Tallassee Tribune Feb. 15 2023

Could Hotel Talisi be resurrected?

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

side town where they picked up her Southern accent. Sid would respond Alabama, but the response wasn’t good enough, nor was Central Alabama or between Auburn and Montgomery. “‘What is the name of the city?’” See HOTEL, Page A3

DAUGHTER’S FIRST LOVE

Friendship Fire Department hosts Daddy-Daughter Dance

By ABIGAIL MURPHY Multimedia reporter

Reeltown High School’s media specialist, Wendy Moore, was nominated by assistant principal Audrey Stockdale for a LifeChanger of the Year award.

CLIFF WILLIAMS THE TRIBUNE It’s debatable about who had more fun at the second annual Friendship Volunteer Fire Department Daddy Daughter Dance. But one thing is for sure all danced into new memories at the disco themed event.

The LifeChanger of the Year awards are nationwide, and 18 winners will be selected. Those nominated are individuals who improve the school through their leadership and have an impact on the student body. In a press release, Stock -

dale said she nominated Moore because she goes above and beyond her job, including taking senior photos for students who couldn’t afford it otherwise and serving as a medication assistant.

See SPECIALIST, Page A6

Elmore County helps fund Tallassee park

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Thanks to a donation of property from God’s Congregation Holiness Church and funding from the City of Tallassee and the Elmore County Commission a new children’s park is under construction.

Elmore County Commissioners Desirae Lewis-Jackson and Mack Daugherty were at the Monday meeting of the Tallassee City Council to deliver a $20,000 check to the city for the project.

“This has been our third opportunity over the past year to be able to work with the City of Tallassee on projects,” Daugherty said. “We look forward to more opportunities like this in the future to work with the City of Tallassee. We thank you for the cooperation. We look forward to more projects in the future.”

The commission has provided Tallassee with $620,000 in funding to refurbish the downtown water tank, improve water lines along Little Road and the Jordanville Park.

Lewis-Jackson said she was happy to work to bring the new park to fruition.

Tallassee Mayor Sarah Hill said she hopes the park is available for use soon.

“I’m so excited for this project,” Hill said. “We hope we have some warm sunny days to get this project finished.”

Obituaries

JOY CHILDERS

Mrs. Joy Childers, a resident of Tallassee, Alabama passed away Tuesday, February 7, 2023, at the age of 42. She was born October 30, 1980, in Montgomery, Alabama to John William and Reba A. Gilliland.

Joy is survived by her husband of twenty years, Chris Childers; daughter, Lauren Brooke Childers; father, John W. Gilliland; sister, Joan Buchanan; brother, Craig Gilliland; sister-in-law, Beverly Patel (Dignesh) and nephews, Cody Rummel, Brandon Gill and Westley Gill.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Reba A. Gilliland; father-inlaw and mother-in-law, Pete and Linda Childers and her nephew, Ryan Gill. Joy had a tremendous servant’s heart and she loved her family unconditionally.

The family will receive friends Thursday, February 9, 2023 from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Jeffcoat Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Friday, February 10, 2023 at 2:00

Police Reports

WETUMPKA POLICE DEPARTMENT

FEB. 5

• Burglary was reported on U.S. Highway 231. FEB. 2

• Forgery was reported on Wilson Street.

• Theft was reported on Durr Court. FEB. 1

• Forgery and theft was reported on Cambridge Drive. JAN. 28

• Theft was reported on U.S. Highway 231.

TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT

FEB. 9

• Loud music was reported on Claire Street.

FEB. 8

• Trespassing was reported on Cliff Street.

• Animal control was requested on Gilmer Avenue.

• A noise ordinance complaint was reported on Lower Tuskegee Road.

• Animal control was requested on South Ann Avenue.

• A motor vehicle accident with injuries was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A white male was arrested on Powers Extension.

• Animal control was requested on South Ashurst Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Notasulga Road.

• Animal control was requested on South Ashurst Avenue.

• Animal control was requested on Paxton Drive.

• A hit and run accident was reported on Notasulga Road.

• A verbal fight was reported on Riley Road.

• A white male was arrested during an intoxicated driver call on Kent Road.

FEB. 7

• Criminal mischief was reported on Little Road.

• Gunfire was reported on Little Road.

• A white male was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.

• A Black male was arrested during a traffic stop on Hickory Street.

• A domestic incident was reported on Highway 229.

• A domestic incident was reported on Worthington Circle.

• A suspicious person was reported on

PM at Jeffcoat Funeral Home Chapel, Rev. Adam Turner officiating. Burial will follow in Union Church at Lake Martin Cemetery, Dadeville, Alabama. On line condolences are available at: www.jeffcoatfuneralhome.com.

Jeffcoat Funeral Home Directing Tallassee, Alabama

JUANITA PAYTON

Juanita Payton, a resident of Tallassee, Alabama passed away Thursday, February 2, 2023 at the age of 81. She was born March 11, 1941, in Brookston, Texas to Thurman Payton and Nannie Mae Hearne, who preceded her in death.

Juanita is survived by her daughter, Vicky Jones and grandsons, Thaddeus “T.C.” Robinson and Ennis Jones; granddaughter, Aqualia Thomas and great grandson, Elias Marcell Jones; two nieces, Robbie Wakefield and children, Stephanie and Josh Wakefield; Shawanna Marcus and daughter, Kymora Marcus; three nephews,

East Patton Street.

• Trespassing was reported on Dolan Road.

• Trespassing was reported on South Tallassee Drive

• Animal control was requested on South Tallassee Drive.

• A civil disturbance was reported on Mott Lane.

• Harassment was reported on North Ann Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Gilmer Avenue.

FEB. 6

• Gunfire was reported on Second Street.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Gilmer Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Notasulga Road.

• Criminal mischief was reported on Washington Street.

• A suspicious person was reported on East Patton Street.

• A welfare check was conducted on Gilmer Avenue.

• Theft was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A white female was arrested during a traffic stop on Riverside Avenue.

• A disorderly subject was reported on Friendship Road.

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

• A domestic dispute was reported on Freeman Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Dorman Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gammils Store Road.

• Tree in the roadway was reported on Cherokee Trail. FEB. 5

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.

• A juvenile complaint was filed on Dorman Avenue.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Highway 229.

• A disorderly subject was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Hudson Place.

• Assistance was given to another agency on Cottage Hill Circle.

• Criminal trespassing was reported on First Avenue.

• An animal complaint was reported on Dorman Avenue. FEB. 4

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Ashurst Bar Road.

• A juvenile complaint was reported on Rickey Lane.

• Gunfire was reported on Ashurst Av-

Elmore County Community Calendar

NOW – SATURDAY, FEB. 18

Derrick Payton and son, Nicholas Farrow, Eric Payton and Brian Payton; two great nieces, Adrian Miller and DeAnna Miller, her loving sisterin-law, Betty Payton and her loving goddaughter Shandra Bowens. She is also preceded in death by her sisters, Joann Payton and Wanda Wardlow; brother, Harold Payton and son, Reginald Payton. Ms. Payton was an active member at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church and an avid collector or African-American art. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM Thursday, February 9, 2023 at Jeffcoat Funeral Home Chapel with funeral to follow at 2:00 PM., Rev. John Henry Curry officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, Tallassee, Alabama. On line condolences are available at: www.jeffcoatfuneralhome.com.

