Helena City News, Early Spring Edition

Serving the City of Helena and surrounding areas

Early Spring 2021

END OF AN ERA… Father of modern day Helena Charles “Sonny” Penhale dead at 89

BRAD FLYNN’S POSITION AS POLICE CHIEF MADE PERMANENT

ALSO INSIDE THIS EDITION: CARLEY SEABROOKE FIRST FEMALE TO MAKE EAGLE

…in Shelby County; member of inaugural class of female Boy Scouts

CAHABA DENTAL SETS DOWN PERMANENT ROOTS Buys commercial building on Helena Road and renovates it to perfection!

HELENA HIGH FIELDS ITS FIRST CLUB LEVEL LACROSSE TEAM Home games played behind Helena Middle School. Lots of fun to watch!

www.MyHelenaCityNews.com / www.CityofHelena.org

FROM THE MAYOR’S DESK Off to a fast start is really the only way I can describe my first 100 days as your Mayor— any thought of easing into the job went out the door as soon as I walked in. My goals during the first 100 days were pretty simple, I thought; do what is right for both the city employees and all the residents and provide everyone the right tools to successfully be the best they can be at their job.

There were two critical staffing changes I needed to make with the most urgent being to name a new chief of police. A steering committee assisted me and spent hundreds of hours vetting the candidates for this crucial role. The result? We hired the best person for Helena—longtime Helena Police Officer Brad Flynn.

The second staffing change came about as a new position was created for an Athletics Supervisor within Parks and Recreation. This new role will manage the youth sports programs for the city allowing a true single point of contact for anything youth sports related. Scott Verner was hired to fill the role, and he comes to us with a vast amount of experience as the Athletics Manager of a neighboring city.

There have also been two new firefighters hired along with four new police officers. In each hire that has been made, I have tried to make sure that we had the best of the best along with ensuring that we are diversifying the Helena team to be in line with our population.

As we all continue to fight COVID, I was able to go after some much-needed funding from the Federal Government that has

been available to us since March. I was able to secure our city almost $965,000 in federal funding that has been used to better battle and mitigate the spread of COVID within our city. The funds have been used to purchase needed items for the Fire Department such as a new FireMedic Rescue Truck, heart monitors, LUCAS chest compression devices, and much more.

In additional to receiving the federal funds for COVID, I have been able to submit three new grant applications with two of them already being approved. The first grant we received will study pedestrian safety in Helena and feasible options to improve safety. The second approved grant will fund a new Comprehensive Plan for Helena. We will be able to use the new plan for years to come and allow for Helena to be the best “little-big” city around.

Dirt is being moved all around us as we continue to push forward.

We continue seeing the growth around the new Chik-fil-A building, and the road improvements at that intersection should be wrapping up by mid-March. In the next couple of months, you will start seeing improvements on the water and sewer side with roughly $5,000,000 in capital improvements taking place.

The biggest water project will be running a new main water line from Dearing Downs to Highway 17.

Sports are back in action with Indoor Track and Field, Basketball and Wrestling wrapping up their seasons.

I would like to congratulate Brady Barton for winning the State Championship for both 800 and 3200 meters along with Lamaria Bennett, Soriana Hicks, Kya Gardner, and Brooklyn Kirksey for winning the crown in the 4x200 relay. You must

MAYOR Brian Puckett

CITY COUNCIL Alice Lobell Council President Leigh Hulsey, Pro Tempore Laura Joseph Chris VanCleave Hewy Woodman 2 Early Spring 2021 / www.CityOfHelena.org

admit that it is nice to have State Champions calling Helena home.

Now on to spring sports.

While sports and supporting our teams mean a lot to our community, I would be remiss if I did not brag on some others in this letter. Helena High senior, Alexandra “Sasha” Zannis was named a 2021 National Merit Finalist. Carley Seabrooke became the first female Eagle Scout in Shelby County. Callie Hendren and Eli Berry both had art that was selected as “winners” in the Superintendent’s Art Show. Congratulations to the four of you on your success this past month.

To close out this letter, I want to send condolences to the Penhale family as our former Mayor Charles “Sonny” Penhale passed away. Mayor Penhale will always be known as the “father of modern-day Helena.” He was the driving force behind making our city what it is today including bringing an intermediate, middle and high school to Helena. The legacy he leaves behind in Helena will never be matched.

Until next time stay safe, enjoy life, and shop local!

Together as One,

Brian

Scott Verner, Helena’s New Athletics Supervisor. The position will manage the youth sports programs for the city.

Shelby County’s First Female Eagle Scout, Carley Seabrooke with her brother Connor Seabrooke, Eagle Scout, and Parents, Robert and Gayle Seabrooke with Mayor Puckett

CITY CLERK

Amanda Traywick

IMPORTANT CITY NUMBERS City Hall: 205-663-2161 Fire Dept: 205-663-5809 Police Dept: 205-663-6499 Utilities: 205-663-1670 Sports Complex: 205-620-2877 Library: 205-664-8308

Go Huskies!!!

Helena High School’s indoor track team showed out at the recent state championships held at Birmingham’s Crossplex. They were recognized at a recent city council meeting for their oustanding accomplishments at state. Pictured at top left is State Champion, senior Brady Barton, who not only came in first place in the men’s 800 meter, but also the 3200 meter, in which he set a new state record. Brady is pictured with his mom, Mayor Puckett and track coaches Richard Anderson and Greg Appling. He has comitted to run track next year for the University of Alabama. At top right, Coaches Anderson and Appling join the mayor in congratulating the girls 4x200 meter state champions and their parents. The State Champion girls are: Soriana Hicks, Lamaria Bennett, Brooklyn Kirksey and Kya Gardner.

Congratulations to all our terrific Husky indoor track stars! And left, Mayor Brian Puckett presents a check for $50K to Principal April Brand and the track coaches to help offset expenses on making the new Husky track able to host competitive events.

S&P Global Upgrades Helena Utilities Rating S&P Global Ratings raised its long-term rating to ‘A’ from ‘A-’ on the Helena Utilities Board outstanding water and sewer revenue debt. At the same time, S&P Global Ratings assigned its ‘A’ long-term rating to Helena Utilities Board.

In the report issued, S&P stated that the ratings upgrade is due to the improved governance, Environmental Social Governance factor, evidence by the management’s recent willingness and demonstrated ability to adjust rates to build true coverage levels. “The team has put in a lot of effort over the past few months strengthening and documenting new policies and procedures that have become the foundation to lead our water and sewer system for years to come” said Brian Puckett, Chairman of Helena Utilities.

The ratings review was requested by the Helena Utilities Board to en-

able officials to use bond proceeds to refund series 2015 and 2016 for an interest savings over the life of the bonds totaling $4 million. The refunding of these two series will also free up the debt service reserve fund (DSRF) of about $1.3 million which management will use to finance a water main and various improvements to better serve this growing community. Puckett stated, “the gaining of over $5.3 million will let us start working on large capital infrastructure improvements right away to better serve our customers in Helena without having to increase our existing debt payment amounts or extend our payoff time.”

In total, management has identified 19 capital improvement projects that have been prioritized to lead the water and sewer services in Helena to enhance the infrastructure. A few of the capital projects that will begin over the next couple

of months include adding a main water line stretching over 2 miles, GIS mapping of all water and sewer lines within Helena, adding a generator to the main water well, and repairing several pump stations.

“Our goal moving forward is to catch up on some of the deferred maintenance issues that have needed attention on our water and sewer infrastructure while putting in plans to continuously maintain what we have” added Puckett. In the Credit Opinion issued by S&P as a part of their report it stated the rating reflects an extremely strong enterprise risk profile and adequate financial risk profile. Under the board’s new management, we

anticipate the system will prioritize generating revenues that exceed rate covenants and support the pace of growth.

The Helena Utilities Board provides water and sewer services for residents of Helena, AL with over 7,600 customer accounts.

Helena Water Board’s primary mission is to plan for, operate, and maintain both the infrastructure and the organization necessary to purvey high quality drinking water, to provide an adequate and reliable water supply for all household, commercial, and community needs, and to sustain and enhance the region’s watersheds and quality of life by managing wastewater and stormwater effectively.

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6 approximately 5 miles2021 on left. / www.CityOfHelena.org Early Spring

Silver Lakes agents Judy Teasley 205-229-5929

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Directions to the new Silver Lakes sector: South Shades Crest Rd to Silver Lakes Dr. Turn left onto Crossvine right onto Bayberry Rd or left on Aspen Lake Rd (2 homes in the cul-de-sac).

Carley Seabrooke

Shelby County’s 1st girl Eagle Scout Carley Seabrooke is Shelby County’s first female Eagle Scout.

She wrote a page setting out her life ambitions and stating where she hopes her journey takes her in the future. Carley is currently an eighth grader at Helena Middle School. She enjoys playing her alto saxophone in the Helena Middle School band. Next year, when Carley moves on to high school, she plans to march in the high school band and go on all the band trips. While attending high school, she plans to continue her studies in advanced math and also take advanced English.

When Carley turns 16, she says she will purchase a car and find a part-time job in order to save for college and go on trips to desired destinations.

When Carley graduates high school, she plans to attend Jacksonville State University (JSU) and begin studying dentistry.

Due to Carley’s experience with an air rifle, if she can score a 580 out of 600 or higher in both small bore and air rifle testing, she will receive a full scholarship.

After Carley receives her undergraduate degree she hopes to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to continue in the dentistry program offered there. While attending school,

she plans to work part-time to help pay her way through. After graduating college and receiving her degree, she says she plans to begin practicing somewhere near home until “she is ready to move out.” She says she wants to buy her own home and get a dog and a cat. Once she is settled, Carley says she would like to find a local scout troop and become an assistant scout leader or become a scoutmaster.

During her time in scouting, Carley has taken advantage of many leadership opportunities.

She has been a Patrol Leader, a Senior Patrol Leader (twice) and a Quartermaster.

For her Eagle project, Carley teamed with Kitty Kat Haven, a non-profit organization that is a rescue operation for stray, aban-

doned and feral cats and kittens.

