Tallassee Tribune May 3 2023

Miracle After Miracle

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

stopped breathing

Tallassee seeking grant for more police officers

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

The Tallassee Police Department currently has 22 positions for certified police officers. Through a possible grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, the City of Tallassee and TPD are hoping to increase that number to 25.

“It pays 75 percent of new officers’ salary and benefits for the first three years,” TPD chief Todd Buce said. “The city would then be responsible for keeping that position open for the next year. It’s only to add certified officers to a department.”

The deadline to apply for the grant is May 1.

“It won’t pay for the officers we currently have, but will pay for additional officers that would put more police officers on the street,” Buce said.

“Animal control could be moved back to a [certified] position. It would allow him to work his own cases.”

The council approved the increase in police officers, contingent on the grant.

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

The Tallassee Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual awards night May 4.

It is the first time for the banquet to be in person since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are looking forward to getting together in person to celebrate,” Tallassee Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jerry Cunningham said. “We are happy we will be able to give out our community awards in person.”

CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE TRIBUNE Tallassee Police Chief Todd Buce addresses the Tallassee City Council about the possibility of a grant to increase the number of certified police officers in Tallassee.

ROSE ANN BAK COTTER

Rose Ann Bak Cotter, 93, of Lake Martin, AL passed away at Bethany House, Auburn, AL, Sunday, April 23, 2023. She was born May 28, 1929. Visitation will be Friday, April 28, 2023 from 10 to 11am at Elizabeth Ann Seton Center at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church, Tallassee, AL. Funeralservice will follow at 11 am in the church with Father

TERESA DIANE SCROGGINS RICHBURG

Teresa Diane Scroggins Richburg, a resident of Blue Ridge, Alabama, passed away Monday, April 24, 2023, at the age of 71. She was born October 18, 1951, in Tallassee, Alabama to James Douglas and Adna Earle Meadows Scroggins.

After graduating from Tallassee High School in 1970, she began her academic work at Alexander City Junior College. In 1972, at her graduation, she was awarded the Outstanding Student of the Class. She continued her studies at Auburn University. In 1973, she received a bachelor’s degree with honors in Sociology. She then served as a social worker with the State of Alabama for several years.

Mateusz Rudzik officiating. Burial will follow inRose Hill Cemetery. She is preceded in death by her husband, Timothy Cotter, Sr. and her daughter,Nadine Cotter. She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter, Kathleen Cotter; her sons, Timothy (Lisa) Cotter Jr., Patrick (Dee) Cotter and Mark (Rhonda) Cotter; grandchildren, Craig (Grace) Cotter,Corey Cotter, Justin (Chelsea) Cotter, Timothy Cotter III, Cameron Cotter, Tristen Cotter and Skye Rowell; and great-grandchildren, Hunter Cotter, Colton Cotter and Jackson Cotter. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be memorial contributions to St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church, Tallassee, AL or Bethany House, Auburn, AL. Share memories and condolences online at www.linvillememorial.com.

her students. Her students earned numerous writing awards during her tenure. Kristi Skipper, one of her most beloved students, wrote “She was always smiling, and she made learning so much fun! She taught me so much about creative writing and encouraged me to hone my writing skills. Because of her, I won two awards that year - one for literary magazine layout, and one for a short story. She believed in me, and that made all the difference.”

She initiated a Community Service Writing course for adults outside of regular hours which brought her much joy. She encouraged her adult students as well, many of whom were also recipients of numerous state and local writing awards.

home in Blue Ridge where she lived with her beloved dogs, Fritzi and Maisie. She described this as the “most peaceful time of life.” She is survived by her mother, Adna Earle Scroggins; daughter, Manderley Richburg Cooley (Chris); granddaughter, Emma Cooley; Uncle, Robert J. Meadows; Cousins, Donnie Meadows (Debbie), Beth Meadows, Margaret Thomson (Danny), Judi Meadows, Sandra Meadows, Billy Meadows (Robin), Jimmy Meadows (JoAnn) and Rebecca Hess (Mark) and beloved students, Kristi Skipper, Michael Pass and Jason Allen.

Her passion for education led her to pursue graduate work and teach English classes at the University of Alabama where she was accepted into the Master of Fine Arts Program in Writing. In 1983, she won a writing contest and the comment on her poetry was “She is bold.”

She then attended Auburn University in Montgomery, where she earned her Teaching Certificate. She began teaching English at Robert E. Lee. She found her true passion was

MRS. SARAH TAYLOR

“MAMA SARAH” JOHNSON

Mrs. Sarah Taylor “Mama Sarah” Johnson, a resident of Tallassee (Reeltown Community), Alabama, passed away Wednesday April 25, 2023, at the age of 85. She was born July 3, 1937 in Tallassee, Alabama to Mr. James Melvin Taylor, Sr. and Hixie Powell Taylor. Mrs. Johnson is survived by her daughter, Debra Johnson Lynn (Eric); sisters, Susie Griggs (Noah), Mary Sherer and Martha Crim; brothers, Grady “T Bone” Taylor (Sheila), Carl Taylor and Mark Taylor (Amy); sisters-in-law, Jane Taylor and Peggy Taylor; grandchildren, Justin Ledbetter, Lauren

NEAL WILSON HUMPHRIES

Neal Wilson Humphries, of San Jose, California, passed away Monday, April 24, 2023, at the age of 94.

Neal was a graduate of Macon County High School in 1947. He then joined the Navy, first attending the USN Electronics School, then serving during the Korean war on the destroyer USS Brinkley Bass (DD-887). After his discharge in 1951, he took a job with Philco Corporation, going back to Korea as a civilian technician. He remained with the company, even as his com-

She was the first teacher at Robert E. Lee to become a National Board-Certified Teacher.

She was a member of Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers and was honored as Teacher of the Year.

She remained at Robert E. Lee until she retired. She was inducted into the Robert E. Lee Hall of Fame in 2019. After retirement, she bought a

Ledbetter, Elijah Lynn (Tiffany), Ryan Johnson (Ashley), Brooke Lane (John), Rachel Griffin (Phillip) and Rebekah “Bekah” Taylor; great grandchildren, Addelyn and Olivia Johnson, Madelyn Dunaway and Dallas Ann Lynn; several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Doyle Johnson; son, Rodney Johnson; daughter, Denise Taylor (Billy); parents, Melvin Taylor, Sr. and Hixie Taylor; brothers, Melvin Taylor, Jr. (Judy), Tommy Taylor, Paul Taylor and Dale Taylor; brother-in-law, Martin Sherer and sister-in-law, Kathy Taylor. Mama Sarah was a member of Macedonia Christian Church all of

pany was bought by Ford and changed into Philco-Ford Corporation to Aeronutronic Ford Corporation, then Ford Aerospace & Communications Corporation. Over the years, he advanced from a TecRep Contract Engineer to a Supervisory Data/Configuration Manager. In 1988, the company was sold again to Loral Corporation, where he retired in 1991. After retirement, he spent

She is preceded in death by her father, James Douglas Scroggins; uncles, Berry C. Meadows, James Jack Meadows; and Aunts, Eloise Bridgman, Emogene Jones, and Dorothy Gauni. Active pallbearers will be Scott Hasson, Chase Owens, Calen Jones, Corbin Bartgis, Harry Turner and Jon Davis.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, May 2, 2023, from 10:30 until service time at 11:00AM at Jeffcoat Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Online condolences are available at: www.jeffcoatfuneralhome.com.

her adult life. She was also very active in the Reeltown Community all of her life, being a huge Reeltown and Auburn Football fan. She was known for her perfect hair and make-up appearance and her love of dancing. Everyone loved Mama Sarah for her compassionate and sincere, caring demeanor. She adored her family above all else and was the true Matriarch of the Taylor Family. The family will receive friends, Saturday, April 29, 2023, from 1:00PM until service time at 2:00PM at Macedonia Christian Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Online condolences are available at: www.jeffcoatfuneralhome.com.

time helping with a family business, along with attending reunions of the Brinkley Bass. Neal is survived by his daughter Anna Hopkins and his son Kenneth Humphries, and his nieces and nephew Barbara Humphries, Becky Humphries, and Thomas Humphries. Funeral services will be Monday, May 1, 2023, at 2:00 P.M., at Salem Macon Baptist Church. Rev. Don Stephens will officiate, and burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be at the church just prior to the service starting at 1 p.m.

Tallassee PD takes drugs off the street

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Illegal drugs were seized by the Tallassee Police Department.

The Tallassee Police Department’s SWAT and Narcotics Unit arrested Justin Lee Curtis, 35, of Tallassee. The arrest was the result of an undercover operation.

