Discover The Essence of St. Clair April and May 2023

Your Stay. Your Way.

If you could close your eyes and picture that ideal getaway, what does it look like?

Is it relaxing under the stars in the dreamiest glamping tent? Maybe it’s sipping a glass of rosé on the porch of an adorable cottage watching the boats go by? Or embrace your inner cowboy, cozied up in a covered wagon? Maybe you just can’t wait to pull in your RV and soak in an beautiful sunset view? When you picture that perfect lakeside getaway, consider Angler’s Pointe your destination. Prepare to be entertained in The Yard, enjoy a little retail therapy at The Exchange, or get in on the action at the pickle ball court or the water obstacle course. Whether you’re looking to live large or take things slow, Angler’s Pointe is your little homeplace on the lake. Coming soon, now under construction.

From cottages to glamping to luxury covered wagons to RV lots, experience a unique vacation that’s perfect for you.

Rooney Free, 9 and a third grader at Steele Elementary, explores the wonders of the water at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville. Photo by Mackenzie Free.

SPECIAL CAR SALE RATES APRIL 14-15

NUMEROUS LOCAL DEALERS!

Join us as we partner with local dealers for our 13TH ANNUAL Car Sale Event. We will have a team onsite to assist with questions and financing. The two-day event is happening at BOTH of our Sylacauga locations, Hwy 280 and Broadway - but don’t forget we can also help with your auto re-financing needs at any of our five locations from April 1-30. Trust us - you don’t want to miss this opportunity! Get pre-approved today by calling, visiting us online, or coming by one of our branches.

Writers AND Photographers

Carol Pappas

Carol Pappas is editor and publisher of Discover St. Clair Magazine. A retired newspaper executive, she served as editor and publisher of several newspapers and magazines during her career. She won dozens of writing awards and was named Distinguished Alabama Community Journalist at Auburn University. She serves as president/CEO of Partners by Design, which publishes Discover and LakeLife 24/7 Magazine®.

Roxann Edsall

Roxann Edsall is a freelance writer and former managing editor of Convene Magazine, a convention industry publication. She has a degree in (broadcast) journalism from the University of Southern Mississippi, worked as a television news reporter in Biloxi and as a reporter and assignments editor in Birmingham.

David Smith

David Smith aka BamaDave, is originally from Birmingham. He and his wife Renee made Logan Martin Lake their home 19 years ago. He is a freelance photographer, videographer and professional drone pilot. He has worked for ESPN’s College GameDay Show for the last 25 years as a cameraman and for the last 4 years as the drone pilot. He has won 12 Emmys with the show and was ESPN’s first drone pilot. David is also the owner of Spider Be Gone of Alabama.

Mackenzie Free

Mackenzie Free is an experienced and nationally published photographer with a bachelor of fine arts degree. She is a Birmingham native now cultivating life on a farm in Steele with her husband & 4 daughters.

Graham

Graham Hadley is the managing editor and designer for Discover The Essence of St. Clair Magazine and also manages the magazine website. Along with Carol Pappas, he left The Daily Home as managing editor to become vice president of the Creative Division of Partners by Design multimedia company.

Scottie Vickery is a writer with a degree in journalism from the University of Alabama and was a reporter for The Birmingham News Her first assignment was covering St. Clair and Blount counties. She has more than 30 years of writing and editing experience and her work has appeared in a variety of publications. She also has worked in the nonprofit industry.

Linda Long

Linda Long has worked in communications for more than 25 years in print, broadcast, nonprofit promotion and event planning and implementation. Her writing has appeared in publications across the state. She served as news and special projects producer for NBC13 News, where her work won national, regional and state honors, including two Emmy Award nominations.

Robert Debter was raised on his family’s Hereford farm in Blount County and previously served as vice president of the Blount County Historical Society. He has been the archive director of the Ashville Museum & Archives since May 2016 and traces three branches of his ancestry to St. Clair County in 1820.

Paul South

Paul South, a native of Fairfield, is an Auburn graduate with a degree in journalism and a double minor in history. He also has a Juris Doctorate degree from the Birmingham School of Law. Although sports writing was always his first love, he had a versatile career as reporter, columnist and first full-time sports information director at Samford University.

Joe Whitten

Joe Whitten was born in Bryant on Sand Mountain. When he arrived in Odenville in 1961 to teach at St. Clair County High School, he found a place to call home. Joe was active in the Alabama Writers’ Conclave and the Alabama State Poetry Society. The society named him Poet of the Year in 2000. Joe has also published several local history books.

Scottie Vickery

Hadley

Robert Debter

From the Editor Did you know ... ? Amazing things

One of my greatest joys in journalism has been the notion of discovery – uncovering little known tidbits of knowledge. It could be history. It may be a place, a person or event. It’s that moment when you want to gently nudge a friend with your elbow and say, ‘Hey, look at this!’

When I sit down to edit the magazine’s stories, I get the urge quite often as anyone who walks by my computer at the time will attest. I can’t seem to harness the temptation to share my latest ‘discovery.’

Today, I’m editing in a room all alone, so humor me and let me just share a few of the discoveries found in this issue through my column instead of using my elbow.

A few months back, I met Larry Krantz, an 81-year-old retiree who I was told had a background in video editing. He was immediately drafted as a ‘volunteer’ for Museum of Pell City to help with our living history program. From the first moment I met him, I was mesmerized –not just by his talent and willingness to share – but by the quiet way he told his own story.

And it was quite the story. He was an apprentice photographer during the Civil Rights Movement and helped shoot Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral. He edited video for movies and television commercials. He worked for CNN, Turner Classic Movies, The Food Network, MGM and Apple. When I introduce him, I find myself prefacing it with one of those ‘Hey, look at this!’ moments.

The same holds true for historian Joe Whitten’s story on Rocky Zion Missionary Baptist Church – such a storied history with plenty of ‘did you know?’ nuggets. Fast forward to the future, and it looks like Moody just

ensured a bright one with a ribbon cutting on its brand new Kelly Creek Commerce Park, predicted to usher in a new era of prosperity and growth for the region.

Or how about the talk of the town – and the area?

The St. Clair and Tavern at The St. Clair have opened to rave reviews and packed restaurants, where their white tablecloth and casual dining are building a huge following in Pell City. From Ahi tuna to Wagyu beef to craft cocktails, cosmopolitan has come to town. Casually speaking, so has gourmet sandwiches, salads and appetizers.

Our Outdoors section has some discoveries of its own – kayaking, hiking and cycling are more than in vogue around these parts, they’re thriving in St. Clair County. So grab your hiking shoes, a paddle or a helmet and explore the great outdoors.

That’s not all, of course, in this issue of Discover, but I’ll give my metaphorical elbow a rest. Turn the page and discover it all with us!

Carol Pappas Editor and Publisher

Young Larry Krantz photo when he was photojournalist in Atlanta

Life in Pictures

Retiree reflects on storied career as photographer, video editor, teacher

Story by Paul South

Photos by Graham Hadley

Submitted Photos

Captivating photography – the elegant art of light and shadow – is also about timing. The same could be said of Lawrence Krantz’s fourscore plus one years on earth.

The Logan Martin Lake resident’s life may be the most compelling you’ve never heard of, taking him from his Atlanta hometown to Hollywood and into the eye of the righteous hurricane of the Civil Rights movement. It took him to the lightning-fast advancement of technology at Apple and making photos and films with phones.

He rubbed shoulders with icons – the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and legendary filmmaker Roger Corman. He snapped photos in the golden age of magazines for Life and Playboy, trained at Life and National Geographic and worked as a photojournalist for news agencies like the Associated Press and Black Star.

He chronicled national grief, photographing King’s 1968 funeral and influenced pop culture behind the scenes, as a film editor for a thenunknown chef, Alton Brown, on the upstart Food Network show, Good Eats.

