Tallassee Tribune June 28 2023

LOCAL, PAGE B6

Eclectic has long history with ukulele

SCHOOLS’

GIRLS LIFE SKILLS

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

In a first-of-its-kind summer camp at Southside Middle School, girls are getting lessons to serve them a lifetime.

Jen Bafford started in February as Tallassee City Schools mental coordinator and knew an Empower Her camp was one of the first things she wanted to organize, especially for sixth-, seventhand eighth-grade girls.

“This is something we thought we could do for our middle school-aged girls,” Bafford said. “We want to give them a boost in confidence and increase their awareness of themselves. At this age it is so critical.”

Bafford said the teens are beginning to transition from their parents helping with issues in life to dealing with them more on their own.

“They are learning who they are,” Bafford said. “They are learning about their peers See SKILLS, Page B3

Tallassee was named a 2022 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to effective urban forest management. This is the 30th year Tallassee has earned the designation.

Tallassee achieved a Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four require -

ments: maintaining a tree board or department, having a tree care ordinance, dedicating an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and hosting an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than

First Methodist improves community with day of service

By WILLIAM MARLOW Multimedia Reporter

The First Methodist Church of Tallassee dedicated Sunday as a day of service for its congregation and culminated with acts of kindness throughout town.

The congregation convened at 9 a.m. for a church service before separating into teams for community projects around town. The teams first brought some more color to Bell Park in the form of planting flowers while another group then ventured to the Tallassee Library for some summer cleaning.

Pastor Clint

McBroom said the church planned the projects over the course of a month and initiated the call of service after talking with people regarding needs in the community, including Tallassee Mayor Sarah Hill.

“I’m proud of them,” McBroom said. “We find ways in which we can give ourselves away to the community and communicate we’re here for Tallasse.”

Volunteers comprised two congregation teams and included the following participants. Bell Park crew:

Tallassee earns 30th year of Tree City designation

one million members, supporters and valued partners. Since 1972, almost 500 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world.

As one of the world’s largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, partners and programs, educates and engages the public and stakehold-

ers across the globe to involve themselves in planting, nurturing and celebrating trees.

“Tree City USA communities see the positive effects of an urban forest firsthand,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation, in a release. “The trees being planted and cared for by Tallasssee are ensuring

DALTON MIDDLETON | THE TRIBUNE

Having greenery around Tallassee adds a lot to the city.

WILLIAM MARLOW THE TRIBUNE

Congregation members of The First Methodist Church conducted two community projects in conjunction for a day of service Sunday, including cleaning The Tallasse library.

CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE TRIBUNE

Tallassee City Schools mental health coordinator Jen Bafford helps area students during the Tallassee City Schools Empower Her camp.

Obituaries

MR. RAYMOND BRYANT GREEN

Mr. Raymond Bryant Greene, 79, of Eclectic passed away Sunday, June 18, 2023. He was born September 11, 1943 in Eclectic, AL, son of the late Ida Faye Griffith and Willie Montgomery Greene. In addition to his parents, Ray was preceded in death by his brother John Alvin Greene, son Jason Scott Greene and stepfather George L.

DONNETTE LYNNE CALLAHAN

Donnette Lynne Callahan, age 65, of Sadieville, KY passed away surrounded by her close family on June 14, 2023. Beloved Honey Pie, Mother, Gaggie, MomMom Donnette is survived by her loving husband Mervyn, daughter Andrea Walgren (Joe), son Ross Thomas, daughter Destiny Guy and grandchildren

Police Reports

TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT

JUNE 19

• Criminal mischief was reported on North Ann

JUNE 20

• Harassing communications was reported on Freeman Avenue.

JUNE 21

• A suspicious person was reported on Weldon Street.

Griffith. He is survived by his sister Susan F. Hebert of Fort Myers, FL; brother George L. Griffith, Jr. (Stefani) of Arab, AL; daughters Melanie Rowland (Allan) of Enterprise, AL and Terri Lechner (Dan) of Sacramento, CA; sons James Greene of Elba, AL, Joseph Golding of Colorado and Craig R. Greene (Stephanie) of Atlanta, GA; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Friends will be received at Refuge Baptist Church, 3098 Red Hill Rd, Tallassee, AL 36078 on Friday, June 30 from 1pm until time of service at 2pm with Rev. Steve Scarborough officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Online condolences may be posted at www.linvillememorial.com.

Arvil (Jojo) Henry, Trevor Sisomxuine, Corey Chalfant, McKenna Walgren, Evan Walgren, Zoie Walgren, and great grand-daughter Stella Henry. She is also survived by her dad Lee Hornsby, and sisters Karen Principe (John), Pam Griggs (Noah), Jennifer Bennett (Keith), and brother Michael Hornsby (Kirsten) and her beloved puppy

• A suspicious person was reported on Central Blvd.

• A warrant arrest occurred on US Highway 231.

JUNE 22

• An arrest was made by traffic stop on Central Blvd.

JUNE 23

• Trespassing was reported on E Patton Street.

• Harassment was reported on Little Road.

• A verbal fight was re -

Pet of the Week - Theo

“Biscuits-n-Gravy”, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family. She is preceded in death by her mother Barbara Hornsby and father Joseph Jennings. She will be missed by her LexMark family and beloved friends Wanda Cassell, Jeanie Warner, Anette Eades, Allen Waugerman, Bill and Ohnmar Withers. She was very passionate about her work.

ported on Stewart Street.

