September 2021 | Volume 15 | Issue 1
280LIVING.COM
THE 280 CORRIDOR’S COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE
A New York City firefighter looks up at the remains of the World Trade Center after its collapse during the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy.
Recalling 9/11, 20 years later Auburn University students Dalton Odom, this year’s mic man, and Parker Mercier, one of this year’s four drum majors, are alumni of Chelsea High School. Odum is a fifth-year senior, and Mercier is a junior. Photo by Erin Nelson.
Performing on The Plains
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Chelsea alumni Dalton Odom, Parker Mercier leading Auburn fans this season By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE
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hen Auburn kicks off its season opener the evening of Sept. 4, two former Chelsea graduates will be leading the fans in the stands. Dalton Odom, from the Class of 2017, will be leading the crowd as Auburn’s mic man. He will be on the 50-yard line leading the Tigers’ cheers, then move to the sidelines and take his place atop the platform in front of the student body to help the cheerleaders lead throughout the entire game.
Parker Mercier, from the Class of 2019, is one of four drum majors for the Auburn University Marching Band. He will lead the band as they run out of the tunnel for their pregame festivities, then direct music in the stands before and after their halftime performance. Although they were two years apart in high school, they did know each other, but Mercier graduated with Odom’s younger sister. They will get to know each other better this year as they communicate with each other across the
INSIDE
See AUBURN | page A24 Sponsors............... A4 280 News.............. A6
It’s going to be a whole lot of fun, and I’m excited to get to represent Auburn like this. I’m thrilled and honestly honored to do it.
Business...............A10 Chamber..............A19
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DALTON ODOM
Fall Medical Guide...................B1
Biking for Braxton Canadian man Jarrod Russell bikes 745 miles to aid 9-year-old Greystone boy with cancer.
See page A16
Chelsea, Hoover residents share memories of living through, documenting terrorist attacks By NEAL EMBRY As he traveled on the last ferry out of New York City on Sept. 11, 2001, Les Pasternack noticed he had soot on his clothes. It wasn’t much, but it was a reminder of the devastation he had been lucky to escape and of the lives he had just seen end in front of his eyes. Pasternack, who now lives in Hoover, along with Todd Eagle, a Chelsea resident who works as a photojournalist for WVTM13, shared their stories of living through and documenting 9/11 and the days that followed with 280 Living.
‘A HELPLESS FEELING’
Pasternack worked for a German bank at Two World Financial Center in 2001, which was connected to the World Trade Center
Sports.................... C5 Schoolhouse......... C11
See 9/11 | page A26 Education Guide... C14 Real Estate.......... C19 facebook.com/280living
Climbing a Hill Former Montevallo baseball player finds life calling in teaching sport to others.
See page C1