The Southern Torch, Vol. 1, No. 28

THE SOUTHERN TORCH / FRIDAY DECEMBER 4, 2015 / VOL. 1, NO. 28 / $1.00

COMMUNITY

BUSINESS

POLITICS

FORT PAYNE’S NEWEST TRADITION

TREAT OF THE WEEK: YO-MOE & DANALI’S DELI

LAW ENFORCEMENT LOSES ASSETS DUE TO EXECUTIVE ORDER

Marco Rubio holds Guntersville Rally > PAGE 3

> PAGE 6

By Tyler Pruett tyler@southerntorch.com

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala.—The Marco Rubio for President campaign made its first stop in the Yellowhammer state Tuesday afternoon in Guntersville. Speaking to a crowd of enthusiastic supporters, the senator from Florida laid out his plans for a better America. Doors opened at the Guntersville Recreation Center at 3:30 p.m. and Sen. Rubio took the stage at 4:15 pm.

Event organizers estimated that close to

> PAGE 10

one thousand people braved the cold rain, filling the gymnasium to hear the Republican presidential candidate speak. After leaving Guntersville, the Rubio for President campaign team travelled to Mountain Brook for an evening fundraiser at the home of State Sen. Slade Blackwell. Before traveling to Alabama, the campaign held events in South Carolina on Tuesday morning and visited the first state that will vote in the 2016 primary, New Hampshire, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Championship bound

By Marla Jones, Sports Editor marla@southerntorch.com

TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— For the second

year in a row, the Fyffe Red Devils will face the Elba Tigers in the Class 2A AHSAA State Championship Game.

Last year, Fyffe beat Elba, 28-17. According to the AHSAA Power 25 Class 1-6A rankings, released Tuesday, December 1, Fyffe is ranked 14 with Elba being 15 out of all high school football teams in Alabama.

Fyffe (13-1) has won 12 straight games since losing to Cleveland on September 4, 2015. In last week’s semifinal game against Randolph County, Fyffe held the Tigers to

117 total yards. Fyffe averages 39 points per game while only giving up 10 points on defense.

The Red Devils have scored 108 points in the first four rounds of the 2A playoffs. Dilan Kilpatrick leads Fyffe with over 2,600 yards and 35 touchdowns.

Prior to the playoffs, Elba (13-1) was defeated

by Opp in their last regular season game.

Rainsville Police Department, at least 10 businesses were fired upon with an air rifle, beginning at approximately 10 p.m. Sunday night and continuing Monday night around 8 p.m. Businesses affected

were: Topher’s Wing House, Betterway Shop, Rainsville Finance, Verizon Wireless, Mountain Lanes Bowling, Doyle Scott Construction, Penny’s From Heaven Spa, Sue and Sandy’s, and Straight Up Barbershop.

Burger King also reported damage a day later on Tuesday, indicating that the shooting continued on Monday night.

The individuals in custody are all reported to be minors with

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Airgun shooting-spree damages Rainsville businesses

By Tyler Pruett tyler@southerntorch.com

Multiple persons of interest have been detained in connection with a shooting spree that damaged many local businesses in Rainsville.

According to the

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THIS WEEK IN COMMUNITY

Church serves thousands over holiday weekend Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Randall’s Chapel United Methodist Church served over 1,200 people during their 10th annual Thanksgiving dinner…

Page 4

OPINION / EDITORIAL

Weathering the storm It’s that time again for me.

I am here at chemo doing another round of treatment.

It’s a typical Monday also.

I had a very bad week on top of having to be here…

Page 9

THIS WEEK IN FAITH

What did you say?

God spoke to me. No, not out loud. When I graduated from college, I accepted a job with U.S. Steel in Birmingham…

Page 11

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 THIS WEEK IN SPORTS

The Southern Torch – Southern Torch, Inc. News every Friday.

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Fyffe tames the Tigers Fyffe Red Devils faced Randoph County in the semi-finals of the AHSAA Class 2A Football State Playoffs, Friday night…

Page 12 PRESORTED STANDARD MAIL U.S. POSTAGE

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PERMIT NO. 60 RAINSVILLE, AL

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Friday–December 4, 2015

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

Publisher, Joseph M. Morgan Layout editor, Dwayne Adams

RTI to expand operation in Rainsville

Rainsville Mayor Nick Jones (right) stands with RTI Production Manager Kevin List at the Rainsville City Council meeting Monday night. RTI recently announced an expansion of their operation in Rainsville.

By Joseph M. Morgan joseph@southerntorch.com

RAINSVILLE, Ala.—The Rainsville City Council held a special meeting Monday night to meet with representatives from Rainsville Technology, Inc. (RTI) to formalize the company’s legal agreements with the city regarding an expansion of RTI’s current operation. RTI is the largest employer in Rainsville, and the upcoming expansion will increase RTI’s workforce

to more than 500 total employees.

RTI Production Manager Kevin List said the project will include construction to expand current warehouse space and will ultimately result in the creation of 20 new jobs over the next year.

“This project will allow us to consolidate some of our warehousing as we create more space,” List said. “Construction will begin immediately

and will take about 6 months to complete. We will make the hires to fill the new positions over the next year and will have the positions filled

by December of 2016.”

Rainsville Mayor Nick Jones said he and the city have been working closely with RTI to help make the expansion a reality.

“This expansion is a milestone for RTI and great news for the City of

Rainsville,” Jones said.

“RTI has always been a great corporate citizen.

Not only do they provide more than 500 jobs to the Rainsville area, but they also show a continued commitment to being involved with and improving this community and enriching the lives its people.”

DeKalb BOE approves $150K purchase of 11.6 acres in Rainsville consolidation of the DeKalb County Schools bus garage with existing BOE property in Rainsville.

“The purchase of this property is a great move

for DeKalb County Schools,” Richards said.

“It ensures that we will be able to build as we grow in the future and provides a new location for our bus garage that

will significantly cut fuel fuel costs.”

The DeKalb County BOE will meet again on Jan. 21, 2016.

Continued from page 1

By Tyler Pruett, Sports Editor tyler@southerntorch.com

RAINSVILLE, Ala.—The DeKalb County Board of Education voted at an emergency meeting Monday night to approve the purchase of 11.6 acres in Rainsville for $150,000. The new property footprint borders the current campus of the DeKalb County Technical School in Rainsville and extends from the tech school to the property adjacent to Mountain Lanes Bowling Alley.

The DeKalb BOE recently sold property in Fort Payne for $300,000

that currently serves as the county’s bus garage.

Roughly $150,000 from the sale will be used for the purchase of the 11.6-acre tract in Rainsville. The BOE will use the new property for future BOE development and immediately to build a new bus garage in Rainsville, a measure that officials say will save thousands in fuel costs alone.

DeKalb BOE member Mark Richards said the investment in the new property will allow the BOE to expand as needed in the years to come while allowing the

Rubio holds rally in Guntersville on Monday.

Rubio’s remarks touched on a number of issues, including the gridlock in Washington and our skyrocketing national debt. Rubio said both parties are to blame for our government’s inefficiencies.

“We need leaders that understand the world we live in now, in the twenty-first century,” Rubio said. “We need leaders with a sense of urgency about the issues we face.”

