The Madison Record - June 5, 2024

School board approves construction of eighth Madison elementary school

By MARIA RAKOCZY maria@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – Madison City Schools is moving forward on building its eighth elementary school to serve its rapidly growing enrollment, now standing at almost 13,000 students but expected to grow to 15,000 in the next six years. The new school will be able to accommodate another 1,000 students.

The Board of Education held a special called meeting last Wednesday and approved a $49.2 million contract with Pearce Construction of Huntsville.

According to Madison City Schools, the school will be built on MSC-owned property in

Limestone County west of the new roundabout on Hardiman Road, which will help ease traffic in the area once the school and nearby subdivision are built and open. The school will accommodate the growth in west and south Madison but especially in Limestone County, from which, currently, 27% of the school district comes.

“We’ve been growing on the Limestone County Madison side for several years,” said Nichols. “This will help us to spread out the overcrowding of our elementary schools.” It will be Madison City School District’s second school in Limestone County.

The new school will keep up the excellence the Madison

City School District has come to be known for with plans for dedicated art, STEM, music, and special education facilities. Those programs that have been added to other district schools are contributing to the need for more space in Madison schools.

“We now have fulltime music. We have fulltime art. We have a fulltime STEM teacher. So, the programmatic things that we’ve added have been a challenge for us, for space,” said Nichols.

A name for the new school has not yet been selected yet, but a survey will be sent out to parents and students to have a say in the name. The school is expected to welcome its first students in the fall on 2026.

Madison firefighters receive Star of Life medals

By MARIA RAKOCZY

MADISON - Madison Fire and Rescue Chief David Bailey presented the Star of Life to Fire Captain Eddie Richardson,

Paramedic John Blankenship and HEMSI EMT-B Tyler Eboerle at the May 28 Madison City Council meeting.

“The Star of Life is awarded to someone who is successful in saving a life while medical interventions are being performed. To qualify for this award, a patient must survive and be discharged from the hospital,” explained Fire Chief Bailey.

The team responded to a call from Madison Hospital for the transfer of a cardiac patient in critical condition to Huntsville Hospital. While in the ambulance, the patient went into cardiac arrest, and the team jumped into action. Captain Richardson performed CPR and Blankenship placed the patient on a monitor and administered shock and medication while Eboerle was at the wheel of the ambulance.

The patient regained a pulse on the way to Huntsville Hospital and was later discharged with no deficits. He was in the audience at the city council meeting for the presentation of the awards to the first responders who saved his life.

Eboerle was absent for the presentation, but Richardson and Blankenship were presented with the awards at the council meeting.

“[We’d] just like to congratulate both of these for their continued efforts in protecting all of our people,” Chief Bailey said. “I just want to again really tout on the success of our EMS delivery system when you talk about the combination of HEMSI along with Madison Fire. I don’t think you’re going to find anything better in this area.”

Debbie Overcash from the Rotary Club of Madison also presented Employee of the Year Awards (see related story on page 3A).

“This is the 24th year that the Rotary Club of Madison in cooperation with the City of Madison has had the privilege of recognizing outstanding Madison public servants. These fine employees have been selected by their supervisors for this very well-deserved recognition,” Overcash explained.

“Our city is blessed with so many incredible employees. So, I personally want to say ‘thank you’ to everybody that is serving our city so beautifully.”

Paramedic Driver Luke Hall, Police Officer Joshua Overman, and Police Communications Supervisor Candace Watson were the three Employees of the Year. Hall has received two Star of Life awards, one of which was for saving the life of a six-month old baby. Chief Bailey said of Hall, “In my

See CITY COUNCIL

SOUNDS OF SUMMER - Madison Arts Alliance kicked off their 2024 summer concert series, “Sounds of Summer” on Thursday. The Zooks helped usher in the new season at Home Place Park in Madison. They performed classic rock anthems, Motown tunes and rhythm-and-blues standards. Their dance music hails from the well-known classics in pop and rock from the 1960s through 1980s. Home Place Park, is located at 100 Shorter Street, 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. The next concert will be held June 13 starting at 7 p.m. featuring music from “Groove”. They are known for their versions of funk, rhythm and blues, soul, pop and dance party music.

Artist rendition of the new elementary school planned for Madison City Schools. The new school will be on the west side of Limestone County on the former Halsey Farm property off Hardiman Road and Segers Road. In December of 2021, the Madison City Council annexed the property in the neighboring county with the intention of adding residential areas and the new school to the land.

Photo of the Week

The Madison County Record was established in 1967

COMMENTS

please call 256-340-2410.

CORRECTIONS

The Madison Record will be happy to correct any errors which appear in the newspaper or 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.

ALDOT opens bids for I-565 widening in Madison

By STAFF REPORTS staff@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON - ALDOT

opened bids Friday for a project to expand I-565 to six lanes from County Line Road to Wall Triana Highway in Madison.

Contractor Wiregrass

Construction submitted the apparent low bid of $28,992,350. Bids were anticipated to be between $28 and $34.2 million. They were one of four companies to bid on the project.

Construction is pending bid review and award of the contract.

Project details

POSTMASTER

Please send address changes: P.O. Box 859, Madison, AL 35758 The Madison Record is published each Wednesday by Tennessee Valley Media, Inc.

The Record is a member of the Alabama Press Association

The project will stretch nearly five miles, from west of County Line Road in Limestone County to east of Wall Triana Highway in Madison. It includes adding a third lane on each roadway and widening two sets of bridges — at Bradford Creek just west of Exit 9 (Wall Triana Highway) and at Inter-

graph Way and the Norfolk Southern railroad just east of Exit 9 — to accommodate the additional lanes. Widening will primarily take place to the inside of the existing roadways, where there is currently a grassy median.

Once begun, construction is anticipated to take about two years. After completion, I-565 will have a minimum of six lanes from I-65 to Memorial Parkway (US-231/US-431) in Huntsville.

Busy highway

Nearly 70,000 vehicles travel this segment of I-565 daily, according to traffic counts.

A previous Rebuild Alabama project, completed in late 2021 expanded most of I-565 in Limestone County. The project added lanes on more than seven miles of I-565 from west of the I-65 interchange to west of County Line Road at a cost of more than $14 million.

I-565 from west of County Line Road in Limestone County to east of Wall Triana Highway in Madison will be widened to six lanes in a project anticipated to begin this summer. The additional lanes will primarily be constructed to the inside of the existing roadways, where there is currently a grassy median.

Rotary Club awards outstanding city employees for fire, police and city hall

By GREGG PARKER

MADISON – For the 24th

year, Rotary Club of Madison has recognized three city workers who have

These individuals are Luke Hall, “Firefighter of the Year”; Joshua Overman, “Police Officer of the Year”; and Candace Watson, “City Employee of the Year.”

“Rotary Club of Madison is proud to have initiated, supported and to continue this recognition since its inception in 2000,” Debbie Overcash said. A Rotary member, Overcash serves as Chair of the Madison Employee of the Year Committee.

“We are excited to recognize those city employees who go the extra mile, who give 110 percent to the citizens of our community and whose spirit and accomplishments are greatly and deeply appreciated,” Overcash said.

LUKE HALL, FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR

Luke Hall has spent six years with Madison Fire and Rescue, currently as

Driver-Paramedic. Hall completed Flight Medic/Critical Care and another EMS Instructor program, serves as EMS Division instructor/mentor, teaches rescue bailouts and high-rise operations and more.

Hall has received two Lifesaving Awards, one for transporting a sixmonth-old baby in respiratory arrest to Women’s and Children’s Hospital. The child lived.

“In my interactions with Luke, whether on the training ground, at emergency calls or in the station, I have routinely perceived him to be the ‘Quiet Professional,’” Fire Chief David Bailey said. “Luke can keep himself and others calm.”

“He is a continuous student of the craft and exemplifies everything that Madison Fire represents,” Captain Russ Kennington said. “Luke continues to grow not only as a (firefighter) but as a person.”

Hall’s Battalion Chief Chad Menard praised Hall’s service to the paramedic program and sharing innovations with the department after attending conferences.

An outdoorsman, Hall likes to hunt,

fish

JOSHUA OVERMAN, OFFICER OF THE YEAR Joshua Overman joined the police de-

Nightly detours planned for I-565 in Madison

By STAFF REPORTS staff@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON - The next series of bridge girders for the Town Madison Interchange on Interstate 565 will be installed over several nights this week.

