The Tribune
TRUSSVILLE • ARGO • MOODY • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • SPRINGVILLE LEEDS • MOODY • TRUSSVILLE • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO SPRINGVILLE • TRUSSVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • TRUSSVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • PINSON CLAY CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • TRUSSVILLE PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY TRUSSVILLE • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS MOODY • TRUSSVILLE • PINSON·CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • TRUSSVILLE • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • TRUSSVILLE • PINSON • CENTER POINT TRUSSVILLE • ARGO • MOODY • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • SPRINGVILLE
WED THU
87 71
86 70
83 70
82 69
34%
41%
41%
36%
38%
49%
51%
Battle of the Bands
Trussville Police Chief: Crack is back
See SPRINGVILLE HIRES, Page 6
Springville native wins Miss Arizona USA
See MISS AZ USA, Page 6
HTHS Wind Ensemble to perform at All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival From The Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — The Hewitt-Trussville High School Wind Ensemble will perform at a huge event in Atlanta in March of 2022. See WIND ENSEMBLE, Page 6
Trussville Council hears from Cahaba Homestead Heritage Foundation President By Erica Thomas, managing editor
TRUSSVILLE — The president of the Cahaba Homestead Heritage Foundation attended a Trussville City Council workshop on Thursday, July 8, 2021. See CAHABA PROJECT, Page 5
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville Police Department and surrounding agencies have seen a major increase in the number of crack cocaine cases being investigated. Police Chief Eric Rush said he is concerned the comeback of the drug could lead to another epidemic. “Crack is a drug that was very popular in the 80s and 90s but has been almost non-existent in our area in the past 10 to 15 years,” said Rush. “It is alarming to me that it is making a comeback.” Within the past year, the amount arrests for crack cocaine in Trussville has doubled when compared to the previous year. Rush said Trussville is not alone in seeing the trend and he believes the nationwide fight against opioids could be a factor. “Drug trends can be hard to predict but I think that the current fight against the opioid epidemic in recent years has really caused opioids to be less available so another drug has to fill that void,”
Trussville Police Chief Eric Rush.
he said. “It is very similar to when restrictions on ephedrine sales caused a decline in the availability of meth. At that time, we saw a decrease in meth arrests and an in-
crease in heroin arrests. Heroin made its resurgence and filled the void that was left by the absence of meth. Meth labs used to be common in rural areas but most of the meth
TUE
87 71
‘Big Wins’ for city of Springville with new hires
By Erica Thomas, managing editor
SUN MON
86 71
www.TrussvilleTribune.com
SPRINGVILLE — The City of Springville recently announced two hires within the city government. Kim Stone has accepted the fulltime role of Deputy City Clerk. Janna Clark will serve as a part-time magistrate for the Springville Municipal Court.
SAT
86 70
July 14 - 20, 2021
By Terry Schrimscher
FRI
Page 2
Media Days
Page 9
50 Cents
we are seeing now is brought in from Mexico.” Rush said factors that impact drug trends include availability, ease of access, cost, criminal penalties, and enforcement. On July 28, an incident was reported at Petsmart in Trussville Crossings. Employees said they found a syringe filled with a liquid and several paper packets believed to contain narcotics, in the women’s restroom. The drugs were believed to have been left by a suspect in another incident that happened at Kohl’s. That person was allegedly fleeing from officers and has since been trespassed from both Kohl’s and Petsmart. The drugs were tested and it was discovered that they were crack cocaine and methamphetamine. Police said this incident is just one of many that show this dangerous trend is a real problem. “I hope I am wrong but I am really concerned that we are headed towards a crack epidemic similar to the opioid epidemic we have been fighting for years,” said Rush.
Trussville Council honors Girl Scout for efforts against distracted driving By Erica Thomas, managing editor
TRUSSVILLE — July 13, 2021, is Alex Rudick Day. The Trussville City Council made the proclamation during its regular meeting on Tuesday. See RUDICK, Page 7
Widening plan in the works for North Chalkville Road to I-59 in Trussville By Erica Thomas, managing editor
TRUSSVILLE — The Jefferson County Commission has a plan to widen North Chalkville Road from Boulder Drive to Interstate 59. See NORTH CHALKVILLE, Page 3
Trussville best friends go to ‘infinity and beyond’ at Space Camp By Erica Thomas, managing editor
TRUSSVILLE — From the ocean to the galaxy, two best friends in Trussville have seen it all. Jackson Rutledge and Noah Mitchell have now graduated Space Camp and the experience is one they won’t soon forget. The pair attended Space Camp at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, home of Space Camp, Space Camp Robotics, Aviation Challenge and U.S. Cyber Camp. They were on the same 11-person crew, called DORADO. The name is from a constellation that resembles a swordfish, which is perfect because Rutledge and Mitchell have been known to take trips to the beach and the pool together. They have been friends since early elementary school and the trip to space camp was a surprise they were given at Christmas. “It’s such a huge blessing that he got to experience this,” said Jill Rutledge, Jackson’s mom. “Not everybody gets to go to Space Camp and
Jackson Rutledge and Noah Mitchell at Space Camp.
I know he will remember it.” They stayed at the camp in Huntsville for the weeklong program. Organizers of the program promote science,
technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The program is specifically designed for trainees who have a passion for space exploration, which
fits Rutledge quite well. When asked how he became interested in space, Jackson Rutledge said, “I learned about the Mars Rover.
Robin’s Sewing Shoppe
Inside the Tribune
www.robinshoppe.com
News - Pages 1-7 Classified - Page 7 Obituary - Page 8 Sports - Pages 9-10
5886 Trussville Crossings Blvd 205.655.3388
16
-
Fabric Machines Classes Demos
They’re on a different planet and it is pretty cool that they can make oxygen.” Jackson gets his interest in space honestly. His great-grandfather, Otis Cook, worked on the Saturn V booster, the Skylab, a lunar rover, and a shuttle. Rutledge said he is excited to tell his friends at Hewitt-Trussville Middle School what all he was able to experience at camp. Both Mitchell and Rutledge spent the week training with a team that flew a simulated space mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the Moon or Mars. The crew participated in experiments and successfully completed an extra-vehicular activity (EVA), or spacewalk. Their crew returned to earth in time to graduate with honors. “We did this mission, and I was Paycom [Payloads Communications],” explained Rutledge. After the experience, Rutledge said he if he had to choose a career now, he would pick Mission Control. See SPACE CAMP, Page 6