The Madison Record - May 1, 2024

Both Madison teams heading to Elite 8 baseball playoff series

The Patriots and Jets had big wins over the weekend to advance in the state playoffs. Bob Jones rolled into the playoffs and took down rival Sparkman at home with a Friday double-header sweep. The Patriots and Thompson do battle in Game 1 on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. and Game 2 at 7 p.m. If Game 3 is needed, it will be played on Friday at 4:30 p.m. also at Bob Jones High School. James Clemens made the drive east to face Grissom in the first round of the playoffs last Friday with a double-header. The Jets swept away the Tigers with back-to-back wins. The Jets will face Hoover in Birmingham on Thursday with games at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. See full story on page 1B

Liberty Middle School student passes away after medical emergency on campus

By STAFF REPORTS

MADISON – The Liberty Middle School community is continuing to face a very difficult situation after a student collapsed Tuesday afternoon at school and never recovered.

WAFF reported last Tuesday that a child was transported to the hospital after having a medical emergency while in class.

According to Don Webster with HEMSI, the incident happened on the football field at around 2:47 p.m. It happened during a P.E. class. Madison City Schools spokesperson John Peck said HEMSI, Madison Police and Madison Fire were quickly on campus to address the situation.

The student was transported the student to Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children.

Wednesday afternoon, Liberty Principal Shannon Brown sent an email to parents updating them on the situation.

“Morgan Williams, a 7th-grade student, experienced a medical emergency on campus and sadly passed away,” Shannon stated. “This loss has and will raise many emotions, concerns, and questions for our entire school, especially our students.

“Madison City Schools has a Crisis Intervention Team made up of professionals trained to help with the needs of students, parents, and school personnel at difficult times such as this. At LMS, we have counselors available for students who may need any type of assistance surrounding this loss. These

City council kick-starts clubhouse addition to Toyota Field

By MARIA RAKOCZY maria@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON - The city of Madison is making progress to finish Toyota Field improvements to meet Major League Baseball’s newest requirements for minor league stadiums.

Those requirements include improvements to training facilities and lighting, additional wall padding around the field, and higher safety netting. These improvements were already made by the city prior to the current season but the last and biggest improvement has yet to be started and needs to be completed by the MLB-imposed deadline of before the opening of the 2025 season.

The city still needs to build a brand new clubhouse for vis-

iting teams that meets MLB’s new requirement for 1,000 square foot clubhouses for both home and away teams. At the April 22 meeting, the city council kickstarted the process by approving the hiring of an architect at the cost of $495,500 to draw up plans for the new clubhouse.

The city has ordered for two plans to be drawn up for two different versions of the clubhouse. One plan will feature a four-story building with a clubhouse and visitor locker room on the bottom level and fan suites and event spaces on the upper levels. The second plan is one-story with facilities just for the new clubhousebut would be built to accommodate

The James Clemens Jets traveled to Grissom, sweeping the Tigers to earn a trip to the Elite 8 state baseball playoffs.

The Bob Jones Patriots completed a sweep of rival Sparkman to advance in the state 7A baseball playoffs. See LIBERTY Page 8A

LOCAL NEWS

Photo of the Week

By STAFF REPORTS staff@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON - As work continues on the Town Madison interchange on Interstate 565 in Madison, drivers should expect nighttime detours for setting bridge girders over the interstate during the next two to three months. Due to the overhead work, periodic weeknight closures of one direction of I-565 at a time — westbound or eastbound — will be necessary for public safety.

Weather permitting, a closure westbound I-565 with the detour of traffic is scheduled for Sunday through Thursday, between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. nightly. The detour will be Madison Boulevard, from Exit 13 to Wall Triana Highway to Exit 9. The eastbound detour, which will be implemented on future dates, will be Wall Triana Highway from Exit 9 to Madison Boulevard

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Gregg L. Parker News Writer gregg@themadisonrecord.com

Maria Rakoczy News Writer maria@themadisonrecord.com

Bob Labbe Sports Writer bob0873@yahoo.com

Caleb Odom Sports Writer caleb@themadisonrecord.com

Donna Counts Advertising Sales 256-714-7152 donna@themadisonrecord.com

clarify any statements which are unclear. To request a correction or clarification, call 256-7631150 between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday - Friday, or email news@ themadisonrecord.com.

COMMENTS

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Local students organize MadFest for day

By MARIA RAKOCZY maria@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – A brand new festi-

val is bringing the city of Madison together for fun and service this weekend, and it’s all organized by local high school students.

The inaugural MadFest is happening this Saturday, May 4 at the Madison City Stadium. It will have all the trappings of a fun festival with artisan vendors, hot air balloon rides, food trucks, and a car show with the added twist of community service opportunities. That’s right. This is no ordinary festival. It’s a festival that unites and gives back to the community.

Not only that, but MadFest has been organized entirely by Bob Jones High School and James Clemens High School students, showing off the abilities of young Madison residents.

“MadFest is anything but your average festival. For starters, it is ENTIRELY student led. Every little de-

tail has been meticulously thought out by outstanding students at both Bob Jones and James Clemens. Also, the entire day will emphasize our slogan of “Twelve Schools, One City,”

Communications Director for the festival and a Bob Jones student, Simon Adkins, commented.

These students are on a mission to do good in the city of Madison and unite the two high schools, that are often seen as rivals.

“Madison City Schools is home to two of the highest performing high schools in our nation. With incredible academics and outstanding extracurricular opportunities, Madison City truly prepares students for the future. I’ve watched as both schools have made tremendous efforts to better our community and region. However, collaborative efforts between the two schools have often been difficult,” Festival Director, Bob Jones senior, and MVP’s Youth Volunteer of the Year Andrew Crocker said.

Crocker was driven to unite the two schools to do something great for the city.

“In August, I wanted to plan an opportunity for both schools to connect and make an impact on Madison,” said Crocker. “There’s such great potential in working together — combining the resources between both schools has such great potential in connecting our community. Madison is a place where we “love where we live,” and MadFest is an opportunity for students to come together and show our community how true this really is.”

“We want to show our community that we truly are better together. This ties in to why we decided to add a community service aspect,” said Adkins. “The idea to include service projects came from the simple desire to show the city of Madison what our students are all about. We plan to go to multiple locations in this area and give back to the community that has invested so much

SCHOOLS

Fourth-graders absorb ‘The History of Madison’ from Cindi Sanderson

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – City parks, downtown streets, school campuses . . . even Chickfil-A. These and many other topics interested fourth-graders at Madison Elementary School when Cindi Whitworth Sanderson presented “The History of Madison” on April 23.

A native of Madison, Sanderson can trace her family lineage in Madison to 1828. “I like to share Madison’s history because of my roots I have a strong belief in preserving the past,” she said. Before retirement, Sanderson compiled a book about Madison Elementary’s evolution to today.

“I told them that I’m a Madison Hornet, just like them, because I retired from Madison Elementary almost nine years ago,” Sanderson said. “I was in the first graduating class at Bob Jones High School. Our class will have our 50th class reunion this year.”

Sanderson explained that Cherokee, Chickasaw and Creek Native Americans shared hunting grounds around Madison but didn’t have permanent villages in North Central Alabama.

In 1818, John Cartwright settled at what’s now Palmer Park. Many pioneers stayed for the rich soil and abundant springs. Madison was founded as a railroad town along the Memphis & Charleston Railroad in the mid-1850’s.

“Pioneers were drawn by conditions conducive to cotton farming. Merchants were drawn by farmers’ wealth,” Sanderson said.

Madison’s western perimeter was called Nubbins Ridge, now James Clemens High School’s campus. Clemens bought 45 lots and sold 15 before

his death in 1860. This land exchange led to Clemens’ title, ‘Founder of Madison.’ He was related to author Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) and father of U.S. Sen. Jeremiah Clemens.

James Clemens wanted the town named “Clemens Depot”; however, railroad maps labeled the location as “Madison Station.”

The name again changed to “Madison” at incorporation in 1869, Sanderson said.

The iconic Roundhouse was built over the town’s well near Main Street Cafe in 1898. The structure served as the mayor’s office, city hall, card-playing parlor and ‘pop-up’ barber shop.