Carley’s project is a kiosk sign that contains information about Kitty Kat Haven. The kiosk has a Plexiglas door so they can post different information flyers and notices and take down old ones.

Carley first heard about this organization from her mother, Gayle, who is friends with Rita Bowman the group’s director.

Carley’s mother helped Rita rescue their first cat in a Winn-Dixie parking lot. After hearing about the organization, Carley saw there was a need for something like this. For more information on the organization you can visit them at kittykathavenrescue.org.

Awards and Accomplishments: •

Distinguished Expert in Riflery

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Order of Arrow National Youth Leadership Training BB Nationals Interview by Boys Life and Scout Magazine Certified in Wilderness First Aid, and CPR National Outdoor Achievement Award for Camping Mile swim Helped train some adult leaders in Bushcraft Trainers Edge 42 completed Merit Badges Earned the Messenger of Peace Helena High School Mountain bike team SCSSA Precision Team 36 Nights of camping 117.50 hours of community service 145 Miles of hiking

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Karen Miller is pleased to announce that she has consolidated her two branch offices in Hoover into her main office here in Helena. To celebrate the move and to open the way for more diversity in the future, she is changing her agency’s name to Legacy Insurance Group, LLC, but offers the same terrific Allstate Insurance coverage that so many in Helena and the surrounding area have come to rely on to protect themselves and their families.

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Helena native and Villanova University student

TAYLOR HINCH Wins Prestigious Rangel Fellowship On December 4, 2020, Taylor Hinch was awarded a 2021 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship following a highly competitive nationwide selection process. The Rangel Fellowship, funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by Howard University, supports extraordinary individuals who want to pursue a career in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State. The fellowship will support Taylor through a two-year master’s degree program in an area of relevance to the Foreign Service. It will also provide extensive professional development opportunities, including internships, mentors, and skills training.

As part of the Rangel Program, Taylor will intern with a member of congress on issues related to

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(205) 482-4066 A native of Helena, Alabama, Taylor attended Indian Springs High School, where she led the school’s nationally-ranked Mock Trial Team and served as the student government’s Commissioner for Citizenship.

foreign affairs in summer 2021.

In summer 2022, the U.S. Department of State will send her overseas to intern in a U.S. Embassy or Consulate to get hands-on experience in U.S. foreign policy and the work of the Foreign Service. Upon successful completion of the program, Taylor will become a U.S. diplomat in summer 2023, embarking on one of the most challenging and rewarding careers of service to her country. She will work to advance U.S. interests, protect American citizens, and promote peace and prosperity around the world.

A native of Helena, Alabama, Taylor attended Indian Springs High School, where she led the school’s nationally-ranked Mock Trial Team and served as the student government’s Commissioner for Citizenship.

10 Early EarlySpring Spring2021 2021//www.CityOfHelena.org www.CityOfHelena.org 10

In recognition of Taylor’s commitment to service at her school and with the YWCA of Central Alabama, she received Indian Springs’ Charles Jordan David Leadership Award and a Princeton Prize in Race Relations.

At Villanova University, she is a Senior Presidential Scholar pursuing an Honors B.A. in Political Science and Peace and Justice.

The Presidential Scholarship is Villanova’s highest merit award, covering the full cost of attendance for four years.

Her senior thesis examines the impact a truth commission and reparations could play in improving racial justice in the United States. A Gilman Scholarship recipient, Taylor completed a research and internship program in Dublin, Ireland. She interned at the Hope Foundation. She also

studied at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

Taylor’s journey has now led her to the Rangel Fellowship, and she is excited about beginning her career in diplomacy after she obtains a Master’s Degree in International Affairs, with a concentration in Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding.

Upon receiving the fellowship, she commented, “I am ecstatic to serve the United States as a Foreign Service Officer. I am so thankful for my friends and family. My parents, Karen Hinch and Heath Hinch, and my step-father, Duane Smith, have constantly supported me.”

More information may be found online at www.rangelprogram.org.

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In their 12th year of providing dental services to Helena patients from their rented space in Riverwoods, Dr. Jayme Mashayekh and husband Hamid made a decision to set down roots here. To that end, the couple recently bought and renovated the building on Helena Road that formerly housed Jerry Austin’s State Farm insurance agency. “Lots of prayer went into this decision,” said Hamid, “especially since we are in the middle of a global pandemic.

Turning an office building into a dental office is challenging in the best of times, and adding Covid to the equation caused delays and limited our resources. We are fortunate that my father, Hamid Sr., did a lot of the work himself acting as general contractor. He was only supposed to supervise, but he couldn’t help but get his hands dirty,” laughed Hamid.

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waiting room door that separates the lobby from the treatment rooms, and wood paneling for the ceilings, all of which Jayme designed. Our kids had virtual school and had to have many of their virtual meetings in a construction zone. But it came together nicely and was well worth the time and effort!”

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Christmas Parade Committee 2010

Christmas Parade Commiteee 2020

Helena’s Volunteer of the Year!

JOY CHILDERS

Joy Childers was recently named Helena’s Volunteer of the Year by Hal Woodman, who saves his councilman pay each year to purchase a custom commemorative coin in their honor and usually hosts a luncheon which was not held this year due to Covid.

Joy was born and raised in the small town of Aliquippa, just outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After spending most of her childhood there, Joy married Larry Childers and moved to Mountain Brook, Alabama, in 1973, just off of Old Leeds Road. After living in Mountain Brook for two years, Joy and her husband were looking for a place in the country that better suited their needs. The couple ran into a realtor and heard about a small town called Helena. Joy and Larry jumped at the chance to buy land and build a home of their own in one of the first modern subdivisions to break ground here, Dunham Farms.

It wasn’t long before many other developments started popping up all over town.

Back in 1975, with Dunham Farms being on the line between Helena and Maylene, Joy and her

family had a Maylene address, but that soon changed to Helena after a post office expansion.

All of her children attended Helena Elementary School, as it was the only school here at the time. Her children went there from Kindergarten through 6th Grade.

From her childhood in Pennsylvania to the time she found herself at home in Helena, Joy had a volunteer spirit. At an early age, her family always volunteered at various local events, and Joy enjoyed helping her father with intramural sports. Joy says she learned all of her volunteering ways from her parents. “You always give back to the community that gives to you,” Joy said.

After moving to Helena, Joy and her family quickly got involved in the community. Joy wanted her family to lead by example and show that everyone of any age could volunteer in some way. Her Husband, Larry, started the first softball team here called the “Helena Honeys,” and Joy and the other team mothers did all the concessions and the cooking.

“Volunteering is something I do.

Something I’ve always done,” Joy said.

As many know, a 50 year tradi-

14 Early Spring 2021 / www.CityOfHelena.org

tion here is the annual Christmas Parade, which Joy coordinates each year. When we asked Joy how long she had headed up this tradition, she said she had lost count of the number of years. We did some checking and it seems Joy Childers has been the leader of this holiday tradition for about 27 years now.

She remembers Christmas in the Park, an event held at Joe Tucker immediately following the parade in the early days, was a hit, but cold, severe weather was often a detriment to this outdoor after party, though, and it was cancelled after about four years. The parade, however, lived on!

“Since the beginning, I have had my core group of parade volunteers: Sherill Vansant, Michelle Hamm and Theresa Moore, and I appreciate them so much,” Joy said, “and there are several others, too.” Recently, Joy has seen an influx of new, young volunteers showing interest in helping with not only the Helena Christmas Parade, but other events around town, too.

After living here for 46 years, Joy’s advice to all who might have just moved to Helena or have not lived here all that long is this—“Get

involved! If you want to know the core values of the City of Helena, just get involved. Even if it is on something small. See where there is a need and fill it,” Joy advised.

Helena is blessed to call this AllStar volunteer one of our town, and we are grateful for everything she does. Hats off to Joy Childers, Helena’s 2020 Volunteer of the Year.

The Helena Honeys, Helena’s first softball team.

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16 Early Spring 2021 / www.CityOfHelena.org

CRYSTAL

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Tax news you can use—what you need to know about your Retirement Distributions due to the Coronavirus

Deidree Jones, Jones & Associates On March 27, 2020, the Cares Act enacted special distri-

bution options and rollover rules allowing individuals to withdraw up to $100,000 from an eligible retirement plan such as 401(k), 403(b), and IRA’s from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2020.

Limits on loans are increased on the amount a qualified individual may borrow from their eligible plan and as well as potentially having an additional year to repay their loan.

You are a qualified individual if you meet one of the following: • You are diagnosed with SARSCoV-2 or COVID-19 by a test that is CDC approved.

• Your spouse or dependent is diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 by a test that is CDC approved.

• You have experienced adverse financial consequences from being quarantined, furloughed, laid off, or hours reduced due to SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19.

• You have experienced adverse

financial consequences due to the inability to work due to the lack of child care due to SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19.

• You have experienced adverse financial consequences due to closing or reduction of hours of a business you own or operate due to SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19.

The IRS will not require individuals to pay the 10% additional tax on early withdrawal as long as it is a COVID-19 related distribution and taken during 2020.

Qualified distributions are included in your income over three years with the first year being the year it was taken (2020). Individuals can divide the distribution equally over three years but may also elect to take it all the first year if you believe it will be more beneficial. You may repay any or all of the coronavirus distribution provided that you complete the repayment within three years of the distribution date. If you elect-

ed to take the full distribution the first year and repay it within the three years, you are allowed to amend your 2020 and 2021 tax returns to claim a refund of the tax attributable to the amount of distribution included in income in those years.

Employers have the option to adopt the distribution and loan rules and are permitted to choose whether or not, and to what extent, they want to amend the guidelines. Employees will need to verify what the employer has chosen to maintain their accounts and whether or not repayment is allowed under the retirement plans.

Finally, you or your tax preparer will need to complete Form 8915-E and need to keep with dates and amounts of distributions taken during 2020. Please give us a call at 205-436-8481 if you have any questions. We would be glad to help you!

TO ADVERTISE, CALL the Publisher at 746.1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com / Early Spring 2021

17

Helena Middle School Basketball team wins Southern Conference!

Helena Middle School Basketball fights hard all season to earn the title of Southern Conference Champions!

