College Street Players to present ‘Newsies’ Page A5
A look at Hartselle’s new baseball coach Page B2
Hometown newspaper of Randy Lusk- since 1933
Hartselle Enquirer WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 2024
VOLUME 91, NO. 25
50 CENTS
At 90, Carl Winton keeps on trucking By Rebekah Yancey rebekah.yancey @hartselleenquirer.com At 90 years young, Carl Winton is not ready to slow down. The army veteran and family man can still be found driving his wrecker around Hartselle, helping stranded motorists on the side of the road as if he were half his age. For half a century, Winton has dedicated his life to the wrecker service, becoming a beloved fixture in the Hartselle community. He has owned multiple wrecker and towing businesses through the years. Currently, the family owns and operates AA Wrecker Service in Hartselle. What first started as a job quickly became a lifelong passion. “People often ask me when I’ll retire,” Winton said with a chuckle. “I tell them I’ll retire when I can’t climb into the truck anymore.” That day seems far off. Carl’s energy and enthusiasm are contagious. He maneuvers his tow truck with the ease and precision of a seasoned pro, responding
to calls at all hours, in all weather. His service is as reliable as ever. Winton has seen it all. From breakdowns in the middle of nowhere to latenight rescues in winter weather – and he said each call is a chance to help someone. Winton said he loves to help people out of tough situations and enjoys seeing the relief on someone’s face when he arrives to a situation where he can help. Winton’s family marvels at his resilience and commitment. His daughter, Karla Gibson, often accompanies him on calls, though she admits she can hardly keep up. “Dad’s got more energy than most people half his age,” Karla said. “He loves what he does, and I think that’s the secret to his vitality.” “Carl is one in a million,” his son-in-law, Russ Gibson, added. Lt. Daniel Parker with the Hartselle Police Department said Winton is a regular on the scene of accidents in Hartselle. “I’ve never seen him on a scene he couldn’t control,” Parker said. “He can
work circles around some of these guys – he clears the road in a timely manner and is great overall at his job. “I wouldn’t hesitate to call him if I needed him.” His family recently held a 90th birthday and family reunion in his honor. Winton, the oldest of nine children, celebrated with more than 70 family members. Leaving school in the eighth grade to help provide for his family, Winton has served in the military, owned multiple businesses and traveled the world. In the U.S. Army, Winton served in Germany and Antartica. He helped the team work on the fuel expansion of the Blackbird SR 71 aircraft. His favorite job? Driving his wrecker around Hartselle. “I plan to keep doing this as long as I can,” Winton said, eyes twinkling. “It’s not just a job to me; it’s a part of who I am.” “I enjoy my life, I really do,” Winton PHOTO BY RACHEL HOWARD said. “If life gets any better at 100 than it is at 90, I don’t know if I’ll be able to Carl Winton, 90, owns AA Wrecker service. He said he stand it.” has no plans to slow down.
Goodbye to a good boy PHOTO BY JERONIMO NISA
Hartselle Camp Meeting president Rob Cain prays over an attendee at a previous camp meeting.
By Staff Reports The 125th annual Hartselle Camp Meeting will begin Sunday and run nightly through June 28 at the Hartselle Tabernacle. Featured speakers will be Phil Waldrep, evangelist and founder of Phil Waldrep Ministries, Tommy Gray, lead pastor of Asbury Church in Madison and Mike Pope, senior pastor of First Methodist in Hartselle.
By Staff Reports
Customers of Hartselle Utilities will see higher rates for water, sewer and natural gas services on their bills beginning next month as rates were adjusted at a board meeting held June 10. The rate change will become effective July 1. The water customer charge will increase by one dollar. Additionally, there will be an incremental increase of $0.0486 per 1,000 gallons of water consumed. For the average residential user, this adjustment will result in an estimated increase of $1.20 in their monthly water bill. Nationwide, electricity prices rose 3.6% over the last 12 months, outstripping the broader inflation rate of 3.2%, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in March. HU general manager Bob Sittason said rate increase is
Obituaries • William ‘Pete’ Thompson Jr. • Mary Wright Lewis ‘Cricket’
Waldrep will speak June 23 at 7 p.m., Pope will speak June 24 and 28 at 10:30 a.m., and June 25 and 27 at 7 p.m., and Gray will speak June 24 and 26 at 7 p.m., and June 25 and 27 at 10:30 a.m. Rob Bean from First Methodist in Hartselle will lead the music. Hartselle Tabernacle is located at 35 Tabernacle Rd., Hartselle. For more information, visit hartsellecampmeeting.com.
due to the rise of inflation. “ We have gradually increased our rates over several years instead of increasing them all at once several years ago,” Sittason said. “This allows for a minimum financial impact to our customers and provides Hartselle Utilities with the necessary resources to operate each utility.” Sewer The sewer Customer Charge is set to rise by $2, with an additional $0.1118 per 1,000 gallons. This means the average residential sewer bill will see an increase of approximately $2.40 per month. Natural Gas For natural gas customers, the customer charge will go up by a dollar, with volumetric charges increasing by $0.0192 per CCF. Residents who use natural See UTILITIES, page 3 For full obituaries, see page A-2
• Sherrill Lavon Gibson • Terri Treece • Wilma Mount
PHOTO BY RACHEL HOWARD
Ace, a 13 ½ American Pitbull was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of oral cancer. Despite his prognosis, Ace is living his best life.
By Rebekah Yancey Rebekah.yancey @hartselleenquirer.com May 26, Beth Foote got the news no pet parent wants to hear: her beloved dog Ace had oral cancer. At nearly 14 years old, the American Pitbull has been a constant source of joy for the Foote family. When he slowed eating and showed signs of pain, Foote said she was immediately alerted to something not being right. Concerned for Ace’s wellbeing, his family made an urgent trip to Morgan Animal Hospital. Thanks to the compassionate staff and the expertise of Dr. Chuck Gill, Ace was seen immediately, despite his regular veterinarian being out of town. The family expressed immense gratitude for the swift and considerate care provided by the hospital staff.
“Waiting until Monday wasn’t an option,” Foote said. “We couldn’t bear the thought of him suffering through the weekend. I called at 3:30 in the afternoon and they got him in almost immediately.” Faced with the aggressive nature of Ace’s cancer, his family made the difficult decision to forego a biopsy. Instead, they have chosen to focus on providing comfort care, ensuring that Ace’s remaining time is filled with love and dignity. Pain management and palliative care will be prioritized to keep Ace as comfortable as possible during his final days. Foote said Ace takes Prednisone and Tramadol daily to keep his pain and other symptoms at bay. “To look at him, he seems fine and happy,” she said, adding she is thankful for the medicine that eases his pain and discomfort. As Ace’s family prepares to make the
most of their remaining time with him, they do so with heavy hearts but also with thankfulness for the joy and companionship he has brought into their lives. In his final dog days of summer, Foote said she is making sure Ace will be surrounded by the love of his family and is able to enjoy all his favorite things. From visiting Cabela’s to look at the fish, eating ‘pup cups’ at Oliwia’s Shave Ice and downtown window shopping, Ace is having the summer of a lifetime. Ace enjoys regular visits to Lowe’s, where he gets plenty of attention and petting. During Christmastime, Foote said he enjoys walking the tinsel trail and riding around to see the lights. He also loves swimming at the beach, despite his fondness for drinking salty water. When fishing, he delights in
See GOOD BOY, page 2