is “50 cent row,” which showcases cake balls, peanut butter balls, white chocolate-dipped Oreos and Oreo balls, chocolate covered nutty buddies and more. “We have the same stuff that was on the menu before, but with our extra cases and coolers, it’s all more readily available, so making a special order isn’t as necessary as it was before,” Kay explained. “If you want something specific, it’s still good to call a day ahead to make sure we have it!” Other than the expanded dessert offerings and larger display cases, she says not much has changed. More space is not the only difference, though. They have chairs now—18 to be specific, with more possibly on the way. “Since we moved, many of our regulars have been staying to eat lunch here, so our daily Hot Lunch special from 11am-1pm

has taken off,” Kay said. Their cold chicken salad and pimiento cheese plates sell well, and containers of each are always available for purchase. Home Plate is also using new airtight packaging for take-home plates that helps the meals stay good in the freezer, since the largest customer base for those are parents sending the plates with their kids back to college or sticking them

in an aging parent’s freezer for easy meals all week. And of course, ready-to-bake dinners are available anytime. Call or visit Home Plate today!

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Hanging on for dear life— Connor & Shane Gaston brave terrifying conditions of a severe thunderstorm during annual Mobile Bay Regatta When experienced boaters Connor Gaston and his father Shane traveled to Mobile Bay for the Dauphin Island Regatta in April, they had no idea what a literal whirlwind they were in for. They and their 16-foot Hobie Catamaran were prepared to sail in a race they have done many times before—Connor, who is 26, has been sailing since he was 9—but never during a thunderstorm. When leaving the Buccaneer Yacht Club that morning before 9am, they were greeted by a brilliantly shining sun and winds predicted to be perfect for sailing, around 15-25 mph. Shane’s brother Ron Gaston and his sailing partner Hana Blalack also took to the bay in Ron’s boat, and his daughter Sarah Gaston and family friend Jim Gates went out in yet another boat. All three boats made great time during the actual race. Their worries formed along with the dark clouds on the horizon as they sailed from Gaillard Island back to shore, fear taking hold in the form of lightning strikes on the water. The Gastons’ mast was aluminum, with only 6 feet of fiberglass at the top, and

they were terrified. Connor described the moment it all changed: rain began coming down so thick it was hard to see more than a dozen feet in any direction, the sails began flapping wildly and anything not tied down was in danger of being lost, including the boaters themselves. In less than thirty seconds, visibility was gone and the boat was thrown to its starboard side for the first time. The Gastons’ boat, a catamaran that weighs in at only 360 pounds, easily tipped over three times during the ordeal, with the mast and sails lying on the water at times. The father and son team desperately tried to hold down the sail to prevent excessive movement. After finding themselves sideways during the strongest part of the storm, Connor and his father were flipped 180 degrees to the opposite side by huge waves, which then forced the mast underwater until it hit the bay floor at an angle, or what is called “partial turtling.” The fiberglass of the mast snapped off under the combined forces of the wind and waves. It was all they could do to hold

Top: Shane and Connor before one of their many past sailing excursions. Above: The Gaston men piloting their catamaran in Mobile Bay on the day of the severe storm, oblivious to the danger they would face in a few short hours. Bottom: A larger view of the Gastons’ catamaran, with the red sail.

on—to the sails, the boom, the lacings of the trampoline, whatever they could grasp. They knew they needed to stay with their sailboat—rescuers could find a boat a lot easier than they could find people in the debris-strewn water. Thankfully, the spray suits, harnesses, life jackets and gloves the Gastons wore gave them marginal protection against the battering of the storm until the weather calmed. After a terrifying half-hour of being at the mercy of Mother Nature, the storm moved on and the bay calmed. Connor and Shane were able to right their boat and use the jib sail to slowly pilot it to shore. On the way, they spotted Ron’s boat partially capsized in the distance, but did not see anyone aboard—they found out later Ron and Hana were thrown overboard and drifted in the bay for two hours before being found by the Marine Police. Sarah and Jim had also been thrown from their boat, just a few minutes after massive waves crashed it into the Dauphin

Island Bridge, causing their mast to snap as well. They, too, were afloat for two hours before being rescued by the Coast Guard. Although the Gastons and Co. made it, Connor, Shane, Ron, Hana, Sarah and Jim were all alright, not everyone made it out as well. Five people were killed in the storms that day, and as this goes to press, one man is still missing. If the Regatta had started on time, instead of at 11am due to a delay, Connor thinks the situation would have been much less dire, because many of the possibly hundred boats still on the water would have finished the race earlier, removing their crews from the dangerous storm. Nothing else the Gastons have experienced compares to the more-than 70 mile-per-hour winds that surfaced in the severe thunderstorm that overtook Mobile Bay on that day in April, and they are grateful to have come out alive. Connor is happy to report that all three boats— his, Ron’s and Jim’s—have been repaired and are racing once again.

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New Helena High Principal April Brand takes over for new school year

It should come as no surprise to anyone who knows Helena High School’s new Principal April Brand that she was chosen for this position—three of her four siblings also work in education, and two are already principals. After years of experience as an assistant principal at Oak Mountain and in Helena, it was time for her to join their ranks. “We come from a family that was centered around school,” Principal Brand said. “Our parents were always supportive; we were in everything from sports to the student council to show choir to the Scholar’s Bowl, so they had to be.” After playing volleyball, basketball and softball at Snead State for two years in college, Principal Brand moved to Jacksonville State, where she earned her bachelor’s and first master’s degrees in

physical education and anatomy and physiology. She then received both her certification in educational administration and her educational specialist degree in instructional leadership from Samford University. That passion she had for school as an adolescent carried her through her own schooling and 17 years working in public education and now it helps her make decisions to expand class and extracurricular offerings at Helena High School. “We will continue to grow our broad curriculum at Helena as we grow as a school, adding more Dual Enrollment and AP classes to start,” Principal Brand explained. Dual enrollment through Jeff State begins this school year with English 101 and 102 classes. Statistics will be the first AP class offered this year. More sports medicine classes through Lemak are also on the table, as the administration saw first-hand how real-world experiences the program offered students last year helped them in very tangible ways. “We’re here for the students, trying to provide them with as many opportunities as we can to prepare them for life,” Principal Brand explained. “We will expand not only class offerings, but all the good stuff that high school is all about,

18 Back-To-School 2015 / www.CityOfHelena.org

too—the extracurriculars and fun activities!” she laughed. “I think the most important thing we can do is hire the very best staff to work with the kids— and we already have a tremendous team; I can’t brag on them enough,” she continued. “With the right people here, there is no limit to what we can achieve for our students.” Serving as assistant principal under Jay Peoples last year, she and fellow Asst. Principal David Butts were involved in the hiring process for most HHS teachers and staff. They had input on the policies and procedures of the school and helped get everything up and running without a hitch. So, when Principal Peoples was tapped in April by the Shelby County BOE to become High School Coordinator at the Central Office, the board unanimously voted for April to take over the head position at HHS. “We had such a good start last year, good planning and support from city leadership, police and the community, that really made our jobs easier,” Brand said. “Each and every grading term last year, we had a substantial increase in the number of Helena kids on the honor

roll. We expect good things.” Brand herself is still in school, pursuing her doctorate at UAB. Her dissertation focuses on instructional methods and the relationship between teachers and administration. “I want to bridge the gap that sometimes exists between teachers and administration,” she explained. But her main goal is always making school better for students. “I love what I do; I love the kids,” she continued. “I have the best job in the world to work with them each day. I really care what they think.” We look forward to seeing where Principal April Brand can take Helena High School students this year and beyond!

Assistant Principal Brandon Turner joins HHS administration With April Brand’s promotion to HHS principal came the hiring of a new assistant principal to take her place. Brandon Turner, seen above left, was chosen for the role. This Alabama native attended Handley High School in Roanoke before achieving his degree in comprehensive social sciences from Alabama. Assistant Principal Turner taught 9-12 grade social studies

classes in several small, rural schools before working in Jefferson County at Hueytown and MacAdory high schools. He then served as assistant principal at Vestavia Hills for two years. He also served as a varsity coach for football and basketball. “The most attractive thing to me about coming to Helena is the challenge of being able to get in on the ground floor of this

new school, to be a part of this blank slate,” Assistant Principal Turner said. “I look forward to building pride, attending many of our events at the school and supporting those programs.” “I’m really excited because I have heard many good comments about April Brand,” the assistant principal said. “A good leader like her will ultimately enhance any experience.”

