MALLORY SWINSICK LEADS CHEER TEAM TO HISTORY
HELENA’S CARRINGTON HODGE
EARNS SPECIAL PRAISE
HELENA’S FIRST DISC GOLF COURSE HAS SUCCESSFUL START
Spring is officially here, and we have tons of fun going on throughout the city. From the littles playing T-ball to the seniors play Bingo on Thursday, everyone is out and about enjoying the great weather and an amazing city.
Let’s start off with a quick recap of some of the good things that have happened since I last wrote you all for the March letter. The first two items I will talk
about will be about partnerships. Over the last few years, the city has been able to foster deep relations with key partners like Shelby County among many others. We were excited when we found out that our parks and recreation grant submitted to Shelby County was approved. More than $91,000 was awarded to us to be able to make key repairs to the Hillsboro Trail, pave Lee Springs Trail and pave the
parking lot at Lee Springs Park.
The leadership at the county level has been extremely beneficial to help us move Helena Forward. Commissioner Elwyn Bearden always stands by our side being a great advocate for the city.
The second item is seeing the end result for the first EV Charging Station in the city. This charging station was funded by another grant application we were awarded by ADECA.
Now to the good stuff…what’s happening in Helena for April. On April 8, the Easter Bunny will be hopping into town led by the Church at Old Town sponsoring the event like they did last year. Bring your family out to enjoy the morning of egg hunting at Joe Tucker Park from 9-11 a.m.
On the weekend of April 15, Helena Elementary School will be holding its annual Spring Fling. Funnel cakes, a ring toss, rides and more are waiting on you for some fun.
Rounding out April 15 will be the first concert at Amphitheater Park for the Old Town Live Summer Concert Series. The genre of music for the April show is country.
The concert kicks off at 5:30 with local to the area born and bred Drayton Farley playing his first concert
with his full band. His first full band album was just released and is pretty freakin’ impressive.
Following up Drayton will be 49 Winchester. Their song “Last Call” was featured on Yellowstone this past November and they are rapidly rising. They will leave our show to head to play at the Grand Ole Opry before getting back on the road with Luke Combs.
Rounding out the night will be awardwinning and No. 1 Billboard album artist Lindsay Ell. This FREE concert will be a night you won’t want to miss.
On April 22, start your morning off at 8 a.m. at the Caboose by helping the Helena Beautification Board with their annual basket planting day.
Get a hands-on lesson while creating the awesome baskets that line the street of Old Town. The Beautification Board always goes above and beyond volunteering their time to keep Helena Beautiful.
After you wrap up getting your hands dirty helping the city, don’t run straight to your computer keyboard. Join the Helena DE&I Board for their annual Helena United Festival from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Amphitheater Park. This is a great opportunity for everyone to get out and meet neighbors within the city.
More than $91,000 was awarded to us to be able to make key repairs to the Hillsboro Trail, pave Lee Springs Trail and pave the parking lot at Lee Springs Park.Mayor Brian Puckett
EDITORIAL
Lizzie Bowen
Anna Grace Moore
Noah Wortham
DESIGN
Jamie Dawkins
Rowan Futrell
Connor Martin-Lively
Briana Sansom
PHOTOGRAPHY
Jeremy Raines
MARKETING
Rhett McCreight
Tori Montjoy-Smith
Michaela Hancock
Viridiana Romero
ADMINISTRATION
Publisher Shelby County Newspapers, Inc. 115 North Main Street Columbiana AL 35051
205-669-3131
Alec Etheredge
General Manager
Mary Jo Eskridge
Customer Service
Helena - The Magazine is the official publication for the City of Helena that is published monthly by Shelby County Newspapers, Inc. This publication replaces the weekly newspaper Helena Reporter that was produced specifically for the Helena community since 2015. The magazine is mailed to all households and businesses in the 35080 zip code and will be available year-round throughout the City of Helena. Additional copies may be available at Helena City Hall at 205-663-2161 or info@helenathemagazine.com.
Reproduction in whole or in part without express written permission is prohibited. Please address all correspondence (including but not limited to letters, story ideas and requests to reprint materials) to: Editor, Shelby County Newspapers, Inc., P.O. Box 947, Columbiana, AL 35051. Please email advertise@helenathemagazine.com for advertising inquiries.
