Hartselle: The city of
Southern Hospitality
A special publication of the Hartselle Enquirer – July 2014 July 2014-June 2015 • 1
have
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New parents have a lot of important decisions to make. One of the most important is where their child will be born. For one local couple, that decision was easy.
Since we live in Decatur, we wanted to be close to the hospital, to support our medical community and be close to family. I’m so glad we chose the Newborn Center at Decatur Morgan Hospital. Our stay was everything we could have wanted or expected. The professionalism of the staff put me right at ease. The rooms were big enough for our family and friends to visit comfortably and our interactions with the doctors and nurses were more like visits from family.
I can’t imagine a reason to go anywhere else. —Andi
Schedule a Tour Today!
256-341-3400
Andi and Flynn www.decaturmorganhospital.net
July 2014-June 2015 • 3
Table of Contents ON THE COVER CSX trains in downtown Hartselle are a common sight every day. Hartselle has four railroad crossings in downtown and there are several others outside of downtown.
CONTACT US Hartselle Newspapers, LLC 407 Chestnut St. NW P.O. Box 929 Hartselle, AL 35640 256-773-6566 Fax: 256-773-1953 news@hartselleenquirer.com
Copyright 2013 by Hartselle Newspapers, LLC Editor’s Note: Many of the photos in this special edition were shot by
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Richard Hollingsworth. To see more of his work, log on to his website at http:// nikonrick.smugmug.com.
STAFF Publisher Randy Garrison Editor Brent Maze Advertising Pam Gray Contributors Richard Hollingsworth Clif Knight Joy Harris Jaxon Peebles Office Staff Ann Kirby April Thompson Katie Sparkman
Welcome
Page 5 – Letter from Mayor
Newcomer’s Guide
Page 6 – All about us Page 7 – Getting Connected Page 9 – Taxes and Licenses Page 10 – Elections Page 11 – Public Safety Page 13 – Important Numbers
Economic Development Page 14 – New Investments
Page 16 – Morgan
Center Business Park Page 17 – Hartselle Chamber of Commerce Page 17 – Department of Development
Education
Page 18 – Hartselle High Page 18 – HJHS Page 19 – Hartselle Intermediate Page 20 – Barkley Bridge Page 20 – Crestline Page 21 – F.E. Burleson Page 22 – Technology in Education
Parks and Recreation
Page 24 – Sparkman
Park Page 26 – Aquatic Center Page 27 – Athletic facilities in the city Page 29 – SNAP Page 30 – Golf Courses Page 30 – Quail Creek Page 31 – Burningtree Page 31 – Decatur Country Club Page 31 – Point Mallard Golf Course Page 32 – Depot Days Page 33 – Calendar of Events
Religion
Page 34 – Hartselle Tabernacle Page 36 – Church Directory
Welcome
Hartselle: Southern Hospitality at its finest
W
elcome to Hartselle, Alabama – “The City of Southern Hospitality.” We are glad you are here! Whether you are a first time visitor or a current resident, I believe you will find Hartselle a great place to visit or reside. We have friendly people, a school system rated as one of the best in the state, a low crime rate and a unique downtown full of antique and specialty shops. Our other many assets include one of the best recreation parks and fire and police departments in the state. Our historic downtown area is a popular attraction guaranteed to pique the interest of antique and specialty item collectors. Another draw is our annual Depot Days Festival held each fall, that features a half-marathon race, arts, crafts, music and entertainment, car show and food vendors. Hartselle’s bedroom community has a population of more than 14,200 and boasts a low crime rate.
Also, join us for our monthly Sweet Tea Saturdays every second Saturday of each month from April through October, as local businesses open their doors to show their hospitality. Our city government, utilities department, Chamber of Commerce and business sector work hand in hand to make Hartselle a better place to live. A national guidebook named Hartselle one of the 100 Best Small Towns in America. Hartselle can also be found in the book “The 50 Best Small Southern Towns” written by Gerald W. Sweitzer and Kathy M. Fields. It is also No. 3 best Alabama town for young families by NerdWallet, the No. 6 safest place in Alabama by Movoto Real Estate Blog and No. 15 business-friendly city in Alabama according to Yellowhammer and the Alabama Policy Institute. We are proud of these recognitions and hope you will agree. Don Hall Mayor of Hartselle
HARTSELLE What a hometown should be www.Hartselle.org
Mayor and City Council
Morgan Business Park
July 2014-June 2015 • 5
All About Us The Land Situated on the edge of the Cumberland Plateau and the Highland Ridge, Hartselle, Alabama is located along Interstate 65 within the Decatur metropolitan Region, and 35 miles from the high tech city of Huntsville, Ala. Latitude: 34:26:42 Longitude: 86:55:55 Distance From: Atlanta, Ga. – 191 Mobile – 321 Birmingham – 70 Montgomery – 164 Nashville, Tenn. – 126 New Orleans, La. – 411 Memphis, Tenn. – 201 Hartselle is part of a growing region, in terms of pop-
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ulation and economic development. The city is located in Morgan County. The county seat is Decatur.
The Land Hartselle experiences primarily mild and pleasant weather all year. Four months, December through March, account for about 43 percent of the normal annual precipitation. Severely cold weather seldom occurs. In the transition from winter to spring, appearances of warm moist air in place of the cold air become more frequent, and the greatest variety of weather usually occurs during this season. The average date for the last occurrence of freezing temperatures in the spring is
late March and the average date for the first freeze is late October.
The People Hartselle population according to the 2010 Census: 14,255, up 18.6 percent from the 2000 U.S. Census. Persons under 5 years old: 6.3 percent; Persons under 18: 25.4 percent; Persons 65 years and older: 14.2 percent; Female persons: 51.8 percent. White persons: 91.5 percent, Black persons: 4.3 percent; Persons of American Indian or Alaska Native descent: 0.8 percent; Asian persons: 0.4 percent; Persons reporting two or more races: 1.7 percent; Persons of Hispanic or Latino descent: 2.4 percent. Households: 5,177; Persons per household: 2.66; Per
capita money income in past 12 months: $21,746; Median household income: $47,306. The mean travel time to work is 23.7 minutes. Number of high school graduates (age 25 and older): 86.6 percent. Housing units in 2010: 6,076; Homeownership rate: 78.7 percent. Housing units in multi-unit structures: 13.6 percent; Median value of owner occupied housing units: $123,000.
Odds and Ends Morgan County population: 119,490, up 0.4 percent from 2000 Census. Morgan County land area: 579.34 square miles; Persons per square miles in the county: 206.3; County building permits in 2011: 103.
Getting Connected Hartselle Utilities Hartselle Utilities serves the City of Hartselle with water, electricity, natural gas and public sewer. To get connected with Hartselle Utilities service, a rental lease or a house purchase agreement must be presented to transfer utilities to the new customer. A deposit of up to $435 may be required for connecting services. If the prospective customer can provide a letter from another utility company stating that he or she was in good standing for at least one year, the deposit fee could be waived and only a connection fee would be required. For more information on Hartselle Utilities, call 256-773-3340 or log on to www.hartselleutilities.org.
