Editor’s Note By Taylor Bright
As my first editor’s note, let me say how happy I am to be the new community editor of the Cahaba Sun.
Coming into an organization that has just won 57 Alabama Press Association awards (including the best story written in the state this past year by Jon Anderson, the community editor at our sister paper, the Hoover Sun) is daunting. There is a high standard to be met at Starnes Media.
But more importantly, there is a standard to serve the community that I know I must meet.
Starnes Media is one of the very few locally owned media companies in the
Birmingham metro area. And that’s important because we take being a part of the community seriously. In this issue, you will find great stories about your neighbors, your local businesses and events in your community.
I hope I can meet the standard set by my co-workers and, more importantly, meet the standard of the communities we serve.
Please Support Our Community Partners
Alabama Backflow (5)
Birmingham Orthodontics (1) Bromberg’s (5) Children’s of Alabama (7) Clearview Strategy Partners (3) Grandview Medical (20) Legacy Ridge Assisted Living (18)
Red Mountain Theatre (17) Southern Home Structural Repair Specialists (7)
STP Heating and Air (19) Trussville Gas and Water (2) Window World of Central Alabama (2)
Publisher:
General Manager/Editor in Chief: Community Editors:
Sports Editor: Digital Editor: Design Editor: Photo Editor:
Graphic Designer: Copy Editor:
Production Assistant:
Operations Specialist: Contributing Writers:
Client Success Specialist: Business Development Exec: Junior Account Exec:
Dan Starnes
Tim Stephens
Taylor Bright
Jon Anderson
Sarah Owens
Kyle Parmley
Cady Inabinett
Melanie Viering
Erin Nelson Sweeney
Ted Perry
Sydney Cromwell
Simeon Delante
Sarah Villar
Gary Lloyd
Blair Moore
Warren Caldwell
Don Harris
Cot Tindall
Published by: Cahaba Sun LLC P.O. Box 530341 Birmingham, AL 35253 (205) 313-1780 cahabasun.com
For advertising contact: dan@starnesmedia.com
Please submit all articles, information and photos to: tbright@starnesmedia.com
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER
Legals: Cahaba Sun is published monthly. Reproduction or use of editorial or graphic content without prior permission is prohibited. Cahaba Sun is designed to inform the Trussville community of area school, family and community events. Information in Cahaba Sun is gathered from sources considered reliable but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All articles/photos submitted become the property of Cahaba Sun. We reserve the right to edit articles/photos as deemed necessary and are under no obligation to publish or return photos submitted. Inaccuracies or errors should be brought to the attention of the publisher at (205) 313-1780 or by email.
Cahaba Sun’s Lloyd captures 2 APA awards for journalism excellence
By STAFF
The Cahaba Sun earned first place in the Alabama Press Association’s 2024 Media Awards competition in the human interest column category.
Contributing writer Gary Lloyd won first place for his column, “Payphoning it forward,” which tracked his unsuccessful efforts, in the age of smartphones, to trace the details behind a lone remaining payphone in Trussville.
Lloyd’s award was one of 57 won by Starnes Media publications, which include Cahaba Sun, Village Living, 280 Living, The Homewood Star, Vestavia Voice and Hoover Sun. Cahaba Sun competes in the Alabama Press Association’s Division E, which includes associate member newspapers and free circulation products.
Lloyd was a multi-winner in the contest. He teamed with sports editor Kyle Parmley to win best podcast series for their Under the Lights weekly sports podcast during football season, which
features previews and analysis of high school games involving teams from across the Starnes Media coverage area.
Jon Anderson, community editor for the Hoover Sun, won Story of the Year across all circulation divisions for a feature on the Food for our Journey nonprofit, which collects leftover food and distributes it to homeless people in Birmingham.
Anderson also won first place in the Freedom of Information/First Amendment category, which recognizes excellence in reporting that highlights the importance of a free press and open government. To see the full list of winners from Starnes Media publications, go online to cahabasun.com.
Check out the award-winning Under the Lights podcast to hear weekly breakdowns of local high school football: youtube.com/ @UnderTheLightsPod
ON THE COVER: Sally DeShazo, student council president and a member of the 2025 senior class at Hewitt-Trussville High School, in her backyard. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Gary Lloyd’s Southern Musings column “Payphoning it forward in Trussville” in the July 2023 issue of the Cahaba Sun won first place for best human interest column. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
New general manager, editor named for Cahaba Sun
By STAFF
Starnes Media, which publishes the Cahaba Sun and five other hyperlocal publications in the Birmingham metro area, has announced three new hires, including Taylor Bright as the new editor of the Cahaba Sun.
Tim Stephens, a veteran journalist, has been named general manager and editorin-chief of Starnes Media. Stephens will
oversee operations and the editorial vision for the company’s publications, including the Cahaba Sun, 280 Living, Hoover Sun, The Homewood Star, Vestavia Voice and Village Living.
“Tim Stephens is a dynamic newsroom leader with a proven track record of helping teams achieve excellence across print, digital and social media platforms,” said founder and CEO Dan Starnes.
Stephens previously held newsroom
leadership positions at the Birmingham Post-Herald, Orlando Sentinel, South Florida Sun-Sentinel and CBSSports.com.
Among Stephens’ first moves in his new role was hiring Taylor Bright as community editor for 280 Living and the Cahaba Sun. Bright, an award-winning journalist, has previously worked at the Birmingham Post-Herald, the Huntsville Times and the Charlotte Observer.
Additionally, Sarah Owens has joined as
the community editor for The Homewood Star and Village Living. Owens, an Alabaster native, is a 2022 graduate of Milligan University and has experience as a multimedia journalist in Sarasota, Florida.
Cady Inabinett has been appointed digital manager for Starnes Media. Inabinett is a 2024 graduate of the University of Montevallo and has worked as a data insights reporter at Open Secrets in Washington, D.C.
