The Madisoon Record - March 27, 2024

take a

“SAY CHEESE!” - Madison Living

of the Madison Visionary Awards Community Volunteer finalists Sandy Weisner, Michelle Hyams and Denise Phillips with Madison historian John Rankin. The photo shoot was held Sunday afternoon in preparation for Thursday’s awards ceremony. Madison Visionary Partners or MVP will host the second annual Madison Visionary Awards. The awards ceremony’s venue will be the SportsMed Club at Toyota Stadium in Town Madison on March 28 at 8 a.m. The awards process celebrates the people who make Madison a great place to live, work and play, according to MVP Executive Director Melanie Thornton. Other finalists include Andrew Crocker Savannah Gaertner and Finley Koswoski for Youth Volunteer of the Year. Cristie Clark with Captured by Cristie; Matt Gibson with Gibson Orthodontics, and Alice Lessmann with Signalink for Philanthropic Businessperson of the Year. The finalists and winners will be featured in the April issue of Madison Living Magazine (www.madisonlivingmagazine.com). Go to mvpmadison.org for more information.

Facility dog Daryl comforts, ‘listens’ to children at Midtown Elementary School

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – A calming influence, an incentive for good behavior and an empathetic source in times of crisis. Daryl, the facility dog at Midtown Elementary School, serves in those roles . . . without saying a word.

Arriving at Midtown last month, Daryl wasted no time in exerting a positive influence. Daryl can assist in deescalating an upset student, give an incentive for positive behavior or help a child who has experienced trauma or grief, Midtown Principal Savannah Demeester said.

He is a 60-pound Labradoodle, a cross between a Labrador Retriever and a Standard Poodle. Daryl turned three years old on March 7.

See DARYL Page 4A

Daryl,

numerous games and activities in and around Toyota Field, plus free entertainment with admission.

New for this year will be the Dominguez Circus, a 3rd and 4th generation circus family who appeared on America’s Got Talent. Alongside the circus, the sea lion splash show returns to the Fair.

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – US Chess Federation has chosen Madison City Council President Ranae Bartlett as its Executive Director.

Since September 2023, she had served as Director of Operations.

Since Feb. 10, Bartlett had worked as the federation’s Interim Executive Director. US Chess, a 501(c)3 organization, has an educational mission to “empower people, enrich lives and enhance communities through chess.” (new.uschess. org)

“I felt compelled to apply for the position when the previous Executive Director, Carol Meyer, decided to pursue other opportunities. I was already working for US Chess as Director of Operations, and I needed to step up and help the organization in the transition while a nationwide search for an executive director occurred,” Bartlett said.

After founding Madison City Chess League or MCCL in 2013, she served as its Executive Director for 10-plus years and conducted 80plus tournaments. Since 2020, she has acted as Education Director for ChessKid.com.

“Chess has been a passion for me for over a decade. The kids who have been a part of MCCL also competed on state and national levels,” Bartlett said.

“Joining US Chess seems like a natural progression. It appears that the stars have aligned to put me in a position to continue to grow chess on a national stage,” she said.

“Ranae Bartlett is an accomplished leader in both the chess community and in her hometown,” US Chess President Randy Bauer said. “As a volunteer, she has led our Chess in Education Committee and has served on her city’s school board and currently

For the first time in team history, the first four days of the fair will align with Rocket City Trash Pandas home games. Fans who purchase a ticket to one of those games from Thursday, April 25 to Sunday, April 29 will receive free admission to the fair on the See FAIR Page 8A The Big Ol’ Ballpark Fair will be held April 25-May 5.

Midtown Principal Savannah Demeester.

Magazine photographer Joshua Berry prepares to

photo

Jackson Center to host GeoResilience Summit

By STAFF REPORTS

news@themadisonrecord.com

HUNTSVILLE - The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and GEOHuntsville will co-host the GeoResilience Summit, “Why Where Matters,” on Wednesday, April 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Jackson Center. The summit is an opportunity for participants to engage in discussions with experts from government, industry and academia about the impact of geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) on national security and the explosion of technological innovations in Huntsville’s growing geospatial ecosystem.

“In Huntsville, where the aerospace, defense, and cyber intelligence sectors flourish, the importance of geospatial technology cannot be overstated,” Mayor Tommy Battle said. “The summit aligns seamlessly with our legacy of pushing the boundaries of technological advancement.”

The event will include a keynote speech from NGA Deputy Director Tonya Wilkerson and leaders from NASA, the Defense

Intelligence Agency, U.S. Space Command, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and more. It will feature a closing keynote from Mayor Battle.

Panel topics include:

• How GIS Developments are Strengthening U.S. Resilience

• How GEOINT Can

Map Changes in Human Health

• Geospatial Roles in Disaster Response & Climate Change

• Expanding into Outer Space

• Preparing for a Career in The Geospatial & STEM Industry & Government

A student career fair will be held simultaneously from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. featuring representatives from across the geospatial sector, including NGA and other federal agencies, industries and nonprofits. There is no cost for fulltime high school and college students to attend the career fair. Industry experts will conduct resume reviews on a first-come, first-served basis.

For tickets, go to www. eventbrite.com/e/georesilience-summit-tickets-829209266237

State gambling legislation stalls again after Senate changes

By CALEB TAYLOR www.1819News.com

MONTGOMERY — Movement on gambling legislation has stalled in the first week of the second half of the 2024 legislative session.

The constitutional amendment, HB 151, passed in the Senate on March 8 with one vote to spare over the necessary 21-vote threshold by a margin of 22-11. Accompanying enabling legislation, HB 152 passed by the same margin. State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) carried both bills in the Senate.

The substitute amendments under the amended Senate plan include a statewide lottery and

a requirement that the governor negotiate a gambling compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PCI). Sports betting, online gambling or other nonPCI new casinos aren’t included in the Senate’s amendment like the House’s version.

The constitutional amendment would be voted on in the Senate plan on September 10 in a special election. The House version was estimated to raise annual revenue to the state by around $900 million. The Senate version is estimated to raise around $300 million annually.

“It hasn’t been taken out of the basket down there, has it? That may be indicative of the difficulties that this fine piece

of legislation faces,” State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore) told reporters on Thursday. “The House sent us up a comprehensive package that covered a great deal. The Senate sent to them a much-reduced package and with very specific instructions about potential changes. That appears to have had a chilling effect on advancement.”

Albritton said, “There seems to be no taste (in the Senate) for the traditional Class III gaming.”

“We still have the time and we still have the need. The flexibility may be the determining factor on whether we accomplish something this year between the House and Senate and try-

ing to put together the package that’s doable, that’s acceptable,” Albritton said. House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) told 1819 News on Thursday, “We’re working to find a path forward that shuts down illegal facilities and positions Alabamians to vote on this issue for the first time in 25 years.”

Any new compromise legislation that included sports betting or additional Class III gaming would likely face an uphill battle in the Senate since its scaledback version only passed with one vote to spare above the 60 percent threshold for constitutional amendments.

“I think the House did a lot of

work. They sent us something. The Senate didn’t necessarily agree with all the elements. Obviously, we went through an exhaustive process and that has gone back to the House. I’m very proud of what we did in the Senate. I think we changed it in several ways as you all are aware. We minimized the casino opportunity and eliminated the sports betting which were topics that were non-starters in the Senate body,” State Senate ProTem Greg Reed (R-Jasper) said. “Now, it’s back to the House. I’ve had some conversations with those in the House. They’re trying to go through a process to assess exactly what the chang-

See GAMBLING Page 8A

By ERICA THOMAS www.1819News.com

MONTGOMERY - State Rep. Joe Lovvorn (R-Auburn) is using his background as a first responder to explain why a bill he is introducing is so crucial in the fight against the opioid crisis.

House Bill 280 would require fentanyl prevention and drug poisoning awareness in grades six through 12 for public schools.

“Education is one of the most powerful tools we have in preventing drug addiction and its devastating effects,” Lovvorn said.

“Through the Price Hornsby Act, we honor the memory of those we’ve lost by committing to protect the lives of our future generations.”

The Price Hornsby Act is named after a 17-year-old from Auburn who passed away in 2021 from fentanyl poisoning. Hornsby graduated early from Auburn High School

Bartlett

on its city council.”

and was weeks away from entering Space Force when he died.

“The loss of Price Hornsby has been a devastating blow to our community, and it underscores the urgent need for comprehensive drug education and prevention strategies,” said Lovvorn. “By introducing the Price Hornsby Act, we aim to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future and ensure that our children are educated about the lethal risks associated with fentanyl.”

Ray and Lee Hornsby, Price’s parents, are urging lawmakers to take notice and pass the legislation.

“We want to encourage the Legislature to consider their children and grandchildren,” they said in a statement. “Our family completely understands Price played a part in his death, but this substance is deadly. It is truly a parent’s worst nightmare, so we’re hopeful the ‘Price Hornsby Act’ will save lives.

We have a responsibility to guard,

Continued from page 1A

“Bartlett was clearly the strongest and best-suited selection among several excellent candidates,” US Chess Vice President Kevin Pryor said. “She’s the right person to lead the organization. We look forward to all that she will do.”

“I appreciate the trust and confidence the Executive Board has placed in me,” Bartlett said. “I look forward to helping US Chess plan for the future while meeting its mission to empower people, enrich lives and enhance communities through chess.”

US Chess has headquarters in St. Louis, Mo. Since becoming Director of Operations, Bartlett has travelled there once monthly and will continue as Executive Director.