Water
5/8” and 3/4” Meters
Monthly Charge: $6.73 1” Meter Monthly Charge: $10.58 1-1/2” Meter Monthly Charge: $26.92 Usage Rates: First 10,000 Gallons- $3.6047 Per 1,000 Gallons Next 10,000 Gallons- $3.4347 Per 1,000 Gallons Next 30,000 Gallons- $3.0747 Per 1,000 Gallons Deposit: $40.00 (effective 7/1/2013)
Electricity
Distributors: Hartselle Utilities and Joe Wheeler EMC Source: Tennessee Valley Authority Hartselle Utilities fees Monthly base charge: $9.20 Monthly Usage: $0.08993/kWh (effective 7/1/2013)
Natural Gas
Suppliers: Various (Fuel oils, coal and Lp Gas available) Hartselle Utilities residential gas rates Monthly Charge: $6.72 Usage Rates: First 100 ccf: $0.49 per ccf Additional ccf: $0.27 per ccf Cost of Gas Adjustment: $0.5190 per ccf sold (effective July 2013)
Public Sewer
Sanitary Sewer: Yes (85 percent coverage) Plant Capacity: 7.7 million Storm Sewer: Yes (75 percent coverage) Present Load: 60 percent Monthly Charge Residential Base Rate: $20.40 Usage Rate: $4.9079 per 1,000 gallons See Connected, Page 8
July 2014-June 2015 • 7
Connected (effective 7/1/2013)
Hartselle Garbage Pickup Residents are provided with a special 96-gallon rollout cart. Collection trucks are equipped with a lifting mechanism on the side that will lift and empty the cart and return the cart to the ground. The process takes about 10 seconds and can be performed without the driver leaving the truck. For a successful pickup to occur, the cart must be placed curbside according to directions. If you are new to the City of Hartselle, please call Public Works to set up an account at 256-773-2643. What days will my garbage be picked up? Please call Public Works at 256-773-2643 or log on to www. hartselle.org.
City Landfill
City of Hartselle Public Works Department Landfill – 256-773-8603 99 Lovelady Street NW
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Continued from Page 7 Hartselle, AL 35640 Items accepted at the Landfill: yard waste, wood, paper, plastic, scrap metal, cardboard, furniture, carpet, construction waste, household garbage for transfer to Morgan County Regional Landfill, electronics for transfer to Morgan County Regional Landfill Items not accepted: paints, treated lumber, chemicals, tires, asbestos, medical waste, liquids, batteries, hazardous waste, burned materials, gas bottles. Residential – no charge Business/Contractors – $52.00 per ton (min. $5.00 charge) Mulch Residential – $5.00 per scoop (free if you load yourself) Mulch Commercial – Contact landfill for current rates
Phone service
For a landline phone connection the choices in Hartselle are AT&T and Charter Communications. AT&T adds a hookup fee to your
first monthly bill, similar to what it does with cell phone connection, but there is an option available to pay the hookup fee in installments with your monthly payments. The cost of service from AT&T will depend on the number and type of services you chose. AT&T’s 24-hour service line is 800288-2020 and its website is www.att. com. Charter Communications can be contacted at 1-888-438-2427 or on its website at www.charter.com.
Cable Television
AT&T and Charter Communications are the only providers of cable television in the Hartselle area without getting satellite service. Charter’s nearest office is located at 1632 Beltline Road SW in Decatur, AL 35601 and the phone number is 1-888438-2427. AT&T’s 24-hour service line is 800288-2020 and its website is www.att. com.
Taxes and Licenses Chief Clerk – 256-351-4695 Chad D. Baswell Chief Appraiser – 256-351Revenue Commissioner: 4674 Amanda G. Scott, CPA Christina McCulloch The Revenue CommissionBusiness Personal Property er is elected by the people of Appraiser – 256-351-4697 Morgan County for a six-year Appraisal Division – 256term and is responsible for 351-4694 the mapping, appraising, asAssessment Division – 256sessing, and collecting of ad 351-4690 valorem taxes as levied by Collection Division – 256the government. The office 351-4628 collects approximately $55 Mapping Division – 256million annually. 351-4698 Locations: Decatur – County Business Personal Property Courthouse, Hartselle – Crest– 256-351-4862 wood Shopping Center and Board of Equalization – Lacey’s Spring – 423 Union 256-351-4674 Hill Road Telephone Millage Amanda Scott – 256-351Morgan County 4690 State General Fund – 2.5 Renee H. Fields
Property Taxes
Mills State Soldier Fund – 1.0 Mills State School Fund – 3.0 Mills County General Fund – 7.2 Mills County Road & Bridge Fund – 3.6 Mills County Wide School – 1.5 Mills County Wide School – 4.3 Mills County Total* – 23.1 Mills *This base amount is to be included in all totals. Hartselle City of Hartselle – 5.0 Mills Hartselle City Board of Education – 11.3 Mills Base Amount – 23.1 Mills
Hartselle Total – 39.4 Mills
Licenses and Tags
County Commissioner of Licenses: Sue Baker Roan Locations: Decatur – County Courthouse, Hartselle – Crestwood Shopping Center and Lacey’s Spring – 423 Union Hill Road Telephone: 256-351-4770 Website: www.morgan-licensecommissioner.org, Online renewals available for vehicle registration, business licenses, boat registration and manufactured home registration Hartselle business licenses: applications available at www. hartselle.org
July 2014-June 2015 • 9
Elections and Public Officials General Information
To register to vote in Alabama, an individual must meet the following qualifications: • Be a United States Citizen • Reside in Alabama • Be at least 18 years old • Have not been convicted of a disqualifying felony (or have rights restored) • Have not been legally declared “mentally incompetent” by a court You may download a Voter Registration Application at www. sos.state.al.us. The form can be printed on your printer, filled out, and then mailed into your local voter registration officials. You may also obtain voter registration services at the following state and local government offices and agencies: • Driver’s licensing office •County and select municipal public libraries •Department of Human Resources • WIC Program, Department of
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Public Health • Medicaid Agency •Department of Rehabilit ation Services For more information, contact the Board of Registrars at 256351-4660 or visit the office at the County Courthouse.
Election Regulations
Voter registration is closed during the 10 days prior to any election. Applications for absentee ballots must be submitted no later than five days before the election. Ballots must be hand-delivered or postmarked by the day before an election. A voter must present a valid form of identification to be eligible to vote. A list of valid types of ID is provided at the Alabama Secretary of State’s website: www. sos.state.al.us.