“Shelby County Schools have an excellent reputation for their high degree of emphasis on academics and extracurriculars,” he said. “I’m impressed at the leadership at the school and county level and want to be a part of that. It’s the complete package here in Helena.” Welcome to the Helena High School family, Assistant Principal Brandon Turner!

HHS Assistant Principal David Butts happy to live in Helena Assistant Principal David Butts, seen above right, was brought onto the Helena High School staff last summer to help open the school and has enjoyed it immensely. "HHS opened so smoothly," he said at registration this summer. "I've never seen a school, especially a high school, have such a smooth and successful first year. That truly shows the dedication the city and county system have in Helena."

The assistant principal gave high praise to the great Helena community, school and administrators for everything they have done. "Mrs. Brand and Mr. Peoples were absolutely unbelievable in getting everything up and running," he said. "They set a great example for the rest of us." Growing up in Birmingham, Assistant Principal Butts played basketball for Shades Valley in high school and eventually Faulkner University in Mont-

gomery, where he received a degree in Physical Education. He served as assistant and head basketball coach in schools across central Alabama for more than 14 years before taking an interest in administration. "Coaching, with all its traveling, didn't give me enough time to spend with my family," he explained. By working in administration, he said, he can make a difference in his new community and have plenty of time with his

wife Scarlett and their two boys. “Being able to work at HHS with my boys going to school across the street is a blessing. I'll be able to watch them grow up being so close.” The Butts family moved into the growing Hillsboro community last year, and they love it. “We lucked out to get a good house in such a great community for our family,” he said. “We are glad to be a part of it all.” Welcome to the community!

TO ADVERTISE, CALL the Publisher at 746.1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com / Back-To-School 2015

Jay Modi expands his Helena business holdings with “Wash It Off” Shelby County’s best car wash, bar none, right here in Helena!

One stop for a car wash at Wash It Oﬀ in its new location next to Taco Bell on Hwy 52W, and you’ll be as sold as I was on the new Helena business. Jay is onto something with the customer first, above and beyond service he offers there. Employing about 30 Helena High School students, he and manager Stephanie Malcom have trained them well. As soon as I pulled up and chose my wash (washes start at just $6, as low as $1 with a membership) a host of workers went to work with soapy brushes on my tires and the lower parts of my SUV (which tend to hold the most dirt and grime) before I was even all the way onto the wash track. The wash Jay has brought to Helena applies a superior lustre and shine to your vehicle, and is all done with the latest stateof-the-art wash system that is gentle on your vehicle’s finish, as well. My old, black SUV came out shining like new! I often just drive away at this point, but decided to use one of Wash It Oﬀ’s free, shaded vacuum stations to get some of the fine gravel that had collected in my floorboard and take advantage of the free mat cleaners. I was surprised when several teens came up and started rubbing down leftover water from my exterior. I asked one of

them if this is standard policy and they said, “Mr. Modi trained us if we have the time, to always look for ways to give extra service to our customers. We want to offer the best car wash experience possible here,” she said. Where do you go to find car wash employees who talk that way?!? (That’s Helena kids for you, though, :-) Jay Modi and wife, Shetal, moved here in 1998 and bought their first business here back in 2004 when they bought the Conoco station at the junction of Hwys 17, 52 and 91. They soon renovated it into the beautiful Chevron station we have today. “Two liter drinks are still just 99¢ everyday there,” said Jay, (since 2006). “Just my way of saying thank you to all our many loyal customers.” Jay still runs the station himself. “It’s my baby,” he smiled. Jay wanted to thank Mrs. Helen Mills Crowe for all she has done to help improve the business

20 Back-To-School 2015 / www.CityOfHelena.org

community in Helena. She owns the properties he operates and he said Mrs. Mills is like a family member to him. (As a side note, Jay also owns Shades Crest Shell/Sneaky Pete’s on Hwy 150 and Shades Crest Rd., run by Christina Smith.) Jay’s wife, Shetal Modi, and Helena’s own Valerie Richards run Top It Oﬀ, Helena’s favorite frozen yogurt shop. The patio outside is a great place to enjoy a treat on a warm, late summer evening. As to the car wash, you might have noticed that I mentioned car washes as low as $1 per day earlier. To get the absolute best value from Wash It Oﬀ, take advantage of their Wash Club plans. Get Unlimited Best

Washes for: Reg. $10 washes for $30/mo Reg. $15 washes for $35/mo Reg. $18 washes for $45/mo Get a family plan (2 or more) and all other cars cost even less! Call 620-WASH (9274) for details, or drop by the car wash. Congratulations Jay, Shetal their daughter, Khushee and son, Krish! And thanks for the role you are playing in keeping the Helena business community vibrant and growing!

Meet new HMS Assistant Principal BaKari Young

New HMS Assistant Principal BaKari Young has had a passion for school administration since working as an office aide at Clay-Chalkville High School for two years when he was a student there. “Lawrence Carter, the

principal of Clay-Chalkville at that time, was very influential in my choice of career path,” Assistant Principal Young said. “Like him, I also enjoy working with young people. I firmly believe there is a way they should

act, and we need to be an example of that,” he continued. “I hope to be that example for HMS students and the community.” At Jacksonville State, Bakari played football and basketball, going all-state and becoming captain of the football team his senior year. He earned his bachelors in Physical Education there, followed by a masters in Instructional Leadership at Samford University. After more than 12 years at Chalkville Elementary and Clay-Chalkville Middle Schools,

seven of those as an assistant principal, it was time to get out of his hometown and find a new one—in Helena! “Everyone here has been more than welcoming, and super kind—kindness seems to be the theme in Helena,” BaKari said. “I really feel like I’m at home here, and I can’t wait to make my home here.” Plans to move himself, his wife, Minerva, their 2-year-old son, Bryce, and their Italian Mastiff, Cam, to Helena as soon as he can are underway, because he’s more excited than ever to be in the growing Helena community. “I’m excited to be a part of the growth here—I’m used to 1,200 students, so I can’t wait to see where Helena and Shelby County are going as a whole.” Welcome to Helena, Assistant Principal Bakari Young!

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Resident Bailey Ledbetter receives 2015 Fire Explorer Scholarship Helena resident Bailey Ledbetter, an active Helena Fire Explorer for the past four years, has aspirations to become a Fire Marshall like her uncle, Russell Ledbetter. If not Fire Marshall, she would also settle for becoming Fire Investigator Ledbetter— as long as she still gets to study crime scenes. “My brother Galen and I grew up in the Trussville Fire Department with him,” she explained. “Galen joined the Fire Explorer program too, in Trussville under Uncle Russel. Now he works with the Air Force in Las Vegas.” A recent graduate from the Shelby County College and Career Center’s Career Academy Program and Public Safety Academy, Bailey is stepping ever closer to her own future goals. She is grateful for all of the help she has received so far. “I wouldn’t have gotten this far without the help from my school and my instructor Coach

Gary Griffith.” Through their tutelage and Bailey’s determination, she received the 2015 Fire Explorer Scholarship from the Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards Commission. This scholarship pays for Firefighting 1 and 2 at the Fire College, a 9-week program Bailey has been taking this summer. It includes room and board, her fire gear and other equipment and even her books. “The Fire College is very different from traditional classes, with courses taught by firemen,” Bailey explained. “When their shift changes end is when your classes can begin. We often have overnight classes.” Not only is firefighting in her family and her friendships, but in her relationships, too. Bailey met her fiancé, Andy Driver, in the Fire Explorers program in Helena. “They always partnered us together for drills and practice

because we’re the same height,” she said, smiling. After aging out of the explorers, Andy received his advanced EMT certification and became an airport Marine. He now volunteers with the Helena Fire Department. Bailey has also competed in the Skills USA State Competition for Alabama for four of the last five years, attending for many years prior to watch with her brother. (She missed the 2015 competition due to an injured wrist.) A Lawson State representative witnessed Bailey’s performance during a Skills USA competition, reached out to her and helped her apply for college. Lawson State offered her a scholarship, where she will study Criminal Justice and Psychology next summer. After two years, she will transfer to South Alabama to study for her EMS license along with Forensic Science and Fire Science courses. Over the last four years, Bailey has logged more than 475 hours of community service through the Fire Explorers, and has completed 16 hours of coursework at Alabama Fire College. Prior to this, she served for two and a half years on the Helena Police Explorers program as well,

proving just how dedicated she is to public safety and giving back to the community. “I learned so much in Helena; we fostered great relationships with people in the community that I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else,” Bailey said. “The guys in Station 1 and 2 are like my brothers, like father figures, like a crazy uncle who drives me nuts.” She laughed. This wonderful group of firefighters helped Bailey make some great connections with local fire stations as well as those as far away as Chicago, and she greatly appreciates everyone’s help. “It’s been such a good thing for me, it’s just like a family,” she concluded.