Jeffcoat Funeral Home Directing Tallassee, Alabama

enue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Barnett Boulevard.

• Assistance was given to the Tallassee Fire Department on Highway 229.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Gilmer Avenue.

• Animal control was requested on First Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.

• An intoxicated driver was reported on Gilmer Avenue. FEB. 3

• An intoxicated driver was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Central Boulevard.

• A domestic incident was reported on Jacob Court.

• An animal complaint was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

• A Black male was arrested on Herd Street.

• A Black male was arrested during a traffic stop on Gilmer Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Hudson Place.

• A suspicious person was reported on East Patton Street.

• A suspicious person was reported on Friendship Road.

• Assistance was given to medics on Macedonia Road.

• Identity theft was reported on Kent Road.

• A welfare check was conducted on Highway 229.

• Panhandling was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Panhandling was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A welfare check was conducted on Camelia Drive.

• Assistance was given to the Tallassee Fire Department on Burt Mill Road.

• A civil dispute was reported on Gilmer Avenue. FEB. 2

• Menacing was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Notasulga Road.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Friendship Road.

• Trespassing was reported on Macedonia Road.

• A civil disturbance was reported on Ashurst Avenue.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Laurel Street.

• Reckless driving was reported on Notasulga Road.

• A white female was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

THURSDAY, FEB. 23

HOLLYWOOD, NEBRASKA: The Wetumpka Depot Players will be premiering HollYwood, Nebraska by Kenneth Jones Feb. 2-18.

THURSDAY, FEB. 16

COFFEE MEETING: The Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce is holding a Rise and Shine Coffee and Conversation at CB&S Bank from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Feb. 16.

SATURDAY, FEB. 18

MARDI GRAS: The Order of Cimarron is hosting the 2023 Wetumpka Mardi Gras and Festival. Vendors will be in Goldstar Park starting at 9 a.m. and the parade starts at 1 p.m. This is a rain or shine event. For more information, visit www.wetumpkamardigras.com.

TUESDAY, FEB. 21

PANCAKE DINNER: The Knights of Columbus will be hosting a pancake and sausage breakfast from 5 to 8 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Church. The event is an annual tradition of a meal to serve on Mardi Gras. Pick up as many plates as you wish, but please make a donation to the Knights of Columbus. The church is located at 620 Gilmer Ave.

CRATER TOUR: Auburn University professor of geology Dr. David T. King will give a lecture on the Wetumpka Crater at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Wetumpka Civic Center.

SATURDAY, FEB. 25

CRATER TOUR: Guided tours of the Wetumpka Meteor Crater are being hosted by the Wetumpka Impact Crater Commission Saturday, Feb. 25 at 8:25 a.m., 9:55 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children over 10. Payments can be sent to 408 S. Main Street Wetumpka and checks made out to the Wetumpka Crater Commission. The tour starts at Trinity Episcopal Church.

SATURDAY, MARCH 11

SPRING FESTIVAL: The Tallassee Chamber of Commerce is holding its annual spring festival March 11 on the grounds of Tallassee City Hall.

MARCH 20-25

BEAUTIFUL TABLE SETTINGS: May Eason is bringing back the Beautiful Table Settings Bash March 20-25 at the Wetumpka Civic Center in two different sessions.

Sid said the guests asked. “I said, ‘It’s called Tallassee.’ They said, ‘You mean where Hotel Talisi is?’ They had been there many times and had eaten there. That is what they remembered. That was always the way on the Pacific Coast.”

Sid opened Grove Station more than a year ago, just across the street where the windows of the Hotel Talisi have been boarded up.

“Everyday I answer the question, ‘Is this the Hotel Talisi?’” Sid said. “Everyday I get asked, ‘What are they going to do with it?’ I know it is so beloved by all of us and by other people across our state and parts of this nation. It’s dilapidated, dangerous, an eyesore, condemned by [the city council] and the council is bringing it down.”

Crews with Birmingham contractor Ingle Demolition and Salvage are taking the building down currently and Sid and Griggs want to resurrect the hotel, not just as a business venture but for all of Tallassee.

“With this blank slate comes an opportunity, an opportunity to rebuild Hotel Talisi,” Sid said. “It is a chance to rebuild the heartbeat and vibe of downtown Tallassee. It provides lodging for business travelers, vacationers and families.”

Sid and Griggs see a need for a place for business people to stay nearby as they visit local industry. The same goes for people traveling through the area on vacation.

“Every day of the week, I have visitors coming in to eat lunch with me from Mexico, Amsterdam, Norway, Australia, South Africa, Minnesota, Nebraska, California, Vermont, Maine, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee and Atlanta regularly,” Sid said. “They travel into our industrial park. They have relations there and a whole bunch of British people. They don’t stay in Tallassee. They stay in Auburn. They stay in Montgomery. They don’t buy gas in Tallassee. They buy it in Auburn or Montgomery. They eat one meal with us. That is lunch and they rotate the restaurants.”

With stays and further purchases happening beyond Tallassee, it means the city is missing out on tax revenues while also providing an opportunity to bring local residents to downtown Tallassee.

“This would stimulate more city income in revenue and in general rebuilding Hotel Talisi would help every business in our town,” Sid said. “It establishes a meeting place for our locals. I’ve seen that at Grove Station. We have

quite a few folks that come and chit chat, catch up, have a glass of wine and really just have a place for a little bit of peace.”

Griggs said rebuilding the hotel will help everyone.

“We have people that come into Neptune, GKN, they come in to do their business and they leave,” Griggs said. “They spend money on fuel and food and everything — lodging — somewhere else. We want to change it. We think this is a gamechanger for downtown Tallassee. We think it can be tremendously good.”

The basics of the idea are simple — to build a three story building in the same space housing more than 30 hotel rooms with a cafe, bar and check-in area on the ground floor. But the idea doesn’t grow from the ground cheaply. Griggs and Sid estimate the cost of the project is somewhere between $5 and $6 million.

“The idea is this hotel needs to be a best in class boutique,” Griggs said. “It needs to be a little upscale. It needs to have a little wow factor to it because it needs to be a destination for people, not only for Tallassee but the surrounding area.”

Griggs and Sid are working to complete the plans and operational costs for the project to be able to recruit up to 30 local investors for the project. They also said they need the help of the city to make the project viable especially since projections have it losing $200,000 in the first year.

ALDOT GRANTS MORE FUNDING FOR STREETSCAPE

CHANGE IN CEMETERY POLICY

With the retirement of one Tallassee City Cemetery employee and the resignation of two others, the council decided to change how the cemetery operated. Instead of city employees opening and closing graves, funeral homes will now dig the graves for burials. It is something Hill said other neighboring municipalities do and it will save the city about $80,000 per year.

MILL PROPERTY SALES CONTRACT AMENDED

The council voted to remove a clawback clause from the transfer of the old east river mill.

The provision was included in the original transfer to ensure developers didn’t just acquire the property and do no work.

Contractors have been working the last several months to begin clearing the property after the fire six years ago. Hill said developers asked for the clause to be removed so financing could be sought to further the project.

