By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
officers went over and were able to take him into custody and find the wife without incident.” On Monday, the family grew concerned when a
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Baskets have been a part of families for generations. Many baskets made of wood have survived decades of carrying items
ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF
WILLIAM E. “BILLY” LEDBETTER
Mr. William E. “Billy” Ledbetter, a resident of Tallassee, Alabama, passed away October 15, 2024, at the age of 92. He was born June 23, 1932, in Tallapoosa County, Alabama to Lewis and Elma Lavera Gooden Ledbetter.
Mr. Ledbetter is survived by his wife of 71 years, Mary Joann Holmes Ledbetter; daughter Cynthia Leigh Hethcox (Craig) of Cumming, GA, their daughters Margaret Hethcox Griffin (Justin) and Mary Megan Hethcox Pearson (Nathan); daughter Susan Ledbetter of Waverly, AL; daughter Lynne Davenport of Montgomery, AL, her son William Kane Davenport (Annamarie), and great grandchildren, RJ Griffin, Jr., Phillip James Griffin, Whitaker Leigh Pearson, Larry Nathan “Bo” Pearson, Mary Elle Pearson, and William Tate Davenport; brother Col. Larry Lewis Linwood Ledbetter, Alexandria, VA, and quite a number of extended family and friends.
Mr. Ledbetter is preceded in death
by his parents, Lewis and Lavera Ledbetter of East Tallassee, AL, sister Alma Sue Ledbetter Kirby, brothers Dr. Jesse Rayburn Ledbetter, and Col. Harold Faye Ledbetter.
Billy graduated from Tallassee High School and after serving in the Alabama National Guard he married his high school sweetheart Mary Joann Holmes in 1953. He then followed his passions becoming father to three daughters, owning Castaway Island Resort for brief period, water skiing, training bird dogs, hunting, fishing, woodworking, graduating from Athens State College, and then he stumbled upon the game of golf. He won several local tournaments and placed first one year in the Alabama Senior Golf Tourney held at Lagoon Park in Montgomery where he had one of many hole-in-one experiences. This Eagle Scout also competed on every RTJ golf course in the state and punctuated that by playing Augusta National following the Master’s Tournament of 2007. He ended his career with the
Teachers Retirement System of Alabama having served much of his time at John Patterson Trade School and JF Ingram where he trained hundreds of loyal students who returned to visit him often. He became active in the First Baptist Church and restored a 1951 Ford Mercury Classic. As a side business, he sat for state licensure exams as a Master Electrician in 8 states for local contractors. Billy could often be found playing golf with his great friends or having lunch at Elmer’s with his wife. He was best known for his nickname and his sweet tooth. The family will receive friends on Friday, October 18 from 10am until service time at 11am in the Jeffcoat Funeral Home Chapel, Steve Schmitt officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to A.C.T.S. Online condolences are available at: www.jeffcoatfuneralhome.com. Jeffcoat Funeral Home Directing
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Softball and baseball fields in Eclectic and Holtville are about to get a makeover.
Work is underway to replace the grass on the fields in both communities. The news was delivered to the Elmore County Commission at its meeting Tuesday.
“The turf should go down on the softball field in Holtville in mid November,” Elmore County chief operations officer Richie Beyer said. “The baseball field will go down in mid-December.”
When the diamond fields are completed and football seasons completed, work to install turf on football fields in Eclectic, Holtville and Tallassee will begin.
Beyer said the design phase of the new Tallassee Recreation Center is also under way.
TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
OCT. 20
The quality of life projects including 17 Springs are part of more than $300 million in work across the county in the last eight years.
“I never thought we would get to $100 million in my tenure,” Beyer said. “Much less $300 million.”
Some of that total will involve connecting the sewage systems of the City of Millbrook and the West Elmore Sewer Group.
“Millbrook has a need for more capacity,” commission chair Bart Mercer said. “West Elmore has excess capacity. This is a great example of partnering together for the betterment of everyone.”
The commission approved work on a path along Highway 14 between Highway 143 and Airport Road to connect the two systems. It includes a lift station and sewage transmission main. It will allow many along the path access to the system.
• A child custody dispute was reported on Little John Drive.
• Harassing communications was reported on Macedonia Road.
• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Neptune Drive.
• An abandoned vehicle was reported on Little Road.
• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Highway 229.
OCT. 19
• A domestic incident was reported on Camellia Drive.
• Harassing communications was reported on Macedonia Drive.
• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on West James Street.
• A missing person was reported on Friendship Road.
• A domestic dispute was reported on Sims Avenue.
• A fatal motor vehicle accident was reported on Friendship Road.
• A motor vehicle accident with injuries was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Theft was reported on Grimes Street.
• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Barnett Boulevard.
• Assistance was given to the Tallassee Fire Department on Weldon Road. OCT. 18
• Theft was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Bilmer Avenue. OCT. 17
• An arrest was made on Barnett Boulevard.
• A missing person was report -
The commission also approved a partnership with Alabama Department of Youth Services for a diversion program grant. It is a similar program and grant Elmore County has participated in for years. It allows help for not only a juvenile in the court system but the family as well.
The county will also join ALDOT to help pay for new aerial photography for mapping purposes. Elmore County will pay $3,000 towards an estimated $15,000 cost. ALDOT will fund the remainder.
IN OTHER ACTION THE ELMORE COUNTY COMMISSION:
• Approved minutes of the Sept. 23 meeting.
• Approved a memorandum of warrants in the amount of $7,441,822.63 for Sept. 14 to Oct. 4.
• Approved a proclamation for domestic violence awareness month.
• Renewed a governmental affairs consulting
ed on Lower Tuskegee Road.
• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Cottage Hill Road.
• A welfare check was conducted on Riverknolle Road.
• Animal control was requested on Central Boulevard.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Gilmer Avenue.
• Animal control was requested on Freeman Avenue.
• A welfare check was conducted on Little Road. OCT. 16
• A Black male was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Ashurst Bar Road.
• A white female was arrested during a disorderly conduct call on Noble Road.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.
• Assistance was given during a medical call on Noble Road.
• Animal control was requested on Central Boulevard and Freeman Avenue.
• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Animal control was requested on Juniper Street.
• Assistance was given to another agency on Bush Circle.
• A white male was arrested on Industrial Parkway.
• Harassment was reported on West Patton Street. OCT. 15
• A Black male was arrested during a traffic stop on Highway 229.
• A suspicious person was reported on Macedonia Road.
• A suspicious person was reported on Little Road.
• An animal complaint was reported on Truman Street.
contract with Crosby Drinkard Group.
• Approved a 5-year lease for a large format plotter for the public works department.
• Adopted an electronic signature policy.
• Approved a memorandum of agreement with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for improvements to the Kowaliga Boat Ramp.
• Authorized an ADEM marketing demonstration project agreement for 17 Springs.
