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Oxford

ACCESS

SUMMER 2019

EMBRACING THE CHANGE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES EMERGENCY PERSONNEL RESPONSE

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OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

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OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

CONTENTS

SUMMER 2019

4 MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR 8 HOLIDAY LIGHT FESTIVAL COMING TO OXFORD 10 A BUSY PLACE IN MAY 16 EMBRACING THE CHANGE 20 SPOTLIGHT: KEVIN FANEUF 22 WORLDS OF WORK 26 MY VISIT WITH MAYOR ALTON CRAFT 28 STUDENT GOVERNMENT DAY 31 MESSAGE FROM THE OXFORD POLICE CHIEF 32 PAT BROOKS: A PROFILE IN BRAVERY, FAITH, AND LOVE 40 SPOTLIGHT: ANTHONY GREEN 43 MESSAGE FROM THE OXFORD FIRE CHIEF 48 MESSAGE FROM THE OXFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY 52 OXFORD BUSINESS LEAGUE UPDATE 53 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: THE VINE CHIROPRACTIC 59 PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE 63 OXFORD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER UPDATE 64 “JUST GENE” 74 THIS PLACE MATTERS 83 CIDER RIDGE GOLF CLUB UPDATE 85 CALENDAR OF COMMUNITY CENTER EVENTS 86 WELCOME TO OXFORD: NEW BUSINESSES 90 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: CHICK-FIL-A QUINTARD MALL 94 INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT: BRIDGEWATER INTERIORS

Community conversations are important and we encourage residents to engage directly with city staff - this is your city and your mayor and council are here for you. Don't hesitate to reach out and let us know how we can help. Big or small, we’re happy and honored to listen. City of Oxford Mayor Alton Craft Oxford City Council Phil Gardner Mike Henderson Charlotte Hubbard Chris Spurlin Steven Waits If you are a citizen living within the Oxford city limits and are not receiving an Oxford Access magazine and would like to receive them, let us know! We want all of our citizens to be able to have access to the Access! You can pick-up a free copy at the Oxford Public Library, Oxford Civic Center, Bynum Community Center, Friendship Community Center, and Oxford City Hall. OXFORD ACCESS P. O. BOX 3383 OXFORD, AL 36203 WWW.OXFORDACCESS.COM

98 A LOOK INSIDE: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL 104 OXFORD CITY SCHOOLS UPDATE 108 THINK LIKE AN ARTIST Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for highlights of community news, city events, and special moments as they happen in our beautiful city.

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OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

Message from the

Oxford Mayor Dear Citizens: The 2019 summer season is off to a record-breaking start in the City of Oxford! We have so much to be proud of, and we are working diligently to provide a safe and attractive environment for our citizens and guests. One of our projects that has been years in the making will be open by the time this magazine is published and sent to your home. The East Metro Area Crime Center (EMACC) is up and running, and we are already solving crimes faster than most in the nation. The Oxford Police Department is already a leader in the state, with many other law enforcement agencies around Alabama modeling their services after ours. With the EMACC, weeks will become days, days will become hours, and hours will become minutes when it comes to solving crimes in our area, and we are already seeing and will continue to see a drastic drop in felony and misdemeanor offenses in east Alabama. Our police chief, Bill Partridge, his subordinates, and other area and nationwide law enforcement officials have done and will continue to do an excellent job in making Oxford and our surrounding cities one of the safest places in the southeast. This building–which is located behind Oxford City Hall–will also be the new location of our fire administration offices and our IT department. I am proud to be on the leading edge of technology and fire prevention, as well. We have also had great success at Choccolocco Park. The Ohio Valley Conference Softball Championship Tournament, the Gulf South Conference Baseball Championship Tournament, and the Alabama High School Athletic

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Association Softball Regional Tournament were hosted at our nationally-ranked recreation complex over the span of ten days, and I could not be prouder of our Parks and Recreation Department employees for pulling this off without a hitch. We had visitors that were watching their children play from as far north as Trenton, New Jersey and from as far west as Lubbock, Texas, and they were all complimentary of our employees and our citizens that greeted them at our restaurants and shopping centers. The words that I frequently hear when I am listening to our visitors at the park are “friendly,” “welcoming,” “hospitable,” and “charming,” to name a few. I expect it from the employees, but I am glad that our citizens are always willing to make our guests feel at home as well, which is one of the reasons I am proud to be your mayor. Oxford is also looking forward to new development and renovations coming in the next year or two. The Quintard Mall will be starting a massive renovation project in the next few weeks, which will begin with the demolition of the old Sears building and most of the early parts of the mall. Most of the stores will still be open during the renovation, so please continue to shop at the many retailers at Quintard Mall. The Oxford Exchange will be welcoming new restaurants and stores soon, and Oxford Commons will also have more stores coming in the near future. Developers are starting prep work on an entertainment center at the Old Mill area in Oxford, and kayaking and canoeing are expected to open in June, which will begin at Cider Ridge and end near Choccolocco Park. On the other side of town, the Downtown Oxford Renovations are coming along nicely, and we are expecting completion by the fall of 2019. City leaders and staff are planning more projects over the 2019 and 2020 years, so exciting times are ahead for Oxford. Finally, and I cannot say this enough, I am proud to be your mayor. You, the citizen, are such a blessing to our council, city staff, and me. From attending events at Choccolocco Park or the Oxford Performing Arts Center to attending workshops at the Oxford Public Library and events such as our National Day of Prayer or business grand openings, you are always there to welcome guests or help someone in need. I am blessed because of you, and on behalf of the city council and myself hope you will join us in celebrating Oxford as we continue to break records and become a destination spot for guests from all over America. Kindest regards, Mayor Alton Craft

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

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OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

DRIVE-THRU HOLIDAY LIGHT FESTIVAL COMING TO CHOCCOLOCCO PARK THIS HOLIDAY SEASON The City of Oxford and Fun Guys LLC are proud to be partnering to bring a holiday light festival unlike any other to Choccolocco Park. Nearly one million twinkling lights, including a 200-foot light tunnel, and up to 40 light exhibits will be on display during Magic of Lights; a family-friendly drive-thru holiday festival spread over 300-plus acres at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama. “I am excited to welcome the Magic of Lights Drive-Thru Holiday Festival to Choccolocco Park. Not only is Oxford the premier retail destination for the Christmas season, but we are now the leading entertainment destination across the region. Magic of Lights will be a great addition to our city and provide a wonderful new family tradition for our area. On behalf of the city council and my staff, we invite you to come and experience Christmas at Choccolocco Park,” Mayor Alton Craft said. Magic of Lights will be the largest drive-thru holiday light display festival in the area and includes a variety of holiday scenes to delight people of all ages. Guests will drive through a 1.2-mile course to view large LED displays featuring snowmen, elves, an enchanted forest, candy cane lane, sports scenes, a toy land, Victorian Village, and more!

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“We are excited to bring this new and exciting type of family attraction to Oxford and the surrounding communities in the area,” states Grant Reeves, CEO for Fun Guys LLC, an Ohio based company. “The Magic of Lights experience from other communities across the USA has shown us that this type of holiday attraction becomes a staple in the community year after year, and we are excited to light up Choccolocco Park with a few of the displays projecting 30' high and 400' in length.” In addition to the nightly light display festival, there are plans to host other holiday activities as a part of the Jolly Holiday Village including Santa Photos, holiday movies, arts-and-crafts, and an event to kick off the festival. “I’m looking forward to the first annual Magic of Lights at Choccolocco Park. There will be lots to see, no matter what age,” said Ben Stewart, City of Oxford Assistant Fire Chief and event co-organizer. Magic of Lights will be open daily 5pm -10pm starting in November 2019 and going through January 2020. Event information, pricing, and sponsorship opportunities can be found at www.magicoflights.com/oxford or www.choccoloccopark.com.

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

A BUSY PLACE IN MAY

CHOCCOLOCCO PARK

hoccolocco Park has been a busy place so far this spring. There were the usual activities, which include 5K runs, walkers on the 3-plus mile walking track, and bicycle riders renting bikes through our BikeShare program. Throw in a smattering of youth baseball and softball tournaments, club soccer tournaments, and track meets, and you have a typical opening of the outdoor season at the park, but May added two collegiate conference tournaments and a high school regional tournament, giving the park a very busy beginning to the month. Billy Thompson, Assistant Director at Choccolocco Park, kept a tally of the cars entering the park, and for these three tournaments alone, over 2700 vehicles were added to the usual traffic for the nine days the championships were held. The first of these tournaments was the Gulf South Conference Baseball Tournament, which ran from Friday, May 3 through Tuesday, May 7 at the Signature Baseball Field. The GSC, which stretches from East Tennessee to Central Florida, with member schools also representing the states of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina, all seemed to enjoy our beautiful park and city. The tournament winner was the Delta State Statesmen from Cleveland, Mississippi. The Ohio Valley Conference Softball Tournament began the next day at the Signature Softball Field, running from Wednesday, May 8 through Saturday, May 11. The OVC stretches from Illinois to Alabama, with member schools also in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri. Although Choccolocco Park is farther south than any conference member school, the OVC has

BY DENNY BAILEY

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played its conference softball tournament at the park for the past four years and has also hosted baseball and track championships there in recent years. Southeast Missouri defeated three-time defending champion and local favorite Jacksonville State in back to back games to claim the 2019 title. The Alabama High School Athletic Association held the East Central Regional Softball Championships at the park May 9 through May 11 with 56 high schools participating. The AHSAA tournament brought as many spectators as the collegiate tournaments combined. Winning high schools from each classification advanced to the state tournament at Lagoon Park in Montgomery.

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It was an awesome nine days. Everything went smoothly, considering the number of cars that came through the park. It took a large number of Parks and Recreation Department workers to make the tournaments a success. All who worked made Oxford proud. I believe everyone left with a high view of Oxford. — Jack Deal, Choccolocco Park Director

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OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

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OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

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CHOCCOLOCCO PARK HOSTED THE 2019 CALHOUN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER, SOFTBALL, BASEBALL, AND TRACK AND FIELD TOURNAMENTS.

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

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s you walk into the lobby of Station 1 at the Oxford Fire Department, firefighters, visitors, family, and friends see a room that quietly tells the history, heritage, and traditions of the Oxford Fire Department. From the display of late Chief Dewey Webb’s fire helmet and the old bell that tolled Oxford’s early fire wagons on their way in the 1800s to the plaques on the walls recording tomorrow’s history with the achievements of today’s firefighters–tradition and heritage are plentiful at the Oxford Fire Department. Although the fire service is deeply rooted in tradition, changes occur frequently. Advancements in firefighting knowledge, tools, and technology have changed the way we fight fires. The personal protection equipment firefighters wear today and the modern tools available to save lives and combat fires have changed dramatically since the early days of emergency fire service. As recruits complete their initial training, they learn about tools, techniques, and a firefighting mentality that become concrete–second nature. As they spend years in the fire service repeating and perfecting the ways they were taught to combat fires, new fire students learn about modern-day tools, techniques, and a new mentality that brings change to seasoned firefighters. Some changes are embraced, while others have difficulties taking root. The fact of the matter, however, is that today’s changes become tomorrow’s traditions.

EMBRACING THE CHANGE

Technology is playing a significant role in how emergency personnel can assist citizens during emergencies. From the use of drones to thermal imaging cameras to communication equipment, the Oxford Fire Department is embracing the change and improvements of modern technology. The latest tech enhancing the services we provide includes the use of Computer-Aided Dispatching (CAD) in the fire engines. CAD is a combination of different tools, technologies, agencies, and systems that efficiently puts the most practical and necessary information in the hands of first responders. This minimizes time and allows us to serve the citizens promptly while ultimately saving more lives. Some of the new tools and technology installed in

BY LT. MICHAEL WALSH

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

the engines include on-board WIFI, touch screen computers, upgraded communication equipment, and emergency alerting mediums. The introduction of CAD in the engines– as well as in our stations–has drastically changed the way we receive, respond, and mitigate emergencies. Before utilizing the CAD system, our Calhoun County 911 center would take the emergency call, gather the information about the caller, location, and nature of the emergency before relaying the data and transferring the call to our agency. Next, our fire personnel would be dispatched via pagers to the location of the emergency. The first engine to arrive on scene would then give an update and assess the mitigation process. With CAD, the Oxford Fire Department is dispatched via radios, cellphones, and stations alerting the moment 911 knows the emergency type and location. While fire personnel is in route to the scene, not only do they receive updates about the emergency, they can view the updates real-time on the touch screen displays as the 911 operator receives them. The implementation of CAD has reduced the dispatch time (time taken from the initial 911 call to the time the fire department gets dispatched) from an average of three minutes to 45 seconds. The on-board WIFI not only provides a direct link to 911, but it allows us to access our cloud-based software that puts specific location information at the fingertips of the first responders. Contact information, occupancy load, hours of operation, construction type, and utility and hydrant locations–to name a few–are just some of the items that are readily available at the push of a button. This feature not only provides basic information about the location of

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the emergency, but it also helps to provide the information required to determine the mitigation process before the first arriving fire personnel. The WIFI also allows us to utilize the automatic vehicle location (AVL) feature. Not only does this give units turn by turn directions to the emergency location, but it also allows 911 to dispatch the closest unit to the emergency. Outside of the emergency calls, the on-board WIFI enables crews to complete engine company surveys, input hydrant information, and reports while in the field. Although the CAD system and the use of technology within the fire department has undoubtedly enhanced the services the Oxford Fire Department provides to the citizens of Oxford, we cannot discredit the hard-fought effort given on the emergency scene by the Oxford Fire personnel or the excellent service offered behind the scenes at the Calhoun County 911 Center. These two agencies, coupled with the implementation of technology, are providing topnotch service to the citizens of Oxford. People deal with changes in routine and the way one works differently–whether at a fire department, in a family household, or at a place of business. To some, changes and advancement in technology may differ from the fundamentals learned during training. To others, it’s a smooth and natural transition. No matter how one adapts to the change–whether it’s the thrill of more quickly being able to make a difference in someone's life or if it’s the peace of mind knowing what to expect before arriving at a fire scene–it’s about continuing a rich tradition here at the Oxford Fire Department. We have a culture of serving the citizens of Oxford to the best of our ability–a tradition that is worth embracing the change.

