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THE SOUTHERN TORCH / FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2019 / VOL. 5, NO. 3 / $1.00
JUSTICE SERVED
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DeKALB OFFICIALS SWORN INTO OFFICE
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election changes?
By Marla Jones Managing Editor
marla@southerntorch.com
Lora Leeanne Wooten, 35 of Henagar, faced several charges in Alabama and Georgia after a car chase last year. (Fort Payne Police Department)
By Marla Jones Managing Editor marla@southerntorch.com
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — On August 7, 2018, a resident on Valley View Avenue reported a suspicious truck in a neighbor’s driveway. The neighbor had described the suspect as a heavy, white female that went
> JUSTICE, P2
TORCHCAST FRIDAY JANUARY 18
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SATURDAY JANUARY 19
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DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. — (Full LIVE Videos on our Facebook) Earlier this week, family and friends gathered for the swearing-in ceremonies of DeKalb County's new elected officials and Sheriff's deputies. On Monday, Todd Greeson was formally sworn-in as DeKalb County Circuit Clerk with his father there to hold the Bible that his late mother, Virginia, bought him when he was baptized. Probate Judge Ronnie Osborn was sworn-in to a new term after 22 total years of public service to DeKalb County. Osborn has served as Probate Judge since 2004 with eight years of service on the DeKalb County Commission prior to his current office. Sheriff Nick Welden was sworn-in once again after taking an early oath of office on January 1. He also led the swearing-in ceremony for his new deputies and staff at the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office. On Tuesday, the investiture ceremony for Judge Andrew Hairston was held. He was sworn-in to office by outgoing Circuit Judge Randall Cole, whom Hairston replaced. Each official spoke on their plans to lead the citizens of DeKalb County in a positive, new direction for the future.
PHOTO BY MARLA JONES
marla@southerntorch.com
PHOTO BY CHERYL BOYDSTON
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TUESDAY JANUARY 22
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WEDNESDAY JANUARY 23
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FORT PAYNE, Ala. — (Full Video on our Website) The Fort Payne City Council held their first meeting of the year on Tuesday, January 15, 2019. Council President Brian Baine addressed the Council on behalf of the Fort Payne Police Department regarding the loss of several officers who went to
work for the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. Baine announced that Chief Bynum had replaced five officers and were on the lookout for more. City Clerk Andy Parker reported that a meeting was held with Mike Shirey of the Fort Payne Improvement Authority and that 260 lights would no longer be billed to the City, which
> FORT PAYNE, P5
MISSING JUVENILE FOUND By Staff Reports PHOTO BY CHERYL BOYDSTON
PHOTO BY AMY THRASH
PHOTO BY CHERYL BOYDSTON
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — Earlier today, Investigators with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office located the 17-year-old missing female from Sylvania. The juvenile was located and found to be safe. No foul play is suspected. Due to the age of the subject and to respect the right to privacy of the family, no more information will be released at this time. DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden stated on the matter: “I am extremely proud of the hard work put in by our Investigators to handle this matter in a quick and professional manner!” “They definitely went above and beyond in this case,” continued Welden. “Many long hours, combined with strong willed determination is exactly why this child was located.” “This case involved cooperation with several other states. In the end cooperation was key,” he said. “The family has since made contact with their child. They request their privacy be respected in this situation,” said Welden. “As always, God Bless!” Sheriff Welden concluded.
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By Marla Jones Managing Editor
FOR SUPER BOWL SUNDAY from SOUTHERN TORCH & ROADSIDE ‘QUE
Take a picture with our sign at Roadside ‘Que in Fort Payne to be entered to win a 55” flat screen TV and a family pack of food (value of up to $150) for the game! Just be sure to post to either Facebook or Instagram and tag us @southerntorch so we can find your entry!
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TORCH TALK RAINSVILLE CITY COUNCIL FORT PAYNE CITY COUNCIL DeKALB CO. BOARD OF EDUCATION DeKALB CO. COMMISSION & MUCH MORE! Our channel can be found on the Hopper by clicking the home button in the top left corner then go to communities and find our ‘Southern Torch’ channel with our flame logo! Visit our website at www.southerntorch.com for daily news updates and pick up your weekly print edition at news stands every Friday.