members and the mayor are elected at large to four-year terms. Mayor – Don Hall, dhall@hartselle. org Council Place 1 – Kenny Thompson, kthompson@hartselle.org Council Place 2 – Bill Smelser, bsmelser@hartselle.org Council Place 3 – Mike Roberson, mroberson@hartselle.org Council Place 4 – Tom Chappell, tchappell@hartselle.org Council Place 5: Ken Doss, kdoss@ hartselle.org
commissioners who are elected in districts.They serve four-year terms. Commission Chairman – Ray Long, rlong@co.morgan.al.us District 1 – Jeff Clark, jclark@co. morgan.al.us District 2 – Randy Vest, rvest@co. morgan.al.us District 3 – Don Stisher, dstisher@ co.morgan.al.us District 4 – Greg Abercrombie, gabercrombie@co.morgan.al.us
Representatives
State District 9 Representative – Ed Henry, R-Hartselle, 256-260-2146 State Senate District 5 – Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, 256-260-2147 U.S. District 5 Representative– Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, 256-355-9406 U.S. Senator – Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, 256-772-0460 U.S. Senator – Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, 256-533-0979 Governor – Robert Bentley, Leadership The Morgan County Commission R-Tuscaloosa, 334-242-7100 Hartselle uses a mayor-council is comprised of a commission form of government. Five council chairman elected at large and four President – Barack Obama, D-Illinois, 202-456-1414 The Hartselle Board of Education is comprised of five members who are elected at large to four-year terms. BOE Place 1 – Monty Vest BOE Place 2 – Randy Sparkman BOE Place 3 – James Joy BOE Place 4 – Jennifer Sittason BOE Place 5 – Venita Jones
Public Safety Police Department
Police Chief: Ron Puckett has served as chief since 2005. He began his career as a patrol officer in 1989. He Puckett obtained a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Athens State College in 1987 and a master’s degree in justice and public safety from Auburn University-Montgomery in 2001. He’s also a graduate of the FBI National Academy in 2002. The Hartselle Police Department serves a population
of more than 14,000 with 29 sworn officers and 9 civilian employees. It is comprised of a Patrol Division, Criminal Investigations Division, Special Operations Division, Correct ions and Communications. The City of Hartselle Police Department sponsors a Citizens Police Academy each year. For more information, contact Capt. Tom Sparks at 256-751-4912 or tsparks@ hartselle.org. Telephone: 256-773-6534, Records: 256-751-4913 Administration Chief Ron Puckett: – 256-7514911 Capt. Tom Sparks: 256-7514912 Margaret Stinson: – 256-751-
4913 Criminal Investigation Lt. Justin Barley – 256-7514914 Sgt. Alan McDearmond – 256751-4917 Tania Burgess – 256-751-4915 Shannon Hale: – 256-7514916 Webster 256-560-5036 Special Operations Lt. James Holladay – 256-7514920 Sgt. Randy Adams: – 256-7514919 Michael Hudson – 256-7735426 Chad Guest – 256-773-6094 Animal Control: – 256-7732934
Municipal Court
Court is held Thursdays at
7 a.m. Questions concerning traffic citations, fines, court costs, restitution, court appointed attorneys, scheduling court dates, bail or bonds should be addressed to the Municipal Court Clerk. The Hartselle Police Department will not be able to assist in any of these matters. Office Hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Address: 200 North Sparkman St. Hartselle, AL Municipal Court Clerk, Sherry Reagin – 256-773-2703 Court Magistrate, Jennifer Tetreault – 256-773-2703 Municipal Judge, Mike Broom – 256-355-9151 Municipal Prosecutor, David Langston – 256-340-8048
July 2014-June 2015 • 11
Hartselle Fire, The Hartselle Fire Department consists Rescue, and Emergency Service is 100 of 20 state certified firefighter/EMTs, 12 volunteer firefighters, and one Fire Chief. percent compliant with Homeland HFD consists of two fire stations. The Security Directive Fire Department has a Class 5 Fire Rating, which enables the city to enjoy lower (HSPD)-5, the Presiinsurance rates. HFD operates three front- dent Directive to derun pumper trucks that also serve as Basic velop and administer a National Incident Trauma Life Support units, one rescue Management Systruck, and a 100-foot aerial ladder truck. tem (NIMS), which Hartselle Fire, Rescue and Emergency would provide a Service operates with a staff of 19 Fireconsistent nationfighters, 22 Volunteer Firefighters, and 1 wide approach for Fire Chief. Of the 19 Firefighters HFD Federal, State, Local, and Tribal Governhas 3 Captains, 3 Lieutenants, 6 Senior ments to work together more effectively Firefighters and 7 Firefighters. The Fire Department is constantly train- and efficiently to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from domestic ining its own personnel and also conducts cidents. Adopted by the City of Hartselle, various Alabama Fire College classes Alabama with Resolution No: 05-0726. that are open to outside agencies. Other At the present time we have 20 Fireprograms offered by the Hartselle Fire fighter I & II certifications, 16 HAZMAT Department include a House Burning A&O certifications, 12 HAZMAT Techprogram for condemned property, Burn nicians, 16 Apparatus Operator Pumpers, Notifications, and fire prevention and 16 Apparatus Aerial Operatosr, 16 Fire safety training programs for area schools Instructors I, 2 Fire Instructors II, 13 Fire and civic groups.
Fire Department
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Officers I, 9 Fire Officers II, 12 Fire Investigators, 17 Fire Inspectors I, 3 Public Fire Educators I & II, 2 Airport Firefighters, 1 Rescue Technician Rope, 1 Rescue Technician Confined Space, 6 Fire Department Safety Officesr, 19 Alabama Licensed EMT-Bs, and 6 Health and Safety Officers Telephone: 256-773-2545, Emergency: 911 Administration Fire Chief Steve Shelton: – 256-7514945
Important Numbers Morgan County Courthouse 302 Lee St. NE Decatur, AL 35601 Phone: 256-351-4600 County Offices (all numbers, dial 256 first) ABC Board – 560-6014 U.S Rep. Aderholt – 350-4093 Agricultural Service Center – 773-2549 Alabama Co-Operative Extension – 773-2549 Animal Control – 773-2934 Archives – 351-4726 Board Of Education – 353-6442 Board Of Equalization – 3514674 Board of Registrars – 351-4660 U.S. Rep. Brooks – 355-9400 Circuit Court Clerks: - Circuit Civil – 351-4796 - Circuit Criminal – 351-4790 - Domestic Relations – 3514724 Circuit Court Judges: - Judge Haddock – 351-4750
- Judge Howell – 351-4700 - Judge Thompson – 351-4785 Circuit Court Reporters: - Anderson Morris – 351-4705 - Toby Chambers – 351-4788 - Beth Russell – 351-4755 Community Corrections – 3514739 County Commission– 351-4730 County Coroner – 560-6084, 345-6442 County Jail – 351-4825 DHR – 340-5840 District Attorney – 351-4610 District Court Clerk – 3514649 - District Court Civil – 3514849 - District Court Criminal – 3514641 - District Court Warrants – 351-4644 District Court Judges: - Judge Craig – 351-4760 - Judge Langham – 560-6087 - Judge Waters – 351-4765 District Shop 1 – 353-8783 District Shop 2 – 773-7383
District Shop 3 – 784-5476 District Shop 4 – 778-8515 EMA – 351-4620 Engineering Department – 773-5297 Examiner Of Public Accounts – 351-4748 Health Department – 353-7021 Home Health Services – 3062400 Landfill: - Scale House Hwy 20 West– 341-4990 - Director’s Office – 341-4992 License Inspector – 351-4619 MCATS – 351-4650 Meals-On-Wheels – 355-9058 Morgan County 911 MCEMCD: Administration – 552-0911 Operations / Communications: Non-Emergency – 350-4613 - Non-Emergency ‘1 866’ – 3504613 Probate Office – 351-4675 Property Tax – 351-4690 Revenue Commissioner: -Decatur Office - 351-4690 -Appraisal Department – 351-
4694 -Mapping Department – 3514698 -Personal Property -351-4698 -Hartselle Office – 751-5017 -Lacey’s Spring Office– 5606165 Sales Tax Office – 351-4618 Sheriffs Office – 351-4800 -Dispatch – 301-1174 -Drug Hot Line – 351-7867 -General Investigations – 5606198 Lacey’s Spring East Station – 880-7771 -Narcotics Division – 351-4816 -Records Division – 351-4809 -Somerville District Station – 778-6104 Social Security Administration – 340-9751 State Probation – 351-4830 State Troopers – 351-4666 U.S. Bankruptcy Court – 5847900 Veterans Affairs – 351-4636 Worthless Check Unit – 3514740
July 2014-June 2015 • 13
Economic Development
New investments exceed $295 million
I
nvestment in new and expanding industry exceeded $295 million and created 141 new jobs in Morgan County from October 2012 to September 2013, according to figures published in the annual report of the Morgan County Economic Development Association. The investment involved 7 non-confidential expansions and 15 confidential expansions or equipment upgrades. The expanding companies, their investments and workforce gains are listed as fol-
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lows: 3M Company, Decatur, $11.15 million, 13 new jobs; AlphaPet, Decatur, $190 million, 75 new jobs; Linde Gas, Decatur, $14.9 million; Nichols Aluminum, Decatur, $8.3 million; Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., Falkville, $4.5 million; Russell Forest Products, Hartselle, 8 new jobs; Valley Rubber, Falkville, $1.6 million, 30 new jobs. A consistent leader in Alabama in industrial expansion, Morgan County currently has See Investments, Page 15
Investments
Continued from Page 14
152 industries, including 14 Fortune 500 companies and nine Global 500 companies. The Alabama Department of Commerce ranked Morgan County first in the state for expanding investment and third for overall new and expanding investment, based on MCEDA numbers for the 2013 calendar year. “With the economic downturn behind us, our companies are moving forward and hopefully this is just the beginning of continued industrial growth in Morgan County,” said Nails. Phase I of the Morgan Center Business Park at I-65 and Thompson Road in Hartselle promises additional hope for business investment and job creation, according to Nails. Through the Workforce Development partnership with the De-
catur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, the Workforce Strategic Plan is in place. One key effort this year has been promoting in-demand careers through various communication outlets. HOT JOBS! career spotlights feature career profiles on electronic billboards, www. careerpathway.info and the workforce e-newsletter. Future plans for the career profiles include a Hot Jobs! 2014 calendar to be given to
Over 77 years of reliable service
all schoolteachers in Morgan County as well as high school tech students from Morgan and Lawrence counties at Calhoun Community College’s career fair. The MCEDA is partnering with schools to create awareness and interest among students to prepare them to fill in-demand jobs in the area. MCEDA is governed by a 17-member board of directors, which consists of Eddie Allen, Debi Hendershot, Kevin Corum, Sonny Craig, Lynn Fowler, Bob Francis, Susan Hines, George Kitchens, Gary Livingston, Arthur Orr, Dee Proctor, Britt Sexton, John Seymour, Trudy Grisham, Wally Terry, Wade Weaver and Andy Vest. Members of the Decatur-Morgan County Port Authority are Larry Bennich, Harvey Pride Jr., Dee Proctor and Jimmy Ray Smith.
