Tallassee schools improve report card scores
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
By SAMUEL HIGGS
Editor
Siggers attends statewide leadership conference
By ABIGAIL MURPHY Multimedia Reporter
Editor’s notes: This is the first of two stories featuring Reeltown students who attended the Alfa Youth Leadership Conference.
Reeltown students are learning how to make a difference.
Earlier this month, Reeltown students Colton Siggers, a 10th grade stu-
dent, and Lane Chamness, a ninth grade student, attended the two-day Alfa Youth Leadership Conference. This conference held by Alabama Farmers Federation aims to teach students leadership skills and build upon who they are as leaders in their own right. The conference involved team building activities and
the
be
ECSO makes heroin trafficking arrest
STAFF REPORT
TPI Staff
An early morning traffic stop Nov. 9 has led to a drug trafficking arrest.
The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office stopped a 2003 Buick for improper tail lights. According to court records, the driver, Andrew Benton, 56, of Sylacauga, made a quick statement to the deputy sheriff.
“Oh, the tape must’ve fell off my tail light,” Benton told the deputy.
The deputy noticed Benton was breathing heavily and nervous. He started to smoke a cigarette when asked if there were weapons or ille-
gal drugs in the car. According to court records, the deputy requested Benton to exit the car. When he did, a loaded handgun was noticed between the driver’s seat and the console. The weapon had been reported stolen through the Sylacauga Police Department. Benton was placed under arrest. Court records state the vehicle was searched and multiple bags were found in the back seat. In them another handgun was located as well as three plastic bags containing 6.7 grams of heroin, 22 grams of meth-
amphetamine, four pills of ecstasy, a bag of powdered ecstasy and a glass pipe.
Benton was taken to the Elmore County Jail and charged with trafficking heroin, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and certain persons forbidden from possessing a gun.
Benton has a $1,549,000 bond available to him.
According to court records, Benton has previous drug possession convictions in Elmore County and previous addresses in Tallassee and Wetumpka.
A surprise celebration at Redland Elementary
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Students at Redland Elementary School knew Friday was going to be a day of celebration.
Despite the anticipation of finding out the name of their eagle mascot, they also celebrated the school’s report card.
Principal Cory Eckstein told all the students and faculty in a pep rally originally designed to announce Regal the Eagle as the school’s mascot.
“Last year we got a 92,” Eckstein told the crowd in the school’s gym. “It’s really tough to do better, but this year we got a 94.”
Students and faculty yelled in excitement. The year before the COVID-19 pandemic the school received an 84. It was also the same time Eckstein came to the
See REDLAND, Page A3
Police Reports
TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
NOV. 24
• An assault was reported on Cotton Ridge Road.
• Reckless driving was reported on Ashurst Avenue.
• An assault was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• A domestic dispute was reported on Hornsby Drive.
• Debris was reported in the roadway on Friendship Road.
• A fight in progress was reported on West James Street.
• Reckless driving was reported on Freeman Avenue.
NOV. 23
• Suspicious activity was reported on Notasulga Road.
• A domestic incident was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Suspicious activity was reported on Hillcrest Street.
• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on East Patton Street.
• An assault was reported on Central Boulevard.
• A Black female was arrested during a traffic stop on Freeman Avenue.
• Panhandling was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Thomas Circle and Barnett Boulevard.
NOV. 22
• A Black male was arrested following a pursuit on Gilmer Avenue.
NOV. 21
• A suspicious person was reported on Notasugla Road.
NOV. 20
• Suspicious activity was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• A stolen vehicle was reported on Barnett Boulevard.
NOV. 19
• A domestic incident was reported on Friendship Road.
• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Friendship Road.
• Trespassing was reported on Herd Street.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Hudson
Place.
• A white male was arrested on U.S. Highway 231.
• Forgery was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.
NOV. 18
• A white female was arrested during a domestic incident on Barnett Boulevard.
• An intoxicated person was reported on Sims Avenue.
• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Lakewater Drive.
• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• A white male was arrested on U.S. Highway 231.
• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on South Dubois Street.
• Drug activity was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Theft was reported on Gilmer Avenue and Highway 229.
• A white female and Black male were arrest-
ed during a theft call on Gilmer Avenue.
• Debris was reported in the roadway on Gilmer Avenue.
• An abandoned vehicle was reported on E.B. Payne Sr. Drive.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Central Boulevard.
• Animal control was requested on Barnett Boulevard. NOV. 17
• A domestic incident was reported on Riverside Avenue.
• A white female was arrested during a domestic incident on Gilmer Avenue.
• A burglary was reported on Herd Street.
• Trespassing was reported on Wall Street.
• Assistance was given to the Tallassee Fire Department during a fire call on Second Avenue.
• A welfare check was conducted on Central Boulevard.
• A burglary was reported on Herd Street.
• A private property motor vehicle accident was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
BENTON
CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI
Redland Elementary School principal Cory Eckstein donned the school’s eagle costume and told students they selected its name to be Regal.
Humane Society of Elmore County News
So many to thank in the shelter world
By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director
It is Thanksgiving Week and a wonderful week to spend time with family and friends enjoying great food and giving thanks. While we have many we want to thank, please send a mindful thanks to our small and dedicated staff who are there 365 days/year caring for the 3410 pets that have come to us so far this year. Please also thank our Volunteer Board Members who give tirelessly of themselves to ensure the present and future of our Shelter. We are also most thankful for the core group of Volunteers who make our Tail’s End Thrift Store such a success and our intrepid group of Dog Exercisers who ensure the mental & physical health of our dogs by giving them one on one time out of their kennels. We also want to thank all the Animal Control Officers we see often as they work to protect the public & help animals in need. We could not see to the well-being of our Shelter pets without the help of Veterinarians and their staffs who see our pets post-adoption, help keep pets healthy and pet owners educated, and treat the injured
REDLAND
Continued from A2
school as an assistant principal. He became principal two years ago when the first post-COVID report cards started to come out.
“The expectation was that it was going to be a little bit lower,” Eckstein said. “It was a 90.” Eckstein said the last couple of years the faculty and staff have really bought into improving the score.
“These teachers worked very hard with their kids,” Eckstein said. “They worked strategically and explicitly with each one of them.”
The score is primarily a reflection of two key areas: academics and chronic absenteeism. Academic achievement is primarily measured through ACAP testing in proficiency in English Language Arts, math and science and academic growth.
As the scores increased, Eckstein and the staff educated parents about the importance of coming to school. Absenteeism shows up indirectly in the scores but chronic absenteeism — 18 days or more of missed instructional time — shows up in the report card.
and sick pets that so desperately need their help. Our foster families open their hearts and homes to help us save even more lives, which is a true labor of love for which we are incredibly grateful. As a non-profit we are incredibly grateful to our donors and supporters as it takes money, food, supplies and Thrift Store donations to keep our doors open and care for 250-300 animals on any given day. We recently put out a plea for dry dog food and our supporters came through in a huge way. Big shout out as well to the Montgomery Humane Society who also delivered a huge load of dog food to help us out of the danger zone – it was immensely appreciated. To all individuals, businesses, and civic groups who help us through donations, sponsorships & event support and we truly appreciate how your efforts help us be the best Shelter we can be as we all work together to save lives. Special thanks to our Adopters for giving our Shelter pets their 2nd (or 3rd or 4th, or…) chance at new & better lives. We are indebted to the public who supports our mission
directly and indirectly – your moral support for the welfare of animals is important to all of us in the sheltering community. For those we may never meet but who love and care for your pets, keep them safe at home, make sure they are a part of your family and cherish them, you have our utmost thanks as you are the homes we strive for every day as we do adoptions.