Krantz, now 81, crossed paths with Henry Fonda on the MGM lot, came to know Richard Roundtree and worked on films like Sharky’s Machine and Blood of The Dragon.

When it comes to capturing light and shadow, Krantz, it seems, has seen it all.

“I’m just a guy who’s had some good opportunities,” he says. “And you know, I made

Harry Belafonte in a concert for the SCLC

Life in Pictures

something with it.”

Indeed, he did.

It all started with a box camera, a 13th birthday gift from an uncle and a chance encounter with a filmmaker at Isadore Krantz’s hardware store. As a kid, young Lawrence kept his ear tuned to the police radio. When a nearby house fire or other newsworthy event broke, the teen raced to the scene, snapping photos for The Atlanta Journal. Soon, with the Journal’s help, the teen was doing “ride alongs” with Atlanta police. He also shot local dances with his best friend.

“I was doing everything I could to make dollars so I could buy equipment,” he says. “My roots were photography, but I graduated to movies and television,” Krantz says.

While working in his dad’s hardware store in the early 1960s, he met the photo and magazine journalist and novelist William Diehl, eventually becoming his apprentice. The two worked together for the next two decades.

Diehl authored nine novels, including Sharky’s Machine and Primal Fear, both made into films. Krantz worked with Diehl and Burt Reynolds, the star and director of Sharky’s Machine. In fact, Krantz inspired a character called “Nosh” – Yiddish for “Eat” – in

Larry and Mary Esther Krantz

Steel worker in Atlanta

n “Julie is hands down the best of the best! She knows the business, has strong community connections, and treats her clients not only like friends but family.”

n “If you’re looking to buy or sell, Julie is 100% the agent you need.”

n “Julie is phenomenal! We’re so thankful we found her!”

n “I couldn’t say enough amazing things about Julie Luker if I tried! She is an incredible agent & made sure I never had a question unanswered!”

Life in Pictures

Sharky’s Machine. “Anybody that knows me knows I like to eat,” Krantz said.

“I worked on independent movies and became an editor for Bill,” Krantz recalled. “I loved it.”

But while he shared the MGM lot with Elvis and Fonda, craning his neck to look for Fonda’s Woody station wagon in its parking space, it was not glitz and glamor.

“We were there to work,” Krantz recalls. “At lunchtime, there were people who would stop by to see Bill and meet him. He garnered the notoriety.”

Still, for Krantz, it was a heady time. The pair often ate in the MGM commissary, rubbing shoulders with veteran actor James Hong, known today to a new generation of viewers for his roles in Seinfeld and The Big Bang Theory, as well as the director Roger Corman, who

Owner Randall Rollins serves Ace’s Sensation his favorite drink.

Taken in 1969 for Coke.

Larry working on Good Eats with Alton Brown

influenced noted directors Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, the late Peter Bogdanovich, Quentin Tarantino and Ron Howard.

Of Corman, Krantz says, “We knew Roger. He had this knack for making low-budget movies that made a lot of money. He was about making money.”

We would buy footage from events like speedboat races but hire different actors for close-up scenes. With the help of James Hong, Diehl bought a martial arts film from Hong Kong, looking to cash in the on martial arts madness of the 1970s.

“That’s what Bill wanted to do,” Krantz recalls. “He wanted to ride on the coattails of Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon.”

The result was a Diehl film called, Return of the Dragon, an overdubbed film without Bruce Lee, but with a low budget and big box office. Call the film a mix of Shane meets martial arts.

“Bill made a lot of money on that,” Krantz says.

Diehl and Krantz first worked together in Atlanta, in the early days of Atlanta magazine, where they collaborated with the late Southern novelist and Auburn alumna, Anne Rivers Siddons.

“They were great times,” Krantz says.

Caring for the children of Pell City since 1995.

We opened as Children’s of Alabama’s first stand-alone primary care practice and the first fully pediatric practice in St. Clair County. Pell City Pediatrics serves both sick and well patients ranging from newborns to 18 years of age in a welcoming, family-like environment with doctors and staff who have worked together for over 20 years.

Construction of Regency Hyatt Hotel in Atlanta. Larry documented the construction for Hyatt.

Life in Pictures

Executive for Rich’s Department Store Atlanta for Atlanta

Magazine.

Interesting thing is in this photo, the store detectives are watching this person in background for shoplifting.

The pair’s pre-Hollywood work in the 1960s took a different path. Krantz accompanied his mentor to south Georgia for the United States Information Agency, where they photographed young civil rights workers being trained to face the crackle and spark, verbal and physical abuse they would face in the segregated South.

“It changed my life,” Krantz says.

“Bill and Dr. King took a liking to each other, and Bill volunteered our services to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. That included all of us.”

Krantz dined twice at the King home in Atlanta. And he would walk with the famous and the everyday to King’s earthly resting place.

It was a small slice of Krantz’s remarkable career. But it was nonetheless important. The memories of “Whites Only” water fountains are burned in his memory.

“Growing up in Atlanta, it was very segregated like Birmingham. (The work) changed me.”

He remembers one meal, when he asked King why he tried so hard to achieve racial equality, when eventually it was going to happen.

“He said, ‘Larry, I would like to see it in my time and not in my grandchildren’s time.’ That I remember.”

Krantz has lived to see King’s dream move toward

President Nixon for Blackstar

Coretta Scott King, with Ralph D. Abernathy, at press conference, Atlanta, April 7, 1968

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. funeral procession

Life in Pictures

reality. “I feel very fortunate to have seen that,” he says.

Krantz and Diehl took different paths for a period, but the two would reunite in Atlanta for independent film work. He made award winning commercials at Jayan Productions with nationally known director Jimmy Collins. Later, Krantz would work for the Food Network, Turner Classic Movies and other television shows. After a four-year PBS show, Krantz joined Apple for more than a decade in the early days of digital photography and filmmaking. He still feels the excitement.

Now, even in retirement with his wife, Mary Esther, Krantz is at work, doing film editing for Dovetail Landing, a veteran residential community dedicated to transitioning veterans in Alabama located in Lincoln and for the new Museum of Pell City.

“I feel like I’ve been reawakened from my slumber. It’s exciting.” For Museum of Pell City, Krantz is helping edit interviews for its Living History program. He not only wants to celebrate the town’s past, but the present and future, training schoolchildren to become filmmakers with their seemingly ever-present Smartphone. For Krantz, there’s always another story to tell.

And of his life in light, shadow and time, “We were learning as we were going. I didn’t learn from school. I learned being in the trenches, on the job. And everything we did had to work. I was excited by that. I’ve had a great career,” he said.

“Life gives you opportunities, and when you get them, you have to go with them.” l

Lena Horne in another concert for SCLC

Bunnies from Atlanta Playboy Club cheering at a high school basketball game

Larry with a VHS copy of Blood of the Dragon

Traveling the BACKROADS

Ashville Centennial

As city celebrates 200 years, a look back a century ago

Ashville St. Clair Courthouse

Story by Robert Debter

Submitted Photos

On the heels of observing the bicentennial of Ashville, memories and remembrances of the centennial celebration, April 26, 1923, emerge.

The event was conceived as a tribute to the soldiers of St. Clair County, both living and deceased, who had fought in the War Between the States, also known as the American Civil War. The event was spearheaded by Ashville Chapter 1488 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and great care was given over to the preparation of the event, which would culminate in the unveiling of a marvelous marble statue, procured from the McNeel Company in Georgia at the cost of almost $2,500.

In the Feb. 23 edition of the Southern Aegis, owner B.B. Cather, vowed “... to do all it can to help the U.D.C. women pay for their monument and at once wishes to state that any subscriber who loves this paper and wants to help these women can settle with them court week. One half of every dollar paid to them on subscription, new or old for the Southern Aegis, in the next 30 days will be given to this organization or the Monument fund.”

