Dec 23, 2015 Tallassee Tribune by Tallapoosa Publishers

LOCAL, PAGE 3

Tribune’s own Willie G. Moseley to ride off into the sunset.

INSIDE

See TES students’ letters to Santa today.

OPINION

MEMORIES OF A CHILDHOOD SNOW, PG. 4

The Tallassee Tribune DEDICATED TO THE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF THE GREATER TALLASSEE AREA

TALLASSEE, AL 36078

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December 23, 2015

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VOL. 116, NO. 52

School-wide upgrades begin By COREY ARWOOD Staff Writer Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune

Beth Harris and her husband Don Harris proudly showoff their granddaughter, Mollie Branch’s artwork during Art Show and Enrichment Night Tuesday at TES .

Art show gives glance into student learning

The first project in a series of renovation efforts aimed at improving school facilities was announced at the last Tallassee Board of Education meeting. The board members accepted the bid for upgrades to the softball complex and a

new indoor batting range that would cost around $70,000 dollars. Tallassee school superintendent Wade Shipman proposed the project, which he said was agreed upon unanimously. The bid that was accepted Dec. 16 was said to meet a variety of concerns, and is part of an overall plan for facility upgrades that will occur in

stages over the next two to three years, Shipman said. He said demolition had already begun on the indoor steel building that would be like the boys indoor hitting facility. A parking lot is in the constructed phase and the plans, Shipman said, are to build where the covered barbecue pit by the baseball field was.

See ART • Page 2

See UPGRADES • Page 11

‘Distribution week’ for ACTS Charity Members distribute goods to more than 100 needy families

By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

Tallassee parents got to see just what their children were learning recently during an Art Show and Enrichment Night. “It was an art show and enrichment night that we had for K-4th grade classes,” said Shanikka Beacher, assistant principal at Tallassee Elementary School. “The purpose of the art show and enrichment night was to provide parents an opportunity to get a glance into the life of their child.” The night offered parents, grandparents and anyone who attended the event the opportunity to have a firsthand look at what the students are learning at school. “We also wanted to showcase all the wonderful content the kids were learning art regarding basic color theory and lines, Beacher said.” This year’s Art Show and Enrichment Night was a first time event for Tallassee elementary. However, because the reception was so accepted, it will not be the last. “This is our first time having the art show incorporated into our enrichment night. We had a

Shipman said the argument could be made that the project would address Title 9 concerns for equal opportunities and facilities for both girls and boys teams. However, he said the proposed changes are primarily upgrades to the facilities because of “wear and tear.”

By WILLIE G. MOSELEY News Editor

Last week was “the big week” for Tallassee’s Association of Christians in Tallassee for Service charity organization, as packages of Christmas food and toys were distributed to more than 100 needy families in the greater Tallassee area. ACTS has been an ecumenical effort in the local community for some three decades, said Barry Adair, director, who has been in that position for over four years. Adair’s immediate predecessor, Sonny See CHARITY • Page 11

Willie G. Moseley / The Tribune

This youngster shows off his new bicycle at the Wall Street event.

Wall Street residents bring Santa to town By WILLIE G. MOSELEY Tallassee Tribune

In an effort to “pay it forward,” members of the Wall Street community gathered at the recreation center Dec. 12 for a second annual “Santa’s Coming to Town” celebration. Geared to welcome children and senior citizens, the event included refreshments, crafts, gifts and photos from Santa and a telling of the Christmas story. “This year, over 150 children attended the event,” said spokesperson Lawrence O’Neal. “Twelve bikes, two Big Wheels

and a tablet were given away.” O’Neal said there was value to community-oriented events during the Christmas season. “We started doing this event because we wanted to bring value to our community by investing in our kids and showing our senior citizens that we care about them,” he said. “When most people think of giving back, they think of monetary donations and although that is important, there are many other ways we can give back to our community. Every community has people See WALL STREET • Page 3

Willie G. Moseley / The Tribune

Barry Adair, left, and volunteer Marilyn Sayers, right are shown at ACTS headquarters with some of the packages of food that have been packed for distribution .

Walmart, TPD and TFD join together for the Fill the Truck Toy Drive By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer

Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune

Members of the Tallassee Police Department and Tallassee Fire Department joined forces Dec. 11 at Walmart on Gilmer Avenue to bring Christmas joy to local familes. Pictured, left to right, are David McGaha, Brian Schwab, Troy Vance, Jake Hill, Dave Shirey, Sage Golden and Rian Clayton.

Members of the Tallassee Police Department and the Tallassee Fire Department joined forces Dec. 11 to bring Christmas joy to local families. TPD and TFD set up outside of Walmart on Gilmer Avenue to collect toys for local families. “This is joint effort with the police department for Toys for Tots,” said Travis Jones, chief of the Tallassee Fire Department. “Hoping that we can make someone’s Christmas special.” This is the first toy drive the fire department and police department have coordinated. Officials said they hope to collect enough

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toys to serve all those in need. “This is actually the first year that we’ve done this,” Travis said. “We announced it on Facebook and other outlets, so we hope to have good turnout.” The families who need these toys have already been designated and will receive these items soon after the toy drive wraps up. “Once they are collected, we have names of families already. Once we collect these items we will donate the toys to those families,’ Brian Clayton said. For those who may have missed this event it is not too late to donate an unopened toy to the toy drive. Toys can be taken to the See TRUCK • Page 6

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THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

Tallassee native ‘doubles up’ in AU pharmacy program STAFF REPORT Tribune Staff

Warren Smith is taking advantage of a new offering at Auburn University. Smith is a second-year student in the AU Harrison School of Pharmacy Pharm.D. program and is in the Pharm.D./Ph.D track. The program allows students to complete their degree in pharmacy, while working toward their Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences. Originally from Tallassee, Smith was accepted to Auburn and awarded a scholarship to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering during his junior year of high school. Because of his natural talents in mathematics and the work he was doing in robotics at his father’s company, Smith said he anticipated engineering to be the route for him. “During the summer of 2010, I was given the opportunity to start working as a technician in a retail pharmacy,” Smith said. “At that point in my life, I had never thought about a career in pharmacy, and it was nothing more than just a job.” After about a month, however,

Smith said he felt a shift in interest. He became intrigued by the medications he was handling and the patients he was serving. Before starting his courses in mechanical engineering, he switched to the pre-pharmacy program and started pharmacy school in the fall of 2014. “After working for almost five years in a retail pharmacy, I began to realize that I would be of greater service to patients and have a greater impact on the medical community through an investment in the pursuit of research and research-centered education,” Smith said. He is now under the supervision of Dr. Vishnu Suppiramaniam and working on multiple projects, one of which includes the assessment of adiponectin in cognitive function with fellow Pharm.D./Ph.D. student Jenna Bloemer. Typically, students are accepted to the dual program after their first year in pharmacy school. While enrolled in the Pharm.D. program, students can configure their first three years’ coursework with their curriculum in the Ph.D. program. Classes can overlap in a variety of areas so that their course load is

Submitted / The Tribune

Warren Smith is studying two programs simultaneously at Auburn University’s Harrison School of Pharmacy.

lighter when they come back and finish their Ph.D. The program is designed to allow students to lessen the amount of time they spend in school while being able to acquire both degrees. Still new in the program, Smith is already picking up accolades for his work and was named an Express Scripts Scholar by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). He is one of only four recipients in the nation

to receive the $10,000 scholarship, which is awarded to students who are in a dual degree program. “Being awarded this scholarship will allow me to keep serving the underserved, keep doing the things I love to do, with more financial security, all while paying forward the opportunities that AACP’s Express Scripts Scholar Program and Harrison School of Pharmacy have so graciously granted me,” said Smith.

Dopson recognized for decades of service STAFF REPORT Tribune Staff

At its recent annual meeting, the Community Hospital Board gave special recognition to the dedicated service of long-time board member Arnold B. Dopson. His wife, Joanne Dopson, his twin brother, Donald Dopson and his sister-inlaw Vickie Bowen were in attendance. Jennie Rhinehart, administrator and chief executive officer of Community Hospital presented a commemorative award to Joanne Dopson in

recognition of Arnold Dopson’s dedicated service to the hospital. Dopson served on the hospital board of directors from 1971 until his death in March. While on the board, he served in all officer positions, including a three-year term as chairman. He also served on and chaired various committees during his tenure. Arnold Dopson was also a charter member of the Community Hospital Foundation board of directors. In addition, Arnold Dopson was a charter

Submitted / The Tribune

Shown at the recent presentation honoring Arnold Dopson are, left to right, Joanne Dopson, Jennie Rhinehart and Donald Dopson.

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member of the Alabama Council of Hospital Trustees and held several officer positions throughout his years of service. “Mr. Dopson’s dedicated service and leadership spanned over four decades,” Rhinehart said. “He committed to a lifetime of service to this hospital and our community. In whatever capacity needed, Arnold Dopson could be counted on to deliver unparalleled support and dedication. He is truly missed.”

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wonderful turnout. We will do this again, yes we will,” Beacher said. In order to get parents even more involved with their student’s activities and learning, each student was given a project to take home to complete. This allowed parents the opportunity to participate in their child’s learning experiences.

Billy F. Stroud, Sr., a resident of Tallassee, Al. He was born March 6,1938 in Wetumpka. Mr. Stroud passed away Wednesday Dec.16,2015 at age 77. He retired from the City of Wetumpka and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He is survived by his children Brenda Joyce Evans, Shirley Ann Funderburk, Sandy Smith, Billy F. Stroud, Jr., Mark Stroud, Cathy Stroud, Lisa Nelson and Shelton Davis; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren along with a host of other family members and friends. Memorial Service will be held Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015, 1:00pm at Faith Baptist Church. 64 Chapel Hill Rd., Wetumpka, Al. by Pastor Gerald Wood

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“The students were also given a make-and-take activity to take home to reinforce the concept of number bonds and things that they have been learning inside the classroom,” Beacher said. “The number bonds concept is something that the kindergarten students were learning. Mainly, this concept will allow the students to have a deeper understanding of the numbers and addition.” The learning experience is customized for the students at Tallassee Elementary School. “Each grade level focuses on a different concept of the academic part of the activity,” Beacher said. While the event was geared toward the Art Show and Enrichment Night, many students had the opportunity to escort their parents to the Santa Shop where lots of goodies were available at a minimal cost. “I went to the Santa Store, because I was going to get to go Wednesday but my grandmother took me tonight,” said Clayton Ingram, a Tallassee elementary student. “I shopped for my parents and grandparents.” Many grandparents were in attendance to support the school and the students. Don and Beth Harris, came out to support their granddaughter who is a TES student and their daughter, who works for TES. “We came for our granddaughter, Mollie Branch, and our daughter, Courtney Branch, is the reading coach here (TES),” Beth Harris said. “They are taking contributions and they said, ‘If you see you child or grandchild’s picture take it,’ so we did. Her mother (Courtney Branch) keeps them. Courtney took art when she was in school and we her pictures framed and hanging in our sunroom, still. Hopefully that will happen with her’s (Mollie’s) too.”

