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Supercross Champ Page 13
TRUSSVILLE
chael Glover, who he referred to as “Miracle Mike,” went into cardiac arrest while exercising on the indoor track at the civic center.
LIFE-SAVERS, Page 3 Trussville to
See CRAWL, Page 5
tering CPR and retrieving an AED, which shocked Glover three times. The fire department arrived minutes later and be-
Body found near Pinson identified as missing Birmingham man
JEFFERSON COUNTY – A body found in northeast Jefferson County on Tuesday has been identified as Jewel Dewayne Bendolph, 38, according to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office.
According to the coroner’s report, Bendolph was recovered “from within a shallow clandestine grave in a wooded area.”
He was identified by a positive fingerprint comparison.
His death is being investigated as a homicide.
Bendolph was last seen on Sunday, March 3, according to a missing person’s report from the Birmingham Police Department.
Birmingham Police also stated they believed Bendolph was in danger as someone observed him arguing with someone before his disappearance.
His last known location was the BP gas station in Mason City, driving his listed silver Honda Civic.
Deputies were called to the 5200 block of Dewey Heights Road Tuesday short-
ly after 4 p.m. to investigate an abandoned vehicle.
According to the sheriff, the vehicle appeared to have been intentionally covered to conceal it, and investigators found evidence of a possible deceased person in the area.
Detectives and a cadaver dog were called to the scene and later found human remains.
Investigators with the Jefferson County Coroner’s
Office were called to the location Wednesday morning to collect the remains for identification and to notify the family.
According to the sheriff, the abandoned vehicle was a silver Honda Civic thought to be associated with a missing person’s case being investigated by the Birmingham Police Department. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s detectives will be
working closely with Birmingham Police detectives to identify the offenders in this homicide.
If you have any information regarding this case, you are asked to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 205-325-1450 or you may call Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
This story will be updated as more information is released.
Argo recognizes participants in Exceptional Foundation competitionFrom Tribune staff reports
TROY – A Trussville student attending Troy University helped the school’s Art and Design Department in winning 27 awards at the American Advertising Awards Competition last month.
From front page
gan providing care, shocking Glover an additional three times with a manual defibrillator.
Shotts said Glover was administered with several rounds of cardiac drugs and at 6:07 p.m. he had returned to spontaneous circulation, allowing him to survive.
By the time he arrived at the hospital, he began to regain consciousness.
Shotts went on to optimistically talk about his recovery since then saying, “I’ll even go as far as to tell you that this past weekend he played golf on Saturday and Sunday.”
At the meeting, those involved were honored with American Heart Association Heartsaver Hero Awards “in recognition of advancing the mission of the American Heart Association and Emergency Cardiovascular Care through a courageous act in an effort to save a life.”
Glover presented the awards and expressed his
Council
From front page
The meeting began with reports from department heads for the month of February. Police Chief Reece Smith reported 1,421 calls, 33 traffic accidents, 82 citations, 121 reports completed, 61 misdemeanors, 22 felonies, four juvenile crimes, and vehicle maintenance expenses were $3,774.16.
Fire Chief Larry Horton reported 171 responses, nine fires (all woods, grass or rubbish), 91 emergency medical calls, eight vehicle wrecks, 17 public services, 17 lift assists, 29 false alarms, mutu-
gratitude for the people who helped save his life.
Citizens presented with the accolade included bystander Eric Pierce, Jared Wanniger, who was working at the civic center, and Lynn Glover, Miracle Mike’s wife and a retired Birmingham Fire Lieutenant.
On-duty first responders were also presented with the award including Hank Moore with Battalion 820, Lt. Andy Griffith and Michael Hicks with Engine 803, TJ Sizemore and Jacob Turner with Rescue 813, and Matthew Richardson with Utility 831. Council President Jaime Anderson said, “Thank you to each and every one of you who serve our city day in and day out. You really are heroes.”
Mayor Buddy Choat went on to say, “I just think it’s a testimony to how fortunate we are to have public safety, police and fire, that can do this kind of thing.”
He continued, “I feel honored to be in a town that has this kind of dedication to our citizens.”
al aid given three times and received once. There were 25 annual inspections, seven re-inspections and one fire pump. Later the council passed the resolution to approve the MOU. Councilwoman Linda Crowe said that the MOU was to give the museum the go ahead to apply for a $75,000 grant from the Alabama Historical Commission. The museum will feature an array of locally important historical items. Crowe said that the public is welcome to donate such items to the museum. She added that some of the items to be featured are arrow heads, a fossil found near
From Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE – The Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce announced that it will host this year’s Taste of Trussville on May 9 at the Trussville Civic Center.
Over 20 restaurants and bakeries are expected to serve up scrumptious samples at the event that will feature live entertainment by Cashmere Williams.
The event, sponsored by TurnerBatson, will run from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will give guests the opportunity to vote for their favorite vendors.
Tickets will go on sale March 25 and can be purchased on the chamber website or at the chamber office.
Taste of Trussville will also serve to kick off Trussville Restaurant Week, hosted by the chamber and presented by Trussville To Go.
the landfill, records, pictures, and an old desk that possibly used by the first mayor of Moody, A.E. Moore, among others.
She said that the museum has received some funding from the St. Clair County Commission. Though she was not sure she expressed hopes that the museum would be ready sometime this summer.
Toward the end of the meeting the council approved a request made on Feb. 12 by developer Charles Kessler to rezone one parcel of land (4.58 acres) from AG-1 to B-3 and another parcel (22.37 acres) from AG-1 to R-2.
The request was made
It will run from May 1026, giving local restaurants an opportunity to showcase their signature dishes and offer special discounts and deals.
The event will also feature Restaurant Bingo, where patrons can collect stamps by making purchases at partici-
during a public hearing in which several citizens voiced their concerns with potential problems posed by rainfall that could cause flooding, as well as possible traffic congestion due to construction.
At the March 11 meeting Public Inspections Director David Crowe said that three surveys were done on the area to address those concerns.
Additionally, Joel Wallace, owner of Oh Sherri Pub spoke about a St. Patrick’s Day celebration that he will be putting on from Saturday to Sunday. The Saturday event will be oriented to children while the Sunday event will have Irish music and
pating restaurants. Bingo cards can be turned in to participating restaurants or the chamber to be entered into drawings for prizes.
Proceeds from the event will go toward the chamber’s scholarship fund, community events, and other chamber activities throughout the year.
dancers. He asked for permission to keep the event going through to midnight, which was granted.
In other business the council: Approved the purchase of a handheld radar system for traffic enforcement for the police department for a cost not to exceed $1,400,
• Approved sending Smith to the Summer Chiefs Training in Orange Beach on July 28-Aug 2, with lodging costs not to exceed $2,000,
• Approve purchasing new picnic tables for the
Restaurants wishing to participate in Taste of Trussville or Trussville Restaurant Week can call the chamber office at (205) 655-7535.
