Tallassee Tribune June 18 2024

Stubbs updates council on recent legislative session

By MELODY RATHEL Multimedia Reporter

The Tallassee City Council revisited some items pending over recent weeks.

To start off the meeting, Alabama representative Troy Stubbs paid a visit to provide the council with some updates on recent state legislation. While many pieces of legislation may pass, that does not mean they auto-

matically become law.

“I just want to preface my statements today by saying there were over 700 combined pieces of legislation filed in this legislative session,” Stubbs said. “Less than 100 of them actually move through both chambers and make it to the governor’s desk.”

He mentioned the status of the state’s general fund and education budgets. The success of the budgets is attributed to revenue from sales

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

School is out but not all students, including

school graduates, are taking a break. Six teams competed at the Alabama FFA State convention.

“It went really well,”

Tallassee FFA advisor Dr. Daniel Free said. “I’m so proud of my kids.” Tallassee’s quartet and aquaculture teams repeated as state champions. Floriculture placed second

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

tax, other taxes and federal funds.

“We don’t anticipate that to be ongoing,” Stubbs said, “but we have put in place specific reserve mechanisms by which we do not even come close to spending everything that we are receiving each year because we recognize there will be times where we have needs in the future.” He also touched on the CHOOSE

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

MELODY RATHEL TPI

Troy Stubbs paid a visit to the Tallassee City Council at their most recent meeting. He provided updates on recent state legislature.

Police Reports

TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT

JUNE 16

• Debris was reported in• A motor vehicle accident was reported on Freeman Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Notasulga Road.

• Criminal mischief was reported on Second Street.

• Assistance was given to another agency on Redden Avenue.

• A fight was reported on Zion Street.

JUNE 15

• Suspicious activity was reported on Gene Street.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.

• Two Black males were arrested during a menacing call on Jordan Avenue.

• A Black male was arrested during a traffic stop on Jordan Avenue.

• An animal complaint was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• A disorderly person was reported on Friendship Road.

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

• An animal complaint was reported on Poplar Street.

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• A suspicious vehicle was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

JUNE 14

• A domestic incident was reported on Birch Street.

• A runaway juvenile was reported on Golden Drive.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Potts Drive.

• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries

was reported on Wall Street.

• An arrest was made on Barnett Boulevard.

• Assistance was given to medics on Gilmer Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.

• An arrest was made on Freeman Avenue.

• An animal complaint was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Trespassing was reported on North McKenzie Street.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Barnett Boulevard.

JUNE 13

• A fight was reported on Jordan Avenue.

• A noise complaint was reported on First Avenue.

• An arrest was made during a traffic stop on Gilmer Avenue.

• Drug activity was reported on Highway 229.

• A white male was arrested on Cobb Road.

• A white female was arrested on Ashurst Avenue.

• Harassment was reported on Freeman Avenue.

• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Jordan Avenue.

• Harassment was reported on Gilmer Avenue.

• Harassment was reported on North Johnson Street.

• Theft was reported on Jaden Court.

JUNE 12

• An arrest was made on Wood Street following a domestic incident call.

• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Third Street.

• A child custody dispute was reported on Barnett Boulevard.

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

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

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Lower Tuskegee Road.

• A reckless driver was reported on Tallassee Highway.

• Trespassing was reported on Stewart Street.

• Trespassing was reported on Herbert Street.

• A stolen vehicle was reported on Ransom Drive.

• A motor vehicle accident with no injuries was reported on Jordan Avenue.

• An abandoned vehicle was reported on Burt Mill Road.

• Suspicious activity was reported on Elm Street.

JUNE 11

• An arrest was made on Barnett Boulevard.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on North Johnson Street.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.

• A hit and run motor vehicle accident was reported on Venable Street.

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Oak Heights Road. Loitering was reported on Softball Way.

• Animal cruelty was

reported on Hillcrest Street.

• Reckless driving was reported on Patterson Street.

• Theft was reported on Upper River Road.

• Animal control was requested on Godwin Road.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Jordan Avenue.

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

• An animal complaint was reported on Benson Avenue.

• Two white males were arrested during a suicidal subject call on Joy Street.

• Theft was reported on Second Avenue.

JUNE 10

• Assistance was given to a motorist on Gilmer Avenue.

• A domestic dispute was reported on Third Avenue.

• Assistance was given to another agency on North Johnson Street.

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

• A domestic dispute was reported on Azalea Street.

• A civil disturbance was reported on Jefferson Street.

• Assistance was given to a citizen on Barnett Boulevard.

• An abandoned vehicle was reported on Jordan Avenue.

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

• A suspicious person was reported on North Ann Avenue.

• Debris was reported in the roadway on Gilmer Avenue.

Jordan wins Rotary Club raffle

The Tallassee Rotary Club held the Chill’n with Rotary Summer Raffle last month. This year’s winner is Sgt. Maj. Melanie Jordan.

Ramona Heil-Norris sold the winning ticket on behalf of The Learning Tree.

With these funds, the Rotary Club is able to fund a $1,000 college scholarship to a deserving student from Tallassee High School.

“The club is grateful for everyone who participated in this summer raffle. We appreciate all the hard work that everyone put in to make this happen,” club president Stephanie Weldon said.

The Rotary Club meets every Thursday and aims to serve the community and foster businesses.

Percy is a 7-year-old big boy whose owner loved him but, due to circumstances, was unable to keep him. Percy is a big chunk of boy. He weighs 140 pounds but also needs to lose some weight. He is house trained, crate trained and great with other dogs, cats and children; he likes to sleep on the couch and loves attention. Percy is a giant lap dog and incredibly sweet. Percy has one special need as he must take Thyroid Medication (1 1/2 tabs of 1.0 mg Thyroid medicine/once a day). This is not an expensive med and the pills are tiny so super easy to give in food or a treat. Percy has a lot of love to give so who will give this hunk of love a soft-landing spot for many years to come.

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. STAFF

Pet of the Week — Percy

CARMEN RODGERS TPI

Pictured from left to right: Ramna Heil-Norris, Sgt. Maj. Melanie Jordan, and Tallassee Rotary Club president Stephanie Weldon.

Humane Society of Elmore County News

SUBMITTED TPI

Reduce pet population

By REA CORD HSEC Executive Director

One of the realities in Sheltering is that when our intake is at its highest, adoptions are at their lowest. Spring and summer sees a huge influx of kittens and puppies in need of homes. But starting in June, adoptions fall as families are focused on vacations and summer activities. Adoptions pick back up in the fall which means summers are very, very hard in the Sheltering world. The chart illustrates the intake we have, what we are talking about and why shelter staff is stressed at this time of year.

The truly sad reality is that for every kitten, puppy, cat and dog surrendered to our shelter there are that many and more out in the community looking for homes. If you just take a quick look at social media, signs in yards, free kittens & puppies in parking lots, Vet Clinics, friends and acquaintances advertising kittens & puppies that tells you that there are simply more looking for homes than there are takers.

While our shelter pets are all spayed or neutered prior to leaving us when adopted, far too many of the hundreds of pets being given away in the community will not be spayed/

neutered in time to prevent their ‘oops’ litter and the vicious cycle of litters with nowhere to go will only continue.

While our adopted pets will all be spayed/ neutered, vaccinated, and microchipped prior to adoption ($50 adoption fee), if you do get a free pet, please take it to your Veterinarian immediately to get checked out and get its vaccinations started. Please also make (and keep) that appointment for the kitten or puppy spay or neuter no later than 5-6 months old and any adult immediately so you don’t end up with a litter in need of a home in the fall.

