Feeding the hundreds Page A8
Lady Tigers take down 7A Chelsea Page B1
Hometown newspaper of Eric Summerford- since 1933
Hartselle Enquirer A crowning achievement: Hartselle woman named Mrs. Alabama International 2024 Special to the Enquirer Dana Bradley, 46, of Hartselle, was recently crowned Mrs. Alabama International and will go on to compete for the title of Mrs. International 2024, during the final competition in Kingsport, Tenn., July 26-27, 2024. Because of a series of health issues, Bradley set out on a mission in 2020 to make significant lifestyle changes and today celebrates a clean bill of health, after losing 154 pounds. During her reign as Mrs. Alabama International, Bradley will offer others inspiration and guidance in achieving their personal health and fitness goals by speaking about her own journey and participating in health events at schools and community organizations throughout the state. Bradley is currently working on her personal training certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and has worked with more than 100 individuals as a health and fitness mentor. “Lots of tears and sweat went into my journey and it’s now my passion to help others struggling with weight loss or other health and fitness challenges to achieve their goals,” says
50 CENTS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2024
VOLUME 91, NO. 1
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Bradley. “I’m so thankful to have my new role as Mrs. Alabama International, because it will allow me to reach so many more people in their journeys to become a better version of themselves physically -and also mentally, spiritually and emotionally. Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean ‘me first,’ it means ‘me too” -- it’s about living and no longer just existing.” Bradley and her husband, Jerry, are proud parents of two teenaged children. In her leisure time, Bradley enjoys writing, bowling, fishing and of, course running and fitness. The Mrs. International Pageant is owned and operated by International Pageants, Inc., which also operates Miss International, Miss Teen International and Miss Pre-Teen International pageants. It is the only platform-based pageant system dedicated to highlighting women’s accomplishments through community service. Mrs. International showcases married women 21-to 56 years old and features three categories of competition, including interview, evening gown and fitness wear. For more information, visit www.mrsinternational.com.
SPECIAL TO THE ENQUIRER
John and Kelsey Steffen with their two children, Elijah (in John’s arms) and Nyla.
By Catherine Godbey For the Enquirer
• Andrea Self Wright • Joseph Kyle Thompson • Jimmy Holmes • Tony Couey • Vickie Johnson Thomas
For full obituaries, see page A-2
• Charles Michael Mangham • Freeman ‘Turtle’ Benjamin Holcombe • Lynn Jared
VETERINARY EMERGENCY SERVICES Monday-Thursday 8AM-5PM Monday-Thursday 8AM-5PM Saturday 8AM-Sunday 8PM Saturday 8AM-Sunday 8PM 36 Hours of Continuous Weekend Care
SPECIAL TO THE ENQUIRER
Elijah Steffen and Nyla Steffen play on the floor. “They love each other so much,” Kelsey Steffen said of Nyla and Elijah. “She is so loving and so protective of him.” baby that day.” At the hospital, the medical team ushered Kelsey, who battled high blood pressure while pregnant, into an emergency room. As the medical team tried to lower Kelsey’s blood pressure, the doctor began preparing the Steffens for the possibility of an emergency C-section. “I was like, doctor, I am six months pregnant, you have to do everything you can so we don’t have this child today,” Kelsey said. “I had never known someone who had a baby at 24 weeks. I was scared.” In the hospital room, machines monitored Kelsey and the yet–to–be– born baby. Every time Kelsey’s blood
pressure would even out, the baby’s heart rate would drop. “We were never even. We were killing each other,” Kelsey said. The nurses began repeatedly asking John and Kelsey what they planned on naming their son. The Steffens, who were deciding between John Richard V and Elijah, opted for Elijah — after the Biblical figure who performed miracles. “The doctor finally said we were going to have this baby. I was crying and I was so frightened, but then I looked at John and I had all the confidence that we could do this. I knew he See MIRACLE, page 5
Veterinary Regional Referral Hospital 2117 Veterans Dr SE, Decatur, AL
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Obituaries
The beeping and buzzing of 2–year– old Elijah Steffen’s ventilator sounded through the den where a Christmas tree decorated with white lights, pine cones and angels stood and stockings embroidered with initials hung from the mantel. On the floor, Elijah rolled on his back, a tube snaking from his neck to the ventilator, and clapped his hands, mimicking his 6–year–old sister Nyla. “Last year and the year before, I didn’t care about Christmas. I didn’t care about anything. I didn’t want to celebrate,” Elijah’s mother Kelsey Steffen said. “I have been so excited for this Christmas because I get to be home with my husband, daughter and son. This is something I have dreamed of. It has been a long and hard journey to make this dream come true.” That journey began Dec. 2, 2021, when John and Kelsey left their home in Eva for Madison Hospital. “I had been having terrible migraines for three days. That morning, I told John I couldn’t take it anymore and we had to go to the hospital,” Kelsey said. Although they typically went to Cullman for their medical needs, Kelsey decided to go to Madison. “I don’t know what made me think we needed to go to Madison. I just knew,” Kelsey said. “We left our home with just the clothes on our backs. We never in a million years would have thought we were going to have our