Confederate monument next to the Ashville courthouse

Traveling the BACKROADS

The March 29th edition printed the following notice:

Unveiling Confederate Monument to St. Clair County Heroes celebrating Ashville Centennial, April 26th Public Cordially Invited

On the historic spot in Ashville where 62 years ago, the flower of St. Clair’s young manhood, marched forth to defend their homes and the sacred causes of the Confederacy, the Daughters of the Confederacy have erected a memorial to their loyalty, courage, and devotion. They have selected April 26th, (Memorial Day), for the day of unveiling. Few towns can boast of 100 years of existence, such is Ashville’s Birthday. The Daughters have been asked by prominent and former citizens of Ashville to include a centennial program in the day’s celebration, which they are glad to help plan.

A parade headed by a Brass Band, composed of school children, Daughters, Veterans, and floats representing each business in town will take place in the morning, following this will be a Centennial program at which time, Hon. James A. Embry, a lifelong Ashvillian will preside.

The principal address will be delivered by Hon. O.R. Hood of Gadsden, a former son of Ashville.

Sarah Virginia Inzer

The unveiling program will be held in the afternoon, at which time, Mrs. W.A. Beason, President of the Ashville Chapter U.D.C. and General Chairman of the day’s festivities will preside.

Principal address of the unveiling will be delivered by Mrs. E.L. Huey of Bessemer, State President U.D.C., gifted and beloved Alabamian.

The big event

Alongside the unveiling and celebrations, a grand homecoming was planned. Chairman Lillie (Phillips) Beason, wife of Dr W.A. Beason, and her publicity committee set to work and issued more than 500 invitations to reach veterans and their families, originally from Ashville, who had since relocated to other parts of Alabama and the country.

On March 5, the Aegis reported, “The Monument Committee who has charge of the day’s program are to be congratulated upon securing Col. Oliver R. Hood of Gadsden, a former son of Ashville, of whom we are justly proud to deliver the Centennial address. Hon. James A. Embry, one of

John Washington Inzer

Traveling the BACKROADS

Ashville’s most brilliant and prominent attorneys, whose life has been spent in this peaceful city, has accepted the committee’s invitation to preside.”

As the day approached everyone was encouraged to “... greet every visitor with a smile and a welcome – leave that frown off your face for Ten days and be what God intended you to be, a booster for the Home Comers.”

Undoubtedly on that April morning the old veterans, such as Judge John W. Inzer of Ashville and John Washington Laster Jr., of Springville, recalled their days of service and those whom they marched and fought alongside, saw torn by war and perish from cannon, rifle and saber, and those they suffered with in prisoner of war camps in Illinois and Ohio.

To a crowd of over 2,000, the monument was unveiled by Misses Mattie Lou Teague and Sally V. Inzer. It was reported that the proceedings “... will be long remembered by every person who attended. Ashville was beautifully bedecked with flags and bunting.”

As for the veterans, they “... were treated royally and they seem to have appreciated to the fullest extent all that was done in honor of their dead comrades.”

Remembering the words of General Douglas MacArthur in his farewell address to the cadets as West Point in 1962, “... [T]he soldier above all other people prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” l

Lillie (Phillips) Beason

Mattie Lou Teague Crow

John Washington Laster

Rocky Zion Missionary Baptist Church

More than 100 years of worship, community

Story by Joe Whitten

Submitted Photos

A sweeping driveway and parking lot lead one up to Rocky Zion Missionary Baptist Church’s brick sanctuary on 16th Street South in Pell City overlooking The Legacy Center and a community of interconnecting streets.

Before integration of schools, today’s Legacy Center was the location of the St. Clair County Training School, serving Black students locally as well as those from Moody, Margaret, and Ragland.

Today, no one knows how the name “Rocky Zion” was chosen, although one can speculate. In the Old Testament, “Zion” was another name for Jerusalem, the City of God. In the Christian era, Zion referred to the New Jerusalem, Heaven.

The old hymn, Marching to Zion, speaks of “marching upward to Heaven, the beautiful City of God. But how does “Rocky” come in? There does not seem to be a definitive answer but considering that the church was organized by freed slaves during the last year of Reconstruction in Alabama and scarcely 11 years after The Emancipation Proclamation was signed freeing some slaves, it could refer to the difficulties slaves and freed slaves faced in worshiping together. Those were hard years, and the roadway to declared freedom was rocky.

The name of the first pastor is unrecorded, but three of the early pastors were Rev. Dave Forman, Rev. Chester Beavers and Rev. Markus.

From oral history passed down and put into writing, the church was organized in Cook Springs in 1874. At this writing, no record has been located to indicate where in Cook Spring the church met. Older people there remember that both races attended Cook Springs Baptist during the first half of the 20th Century. One of Esta McLaughlin’s sons recalled his mother’s comment when integration came, “We’ve gone to church together all our lives, what’s the problem?”

From Cook Springs, the church moved to the Whitesville-Harrisburg area. Samford University’s Davis Library has copies of the Rushing Springs Baptist Association minutes which list Rocky Zion as located in Eden in 1892, for Eden was the post office location.

The church is listed in the 1893 and 1894 minutes as well. Membership with an association has been inconsistent over the years, according to Deacon Terry Young. Therefore, historical data is rather sporadic. This Whitesville-Harrisburg building burned on an undocumented date. It is believed Rev. Conner pastored the congregation.

A THIRD MOVE

This tragedy resulted in the church being moved to a third location, 16th Street South, Pell City. A Mrs. Pryor and perhaps other Whitesville citizens would walk from their homes across town to the new location. During the construction, the church met for worship at First Baptist South and for Sunday School in the home of Rev. M.C.

McCoy.

Written information regarding the church in Harrisburg has not been found. However, tombstones have been discovered near the church site. Some of the names that remain visible on the markers show the surnames, Willingham, Bradford, Shelton, Johnson, Murphy, Ware, Allen, Simmons and Foreman, who were possible ancestors of some members whose names are on the present church roll.

An old photograph shows this building’s foundation and basement being constructed of local rough fieldstone, perhaps in honor of the name “Rocky.” Traditionally, the stone was collected in a wagon with a loose board in the center. When the loaded wagon came up to the building site, men worked the loose board out and the rock fell to the ground. This type construction was used throughout the South in the early 20th Century.

We can perhaps establish that this third sanctuary was completed prior to 1917 because of a Birmingham News article, dateline “Pell City, Ala., June 2, [1917].” The article reports that the rally that the Pell City Black community held “…at Rocky Zion Baptist Church was a success Friday night. It was called by the Rev. A. J. Davis of the Baptist Church and supported by the Rev. L. J. Shelton, pastor of the Methodist Church. Both made addresses urging patriotic action and pledging the support in the prosecution of the war.” The United States entered World War I on April 4, 1917.

Rev. and Mrs. John Herd

Rocky Zion Missionary Baptist Church

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

When the wooden building was finished, Rocky Zion called Rev. Thomas to be the pastor. He served the church for approximately one year. After Rev. Thomas, the church called Rev. A.H. Lee, and under his 16 years of leadership, the membership increased, and the church flourished in the community.

Following Rev. Lee’s 16 years, Rev. Oscar Henry served approximately two years. However, the next pastor, Rev. S. L. Woods, served the church for 20 years. He shepherded his flock faithfully, and they responded to his leadership accordingly. The church’s brief written history states under Rev. Woods’ tenure, “The Church underwent major renovations. The membership greatly increased during this time. Members and friends enjoyed worship services on the first and third Sundays of the month.

Another brief, written history records that “Deacon Charles Crowe, Deacon Emmitt Brand, Deacon Johnnie Coleman, Deacon Roosevelt Shealey, Deacon Amos Avos and Deacon Joe Carter were ordained during Rev. Woods’ 20 years pastoring Rocky Zion Baptist Church.”