America’s ailing economy, Rubio criticized current fiscal policies as outdated, and contributing to the country being behind on the global market. He also advocated the reform of the U.S. tax code, saying current tax policies are destroying small businesses and prohibiting the creation of new jobs.

For the first time in 35 years, we have more businesses dying than starting,” Rubio said.

“This could be remedied by creating a regulatory budget, and placing a cap on how much money regulations can cost our economy.”

While not invoking the name of his closest rival, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Rubio seemed to challenge the senator from Texas on the source of our national debt, asserting that the causes of that debt are not “defense spending or foreign aid that totals less than one percent of our budget, but the way important programs are structured for future generations.”

Rubio also spent time discussing the importance of skill-based education as an alternative to a traditional four year degree and reforming the Veteran’s Administration.

He advocated for veterans seeking treatment to be able to take their, “VA benefits to any hospital, any doctor, or any clinic.”

Recently the Rubio

Continued from page 1

Airgun shooting-spree Elba only allowed 83 yards last week in the game against E.W. Long.

Elba averages 45 points per game and has scored more than 60 points, four times this season. The Elba Tigers have scored 154 points in the first four

rounds of the 2A playoffs.

Elba is well-rounded and boosts a double threat on offense with running back, Stefan Caldwell and Quarterback, Ramsey Rigby, Coach Paul Benefield had this to say about the

Continued from page 1

Airgun shooting-spree identities being withheld.

As no property was missing, law enforcement believes that the incident was motivated by vandalism. Rainsville police are working closely with the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office on the investigation.

Topher’s Wing House suffered the most severe damage; shattering several windows and the glass door.

No immediate charges were filed against the individuals being questioned, but investigators say that

Campaign has significantly increased travel and the hosting of campaign events, showing a transition from the “invisible primary” to building support among voters.

The “invisible primary” consists of the months leading up to the actual primary, when candidates focus on raising crucial campaign cash and gaining endorsements.

The campaign will now focus on meeting voters face-to-face in key states.

This process began five days before the Thanksgiving holiday in Iowa and New Hampshire, and continues in southern states this week, where Senator Cruz has made numerous visits and is hedging a large part of his campaign strategy on winning big in the March 1 “SEC Primary.”

Rubio will conclude the rest of the week visiting his home state of Florida and Louisiana.

Championship Game, “ Elba has nine returning starters, It will have to take a team effort. We will have to play discipline ball and do our jobs.”

Kickoff for the game will be 3 pm today, at the Bryant Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. may change as the investigation evolves.

“Hopefully this will deter them from bad decisions like this in the future,” said Rainsville Police Sgt. Tim Devlin, “and we really appreciate the help of the Rainsville community and the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Department for helping us to find the individuals responsible.”

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Friday–December 4, 2015

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

COMMUNITY

To submit community news, contact: news@southerntorch.com Tel. 256 638 4040 www.southerntorch.com

Fort Payne’s newest tradition FORT PAYNE, Ala.— Avery Phillips had no idea that one letter could make such a huge impact on her community.

Phillips had written a letter to Mayor Larry Chesser last year requesting that there be a Christmas tree lighting in Fort Payne.

“I saw all these other

towns with community trees and I thought it would be a good idea for us to have our own. That way people would have something to look at and be proud of,” Phillips said. Now because of this letter, Phillips was granted her wish. The lighting took place on December 1.

Mayor Chesser had been tossing the idea around for a community

tree and then appointed Phillips as the Christmas Tree Chairman. “He said I would be responsible for working out all the details,” Phillips said. The tree that was planted last year ended up dying which led to planting a smaller tree this year.

The letter that Phillips sent Mayor Chesser said, “I would like to see the city of Fort Payne have a tree-lighting ceremony of

its own. If this is possible, please let me know, and I will be happy to help with this by helping raise money or perform other needed tasks.”

“It made me feel excited and proud because I got to flip the switch myself for something I really wanted and worked hard on,” Phillips said. The tree is now on display at the Fort Payne City Park.

Foundation have made it possible for renovations to the Fine Arts Building.

With these improvements, the Holiday Gala will prove to be one of the biggest holiday parties in our community.

“With a large open space, we will be able to add more tables and people,” stated Heather Rice, NACC Development Director. “We are looking to have 400 plus people there that evening! We will have great food, music from the NACC Alumni Jazz Band, a short musical program from our very own ENCORE! and the dance floor open with more music from the Jazz Ensemble after dinner. We are very excited about the changes and think this year’s event will be an evening you will not want

to miss.”

This year’s honoree is Mr. John B. Lyda. Mr. Lyda is an 18-year veteran of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and currently holds the position of Manager of Operations, Claims Administration.

With a passion for community and country that he inherited from his family, Lyda has always made public service a way of life. He served for four years on the Hoover Public Library Board of Trustees from 2009-2012 before running for the Hoover City Council, and in August of 2012, Lyda was elected to Place 3. He is past president of the Hoover-Metro Kiwanis Club and the Hats & Horns Societé. He is an active member of the Friends of Hoover, serves on the Board of Directors

for the Red Elephant Club of Birmingham and the Assistance League of Birmingham, and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation.

Recognized for his outstanding leadership and accomplishments in both the public and private sectors, Lyda was named to the 2012 class of “Top 40 Under 40” by the Birmingham Business Journal. He recently has joined the NACC Foundation Young Professionals Committee.

He has continued to support Northeast and be very active with Foundation Board fund-raisers such as the Golf Classic, Holiday Gala and earlier this year danced in Stars Dancing for Scholarships. “No public institution in north Alabama has had the profound, positive impact on the residents of the area like Northeast Alabama Community College,” stated Lyda.

“The opportunities offered to me by NACC have been the key factor

in my educational success.”

Lyda graduated from Pisgah High School in 1992, attended Northeast in 1992-1993, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from The University of Alabama and a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His parents are John and Sonja Lyda of Flat Rock. He is married to Beth Kirkland and they have two children, Anna Kate (13) and Griffin (10).

NACC Foundation Board members invite all alumni and friends of the College to this event. All funds raised through this event support the mission of the college through scholarships for NACC students. The cost is $75.00 per person or you can purchase a patron table seating 8 for $600.00. You can reserve your seat by contacting Heather Rice at 256.638.4418, ext. 2301 or by email at riceh@nacc. edu.

By Karah Wilson karah@southerntorch.com

Annual Christmas Gala at NACC

By Karah Wilson karah@southerntorch.com

RAINSVILLE, Ala.— The Northeast Alabama Community College (NACC) Foundation Board is hosting its annual Holiday Gala on Friday, December 11 at 6 p.m. in the William M. Beck and Fine Arts Building (gymnasium).

This year Dr. David Campbell, NACC President, and the

Collinsville Christmas Tree Lighting

By Joseph M. Morgan joseph@southerntorch.com

a piece of candy.

This is an annual event in Collinsville sponsored by the town and the churches of Collinsville.

The town sets up decorations and speaker platform. Mayor Johnny Traffenstedt opens ceremony and serves as emcee. Event is climaxed with the arrival of Santa Claus on a Collinsville fire truck. The town arranges this, also. Santa takes time to speak to each child and give each

through the Collinsville

The churches, Ministerial Association, provide hot chocolate and hot cider drinks.

