Tallassee Tribune June 21 2023

Two Tallassee men found guilty of murder

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

It has taken nearly four years for the family of Julio Mercado to get justice for his death on July 5, 2019.

Tallassee residents

Ladrequez Holloway and Zan’guintavius Hughley, who are now 23, were identified as suspects in the death of Mercado, 34, of Florida. Holloway and Hughley were found guilty of murder and first-degree assault Friday following a weeklong trial in the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court.

Former Tallassee

police chief Matthew Higgins told The Tribune in 2019 what Tallassee police officers found when they responded to a call on North Johnson Street.

“Upon arrival, it was determined that a verbal altercation broke out at a family gathering that escalated into an exchange of gunfire,” Higgins said.

According to court documents, gunshots struck Mercado in the abdomen and another victim in the thigh. Higgins said both victims were transported to Baptist South where Mercado died.

Hughley was arrested the night of the incident and Holloway was arrested a few days later after fleeing Tallassee with the help of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Hughley and Holloway will be sentenced by Fifth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Kevin Hall later this month.

According to Alabama law, murder is a Class A felony and carries a prison sentence of 10 years to life. First-degree assault is a Class B felony and carries a prison sentence of two to 20 years.

GOOD OL’ TIMES

Class of 1953 celebrates 70th reunion

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Alot has happened in the last 70 years. There was the first moon landing in 1969. Phones went from having cords to wireless to being completely mobile. Slide rules are now artifacts. Polio was defeated. DNA was cracked. Digital watches were invented. Space stations have been put in orbit. And the Tallassee High School Class of 1953 graduated. Those 96 graduates have

gone on to do amazing things. Some fought in the Korean Conflict. Others stayed home and worked and others went to school to teach others.

“You name it here in Tallassee and I have worked there,” Class of 1953 graduate Dot Chavis Ballard said. “It doesn’t matter what, I have done it.”

Ballard and other Class of 1953 graduates gathered last week to celebrate.

“We have lost 71,” Ballard said. “We have about three or four that

CLIFF WILLIASM | THE TRIBUNE

are unaccounted for. They are mostly girls and I think they got married and moved on after high school.”

The class included Dr. Byron Nelson Jr. who was inducted into the Tallassee High School Alumni Association Hall of Pride in 2018.

After Tallassee, Nelson went to the U.S. Naval Academy and transferred to Auburn University after a football injury. Nelson served in the Army after graduating from Auburn

See TIMES, Page A3

Members of the Tallassee High School Class of 1953 met at Cozumel recently for the 70th class reunion. Dot Ballard said 18 classmates are still alive.

More dilapidated structures to come down in Tallassee

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Gilmer Avenue will soon have more space.

properties on the original list,” Tallassee Mayor Sarah Hill said. “Some of the structures have been removed from the list.”

Tallassee code enforcement officer Eric Jones gave the Tallassee City Council an update at Tuesday’s meeting about a dilapidated structure demolition program. The program is funded through an ADECA Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

“There have been some changes in ownership of

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Students in the Tallassee FFA program are used to having their names called at district and state competitions.

This year is no different as three teams placed first at state — floriculture, aquaculture and quartet — and another placed second — nursery landscape — at the recent Alabama State FFA convention. Tallassee FFA advisor Dr. Daniel Free said the students work hard and

The city has taken down structures in the past under the program. It has $186,000 left to work with. City officials originally planned for Phase 2 of the demolition project to be the demolition of the Hotel Talisi. But getting all the necessary paperwork completed through all of the

See STRUCTURES, Page A5

expect success.

“These kids are dedicated,” Free said. “Floriculture started practicing last summer. Nursery landscape never stopped. They competed at district last April, won state, practiced through nationals in October and acquired a couple new teammates for this year. They only took about a month off to get ready for district this year.”

Floriculture is continuing to practice this summer

See FFA, Page A5

Obituaries

JAMES B. TOTTY

James B. Totty, Sr., 80, of Opelika, passed away June 10, 2023. He was born November 13, 1942. He is preceded in death by his parents, James William and Olvie Henderson Totty and sisters, Jo McCroskey and Ann Danford. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Glenda Totty; children, James B. Totty, Jr. (Angela) and Kenneth W. Totty (Michelle); grandchildren, Eden Grace Totty and Eliza Sue Totty; brother, Thomas G. Totty

ROBERT JACKSON “BUDDY” GROSS, JR.

Robert Jackson “Buddy”

Gross, Jr., 86, of Wetumpka, Alabama went to be with his Lord and Savior on June 13, 2023. He was born June 20, 1936. A celebration of life service will be held at Linville Memorial Funeral Home on Saturday, June 24, 2023. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am with the service to begin at 11:00 am with Michael Gross officiating. He is preceded in death by his parents,

Police Reports

TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT

JUNE 19

• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Kent Road.

• Suspicious activity was reported on North Johnson Street.

• A verbal altercation was reported on Grimes Street.

• A Black male was arrested during a traffic stop on Highway 229.

JUNE 18

• A suicidal subject was reported on Freeman Avenue.

• Gunfire was reported on Third Avenue.

• Animal control was requested on Gilmer Avenue.

• An animal complaint was reported on Zion Street.

• A juvenile complaint was reported on Cliff Street.