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calendar of EVENTS

REGULAR WEEKLY EVENTS

2nd - Emergency Siren Test, 10:00 10:00am

MONDAYS Exercise Classes, Helena Senior Center, 10:00AM

3rd - Helena Middle vs McAdory, Home, 5:30pm

Police Explorers, Explorer Training Facility, 4:00-7:00PM

4th - Helena High vs Wilcox County, Home, 7:00pm

Fire Explorers, Station 2, 5:00PM

7th - LABOR DAY OBSERVED: Municipal Offices/Library/Shelby Co. Schools Closed in observance of Independence Day; NO Garbage pickup, Trash will be collected one day behind thru Sat.

TUESDAYS Kiwanis, Helena Senior Center, 7:00AM; 3rd Tues. 5:30PM Story Time, Jane B. Holmes Public Library, 11:00AM Helena Lions Club meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday, Helena Senior Center, 7:00PM, Visit their Facebook page Helena Lions Club for info THURSDAYS Exercise Classes, Helena Senior Center, 10:00AM Story Time, Jane B. Holmes Public Library, 11:00AM FRIDAYS

HBA’S Helena First Fridays, Old Town, 5:30-8:30PM Now-End of Summer, For more info visit hbahelena.com or their Facebook page

SATURDAYS Helena Market Days (til 8/22), OT Amphitheater, 8:00AM-12:00PM, Demo 9:00AM, For scheduled chefs and more info, visit helenamarketdays.com

august

12th - Shelby County Schools, Full Day for Students 15th - Respite Care-special needs 0-21, free but must reserve aaronsstaﬀrespite.org 14th - HES PTO Welcome Back hotdog dinner on the grounds, 5:30-7:30pm, Bring your own lawn chairs/blanket 15th--Helena United Methodist host Billy Hinds Golf Tournament Benefit, Timberline Golf Club, Lunch 11:30am, Start 1:30pm - Husky Day, Home, 7:00pm 17th - Helena City Council, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00pm 18th - Helena Intermediate 4th Grade Parent Academy, 6:00pm 20th - Helena Middle vs Riverchase, Home, 5:30pm - Helena Planning and Zoning, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00pm - Friends of the Jane B. Holmes Library Meeting, Library, 6:00pm 22nd - Glow Run, Helena High, Regisration 5:00pm, Begins 7:00pm 24th - Helena Intermediate 5th Grade Parent Academy, 6:00pm 25th - Helena Elementary 1st Grade Parent Academy, 6:30pm 27th - Helena Intermediate 2nd Grade Parent Academy, 6:00pm 28th - Helena High vs Shelby County, Home, 7:00pm

september

1st - Helena Business Association Meeting, 8:00am, for meeting site visit hbahelena.com or their Facebook page 24 Back-To-School 2015 / www.CityOfHelena.org

8th - Helena Elementary 2nd Grade Parent Academy, 6:30pm 11th - Patriot Day - Helena High vs Dallas County, Home, 7:00pm 12th - Helena Fire Explorers host inaugural Fire Explorer Competition, Helena Sports Complex, begins at 8:30am 15th - Helena Elementary Kindergarten Grade Parent Academy, 6:30pm 17th - Jane B. Holmes Public Library Book Sale Sept. 17-19, 10:00am - Helena Middle vs Chelsea, Home, 5:30pm - Helena Planning and Zoning, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00pm - Friends of the Jane B. Holmes Library Meeting, Library, 6:00pm 19th - Respite Care-special needs 0-21, free but must reserve aaronsstaﬀrespite.org 24th - Helena Middle vs Briarwood, Home, 5:30pm - Respite Care-special needs 0-21, free but must reserve aaronsstaﬀrespite.org 21st - Helena City Council, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00pm

october 1st - Helena Middle vs John Carroll, Home, 5:30pm 5th - Helena City Council, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00pm 6th - Helena Business Association Meeting, 8:00 am, for meeting site visit hbahelena.com or their Facebook page - Helena Elementary PTO 1st Grade Performance, 6:15pm 7th - Emergency Siren Test, 10:00am 9th - Helena High vs Calera (Senior Night), Home, 7:00pm 10th - Helena Ham Fest 2015, Old Town Amphitheater 12th - Columbus Day: Shelby County Schools 1/2 Prof. Dev, 1/2 Teacher workday-NO Students 15th - Helena Planning and Zoning, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00pm - Friends of the Jane B. Holmes Library Meeting, Library, 6:00pm 16th - Helena High vs Sumter County (Homecoming), Home, 7:00pm 17th - Respite Care-special needs 0-21, free but must reserve aaronsstaﬀrespite.org 19th - Helena Elementary Boosterthon Pep Rallies - Helena City Council, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00pm

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HHS Coach Watt Parker is ready for Huskies’ second season! Are you? After a brief break for the month of June, the Helena High School Huskies were back out on the field in July to begin preparations for the 2015 football season. “Now, we’ve got guys who’ve spent a year in the program and we see their retention—they have an understanding of how we run the program,” said Athletic Director and head Football Coach, Watt Parker. “Watching how much the students have advanced

physically this past year was fantastic.” Coach Parker acts as his own Offensive Coordinator and brought in Mike Morgan last year, from Tuscaloosa’s Northridge High School, to be his Defensive Coordinator. “By bringing in new defensive schemes, we can improve upon the high caliber of our play from last year,” Coach Parker said. As part of this, he brought in Head

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Track Coach, Jon Russell, to work with the running backs and Girls Soccer Coach, Cliff Naron, to coach the kickers. “These coaches are wonderful for the program.” Quarterbacks Diondre Sackreiter and Riley Davis and wide receiver Kourtney Moore are just a few of the standouts to watch this season. “Brett Granger grew well for us in the last year, so watch for him, and we can count on Phildon Dublin to play well on both offense and defense,” Coach Parker said. Brody and Tyler Rhodes are great offensive players, while Brian Simmons, Kerry Thompson and James Jackson are some of the strongest players on defense. “We’ve got some very good competition this year, as we always do, but we are ready for it,” Coach Parker said. “Demopolis and Calera are the two best teams in the division, so those will be

exciting games.” The Huskies are going to start off the preseason with a game against Pelham High, the first since the split last year. “I know that one in particular is going to grow into a very special event for the community,” Coach Parker said. Season tickets are now available for purchase through the Helena Athletic Association. See you later this month at Husky Stadium! Go Huskies!

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Coach Bobby Cummings: HMS athletes prepared for football season out for on the 8th grade team this season are their two great quarterbacks, Riley Marks and Luke Stamba. The coach said Cole Pugh does a good job in the back field, while TJ Funches works hard as a running back and safety. “Brodie Jones, a running back and linebacker, is just a tough

kid, a real hard-nosed throwback player,” Coach Cummings continued. “Nathan Dunaway is an offensive lineman who works defense too; he just does a really good job.” Jeremiah Cope, Jack Gay, Zachary Goodwin, JC Wilburn and Caden Pierce round out the wide receivers to watch. “These guys have retained a lot

from spring training to our summer workouts. They are ready to play and compete,” the coach and athletic director said. “They lost to McAdory in overtime last year, and that loss still hurts. We are going into each game this year expecting to win.” And we know they can do it! GO HUSKIES!!

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As the school year begins, sports fans look forward to that annual tradition of football. With a roster of only 35 players, compared to the usual 45-50 players, it may seem like the Helena Middle School 8th grade football team is at a disadvantage this season, but Head Coach Bobby Cummings disagrees. “Our players are really smart and truly enjoy football; they are excited about the opportunity to play,” said Coach Cummings, who is also athletic director for the school. “It’s not a large group, but they are quality middle school football players.” The 7th grade team numbers are good, with nearly 50 kids signed up this season. “They are a young group with some ability, and we will take this year to teach them about school football and help them pull together as a team,” he said. Among the standouts to look

TO ADVERTISE, CALL the Publisher at 746.1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com / Back-To-School 2015

Helena Market Days

Annual Best Butts in Helena BBQ Cook-Off brings out lively competition As is tradition, the nine competing teams for Helena Market Days Best Butt Contest held on July 11 set up their equipment and tents in Amphitheater Park the prior evening. The morning of the event, marketgoers were able to taste the results

and vote with their pocketbooks for their favorite. Over $1,700 was raised for Friends of Helena Schools. Judges were Birmingham News food critic Bob Carlton, who toured the state in the past year in search of Alabamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Best BBQ Ribs, our

own Mayor Hall, State Representatives Matt Fridy and Allen Farley and Chef Joseph Sciarotta. Breakfast eaters enjoyed sausage and biscuits from Vittles while waiting for the winners to be announced shortly before noon. Some other vendors present were Sweet Willie’s Man Grill, Pig Lebowski, and Boom Shaka Laka. Boom Shaka Laka, last year’s winning grill team comprised of Jim Wathen and John Hosmer, used an injection of apple juice and brown sugar, added a rub created from 15 Penzy’s Spices, then smoked the meat for ten hours over charcoal, hickory and pecan wood. They did not win this year, instead taking second place in the People’s Choice.

