A look inside the new Moody Police Department
By Chris Basinger, Staff Writer
MOODY, Ala. – After over a year without a permanent station to call home, members of the Moody Police Department spent the week getting settled into their brand new building, which looks to serve the growing city for years to come.
Trussville City Council approves $7.6 million sports complex project
By Chris Basinger, Staff Writer
TRUSSVILLE, Ala.
Former Police Chief Thomas Hunt started the push for the new building in 2021, citing the need for additional space and the deterioration of the old station, which had been hit by multiple tornadoes and had signs of mildew.
“Basically we had outgrown what we were in,” said Moody Mayor Joe Lee.
“We were, at one time, six officers and now we’re 28 officers, so we gotta have somewhere for those guys to work out of.”
When the project started to gain traction in 2022, current Police Chief Reece Smith, who was the patrol captain at the time, said officers began touring other police stations, including Homewood and Alabaster,
to get inspiration for the design of their new building.
“We kind of came up with a hybrid plan and, you know, chiseled away at it and tried to get it to fit us and we finally decided on this plan,” Smith said.
“We felt like it fits our department and it will fit our department for the future to come. I don’t foresee myself or Mayor Lee ever seeing this building get full, but it will one day.”
Ultimately, the city chose to demolish the old building and build the new station on the existing site at
2900 Daniel Drive next door to City Hall. They officially broke ground on Feb. 1, 2023.
Since then, the police department has been working out of two locations–a mobile trailer in a lot across the street from the station and a smaller municipal building.
“It had its ups and downs but we were able to make it work,” Smith said
The approximately $7 million project was mostly funded by a bond issue while around $1.5 million came from the American Rescue Plan Act and other
city funds.
The new 18,000-squarefoot, two-story building boasts numerous offices for the growing department as well as additional space for storage and evidence.
“The biggest thing was space,” Smith said.
“We needed space to grow cause we’re a growing city and we think the future’s bright for the City of Moody and we want to be prepared for that rather than have to adjust to that.”
The new evidence lockup is triple the size of the previous one and is attached to a basic crime lab.
Outside the lockup and the lab, which are only accessible to certified personnel, are a set of lockers where officers can now drop off evidence to be processed.
The new building also has a secured storage facility, which can be used to store seized vehicles on-site as opposed to having to use a third party.
Though the new station does not have a jail, its booking facilities have also
See MOODY PD, Page 6
By Chris Basinger, Staff Writer
– The Trussville Sports Complex is gearing up for a major renovation following the city council’s approval of a $7.6 million project at the facility during its July 9 meeting. Clay approves $100,000 donation to Center Point Fire District
Trussville man sentenced in health care fraud case
From Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –
Another man has been sentenced in a series of cases involving multimillion-dollar health care fraud and kickback conspiracies, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Wednesday.
Earlier this week, U.S. District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced
Leeds Board of Education creates position to address absenteeism
By Nathan Prewett
LEEDS, Ala. – The Leeds Board of Education approved a resolution to create a new teaching position that will address chronic absenteeism in addition to promoting the school district.
Superintendent John Moore said that the position
‘On
par with a state championship;’ Hewitt-Trussville outperforms state, national AP Test scores
By Chris Basinger, Staff Writer
TRUSSVILLE, Ala. –
Trussville City Schools recently announced that the Advanced Placement (AP) Test scores at Hewitt-Trussville High School were double the state average and significantly higher than the national average, according to preliminary data.
AP classes are college-level classes, which can count for college credit, offered to high school students.
Tests are graded on a 1-5 scale with a passing score being a 3-5.
Of the 1,752 AP tests taken by 701 HTHS students, 1,327 received a passing score.
Hewitt-Trussville’s passing rate of 75.7% far exceeded the state AP passing rate of 36% as well as the national average passing rate of 57.5%.
By Terry Schrimscher
CLAY, Ala. – The Clay City Council met for the first regular meeting of the month on Tuesday night, July 9. Most of the published agenda focused on public nuisance resolutions dealing with weeds or debris.
man faces multiple charges after police chase in Leeds
“This is pretty incredible stuff.”
HTHS saw 11 of its AP courses increase their yearover-year pass rate and three
“As far as kind of what we’re seeing with this AP-the number of kids in the program and the pass rates that they’re achieving-I’d put this on par with a state championship,” said Hewitt-Trussville High School Principal Aaron King.
courses have above a 4 average student score--Calculus BC (4.67), United States Government and Politics (4.29), and Precalculus (4.03).
King attributed the school’s success to its talented teachers as well as training and incentives from A+ College Ready, an organization that partners with schools to help raise academic expectations for all students.
“The people that were hired here have not only the content knowledge but they have a love for kids and a heart for teaching and a lot
See HTHS, Page 7
See PINSON MOVIE, Page
CLAY, Page
The exterior of the new Moody police station. Chris Basinger/Trussville Tribune
Alabama high school coach Chris Smelley.
The Trussville Tribune
190 Main Street
Trussville, AL 35173 (205) 533-8664
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Jana Matthews, Finance Manager
Brookelyn Rush, Office Manager
Leigh Hays, Director of Sales & Marketing
Trussville welcomes 7 Brew Coffee with ribbon cutting
By Chris Basinger, Staff Writer
TRUSSVILLE, Ala.
–
The Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Trussville officially welcomed the city’s newest business, 7 Brew Coffee, to town with a ceremonial ribbon cutting Wednesday morning.
Dozens of people gathered to enjoy free coffee and mark the opening of the new location.
“We’ve had a location in Moody for about a year now, and so we’ve just been itching to get over into the Trussville area and we just felt like Trussville was a perfect town to pop-up a 7 Brew and share the love over here and cultivate some kindness,” Regional Director of Operations Jackson Barclay said.
During the ceremony, 7 Brew also presented the Hewitt-Trussville High School Husky Band with a $1,000 donation to support the development of young leaders in the community.
The drive-thru coffee stand, located at 5982 Chalkville Mtn. Road, aims to add 50 jobs to the Trussville area and offers over
20,000 unique drink combinations.
“Whatever drink you can think of we can probably make it for you,” Barclay said.
“We love bringing fast and super friendly service and we just love being a part of the community.”
To celebrate its opening, 7 Brew is offering free coffee hours throughout the week and will host a “Swag Day” on July 13 where customers who purchase a large drink will get a free 7 Brew shirt.
Jackson Barclay cuts the ribbon to officially open 7 Brew Trussville. Chris Basinger/ Trussville Tribune
7 Brew presents a check to the Hewitt-Trussville High School Husky Band. Chris Basinger/Trussville Tribune
People gather for the ribbon cutting at Trussville’s newest business. Chris Basinger/Trussville Tribune
Development
From front page
ing from Councilman Eric Turner, who raised several concerns.
The proposal is a $60 million project to develop the area around the exit in which the long-discussed sports park would be a part of. Another key feature is a bridge that would connect to an area for residential development said to be thousands of acres.
The development also includes three hotels with more than 400 rooms, a retail component owned by Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) and a water attraction called “Crystal Lagoon” that features a beach.
In a press release later sent out, Miller stated that the project was made possible through the Leeds Economic Team consisting of him, Lee Barnes, Laura Barnes, Johnny Brunson, Scott Barnett, Brad Watson, Advisor Charlie Waldrep, and their partners, Jefferson County, Sports Illustrated, RSA, and USX or United States Steel.
The action at the July 15 meeting was approved by most on the council following a nearly two-hour executive session, which was the only item on the agenda aside from the action to pass the resolution.
However, Turner said that a proposal for the bridge was brought to the council a year ago and fell through, being “declared dead” and that the county would not build it. But on June 27 a meeting was called in which the matter was brought back to them.
He added that after the
Sports Complex
From front page
The project will add turf and new dugouts to all the lower baseball and softball fields at the sports complex, including the Miracle League field which can accommodate mentally and physically disabled players.
The council voted unanimously to award the project to local construction company Milam & Company, LLC, who came in with the lowest bid of the five submitted with $7,678,416.
Parks and Recreation
Director David Vinson said this project would have Trussville joining the trend of other cities that have synthetic turf, which will allow for less rainouts and more practice time.
Last fall, the council approved a resolution to begin the process of installing turf fields at the sports complex by entering into negotiations with Lathan Associates Architects, who completed the
L oca L / R egion
meeting they were shown a slideshow displaying the numbers but when he asked if he could be sent a copy of the slideshow, he was told the developers would “not be comfortable” doing so.
The recently passed agreement allows the city to build the bridge on a $15 million bond, said Turner. He raised the expenses as an issue.
“It’s been less than two weeks and they won’t let us see anything,” Turner said. “And the mayor has a point: we didn’t see anything when we did economic development when he did Buc-ees, but this is just such a big expenditure and we have $160 million right now, and this is another $30 million or at least $22 million debt that we’re going to go into.”