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

RENOVATIONS GET GO AHEAD

The council previously approved a bid to allow a refurbishment of the city’s sewage treatment lagoons with the contingency that more funding was found. Hill said between the contractor cutting costs and Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) stepping up the project will begin soon.

“The contractor has come up with a way to cut about $100,000 off the final cost,” Hill said. “We have received word from ADEM we would get the additional funding. We are estimating a start date of April. There will not be any road closures on Highway 229.”

The council has been working for several years to bring a new streetscape to downtown Tallassee. The bids were well above estimates from prior to the COVID-19 pandemic but Hill said the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has provided another $580,000 in funding to allow the project to start in late March as the demolition of Hotel Talisi is completed.

FITZPATRICK BRIDGE WORK

Hill said ALDOT is not committed to a March 1 start date as it is still working on permits with Alabama Power.

The bridge will be one lane most of the time during the work but will be two lanes 6 to 8 a.m. and 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

IN OTHER ACTION THE TALLASSEE CITY COUNCIL:

• Approved minutes of the Jan. 24 meeting.

• Tabled surplusing property near Taco Bell.

• Was notified fees for trash collection would increase to $23.50 for residential customers and to $24.00 for commercial customers.

• Approved a trash and debris removal policy where the city would charge $5 for the service going forward.

• Approved closing the intersection of E.B. Payne Street and Highway 14 when work begins on the Fitzpatrick Bridge.

• Approved a $280,000 bid for water improvements on Little Road.

• Tabled a motion to rezone a home for residential business.

Councilmembers Bill Hall and Jeremy Taunton were absent from the meeting.

The next meeting of the Tallassee City Council is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28.

“The capital raise scares me to death,” Griggs said. “Before I ask friends and family and people I know to sign up, we are going to make sure we can do this or simply put we are not going to do,” Griggs said.

The city currently owns the property in downtown Tallassee and if the plan comes to fruition, the city would sell the cleared lot for $100 for a new hotel along with the abatement of sales and lodging taxes.

“There is a lot of work to do,” Griggs said. “It is a starting point for conversation. We will see what we can do together.”

A signage variance would also be needed.

“If I were building a hotel today it would not be on the backside of some 100 year old buildings where you can’t find it or see it,” Griggs said. “We got to have the exposure.”

“We are very successful — we are blessed,” Griggs said. “We have contributed about $465,000 in revenue directly to the city. That took a minute but that is a lot of money.”

Even if the Hotel Talisi property was clear today, Griggs said he and Sid do not have a clear idea of a timeline yet of the potential buildout and growth in downtown Tallassee.

“We have to do more homework on projected buildout costs and operating costs,” Griggs said. “The end game will be determined by what the city can do. We will need some help. We will need a lot of help. We are not going to spend any real money until we know we have a plan that works.

Griggs and wife Pam came back to open 1220 Cafe and while the first few years were a struggle losing $200,000 but 1220 Cafe has turned around. Through sales taxes, the City of Tallassee has benefited too in 1220’s nearly 12 years.

“If we do it and pull it off together, it changes everything downtown. Property values go up, retail sales go up. More enterprise is going to come and we are going to drive revenue.”

PARK

Continued from A1

CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE TRIBUNE

Members of the God’s Congregation Holiness Church including Bishop Adolphus Gauntt join the Tallassee City Council,Tallassee Mayor Sarah Hill and Elmore County Commissioners Desirrae Lewis Jackson and Mack Daugherty for a photograph at the Monday Tallassee City Council meeting.

HOTEL Continued from A1

CLIFF WILLIAMS THE TRIBUNE

While contractors are demolishing what remains of the old Hotel Talisi, Grove Station’s Corrie Sid and 1220 Cafe’s Noah Griggs are proposing a new hotel on the site to bring life back to downtown Tallassee.

Thankful for life after tornado

am a huge fan of the movie, “Twister.”

I love it so much I named my cat Toby after the dog in the opening scene; and I have a solid yellow plate at Grandma’s only I’m allowed to use — it looks just like the one at Aunt Meg’s.

But real life “Twister,” count me out.

I am deathly afraid of tornadoes, and I don’t think I really was until I came to Alabama and covered the Wetumpka tornado in 2019. I will never forget that day. It was all hands on deck, and I remember this sweet, sweet lady who allowed me to tour and photograph what remained of her home. The damage in her living room was unbelievable; I had never seen anything like it.

Then I took about five steps into the kitchen, and the salt and pepper shakers were placed perfectly on the small table. The cookbooks were all in line and the spices were neatly on their rack. It was as if nothing had ever happened.

LIZI GWIN Managing Editor

of the God who is looking over each one of us — a cross still standing, an untouched Bible, framed family photos with the glass still intact. The Jan. 12 tornado on Lake Martin left us the greatest blessing of all: No lives lost.

I always feel like I’m the overly cautious person. The text from Lake Martin EMA comes across as just a tornado watch, and I’m already thinking… “Hmm, should we get in the bathroom yet?”

Obituaries: 25 cents per word with a $15 charge for

Announcements:

That was is so terrifying about a tornado. It can hit in one spot, and five steps away, an untouched spot remains perfectly standing.

And for some reason, tornadoes seem to live behind blessings, hints

I wasn’t this person always. You’ll read in this paper about my good friend Paige Patterson, who admits prior to Jan. 12, she didn’t take tornadoes seriously enough. It always takes the worst to teach us a lesson somehow. It was the same case for me. I always threw caution to the wind, until 2017 when Hurricane Irma hit. Although the damage wasn’t very bad here, the sheer amount of rain caused a giant tree to fall on my house — with me and my storm anxiety-ridden dog inside.

rather sit in the tiny guest bathroom with four dogs and a cat to wait out some raindrops than the alternative. happen to me or my family,” let’s try to all take the Jan. 12 tornado as a lesson. It can happen to anyone, and it can happen when we’re least expecting it. The Jan. 12 situation went from zero to 60 in almost no time, and in my experience, those always seem to be the most damaging storms. Never wait until it’s too late. Always take cover. urge not only city officials but also business owners and individuals to do whatever it takes to help everyone be prepared and safe in these situations. The lack of storm shelters around Lake Martin is unfortunate, and for many, they are useless if not pet-friendly. I live in a mobile home, and the best place we can go is the bathroom; I’m not leaving my babies behind. someone in or a business willing to open its doors, take that into consideration. It may save a life.

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

Is the increase in fentanyl deaths Biden’s

fault?

During President Joe Biden’s State of Union address, a Tennessee Representative yelled “It’s your fault” when the President mentioned deaths from fentanyl. Is it?

To find out the truth, I researched the statistics and policies along with quotes to go beyond the oft-repeated sound bites.

I began my research by looking at data on fentanyl deaths from Statista. There were 730 deaths from Fentanyl in 1999, a number which grew between 1,200 and 3,007 through the first decade of the 2000s. It jumped to 19,413 in 2016.

On Donald Trump’s watch, those fentanyl deaths rose from that number to 56,516 by 2020, the last year of his presidency. So no, Biden didn’t create the crisis. Those deaths were trending well before his presidency.

Now fentanyl did nearly double to 100,000 in Biden’s first two years in office, after increasing threefold under Trump. It’s clear from the evidence this is a bipartisan problem, not one president’s responsibility.

