The Trussville Tribune – November 2 - 8, 2022

The Tribune

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By Terry Schrimscher For The Tribune

CLAY — The Clay City Council met Tuesday night, October 26, for the second scheduled monthly meeting of October. Much of the agenda was covered in the report from City Manager See CLAY, Page 6

Irondale Council approves resolution to rename former Zamora Temple to ‘Irondale Civic Center’

By Crystal McGough Associate Editor

IRONDALE – The Irondale City Council approved a resolution Tuesday to officially change the name of the See ZAMORA, Page 3

Voting continues for 2022 Tribune Reader’s Choice Awards finalists From The Tribune staff reports

TRUSSVILLE — Voting for the 2022 Tribune Reader’s Choice Awards continues until Friday, Nov. 11, at 8 p.m.

The awards will highlight the best of the best businesses, events, and venues in See VOTING, Page 6

Toys for Tots Event & Charity Ride comes to Springville From The Tribune staff reports

SPRINGVILLE — Smokehouse Burgers and BBQ and Misfits Motorcycle Club is presenting a Toys for Tots Event and Charity Ride on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 1 p.m.

Registration for the event will take place between 11:30 a.m.

See TOYS, Page 5

Inside the Tribune

News - Pages 1-6 Outdoors - Page 7 Opinion - Page 8 Obituary - Page 10 Calendar - Page 11 Classified - Page 11 Sports - Pages 12-15

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Hope 5K

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2022

Trussville BOE reaches agreement with Neill to resign superintendent post From The Tribune staff reports

TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City Schools Board of Education voted unanimously on Tuesday to amend the employment contract with Dr. Pattie Neill and accepted her letter of resignation, effectively ending her service as TCS superintendent.

The vote came following an executive session to discuss potential pending litigation. After the executive session, board president Kathy Brown said the BOE had received Dr. Neill’s resignation letter.

“This is what’s in the best interest of our community and our students,” Kim DeShazo said of the resolution.

Neill and the BOE had been working together on a negotiated agreement for several weeks, according to multiple sources. The agreement avoids a potential lengthy and expensive legal battle.

The negotiated agreement gives Neill 12 months of sal-

Trussville City Schools Superintendent Pattie Neill on Monday discusses the budget for the upcoming fiscal school year at a meeting of the school district's board of education.

ary and benefits and calls for her to serve in the role of Litigation Support Specialist until October 31, 2023. In this role, she will provide information to the Board in regard to past events for the purpose of resolving outstanding issues and any legal concerns

that may arise.

Neill had at least three and a half years remaining on her contract which included a salary in the $200,000 range as well as housing and auto allowances, insurance and retirement benefits. The BOE extended

Neill’s contract to June 20, 2026, on April 28, 2022. The extension was approved by a 4-0 vote.

Neill was the second superintendent in TCS history.

Her predecessor, Dr. Suzanne Freeman also negotiated an agreed settlement with the BOE when she stepped down in 2012. Freeman had four years remaining on her contract at the time and BOE members agreed to pay her for an additional three years of service.

On Sept. 30, Neill requested that the BOE place her on a 60-day paid leave of absence, which they agreed to. The request came at the beginning of a contentious board meeting that saw parents, students and citizens flood the board chambers with concerns of transparency and communication from the superintendents office.

That followed a City Council meeting earlier in the week where citizens packed the council chambers expressing similar concerns.

Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce announces Christmas Parade Grand Marshals From The Tribune staff reports

TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce announces Hewitt-Trussville standouts Kenleigh Cahalan and Riley Quick as the Grand Marshals of the 2022 Trussville Christmas Parade. This past June, Cahalan was named Miss Softball, and Quick was named Mr. Baseball by the Alabama Sports Writers Association, marking the first time in state history that both titles were won by student-athletes from the same school in the same year.

Cahalan is a Hewitt-Trussville senior; Quick is a freshman at the University of Alabama.

Quick, a two-sport athlete in high school chose baseball over football for his college career.

“We’re thrilled to have Kenleigh and Riley serve as our grand marshals,” said June Mathews, Executive Director of the Trussville Cham-

TUE

77 51

www.TrussvilleTribune.com

November 2 - 8

Clay prepares for grocery tax cuts to take effect in November

WED THU

HTHS hosts ribbon-cutting ceremony at new Amerex Outdoor Learning Center From The Tribune staff reports

TRUSSVILLE – HewittTrussville High School faculty and administrators held a ribbon cutting for the school’s new Amerex Outdoor Learning Center Monday morning, along with Trussville City See CLASSROOM, Page 6

The Future of Springville Schools: Administrators discuss proposed 15-mill tax increase on Facebook Live

By Crystal McGough Associate Editor

SPRINGVILLE – Four St. Clair County and Springville school leaders joined host See AD VALOREM, Page 4

Argo Monster Mash: A Halloween smash for Argo and surrounding communities

By Crystal McGough Associate Editor

ARGO – The city of Argo held its first-ever Halloween festival, The Argo Monster Mash, on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. With Argo having a population of approximateSee MONSTER, Page 3

BCBS of Alabama, Leeds, National Fitness Campaign make fitness free Leeds citizens From The Tribune staff reports Riley Quick (Left) and Kenleigh Cahalan. (File Photo)

ber. “This has been a memorable year for them, and we hope leading the Christmas parade will be a fun way to cap it off.”

Scheduled for December

10 at 3:00 p.m., this year’s parade carries the theme “Candyland Christmas.”

Float Competition prizes will be awarded for Best Interpretation of Theme, Most

Original, Most Innovative, and Best Overall. A prize will also be awarded to the Best Walking Group.

LEEDS — Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) of Alabama, the City of Leeds, and the National Fitness Campaign (NFC) announced a partnership to bring an out-

See PARADE, Page 6

See FITNESS, Page 5

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The Trussville Tribune

Page 2

The

Trussville Tribune

November 2 - 8, 2022

5K raises money, awareness for clean water in Africa

190 Main Street Trussville, AL 35173 (205) 533-8664 Scott Buttram, Publisher publisher@trussvilletribune.com Hannah Curran, Editor news@trussvilletribune.com Crystal McGough, Associate Editor news@trussvilletribune.com Loyd McIntosh, Sports Editor news@trussvilletribune.com SALES STAFF Leigh Hays, Account Executive Shari Moore, Account Executive Lauren Taylor, Sales Coordinator.

Member of the Alabama Press Association

Runners getting ready to begin the inaugural Foundations for Hope 5K in Trussville, Saturday, October 29, 2022.

(Photo courtesy of Matt Mullinax)

By Loyd McIntosh Sports Editor

TRUSSVILLE — More than 180 runners raced through downtown Trussville to support a great cause, Saturday, Oct. 29.

The inaugural Foundations For Hope 5K brought people from around the running community to raise awareness and funds to help provide clean drinking water to underserved communities in east Africa, specifically Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Sudan.

A ministry with a mission to drill wells to provide clean water and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to unreached people groups throughout the region, Matt Mullinax said the foundation’s first event exceeded all expectations.

“We had hoped to raise enough money to drill five wells, but, through today’s race, we raised enough for

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ten villages in east Africa,” said Mullinax. “We’ll be able to get clean water to 5,000 people as a result of today’s event, and we’ll be able to share the word of Jesus Christ in those areas as well.”

Mullinax said the need for water throughout Africa is dire due to the prevalence of water-borne diseases such as cholera, dengue fever, and malaria. Estimates from various world health sources estimate that one in four children born in Africa will not reach the age of 15 due to poor access to health care and clean water. Mullinax said Foundations for Hope is already having an impact in addressing these issues.

“I was just there in July on a medical mission trip going out to the bush in unreached people-group areas. We treated 650 water-borne illnesses and anything else medically and we had 161 salvations on that trip,” said Mullinax.

“That was one location.”

The Foundations for Hope 5K featured a traditional race as well as a special event, the Jerry Can 5K relay. In this event, each runner in a three-person team carried a five-gallon Jerry Can filled with water for a portion of the race before handing it off to a teammate. The relay was designed to show the community the reality of daily life in many parts of Africa where women must walk several miles per day to transport water back to their villages in five-gallon buckets.

Jamey Curlee, an area resident and former teacher at Hewitt-Trussville High School, participated in the Jerry Can 5k along with friends David Coffman and Lee Neal. He said the event was a great way to understand the challenges of life in Africa as well as to better appreciate the privileges of living in the United States.

“We’re very blessed to have clean water here in America,” said Curlee. “Honestly, we’re spoiled in many ways. We’re used to being able to get pretty much whatever we want or need at any time.

“It’s a great service for people here to help folks on the other side of the planet to bring clean water to these places,” said Curlee. “A year from now there will be kids alive and well that wouldn’t be. It’s an awesome thing that this organization did today.”

Mullinax would like to thank the sponsors of the inaugural Foundations for Hope 5K including Engineering Design Group, Caddell Construction, Fluid Solutions, First Baptist Church Trussville, Southern Grain Woodworks, SPOC, The Prewitt Group, 4Africa.com, the city of Trussville, Trussville Police Department, and Ferus Entertainment.

November 2 - 8, 2022

The Trussville Tribune

Page 3

Local / Region

Zamora

Monster

building formerly known as the Zamora Temple, located at 3521 Ratliff Road, to the Irondale Civic Center. The resolution was submitted to the council for consideration

by Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. “Just for everyone out there … we are not talking about permanent plans for Zamora,” Council President David Spivey said. “Only while it is existing and until we come up with any plans for that, we have the opportunity to rent it out and create a revenue stream, and that is what we are doing. We are simply changing the name.

No permanent plans are in place.”

The city purchased the building on June 30, 2022, for the amount of $5 million.

“I am excited that the city has acquired a large facility that will allow us to continue hosting events that bring (the) community together,” Stewart said in a previous statement. “We are also excited about the possibility of using the venue to attract new recreational and entertainment opportunities to Irondale.”

Anyone interested in renting the facility can contact Brad Doss at BDoss@cityofirondaleal.gov.

The council held two public hearings concerning the demolition of unsafe structures on properties located at 965 Grants Mill Road and 1224 Mill Lane.

One of the owners of 965 Grants Mill Road spoke to the council, asking that they allow him to be responsible for the demolition of the house on his property, rather than the city. However, clarifications were made that there are five other heirs to the property

ly 4,400 people, both Mayor Betty Bradley and City Councilor Ann Brown said they were shocked at the turnout, which Argo’s police and fire departments determined to be nearly 1,000 people.