He then questioned what the attorney fees would be like. Miller replied that the fees would be “normal”, that there would be a refinance of about $50,000, which he said would save the city several million dollars.
The following exchange between Turner and Miller became somewhat tense. Turner pointed out that the agreement gave the mayor and the attorneys full authority to move forward and that the last time they did so was when the city hall building was purchased when what he said was an unnecessary payment to an outside attorney was made. Miller replied that this was a normal protocol.
Turner delivered his final thoughts before Miller said that the development will bring in an estimated $370 million over the next 30 years, an economic boon for the city.
“It will guarantee the future of our schools,” he said.
“It will guarantee access to the largest remaining piece
project’s design.
Vinson added that this is the first major renovation the sports complex has seen since it opened 30 years ago and comes as the baseball program has seen significant grown since the city took over its operation. He expects around 700 kids to participate in the sport when it starts up again.
In other council business: The council unanimously approved a resolution
• Missing since 6/9 near Magnolia Elementary.
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• 50 lbs, microchipped & food motivated.
• Human friendly but not always dog friendly.
• Reward offered for her safe return.
If found or seen, please call 508-292-7069 or 774-722-2642
declaring two sets of wooden shelves at the library as surplus.
• Mayor Buddy Choat reported that the next town hall with him and TCS Superintendent Dr. Patrick Martin to discuss the upcoming vote on a new ad valorem tax to fund school district projects will be held on July 25 at 6 p.m. at the Hewitt-Trussville High School Fine Arts Center.
of property in Leeds. It will be – access by that bridge will open up not only this park but an additional 4,000 acres of residential land, which is not going to be had anywhere else in the city of Leeds.”
Council members DeVoris Ragland-Pierce and Kenneth Washington spoke favorably about the agreement.
“We knew some things about the project last year,” Ragland-Pierce said. “And
some things have changed but I do see this as a great opportunity to have the restaurants that citizens say they want. I think this is a great opportunity for economic development when it comes to houses and I just see this as a win-win for Leeds.”
A man who did not identify himself spoke from the audience and criticized the agreement, saying that citizens’ money would be paying for it until he was warned by Police Chief Paul Irwin that if he interrupted further, he would have to leave. The man then left the building.
Miller proposed that a public meeting may be held soon to discuss the details of the project.
“We didn’t publish the details of the agreement,” Miller later said. “We never do it and neither does any other city publish the details of a development when you’re part of competing for that development. It’s a competitive thing. So now it’s past, we’re going to do it. It’s going to remake Leeds.”
The agreement was approved after a 5-1 vote.
During public comments Shannon Edwards spoke and criticized American Legion Post 107 in Leeds. She alleged that the leadership of the post has mistreated veterans and that its manager was running a “money-laundering” biker bar.
Donnie Hughes then spoke and countered her claims and said that they were untrue.
Meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of every month at City Hall on 1400 9th Street Northeast.
Agenda packets can be seen online at the City of Leeds website.
A new development in Leeds will include a water park and multiple athletic fields.
The Trussville City Council meets for its regular meeting on July 9. Chris Basinger/Trussville Tribune
The
Rodeo Company-Jr. Pro Division.
That night, young athletes will show off their skills in junior bucking bulls, ranch broncos, and the fan-favorite mutton busting.
The festivities will continue Saturday night with professional rodeo events including bull riding, saddle bronc riding, and bareback bronc riding.
There will also be entertainment between events
Pinson Movie
tested and is set in Pinson.
“Everything from ‘Frienemy for Life’ was done right here in Pinson–all the businesses, all the locations was done right here,” said DieDra Ruff, who produced the movie with her husband Keithen.
DieDra is a recording artist who has toured the world singing the Blues while her husband is a music producer who has worked with Grammy award winning artists.
Ruff said they got the idea to do a movie in their own hometown after she was involved with a movie produced by her cousin in North Carolina.
such as rodeo clown antics, free goodies from title sponsor TriGreen Equipment, a petting zoo, and free roping demonstrations for the kids.
Two scholarships will also be awarded to two recently graduated FFA seniors from Pell City High School on Saturday night.
Over the weekend, rodeo-goers will also get the chance to purchase 50/50 tickets as well as raffle tickets for a new Pitboss Griddle Grill and two custom built Alabama and Auburn fire pits.
Both nights will also feature nine food vendors serving up fair foods including kettle corn, boiled peanuts, and snow cones, and popups selling western wear and homemade crafts.
“We want to thank all of our sponsors, supporters
and attendees for helping us make this a success year after year,” said Ben Castleberry, the Pell City FFA advisor and one of the event
organizers. “Agriculture is a large part of every American citizens’ life and we thank you all for helping us prepare the
future generation of agriculture in Pell City!” The gates will open at 5 p.m. on both Friday, July 19, and Saturday, July 20.
Friday’s junior rodeo show will begin at 7 p.m. while Saturday’s professional rodeo will begin at 8 p.m.
Friday tickets will be $15 and Saturday tickets will be $20.
Kids 5 and under will be able to attend for free. Tickets will only be sold at the gate and will be cash only.
There will be an
they began sending the trailer around until it was picked up by TBH Network.
DieDra met with the owner of the network who was “just blown away about all the things we had done.”
Since the network started streaming the movie, DieDra said they have received lots of excellent reviews and hope to distribute the movie to a wider audience.
Ruff also teased that they have started production on a new film titled “Turkey Creek,” which will also be shot around Pinson.
During one of those 11-hour drives back home, her husband suggested the idea and came up with the premise that would eventually become “Frienemy for Life.”
will have the teacher acting as a mentor working with students who are missing too many days in school.
He said that chronic absenteeism was exacerbated by the COVID pandemic that started in 2020. Prior to the pandemic Moore said that their methods for confronting the problem worked adequately, often meeting with parents to address indi-
“In October of 2021 I ended up getting COVID, so I was stuck in the bed for 10 days so I started writing the movie for my husband,” Ruff said.
vidual concerns. However, things have changed several years later.
“We had a lot of virtual learning,” he said. “We had a lot of non-learning, and some people to be honest have become lax in setting school attendance as a priority for the children. COVID taught us that there’s no substitute for traditional learning in a school with a great teacher.
The problem has become national and not unique to
It took her about 3 weeks to write the script and after some fine-tuning, they held auditions with actors traveling from around Birmingham and Atlanta to participate. They shot the film all around Pinson and even got the mayor involved.
Leeds, Moore stressed. He mentioned that when he began teaching 27 years ago the overwhelming majority of students were in attendance but this is not so in recent times.
“This person will take control of that,” Moore said. “Not to say that parents still won’t have a hearing. But we’re going to find out why and where to knock on doors.”
The position will also have them mentoring new
“We actually got the mayor to do one of the scenes,” Ruff said.
“We got him doing a scene where he’s the judge, so that worked out perfect because we were able to use the courtroom right there in Pinson City Hall.”
teachers along with working with social media more to promote the Leeds school system.
“I think y’all are about to see a greater social media presence in the school that’s daily pumping out information,” he said.
“It means a lot to me now because when you see the mayor now it’s just heartbreaking,” she added. The film premiered in September of 2023 at the Rock School to a crowd of over 180 people. Following the premier,
“I’m grateful because having a relationship with city hall and the people here in the city, a lot of people opened up their businesses and things like that for us to actually shoot,” Ruff said. She added that “Turkey Creek” will be dedicated to Mayor Joe Cochran.
Additionally, the board heard a report from Chief Financial Officer Ryan Miller for the months of April and May. The district received 70% of the general fund revenue along with 92.85% of the
revenue, which is up 21.30% from 2023. Expenditures were at 64.89%. Accounts payable were $525,000. The month of May ended with an excess of revenues over expenditure of $5.6 million and the unreserved fund balance was $10.5 million. In other business the board: Agreed to join the Sand
The 2023 Bulls on the Lake Rodeo. Via Pell City Bulls on the Lake Facebook.
Pinson Mayor Joe Cochran played the judge in the movie. Courtesy of DieDra Ruff.
The poster for the movie. Courtesy of DieDra Ruff. The cast and crew of “Frienemy for Life.” Courtesy of DieDra Ruff.
local
Mountain Cooperative for child nutrition and Heard a budget amendments presentation from Miller The next regular meeting will be held on Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. at the Leeds Board of Education Building located on 1517 Hurst Avenue. Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@ gmail.com.
Leeds Superintendent John Moore. Photo by Nathan Prewett.
One item of new business was introduced by City Manager Ronnie Dixon in his report to the council. In his summary of business before the city, Dixon introduced a request to support the Center Point Fire District.
“Four of us attended the fire board meeting at the new training center. They expressed a desire for additional money to make that training center continue to grow. They’ve got two new
stop on a vehicle near Parkway Drive and Rex Lake Road for a window tint violation and failing to signal.
