Stubbs pleased overall with
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Budgets, gambling and education were all on the table when the 2024 legislative session started in February in Montgomery. For the most part, Rep. Troy Stubbs is pleased with the results.
The general fund budget is $3.4 billion. The education trust fund budget is $9.35 billion. Both numbers are record setting with the general fund including monies to continue projects in Elmore County.
“There was money allocated from the supplemental budget to continue construction of the prisons, primarily the prison being constructed right now in Elmore County,” Stubbs said. “There are others that are planned. There is an 11.3% increase in mental health funding in the general fund budget. We are not where we need to be but it is important to know it is a priority in the legislature.” Education and state employees will get a 2% raise as part of the budgets. Some families will now get more options related to the education of children. Last year Stubbs went to a conference in Dallas to learn about school choice programs across the country. He brought the information he learned back to
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
illy Green never thought he would be on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. He hasn’t sung beyond Tallassee in more than 20 years but a unique opportunity came along last month.
Green followed the Army creed, “I am an expert and I am a professional. I stand ready to deploy and engage.” Green performed at the Holy Grail of country music
SUBMITTED | TPI
with Craig Morgan after zero rehearsal.
“I told my mom this could have turned out a whole lot worse,” Green said. Morgan is a country music
Tallassee High School teacher and commander of the 313th U.S. Army Reserve Band CWIII
Billy Green, right, performs with CWI Craig Morgan on stage at the Grand Ole Opry last month. Green has been tasked with helping manage Morgan’s recruiting role.
Learning life lessons with lemonade
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
A
“They
Fifty cents, 25 cents makes them smile. I enjoy seeing them doing that.”
Since May 22, Ezlyn and Leland have opened their homemade lemonade stand about a half dozen times. The work started behind the body shop.
“They built it from pallets themselves,” Golden said. “They helped paint it, and
Leland, left, 8 and Ezlyn, 4, Golden built a homemade lemonade stand about two weeks ago. The brother and sister duo were likely inspired by their parents Phillip and
Kristin Golden who own Automotive Worx just down the hill on Jordan Avenue in Tallassee.
Lake Martin’s Best Source for News and Information.
Obituaries
SHELDON W. “COACH” DARNELL
Sheldon W. “Coach” Darnell passed away Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at the age of 85. He was born in East Tallassee, Alabama. He graduated from Reeltown High School (Class of 1957). He attended Southern Union Jr. College with a football scholarship. He was Vice President of the student body. He then graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. in Physical Education and a minor in Mathematics. Later, he
Police Reports
TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
JUNE 2
• Menacing was reported on Sims Avenue.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Friendship Road.
• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• A white female was arrested during a suspicious activity call on John Street.
• Debris was reported in the roadway on Gilmer Avenue.
JUNE 1
• A Black male was arrested on Barnett Boulevard.
received a M.ED in education and also certification in administration K-12. Sheldon was a successful high school coach for 26 years, having coached at Reeltown & Tallassee as an assistant coach, head coach at Winterboro, Wetumpka, and Childersburg. He was principal at Eclectic Elementary and Reeltown High School for a total of 13 years. After retiring in 2000, he worked with the Alabama State Department of Education and the Alabama High School Athletic Association
on a contract basis. He was a Master Gardner. Sheldon loved football and Auburn University. He and his wife, Jackie, “Traveled with the Tigers” many years.
He is survived by his wife, Jackie; nieces & nephews; sister Patsy (Curtis) Patterson. Sheldon was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur & Ruby Darnell and sister Brenda.
The family will receive friends, Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Providence Primitive Baptist
Road.
MAY 31
• A domestic incident was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Reckless driving was reported on Highway 229.
• Assistance was given to another agency on Ashurst Bar Road.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Riverhills Drive.
• A Black male and female were arrested on McNeal Street.
• Animal control was requested on King Street.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Third Avenue.
Church Fellowship Hall with a graveside service at 2:00 p.m. at the church cemetery with Elder Steve Flowers and Rev. Derek Gentle officiating.
All former football players of Coach Darnell are asked to be at the cemetery to form a victory line.
Memorials may be made to the Fellowship of Christian Athletics, P.O. Box 230685, Montgomery, Alabama 36123 or to The Eagle Ranch, P.O. Box 7200, Chestnut Mountain, GA. 30502.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Central Boulevard.
• Assistance was given during a medical call on Second Avenue.
• Trespassing was reported on Ira Street.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Friendship Road.
• A suspicious person was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
MAY 29
• A domestic incident was reported on Central Boulevard.
• Assistance was given to another agency on Gilmer Avenue.
• A suspicious person was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• A domestic incident was reported on Quail Run Drive.
• Assistance was given to another agency on Notasulga Road.
• An abandoned vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• A welfare check was conducted on South Wesson Street.
• A motor vehicle accident with injuries was reported on Cherokee Trail.
• Harassment was reported on Highway 229.
• An animal complaint was reported on Evergreen Street.
• Burglary was reported on Hillcrest Street.
• Theft was reported on West Butler Street.
• Assistance was given to another agency on Evergreen Street.
• Suspicious activity was reported on Macedonia Road.
• Assistance was given to citizens on Barnett Boulevard.
• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Property damage was reported on Second Avenue.
• Suspicious activity was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• A fight was reported on West Gantts Mill
• Animal control was requested on South Ashurst Avenue, Central Boulevard, Freeman Avenue and Riverside Avenue.
• A domestic dispute was reported on McNeal Street.
• A child custody dispute was reported on McNeal Street.
• A runaway juvenile was reported on McNeal Street.
MAY 30
• Harassment was reported on First Avenue.
• A Black male was arrested during a loitering call on Harris Street.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.
• Assistance was given to another agency on Barnett Boulevard.
• A domestic incident was reported on McNeal Street.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Hillcrest Street and Barnett Boulevard.
• A Black male was arrested during an intoxicated person call on Second Avenue.
• An animal complaint was reported on Friendship Road.
• Assistance was given during a medical call on Golden Drive.
• Trespassing was reported on Stewart Street.
• A domestic incident was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Animal control was requested on Sims Avenue and Central Boulevard.
• Animal control was requested on Hillcrest Street and Elm Street.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Third Avenue.
• Animal control was requested on South Ashurst Avenue and Elm Street.
• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Macedonia Road.
MAY 28
• A noise complaint was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Suspicious activity was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Theft was reported on Ashurst Avenue, Notasulga Road and South Central Boulevard.
• Animal control was requested on South Ashurst Avenue, Freeman Avenue, Central Boulevard, Elm Street, Benson Avenue and Grant Street.
• Menacing was reported on Notasulga Road.
• Animal control was requested on Hillcrest Street, Central Boulevard, Freeman Avenue and South Ashurst Avenue.
MAY 27
• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• A Black male was arrested during a domestic incident on Ashurst Bar Road.
• A juvenile complaint was reported on Camelia Drive.
• Theft was reported on Alber Drive.
• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Highway 229.
• Harassing communications was reported on Barnett Boulevard.
MAY 26
• Suspicious activity was reported on Washington Street.
• A welfare check was conducted on Lower Tuskegee Road.
• Assistance was given to a citizen on Highway 229 and Gilmer Avenue.
• Assistance was given during a medical call on Azalea Street.
• A tree was reported on the roadway on Dixie Circle.
• Debris was reported in the roadway on Yates Dam Road.
• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
MAY 25
• A fight was reported on Recreation Center Road.
• An intoxicated driver was reported on Central Boulevard.
• Reckless driving was reported on Second Avenue.
• A welfare check was conducted on Central Boulevard and Kent Road.
• A domestic dispute was reported on Sims Avenue.
• An animal complaint was reported on North Ann Avenue and Friendship Road.
• A juvenile complaint was reported on Central Boulevard.
• A tree down was reported on Friendship Road.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.
• A private property motor vehicle accident was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Harassment was reported on Thompson Avenue.
