Community responds to Loaves and Fishes’ dire need
By ABIGAIL MURPHY Multimedia Reporter
the past 25 years. When the organization took to social media noting its dire need for canned goods, the community answered. At the time,
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Loaves and Fishes had roughly 120 cans, but the food pantry operates with a minimum of 1,800 cans each week. Five days later, the canned food shelves were filling up. Loaves and Fishes executive director Charissa Reynolds said they can get through this week with what they have, but next week, would be pushing it. Regardless, the community’s response to this has been a blessing and she couldn’t be
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Burak’s dedication to community service honored
By MELODY RATHEL Multimedia Reporter
You never know the impact you can have on others.
One act of service can create a ripple effect by inspiring others to take action themselves.
Tallassee native Dr. Steve Burak has volunteered in his hometown with hopes to influence that ripple effect to make Tallassee a better place. For his efforts, Burak received the Francis Wagnon Volunteer of the Year award from the Tallassee Chamber of Commerce.
The Francis Wagnon
Volunteer of the Year award is given in honor of former chamber director Francis Wagnon. Former chamber director Jerry Cunningham said it is awarded to somebody who embodies the value of service as Wagnon did. Although he is the owner of Sizemore & Sizemore, Inc., Burak also dedicates much of his time to volunteering to make Tallassee a better place.
While he is active in his church and the Lions Club, Burak also serves on the board of various
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Dr. Steve Burak, right, receives the Francis Wagnon Volunteer of the Year award from Tallassee Chamber of Commerce director Jerry Cunningham. See NEED, Page A6
WELDON See WOMEN, Page A6
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Police Reports
TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
MARCH 30
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.
• A noise complaint was reported on Dorman Avenue.
• A domestic complaint was reported on Benson Avenue.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Third Avenue.
• An animal complaint was reported on North McKenzie Street.
• Suspicious activity was reported on Joy Street.
MARCH 29
• Suspicious activity was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Friendship Avenue.
• Assistance was given during a medical call on Hillcrest Street.
• A noise complaint was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
MARCH 28
• Loitering was reported on Ashurst Avenue.
• Assistance was given to another agency on Ashurst Bar
Road.
• A juvenile complaint was reported on Ashurst Bar Road.
• Reckless driving was reported on Kent Road.
• A suspicious vehicle was reported on North Ann Avenue.
• A welfare check was conducted on Lower Tuskegee Road.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Central Boulevard.
MARCH 27
• Suspicious activity was reported on Roberts Street.
• A suspicious person was reported on John Street.
MARCH 26
• A suspicious person was reported on Central Boulevard and West Gantts Mill Road.
• Criminal mischief was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• A stolen vehicle was reported on Hudson Place.
MARCH 25
• Assistance was given to another agency on North Wesson Street.
• Gunfire was reported on Sims Avenue.
• Assistance was given to a
motorist on Jordan Avenue.
• Assistance was given to another agency on Notasulga Road.
• A noise complaint was reported on First Avenue.
• Assistance was given to another agency on Riverside Avenue.
• A suspicious person was reported on Ashurst Bar Road. MARCH 24
• A suspicious person was reported on Noble Road.
• Theft was reported on Wallace Drive.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.
• Harassment was reported on West James Street.
• Theft was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• A suspicious person was reported on Magnolia Street and Macedonia Road.
MARCH 23
• A domestic dispute was reported on Central Avenue.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Friendship Road.
• A suicidal subject was reported on Stone Creek.
Council remembers Arthur Lamberth
By MELODY RATHEL Multimedia Reporter
There are people who are remembered for what they did, and there are people who are remembered for who they were. Tallassee native Arthur Lamberth was one of those people.
To remember the late Lamberth’s legacy, the City of Tallassee City Council read a proclamation to honor his life. Ward 7 councilman Fred Randall Hughey read the proclamation at the March 17 regular meeting. The proclamation honored Lamberth’s 12 years serving as a councilmember on the Tallassee City Council and his overall service to the City of Tallassee throughout his life.
Hughey said he knew Lamberth his whole life as he was friends with Hughey’s brother Larry.
“Years ago, we had a grocery store on the east side of town, and the name of it was the
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Friendly Food Store,” Hughey said. “My brother and Art were bag boys, they bagged everybody’s groceries and took them to their car. That’s where I got to know Art.”
As a young boy, Hughey always looked up to Lamberth. He used one word to describe Lamberth and his stories — fascinating.
“I was probably 12 years old and he was probably 17 or 18,” Hughey said. “He was fascinating to a young boy.”
As Lamberth grew up, he ended up becoming a wellknown car salesman in Tallassee. Aside from selling cars, he represented east Tallassee, serving on the council for 12 years. In the proclamation, Tallassee Mayor Sarah Hill proclaimed Friday, March 21, 2025, as Arthur Lamberth day in the City of Tallassee. “We just wanted to remember Art for his service — he was a very popular councilman,” Hughey said. “He was special. That’s the reason we did it; he was a special councilperson who did his job the way it was supposed to be done. He was on top of it. If somebody in his ward had a problem, he would do his best to remedy it.”
■ Always refer to the owner’s manual when programming a weather radio.
■ Make sure the radio is set to “ON” to hear alerts.
■ Ensure you can hear talking. If you don’t hear talking, the radio will not work. Move to another location to pick up a signal in order to hear talking.
■ If your radio has auto setup, select the country, state and county you are located in. For older units that require a SAME code, the Tallapoosa County SAME code is 001123.
■ Set up notifications on your radio to hear an alarm during weather events.
■ Always have an additional and reliable way to receive weather information, such as Tallapoosa Alert. To get set up with Tallapoosa Alert, call 256-825-1078.
Weather radios can be purchased at most general retailers and cost between $30-$35.
If you need assistance when programming a weather radio, call the Tallapoosa County EMA office at 256-825-1078.
The Tallassee city council named March 21, 2025, as Arthur Lamberth Day
Weather video was sponsored by Radney & Langley and Tallapoosa County BOE
Humane Society of Elmore County News
The simple, affordable way to save your pet’s life
By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director
As we look to the start of April this week and warmer weather, time to stress the importance that April is National Heartworm Awareness Month. We see far too many heartworm positive dogs in our Shelter and just cannot stress enough the importance of keeping your dog(s) on heartworm prevention from your Veterinarian twelve months/year. Heartworms are transferred through mosquito bites and result in actual worms living in the heart of an affected dog or cat. Heartworms cause damage to the heart and other organs so affected pets often die far too young from complications such as congestive heart failure, pulmonary inflammation, kidney issues, etc. All it takes is one bite from an infected mosquito for your unprotected pet to get heartworms. Preventing heartworms is easy and cheap compared to the danger and cost of trying to clear them after your dog has become infected. You cannot look at your dog and know if they are or are not infected with heartworms which is why your dog must go to your veterinarian for a quick & easy blood test. Once your
Veterinarian determines your dog does not have adult heartworms, they can then prescribe prevention to protect your pet.
The drugs to prevent heartworms are completely different from the drugs necessary to treat a dog with heartworms so it is very important to never give your pet heartworm medicine until it has been tested by your veterinarian.
