The Southern Torch — Volume 5, Issue 10

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THE SOUTHERN TORCH / FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019 / VOL. 5, NO. 10 / $1.00

LIKE

FOLLOW

TWEET

ARREST IN AMBERLY BARNETT CASE

By Marla Jones Managing Editor

DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — On Friday, the body of 11-year-old Amberly Barnett was found 200 yards behind the defendant’s home. She had previously been missing from the Mt. Vernon Area of DeKalb County.

On Monday, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Amberly Barnett (Submitted Photo)

REVEALED REPRIMANDED

RESIGNED

Office announced that an arrest had been made in the case. Christopher Wayne Madison, 33, was arrested and charged with Capital Murder. He is being held without bond.

The cause of Barnett’s death was determined to be strangulation.

“Due to the ongoing investigation, and in order not to jeopardize that investigation, I am not at liberty to disclose any

additional information on the case,” said DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden. “The road to justice for this sweet, innocent little girl is too important to release anything to jeopardize this investigation.”

“I would like to thank our staff and all other departments that assisted on this case. This was a true joint effort, a team effort between multiple

Christopher Madison (DeKalb County Sheriff's Office)

agencies who all worked tirelessly to help us get to this point,” he concluded.

TOO MUCH BLUE

PLAINVIEW WINS BACK-TO-BACK STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS! PHOTO BY KRISTY GALLAGHER

By Marla Jones Managing Editor

RAINSVILLE, Ala. — (Full Video on our Facebook) At this week’s meeting of the Rainsville City Council, the Council went into executive session. Shortly after, the Council announced that they had received the resignation letter of Northeast Alabama Agri-Business Center (Ag Center) Director Mike Sweat. The Council unanimously voted to accept.

Allegations of misuse of funds at the Ag Center surfaced in January when the Southern Torch reported an exclusive investigative report that revealed misuse of public funds associated with the Ag Center. The report followed a review of financial documents obtained from the City and the Public Building Authority (PBA), the entity that owns the Ag Center.

Sweat’s resignation comes amidst controversy regarding the misuse of funds at the Ag Center.

Following the initial report of misuse of funds, Councilmember Bejan Taheri confirmed that Sweat was in fact disciplined for his alleged

Mike Sweat submitted his resignation as Director of the Northeast Agri-Business Center on Monday.

(Submitted Photo)

misuse of funds with employment probation, reimbursement and a written reprimand. Sweat’s final day on the job was Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

In a statement made to Southern Torch, PBA President Eric Samples stated that Sweat’s reason for resigning as Director was due to health complications following a knee replacement earlier this year.

Samples stated that the job would be posted in the near future. The PBA, along with the Ag Center Board, would narrow the field of candidates and then present to the Council.

Councilmember Marshall Stiefel expressed his well wishes to Mr. Sweat in his future endeavors.

> RAINSVILLE, P2

FOR OUR FULL STORY ON PLAINVIEW'S BIG WIN & THE OTHER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES, SEE OUR SPORTS SECTION ON PAGE 6.

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FRIDAY — MARCH 8, 2019

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

The Search Continues RAINSVILLE from Page 1

(WHNT NEWS 19)

Search efforts continued on Monday in Buck's Pocket for the missing DeKalb County teen. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, in conjunction with Alabama State Parks, is coordinating with local rescue squads to continue shoreline searches along the creek. Waterborne searches are still on hold pending lower water levels in the creek.

No other information is available at this time.

FPMS STUDENT RECOGNIZED BY GOVERNOR

“I feel that this is a win for tax-paying citizens in the City of Rainsville,” said Stiefel. “My only regret is that this wasn’t acted on sooner. This situation could have been resolved much earlier had I received a second and affirmative vote when I moved the Council for his termination in January.”

“I have no way of knowing whether or not my recent contacting of the District Attorney’s Office had any effect on Mr. Sweat’s resignation,” he concluded. “I am still waiting on confirmation of reimbursements made from Mr. Sweat.”

Southern Torch reached out to Councilmember Brandon Freeman, the Council liaison to the PBA Board,

but he was not available for comment.

In the workshop, the Council presented the family of the late-Mayor Donnie Chandler with a plaque honoring his service to the City.

Rainsville citizen Verlon Wright addressed the Council after receiving a notice from Revenue Enforcement Officer (REO) Matt Crum and retired REO Richard Gibson for having chickens in a residential area. Crum and Gibson reported that Wright was in violation of a City zoning ordinance and had 30 days to remove the chickens from his land.

Wright revealed that Councilmember Taheri has chickens within a residential area as well.