Those who remember Rev. Wood speak of him with great affection. “Rev. Woods baptized me, and he was the only pastor that I knew for years,” Peggy F. Threatt recalled. “We had an outside baptizing pool that was in

the ground, and you walked down into the pool. It was made of cement blocks and painted blue.

Verhonda Embry, Peggy’s sister, added, “We all grew up under Rev. Woods – everybody 60 and older grew up under his ministry. He was from Ragland and had a big family.”

Floyd Waites was mentored by Rev. Woods who encouraged him in his piano playing. For Floyd, playing “by ear” came naturally. He would hear a tune on the radio, go to the piano and play it. Gradually, he became proficient and accompanied Rocky Zion’s Children’s Choir. “Rev. Woods,” Floyd recollected, “liked for the Junior Choir to go with him when he preached at other churches. And I would go to play for them when they sang. Rev. Wood was an inspiring minister.”

After graduating from the St. Clair County Training School, Waites moved to New York City and became an established pianist in the churches of the city. In one church there, he met gospel singer Marie Knight, who admired his piano style and hired him as her accompanist. Floyd traveled with her to Spain and other European countries, accompanying her in concert.

“However,” Floyd confessed, “my heart was always in Pell City and Rocky Zion.” When he retired from working in the education system of New York, Floyd returned to Pell City, where he and his wife had built a

Rocky Zion Missionary Baptist Church

home for retirement. Floyd is still known for his beautiful singing voice as well as his artistry on the piano. Today, he ministers at Coosa Valley Baptist Church in Vincent and has no interest in retiring from music.

Church, school, community

During the years prior to integration, Rocky Zion had close connections with the St. Clair Training School, for church and school were community in those days. “The church stands as a beacon of light in the community,” Peggy said. “Due to overcrowding at the St. Clair County Training School, the church provided space for some classrooms during the late 1950s and the mid-1960s.”

“The St. Clair County Training School held the third grade class in the basement of our church,” Deacon Terry Young recalled. “I went to school here. My teacher was Miss Ida Wantana Baker. I never will forget her name!”

A school P.T.A. meeting was not just a school event, it was a community event with spiritual emphasis, as reported in The St. Clair News-Aegis of April 29, 1954.

“The P.T.A. observed its 27th Anniversary Sunday, April 25, 1954, at the Rocky Zion Baptist Church. Rev. A. Clark, pastor of St. Peter’s Primitive Baptist Church, Bessemer, Alabama, delivered the message. A huge crowd attended. The P.T.A. and Principal are proud

Historic church with rock foundation

Rev. S.L. and Sister Woods

Rocky Zion Missionary Baptist Church

and grateful for the wonderful aid and co-operation the patrons have given the P.T.A.”

Mrs. Lillie B. Curry, pianist, was remembered in Rocky Zion’s 1988 Memory Booklet for their 114th anniversary: “From the early 1930s until the late 1950s, she studied and worked untiringly with the chorus (choir). When she needed assistance, she would have Prof. Banks, her instructor, come and work with the choir at her expense.”

The music program at the Training School contributed to Rocky Zion’s choir ministry. Professor Walter Kennedy is remembered as having trained a host of singers during his tenure as principal of the school. Sisters Peggy and Verhonda both recalled the fine choir of the Training School and Professor’s influence on students – especially students from the Waites family and the Moseley family. “Choir Day was a big event at Rocky Zion,” Embry added. “We had a youth choir, a male chorus, and then we had the combined choir.”

Rev. Woods enjoyed leading the singing during each summer’s Vacation Bible School week. Each church would have it a different week so that children and youth could attend all if they wished. Peggy and Verhonda especially remember his leading them in We are climbing Jacob’s ladder, and how he would gesture climbing higher and higher. “He had a very pleasant voice. Rev. Wood and his family had a special place in our hearts.”

Mrs. Mary Frances Embry, Mrs. Ora Mae Allen, Mrs. Rose Crowe and Mr. Charles Crowe were Sunday school teachers. Mr. Dave Allen was superintendent. Mrs. Crowe and Mrs. Embry instructed the Baptist Training Union. Mrs. Embry was director of the Youth Department for many years.

Peggy and Verhonda almost spoke in unison as they recalled that at her home, Mrs. Embry would have the youth over for homemade ice cream and hot dogs. “She lived right next door to the church,” said Verhonda.

AIMING FOR PERFECT ATTENDANCE

As to Sunday school and church attendance, the sisters had no choice. They got up each Sunday morning, dressed in their church dresses and attended. Both sisters enjoy recalling those mornings. “We lived about three blocks from the church,” Peggy reminisced. “We had our little path up to Rocky Zion for Sunday school and church service. We had a lot of young people back then. We don’t have very many now.”

Verhonda, who was the baby of the family, added, “We knew that we had to get up and go to church and Sunday school. I tell people that on Sunday evening, we had Baptist Training Union, and I preferred being down at the park with my friends. And my Mama would ride to the park with one of our neighbors, because Mama didn’t drive, and I had to leave my friends and come to the

church on Sunday evenings for BTU. It was just a part of life. We had to do it. We had no choice. But now, they let the kids make the choice.”

Deacon Young lamented the absence of youth in church today. “You know, the difference between now and then? Our parents didn’t ask us, ‘Are you going to church today?’ You knew the day was Sunday, and you knew to get up and start getting ready to go to church. My daddy got killed on his job when I was 7. My mama raised nine of us, and I was the baby of the nine, but she made sure that I had a way to Sunday school and church and BTU. She saw that I attended just about every function that went on in church. But things really changed over the years. Today, the youth are down at the park on Sunday.”

REVIVAL TIME

Summers brought revivals to Baptist churches throughout the South from the late 19th Century until about the 1970s. During revival week at Rocky Zion, there would be both morning and evening services. Recalling those days, Verhonda commented, “During the revivals, each day someone fed the pastors, and they came to your house and had dinner before revival. And so, Mother and others fed the pastors during revival.”

Peggy joined in, “You know, back in the day, I’ve often heard that when the pastors would go around to have a meal, the children couldn’t eat until the pastors ate.” She chuckled before adding, “Not at our house. Mother, Lizzie Forman, always made sure we ate first.”

Sunday preaching at Rocky Zion for many, many years was first and third Sundays of the month, for a pastor usually ministered to two congregations. On the second

Rev. Haskins

Rocky Zion Missionary Baptist Church

and fourth Sundays, Rocky Zion members would attend services at First Baptist South. The church moved to meet for worship every Sunday during the pastorate of Rev. Johnnie Whetstone, who came as pastor after Rev. Woods. For some it was difficult to adjust to that, for the fellowship between First Baptist South and Rocky Zion had existed for so long that, understandably, it left a void in some members’ lives.

When Rev. James Adams was called as pastor, he ordained as deacons, Terry Young, Harry McCoy and James Truss Sr.

During a powerful storm on March 11, 1973, lightning struck the wooden sanctuary and severely damaged it. The church members worked together to repair the building and make it usable again. During the repairs, the congregation met for worship services at the Jacob Chapel C.M.E. church on Sunday afternoons.

In June 1996, the church called Rev. John E. Herd as pastor. Under his leadership, the church flourished. Choir membership increased, and worship services were enhanced by a praise team. The pastor reactivated Wednesday night prayer meeting and Bible study, organized New Year’s Eve Watch Night services, established Easter Sunrise services, and instituted programs for Black History Month so members could learn of their history. Rev. Herd ordained Deacon Ken Sheelton.

A NEW SANCTUARY

From the 2001 Church Dedication Booklet, we learn that Rev. Herd “…had a vision from the Lord,” and he “approached the congregation with the idea of building not just a fellowship hall but a church with a fellowship hall. The body agreed,” and a brick sanctuary was constructed.