Spaying and neutering to prevent unwanted lit-

ters is the key to reducing pet overpopulation and the shelter and community overload of homeless pets.

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

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Our View Opinion

Juneteenth is a time for celebration, reflection

Frederick Douglass once said during a speech in 1852, “This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.”

Thirteen years later, the last enslaved people in America received news of the Emancipation Proclamation on June 19, 1865, two years after the proclamation was first issued. The formerly enslaved people rejoiced — marking Juneteenth, which has many names including Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day and Black Independence Day.

While for some the Fourth of July is considered Independence Day, it was not a day of freedom for all. Juneteenth puts Black people at the center of American history, marking it as the day of freedom. And yet it took until 2021 for this holiday to be recognized as a federal holiday.

Within this dichotomy, Juneteenth is a day of celebration of how far the nation has come, but also a time of reflection for how much further we have to go.

Freedom is a nuanced word. While there may be freedom in America, there isn’t equality.

For instance, Black women are 2.6 times more likely to die from childbirth than white women, according to the CDC. According to the Federal Reserve, only 3.4% of Black households make up the U.S. wealth with white households making up 84.4%. Out of the 500 Fortune CEOs, eight are Black.

These statistics are all linked to systemic issues that tie back to history. History, like being enslaved for the first 89 years of this country, being legally unable to occupy the same spaces as white people for the first 188 years or being unable to vote for the first 189 years.

These are just a few barriers Black Americans have had to overcome to be free in America that were put in place by white people. And while there is more work to be done, this Wednesday is a time to rejoice and a time to educate.

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

This year, our family decided to do Father’s Day a little differently. Usually, it’s all about finding my father-in-law the best gift he needs or wants. We all chip in a little — just like we do for Christmas or his birthday — to get him something really special. But this year, it wasn’t about the gifts or the best meal or anything monetary.

See, my father-in-law, Willie, is getting ready to have open heart surgery on Wednesday, and he doesn’t need anything but prayers and love right now. So when we asked him what he wanted for Father’s Day, he said simply: A day at Hatchett Creek with the family. So that’s what we did. We all loaded up the cars with our

LIZI GWIN Managing Editor

.jpeg attached to the email. Announcements will appear within 10 days in The Tribune, The Herald or The Observer.

respective crews. We ate ham and cheese sandwiches and red Doritos. It wasn’t glamorous and it didn’t cost much money, but it was all about the memories we made.

Willie and the boys went fishing for most of the day, catching a few little bass but not much worth taking home. But if you ask them, they could’ve spent hours on that creek — fish or not. They just love hanging out with Dad.

with the kids, swinging from the branches and dunking each other underneath the cool water.

long swim to meet the boys. At one point I thought my legs were going to fall off, but we made it safely and even got to see Willie catch a big one. What I realized is even though we didn’t

The girls and I went swimming

The best band trip ever

As I conclude 28 years in the public school classroom, we are revisiting some archival columns that ran as “Bird’s Eye View” in the TALLASSEE TRIBUNE. This one appeared in the Thanksgiving edition of 2010.

Last week (November 18-23, 2010), the Tallassee High School Band traveled to Chicago, IL to participate in the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival parade down Michigan Avenue.

The finished product for ABC will air Saturday, December 11th at 6:00 p.m. on WNCF-TV 32 in Montgomery.

We were one of two out-ofstate bands invited to participate, and were the largest band there. Over the past six months the “Pride of Tallassee” has been hard at work fund raising.

In all my years of band trips, I have never been a part of a better, more organized, and more educational band trip than this. This is partially due to the parents and boosters, and the great teamwork of our band staff.

But the community of Tallassee, always so supportive of the arts, is very fortunate to have Holtville native Mr. Robby Glasscock as the Director of Bands at Tallassee High. At a time when high school bands are on the decline, participation in the Tallassee bands continues to increase, as we have the largest band in Elmore County again this year.

The trip itself was coordinated very well, starting with a departure time of 11:00 p.m. on Thursday. This enabled the band to go to sleep in Alabama and wake up the next morning in Bowling Green, Kentucky for breakfast. By lunch, we were driving through a field of wind turbines in Indiana, and by mid-afternoon

Friday we had reached our destination.

Our hotel was a Holiday Inn situated atop the Chicago SunTimes building. From our hotel windows, we could see the Sears Tower and the surrounding buildings. The Chicago River was below, and the elevated trains raced by every few minutes.

We spent a day at the Field Museum, home of Sue, the largest Tyrannosaurus Rex ever discovered. Students marveled at the well-preserved Egyptian mummies and other natural history artifacts.

The band also had the opportunity to go to Navy Pier, a scenic and historic location. There is even a statue of Bob Newhart in front of the place! We saw Soldier Field up close, with renovations that looked like a giant hamburger stuffed inside the Colosseum. We saw an IMAX film while at the Museum of Science and Industry. We also went to the Water Tower Mall, the 8-story mall near the only surviving structure from the 1871 fire. Entertaining, thought-provoking, and filled with audience participation, the performance art by Blue Man Group was a one-of-akind experience for our students. After the Blue Man Group show, many of us set out for the definitive Chicago dining experience. I chose the huge Maxwell Street Polish dog at Portillo’s, and with onion rings and a chocolate shake it was, like most of our meals, less than $10. Later on, I checked out Giordano’s with a group of our chaperones and students for the famous thick Chicago pizza. With about two inches of cheese topped with tomato sauce, it was by far the best pizza I have ever eaten. Between Mike McElroy

and myself, we were able to handle two slices! We also went to the 94th floor observatory of the John Hancock building. “Big John” features an elevator that travels at a stomach-churning 25 miles per hour, but reaches the top in 45 seconds. From the observatory, one can see four states on a clear day While food was important, we went to Chicago to perform a medley of Christmas carols in the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival. A crowd estimated at 1.5 million people lined the streets of downtown Chicago as we formed our parade block behind Mickey Mouse, huge balloons, and Wilson Phillips. The parade stalled as we turned on to Oak Street near the start of the route. Our enterprising drum major, Tyler Sayers, encouraged by comments from some of the lady spectators, determined that the crowd needed to hear us and kicked off a miniature pep rally in the street. Once we started moving down Michigan Avenue, the scenery of the lights and the people in the big city was breathtaking. Chicago is a very clean town, and the people are extremely friendly. When we finally see our performance on December 11th on ABC 32, we can celebrate this tremendous accomplishment for Tallassee. But we will always have our memories of the Best Band Trip Ever.

Michael Bird co-hosts “The Saturday Morning Show with Michael Bird and Scott Adcock” on WACQ-AM 580 and FM 98.5.

MICHAEL BIRD Columnist

17 Springs to create generational impact

By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor

More than 100 construction workers are currently on site at 17 Springs bringing Phase 2 to life.

Six diamond fields already have turf. Soon the football field at the Highway 14 complex in Millbrook will too. The adjacent Field House at 17 Springs is coming to life as well.

It is all part of a $100 million project aimed at creating economic development and tax revenue for years to come.

“It’s an economic boom for all of us,” Elmore County Economic Development Authority director Lisa Van Wagner said. “There is nothing else in this state that can compete with this. This will draw visitors from all over.

Once the market place is developed, it will be a gold mine of continuous revenue for the county and our municipalities.”

The development is fronted with commercial space in front of the athletic facilities. Two hotels are close to coming to the development. That is in addition to hotels already open in western Elmore County and two currently under construction in Millbrook.

“It is going to perpetually serve and benefit us,” Elmore County Commission chair Bart Mercer said.