JUNE 24

• A domestic dispute was reported on 3rd Street.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Roosevelt Street.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on North Ann Avenue.

JUNE 25

• An arrest occurred stemming from a traffic stop was reported on Kent Road.

In her private life, she enjoyed being with family, cooking, Sunday dinners, crafting, true crime, and Pioneer Woman. She never knew a stranger, was a grandmother to all, and always had stories to tell. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the “Organization for Autism Research” (OAR).

• A domestic dispute was reported on 3rd Street.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Hillcrest Street.

Reckless driving was reported on Friendship Road.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Street.

JUNE 26

• A suspicious person was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A juvenile runaway was reported on Barnett Blvd.

Theo is a 2-year-old male German Shepherd mix. He was found as a stray and never reclaimed. Theo is about 60 pounds, and he’s very fun loving and happy go lucky. He is good with other dogs but not with cats. He’s handsome and loves attention.

SERVICE Continued from A1

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.

Jeannine Parker, Adeline Laura Taylor, Clint McBroom, Milly Crain, Cue Eckstein, Audrey Grace Weldon, Kins -

TALLASSEE Continued from A1

that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life.”

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.

ley Glasscock, Jennifer Crain, Nancy Kirby, Marilyn Durham, Pam Shipman, Auburn Weldon, Heather Weldon, Anslee Weldon, Tom Crain, Hillary Eckstein, Ray Kirby, Wendi Bearden, Will Tosche, Bella Donahey, Carrie Donahey, Michael Weldon, Thomas Pat -

The group added if there ever was time for more trees, now is that time. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, communities worldwide are facing issues with air quality, water resourc-

terson, Don Heacock, Brue Milner, Jacob Patterson, Robbie Glasscock, Alan Parker, Jake Crain and Ruby Crain.

Library crew: Bob Reed, Pat Reed, Amanda Glasscock, Sarah Jane Patterson, Becky Segrest, Steve Segrest, Donny Barton and Donna Cunningham.

es, personal health and well-being, energy use and extreme heat and flooding.

The group feels Tallassee is doing its part to address these challenges for residents both now and in the future.

“Participation in this program brings residents together and creates a sense of civic pride, whether it’s through volunteer engagement or public education,” Lambe said.

Humane Society of Elmore County News

Get prepared now for July 4 for pets

By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director

This is the week for one of our adopted dog’s eighth annual Yappy Barkday Pawty fundraiser at Blue Ridge Animal Clinic in Montgomery. Phoenix, adopted from our shelter by Elizabeth, is not only a very special dog, but perhaps one of the luckiest dogs ever to have ended up being loved by Elizabeth and Russ.

This is a week-long party that runs through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Phoenix is asking for

donations of supplies

(Elizabeth has a list at the clinic or check out our website wish list at http://www.elmorehumane.org/hsec-wishlist.html) to help the shelter. She will also accept monetary donations which will help us pay for the never-ending needs of medical treatments, vaccines, spay/neuter surgeries and more.

Phoenix will have T-Shirts for sale, swag bags, refreshments, treats for pets, bandana station, flea and tick prevention samples and so much more. Phoenix has raised thousands of dollars and truckloads

of supplies for our shelter which is just incredible and a testament to so many Blue Ridge Animal Clinic clients and their friends and families.

Stop by Blue Ridge Animal Clinic this week and thank Phoenix, Elizabeth and everyone at the clinic for helping our shelter like this.

This coming weekend heralds what will likely be a four-day weekend for many celebrating the Fourth of July.

This means fireworks starting as early as Friday night so this is the week to make sure your pet has identification

Tallassee quarter wins first in state

on its collar — rabies tag, personalized ID tag (which we can make in the shelter in a few minutes for $10), or write your phone number on their collar in indelible ink. Microchips are permanent (collars and tags can come off), so schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to have your pet microchipped as all area shelters scan found pets for chips. And all adopted shelter pets in our area are chipped so there is a good chance a found pet could have a microchip.

Pets and livestock do not like loud noises,

and fireworks are at the top of their Petrified Of list.

Planning ahead is key so your animals will be physically and mentally safe this weekend. The simplest way to keep your pet(s) safe during fireworks is to bring them inside before any fireworks start and keep them in until well after all the fun has finished. They may still be scared and hide in a quiet spot in the house, but at least they will be safe at home.

If your pet cannot come in the house, then consider containing it in your garage or

shop or barn as long as it isn’t too hot to be dangerous to your pet. Also make sure any hazardous materials/ items are safely out of reach of your pet no matter where they stay.

If you live where fireworks may continue well past your bedtime, then it will be safest to wait until the next morning to let your pet back outside. Please plan ahead to keep your pet(s) safe this upcoming holiday weekend.

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

The Tallassee FFA Quartet 2023 earned first place in the state competition recently, singing ‘Mountain Music,’ ‘Down to the River to Pray’ and ‘Free at Last.’ The members of the quartet are Danielle Bird, Emily Hacker, Robert Towery, and Draven Haynes. They are coached by Jerry Cunningham, who has been leading Tallassee’s FFA Quartet for 49 years.

Tallassee Talks

LTribune). Obituaries are only accepted via the funeral

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.

ast weekend, an OceanGate Expeditions submarine embarked on a journey to visit the wreckage of the RMS Titanic, a staggering 13,000 feet under the ocean’s surface.