After the original’s demolition in 1936, the Roundhouse’s replica was built in 1986 by volunteers during the Madison Street Festival. Today, Madison Station Historic Preservation Society maintains the building.

“The first organized public school was Madison Male and Female Academy in 1885,” Sanderson said. Next, Madison Training School originally stood near current-day Animal Trax until 1907 when it was moved on logs, likely to current-day Madison Elementary’s parking lot.

In 1924, the school was renamed “Madison High School.” In 1936, a new building costing $55,000 opened for MHS, now the site of your school, Madison Elementary, Sanderson said.

“When Madison Training School was torn down, what was the lumber used for? A city hall was built on Martin Street; part was used for an Arnett Street house,” Sanderson said. Madison High School’s last graduating class in 1951 had 12 graduates. “In December 1972, Bob Jones High School was officially

See SANDERSON Page 8A

World Records

Global Minds competition encourages Madison students to express cultures

By MARIA RAKOCZY maria@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – Madison middle school and high school students are encouraged to express their cultures through art and writing in the James Clemens High School Global Minds Competition.

The competition is supported by the James Clemens branch of the nationwide program, Global Minds. The local branch was founded by student Oviya Gowder who describes the program as “a for-youth by-youth organization that inspires students to form social bonds, and intercultural relationships, and to consider global issues through youth-led extracurricular activities.”

Once an English language student herself in elementary school, Gowder was inspired to start the Global Minds chapter to help the English language students at James Clemens make friends and find community in the greater student body.

In partnership with the James Clemens English Language department, the club offers a tutoring service that pairs English language students with native English speaking students to foster mutual educational and community-building opportunities.

They are capping off the 2023-24 school year with a competition that encourages both high school and

middle school students to submit pieces of art and literature that express their different cultures.

“This competition is to bring the unique perspective of every EL and Non-EL student through a competition format from across the school system, even including the teachers of MCS who have expressed interest in bringing this into other high schools and middle schools. End of the day, it’s to incite long-lasting bonds between all students regardless of communication and cultural differences,” said Gowder of what she hopes the competition will accomplish.

She explained, “The competition is an online format that is similar to the PTA Reflection competition where students can submit an original piece of art or literature that

represents their unique cultural background and speaks on topics like diversity, inclusion, and global issues.”

The competition is open to both regular English students and ESL students in both middle school and high school. There is both a literature category and an art category for EL and non-EL students at each school level. There are eight categories in total and the top five in each category will receive a medal. The top three will receive the prizes of $25 for first place, $15 for second place, and $10 for third place. Each participant will receive a digital certificate for their participation.

The deadline to enter is Friday May 3 at 11:59pm. For information and to enter the competition, visit forms.gle/NJru12i3kQGhYoQk6.

The James Clemens branch of the nationwide program, Global Minds, was founded by student Oviya Gowder who describes

by-youth organization that inspires students to form social bonds, and intercultural relationships,

youth-led extracurricular activities.”

Fourth-graders at Madison Elementary School listened intently when Cindi Sanderson discussed facts and a few legends about “The History of Madison.”

A Liberty Middle student was recognized last week by the Madison City Board of Education for her top finish in the state archery tournament, placing 3rd out of 300 competitors. Lydia Hosmer, a 7th grader, is the first MCS student to place at the State Archery Tournament. She scored 283 points out of a possible 300. Accompanying her to the Board meeting was her coach, Martha Prichard, and Principal Shannon Brown.

Robotics students from Discovery Middle School wowed an audience of senior citizens with a robot demonstration. The students showed off their craft at the Vitality Living Upland Park senior citizens facility. Students brought their robots that they had worked on throughout the 2023-2024 VEX VRC competitive season gave the residents demonstrations. Residents also had an opportunity to drive and control the robots.

LIVING

MVP’s plant giveaway to celebrate downtown’s new Monarch mural

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – Madison

mural on Shorter Street.

MVP will host the Pollinator Plant and Seed Giveaway to recognize the mural’s ‘opening’ on May 5 from 1 to 3 p.m. The plants will be available outside Honest Coffee Roasters at 92 Shorter St., immediately south of The Avenue apartment community. The giveaway will continue while supplies last.

“Swing by on May 5 to check out the ‘March of the Monarchs’ mural, pick up a free pollinator plant or seeds, and learn more about how you can help the Monarchs,” MVP Executive Director Melanie Thornton said.

Blooming Garden Alabama is supplying the plants.

“Pop into Honest Coffee Roasters, where they will be featuring a special brew, Flower Power Latte, to celebrate the day,” Thornton said.

“The Madison Mural Trail is truly a grassroots effort that began with a group of community members who wanted to see more public art in the city,” Thornton said. “Madison Visionary Partners was happy to lead this project, and, over the course of a year, we have worked closely with city leaders to bring this idea to reality.” Sponsor for the event is Bank Independent.

Through grants and corporate donors, MVP has successfully funded two mural projects, which were completed in April.

“Designed by the incredibly talented local artist, Ann Moeller, the ‘March of the Monarch’ mural will pay homage to the Monarch

butterfly -- our state insect and a symbol of transformation and community, which represents our own city’s growth,” Thornton said.

To assist the monarchs’ migration, MVP is leading a community project to encourage residents and businesses to plant more pollinator gardens. “The Monarch butterfly is Alabama’s state insect and is in need of our help,” project leader Bailey Erickson said. “The Monarch population has declined by 90 percent due to insecticides, urban sprawl, climate change (and other factors).”

“Madison is a stop on the Monarch’s journey from Mexico, and

we’re trying to provide them with more food to stay strong and for the Monarch population to increase,” Erickson said.

The second mural, “Madison Station, Established 1869,” appears on the eastern side of retail stores at 14 Main St. in downtown Madison. Sonya Clemons designed the mural.

To complete the mural project, MVP received funding from Huntsville Area Association of Realtors or HAAR, Toyota Alabama, Sealy Management and Bank Independent.

For more information, visit mvpmadison.org or honesthsv. coffee.

‘Sounds of Summer’ concerts return to Home Place Park later this month

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON - Madison Arts Alliance urges residents to mark their calendars for the 2024 summer concert lineup for “Sounds of Summer.”

The concert venue is Home Place Park, 100 Shorter St., two streets south of Main Street in downtown Madison. The concerts are free.

Madison Arts Alliance sponsors this concert series and presents the event in partnership with Madison Visionary Partners.

• May 30, The Zooks –Series opener with the return of a crowd favorite.

The band describes itself as people “all about having fun.” The Zooks often welcome surprise guests.

The Zooks first organized in 2000 on Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands when band members met each other because of their jobs with a contractor for the U.S. Army, band spokesperson Randy Razook said.

The Zooks perform classic rock anthems, Motown tunes and rhythm-andblues standards. Their dance music hails from the well-known classics in pop and rock from the 1960s through 1980s. Band members pride themselves in putting smiles on the audience’s faces. Email andy.razook@ gmail.com or visit Facebook/The Zooks.

• June 13, Groove – This group will play tunes for groovin’ to their versions of funk, rhythm and blues, soul, pop and dance party music. Call 256-527-4545, email partywithgroove@gmail. com or visit Facebook/ Groove.

• June 27, Luna Koi –Will entertain at Home Place Park for two hours of family-friendly, free music. A few of Luna Koi’s cover songs are “Everything” (Lifehouse cover); “Dreams” and “Sound Check” (Fleetwood Mac); and “Volcano.” Call 256-763-0309, email joynerkelly0@gmail.com, or visit kellyjoynerlive. com or Facebook/Luna Koi.

• July 11, Calypso Vision – Entertaining audiences for the past 10 years. The band gives a relaxed beachfront spirit, with a heavy dose of Buffett-style classics. Call 256-503-0554, email thegregcast@gmail.com or visit linktr.ee/calypsovision or Facebook/Calypso Vision.

• July 25, Second Hand Smoke – This group may be a duo but their sound can compete with a larger set of musicians. Their music will keep the audience moving to the beat. Call 256-694-5477, or visit Facebook/Second Hand Smoke.