Fox News sought to claim the 15% increase in fentanyl deaths from 2021 to 2022 was “caused in large party, by his open border policies” (I think they meant “in large part.”)

Politifact evaluated the argument by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott that Biden had an “open border” policy, finding the argument fairly subjective. Moreover “PolitiFact found ‘open border’ — as a lack of enforcement measures — to be inconsistent with Biden’s and Clinton’s policy positions. They still supported security measures at the border.”

Republicans took issue with Biden trying to reclassify attempts to cross the border as a civil offense instead of a criminal offense, as well as the expense of locking up so many who even presented themselves to border agents to seek asylum in the United States. The Biden Administration’s plan to prioritize going after immigrants in the U.S. who commit crimes.

Fox claimed the White House did not respond to a request for comment. But it was actually quite easy to find the Biden policy on transnational crime on the White House website. It calls for one of the largest oneyear increases in Customs and Border Patrol funding, as well as targeting the finances of drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). Will it work? I have no idea. Is Team Biden doing nothing about the border? Is it an open border policy? Of course not. It’s not clear building giant walls in the deserts where no one goes was a much better plan.

In fact, the conservative Washington Times quoted Joe Biden as saying to would-be migrants “Yes, I can say quote clearly: Don’t come,” in his interview with ABC News. “Don’t leave your town or city or community.” It’s not really the open border message one would think. I have read dozens of articles of fentanyl busts by law enforcement along the border. Instead of being listed as successes, they are curiously counted as administration failures. I think it’s good anti-crime work for those who seize such illicit drugs. We should be increasing our efforts in that regard, right? Instead of supporting SOTU heckling, let’s sign on to the plan for CBP increases and seizing the cash from cartels, to help take on the fentanyl problem.

John A. Tures is a professor of political science at LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia. His views are his own. He can be reached at jtures@lagrange.edu. His Twitter account is JohnTures2.

Laissez le bon temps rouler — let the good times roll

Easter is the most important holiday on the Christian calendar. It coincides with Passover and occurs each year on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Therefore, Easter could happen on any given Sunday between March 22 and April 25 depending on the year.

The 40 days prior to Easter are called Lent. It’s a 40-day period layered with Biblical and historical significance. Forty days was how long Noah dealt with rain on the ark; 40 days was how long Moses was on the mountaintop; it was 40 days repentance given to Nineveh by Jonah; and perhaps the most wellknown, it was 40 days in which the devil tempted Jesus as he prayed in the desert.

The word “Lent” comes from the German word for “spring.” Other languages, particularly Latin and the Romantic languages, describe the season as “the 40.”

The early Church practiced asceticism, or self-denial, during the lead-up to Easter. As St. Paul wrote to the Romans, “For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like Him. We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.”

(Romans 6:5-6)

Lent is a time for self-denial and sacrifice, prayer, penitence and reflection. It begins with Ash Wednesday. But that day before Ash Wednesday gets the most notice: Fat Tuesday. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t seem to take note of the religious significance of this particular day.

Fat Tuesday is the English translation of the French “Mardi Gras.” The largest celebrations in the world can be seen in Rio de Janiero as “Carnivale” and, closer to home, along the Gulf Coast in places like Mobile and New Orleans. Mobile is the home to the first Mardi Gras celebration in our country, having commenced in 1702. This year, the Pride of Tallassee marching band led by Dr. Robby Glasscock and Melanie Skeen will be making its first-ever appearance at a real Mardi Gras parade: the King Felix III parade Tuesday, Feb. 21 in downtown Mobile.

On Fat Tuesday, there were celebrations all over the world to mark the end of Ordinary Time for now, saying farewell to old ways

with overindulgence in food and drink. Cleaning out the pantry and cabinet, finishing off all the sugary, bad-for-you food (and, for many, the remainder of their liquor) is the goal of Mardi Gras.

There are thousands of parades from one Krewe or another. Several years ago, a record-breaking 330foot float appeared in New Orleans. Even towns with no connection to the original Mardi Gras — such as Wetumpka and Millbrook — have started staging parades and events in January and February. Schools in the Mobile area let out for an entire week in celebration of Mardi Gras. When people mention Fat Tuesday, it sounds like a holiday soaked in grease. However, I like to think of it as a chance for a fresh start, for those New Year’s Resolutions to get a second chance. During this 40-day period, consider some days of fast and abstinence as part of a self-denial plan. It has worked for many Christians for a couple thousand years. To escape our fast-paced world, occasionally we need to slow down and think about making it better — one person at a time — with a little self-sacrifice and soul searching. Laissez le bon temps rouler!

Michael Bird is a music teacher for Tallassee City Schools.

Our congressional delegation has garnered good committee assignments

For the past several decades, Alabama’s power has been centered around the U.S. Senate – primarily because of Richard Shelby’s immense power and influence. During Sen. Shelby’s 36-year tenure, he chaired the Intelligence, Banking and Rules Committees. However, he became immensely powerful his last six years as Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Shelby practically moved Washington to Alabama when it came to bringing home procured earmarked funds to the Heart of Dixie. We received more federal funding than any state in America. National publications labeled Shelby the Greatest Pork King in federal history, surpassing the late Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia. Less we forget, Shelby also had a very respected and tenured wingman in Sen. Jeff Sessions, who served with distinction for 20 years in the Senate. They were a great team In the halls of congress and especially in the senate, seniority equates into power and we had it. However, we who follow Alabama politics have been cautioning you that our day of reckoning would arrive in January 2023, when Richard Shelby retired from the Senate and that day has arrived. Alabama will never be able to raid the federal vault like Shelby has done. Fortunately, as he was walking out the door, he brought so much largesse home with him it will take other states 10 years to catch up.

Under the U.S. Senate seniority system, it will take young Katie Britt about 10 years before she will have any impact and influence in the Senate.

Katie Britt took office with zero years seniority and that places her 99th in seniority status in the U.S. Senate. Our senior Senator, Tommy Tuberville, has two years seniority. That places him 89th in seniority in the 100-member senate. However, we have several members of our U.S. House delegation who are garnering some seniority and

are emerging as powerful members of the lower body. Therefore, for at least the next decade, our power in Washington will be in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Jefferson/Shelby 6th District

Congressman Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) has been instrumental in helping to garner extremely good committee assignments for our six Republican members of Congress. Palmer, who is a quiet, policy issues congressman, was the founder and leader of the Alabama Policy Institute prior to going to Congress. Therefore, it was apropos that he would gravitate to the 30-member Republican Party Steering Committee. This committee has emerged as a powerful entity in the past decade. They essentially chose the House Committee Assignments along with Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Congressman Gary Palmer will serve as chairman of the House GOP Policy Committee. He will also retain his position on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. This committee has jurisdiction over healthcare, which is vital to UAB – the heart and soul of the 6th District. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) is our senior congressman. He got to Washington at a very young age. He is now only 57 years old and has 28 years seniority. He is one of the cardinals on the House Appropriations Committee and is now chairman of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Resources. This committee will be very important to Alabama because of the biomedical research going on in Birmingham and Huntsville. If the Republicans maintain their majority into 2025, Aderholt is in line to become Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Saks/Anniston) has emerged as Chairman of the House Armed Service Committee. This is a very important coup for Alabama and an impressive appointment for Mike Rogers. The U.S. Military has a very large footprint and importance in the Heart of Dixie. Defense dollars dominate Alabama’s economy.