They also have a local pastor who does a devotion about Christmas (this year that was Liberty Hill Baptist pastor Charles Brown) and lead the crowd in Christmas Carols and songs. Songs were led this year by Claire Chandler.

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Friday–December 4, 2015

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

COMMUNITY

Church serves thousands over holiday weekend

By Karah Wilson karah@southerntorch.com

SCOTTSBORO, Ala.— Over the Thanksgiving holiday, Randall’s Chapel United Methodist Church served over 1,200 people during their 10th annual Thanksgiving dinner.

The church served so many people that they ran out of one traditional Thanksgiving food: turkey.

“Next year we are thinking about allowing servers to serve for 1 hour instead of 30 minutes,” volunteer coordinator Karen Stenson said. Many memories can be made during this wonderful time. “The lively chatter going on at the tables let you know some good memories were being made,” Stenson said.

College student and church member Amber Stafford has been volunteering at the meal for five years. Stafford said that, “meeting new people and being able to share a blessing with them,” is her favorite part of the meal. “Being able to pray over someone and hearing so many stories is an inspiration to me,” Stafford said. Stafford also plans to attend the meal even after she graduates from college.

“The most fascinating part is knowing that, at the end of the day, you made someone’s life a little better. It’s also incredible we are able to feed over 1,000 people,” Stafford said.

This is not only Pastor Pat Mahan’s first Thanksgiving meal at Randall’s Chapel, but it is also his first year pastoring for Randalls Chapel. “Did the

Thanksgiving Meal meet my expectations? Big time,” Pastor Mahan said.

“I witnessed volunteers getting blessed as they were being a blessing to our guest. Then I got to

see & hear from our guest what a blessing the meal was to them. As the pastor of Randall’s Chapel UMC, it blew me away seeing how our church folks worked so well

together during the preparation and the event. I loved how we were open to involving the community to also serve as volunteers. I hope all who served and who were our guest experienced the grace and heart of our God. It was a great Thanksgiving.”

As the 2015 Thanksgiving ends, the church will be praying over the next Thanksgiving. The meal is a blessing to all of those who are involved in even the smallest way.

Volunteers from the Salvation Army were there helping prepare for the meal the day of, along with those who attend, and some who don’t attend, the church. It was a successful Thanksgiving for the members of the church and the community as a whole.

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Friday–December 4, 2015

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

COMMUNITY

Community comes together each year for special Thanksgiving service

By Karah Wilson karah@southerntorch.com

COLLINSVILLE, Ala.—There has been a Community Thanksgiving Service in Collinsville for decades.

It is now held on the

Sunday night before Thanksgiving and the location is rotated among the participating churches of the Collinsville Ministerial Association. This year’s host was Collinsville First Methodist.

Those attending are asked to bring nonperishable foods to be placed in food boxes for families in Collinsville. The offering at the service is used to pay for a turkey for each box. The host church is responsible for assem-

bling the boxes and being sure they are all delivered. This year there were 45 boxes delivered on Wednesday to families all over town.

The service this year featured a joint Youth Choir with youth coming

from all the local churches. The speaker is also rotated between the churches each year. This year’s speaker was Don Jones, the pastor of Vernon Baptist Church.

Come share Cider Under the Ceders during Rainsville Christmas Parade

By Karah Wilson karah@southerntorch.com

RAINSVILLE, Ala.—Southern Torch will be offering a comfortable, cozy place for folks to watch the Rainsville Christmas Parade next Saturday, Dec. 12. During the parade, the Torch will be transforming the area underneath the great

cedar trees that line the front of their property where parade-goers are invited to stop by for a visit and warm up at one of the fires or share a cup of cider.

“Christmas is a magical time of year and we are really looking forward to the parade next weekend,” Torch Editor and Publisher

Joseph Morgan said.

“Cider Under the Cedars will be a great way for us to enjoy fellowship with our neighbors, watch the parade with family and friends and hopefully make some new ones along the way. We would like to invite all who might be interested to join us for Cider Under the Cedars next Saturday,

Dec. 12 during the Rainsville Christmas Parade.

The Southern Torch property is located right in the middle of downtown at 203 Main Street East in Rainsville.

Morgan said staff will begin setting up under the cedars around 2 p.m. and the parade will start at 4 p.m.

Look for our “news boys” walking beside the Southern Torch Jeep in the parade to get your copy of our latest issue.

We will have a business card attached to each paper with a number.

Look for your number on our website and Facebook page for a chance to win $100.00. Hope to see you there!

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Friday–December 4, 2015

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

BUSINESS Yo-Moe & Danali’s Deli Club sandwich sub Rainsville, AL EXCELLENT

VERY GOOD

This week the Southern Torch chose Yo-Moe/Danali’s Deli in Rainsville to review, and this foodie is grateful for the opportunity! The restaurant combines two amazing eateries in one location to provide a large selection under one roof. The spaciousness of the interior and the modern design make the modest storefront seem almost unassuming. On the non-yogurt side of things, Danali’s has a wide selection of Italian/American cuisine. Diners may choose from a pizza with around 10 different toppings, a large variety of sub sandwiches, pasta sides, salads, soups, and even southern favorites like chicken and dumplins. We chose to sample a 7” sausage and pepperoni pizza, Club sandwich sub, and an order of cheese-smothered Doritos. We chose to go simple on the pizza toppings in order to taste the quality of the ingredients, which they did not disappoint. The sauce stood out the most to me, as it taste freshly made. The sandwich also did not disappoint. The club, served steamed, features turkey, ham, roast beef, and American cheese. We opted for lettuce, tomato, pickles, mustard, and black pepper for our toppings on this six inch masterpiece. Also served was a large basket of Doritos Nachos smothered with Pepper Jack cheese. After this smorgasbord it was necessary to take a break before moving on to the other half of this experience, Yo-Moe! The desert side features 12 different flavors of yogurt, each designated with its own nifty LED screen and over 30 different toppings ranging from gummy worms to fresh strawberries. The strawberry shortcake flavor was sampled for dessert, topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Overall, Danali’s/Yo-moe was excellent, with a wide variety of food at a great value.

EXCELLENT ADDRESS:

124 McCurdy Ave S., Rainsville, AL 35986

CONTACT: Tel. (256) 717-4080

This Treat of the Week was originally published on Nov. 6th, 2015

MEDIOCRE

MODERATE

WEAK

$5.49

CHAMBER CHATTER December 3, 2015 Carol Beddingfield, Executive Director When Congress lifts the trade embargo with Cuba, a North Alabama based company will be one of the first to create a business located in Cuba that will benefit both the USA and Cuba.

CleBer LLC is owned by Horace Clemmons and Saul Berethal. They plan to promote an Alabama-based tractor company which will be built near Havana for small family farms.

Their company was the first US company approved by the Cuban government to do business there since the US and Cuba restored diplomatic relations earlier this years.

Horace comes from a long line of farmers and lives in Jackson County.

According to Horace, Cuba imports 80 percent of its food. The Cuban government does not want agribusiness, but does want small, family farms of about 40 acres.

Allis-Chalmers built a tractor between 1948 and 1955 which was designed for small farms. However, due to the increase in the size of farms the company dropped the production.

All the patents on the Allis-Chalmers tractor has expired, so CleBer designed a model like it with some adjustments. The tractor can be fixed in the field with standard off the shelf parts.