The good news is heartworm prevention is safe, easy and relatively inexpensive. There are a variety of options for preventing heartworm infection in both dogs and cats, including monthly tablets and chewables, monthly topicals and a six-month or twelve-month injectable product (available only for dogs), all available from your veterinarian. These products are not available for you to purchase at a pet supply store, your local feed store or on-line without a prescription – you must get these from a licensed Veterinarian! Please do not purchase heartworm prevention from on-line sites that do not require a prescription from your veterinarian as you may be purchasing potentially low-quality, poorly stored/ shipped products or, worse, fake products. These preventatives are extremely effective, and when administered prop-
erly will prevent heartworm infection by interrupting the life cycle so they cannot become adult heartworms. An added benefit from keeping your pet on heartworm preventative is that many of them also prevent other parasites like roundworms, whipworms and hookworms (a few also prevent tapeworms), and some products also prevent fleas as well.
Most of us only think about dogs when we think heartworm prevention, but we now know that our cats are also at great risk and there are preventives (oral & topical) for cats too. So please talk to your Veterinarian about heartworm prevention for your dogs AND cats (and, FYI, Ferrets too).
In the long run keeping your dog (and cat) on monthly heartworm prevention will not only keep your pet healthy it will save you a lot of money and heartache for a very expensive, lengthy and risky adult heartworm treatment. Face it, here in the south, mosquitos can be year-round, so please, please, please keep your pets current on heartworm prevention all twelve months.
Rea Cord is the executive director of the Humane Society of Elmore County.
Pet of the Week - Cowboy
Cowboy is a 9-monthold male Shepherd mix who weighs about 50 pounds that came to us as a stray and was never reclaimed. He is a bit shy at first but then warms up and is a very sweet boy. He is great with other dogs. He loves toys and likes playing tug of war. He is good with older children and just wants a family to call his own.
The Humane Society of Elmore County’s adoption fees are $100 for dogs and $50 for cats under 1 year old. Cats over 1 can be adopted by approved adopters for a fee of their choosing. This adoption fee
Local superintendents applaud paid parental leave act for educators
By MELODY RATHEL & ABIGAIL MURPHY TPI Staff
Teachers in Alabama will now be fully compensated when taking parental leave.
On Feb. 25, Gov. Kay Ivey announced the filing of the Alabama K-12 Public School and State Employee Paid Parental Leave Act of 2025 for state and local education agency employees, according to a release from Ivey’s office. The bill has been passed in the house and senate, awaiting Ivey’s signature. Under the new bill, female eligible employees would receive eight weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, stillbirth or miscarriage of her child, and a male eligible employee would receive two weeks of paid parental leave in the same circumstances. Eligible employees who adopt a child aged three or younger would have specified amounts of paid parental leave provided in the bill.
Teachers and staff in both the Tallapoosa County Schools and Alexander City Schools systems will soon be affected by the proposed law.
ACS superintendent Dr. Jose Reyes believes this will not only assist with teacher retention but also help provide families with the support they need after having a child.
“As a superintendent and also as a husband and father, I think this is long overdue,” Reyes said. “One of the issues we run into is so many of our employees start off very young, in their early 20s, late 20s and
early 30s. Those are the years when husbands and wives have children.
Many times, what happens is you have a 25-year-old young lady who maybe has a year or two of experience, but she doesn’t have enough sick time built up to cover that sixto-eight-week period she needs to be with and bond with the child.”
Reyes said many young teachers will have one or two children when starting their career, leaving them with an insufficient amount of sick leave to use to take care of their children.
“It just puts a burden on the family,” Reyes said. “So, I think having paid leave for our teachers is a great thing. I think it’s another tool we can use to retain our teachers. It’s showing our ladies that we appreciate and respect what they do. Having a child is not something to be taken lightly.
I have three children of my own, and I know the trials of childbirth.
I think this shows our ladies we appreciate what they do and that is bringing life into this world.”
Although in favor of the new proposed bill, he believes the state should fund parental leave instead of each individual school system.
“It’s not something I believe the local school system should have to share the burden,” Reyes said. “But I certainly agree with the legislation, but I think it should be something that’s paid for by the state.”
When it comes to teacher retention efforts, TCS superintendent Casey Davis agrees this proposed law will have a positive impact. Many neighboring states already
offer educators paid parental leave. One notable one is Georgia, which as of 2021 offers both parents 3 weeks.
“The biggest thing with that is education has never had anything like that,” Davis said of the proposed law. “We're in a competitive business now with education. Anything that we can add that matches what we see out in corporate America and businesses and things like that, it benefits our teachers.”
Davis said he is also glad to see the state recognizing the value of having both parents involved in the early life of a child. Overall, this is a good start. Davis said he knows there was a lot of back and forth on the number of how many weeks should be offered. Ultimately, he is glad female educators did get a decent amount of paid paternal leave since they have a high need with postpartum recovery.
As far as structurally, Davis said there can be challenges with finding long term substitutes at times — mainly with the more specialized secondary education teachers. However, he said that’s for them to worry about. There will be time to plan for these things and the district wants to ensure new parents have quality time with their child.
“Anything we can do to make our teachers' lives better and we can support them to start families and take care of their own families,” Davis said. “They take care of all of our kids every day, we need to do what we can to take care of them as well and their families.”
covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations, deworm
ing, microchip, heartworm check for dogs, rabies vaccination if old enough and a free health exam with your participating veterinarian. If you are interested in meeting Cowboy or any of the pets at HSEC, the first step is to fill out an adoption application online. Once approved, you will be contacted by someone from the humane society. HSEC is located at 255 Central Plank Road in Wetumpka. The phone number is 334-567-3377 and the website is www.elmorehumane.org.
RHS band hits the road for multiple performances
By ABIGAIL MURPHY Multimedia Reporter
The past few weeks have been jammed packed for the Reeltown Band, and many recent events have involved long-distance trips.
One of the first trips was to the Birmingham area for the Make-A-WishFoundation Alabama fundraiser gala. Reeltown band director Eric Thompson was initially contacted by Make-A-Wish to speak at the event alongside Melody Jackson’s mom, Voni. Thompson said he immediately said yes.
“Any opportunity that I get to share Melody’s story I’m going to do it for the rest of my life,” Thompson said. “I will always do it. It’s an incredible story about an incredible kid.”
Melody was a student at Reeltown and a member of the band. She was diagnosed with terminal cancer, adrenocortical carcinoma, during her sophomore year. Before her death, Melody wished for the Reeltown High School band to get new uniforms. This has been a need for years and with the help of
the Make-A-Wish foundation this dream became reality.
“Our school’s uniforms were nine years old,” Thompson said in a previous article, “and replacing them was going to cost upwards of $30,000. Melody could have chosen virtually anything, but she wanted to give back to her friends and community. Her courage and kindness are a testament to how we all possess the ability to make a difference and to make decisions that positively affect those around us.”
Before the gala, Voni and Thompson had a meeting with Make-AWish. They asked if the school could bring a few students up to show off the uniforms at the gala. Thompson offered to bring the whole band, knowing all the members would be more than willing to take part in this event.
“It’s a way for us to give back to an organization that gave to Melody and it’s our way of basically doing what Melody did, which is to give to others and to encourage other people to give,” Thompson
see movement around the eye. There were lights moving, slight tugs. The difference was in the music. There was Boston and Pink Floyd piped into the speakers. There was discussion among the staff about Matthew Perry’s book and his death. Once again a few minutes later the patient was
said.