Newcomer team Vittles was presented with trophies for both Best White Sauce and Best Blue Sauce by the judges. Another new team, Buck’s Bama BBQ, was the judges’ winner for the Red Sauce Category. The 2015 Judges’ Choice Trophy went to Q-Brothers, yet another team new to the Best Butt in Helena competition. The People’s Choice award, with votes totaling $500, went to prior winner D’s Butts. It was accepted by Team Captain Damon Dogget, who is not pictured below. In the Judges’ Choice picture below are members of the Q Brothers Team, with Captain Brian Chafin holding the trophy, along with all of the barbeque judges and Mayor Hall.

Judges Choice—Q Brothers

Best Red Sauce—Buck’s Bama BBQ

Prior Winners Boom Shaka Laka

Best Blue Sauce—Vittles Best White Sauce—Vittles

Prior Winners Smokin’ Six Strings

City Council funds HIS student-driven #advertisehelena campaign Perhaps one of Shelli Abernathy’s 5th grade students from 2014-2015 will write a book in the future entitled, “All The Creative Business Strategies I Needed to Know Were Learned in 5th Grade.” Mrs. Shelli Abernathy’s Gifted Resource Classes made headlines for HIS throughout the prior school year. Four 5th grade students, Brayden George, Sam Harrison, Katelyn Porter and Emily Moore spent the last weeks of school last year developing a company which they named G4. This name referenced their “Greatly Gifted Genius Group” —a problem-based learning team. Their given challenge was to “conceive a way to get more businesses (more successful businesses) in the shop spaces in Old Town Helena.” They created a video presentation for city council

presentation on June 2, with each of the four students narrating in turn. They created a hashtag— #advertisehelena—for their purpose with plans to appear over the summer at local gatherings, such as an upcoming First Friday, and sell merchandise that advertises Helena. Their proposal included “setting up billboards, creating flyers, and starting a social media presence.” They also aspired to “get a column in the Birmingham News and maybe get a local commercial!” By the end of the June 1 Helena City Council meeting, Mayor Mark Hall had asked the council to pass a motion granting city funding to G4 for their startup costs of $871, saying, “This will give them a platform; I think we will get triple that back.”

City Councilman Mike Jones indicated that his company, Ovation Media, would provide t-shirts and also contribute $1000 to this endeavor. Councilman Hal Woodman and Council President Cris Nelson each added $200 to the monies spontaneously generated, for a total of $2,200 granted to the business proposition given by these HIS 5th graders. Plans were also in place for the G4 students to attend an HBA meeting later in the summer to share their presentation.

“Local businesses must want to participate by choice,” noted Bob Van Loan, immediate past HBA president. He also made suggestions that the program be widened to include all Helena businesses, instead of focusing solely on Old Town. Council President Nelson ended the meeting saying, “We know that the businesses in Old Town do transition a lot. I am so tickled with what you students have shown us here tonight. I doubt many adults could do what you have done!”

H e l e n a’ S C o M M u n i t Y o F Fa i t H a.M.e. New Bethel A.M.E. Church Highway 261 • 201-5531 Rev. Wilma Merriweather Sunday School 10:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 AM

BaptiSt CrossBridge Community Church Starkey Street (off 261) • 621-2695 Pastors Harris Cook & Bruce Squires crossbridgehelena.com Sunday Worship 10:00 AM Wednesday Prayer Service 6:30 PM

First Baptist Church Helena

815 Highway 52 E • 663-7879 Sr Pastor Greg Walker • fbhelena.org Sunday Bible Study 9:30 AM Sunday Worship 10:30 AM & 6:00 PM

Gospel Light Baptist Church

5781 Roy Drive • 685-0772 Pastor Steve Kilpatrick • glbcbham.com Sunday Bible Study 10:00 AM Sunday Worship 11:00 AM

Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church

Highway 261 • 663-5257 Rev. Edwin D. Dinkins • mpbchelena.com Sunday School 10:00 AM Morning Worship 11:00 AM

New Elam Baptist Church Cunningham Drive • 663-2230 Rev. Lester Sunday School 10:00 AM Morning Worship 11:00 AM

Riverside Baptist Church

1919 Highway 52 W • 426-1910 Pastor JJ Stanbridge • rbchelena.org Sunday Worship 9:00 AM Sunday Bible Study 10:30 AM

Shiloh Baptist Church

6700 County Road 13 • 424-4539 Rev. Pete Hubhins, Jr. Pastor Sunday School 10:00 AM Sunday Worship 11:00 AM

CHriStian—DiSCipleS oF CHriSt Grace Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 869 Highway 52 • 426-1233 Rev. Tommy Morgan gracechristianchurch.org Sunday School 9:00 AM Sunday Worship 10:00 AM

CHurCH oF CHriSt

Church of Christ at Helena 2499 Highway 58 • 620-4575 Evgs Curtis Flatt & Bryan Moody church-of-christ.org Sunday School 9:30 AM Morning Worship 10:30 AM

epiSCopal Lamb of God Charismatic Episcopal

New Vision Christian Church

2383 Highway 95 • 664-4333 Pastor Van C. Houser, Sr. • nvcc4god.org 5140 County Road 17 • 378-8022 Sunday Corporate Prayer 9:00 AM Rev. Glenn E. Davis • lambofgodcec.org Sunday Worship 10:15 AM Children’s Church 10:00 AM Sunday Worship 10:00 AM

Voice of Faith Int’l Ministries

MetHoDiSt Helena United Methodist Church 2035 County Road 58 • 663-0111 Rev. Mary Bendall • helenaumc.org Sunday Worship 8:30, 11:00, 11:02 AM

The Church at Cahaba Bend

1560 Cunningham Drive • 663-7396 Rev. Franklin L. Kirksey Sunday Worship 7:00 & 10:00 AM Thursday Bible Teaching 10:00 AM

preSBYterian Christ Community Church

3721 Highway 52 W • 621-8060 Rev. Lori Carden • cahababend.org Sunday School 9:15 AM Contemporary Worship 10:30 AM

Meets at Helena Intermediate • 621-6248 Pastor Phil Chambers • cccbham.org Sunday Worship 10:00 AM

naZarene Trinity Church of the Nazarene

3396 Helena Road • 663-2174 Pastor Mike Ensminger helenacpchurch.com Sunday School 9:00 AM Morning Worship 10:00 AM

Laurel Woods Dr. & Hwy 58 • 664-4659 Rev. David Shirer • nazarene.ch/trinity/ Sunday School 9:00 AM Morning Worship 10:00 AM

non-DenoMinational Cornerstone Church 2694 Highway 58 • 663-9332 Rev. Tim Trimble cornerstonechurchhelena.org Sunday School 9:30 AM Morning Worship 10:30 AM

Helena Cumberland Presbyterian

Our community of faith offers many services and programs year-round. Please visit the church’s website for additional information about upcoming events and programs.

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Here are snapshots from the June and July First Friday events, which are always sponsored by your Helena Business Association. Thanks to everybody who participated and made this season’s events so special!

First Friday all shook up by Elvis impersonator

Those attending First Friday in June were enthralled with the Elvis they found getting ‘all shook up’ on the mini-stage in front of Scozzaro Law office. The young Elvis is Alex Swindle and his appearance was sponsored and brought to Helena by Kristi and Emmanuel Scozzaro and Scozzaro

Law, LLC. At an early age, Alex Swindle was a part of Birmingham Children’s Theater, and during his time there, he decided to cultivate a few Elvis moves. After being invited to enter a local Elvis contest, he found himself the winner—an unexpected move that started him down a new path. Swindle also won the most recent Elvis Tribute in Memphis. Visitors from as far away as Delaware were recognized by

APH Radio host, Gene Rowley, during a break between the three Elvis performances. Overheard from a conversation that evening was the following comment: “His performance does not come across as if he is having to work hard to imitate and impersonate Elvis. He is truly a very talented young musician who can sing, dance and perform very well. His Elvis character seems quite natural.”

