Hartselle Living November/December

Jessica Smith,

Henr y, CRNP, Jeb Hornsby,MD, and Haley Hazen, CRNP

Amber Deline is at home on the basketball court and now leads the Lady Tigers as the team’s first female coach since 1977.

to page 23 to read the inspiring story that lead her to the helm of the Hartselle program.

Photo by Mariann Parker

Another six issues have come and gone. Another year is nearly over and we are about to embark on 2023. The realization of how quickly time passes makes me want to slow down and enjoy life a little bit more.

Scripture tells us our life is but a vapor. Are we using the time we have here preciously? Are we making an impact on those around us? As this year comes to a close, I wonder – what has it meant in the grand scheme of things?

In my 33 years on this earth – and in the five I’ve spent in Hartselle, in this role, in this community, in this job – have I had a positive, albeit small, impact on the world around me? I hope I have. I do know many people here who have impacted me, and it is those people for whom I will forever be thankful.

Consider this a ‘Thank You’ letter to end my fifth year in Hartselle, something I truly never expected to arrive. This magazine and the stories I am honored write, the people I count as valued friends through my job as the editor, have changed my life for the better in more ways than one.

I hope our hard work on Hartselle Living impacts you in some way, too. Even if it makes your day brighter or puts a smile on your face. If it encourages you to take a risk you wouldn’t normally take or introduces you to someone in your community you didn’t know before, I’ve done my job, and that’s enough for me.

Whatever your reason for picking up this issue, from the bottom of my heart, thanks for reading, rebekah.yancey@hartselleliving.com

& CULTURE

HARTSELLE LIVING CONTRIBUTORS

CONSTANCE SMITH, writer

Constance Smith is a lifestyle blogger and YouTuber at AGoodLifeFarm.com. After 25 years of Army family life, Constance has planted roots here in Hartselle. She now homesteads on her small farm, where she raises heritage breed animals and is focusing on permaculture gardening. In her spare time she enjoys photography, art, kayaking and other outdoor sports.

Administration

Jackson CONTACT US

Hartselle Newspapers, LLC 206 Cedar St. NW

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Phone: 256-773-6566 info@hartselleliving.com

Hartselle Living is published bimonthly Hartselle Newspapers, LLC.

A one-year subscription to Hartselle Living is $16.30 for 6 issues per year.

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To advertise or to get more copies, call 773-6566.

Copyright 2022 by Hartselle Newspapers, LLC

RUSSELL FRYE, writer

Russell Frye is a freelance sportswriter for the Hartselle Enquirer and Hartselle Living. He covers sports for Hartselle, Danville, Falkville, Brewer, and Priceville High Schools. He is married to Tammie and has three children, two who are grown, and Nastia who is in the eighth grade.

JODI HYDE, photographer

Jodi Hyde has a genuine love for the Lord and tries to shine His light in everything she does. Jodi loves outdoor activities and spending quality time with her family. As a photographer, Jodi manages to freeze life’s precious moments and capture them on camera. She loves meeting new people and being creative through her photography business. Hartselle is her hometown, and is currently where she resides, and where she loves to serve in the community.

JENNIFER SHERWOOD, photographer

Jennifer Sherwood has loved photography for as long as she can remember and has owned her own business for more than 14 years. She now owns a studio in Priceville. She most enjoys photographing people with their families and capturing their exciting and memorable life moments. She is married to Jeff and has four children, Aubrey, Emmy, Caleb and Ethan.

BY REBEKAH

BY MARIANN

Editorial

Rebekah Yancey

Contributors

Michelle Blaylock

Susan Hayes

Mariann Parker

Jim Meadows Marketing

Baretta Taylor

Anna Baker

Terri Haston

DDirecting the Hartselle High School marching band every Friday night, either at J.P. Cain Stadium or on the road is Hartselle senior Kenzie Barrier.

“It’s definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it’s also the most rewarding,” the 17-year-old honor student said. “It’s been my dream since freshman year, so it’s like all my dreams are coming true.”