After some more discussions, they agreed to do a performance of Amazing Grace at the gala. Thompson told the students this is likely the most important performance they have ever done — even for him.
Thompson went up early to prepare so RHS principal Audrey Stockdale and their booster president took the band up themselves. The student leaders step up to help in their director’s absence as well. Thompson said he is very thankful he has people like them in his corner to support the band in this way.
After he finished speaking at the gala, the band came in and began to play.
“I’m trying not to get emotional talking about it,” Thompson said. “It was one of those moments when I was conducting, I could feel the audience tensely reacting to the performance in a very moving positive way. It was incredible.”
The auctioneer offered those moved by Melody’s story and the band performance to begin the donation portion. Around $26,000 was donated right
wheeled out to recovery and soon headed home. But I was amazed I remembered it all because I was that patient on the gurney. The anesthesiologist said I would be given conscious sedation. I just didn’t think I would see and hear everything.
I remember hearing “ultrasound one,” and “ultrasound two” — the only difference being the speed of the hum. It was as if the dentist changed the speeds of the drill for
off the bat.
Thompson said this shows how impactful Melody’s story is and the positive impact one person can have, if they chose to. The CEO of Make-AWish also told them after the fact it was one of the most moving moments they have ever had. In addition to the Make-A-Wish performance, the band had its Music Performance Assessment, where it received all superior
fixing a cavity. Only the tool was in my eye.
I saw the lights of the scope my doctor was looking through. It was through the same eye he was operating on. I remember the doctor pulling the surgical drape from me and putting the clear eye patch on.
I could now read the clock in the operating room. The dream was amazing. I was starting to see without glasses for the first time since I was 7.
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ratings. Then, through the Stars performance program the band took to Universal Studios during spring break.
Thompson said this trip was both an opportunity for the band to perform and for the kids to have fun. They are a hard-working group and it’s important to have that time as a team.
Thompson said because it’s so close to Alabama, sometimes we can forget Universal Studios is an
The nurse wheeled me to post op and handed me off to another nurse. Moments later I’m wheeled out to the car. The last surgery was just over a week ago. I still wonder if it was all a dream but quickly realize I haven’t picked up my glasses since surgery. I know I will still have to wear glasses. I knew that going into the surgery. I also knew I would be “awake” for the surgery. I just didn’t know how much
international travel destination. People from all over were able to hear them play through this event and it was a wonderful opportunity. Before the school year ends, the band has the Blue Note Bistro coming up April 1. They will have their end of the year concert on May 1 and their band banquet on May 6. But the band keeps busy, Thompson said he is already working on next year’s marching season.
I would see and hear. Isn’t modern medicine great? Now to go find Pink Floyd’s Welcome to the Machine I heard in the operating room and see if I can recall more from the discussion just above my eye surgery.
Cliff Williams is the news editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.’s Elmore County newspapers. He can be reached at cliff.williams@ thewetumpkaherald.com.
FRIDAY,
April 11 at the Eclectic Warehouse. Mothers with sons and daughters of all ages are welcome. It is a cash-only event and tickets will be sold at the door.
SATURDAY, APRIL 12
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month at 560 Highway 9 in Equality. There is no charge but donations are welcome as they keep the center running. Bring a snack or finger food to share during the intermission.
RED HILL COMMUNITY CLUB
MEETINGS: Red Hill Community Club Meetings are held every second Monday of the month. Join the Red Hill Historical Preservation Association in the auditorium of the Old Red Hill School, located off state Route 229 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss upcoming events.
SPRING MARKET: The City of Wetumpka will host its annual Earth Day Celebration and Spring Market. This is a rain or shine event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 12. Featured will be a plant swap from the Master Gardeners as well as arts & crafts vendors, farmers with produce and a place to drop off recyclables.
SATURDAY, APRIL 19
OKTOBERFEST: Main Street Wetumpka will host its annual Oktoberfest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 27 in downtown Wetumpka. Featured will be vendors, a kids’ zone, entertainment and a biergarten.
SATURDAY, OCT. 11
COTTON FESTIVAL: The Town of Eclectic will host its 32nd annual Alabama Cotton Festival from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 11. Vendor registration is now open with early-bird specials ending Aug. 1. This is Eclectic’s largest annual festival.
MOUNT HEBRON CHURCH OF CHRIST: Come join us at 4530 Mt. Hebron Road in Eclectic. Our Sunday school begins at 9 a.m. followed by worship service at 10:30. There is also a Wednesday night Bible study at 7 p.m. For more information call Pastor Edwin Walker at 334-541-2025
FIREARMS CLASS: Wetumpka Police Department will be hosting a Citizen’s Firearm Class beginning at 7 a.m. April 19. The cost is $25 per person and citizens will be trained on firearms safety, fundamentals of shooting and firearms maintenance. All registered participants must bring one unloaded firearm (pistol or revolvers only), approximately 50 to 100 rounds of ammo, eye and hearing protection and a concealed carry permit if needed.
SATURDAY, MAY 3
WOMEN’S CONFERENCE: Lighthouse Ministries of Central Alabama presents Edify Women’s Conference. The conference will focus on worship and exploring God’s word. The cost is $20 for early birds or $30 general admission. The conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 3 at the Eclectic Ballroom.
SATURDAY, MAY 10
MAY MARKET: Eclectic the Beautiful will host its fourth annual May Market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 10. It is a fundraiser for the organization and will feature more than 75 vendors ranging from food, crafts, artwork, jewelry, paintings, wreaths, bows and more. There will also be food vendors.
ONGOING
SUPPORT GROUP: The last Thursday of every month, Restoration 49 Coffee Shop plays host to a support group for parents who have lost a child. The meetings begin at 6 p.m. each month. For more information, please contact Heather Baker at hbakerjj@aol.com.
PRESCHOOL STORYTIME: Preschool Storytime takes place at 10 a.m. every Friday at Wetumpka Public Library.
ECLECTIC TOWN COUNCIL
MEETINGS: Eclectic Town Council meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at Town Hall. Council meetings begin at 7 p.m. with work sessions taking place prior to the meeting at 6 p.m. Meetings are held in the Dr. M. L. Fielder Municipal Building, 145 Main Street.
NAACP MEETINGS: The Elmore County Branch No. 5026 of the NAACP meets at 6:30 p.m. every third Tuesday (executive committee) and every fourth Tuesday (full membership) at the Martin Luther King Center at 200 North Lancaster St. in Wetumpka.
OPEN MIC: The Equality
Performing Arts Center hosts an open mic jam session from 7 to 9 p.m. every second Friday of the
LUNCH AND LEARN: Lunch and learn Tuesdays with Kelly are scheduled at the Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery at 124 Company Street in Wetumpka from noon to 1 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. For more information, visit www.thekelly.org.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY
GRACE POINT: Celebrate Recovery meets at Grace Point Community Church at 78223 Tallassee Highway in Wetumpka each Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. All are welcome to the meetings which provide a safe and loving environment for individuals seeking to conquer their hurts, habits and hangups. For more information, visit www.Gracepoint.info or contact Gwin Greathouse at gwingreathouse@gmail.com.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY
SANTUCK: Celebrate Recovery meets each Thursday at 6:15 p.m. at Santuck Baptist Church at 7250 Central Plank Rd. This is a Christcentered, 12-step program for anyone struggling with hurts, habits, and hangups. Call 334-567-2364 for more information or contact jyates@ santuckbaptist.org.
