Tallassee Tribune Dec. 6 2023

Social influencer and family safe after Elmore County fire

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

“I

Tallassee Fire Department chief Eric Jones said eight fire departments responded. Jones said that large of a response was needed due to

REELTOWN BOUND FOR STATE TITLE GAME

By HENRY ZIMMER Sports Editor

t all comes down to this.

IWhen Reeltown plays Fyffe in Bryant-Denny Stadium at 3 p.m. Friday for the AHSAA Class 2A championship, it will be the conclusion to a record-setting run by the Rebels over the past four seasons. In that time, Reeltown has won 34 of its contests and made it to the postseason in

its last three seasons.

When Reeltown’s senior class takes to the field, it will be their final ride as a group. It will also be a cornerstone mark for the class of upcoming juniors to make their stamp in blue and white.

The last time Reeltown got to the state final, the Rebels suffered a massive defeat at the hands of Fyffe.

This year, the Reeltown faithful have different plans.

“We worked so hard for

“People

Reeltown’s team boasts nine seniors, all of which have made lasting impacts on the school far beyond football. With 14 juniors waiting in the wings to take things over next season, guys like

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Police Reports

TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT

DEC. 4

• Trespassing was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

Hillcrest Street.

• Elderly abuse was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

• A runaway juvenile was reported on South Tallassee Drive.

• Forgery was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Gunshots were reported on Lee Street. DEC. 3

• Suspicious activity was reported on Lower Tuskegee Road.

• Harassment was reported on Lower Tuskegee Road.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A missing juvenile was reported on Rickey Lane.

DEC. 2

• A noise complaint was reported on Camellia Drive.

• A welfare check was conducted on Gilmer Avenue.

• A fight was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Gunshots were reported on Washington Street.

• An assault was reported on Friendship Road.

DEC. 1

• Gunshots were reported on First Avenue.

• Theft was reported on

• A welfare check was conducted on Hillcrest Street. NOV. 30

• Suspicious activity was reported on Kelly Place.

• An arrest was made on Barnett Boulevard.

• Harassment was reported on Poplar Street.

• Harassment was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

• Harassment was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

NOV. 29

• A child custody dispute was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

NOV. 28

• A juvenile complaint was reported on Quail Crossing.

• A white male was arrested on Industrial Park Drive.

• A Black male was arrested during a traffic stop on Barnett Boulevard.

• A white male was arrested on McArthur Street.

• A juvenile complaint was reported on Quail Crossing.

• A white female was arrested on Highway 231.

• An animal complaint was reported on Sylvan Lane.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Theft was reported on Barnett Boulevard. NOV. 27

• Disorderly conduct was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Lower Tuskegee Road.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Wall Street.

• Assistance was given during a medical call on Freeman Avenue.

• A Black male was arrested on Industrial Park Drive.

• Breaking and entering a vehicle and theft was reported on North Ann Avenue.

• Harassment was reported on McNeal Street.

• A motor vehicle accident with hazardous conditions was reported on Notasulga Road.

• Burglary was reported on Claire Street.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Barnett Boulevard.

• An animal complaint was reported on South Ashurst Avenue.

• Criminal mischief was reported on Ashurst Bar Road.

• Theft was reported on Benton Drive.

WETUMPKA POLICE DEPARTMENT NOV. 29

• Harassment and criminal trespass was reported on Oak Crest Court. NOV. 27

• Theft was reported on Oak Crest Court. NOV. 26

• Assault was reported on U.S. Highway 231. NOV. 24

• Harassment was reported on Jackson Street. NOV. 21

• Disorderly conduct was reported on U.S. Highway 231. NOV. 17

• Abuse of a child was reported on West Osceola Street.

• Disorderly conduct was reported on Coosa River Parkway.

‘Onward and upward’

By ABIGAIL MURPHY Multimedia Reporter

With both sharing a love for the Reeltown community, the new administration team at Reeltown High School has a few plans going into the new calendar year.

Principal Audrey Stockdale has recently moved up from assistant principal, and Alisha Fomby has stepped in as the new assistant principal beginning in October. While Stockdale was born and raised in Reeltown, Fomby is a new face to the Reeltown community.

Fomby said she already feels at home. Many may know her husband, Corey Fomby, who is a Reeltown graduate and next year her son will also be starting kindergarten at Reeltown Elementary.

Before coming to Reeltown, Fomby grew up in Sylacauga and went to Central Alabama Community College before going to Auburn University for a degree in communication disorders. She also has an instructional leadership degree from Auburn and a master’s in special education from Auburn University at Montgomery.

Fomby worked as a speech therapist, special education teacher and an assistant principal for three years before transferring to Reeltown. Working at Reeltown High School, Fomby said Stockdale’s passion for Reeltown naturally rubs off on you.

“It is a community in which we both live in; we are both invested in these children who are going through, and will be going through, this system,” she said of her and Stockdale as a team. “Our heart is there; our mind is there. We truly are all in. To be able to learn and serve and lead in the community, I feel like it’s a privilege for both of us.”

Stockdale added it truly is an honor and that is shown through how they all care for one another.

As far as her and Fomby working together, Stockdale said they come from different educational backgrounds and because of that, they complement each other well.

Stockdale started her education

at CACC and also has a bachelor’s in elementary education from Auburn as well as a master’s in elementary education from Troy University in Phenix City. Stockdale started her teaching career at Reeltown Elementary. After working for Ray Porter and Dr. Tom Cochran, they inspired her to get an instructional leadership certificate, which she received from AUM. For the past couple of years, Stockdale has been assistant principal at RHS.

Not only did she graduate from Reeltown, but so did her parents and her three kids are also at Reeltown schools. It is home in every sense of the word, she said.

Stockdale said they have a solid foundation with teachers and staff members who put their all for these students. Now, as principal, she wants to see the students and the school excel.

“We are building a transformative culture here,” she said. “We are really building our relationships with our students and helping them see the accomplishments

they can have after high school. Whether that’s a career tech field, whether that’s the workforce, whether that’s going to college.”

Going into the next year, they are looking at their testing data from preSAT, SAT to ACT WorkKeys. She and Fomby want to find ways to boost scores and give them greater opportunities for their future.

Soon RHS will be implementing new ACT training with the staff. This past fall, the school received a grant that allowed some of their students to go ahead and take the ACT. Some of those students have high enough scores where they could get a full ride.

The Alabama State Department of Education has new College and Career Readiness Indicators. For career tech, students need to have a credential and they want to continue to develop opportunities for that as well.

Stockdale said over the next few years, they hope to see RHS going “onward and upward.”

New principal Audrey Stockdale, left, and new assistant principal Alisha Fomby are taking up the reigns as the leaders of Reeltown High School.

Humane Society of Elmore County News

What to expect when bringing a pet home

By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director

Last week we talked about all the considerations we hope families will make about adding a new pet to the family over the holidays. For those who are taking the plunge, here are some more pointers to get pets and people off to a good start.

No matter where you get your new pet, please give your new pet time to adjust.

There are dogs and a few cats that quickly adapt to their new home with little effort. But there are others for whom change is more challenging and will need more time to develop trust in their new home and situation. That means patience in allowing those new pets the time to learn about life with their new family.

For these pets it can be a matter of a week or a month or more, but most will end up being wonderful pets if they are simply given the time to adjust and trust that they

have a new and permanent home. You cannot force these pets to adapt on your timeline, so be honest with yourself if you are able and willing to help a new pet that might need just a bit longer to feel comfortable.

