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Progress 2024 Horizons 2024

A special edition from Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc.

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Horizons 2024

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From the General Manager's Desk It’s time. Time for a fresh start to the new year and looking toward the horizon.

In Elmore County, there’s excitement in the air, which means it’s time for us to tell you about a few big things happening here in the pages of the 2024 Horizons magazine. Let me first say how grateful we are for the heartfelt responses to the 2023 edition. We work incredibly hard to showcase how remarkable the Elmore County communities are, and your overwhelmingly positive response to last year’s magazine fueled us as we set out to produce this year’s edition.

Elmore County has been building up to big things for several years, and at Tallapoosa Publishers, it’s been exciting to not only watch but also to be a part of it by spotlighting local businesses, people and projects.

Give yourselves a lot of credit. Elmore County has made great strides in education, recreation, entertainment and community pride in recent years, and the economic impact will be felt for years to come. Here’s a quick sampling of articles you’ll find in this year’s magazine.

Dalton Middleton tackles technology by bringing you a glimpse of innovation on the local football level on page 30 with his article about drone use during high school games. Applying the technology to game analysis is a game changer and offers a unique perspective not available before. Talk about a bird’s eye view!

At Tallassee High School, the BEST robotics team has come back even stronger after the pandemic’s mandated cancellation. Students learn not only engineering skills but also marketing, project management, sportsmanship, responsibility and more. This team is doing big things. Check out Ben Smith’s article on page 54.

Marie Rippy in Eclectic has won the hearts and stomachs of residents and visitors with a food option that’s as fresh as her aesthetic décor. Little Rippy’s Restaurant focuses on healthy, delicious lunch options, but we hear dessert is also a local favorite. Pay her a visit on page 60 and then drop in to taste the fresh fare for yourself.

Millbrook is starting work on the second phase of the 17 Springs project, which will couple shopping and entertainment with the new sports complex that opened last year. In addition, the city has started to form a vision for yet another economic center. Once again, big things are on the horizon. Read more on page 44.

HGTV’s Home Town Takeover show gave a big boost to Wetumpka in 2021, and the rippling effect continues to rock the community’s economy with tourists, new businesses and new residents. And Wetumpka’s sister cities in Elmore County are feeling the positive vibes as well. Turn to page 12 for more on the progress since the miracle makeover.

This is only a snapshot of what you’ll find in this year’s Horizons magazine. Keep reading for even more big things. Without a doubt, Elmore County knows how to go big or go home, and at Tallapoosa Publishers, we are honored to be a part of this vibrant, innovative group of communities and people that are constantly doing big things.

Tippy Hunter, TPI General Manager 4

STAFF Chairman Kenneth Boone General Manager Tippy Hunter tippy.hunter@alexcityoutlook.com Editor-in-Chief Betsy Iler betsy.iler@alexcityoutlook.com Creative Services Audra Spears audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com Marketing Consultants Rachel Hubbard rachel.hubbard@thewetumpkaherald.com Sheryl Jennings sheryl.jennings@tallasseetribune.com Business & Digital Development Director Angela Mullins angela.mullins@alexcityoutlook.com Audience Development Director Samantha Himes samantha.himes@alexcityoutlook.com

Contributors Ben Smith Cliff Williams Lizi Gwin Melody Rathell Abigail Murphy Henry Zimmer Dalton Middleton Chris Duncan

TPI All content, including all stories and photos, are copyright of

Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 99 127 Company Street, Wetumpka, AL 36092 334-567-7811 thewetumpkaherald.com tallasseetribune.com

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CONTENTS

58 Crater Brings together Arts, Recreation & Science Hometown Takeover Wetumpka Businesses Wildlife Arts Festival High School High Tech Black History Museum Moving Millbrook Forward 17 Springs Extra Mile in Health Care Tallassee Robotics Club Eclectic’s Cotton Festival Fresh Food Little Rippy’s Elmore County Cheerleaders ON THE COVER: Downtown Wetumpka is thriving two years after HGTV’s “Home Town Takeover” helped renovate businesses and stimulate the local economy.

The River Region

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Crater brings together arts, recreation & science STORY BY CLIFF WILLIAMS & PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS AND BARRY CHRIETZBERG

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illions of years after a meteor the size of Jordan-Hare Stadium or Bryant Denny collided into what is now Wetumpka, another collision of epic proportions is occurring. In anticipation of a drop in visitors related to HGTV’s Hometown Takeover featuring the city, leaders plan to showcase the Wetumpka impact crater and other natural sites and resources through entertainment, education and outdoors adventures.

The target of the next collision is downtown Wetumpka and the western rim of the crater. The City of Wetumpka has partnered with Elmore County and the Wetumpka Impact Crater Commission (WICC) to create a center in downtown Wetumpka on Company Street that will house a welcome center for tourism and the crater.

“The unique thing about this location is the ability to educate the general public about the natural disaster that few people know about,” said WICC chairman Kevin Reuter. “They hear about Wetumpka impact crater, but they don’t know what that means.”

The center is located at the former building for the The Kelly. Staff at the arts center is helping to build displays with a hope of bringing science to life.

“The artwork that is displayed here was done by a lot of famous artists,” Reuter said. “Some of the artists here are displayed in Chicago and the United Arab Emirates. It helps bring to life something words describe.”

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Previous Pages: Wetumpka is situated in the impact crater; Above: Exhibits at the new center on Company Street include a model of the crater; Facing Page: Artwork at the center enhances viewers’ perceptions of science.

Reuter believes even those not highly interested in the crater could appreciate the art hanging in the crater center, and in The Alleyway, giving children an idea of how the crater was formed.

Art is also central to bringing visitors to Wetumpka. Downtown buildings are already showcasing art. In many cases, it is art from selftaught Southern artists – something for which Wetumpka wants to be known.

Local artist Don Sawyer believes art is putting Wetumpka on the map regionally and nationally.

“Art is a catalyst. People will come from California if they think there is great art here,” Sawyer said. “They won’t come here from California just to eat or to buy clothes.”

Sawyer sees Company Street and the other downtown streets as a way to create a vibe similar to that found in New Orleans’s French Quarter or Beale Street.

“You have a perfect venue to be an arts center just because of the way the town is laid out,” Sawyer said. “We have the stage perfectly set up in a triangle. All you have to do is keep walking around it.”

Sawyer envisions multiple festivals filling downtown Wetumpka streets with artists and musicians throughout the year.

City leaders are hoping a steady flow of visi-

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tors will eat in local restaurants and stay in local hotels throughout the week and year. Incentives were offered to help WOW Catering come to downtown. The City also paid for a study to help recruit hotels. Curating events and promotions is encouraged by not only non-profits but also private businesses as a way to create multiple attractions for visitors researching Wetumpka.

The impact millions of years ago boosts the area’s outdoor sector. The Coosa River moved around the crater, exposing the layers pointing to the rim. It is also a take-out point for those paddling Moccasin Gap a couple miles upstream.

Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis sees many other things fitting into the puzzle for the area’s tourism. He believes the city should play a significant role in tourism and recommended the City create a tourism director position.