The Oxford City Council has called a special election to determine whether residents in the City of Oxford want to legalize Sunday alcohol sales. The special election will be held on Tuesday, July 23, 2019. All registered and qualified electors of the City of Oxford, who reside within the city limits, and have resided therein for 30 days or more will be authorized to participate in the election. The polling places listed below will be open between the hours of 7:00 a.m. CDT and 7:00 p.m. CDT. Bynum Community Center – 200 Victory Drive Betta View Hills Church of Christ – 2140 Highway 78 W. Oxford Lake Park Civic Center – 401 McCullars Lane Oxford Cheaha Club House – 910 Boozer Drive Oxford Public Library – 110 E. 6th Street Friendship Community Center – 2930 Friendship Road Oxford City Hall – 145 Hamric Drive E. – Absentee Voting Only Application for an absentee ballot by mail should be sent to: City Clerk P O Box 3383 Oxford AL 36203 Application for an absentee ballot by hand can be made at: Oxford City Hall 145 Hamric Drive E. Oxford AL 36203 All applications for an absentee ballot must be received not less than (5) five days prior to the election.

Alan Atkinson City Clerk City of Oxford, Alabama 256-832-1562

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

SPOTLIGHT

KEVIN FANEUF CITY OF OXFORD PARKS AND RECREATION

What is your job title? I am a Maintenance Building Tech. How long have you been working for the city? The City of Oxford has employed me for six years. What made you want to work for the city? I love overcoming day-to-day challenges on the job, and this job allows me to challenge myself. I also liked the idea of working for the public to help my community. What is your favorite part of your job? I really like doing something different each day. That is exactly what this job is. Every day is like a new adventure. What does a typical workday look like? There is no “normal” day. There are different adventures every day. Some of those adventures are great and some challenging, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. What are your responsibilities at PARD? My job is to keep up with the maintenance of all PARD facilities. I, along with my co-workers, make sure everything works in tandem and functions as supposed to in order for the parks and rec facilities to be open. What is a work project you will always remember? One thing I will always remember is preparing for kayak rentals at Choccolocco Park. It has been a time-consuming project, but it is nice to see it through from start to finish, and I look forward to Oxford residents and visitors floating down Choccolocco Creek.

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What are some good memories you have from working at PARD? Something that brings me much joy at my job is watching the excitement on the kids’ faces when the splash pad turns on for the summer. What are some things you enjoy about the City of Oxford? There is one thing that stands out in my mind: Everyone works together–we are all on the same team. You won’t find better people than what we have here in Oxford. What are your hobbies outside of work? Outside of work, I enjoy fishing, cooking, and gardening. What unique characteristic do you believe you bring to your department? I always look for the positive in every situation. Life is too short to be negative, so I always try to find the brightest side to even the darkest of moments. This way, every day is a good day! What would you like people to know about you? I don’t care much about what people know about me, but I do care about what I show them. One of my biggest goals in life is for people to see Jesus through the things I do. I also hope to wake up and be a better person every day.

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Life is too short to be negative, so I always try to find the brightest side to even the darkest of moments. This way, every day is a good day!

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OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

WORLDS OF WORK The City of Oxford proudly hosted the region’s largest career showcase event at the Oxford Civic Center on March 12-14. Worlds of Work, also known as WOW, welcomed over 8,000 eighth and 11th-grade students from seven counties during the three days. The students had hands-on opportunities to try out different types of skilled trade careers, including career opportunities in 10 “career worlds”: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Automotive and Manufacturing, Communication and Media, Construction, Energy and Utilities, Engineering, Healthcare, Information Technology, Public Service, and Transportation. The mission behind such a large scale event is to equip students with one more tool in their toolbox when it comes to deciding their future career paths.

Lorie Denton goes up in the Alabama Power Company bucket truck doing a promotional for WOW Connected.

BY LORIE DENTON

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OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

Worlds of Work Committee leaders say they continue to see success in changing a sometimes negative career stereotype into a positive one as soon as the students, teachers, and parents have the opportunity to learn more about skilled trades. Most students and educators are surprised to learn that manufacturing requires a wide range of educational levels. Line workers, industrial maintenance technicians, robotics engineers, human resource specialists, accountants, welders, managers, quality control personnel, plant operators, industrial engineers, and diesel mechanics are a small sampling of what types of career exists in our manufacturing industries. For that industry to operate successfully, they need employees with a high school diploma, career technical skills, associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree. In no way should anyone feel that it must be one or the other. It can be both. This year, a new portion was added to Worlds of Work–WOW Connected. Taking place on the afternoon of March 13, WOW Connected created an opportunity for everyone to ‘connect’ our future workforce to current opportunities. Parents, students, and educators, as well as the general public, had a chance to explore each career world spread across the Civic Center’s campus while visiting with employers, recruiters, and career coaches, ‘connecting’ success for everyone. Throughout the first two days of WOW, committee co-chairs for WOW Connected—Lorie Denton with the Calhoun County EDC and Jacki Lowry with Alabama Power—used the power of social media to take the public on live tours of the career worlds to draw the community in for the event. Those who took advantage of the opportunity were able to learn more about the endless possibilities for high paying local jobs, and how to make sure they were on the correct pathway to open those doors. The feedback from those industries participating said they were very pleased with the turnout and felt like they had genuine conversations with those interested in pursuing a career with their companies. Many came with resumes in hand, leaving with an interview on their calendar. Also part of this event is the annual VIP breakfast held on the Civic Center grounds. This year, attendees heard from guest speakers Tommy Glasscock, assistant state Superintendent of Education in the Career and Technical Education and Workforce Development Division and Oxford’s Mayor Alton Craft. Each spoke to the business leaders, superintendents, and elected officials in attendance about the importance of spreading the word about skilled trade and career technical careers. Mayor Craft echoed his former boss and Oxford Mayor Leon Smith, calling the people of Oxford remarkable for seeing this event as a need to continue Oxford’s industrial growth.

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OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

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My Visit with Mayor Alton Craft By Ethan Jennings

My name is Ethan Jennings, and I am a fourth-grade student at DeArmanville Elementary School. I was supposed to meet Mayor Alton Craft during my Christmas break, but I got sick. So, on my Spring Break, I scheduled another meeting with him. I was very excited to meet our mayor finally! He showed me his office and gave me a City of Oxford medallion. After taking pictures, we sat down to talk. My first question to Mayor Craft was ‘what do you do?’ Mayor Craft explained how he works with our city departments to make our city better and safer. He told me about projects he’s working on and things he wants to bring to the city like possibly a trampoline park. He told me how he represented our city in Montgomery and to President Trump in Washington, D.C. He told me he hopes to run for re-election. He is building a place called the East Metro Area Crime Center behind City Hall, which will help our police officers protect our city and surrounding areas better. I told Mayor Craft how much I like learning about history and politics. He told me I could be mayor one day! I enjoyed meeting Mayor Craft, and I am thankful for him taking time off his schedule to meet with me. Thank you, Mayor Craft, for all you do to make Oxford a great city!

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

STUDENT GOVERNMENT DAY By Khaley Davis

As someone who has always carried an interest in politics, more specifically how to play a role in our local government, I was very excited to be elected as Oxford High School’s Court Clerk during the City of Oxford Student Government Day. Through this opportunity, I gained so much insight as to how our great city runs, and I experienced many fun moments that were a staple in my senior year. A few of these highlights include attending a city council meeting, taking a tour of the Oxford Police Department, and participating in a student-made court case. The fun began a few weeks before Student Government Day when the participating students voted on which two teachers to “arrest” and created a specific trial dedicated to each of the selected teachers. This year, we arrested a fan favorite, Mrs. Hill, for disturbance of the peace and Mr. Moore for putting his students through child labor. We also developed several resolutions to present to the members of the city council, with one resolution being to expand the Chick-fil-A’s parking lot by 50 acres. After all of our hard work and preparation, it was finally time for the adventures of Student Government Day to begin! From touring the famous “Bearcat” armored police vehicle to watching tasers and flash bombs in action, Student Government Day held up to the highest of my expectations. I even got to dance with the one and only Chief Bill Partridge! After seeing the ins and outs of the police department, my experience as Court Clerk merrily ended with the swearing in of witnesses for the trial we held, and the day finished with a delicious meal from Gridiron at the Oxford Civic Center. From beginning to end, Student Government Day was everything I hoped it would be. I learned the important duties of city officials and the processes for which they support, all while having fun with my classmates. I am incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to experience one of Oxford’s most cherished traditions. Student Government Day further enhanced my passion for politics and introduced several city positions I strive to one day uphold. I encourage every upcoming senior to take part in Student Government Day and for each student to discover how they can play a role in growing our community.

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Oxford Police Department

600 Stanley Merrill Drive, Oxford, AL 36203

I often write these articles expressing the dedication of our agency. I am proud of how OPD protects the citizens and visitors of Oxford, how we are progressive in this pursuit, and how the members of our agency work tirelessly for the people of our great city. This article, though none different in that respect, holds the details of our most progressive project yet. We recently unveiled the East Metro Area Crime Center (EMACC), which is a center for gathering intelligence used to better capture, prosecute, and mitigate criminals and their actions. This center allows us to better serve the citizens and visitors of Oxford by working with law enforcement and public safety agencies throughout east central Alabama. Criminals rarely operate in one consolidated area; therefore, an offender captured in Etowah County, for example, could have easily prevented a criminal act in Oxford. The principal is not new– agencies throughout the country have begun implementing the same initiatives. Alabama, however, only has two crime centers: Jefferson County and Oxford. Since operation, we have seen a 10-18 percent reduction in crime within the City of Oxford. Of course, as the EMACC progresses, we expect these numbers to increase. In short, the EMACC has consolidated resources to more efficiently and timely apprehend and/or intercept those causing harm to you; and personally, it’s caused great enthusiasm. Nobody likes a crook (except another crook, of course). We understand our responsibilities are great and this new resource is a game changer in the world of law enforcement. Essentially, it’s lit the fire of excitement for our agency and our officers.

Message from the

Respectfully, Chief Bill Partridge

Police Chief

INVESTIGATIONS 256-835-6136 • ANIMAL CONTROL 256-591-4103 • GENERAL (NON-EMERGENCY) 256-831-3121 OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

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PAT BROOKS

A Profile in Bravery, Faith, and Love “You have cancer.” Think about the impact those words have for a moment. I pray that you have never had to hear and will never have to hear those words. It’s a fall-to-thefloor moment. Thoughts race through your mind at a million miles per hour, all while you are still trying to figure out if this is a nightmare or reality. A treatment team is assembled within minutes, discussing chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, blood counts, tumor markers, trial studies, and anything else you may need for the next six months, or twelve months, or twelve years to help combat this disease. All of this takes place in minutes, but your time has slowed down, and it seems like hours. “What the heck just happened? There’s no way this is real. I’m getting a second opinion.” Then, reality does set in. “Breathe. I need to call my family. I need to figure out what the doctor is saying. What stage? What’s the treatment, and what are the odds it will work?” At that moment, whether we realize it or not, we are preparing ourselves for a fight like never before–a fight for life. Before you read this, I will issue a caveat: this is a story of loss; this does not have the outcome that I had with cancer, nor does it have the expected outcome of little Wesley Lyons that was the feature story a few

Access editions ago (he is doing much better and is exceeding expectations from doctors, by the way). Even though this story does not have the ending we want, there are still distinct parallels in each of our battles with a cruel disease, and even though this is her life and her story, I am reminded that I, too, have walked where she has walked, not by choice, but by necessity. This story may not have the best outcome, but it is still a story of strength and courage in life, which was the only way that Mrs. Pat Brooks lived; she fought with the bravery of 10,000 soldiers, and even at the end of her life, she was still one of the strongest in Oxford. In 1950, Pat Nunnally was introduced to Wellborn. I’m sure her parents were happy to have a daughter, and I know for sure that they would be proud of the legacy she left. She was born and raised in Wellborn; her roots were deep. Terry Parker has many fond memories of Pat, his relative Debbie Taylor, and himself while they were students at the now-defunct Mechanicsville Elementary School. He begins: “Pat, Debbie, and I walked home for lunch one day. The distance was about half-a-mile, and our route took us over some railroad tracks. We had lunch and began our walk back to school. Much

