The Trussville Tribune – April 10 - 16, 2024

www.TrussvilleTribune.com

— Students at Clay-Chalkville High School will have a new campus by the 2027 school year if all goes according to plan. Clay City Manager Ron-

nie Dixon, who also serves on the Jefferson County Board of Education, announced the news during the Clay City Council meeting at Clay City Hall Tuesday

to the point of having aerial photos and the

beginning of the layouts.”

“It’s a 30-month process, so by school year 2027 we should be in that new facility,” Dixon added. Speaking to the Trussville

3 historic Trussville homes to open their doors for Heritage Days tour

By Chris Basinger Staff Reporter

TRUSSVILLE–The Cahaba

Homestead

Heritage Foundation is set to hold its Second Annual Heritage Days event next week.

Following the week of festivities–including outdoor painting, Trussville Jeopardy, and quilting workshops–the public will get the opportunity on Sunday, April 21, to walk through three homes rich in Trussville history.

According to local artist and foundation president Amy Peterson O’Brien, each of the three houses are only on their third homeowner since they were constructed, allowing much of the original features of the homes to be preserved. “Each of these homeowners are only the third homeowners to live in these homes,” O’Brien said. “It speaks to how much families have loved living in these homes and how these homes have served those families over decades and generations.”

During the tour, the homeowners will be present at their respective houses to share their knowledge and their love for the craftsmanship, character, and sturdiness of the homes they live in. The

“We’ll have a new football complex. Everything else, baseball, softball, tennis, will stay where it is,” Dixon said.

“Everything on the high school side will be rebuilt and demolished,” he said.

“We’re sorry that we only got 30 years out of the school that was supposed to last for 50 but we’re glad to be able to get it replaced because that school is in really bad shape,” he said, adding that the current school does not feature a tornado shelter.

Dixon said the bond issue should be around $200 million. Clay-Chalkville would

be the first of several anticipated school rebuilds in the system.

In other business, the council held a public hearing on the condemnation of a home at 6964 Mountain View Drive NE. No one was

present to speak but Dixon explained that the city has located the mortgage at PNC Bank. The bank is expected to begin work cleaning the property and bringing it up to safety standards.

The council approved a

resolution condemning the property but does not expect to have to take action due to the intervention by the bank.

Chief Logistics Officer Chris Horn, of the Center Point Fire District, gave an update for the month of March. Horn reported 860 calls for the month.

“We have three recruits that are going to graduate from fire college on Friday,” Horn said. “We are out doing fire hydrant testing. If your water turns brown, let it run a little bit longer and it will clear up.”

Horn told the council there are several private fire hydrants owned by the city that need repairs. It is unknown how much work will be required but it could reach several thousand dollars.

The next meeting of the Clay City Council is scheduled for 6 p.m. on April 23, 2024 at City Hall. Council meeting agendas are usually posted on the city website at clayalabama.org.

Chris Horn, of the Center Point Fire District, gave his monthly update to the Clay City Council on April 9, 2024.

Photo: Terry Schrimscher

Church Fire

From front page

but no additional information is being given out at this time because the suspects are juveniles.

The fire, which occurred in January, destroyed the abandoned church, which had previously been known as Leeds First Baptist Church before it was renamed to Pathway.

PVHS

From front page

ing forward with culvert repairs at Flight Drive due to a large hole that has developed there.

The council approved asphalt paving for the culvert on Flight Drive located near the Gilbert industrial area. The project was first approved in January after the sinkhole was found, posing a potential danger and damage of vehicles to residents.

The repair was approved for a bid of $75,036.90 but additional expenses will likely follow for gravel and other materials, though the total cost will not exceed $100,000.

Afterwards the council voted to increase Turner’s supplement. Initially,

The council voted to declare it a public nuisance in February in order to clean up the ruined site.

Leeds Mayor David Miller said that the city government has been determining the costs to perform the work, specifying that so far they have “just north” of $150,000. He added that they should know the final costs by the next meeting of the council.

Councilman Brad Walker proposed increasing the pay from $40,000 to $50,000 in increments for the next three years, but it was later decided by the council to increase it to $50,000 by June 1 this year.

Mayor Pro-Temp Robbie Roberts mentioned that Turner intends to be present at a future meeting to discuss his concerns regarding test scores and absenteeism, primarily due to the COVID pandemic. “It had a major, major impact on education across the country,” Roberts said. “The reality is these kids did not have in-person learning for close to a year. They really had to improvise in a lot of ways and studies are showing that it’s going to impact that generation for the rest of their lives.”

lasted approximately 11 minutes. Police chief Alan Busler led the regular portion of the agenda with his monthly report.

“We had two guys graduate from FTO school,” Busler said. “It’s going to be a great thing in developing this department moving forward.” Field Training Officer (FTO) school teaches officers proper techniques and best practices and equips the officers to train and evaluate other officers.

Fire Chief Scott Payne also presented his monthly report during the meeting. In his report, he said the department received 40 total calls including 23 medical calls and seven assists. The department also issued 16 burn permits.

The Argo City Council officially accepted the resig-

He added that, based on research he had done, he learned that 10% of test scores were based on attendance. Walker said that he believed that some students don’t have to be at school when attendance is taken and so they are not counted, though he said that he may be wrong.

During council reports it was announced that the Farmer’s Market will return on April 26 at 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Rock School parking lot. There will also be Trade Days on Saturday, April 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature a talent show.

Councilwoman Clinteshia Irvin announced that Movies in the Park will be held on every Friday in May at the Bicentennial Park just before dark. The first movie on May 10 will be “Wonka”.

The Argo City Council met on April 8, 2024.

nation of former City Clerk Tommie Ebner on Tuesday night, April 8 during the first regular meeting of the month. Ebner resigned in late March, causing the council to approve temporary extra compensation for Assistant City Clerk Tabitha Hanner and Court Clerk / Magistrate Casie Bethune during the March 25 meeting.

The increases will extend until three months after a new clerk is in place. Mayor Betty Bradley told the Trussville Tribune the city has received

Before going into public comments Roberts took a few moments to address the recent closing of Birmingham Southern, which had managed Turkey Creek Nature Preserve until it was turned over to Ruffer Mountain in March 2023.

Though the closing of the college does not affect Turkey Creek now, Roberts expressed disappointment and criticized the Alabama Legislature for an apparent inconsistency with awarding money to schools, pointing out that Pinson schools were given $50,000 and Trussville schools were given $4 million while Clay schools received nothing.

During public comments Pinson Public Library Director Allison Scanlan told the council that two events will

about 40 applications so far and is beginning the interview process.

In other business, the Council approved moving equipment from the Argo Fire Department to surplus. Funds from the sale will be put back into the department’s budget.

The Council approved electrical repairs in the Fire Department for $775 and repairs to an emergency generator at City Hall in the amount of $450.

The next regular meeting of the Argo council is scheduled for April 22 with a work session at 5 p.m. and the regular meeting following immediately after the session. An agenda for each meeting is posted in local businesses including Hill Top Farms, Argo Hardware, Liberty Automotive, Shell, Southland BBQ, Fox’s Pizza and Buckeye Grocery. Agendas are also posted on the city’s Facebook page.

be held, one of which will be a party on Saturday in anticipation of the solar eclipse on April 8 where a limited number of glasses will be given out to view the event.

She also said that the library will hold its first book donation drive since its founding on April 22 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Books must be in good, clean condition to be considered for the library’s shelves.

From front page

ment, Ariel is safe and has been medically evaluated. Detectives worked with other law enforcement agencies to find Ariel and reunite her with her parents. Ariel Davis. Courtesy of ALEA.

In other business the council:

• Renewed its contract with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office

The council also approved sales tax exemptions for covered emergency preparedness items on July 19-21 and on Feb. 23-25. Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@ gmail.com.

