Tallassee Tribune Jan. 24 2024

Home destroyed in Wednesday blaze

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

A Tallassee home on Horizon Lane is no more, as a fire consumed the home Wednesday afternoon. Firefighters from the Reeltown Volunteer Fire Department and the Tallassee Fire Department responded.

Personnel on the scene said they could see smoke from the fire as they left the fire station in

Reeltown to head south on Highway 49. Smoke was also visible from Elmore County on Highway 14.

A Reeltown Fire Department tanker ferried water to firetrucks servicing the fire as there were no nearby hydrants. Firefighters pulled tools from the home as it was under renovation.

Neighbors said the community stepped up to help the husband and wife whose home was lost. Matt Carden with local

contracting company AMPAC used his company’s equipment to clean the remaining debris. It was placed in donated construction dumpsters. Others donated a RV trailer for the family until the home can be replaced. Someone else donated a bedroom suite. Clothes, food and monetary donations have been received as well.

Firefighters on the scene said there were no injuries but one pet was lost.

LIFE-SAVING MOMENT

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

ractice

and performers on the stage. In those situations, participants know the majority of what they will face and can better prepare for it. First responders never know what they will face. They can only practice scenarios. When an incident does occur, they rely on elements from numerous training sessions over hours, days and even weeks to achieve a positive outcome.

Firefighters from the Tallassee Fire Department and the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department got a positive outcome from a well rescue earlier this month. “A subject fell in a

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

on

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Police Reports

TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT

JAN. 21

• A welfare check was conducted on Freeman Avenue.

• A welfare check was conducted on Little Road.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Gilmer Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.

• Panhandling was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Darnell Road.

• Trespassing was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Gilmer Avenue.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A motor vehicle accident was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

JAN. 20

• Suspicious activity was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

• A noise complaint was reported on Noble Road.

• Animal control was requested on Gilmer Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on E.B. Payne Sr. Drive.

• A person with a gun was reported on Macedonia Road.

• A motor vehicle accident with injuries was reported on Central Boulevard.

• Harassment was reported on Ashurst Avenue.

• Harassment was reported on Stewart Street.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Hillcrest Street.

• A missing person was reported on Barnett

Boulevard.

• Unauthorized use of a vehicle was reported on Hillcrest Street.

• The roadway was reported blocked on Gilmer Avenue.

• Animal control was requested on Gilmer Avenue.

• Animal control was requested on Gilmer Avenue.

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

JAN. 19

• Animal control was requested on Gilmer Avenue.

• Gunfire was reported on North Ashurst Avenue.

JAN. 18

• A fight was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A motor vehicle accident was reported on Friendship Road.

• Trespassing was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Loitering was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Loitering was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

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

• Harassment was reported on Second Avenue.

• Trespassing was reported on Ashurst Bar Road.

• Harassment was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A child custody dispute was reported on Wall Street.

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

• An animal complaint was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Powers Avenue.

• Gunfire was reported on Second Avenue.

• A Black male was

arrested on U.S. Highway 231.

• A private property motor vehicle accident was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Identity theft was reported on Dixie Circle.

• A Black female was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• Forgery was reported on South Dubois Street.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on James Street.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Herd Street. JAN. 16

• A domestic dispute was reported on Charles CC Blalock Street.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Friendship Road.

• Assistance was given to another agency Outer Drive.

• An animal complaint was reported on Eubanks Street.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Third Street.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Highway 229.

• A white female was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• A Black female was arrested on South McKenzie Street.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Honeysuckle Lane.

• A motor vehicle accident was reported on Highway 229.

• An animal complaint was reported on South Tallassee Drive.

• Trespassing was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Gilmer Avenue.

• A welfare check was performed on South Tallassee Drive. JAN. 15

• Menacing was

reported on Ashurst Bar Road.

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

• Loitering and panhandling was reported on Jordan Avenue.

• Harassment was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Animal control was requested on Gilmer Avenue.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Notasulga Road.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Gilmer Avenue.

• A stolen vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Theft was reported on Caldwell Street.

• Trespassing was reported on Jordan Avenue.

• Theft was reported on Gen. Chappy James Street.

• Animal control was requested on Freeman Avenue.

• A Black female was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• Theft was reported on Freeman Avenue.

• Theft was reported on Outer Drive.

• An animal complaint was reported on Ashurst Bar Road.

• Criminal mischief was reported on Honeysuckle Lane.

• A disorderly subject was reported on John Street.

WETUMPKA POLICE DEPARTMENT

JAN. 12

• Harassment was reported on Country Club Drive. JAN. 4

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

3 prisoners granted parole for Elmore County crimes

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Three prisoners convicted in Elmore County courts are getting parole. Two other prisoners convicted in Elmore County are not.

Tracy B. Jones, Matthew Truesdal McDonald and Lee McBryde were part of 14 prisoners granted parole during hearings on Jan. 16-17 with Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles. The parole board held hearings for 49 state prisoners.

Charleston George will stay in prison for a first-degree rape conviction. Angela Riddle will remain in Tutwiler Prison for an Elmore County conviction for possession of a controlled substance.

Jones and McDonald were serving time in the Alabama Department of Corrections Pre-Therapeutic Community Program.

Jones was approximately seven months into a 54-month prison sentence after a July 2023 guilty plea to third-degree theft in Elmore County. McDonald was 11 months into a 60-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to distribution of a controlled substance in Elmore

Pet of the Week - Raven

County. McBryde was 11 months into a 54-month sentence for a 2023 Elmore County conviction for possession of a controlled substance. According to the ADOC, the Pre-Therapeutic Community Program helps inmates with addiction issues. It uses a 12 step plan. The program also gives participants information about jobs and careers, communication and character development, health education, family reintegration and how encounters with law enforcement should happen.

Jones and McDonald were granted a conditional parole contingent they complete the Perry County Probation/Parole Reentry Education Program, according to minutes from the parole hearing.

ADOC noted Jones had a previous conviction for third-degree theft. McDonald has previous convictions of possession of a controlled substance in 2019 and 2021, according to court records.

McBryde is currently housed at the Elmore Correctional Facility. According to minutes of his hearing, in addition to completing the Perry County program, the parole

Seeking diva cat lovers!

board is requiring McBryde to wear a GPS ankle monitor and be a part of a Narcotics or Alcoholics Anonymous.

McBryde has previous convictions with prison sentences for obstruction of justice-false identity, second-degree receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and second-degree theft.

Parolees are checked by agents from the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles. Parolees are required to meet their parole officer, pass drug tests and submit to random searches while on parole.

The board denied an early release of George, who is housed at the Elmore Correctional Facility and has served 21 years of a 25-year sentence for a 2003 conviction for first-degree rape. According to hearing minutes, George’s family spoke in favor of his release and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office against it.

Riddle is only six months into a 48-month prison sentence. She has previous convictions for possession of a controlled substance, first-degree possession of marijuana and third-degree burglary.

Raven is a 2.5-year-old stunningly gorgeous long-haired Calico female cat that is a diva in every way as life is on Raven’s terms. She is rather cat selective but in a home with maybe only one other cat where they can each have their own space should be fine. Raven lets you know when she wants attention and can be very sweet then other times just wants to do her own thing. She is playful but tends to play with all claws and loves to run at you and grab around your leg so no children please.

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.

One injured in two vehicle crash

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Highway 229 just south of Tallassee was closed for a couple of hours following a two-vehicle crash.

Tallassee police chief

Todd Buce said a passenger car and tractor trailer were disabled following the collision.

“The driver of the passenger car was transported to Baptist South with nonlife threatening injuries,”

Buce said.

The driver of the tractor trailer was uninjured.

Buce said the roadway reopened after a large wrecker was able to remove the tractor trailer.

Troopers from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) are investigating the crash.

The Tallassee and Friendship fire departments responded to the scene as did the Tallassee Police Department.

SUBMITTED TPI

One person was transported to a Montgomery area hospital with non-life threatening injuries following a two vehicle collision on Highway 229. The crash is being investigated by Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Humane Society of Elmore County News

Where to take pets in need

By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director

Our shelter in Elmore County — the Humane Society of Elmore County — is an open-admission (meaning we take in pets that are friendly, scared, vicious, sick, healthy, old and litter after litter) animal shelter taking in pets from throughout Elmore County, AL.