After it was discovered that the driver of the vehicle, Cedric Lacharles Embry of Adamsville, was wanted on several outstanding warrants, officers instructed Embry to exit the vehicle.
According to police, Embry then abruptly placed his
Sentencing
John Alan Robson, 41, of Trussville, to 56 months in prison.
In February, Robson pleaded guilty to health care fraud conspiracy related to his work with Brian Bowman, James Ray, and others.
He was also ordered to pay forfeiture of about $1.1 million, and restitution of about $5.3 million.
“This was a crime of greed and indifference to the consequences of the actions to the overall health system,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Prim Escalona.
“The crime cost insurers millions of dollars, and it exploited vulnerable pa-
buildings since we were out there last,” Dixon said.
“So, I took a peek at our budget for this year, this fiscal year. I would recommend to y’all that we amend this year’s budget and that we donate to Center Point Fire District $100,000 to be used for capital expenses at either station 4, station 5 or for the training center,” Dixon said. The Center Point Fire District is one of largest service areas in Alabama, serving Clay, Pinson and Center Point. The council unanimously approved the
vehicle into drive and rapidly accelerated in an attempt to elude officers.
Emery was pursued by police as he merged onto I-20 westbound.
When he reached the intersection of Red Lane Road and Robinson Drive, he reportedly collided with another vehicle.
After the collision, Embry exited the driver’s seat of the vehicle and began running from the scene.
After a short foot pursuit,
tients trying to get appropriate medical care, not run up the tab on insurance. We will continue to fight hard to keep our community safe from serious crimes like this one.”
According to Robson’s plea agreement, Robson knew that insurers would not pay for items or services that had been ordered based on kickbacks or that were medically unnecessary for a patient.
However, Robson received kickbacks—from specialty pharmacies, a nerve conduction testing company, and brace suppliers—to generate medically unnecessary orders and prescriptions from doctors’ offices that would be billed to insurance and reimbursed
donation to the district.
Dixon continued his report to clarify the city’s regulations on mobile home placement.
“We have a lot of what we classify as mobile homes that are really beginning to age out and people are wanting to replace them, which we allow in agricultural zoning,” Dixon said.
“There’s a lot of misconception about modular homes, manufactured homes and mobile homes,” he continued. “I’ve explained to a couple of peo-
he was taken into custody.
The occupants of the vehicle Embry collided with were reportedly not injured.
According to police, officers found approximately 1.21 grams of fentanyl, approximately 10.1 grams of marijuana, a stolen firearm, an illegal short-barreled rifle, and drug paraphernalia inside Embry’s vehicle.
Embry has since been charged with drug trafficking, second-degree receiving stolen property, illegal
at high rates.
According to the DOJ, Robson marketed nerve conduction testing to medical providers for a Huntsville-based company called QBR or Diagnostic Referral Community.
QBR paid those providers a flat fee (for example, $50) for each test they ordered that insurance paid for and they also paid Robson a flat fee for each of those tests.
QBR also paid one of Robson’s medical practices more than $100,000 in pertest kickbacks.
According to the DOJ, Robson also marketed high-reimbursing topical creams—such as pain creams and scar creams—to providers on behalf of spe-
ple this week. Our definition of a mobile home is something that is built on a steel frame that has axles so it can be pulled by a truck,” Dixon explained.
“Modular homes and manufactured homes are essentially the same thing. They’re delivered pre-built on a flatbed that is then picked up by a crane and placed on a foundation or slab and bolted down,” Dixon added.
“Those are allowed in agricultural, new or replacement. Mobile homes are only allowed to replace
possession of a short-barreled rifle, felony eluding, second-degree unlawful
cialty pharmacies like Global Compounding Pharmacy and Watson Rx Solutions.
He was paid lucrative commissions on the cream prescriptions that he and his team generated and insurance paid for, getting prescriptions for himself and family members regardless of whether those topical creams were medically necessary for the patients.
Robson and other sales reps also got blank presigned prescriptions from medical providers, filled out the prescriptions to make sure insurance would pay for them, and even selected the drugs or drug formulations to make sure insurance would pay for them, according to the DOJ.
Robson admitted that
a mobile home,” he clarified. Near the end of the meeting, Dixon, who also serves on the Jefferson County Board of Education, offered an update on the construction of the new Clay Chalkville High School announced in the Trussville Tribune in April.
“We amended that budget and approved it. So, the cost of the school is $120 million. That’s approved and takes care of the stadium and everything,” Dixon said. As he announced in April, the football team
possession of marijuana, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, fourth-degree theft of property, and leaving the scene of an accident.
He is currently incarcerated in the Jefferson County Jail with a total bond of $1,050,000.
Leeds Police Chief Paul Irwin stated “I am extremely proud of the efforts of all agencies involved in this apprehension. I am glad that no one was seriously injured because the defendant in this
federal insurance programs paid millions of dollars for medically unnecessary prescriptions for which Robson, Ray, and Bowman received commissions.
“Health care fraud is not a victimless crime. It costs U.S. taxpayers millions of dollars every year. It can raise health insurance premiums, expose patients to unnecessary medical procedures, and increase taxes,” said James DeLoatch, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Birmingham Division.
“The FBI is committed to coordinating with our partners and aggressively pursuing those who take advantage of others for their personal gain. This sentencing should serve as a warn-
will play a regular season this year and play all away games in 2025 while a new stadium is being constructed. Then, a new school will be built where the existing football complex is located. The football team would play in the new complex for the 2026 season while the new school is being built.
The next meeting of the Clay City Council is scheduled for 6 p.m. on July 23, 2024 at City Hall. Council meeting agendas are usually posted on the city website at clayalabama.org.
case put a lot of people including himself in serious danger. When we all work together law enforcement can be successful in taking people like this individual off the streets.”
Leeds PD also thanked the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Tarrant Police Department, and Birmingham Police Department for their assistance during the pursuit and apprehension.
ing to others who might engage in these types of schemes.”
“Kickback arrangements can compromise medical decisions and threaten the integrity of federally funded health care programs,” said Tamala E. Miles, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
“Today’s sentence exemplifies our commitment to protecting taxpayer-funded health care programs and the patients they serve.”
This case is the latest in a series of cases involving health care fraud and kickbacks through pain clinics, specialty pharmacies, and a nerve conduction company in north Alabama.
Cedric Lacharles Embry
Moody PD
From front page
been expanded and the department can now book two to three people at a time.
Moody contracts with St. Clair County to house their arrestees.
“We are able to book people, so certain crimes, if it’s nonviolent or minimal drug-related crimes, we can do the whole process here at the police department and never have to go to the jail,” Smith said.
Chief Smith also brought back a classic staple of police department interview rooms for the new station–the one-way glass.
“We went old school. You know, that’s kind of going away, but we kind of brought it back,” Smith said.
Between the two interview rooms, each equipped with cameras as well as oneway glass, is a space where officers can monitor and record the interviews.
Downstairs, the new station also has a small fitness center for department members as well as two locker rooms that can also serve as a storm shelter for up to 100 people.
A retractable shelter door in the ceiling can secure the locker rooms, and an escape hatch has been installed in case of an emergency. The new station also has multiple offerings for community members. The St. Clair County Probate Office is working out of the building on Thursdays for residents to get their vehicle tags renewed or their boat registered–Mayor Lee was honored as the new office’s first customer. The department also has
a prescription drug drop off box and can facilitate fingerprinting with their digital fingerprint scanner.
“A lot of jobs nowadays require you to get a background [check] and they make you, as the applicant, get your own fingerprints for that background,” Smith said.
“That’s a great service because it’s very hard to find those.”
Every year the Moody Police Department also runs a series of citizen po-
lice academy classes, which they will be able to host out of the new building.
“You don’t have to be a citizen of Moody to come, but we do encourage that, but it kind of introduces them to divisions of law enforcement and the police department here in Moody, whether it be canine operations or drugs that affect your local area or the court system,” Smith said, adding that it usually starts in August.
“It’s a great class for if you have questions or if you just wonder how things work.”
Department members
started moving into the new building on July 1 and are already feeling comfortable in their new space.
“It worked out good. We were able to move all our stuff in and then this week was just kind of like crossing our t’s, dotting our i’s, getting everything going,” Smith said.
On Sunday, the City of Moody will be hosting a ribbon cutting and an open house at the new station to give members of the community a chance to see it in-person starting at 5:30 p.m.
“This is a big asset not only to our police depart-
ment but for our citizens as well to be able to have a state-of-the-art police department within our city to host our 28 officers in,” Lee said.
“You know, most people, they may not think of the police department or the civic center as infrastructure, but it is. It’s infrastructure for your city and I think this mayor and council have just done a phenomenal job of putting that as priority and you can drive around our city and tell that,” Smith added.