Ricky Granger is in his second year as the boys head coach at Helena Middle School. This is his 15th year coaching boys basketball, however. Ricky started out as an assistant at Hoover High School, coached at Shades Mountain Christian School, and volunteered for years with the Pelham High School program.

He has been at HMS for the past four years, coaching the girls for two years before taking over the boys the past two years. His teams have been to the championship both years and got the win this year!

Ricky grew up next door in Pelham and went to Pelham High School, where he played basketball.

“Winning the Conference championship is a big deal to our players,” said Ricky. “We strive to put ourselves in a position to win it every year. We knew we had a talented bunch this year—we just had to get everything in order and get going. We started out really slow losing our first three games by four points or less, including one in overtime to conference rival, McAdory. We fought and worked hard, though, to find our teams identity and finished out the season winning 14 of the last 16 games including the SoCon Championship game over Chelsea.”

Ricky said that throughout the season, he had several players step up as leaders. “Joseph king was one of our consistent offensive leaders throughout the year, but was one of the two players that had to be quarantined before the conference tournament.

Also, throughout the season we

had great leadership from several players such as Kevin Pinkard, J.T. Alvis, Xian Rice, and Nate Ferguson. They all gave offensive production, but perhaps most importantly, they were crucial on defense.

This team was definitely talented offensively, but our go-to was our defense. Like every year, our program prides itself on defense and the pressure we can put on teams.

This team did just that, and I can’t be more proud of them.”

In the Championship game, the Huskies beat a very good Chelsea team 33-30. It was a great defensive game. “We played great basketball, and Nate Ferguson had his best game of the year.

He was the leading scorer for the championship game, scoring 19 of our 33 points,” said the coach.

“This team is filled with MVPs, and I can’t wait to see what they accomplish next.

“Our 7th grade group has a lot of talent coming up. In fact, our leading scorer for the 8th grade championship game, Nate Ferguson, is a 7th grader. We look forward to having him back again next year when we strive to go back to the championship game and win it all again!”

“I was fortunate to have a terriffic volunteer assistant coach this year in Daryle Butler. Coach Butler was one of my coaches in high school, and he brought to the program years of high school coaching experience. He is a true mentor and an amazing coach that brought so much to the team this year,” concluded Coach Granger.

The Huskies finished the season with a final record of 14-5 and earned the title they set out

18 Early Spring 2021 / www.CityOfHelena.org

to win when this season started— Southern Conference Champions!

Another fun note—Helena Middle School has won the conference championship this school year in football, wrestling, AND basketball.

Baseball and softball, you’re up next!

In the team photo taken after the big win, the players join theri coaches for a victory picture. They

are, front row, l-r: John Englazos, JT Alvis, Kevin Pinkard, Nate Ferguson and Xian Rice.

Back Row: Torrey Ward, Jermey Spratling, Brett Berry, Nate Jones Not Pictured: Joseph King, Austin Acosta Coaches: Head, Ricky Granger, r; Assistant, Daryle Butler, l.

Helena’s most distinctive neighborhood With generous rolling landscapes, beautiful public areas, old hardwood shade trees and spacious, executive style homes, Riverwoods is the place you want to be.

For more information on making Riverwoods your home, contact Greg Arcara on his cell at (205) 566-1426 or his office at

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Sonny as a toddler with brother, John, and parents William and Mary Hinds Penhale

End of an era in Helena

Charles W. “Sonny” Penhale 03/08/1931 - 01/20/2021 GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN “You could say that Sonny Penhale was the father of modern Helena.”

Former State Senator Cam Ward It is no wonder at the rain that fell January 20th and 21st; the drops were tears of joy falling to earth as Heaven received another Saint.

Sonny Penhale befriended me back in 1990 when I was a struggling advertising guy going from town to town creating area guides for cities and chambers of commerce. My office was my dining room table in a town house we had rented with our three young daughters in Hillsboro. (The old one with the townhouses.)

My first job for Sonny was designing a two page spread for Helena in Cities on the Move—a guide to Alabaster, Helena and Pelham that I created for what was then the Greater Pelham Chamber of Commerce (now the Shelby County Chamber).

The late Frances Parrish was his city clerk back then, and their offices were in the old city hall on Main Street next to where Buck Creek Stained Glass sits today, in the building where Meyers Insurance is located. Sonny’s office was on one side, and Frances had hers on the other, and in those

days, that’s about all there was to Helena City Hall. It was through Sonny’s vision and planning that a new city hall was constructed in its current location that also housed both the police and fire station which previously had operated out of separate buildings.

Sonny was always forward thinking, and when Ronnie Morton came to him with an idea shortly thereafter for repurposing the old part of town that was left behind (which had nothing, really, besides dilapidated buildings), Sonny didn’t bat an eye at helping Ronnie rename the area Old Town Helena and then did all in his power to help him create his vision of returning that part of town to its original look from the early 1900s, complete with retail shops and artisans.

Helena High School was opened in 2014, two years after Sonny left office, but it is probable that both it and Helena Middle School which came before it might not be here today, certainly not on the choice land on which they both sit, were it not for the all-out efforts over

20 Early Spring 2021 / www.CityOfHelena.org

many years of Sonny Penhale.

As far back as 2000, Sonny did everything from sell bricks with “Helena High School 2012” on them to “wheel and deal” with large land owners to secure land needed for both schools and parks in Helena. Helena Intermediate School was a previous example of a cooperative effort between Sonny, land developers and the Shelby County School Board.

Sonny loved children, and an even earlier expansion for the elementary school came about as a result of his efforts on behalf of his hometown, a place that was always near and dear to his heart.

Over the years, school officials here, students, and the parents of those students knew that they had a true friend in Sonny Penhale.

His door was always open.

When Cam Ward wrote in a post after his death that Sonny Penhale was the “father of modern day Helena,” truer words were never spoken. Having served as Helena’s mayor from 1968-2012, much of what we enjoy today in Helena was first envisioned by Sonny Penhale. He had a knack

for finding county, state and federal dollars where none seemed to exist. Of course, much of this came about because he was there when lots of the officials in those government positions first came into office, and he was always one to welcome them warmly.

He became friends with most of them and in fact, many would come to him for advice with professional or personal problems they were dealing with. Sonny believed in the power of prayer, and leaned on that often. Helena might still be a rural blip on the map were it not for his vision and dogged determination. It was said he could squeeze dollars out of nickels, and he proved that over and over again during his tenure as Helena’s mayor.

If you look around Helena today, you will notice that most of the commercial buildings here are built to last from brick and wood as opposed to cheaper construction methods which often use a brick veneer front on a metal, prefabricated structure, which is all too often the case today. The benefit to this is that long after we

Photos from top left, clockwise: Teenage years, Sonny and lifelong friend, Billy D. Harris go caving in Pelham; Billy D. and Sonny in later years; Sonny with brothers Kenneth and John on the steps of their old homeplace; Mayor Penhale after obtaining the caboose that now houses Helena’s welcome Center; Mayor Penhale at his desk in the old city hall in 1990; Mayor Penhale as youth sponsor with Rev. Fred Holmes and Helena Methodist youth c. 1970s. (Look closely to see some familiar faces); Mayor Penhale and Sarah’s pets could often be seen travelling around town with him.

are all gone, these buildings will serve as viable structures due to Sonny’s foresight and that of planning and zoning boards that he helped appoint. For a similarity, look no further than Mountain Brook, where many structures built in that city 75 years ago are still vital today. Helena is built on those same solid foundations.

Helena City News was founded in 1994 with the help of Sonny Penhale. What you receive in the mail today as a 48-page full color magazine began as just a 4-page newsletter with black and white pictures. He was very proud of it from the start, and would take copies of it to each League of Municipalities convention he attended to show it off, delighting each time it grew closer to becoming a full fledged magazine.

Without his vision, guidance, and his encouraging local businesses to advertise in it, it would not have

been possible to publish.

Sonny Penhale was always a dear friend to me, Kim and our daughters.

I talked to his beloved wife, Sarah, the day after he died, and she told me that Sonny was placed on hospice back in June and had been in declining health ever since. She told me the hospice nurse came in late the day he died and told her and two of his sons present that it wouldn’t be long now. Sarah said the nurse whispered to her as she left, “Tonight.” As his nurse predicted, Sonny Penhale went to his eternal home silently and without pain in his sleep, a mercy that we would all surely choose for ourselves.

He belongs to the ages now and begins a well deserved life of leisure on those streets of gold beyond the Pearly Gates.

R.I.P. Mayor Sonny.

Dave Smith

Lacrosse anyone?

Huskies field club level lacrosse team for the 2021 season Helena High School’s new lacrosse program is headed by Coach Michael Honeycutt. Currently, the team is only boys’ varsity with a fledgling youth team in the works, but Michael hopes to expand the program after this season to having a full youth operation and a boys’ junior varsity team. “We want to grow our program as fast as possible. We tried to have a girls’ team this year, but we didn’t get the participation or enough parents to help us get it going. I would think next year, if we have enough players, we’ll be able to have a boys’ junior varsity team, but it all depends on the growth and how quick it catches on in Helena.”

Despite lacrosse being a new sport to Helena, the players have already built strong bonds together as both teammates and true friends. “80% of the team is new to lacrosse as a sport itself.

Some of the team knew each other, a few of them were friends

beforehand, but most of them have only seen each other at school or around town and didn’t really know each other. They’re developing such good friendships and brotherhood through this that it’s allowing them to get outside of their comfort zone.

We’ve got all different types of kids, from a quiet kid to a loud kid, who are now interacting and conversing and high-fiving each other and communicating during and outside of practice.”

Michael’s experience in the realm of lacrosse has been varied around the area. “I’ve been in the lacrosse world for about seven years now.

I used to be assistant coach at Oak Mountain’s youth program, and then I coached the 14U (14 years and younger) team for the Alabaster Warrior Lacrosse Club.”

