The Trussville Tribune – August 17 - 23, 2022

The Tribune

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By Terry Schrimscher For The Tribune

SPRINGVILLE — The Springville City Council met Monday night, August 15, for the second regular meeting of the month.

After discussion in the work session prior to the See SPRINGVILLE, Page 5

Trussville Council approves proclamation honoring Mt. Joy Baptist Church’s 165th Anniversary From The Tribune staff reports

TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City Council approved a proclamation honoring Mt. Joy Baptist Church’s See MT. JOY, Page 4

‘Salute to Our Heroes’ Festival to raise funds for Veteran’s Services and Community Center in Leeds From The Tribune staff reports

LEEDS — Birmingham-based Priority Soldier and the Leeds-based Moton Community Center are invitSee SALUTE, Page 4

Trussville Noon Rotary inducts leadership for coming year From The Tribune staff reports

TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville Noon Rotary Club announces the induction of its officers and directors for 2022-23. The ceremony was presided over by Assistant Governor for Rotary District 6860 Sharon Hogg of Jasper.

See NOON, Page 3

Inside the Tribune News - Pages 1-7 Opinion - Page 8 Calendar - Page 9 Classified - Page 9 Obituary - Page 10 Sports - Pages 11-12

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Kick-Off Special Inside

2022

Springville & Odenville could vote on new ad valorem tax for schools

By Hannah Curran Editor

SPRINGVILLE — Springville and Odenville could vote on a new ad valorem tax in November after St. Clair County Board of Education members approved two separate resolutions.

Superintendent Justin Burns said that the Springville community brought a petition for a resolution that asks for a 15-millage vote, this would go strictly towards a new Springville Middle School (SMS).

Burns said that this is an extreme need as Springville continues to grow as a community, and its school buildings have become extremely overcrowded.

“If the ad valorem tax is passed, we plan to build a new school in Springville,” SMS Principal James Talton said. “We hope to build a new middle/immediate high school.”

The Odenville community brought a petition for a resolution asking for a 10-millage vote, which would go towards a new cafeteria for Odenville

Springville Middle School

Intermediate School (OIS) and Odenville Middle School (OMS) to use.

“Odenville Elementary School (OES), OMS, and OIS all share one lunchroom that is quite inconvenient for OIS to use as they have to walk outside for a considerable amount of time,” Burns said.

According to St. Clair County Boardmember Mike Hobbs, St. Clair County has not had a millage increase in 47 years.

“Our resources and budget are based on 1974 money,”

Hobbs said. “Now, there’s been other tax increases from the county, and the state but not that goes specifically to St. Clair County Schools, and even more directly to capital campaign, which are buildings and things that last more than 30 years.”

Anytime you have a millage or ad valorem, it has to go to things with a life of approximately 30 years or longer.

Moody passed their ad valorem tax on Tuesday, November 23, 2022, and citizens are already seeing the benefits of the vote taking

shape in Moody. However, in Springville, the measure ultimately failed by 40 votes due to those voting against it.

Hobbs said there are 137 publicly funded school systems in the state of Alabama, and St. Clair County Schools is ranked 130 in funding for students.

“St. Clair County just a few years ago was in the top five fastest-growing counties in the state of Alabama, and funding for students in St. Clair County is ranked 130 out of 137,” Hobbs said.

St. Clair County does not have money to build facilities, and the ad valorem tax allows them to purchase bonds that will enable you to build facilities.

Hobbs said that Springville, specifically, is the fastest-growing community in the state, and they only have an elementary, middle, and high school. Most 6A schools like Springville High School have a feeder pattern of four schools such as elementary, intermediate, middle, and high school.

See VOTE, Page 6

Golden Rule Bar-B-Que Trussville announces restaurant closure

By Hannah Curran Editor

TRUSSVILLE — Golden Rule Bar-B-Que in Trussville has announced on Thursday, August 11, that it will close its doors after 30 years of service.

The announcement was made on the Golden Rule Bar-B-Que Trussville Facebook page. The restaurant’s last day will be Friday, August 12.

“It saddens us to let you know we will be closing our doors at 3 p.m. tomorrow. We appreciate your support and will miss you dearly. Please stop by and say your farewells to the team,” the post stated.

Charles Matsos, owner of Golden Rule Bar-B-Que in Irondale and a partner of the Trussville location with Pete Derzis, said that the closure is because they “could not agree on a lease with the landlord.

“It’s very sad after 30 years,” Matsos said.

Matsos took over the restaurant in May 2022, announcing new hours and management.

TUE

79 65

www.TrussvilleTribune.com

August 17 - 23

Springville Council approves cost of living raise for city employees

WED THU

Clay Council considers tax cuts to combat inflation

By Terry Schrimscher For The Tribune

CLAY — The Clay City Council met Tuesday night, August 9, for the first scheduled monthly meeting of August. Much of the meeting addressed issues with rental houses and tax rates in the city.

See CLAY, Page 5

Leeds Council hears comprehensive plan proposal, hears concerns on Main Street

By Nathan Prewett For The Tribune

LEEDS – The Leeds City Council heard a proposal from the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham to develop a comprehensive plan and heard See LEEDS, Page 6

Center Point gives debris pickup update From The Tribune staff reports

CENTER POINT — The City of Center Point released a debris pickup update on their Facebook Page on Thursday, August 11.

“When the mayor and city council were elected, of their primary focuses was to rid the city of dilapidated properties and clean it up.

See DEBRIS, Page 6

Trussville man awarded Hunter Safety Instructor of the Year Golden Rule Bar-B-Que Trussville (Photo by Hannah Curran)

Golden Rule Bar-B-Que not only specialized in southern cooking but prided itself on being a family restaurant.

While the Trussville location will close, the Irondale and Pell City locations will remain open and continue serving the communities.

Marcus “Shug” Clark, cook and manager of Golden

Rule Bar-B-Que in Trussville, known for his “Shug Burger,” said it’s a sad day for Golden Rule Bar-B-Que Trussville.

“It deeply saddens me because I’ve been with Golden Rule a long time, and to see the doors closed on this organization is just very sad,” Clark said. “We all lose out on a nice establishment, not only the

customers but the employees.”

Clark said that Golden Rule is like a second home to many people. The employees were told yesterday about the closure, and Clark said “it’s one of those situations where eventually something was going to happen.”

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See BBQ, Page 5

From The Tribune staff reports

PRATTVILLE — A Trussville man was awarded the Hunter Safety Instructor of the Year by the Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) on Friday, August 5.

Sam Hansen was presented See AWARD, Page 7

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The

Trussville Tribune

190 Main Street Trussville, AL 35173 (205) 533-8664 Scott Buttram, Publisher publisher@trussvilletribune.com Hannah Curran, Editor news@trussvilletribune.com Bobby Mathews, Sports Editor bobby.mathews@trussvilletribune.com Savannah Kilpatrick, Director of Sales & Marketing savannah.kilpatrick@trussvilletribune.com SALES STAFF Leigh Hays, Account Executive Shari Moore, Account Executive Lauren Taylor, Office Mgr/Traffic Coord.

Member of the Alabama Press Association

Savvy Senior: How to choose a 55-plus active adult community

By Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you recommend for choosing a good active adult housing community?

My husband and I, who recently retired, are planning to relocate to an area closer to our grandkids and are interested in buying a house in an age-restricted 55-plus housing community.

Active Retirees Dear Active, If you’re contemplating moving into an age-restricted community, finding one that’s right for you takes some legwork. While active adult communities generally offer the opportunity for a lower-maintenance lifestyle around similar aged people, they vary enormously. Here’s what you should know.

Today’s active adult communities come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges, ranging from small city-based apartment complexes, to single-family homes, to sprawling resort-style locations situated on a gated golf course.

Most are owned by their occupants, but a growing number are rentals. Typically, at least one occupant of each property must be at least 55.

It’s also important to understand that 55-plus active adult communities are not the same as retirement or independent living communities, which are primarily designed for older seniors in their 70s and 80s. Active adult communities do not typically include meals or have a central dining area, but many of them do offer a range of recreational amenities and activities.

To help you locate and research active adult communities in the areas you’re interested in, the best resource is 55places.com. This is a

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comprehensive website that provides ratings, reviews and information on activities and amenities for thousands of communities across the country.

Once you find a few you like, here are some questions to ask yourself that can help you choose: What’s our budget? To help you choose the right active adult community you’ll first need to determine what you can afford. Consider the home’s purchase price, whether you’ll need a mortgage, how much the property taxes and insurance are, and how much the homeowners’ association or community fees are.

These fees, which typically run a few hundred dollars per month, go toward lawn care and possibly snow removal, as well as community areas like a clubhouse or pool.

However, some communities may require additional memberships or fees for golf, tennis, classes, or other activities.

You also need to consider the area’s cost of living for other things like food, util-

ities, transportation, health care and taxes. Numbeo.com and BestPlaces.net offer tools to compare the cost from your current location to where you would like to move. And Kiplinger’s has a tax guide for retirees at Kiplinger.com/ links/retireetaxmap that lets you find and compare taxes state-by-state.