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Gamblers Anonymous meets Saturdays at 6 p.m. at Cedarwood Community Church at 10286 U.S. Highway 231 in Wallsboro/ Wetumpka. Call 334-567-0476 for more information.
AA MEETING: Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held Mondays at 7 p.m. located at 105 Tuskeena St. in Wetumpka.
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The Reeltown High School Marching Band recently attended Universal Studios during spring break by invitation.
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LINDA MOSHER
Mosher is a Tallassee staple. From her dress shop, Linda’s, in Talisi, to serving on the Tallassee City Council, she is Tallassee through and through. For years she has dressed young ladies and men for formals, weddings and more. Customers travel for miles to shop with her. Two years ago she was appointed to a vacant seat on the Tallassee City Council. From there she has advocated for downtown Tallassee. Outside of her shop and the council Mosher can be found all around Tallassee in its coffee shops and stores helping where she can.
JENNY STUBBS Stubbs was the first executive director of Main Street Wetumpka. Her family has been in Elmore County and Wetumpka for generations. She was one of several who helped with the application as HGTV looked to take its Hometown series on the road. Stubbs was on the ground as producers first came to town looking to see if Wetumpka would be a fit for the show Ben and Erin Napier made famous. Currently Stubbs is still advocating for Wetumpka and Elmore County through writing and making sure her husband and state Rep. Troy Stubbs is in the know.
BILLIE RAWLS
Rawls is the curator of the Elmore County Black History Museum. She brings history to life sharing stories of the Black community and her own. She graduated from the all-Black Doby High School just prior to integration. She knows in detail the history of the local Black community and is ready to share it with friends and visitors.
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Tallassee organizations.
ANN HARPER Harper is the economic development director for the City of Millbrook. She led the Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission and brings the skills, experience and connections she made there to play in Millbrook. She has been instrumental in recruiting businesses and is in the middle of recruitment for The Marketplace at 17 Springs. She helped with negotiations to bring Big Mike’s Steakhouse and Baumhauer’s to Millbrook.
DEBORAH STRINGFELLOW
and driven them around the county to potential sites. She is also greatly responsible in many of the partnerships that have developed in the last few years across Elmore County.
KRISTY MEANOR
Stringfellow is a relative newcomer to the area. She was looking to work closer to her grandchildren and landed a job at Airport Road Intermediate School after living the last several years in Georgia. But it didn’t take long for staff and the state to discover her abilities as a teacher with decades of experience. Stringfellow was soon mentoring teachers and staff on campus. She was then chosen as the school’s teacher of the year and then Elmore County Schools teacher of the year. Last spring she was selected as the Alabama Teacher of the Year and has spent the last year sharing her love of teaching with other teachers across the state.
Meanor is the artistic director at the Wetumpka Depot. Under Meanor’s leadership, the Depot has grown its footprint in River Region Theater. Many shows feature actors from across the tri-county area. Shows at the Depot are a tourist attraction and are frequented by many on date nights. One of Meanor’s biggest accomplishments is bringing the Penguin Project to the Depot stage. It gives special needs children a chance to act with the help of volunteer mentors who learn as much as the penguins.
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have been accepted to further their education. When the center was enlarged a few years ago, recent graduates were seen on site with the various trades during the construction process. Some graduates are in the medical field. Johnson’s role also has her overseeing career tech at Elmore County Schools’ four high schools.
MARILYN WINBORN
city host other events and helping organizations with parades and events.
Winborn can frequently be found around The Kelly. She offers classes on jewelry making most notably with beads as it helps tell the history of Africans and their voyages to North America. Her interest in African beads started when she was in college. She would see students from Africa use the beads as a means to barter. It was a tradition passed from generation to generation. At one point beads were used as currency. Winborn aims to promote the history of the beads while helping others create unique pieces of jewelry such as earrings, necklaces and rings.
GINA PELLEGRINO
REA CORD Cord has been the executive director at the Humane Society of Elmore County for years. Under her leadership many animals have been rescued and issues of pet care have been highlighted. As the director of the humane society’s animal shelter, Cord has been on the front lines advocating for spay and neuter. She has also been front and center in fundraising taking pies to the face and being hosed down all to raise money for the shelter.
LISA VAN WAGNER Van Wagner is the executive director Elmore County Economic Development Authority. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to ECEDA after many years working as an attorney representing businesses across the world. In Elmore County she has leveraged her knowledge of the business world creating a list of people and assets various industries might be interested in. She has led teams of Elmore County representatives to retail conferences for business recruitment. She has met company ownership at the airport in Wetumpka
For 17 years, Burak has served on the Tallassee City Schools Board of Education to stay active in local
For more than 20 years, Futral has been at First Community Bank of Central Alabama. For the last year and half, she has served as CEO after previously serving as the bank’s CFO. The Elmore County native worked across the state before setting an anchor in Elmore County to raise a family with two children graduating from Elmore County High School. In her role as CEO she wants to continue the bank’s tradition of being truly local with all its employees and holdings being from the tri-county area. Futral like many of the bank’s employees shop and live amongst the bank’s customers.
EMILIE JOHNSON
Johnson leads the Elmore County Technical Center as its director. The center has grown to serve more than 1,100 students per day through nearly 20 different programs. Johnson has helped recruit instructors in aviation mechanics, diesel repair and welding to name a few. Students from the center’s programs have jobs before graduating or
education. He is also the chairman of the Tallassee Redevelopment Authority Board. Upon receiving this award, Burak felt surprised and honored to be recognized for his efforts.
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Reynolds said that could be a family of one or a family of six. The food pantry also runs about 60 to 80 deliveries a week from East Tallassee to Alexander City as part of its homebound ministry.
“Our mission is not to give them a whole week’s worth of food but to give them enough to help them have meals for the week,” Reynolds said.
Last week, Loaves and Fishes gave 42 boxes out to tornado survivors near the Jack -
Pellegrinio owns the Domino’s franchises in Wetumpka and Millbrook along with her husband. But just because she is part of a national chain doesn’t prevent her local involvement. Almost daily she can be found kneading out the pizza dough working alongside her employees. Pellegrinio is active in chambers of commerce. She helps with fundraisers for community and school events.
DANAE MORGAN
ASHLEY WILLIAMS Williams is the owner of Millbrook’s Pest Pro. More than a business owner, she is a community servant. Williams is greatly involved with the Millbrook Chamber of Commerce serving on its board. She also heads up the chamber’s efforts with young professionals and student ambassador programs. Williams is frequently found at community events volunteering her time.
Morgan is the special events coordinator at the City of Millbrook. She is responsible for many of the city events in Millbrook including the growth of the city’s Christmas and Halloween events at The Village Green. She also spearheaded the start of The Art Mill that hosts many art shows and classes. Morgan can also be seen behind the scenes helping the
“There’s all kinds of people who probably deserve it more than I do, but I appreciate the recognition,” Burak said. “I want (Tallassee) to be a better place, and I hope, by example, I can get
son’s Gap area, and they have already had more people call. Since there’s a need for more than just food, Reynolds said they take just about everything from clothes to building supplies.