In addition to Rogers, two of our newest members of Congress have scored seats on the Armed Services Committee – Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) and Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville). Both Carl and Strong are bright stalwart stars for our congressional delegation. They have also become close friends and allies.

In addition to garnering a seat on the Armed Services Committee, Jerry Carl has been placed on the Appropriations Committee. He will be a workhorse for his coastal Alabama district.

Freshman Congressman Dale Strong’s appointment to the Armed Services Committee is a great feather for Strong given the importance of the Redstone Arsenal and the immense amount of defense dollars in Huntsville.

Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) landed an appointment to the prestigious Judiciary Committee. Alabama’s lone congressional Democrat, Rep. Terri Sewell, will retain her position as Chief Deputy Whip within the Democratic caucus. Sewell will also continue to serve on the powerful and prestigious House Ways and Means Committee.

The paradigm of our power in Washington has moved to the U.S. House of Representatives. See you next week.

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

MICHAEL BIRD Columnist

JOHN TURES Columnist

STEVE FLOWERS Columnist

Patterson wins big for Tallassee Voltage

STAFF REPORT

TPI Staff

Despite being one of the smallest schools to compete, Tallassee’s Sarah Jane Patterson won one of the biggest awards.

Patterson, of the Tallassee Voltage show choir, was named “Best Soloist” Grand Champion at the Southern Showcase in Opelika.

Not only did Patterson win individually, but she also helped Tallassee Voltage to a second-place finish in the small mixed choir competition. Tallassee’s Gold Edition placed third in the men’s division. In the women’s division, the Tallassee Divas took sixth place.

SPECIALIST

Continued from A1

“She is always smiling, willing to lend a helping hand and taking care of our school and students,” Stockdale said. “I cannot think of a more worthy and deserving nominee for LifeChanger of the Year. Ms. Wendy Moore is a LifeChanger for the Reeltown community every day.”

Moore said she was shocked when she first heard about the nomination asd she said she tends to be more behind the scenes.

“It really touched my heart because, like I said, I like to do stuff for people, but I like to stay in the background,” she said. “It was a nice surprise because I have been going through chemo this year too.”

Moore was diagnosed with colon cancer last July. The tumor has since been removed, and she has been undergoing chemotherapy for the last six months to ensure the cancer is completely gone.

She said she hasn’t felt too sick, and she has gone to work nearly every day — trying to stick to a routine and stay active.

“God’s not through with me yet. I said, ‘I got too many kids I got to work with,” Moore said with notes of laughter.

Before becoming a media specialist, Moore worked as an English teacher. While she loved working with her students, she said after a few years each lesson started to feel like she was “reading a script.”

She knew she needed a change.

As the media specialist, Moore still spends time with students and nurtures their reading habits, but now it’s through managing the circulation of books in the library.

She also oversees the school’s Google Chromebooks and helps students out with computer issues. Additionally, she prints out materials for student’s class projects.

“I just do whatever needs to be done. I never know what I am going to have for that day, and it makes it not so boring,” she said.

“And I get to spend some time with the kids. They’ll come in and I can just sit and talk with them.”

Moore explained she loves hearing what their dreams are and seeing them grow up throughout their time in high school. She said she knows high school is not the easiest time for everyone and she wants to be there for support where she can.

When students first walk into the media room, there is a basket of snacks on the table. Moore explained this is so they can grab some if they are hungry between classes.

In addition to her media specialist roles, she volunteered to help manage the yearbook after four years of no yearbooks being published because the regular sponsor was on a leave of absence.

Before Moore took it over last year, the most recent yearbook published was 2018. By going through archived photos on Facebook and working with the photographer to get photos resubmitted, they made four yearbooks. She said the 2019 yearbook was nearly complete and it was mostly 2020, 2021 and 2022 that needed to be worked on.

“It was fun. We had a good yearbook program to work with. (The yearbook publisher) did tell me ‘I have never had anybody do that many yearbooks,’” she said. “I’m just that way. I won’t stop till it’s finished. I can’t stand to be behind.”

According to the press release, the LifeChanger of the Year awards winners will be announced early this year. Depending on the category, the winner will be awarded anywhere between $3,000 to $10,000 to be shared with the school or district.

Community members can support Moore’s nomination by leaving a comment or interacting with her nomination page on lifechangeroftheyear.com.

ABIGAIL MURPHY | THE TRIBUNE

Wendy Moore, media specialist at Reeltown High School, is nominated for the LifeChanger of the Year awards.

SUBMITTED | THE TRIBUNE

Tallassee Voltage earned second place in the mixed choir competition at Saturday’s Southern Showcase in Opelika.

We are all 11th hour hires

of the school playground. It’s set to the tune of bitter complaint by the teen who isn’t allowed to do all his or her peers are doing. And around the workplace, jealous coworkers feel slighted by management when they learn someone makes more than they do, and they join in the angry chorus: “It’s not fair!” When we see something that offends our sense of fairness, we have a reflexive response to point out the inequity, especially if we got the smaller piece of pie or paycheck. When my team is the victim of a questionable call by the officials, it’s a travesty, a mockery of the rules. The referees or umpires are blind. But when we’re the beneficiary of such a call, it’s “Good call, ref!”

Sometimes we encounter situations

MIKE McElroy Columnist

where we even question the fairness of God himself. Now a part of our mind knows he is Righteousness personified. He never does the wrong thing. We may not understand or agree, but by his nature, he is never wrong. Still, a godly person suffers a painful illness and death or a young person passes away, and we are prone to think, “That’s just not fair.”

When you read the parable of the laborers in the vineyard in Matthew 20, you would not be alone if you thought, “Well, those all-day workers had a point. How could it be fair for that 5:00 PM guy to get the same wage

as the crew members who reported at 6 a.m.?” It doesn’t seem fair, does it? Since Jesus said the kingdom of heaven was like this, does it mean some won’t get a fair reward from God compared to what others receive? Today I’d like to offer an idea that will help us if we feel the vineyard owner was unfair. Do you ever read the stories Jesus told or the stories told about him and imagine yourself in the story? It’s a good way to meditate on the Scriptures and specifically on the gospel.

I suspect most of us “good, churchgoing, upright folks” see ourselves among the earlier-called workers. We’ve been faithful. We’ve worked hard. We’ve denied ourselves some of the forbidden things others have indulged in. And when a late-comer responds to the call, maybe just before the end of his or her life, it just might rankle us a little to think this Johnny-

Tallassee Churches

or-Joanie-Come-Lately is going to get the same reward. How is that fair? I do not believe the best answer to that conundrum is to engage in a debate about degrees of reward. The story may well have something to do with the Jewish believers’ attitudes toward their new Gentile brothers and sisters who came rather late (in their view) to the people of God. But I don’t want you to miss the personal application of the story. I ask you to take your place among what I think is the correct group of workers for us to identify with—the 11th hour people who received something they did not deserve. Nobody who is saved by grace is going to get what he or she deserves. That’s why it’s grace. The gospel is our gracious God saves and rewards people who do not deserve it. That’s you. That’s me. We’re all 11th hour folks.