The westbound roadway will be closed for the safety of the public while the girders — massive steel beams to support the future bridge decks of the Exit 10 westbound on- and off-ramps — are hoisted into place by crane.

Weather permitting, all westbound traffic will be detoured between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. nightly, through Thursday.

The detour for westbound traffic will be Madison Boulevard from Exit 13 to Wall Triana Highway to Exit 9. Signal timings on Madison Boulevard have been modified to accommodate the detour, and the Madison Police Department will be assisting with traffic control.

The above closure and detour dates may be subject to change but will remain limited to late night/ early morning hours on weeknights, when traffic volume is lowest, to minimize the travel impact.

Cranes are used to raise and position the massive steel girders that will support the future bridge deck of the westbound off-ramp at I-565 Exit 10. When completed, the off-ramp will connect to Town Madison Boulevard.

partment in

“His

and help Athens’ ambulance service. He and his fiance, Briana Fortier, a Madison dispatcher, will marry in October.

April 2022. “Officer Overman is an outstanding young police officer who espouses our organization’s core values,” Police Chief Johnny Gandy said.

work ethic is respected by peers and

Rotary Club of Madison presented its annual awards for city employees demonstrating superior job performance. The presentation included Mayor Paul Finley, from left; Joshua Overman, Police Officer of the Year; Candace Watson, City Employee of the Year; Luke Hall, Firefighter of the Year; and Madison City Council President Ranae Bartlett.

See ROTARY Page 8A

World Records SCHOOLS

Hayley Davidson earns ‘Teacher of the Year’ at Mill Creek Elementary

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – For her fourth-graders, Hayley Davidson works diligently to build a classroom community that supports and encourages one another. Her peers voted for Hayley as “Teacher of the Year” at Mill Creek Elementary School.

Hayley’s teaching career began in 2004 with first-graders at a small elementary school in Cedar Bluff. The next year, she married Lee Davidson, who was serving in the U.S. Army.

“We moved around a bit,” Hayley said. She next taught fourth-graders at Buchanan Elementary School in Georgia and then second-graders in Enterprise. In 2012, Lee’s career returned them to Huntsville.

“I was blessed to be hired at Mill Creek Elementary. It was my dream to work at this school,” Hayley said. After teaching third-graders for eight years, she has taught fourth-graders at Mill Creek for four years.

At Mill Creek, Hayley sponsors Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club with Amanda Story, Sydney Holt, Hannah Bledsoe and Lyndsay Burns. Hayley and Katherine Mitchell co-sponsor the Elementary Student 2 Student Club or ES2S, which increases awareness about transition to a new school.

With her class, Hayley

has “Bucket Filling Activities. We write kind notes to classmates and to ourselves so that we can build the confidence to tackle the hard things. I then try to create hands-on lessons that will allow students to have challenging learning opportunities.”

To encourage self-confidence, Hayley and her students say aloud, “I AM A MASTERPIECE made to do amazing things!”

This year in science lab, they created islands from clay that exhibited all the learning standards from their units on Land/Water and Plants/Animals.

Hayley’s hometown is Piedmont.

She received a bachelor’s degree in Christian education at Lee University. In graduate work, she earned a master’s degree in education at Jacksonville State University and in 2015 completed an Educational Specialist degree from Auburn University Montgomery. Her husband Lee retired from the U.S. military and currently works as Program Manager for the Department of Defense. Their sons are William, sophomore at James Clemens High School; Lucas, seventh-grader at Liberty Middle School; and Beau, fifth-grader at Mill Creek. Hayley is fond of her pets and animals in general. “I sing to my animals and they love it!” Kayaking is her beloved pastime.

“I could kayak all day and watch the wildlife.”

NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR JOURNEY - The Madison City Board of Education approved a new

athletic director last week for Journey Middle School. Ben Smith replaces Gerald Frank, who just retired. According to Madison City Schools, Smith’s 19 years in education began at Bob Jones High School where he taught economics and served as a freshman assistant football coach. He served in various other teaching and coaching positions at high schools in Hanceville, Colbert County, Decatur and Huntsville High School. Smith graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in secondary social science education and holds a masters degree in instructional leadership from the University of West Alabama. Pictured above: Journey Principal Dr.

and Assistant Principal

Odom attended today’s school board meeting to welcome Mr. Smith (center) and his wife, Marly.

Madison Elementary names ‘Staff Member of the Year’

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – The faculty and staff at Madison Elementary School have selected Phillis Gaines as 2024 “Staff Member of the Year.”

Previously, Gaines worked in the banking industry. In 2008, she started working for Madison City Schools at Bob Jones High School as a bookkeeper. “I transferred to Madison Elementary School in 2016 as the school’s secretary and bookkeeper,” she said.

Gaines has a positive outlook for her work philosophy. She strives “to always be a team player. I will help wherever I am needed -- even if (the task) is not in my job de-

scription.”

Gaines grew up in the twin cities of Bryan and College Station, Texas. This area is often referred to as ‘Aggieland’ for the generations of Aggies who are students and alumni of Texas A&M University.

Phillis is married to Robin Gaines, who retired from Bob Jones High School in June 2023 after 42 years of teaching and coaching at the school.

All their children are alumni of Bob Jones and Auburn University.

Courtney Gaines Sutton works as a Registered Nurse. Luke Gaines is a metrology engineer (Metrology is the study of measurement with achieving accuracy as a goal.) Casey Gaines Hargis also attended the

University of West Alabama and currently is a school counselor at Heritage Elementary School.

“My favorite hobby is being a grandmother to our four precious grandchildren,” Phillis said. At each school in the district, winners of “Teacher of the Year” and “Staff Member of the Year” honors were selected by their peers. The winners received $500 from a ‘prize patrol,’ led by Dr. Ed Nichols, Superintendent of Madison City Schools, and district-level administrators from Central Office. Award recipients only learn about their selection when the prize patrol shows up in their workplace, often drawing cheers from students and co-workers.

Piper Moore honored as ‘Staff Member of the Year’ at James Clemens High School

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – Piper Moore is the 2024 “Staff Member of the Year” at James Clemens High School.

“I was a stay-at-home mom for 15 years, volunteered in the schools and served as PTA President at the school and district level,” Moore said. In 2019, Moore started working at James Clemens as the permanent substitute teacher. Then in 2022, she accepted the position of school secretary at James Clemens. She has worked for Madison City Schools as a full-time employee only at James Clemens. “I was a substitute teacher in the district for many years before seeking full-time employment. I’m currently the school/administrative secretary,” Moore said.

Her work philosophy has its foundation in the Golden Rule. “Treat others how I would want to be treated,” Moore said. “Show kindness and don’t let the little things bother you.”

A positive accomplishment for Moore resulted when the leadership changed at James Clemens. She takes pride in “building such a great relationship with Dr. Kerry Donaldson (as principal) in a short amount of time. When Dr. Brian Clayton left midyear, we were all left with big shoes to fill and lots to learn.”

“I believe we have done a great job of navigating the year and challenges together. In our positions and area of work, it requires a lot of trust, communication, honesty and respect,” Moore said.

Moore grew up in the small town of Oneonta. She is married to Shane Moore. Their daughter, Maddie Moore, is a senior at Auburn University.

During time off from work, Piper Moore enjoys relaxing at the lake. In addition, she likes to ‘work out’ and put in some time at the gym. A special diversion for Moore involves the weekends in Auburn with her family and friends.

The Davidson family: William, from left, sophomore at James Clemens High School; Hayley, “Teacher of the Year” at Mill Creek Elementary School; Beau, fifth-grader at Mill Creek; Lucas, seventh-grader at Liberty Middle School; and Lee, Program Manager for Department of Defense.

assistant principal/

Treva Stewart

Tabitha

Phillis Gaines, back row, fourth from left, and her family are shown on a beach vacation. Gaines was voted “Staff Member of the Year” at Madison Elementary School.

Piper Moore, third from right, accepts her award as “Staff Member of the Year” at James Clemens High School. Dr. Ed Nichols, Superintendent of Madison City Schools, included his ‘Prize Patrol’ of administrative staff members to deliver the award to Moore.