Taheri stated that there were many news outlets that had approached him regarding this and asked for an

Rainsville resident Verlon Wright addressed the Council regarding his chickens. (Marla Jones | Southern Torch)

apology from Wright and Councilmember Stiefel, who has publicly backed Wright’s ownership of the chickens. No apologies were given.

“If [Taheri] can have chickens, so can I,” said Wright. “I just want to be treated fairly.”

According to Wright, prior to Monday’s meeting, Mayor Rodger Lingerfelt informed him that he would be able to keep his chickens.

In the meeting, the Council approved the following: • $500 sponsorship to the DARE Program • Recognized May 18 as

Public Service AppreciationB Day for the Police and Fire M Departments • Empowered the Mayor to seek financing for a Kenworth Truck in the amount of $174,670 • Approved the purchase of a bumper in the amount of $2,500 from J&S Welding • Surplused two police vehicles and all radios • Approved the installation of wireless internet in the amount of $750 at the Softball Field/ Farmer’s Market for cameras • Accepted the resignation of Cody Dupree as animal control officer • Purchased a computer for City Hall in the amount of $1,248.60 The next meeting of the Rainsville City Council will be held on Monday, March 18 at 5pm with a workshop beginning at 4:15pm.

RAINSVILLE HONORS DONNIE CHANDLER

The Rainsville City Council presented the family of late-former Mayor Donnie Chandler with a plaque commemorating his service to the City. PICTURED (L to R): Ricky Byrum, Derek Rosson, Shana Chandler, Cadence Chandler, Daniel Chandler, Kellan Chandler, Peggy Chandler, Rodger Lingerfelt, Marshall Stiefel, Brandon Freeman and Bejan Taheri. (Marla Jones | Southern Torch)

FP APPROVES GRANT REQUEST APPLICATION Anna Banks, Alabama's Southern Miss Teen, and current 8th grade student at Fort Payne Middle School was recognized by Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday, February 27th at the State Capitol building.

Anna was recognized for her exemplary character, hours of community service and for being such a great role model for our younger generation with her “Think Before You Speak” program. Anna created this program to promote kindness and with the goal to erase bullying.

THE FISHERMEN SOUTHERN GOSPEL QUARTET

For Bookings call: Glenn Smith (256) 572-6146

By Marla Jones Managing Editor FORT PAYNE, Ala. — (Full Video on our Facebook) The Fort Payne City Council held their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 5.

Nikki Scott

presented a petition to vacate an unopened off of Elm Street. A public hearing is scheduled for the April 2, 2019 council meeting.

The Council discussed an SRF application that that would be used as reimbursement for the sewer replacement on Airport Road.

The Council approved the following: • Approved Connie Fuller’s request to apply for a $20,000 grant for electric vehicle charging stations (the grant would be shared with Mentone) • A budget adjustment for Third Saturday in the amount of $5,000 • Adjusted of Judge’s Pay

The Council passed the following resolutions: • 2019-07, setting rental rules for the Coal & Iron Building • 2019-08, accepting the low bid for aircraft fuel • 2019-09, accepting the low bid for CRS-2 asphalt • 2019-10, accepting the low bid for concrete • 2019-11, accepting the low bid for drain pipe • 2019-12, accepting the low bid for rock and crushed limestone

• 2019-13, accepting the low bid for sewer piping materials • 2019-14, accepting the low bid for vehicle and equipment fuels The next meeting of the Fort Payne City Council will be held at 12pm on March 19, 2019 on the second floor of

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Dr. Robert Terrell Dr. Jeff Parker Mon-Wed Thu-Fri Saturday 8:30-5:30 8:30-5:30 8:30-12

65 McCurdy Ave S, Rainsville, AL 35986 Phone: (256) 638-9393 • Fax: (256) 638-9395

FRIDAY — MARCH 8, 2019

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

COMMUNITY

3

Submit your upcoming events and community news to zach@southerntorch.com.

BOE RENEWS SCHOOL BUS FLEET

nBy Marla Jones

Managing Editor DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — The DeKalb County Board of Education held their regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, February 28.

During the meeting, the Board approved the 2019-20 school calendar.

They also approved the regular fleet renewal of 12 school buses in the amount of $932,484.

The Board went into executive session to discuss an employee grievance.