We cannot take in pets that have bitten (or scratched depending on the situation) a human in the preceding ten days in accordance with Alabama Rabies Laws. We also take in small domestic pets, but not wildlife as we are not a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center. We take in livestock via only Animal Control Officers working abandonment or cruelty cases as we do not have the facilities to take in owner surrendered livestock.

What do we mean from “Elmore County?”

We take in animals found only in or residing in the cities/town and unincorporated areas of Elmore County which is why one of our first questions is where you live or where the animal was found. Animals found or being surrendered simply have to go to their supporting area shelter.

Proof of residency such as a driver’s license or document such as a lease/ power bill is required to bring an animal in; this is for legal and safety/health reasons. If someone is missing their pet, they are going to look at their area shelter for one reason.

But there are areas that present some confusion. Prattville – animals from the area outside the city limits of Prattville but in Elmore County come to our shelter. Animals from within the city limits of Prattville, no matter if that is in Elmore County, go to the Prattville-Autauga Humane Society.

We accept animals from within the Tallassee City Limits even from the Tallapoosa side. But animals from Tallassee but outside of the city limits on the Tallapoosa or Macon County sides must be dealt with by Tallapoosa or Macon Counties. Deatsville and Marbury addresses morph over the three counties of Elmore, Autauga and Chilton so please know what county you actually live in. All shelters want to help animals but are simply overwhelmed by all the animals from within our own counties so have to have these restrictions for legal, contractual & humane reasons. We will help direct you to your supporting Shelter as needed.

If you are in need of animal control assistance it is important that you call the appropriate animal control officer

Elmore County was a center for the arts

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Almost a century ago, a Wetumpka native helped bring the arts world to the Coosa River and Elmore County.

Kelly Fitzpatrick returned from World War I and founded the Dixie Art Colony (DAC) in 1933. He was wounded in the Aisne-Marne Offensive in 1918 and awarded the Presidential Wound Certificate, which later became the Purple Heart.

“He was one of the few survivors,” DAC founder and director Mark Harris said. “He had injuries and sharpnel to his face, neck and chest. It changed his outlook on life.”

as these are law enforcement matters. If the animal situation is within the city limits of any of the towns noted below you must call that city. If you are not in the city limits of Millbrook, Tallassee or Eclectic, then call the Elmore County Sheriff’s Dispatch.

Unincorporated County areas: 334567-5227

Wetumpka: 334-567-5227

Coosada: 334-567-5227

Elmore Township: 334-567-5227

Millbrook: 334-285-6832

Tallassee: 334-283-6586

Eclectic: 334-541-2149

All the animal control organizations noted above bring strays to our Shelter where we work to reunite them and, if not reclaimed after seven days, then work to find them new and responsible homes.

We also take owner surrendered pets from Elmore County residents by appointment – call us at 334-567-3377 to set up that appointment. There are limited times that we may tell an owner that we cannot take their pet immediately but can in a few days because we are simply packed. With the recent frigid temps, we needed to make sure we had room inside our buildings for any strays found and brought to us for instance. Adoptions are by application (meaning there is an approval process) and appointment and work very well so we can better assist the public and care for our pets.

We do take many calls/emails/Facebook posts from people wanting to report a situation but who just don’t want to call a law enforcement agency. We must caution that 2nd and 3rd hand reports greatly limit the investigative abilities of law enforcement. If you have witnessed cruelty, abuse or neglect the dispatchers will be keep your identification confidential and that will go a long way to getting faster help for the animal(s) in harm’s way.

We can assist ACO’s with cruelty and neglect cases if they need us from the field site all the way through the court case hearings. If we are caring for animals seized under cruelty or neglect charges (or any others that come to us injured or sick) we ensure all necessary veterinary care for the animal’s well-being/recovery and document every facet of their intake & recovery for prosecution, to include all of the costs incurred.

If you do need to contact our shelter you can call us at 334-567-3377, email us at hselco@bellsouth.net or message on our Shelter Facebook page.

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

Lake Martin’s Best Source for News and Information.

Army. He received a pass to go to Paris for the weekend, but didn’t have appropriate attire for such an outing.

“He borrowed clothes from fellow soldiers,” Harris said. “They put together an outfit for him to wear so he could spend the weekend in Paris.”

Fitzpatrick painted during his military service in Europe and returned home after the war.

Harris said little is known about the artist from his injury until he started to surface in the community in about 1930 when Fitzpatrick joined the efforts of the Morningview Painters to help form the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.

Harris spoke at the DAC Foundation Lunch and Learn event on Tuesday. He said Fitzpatrick, born in 1888, followed inspiration to become an artist that started when he was 4-years old with the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. His parents lost him twice in the crowds.

“Both times they found him in the art exhibit staring at the walls,” Harris said.

The interest in art continued as he studied at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1912 before enlisting in the military. Fitzpatrick later studied at the Academie Julian in Paris. Art studies continued in Europe as Fitzpatrick was in the

“The DAC was an arm of the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts and the associated Montgomery Museum School,” Harris said.

“There were artists associated with the colony that were instructors at the school.”

The first DAC was held in 1933 at Camp Dixie at Cherokee Bluffs on Lake Martin.

The location gave its name to the colony.

It moved around for a couple years before settling at Noble’s Ferry on the Deatsville side of Lake Jordan in 1937. It was a permanent location for the DAC with outings to Jasmine Hill.

“The colony consisted of a series of cabins

and a lodge that was later converted into a private residence,” Harris said. “The kitchen was located in the lodge, a two-story frame structure perched on a hill overlooking the lake.”

Portions of the main lodge still exist today.

The last few years of the colony were held near Mobile and the Gulf Coast. But in nearly two decades, the colony was associated with many Southern artists, including Fitzpatrick, whose name is seen all around Wetumpka. The artists associated with the colony are linked to the beginnings of art museums across the Southeast. Fitzpatrick’s art can be seen in several places in Elmore County. The Kelly in Wetumpka has a small collection of Fitzpatrick’s. Fitzpatrick’s paintings of the jug factory in the Redland community and other industries of the time were used by the federal government in the Work Progress Administration (WPA). Fitzpatrick’s artwork was used in post offices in Ozark and Phenix City. Harris and the DAC Foundation have the largest collection with many of Harris’ works and memorabilia. The collection also includes works of other DAC artists such as Arthur Stewart. He was 18 when he started to

CLIFF WILLIAMS TPI

Dixie Art Colony Foundation founder and director Mark Harris speaks at Trinity Episcopal Church in Wetumpka. Harris said Kelly Fitzpatrick was part of the founding of several art museums in the Southeast.

The Detroit Lions are one win away from going to the Super Bowl.

Well, that’s a sentence I never thought I’d find myself writing.

Y’all have stuck with me through some awful sports losses, so now I’m excited to celebrate with you what the Lions have done.

In case you’re not an NFL fan, let me give you a little history of the Detroit Lions. The Lions are one of just a handful of teams that have never made a Super Bowl, and the only one in the NFC. Until last week, they hadn’t won a playoff game in more than 30 years and they were the first, and for a long while the only, team to go winless in the league’s history.

Basically, they’re bad.

Like, really bad.

We’ve had spurts of successful players. The Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson duo of the early 2010s felt so promising, but if you don’t know how that ended — in short, a future guaranteed Hall of Famer in Johnson retired early rather than playing for the Lions.

The shelves go empty everytime there is a mention of snow or ice.

Madness ensues at the mere mention of a winter storm or ‘Bama Winter.

Everyone rushes to the grocery store to purchase bread, milk and maybe eggs. But why?

The results always piled up on the kitchen counter and in the refrigerator.

The shopping list is always the same — a few loaves of bread, a couple gallons of milk and eggs. So often the power is only out for a few hours at most. We return to our regular routines.

We rarely break into our extra inventory.

I for one bought into the frenzy of toilet paper during the COVID19 pandemic. I just used my last roll of luxurious wiping material late last year from that purchasing spree.

With the most recent cold snap I was reminded yet again of the shopping list. Friends posted photos on social media of empty shelves. They look the same every single time.

Tallassee Talks

So yeah, we’re like really, really bad. There’s been times when we’ve been so close. I even have a Lions sweatshirt that says “We almost always almost win.” But that hump has been too high for these cats to climb. Until now, that is.

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

Weddings, Engagements, Anniversaries, or Birth

Announcements: These significant family events

Are they the same?

