Tallassee Tribune May 21 2025

Carr seeks third term on Tallassee council

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Damian Carr wants to see a few more things completed if he is reelected to represent Ward 3 on the Tallassee City Council. He wants to see continued infrastructure improvements and growth, especially downtown.

“Infrastructure projects are going good right now,” Carr

said. “It’s come a long way. We have done some great things in downtown, with street paving projects and gas projects. It’s all a great thing and a good foundation to build from.”

Carr, who announced his bid for reelection, grew up in Tallassee and is a 1991 graduate of Tallassee

See CARR, Page B2

Tallassee man charged with attempted murder

By MELODY RATHEL Multimedia Reporter

A Tallassee man was taken to the Tallapoosa County Jail after a warrant was issued for his arrest for his involvement with a shooting in March.

Jazarian Gray, 27, of Tallassee, was transferred to the Tallapoosa County Jail from the Macon County Jail after the warrant was issued.

Tallapoosa County

Sheriff Jimmy Abbett said officers responded to a call at 2:50 a.m. on Saturday, March 29, in regards to gunshots being fired on Ashurst Bar Road in Tallassee.

“As a result of my investigation, Gray was named as a suspect in the alleged shooting of the victim,” Abbett said. “The victim received injuries, but not life threatening.” Gray was arrested and charged with shooting into an occupied vehicle and attempted murder. Before he was transferred to Tallapoosa County, Gray had additional warrants in Macon County. Once he left the facility in Macon County, he was released to the Tallapoosa County Jail, Abbett said.

Abbett said Gray currently has a $40,000 cash bond.

Three injured in shooting on Highway 229

Calls about three shooting victims came from two locations Monday afternoon in Tallassee. As officers from the Tallassee Police Department were responding to Highway 229 and finding two juvenile gunshot victims, a call came from Community Hospital just before 5 p.m. reporting an adult gunshot victim.

“The two juvenile victims were transported to Children’s Hospital Birmingham with serious but non-life-threatening injuries,” Tallassee police chief Todd Buce said in a press release. “The adult victim was transported to Baptist South Medical Center with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.”

Buce said this shooting is still being actively investigated.

“If anyone witnessed anything or has information regarding this shooting, please call the Tallassee Police Department or Crime Stoppers,” Buce said.

Investigators at the Tallassee Police Department can be reached at 334-283-6586.

Highway 229 between Rifle Range Road and Hanil Drive was closed down temporarily Monday as officers investigated the scene.

ATTENDANCE, TEST SCORES UP IN ELMORE COUNTY,

SCHOOLS

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Simply being at school leads to better student performance and education.

At least that’s the case in Elmore County and Tallassee schools where administrators and teachers have been working for the last few years to battle chronic absenteeism and truancy. Elmore County and Tallassee City schools have seen more than 20% of students classified as chronically absent meaning they had missed 18 school days or more. That is 10% of the school year. Elmore County Schools superintendent Richard

Dennis likens it to adults missing parts of a movie.

“You don’t get there on time and then you decide you need to go stand in line to buy drinks and popcorn,” Dennis said. “You get the big, huge drink and the popcorn. Finally, you get in the theater, the movie is going. Of course, the drink is huge and then you have to go to the bathroom.”

Dennis said movie goers then miss significant portions by being tardy and in the middle by being absent. It’s easy to miss 15 to 20 minutes of a two hour movie.

“If you weren’t there the whole time, you’re going to

miss those elements of the movie that perhaps are crucial to understand what took place,” Dennis said.

Dennis suggested those who were absent would not do well at recounting or comprehending what happened in the movie. He said it is very similar in schools. He saw it play out as a principal at Holtville, Wetumpka and Prattville high schools.

“The students who were absent on a regular basis were the ones who were on the failure list at the end of the school year,” Dennis said. “It’s not rocket science. If you’re there and engaged, you’re going to be

SUBMITTED TPI

Damian Carr has announced he is seeking a third term on the Tallassee City Council.

CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI Students at Southside Middle School were treated to a day on gaming consoles because of better attendance.

GRAY

Obituaries

BETTYE B. HOOD

Bettye B. Hood (96) of Waverly Alabama entered her heavenly home on Saturday, May 3, 2025

Bettye was born on April 15, 1929 to William Issac and Jimmie Ruth Broach. Following her graduation from Notasulga High School, Bettye began her career life working in retail, banking, and finished out her

Police Reports

TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT

MAY 18

professional life working at Auburn University. Later in her life, Bettye became an active member of Abundant Life Church where she grew in her faith and knowledge of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Bettye’s faith was evident to those who knew her well. She was open about her faith and her love for the Lord was

• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Theft was reported on Central Boulevard and Gilmer Avenue.

• Harassment was reported on Second Avenue.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Friendship Road.

MAY 17

• Gun shots were reported on Jordan Avenue.

• Criminal mischief was reported on South Dubois Street.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.

• Gun shots were reported on Alber Drive.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Orr Lane.

• Menacing was reported on Freeman Avenue.

• A fight was reported on Oak Heights Drive.

• Loitering was reported on South Tallassee Drive.

• Trespassing was reported on Gunn Drive.

• A welfare check was conducted on Central Boulevard.

• Trees were reported in the roadway on South Tallassee Drive.

• Assistance was given during a medical call on Eighth Street.

• A hit and run motor vehicle accident was reported on Poplar Street.

• Gun shots were reported on Jordan Avenue.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Wallace Drive.

MAY 16

• A domestic incident was reported on Washington Street.

• Reckless driving was reported on Highway 229.

• A welfare check was conducted on Roberts Street.

• Livestock was reported in the roadway on Ashurst Bar Road.

MAY 15

• A fight in progress was reported on Hickory Street.

• A domestic incident was reported on Gilmer Avenue and Davidson Street.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on

Barnett Boulevard.

evident in the way she spoke to those around her. She never failed to speak a word of kindness or encouragement to those with whom she interacted daily.

Bettye is proceeded in death by her husband, James Hood, Three brothers – William Broach (Jimmie), Billy Broach (Elizabeth), Bobby Broach (Shirley), and one sister, Dorothy Price (Oliver). She leaves behind one brother, Gene (Elizabeth) Broach. Bettye also leaves behind many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 25, 2025 at 2:00pm: Liberty City Methodist Church 5607 Tallapoosa St. Notasulga, Al 36866

• A Black male was arrested during a traffic stop on Ashurst Bar Road.

• Harassment was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Gilmer Avenue. MAY 14

• A suspicious person was reported on Zion Street.

• Property damage was reported on Notasulga Road.

• Theft was reported on Freeman Avenue.

• Reckless driving was reported on Notasulga Road.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Friendship Road.

• Animal control was requested on Paxton Drive.

• Assistance was given to another agency on Highway 229. MAY 13

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Jordan Avenue.

• A fight was reported on Second Avenue.

• Gun shots were reported on Jordan Avenue.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Weldon Road.

• An animal complaint was reported on Ashurst Bar Road.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.

• Assistance was given to another agency on Eighth Street.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Sixth Street.

• A welfare check was conducted on Harris Street.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Friendship Road.

• An abandoned vehicle was reported on Highway 229.

• A white male was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• Public lewdness was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

• A private property motor vehicle accident was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Trespassing and a disorderly subject were reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Criminal mischief was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• The roadway was reported blocked on James Street.

• Harassment was reported on Herd

Street.

• A Black male was arrested during a domestic dispute call on James Street.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A domestic complaint was reported on Weldon Road. MAY 12

• Suspicious activity was reported on Third Avenue.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Weldon Road.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Rickey Lane.

• Theft was reported on Delta Road.