If you are bringing home a new puppy, keep in mind puppies are like toddlers in that they don’t understand what is safe and what is off limits. Remember, if a puppy can get something in its mouth, it will eat it or chew on it. That is why puppy proofing your home and yard is so important. Get on your hands and knees so you don’t miss anything at “puppy” level. Keep anything dangerous, like cleaning supplies, behind locked cupboard doors or stored up high and tie all electrical cords out of your puppy’s reach. Knickknacks and cell phones can’t be destroyed if they’re kept in drawers or on a high shelf. Keep shoes in a closed closet.

If you don’t want something to become a chew

Pet of the Week - Yoshi

toy, prevent your puppy from getting it in the first place.

Food smells will attract your puppy, so be sure it can’t get in your trash. Use barricades like baby gates or exercise pens to keep your puppy confined to safe areas or out of unsafe ones. Check the yard for things like poisonous plants, toxic chemicals, yard tools and look for holes or gaps under gates a small puppy could squeeze through.

If you are bringing home a new kitten, much of the above still applies though you have to also look high since kittens climb and jump quite well. To help a kitten or new cat transition, give it a place to hide. Cardboard boxes or sheets draped over chairs make ideal hiding spots when you first bring a kitty home.

If the kitten or cat does hide, just let it be and let it come out to investigate on its own timeline. Just like dogs you cannot force a new cat to come around on

is nightly just south of Eclectic on Highway 63.

THURSDAY, DEC. 7

CAROLERS: Restoration 49 in Tallassee will be hosting carolers starting at 6 p.m. Dec. 7

FRIDAY, DEC. 8

TREE LIGHTING: The City of Tallassee will host its

8 in the Commons. All talents must be approved.

SATURDAY, DEC. 9

DOWNTOWN CHRISTMAS: Tallassee will be hosting its Christmas at the Square celebration in downtown from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Christmas parade will also be that day, beginning at 10 a.m., before folks can have a visit with Santa from noon to 2 p.m. at Grove Station.

MILLBROOK CHRISTMAS: The City of Millbrook will be hosting its annual Christmas celebration at Village Green from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 9. There will be more than 75 vendors. The Christmas parade, which begins at Mill Creek Sports Complex, starts at 2 p.m.

ECLECTIC CHRISTMAS: Eclectic’s Christmas Festival Market will be held in the town hall parking lot from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Christmas parade begins at 6 p.m.

CHRISTMAS ON THE COOSA: The City of Wetumpka will host its annual Christmas on the Coosa celebration, which includes a character breakfast, car show, children’s activities, arts and crafts vendors and more. The Christmas parade will start at 6 p.m. followed by the skiing Santa and fireworks show at 7:30 p.m.

SIP AND STRING: The Rex in Millbrook will host a DIY Girls’ Day Out where attendees will learn to make their own string art piece. Tickets start at $12 and include a pre-nailed board and the string needed to complete the craft. Tickets are limited so order online now at www.alreadystrung. myshopify.com. Food and

your schedule. Make sure the kitten/ cat knows where its litter box is located and place the food and water across the room or in another room as who wants to eat next to their toilet.

Keeping new pets confined to limited areas of the house can help greatly in not only housetraining but just keeping them safe as they learn about their new home. Don’t worry if your new pet(s) doesn’t eat all that well the first 24-48 hours as they learn new routines. And let your pet get to know you and your family before carting it all over the place as that places even more stress on an animal that might be struggling to feel comfortable in its new home. If your holiday schedule is beyond hectic with parties and activities, perhaps delay bringing in a new pet until after the first of the year when things are calmer, and you have more time to help your new pet become a loved member of your family. Sadly all of our area

Yoshi is a two-year male Husky mix who weighs about 60 pounds and was brought to us as a stray. He is a very handsome boy and is the typical higher-energy Husky type; he loves doing zoomies in our play yard. Yoshi is good with other dogs but not so good with cats. The Humane Society of Elmore County’s adoption fees are $100 for dogs and $50 for cats under 1 year old. Cats over 1 can be adopted by approved adopters for a fee of their choosing. This adoption fee covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations, deworming, microchip, heartworm check for dogs, rabies vaccination if old enough and a free health exam with your participating veterinarian.

If you are interested in meeting Cola or any of the pets at HSEC, the first step is to fill out an adoption application online. Once approved, you will be contacted by someone from the humane society. HSEC is located at 255 Central Plank Road in Wetumpka. The phone number is 334-567-3377 and the website is www.elmorehumane.org.

drinks are not included in ticket price.

SUNDAY, DEC. 10

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE: Seven Gables at 630 Gilmer Ave. is hosting a Christmas Open House from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10. It is a fundraiser for ACTS who helps area families in need. Donations are requested for admission.

MONDAY, DEC. 11

TREE LIGHTING:

Holtville will host its annual Christmas tree lighting at 6 p.m. Dec. 11 followed by its parade at 6:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, DEC. 15

DOWNTOWN DICKENS

CHRISTMAS: Downtown Dickens Christmas will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15. Downtown businesses will be open and owners and residents will dress in period costumes to make for a special evening.

FRIDAY, DEC. 15 — SATURDAY, DEC. 16

CANDY CANE

CABARET: The Wetumpka Depot Players will be performing the Candy Cane Cabaret, presented by the Penguin Project ensemble of special needs artists. Performances at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday as well

shelters will still have many pets in need of new homes after the new year and every month thereafter so don’t fret if you find it best to wait until after the holidays to add a new pet to your family.

Rea Cord is the executive director of the Humane Society of Elmore County.

as a matinee showing at 3 p.m. Saturday.

FRIDAY, DEC. 15 — SUNDAY, DEC. 17

PICKLEBALL

TOURNAMENT: The Alabama State Games will be hosting its inaugural Dinklebells Pickleball Tournament at 17 Springs in Millbrook from Dec. 15-17. The event is in conjunction with the Greater Montgomery YMCA. Friday will be single play, Saturday co-ed doubles and Sunday men’s and women’s doubles. It will be a round-robin tournament with a single elimination final. Registration is now available online.

Tallassee Talks

Our town knows how to show up, show out

IObituaries: 35 cents per word with a $25 charge for picture per paper (Herald, Observer, Tribune). Obituaries are only accepted via the funeral home in charge of arrangements. We do not accept obituaries from individuals.

Weddings, Engagements, Anniversaries, or Birth

Announcements: These significant family events or milestones are 35 cents per word and $25 for a photo and must be emailed to us at announcements@thewetumpkaherald.com. Include name and telephone number. The text for the announcement must be in the body of the email (not as an attachment) and photographs must be sent as a .jpeg attached to the email. Announcements will appear within 10 days in The Herald or The Tribune.

read an interesting article this week from a superintendent in the state who was disappointed in his community’s support for the local football team, band and cheerleaders and “implored” them to not take the students for granted during their continued playoff run.

This team has the longest winning streak in the state. The players are in their first semifinal game in their home stadium this week. The article went on to say the aforementioned superintendent was uncomfortable when the media asked him about the underwhelming reaction of the fan base as the team entered the field for the quarterfinal matchup.

The article read, “You would not know this was the No. 1 team in the state based on the reaction of fans.” It specifically said they did not stand and cheer as the team entered the field.

Read that again. They didn’t stand and cheer when the team entered the field.

