Dec 28, 2016 Tallassee Tribune

SPORTS

OPINION:

LOCAL

Tigers look forward to new year

PAGE 12!

INSIDE:

PAGE 4 Loki- Pet Tallassee of the High School Week wrestling from the PAGE 10 stands LOCAL FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS, PAGE 2.

The Tallassee Tribune DEDICATED TO THE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF THE GREATER TALLASSEE AREA

TALLASSEE, AL 36078

50¢

December 28, 2016

TALLASSEETRIBUNE.COM

VOL. 117, NO. 50

Drug raid nets $8,000 in narcotics

By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

Tallassee Police along with Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Macon County Sheriff’s Department and Lee County Sheriff’s Department executed search warrants at three separate residences in Tuskegee, Notasulga and Franklin.

and discovered that multiple individuals were distributing marijuana, crack cocaine, morphine and methamphetamine from these locations.

The result of a lengthy investigation, the search warrant execution was an additional combined operation that included federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. US Marshal’s Service, the Alabama Law Enforcement

Agency, Macon County Sheriff’s Office, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Tallassee Police Department, Tuskegee Police Department and Notasulga Police Department worked together to seize several narcotics valued and other items valued at $8,000 – 51 grams of crack cocaine, 15 grams of crystal methamphetamine, eight grams of marijuana, a quantity of powder cocaine, numer-

Tallassee names new building inspector

Tallassee PD searches for suspects in Hibbetts robbery

CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

Tallassee police have identified a possible vehicle used in the Dec. 20 robbery of Hibbett Sports on Gilmer Avenue.

Investigators believe the robbery suspects were driving a Ford Crown Victoria.

The vehicle is described as having black wheels and tinted windows.

Police describe the three suspects as AfricanAmerican males. The first suspect is described as short, light skinned, wearing a maroon beanie, a gray hoodie and blue jeans. The second suspect is described as tall, dark skinned, wearing a hooded coat and a baseball cap with a red or orange

File / The Tribune

Last year the Missoula Children’s Theater performed ‘Alice in Wonderland’. This year the group will perform a rendition of ‘Treasure Island.”

Children’s theater to perform ‘Treasure Island’

By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

The McCraney-Cottle Arts Foundation will host the Missoula Children’s Theater production of “Treasure Island” at the Tallassee High School auditorium on Jan. 14 at 5:30 p.m.

“Treasure Island” is an adventure novel by Scottish author Robert

Louis Stevenson, published in 1883 and is traditionally considered a comingof-age story, noted for its atmosphere, characters and action.

Auditions for this performance will be held on Jan. 9 at 3:30 p.m. inside the Tallassee High School auditorium. Students from

See ROBBERY • Page 3

USPS 681-260

Today’s

Weather

71 58 High

Low

THURS: HIGH 53 LOW 36

ous drug paraphernalia, a rifle and two handguns. One of the handguns confiscated is confirmed to be stolen from Columbus, Georgia.

Two arrests were made during the warrant executions; however, at this time authorities are not issuing further information on the suspects as the investigations remains active.

kindergarten through high school are encouraged to audition for a part in the upcoming performance.

While only a small amount of time was allotted for the Tallassee performance, the Missoula Children’s Theater has moved swiftly to coordinate it. After the auditions and roles are assigned, the See THEATER • Page 3

Tallassee Mayor Johnny Hammock announced last week that the city has a new building inspector.

Andy Coker will now over see the city’s building inspections to insure that the structures in the city are up to code.

Coker is from Tallassee and graduated from Tallassee High School in 1993.

“I am a lifelong citizen of Tallassee,” he said.

“My family has deep roots in the community. Coker I have always been proud to tell people I am from Tallassee.”

Coker has worked for East Alabama Telephones at Auburn University and for Sensigreen HVAC & Insulation.

“I was superintendent of the insulation and the heating and air,” Coker said.

Coker says he plans to bring the knowledge he has gained form both of these positions to his new position with the City of Tallassee. With the years of field experience, Coker says his greatest attribute is See INSPECTOR • Page 3

Tallassee police, firefighters deliver toys

By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

Christmas came early for a few deserving families in Tallassee.

Friday morning Tallassee Police Department and Tallassee Fire Department loaded their “sleighs” with goodies for boys and girls. The two departments then split up, TPD delivered toys to children on the Eastside and TFD delivered to children

on the Westside. Together, they delivered toys to 16 families in the community.

Corporal Bryan Clayton spearheaded the toy drive. Clayton has a special gift when it cones to children. He also serves as the City’s School Resource Officer and there is no doubt that he is best suited for this difficult position.

Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune Clayton, along with fellow members of Members of the Tallassee Police Department, the Tallassee Tallassee Police Department and Tallassee Fire Department and Mayor Hammock delivered toys to See DELIVERY • Page 3 deserving families Friday.

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THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

Mercer fills District Four commission seat STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

Gov. Robert Bentley’s office has appointed Wetumpka businessman Bart Mercer to fill Elmore County’s District Four commission seat.

Mercer’s appointment letter was signed by the governor last

Wednesday. His appointment became effective on Monday.

Mercer, who owns Jenilyn’s Creations in Wetumpka, takes over the seat vacated by former Commissioner Joe Faulk who resigned several days after the general election. Faulk entered a guilty plea to felony ethics violations

for using his public position for personal gain.

Mercer owns a Wetumpka business and, according to its website, is the Chairman of the non-profit Elmore County Economic Development Authority, or ECEDA. According to Sonny Brasfield, executive director of the Association

of County Commissioners of Alabama, Mercer will serve a twoyear term before a new election for the post would be held in 2018. The winner of that election would then serve another two-year so that all commissioners elected in 2020 would be on the same four-year cycle.

Area Calendar December 28

1st Franklin Financial will celebrate the grand opening with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. The ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. and refreshments will be served.

January 2

Tallassee City Hall will be closed Monday, January 2.

January 3

Tallassee’s Industrial Development Board meeting at 1 Twin Creeks Drive # 1, Tallassee, AL 36078 beginning at 5:30 p.m.

January 5

Submitted / The Tribune

Holiday Home of the Week

Tallassee Planning Commission Meeting at City Hall beginning at 6 p.m.

January 9

The Tallassee Chamber of Commerce chose the home of Don and Anne Bryant for the fourth and final Holiday Yard of the Week. In front of the Bryant home are, left to right, Susanna Fillingham, John David Lambert, Anne Bryant, Don Bryant and Laurie Rygiel.

Tallassee City Council Meeting at City Hall beginning at 6 p.m.

• Auditions for the

Missoula Children’s Theater’s “Treasure Island” will begin at 3:30 in the Tallassee High School auditorium.

January 14

The Missoula Children’s Theater will present “Treasure Island” at 5:30 inside the Tallassee High School auditorium.

January 16

Martin Luther King Day, City Hall will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

January 23

Tallassee City Council Meeting at City Hall beginning at 6 p.m.

January 26

Tallassee Chamber of Commerce Chamber Banquet will be held at the Wetumpka Civic Center beginning at 6 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets call 283-5151.

Obituaries Eugene ‘Gene’ Cole

Mr. Eugene “Gene” Cole, a resident of Wetumpka, Alabama, passed away Monday, December 19, 2016. Funeral services will be Wednesday, December 21, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. from River Road Baptist Church, Tallassee, Alabama, with Rev. Josh Cullars officiating, Jeffcoat Funeral Home directing. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Gina “Renee” Cole; son, Travis Cole; daughters, four Samantha Baker (Joseph), Savannah Ledbetter, Victoria “Tori” Ledbetter and Jessica Cole; thirteen grandchildren, Bailee Ward, Shyla ward, Taylor Pritchett, Madison Cole, Kristopher Cole, Briana Cole, Michael Cole, Brycen Parker, Ian Johnston, Harley Wallace, Elizabeth “Liza” Wallace, Camden “Cami” Baker and Jace Baker; grandmother, Frances Cullars; two sisters, Bobbye Jean Ray and Brenda Allison and several nieces and nephews. Gene was a hard working husband and father who loved Jesus and his family dearly. In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorial donations to be made through Gene’s obituary page @ jeffcoatfuneralhome.com, to assist with funeral expenses, by clicking on donate now. The family will receive friends, Wednesday, December 21, 2016 from 3:00 p.m. until service time at River Road Baptist Church.

Online condolences are available at: www.jeffcoatfuneralhome.com

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Raven Alyssa Freeman,

Mrs. Raven Alyssa Freeman,

a resident of Tallassee, Alabama, passed away Sunday, December 25, 2016 at the age of 22. Funeral services will be Thursday, December 29, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. from East Tallassee Baptist Church, Tallassee, Alabama, Jeffcoat Funeral Home directing. Burial will follow at Carrville Cemetery, Jeffcoat Funeral Home directing. Raven is survived by her son, Devyn Jayce Freeman; parents, Darren Freeman and Christine Montgomery; brother, Darron Jamone Kendrick; sisters, Lakendra Kendrick and Jada Freeman and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins who loved her dearly. The family will receive friends Wednesday, December 28, 2016, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Jeffcoat Funeral Home Chapel.

Online condolences are available at: www.jeffcoatfuneralhome.com Jeffcoat Funeral Home Directing Tallassee, Alabama

Paul Howard Wright, Jr.

Mr. Paul Howard Wright, Jr., a resident of Camphill, Alabama, passed away Saturday, December 24, 2016, at the age of 68.

Paul is survived by his siblings, Diane Wright Walton, Maurice Bullock (Tom), Rose Marie Wright Wilson, Wanda Wright Adkins (Jack) and Kathy Baker (David).

He is preceded in death by his parents, Katie Myrtle Wingard and Paul Howard Wright, Sr. and his brother in law, James E. Walton, Jr. Paul was a marine who served his country in the Vietnam War. He loved his music and poetry, playing

the guitar, piano, harmonica and singing. He was the “Bestest” brother and friend.

The Family will have a private memorial service at a later time.