Center Point Fire District Battalion Chief Chris Horn delivered a report for the month of March, saying that there were 860 incidents, seven of which were structure fires, 43 incidents where firefighters installed smoke detectors, three recruits set to graduate on April 12 and 343 medical transports. A new firetruck for Station No. 5 on Chalkville Mountain Road is expected to arrive in the middle of May. The station is also expected to receive a remount rescue truck at the end of that month as well, Horn said. The council ended the meeting by going into executive session to discuss pending litigation.

to the house, and so now when she sits in her favorite spot in the house, which is the front porch, she’s looking at the trees and much of the same view that she experienced when she was a child,” O’Brien said.

The house, which features a hallway decorated with photographs of Trussville lifted from the pages of “Images of America: Trussville” by Sandra Bearden and June Mathews, also maintains its original footprint–at least for the moment.

“This homeowner does plan to add on, but she was gracious enough to be on the tour this time to allow guests to come and see it in its original footprint,” O’Brien said.

The final home on the tour is the Hickman-Yarbrough House, famously known as

the oldest standing home in Trussville, located just north of the Cahaba Project. The house, currently owned by Joni and Dave Parrish, dates back to the 1850s and is being called “Antebel-

lum Belle” as part of the tour.

“That home still has a lot of the original floors, walls, windows, I believe, most of the 10 original fireplaces,” O’Brien said.

“It has the original stone

wall along the side of the house that was quarried from right there on that property, and you can see the iron pegs in the wall are still there and those were used to tie horses to.”

With the house standing for as long as it has, visitors will also be able to see how it has been modernized over not just one, but two turns of the century. “It’s just kind of a hall-

mark of time, as it were, in a very historic property like that,” O’Brien said. Tours will run continuously on Sunday, April 21 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and are available through the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce’s website.

Ticket sales will go toward supporting the creation of a Daffodil Trail in Trussville’s Historic District.

All tickets must be picked up at the check-in table at Cahaba Elementary School where attendees can park for free during tour hours.

Accent Limo will shuttle guests to the homes on the tour and then back to the school parking lot every 15 minutes.

All ticket holders will also be entered into a drawing for a raffle basket filled with prizes and gift cards from local businesses valued at around $750. A full tour through the three homes is expected to last around one hour. Historic Homes Tour tickets can be purchased here: https://trussvillechamber. chambermaster.com

The exterior of “Cottage Charm.” Courtesy of Amy Peterson O’Brien.

The sun room of “The OG.” Courtesy of Amy Peterson O’Brien.

A bedroom inside the Hickman-Yarbrough House. Courtesy of Amy Peterson O’Brien.

Leeds Tour

From front page demonstrations, and a jazz concert performed by the Leeds High School Greenwave Jazz Ensemble.

“Our dedicated teams with over 150 volunteers have spared no effort in crafting an unforgettable experience for you. From extensive historical research to crafting compelling characters and securing authentic props, every detail has been meticulously curated to ensure your journey through time is nothing short of extraordinary,” read a release from Leeds Trails and Tours.

The main event of the weekend–the guided walking tour–will begin at 10 a.m. and will showcase over 75 historical reenactors sharing stories of what life was like in Leeds over 80 years ago.

The reenactors will be positioned at 30 stations along the approximately one mile route on Parkway Drive and through downtown.

Library

From front page

tion 2024-R-45, accepting a bid for the construction of a new library in the city at 1032 Grants Mill Road. The Stewart/Perry Company submitted the construction bid in the amount of $8,544,000.

that the city has not spent $10 million as claimed and asked Cuellar if she was discussing money already budgeted or money actually spent to date.

“We talked about using a public building authority to be able to borrow the money,” Stewart said. “The public building authority would then lease the property back to the city and then the city would add that to their regular expenses to be able to pay for it,” he added.

During the tour, visitors can also stop by the Historic Train Depot on Thornton Avenue to see train demonstrations and telegraph displays put on by the Mid-South Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society as well as go on a “pretend” train ride.

Visitors can also participate in a hymn sing at Mosaic Church where congregations will perform classic hymns such as “The Old Rugged Cross” and “Amazing Grace.” The event’s grand finale will be the 1940s jazz concert at the Leeds Green Space starting at 2:30 p.m. The event will also feature vintage vehicles, including a vintage fire truck, cruising through downtown and food trucks, kids activities, and more at the green space.

Later that evening, there will also be a 1940s Bash Fundraiser hosted by American Legion Post 107.

The dance will start at 5 p.m. and guests are asked to dress in 1940s attire as they swing to the oldies.

Tickets are $10 per person or $15 for couples.

“Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply curious about Leeds, join us for a day filled with nostalgia, adventure, and unforgettable memories,” the release read.

For more information and a map of the walking trail, visit: https://LeedsTrailsAndTours.com

“I’m looking at our capital expenditures from January through March and I’m seeing that we’ve spent close to 10 million,” said District 3 council member Cindy Cuellar. “I’m seeing that we have about $15.7 million in reserve. We don’t have the funding, according to the calculations that I have. So, how can we approve this expenditure when we don’t have a budget?”

Cuellar suggested the Council should delay a vote until a budget for the fiscal year could be approved. The Council previously extended the 2023 budget forward until a new budget could be approved.

Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. offered the explanation

In the regular agenda session, Cuellar motioned to postpone a vote on the resolution but the motion failed. The Council approved the resolution accepting the bid in a 4-1 vote with Cuellar submitting the sole dissenting vote.

The Council also approved $68,945.04 to Southern Pipe and Supply Company for water infrastructure at the new library site. The item was moved from the regular agenda to the consent agenda. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for for 3

p.m. on April 10 at the construction site. Returning to a discussion from last month’s meetings, the Council approved a policy for a procurement card program allowing for an independent contractor or contract employee, working for the city through the mayor’s office, to use a purchase card for city business. Cuellar also motioned to postpone a vote on the resolution but the motion to postpone failed. The Council voted 4-1 to approve the resolution and agreed to continue to work on the policy.

In the consent agenda, the Council approved $2500 from the discretionary fund of Mayor Stewart to be allocated to Irondale Middle School. The funds are to be used exclusively for uniforms for the middle school band.

The next meeting of the Irondale City Council will be held at 6 p.m. on April 17 at Irondale City Hall. An agenda for the meeting can be found on the Irondale website prior to the meeting.

Irondale Mayor James D. Stewart Jr, left, delivers $2500 to Irondale Middle School on April 4, 2024. The funding was approved by the City Council in the April 2 meeting to help students purchase band uniforms. Courtesy City of Irondale.

Reenactors, Eddie & Debbie Moore, for Leeds Historic Walking Tour scheduled for April 13.

Reenactors, Susan Nelms, Debbie Moore & Lynda Duke for Leeds Historic Walking Tour scheduled for April 13.

Tree Talk: Walking Among the Forest Like Thoreau

Last summer,

through the

to

we visited former

However, while in the

we also had to

our second pilgrimage to

Pond to see

Henry David

went to “live

liberately.” Thoreau wrote his classic “Walden” from March 1845 to September 1847 while he lived at Walden Pond. His book looked at the seasons of the year and how the trees changed in those cycles. He was at a point in life where he wanted to go deep into the woods of Eastern White Pines around Walden Pond and live the life of a recluse. He stated, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived…” As we walked around Walden Pond, we saw the replica of his house nearby. He built the original house for the princely sum of ‘23 dollars and 12.5 cents’. The house was only 10 feet by 15 feet. The replica seemed confining but had all the essentials one would need. Thoreau spent his time among the trees and made himself available to nature and what it had to teach. He felt like it was the one place he could go to be undistracted. Thoreau also wrote: “The scenery of Walden is on a humble scale, and though very beautiful, does not approach to grandeur…” We visited the day of Memorial Day weekend and wondered what Thoreau would have thought about the masses of people sunbathing at Walden

Pond and if those people understood why someone came there to “live deliberately.” Were the people even paying attention to the beauty of the trees surrounding them and the pond?

