The Madison Record - Dec. 27, 2023 by Madison Publications

M adison RECORD

SECTION B: Check out our special look at stories featured in Madison Living Magazine WEDNESDAY December 27, 2023

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ALEA launches its annual ‘12 days of safety’ campaign

INSIDE

Successful season

Orion Amphitheater closed out a successful 2023 season setting records with an outpouring of support from both the community and artists. Page 2A

By STAFF REPORTS news@themadisonrecord.com

Esports Champs!

With quick thinking and lightning reflexes, students on Esports teams from Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools claimed first-place wins in State Esports Championships in Montgomery. Page 3A

Maelin Carlson, a student at Heritage Elementary School, stands at the statue of the late entertainer Danny Thomas, who founded St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

Winning photo

Cristie Clark of Captured by Cristie Photography in downtown Madison secured the top spot of the Alabama Big 10 Mayor’s Photo Contest with her photo of a train moving through downtown Madison. Page 5A

it’s Another New Year!

NEW YEAR WORD FIND

New Year’s Eve is the night that we say goodbye to 2023 and welcome in the Year 2024! New Year’s Day is the first holiday celebrated each year in the United States. People welcome in the New Year with friends and family by following traditions and making resolutions to improve their health and lifestyles. Many people stay up until 12:01 a.m. to ring in the New Year. January 1 was first declared the first day of the year during the Roman Empire with the creation of the Julian calendar. Many traditions, such as resolutions, surround New Year’s. A resolution is a decision you make in order to improve yourself. The most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight. Others may resolve to eat healthier, keep your home or office cleaner, or to do more charitable acts. Other New Year’s traditions include eating special foods for good luck, e.g., black-eyed peas and collard greens in America and doughnuts in the Netherlands. Parades are also a common New Year’s tradition. The first Tournament of Roses Parade occurred in California in 1886 to celebrate the orange crops. The Rose Bowl was added to this tradition in 1902 and is still a popular New Year’s celebration. The famous Waterford Crystal Ball drop in New York’s Times Square is televised each year on New Year’s Eve and is watched by people around the World.

fIND 10 DIFFERENCES IN THE PICTURES

Heritage student benefits from St. Jude’s, named “Patient of the Year” By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – Maelin Carlson, a student at Heritage Elementary School, is one of countless patients who has benefited from fundraising efforts for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

In one of those fundraisers, seven people represented Heritage Elementary School in the 2023 St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend. These Heritage Heroes raised approximately $9,000 for the hospital. “Maelin is nine years old. She has Fanconi Anemia. It’s a genetic blood disease that re-

sults in bone marrow failure. She had a bone marrow transplant four years ago,” according to her parents, Paul and Megan Carlson. “We adopted Maelin at three years old, and, by the grace of God, St. Jude was able to diagnose her soon after arriving in See MAELIN Page 5A

STATEWIDE - The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is launching its annual “12 days of safety” campaign which started last week and will run until January 1. The aim of this operation is to educate and provide drivers with safety information throughout the holiday season. ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said, “Often, the smallest of actions cause a ripple effect and create an enormous impact.” “We need everyone to incorporate safety into their holiday plans and help share our message because you are truly the greatest gift you can give your family. All our enforcement details, driving license checks, safety campaigns and daily operations are in an effort to protect and safeguard the citizens of Alabama and keep everyone returning home to their loved ones. We ask you to join the Agency’s efforts and give the gift of safety this holiday season.” Taylor said. The agency especially wanted to warn drivers of the risk of driving under the influence. According to data compiled by the Center for Advanced Public Safety (CAPS), 5,005 crashes occurred in 2022 because of impaired driving, and resulting in 260 lives lost in the state of Alabama. So far, in 2023, impaired driving has been a contributing factor in 4,398 traffic crashes, resulting in 154 lives lost. ALEA wanted to remind drivers to be courteous on the road and ring In the New Year while making safety a top priority. ALEA says travelers can expect an uptick in checkpoints.

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Chinese New Year is Saturday, February 10, 2024. In the Chinese zodiac calendar, each year is assigned an animal that represents that year. There are 12 total animal assignments. This year, 2024, is the year of the Dragon! The Dragon is the fifth animal in the 12-year cycle.

END

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16 pages • 2 sections

A Discovery Middle School shooting survivor’s story Editor’s note: The newspaper issue between Christmas and New Year’s is always a chore to fill up with good content due to the rush of the holidays and early print deadlines. This year we have decided to try something a little different. In Section B, we have included a look at some of the feature stories from one of our publications, Madison Living Magazine. If you are not familiar with this monthly magazine, this will hopefully give you a chance to see the kind of stories we use to showcase Madison each month. We start off with our cover story from the current December issue. We hope you enjoy it and we wish you, your family and friends a very happy New Year! - John Few

By MARIA RAKOCZY maria@themadisonrecord.com MADISON - Lyndsie Wade is an apprentice at Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. Personal encounters with Lyndsie make hard times just a little bit easier for family and friends of lost loved ones. Little may they know that her caring and attentive demeanor, which makes them feel loved and their family important, stems from a deep empathy formed by her own very close encounters with tragedy. It is no accident that Wade works See MADISON LIVING Page 8A

Lyndsie Wade’s story is featured in the December issue of Madison Living Magazine. For more, check out www.madisonlivingmagazine.com.

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2A • THE MADISON RECORD

December 27, 2023

LOCAL NEWS

Quote of the Week

“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” -Dr. Seuss

Photo of the Week

The Orion recently completed its second season.

Orion Amphitheater celebrates successful 2023 season By MARIA RAKOCZY maria@themadisonrecord.com

Here is a scene from the 2023 Madison Christmas Parade on Dec. 10. As we look forward to the new year and all we hope 2024 will hold for us, we pause briefly to be thankful for all the wonderful Christmas events and fun opportunities throughout the holiday season. You can view our photo galleries of many of these event at www.facebook.com/themadisonrecord. We wish you and your family and friends and very happy New Year!

M adison RECORD THE

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The Madison County Record was established in 1967 Gregg L. Parker News Writer gregg@themadisonrecord.com Maria Rakoczy News Writer maria@themadisonrecord.com Bob Labbe Sports Writer bob0873@yahoo.com Caleb Odom Sports Writer caleb@themadisonrecord.com Donna Counts Advertising Sales 256-714-7152 donna@themadisonrecord.com

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HUNTSVILLE - Orion Amphitheater closed out a successful 2023 season setting records with an outpouring of support from both the community and artists. The amphitheater finished its second year of operation outperforming its first year by selling a total of 187,000 tickets between 32 concerts, hosting 83 community and cultural events, and ranking in the top 20 of both Pollstar’s Mid-Year Top 50 Worldwide Amphitheatre by Ticket Sales and by Gross Sales rankings. The venue also brought in additional food and drink options with the ChurchStreet Test Kitchen and Jeff n’ Blues. Local hotels and busi-

nesses evidently greatly benefitted from this success. Data from the Huntsville/Madison County CVB showed a 5% increase in demand for local hotels since 2022. Additional numbers show that 9% of Orion guests utilize hotels during their experience and that even more guests at 19% patron a restaurant before attending the Orion. Huntsville Mayor Battle summed up the positive effect Orion has had on the Huntsville community at large, “If you look across the board, this has done exactly what we wanted it to do. It’s changed the perception of what Huntsville is. It’s given you a new look at the city, at the Rocket City, at A Smart Place, but now it’s even more than that. It’s a muSee ORION Page 8A

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Bob Jones, James Clemens teams rack awards in state Esports championship By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

bree White coaches Esports teams. Additionally, Bob Jones Bao claimed the League of Legends Central U.S. Champion title on Dec. 12. The team secured a 2-1 win over North Garland High School of Garland, Texas. Players are Henry Holland, Davin Nazario, Gavin Alger, Alex Meyers, Kenny Hall and Arianna Martin. Fusion won the UNA Mane Event LAN Series in Rocket League for the third consecutive year. “Congrats to Bob Jones Esports Team Fusion, which won the State Championship in Rocket League for the eighth time. Congrats also to James Clemens Esports as State Championship winners in the state Esports tournament,” Dr. Ed Nelson, Superintendent of Madison City Schools, said. James Clemens’ statistics included its Esports team standing as State Champions for Mario Kart and Splatoon in Montgomery on Dec. 11. Players for Mario Kart are Zachary Ellenburg, William Hart, Ryan Phillips, John Scott and Blake Sturdivant. Splatoon team members are Julianna Ballard, Emery Chambers, Abigail Holme, Sophia

MADISON – With quick thinking and lightning reflexes, students on Esports teams from Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools claimed firstplace wins in State Esports Championships in Montgomery. “Esports has steadily gained recognition as a legitimate and competitive form of entertainment, and events like the Alabama State Championship contribute to its mainstream acceptance,” James Clemens Coach Pam Paquette said. “As Esports continues to grow, these tournaments provide a stage for skilled players to shine and further solidify the position of competitive gaming in the cultural landscape,” Paquette said. Bob Jones Fusion won its eighth consecutive Rocket League State Championship at Huntingdon College in Montgomery on Dec. 11. These students secured the title with a 4-2 win over Lee High School. Bob Jones players are Luke Scherer, Max Dunkerley, Jonah Brooks and Rylan Baren. Keith Nowicki won the Alabama Madden runner-up. Au-

Rogers and Nicholas ‘Maddie’ Templeton. “The events showcased Esports’ growing prominence in the state, bringing together passionate gamers and dedicated teams for a day of intense competition,” Paquette said. The Mario Kart game against Drivers Ed from Alabama School of Mathematics and Science in Mobile was a series of highspeed races, navigating iconic tracks and employing creative power-ups to secure victory, Paquette said. “The atmosphere was electric as players executed precision maneuvers and cunning strategies to outpace their opponents,” Paquette said. “After intense races and heart-pounding finishes, one Mario Kart team stood above the rest, claiming the title of Alabama State Champions.” The Splatoon competition was equally fierce against the McT Judd Plushie Fan Club from McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile. Teams engaged in ink-filled battles to dominate the virtual turf. “As the winners revel in their victories, the event serves as a milestone in

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December 27, 2023

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A Christmas Miracle at Catbird Seat By MARIA RAKOCZY maria@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON - The Christmas season can be a difficult time for many who have lost loved ones as the traditions and gatherings once enjoyed with a lost family member can act as a painful reminder of the loss. At the same time, for many, the joy and giving of the Christmas season brings out the best in people and moves them to lend a hand to those in need. That is exactly what happened in a Christmas miracle experienced by one Madison resident. Kathie Reside lost her husband just a few short months ago, and when she went to Catbird Seat Nursery to pick out her Christmas tree, she wasn’t sure how would it go. Picking out a Christmas tree was a tradition for her and husband for nearly fifty years, and bundling and setting up the tree was always the task of Reside’s husband. She was apprehensive as she embarked on this tradition for the first time alone. “I had no idea I would get it home, let alone set it up,” she said.

The extraordinary kindness of an employee, Karen, turned the whole experience around, and Reside succeeded in securing her Christmas tree and continuing a tradition. “Karen assured me I didn’t have to do this alone. She offered to come over after work to help me cut off the end and even set it up,” Reside recounted. Karen’s kindness did not stop at encouragement, but when Reside mentioned she had brought her own stand, Karen jumped right into action. “Before I could believe it, the tree was trimmed, wrapped, firmly set in the stand, and in my car. Again, they offered to come after work to help me transport it to the house,” Reside marveled. “I had a tree that continued a holiday tradition that started with our first Christmas together 46 years ago!” Reside described the experience and the kindness of Catbird Seat as “amazing”, “unbelievable”, and a “Christmas miracle,” and extended her utmost gratitude, “Thank you, Catbird Seat Nursery!”