“We did a controlled buy,” Tallassee Police Lt. Jon Rawls said. “We obtained an arrest and search warrant for his residence on Butler Street.”

While arresting Curtis, law enforcement found illegal drugs in the Butler Street residence.

“We found methamphetamine, gabapentin, marijuana and assorted paraphernalia,” Rawls said.

Curtis was charged with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, second-de-

gree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Rawls said additional arrests are possible. According to Elmore County Jail records, Curtis

The Tallassee Police Department seized a variety of illegal drugs and paraphernalia when it arrested Tallassee resident Justin Lee Curtis.

HUMPHRIES

BOND DENIED

By LIZI ARBOGAST GWIN Managing Editor

Bond has been denied for all six shooting suspects in connection with the mass shooting in Dadeville on April 15.

According to Mike Segrest, district attorney for the 5th Judicial Circuit, an order for no bond was entered for Wilson Lamar Hill, 20, and Willie Brown, 19, both of Auburn, as well as Johnny Brown, 19,

Police Reports

TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT

MAY 1

• Assistance was given during a medical on East Patton Street.

• An animal complaint was reported on Cherokee Trail.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Hornsby Lane.

APRIL 30

• Criminal mischief was reported on Redden Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on John Street.

• A Black male was arrested during a civil dispute call on Second Street.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Gilmer Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.

• Assistance was given during a medical on Lower Tuskegee Road.

APRIL 29

• Theft was reported on Poplar Street.

• A welfare check was conducted on Redden Avenue.

• Assistance was given during a medical call on Friendship Road.

• Trespassing was reported on Noble Extension.

• Trespassing was reported on Old Bridge Street.

• Theft was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Third Street.

• A Black male was arrested during a domestic complaint on Notasulga Road.

APRIL 28

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Magnolia Street.

• A traffic accident with injuries was reported on Kent Road.

• Reckless driving was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

• A missing person was reported on First Avenue.

• An animal complaint was reported on North Ashurst Avenue.

• A child custody dispute was reported on Rosemere Drive.

• Harassment was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Reckless driving was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Assistance was given during a medical call on Camellia Drive.

• A welfare check was conducted on Camellia Drive.

• A white male was arrested on Noble Road. APRIL 27

• Harassing communications was reported on Salem Place.

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

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

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.

• Animal control was requested on Hillcrest Street.

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

• Assistance was given to a citizen on First Avenue.

• A suicidal subject was reported on Grimes Street. APRIL 26

• A motor vehicle accident with injuries was reported on Lower Tuskegee Road.

• Theft was reported on Riverside Avenue.

• Theft was reported on Lower Tuskegee Road.

• A Black male was arrested during a domestic dispute call on North Ashurst Avenue.

• Burglary was reported on Gravel Pit Drive.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Wood Street.

• Trespassing was reported on Burt Mill Road.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Macedonia Road.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Gilmer Avenue.

• Animal control was requested on Sylvan Lane.

• An abandoned vehicle was reported on Freeman Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Benson Avenue.

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

APRIL 25

• A domestic incident was reported on Ashurst Avenue.

• A white male was arrested on West Butler Street.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Central Boulevard.

• A missing person was reported on Ashurst Avenue.

• Animal control was requested on Notasulga Road.

• A private property accident was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A vehicle accident was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

• Fraudulent use of a credit or debit card was reported on Adams Street.

• A white male was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.

• A juvenile complaint was reported on Rosemere Drive.

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

• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

Tyreese McCullough, 17, and Travis McCullough, 16, of Tuskegee. All five have been charged with reckless murder. The only other person charged in connection with the shooting, also arrested for reck-

less murder, is a 15-year-old male juvenile from Tuskegee whose name is not known at this time.

According to a release from Segrest’s office, that juvenile is also being held without

All 6 alleged shooters to be held without bail

bail. The release said the state intends to file a motion for him to be charged as an adult; a hearing will be held in the Juvenile Court to determine if the 15 year old’s case will be transferred.

Commission reviews RC&D funding request

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Two Wetumpka wrestlers were honored by the Elmore County Commission.

Christian Preston and Willie Cox were issued proclamations for winning the AHSAA Class 6A 220- and 285-pound championships, respectively.

Mid-South Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) board chairman J.O. Norris notified the commission it was accepting applications for 2024 funding. There are nine RC&D councils across the state and eight counties in MidSouth including Elmore County.

“I’ve been associated with RC&D since the mid 60s,” Norris said. “They used to be funded by the federal government. In the 80s they cut them out. Back then funding had to be either soil or water is the only way to get approved by the RC&D.”

Norris said the RC&Ds can help with almost any nonprofit project.

“There is not a fire station in Elmore County that we haven’t done multides for,” he said.

Applications for RC&D funding are due by June 30, screened at the council and state levels then awarded in the fall.

Each RC&D must request at least $5,000 as the funding is intended for projects not meeting criteria for larger grants.

“We feel like we are the gap that fills where you can’t sign up for something else,” Morris said.

In other action the Elmore County Commission:

• Approved minutes of the April 13 meeting.

• Approved a memoran dum of warrants for April 1 to April 14 totaling

$5,649,595.48.

• Set a public hearing for 5 p.m. May 8 for a Class II Alcohol License application for Bottle Paradise in Wetumpka.

• Approved a resolution noting Fair Housing Month.

• Authorized a five-year lease agreement with Pitney Bowes for a mailing

system for the public works department.

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

CLIFF WILLIAMS THE TRIBUNE ABOVE: The Elmore County Commission recognized Wetumpka wrestler Willie Cox, second from left, and Christian Preston, second from right for winning state championships. RIGHT: The Elmore County Commission heard from the MidSouth RC&D about how the organization can help non-profits with small grants. The commission also honored area athletes for winning state championships.

Tallassee Talks

Don’t let this mass shooting be like all the rest

The last two weeks have been some of the hardest I’ve gone through. I’ve seen and heard horrible things; I’ve listened as mommas screamed for their children and a father gave his son’s eulogy. I’ve waited for hours and hours for news of more horrible things.

It feels like one day after another, it’s just been one more nightmare to deal with. One more problem to overcome.

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about spirituality and God, and how do bad things happen when God is so powerful?

Over the years of my sobriety, I’ve really built a relationship with “my God, as I understand him.” And I’ve looked to my God hundreds of times over the last two weeks, mostly to just give me strength and to give grace and peace to those around me.

But at the end of the day, bad things do happen, and I’ve heard so many people ask, “Why?” I haven’t heard a lot of good answers, but I did hear something at the funerals of Phil Dowdell and Marsiah

LIZI GWIN Managing Editor

happened is because God needed to make a big statement. “He needed a Phil,” someone said at Dowdell’s service.

being mean. Let us all remember every day that life can be taken at any point.

Obituaries:

(Herald, Observer, Tribune). Obituaries are only accepted via the

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.

Collins that

me.

Both of these young men — and I’m sure all the other victims and survivors — had a real impact on their communities. The auditorium at Dadeville High School was standing room only for Phil’s memorial service, and it was a packed house for Marsiah’s funeral Thursday.

There were people supporting the families, supporting the victims. There were students and grandmothers, babies and aunties, coaches, friends and significant others. Young and old, black and white, it didn’t matter as these two men seemingly had an impact on everyone they met.

I didn’t know Marsiah, but I did know Phil — and boy that kid was just the best of us.

Many of the pastors and loved ones who spoke of Phil and Marsiah said the only explanation why this

There is so, so much hate, anger and divisiveness in this world, even in our small-town communities. Maybe the only way to cure any of it is to take someone like Phil or Marsiah, someone who so clearly displayed the best characteristics. The people we all should strive to emulate.

It is truly amazing how much negativity we have experienced over the last two weeks, even from people who we consider friends, and it’s so hard not to want to say, “There are so much bigger things happening than needing to be mean to someone on Facebook.”

Old habits die hard, I guess, but so did Phil, so did Marsiah.

So all I suggest is, just before you decide to make a nasty comment or be rude to someone, think, “Would Phil say this?” If he wouldn’t, there’s no need. Have more concern for your friends and family than for making a point. Stop being mean to people just for the sake of

The Day My Music Died

Remember 2009? Lo, these fourteen years have passed, and I have maintained a trusted companion that has seen me through times good and bad over this decade-and-ahalf.

This device has been my friend when I had none. It has been on a sound system that played throughout every room in our house, and been played endlessly in each of the vehicles we’ve owned during that time on road trips all over the place.

No skips, no corrupted files, no problem. Consistent quality. Just good music.

But last month, my first-generation iPod touch bit the digital dust. And I’m still sad about it.