Our final and most heartfelt thanks go to all the wonderful animals that ask so little of us but give so much in return. Our pets enhance our human lives in so many ways and we are grateful for the selfless love, joy and companionship they bring to our homes and families.
We hope everyone has a family filled Thanksgiving and so that our staff can also enjoy some time with family, the shelter will be closed Thursday and Friday but will be back open Saturday.
Our Tail’s End Thrift Store, however, will be open for Black Friday sales so stop by for great deals throughout the store.
Rea Cord is the executive director of the Humane Society of Elmore County.
Pet of the Week - Baby Girl
Baby Girl is a female Pit/Terrier mix, five-months-old who weighs about 35 pounds so she should be in the 50-pound range when fully grown. She has grown up with dogs of all sizes and gets along with everyone. Loves her toys, craves attention and is a very loving girl also happy to play and then spend some chill time with her person. Let’s find that forever family for her so Thanksgiving week can be her special week for the rest of her life.
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 ap-
Games were the name of the day at Redland Elementary School Friday as it celebrated.
proved 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 Baby Girl 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.
“We were OK with chronic absenteeism this year,” Eckstein said. “Sometimes when you are doing so well academically people think they can relax some, take vacations during the school year.” Eckstein said he and staff worked on making sure parents and students understood excused absences count towards chronic absenteeism and time in the classroom is reflected in test scores.
SCHOOLS
from an 81 to an 88.
Southside Middle School improved from a 75 to an 85 and Tallassee High School had the biggest jump from a 65 to a 76.
“We’re proud of all of our schools and our students doing much better this year,” Tallassee City Schools superintendent Dr. Brock Nolin said.
“I’ll give credit to our students, our teachers and our parents.”
One area of drastic improvement is in chronic absenteeism, which Nolin and Tallassee City Schools have been working on since before last year’s report cards were released.
“We cut our chronic absenteeism in half,” Nolin said. “We’re on track to lower that even again this year. So I have to really praise the parents for buying into that message and getting the kids to school.”
During the pep rally, students celebrated through games. Teachers hosted a game akin to The Masked Singer where teachers dressed in costumes and sang. Students had to guess who the teacher was based solely on their voice. They also learned the efforts of the Penny Wars to decide what name the school’s mascot eagle would have.
Chronic absenteeism is 18 absences both excused and unexcused.
At the high school chronic absenteeism was cut from 22.59 to 9.70 this year, while the graduation rate improved to 84.92 from 80.85. Academically the achievement score improved to 39.51 from 34.16 and academic growth improved to 86.15 from 62.81
At Southside, chronic absenteeism was cut from 23.83 to 10.92. Academic achievement improved from 61 to 66.63 and academic growth from 88.15 to 100.
At Tallassee Elementary School, chronic absenteeism decreased from 34.74 to 10.32. Academic achievement improved to 74.51 from 67.02. Academic growth maintained a 100.
Nolin said improvement in test scores is the result of strategies in the classroom.
“There is no doubt
Eckstein even got in on the fun donning the costume and singing just prior to the announcement — Regal the Eagle.
The faculty is now working towards improving the scores even more next year.
“If we are going to continue to get better then we have to look at our core values as people and behave ourselves into what we want,” Eckstein said. “The staff has worked harder than any group of people I know and have raised the bar even higher.”
they learn more when at school,” Nolin said.
The single biggest change was chronic absenteeism. The system put incentives in place such as snacks and small parties for those who improved attendance or came to school regularly. Staff also went to the parents.
Nolin acknowledged test scores need improving but the scores don’t reflect the whole student.
“A test, that’s one day and not a holistic view of an education the child gets,” Nolin said. “A lot of the test score goes into how the kid feels that day. Do they get a good breakfast? How serious are they taking the test?”
Nolin and the staff at Tallassee City Schools were given the report cards before Friday’s public release. Just like last year the system had already been tweaking its approach.
“We would love for every school in our dis-
trict to be at B,” Nolin said. “That is our shortterm goal. Our long-term goal is for every school to be an A. We are close at the elementary school. The closer you get to the A the harder it is to get. Overall I’m proud of all our schools, staff students and parents for these marked improvements. I’ve got confidence that we can continue to improve.”
CLIFF WILLIAMS TPI
Our View Opinion
Keep warm this holiday, winter season
We are finally getting colder weather this fall and, boy, is it late. And while it is helping some of us to get into the holiday spirit, let’s not forget the importance of being weather safe too.
One of the greatest things we can do is help each other and think of others. As we start to see some more below freezing temperatures, help your neighbor by reminding them to drip their faucets. If you know someone who doesn’t have the best heating in their home, invite them over to stay the night.
Thanksgiving and Christmas remind us of the importance of keeping others close. But let’s not let these habits drop as we go into the new year. Alabama, and much of the southeast, doesn’t have the infrastructure to handle periods of freezing temperatures.
Just look at Atlanta. When there’s a bit of snow, the whole city shuts down. You would never see that in New York or Boston. But we don’t have things like salt for the road and we keep our summer tires on all year a round.
That’s why it’s so important for us to come together as a family, as a community over the winter. Small acts of kindness can keep us warm through these upcoming months.
And don’t be afraid to go out into the community and be that light. Volunteer at local food pantries, knit blankets for donation centers, participate in coat drives, make hot chocolate for your friends and keep company with those who are homebound.
We need to be checking in on each other and offering a helping hand whenever we can to get us through the cold.
Growing up in my career in
a male-dominated world gave me a thick skin.
I’ve often spent time in locker rooms after victories — and wins — and I’ve found myself as the only female in the room more than once.
I’ve heard more curse words than my grandmother has heard in 93 years of living, and it takes a lot to make me blush. I’ve embarrassed myself in front of a busload of teenagers and been pummeled on the sidelines of a high school football game.
Little to say, it takes a lot to offend me.
But I’ve also lived in a lot of places and I’ve been brought up by a lot of different types of people. In the journalism world, you learn to listen to a variety of voices. You learn there is not always a black and white.
I think that’s what’s so important about the work we do. We start conversations. At least that’s what we aim to do.
People are far too offended too quickly these days and often miss the opportunity to have a conversation and, by golly, maybe grow
Don’t resort to name calling
a little bit.
Recently one of our reporters wrote a column asking if Wetumpka should have the Indians as their mascot. This column isn’t going to defend that stance or try to take away from the reporter’s words.
Instead, this column is about asking ourselves: Are we so close-minded we are missing out on chances to grow our own minds? Are we so easily triggered ourselves we’re not willing to have a conversation?