• Gun shots were reported on South Tallassee Drive.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Rickey Lane.

• Gun shots were reported on Herd Street.

• A welfare check was conducted on East Patton Street.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Eubanks Street.

• A juvenile complaint was reported on Rickey Lane.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Barnett Boulevard.

• Trespassing was reported on James Street.

• A domestic incident was reported on Murphy Road.

• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Murphy Road.

• A domestic incident was reported on West James Street.

• Animal control was requested on Barnett Boulevard.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on McArthur Street.

• An animal bite was reported on Tallassee Highway.

• A Black male was arrested during a traffic stop on Campbell Hill Road.

• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Gilmer Avenue and Murphy Road.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Gilmer Avenue and Lower Tuskegee Road.

MAY 11

• A Black male was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• A welfare check was conducted on Highway 229.

• A noise complaint was reported on East Patton Street.

Tallassee graduation to be in Wetumpka

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

The Tallassee High School Class of 2025 will not graduate on the new artificial turf in J.E. Hot O’Brien Field. Instead class members will get their diplomas in the football stadium at the Wetumpka Sports Complex as the new field is not ready

“I just finished a conversation with the Elmore County Commission and contractors,” Tallassee City Schools superintendent Dr. Brock Nolin said. “It won’t be ready in time.”

Contractors were putting the finishing touches on the gravel base for the new field. The new turf was in rolls in the parking lot.

“We plan for the worst and hope for the best,” Nolin said.

Nolin had been planning back in March for a contingency for graduation when he secured the Wetumpka Sports Complex for Friday and rain date on Saturday.

Commission. It saw new turf fields at Holtville and Elmore County High School where the Class of 2025 graduations were the first events on the new fields.

The new field is part of the Phase 2 Quality of Life projects funded primarily by the Elmore County

The Wetumpka Sports Complex is no stranger to Tallassee as the school’s soccer team had to play its home games there as construction proceeded at J.E. Hot O’Brien.

Tallassee’s graduation ceremony is planned for 8 p.m. Friday. If weather forces a change it will be rescheduled to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Crash claims life of Tallassee man

A single-vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 3:15 p.m. Wednesday in Tallapoosa County has claimed the life of a Tallassee man.

William D. Gantt, 21, was fatally injured when the 2007 Buell Blast motorcycle he was operating left the roadway and struck a tree. Gantt was pronounced deceased at the scene. The crash occurred on Lovelady Road near Sulphur Springs Road,

approximately eight miles north of Tallassee, in Tallapoosa County. Nothing further is available as troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.

CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI

The finishing touches are placed on the gravel underlayment for the artificial turf field at J.E. Hot

O’Brien Field in Tallassee.

Humane Society of Elmore County News

What to know when rehoming a pet

By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director

This is the time of year when social media and bulletin boards everywhere are full of “Free to a good home” postings. Most of these are for litters of ‘surprise/unwanted’ puppies and kittens (why spay/neuter needs to be a first priority with a new pet). And while we know that some of these pets do find loving homes, we also know that large numbers of these end up given away many times over or end up in a Shelter somewhere. From our intake statistics, easily 90+% of owner surrendered pets to us were obtained “free” and the vast majority of those have had little to no Veterinary care of any kind. While there are, of course, wonderful families who do everything right by their free pet, reality is that ‘free’ pets are less likely to ever be taken to a veterinarian for basic immunizations and checkups,

let alone an illness or injury, and even less likely to be spayed or neutered eventually leading to even more unwanted puppies and kittens. Free pets are also more likely to be neglected and/or discarded because “there are plenty more where that one came from!”

And sadly, not all people who get these free pets have the best intentions no matter how nice they may seem at that one short meetup. For some, these puppies or kittens are just summer ‘toys’ for the kids/grandkids and will be discarded at the end of the summer. Some people’s pets simply don’t last/live very long so they just go and get another freebie. Some may get them to ‘flip’ them for a few bucks to anyone for any reason. And there are other, hopefully rare, but real and far worse fates that we will just not go into here, but suffice that the solution to all of this is to not let your pet have yet another unneeded litter or to do your home-

work before taking on a pet so you don’t have any need to rehome it. So what to do if you need to re-home your pet? If your pet came from a responsible breeder, call them to see if they can take it back or assist with placement as a truly responsible breeder will be there for the animal they produced. You should consider charging a fee that will not only value your pet but discourage resale of pets to others. Spay or neuter your pet BEFORE rehoming it to avoid yet another accidental litter or make it unattractive to backyard breeders or puppy mill operators. Interview potential new owners by asking for their identification, phone number, previous pet experience, their current pets and children in the household, how the pet will be contained, and their veterinarian’s name as a reference. Keep their contact info, call their veterinarian for a reference and if at all possible, visit their home to

see how and where your pet will live before you release it to the new owner. If you cannot afford to have your pet spayed or neutered, ask the new owner to pledge that they will have the puppy/kitten fixed by the time it is six months old and the adult immediately. If a potential adopter isn’t willing to give you their information or let you visit their home, our advice is to politely send them away empty handed. You owe it to your pet to take the time and effort to make sure it goes to a good home. If time is critical or you are simply not willing to screen potential owners, then please take your pet to a reputable shelter rather than give it away free to someone you know nothing about. Shelters work hard to find adoptable pets loving & lifetime homes. We work to screen & educate adopters to make sure they are ready to take on a new pet. And our adoption pets are immunized,

We have no idea why lovely Freya has not been adopted in the 7 months she has been with us. She is an absolutely wonderful female Lab mix. She is about 1 1/2 years old and weighs about 55 pounds. Freya loves everyone, including children, and wants to be leaning on/touching her new person at all times. She knows sit and shake and is curious about toys. She is good with other dogs and has met many new dogs at off-site adoption

events with nary an issue. She is fine with cats and is just a wonderful, friendly, loving and happy girl. 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 covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations, deworming, 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 Koda 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.

Chicken, love are keys to long life

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

From the time she was born in 1925, Tallassee’s Lenora Stanfield has seen the world evolve.

From being alive when Pearl Harbor was bombed, to seeing humans go to space, Stanfield has seen it all.

Some even say Charles Lindbergh celebrated the birth of Stanfield two years late in 1927 with a nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean to Paris.

At least that is the way some of the tales went at Stanfield’s 100th birthday celebration Saturday at Community Hospice and Home Health Care. Stanfield shared with family and friends a few secrets to gracefully aging.

“Love everybody and hate no one,” Stanfield said. “I also like chicken.” Stanfield said she has lived a good life. Her family grew when she married George Stanfield. Then came children, Lawrence Stanfield and Sandra Middleton.

The centenarian has lived in Tallassee almost all of her life. Today Stanfield’s days are spent playing dominoes and coloring.

“Mom plays a mean game,” Lawrence said. “She does that to pass time and she watches Fox News.”

The staff hugged Lenora as if she was their mother and part of the family. In fact they are. Lawrence said his mother still lives at home

with help of the folks at Community Hospice and Home Health Care.

“They check on her every morning,” Lawrence said. “They come back in the afternoon and help with dinner.”

Lenora’s husband George died a month before the couple’s 60th wedding anniversary more than 20 years ago.

“We were lucky to have them,” Lawrence said. “They were the best mom and dad.”\

treated for all parasites, spayed or neutered and microchipped! And if you take home a new Shelter Pet and it does not work out for most any reason, we will take our adopted pet back. We actually have it in our Adoption Contract language to protect our pet. We committed to it once, so once back with us, we will do so again.

Best way to ignore everything above? Do your homework before getting a pet, plan for a 15-20 year commitment and have your pet spayed or neutered before it has/ causes an unwanted litter. And if a stray dog or cat shows up that you end up ‘keeping,’ then get it to your veterinarian ASAP for vaccinations and a checkup and have it spayed or neutered without delay to prevent yet another unwanted litter.