Online condolences are available at: www.jeffcoatfuneralhome.com Jeffcoat Funeral Home Directing Tallassee, Alabama

Ramona Sellers

Ms. Ramona Sellers, 87, of Tallassee, passed away December 27, 2016. She was born August 4, 1929. A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 31, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Bethlehem East Baptist Church with Rev. Doyle Brown officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m. She is survived by her daughter, Darrall Sellers; daughter-in-law, Becky Sellers; grandchildren, Norman Dean (Alicia), Angelia Davidson (Chris) and David Sellers (Caroline); and great grandchildren, Aubree Dean, Hayden Dean, Jackson Dean, Collin Dean, Christal Davidson, Josi Saunders and Dina Saunders and special friend, Ronald Brantley. She is preceded in death by her husband, Aubrey Sellers; son, Lonnie Sellers; and grandson, Harold Dean. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society.

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THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

www.TallasseeTribune.com

Theater

December 28, 2016 • Page 3

continued from page 1

first rehearsal is scheduled for that same evening, and rehearsals will continue until the night of performance.

The Missoula Children’s Theater and the McCraneyCottle Arts Foundation have been collaborating for over 10 years to bring performances to Tallassee. The children’s theater travels throughout the nation bringing live performances to cities and towns across the country.

“The annual Missoula Children’s Theater is the highlight of our local McCraney-Cottle Arts Council,” said Mona Mills, Director of the McCraney-Cottle Arts Foundation. “We are able to involve a large number of

our local and surrounding community.”

The Missoula Children’s Theater officially began in 1988. Since that time the theater group has hosted more than 1.3 million guests and that list continues to grow.

Last year the theater group performed “Alice in Wonderland.” The theater group’s performance was brilliant with bright costumes and meticulous chorography. The performance boasted a packed house and several households had a family member performing in the production.

If you have questions or need further information, please contact Mona Mills at 334-201-4892.

Robbery

continued from page 1

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hood. The third suspect is described as tall, wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and a white baseball cap. All three suspects were believed to be of medium build and in their mid-20s.

The suspects entered Hibbett Sports on Dec. 13. The suspect wearing the red or orange brimmed cap entered the store and took merchandise and left running on foot. After the first suspect left the store, the two other suspects entered and took additional merchandise. On the way out of the store one of the suspects allegedly threatened to harm the Hibbett employee if the police were called. The two suspects then fled on foot in the direction of Whatley Drive.

If you have any information, police urge you to call the Tallassee Police Department at 334-283-6586.

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Delivery

continued from page 1

Fire Department, also did the shopping for these children, thanks to Wal-Mart and other local organizations.

“Wal-Mart donated $2,500 to us,” he said.

“Wednesday night we all went shopping for the kids.”

GKN and ACTS also sponsored this year’s toy drive.

“I want this to become a community effort,” Clayton said. “I would like to see everyone, the entire community, working together to make sure no child goes without toys on Christmas morning.”

Clayton has been spearheading the toy drive since 2013 and says he has seen it grow over the years.

“I hope that next year is even bigger and better,” he said. “Like the Back to School Kickoff, I want to see this grow into a true community effort.”

Clayton says he is appreciative of the support that he has received from others throughout the toy drive.

“It shows how much the people of community care about children and for that I am very thankful,” he said.

Sarah Wilson, also known as Bug Momma, is raising eight grandchildren. Wilson said if it were not for the Tallassee Police Department’s toy drive, their Christmas would not have been so merry.

“I am so thankful,” she said. “I am able to give these gifts to my grandchildren and it will make their Christmas so much better. I love this town, the police department, the mayor and everyone who helped make this happen.”

Inspector

continued from page 1

his people skills.

“To be effective as Tallassee’s building inspector, I intend to develop positive relationships with its people,” he said. “My goal is to be approachable and attentive to all.”

Coker will take the reins as Tallassee building inspector on Jan. 3 and he said he is looking forward to serving the people of Tallassee.

“My wife, Allison, my children, Drew and Alex, and I are excited for this opportunity,” Coker said. “ I look forward to working with Mayor Hammock, our city council and all citizens of Tallassee to move our great city forward.”

While it is too early to speak about the recent debates

over the mills and other un-occupiable buildings in the city, Coker is sure of one thing: beautification. He says it is high on his list of goals in the upcoming months and years.

Beautification has been high on many lists. Many of the newly elected city officials ran on the platform of making Tallassee beautiful again. Many of the residents of Tallassee want to see these old building demolished or restored to a suitable condition.

There has been much debate over the future of both mills, the Eastside mill and the Westside mill. Only time will tell what will become of the two mill sites.

In the meantime, Coker will be available to ensure the safety of Tallassee residences.

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Tallassee Page 4 • December 28, 2016

www.TallasseeTribune.com

THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

Tallassee High School wrestling: the view from the stands R

etirement from full-time newspaper work means some obvious transitions, including the option of continuing to pay attention to certain facets of local news and sports that you used to cover.

This year, it’s been kind of unusual to observe school sports from the stands instead of sidelines, dugouts, boundary lines of a basketball court or edges of a wrestling mat. Those up-close positions were primarily for photography reasons, of course, but getting close to the action can also seem to enhance what you’ll be chronicling in a report.

But sitting in the stands at home football games at J.E. “Hot” O’Brien Stadium this fall offered a more panoramic view of the action (i.e., more like television), and the Tigers went deeper into the playoffs than they

The So-Called Column

By Willie G. Moseley have since 1999. Kudos to Coach Battles and his staff for a stellar season.

The advocacy of high school wrestling as a no-frills sport has been noted in this space before, as has the recent success of Tallassee teams. Accordingly, it’s no surprise that I’ve attended a couple of matches this season, but I’ve paid five bucks like just about everybody else instead of being allowed in for free, as was the scenario when I was covering the match for a newspaper.

Obviously, any future THS wrestling squad will be compared to the state championship team of 2014, and what I’ve seen of the Tallassee team so far this season

is encouraging. Their record as of Christmas is 17-2.

The Baker brothers, Jake and Andy, brought home a gold and silver medal respectively from last year’s state meet, and are continuing their winning ways this season. Andy’s got a record of 21-1 as this is being written, and Jake’s at 17-1. Another wrestler with a high winning percentage is Zak Haynes (21-2).

It’s also good to see Kiwanis Woods back in action after his debilitating ankle injury early in the football season.

At a recent home match against Beauregard, Woods pinned his opponent in a rapid, ferocious effort.

The Tigers recently took part in the annual “Beast at the Beach” holiday tournament in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, where numerous tough teams from several states compete.

According to head coach

John Mask, his team came home with seven wins and two losses, their best record ever at that competition.

Those two losses are the only ones in the season so far, which means the Tigers are undefeated against Alabama teams. The THS grapplers had the same status at this point during the ’14 campaign.

“The beach trip really made us better,” Mask said. “It is always good to get some great work in and some tough matches. It prepares us for the state tourney.”

It’s too soon to make any predictions about the Tigers’ prospects at the state meet, however. They’ll have their work cut out for them, as annual powerhouse Arab has gone from a 6A classification to 5A, which places that team and THS in the same 1A-5A classification.

Moreover, the tournament itself has been revamped and gotten

more complicated.

“We know that we have a tough road ahead with the State Dual Tourney and our traditional tourney,” Mask said.

A couple of pleasant surprises from the earlier Beauregard match happened when I got to converse with Devontae MacKenzie and B.J. Thomas, two former state champions from the 2014 squad who had returned to the location of past conquests.

Devontae joined the Air Force after he graduated, and was home on leave from his current assignment in Germany.

He still has that same pleasant/bemused smile that he used to display when he was twisting his opponents in the 197-pound weight class into pretzel-like configurations.

B.J. had garnered a wrestling scholarship to Marion Military Institute, where he was co-captain of that

team. Having completed his studies there, he’s now enrolled at the main campus of Troy University.

Both of those kids are still polite and are still succeeding, which indicates the THS wrestling program was part of a positive upbringing in Tallassee.

And like all of the recent THS wrestling aggregations, the current squad has a healthy attitude about functioning as a team, in a sport that is comprised of oneon-one competitions.

Their upbeat behavior is encouraging as well, for reasons beyond just winning matches. It’ll be interesting to follow the Tigers’ progress—from the stands— in 2017.

(And thanks for serving our country, Devontae.)

Willie Moseley is the newspaper editor emeritus of The Tribune and a regular columnist for Tallapoosa Publishers.

YOUR VIEW

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Steve Baker, Publisher publisher@tallasseetribune.com • 256-234-4281 David Granger: Interim Managing Editor David.Grangerl@tallasseetribune.com • 334- 567-7811 Corey Arwood: Reporter corey.arwood@tallasseetribune.com • Ext. 102 Carmen Rodgers: Reporter carmen.rodgers@tallasseetribune.com • Ext. 101 The Tallassee Tribune is contract printed each Tuesday evening in Alexander City, Ala. by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. 256-234-4281.

The Tallassee Tribune

I

A dream come true. . . continued

described our boat trip down the Tallapoosa River in last week’s tribune. I hope you read how my son and I took a small 1961 fiberglass boat and a 1961 mercury motor that had been reworked down the Tallapoosa River on Wednesday. This was a dream my father and I had that we never took.

All along the way I could feel the presence of my daddy. He was a man that loved the lakes and river with a passion as well as fishing on these lakes and rivers.

Getting to O’Daniel Bridge from AES is about a two and half hour trip by canoe and a little faster by boat. Back years ago, when O’Daniel Bridge was built, the Department of Conversation wanted a boat-launching ramp and parking area built on the Elmore County side of the river.

At the time the Elmore County Commission approved the project.

Everything works like a chain and each group is a link in this chain.

Elections, retirement and

The Coffee Breaker

By Ronald Brantley deaths, each being a link in the chain got broken.

The next public area is Fort Toulouse a distance by water of 39 miles. I am telling this as a warning before you take on this trip.

What are we going to do?

Go back up the river was the answer. Going down the river I could see the color changes in the water and we stayed in the darker, deep water. Even at this we hit bottom a few times but nothing serious. Going back up the river everything changed.

There’s no way to see the boils in the river or the light and dark spots.

The only thing to do was to watch the water on the side of the boat for shallow spots, rocks or stumps.

One time we ran upon a rock bar. You couldn’t call it a sandbar because it was made of millions of rocks about half the size of an egg, we were on it before

The Tribune’s

Mission The Tribune strives to report the news honestly, fairly and with integrity, to take a leadership role and act as a positive influence in our community, to build commerce and to promote business, to provide for the welfare of our employees, to strive for excellence in everything we do and above all, to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves.

we knew it.