Barrier plays the flute in concert band. Beginning in her freshman year, she became friends with the drum major, who also played the flute. When she became a junior, her best friend Claire Alford was selected as the drum major and Barrier worked as

her assistant. Through those experiences, Barrier said she got an up-close view of the hard work it takes to command the band.

“It’s very stressful and a whole lot of work, and it takes a special kind of person, but I know it’ll pay off,” she said. “You have to have a good understanding of marching and time and how it all works together.”

Barrier said the stress of the marching season culminated when the band traveled to Winfield High School Oct. 1 to compete against 11 other marching bands in the 16th Pirate Classic Band Competition.

Their hard work paid off in a big way with the Hartselle marching band winning Best in Class overall, Best in Class drum

major, Best in Class color guard and received all superior scores. Now, Barrier said, Friday nights after competition is over are less stress and a lot more fun.

Through her experience as the Hartselle drum major, Barrier said she has learned a lot about herself and all she is capable of achieving.

“I wasn’t really planning on studying music after high school before I was drum major and now, I just love kind of being in charge of it, I love leadership,” she said. “Being the drum major has really prepared me for that.”

Barrier said those leadership skills likely came from being the eldest of six children born to her parents Todd and Jonna Barrier.

I wasn’t really planning on studying music after high school before I was drum major and now, I just love kind of being in charge of it, I love leadership.

– Kenzie Barrier

“The leadership question was asked during my drum major interview and I’ve always said ‘Well, I have a lot of siblings,’” Barrier said with a laugh.

She said she has always tried to be a role model for her younger siblings: Greyson, Ellie, Harrison, Mollie and Jackson.

“I’m always on my best behavior – so it’s just engraved to be a good leader,” she added.

While she isn’t 100 percent set yet on what her plans are after graduation next spring, she said she is considering either The University of Alabama or Troy University where she would pursue a degree in education and music.

She attributes a portion of her success from the things she has learned while under the tutelage of Hartselle’s band director Randall Key.

“The band is made up of 65 percent eighth and ninth graders, so he had to completely build the band up,” Barrier said, adding she was “really worried” at the beginning of the school year.

“Seeing how he can make something so terrible into something so good and seeing the outcome of his handwork is really inspiring,” she said.

Key said it has been “amazing” to see Barrier watch her come

out of her shell from a shy, quiet girl to a leader through her time as the drum major.

“It’s intrinsically rewarding to watch that happen in a student,” Key said. “That’s the fun part of the job.”

Barrier has a lot of responsibilities that the public doesn’t see, Key added.

“She has a litany of responsibilities,” he said. “She is responsible for setting the standard for discipline, maintaining musical proficiency on her instrument, acting as assistant band director, organizing our indoor and outdoor rehearsal areas, setting up electronics for rehearsal, and is responsible for distributing music and drill sheets for our band. I am very proud of her and have so enjoyed witnessing her journey and seeing her develop into an outstanding leader on and off the field. She understands her role and applies the simple principle of leading by example.”

In her spare time, she said she enjoys reading historical and dystopian fiction. Barrier also plays the ukele, guitar, piano and she is learning the trumpet.

Barrier is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and the co-president of the SADD Club (Students Against Destructive Decisions.)

HEALTHY DECISIONS, CONVENIENT SOLUTIONS

Friends collaborate to impact women, families

STORY BY HANNAH BALLENGER PHOTOS BY JENNIFER SHERWOOD AND CONTRIBUTED

FFriends Whittney Bennich and Emily Norris joined together to make something for everyone with their businesses Fit Chic and Southern Fried Skinny in Hartselle in February 2021. Both with their own specialty and expertise, these ladies became acquainted through Fit Chic, which Whittney started in 2015 and immediately connected as friends which quickly developed into a major collaboration.

These are two businesses that operate in conjunction with one another to provide different services with the same goal: to guide and support others to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Both businesses work to be as accessible and accommodating as possible with no monthly or weekly drafted payments or contract.

Fit Chic maintains a month-to-month membership providing a schedule of 45-minute workout classes available and Southern Fried Skinny operates week to week with an evolving menu to provide healthy eating options to individuals or to families.