“We want people to want to come here and enjoy the city as we have.”
Teen, 2 others injured in Center Point shooting
From Tribune staff reports
CENTER POINT, Ala.
– Three people were injured in a vehicle shooting in Center Point Sunday night, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Shortly after 7 p.m., deputies responded to the 2400 block of 5th Street NW on a report of shots fired.
Upon arrival, deputies
discovered two 24-yearold male victims and one 17-year-old female victim suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. All three of the victims were together inside a vehicle when the incident occurred.
Center Point Fire & Rescue responded to the scene and transported the victims to UAB Hospital for treat-
ment. The victims’ injuries were reported to be non-life threatening.
There have been no arrests or charges filed as of Monday morning. The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information pertaining to the case to contact them at (205) 325-1450, option 2 or Crime Stoppers at (205) 254-7777.
Mayor Joe Lee and Chief Reece Smith. Chris Basinger/Trussville Tribune
The meeting room. Chris Basinger/Trussville Tribune
The new building also includes memorials to Lt. Stephen Williams and Officer Keith Turner. The paintings were created by Johnny Castro.
One of the two interview rooms. Chris Basinger/ Trussville Tribune
ALEA hopes to win ‘America’s Best Looking Trooper Cruiser’
From Tribune staff reports
MONTGOMERY, Ala. –Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is asking the public to vote for their submission to the 11th Annual America’s Best- Looking Cruiser Contest, which opened on Monday.
Each year, ALEA joins fellow highway patrol and state police agencies across the nation vying for the top spot in the American Association of State Troopers’ (AAST) “Best-Looking Cruiser” Contest.
Photos are chosen through popular vote and placed in the AAST’s calendar.
The association develops a new calendar annually, with proceeds benefiting educational scholarships for members’ dependents.
This year, ALEA parked its new Dodge Challenger in front of the iconic USS Alabama located in Mobile.
The USS Alabama, a
veritable symbol of the proud naval history of the United States, stands as a valiant tribute to Alabama’s rich heritage.
Moored in Mobile, this revered battleship serves as a poignant reminder of the state’s significant contribution to the nation’s defense and maritime legacy. Flying over the new cruiser and distinguished battleship is a Bell 407 helicopter part of the Agency’s Aviation Unit.
ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said, “Each year, we look forward to participating in the National Best-Looking Cruiser Contest, it’s a friendly competition between state agencies and engages citizens to support and interact with law enforcement in a positive way. We often look for locations or iconic scenes that reflect our state and this year we are proud to pay tribute to the enduring legacy of the USS Alabama and the
“The 11th Annual National Best-Cruiser Contest is an exciting and engaging event, but it also serves as a reminder of the dedication and professionalism exhibited by state troopers and law enforcement agencies across the country. It is a testament to their unwavering commitment to upholding justice, protecting communities, and ensuring the safety of all citizens.”
The winner of the contest will be featured on the cover of the AAST’s America’s Best Looking Trooper Cruisers 2025 Wall Calendar. The calendars will be available for purchase on the AAST website beginning Oct. 1, 2024. Residents can cast their vote at the link below: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BestLookingCruiser2024
Voting will end at 11 a.m. CDT on Monday, July 29.
Col. Jonathan Archer said,
Department of Public Safety Director
Man, woman, child shot in Birmingham triple homicide
From Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.
– The Birmingham Police Department is currently on the scene of a triple homicide at the 1700 block of Indian Summer Drive, just outside of Center Point.
According to BPD Officer Truman Fitzgerald, officers were dispatched to a report of a car crash at around 5:20 p.m. on Saturday. When officers arrived, they observed a car with
HTHS
From front page
of patience,” King said.
“We are a school that teachers want to work at so that means we’re able to attract the best and brightest teachers from across the state.”
Just last week, A+ College Ready held a four-day training at Hewitt-Trussville High School in which over 800 teachers attended.
This was the second training held at the school this summer and was for middle and high school teachers from across the state who instruct courses that lead up to AP classes.
“Our mission is really to create a broad and diverse pipeline of students that are well prepared for college, career, and the next steps whatever they choose once they leave,” said Tammy Dunn, the vice president for academic affairs with A+
multiple bullet holes in the side of it wrecked in the front yard of a residence. Inside the car, police found an adult female, an adult male, and a young boy suffering from gunshot wounds. Birmingham Fire and Rescue personnel arrived and pronounced all three victims dead at the scene. They have since been as 28-year-old Akira Berry of Center Point, her son 5-year-old Landon Brooks, and 28-year-old Eric Ash-
College Ready. She added, “We feel like that if we get kids really prepared in middle school and the first couple of years of high school, then when they do take advanced placement that’s gonna be a really easy lift for them.”
In addition to the trainings, middle and high schools in Alabama can also apply to be a part of the A+ College Ready grant, which HTHS is participating in.
Schools who participate receive professional development for all of their teachers and they provide funding for teachers to attend the AP summer institute for their course.
The grant also includes monetary incentives--$100 for students and $100 for teachers for each passing AP test score.
This year HTHS students received $132,700 and teachers received $132,700.
ley, Jr. of Hoover.
“We believe the three victims were in their vehicle in the 1700 block of Indian Summer Drive near the entrance to Echo Highlands Park when they were shot in a targeted shooting,” Fitzgerald said.
“The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle.”
Police are asking anyone with information about the case to contact BPD at (205) 254-1764 or Crime Stoppers to remain anonymous at (205) 254-7777.
“It’s giving teachers an incentive, and really a reward, for recruiting students to take their course and then providing the support to learn the material and prepare that student for the AP test,” King said.
“And really it’s even
better than that for our parents, you know, every qualifying score has the potential of earning college credit so that’s a course that the student wouldn’t have to take in college. And for, you know, like a English 101, English 102 that you can
satisfy with AP Language and AP Literature, that’s about $700 per credit hour, those are usually three credit hour courses, so you can save a couple thousand dollars.”
Since joining the program, HTHS has more than
doubled its student AP enrollment.
“It’s a hard class but it gives you every opportunity to be successful, and if you can get student success early on in their freshmen year then you can see more success later on,” King said.
brave men and women who served aboard this great battleship.”
ALEA’s
ALEA Best Cruiser Submission 2024.
The scene of the triple homicide at the 1700 block of Indian Summer Drive.
Photo via Birmingham Police.
By Ken Lass
L ifesty L e Lass But Not Least: It’s a Guy Thing
So I was browsing through one of Trussville’s Big Box stores the other day and made the mistake of passing through the electronics department. That’s when I saw them, brazenly displayed on a long shelf, resplendent in all of their size and majesty. The newest and biggest flat screen TV’s were calling to me, like the siren song of a beautiful mermaid. I stood there staring, as if hypnotized by the clarity and detail. Immediately I was struck by the bug. I want one. I don’t need one. I don’t even really have a place for one. But I want one anyway. A bigger one. A fancier one.
It’s a guy thing, especially with football season upon us in a few weeks. For guys, when it comes to TVs, there is no such thing as too big or too many. My son-in-law has three large flat screen TVs next to each other on the wall of his downstairs finished room.
He watches three games at the same time, controlling the channels with his phone. He gets it. Sharon and I have a fairly small den where we do most of our TV watching. Currently mounted on the wall is a fifty-five-inch Samsung. It fits the room perfectly. Our recliners are just the right distance from the screen. But watching football demands something more. I long to watch my favorite sport on an unreasonably huge display. I mean, really huge. When the players run out on to the field, I want to feel as though they are going to trample right over my chair. I want to hear the crowd and the band behind me, to the sides of me, and in front of me. I desire this, fully aware that spending an entire weekend glued to the oversized screen will probably give me eye strain, a headache and double vision. It’s worth it for the thrill of feeling as though that guy without his shirt on in the third row could spill his
popcorn on my living room rug at any moment. I also want the very latest in definition. High def, Ultra-high def, 4k Def, 3-D, super interplanetary X-ray vision, whatever. I’m here for it. I want to see the pimples on the quarterback’s nose. When the kicker puts the ball on the tee, I want to be able to read the brand name on the ball. No matter the cost.
You see, overpaying for your TV is a proud American male tradition. The first flat screen came out in 1997. The Fujitsu company offered a forty-two inch screen, which was a record size at the time. It weighed forty pounds and was priced at fifteen thousand dollars. My love affair with the flat screen began in the early 2000’s. I’ll never forget it. I saw it on the shelf at the
Trussville Best Buy. It was a fifty-inch Samsung with a wide, beveled, solid black border around the screen. What a beauty. It was ridiculously overpriced at four thousand dollars. Still, it was love at first sight. I had to have it. Sharon sagely suggested I wait a year or so. Perhaps the price would go down. Wait a year? You might as well ask me to set fire to my foam finger. I bought it on the spot. Within twelve months the price went down nearly fifty percent. I didn’t care. I had my baby. I still have it. It now sits on a stand in our bedroom, one of four flat screens in the house.