“I don’t think we could’ve asked for more,” said Brown, who was also in charge of the planning committee for the event. “Every employee of the city plus lots of citizens volunteered.”

This was the first major community event Argo has held in the 10 years that Brown and Bradley have been serving the city, they said.

Both are hopeful to be able to make this an annual event.

“We just appreciate all the kids and all the parents and everybody who took their time to come out and support us in our first – really our first annual – event that we’ve held in the city,” Brown said.

“We hope, because of their response, that this will encourage us to do more community projects.”

Brown said she has already been thinking of ways to improve the Monster Mash in the future, should the city be able to continue hosting it.

The idea for the Monster Mash arose after Mayor Bradley applied the city of Argo for a $3,900 tourism grant and got approved. Once plans began to form regarding how best to use the grant, businesses and individuals began contacting the city offering to help sponsor the event.

“Our sponsors just stepped up,” Brown said. “We didn’t approach any sponsors; they just came to us and wanted to be a part of it.

Official sponsors for the event include: Alabama Tourism Grant; Printcorp, who

From front page

From front page

Photo credit: The City of Irondale

who are not in agreement to demolish the property, which ties the city’s hands on giving a demolition permit to only one co-owner of the property.

No one spoke during the public hearing on 1224 Mill Lane.

Following the hearings, the council approved the following: • Resolution 2022-R-204, amending prior resolutions approved by the city council related to the compensation increase for Public Safety employees to include the positions of Public Safety Dispatcher II and Public Safety Dispatcher Supervisor • Resolution 2022-R-206, declaring weeds and other vegetation a nuisance and ordering abatement for property located at 2314 Third Ave. S, Irondale, AL • Resolution 2022-R-207, declaring property at 965 Grants Mill Road a public nuisance and ordering its abatement • Resolution 2022-R-208, declaring property at 1224 Mill Lane a public nuisance and ordering its abatement The next regular meeting of the Irondale City Council will be Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, beginning at 6 p.m.

Crystal McGough can be contacted at mcgoughcrystal@gmail.com

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Photo credit Crystal McGough

donated all of the printed supplies; Massey, Stotser & Nichols PC Attorneys, who donated $500; and Grant Crossing: Argo’s Newest Community developers, who donated $525 to fund balloon twisting and face painting by Starshine Faces.

Brown said she also wanted to give a special thanks to Margaret Elementary School and Springville Elementary School for allowing their teachers to hand out invitations to students.

“I think that was a huge part of our success, since we don’t have the schools in our community,” she said. “Those principals were very gracious in helping us.”

Springville High School’s Beta Club also played a large role in the success of the festival. Under the guidance of teacher sponsor Cynthia Higdon, Beta Club students Ella Mason, Ethan Blandamer, Brooks Wester and Abrigail Royal helped set up, operate and tear down carnival games for the event.

“It was a joy to work with them,” Brown said of the students. “One of the young la-

Unique

dies was telling me that they have to have volunteer hours, but she said it’s nice to do things that you enjoy doing – that you have fun doing – along with service projects and things like that. I’m hoping that we can get even more of them next year … that was really nice of them to come and help us.”

In addition to games, candy and inflatables, the city also provided the public with free hotdogs, popcorn, cotton candy and bottled waters.

According to Mayor Betty Bradley, the turnout was so great that guests were still hanging out, enjoying their hotdogs and popcorn, an hour after the event was supposed to end.

“For the first one, I thought it really went well,” she said.

“They had to start unplugging stuff at the end to get people to leave.”

The evening would have been impossible without the support of the city employees and community volunteers, Bradley said.

“The clerks, the police department, the fire department, our maintenance guy,

Local

the council – there was just so many people that helped,” she said. “Then we had some citizens that volunteered their time – Corky Massey and Carol Massey – there were just so many people … that helped with it.”

Bradley said she has already been contacted by businesses offering to help sponsor next year’s Monster Mash, and that’s what it’s going to take in order for the city to make this an annual event.

“I think it’s good business practice when people know that your businesses are also involved in the community,” she said. “It’s good advertisement for your business. I always try to go on our Facebook page and the What’s Happening (in Argo) page …

I always go on there and try to thank everybody that participated.”

Any businesses or individuals who would like to be sponsors for next year’s event can call City Hall at (205) 352-2120 and ask to speak to Mayor Bradley.

Crystal McGough can be contacted at mcgoughcrystal@gmail.com

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Ad Valorem From front page

Clayton Martin on a Facebook Live Q&A on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022, to discuss a proposed 15-mill property tax increase that will appear on the ballot at the upcoming Nov. 8 general election. The proposed tax is intended to go toward building a new school in the Springville school district.

SCC Superintendent Justin Burns, along with principals Dr. Greg Moore (Springville High School), James Talton (Springville Middle School) and Chris Hill (Springville Elementary School) answered questions from the public on how the tax increase would help local schools, as well as how it would affect taxpayers.

One of the first questions asked was who would be able to vote on the tax.

SHS Principal Moore said that this vote will only be for individuals who live in areas zoned for Springville schools, including residents who are zoned for Margaret Elementary.

“It’s not about the Springville city limit,” Moore said. “It is the Springville school zones. … Your residence, if it is in the school zone of Springville Schools, then you will vote and have an opportunity to say whether

you’re for or against the vote that we have for our schools.”

Another question Martin said he received from the public was concerning whether the mill increase would remain only for the life of the bond and then decrease once the bond is paid off.

“This vote is for a 30-year mill increase, regardless of the life of the bond,” Burns said. “But the bond will be a 30-year bond. … This is called a sunshine clause of 30 years, so in 30 years, the school district here will have the opportunity to vote … to bring it back up again to keep it or not. And this is common in a lot of school systems. …

A lot of people realize that once they’ve passed something like this and the school benefits from it and you see where it goes, that it’s a continuation and people understand the importance.”

To clarify, Burns explained that a bond is “an investor’s opportunity to purchase a debt opportunity,” and said that St. Clair County Schools has a very good bond rating.

The increase, if passed, would bring in roughly $2.2 million of revenue, he said.

Based on that, St. Clair County Schools could borrow 80% of the bond opportunity, which would be around $28 million.

“You can’t borrow 100%

Left to right: SHS Principal Dr. Greg Moore, SCC Superintendent Justin Burns, SES Principal Chris Hill, SMS Principal James Talton, Clayton Martin

of what you’re going to bring in,” Burns said. “So, when you speak about the bond, the bond is that 80% that can only go towards capital improvement. So, once you issue a bond, that can’t go towards salaries, it can’t go towards any perishable-type thing. It has to go towards capital improvement.”

In this case, “capital improvement” specifically means a new school building in Springville, proposed to be a new middle school that will feed into Springville High School.

When asked what exactly Springville would get if the 15-mill tax increase passes, SMS Principal Talton said, very clearly, “A building.”

“We need room for students, that’s essentially it,” he said. “Whether it hous-

es (grades) 6-7-8 (or) 7-8-9, that’s to be determined. We’re just out of room in all three schools.”

Talton said Springville schools have already had to get rid of a computer lab to make space for a fifth-grade class.

SEM Principal Hill added that, if a new middle school is built, there are potential future plans to remodel the old middle school building into an intermediate school.

In November 2021, the residents of Springville voted down a similar 15-mill property tax increase. That proposal, however, also included a brand-new fine arts theater and upgrades to the football stadium.

Talton said, this time, the focus is only on the new school building.

November 2 - 8, 2022 “The primary need is just room for kids in classrooms,” he said. “So that’s our focus right now; nothing more at this point. That’s the number one need that we have to address before we can address anything else.”

For anyone confused on what a “mill” is, or how to determine how much extra they would have to pay in property taxes if this passes in the election, Burns explained that a “mill” means one-millionth, which would be equal to $10 for every $100,000.

“A mill is … a percentage of the value that you pay in property tax,” he said. “So, as you increase a mill, it’s only that small percent.”

Additionally, Burns said the amount each household will pay for the tax will depend on their homestead’s assessed value. It will be a 15-mill increase on whatever their property’s assessed value is.

“If you have a $100,000 assessed value, 15 mil of 100,000 is $150 a year,” he said. “If it’s $200,000, it’s $300 a year. But for those that get confused … call the revenue office, give them your address, and say, ‘If this tax millage passes in Springville, what’s it going to cost me?’ And they can give you almost to the dollar amount what it’s going to cost you.”

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Burns said that any mention of raising taxes or asking people to give financially is very difficult.

“I’ve heard this over the years … that this is a county school system and it’s a county school problem,” he said. “Well, the reality is that we’ve grown so fast that we can’t really address all those needs financially … And so, this has really become an individual community problem. … It really, at the end of the day, falls on the school system to provide this, but we can’t.”

Burns said that he categorizes this as a “legacy vote,” a way for parents to show their children that this is something important and worth investing in.

“One day, they’re going to tell their kids that the stance that their parents took for their community is why this exists,” he said. “And then they’re going to pass that on to their kids.”

St. Clair County residents zoned for Springville schools can make their voices heard at the general election on Nov. 8. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., and the ballot will give voters the specific option of saying they are “for” or “against” the tax increase.

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November 2 - 8, 2022

Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce to host Legislative Breakfast From The Tribune staff reports

TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Legislative Breakfast at the Trussville Civic Center on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Check-in begins at 6:45 a.m.; breakfast will be served at 7 a.m. This event is open to the public.

The program will feature a legislative update from Danny Garrett, Alabama State Representative for District 44. A question-and-answer session will follow as time allows.

A longtime resident of Trussville, Garrett was first elected to the House in 2014 and re-elected in 2018. He appears on the ballot for the Nov. 8 general election, running for his third term. His current term ends on Nov. 9, 2022.

Fitness From front page

door Fitness Court® to the City of Leeds. The Fitness Court, located in Leeds Memorial Park at 1159 Montevallo Road, will officially open Tuesday, November 1, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

This Fitness Court was developed by BCBS of Alabama, the City of Leeds, and NFC to expand free access to high-quality workouts and create equitable access to exercise for communities around the state. The Fitness Court is the world’s best outdoor gym that lets people use their own body weight to get a complete workout using seven exercise stations, according to BCBS.

Danny Garrett

Garrett currently serves as Chair of the Ways and Means Education Committee and as Vice Chair of the House Education Policy Committee. He is also a member of the Fiscal

Created with people aged 14 and over – and with all abilities – in mind, the workouts are adaptable for all fitness levels, allowing participants to move at their own pace.