• Gunfire was reported on Third Avenue.

• An abandoned vehicle was reported on Main Street.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Carr Street.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Gilmer Avenue.

• A suicidal subject was reported on Freeman Avenue.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Delta Road.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Gilmer Avenue.

• Theft and harassment was reported on Wesson Drive.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Suspicious vehicles were reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A domestic incident was reported on Freeman Avenue.

• A white female was arrested during a traffic stop on Gilmer Avenue. JUNE 17

• Gunfire was reported on Notasulga Road.

• Assistance was given to another agency on Highway 229.

• Harassment was reported on East Patton Street.

• Assistance was given to another agency on Washington Boulevard.

• A vehicle accident was reported on Central Boulevard.

• A suicidal subject was reported on Freeman Avenue.

• Assistance was given to another agency on Wel -

(Lynda); sister and brother-inlaw, Linda Patrick (Marion); brother-in-law, George Larry Kenney; aunt, Emily Rutledge (Maurice) and a large, loving extended family. He attended Elmore County High School and he was a deacon and served in security at Liberty Baptist Church. Mr. Totty retired from Uniroyal in Opelika after 25 years of service, he was a Reserve Deputy for Lee County Sheriff’s Department and served as Commander for the

Robert Jackson Gross, Sr. and Hattie Inez Gross and brothers, Elzie Gross, Jerry Gross, and Sam Gross. He is survived by sons, Michael (Marcilla) Gross and Pete (Betty Ruth) Russell; daughters, Jayne Russell and Lisa (Cliff) Bufford; grandchildren, Dawson Gross, Cora Ann Bufford and Allen Bufford; sister, Ann Robertson; niece, Donna Jo Darnell; nephews, Robert Gross, Wendell Robertson and Wayne Robertson. A lifelong resident of Elmore County, Buddy worked at

don Road.

• Burglary was reported on Washington Street.

• Animal control was requested on Freeman Avenue.

• Reckless driving was reported on Wood Street.

• Animal control was requested on South Ann Avenue.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Gilmer Avenue.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A juvenile complaint was reported on Dorman Avenue.

JUNE 16

• A juvenile complaint was reported on Dorman Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Central Boulevard.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Log Circle.

• Harassing communications was reported on Bobwhite Court.

• Harassment was reported on Hanil Drive.

• A white male was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• Animal control was requested on Barnett Boulevard.

• A white male was arrested on Gin Shop Hill Road.

• Fraudulent use of a credit or debit card was reported on South Ann Avenue.

• Animal control was requested on Gilmer Avenue.

• A white male was arrested on Freeman Avenue.

• A tree was reported in the roadway on Lower Tuskegee Road.

• A juvenile complaint was filed on Gilmer Avenue.

JUNE 15

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on East Roosevelt Street.

• A noise complaint was reported on First Avenue.

• A suspicious person was reported on Riverside Avenue.

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

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

• Disorderly conduct was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A fight in progress was reported on Gen. Chappy James Street.

• An animal complaint was reported on Freeman Avenue.

• An animal complaint was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

Lee County Rescue Squad. His hobbies were watching western movies, going camping and taking vacation trips to Pigeon Forge, TN. He especially enjoyed spending time with his wife and family and his church family. No services have been scheduled at this time. Share memories and condolences online at www.linvillememorial. com. Linville Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory Eclectic, Alabama

Mount Vernon Mills for 40 years, retiring in 1999. He enjoyed sitting on his front porch, where a good game of dominos might ensue, while waving at all the people that passed and honked. Many a world problems were solved on that front porch and that corner of the world will never be the same without him. Online condolences may be posted at www.linvillememorial.com. Linville Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory Eclectic, Alabama

• An animal complaint was reported on Central Avenue.

• A Black male was arrested on Gilmer Avenue.

• Harassing communications was reported on Cliff Street.

• A Black female was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• Theft was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Animal control was requested on Peachtree Street.

• Roadway blocked was reported on Friendship Road.

• A tree in the roadway was reported on Upper River Road.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Claire Street.

JUNE 14

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on East Roosevelt Street.

• Animal control was requested on Gilmer Avenue.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Little Road.

• A suspicious person was reported on Herd Street.

• A hit and run accident was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Wall Street.

• Animal cruelty was reported on Cliff Street.

• Animal control was requested on South Ann Avenue.

• A white male was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• An animal complaint was reported on South Ann Avenue.

• An abandoned vehicle was reported on Central Boulevard.

• Assistance was given during a power line down call on North Harper Street.

JUNE 13

• Suspicious activity was reported on South Wesson Street.

• A fight in progress was reported on Hillcrest Street.

• A suspicious person was reported on Bent Oak Lane.

• A suspicious person was reported on Noble Road.

• A tree was reported in the roadway on Oak Heights Road.

• An intoxicated driver was reported on Kent Road.

• Trespassing was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

• A stolen vehicle was reported on Preer Street.

• Assistance was given

to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Friendship Road.

• A Black male was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• A stolen vehicle was reported on Notasulga Road.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.

• Harassing communications was reported on Hickory Street..

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Harassment was reported on Tallassee Highway.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

JUNE 12

• A fight in progress was reported on Elm Street.

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

• A domestic complaint was reported on Carr Street.