It was a story I started following from the beginning as I’m a bit of a Titanic enthusiast. One of my senior capstone projects was about the wreck of the Titanic; did you know many people found out the fate of their loved ones via the newspaper? Survivors sent letters to the editor to be printed, in hopes of their families seeing it and being reunited.

I, for one, can totally understand how someone would want to see the Titanic wreckage with their own eyes. Five people agreed and took this trip with OceanGate.

Well, just 1 ½ hours into the journey, the submersible lost contact with its host ship and from there, a five-day search ensued as the vessel had air supply for only that time. Ultimately, it was determined the submersible suffered a “catastrophic implosion,” killing everyone on board immediately.

I’ve been following this story since it first happened, thinking how horrible it must be for those five passengers.

LIZI GWIN Managing Editor

Some people jumped onto the scene late in the game, only once the memes started on social media. Someone said to me, “Anything’s fair game on the internet,” but I have to disagree. Poking fun of people who are dead isn’t funny. Saying they were stupid to take the voyage in the first place is really hurtful. Since it was determined the submersible imploded, a lot has been said about the safety of OceanGate’s Titan, which had successfully taken trips to the Titanic wreckage in 2021 and 2022. Let’s be clear about one major thing: There is inherent danger when you go miles below the ocean, no matter what. You could call anyone stupid for doing such a thing; but you could also call someone stupid for bungee jumping or skydiving. You wouldn’t after a person just died, though. Because it’s not funny.

lot of death to deal with here recent ly, and not one bit of it has been amusing. Imagine losing your fam ily member and the whole world is making fun of that person. Suleman Dawood, one of the passengers, was only 19 and he was taking a Father’s Day trip with his dad, but now he’s dead and people are circu lating memes on the internet.

Let’s talk about the safety concerns too. It wasn’t like this sub had never made it to the Titanic and back successfully because it had, multiple times. I’m sure you’ve heard it was controlled by a video game con troller. Well, so is the U.S. Navy’s latest attack submarine as are laser cannons used by the Army.

Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who was known as “Titanic’s Greatest Explorer” and had taken more than 30 successful trips to the wreck site. This doesn’t

Daniel Ellsberg died last week. When his name reappeared in the news it was quite interesting as it had been somewhat lost to history yet he played a pivotal role in the D.C. happenings of the early 1970s as the man responsible for the Pentagon Papers.

That was nothing compared to what was going on in the summer of ’74.

The Watergate scandal raged and Congressional hearings revealed the shady dealings of the “plumbers” who had done President Richard Nixon’s bidding for him: Dirty deeds such as breaking into the office of Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist (Ellsberg had been a whistleblower with the release of the Pentagon Papers); secretly recording every conversation on an elaborate tape system in the White House; and, of course, the infamous break-in at the Watergate office building, home to the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee.

The Vietnam War was winding down; returning prisoners of war were greeted with a society that had radically changed in their absences while Vietnam veterans faced indifference or outright hostility.

The oil embargo was also happening during this time. Gas prices soared as Americans thought, “Can this get any worse?”

July 4, 1974, radio commentator Paul Harvey aired a special edition of his “News & Comment” show.

Death isn’t funny. You and I both know we’ve had a

‘Their Lives, Their Fortunes and Their Sacred Honor’

He detailed the “rest of the story” of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Some were wealthy but died in rags; some moved countless times to evade harassment; others lost not only their money but their families. These weren’t ordinary guys. They were experienced thinkers, politicians, landowners and businessmen. They were leaders, though at the time they were revolutionaries. Every year for Independence Day, I like to revisit radio commentator Paul Harvey’s “Their Lives, Their Fortunes, and Their Sacred Honor.” Reprinted below is the text of his original radio message from 1974, two years before our country’s bicentennial: “The United States of America was born in 1776. But it was conceived 169 years before that. All others of the world’s revolutions before and since were initiated by men who had nothing to lose. Our founders had everything to lose, nothing to gain. Except one thing … their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. Fifty-six men placed their names beneath that pledge. Fifty-six men knew — when they signed — that

they were risking everything. They knew if they won this fight, the best they could expect would be years of hardship in a struggling nation. If they lost, they’d face a hangman’s rope. All of the Americans who lived in those times ‘paid the price’. John Adams wrote years later that all through the Revolution he would have given anything to have things returned to the way they were. He wasn’t lamenting his own losses. Any human who has ever seen the suffering of the soldiers and innocents in a war zone has to wonder if an armed conflict is ever a worthy price for change. But the clock can’t be turned back. The deed was done. And from it a glorious country emerged. They had learned that liberty is so much more important than security, that they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

Of the 56 signers of the Declaration, few were long to survive. Five were captured by the British and tortured before they died; twelve had their homes – from Rhode Island to Charleston – sacked and looted, occupied by the enemy or burned. Two of them lost their sons in the Army; one had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 died in the War from its hardships or from its more merciful bullets. I don’t know what impression you’d had of these men who met

MICHAEL BIRD Columnist

Family Tradition

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

The Jordanville neighborhood will soon be home to a new restaurant.

Tristen Moon has high hopes for his endeavors at Moon’s Bar-B-Que on Jordan Avenue. He wants to not only provide a great place for families to eat but also help revitalize the area.