• A suspicious person was reported on South Wesson Street.
• A noise complaint was reported on First Avenue.
MAY 24
• An animal bite was reported on Friendship Road.
• A noise complaint was reported on Jordan Avenue.
• A domestic incident was reported on Rickey Lane.
• Assistance was given to a motorist on Mill Street.
• Menacing was reported on Barnett Boulevard.
• A domestic incident was reported on McNeal Street.
• A domestic dispute was reported on McNeal Street.
• Harassment was reported on Notasulga Road.
• Trespassing was reported on North McKenzie Street.
• An animal complaint was reported on South Ashurst AVenue.
• Trespassing was reported on Gilmer Avenue.
• Trespassing was reported on East Patton Avenue.
• Animal control was requested on Alber Drive.
• A Black female was arrested on Freeman Avenue.
• Animal control was requested on Freeman Avenue.
Humane Society of Elmore County News
Make a plan for your pets
By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director
une is National Pet Prepared-
Jness Month encouraging pet owners to plan ahead in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. For our area, tornados, hurricanes, flooding and fire are the most likely and all of us should plan for our family’s safety, to include our pets. The first step in planning is to find a safe place to stay - a friend, family member, emergency shelter run by a local organization (many of which will not accept pets or will have a limit as to how many) or even a pet friendly hotel outside of the affected area. Most Humane/Animal Shelters in our area are unable to board pets during a disaster as shelters tend to have heavy intake before bad weather and are simply full of homeless pets of varying temperaments and health issues.
Identifying when to evacuate is perhaps the most important step as evacuating with a pet might slow you down a bit, so be sure to leave early to give yourself the extra travel time.
Ensure your pet is wearing a collar, rabies tag and Pet Identification Tag (we can make custom tags at our shelter) &, if at all possible, a Microchip (call your Veterinarian) and make sure your contact information is current. Keep your pets leashed and if your pets are traveling in a carrier, be sure to secure identification to the travel carrier.
Having a crate large enough to accommodate a cat and its litter box, food and water is important for cat owners as your cat(s) might have to stay in that crate for more than a few days. They will be fine and better to leave them a well-appointed crate than losing them when you open a car or hotel room door.
Crating your dog while staying in a new area will protect your dog just the same.
Prep a Pet Evacuation and Disaster Kit in a sturdy, waterproof carrier containing: Food for a minimum of three days for each pet, can opener for any canned pet food, water for a minimum of seven days for each pet, food/water bowls, leashes/harnesses/pet carriers, bedding, pet medications, copies of pet medical records, for cats - litter/
litter box, disposable bags for pet waste, current photos and description of your pets to help identify them if you were to become separated, toys/treats that may help distract/calm your pet. Take and store photos of your pets in your cell phone along with their tag and microchip numbers so you can access them in the event you lose or cannot get to hard copy records.
If you are away and your pets are under the care of a friend/neighbor or even a boarding facility, make sure they have a pet information sheet with your pet’s description, ID tag and microchip numbers, photo, veterinarian address and contact info, information on feeding schedules, medical conditions, and behavioral issues. Also make sure your pet caregiver knows how to contact you in the event of an emergency and where you have gone. There is no better time to prepare than right now and for more tips (including for other species) go to: https://www.ready.gov/pets.
Rea Cord is the executive director of the Humane Society of Elmore County.
Two connected to Elmore County crimes granted parole, one denied
By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
Two people convicted of crimes in Elmore County are walking out of prison early, while a convicted murderer will stay behind bars.
The Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Parole voted last month to grant the early release of Kristent Rene Holloway and George Alton Walker Jr. and keep Willie F. Locke in prison.
According to court and Alabama Department of Corrections records, Holloway, 41, had served 40 months of a 180-month sentence for obstruction of justice-false identity following a 2021 conviction in Coffee County. She was also serving an 18-month sentence following a 2022 possession of a controlled substance conviction in Elmore County.
Holloway had previously been convicted of possession of a controlled substance in 2010 and 2019.
According to minutes from the parole hearing, the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Parole placed special conditions on Holloway’s release. She must complete the 12-month program at the Lovelady Center, wear a GPS ankle monitor and complete a mental health follow-up.
Walker, 48, was serving 15 years in prison following a 2014 conviction for manufacturing a controlled substance in Calhoun
County. He was also serving a 15-year sentence for a 2015 escape conviction in Elmore County.
According to court records, Walker served three years in prison for 2011 convictions of third-degree burglary, first-degree theft, manufacturing a controlled substance.
Parole board hearing minutes state Walker must complete A New Beginning, a program to assist formerly incarcerated individuals with reintegration back into the local community and society. He must also wear a GPS ankle monitor and complete a mental health follow-up.
Locke, 55, is serving a life prison sentence following a 1995 murder conviction in Monroe County. He is also serving 15 years for a 2022 first-degree assault conviction in Elmore County.
The board denied Locke’s parole after hearing from four family members of the victim, a victim advocacy group and the Alabama Attorney General’s Office.
Hornsby takes home two awards, aspiring to be a child life specialist
By ABIGAIL MURPHY Multimedia Reporter
Reeltown native Kenzie
Hornsby is making a name for herself in college.
Hornsby is double majoring in psychology and sociology with a religion minor at LaGrange College while also playing on the softball team. Hornsby said she knew after the COVID19 lockdown during her junior year of high school she wanted to play college ball. Not being able to play made her realize her passion for the sport.
LaGrange provided her with an opportunity to keep playing, and she fell in love with the campus and its community. But it’s not just in the athletic arena
Hornsby is making moves.
At a recent honors ceremony, she received the Jane Ellen Speers Religion and Philosophy Scholarship and the Outstanding Sociology
Student Award. Hornsby said she is honored, but also surprised she got these awards.
“I went to the awards ceremony for my best friend who was a graduating senior this past year and I was sitting with her parents and then they announced my name,” she said. For the Outstanding
Sociology Student Award, the winner was selected by a professor in the sociology department. The first year Hornsby was at LaGrange was also the first year the professor was at LaGrange College. Hornsby had her class since day one, but she had no idea she was selected for this honor.
See AWARDS, Page AX
Pet of the Week — Bunny
Bunny is a female who is 3 ½ years old. She weighs 40 pounds, so she is not a big gal. She was surrendered with three other dogs. Bunny is very friendly once she settled in and we were told is good with other dogs and cats. She is playful and affectionate – perfect size!
The Humane Society of Elmore County’s adoption fees are $100 for dogs and $50 for cats under 1 year old. Cats over 1 can be adopted by approved adopters for a fee of their choosing. This adoption fee covers the mandatory spay or neuter, basic immunizations, deworming, microchip, heartworm check for dogs, rabies vaccination if old enough and a free health exam with your participating veterinarian.
If you are interested in meeting Cola or any of the pets at HSEC, the first step is to fill out an adoption application online. Once approved, you will be contacted by someone from the humane society. HSEC is located at 255 Central Plank Road in Wetumpka. The phone number is 334-567-3377 and the website is www.elmorehumane.org.
HOLLOWAY LOCKE WALKER
SUBMITTED | THE TPI
LaGrange College junior and Reeltown native Kenzie Hornsby received multiple awards at LaGrange’s annual Honors Day.
Our View Opinion
Small deeds in a small town
Here at Tallapoosa Publishers Inc., we are in the process of starting a new series called “Small Deeds in a Small Town,” and we need your help.
We are looking for Good Samaritans to feature, and we are talking about anyone who has done something nice and kind for someone else. Too often we hear the media covers only bad news, but we are trying to break that stigma. We want to hear from the people who are doing good deeds across our tri-county coverage area. We typically encourage people to think big, but for this one, we’re looking for even the smallest deeds.
One of the inspirations behind this series was a simple good deed that we saw on Facebook. A parent had taken it upon herself to do some beautification at Alexander City Middle School. All she did (and we say that with caution) was trim a couple of bushes, but that was so much more than many people do. It was something she didn’t have to, and something she didn’t want credit for.