FIT CHIC

Prior to Fit Chic, Whittney had always enjoyed safe outdoor workouts in a ladies-only atmosphere. Seven years ago, she held her very first class.

“My first class I had 25 ladies; at that point, I knew this is exactly what the community needs,” Whittney said. She never imagined she would still be doing this seven years later.

To Whittney, Fit Chic is not just a typical gym, and she doesn’t operate it as such.

“Fit Chic not only provides a safe place for women of the community to workout but also to have a sense of belonging and builds friendship, confidence and encourages a healthy lifestyle,” she said. “It’s a place to blow off steam away from home and work and to be around like-minded ladies.”

Once the monthly schedule is published, members sign up for their classes online. Whittney and her team work fulltime jobs outside of Fit Chic; so, they keep the schedule accommodating to women who work or those who have husbands who work that you might need to be home to watch the kids while you go work out.

With nine trainers, Fit Chic is able to provide a wide variety of classes and services including personal training, group fitness, nutrition, pound fitness, behavior change modification, online coaching, yoga, barre and corrective exercise.

“We like to switch up every session, so our ladies don’t get tired of the same routine, she said. “Some days, we may meet indoors and use our equipment and other days we use body weight outside or picnic tables at the park.”

Whittney said the most important thing in working towards a healthier lifestyle is to be consistent and don’t get frustrated.

“Workout even when you don’t want to,” Whittney said. “It’s not an all or nothing lifestyle. Still enjoy all the things you love in moderation. When you fall, get back up, because we all fall. That is the biggest piece of advice, we all fall. We aren’t always going to be 100 percent. Try and keep trying. Find a support group that will cheer you on and hold you accountable.”

Fit Chic and Southern Fried Skinny have helped a lot of people to find that support system they needed, and they hope to continue to do so.

“It’s a close tie,” Whitney said. “I absolutely love seeing ladies succeed and strive to do the best for their health. But the lifetime friendships that are made within the group is pretty amazing.”

Whitney said when she and Emily met seven years ago, they instantly became best friends and when Emily was ready to look for an industrial kitchen to kick off Southern Fried Skinny in an official capacity, they knew it was the perfect collaboration and found a great spot for both of them.

SOUTHERN FRIED SKINNY

Emily had joined Fit Chic early on and was working fulltime in an office where she had started meal prep for herself and her husband. Her friends had noticed her meals and, before long, she was meal-prepping for them too.

“Thus, Southern Fried Skinny was born,” she said. After about two weeks of cooking for strangers, Emily realized this was an exciting new way that she could help people. She formed the LLC and began to spread the word operating via Facebook at the time and through word of mouth.

Emily said Fit Chic was already up and operating at full force when she realized it was no longer a small group she was fixing cooking for. She had upgraded to a rented food truck, but by 2021 – four years in the business – she had outgrown that and knew it was time to move to a facility.

It was at this point she and Whittney had discussed the idea of running in conjunction with each other and sharing some overhead costs.

“We dove in and haven’t looked back,” Emily said.

What started as a hobby and a favor to a few friends has become a business providing snacks, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even bulk family meals. Just like any facility in the food industry, Emily has inspections from the health department. There is an upwards of 500 servings a week leaving her kitchen at Southern Fried Skinny.

Emily works hard to provide a variety of pre-portioned, ready-made meals using healthy substitutions, helping to provide the community with options for healthier eating. Each meal has nutritional value labels with an expiration date for

each meal with microwave or oven safe packaging and heating instructions.

On average, Emily and her mother-in-law, Keli, who is her only employee, serves about 70 different households per month; some customers order every single week, some sporadically. Emily always tries to change up her menu, but she said they maintain a particularly long list of what her customers like and dislike.

“Since SFS is a weekly program and I do not require any commitments, my customers sometimes skip a week here and there,” she said. “I have a good number of customers who eat low carb so that makes a big difference in what I need to offer to reach the most people.”

Many of Emily’s recipes come from her many cookbooks or Pinterest and other social media sites, but she always tries to put her own twist on things. She frequently utilizes her husband as a taste tester before putting anything new to the weekly menus.