Resignations/ Retirements • Connie Fuller, Elementary Teacher at Crossville Middle School (retirement, 6/1/19) • Kimberly Allen, Elementary Teacher at Fyffe High School (retirement, 4/1/19) • Stanley Reeves, Bus Driver at Plainview High School (resignation, 2/28/19) • Blake Wilkes, Girls Junior High Basketball at Crossville Middle School (resignation, coaching duties only, 2/2/19) • Kimberly Osborn,

Junior High Volleyball at Crossville Middle School (resignation, coaching duties only, 2/6/19) • Dwight Rusk, Boys 7th and 8th Grade Boys Basketball at Crossville Middle School (resignation, coaching duties only, 2/11/19) • Lindsay Little, Junior Varsity Volleyball at Fyffe High School (resignation, coaching duties only, 2/27/19) Leave of Absence • Stacey Dover, Assistant Secretary at Plainview High School (2/28/19-5/28/19, intermittent) • Thomas Smith, Bus Driver at Crossville Schools (1/19-6/1/19, extended from 4/1/19) • Anna Hairston, Assistant Principal at Collinsville High School (2/13/19-6/30/19, intermittent) • Paula Nance, Software Technician at Central Office (2/13/196/30/19, intermittent) • Scottie Davis, Bus Driver at Crossville Schools (1/3/19-4/16/19, extended from 2/28/19) • Miranda Edwards, Elementary Teacher at

Collinsville High School (4/15/19-5/24/19) • Anna Walker, Elementary Teacher at Collinsville High School (4/8/19-5/23/19) • Whitney Whiteside, Special Education Teacher at Plainview High School (4/4/19-5/23/19) • Camille Bailey, CNP Worker at Geraldine High School (2/26/19-5/28/19) • Tanya Ford, Elementary Teacher at Collinsville High School (11/15/18-6/20/19,

extended from 3/1/19) • Kristen Bates, Elementary Teacher at Collinsville High School (2/26/19-5/13/19, changed from 3/11/19-5/24/19) Placements Certified • Kaeley Samples Ashley, Elementary Teacher at Collinsville High School (leave only from 3/11/19-5/24-19) (2019-010) Support • Harold Guilford, Maintenance Employee at

Facilities Building (2019-008) • Aaron Wilks, Computer Hardware/ Software Technician at Facilities Building (2019-009) • Jo McCorkle, CNP Worker at Collinsville High School (2019-013) Volunteer Coaches • Collinsville: James Coker (softball), Jeff Patton (softball), Perry Hughes (baseball), David Hernandez (soccer) • Sylvania: Eric Martin

(soccer), Raul Solis Alvarez (soccer), Eduardo Andrade (soccer) Contracts • Heather Headrick, Homebound (Local) • Sherry Roberson, Homebound (IDEA B) • Sonia Luna, Migrant Recruiter (migrant) The next meeting of the DeKalb County Board of Education will be held at 5pm on Tuesday, March 12 with a work session beginning at 4pm.

UPCOMING EVENTS Every Monday, By His Hands Outreach Ministry - The By His Hands Outreach Ministry will host a soup kitchen beginning on Mondays at 6pm. The Clothes Closet will be open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. Both are at 2494 Church Avenue in Rainsville. Donations are greatly appreciated!

Every Monday, Sons of Confederate Veterans - The Sons of Confederate Veterans meets the 2nd Monday of each month at Burnt Church at 6pm in Sylvania.

Every Monday, Sons of the American Revolution - The Sons of the American Revolution meets the 3rd Monday of each month at Western Sizzlin' in Fort Payne at 6pm.

Every Wednesday,

Parents of Addicted Loved Ones - A new support group for Parents of Addicted Loved Ones is starting in Fort Payne at Word of Life Ministry, located at 3610 Gault Avenue North. The meeting will be held every Tuesday from 6pm to 7:30pm. Any adult family member over 18 is welcome to attend these PAL meetings, however, for insurance reasons, no one under the age of 18 may attend and child care will not be provided. For more information, visit palgroup.org.

Every Wednesday, Breakthrough Church free meal - Come and enjoy a free meal and hear the Word of God on Wednesday nights starting January 3 at 5:30pm. If you need a ride, please contact: Lynn Haas at (256) 605-7854 or Connie Holdem at (256)

605-1776.

March 4-15, Long Ranch 4 Boys Old Timers Allstar Basketball Games - The Long Ranch 4 Boys Old Timers All-Star Basketball Games will be held from March 4-15 at the DeKalb Schools Coliseum in Rainsville.

There will be both men's and women's divisions.

Brackets will be made on March 1 at Antioch Church. The cost of admission is $5 per day.

March 7, Made In DeKalb - Come to Made In DeKalb on March 7 from 8:30am to 3pm at Northeast Alabama Agri-Business Center!

Students (9-12) from DeKalb County and Fort Payne Schools will have the chance to learn about local business career options and about DeKalb County's manufacturers.

March 16, Spring Festival of Books - You’re invited for a book signing at Boom Town Makers Market with local authors from 11am to 1pm at Saturday, March 16.

