The Trussville Tribune – Mar. 29 - Apr. 4, 2023

Family seeks justice in unsolved killing of son, former PVHS football star

By Crystal McGough

Associate Editor

PINSON – The Pinson Valley Indians won their second consecutive Class 6A state football championship in 2018 after defender Kendall Jarrod Thornton Jr. in-

Argo Council introduces candidates for zoning board, hears road complaints

By Terry Schrimscher

For the Tribune

ARGO – The City of Argo took the next step forward in addressing future growth when applicants for the city’s new Planning and Zoning Commission were in-

Trussville City Council approves multiple proclamations regarding upcoming citywide events

By Crystal McGough

Associate Editor

TRUSSVILLE – The Trussville City Council held its second March meeting on Thursday, March 23, 2023,

See TRUSSVILLE, Page 5

Trussville City Schools has a new Superintendent

By Crystal McGough Associate Editor

TRUSSVILLE – The Trussville City Board of Education held a called board meeting Thursday, March 23, where they interviewed Vestavia Hills City Schools

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Patrick Martin for the TCS superintendent position.

candidate for our superintendent.”

One of several parts of Martin’s interview that seemed to impress the board was a story he shared about how he handled a situation involving sick children on a field trip.

Hornets

HewittTrussville Indoor Percussion team wins first place in Winter Odyssey competition

By Terry Schrimscher

For the Tribune TRUSSVILLE – The Hewitt-Trussville Indoor Percussion ensemble earned first place at the Winter Odyssey

Trussville City Schools congratulates HTMS teacher Jada Burns on A+ College Ready training

From The Tribune staff reports TRUSSVILLE – HewittTrussville Middle School eighth grade teacher Jada Burns attended A+ Train the

See TCS, Page 3

- Pages 1-7

Opinion - Page 8

Lifestyle - Page 9

Outdoors - Page 10

Calendar - Page 11

Classified - Page 11

Obituary - Page 12

Sports - Pages 13-16

“When we began this process, we had one and only one goal – we’ve never wavered in that – and that was to get the best fit for Trussville City Schools,” Board President Kathy Brown said. “We hired AASB (Alabama Association of School Boards) to do our search; this board could have never done what AASB did for us. They vetted applicants, they provided surveys for our parents, our teachers, our community, and did all the advertisement. After that process, they gave us five candidates; they were all highly qualified and extremely successful in their education careers. Also, during this time, we have also received names of potential candidates who did not apply because

of the public process. So, as we moved two candidates forward for further conversation, we researched into these other candidates also,

with their resumes, recommendations, reviews, and we began to have conversations with Dr. Martin. After that, he emerged as a very viable

“They share with me that we have a field trip in Orlando with two charter buses full of students and we had five of those students become very, very ill,” he said. “Now, the bus was scheduled to leave within the half hour. Our policy is, if you cannot make it back, it’s the responsibility of the parent to go and pick those students up. Well, I’m not going to ask a parent to drive to Orlando at 9:30 at night to go pick up those students. Instead, there were about three or four of us on a call and I said we can either continue to talk about this for the next couple of hours, or I have my CDL (Commercial Driver’s License); I can get in a Class A bus and I can go and get them. That’s what we do as educators, and it’s not just

Brian Kemp purchases Golden Rule

By Loyd McIntosh For The Tribune

TRUSSVILLE — Gold-

en Rule Barbecue, one of the oldest and most historically-significant restaurant chains in Alabama, is now under new ownership.

Brian Kemp, owner and founder of Kemp’s Kitchen, recently purchased the restaurant chain, which currently includes locations in Pell City, Crestwood Boulevard in Irondale, and Chalkville Road in Trussville.

“As a long-time fan of Golden Rule BBQ, I am thrilled to announce that we have acquired this beloved brand,” said Kemp. “With our shared commitment to quality ingredients and authentic Southern style, we are excited to bring the taste of Golden Rule BBQ to even more people and continue its golden legacy of excellence.”

According to a statement released by Kemp’s Kitchens Director of Marketing Daniel Harp, Kemp will continue to operate the restaurants under the Golden Rule banner and work towards making

improvements to the business while staying true to the brand’s legacy that began more than 130 years ago.

“We are not changing any of the food or any of the recipes, but we are going to look for ways to make things easier and more efficient,” said

Harp. “It’s been working for 130 years so why would we change anything now.”

“We are excited to carry on the Golden Rule BBQ legacy and build upon the incredible foundation established by Mr. Mike Matsos,” said Kemp. “Our goal is to bring this be-

Moody Council proclaims 411 Day in honor of local school sports

By Nathan Prewett

For the Tribune

MOODY – The Moody City Council proclaimed April 11 to be 411 Day in honor of athletes from the local schools and athletic program directors. The council hosted many of the local stu-

Birmingham Museum of Art exhibits HTMS students’ work

From The Tribune staff reports TRUSSVILLE – Ten HTMS artists have their work on exhibit at the Birmingham Museum of Art through this Friday. Katie Bentley, Lilly Clayton, Anu Falola, Reign Hatcher, Anthony Hrbacek, Lilly

Page 6 See JUSTICE, Page 4 See ART, Page 7

The Outlet Shops of Grand River welcomes fashion

loved restaurant to even more communities and share our passion for authentic Southern-style barbecue with even more people.”

Harp said Kemp has already begun making improve-

Page 7

Robin’s Sewing Shoppe

See WINDSOR, Page 6

Dr. Patrick Martin (Photo by Crystal McGough)

Kemp's Kitchen & Bakery Golden Rule Bar-B-Que (Photo courtesy of Daniel Harp)

Commentary: TCS BOE hits homerun with Martin hire

By Scott Buttram Publisher

TRUSSVILLE — The search for the next superintendent of Trussville City Schools has ended with a walk-off homerun by BOE members. While the process wasn’t always smooth and arguably went into extra innings, it ended in a victory for Trussville at a time when winning has never been more critical.

Benching a high school principal and superintendent is never easy. Doing so just weeks into a new school year could have been devastating. Thanks to great leadership within the five TSC schools, the transition has gone better than expected and probably better than anyone could reasonably hope for. That’s a testament to the strength of the people who make up the faculty and staff at TCS.

It also speaks highly of the decision by the BOE to hire Dr. Frank Castanzo as interim superintendent. His ability as a communicator and his common sense approach of empowering good people to to their jobs was just what Trussville needed when we needed it most.

The BOE tagged the Alabama Association of School Boards to lead the search. Given the busy professional schedule of many board members, using an outside organization for the heavy lifting was a good call. Choosing not to limit their options to only the candidates provided by AASB was an even better call. Afterall, AASB had

also led the Hoover City Schools’ superintendent search less than a year ago and it didn’t pan out. After conducting public interviews with the three AASB finalists, Hoover passed on all three and started over.

Sitting through all six superintendent interviews from inside and outside the AASB recommendations, I was struck by the quality of all six highly capable candidates. As a community, we owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. John Barge, Dr. Kevin Maddox, Dr. Bart Reeves, Mr. Tony Willis, Dr. Holly Sutherland, and Dr. Patrick Martin. These aren’t average administrators. They are among the best, most highly successful in their field. For people of this quality to even consider moving to Trussville is humbling. As a citizen of this town and the father of an HTHS sophomore, I am deeply grateful to each of them for their interest in serving our community. We owe them all a debt of gratitude.

Martin did not submit a resume during the AASB search process. As appealing as he found the TCS superintendent position, the timing simply wasn’t right for his children. Most parents can probably relate. I know I can. When the timing improved, the TCS position was still open. At the urging of people inside and outside of Trussville, Martin sent in a resume. He wasn’t alone. Several resumes arrived outside of the AASB search. To the board’s credit, they re-

viewed every single applicant.

If the BOE’s stated goal – to hire the best person possible to lead Trussville City Schools forward – was true, they had no choice but to consider all options. The easiest path for board members would have been to put on blinders and rely completely on the AASB finalist recommendations. But our schools are too valuable, too important to the wellbeing of our city to take the easy way out. So they kept on working for our students, our teachers, our administrators, our city. If the process seemed clunky at times, it’s worth noting that no BOE member in the history of Trussville City Schools has ever hired a superintendent more than once. Most have never even hired one at all.

While all of the finalists had outstanding resumes, Martin brought more depth and experience to the table. A three-time superintendent, his public interview also stood out as I’m sure his one-on-one conversations with board members probably did as well.

The treatment of special needs students is an area where TCS must improve. As a superintendent, Martin has administrated special needs cases. More importantly, Martin is the father of a special needs student. Our most vulnerable students and families deserve a strong advocate. I believe they have found one in Patrick Martin.

For me, there was something else that jumped off of

Martin’s resume. It swayed me.

Growing up in Tuscaloosa, Coach Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant’s words were part of my lexicon. I hung on them and looked for ways to apply them in my life.

Coach Bryant once famously said, “I don’t hire anybody not brighter than I am. If they’re not smarter than me, I don’t need them.”

Of 32 applicants for the Vestavia Hills City Schools superintendent position, Martin was one of two finalists. Ultimately, the nod went to Dr. Todd Freeman. In short order, Freeman turned around and hired Martin as Assistant Superintendent. That is uncommon. Certainly it speaks highly of Freeman’s leadership style and confidence. But it also tell us that Freeman saw something in Martin, job rival or not, that he wanted on his team. Whatever Freeman saw, I’m ready to see in Trussville.

To all that applied for this job, on behalf of a grateful city, thank you.

To the TCS BOE members who persevered instead of taking the easy way out, thank you.

To Patrick, Taren, Ryleigh, Jackson, Tyson, and Treyson Martin, thank you for choosing Trussville. Welcome home.

Scott Buttram is the publisher of the award winning Tribune. You can reach him at Scott.Buttram@TrussvilleTribune.com and follow him on Twitter @ScottButtram.

the superintendent. It’s the superintendent to the leadership team to the principals to the teacher. … That’s just something that we do as educators because we love kids.”

Martin said he would describe his leadership style as executive, while also saying he believes in pouring into and loving on his staff.

“I think that the superintendent who comes here to Trussville, you are the CEO of a $60 Million organization and so you need to treat that position with the same reverence as you would treat a CEO,” he said. “With that said, I think if you ask any of the directors, any of the principals in Vestavia Hills – you have to love your people – and I think all of those individuals would say that Dr. Martin loves us as an employee. He pours into us; he supports us; he gives us the ability to do our jobs. I think that’s the most important thing that I can do for those individuals is give them the confidence to do their work. … So, I think there’s a good give-and-take of being the CEO but also loving on your people. I think what that does is that establishes a very positive culture.”

Board Member Mark Sims said one of his goals in choosing a new superintendent is to have an “engaged, connected staff that feels loved and appreciated by their leader.”

