Tallassee Tribune Feb. 14 2024

Georgia man arrested for child sex abuse in Tallassee

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

our Tallassee High School graduates will be inducted into the school’s alumni association Hall of Pride in April.

Joan O’Daniel, Class of 1964; the late Stacy Goss, Class of 1965; Bernice Paschal Rivers Barton-Simmons Cooper, Class of 1970; and Susan Schonberger Swagler, Class of 1982 will be honored in the ceremony.

JOAN O’DANIEL O’Daniel is an Eclectic native. Her parents were Mae and Lamar O’Daniel. She overcame numerous obstacles starting at birth.

O’Daniel was eventually diagnosed with cerebral palsy. She attended Kent Elementary School until ninth grade and graduated from Tallassee High School in 1964.

She attended Snead State Community College in Boaz and transferred to the University of Alabama after one year. O’Daniel later transferred to Auburn University. After graduating, O’Daniel became the media specialist at Stanhope Elmore High School in 1969 and taught library skills for 12 years. She transferred to Millbrook Junior High where she remained until she retired in 1989. She lived on Lake Martin in retirement and moved to Tallassee. O’Daniel currently resides in Birmingham.

STACY GOSS

Goss was a musician at heart. He was born into a musical family, though Goss was the first to receive any formal musical training.

At Tallassee High School he was selected to the All-State

See HONORED, Page A6

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

The building is 100 years old. Its bricks and floors were made by students at

From top to bottom: Joan O’Daniel, Stacy Goss, Bernice Paschal Rivers Barton-Simmons Cooper, and Susan Schonberger Swagler

WILLIAMS

thewetumpkaherald.com tallasseetribune.com

Meet the Candidate: Jason Britt

Name: Jason Britt Party: Republican Position Running For: Elmore County Probate Judge Bio: I was raised in Elmore County and educated in the Elmore County Public School system. After graduating from Wetumpka High School, I received my Bachelor of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of West Alabama, my Juris Doctor degree from Faulkner University’s Thomas Goode Jones School of Law, and my Master of Laws (LL.M) degree in Taxation, magna cum laude, from the University of Alabama School of Law. I am a private practice attorney in Wetumpka at Stone & Britt, LLC, and I serve as a special probate judge for Elmore County. Additionally, I serve our country as a member of the Alabama Army National Guard.

My family and I attend New Home Baptist Church in Titus, Alabama, and are committed to our community.

I am married to Allison Britt, and we are the proud parents of two children – Ashley and Noah.

Why are you interested in running for political office? I am interested in running for the position of Elmore County Probate Judge because I can effectively serve the citizens of Elmore County because I have the education, experience, and temperament for this position. As a practicing attorney, most of my law practice is devoted to this area of law, and it has allowed me to obtain an in-depth knowledge of probate law. Elmore County needs someone experienced who can step into this position and make a seamless transition from one administration to the next. I stand ready on day one to accept and execute the duties of this office. What do you feel like is the most important part of this office’s role? As it currently stands, the probate court has three primary functions (judicial; custodian of public records [real estate documentation, marriage documentation, and notary public documentation]; and serves as the county’s chief election officer. Out of all these functions,

the office’s judicial function is its most important role because it is the most requested service of the court, and it is where the probate judge declares the rights, status, and other legal relations of the parties before it.

What are some of the biggest issues you believe your constituents face? My constituents’ most significant issue is how to navigate the court system. Not all probate processes are easy. Sometimes, people must go through challenges through no fault of their own or because some issues unexpectedly develop during the course of probate. My office will stand ready to provide responsive customer service to reduce confusion and provide the customer service the citizens of Elmore County deserve. How do you believe you can make a difference for your constituents? My education, well-rounded experience, and temperament are what sets me apart. This venue will allow me to use my talents to serve the citizens of Elmore County and make it a better place for my family and yours. I believe I’m the right choice for the future of Elmore County.

Two granted parole in Elmore County crimes

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

A Tennessee woman will be released from Tutwiler Prison on parole. A Montgomery man is being released while an Alabama man was denied parole this week. All three committed crimes in Elmore County. The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles approved the release of Julia Michelle Horton, 45, of Dickson, Tennessee.

guilty to possession of a controlled substance in Elmore County in Feb. 2023 and was sentenced to 60 months in prison. She was arrested in March 2020 by the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office.

According to court records Horton pleaded

Police Reports

TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT

FEB. 11

• A domestic dispute was reported on Rickey Lane.

• Gunshots were reported on Upper River Road.

• A noise complaint was reported on John Street.

• Burglary was reported on Stroud Street.

• Trespassing was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

FEB. 10

• An animal bite was

According to minutes of the parole board’s hearing, conditions were placed on Horton’s release. She must wear a GPS ankle monitor and complete Celebrate Recovery, a mental health followup and a drug assessment.

Jarvarus Rayshau Wil-

reported on First Avenue.

• A stolen vehicle was reported on Stroud Street.

• An animal complaint was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Assault was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Reckless driving was reported on Highway 229.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Highway 229.

• An animal complaint was reported on Ashurst Avenue.

• A suspicious vehicle

liams, 33, pleaded guilty in July to first-degree possession of marijuana, resisting arrest and attempting to elude. Williams was arrested in August 2021 by the Millbrook Police Department. As part of his plea agreement, charges of certain persons forbidden to carry a pistol, possession of drug paraphernalia and obstructing government operations were dropped.

Williams was convicted in Montgomery County in 2014 for trafficking cocaine and possession of marijuana.

was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Iris Street.

• Property damage was reported on Ralph Bunchie Street.

• Harassment was reported on Power Avenue.

FEB. 9

• A verbal altercation was reported on Hillcrest Street.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on North Ann Avenue.

• A private property motor vehicle accident

According to minutes from Williams’ parole hearing, his family spoke in favor of his release. As conditions of parole, Williams must wear a GPS ankle monitor and complete the Parole Reentry Education Program. Willie James Jefferson, 70, was denied parole. According to court records, he is serving a life sentence after a 1985 murder conviction in Perry County. He was convicted of promoting prison contraband in 1999 while incarcerated at a state prison in Elmore County. He is currently incarcerated at Red Eagle Work Center. Jefferson’s next parole hearing will be in 2029.

was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

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

• A white male was arrested on Freeman Avenue.

• Harassment was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Theft was reported on First Avenue.

FEB. 8

• A domestic incident was reported on North Ann Avenue.

See REPORTS, Page B6

HORTON

JEFFERSON

WILLIAMS

Humane Society of Elmore County News

Due diligence done to reunite pets, owners

By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director

One of the most frustrating things for those of us in shelters to read in remarks on lost pets is that “they will be killed’ if taken to the shelter.

That statement just guts each and every shelter staff who comes to work every single day to help animals in need. The very first thing thing we do when a stray is brought by an animal control officer or an individual is to scan it for a microchip, call any number on an ID tag or the vet if a rabies tag, go to our called-in lost reports, and check the oh, so many Facebook pages for lost and found pets.

We do all of this as we are all also pet owners and love nothing more than reuniting pets and owners. We also look at our found reports when we take lost reports to see if we can match up the two and keep that pet from ever coming to the shelter.

Our staff is also quite skilled at sleuthing out owners who have never registered microchips by calling vets, other shelters/rescues, breeders, pet stores, etc.

We cannot emphasize strongly enough the

your pet’s microchip registration current, especially with good phone numbers. But we also email and send snail mail to try to track down owners. Sadly, in most cases where the chip is not current it is because it was never registered in the first place or the pet has been rehomed and the new owner has never updated the chip info. When our pets are adopted, their microchip is registered to the new owner and we will update for that owner if the info changes. And remember – the stray hold time in Alabama for shelters is seven days. Compared to many other cities/areas of the country, seven days is actually a very long time. We are closed only on Sundays and, of course, have a phone, so owners can talk to us if they are out of town or otherwise indisposed. There are costs to reclaiming a pet to be aware of. If an animal is brought in by an Animal Control Officer there are ACO fees pertinent to that jurisdiction ranging from $15-$25 for a first time intake. Those fees do increase if that same animal is brought by Animal Control and can result in a court case if brought in more than

are Shelter Boarding fees of $15/day/animal. And any dog or cat over 12 weeks old that does not have proof of a current rabies vaccination is another $12 so that the owner can take that receipt to a local Vet to have their pet vaccinated for rabies in accordance with Alabama Law.

So, if your pet becomes lost, do not delay calling us at 334-567-3377 to file a lost report and same if you find a pet (and take that pet to a vet or bring it by our shelter so we can scan for a microchip). We too often hear, “Oh we just figured he was out chasing girls, or she would come back in a few days.”

In many instances their pet had been with us since Day 1, but we had no idea who to call when the pet had no collar/tags/microchip. Yes, post on Facebook on your personal page, your neighborhood pages, your next door app, and, for pets lost in Elmore County, to Elmore County Alabama Lost & Found Pets (which we maintain and monitor).

And, very important, a found pet is not the finder’s to just keep or give away as, under law, any finder must do due diligence to find the proper

is why it can be best to bring a found pet to your supporting shelter as we do this day in and day out and make sure to validate ownership before a pet is released. And sadly,

some people can be, how shall we say – less than gracious about someone finding their pet, so let us deal with those situations at the shelter where we keep the identity of find-

ers, owners and adopters confidential.

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

ETHICS 101

Why can’t we print gossip or hearsay?

Journalist are held to a high ethical standard involving “truth, “accuracy” and “objectivity”. They must seek the truth and report it, act independently and do so with accountability and transparency.

EDUCATE. SUBSCRIBE. BE A READER.