Moon said his family has a tradition of cooking and running restaurants and it is something he has been exposed to his entire life.

“All my life I have heard about my granddaddy H.T. Moon,” he said. “He ran Moon’s Cafe in Talladega back in the 60s and 70s. I never got to meet him as he died before I was born.”

Moon heard about his grandfather at family meals and gatherings and how successful he

JOKES

Continued from A4

was, but he didn’t go straight into the food industry. He served a full career in the military but never forgot about cooking.

“I got into barbecue almost two decades ago,” Moon said. “I was still in the military. I was dibbling and dabbling, getting better every time.”

Moon perfected his cooking skills and

There were probably a lot of people who said climbing Everest was stupid. Going cave diving or swimming with sharks might not be the smartest thing

HONOR

Continued from A4

that hot summer in Philadelphia, but I think it’s important this July 4, that we remember this about

developed his own barbeque sauce. At retirement, Moon and his wife Karian settled in Tallassee.

“She goes to pharmacy school in Auburn,” Moon said. “We were looking at houses and bought here.”

Moon set up a barbecue trailer at the Shell station at the corner of Jordan and Gilmer avenues to start his busi -

either.

But people do these types of activities all the time. Tons of people are thrill seekers, and explorers are no different. Many times, these adventures are actually what spawn progress.

Imagine what the internet would’ve said about the Wright Brothers in 1903, and look

them: they were not poor men, they were not wild-eyed pirates; these were men of means, these were rich men, most of them, who enjoyed much ease and luxury in personal living. Not hungry men, prosperous men,

Tallassee resident follows in grandfather’s footsteps to open restaurant

ness, planning to slowly grow and see where it might lead. Business grew and a chance to buy a permanent building came soon.

Moon bought the building more than a year ago and renovations started in earnest in November. There is new lighting, plumbing and air conditioning.

“We had to rip up portions of the floor,” Moon said. “It was 6 inches of concrete and rebar.”

Moon said there are still supply chain issues from the COVID-19 pandemic. It delayed shipments of water heaters, warmers and commercial refrigerators.

Moon has also painted the front and resurfaced the parking lot.

“It wasn’t too long after others did it too,” Moon said. “It is a ripple effect. I can’t do everything but if we each do a little, change can happen.”

where we are now. We may not be traveling by submarine anytime soon, but that certainly doesn’t excuse making fun of people who have lost their lives.

Lizi Arbogast

Gwin is the managing editor of Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.

wealthy landowners, substantially secure in their prosperity.

But they considered liberty – this is as much I shall say of it – they had learned that liberty is so much more important than security, that they pledged their

lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. And they fulfilled their pledge – they paid the price, and freedom was born.”

Michael Bird is a music teacher with Tallassee City Schools.

Moon said the community has taken notice of the work he has done on the building and the smoke rising from its cook shed from time to time. He believes the community is ready for his cooking.

“I get phone calls all the time,” Moon said. “I do a catering event about once a month. There have been a lot of positive comments. I think they are anxious and ready for us to

CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE TRIBUNE

Tristen Moon applies a baste to ribs he was cooking at his soon to be open Moon’s Bar-B-Que. He was also cooking brisket and chicken to help season the smoker in preparation of opening the restaurant next month.

Rep. Oliver visits Tallassee Lions

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

State Rep. Ed Oliver is no stranger to Tallassee.

As the District 81 state representative, the Tallapoosa County portion of Tallassee falls in his district. Oliver lives just up Highway 49 south of Dadeville, so the Fitzpatrick Bridge frequently in the path of

his travels to and from Montgomery. Being a bit of a history buff, he simply just loves the bridge and Tallassee.

“It is an historic bridge,” Oliver told the Tallassee Lions Club on Tuesday. “It will last a long time because of the way it is built. It is the highest bridge in Alabama. I believe Tallassee is one of the coolest towns I have ever been in.”

Oliver is a member of the Reeltown Lions Club but crossed the river for a visit to talk about his experiences in the Alabama House of Representatives. Oliver was elected in 2018 and the first task at hand was the gas tax. Oliver voted for it in hopes of getting maintenance and repairs to the aging Fitzpatrick Bridge. But politics got in the way, and it took four years to get the bridge moved to his district by the Alabama Department of Transportation.

The process was Oliver’s education of how the legislature works.

“You got people calling you telling you if you vote the wrong way they will kill,” Oliver said. “You realize that in 10 years no one will remember your name. Instead, they will remember the roads they are riding on, what infrastructure is around them and what their quality of life is.”

Before work started on the bridge, Oliver said every state road in District 81 got “some new blacktop” and

Continued from A5

open.” Moon said his location on Jordan Avenue is ideal.

“It is the first restaurant you come to when entering town from this side,” Moon said. “It is also the closest one to the industrial park. We couldn’t pick a better location. With great food and service, I believe we will do well.”

While he is waiting for the last piece of

in Tallapoosa County 30% more work was done on county roads due to extra funding.

In his first year Oliver championed pre-hospital care and rural medicine based on his experiences as an air ambulance pilot for 15 years prior to retirement.

“I have been in every little hospital in Alabama at least six times and every big one even more,” Oliver said. “I have landed on top of UAB literally 1,000 times.”