ALABAMA BACKFLOW
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Tim Stephens Taylor Bright
Sarah Owens
Cady Inabinett
Recently sold homes in Trussville
► ADDRESS: 4525 Brexton Street
► BED/BATH 4/3.5
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,890 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Stockton Crest
► LIST PRICE: $599,000
► SALE PRICE: $599,000
► ADDRESS: 3526 Smith Sims Road
► BED/BATH: 4/3
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,625 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Trussville
► LIST PRICE: $429,900
► SALE PRICE: $438,000
► ADDRESS: 4724 Boulder Drive
► BED/BATH 3/2
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 1,737 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Stonegate
► LIST PRICE: $355,000
► SALE PRICE: $355,000
► ADDRESS: 7584 Paine Drive
► BED/BATH: 4/2.5
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,496 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Stockton
► LIST PRICE: $456,000
► SALE PRICE: $453,000
► ADDRESS: 3260 Cahaba Manor Drive
► BED/BATH: 4/2
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,764 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Cahaba Manor
► LIST PRICE: $389,000
► SALE PRICE: $385,000
► ADDRESS: 6273 Kestral View Road
► BED/BATH: 3/2
► SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,488 sq. ft.
► NEIGHBORHOOD: Hawkridge Estates
► LIST PRICE: $340,000
► SALE PRICE: $350,250
SOURCE: GREATER ALABAMA MULTIPLE LISTING SERVICE
Business Happenings
NOW OPEN
Hattie’s Toyland, 165 Morrow Ave., Suite 109, had their grand opening in mid-July. 205-603-0856, hattiestoyland.com
7 Brew has opened its 10th Alabama location at 5982 Chalkville Mountain Road. 7 Brew is a drive-through coffee stand that offers many types of custom drinks.
7brew.com
NEW OWNERSHIP
UAB Health System has acquired Ascension St. Vincent’s for $450 million. UAB will gain ownership of all St. Vincent’s sites of care, including Ascension St. Vincent’s Trussville, at 7201 Happy Hollow Road, and the East Freestanding Emergency Department, at 6670 Green Drive. The transaction is expected to be
completed in the fall of 2024. 205-934-4681, uabmedicine.org
RELOCATIONS AND RENOVATIONS
Jack’s in Trussville reopened at its 1460 Gadsden Highway location on June 6 after completing a renovation project. The restaurant will now feature “rocking chairs on the front porch, a window to watch biscuits being made from scratch and a dining room
big enough for the whole family.” 205-719-1155, eatatjacks.com
BUSINESS NEWS TO SHARE?
If you have news to share with the community about a brick-and-mortar business in Trussville or the greater Birmingham area, let us know at starnesmedia.com/business-happenings
COVER STORY: Hewitt-Trussville Class of 2025 goes back to school one last time
The path of a senior
By BLAIR MOORE
Twelve years ago, bright-eyed kindergarteners streamed into Trussville classrooms for their very first day of school. In the blink of an eye, the class of 2025 will step through the doors of Hewitt-Trussville High School for the first day of their senior year.
One of this year’s rising seniors is Sally DeShazo, who was elected this year’s Student Council president.
From a young age, DeShazo demonstrated natural leadership ability, and she’s had opportunities to hone those skills throughout her school years — in elementary school as a Cahaba Elementary safety patrol member (C.E.S. Dog), in middle school as a peer mentor (M.U.S.H.) and in high school as part of Leadership Hewitt-Trussville.
“All of these programs have taught me what it means to be a leader and skills like how to include others and when to step back sometimes as a leader,” DeShazo said. “I’ll take what I’ve learned with me in my college years, on my career path and in becoming who I am.”
Things came full circle last year when DeShazo mentored fifth grade students at Cahaba Elementary, including the daughter of her kindergarten teacher, Donna Franklin.
DeShazo looks back fondly on her year with Franklin, who made kindergarten a joy. One memory that stands out was the “talking zoo” project, where kids learned about and dressed up like their favorite animal, then visited the Birmingham Zoo on a field trip.
“I was a leopard,” she recalled. DeShazo appreciated the way Franklin continually reinforced positive behavior with rewards and kept students’ artwork to send home at the end of the year. “I love Mrs. Franklin!” she said.
When kindergarten first began, DeShazo was nervous to get out of the car in the mornings. Franklin would meet her in the carline and walk her inside, where she was soon happily learning. Franklin has enjoyed staying connected to the DeShazo family since that year.
“Sally has always been a leader and someone who is kind to everybody,” she said. “It’s been such a fun thing watching her grow up.”
Now a fifth grade teacher at Cahaba Elementary, Franklin is glad she gets to teach in her own town.
“What’s such a treasure about Trussville is that you know a lot of your students when they walk into your classroom,” she said. “You’re already invested with those kids, and it brings an extra level of love for them because you already love their families and your community so much.”
DeShazo said a few of the other Trussville teachers who have made a lasting impact on her life are Tamra Higginbotham and Kay Shumate from her elementary years and Christy Shellnut and Tina Rosetta from middle school.
DeShazo is a strong academic student, who has chosen an advanced course path throughout high school. While English is her favorite subject overall, she is taking A.P. Biology this year because of her interest in the medical field.
“I’m glad I decided to take advanced classes,” she said.
“It’s definitely boosted my G.P.A., and it’s pushed me to be able to learn more and at a quicker pace.”
One of the things DeShazo is looking forward to about her senior year is implementing new ideas as Student Council president. She is also excited about Friday night football games and hosting friends before and after the game. DeShazo enjoys fashion, so her job at Wrapsody is a perfect fit.
“I love clothes and jewelry,” she said. “Getting dressed up makes me feel put together.”
As DeShazo walks the halls of Hewitt, she keeps in mind words from a sermon she once heard: “Go out of your way to say, ‘Hey.’”
Her advice to underclassmen and aspiring young leaders is to always be kind.
“You don’t really know what anyone’s ever going through,” she said. “They could have had the worst day of
their life, and you being a friend by asking them to come sit at the lunch table with you or just reaching out and saying ‘Hey’ can make a big difference.”
After graduating from Hewitt-Trussville High School, DeShazo plans to attend Auburn University, where she is considering studying pre-dentistry or hospital administration.
On the first day of school every year, DeShazo’s family prays together. As she reflects on her upcoming senior year, DeShazo says prayer and a strong support network have been invaluable throughout her life and educational journey.
“I’ve learned that having a close circle really does matter,” she said. “Find your people and stick with them. Throughout all the moments and milestones, take the time to enjoy your friends, enjoy your family and enjoy your people.”