Tallapoosa

Super Bowl is the pinnacle

As the words of the national anthem were sung Sunday, tears started streaming down the face of Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones. He may have been crying about the beauty of Reba McEntire’s voice singing those words we all know by heart, or he may have been crying at the sheer magnitude of the moment.

State Senate Leads

Last week, we discussed the Alabama House of Representatives and highlighted the leaders in the House.

This week, we will talk about the prominent members of the very powerful Alabama State Senate.

To begin with, the State Senate is made up of 35 members. The body is overwhelmingly Republican. There are 27 Republicans and a mere eight Democrats. This qualifies for what is called a super majority Republican State Senate.

Our Alabama Constitution is very antiquated and rests all power, even local power, in the legislature. That means that an inordinate amount of legislative time is spent on local legislation. Passing local legislation is not a major problem for legislators from rural and smaller counties. However, that is not the case for Alabama’s most populous county, imperial Jefferson.

The state’s largest county is very diverse and therefore this legislative delegation is diverse and divisive. It has been my obser -

We’d

vation over the last 60 years that Jefferson County has had internal fights over their local issues, and it spills over onto the floors of the House and Senate. During my 16 years in the legislature, it was not unusual for an entire legislative day to be consumed while we watched Jefferson County legislators embroiled in an intense debate over whether alcohol could be served on Sunday in their county, while very important state issues languished.

For the first time in my memory, two legendary Jefferson County State Senators, Jabo Waggoner and Rodger Smitherman, have forged a bipartisan working relationship that has made for a harmonious working partnership for the good of Jefferson County and the state.

State Senator

See SENATE, Page B7

The Super Bowl does that to people. It’s the pinnacle of so many people’s careers.

Everyone knows it’s the championship of the NFL. It takes hard work, determination, a whole lot of skill and a little bit of luck to get there. It’s the game everyone wants to play, and every fan wants to have a rooting fight. Everyone knows the magnitude of the game, but the magnitude of the moment on people’s careers is really something to think about.

Usher is mostly irrelevant these days. He still makes great music, but his star power isn’t as large as it once was. Until Sunday night, that is.

He blew the house down with guest stars like Lil Jon, Ludacris and the always lovely Alicia Keys. These artists put on a show for the

ages on the biggest stage they’ll ever have. Not only is it a soldout show with artists like Beyonce and Jay Z and actors like Paul Rudd and Blake Lively — even Martha Stewart, Kim Kardashian and Lady Gaga were all in the house — it’s one of the biggest worldwide television events ever.

I’d be remiss to write a Super Bowl column without at least mentioning the queen of football herself this year, Miss Taylor Swift.

People have got to stop with the Taylor Swift hate; it’s so unbecoming.

Just like so many others attending the Super Bowl, Taylor Swift has reached the pinnacle of pop, the top of her career and she deserves all the attention in the world. And if Taylor Swift is what made my 9-year-old niece Riley tune in to football this year, then I’m all for it.

People are too protective of their sports fandom in general. So many fans “hopped on the bandwagon” for the Lions this year, and I was here for every single one of them. If you want to root for a sport and it brings you some kind of joy, then I see nothing wrong with that.

Taylor Swift is a true queen. She puts on amazing shows across the globe, gives back endless money to charity and even chugged a beer on the Jumbotron for thousands and thousands of people to see. There’s no reason to hate her.

For the briefest of moments when I thought the Detroit Lions might make it to the Super Bowl — there’s always next year — I found a single ticket for the low, low cost of $6,900. It’s not for people like me, clearly. It’s for the people who have made it, and that’s something to truly appreciate.

Lizi Arbogast Gwin is the managing editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. She can be reached via phone at 434-962-9420 or via email at lizi.gwin@alexcityoutlook.com.

I love the Grammys

Obituaries:

be sent as a .jpeg attached to the email. Announcements will appear within 10 days in The Tribune, The Herald or The Observer.

Eighteen years ago in The Tallassee Tribune, I wrote a piece called, “I Love the Grammys.” Back then, I had this to say: ‘The Grammys are always different. They are an entertaining throwback to an era where anything was game for the Top 40. Nobody really gets music from one source, much less one radio station or format these days. The Grammys serve as a prime example of how, on rare occasions, all genres of music are joined together once again. I thrill to the mashups seen nowhere else.’ – Michael Bird, Tallassee Tribune “Bird’s Eye View,” February 15, 2006. This year, the 66th annual Grammy Awards may have given us the most entertaining performances in Grammy history – and that’s saying something. I have been so disappointed the past few years at the awards show being an opportunity for artists to showboat about politics, or use the evening as a showcase for the shocking (Sam Smith as Satan, Nicki Minaj possessed, Katy Perry burned at the stake, Lady Gaga emerging from an egg).

What a delightful surprise last week’s Grammys were:

musicians celebrating musicians. I couldn’t believe how good the show was.

The evening began with a celebrated duet featuring Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs. Not only has Combs had a number-one hit with his remake of “Fast Car,” he has made sure that everyone knows it’s a Tracy Chapman song. She first recorded it in 1988 and it was a tremendous success at the time. However, she’s never appeared at the Grammys and has largely stayed out of the public eye since her late ‘90s signature tune “Give Me One Reason” ruled the airwaves.

The reclusive folk singer and the gregarious country star may have made for an unlikely duo, but as soon as the audience realized it was really Tracy playing the familiar guitar lick, the audience at the Crypto.com Arena exploded with applause and admiration. The two trad -

ed verses, with Combs actually appearing to bow down respectfully to Chapman at the end as the glittering audience stayed on their feet. And yet, this was but the beginning. We were treated to stellar performances by Billie Eilish (“What Was I Made For?”); Brandy Clark (“Sister Insecurity”); Dua Lipa (“Houdini”); Fantasia Barrino (“Proud Mary”, a rousing tribute to Tina Turner); Annie Lennox (“Nothing Compares 2 U,” in memory of Sinead O’Connor); Laufey (“From the Start”); Miley Cyrus (“Flowers”, complete with a bunch of real-time ad-libs); Stevie Wonder (duetting with a virtual Tony Bennett on “For Once in My Life”); SZA (“Kill Bill”); Olivia Rodrigo (a cleaned-up version of “Vampire”); and U2 (“Atomic City”, projected onto the Las Vegas Sphere).

Billy Joel performed on the Grammys for the first time in 30 years and was the recipient of a lot of love from the audience. He performed his new composition, “Turn the Lights Back On,” complete with a full orchestra. And then, with

See

LIZI GWIN Managing Editor

MICHAEL BIRD Columnist

STEVE FLOWERS Columnist

Pet of the Week - Griffie

Griffie is an 8-year old female who weighs about 35 to 40 pounds. She could stand to lose some of those pounds as she is a chunky lady but with the cutest stubby tail. She was adopted from us as a puppy and returned due to her owner’s ill health. Griffie is sweet but nervous being back in our kennels and who can blame her and she is quickly adjusting. She is an indoor lady who is house-trained and good with other dogs and children but afraid of thunder and fireworks. 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.

Ivey awards grants for ‘Middle Mile’ broadband projects

STAFF REPORT

TPI Staff

Nearly $200 million in grants will impact ‘Middle Mile’ broadband projects across the state. Gov. Kay Ivey Awards announced the grants last week to continue the expansion of highspeed internet access in Alabama.

Grants totaling $188,453,905, were awarded to 12 Alabama internet service providers, including Central Access in Elmore County, to install more than 4,000 miles of “middle-mile” projects. It will help fill the gap in broadband expansion to make it more economically feasible and less labor intensive for providers to extend services to unserved businesses and households in the state.

Ivey made the announcement from the Alabama Anchor Institution in her hometown of Camden. Wilcox County and other rural counties are among the areas in Alabama where the middle-mile projects will be completed.

“Rural Alabama, like so many other places in the state, is in need of increased access to high-speed internet, and today we are taking a significant stride in our journey toward full broadband access,”

Ivey said. “These middle-mile projects will be extremely beneficial to our anchor institutions and it puts us in a desirable situation where the ‘last mile’ projects that will supply broadband service to businesses and households are more economical and attainable.”

Anchor institutions include schools, hospitals and medical facilities and government and public safety buildings. Many are located on or near the middle-mile routes and more than 790 will be served by the projects.

“In the 21st century, access to affordable, high-speed internet is not a luxury, it is a necessity, and one that many Alabamians have gone without for far too long,” Rep. Terri Sewell said. “I was thrilled to help make this funding

available through the American Rescue Plan and I applaud Gov. Ivey and (Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs) Director (Kenneth) Boswell for making these investments. I will continue working to ensure that this funding reaches those who need it most.”

ADECA will administer the program through its Alabama Digital Expansion Division. The division was established by the Alabama Legislature and Ivey to focus on high-speed internet expansion in the state.

“ADECA is pleased to be involved in this broadband-expansion effort that will benefit so many people and improve lives,” Boswell said. “I am grateful to Gov. Ivey and the Alabama Legislature for having the confidence to entrust ADECA with this all-important program.”

Funding for the latest middle-mile program came from an allocation made by the legislature from the state’s share of American Rescue Plan Act Funds.

Central Alabama Electric Cooperative and Central Access were granted $2.69 million to provide middle-mile infrastructure along 38 miles in Autauga and Elmore counties to include 33 anchor institutions.

Coosa Valley Technologies Inc. was granted $7 million to provide 110 miles of middle-mile connections in Calhoun, St. Clair and Talladega counties affecting 17 anchor institutions.

Cullman Electric Cooperative was granted $1.46 million to install middle-mile connections in various areas of Cullman County to include 15 anchor institutions and cover 106 miles.