Food trucks will offer tempting food and snack options at the concerts. In addition, downtown eateries are nearby for a ‘sitdown meal.’ Madison Arts Alliance seeks to foster and promote the arts in Madison County. Through membership, events, sponsors and partners, the organization strives to provide quality cultural experiences and growth in North Alabama.

Rosalie Holcombe is President of Madison Arts Alliance. Madison Visionary Partners is the alliance’s fiscal sponsor.

For more information, email info@madisonartsalliance.org or visit madisonartsalliance.org.

To assist the monarchs’ migration, Madison Visionary Partners is leading a community project to encourage residents and businesses to plant more pollinator gardens.

Madison Visionary Partners will conduct a plant giveaway on May 5 to celebrate the Monarch butterfly mural outside Honest Coffee Roasters, 92 Shorter St.

The “Sounds of Summer” concert series will open May 30 with The Zooks in Home Place Park.

Huntsville Botanical Garden is hosting a whimsical journey through an mesmerizing exhibit, Glass in Flight. Wander among 21 breathtaking, larger-than-life glass sculptures that capture the delicate beauty and intricate details of nature’s most fascinating pollinators – from the vibrant wings of butterflies to the iridescent shimmer of dragonflies, the meticulous craftsmanship of beetles, and the gentle buzz of bees. This exhibit is more than a display; it’s an invitation to see the Garden and its inhabitants in an enchanting light. Each piece, crafted with exceptional artistry by artist Alex Heveri, tells a story of flight, transformation, and the delicate balance of nature. For more information, go to hsvbg.org/glass-in-flight.

Yes, May 4 is “International Star Wars Day,” and of course, the Huntsville Symphony intends to make an Imperially big deal about it. Few musicians in this galaxy (or any other) have impacted the art of cinema more than the great John Williams. This program celebrates the Movie Maestro’s life and legacy,

New and expectant parents don’t miss the 2024 Huntsville Babypalooza Baby Expo. It’s a free day of fun and information to connect you with essential resources, education, and community support. The Super Bowl of baby expos! Go to babypalooza.com for more information.

Casual Classics concerts are “outside-of-the-box” classical performances involving smaller HSO ensembles and a shorter performance length. Often Casual Classics performances pair classical music with an activity or present it in a non-traditional (non-concert hall) setting. Performances are generally an hour in length.

Bless Fest returns for second year of spring family fun

By MARIA RAKOCZY maria@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON - After a successful event in 2023, Bless Fest at Most Merciful Jesus Catholic Parish is returning for a second year with more vendors, activities, and fun.

Last year featured eighteen different vendors selling a variety of artisan goods along with games for the kids, food in the form of bratwurst, hamburgers, hot dogs, and ribs, an auction, and a raffle. This year, event organizers have plans to build on the success of their inaugural year that was not dampened by rainy weather.

“In spite of bad weather on Sunday last year, all the vendors were interested in returning for the next Fest,” said Bless Fest Committee Lead, Pat Chomskis.

Another committee member, Nancy Suckow, likewise commented, “We were thrilled with the participation from vendors & volunteers, as well as our parishioners and residents from nearby neighborhoods that attended the fest. Over the course of 2 days, we had approximately 400 attendees. We definitely met our goal and exceeded our expectations.”

This year’s fest will again feature artisan vendors, food, games, a silent and ticket auction, and a raffle. The festival

benefits the parish and its plans to build permanent facilities to meet the needs of the growing Madison community. Bless Fest will take place on Saturday May 4 and Sunday May 5 from 9:30am to 4pm. Admission is $5 per family and raffle tickets start at $5 to be entered for the grand prizes of $3,000, $1,000, and $500 cash prizes. Visit www.mostmercifuljesuschurch.

Brass Band kicks off BAMALAMA

Concerts hosted in the Artist

of The Orion Amphitheater starting May 3 at 6 p.m. with Dave Anderson and Huntsville Community Drumline! For more information, go to www.theorionhuntsville.com.

AUSA sponsors ‘Operation Eagle Claw’ about freeing hostages in Iran

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – “An Evening in the Desert with Operation Eagle Claw” will assemble seven U.S. Army veterans as panelists who were in the mission to free American hostages captured in 1979 by Iran.

Redstone-Huntsville Chapter of the Association of the United States Army or AUSA is hosting the session on May 8 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Jackson Center, 6001 Moquin Drive NW in Huntsville. This event marks the third time that AUSA and Army Heritage Center Foundation have raised funds for the U.S. Veterans Memorial Museum.

The session will date back to Nov. 4, 1979, when Iranian militants seized the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and abducted 53 hostages. Prolonged negotiations ensued to free the hostages.

U.S. President Carter eventually ordered the Iran Hostage Rescue mission with the Army’s Delta Force, sailors, airman and marines to attempt the rescue on April 24,

1980. After 444 days, the hostage crisis finally ended.

“I want to stress that ‘An Evening in the Desert with Operation Eagle Claw’ will be a historic event, as these veterans have never before told their story in public,” AUSA Redstone-Huntsville Chapter President Marc Jacobson said. “The lessons learned from OEC prompted the establishment of a new multi-service organization. The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) became operational in April 1987.”

“Each service now has its own special operations forces under USSOCOM’s overall control,” Jacobson said. “Also created was the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment or SOAR Night Stalkers. The United States now trains military helicopter pilots for low-level penetration, aerial refueling and night-vision goggles.” Army Delta Force Operators from this mission will look inside the real story in the desert and lessons learned for special operations, Jacobson said.

Backyard

Meadow

Space Monkeys!

Fantasy Playhouse brings Baker and Able’s contribution to space exploration to new generation

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

HUNTSVILLE – Fantasy Playhouse

Children’s Theater & Academy will soon launch the world premiere production, “Space Monkeys! The Adventures of Baker & Able” in May 9-10.

Artistic Director Stephen Tyler Davis wrote and directed “Space Monkeys!,” which will round out Fantasy Playhouse’s all-original season.

“This fresh new script is fun, the history is true, and the cast is huge with 50-plus actors at Von Braun Center Playhouse, 700 Monroe St. SW.,” Emily Rodrick said. Rodrick is Marketing/Public Relations Manager for Fantasy Playhouse.

The show’s plot involves five kids in Huntsville who convene every full moon for their secret space society. This month, they seek to induct a new member. However, the inductee has never heard of America’s infamous “Space Monkeys,” so the five embark on sharing the 65-year-old courageous story.

“In 1959, two brave monkeys – Baker and Able -- lead the charge for space exploration. Buckle up and hold on tight for an adventure of galactic magnitude. A story of friendship, bravery, sacrifice and dreaming big, this world-premiere play will inspire all ages,” Rodrick said.

In 1959, the U.S. needed a Cold War win and the country was eyeing spaceflight. And so a pair of mismatched monkeys found themselves bundled up and placed in a Jupiter missile. Able and Baker became the first primates to survive spaceflight during a suborbital predawn flight on May 28, 1959.

Their survival made them instant celebrities, although spaceflight was not the most dramatic part of their stories. To announce their successful flight, NASA unveiled Able and Baker to journalists in the same room where just a month prior they had introduced the Mercury 7 as the country’s first human astronaut candidates.

Able died four days after the flight

from a reaction to the anesthetic given during surgery to remove an electrode, but Baker lived to break the record for oldest living squirrel monkey.

In 1971, Miss Baker moved to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where she entertained museum visitors and drew 100–150 letters a day from schoolchildren The 1977 birthday celebrations brought balloons, camera flashes, and the regular fare of cottage cheese for Miss Baker.

In 1982, center director Ed Buckbee said, “Baker delights visitors every day with her energy and antics.”

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of her spaceflight, Baker was treated to a rubber duck and, her favorite, strawberry gelatin with bananas, along with well-wishes from thousands of people.

In 1984, Miss Baker died of kidney failure at a clinic at Auburn University. She is buried on the grounds at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. Her tombstone routinely has one or more bananas on top.

The Boeing Company is the sponsor for “Space Monkeys!”