In an article announcing the new sanctuary, The St. Clair Times of Sept. 13, 2001, Gary Hanner reported that to bring the wooden structure up to code would have cost more than to build a new church. He quoted Deacon Wayne Johnson, who said of the new sanctuary, “It is something that will stimulate their (the members’) spiritual growth and is something they can be proud of for years to come. … Having the new facility will be an asset to the community.”

The dedication of the new sanctuary occurred on Sept. 23, 2001, and was a gala occasion. The congregation met outside the church for responsive readings. Then the contractor presented the keys of the new building to Deacon Young, who presented them to Deacon Truss. Rev. Herd and Deacon Young cut the ribbon, and Deacon Johnson opened the doors to the sanctuary. Someone rang the old church bell, and the congregation entered the church to the processional hymn, “Alleluia.” Rev. Herd prayed the consecration prayer, and the afternoon was

filled with a joyful worship/dedicatory service in the new building.

After Rev. Herd, Rev. Woodrow Johnson came as pastor, and the church continued to flourish. Rev. William O. Robinson was called as pastor after Rev. Johnson. Rev. Robinson ordained Deacon Willie J. Forman. Deacon Stanley Nobles moved back home to Pell City and rejoined Rocky Zion.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which required churches to have online services, had a lasting effect after it subsided. Rocky Zion’s Sunday attendance is low, for many still watch online, and the choir is now a praise team. “It’s only four members,” observed Young, “but they sound like a choir.”

Pastor William Robinson and wife, Leah, with sons Tre Robinson and Nicholas Robinson

Ms. Posey, oldest member of Rocky Zion

Come worship with us!

SERVICES: 8:30AM & 10:30AM

1000

PASTORS:

https://www.newlifemethodist.net/

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.

Bruce Etheredge Pkwy. Pell City, AL 35128

Rev. Wes Savage & Rev. Lori Carden

Glorifying God, Making Disciples, and Blessing others in Jesus’ Name.

Rocky Zion Missionary Baptist Church

ANOTHER MILESTONE

In 2024, the church will observe its 150th anniversary, and with COVID causing the interruptions it did in community and church, memories have focused more on the past than on recent memories. However, throughout church history, the pendulum has swung toward “good years and lean years” of attendance, and church members hope for increased attendance in days to come.

Rev. William O. Robinson, pastor, shepherds his flock in the present and looks to the future. “I am now in my 10th year serving as pastor of Rocky Zion MBC,” he noted, “and I can honestly say it has been challenging – mainly because it’s my first pastorate. Yet through all of the tests and trials, I can truly say that I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy preaching, teaching, singing and serving in any other capacity the Lord has required and equipped me to do.”

For uncertain times in which we live, this positive attitude is a must for any pastor. Rev. Robinson observes, “I have seen spiritual growth but also recognize there’s much growth needed. I have learned as much because from my members, as I hope they have learned because of me. Being afforded the opportunity to grow together according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit is what I believe makes us more than a group of people that go to a church building. For we are truly “a family for Christ” that is dedicated to displaying the pure love, faith and obedience He has called us to do as the body of Christ.”

Rev. Robinson ascribes to the challenge of Matthew 28:19-20 to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”

“Our mission is to be a Christ-centered family environment that effectively brings others into the household of faith through corporate worship and also evangelism and outreach.”

EMPOWERMENT FOR FUTURE

As pastor of the church, he sees his duty in preaching and teaching as building solid believers who are equipped for ministry in both church and community. From his heart, he comments, “We believe in the spiritual development and growth of the body of Christ through love, humility, unity and prayer which comes through salvation through Christ and an ever-growing relationship with Christ. I call it ‘Empowering People for Kingdom Building.’”

The COVID-19 pandemic brought great changes to churches because of “sheltering in place” and not meeting together for worship along with absence of choirs and congregational singing. Rev. Robinson reflected, “Even though we have been challenged to serve and minister within our community and church in a variety of ways

due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are yet excited about the movement of God at Rocky Zion MBC.” And he asks that community and church pray “… that the Lord will look upon any and all threats designed to hinder Rocky Zion’s laboring for the kingdom of God. That He will continue to grant us all boldness to speak His Word, stretching out His hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done though the name of Jesus Christ.”

Rocky Zion Missionary Baptist Church has served God and community for 149 years and sits on the hill above school and community as a lighthouse of hope. Peggy F. Threatt observed that “Rocky Zion Baptist Church is definitely a foundation of faith,” and that faith gives the church’s members comfort and peace.

And as the old Isaac Watts’ hymn proclaims, may Rocky Zion MBC continue progressing and singing for another hundred years.

“We’re marching to Zion, Beautiful, beautiful Zion, We’re marching upward to Zion, the beautiful City of God.”

Mrs. Rosey Posey, Rocky Zion’s most senior member at age 97, would give a witness to that with a resounding, “Amen!” l

114th Anniversary Booklet Cover

OUTDOORS COME DISCOVER ST. CLAIR

JUST RIDE

CYCLING THROUGH ST. CLAIR BACKROADS WELL WORTH THE TREK

Story by Roxann Edsall

Submitted Photos

“Ride as much or as little, as long or as short as you feel. But ride.”

— Eddy Merckx, Belgian cyclist and five-time Tour de France winner

The popularity of biking, both traditional and E-biking, skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic as the need for social distancing peaked. Outdoor gear companies like Gadsden Outfitters report a leveling off of sales this year to a modest increase, more typical of pre-pandemic growth.

The newest trend gaining speed is gravel cycling. Sales of these gravel cycling bikes rose 109% from 2019 to 2021, according to New York Times. This sport is a bit of a mashup of both road biking and mountain biking. Despite its name, gravel cycling really encompasses riding on any surface that is not a paved road.

The bikes for gravel cycling feature the low gearing of mountain bikes with the lightweight frames of road bikes. The tires of a gravel bike are also narrower than those of a mountain bike.

The sport is popular with beginners because it is less technical than mountain biking and because gravel bikes are so versatile, they can be ridden almost anywhere.

“We’ve been looking at how to include the gravel rider in our events,” says Lloyd Maisonville, president of the Birmingham Bicycle Club. “It’s really up and coming as its own style of cycling. Many of our members have to travel a distance to do

The BBC 100 winds through some of the best scenery in St. Clair

gravel events.”

Cyclists, whether their preference is gravel cycling, mountain biking or street riding, often list the adrenaline rush and beauty of the outdoors as motivators in their sport. And that ride often takes them on countryside treks through north St. Clair County to places like Ashville, Horse Pens 40, Chandler Mountain and St. Clair Springs.

Whatever the motivation, though, there is no doubt that cycling is a great low-impact aerobic activity. It’s also perfect both for those who want to be alone with nature and those who want to participate in cycling events with groups.

Alabama is blessed with routes through the great outdoors. Nathan and Alex Tucker recently spent the day cycling at Oak Mountain State Park. The father/son duo list the trails there as some of their favorite in the state for biking.

“Oak Mountain has so many different trails. You’re always trying to do your best and get better and faster,” says Nathan. Alex agrees, adding that the variety of trails is good for all skill levels and different styles of riding.

There are many other options for cycling enthusiasts that include the Chief Ladiga Trail, Coldwater Mountain and Fort McClellan Multi-Use Trail, all in Anniston. In the Gadsden area, cyclists may want to visit the trails

Cycling for all ages

The BBC gets ready to ride

at Noccalula Falls Park. Other options include Red Mountain Park and Tannehill State Park.

This month, there are several events. The Eagle Rock Easter Classic is April 8 in Rainbow City and benefits Eagle Rock Boys’ Ranch. There is an event April 16 at Chief Ladiga Trail in Anniston. Bo Bikes Bama is April 22 in Auburn and benefits the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund.

Get in touch with your local bike club for local rides. One such club is the Birmingham Bicycle Club (Bhambikeclub.org).