Farmers Telecommunications Corp. was granted $21.6 million to provide two middle-mile fiber routes in Blount, Etowah, Jefferson and Marshall counties totaling 155 miles and connecting 189 anchor institutions.

Alabama Fiber Network was granted $128.8 million to install five middle-mile projects totaling

CommunityCalendar

THURSDAY, FEB. 15

ACRYLIC PAINTING: Shirley

1,776 miles and connecting 438 anchor institutions in Bibb, Butler, Chilton, Choctaw, Conecuh, Dale, Dallas, Geneva, Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jefferson, Lowndes, Marengo, Monroe, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa and Wilcox counties. Alabama Fiber Network is a coalition of eight rural electric cooperatives.

JMF Solutions was granted $6.3 million for four projects to provide middle-mile connections over a 1,169-mile route in Bibb, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay Conecuh, Dallas, Escambia, Greene, Lowndes, Macon, Monroe, Randolph and Washington counties. The projects will affect 24 anchor institutions.

Joe Wheeler Electric Membership Corp. was granted $5.25 million to provide more than 20 miles of middle-mile infrastructure in the Courtland area in Lawrence County and affecting 16 anchor institutions.

Point Broadband was granted $411,341 to provide a middle-mile project in Blount County totaling 12.4 miles and impacting 21 anchor institutions.

Spectrum Southeast was granted $7.3 million for a middle-mile project in rural southeastern Houston County involving 167 miles and connecting eight anchor institutions.

Tombigbee Electric Cooperative was granted $757,479 to provide a middle-mile project of nearly 50 miles in Winston County and affecting 22 anchor institutions.

Uniti Fiber was granted $4.2 million to provide about 64 miles of middle-mile projects in Butler, Lowndes and Montgomery counties including four anchor institutions.

Yellowhammer Networks was granted $2.52 million for a middle-mile project in Bibb, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry, Sumter and Wilcox counties to include the cities of Selma, Demopolis and Eutaw and spanning 620 miles. The project will include six anchor institutions.

Esco is teaching an introductory course in acrylic painting from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at The Art Mill in Millbrook. All skill levels are welcomed and supplies are provided. The cost is $45. To register email danae.morgan@cityofmillbrook-al.gov.

THURSDAY, FEB. 15 - MARCH 2

SPAMALOT: The Wetumpka Depot Players are performing Monty Python’s Spamalot at 7 p.m. Feb. 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, March 1 and 2. There is a matinee performance at 2 p.m. Feb. 25. The comedy is based on the 1975 film and adapted for the stage. Tickets can be purchased at https://app.arts-people.com/index. php?ticketing=wdp

Commission is holding its annual crater tours Friday, Feb. 23 and 24. On Friday tours are at 11:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. On Saturday tours are at 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:55 p.m. The tour takes guests to vantage points to view what has been called the best preserved marine impact crater in the world. It costs $25 for adults and $15 for students. Reservations are required by calling 334-567-4637.

THURSDAY, FEB. 29

LOW-COUNTRY BOIL: The Elmore County Pregnancy Center and First Choice are hosting a low country boil benefit at 6 p.m. Feb. 29 at The Eclectic Warehouse in Eclectic. It is a free event but attendees need to register at https://bit.ly/47URxEn.

business growth. Tickets are $10 per person plus one silent auction item per business. Tickets are for adults only and reserved for small businesses in the area.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18

COFFEE & CONNECTIONS: The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce will host its Rise & Shine Coffee & Connections event at ASE Credit Union. It will be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. April 18 and is an opportunity for local professionals and community leaders to connect. Coffee will be provided.

SATURDAY, APRIL 20

WAR ENCAMPMENT: Ft. Toulouse-Ft. Jackson is holding its annual French and Indian War Encampment with demonstrations Saturday, April 20.

SATURDAY, FEB. 17

LIVING HISTORY SATURDAY: Ft. Toulouse-Ft. Jackson is hosting demonstrations of how people lived in the area as settlers began to arrive on Saturday, Feb. 17.

THURSDAY, MARCH 7

SATURDAY, MAY 11

WOMEN’S WORKSHOP: Coosa Jiu Jitsu & Wellness will be hosting an Intentionally Forward Women’s Workshop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 17 in Wetumpka. The cost is $95 before Feb. 2 and $145 after. Workshop highlights include self defense; cultivating a healthy self-relationship; guided self-reflection activities; and a floral design workshop. To purchase tickets, visit www.stackedintent.com.

DADDY-DAUGHTER DANCE: The annual Friendship Fire Department Daddy-Daughter Dance is 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17. Food will be served. Tickets are $35 per couple and $5 for each additional daughter. They can be purchased at http://bit. ly/3SxQ4zl.

THURSDAY, FEB. 22

CRATER LECTURE: The Wetumpka Impact Crater Commission is hosting geologist Dr. David King Jr. at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Wetumpka Civic Center. Dr. King will speak about the history of the marine crater in Wetumpka and what Wetumpka was like 85 million years ago.

FEB. 23 - 24

CRATER TOUR: The Wetumpka Impact Crater

COFFEE & CONNECTIONS: The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce will host its Rise & Shine Coffee & Connections event at Homesouth Roofing. It will be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. March 7 and is an opportunity for local professionals and community leaders to connect. Coffee will be provided.

SATURDAY, MARCH 16

LIVING HISTORY SATURDAY: Ft. Toulouse-Ft. Jackson is hosting demonstrations of how people lived in the area as settlers began to arrive on Saturday, March 16.

ANNUAL CHAMBER

MEETING: The Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 2024 Annual Meeting, ‘The Night A Star Fell,’ from 6 to 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, MARCH 22

BINGO: Paintball 111 in Wetumpka will host a Ladies Only Bingo Night from 6 to 9 p.m. March 22. Tickets are $20 and each bingo card is $1. Doors open at 6 p.m. and bingo begins at 7. Wine is complimentary for women ages 21 and older.

THURSDAY, APRIL 11

MIXER & SILENT AUCTION: Paintball 111 in Wetumpka will be hosting a small business mixer and silent auction from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 11. The proceeds will benefit a charitable organization, and the night is an opportunity to network and unlock potential for

SPRING MARKET: Poppy Layne Farm Vintage will be hosting a Spring Barn Market starting at 10 a.m. May 11. Applications are currently available for interested vendors. Email poppylaynefarm@ gmail.com for more information. Live music will be featured.

SATURDAY, MAY 18

LIVING HISTORY SATURDAY:

Ft. Toulouse-Ft. Jackson is hosting demonstrations of how people lived in the area as settlers began to arrive on Saturday, May 18. ART SHOW: The Wetumpka Downtown Artists will host an art show on Company Street in downtown Wetumpka at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 18.

SUNDAY, JULY 14

MEN’S CONFERENCE: Village Church of Wetumpka is hosting a men’s conference. The keynote speaker is Rick Burgess of Rick and Bubba.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 21

LIVING HISTORY SATURDAY:

Ft. Toulouse-Ft. Jackson is hosting demonstrations of how people lived in the area as settlers began to arrive on Saturday, Sept. 21.

SATURDAY, OCT. 19

LIVING HISTORY SATURDAY:

Ft. Toulouse-Ft. Jackson is hosting demonstrations of how people lived in the area as settlers began to arrive on Saturday, Oct. 19.

HONORED

Schools in 1965.

White and Red Bands and All-State Orchestra. At Auburn University Goss was a trumpet section leader and member of the Auburn Knights Dance Orchestra. His trumpet skills got him a studio musician position at FAME Recording Studios backing up top artists who recorded in the Shoals area.

He was the first band director at the new Brooks High School in Athens, Alabama building a program in five years from 58 to 140 students and fielding a marching band within one year.

Goss then moved to Albertville High School for a 26 year career, building the band to 380 members. Goss retired and moved to Texas to be near family and again

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South outside Atlanta. It is home to a community lynching documentation project.

This place is the Elmore County Black History Museum. But it almost wasn’t.

Five years ago, University of Alabama history professor Dr. John M. Giggie was visiting with board members of the Elmore County Black History Museum. He noticed some serious issues.

“The roof was leaking, the floors were filthy,” Giggie said. “There was nothing here.”

Giggie was back again last week, and, as always, bringing university students. Over the last five years, the floors have been cleaned, walls painted, leaks fixed and new HVAC systems installed — all thanks to a volunteer board of directors and the City of Wetumpka.

“This is the Elmore County Black History Museum,” curator Billie Rawls said. “It is where we house our history of Elmore Countians and world history as well.”

Rawls and others, such as museum board members Winfred Wise, Idell Gill and Yvonne Saxon, once walked the halls as students. But now they serve as teachers to the next generation.

This month, nearly 800 Elmore County fourth graders are walking the halls of the school. The former students served as guides showing what life was like at the school and in the area for Black

GALENTINE’S

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took a band director’s job. He and his wife Becky moved back to Tallassee in 2022 to build their retirement home. Goss died after a brief illness in 2023.

BERNICE PASCHAL RIVERS

BARTON-SIMMONS COOPER

Cooper is a native of East Tallassee and was raised by her adoptive grandparents Elma Thompson, a housekeeper for Mr. and Mrs. Roberts Blount at Seven Gables, and Chester Paschal, a textile worker for Mt. Vernon Mills.

She spent the first part of her high school career at R. R. Moton High School where she participated in the choir, played softball, was a member of the drama class and was treasurer of the Student Government Association.

Cooper was one of six Black students to integrate Tallassee City

At Tallassee High School, she excelled in track and field, volleyball, the civic squad and gymnastics. She was given a standing ovation for her rendition of “Rambling Rose” during her class play “Girl Crazy.”

