The Tribune
TRUSSVILLE • ARGO • MOODY • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • SPRINGVILLE LEEDS • MOODY • TRUSSVILLE • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO SPRINGVILLE • TRUSSVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • TRUSSVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • PINSON CLAY CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • TRUSSVILLE PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY TRUSSVILLE • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS MOODY • TRUSSVILLE • PINSON·CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • TRUSSVILLE • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • TRUSSVILLE • PINSON • CENTER POINT TRUSSVILLE • ARGO • MOODY • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • SPRINGVILLE
From The Tribune staff reports
LEEDS — The first day of school for Leeds City Schools will be Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. Grades 6 – 12 will be staggered until further notice. See LEEDS SCHOOLS, Page 12
Municipal Elections Tuesday, Aug. 25: Know your candidates and polling places From The Tribune staff reports
Polls will open for municipal elections across Alabama on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020. The last day to request an absentee ballot is Aug. 20. See ELECTIONS, Page 9
Raindrop Car Wash moving into old Fred’s building in Clay; construction to start soon on Trussville location By Erica Thomas, managing editor
CLAY — Raindrop Car Wash is adding a new location in Clay. The car wash will go in the old Fred’s building off Deerfoot Parkway. See CAR WASH, Page 14
Trussville Networking Group continues to help local businesses grow through referrals From The Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville Networking Group (TNG) has been around since 2010, but membership has doubled over the past 10 years. See NETWORKING, Page 14
FRI
SAT
SUN MON
TUE
89 69
86 69
83 68
84 68
87 69
88 70
89 70
20%
60%
60%
60%
20%
20%
30%
SPECIAL KICKOFF EDITION Center Insert
www.TrussvilleTribune.com
August 19 - 25, 2020
Leeds City Schools reopening this week, grades 6 – 12 will be staggered
WED THU
50 Cents
Trussville PD searching for woman accused of driving into Home Depot in brazen theft
Beloved former Hewitt-Trussville and ClayChalkville teacher dies after being hospitalized with COVID-19
From The Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — Trussville detectives have identified the woman they believe drove into the Home Depot and stole a leaf blower and a dehumidifier. Gwendolyn Braswell, 42, of Birmingham, faces charges of burglary second-degree, criminal mischief first-degree and theft of property fourth degree. She is not yet in custody. The charges carry bonds totaling $48,500. Braswell is accused of driving through the doors of Home Depot on Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, around 9 a.m. Investigators said she slammed through the front doors of the store in the Promenade at Tutwiler Farm shopping center, drove through the store briefly and took merchandise she had staged towards the front of the store, according to police. The incident was caught
See MCINTOSH, Page 5
Preliminary hearing set for Trussville teen charged with capital murder in shooting death of Trent Parkerson
on camera by surveillance and Tim Stewart, who was inside the store. No one was hurt during the ordeal. Police said the owner of the black 2000 Pontiac Sunfire used in the theft contacted the Jefferson County Sheriff’s
Office and helped identify Braswell. According to court documents, Braswell has a criminal history including a conviction for burglary. She has previously lived in Bessemer and Docena.
If you see Braswell or have information on her whereabouts, you are asked to call the Trussville Police Department or call 911. Two videos of the incident can be viewed in this story on www.TrussvilleTribune.com.
Jefferson County Coroner reports increase in overdose deaths during coronavirus pandemic; Trussville and Center Point see large increases By Erica Thomas, managing editor
TRUSSVILLE — At least 35 states in the U.S. have reported an increase in drug overdose deaths in 2020. Jefferson County Coroner Bill Yates said there has been an increase locally since the coronavirus pandemic began. In the Trussville-area zip code, 35173, there were five confirmed overdose deaths from Jan. 1, 2020, to June 30, 2020. Four of those cases were investigated by the Trussville Police Department, meaning they likely happened within city limits. Two of those cases were due to heroin and two were due to fentanyl. That compares to two overdose deaths in the 35173 zip code in the first half of 2019. Yates said there are more deaths that remain under investigation. The 35126 zip code has not seen an increase and the 35235 zip code has actually
seen a decrease, with only one drug overdose death so far in 2020. The 35215 zip code, which covers parts of Pinson, Clay, Center Point and Chalkville, has seen a drastic increase. In the first half of 2019, there were three overdose deaths in zip code 35215. Two of those were from opioids and one was from another, unspecified drug. In 2020, there were seven confirmed drug overdose deaths in the 35215 zip code, as of June 30.
Six of the 2020 deaths were due to opioids. The coroner said county-wide, there has been a 2528% increase in drug overdose deaths so far in 2020. He also said heroin and fentanyl isn’t the only problem. While the majority of deaths are related to opioids, Yates said he is also seeing a mixture of opioids with methamphetamine. “They also had methamphetamines which is what we see quite often,” Yates said.
“We see methamphetamine on board with an opioid, like fentanyl or heroin.” Nationwide, preliminary federal data shows there was already an increase in stimulant overdoses, such as meth, before the pandemic. But with added stress due to job loss and social isolation, experts believe the coronavirus is adding fuel to a fire that is already out of control. Yates said investigators have reported to him that there could be a stronger version of fentanyl being distributed throughout the country. “I’ve been told by law enforcement that the drug-supplier chain has suffered because of COVID,” Yates explained. “Getting the product to the user has been cumbersome for the drug trade. So, it is believed that there is possibly a more potent fentanyl out there.
News - Pages 1-7 Politics - Pages 8-9 Education - Pages 10-12 Obituary - Page 13 Classified - Page 13 Calendar - Page 13 Finance - Page 14 Back to School - Page 15
www.robinshoppe.com 5886 Trussville Crossings Blvd 205.655.3388
16
-
See LAFOY, Page 4
Jefferson County Health Officer responds to Trussville City Schools reopening plan By Erica Thomas, managing editor
TRUSSVILLE — Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. Mark Wilson said he is pleased with the reopening plan put together by the Trussville City School System. See TCS SCHOOLS, Page 10
Friends of Troy Ellis support his siblings on their first day of school at Cahaba Elementary By Erica Thomas, managing editor
TRUSSVILLE — Just over three months after the sudden and tragic death of a Trussville boy, his friends rallied together on the first day of school to show support for the boy’s siblings.
See OVERDOSE DEATHS, Page 5
Robin’s Sewing Shoppe
Inside the Tribune
Steven Chase Lafoy. Photo: Trussville Police Department.
See ELLIS, Page 6
CASA FIESTA MEXICAN GRILL
5084 Pinnacle Sq Suite 112 Trussville
655-3530
Fabric Machines Classes Demos Trussville
•
Hoover
•
Fultondale
•
Cullman