Cable, Internet and Phone
uAT&T Uverse – 1-888-708-0934 att.com
uSpectrum – 1-855-707-7328 spectrum.com
uC-Spire, Fiber Internet – 1-855-277-4735 cspire.com
uSpire – 1-800-292-4008 spireenergy.com
Gas
Power
uAlabama Power Company – 1-800-245-2244 alabamapower.com
Trash Services
uRepublic Services – (205) 631-1313 republicservices.com
Water and Sewer
uHelena Utilities City Water Service (205) 663-1670
uShelby County Board of Education – (205) 682-7000 shelbyed.k12.al.us/
uHelena Elementary School – (205) 682-5540 shelbyed.k12.al.us/schools/hes/index.htm
uHelena Intermediate School – (205) 682-5520 shelbyed.k12.al.us/schools/his/index.htm
uHelena Middle School – (205) 682-5300 shelbyed.k12.al.us/schools/hlms/index.htm
uHelena High School – (205) 682-3650 shelbyed.k12.al.us/schools/hhs/index.html
uHillsboro School - (205) 864-7330 thehillsboroschool.org
SATURDAY, APRIL 15
5:30 P.M.
Helena Amphitheater
Mark your calendars, Old Town Live will return to Helena to kick off a spring and summer full of fun on Saturday, April 15. The inaugural event of the 2023 season will feature with headliner Lindsey Ell in addition to 49 Winchester and Drayton Farley as musical acts. The rest of this year’s events will take place June 10, July 3 and Aug. 12 featuring North Mississippi All-Stars, George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners, Telluride, Cracker and Bloodkyn.
SATURDAY, APRIL 8
9 A.M.
Joe Tucker Park
The fun will return to Joe Tucker Park on Saturday, April 8, as The Church at Old Town celebrates Easter by hosting this year’s City of Helena Easter Egg Hunt. The event will take place from 9-11 a.m. with plenty of festive fun for the entire family the day before Easter.
AROUND TOWN
APRIL 3 | 6:30 P.M. Easter craft at the library
APRIL 4 | 4:30 P.M.
Helena softball vs. Vestavia Hills
APRIL 5 | ALL DAY
Check out 10 books, get a prize at the library
APRIL 6 | 4:30 P.M.
Helena softball vs. Briarwood
APRIL 6 | 6:30 P.M.
Helena baseball vs. Calera in area play
APRIL 8 | 9 A.M. City of Helena Easter Egg Hunt at Joe Tucker Park
APRIL 10 | 4 P.M. Helena Utility Board Meeting
APRIL 10 | 5 P.M.
Helena City Council Work Session
APRIL 10 | 6:30 P.M.
Helena baseball vs. Chilton County in area play
APRIL 12 | 10:30 A.M. Senior BINGO at the library
SATURDAY, APRIL 22
11 A.M. UNTIL 4 P.M.
Helena Amphitheater Park
For the second year in a row, the Helena Diversity & Inclusion Board will hold the Helena United Festival at Helena Amphitheater Park on Saturday, April 22 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. The event will be a family-fun event that features vendors, food trucks, kids activities and live entertainment. You can find out more at Helenadiboard.org.
APRIL 13 | 4:30 P.M.
Helena softball vs. Chelsea
APRIL 13 | 5 P.M. AND 7 P.M.
Helena boys and girls soccer vs. Pelham
APRIL 15 | 5 P.M.
Old Town Live featuring Drayton Farley, 49 Winchester, and Lindsay Ell
APRIL 18 | 4:30 P.M.
Helena softball vs. McAdory
APRIL 20 | 6 P.M. Planning and Zoning Committee
APRIL 20 | 7 P.M.
Helena soccer vs. Montgomery Academy
APRIL 22 | 8 A.M.
Spring Planting day
APRIL 22 | 11 A.M.
Helena United Festival 11-4
APRIL 24 | 5:30 P.M.
Lego Fun at the library
APRIL 24 | 5 P.M.
Helena City Council meeting
APRIL 24 | 5:30 P.M. AND 7 P.M.
Helena boys and girls soccer vs. Oxford
APRIL 25 | 4:30 P.M.
Helena softball vs. Cullman
APRIL 27 | 11 A.M.
Storytime at the library
MONTH OF APRIL
5-7:30 P.M.
Helena High School
April is the final month of the spring sports season ahead of the end of the school year in May. There are several opportunities to get out and see the spring sports teams in April as they all host big area matchups to try and compete for an area title and a spot in the postseason.
BY GRACIOUS WASHINGTON AND CORY JOHNSON PHOTOS BY KEITH MCCOY AND CONTRIBUTED
Helena remains one of the top places to live, not just in Alabama, but across the country. The city ranks highly in safety, education, growth and a personal favorite–culture. Many residents are not aware of the historical markers located inside the city, but there are many.
One such historical site is located steps from the Jane B. Holmes Public Library. The Harmony Cemetery entrance gives you access to two of the most historically important sites in Helena: Harmony Cemetery and the Harmony Graveyard, both of which were added to the Historic Cemetery Register in 2010.
The Harmony Cemetery is the final resting place for more than two hundred slaves, coal miners and military veterans. The bodies laid to rest here are now marked with a cross to denote their existence, since most of the names have been lost to time.
What you will also find among the crosses is the memorial plaque dedicated by a member of the 2010 Eagle Scouts, Dalton Hunter Sparks. This is the indicator that you have located the
historic cemetery.