• Reckless driving was reported on Lilly Avenue.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Lower Tuskegee Road.

• A domestic complaint was reported on Central Boulevard.

• Harassing communications was reported on Highway 229.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Highway 229.

• A white male was arrested on Notasulga Road.

• Trespassing was reported on South Tallassee Drive.

• An animal complaint was reported on Hillcrest Street.

• An animal complaint was reported on Paxton Drive.

• An assault was reported on Hickory Street.

• A white female was arrested during a domestic dispute call on Darnell Road.

• Tree in the roadway was reported on Ashurst Bar Road.

WETUMPKA POLICE

DEPARTMENT

JUNE 12

• Criminal mischief was reported on U.S. Highway 231.

• Theft was reported on Orline Street. June 8

• Harassment was reported on Coosa River Parkway June 6

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

Humane Society of Elmore County News

Summer is a great time to adopt

By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director

We put out a plea for dry dog food and want to thank everyone who immediately put in orders and dropped bags of food by the shelter. You are all giving the delivery drivers a true workout and we are most appreciative. If anyone needs a receipt or your donation, please contact us as the shipments from Amazon, Chewy and Walmart never include info on the donor. Thank you all so very much for your incredible support.

Summer is a time of high intake but low adoptions so if you are thinking about adding a pet to your family, now is a great time to adopt.

While cats, kittens and small dogs adopt well, it is the large dogs who languish. We understand for many families, a larger dog is just not a good fit for many reasons, but if you are open to a large breed, all shelters are bursting at the seams with large dogs looking for loving homes.

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.

The best way to see the pets we have for adoption is to check out the adoption websites like www. petfinder.com or www.adoptapet. com. You will be able to see not only our pets but those from other shelters as well.

We work hard to keep our available pets posted so you can see their photos and read their info. We try to put their personality info; important things to know like if a dog is good with children, other dogs or cats; age and size or expected size if a puppy; activity level; and any special needs they might have.

If you see a pet that interests you, our adoption info is also in the narrative and right below that is our online adoption application which is the first step in our adoption process. Once we receive and approve an application, we will contact the applicant to set up an appointment for you to come meet the pet in question.

As applications come in via email, we respond via email so please make sure to look out for our response from hselco@ bellsouth.net. We set up appoint -

ments between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

We also like playing “matchmaker” via our Wish List Adoption Application (on the home page of our website: www.elmorehumane.org ) where you can fill out the app telling us what you are looking for.

With that, we will contact you if we receive a pet that might be a good fit for what you are looking for. We have fulfilled quite a few wish adoptions this way.

This process works best for adopters and our staff. Once approved and an appointment is set, that pet will not be adopted out from under the applicant as it is on a temporary hold for the approved applicant.

We have more time to work with the applicant during the appointment so if the pet applied for is not a good fit we can help see if we have an alternative pet that will meet the adopter’s wishes and needs. We do ask scheduled adopters to please be on time for your appointment and if something comes up, please email or give us a call at 334-567-3377 to let us know.

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

future.

Continued from A1

with a degree in education. Nelson taught in schools in Wetumpka and Montgomery before getting his doctorate from Vanderbilt. Then came stops as a school principal on Richmond, Virginia and south Florida. Nelson led schools in Decatur, Homewood and Arab as superintendent.

John Frazier is another member of the Class of 1953. He played football for coach John North at Tallassee.

“I was the first middle linebacker at Tallassee High School,” Frazier recalled. “We didn’t have a lot of depth. I was volunteered for the position.” Frazier said Tallassee was lucky to have North as a coach.

“He was a New Orleans Saint,” Frazier said. “He was quite the guy.” Frazier left Tallassee and taught in Millbrook, Tallassee and Cape Kennedy, Florida. Then he served for 24 years in the Florida State Department of Education.

“I worked with Korean vets in my education career,” Frazier said. “They were wonderful

people but you never knew talking about their service might bother them. It was the toughest job I ever had.”

For all the laughs Frazier drew at the reunion, classmate W.C. Bryant was determined to draw more. The pair spouted off jokes and got laughs at every turn. Bryant attended Alabama then served four years in the Air Force. A newspaper career followed with stops at The Tallassee Tribune, Alexander City Outlook and St. Clair Aegis. Bryant

stopped in Atlanta to be a director of information in the transportation industry.

“This is probably our last hoorah,” Bryant said. TIMES

Retirement allowed him to serve as librarian at the Tallassee Public Library for 15 years. Communication is common among the Class of 1953 as the group tries to have a luncheon every few months with about seven or eight members.

Ballard and Frazier said they were looking forward to their next get together but Bryant jokingly predicted the

Obituaries:

Tribune). Obituaries are only accepted via the funeral home in charge of arrangements. We do not accept obituaries from individuals.

Weddings, Engagements, Anniversaries, or Birth

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

Going through the motions is

Waiting is the longest game. It’s unpredictable, especially when there seems to be no end in sight.

It’s been just over two months since the April 15 shooting in downtown Dadeville, and there are still virtually no answers. True crime documentaries and television makes it seem like a crime, arrest and trial can all happen in virtually no time, but the reality is it’s a long, long waiting game.

Although the five suspects who are being tried as adults have been indicted on a total of 145, it could be months or even years before a trial is held. Questions like, “Why did this happen? What was the motive? What exactly happened inside Mahogany Masterpiece that horrible night?” are going to take so long to answer.

