Happy New Year! 2022 is officially in the books.
Reflecting on the previous year allows us to celebrate the small wins and big victories, welcome our new residents, businesses and leaders, and evaluate the lessons learned. All of which continue to move our city forward in the most advantageous ways. Here goes with a few of the highlights for 2022.
I want to first, officially welcome Chris Willis as the newest city of Helena Councilmember. He brings
a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Place 1 seat finishing out the current term. Chris has been instrumental in working behind the scenes for the last couple of years helping the city acquire funding sources for various first responder needs. Chris will truly be a voice for all Helena residents.
The events held this past year are really what sets us apart from other municipalities. The foundation of
the events hosted by the HOT Board, Beautification Board and others are rooted in one foundational element; to bring the community together. There were so many different events this past year from the cleanup and planting day to the concerts in Amphitheater Park all summer to wrapping up the year ushering in the holiday season with the holiday market, tree lighting and parade. These boards are led by volunteers from the planning to the execution of each event, and without each one of them working together the city would not be the great city we love. Profound gratitude is owed to the volunteers that put so much time and energy into giving back to the community.
I will wrap it all up with the Teachers Assistant Grant (TAG Team Grant). When I started this grant program two years ago, I never really understood the difference it would make for teachers and students in our schools. Between the spring and fall iterations of
the program, 57 teachers were awarded grants to go directly to tools that would benefit their students. A simple one-page application is leading to many tools being used directly in the classroom. From the small grant approval of $75 to the largest of $7,597 and everything in between, we have been able to play a small part in helping. Our schools are some of the best based on the leadership and teachers walking the halls daily. I will never be able to say thank you loud enough or as many times as they deserve, but this grant program is a little way that I can sure try.
Let us kick off 2023 in a way that continues to push us in strategic ways of growth, challenge us with obstacles and reward us with victories. All with one strong foundational element… community.
Let us kick off 2023 in a way that continues to push us in strategic ways of growth, challenge us with obstacles and reward us with victories.Together Brian Mayor Brian Puckett
Maggie Bell discusses how Helena has welcomed her with open arms
Chief Brad Flynn talks about his journey to bring awareness to accessibility
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
Power
uAlabama Power Company – 1-800-245-2244 alabamapower.com
uRepublic Services – (205) 631-1313 republicservices.com
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
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.
bpuckett@cityofhelena.org
alobell@cityofhelena.org
cwillis@cityofhelena.org cvancleave@ cityofhelena.org
Amanda
City Clerk and Treasurer
ljoseph@cityofhelena.org hwoodman@ cityofhelena.org atraywick@ cityofhelena.org
City Hall (205) 663-2161
Fire Department (205) 663-5809
Sports Complex (205) 620-2877
Library (205) 664-8308
Police (205) 663-6499 Utilities (205) 663-1670
Meet the celebrated children’s book author Jan Brett at this fun crafting event at the Jane B. Holmes Library. Attendees will get the chance to talk with Jan while coloring or crafting on Monday, Jan. 9.
MONDAY, JAN. 9
6 P.M.
Helena City Hall
Be a part of the community by attending Helena’s January City Council Meeting on Monday, Jan. 9 at Helena City Hall.
FRIDAY, JAN. 13
4:30 P.M.
Helena Sports Complex
Members of Helena’s senior citizen community are invited to a potluck event at the Helena Sports Complex on Friday, Jan. 13. In addition to the potluck, attendees will also have the chance to play card games while mingling with others in the community.
JANUARY
JANUARY 2 | ALL DAY Library Closed for New Years
JANUARY 3 | 9:45 A.M. Silver Sneaker’s Exercise Class
JANUARY 3 | 5:45 P.M. Friends of the Library meeting
JANUARY 6 | 4:30 P.M. Potluck and Cards at the Helena Sports Complex
JANUARY 9 | 5:30 P.M. Coloring Craft featuring author Jan Brett at the Library
JANUARY 9 | 6 P.M. Utility Board meeting at City Hall
JANUARY 9 | 6 P.M. City Council meeting at City Hall
JANUARY 9 | 6:30 P.M. Helena Beautification Board meeting at the Helena Sports Complex
JANUARY 13 | 4:30 P.M. Potluck and Cards at the Helena Sports Complex
JANUARY 15 | 4 P.M. Weekend Wine Down at Goat Yoga Bham
JANUARY 16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day
JANUARY 16 | 6 P.M. Planning and Zoning Committee meeting at City Hall
JANUARY 17 | 9:45 A.M.