While strolling through this site, a member of Helena’s Diversity and Inclusion board found one of the headstones still standing.
A powerful look into the past was provided by the headstone of Norman Smith. Not only was Mr. Smith an African American resident of Helena, but he also held the rank of Private in the Transportation Corp during World War I.
The 1940 U.S. Census shows Mr. Smith lived in Helena with his wife, four daughters and one son. During the month of February, we would like to highlight Smith for his patriotic and historical significance.
The Helena’s Diversity and Inclusion board would like to highlight more heroic and patriotic stories like Smith’s.
It is our desire to celebrate each other every month of the year. Community efforts to clean up the cemetery will be in Spring 2023. Please follow us @helenadiboard or email helenadiboard@gmail. com for updates.
The sixth grade Helena girls basketball team featuring Jesse Mishoe, Harper Ledyard, Laura Barros, Aviana Smitherman, Elaina Emerson, Ava Fulmer, Stephanie Blocker, Yzzie Walker, Lizzy Owens, Brynleigh (BB) Johnson and coach Donny Emerson brought home this year’s league championship. Not only that, they became the first rec league girls team in Helena to finish the regular season undefeated at 8-0, while they won all three playoff games to take the crown and finish 11-0 overall.
Helena Elementary School received a check from the Shelby County Commission to help fund a project that will bring a new playground to the school. The check, which totaled $61,563, helped finish off the funding necessary for the project. The grant will help fund a multi-purpose play area for the school that will offer easy access and will be safe for all students. The idea came about last spring when special education teacher Allison Festavan thought it would be a good idea to turn the open courtyard at the school into a safe, contained, multi-purpose play and learning area. The PTO, led by Heather Leon, held a fun run to help start the fundraising process, while the grant helped complete the funding.
One of the city’s biggest upcoming projects is the Helena Forward project, which features the new Town Center and multi-sport athletic complex. Recently, signs were put up by U.S. Steel, who will help with the project. The signs show the project moving in the right direction as progress and work will soon begin. To be known as the Helena Town Center, it will be located at the intersection of Highway 52 and Hillsboro Parkway at the southeast corner of the masterplanned residential community of Hillsboro. The center will feature the new City Hall, while different retail businesses will also be a part of the area. The sports complex will be 50 acres of state-of-the-art facilities and recreational areas.
The majorettes at Helena High School recently took home a state championship in the twirl division at the state competition, while they also became the highest-scoring team in the state in the process. In addition to the championship and scoring crown, the team won the Shirley Beshear Team Award. That award meant they posted the highest score of the state competition, which is a major accomplishment statewide that is coveted by each team.
Shelby County Commissioner Elwin Bearden recently shared a grant with the city of Helena to help with improvements to the popular park. The grant totaled $91,036, and Mayor Brian Puckett said it will be used for several upgrades, including repairs to the Hillsboro Trail due to tree roots tearing up some of the asphalt. The grant will also help pave the parking lot at the park, which is currently gravel and clay, while the trail at the beginning of the park will be paved to connect to the Hillsboro Trail.
A new childcare center is slated to open in Helena by October or November. AIM Academy will open next to El Tejano, off of County Road 52, and will serve the needs of working parents by offering childcare for children ages 6 weeks through age 5. The operating hours of the Helena location will be Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. The school anticipates employing 30 full- and part-time staff members.
The Alabama Fire Explorer Weekend was recently held at the Alabama Fire College and several local Helena students, who are part of the Helena Fire Explorers program, participated in the event. With more than 100 explorers from across the state participating, the different groups took part in vehicle extrication, repelling, victim search and rescue, and much more throughout the program. It put those with aspirations of becoming a first responder one day into real-life emergency situations.
Helena students Parker Agee, Brandon Williams and Foster Johnson all won first place at this year’s State Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) Conference, which recently took place in Montgomery. Agee and Williams participated in the health science program at Helena High School and were able to use that to win first in the Emergency Medical Technician category, while Johnson joined his classmates by winning first in the Sports Medicine category. The three of them will now compete at the International HOSA Conference in Dallas this summer. Agee and Williams are also Helena Fire Explorers, while Johnson is an Eagle Scout.
The city’s first electric vehicle charging station is up and running at the Helena Sports Complex. The complex features two chargers for public use, which comes at the perfect time with spring sports kicking off. It offers a spot for those in the city with electric vehicles to charge their cars while spending the day at the park watching their kids play sports. The charging stations were awarded to the city through a grant from ADECA and will help with Helena being the second-highest city with registered electric vehicles outside of Hoover. Mayor Brian Puckett said he anticipates the city looking at different charging stations in the future.
The Helena Athletic Club recently held its annual Father-Daughter Dance, which raises money for local sports programs. This year’s dance was held for kindergarten through fifth grade students and helped raise $10,000 after 400 tickets were sold. The fundraiser goes toward helping all athletic departments at both the middle school and high school. There was also a raffle for this year’s “Candyland Sweetheart” which was given to Brynlee Runnels.