“Really, tourism is not the chamber of commerce’s job. It’s not Main Street’s job,” Willis said.

“We are just trying to figure out what we have; what needs to be promoted; how to tell that story and when to tell that story.”

Willis believes part of the story is the uncompleted lock in the Coosa River. Wetumpka was a shipping hub for riverboats taking cotton to faraway markets, and the lock was built to help expedite the loading and unloading of goods.

There is the Riverboat Captain’s House, which the City owns. The City also has invested in staffing at the building at the Elmore County Black History Museum to help provide more consistent hours.

When church vans or tour buses come to town, Willis is often there serving as a tour guide. Willis sees the City eventually investing in transportation of some sort to help move people between sites across town.

“I’ve been to other cities and seen how they do tourism,” Willis said. “They do it any way they can, from customized Jeeps, all the way to 15-passenger buses.”

Sales and lodging tax revenue streams help fund City departments such as public works and other services that provide better quality of life for Wetumpka’s citizens.

When those taxes are paid by visitors, the economy grows.

In 2018, the City collected $54,358 through the 12 percent lodging tax. After the Hampton Inn opened

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in 2019, $293,483 was collected. During 2020 and the hardest restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic, $264,155 was deposited in the City’s accounts due to lodging tax. Those collections surged to $338,968 in 2021.

Sales tax is collected on almost every purchase, from groceries and building supplies to food in restaurants, clothing and gift items.

In 2018, $6.6 million was collected. For fiscal year 2019, city sales tax increased from 3 percent to 4 percent, and $9 million was collected.

In 2020, $10 million in sales tax was collected, and in 2021, the City of Wetumpka collected nearly $11.4 million in sales taxes.

Entrepreneurs and other business owners are taking notice of what is happening between the crater and the Coosa River in downtown Wetumpka.

Auburn artist Mary Ann Casey doesn’t showcase her art just anywhere. She hand-selects a few shows and has become a regular at Sawyer’s Downtown Artists shows.

“I’m loving it here,” Casey said. “I like the people. I like the town. I like the leadership.”

Casey said she has experienced art shows and towns across the Southeast. She likes the mix in Wetumpka with arts festivals and music festivals like the Rhythm and Blues Festival.

Casey thinks downtown Wetumpka and its leaders set in place a recipe to attract a good mix of visitors for years to come.

“People can just walk through and feel it,” Casey said. “It makes a difference. I love it.”

Reuter and WICC’s Marilee Tankersly envision the crater and the tourism center as part of a collision that will have a positive impact for years to come.

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Wetumpka’s Premier Art Gallery Events • Exhibitions • Permanent Collection OPEN TUESDAY – SATURDAY 10A-5P

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Home Town Takeover STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS

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aith, trust and meteor dust is what the community believes drove Wetumpka’s selection as the premier location for the first season of Home Town Takeover, Ben and Erin Napier’s 2021 No HGTV show spotlighting the river city, said Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce Director Shellie Whitfield.

“We already knew who we were and who we wanted to become. The show’s producers saw that, which is why they chose us.”

Whitfield said. “We were already fanning the flame of improving our community, and we are grateful that they poured jet fuel on our little fire. Now we are all working hard together to sustain it. The city has magnificent plans to help us maintain our momentum.”

Previous Pages: Home Town Takeover rebranded Company Street: This Page: Those plans include welcoming tourists Top: Wetumpka’s downtown is now thriving with art; Bottom: Music events – not only to see the miracle makeover by are hosted regularly; Facing Page, Top to Bottom: Lighting creates an elegant national television personalities but also to evening atmosphere; The Christmas parade is a festival of lights; Shoppers visit Wetumpka’s thriving art community, its flock to downtown events. meteor impact crater, filming history, the casino, delightful shops, and more (see the article “We already had a team of people working togethon page 6). er and rowing in the same direction. The City, county, “Our team laid a foundation that Ben and Erin chamber, and Main Street work together to make could build on. Now, we are continuing to build on good things happen. When Wetumpka received its what they did for us.” Whitfield said, “It’s amazing how Main Street designation in 2016, that was pivotal,” far we’ve come in such a short amount of time.”

Whitfield said “We joke that what makes us different Whitfield said the foundation of the showcase is that Wetumpka has faith, trust and meteor dust. We community has been building for many years. The believe in our community, and we work respectfully downtown streetscape project had been in the works together. There is something so special about this for years prior. place. I believe that the producers saw that and could 14

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feel it when they were here. I believe that the show was a hit because the viewers could feel it, too.”

Following the show’s airing, foot traffic in Wetumpka increased by more than 475 percent. It has now tapered off to a more manageable level, but people continue to come from all over the world.

“We see people from Canada who stop on their way through to winter in Florida. We have seen over 90 tour buses come through since the show aired, and tour bus companies are starting to plan trips here routinely. All day, every day, people are walking around downtown, which has encouraged some shops to increase the number of hours they are open” she said.

Since the airing of the show, the chamber has hosted over 30 new-business ribbon cuttings. Publix gave the city a Christmas present in December with the formal announcement that a new store would start construction in Wetumpka this winter. Scooters Coffee opened Jan. 1.

The farmer’s market built on the show is open every Thursday for nine months of the year, and the locals often use it to have lunch and host birthday parties. Moab Burgers came to town. Fur Baby University opened recently, and The Kelly gallery moved to a 4,000-square-foot riverfront exhibit and venue space.

“We can’t build homes fast enough,” Whitfield said.

“People are craving smalltown life. Elmore County has great schools, low crime and a number of phenomenal communities. It’s a great demographic,” she said. “We are seeing people move here from all over the U.S., as far away as Oregon.”

The success is spilling into other Elmore County cities, as well. In Millbrook, the HGTV Home Town Take Over – Where are they now? episode No. 1 production featured a six-minute segment about Millbrook’s murals (see Horizons Magazine 2023) and new growth (see article on page 40).

“We have had many other communities reach out to us and ask us how we did it. We love hosting other town’s leadership and sharing our story. It’s about working together,” she said. “Communities need to build a team; and then, tell their unique story. That’s what we’ve done. The City, Main Street, the chamber, the county, the art community – we’re working together. It’s a huge team of people that love this place.”

Wetumpka has worked to elevate itself through the arts and with one-of-a-kind events, like art walks, Coosapalooza Brewfest, Downtown Dickens Christmas and River and Blues.

“All of our successes are based on relationships and about the community working together. That’s why we were chosen for Home Town Takeover, and that is why we are still doing great,” she said. “To steal a line from the Big Fish movie, ‘We became what we always were – a very big fish.’”

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Wetumpka Businesses STORY BY DALTON MIDDLETON & PHOTOS BY BEN SMITH

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Previous Pages: Restoration Coffee is located inside an old bank building; Left: Don Sawyer’s art studio is covered with vibrant paintings, such as his familiar “Hollywood Fish;” Above: Debra Wilson’s paintings of warm sunsets behind dark trees sit outside the shop alongside Sawyer’s own.