Silver Sneaker’s Exercise Class
JANUARY 20 | 4:30 P.M. Potluck and Cards at the Helena Sports Complex
JANUARY 23 | 5:30 P.M. Lego Fun
JANUARY 24 | 4 P.M. Municipal Court
JANUARY 27 | 4:30 P.M. Potluck and Cards at the Helena Sports Complex
JANUARY 30 | 5:30 P.M. Ground Hog Day Craft at the Library
FEBRUARY
FEBRUARY 13 | 4 P.M. Helena Utility Board
FEBRUARY 14 | 6 P.M. City Council Meeting
FEBRUARY 16 | 6 P.M. Planning & Zoning Committee
FEBRUARY 28 | 4 P.M. Municipal Court
MONDAY, JAN. 23
5:30 P.M.
Jane B. Holmes Library
Join in on some Lego fun at the Jane B. Holmes Library on Monday, Jan. 23. This dedicated time for building is a way to be creative and play, while also developing important skills. Lego Fun is free and open to all ages.
The Helena Middle School softball team held its inaugural Old Town Car Show on Saturday, Nov. 12 at The Church at Old Town. The entry fee was $25 and all proceeds went to the HMS softball team. Anyone could attend the event for free. The family-oriented event had food, beverages and deserts available to attendees.
The Board of Education approved Brent McCaleb to serve as the next assistant principal for Helena High School. McCaleb has more than 26 years of experience in education and currently is the assistant principal at Chelsea High School.
Helena High School’s Braeden Burch received a cross country and track scholarship in November to Marion Military Academy. Braeden is part of HHS’s class of 2023.
The Gospel Light Baptist Church provided a Thanksgiving lunch to the Helena city employees on Nov. 21, 2022. The church provides a large lunch every year for the employees. The city said it is very thankful for the church’s support in the community.
Former Helena City Councilmember Leigh Hulsey was sworn in at the ceremony for the Shelby County Legislative Delegation on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. Leigh said she feels it is an honor to have been chosen to serve the people of District 15. The ceremony took place at the American Village in Montevallo.
The Helena Teen Council visited the Helena Fire Department in November 2022. Chief Pete Valenti and other members of the department showed the Teen Council around the building, allowing them to interact with the equipment and get inside the famous blue fire trucks.
The Helena Huskies used a big second quarter on Thursday, Nov. 10 to grab a season-opening win against rival Calera under first-year head coach Lucas McDonald. After a tight opening quarter between the two teams, Helena was able to create separation in the second period, eventually taking a near 30-point lead in the final quarter before holding on to finish off a 59-48 victory.
The city of Helena received a $33,740 grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and community affairs to add two level-two charging stations to the Helena Sports Complex. Mayor Brian Puckett said charging station infrastructure is majorly needed in Helena as the city is ranked second to Hoover with the most registered electric vehicle owners in the county.
The Helena High School choir was spotlighted in Helena’s new Christmas Concert this year. The choir performed for those in attendance of the Christmas in Helena event and were even able to perform with headlining band Act of Congress.
Daysol Coffee Lab’s Barrel Reserve Coffee was a semifinalist for Garden & Gun Magazine Made In The South Award - Drink Category. “I’m super humbled to have been considered amongst the best creators in the entire South. There’s a lot of history, pride and craftsmanship all throughout the region and to even be considered is an an honor,” said a Facebook post from Daysol.
The city of Helena welcomed Christmas at the annual Christmas in Helena event on Friday, Dec. 2 in Old Town. The event featured a dazzling tree lighting, a fun-filled holiday market and a new concert featuring Act of Congress. Additionally Santa Claus made a visit to help resident feel the holiday cheer.
The city held its annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 3. As the parade crowds lined the streets of Old Town and were treated to performances, floats, candy and more. Additionally, attendees celebrated the arrival of the holiday spirit with the closing of the parade which featured Santa Claus hitching a ride back to the North Pole atop a Helena Fire Truck.
Helena Middle School’s Will Mooneyhan took first place in the Metro South bowling competition. The win landed him a spot on the Bowling All-Metro Team. Will had the highest average for the traditional games.
Helena’s Christ Community Church welcomed the community to join in on its annual Holiday Scavenger Hunt around Helena last December. The hunt featured 12 wooden Christmas trees painted to represent one of the 12 days of Christmas for families to find around town.
