CITYOFHELENA.ORG
CITYOFHELENA.ORG
FEBRUARY 2024
“WATCHING HER SOAR” HIS STUDENT CLAIRE MCLAIN’S BRIGHT FUTURE IN GYMNASTICS
CHEERS FOR THE CHEERLEADERS HELENA’S MIDDLE SCHOOL CHEER TEAM SECURES STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
FEBRUARY 2024
PUBLIC SERVANT OF THE YEAR MAYOR BRIAN PUCKETT LEARNS WITH LEADERSHIP
CityOfHelena.org 1
2 CityOfHelena.org
CityOfHelena.org 3
City Leadership
A letter from the mayor Nurturing our growth and progress As mayor of our beautiful city, I am committed to the prudent management of our finances, ensuring that we have robust controls in place to safeguard our resources and maintain a healthy reserve for any unforeseen emergencies. Helena has been able to maintain over 4.5 million dollars in reserves, which is a testament to our commitment to 4 CityOfHelena.org
financial stability and preparedness. This reserve provides us with a safety net to address unexpected challenges and ensures that essential services can continue uninterrupted, even in times of crisis. It is our responsibility to be good stewards of the public’s funds, and I am dedicated to upholding this principle for the benefit of all our citizens.
It is our responsibility to be good stewards of the public’s funds, and I am dedicated to upholding this principle for the benefit of all our citizens. While we strive to maintain fiscal responsibility, of Helena” is not only an opportunity to indulge we also face challenges in preserving our public in exquisite flavors but also a chance to support spaces and facilities. The unfortunate incidents of a worthy cause. All proceeds from this event will vandalism and damage to our city parks, restrooms, go towards benefiting the Future Business Leaders and playgrounds not only mar the beauty of of America program at Helena High School. By participating in this event, you will our community but also impose a not only enjoy a delightful evening significant cost in terms of resources, but also contribute to the growth and time, and taxpayer dollars. I urge all development of our next generation of citizens to join us in protecting these business leaders. Your presence and shared spaces by being vigilant and support are invaluable in nurturing proactive. If you see something amiss, the potential of our youth and please speak up. Whether it’s damaged investing in the future prosperity of property, suspicious activities, or our community. any other concern, I encourage you In conclusion, I am deeply to report it to the Helena Police committed to ensuring the financial Department at (205) 663-6499 or Mayor Brian well-being of our city, preserving through our City Action Center on the Puckett our public spaces, and fostering official city website. Your alertness and cooperation are vital in helping us preserve the community engagement. Your involvement and integrity of our public areas and ensuring a safe collaboration are essential in achieving these goals, and I urge you to join me in safeguarding our and welcoming environment for all. On a brighter note, I am excited to invite everyone resources, reporting any concerns, and supporting to mark their calendars for Thursday, March 14th, our local initiatives. Together, we can continue to from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Helena Sports Complex build a vibrant and resilient community that we for the much-anticipated “Taste of Helena” event. can all be proud of. Thank you for your ongoing This delightful occasion will showcase the culinary support, and I look forward to seeing you at the talents of our local businesses, offering a delectable “Taste of Helena” event as we come together to array of their finest dishes for all to savor. The “Taste celebrate our city and invest in its future.
Together As One,
-Brian Puckett, mayor of Helena
CityOfHelena.org 5
In this issue FEATURES
22
Striving for excellence Coaches Tesmer and Taylor talk their team’s success
29
Planning for progress Mayor Brian Puckett recognized as 2023 Public Servant of the Year
38
The beam queen Claire McLain’s dedication secures success in the gym
6 CityOfHelena.org
Follow the City of Helena
Facebook.com/helenathemagazine
TikTok @CityOfHelenaAL
THE MAGAZINE
CONTENT
4
Official Publication of the City of Helena
24
A Letter from the Mayor
Schools Q&A
9
26
The Guide
City Hall Faces
12
28
In the News
20
EDITORIAL Donald Mottern Andrew Simonson Noah Wortham
DESIGN Sydney Allen
Meet your neighbor
Jamie Dawkins
46
Connor Martin-Lively
Update from the Library
Out & About
22
50
Sports Q&A
HELENA
My Helena
Rowan Futrell
PHOTOGRAPHY Jeremy Raines
MARKETING Michaela Bankston Rachel Henderson Rhett McCreight Viridiana Romero
ADMINISTRATION
ON THE COVER Serving the people Helena Mayor Brian Puckett works to make sure he starts each and every day better equipped to be the leader of the city he loves than the day before. Photo by Jeremy Raines Cover Design by Jamie Dawkins
Need to rent a Pavilion for an upcoming Birthday or Family Reunion? Rent a City Park Pavilion: cityofhelena.org/parks-recreation/helena-parks/
Publisher Shelby County Newspapers, Inc. 115 North Main Street Columbiana AL 35051 205-669-3131 Alec Etheredge President and Publisher 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.
CityOfHelena.org 7
Utilities and Services 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 Gas uSpire – 1-800-292-4008 spireenergy.com 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 LOCAL SCHOOLS 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
City Government Brian Puckett Mayor bpuckett@cityofhelena.org
Alice Lobell
Chris Willis
Christopher VanCleave
Place 3, Council President
Place 1
Place 2 Pro Tempore
alobell@cityofhelena.org
cwillis@ cityofhelena.org
cvancleave@ cityofhelena.org
Laura Joseph
Hewy Woodman
Amanda Traywick
Place 4
Place 5
ljoseph@cityofhelena.org
hwoodman@ cityofhelena.org
City Clerk and Treasurer
We want to hear from you! Do you have an issue that City Hall needs to know about? Please use the City Action Center at cityofhelena.org to get a resolution to your neighborhood issue.
atraywick@ cityofhelena.org
Departments City Hall (205) 663-2161 Fire Department (205) 663-5809 Sports Complex (205) 620-2877 8 CityOfHelena.org
Library (205) 664-8308 Police (205) 663-6499 Utilities (205) 663-1670
THE GUIDE
START OF SPRING SPORTS SEASON Helena High School
The month of February marks the beginning of the spring sports season that will include the start of multiple different sports for the students and supporting community. Baseball, softball, soccer, golf and tennis will all get underway with the start of new seasons featuring outstanding talents. The first outings for school teams are as follows: FIRST BASEBALL GAME: Helena Baseball vs. Hoover (Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m.) FIRST SOCCER GAME: Helena Soccer vs. Oneonta (Feb. 2 at 5:30 p.m.) FIRST SOFTBALL GAME: Helena Softball vs. Pell City (Feb. 20 at 5 p.m.) FIRST GOLF MATCH: Helena Golf vs. Oak Mountain High School (Feb. 15 at 2 p.m.) FIRST TENNIS MATCH: Helena Tennis vs. John Carrol Catholic School (Feb. 1 at 3:30 p.m.) CityOfHelena.org 9
AROUND TOWN EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY | 11 A.M. Storytime at the library FEB. 1 | 3:30 P.M. Helena Tennis vs. John Carrol Catholic High School FEB. 2 | ALL DAY Indoor Track State Meet (Birmingham CrossPlex) FEB. 2 | 5:30 P.M. Helena Soccer vs. Oneonta FEB. 7 | 9:30 TO 10:30 A.M. PTO Meeting (Helena Elementary School) FEB. 8-12 | ALL DAY Wrestling Sectionals (Montgomery) FEB. 23-24
Smokey City Rails Spring Show and Sell 3 P.M. Helena Sports Complex and Rec Center Join Alabama Modular Layouts for their Smokey City Rails Spring Show and Sell organized by and for those interested in the hobby of model railroading. Alabama Modular Layouts is a group of model railroaders and friends that seek to share their passion for the hobby via modular layouts at model train shows, public events and other opportunities with railroad museums, groups and local model railroad clubs.
HELENA CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Monday, Feb. 12 and Feb. 26 Helena’s City Council meetings take place the PRE-COUNCIL AT 5 P.M., CITY COUNCIL MEETING AT 6 P.M. second and fourth Mondays of the month. Helena City Council meetings are open to the public and HELENA CITY HALL offer the chance for you to get involved in the planning of your community.