Cooper continued her education becoming a nurse in Florida. She retired after 45 years as a nurse from the State of Florida and Orange County Corrections Department.

She currently lives in Quincy, Florida and volunteers at her church and many other community organizations.

SUSAN SCHONBERGER

SWAGLER

Swagler is a 1982 graduate of Tallassee High School where she was a varsity cheerleader, served on the yearbook and newspaper staffs and

was a member of the National Honor Society. She graduated from Auburn University at Montgomery in 1986.

Swagler was a reporter at the Alabama Journal and the Tampa Tribune before returning to Alabama and The Birmingham News. She eventually became a restaurant reviewer and book columnist.

She is a monthly guest on WBRC hosting a live segment on books, is a food and lifestyle writer for Alabama News Network, and has her own blog about food, travel and lifestyle, savor.blog.

Swagler is also on numerous boards and committees in the Birmingham area. She also loves to travel.

The four will be inducted at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, April 9 in the new auditorium at Tallassee High School.

students and residents before the school closed in 1962 when students were moved to W.B. Doby High School.

“It brings it home to the children,” Elmore County Schools director of elementary schools Amy Harrison said. “It brings relevance to what they learn in the classroom. They will remember this for the rest of their lives. It enhances the pride of their community.”

Saxon told students about home life going back into the 1940s, 30s and before. She said Black residents made many of their own clothes and showed a pedal powered sewing machine in the museum.

“They are eclectic now,” Saxon told the students. “Back then they didn’t have electricity. Can you imagine the leg workout?”

Gill told the fourth graders they were walking through history in the building.

“That is the whole purpose of the museum,” Wise said. “We want to get the kids in here to see things. We just let them roam around. We let them ask questions, we answer them. Seeing the enjoyment on their face makes us happy and all this worthwhile.”

Giggie sees effort from the volunteers to show more than the shocking history of racism.

“You have efforts to create displays of Black domestic life,” Giggie said. “You have a wall of Black veterans. There are very few places in the state like this with this much local Black history displayed.”

Kami Scarborough recently moved the business out of a downtown storefront. She aims to remain present in the community and support the business that recently moved into that retail space, all while shifting to a new business model.

“We have been in downtown Tallassee in our brick-and-mortar store since 2018 and have hosted events similar to this Galentine’s event so we wanted to continue doing events like this one,” Sistrunk owner Kami Scarborough said.

“We are converting to a different business model — doing mostly online sales, along with pop-up shops. This was a great way for us to kick off our first pop-up shop since moving out of the brick-

Giggie and his team of students have been working on oral histories of some of the oldest Black residents in the area.

“There are so many I have spoken to in this community who, outside their family, have never had their story recorded, much less listened to,” Giggie said.

It also aids in the group’s efforts to find lynching victims from Elmore County. Five years ago, there were five. The number now stands at 23 thanks to information from Rawls and others Giggie and doctoral student Isabella Harrison have spoken to.

“They will tell a story about a body found by the Swayback Bridge,” Giggie said. “We try to find corroborating evidence but we don’t always find it. Many of these crimes were meant to never be discovered. We still believe they happened. We just lack the normal means of documenting them.”

Giggie and Harrison hope to soon have a interactive map of the locations of the lynchings.

Until then, they have drafted a map that is displayed in the museum.

“People are trying to make some corrections to locations,” Harrison said.

The most important part of the lynching documentation project

and-mortar space. This also gave us the opportunity to showcase The Petaler, a florist that recently moved into our former brick-andmortar space at 4 Sistrunk Street in downtown Tallassee.”

Sistrunk, All Things Desired is a locally owned and operated business that supports other area business owners. Many of the items found in the business’s inventory are crafted right here in Tallassee.

“Our boutique has always been about showcasing local business owners and we’ve always prided ourselves in shopping small and local. Most of the products that we sell are products from local entrepreneurs, many of the items being handmade. All of these local business owners helped make this event a success,” Scarborough said. “Special thanks to my sisterin-law, Leigh Anne Butler. She has been integral in making Sistrunk

in Elmore County is the biographies they are working on. It is what makes it different from the display in Montgomery at the Equal Justice Initiative.

“Most things on lynchings are when the victims lost their lives and why, but who were they before they died?” Giggie said. “In many ways it is brilliant because most exhibits of this type are why they were killed, not who they were before they were killed. When you center it around the community, you get a different kind of memorial.”

The Elmore County Black History Museum is becoming better known outside of Elmore County and small academic circles. Later this month a group from Kentucky is scheduled to visit.

“It is becoming a must stop location because of its significance,” Giggie said. “You can use local history to talk about national events. The movement then begins to make sense.”

Even as new visitors arrive, old visitors will see something new. There will be additions to the obituary collection that has been digitized. There will be additions to the veterans and elected officials in the hall. There will be new displays such as the one for the Bracy family that opened earlier this month and the one planned for the training center later this year.

It all means the future of the museum is healthy.

“It is not meant to be a static display,” Giggie said. “It should be organic that grows with the community.”

a success. She has great ideas and helps put these ideas to fruition.”

While Sistrunk, All Things Desired is a virtual boutique, Scarborough said the business will remain present, and active in the community.

“We plan to continue hosting pop-up shops in local venues, including local residences,” she said. “Prior to opening our storefront, we hosted a Christmas Open House each year in a local residence and we plan to revisit that tradition and start hosting those events again. In the meantime, we encourage our customers to shop online with us on our new website as we will continue offering the same, quality products online, with local pickup available.”

To visit Sistrunk, All Things Desired, go to https://www.facebook.com/ Sistrunkallthingsdesired.

Feeling the ‘tug’ of Jesus

What is your most favorite or most inspired part of a worship service?

To many people, it is the singing and to others it might be the special music, reading of scripture, or preaching of the Word. All these can be God speaking through song or scripture but God speaks more clearly to me toward the end of the service especially when the invitation is given.

To my brethren who are not in the Baptist denomination, at the end of every service, an altar call is given and usually at this time, an individual can feel the “tug” of Jesus speaking to their heart to make a decision for Him. There are several choices that can be made including, special needs prayer, thanksgiving prayer, rededication of one’s life to serve and follow Jesus more

JACKIE WILBOURN Columnist

closely, but also the “tug” can be Jesus asking you to examine yourself and submit your life to the Lordship of Christ. The name Adelaide A. Pollard is not a household name, but she was a very important person in my life. She was never personally known to me as her life spanned from 18621934, but one of her favorite scriptures is also one of mine! Isaiah 64:8, “But now, O Lord, Thou art our Father, we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and we are all the work of Thy hand.” If we could turn back time to Father’s Day, 1968, Ms. Pollard’s life

touched mine, never to be the same. It was a warm day in June, the family was seated in our little country church on the 7th row from the front, on the left side. As much as I have tried to remember the message from the pastor that day, my memory fails me. I do remember listening to the words penned by Ms. Pollard as the pianist and music director lead the congregation in the invitational hymn, “Have Thine Own Way, Lord.” Ms. Pollard’s beautiful words came from the words that she was known to have lived by, “it really doesn’t matter what you do with us Lord, just have your own way with our lives.”

Her hymn was much like a prayer. She focused each of the four written stanzas’ on “not what or who we are” but “what or who we can be”. As found in scripture,

Tallassee Churches

The name Adelaide A. Pollard is not a household name, but she was a very important person in my life. She was never personally known to me as her life spanned from 1862-1934, but one of her favorite scriptures is also one of mine! Isaiah 64:8, “But now, O Lord, Thou art our Father, we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and we are all the work of Thy hand.”

“then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter

to make it, (Jeremiah 15:3, 4). Have you been to the potter’s house?

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

Surrounding Area Churches

Dalton MiDDleton SportS eDitor dalton.middleton@thewetumpkaherald.com

Tallassee wins Super Sectionals, qualifies 14 for state tourney

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

There will be plenty of purple and gold in Huntsville this weekend.

Tallassee will be making the trip to the AHSAA Class 5A State Wrestling Tournament held at the Von Braun Center, and quite a number of Tigers will be participating.

Tallassee qualified all 14

members of its wrestling team for the state tournament. All 14 Tigers finished in the Top 4 of the South Super Sectionals last weekend, while four were named champions. In the process, Tallassee claimed the South Super Sectional championship beating out Gulf Shores by 10 points.

“The kids did really well and wrestled really amazing,” Tallassee coach John Mask said. “I’m

really proud of them. When you only have four in each weight class advance and have all 14 make it to the Top 4, it’s unheard of. In the 24 years I’ve been at Tallassee, we’ve done it twice before this. So it’s a rare feat.”

Tallassee’s usual suspects were at the top of their weight classes. Land Bell, the 132pound champion a year ago that now wrestles in 144, went 3-0 with a pin, technical fall

and a close 8-7 decision over Gulf Shores’ Charles Knight in the finals.

At 157, Tra’Mel McCoy also went 3-0 and knocked off two ranked wrestlers from Beauregard and Gulf Shores in the process. In the lowest weight class, Mason Nelson continued his hot streak and earned back-to-back pins after earning a first round bye. Neither of his matches lasted over 56 seconds. The last champion for Tallassee was Ramon Lozada, who is still undefeated on the season alongside Bell. He pinned two opponents and won one via technical fall.

Christian McCary, the school record-holder in career pins, was one match away from the championship when

TALLASSEE BASEBALL FOCUSED ON FINISHING

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

When John Goodman took over the Tallassee baseball program before last season, his goal was to try and teach the Tigers how to win again.