In 2009, I was hired to serve as the disc jockey for a class reunion and did not want to lug around a bunch of CD players to connect to the speakers at the place where I’d been employed to spin said discs.

I brought a player that had been gifted me by George “The DJ” Howell, who had used it for his various gigs around the River Region. George used fingernail polish to highlight the buttons so he could see them in the dark. It was a 1980s-era Sony CD player, a heavy little monster, but it worked great.

Still, I wanted to be able to shift between the CD player and some other

device, so the purchase of the original iPod touch was made.

I spent several weeks taking every record and CD I had, transferring all of the songs to iTunes (the olden name of Apple Music). It took a long time to sync all of those files. There were like seven thousand songs on the device when I was done.

There were some changes through the years – Apple stopped servicing the device around 2012, so I was stuck with the last available operating system – but this iPod worked like a champ. When other things would break down, or when desktop computers or laptops or whatever other gadgets came and went, this 2009-era iPod rocked on.

I had curated playlists for jazz, blues, R&B, Broadway, country, rock, and everything in between. I had even put some of our band and choir performances on there. And though my family hated, absolutely despised, how I would put it on “shuffle” and let it randomly select an eclectic bunch of songs to play through the house or on

I’ve experienced a ton of tragic deaths over the last five years, but if this doesn’t put an exclamation mark on the end of the sentence, “Life is short,” then I don’t know what will.

Remember to always tell people, “I love you,” because you never know when it will be the last time. Think about that rude comment you make before you make it and maybe think to yourself, “What if this person is taken from us? Is this the last thing I want to say to them? Am I OK with living with this forever?”

No one is perfect, and I know that. Everyone has bad days, and everyone knows I can get a little snappy when I’m stressed, but we can all try to just do a little better.

As James Taylor said, “Shower the people you love with love, show them the way that you feel.” You never know when it might be your last chance.

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

road trips, I think their musical education is probably a lot better than, say, most other people their age who might have a narrower choice of music.

I’d do it all over again for my own musical education.

Apple changed the game in 2001 when Steve Jobs introduced the iPod. The music industry was in a tailspin, fighting off Napster and Kazaa and a whole raft of pirates in the file-sharing culture. Record sales were down, cassette sales were going the way of the dodo, and compact discs were at a peak they’d never see again.

All of that changed immediately with the invention of the iPod. The streaming world we know today was made possible by this invention, as well as another from the Y2K era called Netflix.

Netflix was originally set up as a mail-order DVD service, similar to the old record clubs like Columbia House and RCA Music Service. Eventually, Netflix became a pioneer in streaming untold hours of content new and old.

Just last week, Netflix shut down its DVD service and mailed its final discs to loyal customers.

Right when my iPod died.

I suppose for those who seek beginnings or endings in things can perhaps see that, for this listener, the first generation of digital music devices have now become antiques along with the physical DVD and CD products themselves.

Thank you, first generation iPod touch.

The essential impact of community colleges

As we conclude Community College Month, it is an appropriate time to reflect on the pivotal role these institutions play in shaping our nation’s educational landscape and future.

Central Alabama Community College (CACC), an integral part of the broader Alabama Community College System (ACCS), significantly contributes to the academic, socio-economic and cultural enrichment of its communities. By offering accessible, high-quality education, nurturing workforce development and promoting regional economic growth, CACC exemplifies the transformative power of

community colleges. Community colleges like CACC provide various academic and technical programs that equip students with diverse skill sets designed to meet the challenges of a competitive and dynamic workforce. These institutions offer affordable and flexible pathways to higher education and professional advancement while catering to a wide range of learners, including

first-generation college students, adult learners and individuals seeking career transitions or skill enhancement.

One of the key advantages of community colleges is their adaptability to local needs, enabling them to respond rapidly to changing economic landscapes and emerging industries. In addition, community colleges develop tailored curricula and programs that prepare students for in-demand careers through partnerships with businesses and industry leaders thereby closing the skills gap and ensuring a competitive workforce.

Furthermore, community

colleges are vital in addressing equity and accessibility challenges in higher education. By offering affordable tuition, financial aid opportunities and comprehensive support services, these institutions break down barriers to education for countless individuals who might otherwise be unable to pursue their academic and career goals.

The impact of community colleges goes beyond the classroom as a recent study demonstrated CACC generated an economic impact of $76.8 million within its service area. Moreover, the ACCS contributed an astounding $6.6 billion to

resonated with

MICHAEL BIRD Columnist

SCOTT HARDY Columnist

CASA seeking Elmore County volunteers

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

There is a new organization to help children in Elmore County — Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

CASA of the River Region, which has been serving Montgomery and Autauga counties, has added Elmore County to its service area. CASA volunteers act as another set of eyes for the family court system.

“We are the voice for the child,” CASA volunteer Dawn Acosta said. “We are appointed by a judge to go into a situation and try to determine what might be in the best interest of the child.”

Acosta said the children come from abuse and neglect situations.

“Sometimes they are in foster care and sometimes with a relative placement,” Acosta said.

“Sometimes it hasn’t quite gotten to the point of foster care yet but has come to the court’s attention.”

According to the Elmore County Department of Human Resources, there are currently 81 children in the county in foster

care. Acosta is not only a CASA volunteer, but she’s a foster parent as well.

“We just started in Elmore County in February,” Acosta said.

“We are trying to get a good volunteer base. We want residents in Elmore county to get interested in it.”

Acosta’s work as a CASA volunteer provides for a more unbiased, child-focused report for the judge.

“We go further than the guardian ad litem (GAL) or caseworker,” Acosta said. “They only go so far because they get paid. We go in as a volunteer who has no personal investment or gain from the case; we are able to be a neutral voice.”

But at the same time CASA volunteers work hand in hand with DHR social workers and guardians ad litem if one has been appointed. CASA meets with each child at least once a month but also takes its visits one step further.

“We would also go to the home of the biological parents to talk with them and get their perspective to try to figure out what

“CASA volunteers are needed eyes and ears that report to the court. This judge can [now more] optimally and better protect children while they are under this court’s orders. The association has been helpful so far. Together with DHR, GAL and even parent counsel, we are moving forward to assisting dependent children receive the help and protection they need.”

— Elmore County District Court Judge Patrick Pinkston

is going on at their end, to see the living conditions,” Acosta said. “These are things nobody from DHR or GAL generally will do.”

As an adoptive parent, a CASA volunteer even visited Acosta.

“She was looking in drawers, looking in cabinets,” Acosta said. “She checked the refrigerator and pantry. I’m like, “This feels a little strange. Did someone say something derogatory about our home?’”

After going through the training to become a CASA volunteer, Acosta now understands everyone is scrutinized when it comes to child.

CASA volunteers are part of the family court system in many other districts across the state.

running around [outside] screaming and crying,” Davis said. “Somehow I got to talking to the officer. We were both shaking. We had never seen anything like this before.”

recalled the night of April 15 and recovery since.

“We called her to see where she was at,” Brown said. “[I] called her phone. A friend answered her phone screaming and hollering. I hung the phone up. I called back and she was still screaming and hollering, ‘Bre got hit. Bre got shot.’ I couldn’t understand anything. I hung up again. I called my grandbaby’s phone. She was doing the same thing, screaming and hollering. ‘Bre’s been shot. Bre’s been shot.’ I said, ‘Stop hollering, I can’t hear anything.’”

The night started off with teenagers celebrating the Sweet 16 birthday of Alexis Dowdell. Bre was simply there to celebrate with her friend and didn’t see what happened to initiate the gunfire.

“We were having fun,” Bre said. “Next thing you know, everything went left. Everybody just started running. I don’t know.”

Bre said she fell then was shot in the hip.

“She gained her strength to walk outside and collapsed,” Brown said. “She said she had to get up. She said she was hollering for help, but nobody would help. As soon as she got out, she collapsed. That was just God. Had she stayed [inside] she probably would have bled out.”

On one side of Dadeville, Bre was laying on the sidewalk just outside Mahogany Masterpiece. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Peaches Davis was celebrating the 87th birthday of her grandmother who died in February.

Davis didn’t know about the Sweet 16 party in downtown Dadeville, but as soon as she heard, she was on her way. When Davis arrived on Broadnax Street she saw just one police officer and doesn’t remember if an ambulance was there yet or not.

“When I got there, everybody was

“This is like one of those exploratory grant applications,” councilmember Bill Godwin said. “We start the process but are not yet committing any funding.”

Councilmember Terrell Brown said, “I think it is a great opportunity to make our city even safer. The people who complain about cops are usually the ones getting in trouble.”

LIGHTS FOR RIVERHILLS SUBDIVISION

Residents of Riverhills

Davis started looking for her cousin’s daughter.