Users also may download the free Fitness Court App, which acts as a coach-in-your-pocket and enhances the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness experience.

“One of our Company’s top priorities is to help improve the health and wellness of Alabamians,” Director of Corporate Communications and Community Relations, BCBS of Alabama, Sophie Martin, said. “We are honored to partner with the City of Leeds to bring our Blue Cross sponsored Fitness Courts to Alabama. This innovative platform will help encourage

Responsibility Committee, the Jefferson County Legislation Committee, and the Contract Review Legislative Oversight Committee.

The cost of the breakfast is $15 per person. Reservations are required and may be made via email to lesley. muncher@trussvillechamber.com, by phone at (205) 655-7535, or online at www. trussvillechamber.com. The deadline for reservations is Thursday, Nov. 10, at noon.

The Presenting Sponsor for breakfast is Chick-fil-A Trussville. Gold Sponsor is Ascension/ St. Vincent’s East.

For more information about this event or the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce, visit www.trussvillechamber.com or call the chamber office at (205) 6557535.

Fitness Court (Photos courtesy of Dona Bonnett)

communities to lead healthy and active lifestyles.”

“We have anticipated this day for a long time and are excited about the official grand opening and ribbon cutting for the new outdoor Fitness Court®,” Leeds Mayor David Miller said.

“National Fitness Campaign is proud to welcome the City of Leeds to the cam-

Page 5

City of Irondale hosts ‘Biscuits & Business with the Mayor’

From The Tribune staff reports

IRONDALE — Mayor James D. Stewart, Jr., provided a city update at the Chamber’s “Biscuits & Business with the Mayor” on October 25.

The event was held at the Zamora Temple and was sponsored by Vivian Mora State Farm.

Here are a few of the highlights of his update: The City of Irondale is working to become a “recreational destination” and has recently purchased a large tract of land every month, including: • The Zamora Shriners Temple, which will soon be called the “Irondale Civic Center.”

• Land on Highway 78 near Leeds;

paign as a leader in health and wellness for Alabama and across America,” Founder of National Fitness Campaign, Mitch Menaged, said.

Residents are invited to attend the Launch Event on Tuesday, November 1, at 10:00 a.m. to try the Fitness Court. Jeh Jeh Pruitt, WBRC Fox 6 TV Presenter and Reporter will emcee the event, which will include a Police vs. Fire Fitness Challenge, fitness demonstrations, and a fitness class.

For more information, visit www.LeedsAlabama.org, or contact Dona Bonnett, Media Support, at 256-345-3993.

For more information on Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama’s support of NFC, please visit https://nationalfitnesscampaign.com/alabama.

• Hospital property; and • 12 acres from the Church of the Highlands, which will consolidate with another 188 acres to form 200 acres of continuous trails to border the Cahaba.

Other updates: • A master plan has been created.

• The City is upgrading the fire department’s equipment.

• The occupational tax has been reduced from 1% to .75% effective October 1.

• A total of $200,000 has been set aside for Covid grants for small businesses. These grants range from $2,500 to $10,000 and are available to companies with 50 or fewer employees.

• The City is restructuring the business license system, which has not been done since 2007.

• Property taxes have been raised to help keep up with inflation and also to do the things desired for the city.

(Left to Right) Sheila Kent, President of the Chambe's Board of Directors and Mayor Stewart. (Photo courtesy of Diane Poole)

For more information about the Chamber, email diane@irondalechamber.org, visit www.irondalechamber. org, ‘like’ them on Facebook @Irondale Chamber or “Irondale Chamber Hub, or call (205) 478-2469.

Toys

From front page

and 12:30 p.m. and it’s $20 per bike and $5 per rider.

The ride will begin and end at Smokehouse Burgers and BBQ, 285 Marietta Road in Springville, and is escorted by law enforcement.

There will be bounce houses, live music, food and drink specials, and 50/50 raffle and door prizes. Unwrapped toys are welcomed for the drive, but they ask you do not bring any stuffed animals. The event also welcomes cars to participate.

Photo courtesy of Michael C.)

The Trussville Tribune

Page 6

Voting

From front page

Trussville Outdoor Learning (Photo courtesy of Susan Ray)

Classroom From front page

Schools Acting Superintendent Dr. Frank Constanzo, Amerex Corporation President and CEO Harrison Bishop, Faith Community Fellowship Pastor Steve McCarty, and ArchitectureWorks LLP partner Jay Pigford.

Those in attendance had the opportunity to observe the dedication of the learning center and tour the area, while enjoying refreshments provided by HTHS Culinary Academy students.

Trussville Outdoor Learning (Photo courtesy of Susan Ray)

“On behalf of the Trussville Board of Education, I want to express our appreciation for the support of our business and industry partners, our faith-based organizations and especially our students,” Dr. Costanzo said.

“This is another example of how strong partnerships can enhance the learning opportunities for our students now and in the future. Thank you to Amerex for the finan-

cial donation. Also, a huge thanks to Architecture Works for designing this wonderful center, to Faith Community Fellowship for the labor and to our students from the Hewitt-Trussville High School’s Electrical Academy for providing electrical service and the construction of the bridge.”

The outdoor learning environment, located on the high school campus alongside the Cahaba River, is intended to offer a wealth of positive experiences that will benefit Trussville students for years to come.

Hewitt-Trussville High School teachers introduced the concept of the outdoor classroom several years ago, in hopes that students could have better access to learning along the Cahaba River.

Architectural plans began in 2016 and community leaders joined the effort to make this concept into a reality.

Outdoor learning environments offer a wealth of positive experiences that include collaboration, creativity, and interdisciplinarity. Hewitt-Trussville High School teachers introduced the concept of the outdoor classroom several years ago so that students could have better access to learning along the Cahaba River. Community leaders came together to create this space on the banks of one of the most pristine rivers in our country that will benefit thousands of students for years to come.

The Tribune coverage area, including Trussville, Argo, Clay, Pinson, Center Point, Springville, Leeds, Irondale, and Moody.

Tribune readers will choose winners from the list of finalists in around 120 categories, from Best Bakery to Best Splash Pad. With a simple click for a vote, you have the power to advance your favorite business to the top

of the list.

“This is my favorite time of the year because we have a chance to recognize some of the most important people in our communities,” Tribune publisher Scott Buttram said.

“Local businesses are the backbone of our economy.

They always have been and they always will be. Every business and person nominated should be proud, and the finalists should be especially proud because the people they serve put them here. That’s a

November 2 - 8, 2022 strong confirmation that they are doing something right.”

Voters can vote in all categories one time per day, and your first-time voting does require an email address to be entered. It’s essential for people in the communities to vote on their favorite business in each category to show your appreciation for the people that serve you throughout the year. This is their time to shine.

In the three-week nomination round, the Tribune read-

ers cast over 7,000 votes. The top nominees in each category advance to the finals.

Voting ends Friday, Nov. 17, and the winners for each category will be announced live by the Tribune.

Categories: Food & Beverages Services Shopping Lifestyle, Health & Wellness • Arts & Entertainment • Sports & Rec • • • •

Clay

From front page

Ronnie Dixon. All members of the Council were dressed in matching t-shirts supporting the annual fundraiser for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama.

“All of the outlets in Clay, Dollar General, Publix, and the Pig [Piggly Wiggly] all have their letter in hand that starting next Tuesday, there will be a two-cent sales tax reduction,” Dixon said. “As far as today, they’re ready for it.”

The Council approved a reduction in the sales tax on food items as defined by the Alabama Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in August. The tax cut will be in effect for two years before reverting back to the current rate after October 31, 2024.

Dixon said only four stores in the Clay community would be impacted by the cuts. Piggly Wiggly, Publix, and two Dollar General stores operate under SNAP guidelines in the city. The reduction would not change state and county taxes on the items but would cut the city’s portion in half. Clay cur-

Parade From front page

The parade will line up on Cherokee Drive near Cahaba Elementary and proceed

Members of the Clay City Council pose with t-shirts supporting the Center Point Fire District's Breast Cancer Awareness campaign. (Photo by Terry Schrimscher)

rently collects four-cents per dollar on groceries.

Due to vandalism, Dixon said all public restrooms operated by the city had been closed until new security systems can be installed. The closures were announced on the city’s Facebook page on October 17.

“The Fire Marshall guesses they filled it with silly string and then ignited the silly string,” Dixon said. “It makes a flash of about 1200 degrees.

They’ve been trying to clean it for a week now.”

Dixon said security cameras show more than 100 people around the restroom area on

the day in question, but they have not yet identified the culprit in the fire. As a result, restrooms at Cosby Lake will be open during business hours, but all other city restrooms will be closed pending security upgrades.

The Council also approved a resolution to condemn a house located at 5240 Baggett Drive after previously taking action on the property in August. The house was purchased after the August meeting, but no progress has been made in maintenance or upgrades.

The Council held two public hearings during the meeting. The first hearing involved

the annexation of a parcel of land at 6739 Old Springville Road. A small patch of the property was not included in the limits of the city when Clay incorporated it. The property is owned by Dr. Grovenstein at Deerfoot Dental. The second hearing involved rezoning properties between 6522 and 6722 Old Springville Road to allow the possible construction on garden homes.

The City also approved the release of liens on the property located at 5909 Elizabeth Drive.

The next meeting of the Clay City Council is set for Tuesday, November 8.

down Parkway Drive to Main Street, through downtown Trussville to Chalkville Road then north to Oak Street.

Individuals and groups planning to participate in the

parade should register online at www.trussvillechamber. com. The fee per parade entry is $25.

For more information on the Trussville Christmas Pa-

rade, call the chamber office at (205) 655-3575 or email Melissa.walker@trussvillechamber.com. Information is also available on the chamber’s Facebook page.

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Once nominations have ended you will choose your favorite from a list of top nominated entrants in each category on our website.

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Outdoors

Venison Taco crowned at AWF Gulf Coast Wild Game Cook-Off

By David Rainer

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources It appears taco dishes filled with savory wild game and fresh fish are hard to beat at the Alabama Wildlife Federation Wild Game CookOffs, and the recent Gulf Coast competition in Spanish Fort was no exception.

Before an overflow crowd at the Blue Gill Restaurant, the Venison Birria Taco dish prepared by the Five Rivers Fiesta team of Daniel Haas, Thomas Clark, Todd Amos and Charles Green was crowned overall champion.