The Helena girls had one of their best games of the season against county foe Calera on the road. The Huskies totaled two strong offensive quarters in the first half with 16 and 12 points to bust the game open and never looked back en route to winning the game 46-25.
Helena Middle School’s Club Husky celebrated Parents Day and Thanksgiving with a Thanksgiving celebration in November. Each family that participated brought in a dish representing their unique and diverse celebrations, and everyone sat and ate together.
Several standout players saw hard work pay off with an impressive year on the court in 2022. Helena’s Kylie Scoles was named to the second All-County volleyball team, which is a way of honoring the county’s players. Scoles was one of many young leaders for Helena this season. The sophomore finished with 489 assists, 267 digs and 31 aces for the Huskies.
CChris Willis was sworn in as the next Helena City councilmember on Monday night, Dec. 12.
All members of the Helena City Council voted in favor of resolution 12122022 to appoint Chris to fill the vacancy of Seat Place 1. Willis then completed the Oath of Office, administered by Judge of Probate Allison Boyd.
“I just want to thank the council for placing your trust in me,” Chris said. “I look forward to meeting you guys.”
Chris said his parents were always involved in their respective communities, and he was surrounded by a family of public servants. He always knew he wanted to be a public servant, even throughout his time in law school.
“I ultimately found an area in the field I love,” Chris said. “When this council position became open, I saw it as an opportunity to use my talents to help continue moving our city forward while not giving anyone an advantage during the next election cycle.”
During the day, Chris works for the Jefferson County Commission, and he said a lot of what he does at his day job are qualifications the Helena City Council was looking for in a councilmember.
“With my years of experience in government, it will allow me to jump right in with a small learning curve and not slow any momentum the council currently has going on,” he said. “My job and background gave me the experience and expertise to be an effective councilmember.”
Chris expressed his desire to get to work and what he plans to accomplish as a councilmember.
“I hope to get to work right away with the other councilmembers and develop a cohesive bond so that we can continue the positive growth the city has going,” Chris said. “That said, I believe all future growth needs to be smart growth to ensure that we recruit sustainable businesses, and also work to ensure we have adequate infrastructure in place to
support future residential growth.”
Chris and his wife Jill have two children ages 7 and 4. The Willis family moved to the area for the great schools, athletic programs, parks and community.
Willis graduated from the University of Montevallo in 2007 and continued on to graduate from the Birmingham School of Law in 2011.
Chris will fill the spot that was left vacant after Leigh Hulsey was elected as the Representative for State House District 15 in November.
“Welcome Chris, congratulations,” Hewy Woodman said at the city council meeting when he was sworn in. “We’re happy to have you here.”
The Bells moved to Helena in 2006. After having found themselves living in many places throughout the years from Nashville to Indianapolis, they made their way back to Alabama. “Alabama was just home, we wanted to get back here,” Maggie said. “After we looked around, Helena was the right fit for us community-wise and housing-wise.”
As a teacher at Helena Elementary School, Maggie teaches English as a second language to K-2nd grade. She said her favorite part of teaching is being able to see that moment of understanding a concept with her students.
“When the light bulb goes off, and they start to make connections—especially when you have kids that don’t speak any English at all,” Maggie said.
On top of teaching, Maggie is on the Diversity and Inclusion Council for the city and the nursery coordinator at her church. Maggie was a finalist for CBS 42’s Remarkable Woman of the
Year award. When her husband said he was going to nominate her for the award, she thought he was joking. However, once they called her saying she was a finalist, she realized how serious he was.
“The first words out of my mouth were, ‘Oh my gosh, he really did do it,’” she said. “It was fun and exciting and very humbling.” Maggie has made Helena her home. She loves to frequent the city’s many Mexican restaurants and has been to just about every boutique the city has to offer.
Maggie’s brother Matt Melton, who is a special needs adult, had heart issues a couple of years ago, and she didn’t have to do anything for Helena to rally around her in support.
“We’re very invested in the community, Alabama is home and Helena is where we have been our most rooted,” Maggie said. “I could name off the top of my head 20 people that I could call in an emergency, that kind of thing. Our community’s like our family.”
Helena High School Girls Soccer Coach
I actually worked out in non-education for about 20 years. I really enjoyed working with kids and teaching people how to do their job. So, I decided I wanted to be a teacher. I went back and got my masters. Then I ended up at Oak Mountain High School for my first year that I was certified to teach in the business education classes. They knew that I had played high school soccer and that I had played in adult leagues until my body couldn’t take the abuse anymore. They asked me if I wanted to be an assistant with the girls program at Oak Mountain. We ended up going to State and winning that year, 2014. So, when this school was opening at Helena, I moved over here with Helena and started the soccer programs here. That would have been 10 years ago. I’ve been here since the high school opened and just kind of built the program.
