FEMA approves $1.5 million for Hoover flood mitigation project
By Nathan Prewett,
HOOVER, Ala. – FEMA recently approved $1.5 million in funding for a flood mitigation project in Hoover as part of a larger round of projects announced across five states.
According to the agency, the funding in Alabama will go towards the purchase and demolition of four proper-
4
Leeds chamber to host 31st annual Creek Bank Festival on May 16
New owners of Dobbs Ford celebrate first year of managing dealership
After prolonged political lecture from Mayor Thomas, Springville Council approves pay raise for police
By Terry Schrimscher
Staff Report
SPRINGVILLE,
Ala. –
BPD arrest six during operation to curb exhibition driving
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.
By Chris Basinger, News Editor
The Springville City Council took a detour Monday night before it returned to unfinished business held over from the Feb. 17 meeting. After an extended work session and a short break, the March 3 meeting began around 6:45 p.m.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.
– A new lawsuit searching for $400,000 in unpaid bills has deepened the financial strain on the Pihakis Restaurant Group this week, as the firm experienced reported business closures across the Birmingham area, many of which are claimed to be temporary.
As the meeting got underway, the council approved the minutes from the last meeting in February.
Employees at Rodney Scott’s BBQ in Trussville told customers on Sunday that it was the restaurant’s last night to be open. The Trussville location did not open on Monday or Tuesday.
afterward, Thomas said he just needed to air his frus trations because the council sometimes delays making decisions it needs to make.
He discussed his motion to add unaddressed items from the February meeting to a proval. That approach was
The Birmingham Police Department stated that six people have been charged in the department’s most recent effort to target illegal exhibition driving in the city. According to the BPD, the Special Operations Bureau carried out Operation Knight Rider on April 24-
LEEDS, Ala. – The Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce, on Saturday, May 16, is set to host its 31st annual Creek Bank Festival at Leeds Memorial Park. The event will consist of a full day of live music, vendors, food, and family activities. A rain date is set for May 23.
focus on city business.
The Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce had scheduled a Chamber After Hours event for April 30 at the restaurant. On Tuesday, the Chamber notified members that the event would still be held, but the location was changed to Walk-On’s Bistreaux.
challenged members of the council to raise their hands if they agreed never again to leave a meeting before the conclusion of business. No hands raised. Along the way, he said the council’s lack of leadership on salaries would be a burden on the city.
Leeds Council approves roadway safety grant application, appoints BOE member
Nathan Prewett
It has been a year of firsts for Dobbs Ford as new owners Joey and Rachel Goshein recently celebrated their first year as managing partners and as members of Human bones found by local dog are connected, coroner says From Tribune staff reports
According to AL.com, Birmingham-based Evans Meats filed suit Monday, April 27, in Shelby Coun-
Mayor Dave Thomas motioned for them to reconsider the minutes noting members motioned to adjourn before conducting business on the agenda without that motion being recognized. Thomas then proceeded to deliver a dissertation, as he called it, for the next 55 minutes, cross-referencing political history, addressing recent editorials, and quoting Teddy Roosevelt, Jesus, and Socrates along the way. Although not technically a filibuster, the lecture was designed to prolong the meeting allowing Thomas to air his displeasure at the lack of
ty Circuit Court against 19 restaurants-affiliated firms tied to organization, seeking $394,238.73, plus interest, collection costs, and attorney fees. The suit alleges breach of contract tied to meat sold on credit to the restaurants.
“The council had every opportunity to redress the error but chose otherwise, wanting to move on, showing their frustration and the effectiveness of the filibus-
was that if you make an error it can’t be corrected. That the error becomes a mistake,” he said. “But now the window to act has closed as of last Wednesday, shackling the next administration with the consequences of their actions,” he said.
Town in Birmingham.
Many other cities in the prove non-controversial items with a single vote through a consent agenda, a procedural process used to ing process, Thomas led the er project which will need further action for financial decisions. The council also renewed the city’s garbage collection contract with Waste Management.
Items from the Februagenda were addressed individually. The purchase
The lawsuit arrived amidst a larger wave of closures that has grown over the last few weeks, including six more Pihakis-affiliated restaurants announcing
Foxhound Bee Company to bee-gin construction on new education center
Hoover High School employee charged with distributing sexual material involving children
The following story was originally published by Drew Taylor of WIAT.
The following report contains graphic allegations involving sexual crimes against children.