The growth in sales and lodging tax has enabled the commission to commit to funding another $20 million in quality of life

projects across Elmore County. There are more artificial turf diamond fields coming to Holtville and Eclectic. Turf is going down on football fields in those communities and Tallassee and all will be completed by next summer. Tallassee is also getting a new recreation center.

All of the work is creating attention across the state.

“We don’t bring it up but everybody asks about it,” Mercer said.

“They ask, ‘Hey what is it that y’all are building in Elmore County?’ Of course we love to tell everyone about it.”

Mercer and other officials across Elmore County are quick to note not one entity could pull all of these projects together by themselves.

“I have told multiple people this is an example of what you can do when you extract personal agendas and egos and operate as governmental entities,” Mercer said. “If you truly want to serve the people you represent, this is what it looks like. What we have accomplished is not only Class A facility but it is how we have done that has gotten the attention.”

The project in Millbrook involves five main partners — City of Millbrook, Grandview YMCA, Elmore County Commission, Elmore County Economic Development Authority and Elmore County Board of Education. The projects across the county have varied partners depending on the location.

Those include the City of Wetumpka, Town of Eclectic and the City of Tallassee.

Everyone brings something to the table to make the projects come together in each community.

At 17 Springs the YMCA had a donation of property with an idea to create athletic opportunities for area children.

“The property was a catalyst for a lot of this back in 2013,” Grandview YMCA director Bill Meyers said. “We had a very generous family to donate the property, and it allowed us to dream big and get other partners on board.”

The YMCA didn’t have the needed capital to pull together a large scale project in Elmore County. Conversations started with the City of Millbrook and the county commission. Over a period of time the partnership formed. Millbrook purchased more property and provided funding. Elmore County provided funding and

in-kind services such as site work.

A.J. Hernandez is the new CEO of the Montgomery YMCA. He comes from Texas and is used to large athletic facilities. He said the YMCA doesn’t have facilities like 17 Springs anywhere and the project in Millbrook is a new approach for the organization.

“It is really the future state of the Y,” Hernandez said. “This will be the example they will use around the country.”

The Elmore County Board of Education is providing property for some of the projects across the county. Board president David Jones is pleased with how the partnership has benefited so many entities.

“It is amazing what you can accomplish when no one gets credit,” Jones said.

Phase 1 of the project was completed last year and has drawn more than 100,000 guests. It is only about 20% of the work

CommunityCalendar

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JULY 15-19

at 17 Springs. Portions of the Blue Gray Tennis Tournament were at the complex. It has allowed Stanhope Elmore to create tennis teams. High school regional tennis tournaments have occurred there as well as numerous soccer tournaments. Its pickle ball courts are constantly full and drawing the attention of tournament officials as well.

The soccer fields can also be used for football.

Meyers said one organization called on a Wednesday to host a three-day youth football tournament just two days later.

“They are coming back in July, September and October to have a similar event bringing about 2,000 people,” Meyers said.

Junior college soccer teams are coming later this year from Florida, Texas and Louisiana.

“They are coming for two days of games,” Meyers said. “They meet here in the middle and invite

others to come here.” When Phase 2 of 17 Springs is complete in January 2025 and the other fields across Elmore County even larger events could happen.

Mercer envisions teams playing in all the communities on all the fields in a tournament-style play. In the case of softball or 12U baseball and under, the championship fields at 17 Springs will be a huge draw with shaded bleachers and spacious amenities. 17 Springs also has four other diamond fields for tournaments to take advantage of.

The Field House at 17 Springs is more than 80,000 square feet. It is large enough to house four basketball courts, eight volleyball courts or a dozen wrestling mats. There are ways to use the facility for conferences and training.

“That’s Mayor Al Kelley’s brain child,” Beyer said. “He pitched it to the group and got buy in. This will keep traffic in the complex year around.”

It all spills out onto a concourse overlooking the homestands of a stadium complex where soccer, football and track can occur. It is also being set up for outdoor concerts as well.

Many of the buildings can be used no matter what is happening. On the home side bathrooms can be used by those inside or outside. The concession stand and bathrooms on the visitors side of the stadium are the entrance to

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

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.

ROLLER SKATE: The Tallassee Parks and Recreation Department is hosting roller skating at the Tallassee Recreation Center on Gilmer Drive. Elementary students can skate from noon to 4 p.m. There will be an open skate from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

JUNE 23

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.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

CELEBRATION: The City of Wetumpka and Main Street Wetumpka are hosting an Independence Day Celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. in downtown. The celebration will feature music, fireworks and free family fun.

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.

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 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

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.

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 Christcentered, 12-step program for anyone struggling with hurts, habits, and hangups. Call 334-567-2364 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.

AA MEETING: Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are held Mondays at 7 p.m. located at 105 Tuskeena St. in Wetumpka.

RED HILL SCHOOL: The Red Hill School on Highway 229 in the Red Hill Community in Tallassee is open Fridays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for local live music performances. No admission is charged but donations are welcomed to maintain the building and pay for refreshments.

MASTER GARDENER HELPLINE: If you have gardening questions you can call the Master Gardener Helpline at 1-877252-4769. The helpline starts March 1 and ends in August.

CHILDREN’S HARBOR: Children’s Harbor Treasures and Thrift Store Located on state route 63 just south of Lake Martin Amphitheater, the Children’s Harbor Thrift Store is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. proceeds are used to help fund the activities at the Lake Martin campus of children’s harbor and the Family Center at Children’s Hospital. Call 334-857-2008 for more information.

CLIFF WILLIAMS TPI

The north end zone of the stadium of 17 Springs will be grass allowing another seating option.

kids do it together and enjoy the community aspect of it?” Lovelady said. “It has made some really special memories for the kids.”

There have been several “kids markets” in the last few years, including one at Christmas. The only requirement is that children do the work.

“The part I love most is they are not on any device,” Lovelady said. “They have to draw people in. They are looking people in the eye and communicating. They have to draw people into them with conversation.”

Children also gain skills through prep work for the market. Organizational skills, marketing and math to figure out if they are making a profit are all necessary when getting ready for the market.

At Saturday’s market, hand-carved rubber band guns with clothes pins on top were available.

“They were cool,” Lovelady said. “They sold out quickly. There were also some cane poles. There is a lot of creativity out here.”

Matthew Carr is going into the seventh grade and is homeschooled. He brought his wooden creations to the market. Some even had flowers and there were earrings he created too.

“I like working with wood,” Matthew said. “There was a tree we cut the top out of. That is where we got most of the wood. I cut down the pine tree to make the cross.” He also found an old board to create

signs from.

Matthew has been a seller at four of the markets now but creating with wood for about three years. He combined his love of horses and woodworking for his business name — Cowboy Carpentry.

“He works on it in the afternoon,” mother Allison Carr said. “It fits in with art, math, science and people skills.”

Bailey Hathcock, 16, likes to visit farmer’s markets. She found cotton candy at one and decided to put her younger sister’s small cotton candy machine to work about a year ago.

“I thought it looked fun,” Hathcock said. “I figured I would buy myself a machine and sell some too.”

Hathcock’s mother Jenny Lyn Spears said the teenager stayed up most of the night the first time making small bags of the sweet fluffy treat with her sister’s machine. Then bought the larger machine, tent and tables she currently uses.

“She has bought everything from that,” Spears said. “She has worked really hard.”

It has inspired her almost 18-year-old brother Elliott Hatcock to get in with a side hustle of popcorn. The 16 year old sees a future in it. She hopes to buy a trailer and operate her cotton candy business from it someday.

Hunter Beasley, 8, of Notasulga was a first time vendor at Saturday’s Kid’s Market.

“This is fun,” he said.