These are the type of people we are looking for. Have you noticed some push a cart across the Walmart parking lot for an elderly citizen? Did someone pay for your coffee when you were having a bad day? Did the lady at Burger King go above and beyond her call of duty at the drive-through window?
We aren’t working miracles here, but these small deeds are a miracle to someone and we want to spread the good word. If you or someone you know should be nominated for our new series, email editor@alexcityoutlook.com.
address and phone number. We reserve the right to refuse any submissions. Mail: Your View, The Tallassee Tribune 211 Barnett Blvd., Tallassee, AL 36078 Email: editorelmore@thewetumpkaherald.com
Obituaries: 35 cents per word with a
.jpeg attached to the email. Announcements will appear within 10 days in The Tribune, The Herald or The Observer.
From a very young age, I was taught not to judge people.
Whether it be by the color of their skin, the people they choose to love or the religion they chose to worship, I was taught to be non-judgemental.
As I’ve grown older, I understand why my parents taught me those lessons at such a young age.
See, my father is a gay man. He and my mother got married when they were very young; my dad was always aiming to please his family and they were very anti-homosexuality. The two had my brother and me before my dad came out when I was about 5.
I never really had to be “taught” not to judge people; it just came naturally growing up with a father who was so “different.” When he came out, it was the mid-1990s and it was a much less progressive time.
I remember when my dad first came out, I had to ask my older brother, “What’s gay?”
That’s how little I could judge him; I didn’t even know what it meant.
Many times now people ask me,
Talks
No judgements
LIZI GWIN Managing Editor
“What was it like growing up with a gay dad?”
I can’t even answer that question.
Sometimes I’ll say, “I’m not sure. What was it like growing up with a straight dad?” My dad, to me, has always been gay and that’s just the way it was. There was nothing to … get used to. I never knew the difference.
I say all this to say, it’s not our job to judge people. I don’t consider myself a religious person, but I am very spiritual and I believe in my God. However, my God wouldn’t want people to hate someone simply because of who they choose to love. My God wouldn’t want people to hate someone because they don’t believe the same things or they don’t look like us.
My God would want us to treat people the way we want to be treated,
and my God would want us to love everyone equally — as long as they are good people.
has always been there for me when I was little, and he’s taught me some of the most important lessons I’ve learned. He gives great advice, and he knows a lot about struggles and grief.
It doesn’t matter that he has a husband now instead of a wife. In fact, I just look at both my stepdads like bonus parents. Father’s Day is a huge celebration around a house with three dads.
mother too for how she’s handled herself through everything during my childhood. She always put my
Board of Education
As I conclude 28 years in public education, I am reminded of several articles that have appeared in this space over the past 20 years. Here is a favorite from the early days.
And now comes the story of the Board of Education – Frisco City style.
Once upon a time, way back yonder in the Frisco City days, my principal was a tough little lady who stood about five-foottwo and was one of the harshest disciplinarians for whom I’ve worked.
Coach Rodney Dollar (later of Tallassee) had been there the year prior to my arrival as the new high school band director, and from the beginning he was assigned to guide me through my first year out of college.
Coach Dollar visited my new apartment and brought groceries my first night in town. I appreciated his generosity in those early days. He also painted the lines on the band practice field, cut our grass without ever asking for a payment or even a thank-you note, and allowed us to hold rehearsals at the stadium on the football field (that is, until majorette boots destroyed most of the grass, but that is another story).
The principal, as I mentioned, was pretty strict and believed not in detention or I.S.S. but in corporal punishment all the way. Teachers stood in the halls and paddled those who were tardy or otherwise out of line.
(The coaches got away with
paddling not only for tardies, but for saggy britches, bad breath, pretty much anything.)
Our principal told me on my first day at work that I needed to – how to say this politely –“man up” and build a paddle before the opening of school. She said, “kids these days need to be paddled, just because.”
But all those college professors told us NEVER to paddle!
This argument failed – and the principal instructed me to buy or build one, as this was the policy of the school. So, away I went to find a paddle, that remnant of an old-fashioned public school education.
My dad fashioned a board for me to use, and tested it on me that weekend at my parents’ house. I felt like I had sat down in a bed of fire ants when he tried it out, so it seemed suitable for use on the Frisco fannies I’d soon be getting to know.
The first days of school came and went, and in an effort to follow the directives of my boss – and to appear tough enough to impress Coach Dollar – I decided to paddle anyone who was tardy to my General Music class.
The first customer was a young man who seemed to have a positive attitude, and was well-liked by his teammates and peers. One day, the bell rang, and a few seconds later he came running down the hall as I was closing the door.
Coach Dollar was standing by to witness my maiden voyage
into the world of corporal punishment.
I instructed the student to bend over and put his hands against the wall. He did, and I swung, and hit the back of his legs. The boy screamed like a little girl.
Dollar shouted. “No, Bird! Too low! You gotta go for that sweet spot where the butt ends and the legs begin,” he said.
“Let me show you.”
Coach grabbed the paddle and commented on how heavy it was, and took a swing. The Houston Astros pro baseball player hit that sweet spot just right, then handed back off to me. “Okay, now you try.” I took my stance, raised the paddle, and struck – right on top of this kid’s behind. He squealed again.
Dollar took the paddle and was ready to demonstrate once more. But we noticed that this kid had a crumpled piece of paper in his hand. It was a hall pass. He wasn’t tardy, after all, and we’d been beating him within an inch of his life for the past five minutes.
All was forgiven – but I doubt any of us standing in that hallway will ever forget the day we learned about the Board of Education.
Michael Bird is a member of the music faculty at Faulkner University.
MICHAEL BIRD Columnist
star, who was first a soldier. After more than 17 years in the Army and Reserves, he left to concentrate on music.
Last summer Morgan reenlisted and was assigned to Green’s 313 Army Reserve band at Redstone Arsenal.
“Most of what I do is manage him and the Army’s expectations for him for his last three years in the Army,” Green said. “He is working towards his 20 year retirement.”
It was at a pinning ceremony for Morgan that a performance with the Opry came about. Staff with the Opry saw Morgan perform with the Army band and the performance was set up. Morgan was set to perform with Trace Adkins. The two recorded ‘That Ain’t Gonna Be Me.’ But Adkins couldn’t perform the night of the Opry. Morgan asked Green to step in. Just like a soldier, Green filled the role.
“Before we went out on stage Craig looked at me and said ‘I’m just going to
STUBBS Continued from A1
Montgomery and combined with research done here, state leaders put together the CHOOSE Act.
“This was a priority for Gov. Kay Ivey,” Stubbs said. “It was also a priority for the legislature.”
The bill allows up to $7,000 of state money to follow students to private school. For the first two years, only families at the 300% poverty mark or below can apply for the money. In the third year there is no cap on a family’s income.
But it doesn’t just cut a $7,000 check to a student’s family. Once students are accepted into the program, the schools send something like a purchase order to the state. The funds for the student are then distributed on a quarterly basis to the school.
“If the student drops out after
go with it. We may get the words wrong, just watch me and you know what to do,’” Green said. “This is life as a musician. You do things like that. Sometimes you just do it as you go.” Green liked the moment but was happier to see his 313th’s performance with Morgan make the cut for television. Even that performance was short on preparation.
“We got a very quick sound check and that is about it beforehand,” Green said.
The Opry performance was unique for Green. It took him away from his comfort zone of trombones and guitars.
“I hit 20 years the day of the Opry,” Green said. “I got my retirement letter in my email. I’m not retiring, it’s just a notification I can.”
Morgan enlisted last year at the age of 59 working towards completing 20 years in the military.
Green’s role with Morgan is to marry the Army with a national touring musician aimed at recruiting.