“You could hear families screaming,” Davis said. “They were saying such and such was dead. I was thinking, ‘What in the world?’ Everybody was running around crying like something you see in a movie. I didn’t think it was real life.”

Davis then approached the building, but she quickly saw Bre laying on the sidewalk.

“Bre drew my attention,” Davis said. “Me and another fellow just picked her up. It was grab and go. I just saw a little lifeless girl. I can’t leave her. I put her in the car with two of her friends and took her to Alex City.”

After ensuring Bre was OK and able to walk, Davis picked up a few more friends who were all in a panic.

“When we got in the car I had like three different phones — my phone, her phone, somebody else’s phone,” Davis said. “I’m answering every time somebody calls. I talked to [Bre’s] brother.”

At the same time Davis said she was trying to keep Hutchinson alert on the ride to Russell Medical in Alexander City.

Davis drove the teenagers to the hospital.

“We might have been the second or third (group there),” Davis said. “It wasn’t that packed but as time went by, they were bringing them in.”

A hectic scene ensued at Russell Medical, and Davis was informed there were multiple gunshot victims. Prior to that, Brown hadn’t even realized a mass shooting had occurred; all she knew was her daughter had been shot.

Brown said soon her phone was “ringing off the hook.”

“Everybody was letting me know but I already knew because I called (her),” Brown said.

have been seeking help from the City of Tallassee for lights and streets in the neighborhood for months. Currently, the neighborhood is owned by a developer who recently died. Since then, the street lights have been off for several months and the roadways have been falling into disrepair. Because the roads currently can’t be graded while the late developer’s estate is in probate, Tallasssee has instead presented a solution to the street lights only.

Mayor Sarah Hill suggested one such solution was having the city claim

Elmore County District Court Judge Patrick Pinkston, the county’s presiding family court judge, agreed to allow one case experiment before accepting CASA as part of the process in October.

“CASA volunteers are needed eyes and ears that report to the court,” Pinkston said. “This judge can [now more] optimally and better protect children while they are under this court’s orders. The association has been helpful so far. Together with DHR, GAL and even parent counsel, we are moving forward to assisting dependent children receive the help and protection they need.”

With the number of children involved in the courts, CASA doesn’t have enough volun-

“I was calling about a curfew check. It is like a dream. It is unreal.”

After being transferred to UAB, Hutchinson spent eight days in ICU and one in a regular bed. She underwent two surgeries to help repair her pelvis and blood clots.

Hutchinson returned home April 24 to car horns blaring, phones recording and everyone feeling great.

“It feels good — I’m happy,” Hutchinson said before walking into her home surrounded by friends. “The hospital wasn’t fun. It was stressful. I could never get a full night’s sleep. They kept poking me and taking me everywhere. It wasn’t comfortable.”

She will now spend time rehabbing her leg for about six weeks, but she at least can be in the comfort of her own bed. As for Brown, she is just thankful Davis was there to take action. She said she believes Bre would likely have died if it weren’t for Davis.

“This teaches you you can’t take (anything) for granted,” Brown said. “It still seems like a dream. It hasn’t stuck yet.”

Davis got a chance to visit with Bre and Brown in their Tallassee home as well.

“It was amazing,” Davis said. “I didn’t think her gunshot was that serious til I got to talking to her momma and they posted on Facebook all the surgeries she had to go through. Seeing her up and better made me feel thankful that I helped her out.

“My motherly instincts kicked in (that night). Had it been my kid I would hope somebody would do the same for me. I’m just that kind of person. I would give you the shirt off my back if I had to. Helping out this girl is like taking on another kid. My heart won’t let me not help. I would want the same in return.”

In fact, Davis is going to make sure she’s even better prepared if anything should happen in the future.

“Doing this made me realize I want to study how, if anything were to happen again, how to save somebody — CPR or something,” Davis said.

ownership of the streetlights.

“We are working with Alabama Power,” Hill said. “There is a past due amount of $2,600. They are willing to forgive that if the city would take over the lights. It would be about $363 per month for the lights and light fixtures.”

City attorney John Smith advised for the city to take ownership of only the lights, which was approved by the council. Godwin said it could be some time before the estate would be settled and something could be done about the streets. In other action the

Tallassee City Council:

• Approved the minutes of the April 11 meeting.

• Accepted a grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs in the amount of $24,000 to purchase a vehicle for a school resource officer.

• Surplused a small parcel of property and deeded it to Riches - Tallassee LLC for economic development purposes. The Gilmer Avenue property has a small building on it no longer used for utilities.

The next meeting of the Tallassee City Council is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 9.

teers, forcing courts to make decisions with less information available.

“It is a tough spot to make decisions when a judge can’t be everywhere to see,” Acosta said. “If you are just going by policy and don’t have someone who can objectively see things, it can be a hazy place to make a choice.”

Applications to be a volunteer can be found at casaoftheriverregion.org/volunteer. If accepted and a background check is passed, there is four weeks worth of training and a court observation.

Volunteers are then sworn in by a judge to keep all information confidential.

“It is about six to eight hours a month,” “Acosta said. “You also get a month or more notice of court dates.

“It has to be a passion for children that is driving (volunteers) — that is what we want. The greatest thing is being able to make that connection with the child or group of siblings and be able to see their case through going, ‘Wow, I made a difference.’”

The awards to be given out include the Business of the Year, the Frances H. Wagnon Award for volunteer of the year and the President’s Award. But there is more.

at 334-283-5151 and include hors d’oeuvres and drinks.

“We are giving away six Making a Difference awards,” Cunningham said. The awards banquet is at the 1220 Cafe Warehouse. Tickets are $25 by calling the chamber office

“We have already sold about 60,” Cunninghams said. The night gets started with a silent and live auction at 6 p.m. Proceeds from the night benefit student scholarships.

On April 16, Veralee was at home with her family, and everyone was keeping an eagle eye on the 3-month-old infant. After all she was born Jan. 4, 28 weeks into pregnancy, at Baptist South, weighing just 2 pounds, 2 ounces.

Following nearly a three month stay in the NICU, the family had brought Veralee home on March 14 but Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) struck just a couple weeks later. Veralee was having breathing issues as doctors advised her mother Sabrina Kennedy to keep watch. Moments later, Veralee would change colors and stop breathing.

“She started turning purple,” Sabrina said. “The first thing I did was flip her upside down and started hitting her back. Then I couldn’t feel a pulse. I yelled out [to my mother Tonya Kennedy] to call 911 and started compressions.”

The scene was chaotic. Grandfather Edward Kennedy was crying about possibly losing his granddaughter. Sabrina was trying to revive her daughter.

Soon Elmore County Deputy Sheriff David Salum, AKA Lifeguard, and Elmore County Investigator Bill Wilson, AKA Dale Earndhardt Jr. were on the scene.

“They just jumped in there,” Tonya said. “They knew what to do.”

Veralee would soon recover11 days later ,providing everyone with excitement.

Veralee and family greeted the deputies to thank them for what they did. Now immortalized on plaques are nicknames to remember the day. Everyone retold the story as Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin listened in amazement.

Wilson recalled Veralee being blue on his arriv-

al. Salum said he could see phlegm when he first arrived as he was handed Veralee.

“They were doing CPR but it wasn’t working because the airway was obstructed,” Salum said.

“We turned the baby over to her stomach to do the Heimlich and were able to clear the airway. Once we got the airway clear, we could work on the breathing and circulation.”

Wilson was checking with the ambulance seeing how far out the medics were. But they were too far away — he knew he had to act.

Sabrina joined Veralee and Salum in the back of Wilson’s truck. Wilson would drive to the Elmore Community Hospital.

“I made a decision to get in the truck while [Salum] was working on her in the back and go to the hospital,” Wilson said. “That was the quickest thing that I could think of to get her the help she was going to

need.”

The idea was to meet the ambulance en route and transfer Veralee over to medics. Salum was using skills learned as a teenage lifeguard.

“Once CPR starts, you don’t want to stop,” Salum said. “CPR was happening in the car with back compressions.”

Wilson grew up on his parents’ racetrack. He didn’t look in the rearview mirror and doesn’t recall much of what happened in the back seat on the ride.

“I forgot [Sabrina] was in the back seat until we got to the hospital,” Wilson said. “There is no telling what I said or did during the ride. I remember telling [Salum] you just work on the baby, I’ll drive.”

Salum said, “He promised me he wasn’t going to wreck.”

Everyone caught a small break about 10 miles into the journey speeding down the racetrack of U.S. Highway 231.

“Once we hit the Collier Bridge she opened her eyes and started crying,” Salum said. “She probably wasn’t excited to see me, but we were excited to see her. It was a relief.”