A quick look at Hunter’s inventory gives shoppers a large clue as to his business’ name — Hunter’s Squash Shack.

“It’s all we have to offer,” Hunter said. “I did it by myself.”

Hunter grew strawberries, but not didn’t have much of a crop. He is growing okra, sweet potatoes and corn but they aren’t quite ready to sell. Hunter explained the process to get his vegetables ready for the Kids’ Market.

“We had to plant it,” Hunter said. “We had to fertilize it, water it. We used wood for the garden beds, then used mulch and mushroom compost.”

Lovelady believes children can and should be involved in business and farm operations as it helps their minds grow inside and outside the classroom.

“It is amazing what these kids will come up with when left to themselves,” Lovelady said. “I’m proud of the kids in our community doing this.”

Continued from A1

after a state championship last year. Nursery landscape placed third. Construction and the meat science teams place seventh.

This year Tallassee fielded an agriscience fair team and it placed first.

“It is like the science fair with an agricultural foundation to it,” Free said. “We will move on to Indianapolis in that.” There are three FFA districts in the state and each sends four teams in each category to the state convention. The districts have competitions to see which teams qualify for state.

Free is especially proud of the construction team. His was the only one of the 12 to have three team members instead of four, but that wasn’t the most unique part about the team.

“That is a heavily male dominated competition,” Free said. “Out of 12 teams, there were only four females in the whole thing for construction and two were mine.”

The team had to take an exam before it was allowed four hours to construct a firewood holder with a cover.

act, which allows taxpayer dollars to follow a student if they decide to participate in homeschool or a private school setting. The bill would allow homeschooled students or other students in non-traditional school settings to participate in technical training or other workforce development training.

“We know that the landscape of education is changing, and we need to be prepared for that,” Stubbs said. “We are investing in our future leaders and future workforce in Alabama. They’re all citizens of Alabama, and we need all of them to be productive and enter our workforce and be effective in the future.”

Another important piece of legislation Stubbs brought before the council was a requirement for fentanyl education for high school students.

This will make a fentanyl education opportunity available and mandatory for all high school students to learn about the dangers of fentanyl and other recreational drugs they may encounter. Stubbs mentioned several bills related to child pornography were passed as well.

“Unfortunately now we even have to address artificial intelligence,” Stubbs said. “We actually didn’t have a way to prosecute someone for using the face of someone in (pornographic media).”

Another important piece of legislation Stubbs discussed was the Sound of Freedom act.

This law would impose a minimum sentence of life imprisonment for anyone convicted of human trafficking of a minor within the state of Alabama.

To wrap up his update, Stubbs informed the council there was a cap placed on property taxes. In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in residential and commercial

said. “They are not on the streets doing things they aren’t supposed to be doing.”

Saturday’s mission was simple. Despite the hot weather and slow catches, Phillips wanted to introduce the next generation of children to fishing.

“We all fished as kids,” Phillips said. “I think there is not as many fishing anymore. I think they would rather stay at home and play video games. We are trying to get the kids out.”

Eric Cagle grew up fishing the area, especially ponds. Today he guides others to catch crappie on Lake Martin, Lake Jordan, Lake Mitchell and Grenada Lake in Mississippi.

“Fishing kept me out of trouble,” Cagle said. “It has kept me on a straight line.”

Cagle contacted some of his sponsors about Saturday’s event. He was able to secure rods and reels for the children who participated.

“If we only have one or two kids today who fall in love with fishing, we have won,” Cagle said. It is not hard to introduce children to fishing. Cagle said there are plenty of ponds to go along with the rivers and creeks in the area.

“A pond is a perfect spot to start. You can walk around them pretty easily,” Cagle said. “You can fish off the bank. I don’t think anybody that has fished for a

Continued from A5

the diamond fields.

All of the fencing and partitions allow for limited to unlimited access meaning home and visitor crowds can be segregated if needed. It also means those in the diamond field area won’t necessarily have access to the stadium.

“We have ways to have mul-

property taxes. Stubbs said a law was passed making the maximum increase 7% in one year. This law is in place for the next 3 years.

In other business, the council made a decision to utilize the state for the city’s tax collection. After weighing the options between Avenu and the state, the council approved a motion to follow through with the state’s tax collection.

In recent meetings, the Tallassee City Council has been in discussion surrounding using Musco to provide lighting for the youth softball and baseball fields. Mayor Sarah Hall discussed the cost to install lighting in each facility. For the softball fields, $649,000, for Dixie Youth, $352,000, for the Babe Ruth complex, $465,000. There are multiple payment options available. If the council decides on a seven year payment plan for the lighting of the softball complex, the city would cost around $125,000 a year. For

a 10 year payment plan, it would cost $94,000. For the baseball complex, a seven year payment plan would cost $191,000 a year, and for a 10 year payment plan, it would cost $144,000 a year.

To increase the safety of the complexes, Hall encouraged the council to think about these options so a decision could be made in the next meeting.

IN OTHER BUSINESS, THE TALLASSEE CITY COUNCIL:

• Approved minutes from the May 14 work session.

• Approved minutes from the May 14 regular council meeting.

• Approved $500 donation to 10U girls softball.

• Approved a $200 donation to 8U girls softball.

• Appointed Clay Hornsby as an active municipal court judge on June 14.

• Approved to purchase four vehicles from the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office at $25,000 each.

period of time hasn’t fished off the bank before.”

Phillips also contacted the Alabama Department of Natural Resources. Conservation officers were on hand to speak about hunting safety and give children a chance to shoot a pellet gun at targets.

The goal of Saturday wasn’t to catch

tiple events at the same time,” Beyer said. The entire campus is pedestrian friendly. There are prep kitchens to allow catering for events. The facility will mainly offer stadium food. “Out front with the marketplace, that is where we are trying to push them for restaurants,” Beyer said. From the marketplace attention will be drawn back to the Fieldhouse on purpose. When

the biggest fish — it was to teach a skill used for a lifetime.

To start, Phillips and Cagle wanted the children to learn how to tie a hook onto a line and bait a hook. “We want to teach them patience because it is needed to be a fisherman,” Phillips said. “It also translates well to life, especially today.”

viewed from Highway 14, everyone will first see the retail, restaurant and hotel spaces and then the athletic complex behind.

The overall basic design is to have a noticeable visual impression on everyone.

“For this to work, there has to be a wow factor,” City of Millbrook projects manager Stuart Peters said. “It has to be a destination where the younger generation wants to come. 17 Springs, that is the place I want

to go. This isn’t the biggest stadium or complex in the state or Southeast. It is going to be the nicest with the best quality, the best construction.”

“It was an elevated piece that had a tin roof,” Free said. “They had to do dado notches. They had to cut tin. This is their first year doing it and got seventh in the state. I was super proud of them.”

Under the leadership of Jerry Cunningham, the three female and one male quartet of Draven Haynes, Anna Griggs, Emily Hacker and Sarah Jane Patterson kept its title of state champion.

“This is his 50th anniversary,” Free said. “He has established a name for Tallassee with the quartet throughout the state. They are so good.” Cunningham helped establish the quartet when he was a student at Tallassee. He moved to the area in ninth grade from the Atlanta area. He was a ninth grader and the only male in the glee club.

“It was all a shock — especially the culture,” Cunningham said. “They put me in ag. It’s a class I would have never taken before, but I did.”

Fifty years later he was asked to help Pike Road FFA start a quartet. They placed third in the state competition.

“Next year there are a couple of other schools he will likely help get started.” Free said. “He is a legend in it.”