I use that word “triggered” so hesitantly because it in itself is a trigger-word. It’s a buzzword if nothing else. There are actual triggers for people who have experienced trauma, and it’s become this popular word to use when someone’s upset or having a nega tive reaction to something.
way to describe a person who’s simply set off and not willing to listen to any outside perspective.
other person has another perspec tive to share or they see some thing in a way I’d never consid ered before,” that kind of thinking isn’t even considered. Rather, many people resort to name calling and belittling each other — instead using actual language that can be triggering to those who have suffered real trauma. Instead of having a conversation, some thing closer to bullying resorts. this column in particular. Sure, maybe this reporter bit off more than she can chew in a communi ty that so clearly backs its name sake. But what I’m talking about is that culture of getting offended by something so little and then taking it to the extreme. Maybe next time consider a conversation could’ve been had and instead of hurting people’s feelings, minds could’ve been changed.
Schoolchildren all over the United States know the story. In September 1620, a small ship called the Mayflower set sail from Plymouth, England, with 102 passengers on board. These people were a mixed bunch of religious separatists who sought to freely practice their Protestant faith in what they called the New World. The New World also brought the promise of prosperity. For 66 uncomfortable days, the voyagers crossed the Atlantic Ocean before dropping anchor at Plymouth Rock, near Massachusetts Bay. The Pilgrims of the fledgling colony associated themselves with friendly Native Americans of the Wampanoag tribe, in particular their chief Massasoit. One year later, when the Pilgrims wished to celebrate their first successful harvest, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited the Wampanoag Indians to celebrate with them –creating the “first Thanksgiving.”
This may not have been the first Thanksgiving, however. In 1565, sixty years before Plymouth Rock, a Spanish fleet planted a cross on the beach and celebrated Mass at the settlement known as St. Augustine. 800 settlers shared a festive meal with the Timucuans, who were native to the area. Still, the Plymouth Rock story persists as the official start of this uniquely American holiday tradition.
Some other important dates of note: one happened in 1924, when department store R.H. Macy &
But it’s also become the perfect
Co. held a big Christmas parade on Thanksgiving Day to celebrate the expansion of its Herald Square superstore. Macy’s signed a contract with NBC to broadcast the parade, and that association continues today. In 1953, an employee at C.A. Swanson & Sons overestimated the public’s appetite for turkey and was left with 260 tons of extra frozen birds. The TV dinner was born when Swanson decided to order 5,000 aluminum trays and recruited an assembly line of workers to compile a turkey dinner complete with side dishes like mixed vegetables, mashed potatoes, and fruit cobbler.
The tradition of sending a turkey to Washington goes back to the 1940s, when farmers would bring the President a turkey. Famously, only 10 days before his death in 1963, President John F. Kennedy was the first president to pardon a turkey. So then it is appropriate that Americans have been giving thanks at this time of year ever since, with a major push from President Abraham Lincoln declaring it a national holiday in 1863.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday to the fourth Thursday in November in 1941, where it remains. The Benedictine Monks out in Kansas have a Thanksgiving prayer that goes something like this:
“Dear Lord, on this Thanksgiving Day, let this dinner stand
aging editor of Tallapoosa Pub lishers Inc.
as a symbol of all the blessings you have given us this year, and all we hope for the year to come. Just as you provided for the Israelites quail on their journey, you provided the turkey to our American forebears, and you still send what we need to this day. These potatoes are pulled out of the earth itself to show how you bless our hard work in every walk of life. Like the bitter herbs at the Seder meal, the sour cranberry can remind us of the religious persecution the pilgrims were escaping when they came to our land. Thank you for America’s religious freedom. Please preserve this great gift in our nation.
“Dear Lord, we ask that you bless America on this Thanksgiving Day through the intercession of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, patron saint of Native Americans, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, born in 1774 in New York. Along with the virtues we find on this table, virtues of providence, work, religious freedom and tradition, we ask that you give us the saintly virtues of Kateri and Mother Seton: Like them, make us willing to sacrifice for our faith and tirelessly serve the poor and sick.”
Michael Bird is a music teacher at Faulkner
and
MICHAEL BIRD Columnist
LIZI GWIN Managing Editor
Accepted items include trash too large to fit in regular containers, furniture, TVs, woody debris, unbagged grass clippings, mattresses, scrap metal and tires.
Solid waste disposal site to close for holiday
The joint City of Wetumpka/Elmore County Collection Facility will be closed for Thanksgiving.
The facility on Red Eagle Drive will close at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27 and reopen at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3. The facility is normally open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 3 p.m.
Accepted items include trash too large to fit in regular containers, furniture, TVs, woody debris, unbagged grass clippings, mattresses, scrap metal and tires. Items not accepted include oils, gasses, paints, shingles, lumber longer than four feet, propane tanks, gas tanks, appliances, household garbage and car and boat batteries.
Contractors and dump trailers are not allowed.
For questions related to the collection facility, please email trash@ elmoreco.org.
Head Start celebrated its
To some it may have appeared as all fun and games at the Tallassee Early Head Start/Head Start in October.
LEADERSHIP
guest speakers — motivational speaker Rhett Laubach and Alfa Insurance Leadership Consultant Nicole Pinkham.
“I really love to participate in leadership things and the
But it was far from it as Head Start celebrated its historical roots, current impact and last
ing legacy. Throughout October, agen
really fun thing about it was it happens at the Alabama 4-H center,” Siggers said. “And I’m an Alabama 4-H ambassador so I have been out there a good bit. I think it’s a great place and there’s a lot of fun things they do up there.”
Along with leadership, attendees also learn about agriculture advocacy. The students
CommunityCalendar
A time of Thanksgiving
Students also visited with Tallassee Police Department school resource officer Lt.
do a service project during the conference as well and this year’s was assembling Christmas toys for Children’s of Alabama patients.
“We have a responsibility to educate and help our young people grow,” Alfa ag leadership programs director McBrayer said in a press release. “We want to encourage
our students to wake up every day and choose to be better. They are our future, and their success will affect us for years to come.”
After high school, Siggers aspires to be an engineer and hopes to complete two years at Southern Union State Community College before transferring to Auburn University.
impact. Tallassee Mayor Sarah Hill visited the center to read to students and encourage them.
Tallassee Mayor Sarah Hill reads to students at the Tallassee Head Start is it celebrated last month.
Tallassee Elementary School art students created a Thankful tree. The leaves have
thankful for this
4D VETERINARY CLINIC KICKS OFF HOLIDAYS WITH MERRY MARKET
Joey, an Alabama fan, heard it all when they first got married. However, they consider themselves a house united rather than divided.
“When we first got married, four years ago, people would say, ‘Oh, y’all are a house divided,’” Kat said. “As diehard as my husband is, he would stand up and say, ‘We’re not divided on anything.’ He just did not like being called a
house divided at all.”
Rather than let the rivalry get in the way of their relationship they have found ways for them both to enjoy their teams, even if it means Kat has to watch the Tigers on her phone to let Joey watch the Crimson Tide.