Our equipment has changed...
(1937-2014)
www.jwemc.org • 256-552-2300 JoeWheelerEMC
@JWEMC
...but our hard work will always remain the same. July 2014-June 2015 • 15
Business Park open for business
T
he Morgan County Economic Development Association is currently developing Phase 1 of the Morgan Center Business Park in Hartselle. This approximately 135 acre park offers opportunities for light manufacturing, logistics and office companies to make a home in Morgan County. The park is located almost in the geographic center of Morgan County and the Southeast region of the United States. Morgan Center Business Park is right off U.S. Interstate 65 Exit 325. It is within 25 miles of easy access to commercial air, water and land transportation routes. The Public Port Facility in Mallard Fox Creek Industrial Park is 20 miles north, and the Huntsville International Airport is 25 miles northeast. No current companies have taken up residence in the Morgan Center Business Park, but all the utility infrastructure for an office or light industrial building are already in place. The Morgan Center Business Park was recognized with an Alabama AdvantageSite designation. AdvantageSite is an industrial preparedness program committed to making Alabama more suitable for companies. This program requires
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proposed industrial sites to meet certain zoning, accessibility, infrastructure, geotechnical and environmental requirements. “This designation will help Morgan Center gain the attention of prospects as we market the site to companies and site location consultants,� said Jeremy Nails, president of MCEDA in a press release.
Hartselle Chamber of Commerce
The purpose of the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce is to promote the economic and social well being of the people of the Hartselle area. The Hartselle Area Chamber promotes Free Enterprise and the Constitution of the United States. Telephone: Local – 256-773-4370, Toll Free: 1-800-294-0692 Website: www.hartsellechamber.com Staff President – Susan Hines Administrative Assistant – Tiffany Johnson Board members Chairman of the Board – Dwight Tankersley – United Country – Four Oaks Realty and Auction Immediate Past Chairman of the Board - Mark Waters – Valley Rubber Chair Elect - Rob Payne – Edward Jones Investment Secretary/ Treasurer - Ken Doss – Retired
Board of Directors: Larry Murphree – Award Graphics Nancy Busby – Coldwell Banker – Team Hartselle Real Estate Randy Garrison – Hartselle Enquirer Les McCollum – Individual Janan Downs – Zoey’s Downtown Daniel Copeland – Copeland Classic Cleaners Arthur Peck – Peck Funeral Home
Department of Development The Department of Development encompasses building inspection; planning and zoning; nuisance abatement; GIS mapping; development marketing; and special projects administration. The department serves as the first point of contact for a wide array of specialized areas, and is available to assist with questions related to zoning, building permits, and new residential or commercial development. Feel free to contact the department office at 256-773-0188. Building Department The Building Department is responsi-
ble for inspections and permit issuances within the City of Hartselle. Inspections are performed on new construction as well as room additions and alterations on residential and commercial structures. Other responsibilities within the Building Department include: • Processing and approving new construction permit applications •Reviewing construction drawings •Issuing Building Permits •Interpreting Building Code The Building Department is also responsible for Code Enforcement, which is primarily responsible for investigating and acting on code violations. Planning The Planning Office is within the Department of Development and is the point of contact for all planning, subdivision and zoning issues or questions. This office maintains the Hartselle Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations, and city GIS. Staff of this office serve as advisor to the Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Adjustment, CBD Design Review Board, and City Council on all planning-related matters.
July 2014-June 2015 • 17
Education
Hartselle High School Location: 1000 Bethel St., Hartselle, AL Grades: 9-12 Principal: Jeff Hyche Teaching staff: 76 Support staff: 25 Hartselle High School is a fully accredited ninth through 12th grade facility located in the heart of the Tennessee Valley in Morgan County. The 2014-2015 school year will be the 34th year that Hartselle has been a high school within the Hartselle City School System. Prior to that, our school was known as Morgan County High School. This year, we are serving 975 students with approximately 95 teachers and staff. Hartselle High offers a full range of opportunities academically, athletically and socially. We have extensive advanced placement courses giving students the opportunity to do collegelevel work and earn college credit hours while still in high school. The school also provides an exceptional performing arts department allowing students to participate in voice, musical instruments, visual arts and drama. We also have seven career academy clusters that are fully business-and-industry certified and prepare students for college programs and careers in business, engineering, IT, teaching, healthcare, agriculture and the fine arts. The strongest testimony to the success 18 • July 2014-June 2015
of our students lies in the fact that the vast majority pursues a post-secondary education. Our graduates are well prepared to succeed in college and future careers. In 2014, Hartselle was named a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and U.S. News and World Report ranked the school No. 9 out of all the public and private schools in Alabama. Secondary only to our strong academic curriculum are the opportunities afforded our students athletically. Our female students compete with other high schools in basketball, volleyball, softball, track, tennis, soccer, golf, swimming, diving, dance team and cheerleading. Our male students compete in football, basketball, baseball, soccer, golf, wrestling, tennis, track, swimming and diving. Hartselle High has a long tradition of excellence on the playing field – winning numerous state championships in our 33 years including recent championships in softball 2014, baseball 2009 and 2013, volleyball 2012, girls’ golf in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 and football in 2011. Most importantly, our students are taught to win or lose with dignity and pride in themselves and their school. The opportunities provided for our students to grow socially come from a wide array of activities and clubs that are available to all who wish to participate. Service and social clubs actively promote community involvement and volunteerism in our students. Events such as homecoming, the junior-senior prom and many others allow our faculty and students to work together outside
of the classroom. Many of the best and most memorable lessons in life come from these social interactions. Organizations: Ambassadors, Art Club, Band, Book Study, Boys Tennis, Chess Club, Choirs, Color Guard, Cross Country, Debate Club, DECA, Drama, Engineering Club, Environmental Club, FBLA, FCA, FCCLA, FFA, Fishing Team, Freshman Basketball, Future Teachers of Alabama, Girls Tennis, Golf (boys), Golf (girls), HOSA, Interact Club, Journalism, JV Baseball, JV Boys Basketball, JV Cheer, JV Football, JV Girls BBall, JV Softball, JV Volleyball, Key Club, Latin Club, Majorette, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, Outdoorsman Club, SADD, Scholar Bowl, Senior Girls, SGA, Spanish Club, Tiger Buddies, Track & Field, Varsity Baseball, Varsity Boys Basketball, Varsity Boys Soccer, Varsity Cheer, Varsity Girls BBall, Varsity Girls Soccer, Varsity Football, Varsity Softball, Volleyball, Wrestling and Yearbook Hartselle Junior High School Location: 904 Sparkman St. SW, Hartselle, AL Grades: 7-8 Principal: Robbie Smith Teaching Staff: 31 Support Staff: 12 Mission statement: The mission of Hartselle Junior High School is See Schools, Page 19
Schools to encourage, educate and empower students to become productive individuals in today’s challenging society. Philosophy: We, the faculty of Hartselle Junior High School, believe the purpose of education in our school is to provide the positive environment and motivation for each individual to develop his capabilities and skills to the fullest so that he may become an effective citizen of society. The faculty strives to develop an individual who has an open mind, a respect for himself and others, a willingness to examine all sides of a question, and a desire to use the democratic process in settling problems. In encouraging the development of the individual, we strive to meet his basic needs including love, acceptance, security, protection, independence, faith, guidance and control. We recognize the worth and individuality of each student and accept the fact that each is valuable and should be accepted for what he can contribute.