10 CityOfHelena.org
FEB. 8 | 4 P.M. Helena Tennis vs. Shades Valley High School FEB. 8 | 7 P.M. Helena Soccer: 2024 Southern Shootout FEB. 10 | 7 TO 10 P.M. Sadie Hawkins Dance (Helena High School) FEB. 12 | 6 P.M. Helena City Council Meeting FEB. 13 | 5:30 TO 7:30 P.M. Curriculum Night (Helena High School) FEB. 15 | 2 P.M. Helena Golf vs. Oak Mountain High School FEB. 15 | 3:30 P.M. Helena Tennis vs. Homewood High School FEB. 15 | 6 P.M. Planning and Zoning Committee FEB. 15-17 | ALL DAY Wrestling State Tournament
FEB. 19 | 1:30 P.M. Helena Golf vs. Gardendale High School FEB. 20 | 2:15 P.M. Helena Golf vs. Thompson High School FEB. 20 | 7 P.M. Helena Soccer vs. Oxford FEB. 22 | 3:30 P.M. Helena Tennis vs. Northridge High School FEB. 22 | 6:30 P.M. Helena Baseball vs. Hoover FEB. 22 | 7 P.M. Helena Soccer vs. Thompson FEB. 24 | 10 A.M. Helena Baseball vs. Hoover FEB. 26 | 5 P.M. Helena Softball vs. McAdory FEB. 26 | 6 P.M. Helena City Council Meeting FEB. 27 | 4 P.M. Municipal Court FEB. 27 | 6 P.M. Helena Baseball vs. McAdory FEB. 27 | 7 P.M. Helena Soccer vs. Fort Payne FEB. 28 | 4 P.M. Helena Tennis vs. Thompson High School FEB. 29 | 3 P.M. Helena Tennis vs. Mountain Brook High School FEB. 29 | 4:30 P.M. Helena Softball vs. Brookwood FEB. 29 | 7 P.M. Helena Soccer vs. Calera FEB. 29 | 7 P.M Helena Soccer: 2024 Warrior Invitational
TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS
Storytime at the library 11 A.M. Jane B. Holmes Library Join members of the Jane B. Holmes Public Library for Storytime hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays every month at 11 a.m. Storytime aims to encourage children’s love of reading and remind them that the library is a place for their imaginations to run wild.
MARCH 14
Taste of Helena 6-8 P.M. Helena Sports Complex The Taste of Helena is a food festival showcasing local eateries. There will be no fee for vendors to participate. The event will also serve to teach and support the students who are part of the Future Business Leaders program in Helena. Organizers are estimating for around 200 patrons to attend.
CityOfHelena.org 11
In the News
TASTE OF HELENA COMING ON MARCH 14 Helena residents and visitors will be able to attend the inaugural Taste of Helena event on Thursday, March 14, from 6-8pm at the Helena Sports Complex. The event will feature the top dishes from local businesses to raise money for the students with the Future Business Leaders of America at Helena High School.
JOHNIGAN DROPS 27 AS HELENA USES SECOND-HALF EFFORT TO DEFEAT CHELSEA After a tight opening 16 minutes, the Helena Huskies came out of the locker room strong and took a 54-38 win on the road at the Chelsea Hornets on Wednesday, Jan. 3. In addition to Johnigan’s 27-point night and King’s 13, Jordan Edwards scored five points for Helena.
POST 555 PREPARES TO HOST ORATORICAL CONTEST American Legion Post 555 is currently preparing to host the next iteration of one of the Legion’s longest running events, The American Legion Oratorical Contest, on Saturday, Feb. 10 at the American Village in Montevallo. Helena High School will be represented in the event. 12 CityOfHelena.org
In the News AUTHOR DALE ALEXANDER VISITS SHELBY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOLS Author Dale Alexander, best known for his insightful book “The Talk (about money)” visited Shelby County high schools in January to share insights with students eager to learn about financial literacy and responsible money management.
2024 OLD TOWN LIVE LINEUP RELEASED The Helena Old Town Board has unveiled the lineup for the awaited 2024 series of Old Town Live via a video posted to their social media on Wednesday, Jan. 17. On April 20, the first concert event of the season will feature music and performances from Galactic, the Robert Randolph Band and Rollin’ in the Hay. The show for May 18 will showcase the talents of the Allman Betts Band and Taylor Hunnicutt. The third event of the season on June 15 will be carried by music from Lauren Alaina and Chase Wright. On July 3, Drivin N Cryin will highlight two familiar bands for the Old Town Live series as Bloodkin and Telluride both make their return to Helena following performances in last year’s lineup. The season will then draw to a close on Sept. 21 when The Bavarian Express and The Vegabonds close out the year with their awaited performances.
HELENA FAVORITE DONDI & SHELL’S FOOD OASIS CLOSES DOORS In a statement released on social media on Thursday, Dec. 21, owners Dion Williams and Shelley McDaniel announced that they would be closing the restaurant following the Christmas holiday and thanked the community for the large amount of support they have received throughout the course of the restaurant’s run.
SEANN WILLIAM SCOTT FILMS SCENES IN HELENA DURING FILM PRODUCTION The city of Helena served as a featured production location for Michael Diliberti’s new film “Bad Man” starring actor Seann William Scott, known most prominently for his role in the “American Pie” film series. The film’s production utilized a number of Helena’s most prominent and well-known locations around Old Town. CityOfHelena.org 13
In the News
MULTIPLE HELENA STUDENTS EARN DEAN’S LIST HONORS FOR FALL 2023 AT LEE UNIVERSITY Lee University congratulated multiple Helena students who earned Dean’s List honors during the Fall 2023 semester. Dean’s List recognition is earned by full-time students with a semester grade point average between 3.7 and 4.00. Dagny Taylor, Stella Reynolds, Samuel Sisson and Timothy Gooden were all recognized for the achievement.
HELENA POWERS AHEAD EARLY TO EARN SEASON SWEEP OVER CALERA It was a big night for the Helena Huskies as they made their final preparations for the start of area play and welcomed Josh Williams back into the lineup. Helena bested the Calera Eagles 60-32 on Friday, Jan. 5.
HELENA ATHLETES EARN WINS AT 2024 ICEBREAKER INVITATIONAL ALABAMA STATE REP. LEIGH HULSEY DONATES FOR NEW HELENA HIGH SCHOOL SIGNAGE State Rep. Leigh Hulsey made a delivered a donation for new signage toward Helena High School on Dec. 13, 2023. 14 CityOfHelena.org
Of the many local athletes to participated in the track and field event, Helena students made great performances. Michael Sestili of Helena cleared the first boys pole vault finals after he was the only athlete to clear a mark of 13-03.00. Abigail Parsons finished in sixth place in the first final with a mark of 8-06.00. Brooklyn Kelley of the Helena Huskies came in first place in the first girls shot put finals and her teammate, Anna Grace Johnson, came in seventh. Aspen Warren finished in third place in the first boys 800-meter run finals.
In the News HELENA USES STRONG SECOND QUARTER, GRANT’S 22 POINTS TO DEFEAT CALERA In their final game before the start of area play, the Helena Huskies earned the season sweep over the Calera Eagles with a 46-30 win at Helena High School on Friday, Jan. 5.
HELENA MARKET DAYS HOLDS VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT MEETING To raise some much-needed interest and involvement, the organization held a volunteer recruitment meeting on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Helena Sports Complex located at 110 Sports Complex Drive. Volunteers are still encouraged to reach out become involved.
CityOfHelena.org 15
In the News
SCHOOLS SEE CLOSURES DURING WEEK OF JAN. 15 Local schools in Shelby County were closed for two days in addition to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday due to freezing temperatures and severe winter weather temperatures. Many children, and adults, in the community utilized the time to enjoy the cold weather, ice and little snow for a fun day at home.