Two local students recently received big news after earning a spot in the Junior Olympics. Bryce Newman and Carley Seabrooke, who both compete as sharpshooters, will participate in the Shooting Junior Olympics this summer after impressive efforts recently. They were both celebrated by the Helena City Council and Mayor Brian Puckett at a recent City Council meeting for their efforts.
The spring art show at Helena Elementary School brought many families to the school on March 9 to view the artwork that students had been working on this spring. The show is a longstanding tradition at the school that showcases the hard work of students throughout the school. Parents and their students walked the hallways to look at the colorful pop of art produced by each student for this year’s event.
Local students from Helena High School got to participate in one of Shelby County Schools’ best events each year—the special needs prom. On Feb. 23, several students from Helena High School and across the SCS school district dressed in their best attire and attended the 2023 prom.
The Helena softball team is in the midst of a special season, and during the month of March, they were able to take down rival Pelham in a dominant 20-1 victory. Pelham scored the game’s first run, but the Huskies responded with 20 unanswered to win in easy fashion. A big reason for the dominant effort was a 13-run fifth inning that ultimately made the difference.
On Saturday Feb. 18, several Helena High School students gathered in the school’s performing arts center where they battled to be crowned the next Miss HHS. That title ultimately went to Sadie Henderson at the end of the night.
The spring market at Helena High School has become an annual tradition, and this year’s event took place on Saturday, March 11 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the high school. The event began in 2019 as a way to help the Helena High School marching band, but it was canceled a year later in 2020 due to COVID-19 with 100 vendors prepared to attend. The event, however, has returned, and saw more than 100 vendors present at this year’s event. Close to 800 people attended this year’s event, which marked one of the largest attendances to date.
Local state representatives took part in a special luncheon recently presented by The Shelby County Chamber. The luncheon gave the representatives a chance to preview legislative topics to be discussed during this year’s Legislative Session.
Junior basketball player at Helena High School
What does it mean to be able to represent Helena on the basketball court?
It means a lot to me. I love Helena and the community. I think they do an amazing job supporting us year end year out. I wear the jersey with pride and honor. I want Helena to be known for basketball and my goal is make that happen.
You reached a milestone this year by scoring your 1,000th career point as a junior. How special was that moment for you?
It was a very special moment for me. It was one of many milestones I wanted to accomplish throughout my career. I personally want to thank my family. They push me every day on the court and in the classroom. Secondly, I applaud my coaches and teammates, because without them it wouldn’t be possible.
This year’s team had a big turnaround under new head coach Lucas McDonald by winning the area championship. What did coach McDonald do to help this team and what was it like winning that championship?
Coach McDonald pushes us every day on and off the court and he’s never satisfied with just winning. He wants to be the best and wants the best for us as young men. He demands perfection and dislikes cutting corners. He was a great hire for the program. Coach McDonald came at the right time. It felt great winning an area championship this year with my teammates, especially the seniors. We have improved a lot from last year, and with guys coming back next year we can make another run at an area title.
What does a normal practice routine look like for you during the offseason?
During the offseason I work out with the football team and I trained 4-5 times a week with my personal trainer. I also run a lot in the mornings and shoot at least 500-1,000 shots every other day.
What drives you the most?
I’ll have to say my family, because I don’t want to let them down.
What is driving you into next season, and what will next year’s team be able to accomplish?
I feel we will make a run at a state championship. That’s our next task at hand. I think bringing back a blue map to Helena is possible, and with my teammates and coaches we can make that happen.
What is your favorite part about lacing up your shoes and competing in this sport?
My favorite part is just being on the court and getting my teammates better. Ever since I was 3 years old my parents had a ball in my hand. I fell in love with the game and just like anything in life we love, we cherish it.
SSpring is here, and we have some great new books, movies, programs and more for you at the library.
If you are a Shelby County resident, getting a library card is important, and it is easy. All you need to do is visit the library with your photo ID and proof of residence. If your current street address is on your driver’s license, bring that. If you are under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must sign for you to get a card. Ask them to do so!
books, biographies and a great selection for teens. Don’t forget about movies, audiobooks and the goto sources for free digital Titles, Hoopla and Libby.
As for events in April, check these out:
uEaster Craft – Ages 6 and under - Monday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m.
uFriends of the Library Meeting - Tuesday, April 4 at 5:45 p.m.
uCheck out 10 books, get a prize - Wednesday, April 5 ALL DAY
uSenior BINGO - Wednesday, April 12 at 10:30 a.m.
uEarth Day Coloring (All Ages) - Monday, April 17 at 5:30 p.m.
It is a huge help to the library staff members if you can visit and get a library card in April or May so you will be good to go for the summer. The Library has a fantabulous summer reading program in the works, with more details coming in the May issue of Helena Magazine.