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THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

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The Tribune bids farewell to long-time journalist By CARMEN RODGERS Tallassee Tribune

Willie G Moseley is a name most in the area are familiar with. Moseley has been writing for the Tallassee Tribune for two decades and has made an impressionable mark on the newspaper and the community as a whole. “I began writing for the Tribune 20 years ago and have been an employee of the Tribune for 12 years, as of the first of the year,” Moseley said. “I had sent a couple of things to Jack (Venable) and he published a column and he told me that he got a good reception to it around town … some positive comments.” Moseley will continue to write his “So Called Column” for the Tribune. Therefore, this is not a final goodbye, rather an offering of gratitude for the hard work and effort Mosley put into the Tribune. Through his efforts, Moseley established a reputation for accurate and thorough reporting, always keeping the community in the loop. “I’m retiring from full-time work, here (the Tribune),” he said. “I’m not retiring from writing. I’ll go crazy if I don’t write. I get bored very easily. I will continue writing for the guitar magazine. I will continue writing the “So Called Column” for the Tribune each week. I have 13-14 books in preliminary stages right now and I’ll continue to do freelance work as well.” This has been a rewarding journey for Moseley, he said, and through this journey he has learned a lot from Tallassee. “Getting to know this community even better by covering local events, particularly working for the Tribune, boosted an interest in history,” Moseley said. “I’ve turned into a big history buff over the last several years. I think the fact that Tallassee had so much local history had a lot to do

with that.” While Moseley’s wife, Gail, is a Tallassee native, Moseley said he has grown fond of the city over the years. “Tallassee has the type of values that my family has,” he said. “It’s our kind of town.” Moseley said he is not fully retiring, but he looks forward to not having a rigid schedule. “I’m looking forward to being able to go at my own pace,” he said. “This has been a eventful year. I turned 65, lost my father and my stepmother within seven and a half weeks of each other, and then I had surgery in November. Sometimes life’s too short. If you have places you want to visit, if you have the opportunity to do so, I think you should. That’s just my opinion.” Moseley said there are many things he will miss from his years at the Tribune. “Working with the different diversity of people and personalities that I worked with and that includes the paper route for that matter, I’ve learned a lot about different people, cultures and history,” he said. “Tallassee’s a lot more diverse than a lot of people might really think, unless they do a little research.” While Mosley is stepping away from fulltime duties at the Tribune, he plans on keeping up with the community. “I’ll still keep a finger on the pulse of what’s going on,” he said. “We’ll stay active in our church. We’re not going to be gone all the time.” For those who are dedicated Moseley fans, not to worry he will still be visible in the community. “I’m such a fan of the wrestling program here that you’ll still see me up in the stands at home matches, but not out on the mat taking photos,” he said.

Wall Street

DiChiara announces for Congress STAFF REPORTS Tribune Staff

Larry DiChiara, PhD., recently announced his candidacy for Congress in Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District. DiChiara will face incumbent Rep. Mike Rogers in next year’s March 1 primary election. “After thoughtful consideration, much prayer and an outpouring of encouragement from my friends and family, I am excited to announce my candidacy for Congress,” DiChiara, said. “For too long, Congress has led our country down a path of runaway deficits — jeopardizing our future by creating a public-finances equivalent to the subprime mortgage meltdown. Our financial crisis is real, and it’s here now,” DiChiara said. “I understand what it takes to trim fat from a budget. I have done it in my business and I have done it as a former school superintendent. Now, I am ready to do it in Washington. Our children and grandchildren deserve to be left with a legacy of the American dream.” A graduate of Auburn

continued from page 1

who need to be reached by the love of others and that is something that we were led to do.” He praised the participation of numerous Wall Street residents. “At the celebration, whether it was cooking, serving food, cleaning, wrapping gifts, handing out gifts, keeping the kids orderly, checking people in at the front door or preparing boxes for the elders in the community, everyone was able to find something suitable for them,” O’Neal said.

December 23, 2015 • Page 3

“These are all things that give back to the community in which they were nurtured and will provide examples to the children. It’s fun and it is so rewarding.” O’Neal acknowledged the support of organizations and businesses in the Tallassee area that contributed to the success of the event, and said residents of all ages are already looking forward to the 2016 celebration.

University, DiChiara has served as a teacher, principal, administrator, district superintendent and adjunct college professor. DiChiara Currently, he owns and operates a successful small business aimed at helping educators and school districts provide a quality education for all students. “My campaign is focused on harnessing the grassroots power of ordinary citizens who believe in defending our personal freedoms, protecting life, preserving traditional marriage, securing our borders, lowering taxes and

guaranteeing our right to bear arms,” he said. “Washington is broken and failing American families and businesses. “As the chief administrative officer appointed by the Alabama State Department of Education, I have been charged with transitioning failing school systems, such as Selma City Schools, into successful districts. I plan to take my experience to Washington and transform a failing system into a successful one.” Larry and his wife, Gina, are the proud parents of three boys, Nicholas, 23, Samuel, 20, and Anthony, 15, and reside in Auburn, Alabama, where they attend St. Michael’s Catholic Church.

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Page 4 • December 23, 2015

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THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

Our

Opinion

From all of us to all of you, Happy Holidays T

his time of the year it’s always too easy to get caught up in all the commercialism of the holiday season. But, it should be a time to step back, give thanks for all the good that’s come to us and appreciate this time of the year for it’s true meaning. Far too often we do forget to thank those that have helped us along the way throughout the year. Many times, we try and do that with gifts rather than just a simple “thank you” or taking the time to express, in words, what someone means to us rather than what if gift-wrapped in a box. It is the time of the year when we should be kinder and nicer

to those that may not be as fortunate as we might be individually. For us at The Wetumpka Herald, The Tallassee Tribune and The Eclectic Observer, we want to thank you for taking the time to be involved in and read our newspapers. We appreciate everything you do to make this truly “your community newspapers.” Whether it’s advertising, writing letters to the editor or opening your doors for us to do a story on something you feel is important, we appreciate your time and ideas. From all the staff at the Elmore County newspapers, we truly appreciate you and wish for you a very Merry Christmas.

Memories blanketed in white: Recalling a childhood encounter with snow

onsidering weather trends, I doubt that the “think-snow-forChristmas” mantra is valid in central Alabama this year. I know more than one Northerner who has snickered at how many bubbas (including persons in decision-making government positions) seem to panic every time a bit of snow shows up in the deep South. Seems like said officials begin closing down roads when they see two or three flakes, throwing transportation into temporary chaos as businesses and government offices close down. The more someone has to deal with snow, the more they know how to handle it, of course, but there have indeed be occasions where such closures in central Alabama were justified — the memorable snowstorm of 1973 comes to mind, as well as the very dangerous snow-on-top-of-ice weather from early 2014 (In that more-recent event, area roads were closed early Tuesday night and didn’t reopen until

Thursday morning). Many folks around here probably have personal recollections — hopefully positive, for the most part — about such unique weather. However, some Southerners may have been able to experience winter conditions more often if they were residing up north, due to job or military assignments, etc. I don’t have any early childhood snow memories from the mid‘50s, when my family lived in Lexington, Kentucky, for about a year and a half (but there are some 8 mm home movies that document such experiences). However, a few years later there was a singular Christmas event, also in Kentucky, that was unforgettable, probably it was the only time such an experience ever happened. Once my family moved back to Montgomery, we would sometimes still travel to Somerset, my mother’s hometown in the Bluegrass State, to celebrate Christmas with my grandmother and

THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE (533-160) is published weekly on Wednesday by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., 301 Gilmer Ave., Tallassee, AL 36078. Periodical postage paid at Tallassee, Alabama. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Tallassee Tribune, 301 Gilmer Avenue, Tallassee, AL 36078. ISSN # 2150-3982. We reserve the right to refuse to print any advertisement, news story, photograph or any other material submitted to us for any reason or no reason at all. •Obituaries - $0.25 per word with a $15 charge for a picture. Obituaries can only be accepted by the funeral home handling the arrangements. The Tallassee Tribune does not accept obituaries from individuals. •Weddings/Engagements/Birth Announcements - $0.25 per word with a $15 for a 2 column, color photo. • One year $25 (In Elmore County, Tallapoosa County and Notasulga) Elsewhere $38 The publisher reserves the right to change subscription rates during the term of subscription with a 30-day notice. The notice can be mailed to the subscriber, or by notice in the newspaper itself. To subscribe or if you missed your paper, call David Kendrick at The Alex City Outlook: 256-234-4281. © 2015 Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved and any reproduction of this issue is prohibited without the consent of the editor or publisher. Kenneth Boone, Publisher Mitch Sneed: Managing Editor editor@alexcityoutlook.com • 256-234-4281 Willie G. Moseley: News Editor willie.moseley@tallasseetribune.com • Ext. 102 Carmen Rodgers: Reporter carmen.rodgers@tallasseetribune.com • Ext. 101 The Tallassee Tribune is contract printed each Tuesday evening in Alexander City, Ala. by Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc. 256-234-4281.