SHELBY COUNTY CHAMBER HOSTS ALABAMA WORKFORCE STABILIZATION PROGRAM The Shelby County Chamber hosted a workshop on the Alabama Workforce Stabilization Program on January 25, 2024. The program is a $17.8 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Securities (CARES) Act. The targeted industry sectors are healthcare, advanced manufacturing, information technology, transportation, distribution/ logistics and construction.
DAYSOL COFFEE ANNOUNCES CLOSURE OF HELENA LOCATION Owners Bert and Erin Davis of Daysol Coffee announced their intentions to turn off the lights for their Old Town Helena location for the final time through a message posted to their social media accounts Thursday, Jan. 11. The Helena location’s last day of operation will be March 15.
AMERICAN VILLAGE JUNIOR INTERPRETER PROGRAM READIES FOR ANOTHER YEAR Students interested in the period of early American independence will have the opportunity to help bring history to life by taking part in an annual program at the American Village this upcoming summer. The deadline to apply for the program was Wednesday, Jan. 31. From those applications, students will now enter into an audition process held in February before finally being selected as a participant in the program. The actual dates for involvement at American Village will be from May 28 to July 4, where the program concludes following American Village’s Independence Day events. 16 CityOfHelena.org
In the News HELENA POLICE OFFICER SPREADS CHRISTMAS CHEER, GIFT CARDS Casey Sutch, an officer with the Helena Police Department, took it upon himself to spread Christmas cheer and good spirit in the days leading up to the holiday. In recognition of the spirit of the season, rather than writing a ticket or official warning, Sutch surprised those he pulled over in Helena with Chick-Fil-A gift cards that were accompanied, of course, with a simple reminder to follow the rules of the road.
HELENA USES STRONG SHOOTING TO DEFEAT BRIARWOOD IN FIRST AREA GAME The Helena Huskies’ high-powered offense helped them earn a 65-51 win in their area play opener against the Briarwood Christian Lions on Tuesday, Jan. 9 at Helena High School. Josh Williams started his solid shooting night early with six points in the first quarter. His Huskies teammate Drew Davis added four points to help Helena score 17 points in the opening period.
24/7 EYE EMERGENCY ROOM
Every spectrum of eye care. At UAB Callahan Eye, we’re focused on providing vision-saving care at every level — from the only 24/7 eye emergency room in Alabama to daily eye care from expert physicians. See the difference at uabcallahaneye.org.
CityOfHelena.org 17
In the News
HELENA REMAINS IN CLASS 6A FOLLOWING AHSAA SPORTS RECLASSIFICATIONS The Helena Huskies remained in Class 6A following the latest round of fall sports reclassification by the AHSAA. The decision affects football, flag football, volleyball and men’s and women’s cross country for the 2024-2026 academic years.
HELENA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PRODUCE BOOKMARKS FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS Members of the National English Honor Society and Mrs. Rigdon’s Pre-AP English students created bookmarks for students at HIS to encourage them to read. What a beautiful connection between our present and future Huskies.
FIRST HELENA SOFTBALL GAME SCHEDULED FOR FEB. 20 The Helena Huskies will face off in the first softball game of the season against Pell City on Feb. 20 with the match scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
HELENA LISTS JOB POSTING FOR FIRE MARSHALL The city of Helena has posted a job listing for the position of fire marshal in in the city and all applications were due in to the City Hall by Jan. 23, 2024. The job is described as a specialized, technical, investigative, inspection, and administrative position which encompasses conducting inspections of buildings and facilities for adequate fire safety and prevention conditions, conducting investigations of fires for their origin and cause, and public education of fire safety and prevention. 18 CityOfHelena.org
CityOfHelena.org 19
Library Update
GREETINGS FROM THE JANE B. HOLMES LIBRARY
W
Winter has arrived, and the cold temperatures offer a great opportunity to read and visit the Jane B. Holmes Public Library in Helena. It’s a great way to get out into the community, enrich your mind and save a little money as well! Ideas for the season include checking out books, board games or trying out the library’s digital services Hoopla and Libby. Movies are always a good choice during cooler weather and the library collection has new titles as well as a great selection of Valentine’s Day flicks. Library Director When visiting, patrons Dan Dearing may notice new and expanded signage to make finding items easier. New placards and wayfinding elements have been added recently, thanks to grant funding from elected officials, the city of Helena and Vulcan Materials Company. Staff members are always happy to help, but the more directional assistance the public has to utilize, the better. Another neat service the library offers is the “Coming Soon” list. This list of upcoming titles enables the patron to simply select any books the library is scheduled to receive and reserve them automatically. The service is free and available for adult fiction titles only. Please ask a staff member if you are interested. Friends of the Library update: The Friends are meeting regularly and working on projects like book sale preparation, the upcoming Plant Swap and more. If you are interested in getting involved with
Please visit the library soon,
20 CityOfHelena.org
this fun group, please contact the library at 205-6648308. February has a full calendar of events, and here is a sampling: uMonday, Feb. 5 at 5:30 p.m.– TEEN Program - Create your own Valentine card (Ages 12 and up) uMonday, Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m. – Juvenile Program – The Great Valentine Dinosaur Craft Race! (Ages 3+) uWednesday, Feb. 14 at 10:30 a.m., Senior Program – Rolling into Valentine’s Day (Dice Game) uMonday, Feb. 19 — LIBRARY CLOSED – President’s Day uWednesday, Feb. 21 — ALL DAY – Check out 10 books, get a prize! uMonday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m. — Lego Fun! – ALL AGES For those of you with younger children, please remember our weekly Storytime. This is a fun event with stories, singalongs and music that will keep young people moving. Storytime is every Tuesday and Thursday at 11 a.m., and is a fun way for your preschooler to learn and meet others in your community. See you soon, and keep reading!
Jane B. Holmes Public Library 230 Tucker Road Helena, AL 35080
Phone: (205) 664-8308 Facebook: Helena.Public.Library.Friends Website: cityofhelena.org/public-library Instagram: @helenalibrary
-Daniel Dearing, library director
February’s Top Picks LAST NIGHT By Luanne Rice | Adult Fiction A breathtaking thriller about a family shaken by lies, vengeance, and a coldblooded crime. ORGANIZED LIVING: SOLUTIONS AND INSPIRATION FOR YOUR HOME By Shira Gill | Adult Nonfiction Kickstart your organized life with this inspiring visual guide. DOGTOWN By Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko | Juvenile Dogtown is a shelter for stray dogs, misbehaving dogs, and discarded robot dogs, whose owners have outgrown them. When Chance and Metal Head embark on an adventure to find their forever homes, there is danger, cheese sandwiches, a charging station, and some unexpected kindnesses along the way. WEIRD AND WONDERFUL NATURE: TALES OF MORE THAN 100 UNIQUE ANIMALS, PLANTS, AND PHENOMENA By Ben Hoare | Juvenile Nonfiction Children can read stories of more than one hundred unique animals, plants and phenomena and learn about the weird and wonderful side of the natural world. AMAZING EARTH: THE MOST INCREDIBLE PLACES FROM AROUND THE WORLD By Anita Ganeri | Juvenile Nonfiction An exhilarating guided tour around the most amazing places on Earth, perfect for young adventurers with big imaginations! CUPIG: THE VALENTINE’S DAY PIG By Claire Tattersfield | Easy/Picture A comically mismatched Valentine’s Day picture book with a clever and hilarious take on Cupid.