Our neighbor, Joe Tucker Park, has been through a major transformation, and we are excited that it looks great and offers residents a great place to walk, play tennis and enjoy disc golf, among other outdoor fun. While you are at the park, stop by the library to see what is new.
Thanks to an LSTA grant provided by Alabama Public Library Service and the Department of Museums and Libraries, there are many great new books on the shelves. For the spring season, look for great titles featuring gardening, outdoor projects, sports and other leisure activities such as cooking and grilling.
In addition, the library is constantly adding new fiction for readers of all ages, as well as children’s
uEarth Day Plant Swap - Saturday, April 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
uLego Fun (All Ages) - Monday, April 24 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
uFREE Bookmark Day - Wednesday, April 26 ALL DAY
uFREE coloring sheet - Friday, April 28 ALL DAY
uStorytime – Every Tuesday and Thursday at 11 a.m.
Also, please visit the library or check the website for calendar information.
230 Tucker Road
Helena, AL 35080
Phone: (205) 664-8308
Facebook: Helena.Public.Library.Friends
Website: cityofhelena.org/public-library
Instagram: @helenalibrary
A twisting new psychological thriller in which two women—one a former detective, the other a dangerous con artist—go head-tohead in an electrifying game of cat and mouse.
By Rachel Farnsworth | Adult Nonfiction
The Stay-at-Home Chef Family Favorites
Cookbook is a complete cookbook that includes all of Rachel’s family and fan favorites. Current fans and new followers alike will find everything they expect from one of YouTube’s most popular home cooks.
Living an outdoor lifestyle fosters in kids an insatiable curiosity about the world around them, confidence and self-sufficiency, and, most important, a lifelong sense of stewardship of the natural world. This book helps families connect with nature— and one another—as a joyful part of everyday life.
By Julian Ray Vaca | Young Adult
In this electric speculative YA sci/fi novel, the world treats memories like currency, so dreams can be a complicated business.
Meet Resilience (RES) a Mars Rover determined to live up to his name in this tale of a small machine with a big heart.
This is a delightful picture book about the power of hugs. From bear hugs to koala cuddles, hippo huddles to walrus wiggles, penguin pecks to porcupine prickles, there are a LOT of hugs to choose from.
What do you love most about being an educator in Helena?
Working at Helena High School and in the Helena community is the absolute best! We are a family at HHS. I work with the most incredible administrators, faculty, and staff. We also have the most amazing students at HHS. The support that we receive from the city leaders of Helena and the citizens of this sweet community is unmatched. We are so blessed!
What is the best part about your job?
In my role as a librarian, I have the opportunity to build relationships with and help both teachers and students. I also get the opportunity to work with all students in our building and not just students who are taking one specific class.
You are also the head varsity cheerleading coach at Helena High School and coming off a historic showing at Nationals by not only making it to the final day but finishing seventh in the nation. How cool of an experience was that?
This is my ninth year of coaching cheer at HHS. Only one other time has this program made it to finals at Nationals and that was my JV team of 2018-2019 and they placed 6th in a JV Division. This year was the very first time that a Varsity team from HHS has ever made it to finals and placed in the Top 10 in the nation. This team had to make it through a preliminary round, semi finals, and then, finally, compete in finals. Seventh in the nation in a Varsity division is a HUGE accomplishment, and I am so proud of these girls!
What did it mean to you personally to see the team have that success?
I could not run this program without my amazing coaching staff; Tiffany Crumpton is the Varsity Assistant Coach and Mandy Murchison is the Junior Varsity Coach, and both of them help coach our competition team. The three of us have put in hours upon hours of being at practice and coaching these girls. We have watched the blood, sweat, and tears that our girls have put into perfecting this routine, and it was such a joy to see it all pay off! There was such a sense of accomplishment in that moment, but it also brought forth the drive and motivation to get ready for next season and come back to place in the top 3! Personally, it was also such a sweet moment to be able to have my family, my husband Patrick, daughter Hallie, and son Tyler, standing by my side through it all!
What was it like when they announced that y’all were going to the final day and then again when they announced your team as the No. 7 team in the competition?
After missing finals last year by less than a point, the most incredible moment was hearing our team called out in the list of teams going to finals! The excitement and joy during that moment is indescribable! There are so many pictures and videos from that announcement; I still look at and watch them and just cry!
Chase Morgan has been an employee with the city of Helena for the last six years in the public works department. He remains one of the many reasons the city is as safe and clean as it is on a daily basis. Morgan’s responsibilities with the public works department are to keep the city streets safe for residents and visitors to travel on, while he also works to help keep the rights of way looking their best. He is a supervisor in his position and works alongside the department head to help play a role in making Helena one of the state’s best communities to live in. “What I enjoy most about working for the city is knowing that I have a part in helping with projects that are making the city grow,” he said. Morgan also enjoys the quality of living in the city in addition to his workload. He said it is a community that offers a lot of different scenery no matter where you are. Morgan’s favorite leisure activity is to get the kayak out and explore all of those sights. “I love to go kayaking on Buck Creek and take in all of the different scenery,” he said.