While I was thinking about it, I looked at my counter. I had a loaf of bread. I had creamer for my cof-

I wrote this in 2016 after our ladies show choir, the Divas, were finalists in the competition held at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Tallassee starts its competition season on January 27 and continues through the first week of March.

Last weekend, we completed this year’s cycle of show choir competitions. We came across a group from Virginia who, instead of cheering and applauding, employed a “show choir wave” I had not seen before. It was truly unique.

The “show choir wave” is akin to getting the Holy Ghost when someone does a good job on a solo. The audience, along with yelling and screaming, waves their arms toward the performer on stage instead of applauding.

Choral and instrumental music allow a student the opportunity to do something no other discipline can match: he or she can speak from the heart.

It’s hard to see it that way on a daily basis. But as we conclude this year’s round of show choir performances, I am reminded once again that students always rise to the occasion and accept the challenge to

mer Lion great Stafford, I figured most certainly our time was up.

ly of ways, the Lions managed to win. It felt like we won the Super Bowl right then and there. round, and all of a sudden the Lions bandwagon is so full, I can barely breathe. Even the announcers, who are notoriously against us, were picking us to win — one of them picked the Lions, 56-13. Come on, guys. It’s the Lions, remember? It’s just the same ole Lions, right.

Let’s be honest, too. I was just hoping for one win.

I’m the ultimate sports cynic. When you root for the Washington Capitals, who have been notorious for first-round playoff busts and didn’t win a Stanley Cup until their 44th season, and the Detroit Lions, you know not to expect too much. When the Lions were sitting at 10 wins, I still didn’t believe they’d make the playoffs, much less win. Then when we had to play against the Los Angeles Rams and the for-

like I did in Round 1, but they’ve proven they aren’t going down with out a fight. They’ve proven much like the Caps, “It’s OK to believe.” Jump on the bandwagon while you still can; it’s a fun ride.

ing editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc. She can be reached via email at lizi.gwin@alexcityoutlook.com or via phone at 434-962-9420.

fee. I had plenty of canned goods. I had enough inventory that if I were to stay in my house and not open the door, I could stay for a week or more and survive.

This ‘Bama Winter I stayed away from the stores. I didn’t buy a thing in the frenzy. I noticed many of the reminders leave off sandwich meat and cereal. Milk and bread don’t go together too well.

Many will soon forget they bought bread and milk, besides how often do you see them served together?

I’ve never seen a milk sandwich.

I might ask you if I can have a loaf of bread then as I will need some. The stores will have plenty, but why buy when your friends have too much and will share?

Another week will go by and we will be wearing sandals and flip flops.

In about a week or so, many will open the refrigerator to some awful

The show choir wave

do their best. Sometimes they may fall short, or disappoint you. But in general, they will try. And our guys and girls did their best the past six weekends. We go, not necessarily to win, but to be exposed to other programs. Most schools have a choral program that can trace their origins to elementary music, through middle school choir, and then a developed high school choir. Here, we have not had the ability to have a feeder program for some time. So, everything you see and hear at Tallassee High School has begun completely from scratch, from ninth grade up. That is nothing short of amazing – in fact, it’s a miracle. It all started when people like Mr. James Bush and Mr. Ed Watkins planted the seed. Students left this program fired up for music, and like Mr. Jerry Cunningham, they came home to teach the next generation. Tallassee is known for baseball,

smells and close it again. The second ‘Bama Winter will come about Easter.

It is then some realize they let their inventory from this week of milk and eggs waste. But they didn’t learn their lesson and will return to the milk frenzy again. Sometimes I think the weather prognosticators drop hints about storms to add to their story. I sometimes wonder if they get bonuses from bakeries and dairies.

But I know better. They don’t. They, like everyone else, see an impending storm coming and start to prepare. They want us to prepare too. It’s time we learn to prepare before the warning of a storm. We have folks at EMA who tell us to have water and supplies on hand for up to three days at all times.

It’s not hard. The items are likely in everyone’s homes already. We just need to invest a little time, create lists and be ready to execute a plan. I look forward to seeing everyone living out their lives again next week.

Cliff Williams is the new editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.’s Elmore County newspapers.

especially, to outsiders. We are also known for the Mount Vernon Mills, the Hotel Talisi, and the Fitzpatrick Bridge. People may have heard of our Babe Ruth and Dixie Youth programs, or maybe our Tiger Sharks swimmers. They may know about the writings of Jack Solomon or Ronald Brantley. They may have passed through here to attend a battle reenactment. Certainly, they have heard of Miss Vicki Baker and her legendary baton and dance studio, which has also brought us a couple of others around town. They probably know about Studio B, and the Pointed Toe, and Dance Generation. Maybe they bought a car from Ben Atkinson or James Parker or another dealership in town, or have heard that we are the only municipality to have two Super Foods-branded stores.

There are so many things that make our town special. But even someone who hates music or is antiband and choir must admit: more goodwill has come our way because of the fine folks in the choir and band at Tallassee than just about anything else.

People know who we are because of the Long Blue Line, and later the award-winning Pride of Tallassee. They attend the Capital City Classic, sponsored by THS. They come

Chamness kicks off first Reeltown FCA meeting of 2024

By ABIGAIL MURPHY Multimedia Reporter

“FCA On The Farm” began for Reeltown this past week and Andy Chamness with First Baptist Church of Notasulga kicked things off as the guest speaker.

Chamness started with an opening prayer for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He then spoke of John 4:4, which says, “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Chamness said when the scripture says “little children” that is about everyone, because we are all God’s children. He created us in his image and yet we are all different but what makes us special from other of God’s creations is the ability to be inquisitive.

He encouraged the athletes to use that inquisitive nature to dive into the word of God.

“Salvation is a free gift,” he said.

Once you are saved, you are saved. All that you

have to do in return is let Jesus into your heart and He will have a place in heaven for you.

Chamness said at the same time that if you want to be a better athlete, you

have to practice and that’s the same for walking with Jesus. He encouraged the FCA members to pray and read the scripture — maybe looking at some of those first few chapters of

John. Chamness then ended with a closing prayer.

FCA members were offered donuts and juice before going to class Friday.

County commission makes appointment to ECEDA board

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

In a short meeting, the Elmore County Commission took care of its business Monday night.

After a quick work session looking over the agenda for the commission meeting, it appointed Olivia Venable to the Elmore County Economic Development Authority without discussion. At its Feb. 26 meeting the commission will make two appointments to the Elmore County Department of Human Resources board. The commission is still seeking applicants interested in serving on the board.

IN OTHER ACTION THE ELMORE COUNTY COMMISSION:

• Approved minutes of the Jan. 8 meeting.

• Approved memorandum of warrants in the amount of $9,117,436.05 for Dec. 23 through Jan.12.

The next meeting of the Elmore County Commission is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5.

Caring for Dadeville distributes over $200,000

STAFF REPORTS

TPI Staff

The Community Foundation of East Alabama in coordination with the Caring for Dadeville Committee announced a successful collective effort to impact the lives of the victims of the mass shooting that occurred at a birthday party in Dadeville in April 2023.

The Caring for Dadeville Committee successfully raised and distributed a total of $221,326.99, thanks to generous donors in East Alabama and throughout the country. Every cent of those donations have been directly distributed and delivered to the victims and their families. This triumph of compassion marks the successful completion of the Car-

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ing for Dadeville initiative.

The Caring for Dadeville Committee was made up of community leaders from Dadeville, members of the greater Tallapoosa County community, faith leaders from the First Baptist Church of Dadeville and the Community Foundation of East Alabama. The committee met diligently over the months that followed the tragic event to create a strategy for distributing the funds collected in a way that would profoundly impact the victims and their families.

The committee distributed $108,349.61 to cover various expenses, including medical bills, funeral costs and other associated financial burdens resulting from the violent incident.

The committee collect -

to our Jazz Fest. People also see our various choral and band groups in concert competition, or at honor bands and choirs, or at solo and ensemble festivals. Our music program is represented very, very well across the region. What I have always admired about the high school choral pro-

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study art with Fitzpatrick. Stewart completed murals commissioned by the Blount family in Tallassee after Fitzpatrick’s death in 1953. They were for the

ed claims from victims and distributed funds according to need.

The committee was able to meet many needs of the victims and their families, including the purchase of a handicap accessible van that was presented to a victim and their family. Following the committee’s work to address the victim claims, $112,977.35 remained in the fund.