• Authorized a maintenance agreement with ALDOT to maintain landscaping at exits 179 and 181 on Interstate 65 in cooperation with the City of Prattville and Millbrook.
• Appointed Leo Gross and Chris Thompson as deputy coroners.
The next meeting of the Elmore County Commission is scheduled for 5 p.m. Oct. 28.
• A white female was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.
• Unauthorized use of a vehicle was reported on Grimes Street.
• A hit and run motor vehicle accident was reported on Hillcrest Street.
• An animal complaint was reported on Old Bridge Street.
• An animal complaint was reported on Third Street.
• A white male was arrested on Freeman Avenue.
• A Black male was arrested on Notasulga Road.
• Assistance was given to another agency on Third Avenue. OCT. 14
• Suspicious activity was reported on West Patton Street.
• Disorderly conduct was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• A Black female was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.
• Animal control was requested on Butt Mill Road.
• A suspicious person was reported on South Ann Avenue.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on East Patton Street.
• An abandoned vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• A domestic dispute was reported on Grimes Street.
• A motor vehicle accident with injuries was reported on Bucks Pocket Road.
• Kidnapping was reported on Freeman Avenue.
• Assistance was given to another agency on Notasulga Road. OCT. 13
• A noise complaint was reported on Third Avenue.
• Suspicious activity was reported on Riverknolle Road.
• Harassing communications was reported on Oak Heights Road.
By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director
Have you ever hit an animal in a vehicle?
That is something most of us dread, not only because of the injury or death of the animal, but the damage to our vehicles and possible injury to ourselves and passengers. It is, however, one thing to hit a small wild animal or domestic pet, but an entirely different matter to hit something as large as a deer, goat, cow or horse.
Alabama deer are probably the most common larger animal hit by automobiles and adults can range anywhere from 60-200 pounds. Many reading this can likely attest to the damage hitting a deer can do to a vehicle, but multiply that 5-10 or more times for hitting a horse or cow that might weigh 1,000 - 2,000 pounds.
Loose livestock is not an uncommon problem in Elmore County and it could sadly only be a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed from hitting loose horses or cattle on one of our roadways. Owners of livestock not only have a neighborly obligation to keep their animals contained, they also are required to maintain adequate fencing by Alabama State Law so that these animals don’t endanger the public or themselves.
Title 3, Chapter 5 (Stock Laws), Section 3-5-2 of the Code of Alabama makes it unlawful for the owner of any livestock to knowingly, voluntarily, negligently or willfully permit such livestock to go at large either upon the premises of another or upon the public lands, highways, roads or streets. Furthermore, any person(s) owning or having the possession, custody
or control of any livestock who unlawfully and knowingly permit the same to run or be at large, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. There is no “open range” in Alabama for livestock.
Alabama Code, Title 3, Chapter 4 (Fences & Livestock) takes this even further and defines minimally required fencing in explicit detail for cattle, horses, or all livestock in general. This means that owners with fencing that does not comply with Alabama Law and who don’t take the effort to repair or build a fence to the “Code,” could find themselves in a courtroom for damages caused by their livestock as a result of them continually getting out.
This law is not directed at those ‘one-time’ instances of a tree falling and taking out a section of fence, or a gate being accidentally left open – we all know animals don’t exactly understand property lines at those times. But we have far too many property owners with fencing that is in severe disrepair or doesn’t even come close to meeting the Code and, consequently, have livestock that escape often, endangering the public and tying up law enforcement time that could be better spent elsewhere.
For the sake of people and animals alike, if you own livestock, please make sure your fences and gates are adequate to contain your animals and that you make immediate repairs in the event of a breach. You can read the laws noted above, and more, in the Code of Alabama at: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama.
Rea Cord is the executive director of the Humane Society of Elmore County.
Shelby is a female, maybe Shepherd/Terrier type mix who is 9 ½ months old as of mid-October and weighs about 45 pounds. This sweet gal was originally found as a stray with another pup and brought to us. Shelby is a super sweet gal, good with other dogs, playful but not hyper, and likes to go for walks and play with toys. Those ears are guaranteed to hear every snack bag open.
The Humane Society of Elmore County’s adoption fees are $100 for dogs and $50 for cats under 1 year old. Cats over 1 can be adopted by approved adopters for a fee of their choosing. This adoption fee covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations, deworming, microchip, heartworm check for dogs, rabies vaccination if old enough and a free health exam with your participating veterinarian. If you are interested in meeting Tank or any of the pets at HSEC, the first step is to fill out an adoption application online. Once approved, you will be contacted by someone from the humane society. HSEC is located at 255 Central Plank Road in Wetumpka. The phone number is 334-567-3377 and the website is www.elmorehumane.org.
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Local animal shelters have experienced some tough times — a shortage of food at times, even influenza. But in the end, everything is fine.
If someone didn’t know better, they might be thinking a hospital faced a serious situation; however it was just a summer at the Humane Society of Elmore County.
HSEC executive director Rea Cord explained the last year has been the most unique of her 20 years with the organization at its annual meeting.
“It was probably the most challenging summer that we’ve had,” Cord said. At the same time there were many successes. Currently the HSEC shelter has seen 300 less animals than a year ago and 100 less than 2022.
“The interesting thing about that is that dogs are about the same,” Cord said. “Dog intake is really running about neck and neck with last year with the same numbers. It is kittens and that’s strange, because kittens normally are about triple the intake of adult cats. The 300 down is pretty much all kittens.”
Cord explained the pattern for intake of kittens was different. Normally about 75% of the kittens come to the shelter in April, May and June. This year the kittens came in May, not June, July or August and started back in September.
“I don’t know what’s going on with kittens, but that’s the way it is,” Cord said. “Maybe those numbers are going to catch up and maybe they’ll stay low — I hope
so.”
Cord explained adoptions and transfers to other shelters and rescues is about the same as previous years. Owner surrenders are about the same as well with similar excuses as in the past.
“They are saying they can not afford to keep an animal,” Cord said. “I’ve lost a home and cannot afford it.”
Currently many things at the HSEC shelter are similar to shelters across the country including low adoptions. Cord said that should pick up soon with holidays coming, but warned they have to be careful that the recipient of the animal is involved in the adoption process.
“We don’t want the animal to go into the wrong situation,” Cord said. “It is a long commitment to take on an animal.”
Like other shelters Cord has relied on donors to help keep the shelter in stock on food. She said with price increases donations have gone down. The situation caused the HSEC board to put line items in the 2025 budget for pet food and cat litter.
“So far when I have reached out for donations, it has come through,” Cord said. “Other shelters are seeing it and we think it is because of the economy.”
Volunteers spoke up. One about the conditions of some of the cages and play areas. Some cages are described as rusting, the play area as muddy and excrement not going down the drains.