The prototype of the tractor will be shown at the Havana tradeshow this month. If approved, CleBer will build a small assembly plant in the Mariel Special Economic Zone near Havana. For the first three years, the parts will be manufactured in Alabama and then shipped to the plant.

The two men agree it will be difficult navigating all the changing regulations between the two countries. But both will stick to their belief in the business world. “We always say, anything worthwhile is always worth doing.”

RAINSVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE December 3, 2015 Tim Eberhart, Executive Director Deadlines are a necessary part of life in the civilized world. They can be unwanted or welcomed, definite or subject to change, levied or self-imposed, but they always help bring order to things.

Please allow me to share a few important deadlines related to the Rainsville Chamber and its events and activities.

First, the deadline to submit a nomination for the Rainsville Person of the Year award is very near. It’s Monday, December 7 at 4 p.m. Nominations need to be submitted in the form of a letter and can be mailed, emailed or dropped off at our office. In order to be make sure it arrives before the deadline, the regular mail option probably should be avoided at this late date.

The nomination letters we have already received are between 200 and 300 words in length, but longer ones are also welcomed. Our board will review all nominations within a few days and the Person of the Year award will then be presented at our annual meeting on January 21.

Wednesday, December 9 at 3 p.m. is another deadline a lot of people need to know about. That’s the somewhat-flexible cutoff for entering a float, vehicle or domesticated animal in the 56th Annual Rainsville Christmas Parade. Call us or find the entry form on the parade page at www.rainsville. info. There is no fee for participating in the parade. The top four floats in the non-commercial category will receive cash prizes.

The parade will be at 4 p.m. with lineup starting at 3 p.m. That’s where another deadline comes into play. In order to be eligible for the cash prizes, non-commercial floats need to be at the lineup location by about 3:15 p.m.

The Chamber is in the process of finding individuals to serve on our board of directors. Next week, our 2015 board will likely appoint five or six people to serve on the board in 2016 to 2018. We could possibly use two or three more. If you work at one of our member businesses and would like to nominate someone to serve on our board, please let us know right away.

Our volunteer directors make financial, policy and activity-related decisions, and help carry out a few events throughout the year.

To find out more contact me at 638-7800 or timeberhart@farmerstel. com.

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Friday–December 4, 2015

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

CLASSIFIEDS For Sale ELECTRIC SPORT VEHICLES. Perfect for car shows, RV enthusiasts, motor home owners, horse shows, and more. Call Bama C r i c ke t at 256-638-7562.

FOR SALE..2010 Yamaha Wave Runner FX HO Cruiser 84.3 hours. $9500.00. Call Marla at (256) 605-4427 NEW MINI WILLYS JEEP. Gasoline powered 125 cc engine. 3 forward speeds and reverse. Electric start.

Call 256-996-1188.

Tupperware: Michala Cloud Tu p p e r wa r e Consultant, call or text (256) 605-4531 michala-

cloud.mytupperware.com Appetite Control and Energy, Saba ACE G2. Call Rhiannon Jones Independent Consultant (256) 326-0680, Sabaforlife. com Skin Care- Rodan + Fields, Ciera Brown and Ali Hunt (205) 789-0641 or (256) 438-4665 Gigglemugg- Infused honey, flower jelly and infused sugar. Victoria Nichols (205) 643-0485 victorianviolets@gmaill. com

hangers, wall decor and ornaments Crafted with Love. Lindsay Blackwell Hughes (256) 601-1693 www.facebook.com/ CraftedwithLoveLMBH Scentsy- Heather Marks Smith Lead Consultant (256) 657) 1554 heather. marks.smith@gmail.com Tattered & Torn- www. facebook.com/tatteredandtorngifts Contact us at (256) 899-7615

Services

The Pampered ChefMelissa Wagner (256) 996-6237, www.pamperedchef.biz/melissawagner

RAIN TECH GUTTERS Installs seamless gutters 5 or 6 inch in any color, call 256-899-2620 for more info or estimates.

Hand

PLANTATION SHUTTERS

painted

door

custom sizes installation available call Jon at 256-638-5270 REFINISHING Antiques Furniture call for a free estimate Jamey at 256-638-2467 METAL ROOFING, roll up doors, and all types utility and enclosed trailers. Call Wilco Metal Roofing at 256-638-7562

Homes for Sale

Miscellaneous Celebrate Recovery South.

Dealing with addiction?

Join us for the for our new Celebrate Recovery program on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 from 6:30pm - 8:30pm at the Geraldine Methodist Church, 13394, AL Hwy 227, Geraldine, AL 35974.

Contact Paul Vick: 256-401-3474.

HOUSE FOR SALE 3 BR and 2 Bath. Recently renovated home on 4 acres conveniently located near Rainsville amenities. $139,000 Call Shari @ Kim H o r to n Re a l t y at 256-638-5281.

Lots for Sale

Smalley; Father: James Smalley.

Mrs. Myra Shankles

LOTS FOR SALE- Kilgore Sub-division Rainsville, AL. Owner Financing Available call Jamey at 256-638-2467

OBITUARIES Mr. Benjamin Lewis “Ben” Anderso Age 94,of McMinnville, Tennessee passed away Tuesday, November 24, 2015 in McMinnville.

Funeral services are set for 2pm Monday, November 30, 2015 from the W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel.

The family will receive friends from 11am until 2pm on Monday, November 30, 2015 at the W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel.

Mr. Anderson was preceded in death by his wife, Elise Marie Anderson; son, Benjamin Anderson; and grandson, Ray Anderson.

Mr. Troy Ragan Age 53 of Crossville, AL passed away on Wednesday, November 25, 2015.

No services will be held for Mr. Ragan. Arrangements Entrusted to W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel Survivors: Spouse- Janet Bearden Ragan; DaughterAmanda Wright; SonJeremy Ragan; ParentsThurman & Sarah Ragan; Sister- Marlen Whitten; Brother- Daniel Ragan; Grandchildren- Jessica & Noah Wright & Abby & Brodie Ragan Preceded in death by SonTroy Ragan Jr.

Mr. Buford Summerford Age 81, of Ft. Payne passed away on Friday, November 27, 2015. Funeral services are set for 1pm Monday, November 30, 2015 from the gravesite at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery with Bro. David Higdon officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 until 8pm Sunday, November 29, 2015 at W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel.

He is survived by his daughter, Donna

Summerford; sons, Joe Summerford, Randell (Carrie) Summerford, Terry (Michele) Summerofrd, and Freddie ( Teresa) Summerford; son-in-law, Joey (Sharon) Wooten; sisters, Lola Wooten and Maunee Maxwell; 15 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mae Willow Summerford; daughter, Betty Ann Wooten; and a host of brothers and sisters.

Mr. Robert “Junior” Atchley Age 74, of Grant passed away on Tuesday, December 1, 2015. Funeral services are set for 1pm Friday, December 4, 2015 from Hebron Holiness Church with burial Walker Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 4 until 8pm Thursday, December 3, 2015 at W. T. Wilson Funeral Chapel.

Mr. Bill Wray, Jr. Age 72 of Rainsville, AL passed away on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at Huntsville Hospital.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, November 29, 215 at 2pm from Rainsville Funeral Home Chapel with the Dr. Kevin McCreless officiating. Burial will follow in Mountain View Memory Gardens with Rainsville Funeral Home, Inc. directing, www.rainsvillefuneralhome.com.

