The Trussville Tribune – February 22 - 28, 2023

February 22 - 28

Trussville Council hears concerns about construction in historic areas

By Nathan Prewett

For the Tribune

TRUSSVILLE – The Trussville City Council heard from two residents who expressed their concerns with home building projects in the historic Cahaba Homestead district, as well as a planned

Clay Council adopts multijurisdictional hazard plan

By Terry Schrimscher

For the Tribune

CLAY – The Clay City Council held its first scheduled meeting of the month on Feb. 14, at 6 p.m., at City Hall.

The only new item on the agenda was a multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan

Springville orders new firetruck, celebrates National Love Your Library Month

By Terry Schrimscher

For the Tribune SPRINGVILLE – The Springville Council passed a resolution Monday night to order a new fire truck for the

Trussville homeschoolers celebrate George Washington’s 292nd birthday at American Village

TCS Board of Education announces dates, times of interviews for superintendent position

From The Tribune staff reports

TRUSSVILLE – Trussville City Schools released dates and times today for meetings scheduled by the

Leeds Board of Education hears presentation on health sciences program

By Nathan Prewett

For the Tribune

By Crystal McGough Associate Editor

MONTEVALLO – Area

homeschoolers with Trussville-based Faith Community Christian School spent President’s Day this year not only learning about but experienc-

ing American history firsthand at American Village’s annual Washington’s Birthday Celebration on Monday, Feb. 20, 2023.

Students ranging from pre-school through high school seniors – and a few FCCS alumni – began their

tour with a visit to the Colonial Chapel, where they had an audience with President George Washington. From there, the students proceeded to the Encampment where they were enlisted into Washington’s Continental Army.

These young revolutionaries were not done yet, as their next venture found them in a meetinghouse where they were trained in the art of Colonial spy techniques.

Councilman Lynn Taylor wins prize at Moody Lions Club fundraiser

By Nathan Prewett For the

Tribune

MOODY – The Moody chapter of the Lions Club International recently held a prize drawing for a fundraiser where the winner was none other than Moody City Councilman Lynn Taylor, who took home a 55” TV.

LEEDS – The Leeds Board of Education heard a presentation on a health sciences program during a meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14. The meeting began with a report from Chief Financial

HewittTrussville High School senior named National Merit Finalist

For the Tribune TRUSSVILLE – Jones Preg, a senior at Hewitt-Trussville High School, has been named a National Merit Finalist. The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition that recognizes and rewards the

SPRINGVILLE, Page 5 See MERIT, Page 6

Trussville WinnDixie begins curbside pickup,

surprises shoppers on Random Acts of Kindness Day

By Terry Schrimscher

For the Tribune

TRUSSVILLE – It might have appeared like any other Friday to many people, but some Trussville shop-

See KINDNESS, Page 3

Opinion - Page 7

Lifestyle - Page 7

Outdoors - Page 8

Calendar - Page 9

Classified - Page 9

Obituary - Page 10

Sports - Pages 11-14

The Moody Lions Club’s history goes back to 1999 when it was first chartered. The Lions Club International is a service organization formed to engage in community fundraising and charitable work. It boasts 1.4 million club members and thousands of clubs throughout the country.

According to their website, the Moody Lions Club has raised approximately $103,000 since its inception and was once granted $75,000 from the Lions Club International Foundation, which was then given to the Moody Miracle League. Their motto is, “We Serve.”

The Moody Lions Club held the prize drawing on Feb. 6, where Taylor was the lucky winner. He was presented with a TCL Smart TV.

“The Lions Club is a great organization and I feel very privileged to contribute to their fundraiser,” he said. “This is the first time I have won a prize on a drawing. I want to thank everyone with the Lions Club for the great work they do for our community.”

The Moody chapter has donated $500 to each of the local schools. Chapter member Jane Barker said that among

the charitable donations for the community they regularly help the schools, often with services such as sending students to a diabetes camp that is held to educate other children with diabetes about their conditions.

Barker said that they also send high school students to the state Lions Club leadership forum where they receive leadership training. Additionally, the Moody Lions Club

helps local students with eye checks for potential problems.

In an email to the media, Barker expressed appreciation to those who gave to the fundraiser.

“The Lions Club wishes to thank everyone that participated in this fundraiser,” she said. “Your support is appreciated and all funds are used for charitable donations. With your continual support we can fulfill our motto ‘WE SERVE’.”

Robin’s Sewing Shoppe

www.robinshoppe.com 5886 Trussville Crossings Blvd 205.655.3388 - Fabric

See CANCER, Page 6

FCCS students and parents gather for a group photo in front of The Lucille Ryals Thompson Colonial Chapel. (Photo by Melissa Jordan)

Moody Lions Club Fundraiser winning ticket was drawn on Feb. 6, 2023, at the meeting of the Moody Lions Club. Lion President David McGowen (pictured right) presented the 55″ TCL Smart TV to the winner, Lynn Taylor (photo left). Mr. Taylor happily accepted the prize saying he

American Heart Month: Pinson pastor’s lifesaving experience at Ascension St. Vincent’s East

By Crystal McGough Associate Editor

TRUSSVILLE – When First Baptist Church Pinson’s senior pastor David Awtrey began having unexplainable discomfort in his chest, his first thought was that it surely must be reflux. After all, he’s 56-years-young and lives an active lifestyle, although he had been diagnosed as a juvenile diabetic.

“I’m a very active person,” Awtrey said. “I hunt and fish, but when I would be at my hunting club working, I’d have these spells. I would get short of breath and have chest pains, but I thought it was reflux.”

One day in late October 2022, Awtrey was doing some work by himself in the fields at his hunting club when he had two of these spells backto-back.

“It was right at dark and I thought, ‘This is bad,’” he said. “It still felt like reflux, because the pain was in the center of my chest; not down my arm or anything like that. I was trying to ignore the symptoms.”

Soon, however, Awtrey began looking for a place in the field where he could safely collapse without falling into an ant bed.

“That was my main concern; I did not want to land in an ant bed,” he said. “There was no help within miles.”

While struggling in the field, Awtrey said that, twice, he heard the “still small voice” of God say, “I could take you.”

“In my mind, in my heart, I knew it was the Lord saying, ‘Your life is in My hands,’” he said. “It was just that simple statement. And so, I got

really determined that I was going to make it back to the truck, because that was my only way out of there.”

Awtrey did make it back to his truck, where he took some TUMS, once again convincing himself it was only acid reflux.

The following Tuesday, however, on Nov. 2, he sent a text message to his cardiologist, Dr. Brian Snoddy, at Ascension St. Vincent’s East. Dr. Snoddy had Awtrey come in first thing the next morning and set up a cardiac catheterization appointment for the following Monday, Nov. 7.

“I had the heart cath and the staff at St. Vincent’s East was phenomenal,” Awtrey said. “They put me at ease about the procedure.”

Upon waking from the procedure, Dr. Snoddy informed Awtrey that he had major blockage and was lucky to be alive. Four to five of Awtrey’s arteries were blocked 90-98%, and Dr. Snoddy told him that he was going to need open-heart surgery.

“I had not had a heart attack; I was just having symptoms that the Lord puts in our body – a pain, which is a gift at times,” he said. “You have

got to go get checked, and I’m glad I did. I was wrong in trying to diagnose myself.”

Initially, Awtrey said he was considering going to Dr. James Davies, with UAB Hospital, but after speaking with cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Adam Witcher at Ascension St. Vincent’s East, he knew Dr. Witcher was the right choice for him.

“Dr. Witcher talked with me and my family, and God, again, made it so clear, and I just blurted out, ‘You’re the one going to do my surgery,’” Awtrey said. “My daughter started crying, and my wife, too, and there was just this peace.”

Awtrey’s bypass surgery was scheduled for the next day.

“He had very severe coronary artery disease that was not amendable to stints, and he needed heart surgery,” Dr. Adam Witcher said. “Sometimes we are able to let people go come after their heart cath and come back for surgery, but his disease was so severe that he really needed to be in the hospital. So we kept him in the hospital and did his bypass surgery soon after.”

According to Dr. Witcher, Awtrey’s surgery went great, but circumstances could have

been much different had Awtrey not reached out to his cardiologist.

“We bypassed all of the blocked vessels that needed to be bypassed and then he was out of the hospital in four days or so,” Witcher said. “He’s really just a great patient. He’s done everything right on his end and he’s healed up great.”

Since his surgery, Awtrey has been able to return to his active lifestyle and, more importantly, has been open and intentional about sharing his story, in hopes that other people will be aware of and pay attention to their symptoms and go to the doctor if necessary.

Since his surgery, Awtrey said knows of five men who have gotten checked out as a result of hearing his testimony and two of them found out they needed procedures, as well.

“People need to get checked and they don’t need to ignore symptoms,” Awtrey said. “Symptoms are there for a reason. When I pray for people in the hospital, I always say, ‘Thank you, Lord, for symptoms.’ They lead us to a solution. They lead us to a diagnosis.”

First Baptist Church Pinson Senior Pastor David Awtrey

Ascension St. Vincent’s East cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Adam Witcher

David Awtrey is an active outdoorsman

Trussville

From

restroom facility at the Mall area.

During public comments, Kathy Prince spoke on the construction of homes in the Cahaba Homestead district, saying that in 2017 and 2018 several original homes had been demolished, which prompted a temporary demolition moratorium from the city after public feedback.

Prince said that after the moratorium was passed a “compromise solution to a proposed preservation plan,” that put in place guidelines for home development. However, she said that though some follow the guidelines, there are others that “brazenly defy” them.

“Since this time at least four more original homes have been lost and replaced with new construction with non-compatible size and scale, non-compatible architectural,” she said. “The public has spoken out and the city offers no help.”

She said that a nonprofit was organized to advocate for the district with the site Cahabaheritage.org, receiving more than 1,000 followers online, and that others claim that there is not majority support but these individuals cannot provide the metrics to back this up.

“I just want to challenge the city,” she said. “What’s the remedy to this situation because there are still people who care about this?”

Mayor Buddy Choat commented after the meeting to say that there is a process that prospective homeowners go through that concerns home designs. They are encouraged to present design plans with specialists in the city, he said.

“They try to work out a balance between today’s architects and some of the old,” Choat said. “So far it’s worked out pretty good. Not everyone has been as easy to work with as maybe others but, for the most part, at least we have a process and plan.”

Arnold Reichert then spoke

L oca L / R egion

TCS

From front page

Board of Education in order to interview the five finalists for the position of Superintendent of Trussville City Schools. All interviews will be held at the Central Office in the Board Room (476 Main Street).

about plans to build a restroom facility at the tennis courts in the Mall of Trussville. Like the Cahaba Homestead, the Mall is a historic area.

Reichert spoke favorably of the area, calling it a good place to live but was alerted to city equipment digging a pit at the courts. He said that he later learned that a septic tank was being planned for the pit.