After careful consideration, the remaining funds have been divided and disbursed to the victims and their families. This resulted in a final lump sum check payment of $3,895.77, which has been provided to the 28 victims and their families, as well as the owner of the dance company where the tragic event occurred.

The Community

gram is that we seek out performance locations not because we want to go beat somebody, but because we want to get better. Our Divas and New Image girls and Gold Edition guys performed so beautifully this year. And, as we approach the end of the competitive season, I wanted those of you who read this column to know: Tallassee hasn’t just been lucky, we’ve been blessed. Some of the finest people I have ever had the privilege

Bank of Tallassee. One was about 80% complete; the others were still in sketch form.

“Roberts Blount was a big philanthropist,” Harris said. “He loved art and supported the community. He founded the Bank of Tallassee.”

Foundation of East Alabama is deeply grateful for all the donors and community members who contributed to the success of the Caring for Dadeville Fund and Committee.

As we bring the Caring for Dadeville Committee to a close, we remain committed to fostering a resilient and supportive community. The Community Foundation of East Alabama continues its mission to connect people who care with causes that matter and urges you to seek to serve the needs of our community with compassion and dedication.

For more information about the Community Foundation of East Alabama, please visit www.cfeastalabama.org.

to meet somehow interact with our program, either as the student, the directors, the parents, or alumni of the program. Thank you for all you do to support the Tallassee Music Department, and please know that the students and teachers involved are doing all they can to represent our community well. A “show choir wave” to all involved!

Michael Bird is a music teacher for Tallassee City Schools.

Harris said given Fitzpatrick’s lineage to prior Alabama governor Benjamin Fitzpatrick and owning property around Elmore County, he had no interest in status.

“At the time of his death, he was working on the Tallassee murals,”

Harris said. “His house was falling in around him. He just wanted to paint.”

The DAC Foundation holds regular lunch and learn meetings with more than 30 presentations on the colony ready. The next lunch and learn is planned for Feb. 15.

ABIGAIL MURPHY TPI

Andy Chamness with First Baptist Church of Notasulga speaks at Reeltown’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes first meeting of 2024.

was next on the list. Tallassee brought its ladder truck to the scene and placed it over the well. The end of the ladder allowed a hoist system to be

established. Ropes and pulleys allowed a rescuer to be lower into the well. The patient was then hoisted out with the rescuer with a good but still challenging outcome. “The patient had severe injuries,” Jones said. “He was trans-

O’NEAL

ported by Haynes Life Flight to Birmingham for treatment.”

Jones said firefighters from Tallassee and Friendship respond to a lot of calls together backing each other up. They also help and get help from other departments in Elmore County. The departments

Continued from A1

day night. O’Neal takes over for Mike Battles Jr., who parted ways with the school this fall after leading the Tigers for 12 seasons.

“I’m super excited to get started,” O’Neal said. “This is a new challenge and a new chapter in our life. We’re just ready to get to work. I saw a great opportunity and a great school system and an opportunity to pick up where coach Battles left off. I can pick up the baton and keep on running with it and build a powerhouse program.”

O’Neal has three years of head coaching experience – all at Booker T. Washington Tuskegee. During those three years,

respond to fires, accidents and more together.

The firefighters train as much as possible but being volunteers limits the time. Jones said all the firefighters do as much training as possible. Some in Tallassee are full time firefighters but many are volunteers.

he led the Golden Eagles to a 19-17 overall record and two playoff appearances. His 19 wins rank third most in school history at BTW Tuskegee while he ends his tenure there as the only coach in school history to have a winning record.

BTW had only reached the playoffs one time in 29 years prior to O’Neal taking over, and the Golden Eagles had never won a playoff game in school history. He led the team to four playoff wins in his last two seasons.

This past season, O’Neal led BTW on a historic run. After finishing the regular season as the No. 3 seed in the region and a 6-4 record, O’Neal and company went on to win their first three playoff games and advanced to the Class 4A semifinals.

The vast majority of the firefighters in the county overall are volunteers.

“We train when we can,” Jones said. “We train with other departments. This rescue is just an example of all the work, training and dedication everyone in the fire department has.”

During the playoffs, his team beat a one-loss Handley team and a no-loss Jackson team. Both teams were ranked in the Top 10 by the ASWA. After the season, O’Neal was named the Class 4A Coach of the Year by the Alabama Football Coaches Association.

O’Neal will take over a Tallassee program that is coming off of a 1-9 season. He is familiar with the current Tallassee team as BTW played the Tigers each of the last two seasons. This past season, the Golden Eagles won 44-0. In 2022, Tallassee won 21-12.

“This is a young team but a hungry team,” O’Neal said. “We just have to get here and set the standard high. Get the guys to buy in and commit to the program we’re

running to get the most out of them.”

O’Neal has deep roots in the surrounding area. He is the son of Reeltown Hall of Fame coach Jackie O’Neal, who had 241 wins from 1988 to 2015 with the Rebels and is one of the namesakes of their stadium. Lawrence played under his dad at Reeltown as a quarterback and safety and helped lead the Rebels to back-toback state championship appearances in 2000 and 2001. He won the title in 2021.

“I love to win, whether it was in blue and white or purple and gold,” O’Neal said. “I love to win. We’re going to set the standard high. Our best is our standard so we’re going to go out and do our best and produce some wins.”

CHOIR

Continued from A1

Patterson sings and dances with the school’s other two show choirs — Divas and Voltage. She said there is a distinction between the two choirs.

“With the guys, they are more chill,” Patterson said. “It is fun.

The guys are no drama. They are really chill and make it fun.”

Senior Draven Haynes has been friends with Patterson since middle school. They are in Voltage and the Pride of Tallassee Marching Band together. They share the hallways and classrooms as friends, but the studio is now different at Gold Edition rehearsal as Patterson leads the group.

“Differentiating that is not too hard,” Haynes said. “There is a kind of difference but there isn’t. It is like working with any other choreographer. She is a really great and solid choreographer.”

Choreographer is a role Michael Bird believes is ideal for Patterson.

“She was born into this program,” Bird said. “She has been helping and watching her mom for the last 17 years. She has been watching her mother teach show choir and color guard.”

Patterson has been helping her

mother in local dance studios. Bird has been helping Patterson get choreographer jobs.

“I have gotten several other gigs recently choreographing for other schools,” Patterson said. “I’m excited because this is what I want to do.”

Patterson is going to Troy University to study dance. The work as a choreographer fits in with her future in college and beyond.

“This is what I want to do with my life,” Patterson said. “I get to start doing it now.” Bird helps lead the all male Gold Edition. It was developed by Jerry Cunningham as a way to generate interest in the school’s choir programs.

“It was the first of its kind in the South,” Bird said. “It was meant to be fun. Others have since copied it and taken a more serious approach, but here at Tallassee, we still keep it fun.”

Gold Edition is open to any male in the student body at the school. Some members have been around the choral programs for years such as Haynes. Others are green. But all have fun.

Haynes said the Gold Edition is different from the co-ed group Voltage.

“It is less technical but it’s more fun because it is with the guys,”

Haynes said. “It is really nice and we bond a lot.”

Fun is Patterson’s mission as she begins to take over the choreographer role from her mother. Patterson said they listen to each other well and try to make a good mix of their ideas.

“We are the team of the century,” Patterson said. “It is so easy working with her. She has older ideas. I have newer ideas. We are not afraid to hurt each other’s feelings either. I’m like, ‘Mom I don’t like that.’ She’s like, ‘Sarah I don’t like that.’” Haynes noticed a difference in the dance steps between the two.

“Sarah Jane’s is harder,” Haynes said. “It is very different. It’s a good different. It is a nice change.”

This year’s Gold Edition program is spy-themed, featuring classic songs, cool spies, nerds, fights and leaps. It all fits in with Patterson’s hope for Gold Edition and her friends.

“This is my mom’s last year doing Gold Edition,” Patterson said. “We want it to be one of the better years. We want her to go out with a bang. I just hope everybody has fun, especially my senior friends. I hope to give them one good last show.”

CLIFF WILLIAMS TPI

Tallassee senior Sarah Jane Patterson, right, has taken on the role of choreographer for Gold Edition. The job requires her to now coach some of her classmates.

Being the beloved community

Greetings from the corner of Bridge and Bridge. I hope everyone reading this column is warm and well.