ANGLICAN
Lamb of God Church
Head Pastor: Caron Glenn Davis
5140 Highway 17
(205) 919-7932
Lambofgodcec.org
BAPTIST
The Church at Old Town
Head Pastor: Josh Knierim
815 Highway 52 E
(205) 663-7879
Thechurchatoldtown.org
Gospel Light Baptist Church
Lead Pastor: Gary Bohman
5781 Roy Drive
(205) 685-0772
Glbcbham.com
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church
Head Pastor: Edwin Dinkles
5320 Helena Road
(205) 624-3323
Mpbchelena.com
Riverside Baptist Church
Senior Pastor: Chris Wilson
Worship Pastor: Kyle Ziglar
1919 Highway 52 West
(205) 426-1910
Rbchelena.org
Crossbridge Community Church
Lead Pastor: Cody Brister
1455 Starkey Street
(205) 358-3500
Crossbridgehelena.com
CHURCH OF CHRIST
Church of Christ at Helena
2499 Highway 58 (205) 620-4575
Helenachurch.com
DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
Grace Christian Church
Lead Pastor: Rev. Brad Henderson
869 County Road 52 (205) 426-1233
Gracechristianchurch.org
METHODIST
Helena United Methodist
Head Pastor: Rev. Rusty Tate
2035 Highway 58 (205) 663-0111
Helenaumc.org
Church at Cahaba Bend
Lead Pastor: Rev. Patrick Friday
3721 Highway 52 West (205) 621-8060
Cahababend.org
NON-DENOMINATIONAL
Open Door Independent Church
120 Laurel Woods Drive (205) 482-5963
Opendooral.com
Cornerstone Church Life Christian Fellowship
Lead Pastor: Rev. Tim Trimble 2694 Highway 58 (205) 663-9332
Cornerstonechurchhelena.org
New Vision Christian Church
Senior Pastor: Van C. Houser 2383 Highway 95 (205) 919-6678
Nvcc4god.org
The Rock Church
Head Pastor: Bryan Van Gieson 501 2nd Avenue West (205) 358-7625
Rockofbirmingham.org
The Voice of Faith International Ministries
Head Pastor: Franklin Kirksey 1560 Cunningham Drive (205) 663-7396
PENTECOSTAL
Helena Pentecostal Worship Center
Head Pastor: Rev. Joel Wayne Pate 2nd Ave. & Branch St. (205) 663-1697
PRESBYTERIAN
Harmony Church of Helena
Head Pastor: Mike Ensminger 3396 Helena Road (205) 663-2174
Helenacpchurch.com
Christ Community Church
Pastors: Phil Chambers and David Cunningham 2222 Highway 52 (205) 881-4222
ChristCommunity.net
A resident of Shelby County for most of her life, Rebekah Henderson remembers the day when Helena was a small town with a gas station, Helena Tire and Wheel and, of course, train tracks. Needless to say, Helena has grown over the years, but Rebekah’s love for the community has grown with it. Married to Jimmy Henderson, she and her husband moved away for five years to serve at Ponderosa Bible Camp in Mentone, but when the time came to move back, they knew Helena was going to be home once again. “We love the area and have loved watching it grow into such a thriving community,” she said. The couple has four children aged 21, 20, 19 and 18, all of whom were homeschooled with the last one graduating from Evangel Christian School this upcoming May, while also obtaining a certification in welding from Jeff State. Jimmy has been an
employee at Regions Bank for the past 15 years, and the couple attends and serves at The Station Church where Rebekah also sings on the praise team. Rebekah also travels twice a year to Guatemala to serve in a medical clinic, while she is on the board of Outlook Mountain Missions International, where she helps bring more medical clinics and help to the people of Guatemala. She also currently serves as the chair of the Helena Beautification Board. “I enjoy serving on the board so much,” she said. “Making Helena look beautiful is my passion. I love when people get to see the hanging baskets with flowers and see their pictures with the pumpkin house and scarecrows.” Rebekah’s favorite, however, is the Christmas tree lighting each year. “It just seems to help make the Christmas season start right and feels like our own version of a sweet Hallmark movie,” she said.
BY EMILY SPARACINO
PHOTOS BY JEREMY RAINES
AA sport that has become more popular in recent years has found a home in Helena with the addition of new equipment at one of the city’s parks.
Helena unveiled its first disc golf course in Joe Tucker Park on Tuesday, Feb. 14, and saw more than 100 people go through it on the opening day.
In the weeks since then, the course has continued to attract countless visitors eager to play.