“Please do not deface our city Mall with this monster of a project,” he told the council. He showed a copy of the graphics for the facility, noting that it is 25 feet long, 20 feet wide and 15 feet tall, totaling 500 square feet.

“That’s just a designated eye sore as far as people that live in the Mall think about it,” he said.

He then spoke of a pavilion that was built by the Trussville utilities department supposedly without approval from the nearby residents, which he said blocks certain views. He expressed misgivings about unattended restrooms being places that could pose a danger to children in the area.

“We all know now what can happen in restrooms and we don’t want our children involved in that,” he said. “These restrooms are unattended and a place where somebody could hide out. We don’t want that.”

He added that Trussville police have said that they can’t make people leave the area and that they can stay late at night as long as there is no disturbance of the peace. He recommended that the facility is not built and pointed to the pickleball courts restrooms being a better alternative.

Choat commented that there was a demand for build-

ings like the restroom facility and countered Reichert’s point about the pavilion, saying that the structure is used for multiple events such as family reunions. Restroom buildings will be good for such events, he said.

“We worked extensively for over a year on the design,” he said. “The design is really designed to fit that area. We have brick and we have stone that matches that gazebo. It’s very simple, they would be locked at nighttime just like our other restrooms are. As far as inviting people to come out there – we don’t have that problem with our other restrooms so they’ll be open during the day and closed during the nighttime and they’ll be clean and kept up to how we want them to be by the parks and recreation department.”

In other business, the council:

• Reappointed Board of Zoning Adjustments members Max Bender and Jeff Shelley, with terms ending on Feb. 15, 2026, Declared Feb. 25 as Arbor Day

• Approved a resolution authorizing Choat to sign a declaration of restrictive covenant for a property on Pear Street to allow driveway access, Held a public hearing and later approved an alcohol license for a Chevron location, and

• Held a public hearing and later approved an alcohol license for Steele Hall Brewing.

The Trussville City Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at City Hall on 131 Main Street.

While the interviews will not be live-streamed, they are open to the public and will also be recorded for posting at a later date.

Kindness

From front page

pers were surprised with free groceries February 17, at the Trussville Winn-Dixie, in honor of Random Acts of Kindness Day.

Random patrons at the Trussville Winn-Dixie on 465 Main Street were surprised at check-out when they were greeted by District Director Eugene Okorley and Store Manager Harold Craton, who paid for their groceries.

In addition to the free groceries, the customers were given a free coupon to try the new curbside pickup option and a Winn-Dixie gift card to give to a friend, or stranger, as a way to pay the kindness forward by sharing with others.

The curbside pickup option is a new service offered to online shoppers by Winn-Dixie stores. The stores began offering online shopping in 2022.

“Offering an additional convenience to our customers, our new curbside pickup service for Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket is a natural expansion of our shop online platform,” said Andrew Nadin, Chief Customer and Digital Officer of Southeastern Grocers.

The meeting information is as follows:

Monday, Feb. 27, 2023

• 5:30 pm - Dr. John Barge

7:00 pm - Dr. Kevin Maddox

Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023

5:30 pm - Dr. Bart Reeves

• 7:00 pm - Mr. Charles Tony Willis

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

• 6:00 PM - Dr. Holly Sutherland

In addition, the Trussville City Board of Education an-

nounced it will hold a Called Board Meeting on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at 5 p.m., for the purpose of a student hearing and discipline, consideration of field trips, personnel and other business. The Board of Education may resume the Called Board meeting after the final superintendent interview to provide next steps in the superintendent search process. The meeting will be held in the Board Room of Central Office.

Additionally, Trussville Winn-Dixie donated $10 for every online purchase on Random Acts of Kindness Day to the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama.

“As a grocer, it’s our mission to provide our customers with quality products at a great value, and to offer services that meet the needs of their busy lifestyles. It’s also our passion, and our responsibility, to ensure our communities are well nourished,” Nadin said.

“That’s why we are celebrating this new offering by giving back to our local food banks to aid in the fight against hunger within the very

communities we serve. We’re in the people business, we just happen to sell groceries – in stores and online,” he added. As an extra incentive, Winn-Dixie online customers will receive $20 off orders of $50 or more and enjoy free curbside pickup or delivery for a limited time. After the introductory offer, fees are as low as $1.99 for pickup and $9 for delivery. Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), operates grocery retailers Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie stores across a five state footprint including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Signs protest against a planned restroom facility near the tennis courts at the historic community of Mall in Trussville.

(Photo credit: Scott Buttram)

Store Manager Harold Craton surprises customers on Random Acts of Kindness Day (Photo courtesy of Winn-Dixie)

Finally, at noon, all in attendance met in front of Washington Hall to “share cupcakes with George Washington and sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to the Father of our Country.”

“Washington’s Birthday at the American Village means family-friendly fun, learning a little bit about American history and meeting, of course, President Washington and many other patriots of the past,” American Village communications officer Melanie Poole said. “You can meet Abigail Adams, Mr. and Mrs. Washington, of course; you can play Colonial games on the green, learn to march with the Continental Army and lots of other things that will remind you what it means to be an American.”

Following the birthday celebration, attendees were free to choose from a variety of other educational opportunities and experiences, including lessons in 18th century fashion or being an 18th century apothecary, learning to play Colonial games, attending the “Ye Old TwoLipped Theater” puppet show, or hearing speeches from Ab-

igail Adams, John Adams and Martha Washington.

At 2 p.m., a patriotic concert titled “Made in the U.S.A.” was held at Liberty Hall.

“Going to American Village on President’s Day was a great opportunity for us to get a better look at history, with their interpreters dressed in full costume and not breaking character,” FCCS Elementary Activity Coordinator Tabatha Feduska said. “Although we’re not able to actually meet people from the past, we are able to experience and have a better understanding of who they were.”

While the local homeschool group has visited American Village before, Feduska said that it was many years ago and before her time with the group. She has been trying to plan a trip in recent years, but the Covid pandemic put a hold on things.

“With the pandemic and everything that’s happened, we just haven’t been able to go, and they (American Village) haven’t really been able to take field trips and large groups,” Feduska said. “But like I told my kids, if we don’t learn about history, we forget history. I just thought this would be a great time for

Former Springville High School student named Navy Recruit Training Command’s Junior Instructor of the Year

By Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher O’Grady

GREAT LAKES, Il. —

Engineman 2nd Class Morgan

Rogers, a former Springville High School student from Birmingham, Alabama, is a recruit division commander (RDC) and the Junior Instructor of the Year (JIOY) at U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command (RTC), the Navy’s only boot camp.

all of us, and what better day than President’s Day. I know that some of the kids were probably a little too young to fully understand what they were hearing, but I know there are pieces that they will remember, and I am hoping that those will be building blocks for them to remember and want to learn more about later.”

While the future is yet to be determined, Feduska said that she hopes the students of FCCS will have the opportunity to visit American Village again, to build onto those foundational blocks of knowledge they laid Monday, as well as to visit areas of the Village they may have missed this time around.

According to Melanie Poole, “Washington’s Birthday Celebration” is an event that has been held annually on President’s Day since the year 2000, after American Village first opened in November 1999.

To learn more about American Village, visit www. americanvillage.org.

To learn more about Faith Community Christian School, visit their website at fccstrussville.com or call FCCS Administrator Melissa Jordan at (205) 616-7947.

RTC’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Kertrek Brooks named Rogers as the JIOY. She also received the Junior Instructor of the Quarter for the second quarter. She competed against another RDC for the award. As an RDC, Rogers teaches recruits various military instructions.

“It’s a plethora of things,” said Rogers. “You go from instructing how to wear a uniform, military bearing, how to say things, when to say things, to basic firefighting. One thing they’ve incorporated in the last year here is [teaching] life skills.”

The selection process consists of going in front of a board and teaching, as well as submitting a package that highlights what the nominee has achieved. Rogers thinks the board itself made her stand out. She started with a high tempo to engage the board members.

“You’ve got to go in there, and you’ve got to grab the attention of the audience,” said Rogers. “There was a lot of back-and-forth—questions were being asked and hands were being raised. I think that’s one thing I did well. I have to let them know, ‘I’m here to teach you, but I’m a human being just like you. This is going to be a lot of give and take here, if you’ve got any questions, feel free.’

Because at the end of the day I had to learn this too.”

Rogers is a driven Sailor, and it showed not only in her board but also in her

well-rounded package. Rogers is only a few classes away from getting a bachelor’s degree in sports psychology. She is qualified in the master training specialist program and the ships training team. She also volunteered with local high school basketball teams and became a notary public for the state of Illinois.

Senior Chief Gas Turbine Systems Technicians Serena Ruiz nominated her for the award. Rogers recognized her leaders and credits her achievement to Ruiz and Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Madison Barkman.

“One thing about senior chief is she’s going to stay on you,” Rogers added. “I’d say senior chief along with [HM1] Barkman, they’re a pretty big reason why I was able to come out. They stayed on me.”

Rogers is getting ready to transfer to her next com-

mand. She went on to explain how her time at RTC was challenging due to all the instructional changes from the COVID pandemic.

“My time here at RTC has been bittersweet,” said Rogers. “Starting out, it was normal operations, and then COVID came and it kind of shifted everything. Overall, I can say I enjoyed my time here.”

Rogers served aboard the USS Rushmore (LSD 47), in Sasebo, Japan, before reporting to RTC. Boot camp is approximately 10 weeks and all enlistees into the U.S. Navy begin their careers at the command. Training includes physical fitness, seamanship, firearms, firefighting and shipboard damage control along with lessons in Navy heritage and core values, teamwork and discipline. More than 40,000 recruits train annually at the Navy’s only boot camp.

For all your printing & shipping needs!

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Students receive instruction on how to be a soldier in Washington’s Continental Army.

(Photo by Dan Guffey)

Engineman 2nd Class Morgan Rogers, from Birmingham, Alabama, is a recruit division commander and the Junior Instructor of the Year at U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command, the Navy’s only boot camp. Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Stephane Belcher

Officer Ryan Miller. During December, which was three months into the fiscal year, 24% of the general fund revenues and 21.9% of the local revenues were received, down compared to this time in 2022. The month was ended with an excess of expenditures of $437,000 and an unreserved fund balance of $3.7 million.

Afterwards, health sciences teacher and HOSA advisor Shannon Logan presented an overview of the program for the board. Logan said that she has been serving as a registered nurse for 14 years and the course is now in its seventh year at the school district.

Logan presented a slideshow with pictures of students who have taken part in the course, as well as information on what the classes teach.

“It is a career and technical education pathway where

Springville

From front page

city. Discussions about ordering a new truck were first presented at the Feb. 6 meeting.

The Council agreed on the need for a new truck but asked for clarification on terms of payment.