Three Tallassee FFA students, Avery Nolin, Gracie Wallace and Jacqueline Sanchez, received their Alabama State FFA Degree. It’s the highest honor in Alabama FFA.

Only the agriscience fair team of Hannah Miller and Tien Vuong will compete in the national competition in Indianapolis.

John Robert Baxley, Addison Wright and Aleya Kindrick competed on the construction team.

Aubrey Cox, Hunter Andrews and Keegan Whaley competed on the meat science team.

Izabel Diego, Greg Bird, Ian Bankester and Adam Aldridge competed on the nursery landscape team.

Jacqueline Sanchez, Alison Tran, Hannah Miller and Hayden Lassister competed on the aquaculture team.

Jasmine Sanchez, Gracie Wallace, Alina Tran and Anna Eller competed on the floriculture team.

It is those amenities the partners believe will attract “next level events” from places like Atlanta, Birmingham and Nashville. It also helps to be centrally located in the state just one mile from Interstate 65. County tourism falls under the Elmore County EDA. Wagner believes all of the quality of life projects including 17 Springs will help in developing Elmore County beyond athletics.

“It touches all aspects of economic development,” Wagner said. “Families are going to want to move here because of this. Families who are already here will want to stay because of it. It will draw the eyes of other developers and potential industries looking for a place to locate. It will be incredible.”

CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI

Eric Cagle, right, shows a child how to tie a fish lure onto line at Saturday’s fishing event at the boat ramp in Tallassee. The event hosted by the Tallassee Parks and Recreation Department was designed to introduce children to fishing.

CLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI

Hunter Beasley, 8, of Notasulga poses with his only crop ready for sale at Saturday’s market — squash.

Passing the test with God’s help

Have you ever said, “I passed the test, Lord, and thank You for Your help!”?? Early one rainy morning, a quick trip to Walmart turned into a two hour trip. I got there at 6:00 and two flash drives were the most important items on my list. When I went to the electronics department I couldn’t find a clerk for that area, so I waited a while. An employee in another area tried to find someone who knew where the keys to the flash drives locks, but was unsuccessful. Around 7:00, an employee came to help, but couldn’t find the keys to unlock the flash drive locks. Additional employees also came to help, but the keys had obviously been misplaced. I thanked them for trying and walked to the customer service desk to see if they could help and a very sweet lady

MELINDA BLAIR Columnist

called for assistance. We talked about how customers sometimes become rude. But that never helps. It only hurts ourselves! After chatting, I headed to electronics where a friendly gentleman was waiting for me. He willingly searched for the keys, but was also unsuccessful. I jokingly said to him that if I had some scissors, I’d just cut the flash drive packages from the rack and be on my way. He smiled and giggled and then cut it with his box cutter. I went through the self checkout and when I got in the truck, I realized I’d not scanned an item, so I went back inside to pay. During that time, another customer had parked too close to me making it difficult to back out, and there was also a large SUV behind me that was sticking out too far. I chose to remain calm and inched the truck back and forth, up and over, and finally got out!

Natalie Grant’s song “To Be Held” began playing on my radio, and it reminded me of why I’d just passed my test. I began praising Jesus for wrapping me in His presence, peace, love, endurance, etc. Let’s try harder to carry ourselves with kindness and goodness even when we are tempted to lose our patience.

Natalie Grant’s song “To Be Held” began playing on my radio, and it reminded me of why I’d just passed my test. I began praising Jesus for wrapping me in His presence, peace, love, endurance, etc. Let’s try harder to carry ourselves with kindness and goodness even when we are tempted to lose our patience. Within a matter of seconds, we can tarnish our Christian character and reputation, and I’ve learned that biting my tongue is much less harmful than using it the wrong way. We can bridle our mouth with God’s help. James 3:2

Tallassee Churches

Surrounding Area Churches

Melinda Blair is a religion columnist for Tallapoosa Publishers Inc.

Elmore County’s Hernandez serves as Swiss Army Knife

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Tracking

Hines leads Elmore County to another area title

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Leslie Clark Hines has never been one to sit back and enjoy a win.

The Elmore County girls soccer coach has always moved on instantly and started preparing her teams for the next game, no matter what the situation was. She wants to win, and that has been her main priority. In 2024, she took a different approach with her team. She wanted to appreciate the wins a little more and spend more time just enjoying her team. In doing so, she found that led to just as much, if not more, success as she ran into in the past.

Hines and the Panthers went 12-3 this season and a perfect 8-0 in AHSAA Class 5A, Area 3. After claiming the area championship, they hosted a playoff game for the second-consecutive season.

For her team’s success, Hines is the 2024 Elmore County Girls Soccer Coach of the Year.

“I’ve just always had a hard time enjoying wins because I want so much success for my girls,” Hines said. “I want them to reap the benefits of their hard work. But this team really made it easy to just enjoy soccer and being around them. I didn’t have any drama, backlash or attitudes. I didn’t have to deal with any negativity and with that comes just a natural ability to

guide the young girls to play and enjoy a game and work together.”

Elmore County has dominated its current area, but the Panthers were basically an entire new squad this year. They returned just a handful of starters, and most of the team were new to starting and even new to the sport.

Out of the 21 members on Elmore County’s team, seven players had never touched a soccer ball before in their life. But Hines shifted some key players around and made a team that instantly found success on the field.

A lot of that was due to the team’s defense, where three returning starters played on the defensive line and a returning starter was in goal.

With that experience, Elmore County held teams to just 16 goals the entire season, good for 1.06 goals scored against the Panthers per game. They had seven shutouts, four of which came in area play.

“Our defense was really the backbone of our team,” Hines said.

“They allowed the ball to stay on our side of the field and it made the scoring opportunities more available for our girls.

I think the younger girls and the girls who didn’t have as much experience were able to buy into the system easier because they don’t know any difference. They were excited to

2024 ALL-ELMORE COUNTY GIRLS SOCCER TEAM

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

ALEE HERNANDEZ, ELMORE COUNTY SENIOR

Alee Hernandez has been named the Elmore County Player of the Year after a successful season manning the Panthers’ defensive line. Helping the team to seven shutouts, she also pitched in on offense with four goals and two assists. She is a fiveyear starter and capped off her high school career as a two-year captain.

FIRST TEAM

TANIA ALVAREZ, TALLASSEE SOPHOMORE

Alvarez served as the team’s leading goal scorer this year. Despite missing five games due to injury, she still managed to score 17 goals and added three assists. She was the team’s best player.

BELLA BROWN, STANHOPE ELMORE SENIOR Brown wrapped up her varsity career as a five-year letter winner for the Mustangs. The Stanhope center back anchored the Mustangs’ defense as they reached the playoffs again this season.

ANSLEY CAUDLE, ELMORE COUNTY JUNIOR

The Elmore County goal-

keeper was instrumental in the Panthers’ success this season. Caudle, who played over 1,200 minutes in goal, held opposing teams to just 16 goals on the season and pitched 7 shutouts. She had over 60 saves on the year.

JA’NIYAH COUSINS, STANHOPE ELMORE JUNIOR

Only a junior, Cousins was the team’s leading goal scorer this season in Millbrook. Playing a tough schedule, Cousins was a catalyst in many games when the team needed a spark and will continue in that same role as a senior next season.

CADI CREWS, ELMORE COUNTY SEVENTH GRADER

Crews is one of the youngest varsity players in the state at just 13-years old, but that didn’t stop the Elmore County forward/midfielder from dominating the varsity pitch. Crews scored 15 goals this season, good for nearly one per game, and added 4 assists for the Panthers.