Someone even donated doors and the organization gave them away to those who needed them after the recent tornado.
While Loaves and Fishes is a Christian, faith-based ministry, it’s not affiliated with any one church.
“We have churches from all over Tallapoosa County that come here and serve every Thursday,” Reynolds said. “This is not a onechurch pantry. This is the whole community.”
In terms of canned goods, during the summer months canned fruits and vegetables tend to be the most difficult. In the winter, it’s canned soups. While donations tend to slow down in the warmer months, the canned food shortage was made worse with the food bank having trouble supplying canned goods to any of its pantries.
According to the Montgomery Advertiser, the USDA has recently made cuts to
LANA HERBERT Herbert owns Lil’ Farmhouse Market Grew business from online business to monthly market to Company Street location in Wetumpka in three years. Herbert was a teacher at Eclectic Middle School when the COVID19 pandemic stopped traditional teaching. She was leading students from home and filling free time with crafting. She saw a place to start selling some of her crafts and other clothing finds online and quickly added a popup shop at the Main Street Wetumpka Community Market. It didn’t take long before Herbert opened her brick and mortar store on Company Street. Along the way she has served in the community especially through the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce where she currently serves as an ambassador.
other people interested in helping out.”
Burak is driven by not only his lifelong experience in Tallassee, but the future of Tallassee for its residents. “I live here, enjoy
the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which directly impacted food banks’ supply. This puts more of a reliance on communities to supply food to local pantries with the lessened government assistance.
Reynolds said she isn’t necessarily against these cuts, but it means the pantry needs to think differently with how it gets its food supply.
Loaves and Fishes are working to alleviate the shortage through local grocery stores such as buying food from Renfroe’s from their fundraiser and picking goods up from Walmart through its program. Additionally, local food drives and drop off donations help as well.
WAYS TO HELP
Loaves and Fishes is located at 337 Hatcher St., where it has a dropoff box on its porch. People can leave donations there anytime. For bigger donations or frozen food, Reynolds said donors can call or text 256-307-6383 to coordinate.
Two Ghost Coffee near the Dadeville square has also agreed to be a drop off point for
living here and enjoy the people here,” Burak said. “I raised my family here and I have a daughter who is raising her family here. It’s carried on and we just hope it can be as vibrant as it can.”
donations as well. Additionally, the Lake Martin Civitan Club is sponsoring a canned food drive to benefit Loaves and Fishes through April 8. Dropoff locations for this food drive include Jackson Drugs & Gifts and The Closing Agency in Alexander City, Highpoint Insurance Group in Dadeville and Alexander City, and Camp ASCCA in Jackson’s Gap.
Donations can also be picked up by calling Audrey Moore at 256-786-0465. Or if someone wants to do a Walmart order, Moore said they can make arrangements with her, and she will pick it up that way too.
“We are helping hands everywhere we can,” Moore said.
Lake Martin Civitan Club will present donations to Loaves and Fishes on April 10 at the Civitan’s lunch meeting, where a representative of Loaves and Fishes will be a guest speaker. Lake Martin Civitan Club meets at noon the second Thursday of each month in the private room at JR’s Sports Bar and Grill. The public is welcome to attend.
WAGNER
MEANOR
FUTRAL JOHNSON
PELLEGRINO
The key to a good night’s sleep
lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. - Psalm 3:5
Have you ever had a sleepless night? You were tired, but your mind kept racing and thinking about some problem or situation. It’s hard to sleep on nights like that.
I’ve had a few of those unpleasant nights myself through the years. But I doubt I’ve had a problem like the one David was facing when he wrote that he laid down and slept, and then woke again.
MIKE MCELROY Pastor
The superscription (those words at the top of some psalms before the actual text begins) tells us that David wrote this psalm when he was fleeing from his son Absalom. David’s own son was plotting to take over his father’s kingdom. After a four year campaign to steal away the hearts of the people from his father, Absalom went to Hebron and proclaimed himself king. He amassed troops for a coup against David and his loyal army. He wanted to take his father’s crown, throne, kingdom and life. David and his servants had to flee Jerusalem to escape with their lives. David wrote what we know as Psalm 3 while he was on this sad journey. In addition to Absalom’s treachery, David was troubled by the number of people who
had been disloyal to him and the hateful things they were saying about him. “Many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God.”
Their estimate of David’s chance of survival was grim-it was hopeless, not even God could save him now.
Have you known the pain of people thinking you are a hopeless case? Whether it comes from a friend with tears in his eyes or an enemy who is gloating over your troubles, it really hurts to be labeled hopeless.
The doomsayers were wrong about David. His salvation would come from the very source they had dismissed— God himself. The Lord was David’s shield— his defense. The Lord was David’s glory, even when the people around
Tallassee Churches
him humiliated and despised him. The Lord was the one who lifted David’s head, giving the imperiled king courage, confidence and joy.
Can you imagine trying to sleep when your own son is intent on killing you and stealing your reign? But David said he did sleep and wake up, because the Lord sustained him.
David didn’t fear who was against him because of his confidence that God was for him.
David was not boasting of his own military power or his clever plan to save himself from Absalom. He asked God to act in his defense against his enemies and save him. He knew and acknowledged God as the one who would rescue him. I want to be like David — humble, dependent and confi-
dent. Don’t you? Imagine how much less anxiety we’d suffer and how much better we could sleep if you and I learned to rely on God the way David did. May the Lord grant us grace to trust him more!
Mike McElroy recently retired after preaching almost 27 years at East Tallassee Church of Christ. He is the author of The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide to Your Journey Through the New Testament and Christmas Pilgrims: A Journey to See Jesus. In retirement, Mike plans to continue writing and publishing books in his Abiding Companion series of essays about each chapter of the Bible. He can be reached at mbmcelroy@gmail.com.
www.TallasseeTribune.com
Three-time state champ Land Bell ends on a high note
By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Reporter
The name Land Bell will reverberate through the halls of Tallassee for years to come.
If it was not already known, Bell is one of the best wrestlers to ever take the mat for Tallassee. In his senior year, he went a perfect 57-0 en route to his third consecutive state title at 150 pounds. It was also this year that he broke 100 straight
wins, being the first In Tallassee history to do so, and ended the year on a 135-match win streak.
“It’s been three years since he’s lost a match, which is unheard of in wrestling,” Tallassee wrestling coach John Mask said. “When you wrestle the people we do, and the number of matches we wrestle — to go 135 in a row without losing is just extraordinary.”
Bell is the 2025 Elmore County Wrestler of the Year, and even he
Tallassee wrestling reins supremes under Mask
By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Reporter
The Tallassee wres -
tling team will forever go down in history with the plethora of accolades it accrued this year.
The Tigers ended the season with a perfect 43-0, 13 state qualifiers and five individual state championships, all accumulating in a state championship for the squad. At the helm of the operations is John Mask, the 2025 Elmore County Wrestling Coach of the Year.
Mask has been a part of Tallassee wrestling for the past 25 years, serving as head coach for 23 years. Even with a revolving door of seniors departing, one thing remains consistent — Tallassee will remain at the top, proving it is all a testament to the culture Mask has created with the Tigers.