“We love hosting rides in St. Clair County,” says the BBC’s president. “The roads and scenery are safe and beautiful, and the drivers are very courteous. We can ride freely and safely, more so than on an inner-city type ride.”

The club’s century ride, the BBC 100, is one of the longest running bicycle events in the state. The ride is Sept. 9 and starts at Ashville High School. There are four routes, ranging from 25 miles to 100 miles, designed to appeal to the variety of riders and skill levels.

In its 50th year of existence, the BBC has recovered from a pandemic membership dip, up to nearly 300 members and growing. Part of their revenue from ride fees goes to helping local communities and into educational efforts to promote cycling.

Editor’s Note: For more information on the club, go to: bhambikeclub.org

No shortage of support along the way

KAYAKING

Unexpected bonus nets

Springville couple a business on the water

Story by Scottie Vickery

Submitted photos

When Beverly and Robert Shaffer started house hunting just over a year ago, their main goal was to find a place where they could raise some chickens. They ended up with a house on 19 acres in Springville, and at recent count, four goats, two tortoises, 19 rabbits, 23 chickens and 15 guinea fowl. Oh yeah, they also got a kayak rental business that came with the property, as well.

That turned out to be a happy surprise, and operating Big Canoe Creek Kayaking has been as big an adventure for the family as it has been for the paddlers who come

to enjoy some peaceful time on the water. “We ended up with much more than we were looking for, but we love it,” Beverly said.

Although they weren’t in the market for a new business, Beverly, who owns a childcare center in Birmingham, said they knew a good opportunity when they saw it. She and Robert have four children – Ashley, Hollis, Lyons and Thomas – and two of them were in need of summer jobs. Ashley works at the childcare center, and Hollis lives out of state, so Lyons and Thomas were the perfect candidates to run the kayak business. Both students at Auburn University, the brothers weren’t exactly sure what they were getting themselves

into last year, their first season. “It was definitely a lot more work than I expected, but it ended up being a ton of fun,” Thomas said. “Now that I know what to expect, I’m definitely more excited about this year.”

They open for the season on May 13, and the Shaffers expect to be even busier than last year. The owners of Yak Tha Creek in Ashville decided to close shop earlier this year, so Big Canoe Creek Kayaking is now the only kayak rental facility in St. Clair County. After purchasing half of the other business’ boats, the Shaffers now have a total of 50 kayaks, including seven doubles.

Kayaking is the most popular form of paddle sports, according to The Outdoor Foundation, and Big Canoe Creek is the perfect spot for all ages to get their feet wet. Lots of families and friends come to take advantage of the opportunity to unplug, get away from it all and enjoy nature.

“It’s really peaceful, and it’s very beginner-friendly,” Thomas said of the 3.85 mile stretch of the creek. It’s an easy float, and if visitors don’t want to do a lot of paddling, they can just sit back and enjoy the ride. “We have lots of kids doing it,” Thomas said, “and people take their dogs all the time. A lot of people go fishing, and they all seem to catch a lot.”

The watershed is home to 50 species of fish and eight species of mussels, according to The Friends of Big Canoe Creek, which was founded in 2008 to protect and preserve the creek and its tributaries. The 246-mile watershed, which runs from northeast Jefferson County, flows through northern St. Clair County, eventually joins the Coosa River in southwest Etowah County. It is also

The perfect place for outdoor live music

Many people take furry passengers along for the ride

OUTDOORS

Feeding time for the baby goats

a great place for bird watching. Owls, egrets and eagles are among the species that have been spotted.

The Shaffers’ animals are a big draw, as well, and children particularly love the goats and rabbits, Thomas said. There are picnic tables onsite, so visitors can pack a lunch and plan to stay for a while. “Everyone seems to really enjoy it,” he said. “It’s a fun way to spend time together, and it’s super relaxing.”

Big Canoe Creek Kayaking is open Friday through Sunday, although groups can be accommodated during the week. They open at 8:30 a.m. and the last kayaks go in the water at 3:30. Rentals are $40 for a single kayak and $50 for a double, and the cost includes paddles and life jackets. Visitors are shuttled to the drop-off point and picked up nearly four miles down the creek. The trip typically takes two to three hours, and paddlers with their own kayaks can have their boats shuttled for $20.

In addition, there are five campsites – each with a grill, picnic table and fire ring. The cost is $25 for the first tent and $10 for each additional tent. The campground is open 7 days a week.

For more information about Big Canoe Creek Kayaking, located at 6545 Alabama Highway 23 in Springville, call (205) 452-9553 or find them on Facebook at Big Canoe Creek Kayaking.

The scenery along the creek is breathtaking

Not your usual creekside critters

Tips from St. Clair’s hiking

guru

Journey begins with single step, sage advice

Bennett Fisher has made hiking his life and his business

OUTDOORS

Story by Roxann Edsall

Submitted photos

As the weather warms up, many of start feeling that spring fever and want to head outdoors to one of Alabama’s many beautiful hiking areas.

From the new Big Canoe Creek Preserve – whose trails open soon in Springville – to neighboring Cheaha State Park, you won’t have to go far to find those opportunities to take in the natural world outdoors. And while you don’t have to be a seasoned pro to enjoy hiking in Alabama, thru-hiker and Pell City native Bennett Fisher offers some tips for the rest of us.

After all, he was a novice once himself. He jumped in as a hiker full-speed, hitting the Appalachian Trail (AT) on his first backpacking trip after graduating from Pell City High School in 2015.

Along with his dad, who was also a novice hiker, he completed the entire 2,190 miles of the AT from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Katahdin, Maine. Since then, Jolly, as he is known on the trail, has also thru-hiked the Pacific Coast Trail (PCT) and about half of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). He is still recovering from the foot injury that sidelined his CDT hike.

His first piece of advice for the beginner is to prepare, but take it easy on yourself. “There’s a lot of gear to choose from. Don’t get discouraged. Form your own opinions. Do your research and take advice, but then try it and form your own opinions.”

After the father-son duo set out on their quest to conquer the AT, it wasn’t long before they were questioning their choices. On subsequent hiking trips, they explored different gear options and weeded out what didn’t work for them and added what they missed.

Local hiking gives you many more options on items you may want to bring for comfort. “If taking a camp chair helps you get outside and enjoy yourself,” says Bennett, “then take it. It’s all about what you will use to make your experience better. But don’t weigh your pack down if you don’t need it. If you don’t use it, just don’t bring it next time.”

Next, he says, evaluate the same gear in different weight options. “On one of my first hikes, I brought sandals to wear around camp that were about a pound each. What I really needed were dollar store flip flops that weighed only a few ounces.”

Good hiking shoes, he adds, are an essential piece of equipment. “A lot can go wrong with shoes.” That sentiment is echoed by Trey Staples, manager of Gadsden Outfitters. “My number one tip is to be sure you have a good sock and a good shoe. You’ve got to keep your feet dry. Get help from an outfitter who will take the time to fit you for the shoe that’s right for your feet and your activity level.”

For easy cleanups, Staples recommends bringing wet wipes, which are easy to pack. He also recommends repacking items to bring less waste with you and be sure to pack out whatever trash you do have.

Getting a backpack that fits your body is important if you’re doing more than day hiking. “Get a pack that fits you,” says Staples, “and that means going somewhere where they’ll measure your torso to get it right.” For day hiking, a small pack is useful for storing your water, food, rain gear, first aid kit and snacks.

“It’s also a good idea, no matter how long a hike you’re on,” adds Staples, “to let someone know where you’re going and when you’re expecting to be back.”

Water is a critical safety component of any hike of any duration. “If you’re on a day hike,” says Fisher, “definitely bring your own water. But for multi-day hikes, you’ll want to bring along a water filter.” Also, he says, you don’t have to buy professionally packaged backpacker food. “It’s pretty expensive, and you don’t need it.