I have so many words and yet I am speechless. But let’s start with, GO WILDCATS - GO REEL-

TOWN - WAR EAGLE. I feel like standing up with my shaker when I say it now in my quiet office, alone.

I, and many others, are still beaming from Benjamin Russell's run to the quarterfinals and hosting three back-to-back playoff matches and for Reeltown, which is successfully rolling to the state championship on Friday.

BRHS may have had a game or two where the crowd could have been fuller but every single Friday night the crowd that showed up truly showed up. The fans were engaged. They were loud. They were smiling. They were on their

TIPPY HUNTER General Manager

feet. They were cheering. They were dancing with the band. They were calling kids by name. They were dressed in the color of the week. They were shaking their shakers. They were supporting. It wasn’t just the fans in the stands.

On the off chance the crowd didn’t seem loud enough, BR’s first-class announcer, Chad Calhoun, would subtly fire off a nudge: “I SAID it’s third and 3.”

Chad always knows the right thing to say at just the right time. I feel for teams that don’t have a Chad and most don’t. The infamous sports show we’ve all come to love, hosted by Brett and Randy, made the tower rock from their part of the support squad. You won’t find a better pair in the state to call a game. Each game follows with a “player of the game”, yet another chance to build up the students. What is there not to say about Scott Hardy’s support? The current Quarterback Club president doesn’t miss a game and literally walks the sidelines the entire game, play-by-play, making as much noise as those in the stands. He’s even known to host a pregame show or two. It goes without saying how much our own managing editor, Lizi, loves every one of the teams, whether she’s on assignment or not. No matter the event or the team, she’s all in and cheers as loud as any parent. Most of the

folks I’ve mentioned don’t even have a child on the field, and yet here they are, week after week, along with so many others. Ultimately, talent, hundreds of hours of practice and great coaching wins games but there is something to be said for a strong, engaged fan base, cheer and dance teams that are second-to-none, and a band that knows when to bring the noise. One unnamed team from earlier in Benjamin Russell’s season had a good showing on the field. However, I fully believe the energy from their band led to crowd excitement and pushed them toward the win. That was the last time the opposing team’s energy won the game. Win or lose, it’s important students have a system of support that shows up and shows out.

Football season may be over for most and BRHS is graduating several key players, but there’s still a chance to bring the noise to Jordan-Hare for one upcoming alum. We already know how to get loud on the Plains but it’s quite possible the BR faithful might just bring it up a notch when Malcolm Simmons, an Auburn commit, steps out of the tunnel next year.

In the meantime, BRHS has an exciting football roster coming back next year and there are still band concerts, softball games, basketball games, etc. to cheer on and support. I could keep going but I think we get it. I mean, it’s not like our superintendents had to send out a plea to get us energized in Alex City or around Tallapoosa County.

Tippy Hunter is the general manager of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.

Is that Christmas music?

Editor’s Note: This is a reprint from 2010.

“M r. Bird, why are you listening to Christmas music?”

This query came back in October, one afternoon as I was straightening the chairs in my classroom. iTunes was running through the amplifier to keep me company, and I was singing along.

“This isn’t Christmas music,” I said to the young lady.

“It sure sounds like Christmas music,” the student replied. “Like ‘Home Alone’ or something.”

I couldn’t understand what she was talking about. I mean, it was Frank Sinatra, for goodness’ sake.

The Chairman of the Board was singing one of his best, “All The Way.” As the students passed through on their way to the buses for their after school ride home, I

was raising the roof with Ol’ Blue Eyes. After that day, I have wondered why that music sounded like Christmas to the girl. In the weeks since, as radio stations have constantly played holiday tunes, I’ve attempted to find common threads. I’ve determined four ideas to explain the student’s comments.

To today’s young people, accustomed to Auto Tune software on all their favorite pop songs, hearing an unadorned singing voice is a foreign concept. Hearing a real, live orchestra in

the arrangements is also a radical departure from many of today’s radio hits. The laid-back, swinging vibe of many 1950s and 1960s Christmas LPs, many of which form the foundation of the modern-day “classics” heard on Muzak and adult contemporary radio, was in vogue at the time of the original releases.

Finally, younger ears simply aren’t used to hearing the contour of melody. A lot of contemporary music is rhythm-based rather than melody-based, so you can dance to it – but it’s mighty difficult to sing along.

As we celebrate Christmas Day, may we also find the time to sing and listen to the joyous music of the past.

Michael Bird is a music teacher for Tallassee City Schools.

MICHAEL BIRD Columnist

Talisi Old Town Grille opens in downtown

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

The idea of a diner was a dream of Matt Kallman and John Glendale White.

The pair met in law enforcement years ago. Kallman moved on from police work and eventually his career as a bail bondsman. But their friendship continued.

Decades later, the Talisi Old Town Grille became a reality after White’s retirement.

“He was going to do a food trailer and needed a commissary,” Kallman said. “I bought this building to do it and help him out.”

Kallman’s idea was basically a small space with lots of storage for White to operate out of.

“It got out of hand and he died in the process,” Kallman said. “He cut his foot and it went septic. He never got to see this.”

Just before Thanksgiving Kallman opened the doors to the Talisi Old Towne Grille, but not without help. Kallman didn’t reveal much about the cook, but said he had a couple decades of experience in diners around the area.

“We have hired experience in the kitchen,” Kallman said. “They have been at local diners for almost 20 years. He’s great with eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits,

hash browns, grits, cheese grits — all the traditional stuff.”

The newest restaurant in town, which is in an old drug store that used to have a soda fountain, will also serve hamburgers, wings, chicken fingers, hamburger steak and sandwiches for lunch and dinner. Kallman’s daughter Sydney is helping during lunch and dinner.

Kallman is no stranger to Tallassee. He grew up in Eclectic but spent much of his time in Tallassee.

“My mother and father had the sewing plant in Jordanville,” Kallman said. “They were a big

employer here when I was a kid.” Kallman remembers his father dropping him off at a daycare on West Butler Street in Tallassee. After daycare, he didn’t stay in Eclectic.

“When I got old enough to drive, I spent most of my time here,” Kallman said. “I worked for Mr. Emfinger for three years.”

After more than a year of renovating the old drug store, Kallman is waiting to see what’s in the future.

“We have been working on this for a while,” Kallman said. “I’m just glad to have it finished now.”

A few secrets of decorating Christmas

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Pat Merrett is the most wanted person in Tallassee when the Christmas holidays begin.

Her talents are visible in many places but aren’t criminal by any means.

Merrett’s talent is decorating Christmas trees. It is something she has always done. Her home is always special at Christmas time — always with massive Christmas trees.

“I used to have a 15 footer in my living room,” Merrett said. “I figured out how to put them on. It took 6,500 lights. The only reason I knew that was that they were all new and I threw the boxes over to the side. We counted them.”

Merritt figured out a few tricks to help with lights, but she isn’t ready to share them. After a few years she downsized to a 12 foot tree and now a 10 foot tree.

“I don’t need a man to do it now,” Merrett said. “I can do it right by myself.”

Last week Merrett was helping friends decorate trees at Bell Park. She uses creativity to please those who see her creations and keep them safe — especially outside.

“I rely on lots of experience,” Merrett said. “I used to decorate at Stillwaters for years. I did a lot of the outside decorations there. You start with a rebar in the middle.”