Visitation will be Saturday, November 28th from 6pm-9pm & Sunday, November 29th from 12noon-2pm. Survivors include: Wife: Carol Wray of Rainsville, AL; 3 Daughters: Suzie Chamlee and husband Gary of Rainsville, AL; Lisa Rabin and husband Al of Tampa, FL; Jeana Bradford and husband Dale of Ider, AL;

3 Brothers: Clyde Wray of Scottsboro, AL; Johnny Wray of Fort Payne, AL; Gary Wray of Rainsville, AL; 1 Sister: Carolyn Adkins of Fy f f e , AL; 6 Grandchildren & 13 Great Grandchildren. Preceded in Death by Parents: William Wray, Sr. & Annie Mae Wray.

Visitation: Rainsville Funeral Home, Inc. Saturday, November 28th from 6pm-9pm Sunday, November 29th from 12noon-2pm Services: Rainsville Funeral Home Chapel Sunday, November 29, 2015 at 2pm Interment: Mountain View Memory Gardens Following Service

Mrs. Elaine Smalley Chester Age 87 of Sylvania, AL passed away on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at Crossville Health & Rehab.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 28, 2015 at 11am from Rainsville Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jason Bell officiating. Burial will follow in Unity Cemetery with Rainsville Funeral Home, Inc. directing, www. rainsvillefuneralhome. com. Visitation will be Friday from 2pm-8pm & Saturday from 9am-11am.

Survivors include 1 Son: Bobby Chester and wife Elaine of Rainsville, AL; 1 Daughter: Kathy Sewell and husband Carlton of Mentone, AL; 1 Brother: Waylon Smalley of Henagar, AL; 1 Sister: Doris Hairston of Henagar, AL; 9 Grandchildren: Randy, Rodney, Amber, Joe, Jason, Jeannie, Shane, Adam & B e c k y; 14 Great Grandchildren; 1 Great Great Grandchild; 1 Special Friend: Kay Williams.

Preceded in Death by Husband: Carl (Bill) Chester; Mother: Elba

Visitation: Rainsville Funeral Home, Inc. Friday, November 27th from 2pm-8pm Saturday, November 28th from 9am-11am Services: Rainsville Funeral Home Chapel Saturday, November 28, 2015 at 11am Interment: Unity Cemetery Following Service

Mr. Jody Buttram Age 44 of Buttram’s Crossroads died Wednesday, November 25, 2015 at Highlands Medical Center. Funeral services will be held Friday, November 27, 2015 at 2pm from Rainsville Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Union Grove Cemetery with Rainsville Funeral Home, Inc. directing, www.rainsvillefuneralhome.com.

Visitation will be Thursday, November 26th from 6pm-8pm & Friday, November 27th from 8am-2pm. Survivors Parents: Larry & Ena Buttram of Buttram’s Crossroads 2 Sisters: Kala Gass and husband Greg of Scottsboro, AL Lori Gunter of Buttram’s Crossroads, AL 2 Nephews: Dewayne Buttram & Nicholas Sewell 2 Nieces: Kristain Gilford & Anna Gunter Preceded in Death Grandparents: Gene & Hazel Buttram Hugo & Lucille Wright Visitation: Rainsville Funeral Home, Inc. Thursday, November 26th from 6pm-8pm Friday, November 27th from 8am-2pm

Age 89 of Trion, GA formerly of Valley Head, AL passed away on Saturday, November 28, 2015 at Oakview Health & Rehab. Funeral services will be held Monday, November 30, 2015 at 2pm from Rainsville Funeral Home Chapel with the Bro. Brandon Bishop officiating. Burial will follow in Town Creek Cemetery with Rainsville Funeral Home, Inc. directing, www.rainsvillefuneralhome.com.

Visitation will be held Monday, November 30th from 12noon-2pm.

Survivors include 1 Son: Wayne (Wilma) Whited of Trion, GA; 3 Daughters: Shirley Miller of Phoenix, AZ; Dorthy Freeman of Valley Head, AL; Linda Sue (Jimmy) Gregory of Valley Head, AL; 1 Brother: Thurman Caldwell of NC; 3 Sisters: Virginia Greeson of Ider, AL; Jacquline Smith of Sylvania,AL; Wilma Martin of TN; 12 Grandchildren; 23 Great Grandchildren; 9 Great Great Grandchildren.

Preceded in Death by Parents: William Aubrey & Allie Lee Kelly Caldwell; Husband: G.W. Shankles; Son-in-Law: Jerry Freeman; Granddaughter: Vandila Freeman; Grandson: Craig Green; Sisters: Narvell Caldwile & Ifdill Hurst.

Visitation: Rainsville Funeral Home, Inc. Monday, November 30th from 12noon-2pm

Services: Rainsville Funeral Home Chapel Friday, November 27, 2015 at 2pm

Services: Rainsville Funeral Home Chapel Monday, November 30, 2015 at 2pm

Interment: Union Grove Cemetery Following Service

Interment: Town Creek Cemetery Following Service

8

Friday–December 4, 2015

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

OPINION / EDITORIAL Climate Pact… An Act of Defiance?

By Tyler Pruett tyler@southerntorch.com

Last week, leaders from around the world began a summit on the issue of global climate change. The overall goal of the event is to strike an agreement aimed at reducing carbon-based emissions with hopes of reversing the increase in global temperature.

President Obama traveled to Paris to attend the summit late last week in order to help negotiate an agreement. One week before, Paris experienced the worst terror attack in France’s history, perpetrated by the

Islamic State. Obama referred to the climate summit as an, “act of defiance” against the terrorists. Much of his rhetoric during his trip seems to be more in defiance of logic than the terrorist state.

One day before the horrific attacks, Obama claimed that, “we have contained them.” The following day, people in Paris learned first hand that ISIS was anything but contained. It’s hard to imagine how our commander in chief could have made this assertion when thirteen days earlier a Russian

airliner was destroyed, killing all on board, by a terrorist act committed by the Islamic State. The passenger jet and it’s passengers did not originate from ISIS held territory. The attack was carried out more than 700 miles away in Egypt.

Even if containment had been achieved, touting this as an achievement is morally reprehensible.

Within this “containment area” exists thousands of innocent civilians living daily with public executions, slavery, and starvation. Terms like “humanitarian crisis” and “disaster” were uttered frequently in Paris over the last week, but rarely was anyone referring to the human suffering happening at this very moment. Those attending the summit would explain this as climate change being the larger issue, but with the absence of any shift in strategy after terrorists struck Western Europe, it’s clear that our President and world leaders are more focused on what’s convenient and not what’s necessary.

While it’s a common political tactic to distract from difficult issues,

President Obama went one step further while addressing journalist, by making the audacious, almost ludicrous assertion that, “in some ways, climate change is akin to the problem of terrorism and ISIL.” This statement is unbelievable no matter where it is uttered, but it becomes unthinkable when spoken only a few miles away from the site where terrorism claimed the lives of 130 people only a week before. This wasn’t the only instance during the summit that the President seemed to conveniently forget his geographical location and the tragic events of only a week ago.