“We had a blast,” Haas said. “I was worn out afterward, but we had fun. I’ve seen this dish on TV shows, and I’ve eaten it in a couple of different places in Texas. It’s a little bit more of a mainstream dish now, a pretty common Mexican dish. Some people know about it, but we thought it would still be a change of pace at the cook-off.”

Haas said the cooking team members decided on venison because their freezers were well stocked with deer meat. After perusing several recipes, Haas added his own flare to the dish with a dipping sauce made with the pan drippings from the slow-cooked venison and spice blend.

“The recipe called for a venison roast, but I’m not an expert at deboning a hind quarter, so we used a good bit of backstrap and tenderloin because it’s a lot easier to remove the silverskin and connective tissue off those cuts,” he said. “I took a recipe

made to feed 10 to 12 people and increased it times 10. The recipe calls for a large Dutch oven, but because of the way we were cooking, we used Crockpots. You may have to go your local taqueria to find all the chile peppers.”

Venison Birria Tacos Feeds 10-12 • 3-4 pounds venison • Salt • Black pepper • Garlic powder • 1/4 cup cooking oil of choice • Birria Sauce • 6 dried guajillo chiles, seeded • 4 dried chile de árbol peppers • 2 chipotle peppers • 2 dried ancho chiles, stemmed and seeded • 2 tablespoons adobo sauce • 1 can fire-roasted tomatoes • 2 tablespoons white vinegar • 1-2 tablespoons minced garlic • 1 teaspoon cinnamon • 1 teaspoon cumin • ½ teaspoon thyme • ½ teaspoon dried marjoram • ½ teaspoon dried Mexican oregano • Juice of 1 lime • Dozen flour tortillas • 1 pound Mexican fourcheese blend • 1 cup pickled red onions and jalapeños • 2 bunches green onions • 2 bunches fresh cilantro PREPARATION: Season the meat with salt, pepper and garlic powder and brown in the hot oil before transferring to a Dutch oven or Crockpot along with pan drippings.

The Venison Birria Taco dish was crowned overall champion at the AWF Gulf Coast Wild Game Cook-Off at the Bluegill Restaurant. (Photo courtesy of David Rainer)

To prepare the sauce, drop the peppers into 1 gallon boiling water for 5 minutes.

Reserve 3 cups of the chile cooking liquid. Place rehydrated peppers into food processor and blend. Add next 10 ingredients through lime juice to food processor. Add chile water until desired consistency is reached. Pour sauce over meat for braising.

If you use a Dutch oven, place the meat in the oven for four hours at 325 degrees and another 30 minutes at 350 degrees with the lid removed.

With a Crockpot, turn it on high and cook for three hours and then turn to low for another 90 minutes.

“After about four hours, start checking the meat with a fork,” Haas said. “If you can spin the fork in it, it’s tender, and you can start shredding

it. One of the things to look for when you’re slow cooking wild game is a foam will build up on top of the meat.

Scrape off the foam and get rid of it.”

After the meat becomes tender, remove the venison from the cooking utensil and shred. Take tortillas and coat with the sauce remaining in the pan before heating the tortilla on a griddle, frying pan or grill.

“There’s a little layer of fat that will be on top of the sauce,” Haas said. “We take the tortillas and dredge them through that before we heat the tortilla. You know when it’s coated because it will be dark red on both sides. That’s where you really get the flavor. That’s the deal because you get a little crisp on the tortilla by cooking in that ren-

dered fat. You cook that tortilla for about 30 seconds on one side and flip it.”

After the flip, take a portion of cheese and place on the tortilla and a portion of the shredded meat on one half.

Fold the tortilla and cook for about a minute. Flip and cook for another 30 seconds or until the cheese is melted before placing on the serving plate.

“The recipe calls for chopped white onions, but we actually did pickled red onions and jalapeños,” Haas said. “We also sprinkled chopped green onions and cilantro on top. Then we took our leftover sauce and ladled it up for the dipping sauce.

“We’re glad everybody liked them. We probably served 150 tacos. We were staying busy. People kept coming back. As far as winning, I’m surprised we swept the competition, but I was pretty confident that, if the dish was executed the way I envisioned, it would have a shot at winning at least the game division. We thought it would be a little different, and not many people are going to turn down melted cheese, slow-cooked meat and fried tortillas. I love cooking, and I like the chaos of cooking for a large group of family and friends.”

The Five Rivers Fiesta team advances to the AWF Wild Game Cook-Off State Finals next August.

The other taco dish in the running for overall champion was Fairhope Fish House’s Day Boat Tuna Tacos, which won the fish category. Chef David Ramey seared fresh yellowfin tuna and prepared

a tasty taco. Hooks Lake took second in fish, followed by Team Hiller.

BA’s Barbeque went traditional to win the fowl competition with its Goose Steak. Caden Bradshaw said keeping it simple is the key to tasty, tender specklebelly (white-fronted) goose breasts.

“Specklebellies are called the ribeyes of the sky,” Bradshaw said. “I didn’t soak them in any milk or ice water like some people say you have to do to get the gamey taste out.

All I do is make sure I remove all the fat off the geese. You get your favorite steak seasoning. I used Kinder’s this time, but just use whatever you like. I sprinkle the seasoning on the goose breasts and place them in a plastic bag for about 30 minutes.

Then I put the breasts on a hot grill or griddle. You flip them every five minutes until the internal temperature reaches 130 degrees. That’s a nice medium rare. I let them rest from five to eight minutes and then drizzle them with melted garlic butter. Slice them against the grain, and they’re ready to eat.”

A Wild Turkey Confit prepared by the Tensaw Delta Waterfowl/CCA Eastern Shore team took second in the fowl division, followed

by Team Hiller with a Quail Wrap.

Gator Bites by Equipment Depot took second in the game category. Eastern Shore Ace Hardware took third with Bacon-Wrapped Venison.

Visit www.alabamawildlife.org/wild-game-cook-off/ for a schedule of the remaining 2022 cook-offs.

Rental and Utility Assistance for jefferson County Residents!

Federally funded emergency rental assistance is now available for Jefferson County renters impacted

by COVID-19. Note, for residents who live in the City of Birmingham, they should apply through the City’s program. But ALL other residents in Jefferson County should apply through the County program.

Who is eligible?

Residents of Jefferson County, outside of the Birmingham city limits Household income at or below 80% of the area median income Be at risk of experiencing homelessness Document a financial hardship by meeting one of the following:

Qualified for unemployment benefits Experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or document a financial hardship

Expenses that can be covered:

Rent, Electricity, Gas, Water, Sewer, Trash removal, Home energy costs, other costs related to housing including Internet expenses – but not cable, home phone or cell phone bills

For more information or to apply

HAVING TROUBLE PAYING YOUR RENT?

COVID-19

EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ERAP)

0r call

205-326-0162

www.birminghamul.org

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Page 8

Public officials using taxpayer dollars for electioneering should be prohibited Editor’s Note: This is an opinion column.

By Paul DeMarco

Candidates are working hard in Alabama as we approach the upcoming election to connect with voters, whether by pressing the flesh at the local meat and three or attending their hometown high school football game.

Getting their message out to voters requires raising money to pay for television, radio, mail, and billboards.

Without raising campaign funds, it is hard for those running for office to attain name ID, particularly for challengers against incumbents. And in Alabama, it is even harder, as some elected officials use government dollars to pay for advertisements to splash their faces for potential voters to see. These advertisements are displayed under the contention that they are promoting or informing the public about their office.

It is not right nor fair for taxpayers’ money to be used by officeholders to prop themselves up just as their names will be on the ballot. Time and time again, we see officials buy “advertisements” that prominently display the official’s name and face to raise their name identification, especially close to election time. There

have been photos plastered on billboards, newspapers, gas pumps, produce aisles, and television commercials. And all of these were purchased at the expense of monies that should have been used to administer their office responsibilities and not for their self-promotion. Too many officials spend their days in office focused on working for re-election as opposed to doing the job they were sent to do.

During the next legislative session, Alabama lawmakers must change the law to prohibit those who serve in office from using public funds to campaign and self-promote. A bill that would bar such expenditures six months from an election cycle should be the bare minimum requirement.

We hear officials complain they need more money to fund their offices but then turn around and expend it to publicize themselves. State representatives and senators will return to Montgomery next Spring, and they should add this to the list of bills to work to earn the trust of state citizens.

Alabama taxpayers deserve no less.

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

Opinion

Phil Williams: We must never, ever forget

By Phil Williams, 1819 News Commentary

Years ago I was doing some land navigation training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. That was always one of my favorite things to do. Just give me a map, a compass, a protractor and a stubby pencil and set me loose in the woods and I would be content for hours navigating by terrain association or following an azimuth on my compass.

But on that particular day at Fort Knox, I broke through some brush and came upon an old cemetery out in the middle of nowhere. There was an old wrought-iron fence around the 50 x 50-foot perimeter, and it seemed ancient. I stopped what I was doing and spent a few minutes looking at the old weathered headstones and foot markers, most of which dated back to the early-mid 1800s. And as I did, I found myself wondering, “Does anyone even know this is here?”

But then I remembered the map and, sure enough, realized that I had stumbled on a known site. It was labeled as “Lincoln Cemetery,” and it was actually where Abraham Lincoln’s mother was reportedly buried. Of course, that also allowed me to precisely confirm my location on the land navigation exercise. So, I reoriented myself to my next compass bearing and moved off from there to navigate further.

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I was reminded of that moment in the backwoods of Fort Knox because of a story that I ran across just last week.

Apparently, in the Brighton community in Jefferson County, Alabama, firefighters were called out to a brush fire that was burning several acres deep in the woods. Firefighters from Brighton, Lipscomb and Birmingham all responded, and when they did, they were all surprised to find an abandoned cemetery deep in the woods. Brighton’s assistant fire chief said the graveyard had at least 20 gravesites, all of which were in various states of disrepair and dating back over 100 years. Photos in the article showed broken headstones and one collapsed burial vault. Mature trees had long grown up in and around the graves.

But the thing that really got me in the article was not just that they found it, but that when he was talking about it, the assistant fire chief said, “Nobody knew it was there”.

How does it get to the point that no one knows that a cemetery is there? Is there no loved one left to visit and put flowers down on the graves?

Is there no local ordinance regarding care and maintenance? Twenty actual graves of actual people and “nobody knew it was there”. That’s unreal, somewhat sad, and more than a little disconcerting.

