Skip to main content

The Madison Record - June 19, 2024

Page 1

Section B: Madison mental skills coach helps college team reach National Championship

599319-1

sold

June 19, 2024

homes sold

WEDNESDAY

7,000+

50 cents • Published Every Wednesday

madisoncountyrecord.com

@themadisonrecord

Madison library under fire at council meeting

INSIDE

Teacher of the Year

At the end of the 2023-2024 school year, Allyson Word was excited about her retirement plans. That excitement heightened when her peers voted for her as 2024 “Teacher of the Year.” Page 4A

By STAFF REPORTS staff@themadisonrecord.com

Chess Coach of the Year

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Adam Epling rediscovered his love for chess, even reading chess books and online courses. “I was hooked,” Epling said. His rekindled interest led to Epling’s honor as “2024 Coach of the Year”. Page 5A Madison City Schools students in the robotics team, Say Watt!?!, won the Finalist Championship award at the FIRST LEGO League’s Western Edge Invitational in Long Beach, Calif.

Sounds of Summer

Soothing melodies will fill the air at Home Place Park when Luna Koi performs in the “Sounds of Summer” concert series on June 27. Page 6A

Say Watt!?!

takes FIRST LEGO awards in California By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com MADISON – Their skill and ingenuity led to awards, not their catchy team name (even though it’s a winner, too). The Say Watt!?! robotics team with Madison City Schools students claimed awards at a tournament in California. Say Watt!?! won the prestigious Finalist Championship award at the 2024 FIRST

Time to celebrate!

Check out our list of fun ways to celebrate the 4th of July this year in the Madison and Huntsville area. Page 7A

ONLINE CHECK US OUT! Check out more local news, school stories, sports and events at themadisonrecord.com and find us on Facebook and Twitter.

INSIDE Local News ....... 2A Living................ 5A Events............... 6A Sports .............. 1B

16 pages • 2 sections

LEGO League, Western Edge Invitational in Long Beach, Calif. The team also earned a runner-up alliance award and a third place runner-up for champion finalist — the only U.S. team to rank. FIRST LEGO League introduces STEM learning to children with interesting challenges and competitions using LEGO curriculum. The team and adult staff view their performance as “a triumphant celebration

of innovation and collaboration. This dynamic team of seven MCS students, ranging from fifth to seventh grade, showcased their ingenuity and teamwork amid fierce competition from around the globe,” Coach John Holcombe said. “The three-day event in Long Beach saw the Say Watt!?! team dazzling judges and spectators with their robot’s precision maneuvers, See FIRST LEGO Page 8A

Chief Master Sergeant Ellis Clark joins 12 other men from around the world who have earned the title

MADISON – Chief Master Sergeant Ellis Clark has received the prestigious title of

“Drill Master - 013H.” Currently, Clark teaches Air Force JROTC at Bob Jones High School. “All of my Drill Masters so far have shown through hard work that they have earned the title. CMSgt. Ellis Clark is no different,” world-renowned Drill Master John Marshall said about presenting the honor to Clark. “It’s time he was awarded the honorary title of Drill Master. CMSgt. Clark joins 12 oth-

er men from around the world who have studied, performed and trained others for years. Congratulations, Chief,” Marshall said. Clark accepted the position at Bob Jones following his retirement in 2008. He had amassed 30 years of honorable service in the U.S. Air Force. His assignment locations included Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, New York and Virginia, along with the United Kingdom, Korea and Okinawa, Japan. His

WINDOWS & DOORS

FREE ESTIMATES! Your Home FINANCING AVAILABLE WAC cwindow o m pa n y 599311-1

MADISON - The Madison Library was not on the agenda for the June 10 Madison City Council meeting, but concerned citizens showed up in public comments to voice their concerns about certain books in the library and the city’s relationship with the library. The Madison library has been subject to criticism in the last several city council meetings for books offered in the children’s section depicting explicit sexual material and LGBTQ topics. Some citizens called for change in the library. “I’d like to state upfront that I support Governor Ivey’s new library policies, and I really hope those policies will be honored by our library as they stand to lose $527,000 in funding if they don’t,” said Tonia Stulting of District 4 in public comments. “There are pictures and topics in these books that the council had forbidden me to speak about at the last city council meeting I attended because they were too graphic. If these topics were too graphic to be discussed in a room full of adults, how is it ok to make them available to kids?” The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library system is at risk of losing $500,000 in state funding after the board of directors issued guidelines that may not be entirely in line with Alabama Public Library Service’s new policies voted on in May that ban sexually explicit material in the children’s sections of Alabama libraries. Other citizens came in defense of the library and the books. “I believe I speak for the majority of Madison’s residents when I say we’re highly satisfied with the library’s current operations. There are no sexually See CITY COUNCIL Page 2A

Bob Jones Air Force Junior ROTC instructor awarded title of Drill Master

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com Schools ............ 4B History.............. 5B Kids.................. 6B Faith................. 7B

themadisonrecord

YOURHOMEWINDOW.COM • 256-229-22 291

duties included maintenance and operation of aircraft communication, navigation, computer technology, radar, flight control and weapon delivery systems on fighter aircraft. In addition, Clark worked as Master Instructor for an Air Education Training Command. He taught maintenance and repair of A-10, F-15, F-16 and F-111 aircraft for 13 years and received Occupational Instructor certification. As a First SerSee DRILL MASTER Page 3A


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
The Madison Record - June 19, 2024 by Madison Publications - Issuu