Merrett said you carefully drive rebar in the ground not to disturb things that might be buried. Then the tree is tied to it.

“I found that it works best to protect the outside trees from the wind,” Merrett said. “You got to be careful of decorations outside. Birds and other animals will take advantage of it.”

Merrett uses something common for hanging ornaments securely on outside trees, but again it’s a secret to everyone but her friends.

Sandra Patterson recruited Merrett to help with a tree sponsored by Tallassee Real Estate. Laurie Rygiel was also helping.

“Pat is wonderful,”

Rygiel said. “She is the creative one.”

Rygiel was using Crazy Glue to secure business cards to her decorations.

Merrett said she decorated a tree for The Tallassee Tribune when it was owned by Jack Veneable.

“I went back and cut out the last 10 to 15 years of the Tribune,” Merrett said. “I then laminated them and made ornaments for the tree.”

Using the newspaper as decorations falls right into a belief of Merrett’s when it comes to Christmas trees.

“You can put anything on a Christmas tree you want,” Merrett said. “Just be creative.”

It takes a lot of creativity to make all of the trees she decorates different.

Merrett knows how to spot a problem before she has sunk too much work in a

tree.

“This man said, ‘Why do you have the lights burning?’” Merrett said. “I said, ‘So if I got a problem I know it.’”

Merrett said the man later said he first put the lights on the tree. She said the most trees she ever put up was 21. But then the man came back.

“I have had people come up to me ask how much I charged,” Merrett said. “I said, ‘You can’t afford it. This is the last one.’”

After helping with Rygiel’s tree Merrett said she planned on decorating another tree soon, but the costs were never discussed.

“I will be out here in a little while with my niece Claire Carter Scroggins,” Merrett said. “I help out my friends and maybe my family.”

CLIFF WILLIAMS THE TRIBUNE

The Talisi Old Town Grille on Barnett Avenue across from the Tallassee Police Department has been open only a week but is already drawing a crowd.

CLIFF WILLIAMS THE TRIBUNE

Pat Merrett, left, gets a little help from Laurie Rygiel decorating a tree for Christmas at Tallassee’s Bell Park. Merrett likes to make very sure of the attachment of ornaments because of wind and wildlife.

Hornsby have a chance to set a championship precedent in Tuscaloosa, something that has not been done by the Rebels since 2009.

The ‘09 team shut out seven teams on its run to glory and allowed just 91

points all season. It was about as dominant a run as one team could get. That level of play is exactly who Reeltown is meeting with the Red Devils.

Since that last championship, Fyffe has taken home six state titles and two in the last four seasons. Fyffe has shut out six different teams this season and finished its regular season as the second best team in 2A.

But Hornsby speaks for everyone that plays, coaches or cheers for the Rebels. They don’t care about who is on the other side. They have been there before.

This year’s Reeltown team has been tested as any, starting its postseason run with slow-churning

FIRE

Continued from A1

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competitions.

wins over Wicksburg and Thorsby.

The Rebels then overhauled their entire defensive scheme to play Cottonwood. It took the whole team to do it, but they next defeated Comer at the last second to get where they are.

They have done the work. Friday is the reward. Win or lose, the 2023

The Tallassee FFA program is used to being strong at the state level and has had some teams at nationals.

“We did not compete this year so our team could stay together for another year,” Tallassee High School FFA advisor Dr. Daniel Free said. “We have some really good teams. We could win state in multiple categories.”

The Tallassee High School FFA program student leadership includes senior Avery Nolin as president and senior Gracie Wallace as vice-president. The girls were glad to make the trip to Indiana even though they didn’t compete.

“It was amazing to see the ‘Sea of Blue’ jackets throughout Indianapolis,” Wallace said. “I really

GROW

Continued from A1

High School are learning how to grow it five different ways and there is one purpose.

“I want them to be able to replicate it at home,” Tallassee High School agribusiness teacher Dr. Daniel Free said. “There are raised beds, hydroponics, aquaponics, aquaponics and containers.”

The raised beds are around the school’s greenhouse. The aquaponics system has been going for months growing tilapia underneath. The lettuce is

Reeltown season will come to an end.

With a win, it will mark the end to an undefeated season, something not even that ’09 team can claim. A loss marks only the second loss in two years for the Rebels.

As it has all season, it will come down to the game plan and execution and by Friday evening, a state championship trophy could very well be coming home to Tallapoosa County.

“It is us doing what we do and them doing what they do and who can execute it,” Reeltown coach Matt Johnson said. “It will come down to who can do it the best. It will be a really, really exciting game.”

it I couldn’t because I lost my drivers license in the fire. I lost my social security card. I may have lost my birth certificate.”

enjoyed being able to experience the atmosphere with all the other FFA members.”

Nolin and Wallace said the blue jackets were everywhere and was great to interact with an estimated 60,000 FFA members from across the country.

“It was fun to have so many there together with similar thoughts,” Nolin said.

The trip included a visit to a large dairy operation and other farm related activities.

“We went and got the feel for it,” Free said. “We watch how cows give birth. They had a live birthing education opportunity.”

Nolin and Wallace are also on the school’s FFA construction team. The two girls on the four person team make the Tallassee team unique.

“If there are 100 males, there might be three females,” Free said.

“It is good because the girls like

being grown in containers and soon in hydroponics buckets in the classroom. Free said there is a reason for teaching the students multiple ways to grow the lettuce.

“Maybe they won’t have as much luck growing one way but still have the others they can use,” Free said. “It is a real life application.”

But the lettuce and broccoli growing alongside will not go to waste. The students will be involved in the next step of the food system in the U.S.

“It is ready to be sold,” Free said. “We will sell it in the next couple weeks to

In another video Carter said he wasn’t the only one suffering after the fire.

“My brother lost everything,” Carter said. “My parents lost everything. It was my parents’ house. What happened yesterday is the single worst thing to happen in my entire life. I would not wish any of it on anyone.”

beating the boys.”

Free said two years ago the two helped anchor a second place at the state competition. The extra experience should pay off.

“I think they will be even better,” Free said.

The girls are hopeful things will work out for competitions. But they are also looking to the future and leveraging skills learned in FFA. The girls said the program and their positions have taught them many of the soft skills required for jobs in the future.

“We have to plan things out and make sure things go smoothly,” Wallace said. “I am learning lots about getting people to work together.” Nolin is learning leadership skills as well and hoping to stay connected with FFA beyond high school.

“I’m thinking about getting involved in the collegiate FFA,” Nolin said.

students and staff.”

Free and the students grew a buttercrunch leaf variety of lettuce.

“It has a real smooth texture to it,” Free said. “It can be used like romaine lettuce. It can be used like a wrap or to make lettuce tacos.”

The students will learn the next phase of growing vegetables. Free said students planted lettuce seeds just last week to be transplanted into the ag programs’ new hydroponic buckets in the next week or so.

“They have already germinated,” Free said. “They opened up the wrap

and it was just amazing to see the smile on their faces.”

Free said the students will make the transplants and about 21 days later the lettuce will be ready.

The lettuce the students are about to sell will be replanted and the process starts over.

Potatoes will soon be a part of the mix too.

With the completion of the new high school, Free already has plans to expand to where the choir trailer was.