“I’ve taken online nutrition courses since starting just to better educate myself,” she continued. “I watch lots of videos and am always learning new things. I think the only person on my team that has special training is my CPA. She helps with spreadsheets, all my numbers, even packing for deliveries on Saturday.”

Growth has also happened for Emily, she has expanded her pick-up locations to Priceville, Madison, Athens and Decatur for her customer convenience.

Emily said she never imagined SFS would be what it is today.

“I never even imagined being a small business owner in the first place,” Emily said. “I joke that this all happened to me by accident but it’s true. I have blood sweat and tears in the business

and most of the time when I reflect on what I’ve worked to create, I’m proud to have built this from scratch.”

For anyone new to the SFS family Emily encourages them to be patient.

“It’s going to take a week or two to adjust your eating habits and retrain your stomach on what a portion looks like and how it feels,” she said. “It also takes time getting away from overly processed foods. 99% of what I’m sending out every week are whole foods.”

Emily loves what SFS has done for her not just for her health but as a connection to the community.

“The people I get to meet and hearing about the positive ways prepped food helps them is my favorite aspect of the business,” Emily said. “I love to help other people and this is another avenue for me to do that. I’ve met wonderful people and made amazing friends just through feeding people.”

Essentially Fit Chic and SFS are two separate businesses that cohabitate in a mutual atmosphere and love for promoting and helping to provide the opportunity of healthy lifestyles, but to Whittney and Emily their collaboration was not just for their finances but to provide a unique experience for their clientele, a hub that can provide multiple services with the same goals in mind. Their goal of providing direction and affordable options that no other facility can provide is something they continue to strive for and improve. When one is asked about the other, they know the ins and outs of one another and can help guide someone striving to do better for themselves to a point of loving themselves and having a support system that becomes like family.

SAVORING SOURDOUGH

STORY AND PHOTOS BY CONSTANCE SMITH

WWintertime is a great time to get into the kitchen and do some baking. It is also a great time to experiment with sourdough. I spent many years trying to master sourdough, continually making a simple mistake that caused my starter to fail. But now that I have figured it out, I love experimenting and coming up with ways to use it. These simple recipes are a great way to use up some of your extra starter (sourdough discard) that your family will absolutely love. You can find instructional videos for each of these recipes at AGoodLifeFarm.com

SOURDOUGH CRACKERS

These sourdough discard crackers are incredibly delicious. You can get creative with all sorts of seasonings and use this recipe for countless cracker varieties. They are great served with soups, or spread your favorite cheese & jam on them for a tasty snack. This recipe is best measured with a kitchen scale for precision.

INGREDIENTS

• 250 grams sourdough discard

• 120 grams all-purpose flour, unbleached, organic preferred

• 2 teaspoons everything bagel seasoning

• 50 grams extra virgin olive oil, plus additional (see instructions)

• 1 teaspoon sea salt, optional

INSTRUCTIONS

1. To begin, combine all the ingredients except the sea salt in a mixing bowl. Stir together.

2. Turn the dough out onto a lightly oiled surface and knead for about a minute.

3. Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl and allow it to rest for 30 minutes.

4. Preheat your oven to 400°(F).

5. Place the dough on a lightly floured sheet of parchment pa per that is the size of your baking sheet. Sprinkle with a tiny bit of flour.

6. Roll the dough out onto the parchment paper, getting it an even thickness and as rectangular as possible.

7. Use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into crackers that are about 1 1/4-1/2 inch squares.

8. Poke each cracker with a fork.

9. Slide the parchment paper onto your baking sheet.

Very lightly brush the tops of the crackers with a little addi tional extra virgin olive oil. Sprinkle with salt if you choose to.

Bake the crackers for anywhere between 8-20 minutes, or until they are just lightly golden. Watch carefully to make sure they do not burn.

Cool completely and enjoy! Store the crackers in an airtight container.