We are not supposed to have this kind of cold in central Alabama. At least there is a chance the recent cold spell will diminish the mosquito population when things warm up! I had the privilege of participating in the Elmore County Civic Improvement League’s celebration of the legacy and witness of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. recently. The Herald featured a nice article about the event in last week’s paper.

REV. JONATHAN YARBORO Columnist

As I shared in my comments that day, I have known about Dr. King most of my life and have studied his writings, teachings, and preaching for two decades. One of the people his Letter from a Birmingham Jail was addressed to was Rev. Dr. Ed Ramage, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Birmingham at that time. A group of white pastors in the Birmingham area wrote to Dr. King encouraging him to abandon the practices of the Civil Rights Movement in favor of more respectful dialogue and negotiation. King’s famous letter was written in response to that request. It was addressed, in part, to a white Presbyterian Pastor in Birmingham. What I continue to find in my attention to and studies of the message of Dr. King is empowering and frustrating at the same time. On the one hand, I find his capacity for speaking gospel truth inspiring. On the other, I find resistance

to it debilitating. While his letter was written for and delivered to a group of white clergymen, the message it contains has universal application. Every message Dr. King shared has universal application.

Dr. King spoke at length about God’s beloved community. Dr. King shared God’s intentions of diversity and interdependence at the time of creation and identified them as blessings. Dr. King consistently proclaimed those blessings as intended for all people.

Why do we continue to struggle to be the beloved community God created us to be?

I challenge anyone to provide justification for our failure to do so. The truth is that there is no excuse and we all know it.

The simple fact of the matter is that we sometimes do not want to. How do we know this? We need only to look at our own city as an example.

Tallassee Churches

Why do we continue to struggle to be the beloved community God created us to be?

Five years ago, a tornado wreaked havoc on our beloved town. In the days and weeks that followed, our community came together to ensure that those affected received the help they needed. We were the epitome of God’s beloved community. So what happened?

Again, in the case of Wetumpka, the aftermath and rebuilding following a visit from a tornado ultimately changed the city for the better. Much of the togetherness and interdependence that followed the storm remains. We were the epitome of God’s beloved community.

Surrounding Area Churches

Dr. King did not pick on people of privilege. He challenged all children of God of every circumstance, including himself, to simply do better. We all can. We all should. No one can make us do better. We must be willing to do that ourselves.

Rev. Jonathan Yarboro is the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Wetumpka.

At the same time, the recent cold snap reminds us that we are not what we could be. We have no shelters for homeless people and rely solely on our churches to assist the poor with high utility bills while we complain about the cold. We hide behind cliches and lame excuses.

O’Neal is bringing a ‘new energy fresh atmosphere’

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

It’s been only six days with Lawrence “L.A.” O’Neal at the helm of the Tallassee High School football program. It’s been a whirlwind but players are seeing a shift in culture.

Off season workouts in the weight room never stopped. But a new attitude is emerging for the Tigers. O’Neal has brought a new and different life to the program.

TALLASSEE WRESTLING FINISHES RUNNER-UP IN 5A DUALS

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Tallassee’s quest for a duals state wrestling championship came up just short Friday morning.

Scottsboro defeated Tallassee, 51-22, in the AHSAA Class 5A duals state championship at the Birmingham Crossplex. The loss ends Tallassee’s duals season at 31-1, and is the second straight season Tallassee has lost in the finals match. During those two years, Tallassee’s only two losses (73-2) came in the title.

“This group of wrestlers have come up here two years in a row and have fought,”

Tallassee coach John Mask said. “We’ve had an amazing season. Now we have to keep working and keep going. Typically, our guys have responded after losses. I love them and I’m proud of them and we’ve had a phenomenal year. They should hold their heads high.”

To begin the competition Friday morning, Tallassee knocked out No. 1-ranked Gulf Shores in the semi finals.

The Tigers started the match as hot as possible with Tra’Mel McCoy (157 pounds) and Christian McCary (165) each pinning their opponents and putting Tallassee up, 12-0. Tallassee was able to push that lead out to 27-12

Gulf Shores was able to get a few matches back, but the hole was too much. Up 31-25, Land Bell (144) and his undefeated record came up with the chance to secure the match. Bell did exactly so as he won, 17-1, via technical fall and put Tallassee up, 36-25, with no chance for Gulf Shores to come back.

The final match was forfeited and Tallassee advanced to

“We have been working hard,” junior running back Joseph Hooks said. “The music has been playing loud so we can get crunk. I can already see a difference in energy.”

O’Neal has already been serving the Tigers. As a new athletic director O’Neal was in Birmingham for the wrestling state championship. He has been in the weight room with football players. It is all to start instilling a work ethic that will earn play-

ers a spot on the field.

“If your kid is not on the field, it’s because they are skipping out on the work,” O’Neal told parents, athletes and community members at a meet and greet Monday night.

“We are going to work. The ones that work are going to see the field.”

The message is getting through to the players. Junior Kaden Peters said O’Neal hasn’t taken over workouts in

DALTON MIDDLETON | TPI

Tallassee’s Ramon Lozada, top, went 2-0 in the semifinals and state championship matches on Friday. The Tigers finished the duals season as state runner up in Class 5A after falling to Scottsboro in the championship.

Elmore County’s Payton pins in a hurry

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Tyler Payton is making quick

work of his opponents on the mat.

Payton, a freshman wrestler for Elmore County and the No. 1-ranked wrestler in Class 5A’s 150-pound class, put together a dominant week on the mats for the Panthers last week.

Wrestling in a tri-match against Auburn and Beauregard then

competing in the Bobcat Bash held at Beulah, Payton went 6-0 with six dominant performances.

He earned five pins and one 16-0 tech fall. For his performance and tournament win, Payton is the Elmore County Player of the Week.

“Tyler had a pretty tough bracket and had to face two guys from Opelika that were some hammers, but he ended up pinning both of them,” coach Mason

Thornton said. “He’s been wrestling very well this season. He finished fourth in state last year and has just taken his game to a new level this year.”

Not only did Payton go 6-0, but he did so as dominant and nearly as fast as possible. In the tri-match, he started his day off with a match against Auburn’s Jordan Zimmerman.

By HENRY ZIMMER Sports Reporter

This year’s wrestling season for Reeltown has arguably been its best in program history. Head coach Chad Ledbetter doesn’t try to claim he has done anything special with his team, but rather continued to keep the ball rolling from the previous coaching staff.

In turn, Ledbetter’s team is placing in tournaments for the first time and able to succinctly defeat teams from all across the state.

“It is a foundation that has started with previous coaches, they set the standards high,” Ledbetter said. “We are trying to continue that. A lot of these guys are buying into that. They do what they need to in practice. We just have to work through a few bugs here and there.”

Thursday night, Reeltown honored its two senior wrestlers with a pair of wins over Beulah and Russell County.

The Rebel roster is laden with underclassmen who excelled against the Bobcats and Warriors,

while also sending off Adam Ward and JJ Kendrick on high notes.

“We are still a young team, but a lot of our young guys stepped it up tonight,” Reeltown Ledbetter said.

While Ward went 1-1 on his senior night, Kendrick went 0-2. Ward has been wrestling for a while, whereas Kendrick picked up the sport in his final high school year.

Wrestling against an athlete from Beulah, Kendrick flipped his man and attempted a pin before the tables were turned back on him. Kendrick got a rousing applause from the crowd, team and coaching staff as he walked off the mat smiling despite the close loss.

“JJ is a phenomenal kid,” Ledbetter said. “He does really well and is a really hard worker. Very responsible for what he does. He almost got that guy with a phenomenal record.”

Reeltown first defeated Russell County in a fairly dominant fashion, winning 49-26.

The Rebels won their

HENRY ZIMMER | TPI

Reeltown’s Drake Wood attempts a pin on a Russell County wrestler.

following pins from Jude Rogers (215) and Thomas Patterson (106), a 9-4 decision by Mason Nelson and a 12-3 major by Ramon Lozada (120).

CLIFF WILLIAMS TPI

New Tallassee football coach L.A. O’Neal, right, speaks with guests at a meet and greet Monday night to introduce him to the community.

From teammates to budding rivals Johnson ready to take on new Tallassee coach

By HENRY ZIMMER Sports Reporter

Matt Johnson and Law -

re nce “L.A.” O’Neal have a life’s worth of history together. With O’Neal taking the head coaching job for Tallassee’s football team, their history just got more interesting.