Rea Cord is the executive director of the Humane Society of Elmore County.

Small space advertising works. Let us market your business.

We have a plan that will work with any budget, no matter the size.

CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI

The family of Lenora Stanfield gathers around her for a photograph at her 100th birthday party Saturday.

Pet of the Week - Freya

Our View Opinion

Appreciate teachers and nurses all year

his week, nurses and teachers are celebrated

Taround the country. Even though these professions are admired all week long, shouldn’t they be admired all the time?

Nurses are the backbone of healthcare – they administer life-saving medications, perform under extreme pressure at times and, most of all, ensure patients’ comfort in a time of need. Many nurses work 12 hour shifts, sunup to sundown, or the opposite.

While nurses sometimes see miracles happen, they also witness families on the worst days of their lives. No matter what is happening in their personal life, a nurse’s responsibility is to assist a patient to the best of their ability. They must put their own struggles to the side to help strangers with theirs.

Nurses deserve to be appreciated all the time.

Teachers are the foundation of the future – without them, the future generation would not have the structure to succeed in this world. While teachers are responsible for helping students achieve good grades, they are also responsible for so much more.

Teachers spend time away from their own children to take care of their students. In the event of an emergency, teachers are responsible to keep their entire class safe.

Even when the school day is over, teachers must prepare lesson plans for the next day.

Although teachers are given a curriculum to follow, they must find ways to make the information comprehensible for students with different learning styles. They must provide adequate school supplies and other important materials – even if it’s out of their own pocket.

Teachers build success. If it weren’t for teachers’ dedication, many people wouldn’t experience the success they do.

While this week is dedicated to praising teachers and nurses, be sure to show your thanks all year long.

M.jpeg attached to the email. Announcements will appear within 10 days in The Tribune, The Herald or The Observer.

to senior

ilestones are meant to be celebrated.

Whether they are simple or complex, every milestone has some sort of meaning.

This season of the year is full of milestone celebrations. From kindergarten graduations to receiving a diploma from Central Alabama Community College, we’ve been a part of so many of those.

I went to my nephew’s kindergarten graduation earlier this week at Dadeville Elementary School. Kindergarten graduation may not seem all that important. It’s just a ceremony after all. But for those kids, it’s the biggest thing they’ve ever done.

It’s moving from being a newbie at school to being a seasoned first-grade veteran, and it’s an important step in growing up.

Each student got a chance to say what he or she wanted to be when they grew up. From the more standard answers like firefighter or teacher to the off-the-wall options like Miss Ala-

bama or a spaceman YouTuber, these kids have their whole worlds ahead of them. And high school graduation is much the same. Although they don’t get to talk about what they want to be when they grow up or get a chance to speak at the microphone, each one of those seniors has a story to tell. Each one is going on to do something great in his or her own way. Just like those kindergarteners who still want to be ballerinas, seniors across the tri-county area are forging their paths in life. Whether it be going on to higher education or trade school or getting straight into the workforce or military, there are some huge things that await.

ant to remember during these times of year. Being an adult has its pos itives, to be sure. You can eat ice cream before dinner and you don’t have a curfew. an adult is for the birds. Be a kid as long as you can be. Everyone waits and waits to get to high school graduation, anxious for what the real world presents.

One year ago this week, I was saying goodbye to a 28-year career as a public school music teacher.

If you really want to get technical about it, it was more like a 45-year career in education: getting up, going to school, moving whenever a bell rings, from kindergarten until the last day of the twenty-eighth year of service. Some would call it being institutionalized, but I rather enjoyed the rhythms of the daily schedule. I knew as I walked out the doors of Tallassee High School that I would miss that part of it, and certainly the pomp and pageantry of small-town high school life. I also knew I’d never enjoy lunchroom delicacies like the crispito ever again. An offer to come talk to Faulkner University was made last year by Joey Wiginton, a Tallassee resident, businessman and mayoral candidate today but for 39 years a member of the administrative team at Faulkner. Wiginton got me talking with various department heads at Faulkner, including Dr. Art Williams, who is the Chairman of the Fine Arts Department. Dr. Art and I go way back, nearly 35 years, to our time as students at Troy University. Art was our Drum Major, and I served as Band Captain, for the “Sound of the South” band program under legendary bandmaster Dr. Johnny Long.

Faulkner University made an offer. They wanted to hire me as an admissions recruiter dedicated to building up the band program at the University. The opportunity was exciting – after all, I had spent nearly my entire career watching local

legends like Jerry Cunningham and Robby Glasscock building the music empire at Tallassee. There is no other 4-A school in the state of Alabama with anything close to what Tallassee enjoys when it comes to choir and band. And yet, I was ready for a new challenge at this stage of life, and Faulkner came through with a change of scenery. Beginning in July of 2024, I crisscrossed the state spreading the word about our $16,000 band scholarship, which is 70% off the price of tuition. This is the best music scholarship in the southeast, without a doubt. Over the course of the past ten months, I have visited 54 high school campuses in our state and have served as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest speaker at dozens of them. Along with the 54 high schools, I have also shown up for college fairs, career nights, band competitions, conventions, music festivals, and everything in between, all the while campaigning for Faulkner. We began the year with 17 band members, and as of the last week of school we have gotten 47 students to sign the dotted line and become members of the 2025 Faulkner Band – which will bring us above 60 members for the first time since before Covid, while also more than tripling the size of the band.

My point in discussing this is not

One year on the outside

to brag on this achievement. Rather, I want to express how much my spirit has been lifted by the exposure to all these other students and band directors, and how they have allowed me to observe their band rooms over the course of this year. I have heard many new rehearsal techniques worth implementing, and listened to bands both large and small beautifully performing quality literature. I have visited schools in which the band is so important, the entrance to the building has portraits not of the principals who have served there but of the band directors. Conversely, I have visited school bands playing in a disused classroom because their school never saw fit to build a band room. Everywhere I have been, I have looked back in astonishment that I was ever fortunate enough to have served at Tallassee, a place where music has had such importance. It was a real honor to have served there for so long and to now be mentioned among those who spent many years as a part of the program. Having said that, I am now at a University where we offer over 60 degree programs and with a student body that is growing with every passing year, and can see that we have the opportunity to grow this music program in a major way via these outstanding scholarships. So, if you or someone you love wants to continue playing in the band, please have them email mbird@faulkner.edu or visit myfaulkner.org!

Michael Bird is a music teacher (and recruiter!) for Faulkner University.

MICHAEL BIRD Columnist

SUBMITTED | TPI

Tallassee High School graduating senior Tien Vuong is the school’s first to enter the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME) program for advanced manufacturing training at Southern Union State Community College.

THS grad enters FAME program

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Tallassee High School has its first graduate entering a FAME program.

Tien Vuong was about to enter the workforce after graduating from Tallassee High School. Now he is the school’s first-ever student to take advantage of advanced manufacturing training under the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education. Voung will become a part-time employee of Briggs & Stratton working 30 hours per week while earning an associate’s degree in applied science in advanced manufacturing.

“It’s like an apprenticeship program,” Vuong said.

After he completes his degree, Vuong will interview with Briggs & Stratton again and possibly get a job making nearly $30 per hour.

His journey started through dual enrollment classes and career tech certifications while a student at Tallassee High School.

“It was all free,” Voung said. “It didn’t cost me anything.”

Voung’s dual enrollment classes meant taking a few classes at Southern Union

State Community College to start working toward his associate’s degree.. Those were managed under retiring Tallassee City Schools career tech director Keith McNaughton.