“We will build more raised beds over there,” Free said. “It is a full on operation.”

n Sunday in the Dadeville area, rain began to fall! The clouds darkened and it was what most of us would call a messy day. On Sunday afternoon, choirs would be singing and the beautiful lights downtown and at Pennington Park would be turned on. At the appointed time, tents had been erected at the courthouse to provide shelter from the rain. In the park, there remained only a few puddles of water and mud. As people waited with excitement, the rain ceased! In the park, the Dadeville Community Chorus opened the night by singing, “Angels Are Making Their Rounds.” The flood gates in Heaven had closed and many of those present observed water dripping from their eyes as they knew this was a night to give all praise, honor, and glory to the King of Kings.

JACKIE WILBOURN Columnist

“The Heavens declared the glory of God; the skies proclaimed the work of His hand,” Genesis 15:1-6.

As “Silent Night” closed the program, realization of the presence of the Lord was in this place. With over eight billion people in the world, how many of them know the reason we celebrate Christmas. No doubt, it is the most celebrated of all holidays, from lights to pageantry, from gifts to family meals, but do we recognize that Christ the Lord’s birth is the reason for celebration? Have you ever thought about all the homes and businesses putting lights on a tree?

“Be thankful for the beautiful story in Luke about the birth of Jesus. The glamor of the Christmas season gives everyone total confidence that Jesus is the only Savior the world will ever have. Let us share the message of the angels, as they continue to make their rounds, so others will know about the good news!”

God in his infinite wisdom, knew that involving rituals and customs would help reinforce social bonds and bring people together, no matter what their beliefs.

Do you recall in scripture the night Abraham followed God’s instructions to go outside, look up, and count the stars? The stars were not visible on Sunday night, but the Christmas lights showed brightly and definitely were too numerous to count.

Remember the God who

Tallassee Churches

created the sun, the moon, and stars is the same God who created the clouds, the rain, and the bright lights. Jesus tells us in His Word that He is the Light of the World! A God who can create all of this is the same God who kept His promise to Abraham and He is the same God who promises us an eternal home with Him in Heaven. We see the works of His hands and believe in His promises. Be thankful for the beau -

tiful story in Luke about the birth of Jesus. The glamor of the Christmas season gives everyone total confidence that Jesus is the only Savior the world will ever have. Let us share the message of the angels, as they continue to make their rounds, so others will know about the good news!

Jackie Wilbourn, member of Bethel Baptist Church, is a chaplain with the Alabama Baptist Disaster Team.

ANOTHER TWO TITLES: Stewarts wins pair of state championships

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

The most decorated athlete in Tallassee history added two more state championships to her trophy case on Saturday.

Tallassee senior Macey Stewart, who entered the season with seven total state championships, claimed the AHSAA Class 1A-5A championship in the 100-yard freestyle and the 100yard backstroke races held at state in Auburn.

Stewart, a University of Alabama signee, has won the state championship in both races every year since she was a freshman. She added a fifth championship in the backstroke her eighth-grade season.

“Macey, of course, that was her eighth and ninth championship,” Tallassee coach John Mask said. “I don’t care if it’s wrestling, baseball, track or anything, there’s not a more decorated athlete to ever come through Tallassee. She’s won

nine titles. That’s just phenomenal. She’s winning by seconds. It’s not even close. She put on a great performance as she always does.” In the backstroke, which is Stewart’s best race, she finished with a time of 56.31, which was 4.3 seconds faster than second place finisher, Bella Daniel from Madison Academy.

Stewart’s finish was one second off from a new state

REELTOWN FACES FINAL TEST OF THE SEASON

By HENRY ZIMMER Sports Writer

Regardless of outcome, the 2023 Reeltown football season ends on Friday.

In the past two seasons, Reeltown has put together a combined record of 23-2 and has a chance to add to its win column in the AHSAA 2A state title game.

Playing Fyffe at 3 p.m. in Bryant-Denny Stadium, Friday’s matchup will be a final swansong for the seniors that have led Reeltown to record breaking levels of success.

“They are our leaders and are great young men,” Reeltown head coach Matt Johnson said of his oldest athletes. “This week you are preparing for a very good opponent. But at the same time, every day this week is the last for them. This is going to be it. The unknown is not unknown anymore.”

After Reeltown stormed the field victorious over Comer, many Reeltown Rebels broke down in tears. Some cried tears of joy, others of sadness and many of both. Johnson too got a bit emo-

tional, knowing he is taking his team back to the title fight for the first time since 2019 and leading his seniors into battle for the very last time.

To the coach, crying after the win was not in any way a sign of weakness. It was a sign of how much of his team truly cares.

“That is the purest form of realizing the hardwork and

dedication,” Johnson said. “That is an outside way of showing how much work these guys and these coaches have put into this. To see it come to fruition to get to this point and know we are one game away from completing our goals makes them emotional. They have earned it.”

One of those emotional seniors was quarterback and linebacker Jake Hornsby.

The kick heard ’round the state

By HENRY ZIMMER Sports Writer

Kickers are people too. Just ask Gaines Tapley.

As Reeltown battled back and forth for a chance to play in the state title game, the team’s not often used junior kicker stood on the sidelines watching.

He kicked the ball off five times, but didn’t attempt a single

field goal or point after for the entire AHSAA Class 2A semifinal against B.B. Comer on Friday night. But with one second left, having made a single point-after try all postseason, Reeltown head football coach Matt Johnson trotted out Tapley and the field goal unit.

See KICK, Page B2

Quite literally, the offense and defense both flow through their senior signal caller.

Postgame, fighting back emotions, the weight of the moment all caught up to Hornsby.

Last season, he threw an interception to end his team’s postseason run against Comer.

This year, he threw his

team into field goal position for a win to go to state.

“We worked so hard for this,” Hornsby said. “People always doubt us because we might not be the biggest or fastest team. But we have brotherhood. And that is unmatched.”

While it was Fyffe who put Reeltown out back in 2019, the programs themselves are largely different. What is not different is the magnitude of where the game will be played.

In 2019, Johnson admitted he didn’t do the best job in preparing his team for playing in Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium, a stadium that seats almost 90,000. Now, Johnson will be taking his team to Alabama’s Bryant-Denny, a football cathedral that holds just over 100,000 seats.

“In 2019, that big stadium and atmosphere got us a bit,” Johnson said. “We came out tight. The preparation these guys have done and the adjustments the coaching staff has made, they are ready. I probably didn’t do a good job the first time.”

Life lessons on the gridiron

Football is about way more than just X’s and O’s. Especially at the high school level, football is as much about teaching life lessons as it is about teaching a sport. The vast majority of high school players won’t go onto the next level, and even a more miniscule amount of those who do will advance to the national stage.

For most people, high school football lasts just a few years and really feels like the glory days. So when your team goes all the way and makes it the state championship, it can feel just as big and just as important as going to the Super Bowl. For many, many players, it is essentially the equivalent. Reeltown’s football team and fans certainly felt that, “We’re going to the Super Bowl” moment after defeating B.B. Comer at the final second in the AHSAA Class 2A semifinals on Friday night. You could make the argument Reeltown was the better football team, and at the end of the 48 minutes, the Rebels were certainly on the right side of the scoreboard. But if those two teams faced off 10 times, it very easily

LIZI GWIN Managing Editor

could go a different way half those times.

That being said, you may also make the argument Reeltown won not because of football — but because of those other intangibles, those other life lessons learned along the way. Just four years ago, I stood at almost the same spot just outside the end zone in a different semifinal matchup. That time, the Rebels were facing Leroy and were down 28-27 in the second overtime. We all held our breath as Reeltown coach Matt Johnson elected to go for two, hoping to win it all, instead of kicking the PAT and sending it to a third OT period. It felt like the longest twopoint conversion attempt of all time.

