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By Faith Callens For the Tribune
CLAY — The Clay Council renewed the Jefferson County Memorandum of Understanding on Tuesday, March 22 for the removal of debris during severe weather. See CLAY, Page 5
Council holds rescheduled public hearing for Glendale Farms, passes resolution for building for police training By Tanna M. Friday For The Tribune
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City Council met on Tuesday evening, March 29, to hold a rescheduled public hearing regarding Glendale Farms. See TRUSSVILLE, Page 3
Springville teen selected to compete at Junior Open Agility World Championship From The Tribune staff reports
SPRINGVILLE — A Springville teen was selected to compete at the Junior Open Agility World Championship (JOAWC) competition in Finland on July 15-17, 2022. See JOAWC, Page 4
ALDOT public involvement meeting encourages citizens to submit ‘comment form’ for I-59 project By Hannah Curran Editor
TRUSSVILLE — The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) public involvement meeting on Thursday, March 24, enSee ALDOT, Page 5
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Home and Garden Special Edition
Inside
2022
Trial begins for man accused of Clay murder By Hannah Curran Editor
BIRMINGHAM — Attorneys for the prosecution and defense delivered their opening statements as the murder trial of Jacob Naquade Chambers got underway in earnest on Tuesday, March 29. The 33-year-old Chambers, of Odenville, is charged with murder in the 2020 shooting death of his stepfather, 56-year-old Paul Edward Trull Jr. The victim was killed at a home in the 7500 block of Weems Lane in Clay. Trull was shot in the head three times in the living room of his home after a dispute in which the victim had been accused of assaulting another family member, according to both parties. Trull later succumbed to his injuries. In his opening statements, Jefferson County Assistant District Attorney Joseph Hicks said life is about decisions, and this case is about the decision that Chambers made to be the judge, jury, and executioner. Hicks said that Chambers decided that his stepfather, who he previously believed “could do no wrong,” abused his sister many years ago, which caused him to get upset.
Jacob Naquade Chambers
From there, the prosecutor said, Chambers went to the victim’s home to confront Trull. The victim, seated in a rocking chair, got up and allegedly walked toward him with his hands in the air. Chambers, prosecutors claim, responded by shooting Trull. Chambers’ attorneys, however, claim the shooting was in self-defense. Defense attorney John Tindal claimed that Trull called Chambers to come to the house to discuss the accusations. While the defense admitted there is evidence Chambers had a gun in his pocket when he returned to the residence with his sister. The defense argued that Trull stated he was going to “blow [Chambers] away” and asked Chambers why he didn’t “beat
him up” for the accusations made against him. At some point during the confrontation, the defense argued that Trull became agitated and rose from his chair and approached Chambers. When Trull supposedly was within arms reach of Chambers, the defense said he started fumbling in his pocket for his pistol, and that was when Chambers begins moving away from Trull and pulled his own weapon and fired five shots. Chambers’ stepbrother, Nicholas Trull, who arrived at the house with Trull on the day of the shooting, was also called as a witness for the state. Nicholas said he was sitting outside the house during the discussion when he heard several gunshots ring out and
rushed to the house. He was initially blocked from going inside but was able to call 911. Chambers’ grandmother, Caroline Sue Elsberry explained she was sitting in between Chambers and Trull when the shooting occurred. Elsberry claims the discussion between Chambers and Trull only lasted two and half minutes and that Trull got up from the rocking chair with his hands in the air and walked over to the lounge chair that separated the two men. While he was walking, Elsberry said that Trull was calmly trying to get his son to calm down so they could discuss the matter. Elsberry said Chambers’ hands were in his hoodie pocket, and when Trull got face-to-face with the defendant, Chambers pulled the gun and fired five shots. During cross-examination, the defense pointed out some inconsistencies of what Elsberry told police right after the shooting and what she said on the stand. The defense also asked Elsberry about her relationship with Chambers and said that Elsberry hadn’t had any connection with Chambers for 12 years until the defendant’s mother became ill. See TRIAL, Page 5
City of Irondale votes yes to tax increase By Hannah Curran Editor
IRONDALE — The City of Irondale held a Special Election on Tuesday, March 22, to “Build a Brighter Future for the City of Irondale.” Citizens voted on a proposed six mill property tax increase to help fund capital improvements in the city, such as improvements to parks, public facilities, and paving. The results showed 1,043 citizens voted yes and 352 citizens voted no. The property tax increase will take effect in 2023 and will sunset in 2029. Mayor James D. Stewart, Jr. thanked voters for placing their trust in city leadership and vowed to immediately work on bringing the Blueprint Irondale Comprehensive Plan to life. “Which means that 75 percent of the wonderful citizens in the city of Irondale believe in this administration and want to be able to build a brighter future in the city of Irondale,” Stewart said. The tax increase allows the city of Irondale to continue its paving program, develop its parks and green space, and improve its public facilities. The tax increase is six
MOODY – At a brief meeting at City Hall on Monday, March 28 the Moody City Council approved payment for the relocation of a water line on Kelly Creek Road South for road improvements. See MOODY, Page 3
St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office issues missing person alert for 32-year-old woman From The Tribune staff reports
ST. CLAIR COUNTY — The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office has issued a missing person alert for a 32-year-old woman. See MISSING, Page 3
Trussville and Springville Rotary Leadership attends regional training conference
See ROTARY, Page 4
Photo courtesy of iloveirondale.com
mills which Stewart said is equivalent to an average home price in Irondale is $142,500. Six mills are equivalent to $84 annually and only $7 a month. “We had a comprehensive plan performed on the city in 2021, and it was adopted in December 2021,” Stewart said in an earlier interview. “This comprehensive plan was a survey to about 1,200 citizens for them to share with us what they want the city to look like over the next five to
15 years, there were 85 items that were a part of the plan that they requested we implement.” To implement these items, the city needed funds, and Irondale wanted to set aside a separate restricted fund to be used only for those items. So the citizens could see exactly what their money was going for. The tax will be in effect for six years, and it’s projected to raise about 1.5 million dollars a year if approved.
“We’re looking for about $9 million over a six-year period to come in; in 2029, it sunsets,” Stewart said in an earlier interview. “So if the people are not happy with the way that we have been stewards over the funds, then they do not have to enact it and put it back into play.” Irondale has a plan called “22 in 22.” It has 22 items that the city has set as a goal to accomplish, which came out of “Blueprint Irondale,” the comprehensive plan.
5886 Trussville Crossings Blvd 205.655.3388
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By Nathan Prewett For The Tribune
TRUSSVILLE — Local leaders from the Trussville Daybreak and Springville Area Rotary Clubs attended
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Moody Council approves payment to relocate water line on Kelly Creek Road
From The Tribune staff reports
Robin’s Sewing Shoppe
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Clay Council renews annual contract for ‘Weather Advisory’ debris removal
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Trussville Beautification nominations open April 1 From The Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE ‚The Trussville Beautification Board will accept nominations beginning April 1-May 12 for its annual beautification contest. Yards will be judged May 16. (If it rains that day, the makeup day is May 23.) See BEAUTIFICATION, Page 4