The current was swift and it twisted the boat around. Ronnie had a paddle and I had a stick, we let the motor up and after a tough time we made it to the right side of the river where the water was deep enough to let the motor back down part of the way and run without ruining the prop.

There’s a cable that lays across the bottom of the river near Fort Decatur and some say a ferry used to cross there. I wonder about this because before there were dams on the river the flow was different.

I’ve never found any evidence of where the covered bridge was located that Horace King the famous bridge builder built. History books state that when Horace King was contacted about building the stairway in the capital in Montgomery he wrote back that he would see them as soon as he finished the covered bridge on the Tallapoosa River in Tallassee. The beauty is almost breathtaking, as the little motor purred we

slowly came up the river.

Look daddy look, my boy hollered as we almost hit a big fish.

I don’t know what kind it was but I suspect it was a huge gar or spoonbill I’ve seen some big ones in that river. When I was a young man we used to walk the banks of the river especially after a river flood, one weekend while walking and looking for any Indian artifacts I found a gun barrel on a sandbar.

It was not unusual to find pottery, beads, and other artifacts. I don’t get around that good anymore and I don’t hear of others finding things as they used to.

I looked at my watch and the trip back up the river was about over. All we had to do was get past the rush water on the shoals then turn left and we will be at the boat launch.

When we got the boat up on the trailer I could almost see daddy and Uncle Bill grinning at the adventure we had just taken. It was a good day, a good adventure and a dream come true.

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On the Web Follow The Tribune on the Internet on our website or on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Log on to http:// www.tallasseetribune.com.

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Talks THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

Inside the Statehouse

By Steve Flowers

End of year credits for politicians passed

A

t the close of every year my tradition is to acknowledge the passing away of significant political players from the political stage in Alabama. We have lost some icons from politics in the Heart of Dixie this year.

Lucy Baxley passed away in October in Birmingham at 78. She was born on a farm in rural Houston County in the community of Pansy. She went to school at Ashford. After graduation from high school she went to work at the courthouse in Dothan and worked for Judge Keener Baxley.

When Judge Baxley’s son, Bill, got elected Attorney General in 1970, young Bill Baxley asked Lucy to come to Montgomery to be his administrative assistant. Eight years later she and Bill married. She was an integral part of Baxley’s first campaign for Governor in 1978.

Bill became Lt. Governor in 1982, then lost again for governor in 1986. Soon, thereafter, Bill and Lucy ended their ten year marriage.

Lucy then began her own career in Alabama politics. She was elected State Treasurer in 1990 and spent eight years in that post. She was a natural campaigner. One of the best one-on-one I have ever seen. She worked the state during those eight years as Treasurer, especially among senior citizen groups.

She parlayed that campaign into being elected as the first female lieutenant governor in history. In that 1998 campaign, she coined the campaign phrase, “I Love Lucy.”

Her signs were all over the state. Her name identification was so pronounced that her lieutenant governor’s parking space simply said “Lucy.”

She was the Democratic nominee for governor in 2002, but lost to Republican Bob Riley.

She finished her political career by serving on the Public Service Commission. Lucy loved Alabama and folks loved her.

Judge Perry O. Hooper, Sr. passed away in his hometown of Montgomery in April at the age of 91. Judge Hooper’s career paralleled the growth and dominance of the Republican Party in Alabama. He was indeed one of the founding Fathers of the modern Republican Party in the Heart of Dixie. He was a Republican before it was cool. One time when he was state party chairman, Hooper would joke that he could call a meeting of the state GOP in a phone booth.

Hooper was a Marine. His lovely wife, Marilyn, was a Montgomery native and they raised four fine boys. As a pioneer Republican he led the Goldwater landslide of the South in 1964. That crescendo propelled him into the Montgomery Probate Judge office. He was reelected to that post in 1970 and in 1974, he moved to a Montgomery Circuit judgeship.

Twenty years later Judge Hooper broke the ice of control that the Democrats and Trial Lawyers had over the State Supreme Court.

He became the First Republican Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. Democrats and Republicans alike noted at his funeral that during his years as a Judge he treated everyone fairly.

Jim Bennett was the longest serving Secretary of State in Alabama history. Jim passed away in Birmingham in August at age 76, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. Jim was a writer, reporter, State Representative, State Senator and Secretary of State.

He became a reporter for the Birmingham Post Herald after graduation from Jacksonville State. He covered the Civil Rights protests in Birmingham in 1963 and stood next to Bull Conner when he ordered fire hoses turned on protesters, including children. He once told me he interviewed George Wallace, Bull Conner and Martin Luther King in the same day.

He ran for and was elected to the state legislature in 1978. We served together in the House. He later moved to the Senate. He was first appointed Secretary of State in 1993. He won the election in 1994 and served two four year terms through 2003. He is not only the longest serving Secretary of State, but is also the only one to have been elected as both a Democrat and as a Republican.

He was a longtime member of the Jacksonville State University Board of Trustees and was Chairman of the Board when he passed away. Jim Bennett was a true public servant.

Have a Happy New Year!

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.

www.TallasseeTribune.com

December 28, 2016 • Page 5

The 12 days between Christmas and Epiphany

T

he twelve days of Christmas begins on Dec. 25 and ends on the Epiphany Jan. 6, so we’re smack-dab in the middle of the “real” Christmas season (even though the rest of the world thinks it starts in October and ends before Santa Claus can even warm up the sleigh).

Before it’s all over with, I submit my own personal must-watch, must-listen list for the Christmas season.

Some of these are easy to find; others seem to be fading away.

12. Holiday Inn and/or White Christmas – these movies both star Bing Crosby and feature the bestselling record of all time; their plots are similar. One features Fred Astaire and the other Danny Kaye. But if you can find these entertaining films, watch them – they don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

11. Home Alone – One of the most successful movies of the ‘90s, the hilarious original (and its totally preposterous but equally funny sequel) is sure to tickle anyone’s funny bone. While Macaulay Culkin was a great child actor, the “wet bandits,” Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, carry the whole show.

10. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” – Maybe it’s Bing Crosby’s delivery, or maybe it’s the subject matter of a soldier off at war during the holidays, but something about this song always gets to me. And this year, when

T

Bird’s Eye View

By Michael Bird I heard Crosby’s memorable duet with David Bowie, I imagined that they could finally sing together again.

9. Christmas episode of The Brady Bunch – Carol Brady is set to sing Christmas Eve at church, but is attacked by laryngitis for days. Miraculously, her voice returns just in time to sing praises. Similarly, the 1988 TV-movie “A Very Brady Christmas” found Mike Brady pinned inside a collapsed building on Christmas; the Brady brood prays him to safety. R.I.P. Florence Henderson, who passed in 2016.

8. “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” – Dave Letterman helped popularize this classic by inviting Darlene Love to perform on his show every year. Ms. Love belts out this Phil Spector “wall of sound” tune with such fiery intensity, especially the last line, it’s hard not to believe that she really wants her baby to come home.

7. Gary Owens Preparation H commercial – This famous outtake by one of the greatest voices of all time is the first recording I reach for each year.

Owens is reading a spot about the wonderful season

of Christmas, but gets to the sponsor’s tag line and laughs so hard, he loses control.

6. “Ave Maria” – There are two versions: the BachGounod and the Schubert.

The Bach-Gounod version, as performed by classical violinist Isaac Stern with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra (whoever they were), is my favorite.

5. Paul Harvey’s “The Man and the Birds” – This one has faded from memory, but masterful storyteller Paul Harvey wrings meaning from every word in his annual retelling of this modern parable, in which the main character doesn’t believe in Christmas until he tries to shepherd a lost flock of birds into his warm lighted barn on Christmas Eve. 4. It’s A Wonderful Life – The older I get, the more I am affected by the look on Jimmy Stewart’s face when his uncle loses $8,000 and he is forced to sell his soul to mean old Mr. Potter; he attacks his loving wife and family, then heads to the bridge to commit suicide.

Angel-second-class Clarence happens to be there to save George Bailey from himself, and lets him see what Bedford Falls would have been like had George never lived.

3. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – The crude side of Christmas gets its due with Chevy Chase’s hapless Clark Griswold on his eternal search for the perfect family Christmas, complete with crazy relatives,

spiked egg nog, a subscription to the jelly of the month club, faulty power strips, raw sewage, and a burning Christmas tree.

2. “A Christmas Carol” – The story is always good.

But having seen the Alastair Sim, Patrick Stewart, and Muppets versions, in my humble opinion, the handsdown best Ebenezer Scrooge has to be George C. Scott in the 1984 TV-movie. He epitomizes meanness; yet, when he begs the spirit to give him another chance, his display of true humanity is unforgettable.

1. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” – We can’t make it through the season without the classics “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman,” among many others. But if I had to choose just one animated special to keep forever, it would be this one: Vince Guaraldi’s jazzy score sets the tone for this downbeat favorite, in which perennial loser Charlie Brown searches for the true meaning of Christmas. His friends have their own materialistic ideas, but best buddy Linus captures it all with his dramatic recitation of the birth of Jesus story from Luke’s gospel.

As we conclude the Christmas season this week, let’s remember Tiny Tim’s words: “God bless us, every one.”

Michael Bird is the band director and webmaster for Tallassee City Schools.

What a difference a year makes

his time last year, I wasn’t doing very well. It was a blue Christmas in every way. I don’t think I left my house on Christmas day. I wasn’t happy about life. I was eating and drinking way too much. I was pretty much miserable. I didn’t even watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. I usually watch it four to five times throughout the holidays. My, oh my! What a difference a year makes.

I watched it a half-dozen times this year.

In September of last year, I went to the Auburn - Louisville game at the Georgia Dome with my best friends. There were another 73,000 people there, too, yet I felt all alone. I watched just a couple of minutes of the first quarter before I had to leave. I sat alone on the floor with my back against the wall for the remainder of the game. The drinking and the depression was winning the battle. I’m bummed now that I didn’t watch Lamar Jackson play.

He, of course, being this year’s Heisman Trophy

JODY FULLER Guest Columnist

winner.

The remainder of the fall was the same way.