What spurred him to start a lacrosse team here was both recognition of Helena’s former lack of a program as well as caring for his family. “What kind of got

22 Early Spring 2021 / www.CityOfHelena.org

Helena going is that my son Mason is a freshman and he’s what they call an “orphan child” in the lacrosse world, meaning that he has to play for other schools due to Helena not having a team. I was going to coach for Thompson High School this year because I assisted last year, but Thompson has tried to keep their program to strictly Thompson students. With our youth program, we have a lot coming up here, so I know by the time Mason is a junior or senior Helena would have enough to get a full program up and running.

It’s not good when a kid who has played for several years has to join a new program like that.”

Outside of being a coach, Michael works for National OnDemand in the field of data infrastructure, specifically structure cabling. He attended both Tri-County Tech in South Carolina and Auburn University for college. He has been married to his wife Christina for eleven

“The sport of lacrosse is a combination of speed, skill, agility, teamwork and puppetry.

A bit like ice hockey.” years, and they have two sons: Mason, 15, and Mitch, 9. Mason is a freshman at Helena High School while Mitch is a fourthgrader at Helena Intermediate.

They live in Helena Estates, and during their spare time, the family likes to take the boat out on the lake or attend sporting events, like Braves’ baseball games and Auburn football games.

Moving forward, Michael hopes to spark a new interest among families here in Helena with the sport. “I hope to bring a lot of excitement to the high school and to the youth for years to come, and I want other families to get the same enjoyment out of lacrosse that my family and I have gotten out of it.” The lacrosse team’s first game takes place on January 30th in Huntsville, and their first home game is the following Saturday on February 6th against James Clemens High School.

HELENA TEEN

COUNCIL making a difference in the lives of others The Helena Teen Council wanted to do something to bring a little cheeriness into the lives of Helena’s senior citizens and those effected by the isolation brought about by Covid-19, so they recently had a work session to make Valentine’s Day cards and “Thinking of You” cards. The teens asked for names of residents and family members of residents of Helena that might enjoy receiving one of the cards.

The teens made about 80 cards, all unique in their own way, and then made plans to distribute the cards in early February. Some of the cards had original artwork drawn on them and many contained words of encouragement and caring phrases.

The Helena Teen Council is a group sponsored by the city of Helena and consists of students in Grades 10-12. The students go through a detailed selection process and must meet certain criteria such as good grades, high moral character, and a willingness to serve. City Council President Alice Lobell serves as this energetic group’s sponsor.

2020/2021

HELENA TEEN COUNCIL members include: Abigail Berish Alex Foster Alexis Browne Alton Patterson Andrew Parton Andrew Burch Ashley Rose Brittney Henderson Brooklyn Kirksey Cade Shannon Carrington Romanick

Corbin Tucker Gabby Chandler Hayden Claire McCombs Jerry Jackson Kaylee Moore Kristin Radice Kya Gardner Madelyn Hughley Mallory Hamilton Nathan Mitchell Peter Haywood

Sam Burch Samantha Chancellor Sharon Zou Sarah Lynne Pitt

CALENDAR OF EVENTS April

REGULAR WEEKLY/BIWEEKLY EVENTS

MONDAYS Police Explorers, Explorer Training Facility, 4:00-7:00pm Fire Explorers, Station 2, 5:00pm

TUESDAYS Virtual Storytime–Jane B. Holmes Library, 11:00am www.facebook.com/Helena.Public.Library.Friends/

THURSDAYS Virtual Storytime–Jane B. Holmes Library, 11:00am www.facebook.com/Helena.Public.Library.Friends/

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic dates/events may be subject to change and/or cancellation

March 11th 12th -

14th 17th 18th 20th 22nd 27th -

31st -

Helena Elementary, Final Day of Scholastic Book Fair Shelby Co. Schools, Teacher Workday—No Students Visit Jane B. Holmes Library to pick up Cat and the Hat kit Shelby Co. Schools Course Selection Forms Deadline for students entering 6th-12th grades (2021-22) to declare Traditional (in person learning) or Virtual Shelby (remote learning) Daylight Savings Time begins, Spring forward one hour St. Patrick’s Day Visit Jane B. Holmes Library to pick up Leprechaun puppet kit Helena Planning & Zoning, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00pm Spring begins Respite Care-special needs 0-21, free but must reserve, Alabaster Methodist’s Restore Bldg, 4:00-8:00pm, aaronsstaffrespite.org Shelby Co. Schools Spring Break March 22-26 Helena City Council, Helena Municipal Building, 5:00pm Teens visit Jane B. Holmes Library to make a Harry Potter snitch craft 1st Ruck 22 March, Helena High School, 7:00am to raise awareness of PTSD & Veteran suicide, hosted by Helena Police Department & Priority Soldier HELENA EASTER EGG HUNT Jane B. Holmes Library, Check out 10 books & get a prize

Helena’s Hometown Florist Call Lee Lee or Kayla today!

4th 7th 8th 12th 17th -

EASTER Shelby Co. Schools, 2021-22 Kindergarten Pre-Enrollment online Shelby Co. Schools, 2021-22 Kindergarten Pre-Enrollment online Helena City Council, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00pm Respite Care-special needs 0-21, free but must reserve, Alabaster Methodist’s Restore Bldg, 4:00-8:00pm, aaronsstaffrespite.org 15th - Helena Planning & Zoning, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00pm 26th - Helena City Council, Helena Municipal Building, 5:00pm

May 3rd 9th 10th 15th -

20th 24th 26th 27th 28th 31st -

Teacher Appreciation Week May 3-7 Mother’s Day Helena City Council, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00pm Respite Care-special needs 0-21, free but must reserve, Alabaster Methodist’s Restore Bldg, 4:00-8:00pm, aaronsstaffrespite.org Helena Planning & Zoning, Helena Municipal Building, 6:00pm Helena City Council, Helena Municipal Building, 5:00pm Helena High Class of 2021 Graduation, Husky Stadium, 7:00pm Shelby Co. Schools Early Dismissal 1:00pm, HIS 12:45pm Shelby Co. Schools Teacher Workday Memorial Day—Municipal Offices & Library Closed Santek will run one day behind the entire week

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Keep this ad handy, and the next time your car needs some work, please call me!”

Brian works on all makes and models of cars and trucks, from transmissions to A/C and heaters.

All work performed by Brian carries a 12-month warranty on parts and installation (when parts are supplied

by Brian and except for normal wear issues).

Open M-Fri, 7am-6pm Sat 7am-Noon. Closed Sun.

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Call Brian the next time you find yourself with an ailing vehicle, and then sit back as he works his BC South magic!

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We have bulk bins full of mulch, pea gravel, driveway gravel, and soil. Come See us!

(205) 624-4554 | Monday-Saturday 8am-5pm (Closed Sunday) 4726 County Road 52 • Helena, Alabama 35080 CedarCreekNursery.com | Find us on Facebook: Cedar Creek Nursery Helena

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Greetings from the library, The Helena Library wishes you the best of health and safety during this time, and we are available to help, as always. Library staff members are working every weekday, and you can call them at 205-664-8308.

Although the library is still operating at a limited capacity, many of our services are still available. We offer some great options online, too. Please go to www.shelbycounty-al.org/ to view the library catalogue, databases, and other information. Check out neat FREE services like Learning Express, Novelist (a great way to find new Titles to read), and Heritage Quest (A fun way to look up information about your ancestors!). These services are available to Shelby County Residents who have a valid library card.

Make sure you have one!

As a community organization, we MISS having our programs here at the library due to the pandemic.

We have been hard at work moving as much programming as possible to online formats. Keep an eye on our calendar so you can join us from

10-6 Thursday -5 Friday 10 Closed Saturday losed Sunday C

home. We already have virtual Story Times (Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:00am via Facebook, as well as special events for teens and adults.

We also feature take home craft kits for kids, like the Groundhog Day hand puppets pictured above.

Library staff members are in the process of planning a great summer reading program for 2021! Stay tuned for updates. Also, spring is on the brain, as upcoming programs and themes are being developed. Watch for a special evening Story Time and Tell a Fairy Tale Day, where we will read Fairy Tales.

Also, Dr. Seuss Read Across America is coming up in March, and it is always a great time to read old favorites like Green Eggs and Ham, The Cat in the Hat, and The Lorax!

The library will have displays and Storytime for Read Across America, so watch for dates and times!

In other news, The Library received a grant from @US_IMLS for materials for young people. The grant was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

rary gave et the lib p p u p g o dh lds groun a Han ho og Day. is L n a ri h Libra und ear on Gro out this y

The Institute of Library Services is the primary source of Federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums.

This grant will allow the library to purchase materials to benefit library patrons. New Juvenile and Young Adult books, movies, and audiobooks are just some of the great new items coming to library shelves. So stop in soon to see what’s new. Remember to Mask Up and stay safe!

New Books: Tropic of Stupid: Dorsey, Tim Change Your World: Maxwell, John C. In Search of Wisdom: Meyer, Joyce Russian: James Patterson Neighbors: Steel, Danielle Ready Player Two: Cline, Ernest Vanishing Half: Bennet, Brit Wife Upstairs: Hawkins, Rachel Endless Mercy: Peterson, Tracie New Movies and Television: Let Him Go: Starring Diane Lane Fatman: Starring Mel Gibson Wild Mountain Thyme: Starring Emily Blunt Tenet: Starring John David Washington Dreamland: Starring Margot Robbie Rainy Day in New York: Starring

Timothy Chalamet War with Grandpa: Starring Robert DeNiro When Hope Calls: Season One

The Helena Library had exhibits on display during the month of February celebrating Black History Month. Here, an easel display celebrates Martin Luther King Jr’s I have a dream speech.

205-664-8308 • Visit us @ www.cityofhelena.org

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL… We’re the Home of the Free Because of the Brave!