Cord said the shelter is not allowed to wash the excrement down the drains. It has to be cleaned up. Part of the solution is renovating the shelter to accommodate the current animal situation.
Cord explained the current shelter was constructed about 40 years ago when cats and kittens weren’t really taken into consideration at all. Now they are housed in an old break room and other areas of the shelter where room was available.
The shelter is also still maintaining the appointment policy to adopt pets. It is something put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy is much like other shelters.
“It works well,” Cord said. “It allows staff to work with people and greet animals to see if the situation works.”
Without the appointment policy, clients freely roamed the shelter looking at animals with little to no assistance from the limited staff that is available.
HSEC is sending about 18 to 20 dogs per month to a shelter in New York. It is a very successful operation.
“It’s saving at minimum, two lives,” Cord said. “The one that left and the one that gets to take its space.”
About 21% of the dogs coming into the shelter are returned to the owners, but only about 1% of cats. Cord it likely has to do with the lack of microchipping and the difficulty in distinguishing between cats.
Cord said the HSEC thrift store provides about 30% of the organization’s funding. It is staffed with volunteers and sells donated items that go towards the operation of the shelter. Without the store, it would be difficult for the HSEC shelter to do what it does.
“Many shelters operate strictly off what even the government gives them,” Cord said. “Our thrift store is a gold mine for the shelter.”
MICHAEL BIRD Columnist
This article is a reprint from six years ago this
This is Homecoming week in Tallassee In so many places, the word ‘homecoming’ is only used as a line of a news story about returning military personnel.
But in small-town America, Homecoming is huge.
The current senior class will be honored alongside the class from 20 years ago. At the big Homecoming bonfire on Thursday night, the townsfolk gather to hear both classes sing the school Alma Mater a cappella. It’s the most beautiful singing you’ll ever hear, presented with a level of devotion that seems to exist only in our imaginations, a blissful memory of someone else’s lifetime ago.
Each class at the high school is responsible for a parade float. This is the real thing. Tissue paper, colors, imaginative designs, and lots of hard work over many hours.
Somehow, the junior and senior classes always seem to win or tie.
The parade is a citywide event on Friday afternoon. Schools and businesses close at lunchtime to allow everyone to crowd the streets of Tallassee, rubbernecking to see batons being twirled and fire
See PRIDE, Page A5
Editor’s Note: This story contains information about domestic violence and abuse that may be triggering to some readers. If you are experiencing domestic violence, please call 800.799.SAFE (7233) immediately
“Before she can protest, Macbeth moves behind her, pushing aside her hair, unclasping the necklace and then clasping it again. He has made it so tight that it chafes with every movement, even just the drawing of a breath. Now she will never forget she is wearing it.” - Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid
Ava Reid is one of my favorite authors. Despite the fantastical elements of her writing, many of her novels explore themes of abuse. Her most recent novel, Lady Macbeth, is a Shakespearean retelling with witches and dragons in early medieval Scotland. But it is also about a woman experiencing domestic violence.
While these novels are fictional, the struggles these women face are very real and they are not abnormal; they are tragically — common.
Roughly 3 in 10 women and 1 in 10 men in the U.S. have experienced some level of domestic violence, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Domestic violence is any violence or aggression in the home, generally committed by an intimate partner. It can include
things like rape, stalking and physical violence.
There is no average victim. It can happen to anyone — and it does. It’s easy to pass it by. That would never happen to me. No one I know has had that happen to them. That is something that would only happen in the past. That only happens to other people.
The list goes on, but the truth is you probably have some ties to domestic violence survivors or victims, and you don’t even know it. It’s not something people talk about, and it can be difficult to realize it when it’s happening.
Not all violence is loud.
Domestic violence is about power and control. The perpetrator is acting out of desires to dominate. But it can happen in subtle ways.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline has a Power and Control Wheel that demonstrates this. Some of the tactics include intimidation such as smashing things, using emotional abuse, using isolation, minimizing, denying and blaming, using children as a point of contention,
using male privilege such as acting as the “master of the house” to justify abusive actions, using economic abuse and using coercion and threats. Due to the power dynamics of domestic violence, it can be difficult to leave — even with clear violence and abusive behaviors. Leaving means rejecting the control and power that have been drilled into the relationship. It can sometimes feel more unsafe to leave than to stay for some victims. There are many elements that make it difficult such as fears around leaving, the normalization of abuse in a person’s life, lack of resources, children being part of the picture and even love.
Regardless of the circumstances, the victim is never to blame for someone else’s deed. It is important for this Domestic Violence Awareness month to stay informed about domestic violence, hear stories from survivors and support agencies that aid victims. Because while the topic has a tendency to be sensationalized, domestic violence is widespread.
“Her heartbeat slows, but only just. He does not mean to punish her, at least not now. He has already gotten his fill of violence somewhere else.” - Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid
Abigail Murphy is the Dadeville beat reporter for Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. She can be reached at abigail.murphy@ alexcityoutlook.com.
Earlier this month, we celebrated “American Girls in Sports Day.” Unfortunately, this year, this day is a somber one as women and girls’ sports are under attack by the Biden-Harris administration.
While most people know me as a football coach, my first job out of college was coaching girls’ basketball right after the implementation of Title IX, 52 years ago. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: Title IX is one of the best pieces of legislation to come out of Congress. It granted female athletes access to the same facilities, scholarships and opportunities as men.
Sadly, the Biden-Harris administration has taken a sledgehammer to women’s sports. They have shoved their anti-woman agenda—disguised as “equality”—down the throats of the American people. We must expose this war on women every chance we get. They are doing everything in their power to rewrite history.
Earlier this year, the Education Department rewrote the Title IX rule. The implications for female athletes are enormous. Biden and Harris’ rule bans schools that wish to receive funding from having any areas designated for a
particular gender — that includes locker rooms and bathrooms. So, schools are forced to choose between protecting women and receiving critical federal funding. Scholarships have been taken away, teams are forfeiting games, and women are losing their spots in the lineup they have worked so hard for, all in the name of woke ideology. Opportunity has been snuffed out by mentally-ill biological men, who can’t compete in their own league and decide to “transition” so they have a chance to be recognized.
Just in the last few months, we have seen a woman forced to box against a male during the Summer Olympics and five NCAA volleyball teams forfeit matches against San Jose State, who has a male on their roster. How did we get here? What does the Biden-Harris administration have against women?
Most Americans agree: men don’t belong in women’s sports.
So, where do we go from here? We must pass legislation to protect our daughters and granddaughters. We must expose the dark, hypocritic narrative of the Left saying they are “the party of women” while allowing women to lose out on opportunities to men. We must fight for women to have an equal playing field— plain and simple. I have talked to student-athletes, parents, coaches and teachers from all over the country about this. I even forced the Senate to vote on my bill, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. Unsurprisingly, every single one of my democratic colleagues voted against it. I suggest they ask their daughters, granddaughters and nieces if they want to share the locker room and court with a man. I would boldly guess their answer would be no. This isn’t about politics, and it wasn’t for the last 52 years. It’s about right and wrong. I pray that God continues to protect our nation’s female athletes before someone seriously gets hurt.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville is a U.S. Senator who represents the state of Alabama.