As a pilot he communicated with crews on the ground and 911 dispatch. Oliver brought the experience to one of his first pieces of legislation to get 911 dispatchers and dispatch center funding for appropriate training. The funds mostly came from tax on every cell phone bill.

Oliver told the Lions he wasn’t going to sponsor every single piece of legislation to come up. Instead he wants to focus on a few “good bills.”

“I try to carry one piece of Republican legislation,” Oliver said. “I will circle two or three things important to me and will carry those too. I might pick up another bill during the session. It will mostly be in rural health.”

Oliver said it is impossible to keep up in detail with the numerous bills for every session. He said every legislator depends on state employees and even lobbyists to help make decisions.

equipment to arrive and get inspections from the health department, Moon is doing what he loves, cooking barbecue. Monday the ice machine was installed as he smoked ribs, chicken and brisket. But it didn’t go to waste.

“We have to season the new grill,” Moon said. “We also have to learn how it works best. Every smoker is different.”

Moon said the food will be served at home, to those who are helping with renovations and to those in need. Moon plans to open

“We have to depend on people to help us,” Oliver said. “They know if they don’t tell the truth they are out for good.” Along the way Oliver has figured out he can’t solve every problem for everyone. He said he gets numerous phone calls to help with a variety of situations. Oliver said he can help to a certain extent when the issue is under the control of the legislature, but other things are beyond his control.

One such issue is rural broadband.

“No matter how hard I try or how many phone calls I make, I cannot make Charter or Point Broadband do anything,” Oliver said. “I will call and ask them where they are and what they can do.”

Oliver said there is a broadband authority with control of some grant funding so he can try to put some pressure on the companies.

Overall Oliver said he feels comfortable with what he has done so far in Montgomery. He has passed a few bills important to him, taken care of some infrastructure and learned the job isn’t as dangerous as others.

Oliver has also come to a realization about serving in the legislature.

“I’m not nearly as likely to get killed in the legislature as flying a helicopter,” Oliver said. “I was making decisions about life and death when flying, both for the crew and for the patient.”

mid to late July.

“At first we will be Tuesday through Saturday,” Moon said. “We won’t take any phone orders for at least a month. It will be a soft opening kind of thing. We want to make sure we have our processes correct.”

Moon said brisket can take up to 16 hours to cook, Boston Butts up to eight hours and ribs up to six hours.

“We will cook overnight to be able to serve lunch specials,” Moon said. “We will leave the meat whole and slice it when it is ordered.”

CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE TRIBUNE

Alabama legislator Rep. Ed Oliver, District 81 speaks to the Tallassee Lions Club about how the legislature works in Alabama at Tuesday’s meeting.

Celebrating interdependence

Greetings from the corner of Bridge and Bridge. pray all is well with anyone reading this column this week. We are on the verge of celebrating our nation’s independence, and I pray those celebrations are all worthy of the things God makes possible in them.

The preamble to our nation’s Declaration of Independence sets a definite tone for what is to follow. The founders of our nation fully and without apology established the boundaries of the declaration they collectively penned. The preamble is the foundation of these united states.

The question I have for all of us as July 4, 2023 approaches is simple. When any of us reads or hears these words, what comes to mind? How does what comes to our minds affect how we live our lives?

The words of the preamble are abundantly clear.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain

unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” How do any of us interpret those words?

There has been a great deal of discussion regarding the intentions of the founders in this opening statement. Does the distinction “all men” include or exclude women? Does the same distinction refer to people of European descent alone? Were these words penned with the teachings of the Bible in mind?

U.S. history informs interpretation of original intent. Clearly, the founders envisioned, both consciously and subconscious-

ly, certain boundaries to the term “all.” Even if the founders did not state these exceptions, the way things took shape in our nation reflects those boundaries. Clearly, even the most cursory glimpse of U.S. history demonstrates all are not deemed equal in terms of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Discussions regarding this reality often become heated and divisive. This is understandable, given what is at stake. At the same time, there is actually no reason for such discussion and reflections on history to become heated and / or divisive.

I imagine at this point, some reading this column

Tallassee Churches

are wondering what the preacher man hit his head on. I assure youI am of as sound mind as I ever have been. I love celebrating our nation’s independence. Allow me to tell you why. Since the first time I ever read them, I have heard the words of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence on God’s terms. As I grew older and more familiar with the teachings of scripture, I began to notice similarities in language. Whenever I read “all men,” I hear it and interpret it as God defines it.

God’s “all” is not like humankind’s “all” in that God’s “all” has no exceptions. As a person of faith and a citizen of these

United States, I am more concerned with God’s definition of things than I am our founders or anyone else’s. When God’s definition of “all” is utilized in the preamble, there can be no question about what it means to be an American. It means everyone has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It does not mean the government must provide these things. It means government must protect these things. It means empowering through interdependence, which is always God’s ultimate business.

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

www.TallasseeTribune.com

Dalton MiDDleton SportS eDitor dalton.middleton@thewetumpkaherald.com

www.TallasseeTribune.com

Tallassee 10U All-Stars win state championship

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

It will be hard to find a team that had as dominant of a tournament as Tallassee’s 10U All-Star baseball team did this weekend.

Playing in Pell City and Lincoln, the 10U All-Stars swept through the USSSA Silver Division and claimed the state title. Tallassee went 6-0 on the weekend and outscored

opponents 101-9 in the process.