Left: Sally DeShazo, student council president and a member of HewittTrussville’s Class of 2025, in her backyard. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
Above: Sally DeShazo on her first day of kindergarten at Paine Elementary School in August 2012. Photo courtesy of Kim DeShazo.
What to Expect This Year
From
Patrick Martin, Trussville City Schools Superintendent
“We are gearing up for another terrific school year in 2024-2025. Initially in August, we hope the community will support our Trussville Together Capital Plan initiative. This initiative will help to accommodate our growing student population and provide spaces more suitable for learning.
“Last year was a banner year, and we hope to build on this momentum. We always pride ourselves on excellence in the areas of academics, the arts and athletics. Our administrator and teacher teams have been hard at work preparing this summer. Whether it is academic successes or just the overall student experience in general, we want each of our students to have a great year.”
What’s New
This year, there are new and exciting things in store for Trussville City Schools students of all ages.
► New academic programs: Modern Manufacturing and Broadcast Media
► New electives: Contemporary World Issues and Creative Writing
► New Advanced Placement classes: A.P. Music Theory and A.P. European History
► New Facilities: A new pavilion will be used by football as well as other sports and groups within the school system and community. This is also Hewitt-Trussville’s first full year in the Career Technical Education wing, which houses Electrical Technologies, Modern Manufacturing and Engineering Academy Workshop.
NEW HIRES
► Cahaba Elementary: Matt Taylor (PE) and Jourdan Barnett (Art)
► Hewitt-Trussville Middle: Nichole Hill (Choral Director)
► Hewitt-Trussville High: Molly Cook, who teaches Spanish, will be head swimming coach for 2024-25. Ben Cook, formerly choral director at Hewitt-Trussville Middle, has transitioned to Hewitt-Trussville High to fill the role held by his former teacher, Allen Gillespie, who has now retired.
Extracurricular Highlights
ATHLETICS
1,052 students participated in sports last year, across 65 different middle and high school teams.
A total of 27 senior student-athletes signed college scholarships last year.
In 2023-24, Trussville schools won six state championship and runner-up maps, which ties with the 2020-2021 school year for the highest number of maps won in a single year in the school’s history.
Visit hthuskies.com to learn more.
CLUBS
Hewitt-Trussville Middle and High School Mountain Biking teams both won the 2024 Alabama Cycling Association mountain bike state championship.
BAND AND CHOIR
Last year, Trussville was named a NAMM Best Community for Music Education — one of six in the state of Alabama, out of 950 nationwide.
Around 600 students participated in HTMS and HTHS bands last year.
HTMS has four bands (Beginning, Concert, Symphonic and Honors) and four choirs (Beginning, Girls, Boys and Honors).
HTHS has 11 bands and ensembles (Concert, Symphonic, Wind Ensemble, Jazz One, Jazz Two, four Percussion Ensembles, Indoor Percussion and Marching Band) and three choirs (Concert, Women’s Chorale and Chamber).
In 2023-24, HTMS and HTHS choirs had a combined total of 24 students selected by the Alabama Vocal Association to participate in the Alabama AllState Choral Festival.
HTMS bands had three students selected by the Alabama Bandmasters Association to perform in the All-State Band and seven students selected to perform in the District Honor Band in 2023-24.
Learn more at hewittband.com.
Did You Know?
► Trussville City Schools are some of the top-rated schools in the state of Alabama.
► There are five schools in Trussville serving around 5,000 students, with a staff of about 220.
► The community will vote on an ad valorem property tax increase on Aug. 27, which if approved will fund construction of a fourth elementary school to relieve overcrowding at Paine Elementary.
► Cahaba Elementary’s building was initially used as Hewitt High School and later Hewitt Middle.
► The walking track in front of Cahaba Elementary was once the site of Trussville’s football stadium.
► The fire station on Cherokee Drive used to be the site of a Trussville elementary school.
CAHABA ELEMENTARY
► Named the No. 9 elementary school in Alabama by U.S. News & World Report
► Received a 97 rating on the state report card
► Enrollment: 550+
► Faculty: 63
MAGNOLIA ELEMENTARY
► Named the No. 14 elementary school in Alabama by U.S. News & World Report
► Received a 97 rating on the state report card
► Enrollment: 400
► Faculty: 65
PAINE ELEMENTARY
► Expected enrollment: 1,400+
► Total number of employees: 166
► The size and population challenges in relation to Paine are a major part of the Trussville Together initiative, which will address these challenges and build a new elementary school north of town to accommodate higher enrollment.
HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL
► Recognized as a Mary D. Boehm School of Achievement by A+ College Ready
► Recently completed a three-year grant program with A+ College Ready
► Received a 93 rating on the state report card
► Enrollment: 1,200
► Faculty/Staff: 130
HEWITT-TRUSSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
► Named the No. 8 high school in Alabama by U.S. News & World Report
► Received a 93 rating on the state report card
► Enrollment: 1,550+
► Faculty/Staff: 130
A BIT ABOUT BUSES
► 62 drivers/routes
► 8 Exceptional Bus aides
► 74 buses (including spares)
► Approximately 1,250 miles traveled per day
► Approximately 2,500 students transported per day
Patrick Martin
SPORTS
UNDER THE LIGHTS: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Young, talented Huskies to follow up great 2023
By KYLE PARMLEY
It is difficult to follow up one of the best seasons in recent program history, but that is what the Hewitt-Trussville High School football team is tasked with this fall.
The Huskies advanced to the state semifinals last year for the first time since 1996, and they were competitive in the semifinal loss to Thompson.
But last year’s accolades win no games in 2024, so Hewitt will have to start from scratch once again.
“We’ve got some guys that we had to replace,” said Josh Floyd, who enters his 11th year as the head coach at Hewitt. “We had a really good senior class last year that did a lot for this program.”
Floyd feels as if his Huskies are being discounted a little because of how much production was lost. His guys seem to be using that as motivation entering the fall.
“I think we have a really good group that is returning, that wants to do something this year, that has a little bit of a chip on their shoulder,” he said.