She also will continue to represent District 5 on Madison City Council. “A majority of our council members have fulltime jobs in addition to their service on the council,” Bartlett said.

Bartlett’s work with US Chess Federation can benefit MCCL. “One advantage I have as Executive Director is that I enter the position having been an active member of US Chess, conducting tournaments and hosting events to advance

protect and educate the future generations.”

The Hornsbys believe their son took a pill laced with fentanyl without knowing it was laced. Fentanyl-laced pills have been blamed for a large number of opioid fatalities. UCLA Health found in 2022 that an average of 22 teens ages 14 to 18 died each week in the United States from overdoses, mostly from fentanyl in counterfeit pills.

Lovvorn said if the Price Hornsby Act is passed, it would take effect in the fall.

After founding Madison City Chess League or MCCL in 2013, Bartlett served as its Executive Director for 10-plus years and conducted 80-plus tournaments.

US Chess’ mission to ‘empower people, enrich lives and empower communities through chess,’” she said.

“I can relate to joys and challenges all members face as they navigate our organization,” Bartlett said.

Before living in Madison, Bartlett worked as an Assistant General Counsel for a Fortune 500 company.

The Earl of Sandwich, John Montagu, who lived in the 1700s, reportedly invented the sandwich so he wouldn’t have to leave his gambling table to eat.

Price Hornsby

Madison City Schools psychologist receives state top honors

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – The Alabama Association of School Psychologists has honored Dr. Ashley Batt-Rawden as Alabama School Psychologist of the Year. She works as Lead School Psychologist for Madison City Schools or MCS.

Her role as a school psychologist differs from a classroom teacher. The American Psychological Association recognizes school psychology as one specializations in the field.

School psychologists are specially trained in several areas including data-based decision-making, consultation and collaboration; psycho-educational evaluation procedures; academic, mental and behavioral health supports and interventions; crisis response and prevention; systems-level practices and program evaluation, and legal, ethical and professional practices that impact students.

Batt-Rawden assists other school psychologists with evaluations, helps with

complex cases, consults and mentors her staff, serves on leadership team for Special Education Department and collaborates with other disciplines and departments.

As adjunct professor, she has taught graduate courses in school psychology at the University of Alabama.

She completed a couple of semesters of doctoral training at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Civitan Sparks Clinics, along with schools in central Alabama. In Madison County, Batt-Rawden worked as school psychologist for years at several schools.

In 2019, she joined MCS’ ranks. “I was attracted to the district . . . for its academic excellence and parental/community involvement,” Batt-Rawden said. “MCS has a staff of seasoned school psychologists whom I felt I could learn from and join . . . to offer more school-based psychological services than just assessments and evaluations.”

“Children and adolescents’ mental-health needs are more widespread

Additionally, students worked in teams to build a skyscraper using boards, dowels, and shims. The team with the tallest and most level tower won the building competition.

Mill Creek students shine in Elementary Science Olympiad

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – Students from Mill Creek Elementary School were shining at the Elementary Science Olympiad 2024 for Division AA at Jacksonville High School.

They secured a fourth-place spot overall and a medal win for each individual student. Mill Creek’s eight-member team competed against 16 schools at the regional Science Olympiad on Feb. 24.

Science Olympiad, a national nonprofit organization, is devoted to improving the quality of science education, increasing student interest and recognizing outstanding achievement in science education by both students and teachers. The Elementary Science Olympiad encourages classroom teachers to explore new methods of teaching science.

These tournaments are academic interscholastic competitions with a series of individual and team events. Students prepare during the entire school year.

Science Olympiad events require teamwork, group planning and cooperation. The emphasis is on learning, participation, interaction and having fun.

The late Jackie Smith, Science Olympiad Sponsor and STEM teacher, coordinated students for the meet. Tragically, Ms. Smith recently passed away. Funeral services for Ms. Smith were held on March 23 at Spry Funeral Home in Athens. Madison students won awards in

Daryl Continued from page 1A

Demeester is Daryl’s primary handler; he lives at Demeester’s home on nights and weekends. Midtown Counselor Carissa Davis serves as secondary handler and sometimes keeps Daryl.

“Research has indicated that dogs can impact student performance by reducing stress and increasing motivation, focus and task persistence. These dogs can detect adrenaline and cortisol levels emitted from a student and identify a child in need,” Demeester said.

When a student is upset or crying, the counselor will request Daryl to come to her classroom. The child will sit in a comfortable area and be allowed to pet Daryl. “This immediately comforts and calms the student,” Demeester said. An adult is always present in the room with Daryl and any students. “We have also found while petting Daryl, the students are more apt to discuss and work through their emotions and feelings,” Demeester said. “It’s highly productive for the child, and the benefits have been impactful to witness.”

“Some options of positive behavior may include students doing their best on a test, keeping their volume down in the hallway, showing kindness and respect to others and doing their best work on class-

events featured at the Olympiad during 30-plus years:

* Calculator Contest -- John Kowamota, third place.

* Weather or Not -- Peter Goosier and David Thomason, first.

* Write It, Do It -- Janvi Jinva and Medha Akarapu, fourth.

* Food for Thought -- John Kowamota, second.

* Crash Landing -- Barrett Mayer and Peter Goosier of Mill Creek in tie for fourth place with Auburn Area Homeschoolers and Margaret Elementary School.

* A Is for Anatomy -- Peter Goosier and John Kowamota, third.

* Dinosaurs & Disasters – J.R. Kassamma and Medha Akarapu, first.

* Geometrics -- John Kowamota and Peter Goosier, second.

* Going Green -- Janvi Jinva and David Thomason, first.

* Infographics -- Barrett Mayer and Medha Akarapu, second.

* Space Invaders -- Lawrence Reed, second.

Founded in 1984, Science Olympiad is one of the premier science competitions in the nation, providing rigorous, standards-based challenges to approximately 8,000 teams in all 50 states. In 450-plus tournaments and professional development workshops, the Science Olympiad showcases innovative STEM practices. For more information, visit soinc.org or esoatjhs.org/awards2024.html.

room assignments,” Demeester said. Daryl has been highly trained by Service Dogs of Alabama to complete work with children. “He’s always receptive to them,” she said. Any death in a student’s family would warrant time with Daryl. “Children process grief much differently than adults,” Demeester said. “Daryl is there to help them understand that they are not alone through this time of grief.” Daryl can also help if a child has been involved in a house fire, car accident or even if the child’s parents are separating. Daryl follows a check-out schedule to visit Midtown classrooms. “He will stay in each room for around an hour. Students will be able to have him near for calming and comfort, as well as completing academic work with Daryl,” Demeester said.

“Darly loves to be read to! He also loves capital letters at the beginning of sentences and the appropriate punctuation marks,” Demeester said jokingly. This summer, Daryl will stay busy. “He will come to Midtown each day and continue to work and be present with students. Midtown is hosting a summer camp, MCS Summer Reading Camp and EL Camp,” Demeester said.

The Batt-Rawden family: Colton, from left, Ashley, Andy, Theodore and Olivia.

See BATT-RAWDEN Page 8B

The North Alabama Homebuilding Academy (NAHA) visited Liberty Middle School STEM, AVID and ELC classes on Wednesday, March 20. NAHA provides hands-on construction experiences and educates students about the construction industry and exposes learners to nontraditional career paths. The students toured the mobile construction unit and learned about different careers in construction.

Students from Mill Creek Elementary School were beaming with pride as they held their medals at the Elementary Science Olympiad at Jacksonville High School. The late Jackie Smith, seated at center, enjoyed the winning moment; she served as their sponsor and as STEM teacher at Mill Creek.

47 BC - The legendary Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator, aided by her Roman lover Julius Caesar, was reinstated as coruler of Egypt (with her brother Ptolemy XIV) this day in 47 bce following a civil war with her brother Ptolemy XIII.

The potential health benefits of pickleball

By STAFF REPORTS news@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON

attest to the popularity of the sport. According to the 2023 Topline Participation Report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association, pickleball participation grew by 159 percent between 2019 and 2022. Such figures are a testament to the popularity of a sport that has reinvigorated millions of players’ enthusiasm for physical activity and team sports.

The thrill of competition and the joy of social interaction undoubtedly have contributed to the popularity of pickleball, but those are not the only benefits to participating in this fast-growing sport.

Indeed, there are many potential health benefits to pickleball as well.

· Pickleball provides a fun way to embrace physical activity. It’s easy to lose interest in an exercise regimen characterized by time on a treadmill and traditional strength training in a gym setting.

Though cardiovascular exercise and strength training are vital components of successful exercise regimens, it’s important that individuals make their fitness routines enjoyable, which increases the likelihood that they will remain

committed to less sedentary lifestyles. The SFIA report found that players deemed pickleball 150 percent more enjoyable than walking for 30 minutes.

· Pickleball provides social benefits that positively affect long-term health. According to Duke Recreation & Physical Education at Duke University, pickleball has earned a reputation as an inclusive, community-building activity. The socialization aspect of pickleball should not be overlooked when discussing the health benefits of the sport. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, loneliness can increase a person’s risk for mental health issues like depression and additional problems like heart disease, dementia and stroke.

By engaging in social activities like pickleball, individuals can reduce their risk for loneliness, which can improve their overall quality of life and may lower their chances of developing potentially deadly health problems.