HOOVER, Ala. (WIAT)
– An employee at Hoover High School was arrested on campus Thursday and charged with sending graphic sexual images of children.
By Chris Basinger, News Editor
IRONDALE, Ala. – Bee
enthusiasts will soon be swarming to Irondale to visit a new beekeeping education center designed to teach students and community members about the world of pollinators.
had at Hoover High or how long he had been employed there.
Merrick Wilson, spokesperson for Hoover High School, released the following statement Friday evening:
opened on Saturday.
Restaurants named in the suit include seven Hero Diner locations plus the business’ acquisitions LLC, three Little Donkey restaurants, two Luca restaurants, Psito in Atlanta, four Rodney Scott’s BBQ locations and the now-closed Tasty
LEEDS, Ala. – The Leeds City Council has approved an application for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads For All (SS4A) planning and
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A human skull and a left tibia found by a dog in East Birmingham last year are confirmed to have belonged to the same person, according to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office. The link was confirmed
Speaking to The Tribune
See Page 2
See RESTAURANT, Page 4
5 See FESTIVAL, Page 4
Leeds High School freshmen take action to address rising school shootings
By Tanna McGuire
LEEDS, Ala. – Over the past 25 years, school shootings in the United
Irondale swears in city officers, approves culinary incubator and other contracts
Terry Schrimscher
of America (FCCLA), are determined to address this pressing issue through their state conference project.
Birmingham-based Foxhound Bee Company is preparing to break ground on the 5,000 square foot facility
in the coming weeks, which will serve as an expansion from its current location in Hardware Park. In addition to educational opportunities and STEM programming, the center will also sell a range of products sourced from bees, including honey and beeswax, as well as supplies for beekeepers. It will be built across from the all-new Ruffner Sports Complex, which
Darrell Wade Alldredge, 51, of Odenville, was arrested at HHS by agents with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency at 9:11 a.m. Thursday. According to ALEA spokesperson Amanda Wasden, Alldredge’s arrest was part of an ongoing investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program. Court documents indicate that Alldredge is charged with two counts of disseminating obscene material. Specifically, the charges detail images regarding two girls, one younger than 16 and another no older than 3 years old. He allegedly sent these images last year on Aug. 2 and Oct. 15. While not a teacher, it is unclear what job Alldredge
“Hoover City Schools was notified of allegations involving an employee. The employee has been placed on administrative leave. The district is cooperating with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency as it conducts its investigation. Because this is an active investigation being handled by ALEA, all additional questions should be directed to them.”
“When looking for a place to build our new beekeeping store, we continued to hear comments about how Irondale was doing great things,” said founder Adam Hickman.
Alldredge was subsequently taken to the Jefferson County Jail, being released shortly after posting a combined $60,000 bond.
“Everyone on the project seemed to speak highly of working with Irondale and its leadership. So, when we approached the
The case remains under investigation.
IRONDALE, Ala. –Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. swore in Police Chief Paul Kellogg, City Clerk Leigh Allison and Fire Chief Josh McDaniel on Tuesday night during the regular meeting of the Irondale City Council. All three were previously serving in the same positions.
Allison and McDaniel were unanimously confirmed by the council to return to their positions in No-
The young leaders have not only compiled critical statistics but are also working with local officials and educators to promote stronger safety measures in schools. Their project, which will be presented at the FCCLA state conference in March, aims to raise awareness about the devastating impact of school shootings and propose actionable changes to improve safety protocols in Alabama
Current federal requirements mandate that schools perform lockdown or intruder drills; in Alabama, public schools are required to conduct two such drills per semester. However, Davis believes these measures are insufficient and is advocating for more frequent and comprehensive drills.
vember. Kellogg served as interim police chief last year after the retirement of Chief Jason Wiggins. Kellogg was confirmed as the permanent chief in December.
sentiment, emphasizing the emotional and psychological toll that school shootings take on students and their families.
“You shouldn’t have to worry about being scared when you’re just trying to learn,” Johnson said.
“When people’s lives are on the line, we can’t just do the bare minimum,” Davis said.
“Schools should take intruder drills as seriously as they do fire or tornado drills.” Johnson echoed this
“I want to thank Mayor Stewart for his continued trust and faith in me, and I want to thank the City Council, but most of all, I want to thank the officers and supervisors in my department who make my job easy and hard at the same time,” Kellogg said. “I want to thank the citizens of Iron-
“We need to make sure that every school feels safe and ready to anything that could happen.”
