Oxford Access (Alabama) Magazine Vol. 8 Issue 2

OXFORD ACCESS

Oxford, Alabama

Oxford City Council: Bringing in new events, new businesses, and new outdoor amenities

Cheaha Winds Community Band Performing in Liberty Park

• Around the Lake Ramble

• Parade

• Petting Zoo

• Tricycle and Bicycle Races

• Pet Show

• Carnival Games

• Swim Races

In February of this year, Oxford Paramedics kicked off the Build a Safer Community Campaign by teaching CPR and first aid to the city’s parks and recreation department. A total of 30 people attended the class, with five instructors and three volunteers. More courses are planned for the future to include more city departments.

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

OXFORD HOOKS SUCCESS WITH NEW TOURNAMENT

MESSAGE FROM THE OXFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT

MESSAGE FROM THE OXFORD POLICE CHIEF

AMERICAN FLAG DROP BOXES

OXFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY

OXFORD HEALTH SYSTEMS - DR CAROL PARKS

OXFORD POLICE DOCUSERIES ON YOUTUBE

UPDATE: OXFORD PUBLIC WORKS

ON THE SCENE WHEN DISASTER STRIKES

EMA: UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERNS

PARTNERSHIPS PROVIDE QUALITY CARE TO CITIZENS

WELCOME TO OXFORD - NEW BUSINESS OPENINGS

UPDATE: HISTORIC MAIN STREET

UPDATE: OXFORD PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

LARRY MARTIN - STORIES BEHIND THE PAINTINGS

140 YEARS OF SERVICE - OXFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT

WATERSHED SPRING SCIENCE DAY

WATER AND SEWER UPDATE

PHOTOS: CALHOUN COUNTY TOURNAMENTS

TEACHER SPOTLIGHT: JENNIFER DASINGER

INDUSTRY EDUCATOR TOURS

HISTORY: LIFE IN OXFORD 1850s

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

Stacy Booth Director of Marketing, City of Oxford

ON THE COVER: Mike Henderson, Charlotte Hubbard, Chris Spurlin, Steven Waits, Phil Gardner

Dear citizens:

With summer approaching in Oxford, we have many exciting things happening in the city. I am glad that you and I can be proud of what we have accomplished and what we are accomplishing as we welcome new business, industry, and leisure to the area. Not only are we the recreation and cultural arts capital of our region, but we are continuing to serve residents and guests alike with quality events, capital projects, and emergency services that are the best in the state.

To begin, I would like to thank our first responders for the hard work they are continuing to do in our city and region. Without our police, fire, and health services departments working tirelessly to protect and serve you, Oxford would not be the city it has become. Our response times are some of the best in the state, and I am proud to say that we are one of the safest cities in the Southeast because of the diligence and hard work that our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and paramedics put in daily. From covering events at Choccolocco Park, Oxford Performing Arts Center, and other city-owned facilities to answering emergency calls at all points in our city, our first responders work around the clock to ensure your safety and well-being. Please join me in congratulating our emergency health and safety workers on a job well done.

At the time of this letter, we are gearing up for another month of high school and college athletic championships at Choccolocco Park, and I would like to thank the Oxford Parks and Recreation Department and the Choccolocco Park staff for working year-round to host these elite tournaments and for providing our guests from around the globe with the best experience they

MESSAGE from the OXFORD MAYOR

can have. We do not take any of this for granted, and I am sure that you, the citizen, will continue to do your part to welcome our guests during the months of May and June. Choccolocco Park and our recreation facilities have never been busier, so keep in mind the heavy traffic we will have along Leon Smith Parkway and Quintard Avenue as visitors find places to eat, shop, and play.

Not only are we succeeding with parks and recreation, but downtown Oxford continues to serve as a major arts and cultural destination for our region and state. Historic Downtown Oxford events are kicking off, so I hope to see you at one of the many festivals, walking tours, or marketplaces we have during the summer. The Oxford Public Library also has learning experiences and organizations that meet there, and they have things going on for all ages and walks of life, including the Summer Reading Program that begins soon, so I encourage you to check them out and see what they have that is of interest to you.

Oxford Public Works Department is doing a great job at serving our needs on the roadways. From keeping the medians clean to striping and repaving our roads, they work tirelessly to make your trips through the city pleasant and safe.

In closing, it is an honor to be the mayor of Oxford, but more importantly, it is great to be a citizen of our city. Don’t forget to call our non-emergency helpline, 311, if you have any questions, concerns, or issues.

Kindest regards, Mayor Alton Craft

Hunter Gentry speaks to the gathering in city hall to celebrate the 172nd birthday of the city of Oxford.

THE CITY’S NEWEST PLAYGROUND IS READY FOR KIDS’ PLAY AT THE FRIENDSHIP COMMUNITY CENTER

Spring is the perfect time for youngsters to get outside and have fun. Thanks to the work of the Oxford Parks and Recreation Department, they now have a new place to play. Installed by the Oxford PARD team, the blue and yellow maze of slides, swings, and ladders has been thoroughly inspected for safety and is already gaining children’s attention.

Friendship Community Center, located at 2930 Friendship Road, plays host to many fun and educational activities for all ages year-round. For more information about all the programs at the center, call 256-831-2679.

Eight new pickleball courts have opened for free public use on the grounds of the Oxford Civic Center.

Parks and Recreation Director Don Hudson said the courts have added a beautiful spot to the area.

“We are proud of Kip Chappell, Mike Harris of 256-PICKELBALL , and everyone who made this come to fruition,” Hudson said.

“Hopefully, the great turnout here is a sign of things to come,” Council member Mike Henderson said. “We’re excited about these courts and hope everyone enjoys them. We want to be a responsive city government and do anything that can improve the quality of life for our citizens. We hope this is just the start.”

Hudson added that he thanks the mayor and city council “because they are the ones who came up with the funds to make this possible.”

The courts are open seven days a week from 7 AM until 10 PM.

Matthew Fitzner

OXFORD HOOKS SUCCESS

WITH NATIONAL FISHING TOURNAMENT

OOxford Main Street businessman Thomas Shelton took his passion for his city and the sport of fishing to Mayor Alton Craft’s office one day. They made a phone call, which reeled in 126 of the nation’s best anglers and a national fishing tournament.

The National Professional Fishing League brought the first tournament event of its fourth season to Oxford Jan. 28 – Feb. 3, the start of a three-year agreement with the league for the city to serve as a host.

Oxford partnered with Lincoln’s Landing, where anglers could have easy access to Logan Martin Lake and cast their hopes of winning the $100,000 grand prize.

Logan Martin Lake was an easy venue choice, as the waters there had already hosted the Bassmaster Classic in 1992, 1993, and 1997.

“When you put the city of Oxford, the city of Lincoln, and the NPFL all in a bowl and mix it up well, you get a pretty good apple pie that comes out of that,” said Lincoln’s Landing director Les Robinson. “This has been a great experience the whole way through. Everything has been an open book, and there really weren’t any problems.”

“For Oxford to pull this off on their first time was an amazing feat,” Robinson added.

BY BRIAN GRAVES

That “feat” included three months of intensive work by city staff and volunteers who had already gauged the tournament’s requirements prior to the city council’s approval in late October 2023. Those actions included securing the use of Lincoln’s Landing, accommodations, planning traffic patterns and security, and developing the weigh-in station at the League of Our Own Field at Choccolocco Park.

The effort paid off in many positive ways for the city. It brought the anglers, their families, and friends into local businesses for a week, bringing additional revenue into the city.

The NPFL also paid a visit to the Oxford Senior Center, where they spent a morning answering questions and displaying the boats and equipment before taking their expertise and tools of the sport to a group of area students at a special meeting hosted by Big Time Entertainment.

“They all loved it here,” said Shelton, who is also one of the NPFL’s member anglers.

“The NPFL said Oxford as a host city was one of the top three best places they had ever been to as far as getting them everything they needed, being welcoming, inviting, the people, and the town. They said it was one of the best events they have ever had – and that came after having only three months to prepare.”

NPFL host “Big Ed” McCulloch amplified those thoughts as the tournament’s final catches were weighed.

“This is a great, great town here,” proclaimed NPFL host “Big Ed” McCulloch as he brought Mayor Alton Craft to the stage as the final day drew to a close. “We have definitely built a love and relationship with this town and will be back. We appreciate the hospitality. You rolled out the red carpet, and we really appreciate it.”

Elizabeth Cordova and Barbara Goodman at the Oxford Senior Citizen Easter Egg Hunt in Simmons Park.

Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office PCA Pro Rodeo was held at Choccolocco Park in March and included a free show for local 5th grade students.