“I basically work with headquarters, public affairs of the Army in the Pentagon and work on his national strat-
egy,” Green said. “I work on logistics, setting up anything that requires musical expertise and working with his civilian management, bringing them in sync with the Army and the Army in sync with them. They are two very different worlds.”
Most of Green’s role is leading his band. But like all soldiers, they have trained to handle weapons and are tabbed for deployment in the next year.
“As a commander, I’m over the Army’s unit,” Green said. “They are soldiers. They fire weapons. They can deploy and do that job, even though music is the primary job. Everyone’s job in the Army is infantry if they need it or whatever else they need.”
The band’s experience playing off the cuff with little rehearsal time will play well for them. Much of the unit’s time during the one weekend a month, and two weeks a year, is spent on training beyond music. It has the unit ready for whatever the next mission is.
“I won’t be teaching all year,” Green said. “We likely won’t be playing much either. But that is part of it.”
a semester,” Stubbs said, “the money (will not be) there for the full year.”
Stubbs is confident the bill is a step in the right direction.
“I see this as a net positive for all education,” Stubbs said. “I believe our taxpayer dollars should go to the education of students, the education of students no matter where they may be because it is an investment. We are investing in our students so they can in turn be productive citizens in the state of Alabama.”
There should be no huge increases in property taxes with one bill that passed this session. Now an individual’s property tax can only go up a maximum of 7%.
“Our county had some up double digits, but there are parts of the state where property taxes went 30 to 40% in one year,” Stubbs said. “That raises some eyebrows. It was alarming for
people suffering from high inflation and what we are seeing with the economy right now.”
The bill sunsets in five years, meaning the cap will go away. In that time studies will be done to see how it affects funding for schools, counties and municipalities.
Gambling is one the bills that got all sorts of attention for the entire session. It ultimately died with the last gavel.
A form passed the house and a different form passed the senate. Even after going to a conference committee, lawmakers couldn’t agree. Stubbs voted no on every version of the gambling bill in the house.
“My intention will be to always protect the interests of the people of Elmore County,” Stubbs said. “We are unique in that we have a casino here. It totally changes the dynamics here for us compared to other coun-
CommunityCalendar
THURSDAY, MAY 30
IVY’S GALA: Ivy’s Closet will be hosting a gala from 6 to 8 p.m. May 30 at the Wetumpka Civic Center. There will be live music and a silent auction.
JUNE 1 - JUNE 28
NATIONAL EXHIBITION: The Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts in downtown Wetumpka is hosting the 83rd Annual Watercolor Society of Alabama national exhibition from June 1 to June 28. The juried watercolor competition will feature state and national artists.
JUNE 8
JUNE 23
LESSONS Continued from A1
with some of the profit, added a few decorations.”
Ezlyn and Leland also don’t cut any corners with their lemonade. Golden said this is real homemade lemonade, not made from a mix. Plus, the stand is a business venture for the kids.
“We are helping them see how businesses use money,” Golden said. “We are trying to show them real life stuff even in something like this.”
Golden said the children have already discovered customer service is king and they have a knack for it.
“They love talking to different people,” Golden said. “The cops have been by to check on the stand. They got lemonade. So did the game warden.”
Work on the lemonade stand started because Leland wanted to raise money due to making an allstar baseball team. The children’s goal has changed to aid in the family vacation next month.
“They know we are going on a trip but not where,” Golden said. When the children first started the lemonade stand, Golden figured it would be one or two times,
ties.” Stubbs said some were trying to present the bill as lottery only.
“The proponents knew if they presented it as a lottery only it would have a chance of the public saying it is not that bad of a deal. It was not lottery only,” Stubbs said.
Stubbs isn’t confident a lottery only bill will ever come up but did say there were a number of bills to come up taking away gun rights.
“We made sure they didn’t see the light of the day,” Stubbs said.
Another bill stopped by the legislature would have increased online sales tax by 1.4% and be distributed among cities, counties and school systems.
“On the surface it sounds like an opportunity to make things more equitable to protect our brick and mortar stores,” Stubbs said. “The distribution of these funds was very far out of balance
but not Ezlyn and Leland.
“Some kids are done after that but they light up every time somebody comes around,” Golden said. “They are excited and ready to go.”
A third child helped start the Golden Lemonade Stand, but left on their own accord.
“They had a little helper, but they decided to branch off and start their own,” Golden said.
“If we can inspire little kids to go out and do the same thing and it makes them feel the way our kids do, we are all for it.”
Leland and Ezlyn are also gaining a fan club. Some customers turn down the drive to the body shop when the stand is closed.
“They ask where the kids are,” Golden said. “Everybody around town that has stopped by has been super positive and generous to them. They make it an awesome experience for the kids.”
The would-be customers might be drawn in by something Leland wants to redo, due to a mistake after running out of room on the stand’s signage. It’s a homemade plywood sign letting customers know if the stand is open or not.
“I thought it was so cute,” Golden said. “He was really upset and wanted to redo the painting. I was like no because , ‘We close.’”
and benefited the 10 largest cities in the state. It left the counties out to dry. We stopped it before it got anywhere.”
Stubbs is pleased with the ballot harvesting bill passed to protect the integrity of absentee voting. He said there was concern people were getting large groups to participate in absentee balloting to process large numbers of ballots.
“It is an almost orchestrated system by which they try to manipulate our election system,” Stubbs said. “We failed to pass it last year but did this year.”
The legislature also strengthened laws regarding the trafficking of children through the Sound of Freedom Act.
“It imposes a minimum sentence of life in prison for those convicted of human trafficking of a minor in the state of Alabama,” Stubbs said.
County Branch No. 5026 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
FAMILY HISTORY WORKSHOP: The Elmore County History Museum is hosting a family history workshop at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 8. The workshop features Dr. Marty Oliff and genealogists Susan Martin, John Michael Neill and Sheralyn Belyeu. Cost is $5 per person and anyone can register by calling 334-567-5097 or the day of the event.
JUNE 13
KINDERGARTEN BOOTCAMP:
Wetumpka Elementary School is hosting a kindergarten bootcamp from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. June 13 at the Wetumpka Elementary School Activity Center. Children will learn about and explore the school with classmates, teachers and more. Children must be fully registered for school.
JUNE 13-14
PLAY: The Wetumpka Depot Encore Players are presenting Mother Goose State Your Case June 13 at 10
a.m. and 2 p.m. and June 14 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5.
JUNE 17-21
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL:
Grace Baptist Church on Old Montgomery Road in Wetumpka is holding Vacation Bible School 6 to 8 p.m. June 17 - 21. Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. each night or by email at wetumpkagrace@gmail.com.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL:
Tallaweka Baptist Church in Tallassee is hosting Vacation Bible School from 9 a.m. to noon June 17 to 21 at its church at 1409 Gilmer Avenue. The Bible school is open to kindergarteners through sixth grade.
JUNE 22
SUMMERFEST: The Tallassee Chamber of Commerce is holding Summerfest from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 22 at Tallassee City Hall.
CONCERT: First Methodist Church Wetumpka is hosting gospel singer Ivan Parker in concert at 10 a.m. Sunday, June 23.
JUNE 24-29
THEATRE CAMP: The Stanhope Elmore Mustang Players are hosting a theater camp for students in the Millbrook area from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 24-29 at Stanhope Elmore High School School and will close out with performances. The cost is $100.
SUNDAY, JULY 14
MEN’S CONFERENCE: Village
Church of Wetumpka is hosting a men’s conference. The keynote speaker is Rick Burgess of Rick and Bubba.
JULY 15-19
THEATER CAMP: The Wetumpka Depot Players are hosting a Heroes and Villains theater camp for children ages 8 to 15 July 15 to 19. The cost is $225. To register email Kristy Meanor at kmeanor@wetumpkadepot.com.
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: Preschool Storytime takes place at 10 a.m. every Friday at Wetumpka Public Library.