· Pickleball can lead to a healthier heart. A study from Apple that is examining the effects of pickleball participation on heart health has thus far found that playing pickleball helps players reach moderate to vigorous heart rate zones. Cardiologist and Harvard Medical

See PICKLEBALL Page 8A

Enjoy a no-bake dessert this Easter

“No-Bake Cheesecake Eggs” are a confectionery twist on the chocolate eggs that are popular come Easter

By STAFF REPORTS news@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON - Easter eggs in all their pastel glory come to mind when pondering an important holy day on the Christian calendar. Easter eggs are great to hide and fun to find, but when they come in the form of a tasty dessert, celebrations become that much more festive.

“No-Bake Cheesecake Eggs” are a confectionary twist on the chocolate eggs that are popular come Easter. Home chefs can have fun decorating and playing with the flavors of these treats. Try this recipe, courtesy of “Jane’s Patisserie Celebrate!” (Sourcebooks)

by Jane Dunn.

NO-BAKE CHEESECAKE EGGS

Serves 2

BASE

1 medium chocolate Easter egg

35 grams unsalted butter

75 grams digestive biscuits

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – The Association of the United States Army or AUSA is helping military families with its current project, “Operation Deploy Your Dress” or ODYD.

AUSA, a nonprofit educational and professional development organization, serves America’s Army and supporters of a strong national defense. AUSA provides a voice for the Army, supports the soldier and honors those who have served to advance the nation’s security. (ausa. org)

The Family Readiness Directorate and ODYD campaign are accepting donations

complete the woman’s formal

according to Marc Jacobson, who

is President, AUSA Redstone-Huntsville Chapter. ODYD’s primary goal is to improve the quality of life for military families by offsetting expenses of attending formal military functions.

FILLING

200 grams full-fat soft cheese (such as cream cheese or neufchâtel), at room temperature

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons icing sugar

100 milliliters double cream 25 grams cocoa powder

DECORATION

50 grams milk chocolate, melted Easter chocolates

Sprinkles

Base Carefully split the Easter egg into two halves. Melt the butter in the microwave in short bursts or in a small pan over a medium heat. In a food processor, blitz the biscuits to a fine crumb, add the melted butter and pulse a few times until the mixture is well combined. Divide the mixture equally between the two halves of the Easter egg, and very gently press down, without breaking the shell.

Filling

In a large bowl, whisk the

cheese, vanilla extract and icing sugar until smooth. Add the double cream and cocoa powder and whisk again until smooth and thickened. Divide the mixture evenly between the two Easter egg halves and smooth over as carefully as possible. Chill in the fridge for an hour or so until set.

Decoration

Drizzle the melted milk chocolate over the two halves and decorate with some Easter chocolates and sprinkles.

Editor’s note: Icing sugar also is known as confectioner’s sugar or powdered sugar. In the United States and Canada, “double cream” may not be readily available. Double cream has a higher butterfat content and is primarily sold in the UK. If double cream is not available, try substituting with heavy cream with the highest fat content you can find, but note that the consistency of the finished product may be slightly different.

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The

James Clemens Theatre to present “Cyrano de Bergerac” April 18-20

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – For its spring play, James Clemens Theatre is presenting Edmond Rostand’s “Cyrano de Bergerac,” based on an actual, 17th person known for his bold adventures . . . and unmistakable, large nose.

Despite gifts in writing, swordplay and charm, Cyrano is convinced he’ll never find love because of his enormous nose.

“Cyrano is secretly in love with childhood friend Roxane, but, before

he gains courage to declare his feelings, she falls in love, at first sight, with Christian,” Director Amy Patel said. “Christian doesn’t think Roxane can ever love him, because he’s awkward and tongue-tied when trying to talk to women. Cyrano helps Christian win Roxane’s heart by allowing him to present Cyrano’s love poems, speeches and letters as his own.”

Patel has always loved “Cyrano” and its varied versions and languages: 1950 movie starring Jose Ferrer; 1980s movie musical, “Roxanne,” with Steve Martin; and a PBS ep-

isode. Patel’s students first compared “Cyrano” to Disney’s “Let it Shine!” with rappers.

“Cyrano” accommodates James Clemens’ acting pool with a 44-member cast who perform heightened language, time-period movement and stage combat. Led by Technical Director Bryan Comer, technicians solved a challenging play with a massive, permanent set and 17th-century costumes.

Staff includes Student Directors Emmy Harrison and Lena Racelis; Student Dramaturgs Lorelei Muel-

Huntsville’s first major music festival to launch this fall

By STAFF REPORTS news@themadisonrecord.com

are planning a twoday, multi-genre festival for John Hunt Park. The name of the event, lineups and ticket information will be released in April.

“This a win-win for Huntsville as well as the region,” said Mayor Tommy Battle. “This is a great opportu-

nity to work with a world-class festival producer to bring a world-class event to a world-class park. We can’t wait to see the lineup.”

The new music festival will enhance Huntsville residents’ quality of life and provide a new revenue stream for retail businesses and the hospitality industry in Huntsville and beyond.

“Huntsville continues to reinvest in the community by attracting events like this to the Rocket City,” said Shane Davis, Huntsville’s Director of Urban and Economic Development. “We look forward to

welcoming the City’s music fans and visitors alike to Huntsville in September.”

Huntsville Music Officer Matt Mandrella is particularly thrilled by the prospect of seeing well-known artists from a variety of genres, a hallmark of a C3 Presents-produced festival. He said the musical diversity will enhance Huntsville’s goal of becoming a premier music city.

“C3’s success in establishing festivals like Austin City Limits Music Festival and the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival speaks for itself,”

Other school performances

By STAFF REPORTS news@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON — The Kids to Love Foundation has set the date for its annual Denim & Diamonds fundraiser, the premier fundraising event for its Davidson Farms home for girls and the Whitaker Cottage Community.

This year’s Denim & Diamonds, presented by Twickenham Advisors, will take place April 27, at The Jackson Center, located at 6001 Moquin Drive NW in Huntsville.

Country music star Billy Dean will be this year’s headline artist. Over the course of his 25+ year career, Billy has released 11 albums and has been recognized with several awards and nominations. In 1992, he was nominated for a Grammy for Song of the Year for “Somewhere in My Broken Heart,” which went on to win Song of the Year at the American Country Music Awards.

We can’t wait to show our Denim & Diamonds guests how we are changing their lives every day for the better.”

In addition to Billy Dean, the evening also will feature dinner, hors d’oeuvres, and an auction.

Davidson Farms, the foundation’s home for girls located near Ardmore, Ala., was established in 2017. It is a state-licensed home but is not run with any state funding — all funding to meet the needs of the girls who live there comes from private donations.

For young ladies who age out of the foster care system, Davidson Farms has the Whitaker Cottage Community. Opened in September 2022, the cottages allow the young women to begin a life of

“This past year at Davidson Farms has been one of our most fulfilling ever,” said Kids to Love Founder and CEO Lee Marshall.

“Davidson Farms is about Hope, Healing, and Home, and we have a wonderful group of girls and young women there doing that every day.

That same year, Billy was named Top New Male Vocalist of the Year at the Academy of Country Music awards and nominated by the Country Music Association for the Horizon Award. In 2017, Billy was inducted as a member of the Florida Artist Hall of Fame.

Most recently, Kids to

This weekend

NATIONAL COALITION OF 100 BLACK

WOMEN OF GREATER HUNTSVILLE GALA

March 30 • Von Braun Center • nc100bwghac.org

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Greater Huntsville Area Chapter (NCBW-GHAC) is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt, non-partisan network of women committed to improving the lives of African American women and their families by creating programs focusing on family, education, health and finances. All members are volunteers. We rely on individuals, corporations and foundation support to remain a vital part of the community we serve. All donations are 100% tax deductible and giving statements are available for our donors.

Arts Huntsville announces 2024 Panoply Arts Festival

By STAFF REPORTS news@themadisonrecord.com

HUNTSVILLE – Art and music come together the last weekend in April for a three-day celebration in downtown Huntsville. Now in its 42nd year, the annual Panoply Arts Festival takes over Big Spring Park April 26-28, 2024, offering three days of live music, shopping for original works of art, demonstrations and hands-on activities along with two nights of fireworks.

Panoply kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 26 and during the threeday event, over 30 local and regional musical acts in a variety of genres – jazz, rock, R&B, indie rock, blues, pop and more – will entertain the crowd on Panoply’s two stages. Friday’s lineup features young singer-songwriter Delaney Faulds who debuted on Panoply’s Indie Stage in 2023, but this year she is bringing her full band to the festival Showcase Stage. Local pop powerhouse The Dawn Osbourne Band will rock audiences and close out the festival’s Friday night lineup.

Saturday features a full day of music that starts when the festival opens at 10 a.m. Returning favorites are in the music mix throughout the day, as bands like Little and the Giants return to Panoply with their sweet contemporary folk sound. On Saturday night, Soul Lit Band warms up the crowd before Huntsville’s favorite progressive funk rock band, Quantaphonics, takes the stage. This 13-piece band is known for their energetic improvisation, on-stage

chemistry and killer original music.

Panoply’s Sunday stage lineup features an array of jazz, R&B and soul from many of Huntsville’s favorite local singers and songwriters, duos and instrumentalists. Full programming schedule is available on artshuntsville.org.