SGT Jon M. Aaron USA; 4/14 K Co (DET B), Unit 43671, FPO AP 96426-3671; Al Anbar, Iraq; Karen Dickinson’s son E-3 HTFN Alex Avery USN; USS Frank Cable, Guam; Phil & Deana Avery’s son, Maria Avery’s brother, Ken & Mary Penhale’s grandson PFC Zachary Barr USA: 7th Special Forces Group; Eglin AFB, FL Cynthia & Mark Barr’s son SGT Steven M. Bennett USA; Paratrooper/ Rigger; Fort Benning, GA Clara & Ken Lorino’s son SFC Eric Bond USA; 82nd ABD, 1-504 PIR; Baghdad, Iraq; Paul Zimmerman’s cousin Captain Joshua Bowen USA; 1st Brigade, 4th Inf. Div.; Fort Carson, CO Tom and Susan Bowen’s son, Fallon’s husband Captain Fallon Bowen USA; Aviation Brigade, 4th Inf. Div.; Fort Carson, CO, Tom and Susan Bowen’s daughter-in-law, Joshua’s wife LT Sarah Bowen USN; USS John Stennis Aircraft Carrier; Bremerton, WA; Tom and Susan Bowen’s daughter LT Jordan Bowen USA; 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Div., Ft. Hood, TX; Tom and Susan Bowen’s son SRA Mitch Braswell USAF;16th EMS, 16th Special Op. Wing; Afghanistan; Mike & Judi Braswell’s son

Cpl Tyler A. Franklin USMC, 2nd Battalion, SCPO Termaine J. Pruitt USN; NAS 6th Marines Camp Lejeune, NC, Julie Franklin’s Pensacola, FL; Termaine Jr, Trevorn, Chelicia & son, Christina’s brother, Alynna’s husband, Tristin’s father, Janice & Austin Pruitt’s son Carson’s dad SGT Peter J. “Pete” Reese ARNG; 152nd MP Co.; Lauren’s husband; Kai, Sam, Dalton, Brook Petty Officer 2nd Class Justin D. Gilbert & Kaiti’s father USCGC Stone, Machinery Technician; Charleston, SC, Leslie’s husband, Cohen, Kerrigan & Baylor’s dad, CPL Casey B. Reitz USMC, 2nd Battalion, 8th Annette & Dan Duffy’s son-in-law Marines, Camp Lejeune, NC, Tom and Suzi SSG Jay Gortney ARNG; 20th Special Forces; Iraq; April’s husband SGT Brooks Gray USA; Ranger; Scofield BKS, HI; John Gray’s son, Lauren & Ryan Gray’s brother SPC Michael Hubbard USA; Camp Liberty, Iraq; Ruth Meadows grandson, Kimberly’s husband, Bonnie Hubbard’s brother SPC Eric Hunley ARNG; 1/167 Inf. Bn Co. B, Operation Enduring Freedom; Afghanistan; Mike & Barbara Hunley’s son; late Chris Hunley’s brother CPL Michael Jeffries ARNG; 1/167 Infantry Battalion Company B, Operation Enduring Freedom; Afghanistan; Amy’s husband, Colin & Gavin’s father MC1 Andrew “AJ” Johnson USN; Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU); Dam Neck Annex, NAS Oceana; Virginia Beach, VA.

PVT Vincent Brown USMC; Chesapeake, VA; Leonetta Prevo’s son

LT Commander David Kang USN; White House, Washinton, DC; Stanley & Sue Kang’s son, Sunny Kang’s brother

SGT Dallas C Caviness USAF; 172 Inf. Brigade; Germany; Rebecca’s husband, Norah’s father, Rhonda’s son & Devin’s brother

SGT Jacob S. Lenoir USA; Sniper Unit of 1-64 Inf; Fort Stewart, GA; Beth Eades’ son, Caitlyn’s husband

CPO Austin C. Daniel USN; Norfolk, VA; Mike & Claudia Daniel’s son, Justin, Tatum & Autumn’s brother

SRA Tanner McGinnis UASAF; 41st Combat Training Squadron Expeditionary Center; Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst, Trenton, NJ; Ken & Jo McGinnis’ son

Captain Jon P. Darrenkamp USA; Schofield Barracks, HI; Carol Darrenkamp’s son, Stephen & Eric’s brother AEAN Benjamin Lee Doaks USN; NAS Jacksonville, FL; Joe & Tammy Williams’s son, Rev. Clifton & Mattie Taylor’s grandson

2nd LT Jacob Allen Meins USAF, Special Operations Command; Kathy Meins Martin’s son

Reitz’s son, Tommy, Joey, and Emily’s brother SPC Dwight A Rosse Jr. USA; 1-32 Cav 1st Bct, Fort Campbell, KY; Dwight & Michelle Rosse’s son, Britney & Carlton’s brother Kenneth R. Russell USMC, 123 Beaufort, South Carolina, Carolyn Russell’s son SPC Patrick D. Sharp USA; 82nd ABD; Al Asad, Iraq; Shawn Sharp’s son

SPC Ashley Bruce Squires USA; 3rd Inf. Div., 1-30 Inf.; Ft. Stewart, GA; Jesi Mason Squires’s father, Bruce & Tammy son, Aubrey & Austin’s brother Cpl Rodney Stephens ARNG; 152nd Military Police Task Force 382nd, Iraq; Andrea & AnnaBelle’s father Capt John M Traylor, Jr USAF; 64th Aggressor Squadron; Nellis AFB, NV; Mark & Karole Traylor’s son SGT John Christian Vansant USMC; VMMT 204 Flightline, MCAS; New River, NC; Keith & Sherill Vansant’s son Major Maxwell B. Ward USAR; Afghanistan; Kathie’s husband, Maggie’s dad, Bette Ward’s son, Michelle (Lin) Saville’s brother PFC Zachary Walton USA; 3-1 Cav. Regt.

Delta Troop; Ft Benning, GA; Becky Click’s son, Alex Walton & Sydney Mollica’s brother, Amber’s husband FC3 William J. Welch USN; USS Lake Erie, Pearl Harbor, HI; Devinne Brooks’ husband Lance Corporal Nathaniel Wilkins USMC; Stationed in North Carolina; Son of Vicki and Derek Wilkins

MSG Jacqueline M. Moore USA, 387th; Wichita, KS; Leroy E. Lucas’ wife, Cameshia, Shaun, Chibukia & Chris’ mom

SSgt Phillip Hembree USAF Police, Japan Deborah Hembrees’s son, Joann Pilato’s grandson, Jessica’s husband and Emily Faith’s daddy.

SSGT Christopher S. Murphy USMC; MWHS 3, San Diego, CA; Jack & Karen Murphy’s son, Alyssa’s husband

LCPL Jared M. Fitzgerald USMC; 9th Communication Battalion; Camp Pendleton; CA; Rosemarie Butler’s son and Jeff’s stepson, Justin and Tyler’s brother

Commander Kimberly A. Oelschlager USN; US Navy Hospital-Physician’s Asst., Beaufort, South Carolina Ted & the late Sara Oelschlager’s daughter

E-mail Helena active duty military personnel’s name, address and where they’re stationed to: helenacitynews@aol.com. If your loved one has returned, PLEASE let us know so that we can keep our prayer list current. Thank you!

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H E L E N A’ S C O M M U N I T Y O F FA I T H

A.M.E. New Bethel A.M.E.

New Elam Baptist Church

BAPTIST CrossBridge Community Church

1919 Highway 52 W • 426-1910 Pastor Chris Wilson • rbchelena.org Sunday Bible Study 9:15 am Sunday Worship 10:30 am

Highway 261 • 201-5531 Rev. Wilma Merriweather Sunday School 10:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 AM

Starkey Street (off 261) • 621-2695 Pastors Harris Cook & Bruce Squires crossbridgehelena.com Sunday Worship 10:00 am Wednesday Prayer Service 6:30 pm

First Baptist Church Helena

815 Highway 52 E • 663-7879 fbhelena.org Sunday Bible Study 9:30 am Sunday Worship 10:30 am & 6:00 pm

Gospel Light Baptist Church

5781 Roy Drive • 685-0772 Pastor Gary Bohman • glbcbham.com Sunday Bible Study 9 & 11:30 am Sunday Worship 10 am & 6 pm Wednesday Prayer Service 7 pm

Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church

Highway 261 • 663-5257 Rev. Edwin D. Dinkins • mpbchelena.com Sunday School 10:00 am Morning Worship 11:00 am

Cunningham Drive • 663-2230 Rev. Lester Sunday School 10:00 am Morning Worship 11:00 am

Riverside Baptist Church

Shiloh Baptist Church

6700 County Road 13 • 424-4539 Pastor Randy Keef Sunday School 10:00 am Sunday Worship 11:00 am

CHRISTIAN—DISCIPLES OF CHRIST Grace Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 869 Highway 52 • 426-1233 Rev. Brad Henderson gracechristianchurch.org Sunday School 9:00 am Sunday Worship 10:00 am

CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ at Helena 2499 Highway 58 • 620-4575 Evgs Curtis Flatt & Bryan Moody church-of-christ.org Sunday School 9:30 am Morning Worship 10:30 am

EPISCOPAL Lamb of God Charismatic Episcopal

New Vision Christian Church

Worship 9am Traditional, 11am Contemporary Sunday School 10am

PRESBYTERIAN Christ Community Church

2383 Highway 95 • 664-4333 Pastor Van C. Houser, Sr. • nvcc4god.org 5140 County Road 17 • 919-7932 Sunday Corporate Prayer 9:00 am Rev. Glenn E. Davis • lambofgodcec.org Sunday Worship 10:15 am Children’s Church 10:00 am Sunday Worship 10:00 am Voice of Faith Int’l Ministries 1560 Cunningham Drive • 663-7396 METHODIST Rev. Franklin L. Kirksey Helena United Methodist Church Sunday Worship 7:00 & 10:00 am 2035 County Road 58 • 663-0111 Thursday Bible Teaching 10:00 am Dr. Mary Henley • helenaumc.org

The Church at Cahaba Bend

3721 Highway 52 W • 621-8060 Rev. Patrick Friday • cahababend.org Sunday School 9:15 am Contemporary Worship 10:30 am

Member Presbyterian Church in America 2222 Hwy 52 • 881-4222 Pastors: Phil Chambers & David Cunningham www.cccbham.org Sunday Worship 10:30 am

NAZARENE Helena Cumberland Presbyterian Trinity Church of the Nazarene 3396 Helena Road • 663-2174 Laurel Woods Dr. & Hwy 58 • 664-4659 Rev. David Shirer • nazarene.ch/trinity/ Sunday School 9:00 am Morning Worship 10:00 am

NON-DENOMINATIONAL Cornerstone Church 2694 Highway 58 • 663-9332 Rev. Tim Trimble cornerstonechurchhelena.org Sunday School 9:30 am Morning Worship 10:30 am

Pastor Mike Ensminger helenacpchurch.com Sunday School 9:00 am Morning Worship 10:00 am Our community of faith offers many services and programs year-round.