Show times will be May 9 and May 10 (which is Fantasy Playhouse Alumni Night) at 7 p.m. Shows on May 11 and May 12 will be 1 and 6 p.m. In addition, a sensory-friendly performance will be presented on May 11 at 10 a.m.

Tickets cost $22 for adults and $17 for 17-year-olds and younger; children younger than two years old will be admitted free if they lap sit. Guests should get a lap-seat ticket at the Box Office before the performance. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.

Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater and Academy provides theatre-arts access that reaches 31,000-plus residents annually, including 21,000 youth. Core programs include live children’s theatre productions, classes, camps, workshops and educational outreach with after-school classes and in-school touring programs. For more information, call 256-5396829 or visit fantasyplayhouse.org.

By

HUNTSVILLE – The Trideum Foundation, a Huntsville-based Christian non-profit, will host its annual “Grounds for Hope” event at the Von Braun Center on May 2. The theme is Grace, Mercy and Peace.

Grounds for Hope is an annual event put on by the group to honor community members who live out their faith by helping others in need.

Board member Britt Sheffield said, “It is a celebration of faith that is intended to change the narrative around faith-inclusive outreach to recognize the value that is added when Christians incorporate their faith in charitable work. This is an awards-style event where we recognize in-

dividuals and organizations for the good work they are doing in our community. It serves as a mechanism for us to share stories that inspire us all to Shine our light. This is a great way to get Businesses, Outreaches, and Churches talking.”

The group will host 30+ local organizations, including church organizations, non-profits, and businesses, with booths set up to interact with the community and answer questions about what charitable initiatives they work on.

The proceeds from this event will go toward honoring those who are honored. Nominations are being accepted by individuals and organizations. Honorees will attend the event free of charge.

If you would like more information about the event or where to purchase tickets, you can visit www.g4hope.com Christian-based charity to host annual ‘Grounds for Hope’ event on May 2

Madison Newcomers and Neighbors Club to meet May 9 at Hogan Family YMCA

MADISON - The Madison Newcomers and Neighbors Club, a Women’s Social Group, will meet Thursday May 9, at the Hogan Family YMCA, 130 Park Square Lane in Madison. Social time will begin at 9:45 a.m., the meeting at 10 a.m.

The club will present its yearly donations to various charities in the area. They will also be voting on board members of the August through June membership year. The new Board will be announced at the end of the meeting.

The public is invited to join and learn about the club and make connections with new friends. The club plans to be active throughout the summer months of June and August. Current residents and newcomers are always welcome to attend the meetings for informative programs and a variety of fun activities. It gives everyone a chance to meet new friends. For further information contact Martha Heard (256)772-9721 or Lisa Anderson (540)273-3239. You can also visit the Facebook page “Madison Newcomers and Neighbors Madison, Alabama”

Baker (above), a squirrel monkey, perches on a model of the Jupiter missile that launched her into space on a sub-orbital flight, along with a rhesus monkey named Able, on May 28, 1959. Baker died at age 27 in 1984 and is buried in Huntsville at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Visitors sometimes leave bananas on her grave (right).

City Council

potential additional levels in the future.

Both plans situate the new clubhouse along the third baseline near the visitor’s dugout and the Toyota Outfield Experience.

Construction is projected to be completed in 2026, after the deadline of spring 2025. According to Mary Beth Broeren, Director of Development Services for the city, repercussions of not meeting the deadline are currently unclear.

“Our next requirement was to have this facility completed for the start of the ’25 season, which isn’t happening. I don’t know what MLB will do. We have thought that as long as we’re making steady progress and you know, hopefully have the project under construction, some form of the project under construction, by the time that deadline rolls around that MLB would not fine Ballcorps [or] the city, but I really don’t know what will occur,” Broeren explained.

The vote at the April 22 meeting only authorized design development services with the architect, Gilbert, McLaughlin Casella, and the city council will vote on which plan to go forward with at a later date. Broeren expects the project will be ready to go out to bid in the fall.

Councilwoman Maura Wroblewski expressed her intent to support only the one-story plan in the future, “I will support this resolution right now at this particular moment in time. I don’t support the four-story increased ven-

Liberty

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individuals will be at LMS for the remainder of the week to assist. We encourage you, as parents, to also feel free to use our resources.

“We are saddened by

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ue. I think that would be a fabulous project when the stadium needed a refinish when it kind of got tired and it needed a boost of energy, a resurgence, if you will, of amenities. Right now, I think it would be a great burden to put on our taxpayers, but for this particular resolution I will support it but looking ahead definitely supporting what Minor League baseball is requiring of us.”

As to how the project will be funded, Joey Ceci, President of Breland Companies, the developer behind Town Madison, cited increased revenue for the city through sales and lodging taxes collected from the growing number of restaurants and hotels in the development during public comments.

“When the city council did the deal at the beginning with the stadium, [the mayor and council] were very much concerned that the money generated from the stadium in addition to the lodging tax would pay for the bond payments for the ballpark. That, according to the mayor at the last work session has happened and it is actually over and above what the bond payment is, which gives you money to put towards the maintenance,” explained Ceci.

He reported that another 500 hotel rooms and another 5 restaurants will be opening soon in Town Madison, adding to the revenue the city will earn from lodging and sales tax to go towards the maintenance of Toyota Field.

this loss to our school community and will make every effort to help you and your child as needed. Please keep the Williams family in your thoughts.”

Continued from page 6A

The seven panelists had specific orders in Operation Eagle Claw:

• Logan Fitch – Command and Control/Commander in B Squadron. Ride shotgun. Upon reaching the compound, kill the guard on the sidewalk and then control the Squadron.

• Phill Hanson – Assigned to Assault Team in A Squadron. Point man moving over the wall into the embassy.

• John ‘Johnny’ Jones – Team leader of A Squadron. In MG Team, secure the vehicle gate at the motor pool.

• Glen ‘Nick’ Nickel – Assaulter in B Squadron to eliminate the sentry on the inside of the embassy com-

Sanderson

pound. Rendered aid to loadmaster, who was severely burned.

• Carl ‘Doc’ Savory -- 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment. Delta (Airborne), Command Doctor.

• Mike Vining – In Squadron B for position of Assaulter and EOD. Secure the second floor of the ambassador’s residence and maintain an overwatch position on the roof. Rendered aid to helicopter pilot, who was badly burned.

• Steve Wright – In A Squadron armed with M203. Suppress any Iranian reaction from the Iranian Military Compound on the west side of the Embassy Compound. Worked with Farsi-speaking drivers in developing vehicle assault plan.

Continued from page 4A

named. The first graduating class was in 1974,” Sanderson said about her class.

Sanderson explained street names:

* Martin Street – For G.W. Martin, the town’s first merchant.

* Palmer Road/Palmer Park –For Samuel Palmer, owner of large vineyards at Palmer Park’s location.

* Buttermilk Alley – To feed the train’s hobos during the Great Depression, Mrs. William Humphrey at 23 Front St. left buttermilk and bread near her house. The narrow lane was renamed ‘Buttermilk Alley,’ replacing the former ‘Hobson Alley’ and ‘Clay Street.’

* Sullivan Street – Honors Dr. Sul-

MadFest

Continued from page 3A

in us.”

MadFest has partnered with Madison Senior Center, Manna House, Enable Gardens, and Huntsville Botanical Gardens to connect Madison residents with volunteer opportunities. So, in addition to the festival fun, the event will also bring chances to get involved with your community.

The MadFest festival will take place Saturday, May 4 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Madison City Stadium. Visit www.madfest.info for more information.

livan who treated patients at Nubbins Ridge and Madison. He lived on Sullivan Street.

Sanderson discussed the town’s historic designations: National Register of Historic Places, downtown historic district in 2006 and Bibb House built in 1867 (also state register); and Old Madison Cemetery, Alabama Historic Cemetery Register in 2016.

Sanderson has served on the Municipal Cemeteries Committee since formation in 2013 and is currently Chairperson. With the Historic Preservation Commission, she is serving a third term as Chairperson.