WEAVING
Continued from A1
to make because there is no wood splitting involved, but still require a lot of patience.
Tallassee resident Bob Reed remembers pine needle baskets from decades ago.
“My great aunt had some exquisite baskets when I was a little boy,” Reed said. “I’ve always wanted to know how to do it.”
Reed got the chance to learn pine needle basket weaving as Annette Jordan of Eutaw visited the Tallassee Community Library last week to teach a class on the matter and share her love of the art that started with her mother Mary Hicks.
“My mom had been pine straw basket weaving for years,” Jordan said.
Despite muscular dystrophy, Hicks wove pine needles into baskets, coasters and trinkets for years.
“It seemed to help her keep movement in her hands,” Jordan said.
Years of taking her around to workshops on the pine nee-
CHARGES
dle basket weaving stuck with Jordan.
“I was the one who had to take her around to all the craft shows and workshops and other places that she went,” Jordan said. “I was just sitting there because I really wasn’t interested at first, it was just too slow for me.”
It was similar to gathering on the front porch of a home and shelling peas during harvest season. Everyone participated no matter the interest. Often the conversations led to more meaningful connections between participants.
“(Jordan’s mother) said I should try one,” Jordan said.
“I started working on it and started getting a little bit better on it, and I just kept doing it.”
Hicks died in 2018 but the art of pine needle basket weaving lives on in Jordan and her daughter April McCullen who accompanied Jordan to the Tallassee workshop.
“After my mom passed, I just wanted to keep the tradition going,” Jordan said.
“After meeting new people who workshop it just kind of motivates me to keep it
voicemail was left on a family member’s phone threatening the life of Thornton’s wife. When the family arrived at the
going.”
For the Tallassee workshop and the ones in Tuskegee, Shorter and Auburn earlier in the week, Jordan supplied the
home, they found a two-year-old alone but unharmed.
The Tallassee Police Department began searching for Thornton and his wife. According to court documents, when the couple was found the wife had bruising and swelling under her left allegedly caused by Thornton’s
trucks displaying their lights and sirens. Children sit on the shoulders of their moms and dads, gleefully catching candy thrown from parade floats passing by.
The Homecoming Court, complete with a Queen and attendants, are voted on by the student body, presented at the pep rally, and recognized with a crowning ceremony at the
football game. For Homecoming week, Tallassee is analogous to Garrison Keillor’s Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average. Thursday night, my favorite part of Homecoming was made even more special as one of my daughters is a Senior this year. The Candlelight Ceremony and Bonfire were awesome, as usual. Friday’s pep rally and parade were a warm 90-plus
long-leaf pine needles used in the weaving. She had purchased them. But a connection at the Tallassee library may lead to a new supplier.
hands. She also had bruising on her back allegedly caused by a stick.
Thornton was taken into custody and charged with first-degree kidnapping, child abandonment and felony domestic violence because of a previous domestic violence conviction.
Court records show Thornton pleaded
degrees. However, it was all made more enjoyable observing the camaraderie and seeing my daughter as a member of the Homecoming Court. Viewing these experiences through the eyes of a Senior on the Court was truly memorable for both of us. Miriam had the opportunity to ride in a Ford Thunderbird convertible contributed by Gene Lawrence, owner of Tallassee Super Foods. She was driven in the parade and to the football game by my father Chris, who is one of the managers at
OCT. 7 - 30
ART SHOW: The Elmore County Art Guild Fall Show will be from Oct. 7 to Oct. 30 at The Art Mill on Grandview Road in Millbrook.
OCT. 23
FALL FESTIVAL: Tallaweka Baptist Church will host its fall festival from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24. Featured will be a trunk or treat, games and food. This is a free event. The church is located at 1419 Gilmer Ave. in Tallassee.
OCT. 24
NOV. 9
“I have all you could ever want,” Reed said. “Just come by the house and I will be happy to help you fill your basket.”
guilty in Elmore County in 2019 to second-degree domestic violence where his wife was the victim. He was placed in the custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections for a 10-year sentence to be served in community corrections. Thornton is currently being held in the Tallapoosa County Jail without bond.
Super Foods. He looked as proud to be there as Miriam did.
As we prepared to walk across that field at pregame, I pondered: in the course of 100 years of our school, if five girls were chosen to be on the Court each year, it would mean only 500 people in THS history have had the honor of doing what she got to do. It was also noted by another in attendance that only 100 would have the distinction of being named Queen.
We all turned to face the
American flag being raised by Boy Scouts Troop 59, and sang our National Anthem and Alma Mater while in formation with the band. How blessed we are in Tallassee to have held on to ceremonies such as these as other schools have abandoned their traditions! We marched off the field to “Loyalty” and into THS history, prouder than ever to be Tallassee Tigers.
Michael Bird is an admissions recruiter for Faulkner University.
County Branch No. 5026 of the NAACP meets at 6:30 p.m. every third Tuesday (executive committee) and every fourth Tuesday (full membership) at the Martin Luther King Center at 200 North Lancaster St. in Wetumpka.
OPEN MIC: The Equality Performing Arts Center hosts an open mic jam session from 7 to 9 p.m. every second Friday of the month at 560 Highway 9 in Equality. There is no charge but donations are welcome as they keep the center running. Bring a snack or finger food to share during the intermission. RED HILL COMMUNITY CLUB
TUNES ON THE GREEN: The City of Millbrook is hosting Charlie C and the Cuzamatics from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 as part of its Tunes on the Green at Village Green Park. The free event will feature music, food trucks and a kids play zone.
OCT. 26
ART SHOW: The Downtown Artists are hosting the Don Sawyer Fall Art Show starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 in downtown Wetumpka.
BOO FESTIVAL: The City of Millbrook is hosting the 15th Annual Boo Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 26. There will be vendors and food trucks.
OCT. 28
CANDY CRAWL: The City of Wetumpka and Main Street Wetumpka Candy Crawl will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, Oct. 28 at the Wetumpka Sports Complex.
OCT. 30
TRUNK OR TREAT: Elmore County Hospital is hosting its annaul Spooktacular Trunk or Treat and Hayride from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30.
OCT. 31
FALL FESTIVAL: New Home Baptist Church on Elmore Road in Wetumpka is hosting a Fall Festival from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. There will be games, a cake walk, bounce house, pony rides and petting zoo.
NOV. 7
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE: Main Street Wetumpka is hosting the Downtown Wetumpka Holiday Open House Saturday, Nov. 9. There will be deals and seasonal specials at downtown businesses to kick off the holiday season.