Much like this past week, as we all stood with bated breath

See LESSON, Page B2

LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN THE TRIBUNE

Reeltown’s Demetrius Brown grabs a pass during Friday night’s game against B.B. Comer last week. The Rebels will have to be very balanced offensively if they hope to overcome Fyffe.

See REELTOWN, Page B2

LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN | THE TRIBUNE

Reeltown’s Gaines Tapley (15) embraces teammate Harrison Renfroe after kicking the game-winning field goal on Friday night.

Tied 28-28 with B.B. Comer, it was all up to him.

As the kick sailed through the dark and brisk Sylacauga sky, it trailed further and further right off Tapley’s right boot. The ball hit the inside of the right upright and doinked itself through the yellow arms of Legion Stadium.

Afterwards, Tapley became a legend.

“It felt great, just like a normal kick,” Tapley said postgame of his 24-yard make, amidst a throng of fans and teammates.

“It was just an everyday kick.”

This season, Tapley had been good for 13 total points for his team, 10 prior to the Comer contest.

He has connected on 60 percent of his kicks all season, and essentially has only been used for kickoffs during the postsea-

LESSON

Continued from B1

when Johnson decided to send out the field goal team tied 28-28.

Now, some may not see this as such a crazy decision. It was just a 24-yard attempt, after all.

But I’ve been watching high school football for a long, long time. And for a high school player, most especially at the Class 2A level, that kind of field goal isn’t a given.

In fact, a fair amount of teams don’t even kick extra points on a regular basis — Reeltown and Comer are two of them, by the way. Neither even attempted a point-after try Friday night.

But just like that decision four years ago, Johnson made the right one, and in the process, likely taught his team the most important lesson it needs to know heading into the state championship: He believes in them.

“I trusted him the whole time,” Johnson said.

TITLES

Continued from B1

record, which she herself claimed a year ago with a time of 55.31.

Her second championship of the year and ninth all time came in the freestyle race. After a preliminary time of 51.55 seconds, she nearly matched that time again with a championship time of 51.77. She beat the sec-

son. His lack of attempts in the postseason are no fault of his own, but simply due to the fact that other teams go for two more frequently. And two-point tries often don’t involve the kicker. So, as Reeltown’s Arthur Woods and Tae Martin raced up and down the field for all but a single tick of the clock, Tapley spent his time clutching footballs on the side and jogging back and forth to stay loose. He never knew if his name might be called, but needed to be ready just in case. When his name was called, he might have been the calmest one on the sidelines.

“I knew I had it,” Tapley said.

Trying to play things cool after the win, Tapley eventually found himself unable to fully describe the magnitude of his moment. As his friends and teammates

When it comes down to the state championship on Friday, both teams are solid football teams. Fyffe, obviously, is always the Class 2A favorite. It was the Red Devils who ultimately defeated Reeltown four years ago, and since then, they’ve won another two titles. They are the defending state champions and have won six total.

The Rebels are no slouch though. They have three state championships to their names and they enter the game undefeated. Reeltown has lost just one game in the last two seasons.

Clearly both teams know how to play football and play it well. However, it might come down to more than that — and Reeltown has definitely proven it has the intangibles. When push comes to shove, I’d never bet against these Rebels.

Lizi Arbogast Gwin is the managing editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.

ond-place finisher, Rhea Mostellar of UMS Wright, by nearly three full seconds.

“It’s just phenomenal,” Mask said. “Whatever she enters, she’s always been good at. Since she was a child, I’ve just noticed the work she puts into the sport and not just in season. Her work ethic and her competitive nature allowed this for her.”

Stewart wasn’t the only Tallassee swimmer

cried around him, jumped on his back and took pictures with family, the short-statured Tapley took a look around what he had helped create.

No, he did not score the touchdowns that led his team to his kick. He didn’t quarterback the drive that led to the field positioning, or help stop Comer’s devastating rushing attack. Without him though, Reeltown may not be playing on Friday.

He figured that fact out soon enough.

“Kickers don’t get any initiation on moments like this,” Tapley said, pausing briefly while holding back a tear or two. “I just told everyone on the sidelines that kickers are important in certain situations.”

Tapley’s sentiment must have really reached his veteran coach.

“I trusted him the whole time,” Johnson said.

REELTOWN

Continued from B1

This year, the Rebels will make the trek down to Tuscaloosa on Thursday and spend the day at the stadium. They will watch the 5A matchup on Thursday evening and try to get as acclimated as they can before Friday’s game.

Johnson has little to no worry at all that this year’s team will be completely locked into the task at hand.

“We have a group that is going to be focused completely on this game,” Johnson said.

“It is going to be an extremely physical matchup. That is what they pride themselves in and that is what we hang our hat on too.”

Not much can be said about Fyffe that has not already been said.

Since winning the 2019 championship, the Red Devils have won two more state titles, winning last season over Comer. Since 2016, Fyffe has not lost its region championship.

When Reeltown meets Fyffe on Friday, it will meet a team that has shutout six teams this year and has outscored opponents 648-160.

This postseason Fyffe has scored 200 points and allowed

to finish on the podium.

Junior Camden Mask took home two silver medals on the weekend.

The star breaststroke swimmer finished in second place in both the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard individual medley.

In the breaststroke, he finished behind LAMP’s Alex Park with a time of 57.36. Park had a time of 55.58.

Mask’s finish would have won him the 6A/7A

just 71.

“They have been dominant,” Johnson said of Fyffe. “They are the premier team in the state of Alabama and high school football. Getting an opportunity to play them again, our kids know who they are and what is at stake.”

As a team that is a perennial contender for the state title, Fyffe is usually the hunter instead of the hunted. There is more than enough tape on the Red Devils to go around.

Fyffe does not run any unusual scheme like Cottonwood or rely on one to two players like Comer, they just simply play the best version of football they can. And it works.

“You look at them and they are a machine,” Johnson said. “What they do schematically is a well oiled machine. They are not going to beat themselves. You are going to have to beat them. I hope they turn on the film and say the same thing about us.”

Prior to the Comer game, Johnson was adamant that the team which played to its strengths more was going to be the victor.

While there were moments of Reeltown getting away from its roots, it was Reeltown who prevailed. Friday’s game will be no different, and magnified even

state championship, but he took home second place in 1A-5A. His time was also a personal best. Two weeks ago at sectionals, he swam a 59-second breaststroke, which he beat on Saturday.

In the 200-IM, he finished behind Park again, this time by 10 seconds. Mask had a time of 2:03.20, which was another personal best for him.

His previous best, also

more.

“It is us doing what we do and them doing what they do and who can execute it,” Johnson said. “It will come down to who can do it the best. It will be a really, really exciting game.”

No matter what, Hornsby will eventually throw his final pass as a Rebel on the same ground some of the greatest college quarterbacks have ever played.

Senior Zach Riley will make his final block, Arthur Woods will rush his final time, Xavier Thomas will break up his final pass and Tyrese Fallin will make his final defensive call. JJ Kendrick will bring out the doll Chucky one last time. Bake Smith, Levi Waites and Jacob Hornsby will all be there right beside them.