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Parks department makes repairs to Joe Tucker bridges In June, the Helena City Council approved measures funding the addition of a wheelchair ramp to the Helena Historic Museum and the replacement of several foot bridges in Joe Tucker Park. The two projects together will cost an estimated $10,900. “We do periodic checks and inspections on the bridges for safety,” explained Jason Powers, Director of Parks and Recreation. “We were alerted to a structural issue in one of the bridges, so we immediately moved to fix that. As Joe Tucker is a high-traffic area for the community, it was a top priority.” “This involved repairs to the infrastructure of the bridges; we reinforced them and cleaned up debris around that area,” Jason said. “Next, we will do maintenance on the playground, adding fresh mulch and repairing a couple pieces of equipment.” The money for these projects

came from the capital improvement plan set forth by city leaders. “We are always looking to provide upgrades around the city,” Jason said. To further help the department with the services they provide to the city, a new 60 inch commercial lawnmower

was also approved for purchase. According to Mayor Hall, a $10,000 mower is important enough to be a line item on the budget this year. “We’ll get the funds available and go ahead with that purchase and it will be used primarily on

the infields so they can keep their best mower for football, baseball and soccer fields to keep them looking their best,” the mayor said in the city council meeting. “The mowers we have take a lot of abuse, so it’s time to get one more in the fleet.”

Tap, Toe & Twirl dancing back into Helena as Premier Dance & Twirl

25-year-old Cassi Thedford may have been born in Pelham, but her lifelong passion for dance was born in Helena. “I began taking dance and baton lessons under the direction of Melissa Rigdon, former owner of Tap, Toe, and Twirl on Highway 95 at the age of 7,” Cassi explained. With the help of Melissa and the experts there, Cassi was able to win a spot on the Riverchase Middle School dance team in 2003/2004.

Then, in high school, she was on the PHS Majorette line from 2005-2008, serving as Majorette Captain for two years. Cassi went on to Troy, where she was a member of the Troy Majorette Line from 20082012, and while there, she began helping choreograph field shows. In 2012, she joined the Troy Dance Team just in time to perform during the basketball season and further hone her burgeoning skills. She graduated from Troy with a B.A. in General Business with a Minor in Dance in 2013, which is also the year she married Joshua Thedford. In all her dancing through high school and college, she never forgot where she learned to dance, right here in Helena. Therefore, when a position opened up at Tap, Toe and Twirl in 2013, she jumped at the chance. She taught there for two years before Melissa

34 Back-To-School 2015 / www.CityOfHelena.org

from 11:00am-4:00pm. Classes began talking about selling the start September 14. Classes business. Once again, Cassi offered will be Mommy & jumped at the opportunity. Me, Pre-school, Ballet, Pointe, “I have always known that Contemporary, Tap, Jazz, Hip I wanted to become a dance Hop, Clogging, Baton, and teacher and now I have been given this amazing opportunity,” a Homeschool Combination Class. For class times and she said. She will be re-opening more information, please visit the former Tap, Toe and Twirl their website at: as Premier Dance & Twirl www.premierdanceandtwirl.com. Academy in September. She is bringing the talents of Morgan Bullard, Amanda Kuntz, Amy Fisher and Kayla McGough to her burgeoning business. Registration dates are August 29 and Left to right: Staﬀ members Morgan Bullard, Amanda Kuntz, September 12 Amy Fisher, Cassi Thedford and Kayla McGough.

River & Cape Montessori Nursery School

The ﬁrst Montessori school in Shelby County to accept infants under 18 months. Monday through Friday • Exclusively for children 6 weeks through the 3rd year. Conveniently located in Helena’s Dearing Downs subdivision off Highway 95. Call us today at (205) 542-1424 to schedule an appointment and tour! “The development of the child during the ﬁrst three years after birth is unequaled in intensity and importance by any period that precedes or follows in the whole life of the child.” –Dr. Maria Montessori

OUR PROGRAM AND ITS INSTRUCTOR: • Adhere to the methods designed by Dr. Maria Montessori • Take advantage of both indoor and outdoor learning experiences • Plan menus using the “Dirty Dozen” guidelines and support our local farmers • Love and nurture every child that enters our classroom Every child wants to learn; it’s choosing the right environment that makes the difference. For more information, contact Kelly Thomson at (205) 542-1424 or Email RiverAndCapeMontessori@gmail.com. COMING THIS MONTH!

Premier Dance & Twirl Academy (formerly known as Tap, Toe, and Twirl)

• Mommy & Me • Pre-school • Ballet • Pointe • Contemporary • Jazz • Hip Hop • Clogging • Tap • Baton • Homeschool Combination Class Owner: Cassi Thedford 101 Village Place, Hwy 95 • 205-999-4047 Registration Dates: August 29 and September 12 from 11 AM - 4 PM Classes start September 14! For class times and more information please visit www.PremierDanceAndTwirl.com TO ADVERTISE, CALL the Publisher at 746.1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com / Back-To-School 2015

2015 Helena High School Football Schedule DATE

OPPONENT

LOCATION

TIME

Aug. 15 Aug. 21 Aug. 28 Sept. 4 Sept. 11 Sept. 18 Sept. 25 Oct. 2 Oct. 9 Oct. 16 Oct. 23 Oct. 30

Husky Day Home 7:00 PM Pelham Pelham High School 7:00 pm Shelby County Home 7:00 PM Wilcox Central Home 7:00 PM Dallas County Home 7:00 PM Demopolis Demopolis 7:00 pm Chelsea Chelsea High School 7:00 pm Jemison Jemison High School 7:00 pm Calera (Senior Night) Home 7:00 PM Sumter Central (Homecoming) Home 7:00 PM Central-Tuscaloosa Central Tuscaloosa High School 7:00 pm Pleasant Grove Pleasant Grove 7:00 pm

Helena Football Season Tickets now on sale! It’s great to be a Helena Husky! Coach Parker urges everyone to come see the Huskies first game, the Husky Day jamboree, at Husky Stadium Saturday, August 15 at 7:00pm. The Helena Athletic Association is selling Helena Huskies season tickets for

$125 each, and the season pass allows entrance to both varsity and juniorvarsity home games. There are a limited number of special reserved seats still available at press time. For more information and to purchase season tickets, sign up online at: www.

helenaathleticassociation.org. Those that purchase season tickets will be given the opportunity to repurchase the same number of seats the

following year. This does not include parking passes.

2015 Helena Middle School Football Schedule DATE

OPPONENT

LOCATION

TIME

Aug. 20

Riverchase

Home

5:30 PM

Aug. 27

Hueytown

5:30 pm

Sept. 3

McAdory

Home

5:30 PM

Sept. 10

Oxford

Oxford Middle School

4:30 pm

Sept. 17

Chelsea

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5:30 PM

Sept. 24

Briarwood

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Oct. 1

John Carroll

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5:30 PM

Oct. 8

Calera

Calera Middle School

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Oct. 16

Riverchase

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Home Games are Played at Helena’s Husky Stadium

Bobby Cummings heads into second year as HMS Athletic Director For seven years, Bobby Cummings has coached football and/ or baseball at Helena Middle School. “I was here for the first football practices the summer before the school opened,” he remembered. He worked as former Athletic Director Ryan Brewer’s offensive line coach for five years, and was the head baseball coach for four. His duties have expanded in the past two years, after he became the Athletic Director following Ryan’s departure. He said he loves working with the kids and the coaches at HMS. “The cheerleading and dance teams are superb, the band is amazing, the baseball team won the championship last year—I know we all just take pride in being good.” “I can't talk about the AD position without acknowledging Meredith George—we share duties and she does an amazing

job,” Coach Cummings made sure to clarify. “And the Helena Athletic Association does a great job supporting us.” After growing up in Sylacauga, the coach played baseball at Snead State and at the University of Montevallo, where he also coached the sport for two years. He then earned his Master’s in Physical Education from UAB before coming to Helena. “Our main objective as a football coaching staff is to lay the foundation for Coach Watt Parker to create high-character kids who are ready to compete at the high school level,” Coach Cummings said. “We make it fun and teach them the discipline they need.” “We’ve got great support in our administration and coaches, we really do. They have been here for us and do a fantastic job,” Coach Cummings continued. “I have really enjoyed being

I coached at HHS and PHS,” he said. “The opportunity to do that has become very important to me.” Coach Cummings is married to Jessica Blackwell and they have 3-year-old, Anderson, who is “a mess,” according to the coach. They also have a little girl due in October. Congratulations, HMS Athletic Director Bobby Cummings!