“If we order it now, we won’t get it for 32 to 36 months, which is three years from now,” said Fire Chief Richard Harvey. “We’re not required to put anything down until delivery.”

In the Feb. 6 meeting, Harvey presented the Council with a request to purchase a new fire truck for the city. He said the new truck would cost $788,060. The city purchased the same truck in 2020 for $560,000.

Due to the time required for building the truck, Harvey presented the proposal

our students learn about wellness and nutrition, injuries, technology, how to take care of people and communication,” she said. “It’s a lot of good things. Basically teaching them how to be health care professionals.”

Logan explained that the program will offer the following classes for students – Foundations of health sciences, human body structures and function, patient care technician and health science

as a proactive measure to address future needs, which could include the requirement for a third fire station in the city.

He also said the city would like to sell three of its current trucks including a 1996 truck, which is kept as a reserve service vehicle to help pay for the new vehicle.

“We need to make a decision to lock in,” Harvey said. “If that price goes and we wait two months or four months, I can tell you it’s going to be at least $840,000.”

After some discussion on ways to pay for the truck when it is delivered, the Council voted unanimously to order the new truck.

In the work session before the meeting, Springville Librarian Jamie Twente presented updated library usage figures from last year.

“We had almost 19,000

internships. She said that HOSA is a course that is integrated by the state. It is an organization that helps graduating students get ahead in the health field.

80 students are enrolled in the health sciences course, with 57 having been involved in HOSA. Logan said that nearly 800 students have been in the health sciences courses over the years. She added that there has also been a high passing rate since it was im-

visitors. We offered 299 programs. Our program attendance was just over 5,000 people,” Twente said. “Our library has 7,946 card holders.”

Twente said the library did not have a young adult collection in 2015. She said the collection started in 2016 and has grown from approximately 200 books read by young adults to more than 2000 in 2022.

The dais in the council chamber was decorated with signed paper hearts for the meeting in recognition of National Love Your Library Month.

“Those are from library patrons. It’s National Love Your Library Month,” Twente said. “Those are mostly from children, and some adults, who love their library. We put them up all over the windows in our li-

plemented. Board President Kathy Dutton asked if the program counts as a college credit, to which Logan said that this has been allowed for students recently.

“We’re so thankful for the work you do and how you work with our kids,” Superintendent John Moore told Logan. “It’s an impactful program.”

In his comments Moore announced that the special education program for high needs students was awarded a $300,000 grant from the state. He added that no positive drug tests results have been recorded in students for the past school year.

Additionally, Moore said that the Leeds Elementary School roads are in need of paving and that he may have to meet with an architect to oversee the project.

The next meeting will be held on March 14, at 6:30 p.m., at the Leeds Board of Education Building on 1517 Hurst Avenue.

brary, so we brought them for the Council to see.”

In other business, the Council appointed Kristi Kerr to the Historical Commission. The Council also approved Council members Katrina Hennings and Tim Walker as voting delegates to the annual convention of the Alabama League of Municipalities along with Mayor Dave Thomas.

Thomas announced a public hearing will be held at the March 6 meeting to discuss proposals for updated voting districts for Springville. The Council began working with the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham last year to redraw the districts.

The next meeting of the Springville City Council will be held on March 6, at 6 p.m., with a work session at 5:30 p.m.

Clay

From front page

requested by the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency (EMA).

“The county EMA has been asking us, asking all 36 cities in Jefferson County and Division G within Alabama to enter into a multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan,” said City Manager Ronnie Dixon. “This will be so the Jefferson County EMA can act on our behalf if we have an emergency like a tornado.

“If you were here before in 2012, you know there’s a threshold that has to be met county-wide before FEMA will offer any assistance. So, by entering into this multi-jurisdictional agreement, Jefferson County EMA will be able to compile and present on behalf of everyone so they will know you’ve reached that level of disaster coverage.”

The threshold for disaster coverage, according to Dixon, accounts for uninsured losses. He said Clay did not get relief funding in 2012 because losses did not reach the threshold for FEMA relief.

The multi-jurisdictional plan includes all cities in Jefferson County and extends to EMA Alabama Division G. The Alabama EMA has divided the state into seven geographical divisions to better manage emergency responses at a local level.

Alabama EMA Division G

encompasses Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Cleburne and Calhoun counties.

The council unanimously approved the resolution. It will now be sent to the county EMA, which will present the plans for all the participating jurisdictions to FEMA for future emergency aid management.

Captain Chris Horn of the Center Point Fire District announced the department has added a rescue truck serving station four in the district. The station is located on Clay-Palmerdale Road and is one of the stations serving the Clay community.

The city of Clay is served by the Center Point Fire District and shares coverage with the cities of Center Point and Pinson.

In the City Manager’s Report, Dixon said the city’s general fund has a balance of $2.9 million and the reserve fund also has a balance of $2.9 million. The city’s capital fund has a balance of $1.7 million. He said the city has not received any ad valorem tax yet.

“Most of that is due to inflation in the cost of what people are paying for groceries and other materials,” Dixon said. “We’re going to have to pay it too but for the next 18 to 24 months it’s going to be really skewed.”

The next meeting of the Clay City Council is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Feb. 28, at Clay City Hall.

Captain Chris Horn announced a new rescue vehicle serving the Clay community. (Photo by Terry Schrimscher)

Shannon Logan gives a presentation of the health sciences program. (Photo by Nathan Prewett)

Merit

From front page

academic achievements of high school students across the United States.

Jones is one of only 15,000 students who have been named a National Merit Finalist out of a pool of 1.5 million students who entered the competition. Jones is being recognized for his exceptional academic achievements, including his outstanding performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

Jones has been a standout student throughout his time at Hewitt-Trussville High School, maintaining an impressive 4.4 GPA while taking challenging Advanced Placement courses. He has also been involved in a variety of extracurricular activities, including Drum Major for the HTHS Marching Husky Band, Principal Clarinet in the Alabama Symphony Youth Orchestra, member of the National Honor Society, and Secretary for the Math Honorary Society.

Cancer

From front page

This event is intended to educate people about the stages of colon cancer and the progression of the disease.

“March is colorectal cancer awareness month, and we are having the American Cancer Society’s big inflatable colon in our lobby on March 1 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.,” Senior Marketing Specialist Shea Allen said. “Also, during that time, the community is invited to come register for a Cologuard screening kit that will be mailed to them, if they meet the criteria, about five business days after the event.”

Ascension St. Vincent’s East oncologist Dr. Laura Dover said that colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States.

“Colorectal cancer awareness is important because it is one of the rare cancers that can be prevented altogether,” Dover said. “That means more than making a diagnosis at an early stage, which is important, as well. It means that precancerous lesions, broadly

Jones now has the opportunity to compete for one of 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million. These scholarships will be awarded to students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in college and beyond.

“I am honored to have been named a National Merit Finalist,” said Jones. “I’m so grateful to God for giving me this opportunity, and I truly would not have made it

referred to as polyps, can be detected and removed so that a person never develops cancer at all.”

The ability for community members who attend the event to register for a free Cologuard kit not only helps with early detection, but also provides a less intrusive option than starting their journey with a colonoscopy, Dover said. “There are now stool studies available that are highly sensitive to the possibility that a patient may have a colorectal cancer,” she said. “While not perfect, these studies can signal which people are most likely to benefit from a colonoscopy, while assuring others they can opt-out of this more invasive screening tool until another annual stool study. These stool studies are not for everyone, such as people with a family history of colorectal cancer or a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, in which case colonoscopies are often still the preferred screening tool.”

People may ignore the signs and avoid testing for colorectal cancer for a variety

Newly opened CrossFit Righteous in Leeds balances healthy mind, healthy body

By Nathan Prewett For the Tribune

LEEDS – “A healthy mind in a healthy body” the old saying goes, something that fitness trainers and CrossFit

Righteous owners Jared and Nina Jordan in Leeds do their best to instill in their clients.

to this point without constant encouragement from amazing teachers, counselors, parents, and friends.”

Jones Preg’s accomplishment is a testament to the exceptional academic environment at Hewitt-Trussville High School, where students are encouraged to pursue excellence and achieve their full potential. He plans to attend Auburn University in the fall, where he will study Chemical Engineering and continue exploring his passion for music.

of reasons, but as with any cancer, early detection key to preventing more serious complications and treatments down the road.

“It is easy to understand why people are hesitant to undergo a colonoscopy,” Dover said. “These (Cologuard) stool studies are a helpful, noninvasive first screening test. Again, the goal of colorectal cancer screening is to identify and remove precancerous polyps before they have time to develop into invasive cancers that would require larger surgeries. It is also best to identify any invasive cancer as early as possible to improve outcomes with the least amount of treatment possible.

“In summary, early identification of both precancerous and cancerous lesions of the colon and rectum ultimately leads to the least disruption to one’s quality of life, and that is the most important message of colorectal cancer awareness.”

DETAILS

WHAT: Colorectal Cancer

Awareness event

WHEN: Wednesday, March 1, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE: Ascension St. Vincent’s East lobby

Hailing from upstate New York, the couple ran a CrossFit affiliate for a number of years until they decided to pull up stakes and move elsewhere with their two children.

“We had a plan to move down south. It’s where we wanted to raise our kids,” said Jared. “We love the state of Alabama. When COVID hit, New York was shut down about as tight as you can get. That just kind of expedited us. So we decided to sell out in New York, and we did.”

They first made their way down south to Tennessee where they managed a remote program, but they eventually chose to move further south and into Leeds.

“We decided that it was time for us to reopen, to have another CrossFit affiliate, and we found Leeds,” Jared said. “We fell in love. It felt like home immediately and we just felt like this was a place where God brought us to do good in the community.”

The couple are level three trainers in CrossFit, a difficult to attain certification that less than 1,800 trainers in the world have, Jared said, who is also part of the seminar staff, a position that takes him throughout the country to train other coaches.

CrossFit Righteous opened its doors on Jan. 9. There are several different programs offered consisting of personal training, mindset coaching, nutrition and the regimens established by the national CrossFit brand. Righteous has programs for youths, with one for children of ages five to 11.

“Our main focus there is teaching kids how to live this healthy lifestyle,” Jared said. “And it’s how to make fitness really fun so it doesn’t feel like a job for them so as they grow older, whether it be in school, sports, or whatever it may be, it’s something that they enjoy to do. And we put it in their lifestyle as a young

human and then they just carry that with them.”

Additionally, there is also a program for teenagers from 12 to 16 years old. Jared stressed the ability of fitness to impact the minds of young people.

“It’s a lot of different things at that age,” Jared said. “It’s not only building this healthy lifestyle, not only feeling confident in your own skin, but giving them the ability to hold their head up when they walk through school. We’ve got some 14-yearolds here right now that at one point were feeling low self-esteem, low confidence, and their parents come to us regularly like, ‘Their confidence has grown.’ They’re showing so many signs of growth, feeling comfortable and happy with themselves.”