Sandy Creek Apartments 159 George Wallace Dr. Rainsville, AL 35986 Family Households

March 16, Spirit Searchers at TBEC - Spirit Searchers, a local paranormal research team, will host an event at the Tom Bevill Enrichment Center from 5pm to 11pm on March 16. There will be two speakers and no cover charge.

1 and 2 Bedroom Apartments Accessible Units Rent is based on income ~ Section 8 Accepted Rental Assistance Available on a Limited Basis

Please Call: (1) 256-638-6959 TDD/TYY #: 800-548-2546 This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer

Staff: Southern Torch (USPS Periodicals #19790) is published each Friday by Southern Torch, Inc. 203 Main Street E, Rainsville AL, 35986. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Southern Torch, P.O. Box 614 Rainsville, Alabama 35986-0614.

(256) 638-4040

Eloise Smith, General Manager Marla Jones, Managing Editor/Sports Editor Zach Hester, Art Director/Reporter Amy Thrash, Advertising Executive/Distribution Lindsey Jones, Accountant

Membership rates: Regular yearly rate–$30 Senior or Veteran yearly rates–$25

March 17, Dogtown Fire BBQ Dinner Fundraiser - The Dogtown Fire Department will be hosting their annual BBQ dinner fundraiser from 11am until all of it is gone!

Plates are $7 and include meat, bread, beans, slaw, dessert and a drink. For more information, please call (256) 996-1314.

March 17, Fish Fry Fundraiser - The Valley Head and Mentone Police Departments will be hosting a fish fry fundraiser at Tiger’s Inn Restaurant in Valley Head on Sunday, March 17 beginning at 11am. Plates are $8.50 each. All proceeds benefit Toys for Tots. Tickets may be purchased from any Valley Head or Mentone police

officer, City Hall or can pay on the day of the event.

March 21-23, Krazy Kudzu Follies - Join community leaders and citizens as they take the stage to perform skits at this year’s Krazy Kudzu Follies! The event will be held at 6pm every night from March 21-23 at the DeKalb Theatre. For more information, contact Donna Chesser by email or by phone at (256) 997-6995. The event is sponsored by the Fort Payne Chamber of

Commerce.

March 23, Confederate Railroad at the Pickin’ Post - Confederate Railroad will be performing at The Pickin’ Post in Fort Payne at 6pm on March 23!

Tickets are $30 per person and are available at Black’s Tire in Rainsville and Roger’s Pawn in Fort Payne. For more information, you can call (256) 845-4115, (256) 657-3817 or (256) 996-8910.

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FRIDAY — MARCH 8, 2019

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

BUSINESS

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JIM CONNOR TO PLAY IN MENTONE

Contributed by Sandra Padgett

MENTONE, Ala. — Jim Connor, a Bluegrass Hall of Fame banjo player and songwriter, who is best known for his tune “Grandma’s Feather Bed� made popular by John Denver will perform on Saturday, March 16, in Mentone from 6-8 p.m.

His grandmother Florence Setzer was a major influence on his life and music. From the 1920s to the 1970s, she owned and ran Setzer’s Boarding House in the Woodlawn area of Birmingham which was frequented by many musicians. Jim visited often and enjoyed her nightly stories and traditional songs. Her songs were not the current ones on the radio, they were the ones passed from generation to generation.

When he went to Harvard, Jim was surprised that many New England people also knew and enjoyed those traditional songs. In 1964 at the Great Southern Folk Music Jamboree at the Alabama State Fair, Granny Florence at age 86, brought the house down as she sang her ballads of Appalachia accompanied by grandson Jim Connor on banjo and guitar.

Jim was a member of the Kingston Trio

THE FISHERMEN SOUTHERN GOSPEL QUARTET For bookings call: Glenn Smith (256) 572-6146 Check us out on Facebook

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF DEKALB COUNTY, ALABAMA

IN THE PROBATE COURT OF DEKALB COUNTY, ALABAMA

NOTICE OF CUSTODY PROCEEDINGS

He and his wife Dr. Cynthia Connor, who is an associate professor at Jacksonville State University, love Mentone! In 1988 they were married at St Joseph Episcopal Church and their reception was at the original Mentone Springs Hotel.. Jim expresses the soul, heart and voice of our mountains.

Don’t miss this special event at temporary performance venue to the Mentone Art & Culture Center (formerly Kamama) 5951 AL Hwy 117, Mentone on Saturday March 16, 2019 from 6 - 8 pm. Admission is $10 (donation). For further information, call 256-674-3366.

256.638.4848

333 DILBECK RD IN RAINSVILLE

LEGALS

OLGA MARINA PEREZ COLAJ, Plaintiff v.

UNKNOWN UNKNOWN, Defendant

worldwide hits at the peak of Denver’s career in the 1970s onward.