Tallassee beat rival Wetumpka, 17-3, to win the 4A state championship.

“That just shows the caliber of baseball that Tallassee is producing right now,” league commissioner Coy Thomas said. “It shows the hard work and the dedication of the kids and the coaches in the last month.”

Hitting is contagious,

and that was more than evident looking at the offensive production Tallassee put out the entire tournament. The All-Stars scored in double digits in every game, and its lowest scoring output of the weekend was 10 runs.

They scored 15 or more runs in five of the six games and reached 20 runs twice.

“Their bats were on fire,” Thomas said. “If you look at the batting

average of the kids, it looks like they started hitting the ball and just didn’t stop the entire tournament.”

While the offense lit up the scoreboard every game, Tallassee’s pitching staff was equally as impressive. The 10U All-Stars allowed only nine runs in six games, and six of those came in two games. They shutout two opponents.

TALLASSEE ANGLERS WIN STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

The Tallassee fishing team ended its season with a state championship on Saturday afternoon by winning the Alabama Student Angler Bass Fishing Association title in the Smallmouth Division. The Tigers also finished as the ASABFA Smallmouth Division Team of the Year.

The Tigers fished in five tournaments this season and finished first twice, then second, third and fourth in one race.

“We wanted to win the team division,” Tallassee coach John Goodman said. “We did what we needed to do all year. That was the goal. They went out and won the tournament this weekend and with that win, they were able to enjoy the championship.”

Tallassee sent four boats out on the water this week in Eufaula for the tournament.

Michael Markham and Carter Davidson manned the top boat as they finished ninth overall with a weight of 10.47 pounds in their three fish.

Grant McCraney and Eli McCraney finished in the Top

SUBMITTED | THE TRIBUNE

ABOVE: The Tallassee fishing team claimed the state championship on Saturday in the ASABFA Smallmouth Division.

BELOW: Tallassee’s Carter Davidson, left, and Michael Markham were Tallassee’s top finishing boat as the Tigers claimed the state championship this weekend.

25, while Tyler Autrey and Hunter Schieferstein manned the third boat and Brandon Goodman and Cason Hornsby manned the final boat for Tallassee.

In the Smallmouth division, the average weight for the three-fish limit in the top two boats is scored. So Markham/ Davidson and McCraney/ McCraney combined their averages to give Tallassee the win.

“Michael and Carter were big for us,” Goodman said.

“They really set the tone for us this weekend. We’ve been out here since Monday and it’s been a long and hot

week. It was a total team effort not only this weekend but the whole year for us to get here.”

Markham and Davidson not only led the Tigers as the team’s top finishing boat, but the two of them also punched their ticket to the national championship next month.

The duo will fish for the Bassmaster High School National Championship on Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina on July 27-29.

“They are able to move on,” Goodman said. “Those two are pretty tough. They’re going to be good and it’s great to see them earn that.”

Wetumpka to host county 7-on-7 tournament

The five county teams will each play each other to determine seeding, then the single-elimination tournament will begin. The final two teams left will play for the championship under the lights.

Reeltown hoops

goes 3-0 at Southern Union playdate

By HENRY ZIMMER Sports Editor

While summers may mostly be dominated by gearing up for football season, Reeltown’s basketball team is keeping itself in midseason form.

At a recent playdate this week at Southern Union Community College in Opelika, the Rebels won all three games in dominating form.

“We showed up for the playdate, and we did well,” Reeltown boys coach Jonathan Gardner said.

Basketball has been on the backburner for a while for Reeltown as things have been shut down due to many of the players competing in both baseball and track and field at the end of the school year, and many have already started practicing for football.

The team had only one true workout before the playdate, with another planned workout canceled due to weather.

Many of the older players, in Gardner’s eyes, adjusted well to playing on the fly without much practice.

For the younger kids Gardner pulled up for the games, it gave them an opportunity to gain experience with their future varsity counterparts.

“It gave my younger guys a chance to play well together,” Gardner said. “It gave me time to give the young guys experience.”

The “younger guys” consisted of the JV and B-team players, many of whom will be suiting up for the varsity team in 2023, according to Gardner.

The younger team defeated Valley in the school’s second contest, with the whole outfit

picking up wins over Woodland and Randolph County.

Reeltown defeated Woodland by 20 and it dispatched Randolph County by about 40.

“The boys played really well,” Gardner said. “I was really proud of them. It was good to see them back in action.”

Probably the most important part of the weekend was how the younger players fared without much practice and without a ton of experience playing beside the varsity stars like Blake Smith, Finn Henderson and Jake Hornsby. Gardner said his varsity staff helped lead the way for the young team both on and off the court

“They really don’t know many of the plays we had, we didn’t have a chance to go over much,” Gardner said of his JV and B-team players. “(The older guys) really helped coach them on the floor. I saw that growth in the older group, with them being good leaders.”

As for how the varsity kids played, it was the same old Reeltown style of basketball.

“Finn is always going to play,” Gardner said. “Finn has gotten stronger going to the goal. He and Blake really shot the ball well. Jake Hornsby is my general down low in the post. Everything’s coming together.”

Gardner said that getting the team prepared was not all his doing, giving credit to his assistant coach Patrick Henderson and the JV coaches.

“It has been a real group effort,” Gardner said. “We are just trying to put Reeltown basketball on the map.”