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
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.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY SANTUCK: Celebrate Recovery meets each Thursday at 6:15 p.m. at Santuck Baptist Church at 7250 Central Plank Rd. This is a Christ-centered, 12-step program for anyone struggling with hurts, habits, and hangups. Call 334567-2364 for more information or contact jyates@santuckbaptist.org.
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Gamblers Anonymous meets Saturdays at 6 p.m. at Cedarwood Community Church at 10286 U.S. Highway 231 in Wallsboro/Wetumpka. Call 334-567-0476 for more information.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Wetumpka’s Holt ends record-breaking career
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
There is no doubt Mya Holt is the best softball player to walk the halls of Wetumpka High School. Holt, a Troy signee, just
wrapped up the best softball career of any player in program history. Holt is the record holder for 20 Wetumpka softball records. She has eight single-season records and 20 career records. She
also is the only player in school history to ever win the Gatorade Player of the Year, which she won as a junior in 2023. As a senior this season,
See HOLT, Page A11
2024 ALL-ELMORE COUNTY SOFTBALL TEAM
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
The 2024 softball season has come to an end in Elmore County, and this season proved to be one of the best in recent history. While there were no championships to celebrate, there was plenty of postseason success. Four of the five AHSAA teams reached their regionals, with three reaching the regional finals.
Wetumpka made it back to the AHSAA Class 6A State Tournament, while Edgewood Academy reached the championship in AISA this season.
The 2024 All-Elmore County Softball Team is headlined by Coach of the Year Pat Love, who helped the Tigers reach the Class 5A Central Regional Finals after a great postseason run. The Player of the Year is Wetumpka senior Mya Holt, who hit .481 with 19 home runs.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE REST OF THE TEAM HERE:
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
MYA HOLT, WETUMPKA SENIOR Holt is the Elmore County Player of the Year for the third-consecutive season. Holt wrapped up her Wetumpka career with a stellar senior campaign where she hit .481 with 74 hits, 15 doubles, 6 triples, 19 home runs, 54 RBIs and 53 runs scored. In the circle, she went 27-5 with a 1.205 earned run average and 208 strikeouts in 174 ⅓ innings.
FIRST TEAM
BAILEA BOONE, HOLTVILLE JUNIOR Boone continued her success at slap hitting as she hit .544 with a county-best 74 hits. She hit 67 singles, 3 doubles, 3 triples and 1 home run with 19 RBIs and 70 runs scored. She was a perfect 58-for-58 on stolen base attempts. She also tied the AHSAA record for most hits (6) in a game this year.
LINDSEY BROWN, EDGEWOOD ACADEMY SENIOR Brown, a University of Alabama volleyball signee, turned in the best hitting season of any Wildcat. She hit .441 with 63 hits, 18 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home runs with 30 RBIs and 71 runs scored. On the base paths, she was 35-of-37 on stolen base attempts.
ASHLEY BURGESS, EDGEWOOD ACADEMY SENIOR Burgess’ move to Edgewood paid off for the senior utility player. Burgess was one of the top players in AISA as she hit .427 with 61 hits, 16 doubles, 2 triples and 1 home run with a teamhigh 52 RBIs. In the circle, she went 13-2 with a 2.39 ERA and 81 strikeouts.
RILEY DISMUKES, WETUMPKA SENIOR Dismukes was one of the most consistent hitters in the county this year, hitting for average and power for the Indians. The senior outfielder hit .327 with 48 hits, 8 doubles, 2 triples and
FILE | TPI
8 home runs, tied for the third most in the county. She drove in 41 RBIs and scored 38 runs. She added 12 stolen bases.
CHEYANNE EASTERLING, TALLASSEE FRESHMAN
The Tallassee leadoff hitter and shortstop turned in an impressive freshman season. The slap hitter hit .407 with 50 hits, 10 of which were extra base hits. She hit 10 doubles and 2 triples as she drove in 23 RBIs and scored 40 runs. She also stole 29 bases.
REAGAN EASTERWOOD, TALLASSEE JUNIOR
The Tallassee starting third baseman turned in one of the most consistent seasons of the year. She hit .386 with 44 hits, 12 doubles, 4 home runs and drove in 42 RBIs while scoring 27 runs. She added 7 stolen bases and fielded .904 at the hot corner.
AVERY GOFF, HOLTVILLE JUNIOR
The Holtville star shortstop hit .425 this season while tallying 26 extra base hits. She had 13 doubles, 7 triples and 6 home runs to go with 47 RBIs and 38 runs scored. She was a threat on the base paths as well with 12 stolen bases.
JADA MCLEOD, STANHOPE ELMORE SENIOR McLeod saved her best season for her last as she led the county with a .592
Cheyanne Easterling, a freshman, hit .407 with 50 hits for the Tallassee softball team this year. She scored 40 runs and stole 29 bases.
Tallassee’s Love sets up postseason run with tough schedule
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
Pat Love isn’t one to back away from a challenge.
Even after losing five senior starters, three of whom went to play college softball, Love made his Tallassee softball schedule as tough as possible.
Tallassee played three defending champions in Class 7A’s Hewitt-Trussville, Class 6A’s Wetumpka and Class 5A’s Brewbaker Tech. But Love didn’t stop there. His team also played Spanish Fort, Saraland, Hoover, Chelsea, Prattville and other top softball schools across the state.
And while those games resulted in early losses for Tallassee’s record, that didn’t matter. Those games prepared Tallassee for the postseason, and the Tigers took a team whose starting lineup was half-filled with freshmen and finished just one run away from qualifying for the state tournament.
For his team’s postseason run, Love is the 2024 Elmore County Softball Coach of the Year.
“We had a good team and we played an extremely hard schedule throughout the year,” Love said. “We were young and we were making a lot of young mistakes early on. I kept telling them if we put it together, we’re a lot better than
what we’re playing.” Even when the losses were mounting up, Tallassee was better than the record suggested.
Tallassee was 4-9 after the month of February, but four of those nine losses were close. The Tigers were tied with Spanish Fort, 1-1, in the third inning before losing 8-1. They trailed Saraland by only two runs in the fourth inning before losing, 6-1.
Tallassee led Wetumpka, 3-2, in the third inning before losing 6-3. Tallassee was tied with Prattville, 2-2, in the fifth inning before losing 10-6. Most of those losses were just due to inexperience, or a spare error here and there that eventually doomed the team.
“I could see the talent even from the start of the year,” Love said. “We played really well at times. Most of the time we’d play well for about three innings of a game then all of a sudden, we’d walk a few batters or make a crucial error and good teams would make us pay.”
Just before the team’s area tournament, Tallassee started putting it together.
The Tigers finished area play in the regular season with a 2-4 record, earning a No. 3 seed in the tournament. They lost to Beauregard, 8-0 and 8-3. They lost to Elmore County,
COACH
Worship together
Two of our mainstream dominations in the South according to membership numbers, are Southern Baptists and United Methodists. It seems that both denominations have discord amongst their membership. As a member of a Southern Baptist Church, remarks will be addressed only to our particular denomination. On June 11-25, elected delegates from each S.B.C. church throughout the U.S. will be elected to represent their church at the yearly Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis.
This is a giant “business meeting” including making new laws or abolishing old laws, committee meetings, etc. . A major item this year is whether or not a woman should be able to utilize the term Pastor for the ministries they head in the church. (Example: Pastor vs Minister, of Music, Youth, Senior Adults, Education, etc.). This stems from the whether or not women should serve in the role of a Senior Pastor. There is a small airstrip cut out of the African rainforest where a very vibrant church
worships in a building constructed of bamboo pole wall with a roof covered with palm and banana branches. In each corner of the building stands percussion instruments including animal skin drums. When an elder of the congregation was asked why there were different areas for musicians, he explained! “People from different tribes worship together here”. TOGETHER!