McCormick highlighted the importance of turning awareness into action.
dale, the wonderful city of Irondale, past, present and future.” After a brief executive session, the council resumed regular business and approved the FY 2024-25 audit and an amendment to the current annual budget on the consent agenda. Also on the consent agenda was a tax abatement for CAV Kitchen LLC for redevelopment of property located at 1507 Alex Drive
“School shootings are such a huge problem, and we See BEES, Page 3
See STUDENTS, Page
A concept of the new education center in Irondale. (Foxhound Bee Company)
Pictured: Beatrice McCormick, Madilynn Johnson, and Amelia Davis.
The Trussville Tribune
190 Main Street
Trussville, AL 35173 (205) 533-8664
Scott Buttram, Publisher publisher@trussvilletribune.com
Brady Flanigan, Editor trusstribeditor@gmail.com
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Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor John Goolsby, Sports Writer news@trussvilletribune.com
Sherry J. Parker, Marketing Executive & Photographer, sherry.parker@trussvilletribune.com
My granddaddy said you can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat a dog. Someone who treats a dog badly, is a bad person. A person who treats a dog with regard and deference is a good egg.
Right now, my wife is holding our blind coonhound, Marigold. She holds our rescue adoptee like a baby. Not like a dog.
Marigold’s face was struck with a blunt object. Her optic nerve scarred over. She lost her vision. The doctor removed one eye.
“What probably happened,” the vet said, “is that someone paid a lot of money for this hunting dog, but Marigold turned out to be gun shy.”
Her abuser wasn’t happy about shelling out thousands of bucks for a dog who doesn’t like noise. So he took his frustration out on the animal. He used a hard object. Perhaps the butt of a rifle.
My wife is softly humming to Marigold. “I love you,” she is quietly singing to the animal.
We’ve had our dog several years now. Life with a blind dog was tricky at first. Not like having a regular dog at all. When we feed Marigold treats, for example, you
have to touch her to let her know you’re near. Then, Marigold simply opens her mouth widely, gyrating her head back and forth.
“I don’t know where you are,” she’s saying, “but I’m opening my mouth to make it easier for you.”
Marigold’s internal schedule is all screwed up, too, because blind dogs can’t sense light or darkness. So they have no idea what time it is. Sometimes Marigold wakes up at 1 a.m. and starts licking my face. And I start cussing and I say, “Please go back to bed.” Whereupon Marigold barks with glee. Because there is nothing half as fun as 1 a.m.
But, we love this animal.
Namely, because we don’t have kids. As a result, my wife and I have a huge vacuum in our hearts. Which is why we sometimes fall deeply in love with other people’s children. And it’s embarrassing because they aren’t ours, and people look at us funny.
Marigold is like our kid. Because this blind dog needs us for everything. She can’t do anything for herself.
She needs us for simple tasks like finding her food bowl, or walking through new places. We hold her when she has nightmares— which is common for blind animals. We talk to her, from whatever room we are in, just so she knows where we are in the house. It’s been the most rewarding animal relationship I’ve ever had. And whenever I see Marigold crawl onto my wife’s lap, when I see this woman speak softly to this wounded animal, when I see her stroke Marigold’s fur and kiss her broken skull, I feel something profound. Jamie Dietrich holds the animal like an infant. She kisses the mangled scars where Marigold’s eye used to be.
“Oh, I love you so much,” whispers my wife. She is a woman who is filled with compassion and goodwill. And she has proven to me that my grandfather was absolutely right.
Trussville resident paints portrait of Coach Dobbs downtown to honor his legacy
Brady Flanigan, Editor
TRUSSVILLE, Ala. –
As Trussville continues to mourn the loss of its longtime Hewitt-Trussville
coach and science teacher, David Dobbs, one former student has found her own way of honoring her mentor.
Jodie Ping said she was inspired to paint a portrait of Dobbs and place it by the clock tower on the northwest corner of Highway 11 and North Chalkville Road in downtown Trussville on Saturday, April 25, describing it as a tribute to the man who taught her, but to a grieving family and town as well.
“Coach Dobbs was my science teacher in high school for two years and I loved him dearly,” Ping said
in a message to The Tribune. She said she graduated between Dobbs’ daughters and was also taught in middle school by his wife, Anita Dobbs.
“This is a tragic loss for Trussville and I wanted to honor him,” she said.
“I wanted to do something for him, the family and the town.”