By Joshua Craft

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

PAT BROOKS A PROFILE IN BR AVERY, FAITH, AND LOVE

to our dismay, there was now a train on the tracks, blocking our return to school. Between the three of us, we cooked up an ‘ingenious’ plan that would enable us to get back to school on time. We decided the best–and possibly the safest–thing to do was to position ourselves in a place at the center of the boxcar. We reasoned that it didn’t matter in which direction the train started moving, we were at an equal distance from the ends, and we would have the maximum time to dash under the train. Eventually, after much discussion, this almost fearless trio mustered up enough courage to squat down and make a swift dash under the train, and we made it back on time. I want to point out that our biggest fear was not getting hit by the train, but it was what we thought would happen if we were late getting back from lunch. Looking back, we did an extremely foolish thing, but to us as fourth graders, it was a big adventure.” Terry went on to talk about how much fun they had at recess, and that Pat could throw, catch, and hit a softball as well any of the boys in their class. He said that her two sons, Wes and Roby, got their athletic ability from their mother and father, Jimmy, but they both had a special talent because of Ms. Brooks. After she graduated from Wellborn, she married the love of her life, Jimmy, who is still a legend in the Wellborn baseball community. Her two sons were born, and she began to work at Cooper Chevrolet as a secretary. Even though she was working, she never missed her sons’ games and was there to support Jimmy when he was coaching youth baseball at Wellborn. She was

dedicated to her family, and her support of her family–as we will continue to mention throughout this article–was a phenomenon in itself. As the matriarch of a male-dominated household, she made sure to be the best mother and wife she could be, and she did so with the flare that only she could do. Fast-forward to 1996, and Mrs. Brooks is now the secretary at Wellborn High School. Her husband is still grinding at the youth baseball fields in town, and Wes and Roby are playing baseball for Jacksonville State. Her life could not be better, but her world is about to be shattered, through no fault of her own. On March 29th, her husband suffered a brain aneurysm while driving and hit a telephone pole on Christine Avenue in Anniston. Their sons were in Louisiana when they received the news, and when they arrived home, were all told by doctors to say their goodbyes to their husband and father, who was on life support. Jimmy passed away on March 30th, and he left such a strong legacy in Wellborn that businesses were encouraged to close for his funeral. On a sidenote: What an unspeakable tragedy. A family gets a call that the man they love the most is dying. What happens when you get that call? No one can prepare for this. It is your worst fears coming to life. This is one of those things that no amount of blood, sweat, and tears can fix, but the Brooks family soldiered on.

Mrs. Brooks got to see her children succeed after Jimmy’s untimely death. Then a widow, she told me many times that her husband would be so proud of his boys, and that he was celebrating with her, Wes, and Roby in Heaven. Mrs. Brooks Pat Brooks, 1965.

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PAT BROOKS A PROFILE IN BR AVERY, FAITH, AND LOVE

was still part of his legacy, and she got to see Wes become the head baseball coach at his alma mater, Wellborn High School, and Roby become the owner of the Top Gun Baseball Facility in Oxford. She was their biggest fan. She would show up to every game she could, sit in her fold-out chair, and celebrate the victories and agonize over the defeats. When Wes became the head baseball coach at Oxford High School, Mrs. Brooks went from “Wellborn’s biggest fan” to “Oxford’s biggest fan” in a matter of seconds. She was at Bud McCarty Field and at Choccolocco Park supporting her youngest son at every game, and she was there when the Yellow Jackets won their first state baseball championship in 2012. I’m not sure how she got the nickname “Mama Brooks,” but everyone called her that, and it was the truth. She was everyone’s “Mama,” and she showed that through giving everyone that came to see her a big hug and telling them how special they were. She and I had an unspoken agreement as well: I would go to her in her chair, and she would look me in the eyes and say, “Hey Josh, I love you so much; you’re such a sweetheart,” and she would give me a hug and a kiss on the cheek, which meant as much to me as it did to her. Mama Brooks retired from Wellborn High School in 2016 after 25 years, but her presence at her sons’ events never wavered. At the outdoor events, it was guaranteed that she would be sitting in the usual corner with her fold-out chair, supporting Roby and his son, who plays for the Top Gun team, or supporting Wes as he coached his team. At the recitals and pageants, she was there supporting her granddaughters and giving them standing ovations. She was having some minor health problems, but they were not bad enough to go to the doctor. When she finally did go to the doctor, she got the news that anyone fears more than anything: Stage 4 Colon Cancer.

I am sure the news was shocking. Being a cancer survivor myself, I remember an out-of-body experience happening when I was given the news. Pat Brooks, a vibrant woman in fair health, is given news that no one wants, and the “Stage 4” she heard compounded the emotions she was feeling at that moment. Not only did she have to process that, but it had spread to her liver as well. Think about being the person that has to deliver that news. If you had to tell someone that, would you cry with them or would you ready the battle stations and prepare them for a fight? I remember hearing “Stage 2” when I was informed I had cancer, and I definitely had some anxiety about what I was facing. I also believe that she and I–after processing the news and sharing it with loved ones– knew that our support system that was made up of our families and friends was going to play a vital role in our journeys, respectively, for the next few months, or even years. Mama Brooks was diagnosed in March of 2018, which was “inconvenient” because she didn’t want to miss any of Oxford’s baseball games. After surgery, it was time for her to start her chemotherapy regimen, which had to be one of the most aggressive treatments the medical staff could give. Was she ready for it? I am not sure if anyone is ready for chemo. It affects all patients differently. For me, it was some of the worst pain I have ever been through. My mediport (which is what they run chemo through intravenously) always had issues, I could not eat anything, my hair fell out quickly, and I slept all day. I could not work and had to medically withdraw from Jacksonville State University for the semester. For Mama Brooks, she went through many similar things that I did, but she always was smiling and would get out when she could. She was so much stronger than most after a round of chemotherapy, and she did not let it depress her. I was avoiding crowds and staying

She was everyone’s “Mama,” and she showed that through giving everyone that came to see her a big hug and telling them how special they were.

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PAT BROOKS A PROFILE IN BR AVERY, FAITH, AND LOVE

away from the public from November 2008 to March 2009, but Ms. Brooks was still out at the park, showing her love to not only her sons but to everyone she encountered. I remember the first time I took Mrs. Brooks to the doctor. Wes and Roby were out of town for a week or two and they asked me to take her to Anniston so she would continue treatments. I welcomed that opportunity for two reasons: because I loved and respected Mrs. Brooks, and because I wanted to spend time with her while she was getting chemo. It is a curiosity I have to learn about cancer in folks besides myself, but it is to let them know that I am here to offer my experience with the disease and to support and lend advice. We would drive from Coldwater to RMC. I would drop her off at 9:00 am, and I would be back around lunch to pick her up. I loved the conversations we had. We would talk about football, baseball, television shows, or even what she needed to pick up from the drugstore along with her prescription. Some of the things she said to me were so wise and to-the-point, and the way she delivered them reminded me of Forrest’s mother in Forrest Gump: short, simple, and with conviction. I remember one instance in particular when I was driving her home, and I decided to turn opposite of Coldwater and take a short scenic route. We were driving along Christine Avenue in Anniston, and when we reached a stop sign, Ms. Brooks looked out the window and softly said, “This is where my husband died. He ran into that pole right there.” My heart sank! I started apologizing, explaining to her that I had no idea that had happened at this spot, and I would not drive that way again. She said, “No, it’s fine. I like to drive up here now and then and see it for myself, just to remember. It may not be the best memory, but it is still a memory.” That puts it in perspective, doesn’t it? A woman who was fighting cancer, whose world had been shaken to the core over 20 years ago, is content enough with her life to remember the good and the bad. She showed her true mettle at that moment, so

not only did she give us sage wisdom, but she showed us by example how to do it. I will be honest with you: the stories I write about cancer are more difficult for me to write than others because I have tried to block that memory out, but it still keeps returning. Maybe I will take Mama’s (I shortened her nickname during our trips to the doctor) advice and group it in there with the good memories as she did. That was just one instance of her imparting her wisdom to me, and I am sure that all of us that knew her have a story of our own. Mama Brooks’ condition was deteriorating, but she tried not to let that get in the way of seeing her family. I remember going to pick her up from her granddaughter’s recital after she had just gotten out of the hospital a few days before. She should’ve been at home recovering, but she was not about to do that. If she could find a way to get there and get back, she would go. It was amazing to see her resilience through the worst of her treatment. She was one of the most determined people in the world during those moments. I remember a moment that I had with Mama Brooks that humbled me. Wes and Roby and their families were on vacation, and their mother was staying at Wes’ house during that time. They had arranged for one of the neighbors to check on her daily and make sure she was taking her medicine and was able to walk around a little bit and function normally. Wes gave me his garage door opener, and I also agreed to check on her a few times during his and Roby’s absence. One day, my coworker and friend, Lamar Carter, and I were in the area. I remembered to check on Mrs. Brooks after lunch, so we headed to Wes’ house. We knocked on the door for several minutes, and we heard her walking to the door. All of a sudden, we heard a thud on the floor, and we knew she had fallen. I ran to my truck to get the garage door opener, entered the house, and she was lying next to the door. I opened it so Lamar could come in, and we

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

immediately jumped into action. “I’m alright, I just need to get to the couch,” is what I remember Mama Brooks saying to us several times, and I remember Lamar and me saying “No, Mrs. Brooks, you’re not alright, we need to get you to the hospital.” Roby and Wes were in communication with us throughout the hour we were there, and I was able to call the Oxford EMS Director, Ricky Howell, and he hastened one of their ambulances over to the house, where she was then taken to the hospital. By an act of providence, I remembered to go there at that time, and the truth is, we were told that she would have likely passed away if we had not gone by to check on her. If you want to see two grown men brought to their knees, tell them that. It is one of the most humbling things I have ever experienced, but I am so thankful that Lamar and I were able to play just a small part in keeping Mama here just a little while longer. Pat Brooks passed away on April 6th from the cancer she was diagnosed with a year before. I remember visiting her in the hospital a week or two before she died, and she was in and out of sleep, and the physicians said that she would not be able to talk. I would speak to her and tell her how much I loved her and how much she meant to me, and she would nod in agreement, and that was good enough. As I was leaving, I leaned down to kiss her, and she said clearly, “I just love you so much, baby.” There she was! In her final days, she was still the same Pat Brooks we all knew and loved. She was “Mama” to all, and I am so happy I was with her, if only for a fleeting moment. I am also happy that we dedicated a corner of the signature baseball field at Choccolocco Park to Mama Brooks. If anyone deserves it, it is her. It is her corner, and I am glad that the park is part of her legacy, which also lives on through her sons and her grandchildren, and it lives on through all of us that knew her in her childhood, in her employment, as Wes and Roby’s mother, or even in her final days. If you ever got to meet her, you know exactly what I mean when I say she was a mother to us all.

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Pat Brooks with her sons, Roby and Wes.

I cautioned you at the beginning that the outcome of this story does not meet the expectations, but that does not mean we are not smiling while reflecting on memories of Mrs. Brooks that we now cherish. I said one word in the opening paragraph that I hope you can latch onto for a moment, and that word is “impact.” Think of the impact that Mama Brooks had in our community, in our lives, and in how we treat others. She would encourage us to hug our friends, tell them we love them, and celebrate life together. I will even go out on a limb and ask you to hug someone today and to show them the love that Mama Brooks showed all of us. Continue to impact others in the way that she did us. We will all be better for it. Here’s a verse from a hymn that I think is the perfect way to send her off in style O Come, angel band! Come and around me stand. Oh bear me away on your snow-white wings; To my immortal home!

Welcome home, Mama, welcome home.

Pat Brooks with her grandchildren.

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SPOTLIGHT

ANTHONY GREEN CITY OF OXFORD PARKS AND RECREATION

The Oxford Access Staff recently had the pleasure of chatting and getting to know Anthony Green, an employee at the Oxford Parks and Recreation Department and a recent graduate of Oxford High School. Anthony is a hard-working 18-year-old man, and a proud citizen of the beautiful city we call home. Anthony will be attending Jacksonville State University in the fall, where he will seek a degree in Computer Science. Anthony shares that he loves working for PARD and the City of Oxford. He particularly enjoys working alongside his excellent and energetic coworkers, and he is fond of the potential to grow within the city government. Check out the Q&A below to learn more about Anthony. What made you want to work for the city? I was the Oxford High School baseball manager in 2016. The OHS varsity baseball team started playing on the Signature baseball field at Choccolocco Park before the official opening of the park, and when I first laid eyes on the Signature field and the park as a whole, I immediately knew the park had tremendous potential. I just wanted to be part of the upbringing of it, whether it was a small or large role. What does a typical workday look like? My job ranges from many different tasks. One day, I’ll be helping at the Civic Center; next, I’ll be out at Choccolocco Park, then right after that I could be at one of the community centers. All-in-all making sure whatever is asked of me at any point in time gets done.

High School Athletic Association softball championship tournaments at Choccolocco Park. The two events took place within the same week. What are some things you enjoy about the City of Oxford? I could go on all day about what I enjoy about Oxford, but one thing that really sticks out to me is how beautiful Choccolocco Park is during the spring and summer time, especially when the sun is going down in the evenings. It’s a fantastic sight to see. What unique characteristic do you believe you bring to PARD? Determination. No matter what task is assigned to me–by anyone in my department—I can guarantee them it’ll get done.