More information about both events can be found at www.trussvillechamber.com or the chamber’s Facebook page.
Splash Pad for $5,126.75,
• Approved a request from library director Sara Roberts to purchase four picnic tables for $413.95, Approved a request from Horton to have preventive maintenance done on E-3 for $1,650, and
• Approved a request from Public Works Director Steve Mitchell to surplus a 2013 Kubota Tractor. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at Moody City Hall on 670 Park Ave. Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@ gmail.com.
Aid” McKinstry was honored by the city council with a proclamation and was given the key to the city during a meeting on Thursday, March 7.
The proclamation was read aloud by Councilwoman Clinteshia Irvin, which outlined McKinstry’s achievements. He was a playmaker for the PVHS Indians, helping to lead them to the Alabama 6A State Championship in 2020.
As a senior he was named Alabama Mr. Football and USA Today Defensive Player of the Year. He was rated as a five-star recruit when he signed on to Alabama. Since 2021 he has been named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) All-Freshman Team, AP and Coaches Fist Team All SEC (Defense), AP First Team All American and the AP and Coaches First Team All SEC.
“Like these guys said I put in a lot of work for this community,” McKinstry said. “Very blessed to be a part of this community. I want to continue to see this city grow. Go Indians.”
The date of March 8, 2024 was proclaimed “Kool-Aid McKinstry Day”.
“This is overwhelming,” said PVHS Principal Michael Turner. “I mean, words can’t even begin to describe what this means for our community and to honor Quincy this way.”
Preceding the proclamation was the introduction of newly hired Pinson Valley High School head football coach James Thompson. He was hired in February, replacing the previous coach, Gentrell Eatman.
“It is my mission to, you know, impact the lives of these young men in a posi-
tive and try to win football games in the process of doing that,” Thompson said. “We all know that football is just a small portion of what life is like and so we tend to, you know, get that message out to those young men.”
He mentioned that he and his wife, Jessica, have two children and expressed his excitement at getting started with the football program.
Afterwards the council heard from Charles Yeager from Turkey Creek Park Nature Preserve, who introduced Brandon Grisafi as the preserve’s new site manager.
“I’ve got some remarkably large shoes to fill but I’m hoping to come in and maintain what we’ve been able to do and expand upon it,” he said.
Ruffner Mountain Director Carlee Sanford then spoke and announced that Pro-Temp Robbie Roberts will be join-
ing a commission as a representative from Pinson focusing on raising money for green spaces in the county.
“It is really exciting to be in a place to – have more of a countywide, regional focus on how we maintain and provide access for our green space in our county,” she said. “So this is decades in the making and we’re in the middle of implementation right now.”
In other business the council:
• Approved a slightly modified version of its garbage renewal contract,
• Agreed to loan the house on Powell Avenue to Thompson through June, Approved $30,000 to replace the lights at the Pinson Sports Complex,
• Approved $4,000 to buy a new screen for the upcoming movie showings, and
• Reminded the public of the Shred-it event on March 16 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Pinson City Council meets on the first and third Thursdays of every month at City Hall on 4410 Main Street. Live-streamed meetings can be seen on the city’s Facebook page.
Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@ gmail.com.
ty to submit pieces from their portfolios to a variety of categories.
His awards were in the Art Direction Campaign catego-
business park is located off of Gadsden Highway and offers full-service office space with ample surface parking.
Barber announced it intends to enhance the buildings and grounds aesthetically and is excited to welcome many high-quality Trussville businesses as tenant partners.
“Trussville Office Park is a solid, well-located business park with scarcity value in the great Trussville community. We are pleased to be able to steward this property for years to come. We would like to thank Will Canary for his hard work in executing this transaction,” said Barber President and CEO Charles Miller.
ry for the studio 207 Brand Book and the Film, Video and Sound Animation or Special Effects category for a Meta Quest commercial.
The competition is held annually by the American Advertising Federation, the
oldest national advertising trade association in the United States.
Troy University Graphic Design students won multiple Gold and Silver awards along with Best of Show and Student Designer of the Year.
The Trussville Office Park as seen from above. Courtesy of Barber Companies.
Will Canary of Colliers assisted the seller as a transaction broker, while Gifford Taylor and Bill Hickman led
the acquisition for Barber Companies.
The transaction closed on Feb. 13, 2024.
From front page
agenda. Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. was absent, so the Council moved quickly into committee reports and public comments before Council President David Spivey motioned for adjournment.
The discussion revolved around the use of city funds to purchase coffee, or other nonessential items, for employees. Council member Cindy Cuellar suggested the use of city funds was likely against the law.
“The selected readings do state that coffee cannot be purchased,” Cuellar said in her report. “Now, I’ve also been told ‘well, you know, this is likened to getting pens and paper for the employees,’” she continued.
“My response to that is nowhere in the selected readings and nowhere in the handbook that we’ve been given does specifically state that we cannot buy pens and paper for our employees but it does state that we cannot buy coffee,” Cuellar said.
Cuellar offered the opinion that the issue should be reviewed and if the city does it for one department it should do it for all departments. Council President Spivey
From front page
“This is actually the first event for the Entertainment District to collaborate together, so we’re super excited about it,” said Jeremy Reeves, co-owner of Trussville Social and organizer of the event.
The pub crawl, sponsored by Guinness, will feature eight official stops–Trussville Social, Ferus Artisan Ales, Pinchgut Pies, Umami Trussville, Corbeau Wine Bar, Steele Hall Brewing, Axe Downtown, and Mr. West’s Asian Kitchen.
Participants are encour-
called a point of order on her discussion and redirected the conversation.
Cuellar concluded she has requested an opinion from the Attorney General’s office across all city departments.
In his report, Council member Robert Box thanked city workers for their hard work before commenting on the issue.
“Briefly, on the coffee, the water, the Gatorade, I run a business and if I don’t provide coffee, water and Gatorade to my workers that can be considered a health and safety [violation] and can open up for a lawsuit,” Box said.
“I don’t think it even has to be a question of why. We don’t need the AG’s opinion. We just need to do the right thing,” he concluded.
Council member Aaron Sims offered some clarification on the laws in a response on Facebook.
“We can legally provide things that are needed that serve a public purpose and allow our employees to perform their work in a safe manor, Sims posted. “Firefighters on a 24-hour shift, any employee asked to work in extreme heat, should be given what they need to do the job safely and effectively,” he said.
aged to wear green and all things Irish.
The pub crawl will start at noon, and scorecards will be available at all of the eight stops.
Participants will be scored by what food and drinks they order, and scoring will be golf-based with the lowest score winning.
It does not matter what order participants go to each of the eight official stops, so long as they hit all of them.