“The FAME program at SUSCC creates a special opportunity for students to walk directly into technical manufacturing careers while simultaneously completing their postsecondary education,” McNaughton said. “It’s an incredible partnership that opens doors for our students at THS.”

McNaughton said Vuong recognized the opportunity dual enrollment offered early in his time at Tallassee.

“He has been an exceptional student both academically and technically,” McNaughton said. “His work ethic has created endless opportunities for himself. It has been a joy to watch Tien develop and chase his dreams all while creating a blueprint for others to follow.”

Tallasee instructor Dr. Daniel Free has offered numerous opportunities for students to earn industry certifications such as carpentry helper, aquaponics,

horticulture, forestry, small engines and more.

“He used those opportunities to figure out what was his place in the work force,” Free said. “He was exceptional in all of them.”

It was small engines with Free that excited Vuong. He excelled in both the single and two-cylinder motors quickly figuring out how both worked. After Free’s class he could break down and rebuild the motors to working order.

Voung said all the credentials, especially the Briggs & Stratton certification, helped get him into the FAME program.

“It definitely made my resume stand out,” Vuong said.

He thanked Free and McNaughton, along with SUSCC FAME coordinator Tim Beasley for their support in the process.

“I wouldn’t be able to walk this path that I am on without their guidance,” Vuong said. “I’m very blessed to have their faith in me. Mr. Beasley has been very supportive and patient with me. The interview process that goes along with fame can be quite intimidating.”

CommunityCalendar

JULY 7-11

YOUTH THEATER CAMP:

The Wetumpka Depot Players is hosting a musical theater camp for ages 8 to 15 July 7 to 11. Send an email to kmeanor@wetumpkadepot.com for more information.

JULY 14-27

YOUTH THEATER CAMP:

The Wetumpka Depot Players is hosting a two-week teen intensive camp for ages 13 to 18. Send an email to kmeanor@wetumpkadepot.com for more information.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 27

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.

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.

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 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

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 Christ-centered, 12-step program for anyone struggling with hurts, habits, and hangups. Call 334-5672364 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 334567-0476 for more information.

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.

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.

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

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

AA MEETING: Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held Mondays at 7 p.m. located at 105 Tuskeena St. in Wetumpka.

RED HILL SCHOOL: The Red Hill School on Highway 229 in the Red Hill Community in Tallassee is open Fridays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for local live music performances. No admission is charged but donations are welcomed to maintain the building and pay for refreshments.

MASTER GARDENER

HELPLINE: If you have gardening questions you can call the Master Gardener Helpline at 1-877-252-4769. The helpline starts March 1 and ends in August.

CHILDREN’S HARBOR: Children’s Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store Located on state route 63 just south of Lake Martin Amphitheater, the Children’s Harbor Thrift Store is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. proceeds are used to help fund the activities at the Lake Martin campus of children’s harbor and the Family Center at Children’s Hospital. Call 334-857-2008 for more information.

Reeltown hosts reverse career fair

By ABIGAIL MURPHY Multimedia Reporter

SCHOOLS Continued from A1

successful and pass.”

Chronic absenteeism includes both excused and unexcused absences. Truancy deals with the unexcused absences and Alabama law allows the courts to step in with seven or more unexcused absences through the compulsory attendance law.

Elmore County District Court Judge Ben Baxley has been on the bench for about a year. He has been a prosecutor in federal and state courts. Most recently he was with the Alabama Attorney General’s Office. He has seen how a lack of education increases a person’s odds of being involved in criminal activity. His wife Nacole has been a teacher for her entire career and shared with him the need for something to be done.

Baxley reached out to Elmore County and Tallas-

a career assessment test. The assessment helped students see what possible careers might align well with the students’ personalities. Smith then had the students research the different careers that fit their characteristics. They created a resume and an elevator pitch. It was going to wrap up there, but the teacher Smith was working with suggested they make it more project-based. Together, they pulled together the

see City schools to start an early warning truancy program.

“Parents are invited to court to discuss their child’s absences at five unexcused absences,” Baxley said. “Previously parents were not invited until the seventh unexcused absence when it was then illegal in the state.”

Parents are given the information surrounding state law and allowed to connect with agencies that aid in helping both parents and students succeed in school and life.

The program was executed with the help of administrators at both Elmore County and Tallassee City schools, juvenile probation officers and the Elmore County Commission.

In the last school year, nearly 2,200 students and their parents came before Baxley as part of the early warning program. At the same time administrators and the courts held parents accountable for their child’s school attendance.

In Elmore County Schools, truancy petitions increased from 30 in the 2023-2024 school year to 126 in the 2024 school year.

Parental responsibility warrants went from zero to 16.

Of those, four parents were sentenced to time in jail for their children being truant.

Baxley shared the story of one such parent and student who turned things around in just one year. The student and parent were in Baxley’s courtroom in July 2024.

“It wasn’t their first rodeo system for being placed on probation for not complying with the compulsory attendance law,” Baxley said.

The mother spent time in the Elmore County Jail. Baxley had juvenile court probation officers monitor the situation. When August and the start of school came, the student was in school to begin the school year. By the end of September, the student still hadn’t missed a day.

“Before that hearing in July, she had missed so many days the previous year she had been held back a year,” Baxley said. “She was no longer with her contemporaries.”

reverse career fair. Smith said this helped make the process a little more hands on and interactive. On the tri-fold boards, the left side was the assessment results and career research, the middle was their resume and elevator pitch and then the right side was images that showed what life they want to have.

After the fair, 4-H agent Trent Carboni also gave a presentation called “Your Money Your Life” to put into perspective the cost of living from rent to groceries to paying bills.

Report Card. Schools started sending notices to parents about their students being late or absent from school. They started offering incentives to students such as game days, one of which was held Monday at Southside Middle School in Tallassee. Students who helped improve the absenteeism rate were invited to play.

“We’re celebrating our students who have managed to not reach that point of becoming chronically absent,” Southside Middle School principal Brittany Spencer said. “This year, we are at a record low and I’m so proud of our community and so very proud of our school, our teachers, our students and all of our families.”

Thanks to funding from grants and officials such as state representative Troy Stubbs, Spencer and her staff were able to bring in a company with enough screens and gaming consoles to allow entire grades to play without waiting to take turns.

“I knew we were going to do the games,” Spencer said. “It was just a matter of how many. It was amazing to see their reaction walking into the gym and seeing all the options.”

Spencer said only 19 of the school’s 406 students were chronically absent this year. Those 19 didn’t get to participate. It’s an improvement from last year’s 50 and 121 students who were chronically absent in 2023.

“This year we have been making a big push for improvement,” Spencer said. “We have had conferences with students about attendance. We have been advising them where they are. We have a board at the front of the school that gives the number of how many students are considered chronically absent. It puts the information in front of the students.”

Currently much of the data behind the Alabama Schools Report Card is embargoed until late fall.

and Tallassee schools have occurred over the past school year.

“Several of those have been given time in juvenile detention,” Baxley said. “We have to have safe school environments.”

To aid in the effort, Baxley went to the Elmore County Commission to get additional funding for more juvenile detention beds.

Schools and courts are also cognizant of mental health issues with students. They have partnered with the Elmore County Family Resource Center to provide additional counseling and connecting with other partners to meet students’ needs. Executive director Chrissy Boshell said the center has partnered to provide additional mental health counseling but is also working with parents on issues outside of school.