“Last year we graduated eight seniors and the year before that, we graduated eight seniors,” Mask said. “So even though we lose those seniors every year, the expectations don’t change. This year’s seniors and I mention Land (Bell), Mason Nelson and Jude Rogers. The legacy they leave behind is the way they led this year and the expectations and the way they support one another and love one another.”
Of course, the senior class leaves a lasting impact with how they lead their underclassman, but they also led Tallassee to another milestone for the program.
“A lot of people may not realize it, but in dual matches, we haven’t lost in 151 regular-season matches,” Mask said. “I mean, this senior group has led Tallassee to 151
straight wins in the last four years of the regular season. The senior class in the last four years, they are 141-3, and the only three losses are coming in the playoffs of the dual state championship and those are in the finals.”
Heading into this year, the team had a list of things they wanted to accomplish and through the year slowly but surely checked every box.
“The senior group, their expectations going in was, we’re going to win it all,” Mask said. “We’re going to win the team dual title and the individual, in Huntsville, win that one the Blue Mat. They were the driving force, the seniors, pretty much would reiterate what I said at every practice. They would have their own meetings and reiterate it. And they really drove home to everybody that the expectations were to win it all.”
Tallassee’s strong performances were not just limited to Alabama. Mask carefully constructed a schedule in which his wrestlers would take on other teams from neighboring states, where yet again, Tallassee finished on top.
“In Alabama, there are different wrestling styles,” Mask said. “You have some teams that ride legs, some teams that’s more neutral, they do different takedowns. So going and seeing teams from all across the southeast, to me, helps better prepare the men that when they do see the best in Alabama; they’re ready; they feel confident; they’ve seen it all. They’re prepared.”
The Tigers will lose seven seniors from this
See WRESTLING, Page B2
was impressed by his own achievement this season. “I don’t even think words can just describe how I felt in that moment,” Bell said about his 135 match win streak. “Because, I mean, all the work I’ve put in, all the extra hours I’ve done, all the self practices I’ve had, all the times I’ve been in the gym by myself alone, it just all paid off. It’s just,
2025 ALL-ELMORE COUNTY WRESTLING TEAM
By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Reporter
WRESTLER OF THE YEAR:
LAND BELL, TALLASSEE
There arguably no better wrestler in the county than Tallassee’s Land Bell. After ending his senior campaign with a 135-match win streak and capturing his third consecutive state title at 150 pounds, Bell goes down as one of the most decorated wrestlers in school history. In his senior year he went a perfect 57-0.
FIRST TEAM
SWAYZE MARTIN, WETUMPKA
Wetumpka’s Swayze
Martin was one of many to qualify for state this year for the Indians, ending this year in fifth place at 132 pounds. Martin posts an impressive 82-31 record with 35 wins coming via pin. He is just a sophomore with two years left to go before his high school career ends, but where it stands now he is in good standings to improve upon his success next year.
MASON NELSON, TALLASSEE
Tallassee’s Mason Nelson was one of five individual state champions for the undefeated Tigers, with this being his second consecutive title. He ended the year with just one loss to his record while winning 53 matches — taking down Ryker Houston of Alexandria in the championship bout.
TYLER PAYTON, ELMORE COUNTY
Back-to-back sure does sound good when you’re Elmore County’s Tyler Payton. The two-time standout wrestler for the Panthers went near perfect with a record of 28-1 in his sophomore year with his final win coming
against Bryson Millwood of Corner High School.
JACK BROWN, WETUMPKA
Among the other state qualifiers for Wetumpka was senior Jack Brown in the 190-pound division. In the year he went 36-14, but fell to Dominique Morrissette of McAdory in the fifth-place match — earning him a sixth place in Class 6A.
TRA’MEL MCCOY, TALLASSEE
Another Tiger to take the top spot in the state championship was Tra’Mel McCoy. In the first place match, McCoy took down Weaver’s Dylan Brown via a 12-6 decision, to end his campaign with a 45-4 record.
DOMINIC SAGER, STANHOPE ELMORE
Welcome to the scene Dominic Sager. He was already a standout wrestler on last year’s team, but further proved his dominance this season being crowned the Class 6A 285-pound champion in just his sophomore year. In his career he posts a 51-11 record with 34 pins, nine
techs and three major decisions.
BARRETT ADAMS, WETUMPKA
Wetumpka’s Barrett Adams came onto the scene last year as an eighth grader for the Indians and now cements himself as a top wrestler for the school. Adams posted a 51-9 on the year and came away with fifth place at state.
THOMAS PATTERSON, TALLASEE
Atop of the Class 1A-4A 106 pound podium was Tallassee’s Thomas Patterson. He took down Alexandria’s Jeremy Lambert in the first place match to put his final record at 50-2. Patterson is only a sophomore with the odds of a back-to-back championship seemingly in the cards.
DYLAN FARRIS, HOLTVILLE Holtville’s Dylan Farris did something this year that has been done since 2018 for the program — placing at state. Farris fell to eventual state championship John Stewart to come away with a second
Tallassee coach John Mask led his team to a historic season this year and he is the Elmore County Wrestling Coach of the Year for 2025.
WRESTLER OF THE YEAR
See CHAMP, Page B2
COACH OF THE YEAR
FILE | TPI
TOP: Tallassee’s Mason Nelson, top, was one of 5 individual state champions for the Tigers this season.
ABOVE: Elmore County’s Tyler Payton, right, was a two-time state champion.
See TEAM, Page B2
New era dawns for county athletics with facility upgrades
It’s out with the old and in with the new for many schools across Tallapoosa and Elmore counties. A chunk of the schools either refurbish or start from ground zero with top-of-the-line equipment for their sports teams.
I’ll start with my neck of the woods here in Tallapoosa County with the construction of the new Benjamin Russell High School set to debut in January 2026. The school itself is going to be a top-of-the-line building with state-of-the-art amenities for students, with an added emphasis on student-athletes. One of the major additions comes in the form of a new track, which will be the first of its kind in Alexander City. There will be a new practice field smack dab in the middle of it, where the Kirk Johnson era at Benjamin Russell will really get to hit the ground running.
However, it all pales in comparison to the $400,000 investment made to a new weight room. In my own conversations with Alexander City Schools superintendent Dr. Jose Reyes and director of facilities Mark Simmons, the investment catered toward providing more racks for the student-athletes. They both noted the equipment they have now is good, but they did not have enough of it or the space to hold it all. When students step foot on the new campus that won’t be an issue.
Martin-Savarese Stadium is also to receive a new upgrade come time for the football season with a video board set to be added in the end zone. I can’t really give a timetable as far as that goes, but from what I’ve heard it’ll be there come the fall.
Of course what’s going on in Tallapoosa County is exciting, I have to mention the investments made to athletics in Elmore County.
The first is the entirety of 17 Springs in general. I’ve been only once but when I say my jaw dropped, it was practically dragging on the floor as I made my way to the practice fields. Everything there is just awesome and I’m jealous I don’t have it readily available to visit more often. Already 17 Springs has hosted multiple high school games between Elmore County teams and
TEAM
Continued from B1
SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Reporter
even plays as the home field for others — which leads me to the next investments made in Elmore County.