What’s it like having seen the growth in the program from the ground up?
Well, that really is one of the things that I really like, and I’m probably prouder of. Our program here is one big program, from the seventh grade, middle school group all the way to high school. We have parties where everybody’s there together, we do a lot to create culture here. So, its never really about the wins and losses. For me, it’s so much more about when these kids get to college or career or life, have they learned something about determination, about being organized, about having empathy for their friends? Those soft life skills. I would trade all my wins to have more kids that find success out of something they learned in our program than just the wins and losses, there’s so much more to it.
Set expectations and set goals. We go back, and we look at our play throughout the season, we watch film, like most teams do, and we have certain metrics, it changes year by year, player by player. Then when we have a game, whether we performed well or not, we look at our metrics and say, absolutely right, or the numbers are wrong. But we can look at them and give ourselves an A in this category, B in this category, C in that category. From a coaching standpoint, again, mine comes so much more out of the love for working for the kids. It’s working with the kids and finding things that convinced them to be responsible, not just to themselves, but to their teammates.
I say this every year because we just continue to grow and we continue to get better as a program. Every year, we continue to get more competitive. The last four or five years I say, “This is our year.” Because we continue to get better, and because we continue to grow as a program, we continue to get competitive. This year, we’ve got the toughest schedule we’ve ever had, we’re playing most of the big schools throughout our metro area. We really feel like we’re going to be successful this year with the with the young talent that we have, combined with a large senior/large junior group.
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WWe hope everyone had a great holiday season. With colder weather arriving, the Library is the place to be. Stop by soon to catch up on the latest items and programs. Peruse the shelves for some new books or movies and grab a calendar to remind you of what is going on in January.
There is something for everyone at the Public Library. Thanks to an assortment of grants and other funding, the Library is receiving new items all the time. In addition, e-books and electronic audio and video options are always another option. The Libby app offers access to these resources, as well as Hoopla, which is a new and exciting service that is now available. Please go to Hoopladigital. com to find out more.
The Library will also provide a program on how to get started with Hoopla. The program is called Basic Hoopla Program – How to access E-books and audiobooks. It will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 10:30 a.m.
As for other programs, the Library offers some fun in January!
Coloring plus Crafts Featuring Author Jan Brett on Monday, Jan. 9 at 5:30 p.m. She is a celebrated author of children’s books, and often has winter settings in her stories.
For you techies and builders out there, Lego Fun is a neat way to play and create at the same time. The program is on Monday, Jan. 23 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Finally, check out a Craft for Ground Hog Day on Monday, Jan. 30 at 5:30 p.m. Ground Hog Day is almost here!
The Library would like to thank the Friends of the Library for their hard work this year. The Friends assisted with this past Christmas Parade. They helped out with the sign design and then built it. The members provided candy for the event and volunteered to walk in the parade. The Friends also held a toy drive that benefitted the Helena Police Department’s Toys for Tots campaign.
Friends of the Library volunteers are important to the overall mission of the Library, and they generously give their time and energy. The Friends meet on the first Tuesday of the month at 5:45 p.m. at the Library. Please call 205-664-8308 and ask for Dan if you are interested in joining.
Please visit the Library soon, stay warm and have a great winter of reading.
230 Tucker Road
Helena, AL 35080
Phone: (205) 664-8308
Facebook: Helena.Public.Library.Friends Website: cityofhelena.org/public-library Instagram: @helenalibrary
In this heartwarming novel adult siblings find their way back home—and back to each other—after loss. This is an inspiring story about the everlasting bonds of one unforgettable family.
By Ina Garten | Adult Nonfiction
America’s favorite home cook presents delicious, crowd-pleasing, go-to recipes that you’ll want to make over and over again! These go-to recipes will give you the confidence to create dinners that will bring everyone to your table.
By Nadine Brandes | Young Adult
Myrthe was born with the ability to turn her tears into wishes. But when a granted wish goes wrong, she is cursed: the next tear she sheds will kill her. She didn’t ask to be the Wishtress.
The Cat Kid Comic Club learns to collaborate in this creative, funny and insightful graphic novel. The variety of art styles, paired with Pilkey’s trademark storytelling and humor, inspires imagination and innovation for readers of all ages.