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ariety is something Main Street Wetumpka Executive Director Haley Greene looks for when finding tenants for vacant buildings in the downtown area. In the last year, Wetumpka’s downtown grew with the introductions of businesses such as the Tucker Pecan Company, Aida with Love, Hello Goodbuy and Restoration Coffee. And right now, the amount of empty buildings in downtown Wetumpka is lower than Greene’s seen since she began in her role in 2021.

“Our vacancy rate is very, very low right now 20

which is exciting,” Greene said. “We want to get a variety of businesses here, and we want businesses that tourists and residents both want to visit. I think with HGTV and different events we have down here, our businesses are seeing foot traffic, which is great for the economy and our local businesses.”

A short walk down East Bridge Street passes a surprising mix of stores, from Nick of Thyme, an oil and vinegar company, to Sweet Home Books next door. The bookstore now occupies the building that was Jerry’s Barbershop on the HGTV Hometown Takeover production that aired in 2020.

A short stroll across the street offers lunch options like Copper House Deli’s Lock 31 brisket grilled cheese or a chili cheese dog from Grumpy Dog. At the top of Company Street, pick up a refreshing drink from The Fizz Co. before stopping in for bath bombs and bubble bars from Scent Wizards, or old baseball cards or video

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game systems at Hello Goodbuy. For residents and tourists alike, there’s a store for everyone’s fancy.

“Variety makes our downtown unique,” Greene said. “We don’t want a bunch of the same businesses because that gets old. We want people to walk around and see stores and be interested in going in there.”

The town attracts movie buffs who want to visit the sets of films made here, most notably including Big Fish and Son of the South.

While people may visit for the history and the television shows, they stick around for the businesses.

New businesses are being leased every month, and there’s even a bakery being built next to Main Street Wetumpka’s building. It will offer cupcakes, small treats, wedding and birthday cakes and much more for both tourists and Wetumpka’s everyday residents.

“Right now, I think we have a pretty good mix of things that residents, tourists and visitors like,” Greene Clockwise from Top: River said. “I think we Perk Coffee Shop is one of have a good variseveral coffee options in ety right now for downtown Wetumpka; Grab a everyone. We have dirty soda or lemonade from a little bit of every- the Fizz Co.; Tucker Pecan thing.”

Company offers decorative And while pillows, cookies, jellies and Wetumpka is curmore in addition to pecans.

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Left: Company Street Mercantile offers everything from hot sauce to scented candles; Above: Items at Company Street Mercantile are carefully placed to create decorative displays throughout the store.

rently in a good state for businesses, Greene wants to continue trending in the right direction.

While she likes the businesses that have opened, she hopes to see a grocery store or a bodega.

“I think it would be great if we had somewhere for someone to get everyday essentials, such as a toothbrush, toilet paper, milk or eggs,” Greene said.

“I think that would be very beneficial. I think we’re headed in the right direction.”

Greene also acknowledged that not only does the city want a variety of businesses, but they also want businesses and property owners who have good business plans. That is helpful, especially 22

during the holiday months or in winter, when day-to-day business and foot traffic tend to slow down..

“We appreciate when property owners see the vision of having a variety of different businesses down here,” Greene said. “You also have to be willing to work hard, and if your business plan or model doesn’t succeed, you have to be able to change it with the seasons and be flexible.”

To help businesses succeed, downtown also keeps upgrading its look to promote heavier foot traffic.

That includes adding amenities like the Free Little Library that sits in the alley. Everyone is encouraged to take or leave books inside the library box. There are also the mosaics on the steps near the Taste at the Fain building.

“We make little adjustments, improvements and beautifications throughout the year that just make it a more welcoming and inviting atmosphere around here,” Greene said. “I think every year, downtown gets better and looks better. We have learned to upkeep and add things that the community enjoys.”

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WILDLIFE ARTS FESTIVAL

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STORY AND PHOTOS BY BEN SMITH Horizons 2024

ood vendors, art exhibits, musicians arts and crafts tents, entertainment and more stretched across from Gold Star Park to Coach’s Corner Sports Bar and Grill for last November’s Second Annual Wildlife Arts Festival in Wetumpka.

“We wanted to do something uniquely Wetumpka,” said Jennifer Eifert, director of The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts.

From 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., there were plenty of animalcentered activities to keep eventgoers entertained, including the Art Gone Wild exhibit, a wildlife-centered art contest that drew some 200 entries from more than 150 artists across the Southeast. Jared Knox won the grand prize of $10,000 for his painting titled Bobcat and Bobwhite. The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts sold over $20,000 in artwork from the event.

The art contest was far from the only entertainment present at the festival. Wildrose Kennels traveled all the way from Oxford, Mississippi, to show off their British and Irish labrador-retrievers. Award-winning chefs, including Hot and Hot Fish Club’s Chris Hastings and Wind Creek Casino’s own Alex Hoefer, provided cooking demonstrations. The Montgomery Zoo sold paintings done by chimpanzees, elephants, giraffes and more. Puppies, hawks, parakeets and ferrets could be found at various vendors throughout the area.

By far, the most popular event was the DockDogs sporting dogs demonstration. The nationally recognized canine competition put the dogs’ atheletic abilities to the test. Trainers tossed balls and toys out across an inflatable pool to see which dogs could jump the highest and the furthest. Eventgoers flocked to watch this competition, complete with an announcer, music and judges.

In total, the activities Left: Demonstrations such brought more than 5,000 as this one were seemingly people to Wetumpka from on every corner during the Wildlife Arts Festival; Above: neighboring areas of Alabama The Kelly exhibited hundreds and beyond. of artwork submissions “They stay in town, eat throughout the building. at our restaurants. They’re 25

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spending money here they normally wouldn’t otherwise spend,” said Eifert.

The rapid rate of growth this festival has experienced in only two years of existence means the city could see an increase in overall tourism during other times of the year.

“I think having this festival now means that people will come back to Wetumpka later,” said Eifert. “They’ve come from out of town to see the festival, and now they know we’re here. So, maybe they come back to kayak the Coosa River or to visit some of the shops.”

About 70 volunteers showed up to aid in the event, assisting vendors, informing eventgoers, answering questions and dealing with other onthe-spot issues. The volunteers were from an eclectic range of groups, from local Boy Scout troops to Wetumpka High School honor students, local businesses, clubs and more.

“We have a great community here already that supports events in the downtown area in particular,” said Venessa Royal, The Kelly board member who coordinated the volunteer efforts. “I think in Wetumpka the art community is really picking up steam and strengthening. I think our community sees that, and people are excited about what’s happening.”

Royal emphasized that without the help of the people of Wetumpka, the Wildlife Arts Festival wouldn’t be possible.