I read where the newest thing coming out will be something called a “wallpaper TV.” It will be less than a quarter inch thick and light as a feather. So light, in fact, that you won’t need an expensive frame to hang it on the wall. You can simply install it with an adhesive.
Imagine this: It’s a critical point in the big game, but
you suddenly feel a major urge to visit the bathroom. No problem. You can just pull the TV off the wall, carry it into the bathroom with you, and stick it up on the tile above the bathtub. Then continue watching while you sit on the commode. Never have to miss a play. Is this a great country or what?
Okay, ladies. I see you scoffing and rolling your eyes. But don’t say you haven’t been warned. As a public service, I offer this bit of advice to all wives who may read this column: When the calendar turns to July, don’t let your husband go to the big box store. Or at least, try to steer him away from the electronics department. If you don’t, the next thing you know, he will be lugging a 98 inch 8K Ultra HD Smart LED TV into your living room. And when he gets it set up, the next knock on your door will be from me. I’m coming over to watch the game. It’s a guy thing.
Sean of the South: Dear America
water for that matter.
By Sean Dietrich, Sean of the South Commentary
God bless the Great Smoky Mountains, so majestic their beauty could kill you. God bless the Rockies, and the Sierra Nevadas at sundown.
The same goes for the Tetons, the Blue Ridge, the Bighorns, the Elks, the Adirondacks, and the Appalachians, which were carved
by the pocketknife of God. And the Missouri River, seen from 34,000 feet above, moving like liquid silver across a green patchwork. The Mississippi, the Rio Grande, the meandering Columbia, the Ohio, the Arkansas, the Tennessee, the Colorado.
God bless the Gulf of Mexico at dusk. The Chesapeake Bay. God bless the geese overhead, on any Great Lake. Or any body of
And Ellis Island. If you visit Ellis, you begin to visualize the hundreds of thousands of congregated souls, dressed in drab rags, holding tight to their entire lives, crammed into duffle bags.
And it all makes sense, why your old man was such a tightwad when it came to buying your Little League uniform. And Savannah. On
Oglethorpe Avenue, where the home of Juliette Gordon Low stands. Low, a girl who was deaf in both ears, who founded a humble youth organization for girls in 1915. And although they were laughed at by high society, these Girl Scouts would predate the American woman’s right to vote.
Mount Vernon, Virginia, overlooking the whitewater. And Moab, Utah, within the mysterious Arches National Park, where ancient remnants of time stand like archaic ruins.
God bless each Waffle House, where many of the waitresses just seem to know how to make you smile.
Bless the south rim of the Grand Canyon, staring at an itty-bitty, mercury-like river, miles beneath you, just before a 12-year-old tourist almost knocks you over the edge because he is playing tag with his sister.
And the serenity of the Great Plains of Nebraska, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. The remains of North America’s ancient interior sea, which covers approximately 1,125,000 square miles, roughly one third of the United States. An area almost as big as Disney World.
The lowlands of the Mississippi Delta. The wilds of Alaska. The deserts of Nevada. The Ozarks. Yosemite. Yellowstone. Mount Shasta. And of course, each Cracker Barrel.
That memorable field in
Adams County, Pennsylvania, where a battle was once fought near the borough of Gettysburg, where an estimated 48,000 men fell.
And Saint Augustine, where in 1565 Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and his 800 colonists ate supper with the indigenous Timucua and held the first Catholic mass on future U.S. soil.
Bless every truckstop cafe. Every beer joint. Boston’s Fenway Park. Busch Stadium. Yankee Field. Talladega Superspeedway. The Grand Ole Opry. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The American Royal Barbecue Competition. Wednesday night church meetings. Pinewood derbies. Bunco night. Community theaters. And every backyard game of hide and seek.
Bless the ornate finery of the U.S. Capitol building, which has survived over 200 years of turbulence. And the vacant dust of Death Valley. The suffocating swamps of the Everglades. The traffic on Atlanta Interstate 285.
And bless the guy I met this morning. When I was walking along Birmingham’s sidewalks and almost got hit by a speeding vehicle.
And an old guy appeared out of nowhere. A homeless man, a person I didn’t even know was there. He stepped directly into traffic, held up his hands, and staved off an oncoming truck. For me. On the front of his T-shirt was an American flag. The guy could have been killed. But he didn’t even question his decision to intervene on my behalf.
Afterward, I looked at him, dumbstruck, and I thanked him profusely.
He just clapped me on the shoulder and said, “Man, it’s all good.” He didn’t want any money, even though I insisted. He didn’t want anything from me. He just wanted to leave me with some parting words before he walked away.
“God bless you, brother. And God bless America.” Indeed.
Ken Lass, Tribune columnist
Sean Dietrich (Photo courtesy of seandietrich.com)
o pinion
Would a Future Trump Administration Create a U.S. Senate Vacancy in Alabama?
By Paul DeMarco
With the first presidential debate behind us and the National Republican Convention this week, there is a lot of talk about the direction of the race to the White House. While it is still early, based on President Joe Biden’s performance, former president Donald Trump has the edge currently to win the election. And if President Trump were to be the victor, there is already talk that Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville may play a role in his second term in office. The Senator has been one of the most outspoken and early advocates for President Trump. He has the ear of the President and is not bashful in support of the Trump campaign. If the Senator does resign his seat to take a leadership position in a Trump White House, this would create a domino effect in Alabama politics. This happened back in 2016 when then former Senator Jeff Sessions, resigned his seat after President Trump appointed him as the United States Attorney General. There is no question there would be a long list of
candidates who would seek the appointment by Governor Kay Ivey. Most of those who would put their name in the hat would probably be current officeholders.
Senator Tuberville is a close ally of former President Trump so he might be persuaded by a future President Trump to join the President’s cabinet. On the other hand, Senator Tuberville may decide to continue to represent Alabama in the Senate. If he stays in the Senate, a lot of folks would want the Senator to play a leadership role in the GOP takes the majority in the
Senate. The United States Senate could use his drive and common sense to recalibrate the world’s most deliberative body to be an effective legislative chamber that works in the best interest of the Nation.
But if there is a vacancy, Governor Ivey will have the opportunity to make a very important pick for Alabama’s representation in Washington DC. Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives and can be found on X, formerly Twitter, at @Paul_ DeMarco
ADVERTISEMENT FOR PREQUALIFICATION AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO RECEIVE BIDS FROM PREQUALIFIED BIDDERS
CITY OF TRUSSVILLE
TRUSSVILLE, ALABAMA
DOWNTOWN LOOP ROADS
INVITATION TO BIDDERS
The City of Trussville, Alabama (the Owner) intends to prequalify General Contractors for the Downtown Loop Roads project. The intent of the prequali cation is to establish a list of quali ed, responsible General Contractors for the project. Competitive bid proposals will be requested from the selected General Contractors. The prequali cation will protect the interest of the City of Trussville by assuring performance and quality while maintaining a competitive bidding process. Quali cations Statements from General Contractors interested in bidding for the Downtown Loop Roads project are being received by the City.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The City of Trussville, Alabama, is undertaking a signi cant infrastructure project involving the demolition and reconstruction of multiple streets and the installation of new tra c control systems to improve tra c ow and safety. The project encompasses the following key elements:
1. Demolition and Reconstruction of Glenn Avenue, Talley Street, Will Street, Birdie Street, and a portion of Vann Circle.
2. New Signalized Intersections at Chalkville Mountain Road / Talley Street / Will Street and US Highway 11 (SR-7) / Vann Circle.
3. New Four-Leg Roundabout Connecting Glenn Avenue, Talley Street, Walnut Street, and First Baptist Church of Trussville.
4. Construction Will Be Under Tra c
5. Estimated Quantities for Scope of Work Order of Magnitude:
a. Pavement Removal – 12,000 SY
b. Curb and Gutter Removal – 1,800 LF
c. Storm Drainage Pipe Removal – 2,250 LF
d. Asphalt Mill and Overlay – 3,250 SY
e. Asphalt Paving – 11,000 SY
f. Curb and Gutter – 8,250 LF
g. Storm Drainage Pipe – 5,575 LF
h. Storm Drainage Structures – 75 Each
i. Concrete Sidewalk – 27,000 SF
j. Signalized Intersections with Mast Arm Signal Signal Poles – 2 Each
PREQUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Minimum requirements for prequali cation include: 1) Demonstrated successful history of timely completion of three (3) projects of similar size and scope in the past 5 years; 2) Single project available bonding capacity in excess of $10,000,000 through a bonding company having at least an A minus rating; and 3) Statutory license requirements. Quali cations will also include, but not limited to, evaluation of the following criteria: 1) Degree of experience with projects similar in nature; 2) List of ongoing and future projects that are anticipated to be underway during this project; 3) Financial stability; 4) Insurance Coverage; and 5) Safety Record
PREQUALIFICATION SUBMISSION
Interested bidders must complete EJCDC Document C-451, Quali cations Statement, to establish the General Contractor has relevant experience in roadway demolition and reconstruction. The bidder may also include a Statement of Interest on General Contractor letterhead not to exceed two (2) single-sided pages in 8.5”x11” format. Prequali cation documents are available upon request from the Issuing O ce and will be sent via electronic mail. The Issuing O ce for the Prequali cation Documents Is: Civil Consultants, Inc.