According to Obama, mass shootings, “just don’t happen in other countries” like they do in America. I don’t think I have to explain the problem with that statement.

The purpose of this editorial is not to debate the existence of global climate change, but to debate the priorities of this administration. In decades this issue could be detrimental to our world economy, but currently an existential

problem remains in the war torn countries of Syria and Iraq that we don’t have to debate whether it will kill thousands or not. The Islamic State is already responsible for tens of thousands of lives lost along with many more enslaved and displaced.

Regardless to what calamities the future may hold, there is no excuse for disregarding an ongoing calamity because it’s politically convenient. While President Obama spends time and resources on reaching an agreement with 150 world leaders, the handful of world powers fighting ISIS can’t reach a common strategy on how to destroy a common enemy. While the President viewed this summit as defiant, this feeling was surely lost on the militants occupying a large territory with no defeat in sight. If confronting human suffering isn’t a priority, perhaps the thriving illegal oil market that the Islamic State uses to fund terrorism and war may be worthy of a summit.

9

Friday–December 4, 2015

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

OPINION / EDITORIAL Weathering the storm

By Diego Reynoso diego@southerntorch.com

It’s that time again for me. I am here at chemo doing another round of treatment. It’s a typical Monday also. I had a very bad week on top of having to be here. Side effects are getting worse and at times more intense. But that’s not what I wanna write about at the moment. You see no one told me how to prepare for everyday situations dealing with treatments and people in general. When I tell you a storm is coming usually you would get ready right? No matter if it was a bad one or not. You see there is nothing wrong with being prepared to weather the storm.

Storms come in all shapes and sizes. From rain and lightning to all out Tornados. Here in Alabama we know about tornados. Some people have shelters with generators and food, while some might just have a basement or a small room in the center of the house.

While doing nothing isn’t the best option I guess but hey whatever you think is right for you. When I first was diagnosed it was a whirlwind of information. On top of that we had phone calls left and right. I couldn’t compute what was going on looking back at it now.

I mean I had nurses saying this, doctors advising that and family and friends wanting to help. It was overwhelming for me. Not to mention I don’t think I asked my wife one time how are you?…. I did later, but still. I mean things get deep with paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork. What I am trying to say is stop and breath, I wish I had. I took my diagnosis as I had to hurry and get started and yes that was advised but stop and breath and let your mind calm down. You know you and your partner knows you. My wife suggested to stop treatment once, not for good but for a break. I was so overwhelmed I

broke down. I cried for seems like a hour. All I could ask was why me? Why did this happen to me? I had a couple of surgeries while on chemo. Things were taking a toll on me, physically and emotionally. I hid that side from everyone except my wife, she was my rock! So when I say stop and breath, that’s just me saying slow down and get prepared because it can get crazy. I wasn’t prepared like I thought. Maybe you will be.

Everyone is different. Nothing wrong with being prepared though. I wish I had asked more questions than I did, or done my

own research. My brother researched some for me. But I guess since I kinda was in shock I didn’t know how to take it in. I urge you to do research and please ask questions from the doctors and nurses. They will help with what you need believe me. I was lucky enough to get good doctors and nurses. Don’t forget to turn to you have family to talk to. Talking is better than you think. Even though I am not much of a talker haha ask my wife. So while I sit here doing treatment remember you can be prepared if you just speak up.

You have family, friends,

doctors, nurses and you have me. I’m always happy to help. I couldn’t tell you how many new patients have come to treatment here and they ask. I don’t know if it is my devilish good looks that makes it easy for them to talk to me or I just look funny.

Hey either way I helped. That’s all that matters. So if you need me, my email is diego@ southerntorch.com And if this helps you then please share it with someone else who also needs it. Well, have a blessed day! Till next time….

10

Friday–December 4, 2015

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

POLITICS

Law Enforcement loses assets due to executive order

By Tyler Pruett tyler@southerntorch.com

Law enforcement agencies across the country are facing recalls on crucial equipment.

Earlier in the year, President Obama issued an executive order prohibiting items from the controversial Federal 1033 program. The program, which was created in 1997, supplies surplus military equipment for law enforcement agencies.

This allows police and sheriff departments with small budgets to acquire military hardware at little to no cost to the agency.

The program came under fire earlier this year, after the Ferguson Missouri police department utilized armored vehicles and other equipment from the government to

contain demonstrators.

Many criticized the reallocation of military gear as aiding in excessive police militarization. In January, the president signed an executive order banning certain items from distribution. These items include bayonets, large caliber weapons and ammunition, tracked vehicles, certain camouflage uniforms, as well as grenade launchers, which are used to launch tear gas.

The order also added airplanes, helicopters, wheeled armored vehicles, and riot gear to a “controlled equipment list” which requires agencies to provide additional justification and training to acquire.

In late August 2011, Anniston police officer Justin Sollohub was shot

and killed while pursuing a suspect. The armed killer fled into a heavily wooded area, but thanks to a M113(a tracked, armored personnel carrier) used by the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department, the suspect was flushed out and taken into custody without further tragedy.

Two weeks ago, the Sheriff’s Department was forced to return this vehicle along with another M113. The tracks on the vehicles made them effective at negotiating muddy and rugged terrain, such as what officers faced on that tragic day, but ultimately led to their return under the executive order. After a review of the 1033 program, the decision was made to prohibit tracked vehicles,

asserting that, “their appearance may undermine community trust” in law enforcement. Senator Richard Shelby criticized the president’s decision in a two page letter stating that it’s, “clear that this president is more concerned with scoring political points than ensuring the safety of our citizens.” Calhoun County wasn’t the only department returning such vehicles, as many more across the country are being forced to hand over invaluable equipment.

According to Dekalb County Sheriff Jimmy Harris, the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Department does not utilize equipment from the federal program, due to a county commission policy requiring them to

possess the title to provide funds for upkeep and maintenance.

Although the surplus items are free, county governments and agencies are required to foot the bill for maintenance, upgrades, and retro-fitting for a new law enforcement role.

Communities with newly prohibited items have invested tax dollars that will be lost, and are even responsible for shipping costs. “It really puts officers in a dangerous position,” Sheriff Harris said, “as much as is happening in this country, and as strapped for cash as smaller agencies are, it really makes me question where this president’s priorities are.” Agencies have until April to conform with the new regulations.

11

Friday–December 4, 2015

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

FAITH

What did you say?

By Dr. John E. Morgan Pastor–Collinsville Baptist Church

God spoke to me.

No, not out loud.

When I graduated from college, I accepted a job with U.S. Steel in Birmingham. Great rejoicing at having a job offer. Off I went with a new degree, a new car and a new wife.

I thought I would stay with the company until I retired. My salary was very good for someone just out of school. I was a

foreman, in charge of about twenty men.

Most of the men were really kind and patient with a fresh faced kid just getting started. Many of them were older than my parents. I enjoyed working with them. I enjoyed the challenge of being responsible for what would today be over a half million dollars of new product each day.

What I did not enjoy was upper management.

They ruled by intimidation. By yelling and

finding fault. Nothing was ever good enough for them. They placed great pressure on me and other lower level management.

Long hours with little thanks.

Where I did find meaning was working with children at the church that my wife and I attended. I taught classes on Sunday morning and Sunday night. My wife joined me with the Sunday night one. We had no children of our own, so we poured our love into those Birmingham kids. We would take them on picnics or bring them to our apartment for games.