Dobbs, a longtime Hewitt-Trussville coach and science teacher, was killed Wednesday, April 15, in a crash on Interstate 59 near Trussville. His death shook the community that knew him as a championship
coach and educator for 30 years, but also as a mentor and ideal citizen.
Ping’s memorial stands as a reflection of the impact former students and residents say Dobbs left on their life—a reputation that went far beyond athletics and stayed with many long after graduation.
In the days since his death, tributes have continued to surface across Trussville, each trying in its own way to express what Dobbs meant to the city. For Ping, that took the form of paint, memory, and a portrait left downtown for others to see.
Jodie Ping beside her portrait of Coach Dobbs.
L oca L / R egion
Belgian brewery launches new light beer in Birmingham
Brady Flanigan, Editor
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.
– A Belgian brewery with origins dating as far back as 1758 has decided the Magic City will be the launching pad for its new light beer designed specifically for American audiences.
Brewery Martens is a family-owned brewery in Bocholt, Belgium, who is now launching BeLite in the Birmingham area through distributor Buffalo Rock Company.
According to a memo, the beer was designed as part of an extended effort by Buffalo Rock President and CEO Matthew Dent, who stated he first conceived of a partnership with the Martens family after visiting the
brewery’s museum more than a decade ago.
The companies describe BeLite as a “Domesticated Import,” a light Belgian beer brewed for an American palate and the Southeast’s outdoor lifestyle.
“We have spent nine generations perfecting the art of Belgian brewing, and we believe Birmingham is the perfect place to begin our next chapter in America,” said Martens Chief Commercial Officer Bob Martens.
Dent said Birmingham’s
location and lifestyle made it an ideal fit for the product’s launch in America.
“I have carried the inspiration from my visit to the Martens museum with me for fifteen years,” Dent said. “Both Martens United Brands and Buffalo Rock are family-owned companies with deep-rooted legacies of independence and quality. To see BeLite finally hitting stores in our home market is a significant milestone for both families.”
According to the release, BeLite contains 90 calories, 2.2 carbs and 4.2% alcohol by volume. The beer is now available at retailers in the Birmingham-area including Piggly Wiggly, Hop City Beer & Wine, and Western Market.
Jefferson County list local road work projects for the week
Staff Report
JEFFERSON COUN-
TY, Ala. – Work projects for the upcoming week in Jefferson County were listed on Monday. According to the project schedule, Commissioner Joe Knight’s District 4 will see plenty of activity from April 27 until May 1.
The County will be paving on Emerald Lake Drive East, paving prep work on Clayton Road, paving maintenance on Bradford Hopewell Road, Bone Dry Road and Advent Circle.
Ditch work includes drainage improvements on Bill Jones Road, Morris Majestic Road, Floyd Bradford Road, Happy Hollow Road, Anderson Road, and
Old Bradford Road. Right of way work includes vegetation management on Narrows Road Bone Dry Road, and mow-
ing on Water Street, Elm Street, New Castle Road, Brasher Road, Hammond Road, Pine View Road, and Deshazo Drive.
Jefferson County EMA reflects on April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ala. – Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency is marking the 15year anniversary of the April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak, by remembering those who perished and reaffirming its focus on preparedness and resilience.
In a statement, the agency said April 27, 2011, left a lasting mark on both Alabama and Jefferson County. Officials noted that 62 tornadoes were confirmed across the state that day, including 29 in Central Alabama. Among the most destructive was the EF-4 Tuscaloosa-Birmingham tornado, with winds estimated as high as 190 mph and a path more
awards $200,000 in microgrants for youth intervention
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –
The City of Birmingham has awarded $200,000 in microgrants to 14 local organizations as part of an effort to empower youth intervention and violence prevention across the city.
According to the city, funding comes via the 2023 U.S. Department of Justice Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative grant, and is intended to financially support services connected to the RESTORE program, which is operated by the Jefferson County Family Resource Center.
RESTORE, standing for Reduce, Educate, Support, Train, Organize, Realize, Empower, focuses on what the city describes as “systems level” issues that are affecting families involved in Family Court. Officials said the grants are designed to expand wraparound services for at risk and high
risk youth between 11 and 19 who are involved with court.
The city said the money goes to supporting mentorship, workforce readiness, support for education, life coaching, and family stabilization.
“This investment is intentional,” Mayor Randall L. Woodfin said in the release. “We are prioritizing organizations that are closest to the work and closest to the individuals most impacted by violence. These groups are trusted, credible, and already making a difference in our communities. By resourcing them, we are strengthening what works and building a more coordinated, effective violence prevention ecosystem.”