Let us praise God for his mercy

to us if we were called early in life, saving us from misery and awful consequences of living in rebellion to him. Let us praise Jesus for dying in our place and giving us the opportunity to be unworthy servants of a gracious Master. But let’s never join the sour company of the Prodigal’s brother who resented the grace his profligate brother received from their father, or these disgruntled workers who begrudged the Master’s generosity. Don’t protest the unfairness of grace. If we think God is blessing, forgiving, rewarding and saving someone who does not deserve it, let us remember neither do we.

Michael B. McElroy is the preaching minister for East Tallassee Church of Christ. He is the author of The Abiding Companion—A Friendly Guide for Your Journey Through the New Testament, and Christmas Pilgrims—A Journey to See Jesus.

Dalton MiDDleton SportS eDitor dalton.middleton@thewetumpkaherald.com

www.TallasseeTribune.com

Tallassee baseball looking for success under Goodman

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

John Goodman is back in charge of the Tallassee baseball program, and the Tigers are starting from scratch entering the 2023 season.

Tallassee won only four games a year ago, leading to a complete restructure. Goodman was hired back after leading Tallassee to over 300 wins and two state championships in the 1990s and early 2000s.

But with where the team is right now, he’s just trying to teach the basics and get the Tigers back on track.

“We’re assuming nothing this year,” Goodman said. “Our baseball IQ is not where it needs to be. We’re trying to get everything back so we’re having to teach baseball and honestly, that makes the job fun. It makes it fun for the kids and it makes it fun for us because we have to come in and work every day. We can’t take anything for granted.”

With that being said, every position is seemingly open for the Tigers to start the season. On the pitcher’s mound, however, there are some returning players who have pitched the last few seasons. Jackson Rhodes, a senior who was injured some of last year, is expected to pitch again. Brody Goodman and Mason Stewart are also both seniors with experience, while Brady Mason is a junior who threw a lot last year and Goodman is expecting big things out of him.

They won’t be the only players to step on the mound, however. Anyone who can throw well is getting a shot at pitching.

“Everybody that has a good arm, we’re teaching them to pitch,” Goodman said. “So if you look at our roster, it’s full of arms. Some of those, once we get things going, might not do much this year. But we’re working everyone and trying to figure out what arms will do for us. We’re taking those guys now and just teaching to see if they’re going to be able to help us.”

In the field, every position is open for grabs except for second base. Mason, who started there every game he didn’t pitch last season, will man the spot.

Every other position, however, won’t be determined until the season begins. Goodman is hoping some players will stand out in the final week of preseason practice, but he’s just ready to see who can perform when they play against someone other than themselves.

“We just need to play games,” Goodman said. “The more we play and the more we practice, the better our IQ is going to be. We’re doing everything that we can to build knowledge and build success. That’s the biggest thing right now. We’ve been going at it basically since June. We came in June and started the summer program and started lifting in July. We’re at the point now where we just need to play somebody other than ourselves. We need to see where we’re at and go from there.”

Talented senior group to lead Tallassee softball

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

With a new talent-heavy senior class leading the Tallassee softball team into 2023, Tiger coach Pat Love is hoping to find a way back to the state tournament.

Tallassee graduated one of its most successful senior classes in school history last spring, but this year’s class is not far behind.

Tallassee currently has three seniors signed to play at the next level and the two other seniors on the roster will have their chance to pick where they want to play soon. Those five seniors, along with some underclassmen, are excited to begin the 2023 season.

“It’s exciting,” Love said. “The five seniors that we have are very different players than last year, but this group is eager to get going. Brooke (Royster) will play catcher and pitch for us, while Jenna Manning and Marlee Stewart will lock down the corner infield. Abbie Davis will star in center field while Haley Baker will also playing the outfield. That whole group has taken on leadership roles and I’m excited about seeing them get started.”

Royster, a catcher, was one of the team’s best hitters last season and she returns to power the offense. She hit .375 and finished second on the team with nine home runs while tallying 42 hits and 30 RBIs.

This year she will continue to catch, but she will also take on a pitching role with the team. Madeline Weldon, a junior, will be one of the team’s top two pitchers along with Royster.

They’ll be joined by three eighth graders in Kamille Tate, Marlee Osborne and Olivia Hammonds on the mound.

“Both of our upperclassmen have come on really strong this offseason,” Love said. “So we really have five pitchers who we are going to rotate around and get the best rotation of those girls. It’s not going to be a senior-led group. We’re going to have a lot of youth at that position.”

When Royster is pitching, Alli Smith will be behind the plate. She has experience from last year and is expected to play a big role.

Stewart will start at first base while Manning starts at third, and the middle infield will be young this year. Sophomore Reagan Easterwood will play one of the positions, and she will be joined by eighth graders Osborne and Cheyanne Easterling.

“Middle infield is going to be young, but they’re athletic,” Love said. “We might make some errors early on, but that could be a really solid group towards the end of the year. once they get to playing together, they can be really good.”

Davis and Baker will be the two mainstays in the outfield this season, while the third position is still up for grabs and will likely feature some more youth with a sophomore or eighth grader playing.

Playing eighth graders doesn’t bother Love. If they’re talented, he’s going to put them in the lineup. And that’s exactly what he plans on doing this season.

“We’ve got good leadership,” Love said. “The motto around here since I’ve been here is that it doesn’t matter how old you are. If you’re one of the best nine, you’re going to play. We’ve got three or four eighth graders that are going to play for us. They’re a talented group and the only way to get them ready is to play them.”

Tallassee sends 11 wrestlers to state championships

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

The Tallassee wrestling team had an impressive weekend at the AHSAA Class 5A sectional tournament.

Tallassee, which finished second overall in Class 5A South, had 11 wrestlers qualify for the state championship tournament next weekend in Huntsville.

“We got a great effort from the guys,” Tallassee coach John Mask said.

“They wrestled great all day. From seniors to seventh graders, they all wrestled well. They’ve prepared well all week and I can’t say enough about them. Taking 11 to the state tournament is a lot of wrestlers. That’s a good day. Everybody exceeded expectations and we talked about the opportunity of going to state.” Out of the 11 qualifiers, four were first place finishers and will be a No. 1 seed in this upcoming weekend’s state

The 11 wrestlers who qualified were Rutland Phillips (106-pound weight class), Mason Nelson (113), Avery Brantley (126), Land Bell (132), Ethan Jones (138), Christian McCary (152), Tra’Mel McCoy (160), Joseph Hooks (170), Caden Griffith (182), Nolan Addeo (195) and Corbin Grover (285).

tournament. The team’s first winner of the day was Phillips in the 106-pound class. He went 3-0 on the day with back-to-back pins before winning his finals match with a 3-2 decision. Both wrestlers were deadlocked in a 2-2 tie before Phillips earned a point on a locked-hands violation. Mason Nelson, in the 113-pound class, won right behind Phillips. Nelson’s match went right to the final seconds of the second period. Down 5-4, Nelson got on top of his opponent and See WRESTLERS, Page B2

FILE THE TRIBUNE

Tallassee’s Jenna Manning fields a ground ball at the regional tournament at Lagoon Park last season.

FILE THE TRIBUNE

Tallassee’s Brady Mason pitches against Brew Tech in 2022.