Oxford Fire Department

A MESSAGE FROM THE OXFORD FIRE CHIEF

On May 15, 1884, a group of men came together to form the Oxford Fire Company #1 for the protection of life and property of the citizens of Oxford and their guests, and for the past 140 years, the goal has been the same. The men that make up the Oxford Fire Department today are as committed today as those men were committed in 1884. In this edition of the Oxford Access, you will find an excellent article about our Oxford Fire Department. I want to thank Stacy Booth and the staff of the city of Oxford Marketing Department for their help with this project. I hope you enjoy reading the history of our fire department. Also, please come by Fire Station #1 and look at some of the historic items we have been able to collect over the years.

The month of May is a busy time for all city departments. From the end of April and the entire month of May, we will have a lot of visitors to our city for numerous college and high school softball tournaments. I encourage you to drive carefully around the Choccolocco Park and Oxford Exchange area due to increased traffic. These tournaments showcase our city and are a great financial boom for our city, which in turn helps to pay for fire, police, and EMS services as well as public works, PARD, etc.

July 4 will be here before you know it. The Annual Freedom Festival has been a tradition in our city for many years, and it will be an exciting time once again. The day starts with the Freedom Festival Parade in the morning and concludes with a professional fireworks show. Remember: no personal fireworks are allowed in the park that day.

If I can ever be of assistance to you, please give me a call.

Chief Gary Sparks

Oxford Police Department

600 Stanley Merrill Drive, Oxford, AL 36203

A MESSAGE FROM THE OXFORD POLICE CHIEF

IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY PREPAREDNESS PLANS AND PREPAREDNESS KITS

In today's unpredictable world, it is crucial for families to prioritize their safety and wellbeing by having a comprehensive family preparedness plan and a well-equipped preparedness kit. Emergencies can strike at any moment, and being prepared can make all the difference in ensuring the safety of our loved ones.

A family preparedness plan serves as a roadmap for navigating through various crises, whether it be natural disasters, medical emergencies, or unexpected events. It outlines communication strategies, evacuation routes, designated meeting points, and responsibilities for each family member during an emergency. By having a clear plan in place, families can act swiftly and decisively when faced with a crisis.

Additionally, a preparedness kit stocked with essential supplies such as non-perishable food, water, first aid supplies, medications, important documents, and other necessities can provide a sense of security during challenging times. These kits should be customized to meet the specific needs of each family member, including pets, seniors, and individuals with special requirements.

By promoting the importance of family preparedness plans and preparedness kits, we empower families to take proactive steps toward safeguarding their well-being and enhancing their resilience in the face of adversity. Preparedness is not just a choice; it is a responsibility that we owe to ourselves and our loved ones.

Join us in advocating for a culture of preparedness within our communities, starting with our families. Together, we can create a safer and more secure environment for all. The men and women of the Oxford Police Department stand ready to assist in any way.

Sincerely,

Bill Partridge Chief of Police Director of Public Safety

Officer Jesse Brittain Army National Guard

Deployed to Kosovo May 2023 to March 2024

Officer Dale Edwards Army Reserves

Deployed to Poland June 2023 to March 2024

OXFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT WELCOMES BACK OFFICERS RETURNING FROM MILITARY SERVICE.

Officers Jesse Brittain and Dale Edwards have dedicated the past year to securing our nation and protecting their fellow Americans. We are proud of their accomplishments and grateful to them for their outstanding service.

“This is the best department I have worked for. It has given me a lot of opportunities,” said Office Brittain. “I grew up in this area, in this community, and I want to make it better.”

“The Oxford Police Department supported me very well—more than any previous employer during a deployment,” Officer Edwards shared. “Knowing that the city supported me was a fantastic experience. I knew I had a job coming home.”

AMERICAN FLAGS AND OXFORD DROP BOXES

Johnny Cash once sang of the pride in “that ragged old flag,” and an Oxford High School senior earlier this year made an effort to remind everyone of the proper respect owed to the American flag once the ravages of time mark an end to its service.

Jackson Jones chose to design and build a drop box for the disposal of worn American flags as his project to earn the designation of Eagle Scout.

“We need this to prevent people from just throwing them away,” Jones said. “That’s pretty disrespectful to the flag for which everyone has fought, and there is a better way that we can properly collect and retire them.”

Jones formally presented the drop box to the city council earlier this year. It is now at Oxford City Hall, where the scouting troop of which he is a member removes its contents. He said the Scouts hold a respectful ceremony when the flags are retrieved. They are cut into sections, burned, and the rings collected.

Many area scouting and veterans’ groups now use the Old Glory Retirement Vault, which was dedicated on December 7, 2021, in Mt. Cheaha State Park and serves as the final resting place of the retired flags.

Among those groups is the American Legion Post 111 of Oxford, which has a drop box in the lobby of the Oxford Public Library.

Post Judge Advocate Preston Hale said the post’s flag disposal service is planned for the weekend after Flag Day. Once details are finalized, the public will be invited to a ceremony.

“We will have ‘Taps’ played and an escort to take the urn of ashes to Mt. Cheaha,” Hale said. “We treat them like we would treat a veteran.”

BY BRIAN GRAVES

Post Judge Advocate Preston Hale

UPDATE

OXFORD LIBRARY

Keep the kids active and reading this summer! Reading during the summer months is an important way to keep reading skills from sliding backwards. The Summer Slide happens when the skills learned during the school year are neglected during the summer, causing a learning loss. There is clear and consistent evidence that reading and participating in summer educational programs helps to retain what was learned during the school year. The Summer Reading Program is a great way for the library to celebrate and encourage reading with our community, which benefits the kids in the community by working to prevent the summer slide. It also engages the kids with new experiences that encourage reading fun.

From animal encounters to singing to theater (and much more), the events planned in the Summer Reading Program are designed to broaden minds and foster an inquisitive spirit. Visit www.oxfordpl.org/srp for more information and a calendar of events. The program’s participants can also track their reading to earn prizes! Registration starts May 1; we’re excited to read with you this summer!

While our community’s kids have been participating in the Summer Reading Program for decades, let me remind the adults that there is a program for them, too! There are lots of adult activities planned, including trivia, hand-knitting a chunky blanket, an author visit from Valerie Fraser Luesse, and more!

Come enjoy all the library has to offer during the summer, Amy E. Henderson Library Director Oxford Public Library

Oxford PARD Senior Dances

Dances held at the Oxford Civic Center, 6:30-9:30 PM. Admission is $5.00 per person and includes light meal/drinks.

More information, call (256) 831-2660

June 7, 2024

Ryan Robertson

August 16, 2024

Ambush Band

September 13, 2024

Ryan Robertson

October 18, 2024

Duo Sonix

December 13, 2024

Ryan Robertson

HEALTH AUTHORITY MEDICAL DIRECTOR

DR. CAROL PARKS

HHealth Care Authority of Oxford Medical Director Dr. Carol Parks performs her role very much like an orchestra conductor—she makes sure everyone knows their parts and plays them well.

The result is a symphony of good health for the citizens and employees of the city of Oxford.

As medical director, Parks trains, oversees, and supervises all the healthcare personnel connected with the Health Care Authority.

Parks was raised in a small southern Georgia town near Savannah, where her father was a surgeon. She readily admits the medical profession is in her DNA.

“I came into the medical community as a kid,” Parks said. “A 17-year-old can’t go into the operating room today, but I had that chance and never looked back.”

She attended nursing school at the University of Florida before going to UAB, where she worked in critical care and open heart surgery for a decade before returning to medical school at the University of South Alabama at Mobile.

She has since earned a master’s degree in exercise physiology and nursing from UAB.

Parks’ career has now been marked by being both a nurse and a physician over the course of four decades.

“I’ve worked in six different states doing emergency medicine in the E.R. and have enjoyed doing that for most of my life,” she said. “I have always liked thinking fast on my feet and doing the types of things that make a difference in people’s lives.”

BY BRIAN GRAVES

She said the HCA not only provides emergency care but also assists many who are homebound and provides free health and wellness screenings for the city’s first responder corps, “helping to make them more aware of issues that could affect their job performance as they deal with the public’s safety.”

Parks said there are now thoughts being given to offering an “outpatient-type clinic” for Oxford residents based on having found many in the community dealing with high blood pressure, diabetes, and weight issues “that we can easily address.”

“We have some other good plans on the horizon that I think will benefit the community,” Parks said.

Health Authority CEO Tom Dixon said having a qualified medical director is essential for providing quality care for the community.