Fitness is not all physical, say Jared and Nina. One’s emotional well-being is just as important as exercising the body and maintaining a healthy diet. This is especially important for the kids and teenagers that Jared spoke of, giving them the message of being strong and capable.

In addition to Nina being a fitness trainer, she is also a mindset coach.

“I just started out not too long ago with the mindset coaching and I’ve really enjoyed it,” Nina said. “And basically I take our everyday mindset of what the world has put into our brains, or minds, what we’re supposed to think and kind of pull back the curtain on that and change the focus of how we’re thinking.”

So what makes a healthy mindset? Nina explained that not giving into doubts about yourself and encouraging yourself to at least try can make all the difference in the

world.

“Someone that can optimistically look at situations and think, ‘Hey, I can do that. At least I have the ability to try my best at something,’ versus telling yourself that you can’t do something or that or that’s scary or I’m not able to do whatever it is in front of you and just give yourself the benefit of the doubt because everything that you think transitions into every cell in our body and actually how you perform,” she said.

As far as nutrition is concerned, this is something that is paramount. Jared encouraged taking up a diet of whole foods as part of the training where he and Nina help people figure out what’s best for them.

“Nutrition and fitness go hand in hand,” said Jared. “Nutrition is the foundation of all the processes that happen in life. It’s like putting gas in the car. It’s like if you put water in the gas tank, it’s not going to go very far. It’s the same idea with nutrition.”

If you do a Google on CrossFit gyms, you’ll find that they often have unique names – a few local examples are “Rebellion” and “Mudtown.”

“We felt like we were led here by faith,” he said. “And we wanted to make sure that we could tie this place in with our faith. And my wife – a core value of her life is just gratitude in every aspect, whether it’s displaying that through herself or being able to share that with others, but we just didn’t feel like ‘CrossFit Gratitude’ was the right combination.”

While traveling for seminars, Jared was looking up synonyms for “gratitude” and the word “righteous” kept appearing to him. At first he wasn’t keen but it kept popping up so much that he texted Nina, who told him that this was the one for them. He said that the word embodied their values as a gym that services the people and to “share gratitude”.

Nina and Jordan will hold a grand opening on Feb. 25. They will host free fitness classes for kids, teens and adults.

The gym maintains a website at cfrighteous.com and a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/righteousleeds.

Photo by Nathan Prewett

Jones Preg (Photo submitted by Whitney Preg)

L ifesty L e

Retiring abroad? Tips and tools to help you make an informed decision

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior,

What are the key factors to consider when contemplating retiring abroad? My husband and I will soon be retiring and are interested in moving abroad to a country that’s cheaper and warmer than the U.S.

Looking Ahead

Dear Looking,

Whatever your reasons for aspiring to retire abroad – a lower cost of living, a better climate or a desire for adventure –you need to do your homework and learn everything you can about the country you’re interested in because it’s not an easy move. Here are some different tips and tools to help you make an informed decision.

Researching Tools

If you’re in the decision-making process of where to retire, InternationalLiving. com and LiveAndInvestOverseas.com are two excellent websites that provide articles, information and lists of the top retirement destinations abroad based on cost of living, climate, health care, housing, visas, infrastructure and more.

Once you pick a country or two that interest you, a smart move is to talk or network with some expats who have already made the move you’re thinking about making. They can give you tips and suggestions on many issues, as well as the advantages and disadvantages and day-to-day reality of living in a particular country. Facebook is a good resource for locating expat groups.

But before committing, experts recommend visiting multiple times during different seasons to see whether you can envision yourself living there and not just exploring the place as a tourist. Here are some other factors you need to look into.

Cost of living: Retiring abroad used to be seen as a surefire way to live beyond your means, and for many countries it still is. But depending on where you move, the U.S. dollar may not stretch as far as you think. To compare the cost of living in hundreds of cities and countries use Numbeo.com.

Visa requirements: If you want to spend just part of the year living abroad or are willing to move from country to country, most countries offer a three or six-month tourist visa, which is easy to get. But if you want to set up permanent residence abroad you might have to jump over a few more hurdles depending on where you want to retire. To research visa requirements in the countries that interest you, visit VisaGuide.World.

Health care: Most U.S. health insurance companies do not provide coverage outside the U.S., and neither does Medicare. Check with the embassy (see USembassy.gov) of your destination country to see how you can be covered as a foreign resident.

Many countries provide government-sponsored health care that’s inexpensive, accessible and just as good as what you get in the states, or you may want to buy a policy

through Medibroker.com or BupaGlobal.com.

Also know that most people who retire abroad eventually return to the U.S., so experts recommend paying your Medicare Part B premiums. If you drop and resume Part B, or delay initial enrollment, you’ll pay a 10 percent premium penalty for every 12-month period you weren’t enrolled.

Housing: Buying a home in a foreign country can be complicated, so it’s almost always better to rent first until you’re sure you want to permanently reside there.

Money matters: Opening or maintaining a bank account abroad can also be difficult. You may have to establish a checking account with an institution that has international reach like Citibank or maintain a U.S. bank account that you can access online. Claiming your Social Security benefits, however, should not be a problem as they offer direct deposit to almost every country in the world. See SSA.gov/international/payments.html.

Taxes: You also need to research tax rules in your prospective countries and be aware that even if you’re living in another country, as a U.S. citizen you’ll still most likely need to file an annual U.S. tax return – see IRS.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p54. pdf. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

opinion

The Port of Mobile continues to increase economic impact for state of Alabama

By Paul DeMarco

Alabama’s roots have always been those men and women that farmed the land. As the state grew, natural resources including coal, coke and iron ore became important products. Manufacturing has now put Alabama on the map when it comes to auto, aviation and shipping.

Thus, the gains being made at the Port of Mobile are not surprising. This past year, the Alabama Port Authority had record production, with double digit growth of shipping containers. In addition, all of the supply chain issues we have seen these past couple of years across the Nation, particularly, in the West Coast, have shown that there have to be other locations for manufacturers to ship their products. Alabama’s central geography is indeed an advantage for the state, but Mobile Bay has never been deep enough for some of the larger ships.

However, there are a number of important infrastructure projects for the state port under construction. The channel is being dredged and widened. Once that work is complete, the Port of Mobile will be have the deepest terminal for ship containers in the Gulf of Mexico. Add to that, the state will increase the access to rail facilities at the docks themselves and intermodal facilities in central and north

Alabama. That is the ninth year shipping has increased at the Port. While the port is growing, so has the economic impact on the state of Alabama, which has amounted to the tune of $85 billion in recent years to the state. Those dollars are important to all of Alabama because they result in more jobs for our citizens and more revenue to both local and

state government.

While agriculture, manufacturing and the state’s natural resources are the back bone of the state economy, the Port of Mobile will continue to be an integral part of the future of Alabama.

Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives and can be found on Twitter @ Paul_DeMarco

Paul DeMarco

outdoo R s

WFF’s goal is to make public fishing lakes even better

By David Rainer Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

The Alabama State Public Fishing Lakes (PFLs) program is adapting to better serve the citizens of the state who depend on these lakes for recreational angling opportunities.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division manages 23 PFLs in 20 counties throughout the state to serve areas without easy access to the numerous larger lakes, rivers and reservoirs.

The WFF-run lakes range in size from 13 to 184 acres for a total of 1,912 surface acres. Each lake is intensively managed to provide sustainable, quality fishing for numerous species, including largemouth bass, bluegill and redear sunfish (shellcracker). Catchable-size channel catfish are stocked in each lake during the winter. Many lakes have opportunities to catch crappie, and a few are stocked with hybrid striped bass.

During the COVID pandemic, Alabamians were flocking to the PFLs as a way to get outside when other activities were limited. That bump has now dissipated to usage lower than pre-Covid, and WFF is trying to boost the use of the PFLs.

“We’re making changes to draw people back to our lakes,” said Jonathan Brown, WFF’s Public Fishing Lakes Manager. “We’re changing some management plans. Hopefully that will keep people coming. We have a lot of lakes in transition right now.

Normally we have about one lake we are renovating every year or year and a half. Right now, we’re the busiest we’ve been in a long time.

“We’re changing the model of how some of our PFLs are run. We’re looking at several lake renovations in the next couple of years that will provide great fishing opportunities. The way they were run when they were first started in the 1950s is just not working the same for a lot of our lakes. We’re changing the management model and how we manage the fish populations.”

Additional outdoor recreational opportunities are being developed at several of the state fishing lakes. The Pike County Lake in Troy and the Walker County Lake in Jasper both have archery parks at the lakes as well as walking trails.

“I love the partnerships with local communities at our state lakes and the added recreational benefits that are being added,” said Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship. “The use of these lakes is so important to the quality of life in these areas. The more people we can get out to the lakes to fish, boat, hike, practice archery or enjoy just being outdoors at the lake the better it is for the health and well-being of the community residents.”

One of the challenges recently is finding lake managers who are willing to make a significant commitment to the property. Lake managers are not state employees and operate the lakes as contractors for the state. Their income is derived from the sale of fishing permits and concession sales from the bait shop. When managers leave, WFF

has had difficulty finding replacements.

Chris Greene, WFF’s Chief of Fisheries, said the Department is looking at new approaches to keep the PFLs open.

“We’re having a difficult time finding lake managers,” Greene said. “Do we look for partnerships with local governments? Do we keep the lakes open with no manager on site? We’re looking at different approaches because we’re being forced into it.

“In society as a whole, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find people for certain positions in the workforce. I think that’s what we’re dealing with. It takes a special type of person to run these lakes. You want somebody

who interacts well with the public and has a good work ethic. You want somebody with the skills to repair things around the lake property. You have to find somebody who doesn’t mind being confined to working long hours at a lake environment. It takes a special kind of person to be open to that, who enjoys that, enjoys serving customers at the lake. Those people are becoming harder and harder to find.

“And we’ve had to close a few of our lakes because of infrastructure issues. Some of these lakes are beyond the useful life of the standpipes or drain tower or whatever it may be. It’s not what we want to do, but repairs have to be made. We’ve probably got

more lakes right now that are closed than we’ve ever had because of those two problems – finding a lake manager and/or infrastructure repair. The budget only goes so far.”

Greene said access to the PFLs is important to those with limited resources and limited mobility.

“The lakes are located in more rural areas where fishing opportunities were limited,” he said. “These lakes were put there for those folks who had been driving two or three hours to find a good place to fish. The PFLs were put in those counties to serve those constituents.

“And the fishing is good. It’s business as usual at the lakes that are open, and we’re hoping to get the ones offline open as soon as possible.”

Brown said WFF is working toward finalizing plans on some of these lakes. Barbour County Lake is drained right now because of infrastructure issues. Chambers County Lake has been drained and restocked. Brown hopes that lake will be reopen in the spring of next year. Escambia County Lake, once known for its 10-pound-plus bass, has an unbalanced fish population and is in need of attention.