DEC. 7
HOLIDAY MARKET: The City of Wetumpka Farmers Market is holding its annual holiday market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the farmers market on Coosa Street.
CHRISTMAS PARADE: The City of Millbrook is holding its Christmas parade at 2 p.m. Dec. 7. It starts at Mill Creek Sports Complex and ends on Main Street at Coosada Road. All entries must register by Nov. 22.
ONGOING
SUPPORT GROUP: The last
Thursday of every month, Restoration 49 Coffee Shop plays host to a support group for parents who have lost a child. The meetings begin at 6 p.m. each month. For more information, please contact Heather Baker at hbakerjj@aol. com.
PRESCHOOL STORYTIME: Preschool Storytime takes place at 10 a.m. every Friday at Wetumpka Public Library.
ECLECTIC TOWN COUNCIL
MEETINGS: Eclectic Town Council meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at Town Hall. Council meetings begin at 7 p.m. with work sessions taking place prior to the meeting at 6 p.m. Meetings are held in the Dr. M. L. Fielder Municipal Building, 145 Main Street.
GOLF TOURNAMENT: The Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual Great Balls of Fire Golf Tournament at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill. Lunch will begin at 10:45 a.m. with a noon shotgun start. Contact the chamber at 334-5674811 for more information.
NAACP MEETINGS: The Elmore
MEETINGS: Red Hill Community Club Meetings are held every second Monday of the month. Join the Red Hill Historical Preservation Association in the auditorium of the Old Red Hill School, located off state Route 229 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss upcoming events.
MOUNT HEBRON CHURCH OF CHRIST: Come join us at 4530 Mt. Hebron Road in Eclectic. Our Sunday school begins at 9 a.m. followed by worship service at 10:30. There is also a Wednesday night Bible study at 7 p.m. For more information call Pastor Edwin Walker at 334-541-2025
LUNCH AND LEARN: Lunch and learn Tuesdays with Kelly are scheduled at the Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery at 124 Company Street in Wetumpka from noon to 1 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. For more information, visit www.thekelly.org.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY GRACE
POINT: Celebrate Recovery meets at Grace Point Community Church at 78223 Tallassee Highway in Wetumpka each Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. All are welcome to the meetings which provide a safe and loving environment for individuals seeking to conquer their hurts, habits and hangups. For more information, visit www.Gracepoint. info or contact Gwin Greathouse at gwingreathouse@gmail.com.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY
SANTUCK: Celebrate Recovery meets each Thursday at 6:15 p.m. at Santuck Baptist Church at 7250 Central Plank Rd. This is a Christcentered, 12-step program for anyone struggling with hurts, habits, and hangups. Call 334-567-2364 for more information or contact jyates@santuckbaptist.org.
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Reasons for going to law school vary. Some want to try big product liability cases.
Others want to champion civil rights. While others want to protect the innocent. Dealane Goggans wanted to serve children.
Friday, Goggans was surprised by Elmore County District Court Judge Ben Baxley with a small luncheon to celebrate her 30 years of service as a juvenile probation officer in Elmore County.
“I realized I wanted to help children when I went to law school,” Googans said.
It's the place where she met her husband Elmore County District Court Judge Glen Goggans and Baxley.
“We got to be good friends,” Baxley said.
Baxley went on to the attorney general’s office as a prosecutor and returned to Elmore County to be a judge primarily handling juvenile court. Having little experience with children in the court system, Baxley looked to his friend Goggans for help.
“She is able to bring all sorts of options for children to the table,” Baxley said. “She and the other juvenile probation officers have amazing contacts with service providers across the state to help. It could be mental illness issues, emotional stability children help with, abandonment, financial or physical handicap issues. They have experience that can help us in juvenile cases.”
Unlike adult probation officers who work with the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, juvenile probation officers are employees of the courts. As such it better aids Baxley and other judges working juvenile cases best serve the children.
“So much of what
juveniles face is based on their environment,” Goggans said. “They are mostly good kids at heart.’
Goggans and Baxley agree that many of the children in the juvenile system are products of their environment. Some come from single family homes and, when left unsupervised, find trouble. Others’ trials come from generational trauma learned from family members.
“They don’t know where to turn,” Baxley said. “Sometimes they get in trouble for taking food when they are hungry.”
Goggans said she works to get children back on a good path.
“They just need a loving, helping hand,” Goggans said.
Goggans and Baxley use their combined skill sets to help children succeed.
“She is there with the children all the time,” Baxley said. “They come to me when decisions need to be made or there is an issue with something. Being new to the bench, having her knowledge is invaluable. It is a great service to children to have her.”
Baxley said some of the juveniles in the court system are also being fostered. Goggans is able to use her experience and work with the foster parents to help whatever issues the child might have.
“It’s not easy,” Baxley said. “It is easy to get frustrated, especially with limited access to mental healthcare. But she is amazing at what she does.”
text for today
(Isaiah 26:3 ESV)
My mother got an unusual gift a few years ago. It was a sweatshirt with two cartoon drawings of the same frazzled cat against a light and dark background. The caption said, “There are only two times I feel stress: Day and Night.” Bless her heart, it was an appropriate gift. Is it hard for you to find peace? Have you gotten used to living on edge, with a sometimes nebulous but always present sense of unrest? When you finally calm down, get settled and take a deep breath, is it quite easy for the next something or someone to disturb your peace? Then you and I both need to hear and understand the
Isaiah’s words describe a person who is in perfect peace. This person seems to have comprehensive peace insurance. He lives in a peace that covers every situation, all the time. Perhaps you think that this must be a fictional character—that no one in this fallen world surrounded by broken people can live in perfect peace. Before we dismiss this phantom, let’s notice that this person is “kept.” He is “kept” in perfect peace by God.
Instead of quoting a few verses here, allow me instead to recommend a powerful, faith-building word study and ask you to do a little work. If you have a Bible app on your phone, tablet or computer, use the search tool to look at all the times in the Bible that God is said to keep, be
keeping or have kept his people. (If you use a concordance printed on paper, that’s fine, too. It’s not the tool. It’s the content.) Savor this truth about God’s keeping. Linger over it. Think about it. As God’s child, you are under the protective care of a Sovereign God. He keeps you. This truth will preserve your peace when the news is bad, the diagnosis is heartbreaking or the situation seems hopeless.
Our line from Isaiah for today’s meditation says this peaceful person’s mind is “stayed” on God. The HCSB describes it as the “mind that is dependent on” God. The NIV suggests “those whose minds are steadfast.” The NLT has “all whose thoughts are fixed” on God. (Here’s another benefit for using apps and software in your study. I didn’t have to go
find my printed copies of those different versions. I got a well-rounded sample of the translators’ best effort to help me understand this word with a few taps, all free of charge.) When we’ve lost our peace and claim we can’t concentrate, could it possibly be that our minds are fixed on the wrong thing? Are we consciously, deliberately disobeying God? Are we focused on our stuff, our material possessions? Are we focused on ourselves and our failure (or success)? Are we focused on others, who invariably let us down? No wonder our peace is disturbed! A deep, intentional focus on God is an indispensable key to perfect peace.