“We are providing patient care to the public under the supervision of someone who is an experienced physician,” Dixon said. “Dr. Parks oversees the quality and content of all medical care delivered by our paramedics, our nurses, our athletic trainer, and other medical providers. We are fortunate to have someone with her experience and passion for health care serving here on location, on call, hands-on, and involved.”

For all non-emergency matters, please call 256-474-7900. Non-emergency correspondence may also be sent to info@ohsparamedics.org.

Ben Rambaum

OXFORD POLICE GAINS INTERNATIONAL FAME AND RESPECT THROUGH YOUTUBE DOCUSERIES

TThe officers of the Oxford Police Department are no strangers to being appreciated by the city’s residents for the service they provide.

What they might not have been totally prepared for is the attention they have gotten since being featured in an internet streaming series that gives viewers a ride-along view of what a day is like wearing their uniforms.

German filmmaker Ben Rambaum and his partner, Eric Nosty, came to Oxford last summer to film OPD officers in action as part of their “U.S. Cops” series on YouTube after taking note of the OPD Aviation Unit’s postings on social media.

“You’re always a little wary of something like this because you never know how it will turn out,” said Chief Bill Partridge. “I have to say the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. They wanted to do something a little different than ‘COPS.’ They wanted to show more of the police side and not interview the suspects.”

Those episodes began airing last fall and have become internet streaming hits as they are seen around the world.

Rambaum returned to Oxford in March to film extra episodes for the current season and says plans are to return later this summer to produce another season featuring the OPD.

“When you introduce a new agency like this where people are already used to seeing the agency we used last season, we expected it to start slow,” Rambaum said. “It was then in February when one video after another hit 100,000 to 200,000 views. We enjoy the success and share the joy here with everyone who has helped make that impact as all these officers we feature become more recognized on the streets.”

He said most viewers are from the United States; Australia is in second place, followed by New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

BY BRIAN GRAVES

“They are also being watched in all the big cities – Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Miami – with a current total of two million views per month,” Rambaum said. “That’s pretty solid for YouTube making us one of the fastest growing channels on that service.”

Rambaum said even he is beginning to get recognized.

“We were at one traffic stop here where a vehicle was pulled over for having no tag,” he recalled. “That person said they were hoping to be pulled over so they could be on the show. The officer pointed at me and told the driver, ‘Well, here you go.’”

Rambaum said there are those who show concerns about being filmed but emphasizes it is not about them; it is about the police officers and their interactions with others.

“Ninety percent of the time, the camera is focused on the police officer and not on the victim or suspect,” he said. “We do follow a rule when victims become patients; then we stop filming. For us, that is a highly sensitive area inside an ambulance. You see them getting on the gurney, then that’s all. We try to be as respectful as possible with the freedom that we have to film everything that is out there.”

He said while the Oxford officers are used to being alone during a 12-hour shift, they must get used to having someone with them “with a big lens in their face a foot away for those 12 hours” as the documentarians ride along.

Eventually, all the participating officers accepted Rambaum and Nosty as part of the team, and “they know we aren’t there to harm them.”

He said not every day here has a lot of service calls and that sends a signal about Oxford law enforcement.

“That is one of the big things about Oxford compared to other places we’ve been,” Rambaum said. “They are very, very proactive. They prevent crime from happening, and that is mainly why the call volume is so low. This department is constantly doing things simply of service such as helping unlock cars.”

When the call volume does go up, Rambaum said being used to the “chaos” could get one killed.

“If you get used to walking up to a car during a traffic stop, that can be what kills you out there,” he said. “I keep turning around, looking to make sure other drivers are moving over.”

Partridge agrees those traffic stops can be some of the most dangerous moments an officer can face.

“It’s one of the most dangerous things we do, and not just from the aspect of approaching the vehicle,” Partridge said. “There is also the danger of approaching vehicles that could strike you because they are distracted and not paying attention. One of the most dangerous places for an officer is being on the side of the road.”

“I think 99 percent of the people of Oxford appreciate the series,” Rambaum said. They get a good inside look at the officers’ day-to-day work. Sometimes, all they see are flashing lights and sirens or a car at a traffic stop. They don’t see the details. It’s nothing compared to what you see in the series. We are trying to be as real as possible.”

Part of that reality brought a communication to Partridge praising how the OPD handled the case of a very impaired driver who was reported at a local fast-food drive-through lane.

“The lady had no record at all – absolutely nothing,” Rambaum said. “But, her child had recently passed away. That is not to say if you make a mistake you should not pay for the consequences; however, the most severe consequences are not always necessary.”

The officers on the call, hearing the woman’s story and noting no harm had been done to anyone, called the woman’s daughter, who came to take her home with simply a warning and advice from the heart.

“There was a gentleman who had lost his son who saw that episode and wrote to the OPD,” Rambaum said. “The letter said watching how the officers handled the situation made him feel people understand how hard it is to lose a child. He had lost his son 20 years ago and still can’t deal with it. He reached out to this department to thank them for what they did on that call.”

Partridge said he appreciated the gentleman’s note to the department and how it reflects on a core principle the officers are told to follow.

“One of the things we try to do every day is to treat people the way they want to be treated,” Partridge said. “I tell our folks all the time if they will treat people the way they would want their elderly parents treated, we’re not going to have a problem. It’s when you deviate from that you are going to have a problem.”

“We’re here to help,” he added. “We don’t just say we serve and protect. We actually do it or try to every day.”

Rambaum said a German television outlet has taken notice of the unusual, real-time, officerfocused format of “U.S. Cops” and is now considering sending a crew to do a documentary of their process in producing the series as they film a second season in Oxford.

“You see all of these other agencies pretty much running around in not-so-great cars and not technically up to speed,” Rambaum said. “You don’t have that here in Oxford. All the cars are nice and clean. All the equipment is state-of-theart, and everyone is happy to go out there and do their job.”

The “U.S. Cops” series is currently streaming as part of the “First Responders” channel on YouTube.

UPDATE

OXFORD PUBLIC WORKS

Dear Citizen,

I hope this letter finds you well. It’s an honor to come to you again with a quarterly update on public works projects in our great city!

As you have probably noticed, construction activities are progressing nicely on the southern portion of Leon Smith Parkway. The project is currently on schedule, and we anticipate completion will occur later this year. The turning lane additions and widening of the intersection at Barry Street and Highway 78 have begun, and utility relocations are now complete. This project will create additional lanes at the intersection and provide dedicated left turn lanes onto Highway 78 in order to improve traffic flow at the intersection.

With warm weather upon us and people out working in yards, I would like to shed some light on an issue that 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 entire trees being placed along the roadside for pickup. There are several reasons why we are prohibited from doing this. The main reason is because it is against our city ordinance. This ordinance may be found at www.oxfordal.gov, under the chapter 36 link of the municipal code section. Another reason is that the rubbish we pick up is placed in our open-air incinerator, which cannot handle large tree trunks and stumps. Most large trees are too difficult and dangerous for homeowners to cut; therefore, this results in hiring a tree removal entity. As a word of advice to the homeowner, we want to make sure that you are aware that the removing entity must dispose of the tree. We are more than happy to provide our curbside service. We want to make everyone aware of this issue so that we can continue to maintain this service most effectively.

Our curbside leaf vacuum service has ended for the season. Leaves and grass clippings will continue to be picked up weekly but must be placed in bags for this to occur. I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable summer season!

Sincerely,

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

OXFORD PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

ONE OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS ON THE SCENE WHEN A DISASTER STRIKES

Public works departments throughout the nation are responsible for keeping their city’s roadways safe for travel and accessible for emergency services. Oxford Public Works, under the leadership of Public Works Director/City Engineer Rusty Gann, Assistant Public Works Superintendent Todd Gauntt, and Public Works Superintendent Vann Hollingsworth, takes that responsibility very seriously. Whether it’s ensuring a safe journey to work, school, or home or quick access for those on their way to help you in a time of need, the Oxford crews are there to help.

“We get constant weather reports and keep our guys ready,” Hollingsworth said.

“We let the police department tell us where the problems are, and we also get calls from citizens when they see a tree down.”

Hollingsworth’s job is to go to the location of the reported problem, evaluate the situation, and then bring in the people and equipment as needed. He has a core of workers who remain on alert 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to help clear the roads from fallen trees, ice, and snow, and the department stays prepared for all those situations.

“When a tree falls or limbs block a road, a team goes out,” Hollingsworth said.

“We’re also the ones who put down the traffic cones if a law enforcement situation requires them to be diverted.”

Gauntt said the department is also on call when a flooding situation occurs.

“There is a separate crew that handles closing roads,” Gauntt said. “This is different from the tree crew, which gives those workers a break from being constantly called

BY BRIAN GRAVES

Todd Gauntt, Vann Hollingsworth, Rusty Gann

in. There is also the winter weather crew, which consists of a mixture of both crews depending on the event.”