Honoring local heroes on 80th anniversary of D-Day

By STAFF REPORTS staff@themadisonrecord.com

HUNTSVILLE - June 6, 2024 marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy, France. Two local Madison County residents made the ultimate sacrifice for their country on D-Day.

Twenty year old Private J. D. Luna, a sales clerk in Huntsville prior to the war, volunteered to be a paratrooper and jumped into Normandy with the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division in the early hours of June 6, 1944.

Twenty-seven year old Sergeant Charlie W. Grayson, who had been a construction worker for the government in New Hope, served in an anti-tank company in the U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division, which was in the first wave to go ashore at Utah Beach later that morning. Both of these young men were killed in action that day, and there are several other locals who took part in D-Day and were killed in the days that followed the initial landings.

The Hunt’s Spring Chapter of the National Daughters of the American Revolution will hold a memorial event at 10:00 a.m. on June 6 at the Church of the Nativity in Huntsville to honor and remember the sacrifice of these local heroes, and all those who paid the price of freedom on D-Day.

The stories of Pvt Luna and Sgt Grayson were written as part of the Stories Behind the Stars project, a nationwide non-profit founded in 2020. The project endeavors to ensure that each and every one of the 421,000 plus American service men and women who paid the ultimate price to preserve our freedoms in World War II are remembered as more than just a statistic in a book or a grave marker in a local cemetery.

Below are Private Luna and Sergeant Grayson’s stories:

Pvt J. D. Luna

J. D. Luna was born March 15, 1924 in White County, Tennessee. His parents Samuel Douglas Luna and Tennie (England) Luna were also born in Tennessee. J. D. was one of four children born to the couple, having one older brother and two younger brothers. The family could not be found in the 1930 US census. In 1940, the family was living in Huntsville, Madison County, Alabama where J. D. attended local schools and his father worked as a steelworker. When he registered for the draft in June 1942, 18 year-old J. D. was living at home with his family on Spring Street in Huntsville and was working for McClure & Walker as a sales clerk.

He was inducted into the US Army on 10 February 1943 at Fort McClellan, Alabama. His enlistment record indicates he was single and had completed three years of high school. He initially served in the infantry and received training at Camp McCain, Mississippi. J. D. volunteered for the Parachute Infantry and completed Airborne Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He served as a Private in

Company D of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) of the 101st Airborne Division, known as the Screaming Eagles.

The 502nd departed the States aboard a transport ship on 4 September 1943 bound for England, where they continued their rigorous training in preparation for the invasion of Europe. Training regularly consisted of parachute drops, 15–25 mile hikes, close combat exercises, and instructions on first aid, map reading, chemical warfare, and demolitions.

In the late evening hours of 5 June 1944, Private Luna and the rest of the 502nd PIR climbed aboard the C-47 transport aircraft that would carry them to their drop zone northeast of Carentan in Normandy, France. The 502nd consisted of approximately 1,800 men organized into three battalions, with 15-18 troopers carried in each C-47. The 502nd was tasked to secure two northern causeways leading inland from Utah Beach and destroy a German coastal artillery battery near the town of Saint-Martin-de-Varreville to prevent it from firing on the beach head.

Due to a combination of low clouds and heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire, the C-47s were unable to remain in formation and most of the 502nd landed up to 5 miles away from their designated drop zone. Once on the ground, the troopers linked up as best they could and moved inland to carry out their assigned tasks. Saint Martin-de-Varreville was captured by 06:30 and the coastal artillery was neutralized. The troopers seized the exits from Utah beach and dug in to await the linkup with the soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division who would soon be coming ashore there.

Private Luna was killed in action at some point on 6 June 1944, and was the first resident of Madison County

Community orchestra to honor D-Day’s 80th anniversary on June 23

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – Madison City Community Orchestra or MCCO will devote its summer concert to the 80th anniversary of D-Day when allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France.

The concert on June 23 will start at 5 p.m. in the Christian Life Center at Madison Methodist Church, 127 Church St. “Narrators will depict the stories of four Congressional Medal of Honor recipients for their actions on that day,” MCCO Director Sandy Weisner said.

Choir members from Madison Methodist Church and Asbury Church will sing. On the last piece, “Hymn to the Fallen,” the choir will join MCCO to blend vocal and instrumental music.

Edward Lawrence will share his display of World War II memorabilia, like helmets, uniforms, medals and other pieces. “Ed is known for his passion for all things related to World War II,” Weisner said.

“We’ll play songs that represent most of our conflicts throughout our history -- from ‘The Patriot,’ which represents the American Revolution, to our tribute to World War II with ‘Band of Brothers’ and ‘Hymn to the Fallen.’ We’ll pay tribute to all our Armed Forces through the ages,” Weisner said.

D-Day on June 6, 1944, assembled land, air and sea forces of allied armies for the largest amphibious invasion in military history. The invasion force included 7,000 crafts with more than 195,000 naval personnel from eight allied countries. Almost 133,000 troops from the United States, British Commonwealth and their allies landed, with casualties at 10,300.

Retired military personnel will serve as narrators:

• Col. Charles ‘Doug’ Loughridge, U.S. Air Force – Raised in Fredericksburg, Va. After attending Hargrave Military Academy, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business management from Virginia Commonwealth University. He worked for 24 years as an Aircraft Maintenance officer.

Loughridge worked in Hawaii, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Guam, along with Louisiana, California, Nebraska

and Alabama. He attended all Air Force Professional Military Education Schools. He and wife Judy have two adult children and six grandchildren.

• Col. Shawn Prickett, U.S. Army -- Graduated from U.S. Military Academy and commissioned as Army Aviation officer in 1991. For 28 years, he served in staff and leadership positions, including brigade commander and Chief of Staff at Redstone Arsenal.

A West Virginia native, Prickett deployed to Bosnia, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Iraq and South Korea. He and wife Tonya have been married 33 years. They have two adult children.

• Col. Jeff Mockesturm, U.S. Army -- Commissioned as second lieutenant in U.S. Army Ordnance Corps and entered active service at Redstone Arsenal in 1985. During his near-30-year career, Mockesturm was stationed in Korea and Germany, with assignments in Washington D.C., Huntsville and Fort Monmouth, N.J. He deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan several times. The Mockensturm family relocated to training assignments at Fort Ord, Calif., Fort Leavenworth, Kan. and Austin, Texas. At Redstone Arsenal, he served as military deputy to Director of the Aviation and Missile Center and deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan as Science and Technology Advisor.

• Col. William E. Pohlmann, U.S. Army – After basic, advanced and jump training, he deployed to Germany in 1964. Pohlmann was accepted to U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School at Fort Belvoir, Va.

Pohlmann graduated from West Point and Ranger School. After training for rotary wing flight and maintenance test pilot, he deployed to Viet Nam. He served as Company Commander in Da Nang and transferred to Fort Gordon, Ga. As Instructor and Associate Professor, he taught electrical engineering at West Point. This concert is free, but MCCO gladly welcomes any donations from guests. For the Fourth of July, MCCO will perform at the MidCity District in Huntsville celebration at 9 p.m. For information, call 256-417-5672 or visit mccorchestra.org.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower meeting with men from 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, just before they load up for the drop on Normandy, June 5, 1944. The majority of the men in this photo were killed or wounded in battle a few hours later. Private J. D. Luna of Huntsville jumped into Normandy with the 101st and was killed during the invasion.

Libraries kick off summer reading program

By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON – One of Madison County youth’s most likable and educational pursuits for summer is underway with the Summer Reading program at Madison Public Library.

The 2024 theme, “Adventure Begins at Your Library,” celebrates exploration of ideas, travel and new ventures. The summer program will continue through July 20.

Madison Public Library launched Summer Reading with its “Read Around the Block” event on June 1. The celebration included outdoor activities, games and Happi Pappi food truck.

In addition, guest author Debbie Dadey visited for a book signing and presentation to the library audience. Dadey’s latest book, “The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids,” will be an excellent choice as a summer thriller. The book’s kids think adults in their life might be vampires, zombies or monsters. They work together to help save their school and city, she said.

Dadey’s newest graphic novel, “Dragons Don’t Cook Pizza,” was published this spring.