Continued from Page 18 We seek to provide a desirable balance among activities designed to enhance the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains. We desire to utilize technology as an effective tool for learning. S p o r t s : basketball, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track, crosscountry, basketball, volleyball, wrestling, cheerleading. Fine Arts: Art I, II, III, beginning band, concert band, seventh and eighth grade chorus, drama
Noteworthy: The 2014-2015 school year will be the second year of Hartselle Intermediate School. The school was created after Hartselle High School moved to its new campus in April 2013. Hartselle Junior High School will be Hartselle Intermediate School moving to the old high school campus on Sparkman Street SW beginning with Location: Pettain Street, Hartselle, AL 2013-2014 school year. Grades: 5-6 Principal: Gaylon Parker See Schools2, Page 20
July 2014-June 2015 • 19
Schools2
Barkley Bridge Elementary
Continued from Page 19 Ribbon School. The honor was conferred in Washington, D.C., in November 2011, and a banner hangs in the school to commemorate the achievement. In December 2010, BBES was awarded the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence “Lighthouse School” Award for its academic accomplishments, parental involvement and staff performance. The No Child Left Behind Act required that teachers have specific degrees or pass content competency tests in order to be classified as highly qualified. All of the teachers at BBES are highly qualified and have been for several years. 2014-2015 – Barkley Bridge is a STEM School (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) under AMSTI and the Project Lead the Way program and is a Pre-K site under Alabama’s First Class Pre-K program.
Location: 2333 Barkley Bridge Road, Hartselle, AL Grades: Pre-K-4 Principal: Susan Hayes (entering 12th year as school principal) Teaching Staff: 27 Support Staff: 8 Sports: Physical Education Program and Track Club Clubs and organizations: Extended Day Program, Outdoor Classroom, Career Clubs, Math Team, an Active PTO Crestline Elementary School Noteworthy: BBES is a U.S. Department of Education National Blue Location: 600 Crestline Drive SE,
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Hartselle, AL Grades: K-4 Mission statement: The mission of Crestline Elementary School is to provide an active, positive and challenging environment that promotes a community of lifelong learners. Principal: Robin Varwig Teaching staff: 43 Support staff: 20 Clubs and organizations: Crestline See Schools3, Page 21
Schools3 happenings and PTO. Community services: Hope Chest and Jump Rope for Heart. Noteworthy: Crestline Elementary School was just recently named a Blue Ribbon Lighthouse School. All Crestline teachers meet or exceed the standards of Highly Qualified as required by the No Child Left Behind Act. Crestline is certified as an Alabama Math, Science & Technology Initiative (AMSTI) School. As a result of AMSTI training sessions, teachers now have new resources and teaching skills in which to better implement math, science and technology throughout the curriculum. This benefits the students because they are more actively involved in the learning taking place in the classroom. Crestline is also an Alabama Reading Initiative School, Although its teachers already use many of the techniques that are common to A.R.I., this training makes sure that all of the teachers are using the same approach to learning and that the curriculum from one grade to the next will mesh for a smooth transition.
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F.E. Burleson Elementary School Location: 1110 Bethel Road NE, Hartselle, AL Grades: K-4 (one pre-k class) Principal: Sherry Calvert Teaching Staff: 33 Support Staff: 13 Mission statement: The mission of F.E. Burleson Elementary School is that all learners, through high expectations and effort, are encouraged to strive for excellence. Organizations: PTO, Watchdog Dads. Each grade level participates in a service-learning project each 9 weeks. Partners in Education: People’s Bank
of Alabama and Landscape Impact History: F.E. Burleson Elementary School can trace its history directly to the very beginning of formal education in the City of Hartselle. Its predecessor, Hartselle Male and Female College, operated on the school’s old College Street site in the 1870s. The old school building that still stands opened in 1916 and operated as a public school until the last day of the 2000-2001 school year. In 1967, the name of the school was changed to F.E. Burleson Elementary in honor of Professor Forest Emory Burleson who served as its principal for over 30 years. Noteworthy: F.E. Burleson Elementary School was awarded the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence “Lighthouse School” Award in 2011. It is also an Alabama Reading Initiative, AMSTI school, 21st Century Community Learning Center and a 7 Habits School. It also received a National Green Ribbon School Award in 2014 for its environmental education and being environmentally friendly.
July 2014-June 2015 • 21
Hartselle City Schools implements BYOD policy
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eachers in Hartselle City Schools are learning to embrace electronic devices in the classroom instead of banning them. To demonstrate this, teachers representing all six city schools held two Tech Nights during the summer. Hartselle High teacher Houston Blackwood said the teachers are looking at applications that are web-based so that they can be operated using any type of device. “We don’t want to promote one device over another,” Blackwood said. “We’re wanting to use programs that can be used on any device. And that’s why we’re looking at web-based applications. Blackwood will be demonstrating how his classes use Google Drive in his classrooms. He said it’s been good for students collaborating in and out of the classroom. “The students can work on it any-
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where at anytime as long as they have access to the Internet on their device,” Blackwood said. “One student even had a Windows phone and they were still able to pull up Google Drive and work on it at the same time. “I even had a student who was collaborating with her classmates even though she was in the hospital. It really helps those students who may be home-bound or are out of class that day at school.” Kristi Greeson, foreign language teacher at HHS, said she an app called Socrative that allows students to directly interact with her during classroom
activities. But she added that others were using similar applications. “Math teachers are even using a program that they use at colleges,” Greeson said. “A teacher can give the students a problem and ask them to show their work. Then at the end, the teacher can share anonymously a student’s solution on the board and they can work through it together.”