It was wonderful.

After a while, I began to wonder if God wanted me to become a church worker. I fought it for several months. Because it sounded so wonderful.

The idea that I could be paid to teach and work with people and introduce them to Jesus.

That someone would pay me to sit in an office and study the Bible. I was sure that I was making it up. Escapism. Surely God would not call me to do something so wonderful.

It all came to head at a worship service. I accepted. I surrendered all. I cried and cried. I told my wife who was sitting there with me.

She had known it for months and was just waiting on me to know it.

I was sure I was called, but this was not the time I meant when I said God spoke to me.

We selected the Baptist seminary in Louisville. I turned in a notice. And we cried a lot more to leave those children we had come to love in Birmingham.

People told me how brave I was, how committed to leave a safe, good paying job. I would duck my head and look all humble. All the time thinking, wow, I get to leave the steel mill and do what I want to do.

We moved, had our first baby boy a month later, our second one a year and a half after that.

Lived in the downstairs of an old house. I got a job as a Youth Minister. Paid about a tenth of what I was making before. And we were rich. New youth and children and adults to love. Two boys to cherish and raise. Life

could not be better.

One night as I was nearing the end of seminary, I was coming back from the church by myself on I-64. I was so happy. And I thanked God. I told God He was wonderful. And that I would gladly go anywhere He sent me.

And then He spoke to me. Immediately He said, “I want you to go back to U.S. Steel.”

My response? “Oh, God. No.” And He spoke again.

“No, I don’t want you to do that. I just wanted you to know you did not mean what you were saying about going anywhere.” He knew the one place I did not want to go.

Humbled, I thanked Him. For the life He had given us. And for not sending me back to the Steel Mill. At least not right then.

I was reminded again that He knows us better than we know us. And that He is always preparing us for His plans for us. Our job?

Find His plan. And surrender.

A Moment with Megan: Free From Fear

By Megan Blansit

Founder of The Beautiful Movement - a youth ministry for high school girls. For more information, visit The Beautiful Movement’s Facebook page, where I post the time, place, and activity for each month

Is there anyone reading this who has struggled with fear or anxiety, or is it just me?

Okay, great! Glad I am not alone. If anyone has had fear or an anxiety attack, you know it is difficult to shake. The thoughts in your mind are going 1000 miles per hour and the fear can be absolutely gripping, almost as if you are suffocating. Here is a little background of my story: As a young girl I let

fear completely control me. I wouldn’t even want to spend the night with a friend (out of fear something terrible would happen.)… I will go as far to say, I didn’t even want to leave my house out of fear that I would die in a car wreck. Unfortunately, fear controlled me for a period of time and stole some of the best parts of my life. Newsflash! God is not the creator of fear, Satan is. Christ is the supplier of peace, and once I grabbed ahold of that, my life changed forever.

Psalm 91 became my absolute, hands down, favorite chapter in the

Bible for probably two years (or more.) Let me share parts of it with you, “He who dwells in the shadow of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.’ Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness… for he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways…”

I want to break these verses down a little. Verse 1 says that “He who dwells in the shadow of the most high will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” To be in someone’s shadow, we must be close (and “dwell.”) Also, this means we can have access to being as close to Christ as we want and that we can find “rest.” The scripture doesn’t say, “He who is perfect can rest in the shadow.” No, it says “He who dwells will rest.” I

don’t know about you friend, but that is comforting to me. So how do we dwell? We simply spend time with God (reading His word, praying, singing to him, etc.) His presence brings ultimate peace.

I love verse 4, “Under his wings you WILL find refuge.” That’s a promise, friend! Under his wings, my mind rests without any fear because I know that He has me. It doesn’t say, “ You MAY find refuge under his wings if you have been good today.” Friend, He’s a loving father, who is ALWAYS there for his children no matter how much we have messed up. I also love verse 11, “He will command his angels, concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.” Isn’t that cool that God sends angels to protect us?!

My mom and I literally read Psalm 91 every morning when we woke up and every night before we went to bed. I also posted sticky notes on my mirror; anything to feed my mind with truth helped! I wish I could say I got freedom after a day or even a week, but sometimes freedom is a process. I can proudly say that fear

does not control my life like it use to. Sure, I have some tough spots every now and then but I remind myself of Gods promises to me.

Deuteronomy 31:6 says that Christ will never leave us nor forsake us.

That’s also another verse I would stand on when my mind was bombarded with lies from Satan.

I want to encourage you, that whatever you are facing, you are more than a conqueror through Christ (Romans 8:37.) Christ did not die to give us 35% or 50% freedom, He wants us to live in complete freedom!

This could be freedom from anxiety, depression, addictions, etc. If I wasn’t set free from fear, my life would be completely different today. We all face different things but we don’t have to keep living with them! So, friend, I challenge you to consider any aspect in your life that could be holding you back from walking in complete freedom. Then, dig into God’s word, find scripture that can feed your spirit, and then stand on those words. Christ is more than able and willing to set you free. Have a great weekend!

12

Friday–December 4, 2015

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

Fyffe tames the Tigers

By Marla Jones, Sports Editor marla@southerntorch.com

Fyffe 20Randolph County 17 Fyffe, AL— Fyffe Red Devils faced Randolph County in the semi-finals of the AHSAA Class 2A

Football State Playoffs, Friday night.

With 11:41 left in the first, Rico Hannah ran the kickoff back for the Randolph County score.

The point after attempt was good. With 3:38 left in the first, Seth

Benefield scored on a 32-yard run. The point after attempt failed, leaving the Fyffe Red Devils trailing by one.

With 7:16 left in the second, Randolph County was forced to settle for a field-goal. With 7:01 left,

Cyle Collins ran the kickoff return back for 94-yards, scoring for the Red Devils. The point after attempt by Andrew Dunston was good. With only 2:22 left in the first half, Dilan Kilpatrick runs one in from 28-yards out. The extra point was good, giving the Red Devils the 20-12 lead going into the half.

With 1:25 left in the third, Randolph County quarterback, John Prestridge connected with JR Roundtree for the score. The PAT was good, making the score 20-17.

Randolph County was headed for the winning touchdown when Payton Anderson made an interception, with only 2:32 left in the game, to help seal the victory for the Red Devils.

Fyffe held Randolph County to 117 total yards.

They sacked the Randolph County Quarterback, three times.

Dilan Kilpatrick led the Red Devils with 183 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown.

Coach Paul Benefield was proud of how his team never quit. “ This was a total team effort.

Even when faced with adversity like when the kickoff was returned, they never gave up and just kept doing their job.

There were lots of big plays by the kids when we needed them, The huge play by Payton Anderson sealed the victory.”

Fyffe will face Elba in the State Championship, Friday December 4, 2015, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Kickoff is 3:00pm.

FAN OF THE WEEK! Congratulations, Avery Samples

The Southern Torch Fan of the Week is Avery Samples. Avery is a student at Plainview High School where she is a member of the Varsity Volleyball team. She is the daughter of Stacey Chaney and Eric Samples. She is pictured with Cyle Collins, #34 for the Fyffe Red Devils, as they celebrated the Fyffe win against Randolph County. She would like to wish Fyffe the best of luck in the Championship Game today!!! Submit your photos to Southern Torch and you could be the next Southern Torch Fan of the Week!