“I was very impressed,” Sims said. “I have always felt like bringing more of a business leadership environment would be the secret to a very successful school system. The leadership thoughts and processes impressed me in the first interview. The power of connection, that story

about driving and getting the sick kids; it’s just exceptional. And the philosophy on academic achievement … I just wanted to smile at times because the answer about just how you lead and encourage people was world class.”

After the interview and some deliberation, the board voted unanimously to hire Dr. Martin as the new Superintendent of Trussville City Schools.

“This process moved very quickly and we’re very excited to be moving our family to Trussville,” Martin said. “This is a family move for us. We have made tremendous lifelong friends in Vestavia and looking to do that here in Trussville.”

While the process seemed to move quickly for Martin, Board Vice President Kim DeShazo said it has been a long process for the Board of Education.

“This is now our sixth interview in the last couple of weeks and we have used the word ‘fit’ from the beginning; we’ve all said that we truly do want to find the best fit for Trussville,” DeShazo said. “I’m so thankful that we went through the process that we did. To think back three months ago when we had the board training on how to do this – how to conduct a superintendent search – and AASB was so kind to spend a couple hours with us talking about it … and then they went and did community surveys and compiled that data and gave us the data to show what our community wanted in characteristics in our next superintendent. … I truly feel that (Martin) is the best fit for Trussville.”

Board Member Sherrye Tolbert said she agreed with all of DeShazo’s comments.

“He seemed to be con-

nected with his school and he seems that he will be connected with the school system here, which is important,” Tolbert said. “He’s willing to be involved in the community and being involved in the community is so important.”

During the interview, Board Member Dr. Steve Ward asked Martin if he had a “fire in the belly,” in regards to his passion for pursuing greatness in the school system. Martin replied that he did.

“Going through this process and all the candidates we’ve seen, I believe Dr. Martin showed me that he’s got those qualities,” Ward said. “It’s undefinable sometimes; it’s just that passion about him. I think he is the person that we need in Trussville.” Martin’s previous employment includes:

• Assistant Superintendent of Vestavia Hills City Schools (2018-Present)

• Superintendent of Gardendale City Schools (2014-2018)

Superintendent of Washington District 50 Schools, Washington, Ill. (20102014)

• Superintendent of Illini Central C.U.S.D. #189, Mason City, Ill. (20082010)

• Assistant Superintendent/ High School Principal/ Middle School Principal at Illini Central C.U.S.D. #189, Mason City, Ill (2007-2008)

• Principal of Illini Central High School, Mason City, Ill (2004-2008)

• Teacher, Social Science/ Athletic Director at Lexington High School, Lexington, Ill. (2003-2004) Teacher, Social Science, at Lexington High School, Lexington, Ill. (20002004)

Trussville man charged with possession of child pornography

From The Tribune staff reports

TRUSSVILLE – On Feb. 22, 2023, detectives with the Trussville Police Department executed a search warrant at the residence of 63-year-old Terry Lee Yerby of Trussville, Alabama. The search warrant was obtained after receiving a cyber tip through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

During the search, detectives seized several electron-

ics belonging to Yerby. After a thorough forensic examination of the electronics, detectives discovered thousands of images depicting child pornography.

Arrest warrants were issued by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday March 21, 2023.

On Wednesday March 22, 2023, at 11:31 a.m., Yerby was booked into the Jefferson County Jail. Yerby is charged with Possession of Child Pornography with bonds totaling $150,000.

Leeds man killed in reported domestic assault

From The Tribune staff reports

LEEDS – The Leeds Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred Wednesday, March 22, at 4:55 p.m., at the 7900 block of Charles Barkley Avenue.

According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, Jeremy Marcel Marbury, 35, of Leeds, was killed in a reported domestic assault. Marbury was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The decedent sustained sharp force injuries during a

to work as a consultant/contract employee for the upcoming year.

reported domestic assault,” Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said. “The death is being investigated as a homicide.”

This story will be updated as more information becomes available. Follow www.trussvilletribune.com for updates.

Trainer at Grand National Marriott in Opelika for the second year, Trussville City Schools announced. This is an invitation only event for people considered

Burns will be leading and teaching other Physical Science teachers from across the state at the A+ E3 Training hosted by Hewitt-Trussville High School in June.

HTMS eighth-grade teacher Jada Burns

Terry Lee Yerby (Jefferson County Booking Photo)

dent athletes and their coaches at a meeting on Monday, March 27, where Mayor Joe Lee read the proclamation.

“This will be a day to encourage everyone in and from our community, past and present, to display unity, pride and support of our city, schools and athletic programs,” read part of the proclamation.

The day takes its name from Highway 411.

“(The) City of Moody, in full support of our Moody Schools and Moody Athletic programs recognize the pride being shown by our students and athletes as members of our community,” the proclamation reads. “As US Highway 411 runs through the heart of Moody, many teams and organizations have claimed the tag ‘411’ as part of their name and identity and it has bled through the entire city …”

The meeting was otherwise very brief with the council passing the items on the agenda. At the end of the meeting, recently promoted Police Chief Reese Smith introduced a new officer, Jake Schramm. In other business, the council:

Approved a request from Parks and Recreation Director Mike Staggs to replace the tamper switch or Civic Center fire alarm for $1,261,

• Approved Staggs’ request for a rope ladder replacement at the splash pad for $8,389.07, Approved Staggs’ request to purchase Infield mix for ballpark for $3,720, Approved Staggs’ request to upgrade the sound system at the Civic Center Multi-purpose for $12,500,

• Approved a request from Smith to repair car #357 for $1,329, Approved a request from Smith to repair car #350

for $1,182.10,

Approved a request from Smith to repair car #355 for $1,035,

• Approved a request from Smith to repair car #343 for $5,235,

• Approved a request from Smith to purchase a new computer to replace an older computer in his office for $1,257.88, Approved a request from Fire Chief Larry Horton to purchase uniforms for $1,100,

• Approved a request from Horton to purchase station supplies for $1,100, and: Approved a request from Horton to purchase an IO drill or medical drill for $650. 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.

tercepted a Saraland pass and ran 32 yards to the end zone, securing a final score of 26-17 for the Indians.

Just a few short years later, however, Thornton’s life was unexpectedly ended when someone shot a gun – or guns – into his vehicle on his way home from a friend’s house on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022.

Thornton had left his friend’s house in the Inglenook neighborhood and was on his way to his father’s house, just a few minutes away off Highway 79, when someone fired bullets into the blue Kia Forte he was driving. Thornton’s car left the road and crashed into a tree. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

“He was almost home and somebody shot in the car,” his mother, Angel Miranda-Spencer, said. “He ran off the road and hit a tree and the car flipped.”

Miranda-Spencer said a truck driver called the accident in and officers from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office came to her house at 2 a.m., reporting that her son had died in an accident.

“It wasn’t until the next day that the detectives told us that there were bullet holes in the car,” she said. “It was just like another blow; it was a nightmare. It’s like they drop a bomb and your world is shattered, and then they leave and you don’t know what’s what.”

Thornton, who was only a month away from his 22nd birthday, had been playing a video game at his friend’s house that night and had made plans to continue playing the game with his friend online after getting home, Miranda-Spencer said. She added that the friend said there had been no issues or conflicts that evening.

Thornton’s mother described him as a reserved, respectful and helpful young man; not the type of person who would have been involved with the wrong crowd.

“He was leaving from the Inglenook neighborhood, which is notorious for gang activity, but they never hung outside,” Miranda-Spencer said. “His best friend lives there. They’ve been best

friends since eighth grade. So, they would go over, but they would be inside playing their game.”

According to Miranda-Spencer, the truck driver said there was one car in front of Thornton and one car behind him that night.

“Nothing could ever prepare you for that. … To think that he was just driving home,” she said. “I feel like they just ambushed him. He had no enemies. … He was just a good kid. He was in that in-between stage where he had graduated high school and now was trying to figure out what he wanted to do. But he always worked; he always kept a job and made his own money – totally independent.” One theory Miranda-Spencer said detectives are leaning toward is that the shooting may have been part of a gang initiation. She added that there were a lot of bullet holes in Thornton’s car.

“We know for sure one person didn’t do this,” she said. “And the crazy part is, he didn’t have problems with anybody. So you can innocently be just driving home and get shot for no reason. He’s gone, but me and his dad and his brother, the family, our world is completely shattered. It doesn’t get any easier. We just long for him.”

Thornton’s family has started a GoFundMe to raise reward money for anyone willing to come forward with information that leads to the identification of Thornton’s killer(s). Any money raised through the GoFundMe will be added to the $5,000 reward put up by Crime Stoppers and the additional $5,000 the family contributed.

“I wanted to try to make a goal for the reward to be $25,000, just so maybe that will motivate someone to talk,” Miranda-Spencer said. “I know there are people who know what happened and possibly too scared (to talk). That’s why I wanted to increase the reward.”

To the people of the Pinson community, Thornton’s parents and siblings plead for anyone who has any information regarding what happened that night to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers.

“The littlest, tiniest bit of

information could really be helpful,” she said. “Please reach out. If you’re afraid, with Crime Stoppers you don’t even have to give your name; you can give a tip anonymously. Because, if this happened to him, it could happen to anybody. It was totally unprovoked. This is pure evil (and) they could do it to your family; you just don’t know. So, if you know anything, I’m just begging, any little thing, please call and let them know something.”

To the people who shot Thornton, Miranda-Spencer simply wants to know why.

“What happened? What could’ve happened that was so bad that you just decided to play God and take his life?” she asked. “Now he’s gone and we’re here just to suffer. I won’t ever not miss my son. I’ll miss him until the day I die.”

As painful as it is to talk about, Miranda-Spencer said she will not stop pursuing justice for her son until the people responsible are held accountable.

“I don’t want his case to get forgotten about … I have to be his voice,” she said. “I just want justice for him because he didn’t do people wrong. He really grew up to be a fine young man. … I know that getting these people that did this won’t make me feel any better, but we’ll have justice for him, and they should be held accountable for this.”

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Hill of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at (205) 882-0093 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 205-2547777.

Kendall Jarrod Thornton Jr., PVHS Class of 2019

Mayor Joe Lee stands next to strength coach Cam Willis and others of the local sports teams in Moody's schools.

due to the Spring Break holiday being in effect on their regular meeting day, March 28.

During the meeting, the council unanimously approved proclamations declaring the following upcoming events as citywide events:

Leland Dockery Tribute Drive-In Car Show (June 3, 2023)

• Trussville Freedom Celebration (July 4, 2023)

• Foundation for Hope 5K Run (Oct. 7, 2023)

• Friends of the Library 5K Run (Oct. 14, 2023)

The city then held a public hearing on a proposed City Zoning ordinance that would affect short-term rental properties.

New Trussville residents Reed and Stephanie Bales were in attendance to speak during the hearing.