“It is just really educating them on what we can do,” Boshell said. “It might be helping parents learn to get their children up and get them to school. We might aid in transportation. We might aid in hygiene and clothing so students avoid the stigma. We help parents and students with building soft skills and those life skills such as budgeting. We can help parents connect with jobs as well.” It is unknown how the improvements in attendance, grades and scores will affect the careers and lives of current students. But 19th Judicial Circuit District Attorney C.J. Robinson already knows the effects of education on crime in general. Defendants who have dropped out of school, gotten a GED or had low grades due to attendance are often caught up in criminal courts more so than those who regularly attended school.

Everyone kept tabs on the student and her progress. November came and went and the student still hadn’t missed any school. But it wasn’t just attendance.

But administrators have seen portions of it. According to school officials, in Tallassee chronic absenteeism has improved 30.4% from last school year. The number of students with zero unexcused absences has improved 59.1%.

“We typically don’t see the data until sentencing,” Robinson said. “It’s an astronomical correlation though, not 100% but extremely high. But in almost every case, when you see what happened on the education end with absences and dropping out. They find themselves more likely to be involved in criminal acts and sentenced.”

“She’s making good grades — not just good grades, great grades,” Baxley said. “She’s a straight A student. She’s a varsity athlete. And not only that, but she has made such strides that she was taking double classes to make up the time that she lost and so she’s on course to get back with her contemporaries.”

In Elmore County Schools chronic absenteeism has improved 35.3% and it is reported 63% of students have no absence issues, a 43.2% increase.

Elmore County Schools is reporting an increase in test scores used in the report card. On juniors taking the ACT this spring, the score rose by 1 point across the board.

Everyone is pleased with the results just one year into the early truancy warning program. It brought together partners that have been in the community for years. Now, the partners don’t want to stop the momentum the effects are having on attendance, grades and overall student well being.

But schools have done more than just fight truancy. They have been battling chronic absenteeism with success. It is one component of the Alabama Schools

“That is a remarkable improvement,” Dennis said. Baxley has also worked with school officials and law enforcement to make schools safer. Multiple threats in Elmore County

“We’ve been working on making sure that we work on our lines of communication to our parents,” Dennis said. “We’re going to continue this because we understand this is a serious issue. We will not turn our heads and just ignore the situation. It will be pursued.”

ABIGAIL MURPHY TPI

Reeltown High School juniors participated in a reverse career fair this past week.

Resist the devil, firm in the faith

“…Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9 Resist him, firm in the faith…” (1 Peter 5:8-9a)

The Apostle Peter tells us that “the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” What are we to do?

Peter says that we should “resist him.” This word for “resist” means, “to resist by actively opposing pressure or power.” There is nothing passive about resisting someone. The word “resist” is used many times in the Bible, but appropriate for our passage is Ephesians 6:1314 and James 4:7. Ephesians 6:1314 says, “For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore, with truth like a belt around your waist, righteousness like armor on your chest…” and on he goes to describe

BILLY REINHARDT Pastor

other parts of the armor. The context for Ephesians is war.

A solider puts on his armor to go to war. Paul tells us that the reason you put on the “full armor of God” is “so that you may be able to resist in the evil day…”

It’s difficult to resist in battle without armor and without a weapon. We have armor on because we are in battle, and battle is not passive. You have a sword, and the reason you have a sword is so that you can use it! Swords exist so that you can swing them and thrust them, if necessary! A sword is not a decorative item; it is meant to be used in battle.

So, when we go back to Peter and he says, “Resist him [the devil],” think of a soldier in battle. There is nothing passive or weak when you are in battle! When we think of resisting the devil, we must think of vigilant, active, zealous, and determined resistance.

Now James 4:7 says something wonderful. He says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” The devil can flee from you! The devil can run from you! The devil can leave you alone! Think about Jesus and His temptations in the wilderness (in Matthew 4). What did He say to Satan each time? He said, “It is written.”

What did the devil eventually do? He fled from Jesus! Now, he tried three times to tempt Jesus (and he might try ten times or twenty times to tempt you and me!), but eventually, it seems, the devil wears down whenever we try to resist him.

Tallassee Churches

So, don’t be scared to “resist” the devil. That word for “resist” can also mean to “oppose” or to “set one’s self against.” Oppose him! The devil can be defeated! There’s nothing in the Bible that says you must lose every encounter with temptation. Instead, the Bible gives us hope with the words: “Resist him!”

How do we resist the devil?

First, we simply speak the Bible back to the lies the devil is feeding us. If the devil says, “You have no hope!”, you say, “I have a living hope because Jesus Christ has risen from the grave!” (1 Peter 1). If the devil says, “Once you die you won’t exist anymore!” then you quote Jesus from John 11:25 when He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” If the devil whispers in your ear, “There is no God!”

then quote to him Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth!” and then quote Psalm 14:1 (and Psalm 53:1) which says, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God.’” The devil might tell you, “God doesn’t care for you! There are no miracles! God doesn’t act today!” then you say to God, “Let me remind you, Devil, that God has taken care of me for 40 years (or 60 years or 80 years!) and He has supplied my every need!” Contradict the lies of the devil and resist him, firm in the faith. A passive view of the spiritual life simply will not do.

Billy Reinhardt is the pastor of Riverside Heights Baptist church in Tallassee. He lives in Tallassee with his wife, Jessica, and their four children. He blogs at www. billyreinhardt.com where he writes articles on matters of faith, family, and culture.

Three Tallassee standouts ink their commitments

The Tallassee baseball team had three standouts sign their National Letters of Intent last week to jump to collegiate baseball.

The first being senior Chase Chumley signing to play at Lawson State, a junior college in Birmingham that plays in the Alabama Com-

munity College Conference. Chumley was a standout for Tallassee both on the mound and in the batter’s box. He finished fourth on the team with a batting average of .320 alongside 32 hits, which included 10 doubles and two home runs. On the mound, Chulmey finished with the most starts with a 6-2 record as the Tigers’ pitcher. He finished second on the team

Spring ball begins Reeltown looks to fill key gaps after title run

By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Editor

No matter how late

you start, getting the pads on for spring football is a necessity for the Reeltown football team.

Coming off the school’s fourth state title, the Rebels head into this offseason with notable holes to fill. They will have to replace four starters on the offensive line, practically the entirety of the front seven and lose one of the best to ever put on the uniform in Tae Martin at both safety and wide receiver.

Reeltown has been hard at work this offseason, attacking the weight room and setting new school records. However, coach Matt Johnson knows he won’t get a true evaluation of his team without a chance to put the pads on.

“They’ve had an off season under their belt,” Johnson said. “They look different there. They carry a different amount of weight. So we want to see how well they move with pads on, and how physical they’re going to be in that new body.”

One of the main priorities of getting spring practice in now, rather than later, is to evaluate where some of the younger guys can slip in and play. Johnson plans to try players out in different roles to see where they can fit best and what will provide them with the most success on the field.

“We want to see what these young guys can do,” Johnson said. “We want to see if some older guys can play multiple positions. And we got to find some offensive linemen, that’s the key. Now, I think we’ve got two to three, they can step right in right now and be ready to play. They got a lot of reps last year, but we’ve got to find the right mix

and the right positions up front for how they can jell and do the best.”

One thing Johnson has not had to worry about is his team’s mentality, with Reeltown’s brand of football — physicality a must. However, in addition to filling holes left by notable seniors, he is interested in seeing who steps up in leadership roles. He’s noticed some kids step up in the weight room, but wants to see if that translates to the field.

“With the losses of some strong leadership last year from our seniors, who’s gonna be that guy who’s gonna do the little things and lead the team? So that’s another huge question mark,” Johnson said. “You see glimpses of that in the offseason, in the weight room, but in the weight room, everybody’s going against the same thing, everybody’s competing against the bar. There’s some adversity with yourself, but we want to see you know what leaders are going to step up when you need the guy next to you to do his job in order for you to be successful.”