The city said several of the organizations took part in the Community Violence Intervention Practitioner Program at Miles College in the summer of 2025 in part-
nership with Rise Up Bham.
The 14 recipients are Anitra’s Light; Community Care Development Network; BuildUP + Tactical Community Action; Be Kind Birmingham; What About Us; Grace Klein Community; Youth Towers; Rebirth Community Corporation; Our Community Bridge; Harmony & Heritage; Crescent Cultural Community Center; Genius (GenTu); I Love Me More + Partners Uplifting our Daughters and Sons; and Inspire Justice.
“We’re investing in what works; trusted organizations, credible messengers, and real relationships,” director of Community Safety Initiatives for the City of Birmingham, Uche Bean, said in the release. “This is how we reach young people earlier, interrupt cycles of violence, and build safer communities in a way that lasts for generations.”
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80 miles long. According to the statement, that storm alone caused more than 1,500 injuries and 65 deaths. Jefferson County EMA also pointed to damage caused by several other tornado tracks that occurred that day, including those affecting Coaling, Altadena, Mountain Woods Lake, Cahaba Heights, and the Argo-Shoal Creek-Ohatchee area. The agency said the 65 lives lost in Jefferson County were among more than 250 people killed statewide during the outbreak. “Today, Jefferson County EMA remembers April 27 not only for the destruction it brought, but for the strength, unity, and neigh-
bor-to-neighbor support that followed — and for the call to action that continues to guide our work,” the statement said.
The agency said its ongoing work includes community programs and planning efforts such as CERT, GIS mapping, mitigation planning, mass notification systems, public education, training exercises, and partnerships aimed at reducing future losses.
“Our mission is rooted in remembrance — honoring those we lost, supporting all who were affected, and committing ourselves to building a safer, more resilient Jefferson County,” the agency said.
To schedule an appointment, please call (205) 622-9844 or scan the QR code below.
ties in Hoover. FEMA said two of the homes were covered by the National Flood Insurance Program and choosing to demolish them will eliminate future flood insurance claims connected to the homes.
The project in Hoover was part of $19.9 million approved for long term flood mitigation work approved in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, and South Carolina.
FEMA said money is being distributed through its Flood Mitigation Assistance program and Swift Current, which are designed to help states mitigate flood risks before future disasters oc-
Irondale
in Irondale. The commercial building will be used as a culinary incubator. After an expected $2.8 million renovation, the building will also house leased kitchen space for area food trucks, a bakery, a canning facility and public catering space.
“A large majority of our portfolio is food service and food production-type businesses,” said Samuel Kellett, chief operating officer of Sabre Finance. “We get a lot of feedback from our borrowers, and they are in commissary kitchens or they are on six-month wait lists to get into commissary kitchens in the area,” he said.
“What we are going to do is build out this commissary kitchen to be a cu-
tions in Florida and South
linary incubator,” Kellett said. “It’s really got three things. We have a food production space for canning and for processing. That’s really where the idea came from — there wasn’t really anything around in the commissary space that allowed them to package goods and do wholesale or sell those out. We also have the standard catering, baking and standard kitchen spaces as well,” he said. The facility will also feature educational courses for entrepreneurs, such as ServSafe, to equip clients to operate at high levels of food safety.
Sabre is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution, or CDFI, serving as a funding and technical partner on the project and is also moving
into the city to occupy space in the building. L. Ray Morris serves as CEO of Sabre and organizer for CAV Kitchen LLC.
The council also approved the purchase of property located at 2000 Crestwood Blvd. for $1,350,000. The item was placed on the consent agenda because a funding source already exists.
The council also approved the acceptance of Section 5307 transportation grant funds from the Regional Planning Commission to purchase a wheelchair-accessible bus for the seniors program. The grant will provide funding for the $125,000 purchase with a $24,000 match from the city. Funds are already set aside in a designated fund for the seniors program.
Poll reveals where Alabama fans would want their ashes scattered
Brady Flanigan, Editor
ALABAMA – A new survey by SportsbookReview.com explored the depths of sports fandom by asking Alabama fans a blunt, albeit slightly bizarre question: “If given the choice, which stadium would you want your ashes scattered in?”
The group surveyed 3,013 sports fans across the state, and Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa ranked first for Alabama fans’ preferred final resting place, followed by Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn.