Other businesses in the district that are not official stops will also be participating in the festivities by offering door prizes.
“It would be illegal to just sit a coffee pot in city hall and allow anybody to have coffee from it. That would not serve a public purpose,” Sims posted.
In his report to the Council, Sims turned attention to the great work done by volunteers in the Irondale community. He thanks the Chamber of Commerce, the Holiday Gardens Neighborhood Association and Irondale Community Foundation for organizing a drive to donate water, Gatorade, coffee and other items to first responders.
“Anybody out in the hot or cold doing their jobs so that we, as citizens of this city, can have water, can have our trash picked up and have an awake fireman show up if we need them at three in the morning—I don’t need an Attorney General to tell me that’s the right thing to do,” said Sims.
Council President Spivey thanked all of the organizers and volunteers who gathered and delivered the items and invited them to stand for a photo together.
As the meeting moved into public comments on non-agenda items, Cuellar responded to comments made about an alleged email from her office. When Spivey tried
Completed scorecards must be turned in to Trussville Social by 6 p.m. after which prizes donated by local businesses will be awarded, including gift cards, prize baskets, and Guinness jackets.
“We’re gonna have like a ton of stuff, so it’s not gon-
to move on to the agenda, Cuellar continued speaking and demanding to see the email. Spivey threatened to have her removed from the proceeding and finally motioned to adjourn the meeting.
The only item on the agenda was one brought forward by Cuellar, also asking for a ruling from the Alabama Attorney General on the legality of a contract employee working for the Mayor should be allowed to use a city credit card while conducting city business.
The resolution, which is expected to be on the agenda again, read as follows: “Resolved, That Resolution 2024-R-35 authorizes the City Attorney to obtain an opinion of the Alabama Attorney General as to whether the law allows an independent contractor employed by the City of Irondale as the Mayor’s Appointee under the Jefferson County Personnel Board to be issued and to utilize a City credit card when making City-related purchases on behalf of the City.”
The next meeting of the Irondale City Council will be held at 6 p.m. on March 19 at Irondale City Hall. An agenda for the meeting can be found on the Irondale website prior to the meeting.
na be just first, second, third place. We may give a prize to the person that has the worst score,” Reeves joked.
Reeves hopes that this will be the first of many events like it that allow businesses in the district to come together.
“I think if we all collaborate together, we’ll all succeed together,” Reeves said.
This Sunday, March 17, will also see a Saint Patrick’s Day Blessing of the Beer and Wine in the Entertainment District held by the Church of the Holy Cross.
It will start at Steele Hall at 2 p.m. followed by visits to Corbeau and Ferus.
From front page Department.
Argo resident Justin Whitfield was on hand, along with Pell City resident Josh Garner and Exceptional Foundation community partner Jacob Couch, as Corporal Cason Davis introduced them and gave them a commendation and patch from Argo PD.
The Exceptional Foundation in Homewood, in conjunction with Special Olympics, hosts multiple sports for special needs individuals of all ages and abilities, Participants enjoy a competitive season in basketball. softball. volleyball, track & field, bowling, swimming, tennis and golf.
Whitfield teamed with Trussville resident Tommy Smith and community partners to earn a bronze medal in team competition, and won a silver medal in doubles competition. Garner has received medals in many sports, being invited to nationals in multiple sports, and being invited to play in the World Games in Ireland in 2022. Davis also delivered the monthly Police Report to the Council. He included
235 traffic stops and 578 total calls in his report for the month of February. In the monthly report from the Argo Fire Department, firefighter Lt. Jorel Barret listed eight burn permits and 34 medical calls for the month of February. He ended with a total of 55 calls for the month.
In regular business, the Council approved the renewal of garbage contracts with GFL Environmental Services with no more than a 3% increase for the next service year.
The Council also approved the purchase of new much for the city’s park and playground by City Hall. The purchase was approved for $44,235 from Rubber Mulch Warehouse.
The next regular meeting of the Argo council is scheduled for March 25 with a work session at 5 p.m. and the regular meeting following immediately after the session. An agenda for each meeting is posted in local businesses including Hill Top Farms, Argo Hardware, Liberty Automotive, Shell, Southland BBQ, Fox’s Pizza and Buckeye Grocery. Agendas are also posted on the city’s Facebook page.
Hello. My name is Ken. And I’m a sodaholic. To be more precise, I’m a diet sodaholic. For most of my adult life I have been hooked on Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi, Diet Mountain Dew, Diet Sprite, you name it. If you wrote the word “diet” on a bottle of dish washing liquid I would be tempted to drink it. “But there’s no sugar!” I would proudly proclaim. I convinced myself diet soda was healthier, despite the fact the list of ingredients resembles a recipe for motor oil.
My family doctor tells me I should stop. So does my neurologist, my urologist, my podiatrist, my dentist, my auto mechanic, and a guy at the gym named Gus who washes the towels. So, God
help me, I’m doing it. I’m going cold turkey. No more diet soda. Instead I am determined to drink (ugh) water. I don’t like tea. Milk is for kids. Alcohol is fattening. So it’s water. Just plain old water. Problem is, I hate water. You can squeeze lemon into it, or drop a packet of Splenda into it, but it’s still boring old water. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to eating a bacon cheeseburger and french fries, and washing them down with… water? (ugh again) Or enjoying a giant slice of pepperoni pizza topped off with a big gulp of…water? How about a good ole southern barbecue plate with pulled pork, baked beans, cole slaw and…water? Yikes. This is going to be hard. As I write this, I am in the
first week of my new life. I’m doing pretty well. I haven’t had a diet soda all week. Of course, it’s Monday morning but you have to start somewhere. I think I’m going to be okay here at home. But Sharon and I love to go out for lunch, and we can be regularly seen at Trussville area restaurants. Our favorites include Edgar’s, Moe’s, Chicken Salad Chick, Full Moon and Zaxby’s.
What do these establishments all have in common? All of them allow you to draw your own drink after you order. You learn a lot about yourself doing this. Just how much will power do you have? I give the nice lady behind the counter my food order, then I hesitate, struggling to get the next words out of my mouth. After what seems
like several minutes, I manage to groan in a low, pathetic voice “and I’ll just have water to drink.” She gives me my cup and off I go to the drink machine. This is the moment of truth. It is hard enough to order water. Unfair torture to have to tap it yourself.
It would be so easy to push that Diet Coke button. To sa-
vor that wonderful, carbonated mess flowing freely into my cup. To slink away to my table and revel in my guilty pleasure. But no, I won’t do it. What kind of man would I be?
Surely I possess the inner strength and courage of my conviction to handle this moment. So, I do the only thing a real man would do. I give my
cup to Sharon and tell her to draw my drink, while I find a place for us to sit. Hey, we’re not all cut out to be heroes.