How active is the community? Some communities provide fitness facilities, swimming pools, tennis courts and more, along with dozens of organized activities, classes and social events.

Other communities are much simpler and more laid back with very limited amenities and structured activities.

You’ll want to choose a community that has the types of people, facilities, activities and vibe that appeals to you.

Will we like the surrounding area? Will the area around your prospective community serve your needs now and in the future? Ideally, this means having easy access to good doctors and hospitals, and a local airport if you plan to travel much.

You’ll also want to research how far you’ll be from essential services like grocery stores, banks and pharmacies, as well as dining, shopping, and recreational attractions.

Schedule a Visit Once you’ve narrowed your choices, call to make an appointment and visit them.

Be sure to allow plenty of time at each community and, if possible, go back to your favorites more than once.

Also be sure to ask questions while you are visiting, particularly about the community rules.

Some developments will let you stay overnight in a model home for a few nights to get a feel of what it would be like to live there. While you are there, try the amenities and activities, and speak with as many residents as you can.

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.

August 17 - 23, 2022

The Trussville Tribune

Local / Region

Trussville PD arrest man for human smuggling From The Tribune staff reports

TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville Police Department arrested a man for human smuggling on Monday, August 8.

According to the Trussville Police Department (TPD), 25-year-old Jose Misael Jimenez Mendoza is charged with concealing, harboring, and shielding unauthorized alien.

Mendoza was transported to the Jefferson County Jail where he is being held on a $15,000 bond.

Jose Misael Jimenez Mendoza

The story will be updated when more information is available.

Trussville PD arrest man for attempting to steal from Courtesy GMC after test drive From The Tribune staff reports

Leeds man arrested in connection to double homicide

BIRMINGHAM — A Leeds man was arrested in connection to a double homicide that occurred on Thursday, August 11, at approximately 10:39 p.m.

According to the Birmingham Police Department (BPD), 31-year-old Curtis Humphry was arrested for the murders of Reginald Jerome Reynolds, 41, and Cheyanne Maria Wilson, 30, both of Birmingham.

“West Precinct officers were dispatched to the 2300 Block of 20th Place Ensley on a report of a person shot,” Officer Truman Fitzgerald said. “Officers arrived on the scene and made entry inside a private residence when they discovered Wilson lying unresponsive, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.”

Officers then learned Reynolds was lying unresponsive across the street in

From front page

Antonio Tajuan Patterson

Patterson has been charged with theft of property 1st degree and will be transferred to the Jefferson County Jail. Patterson’s bond is set at $30,000.

The story will be updated when more information is available.

a yard; he was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue personnel arrived on the scene and pronounced both victims dead.

“The preliminary investigation suggests the suspect and Cheyanne Wilson had a romantic relationship,” Fitzgerald said. “The suspect forced his way into the res-

idence and fatally shot both victims.”

Humphry fled the scene.

East Precinct Task Force Officers developed a lead on the suspect’s whereabouts; they executed a traffic stop on Humphry’s vehicle on John Rogers Drive at Alton Road.

East Precinct Task Force officers arrested Humphry

free of any incident. He was transported to the Birmingham Police Headquarters, where BPD Homicide detectives questioned him.

“Birmingham Police Detectives presented information on the case to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office,” Fitzgerald said. “After an assessment of the information, detectives obtained a warrant for capital murder.”

Humphry will be transported to the Jefferson County Jail, where he will be held with no bond.

Authorities ask if there is anyone who has information pertaining to the case, contact the BPD Homicide Unit at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

This is Birmingham’s 81st and 82nd murder investigation of 2022, including six justifiable death investigations.

The story will be updated when more information is available.

Trussville Noon Rotary has contributed to Serving You Ministries and The Lovelady Center with district grants totaling $7,200 and made club donations to Big Oak Ranch, Camp ASCCA, Boy Scouts of America, Positive Choices, and Rotary’s high school organization, Interact. The club also provides scholarships to qualifying local high school graduates.

Members voluntarily contribute to the Rotary Foundation, which funds worldwide endeavors, and to the Polio Plus program, which, since 1988, has been instrumental in reducing new polio cases from 350,000 by

99.9 percent.

In cooperation with Estandon Rotario Club of Victorio, Mexico, and Rotary International, Trussville Noon Rotary helped build and equip a hospital in Victorio, as well as provide a mobile dental clinic and two ambulances. Each year, club member Dr. Hugh Brindley leads a medical mission team to the area.

“This club is proof that only a handful of people with giving hearts can help accomplish mighty things,” Stauffer said. “We invite anyone who’s interested in serving others, whether close to home or around the

world, to join us.”

Chartered as Birmingham East Rotary in 1972 and renamed Trussville Noon Rotary in 2011, the club meets for lunch each Wednesday at the Hampton Inn-Trussville.

For more information, contact Sharon Stauffer at (205) 913-4668 or Stau0718@yahoo.com.

Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

From The Tribune staff reports

Noon

TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville Police Department (TPD) arrested a man for attempting to steal a vehicle from Courtesy GMC after a test drive on Wednesday, August 10.

According to the TPD, Antonio Tajuan Patterson, 42, of Birmingham, was arrested for theft of property.

“Patterson is accused of stealing a GMC Sierra 1500 from Courtesy GMC after a test drive,” Lieutenant Clint Riner said. “Officers were able to track the vehicle to Dublin Avenue in Birmingham, where the vehicle was found with Antonio Patterson still in the driver’s seat.”

Patterson was taken into custody without incident, and the vehicle was recovered.

Page 3

Officers are President Sharon Stauffer, Past President Glenn Slye, Secretary Ron Layne, and Treasurer Bob Hicks. In addition, Carole Brindley, Glynn Slye, Bob Hicks, and Teresa Fuller serve as club directors.

“We look forward to another year of working together as we continue to seek out needs in our community and address them to the best of our ability,” Stauffer said.

“We’re a small group, but our commitment to Rotary’s culture of service is strong.”

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Salute

From front page

ing the community to help raise funds for the project this Labor Day weekend on Saturday, September 3, during a “Salute to Our Heroes and Community” event.

The idea of a Tri-County Veterans Services and Community Center (www.tricountyvetcenter.org) has been a “labor of love” for Birmingham-based Priority Soldier and the Leeds-based Moton Community Center. It will be a full day of festival activities capped off with a Southern Soul Blues Concert.

The event will take place at the Moton Community Center in Leeds.

In the morning, beginning at 11 a.m., there will be family fun on the grounds, including bouncy houses and slides, horse rides, local vendors, and a free food box giveaway between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m.

At 2 p.m., while the family fun continues, Priority Soldier will be hosting a Mental Health Forum in the Moton Community Center library in recognition that September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The Forum will feature speakers from the National Suicide Prevention Council, The Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training, and Priority Soldier. Veterans who

attend are invited to share their stories about their service and mental health with Priority Soldier.

In the evening, beginning at 4 p.m., everyone is welcomed to attend a Southern Soul Blues Concert, headlined by Birmingham native Mose Stovall and featuring other artists like Cadillac Man, Ms. Fe Fe, Ken Ore, and Sweet Lou. There will be food trucks with a wide variety of offerings, and guests are asked to bring their own tents and lawn chairs. No outside food will be allowed. Tickets are $20 per person and must be bought in advance. The proceeds will go toward the Tri-County Veterans Services and Community Center.

The Tri-County Veterans Services and Community Center project has been

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borne out of a need to help the 60,000+ veterans and their families in Jefferson, Shelby, and St. Clair counties. Many of these veterans are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, homelessness, or addictions, or they and their families need help getting their military benefits and other services.

Unfortunately, Alabama has a veteran suicide rate that – at 18% – is higher than the national average and significantly higher than the civilian average. Priority Solider and the Moton Community Center both see this as a tragedy that must be addressed.

The vision for the Center, proposed by the non-profit Priority Soldier, which addresses critical issues affecting veterans and their families, will provide the fol-

lowing services to veterans on-site in Leeds: • Mental health support for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

• Counseling with licensed and trained counselors and psychiatrists.

• Administrative support to veterans and veteran families applying to the Veterans Administration for benefits.

• Support and guidance to obtain housing for homeless veterans.

The Moton Center Educational Foundation operates the Moton Community Center in Leeds. Representatives from the Moton Center Educational Foundation and Priority Soldier Inc. believe that positioning the Tri-County Veteran Services Center on the same site with the Moton Community Center will provide veterans additional opportunities to participate with their community via mentoring, coaching, job training, etc. This will help them to reintegrate and become fully functioning, healthy members of their community. The new Community Center will have spaces for children’s after-school activities and summer programs, spaces for senior activities, and recreation facilities that can be used by veterans or anyone else in the community, as well as meeting and event space on the premises.