All the animals are nervous and excited about meeting a new friend. Luckily, Blue knows just the thing to help his friends, old and new, feel at home! Little Blue’s “Beep!” was loud and clear: We are very glad you’re here!
By Eric Carle | Board Book
There are so many ways to spend a chilly winter day. Join The Very Hungry Caterpillar and explore everything winter has to offer!
Peter Valenti, the Helena Fire Department deputy chief, said wanting to be a firefighter came from being a kid and also playing a role in helping firefighters one day in New Jersey.
While in New Jersey as a child, Peter said there was a gate where he used to hang around that required a code in order to be opened. As he hung out in the area often, he overheard the code from those that had access to it, committing it to memory. Then, one day when a brush fire was happening in the area, the responding firefighters were inhibited from getting to the fire due to the gate, so, Peter went over and told them the code. This interaction sparked its own flame in young Peter, inadvertently causing him to eventually pursue his own career in the profession. Nailing down his favorite part of his job isn’t easy for Peter, someone who has spent years saving lives.
“All of it,” he said. “But, back when I would visit schools, working with the kids.”
Peter has fond memories of working with kids when he would visit and conduct demonstrations. Additionally, meeting people through his various different roles has also been one of his favorite aspects of the job.
Peter has been a part of the Helena Fire Department for more than three decades.
“When I started EMS as a paramedic, anything we did, we had to call a doctor,” Peter said. “If we wanted to start an IV on somebody, or even to give a patient oxygen, we had to call a doctor. Today we have protocols, and we do everything, including giving medications without calling a doctor. We call them later.”
It’s not just protocols and machinery that have changed. Peter has also been witness to the growth of Helena. Despite having so many amazing places to eat these days, Peter said Helena didn’t always have as many options.
“When I first started here in Helena, one of our favorite places to eat was the school lunchroom,” Peter said laughing. “It served lunch, and they would either give us a discount or give it to us for free. But you know, that’s not why we ate there, it’s because all these places in town didn’t exist and this lovely lady cooked a mean lunch.”
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
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
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
Church at Cahaba Bend
Lead Pastor: Rev. Patrick Friday 3721 Hwy 52 West (205) 621-8060
Cahababend.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
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
Why did you decide to become a teacher?
I became a teacher because I wanted to find something that mirrored my passions in life. In my past career, I enjoyed the training aspect and helping others learn the skills of the job along with the fact that I also enjoyed working with young people. Education provided me the opportunity to do both.
How long have you been teaching at Helena High School?
I have been teaching/coaching at Helena High School for eight years.
What is the best part about teaching history?
Getting to tell the stories and teach the lessons of the past, I feel like if you know where you came from you have better understanding of where you are going.
You were named Teacher of the Year, congratulations! What was it like to receive this recognition?
To have been chosen for this honor by my peers was simply humbling.
How would you describe your approach to teaching?
First I create a safe learning environment where students feel free and confident to participate in the classroom and take academic risk. Secondly, I approach education from a skills bases where students are taught and given opportunities to practice reading, writing and critical thinking/discussion.
What are some of the most memorable moments of your teaching career?
As a teacher I relish the moments where students share their successes with me, for example passing their AP exam or they got into the college of their choice. I really enjoy celebrating successes with the students.
From a coaching perspective it would be being part of the coaching staff that won the 2016 boys soccer State Championship.
BY MICHELLE LOVE PHOTOS BY JEREMY RAINES
IIt’s been a very eventful and progressive two years for Helena’s Police Chief Brad Flynn.
After becoming chief in December 2020, Brad dove into moving the police department forward in what can only be referred to as a very turbulent time. He made moves to enhance the relationships between his officers and the community. He partnered with KultureCity, the nation’s leading nonprofit for sensory accessibility and awareness, and spearheaded a mission to make Helena the first city in the state to be completely trained in sensory inclusion and special needs awareness.
In August, Brad received on behalf of Helena the 2022 Sensory Inclusive City of the Year Award from KultureCity which recognized everything he and the city do for sensory inclusion.
“It was a huge honor for us to be able to receive that because there’s a lot of worthy organizations and cities around the country that have picked this up and championed this mission, so for us that was one of the
biggest honors we could ever receive,” he said.
According to Brad, the average number is one in six people who have some type of sensory issue whether it be autism, PTSD, early onset dementia, Parkinson’s disease, etc. Given that Helena has roughly 22,000 people living within the city limits, that’s an almost overwhelming ratio.