On the plus side, I have noticed that ordering water does have its financial rewards. Most eating places are charging between two and four dollars for a drink, but nothing for water. This can’t last forever. A tightwad such as me (I prefer the word “frugal”) needs to take advantage of this policy. It’s almost worth enduring the lack of taste. Almost.
Bottom line is, all of my doctors say switching to water will make you feel better, give you more energy, help you think more clearly.
Well, It’s been nearly a whole day now. I’m still waiting.
ABC Form C-1
August 2001
Sealed proposals will be received by Jefferson County Board of Education, 2100 18th Street South, Birmingham, Alabama 35209, until 2:00 p.m. CST April 12th, 2024 for JEFCO 2024 Re-Roofs for BES, BRES, JCLC, LES, PES, and PVHS at which time and place they will be publicly opened and read. All proposals must contain Jefferson County Bid # 19-24 on the outside of the proposal.
The work includes removal of existing roof material (membrane, insulation, associated metal flashings and trim, etc.) and installing a new roofing system (membrane, cover board, insulation, associated metal flashings and trim, etc.).
A cashier’s check or bid bond payable to Jefferson County Board of Education in an amount not less than five (5) percent of the amount of the bid, but in no event more than $10,000, must accompany the bidder’s proposal. Performance and Payment Bonds and evidence of insurance required in the bid documents will be required at the signing of the Contract.
The Owner intends to award multiple or single contracts for this work to pre-qualified General Contractor(s). The Owner will accept proposals only from firms which demonstrate their experience and ability to perform the work necessary for this project. Interested General Contractors must submit a Contractor’s Qualification Statement, AIA A305. Minimum qualifications to be certified by prospective bidders include: 1) statutory licensor requirements, 2) bonding capacity in excess of $5,000,000 dollars, 3) minimum of five (5) years successful history as an approved, authorized or licensed General Contractor, 4) successful current experience in construction of a size and scope similar to this Project, and 5) submit list of proposed contractor’s team including subcontractors.
Joint venture arrangements must qualify solely on the strength of the principal firm’s qualifications. Notarized Contractor’s Qualification Certificates must be submitted to the Architect along with any request to obtain Bid Documents by a General Contractor by Friday, March 22nd, 2024. The required Form of Certificate is AIA Document A305 Contractor’s Qualification Statement 1986 Edition and may be obtained from the Architect.
Drawings and specifications may be purchased from Alabama Graphics, 2801 5th Ave, South, Birmingham, AL 35233, 205-252-850.5 Contractors must purchase sets at their own expense - no deposits or refunds will be allowed. Drawings may be examined at the offices of TURNERBATSON, 1950 Stonegate Drive, Suite 200, Birmingham, Alabama 35242, the office of Birmingham Construction Industry Authority (BCIA), and F.W. Dodge Birmingham (a.k.a. McGraw Hill), Associated General Contractors, Construction Market Data on Friday, March 15th, 2024.
Bids must be submitted on proposal forms furnished by the Architect (Engineer) or copies thereof. All bidders bidding in amounts exceeding that established by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors must be licensed under the provisions of Title 34, Chapter 8, Code of Alabama, 1975, and must show evidence of license before bidding or bid will not be received or considered by the Architect (Engineer); the bidder shall show such evidence by clearly displaying his or her current license number on the outside of the sealed envelope in which the proposal is delivered. The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive technical errors if, in the Owner’s judgment, the best interests of the Owner will thereby be promoted.
A Pre-Bid Conference will be held at Jefferson County Board of Education – Executive Conference Room at 2:00 pm, CST, Tuesday, March 26th 2024 Attendance at Pre-Bid Conference as well as in-person observation to all location prior to the bid opening by Prequalified Contractor Bidders is Mandatory.
Awarding Authority: Jefferson County Board of Education Dr. Walter Gonsoulin, Superintendent
Architect: TURNERBATSON
A battle is raging in the media. This battle is over whether humans can be held accountable while intervening in the process of life. But the discussion has gone far afield from where it originated.
While serving as a member of the Alabama State Senate in 2016, I was proud to stand in the well of the Senate chamber on multiple occasions arguing for pro-life legislation. It was more than being “anti-abortion,” it was about being “pro-life.”
Among the bills I sponsored, one that did not make it to final passage was the “personhood” bill, advancing the proposition that life is created from the moment of conception. The creation of life comes in that little flash, as small as small can be, when the confluence of sperm cells colliding with eggs results in fertilization, resulting in the greatest miracle of all time.
But there was a side to the arguments that created an internal struggle for me. Some families struggle with pregnancy and require special care. Some pro-life supporters believed that the personhood bill could jeopardize the ability of families to take advantage of in vitro fertilization (IVF).
IVF is the wondrous ability of science to recreate the fertilization process in a clinical setting. To overcome bodily struggles, medical practitioners fertilize a woman’s eggs outside her body, and upon successful fertilization, the embryos are flash-frozen to be implanted in the womb at a later time.
I learned that the standard procedure is to create several viable embryos in the event that they cannot grow to term after implantation. But what about the ones that aren’t needed? What if the mother gets pregnant on the first try but there are still six more embryos in cryo-suspension?
Protocols may differ here and there, but more often than not the extra frozen embryos of human children are either destroyed or handed off to medical researchers to conduct stem cell research.
I wrestled with this. Is it life in the Petri dish? Is a womb required to prove life exists? While preparing for debate, I found one picture that settled the question for me.
The picture was of former President George W. Bush at a 2005 White House gathering. The president was standing among a group of smiling, laughing adults holding a baby wrapped in a blanket. This child was a “snowflake baby,” a frozen embryo adopted from a lab once its original parents did not need it for their own pregnancy, beautiful in every way, bringing joy to parents who had adopted it.
This picture moved me and changed my thinking. I went to the floor of the Senate the next day with the assurance that the sanctity of life can be found in a Petri dish.
President Bush concluded that advances in modern science are wonderful, but that they also carry great responsibility. It is an amazing thing that families can know the joy of childbirth by artificial means. But we must also recognize that by doing so, we have stepped into new territory, thereby incurring new positions of liability.
President Bush determined, and I agree, that life, once conceived, is life. It should be celebrated and defended in every form in which it is conceived.
“The children here today remind us that there is no such thing as a spare embryo,” he said to the gathered crowd.
“Every embryo is unique and genetically complete, like every other human being. And each of us started out our life this way. These lives are not raw material to be exploited, but gifts. And I commend each of the families here today for accepting the gift of these children and offering them the gift of your love.”
Alabama is a decidedly pro-life state. Recently, the Alabama Supreme Court determined that if life is life under our law, then death is also death. If the law of our state allows one to be sued in civil court for wrongfully causing the death of a person, then that law should apply to the death of any person.