Jake Hornsby said during his final outing, his final time donning the number 14 for the program in which he has meant so much, he won’t be playing for himself. None of the seniors will.

“We are looking forward to going there,” Hornsby said. “These fans who have packed out these stadiums. They deserve a win. For Melody (Jackson), she deserves it. We are going to go down there and win that ball game.”

set at the sectionals, was 2:09.

“He shaved off massive times and did personal bests,” John Mask said. “Shaving off six seconds is a big deal and he left with two silver medals.”

The boys 200-yard medley relay team did not reach the podium, but did finish in the Top 8 in the state and reached Saturday’s championship race. With a time of 1:51.55,

the team of Mask, Brady Adams, Adam Aldridge and Chase Webster finished in sixth place.

“That relay team also knocked off major time and finished in sixth, which is huge,” Mask said. “We had some amazing swims and the kids did really well. It’s no easy task to make it to state. Everyone wants to win a championship, but taking time off all of your swims is so impressive.”

LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN | THE TRIBUNE

Reeltown players, coaches and fans dogpile on top of Gaines Tapley, who scored the game-winning field goal to send the Rebels to the state championship.

Reeltown defeats Comer to punch ticket to state

By HENRY ZIMMER Sports Writer

With a single second left on the clock, Gaines Tapley lined up for a field goal.

Tapley had not attempted a field goal, or a point after, all game against B.B. Comer on Friday night but banked his try from 24 yards out off the upright. Tapley’s kick secured Reeltown a 31-28 victory in the AHSAA Class 2A semifinals.

“It felt great,” Tapley said about his game-winning kick. “It was like a normal, everyday kick. I couldn’t let it phase me.”

As from what Tapley called normal, there wasn’t another second of the semifinal matchup between Comer and Reeltown that was normal. The game featured three first-half fumbles, a safety, numerous lead changes and game-winning field goal. Through it all, Reetown’s athletes stayed the course and mounted a 96-second drive to set up

Player of the Week

Tapley’s kick.

“It was a will to win,” Reeltown coach Matt Johnson said. “Heart. We played for 48 minutes. That is it. That was 48 minutes of fight against an extraordinary team with elite talent. I am so proud of our guys. We didn’t quit.”

The game started with Comer muffing a punt and Tae Martin picking it up for the Rebels.

Martin scored just a few plays later.

Comer responded, and Martin found his way in for his second score of the first quarter on Reeltown’s next drive.

On Comer’s next turn, Zach Riley jumped on a fumble to give Reeltown back the ball. Up 14-8, Arthur Woods spun his way through the entire Comer defense for a score. Off two Comer turnovers, Reeltown scored twice and had a 20-8 lead.

The Tigers were not put away, as after a touchdown drive and a recovery of a Reeltown

fumble, Comer took a 22-20 lead.

Reeltown’s next drive stalled and punter Demetrius Brown booted a kick that was downed at the 2. A single play later, Comer’s Kamore Harris ran out of the back of the end zone for a safety and tied the game.

Harris then stripped Martin on the ensuing kickoff, and his Tigers punched in a score to take a 28-22 lead with 97 seconds to play in the first half.

Johnson knew what his team was up against in the likes of Harris and the rest of the Tigers, but had faith in his squad’s game plan to retake the game.

“That is just a great team,” Johnson said of Comer. “That is a really good football team. But we had a great plan.”

The score stayed the same until Woods leaped his way into the end zone with 8:11 to play, tying the game at 28. With 1:51 on the clock, Martin swiped

a fourth down pass out of the air and gave his team the ball at their own 37. What followed was a drive for the ages, as the Rebels relied on the arm of quarterback Jake Hornsby to drive the team down the field.

Hornsby found Devin Bragg, Finn Henderson, Woods and Martin on the drive to set up the field goal.

“On that last drive, Coach was telling us we had to be quick and take the safe throw to get down the field,” Hornsby said. “Getting down there

Wetumpka’s Rogers can’t stop scoring

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Wetumpka senior point guard Nate Rogers is on quite the scoring tear.

Rogers, the 2022-2023 Elmore County Basketball Player of the Year, has started his senior campaign off on the right foot.

In the past week, Rogers has led the Indians (3-2) to back-to-back wins over Central Hayneville and Chilton County.

In the win over Central, he recorded a season-high 34 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Two days later, he added 30 points, five assists and four rebounds against Chilton County.

For his performance in the team’s two wins, Rogers is the Elmore County Player of the Week.

“Going into the year, we talked about what we wanted from Nate and we wanted the game to come more naturally to him,” Wetumpka coach Steven Thomas said. “We don’t want him to feel like he has to do too much in terms of offensive production. We’ve seen him do that, and he’s scoring a quiet 30 and a quiet 34 points.

He’s getting to his spots and he’s engaged in the game.

He’s doing the little things that feed into scoring like playing defense and getting

Thursday, Dec. 7

4 Barbour County at Tallassee, 6 p.m.

4 Holtville at Notasulga, 5 p.m.

4 Wetumpka at Pike Road, 6 p.m.

4 Stanhope Elmore at Jeff Davis, 6 p.m. High School Wrestling

4 Elmore County/Brew Tech/Shelby County at Holtville, 5 p.m.

4 Stanhope Elmore at Pike Road, 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 8

High School Football

AHSAA Class 2A State Championship, BryantDenny Stadium in Tuscaloosa

4 Reeltown vs. Fyffe, 3

p.m.

steals. That is translating into easier points for him.”

He isn’t just scoring in transition off steals and defense. Rogers can score basically any way the team needs him to.

In Tuesday’s matchup with Central, it was his 3-pointer that was falling. He hit six 3-pointers in the first half and had eight total shots fall.

“It was just catch and shoot for him, but he also hit a few off the dribble in transition,” Thomas said. “He was just lights out.”

In the Chilton County game, he hit only a few 3-pointers and got his midrange game more involved. Driving to the basket resulted in more free throws, so his long shot wasn’t needed as much in the game.

“We’ve seen a lot more efficient shooting from him this year,” Thomas said. “We saw a lot of different ways that he can get the ball in the hoop the last two days.”

Surprisingly, his two 30-point performances are not even the best showing he’s had this year.

In the team’s season opener, also against Central Hayneville, Rogers went coast-to-coast for a buzzer-beating layup.

Down 61-60 in the final seconds, Rogers took off up the right side of the court. He caught a lobbed inbounds pass

SPORTS CALENDAR

School Basketball

4 Thorsby at Elmore County, 6 p.m. 4 ACA at Tallassee, 6 p.m. Edgewood Academy Tri-County Tournament (Home), TBA 4 Holtville at Central, 5 p.m. 4 Wetumpka at St. James, 5 p.m.

4 BTW Magnet at Stanhope Elmore, 6 p.m. High School Wrestling

4 Elmore County, Tallassee, Wetumpka, Stanhope Elmore at Swede Umbach Tournament (Auburn), TBA Saturday, Dec. 9 High School Basketball

Vote

just before mid-court, and he kept running straight towards the hoop. He split two Central defenders and laid the ball off the right side of the backboard and it went straight into the net as the buzzer sounded and Wetumpka won, 62-61.

“What we’re trying to get across is that we have the talent to do something this year, but we have to put action behind the words,” Thomas said. “We’ve seen that from him and our seniors so far.”

Rogers buzzer-beating win is the only home game that the Indians have played up to this point. Wetumpka has a stretch of seven-consecutive away games dating between Nov. 14 and Dec. 12.