God instructed the Jerusalem church to choose leaders who were respected, wise, and full of the Spirit. The ethnically diverse church
needed spiritual leadership with a good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom. Spiritual leaders will see that no one is neglected! The author Apostle Paul, who writes: “Therefore, my beloved as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but how much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” In this verse Paul is addressing the Christians, it is not referring
Tallassee Churches
Surrounding Area Churches
to “losing your salvation.” Paul is encouraging believers not to live in a continuous condition of nervousness and anxiety. “ In 2 Corinthians, Paul refers to Titus as being encouraged by the Corinthians’ reception of him with a great humility and respect for his position as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians, Paul himself came to the Corinthian church mindful of the great and awesome nature of the work in which he engaged.” Salvation is worked out by going to the source –the Word of God! Don’t
JACKIE WILBOURN Columnist
be anxious!!! Forgive us for seeking the comfort of separation from brothers and sisters who are different. Help us to accept the difficult path of reconciliation. Grant us the wisdom necessary for the task, and fill us with Your Spirit. Let us not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Jackie Wilbourn, member of Bethel Baptist Church, is a chaplain with Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief Team.
SCORPIO
light on your feet and don’t be pushy. Postpone important decisions for another day. (You’ll be glad you did.) Tonight: Play!
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Pay attention to everything you say and do today, because this is an accident-prone day for you. Double-check everything. Go slowly and carefully. You’ll have a tendency to barge into something today. Don’t do it. Postpone important decisions. Don’t volunteer for anything. Tonight: Cocoon.
CAPRICORN
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PUBLIC NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE
Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain Mortgage executed by ALDEN K. SMITH in favor of FIRST COMMUNITY BANK OF CENTRAL ALABAMA, on May 26, 2016, said mortgage recorded June 20, 2016, in the Ofce of the Judge of Probate of Tallapoosa County, Alabama, as Document Number 307032 (the “Mortgage”), and, pursuant to the laws of the State of Alabama, the undersigned FIRST COMMUNITY BANK OF CENTRAL ALABAMA, under and by virtue of the power of sale provision and other terms contained in said Mortgage, elects to declare the entire indebtedness secured by said Mortgage due and payable, and will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder, for cash, in front of the main entrance of the Courthouse of Tallapoosa County, Alabama, at 125 North Broadnax Street, Dadeville, Alabama 36853, during the legal hours of sale on June 26, 2024, all of its right, title, and interest in and to the following described real estate, situated in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, to-wit:
Parcel 1: A portion of Lots 3 & 4 of Woodall Subdivision, as recorded in Deed Book 33, Page 589 in the Ofce of the Judge of Probate in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, more particularly described as follows: Commence at the concrete post purported to be the center of Section 20, T18N, R22E, Tallapoosa County, Alabama; thence South 01 deg 41 min 53 sec East a distance of 525.63 feet to a railroad spike in a driveway, on the East Right of Way of Derry Street (40’
00 min 03 sec East a distance of 124.69 feet to a magnetic nail set in concrete; thence South 85 deg 41 min 30 sec West a distance of 161.02 feet to the Point of Beginning. Said Parcel containing 0.73 acres more or less and lying in the NW 1/4, of the SE 1/4, of Section 20, T18N, R22E, Tallapoosa County, Alabama
Said parcel subject to an access and utility easement, more particularly described as follows: Commence at the concrete post purported to be the center of Section 20, T18N, R22E, Tallapoosa County, Alabama; thence South 01 deg 41 min 53 sec East a distance of 525.63 feet to a railroad spike in a driveway, ono the East Right of Way of Derry Street (40’ ROW), and the Point of Beginning; thence along said Right of Way of said road, South 00 deg 38 min 01 sec West a distance of 14.81 feet to a point; thence leaving said Right of Way of said road, North 89 deg 45 min 57 sec East a distance of 160.73 feet to a point; thence North 00 deg 00 min 03 sec Eest a distance of 26.25 feet to a magnetic nail in concrete; thence South 85 deg 41 min 30 sec West a distance of 161.02 feet to the Point of Beginning.
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rebar capped Martin CA-563LS, on the East Right of Way of said Derry Street; thence along said Right of Way of said road, North 00 deg 38 min 01 sec East a distance of 15.00 feet to the point of beginning.
Said Parcel containing 0.06 acres more or less and lying in the NW 1/4, of the SE 1/4, of Section 20, T18N, R22E, Tallapoosa County, Alabama.
Said foreclosure sale and conveyance incident thereto are subject to the legal rights of any existing federal tax liens, mortgages, special assessments, easements, restrictions, and reservations appearing of record.
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Public Notices
Public Notices
PUBLIC NOTICE
ADVERTISEMENT OF COMPLETION Legal Notice
In accordance with Chapter 1, Title 39, Code of Alabama, 1975, notice is hereby given that Crimson Contractors, Inc., Contractor, has completed the-
ment of said Contract. All persons having any claim for labor, materials or otherwise in conimmediately notify: Aho Architects, LLC. 1855 Data Drive, Crimson Contractors, Inc.
COMPLETION PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM A. RAMSEY, CASE NO: 2024-107 DECEASED NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of WILLIAM A. RAMSEY, deceased, having been granted to WILLIAM GARY RAMSEY on May 15, 2024 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law,
& Causby, LLP at the address indicated below. FIRST COMMUNITY BANK OF CENTRAL ALABAMA reserves the right to award the bid to the next highest bidder should the highest bidder fail to timely tender the total amount due. FIRST COMMUNITY BANK OF CENTRAL ALABAMA reserves the right to bid for and purchase the real estate and to credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the indebtedness secured by the real estate. The sale is
Parcel 2: A portion of Lot 3 of Woodall Subdivision, as recorded in Deed Book 33, Page 589 in the Ofce of the Judge of Probate in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, more particularly described as follows: Commence at the concrete post purported to be the center of Section 20, T18N, R22E, Tallapoosa County, Alabama; thence South 01 deg 41 min 53 sec East a distance of 525.63 feet to a railroad spike in a driveway, on the East Right of Way of Derry Street (40’ ROW); thence along said Right of Way of said road, South 00 deg 38 min 01 sec West a distance of 189.65 feet to a 1/2" rebar capped MartinCA-563-LS, and the Point of Beginning; thence leaving said Right of Way of said road, South 89 deg 50 min 55 sec East a distance of 162.66 feet to a 1/2" rebar (Martin); thence South 00 deg 00 min 03 sec East a distance of 15.00 feet to a 3/4" pipe; thence North 89 deg 50 min 55 sec West a distance of 162.83 feet to a 1/2"
THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD ON AN “AS IS, WHERE IS” BASIS, SUBJECT TO ANY EASEMENTS, ENCUMBRANCES, AND EXCEPTIONS REFLECTED IN THE MORTGAGE AND THOSE CONTAINED IN THE RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE OF PROBATE OF THE COUNTY WHERE THE ABOVE-DESCRIBED PROPERTY IS SITUATED. THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD WITHOUT WARRANTY OR RECOURSE, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, AS TO TITLE, USE OR ENJOYMENT, AND WILL BE SOLD SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION OF ALL PARTIES ENTITLED THERETO. Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances. Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process. This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by said Mortgage, as well as the expenses of foreclosure. The successful bidder must tender a nonrefundable deposit of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) in certied funds made payable to Memory Memory & Causby, LLP Client Trust Account at the time and place of the sale. The balance of the purchase price must be paid in certied funds by noon the next business day at the Law Ofce of Memory Memory
CLASSIFIEDS
Public Notices
y to present the same to the Court or the same will be barred.
WILLIAM GARY RAMSEY PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF WILLIAM A. RAMSEY, DECEASED
Attorney of Record for
Personal Representative: JAMES R. BOWLES ATTORNEY AT LAW 2 SOUTH DUBOIS AVENUE P 0 BOX 780397 TALLASSEE, ALABAMA 36078 334-283-6548
Tallassee Tribune: May 22, 29 and June 5, 2024
EST/RAMSEY W.