When walking through the forests like Thoreau did, we should all have a sense of awe and joy as we stand among these giants. Experiencing Walden Pond does give one a sense of what Thoreau felt and was looking for in the isolation of the forest. He wrote about the joy that being in the forest gave him and how it soothed his soul. However, as we look to his writings and as an early naturalist, he spoke about the changing times as the forests were disappearing. We need to do all we can to keep this from happening in these modern times.

From front page Moody Police Chief Reece Smith reported that for the month of March there were 1,734 calls for service, 32 traffic accidents, 73 citations, 111 reports, 55 misdemeanors, 18 felonies, two juveniles arrested, and 52 wrecks. $5871was spent on vehicle maintenance.

Fire Chief Larry Horton’s report said that there were 177 responses, two fires (one business, one grass), 106 emergency medical responses, 18 wrecks, 15 public services, 17 lift assists, 19 false alarms and two mutual aids received. There were 24 annual inspections, five re-inspections and one fire pump inspection.

Additionally, Moody Municipal Court Clerk Tim Senft reported 73 traffic cases, 23 non-traffic cases, and issued 36 warrants. In other business the council:

• Approved allowing Lt. Steve Humber from the police department to attend the AACOP Executive Leadership training on July 28 – Aug 1 in Or ange Beach for a cost not to exceed $1,800,

• Approved a request from Library Director Sara Roberts to apply for a LSTA Technology Grant Match for the fiscal year 2025 grant cycle. If awarded, the grant will not exceed $50,000 and requires a 25% match ($12,500),

• Approved a request from Public Works Director Steve Mitchell to purchase two back wheel sets for a cost not to exceed $3,000, Approved a request from Horton to purchase uniforms for $2,000, Approved a request from Horton to attend the Fire Chiefs summer conference on Aug. 4-7 for a cost not to exceed $2,000,

• Approved a request from Horton to purchase an attack fire hose for the new fire truck for $6,325 and Approved a request from Public Inspections Director David Crowe to have gas pumps at City Hall repaired for $1,500. Meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday of every month at 6 p.m. at

• Approved the promotion of James Abbott from of ficer to detective starting after May 1,

roach, wasp)

Septic Tank Additives

Degreasers

Yard Chemicals (fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides)

Batteries (car, truck motorcycle, marine)

Cleaners / Degreasers

Rust Removers (carburetor, polish, soaps, solvents)

Fire

Coast.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) quickly agreed to become a partner in the event, and ADCNR’s four divisions – Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Marine Resources, State Parks and State Lands – will have a designated area in the convention center to share information and fun activities for the attendees.

“We were on board with the EcoWild Outdoor Expo from the start because our goal at ADCNR is to highlight the importance of outdoor recreational opportunities throughout the state,” said Chris Blankenship, ADCNR Commissioner. “The Expo is a chance to share the great outdoors that I grew up in

and worked in for most of my life. Most people don’t realize how biodiverse our Gulf Coast is with Mobile Bay and the amazing Mobile-Tensaw Delta, and the Expo will showcase that. With our ADCNR exhibits and activities at the show, we hope everyone will spend time with our staff learning how we work diligently to protect and conserve the state’s natural resources for future generations.”

Starting at the confluence of the Alabama and Tombig-

bee rivers, the Mobile-Tensaw Delta covers a land mass of more than 250,000 acres with more than 20,000 acres of water, not to mention the abundant swamps, river bottomlands and marshes. Congress named the Mobile-Tensaw Delta a National Natural Landmark in 1974, and the Alabama Environmental Council considers the Delta as one of “Alabama’s Ten Natural Wonders.” The Delta provides fishing opportunities for a variety of freshwater species and sev-

eral inshore saltwater species at certain times of the year. Hunting opportunities include numerous small game species, waterfowl, whitetailed deer, Eastern wild turkey and feral swine. With the world’s greatest concentration of mussel, aquatic snail and crawfish species and more than 300 species of fish, the Mobile basin’s aquatic diversity is unparalleled in North America. “Partnering with organizations like the EcoWild Expo is crucial to our mission,”

said Billy Pope, ADCNR’s Director of Communications and Marketing. “As Alabama becomes more urbanized, we lose our connection to the natural resources. We look for unique ways, like the EcoWild Outdoor Expo, to spread the conservation message and encourage people to explore Alabama’s great outdoors, which is for everyone.”

Stephen Potts, PMT’s Assistant Publisher, has enjoyed participating in the numerous outdoors activities the Mobile area offers, and he wants to use the Expo to share them with all Alabamians and those who visit the Alabama Gulf Coast. “We see the enthusiasm for hunting and fishing and conservation around here,” Potts said. “We saw a gap where there wasn’t any kind of show like this in the area. We went and looked at other shows, like SEWE (Southeastern Wildlife Exposition in Charleston, South Carolina), and we thought we’d love to bring that to the Mobile Bay area.

The Perdido River on the Alabama Gulf Coast provides multiple outdoor recreational opportunities. (Billy Pope, ADCNR)

“We want to make this an annual event and grow it into something really big that people are looking forward to and thinking about every year.”

PMT Publishing’s Amanda White added, “The goal of the show is to remind people who have lived here all their lives what Alabama, and this area in particular, has to offer. The show will remind people what there is to do in the area. We’ll have vendors that will sell you equipment so you can enjoy outdoor activities. And a big part of it is to educate the public so we know how to take care of the outdoors while we’re still around. The Expo will provide hands-on opportunities that will show you how to enjoy our area.”

EcoWild’s goal is to raise the bar for this type of expo on the Gulf Coast by bringing outdoor enthusiasts the best in lifestyle gear, accessories and information on how to take advantage of the numerous outdoor recreation activities available. The Expo will

also highlight the ecological initiatives that will ensure the Alabama Gulf Coast remains a beacon of the natural world.

The Expo will have outdoor activities, vendors, educational sessions and guest talks, recreational exhibits, family-friendly activities, an outdoor-themed art gallery, food trucks and more. The Expo hours are noon to 6 p.m. on Friday, May 10, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 12.

“People may not realize that hunters and fishers are the biggest conservationists there are,” Potts said. “All the license fees go straight to conservation. We want to get that message out there. We love this area. We love the woods and water. We want to conserve them and teach best practices so it will always be this way for our kids and grandkids.”

PMT Publishing’s Events Coordinator, Frances Hurley, said the EcoWild Outdoor Expo is designed for attend-

ees to view and possibly acquire the latest hunting and fishing gear, explore new activities, visit with outdoor lifestyle experts, as well as support conservation efforts.

“There is something for everybody,” Hurley said. “We want families to come for Mom and Dad to buy new hunting or fishing accessories, and there are activities for kids like the rock wall and Butterfly House. Outdoor Alabama (ADCNR) will have a great room filled with lots of activities. We want to make it fun for everybody.”

Activities at the Expo include:

• Butterfly House – Attendees can observe different species of butterflies while walking among them in this screened-in exhibit.

Rock Wall – Challenge yourself and compete with friends as you scale a 26-foot-tall wall with all the gear needed to participate safely.

Touch Tanks – Aquatic species will be on display, including one from ADCNR’s Marine Resources Division with numerous saltwater creatures to observe and touch.

Junior Explorers – Young outdoor enthusiasts can experience outdoor education, displays and activities.

• Art Gallery – See a curated collection of outdoor-themed paintings, sculptures and photographs.

Bees Exhibition – Watch live honey harvesting and check out an exhibition hive to learn more about how bees are so critical to our ecosystem.

• Raptor Show – On Saturday of the Expo, expert handlers will display numerous majestic birds of prey. Auburn Eagle – On Sunday of the show, the Auburn eagle will be on the Exhibit Hall Stage.

Axe Throwing – In the Grizzly Axes Booth in the Exhibit Hall, grab an axe and try to hit the bullseye.

• Freedom Fidos – From shelter dogs to service dogs, this exhibit will showcase the training and learned skills of these canine partners.