In closing, Sanderson asked students, “What is your favorite part

Paul Pardew is event organizer (paul.hamilton.pardew@gmail. com). Tickets for veterans and active-duty military personnel cost $75. Tickets for engaged citizens cost $150. AUSA is the Army’s private, nonprofit educational organization established in 1950. AUSA educates, informs and connects the total Army: soldiers, civilians and their families, industry partners and supporters of a strong national defense. Funds that the event raises will augment Huntsville’s expansion and renovation of its Veterans Museum. For more information, visit ausa.org.

about Madison of today?” They answered, “Dublin Park, Palmer Park, my school and Cracker Barrel.” Then, students asked questions . . . about the pre-kindergarten center, new murals and schools of yesteryear that closed. One student had a very pertinent question that affects many children: “When will the new Chick-fil-A open?”

“I hope some students will grow up and have an interest in preserving our historic structures and things from the past,” Sanderson said. “We have a historic district and historic-designated cemetery that I always encourage them to visit. I hope someday Madison will have a museum that people can visit to learn about Madison’s history.”

Elite 8 baseball playoffs

Thompson looms as Patriots pitching shuts down Sparkman

By CALEB ODOM caleb@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON - Bob Jones Baseball has a crack at redemption from last year’s second round exit because the Patriots are facing Thompson once more this coming week.

Similar to a year ago, Bob Jones is a strong program that causes problems for the majority of the teams that it faces.

Last year’s playoff roadblock was Thompson who eliminated the Patriots and now Bob Jones has an opportunity to exact some revenge on Thursday at home.

Bob Jones and Thompson do battle in Game 1 on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. and Game 2 at 7 p.m.

If Game 3 is needed, it will be played on Friday at 4:30 p.m.

also at Bob Jones High School.

Last Friday, the Patriots started the playoffs with a strong sweep of old rival Sparkman with a Game 1 win 4-2 and then a 4-0 defeat of the Senators later that night.

Game 1: Bob Jones 4, Sparkman 2

Starting pitcher Braden Booth helped drive the Patriots forward with his quality outing on the mound going seven innings where he allowed two runs and three hits with three walks and 10 strikeouts in the victory.

Bob Jones scored a run in the bottom of the first inning to lead 1-0 before adding two more in the bottom of the second to go up 3-0 until Sparkman tallied a pair of runs in the top of the third to hack into the Patriot advantage.

The home team countered with a fourth run in the bottom of the fifth inning to secure the victory by two runs in the end.

Game 2: Bob Jones 4, Sparkman 0

The second installment of the series was a little more lopsided as Sparkman struggled to throw strikes out of the gate and the Bob Jones hitters capitalized with two early runs to promptly grab the 2-0 lead in the top of the first. The Patriots would score two more runs in the later innings to beef up the score, but the evening belonged to starting pitcher Tanner Hermesch who was lights out allowing just one hit with three walks over seven scoreless innings with a staggering 13 strikeouts as Sparkman when down swinging and missing.

Jets advancing to face Hoover with road defeat of Grissom

By CALEB ODOM caleb@themadisonrecord.com

HUNTSVILLE - James Clemens Baseball opened the playoffs on the road again this year, but there was no early exit this time.

The Jets made the drive east to face Grissom in the first round of the playoffs last Friday with a double-header.

JC swept away the Tigers with back-to-back wins to leave no doubt that the boys in Sky Blue are here to compete in the postseason.

James Clemens took the first game 7-6 and followed that up with an 8-6 defeat of Grissom to send the Tigers into the offseason. The Jets will face Hoover in Birmingham on Thursday with games at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. If neither side wins both games to eliminate the other, the teams will play a third game on Friday at a time to be determined. In the first game against Grissom, JC held on to beat the Tigers by just one run.

By BOB LABBE

boys participant from local schools in the finals, took the loss by scores of 6-1, 6-3 and helped the Patriots finish fifth in the team standings with 14 points while Vestavia Hills won their third consecutive state title by winning all six of the singles titles in boys scoring 58 points overall. In girls, Madison Academy senior Jaedyn Martin won four matches to make her way to the finals in Class 6A before dropping the championship match 3-6, 3-6 to sophomore Emma Jane Hamilton of St. Paul’s Episcopal. Martin was the lone member of the Mustangs’ squad to make it to Mobile, the location of the State Tournament.

Moro, who won the 2023 No. 1 doubles state championship with teammate Parker Free, made his way to the singles finals with early round victories of 6-2, 6-0 over Shayne Bodalia, Sr. (Daphne) and 6-2, 6-1 over Jackson Brown, So. (Montgomery Academy). “I didn’t expect to get to the finals as I lost in the first-round last year,” said Moro. “I was honored to make it to the finals.”

Once there, things didn’t go well as he fell behind early losing the first set 1-6 before making some headway with a 3-6 loss in the second set against the senior from Vestavia Hills. Moro added, “I thought I played well, but he’s a really good player. I would rally against him, but I would make a small mistake and he took advantage of those errors, just as all good players do. I had a lot of deuce games against him.”

The 6-foot-2 and a half, 195-pound Moro will attend Auburn University this fall where he earned a Spirit of Auburn Scholarship award for his study in engineering. He has a 4.6 grade point average, which puts him among the top 50 in his class. Martin eased through her first for matches without losing a set. She defeated Madelyn Hunt, 10, (Briarwood) 6-3, 6-3, Aniston Skipworth, 8, (Trinity Presbyterian) 6-1, 6-1, Annabelle Ford, 12, (Muscle Shoals) 6-1, 6-3 and Kameryn Browne, 12, (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa) 6-1, 6-0.

In doubles with junior Reed Rafferty, the Patriots team defeated Maddox Marino, 12, and Shayne Bodalia, 12,

Braden Booth

As the 2024 high school baseball season winds down for the No. 1 ranked Bob Jones Patriots, so does the high school career of senior Braden Booth. Page 3B

The Bob Jones Patriots earned entry into the Elite 8 by knocking off Sparkman in a sweep over the weekend.

James Clemens is headed to the Elite 8 state playoff round after downing Grissom to open postseason play.

Providing

Family

GABRIELLE STIGGER SIGNS - James Clemens senior basketball play Gabrielle “Gabby” Stigger, center-front row, recently signed an athletic scholarship with Calhoun Community College. The 5-foot-7 shooting guard averaged 10 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2 steals and 4 assists per game for the Lady Jets who finished the 2023-2024 season with a 22-11 record under third-year head coach Monica Maxwell. Stigger has a 4.17 grade point average and has claimed nursing as her major studies.

Luke Davenport started the game for James Clemens and he went 5 1/3 innings where he allowed four hits with three runs, seven walks and four strikeouts.

The Jets scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning to take the lead at 2-1 when Ben Graves and Matthew Drinkwater collected RBI knocks to push JC out front.

That was until the bottom of the fourth when Grissom tacked on its second run to square the contest back up at 2-2. James Clemens grabbed the lead

briefly once more in the top of the sixth, but there was Grissom again with a run of its own in the bottom of the sixth to make it 3-3.

Everything seemed to change in the top of the seventh inning as the Jets were able to score four runs to go up 7-3 in stunning fashion.

A huge moment in the top of the seventh was Hayden Markfort’s 3 RBI triple that changed the game.

This volume of runs would prove to be enough despite the Tigers scoring three runs late to make it a little scary for the James Clemens fans.

Game 2: James Clemens 8, Grissom 6 With

Game

Up

a pitch deep to left over the fence for the walkoff 2-run home run that won the game and sent James Clemens into the second round of the playoffs.

Tennis

Continued from page 1B

(Daphne) 6-1, 6-4 before bowing out in round two to Cohen Joiner, 11, and Cade Black, 11, (Florence) 2-6, 1-6. The remainder of the Bob Jones team and their results included: Singles No. 1- Reed Rafferty, 11, defeated Maddox Marino, 12 (Daphne) 6-2, 6-2 and lost to Luke Bedwell, 11, (Vestavia Hills) 3-6, 1-6; Singles No. 3- Nathan Chiu, 10, lost to Jason Wang, 10 (Auburn 0-6, 2-6); Singles No. 4- Karthik Kaki, 12, lost to Davis Jackson, 12, (Auburn) 1-6, 0-6; Singles No. 5- Trey Schiber, 11, fell to Shin Kim, 12, (Auburn) 6-3, 0-6, 6-10; Singles No. 6- Cam Watson, 9, was defeated by Duncan McInnes, 8, (Montgomery Academy) 4-6, 4-6. Doubles No.2- Andy Park, 12, and Nathan Chiu, 10, fell to Ron Sharman, 12, and Ford Morano, 9 (Montgomery Academy) 3-6, 2-6;

Doubles No. 3- Noah Neveu, 12, and Tret Schiber, 11, advanced to the semi-finals before bowing out of the action. They defeated Shea Gober, 9, and John Wallace Simpson, 10, (Daphne) 6-2, 6-0 before losing to Jackson Plugge, 12, and Colby L, 11, (Hoover) 0-6, 4-6.