CityOfHelena.org 21
Sports
MALLORY TESMER AND JAMES TAYLOR Coaches for the Helena Middle School cheer team
22 CityOfHelena.org
For those unfamiliar with how the sport is organized, can you tell us what grades the team consisted of that won the AHSAA Cheer State Championship this year? And what the championship competition entailed? MT: Each division is based on age and the number of athletes on the squad. We have 25 girls, so we compete in Large Junior High divisions. We are the only middle school team in the state of Alabama that received first place in Large Junior High. JT: The team is made up of 7th and 8th graders that tried out for and made the team. The competition brings teams from all across the state and at all skill levels and team sizes from as little at 10 athletes on a team all the way up to 30 athletes on a team. How did the team prepare for the competition? MT: We prepare for competition as soon as the season starts. Coach Bender and I encourage the girls to practice and perform at each event like it is a competition. We want our girls to be strong in all aspects from sidelines at football games, to stunting and tumbling. We practice consistently to prepare and work on those skills. We also have teamed up with Alpha Extreme to work on our routines. Jay and his team are awesome! What can you tell us about the cheer routine performed by the team? JT: The routine is made up of stunts, tumbling and a cheer section. Once the music starts it is constant building, jumping, motion work, tumbling, crowd leading and energy with no breaks. Can you share a standout moment where you felt extremely proud of the team from the season? MT: A moment that stuck out to Coach Bender and I was when they were about to perform for State they got in a team huddle and started naming all their accomplishments. They were reminding each other what they had worked so hard towards. We were very proud to see them lifting one another up in positive affirmations. Can you describe a particularly challenging aspect of the routine or moment in the season and how the team overcame it? JT: We had a moment near the end of the season the week before State where one of our top girls was injured and suffered a concussion and was not going to be able to compete at the State competition. We worked hard and changed up some of the choreography and even had to add in a new top girl who had never competed in that position ever before. In the end the entire team was able to pull it together and we had an amazing performance and brought home our goal of a State title. What would you like readers to know about this cheer team and this program as a whole? MT: This team is strong inside and outside of the classroom. They have kind hearts, work hard, and will continue to make a positive impact here in Helena. We are so excited we have the opportunity to highlight these girls and this competitive sport.
PICKETT CONSTRUCTION,
LLC
FULL SERVICE CONTRACTOR REMODELING
HOME IMPROVEMENT Licensed & Insured with over 30 Years Experience!
NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION
205-620-1798 www.PickettConstruct.com Located at 8101 Hwy 119 in Alabaster.
CityOfHelena.org 23
Education
MICHELLE BRANSON Helena High School art teacher
24 CityOfHelena.org
What inspired you to pursue a career in teaching art? I have always loved art and been a little bit of an idealist. I’m a practicing artist and passionate about my own work so it is just totally fulfilling to be able to be there to foster that in my kids. I feel so lucky because I get to support them as they figure out what their place is in the world and what kind of human they want to be. Sometimes that is through art specifically and other times it is just through being a supportive presence. I say I have the best job on the planet all the time and I mean it. Could you describe the winter painting experience lesson and its objectives for our readers? The main objectives were just to give more students an opportunity to paint and to give me an opportunity to get to know them. I have found that doing a step by step paint-along increases confidence and decreases ‘painters block’ so that people can just enjoy the act of painting without fretting about ‘doing it wrong’. For this class, I broke down the painting into very specific, small steps so that students could work more independently. We talked about how to create the structure of a tree and how to blend paint to create a gradient. This painting class offered the opportunity to create that perfect balance between structure and choice that results in a successful painting.
Courage lives
While overseeing the class, what would you describe as your favorite aspect of teaching the groups and seeing the students work? One of my favorite parts of teaching is seeing the moment where someone just locks all the way in and truly is just focused on making their vision happen. Seeing students have fun and take pride in their work is just the best. I really think that moods are contagious and it was a joy to just see all that positive energy seeping out into the school.
Most people cannot even imagine what it In general, how do you encourage the creativity and individual expression of your students and how do you feel generating art affects these qualities in your students? I believe that visual art is just another language that I am trying to teach my students to communicate fluently in. Sometimes words fall short and that is where the magic of art lives. We start with learning the building blocks of technique, so at that point I am just asking them to pick things that reflect their general interests in aesthetic preferences. I try to consistently ask my students why they are choosing things, what are they trying to say, or what vibe are they trying to evoke. Sometimes they just want to make something that looks cool and that is ok, but sometimes they are really trying to send a message about how they view the world and those are my favorite pieces! How has teaching art to a variety of students impacted you personally? Personally, it just brings me joy. I love helping people make things that they are proud of or that they didn’t think they could do. I love being close by when a student makes their first piece of personally meaningful art.
feels like to watch a child take on a battle against cancer. The courage, strength and resilience our patients demonstrate every day is what inspires us to give our best. We are here when families need us the most, caring for their children and never giving up hope in their fight against cancer.
Learn more at ChildrensAL.org/cancer
CityOfHelena.org 25
MARKCO HENDERSON
CHAED AGEE
CHASE MORGAN
Helena Police Department
Helena Fire Department
Public Works Department
BRANDON HENDERSON Helena Parks and Rec Department
CACEY O’FARRIL
SHERRI FUCHS
CHRIS MILLER
KYM ROLLAN
Helena Police Sgt. Helena Police Department
Library assistant at the Helena Public Library
Helena Fire Department Fire Chief
Building Inspections Clerk and Court Clerk
HUNTER LINDSEY
JACOB MUELLER AND PAUL SHEARON
NATHAN HORTON
Water Technician
Helena Fire Department
Wastewater Treatment Operator
MADISON HARRIS Accounts Payable Clerk for Helena
Meet Helena’s Difference Makers
The city of Helena would like to thank each and every city employee for their hard work and ceaseless dedication. Here are just a few of those individuals who we’ve had the pleasure of highlighting and speaking with over the past year. If you see them out and about, be sure to thank them for all that they do in making Helena the great place that it is to live. They, and the other members of Helena’s city services, strive to provide all Helena residents with the best quality of care, protection and service and we are happy to provide them a spotlight.
26 CityOfHelena.org
Helena United Methodist Church
Grace Christian Church
Helena Church Directory ANGLICAN Lamb of God Church Head pastor: Caron Glenn Davis 5140 Hwy 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
CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ at Helena 2499 Highway 58 (205) 620-4575 Helenachurch.com
New Vision Christian Church Senior Pastor: Van C. Houser 2383 Highway 95 (205) 919-6678 Nvcc4god.org
Disciples of Christ: Grace Christian Church Lead Pastor: Rev. Brad Henderson 869 County Road 52 (205) 426-1233 Gracechristianchurch.org
The Rock Church Head Pastor: Bryan Van Gieson 501 2nd Avenue West (205) 358-7625 Rockofbirmingham.org
Gospel Light Baptist Church Lead Pastor: Gary Bohman 5781 Roy Drive (205) 685-0772 Glbcbham.com
METHODIST Helena Methodist Church Head Pastor: Rev. Rusty Tate 2035 Highway 58 (205) 663-0111 Helenamethodist.org
Mount Pleasant Baptist Church Head Pastor: Edwin Dinkins 5320 Helena Road (205) 624-3323 Mpbchelena.com
NON-DENOMINATIONAL Open Door Independent Church 120 Laurel Woods Drive (205) 482-5963 Opendooral.com
Riverside Baptist Church Senior Pastor: Chris Wilson Worship Pastor: Kyle Ziglar 1919 Highway 52 West (205) 426-1910 Rbchelena.org
The Cornerstone Church Lead Pastor: Timothy Trimble 2694 Highway 58 (205) 663-9332 Cornerstonechurchhelena.org
Crossbridge Community Church Lead Pastor: Cody Brister 1455 Starkey Street (205) 358-3500 Crossbridgehelena.com
The Voice of Faith International Ministries Head Pastor: Franklin Kirksey 1560 Cunningham Drive (205) 663-7396 Presbyterian: Harmony Church of Helena Head Pastor: Mike Ensminger 3396 Helena Road (205) 663-2174 Harmonychurchofhelena.net Christ Community Church Pastors: Phil Chambers and David Cunningham 2222 Highway 52 (205) 881-4222 ChristCommunity.net
Church at Cahaba Bend Lead Pastor: Rev. Patrick Friday 3721 Hwy 52 West (205) 621-8060 Cahababend.org CityOfHelena.org 27
Meet Your Neighbor
Bob Van Loan
Bob Van Loan describes himself as a “practicing retiree” but that hasn’t slowed him down in any capacity since his retirement from more than 35 years of work as a Department of Defense civilian employee. Bob and Diane, his wife of 35 years, move to Helena after discovering it by mistake in 2007. About six months after his work in government service, the couple left Dallas, Texas and happened to pass through while traveling to view a house in Maylene with a realtor. They instantaneously fell in love with the area and have called it home ever since. “After we saw Incahoots, Buck Creek, Amphitheater Park, Old Town and the local shopping and dining options, we were pretty sure we had found a community we wanted to belong to. We were absolutely right.” Although Bob has performed work as a strategic planning consultant and law office manager since his first retirement, he has made himself most known in Helena for his avid involvement with the local community. He first attended a planning meeting for the Buck Creek Festival in 2009, and only deepened his involvement as time went on. This work soon expanded to helping organize Movies in the Park and Helena Market Days, which he is a proud charter committee member of. Bob has also served as 28 CityOfHelena.org
both president and vice president of the Helena Business association. “My proudest accomplishments during that period were, along with Dave Schlueter, the establishment of a working relationship with the Sanford University Brock School of Business as an aid to struggling business owners in Helena, and standing up the HBA version of Helena First Friday with Alan Farmer, Kristi Scozzaro, Henry Neff and a few other key people,” he said. Bob continues this community involvement and also currently serves Rotary International as an assistant governor for Rotary District 6860 (North Alabama) and as a member of the Rotary Club of Alabaster-Pelham. This past November, Bob was also instrumental in the organization of the first Helena Puzzle Championship, which he helped plan alongside Councilmember Hewy Woodman and Ron Holly. “We love the friends we have made here,” Bob said. “After decades of station transfers and time spent overseas on deployment, we were ready to settle down and grow roots. We moved so often that we never had the chance to develop a network of close friends. That all changed when we moved to Helena and began interacting with the people who have since become the best friends we have ever had.”