here, it’s fun. Helena is a special place. The parents in Helena are really involved, they value athletics and hard work, and they are dedicated to make the kids successful.” Last year, he began coaching varsity baseball across the street at the high school, too. “It was a special opportunity, because with the split, I have gotten to play with or against all the kids

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Old Towne Music’s Erin Black assists on medical mission trip to Kenya Erin Black, owner of Helena’s Old Towne Music, just returned from her first medical mission trip to Kenya through Kenya Relief. 168 kids live at the Kenya Relief compound Erin visited, which includes an orphanage along with a medical clinic and a school with 400 kids, several of whom have graduated and begun work as translators of Swahili back in the compound. Erin’s mother, Helena resident Robin Trapolino, is the Director of Pharmacy at Select Medical,

and has been involved in Kenya Relief, a faith-based relief organization based in Cullman, for several years. Through this organization, she was able to share her talents as a pharmacist with the sick in the city of Migori, Kenya, on three separate mission trips. “It had been weighing on my heart to be involved in mission work, but I was having a hard time finding one to volunteer for,” Erin explained. “When mom asked me to join her on one of their Kenya Relief missions, I thought, ‘If they will have me and I can be of use, then, yes, I want to go.’” Her help was needed and greatly appreciated; she was able to assist in the pre-op and recovery rooms, talk with families in the waiting room and provide them with entertainment by leading a praise and worship sing-along, take photographs for fundraising purposes, and just be wherever they needed another set of hands. Erin’s mother, meanwhile, is who the patients visit on their way out of the clinic for pain medicine. “But she has no Lortabs or anything we would take here, just Tylenol and Ibuprofen for them to take for post-surgery pain,” Erin explained. “They handle pain like champs.” Most of the patients treated at the Kenya Relief Clinic live far away from Migori, and many do not have access to a vehicle, meaning they travel for hours by foot to get there. Some lucky ones have access to motorcycles. Patients and their families often sleep in the grass and breezeway of the clinic while awaiting treatment. After surgery, the patients spend one night in recovery before being discharged the next morning to start their long journey home. While at Kenya Relief, Erin and her mother had the opportunity to assist in the distribution of Personal Energy Transportation

38 Back-To-School 2015 / www.CityOfHelena.org

Above: Local Kenyans receive PET Carts from Kenya Relief. Top left: Erin with one of the children in the KR Compound. Middle left: Erin, center, with two KR workers. Bottom left: Two children in the city of Migori, Kenya.

(PET) Carts to disabled villagers. They are hand pedal-powered, so that the villagers, many of whom were born with aﬄictions like spinal bifidia or scoliosis and had no access to treatment, are empowered to get themselves around. Families of those who are mentally incapable of getting themselves around are given pull carts to assist them. “The Kenyans walk everywhere, so if someone can’t walk, they can’t get anywhere. Their families keep them hidden from society because they are believed to be cursed” Erin said. “They walked in on their hands and knees, with special shoes for their knees. One man with no legs traveled around by hoisting himself along between two cloths!” Seeing the villagers’ determination to live and have normal, healthy lives inspired Erin. She was touched by the reverence of the people she met. “They were so faithful and grateful for our help,” she said. “Being with

these people, offering friendship and love is so great. They need to feel like they are cared for and cared about—it makes them very happy and reassures their faith that the Lord is blessing them.” “It was such a great experience for my mom and I to have together,” Erin said. “I have a heart for Kenya now.” She plans on returning to the country in a few years so she can bring music classes, such as Kindermusik, into the school and orphanage, so the children there will have music in their lives. Erin is in talks with the resident missionaries at Kenya Relief about starting a sponsorship program with our local youth here in Helena to help provide musical instruments and school supplies, as well as basic necessities for the kids of Kenya Relief. Anyone interested in helping Erin set up a sponsorship for Kenya Relief should email her at erin.trapolino@gmail.com.

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PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL… We’re the Home of the Free Because of the Brave!

SGT Jon M. Aaron

SSG Jay Gortney

4/14 K CO (DET B), UNIT 43671, FPO AP 96426-3671; Al Anbar, Iraq; Karen Dickinson’s son

ARNG; 20th Special Forces; Iraq; April’s husband

SGT Steven M Bennett

USA; Ranger; Scofield BKS, HI; John Gray’s son, Lauren & Ryan Gray’s brother

USA; Paratrooper/Rigger; Fort Benning, GA; Clara & Ken Lorino’s son

APO3 David R. Black

SGT Brooks Gray

A1C Brad Hubbard

USN; USS Stennis; Bremerton Wa.; Ruth and Perry Black’s son

SPC Brad Bokenkamp

USAF Fort Gordon - Augusta, GA Rod & Susan Hubbard’s son

SFC Eric Bond

USA; Camp Liberty, Iraq; Ruth Meadows grandson, Kimberly’s husband, Bonnie Hubbard’s brother

USA; HHB 210 Field Artillery Brigade, 21D: Camp Casey, South Korea; Ed & Amy Bokenkamp’s son

SPC Michael Hubbard

USA; 82nd ABD, 1-504 PIR; Baghdad, Iraq; Paul Zimmerman’s cousin

SPC Eric Hunley

SGT Peter J. “Pete” Reese

ARNG; 152nd MP Co.; Lauren’s husband; Kai, Sam, Dalton, Brook & Kaiti’s father

LCPL Casey B. Reitz

USMC, MCSF Battalion, Naval Submarine Base, King’s Bay, GA; Tom and Suzi’s son, brother of Tommy, Joey, and Emily.

Personnel SPC Second Class William T. Rice USA, USS Ronald Reagan, San Diego, CA. Son of Ginger Hamilton

SPC Dwight A Rosse Jr.

USA; 1-32 Cav 1st Bct, Fort Campbell, KY; Dwight & Michelle Rosse’s son, Britney & Carlton’s brother

SPC Patrick D. Sharp

ARNG; 1/167 Inf. Bn Co. B, Operation Enduring Freedom; Afghanistan; Mike & Barbara Hunley’s son; late Chris Hunley’s brother

USA; 82nd ABD; Al Asad, Iraq; Shawn Sharp’s son

CPL Michael Jeffries

PVT Vincent Brown

USMC; Chesapeake, VA; Leonetta Prevo’s son

ARNG; 1/167 Inf. Bn Co. B, Operation Enduring Freedom; Afghanistan; Amy’s husband, Colin & Gavin’s father

USA; 3rd Inf. Div., 1-30 Inf.; Ft. Stewart, GA; Jesi Mason Squires’s father, Bruce & Tammy son, Aubrey & Austin’s brother

SGT Dallas C Caviness

Commander David Kang

ARNG; 152nd Military Police Task Force 382nd, Iraq; Andrea & AnnaBelle’s father

SRA Mitch Braswell

USAF; 16th EMS, 16th Special Op. Wing; Afghanistan; Mike & Judi Braswell’s son

USA; 172 Inf. Brigade; Germany; Rebecca’s husband, Norah’s father, Rhonda’s son & Devin’s brother

USN; Japan; Stanley & Sue Kang’s son, Sunny Kang’s brother

1st Lt. William B. Cofer

USA; Fort Rucker, AL.; Tom Lefebvre’s son

CPO Austin C. Daniel

USA; Sniper Unit of 1-64 Inf; Fort Stewart, GA; Beth Eades’ son, Caitlyn’s husband

USA; Fort Campbell, KY; Dorothy & Jim Cofer’s son, Deborah’s brother

SGT Jacob S. Lenoir

USN; Norfolk, VA; Mike & Claudia Daniel’s son, Justin, Tatum & Autumn’s brother USA; Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, HI; Carol Darrenkamp’s son, Jon & Stephen’s brother

LT James Brooks Dickey

USN; Carmel Pacific Ridge, 5925 Linda Vista Rd Apt #1323, San Diego, CA 92110; Charlie & Janie Brooks & Janet & Dennis Dickey’s son

LCPL Jared M. Fitzgerald

USMC; 9th Communication Battalion; Camp Pendleton; CA 92055 Rosemarie Butler’s son and Jeff’s stepson, Justin and Tyler’s brother

Petty Officer 3rd Class Justin D. Gilbert USCG, Machinery Technician; Key West, FL; Leslie’s husband, Annette & Dan Duffy’s son-in-law