As music fills the air, festivalgoers can shop, participate in hands-on activities and watch demonstrations. Local artists will offer demonstra-

tions of their craft at Panoply’s Arts in Action tents, allowing festivalgoers to try their hand at fiber arts with yarn or silk dying or learn to play music with cigar box guitars. The juried Art Marketplace, one of the most popular features of the festival, showcases the works of more than 100 visual artists from 23 states, with some traveling from as far as Colorado and Massachusetts. The Art OutLoud Stage features spoken

See PANOPLY Page 8B

AUSA

SYMPOSIUM

Von Braun Center

www.meetings.ausa.org/ globalforce/2024

The 2024 AUSA Global Force Symposium and Exposition is open to all interested parties, military, and government civilian personnel. As a private organization, AUSA reserves the right to deny admission or to cancel any registration without explanation. Registrants attending Global Force should have an “identifiable relationship” with the Association of the U.S. Army.

Asbury Church readies for 2024 Car & Bike Show

By STAFF REPORTS news@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON - Asbury’s

biggest community event is getting ready to roll out on the Madison campus to celebrate the 10th year of the Car & Bike Show!

Started in 2014, this year’s show is expected to draw over 200 eye-catching cars, bikes, and trucks for a spectacular day for the entire family on April 27 from 9am-1pm.

A rain date is also scheduled for May 4 from 9am1pm. With free admission and free vehicle registration for 2024, all vehicle years and classes are invited to participate, including hot rods, cruisers, pick-ups, hogs, vintage beauties, and exotic imports. Free hot dogs will also be served!

“This show has a great history of bringing out a lot of excellent cars to share with the community. Last year the rainy weather damped the show, so this year we are excited to schedule a rain date for the following Saturday if needed,” said Bill Munts, Pastor of Operations at Asbury. “It’s a great way for members of the car

scene to connect and give families in our community a free experience together too. We look forward to welcoming everyone onto our campus!”

Sponsorship opportunities are also available for local automotive businesses to support the scene and feature fun giveaways. Fees will be poured back into Asbury’s ministry efforts that include local partnerships with organizations that serve the vulnerable in our community such as the Downtown Rescue Mission, Asbury’s Oil Change Day Ministry, and Royal Family Kids Camp.

The 2024 Asbury Car & Bike Show will take place at Asbury’s north parking lot on the Madison Campus at 980 Hughes Road. Entrance will be from Gillespie Road. Attendee parking will be available behind Building 3. For vehicle registration or sponsor info, visit asburycarshow.com. On-site vehicle registration and check-in will begin at 8am on April 27 (or the rain date of May 4). Voting will be completed by amateur judges from 10am-11am with trophies awarded at 12pm.

JC Theatre

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ler (historical, cultural), Connery Patel (French, script) and Bryan Morse (military); Student Producer Simon Tsikalas; Stage Manager Jessie Collins and assistants Emma Lakso and Darby Adams.

Student Technical Director is Caleb Dalton; assistant is Carmen Cruz. Staff includes Set Crew Chief Darby Adams; Hair/Makeup Chief Bug Chambers; Costuming - Designer McKinley Anderson, Chief Penelope May and Lead Morgan Dasher; Sound Chief Vlad Sorokin; Lighting Chief Biana Nastasie; Props Chief Olivia Nastasie; and Weapons Master Joshua Price.

Lead actors are Lorelei Mueller, Connery Patel and Micah Robinson (Cryano); Qyler Bowie and Izzy King (Christian); and Julia Sloan and Natalie Meder (Roxane).

Actors playing Cyrano handle character complexity, brash in public yet romantic. His appearance has produced a fighter . . . but a credible poet. In Scene

One, “Cyrano composes a poem while sword fighting someone who insulted him. Lorelei Mueller is so dynamic in this physical, fast-paced scene,” Amy Patel said.

The second Cyrano, played by Connery Patel, is more vulnerable. Confessing his love, he writes a letter to Roxane. Before he can deliver his letter, Roxane reveals her love for someone else. Cyrano then struggles to help Roxane and Christian but hides his pain.

The third Cyrano, played by Micah Robinson, has written hundreds of letters to Roxane, who believes Christian wrote them. Cyrano has gotten older; his secret is more difficult to keep.

Junior Simon Tsikalas (Ragueneau) said the play “is everything! Romance, comedy, drama, sword fighting, and, most importantly, panache.”

The play “really makes you laugh and then pulls at your heartstrings,” sophomore Arden Sindel (Le Bret) said. “It was exciting to realize it’s the same story as ‘Let it Shine.’”

“Everyone can relate . . . feeling like you’re missing something (and) insecure at some point,” sophomore Juliet Carr (Duenna, Mother Margaret) said.

AUSA

Continued from page 5A

For easy access, a QR code is included on fliers for Operation Deploy Your Dress. For more information, email familyreadiness@ausa.org.

“The audience sees a deeper look into who Cyrano is as a person, the things he’s afraid to show everyone else,” junior Amara Hare (Intruder, Captain Carbon) said.

“A story of inner beauty versus outer beauty. We all have insecurities we try to cover up,” junior Connor McDougal (Vicomte de Guiche) said.

Junior Claire Landers (Poet, Sister Claire) believes Cyrano holds a relatable human experience and has for hundreds of years. “A story that’s palatable.”

“Even the first read-through was exciting,” Amy Patel said about students laughing, gasping and ooh-ing/aah-ing in all the right parts. “Sometimes, teenagers aren’t as eager to do classic plays, but they immediately jumped into Cyrano.” Patel is proud that multiple ‘Cyranos,’ ‘Roxanes’ and ‘Christians’ analyze characters and workshop ideas.

A collaborative director, Patel doesn’t make every decision. “When working on a scene, I give my overall vision and discuss essentials but let students experiment and try their ideas first.”

“I perk up when a student asks, ‘What if . . .’ They usually have a great idea,” Patel said. “It’s a visually striking play. The set, costumes, lights and physical moments make the show even funnier or more poignant.”

In show support, Katie Greene, French teacher at James Clemens, has researched the era, pronunciations, culture and social interaction. “Chris Carter has been tremendous in teaching sword safety and choreography . . . and tools to make the fight their own,” Patel said. For the ‘costume-heavy’ show, Jennifer Speas has exceeded expectations in her work.

James Clemens Theatre greatly appreciates their sponsors -- Joe the Pro and Redstone Federal Credit Union.

Show times are April 18-20 at 7 p.m., along with a 2 p.m. show on April 20. Your phone is your ‘ticket’; adults pay $15, while students, military and senior citizens pay $10. For tickets, visit gofan. co or buy tickets at the event (online and credit card purchases require $1 fee).

Kids to Love

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which helps heal trauma through interaction with horses.

Davidson Farms is named in honor of the late Dr. Dorothy Davidson, whose generosity allowed Kids to Love to buy the property.

The Kids to Love Foundation is a 501(c)

Gambling

(3) organization dedicated to meeting the immediate needs of foster children.

Since its incorporation in 2004, Kids to Love has reached more than 300,000 children and foster families.

For more information, go to www.kidstolove.org.

Continued from page 4A

es are. We took their bill. There’s many things about the actual constitutional amendment and the enabling legislation that are the same but there are things that are different. They’re trying to go through and analyze that. I think they wanted to take some time to do that and I welcome that. I think that’s important for them to take their time. We will see what the definitions are going to be moving forward once we get back after the break.”

Reed continued, “(Senators) were very pleased with a lot of things that came from the House bill. At the same time, there were some things that you saw that changed. Issues related to sports betting,

Pickleball

related to casino growth, the idea of the (election) date that was changed.”

The House could concur and accept the Senate’s changes, non-concur and head to a conference committee to try to iron out compromise legislation or let the amended legislation die without action. “It’s in the House, it’s still in the basket. The Speaker hasn’t taken it out of the basket. I’m hoping that it does go to conference to where we can go where I think the sausage can be made. I think it still has an opportunity to come out with something. I haven’t given up on it just yet,” Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) said.

Continued from page 5A

School professor of medicine Dr. Calum MacRae notes that ample time in moderate heart rate zones has been found to improve cardiac fitness.

· Pickleball can benefit brain health. MacRae, one of the Apple study’s lead investigators, notes that pickleball is one of various activities that also can improve memory and recall over time. The physical benefits of pickleball may not be lost on players, but some may be surprised

Festival Continued from page 6A

Mandrella said. “This event is going to take our music city aspirations to the next level and continue establishing Huntsville as a destination for live music fans.”

One of the world’s largest music festival producers, C3 Presents will oversee all festival production, from booking the

to learn the sport offers cognitive health benefits as well. A 2023 study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology found that pickleball participation led to significant improvements in personal well-being, life satisfaction and happiness.

Pickleball courts are packed, and players may or may not realize all they are gaining from participation in this wildly popular sport.

talent to logistics, vendors and volunteers. Festival Director Ted Heinig anticipates a fruitful musical partnership with the Rocket City.

“Never before have we been recruited by a city to establish a festival,” he said. “We are excited about coming to Huntsville and bringing the music with us.”

Fair

Continued from page 1A

ODYD was founded in 2015 at Fort Bliss, Texas, by military spouses who organized a dress swap to lessen the cost of formal wear for holiday balls. The idea quickly grew into an organization run by dozens of volunteers, offering gently used dresses and accessories to military members

Family Readiness provides connections to relevant resources with the “Army Matters” podcast series, publications, social media, year-round expositions and symposiums, virtual and in-person events, forums, scholarships, advocacy efforts and ODYD.

and dependents. The group now has 13 shops across the U.S. and one in Germany. In the past six years, ODYD has given away more than 20,000 gowns, saving military families $2 million, according to ausa.org.