TO SERVE THE PEOPLE Brian Puckett pursues municipal trainings to be the best mayor he can be BY DONALD MOTTERN PHOTOS BY JEREMY RAINES AND CONTRIBUTED
CityOfHelena.org 29
30 CityOfHelena.org
T
The Shelby County Chamber held their annual Diamond Awards Luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 7 last year. Among the list of the many nominees and award recipients that were recognized was that of Helena Mayor, Brian Puckett, who was openly presented with the distinction of being named the organization’s 2023 Public Servant of the Year. Of the many factors that led to Puckett’s recognition with the award was his completion and receipt of the Advanced Certified Municipal Official designation from the Alabama League of Municipalities. That accomplishment was only made further impressive by the fact that Puckett was one of only 35 municipal leaders in the state to earn that designation in 2023. It was a process that, on top of the requirements of holding the mayoral office, required many hours within classroom settings where Puckett was allowed the opportunity to learn from a variety of experts with experience and accreditations from across many
areas of government and public service. “You have to have a strong dedication to go get the class hours on top of everything that comes along with the everyday functions and operations of the city that I am responsible for,” Puckett said. “I will always be a cheerleader of education and bettering yourself in all ways possible.” For each class, he and others were provided key insights on things that those in governmental service utilize each and every day. Such topics consisted of lessons in ethics, economic development, municipal law, public records, ordinance drafting and much more. However, this recent education is only the next step in a long line, as Puckett has a strong history of partaking in continued education and pursuing the trainings and knowledge that will allow him to start each day better prepared to serve the city than the day before. In that spirit, Puckett also managed to CityOfHelena.org 31
32 CityOfHelena.org
“When the opportunity arose, I knew that there would be no more impactful way I could give back to the city I so dearly love. I had little experience in local government— no political experience—but I knew that as long as I surrounded myself with strong leadership for each department, I could put processes in place to become more efficient not only for today’s time but also for years to come. .” - HELENA MAYOR BRIAN PUCKETT
secure the City and County Manager diploma from Auburn this past summer. “I believe that education is paramount in everything I do and the decisions that I make for the city,” he said. “From the classroom education to having mentors, I always want to get as much information as possible when making any decisions. I always want to better myself so that I can be the best representative of the residents in Helena.” Of the many facets of the program that Puckett values most are the many relationships he has managed to foster and grow throughout his involvement with the process. “Bouncing ideas off of others that have been in the
same place I am or who are currently in them has been extremely beneficial.,” Puckett said. “One of my biggest mentors, Hartselle Mayor Randy Garrison, has come from this process. Knowing that I can text him when I need help, voice concerns or just being able to freely talk has been a blessing.” As important as recognizing these recent accomplishments are, it is also important to note that this behavior is nothing new from Puckett, who has always worn his calling to serve others on his sleeve. Prior to his election to mayoral office in August 2020, he was already a familiar face in the community, having started his active involvement as a volunteer with the Helena Elementary School PTO and CityOfHelena.org 33
expanding it with a subsequent membership on the Helena Beautification Board. Puckett was then first appointed to seat No. 2 on the City Council in order to fill a vacated seat for the remainder of a term. Then, when Mayor Mark Hall announced his intention not to run for reelection that next year, Puckett jumped at the opportunity. “When the opportunity arose, I knew that there would be no more impactful way I could give back to the city I so dearly love,” Puckett said. “I had little experience in local government—no political experience—but I knew that as long as I surrounded myself with strong leadership for each department, I could put processes in place to become more efficient not only for today’s time but also for years to come. I always believe that you have to have proper planning, but also the motivation to successfully execute on that plan.” In the time since first taking office in early November 2020, Puckett has found that what he most enjoys in the office more than he ever knew would be possible is the meeting of new people in the community he serves. “(It’s) not just a simple passing of saying, ‘nice to 34 CityOfHelena.org
meet you’, but having those conversations that allow me to understand the background, current and future of the people I am getting to know,” he said. It is in these many meetings and conversations where he finds the drive that keeps him dedicated to the job, and when he encounters a citizen of the community who is displeased with a decision or who holds an opposite view, he allows that to serve as the inspiration for the pursuit of education and the hearing of all viewpoints. “I will never claim to be an expert in anything and that’s why when things go good it’s strictly because of the team around me,” Puckett said. “I understand my balconies and my basements and know that I have to rely on those around me for advice and guidance.” Those successes, which include the ongoing TAG Grant for Helena’s schools, the purchase of new fire trucks, numerous infrastructure improvements, lot repavings, strengthening city partnerships with the county and US Steel and the groundbreaking on a new municipal complex and town center have all been accomplished in Puckett’s first term of office, with many on that list having begun within his first year of office.
“It has taken a lot of time to understand the work/life balance of the role and I am always working to improve it,” Puckett said. “I have always worked long hours and this role has not been any different. I am not sure if I have had any week less than 60 hours since being elected.” Puckett admits the fact that a good deal of those hours are self-inflicted, but he also remains steadfast in ensuring that the city’s mayoral office, which is technically a part-time position, be that, “on-paper only.” “I am very much hands on when leading and managing the day to day operations of a city with almost 25,000 residents. Being the biggest cheerleader for our city is a juggling act in itself. As my daughters are getting older it has been nice to be able to have them by my side more and more and get to experience different things. My girls are most important to me and will always come first no matter what. I knew going into the position some of the sacrifices that would have to be made, but having a strong support system around me makes it more
enjoyable.” Shelby County’s 2023 Public Servant of the Year intends to continue forward and keep doing exactly what earned him that recognition in the first place. It is a plan that includes the pursuit of the city’s comprehensive plan voted into action in 2023, which spells growth and expansion without the loss of Helena’s “small town” charm. “I think the developments that I am most excited about would first be the new city center with city hall,” Puckett said. “The village type atmosphere leans heavily into our vision of connectivity and nods. The mixed-use development will provide much needed housing options outside of the standard single-family house and the city center will bring an approximate $82 million economic impact.” Helena’s new City Hall will not only provide the much-needed space that will allow for the better allotment of resources for city management, but will also provide space for staff to grow for years to come. “We have run out of closet space to make makeshift offices in the building built 30 years ago,” Puckett CityOfHelena.org 35
said. “The thought in designing the building was to never have to build another city hall. The building will also house the new Senior area.” Efforts toward Helena’s new City Hall also continue alongside other efforts like the city’s new sports and leisure complex, which will bring more fields and a continued connectivity of the city’s trail system and open green spaces. For each of these large and visible projects, Puckett, as well as other city officials, also want the public to know that their other infrastructure concerns never fall on deaf ears. “Anytime there is an announcement of a development, we hear people say to fix the roads and other infrastructure items,” he said. “Even though all of our main roads are either state or county, the city is working hard to make improvements. As you drive down Highway 261 from the Post Office to the main intersection you will see survey markers for adding an additional lane to assist with some traffic issues. But, the infrastructure improvement I am most looking forward to is the new main water line that will be installed down Highway 13 to the Cahaba 36 CityOfHelena.org
River Park.” Alongside this physical progress in the city, Puckett is already well underway in securing yet another program certification. Already, he is in the process of completing the necessary hours to gain the Emeritus level classification of the Certified Municipal Official program. “I am always looking for new opportunities to be able to better educate myself to be the best leader I can be for the city teams and our residents. My love and passion is the city of Helena, the people and the prosperity of our great city.” With the second half of his first term underway, nothing is on Brian Puckett’s mind more than being the best civil servant he can become. “I never got into this role to go to higher offices outside of local government,” he said. “For me, it is simple… I love our city and will give it my all working for the people of Helena. I look forward to being in this role for years to come bettering the city, the people who live, work and play here—but importantly, bettering myself to help be a stitch within our community fabric.”