SOURDOUGH BISCUITS

These a light and flaky biscuits with that classic sourdough flavor. People are shocked when they see me cut them into squares, but when they see how easy it is, they usually wonder why they haven’t done that before!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 c all-purpose flour, unbleached

• 1/4 c unsalted butter, cold

• 1 Tb baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon salt, scant

• 1/4 c sourdough discard, plus

• 2 Tb sourdough discard, room temperature is best

• 2 Tb half & half, or milk

• 1 Tb unsalted butter, melted

INSTRUCTIONS

1. To begin, combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl.

Give it a quick stir.

2. Cut the butter into thin slices and drop it into the flour mixture.

3. Use a pastry blender to cut the butter into the flour until there are no pieces of butter that are larger than a pea. You could also freeze the butter and grate it instead, as another option.

4. Add in the sourdough discard and half & half.

5. Stir this until the dough begins to come together.

6. Turn the dough out onto a lightly oiled surface and knead it briefly.

7. Pat the dough out into a rectangle and then fold it on itself in thirds, like you are folding a letter to go in an envelope.

8. Roll the dough out into a rectangle that is about 4×8 inches, and slightly less than 3/4 inch thick.

9. Cut the dough into 8 squares.

10. Wrap the unbaked biscuits in parch ment or waxed paper and set them in the freezer for a few minutes.

11. Place your cast iron skillet in the oven, and preheat them both to 450°F.

12. Once they are heated, carefully ar range the biscuits in the hot skillet and bake for 12-14 minutes, or until they are just golden on top.

13. Brush the tops with melted butter.

14.

Exciting things are happening at your library

WWelcome to the William Bradford Huie Library update, we have quite a few exciting things to share. At the top of the list is a huge thank you to Sen. Arthur Orr. Senator Orr presented a check for our library at the city council Meeting Sept. 27. We thank him for his support of not only our library, but all the libraries in his district.

We were recently able to welcome Sarah Laughmiller as a full-time librarian. Thanks to the support of our city council, we were able to move Sarah from a parttime position to a full-time position. Sarah plans and implements most of our children’s programming. Starting in October, Sarah will be

BY MICHELLE BLAYLOCK LIBRARY MANAGER WILLIAM BRADFORD HUIE LIBRARY OF HARTSELLE

leading a Kid’s Book Club for third through fifth graders.

During the months of November and December, we have added a bow making and gift-wrapping class for adults. For children, we will be having a Polar Express day during Hartselle City Schools winter break. Also, Santa will be making a special appearance on Polar Express day. For a list of our programs, please stop by the library and pick up a monthly calendar or access them on the City of Hartselle’s Facebook page or Friends of Huie Library’s Facebook page. As always, please call the library for questions or to sign-up for painting classes.

We hope to see you soon at the library!

READ THIS BOOK

Must-read Christmas books:

All of the books below are fiction or non-fiction books that celebrate the holiday season. These books are perfect for getting into the spirit of the holidays.

From the librarians:

The William Bradford Huie Library of Hartselle is proud to offer readers recommendations from our librarians. These books are picked by Sarah Laughmiller, Chrissy Tucker and Alex VanKoughnett. Come into the Library to check these out and more.

“HOW THE VILLAINS RUINED CHRISTMAS”

By Serena Valentino and Joey Chou

Level: 5-8-years old

The villains are at it again! Maleficent, Captain Hook, Hades, the Queen, Ursula and Cruella are up to no good. With their minions in tow, the Disney villains are doing their very best to ruin Christmas for everyone. They’re causing Christmas chaos at every turn. The villains are ruining Christmas dinner, stealing presents from the Lost Boys and they even pretend to be Santa. Will they get away with their Christmas destruction? Check it out from the library to find out.

“JUST LIKE MAGIC”

By Sarah Hogle

Bettie Hughes is the person everyone in her family wants to be. According to social media, she’s rich and uses her money to travel all around the globe. However, that isn’t the reality of Bettie Hughes. She’s really penniless and promoting a fake life on social media because she’s obsessed with how other people see her. This Christmas, she decides to avoid her family and them discovering the truth of her life. However, this plan goes awry. One vinyl record, a conjured Holiday Spirit named Hall, Christmas wishes and a fake fiancée plot make this Christmas one Bettie will never forget.