Gann said one of the most valuable lessons the department learned was from providing aid during the 2011 tornado in Tuscaloosa. “All of their public works department’s equipment was at their main facility,” Gann said. “They lost everything because it was all in the direct path.”

He said Oxford now places its equipment throughout the city when there is a threat of severe weather that could damage the city’s equipment.“If we do take a direct hit, we have assets in other locations,” Gann said.

Hollingsworth said the department is ready to go at any time.“You have to remember the police have to get out before the fire trucks can get out, before the ambulance can get out,” Hollingsworth said. “Somebody has to clear those roads out. That’s where we come in.”

“A lot of times, we get called by the police because they see the tree first,” Gauntt said. “In a tornado event or something like that, we have to get in with the equipment before medics or anything else can get in. After all that is taken care of, we are there cleaning it up.”

Hollingsworth said the department does face dangers, especially as it has somebody “daily working on the roads or roadsides all day long” facing hazards due to motorists not paying attention and “ignoring the signs or blue lights.”

The Oxford Public Works Department reflects the city’s generous spirit, allowing its manpower and equipment to travel to neighboring areas when requested.

“Thankfully, we have been allowed by the mayor and city council to go and help others who have suffered from natural disasters with the hope that if it ever happens here, we would have the same response from them,” Gauntt added. “Of course, we hope it never comes to that.”

“It’s great we have such special people that work for us, who go on these aid missions and demonstrate they can adapt to any situation,” Gann said. “That’s the kind of people we have here.”

OXFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT AND

OXFORD HEALTH SYSTEMS PARAMEDICS

The Oxford Fire Department and the Oxford Health Systems Paramedics are both committed to providing the citizens of Oxford with the best that each agency has to offer. Our departments have a long history of working together, along with our partners at the Oxford Police Department, to provide the very best we can to our citizens and will continue to do so in the future. The service provided by each agency is the best that it has ever been, and our goal is to continue to strive to make it the best in the state of Alabama.

The mission of the Oxford Fire Department is to protect the lives and property of our citizens and visitors. The Oxford Fire Department responds to fires but also provides many other services. The Oxford Fire Department inspects every new business to ensure that all safety codes are followed and inspects every existing business to ensure that those safety codes continue to be followed. The Oxford Fire Department inspects every fire hydrant annually to make sure the hydrant is ready for use during an emergency. We provide free smoke detectors and free installation if needed.

Oxford Fire Department has 16 paramedics, 2 advanced EMTs, and 18 EMT-basics out of the 44 full-time firefighters. Our engines are equipped with basic life support equipment, and all our EMS personnel are on the Oxford Health Systems Paramedics Advance Life Support Alabama Drug and Fluid license. Oxford Fire Department is dispatched to all vehicle crashes with injuries and has three rescue trucks with various rescue equipment such as the “Jaws of Life.” Oxford Fire Department also has the equipment and training needed for high-angle rope rescue, swift water rescue, structural collapse rescue, and confined space rescue.

Oxford Fire Department recently ordered a heavy rescue/hazardous materials truck. We are in the process of securing all the necessary equipment for this new service line. We are adding this equipment due to the significant amounts of hazardous materials that travel through our city each day.

The city’s health care authority (Oxford Health Systems) is the primary agency responsible for emergency medical services (EMS) in Oxford and, as needed, is assisted by both the Oxford Fire Department and the Oxford Police Department. Oxford Health Systems - Paramedics (Oxford Paramedics) provides Advanced Life Support (ALS)-level EMS response and all associated ambulance transport. Oxford Paramedics employs 45 dedicated professionals, including 28 ALS providers, EMTs, and support staff. A full-time medical director oversees EMS service delivery; the medical director is a board-certified physician with extensive training in emergency medicine, critical care, and transport medicine. In addition to providing a routine response to all 9-1-1 medical emergencies with an ALSstaffed ambulance, Oxford Paramedics also sends an additional advanced provider to emergency calls to ensure a comprehensive and quality care delivery for every patient, which does not occur in most other cities. Oxford Paramedics is one of the very few services in this state to carry blood, providing immediate lifesaving blood at the point of injury and during transport to an appropriate trauma facility, as allowed by the Alabama EMS protocols. Oxford Paramedics, the Oxford Fire Department, and our athletic trainer regularly provide medical coverage at many community events, such as Choccolocco Park events, Oxford Lake events, Oxford High School football, and similar happenings.

Oxford Paramedics is one of only a handful of services to provide community-based paramedic services, such as follow-up and assistance to people who otherwise do not have access to routine healthcare services or have other challenges that limit their ability to receive proper follow-up or preventative care. Oxford Paramedics has an emergency nurse for each shift who responds to calls alongside our paramedics and assists in bridging the gap between out-of-hospital and in-hospital care. The nurses and paramedics work together in a team approach and provide each patient with a more well-rounded healthcare experience; in addition to providing high-quality emergency care, this healthcare team can educate and assist patients and their families in ways you would not see in other cities. Oxford Paramedics provides emergency medical response for the Oxford Police Department Emergency Service Unit (ESU) as the only city in Alabama to have a dedicated ESU ambulance; this ensures that the 9-1-1 EMS operations continue without any impact when there is an ESU emergency call. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Oxford Paramedics provided the community with COVID-19 vaccinations and monoclonal antibody therapy treatments, offering many of these at the patient's home. Oxford Paramedics routinely delivers community education, from first aid and CPR education to education to community groups, and has assisted with AED deployment at church facilities and other community locations.

Paramedics must obtain board certification in a specialty area, such as critical care, tactical medicine, or community care; those paramedics not already certified in a specific area are actively engaged in additional training and education and must obtain certification upon completing their extra training. The nurses employed by Oxford Paramedics have extensive experience working in a hospital emergency department and critical care experience; they also hold advanced certifications in emergency nursing and transport. Because often our citizens and others in the community will find themselves at a local hospital and in need of emergency transport to another hospital for surgery, ICU admission, or additional emergency care, Oxford Paramedics staff, with paramedics and as-needed nurses, an emergency transfer ambulance 24/7 to ensure that we can get our citizens to the care they need.

Because of the city of Oxford and its commitment to ensuring the citizens are well cared for, Oxford Paramedics has some of the most advanced equipment available, including emergency ultrasound, video laryngoscopes, advanced patient monitoring, the newest blood warmers on the market, and equipment and medications that private ambulance companies and other services simply do not carry. Oxford Paramedics were successful in obtaining and paying the match funds for 26 AEDs that were then assigned to the Oxford Police Department and Oxford Fire Department, ensuring that each fire truck and many of the police cars patrolling the streets of Oxford can get to a victim of cardiac arrest quick and provide lifesaving care.

ALS personnel (paramedics and nurses) must obtain and maintain multiple additional education courses above the minimum continuing education requirements. In addition to standard courses of instruction like advanced cardiac life support and pediatric advanced life support, ALS providers must complete classes such as pre-hospital trauma life support, advanced burn life support, emergency pediatric care, advanced medical life support, advanced stroke life support, advanced hazardous materials life support, and tactical emergency casualty care, just to name a few. It is the philosophy of Oxford Paramedics and shared by each of our healthcare providers that “you are either the best or simply the rest,” and our paramedics, nurses, EMTs, and support staff believe that in Oxford, the police, fire, and paramedics (EMS) are indeed the best!

It is important to us to highlight to you, our citizens, the level of commitment that all of our personnel have in serving the community and to clearly state the partnership that exists between the Oxford Fire Department, Oxford Paramedics, and the Oxford Police Department in working together to meet all public safety and public health needs that exist in our community. While the Oxford Police Department and Oxford Fire Department are public

safety components and Oxford Paramedics operates as a public health component, all three services often share responsibilities, assist each other, and will continue to strive to work together as a team to seamlessly meet the needs of our community.

Oxford is a resource-rich city with a history of solid leadership from its elected officials. The present mayor and city council have and continue to ensure that each of the city’s emergency services components, from police to fire to paramedics (EMS), are well-funded and equipped. While our service delivery model does not match up precisely with many other cities, it is essential to note that in Oxford, we don’t seek to be like other cities. Because we are so fortunate to have the ability to comprehensively provide police, fire, and EMS services at the top-tier level, we ensure a coordinated response by personnel that are experts in their area of focus, rather than the approach used by most other cities in which emergency personnel are often a jack of all trades and a master of none. We do not question how any other city, town, or county chooses to deliver service. That is why you have cities and towns in Alabama: each city can decide what works best for its specific location and unique needs. We often revise our operations as we continue looking for ways to improve emergency service delivery, and we will strive to always enhance our services; the way we operated yesterday is not the way that we operate today, and the way that we operate today will likely not be the way that we operate tomorrow. Continual quality improvement in emergency service delivery demands that we embrace change and seek new innovative ways to provide even better services to our city. In the coming year, we plan to hold many joint training sessions and further revise our operational procedures to ensure that we (police, fire, and paramedics) provide even better service than we do now. The mission of the Oxford Fire Department and Oxford Paramedics is to ensure that each citizen or visitor in Oxford receives the best care and service possible.