He wasted no time getting back to his old ways as the Tigers found themselves right in the thick of the title hunt. After winning only a handful of games the year before, Tallassee reached the second round of the AHSAA Class 5A state playoffs. Now that Goodman has taught his team it can win again, it’s time to learn how to finish ball games.

“We started so many games that we couldn’t finish,” Goodman said. “We were leading in eight or nine games that we let slip away. We want those games back this year. That’s our biggest thing this year. I think pretty much we’re much more mature and playing with confidence. Now we have to finish.”

There will be a mixture of new and old faces taking the field for Tallassee. The infield stays pretty much intact with Brady Mason, a Huntingdon signee, playing seemingly everywhere and anywhere.

Alongside him in the infield is Chase Chumley, Thomas Lemmond and Chase Webster, while catcher Brue Milner returns for his freshman season.

The outfield is where the team will look much different. Two graduated and Cade Everson, who led the team in batting average last season, transferred to Elmore County. Now guys like Cash Gough, Bryson Rigsby and Bry Hathcock will patrol the outfield.

On the mound will be most of the infield, mostly led by Mason. He paced the team with a 3.13 earned run average last year with 44 strikeouts. Chumley, Lemmond and Webster will also pitch.

“Brady is going to do everything for us,” Goodman said. “He will be our No. 1 guy on the mound.

And because our entire infield pitches, he will play all of their positions when he isn’t on the mound.

There’s not many people who can do that but he can.”

Goodman is hoping to settle around six pitchers who can make a real impact on the mound.

“We have several guys who are in that rotation and we have more young guys who are going to have to come in and contribute,” Goodman said. “We have a lot of arms, but we just have to find the ones who will be able to come in and do it for us.”

Tallassee finished runner-up last year in the area to Elmore County, which won the title for the first time since 2005. The Tigers nearly won the area but lost Game 1 by one run before blowing a five-run lead in the sixth inning of Game 2.

Tallassee took the night cap, but Elmore County had already clinched.

This season, Tallassee will try to finish and host a home playoff game.

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Pat Love’s Tallassee softball team will look a bit different than usual this season.

After graduating senior classes of five or more starters each of the last two years, Tallassee has been hit with a youth movement. The Tigers will feature two seniors, three juniors and a plethora of freshmen. That doesn’t matter, however, as Tallassee’s goal remains the same: make it to the state tournament.

“It’s the same expectations and same goals,” Love said. “We will be a little young but we have two seniors who are providing great leadership. It’s going to be a little different than the last few years. We will be young across the board, but they’ll still get after it.”

That youth will start directly in the middle of the infield.

Freshman Cheyann Easterling will take over at shortstop after playing at second base last year. She hit .343 with a .920 fielding percentage. Last year’s shortstop, junior Regan Easterwood, is moving over to third base to give the hot corner a reliable glove.

Marlee Osborne will play second base while Alli Smith is back behind the plate.

“Having both of them coming back is going

to be good,” “Regan provides leadership and experience over there. We have two ninth graders in the middle and a junior on the corner. They have a lot of experience and they’re really good.”

In the circle, Tallassee lost a big time arm in Brooke Royster but has another senior ready to step up in Madeline Weldon. Weldon had a 2.54 earned run average last season with 45 strikeouts in 85 ⅓ innings.

“Madeline is going to have to come in and do the majority of the pitching,” Love said. “She’s worked really hard and she looks really good right now. She can handle it. But we also have three other ninth graders we’re going to throw a little bit.”

Tallassee earned the area title last year with some big wins against Elmore County, but then the Tigers fell just short of claiming the No. 2 spot in the regional tournament held at the Cramton Bowl.

In the championship game, they fell in extra innings to Elmore County. The Panthers then went on to finish No. 3 in the state. This year, Love is hoping his team can get back to Oxford.

“We have to be more consistent and play good softball,” Love said. “We have to start this week and just get better every single time we take the field.”

Cheyann Easterling is moving over to shortstop this season. She will lead an experienced infield for the Tigers.

Young Tigers look to return to state Reeltown

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Elmore County’s wrestling team has accomplished its first goal. Now, the Panthers are looking to make a name for themselves.

Elmore County finished fourth overall in the AHSAA Class 5A Super Sectionals this weekend at Garrett Coliseum. The Panthers had two champions and seven total wrestlers qualify for the state tournament held Thursday in Huntsville. Freshman Tyler Payton and senior Myles Eyerly both won their weight classes while Shawn Colvin, Luke Reinert, Stran Webb, Dylan Andres and Hayden Fochtmann all qualified by finishing in the top four.

“Making state was our first goal, but we want to do more than just qualify for state,” Panthers coach Mason Thornton said. “We want to go up there and perform well and win some matches. I think we have a shot at placing pretty

Tallassee’s

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Tallassee’s McCoy gets revenge in Super Sectionals

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Tra’Mel McCoy put the state on high alert this weekend.

Wrestling in the 157-pound class at the AHSAA Class 5A South Super Sectionals at Garrett Coliseum, McCoy claimed the sectional championship with a perfect weekend.

McCoy went 3-0 Saturday night with wins over Elberta’s Jasper Martin, Gulf Shores Kyle Simmons and Beauregard’s Josh Lugo.

Simmons and Lugo are both ranked in the Top 6 of the weight class while Lugo had already beaten McCoy twice this season.

For his performance, McCoy is the Elmore County Player of the Week.

“Tra’Mel really had an amazing weekend,” Tallassee coach John Mask said. “He’s coming on at the right time. The moment never got too big for him. I know how good he

Vote for your Fans’ Choice Player of the Week now!

can be and he’s super talented. When the lights are the brightest, he wrestles well.”

McCoy got his revenge on No. 6 Lugo. The two met for the first time on January 3, and Lugo pulled out a 6-4 win in the quad meet. Just two days later, Lugo defeated McCoy again via pin in the third period. Saturday’s match was much different.

McCoy dominated from start to finish and made quick work of Lugo. He pinned him in only 2:28 into the championship match.

“Tra’Mel was hungry and he wanted that moment,” Mask said. “I’m so proud of him and excited for him. In the match before that, he beat a Gulf Shores kid who only had three losses on the season. It was just two phenomenal matches.

He is continuing to grow.”

This is McCoy’s second year as a varsity starter and his inexperience showed at the beginning of the year, but it’s certainly disappeared now. He started the year 4-3 but is now 25-8 on the year. After his last loss to Lugo on Jan. 5, he is 10-1 and has won 10 straight. “He was slow coming out of the gate but he’s gotten better and better as the year progressed,” Mask said. “He’s gotten better in all three aspects of the game. He’s listening well and he wants to be successful. He’s a joy to coach.”

Elmore County boys eliminate Holtville in area tournament

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Jaden Eason wasn’t quite ready for his junior baseball season to start.

Facing an elimination game that would have sent Eason and a few other Panthers heading to the baseball diamond early, Elmore County stunned Holtville on its home court, 53-41, to clinch a playoff berth and advance to the area tournament championship Thursday at Marbury.

Eason, who has served as the team’s sharpshooting guard, knocked down four clutch 3-pointers in the game including one that put the Panthers up by five points with less than a minute left in the game.

“Baseball season is in the back of my mind, but I’m still full on in basketball mode right now,” Eason said. “We knew what we had to do coming in

to extend our season two more games, and we had to get it done. It’s great to come in and be able to get it done.”

Much like the last time these two teams met, the first quarter shaped up to be all Holtville. The Bulldogs, led by the 3-point shooting of Caleb Blackmon and Caleb Sutton, were able to give Holtville a 12-6 lead after the first period. That lead didn’t last long, however, as Elmore County opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run, highlighted by backto-back 3’s from Eason and CJ Wilkes while Camron Brown knocked down both of his free throw attempts. That was the last lead Holtville held.

Elmore County pushed its lead out to nearly 10 points in the third quarter. Eason knocked down a deep 3, and that allowed Brown, Jabari Murphy and Gage Davis to get inside the paint and

hit some easy shots.

“Jaden spaced out the floor really well for us just by hitting his first few shots,” Panthers coach Nathan Taylor said. “After he did that, their defense started keying on him and that allowed gaps for Cam and Gage inside.”

Elmore County led, 49-40, in the final minutes of the game when Holtville put together a final run of their own. Sutton hit another 3, then Elijah Headley followed that up with a 3-pointer of his own. But the Bulldogs couldn’t get any closer than 49-47. When the game got to two, Eason found himself open in the corner and hit his final shot of the night.

“I was just making sure I had enough arch on my shot tonight,” Eason said.

Holtville saw its season end with the loss while Elmore County advanced to face Marbury in the area championship.

The Panthers lost both games to Marbury in the regular season, 50-38 and 45-42.

Taylor is hoping this one is different.

“We haven’t really hit shots all year except for one or two

games, but we did tonight,” Taylor said. “I’m so excited for our guys. They’ve earned this. They stayed together and earned this. We have to defend and rebound. Shots will fall if we can do that.”

Elmore County finishes 4th, sends 7 to state tournament

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Elmore County’s wrestling team has accomplished its first goal.

Now, the Panthers are looking to make a name for themselves.

Elmore County finished fourth overall in the AHSAA Class 5A Super Sectionals this weekend at Garrett Coliseum. The Panthers had two champions and seven total wrestlers qualify for the state tournament held Thursday in Huntsville. Freshman Tyler Payton and senior Myles Eyerly both won their weight classes while Shawn Colvin, Luke Reinert, Stran Webb, Dylan Andres and Hayden Fochtmann all qualified by finishing in the top four.

“Making state was our first goal, but we want to do more than just qualify for state,”

Panthers coach Mason Thornton said. “We want to go up there and perform well and win some matches. I think we have

high as a team this week.”