Your

The SoCalled Column By Willie G. Moseley other relatives. The standard procedure was to arrive a couple of days before Christmas, and head back home on the 26th. We made the journey more than once, but it never snowed while we were there — except once. I would have been about 11 years old; my brother would have been about eight. I remember being surprised and delighted when the soft, white condensation began to descend on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. I had accompanied some family members — I don’t remember who — on a last-minute shopping trip downtown. We were in a “five-and-dime” store — I want to say it was either a

J.J. Newberry or an F.W. Woolworth — when someone said it was snowing outside. Such a sight was enthralling for youngsters like us. What’s more, when it started snowing, there was no indication when it would stop; the sky was a solid gray color. And it was still snowing several hours later when my brother and I accompanied a cousin and kids in the neighborhood to a nearby hill for our first (and for me, only) experience with a sled. Somebody showed me how to do a, er, top-end run-up with the sled to the beginning of the slope, then how to flop down onto my stomach to ride it downhill. However, no one had told me such vehicles could be steered, and on that first run, I hung onto the handgrips as the sled curved rapidly and gracefully to the left and crashed into a log. It was an obvious example of naïveté, and a quick lesson learned. It was still snowing when we went to sleep that night. The snow had stopped by

Christmas morning, but it was still very cold, so we romped outside again until we were exhausted. We’d made plans to return to Montgomery Dec. 26, and when we work up that day, the weather was warmer, and the snow was melting. As I recall, we didn’t experience any travel difficulties regarding road conditions. I think my mother nailed it when she said that it was almost the snow had been custom-ordered. My brother and I were able to briefly enjoy what would turn out to be pretty much a once-in-achildhood experience, being as how we’d been too young to remember playing in the snow in Lexington. Obviously, the rarity of the occasion is why it was so wonderful and memorable. Over half a century later, reminiscing about it still brings a smile. Merry Christmas. Willie Moseley is the news editor at the Tallassee Tribune and a regular columnist .

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The Tribune’s

Recent Tribune cartoons are off base

Dear Editor: I wish to comment on the choices made for today’s two political cartoons. Let me first state I am Independent voter. Whoever selected both cartoons has clearly stated their political bias; as well as their lack of understanding for the world in which we live. The events of this past week have been noticeably ignored. The shootings in California caused the greatest loss of American life due to radical Islamic terrorism since September 11, 2001. That’s been over 14 years ago! Only Major Nidal Hassan, another radicalized Muslim, and his “workplace violence,” according to our “fearless leader,” a self-proclaimed Muslim, has come so close!

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Recent Tribune cartoons are off base

Dear Editor: Believe it or not, there is good news for the holidays. In a world transfixed by terrorism, life is getting back to normal. An estimated 3 million people showed up for the Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City, millions more flocked to malls on Black Friday, and hundreds of thousands are going to football stadiums each weekend. Even in Paris, where Islamic radicals killed 130 people, the cafes and restaurants have been filling up again. Since 9/11, Americans and Europeans have

Mission

The Tribune strives to report the news honestly, Your paper tries to portray radical Islam as a fairly and with integrity, to Republican issue. Nice try! It is an issue for all of us and the civilized world. I give Republicans credit take a leadership role and act as a positive influence for standing up to the truth. “Political correctness” in our community, to build causes me to say all Muslims are not terrorist; how- commerce and to promote ever, the bulk of terrorists claim to be Muslim; and business, to provide for the they certainly seem to want the world to know it. welfare of our employees, Why do we continue to play ostrich? Wake up to strive for excellence in and read Revelation 6:1-6. Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot everything we do and above Christianity is also taboo to discuss under our ever- all, to treat others as we tightening dictatorship. would want to be treated The first cartoon is offensive to American patri- ourselves. ots and the second ignores the fact there is greater gun violence where there are stricter gun laws. Look at Switzerland and Chicago. Alexander H.C Harwick Follow The Tribune on the Internet Lt. Col., USAF, Retired.

learned to live with the fear that terrorists seek to instill, and to refuse to allow it to disrupt their lives. That's the only rational response. Your chances of being killed by terrorists in the U.S. are very, very small. You're more likely to be killed by lightning or falling off a ladder. In the streets of Paris, there are now posters that proclaim "Meme pas peur"-"No fear." Even if we can't banish fear entirely, we can still refuse to let it change our way of life. Ron Lowe Nevada City, California

on our website or on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Log on to http://www.tallasseetribune.com. There you will be able to view stories and multimedia posted by The Tribune. You can also click on the Facebook link to join The Tribune’s fan club or click on the Twitter link to start receiving tweets on your phone as we post updates. You can also subscribe to our RSS feed on The Tribune’s home page.

Talks THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

Steve Flowers Inside the Statehouse

s we look back over the past year’s political events one week stands out. During one week in the middle of 2015, three momentous events occurred. All three came down bang, bang, bang in the week leading up to the fourth of July. First was the landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which deemed same sex marriage legal and the law of the land. Then the historic BP settlement, which granted Alabama $1.3 billion for environmental recovery and an additional $1 billion for economic losses. Finally, was Governor Bentley’s executive order removing all of the confederate flags from the Capitol. All three decisions will have an impact on state politics. How will these three events affect Flowers Alabama politics in the next few years? The removal of the confederate flags affects only Gov. Robert Bentley. Since Gov. Bentley is prohibited by the constitution from seeking a third term as governor and at that time he will be 76, so it is doubtful that Bentley runs for office again. Therefore, it has no political effect. However, years from now it will be considered as a positive reflection on Bentley’s tenure as governor. Some have suggested that it will be one of his legacies. What about the BP settlement? This windfall to the state general fund will have a positive impact for Alabama’s finances for the next two decades. $55 million a year is nothing to sneeze at. It will help legislators who are not yet on the scene balance the state’s budgets. However, what are the political ramifications, if any? Negligible at best. Governor Bentley again claims the spotlight and will be able to claim credit for the BP settlement as it came down during his administration. That brings us to the same sex marriage issue. Like the BP ruling, it is all over but the shouting. It does not matter if less than a decade ago Alabamians voted overwhelmingly for a constitutional amendment outlawing same sex marriage. The U.S. Supreme Court is the ultimate omnipotent authority and they have spoken. It is over. It is the law. My prognostication is that this issue has legs and the fallout will be felt in Alabama politics into the 2018 Governor’s Race. Roy Moore likes to ride horses. In fact, he rides his horse to vote at his home in Gallion in rural Etowah County. Our Chief Justice Roy Moore has got a horse to ride into the 2018 Governor’s Race. Like Bentley, Moore is prohibited from running for his same office again. You cannot run for a judgeship in Alabama after age 70. Roy Moore will be 72 in 2018. You can bet your bottom dollar he will be a candidate for governor. Moore made his mark by running with a granite monument of the Ten Commandments. He gallantly stood by his convictions to not remove it from the judicial building. He lost his Chief Justice position over his stance. Alabamians did not forget his stand. Ten years later they put him back in his job as Chief Justice. My belief is that this issue will not be forgotten nor taken lying down. We are one of, if not the most religious states in America. It is a pivotal issue for Christians. It resonates and it will be a game changer. They will be reminded every time they read their Bible. Alabama politics clearly dictates that race and religion drive the vote in the Heart of Dixie. Roy Moore knows his constituency. They know him and believe me he is their man. Studies have shown that if Alabama is the Heart of the Bible Belt, the buckle is a stretch of the state just north of Birmingham. Moore chose an evangelical church in Kimberly in rural northern Jefferson County to throw down the gauntlet. He told his folks in the Heart of the Bible Belt, “Welcome to the new world. It’s just changed for you Christians. You are going to be persecuted according to the U.S. Supreme Court dissents.” In a crowded field, the evangelical vote becomes paramount. We will have eight to 10 folks running for Governor in 2018. The vote becomes splintered maybe along geographical friends and neighbors lines. However, religion trumps geography in Alabama politics. Roy Moore has found his horse and it secures him a place in the runoff in 2018. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. He served 16 years in the state legislature. Steve may be reached at www.

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Dear John

Thank you Willie G. Moseley

or years, people have bemoaned the crass commercialism of Christmas. The advertisements, special deals and round-theclock Christmas music on the radio starts right after Halloween. Thanksgiving, that uniquely American holiday, is often overlooked. Yet, peel back the layers and the real meaning is still there — for all of us. Even someone who celebrates Kwanzaa or Hanukkah knows the Christmas story. It is such an important event, the calendar makers started over with the birth of Jesus. And here we are, over 2,000 years later. The promise made in that feed trough somewhere in the Middle East holds within it enough hope to last an eternity. Even a nonbeliever can appreciate the Christmas Spirit mentioned so frequently. Without the birth of Jesus Christ, without God coming down to Earth to share in our humanity, there would have never been a Santa Claus or a Christmas Day, for that matter. (And if you want to get technical about it, none of us would be here, either.) In the past, I have written tributes to Willie G. Moseley. He is retiring from this newspaper at the end of the month. However, although words fail me as I attempt to summarize what he means to me, I shall try.

December 23, 2015 • Page 5

bagel.” I laugh every time Bird’s I think about it —Loder — Stale bagel. Eye View So, around that time, I asked Mr. Moseley if he By Michael would submit a sample column to Jack and Jo Venable Bird at the Tribune to see if they might be interested in pubI was working partlishing it. time at WACV radio in Here’s where gratitude Montgomery (it was 1170 may turn to gushing. AM; now 93.1 FM). Willie Had Willie G. Moseley would call in during my pooh-poohed my nascent show with his now-famous writings, I could never have phrase, “I have a comment,” developed these particular and it would always be a skills. He and the Venables humorous non sequitur that gave me a chance. I’ve had absolutely nothing to shared this page with some do with whatever was going amazing storytellers, such on — but it was funny. as Jack Solomon, Ronald Sometimes, he’d call in Brantley, Pete Cottle and speaking with his Russian others. To be included each accent. (Tangent: Ask him week with these people is an sometime to tell you about honor indeed. the Russians’ new plan for a And, had the Tribune humanitarian bomb.) not been printing this colWillie G. appeared live umn over the years, Troy on Don Markwell’s show, University would not have thanks to some of my allowed me to write the behind-the-scenes finagling, book that was published this and offered that he and his year on their behalf. family had been praying So, as we say goodbye the kaddish, the Hebrew to Willie G. Moseley and prayer for the dead, prior to his day-to-day work at the his appearance — and the Tribune (he says he will still Moseleys aren’t Jewish. be on the other side of this As a thank-you, Willie page with the “So-Called gave me his book Executive Column” for the foreseeable Rock, which features one of future), here’s hoping that the funniest lines I’ve ever retirement holds everything read. He was discussing he hopes it will. the rise of gangsta rap in the You might not accept a early 1990s. heartfelt thank-you in perMTV News reporter son, but here it is: thank you Kurt Loder had to say the for helping my dreams to name of N.W.A. — which come true. included the “n” word — on Bird is a regular columcamera and Moseley said nist for The Tribune. Loder looked like a “stale

