07-21-22 Dadeville Record

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SPORTS

INSIDE

INSIDE

Anfernee Jennings hosts first annual camp

Gas prices continue to drop statewide

County Schools awarded regional grants

THE RECORD Page A9

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Serving the Dadeville & Lake Martin area since 1897

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VOL. 126, NO. 29

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022

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Former Dadeville fire chief dies at 66 late Eunice Burke Wilkerson. Growing up, he was a member of the LaFayette Heights Baptist Church in LaFayette, and graduated Keith Wilkerson dedicated 47 years of from Chambers Academy in 1975. During his life to public service. On Friday, July his youth, Wilkerson was a member of the 18, the veteran firefighter and Dadeville school’s original football team. resident passed away. Wilkerson’s career in fire service began Wilkerson, 66, was honored during a with the Opelika Fire Department where he memorial service at LaFayette Heights worked for a time before returning home to Baptist Church on Monday, July 18, during LaFayette to work at the city’s fire departwhich family, colleagues and friends shared ment. While there, he served as a firememories of the late first responder. fighter, driver and eventually the city’s fire The Randolph County native was born chief. He retired from LaFayette Fire and in 1956 to the late Ernest Wilkerson and the EMS with over 31 years of service. By WILLIAM MARLOW Multimedia Reporter

In December 2014, he was appointed chief of the City of Dadeville Fire Department, remaining in that position until 2021. Throughout his career, Wilkerson served the people of Lee, Chambers and Tallapoosa Counties for nearly 50 years as a first responder. Wilkerson just recently had accepted the position of fire chief earlier this year at the Pace’s Point Volunteer Fire Department. Wilkerson had been volunteering with the department since February of 2021.

SUBMITTED | THE RECORD

Wilkerson served as Dadeville’s fire chief for seven years, See FIRE CHIEF, Page A2 from 2014 to 2021.

Risk of severe weather and high heat this week to weather forecasters, as heavy rainfall is expected, which could Another bout of storms produce flooding in lowis expected to make its level areas and near water way through central sources. Alabama Thursday with The storms will mainly severe storms possible. follow I-59, I-65 and I-85 The National Weather before exiting the state Service released a forefrom the northwest to the cast for the possibility southeast. of severe storms with Apart from the threat Tallapoosa County listed of severe storms, heat under a slight risk catego- indices could hike up to ry for damaging winds up nearly 105 degrees for to 60 miles per hour and portions of central Alaquarter size hail. bama on Wednesday and Flooding is also a Thursday, as well as over concern, according the weekend. By LARRY ROBINSON Staff writer

WILLIAM MARLOW | THE RECORD

Principal Diane Miller and other school administrators were recognized for the achievement during a board of education meeting on Monday, July 18.

DADEVILLE ELEMENTARY ONCE AGAIN RECOGNIZED BY STATE

Miller said. “This was due to our dedication to our students.” According to Miller, the school’s adeville Elementary School reading test scores have improved (DES) received special recogni- dramatically over the last several tion from state officials, being years. So much, that state officials named one of the best schools for from the Alabama Reading Initiative reading instruction in the state of (ARI) felt compelled to highlight Alabama. the school’s great teaching practices. The school was named a Sci“Our data had improved vastly ence of Reading Spotlight School, from the 18-19 school year until an honor that the Alabama State now in [kindergarten] through third Department of Education awarded grade, and literacy instruction,” only 12 schools this year, including Miller said. DES. The school was bestowed the During the meeting, the school’s award during a state education con- faculty led a presentation in which ference last week. they elaborated on the factors that Principal Diane Miller and influenced the school’s success, other school administrators were including an intensive training prorecognized for the achievement gram called Letters. during a regularly scheduled board According to Miller, the proof education meeting on Monday, gram is a professional developJuly 18. During the meeting, Miller ment course that focuses on the attributed the award to the efforts of best teaching practices for reading her staff, expressing appreciation to instruction. Overall, 13 teachers the school’s faculty as well as the completed the certification training. school district as a whole. “It is very intense. It’s probably “I always have the privilege of the equivalent of a college course, speaking about our school, but it’s a and there was a lot of participation team effort for sure. And I appreci- and I am proud of them [the teachate our board members, superiners],” Miller said. tendent and district staff for being Miller added that her staff furpresent in our building so often,” ther demonstrated their dedication By WILLIAM MARLOW Multimedia Reporter

LARRY ROBINSON | THE RECORD

Severe storms are likely Thursday. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter size hail are likely with the storms that develop.

‘We’re not to be overlooked’ Dadeville to establish healthcare network to confront COVID impact By WILLIAM MARLOW Multimedia Reporter The City of Dadeville is joining a multi-million dollar healthcare initiative that aims at addressing long-term health effects of COVID-19. Councilwoman Teneeshia Goodman-Johnson announced the city’s partnership with the Equitable Neighborhoods Initiative, a $4 million statewide effort that the University of Alabama chartered last year to assist communities affected by the pandemic.

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The project launched as a measure to address major healthcare gaps within Alabama’s rural and diverse communities. According to Goodman-Johnson, the pandemic disproportionately impacted Dadeville and the Lake Martin area due to the region lacking a robust healthcare infrusature. “COVID is creeping back up again, and there are needs here in this community that we know, the state knows and the CDC knows. We are the

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as many completed the intensive training even amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Miller explained that many teachers had to pause due to negative impacts of the pandmeic, but that they ultimately persevered. “I can’t praise our teachers enough because when COVID hit, it was rough,” Miller said. “So over last summer, we really encouraged our teachers to complete Letters, and jump back in and finish this and they did. We had an overabundance of our teachers that jumped on the bandwagon, and it just steamrolled frome there.” Miller also attributed the improved test scores to a healthy school culture, adding that the school has made that a priority. “We’ve had a total cultural shift in our building, and I cannot say enough about that because that was our biggest need over the last few years,” Miller said “We just want it to be a school that was worthy of the amazing community that we have here in Dadeville because it is a very special place.” This is the third instance that the school has been recognized by the ALSDE State Board of Education this year.

See HEALTHCARE, Page A2

Lake Martin

Lake Levels

490.35 MSL Reported on 07/20/22 at 9 a.m.

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