Please visit the church’s website for additional information about upcoming events and programs.

During the days of Covid, please contact the church of your choice for current worship options.

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Seaburn Hines: setting records and taking names Earning the Alabama state record holder for dead-lifts at age 11, Helena’s Seaburn Hines became the first Husky football player to represent his state in the annual Alabama/Mississippi AllStar game in December, 2020, at Montgomery’s Crampton Bowl.

The 6’2” 295 lb offensive lineman played tackle for the Huskies, but may play elsewhere next season when he takes his talents to Georgia Southern.

Seaburn is an AllStar in the classroom, too, maintaining a 3.8 GPA and scoring a 28 on his ACT!

Counter clockwise from bottom left: Seaburn with trainer Blake Matthews, owner of CrossFitFurious, in 2014 after setting the state record for deadlifts for his age, 11 then, with a deadlift of 225 lbs.

Next, Seaburn at Senior Night 2020 at Helena High School this past fall, and top, in pass protection for Husky QB Mac Turner.

Good luck to Seaburn as he competes at the collegiate level for the Georgia Southern Eagles next fall.

30 Early Spring 2021 / www.CityOfHelena.org

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BRAD FLYNN

Long Time Helena police officer promoted to full-time Police Chief

Brad Flynn, our new police chief, was born in Meridian, Mississippi, while his dad, Ron, was a crew chief in the Navy. The family moved around a bit before landing in Alabaster when Brad was in second grade. By this time, Ron was out of the Navy, and this is where Brad grew up, graduating a Thompson Warrior in 1989.

He first attended the University of Montevallo where he majored in mass communications. “I wanted to be a sportscaster in those days,” he laughed.

“A friend of my mom (Mary Ann) was in the Explorers in Hoover at the time, and once I really got into that program, I knew it was something I wanted to pursue as a career. I was a volunteer fire fighter for Shelco, and put myself through the EMT program at the Alabama Fire College. But after the time spent with the police explorers in Hoover, I made the decision to become a policeman. I transferred my credits from UM to UAB and pursued a degree in criminal justice. I worked as a dispatcher

for the Alabaster P.D. for two or three years.

In 1992, I went to work as a reserve deputy for Jefferson County and attended a weekend reserve academy they had set up.

I graduated from there in 1993 and from UAB in 1994.

After graduation, Brad went to work for the Mountain Brook P.D. “It was a really nice community, but being a kid from Alabaster, it just wasn’t me,” he said. “It wasn’t long before Helena Police Chief Ray Rollan came calling asking if I’d like to join the Helena P.D. I started as a full- time dispatcher and part-time police officer. I became a full-time police officer here in 1997.”

“I married my wife, Melanie, on September 15, 2001. We planned to go to Jamaica on our honeymoon, but had to cancel that after 9/11. We delayed our honeymoon a week,” said Brad.

Brad has taken a lot of courses covering a wide variety of police work over the years, including Traffic Homicide Investigation school in 2001, SWAT school in 2004, and Crisis Negotiation school with the FBI in 2007.

In that same year, the late Chief Doug Jones asked Brad to take over as Emergency Operations Officer. This involved planning and initiating emergency responses for anything from severe

32 Early Spring 2021 / www.CityOfHelena.org

weather to hazardous material spills and everything in between.

As part of his training for that position, Brad travelled all over the country learning various aspects of the job including explosives training including nuclear devices.

“Chief Jones wanted me to get as much knowledge as possible in order to prepare me to train our officers for any contingency,” he added.

Brad was promoted to Sergeant in 2003 and was later made a detective.

“This was during the time that Helena resident Christina Thomas was drowned on her honeymoon in Australia. “It was an international case and was featured on Dateline NBC. Books and movies were made about the tragedy. This took me to Australia to help with the investigation, but after more than seven years of work, I had to close this chapter of my life,” said Brad. “I still stay in contact with Christina’s mother, Cindy. She has become like family to me.”

Brad was promoted to Lieutenant in 2008, and he took over as patrol commander at this time.

In 2011, he attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, where less than one percent of police officers nationwide are accepted. It is a 10-week program where attendees are allowed to pursue areas of interest to them and learn from the Bureau’s foremost experts.

Brad’s focus was in homicide case management, taught by an

FBI profiler. “We had to present a case study, and I presented my case on Christina Thomas. It was interesting the things that the FBI profiler helped me to see.

After completing my time there, I came back and began instructing courses here using knowledge I gained from this training,” Brad continued.

Brad teaches Active Shooter Response Training and headed a team of instructors who gave Active Shooter training to over 80 percent of officers trained in Alabama.

Brad also works at the Center for Domestic Preparedness at Anniston’s Fort McClellan, and teaches hazardous materials response, both natural and terrorist level courses. “It is mainly geared towards responding to terrorist threats,” said Brad. He also teaches courses for the Academy of Counter Terrorist Education at LSU. “My duties as Chief will seriously cut into the time I can teach, but it is something I love and believe in, and I will still remain as active as my schedule will allow,” said Brad.

With 23 years of service, Brad was recently promoted to fill the shoes of retiring Chief of Police Pete Folmar after an exhaustive search by Mayor Brian Puckett and his search team.

Eligible to retire in two years, Brad says he plans to serve as

Helena’s Chief for much longer than that. “I am excited about our new outreach program called COP (community outreach program). We plan to connect with the community in ways not done here before. We’ll do regular ‘Coffee with a Cop’ meetings, and I am planning to institute a Citizen’s Police Academy soon where those who apply and are accepted will receive police style training and experience what it’s like to be a police officer, fostering a respect within the community for the work done by the police and an appreciation for why we follow the procedures we do. We are fortunate here in Helena to have a terrific relationship with the community, and we want to do everything in our power to maintain that and make it even stronger. Mayor Puckett and I are on the same page when it comes to community policing.”

Brad is very proud of his children and thankful for the support of his wife, Melanie. The

children include: Lauren, 21, a student at Auburn University; Macy, 16, a sophomore cheerleader and honor roll student at Helena High school; and Colin 10, a 4th Grader at the Intermediate School.

Congratulations on the new appointment as Police Chief, Brad.

Your depth of experience and training will serve you well as you carry on the rich heritage of policing we enjoy in Helena today!

Day School at Cahaba Bend holds puppy food drive When Two by Two Animal Rescue posted that they had a desperate need for Puppy Food and Training Pads, the preschoolers at The Day School at Cahaba Bend stepped up to the plate. They learned about how to take care of others when there is a need. The children, aged 1-5, picked out and carried in bags of puppy food as big as they are! A giving spirit is so important to teach our little ones and we are excited that Two By Two Animal Rescue is the receiver of these gifts.

Pictured below are Cahaba Day School students who helped with the puppy food drive: Day Hardy, Jacob Stephenson and Harvey Bushell.

L-r, back row: Jay Satterfield-Head Coach, Eden Steele, Camille Thomason, Grace Ambrose, Vangie Pinkney, Joe Steele-Asst. Coach Front row: Macie Brashears, Hannah Satterfield, Isabel Heintz

Girls 6th Grade Huskies Basketball Champs The Helena Blue 6th grade girls basketball team had an undefeated season this year finishing 1st place in the Pelham Girls Basketball League and winning the championship game! We are very proud of these girls and their awesome coaches, and we would love to share their accomplishment with the community. Way to go girls! I know the middle school coaches are looking forward to these incredible athletes joining their team next season. .com / Early Spring 2021 TO ADVERTISE, CALL the Publisher at 746.1188 / MyHelenaCityNews.com

33

Harvard Educated Helena Police Sergeant Will Ratcliffe was promoted to Sergeant recently. When we heard he was also a graduate of Harvard University, we figured there had to be an interesting story behind this Ivy League educated Helena police sergeant, and here it is…

Will was born in Tuscaloosa.

“When I was a baby, we lived in the same neighborhood as Bear Bryant, and my brother and sister would trick-or-treat at his house.

Will’s father, Dr. Alfred Ratcliffe Jr, was a family physician there at the time.

Soon after, the family moved to Albertville, where they would live during Will’s school years. He graduated from Albertville High School, where he starred on the Aggies’ football team.

“During those days, most college football recruiting was done by mail,” said Will. “I had all As, but Harvard was not on my radar.

My high school coach, Paul McAbee, thought since I was receiving interest from several service academies, why not approach the Ivy League? So he made a highlight reel from some game film and sent it to a few Ivy League schools.

WILL RATCLIFFE

About three days after Harvard received theirs, a coach from there was in my living room. I actually felt more comfortable at a couple of other schools that had offered me full scholarships, Wofford and Furman, but I took what Harvard offered and didn’t look back,” said Will.

He majored in government while at Harvard and graduated from there in 2000.

Will said at that point, law enforcement was in his mind, but he had always dreamed of going out west, and soon found himself in Colorado working on a dude ranch. “I stayed out there a couple of years and planned to go back to grad school, but then my mother got sick, so I moved back home to help care for her. She died in 2002, and I got the idea to go to med school and follow in my dad’s footsteps.” Will went to UAB, where he earned a degree in biology. He applied to med school at an osteopathic medical program in West Virginia, but got wait listed for a year, during which time he took a job as zookeeper at the Birmingham Zoo.

34 Early Spring 2021 / www.CityOfHelena.org

He enjoyed it so much that he ended up staying for five years. “I enjoyed working with the animals so much that I forgot all about med school,” he laughed. “That job did not have much upward mobility though,” he said, “so I took a job working in medical research at UAB and began working towards my master’s in biology.

I was close to completing that when, at the age of 37, I decided to pursue my earlier love for law enforcement. It was either going to be that or something in education. My wife Cappy and I had a heart-to-heart about what I should do, and she told me she thought I’d make an excellent police officer. I thought about it and called a good friend of mine, Jason Springfield. At the time, Jason was Chief of Police at Brookside. He let me help out as a reserve and then sponsored me when I attended the Reserve Officers Academy in Jefferson County in 2015. I was elected chaplain of my 27-member class.