OFFENSE
With Juan Johnson taking the head coaching job at Baker, Ethan Carroll joins the Huskies as the offensive coordinator. While there is no mistaking that it is Floyd’s offensive system being run, he said Carroll has brought plenty to the table.
The first order of business will be finding a new quarterback following the graduation of Peyton Floyd. Senior Noah Dobbins appears ready to step in and take the reins.
“I’ve been really pleased. He’s waited his turn, he’s been patient,” Floyd said.
Parker Floyd, one of the Huskies’ top linebackers, could also get some time at quarterback.
Up front, Mason Holloway is the leader of the offensive line at tackle. He’s one of the strongest players on the team
and will even get some snaps on defense. Nate Brisco played tight end last year but is moving to the line. Jackson Webb, Joshua Moore, Jackson Reeves and D’Ante Pickett are names to watch as well.
Junior running backs Deuce Alston and James Kelly are set for a breakout season out of the backfield. Josh Floyd called them both “home run threats” who can catch the ball as well. Freshman running back CJ Davis, son of former Auburn star Chris Davis, is knocking on the door as well.
At receiver, Jacob Serena and Dylan Cope were extremely productive last fall and return. The duo combined for more than 100 catches on the year. Cooper Langston started a few games last fall and should take a step forward.
Floyd also mentioned tight end Jackson Martin, as the Huskies replace all-state player Donovan Price at that spot.
DEFENSE
Hewitt-Trussville gets its top two tacklers back this fall, in linebackers Parker Floyd and Owen Robinson, as the Huskies have a strong nucleus returning on that side of the ball.
Drew Ollis returns along the defensive line, and Josh Floyd expects him to provide consistency and leadership up front. Sophomore D’ante Seals has garnered plenty of offers and could become a household name this fall at defensive end.
“We’ve had some good ones come through here with Hunter Osborne, Tyrell Averhart, Justice Finkley, but he’s his own guy,” Josh Floyd said. “He’s a little bit of all those guys.”
Look for the likes of Baasel Al-Absi, Cooper Huffman and others to make an impact on the line as well.
In the secondary, Michael Igbinoghene is a four-star prospect with offers from some of the best schools in the country. He is heading into his third year as a starter for the Huskies.
Will Phillips had a strong sophomore season, setting him up for another step forward in the back end
of the defense as well. Tyler Wilson, Hayden Chauvin, Caden Ali and Ethan Ridley are players to watch in the secondary.
Floyd also mentioned Owen Sewell and DeNarrius Crawford as players with strong offseasons who almost certainly will factor into the mix.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Huskies are looking to find a new kicker this fall, with Colton Argo among the newcomers hoping to grab that starting role.
Ollis was the team’s punter last year and could easily slot into that spot once again. Dane McIlwain is a senior who is in the running to take over as the long snapper.
SCHEDULE
Hewitt-Trussville begins the season with a pair of non-region home games, hosting J.A.G. and Gadsden City before rushing into Class 7A, Region 3 action with a trip to Vestavia Hills.
The Huskies will host Hoover and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa ahead of a road trip to non-region Pinson Valley in the middle of the season.
Hewitt-Trussville travels to Thompson, hosts Prattville and Oak Mountain and plays at Tuscaloosa County to conclude region play. The Huskies take their open date the final week of the regular season ahead of a potential playoff run.
Looking for more high school football? Subscribe to the Under the Lights podcast and newsletter and follow us on social media by scanning the QR code.
Dylan Cope (4)
Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney
Owen Robinson (30)
Photo by James Nicholas
UNDER THE LIGHTS: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Cougars navigating changes following state title
By KYLE PARMLEY
Human nature is to become complacent following the achievement of a goal.
That’s what the Clay-Chalkville High School football team will battle this fall. The Cougars won the Class 6A state championship for the fourth time in program history last fall, putting together an undefeated campaign that included a thrilling victory over Saraland in the state final.
But there is enough change surrounding the program that complacency should be easy to kick aside. Stuart Floyd has been promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach, after Drew Gilmer took the head job at Hoover High.
Floyd is no stranger to Clay-Chalkville, having guided the program to the 1999 state title as quarterback, and he’s now in his second stint on the coaching staff. He was previously head coach at Mortimer Jordan in 2021 before returning to his alma mater, and he’s excited about the possibilities ahead of his 2024 team.
“We’ve basically got five or six on both sides that are returning, and then you’ve got four or five that you’ve got to fill in. But I think they’re getting better every day,” Floyd said.
A handful of top college prospects have graduated and moved on to the next step, so opportunity abounds for the next wave of Cougars to become impact players.
“You have enough pieces to run it back again, but at the same time, you have a big bullseye on your chest because of what you’ve accomplished,” Floyd said. “To me, this team’s completely different from what we just had.”
OFFENSE
Floyd will maintain control of the offense, a unit that has consistently been one of the state’s best for much of the last
decade.
Aaron Frye is set to take the reins after Jaylen Mbakwe piloted the offense last fall. Mbakwe, an elite defensive prospect now at the University of Alabama, moved to quarterback out of necessity for the Cougars. But Frye is a more prototypical signal caller. He gave everyone a glimpse of his potential, subbing in for an injured Mbakwe and shining in a playoff game last fall.
“He’s only going to get better the more reps he gets,” Floyd said.
Frye will have several experienced receivers at his disposal, with the likes of Corey Barber, Marlon Compton and Kumar Robinson back on the outside. Jabari Staples is a receiver and tight end who has played some as well.
In the backfield, Aaron Osley returns after a productive 2023 campaign. He will be joined by Pinson Valley transfer Joshua Woods, with Isaiah Miles and Aaron Robinson knocking on the door.
The offensive line has some question marks, with Jayden Jones the only returner at left tackle. Armon Boswell transferred from Pinson Valley and should contribute. Tavaris Powell, Antonio Powell and Evin Harris are among the other players who have stood out.
DEFENSE
The Clay-Chalkville defense was stout last season, and the Cougars will hope to continue that trend again this fall.
The defensive line should certainly be a strength, with plenty of experience returning. Patrick Smith has several college offers, and Randell Cole has played plenty of varsity football. Colton McIntyre is a sophomore nose guard who looks to be a big part of that unit as well.