As Johnson enters his ninth season with Reeltown, O’Neal will be entering his first with Reeltown’s biggest rival. After three seasons with Booker T. Washington, O’Neal is making the jump up to Tallassee, to coach a team even he didn’t like when he was playing football for the Rebels alongside Johnson and under his own father.

Despite the history between the two schools, and now a budding competition between the two coaches, Johnson couldn’t be

NEW Continued from B1

Despite the history between the two schools, and now a budding competition between the two coaches, Johnson couldn’t be happier for his friend to be coaching across the river from him.

happier for his friend to be coaching across the river from him.

“I think this is great for him and his family,” Johnson said. “He did a phenomenal job at BTW and he has worked his way up. Tallassee did a really good job getting him over there.”

O’Neal now has the opportunity to turn around a Tallassee team which finished with only a single win last year. O’Neal and his team beat Tallassee last year, 44-0. Johnson said the opportunity to take over a program that needs a new face and leader will be perfect for the former Reeltown star.

the weight room but his energy is felt.

“I think he brings a fresh atmosphere,” Peters said. “A lot of our guys have been excited and pumped up in the weight room. He is creating a new culture and a new energy.”

Freshman quarterback Trent Morris said he sees a difference in the team already.

“It has been a lot of work but good,” Morris said. “I feel like we have been going way harder in the weightroom trying to impress him.”

O’Neal said he wants Tallassee athletes to compete at the highest level.

“We do that by buying into the work,” O’Neal said. “We are going

the finals.

“We looked probably as good as we’ve seen us all year in the first match,” Mask said.

“I thought we wrestled super. As I mentioned to the team, I’m not saying we were satisfied but we just didn’t have the same fire in the second match. You’ve gotta do it for two matches, that’s the key.”

As fast as Tallassee started in the first match, it was the exact opposite in the championship. Jacob Patterson (165) and Christian McCary (175) were both wrestling up a weight class, and both wrestlers had injuries plague them throughout the match.

Following two Scottsboro pins, Tallassee was never able to overcome the 12-0 deficit.

first five matches in a row, picking up wins from Bryant Jones, Benjamin Ledbetter, Blake Hadden, Drake Wood and Ward. Jackson and Harrison Renfroe, Jacob Sessions and Devin Bragg rounded out the Rebels’ wins against the Warriors. Against Beulah, the tune was much the same as the Rebels won 48-36.

Reeltown has only four more matches before state qualification. The team went to Beulah on Friday and Saturday to compete in the Bobcat Bash, facing off against 22 teams from Alabama and Georgia. If Reeltown continues to succeed through the end of the year, the team will be adding a whole host of names to its newly implemented state qualification board in the gym.The 202324 line is empty right

“He has always had a great report with the kids,” Johnson said. “He will do a great job there. I am happy for him. This is another opportunity for him to impact kids.”

Despite the Tallassee and Reeltown rivalry being on hold, the irony of O’Neal taking over the Tigers football team is not lost.

O’Neal’s father’s name is on Reeltown’s football stadium, and coached both his son and Johnson to despise their neighboring school. But sometimes life comes full circle.

Jackie O’Neal was a large reason for Johnson to get into coaching. Now, poten -

to commit to the work. Then we are going to compete. Then we are going to win and finally we are going to dominate. We are going to put in a lot of work.”

Hooks has spent time as an outside linebacker. He is already looking forward to spring practice and further into summer before the season starts.

“He will have us doing Oklahoma drills a lot,” Hooks said. “I’m prepared for it. I have been waiting for this. I’ve been waiting to hit somebody hard.”

O’Neal has yet to take the field at Tallassee but Morris is already convinced things will look different next season under the new coach.

“I think things will go good,” Morris said. “I really like him. I think we can win a bunch of games with him.”

O’Neal is setting the bar high for

“Momentum is huge in wrestling,” Mask said. “You get a few pins and everyone is up and excited. If you get in a hole, then people start questioning themselves and not feeling good about it. Momentum is huge for wrestling.”

Nolan Addeo did his best to get Tallassee back into the match as he pinned his opponent just 2:10 into his 195 match. He was up, 4-0, when he earned his pin.. That momentum didn’t last long as Scottsboro went on to win the next two matches via pin in 17 seconds and a 3-1 decision. Scottsboro led, 21-6, after five matches. Patterson bounced back with a 11-2 win, and Lozada and Bell both kept their undefeated seasons alive with pins. They were the only three winners in the final nine matches.

tially one day, the younger O’Neal and his father’s protege may coach across the field from one another.

“I think the world of his dad,” Johnson said. “He was someone I looked up to coming up and looked forward to playing for.”

Johnson smiles when recalling days when Jackie instilled into his athletes to not like those clad in purple and gold. In 2024, his own son will be commanding that team.

While Johnson and O’Neal may be coaching different programs, they will be friends through it all. Johnson coulnd;t help but laugh thinking about when he heard the news. He almost couldn’t believe it.

“(Jackie) instilled in us to not be fond of that school across the river,” Johnson said. “It's the irony of it all.”

Tallassee. But at the same time he wants to keep expectations in check.

“Our best is the standard,” O’Neal said. “Everybody’s best is not the same, but everybody can give their best in what they do. That is the standard we are going to set.”

A lot of coaches are measured by wins and losses. O’Neal wants to win on the field but at the end of the he wants the biggest win to be creating a better person and student athlete at Tallassee.

“My job is to serve the kids,” O’Neal said. “My purpose in life and God’s calling is to serve kids and give them the best opportunity to be a great citizen, a great father, a great husband and then at the end of the day a great person in the community. That is my job.”

“I love them and I’m proud of them,” Mask said. “I want them to hold their heads high because we’ve had an amaz-

ing year. We’re going to keep wrestling and we’re going to get better. We will grow from this.”

now, but could be filled with multiple names by season’s end. Ledbetter hopes every year the list grows and grows.

“Getting that sign up, these guys can see their names live in Reeltown history,” Ledbetter said. “What they do will be a legacy. Once you get something like that, each kid tries to do better than the first.” With their new his-

toric sign watching over them, Reeltown excelled on senior night. The program is growing at Reeltown, and Ward and Kendrick are the latest members to leave the program better than it started.

“We are hoping the sign is a good motivator,” Ledbetter said.

“We have good camaraderie between the kids. The kids have a tenden-

cy to work together and motivate one another in practice. I think that is a big foundation for us.”

Reeltown segwayed its senior night matches right into Friday’s Bobcat Bash at Beulah, with both Bragg and Wood earning first overall finishes in the 11 team tournament. Competing in 120, Wood earned a double

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Continued from B1

That was a quick fall for Payton as he pinned Zimmerman in just 49 seconds.

Up next was Carl Bell from Beauregard, and he was one of the longer matches of the week for Payton. Payton pinned Bell in the second period at the 2:21 mark.

Starting the Bobcat Bash, he pinned his opponent from Childersburg in 26 seconds. Following his technical fall win, he pinned Opelika’s Trace Gaither, the No. 3 150-pound wrestler in 7A, in just 40 seconds. Three of his matches this weekend were less than 49 seconds, and he has 10 pins this season where his opponent didn’t make it out of the first period.

“Tyler’s speed is unlike anything I’ve seen since I’ve been a coach,” Thornton said. “He’s able to catch guys in bad situations before they even realize it and he can stick those guys pretty quick. His upper body strength is also insane so once he gets those guys trapped, it’s really hard for them to roll out of it.”

Payton is having one of the best seasons of any wrestler in Class 5A.

He is out to a 28-1 overall record and his one loss comes to the No. 1 wrestler in 6A, Cruz Rainwater from Mortimer Jordan.

His stellar season comes as no surprise to anyone who has seen him wrestle the last two seasons. Payton was an All-County wrestler a year ago as an eighth grader as he racked up a 24-5 overall record and was a state qualifying wrestler.

In the state tournament, he fell in his first match but ended up rebounding by pinning a wrestler in 80 seconds then pulling out an 8-1 decision to reach the third place game.

bye before pinning a wrestler from Lagrange, Georgia. Wood then pinned down a wrestler from Auburn to give him the title.

Up in the 215 weight class, Bragg won four straight matches to secure his top finish. Like Wood, Bragg earned four pins after taking down wrestlers from Auburn, Beulah, Callaway, Georgia and Opelika.