KRISTINA ELMORE, ELMORE COUNTY SOPHOMORE

Elmore has been one of the county’s best players the last few seasons and that continued during her sophomore season. The center midfielder scored a team-high 16 goals as she helped lead Elmore

County to an undefeated area record and a playoff appearance.

JEWELIANA HOLTON, WETUMPKA SENIOR

Holton, after shining in the AHSAA North/South All-Star Game last summer, put on a show from the midfield position this year. The star senior scored six goals and added over 20 assists as she had a foot in almost every one of Wetumpka’s goals this year.

AUBREY PAGGETT, TALLASSEE SOPHOMORE

Paggett played in a multitude of roles this season but mostly settled in at wing and midfield. In just Tallassee’s second year as a varsity program, she scored 15 goals and added 5 assists and led the team in minutes played.

JOANNA PENA, HOLTVILLE SENIOR

Pena served as one of the county’s top defenders this season. The multi-year starter helped Holtville’s defense to allow just two goals per game and nine shutouts on the year. In her final year, she helped Holtville set a new program record for wins (13).

HAILEY PHELPS, HOLTVILLE EIGHTH GRADER Phelps jumped onto the

FILE | TPI

Elmore County coach Leslie Clark Hines celebrates after the Panthers scored a goal against Marbury in the first round of the AHSAA Class 5A playoffs. Elmore County went 12-3 and 8-0 in area play this season.

FILE | TPI

Tallassee sophomore Aubrey Paggett (10) lands on the All-County list after scoring 15 goals and 5 assists for the Tigers. She led the team in minutes played.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

COACH OF THE YEAR

HINES, Page B2 See SERVES, Page B2

Tallassee wrestles final summer play date

By HENRY ZIMMER Sports Reporter

For Tallassee wrestling’s final summer play date, the Tigers made the trip down to Auburn for one last scrimmage before the season.

On the heels of Tallassee wrestling in the Alabama State Games, coach John Mask and his team took on the likes of Auburn, Smiths Station and Benjamin Russell last Thursday. Each team used the meet for different reasons, with Tallassee using their time to adjust to the new AHSAA scoring methods. In 202425, a handful of maneuvers increased their point yields and Mask wanted to make sure his team got a good feel for the new scoring before practices begin in the fall.

“All the coaches and I were appreciative to get the refs in there,” Mask said. “To have them go through a live match and have the ability for the

kids to have practice with the new rules, it was great.” Next season, takedowns and nearfalls have increased their point total. What used to be a two-point takedown has been increased to three points and a nearfall has been upped from three points to four.

Many of the meet’s refs were still working out the kinks of the new scoring system, as were plenty of the wrestlers.

“If you had a six point lead with a minute to go you could cruise to a victory,” Mask said. “Now your opponent gets a takedown and a nearfall and he has the lead. Seven point moves are possible now. So that is different. Points are going to come a little quicker.”

Another big change for Tallassee wrestling will be the addition of a large girls program. Mask anticipates around a dozen girls to be rostered for the upcoming season, and took two girls to

be there and be a part of the team and we worked hard in the offseason to get ready. I just really relied on my veterans to build the team camaraderie.”

With new and inexperienced players lining the roster, Elmore County wasn’t blowing out teams like it had in the past. Eight of the team’s 15 games were decided by two goals or less, and six were decided by just one goal. Most of those were close wins.

Elmore County beat Holtville 3-2, Tal-

scene as a seventh grader a year ago, and she now lands on her second All-County team before even entering high school. The middle school forward shined at the varsity level as she scored a county-best 20 goals this season.

Auburn to get in work. Initially, the girls were going to just watch and absorb. Smiths Station however ended up having too many girls so the Tallassee contingency jumped in.

“They got out there and practiced a bit and wrestled live,” Mask said. “We are going to bring them on slowly. It was a good experience for them. I was encouraged to see them get out there and wrestle.”

Though wins and losses were secondary to the play date, Mask was pleased with how his girls and guys responded to the atmosphere.

“It was a blessing to get in some practice against other teams,” Mask said. “To see Auburn, Smiths Station and Benjamin Russell, it was a great afternoon of wrestling.”

The new scoring likely will be a season-long adjustment period for coaches, refs and athletes alike. Getting at least

lassee 2-1, Brew Tech 3-2, Horseshoe Bend 2-0 and Brew Tech a second time, 3-2.

“I call those gritty wins,” Hines said.

“You have to stay tough to the very end. It takes true grit to win some of those games. You walk into halftime and it might be 3-0, but that doesn’t matter.”

Elmore County likely could have won some of those games by more goals, but that wasn’t Hines’ objective. She wanted to get her team as much experience as possible. If the team went into halftime up 2-0 or 3-0 and she’d pull individual starters and put in new girls to get them varsity minutes.

Then she would rotate and put start-

MORGAN SIMS, WETUMPKA SENIOR Sims has proven to be one of the best players in the county every year she’s been a starter, and that didn’t change as she capped off her senior season. The Wetumpka forward scored a team-best 19 goals with five assists to lead Wetumpka back to the playoffs.

EMILY SMITH, WETUMPKA SENIOR Smith, after starring on the Indians’ basketball team in

one practice in with the new scoring only stands to help Tallassee and its team prior to the new season.

“I was impressed and pleased with our guys,” Mask said. “We got to put everything into a live match. For me, I wanted to get that work with the referees so the kids could get an early look on the new scoring and procedures. It gives you a heads up going into the season.”

In total, Tallassee wrestlers got around eight to nine matches with live refs to cap off the summer. All of that leads Tallassee in the right direction for its first foray into the new scoring system and new look of Alabama’s 4A classification.

“I am pleased with (the summer),” Mask said. “We have had good turnouts, the kids got a lot of good work in. I am really excited for the upcoming year and I think we will have a really good team.”

ers back in and take others out, letting someone else get valuable minutes. Sometimes that would allow teams to cut the lead to one goal near the end, but that led to valuable experience that can’t be replicated in an 8-0 blowout.

“We rarely scored in the second half,” Hines said. “We would get our goals and just hold on with our defense in the second half. That shows the youth of our group. But I was also trying to play as much as my bench as possible and getting girls experience they need moving forward. With that came some goals being conceded but that was worth it to me because now they have that experience.”

the winter, took to the soccer pitch and continued to shine for Wetumpka sports. The utility player was used in a variety of positions wherever she was needed and scored 13 goals with several assists.

SECOND TEAM

Jhakhia Anderson, Tallassee Reagan Christensen, Wetumpka Milly Crain, Tallassee Lindsay Davis, Wetumpka

SERVES

Continued from B1

allowed just 16 goals the entire season.

While doing that, she also pushed up and added four goals and two assists.

For her flexibility and dominance across the back line, Hernandez is the 2024 Elmore County Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

“Alee could play any position she wanted for our team,” Elmore County coach Leslie Clark Hines said. “She has a great leg on her and we could have utilized her in multiple positions but she helped us the most on defense. We’d pull her up when needed. She took every free kick. Most of the time, she takes corner kicks and wants to score. It’s a lot of pressure to be a player who has to score, but it’s more pressure to be on the defensive line. When you have a package player who is willing to do all of it, it just benefits the team greatly.”

Hernandez has been a part of Elmore County’s varsity team for the last six years. She was a starter for the last five seasons, and she was a captain both her junior and senior years.

She has played in a multitude of roles for the Panthers, and that role seemed to evolve this year into doing everything.

While dominating the defense line, she was asked to come up and be a massive part of set pieces. There, she was able to show off her leg and her skills.