“Our officers are encountering someone with a sensory need most likely every day whether they know it or not,” Brad said. “How we serve them is very important in the fact of if we recognize there’s something we can do to approach the situation differently, that’s very important to that individual that we treat them the way they deserve to be treated.”
Brad serves as the law enforcement training liaison for KultureCity. It’s a volunteer position he does in his own time and is something he is more than happy to do. He also recently rewrote their entire law enforcement training program, which he said should be enforced in January.
One of the main changes Brad made to the program is to include the three other senses that members of law enforcement may not be familiar with: proprioception, interoception and vestibular. Knowing these senses and how they relate to the body can be the difference between a positive and a negative interaction between someone with a sensory condition and law enforcement.
“With interoception, for example, it’s knowing how things are going internally,” Brad explained. “One of those is muscle tension, and this is one of the big ‘aha!’ moments for law enforcement that opens their eyes because, if you’re a police officer and you’re standing there talking to an individual and he’s standing there with his fists balled up in the air, you’re going to automatically think they want to fight, but that’s not what the situation is at all. That is that person’s way of processing stress, and if you don’t know that, then you go into your defense mode and pull out a taser or
baton, and that’s how bad things happen. With us adding these specifically to the training and making these officers understand that it’s not just certain visual and verbal cues, there are other bodily cues that you need to focus on, especially if you don’t detect alcohol or other tells.”
Brad first delivered his presentation with all of the updated information at the FBI National Academy Conference in Cleveland, Ohio in July. After he finished the presentation, he said he received a staggering amount of positive feedback.
“My presentation was full of high-ranking law enforcement from all over the world, and I received so many positive comments and feedback of people telling me, ‘I had no idea about any of this. I have a family member that has autism or this condition and I never knew this,’ and when you get that kind of feedback, it reinforces that you’re doing the right thing and also that we have a lot of work to do,” he said.
Brad’s connection with KultureCity began on a more personal note, as Brad and his wife are the parents to a child with autism. His son is 12 years old now, and Brad said being introduced to KultureCity was like a whole new world opening up.
“Here I am in Helena, and my son is 12 years old, and we have lived and faced all of his challenges alone for the past 12 years, and KultureCity is the biggest sensory inclusive nonprofit organization in the country and they’re in Vestavia,” he said. “I never knew about them, and it’s crazy to think that we’re that close together like that.”
It was former Helena Councilmember Leigh Hulsey who introduced Brad to the organization and to Dr. Julian Maha, KultureCity’s director, who
When you are the parent of a child with a sensory need or a special need, the first thing you want to do is find a way to make their life better.
wanted to make Helena the first sensory-inclusive city in the state. After five minutes, Brad said he was all on board.
“When you are the parent of a child with a sensory need or a special need, the first thing you want to do is find a way to make their life better,” he said. “You’re going to love them through everything, but you want to genuinely find a way to better impact their life. Before I found out about KultureCity, I didn’t have that.”
Brad said he feels he was placed where he is in life to spread this mission so negative interactions between people with sensory needs and law enforcement will diminish, ideally disappear.
Brad recalled a tragic incident that occurred in Toronto, Canada. A nonverbal 19-year-old autistic individual got away from his home and his father and was approached by law enforcement in a park. The young man was in his underwear alone and wasn’t able to communicate. He was ultimately tased six times by police and endured significant injuries.
Brad said when he saw a photo of the boy after the encounter, he started to cry.
“That not only breaks my heart for that boy and his family, but it angers me,” he said. “We have to be
better than that. We have to protect our most vulnerable citizens which are people with sensory conditions and special needs. That was a failure on so many levels.”
Brad said he’s been trying to reach out and make headway in introducing the training to law enforcement with Canada to prevent situations like that from happening in the future. Having heard word-of-mouth of Helena’s success in their program, Toronto law enforcement has been very responsive.
Brad said he’s received inquiries from several law enforcement agencies across the country who want to take part in the program and help enhance their law enforcement agencies’ knowledge of how to better serve those with sensory needs. In the two years since they launched the program, they’ve had more than 60 credited lives saved throughout the country with approximately 70 agencies on board.
“Law enforcement agencies are contacting us because they’re hearing word-of-mouth from other agencies, and that’s a good thing,” Brad said. “When your program is selling itself, that’s amazing.”