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Parks and Recreation
Parks have something for everyone
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t doesn’t matter whether you like baseball, softball, football, soccer, running, walking, swimming or even Frisbee golf or skateboarding. There’s a good chance anyone in Hartselle can find something to do in Hartselle’s park and recreation facilities. Frank Miller, director of Hartselle’s park and recreation department, said the parks have been one of the biggest draws for visitors to the city. According to a study by the North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments in 2000, Hartselle’s parks brought in as many as 20,000 people. “It was 20,000 then, and I think it’s closer to 35,000 now,” Miller said. See Parks, Page 25
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Parks Hartselle’s parks are among some of the best in the state. The department manages 160 acres of land, most of which is at Sparkman Park. Other areas include the soccer fields located near Sparkman Park and the baseball and softball practice fields near Hartselle Utilities. There are a 3/4-mile walking track, six baseball fields, four softball fields, one youth football and 10 soccer fields. Miller said they keep the fields in good condition and it makes a positive impact on the teams that play here. “I think it really makes a difference. especially when they play at the district and state levels,” Miller said. “When we have nice facilities, I think it helps our kids work a little harder and play better when they’re out there.” Keeping the fields upto-date have also allowed Hartselle to host several major tournaments. Last year, it hosted a Dixie Youth State Tournament and will host the 8-andunder southeast regional tournament. In all, Miller estimated that at least 1,500 players
Continued from Page 24 signed up to participate in sports with the city. One thing that has also impacted that number is the success of the city’s high school teams. “When we won state championships in baseball, we’ve always seen a spike in interest in baseball,” Miller said. “I expect to see the same thing with football this fall after Hartselle won its first state championship. Our baseball and softball teams have a chance to win state championships this year. So I expect our numbers to be up.” One of the other main attractions is the city’s walking trail. “We have people walking or running out here starting at about 4 a.m. and here until 10 at night,” Miller said. The city also has one of the finest Frisbee golf courses around. In fact, it has been used for the U.S. Women’s Open a couple of years ago. “We have hundreds of people play Frisbee golf every day,” Miller said. “I never knew there were so many people who were interested in that. “There’s just something for everyone here.” July 2014-June 2015 • 25
Aquatic Center setting records H
artselle usually draws a large crowd each summer to its city pool. Park and Recreation director Frank Miller hoped that number would double before the season. It appears that he got his wish. The record-breaking hot temperatures of June and early July combined with the amenities of a new mini-water park have kept the cash register ringing loudly at the Hartselle Aquatic Center this summer. “Everything has exceeded expectations,” said former Hartselle Mayor Dwight Tankersley. ”It’s been a very successful season so far, and I’ve heard nothing but positive feedback from the public.” “We’ve been blessed with perfect weather – hot days and plenty of sunshine,” pointed out Lacey Garnett, aquatic center manager. “We’ve had toad to shut down early once because of stormy weather.” “Attendance has been very heavy, especially on Fridays,
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Saturdays and Sundays,” she added. “We have 1,700 family members who are using the facilities with their season passes, and we’ve never before issued more than 450 family passes. We also have had parties booked every weekend.” Garnett said the center is attracting customers with a wide variety of interests. “The little kids enjoy playing with the spray toys; older kids prefer the diving boards and water slides; and others prefer floating on the Lazy River or lounging in the sun,” she said. “We really do have something for every member of the family. “I’m glad Hartselle has a facility like this and that I’m able to be a part of it,” she added. “It’s 10 times better than it was before.” The play pool is a zero-entry pool that has a number of splash-pad, water-spraying features. The competition pool features eight 25-yard lanes with a 10-foot diving well on one end.
City has some of finest facilities in area
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he City of Hartselle boasts some of the best park facilities and recreation in the Tennessee Valley. Sports and recreation are an integral part of the community in Hartselle. From Sparkman Park and J.P. Cain Stadium – the home of the reigning 2011 Class 5A football state champions – to several top notch golf courses, Hartselle has a little of everything to offer. The newest addition to the the area’s park and recreation facilities is the $3 million Hartselle Aquatic Center, which includes new slides, a play pool and a lazy river for relaxation. Sparkman Civic Center is a busy facility throughout the year. From hosting indoor sporting events to concerts to its senior facility, the city has much for its citizens. Sparkman Park also features numerous baseball fields from the high school competition Reuben Sims Field all the way down to tee ball. See Facilities, Page 28 July 2014-June 2015 • 27
Facilities
Continued from Page 27
The park also features a Frisbee golf course and a large soccer complex on Groover Road. The Grady and Margie Long Complex offers softball fields, a community football field and soccer field. The Walker fields near downtown Hartselle offer two lighted soccer fields while the Legion Field complex offers practice baseball fields and a mini skate park. Also one of the main draws to Hartselle is the John Mark Stallings Special Needs Accessible Playground, located behind Sparkman Civic Center. In addition to these parks, the area also offers exciting golf courses and country clubs that residents can be members of.
J.P. Cain Stadium
Friday night football in Hartselle is the highlight of the week as summer turns to fall. Newcomers to Hartselle find it hard to believe how the town’s folk support
Hartselle High football. It is so ingrained that no one asks what your plans are for Friday night. If the Tigers are playing in town, J.P. Cain Stadium will be full. While the tailgates are let down and the crowd continues to gather, the sound of the band marching in can be heard. Shortly before 6 p.m. the Tigers walk over from the high school and parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and friends form a welcoming line to cheer them on and show their support for the team as they get ready to warm up on the field. As the clock counts down to game time, the stands continue to fill. By kickoff, the stands are full along with areas on the home side of the track. The student section is packed and loud, cheering on their Tigers. As each touchdown is added to the scoreboard, the fans’ support builds, even if by a slim chance the scoreboard isn’t in favor of the home team, fans continue to
urge the players on. After the halftime show the band plays a fight song in front of the stands that even pulls men in their seventies to their feet dancing to the music. The smiles on the faces of the fans give proof to the good time being had by all and how much they enjoy Friday night football. As the second half draws to a close and the whistle blows, fans are already making plans for next week’s game as they make their way down the steps of the stadium. The support of the team is not yet over as many of the fans wait inside the stadium to congratulate the team as they leave the locker room and make their way back to the school. Pats on the back and good games can be heard as the players move through the crowd. Yes, Friday nights are alive in Hartselle especially those that take place in the months of August, September, October and even November. So, if it’s Friday night during the fall, it is the place to be.
Product Example
Haul Truck Liner Valley Rubber’s 6 inch thick rubber liners protect this truck that has a payload of 250 tons.
3899 Highway 31 North Falkville, AL 35622 256.784.5231
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SNAP Best in Aquatics
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he “John Mark Stallings Special Needs Accessible Playground (SNAP) of Morgan County” Splash Pad has been recognized by Aquatics International magazine as a “Best of Aquatics” facility for 2011. This nationwide competition celebrates the industry’s outstanding aquatics facilities of all varieties — including government, nonprofit and privately owned operations. Entries are judged on programming, promotional materials, aquatic amenities and community involvement. A panel of distinguished aquatics professionals independently chose SNAP as the best in class over all other spray park facilities that entered the contest. “This project is an inspiration,” said one of the judges. “Designing for universal accessibility requires foresight and careful planning. Kudos to the development team.” Visit www.snapplayground.org for more information and send donations to: SNAP of Hartselle, Inc., P. O. Box 512, Hartselle, Alabama 35640. SNAP is 501c3 approved for tax-deductible donations. July 2014-June 2015 • 29
Golfing in the Hartselle area Quail Creek Golf Resort and Conference Center
Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains is nw of North Alabama’s best-kept secrets. This recreational treasure created from the vision of one man and his family is known as Quail Creek Golf Course and Conference Center. Quail Creek began as a nine-hole course in 1993. Today the USGA rated course plays at a par of 71 with eighteen-holes over 6520 yards. In the beginning Quail Creek was just golf, today Quail Creek is home to Golf Course, the Conference Center and the INN, INSTEP Leadership Training,Unison Church Consulting, Quail Creek Weddings, Quail Creek Ministries and The Church at Quail Creek. Other Quail Creek amenities in30 • July 2014-June 2015
clude a pro shop, snack bar, driving range and “The Masters Golf Academy.” There is simply no better way to enjoy a beautiful day in North Alabama than by playing a round at Quail Creek Golf Course.You will find generous fairways, fresh water ponds, and manicured greens. Quail Creek is conveniently located only 3 1/2 miles off of Interstate I-65. Turn east and follow the signs off either exit 322 or 325. Quail Creek is a great place to enjoy weekend fun with family and friends. It is also a great way to relax after a long day at work. Quail Creek offers an 18-hole championship golf course, driving range, practice putting greens, chipping area, and Pro Shop. Quail Creek offers individual, senior, family, corporate memberships as well as the Quail Creek discount card.