What are your responsibilities at PARD? My responsibilities include helping out with PARD extra labor payroll and scheduling, occasionally working the front desk, and making sure the Civic Center stays clean for visitors.

What would you like people to know about you? I was voted in–elected by my classmates–as Oxford mayor for a day during Student Government Day.

What are some work projects you will always remember? A work project I’ll never forget would be attempting to help schedule workers for the 2019 Ohio Valley Conference and Alabama

What is a goal or something you want to accomplish? I have two goals, and I will take whichever comes first. I want to become an FBI field agent and/or the mayor of Oxford.

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OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

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CITY OF OXFORD | FIRE DEPARTMENT

Message from the

Oxford Fire Chief Summer is a wonderful time for family fellowship, cookouts, fireworks, ballgames, swimming, fishing, and all other types of outdoor activities. Oxford Fire encourages each of you to be safe, drink plenty of water, and avoid demanding outdoor activities when temperatures are too hot. It has been a busy spring for Oxford Fire. We have completed the business inspections for this year and are now testing our fire hoses and fire hydrants. Oxford Fire also keeps a steady presence at Choccolocco Park to ensure the safety of those who use the park. We are excited to open our new office building. The Oxford Fire Department Administrative Offices are now located in the newly constructed building behind Oxford City Hall. The Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, Fire Marshall, and Fire Administrative Assistant will all have offices in the new building. The new building will also house the East Metro Area Crime Center and the Information Technology Department of the City of Oxford. If you live in Talladega County, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management has issued a burn ban from May 1 to October 31. The Oxford Fire Department will not be issuing burn permits for Talladega County during this time.

Enjoy your summer, Chief Gary Sparks

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Alternatives For Disposal Of Vegetation From Land Clearing And Maintenance 1. Take the vegetation to an ADEM – permitted landfill. 2. Allow the vegetation to decompose naturally.  

It may be left on the property from which it is generated. It may be taken to a location off site, but it cannot be burned there.

3. If ALL conditions below are met, the vegetation may be burned.     

Only clean (no fuel or non-vegetative refuse added) vegetation may be burned. It must be burned on the property from which it is generated. The burning must be at least 500 feet from the nearest occupied dwelling and a distance from any road that would prevent visibility issues from the smoke. The fire should be started between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. No vegetation should be added to the fire after 3 p.m. No vegetative or land-clearing burning is allowed from May 1 to October 31 of each year in the following Counties: Baldwin, Mobile, DeKalb, Montgomery, Etowah, Morgan, Jefferson*, Shelby, Lawrence, Russell, Madison and Talladega. Some agricultural and silvicultural burning may be allowed in these counties during these months with prior approval from ADEM and the Alabama Forestry Commission (http://www.forestry.alabama.gov/Contact.aspx). Unless prohibited for drought and safety reasons, the burn ban does not prohibit the use of outdoor fireplaces and camp fires.

If you have any questions, contact the ADEM Air Division at (334) 271-7879 or (334) 271-7897. *No open burning (agricultural and silvicultural) is allowed in Jefferson County during this time period.

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KAYAK

K E E R C O C C O L CHOCCO Summer 2019

Visit our website for opening dates and pricing WWW.CHOCCOLOCCOPARK.COM

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

UPDATE OXFORD LIBRARY Summer is here! Kids are flooding the library reading, playing, exploring, painting, and learning. Adults are streaming into the library to read, play, create, and learn. The bustle of the Summer Reading Program is something library staff looks forward to all year. We plan for months, anxiously awaiting the unique experiences we get to experience with our patrons. This year’s theme deals with space, because READING IS UNIVERSAL! For children, summer reading is not just fun; it is necessary! The summer break, without activity to keep skills fresh, impacts academic outcomes negatively. We all have heard the phrase, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.” A large gap in active learning leads to a decline in abilities. Without using the skills they learned through the year, student learning (and retention of learned skills) often slides backward during the summer. The library, as usual, is here to help! Avoid the “Summer Slide” by participating in library programs. The Summer Reading Program has already started, and there are activities for all ages almost every day. Visit oxfordpl.org/srp to find out more, including links to register and to access the calendar of events. I am very excited to share some of the upcoming and ongoing programs with you. MAKE IT MONDAY will allow imagination to flow; make projects and crafts or paint a beautiful picture. BUILDING BLOCKS WITH A PURPOSE will encourage creativity and collaboration to flourish as kids use Legos and other bricks to solve problems and build as a team. Join Miss Beth as she learns about space in WEIRD SCIENCE. As you know, STORYTIME has grown to the point that it has expanded to three programs—one for littles under 18 months, and two for preschoolers. Don’t worry, StoryTime isn’t going away during the summer; our precious babies will continue to dance, sing, play, and read through the summer with Miss Beth and Mrs. Jeanna. Also, families can come together to watch a family-friendly movie for WATCH IT WEDNESDAYS. Feel free to bring lunch or snacks as you enjoy the shows.

Adults need not feel left out! Tuesday events will continue, so adults can play Bunco, create Book Art, throw Dominoes, and enjoy Card Sharks. Computer Classes will also continue through the summer, so come see us on Tuesdays! Remember, Computer Classes address two levels of skill: Basic (beginner user), and Enhanced (user has basic skills, but would like more information on a particular topic). See oxfordpl.org/ computer-classes for schedule and sign-up. Come Moon Walk with us on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9:00! OPL wants to provide you with the knowledge, encouragement, and support to keep yourself in great shape. Moon Walking will allow you to grow your step count during the day. Walk with others who are trying to accomplish similar goals, whether that is weight loss, health management, or just want to move more during their active lives. On Mondays, stay afterward for a Mindful Eating Support Group, where OPL can provide resources and support, and members can encourage each other in all of our health journeys. Fridays provide a special time of unique performances and activities for our program participants. I am especially excited about three of these special Friday events. • Michael P. White is a children’s book illustrator; you may recognize his artwork in The Library Dragon. During his program, everyone who participates will create a piece of art through a story. Participants will even get to take their artwork home with them on June 14. • Mr. Larry is a magician whose programs are so special, OPL has invited him to do two different programs on July 19! The first is a program that tells about the Bicentennial of Alabama, and the second is an amusing magic show! • Alabama Eats is a fun food fair that will feature local restaurants and their fares that are common in Alabama. Those aren’t the only Friday programs, though. Check out Fridays on our SRP calendar; they will keep you coming through the summer! — Amy E. Henderson

MONDAY - FRIDAY 9 TO 5 • SATURDAY 9 TO 1 • SUNDAY 1 TO 5 • (256) 831-1750 • 110 East 6th Street, Oxford 48

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OXFORD LAKE PARK

THURSDAY, JULY 4 AROUND THE LAKE RAMBLE * 8:00am For senior adults â€“ walk and get a ribbon.

PARADE * 9:00am

8:30am - Registration and line-up in the baseball parking lot. *If raining-parade will be inside gym at Civic Center. Children dressed in patriotic costumes may walk or ride in non-motorized vehicles down McCullars Lane. All children must wear a helmet if riding.

OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONIES * 9:15am PETTING ZOO * 9:30am

Located at the end of Civic Center building close to covered bridge.

TRICYCLE AND BICYCLE RACES * 9:30am Bring your own bike. Riders must wear a helmet.

PET SHOW * 9:40am

Atlanta Pops Orchestra EnsembleLocated beside the swimming pool.

CARNIVAL * 9:45 to 11:30am

Free! Games and prizes for children. Located inside Civic Center. Atlanta Pops Orchestra Ensemble

FREE CONCERT * 7:30pm FIREWORKS SHOW * 9:00pm

SWIM RACES * 1:00pm

Oxford Lake Swimming Pool. Admission $2

Antique cars, games, prizes, food vendors, clowns, parade, petting zoo, train rides and more! Come celebrate with us!

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OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

UPDATE HISTORIC MAIN STREET OXFORD Historic Downtown, the heart of the City of Oxford, is currently undergoing a streetscape renovation transforming the area into a more inviting, pedestrian-friendly destination. The project entails new sidewalks lined with brick pavers, underground utilities, landscaping, and lighting that restores the historic aesthetic to the character and charm of Oxford’s quaint downtown. To stay up-to-date on all things Historic Main Street Oxford, we encourage you to download the distrx mobile application. The application can be downloaded on Apple and Android Smartphones. In 2010, a certified farmer’s market was created in the streets of downtown Oxford. It was called “Downtown after Sundown” and soon became a big hit on Thursday afternoons. In 2015, it became part of the Main Street Program and renamed Main Street Market. Today, it continues to thrive as a Maker’s and Farmer’s Market in the late Spring until early Fall with events and music while always having a focus on locally grown and fresh produce.

June 13 June 20 June 27 July 4 July 11 July 18 July 25 August 1 August 8

Dog Days of Summer Health & Wellness Meet Your First Responders No Market- Happy Independence Day! Cornhole Toss Ice Cream Social Salsa Showdown Community Service Spotlight Art at the Gazebo

VENDOR APPLICATIONS can be found at MainStreetOxford.org or by calling Hunter Gentry at 256-241-6667.

OXFORD BUSINESS LEAGUE The Oxford Business League’s mission and purpose are to promote the growth, prosperity, and partnership among all businesses within the city. The Oxford Business League’s responsibilities include hosting annual dynamic and professional development workshops, communicating between the City of Oxford businesses, recruiting new businesses, assisting with groundbreakings, grand openings, and ribbon cuttings, promoting available properties for business expansion, coordinating with the City of Oxford Marketing Department, and catalyzing future partnerships among independent and franchise businesses. WORKSHOPS Topic: BUSINESS FUNDING SOURCES & BUDGET PLANNING When: Friday, August 9, 2019 Where: Oxford Civic Center Time: 8 AM – 10 AM For more information: 256-241-6667 | P.O. Box 3383 | Oxford, AL 36203 | hgentry@mainstreetoxford.org 52

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

THE VINE CHIROPRACTIC

8 East Choccolocco Street Oxford Al 36203 256-624-6065 Monday-Thursday 9:00am- 6:00pm Owners Dr. Ryan and Mrs. Gwen Parrish ..................................... How long has your business been in Oxford? We opened our doors on March 18, 2019 What services does your business offer? We offer Chiropractic Care for the whole family. From one day old infants to 101 years old elders, we would love to provide care for your entire family. How is your business unique from others? Our business is rooted in our faith, and we strive to humbly serve those in our community by providing a holistic approach to health and wellness. Dr. Ryan devotes his time to building relationships and developing a deep trust with his patients to ensure they are safe and well cared for. At The Vine, we wish to enhance the quality of life of our patients by improving and maintaining their overall physical health. We do this by strengthening the fundamental processes of the

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body and developing a personalized plan for each patient. We believe that we are all unique, and your healthcare plan should be as well. Why did you choose to have your business in Oxford? We spent over a year praying together about our future and where The Lord would have us serve Him. We have family in the area, and we have always loved the community and the location. As we prayed, He began opening doors in Oxford, and we walked through them. How many employees do you have? We are excited to be hiring our first employee in June. Do you have social media accounts for your business? Facebook: The Vine Chiropractic Instagram: @thevinechiropractic

Tell us about your journey to Oxford: In 2017 we began seeking the Lord's wisdom through prayer for our future. We were living in southern Florida and felt God calling us to change our life radically—to merge our faith with every aspect of our life. We no longer compartmentalize faith, work, church, and family; we have it all collide together. We have family in Oxford and spent time throughout the years visiting the area. As we prayed, the seeds for relocating and growing a business in Alabama were planted and through a series of closed doors, and then opened doors, we found our new home. As we began looking at where to open the practice, we knew that God called us to create a community in our home and business. Immediately we fell in love with the downtown area, and when a friend told us about Mrs. Charlotte Hubbard’s building, we came right over. Instantly, we knew this was the place that we would call home. The process of opening our doors was longer than we expected, but we wouldn’t have changed a thing. During the waiting, God deepened our trust of Him; He showed us time and time again that this is where He wants us. This community has welcomed us with open arms, and we are excited to see what God has in store for our future here. We love our Lord Jesus Christ, and we know that we are here to love and serve Him by loving and serving this community.

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OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

Thank you for voting Miller Funeral Home for 9 years in a row!

Anniston Star Readerâ€™s Choice Award

Family Owned and Operated 6 Licensed Funeral Directors Largest Facility in Calhoun County Voted #1 in Technology

PERSONAL, CARING AND COMPASSIONATE SERVICE

Thank you for voting Miller Florist & Gifts #1 for 9 years in a row! Family owned and operated since 1984 Custom designs and one-of-a-kind arrangements Delivery always available

MILLER

MILLER MONUMENT AND LASER COMPANY 34 Hamric Drive East Oxford, AL. 36203

MILLER FUNERAL HOME 50 Hamric Drive East Oxford, AL. 36203

MILLER FLORIST AND GIFTS 38 Hamric Drive East Oxford, AL. 36203

256-835-3001

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Relationships

Our People and Our Service is What Makes Our Business

It all started with Charles W. Newman’s basic philosophy of putting the customer first and doing whatever it took to meet their needs. CONSISTENT SERVICE

THE PEOPLE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

“Oxford Lumber is family friendly and the kids love going! The staff is amazing and always willing to help me find what I need. The store is clean, organized, and easy to get in and out of.”