A FA R M ST YL E CO M M U N I TY. Site Plan
862.98'
'
6
5.2 2'
'
6'
'
42 8' 42
8
8'
'
'
.00
2
50
.00
9'
5.5
0.8
50
0' 3.1 59
3
0.8
1'
7.5
298.50'
41
'
3'
37
.00 ' 46 5.7 0'
50.00'
'
11
.00
50
33'
' .85
522.
18
' .47 115
6'
426.26'
118.01' .6 3'57
95.8 '
.74
542
55.93'
.92
'49
.80
'
16
115.70'
15
3'
2.6
11
651.85'
98
Email: abby.webster@shelbylands.com
60.39'
32.54'
.72'
9' 83
15.37'
84.0
Phone: (205) 393-1423
988.82'
2'
77.12'
4.6
13
2.84'
2'11
Abby Webster
439.07'
155.91' 50.00'
4.2
43
338.76'
445.88'
3'
17
35.40'
13
14
88
38.0
37.89'
Phone: (205) 789-3301
85.81'
' 5.85
44.87'
80'
18.91'
1'
165.
28.13'
31.7
'
8'
2.8
18.76'
.10
'
778.12'
'
.49
.74
382
73
0'
50.0
50.00'
'
.00
'
19
Email: tim@shelbylands.com
50
10
.28
Tim Webster
19 98
161
286.29'
50
.00
'
933.79'
ANY INQUIRUES CONTACT:
12
2'
5.8
27
8'
8.0
33
4
86
0'
0.4
46
10 20
841.66'
'
.00
50
525.13'
9
50
1
1'
5.5
8.4
3'
.00
3.2
50
58
9'
3.2
31
347.
7
.00
0.5
50
62
14
1'
53'
105.18'
4
618.43'
74
5
'
' .00 50
2.
97
7'
21
3.
35
1.4
26
44
6.1
9'
L=
7.5
34
LO CAT E D O N H I G HWAY 1 3 N E A R CA H A B A PA R K
0.
60
L=
34
38
409.47'
L=
55
LOTS R A N G I N G F R O M 5 TO 20 AC R E S
284.51'
440.99'
891.06'
OTHER SHELBY LANDS DEVELOPMENTS:
Parkview Farms
Springwater Farms
For more information visit shelbylands.com CityOfHelena.org 37
SPRINGBOARD TO STARDOM Claire McLain’s dedication to gymnastics sets her on the path to success BY DONALD MOTTERN PHOTOS BY CONTRIBUTED 38 CityOfHelena.org
C
Claire McLain is currently a student at Helena Intermediate School and at just 11 years old, she is already on track to achieve great things in a sport that she is consumed with. Having only begun an active competitive involvement in the sport of gymnastics two years ago, Claire recently competed in the USA Gymnastics’ (USAG) Alabama state meet and placed first in her age group. Even more impressively, she also managed to place 12 out of the 155 kids who competed in level 4 gymnastics across the entire state. It is an accomplishment that may come as a surprise to many who are well versed in the sport of gymnastics, given that students are sometimes introduced to the activity before their first birthday and that the USAG advocates students begin from ages between 2-5. Therefore, when compared to many of her fellow gymnasts, Claire can be said to have entered the field rather late, which has done nothing to slow her down.
“I started gymnastics when I was eight because I thought it was really cool and so I wanted to try it,” Claire said. “Then they asked me to be on the team. I enjoy being a part of the team. I’ve made a lot of friends.” While Claire was recreationally involved with gymnastics for a time prior to the start of her real involvement two years ago, she has greatly impressed both her parents and her coaches with both the pace of her improvement and how she has exceedingly surpassed other kids her age. “She’s ahead of where she should be,” said Rachael Mclain, Claire’s mother. “Her skill level is a six to seven skill level but they wanted her to finish what they call compulsory. Her skill level is higher than that, which is why I think she does so well.” Those levels are among the different classifications in what USAG refers to as their Development Program. The Women’s Development Program was organized by USAG to construct a foundation for athletes that provides knowledge and developmental CityOfHelena.org 39
opportunities for the basic skills that make the natural advancement in the sport as safe as possible. It further allows for each gymnast to move forward and adopt skills at their own pace, and even allows for a gymnast to compete in more than one level in a single year if they so choose. For that purpose, the WDP is divided into three major segments and those segments are further broken down to include a total of ten levels. The first segment in the program is referred to as Developmental and consists of levels 1 through 3. It is in those levels where skills are introduced and implemented in usually non-competitive and achievement-based athletic programs. That being said, some programs do utilize these levels as introductory and recreational competitive programs. Although all athletes in USAG must enter at level 1, they may progress through the events and skills at different speeds. Following Developmental, a gymnast will then move on to Compulsory, which consists of levels 4 and 5. Progressive in nature, both of the levels build upon the skills that were previously introduced and allow for athletes to partake in competitive opportunities including the USA Gymnastics State Championships. It is from this segment where Claire is currently preparing to springboard her way to a bright future in the sport. At her current age bracket, there is not necessarily any specialization that occurs toward any one particular gymnastics event, meaning that Claire performs it all regardless of preference. This includes floor, balance beam, the vault and bars. “Bars (is my favorite),” Claire said. “Just because it is more fun and I feel like you can do a lot more to make it yours. It’s a lot more fun than the other events.” Claire and the other team gymnasts who are enrolled in program compete in a variety of competitions throughout the season. In most of those competitions this past season, Claire averaged scores as high as 36 and 37, out of a possible total of 40. In breaking those scores down, Claire’s level 4 performances this year included her personal bests of 9.3 in vault, 9.375 on bars, 9.6 on the beam and 9.4 on her floor performance. “Those are all very good scores, with 37’s being an excellent score.” Rachael said. “The maximum score would be 40 but in this compulsory age group you rarely ever see anyone make a 40, I’ve seen the occasional 38 but it’s rare, 37 is considered very very good.” With those other competitions more or less 40 CityOfHelena.org
considered opportunities for practice prior to the USAG state meet, her success in all of them and her subsequent first place win at state serve only to indicate a bright future ahead for her. For Claire, her eyes, plans and objectives are already set for a future beyond the immediate meets and competitions. “I’m planning to go to college gymnastics and even higher levels,” Claire said. “She wants to be on a college gymnastics team,” Rachael said. “Going to the Olympics is definitely a goal (also). She’s been saying she is going to be an Olympian for a long time and I believe her—this kid spends about 25 hours a week in the gym and goes to school. She is a busy kid.” On the road to that future, Claire is currently looking forward to her graduation up to the third segment of the WDP, known as Optional gymnastics
which she might reach as early as within the next season. That third segment includes levels 6 through 10 and is where true mastery of the sport is located. Levels 6,7,8 and 9 all include difficult restrictions within them, while level 10 has no restrictions in the skill choice. Beginning at level 8, an athlete’s composition is also evaluated in their performance. Beginning at level 6, which stands in Claire’s immediate future, she will have the opportunity to explore new competitive events, which might include the possibility of regional championships if regional needs are met. To prepare for that next leap forward, Claire has fully dedicated herself to the sport. She is currently a member of Legacy Gymnastics, who operate a facility that is over 18,000 square feet in size and features a 37-foot tumble track, CityOfHelena.org 41
performance floor, bars and vault along with other sport activities including trampoline. At those facilities, Claire currently takes part in three-to-four hours a week of private lessons that she has pursued of her own volition in addition to the 16 hours of training each week she undergoes with her team. This is followed by a subsequent three-to-four-additional hours of other training each week. For roughly the past six months, she also participated in another training on top of that busy schedule one day a week with girls that are in 42 CityOfHelena.org
higher age brackets. “Because she has shown those higher-level skills, they invited her to participate with the higher-level girls one day a week,” Rachael said. “But now those higher-level girls have started competing and Claire is done competing (for the season), so now she is taking a break from that (additional training). For that time, she was doing five days a week with three to four hours of private lessons on top of that.” That training allowed for Claire to get a head start on many advanced skills and to better hone her
performance to degrees that honestly surpass her current level placement. Even then, Claire does not appear to be content and is always hungry for more time in practice. “My other daughter teases about the gym having joint custody of Claire,” Rachael joked. Outside of gymnastics, Claire’s favorite subject in school is math and there too, she has found success. “I couldn’t be prouder of the hard work and dedication that she puts in,” Rachael said. “Just watching her soar and doing something that she loves makes me so proud. The amount of dedication that she shows is not like most other kids. The gym owner told us a while back that these are all special kids—not like normal kids. Claire just loves it and will work constantly to achieve her girl. Whatever her goals are she has always worked to achieve them.” That tireless work and effort is currently being put into bettering her performance and developing a mastery of every event now available to her, including the vault, which at this time is her least favorite of the events and one that she is consistently working to improve. “You just have to have so much power and do it a certain way,” Claire said.