At the top of Elmore County’s roster are two of the top wrestlers in the state. Eyerly, the defending Class 5A champion in heavyweight, is ranked No. 1 as well as Payton in 150. Both have been ranked No. 1 all year long and they showed why.

They each went 3-0 after earning first round byes and claimed first place. Eyerly earned a pin in all three of his matches while Payton won via pin, technical fall and decision.

“They showed why they’re No. 1,” Thornton said. “We had two dominant performances from them in all of their matches.” Colvin, the Panthers’ other senior with Eyerly, also qualified for the second straight season. He was injured in his last match, but Thornton

a shot at placing pretty high as a team this week.”

At the top of Elmore County’s roster are two of the top

is hoping he will be ready to wrestle again this weekend. The rest of the team were underclassmen or first year wrestlers. Freshman Stran Webb (113) finished fourth and qualified for the second year in a row. Andres, in his first year wrestling at the varsity level, qualified at the 120.

Fochtmann qualified at 157, and he wasn’t even the full time starter until just a few weeks ago. He finished in fourth.

Reinert is a junior but is wrestling for the first time since he was in seventh grade. He finished third in 190 and won two matches.

“It’s pretty exciting to see as a coach,” Thornton said. “You have a bunch of guys who have never even wrestled at sections and they do well on the big stage. It leaves you knowing you have a bright future when they’re qualifying so early in their careers. These guys work hard and that is shown off on a weekend like this.”

wrestlers in the state. Eyerly, the defending Class 5A champion in heavyweight, is ranked No. 1 as well as Payton in 150. Both have been ranked No. 1 all year long and they showed why.

They each went 3-0 after earning first round byes and claimed first place. Eyerly earned a pin in all three of his matches while Payton won via pin, technical fall and decision.

“They showed why they’re No. 1,” Thornton said. “We had two dominant performances from them in all of their matches.”

Colvin, the Panthers’ other senior with Eyerly, also qualified for the second straight season. He was injured in his last match, but Thornton is hoping he will be ready to wrestle again this weekend. The rest of the team were underclassmen or first year wrestlers.

TOURNEY

Continued from B1

he had to medically forfeit the championship match.

Overall, Tallassee had nine wrestlers make it to the championship match. Four won, while five finished runner-up. Last season, Tallassee was runner-up in this tournament with 11 qualifying wrestlers.

“The kids want to win and we’ve been runner-up more times than we can count,” Mask said. “We’re always happy to be up at the top and that speaks volumes about our kids, but winning this weekend was very satisfying and very rewarding.”

Freshman Stran Webb (113) finished fourth and qualified for the second year in a row. Andres, in his first year wrestling at the varsity level, qualified at the 120.

Fochtmann qualified at 157, and he wasn’t even the full time starter until just a few weeks ago. He finished in fourth.

Reinert is a junior but is wrestling for the first time since he was in seventh grade. He finished third in 190 and won two matches.

“It’s pretty exciting to see as a coach,” Thornton said. “You have a bunch of guys who have never even wrestled at sections and they do well on the big stage. It leaves you knowing you have a bright future when they’re qualifying so early in their careers. These guys work hard and that is shown off on a weekend like this.”

Tallassee will get back on the mats this week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The Tigers will take Thursday off before hitting the championship mats Friday morning at the Von Braun Center. Mask knows his team has what it takes to be successful, so now the plan is to stay healthy and make sure the TIgers make weight.

“We want to get some good work in this week,” Mask said. “We want to get them up to Huntsville and their weight is good. When you talk about the right weight classes, it’s a lot that goes into the preparation. Our guys have to be disciplined this week.”

SUVMITTED | EDITH MCCARY

Tallassee’s Tra’Mel McCoy went 3-0 and won the 157-pound weight class in the AHSAA South Super Sectionals Tournament. McCoy beat two ranked wrestlers in back-to-back matches to qualify for the state tournament.

DALTON MIDDLETON THE TPI

Elmore County’s Jaden Eason knocked down four 3-pointers in the first round of the area tournament against Holtville.

Elmore County’s Tyler Payton was one of two champions for the Panthers in Saturday’s 5A Super Sectionals. Payton won the 150-pound weight class with a 3-0 weekend.

THURSDAY, FEB. 15

HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER

4 (G) Wetumpka at Prattville, 7 p.m.

4 (B) Holtville at Tallassee, 7 p.m.

High School Softball Springwood at Edgewood, 3:30 p 4.m.

4 Wetumpka, Tallassee at Prattville Tournament, TBA

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

4 Springwood at Edgewood, 4 p.m.

4 Stanhope Elmore at PCA, 7 p.m.

4 Wetumpka at Andalusia, 3 p.m.

4 Thorsby at Holtville, 4:30 p.m.

4 Beulah at Tallassee, 4:30 p.m.

4 AHSAA State Wrestling Championships

4 Tallassee,Wetumpka, Stanhope Elmore, Elmore County, Holtville at Von Braun Center in Huntsville

FRIDAY, FEB. 16

HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER

4 Holtville at Lincoln Tournament, TBA

HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL

4 Holtville at Opelika Tournament, TBA Wetumpka,Tallassee, Stanhope Elmore at Prattville Tournament, TBA

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

4 Wetumpka at Pike Road, 3 p.m.

4 Tallassee at Reeltown, 6:30 p.m.

4 AHSAA State Wrestling Championships

4 Tallassee,Wetumpka, Stanhope Elmore, Elmore County, Holtville at Von Braun Center in Huntsville

SATURDAY, FEB. 17

HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER

(B) Robertsdale at Wetumpka

4 Holtville at Lincoln Tournament, TBA

4 (G) Thompson at Stanhope Elmore, 5:30 p.m.

4 Tallassee at Charles Henderson, 12 p.m.

HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL

4 Holtville at Opelika Tournament, TBA

4 Wetumpka,Tallassee, Stanhope Elmore at Prattville Tournament,TBA

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

4 Reeltown at Elmore County, 11 a.m.

4 Dothan/Trinity at Stanhope Elmore, 11 a.m.

4 Holtville vs. Catholic/WS Neal at Greenville, 11 a.m.

4 AHSAA State Wrestling Championships

4 Tallassee,Wetumpka, Stanhope Elmore, Elmore County, Holtville at Von Braun Center in Huntsville

MONDAY, FEB. 19

HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER

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

4 Chilton County at Stanhope Elmore, 5:30 p.m.

HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL

4 Edgewood Academy at LeeScott Academy, 2 p.m.

4 Tallassee at Wetumpka, 5 p.m.

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

4 Edgewood Academy at LeeScott Academy, 2 p.m.

4 Shades Valley at Wetumpka, 1 p.m.

4 Brew Tech at Holtville, 5 p.m.

4 BTW at Tallassee, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY, FEB. 20

HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER

4 Valley at Tallassee, 5:30 p.m.

HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL

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

4 Edgewood Academy at Bessemer Academy, 4 p.m.

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

4 Prattville at Tallassee, 5 p.m.

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

4 Edgewood Academy at Bessemer Academy, 3:30 p.m.

4 Elmore County at Valley, 4 p.m.

4 Oak Mountain at Stanhope Elmore, 4:30 p.m.

Tallassee’s Mason signs with Huntingdon baseball

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Brady Mason is bringing his dual-threat ability to the next level.

The Tallassee pitcher and infielder has signed his National Letter of Intent to play college baseball at Huntingdon College in Montgomery.

“This is the dream,” Mason said. “This is what I’ve been working for my whole life. I really didn’t know if this would be a possibility for me, but I’ve kept working hard and I’m super proud of myself for this.”

Mason always wanted to stay close to home, so when Huntingdon coach DJ Conville came calling, it didn’t take Mason long to commit.

Conville first reached out to Mason on the first day of school back. After talking a bit and attending a camp and recruiting lunch, his official offer came in September.

“I knew in October that was where I wanted to play college ball,” Mason said. “I wanted to be close to home and the relationship I have with coach Conville is just fantastic so I really love Huntingdon a lot.”

It helps that Mason will be able to impact the game in multiple ways.

Mason plays seemingly everywhere on the infield for Tallassee. He’s the team

No. 1 pitcher and is coming off a junior season where he had a 3.13 earned run average and 41 strikeouts in more than 40 innings pitched.

When he wasn’t on the mound, he was moving around from third base to shortstop to second. He is the team’s returning hitter with a .356 batting average.

Huntingdon is going to allow him to keep playing both ways.

“I’m going to play in the field and pitch,” Mason said. “I’m excited about that because I really didn’t want

to leave any aspects of the game behind. I think I’ll be able to contribute early on as a pitcher and then do both later in my career. I think the earliest chance I have to play is as a pitcher.”

In the meantime, Mason’s main focus is to continue turning around the Tallassee baseball program. As a sophomore, he was part of the 4-25 team that led to John Goodman getting rehired last season.

In his first season back as head coach, Goodman and the Tigers won 12 games and clinched a playoff berth

by finishing second in the region. They went on to advance to the second round of the Class 5A playoffs. The Tigers were one inning away from the area title, and that’s Mason’s goal for his senior campaign.

“We’re looking forward to making another jump this year,” Mason said. “The big goal is to win the area and get to the playoffs and see how far we can go. We want to go farther than we did last year. We haven’t won the area in a while so we’re looking forward to trying for that.”

TOP: Tallasse’s Brady Mason had a 3.13 earned run average a year ago. He has signed with Huntingdon as both a pitcher and catcher.

ABOVE: Tallassee’s Brady Mason signed a National Letter of Intent with Huntingdon College last week.

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• A juvenile complaint was reported on Laurel Street.