Cristie with her twins Michael and Mitchell Clark, and Madison Mayor Paul Finley in front of her photo that will hang in city hall.

Winning shot of statewide photo contest will hang in city hall

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By MARIA RAKOCZY maria@themadisonrecord.com MADISON – Cristie Clark of Captured by Cristie Photography in downtown Madison secured the top spot of the Alabama Big 10 Mayor’s Photo Contest with her photo of a train moving through downtown Madison. Clark beat out photos from all over the state for the $500 grand prize by garnering the most likes of her photo on social media. The picture took six hours of standing on the bleachers on one side of the railroad tracks in the summer heat using a Sony 7R III camera to capture that perfect moment and was followed by even more hours of editing. Clark explained the significance of the photo, “I believe this image resonates with the people of Madison because it not only captures the true essence of the city’s identity but I think we’ve all gotten stuck at that train more than once. It also serves as a reminder of the city’s rich history, inviting visitors and residents alike to appreciate the unique characteristics of our quaint, little downtown that Madison was built around.” She joined the city council at the December 11 meeting to unveil a framed version of her photo that will now proudly hang in city hall. “I am honored and proud to present my winning image of the Alabama Big 10 Mayor’s photo contest to the city of Madison which will hang in the lobby outside in City Hall. This contest has provided me with a wonderful opportunity to showcase my photography skills while also capturing the beauty of historic downtown Madison. I live, work, and play here, and I’m deeply passionate

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about capturing the charm of the city through my lens,” Clark said. Mayor Paul Finley added, “It is so iconic of Madison and just a beautiful photo, and it wasn’t just Madison residents voting for that. It was everyone, and that’s probably about 67% of the Alabama population resides in those ten

cities. So, [for] us to win this photo contest for the city of Madison, thank you for honoring Madison and for representing us so well.” Clark was the overall winner of the photo contest out of 197 total photos submitted with 1,900 likes on her shot of the iconic downtown Madison.

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Heritage Elementary earns Lighthouse Honor Roll award from Leader in Me By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – Heritage Elementary School has received the highest honor that the Leader in Me initiative can award to a school. Heritage has earned the “Lighthouse Academic Honor Roll School Award.” To identify a school, Leader in Me educators use data analysis from an independent nonprofit organization, Schooldigger. com. This website focuses on empowering families with reliable data about the performance of their children’s school. “The Schooldigger.com algorithm scores on a percentile ranking, comparing like schools across the state. To meet the academic proficiency standard, a school must be at or above the 85th percentile for the state’s

and renewal. The Leader in Me philosophy relies on those habits in Stephen R. Covey’s book: • Be proactive. – Each person is in charge and responsible for his or her thoughts and actions. • Begin with the ending in mind. -- Know what you want and believe. • Put first things first. -- Prioritize. Do your work first; then, play. • Think win-win. -- Visualize mutual benefits with other people. • Synergize. -- Creatively cooperate with others. • Seek first to understand – After accomplishing this idea, a person then can hope for understanding. • Sharpen the saw. -- Continuously renew your body, brain, heart and soul. See HERITAGE Page 8A

The Leader in Me initiative has awarded Heritage Elementary School with the prestigious Lighthouse Academic Honor Roll School Award. Students are pictured above learning in a fun, hands-on project.

team of people that have worked in the industry for years and gone to a lot of terrible buildings helped design it. So, we really want to support the local community and the local businesses by highlighting those kinds of things as well as just making those artists feel great and that’s why a band like Weezer goes, ‘Ooh! We should spend a week there rehearsing.’” Ben Lovett, CEO of TVG Hos-

pitality, the group behind Orion, added on the lasting impression local gifts leave on artists, “That person will be taking that piece of luggage, get in to their hotel room in Berlin or in Tokyo, and they’ll open it up, and somewhere in their mind, they’re like, ‘Ah, Huntsville!’” After a spectacular year in 2023, the team at Orion are aiming to outdo themselves once again in the 2024 season. They

Continued from page 2A

sic place.” It’s clear that the community has embraced Orion, and Managing Director Ryan Murphy and CEO of TVG Hospitality Ben Lovett say that artists have embraced the venue just as much. They attribute the growing positive reputation of Orion among artists to the attention to detail in the design of the venue and dressing room and to artist hospitality that includes part-

Maelin

nering with local businesses to gift performers with uniquely Huntsville items and even filling carry on suitcases with tokens of the community. “The more you’re making those artists feel comfortable and they’re letting their guard down, reputationally, they’re talking about how incredible it is to be there,” Orion’s Managing Director, Ryan Murphy, explained. “We had an amazing

are expecting a slate of more than 40 concerts and 75 special events and plan to grow their artist hospitality program and cultivate the existing and newly added on-site food and drink options for guests. Concert and event schedules as well as updates for the coming year can be found online at theorionhuntsville.com and on social media @theorionamphitheater.

Continued from page 1A

the United States,” Paul said. St. Jude saved Maelin’s life, Paul said. “Her doctors and nurses worked tirelessly for her. Maelin had the first Fanconi Anemia transplant at St. Jude and encountered many complications. They never gave up and worked around the clock to make Mae the healthy person she is today.” St. Jude’s staff treated the Carlsons, as parents, with respect and care. “I always knew they were doing the very best for Maelin,” Paul said. The Carlsons continue to take Maelin to Memphis for appointments every few months. “St. Jude is one of Mae’s happy places. She loves to go because everyone strives to make her experience as fun and enjoyable as possible,” Paul said. Both Paul and Megan thoroughly enjoy seeing Maelin’s doctors and nurses

now, who feel joy in seeing Mae live her best life. “We’ll forever be grateful for the gift of hope and life they gave us,” he said. “Maelin is the most joyful, sparkly person on the planet,” Paul said. “She loves everything and every day because she simply loves life. We’ve been so blessed she is healthy enough to go to school and be a normal child.” Since Maelin’s first day at school, Heritage has been like family to the Carlsons. The school’s commitment to St. Jude’s children “has been an absolute blessing. They give every Heritage child and family obtainable ways to donate and be a part of a bigger cause. What an incredible teachable moment these children will carry with them for a lifetime,” Paul said. When Maelin was a first-grader, her

teacher ran the St. Jude Marathon and sent photos of the event to Mae. “She even found a life-size banner with Maelin’s picture on it. It made Mae feel so special and loved,” Paul said. This year, Maelin’s teacher organized a race for the Heritage Cross Country Team to benefit St. Jude. The teacher arranged for Maelin to lead the runners in a Gator ATV and distribute awards. “It was so much fun,” Paul said.

The Carlsons feel blessed for Maelin to serve as an ambassador for St. Jude. “We’ve participated in various fundraising activities,” Paul said. This year, Maelin designed a golf bag for Ping that was used and sold during the FedEx Classic. Maelin also is “Patient of the Year” for Kay Jewelers. The stuffed animals they’re selling this holiday season feature her artwork and picture.

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combined proficiency standards,” Heritage Principal Dr. Georgina Nelson said. “To meet the academic growth standard, the school must be at or above the 50th percentile and have shown a 5-percent growth from the previous year’s percentile ranking,” Nelson said. For pre-kindergarten through grade 12, Leader in Me uses an evidence-based model focused on leadership, culture and academics. The initiative assists students, educators and families with leadership and life skills for thriving in today’s world. Another key component of the overall Leader in Me process involves “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” which offers timeless principles of interpersonal and organizational effectiveness. The habits engender responsibility, vision, integrity, teamwork, collaboration

6A • THE MADISON RECORD

December 27, 2023

it’s Another New Year!

NEW YEAR WORD FIND

fIND 10 DIFFERENCES IN THE PICTURES

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Cake, Clocks, Confetti, Countdown, Ball, Drink, Family, Food, Friends, Hats, Kisses, Midnight, Music, Noise Makers, Radio, Streamers, Television

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15 Years The Service 15 Years of The Service 15Years Years The Service 15 Years ofofof 15 Years The Service 15 of The Service 15 Years The Service 15 Years of ofOwner Sarah The Service Experience You Deserve New Lash Experience You Deserve Experience You Deserve Experience 15 Years of The Service New Owner Sarah Lash Experience You Deserve Experience You Deserve Experience You Deserve New Owner Sarah Lash New Owner Sarah Experience You Deserve New Owner Sarah Lash New Owner Sarah Lash New Owner Sarah Lash New Owner Sarah Lash Experience YouSte Deserve 7663 Highway 72C W, Ste C 7663 Highway 72 W, New Owner Sarah Lash

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Jan Scott Jan Scott, Jan Scott Jan Scot Jan Jan Scott Scott 256-340-0858 1591 Hughes Road, Suite G, Madison

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ALL DAY ∙ EVERY DAY callmpe.com 15380 Greenfield Dr. |CLEM Athens, ALAvailable 35613 20 Year Financing 15050 Alabama TIRE Highway 20 WHITE SOCK 1593 Hughes Rd. ∙ Madison AL256.603.6994 Madison, AL 35756 COMPANY Roofing & Remodeling PAINTING Thejanscottteam.com 256-230-0402 Brian D. Hunt, Realtor 256-721-7668 Roofing &Cell: Remodeling 256-502-1185 Lloyd Richardson Janscotthomes@gmail.com KITCHEN & BATH REMODELING / PAINTING • INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PRESSURE WASHING • HOMES & DRIVEWAYS

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536071-1

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AT A TIME”

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New Owner Sarah Lash 7663 Highway 72 W, Ste C Madison, AL

333 Whitesport Drive SW Suite 302 Huntsville, AL 35801

December 27, 2023

THE MADISON RECORD • 7A

FAITH

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago).” - Luke 1:68-70

Verse of the Week

The enemy at Christmas All things By BECKY MILLER God’s Lemonade Stand

By DAWN REED

God for His purposes. Just trust God is going to take care of things and don’t get angry and sign up to be a cheerleader for Satan.

We know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose”. Romans 8:28 Do all things really work for the good for those of us who trust Christ as our savior? All things that can encompass lots of bad stuff so sometimes it is hard to wrap your mind around this verse. But if you believe scripture and know God has your best interest at heart then you can relax knowing that things will be okay and can be used by

PRAYER: Father, I give you my life and ask you to purge anything in me that is not of you. I give you my concerns over family members and ask that you work things out for Your good. Draw those to you who are far from you wandering in the wilderness. Release them from Satan’s grip. In Jesus’ name. Amen. God’s Lemonade Stand is written by former Madison resident Becky Miller. Her daily devotions appear on Facebook or at godslemonadestand.blogspot.com.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Church Directory

Many moons ago, my beloved was sharing a difficult church situation with his mentor, Dan Garland. Things had been going splendidly…then they were not. Dan Garland is a treasure. He has been a God-send to us. Since our friendship began in 1999, when he served as the KBC Evangelism Director, he has shared from his heart stories of wonderful experiences as a pastor and also gut-wrenching hard times that I am so thankful God brought him through. Over the decades, he has shared insight, encouragement, and laughs with us. For this difficult situation, I was glad my beloved could turn to Dan. I anxiously awaited his brilliant reply. “What did Dan Garland say?” I eagerly inquired that evening. “You knew he was coming.” “What?” I asked, confused. My beloved repeated, “Dan said, ‘You knew he was coming.’” “Who was coming?” “The enemy,” he finished. Well. That’s not at all what I was expecting. But, oh, how right he was! So unexpected, it was a truth I understood and have seen and lived ever since. I think of it as “the Dan Garland Truth.” The devil always

Mt. Zion Baptist 228 Mount Zion Road Huntsville

CHURCH OF CHRIST Central Valley 5700 Mooresville Rd.