Between them, Bragg and Wood earned Reeltown 52 of its 73 total team points. The Rebels finished ninth overall in the tournament. The next best finisher for the Rebels was Harrison Renfroe, who won his first two matches in the 157 class before falling to a wrestler from Beauregard. In the consolation bracket, Renfroe lost an 8-1 decision to a wrestler from Auburn. Reeltown next takes to the mat on Friday night, taking on Elmore County and Holtville.

With revenge on his mind, he has come out in the 2023-2024 season with a chip on his shoulder.

That’s shown as 18 of his 28 wins have come via fall, while three more are from technical falls. He’s had only four matches get decided by decision, two of which he won by 10 or more points.

“We know that he’s able to be one of the best wrestlers, and not just in Class 5A,” Thornton said. “He’s seen and beaten a lot of the top guys in the state. We believe he’s at that ability where he can beat anybody on any given day.”

With just a few weeks left in the season, Payton is looking to cap off his freshman year of high school with a state championship.

In the latest Alabama Coaches polls, he is ranked No. 1 in the 150 weight class. He has only faced one other ranked wrestler in Class 5A in Tallassee’s Ethan Jones. In that match, Payton earned an 8-3 decision win.

HENRY ZIMMER | TPI

On Senior Night, Reeltown wrestling picked up wins at home over Russell County and Beulah.

DALTON MIDDLETON | TPI

Tallassee freshman Thomas Patterson, right, won both of his matches in the 106-pound class in the semifinals and championship on Friday.

New region, same identity for Reeltown football

By HENRY ZIMMER Sports Writer

The goal for Reeltown football is a simple one every year: win a state title.

It is a fairly common goal, but one that is seemingly attainable each time Reeltown takes the field. While the team may look a little different than last year, the standard is the same.

Whether the team is playing a neutral site game, a championship caliber squad or a familiar region opponent, the standard of excellence for Reeltown football is always there.

“It is just the standard we speak of, coming into work every day,” Rebel head coach Matt Johnson said. “We have a mature group that is following in some big shoes. Regardless of who we are playing, it is about us. It is about us competing with ourselves.”

No time will be wasted this season, as Reeltown opens the year against T.R. Miller in the AHSAA Kick Off Classic in Montgomery.

The Rebels will take on the 3A Tigers in a televised game, showcasing some of the best teams the state has to offer.

“Coach (Brent) Hubbert and I go way back,” Johnson said. “He reached out to me about wanting to play and I wanted to make it work. I think that is going to be great.”

Reeltown adds Trinity to the schedule the week after, a team Reeltown has not seen since 2021. The last meeting between the schools was a 17-14 win by Trinity on a late field goal. Johnson still vividly remembers the game. He is also quite familiar with Trinity coach Bryan Seymore,

who hired Jo hnson to coach with him in Andalusia in the late 2000s.

“The last time we played them, it was a great game,” Johnson said. “Coach Seymore, I think a lot of. They will have a great team and be another good challenge for us.”

The Rebels next draw Horseshoe Bend, a school they are 20-0 against before facing Ranburne, a team they haven't beaten since 2017. After Ranburne, Reeltown travels to Loachapoka, who will be making the jump from 1A to 2A this year.

The marquee game in the middle of the season will be a home game against Dadeville. The two teams have not met since 2021.

“We are getting Dadeville back on the schedule, which is huge,” Johnson said. “That is always a great game, great environment.”

Reeltown next draws familiar foes Lanett and LaFayette, two schools the Rebels beat 91-13 combined last year. A bye week follows before facing off against new region opponent Central Coosa, before ending the year with Lee-Scott.

“I am excited about our schedule,” Johnson said. “We know our region teams. A lot of schools we are familiar with and we look forward to it.”

Lee-Scott being on the schedule is a bit of a mystery for many schools prior to the 2024 season.

The Warriors, from Auburn, are coming from the AISA to the AHSAA after being one of the most dominant private schools in the state.

Lee-Scott is coming off back to back state championships, and has just one loss in its past two seasons.

“We don’t know a lot about them, but it's a school right down the

road, so going outside the region we wanted to toughen up our schedule,” Johnson said.

Reeltown will likely be the odds on favorite in its region, but Johnson said he can’t worry too much about that. There will be no race to repeat last year’s success, just a race to start success anew with this year’s squad.

“You are not playing up to a team, but you are playing up to standard,” Johnson said. “The team we will have this year is different than last year. Any success we have moving forward is due to a new team.”

With the departure of star players like Arthur Woods and Jake Hornsby, players will have to step up to keep Reeltown’s level of success high. Having new faces and new players to mold is a challenge Johnson and his staff take head on.

“Others are going to have to step up,” Johnson said. “That is what is fun about high school football, to see who will step up in those spots and take a hold of this team.”

Regardless of who Reeltown faces, the standard is the same. Reeltown is out to win a state championship, and with Fyffe making the jump to 3A, it is almost the school’s title to lose.

Johnson and his team won’t be chasing greatness, but meeting it head on. Without Woods or Hornsby or any number of graduating seniors, players will have to fill those roles. If Reeltown teams of the past are any indication, the Rebels will be just fine.

“The expectations, standards don't change,” Johnson said. “You have to adapt to the talent you have.”

Tallassee t-ball registrations open

Registrations for T-ball and Dixie Prep have opened in Tallassee.

Thursday, Jan. 25

High School Wrestling

4 Elmore County at Pike Road, 5 p.m.

4 Russell County/Lee/ Jeff Davis at Tallassee, 5:30 p.m.

4 Wetumpka/ Childersburg/Valley at Holtville, TBD

High School Basketball

4 4 Lowndes at

The City of Tallassee Parks and Recreation have announced that this spring’s T-ball and Dixie Prep registration have opened for both coaches and players.

The leagues run from March 17 to May 18. Parents can register their children at www. tallasseerecreation. com. T-ball will feature kids aged 3-5 while

Dixie Prep will be ages 5-6. There is a registration fee of $65 for both groups and will include a hat, t-shirt and socks for each player.

Potential jurors exchange words at the start of Sneed’s trial

By MELODY RATHEL Multimedia Reporter

After the death of Mitch Sneed in 2018, his family is now suing Honda for defective safety equipment.

The trial began Monday morning with a detailed jury selection. Attorneys from both sides presented questions to the potential jurors as a means to filter out anyone who might have conflicting interests with this case.

Roughly 50 to 60 potential jurors arrived at the Tallapoosa County Courthouse 9 a.m. Monday morning.

Parker Miller, a personal injury and product liability attorney at Beasly-Allen Law Firm, presented questions on behalf of the plaintiff. Miller’s main focus was eliminating anyone who may have biased feelings about various factors of the case. Because Sneed was involved in a motor vehicle accident that involved a Honda Accord, Miller asked if there was anyone who worked for Honda, or had other involvement with Honda. Miller also asked if there was anyone who had strong feelings about motor vehicle accidents, and if they felt like a defective safety feature could lead to an accident. This brought up a conversation amongst many potential jurors.

One potential juror said he thinks despite any safety features in the car, the driver of the car that caused the collision is at fault.

Sneed’s family filed a lawsuit against Honda due to an alleged malfunction of the Honda Accord’s Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS). Miller said this technology uses a sensor that is placed at the bottom of the car, and it uses a camera to detect its surroundings. If a car is approaching an object, this technology will first provide the driver with an auditory warning to begin applying brakes. According to Miller, if the car continues accelerating, the CMBS will then apply light braking to assist with slowing the vehicle. Eventually, if the driver does not apply brakes, the CMBS is supposed to stop the vehicle before it crashes into another object, Miller said. In Sneed’s case, he was at a stop light in his Ford F-150 at the intersection of highways 280 and 63. According to defense attorney Lanier Brown, the driver of the Honda Accord approached Sneed’s stopped vehicle at 71 miles per hour when the CMBS failed, and ultimately resulted in a rear-end collision between the two vehicles. Several potential jurors felt even if CMBS technology failed, the driver of the Honda Accord is still at fault.

After an analysis of the potential jury and their feelings toward some of the factors involved in this case, the court came to a final decision of who the jury would comprise.

For T-ball, cleats are not required but are preferred. Players can wear either cleats or tennis shoes. Helmets are required.

Edgewood Academy, 4 p.m.