“I’m watching my team; I don’t care if I’m at a wedding,” Joey said. “I’m gonna be watching, she knows that too. That’s why I think I would win the TV battle. I will have a slight flavor. If you play
“For over 30 years, we have worked to provide the best possible experience for our customers and employees, while generating significant tax revenue for the state of Alabama and local charities,” said president Lewis Benefield of the Birmingham Racecourse and Victoryland. “We have paid hundreds of millions of dollars to the State of Alabama and to local schools, hospitals, charities and other organizations that need financial support.”
Benefield said the McGregor family has consistently sought to enhance the gaming and entertainment options at the Birmingham Racecourse, but legislative hurdles have presented
at the exact same time, it’s hard to share one TV, but we have the multiscreen. So we usually just use that, we did that last week.”
Rather than let the game separate them from enjoying it together, Kat and Joey have used it as an opportunity to not just bring friends together but family as well.
When they sit down to watch the game, the room is split down the middle with orange and crimson.
“Traditionally at the very beginning, I’d put
challenges.
“The people of Birmingham desire the same types of entertainment offered at other facilities in and around Alabama,” Benefield said. “Unfortunately, differing state laws and enforcement actions regarding gaming have limited our ability to compete effectively. The McGregor family will now focus their efforts on Victoryland in Macon County and advocate for unified gaming legislation in Alabama which would capture much-needed revenue for the people of Alabama.”
Wind Creek Hospitality is based in Atmore and is one of the fastest growing gaming companies in the country. It plans to expand the investments made in recent years at the Birmingham Racecourse. They will be working closely with local elected and racing officials on
on all my Auburn gear, and he’d put on his Alabama gear,” Kat said. “We’d have friends over, cook and do all these things. The typical Iron Bowl, it was always just fun.”
The season has had its fair share of ups and downs for each team, but both Joey and Kat have optimism for their teams to pull away with a win.
“I believe we’re gonna show up in the second half,” Kat said.
“I believe Alabama will probably show up in the first half and it’s gonna
steps moving forward as the sale is finalized and expansion plans are developed.
“We are excited to bring the Birmingham Racecourse into the Wind Creek family,” said president and CEO Jay Dorris of Wind Creek Hospitality. “The McGregor family built and has operated the Birmingham Racecourse and Casino for decades. Over those years, it became clear to us that we share many of the same goals — providing great entertainment, attracting tourism and creating economic growth In Alabama. We are really looking forward to welcoming their employees and to moving forward together.”
Tribal Chair and CEO Stephanie Bryan of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians said the tribe has already been heavily involved in the Birmingham area, supporting organizations like the Birming-
go two ways. Auburn’s gonna show up the second half and seal the deal, or they’re gonna bomb the second half in classic Auburn (fashion).”
Joey has been on the winning end of the last four matchups against Auburn and is used to overcoming the in-state rival, but he knows if Auburn can win he won’t hear the end of it until the teams match up the next season.
“When I win, I’m very reserved, and I really won’t say much, it’s just
ham Promise, Birmingham Zoo and many others. She said Wind Creek will make this facility a major economic force for the area in creating more jobs, taxes and support for the local community.
“Birmingham is one of the most vibrant cities in America, and we feel very fortunate that this acquisition will allow us to increase the investment and deepen the relationships that we already have in Birmingham,” Bryan said. “When it comes to attracting tourism, this is an incredibly important area of the state. We are committed to building on the success of both the Birmingham Racecourse and Casino and our Wind Creek brand by ensuring that this property will keep tourist dollars here at home and provide jobs that support Alabama families.“ Bryan added, “As the lead-
kind of like a normal game,” Joey said. “But she wins, holy moly, I better get ready. I’m gonna hear about it for a year. I wish the Iron Bowl was the next day because I’m gonna hear about it until the next one.”
Although the two will both be rooting for their teams to come away with a win to end the regular season, they will be thankful for the opportunity to watch the game together as a married couple rather than enemies.
er of our Tribe, I am deeply grateful to the expertise and leadership of Arthur Mothershed, a Member of our Tribal Council and Wind Creek’s VP of Business Development, in representing the interests of our Tribe and our gaming business in this important acquisition and new venture.”
Wind Creek Hospitality is an authority of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the only federally recognized Indian Tribe in the state of Alabama. Wind Creek Hospitality manages the Tribe’s gaming facilities including Wind Creek Aruba, Wind Creek Atmore, Wind Creek Bethlehem, Wind Creek Chicago Southland, Wind Creek Curacao, Wind Creek Montgomery, Wind Creek Wetumpka, Casinoverse, Magic City Casino in Florida, as well as racetracks in Alabama and Florida.
PHOTOS BY MELODY RATHEL TPI
The holiday season is in full swing. 4D Veterinary Services held a Merry Market where more than 16 vendors offered their products and services just in time for the holidays. In addition to getting Christmas shopping done early, guests had the opportunity to pet goats, pigs and cows. To top off the event, Santa and Mrs. Claus listened to children’s Christmas wishes.
God’s purposes in pruning us
Charles Spurgeon (a preacher from London in the 19th century) said this about God’s pruning and refining of His people:
“The apricot tree at 2828 Hill Heights Park was trimmed back so much I wondered if the branches and leaves would ever grow back, let alone the leaves. We ended up that next year having apricots coming out of our ears; Mom made apricot pie, jam, and we had it as fresh fruit, and there was still an abundance left for the birds.”
God uses suffering and pain in the lives of his children to prune us and refine us. Even Jesus Christ himself says in John 15 that God prunes branches so that they will produce “more fruit” (John 15:2). God is not pruning us to kill us; God is pruning us so that we would be more fruitful for
Him. God, through the fire of suffering, is using trials to drive us to cling to Him more. Spurgeon also said, “I have learned to kiss the wave that strikes me against the Rock of Ages.” Any “wave” that “pushes me” towards Christ, is a blessed wave. Any fire that causes me to cling to Christ more, is a blessed fire. Everyone can nod in unison that fire hurts. However, it would hurt more to be separated from Christ without the trial than it would to be communing with Christ through the trial. We are better and safer in His arms in the fire than we are apart from His arms outside of the fire!
So, we must let God use this fire to prune us, to purify us, and to bring us closer to Him. Don’t waste your pain, but let God use your pain for His good purposes! Determine, as much as is within you, to let
this trial drive you to God and not away from God!
One thing I’ve noticed about myself is that it’s very difficult for me to listen to anyone who has anything to say about suffering who has not suffered much themselves. I’ll hear someone of a younger age talk about some difficulties they’ve been through (which is not small and is not insignificant), but then I’ll hear someone in their 80s or 90s talk about the many loads of suffering in their own lives, and then my ears perk up. It is infinitely wise for us to listen to those who have suffered in this life, and yet have not only kept their faith in God but are admittedly holier and better because of that suffering. There’s more to learn from God in a deeply-suffering-saint than 1,000 books on the problem of evil (as useful as those
Tallassee Churches
resources are). There’s more faith to be caught from a saint who has endured great suffering than all the Greek and Hebrew lexicons combined can say (as good as those resources are). By way of illustration, I had one friend of mine (in his 30s) tell me that he loved going to the Senior Adults Sunday School class because they were steadier, and much less shaken, in their trials than the classes with younger people in it. The perspective of older saints who have suffered is needed in our lives.