New managers have been hired at Lee County Lake, Walker County Lake, Dallas County Lake and Geneva County Lake. Brown hopes those lakes will be open in the next few weeks. WFF is looking for a new manager for Clay County Lake.

Brown said the diversity in lake sizes and habitat qualities gives anglers a wide variety of fishing opportunities, and he couldn’t say which lake is favored over another.

“It depends on what the

public likes to fish for,” Brown said. “Each lake has its own unique perks. You can go to one lake and catch more bluegills than others. If you’re looking for double-digit bass, every year they’re pulling big bass out of DeKalb County Lake, which had an 11-pounder caught there recently. We renovated Washington County Lake a couple of years ago, and there’s some good bass fishing there.

“But I wouldn’t say one stands out in all areas over another. People who like to catch bream will like one lake over another one, and the same goes for bass, catfish or crappie.”

WFF does stock two fishout ponds at two lakes, Madison and Walker, for a different species – rainbow trout. Unfortunately, trout were not stocked this year at Walker because of a lack of a manager, but the trout fishing at Madison has been extremely popular this year.

“Our PFLs offer great opportunities to catch a variety of different fish species,” Brown said. “In the near future, after we renovate our PFLs, anglers will have a higher quality fishing experience for several years. That’s our plan.”

Visit www.outdooralabama.com/where-fish-alabama/alabama-public-fishing-lakes-pfls for more information and an interactive map of the locations of the lakes. Go to www.outdooralabama.com/public-fishing-lakes/pfl-rules-and-regulations for lake regulations. Contact Brown at Jonathan.brown@dcnr.alabama. gov to find out which lake manager positions are open and how to apply.

Alabama Public Fishing Lakes are great places for a day of fishing with the family. (Credit: ADCNR)

Washington County Public Fishing Lake obviously holds a nice population of big bass. (Credit: ADCNR)

Ben Purcell shows off another big bass caught at Washington County PFL. (Credit: ADCNR)

c a L enda R

Disability Rights & Resources Presents “An Evening With Josh Blue”

February 23 @ 5:30 pm Red Mountain Theatre, 1600 3rd Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35233 United States

about Josh Blue, visit https:// www.joshblue.com/. For additional details about DRR, please visit https://www.drradvocates.org/.

Storytime for Growin’

Beans with Ms. Allison: Art

February 24 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Pinson Public Library (RSMC), 4509 Pinson Boulevard Pinson, AL 35126 United States

To buy tickets to An Evening with Josh Blue, please visit Disability Rights & Resources (DRR) is pleased to announce, “An Evening With Josh Blue” at the Red Mountain Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 5:30 p.m.! DRR is bringing Blue’s side-splitting comedy tour, “AS NOT SEEN ON TV” to Birmingham and wants you to join in and laugh until you cry! There will be live music in the lobby, drinks and hors d’oeuvres during the reception at 5:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 7 p.m. You can also purchase items from the silent auction before the show. Proceeds from the Josh Blue show will help DRR establish the organization’s first fully equipped ADA resource center, The Next Step Resource Center.

As seen on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, Last Comic Standing in 2006 and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Josh embodies DRR’s mission and is an outstanding example of what the organization wants each and every person with disabilities to be—empowered and involved. Blue is not a cerebral palsy comic; he’s a comic who happens to have cerebral palsy. He does more than 200 shows every year, continuing to spread laughter and break down stereotypes of people with disabilities. His stand-up routine is in a constant state of evolution, and his off-the-cuff improvisational skills guarantee that no two shows are alike.

Although his tour will continue to another city after the evening, the financial impact of his stop in Birmingham will leave a lasting impression on those who will benefit from an Evening with Josh Blue.

With the funds, DRR plans to build The Next Step Resource Center in Birmingham.

The purpose of The Next Step Resource Center is to show the capabilities of a home that supports independent living. It will fall in line with the mission of DRR, and the universal design focuses on making the house safe and accessible for everyone, regardless of age, physical ability, or stature. Each room will have accessible features to make independent living more equitable, flexible and intuitive, promoting a lifestyle of hope and freedom within one’s home.

https://www.drradvocates. org/josh-blue-live-at-redmountain-theatre/. For more

rector of education. He is a founding member of Friends of Shades Creek, and has served on the boards of the Cahaba River Society and the Alabama Rivers Alliance.

This event is part of the Trussville Arbor Week celebration, which also includes a tree giveaway at the Mall Pavillion 9am-noon Feb 25 and a student art contest (art on display in the library Feb 20-26).

Anime & Unwind February 24 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Pinson Public Library (RSMC), 4509 Pinson Boulevard Pinson, AL 35126 United States

(All ages)

Join us for Storytime for Growin’ Beans with Ms. Allison on Friday, February 24th at 10 AM. Our theme is art We’ll read books, have fun, do a craft, & have a snack. Storytime is designed for pre-K children, but all ages are welcome.

Native Trees and the Urban Landscapewith Henry Hughes

Thursday, February 23: 6:30pm - 7:30pm

Trussville - LBK Auditorium

AGE GROUP: ADULT (AGES 18+)

EVENT TYPE: OUTDOORS/

NATURE, HOME & GAR-

DEN, ADULT PROGRAM

How to ensure the next generation of trees in our area

Join us for a special Arbor Week presentation by Henry Hughes, expert and innovator in preserving and propagating our locally native trees. He will share best practices and ideas for ensuring the success of the next generation of trees in the urban and suburban setting. He created the innovative “Centennial Trees Program” whereby the seeds and seedlings of native trees (that would often be mowed or eaten by wildlife) are carefully encouraged to grow and then replanted in similar areas. This plan helps to ensure that the progeny of trees that may have been in place for hundred of years will continue as the “next generation” after the older trees are no longer viable. Learn how you can protect native trees in our area, and support our local wildlife.

Henry Hughes studied forestry and botany at Sewanee/ University of the South, and plant & soil science at the University of Kentucky and Texas A&M University. He worked in forestry in Alabama for twenty-five years and retired from the Birmingham Botanical Gardens in 2018 after ten years as di-

(Adults)

It’s our anime club for adults!

Come to the library for Anime & Unwind on Friday, February 24th at 6 PM. Enjoy Asian snacks & hang out with fellow anime enthusiasts. We’re hosting a blind box swap this month. Bring your extra items from blind bags to trade with others. The library will also provide several mystery boxes for you to open as well.

Mardi Gras Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre!

Saturday, February 25: 6:00pm - 9:00pm Trussville - LBK Auditorium

AGE GROUP: ADULT

(AGES 18+)

EVENT TYPE: MUSIC/THEATER, ADULT PROGRAM

more, call 866-475-1014 (M-F 8am-6pm ET).

Pokemon Play & Trade February 27 @ 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm Pinson Public Library (RSMC), 4509 Pinson Boulevard Pinson, AL 35126 United States

HEALTH/BEAUTY

ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. FREE information kit. Call 844-322-9935.

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play a themed game and make a craft together.

GENERAC Standby Generators provide backup power during utility power outages, so your home and family stay safe and comfortable. Prepare now. Free 7-year extended warranty ($695 value!). Request a free quote today! Call for additional terms and conditions. 1-877323-5516

Use ItchNoMore® shampoo on dogs & cats to relieve secondary dermatitis, treat yeast infections, & eliminate doggy odor. At Tractor Supply® (www.happyjackinc.com)

AUTOMOTIVE

SUPPORT THE BLIND!

Donate a car to the American Council of the Blind. FAST FREE PICKUP. 24-hour response. Running or not. maximum tax deduction and no emission test required! Call 24/7: 844-601-1342.

AUTO INSURANCE from $29 month Free 2-minute Quote! We Compare all Insurance providers offers for you! Lowest Rates! Call Now 866-450-0943

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Knitters and crocheters, join us for fellowship and creativity!

A Mardi Gras Murder Mystery Dinner at Trussville Library!

Come join Wood Manor as we partner with the Trussville Public Library to bring you a Mardi Gras Murder Mystery! Set in the posh mansion of the governor of Louisiana, this mystery is filled with thrills, intrigue, and gossip. Upon arrival, guests will have the option of being a character or a spectator for the evening. Either way will assure a great time! Awards will be given out for best actors, best detectives, funniest personalities, and more! Tickets may be transferred to another person by contacting the library. Refunds will NOT be issued unless the event is canceled.

(All ages)

It’s Pokemon Day! Bring your cards to show off/trade & play against new friends during our Pokemon Play & Trade event on Monday, February 27th from 4:30 to 7:00 PM. You will not be required to trade cards.

American Girl Club

Monday, February 27: 4:00pm - 5:00pm Trussville - LBK Auditorium

AGE GROUP: TWEEN (3RD6TH) ELEMENTARY (K-5TH) EVENT TYPE: CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

Enjoy discussing this month’s featured American Girl, Kit (1934)! Participants will also

American Girl Club is for those who enjoy learning about history alongside the popular book series. Each month we will discuss the featured girl’s life and time period. Participants are encouraged to read a book from her series to be able to contribute to the discussion. Each meeting will also include games, a craft, and a light snack.

K - 5th Grade Students. Registration is Required.

January - Addy

February - Kit

March - Josefina

April - Kirsten

May - Molly (Play)

Yarn Manglers (Knit & Crochet group)

Monday, February 27: 6:00pm - 7:45pm

Trussville - Parkway Room AGE GROUP: ADULT (AGES 18+)

EVENT TYPE: DROP-IN, CRAFT, ADULT PROGRAM

Knit & crochet meetup group (aka The Yarn Manglers). Bring any projects you are working on; join us for fellowship and creativity. This is a great way to check in, catch up, see what everyone is working on, and get help if you are stuck. Please join usnewcomers are welcome! Join our Facebook group: YARN MANGLERS ANONYMOUS CPHS CTE Networking Bonanza

February 28 @ 8:30 am - 12:30 pm 1000 Eagle Drive, Center Point, AL 35215, 1000 Eagle Drive Center Point, AL 35215 United States CAREER TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT https://www.jefcoed.com/ centerpoinths NETWORKING BONANZA

February 28, 2023 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Center Point High Gymnasium 1000 Eagle Drive Center Point, Alabama 35215

205-655-3444

5360 Deerfoot Parkway – Trussville, AL

o bitua R y

James "Jimmy" Long

may 18, 1938 — february 7, 2023

Springville, Alabama

Jimmy Long, May 18, 1938 - Feb. 7, 2023, age 84, of Springville, AL went home to be with our Lord and Savior on Feb. 7, 2023.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Weldon Jones Long and Lena Mae Long; sister, Betty Garner; and grandson, James C Long, Jr.