The last phrase helps me, too. This person Isaiah described as being in perfect peace, whose heart is fixed on God, also trusts
in God. Now our money says “In God We Trust.”
But our anxiety says we aren’t trusting him enough or at all. We all trust some things in everyday life.
“Life with a capital “L” has too many variables and is too enormous to understand it all. When we run out of understanding, we turn to trust. I don’t need much trust when I can see clearly why God says or does something. It’s when I don’t get it at all that my trust is put to the test. The things we listed as focal points in the previous paragraph are also substitute objects of our trust. When your peace is easily disturbed, it’s a warning indicator on the dashboard of your life that your trust is misplaced. Perfect peace is only for the one who trusts in God.
“Dear Father, Thank
MIKE MCELROY Pastor
You for teaching us that You have infinite power and total control over all things. By Your grace, grant us clarity to fix our minds on you, and put all our full trust in You. Grant us Your children the joy and privilege to know and live in Your perfect peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Mike McElroy recently retired after preaching almost 27 years at East Tallassee Church of Christ. He is the author of The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide to Your Journey Through the New Testament and Christmas Pilgrims: A Journey to See Jesus. In retirement, Mike plans to continue writing and publishing books in his Abiding Companion series of essays about each chapter of the Bible. He can be reached at mbmcelroy@gmail.com.
By BRIAN SMITH For TPI
Tallassee head football
coach Lawrence “L.A.”
O’Neal has earned the rare distinction of being selected to coach in the AHSAA North-South football game. Lawrence believed in the players and coaches around him — as his teams had success — provided credibility
as to why he’s a good coach and person.
“It’s an honor and a pleasure to coach in that game,”
O’Neal said. “Like I told my administrator, it’s all attributed to the kids that played for me and the coaches that coached for me. Because if they hadn’t done it, then my name wouldn’t be out in the state. I’m really standing on their shoulders and it’s a team
honor; it’s a team award.”
O’Neal is a former defensive back for Western Kentucky and Samford. He grew up under the watchful eye of Jackie O’Neal, his father and former head coach at Reeltown. Winning two state titles during his 28-year career, O’Neal’s father has been and continues to be one
By BRIAN SMITH For TPI
Tallassee’s first-year flag
football team wasted no time in winning its first
Class 1A-5A Region 3 title, holding off Booker T. Washington with a late defensive stop for a 14-7 victory.
“We played good tonight,” Tallassee coach Pat Love said. “That’s a good team we played right there. They’re athletic.”
As for what helped Tallassee win the game, Love defined that as well.
“This team really came together,” he said. “They played really well. We put a lot on the girls right here in this first year. But to be
region champs, and our region is pretty tough, that’s quite an accomplishment.”
The kingpin for the Tigers was quarterback Regan Easterwood. Running, passing and leading her teammates, she was the engine that made Tallassee go from the outset. Easterwood started hot by connecting on multiple passes on the first drive, moving the Tigers down to the 6-yard line. From there, running back Cheyann Easterling sped around left end for the game’s first touchdown.
Easterling was the primary player on one of the game’s most exciting plays as well.
A fan-favorite, the halfback pass, allowed Easterling to draw BTW’s defenders up
CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI
toward the line of scrimmage before she unleashed a pass downfield. From there, Tallassee’s offense was in sync and rolling.
To score the second touchdown with eight minutes remaining in the second quarter, Easterwood’s quarterback sweep found paydirt to help put the Tigers up, 14-0.
To its credit, BTW did not fold. The Eagles battled all the way through and did not allow another Tallassee score. The speed, athleticism and effort of BTW was obvious throughout the game. During the third quarter, Tallassee’s Kam Tate picked
Tallassee’s Regan Easterwood (12) runs upfield against Booker T. Washington.
By BRIAN SMITH For TPI
TALLADEGA (2-7) AT TALLASSEE (5-2) THE PLAYERS
TALLASSEE: DB Jaiden Gordan had a 32 yard scoop against score on the first defensive play. … WR J.D. McKenzie had a 69 yard kickoff return for a score. …RB Roderick “Tiny” Green ran for 63 yards, and Jordan King another 55.
FOUR DOWNS Last week, Tallassee defeated St. James 31-21; Talladega lost 48-21 to Handley. The Tigers are on a four-game winning streak.
Tallassee’s defense has allowed 16.7 points on average from its last three games. Talladega allowed 30.3 points per contest from its last three games.
By BRIAN SMITH For TPI
The annual rivalry game between Wetumpka (5-3) and Stanhope Elmore (4-4) has arrived and these two squads have played similar styles of football.
Judging from the way each team has played during the last few weeks, this game should be a tremendous clash of football teams who play fast and physical.
Playing on the road presents Wetumpka with a few challenges as it looks to keep itself in the playoff picture, with a few key aspects coming to mind for coach Bear Woods.
“Take care of the football,” Woods said. “We have to win the line of scrimmage, and no Wetumpka penalties or being undisciplined.”
Wetumpka’s offense developed into a big-play threat that starts with its ball carriers. They were consistent this season, but the offense hit a new gear.
The rushing attack showcased a three-headed monster with Jimmy King, Justin Godwin, and Tudrius Hetherington. Wetumpka runs between the tackles with power and speed. So far this season, the three running backs have combined for 1,418 yards and 11 touchdowns. The potent running game has also helped wide receiver Martez Wright.
Wright has been the Indians’ clutch pass catcher even when defenders were right next to him. He has caught 24 passes for 429 yards and 7 scores this season, including four touchdown catches from the prior two games. Wright also returned the opening kickoff for a score
against Park Crossing.
Defensively, the front for the Indians has led the charge and Woods provided them high praise.
“I expect there to be four or five college football players that are on our defensive line right now,” Woods said.
The leader of the group has been defensive end Ethan Bailey. He’s not only an impressive pass rusher with 13 sacks, he’s been an every-down playmaker for the Indians. He is one of the top tacklers on the team with 72 total on the season. Linebacker Kelby Walker has been credited with 120 tackles. He’s also been adept in coverage and the leader of the unit.
The Indians will have their hands full trying to defend against one of the state’s most impressive players. Running back Arthur McQueen has totaled 1,791 rushing yards, which places him as the No. 5 rusher in Alabama, he’s also scored 21 touchdowns.
Stanhope coach Hunter Adams praised McQueen but also knows that his talented runner wouldn’t put up the numbers he does without an offensive line that’s gelled.