Alabama has long-held penalties for the killing of a fetus in a womb. The Court recently held by mere logic that life in a Petri dish is no less valuable than life in a womb. Protection therefore exists for snowflake embryos under the law.
Medical practitioners, fearing civil liability if they
knowingly or negligently destroy a fetus in a lab, suddenly shut down their IVF clinics. The liberal meltdown and the political knee-jerking went into high gear. But liberals will always scream, and kneejerk legislation is dangerous. We cannot rush to a resolution, though I believe that one must be found.
Do we need to address the issue legislatively? Sure. Is there a way to artfully reduce legal exposure for hospitals and IVF clinics? Arguably yes. Do we need to unravel 40 years of fighting for pro-life positions because liberals are having typical meltdowns? Absolutely not.
In the middle of all of it is
life. Beautiful life. Snowflake children. Let’s take a breath, find the way forward, think it through, and mitigate liability, but in doing so, keep the forefront of the discussion about life.
Don’t throw those beautiful snowflake babies out with the bath water.
To contact Phil or request him for a speaking engagement, go to www.rightsideradio.org. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News.
To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.
By David
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Anyone who has explored Alabama’s great outdoors or spent time on a tractor cultivating an agricultural crop knows how destructive feral swine can be on the landscape.
Because of the prodigious reproductive capacity of these wild hogs, controlling the populations is difficult at best, and many researchers believe that total eradication of this invasive species is not a viable option.
Some are looking to methods other than hunting or trapping to control the hog numbers, and Texas recently approved the use of a warfarin-based toxicant called Kaput against the burgeoning swine population in that huge state. This action has spurred renewed discussion on the
research and developments surrounding various types of feral hog toxicants.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI), the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Wildlife Services Division, and the Soil and Water Conservation Committee met recently and came away with a unified position against approving any toxicant, including Kaput, in Alabama at the current time. These entities will continue to stay up-to-date on the latest research and real-world usage of toxicants and periodically revisit the issue. “Since feral swine are such a huge issue, we thought it best to have a meeting of the top agency leaders for departments that are working
in this space to make sure we are all in agreement with what is best for Alabama moving forward,” said Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship. “We had an open and
frank discussion about the issue, and all agreed that, based on the information we have right now, Kaput was not the best toxicant for feral hog control in Alabama. I appre-
ciate Commissioner (Rick) Pate and his staff, Director (Chuck) Sykes and the others who are very well versed on this issue. I think all of us coming together to discuss
this and hearing all perspectives was very helpful.”
ADCNR Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Director Sykes said at the present time he is not sold on the idea that Kaput is the best solution to a difficult problem.
“Based on the data we have now, I’m not in support of it,” Director Sykes said of the use of Kaput. “There are a lot of questions about the use of toxicants. We’ve been working with the USDA for more than five years on the use of sodium nitrite.”
The warfarin-based toxicants rely on blood-thinning effects to dispatch the hogs.
However, the hog may have to ingest the Kaput bait multiple times over a long period before it kills the animal. Sodium nitrite affects the hog’s ability to transfer oxygen in its system, and it works quickly. Director Sykes said the sodium nitrite bait is going through the licensing process, and he hopes it will be approved in the next couple of years.
“Sodium nitrite has proven to be very lethal, very effective and very humane in the way it dispatches the hogs during trial usage in Alabama, so we know it works here,” Director Sykes said. “And it doesn’t continue to kill on down the food chain line. The pig just eats the product, gets sleepy, lies down and doesn’t wake up. The product depletes the oxygen in the bloodstream.”
Director Sykes said the sodium nitrite is administered through a peanut butter-based bait that won’t be available to the general public.
“Toxicants won’t be something that will be available on the shelf at the local co-op for everybody to use,” he said. “This will be for trained, licensed applicators, federal agencies and state agencies to use.”
ADAI Commissioner Pate said any toxicants like Kaput or sodium nitrite will have to be licensed by his agency before they become legal to use.
The ADAI’s current stance on a warfarin-based toxicant is:
There remains insufficient data to justify registration in Alabama considering the toxicity of the product and the known issues that may potentially result from its use.
• There are significant differences in the environmental landscape and environmental conditions that exist between Alabama and Texas, where the product is registered for use.
• The label and the ability
of the applicator to follow the instructions on the label are of great concern.
There appears to be a level of training and education (product specific) that would need to take place, especially in the case of private applicator use of the product.
• Hogs need to feed multiple times to get the desired result.
The potential for sub-lethal dosing and resistance remains a concern.
“We don’t want to minimize the (hog) problem, because we know it’s huge,” Commissioner Pate said. “The problem is real. We want to take out as many pigs as possible, but we want to do it the right way. We don’t want to jump the gun on this toxicant and regret it down the road. Smart people are working on solutions. We’re trying to do as much as we can as fast as we can.”
Leif Stephens with the USDA Wildlife Services office at Auburn said his agency is working diligently on solutions to the feral hog problem.
“The USDA Wildlife Service remains committed to seeking a suitable feral swine toxicant that is highly effective and humane and also poses low risk to non-target species, coupled with cost effectiveness, storage stability and efficient applicator use,” Stephens said. “Those are the key boxes that we want to check when it comes to utilizing toxicants.
“We recognize the warfarin-based toxicant Kaput was recently registered in Texas. Currently, the data on the use of this product does not support our operational needs as a rapidly acting control method, coupled with a low operational cost. Those boxes I mentioned earlier are not being checked at this time.”
Stephens said Wildlife Services has several employees who are tasked with controlling feral swine and the damage they cause through-
out the State of Alabama.
“This is something we deal with on a daily basis,” he said. “It’s in our face every day, all day, it seems like. It’s important to maintain a variety of control methods to combat these invasive species. No one method will solve feral swine issues. There is not a silver bullet per se. Utilizing multiple control techniques in the management plan is the best way to control feral swine.”
Stephens said the use of a bait with sodium nitrite shows promise, but it needs further refinement before it is approved.
“The sodium nitrite bait offers a lot of hope,” he said. “Right now, we’re trying to reformulate the toxicant so it would minimize the effect on non-target species. When you’re putting toxicants on the landscape, you don’t want to have it out there for a long duration of time. You want something that’s cost effective and very efficient when
it’s being applied and humane as well.”
According to the USDA, feral hogs cause more than $1.5 billion in damages to property, crops, timber, livestock, native wildlife, ecosystems and cultural and historic resources nationally each year. Damage from feral hogs in Alabama is estimated at $50 million annually.
“Right now, we have hogs in all 67 counties,” Director Sykes said. “Of course, some are a lot worse than others.
Most people with hog issues are doing everything they can to keep the numbers in check. We need to get control of the numbers and keep them from exponentially multiplying.