Jim has played harmonica for Claire Lynch and for Linda Ronstadt on “Love Is A Rose� and has appeared in Specials with Dolly Parton, The Wayfarers, Judy Collins, and John Denver plus dozens more of Nashville and Hollywood Stars. He has multiple gold and platinum records for his songs and work with most of the above artists. In 2018, Jim was inducted into the Alabama Bluegrass Hall of Fame.

Jim attended Harvard College, West Alabama U., and Birmingham Southern.

DAY CARE CEN ER

LEGALS

CASE NO. CS-2019-900008

(1968-1973). Earlier he had formed a duo with Richard Lockmiller called R & J. They toured Europe and England with success; and recorded an album while in London. They also opened Barbra Streisand’s original New York Nightclub Show.

During this time on the road, Jim wrote many letters to family and friends. Years later while cleaning out his banjo case he found a letter recalling the happy times with his eight cousins at Granny’s Boarding House. He wrote about the ‘feather bed’ they all slept upon and it inspired Jim’s song, “Grandma’s Feather Bed� which became one of John Denver’s greatest

KANDIELAND

UNKNOWN UNKNOWN, whose whereabouts are unknown, must answer the Petition for Custody and other relief filed by Plaintiff/ Mother, Olga Marina Perez Colaj, by the 24th day of April, 2019, or, thereafter, a judgment by default may be rendered against him in Case No.: CS-2019-900008, in the District Court of DeKalb County, Alabama.

ATTORNEY FOR PLAINTIFF: Gabriela Watson, Esq WATSON & WATSON P.O. Box 1068 Albertville, Alabama 35950 To be published for four consecutive weeks on March 1, 8, 15, and 22

CASE NO. CS-2019-30 IN RE: The Estate of JAMES ROBERT WHITE SR., deceased NOTICE OF LETTERS TESTAMENTARY TO BE PUBLISHED

BY PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE Letters Testamentary of said deceased having been granted to JAMES ROBERT WHITE JR., Personal Representative of the Estate of JAMES ROBERT WHITE SR. on the 28th day of February, 2019, by the Honorable Ronnie Osborn, Judge of Probate Court of DeKalb County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same within six months after the grant of letters, or within five months from the date of the first publication of this notice, whichever is the later to occur, or the same will be barred.

RONNIE OSBORN, Probate Judge of DeKalb County, Alabama To be published for three consecutive weeks on March 8, 15 and 22

FRIDAY — MARCH 8, 2019

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

5

POLITICS

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE

State Revenues Up as Legislature Prepares for Session & Crafting of State Budgets

By Steve Flowers AL Political Columnist MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Governor has been inaugurated and the Legislature has had its organizational session.

The quadrennium has begun. Therefore, it is time for our state officials to get to work.

Among the three branches of government, Legislative, Executive and Judicial, our 1901 Alabama Constitution renders our Legislative Branch as the most powerful.

Some of you who witnessed the Wallace Era may disagree and point to the Executive Branch. That was a unique Era. Wallace had basically become “King� of Alabama politics from 1963 through 1986 with a couple of interlopers taking four-year residency in Wallace’s Governor’s Home on Perry Street.

They left all of the wheelchair accessibility aspects and Wallace features designed for his paralysis and his cigar smoking bedroom in the Mansion alone. They probably assumed he would return after his

constitutionally mandated hiatus. There will never be another politician that will control the reins of state government for five terms like Wallace did. He essentially established himself as “King of Alabama� in pretty much the same way as Franklin Delano Roosevelt did as President from 1932 until his death in 1945.

Ironically and coincidentally, both ruled from wheelchairs.

Wallace simply owned the State Legislature. He was like a dictator and legislators were his puppets. As a young legislator, I watched as Wallace’s lieutenants simply sent the Agenda for the day down from the Governor’s office, bypassing the Rules Committee completely.

The Governor’s budget became the budget. If there was any pork in the budget, it went to Wallace’s loyal legislators.

Thankfully, I represented Wallace’s home county of Barbour. Therefore, my district was on the pork list. In essence during that 20-year Wallace reign, the Legislature was simply an

appendage of the Governor’s office.

That is not the case today. The Legislature has assumed its inherent power. That power is derived from the power of the purse. The Legislature controls the appropriation of the state’s dollars, the ways and means of State Government if you will. It is the most powerful branch because it controls the purse strings. Thus the old political Golden Rule, “Those that control the gold make the rules.�

Governor Kay Ivey and the State Legislature have a golden opportunity to have a successful four years. They are all of the same party and have a close working relationship.

As Lt. Governor and presiding officer of the Senate for over six years, Kay built an excellent rapport with the Republican leadership in the State Senate. She understands the workings and machinations of the Legislature and she has built excellent relationships with members of both the House and Senate. She is especially close to the

Senate leaders like Del Marsh, Jabo Waggoner and Greg Reed.