PUBLIC NOTICE IN THE PROBATE COURT OF ELMORE COUNTY, ALABAMA IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF TOMMIE LEE SANFORD, DECEASED CASE NO: 2024-072 NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF ESTATE
Letters Testamentary in the Estate of TOMMIE LEE SANFORD, deceased, having been granted to BETTY LOIS SANFORD on May 1st, 2024 by John Thornton, Judge of Probate of Elmore County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons and parties having claims against said estate are required, within the time allowed by law, to present the same to the Court or the same will
Public Notices
BETTY LOIS SANFORD PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ESTATE OF TOMMIE LEE SANFORD, DECEASED
Attorney of Record for Personal Representative: JAMES R. BOWLES ATTORNEY AT LAW 2 SOUTH DUBOIS AVENUE PO BOX 780397 TALLASSEE, ALABAMA 36078 334-283-6548
Tallassee Tribune: May 15, 22 and 29, 2024 EST/STANFORD T.
Raise your hand if you want your business to make LESS money next
Holt put together another stellar campaign. She hit .481 with 74 hits, 15 doubles, 6 triples, 19 home runs, 54 RBIs and 53 runs scored. In the circle, she went 27-5 with a 1.205 earned run average and 208 strikeouts in 174 ⅓ innings.
To wrap up her high school career, Holt is the Elmore County Player of the Year for the third consecutive season.
“This year, I just came in wanting to perform as well as I did last year,” Holt said. “I knew that would be hard to beat, but I didn’t want to downgrade. I knew this was my last year playing so I wanted to go out with a bang and make the most of it while having fun with everyone.”
The majority of Holt’s records are hitting categories.
She holds the program record for career home runs (70), RBIs (312), hits (310), doubles (74), slugging percentage (.845%) and OPS (1.385). In the circle, she holds the record for wins (118), ERA (1.48), strikeouts (757) and batting average against (.195).
She also holds the record for the most games played (263) and most team wins (212).
“I knew I had a few records but I didn’t know it was 20,” Holt said.
“That means so much to me. It feels good knowing that my hard work and dedication has paid off in many ways. I’ve put a lot of hours into this sport. All the hours have paid off.”
Coming off a season where she hit 22 home runs and was named Gatorade Player of the Year, Holt knew she would be pitched differently this season. And she was.
Multiple times this season, teams simply did not pitch to her, or tried to trick her by pitching outside a few times then coming back inside to try to throw her off.
She was rarely fooled and came up big in the team’s biggest moments.
None was bigger than in the South Regional Tournament when she hit a walkoff two-run home run against Saraland to send Wetumpka to the state tournament for the second-consecutive year.
“I feel like I really hit well this year,” Holt said. “I’m proud of myself for how I hit, and I can honestly say the same for my pitching. My ERA may have been a little higher than last year, but all around I feel like I performed well. I’m not disappointed in anything I did. I’m just glad I was able to help my team throughout the year.”
In the circle, Holt was just as dominant as she’d been her entire career.
She allowed only 1.2 earned runs per game, giving Wetumpka a chance to win every time she stepped on the field. She threw two perfect games this season and held the majority of teams she faced to one run or less.
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batting average. The Stanhope shortstop had 42 hits, 10 doubles, 1 triple and 10 home runs to go with 32 RBIs. She scored 40 runs and fielded .827 for the Mustangs.
MARI BETH PARETTE, WETUMPKA SENIOR Parette turned in a
Tallassee wrestling legend hired as assistant coach
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
One of the best wrestlers in program history is now coaching Tallassee.
Josh Epperson, the first three-time state champion in Tallassee history, was officially hired and board approved to join the Tallassee wrestling staff as a volunteer assistant coach.
“We are just tickled to have Josh join our staff,” Tigers coach John Mask said. “I’ve been trying to get him to join us for years. He’s a great human being and the kids know that morally and ethically, he’s a great man. We think the world of him and he’s going to help the kids in any way he can.”
After winning three state titles and graduating in 2014, Epperson went on to wrestle at Newberry College where he recorded a 12-7 record during his redshirt freshman season. Following that season, he returned home to his roots in 2016.
He, along with Wetumpka coach Josh Highland, helped grow the Mat Cats youth program in Tallassee before he coached the Pike Road varsity wrestling program for one season. By 2018, Epperson was coaching individuals on fitness and eventually opened his own business, EPOCH MOVMENT, where he serves as a personal trainer.
This past season, Mask was finally able to convince Epperson to get more involved with the program. Epperson came and visited with the Tigers once a week, usually on Wednesdays, and brought a message to the kids and talked to them about life,
The Tallassee wrestling team has hired Josh Epperson as an assistant coach. Epperson is one of the greatest wrestlers to come through the Tallassee program and is the only wrestler in program history to win three individual championships.
wrestling, eating right and other topics. Basically, he served as the team’s chaplain. This upcoming year, he will continue to run his business in town while helping out with
Tallassee’s program when he is free.
“He won’t be with us every single day because of his prior commitments to his business,” Mask said. “But he’s vol-
unteering and he’s going to come coach with us a couple days of week when his business allows him to come.”
His work with Tallassee will begin this summer.
Epperson is taking on Tallassee’s summer weight program head first. Instead of Mask leading the charge, Epperson said he’d love to set up workouts for the team.
Mask believes that will get the kids more excited and spark a new fire under them to hit the gym hard this offseason.
In the fall, he’ll be able to come coach the team and now that he’s board approved and an official coach, he can get out on the mats and try to teach the current Tallassee team a thing or two about how to wrestle.
“He can get out there on the mat with the guys now,” Mask said. “I’m getting old now so that’s going to be really good for us. I’m very happy about that.”
Epperson will be joining a team with state champions already embedded in it. Tallassee rising seniors Land Bell and Mason Nelson, which went a combined 106 matches last season, have three state championships between them.
The Tigers also return Tra’Mel McCoy and Avery Brantley, both of which placed fourth or higher in the state tournament. Also returning are Nolan Addeo, Jude Rogers, Joseph Hooks, Brady Adams, Aiden Bridgman and Thomas Patterson. All of those wrestlers qualified for the state tournament last season. Tallassee will move classifications this season and wrestle in Class 1A-4A instead of 5A.
Tallassee starts flag football program
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
There will be two varsity football teams at Tallassee this fall.
Tallassee has started a varsity flag football program for girls interested in playing in the fall. Flag football was officially sanctioned as a sport in the summer of 2023.
In the first official season, Central-Phenix City won Class 6A/7A while Wenonah won Class 1A-5A.
Tallassee, a Class 4A school, will compete in the lower division. The Tigers are one of 51
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4-0 and 17-2. But those games didn’t matter anymore. This Tallassee team finally put it together. The Tigers played No. 2 seed Bearegard in the first game of the area tournament held in Eclectic. They may have lost, 4-3, but they had every chance to win the game as they had the bases loaded with no outs, down one run, in the final innings and couldn’t scratch across the tying runs.
great final season as an Indian. The Wetumpka third baseman hit .385 with 52 hits, 14 doubles, 2 triples and 1 home run. She drove in 40 RBIs and scored 31 runs while walking 26 times. Playing the hot corner, she made only 10 errors the entire season.
MORGAN SPEAR, ELMORE COUNTY SENIOR Spear turned in one of the most impressive seasons of any Panther
teams currently slated to play in Class 1A-5A. Tallassee is in Region 3 with BTW Tuskegee, Lee-Scott Academy, Lafayette, Loachapoka and Valley.
Current softball coach Pat Love will be the head coach.
“We started up the program and we needed someone to coach it,” Love said. “I’m pretty free during that time of the year. A lot of it is all the girls are right there so I was going to have to get it.”