Even if the practices are short, or even not for a prolonged period, Johnson knows this chance to see his team is significant.

“It’s huge because everybody practices all summer, but you’re in shorts and helmets,” Johnson said. “For example, we’ve got to replace four linebackers. You take an inside linebacker, you put them in shorts and a helmet. He’s just reading the guard, and he may look good all summer long, but fits start to change when you put pads on.”

Reeltown kicked off spring practices on Wednesday, with the expectation of a small scrimmage to cap things off.

with 39 strikeouts and posted a 3.531 ERA. Next to sign to the next level was Thomas Lemmond, who inked his commitment to play at Auburn University at Montgomery. The Warhawks are a Division-II school in Montgomery that plays in the Gulf South Conference and finished with a 14-33 record

THE YEAR OF THE REBEL

By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Editor

Wherever Reeltown went, success followed.

In what could be categorized as “The Year of the Rebels,” athletics took a leg up, spanning across multiple teams. The first being the football team, which, following a Week 0 loss to T.R. Miller, left a trail of carnage in its path.

Reeltown won 14 straight games, scoring 40 or more points in nine of them. The team made its way through the playoffs, taking down Houston County, Luverne, Cottonwood and Highland Home to reach its second consecutive state championship appearance. However, this time, Reeltown came out on top with a 49-13 victory over Tuscaloosa Academy to bring the school its fourth state championship in school history.

Head coach and Reeltown athletic director Matt Johnson has been a part of three of those championships himself, holding different roles in each. He captured his first as a player, his second as an assistant coach and his third as

the head coach.

“Every coach that has success is going to talk about ‘it’s a special place,’ but it really is,” Johnson said in a previous article.

“When people know, outsiders looking in, they see that it is special and what does that is the culture. It is a culture that is built, that has been sustained and built around community. It’s built around a family concept and love.”

But the success at Reeltown did not stop there, and neither did the state championships. This May, the Reeltown fishing team brought the school its second state title in the calendar year — finishing with two top-10 performances in the Alabama Student Angler Bass Fishing Association championships on Lake Martin.

“Oh, you have no idea how good it felt,” Reeltown fishing coach Chad Ledbetter said in a previous interview. “One of them, of course, was my son Ben so to be a part of that and captain of that was amazing. I’ve watched a lot of these kids from when they were in kindergarten together to playing young football together

to wrestling together. To see them go out there and mature like they have and do like they did on the water, I mean, that’s just phenomenal.”

All the while, the Rebels baseball team has one of its best seasons in school history. In addition to capturing its fifth straight Class 2A Area 6 title, the Rebels found their stride in the postseason. They took down schools like Isabella, G.W. Long and Cottonwood to advance to the school’s first AHSAA Class 2A semifinals appearance. Although falling to Pike Liberal Arts on the doorstep of another possible state championship, the Rebels finished with a 24-12 overall record.

It was not just the boy sports either who saw their fair share of success. The Reeltown softball team fought tooth and nail to make it to the AHSAA Class 2A regional tournament, while the girls basketball team also made a playoff appearance. If the next calendar year for Reeltown is anything like it was this year, the future is bright for all Rebels athletics.

TPI

Tallassee baseball standouts, from left, Chase Chumley, Thomas Lemmond and Konner Taunton all signed their National Letters of Intent to play college baseball.

FILE | TPI

Reeltown coach Matt Johnson is excited for the start of spring football practice.

See TALLASSEE, Page B2

Medical professionals recognize Skin Cancer Awareness Month

By ABIGAIL MURPHY Multimedia Reporter

Skin cancer is no joking matter, but the good news is it can be fairly preventable.

Russell Medical Cancer Center director George Miranda cautions that while squamous and basal cell cancers are largely treatable, melanoma is very dangerous. Melanoma doesn’t take long or doesn’t have to be very big before it becomes deadly because it moves into the lymphatic tissue. Another tricky thing

TALLASEE

Continued from B1

about it is it can develop in areas where the sun rarely reaches.

In the case of melanoma, it’s important to do self-examinations and get a regular skin check. Skin checks can be done through most primary care offices and if there are enough signs, the primary care physician may refer individuals to a dermatologist. Some things to look out for during a self-examination for any skin cancer are moles that are asymmetrical, a ragged border, discoloration, a large diameter

last year. Similar to Chumley, Lemmond was wherever Tallasse needed him this past season. He finished right behind Chumley

Continued from A1

High School. He has been around long enough to understand what interests the people. Carr sees the improvements and things at Tallassee City Schools as reasons for people to be interested in moving to and locating businesses in Tallassee.

“I don’t know who wouldn’t want to move here,” Carr said. “Everybody should be interested in Tallassee with all that we have going on.” Carr wants to work to figure out how to get more businesses downtown and in east Tallassee.

“It will help create a reason for people to be here,” Carr said. At the same time he still has unaccomplished goals.

“We have seen some of the dilapidated buildings in Ward 3 torn down thanks to grants,” Carr said. “We need more taken down to clean up the Jordanville area.” Carr understands many of the issues in the Jordanville community surround safety. Carr believes the Tallassee Police Department is doing a good job with patrols but is hampered at times.

“We have people that don’t want to speak to the police,” Carr said. “It is difficult for them to investigate things if no one says anything. I want to help and encourage people to say something to the police if they see something. They

and if the spot is evolving.

“Everybody has moles and spots or splotches,” Miranda said. “But if you notice anything that’s different, that’s grown, that maybe has become three dimensional, that maybe scabs up or bleeds.”

If you have any concerns, Miranda said, seek medical advice; it may be nothing but it’s best to get it checked just in case.

Meanwhile, basal and squamous are less dangerous but can spread if not treated. These skin

in the batting average department, finishing fifth with a .312 average to pair with a team’s fourth best in hits with 29, including three doubles and one triple for the Tigers. On the mound, Lemmon saw the second most starts with a 4-1 record. He led the Tigers in strikeouts with 41 and posted an ERA of 2.643.

can’t do their jobs without the information.” Carr understands for Tallassee to grow, it first must help small businesses. He said the main issue with large businesses is they don’t like the number of rentals in town.

“It’s not necessarily popular, but we have to get more people owning the place they live in,” Carr said. “It helps with recruiting businesses and helps with community pride. If it belongs to them, they will do a better job keeping it up.”

The tenured councilmember wants to increase quality of life for citizens through partnerships. Carr said he helped partner the city with the Elmore County Commission to help fund a small park in Jordanville on property owned by God’s Congregational Holiness Church. Just a few years prior the property had an abandoned house on it.

“They city can’t do it all,” Carr said. “We have to partner with some groups. We also can partner with companies and look for more grants.”

Carr said the city and its industrial development board do a good job of recruiting companies to Tallassee, but there is always room for improvement.

“We still need to bring more companies and jobs here,” Carr said. “We need to get more of our people to work.”

The municipal election is set for Aug. 26.

cancer types are generally a by-product of too much sun exposure over time. Miranda said this is why sunscreen is so important, especially if you are at the beach or lake where you need to also reapply often.

Some other tools that help are wearing hats to protect the top of your head and cover up where you can. Squamous and basal cancers often show up on people’s shoulders, neck, top of the head and hands — common places that see sun exposure.

One of the big mis -

conceptions is skin cancer affects only light skin individuals. While having fair skin can put someone at a higher risk, skin cancer still happens to Black people — including melanoma. Another high-risk factor can be dysplastic nevus, which are atypical moles.

Minarda said this isn’t to make anyone panic, but it’s to keep people informed so they can get diagnosis and treatment.