Nakarius Allen will step into a big role in the middle of the
unit, as the Cougars are replacing Auburn-bound DJ Barber at linebacker.
“He’s an SEC-caliber player. He’s super athletic, has a great motor and played a lot of football last year,” Floyd said of Allen.
Ja’Carlos Hunter, Isaiah Brown, TK Slaughter and Keith Richmond are among the players looking to step up and resolve one of the team’s biggest question marks.
Deon Callins at cornerback and Xavier Starks at safety are two players in the secondary, each returning starters with college offers. Christon Black and Brayden Butler are aiming to step into starting roles as well.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Clay-Chalkville recruited Joseph Del-Toro off the soccer field in hopes that he could provide the Cougars with a solid kicker. Floyd said he has become comfortable kicking field goals and is constantly improving on kickoffs.
The Cougars have no shortage of kick return options, with guys like Compton, Miles and Josh Douthard leading the pack so far.
SCHEDULE
There are some new faces with the Cougars in Class 6A, Region 6, but the schedule is certainly not any lighter.
Clay-Chalkville will open the season with non-region games against Hueytown and Ramsay. The Cougars will travel to Thompson, the site of their most high-profile win last year, in the middle of the season. They will wrap up the regular season with a trip to 7A power Vestavia Hills.
In region play, the Cougars will travel to Pell City, Oxford and Pinson Valley. They will host Shades Valley, Mountain Brook and Huffman.
Aaron Frye (14)
Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney
Corey Barber (10)
Photo by James Nicholas
SPORTS
Local teen to compete in 2024 Paralympics Paris-bound
By BLAIR MOORE
This month, Trussville teen Zion Redington will represent the United States at the Paralympic Games in Paris. At age 18, he is the youngest player on the USA wheelchair rugby team by more than a decade.
Redington’s aggressive style of play and determination have earned him international recognition and playing opportunities. In 2022, Under Armour featured Redington as “an athlete no one saw coming” and invited him to their world headquarters. Now, he is determined to help his team win a gold medal this summer.
Wheelchair rugby, also known as “Murderball,” is designed for players who have a loss of function in at least three limbs and want to compete in a highly active, physical sport. While Redington was playing wheelchair basketball at age 9, a coach noticed his athletic talent and invited him to try wheelchair rugby. He was so much younger than all of the other players that it wasn’t his favorite at first, but getting to slam into other wheelchairs was enough for him to stick with it, Redington said.
Redington said he is still processing the fact that he was one of 16 players named to Team USA, which is a privilege he does not take lightly.
“It's absolutely a joy to be able to represent my country and people with disabilities as part of the Paralympic movement,” he said. “But it's also an honor. It’s a push for due diligence of doing your best, making sure that you're in your best shape physically, mentally, emotionally, even spiritually so you’re at your absolute peak when you go to the games.”
Redington was adopted from China at 2 years old. His mother, Heather Redington-Whitlock, remembers seeing his photo for the first time.
“It was love at first sight,” she said. One of Redington’s sisters, Zoë, was also adopted through foster care.
Redington has a genetic deficiency called ectrodactyly that caused him to be born with one finger on each hand and one pinkie toe on each foot. When he was 6 years old, his mom, in consultation with his doctors, decided to amputate his feet so he could have greater mobility.
Until that time, he had spent many months in full leg casts because he had broken the bones in his feet multiple times. Since he started using prosthetics and a wheelchair, Redington has been able to try adaptive running, cycling, climbing, field events, swimming, surfing, sledding and hockey.
As an adaptive athlete, Redington is classified to play each sport based on factors such as range of motion and physical health. Each player is classified by points, and only a certain number of points are allowed to be represented in a game at once, informing coaches’ decisions on starting lineups and substitutions.
In wheelchair rugby, Redington is classified as a 3.5, which indicates the highest level of functional ability. He is
an offensive player. Redington’s nicknames from Coach Joe Delgrave, a former two-time Paralympian, include “Zion the Lion” and “Thunder.”
Redington played on a wheelchair rugby team in Nashville until it dissolved, then he started commuting to Birmingham each week to play on the Lakeshore Foundation’s Demolition team. A year and a half ago, his family decided to move to Trussville to be closer to the Lakeshore Foundation, a world-renowned training facility for athletes with physical disabilities.
He has previously made the National Team and played in France, Denmark and Canada, as well as participating in the 2023 Parapan American Games in Chile, where Team USA won gold.
When Redington got the call that he’d made the Paralympic team, his mother couldn’t contain her joy and started throwing gold confetti she’d had ready just in case. His family’s support has been a crucial part of his Paralympic journey. From moving across states to raising support to help cover costs like his $13,000 wheelchair, Redington said he appreciates the sacrifices his family has made for his sport.
“My family’s support means everything,” he said. “They are my number one supporters. They're the people who've been with me in the mountains and valleys. They've been through it all, and it’s so great that my parents will be in Paris with me.”
A rising high school senior, Redington is homeschooled so he has time to train and travel. He is considering finance as his major in college and has narrowed his choices down to his top two colleges: University of Michigan and Auburn University.
His advice to aspiring young athletes on achieving their dreams is this: “One, don’t give up — no matter what. Two, do it — even when you don’t want to. Nike says it phenomenally—’just do it.’ And three, always look back at what you’ve done because you will learn from it. Whether it was a success or failure, you’ll find something to learn from it,” he said.
The Paralympics start Aug. 28, and wheelchair rugby competitions last from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2. CNBC, NBC and USA will air certain events, and the streaming service Peacock will air all 22 Paralympic events. Learn more at paralympic.org.
Above: Team USA’s Zion Redington (center) will compete with Team USA’s Paralympic wheelchair rugby team during the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris. Photo courtesy of Melanie Butez. Left: Heather RedingtonWhitlock, Mark Whitlock, Zoë Redington and Zion Redington. Photo courtesy of the Redington family.
Longtime Hewitt-Trussville coach inducted into national hall of fame
By GARY LLOYD
The state capital’s airport may have been small, but the trip was a big one.
Longtime Hewitt-Trussville head football coach Jack Wood was announced as an inductee into the National High School Athletics Coaches Association Hall of Fame in June. He attended the induction ceremony in Bismarck, N.D. — his first trip to the state.