I just didn’t want to be around anyone and if I did, it involved the consumption of copious amounts of alcohol. I wasn’t drinking for fun; I was drinking to drown the proverbial sorrows. I wasn’t drinking every day, but when I did drink, I made up for the nights I didn’t. I wasn’t an alcoholic, but one doesn’t have to be an addict to have a problem.

Thankfully, I recognized that there was a problem and decided to do something about it.

In early December, I went to the VA to see about getting right. It wasn’t necessarily an immediate life or death situation, so they scheduled an appointment for me.

The appointment could

have been any number of days, but the first available slot was the last available slot on Christmas Eve. I’m fairly certain there was some divine intervention involved with the scheduling. Merry Christmas to me.

I went to several clinics for a range of tests, and the results were not very good. My cholesterol was high and my liver tests were a little high because of all the alcohol.

My final stop of the day was with a counselor. I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I’d spoken with a Christian counselor a few months earlier, and while it was very positive, due to scheduling conflicts, I never followed up. That was not the case with the counselor at the VA. I’ve seen him twice a month for the past year.

He and I have so much in common. I think I’ve become as much a counselor for him as he has been for me. We all need someone to talk to, and we all need someone to listen.

Far too often, we deal with our issues in destructive

ways, but there’s always a better way.

I went back three months after those initial series of tests for a followup. My cholesterol was well within range, and my liver tests were normal. I started eating healthier and didn’t drink for about six months and felt no pressure to do so. I now drink occasionally, but it’s not to drown any sorrows.

What a difference a year makes. Like everyone, I still have my battles but have found more productive ways to deal with them: counseling, daily devotions, and prayer, to name a few. I encourage anyone who’s struggling to talk to a professional.

Much like the Jelly of the Month Club, it’ll be the gift that keeps on giving the whole year.

Jody Fuller is a comic, speaker, writer and soldier with three tours of duty in Iraq. He is also a lifetime stutterer. He can be reached at jody@jodyfuller.com. For more information, please visit www. jodyfuller.com.

Talks THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

Inside the Statehouse

By Steve Flowers

End of year credits for politicians passed

A

t the close of every year my tradition is to acknowledge the passing away of significant political players from the political stage in Alabama. We have lost some icons from politics in the Heart of Dixie this year.

Lucy Baxley passed away in October in Birmingham at 78. She was born on a farm in rural Houston County in the community of Pansy. She went to school at Ashford. After graduation from high school she went to work at the courthouse in Dothan and worked for Judge Keener Baxley.

When Judge Baxley’s son, Bill, got elected Attorney General in 1970, young Bill Baxley asked Lucy to come to Montgomery to be his administrative assistant. Eight years later she and Bill married. She was an integral part of Baxley’s first campaign for Governor in 1978.

Bill became Lt. Governor in 1982, then lost again for governor in 1986. Soon, thereafter, Bill and Lucy ended their ten year marriage.

Lucy then began her own career in Alabama politics. She was elected State Treasurer in 1990 and spent eight years in that post. She was a natural campaigner. One of the best one-on-one I have ever seen. She worked the state during those eight years as Treasurer, especially among senior citizen groups.

She parlayed that campaign into being elected as the first female lieutenant governor in history. In that 1998 campaign, she coined the campaign phrase, “I Love Lucy.”

Her signs were all over the state. Her name identification was so pronounced that her lieutenant governor’s parking space simply said “Lucy.”

She was the Democratic nominee for governor in 2002, but lost to Republican Bob Riley.

She finished her political career by serving on the Public Service Commission. Lucy loved Alabama and folks loved her.

Judge Perry O. Hooper, Sr. passed away in his hometown of Montgomery in April at the age of 91. Judge Hooper’s career paralleled the growth and dominance of the Republican Party in Alabama. He was indeed one of the founding Fathers of the modern Republican Party in the Heart of Dixie. He was a Republican before it was cool. One time when he was state party chairman, Hooper would joke that he could call a meeting of the state GOP in a phone booth.

Hooper was a Marine. His lovely wife, Marilyn, was a Montgomery native and they raised four fine boys. As a pioneer Republican he led the Goldwater landslide of the South in 1964. That crescendo propelled him into the Montgomery Probate Judge office. He was reelected to that post in 1970 and in 1974, he moved to a Montgomery Circuit judgeship.

Twenty years later Judge Hooper broke the ice of control that the Democrats and Trial Lawyers had over the State Supreme Court.

He became the First Republican Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. Democrats and Republicans alike noted at his funeral that during his years as a Judge he treated everyone fairly.

Jim Bennett was the longest serving Secretary of State in Alabama history. Jim passed away in Birmingham in August at age 76, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer. Jim was a writer, reporter, State Representative, State Senator and Secretary of State.

He became a reporter for the Birmingham Post Herald after graduation from Jacksonville State. He covered the Civil Rights protests in Birmingham in 1963 and stood next to Bull Conner when he ordered fire hoses turned on protesters, including children. He once told me he interviewed George Wallace, Bull Conner and Martin Luther King in the same day.

He ran for and was elected to the state legislature in 1978. We served together in the House. He later moved to the Senate. He was first appointed Secretary of State in 1993. He won the election in 1994 and served two four year terms through 2003. He is not only the longest serving Secretary of State, but is also the only one to have been elected as both a Democrat and as a Republican.

He was a longtime member of the Jacksonville State University Board of Trustees and was Chairman of the Board when he passed away. Jim Bennett was a true public servant.

Have a Happy New Year!

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.

www.TallasseeTribune.com

December 28, 2016 • Page 5

The 12 days between Christmas and Epiphany

T

he twelve days of Christmas begins on Dec. 25 and ends on the Epiphany Jan. 6, so we’re smack-dab in the middle of the “real” Christmas season (even though the rest of the world thinks it starts in October and ends before Santa Claus can even warm up the sleigh).

Before it’s all over with, I submit my own personal must-watch, must-listen list for the Christmas season.

Some of these are easy to find; others seem to be fading away.

12. Holiday Inn and/or White Christmas – these movies both star Bing Crosby and feature the bestselling record of all time; their plots are similar. One features Fred Astaire and the other Danny Kaye. But if you can find these entertaining films, watch them – they don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

11. Home Alone – One of the most successful movies of the ‘90s, the hilarious original (and its totally preposterous but equally funny sequel) is sure to tickle anyone’s funny bone. While Macaulay Culkin was a great child actor, the “wet bandits,” Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, carry the whole show.

10. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” – Maybe it’s Bing Crosby’s delivery, or maybe it’s the subject matter of a soldier off at war during the holidays, but something about this song always gets to me. And this year, when

T

Bird’s Eye View

By Michael Bird I heard Crosby’s memorable duet with David Bowie, I imagined that they could finally sing together again.

9. Christmas episode of The Brady Bunch – Carol Brady is set to sing Christmas Eve at church, but is attacked by laryngitis for days. Miraculously, her voice returns just in time to sing praises. Similarly, the 1988 TV-movie “A Very Brady Christmas” found Mike Brady pinned inside a collapsed building on Christmas; the Brady brood prays him to safety. R.I.P. Florence Henderson, who passed in 2016.

8. “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” – Dave Letterman helped popularize this classic by inviting Darlene Love to perform on his show every year. Ms. Love belts out this Phil Spector “wall of sound” tune with such fiery intensity, especially the last line, it’s hard not to believe that she really wants her baby to come home.

7. Gary Owens Preparation H commercial – This famous outtake by one of the greatest voices of all time is the first recording I reach for each year.

Owens is reading a spot about the wonderful season

of Christmas, but gets to the sponsor’s tag line and laughs so hard, he loses control.

6. “Ave Maria” – There are two versions: the BachGounod and the Schubert.

The Bach-Gounod version, as performed by classical violinist Isaac Stern with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra (whoever they were), is my favorite.

5. Paul Harvey’s “The Man and the Birds” – This one has faded from memory, but masterful storyteller Paul Harvey wrings meaning from every word in his annual retelling of this modern parable, in which the main character doesn’t believe in Christmas until he tries to shepherd a lost flock of birds into his warm lighted barn on Christmas Eve. 4. It’s A Wonderful Life – The older I get, the more I am affected by the look on Jimmy Stewart’s face when his uncle loses $8,000 and he is forced to sell his soul to mean old Mr. Potter; he attacks his loving wife and family, then heads to the bridge to commit suicide.

Angel-second-class Clarence happens to be there to save George Bailey from himself, and lets him see what Bedford Falls would have been like had George never lived.

3. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – The crude side of Christmas gets its due with Chevy Chase’s hapless Clark Griswold on his eternal search for the perfect family Christmas, complete with crazy relatives,

spiked egg nog, a subscription to the jelly of the month club, faulty power strips, raw sewage, and a burning Christmas tree.

2. “A Christmas Carol” – The story is always good.

But having seen the Alastair Sim, Patrick Stewart, and Muppets versions, in my humble opinion, the handsdown best Ebenezer Scrooge has to be George C. Scott in the 1984 TV-movie. He epitomizes meanness; yet, when he begs the spirit to give him another chance, his display of true humanity is unforgettable.

1. “A Charlie Brown Christmas” – We can’t make it through the season without the classics “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman,” among many others. But if I had to choose just one animated special to keep forever, it would be this one: Vince Guaraldi’s jazzy score sets the tone for this downbeat favorite, in which perennial loser Charlie Brown searches for the true meaning of Christmas. His friends have their own materialistic ideas, but best buddy Linus captures it all with his dramatic recitation of the birth of Jesus story from Luke’s gospel.

As we conclude the Christmas season this week, let’s remember Tiny Tim’s words: “God bless us, every one.”

Michael Bird is the band director and webmaster for Tallassee City Schools.

What a difference a year makes

his time last year, I wasn’t doing very well. It was a blue Christmas in every way. I don’t think I left my house on Christmas day. I wasn’t happy about life. I was eating and drinking way too much. I was pretty much miserable. I didn’t even watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. I usually watch it four to five times throughout the holidays. My, oh my! What a difference a year makes.

I watched it a half-dozen times this year.

In September of last year, I went to the Auburn - Louisville game at the Georgia Dome with my best friends. There were another 73,000 people there, too, yet I felt all alone. I watched just a couple of minutes of the first quarter before I had to leave. I sat alone on the floor with my back against the wall for the remainder of the game. The drinking and the depression was winning the battle. I’m bummed now that I didn’t watch Lamar Jackson play.