Everyone who did not already have one is getting new turf fields; Elmore County, Tallassee and Holtville. Construction is still in the early stages for all three schools but is expected to be complete once the fall football season rolls around. That is not the only new additions coming to those schools.
Stanhope Elmore, Elmore County, Holtville and Tallassee will be brandishing a video board in their stadiums to pair along nicely with the new turf.
I can’t help but get a weird instance of deja vu from my high school athletics career. Heading into my senior year it was a similar instance where my county approved the plans for all six schools to receive a new turf field. It was a rough go of things during spring and through the summer, but come time for the football season we were ready to take to our new home field. Now, six years later that field in Georgia is still in tip-top shape.
Although I will admit the switch from grass to turf may be wonky at first and turf burns are no joke, it still signals a new era for all these schools. I know I won’t get to relish in the glory of these new fields and video boards as much as the people in Elmore County will, I’ll still be excited nonetheless.
Investments made in athletics, although pricey, are necessary. Not only does it benefit the current student-athletes walking the halls, but it helps those coming up. These investments will do nothing but bring more eyes to all of Elmore County, which in turn will show how desirable of a place it is to be. Even though nothing is done just yet and construction is still on going, I can’t wait to go and see the new looks across our coverage area.
Samuel Higgs is the sports editor of The Outlook.
place finish at state. In his junior year, he posted a 35-20 record for the Bulldogs.
NOLAN ADDEO, TALLASSEE To round out the Tallassee state
CHAMP
Continued from B1
almost overwhelming, just how much excitement that it brings me.”
On the mat, Bell is just flat-out dominant and his record indicates it.
He attributed his success to his work ethic and just how competitive he is.
“I got tired of losing,” Bell said.
“I don’t like to lose, I’d always had a dream of whenever I grow up, I want to be a state champion. Sometimes you got to make sacrifices and I gave up hanging out with my friends to stay after practice a lot. It just kind of just came from who I am. I’m a very hard worker and I strive to be the best at everything I do. Whether
WRESTLING
Continued from B1
Sixth-inning collapse costs Reeltown in loss to Charles Henderson
By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Reporter
The sixth inning just did not seem to end for the Reeltown baseball team.
After holding a two-run lead over Charles Henderson through the first five innings, things started to crumble heading into the sixth, eventually leading to a 9-2 loss for Reeltown.
“I thought we played five innings of really good baseball,” Reeltown coach Matt Johnson said. “And then, we kind of fell apart there in the sixth inning. We made some very, very costly mistakes and lost focus there for a little while.”
The bats for the Rebels came out on fire with Hagan Lewis and JaMarkius Smith each picking up a single in their first at-bats with it eventually being capped off with a Smith score. They added one more score thanks to a single by Xander Johnston to bring in Brody Smith in the top of the fourth. From that point on, it became the Trojans’ game.
Charles Henderson tied it up in the bottom of the fifth inning due to some pitching miscues. Hagan Lewis, who had started the game on the mound and saw much success, started to pick up walk after walk, leading Jonson to make a switch to Hutson Lewis in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The walks continued, paired along some wild pitches allowed Charles Henderson to not only secure the lead but soar into it. In just the sixth inning alone, Charles Henderson scored seven runs and cemented a spot in the Slap Out Wood Bat Classic championship games.
The Rebels had their backs against the wall from the jump, competing against schools at least three classification above them. However, in Johnson’s eyes it does not matter because it’ll only help them get to where they want to reach.
“That’s our philosophy, we want to play to a standard, so we play up all year long and the tournament was no different,” Johnson said. “This is for us to do what we want to do and get to where we need to get to. We feel like that’s what we need to do. It’s not about wins and losses, it’s about growth and getting better; iron sharpening iron, you
know, the whole deal. For us to do that, we try to play the best competition we can, and that’s anywhere regardless of the classification.”
Reeltown has had a hectic non-area slate but will kick off Class 2A Area 6 action on Thursday against Loachapoka. All Johnson wants to see from his squad is for them to hit their stride to carry that momentum into the playoffs.
“We’re coming down to the stretch where we need to start peaking at the right time, and we’re getting to that point,” Johnson said. “I saw a lot of growth this week during the tournament. We played Montgomery Academy earlier in the week and played a great game. Thursday against Charles Henderson played a great game yesterday (against Wetumpka) and for the most part, played a good game (Saturday) other than one inning. So we’re starting to take those steps in the right direction. Now, we just got to get there and be consistent.”
Sutherlin’s stellar debut for Reeltown overshadowed by walk-off
By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Reporter
The final score may not have been the way the Reeltown softball team wanted it to go, but it came down to the very last inning. The Rebels found themselves in a stalemate against one of the better softball teams in Class 2A — Horseshoe Bend. The game went scoreless for the first five innings before the Rebels struck first. However, some late-game magic to pair alongside a walk-off double resulted in a 3-1 loss.
Arguably the best performance of the day came from an unlikely hero — seventh grader Caroline Sutherlin. It was the first varsity start of her Reeltown softball career and she dominated. Sutherlin spent the first six innings in the circle where she allowed three hits and one run but struck out eight bat-
champions was Nolan Addeo, capturing the Class 1A-4A 215-pound title over Bayside’s Noah Breeland. He ended his junior campaign with a 48-2 record for the Tigers. Tallassee coach John Mask has high expectations for Addeo this coming season.
CASEY CRUMPTON, ELMORE COUNTY Payton was not alone as the only Elmore County wrestler to place in
that’s a math test, whether it’s an eating competition. Whatever it is, I just want to be the best at everything.”
Even someone like Mask, who has been at Tallassee for 25 years, understands how special of a talent Bell is.
“If you could build as an avatar, if you could create the perfect wrestler, I mean, that’s Land Bell,” Mask said.
“Because he’s strong, he’s quick, he’s fast, he’s very technical, he has knowledge of the sport.”
There were many instances of Bell’s historic year, but it was in one match in Florida against a nationally ranked wrestler that stood out to Mask.
“He was down with 30 seconds left by four points and had to come back and win,” Mask said. “So
year’s squad, but even so, the expectations will not change. The rising
ters and walked two. She then turned right around to go a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate.
“As a seventh grader, in her first official varsity start I thought she did a great job handling pressure,” Reeltown coach Travis Spraggins said. “She did an even better job locating her pitches. I expect great things from her. She had good composure in and out of the dugout and even at the plate.”
Although the final result was not what they had hoped for, it told Spraggins one thing — the Rebels can compete with anyone.
“For us moving forward, we really see our potential and where we should be,” Spraggins said. “We’re not looking back, that’s our goal. The overall message to the girls is we’re not looking backward. We’re looking forward and we’re gonna take that as the first stepping stone.” Where it stands now,
heartbreaker
SAMUEL HIGGS TPI
Reeltown’s Kira Chappell fires a throw to first base to get an out against Horseshoe Bend.
Reeltown is in a good spot to take the area. Having already taken down LaFayette twice alongside a loss to Loachapoka, the rematch between the two could determine who takes the No. 1 seed heading to regionals. Spraggins knows this team can accomplish that feat if it uses the remainder of the season to focus on the little things.