JEWISH SYNAGOGUES Temple B’nai Sholom 103 Lincoln St. S.E.

Crosspointe 78 Hughes Road

Phillip Tabernacle Primitive Baptist 930 Balch Road

Church of Christ Hughes Road at Gooch Lane

LUTHERAN Faith Lutheran 660 Gillespie Rd

Skyline ABA Baptist 586 Slaughter Road

The Church of Christ on the Highway 7594 Wall Triana Hwy.

Lamb Of God Lutheran 11716 County Line

Grace Baptist 122 Walnut St. Greenbrier Baptist 7939 Greenbrier Road Haven Baptist 1840 Slaughter Rd.

St. Andrew Primitive Baptist 1393 Swancott Road The Brook 8573 Highway 72

For more information visit: https://madisonmethodistchurch.org/ministries/gifts-of-grace

Swancott Church of Christ Swancott Road

11900 Mooresville Road

Parker Chapel Methodist Church 28670 Powell Road

The Harbor Family Worship Center 1469 Browns Ferry Road

Springhill United Methodist Church 1605 Zierdt Rd.

Hope Church 1661 Balch Road

Restoration Foursquare 5810 Wall Triana Highway Spirit Life Family Worship Center 1469 Browns Ferry Road PRESBYTERIAN Grace Presbyterian USA 5555 Wall Triana Highway

Journey Church 13902 Bradford Road

St. Peter UMC 107 Stewart St.

METHODIST Asbury Church 980 Hughes Road

Monrovia Church of Christ 595 Nance Road

Wall Highway Baptist Jan Scott, Realtor 6597 Wall Triana

Korean First Baptist 4257 Sullivan St.

Gifts of Grace Indoor Marketplace

127 Church Street

St. Paul United Methodist Church 620 6th Street

Messiah Lutheran 7740 Highway 72 W

Church of Christ of Madison 556 Hughes Road

Trinity Baptist 1088 Hughes Road

International Baptist 1025 Shelton Road

tion and tries to grab a seat at your table. If he can get your focus off the Baby, he will. It might sound silly to say “Have your Ephesians 6 armor on at Christmastime.” But Dan Garland will tell you, “The enemy is coming.” Let’s be girded, belted, helmeted and shod. Let’s be ready, Sword of the Spirit in hand! “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

To add a church or request a change in the directory, please email john@themadisonrecord.com

BAPTIST Big Shiloh Baptist 133 Maple St.

First Baptist Madison 4257 Sullivan St.

fights a good thing! Oh, friend, the enemy truly is coming. And he doesn’t want to just snatch the presents from under your tree. He wants to steal the Christmas Presence! In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” Whether or not He was speaking of the devil, it surely applies. Way past the Grinch, he wants to steal your joy, kill your Christmas spirit, and destroy your hope. First Peter 5:8 tells us, “Be sober; be vigilant. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” He wants to eat you alive! For a Biblical example of the Dan Garland Truth, we need look no further than the Christmas story told in Matthew 2. Mary and Joseph had already been on a roller coaster ride of shock and wonder. Add in a birth in the stable. Too soon after Jesus was born, they found that King Herod had begun a search for the Baby King. They loaded up in the night and ran for their lives. The enemy was hoping to use Herod to steal God’s Promise, kill the Messiah, and destroy any hope of salvation. If it happened to Jesus, we would be foolish to think it couldn’t happen to us. As you gather to remember the indescribable birth of our Immanuel, don’t be surprised if the enemy storms in on your holiday celebra-

Asbury - Harvest 8089 Wall Triana Hwy

Ford’s Chapel United Methodist Church 280 Ford Chapel Drive

Fellowship United Methodist Church 29768 Huntsville Brownsferry Rd.

MORMON The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints 1297 Slaughter Road

Lifesong Community Home Church

Mt. Zion Cumberland Presbyterian 3726 Pryor Road

Light of Christ Center 4208 Holmes Avenue NW

New Hope Cumberland Presbyterian

Living Word Fellowship 1477 Slaughter Road, Ala.

Providence Presbyterian 7745 Highway 72 W

Jesus Ministries 331 Landess Circle, Ala.

Redeemer Presbyterian 9580 Madison Blvd.

BIBLE New Owner Sarah La Madison Mission Economic St. Elizabeth Cumberland 15380 Greenfield Dr. | callmpe.com Athens, ALAvailable 35613 20First Year Financing Wall20 Triana 7663 Highway 72 W, Ste Bible Church Lindsay Lane Baptist 15050 Alabama Highway 183 Shelton Road Presbyterian, 104Madison, Perry St. 256.603.6994 Church of Christ 29113 Madison, AL 35756 East Campus Good Shepherd NAZARENE Thejanscottteam.com 7535 Wall Triana Browns Ferry Road 1659 Road 2119Nick 6th AveDavis SE, Decatur | 256-355-0632 Madison Worship Center Triana Cumberland 256-230-0402 256-721-92 “Neat & Affordable” United Methodist Madison First Church FREE DELIVERY • FREE SET-UP (256) 508-9440 Michael W Freeman Janscotthomes@gmail.com us on Little Shiloh PB 5290 Wall Follow Triana Highway Presbyterian FREE FINANCING WITH APPROVED CREDIT Fiberglass Dealer www.southernsensationsdance.co CHURCH OF GOD 1418 Old Railroad Bed 8234 Madison Pike OF MADISON 256-837-2762 256-683-0326 Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 9:00 - 5:30 Madison Bible Church 229 Maple St. 263 Stone St. Sw )8: 8 t WBMMFZQPPMTPGNBEJTPO DPN Closed Wednesday & Sunday 3313 Highway 53, Huntsville First Church Of God New Creation 1520 Hughes Road Grace United NONDENOMINATIONAL 1547 Capshaw Road Madison Baptist Christian Center Valley Presbyterian Church Methodist Church 15 Years of The Service Center Of Hope Church CATHOLIC 840 Balch Road 8006 Madison Pike 719 Hughes Rd Experience You Deserve New Owner Sarah Lash 2113 Old Monrovia Rd. 5167 Wall Triana Hwy. EPISCOPAL St. John’s Catholic 7663 Highway 72 W, Ste C Madison Free Oasis Tabernacle SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST Madison, AL St. Matthew’s Episcopal 1057 Hughes Road Grady-Madison AME Cornerstone Word Of Life Will Baptist 8006 Madison Pike Madison Mission SDA 256-721-9221 786 Hughes Road 129 Gooch Lane 3783 Sullivan Street Follow us on 5295 Wall Triana Hwy 183 Shelton Road www.southernsensationsdance.com Most Merciful Jesus Ray Of Hope Ministries GOSPEL Harvest Pointe Fellowship Of Faith Church CALL JORDAN 931-625-2057 Catholic Parish Realtor Moses Chapel 9580 Jan Putnam Scott, Plaza Triana Seventh Day Follow us on Jan Scott, Bright Star Full Gospel Methodist Church 132 Maple Street Realtor www.so 10509 Segers Road Primitive Baptist Adventist 5167 Wall Triana Hwy 103 Gin Oaks Court New Owner Sarah Lash Real Ministries 7 372 Moses Chapel Grace Fellowship 251 Ervin Lane Experienced • Professional • Insured • Guaranteed 7663 •Highway 72 W, Ste C www.southernsensationsdance.com Madison Gerrish Experienced Professional • Insured • Guaranteed 8006 Madison 15380Pike Greenfield Dr. | callmpe.com Athens, ALAvailable 35613 callmpe.com Serving your since 1986 • Matt.6:33 Robin GerrishMethodist Church Robin 20 Year Financing 15380 Realtor Greenfield Dr. | Athens, AL 35613 Serving your since 1986 • Matt.6:33 AL 20 Year Financing Available Madison, 15050 Alabama Highway 20 Realtor 15050 Alabama Highway 20 256.603.6994 Call Lash New Owner Sarah Cell (256) 374-9139 Cell (256) 374-9139 Madison, AL 35756 256.603.6994 Madison, AL 35756 Offi ce (256) 258-0930 7663 Highway 72 W, Ste C 256-721-9221 333 Whitesport Drive Suite 302 OfficeSW (256) 258-0930 Thejanscottteam.com 256-885-2515 robin.gerrish@clhomes.com 2119 6th Ave SE, Decatur | 256-355-0632 256-230-0402 Thejanscottteam.com “Neat & Affordable” Madison, AL Huntsville, AL 35801 robin.gerrish@clhomes.com 2119 6th Ave SE, Decaturwww.robingerrish.com | 256-355-0632 Follow us on 256-230-0402 “Neat & Affordable” FREE DELIVERY • FREE SET-UP www.robingerrish.com Michael W Freeman Janscotthomes@gmail.com www.southernsensationsdance.com FREE DELIVERY • FREE SET-UP 1591 Hughes Road, Suite G, Madison Jan Scott, Realtor Jan Scott, Realtor Michael W Freeman Janscotthomes@gmail.com Jan Scott FREE FINANCING WITH APPROVED CREDIT 256-837-2762 Jan Scott, Realtor 1591 Hughes Road, Suite G, Madison Fiberglass Dealer Jan Scott, Realtor (256) 489-9992 FREE FINANCING WITH APPROVED CREDIT OF MADISON KITCHEN & BATH REMODELING / PAINTING • INTERIOR & EXTERIOR PRESSURE WASHING • HOMES & DRIVEWAYS

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8A • THE MADISON RECORD

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December 27, 2023 Continued from page 1A there were very few people in our community that were left unaffected.,” she recalled. She remembers the collective grief of the school community that followed in the weeks and months after too, “We all were just trying to survive it and grieve in our own ways, There were some classmates who tried to look past it and tried to get over it, it seemed especially hard, emotionally, for me, it took me a long time to process the grief and emotionally heal and I think that’s one of the reasons I have been led in doing what I’m doing now, because I notice those families that are having a really hard time, and they just need somebody.” She remembers a vigil that was held, as the student body, faculty, community, and the Brown family mourned. The small memorials that students made around the school will always be a memory of all the people who were grief-stricken. “That vigil, I feel like, as a community came together to kind of be there for Todd and his family,” she observed. The loss was especially hard for Wade who knew Brown from her previous school in Monrovia. The two transferred to Discovery around the same time, and she found in him a familiar face through that change. “We actually transferred to Discovery together, and I spent a semester at Monrovia with him. Thereafter, I moved to Discovery,” Wade said. “We weren’t close by any means, but he was always a sweet, quiet kid, but when he came to Discovery… it was a comfort knowing there was somebody else there that I already knew.” In the aftermath of the shooting, she said, “All I wanted to do was be there for his family. I just wanted to tell his parents how amazing he was and how sweet and kind he was because he really was. He was the sweetest

person.” Her own pain, the pain of the Brown family, and that of the student body touched her deeply then and still touches her now. Years later, she would encounter that same pain when the life of a friend’s young son, whom she affectionately called SamSam, was claimed in a house fire. She recalled the funeral service, which due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions was held outside but still brought a crowd to honor the little boy, “There was a lot of people. This little boy was so loved and there [were] so many people there. But, due to Covid restrictions, we could not provide him with a normal funeral service and allow him the recognition and final respects that he deserved. The services were not fully attended to by the funeral home. It felt very rudimentary and put a great deal of the burden of service on the family. We all had to be standing outside and only his casket on a vault. Close family and friends spoke about him. I got the opportunity to tell everyone what a lovable boy he was and share some of my fond memories with him.” Wade went on, “That left a lasting impact on me because I just saw a grieving mother and a grieving brother just falling apart, and it was a couple of months after that I made the decision to actually go into the funeral industry because even as a friend, I felt like I did what I could, but if I were that person responsible for making sure that somebody had the absolute best service they possibly could’ve, I want to be that person for them.” Soon after the funeral in 2020, she enrolled in a two-year Associate’s degree program in Funeral Services at Jefferson State Community College. Though her decision to pursue a career in the funeral industry was prompted by the latter event, both tragedies informed her de-