He, of course, being this year’s Heisman Trophy

JODY FULLER Guest Columnist

winner.

The remainder of the fall was the same way.

I just didn’t want to be around anyone and if I did, it involved the consumption of copious amounts of alcohol. I wasn’t drinking for fun; I was drinking to drown the proverbial sorrows. I wasn’t drinking every day, but when I did drink, I made up for the nights I didn’t. I wasn’t an alcoholic, but one doesn’t have to be an addict to have a problem.

Thankfully, I recognized that there was a problem and decided to do something about it.

In early December, I went to the VA to see about getting right. It wasn’t necessarily an immediate life or death situation, so they scheduled an appointment for me.

The appointment could

have been any number of days, but the first available slot was the last available slot on Christmas Eve. I’m fairly certain there was some divine intervention involved with the scheduling. Merry Christmas to me.

I went to several clinics for a range of tests, and the results were not very good. My cholesterol was high and my liver tests were a little high because of all the alcohol.

My final stop of the day was with a counselor. I really wasn’t sure what to expect. I’d spoken with a Christian counselor a few months earlier, and while it was very positive, due to scheduling conflicts, I never followed up. That was not the case with the counselor at the VA. I’ve seen him twice a month for the past year.

He and I have so much in common. I think I’ve become as much a counselor for him as he has been for me. We all need someone to talk to, and we all need someone to listen.

Far too often, we deal with our issues in destructive

ways, but there’s always a better way.

I went back three months after those initial series of tests for a followup. My cholesterol was well within range, and my liver tests were normal. I started eating healthier and didn’t drink for about six months and felt no pressure to do so. I now drink occasionally, but it’s not to drown any sorrows.

What a difference a year makes. Like everyone, I still have my battles but have found more productive ways to deal with them: counseling, daily devotions, and prayer, to name a few. I encourage anyone who’s struggling to talk to a professional.

Much like the Jelly of the Month Club, it’ll be the gift that keeps on giving the whole year.

Jody Fuller is a comic, speaker, writer and soldier with three tours of duty in Iraq. He is also a lifetime stutterer. He can be reached at jody@jodyfuller.com. For more information, please visit www. jodyfuller.com.

www.TallasseeTribune.com

NEW YEAR WORD FIND

1HZ <HDUÂśV 'D\ LV WKH ÂżUVW KROLGD\ FHOHEUDWHG HDFK \HDU LQ WKH 8QLWHG 6WDWHV People welcome in the New Year with friends and family by following traditions and making resolutions to improve their health and lifestyles. Many people stay XS XQWLO DP WR ULQJ LQ WKH 1HZ <HDU -DQXDU\ ZDV ÂżUVW GHFODUHG WKH ÂżUVW day of the year during the Roman Empire with the creation of the Julian calendar.

Many traditions, such as resolutions, surround New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. A resolution is a decision you make in order to improve yourself. The most common New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resolution is to lose weight. Others may resolve to eat healthier, keep their home or RIÂżFH FOHDQHU RU WR GR PRUH FKDULWDEOH DFWV 2WKHU 1HZ <HDUÂśV WUDGLWLRQV LQFOXGH eating special foods for good luck, e.g., black-eyed peas and collard greens in America and doughnuts in the Netherlands. Parades are also a common New <HDUÂśV WUDGLWLRQ 7KH ÂżUVW 7RXUQDPHQW RI 5RVHV 3DUDGH RFFXUUHG LQ &DOLIRUQLD LQ 1886 to celebrate the orange crops. The Rose Bowl was added to this tradition in 1902 and is still a popular New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s celebration. The famous Waterford Crystal Ball drop in New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Times Square is televised each year on New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve and is watched by people around the World. A smaller, but similar, festivity is the Peach Drop in Atlanta, Georgia.

Words: HAPPY Cake NEW YEAR Clocks CROSSWORD Confetti Solve the puzzle Countdown using the clues Ball provided. Each clue Drink gives a hint to a New Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resolution.

Family Food Friends Hats Kisses Midnight Music Noise Makers FINISH THE SONG Radio The popular song, Auld Lang Syne, is ofStreamers ten sung at the stroke of midnight on New Television Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eve. Complete the song.

CHINESE NEW YEAR ANIMAL

(1) Should old ___________ be forgot and never brought to mind?

(2) acquaintance be forgot Should ____ and days of Auld Lang Syne.

(3) For Auld Lang Syne, my _____, for Auld Lang Syne, (4) weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll take a cup of ___________ yet (5) for _______ Lang Syne.

And surely youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll buy your pint cup!

(6) and surely Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll buy ______!

And weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll take a cup oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; kindness yet, (7) Syne. for Auld _____

2017

Across Clues: 4. Try to spend less what?

7. Help the Earth by starting to do what?

8. To move your body more.

9. Eat healthier foods.

Down Clues: 1. To put things in order.

2. To treat other people with more ___________.

3. To not be late or tardy.

5. Lose excess _______.

6. To ____ your car, home, RU RIÂżFH

Crossword Ans: Across4)money 7) recycle 8) exercise 9) diet Down-1) organize 2) kindness 3) timely 5) weight 6)clean

Connect the dots to see the 2017 animal of the year.

THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

Song :1) acquaintance 2)old 3)dear 4)kindness 5) Auld 6)mine 7)Lang

Page 6 â&#x20AC;˘ December 28, 2016

Did you know that the Chinese calendar assigns an animal to each Chinese Year?

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THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

www.TallasseeTribune.com

December 28, 2016 • Page 7

Shoe is now on other foot for state As year ends, let’s remember board after grad rates misreported those like Nola Ochs

W

hen State

Superintendent of Education LARRY LEE Mike Sentance Guest told the state Columnist school board Dec. 8 that the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Education had determined that the state’s high school graduation rate was inaccurate, reaction was swift and true to form.

Members of the legislature who consistently oppose public education were quick to tell media that there should be consequences for deceiving the public. (Would this include the 22 senators and 51 house members who voted for the Alabama Accountablity Act in 2013 and told the public that this was all about “helping poor kids stuck in failing schools by their zip codes?”)

Senator Del Marsh said the graduation rate issue “is all the more reason for school choice.”

But it was the reaction of state school board members that really got my attention. Mary Scott Hunter told the Decatur Daily that there will be consequences for dishonesty.

Take the time to go on the ALSDE web site and watch the video of the work session and you will hear these comments from board members: “I never believed our graduation rates were accurate.” “I can’t speak. I was lied to.” “I have been betrayed.” “We all hate to be blindsided.” “The public has been left out.” “We must pay attention to ethics.” “We’ve put our credibiity on the line.”

All of these comments would ring legitimate–if we erased the last six months from this board’s record.

Here is what they want us to forget.

The deadline for applicants for state superintendent was June 7. On June 27, Mike Sentance informed ALSDE legal counsel Juliana Dean in writing that he was withdrawing his name from consideration. According to Sentance, Dean called him shortly thereafter and told him that board members wanted him to reconsider. Dean works for the entire board. She did not ask them if she should call Sentance. He left her a voice mail on June 28 that he still wanted to be considered.

Mary Scott Hunter told the Decatur Daily that she expressed her disappointment to Dean that Sentance had withdrawn but could not remember if she asked Dean to call Sentance or not.

What no one ever mentions is that another candidate, Dr. Steven Paine, former state superintendent for West Virginia, also applied and withdrew. Unlike Sentance, who has no training in education and did not meet the “required qualifications” the state board said an applicant had to have, Paine has three degrees in education, is a former teacher, principal, local superintendent and state superintendent and oversaw a $2.4 billion budget. No one called and asked him to remain a candidate.

Someone made sure board members got an anonoymous “smear sheet” at the July 12 board meeting. This was intended to discredit applicant Craig Pouncey, Jefferson County superintendent and former chief of staff for state superintendent Tommy Bice. By the end of the week, this info made its way to the Ethics Commission, which in turn wrote Dean a letter naming Pouncey as the object of the letter. Dean distributed a copy of the Ethics Commission letter to all board members and shortly thereafter, the media had a copy.

This incident prompted creation of a legislative committee who are now trying to determine what took place. All eight elected board members have appeared before this committee. Six of them said they paid little attention to the info because it was not signed and could not therefore be investigated by the Ethics Commission.

However, members Matt Brown and Hunter told the committee they were very concerned with the allegations.

Hunter stated that she gave the info to interim superintendent Phillip Cleveland on July 13 and asked him to give it to Dean. She also called Tom Albritton, executive director of the Ethics Commission and discussed it with him.

When Sen. Gerald Dial asked Hunter if she knew that an unsigned complaint could not be acted on by the Ethics Commission, she said, “I did not know the rules” However, earlier that

same day member Cynthia McCarty stated that the board had a retreat in February 2016 and one of the speakers was Tom Allbritton.

Hunter also confirmed to Dial that shortly after this incident she told him at a meeting of the Business Council of Alabama that Pouncey would not be considered for state superintendent because of the Ethics Commission complaint.

However, this was untrue as there has never been an actionable complaint submitted to the Ethics Commisssion. (And had the info given to the board members been signed, the statue of limitations has long since expired regarding the supposed offense.)

The state board voted to hire Sentance on Aug. 11. He was nominated by Hunter and received votes from her, Matt Brown, Betty Peters, Stephanie Bell and Gov. Robert Bentley.

To say this hire stunned the education community is an understatement of the highest order.

If a single educator in Alabama recommended Sentance to a state board member, I have not found him/her. Which is what makes the cries of “betrayal” coming from the state school board almost comical.

The day after the work session last week, board member Hunter sent out a newsletter by email. She states, “Trust has been broken and must be rebuilt.” She could have sent this out the day after she voted to hire Mike Sentance and it would have been just as true.

We sent out an on-line survey with 23 questions on Nov. 29. To date, we’ve had 970 responses (Since there is no way to control who responds, this cannot be considered what some call a “scientific” poll where respondents correlate to local demographics. In this case, 90 percent of respondents are white, 69 percent are female, 70 percent work for a school system and 61 percent have children or grandchildren in a public school. However, trends are certainly valid, especially as to how educators feel.)