Tallassee at Beauregard, 6 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 26

High School Wrestling

4 Wetumpka, Elmore County, Tallassee, Holtville at Hornet Slam (Beauregard), TBD High School Basketball

4 Elmore County at Dadeville, 4:30 p.m.

Holtville at Marbury, 4:30 p.m.

4 Wetumpka at Stanhope Elmore, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 27

High School Wrestling

4 Wetumpka, Stanhope Elmore, Elmore County,

Tallassee, Holtville at Hornet Slam (Beauregard), TBD High School Basketball

4 Stanhope Elmore at PCA, TBD

Monday, Jan. 29

High School Wrestling

4 Central City Phenix/ Prattville/Stanhope Elmore at Holtville, TBD

For Dixie Prep, the league will be coach pitch but players can use the tee after a player swings at four pitches and misses all of them. Dixie Prep is intended to teach the children the fundamentals and how the game of baseball is played.

High School Basketball

4 Elmore County at Reeltown, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 30

High School Wrestling

4 Elmore County/ Carver at Wetumpka, 5 p.m.

For anyone interested in coaching, they can register as a coach for no additional cost when they register their children on the website.

High School Basketball

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

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

4 Wetumpka at Montgomery Academy, 6 p.m.

4 Tallassee at Benjamin Russell, 5 p.m. Holtville at Beauregard, TBD

4 Prattville at Stanhope Elmore, 6 p.m.

FILE TPI

Reeltown football faces a few familiar foes in 2024, while also adding powerhouse schools like T.R. Miller and Lee-Scott to their schedule.

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TALLASSEE, ALABAMA MCKEE PROJECT NO. 22.221

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FAMILY BUSINESS

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Even though she thought about it, Brownie Caldwell isn’t going to write Kyle Caldwell out of her will.

The mother and son coached against each other on the basketball court for the first time in their careers Monday night. Kyle, coaching Elmore County, led his Panthers to a 51-17 win over Brownie’s Dadeville Tigers. Both coaches are in their first season of coaching their respective teams, and Monday marked the first time they’ve been on opposite sides of the court after Kyle spent much of his childhood playing for his mother’s teams.

“I’m not going to write him out of my will just because he beat me by 60 points, but I thought about it,” Brownie said with a laugh. “It’s all in good fun. It’s really a neat thing and it doesn’t happen often. I guess that’s what happens when I’m old as dirt and he’s still a young buck.”

When Kyle grew up in the Dadeville community, he was always coached by his mom when he was in youth sports. Brownie taught Kyle how to play basketball in the first place and is one of the reasons why he has been a referee turned basketball coach the last few years.

He remembers specifically how his mom would allow him to score 10 points each game, but once he reached that threshold it turned into a new game for him.

He was no longer allowed to score points, unless it was off a steal. Instead, it was his job to create opportunities for other players who haven’t scored yet and to teach other players on the court how to play the game.

SUBMITTED | TPI

Mother-son Caldwell duo face off for first time

lar season and a second round playoff berth.

Caldwell then led the team to a 10-2 record as a junior and 12-1 record as a senior with a third round playoff appearance. He went on to star at West Alabama where he set numerous records in the Gulf South Conference.

“I’m proud of him and what he’s done not just on the court but also on the football field here,” Brownie said.

He took that lesson to heart, and it’s something he’s instilled in his own players as he has developed in his coaching career.

Brownie even noticed that Monday night.

Elmore County took a hefty 22-0 lead early in the first quarter, and Kyle immediately took out the majority of his starting five and allowed his back ups to take the court and get playing time. Throughout the game, he would run one or two starters back on the court to help teach and lead the younger kids, and Brownie was certainly proud of her son for that.

“That’s a proud momma moment,” Brownie said. “You always want to see your kids be successful, but just being able to coach him and see how he’s instilling the things in his kids that I taught him when I was coaching him is

special. It’s just a really neat moment.”

For mother and son, it was a special moment. But it wasn’t the only family connection on the court. Addie Caldwell, Brownie’s daughter and Kyle’s sister, is on the Dadeville roster.

While she is not a starter, she played significant minutes and took two free-throw attempts in the second half of the game. When the game was over, she walked across the baseline and joked about Kyle being a jerk.

“That’s a different relationship with Addie,” Kyle said. “There’s going to be some smack talking there.”

Despite the lopsided loss, Brownie enjoyed coaching against her son for the first time. She doesn’t often get to see Kyle coach the basketball team because her Dadeville team plays on the same

nights, so seeing what his team was able to accomplish was special.

And it reminded her of the success his football teams have seen as well.

Kyle is also the head football coach and athletic director at Elmore County, and he has helped turn around a program that was dead in the water when he was hired.

Coming off an 0-10 season in 2021, Caldwell has led Elmore County to back-toback playoff seasons and a 15-7 record in two years.

That’s not a surprise to Brownie. She’s seen him turn two programs around now. When Kyle was playing quarterback as a freshman, his Dadeville team went 0-10 in 2007. It was one of the worst seasons in Dadeville history. But instead of giving up, Kyle came back the next year and led his Tigers to a 10-0 regu-

“From a coaching standpoint, he walked into a program and the morale was low so he knew what to do because he had been there. He got his kids to buy into a program, which is what he had to do as a player years ago.” What he’s done twice on the football field is also what he’s trying to do for the Elmore County girls. The program went 3-12 last season and missed the playoffs, and his team is currently 5-9 and has one last area game before postseason play begins.

The Panthers will try to make a push for the playoffs with a regular season game against Holtville and a potential first round matchup with Holtville in the area tournament. And because of what Brownie taught Kyle growing up, they both know his team has the capability to do exactly that.

“She definitely gave me her competitiveness,” Kyle said. “She gave me all of her drive but not only did she give me her will to win, but she just taught me how to play the game. This was a really cool moment and opportunity for us. It’s just pretty cool to have that moment with family out there. It’s something we’re always going to talk about at family gatherings.”

Real Island VFD comes together for covered dish nights

By ABIGAIL MURPHY Multimedia Reporter

Nothing says community like people coming together bearing food for one another.

Real Island Volunteer Fire Department hosts covered dish socials that are open to the public and held on the third Friday of every month at 6:30 p.m., aside from December, which is held on the second Friday.

Vice president of RIVFD Board of Directors Candace Jones said the department has been doing the covered dish nights for well over 10 years.

“They started them as fundraisers and as a way to bring people together, to get to know each other in the community and to help support building this fire department,” she said.

The department first got started in the 1990s and the training room was added in 2000, which now doubles as a community center. The department receives some funds from the county, but it largely runs on donations as a 501c3 nonprofit.

So, the covered dish night used to have a $3 minimum donation at the door, but most people would donate more. Now the department simply leaves a donation box by the entrance. Jones said the department

couldn’t do what it does without the support of the community and volunteers.

While the covered dish nights still aid in bringing in donations, over the years the covered dish nights have become less of a fundraising effort and more of a fellowship opportunity.

This month’s covered dish night was the chili cook off with “silly prizes and a year of bragging rights” to be won, according to the Facebook post. The chili cook off traditionally was held in February, but the board decided to hold it a month earlier so next month’s host could have a Mardi Gras themed night for February. Jones said that’s really what it is about — having fun and getting the community involved. While the board members are there to assist, anyone in the community can host one of the covered dish nights. The department has a signup sheet with the designated board member on it.

The board member will help the host get the lay of the land and may help set up and clean up after the event. The host is responsible for the theme, the decorations and the activities of the night.

“Sometimes we just have fellowship; sometimes we have

entertainment; sometimes we have trivia,” Jones said. “It just depends on what people are in the mood for.”

The department has had spring, tailgate and backto-school themes. Then for Christmas time, the board takes over as host for the community.

Jones said the covered dish nights are also a great way to

meet newcomers to the area.

“We have two sign boards, one is at Coosa County Road 2 and Little Steel Bridge Road and then one here in front, so everybody — no matter where they are coming from — can see what day the next covered dish is,” she said.

The department also has an email newsletter and a lot gets done through word of mouth as well. However, it’s not just for community members. Many who come are also the firefighters — sharing the night with their family.

“We miss people if they don’t come,” Jones said. “If we are used to seeing them here, we like to see them back and we try to keep up with them.” For more information, individuals can call 334-857-3233.

Elmore County coach Kyle Caldwell, left, poses with mom and Dadeville coach Brownie Caldwell before Monday’s matchup between the two teams.