The mysterious monument

in’t it funny how something can be somewhere and you never see it? Well, that happened to me. I’m going to try to explain where it is the best I can. Let’s start at the “Y” in Tallassee. We get on state Highway 229 going toward Lake Martin, go through Kent and go on through Red Hill. Start looking on the right for two street signs — Poplar and Hickory. When you find these two signs, they make a “V” and in that “V” is a monument, about 4 feet across at the base. It resembles the Washington Monument as it goes up about 16 feet. At the top is a 4-foot cross. It’s a beautiful monument. I stopped the car and we get out, inspecting it. The place is full of vines and briars but the monument is accessible to the strong of heart. There was no writing on the monument, which made it more interesting. A number of people stopped by to see what I was looking at, but they couldn’t shed any light on anything, so I was still lost and the mystery was still there. I took a picture of the mysterious monument and brought it to the barber-

The Coffee Breaker By Ronald Brantley shop. I put the picture on the door and asked everyone who lived on the lake, went to the lake, or had ever been on Highway 229 about the monument. I kept hitting blanks. Most people—even those that lived within a mile or two—had never paid it any attention. Most had never seen it until I pointed it out. Many have looked as they drove by, but missed it and I don’t know why because there it is in full view. As time has gone on many people have told me bits and pieces of information about it, including men who worked with the builder and men who were friends with the builder. They told me who they thought he was and if it’s so I knew both him and his father. Here is what I have pieced together: This young man had a desire to build this monument and after seeing the beautiful cross at the top, I concluded it was to honor God. It has no writing because he wanted it to honor God, not himself. That’s the kind of

person he was. I didn’t find out how long the monument has been there. I do know he was a carpenter or, if you please, a homebuilder. One day while working on a house he fell from the roof and was killed, sealing the mystery of the monument forever. What was he thinking as he worked? You can look at the precise way it is built and know of the pains he took and the thought that went into the job he was doing. Only he could tell you about the cross, but he’s no longer with us. I wish this monument had a name. I will say this search has given my family and me many hours of enjoyment. We have talked to many people and many people have gone by this spot to look at the monument. Some have come into the shop excited to tell me they had finally saw it; others have yet to make it but always promise that they are going. Have you been? Have you seen the monument? Have you looked for details? If you find any that I haven’t provided — let me know. It’s been fun … I hope you’ve had fun too! Brantley's column appears each week in the Tribune

By John W. Peeler

Navigating life's sometimes rocky tests

eems like every day we are tested in one way or another. Whether it’s day-to-day life struggles with relationships, children, finances or the baggage each of us carry … and yes, we all have baggage. Some of the biggest tests we face, though, reach right down to the core of who we are and tests our faith in humanity, especially when it comes to trust and honesty. Life is just one big test after the other, but every test has significance in defining us as individuals. When you walk down the street do you look at a person in the eyes and greet them, or do you look the other way to avoid contact? When you have a difference of opinion or want to bring a shortcoming to someone’s attention, do you do it with tact and grace, or do you drive a dagger into them and twist the blade to make sure the damage is more severe or possibly irreparable? We face these types of choices every day, and although we may not look at the way we handle these choices, in reality, they are tests that define who we really are and who we have become at different stages of our lives. In children and young adults, the day-to-day tests of growing up are based on mimicking the way the adults around them react to similar situations rather than based on years of experience in interpersonal relationships. Sometimes we set good examples and at other times, we don’t. There are many tests we get a daily dose of in the circle of life. Some are tests of integrity, loyalty, courage, strength, love, compassion, trust, honesty and respect, to name a few. Like the tests I used to take in school, some of the choices are easy and some are more difficult. While studying tests and test taking, an anomaly in testing was brought to my attention. It seems when people make up multiplechoice tests, the correct answer is usually either B or C (do not try this at school), but life, although having multiple-choices, doesn’t always have just one right answer. There is always one wrong answer, but more times than not, there isn’t always one single right answer, so it is up to each person to make a choice on the right answer for them. When someone passes me on the street, I make the choice to greet them with a word or two, but that is the right choice for me. There are days though, I don’t — therein lies the test. Do I let a bad day affect how I am with other people? Some days I pass the test and don’t let a bad day affect my daily outlook, and some days I don’t pass — after all, I am human. The only problem with all of these tests — we never get the chance to see the final report card because it’s usually delivered in the form of a eulogy or remembrances. Sad, isn’t it? While some will heed their life’s periodic progress reports and continually try to do the right thing, there are others that will remember, and carry on, the poor examples they have seen throughout life. They will continually choose the one wrong answer on the multiplechoice test and grow to lead personally unfulfilled lives at the expense of others. As I sit here in late in the evening writing this, I wonder what tests I will face tomorrow. I know it will be multiple-choice, I know there will be at least one wrong answer and I know there may be more than one correct answer. I only hope I passed today’s test and that it helps me pass all the other tests I will face down the road of life. So, when life’s tests have you in the dark and you don’t know which answer is the right answer for you, reach down inside, apply your beliefs and find a way to shine.

Page 6 • December 23, 2015

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THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

RODNEY GRIFFITH Lake Martin Properties Serving Lake Martin, Tallassee and the Surrounding Area

On Dec. 20, hundreds of people gathered deep in the woods of Shorter, Alabama, to the sounds Middle Eastern music, scenes of covered women, men in robes and others with swords gathered around fires. Word of the event spread on social media and large roadside signs pointed the way off of Interstate 85 exit 26 to Tallassee. There was no sign of local authorities at the gathering, and among the hundreds of vehicles parked in the field off county Road 40, there were even a few Toyota pickup trucks. More people arrived by the minute and seemed willing and eager participants. It was a major religious event held as a ceremony of one of the two main religions to come out of the Middle East, and to honor the birth of a figure from Palestine roughly 2,000 or so years ago. The crowds in attendance were gathered for a local production of the classic Christmas story of the Birth of Christ. It was the second year for the collaboration between roughly eight area churches, directed by Blaire Graham, the event coordinator at First United Methodist Church in Tuskegee. “I think it was great … I think everybody did a great job, it was just really moving you know,” Graham said. It was cold and windy, but that was how Graham said she wanted it to be — to help set the scene.

RODNEY GRIFFITH BROKER CELL: 334-207-0666 WEB: www.rodneygrif¿th.com EMAIL: rodneygrif¿th@windstream.net LAKE MARTIN VIEW – 260 South Lands End, 3 bd/2 ba, 1 acre, $135,000. TALLASSEE – McNEAL STREET, 2 bd/1 ba, close to national guard armory, $55,000. COMMERCIAL BUSINESS – Hwy. 229 in Red Hill (formerly Red Hill Cottage Restaurant), over 3000 sq. ft. on 3 ACRES, only $99,500. OAK HEIGHTS – Nice home, 3 bd/1 bath, large kitchen & den, $43,000. REDUCED! RIVER HILLS SUBDIVISION – 23 lots, great views of Lake Tallassee, underground utilities, sewage. Prices start at only $20,000. 2 SOLD – 21 remaining. W. PATTON – Brick, 3 bd/1 ba, new heat pump, hardwood floors, 2 lots, $69,900. ECLECTIC – NEW MOBILE HOME on 1.2 ACRE lot, 3 bd/ 2 ba, flat yard, lg. deck, on Ga. Rd. close to Rushenville Church. $69,000. 2206 HWY. 120 – 2 miles from Reeltown School, brick, 3 bd/2 ba, heat pump, hardwood floors. Beautiful yards, new roof, close to Kiwi Farm. 100% financing for qualified buyer. REDUCED TO $99,500. BEAUTIFUL BRICK HOUSE in Plantation Pines, 4 bd/3.5 baths, 1.6 acre lot very modern and pretty, REDUCED TO $324,000. 18 ACRES on S. Tallassee Drive, $34,000. 3189 LITTLE ROAD – 4 bd/2ba., large lot, very modern, & pretty, only $215,000. 8 ACRES KENT RD – REDUCED TO $45,000. 27 ACRES CLAUDE RD. – $80,000. TALLASSEE GILMER AVE. – 3bd/2 ba next to DQ zoned commercial, REDUCED TO $125,000. TALLASSEE BRICK HOME – on 1 acre with a 2 acre fish pond, 3 bd, 2 ba , large den and kitchen, garage, large screened porch, heat pump, $159000 8 more acres also adjacent to it COMMERCIAL PROPERTY – 8 ACRES close to Walmart on Hwy 14, REDUCED $198,500.

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Lois Dunn

Corey Arwood / The Tribune

The manger scene and shepherds from a local nativity production directed by Blaire Graham and with the help of volunteers from around eight diﬀerent area churches.

“It was starry outside, it was beautiful,” Graham said. At last year’s enactment Graham estimated there be to be around 400 or so in attendance. This year, she said she felt like there were more. But regardless of whether there were, she said she was glad for those who came and that they wanted to hear the message of her production. It included roughly 125 or so elaborately dressed local volunteers placed in an equally ornate setting complete with a scale-sized manger and town scene. There were realistic Roman centurions standing guard and shepherds with horses, goats, alpacas and one well-behaved and well-dressed camel. It was a silent performance piece set to a musical backdrop that switched from a live chorus and a family band out of Mobile, Alabama, to a recorded song track. The show itself was a gamble to produce, and Graham said that yearlong effort, with only one two-hour practice, was totally dependent on the weather of that single night. “This year was beautiful, even though it was cold,” Graham said.

Truck police department or the fire department. The Tallassee Fire Department, Police Department and Walmart are thankful to be part of a community that rallies around those in need during the holiday season to

continued from page 1

make their Christmas a little brighter. “Thanks for all the donations that we get. This just for families here in Tallassee who have a need to help their children at Christmas,” Clayton said.