“We have recently also purchased an additional home that we could use for an investment property,” Reed Bales said. “Obviously, part of getting any new place is finding a way to meet some financial obligations. … We received some notices that we can’t operate a short-term rental property.

“In the process of looking for this property, we did actually a lot of due diligence and we felt like we searched pretty earnestly to find any language prohibiting short-term rentals in Trussville. We were completely unsuccessful, we felt, in finding language that prohibited that. … What we have been directed to is the zoning … that one of the allowed uses is as a single-family residence and, I guess in our minds, it’s still being used as a single-family residence for those folks who come to stay. We’ve had folks come for lots of different reasons: getting procedures done at UAB or coming for ball tournaments or whatever; church camps.

“So, our challenge is that we feel like we’ve laid a pretty significant investment for this to be something for our family to be able to be able to meet our finances. We’re not a big company gobbling up thousands of homes and trying to make a massive business out of this.”

Furthermore, Bales requested that the council consider grandfathering in pre-existing short-term rental properties if they choose to approve the ordinance at their next meeting.

Another resident, David Stovall, also spoke during the hearing. Stovall said he works in civil engineering and land surveying, but also does real estate development part-time, though he said he has no current projects in Trussville. Stovall said his main concern regarded language in the ordinance that would change RG (Garden Home Residential District) zoning from a 50foot to a 75-foot minimum width.

“Obviously I disagree that that is even a fruitful thing to do, much less the right thing to do,” Stovall said.

The ordinance was presented as a first reading and will remain on the table for 30 days before coming back to the council for a vote.

The council also held a public hearing on a prospec-

tive lounge retail alcohol license for Corbeau Wine Bar, and subsequently passed Resolution 2023-15, approving the alcohol license for Corbeau Wine Bar.

In other business, the council passed the following: Resolution 2023-16, approving fire hydrant installation at 5540 Trussville Clay Road

• Resolution 2023-17, regarding the use of tax-exempt general obligation warrants to reimburse City General Fund for the acquisition of Glendale Farms

Resolution 2023-18, approving an Animal Control Contract with Greater Birmingham Humane Society

• Resolution 2023-19, approving a Public Works truck purchase Ordinance 2023-003, amending the city’s false alarm ordinance Under Consent Agenda, the council accepted the resignation of Senior Center Advisory Board member Joyce M. Goodwin, effective April 14, and reappointed Eric Frederick to the Cemetery Rehabilitation Authority.

The Trussville City Council regularly meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the City Hall Annex, beginning at 6 p.m.

troduced to the City Council at the March 27 meeting. The Council passed an ordinance at the February 27 meeting creating a Planning and Zoning Commission for the city.

Mayor Betty Bradley called the name of each of the 24 applicants and invited each one to speak to the Council to introduced themselves and talk about their desire to serve on the commission.

Most of the applicants who were present expressed a desire for controlled growth in the city, but a few elaborated on specific concerns for the future and the work that needs to be done by the board.

“Argo is just a bunch of houses that were put up over the years, over the past 20-something years. And now, we’re in damage control,” said applicant Howard Hartley. “Anything that is done with zoning and planning would be positive.”

The city created a comprehensive plan in 2022, which can be viewed online at www. argoalive.com. According to the data in the plan, Argo grew 145% during the 20-year span between 2000 and 2020, making it one of the fastest growing towns in the Birmingham metro area.

Once appointed, members of the board will be required to attend certification training sessions. Applicants will be considered for the planning and zoning board and a zoning and adjustments board.

A special public meeting has been scheduled for April 18, at 6 p.m., specifically to discuss zoning based on the Argo Comprehensive Plan.

In the public comments portion of the meeting, residents of the Briar Ridge neighborhood spoke to the Council about deteriorating road conditions in the community.

“The dire situation that we have is there is a four-foot diameter plastic pipe underneath our road,” said Briar Ridge resident Andrew Stevenson. “It

has failed. With all these school buses coming in, with all these garbage trucks coming in, and also we have an individual who lives in a trailer at the end of our neighborhood — who is not supposed to be having a trailer in the first place — constantly brings his heavy equipment across that pipe. Each and every day, it deteriorates.”

Residents of the neighborhood complained of steep drop offs endangering school buses, potholes and limited access for neighbors in the community. They expressed fear that the roads could erode stranding elderly neighbors who would be unable to access medical care. Stevenson said estimates to bring the road up to code could reach $1 million.

Residents of Briar Ridge, Mountain Oaks and other neighborhoods have previously asked the city to intervene and help correct mistakes made by previous administrations when there were no measures in place to ensure work was done correctly.

“We now have bonds in place that developers have to put up when they start a new subdivisions,” Bradley told The Trussville Tribune. “These bonds are to complete roads if the developers bankrupt or do not complete roads in their subdivisions.”

One resident, who did not

want to share his name, said, “We moved here because we love the area and it isn’t our fault the roads are in decay. I know it’s not this council’s fault either but we just want to know they are looking for answers.”

Bradley said she and the Council are working with other mayors in St. Clair County to request a portion of the gas tax to apply toward these road concerns. She also told The Trussville Tribune the city is applying for grants to help repair the roads.

The Council also approved the following items:

New signage for Central Baptist Church

• New hires for maintenance and a part-time city clerk The Council tabled a request to makes changes to a promissory note for the former Crazy Horse restaurant location at 8885 Gadsden Hwy. Developers are planning to create a gym, children’s play gym and office space in the former restaurant. The building once served as a fire station and City Hall for Argo.

The next meeting of the Argo City Council will be April 10. The meeting begins immediately following the 5 p.m. work session. City Hall will be closed on April 6 for magistrate training.

Natural Gas

When the power goes out, you don’t have to!

Reed Bales speaks to the Trussville City Council regarding a proposed ordinance that would affect short-term rental properties. (Photo by Crystal McGough)

Argo City Seal

Windsor

From front page

is the first of several new retail stores that will open this year at The Outlet Shops of Grand River.

“With so many special events in the spring, Windsor stands ready to serve you,” a statement from The Outlet Shops of Grand River said. “This retailer will present a beautiful 4,236 square foot store located in Suite 610 across from Tommy Hilfiger. The easiest way to find this incredible fashion boutique is to park at the front of the mall and enter between Banana Republic and Tommy Hilfiger.” Windsor offers women’s clothing and fashion accessories with a variety of items to choose from including dresses, tops, skirts, denim, shoes and much more. You will feel fabulous in formal dresses and gowns from this spectacular retailer.

“We are very excited to welcome Windsor to The Outlet Shops of Grand River,” said Christine Strange, VP of Retail Operations. “Our customers will love the affordable on-trend women’s fashions the boutique will offer.”

Windsor was founded in 1937 by the Zekaria family and its mission is to create an oasis that inspires and empowers women. Owners and their team live this out every day creating a wonderful shopping experience as you search for

just the right ensemble to look stunning for any occasion.

“We’re thrilled to bring the Windsor oasis to even more customers in Alabama with the opening of our second store in the area,” said Catherine Seaton, VP of Marketing at Windsor. “Whether you’re looking for the perfect dress for prom, an outfit for girls night out or just going to brunch with friends, we’ve got you covered,” continued Seaton. “Dressing up for occasions and all of life’s events is at the core of the Windsor brand and we’re excited to help women find that perfect look that makes them feel beautiful at our new boutique at The Outlet Shops of Grand River in Leeds.”

The Outlet Shops of Grand River is Alabama’s favorite outlet destination where customers can come to shop at more than 70 stores and then stay to play. The Shops offer a wide variety of dining options as well as several entertainment venues including the Grand River Drive-In, The Backyard hangout with yard games, dog park and eateries which include Neighbors Brew & Pies, Saw’s BBQ and the Grand River Entertainment District. The center is located in historic Leeds, AL off I-20 at Exit 140, 6200 Grand River Boulevard East.

For more information about The Outlet Shops of Grand River, please visit www.shopsofgrandriver.com.

competition held March 11 at Hoover High School. The percussion group was established in 2022.

The ensemble performs under the direction of A.J. Adair, Director of Percussion and Associate Director of Bands at Hewitt-Trussville High School. Adair is assisted by Associate Director of Bands Shannon Moore, and instructors Christopher “Fleck” Sherman, Jennie Tanner and Eddie Capps.

“We started this group to give our students the opportunity to continue developing their musicianship and love for the marching arts yearround,” Adair said. “The staff and I are so fortunate to have the privilege to watch these students perform and make music together every day.”

The Winter Odyssey event in Hoover featured more than 50 percussion and color guard teams from around the southeast region. The annual competition began as a fundraiser for the Hoover band but has grown into a large regional event for drum and color guard units.

Only in its second year, the ensemble has already earned a number of accolades. The students compete in Winter Guard International (WGI) and Southeastern Color Guard Circuit (SCGC) competitions.

In 2022, the group won the Alabama SCGC state championship in the Scholastic A class. The ensemble also won a SCGC bronze medal in 2022 and has won several first-place finishes around the region for SCGC.

Already this year, the ensemble has placed as WGI Atlanta Regional Finalist in Scholastic A Class in addition to the Odyssey event in Hoover.

“Competing in SCGC and WGI also gives students the ability to travel and be exposed to high-level perform-

ers from around the world and receive feedback from judges who are some of the most esteemed leaders in the percussion world,” Adair said.

Competition is not the most important part of the experience for the students according to Adair.

“The kids absolutely love it,” he said. “You can see it on their faces when they perform.” The ensemble consists of 27 students from the Hewitt-Trussville band program. Performers are divided into two sections, the battery and the pit. The battery is a marching percussion section consisting of snare drums, bass drums, tenor drums, and cymbals. The pit is an ensemble in front of the marching team made up of various keyboard, auxiliary percussion, and electronic instruments.

Adair described the per-

formance as part percussion and part theatre. The group learns the routine in early spring and quickly moves into performance mode at SCGC and WGI competitions around the country.

The 2023 production is called “The Second Act.” The creative theme features the

performers made up to be the ghosts of percussionists from long ago who gather together after hours in a theatre to perform one last time.

For more information about the Hewitt-Trussville High School band, including the indoor percussion team, visit www.hewittband.com.

Image courtesy of The Outlet Shops of Grand River

Nafziger, Ethan Powell, Gavin Roquemore, Maya Serena, and Peerson Waller all have this distinction. Many of them, their families, and their art teacher Kristin Meriam attended the Visual Arts Achievement Program (VAAP) awards reception at the museum Sunday afternoon.

“Special congratulations to Lilly Nafziger and Maya Serena who are middle school first-place winners in VAAP District 4a,” a statement from Trussville City Schools said. “HTHS has four District 4a high school winners as well!”