But it’s also a clear indication that we can in fact forget our history if we are not careful. I would like to believe that history cannot repeat itself because surely there are those who will teach it to the next generation. But the reality is that as surely as a community can forget that a cemetery even exists at all, that we as a nation can forget our history, our sacrifices, and our heritage. It can happen and it does so generally by simple neglect.

The Brighton cemetery wouldn’t be the first time society had forgotten its own history. In the book of 2 Kings and also in 2 Chronicles, we find the story of King Josiah.

Josiah was the King of Israel, but his grandfather was King Manasseh who is said to have turned the nation of Israel away from God. Manasseh’s leadership resulted in such a decline that by the time his grandson Josiah took the

throne at the early age of eight years old the nation had completely and utterly turned away from its heritage.

With Josiah being just eight, he would need a teacher and a mentor. But he had no one to teach him. No one to tell him what great things his ancestors had overcome to build the kingdom he now ruled. It was so bad that when Josiah was 20 that he decided that the great Temple needed to be refurbished, not so much because he wanted to turn the nation back to its roots but more because it had fallen into disrepair, that the great Temple was then a house of ill repute.

What happened next is the clearest example of how far a nation can be removed from its own history and heritage.

During the renovations, one of Josiah’s elders named Hilkiah came to him and told him that during the renovations, workers had discovered a book.

That’s what he called it: just “a book”. When he asked to see it Josiah determined that it was “the book of the law”. Basically, the nation had become so remote in their concept of their own history that when a senior member of the King’s cabinet found the Bible that he did not know what it was.

Despite Israel being founded on the premise of being God’s people, and the many miracles and battles fought and the building of a new nation, the book of the law had been forgotten, lost even, to the extent that the King had never even heard of it and did not know what it was.

But we’re told further that when he read it Josiah realized what had been lost and he called a great assembly and he read the book to the people and he began to change society, change culture, change the nation. All because he rediscovered that which had been lost.

The end of Josiah’s story says that when he died that no king before him, nor after him, served God with all his heart and with all his strength like Josiah. What a eulogy!

But here’s the point: if history can be so easily forgotten, then we should not assume for a minute that it’s not possible for it to be forgotten here and now. The left wants so badly to renovate history to fit their notions. The 1619 Project

would have us believe that we are nation not founded on sacrifice and the belief in self-determination but rather a society built solely on the backs of slaves and that we are still to this day a systemically racist society. A whole generation of kids now has no personal reference point for 9/11. History classes in school are too often subjective and teach from a world view as opposed to a historically accurate context.

Why would all of this be?

Why would it be necessary to change the manner and means by which a whole generation views its history? The answer is simple yet diabolical. Because when you control the narrative of a country’s origins, the sacrifices, the victories and even the defeats, you can control the manner in which that generation thinks, acts and cares about that nation. Think about it: • Why be a good steward of something that you are not fond of?

• Why defend the interests of something that you don’t love more than yourself?

• Why take steps to sacrifice, build, or expand capabilities, when you believe that all who went before you were oppressors exerting some form of privilege?

We cannot lose our history. It must not only be recorded accurately but taught accurately. Like the cemetery I found deep in the woods at Fort Knox, history can be a guide for the future. It can fix our spot on the map if it is clearly marked and give us a reference for navigating our future. To do so, we must keep it firmly fixed “on the map”.

If we don’t take the steps necessary to ensure that our nation’s greatness and the sacrifices of our founders are accurately remembered, then we will one day be like the burning forgotten cemetery lost in the middle of the woods, and “nobody knew it was there.”

To contact Phil or request him for a speaking engagement, go to www.rightsideradio.org. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News.

To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.

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O b i t u a ry

Pamela Joan (Terry) Maddox february

(age 70)

14, 1952 ~ october 23, 2022

Pamela Joan Terry Maddox, 70, of Birmingham, Alabama, took her last earthly breath and her first breath in Heaven on October 23, 2022, with her family by her side. Pam fought a very courageous battle with pancreatic cancer over the last six months.

Pam was born in Decatur, Alabama on February 14, 1952. She graduated from Athens High School in 1970 and graduated from Auburn University where she received a Bachelor of Education in 1974. Pam touched many lives while teaching at St. Peter’s Catholic School and later at Briarwood Christian School.

Pam was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. She treasured her children and embraced every moment raising them. She especially loved her role as Grammy. She had a vivacious personality and always made people around her laugh and was a ray of light. She also loved Auburn University and she provided strong leadership to the Greater Birmingham Auburn Club. Pam was especially proud to have helped create the first GBAC Distinguished Awards Dinner for the club. Her talents were evident in the many details she lead for the event.

Pam had a solid faith that could not be shaken. She continued to praise Jesus through her illness; specifically praying for all to receive the peace that only He can provide. She will be missed by many but there is peace and joy that surpasses all, in the love and presence of the Almighty God our Father. “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.” Psalm 36:9.

Sarah Cooper Rushen september

(age 78)

Sarah C. Rushen September 25, 1944 - October 18, 2022 Sarah C. Rushen, 78 of Talladega passed away on October 18, 2022. The family will receive friends at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home in Trussville on Tuesday, October 25th from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. with the service beginning at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel. She was preceded in death by her son Bobby Blake Rushen and sister Joyce Logan. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Bobby Joe Rushen; daughter-in-law Cheryl Rushen; grandchildren Erin (Brandon) Bentley, Kristen (Jonathan) Odom, Zachary (Amanda) Rushen; great grandchildren Thomas Clausen, Adley Bentley, Olivia Rushen, Henry Rushen, Taylor Rushen and Lauren Rushen; brothers James (Guylene) Jackson and Larry (Karen) Cooper. As well as many other loved family members. Sarah grew up in Birmingham and graduated from Shades Valley High School. In later years she was an integral part in the foundation of Rushen Rigging, Inc now known as G&R Mineral Services. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and known as GRANNY to all that knew her. Her laughter and joy for life encompassed the loving spirit she carried. Her selflessness and giving nature will be missed by all. In lieu of flowers the family request donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Jimmy Hale Mission to be given in Sarah's name.

Janice Marie Yates

Pam is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, Elon W. Maddox, Jr., son, Elon W. (Jacqueline) Maddox III, mother, Winnie Murl Terry, sisters, Belinda Terry, and Angie (Robin) Christopher, brother, Kenny Ray Terry and grandson, Elon W. Maddox, IV, and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

11, 1942 ~ october 19, 2022 (age 80) july

Pam is preceded in death by her daughter, Meredith LeAnn Maddox, her father, Ray Gene Terry and her grandson, Deacon Wesley Maddox.

Janice Marie Yates, age 80, of Irondale, AL went home to be with her Savior on October 19th, 2022. Daughter of the late Henry Clay and Katherine Young McNutt, Janice was born July 11th, 1942, in Dalton, Georgia. After moving to Chattanooga, Tennessee early in life, Janice began studying Ballet at the age of eight years old. As a teenager, she had advanced to a level that allowed her to teach Ballet until the mid-twenties. In addition to being a loving wife and mother, Jan worked as the financial secretary for McElwain Baptist Church until retiring after thirty years of service.

The Celebration of Life Service will be held at Mountain Brook Community Church on Thursday, October 27, 2022, at 2:00pm, with Family Pastor Skot Montgomery of Mountain Brook Community Church and Pastor Rick Ousley of Grace Point officiating. An internment will be immediately following the Celebration of Life Service at Jefferson Memorial Gardens on Highway 11 in Trussville. All arrangements are being handled by Jefferson Memorial Gardens, Trussville, AL. The family requests donations in lieu of flowers be made to the Greater Birmingham Auburn Club Donor Society, a charitable organization or to the Auburn University Foundation. Donations should be noted to the Meredith LeAnn Maddox Memorial Scholarship and can be mailed to GBAC, P.O. Box 660526, Birmingham, AL, 35266 or donations can be made at www.thegbac.org website by selecting the DONATE TODAY link on the home page and the DONATE TODAY on the Donor Page and selecting Meredith Maddox Memorial Scholarship button.

Jerry Wayne Payton, Sr. february

(age 81)

25, 1941 ~ october 20, 2022

Jerry Wayne Payton, Sr., age 81 of Chilton County, AL passed October 20, 2022 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born to Grover Lee and Ruth LE Payton on February 25, 1941. He was an Army veteran and retired truck driver with over fifty years of experience. He was loving and kind with a gentle soul. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Renee` Payton. He is survived by his loving wife of fifty-three years, Patsy Payton. Jerry also leaves behind a sister, Anita Abney (Daniel), and brother, Fred Tucker (Darlene), as well as his children; Jerry “Skeet” Wayne Payton, Jr (Susan), Randy Morgan, Johnny Payton (Cindy), Terresa Lambert (Bill), Ronnie Morgan (Deanna), and Tammy Darden (Thomas Wynn). Grandchildren; Christopher Payton (Grace); Jeremy Payton, Misty Cowan (Allen), Joey Payton (Ariel), Natalie Hailey (James), William Lambert, III, Jessica Hiatt, Angela Sorenson, Nicholas Vines (Elizabeth), Courtney Roe (Josh), Brittany Martin (Wayne), Lauren Darden, and Sophie Darden. He also leaves behind Karson Darden, Lyla Savell and twenty-three additional great-grandchildren. A visitation for friends and family will be held on Friday, October 28th from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. with a private service for family only to follow.

Ask Eddie

In addition to her parents, Janice is preceded in death by one sister: Patricia McNutt Slayton.

Mrs. Yates is survived by her loving husband, C. Wayne Yates; one daughter, Katherine Rich (Ben); one son, Bill Yates (Lanette); and three grandchildren, Sam and Jack Yates and Will Rich, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family.

Funeral Services for Mrs. Yates will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, October 24th, 2022, at Hope Community Church. Her family will receive friends beginning one hour prior to the service. A private burial will take place at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, AL at a later date.

In leu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Hope Community Church missions fund.

Harvey Gerald Chitty

5, 1936 ~ october 19, 2022 (age 86) october

Harvey Gerald Chitty passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, October 19th. He was born and raised in Center Point and went to Hewitt Trussville High School. Harvey enlisted in the Navy and served from 1955 to 1959 on the USS English DD-696 and was so proud to have served his country. He was a Boiler Tender and after service was a truck driver that moved cars across the country and then worked at Steel City Crane moving cranes to and from job sites.

He loved vintage cars, especially 1957 Chevys. Restoration was his passion. He loved making old cars look new.

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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He, most importantly, loved his family and friends. He never met a stranger and was well known and loved.