In the case of my brother’s death, Dylan died on a military base, which means a full investigation has ensued and we still have no answers. We don’t even know his cause of death, and it’s been more than six weeks since his passing.

That lingering questions of, “What were the final minutes like for him? Was he around people he loved? What really happened to my brother-in-law?” make the grieving process even more difficult. You don’t fully know how to grieve when you still have questions that need to be answered.

But just like my family, the stories you

LIZI GWIN Managing Editor

read on these pages of Dadeville in the weeks and months since the shooting show strength, poise, graciousness and support.

“We were a close family anyway,” said Latonya Allen, the mother of the late Phil Dowdell, a victim of the April 15 shooting.

“We always came together. But when this all happened, all of us hurt the same. When I am hurt, my daughter, my brother, my sister hurts. All of us. There were some that came and supported me that I never knew would come.”

Allen spoke of going to her son’s graduation in his place, receiving his diploma and how emotional it was. Although Allen doesn’t know why her son was murdered and she doesn’t have all the answers, she puts on a brave face and continues the walk of life.

Tallassee Talks

bring back our loved ones. Those answers won’t take away our hurt.

ting one foot in front of the other, and Dadeville has done just that — and so much more.

were talking and I mentioned being from Charlottesville, Virginia, and one of our reporters said, “Isn’t there where the KKK thing was?”

Yes, nearly seven years ago now, my hometown was where a young girl was murdered by someone driving their car through a crowd of people during a “Unite the Right” rally. That was seven years ago, and it’s still what people think when they hear of my hometown.

have that same stigma attached to it for years to come. But the stories on these pages show Dadeville, Alabama is not just a place where something bad happened. It’s a community where good people come together, help each other and build each other up even

Going through the motions is better than the alternative — and that’s what I keep telling myself each and every day. The past is the past; nothing can change the past.

Back in 1971, television networks instituted what came to be known as the Rural Purge.

They canceled all older-skewing programs — Ed Sullivan, The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, Lawrence Welk, HeeHaw, Red Skelton and several others.

Actor-comedian Pat Buttram (Mr. Haney of Green Acres) remarked, “They canceled everything with a tree in it –including Lassie.”

Within a few months, however, Lawrence Welk and Hee-Haw found new life in first-run syndication and decades of success followed.

Roy Clark even had a hit single in 1972 with “The Lawrence Welk-Hee Haw Counter-Revolution Polka.”

It seems we are at one of those defining moments in popular culture today. This time, some people say the influence of Judeo-Christian principles is on the wane, while others say they are on the rise. I will cite a few examples.

You have probably noticed the month of June was declared Pride Month to recognize LGBTQIA+ persons.

It can be a bit confusing sometimes, I know. I work in a field, music and fine arts where I have been around these lifestyles and attitudes my whole professional life and never really thought anything much about it. The way I have always seen it is it’s none of my business and I am certainly not in a position to judge anyone else.

And yet, what some are calling an agenda has been pushed to the forefront of our popular culture of late. One cannot watch a television show or even commercials that do not somehow feature representation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or non-binary persons in a variety of roles — as couples, outrageous stereotypes, cross-dressers or whatever.

Entire religious denominations have recently split over issues related to transgender and non-binary ministers and members and same-sex weddings happening in the church. In the past few

As painful as it is not to have all the answers, those answers won’t change what’s happened. Those answers won’t

The woke pride counter-revolution?

years, there have been schisms within the Presbyterian, United Methodist, Episcopal and Lutheran churches. It has been said the devil is the author of division. Well, he is probably pretty pleased with himself for bringing so many Christians to this point. Our culture is awash in cynicism and disrespect. Our celebrities just get more and more out there with their behavior, public statements and appearances. We are so far beyond being shocked that literally nothing is shocking. We have had the Bud Light and Target controversies this summer — if you haven’t heard about them, look them up. Even the Los Angeles Dodgers hosted the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a group that mocks nuns and religious orders by dressing in drag costumes, mocking Christianity in every possible way as they flagellate “hunky Jesus” men tied to crosses. Even members of the MLB denounced the Dodgers for allowing Pride Night to be hijacked by such a polarizing group.

But back up just a minute and let’s look at some things going on in our culture that point to a far more positive present and future than you might have thought.

Last week, Variety published a story on the success of the television series “The Chosen,” written and directed by Dallas Jenkins, which focuses on the ministry of Jesus as he gathers the disciples.

The first season was crowd-funded and posted to a website, later an app. By the second season, the show was streaming on Amazon Prime and Hulu. And now, Variety reports, The CW is bringing the series to mainstream network television

beginning next year. In other words, a very fine version of the New Testament went beyond viral: it went global. “The Chosen” is not only available now to anyone with a computer or smartphone but can be viewed by anyone with an antenna — and it all happened organically.

How about Harrison Buttker of the Kansas City Chiefs? His game-winning field goal at the end of this year’s Super Bowl made him the darling of football fans everywhere. But he went way beyond just thanking God after the game: he openly gave his testimony to anyone who would listen and continued to be an altar server at his church.