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FRIDAY — JANUARY 18, 2019
THE SOUTHERN TORCH
JUSTICE, PAGE 1 into the carport and picked something up. The suspect left with the item. Officer Ray Morales of the Fort Payne Police Department spotted the vehicle and attempted to stop it, but was unable to before the suspect turned onto Highway 11 north outside of the city limits. Several police agencies joined in the chase that eventually crossed into the State of Georgia. The chase ended in Trenton, Ga. where Major Tommy Bradford of the Dade County Sheriff’s Office was struck by Wooten's automobile while laying out spike strips. Lora Leeanne Wooten, 35 of Henagar, faced several charges in
Alabama and Georgia including: burglary, five counts of attempted assault on a police officer, an attempt to elude law enforcement, criminal littering, tampering with evidence, reckless endangerment, and numerous traffic violations. On January 10, 2019, Wooten appeared in a Georgia court to face charges stemming from Major Tommy Bradford being struck while laying down spike strips. She was charged with 19 counts and entered a guilty plea. Wooten was sentenced to 40 years behind bars. She is required to serve 15 years and her jail time started immediately.
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PHONE SCAM ALERT NEW SCAM IMPERSONATES SHERIFF'S OFFICE
By Staff Reports DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. — FORT PAYNE, Ala. — A new scam is targeting citizens in the DeKalb County area, and is impersonating the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. Approximately 4 pm today, the Sheriff’s Office was notified by a concerned citizen that she was contacted by a “Deputy Farley” who claimed to be with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO). The deputy informed her that he had a warrant for her arrest, and that she must pay $2000 to avoid
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arrest. No person is employed with the DCSO by the name “Farley” and our office would never contact residents by phone demanding money in regards to arrest warrants. The number used to contact the citizen was (256)849-2984 and this number was given to contact to make payments. When called, the number has a very convincing automated menu that even references the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said of the scam: “This is simply an act by people who have worked hard to try and take away what our good citizens have worked hard for. We will respond by working even harder to make sure this doesn’t happen by pursuing these scams and holding folks accountable for their ruthless actions!” “Please avoid giving these type of scams any information that could get you caught up in the
middle of an illegal scam,” continued Welden. “Feel free to contact our office in any event you have questionable calls and remember we would never call you demanding money.” “Be aware of the
questions being asked and look beyond the norm. Ask yourself for example, ‘is this an attempt to draw me away from home?’” said Welden. “Be Safe and God Bless!” Nick Welden.
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FRIDAY — JANUARY 18, 2019
THE SOUTHERN TORCH
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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. January 20, Flat Rock Church Singing - There will be a gospel singing at Flat Rock Church on County Road 356 near High Falls Park in Grove Oak on Sunday, January 20 at 5pm. The special singers will be The Bradford's. Pastor Junior Croft and Song Director Morell Richey invite all to attend!
January 24, QPR Community Training - Increase your awareness of the warning signs, clues and suicidal communications of people who may be considering suicide and learn how to intervene with at-risk individuals at QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Community Training for Suicide Prevention on Thursday, January 24 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at Fort Payne City Auditorium. The fundamentals of QPR are easily learned and like CPR, may save a life. For more information, visit www.samfound.org or see their facebook at facebook.com/ TheSAMfound.
January 26, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out at DeKalb Theatre - The time has come for the highly anticipated Annual IIIrd Tyme Out concert in downtown Fort Payne at the DeKalb Theatre! The show will begin at 7pm on Saturday, January 26. Tickets will be $20 in advance and $23 on the night of the show, provided that it does not sell out. To purchase tickets, please call the promoter, Eric McKinney, at (256) 899-2586 between 8am and 8pm. February 3, American Legion Memorial - The American Legion of DeKalb County will be holding a memorial on Sunday, February 3 at 2pm at Minvale Baptist Church. This event will honor the four chaplains who lost their lives in 1943 in World War II. February 7-9, 11 & 14-16, DeKalb County Children's Advocacy Center Dinner Play - The DeKalb County Children's Advocacy Center will present their annual dinner theatre show "Happy Birthday Mama"! The play will be held at the First United Methodist Church at 6pm on the nights of February 7-9, 11 and 14-16. The ticket prices are: Front row $35, $280 per table; Second row $30, $240 per table; Third, fourth and fifth rows $25, $200 per table.