“WINDOW SHOPPING”

By Tessa Bailey

With only two weeks until Christmas, the world-famous department store, Vivant, needs their window displays to draw in as many last-minute Christmas shoppers as possible. When examining the windows, Aiden, one of Vivant’s owners, decides to throw caution to the wind and ask a stranger on the sidewalk what she thinks about the display. Her candor about how awful it looks pushes him to hire her on the spot to be the new store window dresser. However, she has a past that will come back to haunt her and Aiden during the happiest season of all.

“VEGAN HOLIDAY COOKBOOK”

By Katie Culpin

This is a collection of plant-based recipes that will be great for your Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings. Some families are finding it challenging to make a dinner that pleases their vegan relatives. Whether you are vegan curious or have a cousin coming for dinner that is vegan, you will find something here that the whole family will agree is delicious. Recipes for breakfast, dinner side dishes, snacks, sweets and more are included.

“THE WISH BOOK CHRISTMAS”

By: Lynn Austin

Audrey and Eva are childhood friends who have moved with their sons from England to America after the war. Its 1951 and the Sears Christmas Wish Book has come out and the boys are obsessed with all the toys pictured in its pages. So much so, that Audrey and Eva are concerned that they have lost sight of the true meaning of the season. As the women teach their sons some important life lessons, they may learn a few things as well about forgiveness and redemption.

BBack in the day, if someone spoke of CCR, that someone was talking about the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival. But that CCR’s version of Fortunate Son does not quite align with the good fortune to students that college and career readiness seeks to bring.

As its name suggests, college and career readiness is the end goal for students who walk the stage in their May graduation ceremony. The ceremony is called commencement, because the evening is meant to celebrate students’ accomplishments and mark their entry into the welcoming world.

● A score of “Silver” or higher on the ACT WorkKeys Exam-

This exam is used by many employers to measure the math and reading skills needed to function in the workplace. HCS pays for this test and makes the results available to HHS students. Students can use their results as evidence of their readiness for employment in ACT Work Ready Communities. Morgan County is certified as such a community.

BY SUSAN HAYES FEDERAL PROGRAMS DIRECTOR HARTSELLE CITY SCHOOLS

But without appropriate skills and knowledge, that world is not so welcoming.

In Alabama, being college and career ready means that a high school graduate has the English and mathematics knowledge and skills necessary to either (1) qualify for and succeed in entry-level, credit-bearing college courses without the need for remedial coursework, or (2) qualify for and succeed in postsecondary job training and/or the education necessary for their chosen career (i.e. technical/vocational program, community college, apprenticeship or significant on-the-job training.)

There are several, specific “somethings” that mark readiness and that count in a school’s documentation of whether a student is ready to enter the world. Most HCS students check more than one of the “boxes” below, but the checking of one makes a student ready for their next steps.

● The successful completion of at least one college level course-

Many students take dual enrollment classes at Hartselle High School. These classes are offered through a partnership with Calhoun Community College. The successful completion of a college level course is seen as an early mark of college readiness.

● The ACTStudents who can meet benchmark scores on ACT subtests are deemed ready for their next steps after graduation.

● AP test scoresStudents who takes advanced placement classes and then demonstrate their learning with high scores on end-of-course assessments are ready for additional challenges.

● The completion of courses in a career tech program

Students who step out of several classes in manufacturing, engineering or one of the other HCS career tech programs of study step out with skills that will be usable in the workplace.

● Enlistment in the militaryA student who has enlisted and whose next steps for service are in place is considered ready.

● ApprenticeshipsNew to the pathways to readiness is the apprenticeship model. Very specific guidelines and standards accompany the apprenticeship model, and HCS is just beginning to explore the ways in which we can guide students through this pathway. Hartselle City Schools works to ready its students for their next steps by offering numerous pathways to success. Ready, set, go!

STORY BY RUSSELL FRYE

PHOTOS BY MARIANN PARKER AND JIM MEADOWS

BBasketball has been a way of life for Hartselle girls basketball coach Amber Deline. She grew up in the small community of Hackleburg, playing against her older brother, Rod.