“They’re vital. There’s no way we could have accomplished what we were able to do without Horizons 2024

Clockwise from Facing Page: Craig Menard tosses a frisbee to his dog, Ezz Jett, during the DockDogs demonstration in the parking lot next to Coaches’ Corner; Three Broke Girls performed on the patio of The Kelly from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.; Food trucks lined up along Merchant’s Alley, offering various types of meals to eventgoers; Chef Chris Hastings demonstrated how to prepare a delicious seafood paella; Vendors set up in the parking lots along South Main Street to sell trinkets, carvings, clothing and more.

the volunteers,” said Royal. “We have a really hard-working staff, but we don’t have a big staff.

So, our board depends on volunteers.”

The Wildlife Arts Festival is a collaborative effort between The Kelly, the City of Wetumpka and local businesses and organizations. Volunteer efforts broaden the festival’s reach, which in turn, brings more people to Wetumpka and results in more tax revenue for the City, as well as more dollars spent at local businesses.

Royal said the festival is the only one in the state to center around wildlife, arts and conservation. An artist herself, she believes that culturally, Alabama has much more art to offer than people realize.

“There are a lot of great art festivals in the state already,” she said. “Alabama has a very active art scene. I think people in other parts of the country sometimes don’t realize how much art there really is in Alabama and in the Southeast in general.”

It’s just another way Elmore County is managing to forge an identity for itself in the arts.

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High School High Tech

Drones add an instant replay feature to local games, just like in the pros STORY BY DALTON MIDDLETON PHOTOS BY CHRIS DUNCAN & LIZI GWIN

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igh school football has come a long of techniques, especially from linemen, that you way since the days of trading game can’t see from just the side view. But with the footage on VHS tapes in the parking drone, you can see the steps they’re taking, and lot. Any veteran high school coach you can break it down snap-by-snap. You get a remembers taking one angle of film, usually from true depiction of players.” the press box, and transferring it to a VHS tape But drones are just one way the game is in the days following a game. Then, he drove changing at the high school level. however many With special miles necessary tools, such as to meet the team’s Sky Coach, which next opponent and Holtville uses, switch films, as a teams use the courtesy, to see video recorded what went right, or on the drones wrong, in the previas instant replay ous game. on the sideline.

That’s not the Instead of having case anymore. to draw up what Much like how is happening and NFL and NCAA showing teams at games are live halftime, or even streamed with waiting until the instant replay and following Monday multiple angles, to figure out how high school foota specific player is ball is right behind getting beat every its more advanced play, teams are counterparts. To instantaneously get more, and betgetting film on the ter, angles, high sideline. school football So, after a drive coaches now use ends, the players drones to help can walk straight record games. over to the tent Drones can follow and sit down in along with each front of a television play, either directly or pick up iPads above or from and see the play whatever angle that happened coaches want, just seconds and those videos prior. As soon as become instant a play is loaded replays on the into the app from sideline. the drone or side Teams in camera, it is ready Previous Page: Drones now capture video at local high school football Alabama are to show to anyone games; Above: Drone use during games is regulated by the Alabama allowed to use and everyone.

High School Athletic Association and is mostly limited to end zone drones, but they “It’s a crazy areas. must follow rules advantage for from the Alabama everyone,” Franklin High School Athletic Association. In compliance said. “You can make in-game adjustments on the with the AHSAA, drones must be flown outside fly with real-time information. It is wild. I never the field of play at all times and cannot be flown thought the game would get to this level in high over an area where spectators gather or sit. That school, but it has.” leaves mostly the end zone, and teams such as Being able to make instant changes in Holtville are taking full advantage of the rule. response to how the opposing team is playing “Using the drone just gives you a true picture,” is a game changer and helps teams more than Holtville Coach Jason Franklin said. “You see ever before, but it isn’t even the best thing about everything the way it’s lined up. There are a lot instant replay for Franklin.

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Images captured with the drone are instantly available on the sidelines using large screen monitors (above) or pads (right) and help coaches and players make adjustments during the game.

Much like most coaches, Franklin cares less about wins and losses than about helping his players become better players and men. The players’ perspectives on the field differ from those of the coaches on the sidelines or in the press box. That gap can be addressed via instant replay, and it can improve players’ thought processes and skills in real time.

“It helps the kids more than anything else,” Franklin said. “Video can tell them exactly what happened instantly, and you can fix issues with them within seconds. We have a guy up top seeing it in real time, and he can go into the app and have the exact moment pulled up on the screen for a kid by the time he walks to the sideline.”

Franklin has been around the game of football for a long time. He is currently in his 16th season as a head football coach, serving nine seasons as the head coach at Horseshoe Bend before taking over at Holtville in 2017. Before holding the head Horizons 2024

coach position at Horseshoe Bend, he served as an assistant coach. He’s seen it all when it comes to recording games. He’s seen VHS tapes turned into DVDs, and he’s now seen drones and instant replay on TVs on the sideline.

“The instant information is amazing,” Franklin said. “It is technology that is absolutely changing the game of football every single year.”

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Black History Museum Furthering unity in Wetumpka at the Rosenwald school STORY BY CLIFF WILLIAMS & PHOTOS BY BEN SMITH

The Elmore County Black History Museum and its nearby property are steeped in history.

The museum is housed in the only Rosenwald School still standing in Elmore County. Its bricks were made in Tuskegee. Thousands of people have walked the halls of this builidng, which was built in 1924 as the Elmore County Training School to educate Blacks.

Today, it houses a museum remembering the past. The property is also the site of the Percy Gill Splash Pad. Former Wetumpka councilmember Percy Gill was on a mission every day to unite the community, advocating for places where children of all races could play together. Today, that place is a splash pad, part of the Elmore County Black History Museum at the only historic Rosenwald School still standing in Alabama.

The philanthropic Rosenwald Fund, founded

by Sears Roebuck & Company president, Julius Rosenwald, built some 5,000 schools for Black students in the segregated South between 1917 and 1932; 400 of which were in Alabama. The Elmore County Training School, built in 1924, was among them.

A Black man, Gill was a dedicated public servant who helped to create the Elmore County Economic Development Authority. He served on the city’s industrial development board, on the steering committee for Leadership Elmore County and project manager for the 50th Anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, but his heart was with the community’s children. He helped to establish 36

the first Boys & Girls Club in Wetumpka and helped to frame recreation at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation and Multicultural Center.

“Percy could have been anywhere in the world, but he wanted to come home,” said Alabama State University President Dr. Quinton Ross at the splash pad dedication. “He wanted to come home to this community and invest in it. That is what he did. He was all about uniting the community and providing for young people.”

“I made sure I got a seat close to Percy,” said Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis. “It was because I knew he was smart. I knew he knew what he was doing. I learned a lot from him.”

Elmore County Black History Museum board member Winfred Wise said Gill made his pitch for the splash pad during discussions about renovating

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the teacher’s home at Rosenwald School as part of the Elmore County Black History Museum. Shortly after, the idea was presented to the Wetumpka City Council.

Willis said Gill and Ron Dickerson took it upon themselves to make sure the design for the splash pad met the requirements for Wetumpka.

“They traveled to communities all across Above: Ms. Billie Rawls has Alabama, looking at volunteered at the Elmore splash pads trying to fig- County Black History ure out what Wetumpka Museum for over 20 years. needed to best serve and she has served as its the entire community,” curator for the last two; Late Willis said. “That got the city council member Percy wheels turning for this.”