He is survived by his son, Cole Chitty and wife Kay Chitty, daughter Lisa McCorkle and husband Robert McCorkle, and daughter Alison Chitty and grandchildren G.C., Leah, David, and Dallas and Chad. And 10 great-grandchildren.

Many will miss this sweet, compassionate man.

The family would like to thank Enhabit Home Health and Hospice - Oneonta. The family will be forever grateful for the support and kindness that was given. The compassion and support was just amazing. Thank you just is not enough. You all make a difference.

Joy Ethelyn (Trucks) Cornelius

What should I know before choosing a hospice provider?

1. Seek experience from others - Ask people know who have had a family member in hospice care what their experience was like with each of the hospices available. You can also use the internet to read reviews of the hospice organizations you are considering. But remember to read these reviews with a critical eye.

2. Check for Accreditation - Is the hospice state-licensed AND accredited by one of the national organizations like “Joint Commission for Accreditation of Health Care Agencies” or “Community Health Accreditation Program”? It may mean some time writing emails or talking on the phone, but you need to get in touch with both the licensing and accrediting organizations and ask about each hospice you are considering.

4. Ask the tough questions - Make an appointment with the administrator of each hospice and ask: · What do they expect from the family? · Are they fully staffed at every level? · Are they able to provide every level of care both at-home and for in-patients? · Are they able to respond to a 3 AM weekend crisis at home, and what is their expected response time? · Are they able to provide references – families of former patients you can talk with?

5. Find out what their processes are - If your loved one will begin with at-home hospice care, does the hospice have its own in-patient facility when/if needed? If not, where do their in-patients go?

6. Ask about training and level of care · Are physicians/nurses are trained and qualified for palliative care? · Are there any circumstances in which they believe that pain medication should be limited? · Are they staffed and equipped to go beyond the Medicare required medical services if needed by a patient? · Are they prepared to individualize a patient’s dietary & religious preferences?

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JeffMem.AskEddie’20 5.3”x10”

25, 1944 ~ october 18, 2022

december

(age 89)

6, 1932 ~ october 19, 2022

Joy Trucks Cornelius, 89, of Birmingham, Alabama, died of natural causes on October 19, 2022. Joy was born on December 6, 1932, to Fred and Ethelyn Trucks. She preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Robert B. Cornelius and her only sibling, Nancy McClinton.

Joy brought up in Ensley, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham and received her master’s degree in education from Sanford University. She was a well-loved second grade teacher at Irondale Jr. High School for years. She was a faithful member of Roebuck Park Baptist Church for years where she served as a teacher and mentor to all members.

Joy is survived by her by her three sons, Robert Cornelius, Jr. (wife, Donna), Karl Cornelius (wife, Anita), and Gregg Cornelius (wife, Kim), three grandchildren, Robert Cornelius 3rd (son of Robert Cornelius Jr.), Jeff Cornelius (wife, Carol) and Alan Cornelius (sons of Karl Cornelius) and two great-grandchildren, Hannah Cornelius, and Peter Cornelius (children of Jeff). She survived by her two twin nephews, Steve, and Mike McClinton, whom she served as a surrogate mom and mentor, after the early death of their mother, Nancy.

Joy was a resolute wife and mother, who dearly loved her family first. She enjoyed serving her church and community and most recently, enjoyed the frequent visits of her dear friend, Nelda Barksdale. She enjoyed reading novels, beating her husband at scrabble, and sitting down to a family dinner. She also attended the Layton School of Art where she learned to paint with watercolor and went on to show and sell her extensive collection of paintings. She was an above average cook, who enjoyed studying recipes and creating new dishes for her family. She represents the great generation with excellence, being a model citizen and an example of what a human being should be, always putting others above herself and always thinking of herself last. Her sweet loving nature was obvious to the people around her with her beautiful blue eyes and smile that would always warm a heart.

Thomas H. Light

26, 1936 ~ october 22, 2022 (age 86)

march

Thomas “Tommy” H Light, age 86, passed on October 22,2022 to be with our lord. A member of Northpark Baptist Church for many years and a deep believer in the Christian faith. Born in Birmingham, Alabama on March 26,1936. Attended high school at McGill Institute in Mobile. A graduate of Birmingham Southern College and Marine Corps Veteran. Tom spent his entire career working with credit unions. President and CEO of University Credit Union (Legacy) 32 years. President and CEO of Family Security Credit Union in Decatur.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, sister, and 2 grandchildren.

Tom is survived by Donna, wife of 44 years. Sons Michael (Stephanie), Kevin (Beth), Herb (Cynthia), Jeff (Tommie). Daughters Lisa, Deborah (David). And many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Specials thanks to Dr. Vlad Prelipcean, Dr. Maria Prelipcean and staff; Mending Hearts Caregivers, and Affinity Hospice for their care.

Flowers are appreciated or in lieu of flowers donations to Northpark Baptist Church children's ministry are also appreciated.

November 2 - 8, 2022

The Trussville Tribune

Calendar

Designs For Hope Annual Benefit Dinner November 3 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm $40 - $45

Celebrate with us as we look back at all the Lord has done through the work of Designs For Hope in 2022. Also, hear, pray, and respond to the call of equipping and empowering the global church through strategic partnerships and projects around the world.

Each ticket includes a full course meal.

Venue Mathews Manor

(All ages) Join us for Storytime for Growin’ Beans with Ms. Allison on Friday, November 4th at 10 AM. Our theme is Frogs!

We’ll read books, have fun, do a craft, & have a snack.

Storytime is designed for pre-K children, but all ages are welcome.

Venue Pinson Public Library (RSMC) Dr. Wayne Flynt: Afternoons with Harper Lee November 5 @ 11:00 am - 12:30 pm Free

Plant Swap November 3 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Free (Adults) Join us for a Plant Swap on Thursday, November 3rd at 6 PM! We’ve got plant propagations & seeds for you! Bring any of your own propagations &/or seeds to swap, or just your gardening tips or enthusiasm! We will have some soil, starter planting cups, & containers for you too.

Venue Pinson Public Library (RSMC) Storytime for Growin’ Beans with Ms. Allison: Frogs November 4 @ 10:00 am - 11:00 am Free

(Adults) Award-winning author Dr. Wayne Flynt will discuss his latest book. Part-memoir, part biography, “Afternoons with Harper Lee” provides a unique look into one of Americas most-loved writers. This event is co-sponsored by Pinson Historical Society. Dr. Flint will sign books after his presentation. Books will be available for purchase at the event.

About the author: Dr. Wayne Flynt, professor emeritus of Auburn University, is well known throughout the state for his featured articles and books relating to Alabama’s social, economic, and political status.

He is the author of fourteen books dealing with Southern politics, history, white poverty, and culture (religion, art, music, literature). Dr. Flynt has close family ties in Pinson with cousins still residing within the community. His

mother, Mae Flynt, taught at Pinson Elementary School.

About the book: Imagine sitting with an esteemed writer on his or her front porch somewhere in the world and swapping life stories. Dr. Wayne Flynt got the opportunity to do just this with Nelle Harper Lee. In a friendship that blossomed over a dozen years starting when Lee relocated back to Alabama after having had a stroke, Flynt and his wife Dartie became regular visitors at the assisted living facility that was Lee’s new home. And there the conversation began. It began where it always begins with Southern storytellers, with an invitation to “Come in, sit down, and stay a while.”

The stories exchanged ranged widely over the topics of Alabama history, Alabama folklore, family genealogy, and American literature, of course. On the way from beginning to end there were many detours: talks about Huntingdon College; The University of Alabama; New York City; the United Kingdom; Garden City, Kansas; and Mobile, Alabama, to name just a few. Wayne and his wife were often joined by Alice Lee, the oldest Lee sister, a living encyclopedia on the subject of family genealogy, and middle sister Louise Lee Conner.

The hours spent visiting, in intimate closeness, are still cherished by Wayne Flynt. They yielded revelations large and small, which have been shaped into Afternoons with Harper Lee. Part memoir, part biography, this book offers a unique window into the life and mind and preoccupations of one of America’s best-loved writers. Flynt and Harper Lee and her sisters learned a great deal from each other, and though this is not a history book, their shared interest in Alabama and its history made this extraordinary work possible.

Venue Pinson Public Library (RSMC)

Page 11

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The Trussville Tribune November 2 - 8, 2022

sports Gadsden City at HewittTrussville, prep basketball, Thursday, November 3

Parker at Clay Chalkville, prep football, Friday, November 4, 7 p.m.

Jackson Olin at Center Point, prep football, Friday, November 4, 7 p.m.

William E. Bright, Jr. Attorney at Law

205-655-9284

Green Wave crests as playoffs near Springville loses

By Will Heath For the Tribune

Jerry Hood said officials from Leeds High conferred with those from Center Point about their Week 10 matchup and decided by “literal mutual agreement” not to play.

“It didn't matter to anyone as far as standings go in our playoff situations,” Hood said. “So we just said, to heck with it.”

That almost definitely will not happen this week.

Instead, the Green Wave now begins playing games where everything is at stake. The second-ranked Green Wave (9-0) will host the first round of the AHSAA Class 5A playoffs against Fairfield this Friday.

“If you don’t take care of business this week you won’t be playing the next week,” Hood said.

Leeds running back Conner Nelson has been a revelation for Leeds in 2022. (Photo by Ron Burkett)

Leeds’ offense enters the playoffs with an attack that features a variety of options on every side of the ball.

Sophomore Conner Nelson has been a revelation for the Green Wave this fall, as both a rusher and a receiver. Nelson took over the quarterback

role in the first month of the season after an injury to senior Jarod Latta; now that Latta has returned, the Green Wave utilizes Nelson in a variety of spots on offense.

He is hardly the only weapon in a powerful run game, however. Jeremiah

Hunter averaged over 100 yards per game during the regular season and did so battling through an ankle injury. Leeds’ other tailback, Miles Jones, has been nearly as good when he gets the ball.

Jones’ catch-and-run against Moody set up what wound up the game’s decisive touchdown, before halftime.

All of this serves to supplement a Leeds defense that has been nigh impregnable through 10 games.

On three separate occasions, Leeds opponents have scored 13 points. None of them scored more than that during the regular season. It was particularly notable in games against Southside (36 points per game in its other eight weeks) and Moody (47 points per game in the other eight).

See LEEDS, Page 15

to Pell City, 70-40

By Will Heath For the Tribune

PELL CITY — How to describe Thursday night’s game between county foes Springville and Pell City, which entered the final week of the season with 1 win between them?