• Archery – Archery experts will be on hand to provide hands-on tips on improving your archery skills.

• BB Gun Range – Firearm safety and basic marksmanship training are available at this indoor inflatable range.

• Kids’ Fishing Tank –Young anglers can gather around the fishing tank and cast for the numerous fish that are swimming around. BayMobile – Explore the wonders of the Gulf of Mexico and Alabama coastal waters without getting wet in this science classroom on wheels.

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians is the presenting sponsor for the Expo. Kristin Hellmich, Director of External Communications for the Tribe, said the Expo is a perfect match for the Tribe’s outreach initiatives.

“We have developed mutually beneficial relationships with Alabama communities to encourage service, education and development,” Hellmich said. “EcoWild Outdoor Expo matches our goals of local community economic expansion, as well as support for land and water conservation programs that impact all of us and our use of these resources, recreationally and otherwise. We look forward to working with the EcoWild team to celebrate outdoor activities in the beautiful Gulf Coast region and to educate the public about ways to keep Alabama and the Gulf Coast wild, accessible and safe.” Visit https://ecowildexpo. com/ for more information and a link to purchase tickets.

Dove hunting is one of the hunting opportunities that will be emphasized at the Expo.

(Billy Pope, ADCNR)

Surf fish is one of the ways to enjoy Alabama’s coastal waters. (Billy Pope, ADCNR)

day after being released on parole from an Illinois prison, a violent felon has been accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend and murdering her 11-year-old son. Soon thereafter two members of the Illinois Parole Board, one of whom was the Chair, resigned after what the Illinois Governor described as a lack of careful consideration of the evidence related to the domestic violence threats of the felon. Clearly, the Illinois Parole Board failed the victims. The Alabama Legislature had to reform our state’s own parole laws, after the Board at the time. released a felon who then murdered three victims in 2018. The changes to the parole board were to ensure that justice is served in the sentences of those who were sent to prison because of their crimes and to protect the public.

With the leadership of the Chair of the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles Leigh

Gwathney, the board has looked at inmates up for parole on a case-by-case basis and has put public safety first.

After Gwathney’s appointment by Governor Kay Ivey in 2019, the board has finally returned to the professional responsibilities it owes to the public it had lost under prior boards.

Yet, right here in Alabama far left advocacy groups and some lawmakers want to gut the changes previously made and allow more violent felons to be released early from their imposed sentences. Of course, they ignore the fact that 80 percent of those incarcerated in Alabama are serving sentences for violent crimes. The reason for that number is that the Alabama Legislature has reduced penalties for violation of some offenses, thus, resulting in less individuals sent to prison for non-violent offenses.

There are several bills in this current legislative session that have been filed to attempt to force the parole board to release more prisoners regardless of whether those individuals could be a danger to Alabama citizens. Some of these bills would require crime victims to appear

more often at parole hearings to protest early release of the offender. Other bills would hamper the parole board’s ability to make an individual case by case review. These bills follow a disturbing trend that is being pushed across the Nation by progressives that puts criminals above the concerns of crime victims and public safety. Yet, even here in conservative Alabama, some

Republicans are being lobbied hard to vote for these bills. Alabama leaders need to fight any efforts to weaken the parole board and release incarcerated convicted felons that would endanger the public safety.

Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives and can be found on X formerly Twitter at @Paul_DeMarco

Paul DeMarco

My Life as a Hobby: Mimi and the Scooter of Death

By Joe Hobby Tribune Columnist

I should’ve known. I mean, I know a bad omen when I see one. Why didn’t I pay attention? On a recent trip to Disney World, the people at our hotel rented my wife Carol an electric scooter with the number three on the back. I should have immediately made the connection between her and Dale Earnhardt, aka the Intimidator. Earnhardt, who drove the number three car, was a legendary NASCAR driver who loved the bumps, scrapes, and spin-outs of stock car racing. Some people accused him of racing dirty, a claim he actually embraced. Clearly, the scooter number was no coincidence because when my wife gets behind the wheel of her electric scooter at a theme park, she drove just like ol’ Dale. The list of her park mishaps was quite extensive. On the first day, she ran over my foot, my son’s foot (twice), and nearly backed into a whole group of people. I still have a tire mark on my sneakers. For good measure, she misjudged her stopping distance and bumped into an unsuspecting man waiting in line on a ride. But the highlight of the day, and perhaps the whole trip, was when she took a turnstile too fast and caught a big chain on her arm

rest, nearly jerking the chair off the frame of the scooter. It took two Disney employees to get her untangled. I almost hyperventilated from laughing so hard. If I had been lucky enough to video the whole encounter, I have no doubt it would’ve gone viral. And I had the perfect title: MiMi’s Theme Park Scooter Fails. My son, seizing a potential opportunity to birth an internet sensation, began recording her every time she got on a ride. The Intimidator would be proud.

One night, she drank a Pina Colada at dinner, and I feared that it might further impair her lousy scooter driving abilities. I can’t 100% say that it did, but she did bang into a trash can while trying to leave the restaurant. You be the judge.

I’m not surprised that

Carol can’t drive a scooter because she can’t even operate a car very well. Our friends have known this for

a while. For example, if we are ever taking anyone anywhere, most of them beg me to get behind the wheel. One of my buddies told me that being in the back seat when Carol is driving is like being in the hull of an old wooden sailing ship. People get motion sickness when she starts drifting back and forth across the road. How could someone like that handle an electric three-wheeler?

On subsequent days at the park she had a few more close calls, including scaring a group of European tourists half to death and narrowly missing a kid that ran in front of her.

When we finally checked out of the hotel, Carol returned the scooter, and I said a prayer of thanks. Disney World was safe once again, and we avoided an international incident.

Plus, by the time we left, I had learned how to apologize in 5 different languages.

Joe Hobby, Tribune Columnist

Gary Stanley “Stan” Robertson

december 30, 1941 — april 1, 2024

PawPaw was a man of strength and courage. He taught the Robertson men to be proud and to go after what they want.

He didn’t meet a stranger. Whether he was in his overalls or suspenders, he would sit and talk for hours.

He was really good at supervising with the point of his finger, but would also come in with dirty hands from working hard on a car, motorcycle, or tractor.

He worked as a salesman, building and engineering windows, and owning his own company and working as a General Contractor.

He was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church (Margaret, AL).

He married Shirley (Whisenhunt) January 12, 1963.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Orbie and Clara Robertson. Along with brothers and sister.

He is survived by his sister Zoe McAlpine, two sons Gary Robertson and Jerry (Heather) Robertson. Grandchildren Shane (Amber) Robertson, Jamie (Molly) Robertson, Kylee Robertson, Kaden Robertson, and Ren Robertson. Great Grandchildren Payton Robertson, Adalyn Robertson, Grevin Robertson, Jayce Robertson, Wyatt Robertson, Phoenix Robertson. Along with loved nieces and nephews.

Barbara Smith

april 12, 1933 — april 1, 2024

Funeral Mass for Mrs. Barbara Johnson Smith, age 90, will be held on Friday, April 5, 2024 at 2:00 P.M. at Saint Mark The Evangelist Catholic Church with Rev. Justin Ward officiating. Burial will follow at Jefferson Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Smith passed away on Monday, April 1, 2024 at The Mansions at Alpharetta Assisted Living. She attended college through Caraway Hospital, where she attained her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and worked as a Registered Nurse for over 50 years. Mrs. Smith was a Godly woman that enjoyed going to church and visiting with her family and friends.

She is survived by her daughter, Paula Peeples (Steve) of Pinson, her sons, Jeff Smith (Mindy) and Steve Smith (Paula), all of Alpharetta, GA, six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, two brothers, Joe Johnson (Rita) and Sammy Johnson, her sister, Mary Ann Johnson and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Thomas E. Smith, her parents, Jack and Pauline Johnson, her sister, Louise Everitt and her brother, Danny Destafino. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 5, 2024 from 1:00 P.M. until service time at

Hotel & Restaurant Supply was proud to partner with the Jefferson County Board of Education in the successful completion of the Dish Machine replacement at Clay-Chalkville Middle School.