The Legislature is overwhelmingly Republican. The Senate has 27 Republicans and only eight Democrats.

There is an equally supermajority in the House. The numbers there are 77 to 28.

The Legislature and Governor are also the recipients of outstanding financial news as they begin their first regular legislative session this week. Alabama is seeing the strongest tax growth since the Great Recession a decade ago.

The tax dollars that makeup the Educational Trust Fund have grown by 6.9 percent over 2017. That is a whopping $428 million more dollars to work with in the crafting of the next fiscal year’s budget. The primary sources for funding the Education Budget are income and sales tax. Income taxes, the biggest source of school funding, grew by more than $300 million this past year.

It appears that President Trump and the

Republican Congress’ passage of a tax cut package last year has been the stimulus for the growth in revenue for Alabama’s tax coffers. Even the beleaguered General Fund Budget is in better shape than was first thought. Our General Fund reaps its revenues from different taxes and tends to grow much more slowly than the Education Fund revenues.

However, it grew by $76 million. This is a 2% gain, which puts the General

Fund Projection close to $2 billion.

The good news for Legislators as they prepare the budgets for next year is that both fund’s revenues have exceeded projections.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www. steveflowers.us.

Joseph K. McNew, D.V.M • Linda Galbraith, D.V.M. • Jessica Jones, D.V.M.

Your loyal companion, Our dedicated focus!

DEATH NOTICES WT WILSON Rodney McAbee - 41 of Section, passed away on Tuesday, February 26.

Funeral services were held at 6pm on Thursday, February 28 at WT Wilson Funeral Chapel with Bros. Glenn Taylor and Gary Nix officiating.

Jesse Watson - 79 of Collinsville, passed away on Wednesday, February 27 at his residence.

Funeral services were held at noon on Saturday, March 2 at WT Wilson Funeral Chapel with Revs. Nathan Glenn and Anzella Abernathy officiating. Burial followed in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Crossville.

Linda Word Peek - 72 of Millbrook, passed away on Thursday, February 28. Funeral services were held at 2pm on Sunday, March 3 with Bro. Gene Lambert officiating. Burial

followed in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Jeremy Burt - 44, passed away on Thursday, February 28 at Sacred Journey Hospice in McDonough, Ga. Peggy Smith Mars - 78 of Sylvania, passed away on Friday, March 1.

Funeral services were held at 1pm on Monday, March 4 at WT Wilson Funeral Chapel with Bros. Chester Shankles and Freddy Glover officiating. Burial followed in Mt. View Memory Gardens.

Charles Rowell - 77 of Geraldine, passed away on Friday, March 1.

A memorial service was held at 4pm on Sunday, March 3 at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Grove Oak with Bros. Weldon Brooks and Dewey Debore officiating.

Lona Smith - 57 of

Fyffe, passed away on Saturday, March 3.

Funeral services were held at 1pm on Tuesday, March 5 at WT Wilson Funeral Chapel with Bro. Don Brown officiating.

Burial followed in New Home Cemetery.

Dixie Wilson Hiett - 94 of Fyffe, passed away on Sunday, March 3. Funeral services were held at 11am on Tuesday, March 5 at Liberty FCM Church with Bros. Kerry Bryant and Ricky Smith officiating. Burial followed in Mt. View Memory Gardens.

Nona Allen - 90 of Fort Payne, passed away on Monday, March 4.

Funeral services were held at 11am on Thursday, March 7 at WT Wilson Funeral Chapel with Bro. Kenny Brown officiating. Burial followed in Walnut Grove Cemetery.

CORNER STONE Wilma Smith - 86 of Pisgah, passed away on Wednesday, February 27 at Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, Tenn.

Funeral services were held at 2pm on Saturday, March 2 at Corner Stone Funeral Chapel with her grandson Adam Burrell and Bro. David Smith officiating. Burial followed in Rosalie Cemetery.

Betty Jo Smith Bailey - 69 of Flat Rock, passed away on Thursday, February 28 at Memorial Medical Center. Funeral services were held at

2pm on Sunday, March 3 at Corner Stone Funeral Chapel with Bros. Buddy Keith and Kenneth Holcomb officiating.

Burial followed in Beulah Chapel Cemetery.

Wayne Higdon - 80 of Higdon, passed away on Friday, March 1 at his residence. Funeral services were held at 12pm on Monday, March 4 at Corner Stone Funeral Chapel with Bro. Dwight Millican officiating. Burial followed in Oak Lawn Memorial Park.