All donations for the Tri-County Veterans and Community Center are welcome. If you can’t make the “Salute to Our Heroes and Community” event, you are still welcome to support the cause. To donate, click on the Eventbrite link, select “Tickets,” and choose “Donation.”

Or you can donate at www. tricountyvetcenter.org.

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August 17 - 23, 2022

Mt. Joy -Trussville 165th Anniversary at the council meeting on Tuesday, August 9.

According to a proclamation read by Councilmember Alan Taylor, Mt. Joy Baptist Church – Trussville is the “oldest African American Church in Jefferson County, Alabama, having begun its ministry to the “colored” community in 1857, predating the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation.”

(From Left to Right) Councilmember Perry Cook, Councilmember Ben Short, Councilmember Lisa Bright, Pastor Larry Hollman, Mayor Buddy Choat, Councilmember Alan Taylor, Councilmember Jaime Anderson. (Photo by Hannah Curran)

The proclamation states that despite Mt. Joy’s humble beginnings during this bleak period in our nation’s history, this fellowship of believers persevered and held fast to their belief in worship and service to God, that judges all humanity, not by the color of their skin, but by the love, devotion, and dedication of his heart.

“It’s good when you’re recognized in the county and in the state, it’s better when the people that know you and live with you recognize you,” Pastor Larry Hollman said.

“Our purpose at Mt. Joy is to spread the Gospel, spread love and harmony and peace, and to know only what we do for

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comfort and solace, for the imperfect to find forgiveness and second chances, and the proud to find humility.

The citizens of the City of Trussville and Mt. Joy Baptist Church share a beautiful friendship because Mt. Joy has always been a great neighbor in our broader community.

The City Council of Trussville proclaims that the city recognizes the week of August 15-21 as Mt. Joy Baptist Church’s 165th Anniversary Week.

“On behalf of Mt. Joy, to the mayor, the council, and all the citizens of Trussville, we thank you for this honor,” Hollman said.

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Christ will last. We will continue to be the citizens here in Trussville with this growing community. I hope we grow right along with you.”

Mt. Joy continues to be a thriving and adaptable church community here in Trussville.

Mt. Joy offers Dance Ministries, Puppet Ministry, Health Ministry, and spiritual retreats, among other creative programs, to keep its members deeply engaged in the church.

Mt. Joy continues to be a place for the afflicted to find

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August 17 - 23, 2022

The Trussville Tribune

Page 5

Clay

From front page

The third annual Witches Ride benefitting the Springville High School Soccer Team is planned for October 29.

(Photo courtesy of Lisa Gravlee)

Springville From front page

meeting, the Council added a cost of living pay increase to the agenda.

“We have this in the budget right now to possible give a cost of living raise of two percent,” said councilmember Sherry Reeves who serves on the budget committee for the city.

“We could take it out of this budget, and we have it,” Reeves said.

Speaking to The Trussville Tribune, Reeves added, “the last council meeting prior to last night we approved that our pay scale go from a 10 step with 5 percent increase each year to a 15 step 5 percent but realized that the increase to our budget after the additional five years would be close to a million dollars which was just crazy for a city

BBQ

From front page

“We are all a family there,” Clark said. “It’s a sad occasion.”

the size of Springville.”

The Council approved the raise, which will go into effect with the next full pay period.

Mayor Dave Thomas asked the member of the budget committee to consider another future increase. The increase will be included in the current budget instead of waiting for the next annual budget.

In addition to the pay increase, the Council changed pay scales approved in the recent employee handbook revisions. The city will revert to the previous ten-step scale.

The Council approved a permit for the Springville Homecoming Parade scheduled for September 23. Parades traditionally require a permit from City Hall and an approval from the Council.

The third annual Witches Ride was also presented at the meeting. The parade is planned for October 29. The

annual bicycle ride through downtown features participants dressed as witches who begin at the middle school and ride to the four-way intersection and back as a fundraiser for the Springville High School Soccer team.

“At that time, there should be a bid crowd in Springville.

We’ll ride through about 12 o’clock,” said Lisa Gravlee, an organizer for the event.

Gravlee teaches math at Springville Middle School.

The ride is subject to obtaining a permit from City Hall as a parade and will be approved by the Council at the next meeting.

The Council approved an official bid for the installation of sod on the multi-purpose fields discussed in the last meeting. The Council previously approved the installation not to exceed $55,000 but had to follow bid procedure

requirements and formally accept the bid.

The Council also approved the following: • Approved the audit for fiscal year 2020-2021.

• Approved the transportation plan allocating funds from the Rebuild Alabama Act. • $9600 for the construction of a walking trail at the nature preserve with an additional $4000 for a second trail.

• $14,000 for a truck to be used at the nature preserve.

• A bid to purchase a UTV for the nature preserve for $24,805.96.

• The creation of a public notification system with texting and a phone app feature.

The next meeting is scheduled for 5:30 pm on September 6 due to the Labor Day holiday.

Clark said he did not know at the time of the interview where all the current employees would go.

“You might have some that go to another location, and oth-

ers may do their own thing,” Clark said. “As of right now, it’s just a shock to everybody.

So, they are gathering themselves to see what they’re going to do for future purposes.”

Those who loved Clark’s Shug Burger can follow him on Facebook for updates on where he will be going.

“There may be Shug Burgers in the future,” Clark said.

*Amount of rebate will not exceed purchase price.

“Y’all know I’ve been preaching for the last few months about the economy is going to get worse before it gets better,” City Manager Ronnie Dixon said. “We can reduce the sales tax in the city of Clay on food items, as defined by SNAP, by one cent. Take that tax from four cents to three cents or from four cents to two cents.”

Dixon explained each penny of the existing tax accounts for approximately $600,000 per year. He said the reduction could be done without creating a hardship on city finances. He said tying the cuts to the list of acceptable food items as defined by the Alabama Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would be the most efficient way for stores to apply the cuts and ensure they were credited to food items.

Dixon said the cuts would impact only four stores in the Clay community. Piggly Wiggly, Publix, and two Dollar General stores operate under SNAP guidelines in the city.

“I’m suggesting we only do it for a two-year period, from October 1 to September 30 of 2024,” Dixon said.

“The Mayor instructed me to try to find a way to save our citizens anything we could.”

Dixon said the actual start dates of the tax decrease would be determined by how fast the Alabama Department of Revenue responds with guidance on the proposal.

The Council will vote on a resolution once the state provides guidance on the proposal.

In his report, Dixon also proposed requiring owners of rental properties within the city to purchase a business license and conduct annual inspections on their properties. The Council is expected to consider the proposal in a future meeting.

City Manager Ronnie Dixon proposed a tax cut on groceries to help citizens cope with rising expenses.

(Photo by Terry Schrimscher)

The city’s current balances are: • General Fund – $2,156,330.37 • Vehicle Registration – $20,317.55 • Contractor Bonds – $155,923.16 • Capital Fund – $1,661,163.69 • Building Fund – $216,145.83 • 4 and 5 cent gas fund – $200,564.51 • 7 cent gas fund – $50,086.32 • Rebuild Alabama gas fund – $135,231.86 • Paving Supplement fund – $236,840.98 • Reserve funds – $2,929,486.65 • BB&T fund – $30,346.88 • Ballpark income – $89,925.55 • Ballpark expenses – $87,021.67 The Council also held two hearings on the condemnation of two residential properties located at 5239 Baggett Drive and 5240 Baggett Drive. After the hearings, the Council tabled the resolution for 5239 Baggett Drive until the next meeting, pending repairs and maintenance. The resolution condemning the property at 5240 Baggett Drive was passed unanimously.

The next meeting of the Clay City Council is set for Tuesday, August 23.

The Trussville Tribune

Page 6

Debris

Leeds

The city was under contract with Waste Management for garbage services, and the city worked tirelessly trying to get them to improve their service,” the Facebook post stated.

The city also stated that when the contract was up for renewal, the city solicited bids twice. Each time, Waste Management was the only bidder, and other waste collection companies cited equipment and personnel issues as why they did not bid for Center Point’s garbage service.

The city of Center Point was informed on April 30, 2022, that Waste Management would no longer provide residential debris and bulk city pickup.

“It left the responsibility of debris pickup to the city.

The city immediately took action, purchased a boom truck, ordered two additional trucks that are on backorder until December 2022, and is in the process of hiring personnel.

We understand your frustration. It is a slow process

from concerned citizens about the Main Street project during a meeting on Monday, August 15.

Mayor David Miller said that the city’s comprehensive plan is updated every decade and introduced Principal Planner for RPCGB Lindsay Puckett, who spoke to the council and audience to outline how the plan would be produced.

Leeds’s current plan (titled the “Master Plan”) was established in 2012. Puckett said that if the council approved an agreement to work with RPCGB for a new plan, the city would pay 20 percent of the fee, and 80 percent would be paid with federal money.

Puckett gave a presentation that demonstrated the process of creating a plan.

Among those involved in the process are surveys for public input, mapping, information meetings, a project committee, and others.