Wilson pulled into the emergency department at Elmore Community Hospital where Dr. Lee England and staff were on duty. Two staff members had just clocked out and were in the parking lot to see Wilson arrive with precious cargo. They joined in the effort to save Veralee. Salum and Wilson stayed and watched.

“I wanted to make sure she was OK,” Wilson said. “We stood in the back of the room and prayed for the best.”

It was a miracle the deputies got to Veralee in time and got her to the hospital according to her family. But medical staff kept Veralee going. The hospital staff was communicating with staff at UAB. A specially equipped helicopter with a neonatal incubator

and specially trained staff from UAB was soon en route to Wetumpka.

According to Wilson, Veralee crashed twice in the emergency room.

“They would go to work,” Wilson said. “They would get her back stable.”

The helicopter staff would help draw blood from the tiny Veralee, now weighing in at five pounds.

Nearly three hours after calling 911 Veralee was flown to Birmingham. Eleven days after calling 911 the infant dressed in pink was visiting with her “newly adopted uncles.”

“The face we were waiting to see that day was her screaming, crying and we were relieved,” Salum said. “Now we get to see her smiling. God is great.”

Salum noticed something from Veralee’s blue eyes Thursday afternoon in Franklin’s office.

“You are looking up like you actually like me,” Salum said to Veralee.

“You didn’t like me the other day.”

Wilson wasn’t so sure he would see Veralee again, just 11 days before.

“When I got out I thought she was gone,” Wilson said. “I have been here almost 16 years and have seen a lot. I didn’t give her much hope.”

Veralee’s grandfather agreed with Wilson’s assessment of Veralee when the deputies responded.

“God put you in the right place at the right time,” Edward said.

“And gave you a NASCAR driver,” Salum quipped.

As Salum continued to

hold Veralee he noticed she looked to their left at Wilson.

“You see Dale Earnhardt over there,” Salum said.

Wilson had a quick response.

“Yea,” Wilson said. “If she is an adrenaline junkie you will know where it comes from.”

Wilson credited Salum with saving Veralee.

Salum said he didn’t necessarily start lifeguarding to be a lifesaver.

“When I was 16 and wanted to become a lifeguard, it was because I wanted to wear a bathing suit and get paid for it,” Salum said. “It wasn’t because I thought one day at 35 years old I would be saving someone’s life.”

Salum trained lifeguards in a way CPR to help become instinct.

“The way we train it, it’s a reaction,” Salum said. “You do this, you do this so in the heat of the moment when it happens, you don’t have to think, you react and take care of it.”

Tonya believes the miracles of Veralee are for a reason.

“I think she is meant to be something,” Tonya said.

“She is going to be sharp. After all she has already been through in her little life, she might be a future sheriff’s deputy.” Now Veralee has even more family.

“She has inherited two new uncles,” Tonya said. “They will always be invited — proms, graduations. Her wedding, we want you there. We appreciate you Uncle Salum and Uncle Wilson.”

Franklin said anyone in the Elmore County Sheriff’s office would have tried to save Veralee had they been the one responding that day. But not everyone gets to see this side of law enforcement. He said they only see the arrests and think of officers as evil.

“I get that, but my problem is if you hate the police why are you going to call the police?,” Franklin said. “There are a lot of people we have helped, they know we helped them out but they won’t say it.”

As Tonya gave the deputies plaques with photos of Veralee and their nicknames she welled up with tears.

“Because of you Veralee is here today,” the grandmother said. “You are our unsung hero. We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Without you our family would not be whole.”

out of every 27 jobs. This significant economic contribution underscores the vital role of community colleges in forging partnerships with local industries, developing a skilled workforce and promoting sustainable economic growth.

Community colleges also enrich the local cultural fabric by offering varied extracurricular activities, events and initiatives that promote civic engagement and cultural exchange. These institutions serve as hubs for lifelong learning, enabling people of all ages and backgrounds to come together, share ideas, and grow.

Community colleges play a critical role in supporting local entrepreneurship and innovation. Through specialized programs, mentorship and resources, these institutions help budding entrepreneurs transform their ideas into successful ventures, creating jobs and spurring economic development within their

communities. As we observe Community College Month, it is essential to recognize and support the invaluable contributions made by institutions like CAAC. Investing in our students will pave the way for future leaders, innovators and change-makers who will continue driving progress and prosperity for future generations. So let us celebrate and champion the community colleges that shape our future. Community colleges are indispensable pillars of our nation’s educational framework, fostering economic growth, social progress and cultural enrichment. They serve as springboards for individual success, empowering people to reach their full potential and contribute to the collective advancement of our society. During Community College Month and beyond, let us come together to recognize, support and champion the remarkable impact of these institutions.

Scott Hardy is the public information office at Central Alabama Community College.

CLIFF WILLIAMS THE TRIBUNE

Sabrina Kennedy holds her daughter 3-month-old Veralee Grace Wooten in Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin’s office as Khris Wooten looks on.

West of the Old River Bridge

The Power of Prayer Greetings from the corner of Bridge and Bridge. It is a glorious spiring morning as I write this week’s column. The sun is out but the heat has not accompanied it yet. We actually seem to be having a real spring this year in the city of natural beauty.

Tomorrow, May 4th, is the National Day of Prayer. This event takes place the first Thursday of May every year. It was enacted into law by Congress in 1952, partly in response to the Korean War. It has persevered since and withstood at least a couple of legal challenges that claimed it to be a direct violation of separation and church and state.

One significant aspect of the national law relates to its origin. The National Day of Prayer was enacted by Con -

gress as a universal appeal.

Religious affiliation is not mentioned in the law. From its first observance, citizens of all manner of religious identification have participated. No particular affiliation has ever claimed ownership of observance.

The idea is simple enough. Citizens are called to engage in a time of prayer for the community. Typically, community observances lift prayers for the layers of community present in the earthly kingdom: family, town or city, state, nation, and world. Think about that for a minute. At a time when our nation was engaged in a war on another continent in a land unfamiliar to many, Congress asked its citizens to be mindful of community. That request was formalized into law with the clear understanding that citizens were

REV.

JONATHAN YARBORO Columnist

free to uphold the law in the way they saw fit.

I don’t know about you, but I cannot begin to imagine such a declaration coming from Congress in our time. I am certain there was suspicion and skepticism present in 1952, but it obviously did not rule the day. Coming together in the name of doing the right thing evidently was more important.

None of us should beat ourselves up about this reality. It is shared with the whole of humanity and has been since the dawn of creation. Human creation has always had the capacity to be mindful of

Tallassee Churches

others, especially in challenging times. That capacity has never been limited to any specific religious identity; at least not from the Creator’s perspective.

Of course, I imagine we all understand why a National Day of Prayer seems insignificant. After all, we witness on a daily basis how empty expressions of thoughts and prayers are. No wonder so many people choose to refrain from the practice.

The interesting thing is that there are more people in the earthly kingdom at any given moment who have personal experience with the power of prayer than there are those who do not. Religious affiliation aside, there are always people who can attest to the power of prayer. The question is not whether or not there is power in prayer. The question is whether or not anyone will

admit it.

Prayer, in every form of religious expression, is a privilege. Whether it is actually required or not is not the issue. The reality is that it cannot be forced. It must be chosen.

Choose to engage in a time of prayer this Thursday. Come to Gold Star Park at noon for Wetumpka’s observance. Get together with others in some way or engage in prayer by yourself. Use whatever words you are comfortable with to express concern for the wellbeing of the community at every level. Take the final step of prayer and listen for direction. It will come. That is how prayers in every form of religious expression are answered.

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

Dalton MiDDleton SportS eDitor dalton.middleton@thewetumpkaherald.com

Tallassee’s Slay wins sectional championship in four events

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Tallassee track and field

coach Danny Worley knew Kayden Slay could be a multievent medalist, but Slay jumped way past Worley’s expectations this weekend.

In the AHSAA Class 5A, Section 2 track meet this weekend at Smiths Station High School, Slay won the gold medal in four separate events to qualify for the state championship in each event. He won the gold medal in the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 15.81 seconds, the high jump with a height of 6.04, the long jump with a distance of 22-06.50, and the triple jump with a distance of 42-08.50.

“That’s the first time we’ve

St. Paul’s sweeps

Tallassee to end Tigers baseball season

By GRIF PRITCHARD For the Tribune

John Goodman – at the first of the season -- didn’t know what his Tigers were capable of in the weeks to come. Coaches throughout the state, though, had a pretty good idea.

“When I found out John Goodman was coaching this team, my whole approach to this game changed,” St. Paul’s Episcopal Coach Andy Robbins said. “I knew that we were going to face a team that did the little things right. I’ve coached against (Goodman) many times through the years. I knew his team was going to be full of grinders.”