Website: http://www.quailcreek.com/
Burningtree Country Club Burningtree Country Club’s Golf Course is 18 holes of challenging, competitive golf for players of all ages and skill levels. mature, traditional. That’s Burningtree, a course featuring Champion Bermuda greens and 419 Bermuda fairways, providing you with optimal playing conditions for all skill levels. Spread out on 150 acres, Burningtree is roomier than any course in town. The practice facilities include a 300-plus-yard driving range, along with putting and chipping greens. Our Pro Shop offers the convenience of lockers, club repair, shoe care, bag storage, USGA handicap services and more. Our profesSee Golf, Page 31
Parks sional staff is ready to serve you by providing a pleasant atmosphere, along with the expertise to assist in all of your golf instructional needs. Burningtree Country Club offers a competitive tournament schedule for the entire family, with a mixture of social events for your enjoyment. Website: btcountryclub.com
Decatur Country Club Decatur Country Club’s well groomed, 6,100-yard executive golf course is conveniently located in beautiful southeast Decatur, Ala. close to residential areas and a very short drive from the residential, commercial and industrial areas of Decatur, Hartselle, and Madison. You can leave home or work and be ready to tee off in a matter of minutes on our short but very challenging course, The course is relatively flat and lends itself to easy walking for golfers of all ages. Rounds
Continued from Page 30 are easily completed in 3 1/2 – 4 hours, even on weekends, leaving more time to spend with your family and friends or playing more golf at the club. The course was rebuilt in 1994 and is defined by fast, bent grass greens with subtle, hard to read breaks. Our narrow bermuda fairways and bermuda rough considerably increase the difficulty of our golf course. Our golf course is an excellent in-town venue for golf outings and charity events and is fun to play even for golfers of moderate skill levels. The Club’s course is short by today’s standards and does not offer a multitude of rewards to the purely long ball hitter, although length is very important on certain holes. The course does force the golfer to be accurate and to fully develop their short game to be successful. It is especially appealing to middle aged and senior golfers and to our lady golfers, most of whom walk the course while playing. With today’s new club technology,
almost anyone can hit a long ball, but only a few possess the true skills of a shot making purist. It’s not how far you can drive the ball, it’s the skill behind the club that will challenge golfer’s at Decatur Country Club. Website: www.decaturcountryclub.org
Point Mallard Golf Course Point Mallard Golf Course is open daily at 7:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. during daylight saving time. Located on the Tennessee River and Flint Creek, 200 acres of wooded flatlands surround Point Mallard’s championship course. The scenic course is open daily, has a USGA rating of 73.2 (based on a par of 72) and a slope rating of 124. Other course facilities include: Driving Range, Clubhouse, Pro Shop, Restrooms, Shower Facilities, Mallard Grille with Patio. Website: www.pointmallardpark.com/ golf-course.php
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Celebrating our city’s heritage T
hree decades ago a mule fancier named Eddie Craft had the bright idea of bringing the first annual Alabama Draft Horse and Mule Show to Hartselle. It didn’t take long for the idea to sprout roots. Hartselle was not far removed from being a farm town. A few years earlier, farm folks flocked to town on Saturdays to buy provisions, watch a movie, get a haircut and a shave and play a game or two of pool. A whittler’s bench at the old gin scales was the place to be if you wanted to trade a knife, swap political talk or crack a joke. You could buy a slice of hoop cheese at Stewart & Bennett’s, a pair of overalls at E.R. See Heritage, Page 33 32 • July 2014-June 2015
Heritage
Continued from Page 32
Roberts or a Coke float at Fowler’s Rexall Drugs. Now why wouldn’t a Mule Days festival be a barrel of fun? Main Street was lined with onlookers for the first annual Mule Days Street Parade. They gawked and reminisced as wagon after wagon pulled by mules and horses rolled down Main Street. Riders sat proudly dressed in overalls, white shirts and straw hats. They included bank presidents, merchants and elected officials. Later in the day, half the town turned out at the Morgan County Sheriff’s Posse Grounds to witness show animals competing in show and weight—pulling classes and being sold at auction. What was being witnessed at that time was the forerunner to Hartselle’a Depot Days celebration. The crowds are now bigger. Food and merchandise vendors have been added. There’s a tractor show, car, truck and bike show, stage entertainment, 5K run, children’s rides and games and much more. The focus is still on attracting widespread interest to Hartselle’s business community by giving visitors a fun time for the family. If you’ve never taken in a Depot Days festival, this year is a good time to start. Depot Days will be held Sept. 13-20.
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Religion
Getting that Old Time Religion R
ob Cain remembers the day like it was yesterday when he met Jesus at the Hartselle Camp Meeting tabernacle. It was a morning session in 1980. There were only about 20 to 25 people there under the roof of the old-fashioned church house. It didn’t matter that he and his good buddy, Ron Puckett, were the only two young people in the service, but he knew something was different about this day. “I just knew something had to change in my life,” Cain said. “I just felt like it was time to stop playing church and really get serious about my relationship with God.” That morning the minister, Roy McKinney, spoke on the topic of sanctification, which means to be made holy. Although the sermon wasn’t necessarily one of salvation, Cain felt the tugging on his spirit. So when the invitation was given that day, he stood up, went down to the old wooden altar and prayed. “I realized that I had to get right at that moment,” Cain said. “Before I went down to pray, I felt like I was worried about dying and not knowing Jesus. I knew I wasn’t saved. But once I got through, I knew that a change had just happened. I knew I was saved. “I wasn’t worried any more. I knew everything was OK. I can look back on my life and there was a change from that moment.”
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Cain began his journey of following Christ like many before and many since have done under the Hartselle Camp Meeting tabernacle. Now, Cain is the president of the camp’s board of directors along with his long-time buddy, Puckett, who is also the chief of police in Hartselle. Down through the years, the campgrounds have been a place where many have come to know the Lord, and for Cain, it’s a special place because it’s where he first found God. “There is just something special about being here on the camp grounds,” Cain said. “God just feels so close when you’re here. It’s just a feeling that you can’t get just anywhere. Many people’s lives have been changed including my own.” Hartselle Camp Meeting will be celebrating its 115th year of operation this year, and it hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. In addition to the camp meeting that lasts one week out of the year, Cain said they will offer more youth camps throughout the summer. “When I was young, I always loved being here for the summer,” Cain said. “It’s a place I never wanted to leave. There were so many great memories, and now we’re getting to do the things that we wished were available when we were in school.”