The fee would amount to a total of $199,991.93, with the city’s 20 percent being $39,798.39.

When it came time to vote on the resolution, Councilman Eric Turner recommended that the council table the matter, citing several things that he said the city already has, such as code maintenance, legal assistance, and elements similar to what Main Street will address.

Turner motioned to table voting on the agreement. This was approved unanimously by the other council members.

The final item on the agenda was a resolution to appoint a member to the library board.

Before any action could be taken, Miller said there were “discrepancies” with the addresses listed by applicants.

“If you don’t live in the city, you can’t serve on the board,” Councilman Kenneth Washington said. “I don’t want to embarrass anyone, but that’s the way it is.”

From front page

From front page

Vote

From front page

“We’re still using the high school from the 30s and 40s as our middle school,” Hobbs said. “So Trussville has three elementary and one middle school, and Springville’s sitting there with a three-school system as a 6A school.

“We have got to do something, or we’re going to have to put students in trailers; we’re remodeling a building that was built more than 60 years ago just to put students in it because we don’t have anywhere to put all of them,” Hobbs said. “We really, really need this ad valorem tax to pass.”

In November 2021, Springville was also limited on space and classrooms at

Center Point City Hall (File Photo)

due to the lack of resources to promptly pick up debris.

Please be patient with us,” the Facebook post stated.

Center Point listed “Do’s and Don’t’s” when it comes to debris pickup: • The city will not haul building material or trees cut down by private contractors.

• Medical waste, sharp objects, body fluids, etc., should be properly disposed of in a safe and sanitary manner. Please contact the Alabama Department of Environmen-

tal Management (ADEM) at (205) 942-6168, located at 110 Vulcan Road in Birmingham, for additional information.

• The city offers recycling at 30 2oth Court NW from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• The city will not pick up hazardous material.

• If you cut your trees down, they will only pick up branches 3 inches or smaller.

Citizens can also contact the Horticulture Department for missed debris pickup at (205) 438-6330.

all their schools, Springville Elementary School (SES), SMS, and Springville High School (SHS). If the tax referendum had passed, they would receive a new school for SMS, which would house the seventh and eighth-graders, a new Performing Arts Center, and a new turf football field.

However, this ad valorem tax is strictly for a new middle school to help alleviate the overcrowding in the schools.

“We’re gonna try to do as much as we can, the performing arts center (PAC) is probably on the chopping block because if it had passed last year, we could have afforded it, but we can’t afford that this year,” Hobbs said. “But now we’re just talking about volumes of students.”

Hobbs said Springville has students who eat their lunch at their desks because there’s not enough room for them in the lunch room. After all, Springville was originally a 2A school.

If the new ad valorem tax passes in Springville, they would remodel SMS, turn it into an intermediate school, and then build a new middle school by the current SHS. Burns said they would have multiple town hall meetings in each community to ensure they continually work to provide what the communities feel they need to help their students succeed.

The Trussville Tribune reached out to Springville High School Principal Gregory Moore, but efforts to receive a comment were unsuccessful.

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August 17 - 23, 2022 The council then voted to table the resolution for a future meeting. The list of applicants can be seen on the agenda packet of the city’s website.

Several spoke during public comments, beginning with an update from Leeds Main Street Executive Director Amber Vines. She said she will attend an annual Main Street conference soon to network with other directors and that a resource team will visit the city to conduct interviews and propose work plans.

Next was Martha Flowers, who brought up a concern based on rumors that the city may not go through with the Main Street program supposedly due to funding and urged the council to support the project.

Leeds Main Street requested $50,000 in funds. The concern regarded payment to the project being blocked.

Miller said that the Jefferson County Personnel Board contacted the city and that certain policies must be observed before funding is secured.

“Word was going around that we were trying to stop it,” Miller said. “The personnel board was the one that contacted us and told us, ‘Wait a minute, this has got to be reviewed, there’s got to be a look at their finances, it has to be proven that they have to have their own finances separate from the city funds and sufficient funds to pay that $50,000.’”

According to a post on Leeds Main Street’s Facebook page, a letter was circulated by a “well-intentioned citizen” about funding but said that it was inaccurate.

“While we appreciate the support we receive from our community, some of the facts are inaccurate, and we want to clarify,” the post said. “We are already a Main Street community. We received designation from Main Street Alabama on June 1, 2022. Leeds Main Street is a non-profit organization seeking private/public

partnerships to fund projects in our downtown district.

We’ve submitted a request with the city to be added to the next fiscal year budget, and we are expecting a vote from City Council for that next month. This vote does not determine whether our program will continue; we are just requesting public funds to support our projects within the downtown district.”

Leeds Main Street also provided a copy of an appropriation application that can be viewed on weloveleeds. com.

Afterward was Lacey Chasteen. She spoke on a room at the Water Works building being used for meetings for the Main Street project. She said that a doorway to the restroom during a meeting was found to be boarded up and that it was later discovered that the doorway had been bricked up.

She then asked if the council was aware that had happened. Turner asked Miller why that had been done, to which Miller said that the city did not do it. This drew comments from the audience that seemed to disagree. With no one else signed up to speak, the meeting was adjourned.

In other business, the council: • Declared a property on Cedar Avenue to be an unsafe building, • Declared a property on Jones Street to be an unsafe building, • Granted 120 days for a property owner on Maplewood Drive to improve the building and yard, • Awarded a city parks maintenance bid to JG Southern for $211,560, and • Authorized the payoff of a city fire truck for $1,590,103.31.

Meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of every month at City Hall on 1400 9th Street Northeast.

Agenda packets can be seen online at the City of Leeds website.

The Trussville Tribune

August 17 - 23, 2022

Page 7

Lass But Not Least: Going Old School

By Ken Lass

Did you feel that strong blast of wind sweeping through Trussville last week?

It was the collective sigh of relief from moms all over town as they sent their children back to school. There is something reassuring and nostalgic about the rumble of the yellow buses winding their way through our neighborhoods again. Everything will be all right. The cycle of life is undisturbed.

The beginning of a new school year always brings back vivid memories for me because my education experience was in such contrast with what our kids are having today. I grew up in the country. I spent eight years attending a little two-room Catholic elementary school.

My oldest grandchild is starting first grade this year. She already has three years of school under her belt. She can read, write, add, subtract and multiply. I did not set foot in a school building until my first day of first grade. Only then was I introduced to the incredible world of words, reading, and writing.

My granddaughter is attending Payne Elementary.

There are over one thousand students there. She will be in a classroom of over twenty kids, and there will be hundreds more in her grade. I had a grand total of exactly eight kids in my entire grade. Three boys and five girls. I’m pretty sure I was the only one who did not live on a farm.

One room of my little schoolhouse contained all the kids in grades one through four. We called it “the little room.” When you graduated the fourth grade, you advanced into “the Big Room,” the fifth through eighth graders. It was considered quite a rite of passage. The entire school staff consisted of two nuns who lived in the back of the building. They served

Ken Lass, Tribune columnist

as teachers of the rooms. The seating in the Big Room was not grouped by grade. Instead, it was arranged by how well-behaved you were. The most misbehaved kids were seated in the very front desks near the teacher, and so on to the rear, where you got to the teacher’s pet suck-ups in the very back. As you might have guessed, I was a frontrow kid.

This was the 1960s. There were few rules or school policies as to what teachers could do to you. Discipline was swift and painful. The nun would write an assignment on the board and then stand in the back of the room armed with a wooden yardstick. If she caught you goofing off (which was often for me), she would come up from behind and either smack you on the back with that ruler or grab your ear and twist it about two or three revolutions. A teacher would get arrested for that today, but at St. Mathias Elementary, the nuns were the law, and that was that.

Being a small, independent country school lent itself to some bizarre incidents.

There was no air conditioning, so when the weather was hot, two large windows would be cranked wide open with no screens. One day, one of my equally misbehaved classmates saw the nun approaching fast, yardstick in hand.

Rather than take his corporal punishment, he bolted out of his desk, and the nun actually chased him around the room. Whereupon he nimbly climbed up to the open window and jumped out. Thank goodness we were on the ground floor. I never knew what the consequences of his escape were, but he was back in class the next day as though nothing had happened.

Behind the teacher’s desk was a small coat room where we would hang up our jackets and store our lunch boxes. The sisters would allow us to pick a partner and go into the coat room, closing the door, to study spelling or math together. She should have known better. It was,

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in reality, the ideal opportunity to get into mischief.

I recall one time when my friend and I got into some of the other kids’ lunch boxes and replaced their sandwich meat with Play-Doh. Another time we somehow got hold of a scissors and proceeded to play barber, cutting each other’s hair. Don’t even ask what sorts of things we put into the pockets of the some of the jackets. Of course, such antics led to multiple ear twisting and yardstick encounters, but, incredulously, the nuns would continue to allow us our small room sessions. Perhaps they were just glad to be rid of us for a few minutes.

Despite all of my misconduct, I don’t recall the nuns ever calling my parents. This was their domain, and they preferred to solve their own problems in their own way.