If any of our citizens should ever need assistance or have a question related to Oxford Fire Department or Oxford Paramedics operations, or if there is something else that we can help you with, please contact Gary Sparks, Fire Chief, at gary.sparks@oxfordal.gov or Tom Dixon, Executive Director of Health by emailing info@oxfordparamedics.org.

Gary

Sparks, Fire Chief of the City of Oxford

Tom Dixon, Executive Director of Health, Health Care Authority of the City of Oxford

WELCOME TO OXFORD

Our leadership is eager to continue growing our business community and treats each project as a unique opportunity. With a supportive local government, a skilled workforce, excellent municipal services, and a great location, it is easy to understand why businesses choose Oxford. As one of the most popular retail hubs of northeast Alabama, we continue to grow with I-20 Exit 188 and Exit 185 rapidly becoming a vital aspect of the city of Oxford.

If you are interested in bringing your business to Oxford, contact city officials to arrange a site visit. See firsthand why everyone is talking about Oxford, Alabama.

UPDATE

HISTORIC MAIN STREET OXFORD

Hunter C. Gentry, Director

The first quarter of this year has brought a flurry of activity to downtown Oxford, showcasing a vibrant tapestry of events and developments.

Undoubtedly, one of the most significant transformations has been the demolition of eight dilapidated former residences along East Choccolocco Street, including the former water department on Spring Street. This marks a pivotal step in the city of Oxford’s commitment to revitalizing Historic Downtown Oxford. Collaborative efforts involving key stakeholders have propelled this endeavor forward. While Historic Main Street Oxford remains steadfast in its dedication to preserving downtown’s rich history, recent endeavors have revealed insurmountable health and safety hazards within these structures. Consequently, after careful consideration, the decision was made to proceed with their demolition, adhering to historic preservation standards through detailed surveys and documentation.

On a brighter note, the district has welcomed two new businesses: The Bank Oxford and Ulti-Mutt Bakery, each adding its unique flavor to the downtown scene. The Bank Oxford, located in the historic First National Bank at 430 Main Street, is a 1920s-themed speakeasy featuring oversized gourmet charcuterie and dessert boards, craft cocktails, and mocktails. Ulti-Mutt Bakery, located at 426 Main Street, is a boutique bakery that offers a variety of dog treats, ranging from birthday cakes to pupcakes and single-ingredient chews made with organ meats. The groundbreaking ceremony for Spring Street Station at the former Oxford Railway Depot further signifies the area’s evolving landscape, breathing new life into a historical landmark.

As we look ahead, the revival of Second Friday on Main and Market on Main promises to rekindle the community spirit, offering a plethora of activities and local delights to residents and visitors alike. With these exciting developments, downtown Oxford continues to flourish as a vibrant hub of culture and commerce, embodying the essence of community revitalization.

MAY 2024

Second Friday on Main Friday, May 10, 2024

4 PM – 9 PM

Market on Main Saturday, May 18, 2024

8 AM – 11 AM

JUNE 2024

Second Friday on Main Friday, June 14, 2024

4 PM – 9 PM

Market on Main Saturday, June 15, 2024

8 AM – 11 AM

Downtown Litter Clean Up Day Saturday, June 29, 2024

9 AM – 11 AM

JULY 2024

Second Friday on Main Friday, July 12, 2024

4 PM – 9 PM

Market on Main Saturday, July 20, 2024

8 AM – 11 AM

AUGUST 2024

Second Friday on Main Friday, August 9, 2024

4 PM – 9 PM

Market on Main

Saturday, August 17

8 AM – 11 AM

Historic Main Street Oxford offers volunteer opportunities through committee involvement, event assistance, and quarterly litter clean-up days. Whether you’re interested in shaping the direction of our initiatives, lending a hand at events, or helping keep our streets clean, there’s a role for you to make a difference in our community. Join us in preserving and promoting the charm of our downtown district!

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELI PRUETT

The Oxford Arts Council presented the Oxford Community Chorus Spring Concert in April at the Oxford Performing Arts Center

Purchase tickets online at OXFORDPAC.org with no convenience fees!

Charge by phone by calling 256-241-3322

Purchase at the OPAC Box Office in advance: Tuesday– Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Purchase at the door beginning 90 minutes prior to most ticketed events.

Dear Friends and Fans of Live Entertainment

Our Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 seasons brought dozens of incredible shows to our stage. Looking ahead, we are pleased to share that our Fall 2024 Reveal Celebration will be held on Friday, June 28, 2024. At this event, we will announce all performances coming to OPAC from August to December 2024. We will have special guest artists and announcements to share during the Reveal that you will not want to miss. Tickets are complimentary while available and we invite you to join us. Visit oxfordpac.org/reveal to learn more.

This summer, we have two exciting camp programs for local students interested in the performing arts. Our Spotlight Summer Theatre Camp will be held June 17 through 22. Following a week of auditions, rehearsals, and activities, students will present two free performances of Sleeping Beauty for friends, family, and the community. Registration is open to students entering grades one through eight in fall 2024. The registration fee is only $99, and spots are filling fast! Visit oxfordpac.org/camps to learn more.

Our Live Production Workshop is back! This workshop blends creativity and technology to create theater magic. Our crew of production experts will teach the art of theater technology covering lighting, audio, stage management, and more. Through hands-on learning, students will utilize industry-standard equipment to create captivating experiences. This workshop will convey the importance of collaborating, problem-solving, and working under pressure—the essential skills for success. Registration is open to students entering ninth through twelfth grades and costs $149. Visit oxfordpac.org/camps to learn more.

As you may have noticed, a number of abandoned structures have been demolished in Historic Downtown Oxford on the site of the future Alabama Children’s Museum & Discovery Center. We are pleased to share that Oxford-based architect Calvin Munroe has been selected to provide architectural services for this transformative project. Planning is now rapidly progressing. To learn more about how you can play a key role, please visit alchildrensmuseum.org.

As we embark on year twelve of serving the Oxford community and region, we thank our incredible patrons and sponsors, who have helped us offer affordable tickets and concessions, free parking, and a safe environment to enjoy the arts. If you have not yet had the opportunity to visit the Oxford Performing Arts Center, we invite you to take a look at our calendar of ticketed and free events at oxfordpac.org/events.

As Alabama’s busiest stage, we present more touring artists than any other venue in our state.

Thank you for your continued support, and we hope to welcome you soon to YOUR Oxford Performing Arts Center.

Warm regards,

John Longshore Executive Director, Oxford Performing Arts Center

Screech Owl and White-footed Mouse

Stories Behind the Paintings

It was a bitterly cold morning when I clicked on the patio light and discovered the little screech owl staring at me with those saucer-sized eyes. It was immobile, waiting for the sun to warm it up enough to consume its meal, an already stiff, white-footed mouse that lay at its feet. I tried to memorize the pose as best I could before turning off the light to let the owl begin its breakfast.

It would be months before I’d incorporate the little critters into a painting, which would be of an entirely different setting. First, I placed the owl at the base of the rustic old door of an ancient mill house- the old Aderholt’s Mill, near Jacksonville, Alabama. I kept the cold, composing the painting with snow and blue-gray shadows, but I made one major changeI brought the mouse back to life. (Who said artists are mere mortals?) I even let it taunt the bird a bit.

WORDS AND ART BY LARRY K. MARTIN

The little painting was sold to a very nice lady, even before I had time to photograph and scan it for printing. It was a very hectic time, and I eventually forgot about the little screech owl.

But as sometimes happens (especially to me), I couldn’t reconnect with the painting’s owner, who possibly had new contact information.

Years passed—perhaps as many as three decades—before I was contacted by the more than gracious lady who happened to be visiting Florida and still owned the painting. Moreover, she had taken the liberty to have the image scanned professionally, and I printed the digital scan on my Giclee printer. Voilà there was my little feathered buddy and his tiny white-footed friend. Despite Thomas Wolfe’s thoughts in the title of his best-selling novel, you can go home again. Welcome home, little critters.