So, at least one purpose of God in your trial is that He is giving you credibility with others. God is giving you a voice through your suffering. God is not only refining you, but He is giving you a ministry due to your suffering. God is giving you a testimony through your suffering. God is making
BILLY REINHARDT Pastor
your voice a little bit “louder and authoritative” because of your suffering. Do not make light what a great God can do through your suffering. God still has great things in store for your life, and one proof of that is the suffering you are currently going through (or have already gone through) in your life. God is putting you through a trial so that He can give you comfort that you can, then, pass along to others (2 Corinthians 1:4-7).
Billy Reinhardt is the pastor of Riverside Heights Baptist Church in Tallassee, AL. He lives in Tallassee, AL with his wife, Jessica, and their four children. He blogs at www. billyreinhardt.com where he writes articles on matters of faith, family, and culture.
Fax:
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Austin Elliott sports Editor austin.elliott@tallasseetribune.com
Cinderella story ends for Tigers in quarterfinals
By LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN Managing Editor
Tallassee’s Cinderella story didn’t have a happy ending Friday night, but it was still one for the history.
The Tigers suffered a 41-10 loss at the hands of Jackson in the Class 4A quarterfinals, accomplishing what seemed impossible just by getting there. The Tigers fin-
ished last year with only one.
“We ain’t got nothing to hold our head down about,”
Tallassee coach Lawrence “L.A.” O’Neal said. “We went from 1-9 to region champs to in the third round of the playoffs, what do we got to hold our head down for?”
Early on it seemed as if Tallassee might keep the game close; the two teams
traded touchdowns to begin. But soon, Jackson started to build a lead and by the end of the second quarter, it was clearly too much to overcome.
Tallassee’s opening-minutes touchdown was the only score of the night for the Tigers sans a 37-yard field goal with 10:06 left in the
SEMIFINAL BOUND
Tiger defense pitches shutout in Round 3
By AUSTIN ELLIOTT Sports Editor
Tallassee isn’t just making a name for itself.
It’s cementing itself in AHSAA flag football history.
With a 26-0 shutout of Marbury on Wednesday night, the Tigers are heading to the Class 1A/5A semifinals.
Defense was the name of the game for Tallassee, which posted a shutout.
“Our defense played outstanding by giving our offense chances and even though they took away the deep ball from us, we were able to find holes on the ground,” Tallassee coach Pat Love said.
Getting off to a methodical start, the Tigers did what they have done all postseason, which is make crucial adjustments as the game matured.
The Tigers elected to receive the ball first which was short lived as they allowed an interception on a tipped pass almost a minute into the game. However, the
Tigers’ defense stood strong and got a stop to give the ball back to the offense. The second offensive possession saw Cheyann Easterling cap off a dominant drive with a rushing touchdown to give Tallassee a 6-0 lead at the end of the first.
Marbury’s offense struggled to get anything going against the stingy Tallassee defense.
The Tigers offense was primed for another strong drive following the score, but a tipped ball found its way into the hands of a Bulldog defender, giving Marbury’s offense another possession.
From the secondary, Easterling thwarted any potential Bulldog attack, coming up with a key interception and returning the ball back to midfield.
In the first play of the next drive, quarterback Regan Easterwood connected with wideout Kam Tate for a big gain of 40 yards before the end of the first half.
Leading only 6-0 at half-
time, the Tigers — in usual fashion — came out with a plan.
Marlee Osborne got the ball back into the hands of the offense with an interception on the very first play of the third quarter, and Tallassee capitalized.
Easterwood rushed for a score, putting the Tigers up 13-0.
Tallassee went on to score two more times throughout the second half via a rushing score by Jaaliyah Williams and a short yardage passing score courtesy of Lila Kate Fulghum.
“They caught us early on but once we made some adjustments on offense we were able to make things happen,” Love said. “But that was only possible because of the incredible performance by our defense all night.”
The Tigers are red hot this postseason and will look to continue their run next week as they will travel to Montgomery Catholic for the semifinals.
By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Reporter
The road to the state championship is still alive for Reeltown, but it has one game left until then.
The next challenge is undefeated Highland Home, which has wreaked havoc against everyone it has faced up until this point. It’s a team that averages 47.3 points per game while just allowing a tad over five points on defense.
“(They are) by far the most athletic team we’ve seen,” Reeltown coach Matt Johnson said. “They’ve got elite talent
By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Reporter
For most, making it to the semifinals of the playoffs is a dream.
For Reeltown, it’s a reality.
This is back-to-back years the Rebels have made it to this point in the playoffs. As great as that is, coach Matt Johnson is not shooting for the semifinals — he’s shooting for the state championship.
“That’s valid, and that’s good, and you can look back and be pleased with that,” Johnson said. “But you know at this point, right now, that’s not the message. The message is finishing, is not to get complacent, not to be satisfied.”
In a win-or-go-home situation, there is no time for the Rebels to have a lapse in judgment. Of course, they can celebrate a win over a difficult opponent, but they have to turn right around to prepare for the next man up — Highland Home.
“You got to get 48 hours rest, turn right around and start preparing for an equally good team in Highland Home that we beat the past two years,” Johnson said. “They’ve got all kinds
of motivation going their way. They’re coming to our place again. It’s a semifinal matchup. They’ve got extremely good talent. They felt like it slipped away from them for the past two years. So they’ve got all the motivation.”
What plays to Reeltown’s benefit, other than having a homefield advantage, is it has the playoff experience. Although there are plenty of young players on the roster who have all made an immediate impact, there are seniors on the team who were vital to the success last year in the semis.
“They know what’s at stake,” Johnson said. “They know this game right here is for the seniors. This is the last game they’ll ever play on this field. They know that the times get numbered and we’re a senior-led team with some good young talent, so they know what’s at stake. They know it’s a big game.”
The routine for the Rebels has made a slight adjustment to account for Thanksgiving break, they are still hard at work preparing for this Friday.
in every facet and level of the game — guys up front who are Division-I players to linebackers who are D1 players, to secondary guys who are D1 players and that’s the same on offense.”
The biggest test for the Rebels will be the defensive front of the Flying Squadron. Auburn commit Jakaleb Faulk and Louisville commit C.J. May both will both be rushing Rebels’ quarterback JaMarkius Smith, stressing the importance of offensive line play.
“Offensively, it’s up front, they run a lot of blitzes and twists and stunts,” Johnson said. “We’ve got to recognize
that, communicate and pick that up; there’s going to be times we don’t, I mean they’re in the semifinals for a reason. We’ve got to be able to flush mistakes and play the next play and not get frustrated. We’ll go as good as our front will go. Our offense line, tight ends, full back, running backs are gonna have to block well this week.” Offensively, T.J. Washington commands the offense at the quarterback position accounting for 1,809 yards and 32 touchdowns while running back Austin Crittenden has amassed
LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN TPI
Tallassee football coach Lawrence ‘L.A.’ O’Neal speaks to his team after a quarterfinal loss on Friday night against Jackson.
AUSTIN ELLIOTT TPI Cheyann Easterling catches a shuttle pass and then looks for open field.