“I have written many stories. I’ve sold 182 to be traditionally published,” Dadey said. She likes writing about mythical creatures, as in “My Mermaid Tales,” that combines myth and real ocean creatures in a fun way.

“Unlike some educators, I believe that summer reading should be strictly for fun. After all, adults do not read textbooks on the beach. Why should kids?” Dadey said.

“When a parent helps a student read, it’s my great hope (for) a pleasurable experience. And I truly believe in the power of reading aloud to kids every night,” Dadey said.

Librarians have compiled a Quick Reference Guide for weekly programs and special events. To open the guide, visit hmcpl.org/summer and click the guide’s link:

• Three-year-olds and younger --

Baby Storytime, Mondays, 9:30 a.m.; Toddler Storytime, Tuesday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.

• Preschoolers -- Preschool Storytime, Tuesdays-Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.

• School-age children – Library Adventurers, Tuesdays, 4 p.m.; Library Explorers, Thursdays, 4 p.m.

Triana Public Library has this schedule: Teen Art Night, Mondays, 4 p.m.; Library Explorers, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.; STEM sessions, Fridays, 11 a.m.

This summer, young readers can receive an Activity Tracker at any branch or print one with the link at hmcpl.org/summer. Complete as many tracker activities as possible. Examples are “Read a non-fiction book about a faraway place,” “Make some art based on a book you read” and “Write a different ending to a story.”

When the youth has finished, return the tracker to any library branch by July 20 for prize drawing eligibility. For questions, call 256-

461-0046.

Youth can get e-books and audiobooks on Hoopla at hoopladigital. com and Overdrive at vdl.overdrive. com.

Students can check for books designated as required summer reading at their schools. Visit the library’s LibGuide at guides.hmcpl.org/ summerreading2023/home. Reading lists are available for Huntsville City Schools, Madison Academy, Madison City Schools and Randolph School.

The Madison branch will conduct special sessions throughout summer, such as movie nights, demonstrations, arts and crafts and featured speakers. Check for Madison’s events at hmcpl.org/events, and search for “Madison” and specify a start/end date.

For more information, email madison@hmcpl.org, visit hmcpl.org/ madison or subscribe to Summer Reading’s newsletter at lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/OeUVZ2u.

Cook Museum of Natural Science to celebrate fifth anniversary

By STAFF REPORTS staff@themadisonrecord.com

DECATUR - The Cook Museum of Natural Science is hosting a two-day celebration of its fifth anniversary this week.

The anniversary event will take place at the museum, 113 Fourth Ave. N.E., June 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and June 9 from noon to 5 p.m. The events are free for members, or included in the price of general admission.

“We have lots of things like live animals, an inflatable in the courtyard — if the weather cooperates — and we are going to have a lot of hands-on activities

through partner organizations, member-only double discounts, and door prizes,” said Joy Haynes, marketing specialist at Cook Museum. “We are going to have lots of fun.” Organizations partnering with the museum include Huntsville Botanical Garden, Anniston Museums and Gardens, North Alabama Agriplex, ForestryWorks and Green Pea Press. These partners are going to be offering activities including T-shirt-making and coloring.

Downtown Decatur Experience is sponsoring a giveaway that includes a $200 Cook Museum gift

card, a one-night stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton, and gift cards from several downtown merchants and businesses. General Electric will be sponsoring door prizes and giving away select appliances.

“We’re trying to engage and excite and educate any visitor that walks through that door,” Haynes said. For more information, go to www.cookmuseum. org

Bigfoot sighting at Madison Public Library! Don’t miss this photo opportunity. He is only there for Summer Reading. Share your picture with Bigfoot on social media, and don’t forget to tag the Huntsville Madison County Public Library.

“Adventure Begins at Your Library” is the 2024 theme for the Summer Reading program at Madison Public Library and nine other branches with Huntsville-Madison County Public Library.

The kinetic sand table is one of the most popular attractions at the Cook Museum of Natural Science.

Armed Forces Celebration Week planned June 8-15

REPORTS staff@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON - Every year, the Huntsville/ Madison County Chamber of Commerce and community plans a number of events for a week-long Armed Forces Celebration to honor our military. Here are the events for the upcoming Armed Forces Celebration Week. For more information, go to www.hsvchamber.org/armed-forces-celebration-week-2024.

Saturday, June 8

Armed Forces Night at Wicks Family Field Huntsville City FC vs. Crown Legacy FC, 7 p.m. Redstone Test Center flyover planned

Monday, June 10

Proclamation Signing Ceremony

Huntsville-Madison County Veterans Memorial, downtown, 8 a.m.

Concert in the Park Fireworks Show Huntsville Museum of Art lawn, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fireworks at 8:30 p.m.

Arts Huntsville and the City of Huntsville Parks & Recreation Department present the 2024 Armed Forces Celebration Concert in the Park featuring the Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCOE) Band from Ft. Moore, Ga. At the end of

the Concert, the Chamber will host a fireworks show, compliments of our sponsoring companies! In case of rain, event will move to VBC South Hall, and fireworks will be cancelled.

Tuesday, June 11 Armed Forces Celebration Luncheon VBC Saturn Ballroom, 12–1:15 p.m.

Wednesday, June 12 Annual Softball Game between Team Redstone and Community Team Toyota Field, 6–7:30 p.m.

Whether you cheer for the Redstone Arsenal team or our local Community Leaders, this will be a great game featuring senior officers from Redstone and lots of local elected officials. Admission and parking are free, so bring your entire family and make an evening of it! The gates open at 5:30 p.m., and concessions will be available for purchase. FREE hot dogs to the first 500 attendees.

Thursday, June 13 Rocket to the Tropics Saturn V Hall at U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Davidson Center, 5–7 p.m. Proceeds support AUSA

See ARMED FORCES Page 8A

The Armer Forces Celebration is an annual event honored our military. Starting on June 8, it includes a community softball game at Toyota Field in Madison on June 12.

supervisors alike.”

In the past six months, Overman has fielded 881 calls for service and self-initiated hundreds of patrols for criminal activity. Overman conducted 227 traffic stops, leading to 44 arrests. Twenty-plus arrests involved narcotics possession, many as felonies.

“Overman developed the drive to take dangerous narcotics off Madison streets. This isn’t an easy task,” Gandy said. “Criminals, especially ones involved in narcotics, learn police tactics. As police learn how they’re currently conducting their business, they change tactics to avoid detection.”

In February 2024, Overman observed an occupied vehicle behind a gas station. His investigating led to two felony arrests and seizing 58 grams of methamphetamine, ready for sale, along with drug paraphernalia, stolen firearms, a ghost gun, stolen property and cases of stolen identities. At home, Overman and wife Amber are fond of their two dogs and cat. His favorite hobbies are mountain biking and lifting weights.

CANDACE WATSON

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

Cadace Watson has worked as Police Communications Supervisor since 2015 at Madison County 911 Center.

“Candace is one of the city’s most dedicated dis-

patchers,” Mayor Paul Finley said. “Candace has aided, comforted and reassured countless citizens of Madison in their most critical moments of need.”

Watson has aided in apprehension of many suspects. One night, she observed a call reporting a Huntsville robbery. Knowing suspects sometimes rob multiple stores, she contacted Madison businesses on U.S. 72 with offenders’ descriptions.

A store employee recognized individuals entering the business who matched that description. The employee alerted Madison police, who apprehended the suspects.

Supervisor Daniel Weaver described Watson as “focused, driven and an effective leader. She is respected by her peers and listens to others’ concerns in decision-making.”

“Candace’s judgement during critical life-threatening situations is excellent. (Co-workers) depend on her calm ability to make sound decisions,” Weaver said.

Away from work, Candace is an avid dog lover and often feeds wild birds. She frequently visits her family’s cattle farm in Tennessee.

Hall, Overman and Watson each received an award plaque, inclusion on City Hall’s perpetual plaque, a cash gift from Rotary Club and the entire city’s gratitude for a job well done.

City

Madison police since 2022 but in that time has taken “a proactive approach” to policing, fielding hundreds of calls and doing hundreds of traffic stops. His initiative has resulted in multiple key arrests. Watson was recognized for her presence of mind and thoroughness as a dispatcher. Her skills even prevented a potential string of robberies and resulted in the apprehension of robbery suspects who had earlier committed robberies in Huntsville.