No parental involvement needed. Somehow, I managed to get an education. I was ready for the transition to public high school in grade nine.

Like so many of its kind, St. Mathias closed for good in the 1990s, no longer able to sustain itself. The mass disappearance of the country schoolhouse marked the end of an era in American culture.

Today Trussville kids will get an outstanding education with top-notch teachers and state-of-the-art facilities. My grandkids will emerge smarter than me and, hopefully, better prepared to take on the world. But I bet they’ll never see a classmate jump out the window or get to horse around in a coat room. Now those are memories! My elementary school experience was unique. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

And those two nuns?

Surely they’re in heaven by now. They deserve it.

(Ken Lass is a retired Birmingham television news and sports anchor and Trussville resident.)

(From Left to Right) Presenting the awards were Horace Horn with PowerSouth Energy; Sam Hansen; Susan Comensky with Alabama Power Company; and Jesse Vogtle, AWF President.

(Photo courtesy of Sam Hansen and the AWF)

Award

From front page

the Hunter Safety Instructor of the Year Award at the 2022 AWF Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards (GCAA) banquet. In addition, Governor Kay Ivey provided a congratulatory video prepared specifically for the 2022 Award Recipients.

The AWF GCAA is the most respected conservation honors in Alabama. Over the past 50 years, AWF has presented these awards to individuals and organizations that greatly contribute to the conservation of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources.

Following a distinguished paramedic and battalion chief career with Vestavia Hills Fire and Rescue, Hansen began volunteering with the Alabama Hunter Safety Education Program in 2018.

He is known as an energetic instructor whose enthusiasm is contagious and inspiring. In fact, he is one of the most active Hunter Safety instructors in the program.

In 4 short years, two of those during the pandemic, Hansen has personally led 16 classes and educated over 200 people in proper hunter safety.

Hansen is a certified Rifle Instructor and Range Safety Officer who truly enjoys helping people develop their hunting and outdoor interests.

He volunteered at the first “Learn to Hunt Workshop” in

the Adult Mentored Hunt Program, and assists with many other workshops, including small game and bowhunting.

“Sam’s enthusiasm and expertise serve as a shining example of what all of us involved in educating and mentoring should strive to be,” one of Hansen’s peers stated.

AWF’s GCAA was created to promote leadership by example and, in turn, increase conservation of the natural resources in the state of Alabama, including its wildlife, forests, soils, water, and air.

The program is designed to bring about a greater knowledge and awareness of conservation practices and projects and to give proper recognition to those persons and organizations that make outstanding contributions to the natural resource welfare of their community and state.

The AWF, established by sportsmen in 1935, is the state’s oldest and largest citizens’ conservation organization. The mission of the AWF, a 501(c) 3 non-profit group supported by membership dues and donations, is to promote conservation and wise use of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources as a basis for economic and social prosperity.

To learn more about AWF, including membership details, programs, and projects, contact Alabama Wildlife Federation at 334-285-4550 or visit www. alabamawildlife.org.

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The Trussville Tribune

Page 8

August 17 - 23, 2022

Alabama lawmakers need to reign in record spending for future lean budgets ahead Editor’s Note: This is an opinion column.

By Paul DeMarco

Alabama’s state bank accounts have been flush the past few years as legislators have had more money to appropriate in state budgets than in state history.

The boom of the pre-pan-

demic economy allowed Alabama to not only maintain but expand state programs both in the general and the education trust fund. For years, state leaders had wanted to address chronic state issues like academic achievement and infrastructure. There was finally enough money to fund priorities to move the state forward.

However, the onset of a

recession and the economic downturn will be hitting all states soon, including Alabama. Plus, the one-time infusion of federal infrastructure monies, as well as Covid dollars, will be coming to an end soon.

Yet, Montgomery insiders continue lobbying the governor and lawmakers to see state funds spent at record amounts.

And do not be surprised to see a real push for Medicaid expansion in the next legislative session. While there will be federal dollars that come at first, there is a real concern that ultimately, if Alabama leaders move in that direction, the state will have to find more revenue or cut other programs to pay for more new Medicaid recipients.

Paul DeMarco

Alabama citizens need to tell the Republican state representatives and senators who are in the majority in Montgomery that they campaigned as fiscal conservatives and expect them to govern that way as well.

Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives and can be found on Twitter at @ Paul_DeMarco.

Phil Williams: Lead, follow, or get out of the way

By Phil Williams, 1819 News Commentary

“Lead, follow, or get out of the way.”

It’s a phrase you’ve probably heard before. The phrase has been attributed over time to Thomas Paine, General George Patton and even Lee Iacocca, but whoever it was that said it, I would hazard the guess that it was someone with a strong personality, a sense of mission and the need to get something very important done.

It sounds a bit like a rebellion phrase, but I believe that it is in fact a leadership phrase — the kind of thing that is said by a person who not only has a strong personality but the confidence to put their intentions into action.

It could only be effectively stated by someone who sees a situation that needs immediate action and knows that if that action is not executed quickly and with a sense of reckless abandon that the consequences of doing nothing could be far worse.

Lead, follow, or get out of the way. It’s a demandmphrase, a logjam-breaking phrase, a call to action, and it’s also not always popular

because it tells others at a peer level, or even a superior rank, that they are the problem. You don’t tell subordinates to lead, follow, or get out of the way. It is more likely something said by one general to other generals … or a business leader to his executives … or that a legislature tells a governor.

It is not only a statement of intent but it is a rebuke to those who had the opportunity to fix something and have chosen not to. And sometimes it just takes one person to launch the change with the attitude, the authority and the wherewithal to not only say to others that they should lead, or follow, or just get out of the way but that in the absence of meaningful action by the listeners that the speaker will do it in their stead.

Victor Davis Hanson is an American scholar, historian, author, and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute. I feel like I gain points on my IQ every time I listen to him provide commentary on world events. Hanson wrote a book called “The Savior Generals.”

The book is a case study on five historic generals who Hanson believes stepped into

Phil Williams is Policy Director for the Alabama Policy Institute.

a losing military campaign and by sheer force of their will, by their ability to plan, strategize, cajole, convince, and execute they turned the tide. He goes so far as to opine that these particular generals were the sole catalyst for snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. But those same generals were also not always popular despite having done so.

Hanson said the book was designed to show “how contrarian and unpopular generals have often saved the day, defying the odds, …. to win a campaign and sometimes an entire war.” His review covered over 2,600 years and detailed the events of Themistocles, Belisarius, Sherman, Ridgway and Petraeus.

Hanson says that the five generals in his book all had com-

mon traits: “They all enjoyed their reputations for bucking conventional wisdom; they were all highly literate; they all spoke well and they all led by example.”

Each one of those savior generals was willing and able to blaze ahead, despite the odds and despite opposition from their own allies because they knew that without victory there would be a cataclysmic downfall.

One book review that I read on Hanson’s book pointed out that despite each of them being the right man for the right time, they did not go on to be lauded and promoted forward without difficulty.

It is said that Themistocles was subjected to trumped-up charges of corruption; Belisarius lost his marriage and fell out of favor with the emperor; Sherman was branded by many as a terrorist because he had burned his way to the sea and had trouble getting along with others; Ridgeway was forced to resign as chief of staff by President Eisenhower; and Petraeus resigned as director of the CIA due to an extra-marital affair. But in Hanson’s analysis, each of these five generals was able to in effect say to their peers

and authorities: lead, follow, or get out of the way.

What does it take to be that person? And historically speaking, who else has stood up and done what needed to be done at just the right time for just the right reasons with just the right plan and with the moxie to tell those around him to lead, follow or get out of the way?

A few years back I read the great book “1776” by David McCullough. It is an awesome read and gave me much greater insight into the depth and breadth of what actually had to happen for the original 13 colonies to become the future United States of America. But one thing struck me that I had never realized until I read it was that General Washington had to almost beg the Continental Congress to stay the course to be sure there were other patriots and heroes of the Revolution.

But I had always envisioned the Continental Congress as those great men who not only signed the Declaration of Independence but also men who were unwavering and steady and without doubt.

Not so. They apparently had some stalwarts in the bunch, but they also struggled and

debated and some wavered.

But Washington saw a way forward and wrote to Congress, urging them to stay in the fight. What if it had been another man in charge of the Continental Army?

Similar to Hanson’s work on “The Savior Generals,” it is possible that one man can actually make a difference.

I believe that the United States – this country that I love – and even the great state of Alabama, are at a crucial point in history. Social upheaval is only part of it. We are now in the place where we have to ask the question: What kind of nation do we want to be?

Should the average person believe that government is there for them, or will we be a nation in which the government presses down its influence against any who questions it?

Are we a nation that values the sanctity of life?

Are we a nation that appreciates the simple fact that a man is a man and a woman is a woman and that determination comes to its final conclusion in the womb and not in the mind of the person?