Jimmy is survived by his loving wife, Christine Long; children, Leslie Alverson (Tommy), James C Long, Sr. (Brenda), and Johnny Himburg (Angie); sister, Linda Sumners; brother, Roy Long (Lisa); granddaughters, Lindsey Collier (Kenny), Miranda Tortorice (Matt), and Lauren Sheehan (Jason); grandsons, Noah Himburg and Colton Bryant; great grandchildren, Kaeson and Kollin Collier, Gavin, Zane and ViviAnn Tortorice, Madelynn Long, and Samantha

Sheehan.

The funeral service will be held at Jefferson Memorial in Trussville on Monday Feb. 13, 2023. Visitation at 11am and service at 12pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Jimmy's honor to AARL, The National Association for Amateur Radio, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111.

The family would like to extend a Thank You to the staff at Covenant Woods in Gardendale and to Vicki with Hope Hospice. You all were a blessing to the family.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James "Jimmy" Long, please visit our flower store.

Deborah "Debo" Lynn Malenfant

may 12, 1962 ~ february 9, 2023 (age 60)

Our sister, Debbie Malenfant, gained her wings Thursday, February 9th, 2023. She leaves behind her life partner, Lynn Wilson, three sisters, Lori Malenfant, Michele Rhines, Amy Malenfant, and nieces and nephews, Mallory Rinaldi, Bailey Coats, Evan Malenfant, Fred Burney, Tina Malenfant, Michael Huizar, Aaron Huizar, Stephanie Huizar-Beckett, and Evan Huizar. She is preceded in death by her parents, Mike and Joyce Malenfant, one sister Paula Huizar, and one nephew DJ Huizar. Debbie's celebration of life will be this summer, time and date to be determined.

Wayne Thomas

july 12, 1940 — february 11, 2023

Springville, Alabama

Wayne Thomas, age 82, of Springville, AL went to be with the Lord and his beloved mother "Mama Nell", father "Papa Roy", and sister Mary on February 11th 2023. Wayne worked as a Firefighter, Paramedic, and Registered Nurse. He retired as Captain at the Birmingham Fire Department. Wayne was a long time member of Cahaba Springs Presbyterian Church and the Alabama Firefighters Association. He was an avid car enthusiast who also enjoyed building and creating projects around his property as well as playing tennis with friends. He was also a fan of Alabama football and the Atlanta Braves.

Wayne was a father and provider to all. He is survived by his wife of 61 years

Mary Anne Thomas; sister Elaine Drennan; brothers Morris Thomas, Cooper Thomas, and Steve Thomas; daughters Cindy Brackenbury and Elaine Smith; Grandchildren Dallas Smith, Rachel Richards, Amanda Blakely, Todd Brackenbury and 8 Great Grand Children; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation begins at 10:00am at Cahaba Springs Presbyterian Church(610 Deerfoot Parkway, Trussville, AL) with service at 12:00pm. Gravesite following service at Jefferson Memorial(1591 Gadsden Hwy, Birmingham, AL).

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Wayne Thomas, please visit our flower store.

AskEddie

What Can I Expect When I Call the Funeral Home?

Losing a loved one is never easy and can often be disorienting, even if the death is not entirely unexpected. You’ll need to call the proper authorities to help get your bearings and proceed with the necessary arrangement. Depending on the circumstances of the death, you may need to call either the doctor who has been treating your loved one or 911. Note that if your loved one dies in a hospital or nursing home, the on-site staff can handle all this.

After that, it’s time to contact the funeral home director. Report what has happened and give an update on whether the coroner or examiner has released the body for transport; the funeral director cannot come to pick up the body until this has happened. Also, ask about a statement of trust, which will verify the director’s professionalism and general competence in helping you.

Your funeral director will respect the recentness of your loss and should not press you to make too many funeral service arrangements right off the bat. You will be asked to provide the deceased’s full name, basic biographical details, and Social Security number. You should stop and write some of this information before making the call, ensuring you can easily convey the requested details.

Your next step will be contacting family members and making formal funeral arrangements, which will seem overwhelming at the time but all of which your funeral director can assist you with.

HOME AND GARDENS

205-322-0543

If you have any questions about funeral planning please email: askeddie@jmgardens.com

Maurice Eugene Craft

july 8, 1927 ~ february 9, 2023 (age 95)

Maurice Eugene Craft, age 95, of Center Point, AL and native of Leeds, AL passed away on Thursday, February 9, 2023. He graduated from Leeds High School and served in the US Airforce. Maurice was of Baptist faith; he was a loving husband and father and loved being a grandfather. He is survived by his loving wife, Diane Craft; his daughters, Karen Craft (Michael Mynes) and Robyn Chapman (Allen); sons, Rex Rothe and David Rothe (Sandra); seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Grady and Nellie Craft and his daughter, Yvonne “Trudy” Smith.

The funeral for Maurice will be held at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Trussville on Wednesday, February 15th at 2:00 p.m. with visitation held one hour prior to the service. Burial will immediately follow the chapel service at Jefferson Memorial’s adjoining cemetery.

Evelyn Tarrant

may 25, 1922 — february 11, 2023

Evelyn Creech Rhodes Tarrant, age 100, passed away on February 11, 2023. She was a great example of how to age gracefully. Her children celebrate her life. When asked her secret to a long life, she answered “Love the Lord with all my heart, love my family and friends.”

Evelyn was born on May 25, 1922 in Birmingham, Alabama. She attended Barrett Elementary, Woodlawn High School, Howard College(Samford University) and The University of Alabama. In 1959, she received a B.A. in Education at Samford and in 1969, she received a M.S. Ed. in Counseling from The University of Alabama. She taught at William J. Christian Elementary and retired as the Counselor there in 1983. Evelyn was active in East Lake Methodist Church, Trussville Baptist Church, and South Roebuck Baptist Church. She sang in choirs, played the piano beautifully and instilled a love for music and education in others.

She is pre-deceased by her husband of 68 years, Coach and Principal- James Robert Tarrant Jr; her brother, Emmett C. Rhodes, Jr. and a granddaughter, Erin Maria Malone. Evelyn is survived by her three children: James Robert Tarrant III/Barbara, Janice Tarrant Malone/Michael, Marie Tarrant Mullins/Butch; six grandchildren; and fifteen great-grandchildren.

The Tarrant Family acknowledges with deepest gratitude every department at The Village of Cook Springs. For the past 13 years they have given love and tender care to Evelyn and her Family. She affectionately called the Village HOME. There will be a private graveside service with family.

Peggy White

september 17, 1930 — february 13, 2023

Odenville, Alabama Peggy White, 92, flew into the arms of her Savior on February 13, 2023, in Birmingham, AL. Peggy was born on September 17, 1930 in Birmingham, AL, to Harvey and Gertrude Willoughby. Peggy married Davie (Gene) White on January 21, 1949 in Birmingham. The couple had 3 children, Karen Beaver, Pamela White, Davie White Jr.. Peggy was best known for her beautiful quilts and her faithfulness to her faith, family and friends. She supported her husband in his military career, raising their children and being a wonderful homemaker. She was a member at First Baptist Church Odenville. She has been known for her abilities as seamstress and greatly enjoyed creating items to give as gifts to friends and family. Her greatest joy was watching her children and grandchildren grow in their love for the Lord. Peggy is survived by daughter-Karen Beaver, of Odenville, son-Davie White Jr. (Shari White), of Salado, TX; Granddaughters - Jennifer Stinson, of Olathe, KS, Jeanette Hamilton, of Phoenix, AZ, Tammy Anderson, of Red Bluff, CA, Grandsons - Zachary White, Joshua White both of Salado TX; 12 GREAT-Grandchildren, Alexia Cooper(15), Elizabeth Hamilton(15), Makayla Stinson(14), Isabel Hamilton(13), Trey Stinson(12), Kenny Cooper(12), Ty Hamilton(12), Micah Stinson(11), Autumn Hamilton(11), Hazel Stinson(5), Peyton Anderson(4), Jeffrey Anderson(1). Peggy is preceded in death by her father, Harvey Willoughby; her mother, Gertrude Willoughby; brother, H.D. Willoughby; sister, Dorthy Ann Sutton; her beloved husband, Davie (Gene) White Sr.; and her daughter, Pamela White. The service for Mrs. Peggy White will be held on Saturday, February 16, 2023, at 2pm at Jefferson Memorial and Gardens in Trussville, AL with visitation before at 1pm. Burial: Jefferson Memorial and Gardens, Trussville AL. Memorial donations can be made in Peggy's name to Alabama Baptist Children's Homes.

Patsy Lou Means

january 24, 1933 ~ february 12, 2023 (age 90)

Patsy Lou Smith Means, 90, a resident of Birmingham, Alabama passed away on Sunday, February 12, 2023. She was born at Coalgate, Oklahoma on January 24, 1933 to Richard Collins Smith and Odney Mary Kent Smith. Patsy attended schools in Coal County, Oklahoma and graduated from Coalgate High School in 1950. After graduation, she worked in bookkeeping and insurance in Idabel, Oklahoma and Dallas, Texas. She moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1952 where she met her husband, Carl Means. They moved to Alabama in 1968 making the Tarrant community their home. She was a Christian of the Baptist faith and an active member of Boyles Baptist Church in Tarrant for over 30 years. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, her joy was serving her family as a committed homemaker. She is survived by her son, Roger Carl Means and wife, Lynne, of Birmingham and her daughter, Kay Lanell Means Carter and husband, Joe, of Trussville. Mrs. Means is also survived by a granddaughter, Carlee Elizabeth Means Green, and husband, Jason, and a grandson, Andrew Thomas Carter. Her great grandchildren are Amelia Scott Green, Nathan Lee Green, and Maddox Tillman Green.

Other survivors include a sister, Sue Smith Sartin of Atoka, Oklahoma and a brother, Jimmy Smith and wife, Linda, of Duncan, Oklahoma along with many beloved nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Carl Nathan Means, her parents, and 3 brothers - Leon, Raymond, and infant brother Smith - and two sisters - Laura Fay Smith and Wanda Smith Childers.

Chapel Services will be held Friday, February 17, 2023 at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home, Trussville, Alabama at 12:00 noon with visitation beginning at 10:30 a.m. Graveside will follow the service at Jefferson Memorial Gardens. Memorial gifts may be made to: Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes, 2681 Rocky Ridge Lane, Birmingham, Alabama, 35216, or a ministry of your choice.