“It was nice,” Wood said. “Good people. Really good people up there. It was a good trip and [I was] honored to go.”
Terry Curtis, the longtime UMS-Wright head football coach who serves as president of the Alabama Football Coaches Association, told Wood, the association’s executive director, that he was being nominated.
“They assured me this would be happening and, of course, I got on him,” Wood joked. “I said, ‘Terry, it’s my job to be doing this stuff for the coaches, not them doing it for me.’ So, that was nice. I didn’t know about it until it was already done, and I’m not good at surprises. I told somebody while I was up there — I think it was the director from Texas — I said, ‘This is the kind of stuff you and I are supposed to be doing for our coaches.’ We laughed and I said, ‘I feel like I’m giving myself my own birthday party.’”
He joked, of course, but when the realization set in that he was being inducted into a national hall of fame, he was grateful.
When the news came out, text messages and calls poured in. Coaches and former players honored Wood’s induction on July 12 at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in Birmingham.
“It’s just been overwhelming,” Wood said. “To hear back from former players, that’s the best part. I’ve answered every one of them personally if I could, a lot of them, and I’m not complaining. I still preach this — I still get on my soapbox some, being around coaches — but at the end of the day, it’s what your players think of you now. That’s it. It’s not the Ws and Ls. It’s what they think of you now. I think the best part now of all this is my relationship with the players and what they think now. You’re not going to win them all, but I love my players and I tell them that every time I see them, and they tell me that. That’s the best part, and that’s been the best part of this. No doubt.”
“Very humbled,” Wood said. “I mean that. And surprised. Any time you attach ‘national’ on something, it gets your attention. Very appreciative.”
Wood, who grew up in Wetumpka, graduated from Auburn University in 1973 and subsequently began his coaching career at nearby Auburn High School. He remained there for a decade, spending about half the time as the varsity football team’s defensive coordinator. In 1983, he was hired as the Hewitt-Trussville head football coach, where he accumulated a 141-78 record over the next 19 seasons. His teams made the playoffs 14 of those seasons. The 1992 team, which finished 12-3, played for the Class 6A state championship, the Huskies’ only appearance in the ultimate game in school history. Wood was named Coach of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association that year.
UNDER THE LIGHTS UNDER THE LIGHTS
Former Hewitt-Trussville football coach Jack Wood, right, talks with Jeff Williams, center, who coached with Wood from 1992-96, and Dwight Buzbee, his Auburn college roommate, during a reception honoring Wood with friends and family for his induction into the National High School Athletics Coaches Association Hall of Fame in June. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
COMMUNITY
‘It
makes us feel like teenagers’
Hay is in the barn for local bluegrass band
By GARY LLOYD
In a red barn behind a Linden Street home in Trussville, the music makes the lightning bugs dance.
Wednesday Night Special, a five-piece band, converges on that midweek night to play bluegrass, country and rock classics. Sometimes, they practice their original songs.
The band, made up of Trussville residents Jean Cox, Jason Throneberry, Keith Davis and Brett Martin, as well as Birmingham resident Spence Overton, started playing just over two years ago in Cox’s backyard at Sunday afternoon get-togethers for their kids. Cox began singing along as the rest played their instruments. She’s spent the last couple years learning to play the guitar.
Cox sings and plays the guitar. Overton also plays the guitar. Throneberry is on bass, Davis strums the mandolin and Martin plays guitar and harmonica. As for their day jobs, Cox sells building materials and is a member of the Friends of Pinchgut Creek in Trussville. Overton works with the Freshwater Land Trust, Throneberry works for The Nature Conservancy, Davis is a nurse at Children’s of Alabama and Martin works as an erosion sediment control inspector.
The backyard jam sessions, or the ones under Throneberry’s carport, posed some issues. Kids on skateboards flying between band members. Dogs jumping on them. The kids playing along. All of that is just life, just fun, but when the five-member band began to get serious about playing gigs, they had to find somewhere to escape. Enter the red barn, owned by the Nabers family.
“The smell of this barn to me is like the smell of ‘It’s time to make music,’” Cox said. “I love every smell in the barn.”
The barn is a sensory jackpot. The band faces an orange Kubota LA1065, a large tractor that dominates most of the floor space. Cox strums an acoustic guitar by its detached deck. Overton plays his guitar by a Kubota zero-turn lawnmower. They all try not to trip over their wires. There is a table saw and rusted vice on a work bench beside a Kobalt tool chest.
Metal shelves hold various liquids that running a large tractor and other outdoor equipment require. There are oil filters, ladders and boxes. A can of Fix-A-Flat is
one bumped shoulder away from falling to the floor. The walls are insulated with spray foam, creating a lovely space to jam when the doors are rolled down.
“I love it,” Davis said. “[The Nabers family] has been so generous just to let us come in here. At first I’m like, ‘Are they sure they’re OK with this?’ Especially when we start plugging in just because there’s a noise factor there, and when it starts getting late, I start getting a little more self-conscious about it. But you know what, when they come and they post up outside and just get into it and start clapping and having a good time, that’s awesome for us.”
Throneberry, an Arkansas native, feels at
home in a barn.
“This was my growing up,” he said. “There was always this in my life. There was a shed, a barn, a quiet place. This is our kind of quiet space, and it’s got great acoustics, which is weird for just a tin barn with a lot of insulation, but mostly this is just a space where they’re nice enough to just let us come.”
Wednesday Night Special’s first gig was this spring. The group has played in Shelby, at Cahaba Brewing Company, in Leeds and its first hometown gig at Trussville’s Rodney Scott’s BBQ location in June.
“I think it was a resounding success,” Martin said after the Trussville gig. “It was
awesome. I love the amount of people that were here. We’re kind of a new group, too, so it’s comfortable for us. Rodney Scott’s BBQ is amazing. They’re always super supportive. I think it went very well.”
Throneberry, like Davis, Overton and Martin, played a lot of music growing up, in orchestras, churches and garages.
