Live nativity returns this week Page A3
Tigers pick up two wins to close out week Page B1
Hometown newspaper of Billy Ryan - since 1933
Hartselle Enquirer
Organizers say there’s still time to register for the 2023 Hartselle Christmas Parade, to be held Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. in downtown Hartselle. Limited edition parade t-shirts are being sold at Robin’s Nest on Main Street and will be available for sale the day of the parade at the Depot. The theme of the parade, organized by the Hartselle Kiwanis Club and sponsored by DiamondPro, is “Visions of Christmas.” New this year is the inclusion of the Marine Toys for Tots program. Collection boxes for new, unwrapped toy donations will be
located at the two downtown gazebos by the Depot and just west of Life Church. Volunteers with Toys for Tots and the Hartselle High School Key Club will be collecting monetary donations along the route. Seasonal music will be played at the Depot gazebo prior to the start of the parade. Thousands of spectators typically crowd downtown streets for the parade, and city officials urge attendees to come prepared for parking. No parking will be allowed on Railroad Street from Hickory Street SW to Main Street and on Main Street from Railroad Street SW to Corsbie Street, starting at
4 p.m. Dec. 14. This is to ensure the safety of those involved in the parade procession as well as spectators. Several parking lots are available for spectators – including the public lots behind the shops on Main Street, the lot just west of Life Church and the lot behind the former Post Office, accessible from Chestnut and Sycamore streets. Parking is also available at the Hartselle Farmers Market, as well as at Hartselle First Methodist Church. Traffic and parking will reopen following the end of the parade. Visit www.hartsellekiwanisclub.org/christmas-parade to register and for more parade information.
Beware of porch pirates - Experts offer tips on avoiding theft of packages
About 36% of American consumers have had a package stolen at least once, according to the Morgan County Sheriff ’s Office — and the crimes increase during the holiday season. Package thieves, or “porch pirates,” see the act as a crime of opportunity, according to the Better Business Bureau. They often target houses with quick in-and-out routes and delivery areas within 25 feet of the street. “No neighborhood is safe from it,” said Tricia Pruitt, regional vice president at BBB of North Alabama. “I just don’t feel like, as a consumer, there’s a whole lot of protection.” She said porch piracy, despite being underreported due to the nature of the crime, has been increasing year over year. The BBB offers the following tips for preventing package theft: • Check with neighbors. Your package may have been delivered to the wrong address. Before filing a report or contacting the sender, check with neighbors to see if they received your package. • Avoid leaving packages unattended for long periods of time. If possible, try to schedule delivery when you know you’ll be home. Ask your neighbors to hold packages for you if you know you’ll be gone for an extended period. • Ship to store. If your online retailer has a physical location nearby, consider shipping your item there,
Obituaries • Diana Crane • Timothy ‘Tim’ Troulier • Dovie ‘Linda’ Hayes • Philip Edward Wright • Karen Ree Plemons • Michael R. Parkman
instead. Retailers generally require proof of purchase or identification before releasing packages. • Use a security camera. Home security systems and doorbell cameras can help deter package theft as thieves may be less likely to steal when they are aware of the presence of surveillance. Video evidence can help law enforcement track down thieves. • Require a signature. Some delivery companies offer the option to require a signature in order to leave a package. • Consider a package receiving service. Some major retailers offer secure drop-off locations, such as Amazon Locker. Pruitt said victims of package theft may have difficulty knowing who to turn to. “It’s a hard type of complaint, because the company didn’t do anything wrong, the carrier didn’t, it’s strictly a thief,” she said. “So, there’s not a lot of recourse unless whoever you ordered from has some type of protection policy. “When I buy things online, I try to read about their policies.” Pruitt recommended consumers always use a credit card when completing online transactions, as some credit cards include additional consumer protections. She also recommended setting up tracking notices on your phone. “Make sure you’re getting alerts to the status of the package, so you know when See BEWARE, page 5
For full obituaries, see page A-2
• R.E. Tapscott • Hershell C. Brown • Scotty Wayne Stover • Roselle Hayes Livingston • Charlotte Regina Hardy • Daniel Eli Champion • Dot Watkins • Billy Jack Engle • Johnnie Carl Hayes
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PHOTO BY REBEKAH YANCEY
Pictured from left to right, front row, Emaley Campbell, Will Sharp, manufacturing teacher Christie Grillo, Sonoco division safety leader Kathryn Burke. Back row, Tiger Launch manager Richard Long, Plant Manager of the Hartselle Wood Reel plant David Lugo, Isaiah Estrada, Bryson Harvel, Sonoco VP of Operations Brian Kilpatrick and Hartselle City Schools Board of Education member Daxton Mayes.
By Rebekah Yancey rebekah.yancey @hartselleenquirer.com In a groundbreaking move for education and industry collaboration, Hartselle High School announced the names of students selected for the inaugural Modern Manufacturing Technician Apprenticeship program Dec. 8. Approved in August, the initiative marks a significant milestone as Hartselle High School becomes the first AOA (Alabama Office of Apprenticeship) approved high school apprenticeship sponsor in North Alabama. The four students chosen for the apprenticeship program that will begin in January are sophomores Bryson Harvel, Will Sharp, Isaiah Estrada and Emaley Campbell. Harvel said he is thrilled to be a part of the program.
“I heard what they had for college and what I could do after college,” he said. “It sounded like a great first job.” Will Sharp agrees. He said he is most looking forward to putting the nationally recognized apprenticeship on his resume. Isaiah Estrada said even though he didn’t know anyone who had gone through Tiger Launch, he applied because it sounded like a good opportunity to work while in school and earn a wage. Emaley Campbell said she is excited for the adventure that awaits her and the experience she will gain through her participation. The journey toward this achievement began six years ago with the establishment of the Manufacturing Academy, coinciding with the inception of Tiger Launch, according to career tech director Elisa Harris. The goal set for
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the first year, Harris said, was to enroll no more than eight apprentices, but with hopes that number will continue to grow. Harris said the program’s unique structure requires students to complete both the rigorous curriculum and essential skills components before graduating from high school. Successful completion of the apprenticeship will result in students earning the distinguished title of manufacturing technician, a credential recognized nationwide. To qualify for the apprenticeship, students were required to complete a minimum of two years in the academy, engaging in coursework that blended theory with practical applications. Additionally, participants will be required to dedicate at least one semester as a Tiger Launch student, working in tandem with industry partner
Sonoco. Students then completed applications, provided references and were interviewed by the interview committee that included Sonoco leaders, HHS career coach Cory Wilbanks, Harris and North Alabama Works’ Billy Troutman. Sonoco VP of Operations Brian Kilpatrick said Sonoco has had other apprenticeship programs through Calhoun Community College and Wallace State, but this is the first high school program, and it didn’t happen overnight. “We’ve been working for the last five years to set the stage for this,” Kilpatrick said. “We had to prove Tiger Launch first because you must be able to take students and put them in a safe working environment. “These apprentices will be getting the related training See HARTSELLE, page 5
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Special to the Enquirer
By David Gambino For the Enquirer
50 CENTS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2023
VOLUME 90, NO. 50