Our customer will find most anything he or she needs in hardware, paint, plumbing, electrical, power tools, building materials, and lumber. What makes us different is how we enthusiastically provide total customer satisfaction.

TOTAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION Oxford Lumber understands that customer service and satisfaction are critical to the success of any business or program. While every customer is different, we believe that each and every one is equally important. We carry MAGNOLIA HOME Interior Paint

Contact us to learn how we can provide all your building supplies and materials! (256) 831-0540 | 1400 Barry St, Oxford AL | info@oxfordlumber.com | www.oxfordlumber.com OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

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C I T Y O F OX F O R D P U B L I C WO R K S D E PA R T M E N T

PUBLIC WORKS UPDATE Dear Citizen, I hope this letter finds you well. Itâ€™s an honor to come to you again with a quarterly update on Public Works projects in our great city! There seems to be a bit of confusion as to the future of the roadways in downtown Oxford. The brick paver crosswalks placed at each intersection are not intended to serve as speed tables. All of the streets in the project area will be resurfaced upon construction completion, and the crosswalks will then be flush with the asphalt, eliminating the speed breaker aspect. Unfortunately, with that type of construction, there has to be a period of uneven roadways. There have been numerous obstacles and hurdles encountered during this project, mostly due to the age and lack of available information in the old downtown area. We sincerely thank you for your patience and understanding with this project. The scheduled work along Snow Street is progressing, and we anticipate the drainage work to be completed in the coming weeks with new asphalt paving to follow. Not much has changed as far as the development of new projects, but our preliminary work on upcoming projects is still progressing. The plans to improve traffic flow along Leon Smith Parkway from the I-20 interchange southward to Choccolocco Park are nearing 90% completion. This project will include additional lanes and bridge widening on the two bridges south of the Oxford Exchange. We hope to begin construction in the first quarter of 2020. The preliminary plans for turning lane additions and widening of the intersection at Barry Street and Highway 78 are moving along. We are currently in Rights-of-Way negotiations with a few adjacent property owners and hope to have that project progress soon. Please stay tuned for updates on these projects. With warm weather upon us and many out working in their yards; I would like to shed some light on an issue we are encountering. As most of you know, our department runs a weekly curbside pickup service for grass clippings, leaves, and tree/shrub trimmings. This service is not intended to be an entire tree pickup service, and we have an ever-growing problem with whole trees placed along the roadside for pickup. Placing whole trees along the roadside is prohibited by our city ordinance. The ordinance can be found and read in full on our website, www.oxfordalabama.org under the Chapter 36 link of the municipal code section. The rubbish we pick up is placed in an open-air incinerator which cannot handle large tree trunks and stumps. Most large trees are too difficult and dangerous to be cut by homeowners and therefore result in the hiring of a tree removal entity. As a word of advice to the homeowner, we want to make sure that you are aware that the tree must be disposed of by the tree removal entity. We are more than happy to provide our curbside service. However, we want to make everyone aware of this issue so that we can continue to maintain this service most effectively.

Sincerely, Rusty V. Gann, P.E. Public Works Director/City Engineer

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

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OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

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UPDATE OXFORD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Dear Patrons, As our 2018-2019 season draws to a close at the Oxford Performing Arts Center, I am immensely proud of what we have experienced together. From Melissa Etheridge to the Wizard of Oz, and from Kris Kristofferson to the Beach Boys, the OPAC stage has been graced with many legends in the last year. In the 2018-2019 season, we presented more shows than ever before and have reached patrons in over 30 states. Since our opening in 2013, we have grown each year, and this year was no exception thanks to your support. When the season began last September, we had just finished the first phase of a $2 million renovation. Fortunately, the second phase is drawing to a close, and we are about to open our new downstairs venue which will house a new performance space, additional concessions, new restrooms, and a gift shop. In addition to these new features, the historic jail, which opened in 1951, will be made accessible to the public, albeit not for overnight stays! Be on the look-out for several special announcements regarding our upcoming season and plans for the future. We also invite you to join us for the free Atlanta Pops Orchestra concert this Fourth of July at Oxford Lake. If you haven’t had a chance to become a part of the OPAC family, we hope to see you at the theatre soon!

Thank you, John Longshore Executive Director Oxford Performing Arts Center

OXFORD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER • 100 CHOCCOLOCCO STREET, OXFORD, AL 36203 256-241-3322 • OXFORDPAC.ORG OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

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In the “American Characters” series, some subjects do not simply need an explanation; they require one. Gene McCartney, son of Ches McCartney–America’s Goat Man, deserves a Story Behind the Drawing. His life was uniquely simple, often difficult, and he filled only a minor niche. He was “Just Gene” ...and, although he filled only a minor role in the legendary anecdotes of the Goat Man, his own saga was both compelling and his name should be remembered. He was “Just Gene”, but he was also Albert Gene McCartney, son of and companion traveler of one of America’s greatest real—life legends.

“JUST GENE” By LARRY K. MARTIN

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

rom our hidden vantage point among the pines, my friend, writer Jerome (Jerry) Chandler and I, watched the lone figure as he searched a huge pile of old clothing that spilled out of a dilapidated lean-to shed. He seemed short and stocky, disheveled hair and a rough smattering of a beard that surrounded a downturned mouth. He seemed perplexed by the choices of old shirts. “Jerry, that can’t be our man. He looks more like an escapee than any Goat Man. Must be his son… and he looks pretty rough. Are you ready to check him out?” “Well, we came this far…” Jerry mused. Having made the morning-long drive to Macon, we were in search of the Goat Man, a legendary figure that I’d remembered from childhood. I knew that this wasn’t our man because the object of our quest had to be about 100 years old if he was still alive. We eased back to the car and drove down to the little clearing where an old school bus sat, just beyond the shed. “This is going to be interesting,” we agreed as we approached the figure, who now sported an even more puzzled expression. “Good morning, Sir,” Jerry broke the silence with his not-so-southern, polite voice. The man’s expression reflected total bewilderment. “Howdy. We’re looking for a feller they call the Goat Man” I offered as a more familiar greeting. He finally spoke. “Yeah, this is where the Old Goat Man lives, but he’s not here. I’m his son Albert Gene–no, Gene… just Gene. I’ve got two brothers, no, three brothers. Let’s see The Old Man has three sons, one is me, Albert Gene and one is Gene, no, he’s Albert Gene, and I’m just Gene. There was another son, but he was lost in Vietnam. I think his name was Roy.” The reply was perplexing but friendly–in stuttering, stammering nasal tones. “The Old Man, uh, Old Legend, went to Jeffersonville, but he should be back soon.” Gene wasn’t stout at all but was short and frail. It was the many shirts and pants he had retrieved earlier that gave him the stocky appearance. Gene was a functional dresser, and I suspect that he might have

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introduced to the fashion world the process now called “layering.” While we waited, Gene showed us around their small plot of ground graced by scattered loblolly pines with lots of straw and several huge piles of aluminum cans. “We pick up cans and sell them.” I guess it’s time to sell these, he apologized as he gathered a few strays and threw them back onto the pile. We entered the grimy, rusty old bus and Gene, with an air of authority, took his place in the driver’s seat, and held the wheel as though he were already driving. “See, the door still works!” he demonstrated. “Our bus is still in pretty good shape. We might travel in it soon after we get some wheels and axles, and, uh, a motor,” he noted as we regarded a fairly large tree growing dead-center in the cavity where the engine had been. Gene continued to drive, looking intently straight ahead, obviously captivated by all the possibilities. The bus had for years sat there flat on the ground, returning to earth a few millimeters each year. Several front and rear seats had been replaced by two makeshift bunk beds, and an old pot-bellied coal heater which still held a small pot of leftover mystery food, maybe some oatmeal from a few days past. The interior of the bus was coated with black soot except for a few missing windows. Then we walked to the edge of the property, past a sizeable hole that was partially covered by a wide board, I could see water some 15-20 feet below. “This is our well, but it gets lots of dead animals in it, so we don’t use it anymore. I have to take that big five-gallon can down the road to our neighbor’s and bring back our water.” “What’s that over there?” we asked simultaneously. “That’s a ‘mossy-limb’ or whatever they call it… a place for burial.” Gene’s term fit well. The mossand-mildew-splotched, ancient mausoleum held two homemade concrete vaults. “There are two bodies in here already–my grandmother and her husband.

The old Goat Man says he wants to be put in there when he dies. Here comes the Old Legend now,” he parroted from a lifetime of hearing that expression. The ancient figure eased out of a surprisingly new automobile, obviously a free ride from a friendly neighbor. As Ches McCartney moseyed down the embankment and down to the clearing, I whispered to Jerry, “We’ve got a winner!” and he readily agreed. Everything that I’d hoped to see that day was standing there in full regalia–but all that’s in another story. From that point on, Gene faded into the background as we listened to the life of an American Legend, in his own words. I explained my idea of making a drawing of him, and he was amused enough to agree. He talked as we retook the tour (this time without a fantasy trip in the school bus). He walked straight to the back of the bus and began trying to stir the small boiler of mush. Almost impulsively, I said, “Hey, we’re about to go into Jeffersonville and get a burger. Want us to bring you guys something?” “Sure, we’ll go with you,” Mr. McCartney said, to the horror of Jerry Chandler, owner of the new Honda sitting there waiting for us. Jerry excused himself and bolted like a quarter horse straight up to his car. He frantically searched his trunk and came up with a good number of flattened grocery bags, which he spread across the back seat. All windows were down by the time we got to the car, and we sped off, windows still down, to the nearest town. This kind of treatment was apparently quite familiar to the Goat Man, but a rare event for Gene. We then returned to the clearing, and I asked Mr. McCartney to walk around with me while I took a few photos.

The drawing, which I'd already created in my mind, was not thoroughly assimilated, but by now, I was able to visualize a drawing.

“Mr. McCartney, you don’t still have a goat or two, do you... maybe a baby goat?” I said, not expecting anything positive. He smiled at me with that almost-toothless grin. “Got two teeth left,” he said with considerable pride, as he opened wide, and demonstrated. “They’ll probably last as long as I do. No goats left, just a pony” he offered. “Well then, how about a cat?” I said. “Did you ever pick up a goat and hold it? You know, like holding a baby goat,” I began. “Sure, Bud. Been picking up goats all the time, even the big ones.” I smiled back. “No, I was thinking of getting you to hold something small, just like you used to hold a baby goat–maybe a cat.” “Gene!” he yelled back to his son. “Bring me that cat.” Within seconds, we created the pose that was already in my head. “Mr. Ches, when I come back, you’ll be holding a goat.” In my drawing, “America’s Goat Man,” his left arm discloses an apparent physical defect–an unnatural curve in the forearm. Ches explained to me that it was the result of being hit by an 18-wheeler when he was walking the back roads of America. “Broke my arm up pretty bad here below the elbow. Killed two of my goats. They thought I was dead and sent me to the funeral home. That old mortician was beginning the embalming when I woke up. Scared him to death, and he died pretty soon after that.” Ironically, I saw that Gene had an identical deformity in his right arm–a reverse image of his dad’s. “I got mine,” he said, “when I worked for a pulpwooder in Florida.” In both cases, their horrific deformities seemed so unnecessary, but not surprising. Before I began the pencil rendering, I had another chore to do. At “Trade Day” in Sand Mountain, Alabama, I located a seller who had a small goat in his booth. He looked puzzled when I asked to get a snapshot of him holding the kid goat, but he complied. It was close enough reference to begin my first sketch. The final pencil rendering took almost a month.

continued on next page

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

I did return to South Georgia, with a printers' proof from the press- run of the original. I had signed it with a note to the Goat Man and was curious as to what his reaction would be. Gene was there, but not Ches. “There’s no telling when he'll be back” he mumbled. I said, “O.K. then, when he comes back, here's a present for him.” I opened the cardboard cover and pulled out the print, watching for Gene’s response. He looked over the entire print, inch by inch, and showed the most enthusiasm I’d seen from him. “That’s the old legend, all right. That’s him, all right.” I decided to caution him about caring for the print in those filthy surroundings. “Better put it in a safe place and not handle it too much,” I suggested. He immediately began digging for space in an old chifforobe, and I relaxed. Then he kept talking about how excited Ches would be when he saw the picture… as he carefully folded the large print in half… and then folded it again in half… and again and again, until it looked like a pack of cigarettes. He was very proud.

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‘O.K., no problem,’ I thought. ‘The Goat Man’s aesthetics are not overly sophisticated, either. After all, he burned old tires for ambiance when he traveled with his fragrant goat herd–and both he and Gene were recognizable by their olfactory challenge, even at a good distance. So, he probably wouldn't be concerned with Gene’s handling of any print.’ There was one distinction between the two McCartneys when it came to an appreciation of beauty: Gene most likely had never had an opportunity to relate to the opposite sex, but the Goat Man loved women, and his taste in them was considerably diverse. He claimed to have been married four times. I actually knew about one of his erstwhile romances–a youngish woman from our community. Mary Elizabeth Gobble told my sister that she was married to the Goat Man. Now, Mary Elizabeth was no raving beauty–“plain” might be a magnanimous description. When I asked Ches about Mary Elizabeth’s claim, he acknowledged that he had known her back in those years. She, in all innocence (in a more innocent era), wandered the roads of our neighborhood, where they likely met. “No,” he smiled, “She wasn’t one of the four wives.”