“It makes us feel like teenagers,” Throneberry said. “That’s kind of probably why we do it. It gives us time to not only play music, but to have quiet time and talk about stuff we care about with each other. And now, I mean, we’ve become like we’re brothers and sisters at this point. Nobody quits or has egos. We’re all like-minded people. Nobody really wants to stand out. We just all want to do something very well.”
“I just want to play music,” Overton said. “So, the more times we can do that, I’ll be happy. I’ll go wherever we have to go. I’m really happy. We’re all very inspired to play music.”
Above: Members of the Wednesday Night Special bluegrass band, left to right: Spence Overton on guitar, Jason Throneberry on bass, Jean Cox on guitar and vocals, Keith Davis on mandolin, and Brett Martin on guitar, rehearse in a local barn June 19. Left: Brett Martin plays harmonica. Photos by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
COMMUNITY
Four-mile interstate project to begin on segment of 1-59
By GARY LLOYD
The Alabama Department of Transportation is launching a significant infrastructure project aimed at revitalizing and expanding a segment of Interstate 59 in Jefferson County.
The approximately four-mile project will stretch from the I-459 interchange in Birmingham to Chalkville Mountain Road in Trussville. The project begins west of I-459 near Edwards Lake Road and ends north of Jefferson County 10.
Bids were scheduled to be opened in July, with a start date this fall. It is expected to be completed in the spring of 2026.
The primary goal of the project is to address the deteriorating condition of the roadway while simultaneously increasing its capacity to accommodate modern traffic demands. With the roadway originally constructed and opened to traffic in the mid1970s, the aging infrastructure has reached a point where a comprehensive overhaul is necessary, according to ALDOT. The existing concrete substructure, overlaid with asphalt multiple times over the past five decades, is
now beyond repair.
The main feature of the project is removing and replacing the existing roadway pavement. This includes both the northbound and southbound lanes, which will be reconstructed and
Cahaba River Tree Trail unveiled
By GARY LLOYD
The Friends of Pinchgut Creek recently unveiled the Cahaba River Tree Trail, a 3/4-mile educational hiking trail in the Trussville Sports Complex area.
The trail, which begins at 4650 Riverbend Road in Trussville, was made possible with support from Alabama Scenic River Trail and the Cahaba River Society.
The trees along the trail are part of a riparian forest, the name for a wooded area next to a river or stream. These forests help protect
waterways and their inhabitants by lowering water temperatures, reducing sediment and stabilizing stream banks. This riparian forest helps to protect part of the headwaters of the Cahaba River, one of the most biologically diverse waterways in the world.
The trail includes 22 signed trees, each of which has a QR code that, when scanned with a smartphone, directs hikers to a website with tree facts and identification features.
For more information about Friends of Pinchgut Creek or the trail, visit pinchgut. org or email cahabatrees@outlook.com.
expanded to incorporate an additional lane in each direction. The new configuration will transform the current four-lane roadway into a six-lane thoroughfare, with each lane measuring 12 feet wide and complemented
by 12-foot shoulders. Notably, this expansion will occur within the existing median, ensuring that no additional right-of-way is required.
The project will also address the interchange ramps at Chalkville Mountain Road, enhancing traffic flow and safety, according to ALDOT. Additionally, slab repairs will be conducted on I-459 from the I-59 interchange to Exit 32, further improving the structural integrity and longevity of the roadway.
Both bridge decks on I-59 over Edwards Lake Road will be replaced. Intermittent lane closures on Edwards Lake Road will be necessary to facilitate this work. Comprehensive improvements will also be made to the drainage systems, roadway striping, lighting and signage.
ALDOT plans to implement staged construction, ensuring that at least one lane of traffic in each direction will remain open throughout the project’s duration. Nighttime lane closures will be scheduled during offpeak hours to reduce the impact on daily commuters.
For more information, visit i59trussville. com.
A new project by the Alabama Department of Transportation spans a four-mile area from the I-459 interchange in Birmingham to Chalkville Mountain Road in Trussville. Map courtesy of ALDOT.
A map details the length of the Cahaba River Tree Trail that was unveiled by the Friends of Pinchgut Creek in the Trussville Sports Complex area in June.
Photo by Gary Lloyd.
EVENTS
Trussville Public Library events guide
Mondays and Thursdays: Yarn Manglers. Mondays 6-7:30 p.m., Thursdays 2-4 p.m. Knitters and crocheters, join for fellowship and creativity. Ages 18 and older.
Aug. 1: Red Cross Blood Drive. 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Every unit we donate at our blood drive can help save up to three lives. Ages 17 and older; 16-year-olds can donate with parent permission.
Aug. 3: Adult Book Club. 2-3 p.m. An Adult Book Club focusing on books from a variety of genres. From fantasy to contemporary fiction and everything in between, come join us at the library on the first Saturday of every month. This month’s title is “To Sleep in a Sea of Stars” by Christopher Paolini. Ages 18 and older.
Aug. 5: Crafty Collective: Morse Code Bracelets. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Make a bracelet using long and short beads to spell out a secret message in Morse code. The library will provide supplies. Registration required. Ages 18 and older.
Aug. 6: Friends of the Trussville Library. 11 a.m. to noon. The Friends of the Trussville Library support library staff by
providing extra hands for special events and money for programs and prizes. Ages 18 and older.
Aug. 12: Garden Workday. 9-10:30 a.m. Help keep our butterfly garden healthy and happy. Ages 18 and older.
Aug. 12: Learn to Crochet. 6-7:45 p.m. Come learn the basic crochet techniques and make a washcloth. Ages 18 and older.
Aug. 12: Books and Brews. 7:15-8:30 p.m. An evening Adult Book Club meeting at Ferus Artisan Ales. This month’s title is “Wicked” by Gregory Maguire. Ages 18 and older.
Aug. 13: Life Skills for Teens — Freshman 101. 6-7 p.m. Representatives from UAB will be joining us to discuss topics that students need to know before they enroll in college. Grades 9-12.
Aug. 15: Understanding Medicare. 1-2 p.m. Educational seminar about Medicare options. Ages 18 and older.
Aug. 15: Life Skills for Teens — Understanding
Financial Aid. 6-7 p.m. Representatives from UAB will be joining us to discuss financial aid options. Grades 9-12.
