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By Erica Thomas, managing editor
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MOODY — A Moody teenager will represent the state of Alabama in the Miss Junior Teen United States 2021 pageant.
Payton Myers was crowned Miss Alabama Junior Teen United States 2021 on April 25, 2021, at the Davis Theater for the Performing Arts in Montgomery.
“I am honored that I will be able to represent the State of Alabama nationally,” Myers said.
Myers was diagnosed with asthma at the age of two. As her personal platform, she created “Breathe Easy” is to raise awareness and to help find a cure for asthma.
With her experience in pageants, Myers will represent Alabama well on the national stage this October.
“I think I was around 3 years old when I started competing in pageants,” Myers said. “Participating in pageants is a wonderful way to build self-confidence and wonderful friendships.”
Myers plans to attend the Alabama School of Fine Arts where she will specialize in classical ballet and modern dance.
The national pageant will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Payton Myers
Oh Baby!
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During its regular meeting on Monday, July 19, 2021, the Springville City Council passed a resolution commending the officers’ actions. City Attorney James Hill read what Chief Wayne Walton wrote on a framed certificate for each officer.
“The general public is often unaware of the tremendous efforts and sacrifices made by our men and women who have devoted themselves to such an endeavor,” Hill read. “However, from time to time, it becomes necessary, in good conscious, to conspicuously acknowledge the acts of these individuals, so as to recognize their tireless devotion and to display our public appreciation.”
St. Clair County Deputy Brandon Wiggins, Springville Officer Jake Schramm, Springville Corporal Brandon Keith, and Ashville Officer Brandon Martin, all responded to Interstate 59, after receiving a call about a pregnant female in distress. The call came in at 11:35 p.m., on Sunday, June 13, 2021.
The officers had the father pull up to the Springville exit, where they began to coach the mom-to-be through labor.
“She’s in active labor, she’s screaming,” said Officer Martin. “And the baby’s coming. We just tried to calm her down and told her when she was ready to start pushing and she did.”
The officers helped the mother and the father deliver the child. The fire department quickly responded and was able to get the baby the care it needed to be taken to the hospital.
Deputy Wiggins said when the call came in, they were all nearby because they had just wrapped up another call in the area.
“When we got up there, she was screaming,” Wiggins said. “It’s something you don’t really prepare to encounter every day.”
Wiggins said police had to do the best they could while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
“We all sat there and we came together and we were able to have a successful delivery,” Wiggins added.
This was the first time Deputy Wiggins witnessed a birth. He said he
“You get to see a newborn baby,” he explained. “And of course, when it came out, there were some issues with it breathing. I was nervous and I wasn’t the dad. But just to see that baby. When I was in the back of the ambulance, I remember holding it and scratching its back to get it to cry. And you could see the blue come out and the pink coming to the baby.”
Wiggins said the three agencies always come together, like family, and that’s what they did the night of June 13.
Springville Police Chief Wayne Walton said there is something special about all officers of law enforcement in St. Clair County. He said no matter what badge or uniform first responders are wearing, they come together when it counts.
“St. Clair County is a unique county because we do all come together as one,” Walton said.
Walton said he doesn’t know why there is such a close bond between first responders, but it is evident.
“It don’t matter if you’re a St. Clair County deputy, Springville, Odenville, Ragland, Pell City, Moody. It don’t make no difference,” said Walton. “For some reason, this county and these officers come together and work really close together. Sometimes you go to other counties and you don’t see that. But there’s a bond in this county.”
When it came to being recognized for going above and beyond, the officers were humble in their responses.
“We all appreciate it but we sign up for this job and we give an oath to serve and protect,” Wiggins said. “When we get out here to make a difference like this, it’s something that we work every day to do. You know, all across the country, events like this are happening. It may not get put on the news but it’s happening all around us.”
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Trussville BOE presents budget, discusses COVID and Critical Race Theory
By Terry Schrimscher
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City Schools Board of Education presented a proposed budget for the fiscal year 2022 during its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Monday, July 19, 2021.
Jim Kirkland, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Trussville City Schools presented the first reading of the budget, which he expects to
revise before the second reading in August. State law requires schools to have at least two public hearings before approval of a budget.
“This is purely a draft because there are a lot of things from the state I don’t have yet,” said Kirkland. “There are several allocations that have just not been released to the schools yet,” he said.
Kirkland said he expects the state allocations to be announced soon which will enable him to present a more complete picture in the second reading on August 31.
The proposed budget contains a beginning balance of $27,748,935.04 and an ending balance of $29,198,338.84. The fiscal year begins on October 1, 2021, and ends on September 30, 2022.
Total revenues for FY2022 are expected to be $56,552,253.72 with total expenditures of $55,441,268.35. Updates to those figures will be included once state allocations are announced. The budget will be posted for viewing online at www.trussvillecityschools.com.
Prior to the regular meeting, the board held a 30-minute work session to discuss several issues related to the planned school year.
Superintendent Dr. Pattie Neill said the schools are
planning to open on schedule on August 11 following CDC guidelines but are waiting to see if the state offers further guidance.
“All we have are CDC guidelines,” said Neill. “The Alabama State Board of Education has asked the Alabama Department of Public Health for specific guidelines for Alabama.”
According to CDC guidelines, masks should be worn by individuals two and older who are not fully vaccinated and schools should maintain three feet of distance. According to Dr. Neill, 99% of students are planning to return to school in person. As of today, only 13 students are planning to attend virtually across all grades.
Neill said schools are waiting on a ruling from the State of Alabama on the Alabama Literacy Act which could require third-grade, students to be retained if they do not read to a standard. Governor Kay Ivey did not sign the bill approving the measures until the state board can perform a complete review of the Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) results.
Superintendent Neill also addressed recent nationwide controversies over the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT).
“The state superintendent of education is having to deal with the media frenzy on Critical Race Theory,” she said. “CRT is not part of the state curriculum but the state board of education is going to release a statement on that at their next meeting. They have voted to send a resolution to the state legislature on that.”
“It looks like we are going to maintain our curriculum,” Neill continued. “There are two research institutions that have researched the teaching of history in all 50 states. Both research institutions agreed that three states teach history the way it should be taught—without bias and without controversy—are Tennessee, California and Alabama,” she said.
The Thomas B. Fordham Institute rated the curriculum of all 50 states and Washington D.C. on the subjects of Civics and History. Only Alabama, California, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and the District of Columbia) earned a rating of “exemplary” in both subjects. Twenty states received failing grades.
“It’s likely nothing will change,” Neill said. “We will keep our curriculum just like it is because we do a better job in Alabama than some other states do in terms of teaching history.”
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