AUSA is open to everyone – those with a relationship with the U.S. Army and people who want to support soldiers.

day of the game. The Fair will open at 4 p.m. on weeknights and 1 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Parking will be $10 throughout the entirety of the event. Fans will not be allowed to enter Toyota Field with food and beverage from the Fair.

For more information on the Fair, visit kisselentertainment.com.

Page

All-State Basketball

Local players well represented in All-State basketball picks

By BOB LABBE bob@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON - Locals teams are well represented among the Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State Basketball Teams recently released at the completion of the 2023-2024 season. Bob Jones, Sparkman and Madison Academy each have players chosen among the elite from across Alabama.

Madison Academy played in Class 5A while both Bob Jones and Sparkman participated in Class 7A.

Here are the selections for

2024: Class 7A - Girls: Second Team All-State:

JaKyah Smith, Bob Jones, So., G, 5-10

Honorable MentionJaniyah Bone, Bob Jones, Sr., G, 5-8 Jamya Griffin, Sparkman, Sr., G, 5-10

Class 5A - Girls:

Honorable MentionBrooklyn Tucker, Madison Academy, Jr., G, 5-9

Class 5A - Boys:

Honorable MentionMichael Stanford, Madison Academy, So., F, 6-6

For Stanford, the only local player to make the All-State list in boys basketball, scored 10 points per game for the Mustangs as he hit 73-percent from the field and 79.5-percent from

the foul line. He also grabbed eight rebounds per outing. Tom Berryman, head coach of the Mustangs, which posted a 25-7 season, said of Stanford, “He’s an elite rebounder and finisher around the basket. He really improved his back to the basket game this offseason as he became a consistent scoring threat for our team. Mike does a great job of defending both on the block and on the perimeter. He’s still jut scratching the surface of his development. We’re excited to see what the future holds for him. In girls, sophomore Smith leads the way for the second straight year. “She’s a kid with

See ALL-STATE Page 2B

James Clemens’ Dylan Dryer wins gold medal in 800-meter at Cullman Classic

By CALEB ODOM caleb@themadisonrecord.com

CULLMAN - James Clemens

High School senior Dylan Dryer accomplished something rare at the 1A-7A Cullman Classic track and field championships last week when he beat Cold Springs senior Ethan Edgeworth.

Dryer clocked 1:55.66 in the 800-meter dash at Cullman’s Oliver Woodard Stadium, beating Edgeworth, a University of Tennessee signee, in a photo finish to put him in this week’s AHSAA Outdoor Track Spotlight. Electronic timing also clocked Edgeworth with an identical time of 1:55.66.

Dryer, an Alabama-Huntsville signee, excels in the 800-meter dash, having won individual 800 titles at the James Clemens Early Bird Invitational, James

By CALEB ODOM caleb@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON - The Bob Jones Patriots baseball team continues to mow down the competition with yet another dominant weekend of victories.

It started on Thursday with a 4-1 win on the road against Grissom.

Catcher Zach Johnson led the way for the Patriots at the plate with his 3-for-3 day with an RBI.

On the mound, Bob Jones starting pitcher Tanner Hermesch tossed six strong innings where he allowed one run while giving up five hits and a pair of walks with six strikeouts.

Grissom took the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning until Bob Jones got the offense going in the later innings with a run in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 1-1.

Another run in the bottom of the fifth gave the Patriots the 2-1 edge before two more runs in the top of the sixth pushed Bob Jones firmly in control at 4-1 for good.

Saturday Game 1: Bob Jones 1, Chelsea 0

A late run in the bottom of the sixth inning by Bob Jones would prove to be enough in an epic pitcher’s duel that was the first game of a Saturday double dip at home.

The winning pitcher for Bob Jones was the star senior Braden Booth who went seven scoreless innings allowing five hits and two runs with six strikeouts.

The Chelsea pitcher Paxton Stallings also went the distance where he allowed just one run with four hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

Saturday Game 2: Bob Jones 11, Tuscaloosa County 4

The Patriots capped the final game of the weekend with a blowout of the Wildcats at home.

See BOB JONES Page 2B

Interestingly, the time of 1:55.66 turned in by Dryer and Edgeworth ties the state’s best 800-meter outdoor performance so far this season. Hoover’s Cannon Peters also clocked 1:55.66 at the Vestavia Hills King of the Mountain meet earlier this month.

Peters delivered the state’s

Clemens Invitational and 1A-7A Cullman Classic this season. He finished fourth in the 800 meters in Class 7A at the 2024 AHSAA Indoor Track Championships in early February. Edgeworth, a senior making his outdoor season debut, won virtually every cross country and indoor race he had competed in during the current school year. He set the all-classification AHSAA individual cross country record by clocking 14:34.29 at the 2023 AHSAA Cross Country Championships. He also won Class 1A-3A 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter individual titles at the 2024 AHSAA Indoor Track Championships.

See TRACK Page 2B

Bob Jones sophomore

JaKyah Smith

Madison Academy sophomore

Michael Stanford

Sparkman senior guard Jamya Griffin

Bob

coach

James

Photo by AHSAA

Madison Academy to move into Class 4A for football

By BOB LABBE bob@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON - The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) has approved the winter sports alignments for participating schools for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. The alignments were set for basketball, indoor track, wrestling and bowling. Member schools are reclassified every two years. The latest alignments from the AHSAA go along with the fall sports lineup released late last year and are based on the number of schools declaring to participate.

For Madison Academy, the alignments

every two years usually means changing classifications depending on enrollment. In the earlier fall sports announcement, the Mustangs’ football program will move up to Class 4A while the volleyball team will move down to Class 4A beginning next school year. In the latest classifications, the private school will back to Class 4A from 5A in basketball and remain the same in all remaining sports such as cross country (Class 3A), swimming and diving (Class 1A-5A), indoor track (Class 4A-5A), bowling (Class 1A5A) and wrestling (Class 1A-4A).

Alvin Briggs, AHSAA Executive Director, said, “More than 190,000 student-athletes are expected to participate in AH-

SAA sports activities during the next two classification years. The alignments decided on by the Central Board was a complex task.”

For the Mustangs’ basketball program, the boys have been participating in Class 5A Area 16 for the past two seasons winning Area Championships both years under the guidance of head coach Tom Berryman. The move to 4A will mean playing different schools than in the past in Area play.

In football, the move to Class 4A will have the Mustangs face three additional private schools similar to Madison Academy. Those schools include Randolph, Westminster and St. John Paul II. Includ-

ed in the Region 8 lineup of schools will include D.A.R., Madison County, New Hope, North Jackson and Plainview.

In the past two seasons in Class 3A, Madison Academy posted a 23-4 record losing in the state playoffs each year including a loss in the state championship game against Mobile Christian. Football head coach Bob Godsey said, “We are excited to move back to Class 4A. We have a lot of great competition right here in the Huntsville area that should make for some exciting Friday nights.”

Classification is based on Average Daily Membership (ADM) figures furnished by the State Department of Education in grades 9-11.

James Clemens falls twice to Spain Park in Saturday double-header

By CALEB ODOM caleb@themadisonrecord.com

James Clemens baseball took down Hazel Green last Thursday 5-2 at home before being swept in a double-header on Friday against Spain Park.

Jets starting pitcher Matthew Drinkwater gave his team five strong innings where he allowed just one run and four hits with a walk and four strikeouts in the eventual victory.

JC third baseman Ty Marsh paved the way for the Jets with a strong 2 for 3 hitting day that included 2 RBIs and a home run.

James Clemens took the lead in the bottom of the first inning with a run to go up 1-0, but the Trojans scored a run in the top of the second to tie the game at 1-1.

The Jets answered in the bottom of the third with a second run to re-

take the lead.

Two more runs for James Clemens in the bottom of the fourth inning expanded the JC edge to 4-1.

The Jets would add a fifth run in the bottom of the fifth which would be more than enough to fend off Hazel Green who scored a solo run in the top of the seventh inning as the Trojans were running out of time to mount a comeback.

Friday Game 1: Spain Park 7, Jets 3

A 5-run bottom of the fourth inning would be plenty for the Jaguars to take down the visiting Jets.

James Clemens starter Satchel Wheeler made it just 3 1/3 innings where he allowed five runs with one hit with three walks and a strikeout.

JC shortstop Francisco Ramirez was 2 for 3 at the plate with a run scored.

Friday Game 2: Spain Park 7, Jets 6

The Jaguars scored the same

CADE MCCOMBS SIGNS

Two-sport athlete Cade McCombs stepped away for a moment from his play as a pitcher with the James Clemens baseball team to sign a swim scholarship with Auburn University at a ceremony recently held at the school. The son of Andrew and Ginger McCombs owns the school record in the 50 and 200 freestyle races and earned 32 points at the AHSAA State Swim Meet earlier this school year. At the State Meet, McCombs was second in the 50 freestyle and fourth in the 100 breaststroke. He was also part of two relay teams which finished runner-up. Those were the 200 medley and 200 freestyle. He has a 3.8 grade point average and will study business at Auburn. He chose the Tigers over Air Force and Kentucky.

Track

amount of runs in the second game of the day, but this one was much closer as the Jets came just two runs short of a road win.

James Clemens started the game on a high note with three runs in the top of the first inning to lead 3-0.