By Zach Hester Reporter
zach@southerntorch.com
RAINSVILLE, Ala. — Rainsville First Baptist Church will welcome rising artist Austin French to their church on Sunday, January 27 for a special performance at 6pm. French was the runner-up on the first season of ABC’s Rising Star in 2014. He is a rising star in the contemporary Christian music scene and released his debut and now Top 10 Christian Airplay single “Freedom Dr. Jeff Cole announced last week that he would be opening his own private practice in Fort Payne. (Submitted Photo)
By Marla Jones Managing Editor marla@southerntorch.com
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — Dr. Jeff Cole announced on Thursday that he would be leaving Thompson Surgical Associates to shift his focus to starting his own private practice. In a statement made to Southern Torch, Cole said, “I have appreciated the opportunity to practice with Dr. Jeff Thompson, and I think it’s only natural for a physician to want his own practice. Valuable clinic space became available in the hospital complex where I currently work and that seldom occurs, so I felt this was the time to accomplish the goal of having my own office.” Cole went on to say that when an office space came available just doors down from his current office that the timing was right. Cole will continue to serve as Director at the DeKalb Regional Wound Care Center and will continue to operate the Cole MediSpa at Penny’s from Heaven in Rainsville, which features botox, cool sculpting, and new services in the future. Cole stated that the new practice will be called Cole Surgical Arts and will offer the same surgical procedures such as gallbladder and
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
Hymn” in December 2017. His debut album, Wide Open, was released last September. Rainsville First Baptist Church is located at 223 Church Avenue in Rainsville. For more information, visit www. rainsvillefirst.com or call (256) 638-3141.
Eloise Smith, General Manager Marla Jones, Managing Editor/Sports Editor Zach Hester, Art Director/Reporter Amy Thrash, Advertising Executive/Distribution Lindsey Jones, Accountant
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hernia, along with evaluations for different types of cancer. He is in his seventh year of practice as a general surgeon. Cole is an alumnus of Fort Payne High School. He obtained a degree in Biology from Birmingham-Southern and attended medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Cole is hopeful that his new office will be completed by March 1, but until that time, he will continue to see patients at his current location. The new office will be located at 323 Medical Center Drive SW in Fort Payne. The new phone number for Cole Surgical Arts is (256) 273-4300.
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FRIDAY — JANUARY 18, 2019
THE SOUTHERN TORCH
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2pm on Sunday, January 13 at Corner Stone Funeral Chapel with Bros. Thurston Garrett, Rayford Brown and Kenneth Holcomb officiating. Burial followed in Green Haven Memorial Gardens. The family received friends from 4pm to 8pm on Saturday, January 12 and from 10am to service time on Sunday, January 13. She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Billy Jack Greeson; daughter Michelle VanScoten (John); sons Steve Greeson (LaDonna), Marty Greeson (Sheila), Anthony Greeson (Lisa) and Todd Greeson (Dana); grandchildren Krista Davis (Matt), Kandice Owen (Willie), Tiffany Townson (Heith), Alicia Chivers (Nick), Chad Greeson (Summer), Wesley Greeson (Natalie), Kyle Greeson (Darien), Garrett Greeson, Daniel Greeson, Nicole Denton (Michael), Robert VanScoten; 10 great-grandchildren; sisters Jacquelyn Smith, Wilma Martin; and brother Thurman Caldwell (Fran).
Mrs. Greeson was a member of Central Baptist Church and Dean’s Chapel Quilting Club. She was preceded in death by her parents William Orby and Alice Lee Kelly Caldwell; and sisters Narvella Carwile, Ifdill Hurst and Myra Shankles.
For bookings call: Glenn Smith (256) 572-6146 Check us out on Facebook
DEATH NOTICES WILSON Jesus Mateo-Juan - Infant of Fort Payne, passed away on Tuesday, January 8. Funeral services were held at 2pm on Thursday, January 10 at Wilson Funeral Home. Burial followed in Glenwood Cemetery. Cecil Brewster Sr. - 76 of Gaylesville, passed away on Wednesday, January 9. A memorial services will be held at 2pm on Saturday, January 19 at Victory Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Dixon Chapel Cemetery with military honors. Elizabeth Tullis - 75, passed away on Wednesday, January 9. Funeral services were held at 11am on Saturday, January 12 at Grace Presbyterian Church with Rev. John Mathieu officiating and
eulogies by Rev. Spencer Traffansted and Dr. Bill King. Mancil Reaves Kelly Jr. - 89 of Fort Payne, passed away on Friday, January 11. Funeral services were held at 2pm on Sunday, January 13 at Wilson Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed in Adamsburg Cemetery.