Humane Society of Elmore County News

Don’t forget pets’

By REA CORD HSEC Director

February is Pet Dental Health Month and far too many owners don’t understand the importance of dental care for our pets. Too often we get older pets come to shelter requiring major dental work, completed by a veterinarian, to improve their health.

If your pet has stinky breath, that is often a good indicator your pet should see your vet as a healthy mouth honestly does not smell bad. Just like us humans, our dogs’ and cats’ teeth build up tartar, which leads to a host of health issues — not the least of which is bad breath. Gingivitis is a very real problem and did you know infected teeth can also lead to heart problems?

Because our pets, especially dogs, like to chew on many things, they can crack or break teeth and even the most diligent pet owner can miss that, which is why dental X-rays are also important.

Many owners may think of only dogs when it comes to dental issues, but cats need just as much dental care — especially as they age.

If your older cat or dog is not eating well, it could be because their teeth are infected and sore, so just don’t discount a poor appetite to age. Please give your veterinarian a call this week to schedule your pet for a dental checkup –many offer slight discounts during the month of February if you need a little more incentive.

We have written a lot about cold weather and issues for our pets and livestock but all of this rain can also cause issues for animals.

Dogs that are kept in confined areas can suffer from constant exposure to water, urine and feces

dental health

and the only solution is to move them from that area. Pets must have adequate shelter so they can stay dry. That also means ensuring they have dry bedding. Livestock also need to be able to get on dry or harder ground lest they get hoof rot which is painful and can cripple them.

All this rain makes the ground soft, making it easier for dogs to dig out from a fence in a shorter period of time. Walk your fences and look for the start of holes before your dog escapes.

For both dogs and livestock, wet weather and wind can cause trees to fall, which can take out sections of fencing. Old wood fence posts can rot; livestock leaning into fencing can more easily push it over when the ground is soft. Livestock owners should also be checking their fence lines. Loose livestock can endanger the public as well as the livestock themselves.

For animals constantly exposed to wet weather, a condition called rain rot can happen. It can cause scabs, hair loss and discomfort. Stopping rain rot before it becomes extensive is key, so it’s important to know what to look for. Brushing an old dead coat out can go a long way in keeping this condition at bay, and as always, consult your vet.

For all of our animals, shelter from wet, cold, windy weather will really help keep them healthy. Bring your pets inside and, if you do not have a barn, give livestock well-situated run-in sheds they can access to get out of the weather as they choose – they will appreciate it.

Rea Cord is the executive director of the Humane Society of Elmore County. Visit the humane society online at www.elmorehumane. org.

Pet of the Week – Tilly

Tilly is a female — possibly lab/St. Bernard mix. She is 1 year old and weighs about 60 pounds.

She can be a bit shy at first but warms up quickly and is very sweet. Tilly loves tummy rubs and peanut butter and wants to be a big lap dog and cuddle. She is great with other dogs, cats and children.

Our 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 completely 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 Tilly any of our pets, our first step is our adoption application, which you can fill out online. Visit us at www.elmorehumane.org. Once approved, the Elmore County Humane Society will coordinate with you to set up an appointment to meet and adopt.

The humane society is located at 255 Central Plank Road in Wetumpka. It can be reached at 334-567-3377.

WRESTLERS

Continued from B1

forced a pin right as time expired to win his weight class.

Bell (132) was next and won his match by decision. He was up 2-0 after the first period and 4-0 after the second period on two takedowns. He nearly pinned his opponent and earned three points, but was able to pull out the 7-1 victory.

McCary was the final winner of the night for Tallassee. He went 4-0 on the day with a bye and three pins. In his final match against Elmore County’s Tyler Payton, he was able to pin Payton in the third period. He led the match from start to finish, and was up 7-3 when he pinned him.

Addeo and Griffith also competed in the finals, but both wrestlers suffered a 1-point defeat by decision.

The rest of the bunch will be lower seeds as they finished in the Top 6 in their weight class.

“We want to get some wrestlers on the wall,” Mask said. “We wanted some of these men to win a championship and get on our wall, and they’ve set themselves up to do that this year by performing well today.”

Elmore County had one winner, two runner-ups, and three more qualifiers.

Carson Thomas, wrestling in the 145-pound class, was in a back-and-forth match in the finals but ultimately scored a takedown midway through the second period.

Tyler Payton (152) and Myles Eyerly (285) each earned second-place finishes, while Clark Wood (182) placed third and Stran Webb (106) and Shawn Colvin (138) each finished fourth.

For Reeltown, Drake Wood took home a second place overall in the 106pound class, giving the Rebels their highest individual finish.

Wood was defeated in his final match of the day by a wrestler from Oak Grove. However, Wood defeated four wrestlers en route to the first place bout. On the season, Wood went 41-6.

In the 126-pound class, junior Brody Ledbetter placed sixth. Earning Reeltown’s third and final state placement, Devin Bragg placed fourth overall in the 195-pound class.

Lake River & Classi eds

Job Opportunities

PERSON for apartment community in Tallassee. Must be knowledgeable in all aspects of apartment maintenance. Applicants should email their resumes to rm@quailrunal.com or mail to Quail Run Apartments, 32 Quail Run Drive, Tallassee, AL 36078 (e.o.e.)

Need to Place an Ad? Call 256-277-4219 for more information.

General Notices Business

State Classified

Services Tree Service

Black History Museum to reopen after renovations

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

New paint, new air conditioning, new board and new hours are coming to the Elmore County Black History Museum.

The Elmore County Black History Museum is housed in the old Elmore County Training School.

While currently closed for renovations, a new museum board hopes it will reopen soon.

“I am pleased to announce new leadership and board of directors of the Elmore County Black History Museum and Teachers Home,” Wetumpka councilmember Cheryl Tucker said. “This seven-member board was appointed by me to manage and operate the Elmore County Black History Museum.”

Tucker said the diverse board will bring new ideas to the museum and its facilities in an effort to educate visitors on African American history and life in Elmore County.

Winfred Wise attended Elmore County Training School in first and second grades and is the board’s president. The other six board members, Stephanie Stepney, Pamela Williams, Idell Gill, Michael Waters, Elaine Lewis and Yvonne Saxon, have connections to Elmore County and its rich Black heritage. Like the other six board members, Wise wants the mission of the old school to remain the same — education.

“The primary goal of the new board of directors will be to open the museum on a regular basis and add new displays,” Wise said. “Billie Rawls will serve as the curator and Pat Williams will serve as the assistant curator.”

The City of Wetumpka owns the building. With help from the city and grants some renovations are currently underway to create a better experience for guests.

Tucker is hopeful the new board will get more people to see what the museum has to offer especially with Wetumpka’s popularity.

“We want a museum that reflects our community and also Elmore County,” Tucker said. “We want it to be open. You shouldn’t have too call the city’s administration building or the chamber of commerce just to get a tour. If there are set days and times for being open, it would be better. When HGTV hit it blew up, but it still wasn’t open.”

Rawls was one of 156 seventh graders at the school in 1962 and has been involved with the museum for more than 20 years. Rawls has served as the curator for the museum and some of the displays feature items from her collection.

“I went to school here, my mother and father went to school here,” Rawls said. “This has always been a pet peeve of mine. “At first when I came here, I thought I was the junk collector. They said, ‘You are not the junk collector, you are the curator.’”