EXPERIENCED & CARING TEACHERS LOW STUDENT TO TEACHER RATIO KINDERGARTEN CLASS OFFERED WITH A DEGREED READING COACH
Enrollment for fall of 2024 opens to the public February 1. Classes for ages 2-5 run from the end of August through May and are available Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 am to 1 pm.
To schedule a tour, contact Emily Jackson at ejackson@christcommunity.net, or call (205) 289-8640 to learn more. L E A R N M O R E AT C H R I S T C O M M U N I T Y. N E T/ T H E B R I D G E 2222 HIGHWAY 52 • HELENA, AL 35080
CityOfHelena.org 43
Along with her favorite event, the bars, Claire also highlights the balance beam as another event that she greatly enjoys and one that she feels she can build a specialization in. “She’s the beam queen,” Rachael said. “She’s scored really high on beam in almost all of her meets. She is also able to demonstrate a skill that none of her classmates are able to do, which is the back handspring on the beam. They haven’t taught it to them yet, it is something she has worked ahead and gotten ahead on. She can do that flawlessly and 44 CityOfHelena.org
because of that extra confidence from training higher on the beam, she received very high scores there all season.” With the state meet and at least 7 level 4 competitions under her belt between August and December of last year, Claire’s focus, hard word and determination have set the stage for another eventful and successful year ahead. With every performance and every event, both of her parents are also sure to be cheering her on with their support all of the way.
Marketplace Helena the Magazine • 205.669.3131
HOST AN EXCHANGE STUDENT TODAY! (for 3, 5, or 10 months) Make a lifelong friend from abroad. Enrich your family with another culture. Select an exchange student from over 70 different countries. All families are welcome to apply. CALL PAMELA AT (205)577-9323 host.asse.com or email info@asse.com
Automation Personnel Services Hiring IMMEDIATELY For: Automotive Assembly, General Labor, Production, Clerical, Machine Operator, Quality, Carpentry, Welder, Foundry. Positions In: Calera, Clanton, Pelham, Bessemer, McCalla. Walkin applications accepted. Clanton (205)280-0002. Pelham (205)444-9774. Bama Concrete Now Hiring: Diesel Mechanic 4 Years Minimum Experience. CDL Preferred. Competitive Pay. Great Benefits. Apply in person: 2180 Hwy 87 Alabaster, 35007 NOW HIRING!!! BEST WESTERN PELHAM • FRONT DESK • HOUSEKEEPERS • HANDYMAN “RETIREES ARE WELCOME” CALL OR TEXT 205.908.1305 BIRMINGHAM WATERWORKS CONTACT US AT (205)244-4000 BRIAN’S TREE SERVICE • TREES CUT FROM THE TOP DOWN! • SAFE TREE REMOVAL IN CONFINED AREAS! • STUMP GRINDING! • GENERAL LIABILITY • WORKERS COMP WWW.BRIANSTREE.COM 205-281-2427 Central Alabma Wellness Mental Health Services Office locations in Calera, Clanton, Pelham, and 280! 205-651-0077 Visit our website to learn more. centralalbama wellness.org
Dogwood Plumbing LLC – Master Plumber, Master Gasfitter. Licensed & Insured. Senior Discounts. Plumbing • Drain • Gas 205-864-2369 dogwood plumbingllc@gmail.com DONAVAN LAKES FISHING CLUB & INN Marion, Perry Co. AL 2131 Eagle Grove Church Rd. Marion, Alabama 36756 • 8 Lakes • 17 Piers • Bass, Bream, Crappie, Catfish. • Camping, Nature Trails, Birding. Membership $1000 for 2024 Contact Thomas Wilson 334-247-2101 wils5789@bellsouth.net www.donavanlakes.org Outstanding adventure for the entire family! SENIOR L2/L3 AUTOMATION SPECIALIST Danieli Taranis LLC (Chelsea, AL) to be rspnsbl for anlzng user needs & sftwr reqs. to dtrmne fsibilty of dsgn w/in time & cost constraints, dscssng & evltng potential situations that can arise insde the plant & correlating them w/fnctnlts of the MES or flat prdct cntrl app. to produce fnctnl reqs. for each prjct, obtnng & evltng info on factors such as rprting frmts req., costs, or secrity needs to dtrmne hrdwr cnfgrtn. HS diploma w/3 yrs of prior work exp. in the pos. off. or rel. dvlpng, tstng & comsng Lvl 2 Automation Systms & Lvl 3 MES Syst. Send resumes to r.woods@danieli.com Property Real Estate Manager (live out). Sought by commercial real estate company. Worksite: Birmingham, AL. 36 months exp. req. in same job or, Private Household Management or, any other closely related. Supervise other service workers $28.82 per. hour. 40 hrs. weekly. No walk in’s. Mail resume with cover letter to: The Founder. The Hazelrig Companies. 3535 Grandview Parkway, Suite # 315, Birmingham, AL 34243.