“What the Department has done is to have very liberal seasons and bag limits where you can hunt hogs year-round during the daytime. There’s no daily bag limit or season bag limit. From February 11 to October 1, you can buy a nighttime feral swine and coyote license and hunt them
24 hours a day, seven days a week. Throw a baiting license in and you can hunt them over bait.”
Director Sykes said while providing great opportunities for Alabama’s hunters, shooting feral swine is not the best current method to control the herds. Trapping the whole sounder (family group) is the best way to reduce hog numbers.
“You can trap hogs 365 days a year with no season or daily bag limit,” he said. “Removal of the whole sounder is the best tool that we have at our disposal right now. We’re employing that on a lot of state-owned property.”
Recently, the Forever Wild Land Trust Board of Trustees voted to spend up to $1 million on feral hog removal efforts on Forever Wild properties. The Forever Wild program is administered by ADCNR’s State Lands Division.
Director Sykes also said WFF offers assistance with
crop depredation permits where warranted.
“For producers who have hog damage in their agriculture processes, we do offer crop depredation permits even during deer season,” he said. “The producers let the district office know they have issues. We send a biologist out to verify. If the damage is confirmed, permits will be issued to help producers.
“We want everybody to understand that when considering depredation permits, we have to work in a way where we are not putting undue pressure on some of our native resources. If it’s a producer who has significant damage, we have permits for that. Also, we want to give everybody, like a recreational shooter, the opportunity to take hogs, which is why we have liberal seasons and bag limits. We teach trapping classes to educate landowners and managers on the proper techniques. We’re doing what we can to deal with the feral hog problem.”
Dear Savvy Senior, Do you have any suggestions on divvying up my personal possessions to my kids after I’m gone without causing hard feelings or conflict?
I have a lot of jewelry, art, family heirlooms and antique furniture, and four grown kids that don’t always see eye-toeye on things.
Conflicted Parent
Dear Conflicted, Divvying up personal possessions among adult children or other loved ones can often be a tricky task. Deciding who should get what without showing favoritism, hurting someone’s feelings or causing a feud can be difficult, even for close-knit families who enter the process with the best of intentions. Here are a few tips to consider that can help you divide your stuff with minimal conflict.
Sweating the Small Stuff
For starters, you need to be aware that it’s usually the small, simple items of little monetary value that aren’t mentioned in your will that cause the most conflicts. This is because the value we attach to the small personal possessions is usually sentimental or emotional, and because the
simple items are the things that most families fail to talk about. Family battles can also escalate over whether things are being divided fairly by monetary value. So, for items of higher value like your jewelry, antiques and art, consider getting an appraisal to assure fair distribution. To locate an appraiser in your area, try ISA-appraisers.org, Appraisers.org or AppraisersAssociation.org.
Dividing Fairly The best solution for passing along your personal possessions is for you to go through your house with your kids or other heirs either separately or all at once to find out which items they would like to inherit and why. They may have some emotional attachment to something you’re not aware of. If more than one child wants the same thing, you’ll have to make the ultimate decision.
Then you need to sit down and make a list of who gets what on paper, signed, dated and referenced in your will. You can revise it anytime you want. You may also want to consider writing an additional letter or create an audio or video recording that further explains your intentions.
You can also specify a strategy for divvying up the
rest of your property. Here are some popular methods that are fair and reasonable:
Take turns choosing: Use a round-robin process where your kids take turns choosing the items they would like to have. If who goes first becomes an issue, they can always flip a coin or draw straws. Also, to help simplify things, break down the dividing process room-by-room, versus tackling the entire house. To keep track of who
gets what, either make a list or use adhesive dots with a color assigned to each person to tag the item.
Have a family auction: Give each person involved the same amount of play money or use virtual points or poker chips to bid on the items they want. Use online resources: For families who want help or live far apart, there are web-based resources like FairSplit.com that can assist
with the dividing process.
For more tips, see “Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate?” at YellowPiePlate. umn.edu. This is a resource created by the University of Minnesota Extension Service that offers a free video and detailed workbook for $12.50 that gives pointers to help families discuss property distribution issues and lists important factors to keep in mind that can help you avoid or manage conflict.
It’s also very important that you discuss your plans in advance with your kids so they can know ahead what to expect. Or you may even want to start distributing some of your items now, while you are still alive.
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.
Classic Cinema
Friday, March 15 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Trussville LBK Auditorium Come and watch classic movies in the library auditorium!
On the third Friday of every month, we’ll be showing a movie released before 1970. Popcorn and snacks will be provided. Come and watch classic movies in the library auditorium! On the third Friday of every month, we’ll be showing a movie released before 1970. Grab some popcorn and come join us as we celebrate the Golden Age of Hollywood!
March 15th: The Quiet Man
Storytime for Growin’ Beans with Ms. Allison: Letter K
Fri Mar 15th 10:00am11:00am Pinson Public Library, 4509 Pinson Blvd, Pinson
(All ages)
Yoga
Public Library
Duration: 30 min
March 15
Register for 30-minute mat and chair yoga sessions
every Friday, at 11:00 (beginner mat w/ chair) and 12:00 (chair only). Participants who have not attended recently are encouraged to speak with Nancy about which session time to attend. Due to limited space, please call 205-467-2339 to ensure that your name is on the registration list for each week.
Muscle Strength & Flexibility Springville Public Library
Duration: 30 min
March 15
Adult beginners can focus on strength and flexibility in this muscle training class led by Nancy. Classes will meet every Friday at 11:30 AM. Space is limited; visit the library or call 205-467-2339 to register.
Join us for Storytime for Growin’ Beans with Ms. Allison on Friday, March 15th at 10 AM. Our theme is The Letter K. We’ll read books, have fun, do a craft, & have a snack.
Storytime is designed for pre-K children, but all ages are welcome.
Anime & Unwind
Fri Mar 15th 6:00pm - 8:00pm
tablet, smartphone, or computer? Mr. Keith is here to help! Drop in on Tuesdays from 10 AM to 12 PM for helpful tech tips & tricks, Please bring your device with you if you are able to do so.
No registration is required.
Dates for March 2024: 5th, 12th, 19th, & 26th!
Early Readers’ Book Club with Ms. Riana: Do Frogs Drink Hot Chocolate?
Tue Mar 19th 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Pinson Public Library, 4509 Pinson Blvd, Pinson
(All ages, intended for Kindergarten-2nd graders)
Tuesday, March 19th from 4 to 5:30 PM
Registration Required Join us for another Early Readers Book Club with Ms. Riana! This book club is geared towards kindergarten- 2nd graders. At the meeting, each child will get a copy of the same book & will read along as Ms. Riana reads the whole or part of the story aloud. Then the group will discuss, answer reading comprehension questions, & the kids will have a chance to read aloud. Everyone will get a chance to participate in fun, educational activities like book-themed crafts/ games. They even get to take their book home with them afterward! There will also be snacks!