Reeltown’s Harrison Renfroe (19) and the defense have a tough task of trying to slow down Highland Home’s offense.
Woods scores four touchdowns for Reeltown in the quarterfinals
By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Reporter
Alijah Woods had himself a day in the AHSAA Class 2A quarterfinals for Reeltown.
Reeltown advanced to the semifinals after they pulled away against Cottonwood in the fourth quarter, 42-20.
Woods made his presence known with 30 seconds left on the clock before halftime, when he leaped into the air coming down with a beautiful catch over Cottonwood defenders. Then followed it up with a 73-yard kick return touchdown to open the half. However, the biggest play came in the fourth quarter.
Reeltown led 26-20 with Cottonwood driving down the field to possibly tie or secure the lead.
Running back King Campbell bounced a carry to the outside and was met face-to-face with Woods, who ripped the ball out of Campbell’s hand en route to a 70-yard return for a score.
It did not stop there for Woods.
On the next offensive drive, he took his lone carry of the night 48 yards to the house, cementing the victory for the Rebels.
“There’s not anybody on any level that’s supposed to catch that ball right there before halftime, unbelievable catch,” Reeltown coach Matt Johnson said.
Reeltown
“No idea how he came in with that ball. Just a remarkable, phenomenal catch. Then he picked right back up where he left off in the second half, opening kickoff. So I can’t say enough about him, other than he’s a sophomore, thank goodness.”
In addition to the night Woods had, another Reeltown sophomore finished with multiple touchdowns.
Running back Traylen Roberts ended with 17
is
a
carries for 108 yards and two scores, both of which came in the first half.
Defensively, Reeltown was able to slow down a Cottonwood offense that averaged 305 rushing yards per game. For a consecutive week, Reeltown won the turnover margin, snagging five turnovers in the game. Woods accounted for two of the turnovers, Rell Lockhart snatched two takeaways and Tae Martin also came
legit team, balanced on both sides
Reeltown is on the verge of a second consecutive appearance in the AHSAA Class 2A state championship as it faces off against Highland Home in the semifinals this Friday.
I had already known what I was in store for whenever I took the job at Tallapoosa Publishers, but the thing I was not ready for was how dominant the Rebels actually were. Although I was not at every game, I have gotten a healthy dose of the Rebels and it’s hard to envision them being stopped.
I knew Reeltown had holes to fill on the offensive side of the ball with the departure of running back Arthur Woods and quarterback Jake Hornsby. However, I could not envision how quickly two sophomores would acclimate themselves to the starting roles.
Quarterback JaMarkius Smith has been nothing short of spectacular for Reeltown in his first season under center, which isn’t surprising considering his arm talent as a baseball prospect. In his first year, he has compiled 1,942 passing yards with 30 touchdowns to only five interceptions. Running back Traylen Roberts, who emerged as a star last year, has accumulated 1,432 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns in his first year as the bell cow back.
Rell Lockhart is another prominent piece in the offense, accounting for nearly 600 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground.
Even with all those other guys on the team playing a major role in the offense’s success, there is one player who has the ability to almost single-handedly take over a game — Tae Martin. It is shocking the fact he has not garnered more attention on the recruiting trail, but a team like North Alabama knows it has itself a gem. Martin is a centerpiece on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. This year he accounts for 1,711 total yards across rushing, receiving, returning and even passing. He has reached the end zone 27 times this year. His performance on offense has even allowed him to compete in the 66th annual North-South All-Star game as a wide receiver. The craziest part about his play is his defensive stats are just as good — if not better. Martin accounts for 90 tackles, which is tied for third on the team and for a third consecutive season he has come away with six interceptions. Let that sink in: 18 interceptions in three
HIGGS Sports Reporter
years as a starter at safety.
I also can’t talk about the Rebels defense without talking about Baylor Clayton; along with Martin, Clayton is too impressive of a talent to let slip through the cracks. He made his last year of high school football his best year, accounting for 24 tackles for a loss and 18.5 sacks on the season. He isn’t alone either in double-digit sacks; Finn Henderson is another player coming off the edge that has picked up 10 sacks on the season.
I also can’t go without mentioning Harrison Renfroe and Cruise Johnson, the two inside linebackers for Reeltown. When I first saw them, I’ll be honest I was not expecting much based on size alone, but I could not have been more wrong about those two. Combined they account for 200 tackles, 24 for a loss and 14 sacks.
I could go on and on about the stats and already know I left out players because there are so many to choose from. Reeltown is exciting, to say the least; it has a balanced attack on offense where the Rebels shred a team through the air and on the ground. The offensive line is full of experience which in turn makes the offense such a successful unit. The defense also has talent littered throughout — good luck trying to run the ball on Reeltown because more likely than not a play will be made in the backfield. Of course, you could try to throw the ball against Reeltown, but you have a secondary full of ball hawks that account for 24 interceptions this season to worry about.
Don’t get me wrong Highland Home is a talented team. It is undefeated for a reason and has plenty of guys Division-I bound, but Reeltown will make the Flying Squadron work for it. This Friday will be an exciting game and I cannot wait to be in attendance for such a primetime game between two formidable opponents.
Samuel Higgs is the sports editor of The Outlook and The Record for Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.
away with an interception.
“I think once in my career we’ve had plus 20 in turnovers and that was last year,” Johnson said. “I’ve never been a part of a team that did that. We were plus 20 coming in tonight’s game, and I think this puts us at plus 23. The ball skills in our secondary, being able to fit the run as well as cover the pass and that’s what happened.”
Although there were
many positives to take away from the game against Cottonwood, one thing remained the same — the penalties. At times, Reeltown shot themselves in the foot due to untimely penalties which either extended drives for Cottonwood or shortened its own offensive drives.
“That’s a really good football team, but most of the time tonight, we were just our own worst enemy with penalties,” Johnson
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
said. “The penalty on the third and long first half, two dead ball penalties gave them a first down. They ended up scoring that drive, that right there’s a 14-point swing just the first half.”
Despite the penalties, Reeltown made plays when it needed to and will advance to the semifinals for a consecutive year with the next opponent set to be Highland Home, which took down Ariton 44-13.
Collins providing magic for the Mustangs this season
By AUSTIN ELLIOTT Sports Editor
The Stanhope Elmore Mustangs boys basketball team is off to a great start this season as it currently sits at 5-2 on the year.
Freshman Terrance Collins has made a massive impact for his team, averaging 18 points along with eight rebounds per game so far this season.
“He is confident in his game even though he is only a freshman, and his style of play is a big reason why we have other guys who are playing the way they are,” Stanhope coach Austin Moncus said.
Collins has provided a
consistent energy to this Mustang squad through his aggressiveness and assertiveness on the floor. He is the Elmore County Player of the Week.
“He is always trying to find ways to get other guys involved and open up opportunities, but he is always ready for him when he has an open shot,” Moncus said.
Collins’ last masterful scoring performance was against Prattville at home last Friday night, as he dropped a staggering 31 points against the competitive Lions.
The Mustangs backcourt is a huge reason as to why they have had success this year. Both
starting guards are underclassmen with Collins being only a freshman and Kaleb Sanders being a sophomore.