How about record-breaking?

In earning their first win of the Steve Mask era on Thursday, the Panthers eclipsed what the Alabama Historical Football Society says is their record for points in a single game. Pell City trailed the visiting Tigers at halftime but roared back for a 70-40 victory.

The previous sentence is not a typo. Pell City 70, Springville 40.

You read that right: Springville fell to Pell City, 70-30, Thursday, September 24.

“I feel like our season should’ve been better,” said Pell City’s Carlos Herring.

“But it’s good to finish with a win.”

Herring was the engine that jump-started things for the Panthers (1-10) in the second half. With Springville leading 34-25 at the start of the third quarter, the wideout gathered See SPRINGVILLE, Page 15

Clay-Chalkville building on history of excellence

By Johnny Sanders For the Tribune

CLAY — It’s state playoff time in Alabama and there are new faces as well as old. Clay-Chalkville High School has established itself as the latter. In the 27-year history of the program, the Cougars have only missed the playoffs four times, and

two of those times were the first two seasons of the team’s existence when they were ineligible.

One of the other two was the 2011 season when they had to forfeit 9 games of the ten they won that year. Basically, the Cougars, in their history, have only legitimately missed the playoffs twice (1998 when they were 1-9 on

Clay-Chalkville hosts Parker in the first round of the Alabama High School Football Playoffs on Friday, October 4. (Photo by Ron Burkett)

the field, and 2007 when they went 4-6).

The 2022 edition of the Clay Chalkville Cougars is 8-1, the only loss coming at 7A powerhouse Thompson by a score of 17-14, a game in which Clay had an opportunity to win, but turnovers got the best of them.

The offense, led by Kamari McClellan, Aaron Os-

ley, Mario Craver, and Jaylen Mbakwe, has put up 372 points in nine games. While they didn’t eclipse 700 points like Cougar offenses from this past year, they have done more than enough to put the defending 6A champs in the driver’s seat for back-to-back blue maps.

See CHALKVILLE, Page 15

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The Trussville Tribune

November 2 - 8, 2022

Page 13

Huskies prepare for road trip to Florence “I've been real pleased with how the offense has grown,” he said. “We knew going in we were pretty young on that side of the ball, but I think we have come a long way, especially in the offensive line.”

Hewitt’s opponent Friday night is a formidable one.

Florence began the season 1-2, but rolled off six straight wins on their way to a number 2 seed.

“Florence is playing really well right now,” said Floyd.

“They’ve won six in a row and are playing really well on defense. They have the (Jah-

By Zack Steele For the Tribune

TRUSSVILLE — Playoff season has arrived, and Hewitt Trussville has many reasons for optimism as Hewitt travels to take on Florence High School on Friday night, marking Hewitt Trussville’s first trip to Florence, and their 9th trip to the playoffs in the last 10 years.

Hewitt-Trussville, the 3rd seed from the always tough 7A Region 3, comes into the playoffs with a personality that’s different from some of the previous high-flying Hewitt Teams under Head Coach Josh Floyd.

The 2022 Hewitt Huskies tout a very solid defense, anchored by seniors Hunter Osborne and Conner Night.

Floyd points to consistency and senior leadership.

“We’ve had some good senior leadership and oth-

lil) Hurley kid that committed to Alabama so he’s obviously a really good player.”

Hurley, a 5-star cornerback, is ranked the 24th-best overall player in the nation.

Aside from Hurley, Coach Floyd was impressed by the Florence defensive line.

Florence’s offense features a mobile quarterback, which could cause the Huskies some problems.

“He’s mobile, and a threat to make plays,” said Floyd.

The winner of this game will move on to face the winner of Hoover vs Bob Jones on November 11.

Hewitt-Trussville travels to Florence for the first round the Alabama high school playoffs.

(Photo by Ron Burkett)

er guys have stepped up and made plays,” said Floyd.

“This is definitely one of the best defensive units we’ve had here. I think the biggest thing has been our consisten-

cy throughout.”

The offense was a huge question for the Huskies when the season began. Turnovers and penalties plagued the offense in Hewitt’s three

losses, all to teams ranked #1 in 7A at some point in the season. Floyd, however, says he has seen marked improvement over the course of the season.

Eagles prepare for first-round home game record, 3-3 in Region 5 action. The Mustangs had a four-game losing streak in the middle of the season and only qualified for the playoffs after region wins over Woodlawn and Mortimer Jordan in their final two games of the season. Bates says J.O. poses a troublesome situation by basking in the glory of recent triumphs.

"I don't sit down and just think, 'wow, we've accomplished this, and we've accomplished that.' We know we have accomplished some things, but if we lay an egg in the first round, what have we really done?"

Bates says J.O. is a dangerous team, despite their losing record. The Mustangs opened the 2022 campaign with a 14-9 win over Pelham Center Point Head Coach George Bates (Photo by Ron Burkett)

By Loyd McIntosh Sports Editor

CENTER POINT — They've made it look easy.

In their first year promoted back to 6A since 2016, the Center Point Eagles have been one the best surprises in the state. Before the start of the 2022 high school football season, few people thought the Eagles would be sitting in second place in one of, if not the, toughest region in Alabama.

Now in his sixth season at Center Point, Head Coach George Bates has the Eagles flying high. Center Point finished the regular season with a record of 8-1 overall, and 5-1 in Region 6 action, their lone loss coming to #1 ranked Clay-Chalkville. Along the way, the Eagles man-handled Pinson Valley and capped off the season with a convincing 41-24 win over Oxford in Center Point on Friday, October 21.

In other words, Center Point, in their first year back

in 6A, is 2-1 against teams that have won the last five 6A State Championships.

With a week off - their final game of the year against Leeds was canceled by mutual agreement between Bates and Leeds Head Coach Jerry Hood - before the first round of the playoffs, Center Point players and coaches could be basking in all they have already accomplished in 2022.

Bates isn't interested.

"I tell the guys they got 24 hours to enjoy a win, but me, personally, as soon as the game is over. I'm on to the next challenge," said Bates.

Seriously, though, what this team has achieved in 2022 is remarkable. As a result, Center Point will host Jackson-Olin (J.O.) in a firstround playoff game at the Eagles' Nest on Friday, November 4, the first first-round home playoff game during Bate's tenure as Center Point's head coach.

J.O. comes into the playoff game with a 4-6 overall

See EAGLES, Page 15

The Hewitt-Trussville girls cross country team qualified for the 7A state meet, Thursday, October 27. (Photo by John Goolsby)

Husky crosscountry teams qualify for state

By John Goolsby Special for the Tribune

HOOVER – The Hewitt-Trussville boys and girls cross country teams punched their ticket for the state tournament this morning at the AHSAA 7A Section 3 meet at Veteran’s Park in Hoover.

The Shades Valley/JCIB teams did not qualify in 6A

Section 4 but qualified six girls and two boys as individual qualifiers.

The Hewitt team, led by Kinley Harris, finished in third place. Chelsea High School was the Section 3 winner with 20 points, and Vestavia was runner-up with 74 points. Hewitt finished with 79 points.

See XC, Page 15

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The Trussville Tribune

Page 14

November 2 - 8, 2022

Pinson Valley draws tough test in first round

By Loyd McIntosh Sports Editor

Moody Head Coach Jake Ganus (Photo by Ron Burkett)

Ganus leads Moody to new heights

By Johnny Sanders For the Tribune

MOODY — The numbers do not lie.

Moody has a 43 percent winning percentage, only three region championships, a 3-13 record in the playoffs, and has never made it past the third round. Perhaps more importantly, Moody has never had the swagger that comes with winning.

Enter Jake Ganus.

Coach Ganus played quarterback at Chelsea High School and then went on to play defensive back (and eventually linebacker) at UAB until they temporarily shut down the football program in 2014.

At that point, with over 70 scholarship offers (40 of which were Division I), Ganus chose the University of Georgia. All he did then was lead the team in tackles, be named team captain after only 11 months on the team, and get invited to the Senior Bowl.

After a short stint with the Minnesota Vikings, Ganus began his high school coaching career at powerhouse Thompson High School where he spent five seasons coaching linebackers and managing col-

lege recruiting.

Thompson won three 7A state titles during that time.

Now, you will find him on the sidelines as the head coach of the Moody Blue Devils. You will typically find him with a t-shirt on that says, “Own 411” or “Pay The Bill” referring to Highway 411, where Moody High School is located, and “The Bill” being Bill Morris Stadium, where the Blue Devils play their home games.

During pregame, he will usually have his Moody hat on with the bill to the front, but when game time comes, the hat will turn around and Jake Ganus is all business.

Another difference you may notice if you visit The Bill for a Moody home game is that the team does not enter the stadium in the normal way. The PA announcer will energetically call for someone to call 911 and you will then see a police car with its siren on and lights flashing, followed by two buses filled with hyped-up football players and coaches.

The buses will speed around the stadium and rest at the main entrance, where the players will rock both buses while loud music flows out of the speakers. Then, the players

back it up on the field.

“I’m young. People say I shouldn’t have gotten this job at 28,” said Ganus after his first game as Moody’s coach.

The critics are being proven wrong, as Moody finished the regular season with a 9-1 record (mostly blowouts) and is currently ranked #5 in 5A, after going 6-4 in 2021 and going winless the year before.

Each week, home or away, the stands are packed with Blue Devil fans, excited about their team and its new swagger. That swagger has become infectious in the players as well.

Moody will host a playoff game for the first time since 2004. With a victory, Moody would have their first playoff win since 2004 as well. The Jasper Vikings bring a 5-5 record to The Bill in first-round playoff action. Jasper started the season with three straight losses and then went on a fivegame winning streak before finishing the season with two consecutive losses.

“It’s a new season now,” Ganus said. “Only one team in 5A is going to go 5-0. Only one team gets to hold up that blue map at the end. We have a lot of work to do.”

PINSON — The road to another state championship for Pinson Valley will be bumpier in 2022 as the Indians face a tough and seasoned Mountain Brook Spartans squad Friday, October 29.

The Indians finished the regular season with a record of 6-3, 4-2 in 6A Region 5 play. With losses to region foes Clay-Chalkville and Center Point, Pinson Valley finds themselves in unfamiliar territory as the #3 seed and on the road for the first round of the playoffs.