SportsbookReview.com
said 26% cited emotional memories tied to fami-
ly, friends, and childhood as the deciding factor in choosing the location they did. Lifelong support for a team followed at 25%. 19% said it would be meaningful for loved ones. 17% said the location felt like a second home, and 13% said it symbolized their identity. The survey also found 64% of respondents would choose the field or court if given a specific location inside a stadium, while 32% would prefer outside the stadium, and 4% would choose the stands. It also found 23% said they would still consider scattering ashes even if it was not allowed. When asked how loved ones might feel about carry-
The free event will feature dozens of vendors, local businesses, nonprofit booths, and specialty offerings. Organizers said attendees can expect a wide range of both local and international food options.
Live entertainment will include singer-songwriter Lynnox Poe, music by the band Love Rat, a performance by Elvis tribute performer Terry Padgett, and Hank Williams music performed by Jason Petty.
The event will include balloon art, face painting, a hula hoop contest, train rides, a bounce house, petting zoo, and a number of other family-friendly activities. The event is also supposed to have commemorative T-shirts in limited numbers at the Leeds’ Chamber booth.
The festival’s “Cruising the Creek Bank” car show also return. The proceeds will benefit the Backpack
temporary closures; among them four restaurants at Valley Post in Chelsea — Rodney Scott’s BBQ, Hero Doughnuts & Buns, Little Donkey and Luca & Lucy — as well as Rodney Scott’s BBQ in Trussville and Hero Doughnuts & Buns near Railroad Park in Birmingham. Hero Diner in Montgomery had also announced a permanent closure.
According to the Shelby County Reporter, visitors to the Valley Posts locations on Monday evening were turned away by a security guard, while workers were seen moving supplies out of the stores to be sent elsewhere. The paper reported that all four restaurants at the Chelsea development had shut down.
The Reporter also broke down the amounts al-
ing out such a request, 30% said they would feel honored, 49% said they would feel comfortable but unsure how to do it, and 21% said they would feel uncomfortable. When asked, “Should stadiums allow it?”, referring to the spreading of ashes, slightly more than half, 54%, said ash-scattering should be allowed in controlled circumstances.
“Sports stadiums are some of the few places left where multiple generations share the exact same emotional experience,” SportsbookReview.com Editor-in-Chief James Bisson said. “What we’re seeing here isn’t just about fandom – it’s about memory, identity, and belonging.”
25 with support from Star 1 and the department’s Drone Unit.
Officials stated the operation resulted in six arrests and six exhibition driving charges. Officers also seized two firearms and impounded six vehicles.
BPD said Operation Knight Rider was launched in 2024 by Chief Michael Pickett in response to what the department described as a rise in exhibition driving incidents across Birmingham.
Police said the initiative
legedly tied to the Valley Post restaurants in the Evans Meats lawsuit, stating about $105,456.40—around 26.75% of the total amount sought—was connected to those four operations in Chelsea. According to that report, Luca & Lucy accounted for the largest share, coming in at $43,910.04, followed by Rodney Scott’s BBQ at $30,019.27, Little Donkey at $23,985.87, and Hero Diner at $7,541.22.
This makes the current list of Birmingham closures to include Tasty Town in Birmingham, Hero’s Hoover location, Hero’s Trussville location, Hero Doughnuts & Buns near Railroad Park, Rodney Scott’s BBQ in Trussville, and the four Valley Post restaurants in Chelsea.
that Service Company, Inc.,
This is not the only legal pressure the company is facing, however. AL.com reported that real estate investor Michael Mouron, landlord for multiple Pihakis properties, filed liens earlier this month seeking more than $340,000 in unpaid rent. The Shelby County Reporter said one of those liens, filed April 14, exceeded $160,000 and was tied directly to the four restaurants in Valley Post.
In an earlier article by AL.com, the Pihakis Restaurant Group said it had brought in consulting support and was evaluating its business and remaining locations.
“If they occur, these pauses are a practical part of the work, not a cause for alarm, though we want to be honest that in some cases, a pause could become a permanent closure,” the company said in the statement.
“Our goal is to emerge from this period with operations that are stronger and sustainable for the long term.”
Greenbrook Dr., Hazel Gre 35750, has completed all wo Well #17 and #18 Project 3-010-23 3-011-23, for Trussville Gas All persons having any claim materials, or otherwise in conne with this project, should imme notify the above named cont
focuses primarily on identifying areas with repeated activity and deploying resources to hold offenders accountable.