THE OLD ADERHOLT MILL

A historic landmark in Jacksonville, Alabama, the mill was owned and operated by Mr. Jim Aderholt. I always envied his colorful and pleasant work environment; even as late as the 1960s and 1970s, he was at the curious old stone/brick, three-story structure, actively milling corn for the local farmers. The machinery had remained unchanged. A giant water wheel powered the mill with leather belting and wooden pulleys. Jim usually sat, leaning back in a ladder-back chair near the gigantic fireplace located uniquely in one of the corners of the spacious building. With a cat in his lap, Jim Aderholt was featured in a drawing, “Keepers of the Mill,” with keepers being plural because the cat was a keeper, too.

OXFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT

140 YEARS OF SERVICE

TThe young, 18-year-old William A. Orr could not, in his wildest dreams, have imagined what the future held for him when his family moved to Oxford in 1873. He rose to the rank of major in the Alabama National Guard and served as a Presbyterian elder for decades.

However, it was what he did on May 15, 1884, that placed him as a prominent marker on the city of Oxford’s history timeline.

On that day, the city organized its first fire department and selected Orr as its first fire chief.

Equipped with mostly the passion to serve, the all-volunteer department displayed an example of today’s department, which has grown and modernized concurrently with the city for which it was formed.

BY BRIAN GRAVES

Orr could not have imagined helping install car seats, educating school kids on fire safety, installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, or any of the 21st-century technologies used to help a professionally trained team of firefighters limit the dangers of fire to themselves and their fellow citizens.

He could not have imagined he was creating a new family of loyal and devoted public servants—a family whose DNA has stretched over generations—ready and willing to put themselves in harm’s way when the call came for help.

The story of the Oxford Fire Department’s 140-year history is best painted by the reminiscences of some who served during those days when resources were limited, but the passions were just as strong.

Just chat with former chief Gene Smallwood, whose 16 years at the department helm is the third-longest term behind former chief Dewey Webb with 26 years and current Chief Gary Sparks with 17 years.

“The first fire call I went on was in 1958,” Smallwood recalled. “I wasn’t a fireman back then; I just went with my dad. I went with him on a lot of calls.”

Smallwood is one of many, both past and present, who say it was their father’s or a family member’s involvement that brought them into the fire service.

He said his family lived a block from the fire station, and his father’s occupation was driving a tractor-trailer truck.

“Chief Webb didn’t want to drive anything,” he said. “So, my dad drove the fire truck most of the time, and we were usually the first ones to get to the fire. I was about 12 years old then and wasn’t much of a firefighter – I was a gopher.”

“The difference between then and now is that it wasn’t as rigid and structured,” he said. “If somebody came up on the street, they’d just start helping. You wouldn’t just have the ones who were signed in [as volunteers].

There were no real qualifications. It was just if you wanted to help out.”

Smallwood recalled his father talking of having to “push off one of the trucks to get it going.”

“The biggest kick I got out of that was you had to synchronize the motor’s speed with the gears’ speed,” he said. “My dad could do it pretty well, but Mayor [Hemphill] Whiteside liked driving the fire truck and thought he should be able to get out and drive it as soon as the alarm came in. You talk about grinding gears – you could hear it a mile away.”

He said only one self-contained breathing apparatus was available on the fire truck, “and some of us wouldn’t wear it when we had it.”

There was little or no money for the volunteers, but Smallwood remembered taking advantage of one particular perk that was offered.

“There was one time I had on a suit at the Methodist church where my cousin was getting married,” Smallwood said. “Dad and I went from

the wedding to a call where there was a diesel fire. That’s the only time I can recall the city paying to clean my clothes.”

He said his most memorable call was at the former Dr. Pepper bottling plant.

“That scared me the most,” Smallwood said. “We had a fire truck with a 500-gallon water tank.”

Sparks interrupts noting that particular truck is the one the department now uses in local parades. “That was a situation none of us had ever been exposed to,” Smallwood continued. “I was on the nozzle and went in. I saw these product tanks were glowing red. I started backing out just as one of them blew up and went through the ceiling. Some blew through to the shed where they kept their trucks in, and there we were with just 500 gallons of water and had no way to refill except to take the pumper out and go fill it up. That was a scary one.”

Smallwood’s wife, a Lincoln school teacher, urged him to find something to do after retiring from AT&T in 2001.

“I came to [Mayor] Leon Smith and told him I needed a job, and they started paying me then,” he said. Smallwood had already served as volunteer chief since 1991 and continued in the lead role through 2007, when Sparks was placed in charge during the transition to using a full team of paid firefighters.

“I still miss doing it and knowing what’s going on,” he said. “Chief Sparks has the advantage now of having others who can go out and do it. I had to get up in the middle of the night and go because I couldn’t ask other volunteers to go fight a fire if I wasn’t going to go. It was rough as a volunteer getting up at two in the morning and staying up until you had to go to work.”

Gene Smallwood

Bill Pestridge, another veteran of the volunteer fire department days, recently was shown some of the logs showing his hours and pay.

“They’ve got me down for two dollars,” Pestridge noted with a laugh. “The city council was furnishing the rescue squad boys everything they needed. We went to the council meeting and told them the fire department needs a little help.”

“I told them we were doing all the maintenance on the vehicles and all the repair work on the pumps and anything that needed it,” he recalled.

“I said we’re using our own gas to go to the fire and it looked like they could help us out a little bit. I said for a grass fire the two dollars would be all right, but a structure fire might take two hours or maybe longer. So, they agreed to five dollars.”

Pestridge said, looking back, he didn’t realize all the hours he had put into the department he joined in 1958 at the age of 18 – “as soon as I could join” – and served for two decades.

His father was the assistant fire chief then, displaying another example of the firefighter DNA streaming through the Oxford ranks.

“It was an ‘every Saturday affair,’” Pestridge said. “Me, Carl Byrd, Chief Sparks’ dad, and usually one or two others would show up at the fire station and worked repairing whatever needed it.”

He said there was one good truck with only two places to ride – in the cab or on the back bumper – and it would go to any call in the area to help as long as there was gas in the tank.

“This is always something I’ve enjoyed and I’ve thought about it a lot of times,” Pestridge said. “The Lord had a purpose in my life. If there hadn’t been, I would have been gone a long time ago.”

Pestridge said the calls most remembered are the “ones where you almost died.”

“There was a grocery store, and when we got there, smoke was billowing out of it,” he said. “You could see the fire in the back. I took a 2.5inch hose off the truck and got on my hands and knees, and started through there. The meat counter was burning, and the roof was on fire.”

“I was trying to put the fire out and said something to my backup, and he wasn’t there,” Pestridge said. “I said, ‘Dang,’ or something like that. All of a sudden, someone touched my foot. I turned around and looked, and one of the officers asked me why I had come in by myself. I explained I didn’t know I was in there by myself.”

“They finally got me out of there and there was an ambulance which gave me some oxygen to clear my throat,” he said.

Bill Prestridge

Mary Elliott

Although Mary Elliott wasn’t a firefighter, she might as well have been. and she probably understands the meaning of sacrifice more than most. Her husband, Lynn Elliott, lost his battle with lung cancer at the all too early age of 52 in 2005. Doctors said the carcinogens he encountered during his years with the fire service had accelerated his illness.

The department’s Station #6 and Training Center now bears Captain Lynn Elliot’s name, and his name is on the memorial at the state fire college as having been lost “in the line of duty” due to the work origins of his cancer. OFD firefighters Bobby Hendricks and Martin Boyles are also on the state memorial for their ultimate sacrifice to the fire service.

“Everyone in my family was in the fire department,” Mary said. “My father, David Morrison Sr., for 50 years; my husband for 32 years; my brother, David Morrison Jr., for 35 years; and my son for six or seven years; my son-in-law, Michael

Ray, for a few years; and my nephew, David Morrison III.”

Having a family who volunteered to put their lives on the line for others brings both worry and pride – and some fun. She said the fears accompanying a loved one in the fire service must be “internalized, pushed down, and pray you don’t get that call you dread.”

Mary calls her late husband a “committed man” while noting that everyone in the fire service is committed to their work.

“He loved it, and it was in his blood,” she said. “If he heard something on the scanner, he would be there directing traffic or doing something. He went out on a call a few days before he entered the hospital for the final time. I couldn’t have stopped him.”

She called the firefighters a “brotherhood,” always available to help each other.

“When Lynn was sick, every time we opened the door there were some of them bringing food or ice or something,” Mary said. “They were always there, and we all remain there for each other all these years later. There is a bond that forms.”

“He had a good quality of life,” she said of her late husband. “As a firefighter’s wife, you have to think of the good things because if you dwell on the bad things, you would constantly say, ‘Don’t you go to that fire.’ Especially for the volunteers, they are doing what they love.”