Attn: J.T. Murphy, P.E. 3528 Vann Road, Suite 105 Birmingham, AL 35235 jmurphy@ccipe.com
Two (2) hard copies along with an electronic version in PDF format of the required prequali cation documents shall be delivered to, and received by, the Issuing O ce by 4:00 PM CST on Wednesday August 7, 2024, via the contact information above. One (1) copy of each General Contractor’s prequali cation documents will thereafter be delivered to the Owner for consideration of approval to bid this project. Materials submitted after the deadline will not be accepted by the City. Prequali cation documents must be submitted in a clearly marked envelope stating, “City of Trussville –Downtown Loop Roads – Prequali cation Documents”. Failure to perform the above may deny prequali cation to the General Contractor by the City of Trussville.
SELECTION OF PREQUALIFIED BIDDERS
Prequali ed bidders will be noti ed in advance of distributing biding documents, but in no case later than Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Only those prequali ed bidders selected in the prequali cation process will be allowed to submit a bid proposal. The City of Trussville retains the right to reject General Contractors not providing all the required information. It further reserves the right to accept a General Contractor or Contractors it considers most quali ed, to reject any or all General Contractors, or to waive any informalities in any of the submissions as necessary to serve the best interest of the City of Trussville.
BIDDING
Bidding Documents are anticipated to be available to prequali ed bidders on or about August 21, 2024. Once the bidding documents are available to prequali ed bidders, an Invitation to Bid will be sent electronically directly to the contact person listed on General Contractor’s Quali cations Statement. The bid period will be approximately three (3) weeks from date of Invitation to Bid. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in October 25, 2024 following contract award. An eighteen (18) month construction period is anticipated. The Owner reserves the right to adjust the bidding period and respective dates as required for the project.
THIS ADVERTISEMENT IS ISSUED BY:
Owner: City of Trussville
Date: July 3, 2024
Paul DeMarco
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● Miss PattyCake Concert
- Thursday, July 25 at 10
a.m. - Miss PattyCake uses songs that teach about and praise God, and she brings incredible energy to every performance. Tickets are $20, register online.
Local Meetings
● Trussville City Council Meetings: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., City Council Annex
● Trussville Board of Education Meetings: 3rd Monday of each month at 6 p.m., TCS Central Office
● Clay City Council Meetings: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.
● Pinson City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.
● Center Point City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, at 6:30 p.m.
● Argo City Council Meetings: 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 5 p.m.
● Springville City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 6 p.m.
● Irondale City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.
● Leeds City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Monday of
each month at 6 p.m.
● Moody City Council Meetings: 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 6 p.m.
Trussville Public Library
● Preschool Yoga - Thursday, July 18 at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. - Join Ms. Alicia for preschool yoga!
● Yarn Manglers - Thursday, July 18 at 2 p.m. - Knitters and crocheters, join us for fellowship and creativity!
● Library 101 - Thursday, July 18 at 6 p.m. - Learn the basics of what TPL has to offer and how you can access it.
● Summer Reading Finale Party - STEAM Adventure with The Science GuysTuesday, July 23 at 10:30 a.m. - In this thrilling show, young scientists will embark on a STEM adventure! Then the Summer Reading grand prize winners will be announced.
● Teen Finale - Tuesday, July 23 at 2 p.m. - Teen Department Finale where prizes are awarded.
Pinson Public Library 18-24
● Geek Guild: Custom Canvas Bags (Teens) - Thursday, July 18 at 4 p.m. - Bond over your favorite anime,
manga, video games, board games, role-playing games, & other general geekery! We’ll provide the bags, paint, & more craft supplies for you to decorate a bag.
● Storytime for Growin’ Beans with Ms. Allison: Science - Friday, July 19 at 10 a.m. - Our theme is science. We’ll read books & do an activity. Each child will get a craft & snack to take home as well.
● Free Play Friday - Friday, July 19 at 2 p.m. - We’ll have a variety of toys & games available for all ages.
● Anime & Unwind - Friday, July 19 at 6 p.m. - It’s our anime club for adults! Enjoy Asian snacks & hang out with fellow anime enthusiasts.
● Touch-a-Truck - Saturday, July 19 at 10 a.m. - This event will feature lots of different types of vehicles for children to see, touch, ask questions, take a photo with the vehicle, & perhaps sit behind the wheel.
● Chocolate Olympics Adult Finale - Monday, July 22 at 6 p.m. - End your summer in chocolatey delight! Compete in physical & mental chocolate challenges. There will be plenty of chocolate goodies for everyone to enjoy.
o bitua R y
Alpha Wylie
may 21, 1928 — july 8, 2024
Alpha Longmire Wylie, age 96, passed away on July 8, 2024. She loved her family and spending time in the mountains. Mrs. Wylie was preceded in death by her husband, Dennis Wylie; daughter, Denise Bradford; mother, Alpha Longmire (Lynn)Wylie; brother, Eulyss (Shirley) Longmire; brother, Lonell Longmire; sister, Charlotte Owens and special friend, Herman Sims.
She is survived by her daughter, Deborah (Rick) Higgins; grandchildren, David (Holly) Higgins, Brian (Sharla) Higgins, Kristen Wilson, James Wilson; great-grandchildren, Courtney, Julianne, Zac, Grason, Brittney, Ashlyn, Lily; great-great-grandchildren, Daniel and Zayne; nephew, David Longmire; niece, Dana Preston, Delene Wilson; cousins, Virginia, Glenna, Barry; uncle, Max Knisley and numerous other family and friends.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or South Roebuck Baptist Church.
Connie Posey
september 4, 1950 — july 10, 2024
Connie Lee Posey, age 73, passed away on July 10, 2024. She was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Mae Bolzle; brothers, R.T. Bolzle, Bobby Bolzle; sisters, Dora Noad and Inez Jones.
Mrs. Posey is survived by her husband Charles Posey; children, David (Nikkie) Posey, Dale (Ashli) Posey, Danette (Tim) Hassler; grandchildren, Austin (Sierrah) Posey, Mallory (Harrison) Posey, Ashlea (Nik) Brown, Kaila Posey, Hunter Hassler, Zach Posey, Hallee Hassler, Hughston Hassler, Kennedy Watson and Landry Watson; great grandchildren, Elliott Posey and Hayden Posey; sister, Sue (George) Howe and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.
Visitation will be on Monday, July 15, 2024 at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM. The family will also receive friends from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The funeral service will be on Tuesday, July 15, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow at Jefferson Memorial Gardens East.
Joe Edwar d Madaris
february 24, 1936 — july 10, 2024
Joe Edward Madaris, age 88, passed away from this life on July 10, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by Pat, his wife of 54 years, and his children: Mark (Rhonda), Jeff (Cindy), Mandi Gray (Randy) and Greg (Kay). He has seven grandchildren: Brandon (Jennifer), Jordan, Ryan (Elizabeth), Rachel Ferguson (Nathaniel), Bradley, Bella and Brooklynn. He has eight great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Doris Crocker. He is preceded in death by his father, Julius, his mother, Ruth, along with three brothers and three sisters. Joe and Pat are members of Huffman Baptist Church. Joe began his career as a professional baseball player for the Giants organization as a pitcher from 1955-1957. He continued to play semi -professional baseball locally for several years. He finished his career at Miller Wire Works of 51 years. He was an avid fisherman, sportsman, grill master and outdoorsman. He loved the beaches and the Alabama Crimson Tide. His favorite activity was watching his grandchildren grow up. He was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. Joe will truly be missed by many. In lieu of flowers, you can make donations to St Jude Children’s Research hospital or Children’s Hospital of Alabama.
AskEddie
What Does a Funeral Home Need to Know Right Away
When a loved one passes away, calling the funeral home is one of the most important steps. This call can feel overwhelming, as grief often leaves us feeling disoriented and unprepared.
Remember, you are not alone in this. The funeral home staff is there to support and guide you through every step. Initially, you’ll need to provide some basic information, such as the full name of the deceased, your name, your relationship with them, and the location of their passing.
Rest assured, the funeral director will walk you through the next steps with compassion, helping you schedule a time for further arrangements. This support gives you the space to reflect and gather your thoughts during this difficult time.