There was Dolly Parton’s spontaneous performance of a cappella gospel music at the ACM Awards this spring, too — one of many examples in which an entertainer was able to be him or herself within the context of the greater event.

And how about the Asbury Revival earlier this year?

It all started when college students stayed late after a chapel service one night in February to continue singing and praying — and didn’t leave. Other students joined in and didn’t leave, and it went on for a week then another week, then a month.

More than 50,000 students and visitors came to the campus to pray, and untold millions were watching on TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms. Similar revivals cropped up at Lee, Cedarville and Samford universities during this same period.

I am no theologian, but my conclusion is we should allow the Lord to do His work in His time and for us not to worry so much about pointing out what is woke or broke. The only thing we can control is ourselves.

Michael Bird is a music teacher with Tallassee City Schools.

MICHAEL BIRD Columnist

for national competition at this fall’s National FFA Convention. Free said his students on the nursery landscape team were disappointed in the second place finish at state.

“They missed it by a hair — it was close,” Free said. “They won state last year and competed at nationals last year. They were not happy with second at state this year. They worked hard for it.”

The floriculture team is special to Free. It was started in 2017 under his watch at Tallassee FFA. This year’s first place at state is its best success ever.

“The first time at district we didn’t do too hot, but we were learning it,” Free said. “Tallassee hadn’t had a floriculture team before. From there we have bannered every year but COVID.”

Free describes the floriculture competition as one of the hardest in the FFA competitions. There are hundreds of plants to learn to go along with diseases,

STRUCTURES

Continued from A1

required state agencies was taking too much time.

The council felt the building was a hazard and used other funds to tear down the structure. With funding still left, city officials have returned to the original scope of the grant. When the next structures are torn down, Hill estimates about $90,000 of grant funding will remain.

Jones requested councilmembers help in determining other structures across Tallassee for possible demolition under the program.

In addition, Tallassee was recognized for being a Tree City USA for 30 years, and the council held an executive

SUBMITTED THE TRIBUNE

and even though we are only tested on 50 at a time,” Nolin said. “We have to know all of them because it is random. “You could get like one out of every section. You can’t escape any section.”

Just getting ready for the state competition were trips to Home Depot and Southern Homes and Gardens to practice plant identification. But there was a special trip this spring that stands out.

“We also went to Jim Scott’s gardens on Lake Martin,” Nolin said. “It was amazing and stunning.”

Wallace added, “It was like heaven on Earth.”

team is raising fish on a large scale. He said the team is representative of the work all the students put forth to be successful.

“There is a lot of chemistry and physics,” Free said. “The first team was

insects, equipment and general knowledge.

The floriculture team is preparing to be successful at nationals but is staying humble.

“I’m looking forward to having fun with it,” floriculture team member Gracie Wallace said. “I know we are going to practice and do our best. I’m not going into it expecting first place, but I do want that.”

Avery Nolin is much like Wallace in wanting to do well and represent Tallassee

session to meet with Retail Strategies, which has held a contract with the city for the last few years to help recruit retail business to town.

TREE CITY AWARD

Tallassee was recognized for its continued efforts to help protect trees in the city.

“We recently were awarded our 30 year Tree City USA designation,” Hill said. “There will be new signs to come with it. Those will be put up.”

COUNCIL MEETS IN EXECUTIVE SESSION

Retail Strategies has held a contract with the City of Tallassee for the last few years to help recruit retail businesses to town. In the last year the council has requested more frequent

“It’s a great experience just to be a part of and to say we did it,” Nolin said. Nolin and Wallace realize the task at hand for them and Anna Eller and Alina Tran, their other team members. Their plan is to practice at least twice a week between now and October. They realize one of the toughest parts of preparing for nearly eight hours of competition is the general knowledge questions they must study continually.

“There are 550 of them

updates on what is happening. At Tuesday’s meeting the company met again with the city council and Hill.

“We met in executive session to discuss potential economic development,” Hill said.

IN OTHER ACTION THE TALLASSEE CITY COUNCIL:

• Approved minutes of the May 23 meeting.

• Was reminded city buildings would be closed July 3-4 in observance of the Fourth of July.

The next meeting of the Tallassee City Council is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 11.

Councilmembers Jeremy Taunton and Terrel Brown were absent from the meeting.

The quartet team of Danielle Bird, Emily Hacker, Robert Towry and Draven Haynes won the state title but there is no national competition. The same is true of the aquaculture team of Harley Langley, Jacqueline Sanchez, Allie Tran and Gaines Nolin.

Free said the primary focus of the aquaculture

in 2019 when a group of friends came together. They got first then. The current team assembled in October. They started practicing and didn’t stop. It shows you how much time they put in.”

The Tallassee FFA Floriculture team of Avery Nolin, Gracie Wallace, Anna Eller and Alina Tran won the state competition and will compete at the National FFA Convention this fall. The four teammates have continued to practice after the state competition to be ready for the national competition.

RHS joins the 86th American Legion Alabama Boys State

STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

Reeltown rising senior Jake Hornsby was a delegate at the 86th American Legion Alabama Boys State. Boys State allows

delegates to learn how the governments function from city to county to state level. Hornsby gained handson experience related to everyday issues within municipal government. He put him -

self in the shoes of a government official as part of Boys State’s leadership program.