Mrs. Lois Dunn, a resident of Tallassee, Alabama, passed away Tuesday, December 15, 2015, at the age of 91. Funeral services will be Monday, December 21, 2015, at 11:00 AM from Tallaweka Baptist Church with Rev. Isaac Kervin officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery, Jeffcoat Funeral Home directing. Mrs. Dunn is survived by her daughters, Brenda Dunn and Janice Eller, both of Tallassee, Alabama; sons, Tony Dunn (Betty) of Odenville, Alabama, Tommy Dunn (Mary) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Larry Dunn (Beth) of Tallassee, Alabama; twelve grandchildren, David Lynn Driskell (Abby), April Phipps, Shelton Dunn (Debbie), Dusty Eller (Melissa), Josh Dunn, Greta Dunn (Dave Harmon), Charlie Dunn, Lara Beth Dunn, Erin Dunn, Sharlene Guzman, Sherri Smith and Daniel “Bubba” Stewart; twenty two great grandchildren, eight great great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Shelton Dunn; parents, Tom and Annie Gant; four brothers,Hewitt, Dwight, Milton and Ulus Gant; two granddaughters, Janet Aletta Johnston and Suzanne Waterhouse. The family will receive friends Sunday afternoon, December 20, 2015, from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM at Jeffcoat Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Tallaweka Baptist Church, 1419 Gilmer Ave. Tallassee, AL. Online condolences are available at: www.jeffcoatfuneralhome.com

Freddie Ann Hornsby

Mrs. Freddie Ann Hornsby, 88, of Eclectic, passed away December 16, 2015. She was born April 28, 1927. Visitation was Friday, December 18, 2015, from 12-2 pm at Linville Memorial Funeral Home, followed by funeral service at 2 pm with Rev. Roger Boswell officiating, burial at Macedonia Cemetery, Linville Memorial Funeral Home directing. She is survived by her children, Robert Lee Sanford, Patsy Ann Harrell (Charles), Carolyn Sparks, Darroll Hornsby (Gina), Wendell Hornsby (Jenice) and Sharron Delane Moore (Roger); twelve grandchildren, several great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ivy Hornsby. Online condolences at www.linvillememorial. com.

Clyde Willis Clower

Mr. Clyde Willis Clower, a resident of Tallassee, Alabama, passed away Monday, December 21, 2015, at the age of 84. Funeral services will be Wednesday, December 23, 2015, at 1:00 PM, from First Baptist Church, Tallassee with Rev. Derek Gentle and Rev. Bo Hamilton officiating. The family will have a private burial following the service at Rose Hill Cemetery, Jeffcoat Funeral Home directing. Mr. Clower is survived by his daughter, Aleta C. Smithson (Wayne); daughter-in-law, Blenda Clower; grandchildren, Stacey Lewis, Tiffany H. Knight (Andy), Sherri Clower Kirkley and Kayla Schwartz (Wes); great grandchildren, Caleb, Andrew and Noah Knight, Georgia Grace Kirkley and Betty Dean Schwartz; nieces, Pat Warner (Hulen Given) and Gaby Stewart (Larry). He is preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Dean Clower; son, George Clower and parents, Elwyn Clyde and Mary Alice Clower. Mr. Clower owned and managed Clower Clothing Store in Tallassee for several years until 1980. He was a Mason and sung in the Baraca Quartet for 31 years. Mr. Clower was a very active Deacon for many years and had also served as Chairman of Deacons of First Baptist Church of Tallassee. Flowers will be accepted or memorial donations may be made to your favorite charity. The family will receive friends Wednesday, December 23, 2015, from 11:30 AM until service time at First Baptist Church, Tallassee, Alabama. Online condolences are available at: www.jeffcoatfuneralhome.com.

December 23, 2015 • Page 7

ReligionBriefs

Obituaries

Local production draws big crowds By COREY ARWOOD Outlook Staff Writer

THE TALLASSEE TRIBUNE

Episcopal Church of the Epiphany

All are invited to Christmas Eve services at Epiphany on Thursday, December 24. The carols of Christmas will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by Festival Holy Eucharist at 7:00 p.m. There will be NO Sunday School on Sunday, December 27. At 10:30 a.m., Father Wells Warren will celebrate a service of carols and Holy Eucharist, with coffee hour to follow. For more information, visit the church website: http://epiphanytallassee.org/

Salem Macon Baptist

Don’t forget to give to the Lottie Moon Christmas offering for Foreign Missions. This offering goes 100% to our missionaries. SMBC Post Office will be open this Sunday. If you would like to give a Christmas card to your church members and friends, pick up the Christmas card list this Wednesday night. On Christmas Eve, December 24th, at 5 PM there will be a Candlelight service. No service on Wednesday night, 23rd.Salem Macon is located on Hwy 14, 6 miles west of Notasulga and 9 miles east of Tallassee at 4647 Tallapoosa St., Notasulga. Rev. Mike Stephens is pastor. Thanks, Ann Owsley annowsley@aol.com 334 257 3565

Elam Baptist Church

WELCOME HOME! Elam Baptist Church, 4686 Notasulga Road, Tallassee, Alabama - Gene Bridgman, Pastor - Kevin Lanier, Worship Leader is a Welcome Home church. If you are seeking a church home, we encourage you to consider the fellowship of Elam. Elam Baptist Church is celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ during the month of December with various events. Sunday, December 6 the Annual Elam Family Christmas and Poinsettia Sunday were part of the Morning Worship Hour. The church was adorned with Christmas decorations including the Christmas tree with the lighting during the service and 26 beautiful red poinsettias given In Memory or In Honor of loved ones or friends were presented by the Children. Special music with Amy Hughes and Scott Slaughter added a Christmas blessing. The Young Adult Class had a Christmas Party December 6 for their class. A group attended and were blessed with the Eclectic Christmas “Walk to Bethlehem” on Monday, December 7 for a realistic experience of the Christmas story. This was greatly enjoyed by all attending. The Children’s Christmas will be Wednesday, December 16 at 6:00 p.m. “The Joy & Wonder of Christmas” will be an event of Sunday, December 20 presented by the Sanctuary Choir at 11:00 a.m. Elam will have a live Nativity, Wednesday through Friday, December 23-25 at 5:30 p.m. each evening. There will also be a special Christmas Day Service at 5:30 p.m. Friday, December 25 with a fellowship following. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to be a part of this special service and all events and services of Elam. Visitors are always welcome. Join in! God invites you here. A very Merry and Blessed Christmas to all and a Happy New Year! WELCOME HOME!

Friendship Baptist Church:

Friendship Closet, a ministry of Friendship Baptist Church located next to the church, is open the first Tuesday of each month from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. If you have a need for clothes, shoes, etc. for women, men and children, come visit us. You will find the presence of God there!

Carrville Baptist Church:

Our regular Sunday Services are Sunday school at 9:15; Morning Worship at 10:30am and all Sunday Evening activities are at 6pm. Our Wednesday night activities are at 6:30pm.

Beulah Baptist Church

Beulah Baptist Church(for week of Dec.20th,2015 ) Dec 30th-No Wednesday night service Jan. 10, 2016-Sunday- Church Planning meeting is scheduled at 5: p.m. followed by a chili supper. Jan. 10, 2016- Valentine Banquet Planning meeting. All who have signed up to help please plan to attend at 4:00 p.m. Jan 17, 2016-Sunday-Baby shower for Beth Sexton at 2 p.m. Josh and Beth are expecting a baby girl. Enjoy LIfe...it has an expiration date.

St. John All Nations Pentecostal Foundation Church

3495 Hwy 14 Notasulga, AL 36866. Minister Alma Purter, Pastor. Welcome, welcome, welcome! Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015 the members of St. John All Nations Pentecostal Youth Department cordially invite everyone to our Pastoral Services at 12pm. Speaker will be Evangelist Rose Phillips. Following service will be the Annual Christmas Program at 3pm. Guest choirs are invited. We look forward to your presence on this glorious occasion. Program committee: Sis. Brenda Moss 334-401-0706, Sis. Linda Pullium 334-209-3208 and Sis. Judy Moss.

East Tallassee United Methodist Church:

The “River’s Edge Flea Market” is open every Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. All vendors are welcome: new items, old items, crafts, youth groups, ball teams, baked goods, produce and food. The flea market is sponsored by the East Tallassee UMC and is located across from City Hall. We will offer various priced booths. To reserve a space call Joan Wood at 334-312-4913. All proceeds raised by ETUMC will be used for church-sponsored programs.

Photo montage by Kenneth Boone.

Merry Christmas from Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc

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Page 8 • December 23, 2015

In trying times we should remember, O God, our help

few weeks ago, less than a month after the Paris attacks, the news reported another senseless attack, this time in San Bernardino, California. Authorities think, but don’t really know of it was terrorism, workplace violence or both, although I don’t see much difference between them. We do know that 14 are dead; that shrill voices are screaming from whatever agenda or political or religious persuasion they represent; that survivors are left to deal with the aftermath of their terror and fear; and families are left to grieve and deal with the sorrow of their loss. Then, only a week later, another attack, this time in a London subway station. And, then, on the Second Sunday of Advent, Dec. 6, we came into Church to worship God and hear God’s words of comfort from apocryphal Book of Baruch: “Don’t worry, I’ll lead you through it.” Baruch is speaking to that remnant of the Hebrew nation left behind in the ruins of Jerusalem after the Assyrians conquered the Nation, tore down the city walls, destroyed the Temple, and took most of the survivors into exile. Echoing Isaiah and other prophets, Baruch says: “Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height and look toward the east, and see your children gathered from west and east, at the word of the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them. For they went forth from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but God will bring them back to you, carried in glory, as on a royal throne. For God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting hills be made low and the valleys filled up, to make level ground, so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God. The woods and every fragrant tree have shaded Israel at God’s command. For God will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy and righteousness that come from him.” This is a poetic way of saying, “Trust God, God will lead you through, God will bring you home.” There words are just as applicable to those who were trying to live in the rubble of the destroyed city, as they were to those taken away to exile, as they are to us, here, today. God is here with us, God will lead the lost back, God will lead us through. I’m not sure we believe that. Over and over, I see posts on Facebook that say: “Bring God back to America”; “Bring God back into our schools;” “Bring God back into our lives.” Well, folks, God doesn’t need to be brought back. God has never left!! God is here with us, AME ZION Mt. Zion Chapel AME Zion 2340 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-4413 Rogers Chapel AME Zion 709 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8144 Jackson Chapel AME Zion 4885 Coosada Rd., Coosada Jones Chapel AME Zion 2414 Ingram Rd. (Co. Rd. 3), Elmore ABUNDANT LIFE Abundant Life Church 9301 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-9143 ASSEMBLY OF GOD Agape Tabernacle Assembly of God 1076 Kowaliga Rd., Eclectic 541-2006 Bethel Worship Center 11117 U.S. Hwy 231., Wetumpka 567-5754 Crossroads Assembly of God 2534 AL Hwy 14., Millbrook 285-5545 First Assembly of God 3511 Shirley Ln., Millbrook New Home Assembly of God 5620 Caesarville Rd., Wetumpka 569-2825 BAPTIST Abraham Baptist Church Millbrook Antioch Baptist Church 1115 Antioch Rd., Titus 567-2917 Beulah Baptist Church 2350 Grier Rd., Wetumpka 514-2881 Blue Ridge Baptist 4471 Jasmine Hill Rd., Wetumpka 567-4325 Brookwood Baptist Grandview Rd., Millbrook Calvary Baptist 504 W. Osceola St., Wetumpka 567-4729 Central Baptist 3545 W. Central Rd., Wetumpka 541-2556 Coosada Baptist 20 Kennedy Ave., Coosada Deatsville Baptist 184 Church St., Deatsville Eclectic Baptist Church 203 Claud Rd., Eclectic 541-4444 Faith Baptist 64 Chapel Rd., Wetumpka 567-4417 First Baptist Church 205 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-5191 First Baptist of Elmore Hwy. 14 Co. Rd. 74, Elmore Galilee Baptist 95 Old Georgia Rd., Wetumpka 567-4178 Good Hope Baptist 1766 S. Fleahop Rd., Eclectic Goodship Baptist Hwy. 143, Millbrook Grace Baptist Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka 567-3255 Grandview Pines Baptist Deatsville Hwy., Deatsville Green Ridge Baptist 288 Turner Rd., Wetumpka 567-2486