What Is a Eulogy?

Although there are many spoken traditions in funeral services - such as the use of hymns or prayerseulogies also play an important role in honoring the life of the deceased. Eulogies offer the speakerand the audience - a chance to truly reflect on the departed and the memories shared with them.

Typically, eulogies are given by just one or two people who are chosen by surviving family members. Most eulogies are given by close relatives, children, friends or members of a congregation. When selecting a individual to give a eulogy, it is important to select someone who is close to the deceased and can offer genuine words about the individual’s life and memories. Please

Marilyn Jean Gagliano Biggs

may 21, 1947 — april 3, 2024

Marilyn Jean Gagliano Biggs, age 76, of Alabaster passed away on April 3, 2024. Marilyn was a devoted wife of 44 years to her husband William Biggs who preceded her in death.

Judith Jackson

june 11, 1941 — april 3, 2024

Joshua Vann

may 23, 2000 — april 4,

of Robertsdale, AL; and her children, Teresa (Barry) Brooks, Harry (Tracey) Rucks, and Robin Chambers. A native of Sasebo, Japan, Teruko was affectionately known as “Bachan” to her eight granddaughters: Angie (Bryan) Simon, Haley Brooks, Mandy (Ace) Duncan, Ally (Andy) Bishop, Hannah (Andy) Estes, Ellen (Matt) Lathrop, Claudia (David) Flynn, and Layne Rucks. She also loved her great-grandchildren: Drew, Disney, Abbi, and Brit Simon; Maggie Duncan; Aaron and Andrew Bishop; Billy and Everett Lathrop; and Darcy Flynn. She is also survived by nieces and nephews here in the US as well as in Japan.

Teruko met and married Richard while he was in the Army and stationed in Sasebo. They moved to Alabama in 1956 and she proudly became a US citizen. Teruko was a devoted wife and mother and loved to garden, cook, sew, and paint. An incredibly hard worker, Teruko could do anything and do it well. Although many of her long-time friends have gone before her, they and their families would remember her many acts of kindness and service.

Teruko was an active member of Ruhama Baptist Church when it was located in East Lake, and enjoyed caring for the preschool children during Sunday services.

The family would like to express deep gratitude to Candice, Gwen, and everyone involved in her care. A service will be held at Jefferson Memorial East in Trussville, AL, on Friday, April 12. Visitation is scheduled for 11:00 am until 12:00 noon followed by a chapel service at 12:00 noon with burial to follow at Jefferson Memorial Gardens East.

By Sean Dietrich, Sean of the South Commentary

“I’ve never met a blind dog before,” said the little boy. He was a foster child, his foster mother was with him. We were all introduced by chance in a public park.

The boy watched my dog, Marigold, walking along, bumping into a nearby fence. We were out for a potty-break. Marigold was trying to find a suitable patch of grass to do what I call, “leaving constructive criticism.”

The boy watched us in rapt wonder. We are a team. Dog and man. Marigold and me. I am Marigold’s “Seeing Eye” human. My job is to guide her through this world of woe. I have no idea what I’m doing, but I’m trying.

Sean of the South: Marigold

And at this particular moment, I was following Marigold closely with a plastic baggy over my hand, ready to do my duty. “Why is she blind?” the boy asked. I chose my words carefully. Because how do you tell an innocent foster child that somebody took a blunt object to this puppy’s head and destroyed her eyes? How do you tell a child there are humans out there who would use a length of rebar as a weapon against a soft, floppy-eared puppy? “Someone hurt her,” I said. “Why?” “Not everyone’s a nice person.” The boy’s eyes grew serious. “Yeah. I know.” He looked at Marigold prancing along and said nothing. He just observed.

The kid was maybe 6. He wore Levi’s and a striped shirt that showed his little belly. His hair was strawberry. Opie Taylor eat your heart out. His foster mother said he’s had a rough life. And that is all I’m permitted to tell you about him.

He watched Marigold with great interest. Marigold walks with a cautious gait. Sometimes she high-steps like she’s hiking through tall grass. She does this so she won’t stumble on any sudden obstacles.

We’ve been working on things, every day. When we go for walks, off-leash, I put a bell on my shoe so she can follow me.

Also, I taught her the word: “Step.” This is my cue word for Marigold to be aware of upcoming drop-offs, staircases, curbs, sidewalks, or gutters.

We’ve also been practicing using a leash. Although I’m not sure who is walking whom. She pulls harder than a protagonist from a Jack London novel.

If I were to wear roller skates during our walks, for example, I would be halfway to Québec right now. Marigold uses her voice a lot, too. Because it’s hard being blind. Her world is all black. Therefore she can’t communicate with body language or eye contact. All she has left is her voice.

I try to remind myself what it’s like to be sightless. A few days ago, I wore a blindfold for 24 hours just to see what it was like. I didn’t take it off. Not even to use the restroom. It was frightening. Have you ever gone without your sight? I felt alone sometimes. I had to have help getting into

the shower. In a word, it was scary.

So that’s why the relationship I have with Marigold is different than any relationship I’ve ever had.

I’ve had a lot of canines in my life. But they were all regular dogs. They could see, hear, smell, eat, run, play, terrorize the UPS guy, and leave constructive criticism on people’s lawns.

But this animal needs me. Marigold needs me to guide along the stairs. In crowded places, she nudges my calf with her nose so she won’t lose me.

At lunchtime, she needs me to tap her food bowl so she can find it. I’ve never been needed before. Not like this.

“Can I pet her?” said the little boy. “Sure.”

“Will she be afraid of me?”

“Not if you’re gentle.”

The boy called Marigold to him. She heard his voice and carefully walked in his direction.

“You’re a pretty girl,” said the boy.

When she came to him, the child held her head in his tiny hands. He inspected the ocular scar where her eye was removed. He used a tender hand to stroke her.

And then he began to cry. Tears slickened his cheeks. I started to feel badly.

“I’m sorry someone hurt you,” the boy said. Then he gave her a hug and wept into her fur.

“I love you,” he said, sniffling his nose. “I love you, love you, love you.”

The things you see as a Seeing Eye human.

The Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce presents

Two of our favorite foodie events are together again to showcase our local restaurants & bakeries!

Taste of Trussville

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Trussville Civic Center 5:30pm -8pm

Tickets $25 (limited number available )

Presenting Sponsor

Trussville Restaurant Week

(Including Restaurant Week Bingo)

Friday, May 10 through Sunday, May 26

Presenting Sponsor

Formoreinformationabouttheseeventsand/ortopurchase tickets,visittrussvillechamber.comorcontact thechamberat205-655-7535.

Sean Dietrich (Photo courtesy of seandietrich.com)

avvy s enio R

Senior: Best Cell Phones for Seniors

uct testing and recommendation service from The New York Times who recently tested 18 cell phone models. Their testing focus was on three different areas, including best phones for older adults who are comfortable with technology and want to upgrade to a full-featured smartphone with robust accessibility settings; best cell phones for seniors who are not tech-inclined or who prefer a smartphone with fewer features, as well as those who are experiencing vision, hearing, or dexterity issues; and best cell phones for elderly seniors who need specific accessibility features due to physical or cognitive issues. Here are their top choices based on their tests.

Apple iPhone 15 Plus: This is a great choice if your mom is comfortable with technology and willing to

spend more for a top-tier smartphone with a range of accessibility, health, and safety features. The 15 Plus has an easy-to-read, large (6.7-inch) screen and the most robust health and safety features, including an off-grid SOS, a personal-safety check, and plenty of customizable accessibility options that help seniors with vision and hearing loss, as well as with speaking and/or dexterity problems. ($899, apple.com).