“He never took it easy on me,” Deline said. “I would spend hours practicing on a dirt court at our house trying to figure out how to score on him.”

That drive and determination have helped make Deline the coach she is today.

She started varsity basketball at Hackleburg High School in the seventh grade. She played six seasons and was named to the 1A All-State team four times. She is the school’s alltime leading scorer with 2,637 points.

She was inducted into the Marion County Hall of Fame in 2007, only eight years after graduating high school.

“Individual accolades were never a goal for me as a player,” she said. “My goal as a high school player was to win a state championship and help my team be the best it could be.”

After graduating from Hackleburg, she chose the University of North Alabama to continue her basketball career. She had offers to play Division I but chose UNA for the chance to play from the time she stepped on campus.

“Coach Jeri Porter sold me on the fact that I could come to UNA and play all four years and have an opportunity to help get UNA back to competing for Gulf South Conference Championships,” Deline said. “Another selling point was that it was close to home, and my parents could come to my games.”

While at UNA, she was a four-time All-Gulf South Conference selection, earning first-team honors in 2000, 2001 and 2003 and second-team honors in 2002. She was named the Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year in 2000 after averaging 17.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game and leading the Lady Lions to a 21-7 record. She left UNA as their all-time leading scorer with 1,688 points (currently third) and all-time leading rebounder with 756. She was inducted into the UNA Hall of Fame in 2014.

While in high school, the idea of coaching was the furthest thing from her mind. Although she enjoyed the game of basketball, she did not want to make a career out of it.

That all changed while she was at UNA, where her coach changed her view on the profession.

“While I was at UNA, I played for a female coach for the first time in my life,” she said. “She had a huge impact on my life, and I could see through her how coaching could be about basketball and relationships. The impact she had on my life is what stirred me into coaching.”

After graduating from UNA in 2003, she joined the women’s basketball program at the University of Montevallo as an assistant coach. She was on the Lady Falcons staff from 2003 to 2006. She joined Samford University’s staff in 2006 and stayed until 2008.

While at Samford, she worked alongside Mike Morris. Morris is the Lady Bulldogs’ winningest coach with 279 career wins. “Coach Morris made the most influential impact on my coaching career,” Deline said. “I learned so much from him. Most of my coaching philosophies regarding team culture, x’s and o’s, and how to run a program stem from him. I am grateful for the time I got to grow and learn from him.”

She took her first head coaching job in 2008 at Oneonta High School. While at there, she built the Lady Redskins basketball into a state powerhouse. She won a school-record 155 games in six seasons, including a three-year run where her teams were

99-11 from 2011-2014. In addition, her teams won back-to-back 4A state championships in 2013 and 2014.

After winning the 2014 state championship, she left Oneonta to take the head coaching position at James Clemens in Madison.

She was the second coach in the Lady Jets program history.

“I thought taking a 7A job was a better opportunity for me as a coach,” she said. “James Clemens is a great school, and I am very thankful for the time I had there, but I found that I tend to fit where there is more of a small town feel and an opportunity to get to know the kids in your youth and middle school programs.”

She compiled a 45-65 record in four years, including the school’s first winning season in her final season.

She left James Clemens following the 2017-18 season to move on from coaching. Instead, she took a job with Marion County Schools as a parent community liaison and assistant principal.

In 2020, she left Marion County to become an assistant principal and athletic director for Winfield City Schools.

In those three years of school administration, I missed coaching and basketball more and more each year. I started looking for the right opportunity to get back into coaching,” Deline said.

In the summer of 2021, she left Winfield to move to Hartselle, where she was hired as an assistant under head coach Gary Orr.

She spent the 2021-22 season coaching at Hartselle Junior High and helping with the high school program. She was beginning to place her stamp on the Hartselle girls’ basketball program.

In February 2022, she was named the new head coach of the Hartselle Lady Tigers basketball program following the resignation of coach Orr. She becomes the Lady Tigers’ fifth coach since 1980 and the first female coach since 1977-78 (Mary Rogers.)

There were a lot of reasons she chose to come to Hartselle, including academics, community support and the kids.