“I don’t really want to say that skin cancer is not a big deal, because it is a big deal,” Miran -

To cap the signing day festivities off, Konner Taunton signed to play at Reid State Technical College. A junior college that plays in the Alabama Community College Conference, the Lions are coming off a 3-41 season. Taunton finished with the ninth best batting average with a .231, where he

da said. “But it’s not the end. I tell everybody with cancer, just because you get diagnosed with cancer, doesn’t mean you’re going to die.” Survivor rates with cancers in general have been rising. Miranda said when he started in the 1990s it was probably a 50% survivability rate in general and now it looks more like 68%. As part of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, remember to wear sunscreen, cover up when you can, do self-examations and get a regular skin check.

racked up 15 hits on the year, three of which went for doubles. He scored 18 runs while also notching 12 RBIs in his season total for Tallassee. All three played a vital role in the Tigers’ season this year, where they finished with a 23-12 record and reached the third round of the AHSAA Class 4A playoffs.

CARR

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Public Notices

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MELVIN DOUGLAS RUSSELL, DECEASED. CASE NO.: 2025-108 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE

Letters Testamentary in the Estate of MELVIN DOUGLAS RUSSELL, deceased, having been granted to ELIZABETH DEE DUKES RUSSELL on April 29, 2025 by D. JASON BRITT, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.

ELIZABETH DEE DUKES RUSSELL PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF MELVIN DOUGLAS RUSSELL, DECEASED.

Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: MICHAEL S. HARPER

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Public Notices

member of the City of Tallassee

SECTION 2 of Ordinance No. 2008-439 shall remain unchanged. SECTION 3. This ordinancequired by law.

ADOPTED THIS THE 12th DAY OF MAY 2025.

SARAH A. HILL, Mayor City of Tallassee, Alabama

ATTEST: WHITNEY PITCHFORD, City Clerk

Tallassee Tribune: May 21, 2025 ORDINANCE NO. 2025-697 Do you have available jobs? Call 256.277.4219 to let others know about job opportunities at your business.

Two non-fatal drownings occur in Eclectic

By CLIFF WILIAMS News Editor

Two Eclectic juveniles were pulled from a swimming pool by friends and bystanders Monday afternoon.

“We very nearly had a double fatality today of two young high school students,” Eclectic EMS director Alan Nummy said.

The Eclectic Fire Department received a call at 1:35 p.m. Monday about two juveniles drowning in a swimming pool. Within five minutes, an Eclectic ambulance was on the scene.

“Both juveniles had been pulled out of the water by other juveniles and possibly an adult,” Nummy said. “There is no doubt they saved lives.”

Nummy said the five minutes were critical. He said they might have lived but it would not be good.

“Those extra five minutes under water are critical,” Nummy said. “If you are submerged and have to be treated, it’s called a non-fatal drowning.”

The two juveniles were transported to local hospitals.

Based on a Facebook post one of them has been released and one is at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham being treated.

Nummy said the two juveniles are lucky.

“It’s the first drowning patient I have had to live,” Nummy said.

The EMS director recalled a weekend several years ago where a toddler drowned on back to back days.

“That was a rough weekend,” Nummy said. “We could have had that happen today.”

Nummy said Eclectic has two ambulances.

“One is staffed 24/7/365,”

Nummy said. “The other is staff when we have licensed crew available. That was the case today and we had two respond.”

By CLIFF WILIAMS News Editor

By CLIFF WILIAMS News Editor

of

valedictorian Robbie Grace Bolton was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. But the journey has opened

New fire truck coming to Eclectic FD

By CLIFF WILIAMS News Editor

Volunteer fire departments are stretching every dollar they have.

They must do exactly that with the cost of equipment so high and fire trucks costing in the $1 million or more range.

All departments look for ways to raise money and save money where they can. The Eclectic Volunteer Fire Department saw a need for an aerial.

“It would allow us to put water on fires at large buildings such as churches, homes and businesses such as Madix,” Eclectic fire chief Josh Dorminey said. “Putting water on fire like that can help put it out and help keep it from spreading.”

EFD had its dreams of a fire truck with a ladder or tower. New ones can cost close to $2 million now and are mostly out of reach for small departments.

Dorminey and the department worked with a broker in north Alabama to keep an eye on available trucks. That’s when a great deal came up on a truck from Virginia with a 70-foot aerial.

“A fire department was getting a new fire truck and they had this truck,” Dorminey said. “They had an order and were going to sell this one.”

The department decided to buy the low-hour used truck at a cost of $150,000. New it is $1.5 million.

EFD struck with fire department speed. They flew to Virginia and decid-

ed to purchase the truck in January 2024. They created a list of issues that needed to be fixed. Then, they had to wait for the new truck to be delivered.

Again, they visited the truck to make sure

practitioner and specialize in rheumatology,” Bolton said. “It means a lot to me.”

Bolton’s journey with rheumatoid arthritis started in 2023 with what was supposed to be an ankle sprain. But after weeks of rehab, rest and treatment, there was no improvement. A couple months later labs presented her with the chronic

GRADUATION

Continued from B5

their students.

any issues had been addressed. The body of the firetruck and equipment can be moved to a new fire truck chassis if the current one gets beyond repair. In the last two weeks they took

illness.

“I now want to make an impact on other children in similar situations,” Bolton said.

She has learned to compete in volleyball and basketball and manage her rheumatoid arthritis.

“It mainly affects me after activity,” Bolton said. “I’ve learned what medications help best when being active and how they need to change when I’m not playing.”

Juvenile arthritis wasn’t the first major thing Bolton has had to deal with her

delivery of the truck and showcased it at Mayfest, where the department was selling hamburgers as a fundraiser.

“We still have a bunch of payments for it and we need to outfit it,” Dormin-

ey said. “We have some of the equipment needed to put on it, but can use more. It can respond to a fire and we can hook a hose to it.”

The truck is capable of putting 2,000 gallons

life. She came to Eclectic schools in the sixth grade. A fire destroyed her home in Holtville. For months Bolton and her family lived in a hotel before landing in Eclectic.

There Bolton found her community.

“There’s just a big community here that makes everyone feel like family and provides unlimited support and resources,” Bolton said. “They really help you succeed in everything you do.” Bolton has enrolled in Southern Union State Community College for nursing and will continue her education

a minute through its aerial, both manned and unmanned.

“This will serve us for many years to come,” Dorminey said. “It will be one of our first out trucks.”

to Auburn University, all for her journey to help children like her. Bolton’s education journey might be a little shorter than others. Thanks to dual enrollment, she is technically a second semester sophomore in college.

“I took all the AP classes I could. I took all the dual enrollment classes,” Bolton said. “Actually, this year I only had one class on campus because I took all dual enrollment classes. I maintained a 4.0 GPA. It was all A’s in my dual enrollment classes, and I ended school with a 4.45 GPA.”

“He might be my son, but they are all my kids,” Eason said. “I’m proud of what all of them have done to get here.”

Eason said he tried as best he could to let his son be a

But what happens at graduations when the lines between family and staff blur? That’s the case for Elmore County High School principal Jason Eason. In this case, Eason is taking on both roles, being dad to Jaden Alan Eason and celebrating with him and being principal to the rest of the ECHS Class of 2025.

student and not his son when on campus.

“I didn’t want to treat him any differently here,” Eason said. “I try to stay out of the way when he’s in school.”

Older Eason to put aside his fatherly duties.

“He would come and sit down in my office a good bit,” Eason said. “It’s been a really good experience.”

The Easons shared a moment at graduation. There was more than just a hand shake. While Eason went up to get his diploma, older Eason moved his son’s tassel to the left and embraced him with a hug.

They now share graduating on the same field, from the same school. The only difference is new turf on BurtHaynie Field.