Gill advocated for the splash In March of 2019, Gill pad as a place where children of all races and cultures could play together.

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Top: The museum displays books that have been banned from other libraries, Rawls said; Bottom: The splash pad includes a variety of water features and is a popular destination on hot summer days.

suffered a stroke and died without seeing his dream come to fruition.

The splash pad takes up a small part of the 175-acre complex that houses the Elmore County Black History Museum and the Wetumpka Sports Complex. Willis said nearly $35 million has been spent for the complex, and more is on the way when funding becomes available.

The city has partnered with the museum’s board for a new HVAC system and staffing to allow regular hours at the museum. It is now open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and the first and third Saturdays of each month. On Tuesdays, quilters from Thread My Needle gather to share their craft and conversations with visitors.

The City of Wetumpka is purchasing a lot next to

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the teacher’s home to create basketball courts for the community.

“This fits in the mission of history of the training school,” Willis said. “It brings people together for conversations.”

“He was a special person,” said Wetumpka resident Jordan. “He was a great city councilman. He had me on the Wetumpka Pride board for eight years. He was a special person. He probably would have been mayor one day, maybe senator. He was that bright.”

Gill met Montgomery Mayor Stephen Reed in the political arena. Their friendship grew through both mens’ connection with Omega Phi Psi Fraternity, Inc. “I was inspired by his willingness to do the grunt work,” Reed said. “He was willing to do it in a campaign, in an organization and the community when the limelight wasn’t there.”

Current Wetumpka councilmember Cheryl Tucker serves District 2, the same district Gill represented.

She said it was Gill who encouraged her to run for political office. Tucker said the splash pad has already done what Gill envisioned in just a few months.

“When it opened this summer you saw all walks of life out here,” Tucker said. “It was Black, white, brown, whatever. Everyone was here. The kids were having a good time; the adults as well. Everyone interacted well. We didn’t have an issue, no problem. Everyone came up and had fun. It was a coming together. I see this helping Wetumpka and beyond for generations to come.”

The investment may have been smaller than some of the other projects the city has done, but Tucker believes the splash pad has more meaning to the entire community. Dedicating the splash pad to Gill, whose idea it was in the first place, is just icing on the cake.

“It means a lot,” Tucker said. “Percy was all about the community and all about the kids. It means so much that we were able to dedicate this splash pad in his memory. Words cannot explain it.”

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MOVING MILLBROOK FORWARD STORY BY BETSY ILER & PHOTOS COURTESY OF MILLBROOK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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ven before the second phase of Millbrook’s 17 Springs development broke ground, city leaders were looking forward to the next big project that will keep the community moving in a positive direction.

Creation of a dedicated downtown, entrepreneurial support and small business incubation are part of the vision for the young city’s future.

Through a public-private partnership, the 17 Springs project was launched to provide the region with not only an attractive option for organized youth sporting events, but also to serve as an economic engine to help drive commercial and retail development along the city’s east/west corridor. With Phase I having opened just five months ago, the facility has already hosted more than 31,000 visitors. The second phase is currently under construction and will be completed in early 2025. Concurrently with Phase II, efforts have been focused on preparing the Marketplace, the 16-plus acre tract that lies in front of the 17 Springs sports complex, for commercial and retail tenants. It is expected that pad-ready sites will be available for purchase in the Marketplace this coming fall.

In the meantime, consultation and planning has begun on another economic activity area of the city, said Economic Development Director Ann Harper.

“Millbrook is a young city compared to our sister cities in the area. We will celebrate 50 years of incorporation in 2027,” she said. “While some development occurred before the city incorporated and initiated zoning, a well-defined, traditional downtown never materialized. Currently, a lot of our resources are dedicated to 17 Springs, but when that’s completed, we want to be ready to start implementing a downtown strategy.”

To that end, Harper said, the city is in very early stages of engagement with a consultant that will help to craft a vision for a downtown district.

“We anticipate this will be an area served by government facilities, boutiques and small shops, cultural arts and passive recreational opportunities,” Harper explained.

“Village Green Park would be the nucleus of the downtown district, as the popular green space is located in the heart of the city. Planned development would be encouraged around the park,” she said.

“We had a chain store that wanted to come in, and because of their location, we asked them to make some design upgrades to the exterior of their building. That spurred us to upgrade our standards for landMusic festivals in the park scaping, architectural add to the entertainment design and the aesoptions in Millbrook. thetics of the area, to Horizons 2024

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Dennis is the city’s first fulltime chamber president and CEO, and in her short tenure to date, chamber membership has grown by nearly 300 percent, from 160 to 467. Many of those members are entrepreneurs, small business owners and work-from-home employees, she said.

“A variety of economic sectors are growing, and they all need each other,” Dennis said. “Networking is important to the success of these new businesses, and they show up prepared to share their products and services. We needed a full functioning chamber to support them and offer resources, so we rebranded and are implementing strategic plans to get us to that level.”

A business incubation center is part of the vision for Millbrook’s future, Dennis said.

“We are considering the establishment of a foundation for an incubation center that would have its own 501(3)c status,” she said. “It’s part of solidifying the chamber as a resource, supporting members and working with the city. We want to provide people with a vision they can buy into.”

With that updated vision in mind, the Top: Groundbreaking at 17 Springs set the stage for growth; Bottom: Ribbon cuttings for new businesses are on the rise. chamber recently launched a new website that offers educational opportunities and university discounts and scholarmake them a little more stringent,” she said. ships for chamber members, web page opportuniThe foundation for the city’s recent growth has ties, promotional support, group insurance inforbeen in the making for many years, Harper said. mation, workforce development opportunities, job Mayor Al Kelley is in his seventh term of office, posting, a busy networking calendar and more. which has lent continuity and momentum to the “The best thing to do to promote your business planned development at 17 Springs and in town. is to show up – to coffees, luncheons and other In addition, stakeholders in Millbrook’s economic development efforts have taken a team approach to opportunities. Keep making connections and meet others interested in growing business. Everybody the shared vision. Business, education, recreation and government entities meet regularly for planning here is so ready for good things to happen,” she said. sessions to keep projects moving forward.

In addition, the City hired Cultural Arts Director Harper was brought on board in 2018 and was Danae Morgan more than a year ago. tasked with recruiting businesses to help enhance “She drives tourism, elevates existing festivals the local tax base and quality of life amenities. and creates new ones, like Mayfest,” Harper said.

“Sales tax is the biggest source of revenue for “In the last few years, we’ve seen residents take most cities around here, so I was hired to bring in a greater interest in our city. We can really see a those businesses to generate or support that funding. Fire and police departments, parks, roads, facil- change. What we’re getting back are upbeat, positive comments.” ities and housing are wonderful things to have, but Harper and Dennis agree that Millbrook’s future you have to have money to provide these services,” is bright and full of opportunity. she said.

Millbrook’s young history also plays a role, said Millbrook Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, Brenda Dennis.