Question no. 16 in our survey was “What grade would you give the Alabama School Board?”

Out of 904 respondents (66 skipped this question), 3 said A, 39 gave the board a B, 219 said C, 373 said D and 270 said the board had failed, giving it an F. So 4.6 percent give the state board an A or B, while 95.4 percent say C, D, or F. Couple this with the fact that 92 percent disagree with the Sentance hire, 70.8 percent say a state superintendent should have previous experience in Alabama schools and 75.4 percent say a state superintendent should have experience as a local superintendent and you quickly see that this state school board squandered whatever trust or credibility they had with the public last summer.

Ironic that the shoe is now on the other foot and board members now say they have the same feelings the public had back in August.

Larry Lee follows topics related to education in Alabama and is the author of Lessons Learned from Rural Schools.

DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor

E

very year around this time we stop and think about some of the legends we’ve lost since the previous New Year’s Eve. Each year, the loss seems greater than imaginable.

2016 is no different.

Look at the music industry alone. Among those who left us in 2016 were David Bowie, Glenn Frey, Merle Haggard, Prince, Leonard Cohen and, most recently, George Michael.

Put simply, that’s a heckuva playlist taken from us.

You can find the lists on the internet. There were many famous people who died in 2016. Dan Haggerty, Abe Vigoda, Nancy Reagan, Joe Garagiola, Muhammad Ali – the list goes on and on.

And then there are people like Nola Hill Ochs.

Bet you never heard of her.

Well, Nola Ochs died on Dec. 9 at the age of 105.

Almost 10 years before, in May 2007, she had been certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest living college graduate. A native of Jetmore, Kansas, Ochs began her college career at what was then Kansas State College in Fort Hays, Kansas, in 1930. She and her husband, Vernon, raised a family of four sons on their Kansas farm. The sons gave them 13 grandchildren and they gave the Ochs 15 great-grands.

Vernon Ochs died in 1972 and Nola, her children grown, went back to school, this time at Dodge City Community College in Dodge City, Kansas.

Later, she learned that she was only 30 hours away from her bachelor’s degree in general studies, so she moved the 100 miles to Fort Hays and graduated from

Fort Hays State University on May 14, 2007. She told a reporter at the ceremony that she wanted to be a storyteller on a cruise ship.

But Nola never made it to the cruise ship. Instead she began working on her master’s in August of that same year and received her master’s on May 15, 2010 at age 98, becoming the oldest person to ever receive a master’s.

As of her 100th birthday in November of 2011, Nola was a graduate teaching assistant at Fort Hays State.

Ochs said she didn’t keep track of her age, “but I can tell you I was born in November of 1911. I’ve led a long, interesting life.

We (Nola and Vernon) went through the dust storms. We had some difficult times in our marriage, financially.

But it’s been the Lord’s will that I’ve lived this long life, and I thank Him kindly for it.”

Nola’s life wasn’t a piece of cake. In addition to the Dust Bowl days and the financial hard times, imagine the work that goes into raising four sons. Then imagine two of those sons – sons you had protected and nurtured – preceding you in death.

Nola lost her first son in 1972. Her second died just nine months prior to his mother.

So as we remember 2016 and the stars that we have lost – in the music world and other areas of popular entertainment – let’s remember those like Nola Ochs, too.

She never had a Top 40 hit. She never starred in a movie. She never made a name for herself in politics or wrote a bestseller.

But despite having never done any of those noteworthy things, her life is truly one to emulate.

David Granger is the managing editor for the Elmore County newspapers under Tallapoosa Publishers.

RELIGION

Visit our sister websites: www.AlexCityOutlook.com www.TheWetumpkaHerald.com

Page 8 • December 28, 2016

www.TallasseeTribune.com THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

‘What if I had?’ or ‘What if I do?’

W

hat’s faster than a speeding bullet?

Why, Superman, of

course.

He’s also more powerful than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound but he has never won a gold medal in any of those events.

This past year Usain Bolt did. He won a pocket full of them because he’s the fastest man in the world. He has reached speeds of 27.8 miles per hour – on foot! I once had a worn out Volkswagen that wouldn’t run that fast downhill with a tailwind! It reached its top speed each morning when I coasted down the hill in our back yard to pop the clutch and crank ‘er up.

What is faster than Usain

Bolt? An Ostrich! They can reach speeds of 40 mph on two legs. The four-wheel drive Cheetah (I meant fourlegged) reaches speeds of over 60 mph. We could say they are lightning fast but that’s not actually true. Lightning’s return stroke is said to travel at 220,000,000 mph. The lightning bolt is much faster than the Usain Bolt. Now those are all amazingly fast, but I feel like the fastest thing I have ever witnessed may have been the passing of 2016!

I used to laugh at old people as they said, “The older you get the faster the years go by.” Now I am “old people” and I’m one of the ones saying that. Could it be that time only seems to move faster because I am moving slower? Nah, that

BILL KING Religion Columnist

couldn’t be it! At this stage in my life, I have to confess that I am definitely moving slower but do feel like the years are passing by at warp speed. It seem like 2016 began a month or two ago rather than twelve.

It seems like yesterday we entered a new millennium and people were predicting the end of the world, or at least the crash of all the computers.

Can you believe that was seventeen years ago?

Of course, if you are in

your early twenties, seventeen years is a long time. It makes sense when you think about it with the proper perspective.

For example, when you were four years old, a year was one fourth of your entire life. Now that you are, well, never mind how old you are, or me either, for that matter, you get the point. I’ve seen several years and one of them is certainly no longer one fourth of my life. I would tell you the exact percentage but I’m not good with fractions.

Like a whirlwind, 2016 is gone. It is past tense and we have used it up. We can’t go back, we can’t do it over, but then we might not want to. We may look back with remorse and play “What if” but that won’t change anything. I’ve

often asked, “What if I had been born rich instead of so good looking?” The truth is that asking “What if” won’t make me either.

The good news is that an entirely new and unused year is stretched out right in front of us. The question is what are we going to do with it?

Instead of using “What if” with regret as we look back, how about using it with anticipation as we look ahead? What if we give thanks for the good in 2016, ask forgiveness for the mistakes we made, put it to bed and move one? What if, in 2017, we explore our options and possibilities and make wise choices and do the right things? Happy New Year!

Religion Briefs • Episcopal Church of the Epiphany

On Sunday, Jan. 1 at 10:30 a.m.

Epiphany will celebrate a Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols, with coffee hour to follow. There will be NO Sunday School that day. For more information, visit the church website: http://epiphanytallassee.org/

• Tallassee Church of Christ

Announces our new minister, Charlie Boddy. Sunday School begins at 10 a.m. Worship Service begins at 11 a.m.

Sunday evening service begins at 5 p.m.

Wednesday night services begin at 6 p.m.

Visitor’s welcome at all services 334-2835437 209 Gilmer Ave.

• St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church

“Our Life’s Journey” is an outreach of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Tallassee, Fr. Mateusz Rudzik, pastor, and Knights of Columbus Council 15093, Andy Lacey, grand knight. It airs on WACQAM 580 and FM 101.1 each Sunday from 8-8:30 a.m. Listen online at www. wacqradio.com or on your smart phone

using the TuneIn app.

January 1 - Once Saved, Always Saved?

• Salem Macon Baptist

We do not have our Forever Young meeting in November and December.

Our next meeting will be Jan. 24. Salem Macon is located at 4647 Tallapoosa St. or Alabama Highway 14, five miles west of Notasulga and 9 miles east of Tallassee.

We would be happy to have you join us for Sunday School at 9:30 and 10:30 Worship Service. Mike Stephens is our pastor.

• East Tallassee United Church

The “River’s Edge Flea Market” is open every Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. All vendors are welcome: new items, old items, crafts, youth groups, ball teams, baked goods, produce and food. The flea market is sponsored by the East Tallassee UMC and is located across from City Hall.

We will offer various priced booths. To reserve a space call Joan Wood at 334312-4913. All proceeds raised by ETUMC will be used for church-sponsored programs.

Area Churches AME ZION Mt. Zion Chapel AME Zion 2340 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-4413 Rogers Chapel AME Zion 709 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8144 Jackson Chapel AME Zion 4885 Coosada Rd., Coosada Jones Chapel AME Zion 2414 Ingram Rd. (Co. Rd. 3), Elmore ABUNDANT LIFE Abundant Life Church 9301 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-9143 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Agape Tabernacle Assembly of God 1076 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic 541-2006 Bethel Worship Center 11117 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-5754 Crossroads Assembly of God 2534 AL Hwy 14., Millbrook 285-5545 First Assembly of God 3511 Shirley Ln., Millbrook New Home Assembly of God 5620 Caesarville Rd., Wetumpka 5692825 BAPTIST Abraham Baptist Church Millbrook Antioch Baptist Church 1115 Antioch Rd., Titus 567-2917 Beulah Baptist Church 2350 Grier Rd., Wetumpka 514-2881 Blue Ridge Baptist 4471 Jasmine Hill Rd., Wetumpka 5674325 Brookwood Baptist Grandview Rd., Millbrook Calvary Baptist 504 W. Osceola St., Wetumpka 567-4729 Central Baptist 3545 W. Central Rd., Wetumpka 541-2556 Coosada Baptist 20 Kennedy Ave., Coosada Deatsville Baptist 184 Church St., Deatsville Eclectic Baptist Church 203 Claud Rd., Eclectic 541-4444 Faith Baptist 64 Chapel Rd., Wetumpka 567-4417 First Baptist Church 205 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-5191 First Baptist of Elmore Hwy. 14 Co. Rd. 74, Elmore