The Tallassee 10U All-Star baseball team claimed the state championship this weekend after going 6-0 and outscoring

ponents 101-9.

Community shows out for Day of Action

By ABIGAIL MURPHY Multimedia Reporter

Lake Martin Area United Way

hosted its Day of Action with the first round being at Reeltown High School and Benjamin Russell High School on Friday.

Between the two sites 85 volunteers came out to make a difference for local schools. Those who volunteered included five of the United Way board members, representatives from 11 agencies, members of the Tallapoosa County Commission, Alexander City City Council, Alex City Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and students.

Westwater Resources had five volunteers at Reeltown and three at Benjamin Russell. Those at Reeltown focused on painting classrooms and general clean up. Kim Holmes with Westwater Resources said she and her team wanted to come out to show support for the community and the school systems.

“I’m always amazed at how many of the kids from the community show up,” Holmes said. “I think it’s always fun working with them and they have so much more energy.

I’m hoping some of it will spread over to me.”

Reeltown assistant principal Audrey Stockdale said she also enjoys that Day of Action gives her an opportunity to work alongside the students. As someone who has been in Reeltown her whole life, she said this is her community too and she wants to give back.

“I think the hub of the commu -

TALLASSEE

Continued from B1

“A lot of teams aren’t blessed to have that many good pitchers on a 10U team,” Thomas said. “They had plenty of pitching to play five or more games in a weekend and still have good pitching.”

Tallassee opened the tournament with a 19-1 win over Mor -

nity is the school,” Stockdale said. “Anytime we can give back and make the environment worthy of children, I think it’s something we should all contribute to.”

Between the two high schools the

gan County, then beat Hueytown 20-3, Smith Station 20-0, East Tuscaloosa 10-2, Trussville 15-0 and Wetumpka in the championship, 17-3.

The All-Stars received an automatic bid to the World Series held in Gulfport, Mississippi on July 12-16.

The Tallassee 8U team also had a successful weekend playing in Oxford and Pell City.

After losing their

first two games to Taylorville and Morgan County by a combined score of 34-6, the team fought back and punched their ticket to the state championship game with three straight wins.

One of those wins was a come-from-behind win over Eclectic, 14-13, where the team trailed by seven runs at one point. It eventually fell in the championship game but finished runner-up in the gold

volunteer tasks included trimming back hedges and trees, cleaning lockers, painting classrooms, picking up trash, pressure washing, scrubbing down bathrooms and sweeping up hallways.

division.

“They started off with a couple of losses, but they came back and fought hard,” Thomas said. “They played hard and did what it took to finish second.”

The five Tallassee All-Star softball teams also played this weekend and some saw successful tournaments.

The 6U softball team playing in Wetumpka went 1-4, the 8U (Silver Division) team playing in Prattville

went 0-5, the 8U (Gold Division) team in Prattville went 3-2, the 10U team playing in Alex City went 4-2, and the 12U team playing in Alex City went 4-2.

The next Day of Action will be at Central Elementary School in Coosa County on July 14. Volunteers can sign up online through the Lake Martin Area United Way website.

Volunteers for Lake Martin Area United Way’s Day of Action paint Reeltown High School classrooms.

and prevention specialists at COSA, Marlana Bowling and Amberya Maye. The trio came up with the programming for the three-day camp.

and healthy decision making. They are learning how to handle tough situations. We want them to have the skills to be good women leaders.”

Bafford came to Tallassee City Schools from the Council on Substance Abuse (COSA). Her family lives in Tallassee and children attend Tallassee City Schools. She noticed in her previous job COSA wasn’t coming to Tallassee.

“We were doing prevention programs at Elmore County Schools,” Bafford said. “One of things I wanted to do was to start bridging some gaps.”

Bafford called on her former coworkers

Bowling led a scenario with the girls about dealing with a tough day at school and coming home. Some students said they would nap and not much else but Bowling said napping wasn’t a good coping skill for her.

“You are like ‘I’m putting to rest what happened in my day,’” Bowling said. “When I wake up it will likely still be there but I will be refreshed. You need to have an outlet, someone to talk to, something positive to do other than sleep.”

Bowling prefers to pull out her list of trusted friends and give one of them a call. She said she has five on the list

knowing the first might not be available when she calls.

Student Sarah Sayers said she would go to her room and play on her tablet. But Bowling questioned her for how long.

“It depends on what else is happening,” Sayers said. ”Isolation is nice every now and then.”

Bafford asked how children would turn out as adults if they only knew to isolate when things got tough.

“They are not going to know much about how to handle situations,” Bafford said. “They don’t learn social cues. They don’t learn how to be a good friend or how to navigate relationships.”

Maye said the Empower Her camp covers more than just dealing with tough situations.

“We are focusing on self esteem,

building confidence, mental health and building healthy relationships,” Maye said.

Substance abuse issues are covered in the camp too. But many of the skills learned in the camp can be applied in many different scenarios.

“This age group suppresses a lot of times, whether it is good, bad or indifferent,” Bowling said. “I’m just trying to get them to figure out how to work through things. You can’t do it alone. No one can.”

Bowling said the subject matter is tough, especially for young girls. But she has a modest goal.

“I want them to know they are important,” Bowling said. “I know I can’t save everybody. My goal is to touch one person.”