Google Pixel 8: If your mom has been using an Android device and is more comfortable with this operating system, the Pixel 8 is a high-end, reasonably priced smartphone that tops their list for older adults. It too has a sharp, large (6.7-inch) screen with an excellent camara and many health, safety, and accessibility features that can help seniors with vision im-

pairment, hearing loss, hand tremors and more. And it costs significantly less than the new Samsung Galaxy and iPhone models. ($699, store. google.com).

Lively Jitterbug Smart4:

If your mom wants a simplified smartphone that’s very affordable, she might prefer this model. Like the Apple 15 Plus and Google Pixel 8, the Jitterbug Smart4 also has a 6.7-inch screen, but this phone comes with a list-based menu (no icons) that provides easy navigation. It also offers voice commands capabilities, and a number of health and safety services including a 24/7 emergency monitoring service. This phone would also work well for people with memory or vision issues. ($150, lively.com).

RAZ Mobility Memory Cell Phone: This phone is specifically designed for seniors with memory issues or more-advanced cognitive decline. Its uncluttered, simple functionality allows users to stay in touch with family and friends while also reducing common problems such as unnecessary calls to emergency services, spam, and fraud. It also has a dedicated SOS link on the screen that can alert up to three contacts; has GPS tracking capabilities; provides caregiver controls and more. ($349, razmobility. com). Snapfon ez4G: This is a non-smartphone if your mom doesn’t want or need all the functionality of a full-featured smartphone. This simple cell phone provides large buttons, big screen type and an SOS emergency button on the back of the phone that will alert up to five preselected contacts by call and text. ($100, snapfon. com). Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.

Legal Notice

In accordance with Chapter 1, Title 39, Code of Alabama, 1975, as amended, notice is hereby given that Blalock Building Company, Inc., Contractor, has completed the Contract for the New Athletic Pavilion for Hewitt-Trussville High School located at 6344 Husky Parkway, Trussville, AL 35173 for the State of Alabama and Trussville City Board of Education, Owner(s), and have made request for final settlement of said Contract. All persons having any claim for labor, materials, or otherwise in connection with this project should immediately notify, Lathan Associates Architects, P.C., 300 Chase Park South, Suite 200, Hoover, AL 35244. Blalock Building Company, Inc. 7309 Gadsden Highway Trussville, AL 35173

Local Meetings

● Trussville

●

Central Office

● Clay City Council Meetings: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month, 6pm

● Pinson City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, 7pm

● Center Point City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, 6:30pm

● Argo City Council Meetings: 2nd and 4th Monday of each month, 5pm

● Springville City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, 6pm

● Irondale City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, 6pm

● Leeds City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Monday of each month, 6pm

● Moody City Council Meetings: 2nd and 4th Monday of each month, 6pm

Preschoolers at Play Wednesday, April 10: 10:00am - 11:00am

Trussville - LBK Auditorium

Are you looking for a place where your child can learn through play? Join us twice a month for this fun, interactive program! No registration is needed.

Children’s Storytime Thursday, April 11: 9:30am - 10:00am

Trussville - LBK Auditorium

Join Ms. Alicia for stories, songs, bubble time, and lots of fun!

Children’s Storytime Thursday, April 11: 10:30am - 11:00am

Trussville - LBK Auditorium

Join Ms. Alicia for stories, songs, bubble time, and lots of fun!

Yarn Manglers Thursday, April 11: 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Trussville - Cahaba Room

Knitters and crocheters, join us for fellowship and creativity!

Library 101 - Get to know

Trussville Public Library Thursday, April 11: 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Trussville - Board Room

Learn the basics of what TPL has to offer and how you can access it.

Superstition! Presented by Ruth Beaumont Cook Thursday, April 11: 6:30pm - 7:30pm

Trussville - Cahaba Room

Ruth Beaumont Cook will be joining us to talk about the history and background behind the superstitions that follow us.

Storytime for Growin’ Beans with Ms. Allison: Letter N Fri Apr 12th 10:00am - 11:00am, Pinson Public Library

Our theme is The Letter N. We’ll read books, have fun, do a craft, & have a snack.

Chess Club Monday, April 15: 5:00pm - 6:00pm

Trussville - LBK Auditorium

Learn the basics, cool tricks, strategy, opening, and tactic in chess from a ChessKidsNation coach.

Bunco Night Mon Apr 15th 5:00pm - 7:00pm, Pinson Public Library

Join us as we play a few

fun games of Bunco at the Library. Small prizes will be provided by the library. Adults only. Snacks will be served.

Tech Tuesdays Tue Apr 16th 10:00am - 12:00pm, Pinson Public Library

(Adults)Need help with your tablet, smartphone, or computer? Mr. Keith is here to help! Please bring your device with you if you are able to do so. No registration is required.

Teen Advisory Board

Tuesday, April 16: 4:00pm - 5:00pm

Trussville - Parkway Room

A place for teens to help out at the library.

Early Readers’ Book Club with Ms. Riana:

Ruby Finds a Worry

Tue Apr 16th 4:00pm - 5:30pm

Pinson Public Library

(All ages, intended for Kindergarten-2nd graders)

Registration Required

Join us for another Early Readers Book Club with Ms. Riana! At the meeting, each child will get a copy of the same book & will read along as Ms. Riana reads the whole or part of the story aloud. Then the group will discuss, answer reading comprehension questions, & the kids will have a chance to read aloud.

Trussville Jeopardy Tuesday, April 16: 6:30pm

welcomed the Tigers to Goldie Paine for a game on Thursday night in a game that would see Hewitt beat Springville 10-0.

The Huskies would get two runs as Corey Goguts hit a home run to get things started on the first at-bat of the game for Hewitt. Zaylen Tucker was walked and then Ahkeela Honeycut drove her in on a base hit and error by the Tigers. Goguts would drive in a waiting Sara Phillips and Peyton Hull in the second followed by a single by Honeycut that brought home Goguts to make it 5-0 after two innings.

Chaney Peters would take the first pitch of the third over the right field wall to make it 6-0 Huskies, followed by a double by…you guessed it…

Goguts who brought home Phillips and Ryleight Wood to make it 8-0 heading into the fourth inning.

The Huskies would get another run in the fourth when Lexie Kelly hit a single that brought Sarah Beth Golden home for the 9-0 lead. Goguts would finish off her fantastic night at the plate by hitting her second home run of the game in the fifth to finish off the 10-0 win over the Springville Tigers.

Springville’s Leah Bowden and Shelby Hathcock each had a hit in the game. As you could probably guess, Corey Goguts led at the plate. She went four of four with six RBI and two homeruns for the Huskies. On the mound was Sara Phillips, who got the complete-game shutout, allowing two hits and striking out six in her five innings.

Springville dominates Saint Clair in three straight

By Johnny Sanders

– The Springville Tigers are staking their claim as one of the best baseball teams in 5A with a 19-7 record thus far in the 2024 season and that trajectory continued this week, after dropping two of four in Gulf Shores over spring

Springville faced crosstown rivals Saint Clair County Saints in a trio of games on Tuesday and Thursday this week, winning all games by large margins. Tuesday’s game was a home game for the Tigers against the Saints, ending in a 10-0 win for Springville. The Tigers jumped out early, scoring four in the first inning, one in the second and finishing things off with five runs in the bottom of the fourth to seal the deal. Carter Samuelson got a complete-game no-hitter, going all five innings and striking out eight batters in the outing. Grant Martinez was a perfect two for two at the plate driving in two runs. Tanner Oakes had two RBI as well. Thursday meant a trip over to Saint Clair for the Tigers for a doubleheader and

they continued their dominance over the Saints in each game.