Galilee Baptist 95 Old Georgia Rd., Wetumpka 567-4178 Good Hope Baptist 1766 S. Fleahop Rd., Eclectic Goodship Baptist Hwy. 143, Millbrook Grace Baptist Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka 567-3255 Grandview Pines Baptist Deatsville Hwy., Deatsville Green Ridge Baptist 288 Turner Rd., Wetumpka 567-2486 Harvest Baptist 2990 Main St., Millbrook Hillside Baptist 405 Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka Holtville Riverside Baptist 7121 Holtville Rd., Wetumpka 514-5922 Lake Elam Baptist 4060 Gober Rd., Millbrook Liberty Hill Baptist 61 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-8750 Lighthouse Baptist 2281 Main St., Millbrook Living Water Baptist 1745 Grass Farm Rd. (Co. Rd. 80), Weoka Millbrook Baptist Millbrook 285-4731 Mitts Chapel Baptist 935 Cold Springs Rd., Deatsville 569-1952 Mt. Hebron West Baptist 150 Mt. Hebron Rd., Elmore 567-4441 Mt. Herron East Baptist Church 4355 Mt. Herron Rd. Eclectic, Al 36024 334-857-3689 Mountain View Baptist 1025 Rifle Range Rd., Wetumpka 5674458 New Harmony Baptist 3094 New Harmony Rd., Marbury 3121878 New Home Baptist 1605 New Home Rd., Titus 567-0923 New Hope Baptist 6191 Lightwood Rd., Deatsville 569-1267 New Lily Green Baptist 6504 Deatsville Hwy., Deatsville New Nazareth Baptist Hwy. 143, Deatsville Pleasant Hill Baptist Pleasant Hill Rd., Eclectic 541-3460 Prospect Baptist

Prospect Rd., Eclectic 567-5837 Redland Baptist 1266 Dozier Rd., Wetumpka 567-8649 Refuge Baptist Church 3098 Red Hill Road Tallassee 334-857-2638 Rehoberth Baptist 8110 Rifle Range Rd., Tallassee 567-9801 Rushenville Baptist 10098 Georgia Rd., Eclectic 541-2418 Saint James Baptist 1005 Nobles Rd., Wetumpka 567-6209 Saint James Baptist 101 Gantt Rd., Deatsville 569-3006 Santuck Baptist 7250 Central Plank Rd., Wetumpka 567-2364 Seman Baptist Seman, Alabama Shoal Creek Baptist 13214 Holtville Rd., Deatsville 569-2482 Springfield Baptist Hwy. 7, Millbrook Thelma Baptist 810 Weoka Rd., Wetumpka 567-3665 Titus Baptist 6930 Titus Rd., Wetumpka 334-531-2120 Tunnell Chapel Baptist 210 Central Plank Rd., Wetumpka 567-2589 Victory Baptist 5481 Main St., Millbrook Wadsworth Baptist 2780 Hwy. 143, Deatsville 569-2851 BAPTIST - MISSIONARY Atkins Hill 565 Atkins Rd., Wetumpka 567-1141 Cathmagby Baptist 3074 Mitchell Creek Rd., Wetumpka 567-4787 First Missionary Baptist at Guilfield 412 Company St., Wetumpka 567-7455 Goodhope 1389 Willow Springs Rd. Wetumpka 567-7133 Lebanon 17877 U.S. Hwy. 231, Titus 514-1097 Mount Canaan 1125 Weoka Rd., Wetumpka 567-2141 Mount Pisgah 16621 U.S. Hwy. 231, Titus 567-3668 Mt. Zion

371 AL Hwy. 14, Elmore, 567-2613 Mt. Zion #3 1813 Luke Paschal Rd., Eclectic New Home 5130 Elmore Rd., Wetumpka 567-5966 Second Missionary 760 N. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8601 Spring Chapel Jasmine Hill Rd., Wetumpka 567-6493 Sweetwater 163 Michael Lane, Wetumpka 334-5389415 Tabernacle Baptist 1020 W. Tallassee St., Wetumpka 5670620 BAPTIST - PRIMITIVE Bethel Old School 4625 Jackson Rd. (C.R. 103), Wetumpka Providence 4850 Chana Creek Rd., Wetumpka CATHOLIC Our Lady of Guadalupe 545 White Rd., Wetumpka 567-0311 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ of Elmore 470 Caesarville Rd., Wetumpka 567-6670 Church of Christ Grandview Pines 165 Deatsville Hwy., Millbrook Cold Springs Church of Christ 5920 Alabama Hwy. 143, Deatsville Georgia Road Church of Christ 4003 Georgia Rd., Wetumpka 567-2804 Lightwood Church of Christ 251 New Harmony Rd., Deatsville 5691510 Redland Road Church of Christ 2480 Redland Rd., Wetumpka 514-3656 Wetumpka Church of Christ W. Bridge St. At W. Main St., Wetumpka 567-6561 CHURCH OF GOD Elmore Church of God 10675 Rucker Road, Elmore Gethsemane Church of God 705 Cotton St., Wetumpka 567-9886 Church at the Brook 2890 Hwy. 14, Millbrook Maranatha Church of God 2621 Holtville Rd., Wetumpka 567-6786 Victory Tabernacle AOH Church of God Hwy 143, Millbrook

Wetumpka Church of God Hwy. 9 N. Wetumpka 215-3091 CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN Cedarwood Congregational Christian 10286 US Hwy 231 N, Wetumpka 567-0476 Seman Congregational Christian 15970 Central Plank Rd., Seman Union Congregational Christian 8188 Lightwood Rd., Marbury 569-2122 EPISCOPAL The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 2602 Gilmer Ave., Tallassee 252-8618 Trinity Episcopal Church 5371 U.S. Hwy. 231, Wetumpka 567-7534 St. Michael & All Angels Church 5941 Main St., Millbrook HOLINESS New Beginnings Holiness 865 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-9211 Summit Holiness 2050 Hwy. 14, Millbrook Temple of Deliverance Holiness 620 Alabama St., Wetumpka 514-3114 JEHOVAH’S WITNESS Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 9235 U.S. Hwy. 231, Wetumpka 567-8100 LATTER DAY SAINTS Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 1405 Chapel Rd., Wetumpka 567-8339 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Cobbs Ford Rd., Millbrook LUTHERAN Christ Lutheran Church 2175 Cobbs Ford Rd., Prattville PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church 100 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8135 Millbrook Presbyterian Corner of Main St. & Coosada Rd. Valley View Presbyterian - PCA 4125 Rifle Range Rd. Wetumpka 386-2386 SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST First Elmore Seventh Day Adventist 210 Lucky Town Rd., Elmore 514-1020

Submit your church news to editor@tallasseetribune.com •••

The deadline Is FRIDAY at noon.

If you would like to be a sponsor of the Devotional Thoughts each week, please give us a call, 334-567-7811. The Tallassee Tribune

Page 10 • December 28, 2016

www.TallasseeTribune.com

THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

Pets and fireworks do not mix

By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director

W

e hope everyone is having a wonderful after-Christmas holiday. The shelter will close again early at noon, Dec. 31, for New Year’s Eve. Now while New Year’s Eve is fun for us humans the reality is that fireworks and pets are not a good mix and many pets get lost on New Year’s Eve as they try to escape from scary fireworks or loud parties.

Prevention is always the best method, so how do you keep your pet safe this coming weekend?

Easy - just bring your dogs and cats inside before any fireworks start and keep them in until well after all of the flashes and bangs are finished for the evening. They may still be scared and hide in a quiet spot in the house, but at least they will be safe at home. If your pet cannot come in the house, then consider containing it in your garage or shop or barn but please make sure to put items hazardous to pets out of their reach. Once the fireworks are done you should then be able to safely let your pet back outside but be prepared to contain your pet(s) again possibly Sunday as well.

Since it gets dark so early this time of year, don’t delay bringing your pets inside as that first volley might cause your pet to panic and take off. And be aware: thinking your pet is ok because it is in a fenced yard does not always work. When dogs are petrified they can scale a fence or go under it in an instant to escape what is scaring them.

Please bring them inside. Cats too!

Making sure your pet has identification on their collar will go a long way to getting them back home – current rabies tag, a personalized ID tag (remember, we can make these for you at our shelter), or writing your phone number on their

collar in indelible ink can often get your pet back home without the shelter ever getting involved.

Make an appointment with your veterinarian to have your pet microchipped as that truly helps us get pets back home in the event they lose their collar. If your pet does become lost (or you find a pet), please call us at the shelter at 334-567-3377 as soon as possible so we can take a report; if we do not answer, please leave a message and your phone number. If you are a Facebook person, don’t delay posting pics and info (where, when lost, phone numbers to contact you) on any of a number of Lost/Found Pet sites. Ours is “Lost & Found Pets in Elmore County” or you can post to our shelter page “Humane Society of Elmore County.” Or you can private message us on either of those pages if you don’t want to make a public post. Our Facebook admins can then post for you if necessary and will also start cross-posting to other pet/community pages you might not even know about to maximize the number of people knowing your pet is lost (or found). You can also report a lost/found pet directly to us via email at hselco@bellsouth.net. Photos of your pets make a HUGE difference as we work to reunite pets and their families, so if you don’t have any, take them this week!

Many families also have brand new pets in their families from Christmas so please realize that these pets are still adjusting to their new surroundings. If new pets escape, they have no idea where they are or where to go for safety. To reemphasize, please, please, please keep your pets inside and make sure they have collars and tags on them.

We wish everyone a safe and fun New Year’s Eve! And come see us at the shelter after Jan. 1 to purchase Getting Down with the Dawgs drawdown ticket(s) and your chance to win $10,000 on Feb. 18.

Meet Loki - Pet of the Week Loki is a 19-month-old husky/bulldog mix who weighs about 70 pounds. He is quite striking and it is hard to resist that patch over his right eye. Loki is good with cats, dogs of all sizes and both sexes and he loves children. He is a smart boy who also loves water.

Our adoption fees are $100 for dogs and $50 for cats under one year old; cats over one year old can be adopted by approved adopters for a fee of their choosing. This adoption fee completely covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations, de-worming, microchip, heartworm check for dogs, rabies vaccination if old enough and a free health exam with your participating veterinarian.

To meet all the great pets at our shelter come to 255 Central Plank Road in Wetumpka or go to our website at www.elmorehumane.org. For more information, email us at hselco@bellsouth.net or give us a call at 334-567-3377.

We are open for adoptions this week Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-noon.

THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

www.TallasseeTribune.com

December 28, 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ Page 11

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12

SPORTS

The Tallassee Tribune • December 28, 2016

Phone 334-283-6568 Fax 334-283-6569 www.TallasseeTribune.com www.tallapoosapublishers.smugmug.com

Tigers look forward to new year Hollinquest projects a well-meshed team of players to kick off 2017

By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

After a disappointing loss on the road, the Tallassee Tigers managed to rally back for two exciting wins at home.