Call (205) 533-8664 SERVICES
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Pinson Public Library, 4509 Pinson Blvd, Pinson, (Adults)
ATTENTION OXYGEN
Friday, March 15th at 6 PM
It’s our anime club for adults! Come to the library for Anime & Unwind on Friday, March 15th at 6 PM. Enjoy Asian snacks & hang out with fellow anime enthusiasts.
Tech Tuesdays
Tue Mar 19th 10:00am - 12:00pm
Pinson Public Library, 4509 Pinson Blvd, Pinson, AL 35126, USA map
(Adults)Need help with your
Registration is required due to the limited number of available books; please register each child individually: https:// forms.gle/qED24qm8YaqbxXPU7
This month’s book is going to be “Do Frogs Drink Hot Chocolate? How Animals Keep Warm” by Etta Kaner
Preschool Storytime Springville Public Library March 19 Duration: 1 hr
Preschool Storytime is moving to Tuesdays! Join us as Preschool Storytime with Mrs. Shallon! Children will enjoy interactive stories suited for ages 2-5, related crafts, and yummy snacks, as they make new friends and increase literacy.
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december 25, 1926 — february 29, 2024
We are sad to announce the passing of our mother, Christine Tortorigi Martina, lovingly known as “Ganny”. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Emil J. Martina, “Marty”. Christine is survived by her three daughters; Maria Knowles and husband James, Suzanne McFerrin and husband Jim, and Natalie Martina; grandchildren Melissa Gilmore and husband David, Michelle Dailey and husband J.P.,Michael Knowles and wife, Jessica, and Blake McFerrin.
Christine has six great grandchildren; Margot, Eliza, John Emil, Vivian, Fletcher and Arthur. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Christine was born in Birmingham on Christmas Day, 1926 to Guiseppe and Rosaria Tortorigi. She was one of eight children. While dining at the Tutwiler Hotel, she noticed a handsome Air Force pilot whom she would go on to marry.
They traveled the U.S. and Europe as he served his country.
Upon Marty’s retirement, they settled back in Birmingham, where they continued to raise their family. Christine was a devoted mother, devout Catholic, and a cherished friend to all who met her. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were the lights of her life, and she loved nothing more than gathering us all together for meals and laughter. Christine was a classic Italian mother who shared her traditions with family and friends. When Mom was in her eighties, she took her entire family on an adventure to Italy. We’ll cherish those memories forever.
We would especially like to thank the staff at St. Martin’s in the Pines. They cared for our mom as if she was family. We love them all. Also, these last few months would have been unbearable without the constant care and guidance from first Falicia and then Lindsey with ProHealth Hospice. They are angels.
Christine was a longtime member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and later Holy Infant in Trussville. There was a graveside service on Monday, March 4 at 2:00 in the Veteran’s section of Jefferson Memorial Gardens, Trussville.
november 25, 1934 — february 29, 2024
James Perry Lee of Trussville, AL entered Heaven on February 29, 2024. Perry, or J.P. as many people knew him, was born in Jefferson County, Alabama on November 25, 1934 as the youngest of 10 children. He lived part of his early childhood in Kentucky with his older brother
october 5, 1928 — march 1, 2024
Clarence William “Bill” Cox, Jr. 95, of Birmingham passed away March 1, 2024 surrounded by his family after a two year battle with lung cancer. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March
7, 2024 at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home, Trussville. He graduated from Woodlawn High School, then served in Korean War. He was a member of the Masonic Wahouma Lodge #763 where he was Head Master from 1958-1959.
Bill owned and worked in camera repair before becoming ophthalmic photographer for The Eye Foundation Hospital. He also was in charge of running motion picture cameras for the Bear Bryant Show. In 1972 Bill began his 45 plus year career in the field of Ocular Prosthetics and became owner of Cox Ocular Prosthetics. He was past President of The American Society of Ocularists and an active member serving on the Board. Before joining Hunter Street Baptist Church Bill was an active member of 67th Street Methodist Church and Huffman United Methodist Church where he was a member of The Official Board. Bill and Virginia , his wife of 72 years, was active members of Hunter Street Baptist Church. They enjoyed and loved their friends in their Sunday school class, with whom they played dominoes and enjoyed many Sunday lunches.
Through the years, Bill enjoyed spending his time traveling with Virginia and spending time at the lake, but his favorite thing was to be Papa to his four grandchildren and uncle Billy to his nieces and nephews. His family was his treasure.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence William Cox, Mittye Bishop Cox, and his grandson William Foster Cox. He is survived by his wife Virginia Dorough Cox, son Williiam Talmadge “Tal” Cox, daughter, Elise Cox Pratt, grandchildren Mackenzie Nicole Cox, Peyton Pratt Hale (Clark Hale), William Thomas “Will” Pratt, great-granddaughter Maggie Elizabeth Hale, special sister in law Matha H. Dorough and many beloved nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Right at Home and Compassus Hospice for their care.
In lieu of flowers a contribution to your charity of choice or Lung Cancer Research would be appreciated.
december 3, 1939 — march 4, 2024
(Jerri) was born to Horace and Jonnie Crenshaw in Birmingham Alabama. She was the youngest of seven children. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, James C. Johnson. She was lovingly known as “Granny”. She is survived by children James C. Johnson, (Abbie), Jennifer Smith (Ken), Joel A.Johnson (Elizabeth), grandchildren Brandon Johnson (Brittany), Brett Johnson, Lauren Newman (Josh), Thea Mitchell (Patrick), Karlee Pritchett (Chandler), Morgan Allen (John), Madison Cummings (Brandon) and 8 great grandchildren Ava, Charlie, SJ, Evelyn, Stella, Claire, Gray and Trace. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren brought her so much joy and happiness.
We would like to thank the staff at Hope Hospice and our friend Lori Felts. They cared for her as if she was family.