Continued from page 5A Not just another leadership com/the-7-habits) Leader in Me helps educators program, Leader in Me blends a fresh approach with elite design lasting solutions to comcontent and mentorship. The mon challenges by looking at framework offers schools the students’ strengths. They use tools to make tangible advance- several paradigms (or models ments in leadership, culture and patterns): • Leadership -- Everyone can and academics. (franklincovey.

be a leader and can serve and influence situations. • Potential -- Everyone has genius. Individuals should recognize unique talents of each student, teacher, parent and resident. • Change -- Change starts with

in the funeral industry. It is a choice she has made after suffering two tragedies that exposed her firsthand to the pain of grieving a lost loved one. The Discovery Middle School Shooting in 2010 was her first encounter with tragedy. Feeling the pain and grief of watching the death of and losing a good friend and classmate became a soar reality. Wade was in ninth grade and present for that February day in 2010 when a student, Hammad Memon, opened fire in the school and took the life of another student, Todd Brown. She remembers that day vividly. “As I passed a crowd of kids circling around in a clutter in the ninth-grade hall I finally reached my locker retrieving my books for the last class of the day. Out of nowhere, what sounded like a pile of hardback books hit the floor and echoed through the halls. Then after a screeching cry, “He’s got a gun.” While students stampeded to a safe place, I dropped my backpack and froze as if I were in a state of paralysis. I was watching a friend of mine hit the cold, white, tile floor in slow motion,” Wade remembered. “The lockdown was obviously the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life. Not knowing what had truly occurred and how everything would play out was grueling. While being locked down in my biology classroom, all I could think to do was get on my hands and knees and just pray. I prayed that Todd was going to be okay and this nightmare would be over soon. But of course, when the lockdown was over and I was able to go home, the grim reality hit that Todd didn’t make it. Our community was shaken to its core. It was so hard for days and months to come for so many people, from the other students and faculty to the family and friends of Todd,

Heritage

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Lyndsie Wade - Photo by Joshua Berry sire to use her own experience with grief to help make others’ experiences with loss easier. “If I told you that a school shooting changed a lot about me, it would be that I have become more reclusive, compassionate, forgiving and protective. I’ve used my mental capabilities and character traits to help people deal with similar tragedies that I have had to deal with in life. I am constantly trying to find ways to better aid the survivors like students and faculty with mental support,” Wade wrote in a college essay reflecting on the personal effect the shooting had on her. “I’m that type of person who

wants to help carry on a memory for someone, and I want them to know that it’s okay to grieve, it’s okay not to be okay. That’s why we’re here,” she said. Wade carries that attitude of compassion and service into all of her interactions with the intention of assisting family and friends in honoring their loved ones. As she nears the completion of her associate’s degree and looks forward to continuing her career, she reflected on how her work has impacted her life for the better, “I really do love what I do. I absolutely love going to work and being able to comfort families and having this purpose.”

me. Don’t sit back and wait. • Motivation -- Empower students to lead their own learning. The school community energizes when everyone has a voice. • Education -- Educators and families partner to guide each child to create his/her own best

life. In other good news, Heritage scored “99” for the second consecutive year on the State Report Card from the Alabama State Department of Education. For more information, visit leaderinme.org.

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Column

New AHSAA classification brings change for Mustangs

Reflecting on a year of sports stories

By BOB LABBE bob@themadisonrecord.com

By CALEB ODOM caleb@themadisonrecord.com

Toyota Field will open the 2024 baseball season with a top-notch college game as Auburn will face Troy on March 12.

Auburn baseball to return to Madison’s Toyota Field in March By BOB LABBE bob@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON - Auburn baseball will return to Toyota Field in 2024, a place the Tigers seem to love as they have victories in their two previous outings at the local stadium. Auburn will play the Troy Trojans in the first scheduled game in 2024 at Toyota Field. The non-conference game for Auburn will be played March 12

at 6:05 p.m. with the Pepsi Gates opening at 5:00 p.m. and will be a final tune-up for both schools prior to getting into conference play. Both teams appeared in last year’s NCAA Tournament after Auburn placed fifth in the Southeastern Conference and hosted an NCAA Regional at Plainsman Park and Troy took third place in the Sun Belt Conference and reached the NCAA Regional held in Tuscaloosa.

Auburn’s roster is expected to include Alex Wade a redshirt freshman from Madison Academy. The 6-foot-2, 191-pound outfielder did not see action for the Tigers last season, thus taking the redshirt year. At Madison Academy, he was rated the No. 1 outfielder and No. 7 overall player in Alabama by Perfect Game. He was the 2022 Alabama Sports Writers Association Player of the Year and See AUBURN Page 2B

The Alabama offense looked to rely on a talented offensive line including Reese Baker of Madison Academy, No. 53, in the 37th annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Classic held this year in Hattiesburg, Miss. AHSAA photo by David Holtsford

Local players participate in AHSAA North-South Classic, Alabama Mississippi All-Star Football Classic By BOB LABBE bob@themadisonrecord.com MADISON - To officially complete the 2023 high school football season two All-Star games were held with local players taking part in the annual events. The AHSAA North-South Classic and the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Classic were recently held showcasing some of the best players in Alabama. “The experience was cool as I had the opportunity to play with others I did not know as we got a chance to bond as teammates with

complete strangers,” said Ken Cherry, running back from Madison Academy who was chosen to play in the North-South All-Star Classic in Mobile and recent Samford University commit. The senior Mustang running back, who rushed for 2,836 yards and 44 touchdowns during the 2023 season, was one of two running backs who rushed for over 2,000 yards to be selected for the North squad carried the ball five times for 32 yards in the contest where the South edged the North 31-28. A 33-yard field goal with 25 seconds remaining lifted the

South to its second consecutive victory in the 65th annual game held at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama. The victory upped the South’s lead to 35-28-2 in the game which began in 1948 and showcases the top talent of senior players from across the state. “I feel I did decent when I touched the ball as we rotated running backs during the game,” said Cherry, who is listed as the fastest running back in Alabama by one source. “We had two-a-day practices and just three days to See AHSAA Page 2B

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MADISON - When I go to games, I catch myself looking out at the field or court and thinking, “I am fortunate to get to tell this story that is happening right here, and right now.” That was what I thought I was always going to do. When I went to college at Troy University and studied multimedia journalism back in the early 2010’s I thought I was embarking on this lifelong career of writing and newspaper design. I ended up making it seven years before I had to find something that could actually pay the bills. I worked at an engine plant and I even drove a truck that cleaned portable toilets. My career would eventually settle on working to become a capable plumber doing new construction. At the urging of my parents, who have always encouraged me to never give up on my writing abilities, I answered a want ad to write freelance sports for the Madison Record. It had been seven years since I had written anything of the sort. As I sat in the stands at Bob Jones High School in February of this year watching high school basketball embark on the playoffs, it all began to come back to me. The love of that special level of sport that is where it all begins for many student-athletes and sometimes where it ends for them. The passion is there and the stories are endless. As I penned, or rather typed, my first story since my long hiatus, my fingers flew on the keys again. Glory to God, I was in my element and I was doing something that I was good at again. My boss was a mixture of shocked and elated with what I sent him. The rest was history so they say. I have been writing stories about all kinds of high school sports and the local teams this year. Stories of triumph, some of disappointment with the hope of future success and even some stories about dreams. I was trying to bottle the moment as I saw it so people could pick up the paper and feel something when they read it. See YEAR-END Page 2B

MADISON - The Alabama High School Athletic Association approved the latest seven-classification system for championship play for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. For Madison Academy, the new classifications, which are rebooted every two years, will mean some changes in both football and volleyball play for the Mustangs’ athletic program. The Madison Academy football program will move up to Class 4A while the volleyball team will move down to Class 4A beginning next season with the alignments for the remainder of the winter and spring sports determined following the completion of those championship seasons. “We are excited to move back to Class 4A. We have a lot of great competition right here in the Huntsville area that should make for some exciting Friday nights,” said Bob Godsey head football coach at MA. In Class 4A, Madison Academy will play in Region 8, which includes three additional private schools similar to Madison Academy. Those schools include Randolph, Westminster and St. John Paull II along with D.A.R. of Grant, Madison County of Gurley, New Hope and two perennial programs of North Jackson (located in Stevenson) and Rainsville’s Plainview. The last two seasons of football, the Mustangs have played in Class 3A where they posted a 23-4 record losing in the state playoffs each year, including the just completed 2023 season where the loss came in the state championship game against Mobile Christian. The last outing in Class 4A for the Mustangs came in the seasons of 2021 and 2020. In those two Class 4A seasons they posted a 22-3 record. The volleyball squad will move down to Class 4A from Class 5A where they played the past two seasons. Both the cross country and swim programs will remain in their respective classifications (3A). The 2024-2025 and 20252026 football alignment places the 32 largest schools in Class 7A. Those schools include Bob Jones, James Clemens and Sparkman. Fifty-seven schools will be listed in 6A, 56 in Class 5A, 62 in Class 4A, 60 in Class 3A, 60 in Class 2A and 62 in Class 1A. Classification is based on Average Daily Membership figures furnished by the State Department of Education in grades 9-11.