The Tigers traveled to Notasulga on Dec. 13. It was a tough loss to Notasulga that the Tigers had to bounce back from last week.

“That was the night that I call Murphy’s Law,” said head coach Cecil Hollinquest. “Murphy’s Law states that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Things went wrong from the onset. The game started with three techs.”

After a hard fought battle, the Tigers fell to Notasulga with a final score of 60-31.

“I believe we could have played a better game against them,” Hollinquest said. “We went back and looked at that game and two days later played one of the best games of the season.”

The loss to Notasulga seemed to have lit a fire underneath the Tigers, because when they returned the court against LAMP on Dec. 15, the team dominated with a final score of 65-45 for the home game.

“I couldn’t believe the team that came out to play,” Hollinquest said. “You would have thought you were watching warriors, the way they played.”

According to Hollinquest, there were several players who went above and beyond expectations in the LAMP game.

“Drew Coker had ice water in his veins,” Hollinquest said. “Tyler Winchester did his part, Josh Griffin handled the inside. Trevon Skipper quarterbacked a great offensive scheme. Kalvin Levett, the kid played above the rim.”

Hollinquest says he is proud of his team and appreciates the support shown by the home crowd. However, with such a great victory over LAMP, Hollinquest was left asking, what’s next?

“When you have games like that you wonder, how will the team play in the next game?” he said.

The following night, the Tigers battled Alabama

Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune

After a disappointing loss to Notasulga, the Tigers rallied back for back-to-back wins against LAMP and ACA. According to Hollinquest, his players are beginning to mesh well and play together as a force to be reckoned with.

Christian Academy for yet another impressive win.

The Tigers walked away with a 72-66 victory over the Montgomery team. This was the first time Tallassee faced ACA and Hollinquest wasn’t sure what to expect.

“We didn’t know anything about them (ACA) at the time,” Hollinquest said. “It was great carryover. A huge carryover.”

Hollinquest said his five starters remained motivated and showed up to play against ACA in the area game.

“That same ice water was in Drew Coker’s veins,” Hollinquest said. “Tyler Winchester had the steals, Trevon Skipper is coming around and understanding his role. Even those that aren’t starters have been fulfilling their role,” While the season is still young, with many games to

Auburn hoping for sweet end to season

I

certainly hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is looking forward to a prosperous New Year.

But there’s still a little business to attend to as we transition from 2016 to 2017. The Auburn Tigers will lace up their cleats one final time this season and take on the Oklahoma Sooners on Jan 2 down in New Orleans in the Sugar Bowl. This will be the sixth appearance for the Tigers in the sweetest bowl game of them all and the results have been a mixed bag.

Auburn is 2-2-1 in its postseason history in the Big Easy and will face another significant challenge this go around. Let’s take a quick look into the past and then browse the future.

January 1, 1972 – No. 3 Oklahoma vs.

No. 5 Auburn – Pat Sullivan had won the Heisman Trophy and AU was 9-0 heading to the Iron Bowl. This was a little before my time, but it appears the Tigers wrapped up the season a bit early. Auburn was hammered by Alabama 31-7 and then dropped the Sugar Bowl 40-22 to the Sooners.

January 2, 1984 – No. 3 Auburn vs. No. 8 Michigan – I was only 8 years old, but I remember watching this game. Michigan dominated the first quarter and took a 7-0 lead.

Auburn would prove to

ANDY GRAHAM Sports Columnist

be the better team for the next three quarters and win 9-7 on three Al Del Greco field goals.

The Tigers would be robbed of a national title.

January 1, 1988 – No. 4 Syracuse vs.

No. 6 Auburn – The Orangemen entered the game 11-0 while the Tigers had one loss to Florida State and one tie to Tennessee on the ledger. It was an evenly matched game and a defensive struggle.

Each team managed to find the end zone only once. Pat Dye famously decided to kick a 30-yard field goal in the waning seconds for a 16-16 tie. Syracuse coaches, players and fans were not supportive of his decision.

January 2, 1989 – No. 4 Florida State vs.

No. 7 Auburn – This was probably the greatest defense in Auburn history. A brutal loss to LSU in the famous “earthquake game” kept the Tigers from playing for the national title.

The Seminoles jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the 1st half, but Auburn scored late in the 2nd quarter to make it 13-7.

Both teams squandered opportunities in the 2nd half and failed to score.

AU drove the ball from

its own 4-yard line in the final minutes, but Deion Sanders intercepted Reggie Slack on the final play. I still say it was pass interference.

January 3, 2005 – No. 3 Auburn vs.

No. 9 Virginia Tech – Auburn came in undefeated and disappointed they were left out of the national title game.

Virginia Tech was 10-2 and a quality opponent.

The Tigers dominated the game, but settled for field goals in the first half. The Hokies rallied in the fourth quarter giving the appearance of a much closer game with the final score 16-13.

January 2, 2017 – No. 17 Auburn vs.

No. 7 Oklahoma – QB Baker Mayfield and WR Dede Westbrook were Heisman finalist.

The Sooners also have one of the most prolific passing attacks in college football. However, the defense has given up a lot of yards and a lot of points. Sean White will need to be efficient and Auburn will need to run the football very effectively to keep the Sooner offense on the bench.

I believe a healthy Tiger team can do just that. Look for the AU defense to get gashed occasionally, but play well overall. Auburn 34 Oklahoma 27 Andy Graham writes a regular sports column for Tallapoosa Publishers.

come, Hollinquest is proud of his team.

“It’s been good,” Hollinquest said. “Tallassee basketball is smiling right now.”

With half of the season still ahead of him, Coach Hollinquest is already looking forward to next year’s season.

“This is the thing that I am excited about: these are the same staring five that I will have next year,” he said.

“I will be blessed to have these same kids two years straight.”

The Tigers are now 4-7 overall and 2-1 in area play.

The team will travel to Alex City for the Lake Martin Slam Fest on Wednesday. Following the tournament, the Tigers will take on Beauregard Jan. 3 at 6:30 p.m.

ATA BATTLE OF THE BELT II TALLASSEE MAT CAT RESULTS Peewee 35-40 - William Walker Johnson placed 1st and scored 6 team points.

Peewee 45 - Hayden Bragg placed 1st and scored 6 team points.

Peewee 50 - Maddox Tennyson placed 3rd and scored 7 team points.

Peewee 55-60 - Titus Studdard placed 2nd.

Bantam 45 - Hayden Bragg placed 4th and scored 3 team points.

Bantam 45 - Barker Davis placed 1st and scored 14 team points.

Bantam 50 - Janet Montgomery placed 5th and scored 7 team points.

Bantam 50 - Drake Wood placed 3rd and scored 15 team points.

Bantam 55 - Abbigail Carwile placed 3rd and scored 11 team points.

Bantam 55 - Hamp Love placed 2nd and scored 18.5 team points.

Bantam 55 - Cole Parrish placed 4th and scored 8 team points.

Bantam 55 - Jace Nabors placed 1st and scored 22 team points.

Bantam 60 - Dylan Price placed 1st and scored 19 team points.

Bantam 60 - Russell Montgomery placed 4th and scored 4 team points.

Bantam 60 - Gavin Russom placed 2nd and scored 14 team points.

Bantam 65-70 - John Ashton Dollar placed 4th and scored 4 team points.

Bantam 65-70 - Grayson Cole placed 2nd and scored 13 team points.

Bantam 65-70 - Warren Bethea placed 1st and scored 20 team points.

Bantam 75-75+ - Tyce Maynard placed 5th.

Bantam 75-75+ - Payton Thrower placed 4th and scored 3 team points.

Bantam 75-75+ - Brodie Jones placed 1st and scored 16 team points.

Intermediate 50-55 - Zach Sanford placed 4th and scored 3 team points.

Intermediate 50-55 - Cameron Boling placed 3rd and scored 7 team points.

Intermediate 60 - Mason Nelson placed 1st and scored 4 team points.

Intermediate 65 - Land Bell placed 1st and scored 24 team points.

Intermediate 65 - Gage Russom placed 5th and scored 6 team points.

Intermediate 65 - Avery Brantley placed 2nd and scored 20 team points.

Intermediate 65 - Ethan Hill placed 6th and scored 3 team points.

Intermediate 70 - Gabriel Mccary placed 5th and scored 5 team points.

Intermediate 70 - Chase Chumley placed 1st and scored 24 team points.

Intermediate 70 - Devin Bragg placed 4th and scored 9 team points.

Intermediate 75 - Walker Wells placed 2nd.

Intermediate 80 - Christian Boling placed 2nd and scored 2 team points.

Intermediate 103+ - Layton Mask placed 3rd and scored 9 team points.

Novice 65 - Trystan Andrews placed 2nd.

Novice 70-75 - Bryant Hathcock placed 3rd and scored 6.5 team points.

Novice 70-75 - Carson Thomas placed 2nd and scored 12 team points.

Novice 80 - Ethan Jones placed 3rd and scored 8.5 team points.

Novice 85 - Christian Mccary placed 2nd and scored 4 team points.

Novice 100 - Brody Goodwin placed 2nd and scored 4 team points.

Novice 112-120 - Benjamin Carwile placed 4th and scored 4 team points.

Novice 112-120 - Jude Rogers placed 2nd and scored 14 team points.

Novice 112-120 - Sara Wyatt placed 1st and scored 18 team points.

Novice 130-140 - Brennan Clemons placed 2nd.

Novice 130-140 - Aidan Cockrell placed 1st and scored 6 team points.

Novice 145 - Raymond Coker placed 1st and scored 6 team points.

Beginner Novice 80-85 - Parker McKee placed 2nd and scored 13 team points.

Beginner Novice 95-100 - Jacob Lawrence placed 2nd and scored 4 team points.

Beginner Novice 95-100 - Jacob Smith placed 3rd.

Schoolboys 91-98 - Wiatt Watson placed 4th and scored 4 team points.

Schoolboys 91-98 - Tanner Hill placed 3rd and scored 7 team points.

Schoolboys 144-154 - Austin Gray placed 2nd.

Schoolboys 144-154 - Raymond Coker placed 1st and scored 6 team points.

Schoolboys 160-175 - Jacob Strickland’s place is 2nd.