Meetings
A lcoholics A nonymous, 12-step groups
• The Goose Hung High Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, First Church of Nazarene, 5415 Highway 157, Cullman. Closed literature study, Sundays, 3 p.m. Handicap accessible. • Open Minds and Miracles, Narcotics Anonymous Meeting, Monday-Saturday, 7 p.m., 406 Pine Ave. S.W., Decatur. • Hartselle Hope Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 527 Sparkman St. S.W., Hartselle. Monday-Saturday, 7 p.m.; Monday-Friday, noon; Monday-Friday, 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Women’s meeting, Saturday at 10:30 a.m., Roger C., 910619-3313. • J.S. Cocaine Anonymous (All Welcome), Monday and Thursday, noon and 8 p.m.; Saturday 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., 717 Alabama 67, Suite 4, Priceville. • Beltine Recovery Group (12 Steps), Tuesday and Thursday, 7 p.m., Beltline Church of Christ Room 323, 2159 Beltline Road S.W. All meetings are open to anyone. All meetings are non-smoking. For information call 256-620-0306. • Stairway AA Group: Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 5:30 a.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: 8 a.m.; Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday (Women’s), Sunday: 12:15 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday: 5:30 p.m.; Monday, Wednesday, Friday (Speaker): 7 p.m.; Sunday: 7 a.m.; Located in Gateway Shopping Center, 1820 Sixth Ave., #G3, Decatur. Entrance off of Magnolia St. S.E., in back. All meetings are nonsmoking and non-vaping. Wheelchair accessible. For Open or Closed designation, see aahuntsvilleal.com. 256885-0323. • For information regarding Overeaters Anonymous, call 505-891-2664 or visit oa.org. • For information regarding All Addicts Anonymous, call 888-422-2476 or visit alladdictsanonymous.org. • For information regarding Narcotics Anonymous, call 256-227-2986. Al-Anon • Al-Anon Meeting, Hartselle Hope Group, Monday and Friday: Face to face only, 7 p.m.; Wednesday: Zoom only, 7 p.m. For Zoom information call 256-612-7972 or 256-773-9626. • Easy Does It Al-Anon Family Group meets Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 801 Jackson St., Decatur. All meetings nonsmoking. For more information call 256-341-7168. 888-425-2666, 256-8850323, al-non.alateen.org, alnwfl-al-anon.org. • Celebrate Recovery, a 12-Step group for those affected by various addictions, Thursdays, large group meeting, 6:30 p.m.; gender-specific groups, 7:30 p.m.; child care provided; Decatur Baptist Church, 2527 Danville Road S.W. 256-353-8579. support groups • Celebrate Recovery, Mondays, First Methodist Church Hartselle, 210 Hickory St. S.E. Dinner, 5:45 p.m., $3 suggested donation. Large group meeting, 6:30 p.m., followed by Small groups, Free childcare is provided. Follow the signs. The entrance is on the Short Street side of the church for Celebrate Recovery. • Parkinson’s Support Group, 10-11 a.m., Decatur Rehab Access, 2349 Danville Road, Decatur. Second Tuesday of each month. No charge and everyone welcome. Join us for a group discussion on common issues that you face as you live with Parkinson’s disease or care for someone with it. We will also talk about planning ideas for future activities in the Decatur area. 256-973-4900. • Camp Hope, a one-day grief camp for children (5-13) who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Hospice of the Valley’s Community Bereavement Center, 240 Johnston St. S.E. Call for schedule. Please see Meetings, A5
The naTure beaT
new designaTion
Conservation officers bring law and order to the outdoors
Cook Museum named N. Alabama STEM Center
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Courier Journal Decatur
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Published by The Decatur Daily, Decatur, AL. Articles are written by The Daily’s reporters.
Distributed to more than 17,000 homes each Wednesday VOLUME 48, NUMBER 27
WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2025
Council votes to hire Mack By Bayne Hughes For The Decatur Courier Journal
Birmingham Police Capt. Torry Mack became Decatur’s next police chief in an unconventional way Monday night — if he agrees to accept the job. Mack received unanimous support as chief on a night in which City Council President Jacob Ladner did not allow public comment, except for on ordinances or alcohol licenses as required by law.
