North Chilton Advertiser, November 25, 2015

Page 1

WEDNESDAY November 25, 2015

Free • SERVING JEMISON AND THORSBY • northchiltonadvertiser.com

Jemison man guilty of child sex abuse From Staff Reports North Chilton Advertiser

A Chilton County jury found a Jemison man guilty on Nov. 17 of sex abuse of a child less than 12. Jessie Bispham, 34, who lists an address off County Road 163 in Jemison, was found guilty by a jury after just 45 minutes of deliberations, according to a press release from the 19th Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. Bispham was arrested in 2013, and his victim was 4 years old at the time the abuse occurred, according to the release. The case was presented before

Town trash pick-up running earlier

Chilton County Circuit Judge Ben A. Fuller. Fuller filed an order Nov. 18 scheduling Bispham’s sentencing for Dec. 18 at 9 a.m. A state probation office will prepare and file a presentence report prior to the sentencing hearing, according to Fuller’s order. Bispham will remain in the Chilton County Jail without bond, pending further order of the court, according to court records. “Child sex abuse cases are among the most difficult and most important cases we try as prosecutors,” District

Attorney for the 19th Circuit Randall Houston said in a release. “This child was 4 years old when this crime occurred and was only 8 when we tried the case this week. Thankfully, we had the expertise of professionals from Butterfly Bridge Children’s Advocacy Center there to testify about the abuse and assist the jury in their decision making process. Hopefully, as a result of this conviction this defendant will be incarcerated for a long time and not have access to any other child victims. Protecting children and their innocence is among our most important responsibilities as prosecutors.”

 MISS REBEL PAGEANT

By Stephen Dawkins stephen.dawkins@northchiltonadvertiser.com

Thorsby residents are asked to place their garbage containers by the road earlier in the coming weeks as the town’s Public Works Department tries a different approach. Public Works Director Terry Jackson said residents should have containers out by 6:30 a.m. Monday or Tuesday, depending on the day garbage has typically been collected at the residence. For now, garbage will continue to be collected on the same day as in the past—just earlier. Jackson said an ultimate goal is to develop an approach that will allow the department to collect garbage on one day (probably Monday). In the meantime, Jackson said the crew is trying an approach that utilizes an extra worker driving a pick-up truck to allow for faster collection. The extra worker in the pick-up truck is collecting garbage from residence on dead-end streets and other areas that

CONTRIBUTED

Queen crowned: The 2015 Miss Rebel Pageant was held Oct. 26. Madison Gunn (third from left) was crowned Miss Rebel. Her court included (left to right) Taylor Hayes, third alternate; Sydnee Robinson, first alternate and Miss Congeniality; and Kelsea Trice, second alternate. For photos of winners from the other age groups, see Page 5.

Ms. Jeff State Tierce raising School system awareness on adoption See TRASH, Page 6

adopts new pay policy By Stephen Dawkins

stephen.dawkins@northchiltonadvertiser.com

Beginning Jan. 1, 2016, all Chilton County School System employees will receive their pay in the form of a direct deposit. Some employees currently are issued hard copy checks at the Central Office off Lay Dam Road in Clanton, but this practice will end with the beginning of the new year after a narrow vote Tuesday by the Chilton County Board of Education. At a regular meeting, the board voted 4-2 in favor of Superintendent Tommy Glasscock’s recommendation to make direct deposit mandatory. Board member Jim Shannon asked if the move was legally required, to which Glasscock responded that it is not. Shannon and board member Keith Moore voted against the measure. “I can assure you it’s going to hurt somebody,” Moore said about employees who still rely on checks. Glasscock cited the time spent on isSee POLICY, Page 6

By Emily Reed emily.reed@northchiltonadvertiser.com

November is National Adoption Awareness Month, and Miss Jefferson State Hannah Tierce is hoping to bring awareness to adoption. “I think because I was adopted, I understand that children who are adopted can face certain stigmas,” Tierce said. “Sometimes children who are adopted or who are up for adoption think they are that way because no one wants them, or that it is strange to live with a family that is not your own. My goal is to encourage others who have gone through similar circumstances and show them that adoption is a good thing.” Tierce shared her story of being adopted at just three days old and growing up facing questions from her peers about her adoption story. “People would ask me sometimes if I was adopted or they would ask how it felt to be adopted so I understand how other people can field questions from people who are curious about it,” Tierce said. Tierce’s mom, Mara, said as soon as she held Hannah for the first time after going through the process of adopting Hannah, she felt a connection with her daughter.

Christmas parades, tree lightings scheduled By Chanel Bingham Special to the Advertiser

Mark your calendars and join the fun as Chilton County kicks off the holiday season with the annual Christmas parades and tree lighting ceremonies. The city of Jemison will hold a tree lighting ceremony Nov. 24 at city hall. The evening begins at 5 p.m. with a Living Nativity drama presented by the youth of First Baptist Church of Jemison. Following the nativity, a communion service will take place at 6 p.m. in the auditorium. At 6:30 p.m., the official lighting of the tree will commence. This year’s tree stands 18 feet tall. At the conclusion of the tree lighting ceremony, everyone is invited to the auditorium to enjoy live entertainment. Hannah Tierce, Laura Vinzant and Scotty Gothard will perform, along with Hannah Ellison and Chloe Belle Miodrag, who will play the violin. A special highlight of the evening will be a guest appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus. Pictures with Santa will be provided by Sarrell Dental Center, who will take and develop pictures on site. Photos are free of cost and will begin at 7 p.m. Beginning at 11 a.m. on Dec. 5, Jemison will host its annual Christmas parade. The parade is a long-standing tradition, with the first parade taking place in 1972. This year’s participants include the fire department, Jemison High School Marching Band, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, pageant queens, several local car dealerships, local residents, and of course, Santa himself. The grand marshals of the parade will be “Mr. and Ms. Jemison,” along with the winners of Jemison’s Got Talent: Mirna Manasco, Hannah Tierce and Chloe Belle Miodrag. The parade will begin at Jemison High School and travel down Highway 31 to end at Jemison First Baptist Church. If you would like to participate in this year’s parade, you can pick up a registration form at Jemison City Hall, located at 24747 U.S. Highway 31. The town of Thorsby is also hosting its annual Christmas parade on Dec. 5, beginning at 9 a.m. Parade participants include Thorsby High School Marching Band, pageant queens, the mayor and council members, along with the town’s football league, local dance teams and Santa Claus. Mayor Jean Nelson said the arrival of Santa atop a big, bright fire truck is always a crowd favorite. See PARADES, Page 6 COPYRIGHT

CLANTON NEWSPAPERS, INC.

VOL. 7 • NO. 47

TAMMY GENTRY/LOOKING GLASS PHOTOGRAPHY

Adoption awareness: Miss Jefferson State Hannah Tierce is hoping to bring awareness to National Adoption Awareness Month by sharing her story of being adopted shortly after birth.

“Being Hannah’s mom is as natural to me as breathing,” Mara Tierce said. “I am very proud of our adoption story, and very thankful to God that he chose me to be Hannah’s mom.” Tierce, who was crowned Miss Jefferson State on Oct. 3, is using her See AWARENESS, Page 6


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.