Mayor Paul Finley said of Watson, “Candace is one of the City’s most experienced and dedicated dispatchers, and she devotes herself wholeheartedly and professionally to the service of her community and her fellow first re-

to die in the invasion. I was unable to find any details of his death so it is not clear whether he was killed in the jump itself or in the ensuing action to secure the 502nd’s objectives. Overall, the 101st airborne suffered 182 killed, 557 wounded, and 501 missing on D-Day.

J. D. Luna was initially buried in France and was reinterred in Taylors Providence Cemetery in Smithville, Tennessee in 1948, and is memorialized at the Huntsville Madison County Veterans Memorial. His brother William Luna also served in the Army and survived the war.

Sgt Charlie W Grayson

Charlie Wilburn Grayson was born August 31, 1916 in New Hope, Madison County, Alabama. His parents Alonza Odell Grayson, a farmer, and Lilly B. (King) Grayson were also born in Alabama. Charlie was one of eight children born to the couple, having one older brother, one older sister, three younger brothers, and two younger sisters. In 1920 and 1930, the family was living on a farm in New Hope where Charlie attended local schools. He dropped out of school after the seventh grade, likely to help out on the family farm. Sadly, Charlie’s father passed away in 1936, and in 1940 Charlie was living at home with his widowed mother and working in construction for the government.

Charlie enlisted in the US Army in June 1940 and served in the 8th Infantry Regiment of the 4th Infantry Division. The 4th Division was based

sponders. Candace has aided, comforted, and reassured countless citizens of Madison in their most critical moments of need.”

These employees were rewarded for their hard work with a personal plaque, a plaque at City Hall, a monetary gift courtesy of the Rotary Club, and the appreciation of the community.

At the same city council meeting, Mayor Finley made the announcements that State Senator Arthur Orr had presented a check to the city for the library’s use in the amount of $20,000, which the council accepted, and that the state’s finalized budget included $500,000 to go towards a new fire and police training facility on Celtic Drive.

Governmental affairs firm Swa-

at Fort Benning, Georgia and was initially organized as a motorized division assigned to I Armored Corps. The division participated in the Louisiana maneuvers held during August 1941 and then in the Carolina Maneuvers of October 1941, after which it returned to Fort Benning.

Charlie married the former Garner Beatrice Clark on 17 August 1942 in Madison County, Alabama.

The division moved in April 1943 to Fort Dix, New Jersey, where it was again reconfigured and was redesignated the 4th Infantry Division on 4 August of that year. The 4th Infantry Division sailed to England in January 1944, and spent the next few months training for the planned invasion of Europe.

On D-Day, 6 June 1944, the 4th ID was in the spearhead of the amphibious landings at Utah Beach in Normandy, France. The division’s 8th Infantry Regiment, in which Sgt. Grayson was a member of an anti-tank company, had the distinction of being the first Allied unit to hit the beach at Normandy. Unlike the situation at Omaha beach depicted in the movie “Saving Private Ryan”, the landing at Utah Beach was relatively bloodless as the 4th ID landed 21,000 troops at the cost of only 197 casualties. In July 1944, Sgt. Grayson’s wife received word from the War Department that her husband had been missing in action since June 6. Two months later she received the tragic news that her husband had in fact been killed in action on D-Day.

Charlie Wilburn Grayson was bur-

tek, Vaughn, and Bryan was contracted by the city to help secure these funds. The council approved a contract with the firm at the same council meeting for another year of lobbying services at the cost of $5,000 per month.

“Part of what the Swatek team, working with Traci Gillespie, helped us secure was $500,000 that will go directly towards the police and fire training facility that will be built on Celtic Drive. So, Gerald Smith is working right now on facilities and grounds on what the entire Celtic Drive will look like,” explained Mayor Finley.

The next city council meeting will be on Monday, June 10 at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 100 Hughes Drive in Madison.

ied in France and after the war was reinterred in Hayden Cemetery in New Hope, Alabama, and is memorialized at the Huntsville Madison County Veterans Memorial. His wife remarried and passed away in 1989. Stories Behind the Stars project is named after the gold star banner that families of an American service member lost in WWII displayed in their window. Anyone interested in learning more about the project or to register as a volunteer can do so at www.storiesbehindthestars.org.

Armed Forces

Continued from page 7A

Rocket to the Tropics at the U.S.

Space & Rocket Center is an evening of live music, food, and activities.

Friday, June 14

Armed Forces Prayer Breakfast The Summit on Redstone Arsenal 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. This breakfast is free to all military/veterans and their families. Register on navfoc.com by June 10.

U.S. Army Birthday Celebration Dinner Presented by AUSA Von Braun Center East Hall at 5 p.m.

Saturday, June 15

249th U.S. Army Birthday Celebration Redstone Gateway (Gate 9), 4-9 p.m.

The celebration includes a cake cutting ceremony, cruise-in car show, kids play zone, craft/market vendors, restaurants and food trucks, and entertainment.

Local high school teams dominate post season awards

By BOB LABBE bob@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON- Much like the regular season and post-season play, both Bob Jones and James Clemens have dominated the Area 8 play in 2024 and the post-season awards easily show how dominant the two squads were. The Madison Academy Mustangs accomplished the same in Class 5A Area 16.

within the list of the elite was Braden Booth of Bob Jones who was named Player of the Year and his fellow teammate Tanner Hermesch earned Pitcher of the Year honor. In addition, Bob Jones head coach Jared Smith and James Clemens head coach Johnny Johnson were named Co-Coach of the Year.

and our group worked hard for what they achieved this year. I’m thankful for all of them and for the opportunity to work along side them at such a great place like James Clemens.”

The Jets finished second to Bob Jones in the Area 8 standings, which won the Area for the third consecutive year.

By CALEB ODOM

caleb@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON - The Rocket City Trash Pandas had a mostly positive stretch of games when they made the trek down to Birmingham to take on the league-leading Barons. As of Monday, the Barons (3318) hold a two-game lead over the Tennessee Smokies (31-20) in the Southern League North Standings. The Trash Pandas (26-25) reside seven games out of first in the third-place position while the Chattanooga Lookouts (1437) are a dismal 19 games behind Birmingham in the SLN cellar.

May 28: Birmingham 4, Rocket City 0

The Barons opened the series with a 4-0 blanking of the visiting Trash Pandas last Tuesday. Birmingham was offensively powered by Tim Elko’s 3-run homer in the bottom of the third inning.

In the All-Area awards recently released, James Clemens placed six players on the list while Bob Jones placed five with both Austin and Florence placing one player each. Also

“I appreciate those who voted for me and like any coaching honors or milestones, nobody gets there alone,” said Johnson, who just completed his sixth season at the helm of the Jets program. “Our coaching staff is one of the best in the state

In the post-season, the Jets pushed eventual State Champion Bob Jones (44-9) to three games in the Class 7A State semi-finals. The Jets completed their season 33-12.

Player of the Year honor was presented to Braden Booth

May 29 Game 1: Rocket City 5, Birmingham 3 (8 innings) Rocket City was able to even the series back up at 1-1 with a victory in the first game of a Wednesday double-header. Two runs in the top of the eighth inning would be enough to jump the Trash Pandas over Birmingham.

May 29 Game 2: Rocket City 3, Birmingham 2 (8 innings)

Carlos Mathews named the State Games Male Athlete of the Year

By BOB LABBE bob@themadisonrecord.com

MADISON - Huntsville native and area resident Carlos Mathews was recently recognized by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey among four athletes named Alabama State Games Athletes of the Year.

The second game of the double-dip was a makeup from a May 5 rainout, and it resulted in a second straight win for the Trash Pandas.

Late runs once again made all the difference from Rocket City as the Trash Pandas burned the Barons with two walks coming around to score in the seventh. May 30: Birmingham 9, Rocket City 8 (10 innings)

The Thursday installment was a back and forth high-scoring battle that didn’t fall Rocket City’s way in the end.

Birmingham was able to get the last laugh in the bottom of the 10th inning when Terrell Tatum drove in Alsander Womack with a walkoff single.

May 31: Birmingham 5, Rocket City 0 The Barons shut the Trash Pandas out on Friday night with five runs in the first two innings.

Birmingham starting pitcher Jake Eder did his part with 6 1/3 scoreless innings where he allowed just three hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in the win.