“We are lucky we didn’t already have a downtown,” she said. “Instead of trying to reinvent an existing economic center, we can create the vision.

This is a great opportunity.”

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17 Springs Cooperation helps create innovative partnership for quality of life STORY BY CLIFF WILLIAMS & PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS AND COURTESY OF MILLBROOK ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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Previous Pages: The new sports complex includes soccer, softball, baseball and football fields, tennis and pickleball courts and a fieldhouse for volleyball and basketball; Above: A portion of the facility opened last fall; Left: Pickleball has grown faster than any other sport in the country.

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growing population has needs.

Residents want places to eat and shop. They also want to congregate, whether it be through recreational sports, walking trails or listening to music.

Most of the funding available to local and county governments is limited as to how it can be spent, and with low property taxes, pulling off large projects could be challenging. In Elmore County, several public and private entities have partnered to not only bring 17 Springs to life in Millbrook but also to bring quality-of-life projects to Elmore County. Five years ago, the multisport facility fronted with a commercial district was a pipedream, but the Elmore County Commission, the Elmore County Economic Development

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Authority, the City of Millbrook, the Elmore County Board of Education and the Grandview YMCA partnered for this generational project.

In a spirit of cooperation, they approached a project that was much larger than any one of the entities could pull off alone.

Bart Mercer is the Elmore County Commission Chairman and serves on Elmore County Economic Development Authority. He said 17 Springs was born from the needs of its partners.

“The board of education needed more sports facilities for students to use,” Mercer said. “The City of Millbrook had a need for diamond fields for softball and baseball. The EDA realized the benefits and advantages of tourism, and having a venue to focus on sports tourism was a plus. The YMCA was needing more soccer fields.”

Millbrook Mayor Al Kelley said conversations started between the City and the YMCA as a need for soccer fields was noticed. There was talk of constructing the fields on property owned by the non-profit YMCA. As talks began, Kelley and others looked years into the future.

“We were talking about things we wanted to do and could do,” Kelley said. “You know what

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we did? We bought a junkyard.”

The automobile recycling center on State Route 14 in the city limits was adjacent to the 17 Springs property. The junkyard will become a commercial district. Late last year, Marriott broke ground for a 105-room TownePlace Suites in the area, and Publix will open a grocery store later this year. Kelley and other City officials are talking about how close they are to inking other deals with hotels, restaurants and retailers.

As the vision of 17 Springs took shape, Bill Meyers with the YMCA suggested creating ballfields for area children. Elmore County Chief Operating Officer Richie Beyer has children who play sports in the Millbrook school.

“We rode around this property in a four-wheeler, looking around, wanting to put a football field here, a soccer field there,” Kelley said. “All of a sudden, that vision that Bill Meyers had started coming together with a lot of other people.”

There were meetings and more meetings, and pickleball was often brought up. But Kelley had one question.

“I finally asked, ‘What is pickleball?’” Kelley said. “It is a growing sport.”

Three pickleball courts were initially planned.

That number grew to 12. Phase I of the plan included four artificial turf fields designed mainly for soccer and 12 tennis courts. But even before Kelley, Mercer and other officials could cut the ribbon on the project, people were figuring out

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how to get in to play.

The new tennis courts allowed Stanhope High School in Millbrook to establish a tennis team in 2023. The courts have already hosted regional high school tournaments. The Stanhope soccer team has been playing at 17 Springs since March 2022.

Phase II of the project is now under way, creating the 17 Springs Fieldhouse. The 85,000 square feet of indoor space is capable of holding four basketball games or six volleyball matches at once. It also could be a site for concerts, graduations and weigh-ins for fishing tournaments. It is being constructed on a hill that is near a new track and football field, with six nearby softball fields.

The football field and track will be home to Stanhope Elmore High School football games and track meets. The softball fields are covered in artificial turf, making weather delays in tournaments far shorter.

Kelley said the city is getting a lot of interest in tournaments at the softball complex already.

The site is located close to Interstate 65 and is centrally located in the state. Kelley said groups from around the state are interested in coming.

A rendering of the facility at 17 Springs illustrates its family atmosphere and multi-generational potential.

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GOING AN EXTRA MILE IN RURAL HEALTHCARE STORY & PHOTO BY BEN SMITH

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t the corner of Holtville and Hogan roads sits an old building. Above it looms the Holtville water tower. The asphalt of the parking lot is cracked and gray, and the white lines have long faded away, at most hinting at a parking space. The building, worn with use, houses Ivy Creek Family Care of Holtville.

This clinic is one place where people in rural communities like Holtville can access healthcare.

The clinic provides mostly general care. The staff administers vaccinations, treats asthma or prescribes medicine for the flu. But as of Nov. 1, 2023, the clinic offers pediatric services, as well, making it one of two clinics in Elmore County that accept Medicaid for pediatric care.

“Reliance on Medicaid is pretty high in the rural community. And a lot of people are just uninsured,” said Jamie Mathis, a nurse practitioner at ICFC of Holtville, where patients are billed on a sliding scale.

If they cannot afford treatment, they will still receive the care they need.

“Typically, the southeastern part of the United 50

States has more Medicaid patients than anywhere in the country. So, it’s not just Holtville. It’s our state,” said Heidi Smith, director of marketing for Ivy Creek Healthcare. “Our community is very limited in pediatrics. Before, you had to go to Ivy Creek Wetumpka to receive pediatric care in Elmore County.”

Previously, residents in this area had to drive lengthy distances to receive Medicaid-approved healthcare for their children.

“If they weren’t going all the way to Wetumpka for pediatrics, they may be going to Birmingham or Millbrook. They were having to travel far to find someone to take their Medicaid. Now, they have a more assessable provider that is close by. To me, that’s better care,” said Smith.

The low population densities of rural areas also affect how patients receive treatment for acute care – issues such as strokes, aneurisms or heart attacks, which often require swift treatment. In cases like these, an extra half hour could be the difference between life or death. Though small clinics like the one in Holtville are not equipped to treat some of Horizons 2024

Pediatric services that previously were unavailable in rural these severe injuries and diseases, rural hospitals Elmore County are now offered at Ivy Creek’s Holtville clinic. are able to provide the services necessary to stabilize patients before the drive to specialized care at a Creek’s Holtville clinic has two nurse practitioners hospital in Montgomery or Birmingham.

“If you just had a dirt bike accident, you’ll need an on staff.

“Our providers may not make as much as other X-ray before you drive 30, 45 minutes to the nearproviders in larger cities. But because of that, you est hospital,” said Mathis. “So, it’s a little bit easier, find people that really, really like what they do,” said even if you have some critical care issues, when Smith. “We’re just blessed with good providers.” we can stabilize them before they have to drive to Elmore County providers say there’s a sense of Montgomery.” community that comes with working in rural health“These rural hospitals are stabilization,” said care. There’s the opportunity to build more personal Smith. “There might be a motor vehicle accident, relationships with their clients, because they see and the ambulance has to have somewhere to stop them over and over again, not only in the office but and get the patient stabilized. Although we’re not at the grocery, at church or at local high school footable to put people on vent, and we don’t have an ball games.