The Jets even added two more in the top of the third to go up 5-0, but Spain Park scored two of its own in the bottom of the third to begin to claw back at 5-2 JC.

Four runs by the Jags in the bottom of the fifth inning handed the lead to the home time for the first time in the game at 6-5.

The teams traded runs in the final inning, but the game belonged to Spain Park in the end.

James Clemens was back in action on Thursday at home when the Jets play host to Grissom at 4:30 p.m. followed by a 4:30 p.m. home game on Friday against Buckhorn.

BOB JONES GIRLS BASKETBALL SIGNINGS

Three of the star players on the Bob Jones basketball team have signed to play at the collegiate level. Left to right, front row, Janiyah Bone, Alana Obianozie and Jordyn Fields each signed scholarships to play college basketball. Bone (G, 5-8), a honorable mention All-State player and selected to play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game, scored 8.9 points per game also posted five blocks and 48 steals on the 2023-2024 season. She signed with Shelton State. Obianozie (G, 5-9) also signed with Shelton State after she posted 9 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals per game for the Lady Patriots. She, too, was chosen to play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. Fields (G, 5-3) had 5 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists per outing this past season. She signed to play college basketball at Bishop State located in Mobile. Joining the senior Patriots at their signing were back row, left to right, Bob Jones principal Sylvia Lambert, head coach Jazmine Carr and athletic director Clay McCall.

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best 1,600-meter time of the season so far at last week’s Homewood Invitational, clocking 4:17.36.

Additional track spotlights from the AHSAA include:

ZARIA PARKER, JAMES CLEMENS: Clocked 12.08 seconds to win the 100 meters at the 1A-7A Cullman

Bob Jones

Classic at Oliver Woodard Stadium in Cullman. It’s the fastest 100-meter time for an AHSAA female sprinter this season.

CHARITY COLLIER, SPARKMAN: Finished third in the shot put at the Homewood Invitational with at throw of 37 feet, 4¾ inches.

Continued from page 1B

Johnson continued to haunt his opponents with the bat, going 2 for 4 with a staggering 5 RBIs in the win.

Bob Jones was actually down 2-0

incredible talent. She led us two years in a row in scoring and I know she will continue to grow her game on both ends of the court,” said Jazmine Carr head coach of Bob Jones which went 29-4 last season.

As a sophomore, Smith averaged 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. She had 19 block shots and 79 steals on the season.

Bone, who was selected to play in the annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game, scored 8.9 points per outing for the Lady Patriots while posting 5 blocks and 48 steals.

For Griffin, who played for head

after the first three innings before the Patriots caught fire in the later innings to blow the Wildcats away with six runs in the fifth inning followed by four more in the sixth.

coach Jarvis Wilson, she scored 9.1 points per game for the Lady Senators. She shot 51-percent from the field, including 27.5-percent from the three-point line. She made 63-percent of her shots from the free throw line. For the season, Griffin had 142 rebounds, 91 assists, 49 steals and 10 blocked shots.

Just a junior for the Lady Mustangs of Madison Academy, Tucker is a do-everything type payer. Head coach Krista Baldwin said of Tucker, “She is our glue defensively and showed a lot of toughness when she was out with injuries. “We

JOE QUEZ KEITH, SPARKMAN: Ran third in the 300-meter hurdles at the Homewood Invitational with a time of 39.42 seconds.

COLE ROBINSON, JAMES CLE-

MENS: Won the 3,200 meters at the 1A-7A Cullman Classic with a time of 9:29.63.

The Patriots hit the road for a slate of games at Hoover with the likes of Rossview (7 p.m.) on Thursday with Stanhope (11:30 a.m.) and Upperman (2 p.m.) on Friday.

hated missing her for eight games, but even in those moments she impacted our team in a positive way.” The 5-9 Tucker suffered two ankle sprains and recent underwent surgery and is expected to make a complete recovery in time for this summer play.

In 18 games for the 14-12 Lady Mustangs, Tucker hit 38-percent of her field goals, including 34-percent from the three-point line and 72-percent from the foul line. She averaged 12.6 points per game along with 8.5 rebounds and defensively had 32 steals.

A look at the winners in the Madison Youth Basketball Tournament

By BOB LABBE bob@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON - The youth of Madison were presented with and experienced another outstanding season of youth basketball as the recent 2023-2024 season came to a close with the annual post-season tournament.

In all, 69 teams ventured into the season with more than 550 youth taking to the hardwoods of several local gymnasiums for the action which featured each team facing a 10game schedule. Once the regular season concluded, the post-season play began in a single elimination style format with the tournament brackets working down to the final championship game in each age division boys and girls.

18-Under Boys:

The undefeated regular season division champion Celtics (10-0) faced division runner-up Grizzlies (8-2) in the division championship game. A close game exploded into a near runaway as the Celtics outscored the Grizzlies 24-5 in the second quarter to take a commanding lead before the Grizzlies beat the Celtics on the boards in the second half cutting the Celtics lead before the Celtics hung on for a 55-45 championship win.

The Celtics’ Reece Brazeal was the gamehigh scorer with 19 while teammates Aaron Woods added 13 and Brock Mendenhall had 10. Corey Robinson led the Grizzlies with 16 points including 11 in the fourth quarter. Emiliano De La Cruz scored 9 and Joseph Waxmonsky had 8.

14-Under Boys:

The division came down to the one seed vs. two seed as the undefeated Bulls (10-0) waltzed to a 5235 win over the Mavs (8-2). The victors opened a 17-7 lead after one quarter and never looked back.

The Bulls were basically a one man show as Jakavion Clayborn scored 37 points in the victory. For the Mavs, Drennen Scrivner scored 11 and Salomon Diaz had 10 points.

14-Under Girls:

With just one loss on its record, the Fever (91) fought hard to hold off second seeded Liberty (55) and captured the division with a 20-10 championship game victory. The Liberty did note score in the fourth quarter and

trailed by just five heading into the final stanza. Natalie Rytting and Sophia Robinson scored 6 points each for the Fever while Savannah Lewis popped in 5 for the Liberty.

12-Under Boys:

The Nuggets (7-3) and Lakers (7-3) met in the finals after the top-seed Grizzlies lost in its quest to finish atop the division. The matchup was basically even much like their regular season records, until the fourth quarter as the Nuggets outscored the Lakers 16-9 in the fourth stanza to post a 51-42 victory.

Logan Hankins led the winning Nuggets with 23 points with 15 of those coming in the first half. Atticus Warman added 12 to help the Nuggets. For the Lakers, which only had three players score the entire game, with Blake Celani leading the way with 23 points.

10-Under Boys:

The Suns (9-1) lost one game during the regular season and that came at the hands of the undefeated Heat (10-0). Both teams raced through the post-season tournament with a highly anticipated showdown in the championship game.

The Heat opened the game with a 13-2 lead after the first quarter and were up 23-17 after three quarters before their defense shutout the Suns in the fourth quarter and taking the championship trophy with a 30-17 victory.

Major Pendergrass led the Heat with 10 points and Brody Duvall did the same for the Suns.

10-Under Girls:

In the biggest upset of the tournament finals action, the third-seeded Lynx (5-5) defeated No. 1 seed Liberty (8-2) 11-9 for the division title. The game down to the Lynx holding on to the victory as they were outscored 5-2 in the fourth quarter. Desperation play on the part of both teams occurred in the final stanza as Mary Grace Kimberly scored all five of her team-high points for the Liberty in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Avery Langston was tops in scoring for the winning Lynx with 6 points.

8-Under Boys: The undefeated and top seeded Bucks (10-0) lost in their quest to hoist the

tournament championship trophy as the second seed Warriors (9-1) had the fight of the lives holding off the Sixers (5-5) 12-11 in the division title game. Leading 6-2 at halftime, the Warriors saw the Sixers outscore them 9-6 in the second half and nearly took the title before the game came to an exciting conclusion.

Three players shared top scoring billing for the winning Warriors as Abram Brooks, Kyson Salters and William Bostick scored 4 points each. Joel Elm led the Sixers with 6 points.

UAH completes weekend series sweep of Montevallo

By STAFF REPORTS news@themadisonrecord.com

HUNTSVILLE - The UAH softball team completed the Gulf South Conference series sweep of Montevallo at Charger Park with a 6-2 victory on Sunday afternoon. UAH improves to 23-9 (9-6 GSC), while UM slides to 16-15 (9-6 GSC). Sydney Harris came through in the clutch for the Chargers with a grand slam to break a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the fifth which carried the Blue & White to the 6-2 victory on Sunday. Harris notched her second career home run with her fifth-inning grand slam, while recording a career-high four RBI in the game.

Alexa Douthitt also went yard in the victory with a solo homer as part of UAH’s two-run first inning. Douthitt also plated two runs in the win.

Kaylee Vaught gave the Chargers three extra-base hits on Sunday, going 1-for-2 with two runs and a double.

UAH totaled eight base hits as a team, led by Jessica Edde who went 2-for-3 as the Chargers backstop.

Katie Bracken tossed her 12th complete game of the season, while improving to 11-2 this season after tossing the full 7.0 innings with two runs allowed and six strikeouts. The Chargers are back in action this weekend at Charger Park with a threegame GSC series slated against Lee next Friday and Saturday.