But I digress… In his very old age, Ches decided to culminate an adventure he’d told me about some quarter-century earlier. He would now head out, this time sans goats, to California to find that “little starlet” whom he still wanted to marry–Morgan Fairchild. That first mention of Ms. Fairchild had predated the hilariously popular SNL skit by Jon Lovitz, who played the role of “The Pathological Liar, Tommy Flanagan.” Jon had America rolling on the floor every Saturday night as we waited to hear some variation of, “Yeah, and that’s where I met my wife, uh… Morgan Fairchild…yeah, Morgan Fairchild, who actually lets me sleep with her. Yeah, that’s the ticket!” Now, I don’t know whether Jon happened upon the same idea as Ches by coincidence, or if the story of Ches’s search had reached Jon in New York, but it demonstrated to me that these two birds (McCartney and Lovitz) had the same good taste. In Ches’s case, however, it almost proved fatal. On this trip to California, he was mugged, almost killed by a street gang, and went missing for months. I happened to go to Jeffersonville during his absence, and when I learned from a local service station attendant that he was missing, I went to scout for Gene. On a tip, I found Gene near a logging road in the woods some miles from his school-bus home. I followed an old “jeep road” to a local dump–actually just a deep ravine in the trees. Stopping to search for him, I heard an enthusiastic, familiar nasal shout… “Jacksonville, Alabama!” That’s what he remembered as a viable substitute for my name. He emerged from the garbage, holding an old steering wheel. After taking him to town for a box of chicken, I learned that Gene, too, was concerned that his dad might’ve met with foul play. What we both learned much later was that, in his months-long visit to California, a vicious attack had left him unconscious, and unable to communicate even his identity. He eventually recovered and returned to Georgia, with apologies from California, but the Goat Man had finally given up on any expectation of a happy ever after with Miss Fairchild. In the meanwhile, Gene had kept the drawing of his dad, in the chifforobe, clean and neatly folded. Later, when I brought a stack of intact prints to the Goat Man, he seemed quite pleased. It was shortly after this that Ches was given living quarters at the Eastview Nursing Home, and that left Gene permanently alone and insulated from the world. When I made occasional trips to Eastview, I also went to check on Gene. He seemed to appreciate the company, especially after I agreed to pay for a six pack of beer for him to enjoy during the long, dark nights. I thought of the countless nights he spent with only a candle in the isolated school bus. If anyone deserved an occasional buzz, it was Gene. As it turned out, Gene had more than isolation and darkness to worry about. continued on next page

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Gene McCartney’s solitary, spartan life was ended one night in 1998. I talked with both the Sheriff and the Coroner before his funeral. He was shot as he laid in bed, and then the job was finished as he ran among the pines in terror, instinctively seeking escape. “Do you think that someone was looking for hidden money?” I asked, knowing that the rumor had always circulated that the Goat Man was rich, with hidden money around their property (a false rumor that accompanies a surprising number of eccentrics). “No,” they said. “This was an execution. We’re almost positive that a local gang targeted him, and that one or more of the members were on a mission to ‘kill somebody’ as an initiation into their gang. Gene was just the most vulnerable adult available. We’re almost sure who did it, but we haven’t proved it enough to make an arrest.” They gave an unvarnished account of the event. Gene had gone to bed when he was likely awakened by a figure standing above his cot, shining a flashlight into his eyes. It must have been a pure terror as he felt the .22 caliber bullet hit his chest. He ran in panic, pursued by the killer, pounding his body with two more shots. He died out there in the woods. The Sheriff added, “The suspect almost admitted the shooting by his demeanor. The probable killer said, ‘What does it matter? Gene was a dumb, crazy guy that didn’t have any reason to live,’ but still, there was no confession.”

The funeral, at a privately-donated cemetery plot, was attended by a surprising number of maybe 40-50 people. As the elderly preacher took to the graveside podium, I thought, “Hope it’s not another inane, impersonal cut/paste sermon about death.” After taking a long breath, the minister gave the most beautiful, eloquent eulogy that I’ve ever heard. It followed this thought… “Gene was always alone, walking the road or looking for subsistence wherever he could find it. He had his understanding of life that might have been very different from most. He was a gentle, harmless soul, who trusted even those who penetrated his insular little haven of an old school bus-home. He traveled with his dad for years and watched crowds of bemused camp visitors as they studied him and his dad. But, in essence, he was solitary all of his life.” The unforgettable talk ended as he addressed the wooden casket bearing Gene’s remains. “Gene, you were alone your whole life. You were sometimes puzzled by life, and the other lives that you saw, but you were not invited to participate, except for an occasional act of charity. Now your isolation and discomfort and pain are over. You are now in a better, happier place than we are. And you’ll never be alone again.”

Page 68 “America’s Goat Man—Mr. Ches McCartney”

@1983 Larry K. Martin

Page 70 “Face of a Legend”

@ 2012 Larry K. Martin

ALL IMAGES AND COPY ARE PROTECTED BY US COPYRIGHT, LARRY K. MARTIN, 2019

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

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OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

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Oxfordâ€™s few Antebellum homes tell the story of our small humble beginnings as a hamlet.

PLACE Our city was founded by hardworking farm laborers that lived in comfortable yet straightforward dwellings.

MATTERS

GRAHAM-TOLAND HOME ca. 1885

BY HUNTER C. GENTRY OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

Antebellum Homes of Oxford This Place Matters is an annual campaign that is promoted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation each May. It is a social media campaign aimed to create awareness to celebrate places that are meaningful to them and their communities. Since writing for the Oxford Access magazine, I have always wanted to write a piece telling the story of Oxfordâ€™s homes built before the Civil War. To me, Oxfordâ€™s few Antebellum homes tell the story of our small humble beginnings as a hamlet. Our city was founded by hardworking farm laborers that lived in comfortable yet straightforward dwellings. The homes in our community were not extravagant as the plantations of the Black Belt. Many of our homes began as a single room cabin later evolving to dogtrot and eventually an enclosed center-hall home with rooms on both sides. The evolution of the house happened as the owner obtained more wealth, and it would ultimately accommodate growing families. In 1979, the City of Oxford received a $10,000 grant to research, collect, and write the history of Oxfordâ€™s historic homes, buildings, sites, and ruins. Under the leadership of Mayor Bester Adams, this project was completed. Today, the files are stored in the Oxford Room at the Oxford Public Library for citizens and researchers to use. Information for the homes featured in this article was gathered from that collection. Less than 15 homes constructed in Oxford before 1862 are still standing; eight of those are featured in this article.

Graham-Toland Home (pictured on pages 74-75) ca. 1855 The Graham-Toland Home is significant due to the Greek Revival architecture and few modifications to the exterior since construction about 1855. In the 1870s, John Graham and Elizabeth Calloway Graham resided in the home with their family. Graham was a North Carolinian by birth and migrated to Calhoun County in the 1830s with his family. He was a merchant, member of the Baptist Church, and served as an alderman during his time in Oxford. The Toland and Hand families have been residents of the home since before 1900.

Sources: Ancestry.com, Oxford Public Library- Oxford Room Collection, and The Anniston Star 76

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Robertson-McCord Home ca. 1845-1850

The Robertson-McCord Home was originally constructed as a one-room cabin between 1845 and 1850. The house today is one of Oxford’s few Antebellum dwellings that exemplifies the architectural vernacular “I-House” with a few Victorian modifications throughout. Before 1868, E.G. Robertson and Mary Stamps Robertson resided in the home with their family. Robertson was a member of the local “Dudley Snow Rangers” that served in the Confederate States Army, and an early Reconstruction Era Merchant and Businessman. The Borders, McCord, and Watson families have been residents of the home.

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

The Snow Home was constructed by Dudley Snow and Priscilla Mounger Snow in 1832. The home was originally built as a one and a half story dogtrot with rooms on each side of an open center hall. Later modifications included shed rooms at the front and rear. The Snow home is the oldest standing home in Oxford and perhaps the county. Snow and his family were the first European descent settlers to the area now known as Oxford. In the 1960s, George Mizzell and Myra Farmer Mizzell purchased and extensively renovated the home. Mrs. Mizzell was a direct descendant of Snow. Due to the expansion of the Quintard Mall, the house was moved and relocated a few miles south. Dudley Snow Home ca. 1832

The Beard Home represents three major stages of construction for many of the earliest homes of Oxford and the Southern United States. Constructed between 1850 and 1860, the house started as a simple frame dwelling with an open dogtrot. Later embellished ornamental porch supports, possibly added during the Victorian Era, were added along with shiplap siding. Then in the 20th century, a renovation was done to the porch along with windows and door replacement. Dr. Joel W. Watkinsâ€“a Druggist and Physician from Greene County, Georgiaâ€“and his family resided in the home before 1874. Most notably, the house was occupied by William H. Beard, Captain of the Oxford Police Department. Captain Beard purchased the household in the early 1950s with his wife, Katherine Smith Beard. In 1977, Captain Beard was transporting a prisoner and was brutally murdered in St. Clair County, Alabama. The Brock, Dodd, and Shears families have also been residents of the home.

Gladden-Reaves Home ca. 1850 78

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Beard Home ca. 1850-1860

The Gladden-Reaves Home is significant due to its Antebellum Modified Greek Revival Architecture. The home was constructed about 1850 and features a center-hall with rooms on each side and the original double-leaf transom doors at each end of the hall. In the basement of the home, the exposed crude logs show the initial construction of the house. The front porch has been extensively modified and enclosed. James A. Gladden and his family resided in the home in the 1880s. Gladden married Martha Kelly, sister of James S. Kelly who served as Mayor during the Reconstruction Era. Gladden was a farmer and the father-in-law to Professor John L. Dodson, founder of the Oxford College. The Reaves family have also been residents of the home.

The Clardy-Yoe-Stewart Home is a center-hall plan featuring Modified Greek Revival Architecture with early Victorian characteristics. The oldest portion of the home appears to be the rear rooms, constructed about 1860. The Zedekiah H. Clardy family occupied the house in the 1870s. Clardy was a widely known and talented brick mason that built the Clardy Mansion near the Oxford College and the Calhoun County Courthouse that was located in Jacksonville, Alabama. The Yoe and Stewart families have also been residents of the home. Clardy-Yoe-Stewart Home ca. 1860

The Fincher Home was originally constructed as a two-room dogtrot between the front and rear porches around 1860. Extensive modifications were completed near the end of the 19th century during the Victorian Era. Renovations included changes to the porch, rear additions, enclosure of the dogtrot, and an exterior faĂ§ade replacement. Alious A. Fincher and Mable Austin Fincher purchased the home in 1955.

Fincher Home ca. 1860

The Burns-Phillips Home is a modified Greek Revival home with a center hall plan constructed about 1860. The front door appears to be a modification from the 1880s. John G. Burns and Martha Oâ€™Neal Burns and their family resided in the home in the 1890s. Burns was a local meat butcher that migrated from Goodwater. The Phillips Family later occupied the home.

Burns-Phillips Home ca. 1860 OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

THE ALABAMA CATALOG: HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY

A Guide to Early Architecture BY ROBERT GAMBLE

THE BASIC DOGTROT HOUSE (statewide; nineteenth to the early twentieth century) As its sobriquet might suggest, the open-passage dogtrot house was the dwelling of the common man in antebellum Alabama. {13, 14} It was not, however, necessarily limited to the common man. Numerous antebellum travel accounts attest to the fact that the dogtrot was a familiar sight among the richest plantation districts. The open-ended central passage–the dogtrot itself–answered superbly as a breezeswept, yet sheltered and semiprivate outdoors living and working space for the hot summer months. THE I HOUSE WITH SHEDS (Statewide, especially central and southern Alabama; early to the middle nineteenth century) The “I” house, so named by folk architectural specialist Fred Kiffen in the 1930s, was perhaps the most common form of a two-story house in English North America. Tall and narrow in profile, it was inevitably two rooms high and one room deep. NEOCLASSICISM: THE GREEK REVIVAL PHASE (mid-1830s to 1860s) While pre-Greek Revival neoclassicism could display an almost feminine lightness, the Greek Revival itself was heavy, rectilinear, emphatically masculine in scale. The style emerged out of a fervor for things Hellenic that swept the Western world from Czarist Russia to Canada and the United States during the early nineteenth century. In the Deep South, needless to say, Greek Revival architecture would become indelibly linked with the plantation legend, although the rough-and-tumble, semi frontier society that so eagerly embraced the new fashion would hardly lay claim to the timeless grave with which post-Civil War apologists, and later Hollywood film-maker, sought to imbue it. The style spread rapidly, especially in the rich Black Belt counties of central Alabama, where its advent coincided with the first real flush of cotton prosperity. By the late 1840s, it held almost unchallenged sway–expressing itself in countless buildings from the conventional pillared house to the country store finished off at the front gable end with a wooden pediment, entablature, and raking cornice.