• Assistance was given to medics on Macedonia Road.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on South Tallassee Drive.

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

• A suicidal subject was reported on Washington Circle.

• A white female was arrested on Robertson Drive.

• Animal control was requested on Gilmer Avenue.

• A Black female was arrested on West Butler Street.

• Animal control was requested on Second Avenue.

• Harassment was reported on Freeman Avenue. FEB. 7

• An abandoned vehicle was reported on Highway 229.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Criminal mischief was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• An animal bite was reported on Thelma Drive.

• Harassment was reported on Hillcrest Street.

• A domestic incident was reported on West Gantts Mill Road.

• A white male was arrested on U.S. Highway 231.

• Theft was reported on Ashurst Bar Road. FEB. 6

• Suspicious activity was reported on Third Avenue.

• Assistance was given to another agency on Wallahatchee Drive.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Oak Heights Road.

• Harassing communications was reported on Quail Crossings.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Willow Street.

• Reckless driving was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• An animal complaint was reported on Main Street.

• A juvenile complaint was reported on Friendship Road.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Worthington Circle.

• Harassing communications was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

• Littering was reported on Kent Road.

• A Black male was arrested on Peachtree Street.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Jordan Avenue. FEB. 5

• Suspicious activity was reported on Friendship Road.

• A welfare check was conducted on Seventh Street.

• A white male was arrested during a traffic stop on Macedonia Road.

• A domestic incident was reported on Washington Street.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Neptune Drive.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Riverside Court.

• Animal control was requested on Washington Street.

• A motor vehicle accident was reported on Central Boulevard.

• Assistance was given during a medical call on Hillcrest Street.

• A suspicious person was reported on Little Road.

• Theft was reported on Macedonia Road.

• An animal bite was reported on Washington Street.

• Assistance was given during a medical call on Hillcrest Street.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Third Avenue.

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• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Hillcrest Street.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Third Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on South Tallassee Drive.

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Congressman says U.S. needs new leadership

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Gary Palmer believes the country needs to return to its roots.

Palmer represents Alabama Congressional District 6, the new district for Elmore County starting Jan. 1. Palmer has opposition for the seat from Gerrick Wilkins, and both are currently campaigning for the District 6 seat.

Palmer spoke to the Elmore County Republican Party at its annual scholarship dinner and gave a brief update on issues in Washington. He said most of the problems were related to divisive politics.

“It is a tough time in our country’s history,” Palmer said. “We are amazingly resilient people. We’ve gone through tough times. It’s amazing what God does. He raises up the right people at the right time.”

Palmer likened current issues to those in the U.S. in the late 1970s and early 1980s. There was high inflation and high interest rates

“Things were really bad for the country,” Palmer said. “Homebuilders were leaving the foundations. They couldn’t afford to finish the houses. There was an energy crisis. Military was in shambles. The Soviet Union was in Central America, the Caribbean, central Africa. They had invaded Afghanistan.”

Palmer believes the United

States can return to the prominence it found coming out of the Cold War. But the nation has to come together to do it.

He said California has more evangelicals in the country than any other state. Texas is No. 2, but Californians don’t vote in high numbers. Palmer encouraged everyone to get out and vote.

“It is like we are ashamed to admit we have political affiliations,” Palmer said. “We will talk about Auburn and Alabama football, but we won’t talk about religion or politics. The time has come and gone for that. We have got to stand together as a people around common values.”

Palmer said he was helping former President Donald Trump craft campaign policy.

“I believe he is the guy to get things done,” Palmer said. “I don’t think Russia would have invaded Ukraine. Because Putin would have thought he would have bombed the Kremlin.”

Palmer is a historian and reflected on the early 1980s as Pope John Paul II was set to visit communist Poland. He said the Soviet thought about having the Pope assassinated.

“Instead they filled the Polish schools with atheism and tried to muzzle the Polish media,” Palmer said.

The Pope journeyed to the Communist Bloc and was greeted by millions seeking change. Eight years after,

President Ronald Regan demanded the wall come down in Berlin. It did 18 months later.

Palmer said the Soviet Union has been replaced by China in recent times. It brings similar issues of control over natural resources, many of which China supplies the U.S.

“We have got to focus on critical minerals,” Palmer said. “That has become a national security issue. We don’t mine minerals. We don’t refine them. If we got into a conflict with China we would be up the creek.”

To cut the dependency on China, Palmer said he and other Republicans want to help private investment mines and refineries to mine minerals in Central and South America.

“It’s not government or foreign aid, but private investment to help build out their energy infrastructure,” Palmer said.

The Republican Party also has plans to lower the debt through a balanced budget.

“There are no gimmicks,” Palmer said. “We have a way to get our debt back to a manageable level. We can do this, but we need everybody on board.”

The House of Representatives currently has a slim Republican majority, but the party has had some recent health scares to its top members. Majority leader Steve

Scalise is out getting treatment for cancer. Hal Rogers was in a head on collision in Washington D.C. and is still recovering.

Palmer said the Republican Party is trying to hold on until they return, but even then, it’s still just a three-person majority. Palmer wants more Republicans to be elected to the House and for the party to get the majority in the Senate.

Palmer believes the world is waiting to see what happens in this year’s election. He spoke with diplomats and leaders, especially Sweden.

“The media has led you to believe all these European heads of state and diplomats didn’t like Trump,” Palmer said. “I very carefully asked about President Trump. The diplomat said, ‘We like him because when he says something, we know he will do it.’ There is no substitute for certainty in foreign policy.”

Palmer hopes Trump will be elected, and he challenged Elmore County Republicans to help.

“We need to give him four years to get us started in the right direction,” Palmer said.

“We all have the chance to be a part of history. Your names may not be written on a page. You may not have your picture in a history book, but what this generation of people do will be reflected in history — to bring back the greatest nation in the world.”

Hacker and Patterson selected best soloists in show

REPORT

The Tallassee High School show choirs did well at the Southern Showcase this weekend.

Emily Hacker and

Sarah Jane Patterson led the way, as they were selected as best soloists within a show for their performances with the all girls choir Divas. They sang Miley Cyrus’ hit “The Climb.” As a group, the Divas earned fifth place in the women’s division.

The school’s co-ed choir, Voltage, earned third-runner up and the all male group Gold Edition placed third.

“This was a tremen-

dous achievement for the Tallassee students competing with programs from schools that are double or triple the size of Tallassee High School,” director Kelley Hill said.

The performances by the Divas and Voltage are choreographed by Santana Houston. There were 22 school choirs in the showcase including groups from Auburn; Biloxi, Mississippi, Tift County, Georgia; Albertville; Briarwood; Lakeside in Georgia; West Marion in Mississippi; Fitzgerald, Georgia; Boaz; Chelsea; and Prattville.

The choirs go to Auburn next week to compete.

Congressman Gary Palmer speaks at the Elmore County Republican Party Scholarship Dinner. Palmer represents congressional district six, the new district for Elmore County after redistricting goes in effect Jan. 1 2025. STAFF

SUBMITTED | TPI

Tallassee High School students Emily Hacker and Sarah Jane Patterson, who are members of the show choir Divas, were selected as best solist with in a show at Saturday’s Southern Showcase in Opelika.

Sonny has been made famous by the 20th annual Puppy Bowl. His journey started at the Humane Society of Elmore County Animal Shelter. He was then transported to New hyork in Septemeber before he was selected for the famous puppy game.

From Elmore County to the Puppy Bowl

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Sonny took part in this year’s Puppy Bowl, and played on Team Ruff.

He might not be as famous as the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, but he is living up a dream in New York City. However his story starts in Elmore County, thanks to a partnership between the Humane Society of Elmore County and a shelter in New York.

“They don’t always have puppies and have adopters that would like puppies, like adopters here,” HSEC executive director Rea Cord said. “It really works out

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because we are just so overloaded and it helps save more than those puppies’ lives.”

When the weather starts cooling off up north, the litters of puppies slow down. That is not the case in Alabama where shelters are filled with animals. To help make room in the Elmore County shelter, Sonny was transported to New York in Sept. 2023.

“We are sometimes just buried in them,” Cord said. “We can ship off 25 puppies and we will still have 25-30 or more in the shelter. The likelihood of a disease outbreak increases exponentially with the more puppies in the facility. If you can

Waggoner (R-Vestavia) is the Dean of the Senate. He is one of the most respected and accomplished state Senators in Alabama history. Indeed, he has the longest tenure of legislative service in the history of the state, 50 years. Waggoner also chairs the Senate Rules Committee, which sets the agenda for the Senate. Waggoner is in an elite leadership group of the Senate, which includes President Pro Tem Greg Reed (R-Jasper), Education Budget Chairman Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), and General Fund Budget Chairman Greg Albritton (R-Escam -

GRAMMYS

Continued from A4

keep those numbers under control, it reduces the likelihood of a disease outbreak like parvo or severe upper respiratory or things like that.”

Cord said the shelter takes in far more puppies than adult dogs. The young animals present an issue when in close quarters such as the shelter.

“They are coming off dirt roads,” Cord said. “They are coming out of bad places. They are coming from places where nobody has been vaccinated.”

The partnership allows the shelter to take care of more animals.

“It is getting them homes,” Cord said. “It is saving lives because you

bia). The new majority leader of the Alabama Senate is Senator Steve Livingston (R-Scottsboro). He is well respected and meshes well with Pro Tem Greg Reed.

State Senator April Weaver (R-Bibb/Shelby is doing an excellent job as Chair of the Health Committee. Senator Tom Butler (R-Huntsville) is a veteran legislator and is looked to on health issues, along with Senator Weaver.