8-Under Girls: The Storm (7-3) stormed to a 15-13 victory over the No. 1 seed Sky (8-2) to win the division post-season tournament title. The hard-fought title game saw an even game come down to the Sky making just one of six foul shots in the fourth quarter and just three of 12 for the game as the difference maker. Harper Daniel was tops for the Storm scoring 8 while the runner-up Sky was led by Lillie Corrum with 9 points.

22-19. Regarded as the most even contest of all the post-season championship games, either team could have come away the victor.

7-Under Boys: Outscoring the Bulls (73) by three points in the fourth quarter was the difference in the division title game as the undefeated and top-seeded Bucks won the exciting contest

For the Bucks, Lucas Castelli was held scoreless in the frenzy fourth quarter but had already posted his team-leading 9 points while Harris Gilmore added 5. Hudson Dawkins led the Bulls with 10 points.

with John Rankin

A look at Sarah Orrick Chilton Pickett

By JOHN P. RANKIN Madison Historian

MADISON - During my research into the pioneer families of Madison, some have asked which of the pioneers would I most like to meet in person, if that were possible. The answer is simple. It would be Sarah Orrick Chilton Pickett. I first encountered her when walking through the old section of the Madison City Cemetery on Mill Road near Hughes Road.

Her tombstone is near the center of that part of the cemetery, but it is very plain and small, as well as old. It has no dates on it, but subsequent research revealed much more about her. She was born in 1793 and died in 1865. The only thing that caught my attention that first day was the name of her son, as also named the adjacent tombstone -- Steptoe Pickett (Junior).

In 1811, Sarah Chilton married Steptoe Pickett (1790 – 1843) in Virginia, where they were both born. They moved to southeastern Limestone County (Alabama) around 1821, living near the Blackwells and the Colliers along the river between Mooresville and Triana. Sarah’s husband Steptoe was educated at William & Mary College in Williamsburg, Virginia, before going on to Dickinson College in Pennsylvania. Steptoe Sr. lived from 1790 to 1843, and he was a son of Col. Martin Pickett and Ann Blackwell of Virginia.

Sarah and Steptoe Pickett had 13 children. Among them were the following:

Richard Orrick Pickett (1814-1898), who commanded the 10th Alabama Cavalry under General Roddy. This was one of the units that defended the northern Alabama area during the last phases of the Civil War. Richard’s house on Seminary Street in Florence is still standing, according to Chris Edwards and Faye Axford in their book “The Lure and Lore of Limestone County” (1978).

Steptoe Jr., who is buried beside Sarah in the Madison City Cemetery. He lived from 1816 to 1884. His first wife was Frances Ward, and she died in 1850, just over one year after their marriage and only two months before her 21st birthday. She is buried in the old Triana City Cemetery with a large and impressive obelisk to mark the grave. The monument indicates that the family had great wealth before the Civil War, as opposed to Sarah’s simple tombstone, which indicates the financial hardships of life in the South after the war. The second wife of Steptoe Jr. was Eugenia Sale. She was a daughter of Captain Dudley Sale, who served as Quartermaster of Company F of the 9th Alabama Infantry during the Civil War. This unit was made up of mostly local troops from this area.

The 5th child of Steptoe Sr. & Sarah O. Pickett was Felicia. There is a Felicia Pickett buried near Sarah in the Madison cemetery, but she is a granddaughter, not Sarah’s daughter who married Governor Reuben Chapman. Sarah’s daughter Felicia lived to have children of her own, surviving through the Civil War. Governor Chapman and his wife are buried in Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville, along with several other governors of the state.

The 7th child of Steptoe Sr. & Sarah was Dr. John Scott Pickett (1823 - 1887). He married Martha Blackwell, daughter

of William Henry Blackwell and Eliza Collier of the famous families who lived on plantations along the Tennessee River between Triana and Mooresville.

The 9th child of Steptoe Sr. & Sarah was Dr. William Henry Pickett (18261890). He studied at Yale University and graduated as a physician from the University of Louisiana in 1848. He married Amy Raines Collier, daughter of Edward Collier.

The 11th child of Steptoe Sr. & Sarah was Sarah Virginia Pickett, who married Samuel Blackwell, a son of Henry Blackwell and Eliza Collier, whose brother Henry Watkins Collier was a Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court and Governor of the state.

The 13th child of Steptoe Sr. & Sarah was Anna Corbin Pickett (1836 - 1909). She married Thomas Bibb, who was the 3rd child of Thomas Bibb Sr., the 2nd Governor of Alabama and brother of the William Bibb who was the 1st Governor of the state. The Bibb family lived in the nearby mansion that Thomas Bibb Sr. built in 1826 at Belle Mina, near Mooresville. The community of Belle Mina took its name from the name of the mansion, “Belle Manor” -- meaning “Beautiful House”.

While the Pickett family itself was quite prominent in early Alabama, the intermarriages with the Blackwell and the Collier families assured that the most influential people of the region visited in the Pickett homes and that the Picketts attended the grand parties that these families held on the local plantations, including the governor’s mansion at Belle Mina. The Collier plantation along the river was called Myrtle Grove, and all of these families came from Virginia around 1818 to 1820. Their children and connection by marriage of these families included some famous folks, such as William Walker (“Man of Destiny” who became a President of the country of Nicaragua), and Mary Harrison Dent (who was a close relative of Julia Dent, wife of President Ulysses S. Grant, who fought on “the other side” during the Civil War). They also had an intermarriage with the local Withers family, whose daughter Susannah married Clement Comer Clay. Clement Comer Clay owned a plantation just north of where the airport is today, and he became the 8th Governor of Alabama and namesake of the old Clement Comer Clay bridge where Highway 231 crosses the Tennessee River. Clement and Susannah are buried in Maple Hill Cemetery in Huntsville also -- in the “Governors plot” very near where Governor Reuben Chapman and his wife Felicia Pickett are buried.

Considering that the governors and their sons had pretty much their choice of fair maidens for wives, and that Sarah O. Chilton Pickett produced two daughters who married into governors’ families, she must have been a beautiful woman herself. Furthermore, she would have great stories of the old plantation life and balls in the mansions, balanced by tales of life during and immediately after the Civil War, especially with respect to interfaces with General U. S. Grant and his in-laws in the South. Sarah would have to be one of the most interesting characters to have ever lived in early Madison, but she died here and is buried with a small, ordinary tombstone.

Happy Resurrection Day!

By BECKY MILLER God’s Lemonade Stand

“For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.” - Romans 6:10

Okay, it is almost here… Easter Sunday! It’s a day to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ after a brutal horrible death on a cross between two thieves. This is a day celebrated worldwide yet for many it is only a day they might feel obligated to dress up, go to church then hunt eggs and eat copious amounts of food.

Why not stop for a moment and think what this day is all about? Ponder, reflect, pray. You are acknowledging first there is a savior and He died and came back to life on the third day and lives today

and someday unknown to us will return to Earth again. Like when Jesus was alive, a mockery is made of believers and much darkness is enveloping our culture, BUT GOD. One day all this earthly chaos will end, all the things people think are trendy or important will cease to exist and the only thing that matters is did you live for Christ and work to help others escape the darkness of this world.

PRAYER: Father my heart aches for those who just are living for this present world and caught up in all of it without taking time to seriously seek a relationship God’s Lemonade Stand is written by former Madison resident Becky Miller. Her daily devotions appear on Facebook or at godslemonadestand.blogspot.com.

The Rescue

By DAWN REED

The pictures were terrifying.

A few weeks ago, half of a tractor trailer dangled over the side of the Clark Memorial Bridge which connects Louisville, KY to southern Indiana. Far below was the Ohio River. Reporters flocked and spectators stared in horror as emergency workers rushed to the scene. The driver-a woman-was still strapped in the front seat. As the truck teetered, it looked at any moment the vehicle would tear free from the mangled bridge plunging her to her death.

Just when it seemed her life was ebbing away, a man named Bryce Carden wrapped in a firefighter’s uniform and rope came from above to save her. He was her only hope. She reached out and took his hand. She did not fall, she did not slip, but held fast to her rescuer. When she put her life literally in his hands, he lifted her out of the dangerously perched semi to a safe place up on the bridge. I can’t imagine the emotions…the sheer terror as she hung over the side of the bridge. The driver was in trouble. She had no hope. She could not save herself.

It sounds straight out of Psalm 18. David wrote, “The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords

The Resurrection as told in the Gospels

The following are passages from each of the canonical Gospels that help to tell the story of the resurrection of Jesus

By STAFF REPORTS news@themadisonrecord.com

Easter is a holy day on the Christian calendar that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Jesus is described in the Gospels of the New Testament, which millions of Christians read every year, especially during the Lenten season, which is a 40-day period that directly precedes Easter Sunday.

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John comprise the canonical Gospels. Each book can help Christians understand and connect with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The following are passages from each of the canonical Gospels that help to tell the story of the resurrection of Jesus.

Matthew 28: 1-10

of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. He reached down from on high and took hold of me…He rescued me…”

The firefighter said the truck driver was praying when he got to her. That’s a good idea in time of crisis-and all other times. We can always count on the Lord hearing us and coming to our aid.

The truck driver had a choice. She could have said, “I’ve got this. I’m fine,” but would have been lying to herself. She chose to reach out to the firefighter. She wanted to be rescued.

God knew we were sinking in sin and needed a Rescuer, a Savior, so He sent One. His name is Jesus. He came down from above wrapped in flesh and bone. Born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger, He was the Messiah first promised in the book of Genesis. As an adult, He didn’t just risk his life, He gave His life for us. If we will reach out to Him, He will save us. He will forgive us of our sins, walk with us daily, and take us to heaven when we die.