“Whenever I came through Hartselle, I always thought it was a great small town that seemed to have high expectations for its community and school system,” said Deline. She said. “I thought it would be a great place to teach and coach.”

She wants to continue to grow the Hartselle program on and off the court.

“Every coach loves and wants to win, but more importantly, I want these girls that come through our program to feel like they not only became a better basketball player, but that they became a better human being as well,” said Deline. “We want to help them become strong females ready to take on the real world.”

For a kid who thought that coaching was not a career choice she wanted, she has become one of the best in North Alabama. Her competitiveness drives her to succeed on the court, but her relationships with her players drive her career.

“To me, coaching is a calling. I feel like this is where God has called me to serve,” she said. “I truly believe I am to use my past experiences and abilities to pour into these young females through the sport of basketball. Coaching is one of the hardest jobs there is, but if you ever reach just one kid and impact their life, it is also the most meaningful and rewarding job.”

Hartselle Health

DRAWS THOUSANDS

TThousands crowded the streets of historic downtown Hartselle Sept. 17 for Hartselle’s 41st Depot Days Festival, presented by Decatur Morgan Hospital – Hartselle Medical Mall. The day featured more than two-hundred vendors, including seventeen food vendors, nearly fifty antique tractors participating in the Antique Tractor Show and nearly two-hundred cars participating in the Car Show.

Entertainment for this year’s Depot Days Festival included acts on two separate stages. The main stage, located beside Hartselle’s historic depot, featured a ribbon cutting ceremony to

start the day, with colors presented by the Hartselle High School Civil Air Patrol, the National Anthem sung by Hartselle High School Junior Katee Anna Aker and a patriotic song performed by duo Cam & Luke. City Councilwoman Virginia Alexander gave a welcome on behalf of the City of Hartselle, and Decatur Morgan Hospital President Kelli Powers

welcomed attendees and invited children and parents to a Teddy Bear Clinic at the Depot Gazebo, which featured “teddy bear check-ups” given by Dr. Grace Cain Williams of Decatur Morgan Pediatrics. Missy Evans, Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO, thanked the many Depot Days sponsors and committee members.

Performers on the main stage throughout the day were bluegrass trio Alan Sibley & the Magnolia Ramblers, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s cover band The Ray Sparks Band, and pop/rock band Brick Avenue. The children’s area stage featured a story time given by the William Bradford Huie Library of Hartselle, performances by students at Kim’s Star Twirlers and College Street Players, and a 60-minute Zany Balloon Show from Bobby the Balloon Guy. GoFarUSA Park provided a petting zoo and pony rides at E.A.R.T.H. Park.

Other festival attractions included a Beer Garden at the Farmers Market, sponsored by Inline Lighting and Electric, an Art Show at the depot, sponsored by Behind the Canvas, Reeves Farm Market, and MarMac Real Estate – Cindy Shaneyfelt, and community memberpainted mural at RAW Images studio.

The Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce wishes to thank the more than eighty volunteers who helped make Depot Days possible, including the following Depot Days Committee members:

• Hanna Denton and Jaime Hatcher (Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce), Co-Directors

• Melanie Calvert (Hartselle High School) and Rachel Howard (RAW Images), Art Show

• Tammy Lott (Redstone Federal Credit Union), Depot Days Bank

• Phillip Stringer, Steve McKee and Andrew Story (Storey Automotive), Car Show

• Jessie Alford (West Hartselle Baptist Church), Children’s Area

• Jeff Johnson, Curtis Self (City of Hartselle)

• Chief Daryl Fox (Hartselle Fire Department)

• Chief Justin Barley, Lt. Linda Fox, Lt. Patrick Griffith (Hartselle Police Department)

• Nancy Busby Solberg (209 Railroad Street SW Yard Sale), Hospitality

• Geoff Halbrooks (Peck Funeral Home), Tractor Show

• Page Holified and Chrystalynn Beard, Volunteer Coordination

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Photos by Daniel Brackin/SlapBrack Art, Freedom Light Productions Photography and SkyDown Aerial Services LLC

Jodi Hyde

by Jodi Hyde