Fern Martin Hale
october 21, 1930 — july 10, 2024
Fern Martin Hale, age 93, passed away on July 10, 2024. Fern was preceded in death by her parents Abel and Angeline Desjardin Martin; and several brothers and sisters.
Fern was raised in Lewiston Maine and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1949. She married her husband of 70 years (Hoyt) in 1954. The couple moved to Alabama where they raised their four children. Fern loved a celebration and was known as the life of the party. She was extremely competitive and would gladly accept the invitation to any bowling league, bunko event, or game of Rummikub. She was an excellent cook, and you could always find her canning or freezing vegetables from their garden in the summer. She was particularly known for her delicious chocolate birthday cakes. She was a talented and skilled seamstress, always working on projects for her family and church. In her later years, she was an avid bird watcher, the gold finch being her favorite. She also loved to spend her time working on puzzles. Throughout all her years she was a proud fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Atlanta Braves.
Mrs. Hale is survived by her husband of 70 years Hoyt Hale; children, Denise McKenzie, Kathy (Keith) Brown, Mike (Stephanie) Hale, Karen (Michael) Lyman; 13 grandchildren, Christie (John) Benish, Jake (Lindsay) Brown, Haley Brown, Sam (Jessica) Brown, Joe David (Mary Claire) Brown, Tucker (Mackenzie) Brown, Holley (Chad) Chesser, Taylor Hale, Suezanna Hale, Laurel Lyman, William Lyman, Patrick Lyman, Caroline Lyman; 13 great-grandchildren, Mckenzie Benish, Georgia Benish, Jack Benish, Lucy Benish, Ann Margaret Brown, Ford Brown, Kitty Brown, Addie Gray Brown, Emma Bentley Brown, Graydon Brown, Hoyt Brown, Garis Chesser, Tripp Chesser; sister, Mamie Rocheleau; sister-in-law, Doris Hancock and numerous other loving family members.
Fern and her husband were active members of the monastery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tunnels to Towers Foundations or Our Lady of the Angels Monastery.
Rogers Sa muel “Sam” Robinson
january 19, 1937 — july 11, 2024
Rogers Samuel “Sam” Robinson, known affectionately as Sam, passed away on July 11, 2024 He was born on January 19, 1937. Dedicated 34 years of his life to serving his community as a part of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office before retiring. Sam is survived by his beloved wife, Betty Robinson of Pinson, AL; children: Renee Dean (Jeff) of Birmingham, AL, Sammy Robinson (Stacey) of Birmingham, AL, Shane Robinson (Kayla) of Santa Rosa, FL, Maria DeRamus of Santa Rosa, FL,
and Joe Robinson of Dothan, AL; his grandchildren: Cash, Chelsea, Cassidy, McKenzie, Rocky, Emmalee, Faith, and Lilly. Additionally, Sam leaves behind a host of extended family members who cherished him dearly.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Oscar Marshall Robinson, Sr. and Mavis Elizabeth Robinson. Sam is also reunited in peace with his siblings: Virginia R. Pope, Oscar Marshall Robinson Jr., Mavis Doris Robinson, John Marshall Robinson, Katherine Robinson, Nancy Robinson, and Morris Bowden Robinson.
A visitation to honor Sam’s life will take place at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home in Trussville on July 17th starting at 11:00 AM followed by a Funeral Service at 12:00 PM. Brother David Awtrey of Pinson First Baptist Church to officiate.
He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and a former Shriner. Throughout his life and career, Sam touched the hearts of many with his dedication and kindness. He will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to serving others and leaving a lasting impact on all who knew him. May he rest in peace.
Eddie Seal, General Manager
sports
2024 Cougars look to continue success under Floyd
By John Goolsby, Prep Sports Editor
While the 2024 ClayChalkville Cougars may look different on the sideline and the field, one thing will remain the same: their pursuit of championships.
Under first-year head coach Stuart Floyd, the Cougars will be looking to win back-to-back 6A titles and the school’s third state championship in four years. Clay has compiled 37-2 overall and 18-0 region records over the last three years.
Floyd, a 2000 Clay graduate, was the starting quarterback for the 12-3 Cougars and led them to the 1999 6A state championship.
Floyd went on to play collegiately at the University of Southern Mississippi before returning to Birmingham to join the Clay-Chalkville program. He was the offensive coordinator for the Cougars’ 2014 state championship team.
Floyd would leave the program after the 2016 season and have stops at Hewitt-Trussville, Mortimer Jordan, and Springville before returning home in 2023 as the Clay offensive coordinator.
On the field, the Cougars will look to replace Jaylen Mbakwe (Alabama), JacQawn McRoy (Oregon), Mario Craver (Mississippi State), Tevis Metcalf (Arkansas) and DJ Barber (Au-
Keystone
burn) along with several other key players.
However, the Cougars’ cupboard is not bare, as they return ten starters on offense and defense.
Offensive players to watch:
Aaron Frye, QB, Corey Barber, WR, Aaron Osley, RB, Marlon Compton, WR, Zay Starks, AP, Armon Boswell, Center, Nikita Getmanshchuk, QB, Jabari Staples, TE and Kumar Robinson, WR
Defensive players to watch:
Patrick Smith, Jr. DE, Deon Callins, DB, Jacarlos Hunter, DB, Colton Mcintyre, DL, Junior Cole, DL, Na’Karius Allen, LB.
“Offensively, obviously, we have a new quarterback that is going to be playing, but we have a lot of the skill guys back, four of them, and a running back that is back,” said Floyd. “The offensive line is the question mark as far as experience goes, but they are getting there.”
“Defensively, we have pretty much the entire defensive line back, and a new nose guard will help out a lot,” Floyd said. “We have one or two linebackers back and a couple of our secondary guys returning.”
Floyd feels his 2024 Cougars have bought into his philosophy and likes the team chemistry he has seen thus far.
Stuart Floyd was announced as Clay-Chalkville's head football coach, replacing Drew Gilmer who left for Hoover
Photo by: CCHS Athletics See COUGARS, Page 16
2024 Season Preview: Springville Tigers
By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
SPRINGVILLE – Jon Clements, the reigning Trussville Tribune Coach of the Year, enters his fourth season as the head coach at Springville and the Tigers are trending in the right direction. After a 4-6 season in 2021 and a 1-9 season in 2022, Clements famously spent some time in Colorado with the Air Force Academy coaching staff and installed the triple option offense.
Despite much scrutiny within the program, this wound up being a genius move on “Clem’s” part and the Tigers made the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and had a non-losing regular season for the first time since 2011.
In year four for Clements, he hopes to see that offense evolve as he replaces the core of that offense from 2023.
“We have teams now having practice days or practice periods during their practices in preparation for us. Little ole Springville,” said Clements. Some eyebrows seem to have been raised by last season’s output.
Springville finds themselves in possibly the toughest class in all of 5A football this season with the addition of Center Point, who moved from 6A down to 5A this year, as well as cross-town rivals Moody and Leeds who are perennial playoff teams. But that will not scare this group.
The Tigers lost a ton of talent that contributed last year not only on offense, but on defense as well. Brodie Ginn anchored the offensive line that blocked for Mahlon Alverson and Noel Cox, who both graduated as well. On defense, Kaden Hanrahan and Cole Tittle are amongst the names Clements will have to replace. Much of the offensive line returns, with the exception of Ginn, so returning
quarterback Jake Conner will have a familiar group blocking for him, which will be key to the success of the offense. Conner will have freshman Trigg Murdoch and junior Reed Wallace in the backfield with him to replace Alverson and Cox. Springville also adds Brodie Frederick, a senior who you may recognize as a leader on Brandon Easterwood’s basketball team. Frederick will give the Tigers some speed and height at the wide receiver position. On defense, the backfield will be the strength. Conner will be the leader of the group with junior KJ Jefries and senior Jacob Adams joining him at DB. Replacing leaders at linebacker like Hanrahan and Tittle will be a challenge, but the cupboard is not bare as there are a host of young players
waiting for their turn. Perhaps the biggest loss this year was not on the field, but on the sidelines. Matt Partridge has moved out of state, and he was Clements’ right-hand man and wore many hats. One of his jobs was defensive coordinator. This year, Christian Depew takes over for Partridge in that role. He is no stranger to Springville as he served as defensive coach previously. Otherwise, the coaching staff has stayed intact with names like Ken Storie and Torronzo “Coach T” Mosley, as well as others, on the sidelines.
Offensive players to watch: Jake Conner, QB; Brodie Frederick, WR; Trigg Murdoch, RB; Reed Wallace, FB.
Defensive players to watch: Jake Conner, DB; KJ Jefries, DB; Jacob Adams, DB.
Springville will kick off the season against the Ashville and Fairview before opening region play against Leeds in week three. Other key games will be at Lincoln, where officiating can be quite the challenge, vs Moody on October 18 and at Center Point the next week.