Included in that was a Mountain Brook tournament where Wetumpka faced Ramsay and Dothan, two of the better schools in the state. Both of those games turned out to be losses for Wetump -

4 Edgewood Academy Tri-County Tournament (Home), TBA High School Wrestling

4 Elmore County, Tallassee, Wetumpka, Stanhope Elmore at Swede Umbach Tournament (Auburn), TBA Monday, Dec. 11

High School Basketball

4 Elmore County at Trinity, 6 p.m.

4 Fort Dale at Edgewood Academy, 4 p.m.

4 Bullock County at Tallassee, 6 p.m.

4 Holtville at Thorsby, 6 p.m. High School Wrestling

was the important thing. My offensive line gave me all day. That was the best performance I have seen them have. My receivers came through. I thank God I got it done for my team.”

For large portions of the game, Reeltown’s stars were peeling themselves off the ground, playing through various injuries suffered on Friday and well before.

But the team never gave up and no single injury kept any player down for long. Everyone contributed and

continued to fight to get revenge against Comer and punch their tickets to Tuscaloosa.

“They are great young men who give you all they got,” Johnson said. “They are just special.”

When Reeltown got into the red zone, Johnson continued to have his offense run on the field. The last play was a dump off from Hornsby to Woods. As soon as Woods hit the turf, Johnson called a timeout and it was Tapley’s moment to cement his name in Reeltown football history. Behind his right foot, and a little help from the left upright, he did just that.

“I trusted him the whole time,” Johnson said of his kicker. With the win, Reeltown advances to the 2A state title game in Tuscaloosa. The Rebels are in the championship bout for the first time since 2019 and will face Fyffe, the same team that defeated Reeltown four seasons ago.

Wetumpka point guard Nate Rogers averaged 32 points per game over two games last week.To go along with his two 30-point performances, he also hit a buzzer-beater in the team’s first win of the season.

ka, but are serving as growing points for the Indians.

Both of Rogers’ big performances last week came on the road, and the Indians will now turn their sights to Pike Road, Prattville and St. James on the road.

“I told the guys that those are the caliber of teams we are going to end up playing if we want a shot at the postseason,” Thomas said. “We responded from those two losses with the two wins last week and got exactly what we wanted to see from the guys. Nate’s scoring is just a product of that.”

4 Stanhope Elmore at Montgomery Catholic, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 12 High School Basketball

4 Elmore County at ACA, 5:30 p.m.

4 Abbeville Christian at Edgewood Academy, 4 p.m.

4 Valley at Tallassee, 6 p.m.

4 Holtville at Billingsley, 5 p.m.

4 Chilton County at Wetumpka, 6 p.m.

4 Stanhope Elmore at Opelika, 6 p.m. High School Wrestling

4 Childersburg/Auburn/ Stanhope Elmore at Holtville, TBA

4 Tallassee at Beulah, 5 p.m.

4 Pike Road at Wetumpka, 4:30 p.m.

LIZI ARBOGAST

Kamore Harris on Friday night.

Lake River & Classi eds

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Beginning with the March 2024 Primary, the temporary Election Polling Location at Hackneyville Fire Dept. will revert back to the Hackneyville Community Center. Also, Election Polling Location Sardis Church will move to Church of God’s Grace located at 8245 Highway 50, Dadeville, Alabama. If you need to know where to vote, contact the Board of Registrars at 256-825-1081.

PROSPECT CUTOFF WORK ALMOST COMPLETE

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

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A½ mile detour is almost over for residents in north Elmore County.

For the last six weeks, the Elmore County Public Works team has been replacing a failing bridge on Prospect Cutoff with two 84-inch diameter pipes.

“This is being done faster than any state project I have seen,” Elmore County commissioner Henry Hines said. “A state project would take three to four times longer.”

Elmore County chief engineer Luke McGinity said the materials cost approximately $85,000 and were funded through an ADEM American Recovery Plan Act Stormwater Project grant.

“We used county equipment and labor to do it in house,” McGinity said. “We saved tens of thousands in the process. A contractor would likely charge three to four times what this is

costing the county.”

The bridge needed major repairs. The county had posted a three-ton limit on the bridge prohibiting larger vehicles from crossing.

“No school bus, log truck or even fire truck could cross the bridge,” McGinity said. “It meant a 3 ½ mile detour for the Kowaliga Fire Department from their station on Prospect Road to get to Highway 63 North.” McGinity said the project is within the county’s capabilities in house.

“We can do pipe and even large diameter pipe, but not a bridge,” McGinity said. “If a bridge had to go back in place, we would contract that out.”

Sometimes county employees use rental equipment to place very large diameter pipes in place. For the Prospect Cutoff project, the county’s largest excavator handled setting the two pieces of pipe.

County employees have since been backfilling and compacting the dirt around the

pipe placing riprap, or a layer of stone, at either entrance.

Traffic will be allowed across it this week, but it is still not

complete. “They will have to go slow,” McGinity said. “We will have rough road signs put up. It should be opened by the end of the week and asphalt should be back on it by the end of the year.”

Elmore County’s Spear signs with Central Alabama CC softball

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Elmore County senior

Morgan Spear has accomplished her childhood dream of being a college softball player.

Spear, the Panthers’ star third baseman, signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball with Central Alabama Community

College on Wednesday. Former Elmore County coach Mark Segrest helped Spear get on the radar of CACC coach Greg Shivers, and a tryout of sorts was set up for earlier in the fall. After Spear went to campus and practiced with the college team, she earned an offer and didn’t mull over the decision very long.

“It means a lot to me to be able to play at the next level,” Spear said. “This has always been a dream of mine. I really loved CACC’s facilities and their campus. I loved coach Shivers right away.”

Spear has played primarily third base for the Panthers in her high school career, and she’s

excelled in the hot corner. While helping Elmore County to a third place finish in Class 5A last season, Spear had a great junior year.

She recorded a .900 fielding percentage in 123 chances while helping turn four double plays, and she was second on the team with five home runs and 33 runs batted in.

At her try-out, she played third base, shortstop, second base and outfield. Shivers told her being able to play anywhere will be great for her as it opens up more opportunities.

She’s most comfortable at third base, but she says she will be fine wherever they put her.

“I will need to work on playing outfield if that’s a possibility for me there,” Spear said. “Otherwise, I’m going to keep working on what I’ve been working on and I’ll be good. I think one of my biggest strengths is my hitting ability. It’s gotten me pretty far in my softball career, and I think that’s something good that I can bring to the college level.”

Spear has already had a stellar high school career, as she has recorded 11 home runs, 13 doubles, five triples and 63 RBIs on 72 hits over the last two years.

She’s also shown she can be a threat on the base path with 22 stolen bases in two years. Last

year, she had 13. Spear’s role will look different as she enters her senior season. Segrest is gone and head coach Tranum Blackwell has taken over the team, and she’s one of only two seniors on the team.

Five senior starters are gone from last year’s state tournament team, and the Panthers’ ace is gone as well.

Spear knows it will be different, but she is going to try and spend this season being a team leader.

“Being one of the only two seniors on this year’s team, I really want to be a leader and step up and try my best to build relationships with the younger girls and help them grow,” Spear said.

CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE HERALD

The Elmore County Public Works Department is nearing the completion of replacing a bridge on Prospect Cutoff. The project was done totally with county employees and equipment.