“Acceptance to Alabama Boys State is a privilege granted by invitation only,” states a recent press release.

“Their school faculty and community leaders select delegates from across the state based on their demonstration of leadership, hard work, strong morals and motivation.”

This year’s Boys State was held at Troy University. Delegates heard from members of Congress, state elected officials, business leaders and civic leaders. Boys State is spon -

Pet of the Week - Courtney

sored by the American Legion and is directed by Judge Pete Johnson of Birmingham alongside assistant director Ret. Col. Mark Valentine and chief of staff Judge Joel Laird of Anniston.

Courtney is a 4 year old female who weighs about 40 pounds. She looks like a lab and pit bull mix; she was found as a stray. Courtney loves attention, is super sweet and is great with other dogs.

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.

Dad got a free ticket to Heaven

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our earth the year Herbert Hoover was president in 1930.

Ninety-three years ago, a little green eyed rambunctious boy was born to Dan River Mill workers, who lived in the Mill Village in Dadeville.

Life was hard for working folks!

This little boy was a star athlete playing fullback for Tallapoosa County High School.

JACKIE WILBOURN Columnist

hustler and he worked hard. He could flip a house or a car before Flipper was ever thought about. He raised cows (but we never ate them as they became pets); he raised food in our garden; and he was always on the right side of the law being in law enforcement most of his adult life.

Love struck at 19 years old, he married the cheerleader/Glee Club singer who was only 15, and the journey lasted for 61 years.

My dad was a unique individual! He was a

The archrival were the Wildcats from Alexander City and “old Bruiser” scored several touchdowns to solidify a win his senior year.

He taught me so much, I could “zing” a bullet pass on target at 25 yards, could hit a 3-pointer before that was ever heard of and did well on the

diamond playing with ladies 30 years my senior. I was taught to crank an airplane by manually turning the prop; I could ride a Harley with the best. I learned to be a “jack-leg” carpenter and mechanic. My dad always told me this world is tough and you have got to know how to do things because the time will come when you might have to do it yourself.

My mom “drugged” me to church by herself as my dad did not attend.

Tallassee Churches

One Saturday night, life changed for my dad. He told my mom they had to go talk to the preacher because if he died, he did not want to bust Hell wide open. That night in the early 1970s, my dad secured a free ticket to Heaven and he used that ticket on Aug. 10, 2010.

The Book of Romans tells us, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be

saved.” Hallelujah! My dad taught me a lot but the most important was the security of knowing the passage from this life to eternity with God is the most important. Thank you for being my dad.

Happy Father’s Day, Billy Gene Brown, aka J.R., Junior, Billy, B.G., and most importantly, my dad! See ya one day!

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

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Dalton MiDDleton SportS eDitor dalton.middleton@thewetumpkaherald.com

www.TallasseeTribune.com

Murphy names top 5, preps for senior season

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

As Elmore County rising senior Jabari Murphy enters his final football season in a Panthers’ uniform, the star receiver is setting up his college options.

Murphy, a three-star receiver and ranked as the No. 33 overall player in Alabama in 2024 by 247sports, recently named his top five choices in future colleges.

The top five are Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Kentucky, West Virginia and Penn State. He has not announced a commitment date and has visited four of his five top schools.

He has offers from other schools, such as Appalachian State and Liberty among others, and he has been in talks with schools such as South Alabama, Auburn and Alabama.

“It’s looking pretty good,” Murphy said of the

Dadeville midway through the 2023 season. Milner hit .317 for the Tigers this season.

Tallassee’s Milner invited to All-Star event

STAFF REPORT

TPI Staff

Tallassee catcher Brue

Milner picked up a statewide honor this week.

Milner, a rising freshman, will head to Troy University on June 26-28 to participate in the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association Underclassmen

All-Star Event. Full rosters have not been announced yet. He has been invited among 120 other players in the 2026 and 2027 classes across the entire state.

Players will workout among other players, take batting practice, attend a banquet, and show off their fielding skills before playing in the

All-Star Games.

Milner shined for Tallassee this season as the Tigers made their way back to the playoffs. Offensively, Milner recorded a .317 batting average with eight extra base hits and 19 RBIs.

Defensively, he threw out 13 runners attempting to steal.

Milner showed off his offensive abilities in the team’s first-round playoff victory over Valley, the first playoff win for Tallassee since 2017. In the series win, Milner went 3-for7 in the final two games and drove in six runs on a double and two singles. He drove in nearly one third of all the runs Tallassee scored in the series.

Like

father, like son

By LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN Managing Editor

With a life dedicated to sports and four sons, it’s no surprise the household of Reeltown athletic director Matt Johnson revolves around sports.

“We’ve got four boys at home, so there’s always a lot going on as far as getting them here, there and yonder,” Johnson said. “There’s always playing, so there’s no dull moments or anything like that.” Between Matt and his four sons, the Johnsons are involved in a total of 14 sports. Johnson is the head

football and baseball coach at Reeltown, and all four of his sons play both those sports. Cruise, the oldest, and Ellis, the youngest, also play basketball; Emmett, a rising eighth grader, is on the fishing team; and Walker, soon-to-be seventh grader, has been heavily involved in wrestling.