“We threw a couple of screens for most of the passes, but our offensive line played a tremendous game,” Adams said. “It’s been a culmination of hard work that’s paid off.”
The Mustangs’ top two runners in addition to McQueen have included running back Dee Barnes and quarterback Zac Holcombe. Combined with McQueen, they amassed 2,646 yards and 25 touchdowns. Those eye-popping numbers demonstrated how focused Stanhope Elmore was on running
By BRIAN SMITH For TPI
Stanhope Elmore’s Arthurs McQueen’s state spoke for themselves, which resulted in him being named the Player of the Week. Against Rehobeth, McQueen rushed for 420 yards on the ground during last Friday’s contest. However, not only did he set a new school record; he did it in only two and half quarters. The state of Alabama’s fifth-leading rusher has amassed 1,791 yards through eight games. That means McQueen accumulated 23.5% of his season’s rushing total in one night. His full Friday evening stat line included 20 carries, 420 yards, and 5 touchdowns. McQueen’s effort catapulted him into the record books.
McQueen was actually a stalwart all season long. Beyond the Rehobeth game, here were his rushing totals for each game so far this season: 270 yards and 3 touchdowns (Marbury), 142 yards and 1 touchdown (Prattville), 182 yards and 2 touchdowns (Percey Julian), 227 yards and 3 touchdowns (Park Crossing), 185 yards and 2 touchdowns (Smiths Station), 203 yards and 3 touchdowns (Russell County), and 142 yards and 2 touchdowns (Pike Road). Averaging 223 rushing yards per game this season. The next challenge for McQueen – and his excellent offensive line – will be hosting a talented Wetumpka team in the annual rivalry this Friday night. Wetumpka has one of the best defenses in the area and it should be a hard-hitting game from start to finish.
Continued from B1
off the pass to thwart a BTW drive. Not long after that, however, BTW returned the favor with Easterwood’s pass being tipped and intercepted.
That’s when BTW got on the board. It was a 20-yard touchdown pass that made it 14-7 Tallassee and 1:16 remaining in the third quarter.
Once again, Easterwood used her athleticism to get the momentum back with a 12-yard gain to start the ensuing possession. Even though Tallassee’s drive eventually stalled, the Tigers moved the football methodically down the field and helped take time off the clock. BTW did not have another good opportunity to score for the rest of the game.
As Tallassee’s defense held BTW on downs with just over a minute to play, it was all but over. When the clock did hit all zeros, the girls celebrated their first-ever district crown.
After the game, Easterwood gave credit to Love and the Tallassee coaching staff for why she started out so well and played with confidence.
“We added a new center pass and that worked really well on them,” Easterwood said. “I was really confident in that pass for the rest of the game.”
Easterwood connected on several of those passes right in the middle of the gridiron. To help ice the game, Easterwood connected on back-to-back passes to center Lila Kate Fulgham, moving the ball deep into BTW territory. Her backfield mate also discussed what she loves so much about playing football.
“I love playing running back,” Easterling said. “I just feel like I have the speed for it.” She was also happy to give praise to her quarterback.
“(Regan has)She’s been on fire since the beginning of the season,” Easterling said. “We’ve been practicing and getting better and better. I just gotta say, she’s one heck of a player.”
Continued from B1
NEXT UP: Tallassee hosts Holtville; Talladega’s regular season will be complete.
ELMORE COUNTY (5-2) AT SYLACAUGA (4-4) THE PLAYERS
ELMORE COUNTY: RB Tyler Payton rushed for 401 yards and 4 touchdowns.
… RB Eli Thames contributed 360 yards and 4 scores. …LB Jackson Mann leads the team with 46 total tackles
FOUR DOWNS
the football. On the other side of the ball, the Mustangs also mirror the Indians, beginning at defensive end. Kamran Anderson has produced 50 tackles and 12 sacks. He’s a player chasing down ball carriers across the gridiron. Anderson’s been the tone-setter for the Mustangs’ defensive front. When Anderson is not making the play, nose guard Dezmond Barnes often would. He has made himself well-known with 46 tackles and four sacks this season.
One player who has separated himself as a leader and created 43 tackles and 3 interceptions has been safety Joidaden Carter-Stone. He’s the cleanup man when the defensive line doesn’t gobble up the ball carrier.
One or two plays could be the difference in a likely back-and-forth affair between Wetumpka and Stanhope, with each team looking to secure itself a spot in the playoffs.
Elmore County averaged 140.1 yards rushing and 76.1 yards passing. The Panthers have earned a 2-1 all-time record versus Sylacauga. Elmore County is 2-1 on the road in 2024.
NEXT UP: Elmore County hosts Chilton County, Sylacauga at Glenwood.
HOLTVILLE (3-5) AT MARBURY (0-8) THE PLAYERS
HOLTVILLE: RB Hunter Chavis scored three rushing touchdowns against Valley. …WR Cedrick Croskey had a 68-yard double reverse for a touchdown. …DB Tyler Hackett had an interception.
Elmore County is on a two-game winning streak, and Sylacauga has gone 1-1 in the past two contests.
COACH Continued from B1
of the most revered coaches in Alabama high school football history. The legendary coach’s son is following in his father’s footsteps.
FOUR DOWNS Last week, Holtville defeated Valley 27-21; Marbury lost to Elmore County 30-7.
Holtville has won three of the last four meetings against Marbury but lost 46-20 in 2023.
The Bulldogs have averaged 16.6 points per game.
Holtville’s playoff chances reside with defeating Marbury
NEXT UP: Holtville at Tallassee and Marbury at Alberta.
EDGEWOOD ACADEMY (2-5) AT ABBEVILLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (2-5) THE PLAYERS
EDGEWOOD: RB Parker Shaw contributed 70 rushing yards and 8 tackles. …
O’Neal was a former quarterback turned defensive back in college, and will be tutoring the talented defensive backs for the South. “I played defensive back in college, and I played quarterback throughout my high school career,” O’Neal said. “Coaching quarterbacks and defensive backs has always been something that I’ve always been really comfortable with. So, it will get me back into my element. I don’t have to watch the whole thing. I can just watch my guys, pour into my guys, and really just com-
QB Brock Whitt finished with 70 yards passing. … LB Ethan Evans finished with 6 tackles.
FOUR DOWNS
Last week, Edgewood Academy lost 42-0 to Bessemer Academy; Abbeville Christian Academy won 50-7 against Hooper Academy. The Wildcats have averaged 13.7 points per contest from its last three games.
Abbeville Christian’s defense allowed 34.7 points per contest in the last three games.
The two schools have never played against each other.
NEXT UP: Edgewood Academy versus Fort Dale;
pete at the highest level.”
Lawrence is also going to be soaking up knowledge.