“We knew going into this year that we were going to be very young, but having those two guys as our starting backcourt has been awesome, because Terrance feeds off of Kaleb’s facilitating abilities,” Moncus said. Along with racking up points every game for the Mustangs, Collins, despite being a guard, is averaging close to 10 rebounds a game which has been beneficial for his offense to sustain the offensive time of possession.
CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI
Reeltown’s Alijah Woods (16) out runs Cottonwood after striping the ball.
SAMUEL
AUSTIN ELLIOTT | TPI
Terrance Collins beats a Prattville defender to the rack as he kisses the ball off the glass.
Tallassee’s offense boasts dynamic young play caller in Trent Morris
By AUSTIN ELLIOTT Sports Editor
The Tallassee Tigers played an elite brand of football this seaon and this was thanks in large part to the mans calling the shots: quarterback Trent Morris.
“He has shown a great level of maturity in not just his play making ability, but his ability to make the right decisions,” Tallassee coach Lawrence “L.A.” O’Neal said. “His teammates have shown a great deal of trust in him over the course of the season, because he’s steady and ready at all times.”
Despite his youth, Morris has managed to drive the bus for an impressive Tallassee offense which boasts dynamic threats all over the field on offense. It is very apparent Morris has a great deal of chemistry between his offensive counterparts in Tiny Green and Jordan King. Morris has also developed an uncanny ability to
put the ball into the hands of wideout Chase Chumley which has created another positive element in the Tigers offensive machine.
“You can watch him and just tell that his confidence has grown week by week just by how he gets the ball out to Chase or the way he isn’t afraid to throw the checkdown to Jordan or Tiny when he needs to,” O’Neal said.
Prior to its ultimate season-ender against Jackson on Friday night, the Tigers had won their last eight consecutive games and scored at least 30 points or more in five of those. Morris flashes an uncanny sense of awareness by eluding defenders with his legs as well as his arm.
“We will stick to the script and play our game,” O’Neal said.
“We really do have so much trust in Trent and the rest of our offense to play within themselves and not let the fear of the moment affect our performance.”
Reeltown’s secondary flourishing at the right time
By SAMUEL HIGGS Sports Editor
There are many indicators to distinguish a good defense from a bad defense.
Some would look at points allowed — Reeltown averages just eight per game.
Others would look at tackles — Reeltown has 984 total tackles through 13 games.
However, the biggest indicator is the turnovers and the Rebels have a plethora. This season, the defense for the Rebels has forced 36 turnovers — 24 interceptions and 12 fumble recoveries. A bulk of those come from the loaded Rebels secondary: Tae Martin with eight, Larry Butler with three, Alijah Woods with six and Rell Lockhart with three.
“This is the best in my career anywhere I’ve been, the turnover margin is huge,” Reeltown coach Matt Johnson said. “That’s a testament to our offense and defense — us protecting the ball on offense and getting the ball on defense.”
The secondary has taken a step up since the start of the playoffs, holding Reeltown’s last two opponents in Luverne and Cottonwood to 174 passing yards and four interceptions combined. What makes the Rebels’ defensive backs different is their combined athleticism. Earlier in the season they lost
STATE Continued from B1
Continued from B1
Even though there are some new distractions added Johnson has not seen his players lose focus.
“I feel like our guys focus on what they’re supposed to focus on,” Johnson said. “If you stay focused on that, then you’ll do the things that you’re supposed to do, to prepare and do the right thing. You don’t get to this point without doing that. We don’t have a bunch of freelancers, they’re focused, they’re motivated.”
STORY Continued from B1
second quarter. One thing that’s gotten Tallassee this far is its
Jontravius Brown to an injury against Ranburne, which moved Woods to corner and newcomer Lockhart to the safety position. Even after losing a starter, the group never lost their step.
“Jontravius Brown was the starting corner at the start of the year, had a foot injury against Ranburne that ended his season,” Johnson said. “We had to move some things around, that took Alijah from safety, and moved him to corner. Rell, he’s new here, and our system, once you learn it’s not complicated, but there’s a learning curve there. And man, he did a remarkable job catching on quick.
1,593 total yards and 26 scores.
“Last week was a huge test for us in a totally different aspect,” Johnson said. “Last week was the physicality, the big size and strength up front, on both sides. This week, there’s some of that, but the big thing this week is just the athletes in space, the speed and just the explosiveness on both sides of the ball. They have an enormous amount of explosive plays, and they’ve got the guys who continue to make those plays. They’re probably the most talented, as far as collegiate talent that we’ve seen on a 2A football team.”
ability to spread out the offense. With weapons like Tiny Green, Jordan King, Chase Chumley and Company, offense has not been an issue lately for the Tigers. However, Friday night
was a different story.
“Those interior guys are good,” O’Neal said. “I thought No. 99 graduated last year, but apparently he still got three more years. That’s a grown man inside. If you
Rell being able to step up and play that safety position and learn all our checks and coverages allowed us to move Alijah to the corner, and it just matched really well.”
Highland Home is a team that capitalizes off of big play, but Reeltown functions similarly. Despite being capable of those chunk plays, Johnson stressed it would not be that kind of game for his offense.
“We’ve been a big play team as well, but I feel like we also have had the ability to sustain drives if we need to,” Johnson said. “We’re going to have to do that more this week. I think we’re going to have to settle for the nickel-and-dime passes and not be complacent but be satisfied with a 3-, 4-, 5-yard run. Not everything is going to be a home run this week with the talent that they have.”
The defense will also try to limit the explosive play on the other side, with a main priority going into eye discipline
got those interior guys getting to close up those gaps inside, it’s hard to run the ball and you’re going to have a long night.” Despite the lopsided loss, Tallassee still
However, what really makes the group tick is who Johnson referred to as the “quarterback” of his defense — Tae Martin.
“Tae Martin in the back end watches as much film as a lot of our coaches,” Johnson said. “He studies so hard, he’s got great talent, but that combined with leadership and just his work ethic, is second to none, as far as his preparation. He gets everything, he’s the quarterback back there.”
One thing both Johnson and Woods agreed on was the job the staff has done to prepare the players with most of the credit going to defensive backs coach Will Solomon.
“The coaches, they work hard to make everything fit together,” Woods said. “If something is happening on the other side of the ball, it’ll fit together.”
Reeltown faces one of its toughest challenges all season in Highland Home this Friday in the AHSAA Class 2A semifinals. Despite the challenge, the secondary will be up to the challenge to limit one of the most prolific offenses in 2A from any success.
this week.
“There’s not as much smoke and mirrors, so to speak, shifting in motions and unconventional offensive schemes, but we’ve got to have extreme high discipline on reading our keys being in the right spot because the margin for error and making up ground on mistakes is minute this week because of the amount of speed and athletic ability that they have,” Johnson said. “You make one little mistake, get out of position just slightly and they can turn a good play into an explosive play.”
It’ll be a tough battle between Reeltown and Highland Homes with a shot in the state championship on the line for both teams in the semifinal matchup this Friday.
accomplished a number of goals this season — the biggest of which being turning a 1-9 team into a playoff-caliber football squad.