Lilly’s relief print Death’s Songbird and Maya’s original digital image Picture Day will go on to state level competition. Their art is headed

Golden Rule

From front page

ments, including replacing a leaky roof at the Irondale location two weeks ago, and is already eying equipment improvements to the chain of restaurants. Harp added that the company has no immediate plans for expansion but will, instead, focus on improving the three Golden Rule restaurants in the Kemp portfolio.

The road to purchasing one of the nation’s oldest restaurants is filled with many ups and downs for both Kemp and the Golden Rule brand.

The first Kemp’s Kitchen stand-alone restaurant was destroyed by a fire caused by a surge in an electrical device that started around 10:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021.

Less than a year later, in August 2022, the Golden Rule location on Chalkville Road unexpectedly closed after 30 years in business, announcing the news with a simple flier taped to the door.

“We regret to inform you that due to a number of issues and challenges, our restaurant will be closing its doors today after lunch,” read the statement. “We thank each of you for your patronage and support of the business over the past three decades. We know it has been a meeting spot for many, and we have been focused on providing a quality meal at a reasonable price. Thank you and God bless.”

to Montgomery for a show of district winners from all over the state at the Georgine Clarke Alabama Artists Gallery in the RSA Tower. Alabama State Council on the Arts will then honor state-level winners in Montgomery April 13.

“Good luck to all six Hewitt-Trussville artists in the VAAP state finals!” TCS stated.

In December 2022, the Kemp’s Kitchen & Bakery and Golden Rule brands merged under one roof, reopening in Trussville’s original Golden Rule location on Chalkville Road. Ironically, Golden Rule’s Trussville location was established in 1993 in the location formerly occupied by Big G BBQ, a long-time Trussville restaurant that was forced to close in the early 1990s following a fire.

Kemp said Golden Rule is of historic significance to the

area and he is proud to be the new owner and caretaker of the brand’s legacy while preparing it for future success.

“Golden Rule BBQ has been a staple in the community for over 125 years, and I am honored to be the new owner of this cherished BBQ brand,” Kemp said. “Our goal is to build on its golden history and traditions, while also innovating and evolving to meet the changing taste and preferences of today’s customers.”

Established in 1891, Golden Rule Barbecue is the oldest continuously-running restaurant in Alabama and the 16th oldest in the United

States. In 1969, Golden Rule was purchased by Mike Matsos, the owner of Michael’s Sirloin Room, who ran the franchise until his death in 2021. The Trussville location was owned and operated by Charles Matsos and Pete Derzis until December 2022. With the purchase, Kemp adds to his cache of restaurants and food service outlets throughout the area including Kemp’s Kitchen & Bakery in Trussville and Gardendale, Ironstone Pizza in Trussville, Alpha Charlie Grill on East Lake Boulevard, and the vending service Custom Vendz.

Maya Serena - Google Drawing project

Anu Falola – Miss Universe

Gavin Roquemore –Concrete Jungle

Katie Bentley – Mushroom

Reign Hatcher – drawing

Lily Clayton – Balcony

Ethan Powell – Toruk

Peerson Waller – Penguin

Golden Rule Barbecue Trussville (Photo by Hannah Curran)

Brian Kemp, owner and founder of Kemp’s Kitchen

Notice is hereby given that the City of Argo, Alabama will hold a public hearing on April 18th, 2023, at 6 PM CST, at Argo City Hall at 100 Blackjack Rd., Argo, Alabama 35173. At the public hearing the City will work with citizens to create citywide zoning based on the Argo Comprehensive Plan.

Paul DeMarco: Biden administration may sink Alabama landing U.S. Space Command

By Paul DeMarco

Huntsville, Alabama has been recommended as the number one choice by the United States Air Force for the Space Command. However, it would be no shock to hear politics may play a role in denying the state the final choice.

A recent report from The Washington Post reveals that President Joe Biden may reverse the Air Force plan to move U.S. Space Command

from Colorado to Alabama. The problem with this possible move is that it flys in the face of multiple studies by the Air Force that Redstone Arsenal was the best choice of numerous potential sites across the country as the permanent home for Space Command.

Actually, Colorado Springs, the current home for the U.S. Space Command was the fifth choice, based on a number of factors such as local infrastructure to support

the base. Huntsville clearly met all of the requirements to satisfy the stringent requirements as set out by the Air Force.

It is unfortunate that this administration puts national security second to politics when it comes to our armed services. President Biden had been in office less than a year when he ordered the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan that led to the tragic deaths of 19 American soldiers and

sailors and diminished American standing across the World. Under his leadership, the military has made woke politics,

climate change and abortion access as top priorities, instead of maintaining the world’s strongest military to protect the free world. The results of these misplaced priorities is that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has overseen an unprecedented fall in overall recruiting numbers.

Two of Alabama’s leaders in Washington DC, Senator Tommy Tuberville and Congressman Mike Rogers, who serves as Armed Services

Chairman, have called out the administration for their mishandling of the military. Hopefully, for our Nation’s best interest, the independent decision of the Air Force to place the United States Space Command in Alabama will not be derailed by election year politics from the President. Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives and can be found on Twitter @ Paul_DeMarco

Phil Williams: A pandemic of identity

By Phil Williams, 1819 News

Commentary

I’m glad I live in a state where our elected officials are choosing to take care of kids. I’m proud that our legislature had the strength of will to pass laws forbidding transgender therapies and surgeries on minors. Kudos to them.

As a kid I was forever playing superheroes, soldiers, or cowboys. The first men stepped on the moon when I was a kid, so you better believe we also played astronaut. It’s called imagination.

But at the end of the day when we were called for dinner, the toys went by the wayside and so did the imaginary identity. I’m sure there were times I wanted to bring my superhero cape to the table, and perhaps Mom let me, but I was never able to demand she call me by a new name:

“My name is not my name anymore and you will call me

Stupendous Man! And I will wear a cape every day and you will let me! And you will do as I say because I am the child in this house and that puts me in charge!”

Yeah, that would’ve lasted as long as it took the words to leave my mouth. I would have been corrected, yet still loved, because parents are actually allowed to correct kids. I would say the love of a parent requires that.

But the left says that a child can change identities and the parent must go along with it. That is not the case.

I recently watched in disbelief as Minnesota Lt. Gov.

Peggy Flanagan spoke at a transgender rights rally, making some of the most egregious comments I’ve ever heard come out of an elected official’s mouth. “When our children tell us who they are, it is our job as grown-ups to listen and to believe them,” Flanagan said in an uber liber-

al, condescending, “I-knowbetter-than-you-silly-people” voice. “That’s what it means to be a good parent.”

By her logic I should be a superhero able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, or a mountain man, a cowboy, or a cartoon character with fellow cartoon character Jonny Quest as my best friend.

Flanagan is wrong. A parent’s role is not to affirm every notion a child thinks, says, or acts out. A parent’s role is to lovingly affirm a child in his actual, God-given identity, and to let him know that he is not a mistake or “born wrong.” It is fully possible to lovingly encourage a child’s creative imaginations while also helping him to mature and sort fact from fiction and reality from fantasy.

The constant yammering and rage of those on the left demands that somehow an imagined identity trumps a real identity. And such rage is

creating what one pastor recently called a “pandemic of identity.”

Why is this such a big deal? Because when you doubt your identity, you are automatically at risk for any thing, any notion, and any ideology to step in and fill that void, and that is the basis for all spiritual, emotional and mental battles.

Before embarking on his ministry on earth, Jesus spent over a month in the wilderness fasting, praying, and being tempted by Satan. The very first thing out of the enemy’s mouth tried to undermine Jesus’ identity in His own mind. “IF you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread,” Satan says in Matthew 4. “IF you are who you say you are, then do something to prove it! IF you are all that, then be all that.” It was an attack on His identity.

But Jesus was confident in His own identity and didn’t

have to DO anything. He had nothing to prove. He was already affirmed in who He was. In His case, I suspect that Jesus drew His strength from God the Father, but based on what we know about His earthly parents, I would also bet that He was lovingly affirmed by them as He grew up. So take that as both an example and an admonition of the power of affirmation. We are in a pandemic of identity. If a child believes he is somehow in the wrong body, it is the role of a good parent, contrary to the misguided parenting advice of Minnesota’s Lt. Gov., to let that child know that he is perfect … he is the best one … there is only one like him. If a child was born a girl and likes to roughhouse and run barefoot through the woods, it likely means she is a bit of a tomboy, but is still a girl. If a little boy is slight in stature, and likes to do quiet

things, it likely means he’s a wiry, smart, little dude, but he’s still a boy. And you’re not a bad parent for lovingly saying so. We need to affirm our kids, but that does not mean we must affirm their every whim, and we certainly don’t need to affirm their concerns about their identity. We need to put an end to this pandemic of identity, and the cure is found by lovingly affirming our children, telling them they are not a mistake, and that they are fine the way they were born.

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.

My Life as a Hobby: Southern Stereotypes –I’m Fed Up, Ya’ll!

By Joe Hobby

This is for anyone who’s said fixin’ to, tumped over a glass, or rurnt something. This is for the person who agrees with a statement by saying, “I heard that!”, calls every soft drink a Coke, and eats grits without sugar. This is for married couples that think dinner at Waffle House is a perfect date night. For guys who call their friends “Bubba”. For parents who pick up their kid from school at noon because a half inch of snow is forecast. This is for grandmothers who make tea so sweet that it’s almost brown glucose, and for her grandkids who wear a Panama City Beach tee shirt to school on picture day. A word to the rest of the country: these are not stereotypes. These are just things that Southerners do – and we have no problem with them.

I’ve been all over the country, so I know that every region has its own peculiarities. But we seem to get hammered especially hard in the south for ours. And, I’ve personally experienced that, y’all. When I travel, and people find out I’m from Alabama, some of them look at me with pity, or start with the same tired jokes. It gets old. I’m amazed that so many people in other parts of America believe most southerners resemble Ernest T. Bass and behave like the Clampetts.

I recall one particular incident that happened to me in San Francisco. I had just finished a nice standup showcase at a comedy club, and when I came off stage, a drunk patron shook my hand, congratulated me on my jokes, and then asked me a question.

“So, dude, like uh, I’ve never been to Alabama. Do most of you guys have electricity down there? “ He was serious.

I kept a straight face and responded, “Sure. You don’t think we walk to the outhouse in the dark do ya?”

And to show I wasn’t upset about his blatant show of ignorance, I got his name and address, and when I got back home, I sent him a nice potted plant. It was kudzu.

I enclosed a note that told him it was a southern ground cover, and he should plant it in his yard, and water and fertilize weekly. I can only hope by now his house looks like a giant chia pet. Like uh, put that in your stereotype file, dude.