2LT John M Traylor, Jr

USAF; 552nd TRS; Tinker AFB, OK; Mark & Karole Traylor’s son

PFC Zachary S Traylor

USMC; 3-23 Inf; Baton Rouge, LA; Mark & Karole Traylor’s son

SGT John Christian Vansant

USMC; VMMT 204 Flightline, MCAS; New River, NC; Keith & Sherill Vansant’s son

2nd Lt. Jacob Allen Meins

USAF, Special Operations Command; Kathy Meins Martin’s son

USAR; Afghanistan; Kathie’s husband, Maggie’s dad, Bette Ward’s son, Michelle (Lin) Saville’s brother

MSG Jacqueline M. Moore

Adam Walton

USA, 387th; Wichita, KS; Leroy E. Lucas’ wife, Cameshia, Shaun, Chibukia & Chris’ mom

SSGT Christopher S. Murphy

USN; NAS Jacksonville, FL; Joe & Tammy Williams’ son, Rev. Clifton & Mattie Taylor’s grandson

CPL Rodney Stephens

Petty Officer 3rd Class Erik B. McKenzie

USN; USS Curtis Wilber, Yokosuka, Japan; Bond & Lisa McKenzie’s son, Brooke’s brother, Megan’s husband

2nd Lt Eric C Darrenkamp

AEAN Benjamin Lee Doaks

CW3 Corey Lefebvre

SPC Ashley Bruce Squires

USMC; MWHS 3, San Diego, CA; Jack & Karen Murphy’s son, Alyssa’s husband

LT Commander Kimberly A. Oelschlager

USN; US Navy Hospital (Balboa)-Physician’s Asst., San Diego, CA; Ted & the late Sara Oelschlager’s daughter

Chief Petty Officer Termaine J. Pruitt

USN; NAS Pensacola, FL; Termaine Jr, Trevorn, Chelicia & Tristin’s father, Janice & Austin Pruitt’s son

Major Maxwell B. Ward

USN; USS Nimitz; Randy & Peggy Walton’s son, Annalee’s brother

PFC Zachary Walton

USA; 3-1 Cav. Regt. Delta Troop; Ft Benning, GA; Becky Click’s son, Alex Walton & Sydney Mollica’s brother, Amber’s husband

FC3 William J. Welch

USN; USS Lake Erie, Pearl Harbor, HI; Devinne Brooks’ husband

E3 Spencer R. Wood

USN Corpman; Balboa Hospital; San Diego, CA Rish & Christa Wood’s son, Whitney Brown’s stepbrother

E-mail Helena active duty military personnel’s name, address and where they’re stationed to helenacitynews@aol.com. If your loved one has returned, PLEASE let us know so that we can keep our prayer list current. Thank you!

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As summer winds down, fall sports wind up at the Parks and Rec center With summer wrapping up and the kids going back to school, it has been a busy time for the Parks and Recreation Department as we get ready for our fall sports campaigns in football, cheerleading, soccer, baseball, softball and tennis. Soccer: The Fall Soccer season will begin play on September 12 and run into early November. There will be teams represented from 5-14 years old. Games will take place on Saturdays at the Helena Sports Complex. Fall Baseball and Softball: Registration will run thru Aug. 24th. Softball 6U/8U/10U/12U Baseball: Tee Ball/ Rookie 5-6/ Farm 7-8/ Minor 9-10 Cost: $100/player, $85 for Tee Ball Register online: www. helenaparksandrec.org Tennis: Helena Parks and Recreation hosted a 6 week USTA Summer Tennis Clinic for 24 kids ages 7-10 years old in May and June.

The clinic sold out and taught the kids all the basics in learning the game of tennis. There will be a Fall USTA Clinic starting September 15th at the Helena Tennis Courts at Joe Tucker Park. You can register at www. alabamajtt.com; there is a minimal cost for the 4 week session. Balls and racquets will be provided if necessary. The clinic has a limited number of spots available for kids 7-12 years old, so don’t wait! Football/Cheerleading: Helena will be well represented in the 2015 Jefferson Shelby Youth Football League. Games will begin in late August. Helena will field 6 teams as well as 6 Cheer Squads. Most games are played on Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays at various parks around Birmingham, including here in Helena at the Sports Complex. So come on out and support your Huskies! Game schedules will be

Helena children participating in the summer tennis clinic.

available online by August 20th at www.jsyfl.net. Facility Improvements: Reinforcements have been made at the Joe Tucker Park Walking Bridges. A fence has been installed around the Joe Tucker Lakefront Pavilion to make that pavilion more accessible for the public and to minimize the effect of the goose population. New treated mulch is being installed at the Joe Tucker Park Playground area, and a new softball batting cage andartificial turf will be installed at Penhale Park, next to Field 2 in August.

Check out our new website design to make things easier for you to navigate and register for various activities. For information about any of our sports and activities, go to www.helenaparksandrec.org. You can make pavilion reservations online at www.cityofhelena.org. Go to ‘Departments,’ ‘Parks and Rec’ and check out the availability for the pavilion you are interested in and fill out the reservation request form. Jason Powers Director of Parks and Recreation 205-620-9635

Camp Build summer class at HIS builds skills with LEGO, hydraulics Gifted Resource Teacher Amanda Miller knew she had stumbled upon something special when her students talked all during the 2014 school year about how much fun they had in her summer building class. The immense popularity of that class stemmed from the fun and excitement just about anyone gets when playing with LEGO and robots. Last summer’s class had the students learning how to build and program LEGO Mindstorms robots. Her students’ thirst for building, computer programming and robotics led her to purchase a 3D printer for class during the school year, and put it to work printing extra pieces for the Mindstorm robots they always seem to lose. The students also learned how to

use software to design their own objects, which were printed by the machine. Related curriculum held students’ attention all year. So, this summer, Amanda once again offered a class containing LEGO at HIS. “After the overwhelming positive response I got from the kids last year, I had to include LEGO in my class again,” she explained. “But the students build with them during free time at the end of each day. This year, we are exploring hydraulics.” Throughout the week-long class, students built different simple machines that use hydraulics. Colored

water pumped through a tube into a syringe acts as the hydraulic system on the simple machines, easily demonstrating how the process works in a tangible way for students. Each day at Camp Build, Amanda and her eldest daughter worked with each student to

build a different machine, which they took home at the end of the day. By weeks’ end, each student had their own cherry picker, platform lifter, excavator and scissor lift. We can’t wait to see what Amanda comes up with for her students to learn next!

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6U park baseball and softball teams do well in summer tournaments Helena Parks and Recreation fielded three girls softball and four boys baseball teams in 2015 All Star tournaments. The Helena 6U/8U/10U

girls softball teams competed in the NSA Area and State Tournaments throughout Alabama in June. The 6U Girls team finished runners up

in the NSA State Tournament. In Helena baseball, the 6 year old National Team finished second overall out of 19 teams in the Metro Birmingham All

Star Tournament. The 6 year old American Team finished second in the Silver Division of the Metro Birmingham All Star Tournament.

6U All Star Softball Team

6 Yr Old National Team

6 Yr Old American Team

Head Coach JJ Stanbridge Assistant Coaches: Rob Schiefer, Brad McLellan and Jeff Crooks. Players: Macie Brashears, Claire Gortney, Katie McLellan, Carrington Schiefer, Kara Stanbridge, Mattie Tinnell, Caroline Crooks, Kayden Foster, Eveline Guess, Genesis Simmons, Izabel Vice and Anna Williams.

Head Coach Josh West Assistants Coaches: Joey Pitts, Shane Harris and Chad Horn. Players: CJ Horn, Kaid Rigdon, Andrew Burns, John Paul Schultz, Jack Pitts, Jack Jensen, Lane Harris, Tyler West, Hudson Campbell , KJ Underwood, Cole Davis and Davis Kelley.

Head Coach Tommy Lucas Assistant Coaches: EJ Vakakes, Terry Hester, Lee Hibbs and Jeremy Hooie. Players: Jackson Akins, Houston Bjornstad, Sam Hibbs, Andrew Ezekiel, Reid Lucas, James Vakakes, Austin Johnson, Eli Martin, Cooper Hooie, Owen Ware, Taylor Hester and Nathan Paschel.

PHOTO BY SAM JASPER PHOTOGRAPHY

• WWW.SAMJASPER.COM

Top: The winning teams pose with Jason Powers, Mayor Mark Hall and coaches. L-r: the 6U All Star Girls’ Softball Team; the 6 year old American Baseball Team; and the 6 year old National Baseball Team. Above, l-r: 6U All Star Softball Team, 6 year old National Baseball Team; and the 6 year old American Baseball Team.

