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The Trussville Tribune TRUSSVILLE • PINSON·CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE
www.TrussvilleTribune.com
July 24 - 30, 2019 Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers coming soon to Hwy 11 By Erica Thomas, managing editor
50 Cents
Property Rezoning Approved
Hamilton property, Valley Road, entertainment district and events discussed in Trussville Council meeting
Trussville Location of Salvatore’s Pizza and Pasta closes By Shaun Szkolnik, for the Tribune
BIRMINGHAM — Construction is underway for a new Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers restaurant off Highway 11, in Birmingham. The land behind Bojangles Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits, at the corner of Highway 11 and Mary Taylor Road.
TRUSSVILLE — Pizza and pasta lovers in Trussville were in for an unpleasant surprise as the Gadsden Highway location of Salvatore’s Pizza and Pasta closed down recently. Visitors to the Trussville location were greeted by a sign explaining the recent decision to shut the store down.
See FREDDY’S, Page 3
See PIZZA, Page 4
Argo City Council honors two police officers
Trussville Police find car stolen from Panama City By Erica Thomas, managing editor
By Shaun Szkolnik, for the Tribune
ARGO – The Argo City Council recognized two Argo police officers that apprehended a suspect that had, earlier, shot at Birmingham police. The first to be honored was Officer Luke Benefield. He was presented with a plaque by Captain Glenn Wells of the Argo Police Department. See ARGO COUNCIL Page 3
Bassmaster pro visits injured Birmingham Police officer at UAB Hospital By Erica Thomas, managing editor
BIRMINGHAM — Elite Bassmaster pro, Gerald Swindle, visited a Birmingham Police officer who was shot several times while chasing a suspect on July 17. Swindle stopped by UAB Hospital to talk to Officer Cullen Stafford on Monday, July 22. See BASSMASTER Page 5
Man killed in crash during chase with Tarrant Police was wanted in Trussville From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
TARRANT — The Tarrant Police Department said a man killed after a crash in a police chase had a lengthy criminal history and should have never been on the streets. See MAN KILLED, Page 6
Inside the Tribune
News - Pages 2-6 Tribune Living - Pages 7-9 Politics - Page 10 Calendar - Page 11 Classified - Page 11 Obituary - Page 12 Faith - Page 13 Kids page - Page 14 Sports - Pages 15-16
By Erica Thomas, managing editor
By Erica Thomas, managing editor TRUSSVILLE — A piece of property on Highway 11, known as the Hamilton property, has been approved for rezoning, after months of debate between city leaders and concerned community members.
In the regular city council meeting on Tuesday, July 23, the rezoning ordinance passed 3:2, after a second reading. The first reading and a public hearing were held at the previous council meeting. Council members who voted yes to the move were Brian Plant, Zack Steele and Alan Taylor. Council members who voted no to the move
were Council President Jef Freeman and Perry Cook. Just before the vote, Cook said approving rezoning would be a disservice to the city of Trussville. He had a prepared statement about his concerns. “We need to protect our town of what we want in it,” Cook said. “We don’t need to sit back and let someone bring
a list of what they want and that’s what it is.” Councilman Brian Plant said the council cannot legally tell the property owner what to do with their land. “We can’t tell someone that they can’t develop their property because that’s their property right,” said Plant.
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville Police Department recovered a car that was reported stolen in Panama City, Florida. One man was arrested and is awaiting transfer to the Jefferson County Jail. The Toyota Corolla was spotted by patrol officers at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 20. It was parked in the Walmart parking lot.
See HAMILTON Page 9
See STOLEN CAR Page 4
‘An example for us all’ Trussville man marks 50 years of teaching Sunday School By June Mathews, contributing writer
In the spring of 1969, 31-year-old Dan Sims had been a member of First Baptist Church Trussville only a few months when he “got told” by then-pastor Richard Francis that he’d be teaching a men’s Sunday School class. The current teacher would soon be moving out of state, and Sims, the pastor figured, would be a good fit for the job. As it turned out, Francis was right. That July, Sims stepped into his appointed role, and 50 consecutive years later, he continues to teach the same class each week. Joining his class as they honored Sims for his many years of service on July 7 were Sims’s wife, Linda, FBCT Pastor Buddy Champion, and Alabama State District 44 Representative Danny Garrett. “Dan has a heart and personality for people and God has gifted him with the ability to be a great teacher,” said Champion. “He has a passion for the men to understand
God’s Word and to live what they learn by impacting the lives of others. His faithfulness has been a blessing to First Baptist.” Garrett expressed similar praise. “Dan’s dedication, faithfulness and heart for serving is an inspiration to everyone,” he said. “He has made an impact upon the lives of so many men who have looked to him for spiritual guidance and encouragement. He is an example for us all.” The Simses had not yet
moved to Trussville when they moved their membership from Birmingham’s Ruhama Baptist to First Baptist in the fall of 1968. Sims was then the manager of Trussville’s Utilities Board (now Trussville Gas & Water), so the couple was well acquainted with the city and had decided it was where they wanted to raise their kids. For them, finding a church home in the area was a logical first step. And it didn’t take long to get involved. The Sunday
CLAY — A real estate power couple is hoping to show love to the person responsible for a hateful act. Someone spray-painted a racial slur on a “Coming Soon” sign that was placed in the front yard of a home in Clay.
See TEACHER, Page 6
See VFW, Page 9
www.robinshoppe.com 5886 Trussville Crossings Pkwy 205.985.4212 Fabric Machines Classes Demos
By Erica Thomas, managing editor
they joined First Baptist, Sims was invited to join what was then known as the Sedric Mann Men’s Sunday School Class. He was also recruited to help class members cook breakfast for the church’s quarterly Brotherhood meeting the following week. So, the next Sunday, he reported to the church’s fellowship hall for kitchen duty at 5:30 a.m. “After the meeting, I asked somebody where to go for Sunday School, and they pointed across the room,” he said. “Nobody had told me it was in the same place.” And that fellowship hall is where Sims found his tribe: a hard-working, fun-loving, family- and church-oriented group of men, who studied the Bible, prayed together and played together. By the time the Sims family, which by then included sons Daniel and John, moved to Trussville in 1972, they were established at First Baptist and already had a lot of friends in their new hometown.
Robin’s Sewing Shoppe
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Couple hopes to ‘unite people’ after racist graffiti on sign in Clay
See COUPLE, Page 7
Springville Council discusses VFW renovations and receives donation from library foundation By Terry Schrimscher, contributing writer
The Springville City Council discussed renovations to the city’s Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) building in a work session before its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, July 15.
Casa Fiesta Mexican Grill
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