Gary Sparks

When Sparks became chief in 2007, the city committed to bringing the department into the modern era.

The current force has 44 full-time firefighters, eight volunteers, and nine part-timers who are used to fill in when needed. Each has two sets of turnout gear and all-new air packs.

The oldest of the department’s six frontline pumpers is only five years old. It is joined by two ladder trucks, three rescue vehicles, and a tanker. The department is also preparing to expand its hazardous materials capabilities as it deals with growing interstate traffic and more industries making Oxford their home base.

Add to that the four new stations and a training center Oxford has provided the fire department over the last 17 years.

“This is like any other public service,” Sparks said. “You don’t get into it to become rich. You must have that passion and drive in you to help others. It’s not a natural act to run into a burning building to save someone or someone’s property. That means firefighting is not a profession for everybody.”

The Oxford Fire Department’s lineage includes perhaps hundreds of names lost to history since its first day 140 years ago when Major Orr accepted the mantle of being its first chief.

Each one of them, along with their families, accepted the risks and the challenges to help their neighbors and lay the foundation for the current men and women who now bear that responsibility as part of a noble profession.

They are the people we remain grateful for every day, not just every 140 years.

Spring Watershed Science is Blooming with Possibilities

S O F T B A L L

C H A M P I O N S H I P G u l f S

A S E B A L L

At l a n t i c S u n C o n fe re n c e S O F T B A L L

C H A M P I O N S H I P

B A S E B A L L

C H A M P I O N S H I P

S O F T B A L L

C H A M P I O N S H I P

A l a b a m a H i g h S c h o o l At h l e t i c A s s o c i a t i o n

B A S E B A L L

C H A M P I O N S H I P

C H A M P I O N S H I P M AY 1 - 4 M AY 3 -7 M AY 7-1 1 M AY 8 -1 3 M AY 1 3 -1 8 M AY 1 4 -1 6 M AY 2 0 - 2 5

S O F T B A L L N AT I O N A L

C H A M P I O N S H I P

Oxford Parks and Recreation

CHEERLEADING

REGISTRATION

MAY 10 — 3:00 PM TO 5:30 PM

JUNE 11 — 3:00 PM TO 5:30 PM

OXFORD CIVIC CENTER

401 McCullars Lane, Oxford AL 36203

$140: registration fee, uniform, briefs, poms, and hair bow

$75: registration fee, briefs, poms, and hair bow

$60: registration fee, poms, and hair bow

Child must be 4-12 years old.

Cheer registration is in person only, so they can be sized for their uniform.

For more information, call 256-831-2660.

Oxford Parks and Recreation

FLAG FOOTBALL

SOCCER

REGISTRATION OPEN NOW til August 15

K - 6 grade

$70 child / $120 two children

For more information, call 256-831-2660.

Twirling Clinic

In April, Miss Alabama Volunteer 2024, Livi Thomas, held a twirling clinic at the Bynum Community Center. High school students from Wellborn, Oxford, White Plains, Pell City, and Vestavia attended the one-day clinic, helping Livi raise $200 for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Livi Thomas

A native of Fort Mill, South Carolina, Livi Thomas now resides in Tuscaloosa. She is a senior at the University of Alabama, majoring in political science and history, and she is currently on the pre-law track. During her time at the university, Livi is a fourth-year Crimsonette team member and is presently serving as one of its co-captains this season. She is a competitive twirler and has had the opportunity to perform at the Radio City Music Hall, participate in Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, and represent the US in the International Spring Festival in Peru. Livi was selected as a member of Team USA in 2017 and competed in Croatia in the two-baton category, where she placed 13th in the World Championships. Livi was crowned Miss Alabama Volunteer 2024 this past July, and she will represent our great state at the Miss Volunteer America Scholarship pageant this June. When Livi is not traveling the state as Miss Alabama Volunteer, you will find her studying for the LSAT, as she plans to attend law school after graduation and achieve her goal of becoming an entertainment lawyer someday.

Matt Boyd Photography

BANNISTER PARK

Located off Friendship Road Oxford, Alabama 36203

BYNUM COMMUNITY CENTER

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

CHEAHA CLUBHOUSE

910 Boozer Drive, Oxford, AL 36203 256-831-2660

CHOCCOLOCCO PARK

954 Leon Smith Parkway, Oxford, AL 36203 (256) 342-0174

FRIENDSHIP COMMUNITY CENTER

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

LIBERTY PARK

401 McCullars Lane

Oxford, Alabama 36203 256-831-2660

OXFORD CIVIC CENTER AND OXFORD LAKE

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

SENIOR CITIZEN CENTER

424 Main Street, Oxford, AL 36203 (256) 831-5900

SIMMONS PARK

Corner of Main Street and Oak Street Oxford, AL 36203

ALDO GUTTIERREZ #7

JUNIOR AT OHS

JAYLEE CURTIS #6 JUNIOR

NATASHA KNOX SENIOR AT OHS 4X100

LATREVEON FIGGERS

SENIOR AT OHS 4X100

WHY I TEACH

OXFORD CITY SCHOOLS TEACHER SPOTLIGHT: JENNIFER DASINGER

THE CITY OF OXFORD IS PROUD TO HAVE SOME OF THE BEST EDUCATORS AND HIGHEST-RATED SCHOOL SYSTEMS IN THE STATE. RECENTLY, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW JENNIFER DASINGER.

JJennifer Dasinger, a native of Fort Hood, Texas, is currently a chemistry instructor at Oxford High School, teaching Chemistry, AP Chemistry, and IB Chemistry. She moved to Alabama in 1989 and received her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and educational specialist degree from Jacksonville State University. She has been married to Dr. Adam Dasinger, principal of Pleasant Grove Elementary in Cleburne County, for 29 years. The couple has two children: son Wade, a JSU graduate with a master’s degree in Public Administration and currently serving in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a 2nd Lieutenant, and daughter Whitley, who will graduate this year from the University of Alabama with a double major in International Studies and Marketing before attending graduate school to obtain her master’s in Museum Studies. Jennifer and Adam are the owners of Pinhoti Outfitters.

Dasinger and Coldwater Elementary teacher Janet Kuchinski have been named as finalists for the 2024 Alabama Teacher of the Year Award by the Alabama Department of Education. The city of Oxford congratulates both on their special recognition and salutes all our school district teachers for the work and dedication each gives to the youth of our city every day.

How long have you been part of the Oxford City School System?

I will complete my 4th year at Oxford City School System at the end of this year.

What influenced you to become a teacher?

My original plan was not to be a teacher; I was going into a healthcare profession or science research. After a semester of graduate studies, my heart was not in the coursework. A family member recommended that I should be a teacher because there was a shortage of teachers. I applied for an emergency certificate and applied to the Calhoun County School System.

I then discovered that this was my calling, and I never changed my mind.

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What were you like as a student?

I worked extremely hard to earn an honors diploma and to be in the top 10 of my class. I was number 10. Not all subjects were easy, so I spent hours studying them.

What was your favorite subject in school?

My favorite subject in school was, of course, science. I loved all of my science classes throughout my entire education. I read science books and magazines and watched science shows growing up.

What is the most satisfying thing about teaching?

The most satisfying part of being a teacher is when my students really connect to the science that surrounds them and how they can verbalize their understanding. The connection between what they are learning and how it applies to their daily lives is truly satisfying, knowing that they can feel empowered to implement what they are learning for the rest of their lives.

What would be your advice for upcoming teachers?

My advice for upcoming teachers is to be patient, to understand that education is about change, and to be open about learning. Always strive to be a better teacher by reflecting on their current teaching practices and look for new pedagogical strategies that can help them improve.

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges that teachers face today?

One of the biggest challenges that teachers face today is teacher burnout. Teachers pour out their mental, physical, and spirit every day and have a hard time balancing work, family, and their own self-care. The daily pressures of being a teacher do not end when the students leave the school building.

What methods do you use daily to bring out the best in students?

One method that I use every day is, first and foremost, to get to know my students on a daily basis. I work on connecting with them so that they are more willing to trust me when I ask them questions. This level of trust building is how I can get students to have no fear in responding to what they are thinking so that we, as a class “family,” can help each other learn from one another. I have created lessons that tie into real-world phenomena that connect the content to their daily lives. Another method is helping my students be leaders of their own

learning by providing time and resources for daily goal setting of our short- and long-term goals of learning. I organize my students on a daily basis to work collaboratively on either tasks or skills to master. Finally, my favorite method of teaching is for my students to learn by doing. I work on meaningful lessons where they are creating, modeling, developing, or designing scientific artifacts of their learning.