2B • THE MADISON RECORD

December 27, 2023

2023 Rocket City Marathon results of Madison finishers By BOB LABBE bob@themadisonrecord.com MADISON - The 47th annual Rocket City Marathon was part of a three-day running event with the exciting Running Expo both Dec. 8 and 9 at the Von Braun Center, the Kid’s Marathon, 5K and 10K races on Dec. 9 with the full and half-marathon races on Sunday, Dec. 10. Dewayne DeBardelaben and his wife, Dana, are in their sixth year as race director of what has become one of the top marathons in the country and top races in the Southeastern U.S. Nearly 3,000 runners registered including 297 who have a Madison address. Below are the top finishers from Madison: ROCKET CITY MARATHON Time First Name Last Name 2:32:17.94 Josh Whitehead 2:58:38.65 Beck Mitchell 2:59:49.97 Christian Schrandt 3:08:28.56 Tom Barnard 3:12:35.19 Matthew Hunt 3:19:37.58 Malia Gill 3:28:50.28 Eli Cazola 3:33:16.06 Michael Teter 3:38:53.29 Theophilus Goins 3:46:26.03 Craig Smith 3:47:20.25 Danyy P 3:47:58.62 Jake Mitchell 3:48:07.14 Jillian Hadley 3:48:28.33 Denise Lanahan 3:48:34.96 Sergio De La PeÒa 3:48:41.27 Joel Boyce 3:52:54.95 Haley Hernandez 3:53:56.45 Nate Maehlmann 3:53:57.37 Katie Maehlmann 3:55:00.74 Brett Simon 3:55:12.94 Griffin Gunter 3:58:37.16 Adam Cox 3:58:50.98 Jenny Gage 3:59:44.64 Kristen Bergeson 4:02:45.85 Blake Hargrove 4:05:02.57 Ran Crump 4:08:25.65 Jason Sebastian 4:12:40.29 Jennifer Arent 4:14:11.46 Samuel Courtney 4:14:21.56 David Hergenroeder

Year-end

Age 45 36 35 43 44 26 24 47 38 48 32 36 35 43 43 37 27 17 46 38 37 27 34 42 40 27 47 43 17 66

G M M M M M F M M M M M M F F M M F M F M M M F F M M M F M M

4:14:26.39 Karen Rudolph 4:21:33.41 Yukio Ito 4:22:07.34 Alex Ford 4:24:00.81 Diana Abel 4:24:37.36 Jordan Tenharmsel 4:25:14.84 Mina Willis 4:25:40.74 Allison Lingo 4:29:14.00 Bill Diffey 4:29:39.31 Brian Mitchell 4:29:57.80 Jan Lawley 4:33:06.09 Laura Jackson 4:33:41.97 Miki Kelley 4:33:58.15 Stacy Gagne 4:35:18.38 Tayana Castelli 4:37:07.96 Jordan Boyer 4:38:00.07 Emily Baker 4:44:58.91 Cynthia Valentine 4:49:46.29 Sarah Pitts 4:58:27.23 Ben Richards 4:59:36.57 Steve Keller 5:01:45.65 Tyler Smith 5:05:18.73 Amanda Currey 5:06:12.40 Adam Stinson 5:06:13.39 Nicole Stinson 5:11:01.50 Brian Arent 5:17:14.94 Crystal Walker 5:24:16.10 Joe Pignataro 5:24:19.39 Vicki Pignataro 5:26:58.51 Minh Nguyen 5:27:33.00 Elizabeth Nicholson 5:28:28.14 Torrance Chambers 5:35:51.51 James Waterbury 5:42:56.38 Robert Lubin 6:40:24.38 Bobby Brown 7:07:26.97 Katherine Hood THE BACK HALF MARATHON 1:22:01.70 JD Wine 1:37:43.25 Cody Edger 1:45:17.52 Gage Gross 1:45:44.46 Matthew Stark 1:47:26.57 Euros Davies 1:47:56.07 Robert Sleasman 1:48:07.50 Ricky Morales 1:49:18.77 Ashlyn Diehl 1:49:33.54 Miriam Pretorius 1:50:18.90 Stephanie Venema 1:50:30.86 Kyle Bess 1:51:14.12 Brooke Bogardus 1:53:05.22 Amanda Eley 1:56:11.91 Diana Earley 1:56:21.75 Gwen Truitt 1:59:50.46 Markneil Arias 2:00:11.07 Jared Neal 2:01:26.23 Lee Allen 2:04:12.30 Britta Morrison

37 50 33 40 25 54 42 55 47 46 39 37 47 38 34 34 59 36 31 62 26 37 42 32 42 45 43 43 31 40 36 49 63 27 31

F M F F M F F M M F F F F F M F F F M M M F M F M F M F M F M M M M F

16 33 30 47 52 53 23 18 38 39 37 17 35 28 40 41 33 40 35

M M M M M M M F F F M F F F F M M M F

2:05:10.41 Crystal Hultquist 2:05:56.01 Yu Nagayoshi 2:09:09.25 Marissa Garcia 2:09:46.90 Britt Blankenship 2:10:51.75 Andrew Zirschky 2:10:53.95 Victoria Deyton 2:12:42.17 Christina Zegler 2:12:42.56 Christina Sherer 2:12:44.67 Sarah Bingaman 2:15:24.67 Tracy Clemmons 2:15:26.72 Michael Joines 2:19:31.91 Weston Thomas 2:22:46.62 Kim McCandless 2:26:31.04 Kristen Meeker 2:26:59.22 Amanda Brown 2:27:19.79 Chandra Palanichamy 2:27:29.31 Ronald Childress 2:27:41.36 Raul Cuevas 2:29:41.21 Laura Koontz 2:29:46.94 Kimber Riggle 2:30:30.53 Jennifer Shah 2:30:58.24 Luis Gonzalez 2:36:59.89 Jenni Crider 2:38:28.87 Tami Wine 2:38:28.99 Chuck Wine 2:39:14.72 Meredith West 2:39:20.32 Wendy Troutt 2:40:23.09 Kristi Chastain 2:41:36.41 Rachel Wyatt 2:41:46.70 Sharon Purves 2:44:15.49 Amy Goen 2:45:19.86 Patrick Coln 2:46:13.57 Carolyn Plank 2:48:20.55 Melanie Williams 2:54:18.48 Sawyer Schultz 2:54:18.74 Brooke Schultz 3:01:38.19 Charlene Robinson 3:06:25.24 Jennifer Johnson 3:08:16.72 William Riggle 3:14:20.53 Carla Blankenship 3:14:55.26 Karen Paulukaitis 4:45:29.89 Teri Mastando THE FRONT HALF MARATHON 1:37:23.25 Kristofer Driggers 1:39:27.64 Chandler Reynolds 1:40:44.94 Alex Allen 1:47:32.97 Spencer Baer 1:48:25.83 Andrew Smith 1:48:47.32 William Angotta 1:52:06.40 Tina Tucker 1:52:07.05 Kathy Beales 1:53:05.01 Todd Beales 1:58:25.21 Christy Ruble 1:59:02.20 Jared Austin 2:00:06.55 Ellen Anne Bentley

49 40 28 53 49 32 32 34 41 37 48 37 67 51 26 46 58 41 48 14 52 40 47 38 45 34 49 50 41 51 48 39 59 50 28 30 33 33 51 47 64 54

F M F M M F F F F M M M F F F F M M F M F M F F M F F F F F F M F F M F F F M F F F

38 32 26 30 42 64 40 41 41 47 42 30

M M M M M M F F M F M F

2:01:04.74 2:02:46.82 2:03:31.83 2:06:01.78 2:08:12.91 2:08:26.88 2:12:52.79 2:13:14.04 2:13:51.82 2:18:36.72 2:19:04.58 2:20:27.68 2:22:34.24 2:23:27.94 2:33:00.81 2:33:03.53 2:33:03.98 2:33:24.90 2:40:47.85 2:40:49.23 2:45:38.66 2:46:54.66 2:48:00.42 2:48:24.27 2:49:32.84 2:51:39.03 10K 0:41:48.81 0:45:26.29 0:47:05.59 0:47:13.90 0:47:27.16 0:49:58.81 0:51:49.36 0:52:32.80 0:52:35.85 0:53:00.14 0:54:03.31 0:54:08.10 0:54:13.38 0:54:13.81 0:56:29.24 0:56:41.09 0:57:44.28 0:57:55.24 0:58:12.70 0:59:11.89 0:59:13.46 0:59:47.14 1:03:35.75 1:04:13.22 1:06:28.61 1:08:15.31 1:08:32.10

Joy Peter Ashley Ryan Ashley Matthew Paul Michele Denise Janice Sue Deeneen Michelle Alice Katie Deanna Alison Heidi Cindy Ellen Christine Kaylee Anne Eva Cindy Kathy

Martin Hanish Thompson Stutzman Wells Spencer Fry Chalmers Murphy Sutton Mixson Benson Driggs Lessmann Chatam Whitehead Fields Shurtz Kosan Brooks Baughn Perry Wolf Courtney Moeller Elliott

49 53 25 31 38 37 61 48 56 67 57 59 55 48 42 43 45 45 61 45 29 28 27 45 66 67

F M F M F M M F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F

Jayson Drew Hiroshi Richard Gage Alex Jason Ryan Cheryl Markneil Marcus Elijah Dwayne Stacy Robert Melinda Vincent Denise Britt Gabe Clay Wendell Luis Treva Darrell Laura Brian

Denovellis Bell Noda Burley Gross Murtha Sebastian Cechovic Davies Arias Allison Schuette Wallen Gagne Lewis Hyatt Halterman Murphy Blankenship Lemaster Peterson Ohern Garcia Garcia Dufour Koontz Koser

24 58 40 19 30 25 47 31 50 41 13 27 57 47 36 49 59 56 53 43 26 54 50 51 27 48 34

M M M M M M M M F M M M M F M F M F M M M M M F M F M

See MARATHON Page 8B

Continued from page 1B As this year comes to a close, I wanted to take a second to reflect on some of the people and schools who have supported me along the way and made it far easier to tell my stories. I want to thank all of the student-athletes for doing what they do, my interactions for interviews has been nothing but friendly and they have all been great to work with. I covered a lot of baseball in the spring and I couldn’t have done it without the help of James Clemens baseball coach Johnny Johnson and Bob Jones baseball coach Jared Smith. Thank you for always allowing me to interview you and the players no matter how the games went down. I’m also grateful for the sto-

ry tips and information I have received from James Clemens boys soccer coach Jared Keesee and Sparkman girls soccer coach Samuel Tidmore. Thank you Coach Tidmore for affording me the access to follow the team around on the day of the State Championship against Auburn. I will never forget that day and what your team accomplished. I would also like to thank all of the people who volunteer to work at high school athletic events in this area. Like the people who cook the burgers and the dogs and run the concession stands at games. Bob Jones and James Clemens hot dogs at the baseball games are better than the ones at Braves games and way cheaper.

These are jobs that go unnoticed by many, but are so important. I also want to show my appreciation for the quality of the facilities at all of the schools in the area: Bob Jones, James Clemens, Sparkman, Madison Academy and John Paul II all put so much effort into having the best for their athletes and fans. It really shows. I am grateful for the police and security personnel who are present at these sporting events and who are working to maintain a safe environment for these kids to compete and for patrons to watch it with no fear of harm. I would like to thank my editor John Few for giving me a chance to write for this paper and for believing in me.

He trusts me and lets me tell the story the way I think it should be told and that means everything. And lastly, I want to thank my Dad, Mike Odom, for going to virtually all of these events with me as my stat guy. When Madison Academy running back Ken Cherry broke free for a huge touchdown run, my Dad was in my ear telling me the yardage which is massive. I couldn’t do it without you Dad and honestly, I don’t think I would want to if you couldn’t go with me. I have to run, I have a high school basketball game to cover tonight as I’m writing this and I don’t want to miss telling that next story.

Continued from page 1B learn the offensive playbook that 35th victory in the series. featured about 10 running plays. “The game-winning kick Away from the football, we went was the final blow for us on the bowling and visited the U.S.S. Al- North team as we just didn’t finish as the game was tied at abama Memorial in Mobile.” The South had 21 first downs halftime and we tied the game and 327 total yards of offense again in the fourth quarter bewhile the North had 18 first fore the South’s kick,” added downs, 152 yards rushing and Cherry, who is expected to sign 167 yards passing for 319 total his scholarship offer with the yards. The game was that close, Bulldogs in January. “This was but it took a game-winning drive my last action as a high school downfield by the South and the football player. It felt weird. The 33-yard kick to seal the South’s All-Star experience was great. I

belonged there.” Another grand roster of players from Alabama hit the road to face similar talents from the state of Mississippi in the 37th annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Classic played at M.M. Roberts Stadium on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi. Featured on the Alabama roster of elite players was Reese Baker, a 6-foot-5, 285-pound offensive lineman.