The James Clemens girls team advanced to the State Tournament with two of the Lady Jets making their way to the Class 7A semi-finals. Singles No.1- Nikitha Chivukula, 10, fell to Gabby Barrera, 11, (Montgomery Academy) 0-6, 1-6; Singles No. 2- Bhavya Chalasani, 12, defeated Misha Patel, 11, (Hoover) 6-1, 6-0 before falling to Mae Mae Voltz, 12, (Montgomery Academy) 3-6, 3-6; Singles No. 3- Abigail Wen, 8, lost to Caroline Helms, 11, (Vestavia Hills) 0-6, 1-6; Singles No. 4- Shivani Alapati, 12, lost to

Kristina Hwangpo, 12, (Hoover) 0-6, 0-6; Singles No. 5- Cara Wright, 12, was defeated by Mary Mac Rux, 11, (Fairhope) 1-6, 2-6; Singles No. 6- Shruthi Chivukula, 7, defeated Gioia Calzetta, 10, (Fairhope) 6-0, 6-1 before exiting after a loss to Jiyeon Park, 10, (Auburn) 1-6, 1-6. The James Clemens girls finished seventh with 4 points. The squads advanced to the State Tournament through their efforts in the Class 7A Section 4 Tournament where both teams finished runner-up.

In boys, No. 1 Reed Rafferty, Bob Jones, defeated Jack White, Florence, 6-1, 6-1 and Jaden Lee, James Clemens, edged Cam Watson, Bob Jones 6-4, 6-2 in No. 6. In girls action, No. 2, Bhavya Chalasani, James Clemens, defeated Taliyah Williams, Huntsville, 6-2, 6-1.

a victory in their back pocket, the Jets went back to work in a tightly contested battle that came down to the bottom of the seventh inning.

2 was tied at 6-6 with one out in the seventh when Hayden Markfort reached with a single.

stepped Ben Graves who cracked

Photo by Jason Watts, James Clemens High

Jonah Moro of Bob Jones finished runner-up in No. 2 singles at the AHSAA State Tennis Championships helping the Patriots to a fifth-place finish. Photo by Kristi Moro

Weird Facts COMMUNITY

Bank Independent launches annual Food Share drive

By STAFF REPORTS news@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – Bank Independent and the Helping Hands Foundation have launched the 10th Annual Food Share Drive. The drive aims to combat food insecurity and provide support to local organizations across the seven counties served by the bank.

The Food Share Drive runs from April 29 to May 17, during which time community members can make monetary donations and those donations will stay in your local communities through our partners. An Amazon Wishlist has also been set up for each partner and those items be shipped directly to them. To give monetarily or to see the Amazon Wishlist, please visit www.hhfal.org.

“Fighting food insecurity in our local community has long been a priority for Bank Independent,” said Macke Mauldin, President and CEO of BancIndependent. “The charities we partner with provide essential assistance to families experiencing hardship. With the backing of our communities,

these organizations can have a profound impact on improving the lives of those they support.”

Bank Independent has a long-standing commitment to fighting hunger in the communities it serves. By partnering with local organizations, the bank ensures that the collected donations are distributed to families in need within their community. These partner organizations include the Help Center of Florence, Franklin County DHR, The Meal Barrel Project, Limestone County DHR, Limestone County DHR, Neighborhood Christian Center, Manna House in Huntsville and the Downtown Rescue Mission.

“Each year we come together as a community to collect food donations for local families in need,” Bank Independent Community Engagement Leader, Hallie Mauldin, said. “As little as a $5 donation can go a long way in helping our partners keep their shelves stocked with necessities. The money collected will be distributed through our local food bank partners, who work tirelessly to ensure that no family goes hungry.”

The Madison Village celebrates 25 years

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – The atmosphere was one of celebration. Smiles, handshakes and hugs were frequent during the 25th-anniversary party for The Madison Village, 6016 Wall Triana.

“We have grown from just the one building to now six. We have 90 apartments total, and we have a longstanding relationship in the community,” Kristy Bryant, Executive Director of The Madison Village, said.

Individuals in the main building (or residents) have assisted living support, which includes three meals each day. “We check in on them at minimum every two hours. We help with any daily living needs,” Bryant said.

The Madison Village also has standalone apartments for people who are suited for independent living. “We have five buildings for independent living, with 12 units in each complex,” Bryant said. “All (of these units are) located on one level. We have one- and two-bedroom units.”

When the community was first opened, “we started with the assist-

ed-living (option), and, a few years later, we added our first cottage with 12 apartments. Then, over time we have added the other buildings. The last building opened about 19 months ago in independent living,” Bryant said.

In addition to Bryant as Executive Director, The Madison Village’s staff includes Andrea Rogers as Activities Director; Mary Beth Watson, Community Development Director; and Tori Harbison, Health and Wellness Director.

The Madison Village is licensed through the State of Alabama.

The anniversary party on April 16 attracted more than 300 people. Staff members from Madison Chamber of Commerce and City of Madison Mayor’s Office attended the event. “We had charcutier boards, live entertainment, along with awards for employees and residents,” Bryant said.

Michelle Eppling, Executive Director of the Madison Chamber of Commerce, gave opening comments.

Several individuals with Community Health Systems Inc. spoke: Doug Warren, President and CEO; Chip Globetti, Vice President, Northern Division; and Dr. Dan

Scarbrough, Founder, Chairman of the Board; and Bryant. Deserving employees and residents received awards. Lucy Turner, who serves as ‘Mayor,’ was recognized as the “Longest Resident” with 14 years of residency. In the employee service awards, Andrea Rogers has worked at The Madison Village for 21 years; Alison McIlnay, 24 years; and recent retiree Rhonda Tucker, 25 years.

“Everyone had a wonderful time,” Andrea Rogers said. Rogers was happy with the turnout and the upbeat spirit of people who attended. Bryant said that the ‘villagers’ were very excited in anticipation of the party.

Helping with the festivities were Pop-Up Parties by Jessica, ballon displays; Publix, cake; Nick Fox, music; Emily Anderson, photography; and The Madison Village Assisted Living crew, catering.

“I have been here for five years and served in a couple of different roles. I’m excited to see where we grow from here,” Bryant said. For more information, call 256-8302400, email kristy.bryant@madisonvillage.com or visit madisonvillage. com.

Optimist Club grants boost service options to school youth

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – Seventeen classes and groups for youth will benefit from educational grants that Optimist Club of Madison recently awarded.

Optimist President Ann van Leeuwen and Grant and Essay Chairperson Scott Piro presented grant funds to teachers and students in Madison City Schools:

• Journey Middle School – Journey’s Greenpower Racing Team with Ashley Bowden as sponsor will buy necessary tools for the team to stock their toolkit for building Greenpower race cars.

Greenpower USA, an engineering-based program, allows students to gain experience with mechanical and electrical engineering.

• Columbia Elementary School – For a fifthgrade science class, Jayna Stockwell will buy a grow light and ecocolumn stabilizers for a semester-long ecosystems unit. (An ecocolumn is a small-scale version of an ecosystem.)

• Discovery Middle School – Destination Imagination with Leslie Hughes will receive support for programs in STEM and the arts.

• Journey – Journey Jag Choir, led by Alicia Mulloy, will buy music,

“This Is Why We Sing” by Greg Gilpin. Each choir student will receive one copy for the Journey Spring Choir Concert.

