280 Living
October 2016 | Volume 10 | Issue 2
neighborly news & entertainment
A ‘major change’ nears for Chelsea
STEP by STEP
By ERICA TECHO In 2012, the race for two council seats entered a runoff election. One of those races was decided by less than 20 votes, said Chelsea City Clerk Becky Landers. “People don’t need to assume, ‘Well, my candidate did well this time,’” Landers said. “Look at Place 4 — that was decided by nine votes [in the general election]. They just can’t assume. Every vote counts.” The need to vote is especially important this year, Landers said, as the runoff Neuendorf election will determine who becomes the second mayor of Chelsea. “This is an important race, and it’s going to determine who will be the mayor of our city for the next four years,” she said. “It’s going to be a major change, and people Picklesimer need to be a part of that decision.” Both of the candidates, Dale Neuendorf and Tony Picklesimer, are sitting council members and have served more than one term on the Chelsea City Council. In the Aug. 23 general election, Picklesimer received 47 percent of the vote; Neuendorf received 32.5 percent, and Alison Moore Nichols received 19.7. About 28 percent of Chelsea’s registered voters voted in the election, and those numbers are expected to be lower in the runoff. “One of the things I’m doing is really
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See RUNOFF | page A31
Life-altering condition gives OMHS coach Cris Bell new outlook
By SAM CHANDLER
C
ris Bell is easy to spot on Friday nights. Identifiable by his 6-foot-3 frame, gray hair and portable headset, the fifth-year head football coach at Oak Mountain High School patrols the sidelines with a glacial look that conveys austerity and concentration. But perhaps his most conspicuous trait — this fall, at least — is the distinct limp that accompanies every stride. There is a story behind the step. Bell, who has the chance this season to become the winningest football coach in Oak Mountain history, is on the road to recovery from an offseason back surgery that forced him to spend 40 days in the hospital. For seven of those days, he lost complete feeling and function in the lower half of his body, leaving him temporarily paralyzed from the waist down.
See BELL | page A30 Photo by Todd Lester.
INSIDE
Sponsors .............. A4 280 News ............. A6
Business .............. A12 Chamber..............A16
Community ........A20 School House ....A25
Opinion ................ C21 Calendar ............. C24 facebook.com/280Living
special section
home & garden
Sports .....................C1 Faith .................... C20
With the change in seasons comes home and landscaping improvements. Check out this guide to point you in the right direction.
See page B1
Got Hornet Pride? Chelsea High’s new band director Perry Lawley said he’s ready to make that great school spirit even greater.
See page C12