We attended every other weekend for 13 months.” Will graduated April 9, 2017, and went to work

with Helena the next day. “I met then Lt. Brad Flynn earlier when he was teaching an active shooter class I attended at Helena High while I was in the academy. I was hired by former Chief Pete Folmar.”

Will and Cappy moved with their family of five to Helena’s Sugar Creek community. “We have great neighbors and love the schools here. Our kids have a ball!

William is six and in kindergarten at HES, and three-year-old twins Benjamin and Anne Elizabeth are right behind him.

Today, Will is a Deacon at Briarwood Presbyterian Church.

Wife Cappy is a Colorado native who he met on an outing with the church. “We met while on a singles beach retreat to Florida,” said Will.

Cappy’s parents, Ron and Beth Adair, moved here from Colorado and today make their home in the Appleford community of Hillsboro.

Be sure and say hi to Helena’s Harvard educated police sergeant the next time you see him on patrol around town!

E T VO

LEIGH

HULSEY

SPECIAL ELECTION VOTE MARCH 30TH

STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 73 “We need better roads, stronger schools, better protection for the unborn, a secured 2nd Amendment, low taxes, and unwavering support for our First Responders. You work hard to provide for your family, and I want to work hard for you.

As a lifelong resident of District 73, I have the experience and connections to help us build a bright future. I’m asking for your vote on March 30th in the Republican Primary so that our community will continue to be represented with integrity, experience and passion.”

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36 Early Spring 2021 / www.CityOfHelena.org

Republican Primary Vote March 30th About April WeAver

April Weaver served ten years as an accomplished state legislator in the Alabama House of Representatives, including five years as Chair of the House Health Committee. She was the first woman in Alabama history to serve in this position. She served as the Chair of the Shelby County House Delegation from October 2016 until May 2020. Her former House District included Shelby, Bibb and Chilton counties, the same counties that are in Senate District 14. During her tenure in the State House, Weaver had a reputation of being a strong conservative on both fiscal and social issues.

In May 2020, April was appointed to serve as the Regional IV Director for the United States Department of Health and Human Services during the height of the Covid pandemic. Her leadership and experience in both public service and the private sector were the paramount reasons she was asked to serve in the Administration. A registered nurse who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration, Weaver worked for over 23 years as a hospital leader in various management roles in urban, suburban and rural hospitals.

April is married to Dr. Darrel Weaver and is a member of Pelham First Baptist Church.

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37

Helena’s 2020/2021 Teachers of the Year Hats off to these four educators who were voted on by their peers to be honored as such. These educators are part of what makes Helena the special place it is.

helping their child has been difficult, but they’ve done their best to find a balance.”

Handley appreciates the community she’s experienced here at Helena. “The biggest thing that sets Helena apart is the sense of community here. I knew about that prior to being a teacher; just as a resident of this city, I knew right away this was a different community. Everybody cares about everybody.

That’s really shown during this whole pandemic. People are still trying, harder than ever, to make

everyone happy and to be there for one another. I think that sense of community is something that will never change about Helena.”

Handley was born and raised in McCalla and attended McAdory schools growing up. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of Alabama and is currently working on her master’s at the University of West Alabama. She is married with two kids, ages 4 and 1. She has been teaching for twelve years, and this is her fourth year at Helena.

Helena Elementary School Teacher of the Year

Meghan Handley

Meghan Handley was voted Teacher of the Year at Helena Elementary School, and says she found it quite surprising and humbling. “I was very surprised because we have amazing teachers here. For people to actually vote for me and to select me as Teacher of the Year, it’s a huge honor, because there are so many outstanding teachers here.”

Handley is teaching virtually this year, which has presented new challenges for her as an educator. “It’s been a learning experience, for sure. I’ve definitely expanded my technology skills and learned creative ways to present information through a computer screen. A lot of a child’s learning takes place using manipulatives and hands-on activities. Not being able to do that is a big challenge. I’ve sent home activities to my students because they still need that aspect of their learning. They’re getting to do it, but it’s not the same as doing it with a partner in the classroom or alongside their teacher.”

Despite the new ordeals of teaching online, Handley claims that the most important components students are missing out on are their relationships and social skills. “The biggest thing is missing out on those relationships that you build with your students. The typical conversations where we’re getting to know

them usually take place during lunch, in between lessons, or on the playground. I’m not able to interact with my kids that way this year. The students are definitely missing out on building social skills and learning how to show respect, share, take turns, communicate, and listen.”

Handley acknowledges the significant responsibility that comes with teaching such young children during their formative years.

“It can be a lot of pressure. It can keep me up at night. That’s where my faith comes in. I have to hand it over to God and tell myself I’m going to do the best I can. The rest is in His hands. If I didn’t have that, I probably would have gone crazy by now. This time in a child’s life is very important; it’s the foundation of their future. Especially here at Helena, it’s a huge priority. We mold the curriculum to accommodate each student’s personal level and where they’re at and to push them accordingly.”

She praises the parents for the hard work they’ve put in to keep their students on track.

“My students’ parents have done an amazing job. They’ve tried so hard to make this the best experience for their child; they’re constantly asking me questions and getting my advice on how they should do things. A lot of them are working from home, so them doing their job while also

38 Early Spring 2021 / www.CityOfHelena.org

Helena Intermediate School Teacher of the Year

Kaitlin McGuirk

A Q & A with second year special education teacher Kaitlin McGuirk.

Q. What’s it like to be named teacher of the year?

A. It’s a huge honor. I’m definitely humbled because I feel like we all deserved it this year.

Q. Do you have any particular favorite memory while you’ve been at Helena?

A. Yes! My class participates in Special Olympics twice a year. My favorite time of year is when my students are walking to the bus to go to Special Olympics, and the rest of the school lines the hallway and cheers us on as we go to get on the bus.

Q. What do you find most rewarding about being a teacher?

A. Since I teach kids with special needs, a lot of my students use AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) devices. Seeing them learn to use their words

and then seeing them interact with their neurotypical peers— that makes me happy. Seeing that every child is valued, and seeing that the neurotypical kids love and communicate with my students makes me really happy.

Q: What made you want to teach special education and work with children who have special needs?

A. I have felt a calling from God in my life to minister to those with special needs and their families since I was in high school. I was at a church summer camp when I heard a pastor speak about his beautiful daughter with Down Syndrome.

Q. What has the experience been like as a teacher dealing with the Covid situation this past year?

A: It has been hard to see how the COVID-19 situation has impacted our students and their families. However, our students and staff have persevered. As a

teacher, I am proud of my colleagues and our students. We have adapted quickly. We all just wanted to be back together. We are privileged to be able to do that.

Q. In your eyes, what do you think sets Helena apart from other schools and communities?

A. Helena is such a tight knit community of families. Our families and their support set us apart. We have amazing teachers that love their community.

Q. What’s your experience when it comes to teaching?

A. This is my ninth year teaching.

I grew up in Pelham and went to Pelham High School, then I went to the University of Alabama and I got my master’s degree at UAB. Before coming to Helena, I taught at Valley Intermediate, and around the time that Pelham and Shelby County began to split, I came back to Shelby County.

Q. Tell me about your family. Do you have a spouse and any kids of your own?

A. I’m married and we have two kids; we have a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old.

of scary how enormous that responsibility is. The important thing for me is letting them see that we’re not just learning this so we can check off a box. We’re learning it so they can use it out in real life.” ​Looking ahead in 2021, Sorrells is hopeful to be with all his students again. “It’s easy to build a classroom climate and culture in person where we’re all pushing to succeed, but it’s hard when we’re all participating in

different formats. So I’m looking forward to building that collaborative mindset together.” ​Sorrells grew up in Mississippi, and his mother was also a teacher. He taught in Mississippi for six years and has been in Alabama for the last 12.

He taught at Mountain Brook for eight years and Helena the last four.

He has been married to his wife for seventeen years, and they have one son who is 15.

Helena High School Teacher of the Year

Anita Lewis

Helena Middle School Teacher of the Year

Chad Sorrells

Chad Sorrells is a 7th grade math teacher. “I’m beyond honored. I’ve been teaching now for 18 years, and this is the first time I’ve ever been selected. In the year that we’re going through, the honor and the privilege I felt to represent the school during this time is huge. I think my strengths this year showed with technology and the leadership aspect. I was tasked with leading remote learning—figuring out how to implement it and get it going. I think a lot of teachers recognized my skills and utility.” ​While Chad did a terrific job, he gives lots of credit to his colleagues, parents and students. “I think the teachers and students are doing their best in a difficult situation. It’s tough serving both groups at the same time.

But really, the community and the parents have been great about helping the students whether they’re in school or at home remotely.”

“The top thing I really appreciate about Helena parents is the communication we share. Parents are always willing to speak up and ask what you need. I’ve never had this level of support before. The PTO has been over-the-top amazing in providing

things for the school.” ​He prides himself and his students on the success of the school’s social media pages. “We restarted those three years ago, and I got some students involved to help make sure that there were things the students would want while also showcasing our school. I tell the teachers constantly if they’ve got something great going on in their classroom, let people see that.” ​Sorrells values the opportunity to build relationships with his students through teaching. “I find it rewarding when I can almost craft the situation, to really push and challenge them to think beyond just the simple memory problems. We can ask students what 2+3 is, but being able to show it in a real-world application pays off so much more. Getting them to think and try their answers, and then guide that learning. It’s that interaction that I enjoy.” ​Sorrells also stressed the importance of his students utilizing the skills they learn outside of school. “I want to make sure that when the students leave my classroom, they not only know the math but can use the math.

Truthfully, sometimes it can feel kind

Anita Lewis has been named Teacher of the Year at Helena High School, and says she feels honored to have received the prestigious title. “It’s great—it’s a huge compliment because your colleagues vote for you.” She says that she enjoys building relationships with her students and says she finds it to be one of the most rewarding things about being a teacher. “It’s the effect you have on your students for years to come. You build relationships with them, and you find out that something about you affected them in a positive way. Your impact on other people can be so positive that they may want to follow a path like yours or change their life in a positive manner.”