Read the full story at www. trussvilletribune.com

The Trussville Tribune

August 17 - 23, 2022

Calendar

Beer, Bands & Bullies 2022 August 20 @ 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Join us for our 11th Annual Beer, Bands & Bullies Music Festival at Ferus Artisan Ales & the Trussville Entertainment District! Be sure to enjoy a Lil’ Pup brew with your pooch, meet some of our adorable adopt-a-bulls and check out our awesome silent auction items. We can’t wait to see you there!

This year’s music lineup is as follows: Blind The Sky Mark Mizzell & Friends Local Honey Also, friendly, leashed dogs are welcomed and encouraged to attend the event.

Admission is just a $10 donation at the door (kids under 12 are free)! All proceeds benefit Bama Bully Rescue.

Listen for updates on Birmingham Mountain Radio – 107.3. #beerbandsbullies Venue Trussville Entertainment District Ferus Presents: Catherine Britt August 26 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

ALL AGES. FREE TO THE PUBLIC It’s the singer and the song that makes for truly distinctive and enduring artists.

Lots of great songs and some mighty fine singing.

Catherine Britt has a voice that instantly gets your attention . . but unlike others, it is the craftsmanship of this singer/songwriter who unashamedly boasts a worthy story to tell that truly keeps her audience enthralled.

Catherine’s new album is entitled Home Truths.

They’re the best truths – direct, personal, and from the heart. Just the way Catherine sings.

This album is also a new beginning. This is Catherine’s first release in over 20 years as a completely independent Australian artist. It’s a decision based on Catherine wanting complete control of her career – and having ownership of her own recording masters and copyrights. That’s something that – now as a parent of two young children – she believes is important – and something to pass on to them.

This independence was possibly largely due to the loyalty and passion of Catherine’s fans who have been with her on this ongoing journey of music and song.

A crowd funding campaign more than exceeded expectations and was a massive statement of the belief Cath-

erine’s fans have in her, her songs and music.

Home Truths is significant also in that it was produced

by Catherine – and performed by her all dancing, all singing, super talented, and beyond versatile Australian band of smolderingly good players. It was mixed by Ted Howard and mastered in the USA by Jim DeMain.

Also very importantly all the songs on Home Truths were written or co-written by Catherine. That’s the way it is with home truths – they need to come directly from the heart of the person doing the telling.

She has lived a life in the world of entertainment most will never experience or dream of. The archetypal Aussie girl from the coal works of Newcastle uprooted herself at 17 years old and moved for six years to Nashville TN (USA) where she gained a deep knowledge of country/roots/folk history as well as touring extensively and releasing top 40 Billboard hits.

How did this happen you may well ask. Not every 17 year old moves from Newcastle to Nashville to pursue their musical dreams. Well, the story is that a certain Elton John (yes, THAT Elton John – not to be mistaken for . . .) heard Catherine during one of his Australian tours in the early 2000s. So impressed with Catherine was Elton that he took her albums back to America with him and helped get a deal with RCA Records.

Catherine’s recording career commenced in 1999 when, at the age of 14, she released her first EP followed in 2001 by her debut album release. Since then she has released six more studio albums as well as a Best Of album.

Awards? You want awards.

Over the course of her career Catherine has collected a host of accolades, a legion of fans and a mantel of awards including the country industry’s highest honors, 2009 CMAA Female Artist of the Year Award, 2012 CMAA Single of the Year, 2013 CMAA Female Artist of the Year Award, 2016 Female Artist of the Year, 2017 Vocal Collaboration of The Year for her celebrated single “F U Cancer” as well as APRA Award and CMC Artist of the Year nominations.

6 of Catherine’s albums released to date have been nominated for the ARIA Award for the Best Country Album release, which is a first for any Australian country artist. In 2010, Catherine was also presented with the CMA Global Artist of the Year award.

Catherine’s talent has also seen her tour, perform and record with some of music’s most respected names including Kasey Chambers, Paul Kelly, Sir Elton John, Steve Earle, Dolly Parton, Don McLean, Chris Isaac, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, Guy Clark and Keith Urban to name but a few.

To this day Catherine remains the youngest Australian to ever perform at the

Grand Ole Opry at the age of 17.

Not only is Catherine an accomplished singer/songwriter, she has also proved herself as a formidable interviewer and comfortable host during the time she was host of Australia’s national radio broadcast ABC Saturday Night Country where she showcased her own flavor on the popular program each week. She also shone on television as the host of CMC’s ‘Alt Country’ program and also as the Managing Editor & Owner of Australia’s ONLY Roots Music Magazine – Rhythms and founder and festival director of the prestigious Silverton Sunsets Music Festival.

Whilst her credentials to date are enough for most, Catherine’s drive to better herself and continue to improve, as an artist is what has led her to continue on as one of Australia’s most successful singer/songwriters and businesswomen.

Catherine is also a survivor of another kind – she is now five years cancer free, celebrating her remission with 2015’s Boneshaker album.

Another home truth is that Catherine is strong, resilient and determined.

And at the end it all comes down to the singer and the songs. Catherine Britt is at a creative career peak on a musical journey that has seen her constantly evolving, developing and honing her craft. And you know what – she’s pretty darn good at it and getting better with every release. That’s a home truth you’d better take on board – simply ‘cause it’s true.

Venue Trussville Entertainment District Autism Awareness – Touch-a-Truck Event August 27 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm free

The Boy Scouts of America – Greater Alabama Council, Three Rivers District and the Autism Society of Alabama are hosting a Toucha-Truck event on August 27, 2022 from 10-2 pm at The Outlet Shops of the Grand River (6200 Grand River Blvd E, Leeds, AL 35094) to promote Autism Awareness.

This is a great opportunity for children and adults to learn about Autism, while seeing many awesome vehicles up close.

Venue shops of Grand River The God Is Bigger Movement – 5th Annual Bass Fishing Tournament to be held on Saturday, Sept. 17th, at Lakeside Park/Sports Complex in Pell City, Al. September 17 @ 4:00 am - 5:00 pm $110.00

Page 9

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The God Is Bigger Movement (GIBM) is looking for anglers for the 5th Annual God Is Bigger Movement – Bass Fishing Tournament to be held on Saturday, Sept. 17th, at Lakeside Park/Sports Complex in Pell City, Al. Proceeds from the tournament will be used for the sole purpose to continue spreading the God is Bigger Movement worldwide.

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sored through Sylacauga Marine. Paid anglers will be provided breakfast, lunch and one free draw prize ticket. Registered boat numbers will be entered for a chance to win one of two $250 Bass Pro gift cards. Draw prize tickets will be available for anglers and spectators for a $5.00 donation or 5 tickets for a $20.00 donation. Must be present at the time of drawing to win any draw prizes.

The God is Bigger Movement is a non-profit 501(C)3 independent organization that began in 2011 when the creator Rachel Shaneyfelt was diagnosed with Mesothelioma. Shaneyfelt started making and giving away t-shirts as a reminder that God is Bigger. When the t-shirts became too costly, Rachel developed a challenge for her small group after ordering the first batch of 1,000 God Is Bigger bracelets, asking members to give them away to a complete stranger. Within one week, they had all been given away Over the past 11 years, with the proceeds from GIBM merchandise and fundraisers, over 700,000 grey silicone bracelets have been given out worldwide to missionaries, refuge centers, outreach programs, victims of human trafficking, flood, fire & mass shootings, for those who are hurting

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or lost, or given to total strangers as a reminder that, “When life gets big, God is bigger.” The ministry is based on Luke 1:37 “For with God nothing shall be impossible”.

In August 2017, Rachel Shaneyfelt, the founder of the God is Bigger Movement passed away after a six year battle with mesothelioma. It was Rachel’s wish that the God Is Bigger Movement continue. Her family and friends continue to spread the God is Bigger Movement in her honor to bring Glory to God Venue Lakeside Park 2801 Stemley Bridge Rd Cropwell, AL United States Music City Stones- A Rolling Stones Tribute September 23 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

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The Trussville Tribune

Page 10

O b i t u a ry

Brandon Lamar (Moore) Moore

Shirley Theadora Bright

20, 1940 ~ august 5, 2022 (age 82) july

12, 1987 ~ july 30, 2022 (age 35) july

Brandon Alan Moore traveled on from this world on July 30, 2022. Brandon was born July 12, 1987, to Alton “Butch” Moore and Teresa Denton Moore. Brandon was born and raised in Birmingham and has been a resident of Moody for the last 17 years. Brandon was a kind and loving man who never gave “fake hugs.” His hugs were the best! HIs eyes had a sparkle that would instantly make you smile, a smile that was perfect and many times mischievous would be the only way to describe that smile. He was a generous man and always ready to lend a helping hand to any who may need it. HIs heart was huge and filled with love. His pride and joy were always his children and his love for Meghan was a beautiful sight to see. Their love is a love that is deep and abiding and has carried them through many difficult times in this life as such a love is made to do. Brandon is survived by his wife, Meghan, three sons, Braylon Alan, Brailyn Reese, and Bentli and by his princess daughter, Blakely Alexis, as well as his father Alton “Butch” Moore, and numerous other family members. His visitation will be from 1PM till 2pm at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home and Garden prior to service. His celebration of life/memorial will be held Saturday, August 6, 2022, at 2:00 PM at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home and Garden. Burial will be in the adjoining cemetery.