What is your proudest accomplishment?

My proudest educational accomplishment before this honor was when I received my National Board Certification.

Tell us about your likes & hobbies.

I like to travel. I like to read murder mysteries, science fiction, fantasy, and espionage. I like to watch documentaries and competition shows on the Food Network. I like to see plays, musical performances, and movies. One of my hobbies is recovering and refinishing the wood on antique furniture. Another hobby of mine is hiking/walking in the woods. My hobby that I do weekly is being a part of my church choir, and I am a member of a community choir.

What’s your favorite way to spend time with your family?

My favorite way to spend time with my family is just being together. We love the outdoors, and we like to go hiking, fishing, kayaking, and skiing.

Where would you go if you could travel anywhere in the world?

I would love to go to Fiji; my bucket list is to travel to all the most pristine beaches in the world.

INSIGHTS FROM THE FACTORY FLOOR:

What Teachers Experience on a Tour of a Manufacturing Facility

IIndustry Educator Tours offer teachers an opportunity to step outside the classroom and gain firsthand experiences in diverse environments. A tour of every facility provides educators with insights focusing on the importance of industrial partnerships in education, the practical application of classroom concepts, and real-world career pathways for students. But what does that look like?

Recently, 150 Oxford city school teachers participated in a day of tours across eight companies. As teachers stepped onto the factory floor, they were able to observe theoretical concepts taught in the classroom, from principles of physics and engineering at FabArc Steel to the application of mathematical formulas in production processes at Auto Custom Carpets. Local manufacturers took the time to connect how academic knowledge translates into practical applications, which enhances the ability to contextualize classroom lessons and will make learning more relevant and engaging for students.

The tours helped teachers discover many career opportunities for their students in Oxford as they were able to interact and connect with engineers from Associated Metalcast, technicians with Bridgewater Interiors, quality control specialists from Doncasters, chemists at Aerospace Coatings, human resource managers with TapeCraft, and logistics managers at Kronospan, to name a few. Gaining awareness of the broad opportunities available in manufacturing, teachers learned about the skills, qualifications, and career pathways required for various roles, which empowered them to guide students toward promising career options that align with their interests.

The enthusiastic willingness of local industries to partner with schools provides students with many diverse opportunities. Collaboration between industry and educators will empower students to navigate the complexities of the modern workforce, fostering a generation of skilled and adaptable individuals prepared to thrive in an ever-changing world.

The manufacturing sector contains a diverse number of companies in and around the Oxford area that craft, mold, and produce different products. Scan to learn more about each industry participating in the Oxford Educator Tours.

BY LAUREL HARP

DR. SHANNON STANLEY SPOKE TO THE TEACHERS AND STAFF BEFORE THEY TOURED LOCAL FACILITIES.

PHOTOGRAPHY LUCAS GOCKEL

LIFE IN OXFORD 1850s

In 1900, William T. Shumate, a Greenville, South Carolina resident, composed a letter vividly recounting life in Oxford during the 1850s. This illuminating piece, published in the Anniston Hot Blast on September 2, 1900, retains its original grammar and spelling for authenticity.

Greenville, S.C.

Dear Friend- While discussing a few days ago, the wonderful strides of manufacturing in the southern states and predicting the progress and prosperity of the country in the near future, I incidentally mentioned that I had lived one year in the state of Alabama, in the little straggling hamlet of Oxford, in Choccolocco valley, midway between Jacksonville and Talladega, that I had attended a Baptist and Methodist campmeetings near Coldwater spring, some five miles southwest of Oxford, and was personally acquainted with many of the leading men in and around Oxford; thereupon you requested me to give you some of my recollections (in writing) of the names of the people, a description of Oxford as it then appeared, a description of the camp meetings held near Coldwater springs, all about Oxford, Oxanna and Anniston.

Well 50 years has been a long time and our heads are not as black as they were then, but I will tonight, for an hour or two, draw upon my recollection, (not imagination) and give you some of my reminiscences in as concise form as I can. Do not laugh when I tell you that I was attracted to Alabama fifty years ago by a beautiful and bewitching magnet of rare loveliness and had it not been for that I would in all probability have been ignorant of Oxford and its environments to this time.

My route to Alabama was through Anderson, S.C., Barnessville, Decatur and Atlanta, Ga. (Atlanta then had a population of 3,500). Crossed Choccolocco at Mallory’s Cotton Factory, the second one I had ever seen. Arrived at Oxford late one cold, wet afternoon in February and was not prepossessed with the place nor the architectural beauty of the one-story cabins scattered around promiscuously. There was but one two-story building in the village, the lower story was used as a school room and the upper part as a Masonic and Sons of Temperance lodge room. Both orders were flourishing and the members were enthusiastic, some of them rode miles to attend

Courtesy of the Oxford Public Library, Oxford Room Collection

PHOTOS:

the lodge meetings. I did not see a drunk man or a drop of liquor during my years stay in Oxford. I will never forget the night I “rode the goat” in that upper chamber and was initiated into the mysteries of the mystic order.

Oxford had a population of some 200, more or less, perhaps less, and boasted two stores, one kept by Simmons & Turnipseed and the other by Garner & Gaines. I was employed in the latter

store. Seay & Sons were the architects and builders, Lewis, wagon maker, Renfro and Vise, blacksmiths and Sants Harrison the village fiddler. Renfro was a Methodist preacher as well as a blacksmith, hammered iron all the week and on Sunday hammered theology into his bearers. Mr. Flang and W.M. Hames taught the boy school and Miss Jane Brooks taught the girls school in a

different part of the burg. She married during the year to J.F. Watson. Hames subsequently read law and located at Jacksonville. Drs. Burton, Smart, Williams and Allen ministered to the sick. The valley was rich and productive, large crops were grown and marketed in Rome and Atlanta. A railroad line from Selma to Jacksonville was surveyed, located and partly graded that year. The leading men of the town and surrounding country so far as I can recollect were the Hollands, Simmons, Starns, DeArmans, Turnipseeds, Mattisons, Mallorys, Snows, Bushes, Cunninghams, Garners, Gaines, Skimmers, Yeatmans, Seays, Renfros, Cavers, Lains, Gunnels, Harrisons, Allens, Gheats and others.

The poor thickly wooded pine ridge just a short distance west of Oxford, Oxanna, and Anniston could have been bought then for 25 cents per acre. Oxanna and Anniston had never been dreamed of and iron ore was unknown and not talked about.

The spring was the purest and largest I ever saw, covered almost an acre of land, bubbles up among the rocks, pure and clear as crystal.

Coldwater was the place where the Baptists and Methodists held their annual campmeetings. The spring was the purest and largest I ever saw, covered almost an acre of land, bubbles up among the rocks, pure and clear as crystal and furnished water enough to run a mill just below, not more than 200 yards from the spring. The two campgrounds were within a half a mile of each other and near the spring the meetings were held on different days and were largely attended, many coming from long distances. The shining lights and crack preachers of both denominations were present and a doctri-

nal sermon was preached on Sunday by the most learned and eloquent divine of their respective churches. Much good was accomplished, many converted and a religious feeling seemed to pervade the congregation of each meeting, a good number of the people became happy and gave vent to their feelings in shouts of praise and song. The Methodist surpassed the Baptists in this particular. During the recess young men gallanted the girls round about and I presume some love making and courting was done. Dr. J.L.M. Curry was a working member at the Baptist camp meeting, was camped on the ground and entertained great crowds. He had not become a preacher but was eloquent and earnest in his exhalatations to sinners and Sabbath breakers. He was at the same time a candidate for congress, but was beaten by Alexander White. He was subsequently elected and Horace Greely was the only man in congress who could successfully reply to Douglas “the Giant of the West.”

Curry then weighed about one hundred pounds, was not pretty or handsome man by any means, but could say as much in a ten minutes speech as almost any other man could say in twenty. The last time I saw him was some three years ago in Richmond while delivering an address to the old Confederates at their reunion. The had grown handsome, and looked like he would weigh one hundred and eight pounds of more. The was eloquent, grand and noble and the fire of patriotism beamed from his eyes as they did fifty years ago while making a political speech at Oxford, a fourth of July oration at Silver Run, and pleading with sinners at campmeeting.

I am informed that the city of Anniston is now supplied with water from Coldwater spring, if that be so, she has better water than any other city in the south, Greenville, S.C., not excepted.

Now neighbor I have given you my recollections of Oxford and vicinity of Coldwater and its camp meetings, etc.

W.T. Shumate

City and school staff meet with C E Hanna Elementary School students participating in the Vis1on One program.