THE REV. BOB HENDERSON Trinity Episcopal Church

even in San Bernardino, even in Paris, even in the London Subway stations, even in Wetumpka. God is here, and as God said through Baruch, God will lead us through whatever tragedy befalls us, even when it doesn’t seem like it. Image what those Hebrews trying to live in a destroyed Jerusalem thought about God’s presence or absence: imagine what those in captivity thought – “Why is this happening, where is God, how do we bring God back?” Those are the same questions we often ask. One of the problems we have in answering those questions is our attitude toward God. We, today, just like the ancient Hebrews, want to believe, do believe that God leading us through tragedy means God will fix it. The Dec. 3, cover of the New York Daily News read, in big type: “God Isn’t Fixing This.” The article seemed to be a criticism of those politicians who urged people to pray for the people in San Bernardino, when, according to the paper, they were the ones who could fix the problem of terror attacks and mass murder. The clear implication of this headline is that God should fix it, and, since God hasn’t, won’t and can’t, what’s the use of praying. Well, I have what may be a sad truth for many – leading us through tragedy doesn’t mean fixing it; it doesn’t mean life without pain, hurt or even death. Never has, never will. Let me say that again, “leading us through tragedy” doesn’t mean fixing it: it doesn’t mean life without pain, hurt or even death. Never has, never will. This is one of the most prevalent and destructive blasphemies of Christianity. Nowhere in scripture has God ever promised to “fix it.” God promises to lead us with joy and glory where we need to go, whether it is to safety, to suffering, or to death. Part of Psalm 126 tells us how things work with God, how God helps us

Harvest Baptist 2990 Main St., Millbrook Hillside Baptist 405 Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka Holtville Riverside Baptist 7121 Holtville Rd., Wetumpka 514-5922 Lake Elam Baptist 4060 Gober Rd., Millbrook Liberty Hill Baptist 61 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-8750 Lighthouse Baptist 2281 Main St., Millbrook Living Water Baptist 1745 Grass Farm Rd. (Co. Rd. 80), Weoka Millbrook Baptist Millbrook 285-4731 Mitts Chapel Baptist 935 Cold Springs Rd., Deatsville 569-1952 Mt. Hebron West Baptist 150 Mt. Hebron Rd., Elmore 567-4441 Mountain View Baptist 1025 Rifle Range Rd., Wetumpka 567-4458 New Harmony Baptist 3094 New Harmony Rd., Marbury 312-1878 New Home Baptist 1605 New Home Rd., Titus 567-0923 New Hope Baptist 6191 Lightwood Rd., Deatsville 569-1267 New Lily Green Baptist 6504 Deatsville Hwy., Deatsville New Nazareth Baptist Hwy. 143, Deatsville Pleasant Hill Baptist Pleasant Hill Rd., Eclectic 541-3460 Prospect Baptist Prospect Rd., Eclectic 567-5837 Redland Baptist 1266 Dozier Rd., Wetumpka 567-8649 Rehoberth Baptist 8110 Rifle Range Rd., Tallassee 567-9801 Rushenville Baptist 10098 Georgia Rd., Eclectic 541-2418 Saint James Baptist 1005 Nobles Rd., Wetumpka 567-6209 Saint James Baptist 101 Gantt Rd., Deatsville 569-3006 Santuck Baptist 7250 Central Plank Rd., Wetumpka 567-2364 Seman Baptist Seman, Alabama Shoal Creek Baptist 13214 Holtville Rd., Deatsville 569-2482 Springfield Baptist Hwy. 7, Millbrook Thelma Baptist 810 Weoka Rd., Wetumpka 567-3665 Titus Baptist 6930 Titus Rd., Wetumpka 334-531-2120 Tunnell Chapel Baptist 210 Central Plank Rd., Wetumpka 567-2589

Victory Baptist 5481 Main St., Millbrook Wadsworth Baptist 2780 Hwy. 143, Deatsville 569-2851 BAPTIST - MISSIONARY Atkins Hill 565 Atkins Rd., Wetumpka 567-1141 Cathmagby Baptist 3074 Mitchell Creek Rd., Wetumpka 567-4787 First Missionary Baptist at Guilfield 412 Company St., Wetumpka 567-7455 Goodhope 1389 Willow Springs Rd. Wetumpka 567-7133 Lebanon 17877 U.S. Hwy. 231, Titus 514-1097 Mount Canaan 1125 Weoka Rd., Wetumpka 567-2141 Mount Pisgah 16621 U.S. Hwy. 231, Titus 567-3668 Mt. Zion 371 AL Hwy. 14, Elmore, 567-2613 Mt. Zion #3 1813 Luke Paschal Rd., Eclectic New Home 5130 Elmore Rd., Wetumpka 567-5966 Second Missionary 760 N. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8601 Spring Chapel Jasmine Hill Rd., Wetumpka 567-6493 Sweetwater 163 Michael Lane, Wetumpka 334-538-9415 Tabernacle Baptist 1020 W. Tallassee St., Wetumpka 567-0620 BAPTIST - PRIMITIVE Bethel Old School 4625 Jackson Rd. (C.R. 103), Wetumpka Providence 4850 Chana Creek Rd., Wetumpka CATHOLIC Our Lady of Guadalupe 545 White Rd., Wetumpka 567-0311 CHURCH OF CHRIST Church of Christ of Elmore 470 Caesarville Rd., Wetumpka 567-6670 Church of Christ Grandview Pines 165 Deatsville Hwy., Millbrook Cold Springs Church of Christ 5920 Alabama Hwy. 143, Deatsville Georgia Road Church of Christ 4003 Georgia Rd., Wetumpka 567-2804 Lightwood Church of Christ 251 New Harmony Rd., Deatsville 569-1510 Redland Road Church of Christ 2480 Redland Rd., Wetumpka 514-3656 Wetumpka Church of Christ W. Bridge St. At W. Main St., Wetumpka 567-6561 CHURCH OF GOD Elmore Church of God 10675 Rucker Road, Elmore Gethsemane Church of God 705 Cotton St., Wetumpka 567-9886

through tragedy: “Those who sowed with tears” will reap with songs of joy. “Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed,” will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves. Sow with tears, reap with joy; go out weeping; come back with joy. From sadness, hurt, sorrow to joy. That’s how God works. It was that way for the Hebrews and likewise, for the Christian Church. Remember, Christianity was born in the blood of the cross, the blood of martyrs, the pain of persecution, and it has been so ever since. In our humanness, we want Christianity to be painlessly sweet, happy, worry free. Our history shows otherwise, that Christianity is not for sissies. Yes, God may level the path, but, that level path may just make it easier for us to travel to a destination filled with suffering or death. No, the promise is not safety. The promise is that God will carry us, God will lead us in Glory, with Joy, with mercy, with righteousness wherever and into whatever we need to go. Admittedly, sometimes, there are miracles of healing or relief, but, generally speaking, we live in a hard, tough, evil world. And, this is precisely why we need God and need to remember that God is in our lives to lead us, to walk with us, to carry us. With God is leading us and walking that path with us, we find strength to go wherever God leads us. Let’s not imprison God with our wishes for safety, our desire for God to fix it. Instead, let us draw comfort from God no matter what is or does happen to us, to our loved ones, to the world. God is here, now and always, not to fix what happens, but to love us when it does and lead us through to wherever His path goes. Where will that be? I don’t know. A different path, a different place for all of us, surely, but, a place where God will be with us. This Advent, like all Advents, is a time to prepare for the future – the far off future when Jesus will return, and the closer future of the rest of our lives. So, let’s prepare for those futures by relinquishing our expectation of how God should fix things, and let God lead us into what we need to do, and where we need to go on the path God has prepared; trusting God, believing in God, taking comfort in God and walking with God wherever God leads. The Rev. Rob Henderson is a Rector at Trinity Episcopal Church.