One of the leaders of Madison Academy, which lost in the State Championship Game in Class 3A during the 2023 season, Baker has numerous colleges offers, but has yet to confirm his choice of his college education and where he plans on playing collegiate football. In the AllState matchup, he was among a bevy of superb offensive lineman chosen from throughout the state to represent Alabama in the annual battle of neigh-

boring states. In the game, Alabama scored 20 points in the first half and went on to a 26-17 victory for its fourth consecutive win in the long-standing game. The victory gives Alabama the lead in the series 26-11 in the classic first played in 1988. Alabama had 384 yards of offense on 58 plays. The breakdown of the offense led by Baker on the line included 310 yards passing and 74 more on the ground.

ing this early spring tradition here at Toyota Field,” said Garrett Fahrmann, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Rocket City Trash Pandas. “This will be the third year ina-row we’ve welcomed Auburn.

It’s always a treat to see Aubie, the Tigers’ mascot. Troy’s visit will mark the first Sun Belt Conference team we’ve hosted, so we’re excited to welcome the Trojans up from the southern part of the state.”

Tickets for the college game start at just $8 and will be on sale to the general public beginning Monday, Jan. 8 at 10:00 a.m. via trashpandasbaseball.com/auburn or call the Toyota Field Box Office: 256-325-1403, ext. 1.

My stories were built on that thump of the ball on the hardwood, those warm days at the ballpark where the grass glowed bright green and even those cold nights at the football field where the crowd sat in the rain cheering their hearts out for those kids that they love. When I went to these games week after week, I got to see young people compete with everything they had for their respective teams. I saw students support their schools by going to the games and cheering alongside the passionate parents and other fans. Through all of this, I was able to string some words together that hopefully made people smile and remember that moment the way it was.

AHSAA

Auburn

Continued from page 1B

two-time ASWA First-Team AllState. As a senior for the Mustangs, Wade batted .511 with 18 doubles, 10 homers, 60 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. Auburn was 34-23-1 overall a season ago and 17-13 in the SEC.

The squad was 3-2 at neutral sites including a 13-1 win over North Alabama (UNA) at Toyota Field. Auburn defeated Tennessee Tech 4-3 in 2022 at Toyota Field. “We look forward to continu-

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December 27, 2023

MADISON LIVING

THE MADISON RECORD • 3B

G ISON INAD LIVIN DISON LIVM AG LIVING MADISON M THE GUIDE •

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agazine.com

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INSIDE

MVP MADISON’S VOLUNTEERS Celebrating our community a volunteers in way very special as Inspiration unfolds Huntsville Botanical new Garden hosts exciting exhibit

IS “WHERE THERE HOPE” TEA, THERE IS the The story behind room city’s first tea BLESSED TO BE ALIVE David Webb’s second chance at life

Debbie sh Overca

r ity voluntee ’s commun Beloved ored with Madison rd Year Awa leader hon nary of the first Visio

Carly Thomas

ler female wrest Bob Jones’ star state title, but won her third nvery Living 1personal Madiso this time it was

The First Patriots

A special look at our monthly magazine

Honoring Revolu tionary War Veterans in North Alaba1 Madison Living ma

Madison Living 1

Here is a look at some of the stories featured this year in Madison Living Magazine. The following story was included in the July 2023 issue.

19 FRONT STREET

Chad and Shay Lemond treasure their ‘Jewel of Downtown Madison’ By GREGG PARKER Photos by JOSHUA BERRY MADISON - During their first fall in Madison, Chad and Shay Lemond were walking downtown at the Madison Street Festival when the house at 19 Front Street caught their eye. “Wouldn’t that be a wonderful house to live in?” Shay asked Chad. When the property came on the market, the Lemonds viewed it, but a year transpired before they bought the house. “Downtown Madison is filled with many historic homes. At 19 Front Street stands one of the most impressive,” Madison historian John P. Rankin said. “In 1860, the land where the house was built was initially purchased by Madison Station railroad agent, Dr. William B. Dunn, from Madison’s founder, James Clemens.” Dunn built a small, one-story house where he lived until 1888 when his niece sold the property with other lots for $1,000. In 1889, Dunn purchased adjacent lots during an estate auction for the deceased Clemens. Dunn’s ‘house’ still exists as the western back wing in the current multi-story house, Rankin said. The Front Street house is the first historic home for the Lemonds. However, Shay was renting a historic home’s apartment in Savannah, Georgia when they met, and they have lived in vintage apartments during their tours in Europe. “We love all the unique characteristics and charm that comes with older homes versus what you find in modern-built homes,” Shay said. “19 Front Street is the jewel of downtown Madison with the double balcony, curved porch and just the history that comes with the place. We immediately were drawn to the property.” Eventually, James Edward Williams bought the house for $1,000 in 1904 and expanded it to multiple stories. He also

raised ‘Dunn’s house,’ turned it to face west instead of south and moved it slightly north to allow for expansion. Currently, the Lemonds’ house has approximately 5,000 square feet in two stories, a walk-up attic and nine fireplaces (one is functional). The first floor has the kitchen, living room, parlor, laundry room and primary bedroom/bath. On the second floor, the Lemonds use two of four bedrooms for a game room and Shay’s office/sewing room. Chad uses an enclosed sleeping porch as his office. The house’s exterior has traditional clapboard siding with brick chimneys. Two large wraparound porches span the house’s front. A small side porch acts as the main entrance to the building’s oldest section. A back porch is scheduled for rebuilding. “We enjoy living in our home and want it to be comfortable and welcoming. I used a lot of the colors in the house from Benjamin Moore, three from the same swatch: living room, ‘Beach Glass’; owner’s suite bedroom, ‘Quiet Moments’ and bath in customized lighter adaptation of ‘Quiet Moments’; and an upstairs bathroom, ‘Healing Aloe.’ The entry foyer and upstairs halls use a soft, neutral creamy white. “The house had been updated in 2010. I really liked the French white cabinets and a huge copper sink. I decided to get a copper hood for the stove to bring in more of an Old World feel to the room and changed the backsplash to a marble and glass tile,” Shay said. “We lived in France for three years, and I love a nod to French country in the space.” Most rooms have handsome heart-ofpine floors. When James Williams owned the house, he farmed cotton, raised livestock and ran a sawmill. His general mercantile store sat at Wise and Main streets. Williams owned a livery and sold farm

19 Front Street during a home tour in October 1976.

implements. Investing in the future, Williams started Madison Telephone Company in 1919 . . . many years before most Southern towns had telephones. “This wise and brilliant Madison resident became one of the wealthiest and most prominent men of his days in the town where he started as a sharecropper,” Rankin said. Chad’s favorite, nostalgic features are the fireplaces. “A real link to what the original builders wanted, as far as design based on style of the wood, paint and tile in something both functional and necessary. We occasionally will find small pieces of coal outside, reminding us of what the fireplaces burned.” Shay’s most cherished antique sits in the front parlor. “We have moved all over with the Army and have collected many things. One of our first antiques is a small Korean rice chest that now sits in the James Williams and his wife Mattie in his at front parlor,” she said. 19 Front Street, circa 1915. Courtesy of John See 19 FRONT STREET Page 8B Rankin

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December 27, 2023

The story below was featured in the August 2023 issue of Madison Living Magazine

MISTAKEN IDENTITY Misidentified Union Soldier properly honored in Madison Cemetery By MARIA RAKOCZY MADISON - Under a cedar tree in the historic Madison city cemetery, lies the grave of a man by the name of Enoch B. Allen. The simple grave seems insignificant enough for a probably simple man, except that the grave was subject to a case of mistaken identity. For many years, one-hundred twenty-three to be exact, Allen’s grave mistakenly marked him as a Confederate soldier, even though Allen was a Union veteran from Indiana. The mistake was an easy one to make given the poor access to records in 1900 at the time of his death, but it wasn’t until May of this year that the mistake was corrected. The mistake was eventually discovered by local historian, John Rankin, who partnered with Richard Blanton of the local Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War chapter to correct the grave. “John [Rankin] actually brought it to our attention,” Blanton recalled. “One thing led to another and John said, ‘Well, you know there’s a guy buried here in the cemetery that it got messed up.’” Blanton attributes the incorrect grave markings to confusion about who Allen was, “There was a VA-supplied marker on it already but it had the name E.B. Allen on it. The birth date and death date were correct, but he was identified as a soldier from Georgia.” Blanton commenced digging through census records which showed an Enoch B. Allen living in Madison County, Alabama in the late 1800s but who was born in Indiana. Blanton then dug further into pension records from the National Archives which revealed Allen’s wife had applied for pension after his death and confirmed the death date as the same on the headstone. The pension records further revealed that Allen served in two different regiments, first with a regiment from his home state of Indiana, during the course of the war and that he ended the war

with the rank of Second Lieutenant. The pension records went on to not only detailed Allen’s service in the war but confirmed his move to Madison at the conclusion of the war. “The pension records clearly stated that he lived in Madison Station,” Blanton remembered. “Apparently after the war, he returned home. He, his wife, and daughter moved from Indiana after the war and came down and settled in Madison Station.” Upon moving to Madison, Allen resumed his prior occupation of blacksmith and set up shop in then-called Madison Station. Like many Union soldiers after the war, Allen was likely drawn to the vast amounts of open land, growing population, and mild weather of Madison County. Indeed, he was just one of several hundred Union soldiers who made North Alabama their home in the late 1860s and 1870s. Blanton estimates, “I have a listing of a confirmed just about one hundred Union veterans who are buried here in Madison County, and I’m tracking down information on at least four hundred more that have some Madison connection. Some of them lived here before the war, went into service, got out, and stayed. There are a lot of guys that if you look at the listing that I have, they were from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Vermont. Apparently, in some cases, I think they were down here, saw the area, and said, ‘If it wasn’t for the war, this is really a beautiful place’, and they just came back down here.” In fact, the area of modern-day Burgreen Road to James Clemens High School was known as Union Colony for the great number of former Union soldiers that settled there, and as the number of settlers grew, Union Colony spilled over into Madison Station, where the railroad stop supported thriving shops, restaurants, hotels, and livelihoods. The Palmer brothers who moved down from Ohio are another such family that contributed to this colony when

Become an

they bought and settled on their property located along modern-day Palmer Road. “Madison, itself, became the center of Union colony through time as people integrated into the society of Madison,” local historian John Rankin said. “That was where the grocery stores were. There was a train stop on the railroad.” The Union veterans were not content to simply settle in the area but became active participants in the community. “The people that ran Madison were mostly former Union soldiers or descendants of Union soldiers,” Rankin said. These transplants were not carpetbaggers, however, and the large migration of former Union soldiers into former Confederate territory seemed actually rather peaceful. According to Rankin, “The Union soldiers were welcomed. They came to help.” Former battlefield enemies appeared to reconcile and reunite in Madison Station, working together, living together, marrying, and building up a thriving community. Allen’s life exemplifies this phenomenon of reunification and friendliness between the North and the South. His grave evidences this first by his burial amidst a cemetery of Confederate veterans. More particularly, lying next to Allen is Confederate soldier Robert Donnell Tribble who was a personal acquaintance of Allen. The two apparently overcame their difference in war loyalties and bonded over their common occupation. Like Allen, Tribble was also

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a blacksmith, and the two were both close work partners and good friends. Their nearness in burial reflects this nearness in life and signifies the special character of Madison Station in the decades after the Civil War. Remnants of the presence of other former Union soldiers are present in cemeteries throughout Madison and Madison County. Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville has a high concentration, and in Madison, they are scattered throughout small, family cemeteries, many of which have fallen into disrepair and disappeared from maps. Blanton, Rankin, and others are working to continue to uncover these men and their stories, care for the many cemeteries hidden and forgotten around the city of Madison, and give the graves the appropriate treatment they recently gave to Allen’s grave. After confirming Allen’s Union veteran status and identity, Blanton along with other members of the SUVCW chapter and the help of the city promptly ordered a new, corrected headstone and proper VA marker. The new markers arrived just in time for Memorial Day, when the SUVCW held a ceremony to initiate the corrected gravesite. The ceremony brought together volunteers from local reenactment groups and a member of another SUVCW chapter who supplied his bugle skills to honor this misidentified, but not forgotten, man. For more, check out www.taylorcamp53suvcw.webstarts.com.