June 1: Rocket City 2, Birmingham 1

After dropping back-to-back games last Thursday and Friday, Rocket City was able to take the Saturday installment narrowly.

“I was surprised when I received a call from the Alabama State Games telling me of the award as I did not know

The 51-year-old Mathews, vice president and District 5 representative on the Huntsville City School Board and president of CM Advanced Technologies, was recognized in special ceremonies for the Alabama State Games as Male Athlete of the Year for his outstanding achievements in the 2023 Games where he won two gold medals and one silver medal during the 40th anniversary of the Games held in the Montgomery area.

See AWARDS Page 2B See MATHEWS Page 2B

All of the Trash Pandas’ scoring came in the top of the seventh inning when Ben Gobbel and Mac McCroskey ended up

See TRASH PANDAS Page 2B

James Clemens head coach Johnny Johnson was named Co-Coach of the year along with Jared Smith of Bob Jones in the post-season Class 7A All-Area-8 baseball awards.

Longtime Huntsville area track and field athlete Carlos Mathews continued being a mover and shaker in the 2023 Alabama State Games thus being named the State Games Male Athlete of the Year.

Sparkman bowling coach named Girls Coach of the Year

By BOB LABBE

HARVEST - Retired

Sparkman High bowling coach Lisa Ivey has left a legacy for the Senators program but continues to have her efforts roll in the post-career awards.

Immediately following the recent 2024 season where she was named the Class 6A/7A Girls Coach of the Year after her team finished runner-up in the AHSAA State Tournament, and announcing her retirement, Ivey has again brought home glory for the Class 7A program.

Ivey was named one of seven selected as the 2014 Making A Difference Award by the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) and the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches

Association (AHSADCA). One recipient from each of the AHSAA’s seven classifications was selected from approximately 90 nominations. Ivey was chosen to represent Class 7A; The Sparkman boy’s and girl’s bowling coach, girl’s golf coach and drivers’ education teacher has been an educator for more than 35 years.

“Coach Ivey has spent 35 years teaching and coaching while also persevering through some traumatic and tragic losses in her own life, said her nominator, Christopher Shumaker, athletic director at Sparkman. “Coach Ivey was nominated for her selfless and tireless acts of service, leadership and mentoring to all she meets.”

Sparkman’s bowling program won back-to-back

AHSAA state girls’ championships in 2021 and 2022, the first girls’ bowling title in the sport’s current format in 2016, and her boys’ team won the state crown in 2021 and 2023. Five Sparkman bowlers have also won individual state bowling titles.

“Her successes on the lanes or on the golf course or in the classroom truly make a difference in the lives of our faculty and students,” said Shumaker.

Ivey, 54, graduated from J.O. Johnson High School in 1987. She began her career in education coaching middle school softball and varsity boys’ soccer. She also has served as sponsor for the National Honor Society, Students Against Drunk Driving, and Red Ribbon Week. She established the “Diamond Doll” baseball manager organization at Sparkman High School.

Madison County Schools athletic director Matt Rogers describes Ivey as a person “who has consistently demonstrated her commitment to student development and community service.” She was named the NFHS Alabama Bowling Coach of the Year in 2021. As the girls’ golf coach,

Sparkman has won four Madison County championships in her six-year tenure.

“It is evident that Lisa Ivey goes above and beyond her duties as a coach and teacher,” said Rogers. “She has done all this through many personal setbacks and tragedies, including the prolonged illness of her husband and the loss of her two sons. Ivey is among the most giving, dependable and hardworking teachers and coaches I’ve ever had the pleasure of working alongside.”

Each honoree will be recognized at the 2024 AHSAA Summer Conference Championship Coaches’ Awards Banquet, which will be held Thursday night, July 18, at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center at 6 p.m.

The Making a Difference Award was established in 2011 by the AHSAA and AHSADCA to recognize individuals who go beyond their normal duties as a coach, teacher, or administrator to make a positive impact in their schools and communities. This year’s recipients include one school system super-

Trash Pandas

Continued from page 1B

Retired Sparkman High coach Lisa Ivey has been named the Class 7A Making A Different Award recipient from the 90 nominations presented for the 2024 award.

intendent, one principal, two football coaches/athletic directors, two girls’ head basketball coaches, and one bowling and golf coach.

“The recipients in this 2024 Making a Difference class are excellent examples of men and women who have dedicated themselves to serving students with positive reinforcement, kindness and compassion,” said AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs. “They take their

positions as role models for their students, faculty, and community very seriously and have shown exceptional leadership and determination in the challenges each has faced. These individuals have had spent their entire teaching, coaching and administrative careers making a major positive impact in their communities and schools across the state and are excellent examples of what this award stands for.”

with RBI singles to take the lead away from Birmingham.

June 2: Rocket City 5, Birmingham 4 Rocket City was able to win the series with a tight victory in the finale last Sunday. A 4-run top of the eighth inning

Mathews

with some small ball gave the Trash Pandas an important road victory.

The Pandas are back home this week against the last-place Chattanooga Lookouts with a slate of games Wednesday through Saturday starting at 6:35 p.m.

Continued from page 1B

I was even nominated,” said Mathews. “I also received an e-mail from Kelly Kahumoku director of operations for the State Games. I’m excited about winning the award especially here in our

own state and being in the sport of track and field.”

Individuals were chosen based on overall achievements in the Games, involvement in the community, effort in which way they compete, displays of sportsmanship and how they represent themselves on and off the competition field.

For Mathews, he won gold medals in both the long jump and triple jump and a silver medal in the 100-meter sprint in his tenth year of competing in the annual multi-day sporting event. His mark in the long jump was 5.36 meters. In the long jump, his distance was 10.62 meters and in the 100-meter sprint, Mathews had a time of 12.37 seconds. He went on to win the U.S. National Championship in the long jump with a jump of 5.33 meters and his 12.08 in the 100 meters was good for a seventh place at the nationals.

“I was hoping to run faster in the 100-meter event as my goal was to finish under 12 seconds at age 50,” said Mathews. “Both the long jump and triple jump efforts qualified me for All-American status. It was a great way to kickoff the 2023 season

The Sunday series finale is tabbed for a 4:05 p.m. first pitch. This home stand is packed full of promotions including Bring Your Cat to the Ballpark on Thursday along with postgame fireworks on Friday and Saturday.

for me in track and field.”

Mathews graduated from Huntsville High in 1991 and attended Alabama A&M where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering Technology in 1995. While at A&M, he also excelled for the Bulldogs’ track and field program from 19921995 concentrating on the long jump and 100-meter events where he received All-SIAC honors three out of the four years he competed and was the only long jumper to qualify for the NC-Double-A Division II National Championships. He was also the only male athlete to be part of four consecutive conference team titles. While on “The Hill,” Mathews held top 10 school performances in both the long jump and 100-meter. He has coached at numerous high schools in the immediate area and at both his alma mater and UAH. Besides his work with the Huntsville City Schools, Mathews is a leader in local technology with his position with CM Advanced Technologies, an IT solution provider.

Among the four elite athletes honored by Gov. Ivey were Jasmine Wil-

(SS/P, 6-1, 190, Sr.) of Bob Jones who is highly regarded as possible Mr. Baseball for 2024 in Alabama. His statistics (Area 8 games only) show he batted .296 with two homers and seven RBIs. He was also 3-0 on the mound with a 2.88 ERA while posting 22 strikeouts. Pitcher of the Year also came from Bob Jones as Tanner Hermesch (P, 6-0, 205, Jr.) earned the honor was also 3-0 on the season, but he posted an incredible 0.71 ERA with 25 strikeouts. The remaining All-Area selections were C- Zack Johnson, Bob Jones, (6-0, 185, Sr.) .350 avg., 8 RBIs; 1B- Reece Cato, Bob Jones, (6-1, 220, Sr.) .308 avg., 5 RBIs, Satchel Wheeler, James Clemens, (6-3, 195, Sr.) .333 avg., 3 RBIs, 4 stolen bases; 2B- Jessee Isensee, James Clemens, (59, 155, So.) .350 avg., 6 RBIs; SS- Easton Nelms, Florence, .269 avg., 4 RBIs; 3BGresham Baker, Bob Jones, (6-0, 170, Sr.) .435 avg., 4 RBIs, 14 runs; OF- Dillon Adkins, Bob Jones, (5-10, 185, Jr.) .389 avg., 8 RBIs, Hayden Markfort, James Clemens, (6-0, 155, Sr.) .476 avg., 10 runs, 10 stolen bases, Carson Loosier, James Clemens, (5-4, 130, Sr.) .385 avg., 11 runs, 11 stolen bases; DH- Judd Bailey, Austin, .391 avg., 5 RBIs; P- Braden Booth, Bob Jones (61, 190, Sr.) 3-0, 2.88 ERA, 22 strikeouts,

liams (Pickleball/Montgomery), Mitch Conroy (Table Tennis/Anniston) and Jordyn Hill (Archery/ Ft. Novosel). All four were to carry the torch for the 41st Games. Gov. Ivey said, “Congratulations to all the outstanding athletes of the year of the Alabama State Games. The sportsmanship and exceptional performances exhibited by these players embody the hardworking spirit of our great state. Truly, there’s nothing like the Alabama State Games, where the best of Alabama’s talent and determination is showcased for all to see.” The 2024 Alabama State Games are scheduled for June 7-9.