Church at the Brook 2890 Hwy. 14, Millbrook Maranatha Church of God 2621 Holtville Rd., Wetumpka 567-6786 Victory Tabernacle AOH Church of God Hwy 143, Millbrook Wetumpka Church of God Hwy. 9 N. Wetumpka 215-3091 CONGREGATIONAL CHRISTIAN Cedarwood Congregational Christian 10286 US Hwy 231 N, Wetumpka 567-0476 Seman Congregational Christian 15970 Central Plank Rd., Seman Union Congregational Christian 8188 Lightwood Rd., Marbury 569-2122 EPISCOPAL The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany 2602 Gilmer Ave., Tallassee 252-8618 Trinity Episcopal Church 5371 U.S. Hwy. 231, Wetumpka 567-7534 St. Michael & All Angels Church 5941 Main St., Millbrook HOLINESS New Beginnings Holiness 865 Crenshaw Rd., Wetumpka 567-9211 Summit Holiness 2050 Hwy. 14, Millbrook Temple of Deliverance Holiness 620 Alabama St., Wetumpka 514-3114 JEHOVAH’S WITNESS Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 9235 U.S. Hwy. 231, Wetumpka 567-8100 LATTER DAY SAINTS Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 1405 Chapel Rd., Wetumpka 567-8339 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Cobbs Ford Rd., Millbrook LUTHERAN Christ Lutheran Church 2175 Cobbs Ford Rd., Prattville PRESBYTERIAN First Presbyterian Church 100 W. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-8135 Millbrook Presbyterian Corner of Main St. & Coosada Rd. Valley View Presbyterian - PCA 4125 Rifle Range Rd. Wetumpka 386-2386 SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST First Elmore Seventh Day Adventist 210 Lucky Town Rd., Elmore 514-1020 INDEPENDENT METHODIST Claud Independent Methodist Church 81232 Tallassee Hwy, Eclectic 541-2552 UNITED METHODIST Cain’s Chapel United Methodist 96 Lightwood Rd., Deatsville 569-2375 Central United Methodist Church 11721 Central Plank Rd. Central Elmore United Methodist Church 40 Hatchet St., Elmore 567-8653

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First United Methodist Church 306 W. Tuskeena St., Wetumpka 567-7865 First United Methodist Church 3350 Edgewood, Millbrook Harmony United Methodist Church 8000 Titus Rd., Titus Mulder Memorial United Methodist 3454 Fire Tower Rd., Wetumpka 567-4225 New Style United Methodist 64 Old Georgia Plank Spur, Wetumpka 567-9840 Oak Valley Station United Methodist 162 Parsonage Road, Tallassee 541-3924 Pierce Chapel United Methodist 1003 Pierce Chapel Rd., Santuck 265-6099 Providence United Methodist 1540 Providence Rd., Titus Robinson Springs Methodist Church 5980 Main St., Millbrook Trinity United Methodist 135 Little Weoka Creek Rd., Equality 567-9997 Union United Methodist 691 Central Rd. Eclectic Wallsboro United Methodist 11066 US Hwy. 231, Wetumpka CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE Millbrook Church of the Nazarene 3251 Browns Rd., Millbrook PENTECOSTAL Faith Deliverance Church 475 Jackson St., Elmore 567-9209 OTHER Central Bible Chapel 3630 Edgewood Rd., Millbrook Chapel of Praise Hwy. 14, Millbrook Cornerstone Full Gospel 9301 US Hwy. 231, Wetumpka 567-9143 East Chapel MP Church Airport Rd., Millbrook Grace Bible Church 2251 Main St., Millbrook Gracepoint Community Church 78223 Tallassee Highway, Wetumpka 514-9292 New Life Church - Millbrook Sanctuary Worship Center 1688 Ceasarville Rd., Wetumpka Servant Fellowship Church P O Box 1423, Wetumpka 567-2190 servantfellowshipchurch@windstream.net The Worship Center 2705 Williams Rd., Wetumpka Time of Refreshing Fellowship 117 E. Bridge St., Wetumpka 567-7750 Victory Temple (Pentecostal church) 1173 Old Montgomery Hwy., Wetumpka 567-7779 Words of Life Church 105 Cousins Rd., Wetumpka 514-2730

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Upgrades

continued from page 1

The softball batting range project is expected to be finished sometime in February. Shipman said it is the first in a series of projects over the next two or three years that will basically upgrade the whole facility. He said the next round of renovations would focus on fencing, dugout and press box issues of the boysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; baseball team. Other areas of interest are the band and music facilities, which â&#x20AC;&#x153;in terms of room and leaking,â&#x20AC;? Shipman said, are greatly outdated. He said that at some point they would most likely need to be moved into another building. The projects will be completed in phases over a matter of years, Shipman said to ensure there is enough money for each. In considering the changes, he said a committee of principles from each school was formed, there were community meetings to get input from teachers and there had been discussions at strategic planning meetings, as well. Shipman said he had talked with various city council members, as well, about

Police Briefs Dec. 21

â&#x20AC;˘ Complaint of harassment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Hillcrest Street â&#x20AC;˘ Funeral escort â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Gilmer Avenue â&#x20AC;˘ Traffic stop â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Barnett Boulevard â&#x20AC;˘ Complaint of trespassing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Lower Tuskegee Road â&#x20AC;˘ Suspicious person â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Lower Tuskegee Road â&#x20AC;˘ Disorderly conduct, public intoxication, resisting arrest â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Kent Road, white male arrested â&#x20AC;˘ False residential alarm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Princess Drive â&#x20AC;˘ Two-vehicle accident, no injury â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Friendship Road â&#x20AC;˘ Outstanding warrants â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Thelma Drive, white female arrested â&#x20AC;˘ Arrest attempt â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Gilmer Avenue â&#x20AC;˘ Animal complaint â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Friendship Road â&#x20AC;˘ Arrest attempt â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Hillcrest Street â&#x20AC;˘ Two-vehicle accident, no injury â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Alabama Highway 229 â&#x20AC;˘ Outstanding warrant â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Elm Street, black male arrested â&#x20AC;˘ False residential fire alarm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; South Tallassee Drive â&#x20AC;˘ Outstanding warrant (other agency) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Elm Street, black male arrested â&#x20AC;˘ False residential alarm â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Princess Drive â&#x20AC;˘ Two-vehicle accident, private property, no injury â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Gilmer Avenue â&#x20AC;˘ Assisted motorist â&#x20AC;&#x201C; North Ann Avenue â&#x20AC;˘ Complaint of shots fired â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Redden Avenue, negative contact â&#x20AC;˘ Assisted motorist (X 2) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; North Ann Avenue â&#x20AC;˘ Traffic stop â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2nd Avenue â&#x20AC;˘ Traffic stop â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Freeman Avenue â&#x20AC;˘ Outstanding warrants â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Friendship Road, white female arrested â&#x20AC;˘ Suspicious vehicle â&#x20AC;&#x201C; South Tallassee Drive â&#x20AC;˘ Traffic stop â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Central Boulevard â&#x20AC;˘ Traffic stop â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Alabama Highway 229

how to address all-around improvements that come from the issues of an aging campus. The schools facility upgrades have no connection to the sports complex being considered by the city, Shipman said. Shipman said he was â&#x20AC;&#x153;all earsâ&#x20AC;? to ideas from the council and community members, and that he was not against sharing facilities. However, Shipman said safety is key, and one of the issues they would run into sharing building space would be the possibility for anyone to enter an area being used by the school, as well. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m certainly willing to listen, there may some things that we can collaborate on,â&#x20AC;? Shipman said. The price tag for the softball add-on is $69,495 dollars Shipman said, and that would come from a combination of capital fund and general fund money sources for the Tallassee school system. Shipman also said it was possible there might be some help with capital and the board was looking at innovative ways to help with funding, such as grants.

Obituaries

December 23, 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 11

Charity

continued from page 1

Christian, served as ACTS director for some 10 years before retiring. Christian passed away in February. A total of 111 applications were processed and approved this year, and while that number is down from previous years, Adair said that figure may actually have positive connotations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You can look at that two ways,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I look at it as possibly a good thing. Maybe some of the people who we helped before are now employed, as we speak.â&#x20AC;? The guidelines for ACTS Christmas package applicants mandates residency in the Tallassee zip code. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s somebody from outside our area, we try to give them

laboration with Toys for Tots and local Civitan clubs, according Adair said. Some packages are delivered by ACTS members, but most were picked up at the organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s headquarters on Main Street in east Tallassee. Adair said he appreciates what his organization is accomplishing, and looks forward to years of continuing service to the greater Tallassee community. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never done anything I enjoy more,â&#x20AC;? Adair said.

some phone numbers to help, if we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t,â&#x20AC;? Adair said. Recipients received enough food to fix a Christmas meal for a family of four, including canned vegetables, macaroni and cheese, etc. Also included was a certificate for refrigerated items at Super Foods grocery, including a hen, a dozen eggs, and a half-gallon of milk. The number of children in each family was determined in advance, and an age-and-gender appropriate assortment of toys was also included. Those items are acquired through a col-

Mary Ransom Mrs. Mary Ransom, 92, of Tallassee, passed away December 22, 2015. She was born February 24, 1923. Visitation will be Thursday, December 24, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Good Hope Baptist Church, followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. with Rev. Kenny Hill officiating. Burial will follow at Good Hope Cemetery, Linville Memorial Funeral Home directing. She is survived by a sister, Olive Ledbetter; granddaughter, Jessie Wallace and great grandson, Nolan Wallace. She is preceded in death by her husband, Albert â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fredâ&#x20AC;? Ransom Sr. and son, Albert â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alâ&#x20AC;? Ransom Jr. Mary was a long time member of Good Hope Baptist Church. Online condolences at www. linvillememorial.com.

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Tigers roar through busy week undefeated Tiger wrestling overall record now 16-1 By WILLIE G. MOSELEY Tallassee Tribune

As schools let out for the Christmas holiday, the Tallassee High School wrestling team was busy asserting its viability in the Central Alabama area, forging seven wins against no losses. On Dec. 15, the Tigers traveled to Beauregard in south Lee County for a quad match. The host school may have had Tallassee’s number for the last several football seasons, but THS came away from the match with three one-sided wins, triumphing over Beulah (84-0), Dadeville (76-6), and the host Hornets (58-18). THS head coach John Mask said, however, that the first two wins at the match were against fairly-new programs. “Everybody took care of their opponents, and wrestled well,” Mask said of Tallassee’s three wins. “Dadeville and Beulah are new teams, and they have great talent. It’ll take them some time for those young men to learn wrestling, but they’ll do well.” The Tigers added four more matches to their season win total Saturday at the annual Prattville Christian Academy tournament. The first match for THS was the most-anticipated for the team against perpetual rival St. James of Montgomery. The contest was all the more important since the Tigers and the Trojans do not wrestle each other as part of the 2015-16 season. “They have five wrestlers who are ranked in the state, and so do we,” Mask said, “so we’re in the same category. We came out and jumped on them for an early lead. Most of our guys that lost didn’t get pinned, so that was also part of the difference.” Tallassee hammered out a 48-28 win, then topped Shelby County (71-12) and Northridge of Tuscaloosa (78-6), before beating Holtville in the championship match, 48-21. “They’ve really come on,” Mask said of the nearby Bulldogs. “We defeated them at our tournament in Tallassee a few weeks ago, but they’d actually beaten Weaver that day, winning by a tiebreaker. There were some exciting matches.” Mask said, THS wrestlers who went undefeated at the PCA tourney included Zac Haynes (106), Jonovan Miller (113), Jordan Price (132), Jeremy Noah (182), Andy Baker (195) and Jake Baker (heavyweight). Tallassee’s record is now 16-1. Up next for the Tigers is the New Year Duals at Gulf Shores High School.