Mamie Brand; father-in-law, Denton Brand; brother-in-law, Nelson Brand; brother-in-law, Ronald Brand. He leaves behind his loving wife, Betty (Brand) Lee; daughter, Patricia Lee; granddaughter, Alex Avram; grandson, Rob Avram (Faith Dunn); great granddaughter to be born in March 2024, Daisy Elizabeth Avram; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.
june 24, 1930 — february 29, 2024
Dorothy White Virciglio, age 93 of Madison, Alabama went to be with her Lord February 29, 2024 after a lengthy hospital stay. She is survived by daughters Paula Virciglio Roberson (Duane) and Norma J. Jacobs (Kip); son Frank C. Virciglio (Pam); nephew Matt A. Landers (Cathy); nieces Sharon Simmons (Alan), Dianne Sasser, and Martha Misko (Curt). She was preceded in death by her husband Norman F. Virciglio, parents Grover C. White and Rena Logan White, and brothers Thomas C. White and Willie J. White. The family would like to express their appreciation to all nurses, staff of Huntsville Hospital, Athens-Limestone Hospital, and Athens Resource Rehab.
february 21, 1944 — march 4, 2024
Jon E. “Pete” Lott, age 80, joined his wife, Cheryl Lott (Arnold) in restful peace on March 4th, 2024. Pete was born on February 21st, 1944 and graduated from Shades Valley High School in 1964. He married Cheryl Lott on May 9th, 1970 and together they celebrated 50 years of marriage. Pete retired from Harris Data Communications. He was an avid fisherman and appreciator of sports cars. Pete also enjoyed grilling and spending time with his family and friends. He leaves behind two children Jon “Mike” Lott (Angela), and Patricia “Patti”
Telling others about the death of a loved one is never easy. But even so, following the right protocol is important. Make sure you have confirmation of availability before making any formal announcement about the location of the funeral or memorial service.
During a season of grief, you may have a hard time articulating the passage of your loved one. A funeral director can help you craft a message. Funeral directors are skilled in sensitively and compassionately discussing matters related to death.
Speak directly with family members and other important people. Ensure that you make specific, one-on-one announcements before you make a more general update, such as posting online.
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If
“I feel like some of the tracks we’ve had this year, the track kind of had a limit on speed,” Lawrence explained. “I think Cooper could also agree,” Lawrence said.
Torrential rain on Friday eliminated any practice time, and even though the track had been covered, the remaining water made the track a little more complicated. “It was almost harder than last week, especially in those rhythms,” Lawrence said.
“You didn’t want to push too hard with this track because I think if you tried pushing too much, the track would bite you back.”
The race was not without drama for Webb. The North Carolina native ran into the “30-second” card girl on the first lap.
“That was crazy, and I’ve
never seen that before. We came around, and the 30-second card girl was still in the middle of the track,” he said.
“She was trying to walk off; Jett went right as she was walking right, and I was like, OK, I’ll go left as she was walking off.”
Webb was unhindered, and the unnamed female was unharmed.
Ken Roczen of Germany finished third after getting by Chase Sexton and Justin Cooper.
“I think where I got held up the longest was behind J-Coop,” Roczen said.
“It also takes a lot of energy because I tried super hard a few times to get by. I pushed extra hard but then couldn’t make it happen, then dropped back a little bit and had to regroup and go again.”
Roczen chalked the difficulty of the track up to the deep ruts that developed over the course of the night.
“It’s just kind of hard when the track is that rutty.
We can’t really move around the track that much, especially in the rhythms. We kind of just follow and there’s no staying low or anything like that. We’re kind of just all hovering.”
The riders were very complimentary of Birmingham.
“I was actually really pleasantly surprised from the moment we got here because all the security guards and everyone around was really
nice,” said Roczen
“It was very noticeable compared to other races.”
“I thought it was very welcoming,” said Cooper Web.
“When you go to a new place, you never know what to expect and everything went smooth and good.”
“The fans were awesome this weekend,” said Lawrence.
“They were polite, and even with the weather being down on Friday with the rain, they came with big smiles.”
“It’s awesome to see. It gets us up and going and puts a smile on our face because they want to see us race,” the points leader said.
“It gives us some motivation to go out and do good.”
In the 250SX East Main Event, Frenchman Tom Vialle took the win.
Vialle has won two races in a row.
“Grabbing another win, I
didn’t expect it,” said Vialle. “I felt great all day and I had a good heat race… I didn’t have the best start, but I caught all the guys and I was P-1. [Then I just tried to] do some good laps and be consistent all moto.”
“I tried to save [energy for] the last four or five laps and [it] was great.”
“I love the track and we were lucky with the weather [and so] the track was pretty good and I’m really happy,” he said.
“Another win, taking the red plate, and I mean, it’s been a long time [that] I didn’t win two races in a row, [not] since I was back in the GPs.”
“So I feel good and it’s nice to win, I can tell you,” said Vaille. Cameron McAdoo finished second ahead of Seth Hammaker.
450SX Results:
1
By John Goolsby Prep Sports Editor
CLINTON (MS) –Hewitt-Trussville’s Jordan Hunter led the Alabama AllStar girls’ basketball team to a 65-59 come-from-behind victory over the Mississippi All-Star team.
The Auburn signee earned the Alabama MVP award after scoring a team-high 25 points.
Hunter made 9-of-16 shots from the field and 6-of8 from the charity stripe.
This year’s game was
played in the A.E. Wood Coliseum on the campus of Mississippi College. Alabama leads Mississippi 20-14 in the series and has won the last seven games.
Hewitt-Trussville’s Tonya Hunter, this year’s Alabama head coach, took her team to the locker room with a 32-29 lead.
The Mississippi All-Stars stormed back and outscored the Alabama All-Stars by ten points in the third quarter to take a 52-45 lead into the final period.
Hunter saw her team go down by 12, 57-45 after Mississippi opened the fourth by reeling off five points.
Alabama chipped away at the Mississippi lead, and Hunter gave her team the lead with a jumper with 1:02 remaining.
Hunter then rebounded a missed Mississippi shot with 43 seconds remaining and was immediately fouled.
Hunter drained both free throws to give Alabama a 6359 lead and added two more to put the game away.
HOOVER – The Hewitt-Trussville Softball team improved to 8-3 on the season after collecting three wins at the Jag Classic in Hoover.
Hewitt defeated Jasper 7-3 in the first game of the day.
Chaney Peters started the scoring on a homer in the first inning to score two runs.
Jasper took a 3-2 lead before the Lady Huskies rallied in the fifth inning. An Olivia Faggard grand slam put Hewitt ahead for good.
Faggard finished with two hits and four RBIs. Peters had two RBIs.
Kate Hicks picked up the win. Hicks gave up three hits and three runs and threw 36 strikes on 56 pitches. Sara Phillips had two strikeouts in relief.
The Lady Huskies scored eight runs in the second inning and went on to defeat Hatton 9-1 for their second win of the day.
Ahkeela Honeycutt and Corey Goguts recorded two hits each. Gouts led the team with three RBIs.
Honeycutt, Zaylen Tucker, Peters, Sara Phillips, Sar-
ah Beth Golden and Amber Newman scored runs.
Lexie Kelly homered and had two RBIs.
Tucker was the winning pitcher, going four innings and giving up one run. She three 50 strikes on 70 pitches.
Hewitt picked up their third win of the day with a 2-1 win over Hartselle. Tucker homered with an RBI to score all two runs.
Phillips went five innings and allowed two hits and one run. She struck out 14 of 18 batters and threw 56 strikes on 86 pitches.
HT will open 7A Area 6 play at Spain Park on Tuesday.