“The biggest difference is the kids committed to
the work,” O’Neal said. “They started believing in themselves. Even tonight, in the fourth quarter, our kids are still fighting. As long as you got that fighter spirit, good things are going to happen in life.”
Trent Morris scans the field for an open receiver against Ashford.
FILE TPI
Alijah Woods (16), Rell Lockhart (10) and Tae Martin (12) are three of the standouts in the Reeltown secondary that has accounted for 24 interceptions this year.
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Public Notices
Public Notices
PUBLIC NOTICE
C&M Service Center Charles Webster is having an auction on December 27,2024 @ 8:00 AM at 104 Caldwell St. Tallassee, Al. 36078
YEAR:2005 Dodge Durango White VIN# 1D8HD48D05F513051 YEAR: 2017 Chevrolet Colorado Blue Vin# 1GCGSDEN6H1218194
Tallassee Tribune: Nov. 27 and Dec. 4, 2024 AV/05 DODGE PUBLIC NOTICE
Omega Coatings & Construction, LLC hereby gives notice of completion of contract with the State of Alabama for construction of Project No. BR0014(550) in Tallapoosa County. This notice will appear for three consecutive weeks beginning on November 13th and ending on November 27th. All Tampa Road, Palm Harbor, FL 34683 Omega Coatings & Construction, LLC
Tallassee Tribune: Nov. 13, 20, and 27, 2024 COMPLETION PUBLIC NOTICE
The City of Tallassee Planning Commission will have a Public Hearing/Meeting on December 2, 2024 @ 6:00PM at City Hall. This Hearing is to change the Zoning property @ 2901 Gilmer Ave. from (R1) Residential to (HC) Highway Commercial.
Tallassee Tribune: Nov. 27, 2024 HEARING 12.2.24 PUBLIC NOTICE FRIENDSHIP WATER SYSTEM, INC. TALLASSEE, AL WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Sealed Bids for the construction of the Water System Improve-
ment Project will be received by the Friendship Water System, 4540 Friendship Road, Tallassee, Al 36078 until 2:00 p.m. local time on December 12, 2024 at which time the Bids received will be opened and read aloud. The Project consists of constructing a 250,000 gallon elevated water storage tank, a 250 gpm water booster pump station, and replacing approximately 16,800 feet of existing water mains with new 8” PVC water mains and necessary appurtenances. Separate Bids will be received for the following Contracts: Contract No. 1-Elevated Water Storage Tank, Estimate=$1,500,000, Contract time=300 days Contract No. 2-Booster Pump Station, Estimate=$355,000, Contract time=90 days Contract No. 3-Water Main Replacement, Estimate=$1,360,000, Contract time=150 daysding Documents is: DHA Engineering, LLC, 2323 W. Main Street Ste. 227B Dothan, Al 36301, 334-585-5841, emilyamesdha@gmail.com. Prospective Bidders may examine the Bidding Documents at the copies of the Bidding Documents from the Issuing Ofnon-refundable production cost payment of $100. Bidding Documents also may be examined at the Friendship Friendship Road, Tallassee, Al 36078. All bidders must register as anneer no later than 48 hours prior to the bid opening. The owner reserves the right to waive any informalities and reject any or all bids.
Bid security shall be furnished in accordance with the Instruction to Bidders. Bidders shall submit proof of Work as described in the Instructions to Bidders. This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP2635 awarded to the State of Alabama by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Owner: Friendship Water System, Inc.
By: Steve Dennis
Title: President
Date: November 15, 2024
Tallassee Tribune: Nov. 27, 2024 BIDS
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PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF TALLAPOOSA COUNTY, ALABAMA IN RE: ESTATE OF JUDITH DIANN HEATON CASE NO. 2024-0208 NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
Letters Testamentary on the Estate of said deceased having been granted to the undersigned on the 19th day of Nov. 2024, by the Hon. Talmadge East, Judge of the Probate Court of Tallapoosa County, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against the said estate are hereby required to present the same within the time allowed by law or the same will be barred.
Kimberly Annette Daar, Personal Representative Mark Allen Treadwell, III Attorney for Personal Representative 129 West Columbus Street Dadeville, Alabama 36853
Tallassee Tribune: Nov. 27, Dec. 4 and 11, 2024 EST/HEATON J.
Community Action Committee. Inc. of Chambers Tallapoosa
1.
2.
Community Action Committee. Inc. of Chambers Tallapoosa & Coosa
The Board of Directors of the Community Action Committee, Inc. of
Coosa is seeking
of Executive Director.
• Child and Adult Care Food Program/Family Day Care Program • Rental assistance • Medical prescription assistance
A complete job description can be found by going cacctc.com. Applications will be accepted through the close of business November 29, 2024.
Panthers compete well in second half, but fall short at Wetumpka
By AUSTIN ELLIOTT Sports Editor
The Panthers fell short of victory on the road against Wetumpka, but Lalah Culpepper proved she can be an asset to the team with a second half surge. Ultimately, the comeback fell short and Elmore County lost, 39-28, last Thursday night.
The young season has seen the Panthers grow and develop into figuring out what they’re team identity is and sometimes that comes with growing pains.
“There is no perfect lineup yet, because we are still trying to figure out who fits in with who,” Elmore County coach Kyle Caldwell said.
After allowing an early 12-0 run, the Panthers battled back to contest the Indians in
large part due to Culpepper. At the half, the Panthers trailed by a score of 21-3, but Culpepper’s relentless effort on the glass aided a second-half surge for the Panthers. She finished the night with eight rebounds and three steals. Caldwell is confident in the effort his team showed in the second half.
“The second-half performance was much better than the first for us, and that was a challenge that I presented to them,” Caldwell said. “Lalah is only a sophomore, but is a great shooter and just needs to continue to build her confidence as the season progresses.”
Addison Hicks and Cherish Foye added to the point production both finishing with eight points and a couple of steals a piece as well.
Eason puts up 29 points in narrow loss
By AUSTIN ELLIOTT Sports Editor
Despite a 29-point game from Jaden Eason, Elmore County fell short to Wetumpka in a non-area boys basketball matchup.
The Panthers took their talents on the road and ultimately lost, 71-53.
Despite falling short, the Panthers displayed an ability to do a lot of things well Thursday night.
“This is why we play
teams like Wetumpka early in the year, because it allows us to measure our team and see where we are,” ECHS coach Nathan Taylor said.
Elmore County competed the entire night and relied on a couple of different players to stay in the game.
Eason was the catalyst for the Panthers all night as he finished with 29 points and eight rebounds.
“Jaden is our guy and we trust him with the ball to make something
happen and provide for others,” Taylor said. Also adding to the offensive attack was Seth McGhee and Gage Davis who each had seven points, complimenting the dynamic guard play from Eason. Davis serves as the facilitator on offense while also showing his ability to capitalize at the charity stripe.
The relentless effort of the Panthers squad allowed them to contest the Indians for all four quarters.
AUSTIN ELLIOTT | TPI
Avery Hull attempts a free throw against Wetumpka.
AUSTIN ELLIOTT TPI
Gage Davis plays aggresive defense agaisnt the Indians.