In his return to the Tallassee dugout, the state-championship-winning Tigers’ skipper returned his squad to their diamond-dusted roots and into the postseason for the time since 2018. Tallassee defeated Brew Tech to claim a playoff berth.

Goodman, in a previous interview, said: “I told the seniors the other day that now, getting to the playoffs means just as much as winning the state championship did back in the day. It’s a huge moment for us.”

For Tallassee – with its deep history of playoff baseball – a return to the postseason equivocated to an adventure with a roadmap changing every week. But they handled it and earned their stripes in the process. In the opening round, the Tigers turned back the Valley High Rams, 15-9 and 5-3 after falling 1-0 in the best-ofthree series.

The Tigers – with the win – moved to the second round and onto a showdown with one

For Tallassee – with its deep history of playoff baseball – a return to the postseason equivocated to an adventure with a roadmap changing every week.

of the state’s premier baseball programs in St. Paul’s Episocpal. The Saints rolled into Tallassee on two branded buses and bat’s swinging.

But that didn’t dampen the spirits of the Tallassee faithful despite the Tigers’ pitching staff giving up a litany of runs in the first game. Auburn-commit John Stowers, Edward McLeod and Bull O’Dell combined for five home runs in the first skirmish. Despite the lopsided score Tallassee – fueled by a purple-painted yell leader and an amped-up student section – didn’t lay down.

Trailing 16-1 in the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers offense roared to life, scoring three runs.

Brady Mason (2-for3) led the way as a host of his teammates rattled off hits. Cade Everson had the only RBI of the night. Mason Stewart, Jacob Patterson, Chase Webster and Everson scored in the 16-4 loss.

The momentum from that first game rolled over into the second causing the St. Paul’s faithful to become a little restless, looking at the time of the “If” game.

Stewart – with Tallassee batting first in Game 2 – led off with a single that got past McLeod. Everson followed up with a run-scoring triple. Everson – after pausing at second – raced home

See BASEBALL, Page B2

ever had one guy be a sectional champion in four events,” Worley said of Slay. “That’s pretty darn special. He just performed in every event he had. He did a good job against really good competition. He rose up to the moment and handled business. I can’t say enough about his effort.”

Slay won’t be the only

PANTHERS, TIGERS FIGHT FOR AREA SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

The Elmore County and Tallassee softball rivalry didn’t skip a beat this regular season. The two teams split their regular season matchups and both finished 5-1 in area play. Due to both being 5-1 in area play, the tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed and hosting the area tournament came down to a coin flip. Tallassee won the coin flip, and the Tigers are hosting the AHSAA Class 5A, Area 5

softball tournament starting Wednesday. No. 1-seed Tallassee takes on No. 4-seed Valley at 12 p.m. Wednesday, then No. 2-seed Elmore County faces No. 3-seed Beauregard at 2 p.m. The championship is currently slated for Thursday at 4 p.m.

“It’s big for us to be the No. 1 seed and play in front of our home crowd,” Tallassee coach Pat Love said.

“It’s going to help with the atmosphere. This tournament is going to be tough with both us and Elmore

County and Beauregard. It’s going to be a knockdown, dragout if us and Elmore County face off. And Beauregard played both of us tough this season.” Beauregard, which got the No. 3 seed, finished the regular season with a 2-4 area record but its record doesn’t speak to its skill. Elmore County beat Beauregard in the two matchups, 10-4 and 9-1. Tallassee beat Beauregard, 8-0 and 3-0.

See SOFTBALL, Page B2

CLIFF WILLIAMS THE TRIBUNE

Tallassee’s Cade Everson had an RBI in each game against St. Paul’s Episcopal this weekend.

SUBMITTED THE TRIBUNE

Wetumpka’s James Ball poses on top of the podium after winning the sectional championship in the triple jump. He is one of 18 Indians to qualify for the state championship.

CLIFF WILLIAMS THE TRIBUNE

Tallassee’s Brooke Royster pitches against Elmore County in the regular season. She pitched a complete game win in the Tallassee victory.

See SLAY, Page B2

BASEBALL

Continued from B1

a throwing error to put the hometown Tigers up 2-0.

McLeod answered for his first-inning miscue, turning on a Mason pitch and driving it into the outfield woods; maybe even the river.

The Saints tied the game in the bottom

Continued from B1

of the second. Jack Stowers (6-for-6 in the series) reached on an infield single off the glove of the second baseman and then scored on a Tate Johnston single.

St. Paul’s took the lead for good in the fourth. Stowers reached on an error that allowed McLeod and O’Dell to score, putting the Saints up, 4-2.

Tallassee moved a

Tallassee track member to race at the state championships this Thursday in Cullman.

The Tigers had eight athletes qualify for the state championships.

Travarious Langford, Austin Gray, James Bender, Shawn Ward, Irvin Delfin, Tra’Mel McCoy, and Dontae Leonard all qualified.

Delfin won the gold medal in the 3200 meter, while McCoy and Bender each placed second in their events. Overall, the team’s efforts earned Tallassee a second place finish as a team.

“I couldn’t be prouder of our guys,” Worley said. “They went above and beyond. We were projected to finish fourth and we ended up second with 100 points. We had a lot of kids step up and do well in their events.”

Tallassee is not the only school that will represent Elmore County at the state championships this weekend.

Wetumpka had 18 athletes qualify, with some qualifying in multiple events. James Ball, Gavan Baxley, Jamal Davis, Collin Hardin, Eli Holden, Iyana Johnson, Matthew McGehee, Melvin Owens, Omarion Owens, Brianna Powell, Brianna Reeves, Jaden Talley, Tremya Thomas, Jada Walker, Grant Weighall, Julius Williams, Elisha Williams, and Quashawn Wright all qualified for state.

Ball was the triple jump champion and placed second in the long jump.

For Stanhope Elmore, Davion Thomas, Dennis Toles, DeKamron Jones, the 4x100 relay team, and the 4x400 relay team all qualified for state.

Elmore County had multiple sectional champions and qualifiers in Frankie Mann, Logan Pack, Mark Redden, Cameron Crumpton, Lucas Drost, Jonathan Thames, Emily Mason, and Maddie Clark.

Mann finished first in the 800 meter run, with teammate Pack right behind him. Redden also finished fourth in the event. The Panthers won the 4x400 meter relay and the 4x800 meter relay. Holtville did not have any state qualifiers.

SOFTBALL

Continued from B1

While both teams did win by more than a few runs in each game, Elmore County coach Mark Segrest knows it won’t be an easy first round matchup by any means.

“Beauregard is very well coached,” Segrest said. “They swing the bat well and they get pretty good pitching. When you have a team like that, you have to play your best to have a chance to win.”

If Tallassee and Elmore County end up matching up at any point, it will be a tough game for both sides. The two teams first met at Elmore County on March 7, and the Panthers walked away with a 5-1 win. Senior pitcher Hailey O’Brien threw a complete game for Elmore County and allowed only two hits.

In the second matchup, Tallassee beat Elmore County, 11-5. The Tigers scored 11 runs on five hits and took advantage of five Elmore County errors. In the win, Tallassee’s Brooke Royster pitched a

complete game.

“If we have the opportunity to play Tallassee, they’re swinging the bat really well and pitching extremely well so we’re going to have to limit mistakes to have a chance. We did win at home, but when we did play at Tallassee, we had a number of walks and errors. We can’t do that if we want a chance to win.”

Both Tallassee and Elmore County enter the postseason on a high note. The Panthers are currently 28-16-3 while the Tigers are 23-17.

Elmore County has won three of its last five games and tied twice. The Panthers beat Benjamin Russell, ACA, and West Morgan and tied Faith Academy and Auburn.

Tallassee has split its last six, going 3-3, but its losses have come to Central-Phenix, Benjamin Russell, and Prattville Christian by a combined four runs.

“We’re not playing badly,” Love said. “We have to tighten some stuff up, but once we do that I feel like we’ll be in a pretty good place. I like the way we’re playing and I like the way we’re heading.”

run closer in the fifth. Mason scores on a passed ball moving the mark to 4-3. The Tigers fell short of pushing another run home – ultimately going down in order in the seventh.

The win pushes St. Paul (23-8) into a thirdround showdown with Demopolis (16-10) in Mobile. The Tigers (12-15) will now turn their attention to spring football.

Kayden

SLAY

SUBMITTED | THE TRIBUBNE Tallassee’s

Slay poses with four gold medals around his neck. The senior won the sectional championship in the 110 hurdles, high jump, long jump, and triple jump.