ICU, many lives are saved because we’re there as a “It’s more personable to me, because I get to stopping point.” know my patients and their families,” said Mathis.

Heidi Smith can’t relay enough how thankful she “This is someplace I want to stay. My husband and is for the nurses and physicians who work at these I want to plant roots and live and grow here and rural healthcare centers. In areas with a shortage of providers, each person’s role is that much more inte- eventually retire. And I just like being part of it all.” gral to the healthcare of the entire community. Ivy

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Tallassee Robotics comes back big John Hilbish and his students rise to regional competition in only the second year of the club’s resurgence.

STORY BY BEN SMITH & PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS & COURTESY OF TONYA BODENHEIMER ROGERS

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Previous Pages: Students works together to assemble a robot from a handful of predetermined parts; Left: Hilbish tries to provide only necessary input, encouraging his students to work out the finer details among themselves.

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n 2022, John Hilbish set out to restart the Tallassee High School Robotics Club. It had been halted for two years during the COVID19 pandemic, and the teacher who formerly spearheaded the club had left. Hilbish knew little about the subject of robotics and much less about teaching it, but he believed it was an important study and would be worth rebuilding.

“It was something that was needed,” said Hilbish. “There’s an aeronautical plant in Tallassee, and we have Neptune, which does water meters.

We have a lot of businesses in the area that need people with hands-on experience in engineering.”

The organization overseeing these competitions is BEST Robotics, a nationwide robotics nonprofit that holds competitions between schools in designing, building and deploying robots to perform certain competition-specific tasks. The organization states that over 18,000 students compete each year.

The competition encourages a well-rounded view of product development from multiple perspectives. There’s the engineering aspect, of course, where the robot is graded on its ability to perform certain tasks. But there are also categories that test a wide array of other skills, such as project management, marketing, community outreach and sportsmanship. While some students may be responsible for coding and programming the robot, others may be tasked with putting together a presentation about the robot or maintaining a detailed log of the building process.

“Those kids are exposed to all those things,” said Hilbish. “And they’re actually doing that stuff, not necessarily just learning about it. They’re doing it. To me, that’s the absolute best thing about robotics. It’s good to learn things in a book, but to be able to put that in practical application in real world scenarios – it’s phenomenal.”

The beginning was rough, Hilbish admitted. He likened it to the blind leading the blind. The kids were figuring out the intricacies of robotics for the first time. They were pressed for time and space.

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But last fall, no more than a year later, that same club already found success after performing well enough at the hub level to compete against schools from across the Southeast.

“We definitely exceeded the expectations I had for last year,” said Hilbish. “This year, our goal was just to show up and have a robot that worked. And we actually made it to the next level and did really well at that next level.”

The successes certainly fueled Hilbish, but they were far from the most valuable outcomes he has seen in his two years at the helm of the robotics club. To Hilbish, what really matters is what called him to teaching in the first place.

Hilbish loves to watch his students grow as people. They may begin the class quiet and withdrawn, but through interactions with peers, taking on responsibilities and leadership within a small group, many develop a sense of confidence in themselves.

“You know, contrary to popular belief, we don’t get rich teaching,” joked Hilbish. “Things like that make it worth it. Because you can see tangible evidence of the work that you put into teaching them. Like I said, the kids change. And I mean, it’s incredible to me, more valuable than money, to watch some young man or young lady turn into a confident young man or woman that has a skill now, and they know they can do something with it.”

The growth has come full circle. This past summer, Tallassee High School held a weeklong robotics boot camp for middle schoolers. Hilbish watched as the students he once taught moved on to teach others.

“I don’t care what class you teach, or what level you’re at. You always want your students to be better at the subject than you are,” said Hilbish. “It’s very fulfilling as a teacher.”

Hilbish looks forward to next year when the experienced students can act as advisors to the new ones.

“All my new kids will be the ones in charge of all the stuff, instead of my older kids. My older kids will kind of act as advisors for them. And that way, they’ll get the feeling of, ‘Hey, I can do this. And I don’t need somebody to hold my hand the whole time I’m working on this.’ Whatever it is, whether it’s marketing or the engineering book or building the robot, they’ll gain that experience of doing it, and also of being a leader.”

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Eclectic’s Cotton Festival STORY BY BETSY & PHOTOS BY ABIGAIL MURPHY

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he 31st Annual Alabama Cotton Festival will take place this fall in Eclectic with a history of carnival games, vendor booths, a dog show, food vendors, a classic car show and more. Some 15,000 to 20,000 people attend this event that takes over the streets of the quiet Elmore County town in October of every year.

The Cotton Festival was No. 3 on the “Only in Your State” list of must-do festivals in 2019 and No. 5 in 2023. It also was No. 9 on the USA Tales/Alabama site in 2019.

“When we started this event, it was my goal to bring in the people and show them what a great place Eclectic is. I love this town. I love the businesses. I love the people, and this is one day out of the year Facing Page: Thousands flock to Eclectic for the annual Cotton Festival; to just show it off and celebrate our town,” Above: Therapy alpacas greet passersby. said festival organizer Carmen Winslett. for the honor of representing the festival. Entry A resounding success, the Cotton forms are posted on the Alabama Cotton Festival Festival recruits more than a hundred volunteers Facebook page as time for the event nears. to sign up 300 vendors who will line the downVendors begin setting up the afternoon prior town streets from Main Street to the Quick Stop to the event, which always happens in early and First Avenue from Collins to College. The October. event also includes zoo animals and presentaThe festival started in 1993 to celebrate the tions by the Alabama Wildlife Federation, as well town’s history. Eclectic was founded in 1907 by as therapy alpaca demonstrations.

Dr. M.L. Fielder, who practiced eclectic medicine.

Prizes awarded in the dog show include bigWhile fewer than 1,500 people make their home in gest dog, smallest dog, waggiest tail, mayor’s Eclectic, it is popular with Lake Martin residents favorite, best of show and more. Proceeds from past Cotton Festival dog shows have been donat- and visitors, as the area retains its smalltown charm and a delightful mix of shops and eateries. ed to the Elmore County Humane Society. The The Cotton Festival celebration of local herievent also occasionally includes police dog demtage is one of the best-attended and most anticionstrations. pated events in Elmore County.

There’s entertainment on the center stage all “It’s a lot of work, but it’s so worth it. When I day, with some local favorites returning year after look up and down the streets and through the year, from bluegrass to rock ‘n roll.

Pecan Orchard and see a sea of people who The car show often features 150 entries and is one of the most popular attractions at the festival. have come to celebrate our town, it’s a feeling of accomplishment for me and for the chairmen who The Alabama Cotton Queen pageant takes run these events and the volunteers who work to place one week prior to the festival. Young ladies make it successful,” Winslett said. from infancy to age 15 are encouraged to enter

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Fresh Food Little Rippy’s STORY & PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS

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t doesn’t take long to realize Little Rippy’s Fresh and Tasty Restaurant in Eclectic is a little different.