Doris Marie (Lee) Parks february

(age 91)

7, 1931 ~ august 2, 2022

Doris Marie (Lee) Parks, age 91, passed away at Grandview Hospital on Tuesday, August 2, 2022. She was born February 7, 1931 in Marvel, AL. She was a member of North Shelby Baptist Church. Doris graduated from Phillips High School and began her career in business soon after. After a brief time working for Blach's Department Store in downtown Birmingham, she began working at O'Neal Steel as private secretary for Mr. Kirkman O'Neal. From there, she rose through the ranks to become the head of Risk Management and Employee Benefits, until her retirement in 1993. During her time at O'neal, she earned her Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter professional designation and also became a licensed Alabama Real Estate Broker. She was involved in several civic organizations and was a past President of the Quota Club of Birmingham. After retirement, she worked at her sons' construction businesses for a number of years doing accounting and bookkeeping. Later, she was a long time volunteer at Earthly Treasures Thrift Store, operated by the Shelby Baptist Association as part of their outreach Ministry. As a person, she was among the brightest, most generous, and most ethical of people. As a Mother, she could not have been more loved or appreciated for her loving guidance and sacrifice throughout the years. Doris was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years Thomas Allen Parks, parents Fred B. and Bertha M. Lee, brothers Milton, Richard, and James Lee, and granddaughters Jessica Parks and Kimberly Blaine Heaton. She is survived by sons Kim Heaton (Sharon), Kerry Heaton (Gina), and Kyle Parks; grandchildren Valyrie Parks, Kristy Fagan (Michael), Blair Heaton, Blakely Heaton, and Kory Heaton; great-grandchildren Celeste, Ava, and Laynie. Services will be at 2:00 on Tuesday August 9, 2022 at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home East in Trussville, with visitation from 1:00 to 2:00. Burial will immediately follow in Jefferson Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Ask Eddie

August 17 - 23, 2022

Shirley Theodora Bright, 82, of Blountsville, Alabama passed away at 4:52 p.m. on August 5th, 2022. She was born on July 20th, 1940, in East Lyme, Connecticut to Eva Monsam. She spent her childhood in Providence, Rhode Island. As a teenager, her family moved to Hialeah, Florida. At this time, she attended Hialeah High School, where she met, her husband, Charles Bright on a blind date. Charles and Shirley were married August 30th, 1957. They had three sons: Stephen, John and James Bright. They lived in Hialeah until, 1983. That year, they moved to New Orleans, Louisiana. After a few years, they moved to Houston, Texas. After the birth of their first granddaughter, Angela Bright, they moved to Birmingham, Alabama. Soon after they moved to Alabama, their second granddaughter, Katheryn Lindsey, was born. Shirley is survived by her beloved husband of 65 years, Charles. Her sons, Steven Bright, John Bright (Terri), and JamesBright (Paula). Her granddaughters, Angela Bright and Katheryn Lindsey (Dustin). Her three great grandchildren, Paizlee, Coltyn and Laila.

William Wendel Turner july

19, 1941 ~ august 7, 2022 (age 81)

William Wendel Turner “Pop”, age 83, of Irondale, Alabama passed away on Sunday August 7th surrounded by his family.

Wendel was born in Cullman, Alabama to Arthur and Agnes Turner. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Betty Reese and Linda Daniel. He leaves behind the love of his life, Linda McCay Turner, son, Scott Turner (Sharon) and daughter, Lisa Watson. Proud grandfather of 4 grandchildren, Amanda Randolph (Jeremy), Lindsey Sharpe (Robert), Kaitlin Rector (Stanley) and Hunter Watson. Six great grandchildren, Claire, Nathan, Caiden, Ryleigh, Blakely and Emmett. Brother, Billy Wayne Turner (Lynn), sisters, Connie Elkins (Mark) and Jodi Bice and several nieces and nephews. He also left behind two very special fur babies, Alice and Baby.

His goal in life was to care for his family. He was and avid deer hunter until his health began to decline about 5 years ago. It was through this hobby that he made numerous lifelong friends.

Reverend Mahlon Felkins will be officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, August 11, 2022 from 11 to 12 PM at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home. Services will follow at 12 PM in the chapel.

Committal will follow in the Masonic Gardens.

Alyssa Lopez Calderon january

(age 17)

29, 2005 ~ august 8, 2022

Alyssa Lopez Calderon, 17, beloved sister, was called to her eternal resting place on August 8, 2022. She entered into this world on January 29, 2005, born to David Lopez and Esperanza Calderon. Alyssa attended Pinson Valley High School where she played in the band with the Pinson Valley Marching Chiefs.

She loved playing video games, she enjoyed art and she loved to go shopping. She was best known for her smile and sharing the peace sign. Visitation will be on Friday, August 12, 2022, from 5 until 7 PM at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home with a funeral services to follow on Saturday at 10 AM in the chapel at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Jefferson Memorial Gardens East.

Jefferson Memorial is a full-service funeral home and perpetual care cemetery dedicated to serving our community with dignity and compassion.

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1. They want to establish closeness. Often people say things like “I know what you’re going through” or “I know how you feel.” Phrases like this can feel like the person is turning the conversation back to themselves. Or perhaps you think, “No, my situation is totally different. You have NO idea how I feel.” However, people often use these statements to show support and let you know you are not alone.

2. They may be uncomfortable with grief. Unfortunately, our society does not talk much about death and grief. As a result, many people don’t know what to say to someone who is grieving.

Instead, they fall back on common cliches when speaking to the griever.

3. They want to comfort you. Following your loss, those who love you will want to try to help. It’s not that they don’t want you to grieve, they simply see you hurting and want to find a way to help you “feel better.” As a result, they may say things like “At least she lived a good long life.” They don’t understand that there isn’t anything they can do to take away your pain.

Here are some tips on how to handle the insensitive comments.

1. Ask yourself what the person was trying to say. In most cases, friends and family members are trying to be helpful. They do not mean to hurt you with their words.

2. Try to understand why the comment hurt. Typically, comments made by others hurt because they invalidate or trivialize your grief. In other cases, the comments may go against your own belief system.

3. Think of a response. You may not be able to respond in the moment, but you can replay the conversation and think of a response later. This may help if you hear a similar comment in the future. It can also help you to reaffirm your own grief and validate your feelings. For example, if someone says, “at least your mother is in a better place” you can respond “It doesn’t matter where she is, no matter what I will never stop missing her.”

4. Trust your instincts. Everyone grieves differently. Sometimes people will say things like “it’s time to move on” or that you should start getting rid of your loved one’s belongings. You alone know how you should be grieving.

Don’t feel like you must follow anyone else’s timetable.

5. Give yourself time and space. Don’t rush into anything that doesn’t feel right. While you want to make sure you don’t become isolated, if you need to take some extra time to be alone, that’s fine. It’s OK to skip social events or leave them early if you don’t feel up to attending.

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Page 11

sports

The Trussville Tribune August 17 - 23, 2022

Hewitt-Trussville’s Rickey Gibson commits to Tennessee

By Bobby Mathews Sports Editor

TRUSSVILLE — Rickey Gibson gave his parents a gift they’re not likely to forget. The Hewitt-Trussville senior DB committed on their wedding anniversary to play college for the Tennessee Volunteers.

Gibson, a three-star recruit with potential to become a game-changer due to his size and speed, will again play corner for the Huskies.

An offseason weight-training program has seen the talented prospect put on muscle while retaining his speed and vertical leaping ability.

He was also being recruiting heavily by Arkansas, Appalachian State, Alabama State and Arkansas State.

The Volunteers had long seen the potential in Gibson, and that meant a lot to him.

“They’re different because they started on me young, and every time I’ve been down there I grow

carried his winning mentality to Wallace Selma, and we’re excited to see him continue to grow as a coach,” Teasley said.

Hoskins, who helped lead Stillman College to a program-best 27-5 record, an A.I.I. championship and its first NAIA national tournament appearance in 2018, will succeed Devarus Walker, who departed Stillman in July for another endeavor.

As my colleague Zack Steele said during the opening of the first Tribune Sports Live: If you see us on your screen, it must be football season again.

It almost goes without saying that football is hugely important in The Tribune’s coverage area. Hewitt-Trussville has been a fixture in the 7A top 10, Clay-Chalkville and Pinson Valley have both won multiple state championships, Leeds has again become a contender under Jerry Hood, Center Point proved itself to be a Top 10 5A program in 2021 and Bobby Mathews now moves to 6A, and Moody is on the come-up and looking to make a move into the playoffs as well.