Aug. 16: Classic Cinema. 2-4 p.m. Come watch classic movies in the library auditorium. On the third Friday of every month, we'll be showing a movie released before 1970. Popcorn and snacks will be provided. This month’s movie is “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Registration is required. Ages 18 and older.
Aug. 20: Life Skills for Teens — Financial Literacy. 6-7 p.m. Join us as representatives from Bryant Bank talk about relevant financial topics for teens. Grades 9-12.
Aug. 24: Totally Rad ‘80s Prom Dinner Theater. 6-9 p.m. Join these totally tubular teens and far out faculty for a night of mullets and mayhem. Dinner of BBQ chicken, brisket, mac-ncheese, baked beans, coleslaw and dessert will be included with your $30 ticket. ‘80s-era attire encouraged. Tickets go on sale July 15. Ages 18 and older.
Aug. 27: Life Skills for Teens — Safety and Awareness. 6-7 p.m. Learn about how to stay safe from the Trussville Police Department. Grades 9-12.
Class of 1964 holds 60-year reunion
By GARY LLOYD
Some came from just down the street. Some came all the way from Missouri.
But it was clear that the couple dozen members of Hewitt-Trussville High School’s class of 1964, regardless of their point of origin, wanted to be there.
The Hewitt-Trussville High class of 1964 held its 60-year reunion in late June in Trussville, first meeting up at Heritage Hall to look at old class photos, peruse yearbooks and catch up on life events. The highlight, of course, was walking a few hundred feet to Cahaba Elementary School, their former high school building, and rediscovering some memories.
“Coming back to this school is always very special for me,” said Doug Purcell, who has called Eufaula home for 52 years. “A lot of memories. It’s great to be back here with my classmates on our 60th anniversary. I look forward to seeing most of them, if not all of them, in five more years.”
Mary Biggs came from St. Louis to talk with old friends and walk those halls again. She told a story of her time learning ballet and finally deciding, as a sophomore, to become a majorette. She worked hard, learning to twirl that baton.
“But it was so much fun,” she said. “It was a fun thing to do.”
Mike Larson, like many of his classmates,
“I love this school, love this town, love its people. Its people have really made this town what it is, and I think we all agree that it is a very, very special place to grow up, to live and to raise our children.
JUDY
LITTLEFIELD
”The HewittTrussville High School class of 1964 recently had its 60-year reunion.
grew up in Trussville before leaving home for college.
“It’s the greatest town for any small boy to grow up in,” he said. “It’s really great being here at the reunion, seeing people who look just about the same as they did before. That’s kind of nice. We’re not necessarily aging that bad.”
Richard Kimbrell said the class of 1964
graduation ceremony could not be held inside the school and was moved to the nearby football stadium because the school was host to a large crowd that came to see George Wallace, the Alabama governor who at the time was challenging Lyndon B. Johnson for the Democratic nomination for president.
“Nobody came to see us walk across that stage,” Kimbrell joked. “But it was fun. Going to school here was a great
experience, and I am so glad they have preserved this building.”
Judy Littlefield echoed Kimbrell, saying that it was great to see the school’s heritage had been honored for all these years.
“I’m just really happy to be here today,” she said. “I love this school, love this town, love its people. Its people have really made this town what it is, and I think we all agree that it is a very, very special place to grow up, to live and to raise our children.”
Photo by Gary Lloyd.
Southern Musings By Gary Lloyd
A brand new ballgame
A decade ago, I’d be at a couple baseball games a week.
I would bring two printed rosters, a three-subject college-ruled notebook, three black-ink pens, a tape recorder and Lord knows what else. I remember freezing to a Gardendale High School bleacher at a doubleheader in April 2014, sweltering in a duckblind of a press box at Pinson Valley High School and withstanding a thrown cap to the back of the neck from a fan who didn’t even have a son on the team.
As a full-time reporter who covered it all — Monday school board meetings, Tuesday city council meetings, Wednesday business stories, Thursday crime — pulling up a press box chair or sliding onto a cold bleacher seat felt like a one-night vacation.
Now that I infrequently freelance, I make it to fewer high school baseball games. Maybe one per year, if that. This February, I trekked to Briarwood Christian School to see Hewitt-Trussville High School take on
the Lions in search of head coach Jeff Mauldin’s 700th career win. Naturally and predictably, my attendance jinxed him. Briarwood, no stranger to great baseball, won. Superstitions in baseball? Who knew?
But that night, there to cover something that would have happened after the seven innings finished, I spent the game scribbling some observations, fewer stats and generally keeping my notebook closed. I watched a man salute, statue-still, during the National Anthem. A Briarwood student, somehow appearing unfazed by the nerves that come with it, sang that Anthem beautifully. I watched Hewitt-Trussville’s Grayson Pope, injured in June 2023 during a thunderstorm, shake hands and chat with Briarwood head coach Steve Renfroe. A
Lloyd
woman, maybe a parent or teacher, sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
Despite my reason for attending the game not coming to fruition, it was worthwhile. I took a photo of a dipping sun over a Briarwood player taking swings in the batting cage, and while I am no photographer, I am proud of it. I got to catch up with a few folks I hadn’t seen in a while. I got to watch baseball without the stress of painstakingly keeping statistics and constantly tweeting updates. I didn’t get hit in the back of the neck by a flung cap.
The game was sloppy yet competitive, slow yet compelling. Briarwood won, 7-6. Sidebar: Why must we speed up baseball games at the Major League level? Why do you want to go home sooner? Have you watched baseball? I
want more, not less.
Anyway, neither the Lions nor Huskies quit on that game in February. The game truly meant nothing for playoff positioning — it was only Hewitt-Trussville’s seventh game of the 2024 season, and the programs compete in different classifications — and Hewitt-Trussville subsequently reeled off six straight wins and proved victorious in 12 of its next 13 games without me staring down from a top bleacher seat. I suppose Coach Mauldin prefers I stay home. Those superstitions, you know?
Now that I can finally, after years of staring into a book of stats during games and flipping through roster pages, keep my eye literally on the ball, I don’t know that I can stay away. I suppose it’s a brand new ballgame these days.
I think I like it.
Gary Lloyd is the author of six books and a contributing writer to the Cahaba Sun.