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OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

Cider Ridge Golf Club 200 Apple Blossom Way, Oxford, AL 36203 Lee Shurden, PGA • Director of Golf/Club Manager 256.831.7222 • lee.shurden@HonoursGolf.com

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UPDATE CIDER RIDGE Greetings from all of the staff at Cider Ridge! The summer is finally in full swing, and the sun is out. The golf course has been in fantastic condition this year, and if you haven’t had the opportunity to come out and play yet, there’s no better time than the present. Also in full swing right now is our Junior Golf programming. We’ll be running junior golf camps June 3-6 and July 22-25 along with continuing our participation with the PGA Jr League. It’s always the highlight of our summers to get to work with kids and help foster an interest in a game they will get to play for the rest of their lives! Cider Ridge is proud to host the Alabama Golf Association’s Women’s Stroke Play Championship in June. The event will be held on June 18-20 and will feature some of the best golfers from around the state. Players will compete in the Championship Division, Tournament Division, and Senior Division. It is always an honor to be selected as a venue to host a state championship event for the Alabama Golf Association, and everyone at Cider Ridge is excited to showcase this great facility and start a partnership with the Alabama Golf Association to continue hosting these premier events in the future. Additionally, we will once again be one of three host sites for the Sunny King Charity Classic in July. This is the largest golf event of the year in the surrounding area and one that does a fantastic job of raising funds to help the local communities. The field for the event is comprised of 400 golfers playing three courses over three days. All teams are two-person teams. If anyone is interested in more information or to register for the event, please visit kingclassic.com and fill out the online forms. The Oxford Fire Department will be hosting a golf tournament at Cider Ridge on August 19 to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association. For more details or to register for this event, please contact the Oxford Fire Department at 256.831.3208. With these events, along with several smaller and private outings on the books for the summer, we always encourage players to call the golf shop ahead of arrival to verify there will be open tee times when you arrive. We want everyone to experience playing our beautiful course. Please always feel free to call the golf shop at 256.831.7222 before you come out. Thank you to everyone that has come out to Cider Ridge and made the start of this year such a fantastic time. We look forward to a great summer full of great weather and good times on the golf course! Lee Shurden, PGA Director of Golf/Club Manager Cider Ridge Golf Club

OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER 424 Main St, Oxford, AL 36203 (256) 831-5900 The Senior Citizen Center has various events going on daily. Lunch meals are provided through a state-wide program through East Alabama Planning and Development Commission. Meals are $1.00 per day-donations only.

MONDAY: Travel to area nursing homes sing/visit 10:00am WEDNESDAY: Grocery shopping at 9:00am THURSDAY: Senior Citizen Center Sing at 9:30am FRIDAY: A free biscuit breakfast is served on Friday mornings and sponsored by area businesses.

C I T Y 84

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O X F O R D

MONTHLY: A dinner outing for the seniors. Transportation is provided.

COMMUNITY CENTERS CALENDAR BYNUM COMMUNITY CENTER

YOSHUKAI KARATE Monday and Wednesday 6:30pm - 8:00pm

200 Victory Dr, Eastaboga, AL 36260 (256) 241-2716

SENIOR VOLLEYBALL Tuesday and Thursday 9:00am - 11:00am

CRAY-FIT (Dance exercise) Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 5:30pm – 6:30pm

BLUEGRASS Tuesday 3:30pm - 7:30pm

SENIOR AEROBICS Tuesday and Thursday 3:15pm – 4:15pm

ART CLASS Call (256) 831-2679 for sessions and times.

DANCE 1st Saturday of the month 6:30pm – 9:30pm SQUARE DANCE 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month 6:30pm – 9:00pm

OXFORD CIVIC CENTER

401 McCullars Lane, Oxford, AL 36203 (256) 831-2660

ARC OF CALHOUN/CLEBURNE COUNTIES SPECIAL NEEDS CAMPS Monday – Thursday 8:00am to 4:00pm June 3 – June 6 June 10 – June 13 July 8 – July 11 July 15 – July 18

SENIOR DANCES 7:00pm – 10:00pm Admission $5- includes meal and entertainment. June 21 – Ryan Robertson SENIOR LOW-IMPACT AEROBICS Free class. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10:00am

FRIENDSHIP COMMUNITY CENTER

OXFORD LAKE POOL Open Saturday, May 25 through Labor Day Monday- Saturday 11:00am - 4:30pm Sunday 1:00pm - 4:30pm $2 admission daily * Tuesday and Thursday night swims will begin in a couple of weeks. * When school starts back in August the pool hours will be limited. Call Civic Center (256) 831-2660 or the Pool Phone (256) 835-6115 for more info.

2930 Friendship Rd, Oxford, AL 36203 (256) 831-2679

PRE-SCHOOL – SUMMER SIGN-UP Teacher: Mary Wood Space is limited. Call for availability. 256-405-5088 For 3, 4, and 5 year olds. Must be potty-trained. Immunization Blue Slip Required. Classes are on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:30am to noon; Throughout the school year $100 per month. $45 Registration & Supply Fee. Orientation for Fall is Tuesday, July 23, at 6:00pm

FREEDOM PARK SPLASH PAD Free. Open every day except Tuesdays. 8:00am to dark

SUMMER YOGA Certified instructor: Holly Box Tuesdays and Thursday 9:30am Classes begin July 1 $10 per class or 4 for $35 or 8 for $70 Bring your own yoga mat C I T Y

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W E L C O M E T O OX F O R D

NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

BYOV: The Crafting Classroom 181 Plaza Lane Oxford, AL 36203 256-403-2844 Software and design courses for vinyl print

Chick-fil-A

Quintard Mall Food Court. 700 Quintard Drive Oxford, AL 36203 256-835-1887 Fast-food chain serving chicken sandwiches, strips, and nuggets along with salads and sides

The Vine Chiropractic 8 Choccolocco Street Oxford, AL 36203 256-624-6065 Chiropractic services

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W E L C O M E T O OX F O R D

NEW BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

123 Colonial Drive Oxford, AL 36203 256-403-0346 Bonafide fried chicken, tenders, biscuits, seafood, and more!

Designer Smiles by Benton 90 Larry Gardner Drive Oxford, AL 36203 256-237-1537 Board certified orthodontist

Emmy Kate Boutique 1114 Highway Drive Oxford, AL 36203 256-452-3429 Retail Clothing

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It will be our pleasure to serve you today.

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INTRODUCTION TO GRACE DAMPIER, FRANCHISEE OWNER/ OPERATOR OF CHICK-FIL-A QUINTARD MALL Grace Dampier is a native of North Alabama. She grew up with a loving mom, dad, and two siblings in the town of Punkin Center, AL (it’s as small as it sounds, according to Grace). Grace and her siblings were raised to love the Lord, to strive to serve him well, and love on the others around them. Grace graduated high school in 2009 and attended the University of North Alabama where she graduated in 2013 with a degree in Mass Communications. Her tenure with Chick-fil-A began at the age of 15 in Decatur, AL. According to Grace, she was simply a young teenage kid who needed spending money, and Chick-fil-A offered an excellent environment for young people. From there, she worked with the company until the age of 22 when she graduated from college. “I knew from the beginning something was special about Chick-fil-A,” Grace said. “Not only was the food amazing, but the men and women (Owners/ Operators) I worked for really cared for the team and me.”

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Upon graduating from college, Grace moved to Nashville, TN, to work for her uncle who is also a Chick-fil-A franchise owner. For the next four years, she worked alongside her uncle and his team, helping them increase sales in the ever-growing town of Nashville. According to Grace, she had many opportunities to travel the country and to be an ambassador for the brand assisting in grand openings of new restaurants. “During that time,” Grace said, “I had the privilege to meet many other franchise owners from all walks of life. And they, too, loved the food and loved loving on their people. This sparked joy and a drive in me to own my own franchise.” The process to become a Chick-fil-A franchisee is not a simple task. In 2018 alone, 60,000 people applied to own a franchise. Only about 100 applicants were selected. “I knew I had to do something to take a step up in the business and make a name for myself,” Grace said. “In 2016, I applied for Chick-fil-A’s Leadership Development Program. It is a 24-30-month premiere training program commitment where participants live on the road 365 days a year. It allows participants to walk hand-in-hand with new franchise owners and help them establish their businesses. The experience learned in this program catapults someone looking to be a candidate for a franchisee opportunity from one to 10!” Grace began her journey with the Leadership Development Program in July 2016 and ended in August 2018. During that time, she was a resident in eight states, over 12 cities, and she traveled on hundreds of flights. “To say it was exciting is an understatement. Thankfully, at the end of my tenure in the program, I was selected to be the Franchisee Owner/Operator of Chick-fil-A Quintard Mall,” Grace said.

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We should be about more than just selling chicken. We should be a part of our customers’ lives and the communities in which we serve. — S. Truett Cathy 1921—2014

”

What made you interested in the food industry? My dad is a partial owner of his own company in north Alabama. Growing up, we had many dinner table conversations about his company, and I spent long days alongside my dad watching him build his brand from the ground up. Seeing my dad’s love for business and his drive always to serve a great product fueled my spark to own my own business. With that drive and my love for food, Chick-fil-A made sense. Starting as a team member at a young age, I knew the brand. I knew the food. I knew the high standards for customer service. And I loved the thought of getting to employ and influence young people just like I was at a young age.

What are your thoughts on working in Oxford? I love Oxford! I am an Alabama girl born and bred, and this town plays into every aspect of what I love; community, family oriented, local business. I am so honored to call Oxford home.

How is it working with your husband? Do you have different responsibilities? I met my husband, Kevin, through Chick-fil-A. He grew up in south Florida and moved to Nashville in the fall of 2017 to pursue a career with my uncle's franchise location. My uncle played a hand in helping us meet in March 2018. Not only did Kevin know the Chick-fil-A brand, but he loves the Lord, loves people, and he always makes me laugh. We dated long distance while I was traveling and got engaged in July 2018. We got married on December 1, 2018. I cannot imagine doing life or business without him. As the owners, and also as a married couple, we find great balance being together in the restaurant. Kevin is very passionate about leadership and team development. He spends most of his time working alongside new or existing team members to help them grow or better understand their role in an ever-growing business. He also does administrative tasks that help the business run more efficiently. That, partnered with my role in leading the restaurant and team, is the perfect match!

What are some contributing factors to excellent customer service? Since our founder, Truett Cathy, opened the doors to the first Chick-fil-A in 1967, our brand has been known for its customer service. We strive daily to serve the guests with honor, dignity, and respect, where we give each guest an outstanding experience.

If you were a Chick-fil-A sauce, which one would you be? I would 100 percent be the Chick-fil-A sauce. Not only is it the “house sauce,” but it is the perfect blend of sweet and creamy. Paired with chicken or waffle fries, it is a taste like no other!

Do you and your husband have any hobbies? We have two precious dogs, Archie and Abbie. When we aren’t working, you can typically find Kevin and me spending time with our dogs at Choccolocco Park or looking for a new local restaurant to try!

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CALHOUN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT

BRIDGEWATER >>>>> INTERIORS LOCATION: Eastaboga, Alabama COMPANY BELIEFS: Creating Jobs - Supporting Communities - Making a Difference WHAT THEY PRODUCE: Complete Seat Systems for the Honda Pilot and Passport HOW MANY PEOPLE THEY EMPLOY: 335 JOB OPPORTUNITIES: Bridgewater Interiors are looking to hire an additional 25-30 employees PLANT MANAGER: Mr. Kelvin Wright Bridgewater Interiors (BWI) began construction on their Oxford site in July of 2003 and opened in November, a few months later. Operations for the Honda Pilot started in April 2004. In December 2018, BWI began operations for the Honda Passport as well. The company as a whole employs over 2,600 people in four locations across the U.S., and they are the largest Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) joint venture between Detroit-based Epsilon Technologies and Adient. Bridgewater follows the same shift schedule as Honda, producing 750-810 complete seat sets per day. A complete seat set for the Pilot would be the front seats, mid-row and third-row seating. For the Passport, a full seat set would be the front and rear seats.

BY LORIE DENTON

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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT: BRIDGEWATER INTERIORS

INTRODUCING BWI PLANT MANAGER — KELVIN WRIGHT Kelvin is married to Joy Wright, a Special Education teacher at Oxford High School. They have a son, Isaiah, who is a student at Oxford High School. Bridgewater Interiors recruited Kelvin, and the company relocated their family to Oxford from Indiana five years ago. Lorie: Why do you love living in Oxford? I’ve found that means something a little different for most people. Kelvin: Since graduating from school many years ago (B.S. Auburn University, and M.A. University of Alabama), this is the first time Joy and I are residents of Alabama. Previously living in the Midwest (OH, MI, IL, IN), we were always close to my parents in Detroit. Moving to Oxford allowed us to be closer to Joy’s parents who live in Atlanta. This has also allowed us to attend more SEC football games, and the Alabama winters are a plus. The proximity of Oxford being such a short drive to Birmingham and Atlanta is great for us. To me, Oxford still has a small-town feel. That has been important to me in raising my family here. I know the EDC likes the location as well. I believe you say it’s “Near Birmingham, Near Atlanta, Near Perfect.” Lorie: It’s an honor for the EDC to be able to have such great relationships with our manufacturing industries in Calhoun County. We want to thank you for being generous in hosting hundreds of local educators in your facility over the last year. You and BWI have gone above and beyond as you taught our teachers on guided tours and, for most, opened their eyes to the world of manufacturing right here in their backyard. By raising awareness and continuing to tell our story, we see a shift in career choices slowly moving towards where the demand is and will continue to be–skilled trades. Kelvin: Absolutely. We are proud to partner with the EDC and appreciate your continued efforts to fill the workforce pipeline and support us in the variety of needs we have.