• Bob Jones High School -- Members will receive pins, lanyards and/or T-shirts to easily identify Peer Helpers from the remainder of the student body. Ky Edger is sponsor.

• Journey – Each Math Team member will have a distinguishing team T-shirt. Mrinal Joshi is sponsor.

• Discovery – The grant will ease high costs for members’ participation in Robotics Club. Expenses include the platform from VEX to build custom robots, registration fees to attend competitions, travel costs and other needs. Amanda Haynes is spon-

sor.

• Discovery -- Technology Student Association Club, led by Amanda Haynes, will use the grant to help with financial costs of hosting a student event.

• Columbia – Teachers will use “ABCs of Innovation: Engaging STEM Exploration for All Abilities” to foster inclusive education in classrooms for grades K-2, including students with special needs. Julie Vandiver is sponsor.

• Discovery, Journey and Liberty middle schools; Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools -- Rebecca Page is contact. Spanish classes want to host a district-wide convention.

• AVID students – AVID

abbreviates “Advancement Via Individual Determination.” The grant will help to pay for a bus and substitute teacher for this college and career preparation class’ field trip to Calhoun Community College. Kelsey Cooper is their teacher.

• Rainbow Elementary School -- Melonie Yabarra will buy test kits for Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program or VBMAPP for students in Early Beginnings Pre-School and Pre-Kindergarten.

• Bob Jones Theatre

– Director Mary Davis will buy specific types of tape for shows that drama classes produce. “As a department, we believe every child in one of our drama classes should

have the opportunity to perform in a play,” Davis said.

• Discovery -- Adrienne King will buy a set of calculators for math classes.

• Journey – For her classroom library, Maria White will buy high-quality books across several genres to cater to her students’ diverse interests and reading abilities.

• Discovery -- Brittany Cox will implement a hands-on activity in STEM and use snap circuits.

• Discovery – For the Panther Racing Team, Melisa Morowski will buy 12-volt batteries for the competition car. Optimists contributed a total of $3,400 in grants for educational enhancements.

The Madison Village celebrated its 25th anniversary with a party for residents, staff and civic leaders on April 16.

Optimist Club of Madison awarded grants to Madison City Schools teachers. Teachers receiving grants surround Optimist President Ann van Leeuwen, front center, who led the presentations with Optimist Grant and Essay Chairperson Scott Piro, back right, and Dr. Ed Nichols, Superintendent of Madison City Schools, front right.

HISTORY with

John Rankin

Reuben & Henry Ellen Crutcher

By JOHN P. RANKIN Madison Historian

MADISON - My encounter with Reuben Crutcher began about 1994 with the discovery of a fallen tombstone buried underneath years of overgrowth in the old Bailey Cemetery south of the west end of Mill Road. The tombstone was inscribed with “R. W. CRUTCHER; A BELOVED MINISTER OF THE PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH; BORN APRIL 2, 1812; DIED JAN. 10, 1867”. I was there to examine the Bailey family burials and became intrigued about the additional surnames found in the small cemetery. Historical public records soon revealed that R. W. Crutcher was Reuben William Henry Crutcher.

Reuben was married in 1833 to Mary Bailey, a daughter of James and Sarah Bailey, who were the original owners of the land around the little cemetery. The Baileys lived in and operated a two-story inn and stage stop on the road from Huntsville to Mooresville. That inn still stands at a short distance from the cemetery, but totally encased inside a current private residence. Mary Bailey Crutcher died in 1848 at age 35, and she (with at least two of their children) is also buried in the cemetery beside her husband Reuben. A single tombstone has the inscriptions for Mary and her children Sarah E. Crutcher (died 6 months old) and James Bailey Crutcher, who died at the age of 8 years. Before passing in 1971, Mary Irby Mastin compiled a booklet of almost 200 pages about the genealogies of the Crutcher, Bolling, and Spragins families. Mary Mastin, born in 1883, was a daughter of Alexander and Lucy Anne Spragins. Mary’s paternal grandparents were Robert Stith Bolling Spragins and Sarah Agnes Crutcher (1835-1916). This Sarah A. Crutcher was a half-sister of the Reuben Cruther who married Mary Bailey. There were several men named Reuben Crutcher in the area then, but the focus now is upon the one who married Mary Bailey.

However, I have in fact within the last year or so helped to clear another small cemetery in northeastern Limestone County where another Reuben Crutcher is buried with his family and with members of the McCargo and Newby families. Without Mary Mastin’s booklet, it is almost impossible to keep focused upon specific Reuben Crutcher men, separating them throughout the public records. Thankfully, Mary Mastin’s book of the recollections of Susan Dupree Crutcher Lawler covers all of them. Susan was the widow of John Lawler and a daughter of William Henry Crutcher and his wife Mary Bailey Crutcher.

Mary Irby Mastin was a spinster and 43 years younger than Susan Dupree Crutcher (born 1840, who married John Lawler in 1882), but Mary carefully and extensively documented Susan’s family connection memories. Mastin also had access to an old Crutcher family Bible that documented the line back to Henry Crutcher of Essex County, Virginia. Henry’s third child was a Reuben Crutcher, 1741-1819, who married Elizabeth Cheaney. Their son William Crutcher married Susanna Dupree and had three children (including another Reuben) before Susanna died in Kentucky (1814) on their way toward Madison County, Alabama. Upon Susanna’s death, William Crutcher and his children returned from Kentucky to Virginia, where he married Mrs. Tabitha Bruce Harris Fulks, a widow with two small children. That family afterward came to Madison County before 1822, initially settling in the New Market and Plevna area. Several other descendants of Henry Crutcher also had come earlier to Madison and Limestone Counties, resulting in the multiple men named Reuben Crutcher being found the area. Reuben William Henry Crutcher and his wife Mary Bailey Crutcher of the old Bailey Cemetery off Mill Road had seven children, two of whom were named above. The others were Ann Frances Crutcher (married James Wesley Farley), William Henry Crutcher (married Mary James, then Mary Jane Pride, and finally Rowena Crutcher, a cousin), Andrew Benton Crutcher (married Henry Ellen Gay, then Annie Johnson), Susan (b. 1840), and Joseph Robert Hollaway Crutcher. In the 1860 census, Reuben and his unmarried daughter Susan were listed in the household of Reuben’s sonin-law, James Wesley Farley. Reuben was listed as a Baptist Minister (as his father William had been), while Susan was a schoolteacher. Madison notables Jim Bronaugh and Robert Shelton also

had ties to the Crutcher line in local history. Other notables of this area who had historical Crutcher connections include the surnames of Pettus, Sneed, Word, Pike, Harper, McCargo, Rawlins, Carter, Fowlkes, Matthews, Manning, Russell, Echols, McCrary, Strong, McGaha, and Gillespie.

Now it is known that Reuben William Henry Crutcher and his wife Mary Bailey Crutcher also had two close connections to the Farley family of the Farley-Crutcher Cemetery. These connections came from the fact that two of their children married into the Farley line. Reuben and his unmarried daughter Susan were living as enumerated in the 1860 household of their son-in-law James Wesley Farley, who married the Crutcher’s daughter Ann Frances Crutcher. Another connection came through the marriage of their son Andrew Benton Crutcher to Henry Ellen Gay, who was born in South Carolina and lived for a time in Mississippi. Apparently, Andrew Benton Crutcher at some time also lived in the Farley clan area where his sister Ann lived along with his father Reuben in the 1860 household of James Wesley Farley, who was one of the key Farley members in the family cemetery.

When I first explored the Farley-Crutcher Cemetery about 30 years ago, it was heavily overgrown with large trees, briars, poison ivy, and other vegetation. After several visits to the cemetery, located about a quarter mile south of the southern end of Miller Boulevard, I began to inventory the tombstones against Dorothy Scott Johnson’s listings in her 1971 book “CEMETERIES OF MADISON COUNTY, ALABAMA, VOL. I”. Several of the tombstones were broken, with pieces underneath leaves and dirt. Some were just totally missing. One of the more puzzling broken stones had the name “HENRY E.” on the top portion. It precisely fit onto a nearby larger portion that continued the inscription as “WIFE OF A. B. CRUTCHER; DIED APRIL 17, 1886; AGE 36 YRS, 3 MS, & 18 DS”. If the name had been spelled as “Henri” (for Henrietta) I would not have been so intrigued, but a “Henry” as a wife was different. Of course, later I would learn that such names as “Alfred” and other normally masculine names were in those days sometimes used for females, and vice-versa. Still, Henry’s tombstone caught my attention for further research.