Over the years, lots of television shows have shown the South in a bad light. Honey Boo Boo, Hee Haw, The Bev-

Savvy Senior: How to Appeal Medicare Surcharges When Your Income Changes

By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior,

Is there anything I can do to reduce my high Medicare premium surcharges? Because of my past income, I pay $329.70 per month for my Part B premium and $64.50/month for Part D, but my income has dropped since I retired. Do I have any options?

Overcharged Andy

Dear Andy,

If you’re getting hit with a higher premium for Medicare Part B and Part D and you think it’s unjustified, you can ask Social Security to revisit its decision and perhaps reduce your cost. Here’s what you should know.

Medicare Surcharges

thresholds pays a higher premium, also known as an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), or surcharge.

The higher monthly premiums rise steadily from $230.80 to $560.50 through five income tiers. The same tiers apply to IRMAAs for Medicare Part D, with enrollees paying an extra $12.20 to $76.40 per month depending on their income.

About 7 percent, or 4.4 million higher-income Medicare beneficiaries pay a surcharge on their monthly Part B and/or Part D premiums.

Reasons for Appealing

ployer stating that you’re now retired. If you filed your federal income tax return for the year that your income was reduced, you will also need to provide a signed copy.

erly Hillbillies, Gomer and Goober on the Andy Griffith Show – none of that helps. Message to America – these are just TV shows. Hello!

Of course, the accent is some of our problem. We speak slow, and I guess that makes us sound dumb. When I open my mouth outside of the south, it feels like my IQ drops about 50 points.

However, some people find it charming. When I was just out of college, I found myself in a small town in upstate New York for sales training. The first morning I was there, I ordered breakfast in a diner. The waitress looked over her glasses, smiled at me and then said, “Could you say that again?”

“I’m sorry. Didn’t you hear me?”

“Yeah, I did. But I just want to hear you say it again. I love the way you talk!”

I recall when smug northerner said to me,“You guys in the South have so many words that we’ve never even heard up here.”

I fired back, “You mean like please and thank you, yessir, no sir, yes ma’am, and no ma’am?

Of course the South is rural, and it’s full of contree people – I know, I’ve met a bunch of them at my family reunions. The South has a lot of issues it needs to work on, but so does the rest of America. Rural is not stupid, it’s just another way to live your life. So cut it out!

And here’s a final word to the rest of ya’ll: the busiest airport in the world is in the south. Pick-up trucks are the most popular vehicles in America. Country music is a dominant force in entertainment. And there is a James Beard award winning restaurant in Alabama.

So get in your BMW that’s made in South Caro-

lina, go home and sip some Tennessee bourbon with a little Coke (you know where that was invented), then think about that vacation you’re booking on the sugar white beaches of Northwest Florida (yes, we claim it as the Sorhh). And please don’t forget that in the dead of winter when your days are colder than a stare from a study hall teacher, we’ll be deciding what short sleeve shirt we’re gonna wear to the golf course.

Bless your hearts.

Joe Hobby is a comedian from Alabama who wrote for Jay Leno for many years. Find more of Joe’s stories on his blog: https://mylifeasahobby.blogspot.com/?m=1. Also, follow him on Facebook at: Joe Hobby Comedian- Writer

Many retirees don’t realize that monthly premiums for Medicare Part B (coverage for doctor’s services and outpatient care) and Part D (prescription drug coverage) are based on your modified adjusted gross income from two years earlier. So, to determine your 2023 Medicare premium, Social Security uses your 2021 tax return. In those two years, however, your life can change in ways your 2021 tax return and current Medicare premium don’t reflect. Sometimes, those changes are enough to convince Social Security that your Medicare premium should be reduced.

Part B’s standard monthly premium in 2023 is $164.90 for individuals earning $97,000 or less; it’s $194,000 or less for joint filers. Anyone whose income exceeds those

In certain situations, Social Security will recalculate your premiums – known as a redetermination – for Part B and Part D, particularly if the agency based the cost on a tax return that was later amended.

Otherwise, there are seven life-changing events that qualify for a redetermination if they hurt your income: marriage, death of a spouse, divorce or annulment, reduced work hours or retirement, involuntary loss of income-producing property, the loss or reduction of some types of pension income, and an employer settlement payment because the company went bankrupt or reorganized.

How to File a Claim

To ask Social Security for a redetermination, you’ll need to complete Form SSA44 (SSA.gov/forms/ssa-44ext.pdf) and include supporting documents, such as the death certificate for a spouse or a letter from a former em-

A decision usually takes a few weeks, but if you had one of the events that Social Security considers life-changing, you should win the appeal. In that case, Social Security will reimburse you for the additional premiums by adding it to your benefit one month.

If you are on Medicare but haven’t started collecting Social Security, you should see a credit on a future invoice.

If your request for a redetermination is denied, there are three additional levels of appeals you could try: to the Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals, to the Medicare Appeals Council and finally to the federal district court where you live.

For more information on the premium rules for high-income beneficiaries see SSA.gov/benefits/medicare/ medicare-premiums.html.

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.

Old becomes new again in Alabama’s inshore reef system

By David Rainer Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Famous author Stephen King once wrote that “Sooner or later, everything old is new again,” which applies to recent work in Alabama’s coastal waters. Obsolete structures once used for shoreline protection in Mobile Bay are being used to create new habitat for oysters, crustaceans and the bountiful inshore fish species that inhabit Alabama’s biodiverse estuaries and bays.

The Nature Conservancy teamed up with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), Mobile County, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, the University of South Alabama and Alabama Gulf Seafood to repurpose material from the shoreline protection project that was deployed in 2011 in Mobile Bay in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was used by The Nature Conservancy, ADCNR and Mobile County to complete the project.

“It was three different types of reefs that we put in the water as an experiment to see what worked best to protect the shore, for the fish and for the oysters,” said Judy Haner, The Nature Conservancy’s Marine and Freshwater Programs Director for Alabama. “In the end, these particular cages took a beating from the waves. Even though they weren’t really protecting the shore anymore,

they were still great fish habitat, and oysters were still on them.

“We knew they were ready to come out of the water because Mobile County is getting ready to build a breakwater system and backfill some mud to rebuild the shoreline starting this fall.”

The project involved removing the cages with a track hoe fitted with a grapple on a barge and transporting them to an open area at Bayou La Batre’s City Docks. The Nature Conservancy staff, partners and volunteers assembled to disassemble the cages. Oysters were collected and sorted to be returned to known oyster reefs near Bayou La Batre.

“We thought this was going to take us two days because we’ve never done this before,” Haner said. “We had no idea. We asked folks to show up at 8 o’clock. They showed up at 7. We got rolling and, before we knew it, we got the project done in half a day instead of the two days we thought. Many hands make for little work.”

The next phase of the project involved using the same equipment and barges to collect the Reefballs that were deployed in the same areas as the cages and reuse them in the construction and enhancement of inshore artificial reefs under construction by the ADCNR’s Marine Resources Division (MRD).

“Those are concrete dome habitats that were also part of this project,” Haner said. “Those are covered in mussels and oysters, and they

have been repurposed and used on an artificial fishing reef that ADCNR created near Dog River. We’re really excited about that. That’s a full-on repurposing of the entire material to benefit the fishers.”

Craig Newton, MRD’s Artificial Reef Coordinator, explained how part of the material that was removed during the recent work in Mobile Bay was used in the construction of the Dog River Reef, one of four new reefs in Mobile Bay.

“The new reefs are all 10 acres in size,” Newton said. “One is about a half-mile south of the Dog River channel. The Dog River Reef has 3- to 6-inch limestone aggregate in the interior 7 acres of the reef site. Then around the perimeter of the reef site, we’re going to place these repurposed Reefballs that were pulled out of the water. Then we have the Wellhead Reef and the Ghost Rig Reef sites. Those are on the western side

of the bay. We’re going to have 3- to 6-inch limestone aggregate on those as well. The fourth new reef site is the Bon Secour Reef, which has the same material and metrics as the other new reefs.

“In addition to the four new reefs we’re constructing, the Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) purchased another $250,000 worth of rocks, and those are going to go to the Boykin Reef and the Bender-Austal Reef to enhance those for a little more oyster productivity.”

Newton said that productivity for oyster and fish habitat on the new reefs could begin fairly quickly after the construction is finished. He said oyster spat (oyster larvae) that float through the inshore waters could start attaching to those reef structures soon.

“We very well could get some spat set on those new reefs this spring,” he said. “I feel like we’re getting the rocks in the water at the ap-

propriate time for the spring spat set to settle on them.

Give it about a year of oyster growth and these reefs will begin to reach their peak potential.”

Numerous inshore fish species gravitate to the inshore fishing reefs, including speckled trout (spotted seatrout), red drum (redfish), white trout, flounder and sheepshead. To build the reefs, MRD uses limestone aggregate, repurposed concrete, oyster half-shells and low-relief concrete modules to create habitat for oysters, hook mussels and barnacles. As the reef biodiversity increases, it provides shelter for a variety of juvenile fish and bait fish, which attracts the game fish species targeted by Alabama’s inshore anglers.

Visit www.outdooralabama.com/artificial-reefs/ inshore-reef-zones for a map of inshore reefs and more information.

“In addition to these new reefs providing substrate for oysters, habitat for fin fishes and improving water quality, these reefs are also designed to help facilitate connectivity of isolated oyster reefs throughout Mobile Bay,” Newton said. “Even if these reefs aren’t specifically designed for direct oyster harvest, these artificial reefs will also help the natural oyster reefs around Cedar Point by increasing probability of successful larval oyster recruitment in areas that are routinely worked by oyster catchers. Anytime we find partners to repurpose some of these materials, like these Reefballs

or repurposed concrete from construction sites, we try our best to make the best use of those secondary materials because they do provide excellent substrate for oysters and the biological communities that are associated with thriving oyster reefs.

“Also, I do expect those reef sites will be productive for spotted seatrout this summer, particularly the Wellhead and Ghost Rig reefs. They’re in a little deeper water, so as the spotted seatrout are seeking deep-water structure during the heat of the summer – that’s when people usually start slip-corking around the deep-water structure – they should produce good catches of spotted seatrout. I feel like there will be some nice trout coming off those reefs this summer.”

Haner said the recent work in coastal waters is only part of what The Nature Conservancy is doing in Alabama. “We have a lot of other things going on around the (Mobile) Bay, but upstream in the rivers, we’re working with the Army Corps of Engineers to help build fish bypasses at the Miller’s Ferry and Claiborne dams to help with biodiversity on the Alabama river systems,” Haner said. “Also, we use a lot of prescribed fire to help manage the lands that we’ve purchased to preserve for the long term so that they’re really great recreational and hunting habitats to be used throughout the state. We’re excited about all the things going on from Huntsville all the way south.”