“A lot of people have been out on our course,” Helena Parks and Recreation Director Bill Miller said, and added some of the visitors have come from areas other than Helena. “It’s definitely a growing sport.”
Miller said the nine-hole, medium-difficulty course is set in a wooded area in the back portion of the park.
“We did bring in disc golf specialist Tom Monroe to design the course,” Miller said. “He is a professional disc golfer. When we reached out to him, he was all about helping us out.”
Monroe is listed on the Professional Disc Golf Association website as a member of the Disc Golf Hall of Fame Class of 1993.
As the governing body of disc golf, the PDGA oversees amateur events and a professional tour featuring full-time players.
“It’s free to the public, and we hope that everybody enjoys the design. It was put there for the enjoyment of our residents, and we hope that it will provide more interest for the sport in our area.”
- HELENA PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR BILL MILLER
According to Miller, Helena’s course includes regulation concrete tee pads and signage for each hole, which he said are “two things we get compliments on that people like because a lot of courses don’t have that.”
City Councilman Chris VanCleave and Mayor Brian Puckett collaborated with Miller and his department on creating a disc golf course in Helena.
“It’s been a project that has been talked about over the years,” Miller said. “It’s been a long time coming.”
The project totaled about $20,000, an amount Puckett said was necessary to ensure the course was the highest quality.
“I’m so thankful for the Parks and Recreation Department because they did all the installation of everything,” Puckett said. “They were working as fast as they could when the equipment came in so the course could open as quickly as possible. Without
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the Parks and Rec team, this wouldn’t be done yet.”
Miller said the city plans to install an 18-hole disc golf course at the new sports complex that will be built at the corner of Coalmont Road and Hillsboro Parkway, near Helena High School.
In the meantime, people from Helena and beyond
are invited to visit the new course at Joe Tucker Park and see what it has to offer.
“It’s free to the public, and we hope that everybody enjoys the design,” Miller said. “It was put there for the enjoyment of our residents, and we hope that it will provide more interest for the sport in our area.”
Carrington Hodge is striving to be her best self through the Distinguished Young Women program
BY LIZZIE BOWEN PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
WWhen you speak with Carrington Hodge, you can already see the light within her as she speaks about the Distinguished Young Women program.
Carrington was named Alabama’s Distinguished Young Woman of 2023.
Carrington said that becoming a part of the Distinguished Young Women program came to her through her experience with dance.
In the past year, Carrington received the opportunity to dance with the winner of Distinguished Young Women Jefferson County winner and representative. For her, watching this
experience offered her an inside look at what it would be like to be a part of the Distinguished Young Women Program as well as well as how prepared many of the participants of the program were for college and life beyond high school.
Carrington began falling in love with dance. She loves to dance and describes herself as an upbeat, jazzy and funky type of hip-hop style dancer. She describes her style of dance as more of a musical theatre piece.
“I started out in ballet and tap,” Carrington said. “Hip-hop and jazz and jazz funk are my
favorites. We compete in all styles whether that be contemporary, lyric, ballet or point. It is such a great way to spend my time outside of school. I also would say learning how to manage my time and learning how to take losses are some other things I have learned from dance.”
For Carrington, the rejection that you can often face in dance competitions is one that she feels has made her stronger. She poses the important question, “How can I be better?” She also reiterates the importance of realizing not every day is going to be your day and it’s OK to take a loss sometimes.
“Learning how to handle your number not being called when your friend’s number is or being able to see someone you admire and wonder why you’re not getting the same recognition that they are (is important), and I have been learning that lesson since around 10,” she said.
Being named the Distinguished Young Woman of the Year is a distinct honor, and it is one that felt surreal for Carrington.
“I think the first thing I did when they announced my name was just close my eyes,” Carrington said. “It was just a sigh of relief. All of it had finally come together, that was just a sense
of relief like, ‘Wow, it all really paid off,’ and the hard work wasn’t going unnoticed.”
For Carrington, the hours of interview prep, extracurricular activities, hours spent doing homework and practicing dance had finally come together.
“So, that was just a sense of relief,” Carrington said. “It all really paid off. The amount of work (I did) isn’t going unnoticed. I was so excited to be around girls who all felt the same way about the level of hard work we dedicated (throughout) our
“Learning how to handle your number not being called when your friend’s number is or being able to see someone you admire and wonder why you’re not getting the same recognition that they are (is important), and I have been learning that lesson since around ten.”
- CARRINGTON HODGE
last four years.”
Carrington was not only awarded the honor of being given the Distinguished Young Woman, but she was also awarded scholarship money as well to begin building her future and pursuing her education.
There were 41 girls participating in the Distinguished Young Women program for the title, all coming from different backgrounds and places. Some hailed from rural areas and others were from highly populated areas.