Just bring things you like to eat and will look forward to eating. I’ve brought food before that I thought I needed that was healthy, but it just lived in my backpack because it wasn’t appealing to me, so I didn’t eat it.”

DEVELOPING A PASSION WITH EACH STEP

Fisher and his dad came back from their AT thru-hike having solidified their love of hiking. Fisher says he spent quite a bit of time hiking at Cheaha State Park before moving to Utah in 2018 and earning his degree in Outdoor Product Design from Utah State in 2020.

He has since launched his own outdoor clothing line with the tagline, “Where fun meets functional.” You can check out his products at Jollygear.com.

Or just take a walk

Sometimes, all you need is a walk in the park. More and more, health experts are saying as little at 15 minutes walking every day can make a big difference. And St. Clair County has no shortage of public outdoor places to take a nice stroll. These are just a few examples. Check with your city’s website to see more local park options.

Pell City

Lakeside Park

Avondale Walking Trail

Preserve (at dam)

Walking trail Lakeside Hospice

Springville

Big Springs Park

Big Canoe Creek Preserve

Odenville City Park

Steele

Horse Pens 40

Steele City Park

Camp Sumatanga hiking

Ashville

City Splash Park

D.O. Langston Park

Moody

Miracle Field City Park

Ragland

Ten Islands

City Park

Argo

Moody

Argo Walking Trail

Margaret Dillard Park

Wilson Park

Big Canoe Creek Preserve

St. Clair, Alabama Business Review

Businesses line the highway through town

Story by Linda Long

Photos by David Smith and Discover Staff

Moody Growth Soaring

Inviting, small-town feel a big draw

In the shadow of Birmingham’s metropolitan region is what had been seen as just another small Alabama town – a crossroads people passed through to get somewhere else.

Those days are quickly fleeting with Moody soaring to Number 1 on the growth charts while managing to hold on to its small-town appeal.

It is warm, inviting and a quiet escape from the frantic busyness of city life, and its population underscores that notion with its replacement of Pell City (albeit by a few residents) as St. Clair County’s largest city.

On an early morning in March, the quiet is punctuated with the raucous sound of a jackhammer. Across the way, a dump truck lumbers along to the beeping of that monotonous warning signal. The buzz of a power saw joins the chorus. Noise to some, perhaps, but to Moody Mayor Joe Lee it’s the sound of music.

“We’re actually the largest municipality in St. Clair County now,” said Lee. “According to the latest census, we beat out Pell City. We beat them by just a few, but we are the largest.”

If the Mayor sounds proud, it’s with good reason. His city is experiencing a surge in industrial, commercial and residential growth, unlike any other in the town’s history. Ribbon cuttings, groundbreakings, grand openings are all signs of the times.

It’s hard to keep up with some days, said Lee, adding that Moody’s unprecedented growth spurt can be summed up in a single word –location.

“We have easy access to I-20. Turn right and you go to Birmingham

7 Brews Coffee is doing brisk business

Business Review Moody Growth

and all the activities there. Go left, and you head toward Pell City, the Honda plant and the Talladega Speedway. We’re also convenient for folks to live here to go outside the city to work.”

Couple the city’s location with the city’s ownership of large and small commercial properties having interstate and major highway visibility and/or access, and it’s a winning combination for prospective business and residents.

One such property under development is a 60,00-square-foot family entertainment center off I-20. The center boasts a trampoline park, an arcade and a 16-lane bowling alley. Fall of 2024 is the projected opening date.

The entertainment center sits on acreage where “we think it will help us promote the rest of the property where it’s built, here at the crossroads. The area is built for outparcels

Two coffee shops are new in town. 7 Brews, a national chain, opened on March 6 and is located on the Moody Parkway, featuring only drive through service. Moody Chamber of Commerce Director Andrea Machen has observed that so far, business there has been “very good.”

Also debuting on the coffee scene is Starbucks, set to open on June 6. It will feature its traditional drive-through and in-house service. Appropriately enough Dunkin’ Donuts has opened nearby.

Making old new again, the mayor said, “We’ve also back-filled a 25-year-old shopping with the Fresh Value grocery store. It’s the old shopping center, where Fred’s used to be here at the crossroads. We expect more development. There are many possibilities in that shopping center. The developer is already looking at one potential investment.”

While business development is going gangbusters, residential development is not far behind.

According to Lee, 425 new homes have been built in recent years. Presently, seven subdivisions are under construction, and 137 lots are left for development.

“People are looking at Moody all the time to open new residential subdivisions,” said Lee. “So, that market will continue.

Also under construction “even as we speak,” said Lee, “is a new 18,000 square foot Moody police station.” It will house Moody’s 30-member police force.

The city has taken on several ambitious

Computer rendering of entertainment complex

Starbucks groundbreaking

Business Review Moody Growth

infrastructure projects, including a $7 million sewer system, which will double its present capacity. “We had to have it to take care of the growth,” said Lee.

Plans also call for four major road improvements, including $2.2 million in improvements at County Road 10 and US 411. This project will provide turn lanes and traffic signals to upgrade Moody’s main crossroads. Other projects will upgrade the intersections at Highway 411 and Kerr Road and Washington and Verbena. “These upgrades will improve traffic flow into the city. We’ve got to do that,” Lee said.

Perhaps the crown jewel in all this expansion is Kelly Creek Commerce Park – the only facility of its kind in St. Clair County, the mayor said. Undeniably, the park is big – 172 acres with 1.4 million square feet of building space. According to Lee, “the site is ready to lease.”

When completed the new commercial park is expected to bring with it 600 new jobs.

Those are the kind of stats Machen likes to hear. “Those 600 new jobs are what will keep our people right here in Moody and St. Clair County, so they don’t have to go outside to work. There may be some job transfers so people can be close to home and close to their kids.”

While there are no tenants yet for the park, Machen said, the ribbon has just been cut, and “we are working to fill it right now.”

Aerial view of Kelly Creek Commerce Park

Fresh Value Grand Opening

Business Review Moody Growth

MooDy cuts ribboN

oN coMMerce park

When Joe Lee first arrived in the city he now serves as mayor, population stood at a mere 4,000. That was 30 years ago, and Moody’s ascension to the largest municipality in St. Clair County has been soaring at a dizzying speed.

Little more than ‘crossroads’ three decades ago, today’s Moody is hardly recognizable to those who remember vehicle traffic stopping to allow cows to cross the thoroughfare.

And to those gathered on 170-plus acres on a breezy afternoon in February to cut the ribbon on Kelly Creek Commerce Park, a cattle crossing isn’t even imaginable. What is conceivable is what is planned there – 1.5 million square feet of distribution facility space, a $125 million investment in well paying jobs and the “huge impact on our community from bobs created in this community,” Lee said.

Moody didn’t arrive at this pivotal crossroad alone, Lee said, crediting partnerships with the St. Clair County Commission and St. Clair County Economic Development Council. “It’s a good example of how economic development works in St. Clair County – everyone working together.”

“Elected officials, mayor, you and your team make it easy,” said EDC Executive Director Don

Local officials at ribbon cutting

Business Review Moody Growth

Smith. Through partnerships, they “lead by example.”

Smith talked of Mike Graham of Graham and Co., a leading commercial and industrial broker, as a key partner in helping facilitate the vision for the property, “exceeding expectations.” He talked of Horizon, Metro Bank and Alabama Power Co. as major partners as well, predicting, “The best is yet to come.”

The vision is being fulfilled because Moody is “a great community to support new investment, workforce readiness and has a reasonable tax structure. We’re excited about what lies ahead.”

Alabama’s Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield agreed that Moody’s future looks bright. He should know after overseeing $61 billion of new investment during his tenure, including Airbus, Honda, Google and Amazon.

He pointed to the strides in growth Alabama is experiencing in textile, automobile and aerospace industries, which Moody should benefit from in coming years. “This is a great day for Moody,” he said, looking forward to attracting high paying careers in the community. “The site is spectacular.”