In the first game, the Saints managed to keep it close for an inning as the first ended in a 1-1 tie. Springville’s bats would come alive in the second, putting six runs on the board and taking a 7-1 lead. The third would be scoreless and then Springville would put up a run in the fourth and four in the fifth to end the game at 12-1, Tigers. Alex Holland went the distance, allowing two hits and a single run in five innings to go with seven strikeouts. Martinez had another great night hitting, going three of four with three RBI to go with a three

of four performance by Kade Willis, who added two RBI. Game two would be much the same as the previous one as the Tigers would score four in the first, six in the second and two in the third to jump out to a 12-0 lead. The teams would go scoreless in the fourth before each team scored two in the fifth, making it 14-2 and that would be the final. Kade Willis got the win, going two innings and allowing two hits and no runs while striking out two batters. Tanner Oakes came in for the final three innings, picking up a save and allowing two hits, two runs and striking

Corey Goguts takes a swing during her 2-home run, 4 hit, 6 RBI performance against Springville.

Photo by: Shawn Bowles Photography

Springville's Kade Willis with the pitch. (Photo by: SHS Baseball)

Barber Motorsports Park continues to give to race fans

By John Goolsby Prep Sports Editor

Later this month, the NTT IndyCar Series will once again bring the world’s fastest race cars and most diverse drivers to Barber Motorsports Park. The 2024 edition of the Indianapolis-based openwheel series showcases drivers from fourteen countries who race on superspeedways, short ovals, and road and street courses. Their 1,700-pound open-wheel cars produce 700 horsepower and reach speeds over 240 MPH.

George Barber’s creation in Leeds has become one of the best racing venues in the country. The facility is regarded as the “Augusta National” of tracks due to the sheer volume and variety of trees, plants, and flowers on its 880 acres. The picturesque property is home to a worldclass 17-turn, 2.38-mile European-style road course. The IndyCar race weekends have averaged 80,000 people since the 2010 race.

Barber is well respected in the racing world and a special place to me. Not only does Barber represent what’s great about Birmingham and Alabama, but it has also given me some fantastic experiences and memories over the years.

Growing up in nearby Irondale, the thought of openwheel cars racing a few miles from my home in NASCAR country was incomprehensible. In the early 1980s, the only real way I could keep up with IndyCar or Formula One was through the pages of Road & Track magazine. I couldn’t wait to get each month’s issue and devour the stories and results from the previous races. The open-wheel racing world might as well have been a million miles away from my 35210 zip code.

As a 12-year-old kid, my dad’s red Craftsman riding lawn mower was, in my young imagination, a Ferrari Formula One car, and the mowing patterns around my house were the most fantastic road courses, even at 4 miles per hour! Nearly four decades later, as I was being strapped into the back of an IndyCar two-seater driven by 2013 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner Martin Plowman, I chuckled when I thought back to those hot summer lawn-mowing days. And for the record, the young Brit vanquished any thoughts I may have harbored of having the skills to be a professional race car driver by the time we exited Turn 3

I went to Barber in its infancy for the Grand-Am Sports Car Series races. However, in the fall of 2007, the unlikely occurred. I was among the hundred people who showed up to watch IndyCars take the track for the first time.

Barber gave me many memories that day. Conversations with Tony Kanaan, Danica Patrick, and Scott Dixon were some of the highlights. I will always cherish my conversation with Dan Wheldon, the two-time Indy 500 champion, who tragically passed away in an accident five years later. Another memory from that day was talking to Helio Castroneves as he raced in from shooting Dancing With The Stars in Los Angeles. Even though he was hurrying to test, he spoke with me and answered my questions.

Barber gave me a friendship that day. Dennis DeVries, an Auburn professor and huge IndyCar fan, made the drive from the plains for that first test. Dennis and I have watched races and tests in the heat, the rain, the cold, and

storms. Whatever the crazy Alabama spring has thrown at us, we’ve “weathered” it over the past 16 years. Last year, Dennis and I watched our 13th IndyCar race together with family and friends. Barber can even bring Bama and Auburn fans together.

Barber gave me the “Father of the Year” and “World’s Worst Dad” awards on the same day. One year, I was allowed to take a “hot” lap around Barber in the pace car. There was only one slight problem; my son, Drew, was with me as he had been since he was five. Usually, it wasn’t a problem to find a place for him because “Mr. Dennis” would typically keep an eye on him. On this day, Dennis

had not yet made it to the track.

“Where am I going to put him?” I wondered as we queued up in line. A Honda representative gave me a wink and whispered, “he can go.” As I attempted to explain to the official that my son wasn’t even close to the legal age, he shushed me and pointed to the waiver. We dashed across pit lane and jumped into the car with the legalities out of the way. “Who does this; who takes a chance with their kid on a race track?” I asked myself. Those questions quickly disappeared when I saw the smile on my son’s face. Who was behind the wheel? Conor

Barber Motorsports Park. Credit: Barber Motorsports Park

John and Drew Goolsby (Photo by John Goolsby)

Tigers bounce back from Hewitt loss, win six in two days

By Johnny Sanders Sports Editor

GADSDEN – The Springville Lady Tigers continued their fantastic softball season over the weekend, winning all six of the games they played in the Terry Vest Tournament in Gadsden on Friday and Saturday.

Play began Friday evening with a game against Fyffe in which the Tigers blanked the Red Devils 5-0. The two teams went scoreless in the first two innings before Springville knocked in three runs in the third. The fourth would also be scoreless and then the Tigers would add two more to the total in the fifth to make it a 5-0 final. Bella Bullington got the complete-game shutout going all five innings while allowing a single hit and striking out six batters. Bullington also led at the plate with two RBI.

Next up for Springville was the Spring Garden Panthers. It was a dog fight for the first three innings as neither team could find home plate. Finally, in the fourth, the Tigers put two on the board. Spring Garden answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, but Springville’s two in the top of the fifth proved to be enough to seal the deal and give them a 4-1 win in the Friday night finale. Shelby Hathcock got the win, allowing two hits and one run while striking out three. Kiley Christopher had two RBI from the plate on the night.

may have been their toughest test as they took on the Plainview Bears. Springville jumped out 1-0 before the Bears answered in the top of the second to tie it. The Tigers took the narrow lead by scoring two in the bottom of the second and the two teams would go scoreless for the remainder of the game, ending in a 3-1 Springville victory. Chancellor would get the win, going all five innings, allowing five hits and one run and striking out nine Plainview batters. Kaylee Sue Martin had an RBI in the game.

Stallions improve to 2-0 with win over Panthers

John Goolsby Prep Sports Editor

DETROIT – The Bir-

mingham Stallions (2-0) went on the road for their second game in a row and hung on for a 20-13 win over the Michigan Panthers (1-1).

The Stallions’ defense made a stand at the end of the game to secure the win.

“I was really pleased with the way the defense played there at the end of the game; they finished it,” said head coach Skip Holtz.

drove to the Panthers’ 12-yard line but could not punch the ball in the end zone.

The Stallions extended their lead to 6-0 with a 30yard field goal by Blewitt.

The Stallions’ defense came up with another big play. Defensive back Kenny Robinson, Jr. scooped up a Panther fumble near midfield and returned it to the Michigan 35-yard line.

On Saturday morning, the Tigers started their day off with a game against the Bison of North Sand Mountain. The Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first and put three more across the plate in the third to make it 5-0 and that is how it would stand. Hathcock and Georgia Chancellor would combine for a no-hitter and each pitcher would get three strikeouts. Bullington would continue getting it done at the plate, going a perfect one for one and bringing home two RBI.

In Saturday’s second game for the Tigers, they would play Spring Garden again and this time the fate would be much worse for the Panthers as Springville would whip them 12-1. In the top of the fourth, the Panthers found themselves at an 8-0 deficit before putting up their only run of the game. Springville would add the last four runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth to make it 12-1 and give the Tigers their fourth consecutive win. Bullington got the complete game win, allowing three hits, one run and striking out four batters. Aida Locklear went two of three from the plate, driving in four runs to go with Leah Bowden’s three of three performance, driving in two.