Volunteers and marine science students sort through oysters to be replanted near Bayou La Batre. (Photo credit: Craig Newton, David Rainer)

c a L enda R

Homeschool Hangout: 4-H & Exploring Circuitry

March 29 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

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

(AGES 18+)

EVENT TYPE: TEEN PROGRAM, ADULT PROGRAM

they please.

Join us for a community gathering of homeschool students on Wednesday, March 29th at 1:00 PM. Our presenter is Alabama 4-H! We’ll explore circuitry & build a flashlight.

Homeschool Hangout is a monthly event for homeschool students to learn together, meet new friends, & use resources available at our library

Children’s Storytime

Thursday, March 30: 10:30am - 11:30am

Trussville - LBK Auditorium

AGE GROUP: EARLY

LEARNERS (BIRTH -

PRE-K)

EVENT TYPE: STORYTIME, CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

Every unit we donate at our blood drive can help save up to three lives.

If you are able, please consider donating with us!

Make your appointment here: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=Trussvil -

leLib

Teens can give at the age of 16 with a parental consent form, 17 with out a consent form. For more information about teen donation: https:// www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-don ate/ info-for-student-donors.html

If you have never donated before and are nervous to try it we totally understand. Some answers to concerns may be found here: https:// www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/ common-concerns.html

Storytime for Growin’ Beans with Ms. Allison:

Birthdays March 31 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

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

Cheyloe crafts a vast world of stories about wanting to get lost, longing to be found, haunting memories, and… haunted houses. When joined by the talented musicians she calls her Sleepless Knights, that world is rendered even bigger, more colorful, and vibrant by their masterful input. They were the Tuesday headliner at The World Games 2022 and they look forward to the release of their EP titled “My Last Day on Earth”.

Main Street Pinson:

Parking Lot Yard Sales

April 1 @ 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Main Street Pinson, 4281

Main St Pinson, AL 35126 United States

ans & Families! To learn more, call 866-475-1014 (M-F 8am6pm ET).

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 844-3229935.

ATTENTION: VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! A cheaper alternative to high drugstore prices! 50 Pill Special - $99 + FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. CALL

Sign up now for a free space!

For more information and to sign up, go to Pattis Flea Market & Consignment Shop located at 4281 Main St., Pinson AL Open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. (Please no phone calls or texts)

Paper Flowers Craft Night

Monday, April 03: 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Trussville - LBK Auditorium

AGE GROUP: ADULT

(AGES 18+)

EVENT TYPE: CRAFT, ADULT PROGRAM

Call

Join Ms. Alicia for stories, songs, bubble time, and lots of fun! The event will be held in the library auditorium every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

All ages. Every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Yarn Manglers (Knit & Crochet Group)

Thursday, March 30: 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Trussville - Cahaba Room

AGE GROUP: ADULT (AGES 18+)

EVENT TYPE: DROP-IN, CRAFT

Join us to make giant paper flowers.

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 us - newcomers are welcome!

Join our Facebook group: YARN MANGLERS ANONYMOUS

Red Cross Blood Drive

Friday, March 31: 10:00am - 3:00pm

Trussville - LBK Auditorium

AGE GROUP: TEEN (6TH - 12TH GRADE) ADULT

(All ages)

Join us for Storytime for Growin’ Beans with Ms. Allison on Friday, March 31st at 10 AM. Our theme is birthdays. We’ll read books, have fun, do a craft, & have a snack.

Storytime is designed for pre-K children, but all ages are welcome

Ferus Presents; Cheyloe and Her Sleepless Knights

March 31 @ 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Trussville Entertainment District, 101 Beech Street Trussville, AL 35173 United States

Tonight we will be using book pages and other paper to make paper roses and hibiscus. All supplies will be provided as well as a take-home packet so you can make more at home!

Tech Tuesdays April 4 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Pinson Public Library

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

FREE EVENT – ALL AGES

Cheyloe and her Sleepless Knights are a band from Birmingham, AL. While this outfit mostly falls under the umbrellas of alternative country and gritty folk rock, they sometimes land at the intersection of several genres and travel whichever way

(Adults) Need help with your tablet, smartphone, or computer? Mr. Keith is here to help! Drop in on Tuesday, April 4th 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.

o bitua R y

Bradley Jerome Covington

may 13, 1981 — march 15, 2023

Birmingham, Alabama

Bradley Jerome Covington of Birmingham Al passed away on March 15 2023. Brad was born on May 13, 1981. He graduated from Hoover High School and started studying music which lead him to be a very accomplished guitar player. His passion was everything sports. He enjoyed fishing and collecting baseball cards. Brad struggled with addiction and he has now found peace with his struggles. Brad was preceded in death by his mother, Debra Covington and his older brother Richie Covington. He is survived by his father, Richard Covington and his wife Susan of Birmingham, his sister Angela Rogers and her husband Andy of Ocean Grove, Australia and many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. The family will have a private memorial service.

Roberta Moses Stephens

september 26, 1933 — march 20, 2023

Roberta “Bert” Moses Stephens of Birmingham, Alabama passed away on Monday, March 20, 2023 at the age of 89. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend who was very loved and will be greatly missed. Bert and her husband, Al Stephens, were faithful members of North Park Baptist Church in Trussville. Bert wore many hats during her time on Earth, but her favorite career was owning her own clothing store. Bert opened the Quality Post in 1969 and shortly after, expanded to a larger location in Center Point, under the name Village Boutique and ran a very successful clothing business for 21 years. After closing the store to help with her grandkids, Bert sold clothes out of the receiving room of her home - a room that the grandkids were never allowed in, but always took any opportunity to sneak a peek at nanny’s fashion collection. Bert had a real passion for fashion and could size and style a lady just by looking at her. This allowed her to make many personal relationships with her customers - often becoming some of her best friends. Bert also participated in the Red Hatter’s for many years with some of her closest friends. Bert loved to go to lunch with loved ones, but also loved to cook. Bert has turned many wonderful recipes into family traditions and had followed through with each one every holiday up until her calling. She loved to shop, share stories, spoil her grandkids and great grandkids, grow tommy toes (cherry tomatoes) on her porch, read the Bible, watch Hallmark movies and soap operas, Alabama football, and Braves baseball. Even on her sickest days, she would do her best to show up to every softball, baseball, football, soccer, basketball game, and band competitions of her children and grandchildren. Through her, we know what resilience and perseverance truly look like.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin Stephens, her daughter, Pam Harmon, her parents, Sidney and Della Moses, her brothers, Lee, Forrest, Sidney Jr., Corbin, and Leroy, and her sister, Bernice. Bert is survived by her brother, Jerry Moses, her daughters, Debbie (and Bill) Beasley and Lisa (and Steve) Young, her grandchildren, Stephen (and Stephanie) Harmon, Chris (and Valerie) Harmon, Jennifer (and Cam) Boudreaux, Emily Harmon, Brian (and Crystal Beasley), Jordan Thompson, Devin (and English) Young, Brady Young, and many great grandchildren. Services will be held at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home on Thursday, March 23rd at 10am and visitation will be held at Jefferson Memorial Funeral on Wednesday, March 22nd from 5pm - 7pm. Burial will follow in Jefferson Memorial Gardens.

Mary Ann Cooke

january 24, 1936 — march 16, 2023

Family and friends rejoice together in thanksgiving for the life of Mary Ann

Cooke, who died peacefully with family at her side, March 16, 2023. The joy of the Lord was her strength.

Mary Ann was a devoted wife and caring mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. Married for 73 years to her beloved Billy, together they had 3 children: Sharon Jordan, Wayne Cooke, and Cathy Abramson. Mary Ann became “Mamaw” to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who each knew her by her spirit of love, joy, peace, kindness, and faithfulness.

Mary Ann delighted in her Lord and Savior, and through her His gentleness and grace was evident to all.

A service in celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 p.m., March 23, 2023 at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home and Gardens, 1591 Gadsden Hwy, Birmingham. Visitation will precede the service at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home.

AskEddie

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”

-Joseph Campbell.

It is a beautiful thing - the ability to truly honor a veteran who has served their country upon the event of their passing. The rendering of military funeral honors for a deceased veteran is a service mandated by law and provided free of charge to the eligible veteran’s family. A family can request military funeral honors through their funeral director.

To receive military honors, the deceased must be a member of one of the following: A military member on active duty or in the Selected Reserve; former military members who served on active duty and departed under conditions other than dishonorable; former military members who completed at least one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service in the Selected Reserve and departed under conditions other than dishonorable; and former military members discharged from the Selected Reserve due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

Suzanne Jane Falkner

november 14, 1940 — march 14, 2023

Pinson, Alabama

Suzanne Jane Falkner (Howell), 82, of Pinson, Alabama, entered into rest on March 14, 2023.

Suzanne was born in Wolcott, NY to Robert N. Howell and Mary Amber Howell. She cherished her memories of growing up with her parents and sisters in Spring Lake, NY. She enjoyed school and was an excellent student, graduating from Port Byron Central School. After graduation, she worked for General Electric, IEC Electronics, and University of Alabama Hospital at Birmingham before managing Falcon Direct with her husband Burch Falkner. She was generous with family, strangers, and stray cats, she was a fantastic cook, and had a wonderful sense of humor and a contagious laugh.

She will be dearly missed by her sons Russell (Donna) Cornwell of Birmingham, John (Stacy) Cornwell of Newark, NY, and Jason (Kathy) Cornwell of Newark, NY; sisters Sandra (Paul) Wetmore of Lyons, NY and Barbara (Wayne) Foster of Auburn, NY; long-time friends Candice Staggs of Hayden, AL and Valerie Helms of Trussville, AL; and many grand- and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents Robert and Amber Howell; and Burch Falkner, her beloved husband of over 40 years.

Service will be held Wednesday April 5 at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home and Gardens, (jmgardens.com), 1591 Gadsden Highway, Birmingham, AL, with visitation for family from 10:15-11:00, friends from 11:00-12:00, and funeral service at 12:00. In lieu of flowers, donations in Suzanne’s memory can be made to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society (gbhs.org).

Philip Allen

march 8, 1952 — march 21, 2023

Springville

Philip Raymond Allen, born in 1952, an Alabama Lumberjack, Business Owner, Man of God, Beloved Husband, Revered Father, Adored Grandfather and Great Friend, died peacefully in his home after a two and a half year battle with Cancer on March 21, in his Springville, Alabama home.

Although living in several other states, he considered Tuscaloosa his home. Philip graduated from Tuscaloosa High School in 1970. He graduated from Jacksonville State University with an earned double Masters in Public Administration and Criminal Justice.

Philip met the love of his life, Rita Young Allen, in Cullman in June of 1985 and married in December. This marriage gifted him with two beautiful children, Christina Allen Reeves and Paul David Allen. Philip sought God and truth daily, with all his heart, and taught his children the uncompromising love of the Father.