Ernie Stump

february 28, 1938 — february 12, 2023

Birmingham, Alabama

Ernie Stump of Birmingham, Alabama, age 84, went home to be with the Lord

on Sunday, February 12, 2023, following complications from lingering health issues. He faithfully served the Lord as a minister for nearly 55 years. He was born in Kentucky where he resided until 1978. He then moved with his family to Birmingham, Alabama where he served as pastor of Vestavia Primitive Baptist Church for nearly 20 years and later served as pastor of Beulah Primitive Baptist, Leeds Alabama until 2018

He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Imogene; his sons, Terry Stump (Melissa) and Don Stump (Amy); daughters, Karen Stump and Pam Nail (Clint); grandson, Wesley Stump (Stevie); granddaughters, McKinsey Brindley, Annabelle Stump, Isabelle Stump, and Katie Nail; great grandchildren, Bryson Stump, Jaidyn Stump, Walker Stump, Weston Stump and Rhett Brindley; sisters, Edith Oaks (Amos), Frances Grout (Melvin) and Genny Guthrie (Jim) as well as a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Perry and Stella Stump; brothers, Thurman Stump and Ervin Stump; sisters, Alta Coleman, Gladys Hill, and Delphia Morrison.

The funeral service will be held at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Trussville on Friday, February 17 at 2:00 p.m. The visitation will be Thursday, February 16 from 5 – 7 p.m. and one hour prior to the service on Friday. Burial will immediately follow the chapel service at Jefferson Memorial’s adjoining cemetery.

William "Bill" Emfinger

march 4, 1952 — february 11, 2023

Trussville, AL

William “Bill” Emfinger, age 70 of Trussville, AL passed away on February 11, 2023. He was born on March 4, 1952 in Jefferson County, AL to Edmond Emfinger and Jacqueline Davis Emfinger Lane. He retired as a public safety dispatcher for the City of Homewood and member of First Baptist Church of Trussville.

Bill was preceded in death by his late wife, Lydia Lester Emfinger and his parents.

Bill is survived by his wife, Sheila Emfinger; his three stepdaughters, Jessica Fagan (Kevin), Emily Lawyer (Michael) and Sarah Adams (Jesse); three step grandchildren; his brother, James E. Emfinger, Sr. (Marie); he also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews and extended family.

Bill

funeral home and perpetual care cemetery dedicated to serving our community with dignity and compassion. We Make it Personal® , one family at a time.

Leeds community remembers “Dougie” with

By Johnny Sanders Sports Editor

LEEDS – The Leeds baseball team honored Jonathan “Dougie” Douglas on Friday evening on opening day of their season by naming the home dugout after him as well as commemorating his name and number on the right field wall with a baseball that has his initials and number painted on it. “Dougie will always be in right field here at Leeds,” said Head Baseball Coach Jake Wingo.

The beloved Jonathan Douglas passed away on June 11 in a drowning incident at Logan Martin Lake. He was 18 years old and had just graduated from Leeds High School in May. Dougie played both baseball and football for the Green Wave, but he was much more than just an athlete at this school and in this community.

“Dougie was a great kid,” said Leeds Principal Rayford Williams. “He was smart. Had a great personality. He was a joy and a delight to be around, an enjoyable kid. As you can see today, he will be remembered around here for years to come. Leeds is a better place because Jonathan Douglas attended Leeds High School.”

Dougie’s brother, CJ Douglas, who was a great

player on Leeds’ football team for several years, said this about his fallen sibling.

“I had my brother by my side for 17 years and 6 months.

I’ll never forget the things he taught me. He always told me to do stuff a certain way. My brother was a special person to me and will forever be a special person to me and my family. I have never felt alone here (at Leeds). This community has been here for me.

Coach Hood has always been available and that’s the best thing. All of these people in this community, they loved my brother as much as I did.”

CJ also threw out the first pitch of the game.

John Douglas, Dougie’s father and namesake, spoke of the community’s support for his family since the loss of his son. “It’s big. We’ve been in Leeds a long time. At the end of the day, Leeds is a testament of knowing that no

matter where you come from, no matter what you have, it’s all about loving one another and building that family

atmosphere and that’s what Leeds is all about.”

LaKesha Douglas wants everyone to remember this

about her son. “It’s funny you asked about that. On Valentine’s Day I got a visit from two of his closest friends. The one was white and the other was Hispanic. You could not separate them. One thing I know that I got and all of Leeds got from my son was loving everybody. Regardless of color or beliefs, it didn’t matter. He was about love and having fun. If I had to say one thing I want people to remember about my son it’s that. Just love on people.”

Mrs. Douglas also had nothing but positive things to say about how the community has rallied around and supported the family since this tragic day. “I have never felt so much overwhelming love and support for my family. We have been in Leeds for 13 years. It’s always been a family-oriented place. Everyone meets everyone at the

baseball or football park. To feel so much support from everybody, I could not believe how much one little 18 yearold boy could touch so many lives. His picture was everywhere. Kids made a memorial on the way down the street. It just showed how much love people have for him and for us.”

To say that Jonathan Douglas left a mark on the city of Leeds would be an understatement and that was never more evident Friday afternoon at the Green Wave’s baseball facility. On the field, the team lost to Mortimer Jordan by a score of 11-1 but that was secondary in the minds and hearts of those who gathered to honor their fallen teammate, classmate, student, son, brother and friend.

#8 will forever be remembered and not just because they placed a baseball with his number on it on the right field wall or a poster on the inside of the dugout or a metal sign that reads “Dougie’s Dugout” on the outside of the dugout, but for his kind heart, his loving spirit, his fun-loving attitude and that “love everyone” mentality. Dougie left an impact on the Leeds community that will never be forgotten both on the field and off of it.

genuinely

Dougie’s Dugout (Photo by Johnny Sanders)

CJ Douglas throws out the first pitch at Leeds baseball game where his brother “Dougie” was honored.

(Photo by Johnny Sanders)

Dougie’s Right Field Sign at Leeds Baseball Field

(Photo by Johnny Sanders)

Dougie’s family and friends gather to honor him. (Photo by Johnny Sanders)

Lady Cougars advance to Regional Semifinals with win over Muscle Shoals, 65-44

By Loyd McIntosh For The Tribune

HANCEVILLE – The Clay-Chalkville girls’ basketball team punched their ticket to the next round of the Alabama Girls 6A State Tournament following an authoritative win over Muscle Shoals Friday morning, 65-44.

The Lady Cougars improved to 23-7 on the 2022-23 season as they had no trouble with an under-matched Lady Trojans squad in a Regional Semi-Final contest held at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville.

The Lady Cougars established their dominance early jumping out to an early 22-6 lead after the first quarter. Clay-Chalkville established their presence inside early, creating high-percentage shot attempts in the paint instead of relying on long-range shooting. The Lady Cougars only attempted eight three-pointers, sinking three.

Defensively, the Lady Cougars’ athleticism and pressure defense shut down the Lady Trojans’ offense and were dominant on the boards as they hauled down 31 total rebounds, 23 of them on the defensive end of the floor.

“We just felt like, going in, that there were some things we could do to give them problems, kind of spread them out and attack them off the dribble and were able to be successful at that,” said Clay-Chalkville Girls Head Basketball Coach Kevin Scott.

“Defensively we’ve been playing well for a while and were able to hold the six points n the first quarter,” Scott added. “That first-quarter lead was the difference in the ball game.”

The Lady Trojans did manage to keep things close

at times and outscored the Lady Cougars in the second and fourth quarters. However, another dominant third quarter in which Clay-Chalkville outscored Muscle-Shoals ensured the outcome was never in doubt. Connor chalked early foul trouble to junior point guard Cameron Sanders as one of the factors Muscle Shoals was able to keep things interesting.

“(Sanders) had two fouls, but I trust her, so I said, ‘I’m going to leave you out there that you play,’” explains Connor. “She picked up a third foul called about three minutes to go in the second quarter, and that really hurts our team because she’s the engine that makes us go.”

Leading the way for the Lady Cougars was junior center, Kamoriah Gaines. The University of South Alabama commit went 10-14 from the floor and sank three of her four free throw attempts for 23 points, had nine rebounds, and one blocked shot.

“She just does so much for us from rebounding to defending and protecting the rim, taking a lot of pressure off our girls,” Connor said. “They know we can always drop the ball to her and if we miss a shot she’s always there to get

Pinson survives close call against Muscle Shoals, stays perfect and advances

By Johnny Sanders Sports Editor

HANCEVILLE – What a season it has been for the Pinson Valley Indians already. They have won their area both in the regular season and in the tournament and they have managed to stay undefeated on the season with many of those games being blowouts.

putbacks.”

Junior Brooklyn Phillips also had a standout performance with 13 points and three rebounds.

With the win, ClayChalkville advances to the Northwest Regional Final to take on Hazel-Green at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, February 22, in what will be the Lady Cougars’ toughest challenge of the season. Defending state champions Hazel Green has won five state titles in a row, are one of the top teams in the nation and come into the matchup with Clay-Chalkville with a 28-1 record.

Scott knows his Lady Cougar squad has its work cut out for them but is confident they can hang with the Lady Trojans.

“They are the gold standard of basketball in Alabama. I mean, everybody knows to win a state championship, you have to go through Hazel Green, and we look forward to the challenge,” said Connor.

Connor said the key to victory over Hazel Green will be playing solid defense, especially inside the paint.

“The game plan going in is to control the paint. Don’t let them get easy ones, box out,

See

On Friday morning, at Wallace State, the undefeated streak was in jeopardy like it has not been all season. It took a heroic fourth quarter from Caleb White, but this dream season continued Friday as Pinson bested Muscle Shoals

Tribune area wrestlers shine at wrestling state championship

By John Goolsby For the Tribune

Huntsville – Wrestlers from the Trussville Tribune area turned in great performances at the AHSAA Wrestling Championships this weekend.

Earlier in the year, we reported on two young ladies who had won state championships in wrestling. Aniyah Griffin of Pinson and Katherine Grigsby of Hewitt Trussville etched their names into the history books back in January. Now, it was time for the boys to do the same.

her heart began

Dajialyn was born with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and at 3 months old was placed on the waiting list for a heart transplant. When her foster parents got the call to care for her, they never hesitated – and in July 2021, they received the call with the news she would get her new heart. Within hours she was at Children’s of Alabama in surgery. Her transplant was a success, and Dajialyn is walking, talking and doing all the things that keep parents of any toddler on their toes.

Learn more at ChildrensAL.org/heart

Dajialyn Heart Transplant Survivor

COUGARS, Page 14 See WRESTLERS, Page 14

See PINSON, Page 14

Caleb White goes up for a shot against Muscle Shoals in the 2023 Regional Semi Finals. (Photo by Dennis Victory)

Clay-Chalkville Lady Cougars head coach Kevin Conner watches as Kameron Sanders directs traffic during a recent game. (File photo)

Hewitt Trussville's Hunter Jones, 7A State Wrestling Champion in the 195 lb weight class. (Photo by Hewitt Trussville Athletics);

Moody’s season ends with sweet sixteen loss to Guntersville

By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor

JACKSONVILLE – A roller coaster of a season for the Moody Blue Devils came to an end Friday night with a 10-point loss to the Guntersville Wildcats in the Northeast Regional Semi-Final for Class 5A. In a season that included county and area championships for the Blue Devils, it was evident that, when they played to their potential, they were at least one of the 16 best teams in the state at the 5A level. Defense was key on Friday night but Moody came

Moody started the game by digging a bit of a hole, allowing the Wildcats to outscore them by 7 points in the first quarter. Guntersville would score 18 in the period against the Moody defense.