HIRING

CLIFF WILLIAMS THE TRIBUNE

LEFT: The Council on Substance Abuse’s Marlana Bowling speaks to Tallasseee middle school students about a few coping skills to deal with situations such as a bad day during the Tallassee City Schools Empower Her camp.

RIGHT: Rising sixth grader Sarah Sayers speaks with a fellow camper at the Tallassee City Schools Empower Her camp. The camp covered coping skills, self esteem, building confidence and substance abuse.

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The Tallassee Tribune

ECLECTIC HAS LONG HISTORY WITH THE UKULELE

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

The Eclectic Sing Alongs are somewhat new to the area but they are already providing boundless entertainment by playing the ukulele.

Some players have just a few months of playing the small guitar-like instrument under their belts and others — well, decades. Betty Coker brought the tradition back to life when she came to the Eclectic Public Library in 2010.

“They said you can open up this library,” Coker said. “I said I will and I will teach ukulele to anybody that wants to learn.”

Coker has taught group ukulele lessons for the last 13 years for anyone who wanted to learn — following storytime at 11:30 a.m. Saturdays in the library annex.

Before teaching ukulele at the library, Coker taught physical education at Robert E. Lee High School before retiring from public schools. She then taught another 10 years at Edgewood Academy before retiring and taking on the Eclectic Public Library.

At the library, students young and old have turned out to the library on Saturdays to learn, including former high school students.

“We had a class reunion and got to talking,” Lee graduate Marty Lanier said. “We realized [Meme Mulcahy] had a ukulele and I had one but we didn’t know how to play.”

Last summer Mulcahy noticed a Facebook post about Coker’s ukulele lessons.

“My grandaddy played the ukulele,” Mulcahy said. “I thought if he could play, I can too.”

Since registering, Mulcahy and Lanier have hardly missed a session in more than a year.

“We have been a part of it ever since,” Mulcahy said. “We have thoroughly enjoyed it being with the kids.” Youngsters are also a part of Coker’s free program. Eclectic’s Jairen Stepney, 9, has been coming to the Saturday ukulele lessons for two years. The shy student opened up as he took the stage with a tambourine last Tuesday. Most of the time he said he plays the ukulele.

“I like music,” Jairen said. “It’s fun. I can sing too.”

Coker leads the performances at reading programs, schools and more.

“I always have a good time,” Coker said.

But the students might have more fun, especially her former high school students.

“We were in the Eclectic Christmas parade,” Lanier said. “The theme was the Grinch. Meme painted this huge Grinch for it and we won a prize for it. It was so much fun.”

But the tradition of the Coker and the ukulele goes much further than a few years at the library.

“My mommy taught me to play when I was a little girl,” Coker said.

“My children learned. I taught them and my first cousins. We had a group called the Country Kids. We played on ‘Young World’ on WSFA and all over.”

Coker learned to play the ukulele as a child from her mother. She is unsure where her mother learned to play, but the ukulele played a big role for her father too.

“The story goes that my parents lived not too far apart,” Coker said. “She would go towards the woods with her ukulele and climb a tree. He would hear and go hunting with his gun. That is how they got together.”

Music was always a part of the family as Coker started to sing as a child in Eclectic. Sometimes she would just sing on the stoop at the back of the house.

“Daddy would come out and say,

‘Don’t sing and play so loud. The neighbors will hear you,’” Coker said. “I said, ‘Daddy when I get married I’m going to move out into the country and sing as loud as I want to and nobody will hear.’”

Elmore County plays 7-on-7

As a child Coker also learned to play the piano and then started playing the organ at First Baptist Church Eclectic.

“I love music,” Coker said. “I have played organ at my church since 1961. I started because my momma always wanted me to play the organ at church.”

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Elmore County’s football team finally got to stretch its legs last week at a 7-on-7 hosted by Alabama State.

Entering Year 2 of the Kyle Caldwell era, the Panthers had a chance to face four opponents, including Class 6A Sidney Lanier, 7A Smith Station, 1A Autaugaville and Purcell Marian out of Ohio. The Panthers are having to replace 2022 Elmore County Offensive Player of the Year Payton Stephenson at quarterback, and they worked mainly through junior Caleb Spivey, a Reeltown transfer, and sophomore Gage Davis in the tournament.

Elmore County’s usual suspects in three-star receiver Jabari Murphy and running back CJ Wilkes showed off their talents with multiple catches and yards. Both are two of the top players returning this season.

Murphy led the entire county with 10 receiving touchdowns last year while Wilkes led the county with 1,303 rushing yards. Sophomore Tate McNeely also impressed and caught a touchdown pass. He had two catches, one for a touchdown, last season.=

CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE OBSERVER

ABOVE: The Eclectic String Alongs, including, from left, Meme Mulcahy, Donna Parr and Betty Coker perform in Eclectic recently. Coker has taught ukulele to most everyone in the group. BELOW: Jairen Stepney, 9, of Eclectic joins Marty Lanier, center, and Cheryl Winter, right, in an Eclectic String-Alongs’ performance. The group formed out of lessons from Eclectic Library director Betty Coker.

DALTON MIDDLETON | THE OBSERVER

LEFT: Elmore County’s Caleb Spivey throws a pass attempt in a 7-on-7 game against Ohio’s Purcell Marian this week. RIGHT: Elmore County running back CJ Wilkes attempts to run past a Smith Station defender in the Panthers’ 7-on-7 tournament this week at Alabama State.