Now Rawls has changed her mind about her ‘junk.’ and acknowledges the

Elmore County Black History Museum is more than a museum.

“It is an honor to be the curator,” Rawls said. “This is my home and it feels good to come to this place and work and preserve history for the world as well as Elmore County. That is what we do is preserve history for our own. We do research from here too.”

Many of the items in the museum’s displays are similar to those of many museum’s showing daily life going back 100s of years. But in the case of the Elmore County Black History Museum, the display reflects the life of African Americans in Elmore County.

The museum has had students from local schools come take a tour.

“Children are fascinated when they come and see some of the things,” Rawls said. “They didn’t know what a chamber pot was. They don’t know what a glass drink bottle is. They don’t know what a rubboard, washpot or ironing board are. The artifacts here that we introduce to them were used back in the day.”

Students and visitors can even visit with the Thread My Needle group as they quilted.

“They could see them make quilts and they tell them how it’s made,” Rawls said. “We have had several that have gone home and made quilts based on what they learned here. We give them a sample of material to go home and put together. Out of that they have created their own quilt.”

Currently the quilters are not meeting at the museum due to the renovations.

Williams said the museum helps fill a void in history and the lessons some want to wash over.

“There was a time in our nation’s history where enslaved people couldn’t learn,” Williams said. “It is ironic and why this place is important is it serves as a way to educate because there are so many that don’t know who need to learn about enslaved people.”

But the museum contains so much more than just a few displays of everyday life.

Rawls and volunteers have put together a list of all the elected Black offi-

cials who serve or have served Elmore County.

“We have a wall of honor that is dedicated to our military — deceased, who have served and still serve,” Rawls said. “We have our obituary sections. We have over 1,000 obituaries who have come and gone. The reason is it is so unique, when people leave here and go to the services wherever it is, the family sends back the obituary to us to be placed in our section. It is a form of history.”

Rawls said there are 10 notebooks filled with enough obituaries to fill 10 more.

“The oldest dates back to the 1800s,” Rawls said. “It is a real newspaper clipping.”

Rawls said the museum is involved in research projects with the University of Alabama.

The school dates back decades and served as more than just an educational center for the Black community in Wetumpka. The home economic program washed and folded laundry for the community to help fundraise and to provide the service. It also housed a cannery to help teach students food preservation but also to preserve food for the community.

Even the buildings themselves were the products of lab projects with Booker T. Washington and Tuskegee Institute. Bricks made by Tuskegee students so they could learn were used to construct the buildings and the same goes for the milling of wood used in flooring, walls and beams.

Today only three buildings remain of the old Elmore County Training School — the administration building that houses the museum, the teachers’ home where freshly graduated teachers would live while teaching at the school and the long building that once housed classrooms.

Other parts of the school site are still visible. The concession stand for the new football complex is where the old elementary school once was.

Rawls and Wise left the school in 1962 as they were moved to the new W.B. Doby High School, currently Wetumpka Elementary School.

“The board of education had a choice — either

let us go to the all white Wetumpka school,” Wise said. “They bought that land from Alabama Power and built us a new school.”

In 1969 Fred Gray would amend his desegregation lawsuit to include Elmore County and finally the students of Doby would attend Wetumpka schools. But Wise and others wanted to recognize the efforts of W.B. Doby.

“We had a historical marker put out there with W.B. Doby High School put on it,” Wise said. “We also had the activity center named after Mr. Doby. He was the first principal of the Elmore County Training School.”

Saxon, Wise and others not only want to remember Doby and his efforts to educate the Black community but the efforts of many more.

“We want to continue to enhance the museum with different ideas and ways to assist them in making it more functional in many different ways,” Saxon said.

Wise said the board has ideas for future exhibits in the museum. New displays are possible for Gray, Dr. Martin Luther King and President Barack Obama.

Wise and the board hope to have the museum open soon.

“There is a rich Elmore County Black History in here,” Wise said. “We want to open the museum up to let people see what we have.”

Eclectic shops celebrate Galentine’s

Talented senior class looks to lead Elmore County softball

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

With an experienced roster returning in 2023, Elmore County softball coach Mark Segrest is hoping his squad can return to Oxford for the third-straight season.

Elmore County won 37 games last season and was the lone county team to advance to state.

Coming into 2023, Elmore County lost its top pitcher and a few power hitters, but it returns a talented senior class and production up and down the lineup.

“We lost a really good pitcher and some really good offensive production, but we do have five seniors this year so our success will really be dependent on what kind of season those five seniors have,” Segrest said. “Hopefully some of our younger girls who don’t have as much experience will have a good year as well.”

In the circle, star pitcher Aubrey Allen is gone, but Segrest likes what he has returning. He got a glimpse of life without Allen last year as she did not travel with the team to Oxford, so senior Hailey O’Brien and eighth grader Lalah Culpepper took over pitching duties late.

Both pitchers had successful seasons in 2022. O’Brien, who will take over as the ace, finished with a 2.09 earned run average last year in 120 2/3 innings pitched. She struck out 124 batters across the sea-

son.

As a seventh grader, Culpepper pitched 21 innings and recorded a 3.67 ERA with 22 strikeouts.

They will also be joined by Katie Cappell in the circle.

“I’m excited about Hailey because I would say she has the mental makeup from one of your top pitchers,” Segrest said. “She’s not necessarily overpowering

but she spins the ball very well and she’s added a few new pitches this year. The key is to miss the barrel at this level, and she does a good job with that with her spin.”

Cappell is a Chattahoochee Valley CC signee, and she will mostly play at third base. Morgan Spear, who mostly served as a designated player last season, will also play third.

In the middle infield will be shortstop Anna Catherine Segrest, a Faulkner signee who was named the South’s MVP in the AHSAA All-Star game last summer.

O’Brien and Culpepper will rotate at second base when the other is pitching.

At catcher, Ally Orr returns for another year of starting behind the plate.

In the outfield, ECHS will once again be led by college signees.

Ashtyn Pannell, an Anderson University signee, will start in center field. She will serve as the top power hitter after belting out five home runs and 18 extrabase hits a year ago.

In right field is McKenzie Owens, an Alabama State signee. In left field, Annabelle Orr and Lauren Woodruff will fight for playing time. Both are newcomers and will play significant innings.

While there are a few newcomers scattered throughout the lineup, Elmore County’s lineup is full of experienced and talented hitters and look to lead one of the top offenses in Class 5A.

“We had a tough schedule last year and we have a really challenging schedule again this year, so it’s good to have some seniors that have some experience in those situations,” Segrest said.

“A lot of the girls also play travel ball, so the success they have will be really dependent on what kind of seasons those seniors have.”

Elmore County’s Hailey

last year.

CLIFF WILLIAMS THE OBSERVER

LEFT: Downtown Eclectic business came together Friday night to host Galentines. The girls night offered everyone opportunities to shop in the downtown shops with friends. RIGHT: Shoppers fill Original Grace Boutique as downtown Eclectic business came together Friday night to host Galentines. The girls night offered everyone opportunities to shop in the downtown shops with friends.

CLIFF WILLIAMS THE OBSERVER

Shoppers fill Annie Rice Boutique as downtown Eclectic business came together Friday night to host Galentines. The girls night offered everyone opportunities to shop in the downtown shops with friends.