Game five for the Tigers

The final game of the tournament for Springville may have been their most impressive, an 11-0 win over Etowah. The Tigers put up three in the first, two in the third and six in the fourth and completely shut down the Blue Devils’ bats. Shelby Hathcock went all five innings and gave up two hits and no runs, striking out seven batters. Ashlyn Cooley went two of three and had three RBI to go with two RBI from Alex Layfield and Emmy Leopard. Springville head coach JP Taruc spoke of the tough regular season and what it has done for his team thus far. “This is the toughest regular season schedule that we have ever played. Just naming a few of our regular season opponents outside of our area, we have played Thompson, Spain Park, Vestavia, Pell City, Plainview, Mortimer Jordan, Hoover, and Hewitt-Trussville. Playing great teams makes us better as a team because every pitch matters from beginning to end. Plus, I want our team to be battle-tested because it will

The Stallions have now won eight straight games dating back to last season.

The Stallions moved the ball 54 yards on their opening drive, but it stalled on the 16yard line.

Birmingham took an early 3-0 lead with a 34-yard Chris Blewitt field goal with 5:45

remaining in that opening stanza.

The Panthers then moved the ball to the Stallions’ 16yard line but threw an interception to Detroit native A.J. Thomas at the 12-yard line.

The Stallions, with Adrian Martinez at quarterback,

The Stallions, unable to score a touchdown, kicked their third field goal to take a 9-0 lead on a Blewitt 38-yarder. The Panthers continued to fight and got on the board quickly with a 76-yard E.J. Perry to Marcus Simms touchdown with 3:25 remaining to make it a 9-7 game.

Birmingham wasn’t done

Springville's Bella Bullington pitching. (Photo by Jodi Davidson)

CJ Marable Credit: Birmingham Stallions and UFL

From page 18

Daly, who just happened to be one of my son’s favorite drivers at the time.

Barber gave me the opportunity to meet drivers I had only read about in magazines. I always wanted to meet the legends of Indycar: Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears, Johnny Rutherford, and Roger Penske. Thanks to Barber, I’ve met and talked to them all. And there at Barber, all those years later, I gave Mario Andretti, Daytona 500 winner, Indy 500 winner, IndyCar Champion, and Formula One World Champion, a laugh as I told him about my fascination with open-wheel racing as a kid in Irondale. Barber gave me the opportunity to spend time with IndyCar media legends. I talked to the late Robin Miller, the longtime Indianapolis journalist, in the paddock about Barber’s place in the IndyCar universe. “Barber is awesome; all the drivers love it and bring their families,” he said. “Of course, the Indy 500 is number one, the Long Beach Grand Prix is number two, and Barber is number three.” That was pretty high praise from the salty veteran journalist.

Barber gave me the opportunity to glimpse the past. At a Legends of Motorsports event at Barber, I watched vintage 1970s-era Formula One cars

Tigers

take their place on the starting grid. Mechanics, in retro uniforms, busily prepared their cars while “grid girls” decked out in the period’s clothes held umbrellas for drivers.

As the PA system blasted The Doors’ L.A. Woman, imagining I was standing at Brands Hatch, Spa, Monza, or Watkins Glen in 1972 wasn’t too difficult.

Barber has given me the opportunity to see the racing world through my son’s eyes. Drew has met dozens of drivers, almost every Indy 500 winner since 1961, been invited into A.J. Foyt Racing’s garage by the legend himself, had his picture taken with Formula One World Champions Mario Andretti and Fernando Alonso, sat in the car with race winner Simon Pagenaud in victory circle, attended chapel with IndyCar Ministry, eaten in Andretti

Globals hospitality, and taken laps around the track to name just a few of his unique experiences at Barber. However, I suspect riding Michael Jackson’s old Ferris wheel on the property like Bubbles the Chimp has fallen out of his top ten list now that he has become a credentialed photographer at the IndyCar race.

Barber is a jewel of Birmingham and offers fans the opportunity to spend quality time with family outdoors and make unforgettable memories. If you have not had the chance to make it out to a race at Barber, do yourself a favor and make plans to attend the Children’s of Alabama Grand Prix April 28-30. Eventive Sports does a fantastic job of promoting events at the track and you won’t be disappointed. Tickets can be purchased at indyalabama.com or by calling 877-332-7804.

Corey

From page 17

Hewitt-Trussville head coach Taylor Burt said, “We did a great job of being aggressive but smart in the box last night. We hit the ball as hard as we have all season, which I was really proud of.

Sara is always going to give us a chance in every game, but she got it done on both sides last night, along with Corey (Goguts), who had a monster night with four hits (2 HR) and six RBI. Overall, we hit it well from top to bottom of the lineup which we have not done a lot this season.”

Burt continued, “I feel good about where we are as a team right now. We have a lot of season left, but we are improving in some way every time we step on the field, which is all you can ask for. Hopefully we will continue to do that and be playing out best

Stallions

From page 19

scoring. Ricky Person, Jr. scored on a one-yard run with 29 seconds left in the first half to give the Stallions a 17-7 lead.

Michigan made the score 17-10 on a 62-yard field goal by Jake Bates with two seconds remaining in the first half.

and Chelsea (Thursday) this week.

line with 13:04 left in the game that consumed almost seven minutes. Quarterback Matt Corral led the Stallions to the Panthers’ nine-yard line before throwing an interception in the back of the endzone.

The Panthers could not move the ball and were forced to punt to the Stallions. Likewise, Birmingham could not run the clock out and had to punt.

The Stallions continue to use a two-quarterback approach and Holtz seems to be pleased.

“They’re doing a nice job around the offense,” Holtz said. “They’re cheering for each other.”

From page 19 Springville

help us grow, learn, improve and stay united as one. Iron sharpens iron and playing the best will definitely make us better. Also, to be the best we

From page 17 Barber

out eight. Oakes did it from the plate as well, going two

have to play the best. I truly believe that playing a schedule like this will help us get ready for the big tournaments such as area, region and state. I am extremely proud of our team because they have accepted this challenge.”

of three and driving in three runs. Jake Conner added two RBI on one of one hitting. Matthew Murray and Carter Samuelson added two RBI

Despite the tough schedule, the Tigers sit atop 5A softball in the state with a 20-7 record. Springville will travel to Hayden on Tuesday before welcoming Pell City on Thursday and Fairview next Monday.

each as well. The Tigers sit at 19-7 as they prepare for a doubleheader at Pell City on Saturday.

The Stallions took the opening kickoff and moved to the Panthers’ goal line. Once again, the Stallions were forced to kick a field goal. Blewitt connected on a 20yard kick to extend the Birmingham lead to 20-10.

The Panthers moved to the Stallions’ 35-yard line before the drive stalled. Bates connected on a 53-yard field goal to pull Michigan within seven of the Stallions with 4:31 remaining in the third period.

The two teams then traded punts on their next two series. Birmingham’s offense began a drive at their 28-yard

The Panthers, taking the ball at their 27-yard line with 2:25 remaining, had one last chance to tie the game or take the lead.

Aided by two fifteen-yard personal foul penalties, the Panthers moved inside the Birmingham 15-yard line with twenty seconds remaining in the game.

On fourth and sixth, former Michigan Wolverine Taco Charlton pressured Perry into throwing an incomplete pass. Birmingham took a knee to end the game.

“They’re both here to get film,” he said. “They’re both being productive.”

“They both move the ball up and down the field. So I think we’re going to need them both before this is all over,” he said.

The Stallions could only score one touchdown on six trips inside the red zone.

“You know, I thought, offensively, there were a lot of positive things when we moved the ball, but our red zone offense was awful,” Holtz said.

The Stallions host the Memphis Showboats this Saturday night in Protective Stadium at 6 PM.

The Stallions held the Panthers to 205 total yards. Birmingham rushed for 161 yards and threw for 141 yards.

Corey Goguts – Hewitt-Trussville Softball

Springville looks to bounce back as they head to Hayden on Tuesday and host Pell City on Thursday after Friday’s Terry Vest Tournament in Gadsden.

Sara Phillips with the wind-up.

Photo by: Shawn Bowles Photography

Scott McLaughlin – Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix (Photo by Chris Owens)