AUTOMATION L1 PLC DEVELOPER Danieli Taranis (Chelsea, AL) to be rspnsble for dvlpng sftwr prjct for autmtn sys.; intnl tstng of sftwr app on autmtn sys; drawing up ad prep. of oprtr manuals; field check, assurance that all field elctrcl eqpmnt is cnctd to autmtn sys; motor mvments accrdng to data sheet; mach. automatic mvmnts according to cycle diagram; monitor plant prdctvt. Bachelor’s in Cmptr Scnce or IT w/5 yrs of progress resp. prior wrk exp in the pstn offrd. or reltd. Mst knw (thru acad training or wrk exp) dvlpng MES autmtn sftwre using DELPHI XE2 & SQL ORACLE PL/ SQL for bcknd dvlpmnt; dvlpng autmtn sftwre for steel indstry; SQL dtbse, Vsl Stdio Cde, Delphi 2005, Orcle dtbse, incl. Orcle ADF, Orcle SOA, & Orcle BPM. Resumes to r.woods@danieli.com. Marble Valley Manor. Affordable 1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments for Elderly & Disabled. Many on-site services! 2115 Motes Rd, Sylacauga. 256-245-6500 •TDD#s: 800-548-2547(V) •800-548-2546(T/A). Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm. Equal Opportunity Provider/ Employer O-FLEX METAL FINISHING Production Supervisor $50,000.00-$70,000.00/ year 10hr shifts Mon-Thurs Oversees production operations. Sets objectives, organizes workflow, prepares schedules, assigns responsibilities, trains employees, ensures safety, schedules maintenance, submits performance reports. Skills:Automotive Plant Experience -Experience as Production Supervisor or similar role -Experience with manufacturing machinery and tools -Advanced skills in MS Office -High School Diploma; Degree in a technical, engineering or relevant field will be an advantage Benefits: PTO, 401k w/match, Health/Dental/ Vision insurance, employee assistance, referral program, tuition reimbursement 725 Keystone Drive Clanton, Al 35044
O-FLEX METAL FINISHING 2nd Shift Supervisor $50,000.00$70,000.00 2nd shift 2:30p.m.1:00a.m. Monday–Thursday Responsibilities: •Be an effective Supervisor in a participative work environment •Ensure all Finishing Dept. goals and improvement objectives are accomplished per our commitments •Ability to optimize utilization of personnel, equipment, material, and space to meet OMF’s daily, monthly and annual targets. Will be evaluated regularly on ability to continuously improve in all areas of responsibility. 725 Keystone Drive Clanton, Al 35044 O-FLEX METAL FINISHING Maintenance Technicians: Friday–Sunday 12 hour shifts 6:00a.m.-6:00p.m. Responsible for maintenance of O-Flex facilities & equipment across all lines & departments. Oversight of preventative maintenance programs. Coordinates continuous improvement activities with Maintenance Team Leader. Starting pay $19-$28 BOE 725 Keystone Drive Clanton, Al 35044 Quantum Logistics Hiring Class A Driver. Montgomery, AL. Full or part time. $.48-$.55 per mile. Paid weekly. BCBS Insurance. Home weekend EZ Pass and prepass. Safety & Fuel Bonus. Apply online www.qtmlog.com Call (334)2888106. Take your anxiety out of baking Fall pies – You CAN bake them Yourself!! Join me on Sept. 24 and learn to make a buttery, flaky delicious crust and fill it with local Apples just in time for the Holidays!! Classes are held at Party Art Studio in Pelham and are totally hands on. September 24, 2023 2 – 4 .pm. Sign up on my Facebook page @ Siggi’sTable or Email siggistable@ gmail.com See You Soon!! Nursing Assistant to help care for an elderly gentleman in Jemison requiring total
assistance. PT-FT. To apply, call Ms. Peoples (205)688-1992 or (205)447-3005 Security Guard for Gated Community in North Shelby County Full-time or Part-time. Must have pistol permit. Call Brittany 205-991-4653 Become a Dental Assistant in ONLY 8 WEEKS! Please visit our website capstonedentalassisting. com or call (205)561-8118 and get your career started! Now Hiring For Utility Positions Starting pay $15.14/hour Must be able to pass background screen. Please apply at: www.bc.com Hiring Experienced Driver Must have Class A CDL, Hazmat, tanker exp. Local deliveries, so you will be home every night. We have new equipment, FT/PT positions available with excellent hourly pay. Offering health/dental insurance, paid vacations. Send resumes to: mark@allenoil.com Call 256-404-4143 or come by the Allen’s office at: 1251 Old Bham Hwy in Sylacauga H.H Handyman & Hardscape 205-720-7241 We Specialize In Kitchen, Decks, Bathrooms, Remodeling, Interior, Exterior Home Repairs and More! CALL US TODAY! Experienced Termite Technician or someone experienced in routeservice work and wants to learn new profession. Work-vehicle/ equipment provided. Must drive straight-shift, have clean driving record/be 21/pass background/ drug test. Training provided. Insurance/401K offered. M-F 7:004:30 + 1 Saturday/month. Pay $13hr. Send resume to facsmith@ charter.net South Pointe Development 203 Shiloh Creek Drive Calera, AL 35040 Updating Waiting List: 3 BDR 2 Bath Mon-Fri 8:30-5:30 Multi-Family No Pets Allowed 205-668-1196.
CityOfHelena.org 45
OUT & ABOUT
1
2
3
HELENA GIRLS BASKETBALL GAME
4
5
6
7
9
10
PHOTOS BY DONALD MOTTERN
The Helena Huskies girls basketball teams received a large showing of support from the community during their faceoff against the Briarwood Christian Lions on Jan. 9. 1.
Brian Rhodes
2.
Randal Griffice and Shamblin Griffice
3.
Sydneia and Sariah Kuhn
4.
Heather and Leighton Agee
5.
Diana, Ian and Ivan Garcia
6.
Molly and Rex McCugh
7.
Hazel and Chris Wilson
8.
Anthony Grant
9.
Dana Rhodes and Tina Brashears
10. Erica and Brandon White 11. Jennifer Clement 12. Alex, Louie and Kala Bradford with Kathy Williams 13. Council member Hal Woodman 14. Aiden and Michael Zepp 15. Ashley and Braylen Underwood
8
46 CityOfHelena.org
11
12
13
14
15
CityOfHelena.org 47
OUT & ABOUT
FROZEN IN HELENA Tuesday, Jan. 16 marked the coldest day of the year so far in the city of Helena as temperatures dipped into the teens and didn’t get out of the 20s following a winter storm overnight. The cold, wintry weather did lead to a frozen tundra across the city following freezing rain and some snow, creating great images in a picturesque Helena.
48 CityOfHelena.org
Subscribe digitally Get all of your Helena news and sports updates easily and ad free by subscribing to Shelbycountyreporter.com
CityOfHelena.org 49
MY HELENA LINDA WURSTNER Local Helena resident and avid photographer
Nature and the Great Outdoors
Helena is the perfect distance from so many large parks The city has provided us outdoor spaces where residents can mingle and interact. We enjoy the natural trail at Cahaba Lily Park and families utilize the playground and pavilions. Lee Springs and Joe Tucker Park also have trails, playgrounds, restrooms and ample parking.
Get Involved
Hidden History
You can see all the signs of Helena’s early mining history Old Town and its dam are local favorites. The museum offers a wealth of information and fun to Tour. As a member of the Helena Historic Preservation Committee, we have enjoyed leading hikes to the “hidden history” in our area. Gould Coke Ovens, the Eureka Mine #3 portal, Lee Springs Park Coke Ovens, and even a scenic trail along Buck Creek that takes you to a portion of the old Birmingham Mineral Railroad and bridge supports in Buck Creek! These sites and many more set our town apart from others in our state!
Special Neighbors
My husband, David, and I moved to Helena in November of 1989 Our neighbors have been wonderful friends and it was such fun raising our children together. We organized block parties, ladies walking groups, and even an annual Halloween parade led by a Helena fire engine! Many more subdivisions have popped up in Helena over the years, and it has been fun to watch them start their own traditions.
Connecting Through Social Media Our city has several ways to keep us informed and interact with each other Helena’s own website and Facebook page are updated regularly with information for residents. Merchants, city boards, the library and school organizations all have Facebook pages full of news and interacting with each other. All provide a glimpse into what Helena has to offer and how people like to help each other stay informed. It is fun to go to an event and see some of the residents you know only by name on social media!
50 CityOfHelena.org
Living in a smaller town offers one the chance to really make a difference Many on the council serve as a liaison to volunteer boards organized to benefit the community. Old Town Live, Christmas Parade and tree lighting, Farmers Market, Buck Creek Festival, July 4th celebration, History Hikes and local museum, D & I Festival, and even the gorgeous baskets lining our Main Street are brought to you by groups of volunteers that care about making Helena a place people want to come visit or live. Come join us!
CityOfHelena.org
HELENA THE MAGAZINE
P.O. Box 947 • 115 North Main Street Columbiana, Alabama 35051 Phone: 205-669-3131
52 CityOfHelena.org
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID MONTGOMERY, AL PERMIT NO. 432