Despite the winning record and a sackful of recent accomplishments, including three state titles since 2017, the 2022 campaign has felt a little up and down. The Indians opened the season with an impressive victory over 7A Florence but had to forfeit the win after discovering an ineligible player on the roster.

Pinson Valley rebounded with a win the next over McAdory, 21-13, before dropping a heartbreaker to Clay-Chalkville, 14-12. The Indians then reeled off three consecutive wins over Oxford, Homewood, and Huffman, but not without some cause for concern.

Oxford and Pinson Valley combined for 30 penalties in their week 4 matchup, and the offense struggled against Homewood. In the third quarter, Guess put replaced Keywone Posey with Cameron Jennings.

“The plan is always to play whoever is going to help us win. Cam’s been exactly what he’s needed to be for this entire season. He’s waited his time,” Guess said of the signal-caller switch at the time. “We have to give Keywone that understanding

Pinson Valley wide receiver and Virginia commit Amare Thomas (Photo by Loyd McIntosh)

that he’s our quarterback, but we needed to be able to make plays and Cam did exactly what we needed him to.”

Jennings has been the regular starter for much of the remainder of the season, including a shocking loss to Center Point in early October, 29-22.

The Indians bounced back the next week over Shades Valley but committed four turnovers in the 23-6.

Pinson Valley capped off the regular season with a 4521 win over Pell City, a game in which freshman quarterback Dylan Reese got the start, the third quarterback to start for the Indians in 2022.

“We wanted to get the butterflies out just in case he has to come in for any reason down the road with a little bit more on the line. I’m glad we were able to do that, and I think he did well,” said Guess after the Pell City game. “I’m proud of him for stepping and making sure he’s ready to go if we need him.”

One Pinson Valley player has been a constant headache

for opposing defenses - wide receiver Amare Thomas.

Listed at 5-10, 180 pounds, Thomas has been a consistent playmaker for the Indians all season.

“We’re definitely gonna miss having him after the season, but he’s definitely somebody that he’s earned his opportunity at the next level,” said Guess of Thomas who has committed to play college football for the University of Virginia. “I think everybody starting to see that he can definitely be a playmaker.”

Pinson Valley will need Thomas to perform at an optimum level, cut down on the penalties and turnovers, and get consistent quarterback play to beat a solid Mountain Brook squad. The Spartans are 8-2 overall, 5-1 in Region 5 play, and have played four 7A teams, beating three of them - Vestavia Hills, James Clemens, and Baker.

In other words, Pinson Valley will have to play an almost perfect game to advance in 2022.

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Cassondra Fowler

Lisa Jackson

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Deerfoot: 205-236-9391 Springville: 205-293-0640 Trussville: 205-236-9837

Moody: 205-509-2208

Greystone: 205-430-5273

Pell City: 205-549-8245

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The Trussville Tribune

November 2 - 8, 2022

Eagles From page 13

and took care of Parker two weeks later, 27-7.

"They're an athletic team," said Bates. "That's an athletic

XC

From page 13

Kylee Sisk, Sophia Knox, Natalie Wiram, and Avery Cahoon scored with Harris.

Kinley Harris, 8th, 20:14.90, Kylee Sisk, 13th, 20:52.49, Sophia Knox, 14th, 21:02.35, Natalie Wiram, 20th, 21:21.29, Avery Cahoon, 24th, 21:52.79, Bella Bales, 43rd, 23:06.59, Callie Armstrong, 44th, 23:16.96

Leeds From page 12

The front four receives most of the attention for the Green Wave, most notably junior end Kavion Henderson.

His pass-rushing mate, Chris Burge, has nearly been his equal.

Behind them, CJ Douglas has existed in a do-everything role, as both a tackler and in coverage.

And yet, everyone in the

Springville From page 12

in the opening kickoff of the second half and ran it back 87 yards for a touchdown.

Two possessions later, he gave Pell City its first lead, taking a reverse handoff and scoring from 31 yards away.

Before the night was over, he added an interception that he nearly returned for a touchdown — Pell City scored 2 plays after the pick — and another kickoff return — this one from 81 yards out — that provided the record-setting

Page 15

community and they've got kids with scholarship offers.

They've got good size, good range, and they have some athletes. That's one thing when you turn on the film you can definitely see real fast.

As the playoffs near, Bates hopes that the greater community in Center Point and beyond will get behind this team. He noted that with Center Point being a newer high school, replacing the old

Erwin High School in 2011, they have struggled to develop a fan base despite having one of the most underrated stadiums in the area. Bates would love to see a large crowd on Friday as the Eagles

begin their playoff run.

"I hope it's backed," Bates said "The kids deserve it.

They work their butts off.

There's nothing like walking down the hill and seeing a packed house."

The boy’s team, led by race winner Tristan Teer, finished in fourth place.

Vestavia won Section 3 with 34 points. Spain Park was runner-up with 73 points.

Hoover finished in the third spot with 78 points. Hewitt finished with 93 points, grabbing the final qualifying spot.

Wes Ellison, Brooks Maddox, Aran Cane, and Jacob Mullinax were points scorers with Teer.

Tristan Teer, 1st, 16:23.27, Wes Ellison, 13th, 17:15.75, Brooks Maddox, 22nd, 17:46.41, Aran Cane, 26th, 17:51.19, Jacob Mullinax, 33rd, 18:01.30, Garrett Yokeley, 34th, 18:08.72, Rush Lachina, 35th, 18:10.06.

Head coach Matthew Michalke was pleased with his team’s effort. “I’m really proud of our kids today. We knew it would be a battle for both teams because we’ve

struggled with some setbacks in the last week, injury and illness,” he said. “They ran with a lot of heart today.

Our goal has been to run for the team. They did that today!”

Lauren Lindsey led the Shades Valley/JCIB girls.

Elizabeth Harris, Grace Lindsey, Ashley Leon, Brenna Villa Acosta, and Sara Bailey also qualified.

Brian Moose and Ivan Gonzalez were the two qual-

ifiers for the Shades Valley/ JCIB boy’s team.

“This is a determined group of girls who goes to practice every day and they want to get better,” said Mountie coach Melinda Estes. “They got a taste of getting close last year, but we didn’t qualify anyone. This year we have six.”

The Huskies and Mounties head to the AHSAA XC State Championship in Oakville on November 5.

erywhere, across the field,” Hood said. “A lot of speed and big kids. They look a lot like us defensively. It’s going to be a bigger challenge than the average person would look at. They’re a good football team and have gotten better throughout the year.”

The winner of the game will face the winner of Scottsboro and Brewer next week.

According to Hood, Scottsboro would travel to Leeds, while Brewer would host.

121 yards and two touchdowns. Pell City also got a score from fullback Riley Surles.

“I think we broke a record tonight,” he said. “But also broke a record for giving up too many points in a season. It all works out.”

Both teams will now begin preparations for the 2023 season.

“I’m still proud of our kids,” Clements said. “I’m proud of our organization. I’m proud of our town, our community. We’ll get this thing right.”

Green Wave locker room admits that nothing matters now that the regular season is over.

“Our guys, I think, are focused,” Hood said. “Our seniors have done a good job of leading us on that, to the expectation we have each and every day.”

Hood noted that the current Leeds seniors have been with the program since he took over in 2019.

“They have been part of the turnaround, getting Leeds

back on track,” he said. “They have set the standard for all

the guys coming behind them.

They have led this particular team with great chemistry.

I’m proud as heck of them."

The Green Wave opens its playoff run against a Fairfield team riding a wave of momentum that comes with winning 3 of its final 4 games.

The Tigers (3-7) opened the season winless, before picking off Carver, Wenonah, and Hayden to grab the 4th playoff spot in 5A Region 5.

“They have athletes ev-

point total.

The star for the Panthers on offense was quarterback Caleb Groce. The junior accounted for 387 yards rushing and throwing, as well as 4 touchdowns. In all, the Panthers finished with 571 total yards.

“It felt great,” Groce said.

“Running the ball and throwing the ball. It felt great.”

As impressive, the Panthers held Springville’s (1-9) offense, which had amassed over 300 yards in the first half, to only 1 touchdown drive after halftime. That touchdown came from tailback Mahlon

Alverson, his fifth of the game. Alverson finished with 203 yards on the ground.

“It was a tale of two halves tonight,” Springville head coach Jon Clements said. “I thought we played really good in the first half. But I thought in the second half, that we just lost our mojo somewhere.”

Clements’ team controlled much of the first half, getting 204 all-purpose yards from quarterback Asa Morrison.

The Tigers also recovered a Pell City fumble at the 1-yard line to set up an Alverson touchdown. Groce contributed

a touchdown pass and 2 touchdown runs for Pell City, along with a 10-yard run by Markise Bedford.

In all, the two teams combined for 666 yards in the first half.

Herring’s return proved to be the spark for the Panthers.

They forced a Tiger fumble on their first possession, then blocked a Springville punt later in the quarter to set up a Jake Blackstone field goal.

When Bedford scored again, from 27 yards away, Pell City was in control.

Bedford finished with

Leeds Green Wave head coach Jerry Hood. (Photo by Ron Burkett)

Chalkville From page 12

When McClellan and company do not have the ball, his teammates Devin Finley, DJ Barber, and Ormond Wallace have locked down on opposing offenses, allowing just 76 points in 9 games thus far.

Oxford scored 20 of those in their showdown.

Drew Gilmer played his high school football at Pinson Valley before going on to play baseball at Central Alabama Community College. He then moved on to the University of Alabama and upon graduating, he volunteered at his alma mater, tutoring quarterbacks, and the following year he became a teacher/coach there, under Wayne Lee. A couple of years later, Gilmer moved to ClayChalkville where he would be an assistant on Hood’s staff before taking over for the man for whom the football field is named, after assisting for 7 years. “I don’t think you replace him (Hood). I think you just come in and be yourself,” said Gilmer in 2017 when he took over.

With massive shoes to fill, Gilmer improved the Cougars’ record from 6-5 to 11-3. They went from being outscored 322-370 to blowing away opponents 438-190. And that momentum has not stopped.

Gilmer-coached teams have won at least 10 games in each season he has been there, numerous players have gone on to play at Division 1 schools, and region and state championships have been won.

Gilmer and his Cougars look to continue that domination this week as they prepare to welcome in the Parker Thundering Herd, who find themselves 6-4 on the regular season, riding a two-game winning streak into the firstround playoff matchup. Parker and Clay have never played each other. The winner of this game will take on the winner of the Muscle Shoals vs Hazel Green game.

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The Trussville Tribune

November 2 - 8, 2022