Bridgewater Interiors is dedicated to serving their community. They are generous donors and distributors of school supplies in their Back to School Campaign with their neighbor school, Coldwater Elementary, and they are active participants in United Way’s Read Across America campaign where area leaders read to local elementary school classrooms. Bridgewater is a proud career presenter in World of Works, and the company comes together in their Angel Tree and Food Bank campaigns to make sure families can celebrate the holiday season. This past fall, they hosted a community-wide trunk-or-treat event that was a great success for their employees as well as the Oxford community. BWI has also had success in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, raising over $7,200 in 2018 for cancer research through raffle ticket sales. BWI is also one of eight industry partners who established the East Alabama Fame Chapter.

Photo Above: Bridgewater Plant manager Kelvin Wright talking with senior student Jacob LeCroy about his company. Photo Right: In October of 2018, Bridgewater Interiors celebrated its 20th anniversary with local employees, BWI’s Corporate Leadership Team, and members of the community on hand at their Eastaboga facility. OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2019

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I am convinced that when we get people to visit our sites, we will be successful because of the relationships we have throughout the county. We strive to improve our region’s quality of life one prospect at a time.

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— DON HOPPER

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CALHOUN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL BY LORIE DENTON

A LOOK INSIDE

CALHOUN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

may be a phone call, a voice mail, or a message in an email inbox. The “request for information,” known as an RFI to the executive director of the Calhoun County Economic Development Council (EDC), is highly perishable. Without attention, a business deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars could quickly vanish. Adding to the stress and pressure of the executive director’s job is the knowledge that a missed opportunity does not only impact the corporate board room. It affects the hopes and dreams of families who call Calhoun County home, even if those families are unaware of the specific efforts underway on their behalf. Don Hopper is that executive director. Working in a small office within the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce, he sits through interviews and negotiations worth potentially hundreds of millions of dollars with humble confidence. However, when needed, he turns into Calhoun County’s top negotiator, able to close the deal. Hopper is, in many ways, the gatekeeper of Calhoun County first impressions. His mission covers more than 600 square miles and affects more than 120,000 people. With the mind of an accountant and a heart of a servant, Hopper can quote numbers and cite statistics needed for industrial expansion, or relocation, that will translate into higher paying jobs, security, and confidence–that dreams can be fulfilled in the near future. New jobs, he says, means a single mom will be able to provide a better, more stable environment for her family. Hopper says, “A typical project may be referred to us by the Alabama Department of Commerce. They market the state’s industrial prospects to consulting firms in places like Chicago or Ohio. We may be one of six or seven sites under consideration in Alabama, or we could be competing with sites from several different states.” “This is a great place to live and work,” he said. “We hope we sell this community with a passion.” Sharing his passion is the EDC staff. Hopper said, “I could not sell anything without the dedicated support of Mary Katherine Ginn, our administrative assistant, our director of research and special projects, Lucas Gockel, and Lorie Denton, our director of business development.” “We deal predominately, almost exclusively, with manufacturing industries,” Hopper said. “Manufacturing creates wealth. It doesn’t transfer wealth. I am convinced that when we get people to visit our sites, we will be successful because of the relationships we have throughout the county. We strive to improve our region’s quality of life one prospect at a time.” The EDC includes an 11-member board of directors, business people from around Calhoun County. The EDC chairman is Mr. Larry Deason.

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CALHOUN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

DON HOPPER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Don Hopper serves as the Executive Director of the Calhoun County Economic Development Council, an organization created through an act of the Alabama State Legislature to promote industry, trade, and economic development within Calhoun County, Alabama. He has been in the economic development profession for over 30 years, and has held this position at the EDC since 2002. During his tenure, the EDC has been successful in recruiting a number of new industries to the area, such as Bridgewater Interiors and Kronospan, as well as assisting existing industries with their expansions. In the last four years alone, the EDC has secured over 2,330 jobs with more than $755 million capital investment with companies such as New Flyer, Kronospan, Tyler Union, National Gypsum, Precision Materials, and Associated Metalcast. Don is a native of Mississippi where he received his master’s degree from the University of Mississippi and moved to Alabama in 1987. He serves on several regional and Statewide committees and advisory councils for economic and workforce development. He is also Past President of the Economic Development Association of Alabama. Don and his wife of 30 years, Deanne, have a son, Trey, who is a student at the University of Mississippi, and a daughter, Anna Kate, who is in the 5th grade.

Q&A

Describe what a “regular” day at the office is like–if there is such a thing. Days usually start early (somebody’s got to make the coffee). We are in such a good location for industry that we may have prospects looking at sites along the interstate or at McClellan. A large number of our existing industries are looking for employees so we may be working with them to fill positions. Our days never seem to be the same since one project may be completely different from the next.

Why are you proud to come to work every day? We have the opportunity to represent the best location in the state. There are industries that have located here or expanded in some way because of the relationships we have and the work we continue to do. These companies are improving the quality of their employees’ lives. We know that our efforts have affected this in a positive way. I like to say that there are people who can provide better for their families thanks in part to the work of our organization.

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CALHOUN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

Why does it matter to Oxford residents that the EDC exists? Most people would not know what we do, and that’s okay. We are blessed to have this job. The EDC works with existing and prospective industries to expand and grow. This improves the quality of life for the entire region. The retail and commercial businesses also prosper because of the wealth-creating industries located in our region. Talk briefly about some of the nuts and bolts in regard to the EDC. Sites and Spec Building Program: When companies are looking for a place to expand or locate, one of the first things they do is look for existing buildings. We need to have something for manufacturing operations to look at when they come. Our Speculative Building Program works for these growth companies. Gazelle: We are making every effort to find companies that need to grow. The Gazelle software has developed an algorithm to help determine which companies have the best potential for growth. This gives us the ability to contact them before our competition or even before they know they need us. How is the EDC funded? The EDC is funded primarily through the local lease and rental tax. Why are you so supportive of creating and implementing workforce initiatives in schools? As mentioned before, we have to have sites and buildings before companies can locate or grow here, but with a strong economy, one of our biggest needs is a qualified trained/ trainable workforce. We have been working with our educators to provide them with information about our industrial occupations and how they are offering a family-supporting wage to their employees.

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To be the executive director of the EDC requires a supportive family. Talk about some things you are thankful for and how your family enables you to do a better job. After 30 years, Deanne continues to be the stable force in our family, and her support is unwavering. In our profession, plans change from hour to hour, and she has always adjusted and made sure that everything at home is taken care of. She knows that the work I do affects lives. Watching my son grow from a graduate of Oxford High School to a young adult has been a source of pride–whether that is his work at church, the way he interacts with friends or his recent appointment as president of the American Society of Civil Engineering at Ole Miss. During challenging times or days giving me “lemons,” my daughter is always there to help make lemonade. She is a reminder of why I am up early and trying to create a better quality of life for our area. Can you give us a one-sentence summary on some of the most recent expansions in Calhoun County? New Flyer’s 2018 expansion: The developments that are happening at New Flyer show the world that not only can we build the best buses in the world, but we are also creating the next generation buses for the future. Kronospan’s 2018 expansion: When we broke ground over 13 years ago, I don’t think many of us understood Kronospan would have almost $1 billion invested in our community. Explain why the Anniston Army Depot winning the contract to repair the AMPV matters. The AMPV represents the next wave of military vehicles that will be repaired at the Depot. This will provide stability for years to come. It is an example of our great workforce and leadership.

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OXFORD CITY SCHOOLS

UPDATE OXFORD CITY SCHOOLS SCHOOL SYSTEM UPDATE Each school year the Oxford City School District hosts three meetings divided by grade levels (Kindergarten through Fourth Grade and Fifth Grade through Twelfth) revolving around the District’s Continuous Improvement (CIP) efforts. These “CIP” meetings happen in the fall, winter, and the late spring. This year’s final meetings occurred in the Connection on the campus of Oxford High School on May 15-16th. During these meetings, School Board Members, District Leadership, teachers, and parents gathered together to discuss how our students are performing, what our next steps should be to improve and to celebrate the growth of students, grade levels, schools and the district as a whole. Our theme this year was sports, and appropriately, Jack and Sting (the Gold Standard of High School Mascots) welcomed staff to the Connection. Oxford’s new Head Football Coach Keith Etheredge “kicked-off” the celebration with a pep talk that fired up the whole district and set the stage for two days of intense discussion and collaborative celebration. Our school system is blessed to have a local school board that keeps its primary focus on student achievement and a city government that puts the schools as a funding priority. With this support, our school system will continue to provide a quality, top tier education for all of our students. — Jeff Goodwin

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Oxford’s new Head Football Coach Keith Etheredge “kicked-off” the celebration.

Dr. Cynthia McCarty Visits DeArmanville and Coldwater Elementary Schools Recently, students and staff at DeArmanville Elementary and Coldwater Elementary each hosted a visit from Oxford’s State School Board Member Dr. Cynthia McCarty. Dr. McCarty, who represents all of Oxford’s schools, toured the campus of each school and had the opportunity to talk with students and teachers about the great things going on in our district. While visiting and interacting with students in several classes, she asked them about their learning for the day. Dr. McCarty also discussed current issues in education in Alabama, with teachers and district level administration.

School Board Members, District Leadership, teachers, and parents gathered together to discuss how our students are performing, what our next steps should be to improve and to celebrate the growth of students, grade levels, schools and the district as a whole.

Oxford City Schools appreciates Dr. McCarty and her hard work on the State School Board for the students in our system!

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THE OXFORD CITY SCHOOLS EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Thank you

IS PROUD TO GIVE BACK TO OUR SCHOOLS Edible Evening and Entertainment for Education was a success thanks to:

OLIVE GARDEN SMALLCAKES SOUTHERN GIRL COFFEE COCA COLA BOTTLING COMPANY

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OXFORD ACCESS MAGAZINE | SPRING/SUMMER 2018

OXFORD CITY SCHOOLS

ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL

After an extensive search and review of many excellent applicants from in state and out of state, we are pleased to announce Keith Etheredge as our next Head Football Coach. Coach Etheredge is a proven winner: • Played for five State Championships, winning four • Six Semi-final appearances and ten quarterfinal appearances • 13 years as a Head Coach; His teams made the playoffs every season • Invited to coach in the US Army All-American Game (National honor) • Coached in the Alabama/Mississippi All-Star game three times • Head Coach for the North team in the AHSAA North/South game • Named Birmingham News Northeast Coach of the Year (two times) • Named Birmingham News Metro Coach of the Year • Named Fox 6 Coach of the Year With all the accomplishments and wins on the field, the most important thing Coach Etheredge brings is his character, a desire to build relationships, his commitment to excellence, and his love for his players and family. We are pleased to welcome Coach Etheredge, his wife Allison, son Cam, and daughter Mac to the Oxford family. — Heath Harmon, Principal, Oxford High School

— Coach Larry Davidson, Athletic Director, Oxford High School

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THINK LIKE AN ARTIST ART CLUB WORKED ON CEILING TILES TO LEAVE BEHIND AS THEY GRADUATE FROM C.E. HANNA

David29175

Sail Boat In The Great Big Ocean created by Sean 13133 in Grade 6 at C. E. Hanna Elementary School

This is my tile that I am going to leave at C.E. Hanna to be here for years to come I hope. I am leaving this so it can inspire kids to do the same thing and have the same feeling of art as I did. I made this painting from a dream I had one night. The vision I had in my dream inspired me to make the painting. I wanted to show everybody the pretty painting I had envisioned in my dream. Now, I also love the ocean and riding on boats so that might be why I had the dream. Even when I was about to start painting, I thought, ‘why not do a beach to make it look more real and look better.’ This is how I made it: I put on a base of acrylic paint–well all of the color I used was acrylic but back to what I was saying–I put a base so it could cover up the tile and all the little holes. The next thing I did was to make the sky, then the water. I used blue and green, and I did them in lines or curves, and when I finished, I used some white. I mixed orange and yellow to make the sand. Then the last thing I did was the sailboat and the clouds and the little grass-like weed things. I also added purple under the clouds so they would look better.

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After studying eco-systems in science, the fifth-grade art students were asked to research and draw birds that frequent Choccolocco Park.

Ring-necked Duck created by Abigail25972 in Grade 5 at C.E. Hanna School I drew an egg shape as the body then drew a curved shaped neck and then a rounded shaped head. To make the bird look fuzzy, I drew rounded shaped triangles on the neck, head, and back. This bird is called a Ring Neck Duck. Its habitat is the pond and creek at Choccolocco Park.

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Red-Winged Blackbird created by Payton8856l

Red-bellied Woodpecker created by TreySean5

American Crow created by Christian27193

American Avocet created by Jessica17859 Red-winged Blackbird created by Carly4767

Carolina Chickadee created by Reese5790

Mourning Dove created by Chelsea5498

Indigo Bunting created by Tallulah176

Bald Eagle created by Charles11906

Eastern Phoebe created by Cailee152

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