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Religion ASSEMBLIES OF GOD First Assembly of God 2222 Hwy. 31N Hartselle 256-773-8880
Hartselle 256-502-8036 Calvary Baptist Corsbie St. Hartselle 256-773-5187
1030 Main St. E. Hartselle 256-773-4157
Walker NE Hartselle 256-773-7901
Falkville First Baptist 305 East Main St. Falkville 256-784-5827
Hopewell Baptist Hwy. 36 W. Hartselle 256-773-8123
Falkville Mill Creek Baptist Rt. 2 Falkville Mt.View Baptist Oden Ridge
BAPTIST Andrews Chapel Baptist Andrews Road Danville 256-462-3059
Cedar Creek Freewill Baptist Hwy. 31S Hartselle 256-773-2603
First Baptist 210 Woodland St. Hartselle 256-7735500
Lawrence Cove Baptist 142 Pine Burr Rd. Eva 35621 256-502-1777
Mt. Zion Baptist Mt. Zion Rd. Hartselle 256-773-8997
Bethel Baptist Church Bethel Road Hartselle 256-773-2154
Danville Baptist Hwy. 36W Danville 256-773-5059
Flint Baptist Church 4119 US Hwy 31 S Decatur,AL 35603 256-353-7429
Lebanon Baptist Barkley Bridge Road Hartselle 256-784-5841
New Center Baptist 587 Church Rd. Hartselle 256-773-8733
Bethlehem Baptist Hwy. 36E Hartselle 256-773-5042
Deer Springs Baptist Church 4961 Hwy. 31 S, Decatur 256-350-9090
Gum Springs Baptist Gum Springs Rd. Hartselle 256-778-7009
Liberty Baptist Lane Rd. Hartselle 256-773-1620
New Hope North Missionary Wilhite Station Rd. Falkville 256-739-0188
Hartselle Missionary Baptist
Lighthouse Baptist Church
Bible Baptist Hwy. 36W
East Highland Baptist
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Oden Ridge Baptist
Rt. 1, Eva 256-287-1249 Pines Baptist Church Pines Church Road Somerville Pine Street Independent Baptist Falkville 256-747-4627 Resurrection Baptist Church 1604 Pine Rd. Somerville 256-778-9963 Rock Springs Baptist Church 525 Rock Springs Rd. Hartselle 256-773-8994 See Church, Page 37
Church Rural Grove Baptist 5109 Old Rural Grove Road Decatur 256-612-0266 Serenity Baptist Church Perkins Wood Road Hartselle Shady Grove Baptist Danville Rd. Hartselle 256-773-5648 Shiloh Baptist Hwy. 36E Somerville 256-778-8627 Shoal Creek Baptist Shoal Creek Rd., Decatur 256-353-7956 Somerville Baptist Somerville 256-778-8844 Southwest Baptist 1705 Ridgedale Dr. 256-773-5994 Tunsel Road Baptist Church 1405 Tunsel Road SW 256-773-4685 Twin Oaks Baptist Church 1160 West Lacon Rd. Falkville 256-739-1745
Continued from Page 36 Walnut Grove Baptist Bethel Rd. Priceville 256-773-3247 West Hartselle Baptist Hwy. 36W Hartselle 256-773-6086 Westmeade Baptist Church, 2030 Beltline Rd. SW. Decatur 256-353-8239 Westside Baptist Hwy. 55 Eva 256-796-7081 Victory Independent Baptist Tapscott Rd. 256-309-7091 CHRISTIAN Cedar Plains Christian Church Cedar Plains Road Falkville Falkville Christian Ministry 256-739-5214 First Christian Church of Hartselle 209 E. Main St. Hartselle 256-773-6911 Hartselle Christian Church 905 W. Main St. 256-773-2009
New Ebenezer Christian Church 1868 Hwy. 157 (Campground) Falkville Piney Grove Christian Church Piney Grove Rd. Falkville Valhermoso Springs First Christian Church Hwy. 36,Valhermoso Springs CHURCH OF CHRIST Florette Church of Christ Hwy. 67, Florette 256-747-8962 Hartselle Church of Christ 320 S. Sparkman Hartselle 256-773-6124
Somerville 256-778-8700 Westview Church of Christ Vaughn Bridge Rd. Hartselle 256-773-3241 CHURCH OF GOD Christ Fellowship Church 1708 Hwy. 31 SW Hartselle 256-773-8008 Church of God 927 Midway St. Hartselle 256-773-8001 Fairview Church of God 4154 Huckaby Bridge Rd. Falkville 256-784-5642 First Church of God
Hartselle 256-773-2345
1038 W. Main St. Hartselle 256-773-5133
LUTHERAN Christ our Redeemer Lutheran Church 721 Picken Street Hartselle 256-773-2121
Pattillo St. Church of God 807 Pattillo Hartselle 256-773-2478
METHODIST Antioch United Methodist Rt. 3 Antioch Rd. Somerville
Somerville Church of God Somerville 256-778-8782 United Church of God Hwy. 67 Somerville EPISCOPAL St. Barnabas Episcopal 1450 Sparkman St. SW Hartselle 256-773-4206 JEHOVAHĂS WITNESS Hartselle Kingdom Hall 70 New Center Road
Center Springs United Methodist River Rd. Somerville 256-778-8261 Cotaco United Methodist Collins Hill Rd. Somerville 256-778-8573 See Church2, Page 38
Pennylane Church of Christ 615 Pennylane S.E. Hartselle 256-773-5654 Somerville Church of Christ 7 Franklin Street Somerville 256-751-9534 Union Church of Christ Hwy. 36E
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Church2 Danville United Methodist Hwy. 36 Danville 256-773-2454 Falkville First United Methodist 253 East Main St. Falkville 256-616-3347 First Independent Methodist 103 Oxmoor Rd., Decatur First United Methodist 210 E. Hickory Hartselle 256-773-6952 Forrest Chapel UMC Forrest Chapel Rd. Hartselle 256-773-2730 Gandyís Cove United Methodist Chruch 186 Gandyís Cove Road Falkville 256-482-2057 Johnson Chapel United Methodist Church 1260 N Johnson Chapel Rd. Danville,AL 256-773-4316
2795 Hwy. 55W Danville 256-462-3302 Moss Chapel United Methodist Moss Chapel Rd. Hartselle Mt. Pleasant CME 423 Bethel NE Hartselle 256-773-7430 Neel United Methodist Church 6991 Danville Road Hartselle Oak Ridge United Methodist Norris Mill Rd. Pastor Mike Holland Salem United Methodist Church Barkley Bridge Road Hartselle 256-773-8030 Somerville United Methodist Church West End United Methodist 413 St. Clair Hartselle NAZARENE First Church of the Nazarene 739 Main St.W Hartselle 256-773-6987
McKendree Methodist
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Continued from Page 37 OTHER Mountaintop Christian Church 780 Burt Stinson Road Falkville 256-612-1197 Bible Way House of Prayer Full Gospel 3148 Ironman Road Punkin Center 256-751-1190 Break-Through Ministry for Christ 805 Midway Street Hartselle 256-773-5683 Church of Living God Somerville 256-778-7601 Church at Quail Creek Located at Quail Creek Golf Resort 256-784-5033 Danville Old Time Holiness Hwy. 36 Danville Faith Independent Church Old Hwy. 31, Lacon Faith Chapel Praise Center Hwy. 36 West Hartselle Faith Outreach Covenant International
Ministries 600 Sparkman St. NW Hartselle 256-621-1517 Harmony Grove Church Kirby Bridge Rd. Danville 256-751-1385 Journey Church 3683 Eva Road, Eva 256-796-1112 Living By Faith 228 East Parker Rd. Hartselle 256-773-9523 New Covenant 918 Slate St. SW Hartselle 256-751-0614 Oakville Christian Faith Center 55 County Rd. 205 Danville
256-974-0974 Powell Chapel Old Hwy. 31, Lacon 256-347-0452 Promise Land Church 107 W. Main St. Hartselle 256-773-6099 evenings Riverside Cathedral, 1404 Point Mallard Parkway Decatur 256-280-1852 Round Top Community Church 133 Roundtop Road Falkville 256-784-5060 Somerbrook Church of God of Prophecy 15 Brookwood Dr., Hwy 67 Somerville 256-778-9112
Victory Fellowship Church Hwy. 55 East Falkville 256-784-9067 World Harvest Outreach 119 Sparkman Hartselle 256-773-8472 PENTECOSTAL The Pentecostals of Hartselle 1004 Eubanks St. Hartselle PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian 406 N. Nelson Hartselle PROTESTANT Seventh Day Adventist Church 540 Beltline Rd. SW Decatur
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