GERALDINE Juanita Mayo York - 103 of Muscle Shoals, passed away on Thursday, January 10 at Albertville Nursing Home. Cremation services were provided by Geraldine Funeral Home. Phillip Bright - 92, passed away on Sunday, January 13. Funeral services were held at 1pm at Geraldine Funeral Home with Revs. LeWayne Levans and Tommy Bright
officiating. Burial followed in DeKalb Memorial Gardens.
WT WILSON George Shirey - 84 of Crossville, passed away on Wednesday, January 9. Funeral services were held at 1pm on Friday, January 11 at WT Wilson Funeral Chapel with cremation to follow. Vickie Higgins - 56 of Sylvania, passed away on Friday, January 11. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Linda Bates - 70 of Crossville, passed away on Friday, January 11. Bobby Bartlett - 70 of Boaz, passed away on Friday, January 11. Harvey Dalton - 76 of Grove Oak, passed away on Sunday, January 13. Funeral services were held at 1pm on Wednesday, January 16 at WT Wilson Funeral Chapel with Bros. Charles Martin and Brett Johnson officiating. Burial followed in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Dale Daniel - 74 of Fyffe, passed away on
Sunday, January 13 at Crossville Health Care. Funeral services were held at 12pm on Thursday, January 17 at WT Wilson Funeral Chapel with Rev. Jacob Daniel officiating. Burial will follow in Tenbroeck Cemetery.
CROSSVILLE Denny Mack Lindsey - 76 of Crossville, passed away on Tuesday, January 8 at Huntsville Hospital. Funeral services were held at 2pm on Friday, January 11 at Crossville First Baptist Church with Bros. Pete Chadwick and Chris Andrews officiating. Burial followed in DeKalb Memorial Gardens.
CORNER STONE
Virginia Caldwell Greeson - 85 of Ider, passed away on Friday, January 11 at her residence. Funeral services were held at
Leona Adams Headrick - 76 of Flat Rock, passed away on Sunday, January 13 at her residence. Funeral services were held at 1pm on Wednesday, January 16 at Corner Stone Funeral Chapel with Bro. Jerry Wilkerson officiating. Burial followed in Friendship Cemetery at Pisgah. Mary Sue Turner - 69 of Sylvania, passed away on Monday, January 14 at her residence. No formal services are planned.
BURT Craig Stanfill - 39, passed away on Friday, January 11. Funeral services were held at 2pm on Monday, January 14 at Burt Chapel-Valley Head with Wiley Hatfield officiating. Burial followed in Sulphur Springs Cemetery.
FRIDAY — JANUARY 18, 2019
THE SOUTHERN TORCH
5
POLITICS
INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE
By Steve Flowers AL Political Columnist
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Preparations are being made to take the 2020 Census. This process is not just a fun game to spell out demographic changes and interesting tidbits about us as Americans. It is a very important mandate dictated by the Constitution. The number of people counted determines how many seats each state has in Congress. Thus, it is taken every 10-years. The Country has been changing, demographically, over the last decade, as it always has over the course of history. The states of California, Texas and Florida continue to grow exponentially. All Americans, not just older ones, seek the sun. They like a sunny, warm climate. That is why our neighboring state of Florida is and has been for decades America’s growth state. Last week I visited with you about our 1940’s Congressional Delegation. At that time we had nine seats. We lost one after the 1960’s census. We lost another
after 1980. We are projected to lose another one after this upcoming Census of 2020. We now have seven seats. It is predicted that we will only have six after next year. We most certainly will lose one to California if they are allowed to count illegal immigrants. The State Legislature is constitutionally designated as the drawer of lines of congressional districts for each respective state. Currently, we have six Republican seats and one Democratic seat. If indeed we drop from seven to six Congressional districts, how will it shake out. The census will reveal that Huntsville and North Alabama have been our growth spots. Alabama’s population continues to move toward the northern tier of the state. Two out of every three Alabamians live in Birmingham, Hoover, and Tuscaloosa north. The Black Belt continues to lose population. The census will also reveal quite a disparity of financial prosperity. It will show that the same Black Belt counties are some of the poorest areas of the country and conversely
Huntsville will be one of the most prosperous. So who are the winners and losers under Congressional redistricting? You start with one premise. You have to have one majority minority African American district. The federal courts have mandated this edict. Therefore, Congresswoman Terri Sewell’s district is sacred. It now is very large, geographically. It will become even larger. The district will take in most of the African American population in Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Montgomery, and the entire Black Belt stretching from south of Birmingham and Tuscaloosa all the way to Mobile. It will be a big geographic district and be numbered district six rather than seven. This leaves us with five Republican districts and six incumbent Republicans. Therefore, who gets the short end of the stick. A cursory look says the odd person out is Martha Roby in the second district. However, our current delegates have already come up with a plan to save everybody. Mo Brooks, the Congressman