“I’ve been competing in the Alabama State Games off and on since I was in middle school and it is cool to see how the games have grown,” added Mathews. “I could see all ages, especially the older athletes, enjoying themselves and being inspirations for youngsters. I’ve always found it to be enjoyable to attend and I like to put on a show for the fans in attendance.

I even see former athletes at the games I once coached.”

Tanner Mermesch, Bob Jones, (6-0, 205, Jr.) 3-0, 0.71 ERA, 25 strikeouts, Metthew Drinkwater, James Clemens, (6-1, 180, So.) 2-0, 1 save, 1.62 ERA, 12 strikeouts, Satchel Wheeler, James Clemens, (6-3, 195, Sr.) 2-1, 2.21 ERA, 11 strikeouts. In Class 5A Area 16, the post-season awards in that division were dominated by the Madison Academy Mustangs with six first-team selections and two honorable mention picks. As for the major awards in Area 16, David Pressley of Madison Academy was chosen as Coach of the Year while junior pitcher/infielder Tee Foster was selected as Pitcher of the Year. Pressley completed his eighth season as Mustangs’ head coach where he led the Mustangs to a 22-15. As for Foster, he was 2-0 in Area games with a 3.34 ERA, and 18 strikeouts. On the season, Foster was 5-2, 3.37 ERA and tossed 61 strikeouts. The First-Team selections from Madison Academy included Pitcher- Myles Johnson (Jr.); Catcher- Maddox Meadows

(Sr.); Infield- Tee Foster (Jr.), Keaton Watson (Jr.); Outfield- Myles Johnson (Jr.), Davis Parker (Jr.). Honorable Mention, Pitcher- Keaton Watson (Jr.); InfieldShane Duke (Jr.).

Last week we brought you scenes from the graduation ceremonies for Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools. This week we

Sparkman High School, Madison Academy and John Paul II Catholic High School. Congratulations to the Class of 2024!

Madison Academy CLASS OF 2024 Congratulations!

Abbott, AdriannaAndrews, Rocky Andrews, Trey Andrus, LilyAshmore, MatthewAycock, Rylan Bader, MaclaineBaker, Hannah Baker, Reese Bell, Cameron Bowers, Charity Bunis, Brooke

Byrne, MollyCampbell, HannahCerniway, HarrisonChambers, Austin Cherry, Ken Cook, Bella Cooper, Seven Drake, MJ

OwenFairbanks-Smith, ElizabethFarris, Lily Garcia, Cade

Ghee, GabrielleGlasgow, Shane Hall, Braden Hall, Houston Hall, SamuelHerrington, EvelynHorton, BrocheHughes, HudsonInman, Brodie Langford, Ryser Leder, Mya Long, Tyler

Martin, Jaedyn McBride, RyanMeadows, MaddoxMerrell, KhamoniMitchell, Hallie Morris, Hunter Nelson, MilesPeoples, DeMarcusPippins, LawsonPoldiak, Jacob Randolph, EvaRansom, Channing

Reece, Jackson Renyer, Ryan Schultz, Asher Smith, CheneySouthard, KleetSproul, ValarieTanner, BrandonTaylor, CoraBethThomas, Selano Tucker, Henry Vaughn, CoreyWallington, Carleigh

Wallis, HannahWammack, DaxtonWestrope, LindseyWilbon, BrooklynWilliams, CalebWilliams, Joshua

MADISON ACADEMY SENIOR PORTRAITS BY

ALL ABOUT BOATING

A boat is a craft that carries people or goods across the water. Boats are powered in one of three ways: manpower, the wind, or a motor. Within these three main ways, there are many different types of boats such as canoes, sailboats, yachts, motor boats, kayaks, rafts, row boats, tugboats, or paddle boats. Large boats are called ships and include cruise ships, military ships, submarines, and barges. Boats have been used by people to travel over water for more than 10,000 years. Before the invention of the airplane, ships were the fastest, and sometimes only, way to travel to certain places. In the United States today, and in many other places, boats are used for recreational purposes, such as yachts, on which you can spend the night. Cruises are large ships that hold many people and travel for days at a time.

All About Boats Word Search

Barge, Boat, Bow, Canoe, Captain, Cruise, Deck, Hull, Kayak, Keel, Port, Rowboat, Rudder, Sailboat, Ship, Starboard, Stern, Submarine, Tugboat, Yacht

The body of a boat is called the hull. The sides, or walls, are called the bulkheads, and the floor is referred to as the deck. They are steered by using the rudder which is located underneath the boat. A keel runs along the length of the boat to keep it from tipping over. The front of the boat is called the bow, while the back is referred to as the stern. The left side is called the port side and the right side is called the starboard side. These terms are used on ships instead of left and right, front and back. This way the captain knows that all his workers understand his commands.

By BECKY

“The

I

to convey God hugs and hope but sometimes things get misinterpreted. I might go off on a tangent not meaning to judge another and it comes across that way.

Everyone is dealing with something. God wants us to love one another, period, not try to

play Holy Spirit Junior and make some people into projects. What is your struggle today? Where is your heart breaking? What stronghold might be affecting your life? Jesus loves you this I know for the Bible tells me so.

PRAYER: I ask forgiveness Lord if I ever hurt another with spoken or written words. I ask for wisdom in my day-today communication with others. 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.

HISTORY with John Rankin

Engagement at Indian Creek December 23, 1864

By JOHN P. RANKIN Madison Historian

MADISON - On December 23, 1864, just about 160 years ago, one of two significant engagements of the Civil War in or near old Madison occurred at Indian Creek along today’s campus of Madison Academy. The creek was shown on some maps then as Hurricane Fork of Indian Creek, but sometimes shown as Price’s Fork, or even Six Mile Creek, due to its location about six miles from old Huntsville. One of the Confederates involved in the December 1864 conflict was Captain James Bennington Irvine. He was in Company F, 4th Alabama Cavalry, CSA, commanded by General P. D. Roddy, who was not present at the creek. The Confederate forces at the creek that day were under the command of Lt. Col. Francis Marion Windes and Col. John Robertson Bedford Burtwell of the 10th and 11th Alabama Cavalry. Capt. Irvine wrote his war memoirs while imprisoned by the Union after being wounded in the fight. On pages 43-52 of his book, he described the event from his perspective in great detail, as his diary written in the Union prison later reveals.

Irvine wrote that Colonel John Burtwell and 150 men of the 4th Alabama Cavalry were encamped along Indian Creek near the railroad bridge on December 20. They had been positioned there in an attempt to keep the Union forces bottled up in Huntsville in order to cover General John Bell Hood’s retreat to get back across the Tennessee River into Tuscumbia from Franklin, Tennessee after his decisive defeat there following his equally disastrous defeat at Nashville. Colonel Burtwell had ordered that fence rails be burned on the railroad bridge on December 22, realizing that the Union forces could reach the Confederate position from Huntsville by horse and by rail within 15 minutes. The rebels could hear heavy cannonading at Decatur to their rear and numerous whistles in Huntsville at the railroad depot. They knew that a large Union cavalry force had re-occupied Huntsville in the last few days and was being reinforced with infantry. Col. Burtwell was awaiting Confederate reinforcements that were overdue for unknown reasons, and all scouts that they sent out to either east or west had failed to return. The men were all exhausted from continuous duty guarding many roads, and spirits were low as the weather was extremely cold.