CLIFF WILLIAMS THE TRIBUNE

Tallassee’s Mason Stewart scored the first run of Game 2 against St. Paul’s. The Tigers fell short and saw their season come to an end.

CLIFF WILLIAMS | THE TRIBUNE

Elmore County’s Hailey O’Brien pitches against Tallassee during the regular season. She pitched a complete game two-hitter during the teams’ first matchup.

Duncan shines in postseason

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

For the second-straight year, Stanhope Elmore senior Evan Duncan has shined his brightest in the postseason.

Duncan, who serves as the team’s cleanup hitter, right fielder, and No. 2 pitcher, came through for the Mustangs in a twogame sweep over Hueytown in the second round of the AHSAA Class 6A playoffs.

In a 5-0 Game 1 win, Duncan hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to give the Mustangs all the run support they needed for the win. He took the mound in Game 2, facing off with Hueytown ace John Michael Pickens, and outdueled the talented lefty.

In the 2-0 win, Duncan pitched five shutout innings and allowed only two hits and two walks while striking out five batters.

For his efforts over the visiting Gophers, Duncan is the Elmore County Player of the Week.

Anyone who has watched Stanhope Elmore in the playoffs the last two years knows Duncan’s performance is not surprising in the least.

In the first round two weeks ago, Duncan had a repeat performance. He had an RBI single in the Game 1 win, then pitched four innings of shutout ball in the Game 2 win. He added another RBI hit

Stanhope Elmore’s Evan

has earned two wins on the

postseason. He also hit the game-winning home run in Game 1 over Hueytown in the second round this past

on a triple in that game. So far this postseason, Duncan has pitched 8 ⅔ innings of shutout baseball and allowed only four hits. At the plate, he has three hits with a home run, triple, and a single. His postseason hero status dates all the way back to last season, however, in a second round matchup against Gulf Shores. In that two-game sweep,

Duncan delivered both game-winning hits for Stanhope Elmore. In Game 1, he went 3-for-4 at the plate with all six RBIs in a 6-4 win. He hit a game-winning home run late in the game.

In Game 2, he followed that with a home run in his first at-bat before being intentionally walked three times. But with a tie game, 4-4, and a runner on second base, Gulf Shores pitched

to him. Duncan made the Dolphins pay with the game-winning RBI double. He pitched in both games of that series, earning a save in Game 1 and the win in Game 2.

DALTON MIDDLETON THE TRIBUNE

Duncan

mound this

weekend.

Pet of the Week - Bear

cuddly Bear is a three-year old male Shepherd, surrendered to us when his family could no longer keep him. He weighs approximately 55 pounds, is great with other dogs, cats and children and is housetrained. He likes being outside but is quite the digger so be forewarned. Bear knows how to ‘sit’, loves to run and really enjoys playing with toys.

Elmore County Humane Shelter adoption fees are $100 for dogs & $50 for cats under one year. Cats over one year can be adopted by approved adopters for a fee of their choosing. Adoption fees covers a mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations, de-worming,

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 Bear or any of our pets, please visit https:// elmorehumane.org/adoption-application-online-form2.html and fill out our adoption application. Once approved, we’ll coordinate to set up an appointment to meet and adopt.

The Elmore County Humane Shelter is located at 255 Central Plank Road, Wetumpka, AL, 36092. For more information, please call 334-567-3377 or visit www.elmorehumane.org.

Humane Society of Elmore County News – 1 May ‘23

By REA CORD

Executive Director

Who doesn’t love holidays, pets and deals! We do and our Tail’s End Thrift Store at 271 Central Plank Road (Hwy 9) in Wetumpka has some great deals the entire month of May! Through May 31st all Holiday (including holiday pet items) will be 50% off. We also have lots of new pet sweaters. Even better, items marked with a pink sticker are only $3. Come on out for some great shopping! (The Tail’s End Thrift Store is co-located at the opposite end of the parking lot from our shelter).

Interested in volunteering for a very worthy cause? Chat with any of our Thrift Store volunteers while you shop. We love our volunteer family and want to see it grow. Volunteering in our Tail’s End Thrift Store is truly helping our animals as all the proceeds go to the humane shelter. This helps us do more now and in the future for all the pets who need us.

Last Saturday was World Veterinary Day, though we tend to think that should be every day of the year. Since the vast majority of us did not visit our veterinarian this weekend, please take a minute to send a note or make a call or just remember next time you’re at your vet’s office to thank them for all they do! Veterinarians are pretty special medical experts! They are general practitioners, surgeons, parasitologists, anesthesiologists, orthopedists, neurologists, behaviorists,

oncologists, epidemiologists, gerontologists, dentists and so much more all wrapped up into one person. And, by the way, that knowledge is for far more than one species and includes breeds of each species that may have very specific medical needs and challenges. Never underestimate the medical knowledge and skills of your veterinarian as they are doctors who completed a rigorous, competitive & demanding educational hurdle to attain the title of ‘DVM.’ For those who don’t have pets, you should also be thankful for those in the veterinary profession. They work diligently to keep our food supply safe, see to the welfare of animals in our food production system, zoos and natural environments and also protect us from disease and issues affecting animals and humans together through research and hands-on work.

While thanking your veterinarian don’t forget their staff. Last week was also Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week and as any successful professional will tell you their success is dependent on the team that supports them. Veterinary technicians are highly skilled medical professionals in their own right and often don’t get the recognition they deserve. Besides all of the medical tasks the perform, they also provide compassion and love in huge doses on a daily basis. The care we see inside the veterinary field is truly something special and we thank all who work so diligently helping so many pets in need.

Elmore County Community Calendar

SATURDAY, MAY 13

MAY MARKET: Eclectic the Beautiful presents the second annual May Market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 13 in downtown Eclectic. For vendor registration, email eclecticthebeautiful@ yahoo.com or call 334-425-4618 or 334-399-6451.

ONGOING SUPPORT GROUP: The last Thursday of every month, Restoration 49 Coffee Shop plays host to a support group for parents who have lost a child. The meetings begin at 6 p.m. each month. For more information, please contact Heather Baker at hbakerjj@aol.com.

PRESCHOOL STORYTIME: After more than a year long hiatus, Preschool Storytime has resumed at the Wetumpka Public Library. The first story time was held on Friday, May 14, and will take place every Friday at the library at 10 a.m.

ECLECTIC TOWN COUNCIL

MEETINGS: Eclectic Town Council meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at Town Hall. Council meetings begin at 7 p.m. with work sessions taking place prior to the meeting at 6 p.m. Meetings are held in the Dr. M. L. Fielder Municipal Building, 145 Main Street. NAACP MEETINGS: The Elmore County Branch No. 5026

New hours coming Elmore County Collection Facility

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

In an effort to give residents of Elmore County more options to dispose of debris, the Elmore County Collection Facility is expanding its hours and opening on a fourth day of the week.

The facility is open from 7 to 11 a.m. and noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Wednesday and Saturday.

“We shortened the hours on Saturday to help us deal with the heavy volume we deal with,” Elmore County Chief Operations Officer Richie Beyer said. “One of the issues we are having is making sure we have the collection facility in a position to accept debris with open bins.”

The facility was opened to the public in 2020 by the Elmore County Commission.

“The intent of this was for people who are paying for their residential service through the county’s service with Arrow,” Beyer said. “That also includes four municipalities that are participating–Deatsville, Elmore, Eclectic and Wetumpka.”

While the facility is increasing hours, county officials are trying to address an issue causing the site to be abused.

“We are not just getting residential debris,” Beyer said. “We are

getting a lot of contractors or people they won’t say they are contractors. When you see a dump trailer come in multiple times during the month, it’s hard for someone to continue to have that much to clean out over time.”

The regulations for the Elmore County Collection Facility only allow those who pay for residential curbside garbage service in the county and in the participating municipalities to dispose of items too large to fit in a regular trash container like furniture, TVs, woody debris, unbagged grass clippings, mattresses, scrap metal and tires in designated areas.

The facility does not accept household garbage, oils, gasses, paints, shingles, lumber longer than four feet, propane tanks, gas tanks, appliances and car and boat batteries.

No dump trailers are allowed and contractors should use or rent their own dumpsters for construction projects.