He was preceded in death by his father, BW Allen, who was the Chaplain at Bryce Hospital and Pastor of Highlands Baptist Church in Cullman, his Mother, Cleat Carr Allen…three siblings, Becki, Anna and Bryce. He is survived by his wife of 37 years; two children, Christina Allen Reeves and Paul David Allen, Daughter-in-Law Melissa Allen, Son-in-Law Kevin Reeves, six grandchildren, Kayla, Samuel, Kristen Hope, Olivia, Tristan and Skyler, and his sister, Cecele Kraus. At 6’5” and 300 lbs, Philip will be remembered as the gentle giant with a Heart of Gold, a Deep Love of His Heavenly Father and a Compassion for the hurting.

The family will receive friends Sunday, March 26, 2023 from 10:30 am to 11:30 am with a celebration of Philip's life at 12:00 pm at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home in Trussville. Burial will follow at Pintucky Cemetery in Heflin, Alabama.

Please join us for Mr. Allen's service livestream via www.jmgardens.com

Frances Julia Williams

november 23, 1926 — march 20, 2023

Springville, Alabama

Frances Williams, 96, passed away on March 20, 2023. Frances lived in Springville, Al until moving to The Village at Cook Springs in April 2022.

Frances is survived by her daughter Julia Stirling , Judy McCallie - granddaughter, James Stirling Jr - grandson, Joey Johnson - grandson, Angela DuPre - granddaughter, Jodie Ray - granddaughter, Jackie Kephart - granddaughter. She leaves behind 13 Great Grandchildren and 12 Great, Great Grandchildren. Frances is preceded in death by Hollis Horton - father, Grace Horton - mother, Ralph Williams Sr. - spouse, Evelyn Ash - daughter, Ralph Williams Jr. – son

Estie Logan

december 4, 1931 — march 20, 2023

Estie Victoria Williams Logan, 91, passed away on March 20, 2023, in Birmingham Alabama.

Estie was born on December 4, 1931 in Atlanta, GA, to Robert Williams and Ruth Williams. After graduation from West Fulton High School, she married William E.D. Logan on November 18, 1950. She was always a loving mother to their four children: Mary Ann Hunter, William Logan, Pamela Parker and Glenda Logan.

When the couple moved to Birmingham in 1960, Estie began teaching for the daycare at First Baptist Church of Centerpoint where she remained until she retired after serving there faithfully for 28 years. Everywhere she went she would run into her former daycare "children" and she loved conversing with them and reminiscing about their escapades at the school. Estie is survived by a son, William Logan (Connie), and daughter, Glenda Jean Logan. She is also survived by three granddaughters: Leslie Cook (Billy), Sarah Moore (John), Sherrie Windsor (Stephen) and five great grandchildren: Katelyn Cook, Tyler Cook, Kelsey Windsor, Haley Windsor and Trey Windsor. She was preceded in death by her husband William E.D.Logan, her parents Robert Williams & Ruth Williams, daughters Pamela Parker & Mary Ann Hunter, sister Betty Ann Davis, brothers Cecil Glenn Williams and Robert Lee Williams.

A celebration of life for Estie will be held on Friday, March 24 at 2:00 at Jefferson Memorial Gardens in Trussville. Visitation will be held at 1:00 in the chapel.

JeffMem.AskEddie’20 5.3”x10”

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

205-322-0543

Pinson’s Sean Allen receives academic scholarship to Xavier of Louisiana

By Johnny Sanders Sports Editor

PINSON – This will be a different type of basketball article from the norm. We will not be talking about how Sean Allen led his team in scoring, rebounding, steals or blocks against a nationally-ranked team in a tournament in Georgia and earned an athletic scholarship to Duke University. No, Sean Allen struggled to even see the court during Pinson’s amazing run in 2022-2023. However, that did not diminish his impact on the team. Statistically speaking, when Sean played, he averaged 2 points and 1 steal per game while shooting 35% from beyond the three-point line. The more impressive statistic, though, may be the 3.5 GPA that Sean garnered, ranking in the top 20 percent in his class. No, Sean is not going to college for the same reasons fellow Indians Caleb White and Terry Connor (and a host of others because there is a lot of talent at Pinson) will. Sean is heading to Xavier of Louisiana on an academic scholarship with intentions of majoring in Biology/Pre-Medicine as part of the Bio Medical Science program.

Athletically, Sean was not simply bad at basketball, but

he was met with many different obstacles. His coach, Darrell Barber, remembered, “Back when he was a freshman, he made our freshman team and he could really shoot the ball, but I noticed he was limited in his movement. We found out that both of his knees were injured and needed either surgery or rehab. So, he played but got to the point where the pain was unbearable. During his sophomore year, he had some surgery and got some rehab on his knees. He came back as a junior and he didn’t make the varsity team. Each year, we have a few players that don’t make the team but come re-

ally close and we give them opportunities. I gave him the opportunity to play JV and he accepted. A lot of kids that get this offer decline because they are embarrassed or something. I tell them all the time that we never know what may happen. He played JV as a junior and worked hard. This past summer we had a loaded team. He tried out. I didn’t promise him anything. He persevered and worked hard and got on the team. It’s like that kid that walks on at a college and plays 3 years and then coach surprises him with a scholarship.”

Coach Barber continued, “He works hard and he’s a great team member and helps the younger guys. I’ve been blessed to have a lot of good kids. Sean is very respectful. If I had a daughter his age, I’d let her date him. He comes from a great family. He’s been tremendous and I couldn’t ask for a better kid. This ranks right up at the top with any of my D1 basketball scholarships. At the end of the day, we talk about getting scholarships…football, academic, engineering…it doesn’t matter.”

Sean’s mother, Eva Allen, said the following of her son’s accomplishments, “Words cannot fully express how proud my husband (Ty-

rone) and I are of Sean. He is the most kind and generous young man. We are grateful to be his parents. He is a true blessing to us.”

Speaking of his athletic career and beyond, Mrs. Allen said, “I encourage my kids to participate in extra-curricular activities. Sean has played basketball since second grade in park ball. He played in middle school and was excited to play in high school. Covid-19 hampered his basketball career in 2020 because he did virtual school and he didn’t attend school. He didn’t practice much on his own that year. He had to work hard to get on the varsity team in his senior year. Sean is very driven, and playing basketball helped increase that drive. He is very motivating to his teammates. It helped him understand the importance of hard work and putting extra energy into things to produce results. Sean is actually very talented artistically. He can draw and paint. He paints custom shoes and he can play the keyboard.”

What does mom hope for Sean’s future? “I’m so excited for his future. Sean wants to be a doctor, following in my footsteps. I also attended an HBCU college (Spelman College), and it was the best experience of my life. I pray

that he has a similar experience at Xavier. I know he will be in an environment where he will thrive and achieve his goal of being an anesthesiologist.”

An excited Sean had the following to say about signing at Xavier and the impact the Pinson Valley Basketball program had on his life. “It feels good and it’s kind of shocking that I am for sure going to college and I don’t have to worry about anything. I can just go down there and do my work, take care of my business. Basketball, through this program in particular, has taught me a lot. Coach (Barber) talks about teaching

life through basketball and I’ve learned a lot just being around this program. Lack of playing time was discouraging at first but that’s one of the things, when I talked about life through basketball, it taught me to work hard and look at myself and be the best I can be and not let bad things keep you down. You’ve got to push through them and get better.”

Sean’s choice to attend Xavier of Louisiana is one that likely makes his parents proud. “I chose Xavier of Louisiana first, because it’s an HBCU. Secondly, I want to be an anesthesiologist and, because my mom is a doctor, I’ve made contact with others who have become anesthesiologists and most of them went to Xavier. I plan to be successful, have my own business as an anesthesiologist and I do plan to play basketball at the next level, so I will be trying out for the team there.”

So, no, Sean Allen doesn’t lead the Indians in points or rebounds or steals or assists. But the young man has been just as valuable to the Pinson Valley basketball team on their impressive run, just be being a picture of perseverance and hard work despite circumstance. The future is bright for Sean Allen.

Pinson's Sean Allen

(Photo by Darrell Barber) Pinson’s Sean Allen

Springville’s Gillespie and Brown sign to play baseball at the next level

By Johnny Sanders Sports Editor

SPRINGVILLE – Signing days at Springville are becoming a normal thing these days. On the heels of Parker McAdams signing his letter of intent to play at Sewanee this past week, a pair of baseball players, Zach Brown and Brady Gillespie, did the same thing on Wednesday morning in the Springville High School gym.

Coming off the heels of back to back wins on the diamond and in the midst of a 9-8 season, the Tigers took some time out to recognize these two players in a ceremony celebrating the signings of two of their own.

Brown, known by his coach as a “vocal leader” signed his letter of intent to

play at Gadsden State Community College. “I think it’s amazing that I have the opportunity to go to play at Gadsden State for Coach

Phillips gets another no-hitter and home run in Huskies win

Lewis,” said Brown. “I’m very excited and just thankful. At Springville, I like

By Johnny Sanders Sports Editor

CHELSEA – The Lady

Huskies are on a tear lately in the softball ranks. They have won 14 straight games with a 17-4 record and now 2-0 in the area after a 13-0 thrashing they put on the Chelsea Hornets Thursday night with Sara Phillips stealing the show once again with a no-hitter on the mound and a home run at the plate. The Huskies wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, jumping out 2-0 after one inning of play when Hannah Dorsett reached on a ground ball to shortstop and was brought home on a Zaylen Tucker single to center field. Olivia Faggard came to the plate later in the inning and drove in Tucker to make it 2-0 Huskies. After a scoreless second inning, Hewitt put 3 runs on the board in the third to take

a commanding 5-0 lead over the Hornets. G Reeves would get a single to start things off followed by an Ahkeela Honeycutt single and a Sara Phillips walk to lad the bases. Lexie Kelly hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Reeves. Ryleigh Wood hit a single to right field that drove in Honeycutt and pinch-runner Taylor Davis before Chelsea would get out of the inning.

The fourth would be another scoreless inning with the Huskies putting up 4 more in the fifth and sixth respectively. In the fifth, Phillips and Wood had backto-back singles followed by Dorsett being hit by a pitch to load the bases. Tucker would single to shortstop to drive in Davis (pinch running for Phillips). Chaney Peters would hit a double to left that drove in Wood, Dorsett and Tucker to make it 9-0 Hewitt.

The sixth would be much the same as Hewitt put up 4 more runs on Chelsea. With Sarah Beth Golden on first base, Phillips, who was already brilliant from the mound, stepped to the plate and kindly knocked the ball over the left field fence for a 2-run home run to make it 11-0. Amber Newman would follow with a double to centerfield and Makaila Hope would hit a 2-run homer of her own to close out the scoring and secure the blowout win for the red-hot Hewitt Huskies Softball team. Phillips was yet again impressive in her second no-hitter of the season, pitching all 6 innings. She gave up no runs, no hits and just one walk in the shutout win, striking out twelve batters on the day. Hewitt is now 17-4 and they will spend Spring Break in Gulf Shores this week competing in the Gulf Coast Classic.