She scored two goals off of free kicks. The first came in an area game against Brewbaker Tech, then she scored a second goal on a onefoot tapper off a corner kick. The Panthers won that game, 3-2, off her two goals. Later in the season against Brew Tech, she scored her third goal on a free kick against Horseshoe Bend. Her fourth goal came on a header off a corner against Pell City.

“She’s a very rare double-threat player who can dribble the ball up and take shots on goal while still hustling back to maintain her defensive position,” Hines said. “She is a beast in the stack during corner kicks and puts her whole body into the play to score a goal. Her free kicks would hold comparable to the best. Alee was the backbone of the success of our team this season.”

Elmore County was best on defense this year, and Hernandez played a critical role in that.

The Panthers allowed just over one goal per game this season. In the regular season, Elmore County had a shutout in half (7) of its games.

Those matches came against Pell City, Beauregard, Tallassee, Horseshoe Bend (2) and Valley (2). In area play, Elmore County allowed only six goals in eight games.

Hernandez helped stop potential goals from getting to keeper Ansley Caudle, and helped turn the ball up the field for the offense to score easy goals.

“Alee is the defensive player coaches dream of,” Hines said.

“She is tough, disciplined and passionate. She’s hard on herself and her teammates and she communicates on the field. She encourages her teammates and is a humble opponent who is often heard encouraging her opponents or helping them up when they have bounced off of her during an interaction on the field.”

Hernandez is also what Hines described as a perfect teammate.

Coming from a military family, Hernandez had one of the best work ethics Hines has seen in her coaching career. Instead of choosing early dismissal like most seniors, she instead came to workouts early and started working before the rest of the team.

Delaney Hines, Elmore County Kinslee Jackson, Holtville Caden Jordan, Elmore County Maddy Moseley, Tallassee Kennedy Rhodes, Holtville Savannah Scott, Holtville Isabelle Searcy, Holtville Katelynn Smith, Wetumpka Emily Spears, Elmore County Anna Claire Stark, Holtville

She did that while also working a part-time job and keeping her grades in check.

“Alee is an extremely hard worker and she’s just a rare find of a young athlete,” Hines said. “She’s so well rounded. She is just harder on herself then I could ever be. She wants to do better and be better every minute she’s on the field. With that leadership and that attitude of go, go, go, it translates to other players. She’s willing to run extra laps and she encourages her teammates to do the same because it benefits the team.”

HENRY ZIMMER | TPI

Tallassee wrestling took a mix of veteran and newer wrestlers to Auburn on Thursday for the team’s final play date of the summer. The Tigers used the meet as a way to get practice with the new AHSAA scoring system implemented for next season.

Local soccer stars named All-State

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

Elmore County is well represented in this year’s All-State boys soccer teams.

The AHSAA released its annual list and nine soccer players from across the county were named.

Wetumpka led the way with four players, while Tallassee and Stanhope each had two and Holtville had one player.

Elmore County was the lone school without a player named.

Tallassee’s Irvin Delfin and Wetumpka’s Brody Worrell were both named to the Super AllState Team, which consists of the Top 25 players in the state regardless of classification.

For Wetumpka, Worrell scored 38 goals to go with 20 assists out of the defensive mid spot. The UAH signee was the 2023 Elmore County Player of the Year last season. Joining him from the Indians, forward Austin Holley was named First Team. Holley scored 32 goals and added 15 assists.

Teammates Rhett Pinkston (5 goals, 10 assists) and Ashton Sipes (122 saves, 6 shutouts) were both named Honorable Mention in Class 6A.

Also in 6A, Stanhope’s Jay Myers and Trent Wineberg were both named Honorable Mention. Myers had 10 goals to lead the team while Wineberg, a keeper, had eight shutouts behind the Stanhope defense.

Delfin was named to the First Team in Class 5A after scoring a nation-best 65 goals with 21 assists. Teammate Yuren Rodriguez, a sophomore, scored 25 goals with eight assists to land on Honorable Mention.

Holtville’s Sam Segarra, a track and wrestling star for the Bulldogs, also landed on 5A’s Honorable Mention list.

Expanded College Football Playoff changes Super 7 locations

STAFF REPORT

TPI Staff

The AHSAA, in coordination with the cities of Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Opelika, have agreed to remove The University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium and Auburn University’s Jordan-Hare Stadium from the Super 7 High School Football Championships host site rotation.

The action became necessary due to the new expanded College Football Playoff plan that could require both schools to host playoff games in the future which would conflict with the AHSAA’s annual Super 7 football championships.

“We are grateful to the cities of Tuscaloosa, Auburn and Opelika, Auburn University, the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports and Auburn-Opelika Tourism for joining together to host our Super 7 since the rotation began in 2009,” said AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs. “The experiences and memories provided for our member schools, the teams, their students, and communities have been immeasurable. We understand, however, the conflicts that will be unavoidable in the future based on the expanded CFA playoff structure and format.” Birmingham and Protective Stadium, which hosts the Super 7 Championships next December, will remain in the AHSAA Super 7 host rotation, and the AHSAA is continuing to study other rotation options as well.

All parties regret the necessity for this rotation coming to an end.

Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said their communities have enjoyed hosting the Super 7 Championships and understand the positive impact the games have had on their cities as well as the lasting experiences and memories that have been afforded the state’s high school student-athletes, their schools, and communities at the same time.

“Hosting the Super 7 has been a tremendous honor for the City of Auburn,” Anders said, “The Super 7 serves as a pinnacle moment in the lives of many young students in Alabama. Our city has treated this hosting responsibility with the same level of professionalism that regular visitors to any local athletic event, conference, performance, or family gathering have come to expect. Our community has similarly served the teams, families, and other Super 7 visitors with a personal investment of time and effort that characterizes the Auburn Spirit.”

Maddox said his city embraced hosting the Super 7 Championships.

“The City of Tuscaloosa has proudly hosted many Alabama High School Athletic Association Super 7 State Football Championships since 2009, providing countless athletes, coaches, family members, and fans with an unforgettable football experience,” Maddox said. “Although

Tuscaloosa and Auburn will no longer be able to host due to the expansion of the College Football Playoffs, we are grateful for our partnership with AHSAA and look forward to seeing the event thrive across other cities in Alabama.”

Fuller said his city was glad to be a part of providing such life-long memories for the student-athletes, their schools, and communities.

“The city of Opelika is honored to have been a part of the Super 7 for many years,” Fuller said.

“The experiences had by the athletes, band members, students, cheerleaders, and fans are priceless. To be under the big lights in a grand stadium is something we all will remember for a lifetime.

We are hopeful to one day be back at Jordan-Hare Stadium (for the Super 7).”

The city of Tuscaloosa said it has enjoyed putting on the best possible showcase for the state’s top athletes.

“Since 2009, the teams at Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports and Auburn-Opelika Tourism have spared no expense and no amount of manpower ensuring that this event was a memorable one for all participants and spectators,” said Kelsey Rush, president, and CEO of Tuscaloosa Tourism. “Helping manage the event from start to finish with the help of those partners already mentioned has been an honor and a privilege.” Anders, Maddox and Fuller agree that hosting the Super 7 event has been

the result of many moving parts – with several groups working hand in hand.

“I want to thank Auburn University for allowing this event to integrate with the campus environment during traditional class days,” Anders said. “Thank you to Auburn University’s Athletic Department for their unwavering support of our partnership and complete commitment to providing a “Game Day Experience” for every Super 7 contest. A special word of thanks to Jeremy Roberts and his team at Auburn Athletics — they made each championship game feel like a SEC Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium. In addition, thank you to Eric Kleypas and his staff for providing a first-class playing surface for the Super 7 Tiger Transit provided crucial assistance as we brought thousands of visitors to campus while Auburn University students attended their final week of classes. And in “a tradition that is uniquely Auburn,” a huge debt of gratitude to the Auburn University Raptor Center for allowing the eagle flight before every championship game.”