Willie Moseley / The Tribune

(Above)Noah Blalock manhandles his foe at the Prattville Christian event. (Top) Nic Langston pins his opponent at the PCA tournament.

Boys varsity team looking to turn the season around By CARMEN RODGERS Tallassee Tribune

It was a tough loss for Tallassee’s High School boy’s varsity basketball team. After defeating the Notasulga Blue Devils last week, the Tigers fell to Wetumpka at Friday’s neutral tournament held at Stanhope Elmore. “We lost 70-51,” said Cecil Hollinquest, head coach of Tallassee’s boy’s varsity basketball team. “We played a very good game, very good first quarter. We had a game plan in place. It was working. We were able to get some guys into foul trouble. When we went to the line but we missed the free throw shot. We went 12-for-30.” Hollinquest isn’t taking the loss lightly and plans to build his team through practice, practice and more practice. “We’re still trying to work out some kinks in that area,” he said. “I really felt good about that game. I felt good about the tournament. We want to make some noise. We have to get on the same page and we have to get those free throws. They’re free for a reason and we have to continue to work at it. Layup drills and free

throws over and over and over until we can fix the problem.” During the tournament, there were a couple of Tigers that stood out and put some impressive points on the board for the team. “De’ante Brown scored 18 points and had four rebounds. Rondarian Hooks scored 13 points and had three rebounds and four assists,” Hollinquest said. Hollinquest said he can take a loss, but when it comes to missing 18 free throws, he said he will not consent to that. “They are playing well,” he said. “We went to the line; we just didn’t make it. The second quarter we only scored five points and that’s unacceptable. If you’re going to be competitive and you’re going to try and build and establish a game plan, establish the tempo of the game. So we just have to Corey Arwood / The Tribune keep working.” Tallassee High School coach Cecil Hollinquest gives his team a pep talk to attempt to rally the team during The Tigers travel to the tournament game against Wetumpka played Stanhope Elmore. Montgomery this week to take on Loveless Academic “The girls won the tournaa Christmas Tournament in about that.” Magnet Program High While Hollinquest said ment last week. When they Dadeville and both teams School. will start off against Lanett. he believes the varsity boys win it makes the whole pro“This week we’ll go to Hopefully, we’ll win those have some work ahead of gram look good. So we’re LAMP in Montgomery,” games and both teams will them to turn the season happy about that. We have Hollinquest said. “We just be in the championship around, he is very proud of some hardware in the office have to turn things around. to show the school that the game there. If not, we’ll the program in its entirety. Friday and Saturday, the JV “(I’m) excited about the basketball program is workbe in the third place game boys and varsity boys are in Saturday. So we are excited whole program,” he said. ing.”

Letters to Santa Letters to Santa from the good girls and boys at Tallassee Elementary School. A holiday keepsake section of The Tallassee Tribune Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Page 2 • December 23, 2015

Dear Santa,

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TALLASSEE CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

Letters to Santa

I have been good this year. Please bring my sister a sumting special of chrimis. Please bring a stuf animal. Thank you for not bringing me coal last year. Love, Claire Dere Santa, I have been good this year. Please bring y mom and da something. Please bring me play-dow. Thank you for bringing me a ball last year. Love, Christina Dear Santa, I have been good this year. Please bring my Nana, papa, dolten, pam, dad and momma something. Please bring me a trampalen my wish. Love, Mason Dear Santa, I have been good this year. pLease bring my cousin a Alabama 2013 team signed football. Please bring me a Paul Bear Bryant signed football, an Amari Cooper signed jersey by Amari Cooper, a signed Bo Jackson card, a Eddie Lacy signed football card, a Nick Saban signed football, a 2015 Alabama team signed football, the dimensons game, a Mark Ingram signed card, a Trent Richardson signed card, a PS4, a George Teig signed card, a AJ McCarron signed jersey. Thank you for last year’s

Xbox one. P.S. how old are you? Love, Patrick Dear Santa, I have been good this year. Please bring my mom a iPad with a pink and black case. Thank you for my game last year. Love, Taylor Dear Santa, I have been good this year. Please bring my brother a dirt bike. Please bring me a dirt bike, Ipad, and a D.S. Thank you for a bike last year. I am going to bring you milk and cookies. Love, Addison Wright Dear Santa,

Love, Kamari

good this year. Please bring my brother an X-box 360. Please bring me a Halo 5 video game, sky viper and a furry jump jet. Thank you for the four blade helicopter last year. Love, Jacob Edwards

Dear Santa,

I have been good this year. Please bring my grandma a chair that can move wear she go. Please bring me dolls and lipgloss. Thank you for the dolls last year. Love, La’niyah

I have been good this year. Please bring my sister a baby toy. Please bring me horses.

Dear Santa, I have been good this year. Please bring my step dad a elecktrick helicopter for him. Please bring me a elecktrick truck, air soft gun please. Thank you for a elf last year. If we touched were sorry. P.S. can I have me a elf please. Love, Tony

Love, Chase Dear Santa, I have been good this year. Please bring my sisters a phone. Please bring me a tablet. Thank you for last year. I am going to put out cookies and milk for you and the raindeer too. Love, J’Keiya Dear Santa,

I have been good this year.

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Dear Santa, I have been

I have been good this year. Please bring my mommy a necklis. Please bring me Iphone6. Thank you for the toothbrush last year. I will bring you milk and cookies. Love, Hayden Vines Dear Santa, I have been good this year. Please bring my family key chains. Please bring me a Barbie doll and a bike. I will leave some milk and cookies for you abd rodlf and the elfs. Love, Kamron Dear Santa, I have been good this year. I would like a bike, and a phone. I would like a puppy and a new dance costume. Love, Addie

TALLASSEE CHRISTMAS GREETINGS

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December 23, 2015 • Page 3

Dear Santa, I want a bike. I have been very good. I also want a truck and a iphone Love, R.J. Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. For Christmas I would like ear phons, iPad chargers and a hat. Love, Santoria Dear Santa, I have been good this year. For Christmas I wold like Zomrcite,a npw phone. Austin wast a tablet . Santorin wuts a macup set. Love, Jshow Dear Santa, I would like a basketball gold. I would like a football! I would like some nouw ches. Jamie wants a doll house. Adison wants a puppy. What I want for Christmas is a house cat. Alan want a mower. Love, Izaiah Dear Santa, I have bin good. I wot a xbox one and a ifon. Love, D.J.

Tallassee Elementary First Grade Letters

Love Lyam

Love Chardasia Anington

Emma Soehren Dear Santa,

Dear Santa, Dear Santa, For Christmas I would like 1. Car 2. Baby Doll 3. Cake Love KaMaya

For Christmas I would like 1. Train twister 2. Razor big wheel 3. Ear p hones

For Christmas I would like 1. Bike 2. Phone House 3. Bouncy Love Arianna Daniels

Love Barker Davis

Dear Santa, Dear Santa,

Dear Santa, For Christmas I would like 1. Phone 2. Tablet 3. Christmas lights Love Kyeron Mathews

For Christmas I would like 1. Dog 2. Cat 3. Razor car

For Christmas I would like 1. snoopy 2. Remote control truck 3. nerf gun Love Kourtney

Love Evan Coburn

Dear Santa, Dear Santa,

Dear Santa,

For Christmas I would like 1. Ice cream Maker 2. Baby doll House 3. Barbie doll

For Christmas I would like 1. four wheeler 2. BB gun 3. Scope

Love Natalee Mann

Love Branton Griffith

Dear Santa,

For Christmas I would like 1. Remote control car 2. Blue truck 3. Blue dirt bike

For Christmas I would like 1. Easy bake oven 2. Power Wheels car 3. Doc McStuffins

For Christmas I would like 1. Ro-bot Santa 2. Rc Car 3. Soft teddy bear

For Christmas I would like 1. Baby Doll 2. Cake Maker 3. Bell Love Octavia

Love Alex Mehler

Dear Santa, Dear Santa, For Christmas I would like 1. Shopkins 2. Barbie House 3. Princess Barbie Love

For Christmas I would like 1. Cotton candy maker 2. Scooter 3. Dog Love Ace Watts “F“Flowers lowers with a Personal Touch”

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Page 4 • December 23, 2015

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Dear Santa, For Christmas I would like 1. Shopkins 2. Doc Mcstuffins 3. Snoopy Love Elise Soehren Dear Santa, For Christmas I would like 1. Ice Cream Maker 2. Mindcraft Legos 3. Paw Patrol Love Gage O’Daniel

Mrs. Stanton’s Second Grade Class Dear Santa, I have been very good this year. This is what I’d like for Chrismas a ipad, a, American girl doll, Majic wand, cd of Chismas Muzic, a new dance costume, some clos for the American girl doll, a crown that I can play with Love, Olivia Dear Santa, I have been good this year. I want a zoomer dino, zoomer puppy and a bulldog puppy. p.s. I do think you will give me a present. Your friend, Adyson Dear Santa, I have been very good. I want a air hog, ninjogo wiy… flyer zane, and a wiiu. I need a… tv that works, I’d like to.. wear a under armer sort. I’d… like to read the lego book. Thank you Santa… your friend. James Dear Santa I have been very good this year. For Chrismas I would like a forwillr, blow dart, and a elf on the shelf. For Ms. Pugh I wort a woch. Love, Abram Dear Santa, I have been very good. For Christmas, this is what I want: An American girl, horses, and a eze bake ovin

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