The season ends with Jon Clements going back to his old stomping grounds and taking on the Yellow Jackets of Corner, which is where he was head coach during the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Full Schedule:
• 8/23 – @Ashville
• 8/30 – Fairview
• 9/6 – Leeds (Region) 9/13 – Alma Bryant
• 9/20 – @Lincoln (Region) 9/27 – OPEN 10/4 – Jacksonville (Region)
• 10/11 – @St. Clair County (Region)
• 10/18 – Moody (Region)
• 10/25 – @ Center Point (Region) 11/1 – @Corner
Springville football team gathers after a summer practice session. Photo by: Johnny Sanders
The Springville offense gets in work during summer practice. Photo by: Johnny Sanders
Trussville Racquet Club continues success, raises awareness
By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
TRUSSVILLE – Success in high school sports is the norm in Trussville, but adult tennis is quietly one of the more successful things going on in our beloved city.
The Trussville Raquet Club has a team of men who have won the past three state championships, a ladies’ team who have won this past year’s state championship, and a 75-year-old man who is known around the world for his success on the court in Marc Anthony.
Wayne Zeitvogel is the director of the Trussville Raquet Club.
The ladies, led by Joanie Waldrin (captain) and Carol Lockhart (co-captain) are state champions this year and will be headed
for sectionals in September.
“These ladies went 7-1 in the fall of 2023 and then 8-1 in the spring of 2024,” said Zeitvogel.
The men, now threetime state champions on the court, are headed for sectionals in Little Rock, Arkansas, against 11 other states. “They are led by Mike Griggs. This is a 55 and up team who went 6-0 at the 2024 state championship and will compete in the Southern Sectionals in September.”
Marc Anthony is the big-hitter for Trussville as a 75-year-old veteran on the court. Anthony has been featured in World Tennis, and still ranks tops in the south. He is known worldwide for his success, and he recently (yes, at 75 years of age) played in a tournament
in Huntsville, where he won the entire thing. “What we have here is very special and people need to know it. Marc is quite the story. He has played tennis forever. He is known all over the world and he’s been a teaching pro all over and we are fortunate to have him.”
As a younger man, Anthony played in the Caribbean Tennis Circuit while he was in college, which is under
the pro circuit umbrella. In addition to the success of the older tennis players, Zeitvogel has seen a swell of interest amongst younger players in the Trussville area in his eight years as director.
“When I got started here, we had around 30 kids. We are now in the 80-90 range. We also have a tennis pro (we will have a future story on him) who will be instrumental in our growth both in
number and in knowledge of the game whom we hope will generate some excitement in the tennis community here in Trussville.”
Perhaps the most important message Zeitvogel wants to get out to everyone in the area is that tennis is a “sport for life.” “Tennis is number one for health for life. It is said that anyone who plays tennis on a regular basis lives 10 more
years of quality life than those who do not. It is a testament to those who play the sport. Zeitvogel himself is a former 5.0 tennis player. To put it into perspective, if you go over a 5.5, you begin looking to tour on the ATP challenger circuit. He currently competes for Riverchase due to a lack of players his age in Trussville and he plays as a 4.5 player.
Three-Time men's state champions from the Trussville Racquet Club.
Photo by: Wayne Zeitvoge
Tennis Legend Marc Anthony as the Complete Player. Photo by: Wayne Zeitvoge
Tribune to bring back Football Media Days
By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
TRUSSVILLE – The Trussville Tribune is bringing back Media Days for the 2024 football season, hosting for the first time since before the 2022 season. The event will be broken up into two evenings, emanating from the Trussville Tribune Studio in Trussville on Monday, August 5th and Tuesday, August 6th.
The eight Tribune-area
teams will be split with four teams being represented on Monday and the other four on Tuesday. There is a lot of excitement surrounding our teams this year! How will Pinson’s first-year coach James Thompson do in his inaugural season on the Reservation? Can Jon Clements and Springville continue their success using the triple option? Center Point was a playoff team in 6A, what will they do in 5A? Can Shades Valley and
Reuben Nelson rebound from being the Tribune’s only non-playoff team? Will Jerry Hood continue to do Jerry Hood things at Leeds and be a playoff contender? Can Moody win 10 games for the third consecutive season under Jake Ganus? What does life look like for the Huskies of Hewitt-Trussville and Josh Floyd after Peyton Floyd’s graduation? Can the Cougars of Clay-Chalkville defend their 6A state championship under first-year head
coach Stuart Floyd? We have invited each head coach as well as two of their players (to be deter-
mined later) to the event to share their thoughts on the season and answer questions from our media members.
The schedule will be as follows: Monday, August 5:
• 5:00-5:30 – Reuben Nelson (Shades Valley High School)
• 5:45-6:15 – James Thompson (Pinson Valley High School)
6:30-7:00 – Jake Ganus (Moody High School)
7:15-7:45 – Stuart Floyd (Clay-Chalkville High School)
Tuesday, August 6:
5:00-5:30 – Jon Clements (Springville High School)
5:45-6:15 – Jerry Hood (Leeds High School)
• 6:30-7:00 – George Bates (Center Point High School)
• 7:15-7:45 – Josh Floyd (Hewitt-Trussville High School)
This event will be live streamed on Facebook.
Springville’ Wes Logan wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Neely Henry Lake
From Tribune staff reports
GADSDEN, Ala.–Boater Wes Logan of Springville
caught a five-bass limit
weighing 16 pounds 3 ounces to win the Major League Fishing (MLF) Phoenix Bass Fishing League event at Neely Henry Lake on Saturday.
The tournament, presented by T-H Marine, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Choo Choo Division.
Competing in another tournament during the week prevented Logan from practicing for the BFL.
But it didn’t stop him from getting the job done. Logan rolled in on a few hours of sleep and put his experience on the Coosa River chain to work.
“I just kind of went fishing,” he said. “I ran a couple different things, different patterns – wood, grass, docks.
“Basically, I just junkfished all day, and when I happened to get a bite it was a good one.”
According to Logan,
the grass bite never really panned out. Wood and docks became his primary targets, all in less than 5 feet of water.
His strategy relied on timing and covering a ton of water, hitting 50 to 60 places throughout the day.
“Neely’s not that big of a lake,” he said.
“But I probably burned 25 to 30 gallons of gas just running back and forth. I try to treat the place like a tidal fishery. Obviously, there’s not a tide. But it’s a big timing deal on that place. So I’ll fish a certain stretch two or three times in a day. I might run 15, 20 minutes to fish a place 5 minutes and then I’ll run the other way.”
Logan opened the morning with a nice keeper then put a couple other smaller fish in the livewell.
After that, it slowed down, and he was able to add a fish here and there to assemble a decent limit.
It all came together at the end of the day.
That’s when Logan was able to capitalize after Weiss Dam, located upstream,
started generating electricity, which created current.
“Turning on” the power also turned on the fish.
“From 2 to 3, I think I culled three times,” Logan added. “Being in that last flight really helped, to be honest.”
Key baits for Logan included his signature Team Ark Wes Logan Swim Jig in a color called “the one.” He also caught fish on a square-bill crankbait, Zoom Z Craw and Team Ark Ran-
cited about them.”
Floyd had to replace not only a number of key players but also two defensive coaches. The Cougars’ defensive coordinator made the move to Hoover, and the cornerback coach took the defensive coordinator position at Chilton County.
“As long as you can keep the consistency with the staff and keep everything the way it is supposed to operate it will be fine,” Floyd said. “We have finally got the staff together and are fully staffed. It is a good group of guys, and I am ex-
The Cougars have won three consecutive region titles, but Region 6 got more challenging this year with the addition of perennial power Mountain Brook.
Clay will face 6A contenders Mountain Brook and Oxford, along with Pinson, Shades Valley, Pell City, and Huffman in region play.
Floyd believes his Cougars will be in the state title hunt with region foes Oxford and Mountain Brook. He also expects Parker, Spain Park, Saraland, Gulf Shores, and Pike Road to be contenders.
“The
In the non-region schedule, the Cougars face 5A power Ramsay and 7A power Thompson, along with Hueytown and Vestavia.
2024 schedule: 8/23 Hueytown 8/30 @ Ramsay
• 9/6 @ Pell City (region)
• 9/13 Shades Valley (region)
• 9/20 OPEN
• 9/27 @ Thompson
• 10/4 Mountain Brook (region)
• 10/11 Huffman (region)
• 10/18 @ Oxford (region) 10/25 @ Pinson (region)
• 11/1 @ Vestavia
dall Tharp Flipping Jig.
swim jig did most of the heavy lifting, but I caught them on a hodgepodge of baits,” Logan added. Logan earned $3,917 for his victory.
Boater winner Wes Logan of Springville. Courtesy of MLF.