The council chamber was full and unusually quiet. Half of the chamber was filled with people wearing Mack black as they continued their protests of the deaths of John Scott Jr. and Steve Perkins. The City Council is seeking to fill the chief’s position left vacant when Todd Pinion was
pressured to step down to captain in March following the rev iew of DPD by Green Research & Technology. The review was part of the City Council’s response to the fatal shooting of Perkins on Sept. 29, 2023, at his Ryan Drive Southwest home, by then-Decatur police officer Mac Marquette. Marquette was indicted for murder. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial is scheduled for June 9. Several people attending the council meeting wore the
same kind of spit masks as Dec at ur pol ice put over Scott’s head when he resisted arrest April 15, leading to a struggle that included police stunning him during his apparent mental health crisis. DPD took Scott to Morgan County Jail and after he suffered medical issues he was transported to Decatur Morgan Hospital. He died a week later at Huntsville Hospital. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is investigating. A fter Monday’s council
meeting, the group picketed on the sidewalk along Lee Street Northeast in front of Cit y Hall. The protesters included some of the people arrested and then banned f rom Cit y Hall a f ter last week’s rowdy council work session. Councilman Billy Jackson pushed for the council to m ove fo r w a r d w it h t he appointment of Mack even though Human Resources Please see Chief, A5
‘Impacting the students’ Jubilee
returns for 48th year By Graciann Goodin For The Decatur Courier Journal
ability to move test scores,” Decatur City Schools Superintendent Michael Douglas said in April 2022 upon her transfer to Woodmeade. That ability has been evident at Woodmeade. She has spent nearly three full years there. The school received a C on the state report card her first year before improving to a B in each of the next two years. “I’m ver y pleased with where we are and how we are growing,” Hanson said.
The Alabama Jubilee HotAir Balloon Classic, one of the largest and longest running hot air balloon festivals in the nation, returns to Decatur on Memorial Day weekend. T he 4 8 t h annual Jubile e w i l l b e held at Point Mallard Park. More than 30,000 Martin g uests a re expected to attend, as well as about 60 pilots from across the nation. “It ’s definitely the most prominent festival we have and the widest range of travelers we see from all over the country,” said Emma Martin, communications director at Morgan County Tourism. L eigh A nn Under wood, director of group sales and special events and Jubilee liaison for Morgan County Tourism, said she thinks Jubilee’s u n iquenes s at t r ac t s t he crowds. “It’s something that you don’t see happening everywhere,” Under wood said. “Not every town has the place for it, the capacity, or even the people that’ll work.” Pilots will compete, offer tethered rides and light up Point Mallard with the fanfavorite Balloon Glow. Brian Dial, communication chairman for the 48th Jubilee, recommends getting to the field mid-afternoon when planning to attend the evening events, Saturday’s Balloon Glow and Sunday’s fireworks show. The festival will also feature the Hare and Hound Race and the Lynn Layton Key Grab. Pa r t icipat i ng ba l loons include the iconic Decatur balloon, River City Drifter, Tweety, Yellow Bird, Chase from “Paw Patrol,” Police Dog, the watermelon, Seedquel and Pepsi. The event and on-site parking are free, but the Point Mallard parking lot fills up fast. Shut tle bus rides w ill be of fered from the General Electric parking lot from 3–11 p.m. each day. It costs $5 per person per day for a
Please see Job, A5
Please see Jubilee, A5
Jeronimo Nisa/For The Decatur Courier Journal photos
Woodmeade Elementary School Principal Aundrea Hanson has worked as a reading interventionist, assistant principal and principal in Decatur City Schools.
Hanson: Being principal lets her help more kids, staff By R. Sirvell Carter For The Decatur Courier Journal
Ask Woodmeade Elementary Principal Aundrea Hanson to compare her experiences as a principal with her years as a teacher, and she will tell you she enjoys t he i mpac t she can make in her current role. “ B ei ng a principal allows me to impact every student, whereas when I was a teacher, I was just impacting the students that I touched,” she sa id. “ Being a pr incipal allows me to impact every student by making sure each student has the opportunity to learn and grow to reach their potential at any age. Also, being a principal allows me to grow teachers and help them to become a master of their craft. “I think that’s what I’m enjoying a lot is that I have an assistant principal, and I use my knowledge to train her to become a good leader.” Hanson’s inspiration to pursue a career in education came during her childhood. “I think it goes back to growing up in a rural county,” she said. Hanson grew up in Eutaw, located in Greene County in west Alabama. “ T here weren’t m a ny
On the
Job
Woodmeade Elementary School Principal Aundrea Hanson walks with some of her students. She said she likes having an impact on numerous students as an administrator.
career opportunities (there),” said Hanson, 54. “During my childhood, educators back then were held in high regard by students, parents and the community. They not only served their students, they were so involved in the community and the community activities. Their selflessness and commitment to giving back inspired me to pursue a career in education.” Hanson achieved her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees at Alabama A&M and earned certificates from Georgia State and UAB. She
began her career teaching second grade for two years in Selma before joining Decatur City Schools. She served as a reading interventionist at Leon Sheffield Elementary, West Decatur and Banks-Caddell Elementary before spending one year as an assistant principal at Oak Park Elementar y. Next she was hired as the principal of Benjamin Davis. A f ter eight years at Ben Davis she became principal at Woodmeade. “ She has always been exceptional with data and the