December 27, 2023

THE MADISON RECORD • 5B

The story below was featured in the March 2023 issue of Madison Living Magazine

BLESSED TO BE ALIVE

David Webb’s road to recovery after near-death strokes is nothing short of a miracle, one that has him thankful for being given a second chance By BOB LABBE Photos by JOSHUA BERRY MADISON - To quote the 1970 Beatles No. 1 hit song, “The Long and Winding Road,” Madison’s David Webb is currently on that road…to recovery. The world record-setting powerlifter is currently making headway on his journey after suffering near-death strokes in early 2022 and to the amazement to everyone, including his doctors, Webb is again lifting weights in record form. “This road required a lot of help from my friends at Powerhouse Gym and my training partner,” said the 65-year old Webb. “Without the support from the personal trainers of Nate, Nathan and Josh and their constant encouragement, I would not be where I am today. My wife, Nancy has been my rock and the one person who kept me in line of not overdoing my recovery.” Listening to Nancy, working with therapists and following the guidance from his doctors, Webb was determined to show all concerned he would make a comeback. His true grit and pure spunk pushed him to stand tall, overcome his limitations and to make his way to the lifting platform for the competition he desires. After 10 months of rehabilitation he returned to competing in November, 2022. In a new age bracket of 65-69 Webb was back at his old form of setting records. In his first competition, he set a new bench press world record of 226 pounds in two different categories. He also set 11 new state records in his first meet since his strokes. Two weeks later in Decatur at the Golden Ape Power Challenge he moved to a higher weight class and set 12 new state records. “Those meets were very rewarding as the weights I’m lifting now is different as my form is better and I feel my strength is solid,” said Webb. “But, one thing I did learn is the fact I had a second chance at life and I wasn’t going to blow it. I was going to run it up the flagpole. I have the entire use of my body and I feel I’m blessed beyond measure.” Webb also feels he’s blessed just to be alive. After working for the University of Alabama-Huntsville (UAH) for 30 years as a research scientist contractor on Redstone Arsenal, Webb chose to officially retire on Jan. 1, 2022, but his well-prepared retirement was about to hit a pothole on his retirement travels. On Jan. 27, Webb’s life changed in a dramatic way. He was preparing for a daily workout at Powerhouse Gym and began to feel dizzy thinking it was his blood pressure medication causing the miscues. After waiting until the dizziness subsided he took his usual trip to the gym workouts where he began his weight lifting routine on the leg press machine. While loading the necessary weights onto the machine, Webb said, “It hit me. I knew right away something was wrong. I grabbed my bag and headed for the front door, but on my way I kept drifting and falling to the left. Through just pure determination I made my way to a chair at the front of the gym where representatives of the gym saw what was happening and called 9-1-1.” Upon being rushed to Crestwood Hospital he was assessed and doctors indicated he was having a brain stem stroke. There was 99-percent blockage and he was immediately started on an IV and administered a “clot-buster,” a drug used to break up a clot and help restore blood flow to the brain. After being stabilized, Webb was transferred to Huntsville Hospital’s Neurology ICU

Unit where he remained under constant care for 13 days. “I felt lucky just to be alive,” said Webb. “I know a lot of prayers came my way and soon more miracles were coming my way. My neurologist, Dr. Kate Heaton, was in charge of my case and she was spot-on with her diagnosis. She said there would be a great chance of having another stroke, and once released to go home, to stay home, rest and recover.” Webb was released and was at home recovering under the watchful eyes of Nancy. While watching the Super Bowl battle between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals, where the Rams defeated the Bengals 23-20, something happened. While sitting back in his favorite chair and enjoying the annual game, Webb said he suddenly lost the use of the right side of his body. He instantly knew what was happening and had Nancy call 9-1-1. Just as his doctor predicted, Webb was having another stroke. “I found out 80-percent of those with a second stroke don’t survive the ride to the hospital,” said Webb. “I was again in the hospital for four additional days. On the day I was to go home, Dr. Heaton told me my competitive power lifting was no longer in my future and to work hard in the upcoming physical therapy sessions as she believed that’s what was going to allow me to regain most of my functions, including walking again.” For the exceptionally positive and proactive Webb, additional miracles were about to be bestowed upon him on his road to recovery. During the time dealing with the strokes, Webb lost 24 pounds, which was a lot for a man who stands 5-foot8 and weighed in at 179-pounds, but he retained much of his muscle mass and that factor was the first item his lead physical therapist, Brant Bishop, noticed in his first face-to-face session with Webb. If anyone knew what to look for in Webb’s case, it was Bishop, who just happens to be inducted into the Alabama Power Lifting Hall of Fame. “He asked me if I was wanting to return to competition and I replied with a resounding yes,” said Webb on his first encounter with Bishop, who then geared the physical therapy program towards Webb reaching his goal. Webb was paired with physical trainer, Eric Hansen, who just happen to have competed in powerlifting. Webb quickly saw miracles really do happen to those who believe. Webb began his therapy where he could not let go of the use of his walker to walking with a cane in just four weeks. He felt his trainer had challenged him in ways he never knew was possible. Webb was soon released by Dr. Heaton to begin lifting a light amount of weights, but Webb had other plans, which included returning to a competition level of power lifting. The first attempts at lifting weights was eye-opening and humbling. Webb went from competition squatting 280-pounds to barely able to squat the 45-pound bar. He struggled to curl a fivepound dumbbell, bench press 90-pounds or deadlift more than 150-pounds. “I knew right away I was on a long road to recovery,” added Webb, who indicated his road included many friends at Powerhouse Gym and his workout partner, Bobby Brown. “I still thought I could compete and I wondered how long of a road was it going to be.” The road is still ongoing, but his undiluted determination has led Webb to

have his weightlifting eyes set on setting three national records in the May third USPA Drug Tested Core Wars scheduled to be held in Madison. “There was a reason certain people were put in my life during this time as at one time I never really understood the severity of my stroke as I struggled just to walk and my doctor said they’ve never seen this type of condition from a stroke revamp so quickly,” said Webb. “I guess I’m an anomaly.” Growing up in Louisville, Ky., Webb didn’t partake in athletics until his four-year stint in the U.S. Army where he played racquetball, softball, bowling and the martial arts. Once moving to Alabama in 1983 and taking up residence in the area of Monrovia-Madison, he became an Alabama state champion racquetball player and disc golfer. He also

earned his teaching certificate for U.S. Kids Golf. Prior to his strokes he has set numerous state, national and world records in power lifting. Webb is determined to succeed and prove to himself he can survive. He’s also eager to show others how they have affected his life in a positive and successful way. His message to others who may suffer similar medical conditions and get a second chance is to surround themselves with others who can help and to encourage you to do your part as others around you are impacted by your pain and suffering. “I spend a lot of time concentrating on what I need to do,” said Webb. “The support sent to me by the Lord was for a reason. I know I have a second chance and with all of that support on my road to recovery, I can’t fail.”

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INSIDE MVP MADISON’S VOLUNTEERS our Celebrating community a volunteers in way very special

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Madison Living 1

December 27, 2023

THE MADISON RECORD • 7B

The story below was featured in the April 2023 issue of Madison Living Magazine

DEBBIE OVERCASH

Beloved community volunteer and leader receives first Visionary of the Year Award from Madison Visionary Partners By STEPHANIE WALKER Photos by JOSHUA BERRY MADISON - One can only dream about being recognized on a prestigious level for their work, but for Madison resident, Debbie Overcash, it has become a reality she never imagined. Overcash received the Visionary of the Year Award from Madison Visionary Partners and was honored at their first annual award luncheon on March 30. Melanie Thornton, Executive Director of Madison Visionary Partners, wanted to recognize MVPs that have had a meaningful impact on the city. “The Madison Visionary of the Year is a person who lives or works in the City of Madison who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision, and drive to fulfill the mission of Madison Visionary Partners - to enrich the quality of life for the people of Madison. This person has done this through advocacy, philanthropy and/or volunteerism.” It’s no surprise to anyone that lives here that the secret about Madison is officially out - more people than ever are moving into Madison to enjoy our award-winning schools, more affordable cost of living, and vibrant, active community. But all these things that make Madison a wonderful place to live didn’t happen by accident. Volunteers have been the key to the city’s success for decades, and one, in particular, stands out as MVP’s first-ever Madison Visionary of the Year. Overcash has been a community servant for over 30 years and has worked tirelessly to make sure her fellow residents have the opportunity to experience the joys of small-town culture, even during Madison’s explosive growth. If you have ever volunteered in Madison, chances are pretty high that you’ve crossed paths with or worked alongside Debbie. Her extensive depth of volunteer experience makes her one of the most quietly influential people in the city. There are few Madison organizations she hasn’t touched or helped build and grow in some way. A History of Service Imagine Madison in the late 1980s. The population was only around 14,000 people and Hughes Road consisted of a handful of neighborhoods surrounded by cotton and corn fields. The Overcash family moved to Madison from Starkville, Mississippi, to raise their new family and put down roots. At the time of their move, Debbie was expecting twins. “When Tommy, Cameron, and I first moved here there were maybe two red lights, no turning lanes, and County Line Road was a two-lane road on the out-

skirts of the county. To watch this city grow and evolve has been such a joy!” Both Debbie and her husband Tommy grew up in households that put a lot of emphasis on investing back into their hometowns, and that mindset has stuck with her to this day. “My Daddy was a long-time Rotarian as was Tommy’s dad, and my Mom was a long-time Junior Axillary member - all of our parents were extremely involved in our churches. My sweet maternal grandmother was President of her Garden Club for about a zillion years and did the altar arrangements in her church every Sunday until she went into her retirement home at 90+ years old. This way of life is all we’ve ever known.” In 1986, Madison citizens overwhelmingly voted to remain independent by not merging with Huntsville, and city leaders were focused on tackling the next phase of growth - forming their own school system. Debbie’s three young sons started school and she immediately got involved with her first volunteer opportunity in Madison as the first Vice President of the West Madison Elementary School PTA in 1990. Building a PTA unit from scratch was not without its challenges, but what she remembers are the joys. “I worked alongside women who were hardworking, committed, creative, inspiring, fun, and now, happily, lifelong friends. We had the best time in those early years: great times, great memories, and hard work to make a difference with ZERO dollars to build programs, playgrounds, and opportunities for the students!” The City Council appointed Debbie to the Madison Education Committee in 1991 to help with the effort of splitting from the Madison County School system. “In my mind, perhaps the most impactful committee that I served on was the MEC. I was so proud beyond measure to serve as the last Chair of this committee as our school system was born.” Since then, Debbie has been an active volunteer at Madison City Schools for 23 consecutive years and has served in some capacity at West Madison and Madison Elementary, Discovery Middle, Bob Jones High, and James Clemens High, as well as helping to form the Madison City Council of PTAs. Her commitment to providing a quality education for local students helped pave the way for Madison City Schools to become the jewel in our city’s crown that we know today. An MVP Legacy Debbie’s focus on serving Madison over the years is hardly limited to educational causes. From helping to charter Boy Scout Troop 350 with her husband