Next year, the older Eason will come back and do it again with the Class of 2026. But the countdown to graduation will be a little different.

“Normally, this time of year, I’m tired and worn out,” Eason said. “I’m like let’s get through graduation. This year, I didn’t want it to stop. It’s been great. I’ve loved it.”

The Eclectic Volunteer Fire Department recently took delivery of a new-to-them tower truck. The aerial will aid in fires of large structures and help prevent fire spreading to other structures.

Congratulations Class of 2025 Congratulations Class 2025

TALLASSEE HIGH SCHOOL

The 2025 Tallassee High School graduating class includes , Jonathan Alexander, Jhakhia Anderson, Samaria Barrow, Mason Battles, John Robert Baxley, Land Bell, Jazlynn Bender, Brandy Berry, Gregory Bird, Lillian Boles, Charriah Brooks, Steven Brown, Brooks Burton, Aidan Butler, Britney Butler, Manuel Castano, Robert Chandler, Chase Chumley, Jacie Clayton, Aiden Coburn, Sawyer Compton, Jasmine Cox, Aubrey Cox, Arrie Crispin, Zachary Crosthwait, Aniya Daniel, Destinee Daniels, Reighn Davis, Irvin Delfin, Cristopher Delfin Morales, Ruby Diego, Izabel Diego Castaneda, Regan Easterwood, Jacee Faulk, Marques Freeman, Hailey Gicker, Kinsley Glasscock, Cash Gough, Carter Greene, Rebekah Gresham, Ada Guo, Emily Hacker,

Samantha Hammock, Jakoby Harris, Bryant Hathcock, Truex Hathcock, Vivian Hayden, Johnathon Hayden, Lilly Haynes, Amy Hernandez Carias, Joseph Hicks, Nevaeh Hicks, Cadence Hill, Joseph Hooks, Bella Hornsby, Madison Hughes, Isiah Hughley, Christina Humphries, Bre’Nazja Hutchinson, Clayton Ingram, ZiKheriya Jackson, John Jeffery, Kaiden Johnson, Hayden Johnston, Lukas Jolly, Adaria Jordan, Kinsley Kennebrew, Aleya Kindrick, Jordan King, Zairen Latimore, Charles Lemmond, Lily Love, Corbin Magee, John Mask, Kevin Mason, Pedro Mateo Bartolo, Jamario McKenzie, Jeremiah McLain, Roman McWilliams, Abigail Miller, Issac Miller, Michael Moore, Renita Moore, Bradley Morse, Lorelai Moyer, Hunter Murphy, Meda Nabors, Destiny Neely, Mason

Nelson, Cao Nguyen, Timothy Oliver, Jaylah Pace, Amari Parker, William Pendergrass, Emily-Grace Peppers, Kaden Peters, Bryanna Phillips, Tacoma Phillips, Madison Raney, Azeria Reed, Bryson Rigsby, Quinya Robinson, Kennon Rogers, Willie Ross, Kayden Salzedas, Jakives Sanders, Janivus Sanders, Carter Sayers, Hunter Schieferstein, Haley Scoggins, DeMarion Sheriff, Alli Smith, Andriana Smith, Skylar Spotten, Ali Stiff, Kyra Stokes, Caleb Stonestreet, Konner Taunton, Jack Taylor, Jayquavious Terry, Rowen Thornton, Alina Tran, Nhea Upshaw, Tien Vuong, John Walters, Shawn Ward, Chase Webster, Auburn Weldon, John Wells, Eli Whittington, Paris Wilkins, Jasmine Wilmet, Brody Wisener, Rush Wright

Submitted / Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.

Jonathan Alexander

Jazlynn Bender

Brooks Burton

Jhakhia Anderson

Brandy Berry

Aidan Butler

Samaria Barrow

Gregory Bird

Britney Butler

Mason Battles

Lillian Boles

Manuel Castano

John Robert Baxley

Charriah Brooks

Robert Chandler

Land Bell

Steven Brown

Chase Chumley

Jacie Clayton

Kinsley Glasscock

Zachary Crosthwait

Izabel Diego Castaneda

Aiden Coburn

Cash Gough

Aniya Daniel

Ruby Diego

Sawyer Compton

Carter Greene

Destinee Daniels

Regan Easterwood

Aubrey Cox

Rebekah Gresham

Reighn Davis

Jacee Faulk

Jasmine Cox

Ada Guo

Christopher Delfin Morales

Marques Freeman

Arrie Crispin

Emily Hacker

Irvin Delfin

Hailey Gicker

Class of 2025

Bella Hornsby

ZiKheriya Jackson

Madison Hughes

John Jeffery

Isiah Hughley

Kaiden Johnson

Christina Humphries

Hayden Johnston

Bre’Nazja Hutchinson

Lukas Jolly

Clayton Ingram

Adaria Jordan

Lilly Haynes Amy Hernandez Carias

Joseph Hicks

Nevaeh Hicks

Cadence Hill

Joseph Hooks

Samantha Hammock Jakoby Harris

Bryant Hathcock

Truex Hathcock

Johnathan Hayden

Vivian Hayden

Kinsley Kennebrew

Aleya Kindrick

Jordan King

Zairen Latimore

Charles Lemmond

Lily Love

Corbin Magee John Mask

Kevin Mason

Pedro Mateo Bartolo

Jeremiah McLain

Roman McWilliams

Abigail Miller

Hunter Murphy Issac Miller

Meda Nabors

Michael Moore

Destiny Neely

Renita Moore

Mason Nelson

Bradley Morse

Cao Nguyen

Lorelai Moyer

Timothy Oliver

Tacoma Phillips

Willie Ross

Jaylah Pace

Madison Raney

Kayden Salzedas

Amari Parker

Azeria Reed

Jakives Sanders

William Pendergrass

Bryson Rigsby

Janivus Sanders

Emily-Grace Peppers

Quinya Robinson

Carter Sayers

Kaden Peters

Kennon Rogers

Hunter Schieferstein

Bryanna Phillips

Haley Scoggins

Kyra Stokes

Tien Vuong

Eli Whittington

DeMarion Sheriff

Caleb Stonestreet

John Walters

Paris Wilkins

Alli Smith

Konner Taunton

Shawn Ward

Jasmine Wilmet

Andriana Smith

Jayquavious Terry

Chase Webster

Brody Wisener

Skylar Spotten

Rowen Thornton

Auburn Weldon

Rush Wright

Ali Stiff

Alina Tran

John Wells

Emilee Bass

Dylan Bryant

Jacob Hammonds

Will Cox

Maddox Beard

Larry Butler

Mackenzie Harris

Jack Darnell

Kelan Bevels

Gabriel Cannon

Michael Harris

Sydney Davis

Jaedan Brooks

Ethan Chapman

Finley Henderson

Crisdan Dunn

Demetrius Brown

Will Thomas Clay

Coleman Higman

Larry Foy

Bowman Brumbeloe

Baylor Clayton

Gavin Hill

Megan Giles

Christian Jackson Cruise Johnson

Isaac Kearns

Scott Koubek Hagan Lewis

Christopher Lockhart

Preston Lynn

Chizyiah Riley

Catavis Martin Jackson Rodgers

Amelia Nicholas

Brantley Self

Lainey Pattillo

Da Nia Smith

Daniel Ramey

Madison Smith

Harrison Renfroe

Carleigh Smitherman

Kaitlyn Stephens Anterrius Strozier

Ian Struzick

Gaines Tapley

Jaxon Walker

Kaitlyn Weldon

Haley Thompson

Mason Warlick

Ryleigh Whitaker

McKinley Tubbs

James Welch

Rayleigh Williams

Not pictured: Angel Bertl