Research produced the marriage license documenting that Henry Ellen Gay married Andrew Benton Crutcher (a CSA veteran) in 1866 in Madison County. Court records also show that Henry was born in South Carolina but she moved here from Rankin County of Mississippi, where she lived before her marriage to Andrew. She owned considerable property in Mississippi and fought to retain it as her own in court here. Other records show that she died of “apoplexy”. Beside her grave I noticed two unmarked grave depressions. Later exploration and probing produced another buried tombstone. It was for “Mattie F. Crutcher, 9/15/1867 – 1/26/1884, daughter of A. B. and H. E. Crutcher”. There was still no stone discovered for the other grave, but it is almost certainly the grave of Andrew Benton Crutcher, as family records state that he was buried beside his first wife, Henry. Follow-up research into Henry Ellen Crutcher’s history revealed that A. B. Crutcher’s second wife was Nannie Johnson, who moved with her children to Shreveport, Louisiana after Andrew’s death. A. B. was born in 1838 and died in 1915 of blood poisoning. The research at this point was complicated by the fact that there was another A. B. Crutcher who lived in the area at the same time and was about the same age. The other A. B. was Adolphus Baker Crutcher, a son of William Radford Crutcher, who was a son of another Reuben Crutcher, brother of the William who was the father of the Reuben who married Mary Bailey. The great-grandfather of Adolphus was the Reuben Crutcher who married Elizabeth Cheaney in Virginia. This man was also the great-grandfather of the Reuben who married Mary Bailey. Therefore, the two A. B. Crutcher men of this area in the 1800s were 2nd cousins. One lived in Limestone County, and the other lived in Madison County, within a few miles of one another. The family was obviously quite “clannish” to remain in such close proximity of the various branches for generations. Henry Ellen and A. B. Crutcher had 8 children: Mattie (died in 1884), Walter (married Nannie McCrary), another Reuben Henry (married Lizzie Pike), Mary, Joe, Lennie, Kitt, and Jessie. It was not-

that

ed

several generations of the family were Baptist preachers before the Civil War, and yet they accounted for more than 60 slaves in Madison and Limestone Counties in the census records. One of the Reubens even sued the Memphis & Charleston Railroad for the accidental

death of one of his slaves. The family history is considerably interwoven and quite interesting, as learned from small beginnings from two separate old and broken, buried tombstones in two widely separated cemeteries within the Madison city limits.

LET’S GO CAMPING!

CAMPING SUPPLIES WORD SEARCH

Camping is the recreational activity of spending time away from home outdoors in a camp or tent. The father of modern camping was Thomas Hiram Holding. He began camping as a boy in the 1850’s and started the Camping Club of Great Britain and Ireland in 1907, a club that is still active today. Camping may be in a tent, a recreational vehicle (or RV), or under the stars in a sleeping bag. There are many campgrounds throughout the United States, for both public and private use. Many of these campgrounds have outdoor electrical outlets, hot showers, restrooms, and laundry facilities. Backpacking is another type of camping. Backpackers are people who travel on foot carrying all their provisions in a backpack. These packs can sometimes weigh up to 50 pounds, so it is important that they plan carefully. For this reason, they need special equipment that is both durable and lightweight. A typical camping backpack is designed to attach to a metal frame that helps to distribute the weight evenly. Campfires are used when camping to cook food, provide light at night, keep animals away, and provide warmth during cool nights. It’s important to always make sure they are put out properly to avoid forest fires. Roasting marshmallows, telling stories, and singing songs are common around the campfire.

CONNECT THE DOTS!

Army Knife, Backpack, Binoculars, Boots, Can Opener, Canned Goods, Canteen, Coat, Compass, Cookware, Flashlight, GPS, Hat, Hiking Stick, Lantern, Matches, Sleeping Bag,

Across Clues:

4. Many people go camping during their what from work?

6. Used to cook or to keep warm.

8. Always use campfire ______.

9. A meat that is often grilled over the fire on a stick.

10. Never hike alone; always be sure to use the ______.

Down Clues:

1. A person who works at a park is referred to as a what?

2. What is the abbreviation for a popular camping vehicle?

3. Treats that are roasted over the campfire on a stick.

5. A person who hikes with only a few supplies in a pack.

7. Most campers sleep inside this.

INDOOR S’MORES

Follow the directions to make s’mores.

YOU WILL NEED:

4 Cups Honey Graham cereal, 3 tablespoons of margarine or butter, 6 cups of miniature marshmallows, 1/4 cup of light corn syrup, 11/2 cups of chocolate chips, cooking spray, large pan, mixing bowl, saucepan, spoon, and use of the stove.

(Be sure to get permission from an adult.)

Step One: Prepare the large baking pan by spraying it with the cooking spray. Do this on the bottom and on the sides of the pan.

Step Two: Place the cereal in a large bowl.

Step Three: Use a saucepan to melt the butter on low heat. Next, add the corn syrup and marshmallows. Stir until melted.

Step Four: Once completeley melted, pour the mixture onto the cereal and mix well. Add chocolate chips and mix again.

Step Five: Spread evenly into the pan and allow it to cool for 15 minutes.

Below is a series of dots that, if connected, will create several boxes. Each person takes a turn to draw a line from one dot to another. When a player completes a box they are allowed another turn. If a player’s turn allows them to make several boxes in a row, they can keep playing until they cannot complete another box. Initial each box you create. The player with the most boxes at the end of the game is the winner!

How is your attitude?

By BECKY MILLER God’s

Let

But alas

need to be made and humble pie needs to be eaten.

One church can develop a sour attitude to another and get lofty or they can pray for all churches. Perhaps your way of doing things may seem right but you encounter others who do otherwise and maybe

just maybe you have to say you were not right after all.

It is hard to always be cheery, especially in some circumstances but as a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ at times it is best to just be at peace and say nothing. How is your attitude?

PRAYER: Help me Father to be kind and pleasant to those in my day-today path and to keep joy in my heart and take any ugliness and throw it in the pit of Hell. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God’s Lemonade Stand is written by former Madison resident Becky Miller. Her daily devotions appear on Facebook or at godslemonadestand.blogspot.com.

and the Viper Baseball Academy. I’m not sure if I will play summer baseball this year as my first semester at Mississippi State begins July 8.”

As a classroom student, Booth carries a 3.7 grade point average and has chosen to study business management in college, which could help him tremendously should he make his ultimate dream come true by taking his spot among Major League

Baseball. Throughout his youth years of baseball, he was always the hardest thrower amongst the teams and leagues he played in.

“I soon grew into my body and used weights to be stronger in all body parts,” added Booth, where his personal best speed has been clocked at 94 miles per hour while he averages 90-92 miles per hour. Booth has an array of pitches to choose from when

he steps to the mound. He has a slider, curve, splitter and change up. “My go to pitch is my slider.”

Throughout the 2024 season, Booth has been nursing a lower back injury that contributes to fatigue. As a pitcher and infielder, he has played in each of the games the Patriots have suited up for. At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, he is an intimidating fixture in the red, white and blue Patriot uniform as he’s athletic enough

to play shortstop and possessing his astonishing strong arm certainly gives him some leeway with any mistakes he may make in the infield. At the plate, he has few areas of concern as for his four years he has batted .362, with 16 homers and 106 RBIs. He has power and a keen eye. Booth added, “Each time I go to the plate my approach is to go out to do damage. Hit the ball as hard as I can.”

Once the season is complete, Booth will leave the confines of Bob Jones with a legacy he hopes will inspire others to work hard, play hard and finish what they started. For Booth, he wants to finish a state champion to complete his legacy and to help earn Bob Jones the coveted spot among the state’s best programs.

“This has been the next chapter in my life’s book to get me to the next level,” added Booth.