Anders also praised the local law enforcement.

“No activity of this scale can be successful without the protection of local law enforcement.”

Anders said, “The Auburn Police Department was on site from the arrival of the first team and did not depart Jordan-Hare until the scoreboard was turned off. Outside of the stadium, APD directed traffic and provided police

escorts to each team as they made their way to campus and into Jordan-Hare Stadium. Thanks to the men and women who protect us every day in our community. You are the best.”

Each of the host communities relied on their passionate volunteers to provide the best experience possible for all schools participating.

“We owe a special “thank you” to our volunteers that furnished an enthusiastic effort to the Super 7,” Anders added.

“They served as team hosts and cheerleader and band liaisons. They led Super 7 Tiger Walks, unloaded team equipment, and supplied meals to those who were working the event. They were the Public Address team, Press Box staff and sideline and locker room detail. Whatever the task at hand, these selfless volunteers were ready to serve.”

The cities’ leaders agreed that participating in the Super 7 Cham-

pionships taught them much about the AHSAA’s education-based athletic experience.

“The Super 7 exposes our state to the best of Alabama,” Anders said.

“Talented youth, dedicated coaches, outstanding administrators, devoted families, and faithful communities … It’s been a great responsibility to host this celebration of all that is great about the State of Alabama. We wish all the best to the future of the Super 7.”

Briggs said the AHSAA is indebted to its Super 7 partners.

“Having two of the nation’s biggest rivals come together with their cities to provide the opportunity of a lifetime for our member schools is priceless and we can’t thank them enough,” Briggs said. “What we have been able to do with our championships thanks to the cooperation of such rivals has been envied in other states and set a wonderful example for all of us.”

Journalism - the collection, preparation, and distribution of news, commentary and feature materials through print and electronic media, reported on accurately, fairly and with integrity. Journalism gives a voice to the community. WHAT IS JOURNALISM?

Tallassee sophomore Yuren Rodriguez was named to Class 5A’s Honorable Mention list after scoring 25 goals this season.

SCORPIO

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Public Notices

@ than 2:00 p.m. CT, Tuesday July 2, 2024. Only those bidders who havements” from AHO Architects, LLC, will be included on the holders” for Addenda or other project information during the bidding period. Any prospecplan holders” must notify, in writing, AHO Architects, LLC of their intent to bid the project by 2:00 p.m., CDT, Tuesday July 2, 2024. A Pre-Bid Conference will be conducted at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, June 27, 2024, at the Second Floor Classroom (Room 201), of the State Military Department, 1720 Cong. W.L. Dickinson Drive, Montgomery, Alabama. All bidders are strongly encouraged to attend. Any errors or omissions made as a result of not attending will not be grounds for additional compensation.

J.BURTON ROWELL Acting State Property and DisTallassee Tribune:

AC-24-B-0040-S

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ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS STATEWIDE (CENTRAL REGION) ENERGY CONTROLS MODERNIZATION VARIOUS LOCATIONS, ALABAMA

Sealed bids will be received by The Armory Commission of Alabama, at the State Military Department Building, 1720 Cong. W.L. Dickinson Drive, (P.O. Box 3711), Montgomery, Alabama, until 2:00 p.m., Central Time, Thursday, July 11, 2024, for Statewide (Central Region) Energy Controls Modernization, Various Locations, AL (IFB# AC-24-B-0040-S), at which time they will be publicly opened and read in the Second Floor Classroom (Room 201), of the State Military Department, 1720 Cong. W.L. Dickinson Drive, Montgomery, Alabama.

(Power of Attorney is required) payable to The Armory Commission of Alabama in an amount of the amount of the bid, but in no event more than $10,000.00 per project, must accompany the bidder’s proposal. Completed Disclosure Statements are preferred to accompany the proposal. Performance and Payment bonds will be required at the signing of the contract. All entities must be registered to do business in the State of Alabama. All bidders bidding in must be licensed under the provisions of Title 34, Chapter 8, open to public inspection at the State Military Department, 1720 Cong. W.L. Dickinson Drive, State Property and Disbursing

Point of contact: Larry Crawley, samuel.l.crawley.nfg@army.mil. be obtained from the Architects,ris, amorris@ahoarch.com), set, which will be refunded in full upon return of documents in good condition within ten (10)calendar days of the bid date. Questions should be addressed, in writing, to Amanda Morris at AHO Architects, LLC, amorris@ahoarch.com no later

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 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 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), 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 189.65 feet to a 1/2” rebar capped Martin CA-563LS; 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 North 00 deg 00 min 03 sec East a distance of 77.48 feet to a 1/2” crimped top pipe; thence continue North 00 deg 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. Parcel 2: A portion of Lot 3 of Woodall Subdivision, as recorded in Deed Book 33, Page 589

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 Martin-CA-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” rebar

bama. 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. 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.

ELMORE

COUNTY SEES PROGRESS IN STATE GAME

DUALS TOURNEY

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

The Elmore County wrestling team faced off with the state’s best teams on Saturday.

Elmore County, along with Tallassee, made the trip up to Hewitt-Trussville to wrestle in the inaugural Alabama State Games Duals Tournament.

The Panthers were one of 12 teams to compete in the duals event. Ten of the 12 teams in the event were either Class 6A or Class 7A.

“Overall, we wrestled nothing but the top 6A and 7A schools,” coach Mason Thornton said. “We had eight guys and pretty much everyone but one guy got multiple wins. They showed they can compete with some of the best wrestlers in the state. To have every guy go five or six matches, they did very well.”

With only eight wrestlers, Elmore County started every single match down six rounds. That led to the Panthers having to forfeit at least three rounds in every match and at least four in five of the six matches.

With only eight wrestlers, Elmore County started every single match down six rounds. That led to the Panthers having to forfeit at least three rounds in every match and at least four in five of the six matches.

That led to some lopsided scores, as Elmore County lost to Bob Jones 51-14, Pelham 49-12, McAdory 60-12, Hewitt-Trussville 66-4, Auburn 46-15 and Opelika 42-24. The Panthers were down by 24 points to begin five of the six matches just on forfeits. With that being the case, Thornton and the Panthers never worried about winning. They wanted to com -

pete, and that’s exactly what they did.

“We were competitive against every single team we faced,” Thornton said.

A few of the individual wrestlers had impressive weekends.

Six of the eight wrestlers had at least one win, while two had 4-2 records.

Stran Webb, a two-time state qualifier, had one of the best days on the team. Webb went 4-2 with a forfeit win, a major win and two pins.

“Stran is really taking that next step,” Thornton said. “He made some minor issues in two matches and he knew exactly what he did

right after. He then fixed them and went back and won the rest of them.”

Hudson Fulmer also went 4-2 and had almost the exact same day as Webb. He won one match via forfeit then earned a major win and had two pins.

“Hudson looked great offensively,” Thornton said. “He was great off the whistle in the matches he won. We haven’t had much practice with him over the summer, but he showed out.”

Rising senior Haggan Parker went 3-3 on the day with three pins, earning him one of the most impressive days of any Panther. No other wrestlers on the team had more than two pins.

“Haggan is really trying to take those next steps further,” Thornton said.

Grayson Meeks, Kayden Haskins and Luke Reinert all had at least one win in the tournament.

SUBMITTED TPI

The Elmore County wrestling team wrestled in the Alabama State Games duals tournament held at Hewitt-Trussville. The Panthers finished in 12th place in the tournament.