On offense, Moody would put up 11 points. Davion Dozier would lead the Blue Devils with 5 points followed by Kolby Seymour with 4.

In the second quarter, Moody got things going a bit more on defense, holding Guntersville to just 11 points.

On offense, Moody’s Chase

up just short, losing 68-58, ending their 2022-2023 season.

Springville Tigers’ season ends with 15-point loss to Scottsboro

By Johnny Sanders Sports Editor

JACKSONVILLE – Fri-

day morning, the Springville Tigers took on the Scottsboro Wildcats in a 5A Northeast Regional Semi-Final game to determine who would make it to the elite eight. The Tigers had good first and fourth quarters, but could not get the offense going in the second and third and dug themselves quite a hole, leading to a 6449 loss to the Wildcats.

Springville came out shooting well in the first quarter and played pretty good on defense as well. Scottsboro managed 13 points against

Springville girls succumb to Arab’s best efforts, season ends with loss

By Johnny Sanders Sports Editor

JACKSONVILLE – The

Springville Lady Tigers took on the Arab Lady Knights in sweet sixteen action on Friday morning on the campus of Jacksonville State University for the right to advance to the next round of the 5A State Championship Tournament and to call themselves one of the elite eight teams in the state at that level. The Lady Knights would prove to be a bit too much for Springville on this day, however. Arab would get the win 56-30 over the Tigers, ending their season.

Arab suffocated the Tigers on the defensive side of the ball throughout the game, but the first quarter was the most dominant for them. The Knights held Springville to just 4 points in the period. Arab would put up 15 points

to put the Tigers into an 11-point hole that they never quite dug out of.

Springville found some rhythm on offense in the second, managing to get into double digits with 11 points, giving them some momentum heading into the locker room at half. Arab would still outscore them, putting up 13 of their own, heading into the break with a 28-15 lead over Springville.

The third would be close, but Arab would still outscore Springville in the quarter, scoring 11 points to the Tigers’ 8 and building a 39-23 lead heading into the final quarter of the game.

The fourth quarter would not only be the final quarter of the game, but it would be the final quarter for the Springville Lady Tigers for the 2022-2023 season. Arab would outscore them 17-7, making the final score 56-

30 with Arab coming out on top. For the game, no Tigers scored in double digits as Arab did a great job of containing them on defense. Olivia Carroll would lead Springville with 6 points in the game, followed by Georgia Cancellor, Ava Vaughn and Bella Bullington, who all had 4 points each.

Springville coach Warren House said of the game, “Arab’s length bothered us. We shot a season-low 20%. Since we are a pressing team, we couldn’t get into their press after scoring.”

Speaking on his team’s 20-12 season, House said, “It was a great season for the girls. They accomplished so much during the season. We had some ups and downs but we always seemed to rebound and get back on track when things were not going well.”

See MOODY, Page 14

See TIGERS, Page 14

Kolby Seymour (Photo by Johnny Sanders)

Springville's Zach Brown (10), Brodie Frederick (14) and Ty Harrison (20) play defense against Scottsboro. (Photo by Nannette Crocker Hill)

Coach House coaches up the Springville girls. (Photo by Nannette Crocker Hill)

From page 12

by a score of 59-54, punching the Indians’ ticket to the elite eight on Wednesday.

Muscle Shoals started the game off the way they needed to in order to defeat the might Indians from Pinson Valley High School. They outscored Pinson 15-10 in the first quarter and had the best team in Alabama on the ropes after one period.

In the second, Pinson recovered and outscored the Trojans. The Indians would score 11 points on offense and, on defense, they would hold Muscle Shoals to just 9 points. This effort would make it 24-21 Trojans heading into the halftime break.

Both teams would find some sure footing in the third quarter, however. Muscle Shoals would cut through the Pinson defense, scoring a game-high 20 points in the

Wrestlers

From page 12

Hewitt-Trussville had two state champions and a state runner-up in 7A. Moody had three state runners-up in 5A while both schools added some others and Leeds had a top 5 finish as well. Here is where all of the young men in our area placed in their respective weight classes.

• 106 lbs: Clark Box, Hewitt-Trussville, 7A State Champion

120 lbs: Erius Clark, Moody, 5A 3rd place and Bradley Hastings, Hewitt-Trussville, 7A 3rd place

• 126 lbs: Karson Poe, Moody, 5A State Runner-Up

152 lbs: Skylar Gomer, Moody, 5A State Runner-Up

• 160 lbs: Kareyon Allen, Clay-Chalkville, 6A 4th place

quarter. Pinson was only a point behind their counterparts with 19 in the quarter, setting up a fourth quarter showdown with just 4 points separating the teams at 4440, Muscle Sholas having the lead.

The fourth quarter would prove why Pinson is considered the best basketball team in all of Alabama, regardless of classification as well as a top 30 team nationally. Caleb White, unwilling to have a repeat of the past couple of seasons where the Indians exited the playoffs early, decided to take over the game and put his team on his back, scoring 15 of his 20 total points, in the final period of play. Pinson ended the game on a 17-4 run, outscoring the Trojans 19-10 in the fourth quarter and pulling out the 59-53 win.

Caleb White led the team with 20 points, 3 assists and 2 steals. Clyde Walters, a Freshman that is really heat-

ing up at the right time, had a double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 steals. Terry Coner had 11 points, 2 assists and 2 steals for the Indians as well.

“I thought Muscle Shoals had a great game plan, said Pinson Coach Darrell Barber. “We had a lot of defensive breakdowns early on. I thought Freshman Clyde Walters was key early with key rebounds and blocks. He did it all for us. Terry Coner was also clutch in the third. Caleb White brought it home for us in the fourth. He just had a ‘refuse to lose’ mentality in the fourth, scoring 15 of his 20 points.”

The Indians, now 29-0, will take the court at Wallace State in Hanceville in the Northwest Regional Finals on Wednesday morning against the Buckhorn Bucks. The winner earns a trip to Birmingham and the final four in the AHSAA 6A Tournament.

From page 13

Jackson got hot, scoring 6 points in the period to go with Dozier’s 4, leading the Blue Devils to 14 points in the quarter. Moody would narrow the gap with that second quarter performance, making it 29-25 Wildcats heading into the break.

Moody would come out of the locker room with their sights set on the elite eight and the chance to play more basketball, scoring a game-high 20 points in the third quarter. Guntersville would have a good period as well, scoring just 4 fewer than Moody with 16 points. Aden Johnson would hit 3 three-pointers in the third to lead the Blue

Tigers

From page 13

the Tigers while Springville scored 17 to take the early lead after one quarter of play.

The Wildcats would dominate the second quarter on the defensive side, holding Springville to just 9 points for the period. The Tigers took a step back on the defensive side of the ball, allowing Scottsboro to score 15. The halftime score would be 28-26 with Scottsboro holding the narrow lead over Springville.

Devils while Seymour would add 3. Moody headed into the final quarter of play with the score tied at 45, but momentum was on their side.

It seems that the break between the third and fourth quarters took the wind out of the Blue Devils’ sails and allowed Guntersville to re-gain their composure and dominate the final period of the game. On defense, Moody would give up 23 points to the Wildcats in the fourth, scoring just 13 themselves to make it a final of 68-58 Guntersville. For the quarter, Caden Helms would have his best effort with 6 points followed by 3 from Dozier.

On the night, Kolby Seymour would lead Moody with 13 points. Davion Doz-

lead into a much bigger lead for the Wildcats and quite the uphill battle for Springville if they wanted to extend their season. It would be 45-33 heading into the final quarter of the game.

In the fourth, Springville found offensive success once again, putting up 16 points against the Wildcat defense. On defense, Springville continued to struggle to stop the Wildcats’ scoring, allowing them to score 19 points and close out the 15-point victory and move on to the next round.

ier would have 12 and Chase Jackson would have 10 points.

“I knew we would have to play really good team defense because Guntersville shoots it well,” said Chad Bates, Moody’s coach. “I thought we did a good job. Guys battled the whole game. We just needed to hit a few more shots.”

Bates reflected on the 1913 season for his boys. “Super proud of our guys and what they accomplished this season. They continue to raise the bar for Moody Basketball. Hopefully getting a taste of Jacksonville this year will continue to motivate the guys coming back and the younger guys to put the work in to get back and progress further.”

• 170 lbs: Delvecchio Alston, Hewitt-Trussville, 7A 5th place

• 182 lbs: Cameron Cantwell, Hewitt-Trussville, 7A 5th place 195 lbs: Hunter Scott, Leeds, 5A 4th place, Hunter Jones, Hewitt-Trussville, 7A State Champion

• 220 lbs: Logan Hall, Moody, 5A State Run-

ner-Up, Chris Hawkins, Hewitt-Trussville, 7A 3rd place

• 285 lbs: Jaheem Nathan, Center Point, 6A 5th place, Zack Chatman, Hewitt-Trussville, 7A State Runner-Up.

Congratulations to all of the athletes, coaches, school staff and parents of these young men.

With a narrow deficit, the Springville Tigers came out of the locker room with hopes of moving to the next round well in hand. Dominant defense and consistent scoring by Scottsboro led to a 17-7 quarter, turning that narrow

Cougars

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and rebound the basketball,” said Connor. “If we go in there and do what we’re supposed to do inside, defend and rebound in the paint, we’ll have a shot

Springville was led by Ty Harrison and Brodie Frederick with 12 points each, followed by Zach Brown with 11 of his own.

“Scottsboro is a team who is hard to guard. They are very deep and constantly

to be successful Wednesday.

“We’re not going out there just to go play, Hazel Green. We’re going with the mindset to win the basketball game,” Green added. “That’s the goal and that’s going to be our mindset. And I’ve got no

pushing the ball. They keep 5 players on the floor who can all shoot the three which made it difficult to stop penetration without over helping,” said Springville Coach Brandon Easterwood. Springville finishes the season with an impressive 21-11 record. Coach Easterwood said, “I was very proud of our team. To finish the season with 21 wins and make it to regionals is a place not many teams make it to. It’s always upsetting to lose but our guys competed with one of the best teams in 5A and they didn’t quit. Several guys played well. Brodie Frederick, Ty Harrison on and Zach Brown paced our offense throughout the game. Our 5 seniors set the bar high for next season. It will be hard to replace them.”

doubt my girls are ready to take on that challenge.”

The Clay-Chalkville Lady Cougars face the Hazel Green Lady Trojans at 9 a.m., Wednesday, February 22 at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville.

Hewitt Trussville’s Clark Box, 7A Wrestling Champion in the 106 lb weight class. (Photo by Jared Box)