In regards to the Covid-19 situation in our schools, Lewis offered a realistic yet optimistic perspective. “It’s been really hard.

This has been the hardest year for me as a teacher and for a lot of people. It’s hard for us to manage being online teachers AND in-class teachers. But I think this difficulty has been really good for teacher relationships. We’re all

getting through this together. It’s not awful, it’s just been tough.”

Lewis, who grew up in Arkansas, didn’t start out as a teacher and never considered it until she and her husband moved to Alabama. “Changing careers was one of those decisions where I felt, ‘I’m fine with what I’m doing in my life, but is this really making me happy? Is it fulfilling me?’ It was just that mindset of making an impact on people and affecting them in a positive way.”

Her undergraduate degree is in political science, and she worked in human resources and on political campaigns before pursuing a master’s degree in education.

One of her favorite memories during her time teaching at Helena is when she was featured on an Alexander Shunnarah billboard. “It was fun because my students completely generated that. A whole bunch of them voted for me, so it had nothing to do with the school and everything to do with the students. In a lot of ways, that means so much to me.

My husband and I took our kids (continued on page 40)

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Teachers of the Year (continued from page 39) to the billboard without telling them about it, and all of a sudden I was just there. It was amazing.”

Finally, she felt it was very important to stress how thankful she and many others are for a place called Helena. “I’m thankful that this all happened—that this is where I landed. It’s like it was supposed to be this way. Any time things get hard, I always have such great students. I’m so thankful for Helena for giving me this teaching job where I have the privilege of knowing all these kids and all these families, and when things are tough like this year, I can say thank God for these students that I have. They’re the ones

who make it a good year. I don’t know if the community hears it often enough that so many of us are so lucky to be a part of this, even though I don’t live here.”

Anita’s husband is the head of human resources for the City of Hoover, and they have two children, Audrey and Ben, both of whom attend Oak Mountain Middle School. She enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with her family. She also likes to write letters to her friends and loved ones the old school way.

Congratualtions to Anita Lewis, Helena High School’s Teacher of the Year!

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Helena High Baseball and Softball both off to great starts!

Before the season started, we talked with both the Husky coaches and they both sounded like their teams were absolutely ready for the 2021 campaigns after seeing their 2020 seasons cut short due to the global pandemic. At presstime, both teams were boasting only one loss. Here’s hoping both of them end up playing in Montgomery this May.

Baseball

“I’m excited,” said head coach P.J. Guy. “We’ve got a lot of experience returning this year. We have 13 seniors; it’s the biggest class we’ve ever had.

These guys have been through a lot of varsity games, even though last season was a shortened one. We haven’t missed any days of practice due to weather, and that’s a blessing. We’re optimistic with the guys we’ve got returning, plus we have a couple of new additions to fill some positions of need. We’re excited about the challenges in front of us.

I feel like our strength this year is our athleticism. We have a lot of team speed, and we have lots of arms coming back that have given us many quality innings over the past two years. We have a lot of options and good depth this year in our pitching rotation. Three of our returning pitchers are seniors who have been pitching for us since their sophomore years: Jake Peters, Jack Freeman and Seth Gregory. They’ve been through it, they know what it takes, and they’ve pitched in some big games for us in the past, so we’re going to rely on their experience early in the season to help out some of the younger guys who we feel like are going to play a big role for us. They just don’t have the experience that our older guys have.”

On the offensive side of the ball, Coach Guy said, “We have some guys we feel good about in terms of their rbi potential. We’ve got Tyler John Santos, a four-year guy on varsity who has been our catcher for three years; Mac Turner, a junior this year, has been on the varsity since his 9th grade year; Brody Moss is a four-year player and a senior who is playing shortstop; and Landon Leake is another senior and four-year player for us. We’ve got some guys who have been in the lineup a lot the past three or four years. You know how it goes, whoever has the hot hand is the guy we’ll put in that slot.”

On the talent level of this year’s squad, Coach had this to say, “We have six guys on this team who have already committed to play in college next year: Jacob Peters is going to Southern Union as is Landon Leake and Tyler John Santos; Griff Minor is going to Stillman College; Brock Sisson is going to Lee University; and Brody Moss has committed to Auburn University. And we have a couple more who are getting some interest, so it’s just exciting to see that we already have six guys who are going to be able to continue their playing careers at the next level, and I’m hoping we have several more who will follow in their footsteps.”

As this goes to press, the Huskies are on a roll and opened their season at 7-1. Best of luck as the Huskies vie for a return to the state championship in Montgomery in May.

HELENA HIGH SCHOOL 2021 Varsity Baseball Schedule

day/date opponent location time Tue, Mar. 9 Chelsea Away 6:30pm Thu, Mar. 11 Central (Phenix City) Away 8:00am Thu, Mar. 11 Central (Phenix City) Away 8:00pm Fri, Mar. 12 Gulf Shores Tournament Away TBA Tue, Mar. 16 Calera* Away 6:30pm Thu, Mar. 18 Calera* Home 6:30PM Fri, Mar. 19 Oak Mountain Away 4:30pm Tue, Mar. 30 Pelham* Home 6:30PM Thu, Apr. 1 Pelham* Away 6:30pm Tue, Apr. 6 Chilton County* Home 6:30PM Thu, Apr. 8 Chilton County* Away 6:30pm Sat, Apr. 10 Bob Jones Away 11:00am Head Coach P.J. Guy *Region Game *Home games in bold print 42 Early Spring 2021 / www.CityOfHelena.org

Softball

Coach Scott Lowery says his Helena High School softball team is loaded with upper classmen this year, and he is excited to see how the season plays out.

“We have five seniors and 10 juniors,” said the coach. “We have good leadership on this team. During practice drills, we break our 30 players up into five groups with a senior leading each group.”

We asked him about his team’s strengths for this year, and he said he has three excellent pitchers: junior Cam Bailey; junior Anne Marie Stanbridge, and senior Lexie Bullock.

Coach Lowery said he has some big hitters on this year’s squad, too.

Lexie Bullock is always a threat to hit the long ball, and she’ll have help from junior Bella Holiday who started every game last season as catcher, and seniors Julia Wilkins and Emily Crowe, both of whom are entering their fourth season as Huskies.

Junior Elise Dufour is a promising outfielder for us, and junior Alaina Scott plays middle infield. Junior Alex Erwin has the ability to play infield and outfield at a high level. Junior Sarah Ezekiel plays several infield positions, and junior Haley Morris has played varsity since she was a ninth grader.

Joel Morris is serving as assistant this year. “We actually coached against each other when I was at Pleasant Grove and he was at John Carroll,” said Scott. “Joel works with the outfielders, Bailey Darby works with the pitchers and catchers and also the JV, and Ashley Blankenship works with the infielders and the JV, mainly with the first basemen. We’ve got a good staff here,” said Scott. “I work with the catchers.

I played catcher in college at the University of Montevallo, so I always want to be sure we’ve got a great catcher. I also work with the infield and put an emphasis on bunting, because it is so important in softball.”

Best of luck to the Huskies as they continue on their 11-1 start!

HELENA HIGH SCHOOL 2021 Varsity Softball Schedule 6A Region 6 day/date opponent location time Fri-Sat, Mar. 5-6 Hewitt Trussville Tournament Away TBA Tue, Mar. 9 Calera* Away 5:00pm Thu, Mar. 9 Chilton County* Home 4:30PM Tue, Mar. 16 Hoover Away 4:30pm Thu, Mar. 18 Pelham* Home 4:30PM Tue, Mar. 30 Tuscaloosa County Home 4:30PM Thu, Apr. 1 Pelham* Away 5:00pm Fri-Sat, Apr. 2-3 Oxford Tournament Oxford TBA Tue, Apr. 6 Chelsea Home 4:30PM Thu, Apr. 8 Calera* Home 4:30PM Fri-Sat, Apr. 9-10 Stanhope Tournament Stanhope TBA Thu, Apr. 15 Corner Home 5:00PM Fri-Sat, Apr. 16-17 Cullman Tournament Cullman TBA Mon, Apr. 19 Springville Away 5:00pm Thu, Apr. 22 Hoover Home 4:30PM Fri-Sat, Apr. 23-24 31st Annual Hoover Classic Hoover TBA Tue, Apr. 27 Vestavia Home 4:30PM Thu, Apr. 29 Hayden Home 5:00PM Tue-Fri, May 4-7 Area Tournament TBA TBA Head Coach Scott Lowery*Region Game *Home games in bold print

GO HUSKIES!!!

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Here are pictures taken Friday, December 4th, at the Helena Festival and 4th annual Christmas Tree Lighting. These events were sponsored respectively by the Helena Business Association and Helena Beautiful, the Helena Beautification Board that Mayor Brian Puckett and City Councilman Chris VanCleave have worked on so hard over the past four years. The chilly temperatures did nothing to deter Helenians in the mood for a Christmas outing. A special guest appeared as the featured singer at the Tree Lighting, former Miss Alabama, Helena resident Tara Pennington. Thanks to all who came to share some Christmas cheer!

Helena’s “49.5 Edition” Christmas Parade had the perfect weather this year and served as a welcome diversion for Helena residents stuck indoors for much of the year in an attempt to avoid Covid. Many thanks to Helena’s Volunteer of the Year, Joy Childers, and her dedicated staff of volunteers who stage the

46 Early Spring 2021 / www.CityOfHelena.org

parade so seamlessly each year. Council President Alice Lobell took her position at the judge’s table this year along with friend and former councillor, Connie Brady, Alice’s son, Jonathan Hollabaugh, and Penny Weldon, whose husband Jim had the honor of playing the Jolly Old Elf himself atop his firetruck

sleigh. Brian Peters served as emcee, and the grand marshals were all of our city’s First Responders who face the Covid threat daily along with so many others.

Thanks to all the parade participants and all the families who came out to enjoy the festivities! Hope it was as much fun for you as it was for us!

The 49.5 Edition of the

Helena Christmas Parade

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