“I’ve never pushed sports on them,” Matt Johnson said. “When we moved here, I was always hesitant about letting my kids play youth football, but when we moved here, I knew what a great youth program Larry (Ford)

recruiting process. “It’s sped up a lot this summer. A lot of schools have been contacting me, but they want to see me in person before they offer. So far, I’ve mostly been talking with my top schools and going on visits with them.”

Murphy visited Mississippi State back in March, then Florida in April. He’s also visited Kentucky and Ole Miss in the past. His most recent official visit was with one of his top

five schools, West Virginia, the weekend of June 9-11.

The only school in his top five he has not visited is Penn State, but he plans to try and schedule a visit soon. The recruiting process was a little distracting at first for Murphy, but he has long passed that point. So instead of focusing on visits and how many offers he has, he’s now focused on getting ready for his senior

SUMMER SHOWCASE

Tallassee football showing off talent in camps

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

The Tallassee football team is getting its players some recognition this summer.

Tiger coach Mike Battles and his staff have taken the Tigers to three separate football camps this summer so their players can showcase their talents. They’ve gone to camps at Troy, Auburn and most recently Samford.

The camp visits come outside of practices, which Tallassee has hosted since last June.

The Tigers practice 8 to 10:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday.

“Principal (Drew) Glass offered to pay for the buses for us to go to these camps and we’ve had some coaches come with us,” Battles said.

“We told the kids if they wanted to sign up and we would go. Our athletic club purchased gatorades and snacks and we’ve loaded up and got some good work in. It’s been a good summer.”

More than 40 kids have signed up for the three camps Tallassee has gone on so far. The biggest camp for the Tigers was the Auburn camp, where 20 student-athletes attended. Tallassee had 12 players go to Troy, and nine attended the Samford

“We’re preparing to win every game. I don’t know if that will work out or not, but that’s how we are preparing.”

camp last week.

Not only are the kids showcasing their abilities to coaches across the state, but they’re seeing college facilities and campuses which could help them make decisions later in their football career.

At Troy, the Tallassee kids were all put into one of four sessions which included nearly 200 kids per session.

“Every single one of our kids are getting better at their positions and skill sets,” Battles said.

“Plus, we get to see the talent out there. We get caught up with just paying attention to the teams on our schedule. But this gives them a good idea of everybody across the state and shows them where they need to be.”

Tallassee is preparing for a big football season this fall.

The Tigers finished last season 7-5 and made it to the second round of the playoffs, falling to eventual 5A runner-up Charles Henderson in the second round.

Tallassee returns a plethora of talent this year, including its do-itall athlete Cade Everson.

Everson proved to be

one of, if not, the best athletes in the county last year. He played quarterback, receiver and running back on offense as he recorded 666 total yards with eight touchdowns. He also played defense and recorded 20 tackles while returning an 84-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on special teams.

Everson has been attending camps with the team, but also by himself this summer as he looks to pick up college offers.

The Tigers will continue to practice and visit camps, as Battles has laid out what their goal is this fall and how they can achieve that goal. It begins Aug. 24 at Reeltown, and the Tigers will look to win their third straight game in the series.

“We’re preparing to win every game,” Battles said. “I don’t know if that will work out or not, but that’s how we are preparing. We have a tough schedule to start the season, but our kids have a good attitude this summer and we’ve got a lot of work done so far. Our kids know our goals and know where we want to be in the fall.”

Elmore County’s Jabari Murphy, who led the county with 10 touchdown catches last season, is racking up the college offers heading into his senior season. See MURPHY, Page B2

Tallassee’s Brue Milner takes a swing against

FILE THE TRIBUNE

Cruise Johnson scores his first varsity touchdown during a game in 2022. Cruise plays both baseball and football under his father, Reeltown athletic director Matt Johnson.

FILE | THE TRIBUNE

Tallassee’s Cade Everson runs against Elmore County last season. The rising senior had nine total touchdowns to lead the Tigers last year.

Johnson boys follow in coach’s

Nine county baseball players named AlaBCA All-Stars

STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

Nine of the county’s best returning baseball players recently wrapped up All-Star events.

The Alabama Baseball Coaches Association had its Upperclassmen All-Star Event last week at Troy University, and Elmore County was well represented.

The nine players who participated in the event were Wetumpka’s Jacob Smith, Caden Wooldridge and Noah Golden; Stanhope Elmore’s Dylan Dent, Tyler Woodham, Jackson Stallworth, Luke Payne and Ethan Walls; and Elmore County’s Austin Davis.

The nine players were among 120 rising juniors and seniors invited to the event. During the week, they were able to show off

had put together, so I asked them if they wanted to play. But it’s been totally up to them; there’s no pressure and we’ve never had to convince them.”

The young Johnsons aren’t required to play sports, but Matt and his wife, Hannah, have just one rule: If you start something, you finish it.

“You’re not going to quit,” Matt said. “That’s the only rule for us. They don’t have to play. They’re going to do something; we’re not just going to sit around. But I’m just fortunate that they love the same things I do, and they’re passionate about the same things I am.”

Although Johnson’s kids have always been around sports, it hasn’t been until recently he finally got a

chance to really coach one of them.

Cruise Johnson is a rising junior and actually has been on the varsity football team since he was an eighth grader.