During the night of December 23, according to the official Union records and Irvine’s diary report, a Negro man left the Confederate camp and reported to the Union forces in Huntsville that the rebels were about to attack, which was actually not true. Union Colonel W. F. Prosser of the 12th Indiana Cavalry thought that there was a brigade of rebel forces gathered at the creek, so he decided to initiate a surprise attack. He ordered 300 men of his own cavalry to prepare to move out from Huntsville at 3 o’clock in the morning. The Union force under Col. Prosser was augmented by parts of 10th, 11th, and 13th Indiana Cavalry, as well as the 2nd and 3rd Tennessee (Union) Cavalry. They arrived at Indian Creek “six miles west of Huntsville” at dawn on the 23rd. Of course, the accounts of the engagement often use different names for the flow of water that we now know as Indian Creek. Many Union accounts called our Indian Creek as Hurricane Fork at that time. They normally used the name Indian Creek to refer to the flow of water from the bottom of the bluff in Huntsville’s Spring Branch of Indian Creek. Other Union accounts call our Indian Creek as Six-Mile Creek, due to the distance from old Huntsville town limits. Even older accounts, prior to the war, called today’s Indian Creek as Price’s Fork. With all of the name confusion, it is a wonder that anyone ever ended up going to the intended points of engagements.

As described in most Union accounts, the morning of the “engagement” was excessively cold and piercing, while the roads were frozen hard. Even the creek itself was frozen, as was the boggy ground around it. Moving at a fast trot, Colonel Prosser turned to George House, the Union bugler, and commanded him to blow the charge. Simultaneously, he spurred his horse forward. However, the bugle did not sound, so Col. Prosser again turned around on his horse and swore at George for not blowing the charge, demanding to know why not. House had the bugle to his lips, and replied from the side of his mouth as best he could that he would blow it as soon as his lips thawed out the metal. It had frozen to his lips,

preventing him from blowing.

The ford of the creek where the charge occurred was narrow, allowing only four horses abreast to cross, according to Union documents. On the west side of the creek, there was a level plateau which was half circled by a ridge containing the rebel position. From Captain Irvine’s Confederate account, he and Colonel Burtwell had arisen before the early dawn attack. They rode down the hill to the still-sleeping soldiers’ camp while everything was still quiet. Further he stated, “We then rode to the bridge, which was about a quarter mile off, and we saw that it was thoroughly destroyed by the fire that our troops had set the day before.” They had just returned to the camp on the bluffs of the west bank when they heard firing about a mile or two away in the direction of Huntsville. Irvine said that he then “rode to the ‘Y’ in the creek, where the point of the attack soon occurred.” (The only place of such a split of the creek’s flow near the railroad bridge is south of the Old Madison Pike bridge today. That Pike is the old road from Huntsville to Madison Station, but then it was very narrow, even for horses, with dense forests on each side. From these details and others given in the various reports, it can be deduced that the conflict began along the creek in the southern portion of Madison Academy campus along Slaughter Road.) The engagement was a complete rout of the still-sleeping rebel cavalrymen, but very few were killed. However, many were wounded and about 60 were captured during their flight back toward Madison Station and from there to the Triana crossing over the river.

Captain Irvine was soon captured during the engagement at Indian Creek, about a mile or so east of the town of Madison Station. After his capture he was initially held by the Union forces for a short time in Huntsville, then sent to Fort Delaware (on an island in the Delaware River about 40 miles below Philadelphia) for the rest of the war, which lasted only about four or five more months. While imprisoned he was allowed to keep a diary, writing of his war experiences and including details of the event of his capture. An abbreviated excerpt of his first-person account follows.

At the beginning of the dawn charge across the creek by more than 300 Union cavalrymen, Irvine noted “some confusion in the ranks” of the 150 bivouacked Confederate cavalrymen. “I galloped toward them to see what was the matter, when to my utter astonishment they wavered, broke, and away they went, most afoot, without their horses, helter-skelter up the road (today’s Old Madison Pike). I saw the Blue Coats across the creek, sabers in hand, slashing and cutting at a great rate.” Irvine wrote that as the Confederate troops fled, he “could do nothing with them, at least nothing but check their speed. This was a great disadvantage to those in the rear, for being at this time on a very rough and narrow, heavily forested road (Old Madison Pike), they could not scatter. By those in front riding at a slow gallop, the rear was forced to do the same. Their guns being all unloaded (after having fired an initial volley), they could not load again while running or riding. However, the mounted Yankees could stop and reload, then easily overtake the mostly afoot fleeing Confederate column and fire into the mass at their leisure to pick off such men as could not keep up or whose horses fell -- as a great many did.”

“I was at this time in the rear (of the fleeing Confederate troops). I glanced around and saw that every mounted man that they (the Union troops) overtook was knocked immediately off his horse, while the enemy were pressing close on us, firing pistols. There was now not more than three of our men behind me, and I knew that my time would soon come unless I did something. Putting spurs to my mare, I rode up to Tom Williams, who was the next man in front of me, and told him that it was folly to remain there any longer. The men could not be turned back to fight, and I thought it was time for us to take care of ourselves. I told him that I intended to leave the road and take to the woods. He said that he would follow.”

“I looked around to see what were the chances when the Philistines were upon me. Two pistols were presented at my head, and a big fellow with a saber (was) just coming in reach. The thing was out. I could have shot one, but it would have been certain death to me. Taking prudence to be the better part of valor, I drew up my mare and quietly told them that I surrendered, at the same time

holding out my pistol to one of them.

The coward with the saber struck me, as I thought, right across the eyes, stunning me for a minute. I, however, held onto my horse, and upon recovering my senses found that I was worth two dead men yet. He had (cut) my head open a length of three inches right down the part of my hair, but without injuring the skull. My mouth and eyes were full of blood, and the cape of my overcoat a deep red. Poor Tom, I afterward heard, was killed directly after. I have no doubt (that Tom) was murdered after surrendering. I was sent to the Union rear under guard, one of whom took my mare and another my hat. They also took my saddlebags and blankets, leaving me in a bad fix.” (It was an exceedingly cold day, with the creek frozen over.) “ The men, although heretofore good soldiers, were panic-stricken. In their hurry (they) ran or rode over each other mercilessly and paid no attention whatever to the commands of their officers.”

After the war, in addition to the official records, Major Will A. McTeer wrote his autobiography to describe “The Battle at Indian Creek Ford” as he recalled it from the Union side. Regarding the cold weather, he wrote, “My fingers were so cold I found they were numb, so I could not use the pistols, and had to keep hold of the reins and place my hands under my thighs to get them warmed. Coming up to the bank at the ford of Indian Creek, we found that the enemy had taken position in a remarkably strong place. They had a sweeping fire over the ford, which was the only place that we could cross (because the water was much deeper then than it is now, due to a dropping

water table brought about by industrialization and population density). As we descended into the water, we expected a shower of bullets, but there were only a few that struck around us. Major Williamson, commanding the 10th Indiana, was an old infantry solder, and crossing the stream he began the formation of a line to make a stand, but the 2nd Tennessee Cavalry came dashing by with sabers drawn, screaming and yelling, “Let the 2nd at them!” As soon as the 2nd passed by them, the Indianians fell in with them sweeping up into the ranks of the Confederates. The greater part of the enemy came out on foot, as if they were infantry, but our men went into them with sabers and soon broke and stampeded them. We never knew how many of the enemy were killed, but do know that there were several. We took 54 prisoners back to Huntsville, and the greater number had saber wounds.”

And again, the various Union accounts state many different numbers of the forces involved on each side or the killed and wounded and prisoners taken, so it is impossible to get an accurate account of the final statistics. However, it is interesting that one of the Union soldiers of this engagement who was wounded and years later died of infection of the bullet-torn area was identified as Lt. Sydney A. Prosser, who may have been a son of Union commander Col. W. F. Prosser. Also, of the two significant engagements of the war in Madison County, both occurred in the area of the town of Madison -- with one lopsided victory for the Confederates and one for the Union forces, so it was somewhat of a “draw” in that horrible warfare in our local area.