“We did have girls from rural areas,” Carrington said. “So, we did have some things that weren’t in common, but were able to learn from them and learn the values of smaller communities as opposed to the metro area that I’m used to. It was all around a great experience and a great week.”
Carrington will compete for the national title in June. The competition will be held in Alabama, and the program will last two weeks. Carrington said the two weeks will offer more times for the girls participating in the pageant to bond. The competition is high stakes and pressure.
“I’m having to work a little bit harder on the interview prep and self-expression,” Carrington
said. “In the preliminary round, you get the question 24 hours before, but in the finals, you have no idea what topic or question has come up, just learning how to improve on those extemporary speaking skills.”
Carrington is currently working both physically and mentally in preparation for the Nationals Event. She is currently trying to work on interview preparation two or three times a week. She is also working to maintain knowledge of current events so that she can be prepared for anything the judges might ask her.
“They are looking not necessarily for the belief or value, but how well you can convey it and back it up,” Carrington said. “(It is) similar with selfexpression, just being able to speak off the cuff with a little more flow.”
Carrington spoke about how it can be a struggle to think on your feet in front of an audience of people, especially when you are not sure what question will be asked. Carrington’s question in the final was “What do you believe is the reality of tomorrow?”
“I was about to say flying cars,” Carrington jokes. “I did eventually pull something out of the hat, and it worked perfectly.”
Carrington has big plans for the future with the scholarship she has received from the Distinguished Young Woman Program. Her plans aren’t set in stone and the future is bright, bearing many options for her to pursue, but as of now, she plans on attending a university out of state and major in neuroscience and minor in African American studies on a pre-med track.
“I definitely see myself going into the medical field,” Carrington said.
For Carrington, this entire experience has offered her the opportunity to connect strongly with the community of Helena and her fellow
women.
“I have grown really close to the board as well as other girls from around the area,” Carrington said. “Just being in the program, I have connected with girls from Thompson, Hoover and Pelham. I have been around the area a lot more. I am now seeing how we have all become more of a network.”
The future is bright for Carrington and for many who participate in the Distinguished Young Woman program. The ladder to success is one she has climbed with a smile on her face and joy in her heart, serving as an inspiration for young girls everywhere.
Hoover and Helena faced off in a boys soccer match at Helena High School.
1. Kylie Scroggins and Kaitlyn Horstead
2. Diane Kelly, Brandon Williams and Nate Ferguson
3. Nathan Blevins
4. Walter Wolmack and Jason Benson
5. Caleb Demouchette and Joshua Howard
6. Shawndee and Mary Rose Lovoy
7. Cle’Asha Jones and Jaynie Turner
8. Leann Perry and Callie and Mike Lunsford
9. Marie Day
10. Robin and Tommy Anderson
LOCAL SPRING SPORTS TEAMS AT HELENA HIGH SCHOOL ARE IN THE SWING OF THEIR SEASON. THE SOFTBALL TEAM IS IN THE MIDST OF CHASING DOWN AN AREA TITLE WHILE LOOKING TO REACH THE STATE TOURNAMENT ONCE AGAIN. THE BOYS AND GIRLS SOCCER TEAMS ARE BATTLING IN A CHALLENGING AREA, WHILE THE BASEBALL TEAM IS LOOKING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A DIFFICULT EARLY SCHEDULE TO CLAIM AN AREA TITLE.
PHOTOS BY JEREMY RAINES AND DAWN HARRISON
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Old Town Helena
A Hallmark movie in Helena pretty much sums up Christmas in Helena. From the preparation of the tree lighting to the parade it truly brings that down-home feeling when you see the thousands of people who have gathered to celebrate the holidays with us. Walking around the city during these events really gives me that true home for the holidays feeling.
Helena resident
High parking lot
Helena High School
If you have not gone to the hill by the stadium at the end of a day to catch the sun setting over the Old Cahaba neighborhood then you are missing out on one of the best and closest spots to take in a sunset.
Cahaba River
This is my favorite thing to see in the city as it only happens for a few weeks in May (around Mother’s Day). If you didn’t know, we have a patch of the Endangered Cahaba Lilies that grow just a short hike from the waterfall in Old Town. It is a peaceful hike alongside the creek that can really get you in touch with nature.
Old Town Helena
This is the day that we gather at the caboose early on a Saturday morning in April once a year to prep the hanging baskets that are seen throughout the city during the spring and summer months. Over the years of being involved with the beautification board we have seen an increase in attendance with every passing year. It truly is a wonderful sight to behold when members of the community come together to participate in this annual activity. It is always a lot of fun and a great opportunity to meet other people in our city.
Buck Creek
Because I am into photography this has to be one of my favorite events that the city has to offer. Whether you are stationed at the shops along the road or claimed your space down at the waterfall there is not a bad viewing experience. There is so much to do while waiting for the show as the vendors and food truck have shown up to keep everyone engaged while the anticipation builds for the fireworks to begin.