Senator Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road) is doing excellent work as Chairman of Judiciary. Senator Dan Roberts (R-Jefferson) has become the go to leader on business issues and is a workhorse senator. Senator Tim Melson (R-Florence) is a medical doctor, who is

the sound of breaking glass, pounded out his 1980 classic “You May Be Right”! However, of all these performances, the one that the 66th Grammy Awards will probably be most remembered for may be Joni Mitchell’s.

Joni has never been invited to perform at the Grammys. In the past year, however, thanks to admiring friends such as Brandi Carlile, Joni is recording and performing again after learning to walk – and speak –for a third time in her

don’t end up with disease problems. It gives more space to the dogs people aren’t flocking in for. It really works.”

Sonny and other Elmore County puppies were transported north by Best Friends working through a shelter in New York state in operation for more than 100 years. It’s in a county much like Elmore County in size. The shelter runs similar to Elmore County’s but has some differences.

“The shelter doesn’t take in animal control animals like we do,” Cord said. “They don’t have the stray hold.”

According to stories posted online by Best Friends, Sonny was fos-

very well liked and respected. He is effective and a good team player.

Senator Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) is doing an excellent job. He is young and has a bright future. Senator Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville) is a quiet, effective leader who does not seek glamor, but gets things done. He is head of the Legislative Council for the entire legislature. Senator Andrew Jones (R-Cherokee/Etowah) and Senator Randy Price (R-Lee County) are workhorses for their districts.

Senator Clyde Chambliss (R-Autauga) is a stellar leader in the Senate. He is a favorite of Governor Kay Ivey. Chambliss has been the Sponsor of most of the

life. A polio victim as a child, then in more recent years a survivor of both a stroke and a brain aneurysm, the legendary Mitchell has continued to bounce back.

tered by a family in Manhattan, who eventually ended up adopting Sonny. New dog mom Liana Khatri said Sonny has been with her husband to work and has won over everyone.

“He’s famous in our neighborhood, a local celebrity,” Khatri told Good Friends. “Sonny insists on stopping outside the doorman office until they come out, and he has so many friends in the neighborhood.”

Sonny has opened the doors to the Khatri family to new friends.

“There’s his friend Rigatoni and his friend Randall, and Randall’s mom is April,” Khatri said. “His girlfriend’s

major legislation including Prisons and Roads over the past few years. Senator Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa) continues to be a strong conservative voice for Tuscaloosa. Senator Donnie Chesteen (R-Geneva/ Houston) is an outstanding senator. He, like Givhan, is quietly effective. He gets things done for the Wiregrass.

Freshman Republicans Josh Carnley (R-Coffee), Jay Hovey (R-Auburn), and Keith Kelly (R-Anniston) are fast studies and wellliked team players.

Senator Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) is a very likable and effective minority leader. He is aided by the aforementioned Senator Rodger Smitherman

name is Matilda. His newest friend Stanley is a 4-month-old Chihuahua and beagle mix who was just adopted. All these people live on different blocks, but you end up speaking to these people who are your neighbors.”

No matter the outcome of the Puppy Bowl, Cord is hopeful Sonny’s experience brings attention to animal shelters across the country.

“Hopefully it will highlight that there are absolutely wonderful animals in shelters, that is a good thing,” Cord said. “We have puppies, adults and old dogs and young dogs and purebreds. We have a little bit of everything.”

(D-Birmingham) as well as respected and revered senate leaders, Senator Vivian Figures (D-Mobile) and Senator Billy Beasley (D-Barbour).

Newcomers to the Senate Merika Coleman (D-Bessemer) and Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery) have become immediately effective having served previously in the House. The State Senate is full of leaders.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column appears in over 60 Alabama newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the state legislature. He may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.

Her performance, with the orchestra, of her career-defining “Both Sides Now,” originally recorded in 1969, was beautiful and touching. Joni sang it slowly, deliberately, and with more feeling than the first time around. And, she added her own ad-libs to the familiar lyrics. There literally was not a dry eye in the house. Whenever people complain that the good music is gone or that it has died, pull up a recording of the 66th Grammy Awards and just enjoy the show. As Joni sang, “Oh, but now old friends they’re acting strange / they shake their heads and say, Joni, you’ve changed / Well something’s lost, but something’s gained

/ In living every day /I’ve looked at life from both sides now / From win and lose and still somehow / It’s life’s illusions I recall / I really don’t know life at all.” Amen.

Michael Bird is a music teacher with Tallassee City Schools.

MIA COURSEY TO PLAY IN COLLEGIATE BAND

By ADRIAN BUSH For The Observer

Fans of the Huntingdon College Band should be on the lookout for a rising star in Mia Coursey. Coursey has been committed to play the baritone in the college band, where she will again be under the direction of Elmore County High School’s beloved former band director, Anthony Vittore. Mr. V or “V” as the students affectionately called him, began his new band leadership position at Huntingdon in June of 2023. Of Vittore, Coursey said, “I’ve never had a teacher encourage me as much as he has.”

Always having been musically inclined, when Coursey moved to Eclectic, she was hoping to join the school choir. Upon discovering there was no choir, band was the natural next step. Coursey plays the baritone, which, like the French horn or tuba, is a low-pitched brass instrument in the saxhorn family. If you’ve never heard of a baritone, don’t feel bad.

As Coursey admitted, “No one ever knows what it is.”

Coursey is going to keep the baritone front and center.

Coursey had a tough decision to make, as she had to choose between her two top schools: Huntingdon and Troy University. Ultimately, however, Huntingdon won out.

“I’m excited to meet a whole new band and play with new people,” Coursey said.

But rest assured that there is no love lost when it comes to the closeness of the high school band’s musicians.

“I’ve never been close with people like this who weren’t family,” she said.

This has changed over the years, because when Coursey joined the band, she was just a shy seventh grader.

“I was really quiet and I really didn’t talk to a lot of people but band really opened up for me,” Coursey said. “I was only 13 and I was smaller than everyone else.”

Playing the baritone helped her to learn how to take up space in her new school.

When asked what the secret sauce is in being a really good player,

Coursey said it’s all about daily practice. Right now there are four players in the baritone section at Coursey’s school and she’s both the oldest and the only girl in the section. Was it scary for her to start playing a brand new instrument? Yes, a little.

“You should always try something new; you shouldn’t be scared,” Coursey said. “I didn’t

know anything about playing instruments and in band, I learned about how to read music, play it, and keep time.”

The lifestyle Coursey has chosen is not a complete cake walk. On top of daily practice, she also has to devote her free time almost entirely to band life as well. Coursey said that one of the downsides is, “you can’t just go out

in the evenings and hang out with your friends.”

Instead, she has adapted to the challenge and all of her friends are in band. Also in the band, and following in Coursey’s footsteps, is her brother, Daughtry. He is thirteen and, like his sister, he chose brass for his instrument of choice, the tuba. Who knows, maybe he will be a Hawk soon too.

Elmore County’s Murphy, Thames sign with West Florida

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Jabari Murphy and Jonathan Thames are going to continue terrorizing defenses together.

The Elmore County duo signed National Letters of Intent to play college football together at the University of West Florida on Wednesday.

West Florida is a Division II University located in Pensacola and competes in the Gulf South Conference.

“I think it’s really cool that both of us are going to the same place,” Thames said. “Most people don’t even get an opportunity to play, and I have a teammate there. I have somebody I already know and will be able to have a friend when I get there.”

Murphy, a three-star recruit who is ranked as the No. 44 player in the state, is signing as a receiver while Thames is signing as an offensive lineman.

Murphy recorded 37 catches for 500 yards and five touchdowns this season. In the backfield, he rushed for 363 yards and five touchdowns. He was invited to the AHSAA North-South All-Star Football game.

Murphy had multiple

offers from Division I programs spanning from West Virginia to Mississippi State, but with college football’s transfer portal taking precedence in most programs, his scholarship opportunities at those schools dwindled.

So instead, he looked to the Division 2, Divi-

sion 3 and junior college routes and West Florida came around and started talking to him. After looking into the program, he knew that’s where he wanted to go.

“I’ve always wanted to play college football and I’m glad that I’m going to be able to play ball at the next level and chase

my dreams,” Murphy said. “West Florida has a great program and their campus is beautiful, and that’s really what led me to my decision.”

Thames was one of the best offensive lineman in the county, grading out at 88% block rate and allowing only one sack while earning 43 pancake

blocks, but his recruitment process was very different from Murphy’s.

In fact, he first jumped on the radar of West Florida when the coaches came to visit Murphy at Elmore County. While visiting, the West Florida coaches saw Thames walking the hallway and asked about

him. They watched film on Thames with Elmore County coach Kyle Caldwell, and they asked Thames to come on a visit.

Thames and his family visited West Florida on a Thursday and received his offer on a Friday.

“I’m just really thankful to the Lord for giving me this opportunity,” Thames said. “I wouldn’t be here without him and all of my coaches and my family helping me get through all the adversity.”

West Florida is not just the average Division II program. The Argonauts, in just eight seasons of having a program, have put the country on notice.

They have played for two national championships, winning one in 2019, and have had nine or more wins in four of the seven seasons they have fielded a team. Since 2019, West Florida has had eight or more wins every season.

“I think we can help them win another national championship,” Murphy said. “Coach (Kaleb) Nobles is a really good coach and they’ve won one title. They’ve played for another one. We’re excited to get down there.”

DALTON MIDDLETON TPI

Elmore County’s Jabari Murphy, left, and Jonathan Thames both signed National Letters of Intent to play college football at the University of West Florida.

SUBMITTED TPI

Elmore County High School senior Mia Coursey will take her playing talents to Huntingdon College.