Helena is the first city in the world where every city employee is trained in sensory awareness and special needs training, and he said he is incredibly grateful to
Mayor Brian Puckett who recognized how important the mission was for the Helena Police Department.
“[Puckett] said, ‘I want every city employee to meet this same standard,’ so all of our city hall, court, public works, fire department, everyone has this training,” Brad said. “We have sensory bags throughout the city…thanks to the mayor giving us the opportunity to take advantage of this program and take it to the level that nobody else has done, that’s really important.”
In December 2021, HPD premiered its new SAFE (Sensory Acceptance For Everyone) Station, a mobile trailer designed to provide those with sensory needs a place to escape from overwhelming public situations like concerts and parades. The room was launched at the 2021 Christmas tree lighting and also the Helena Christmas parade, and the room was praised by several parents who felt comforted knowing their children would have a safe space to recuperate from the sensory overload.
In December, Brad went to Denver to present
sensory training for all the security staff for Major League Baseball through KultureCity. Brad presented the first responder training program so security staff can properly help families with sensory needs at baseball games to ensure safety and comfort.
“When you go to a baseball game, the sights, sounds and smells can be very overwhelming for someone with a sensory issue,” Brad said. “And it can also be very stressful for the family if they don’t know how their loved one is going to be handled by security.”
Brad said being able to provide MLB with that information means the world to him as a member of law enforcement, but more prominently as a parent.
“At some point, my son is going to encounter law enforcement and I’m not going to be there,” he said. “I want that to be a positive encounter for both of them. Seeing what happened in Canada, I’m still nervous. That kid is my world, and to think that someone who should be trained to help him can actually hurt him, that tears me up. That’s what drives me.”
Brad added he fully admits that the lack of
knowledge he now has would have completely changed certain moments in his career.
“One of the more sobering issues for me is looking back over my career of 30-plus years of law enforcement before I knew any of this or about sensory needs, how many people did I treat incorrectly because I thought they were what they weren’t?” he said. “You aren’t crazy if you have autism, you aren’t crazy if you have any of these conditions, but when you look 20 years ago, there wasn’t the public awareness on any of this stuff there is now. It really breaks my heart that in the past I didn’t treat these people correctly or I didn’t give them the level of service they should have had. I take that personally, and I’m committed to from this point on we’re going to learn from these mistakes.”
Having so many agencies reach out to him to express their appreciation and interest in adapting the program is another huge win in Brad’s eyes. While he,
KultureCity and the city of Helena have accomplished so much in the past two years, Brad said he is committed to continuing that work and hopes the program’s impact will continue to grow.
“Sometimes I have to pinch myself because if you look at what we’ve accomplished in only two years – if you had told me two years ago that I would not only be the chief here, but I would also have such an amazing program to partner with and have the opportunity to spread Helena and KultureCity to the world, I probably would have laughed in your face,” he said. “But it seems like every week or month, there’s something positive that happens that reinforces that we’re doing the right thing and we’re making a difference. I’m proud to be a small part of that.”
He added that he’s aware there is still a lot of work that needs to be done, but when he thinks of his son and the other individuals living with these challenges,
it’s “more than important.”
Brad said it drives him daily to give back to the community and to remind everyone that he and his team care deeply to protect everyone who lives in Helena.
“When you see individuals that are so much stronger than we are, like my son, and you see how strong they are and they’re overcoming so many challenges, I want to do everything I can to make every day of his life a good one,” he said. “He deserves it.”
TThe Chinese New Year, also called the Lunar New Year, is an annual 15-day festival in China and other Chinese communities around the world. This year, the Chinese New Year falls on Sunday, January 22, 2023, and it is the year of the rabbit. Why isn’t it January 1, 2023? The reason is that western society follows the Gregorian calendar, and the Chinese New Year is based on the Lunar calendar. The Gregorian calendar was instituted by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. The calendar has 365 days with an extra day every four years (the leap year) except in years divisible by 100 but not divisible by 400. The holiday is called the Lunar New Year because the dates of celebration follow the phases of the moon.
The typical Chinese New Year traditions are putting up decorations, dinner parties with family on New Year’s Eve, giving red envelopes and gifts, firecrackers and fireworks and watching lion and dragon dances. There is also a tradition to clear out last year’s clutter and buy new clothing to wear for the new year and eat, eat, eat at the family gathering and New Year festivals.