The eatery and gift shop sits behind two roll-up garage doors and a porch right downtown, serving up a simple menu of fresh salads, sandwiches and paninis. The shop is stocked with trinkets, wreaths and books for Bible devotionals. It is another vision come to life for Marie Rippy, who also owns Original Grace Boutique in Eclectic.

“We wanted a place where people could come, sit down and talk and get fresh food,” Rippy said.

“If the weather is good, the roll-up doors are usually open. After school, the kids just pile in here. It’s awesome. It is exactly what we wanted.”

Little Rippy’s opened to rave reviews for the Cotton Festival last fall, and it has been a hit with plenty of repeat customers.

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or more times,” Rippy said. “They are eating it all.

Within a day or two of the Cotton Festival, people were wanting more. We had planned to wait a few weeks. So, I put the easiest things I had already picked out to do on the menu.”

Favorite menu items include the strawberry spinach salad, chicken salad and Blue Bell ice cream.

Rippy isn’t sure if her place would have come to life in downtown Eclectic if it weren’t for property owner Clyde Williams. Rippy had already rented the boutique building from Williams for nine years when the two struck up a conversation. Rippy shared her vision, and Williams said he would build it.

“It is good to see small downtowns like this stay alive,” Williams said. “That is what I have been trying to do since I retired. I have five buildings here. I do it more to help the town than to make money.”

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Rippy put sweat equity into the building with Williams. The interior design is her idea, built by Williams and contractors.

“I think she will do really well here,” Williams said.

Rippy said Williams also wanted to see a diner similar to what his father experienced as a kid in downtown Eclectic.

“He did this, so he could have ice cream all the time,” Rippy said. “He is in almost every day. It has been for his vanilla ice cream, maybe the conversation.”

Rippy plans to add paninis and flatbread Facing Page: Eclectic’s new eatery offers fresh options for lunch; Above: The pizzas to the menu. She said the eatery energetic vibe at Little Rippy’s features modern industrial tables, colorful won’t add fryers or anything of the like and comfortable lounging chairs and novelty shopping. because that’s not part of the vision for the restaurant. in has said it is a comfortable hangout. That was “There is not much in town that is fresh,” Rippy the goal. It is somewhere we can connect to each said. “Every day, we were wondering what to do other. It has been amazing.” for lunch. We were putting on weight. We wanted Little Rippy’s at 35 Claud Rd. is open from 10 sandwiches and salads. We wanted something a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday; 10 more healthy. The whole point was to have some- a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; and 10 a.m. to thing fresh. Something that wasn’t going to set 4 p.m. on Saturday. heavy.”

Rippy said Williams is a great landlord, and like her, he wants to see Eclectic grow.

“I wanted to bring an aspect of gathering to the town,” Rippy said. “Everyone that has come

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Elmore County Cheerleaders STORY BY DALTON MIDDLETON & PHOTOS BY CLIFF WILLIAMS

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ootball remains king in the state of Alabama, but there’s at least one sport creeping up on it in Elmore County. The athletes share the same field, or at least, the same sideline.

Over the past few seasons, cheerleading has seen massive growth, not just in the number of athletes participating but also in the success of the teams.

This year, four of the five high schools in the county reached the pinnacle of cheerleading competition – the state championships. Holtville, Elmore County, Tallassee and Stanhope Elmore all qualified for the state championship meet this year, and all saw successes there. Holtville placed eighth out of 24 teams while claiming second place in the regional championship and first place at cheer camp.

The public schools aren’t the only teams finding success, however, as Edgewood Academy succeeded in the private school ranks. Edgewood Academy claimed the state championship in the summer of 2022 while the junior varsity team at Edgewood won the state championship this summer.

“Cheerleading is getting more and more competitive every year,” Edgewood Cheerleading Coach Abbie Davis Mercer said. “Everyone seems to take it more seriously now. When I cheered, it technically wasn’t considered a sport, but now, people are seeing how competitive it is and seeing it takes well-rounded athletes who put in the same amount of work as other sports. They’re just starting to have more respect for the sport itself.”

With the sport gaining respect, schools like Edgewood have also started investing more heavily into the sport. For example, Edgewood Academy opened its own cheerleading facility in the fall of 2021. The cheerleading team had been sharing the gym and weight room with both the volleyball and basketball teams, and the common use became an issue for teams trying to practice. The Edgewood cheerleaders had to wait until another team finished to be able to practice or vice versa.

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Clockwise from Above: Along with teams from Holtville, Elmore County and Stanhope Elmore, Tallassee cheerleaders qualified for the state championships this year; Stanhope Elmore cheerleaders keep spectators revved up from the sidelines; Edgewood Academy opened a practice facility for the cheerleading team.

Directly next to the basketball gym now sits the Roy and Patti Davis Cheer Facility, a 2,000-squarefoot facility that gives Edgewood a place to tuck, tumble and cheer to their heart’s desire without impeding or being impeded by other sports.

“It’s been such a blessing having it,” Mercer said.

“We have a place where the mats can all be rolled out. It also helps bring a new respect to the sport as well. We do need our own space because they need space to train and practice just like everybody else. This has given them their own place to call their Horizons 2024

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Clockwise from Above: Cheerleaders often participate in multiple sports at a time; Holtville cheerleaders practice a lift; Wetumpka High School cheerleaders lead the band during a parade.

own.”

Cheerleaders are definitely seen as athletes and are earning respect amongst the schools where they participate in the Elmore County area.

At any given school in the county, cheerleaders are multi-sport athletes. They take off the cheerleading uniform and put on a volleyball jersey or basketball jersey. In many cases, they do it the same day.

In Edgewood, the girls might play in a volleyball or basketball game just before they turn around and dress out in full cheer uniform to support the boys’ teams. That often happens just 10 minutes after their own games end.

It’s a non-stop and thankless job, but they are prepared, due to the amount of work they put into themselves and their sports.

“We have set the standard at tryouts that the girls are going to be busy,” Mercer said. “For example, tryouts were in the middle of basketball season this year. They’ll have clinics on Monday and Wednesday, and they’ll have basketball games on Tuesday and Thursday. Tryouts are then on a Friday. We set the standard that we cheer around other sports, and when they finish practice, they’re in the facility practicing.”

At any given sport, spectators see the cheerleaders from an hour before a game to an hour after the game. The cheerleaders are there supporting whatever team is playing on a given night.

But cheerleading hasn’t always gotten the same 64

turnout. As cheerleading teams are growing and gaining respect in Elmore County, the cheering has started to be reciprocated. At the state championship meets, there are countless male athletes, from football players to members of baseball teams, sitting in the stands and cheering on the teams.

While it usually isn’t required, it’s just nice to see the cheering go both ways.

“Our school is great about getting the boys to come to our competitions and cheering loud for us,” Mercer said. “Coach Chad Michael is adamant about being there and being supportive for us. He even brings us goody bags and such before our state championships. We have support all over. All of our coaches across the board show up when we compete. It takes the support from all over the school to have state championship teams, and we see that more and more now.”

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