Read Across America week Page A-10
Tigers pick up victories at Hazel Green, Oxford Page B1
Hometown newspaper of David Sparkman- since 1933
Hartselle Enquirer
50 CENTS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2024
VOLUME 91, NO. 12
Veteran Hartselle firefighter charged with possessing child porn By David Gambino For the Enquirer A Hartselle man arrested Friday and charged with nine counts of possession of child pornography was an 18-year veteran firefighter and supervisor with Hartselle Fire & Rescue who resigned last month, according to
Hartselle city officials. Craig Anthony Knox, 45, remained in Morgan County Jail on Monday in lieu of a $675,000 bond following an investigation begun in February by the Priceville Police Department, according to the department. Priceville police Assistant Chief Jason Wilbanks
arrested Knox I’m just not going at a residence in to comment on any the 4000 block of of it I don’t think.” Alabama 55 East Several firefightin Eva, accorders who worked ing to Priceville with Knox declined police. to speak on the “I just know he record for fear of (Knox) resigned jeopardizing their Knox on Feb. 18,” said employment. Hartselle Mayor Randy “I was with him for about Garrison. “At this time, six months on shift,” said
Hartselle firefighter Gray Keenum. “But right now, that’s all I can say.” Priceville police Chief Jerry Holmes said the nine charges against Knox all involve materials depicting one victim. He said investigators are still combing through data retrieved from Knox’s electronic devices in a search
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warrant. “We’ve got a while to go, so we’re not sure what all we have just yet,” he said. “It’s still an active case. It’s going to be active for a while. These things can’t happen overnight, so we really don’t want to release any more than we have See CHARGED, page 10
‘ Photos by Kelsey Hensley
PHOTO BY WES TOMLINSON
Construction of the new Priceville Junior High continues this week. It is expected to be complete by July 2025. The new Priceville Junior High is under construction on New Bethel Road. It will hold up to 800 students.
New Priceville Junior High School slated for July 2025 completions By Wes Tomlinson For the Enquirer PRICEVILLE — Through the mud and rain, workers continued building walls and hanging steel beams in the new Priceville Junior High building on New Bethel Road this week, staying on track for officials to open the school in time for the 2025-26 school year. The current Priceville Junior High facilities on Alabama 67 were built during the 1960s and include several smaller buildings. Principal Ashley McCulloch said having a single, modern building with all her students under one roof will be a luxury. “The school is going to offer some more modern amenities so we’re real excited,” McCulloch said. The $31 million, 101,000-square-foot school will be located next door to the high school. It will hold up to 800 students, which administrators expect to accommodate the growing population in the community. The school currently has 510 students in grades 5 through 8. From 2010 to 2020, Priceville’s population increased by 32%, from 2,658 to 3,512, according to the census. Residential development has accelerated since 2020. Morgan County Schools Superintendent Tracie Turrentine said the Priceville and West Morgan schools are the fastest growing schools in her district. “We are seeing a lot of growth but it’s coming in waves,” McCulloch said. “I know we’re going to
Obituaries • Johnnie Ruth Hughes • Charles Robert ‘Bob’ Haley • Jennifer Hardin Prater • Joyce Webster • Mary Sue Callahan
see between 125 and 140 students per grade level in future enrollment” at Priceville Junior High. Turrentine said there will be additional facilities and programs at the new Priceville school that the current school building does not have. “All of their science teachers will have their own science labs, and then we’ll have the agricultural department separated by itself,” Turrentine said. “The multimedia room is a makerspace (collaborative work space) area where students will be able to do more coding with computer science.” Turrentine said her district works with the State Department of Education’s AMSTI program (Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative) to receive hands-on math and science kits for students to use. She said the large science labs will give Priceville teachers the opportunity to order larger, more complex kits. Turrentine said workers were finishing constructing walls this past week and have poured all of the concrete. “One thing that is kind of unique about the gym is it’s going to have a multipurpose room,” Turrentine said. “This room will be big enough to have an extra physical education class or (staff ) can have meetings there, like teacher training.” Turrentine said there will be two basketball courts on one side of the gym and a volleyball court on the other side. The basketball
By Staff Reports Get ready for an undersea adventure as Hartselle Drama brings “The SpongeBob Musical” to life at Hartselle High School auditorium this weekend. Based on the popular animated series by Stephen Hillenburg, this production adds an eco-conscious twist, highlighting environmental challenges in Bikini Bottom. Directed by Lisa King, the show aims to transport the audience into the colorful world of SpongeBob and friends. The production is made up of a cast and team of 58 students from Hartselle schools. Don’t miss “The SpongeBob Musical” from March 21-23. Tickets are available at msbtickets.com. For more information, contact Lisa King at lisa. king@hartselletigers.com or 256-6121208.
See SCHOOL, page 7 For full obituaries, see page A-2
• Frank Morrison Hollingsworth • Danny Ray Cox • Lillie Mae Cagle • Jerry Ingle • Randy Joe Hughes • Hudson Knox Hargett • Jerida Bennefield • Kildon Blaze Lee Green
Special to the Enquirer Get ready to hop into spring with the Easter Bunny at Veterans Park on Saturday. The park will come alive with excitement as the annual Easter Egg Hunt kicks off, promising a delightful day for families and children of all ages. With 4,000 candy-filled eggs scattered throughout the park, along with
four hundred special $1 prize eggs, there’s plenty of treasure to be found. The hunt will begin at 2 p.m. To ensure fairness and fun for everyone, the hunt is divided into four age groups. The youngest egg explorers, aged 0 to 2, will gather at the gazebo, where they can be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Meanwhile, the 3 to 4-year-olds will embark on their
quest on the small ball field, while the 5 to 7-year-olds will search the expansive large ball field. The older adventurers, aged 8 to 10, will line up behind the small field along the right side, ready to dive into the excitement. In case of rain, the event will be held at 2 p.m. on March 30. Veterans Park is located at 520 Highway 67 S., Priceville.