Springville moved down to Class 5A and is ready to make some noise, while Shades Valley head coach Reuben Nelson set the table for success for the Mounties after a tough campaign last year. Those teams all begin play on Friday night, August 19.

And if that isn’t enough for you, girls’ volleyball starts

See HOSKINS, Page 12

See FALL, Page 12

more and more in love with the staff and team,” Gibson said, adding that he saw his own growth as a benefit to himself and the Volunteers.

“Just playing for Coach (Willie) Martinez ... he is a guy that has a lot of people in league, so it will be cool for me to see how I develop under him.”

Martinez is no stranger to success on the gridiron, as the Volunteers explain.

Rickey Gibson (Photo by Bobby Mathews)

See GIBSON, Page 12

Center Point grad hired as assistant coach at Stillman

By Chris Megginson Special to The Tribune

TUSCALOOSA — Former Stillman College point guard Montego Hoskins is coming home to Alabama.

The Center Point native, who led the Eagles to the 5A state finals in 2013, has been hired as the new assistant coach for Stillman College men’s basketball. Hoskins was also the 2018 NAIA Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Co-Defen-

Center Point grad — and Stillman alum — Montego Hoskins drives the floor. (Courtesy photo)

sive Player of the Year Stillman head coach John Teasley announced the news August 12.

“I’m excited we had an opportunity open up to bring Montego back to Stillman, a place that means a lot to him.

It makes me feel good as a coach to see our Stillmanites want to come back and help strengthen the program. As a player, Montego went above and beyond as a leader on the court to help lay the foundation for our program. He has

Time for fall sports to ramp up

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The Trussville Tribune

Page 12

Fall

Gibson

the day before — that’s Thursday, August 18, if I have my wits about me (always questionable) — and I’m going to do my best to make it to the Hewitt-Trussville-Springville match (4 p.m.) and the Shades Valley-Leeds match (6 p.m.)

In addition, there’s cross country starting on August 27; swimming starts September 6; and flag football will start sometime after that (the schedules are still being finalized).

It’s a ridiculously busy time of year, and I really can’t wait for it. The best part of my job is getting out there and interacting with some really fantastic kids.

You’ll note that the Wednesday copy of The Tribune is a little bit heavier than you might be used to. That’s because we’ve got the 2022 Football Preview edition in there. It’s a 32-page monster of an issue with schedules, rosters, feature stories and more.

It was an absolute bear to put together, but I am really proud of it. I think it might be the

“In total as both a coach and player, Martinez has been a part of 23 bowl game appearances and six conference championships, including multiple SEC titles at Georgia,” the UTSports.com bio of Martinez states. “He played on Miami’s 1983 national championship team. Over the last 19 seasons, Martinez has mentored 22 all-conference selections, seven All-America performers and numerous NFL Draft picks. The 2022 season will be his 16th in the SEC.” Tennessee presents Gibson with an opportunity to play in the SEC — he’s the third Hewitt-Trussville defender to

From page 11

From page 11

Hoskins From page 11

Walker served as Stillman’s assistant coach from 2017-2022.

“First off, I want to thank God for this opportunity! I’m very excited about the new journey, I look forward to working with Coach Teasley.

I’m also excited about being able to coach at my alma mater where I once played,” Hoskins said.

A 2019 alumnus of Stillman College, Hoskins began his coaching career as a student assistant in 2018-19, helping the Tigers (27-6) to the Southern States Athletic Conference regular season championship in the team’s first year in the SSAC. Upon graduating, he was hired by his junior college alma mater, Wallace Com-

Pinson Valley football file photo

best thing I’ve done since I’ve been at The Tribune.

I couldn’t have done it without the help of area coaches and players, as well as the efforts of Hannah Curran (who produced The Tribune Media Days and is our regular producer on Tribune Sports Live) and photographer/producer Ron Burkett. They are very often behind the scenes doing the hard work that no one sees, while I get a lot of the credit.

Of course, I also get the blame when something goes sideways, so maybe it’s a trade-off!

In all seriousness, though, I am absolutely ready for football season as well as these other sports. I hope that even

if you don’t have a child who is playing sports currently that you will come out and support these young athletes, whether that’s in football, flag football, volleyball, cross country, swimming or another fall sport I’ve forgotten to list here.

I’ve met a ton of the kids in this area, and they are great kids who represent themselves, their schools and their communities well. They deserve your support. So hopefully I’ll see you at a game this fall.

Bobby Mathews is sports editor at The Tribune and author of the novel Living the Gimmick. Reach him via email at bobby.mathews@trussvilletribune.com or on Twitter: @bobbymathews.

munity College in Selma, as assistant men’s basketball coach and a counselor in the college’s Educational Talent Search Program. Working with Coach Duane Evans, he helped coach the Patriots to a combined 63 -17 record (.788) and three trips to the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) Tournament over the last three seasons.

Wallace won the ACCC South Division regular season in 2019-20 (25-4), including a pair of upset wins over then No. 14 & No. 19 Shelton State, and in 2020-21 (20-4) when it finished runner-up in the ACCC Championship / NJCAA South District Tournament in 2021. The Patriots were 18-9 this past season with a 1.3 assist/turnover ratio, the program’s best since 2018. In 2021, Hoskins’ helped coach the Patriots to

6.8 steals per game, a program best since 2015, his freshman year as a player at Wallace.

During his playing career, Hoskins scored 1,019 points in four years across two colleges. He came to Stillman in 2016 after two seasons at WCC-Selma where he recorded 487 points, 237 rebounds, 114 assists and 56 steals. In two seasons at Stillman, he produced 532 points, 220 rebounds, 159 assists and 64 steals.

As a senior point guard in 2017-18, he helped Stillman rise as high as No. 8 in the NAIA coaches’ poll. His 142 assists as a senior are the second-most by a Stillman player in a single season in the last decade, and his defensive presence helped Stillman secure the No. 1 scoring margin in the nation at 28.556 points per game.

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August 17 - 23, 2022 commit to a FBS-level program within the last month — but to bolster his stock in pursuit of one day playing in the NFL. “Under Martinez’s leadership, Tennessee produced multiple defensive back draft picks in the first six rounds of a draft for the first time since 2000 when Jackson and Taylor heard their names called in April 2022,” UTSports.com states. “Taylor went pick No. 49 overall in the second round to the New Orleans Saints, while Jackson’s hometown Tennessee Titans took him in the sixth round at pick No. 204. The Vols were one of only three SEC programs and eight teams nationally to produce multiple defensive backs in the entire 2022 NFL Draft.”

Gibson has a reputation of being a stellar defender with his closing speed and ability to lock down wide receivers, a reputation earned after only one year starting in the Huskies’ defensive backfield. He’s looking forward to bolstering that reputation with the Volunteers. “(That’s) just from me playing the position for one year, so imagine what I could do with the right coaches and my speed,” he said.

Gibson and the HewittTrussville Huskies begin the 2022 season on Friday, August 19 with a road trip to Phenix City to face 7A state title finalists Central High School.

Hewitt-Trussville comes into the season ranked No. 4 in Class 7A, while Central-Phenix City is ranked No. 2.

Trussville players help lead Post 911 to successful JV baseball season

By Patricia. A. Douglas, Special to The Tribune

HOOVER — From almost not having a team and an opening game rainout to winning a state championship, the 2022 season will be one to remember for the Ryan Winslow Post 911 JV baseball team.

For those efforts, the team was recognized during the 7 p.m. game on Aug. 3 at the American Legion Mid-South Regional Tournament, and the winner advanced to the American Legion World Series.

“Think about the thrills and memories and sense of pride those young men felt after achieving what only one team in our state could accomplish,” said Post 911 Commander Lynn Thomas.

“They will carry this memory with them for the rest of their lives and you know as well as I do that it will instill con-

fidence and courage in them that will affect how they will live.”

With the season just weeks away, there were barely enough players to even field a team, according to Tammy Johnson, coordinator of the junior varsity league.

“At one point, we had nine players,” Johnson said.

Ed Ryszkiewicz and Fred Hughes, Post 911 baseball liaisons, got to work finding players from several over-themountain communities for the second-year team.

Rain also hampered the team with a lack of practice opportunities at the beginning of the season. In fact, before the first double header of the season, the team had only one full practice.

Players on the roster: • 1 Alex Irwin, Trussville • 2 Justin Gamble, Homewood

• 4 Winston Martin, Homewood • 5 Luke McCluney, Vestavia Hills • 7 Landon Crane, Vestavia Hills • 8 Nicholas Hyatt, Trussville • 9 Brooks White, Trussville • 10 Cole Parker, Vestavia Hills • 11 Mac Burch, Vestavia Hills • 12 Samuel Balch, Vestavia Hills • 13 Trent Northern, Trussville • 15 Cole Kramer, Homewood • 18 Thomas Davis. Homewood • 22 Liam Boryczka, Vestavia Hills • 25 Graeme Doyal, Homewood • 34 Tad Boryczka Jr, Vestavia Hills

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