FORT PAYNE, PAGE 1 will save a substantial amount of money for Fort Payne. The Council passed the following resolutions: • 2019-01 which authorizes the acceptance of the low bid for a leaf machine • 2019-02 which declares certain Recreation Department surplus • 2019-03 which declares Fire Department Suburban surplus • 2019-04 which declares the “Cobble
Building” surplus (Vicky Kirby presented the Council with a check for purchase) In new business, the Council: • Approved the appropriation of $1,000 to Leadership DeKalb • Approved the annual bids for fuel, pipe, rock, etc. The Council made the following budget adjustments: • The Public Works (Street Department): $10,000 for truck and a gooseneck trailer PROUDLY SERVING ALL OF NORTHEAST ALABAMA
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• Administration (Auditorium): $22,415 for sound and light equipment The Council formally approved the sewer rehab on Airport Road. The Council discussed a request to introduce new legislation from the local legislative delegation, which would change the manner in which candidates for City Council are elected. To make changes, a resolution would have to be passed by the Council and then passed as a local bill in the state legislature. Currently, if more than ten candidates enter the race, there is a runoff between the top ten then the top five voter getters in the runoff are elected as Councilmembers. The Council hopes that if passed, the candidates who receive 50 or more percent of the vote in the first election, will be automatically elected. If 50% is not achieved by any candidate, the race will go into a runoff. Action will be taken regarding this development will be taken in the Council’s meeting on February 5. The next meeting of the Fort Payne City Council will be held on Tuesday, February 5 at 12pm on the second floor of Fort Payne City Hall.
from Huntsville, will choose to move up or out in 2022. He is assuming that Senator Richard Shelby retires at age 88. Therefore, Brooks will see his fast-growing Tennessee Valley district divided and delved out to a plan that grows the districts north, which complies with the growth pattern. Our senior and most seniority laden Congressman, Robert Aderholt, will opt to stay in Congress rather than risk a run for the Senate. This is a very wise and prudent move for him and the state. He has over 24-years in seniority and is in line to be Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. He will move north and pick up part of the Huntsville area and he will cut Gadsden loose. Mike Rogers will move north and pick up Gadsden and all of northeast Alabama, which is a more natural fit for him with his native Anniston area. Rogers’ move north will allow him to abandon Auburn-Opelika, which in turn allows Roby’s district to exist primarily like it is with the population centers of East Montgomery,
Elmore, Autauga, and the Wiregrass and Dothan and that district will add Auburn-Opelika. The current 6th District of JeffersonShelby represented by Gary Palmer will remain essentially the same. Its upscale suburbs will make it one of the most Republican in the nation. The last district seat of Mobile-Baldwin will remain intact and will still be District 1. However, the tremendous
growth of Baldwin will require that the district only contain Mobile and Baldwin. The cadre of rural counties north of Mobile that are currently in the District will have to be cut loose to probably go to the Black Belt district. The current 1st District Congressman, Bradley Bryne, is running for the U.S. Senate in 2020. However, his replacement will be a conservative Republican.
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SOUTHERN TORCH SCOREBOARD
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FRIDAY — JANUARY 18, 2019
THE SOUTHERN TORCH
VARSITY BOYS
PLAINVIEW 80, VALLEY HEAD 36 COLLINSVILLE 64, CROSSVILLE 59 FYFFE 84, IDER 46 SYLVANIA 76, GERALDINE 66
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COLLINSVILLE 62, CROSSVILLE 18 PLAINVIEW 47, IDER 43 FYFFE 83, VALLEY HEAD 25 SYLVANIA 74, GERALDINE 44
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2019 DeKALB COUNTY VARSITY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
ALL PHOTOS BY KRISTY GALLAGHER By Marla Jones Sports Editor marla@southerntorch.com RAINSVILLE, Ala. — The 2019 DeKalb County Varisty Basketball Tournament is being held this week at the DeKalb County Schools Coliseum. In the first game of the tournament, #2 seed Fyffe Lady Red Devils defeated the #7 seed Valley Head Lady Tigers, 93-25. The highlight of the game was that Fyffe shot a total of 14 three-pointers. The Fyffe Girls advanced to the semi-finals on Thursday, January 17 at 8pm, where they will take on the #3 ranked Sylvania Lady Rams.