Girls enrolled at Tallassee now have a plethora of sports that they are able to play in the 2024-2025 school year. In the
It didn’t get easier as the Tigers then had to face Elmore County in the loser’s bracket. But behind a 3-hit pitching gem from senior Madeline Weldon, Tallassee upset Elmore County with a 2-1 win and clinched a postseason berth while also eliminating the Panthers.
“Even in the loss to Beauregard, we kept them down and didn’t give them much. We had chances to win,” Love said. “Then we played solid against Elmore County and grew and carried that into regionals. We had a dangerous
this season. The senior third baseman hit .373 with 25 hits, 7 doubles,1 triple, 2 home runs and a team-high 27 RBIs. She scored 18 runs and stole 5 bases.
ELLA WATSON, WETUMPKA SENIOR Watson had another impressive season as she wrapped up her Wetumpka career. She hit .407 with 61 hits, 12 doubles, 6 triples, 8 home runs, 59 RBIs and
fall, which is when flag football is played, Tallassee will also have cheerleading, dance, volleyball, cross country and swimming.
In the winter and spring, basketball, track and field, soccer, softball and golf are also available for athletes.
Most of the sports have been available for students, but more and more seem to come every few years. Just two years ago, Tallassee started its varsity girls soccer program.
Led by coach Matt Tarpley, the soccer team will enter its third varsity season in 2024-
team. We were just young and made a lot of mistakes early. At the end, we put it together and cut them out.” Tallassee then entered the Class 5A Central Regional at Lagoon Park as a No. 2 seed. The Tigers went on to beat Demopolis and Shelby County, 3-2 and 14-7, to clinch a berth in the regional finale. Just one win away from state, Tallassee fell short to Beauregard, 4-3, and Marbury, 10-9 in the second state qualifying game. That ended the Tigers season at just 14-29, but it was a season to
40 runs scored. In the circle, she went 19-2 with a 1.77 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 118 ⅔ innings.
SECOND TEAM Lalah Culpepper, Elmore County freshman Lily Davenport, Wetumpka junior Ava Farmer, Wetumpka junior Addison Hicks, Elmore County sophomore Taylor Price, Holtville
2025. That soccer team has seen improved success since the beginning of the program. The Tigers won four games during their first season, then finished 6-17-1 last year with a 2-6 record in area play, finishing fourth of five teams.
“Girls sports are expanding here,” Love said. “We’re getting more and more girls to play sports and that’s always great. We’re getting more girls involved, which is a plus, and we’re growing all of the girls’ sports. We want to keep that up.”
remember for Love’s young squad. The two seniors will be missed, but Love’s bunch learned and improved after every loss and figured out a way to win when it mattered most. “It was a different mindset with this team,” Love said. “We’ve always had an older class of girls leading us, but the majority of our lineup this year were freshmen. They had to learn to play at that level and intensity. We got better and better as the year went on.”
senior Lexie Smith, Edgewood Academy freshman Abbi Snider, Holtville senior Kylie Snowden, Holtville sophomore Lily Stubbs, Edgewood Academy junior Madeline Weldon, Tallassee senior Arielle Williams, Stanhope Elmore senior HONORABLE MENTION Edgewood Academy:
Avery White, Jr., Avey Rambo, So. Elmore County: Addie Stephenson, Fr., Addie Patterson, Fr. Holtville: Holley DeVaughn, So., Bethanee Harris, Jr. Stanhope Elmore: Zoey Gipson, So. Tallassee: Kam Tate, Fr., Marlee Osborne, Fr. Wetumpka: Alyssa Brown, So., Bailey Carlise, So., Cassidy Bowers, Sr.
ELMORE COUNTY TO WRESTLE IN ALABAMA STATE GAMES
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
The Elmore County wres -
tling team will get quite the test next week.
The Panthers have signed up to participate in the Alabama State Games inaugural Duals Tournament held at Hewitt-Trussville on Saturday. It is a 16-team duals tournament that will feature many of the top programs across the state such as Tallassee, Thompson, Bob Jones, Mountain Brook, McAdory among others.
“There’s going to be a lot of good teams from every classification,” Elmore County coach Mason Thornton said. “We wanted to get a summer date in and we wanted to get a feel for the top guys in other classifications and see how we hold up against them.”
Elmore County is coming off a 2024 season where the Panthers finished 8th overall in Class 5A at the State Tournament. In the process, two individual wrestlers – graduating senior Myles Eyerly and rising sophomore Tyler Payton – won state championships in their weight classes. Four other returning Panthers qualified for the state tournament in Stran Webb, Dylan Andres, Luke Reinert and Hayden Fochtmann.
Thornton is unsure if every team member will be available for the trip up to Huntsville, but he is expecting to fill out a lineup of at least 12 kids.
“This is going to be a good opportunity for some new guys to get in and get some work,” Thornton said.
“We’ll get some younger guys and back-ups some summer work and see where they stand going into the fall. For some of our younger qualifiers, we’d like to see them take the next step here.”
Elmore County will have a talented wrestling team this year. Payton headlines the group coming off a 37-1 freshman season with a state championship, but the other returning state qualifi -
ers are no slouches either.
Webb and Andres, also rising sophomores, both had over 25 wins on the year. Webb went 27-17 while Andres finished 25-15.
Reinert, a senior who has really wrestled only one season, went 23-17 last season while Fochtmann went 17-17 in his junior year.
“It’s going to be really good work for everyone,” Thornton said. “That’s the main reason I wanted to go. I wanted our guys to either take the next step or find out what steps they need to take to get there. For some of the guys who weren’t qualifiers but were close, we’d like to see them continue developing. We’ll get to see them in action against some of the best talent in the state.”
While participating in the
State Games, every athlete is also invited to attend the State Farm Athlete Leadership Summit and Opening Ceremony on June 7th inside Legacy Arena at the BJCC. Registered athletes in attendance are entered into scholarship drawings where 34 scholarships (30 $1,000 and 4 $5,000) will be drawn, totaling $50,000 to be given away. Through the years, Alabama State Games has awarded 564 scholarships totaling $363,000.
“It’s a huge event,” Thornton said. “The sport of wrestling as a whole is growing and seeing these guys get opportunities for scholarships is a huge deal. And then they can get eyes on them early in their high school career. It’s a great thing all the way around.”
Elmore County hiring new softball coach
By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor
Elmore County High School is searching for a new head softball coach.
After a 15-11-1 season in Tranum Blackwell’s first season, the school and Blackwell have parted ways.
The job opening will not be attached to a teaching position — just a softball coach stipend. Any interested candidate should send their resume to Jason Eason (jason. eason@elmoreco.com) or Kyle Caldwell (kyle.caldwell@elmoreco.com).
Elmore County has been one of the most successful programs in Class 5A the last half decade. Between 2020 and 2024, including the COVID-shortened sea-
Elmore County’s Lalah Culpepper pitches earlier this season. The Panthers are searching for a new head softball coach after moving on from Tranum Blackwell after one season.
son, Elmore County went 131-52-4 and was a state qualifier in 2021, 2022 and 2023. In 2023, the Panthers finished No. 3 in the state after beating eventual
champion Brewbaker Tech before falling in the loser’s bracket semifinals at Oxford’s Choccolocco Park. This season’s 15 wins was the lowest an Elmore
County team has recorded since 2019.
Elmore County looked to continue the streak of Oxford trips as the Panthers clinched the No. 1 seed in area play and hosted the area tournament. The Panthers quickly went 1-2 in the area tournament, however, losing to Beauregard and rival Tallassee to end their season at home as they missed the Class 5A Central Regional.
Elmore County will return a handful of starters to next year’s lineup including leadoff hitter Addison Hicks, who led the team with a .488 batting average, and both starting pitchers in Lalah Culpepper and Addie Stephenson. The two combined for 165 ⅓ innings this year.
Elmore County’s Tyler Payton celebrates with coach Mason Thornton after Payton’s state championship. Payton and the rest of the Elmore County wrestling team will particpate in a 16-team duals tournament held at Hewitt-Trussville this Saturday.