“Just looking to learn. Looking for every opportunity to learn something new. Just how different coaches do things around the state. Maybe something I can bring back and do differently here. I’m really looking to teach the kids around the state, kind of what makes them tick. Just build a room that’s kind of close even
Abbeville Christian Academy
WETUMPKA (5-3) AT STANHOPE ELMORE (4-4) THE PLAYERS
WETUMPKA: WR Martez Wright went for 429 yards and 7 receiving, adding a kickoff score as well. … RB Jimmy King rushed for 913 yards and 4 TDs. ….Justin Godwin ran for 338 yards and 5 touchdowns, and Tudrius Hetherington scampered for 167 yards and 2 scores.
STANHOPE ELMORE: Running back Arthur McQueen has earned the distinction of being Alabama’s fifth-leading rusher with 1,791 yards and is coming off a school record 420 yards rushing in the last game. He’s accrued 21 touchdowns. Defensive end Kamran Anderson already reached 12 sacks (also fifth in Alabama).
though we have only a week. And then, just compete at a high level.”
He’s happy to have the chance to represent the South team coached by Kenny King. King is a former Alabama and All-SEC defensive lineman with five years of NFL experience. He’s been the head coach of his high school alma mater, Daphne, since 2016. “Coach (King) said he’s looking for guys that are
FOUR DOWNS Last week, Stanhope Elmore defeated Rehobeth, 47-21; Wetumpka beat Park Crossing, 42-9. Wetumpka went 0-2 on the road and Stanhope Elmore 2-3 at home. In home games against Wetumpka beginning in 2010, Stanhope Elmore has gone 5-2. Stanhope Elmore averages 367.9 rushing yards per game.
NEXT UP: Wetumpka at Demopolis, Stanhope Elmore at Calera.
looking to work and didn’t look at it like a vacation. He knew I was a worker,” O’Neal said. “Then, it’s a pride thing because the South doesn’t want to lose to the North. I know we won last year and it’s a big rivalry.” Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile will host the NorthSouth game. It will be in its 66th year of operation and this year’s contest will be played at 2 p.m. Dec. 13.
Executive
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By MELODY RATHEL Multimedia Reporter
There’s a reason why Lake Martin has been called the cleanest lake in Alabama. For the last 20 years, the Lake Martin Resource Association has worked in conjunction with Alabama Power to maintain the cleanliness and safety of Lake Martin. Former LMRA president John Thompson said Alabama Power began the Renew Our Rivers program 25 years ago. The LMRA joined the effort five years later. At first, it was a small effort mostly focused on cleaning up beaded styrofoam around docks on a small portion around the lake. Twenty years
later, it has evolved into a community-wide effort that has led Lake Martin to be one of the cleanest lakes in the state. “We actually had a cleanup plan,” Thompson said. “LMRA had really just gotten reorganized. We were going to have a small group to have a cleanup around the Real Island area.”
Since then, Renew Our Rivers has evolved into much more. Alabama Power now helps supply the LMRA with t-shirts, bags and other necessary supplies which has increased volunteerism significantly, Thompson said. Every year, more children become involved with the effort, especially
now that the schools have helped raise awareness of the program. For example, Nathaniel H. Stephens Elementary School has an assembly in which students learn about the importance of keeping the lake clean. In addition to an educational assembly, third and fourth grade students participate in an art contest. The winner s art piece is featured on the annual T-shirt given to all volunteers. Since the start of LMRA’s participation and implementation of environmental education, over 1,000 T-shirts have been provided. Moreover, students from other schools participate to accrue volunteer hours. Since the start of
LMRA’s involvement with Renew Our Rivers, more than 1,000 T-shirts have been given away for the event. In the last 20 years, roughly 175 tons of trash has been removed and recycled from Lake Martin, including cans, plastic and glass bottles, coolers, household trash and nearly 900 tires. In addition to a community-wide clean up effort, the Tallapoosa County Commission has begun quarterly Throw Away Days throughout the county. Four times a year, each commissioner chooses a spot within their district where large dumpsters are placed for residents to dispose of household
items.
“Throw Away Days have made a big difference,” Tallapoosa County District 2 commissioner Steve Robinson said. “I think it’s a great service for people because they don’t have a place to put their stuff. Throw Away Days really helped mitigate the majority of illegal
dumps in the area.” Each year, Thompson is impressed by the community involvement he sees during Renew Our Rivers. His ultimate goal is to have people cleaning up around the shoreline of the entirety of Lake Martin. The 2024 Renew Our Rivers will be held Nov. 1 and 2.
By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Reporter
The streak stays alive for the Elmore County volleyball team after it secured its 15th straight area title on Wednesday. In the 5A Area 7 tournament, the Panthers kicked off against the Valley Rams in a best-of-five match where they made quick work of their opposition. The Panthers took all three sets – 25-7, 25-8, 25-10 – due in large part to the success of outside hitter Ally Orr, who dominated in the first game of the tournament. The next opponent was the host, Beauregard, a team which Elmore County posted a 3-1 regular season record. The game did not go as quickly as it did against Valley, but Elmore County still came away with all three sets; 26-24, 26-24, 25-20.
“I am incredibly proud of this team,” coach Kim Moncrief said. “After we graduated
seven seniors last year, we knew we were going to have to come back and be stronger and play harder and play a lot of tough teams to get here. That streak has been on their minds, but we haven't really talked about it and practiced
yesterday, we did mention the unmentionable, and we said, ‘Whatever happens today, we're planning to go on to regionals, and we're planning to go on the state.’”
It was difficult to overcome Beauregard, who presented
Elmore County with challenges throughout each set. In the second set, it seemed as though Beauregard was going to come away with a victory with a 17-10 lead over Elmore County. However, the girls were able to turn things around after a timeout to escape with a win.
“We've had a motto, We don't play to 24 but when we bounce back from that, it just shows that they're gonna battle back no matter what the deficit is,” Moncrief said. “So 17 to 10, it was just another one of those.”
Again, the outside hitters took over the game for the Panthers. Orr, Addison Hicks and Lalah Culpepper all made their impact known even when the Hornets adjusted to their hitting patterns.
“They played lights out,” Moncrief said. “When (Beauregard) was starting to pattern our outside hitters, we were able to also bring in our right side hitters, Addison
Hicks and Lalah Culpepper did a great job mixing it up. I think both hitters did a fantastic job with that. Outside hitters, they did a great job.” The next step in the regional tournaments, where Elmore County is set to face Citronelle in the Montgomery Multiplex on Thursday morning. Elmore County will look to continue its success so far to reach its goal of competing for a state championship.
“Just the battling to the end and being able to understand that sometimes you're going to be down and you can win if you come back and you battle point by point,” Moncrief said. “That's been our model, first to five, first to 10, first to 15. We play in groups of five, hoping to get to the next point so we don't know the teams we're going to be battling against. We know we have to, if we let a couple drop, we just got a battle back. The fight in this team is phenomenal.”