“We cannot sustain having people bringing dump trailers into the facility dumping all over the ground,” Beyer said. “We have not started standing at the gate and just checking bills or checking addresses, but we have to start getting some kind of containment on that. It was intended to take the burden off the citizens that can’t get the stuff into their regular cans.”

of the NAACP meets at 6:30 p.m. every third Tuesday (executive committee) and every fourth Tuesday (full membership) at the Martin Luther King Center at 200 North Lancaster St. in Wetumpka. OPEN MIC: The Equality

Performing Arts Center hosts an open mic jam session from 7 to 9 p.m. every second Friday of the month at 560 Highway 9 in Equality. There is no charge but donations are welcome as they keep the center running. Bring a snack or finger food to share during the intermission. RED HILL COMMUNITY CLUB MEETINGS: Red Hill Community Club Meetings are

held every second Monday of the month. Join the Red Hill Historical Preservation Association in the auditorium of the Old Red Hill School, located off state Route 229 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss upcoming events. MOUNT HEBRON CHURCH OF CHRIST: Come join us at 4530 Mt. Hebron Road in Eclectic. Our Sunday school begins at 9 a.m. followed by worship service at 10:30. There is also a Wednesday night Bible study at 7 p.m. For more information call Pastor Edwin Walker at 334-541-2025 LUNCH AND LEARN: Lunch and learn Tuesdays with Kelly are scheduled at the Kelly

Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery at 124 Company Street in Wetumpka from noon to 1 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. For more information, visit www.thekelly.org. CELEBRATE RECOVERY GRACE POINT: Celebrate Recovery meets at Grace Point Community Church at 78223 Tallassee Highway in Wetumpka each Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. All are welcome to the meetings which provide a safe and loving environment for individuals seeking to conquer their hurts, habits and hangups. For more information, visit www.Gracepoint.info or contact Gwin Greathouse at gwingreathouse@gmail.com.

Sweet,

facility in Wetumpka at 110 Red Eagle Drive. The facility does not accept certain types of waste including oil, paint and chemicals.

CLIFF WILLIAMS THE TRIBUNE

Elmore County has expanded its hours for the collection facility in Wetumpka at 110 Red Eagle Drive. The facility is open to

Job Opportunities

SUBMITTED | THE OBSERVER

class had a field trip to the Montgomery Zoo on April 21. The Eclectic students were there to learn more about different habitats.

ZOO EXPLORATION

Elementary students take a trip to Montgomery’s zoo

By ABIGAIL MURPHY Multimedia reporter

With lions, tigers and bears, Eclectic’s second graders went to the zoo to learn all about habitats.

Ellen Tucker, second grade teacher, said this is the first time she took the class to the Montgomery Zoo for a field trip and the students seemed to really enjoy it.

“They loved riding around on the train that went around the zoo so they could see everything,” Tucker said. “They loved the flamingos. That was one that I was not expecting but they loved the flamingos (and) they loved the elephants.”

Prior to the zoo, the class was working on a habitat booklet showcasing the different habitats and had learned about the tundra, the wetlands and the rainforest.

“We had great discussions at each exhibit about

the habitats they had each particular animal placed in,” she said. “What they had learned, they were able to see with their own eyes. Some even mentioned some of the things they might want to add to the habitats that they weren’t seeing.”

Since the zoo, Tucker said she has continued to see deep discussion in her class, and they have also learned more about the other habitats. Not only was the zoo field trip beneficial for learning, but also for family time.

Tucker said nearly every student had a parent with them and some even stayed with their parents at the zoo as the rest returned to school. She said she hopes this encourages more students’ families to go to the zoo and support its conservation and education efforts.

Tucker’s second grade class visited the zoo on April 21.

FUN, HEALTHY DRINKS COME TO ECLECTIC

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

Anew place to get refresh-

ments is now open in downtown Eclectic.

Bubba and Christina Moore have opened 63 Nutrition right in the heart of town.

The couple had been exploring business opportunities when things clicked. They were traveling to nearby Wetumpka to get similar nutritional drinks.

“We had been drinking them for a couple of years,” Bubba said. “We got to be good friends with WE2 Nutrition down in Wetumpka. We were looking for a business venture. This opportunity kind of hopped in our lap. We were talking to them and asked about opening up.”

Bubba had owned a small business previously and the couple from Kent wanted to get back into owning a small business.

“We wanted to do something that was our own thing,” Bubba said. “Something that was ours that we could build, see what we could do with it.”

Christina said being a small business owner is hard but has its advantages.

“I wanted something that was my own,” Christina said. “It is nice being your own boss.”

With the idea of selling nutritional drinks settled, the couple decided to locate just up the road from their home in Kent in Eclectic.

“There is not one between Tallassee and Wetumpka,” Christina said. “The only one near the lake is in Dadeville or Alex City. There was nowhere

SUBMITTED THE OBSERVER

ABOVE: Sixty Three Nutrition has cut the ribbon on its downtown Eclectic location. The business offers nutritional drinks and venue location.

BELOW: Sixty Three Nutrition cut the ribbon on its location in downtown Eclectic. Present for Sixty Three Nutrition’s ribbon cutting were left to right, Larry Moore, Laci Hammond, Faith Nelson, Christina Moore, Bubba Moore, Eclectic Mayor Gary Davenport and Jackson Rhodes.

for the locals to come to — even Kent. We just thought they needed it. They do, it turns out.”

The customers have already figured out their favorite drinks — Bama Peach and Ocean Wave.

“All of the drinks are healthy,” Christina said. “They have zero sugar and it’s a healthier way to get caffeine.”

The Moores have had 63 Nutrition open since March 8, but they put Bubba’s construction to use before opening, starting renovations in January.

“We worked really hard, night and day getting this thing ready,” Christina said. “We did everything ourselves. We had a bunch of family jump in and help us, but we did everything.”

In a month and half the Moores have changed a few things to make servicing customers easier and quicker.

“We had a few hiccups, just

the way we were doing things as far as setup,” Christina said. “Then we rearranged as we went along and figured it out. We worked the kinks out and still are. It’s a learning process everyday.”

But even as the Moores figure out how to better serve the community, Christina said she has been amazed how the community has reacted.

“Eclectic, for a small town, they are a big town,” Christina said. “They have shown up and showed out for us here. The support is just outrageous. The schools — they really support us. Everyone loves it.”

The Moores have set hours for 63 Nutrition: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. The store is located at 63 Kowaliga Road in downtown Eclectic.

Elmore County boys win first playoff game in program history

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

The Elmore County boys soccer team continued their historic season on Monday night.

Elmore County beat Marbury, 4-0, to win the first playoff game in program history. The Panthers, now 7-5-1 on the season, will host the winner of Sylacauga and Brewbaker Tech at 6 p.m. Thursday at Elmore County in the second round of the AHSAA Class 5A playoffs. “Against this Marbury team, I felt like we were the better team but I didn’t know we were four goals better,” Elmore County coach Josh Pack said. “Our defense and midfield stepped up and did a great job defending their best player. Attacking wise, they didn’t have an answer for the speed Logan brings up front.”

Pack’s son, senior Logan Pack, handled the majority of the offense for the Panthers.

Pack opened the game with a goal across his body just nine minutes in to put Elmore County up, 1-0. After some back-and-forth, freshman Tate McNeely was fouled in the box in the 24th minute. He lined up for his penalty kick and made it with ease. The Panthers used the momentum from that penalty kick to take a 2-0 lead into halftime. Not even seven minutes into the second half, the offensive duo of McNeely and Pack struck again. McNeely took a long shot on goal that bounced out of the Marbury goalkeeper’s hands and straight into the leg of Pack, who scored the easiest goal of his career.

Pack wasn’t finished, however, as he capped off his hat trick with an impressive goal. On a long kick from the midfield, Pack was able to outrun the entire Marbury defense and kick the ball past an outstretched keeper to give Elmore

County a 4-0 lead and capped the scoring for the night.

“It’s amazing to see him do that for as hard as he’s worked,” Josh Pack said. “It all came together at the right time. He has such a good touch with the ball. His speed was the

game changer, but the way he controls the ball at top speed is really what gave them trouble.”

GIRLS: Marbury 3, Elmore County 1 The Elmore County girls team, which won its first area title in school history and made

the playoffs for the first time since 2016, saw its season come to a close on Monday night.

After holding Marbury scoreless for a half and taking a 0-0 game into the break, the Bulldogs came out and scored twice quickly in the second half.

Not even one minute into the second half, Marbury netted its first goal on a penalty kick. Three minutes later, the Bulldogs went up 2-0 on a breakaway goal.

Elmore County had trouble maintaining the ball much of the game, but finally found some success on offense when senior Raney Jones scored the only goal of the game to cut the lead to 2-1 with 17 minutes left. The Panthers were almost able to tie the game, but an open shot just missed wide left and Marbury ended the comeback hopes with its third goal with two minutes left in the game.

Ellen Tucker’s second grade

DALTON MIDDLETON THE OBSERVER

Elmore County senior Logan Pack scored three goals to lead the Panthers past Marbury, 4-0, in the first round of the AHSAA Class 5A playoffs.