Robert Williams - 79 of Rising Fawn, passed away on Monday, May 4 at his residence. A graveside service was held at Hannah Cemetery.

KERBY Roy Kerby - 96 of Henagar, passed away on Tuesday, February 26 at his residence. Funeral services were held at 2pm on Thursday, February 28 at Kerby Funeral Home Chapel with Bros. David Smith and Bill Jeffrey officiating. Burial followed in Henagar Memorial Park.

Monte Gant - 49 of Dutton, passed away on Thursday, February 28 at his residence. Funeral services were held at 2pm on Saturday, March 2 at Kerby Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Ben Barrentine officiating.

Burial followed in New Hope Cemetery.

Donald Craze - 80 of Henagar, passed away on Tuesday, March 5 at his residence. Funeral services were held at 12pm on Wednesday, March 6 at Kerby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Robby Ferguson officiating. Burial followed in Mountain Home Cemetery.

RAINSVILLE Larry Hosch - 64 of Sylvania, passed away on Tuesday, February 26 at Serenity Living. Funeral services were held at 2pm on Sunday, March 3 at Rainsville Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Earnest Corbitt officiating. Burial followed in Rainsville Memorial Park.

Delton Traylor - 93 of Pisgah, passed away on Tuesday, February 26 at Highlands Medical Center. Funeral services were held at 11am on Saturday, March 2 at

Pisgah Baptist Church with Dr. Ted Taylor and Pastor Craig White officiating. Burial followed in New Bethel Cemetery.

WILSON Stevan Davis - 72 of Mentone, passed away on Tuesday, February 26 at his residence. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Billy Roy Brewster - 61 of Fort Payne, passed away on Thursday, February 28. Funeral services were held at 2pm on Friday, March 1 at Wilson Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed in Weiss Lake Cemetery.

Easton McMichen - 85, passed away on Sunday, March 3. Funeral services were held at 2pm on Tuesday, March 5 at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. Burial followed in Walker’s Chapel Cemetery.

6

FRIDAY — MARCH 8, 2019

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

A H S A A S TAT E F I N A L S

SOUTHERN TORCH SCOREBOARD VARSITY BOYS PLAINVIEW 54, WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN 52 VARSITY GIRLS PISGAH 46, MONTGOMERY ACADEMY 41 COLD SPRINGS 57, FYFFE 53 VARSITY GIRLS THESE SCORES BROUGHT TO YOU BY

TWIN CITY USED AUTO SALES

UNBELIEVABLE FYFFE FALLS SHORT

IN TITLE GAME

PHOTOS BY KRISTY GALLAGHER

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — For the second year in row, Plainview High School guard Caden Millican found himself with the ball in the final seconds Friday with his team needing a bucket to win AHSAA Class 3A state championship at the BJCC Legacy Arena.

And just like last year, Millican delivered – grabbing a pass from guard Tristan Willingham in the lane with 3 seconds left and sinking the game-winning shot to give the Bears a 54-52 victory over Westminster Christian to notch Plainview’s second consecutive state crown.

Millican’s 3-pointer at the buzzer in overtime in 2018 was the game winner in the Bears’ championship victory over Hillcrest-Evergreen. Friday’s shot was inside – a play called “leopard” Coach Robi Coker picked up from watching Belmont University beat UCLA. “We put that play in Sunday and we have practiced it all week,” said Coker. “I told our kids that when we run the play it will work.”

Westminster Christian (27-5), coached by Ronnie Stapler, trailed 50-39 heading into the fourth quarter, but with 29 seconds left, senior Auston Leslie cashed in two free throws to tie the game at 52 all. Stapler called his final timeout and in Coker instructed his team to run the play. He said it worked just they had practiced it.

Millican finished with 15 points. Koby Tinker had 25, including five 3-pointers – all coming in a wild third quarter after the 3-point shooting Bears had gone 0-for-8 behind the arc in the first half. All 18 points in the third period came on treys with Haden White hitting the other one. Tinker’s last 3-pointer of the quarter came at the buzzer. He also had three rebounds and was 4-of-6 at the foul line to earn Class 3A state tourney MVP honors. Taylor Haymon and White had seven points each and Willingham finished with two assists and just one turnover at point guard.

Leslie had 24 points to lead Westminster. He also had six rebounds and four blocked shots. Jayden Landrom and Joshua Childers added 13 points each. Childers had a game-high seven rebounds and Menterra Curley had two assists, four steals and a blocked shot. The Wildcats won the Class 4A state title in 2016 for their school’s first state championship.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Cold Springs High School reached the Class 2A Girls State Basketball finals with the reputation of being the best 3-point shooting girls’ prep team in the state, maybe even the nation.