“We have to really hone in on the small stuff,” Spraggins said. “That was
the state tournament, Casey Crumpton ended his freshman campaign with a third place finish, taking down Hayden’s Eli Mcalpine. On the year, Crumpton went 41-14 to be another shining wrestler for the Panthers.
SECOND TEAM
Avery Brantley, Tallassee Hunter Chavis, Holtville
going to the beach and wrestling this guy from Florida, that was the best match I’ve seen in a while. And then he found a way to win, it was just amazing to watch.”
However, it’s not just the mat where Bell shines brightly — he’s a leader first and foremost. He has been on the varsity wrestling team since he was in seventh grade, with many before him showing him leadership qualities. He took those lessons he learned as an underclassman to a focal point on the team for the past three seasons.
“Since I was an underclassman, I always wanted to push everybody and I wanted everybody to push each other,” Bell said. “And one thing led to another like, if you were slacking off in practice, I’d get on them. But
seniors will have the same goals as the class before them, with the trend flowing all the way down to the middle school level.
“Next year, when we lose these seven seniors, the ones coming back, and then the ones that’ve been in
the direction of our conversation with the girls. Even (on Thursday) it has been our focus. The past month is really focusing on the small stuff in the game, simple base hits, pop flys. Doing our job at the box, bunting situations and just doing our job while being a selfless player.” Reeltown will get the chance to right its wrongs against Horseshoe Bend this Thursday on its home turf.
Aiden Bridgman, Tallassee Hudson Mann, Holtville Roman McWilliams, Tallassee Tyson Ratliffe, Holtville Brady Adams, Tallassee Liam Mckinney, Wetumpka Joseph Hooks, Tallassee Eli Walsh, Wetumpka Zack Crosthwait, Tallassee Troy Watson, Wetumpka Jude Rogers, Tallassee
if I was having a bad day, I’d want you to get on my butt. I’ve always wanted to hold people accountable, because not everybody knows their worth. If you’re not willing to throw in 110% every single day, then I don’t want you to start because I can’t count on you. And this year, that’s just something that our team did.”
Bell’s leadership trait not only draws praise for Mask, but he would also go as far as to say that’ll be emulated by the upcoming senior class.
“I will see wrestlers stepping up in leadership roles and really doing what Land did, they will fill the void” Mask said. “His legacy is that people will now step in, they know what he did and how hard he
second-third string, are gonna step up,” Mask said “We’re going to expect no less. We’re going to expect to keep winning. That’s the culture, and that’s what we expect here.
The seniors next year, Avery Brantley, Tra’Mel (McCoy) and Nolan
worked. So you will see people trying to be Land, you will see people trying to break his records. And to me, that’s the best legacy you can leave behind.”
His wrestling career does not end in Tallassee, Bell will be taking the leap to college level at the University of North Carolina Pembroke, a Division-II school. It’ll be there that Bell plans to continue his successful career with high aspirations for himself.
“I want to be a collegiate national champion,” Bell said. “I hope to be an All-American my first year. But with that is going to come a grind and it’s going to take a lot of work. This can take a lot of work and determination and a whole bunch of grit. And I’m excited for it.”
(Addeo), those guys are going to push the younger guys, the ones that maybe didn’t start, and they’re going to let them know we don’t expect anything less than you to come in and win and give your best and keep growing in the sport.”
SAMUEL HIGGS | TPI
Reeltown’s Hutson Lewis aims a throw for first base.
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Improvements in the works at Kowaliga boat ramp
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
The Elmore County Commission approved spending
$500,000 at the Kowaliga boat ramp as part of its Quality of Life projects across the county.
It joins projects such as 17 Springs, new turf field at school campuses, a new recreation center in Tallassee, a climbing tower in Millbrook and improvements at Cooters Pond boat ramp on the Alabama River. To make those projects possible the county has partnered with public and private entities. At Kowaliga, the county is partnering with Russell Lands, the Elmore County Economic Development Authority, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Alabama Department of Transportation for a project to improve access and parking and create more boat ramps.
Former commissioner Mack Daughtery was instrumental to the project, according to Elmore County chief operations officer Richie Beyer.
“He really spearheaded all this,” Beyer said. “Steve Forehand at Russell Lands has been very helpful in the process as well.”
There are multiple phases to the project planned with different partners.
ALDOT is helping create turn lanes from Highway 63 into the parking area. The Elmore County Commission and DCNR are partnering to create better and more park-
Improvements are coming to the Kowaliga boat ramp thanks to monies from the Elmore County Commission.
ing. At its Monday meeting the Elmore County Commission approved a $500,000 allocation to go along with up to $1 million from DCNR.
“The county and conservation are working alongside ALDOT to get a permit to some improvements on 63 to enhance the access,” Beyer said. “The parking is currently being designed and close to
going to bid.”
DCNR has also told county officials it will help fund adding additional boat ramps at Kowaliga.
“Conversation is working with us to go ahead and get the FERC permit for the expansion to the ramp,” Beyer said. “It would take it from two to four. It is duplicating what is there on the other side
of the old bridge abutment.”
The additional boat ramps would also see additional docks and piers similar to what is with the existing boat ramps.
After that project is complete, the Alabama Wildlife Federation is wanting to help Elmore County construct a pavilion on the property.
Beyer said the additional boat ramps and pavilion are in future phases of construction.
“We hope to see the parking and access part of the project completed in time for next summer,” Beyer said. “It is important for us because this is really the only public access to Lake Martin in Elmore County. The other is an old boat ramp at Castaway but it doesn’t have any parking.”
Panthers split with Braddock, Northside in a doubleheader
STAFF REPORT
TPI Staff
It was a steep contrast between the two games Elmore County played in a Wednesday doubleheader. Against Braddock, the Panthers came away with just one hit while against Northside racked up seven total. Gage Davis picked up the lone hit in a 1-0 loss to Braddock with the game winning run coming in the bottom of the seventh for the Bulldogs. In the following game against the Grizzlies, Austin Davis and Shae Darnell’s bats were on fire with two hits apiece — each adding two runs to the scoreboard. Jaden Eason, Dallin Simpson and Carson Saucier got involved in the action with one hit each. The Panthers came away with a 6-1 victory when it was all said and done.
After some out-of-state competition, Elmore County comes back to Alabama to face Beauregard on Tuesday and Thursday.
ELMORE COUNTY SKID ENDS AGAINST VERNON HILLS
It was a rough stretch for the Elmore County softball team, dropping three consecutive games before coming away with a 16-4 victory over Vernon Hills.
It was important to get back into the win column, but the Panthers did so in an impressive fashion. In total, they accrued 18 hits through just for innings of play with the entire lineup getting a hit. Addi Stephenson, Addy Peaden and Kayden Edwards all had great days at the plate each ending with three hits. Addison Hicks, Lalah Culpepper and Raevyn Barris added two hits of their own. Then to round it out, Addie Patterson, Abigail Holt and Brooklyn Berry came away with a hit. Hicks and Stephenson also added three runs apiece to cap off Elmore County’s impressive day.
The sole pitching duties went to Stephenson, who through four innings struck out five batters and walked six. Elmore County will look to continue its winning ways against Stanhope to rein in the start of April.
Elmore County’s Austin Davis, left, racked up two hits in a win against Northside.