By Marla Jones, Sports Editor marla@southerntorch.com

State Championship Game: Fyffe vs Elba

Hey, Football Fans!!

Fyffe has made it to the 2A State Championship for the second year in a row...and for the second year in a row, they are playing Elba. Fyffe won last year 28-17. To say Elba is out for revenge, would be putting it mildly. Elba has been State Champions in 1989, 1992 and 2011. They are ready to add another one to their trophy case. Fyffe has one State Championship from last year and they are not planning on giving it up, anytime soon.

This will be a nitty-gritty showdown

from the very start. This game should be called the “Father/Son Bowl”.

Elba’s quarterback, Ramsey Rigby is the son of Head Coach, Ed Rigby.

Fyffe’s quarterback, Seth Benefield is the son of Head Coach, Paul Benefield.

Fyffe has won 13 consecutive games since losing to Cleveland on Sept. 4, 2015. They have found their groove with Seth Benefield, who replaced Quarterback, Will Mashburn after his season ending injury.

Fyffe offense averages 39 points per game while only giving up 10 points per game on defense.

Fyffe is lead by Dilan Kilpatrick who has over 2,600 yards and 35 touchdowns. Cyle Collins

and Tyler Ashley play like pros. Add that ball snatching, Payton Anderson in the mix and Fyffe is unstoppable.

Defensively, nothing is getting past Ryan Martin, Cole Hosch, Ricky Butts, Ethan Jones or Daniel Martin. Heck, they scare me just standing on the sidelines by them.

Elba lost their last regular season game to Opp but have been out for blood since the playoffs started. Elba averages 45 points per game and has scored more than 60 points, four times this season. Elba is wellrounded and is a double threat with running back, Stefan Caldwell and quarterback, Ramsey Rigby. Lineman, Blaine Hudson is committed to

Troy and Quarterback, Ramsey Rigby plans to walk on at Auburn.

The Fyffe Walk of Champions will begin at 12:55 p.m. Friday. The team will walk past many of the the statues including Coach Stallings, Coach Bryant and Coach Saban. Get there early and show your Dekalb County team how much you support them.

I admit, when I first was hired to be the Sports Editor at Southern Torch, I was afraid that I couldn’t support any other team than my Sylvania Rams. That is where I went to school and where both my boys played ball. I have met some of the nicest people I’ve ever known covering

the Red Devils this season and I am proud to say that Fyffe has welcomed me as one of their own with open arms. As I watch the Championship Game side-by-side with my new Fyffe family on Friday, it will be like cheering for my own children. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a Ram…. just with some Devil horns!

My prediction for the game is….Fyffe 27, Elba 14. When you see that Southern Torch Jeep headed to Tuscaloosa on Gameday, give me a big ole Red Devil Wave. I will be the gal cheering, like a mad woman at the game!! GO BIG RED!!!

13

Friday–December 4, 2015

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

Bears take down NSM

Eagles defeat the Rams

By Marla Jones, Sports Editor marla@southerntorch.com

By Marla Jones, Sports Editor marla@southerntorch.com

Plainview 79NSM 52

RAINSVILLE, Ala.— The Plainview Bears took down North Sand Mountain in what has become a rivalry game, Tuesday night.

The Bears started their attack early amassing 35 points to North Sand Mountain 21 points in the

first half. In the second half, Plainview sealed their victory while scoring 44 points to their opponents 31.

Jeffrey Armstrong put 23 points on the board for the Bears. Koby Tinker followed with 19 points.

The Plainview Bears will take on the Pisgah Eagles, Friday night.

Games start at 7:30 p.m. at Pisgah.

Pisgah 51Sylvania 35

SYLVANIA, Ala.— Pisgah Eagles defeated the Varsity Rams Tuesday night 51-35. The first quarter started out with the Rams in the lead.

Pisgah advanced to 13-11 going into the half.

During the second half of the game, Pisgah outscored the Rams 30-13 and finished with a 51-35 score.

The leading scorer for the Rams was Caleb Roebuck with 10 points

and 2 rebounds. Senior Phillip Dendy followed closely behind with 9 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds.

Sylvania will travel to face North Sand Mountain, tonight.

Games starting at 5:00 p.m.

SYLVANIA, Ala.— The Sylvania Lady Rams hosted the Pisgah Eagles, Tuesday night. The Lady Eagles jumped on the

scoreboard very fast and took the 46-24 lead in the first quarter. The second quarter was scoreless for both teams. In the third quarter, Pisgah outscored the Rams 22-9. The Lady Rams picked up steam in the fourth outscoring the Eagles, 15-7. Time ran out for the Rams. Final score was Pisgah 75, Sylvania 48.

Morgan Frazier was the leading scorer for the Rams. She had 27 points and 5 assists.

Sylvania will face North Sand Mountain, Friday night. Games begin at 6:00 p.m.

Lady Rams fall to the Eagles

James Williams Photography

James Williams, Owner Geraldine, AL (256) 996-0288

jameswilliamsphotography@yahoo.com

Fort Payne wins big over Etowah

By Marla Jones, Sports Editor marla@southerntorch.com

Pisgah 75Sylvania 48

Lady Bears defeated by NSM

By Marla Jones, Sports Editor marla@southerntorch.com

NSM 79Plainview 52

By Marla Jones, Sports Editor marla@southerntorch.com

Fort Payne 68Etowah 35

FORT PAYNE, Ala.— Fort Payne easily took down Etowah, Tuesday night. In the first quarter, they obtained a 20-8 lead.

Going into halftime, they

had the 37-19 lead. By the third quarter, they had sealed the Wildcat victory of 54-28. Final Fort Payne 68, Etowah 35.

King scored 15, Waites had 13 and Walker put 11 points on the board for the Wildcats.

Fort Payne will host Scottsboro, Friday night.

Sports Moments & More Photography Kristy Gallagher 256-605-4048 Call for all your photo needs!

RAINSVILLE, Ala.— NSM faced the Lady Bears, Tuesday night in a rival basketball battle. In the first quarter, it was a fierce competition with scores being 18-17. The second quarter saw NSM pull ahead scoring 19

points to the Lady Bears, 12. Coming back from the half, NSM outscored Plainview 27-23. Final NSM 63, Plainview 53.

The top scorer for Plainview was Anabelle Brown with 13 points.

Jacey Crowell followed with 8 points.

Plainview will travel to Pisgah, Friday night.

Games begin at 6:00 p.m.

Section defeats Collinsville

By Marla Jones, Sports Editor marla@southerntorch.com

Section 72Collinsville 45

SECTION, Ala.—

Collinsville faced Section, Tuesday night. Section pulled ahead in the first quarter, outscoring the Panthers 18-4. In the second quarter, Section padded the lead scoring 42 points to Collinsville 18. Coming back from the half, Section put their scoring machine into overdrive and pulled off the win. Final Section 72, Fyffe 45.

Collinsville will face Ider, December 8, 2015. Games start at 8:00 p.m.

Fort Payne Lady Wildcats defeat Etowah 68-35

Coaches, please submit stats to marla@southerntorch.com

14

Friday–December 4, 2015

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

Congratulations Fyffe Red Devils!