The Lady Eagles of Coach Tammy West sank 8-of-26 in the finals – using the treys to jump out to a quick 15-point lead and then relying on the biggest of the season in overtime to nip Fyffe 57-53 at the BJCC Legacy Arena Friday morning.

Junior guard Neely Ellison took her only 3-point shot attempt following Cold Springs’ control of the jump ball to start the four-minute overtime period to give Cold Springs a 47-44 lead. More importantly, it gave the Eagles (28-6) the momentum they had lost from Fyffe’s valiant comeback in the third and fourth quarters to send the game into overtime. Ellison followed with a steal and layup to stretch the lead to five. Junior Elizabeth Hill and senior Camryn Crider took over from there sinking 8-of-9 free throws to seal Cold Springs’ fourth state championship.

Hill finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds, four steals, four blocked shots, five assists and four 3-pointers to earn Class 2A State Tournament MVP honors. She was 10-of-12 at the foul line. Cryder, who finished her season with 157 treys – a new AHSAA single-season state record, added 16 points. She hit two 3-pointers early to help the Eagles build a quick 23-8 lead. Aubrey Negron added 12 rebounds and point guard Toni West had an outstanding defensive effort and was key for Cold Springs’ effort in breaking the Red Devils’ intense press.

Fyffe (30-6) was led by Marie Woodall’s 17 points and two steals. She was 4-of-7 on 3-pointers. Alexia Barber contributed 12 points, 10 rebounds and two key 3-pointers as the Red Devils of Coach Steve King roared back to outscore Cold Springs 28-19 in the third and fourth quarters. Madison Myers also had nine points and three assists.

Cold Springs ended the season with 340 3-pointers made – a new single season state record. The old record (336) was set by the Lady Eagles’ state championship team in 2008.

Cold Springs’ other state titles came in 1999 and 2009. Fyffe has seven state championships

The Class 3A All-Tourney Team included: Koby Tinker, Plainview (MVP); Caden Millican, Plainview; Taylor Hamon, Plainview; Auston Leslie, Westminster Christian; Jayden Landrom, Westminster Christian; Windell Comer, Prattville Christian.

The Class 2A All-Tourney Team included: Elizabeth Hill, Cold Springs (MVP); Camryn Crider, Cold Springs; Marie Woodall, Fyffe; Alexia Barber, Fyffe; Mary Beth Long, G.W. Long; Alaysia Norfleet, R.C. Hatch.

PISGAH GIRLS WIN BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONSHIPS!

By Staff Reports

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Senior Annie Hughes sank two free throws with six seconds remaining to seal Pisgah’s 46-41 AHSAA Class 3A state championship game victory over Montgomery Academy at the BJCC Legacy Arena.

Hughes, who played much of the second half with four fouls, had 24

points, three assists, two steals and eight rebounds to earn Class 3A State Tourney MVP. The state title was the second in a row for Coach Carey Ellison’s Eagles (34-1) and the seventh overall in the school’s storied girls’ basketball history. Other state titles came in 1981, 1982, 1997, 2203, 2205 and 2018.

Hughes struggled at the free-throw line all

night but made the ones that counted most. Her team built a 27-20 lead but halftime and spent much of the second half protecting the lead with their senior leader Hughes on the bench.

Bailey Law, who made a key steal that led to a much-needed Hughes free throw with 22 seconds left, added eight points. She finished with a team-leading five steals.

Chloe Womack also had five points, three steals and eight rebounds.

Montgomery Academy (31-3), coached

by Barry Fancher, played much of the second half without its key playmaker Leighton Robertson, who also had four fouls. The junior guard managed 14 points and f our steals before fouling out late.

Senior Margaret Head had four points and 11 key rebounds. She also had

two steals and two blocked shots. Mildred Stevenson had 11 points, six rebounds, six steals and four assists.

Montgomery Academy has won one state title (1999).

The Class 3A All-Tourney Team included: Annie Hughes, Pisgah (MVP); Chloe Womack, Pisgah; Margaret Head, Montgomery Academy; Leighton Robertson, Montgomery

Academy; C’era Beck, Winfield; Kaitlyn Reyes, Prattville Christian.

The 97th AHSAA State Basketball Championships continue Friday with the Class 3A boys finals. The Class 4A girls’ and boys’ championship games follow at 4 and 5:45 p.m.

Classes 5A, 6A and 7A will close out the state championships on Saturday.

FRIDAY — MARCH 8, 2019

THE SOUTHERN TORCH

7

DeKALB COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

CONGRATULATIONS

f󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶󰇶 Mar󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫󰈫

LESTER BLACK

DEKALB COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICT 4

CONGRATULATIONS PLAINVIEW BEARS!

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FRIDAY — MARCH 8, 2019

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