“That’s a unique situation because when (Cruise) was in the eighth grade, that was the COVID year,” Johnson said. “There were not a lot of people who played junior high games. We could find only like three teams to play junior high games, so that whole class was brought up to varsity. They practiced with us, dressed with us. They didn’t play in a lot of games, but their letterman jackets have bars all over them.”

The 2022 season was when Cruise really started to flourish. He plays mostly on special teams, but he also lined up at linebacker and fullback. He scored his first varsity touchdown this

past season against Barbour County.

Although Johnson said there’s nothing quite like coaching his son, he’s also faced challenges because he’s so conscious about showing favoritism — even to the point he needs to be reminded to celebrate his son.

“One time comes to mind, Cruise had scored a touchdown late in the game at fullback, and he was jogging off the field,” Johnson said. “One of the coaches came over the headset saying, ‘Coach, tell him good job.’ And that was eye-opening, and they’re right. When he does well, I need to pick him up and I gotta stay on him when he isn’t.”

That’s another thing Johnson is conscious of — not being too hard on his son.

“He can’t get away from me; he’s gotta go home with me,” Johnson said.

Admittedly, Matt said he thinks he’s harder on Cruise than others oftentimes. But it’s easy to look back and celebrate those accomplishments after the fact.

“It makes me proud to know he’s earned everything,” Johnson said. “It’s not a situation where he’s my son so he’s going to play; that mentality is completely foreign to me. It makes me proud as a dad because he works hard for it.”

Continued from B1

their skills through work outs, fielding chances, at-bats, and more in front of scouts. They were also able to attend a banquet for all the players and play in the All-Star games. Following the events, Davis was selected to participate on Team Alabama. season.

“At the beginning, it was a little distracting but I just came to a point where I knew it was just going to keep coming so I can’t stop working,” Murphy said. “I have to achieve the goals I want to achieve in high school, so I just push that to the side while I work.”

This offseason, Murphy has been working on footwork and explosive drills to make himself an even bigger threat at wide receiver. Murphy has already shown to be nearly unstoppable against his competition as he recorded 55 catches for 793 yards and a county-best 10 touchdowns last year, but he wants to get better at his routes, releases and high-pointing the football on deep routes.

He will continue to play mainly slot receiver but will also be used as a running back. He scored a rushing touchdown last season, but the team features CJ Wilkes in the backfield. Wilkes rushed for 1,303 yards and eight touchdowns last year, good for 7.3 yards per carry. The two of them are the team’s top two offensive returners, and Murphy has high hopes for the duo.

“Our team looks pretty good and possibly better than last year’s team,” Murphy said. “Our offense has the chance to be really dangerous with me and CJ together. CJ is a dog. Whenever you see him get the ball, you know it’s going to be positive yards almost every play.”

Elmore County enters the 2023 football season in coach Kyle Caldwell’s second year at the helm. The Panthers went 7-4 last season and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

MURPHY

SOMETHING FOR ALL AT TALLASSEE SUMMERFEST

CLIFF

Lake River & Classi eds

Merchandise

Lake River & Classi eds

Summer reading program successful in Eclectic

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Children and adults alike are having fun as the Eclectic Public Library is hosting its annual summer reading program.

Library director Betty Coker said the theme this summer is “All Together Now” and every program hosted at the Eclectic Warehouse tries to promote unity.

“With our warm ups we dance to songs like ‘YMCA’ and ‘The Hokey Pokey,’” Coker said. “We sung ‘The More We Get Together’ and learned sign language for that.”

Other songs have included “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” and “You Are My Sunshine.”

Last week’s program included learning and signing “You’re a Grand Old Flag.”

“We did it for Flag Day,” Coker said. “We gave out flags as they learned the lyrics.”

Each week a different presenter provides a program. Most recently Alabama Department of Archives and History’s Christian Wysmulek spoke.

“He highlighted famous Alabamaians and the impact they had made on the state,” Coker said. “He helped with a craft. They cut out a string of paper dolls. They were joined together.”

Crafts also included making a homemade spinner.

Betty Stricker and her friend Ms. Molly the Miniature Horse provided the program the first week.

“I told a story of overcoming adversity,” Stricker said. “It’s a story about someone stumbling while speaking. I told them to help, just practice. Keep reading the words and it will come to you.”

Stricker said she uses Molly to encourage the kids to always be kind.

“They came up and gave her a hug,” Stricker said. “They got a kindness coin from Ms. Molly and afterwards they sat down together and made friendship bracelets.”

Coker said the program might be designed around children, but don’t tell the adults.

“We have just about as many adults as children in the programs,” Coker said. “We set up chairs for them. They get refreshments also. The children sit on a rug.”

The Eclectic Public Library’s summer reading program is at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays in June. The next program will include raptors. The last program of June will feature “The Bee Lady” Allyson Andrews of Wildy Blessed.

Everyone leaves the summer reading program with more than a craft or two and new friends.

“We saved up books,” Coker said. “We give out books to everybody. They get to pick out the ones they want.”

ABOVE: The Eclectic Public Library has been hosting its Summer Reading Program across the street at the Eclectic Warehouse.The programs have attracted adults to the traditional children’s program. BELOW: Alabama Department of Archives and History’s Christian Wysmulek presented a recent summer reading program at the Eclectic Public Library. The programs have been hosted across the street at the Eclectic Warehouse.