Madison Myers led the Red Devils with 20 points. Marie Woodall and Alecia Barber had 15, Gracie Hicks had 13 points, and Emma Twilley finished the night with 10 points for the Red Devils. For Valley Head, Kallie Ingram led with 9 points followed by Jacie Otinger and Bailee Carter with 6 points each. In the second game, the #2 seed Fyffe Varsity Boys defeated the #7 seed Ider Hornets, 84-46. The Fyffe Boys advance to the semi-finals, where they will take on the #3 Sylvania Rams at 7:30pm. For Fyffe, Parker Gibson led the team with 16 points and seven assists. Gabe Garner had 15 points;
Brody Dalton, 13 points and ten rebounds; Austin Buster, 12 points; Micah Johnson, 11 points; and Tucker Goolsby, 10 points and 13 rebounds. For Ider, Cole Wooten had 26 points for the night. Corey Brown finished with 13 points. The top seed Collinsville Lady Panthers defeated the Crossville Lady Lions in the first round of the tournament, 62-16. This victory improves the Lady Panthers to 17-4 on the season. Collinsville will advance to take on Ider in the semi-finals on Thursday at 6:30pm. To end Monday night's tournament play, the #1 seed Plainview Varsity
Boys defeated #8 seed Valley Head Tigers, 80-36. Cole Millican led the Bears with 16 points. Jonah Williams had 14 points; Caden Millican, 11 points; and Grant Sanders finished with 10 points. Plainview will advance to take on the #4 seed Collinsville Panthers on Friday, January 18 at 6pm. In the second night of tournament play, the #3 seed Sylvania Lady Rams beat the #6 seed Geraldine Bulldogs, 74-44. Kenadie Lee led the Lady Rams with 24 points. Leianna Currie had 16 points for the night, followed by Brinn Farmer who had 14 points. For the Lady Bulldogs, Cassie Black had 15 points,
followed by Joanna Hammett with 11 points. Sylvania will face Fyffe in the semi-finals. In the second game on Tuesday, the #3 seed Sylvania Varisty Boys defeated the #6 seed Geraldine Bulldogs, 76-66. For Sylvania, Jared Higgins led the Rams with 24 points. Grant Atchley followed behind with 19 points for the night. Griffin Knight led the Bulldogs with 18 points, followed by Xavier Works with 12 points. The Sylvania Boys will face Fyffe on Friday night in the semi-finals. In the third game of the night, the #5 seed Ider Lady Hornets upset the #4 seed Plainview Lady Bears,
47-43. The Lady Hornets will take on the #1 seed Collinsville Lady Panthers on Thursday, January 17 in the semi-finals. For Plainview, Tobi Trotter led the Bears with ten points. She was followed closely by Payton Blevins with nine points. In the final game on Tuesday night, the fourth-seeded Collinsville Panthers defeated the Crossville Lions, 64-59. The Panthers advance to the semi-finals against the #1 seed Plainview Bears on Friday, January 18 at 6pm. This win improves the Panthers' record to 13-7 overall.
INTO THE WOODS My name is Hasten Jones. The night before my 14th birthday, I had a dream that I killed a big buck. On the day of my birthday, my dad, my brother and I drove to Hamilton, Ala.. We saw a huge buck and I knew that today was the day I was gonna get my buck. I got in the shooting house around 5:45am. By 6am, I could only see 10 yards, but I told myself that I was going to get my big deer by the end of the hour. At exactly 7:01am, I looked out my left window and there he was. The big buck was looking right at me. I said to myself that it was a small deer with a big rack. He was walking away fast but I pulled my gun up and hit him with one shot. He ran into the woods, but I got out of the blind a few minutes after and started to punch the air that I was so excited. My dad and brother were 150 yards away when I shot the deer. We tracked him for 20 minutes before my brother spotted him. He was a 9-pointer. Thank you for sharing your hunting story with us, Hasten! To be featured in a future entry of Into The Woods, please submit your stories to marla@southerntorch.com.
FRIDAY — JANUARY 18, 2019
THE SOUTHERN TORCH
Dr. Blake Isbell Celebrating
Dr. Blake Isbell, Thank you for 35 years of dedicated service to our community.
Dr. Blake & Bonnie
From Your First State Bank Family
“Hometown Banking Wherever You Are”
www.fsbal.com
4 Generations
Graduation
7
8
FRIDAY — JANUARY 18, 2019
THE SOUTHERN TORCH
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