Billings ~ Ford

Christine Billings Scott and Randolph Scott of Helena and Rodney Peoples of Youngstown, Ohio announce the engagement of their daughter Chandesha Billings to Marshon Ford. The prospective groom is the son of Kim Brooks and Michael Thompson of Tupelo. The bride-to-be, Chan, spent her high school years playing both basketball and volleyball at PHS. She attended the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith on an athletic scholarship for volleyball. She transferred and finished her college career playing at Fort

Valley State University in Georgia where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Marshon graduated from Tupelo High School in Tupelo, Mississippi. He received an academic scholarship to UAB and moved to Alabama late summer of 2008. He never imagined he would meet the love of his life during the process. Marshon is currently working as an assistant manager at Zaxby’s in Helena. In his spare time he enjoys photography, art and playing his Playstation 4. Chan and Marshon met

in December of 2008 at O’ Charley’s in Pelham. Chan was at home for Christmas break from college and Marshon had just moved to Birmingham to attend college. A simple hello in 2008 would turn into something very special, including countless memories, in just a few short years. The two became a couple in November 2010, and were engaged in November 2013. They plan to marry November 14, 2015 at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Fairfield with the event coordinated by Lidrona Davis of Ur Divine Moment.

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Inaugural Helena Fire Explorer Competition set for September The Helena Fire Explorers will host their inaugural Fire Explorer competition on September 12, 2015 at the Helena Sports Complex. Fire Explorers from departments as far away as Georgia and Texas are planning to participate in the Helena competition. These competitions allow the explorers to compete in events that simulate skills needed to

fight fires, rescue and treat victims. Fire Exploring is a part of the Boy Scouts of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Learning for Life. Fire & Emergency Service Career Exploring is open to young men and women from the 6th grade to 20 years old with an interest in learning more about careers in the field of Fire & Emergency Services.

Abbey Manasco a Distinguished Young Woman of Shelby County Congratulations to Abbey Manasco who was a category scholarship winner in Talent and Fitness for Distinguished Young Women of Shelby County 2016. She is pictured below with several of the Helena Majorettes who came out to support her. In the bottom photograph, Abbey is the eighth from the left. In addition to performing with the Helena High Majorettes, Abbey is one of the 2015 Helena Belles. She also won the title of 4th Alternate in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first annual Miss HHS contest. Congratulations!

Fire & Emergency Services Exploring is a hands-on program that exposes participants to many career experiences, leadership opportunities, and community service activities. The primary goals of the program are to help young adults choose a career path within fire and emergency services and to challenge them to become responsible citizens of

their communities and country. We will also have vintage fire apparatus on display and activities for the kids. Opening ceremonies will begin at 8:30 am and will include a memorial for the victims of 9-11. Come out and support your local Fire Explorer Post in this inaugural event and see what it is like to be a firefighter.

Alex Crowe dances to victory Helena resident Alex Crowe is a Senior at Pelham High School this year and is on the PHS Dance Team. She was also a member of PHS Dance Team in her Sophomore year. The picture to the right was taken at the United Dance Association Dance Competition. Alex performed well amid all the talented high school dancers in the UAD competitions, winning first place in the Alabama State Dance Competition at Spain Park High School and second place in the All American Dance Competition at Homewood High School three weeks later. She placed in the Senior Solo Dance Division in both competitions, which

included both Junior and Senior student competitors.

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Grey Street Boutique

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Tenille Moore opens Grey Street Boutique in Ace Place

Ladies Fashions, purses and accessories and repurposed antiques

Helena resident Tenille Moore was a stay at home mom, raising twin 8-year-old sons Aiden and Pierce at their home in Riverwoods when she began talking with husband, Adam, about her desire to open a business. “Adam and I met when I was a Fashion/Retail major at the University of Alabama. We married and later moved to Helena when Adam was transferred with Alabama Power,”

said Tenille. “He and I have always loved working with pieces of furniture, refinishing and repurposing antique pieces. For instance, here’s an old antique door that we fashioned into a gorgeous headboard. We turn old casement windows into wall art and really, with my mind, there’s no limit to the interesting things you might find in here,” Tenille said. “We were slammed the first few weeks after opening, and are busy now restocking merchandise readying for back to school shoppers and the tax holiday weekend coming up.” Talking with Tenille, you can tell she is excited about what she does and all her prices are what I’d call “bargain level.” “I always appreciate a good deal and try to keep in mind that everybody likes a great value when I go to market,” she said. In addition to the items

mentioned, Grey Street Boutique carries a line of custom soaps, soothing balms (made here in Helena), candles, and offers clothing for women: girls through plus sizes. She also carries several shoes and has ladies boots coming in for fall. Be sure to stop in and browse Grey Street Boutique, in the Tru Value Hardware Shopping Center, the next time you’re out!

Mona Bethune needs community support following tumor removal Just last year, Helena resident Mona Yasmin Bethune found out she had a large tumor in her brain. Initial projections had her family worried, believing it to be an inoperable tumor that would mean she only had months to live. “Thank god that wasn’t true,” exclaimed her son Joshua. Mona has worked for Regions Bank for the last 15 years while raising two boys on her own with no support. Originally from Pensacola Florida, the trio moved to Helena 9 years ago. According to friends and family, Mona made regular donations to United Way, was always raising money for others in need and using her strong faith to connect with and help others whenever she could. “She’s the most selfless soul you could meet; she would give you the shirt off her back; she even took care of my grandpa until he passed,” Joshua said, becoming emotional when

thinking of his mom’s plight. On Monday, June 29, Mona was taken into surgery to remove the brain tumor. Surgery lasted 8 long, excruciating hours. First, the good news: the surgery was successful, and the tumor is gone. Now the bad news: the surgery took other things, too, like her hearing on the right side and normal function of her motor skills. “Something as simple as eating is now difficult and nearly impossible for her alone,” explained Mona’s good friend, Jennifer Levasseur Vann. “The prognosis is good that over time—maybe 5 months, maybe 5 years—Mona will once again have complete and normal function of her motor skills.” Unfortunately, her hearing is a different story. Mona is looking at upwards of $50K for surgery to restore it back to normal. “She is now incapable of performing her job and the

bills are piling up,” Jennifer said. As a single mother who has always provided for her family, this hit Mona and her boys very hard. She already faces thousands of dollars in medical bills before even taking into account her future rehabilitation and care. To help their friend who always helps others, Mona’s friends set up a GoFundMe account to raise money to help offset some of those costly medical bills. Although Mona has made improvements in her motor skills in the last month, the right

side of her face is still paralyzed and her hearing, of course, is also gone. “She just can’t face this burden of added stress in her recovery alone, so we would appreciate any amount you are able to donate,” Jennifer said. “Let’s reach out and help, pay it forward, and show we care.” Those wishing to make a donation to Mona may do so through her GoFundMe page, http://www.gofundme.com/ z5mn4c4.

TO ADVERTISE, CALL the Publisher at 746.1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com / Back-To-School 2015

Helena City News P.O. Box 50, Helena, AL 35080 www.MyHelenaCityNews.com www.CityOfHelena.org

SHOP HELENA FIRST!

MAYOR

PRESORT STD. U.S.POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 15 PELHAM, AL

Mark R. Hall

CITY CLERK Amanda Traywick

CITY COUNCIL

Leigh Hulsey Pres. Pro-Tem, Place 1 Mike Jones, Place 2 Cris Nelson, President, Place 3 Leslie Bartlett, Place 4 Hal Woodman, Place 5

POSTAL PATRON

IMPORTANT CITY PHONE NUMBERS City Hall: 205-663-2161 Fire Dept.: 205-663-5809 Police Dept.: 205-663-6499 Utilities: 205-663-1670 Sports Complex: 205-620-2877 Library: 205-664-8308

Send us your articles & pictures!

BACK-TO-SCHOOL

The first Huskies football game is August 15, so be sure to order your season tickets from www.helenaathleticassociation.org!

Article and/or picture submissions should be directed to: helenacitynews@aol.com. Photos should be in color, high resolution (just as they come off your camera), and saved as JPEG files. For additional information, call 746-1188.

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Jimmy, NOTE LESSER PAGE COUNT! 48 Pages Please print 9,000 magazines, 800 with NO POSTAL PATRON and NO POSTAL INDICIA. SUPER HIGH GLOSS PAPER, PLEASE BE SURE ALL IS IN REGISTER! If you can deliver them to me late Friday, it will be greatly appreciated!!!

48 pages, 70# super gloss text, self cover. Deliver 800 to Access Mailing and the remainder of them to me at home. As always, all over runs are much appreciated. Thank you!!! Dave cell 205-746-1188