From Alabama’s vantage point, the future is focused on international power. The state ships products to 193 countries around the globe, Canfield said. “Alabama has a future as long as we continue to do things like we’re doing today.”

Aerial view shows off the expansive park property

Mayor Joe Lee addresses crowd at ribbon cutting as Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield observes

“When my mother had the beginnings of dementia, she was in Birmingham, and I was in Pell City. Working full time, I couldn’t be there. But Always There could, and they helped her with the things she needed to remain independent -- taking her grocery shopping, making sure she got the right medications at the right time, being a companion. Always There allowed her to stay in her own home and took the worries away from my siblings and I when we couldn’t be there for her.” --

Carol P.

When you

Business Cards

Sizzling success stories

Story by Paul South Submitted Photos

Since January, Pell City’s hottest new restaurant and bar – The St. Clair and The Tavern at The St. Clair, have sizzled and sauteed, shaken and stirred their way to a mouth-watering recipe for success.

Weekends are packed with patrons dressed to the nines in The St. Clair, and in jeans and boots at the Tavern. The décor is white tablecloth elegant, yet welcoming, with decor celebrating the rich history of the area.

The restaurant and tavern are the brainchild of Rebecca and Carson Robinson, business partners for nearly two decades. The Pell City venture is their third venture together.

Rebecca Robinson moved to Pell City 11 years ago, loving it so much she never left. The St. Clair and the Tavern blossomed from the growth and change she saw in the community. As more and more people from Birmingham, Atlanta and other areas discovered Pell City, culinary expectations climbed.

“I, myself, being from Birmingham, it’s really nice and convenient when you have a place close by where you can go get a nice glass of wine, a great steak, where you have good seafood choices,” she says. “And we really didn’t have here in Pell City – while we have a lot of good locally-owned restaurants –we did not have really any that hit that higherend mark.”

The COVID-19 pandemic also brought a steady stream of more full-time residents to Pell City and Logan Martin Lake, migration sparked by a now-remote workforce.

“It was just the right time to open up a fine

White-tablecloth dining comes to Pell City

Business Directory

Business Review The St. Clair - The Tavern

dining restaurant with an attached tavern, Robinson says. “It was just the right time for the market.”

The menu, crafted by Robinson, Executive Chef J.R. Dell and his team is a mix of steaks, seafood, game, chicken, lamb and pork and a variety of appetizers and salad.

Offerings are upscale, but not pretentious.

“That was our goal for Pell City, to offer a higher end option, but still be casual enough to meld into the Pell City way of life. A lot of people live here because they like the more relaxed lifestyle,” Robinson says. “That was our vision for the restaurant: to provide the great food, the quality food, the great service, but not to overdo it.

“In other words, you can come in in jeans and eat Ahi tuna or a wagyu steak,” Robinson says. “That was our goal.”

Dell leads a team of five chefs. He’s a magna cum laude graduate of the prestigious Johnson and Wales University culinary school. He trained in the United States and in Europe under Peter Jackson, founder of the Welsh Culinary Olympics team. The menu has a mix of Europe, the Florida Keys and local influence.

Along with top-flight food and service, the restaurant and companion tavern pay homage to a history of St. Clair County and its namesake, Gen. Arthur St. Clair, who served in the French and Indian War and in the American Revolution. St. Clair’s portrait adorns the restaurant/tavern’s website, and the walls are filled with photos, like the black and white image of Logan Martin Dam, which transformed the area in the early 1960s, and other prominent St. Clair historic figures and places.

“We wanted people to know we were local,” Robinson says of the photos featuring prominent locals.

“We felt like the St. Clair was a good venue to bring back and to remember some of the great history of the county,” Robinson says.

Since opening earlier this year, The St. Clair and the Tavern at St. Clair have created a stir, drawing diners from west Georgia and across central Alabama, as well as locals.

“I have to say, we’re humbled by the reception that we’ve received, not just locally, but from miles and miles away.”

But the strong showing of the restaurant and tavern’s early days were not unexpected.

“We felt like there were a lot of people just like us in these communities that wanted and were asking for a restaurant of this quality and food of this caliber,” Robinson says. “So no, we weren’t really surprised by the buzz. We’re glad that people appreciate what we’ve been working towards.”

Robinson credits her team for the success of The St. Clair and the Tavern. Many restaurants across the country have thrown in the napkin so to speak, closing because

The St. Clair and the Tavern cover it all, from cheese boards to burgers and fries, to fine dining

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of the inability to secure and keep staff. Many have worked with the Robinsons in past ventures.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have such strong staff join us throughout this process … One of the things we like to do is we like to develop long-term relationships with the people that work with us. They’re not people who work for us. They work with us. We’re a team.”

Robinson adds,” We look at business as long term, 20-plus years. And we take care of the people that helped us make that happen.”

While Robinson and Dell created the current menu. The future menu will be created by the entire kitchen staff. Likewise, the bar staff will create the cocktail menu. On March 5, the restaurant launched a weekend brunch. For the staff, it’s not only about a paycheck, but the ability to create, Robinson says.

“I see the smiles on their faces when the customers love what they’ve done.”

The new menu, set to be rolled out in April, is like a state secret. Asked for a sneak peek, Robinson says, “I will not divulge.”

Robinson is a self-described “foodie of sorts,” and the initial menu reflects many of her likes. It took a year to develop the wine list.

“I love good Ahi tuna. I love good Wagyu beef, American Wagyu beef,” Robinson says. And while it’s hard to pick her absolute favorite on the menu, she has a standout.

“My standout is the Ahi tuna,” she says. “I absolutely adore it. We sell Triple A Saku. It is the best you can get. We serve it with Ponzu sauce, an Asian dipping sauce that’s a mix of salty and sweet.”

Wine tastings and pairing dinners and holiday events will come down the road, Robison says.

“We’re so busy, I’m not sure what day we would do it on right now.”

Reservations on the restaurant side are recommended through Resy.com, especially on the weekends. Walk-ins are welcome in the Tavern at the St. Clair. For more information, visit thestclairpellcity.com. The restaurant and tavern are located at 2413 Dr. John Haynes Drive in Pell City.

“Pell City is growing, and Pell City is changing,” Robinson says. “Don’t be afraid to come try us. Don’t be afraid to come try something new. Don’t think that you can’t come in in your blue jeans and have a nice dinner with a great glass of wine or a fabulous cocktail. Don’t be afraid to try us.”

Mixing drinks on the Tavern side

Life through the lens of Mackenzie Free

The space between

Life is overwhelmingly beautiful. And terrible.  And wonderful. And messy. And short. … But rarely is it predictable. Most people don’t get to the end of their lives and think to themselves, “Well, that went exactly as planned” just before they pass on.

That’s the thing about life….  Some things just happens to us. We aren’t always prepared. Things don’t always go according to plan. Because life often has an itinerary all its own. We can cultivate adaptability and learn to embrace changes in life… or get pulled along begrudgingly.  Either way, change is an unconquerable reality.

Sometimes we get to choose it and welcome change eagerly.  Sometimes we are painfully unprepared and resist. And sometimes we can get caught in the space between.

The space between ready and not. The space between changing direction and staying the course … between the problem and solution … between the known and unknown … between holding on and letting go.

It’s here, on the cusp of change, that life lends us rest and clarity is keenest if we lean in and allow it. It’s here, in that blank space between the chapters of our lives, that we can pause, take a deep breath and ready ourselves for the next thing.  So if you should ever find yourself caught here, in the space between…anxiously waiting… don’t lose heart.  These pauses aren’t empty voids … they are life’s way of holding space for our head and our heart to align and embrace. … sometimes we might find the space between can be our saving grace.

- Mackenzie FreeWife, mother, photographer & current resident of the unassumingly magical town of Steele, Alabama