The best thing about the Chinese New Year is the red envelopes. This bright red envelope (known as , hóngbao) is given to your friends and family filled with money which symbolizes good luck and good wishes. The older generation passes out the red envelopes to the younger generations. The younger generation will wish the older generation a happy and prosperous new year. Usually the younger you are the more red envelopes you receive.
And the last tidbit about the Chinese New Year is that the Chinese calendar goes in a cycle of 12 years. Each year is symbolized by a different animal. And that is why 2023 is the year of the RABBIT.
PHOTOS BY JEREMY RAINES
Old Town Helena bustled with excitement on Dec. 2-3 as the city held its annual Holiday events. On Dec. 2, the community gathered at the Caboose Welcome Center for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting, Holiday Market and a new Christmas Concert event. On Dec. 3, community members lined-the streets for the 52nd annual Helena Christmas Parade.
PHOTOS BY MICHELLE LOVE
The Helena Business Association held a special ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the Grateful Lotus Clothing and Gifts Boutique on Oct. 15, 2022.
The Helena Middle School softball team held a car show to raise funds for the team on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022.
John Rogers
Robert and Jackie Falls
Kristen and Gage Childers
Ethan Quinn, Will Kanerium, Gabriel Two Bears, Abby Griffin and Claire Gorteny
The city of Helena held its 52nd Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022 to promote holiday cheer.
1. Jim, Karen and Dawson Creek
Shawn and Kristie Krimbrell
Terry and Ava Carter
Wayland, Jason and Heather Robinson
Demisha, Jadence, Jaxon, Dream and Destini Smith
Two by Two held its annual Barktoberfest at Helena Amphitheater Park on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022. Barktoberfest is the largest annual fundraiser for the nonprofit and honors the organization’s foster and adoption services and celebrates all pets in the greater Birmingham area.
Residents flocked to Old Town to celebrate the annual Christmas in Helena event which featured a Holiday Market, the Tree Lighting and a new Christmas Concert with headliners Act of Congress.
Sandra and Mark Lyle
Katherine Tucker and Amanda Burcham
Macie Fulmer with Grateful Lotus
Victoria Canbral and LaToya Thigpen with Things of Eminence
Brandon, Laura and Myer Presley and McKinley Hope
Jessica Bartin with LaMar
Amy Hubbard with Aromas from Home
The Grinch with Bailey, Brylee and Bryson.
Joy Childer, Chris VanCleave and Candi George
Helena the Magazine • 205.669.3131
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O-FLEX METAL FINISHING Shipping/Receiving Material Handler Operates “SitDown Front Fork” Lift Truck in a Safe and Efficient Manner in close proximity to personnel and equipment. Must be able to move pallets and racks of material & parts to assist the Department Supervisor/Team Leader & Production Associates in the efficient daily process of fabricating, anodizing, and assembling quality parts to meet our customer’s delivery requirements. $13-$16.25/ hour. 725 Keystone Drive Clanton, Al 35044
O-FLEX METAL FINISHING Rack Mover 1st & 2nd Shift Responsible for the movement of all product & strip racks to and from the anodizing system per the “Cell Flow Process” and “Operational Lay out”. Responsible for 5S of all individual trash cans on the production floor as determined by supervision or other. Starting pay $10.50, $1 shift differential. 725 Keystone Drive Clanton, Al 35044
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My puffer fish Tubby is a picky eater. Thanks to the Helena Publix which offers a nice variety of fresh seafood, he is well fed. Helena Publix is the best, and Tubby thanks them for having live clams, live muscles and peeled shrimp for his demanding eating habits. While picking up food for Tubby, we also get a pound of the steamed shrimp for his human.
ThirsTea
Boba tea originated in Taiwan in the 80’s. What is there to say? We have one in Helena.
The city of Helena Helena is a wonderful place to live. The city of Helena is a very safe place to live and the people of Helena are always kind and friendly. In the last 22 years since I have lived here, Helena has grown a lot. Now there are a lot more choices in restaurants and grocery stores. I don’t have to go far to get anything I need. I plan to retire in Helena since it is such a nice little community.
Helena’s eateries
There are always several varieties of restaurants to choose from in Helena. I never have to cook if I don’t want to. If I don’t want to cook or eat cereal and milk for dinner, all I have to do is use my hunting skills and hunt my dinner down since there are so many wonderful selections of restaurants in Helena.
Helena’s Library
Helena library offers a wonderful selection of books, dvds, audio books and programs. I’m personally biased toward the library since my sister works there.
Phone: 205-669-3131
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