and sons to securing historic Roundhouse renovations with the Madison Station Historic Preservation Society to chairing and working the Madison Street Festival, and being elected President of the Madison Rotary Club in 2006. “I’m incredibly proud of the work of my Rotary Club, there are so many projects that have made such an impact on our sweet city - their support of the building of the Hogan YMCA, Madison Hospital, the Children’s Garden at the Madison Library, the Pavilion at Home Place Park and much more.” Her years of leadership on the Madison Hospital’s Advisory Council, as well as the Madison Arts Council, helped to bolster both organizations’ fundraising and awareness campaigns. Debbie’s involvement with her church has included teaching Sunday school to joining the board of trustees and everything in between. “I believe that doing what you love, with those whom you respect, leads to success in making a difference in people’s lives – and that’s what’s important - people. At the end of my day, what did I accomplish and who did I help is what I ask myself. I would advise those looking to volunteer to follow your heart – if it’s important to you, you will succeed and you will make a difference.” Overcash’s reputation is one of a true visionary - her ability to see what Madison needs and craft an action plan to-

ward achieving that need has guided her throughout her life of service. Her vision and leadership style are examples a new generation of volunteers can aspire to emulate. “Leaders stand beside people, not in front of them - shoulder to shoulder working toward a common goal. I have been blessed to work with so many amazing people and friends over the last 40 years. When building a committee, my philosophy has always been the right people on the bus in the right seats. I don’t dictate how a committee member gets to the end zone – everyone has their own leadership style and mine has always been ‘Here’s our end goal, how you get us there is up to you – just get us there’. You must trust in the team that you have purposefully built; micromanaging is never an option in my mind.” Overcash is thankfully in good company. Many of Madison’s 61,000+ residents work together to make a difference and try to make others’ lives a little bit better. Debbie’s remarkable gift to the people of Madison is decades of unprecedented service to our community. Recognizing local visionaries like her is a great reminder that we all have an opportunity to use our time and abilities to make our city grow and thrive. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously knew it is within us all to do the work - “You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

The story below was featured in the April 2023 issue of Madison Living Magazine

NICOLE ADAMS

Local mother turns her passion of restoring stuffed childhood treasures into the Stuffed Animal Clinic of Madison By ERIN COGGINS MADISON - A teddy bear was literally the last thing he had belonging to his father. It was last seen the day his father was killed in an automobile incident, only to resurface when cleaning out his mother’s attic after her death. Dingy and falling apart, the man from New Jersey needed to repair this connection to the past. Like this man, Madison resident Nicole Adams knows the importance of a childhood security item. Her baby blanket, going threadbare, has been encapsulated with new fabric a couple of times. Both of her daughters have now fallen to sleep under this family treasure. “I experienced some trauma as a child and my baby blanket got me through everything,” Adams said. “I refused to throw it away, so I had to do what I had to do to save it.” As owner of the Stuffed Animal Clinic of Madison, LLC, restoring stuffed childhood treasures is now Adams’ full-time job. The idea to open the business originated with her youngest daughter who was constantly asking for her fur friends to be mended. “She loves stuffed animals and would come to me crying to fix this or that with them,” Adams said. “A friend of mine said that she wished she had the skills to repair her children’s stuffed animals. I have the skills and thought it would be a good idea for the community.” Adams piloted the idea first by starting a test group of mothers on Facebook. Within an hour, she had 200 posts stating

that they loved the idea. “Moms all understand the sleepless nights full of tears,” Adams said. “And you never know what stuffed animal or blanket your kids get attached to that may need fixed.” Adams grew up with her grandmother teaching her to sew and love textiles. These skills have proved invaluable to her as a mother where she has often mended her daughters clothing until they outgrow them, or they simply have too much wear and tear. Restoring, instead of replacing, has become her business motto. “In our sort of economy, if something breaks, people just go buy a new one. They don’t try to fix it first,” Adams said. As a restoration technician, Adams has restored around 500 stuffed animals in the three years since she opened the clinic. She works on stuffed animals, baby blankets and dolls with fabric bodies. She cleans the “lovies” with hypoallergenic detergent, dish soap and baking soda until they look brand new, or pretty close. Her most common repairs include sewing up tears, replacing missing eyes or noses on request, torn limbs and brushing out matted hair. “I have also replaced voice boxes and baby criers with very simple layouts,” Adams said. “If the animal is ripped or torn, I patch it. I don’t want it to look brand new. I want it to keep its character. The item is restored so it can be kept for support.” Emotional support providers are how Adams sees these cherished items. And knowing this, Adams understands she

needs to build trust with her customers willing to leave or even mail their precious keepsakes to her. Adams saw how important the trust relationship between her and the customer is when she began working with the adult autistic population. “These stuffed animals are their best

friends growing up. Their attachment is so much more,” Adams said. “It was really eye-opening for me. They want me to realize just how important the stuffed animal is to them. It’s like losing a family member,” Adams said. “When I share my story of my own blanket, they realize that I am the same with my 38-year-old

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The family room/kitchen is Chad’s favorite place in the house “It’s where we spend most of our time. Shay designed these rooms with the intent that it would be very comfortable and homey,” Chad said. “This may seem strange, but I love the hall guest bathroom. When we bought the house, it had gold-and-red tile in the shower. “I wasn’t going to re-do the tile and wanted to really bring it out while (giving a) nod to the history of the time period when the house was built,” Shay said. Shay spent hours searching for wallpaper. She chose a William Morris paper, with designs dating back to the mid-1800s, called “Pimpernel in Brick and Olive.” “I just love the bold colors, design and how you might have found a wallpaper like this when the home was built,” Shay said. She chose pieces in chinoiserie style, fashionable in the United States from the mid-19th century through 1920s. She found the pieces locally: black-and-gold vanity mirror, Hartlex Antiques Gallery; rosewood chest and Japanese panels, Tammy Eddie Antiques; and small, red Chinese rice chest, Madison Antiques. For the lawn, Shay is applying her gardening knowledge to reclaim neglected spaces. However, the Lemonds reluctantly had to cut several large trees that storms were threatening to uproot. “I have a long-term plan to develop the

Adams

grounds into different garden areas,” Shay said. “I’m very influenced by Monet’s ‘Garden in Giverny’ and visited it many times when we lived in Paris. Monet planted his gardens to be painted.” In their paintings, impressionist painters used color theory, which Monet implemented for garden plants. “I intend to try and do that with the garden here,” Shay said. In addition, “a lovely saucer magnolia is absolutely stunning when in bloom.” Shay will add a trellis to showcase a climbing rose that’s quite old. Originally from Otwell, Indiana, Chad moved to the Madison area in 2016 after retiring from the Army. “We moved to Madison in 2017 when Shay and my son joined me. I found work post-retirement after Shay encouraged me to look here based on what she had heard,” Chad said. He works in business development for Northrop Grumman. “I’m from the greater Atlanta area and still have family there. Moving here put me closer to them,” Shay said. Shay is a real estate agent. Their daughter Lily now lives in Madison after graduating from Auburn University in 2020. Their son Vaughn recently graduated from Middle Tennessee State University and still lives in Murfreesboro. What hobbies do the Lemonds enjoy? “Owning a historic home IS a hobby in itself,” Shay said.

Marathon 1:08:45.93 1:08:56.44 1:11:11.36 1:11:55.01 1:12:22.35 1:13:46.78 1:13:46.88 1:14:21.98 1:14:44.20 1:14:47.48 1:15:07.05 1:15:31.38 1:15:49.06 1:16:27.79 1:19:54.70 1:19:55.31 1:20:54.08 1:20:58.27 1:22:38.02 1:22:48.81 1:24:29.03 1:25:49.36 1:27:27.16 1:30:19.71 5K 0:24:03.51 0:24:38.09 0:26:27.53 0:26:33.36 0:26:33.95 0:27:27.13 0:29:41.35 0:29:42.24 0:30:52.79 0:31:09.10 0:31:09.29 0:31:10.08 0:32:31.77

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Lee Reeves Melanie Williams Will Baker Hailey Schuette Jessica Gates Jasmine Vidaurri Timothy Frawley Sharon Hollis Courtney Jones David Hollis Shaundrea Watkins Ana Bremner Maggie Gruber Cindy Moeller Rese Meikus Lanell Schofield Amber McPhail Tammy Brooks Sydney Dufour Melissa Johnson Ellen Parker Emerald Gilbert Shanthi Gatla Tazh Brown Gage Gabriel Jason Bo Markneil Ronald Lia Ambrey Jimmy Wendell Vanessa Rachel Brady

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Amanda Gallagher 46 F Denise Murphy 56 Laura Koontz 48 Christopher Allison 38 Matthew Allison 12 Vanessa Fish 62 Wendy Huskey 49 Sarah Bingaman 41 Luke Bingaman 40 Kayla Cechovic 32 Allison Terry 40 Stacy Gagne 47 Tiffany Oshel 42 Kristen Bergeson 42 Faith Hu 20 Troy Hammond 60 Jane Hammond 57 Kyong Andress 73 Erin Lewis 36 Bonnie Miller 68 Christine Robbins 39 Colton Chambers 10 Stefanie Chambers 41 Manny Casals 56 Stacey Casals 58 Laura Means 36 Josh Kiker 43 Emily Kiker 8 Alexandra Burgos 38 Melanie Williams 50 Ruth Frawley 37 James Ezzell 56 Britt Blankenship 53 Carla Blankenship 47 Cindy Moeller 66 Shaundrea Watkins 50 Kathryn Vanscoy 53 Jen Pearce 45

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blanket. It helps to establish confidence and trust to leave me that important item for a month or two. I never want to cause emotional stress.” When Adams started her business in December 2020, she was dealing with the loss of her grandmother. She put the word out there about her new upstart, but the business did not take off for another six months when the local media covered the Stuffed Animal Clinic in a news story which was picked up by affiliate channels. “Since that news story, I have done podcasts, and have been covered by other local media outlets, including Rocket City Moms,” Adams said. “I still mostly utilize word of mouth and do one Facebook ad a month. That ad generates around 200-400 new followers a month.” Along with the man from New Jersey, Adams has received items to restore from New York, Oregon, Texas, really business trickles in from all over the country. The farthest came from Jerusalem.

“Her grandmother had passed away and she had an item that served as a connection to her loved one,” Adams said. “I usually do not do items out of the country because of the cost and custom issues, but this lady’s parents were coming to the U.S. to visit family for a month, and we worked out a plan before they flew out. They were very appreciative and called to thank me.” As someone who provides joy in a restored teddy bear, Adams has also experienced the heartache that comes with her business. After a local lady lost her 8-week-old daughter to RSV, she learned about weighted stuffed animals in a support group. She contacted Adams for a custom-made weighted teddy bear. “I call them memory bears. She picked out the fabric and I made the bear the exact weight of her daughter when she died. She wanted to feel the same weight on her chest as she did when she held her sleeping child,” Adams said. “It was heartbreaking. She later contacted me to do two more in memory of her

daughter for her other children.” Adams says the job has been fulfilling, yet stressful. She checks her email daily and as a self-proclaimed people pleaser, she ensures that what people need and want, is what they get. “I take my job so seriously,” Adams said. “I feel guilty when I can’t work on them because I am sick or some other reason. But my customers are sweet and understanding. I make a big deal about mental health. I want people to know that they do not have to go through this alone.” Just as Adams cherishes the stuffed animals that resonate memories of past times, she also appreciates the time she spent with her grandmother and wants to encourage others to do the same. “My advice is to cherish your elderly loved ones, listen to their stories and don’t blow off when they have something to tell you. There is always a lesson there,” Adams said. “I miss my grandmother. I miss her stories.”

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