As Resurrection Day approaches, let us remember the sacrifice of the Savior. We put our trust in many people and things, but there is only One who can rescue us from sin.

The truck driver will never forget the day Bryce Carden rescued her. I will never forget the day Jesus rescued me: August 20, 1971.

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus

met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Mark 16: 2-7

And very early in the morning, the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, “Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?” And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, “Be not affrighted: ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.”

Luke 24: 1-12

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of

sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

John 20: 1-10

Now on the first day of the week

Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Six Easter egg coloring tips

Whether families dye eggs to symbolize the Easter miracle or simply for fun, the following are some coloring tips to enhance the process

By STAFF REPORTS

Coloring Easter eggs is a time-honored tradition dating back

more than 2,500 years. There is evidence that people living in the ancient settlement of Trypillia dyed eggs. Ancient Persians also were believed to paint eggs for Nowruz (Persian New Year). Christians adopted similar traditions to symbolize aspects of the Easter story. Originally Christians dyed eggs red to represent the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the cross, according to Chase Oaks Church. Good Housekeeping reports early Christian missionaries adapted the dying tradition to in-

clude more egg colors to represent different aspects of the Easter story. Yellow represented the resurrection, blue represented love and red remained a symbol of Christ’s blood.

Whether families dye eggs to symbolize the Easter miracle or simply for fun, the following are some coloring tips to enhance the process.

1. Prevent cracked eggs. Most colored eggs are hard-boiled. To prevent cracking during the boiling process, add a teaspoon of vin-

Madison Community Band to present “Winds of War” on April 2

By STAFF REPORTS news@themadisonrecord.com

HUNTSVILLE - The Madison Community Band presents its 2024 Spring Concert on Tuesday, April 2, 7:00 PM, at Grace United Methodist Church, 2113 Old Monrovia Road NW, in Huntsville. Admission is free and the concert is open to the public. This year’s program, “Winds of War,” honors Americans at war for the upcoming 80th Anniversary of D-Day. While the program is centered on the commemoration of D-Day, it spans the breadth of World War II and beyond, honoring veterans of all

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than ever. School psychologists have so much to offer, especially when we (can) collaborate with other schoolbased, mental-health professionals,” she said.

Batt-Rawden has served as school psychologist for Rainbow Elementary School and Discovery Middle School and has assisted at James Clemens High School and Madison Elementary School.

A description “of our field (states) we are the psychologists with expertise in education and the educators with expertise in psychology. All students are capable of learning; however, that may look different for each child,” Batt-Rawden said.

She believes children learn best through play and when information is presented clearly in a meaningful and engaging way. Learning should be fun, Batt-Rawden said. Positive student relationships are key to academic and behavioral success at school.

“A 5:1 ratio of positive to negative interactions is essential to creating these types of relationships and classroom cultures of mutual respect. I also promote practices in the classroom that promote structure and routine with clear expectations and reasonable flexibility and boundaries,” she said.

Batt-Rawden’s involvement with students usually begins when parents or teachers are concerned about the best support for a student struggling academically, behaviorally or emotionally. “If there is suspicion of a disability and a need for more specialized services like special education, I am one of several team members who meet to decide if a student may need further evaluation to see if they are eligible for special education services,” she said.

wars fought by our nation. There will be familiar music from films such as Patton, The Longest Day, Saving Private Ryan, and We Were Soldiers, and television series such as Band of Brothers and Victory at Sea. Performances will range from stirring marches and popular wartime music to solemn

using research- and evidence-based practices, collecting data and determining the plan’s effectiveness,” she said.

In addition, she assists students in crisis.

During the past year, Batt-Rawden has succeeded with concerned parents whose children had been evaluated but now had struggles outside previous results. “I led the team in conducting a new comprehensive evaluation and identified answers for the students that explained their difficulties and highlighted their strengths,” she said. “These outcomes led to a greater understanding of students’ needs and recommendations for how best to help those students learn and get what they need at school.”

Batt-Rawden’s best days occur when she delivers unexpected or surprising evaluation results to parents or teachers. “So rewarding when those results are met with, ‘Thank you for taking the time to understand my child. You have captured exactly who they are and what they need.’ days. I know I’ve done my job and done it well.”

However, some days involve a challenging meeting or disagreement amongst stakeholders (with) passionate and differing opinions. “I feel a sense of accomplishment when I can help facilitate those conversations through active listening and keeping the conversations student-oriented and solution-focused,” Batt-Rawden said.

Usually “we share the same goal but have different ways of communicating on achieving it,” she said. “Sometimes, it can be a bumpy journey, but it’s a wonderful feeling knowing I advocated for a student or assisted in others’ being heard and finding a win-win.”

meditations and sweeping symphonic themes. All of the music pays tribute to those who fought and those who fell in service to our nation.

For more information, visit MCB on Facebook (https://www.facebook. com/MadisonALCommunityBand) or visit www.m-c-b.org.

educational specialist (EdS) degree and a doctorate’s degree in school psychology. She holds Nationally Certified School Psychologist distinction.

“My British husband, Andy BattRawden, retired from the Royal Air Force and currently works as a commercial airline pilot. Together, we have a beautiful, international blended family with Olivia, 10; Colton, 10; and Theodore, four months,” she said.

“I could sing before I could speak,” she said. She has performed as lead in numerous musical theater productions, along with singing at various gigs and in church for several decades. Currently, she participates in RiverTree Downtown’s worship team and helps lead Sunday worship twice monthly.

Along with, Batt-Rawden enjoys hiking, reading, writing, traveling and playing board games with family.

“A national shortage of school psychologists exists, and the state of school psychology in Alabama is, as you can imagine, dismal,” she said. Recommended ratio of students to school psychologists is 500:1. Currently, the national average is 1119:1. In Alabama, that ratio is 250,308:1.” (NASP, 2024; nasponline.org). Her dissertation discussed this region’s gap between best practices and actual practices of school psychologists. Batt-Rawden found Alabama’s shortage of school psychologists equates to less comprehensive services for students compared to neighboring states.

Easter Egg

egar and a tablespoon of salt to the boiling water. Additional anti-cracking measures include rubbing half a lemon on each shell before boiling.

2. Boil eggs and cool completely. It takes roughly 10 minutes to hard-boil an egg. Fill a pot with enough water to submerge the eggs, then bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Gently lower the eggs into the water with a slotted spoon. Cover, reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes. Drain the eggs and cool in a bowl of water or run under cold tap water.

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4. Stick to white eggs. Stores sell both brown and white eggs. The species of chicken determines whether the eggs will be white or brown. When coloring eggs, it might be better to purchase white eggs, as the dyes will show up more vividly on the white shells.

5. Create distinctive designs. By covering portions of the bare eggs before dipping into color, people can create unique designs. Things like masking tape, rubber bands, wax (or crayons), and even twine can be used. The dye will only take on the uncovered areas, leaving white behind.

Batt-Rawden has a key role in developing an evaluation plan and analyzing assessment data. “Sometimes, students need additional support at school — not due to a disability. I assist in identifying the problem . . . addressing the problem

She considers the Shoals as her hometown. At Birmingham-Southern College, she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology-political science. At the University of Alabama, Batt-Rawden received a master’s degree in educational psychology and

Fortunately, MCS has increased school psychological staff by 150 percent in recent years. “I’m hopeful to see MCS lead the way for other districts and be an exemplar for Alabama by continuing to increase school psychologists on staff towards that recommended 500:1 ratio,” Batt-Rawden said.

For more information, visit apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/school and nasponline.org/ about-school-psychology. Batt-Rawden

3. Don’t forget the vinegar. Whether you use colored dye tablets or drops of food coloring from the pantry, use a mix of water and vinegar in the coloring solution. According to Education.com, food coloring is an acid dye and bonds using hydrogen. This chemical process only works in an acidic environment. Vinegar is added to water to make it more acidic and help the dyes adhere more strongly to the eggs and produce brighter colors.

Panoply

6. Dyes are not the only way to color eggs. Everything from watercolor paint to acrylics to decoupage can be used to cover eggs in vivid colors. Egg decorators also can use colored yarns, fabric or stickers. Search for creative materials to set Easter eggs apart this year. Coloring eggs is a popular Easter tradition, and there are many ways to ensure this beloved activity produces beautiful results.

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word performances from local literary figures and poets and STEAM Street and Creativity Corner will have several special hands-on activities that all ages can partake in. New to Panoply this

year is “The Big Swim” interactive art installation. Festivalgoers of all ages will immerse themselves in a kaleidoscope of color as they walk through a tunnel-like art installation designed exclusively for Panoply.

The interactive art piece is created by local artist Susie Garrett.

Festival patrons are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to enjoy the entertainment each day and Friday and Saturday evenings conclude with a spectacular fireworks display. Along with a diverse array of art and music, the Craft Beer and Wine Tent returns featuring local beer from Yellowhammer and Straight to Ale and there will be a great assortment of local tastes from 17 food trucks.

Arts Huntsville is offering a Panoply weekend pass available online in advance for $20. Day passes are $15 and can be purchased online or at the gate. Admission is free for children 12 and under. Festival hours are 5-9 p.m. on Friday, April 26; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday, April 27; and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday, April 28.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit artshuntsville.org or call (256) 519-2787 (ARTS).