Springville's Brady Gillespie (Left) and Zach Brown (Right) along with Head Coach Jonathan Ford (Photo by Johnny Sanders)

Springville’s Brady Gillespie signs with Snead State. (Photo by Johnny Sanders);

See BASEBALL, Page 16

Sara Phillips pitching. (Photo by Hewitt Trussville Athletics)

Lady Tigers blast West Point 10-1

By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor

CULLMAN – The Springville Lady Tigers made the trip up I-65 Tuesday night to take on the West Point Warriors in an effort to extend their 7-game winning streak and continue their dream season that, to this point, yielded just one loss. With hot bats and excellent pitching from Bella Bullington, the Tigers would extend that streak to 8 wins and continue their winning ways with a 10-1 victory over West Point.

Springville would get on the board first when Layla Bradshaw got on base because of a Warrior error and

See LADY TIGERS, Page 16

Cougars get needed win with 14-5 beating of Pleasant Grove

By Johnny Sanders Sports Editor

PLEASANT GROVE –

The Clay Chalkville Cougars have not had the baseball season they had hoped for, sitting at 1-16 heading into Friday’s game at Pleasant Grove. The Cougars got a much-needed win and they did so in dominant fashion, proving what they can do when all of the pieces come together.

The Cougars jumped out to a big 8-3 lead in the first inning. It all started when Jay Sexton hit a pop fly to second base, but the ball

See COUGARS, Page 16

Gillespie hits walk-off single to lift Springville over Leeds, 4-3

By Johnny Sanders Sports Editor SPRINGVILLE – In

a cross-town rivalry game under the Friday night baseball lights, the fans in attendance were treated to a great game that saw solid defense by each team, a home-team comeback in the final inning and a walkoff hit by one of the star players for the Springville Tigers as Brady Gillespie hit a single in the final inning with 2 outs on the board to drive in the winning runs and lead his team to a 4-3 victory over the Leeds Green Wave.

Leeds began the game with a 2-0 lead at the end of one inning of play. The Green Wave got the bats started when T Bedell hit a single to third base and A Bradford was walked to put 2 runners on base for C Vance who would ground out to second, but Bedell would cross the plate for the first score. W Landers would hit a grounder to second, but the ball would be mishandled, allowing Bedell to come home and make it 2-0 Leeds after one inning.

Springville would bring three batters to the plate and all three would get out before Leeds came back up to bat. Despite getting 2 runners on, the Green Wave would be unable to score in the second. This would be the case for the next few innings with both teams playing defense and not allowing any runs to be scored. Leeds would manage a third run in the fifth inning when Conner Nelson would drive in Bradford on a line drive to right field.

Leeds would take a 3-0 lead into the final inning of the game and Springville would come to the plate with

a final shot at doing the unthinkable and coming back at the end of the game. T Oakes would get walked to start the inning and then G Martinez would hit a fly ball that would be caught by center fielder W Landers for the first out. Ty Harrison would then hit a double to left field to advance pinch-runner K Jones to third. With 2 runners on base, Leeds’ Jarrod Latta would walk Zach Brown to load the bases. Willis would come to the plate and ground out to shortstop scoring Jones to make it 3-1 Leeds with 2 outs against Springville. With Harrison on third and Brown on second, Brady Gillespie approached the plate. All he did was hit a single to left field and drive in Brown and Harrison and, when Leeds left fielder P Moore attempted to throw him out, he made it to

home plate himself, winning the game for his team 4-3.

Coach Jonathan Ford had the following to say regarding the game, “In a game where neither team was swinging it well, it came down to us getting out of a huge jam in the sixth and getting a couple fo timely hits in the bottom of the seventh. Our starter on the mound, Carter Samuelson, was throwing really well but had some bad luck. He only allowed 4 hits in 5 innings of work. Leeds had the bases loaded and nobody out in the sixth and we were able to get out of that jam with no runs. That kept the score 3-1 going into the bottom of the seventh. Tanner Oaks led off with a walk and after an out, Ty Harrison doubled to put

See GILLESPIE, Page 16

Springville's Bella Bullington pitching. (Photo by Jodi Davidson)

Leeds' Jarrod Latta gets ready to pitch as Ty Harrison looks on from second base. (Photo by Nannette Crocker Hill)

Stock Photo

Lady Tigers

From page 15

Shelby Hathcock drove her in on a grounder to center field. The Warriors would match that one run with one of their own in the bottom of the inning to knot the score a 1 after an inning of play.

The second inning would be a bit different as Springville would put 2 runs on the board while holding the Warriors scoreless. The Tigers would score first when Ashlyn Cooley and Kaylee Sue Martin both got singles to get on base and Bradshaw came to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to bring Cooley home. Emmy Leopard would follow with a line drive to right field, driving in Martin.

Baseball

From page 14

leading our team and it means a lot to me. I hope the players coming up see this and know to just work hard and chase your dreams.”

Springville Head Coach Jonathan Ford said of Brown, “Zach, for us, the last couple of years, he’s played middle in field and pitcher. But the thing he does so well for us is just lead with excitement and energy. He is always a high-motor guy. He can obviously play the game. He fields it well and can swing it well and do those things. For us, he’s just been a big leader for us over the years.”

Gillespie, known as more a silent leader and a defi-

Gillespie

From page 15 runners at second and third.

Zach Brown drew a walk to load the bases. Kade Willis grounded out to score a run and Brady Gillespie then sin-

nite opportunity for a win each time he steps up to the plate (also this week’s Trussville Tribune Player of the Week) will be playing his collegiate baseball for Snead State. “It means a lot to me.

I enjoy all of the coaches at Snead and the players and I’m just thankful for everyone who has supported me,” said Gillespie. “I can’t thank Coach Ford enough. He’s done so much for me. Freshman year he pulled me up to varsity and put me in big situations that made me mature as a player and as an individual. I am grateful to call him my coach. To the underclassmen, I say just put in the work and good things will happen. I’ve always tried to encourage

gled to score Harrison and Brown for the walk off.” Ford continued, “This was a really big win for us because we lost similarly the night before. We were up on Oak Mountain 2-0 going into the bottom of the sixth and they

that with our underclassmen. They are the future of this program and their role is huge as this year’s team is about 80% sophomores.” Coach Ford had the following to say about Brady, “Brady is a little quieter than Zach, but he has learned to lead in his own way. Anytime he steps on the mound, we know we have a chance to win. And that is a good feeling as a coach.”

“I am super excited for both of these guys,” concluded Coach Ford.

Brown, Gillespie and the Tigers have the night off before looking to continue their winning ways on Thursday with a trip across town to play against the Oak Mountain Eagles.

scored 3 on us. We are 11-8 headed into spring break.”

The Tigers look to continue their winning ways with games this week in Huntsville against Arab before they head back to area play against Saint Clair County.

The third inning would be a replay of the second with Springville outscoring West Point 2-0. After Bullington and Leah Bowden were both walked, Cooley laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance them to second and third respectively. Martin would hit a line drive to right field to

Cougars

From page 15

would be dropped and Sexton would be safe on first base. Tyler Griffin would get hit by a Pleasant Grove pitch on the next at bat and Nic Youngblood would come to the plate with 2 runners on. Youngblood would crush a single to center field, driving in Griffin and Sexton to make it 2-0 right out of the gate. After 2 outs, the Cougars would show that they were not done. Austin Ray would single to the pitcher and reach base as Xavier Edwards advanced to third base. With runners at the corners, Richard Cantrell hit a pop fly that would be dropped and Edwards would cross the plate to make it 3-0 Cougars. Malyc Grant would come to the plate with 2 run-

drive in pinch runner (for Bullington) Cheyenne Conner and Bowden to make it 5-1 Tigers. Springville would get another run in the fourth when Kiley Christopher drove in Hathcock on a single to center field. After a scoreless fifth inning, the Springville Tigers poured it on in the sixth to finish the game, putting up 4 more runs to complete the blowout. Hathcock would start things off with a double followed by a bunt from Bullington to get 2 runners on base. Aida Locklear would come in to pinch run for Hathcock and Conner would once again pinch run for Bullington. Christopher would hit a grounder to second base and, while she would be thrown out, Locklear would get across the plate to make it 7-1. Bowden would follow with a line drive to center field, driving in Conner. The last two runs would be brought home when Martin drove Bowden in and Hailey Davidson drove in Cooley.

ners on base and hit a double that would drive in Ray and Cantrell. After a walk by Pierce Alexander, Sexton would come up and hit an inside the park home run to bring in Grant and Alexander as well as himself to make it 8-0 before Pleasant Grove even got to the plate. The Spartans would get 3 runs in their chance at bat, but the damage was already done.

The Spartans would win the second inning 2-0 over the Cougars, but the score would still be 8-5 in favor of Clay after 2 innings. In the third, Clay would see Cantrell reach base on a walk and Grant would hit one to shortstop to bring Cantrell home to make it 9-5.

Clay would get another run in the fourth when Kayden Lee drove in Brian Cantrell on a 1-1 pitch when

Bella Bullington pitched 6 of 7 innings allowing 2 hits and 1 run while striking out 8 before Georgia Chancellor came in for the final inning, allowing no hits, no runs and striking out 2 of her own.

“We hit the ball well throughout the line up which resulted in 13 hits and 10 runs,” said JP Taruc, Springville’s Head Coach. “Bella pitched well giving up only 2 hits and striking out 8. We also played well defensively for her. I’ve got three pitchers (Bella, Shelby and Georgia) that have been working hard on their craft, which shows in how they perform in games. Plus, Kiley Christopher has been great behind the plate. She’s definitely one of the hardest working players on our team. I think we still have a lot to improve on defensively and offensively but the season is young and we have to get better every day.”

The Tigers improve to 15-1 and take an 8-game winning streak to Spain Park on Wednesday night.

he hit a sacrifice fly. The score after 4 innings would be 10-5 Cougars.

In the fifth inning, the Cougars would pour on more runs after the first three batters (Grant, Alexander and Sexton) would walk to load the bases and then Griffin would be hit by a pitch to bring home Grant and make it 11-5. Youngblood would hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Alexander. Edwards would walk and K Lee would hit a single that brought home Griffin and Sexton to finish off the scoring for the Cougars. Xavier Edwards pitched 4 of 5 innings for the Cougars, giving up 5 hits, 5 runs and striking out 4 batters.

The Cougars, now 2-16, look to get their third win of the season Monday night as they welcome Parker.

Springville’s Zach Brown signs with Gadsden State (Photo by Johnny Sanders)