The department mentioned that exhibition driving is both illegal and dangerous, and BPD will continue to address it.
Buddies and Leeds Outreach programs. Admission is free. More information is available through the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce and the Creek Bank Festival website.
Council
From front page
demonstration grant that, if authorized, is hoped to improve public safety.
The grant is not to exceed $1,700,000.
The resolution cited an incident on Elliot Lane in which an individual was killed in a crash, stating that there was a “desire” to improve roadway safety as a result.
It outlines several actions that the city wants to take if the city is approved for the grant:
• A Safe Roads Action Plan.
A comprehensive safety review of Elliot Lane and identifying countermeasures.
An evaluation and “enhancement” of pedestrian safety infrastructure for students and families at Leeds Elementary School that includes crosswalk improvements and street/sidewalk roadway delineation measures.
• A five-way stop at Highway 119 that includes analysis of traffic patterns, conflict points, and potential redesign or signalization improvements.
• Downtown crosswalk enhancements along the Parkway in which improvements would be made to pedestrian visibility, accessibility, and traffic calming in a highfoot-traffic corridor.
Smart traffic signal technology on traffic signals allowing automatic signal preemption for fire, police, and EMS vehicles to improve emergency response times.
Grant writer Zabrina Gregg explained that the funding would be an 80/20 split between the city and the federal government.
“This opportunity is open and closes mid-May,” she said. “And we want to get in a grant application for
the city and capitalize on the sidewalk projects as your match for many of the things that you’re already doing as they progress forward, so it’s just a really great opportunity for the city.”
During the work session the council discussed a proposal to amend the zoning policy 2015-06-06 to “further regulate” exterior building materials in certain zoning districts.
“We want to do upgrading in our houses in Leeds because we’ve had some malfeasance in the past,” Mayor Eddie Moore told the Tribune. “We want to prevent that. And there’s a line, a thin line, between upgrading and affordability. We’re keenly aware of that but it’s a work in progress.”
The subject was part of discussion and no action was taken on it. It had been listed on the agenda as an
ordinance but this was a mistake, Moore said. He added that it will come up in future meetings, though no exact date is known.
“That remains to be seen because it’s a rather large topic that takes a lot of feedback, a lot of study,” Moore said. “So, I won’t forecast that it’ll be voted on at our next [meeting] but we’re going to do it I’d say within the next 60 days.”
In the regular meeting Scott Chambers was appointed to the Leeds Board of Education after a fiveto-one vote, with Councilor Sabrina Rose being the sole “no” vote, though she clarified that she was not personally against him being on the board. She criticized what she said was a lack of advertisement for the seat. Though she was told that it was on the city’s website she said
that the site did not adequately share information that the city was seeking a new board member.
“I just don’t like that we’re putting him in a position to have to defend his credibility to serve in this position by not following our own ordinances and giving all the citizens an opportunity to serve,” she said.
Rose stated further that the council supposedly did not follow precedents as outlined in the city’s ordinances.
Councilor Cary Kennedy said that during the work session Rose brought up an ordinance stating that each council member elects or promotes a board member from their district.
“The attorney general’s opinion said that’s not the case,” he said. “You can’t do that, it’s illegal. So, there are ordinances – if you go on municode it still says
that there’s an ordinance from 2016 that requires that. Well, this supersedes this. This was done in 17. So, I wouldn’t put a lot faith in anything that’s on the internet.”
Rose responded that she did not say this but said that it should be looked at by the council and the city attorney and reiterated that she took issue with how the position was advertised.
Among public comments was Victoria McDonald said that there should be “better ways” of sharing information about open positions on the board of education. She also commented on the zoning discussion and expressed fears that it could lead to “cookie cutter” designs for houses.
Additionally, the council passed an ordinance amending 2014-07-01 regarding rules at the local
parks after it was tabled at the previous meeting. Rose had expressed concerns that the document outlining the rules were inaccurate and inconsistent.
In other business the council:
Authorized Moore to purchase a right of way side arm cutter for $197,000
Approved hiring Jackson Thornton to perform an audit for the city and • Established a yearly travel expense of $10,000 for the mayor and $5,000 for each city councilor.
Leeds City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Mondays of every month at City Hall on 1400 9th Street Northeast. Agenda packets can be seen online at the
City of Leeds website.
Leeds Mayor Eddie Moore. Photo by Nathan Prewett.
Ken Lass
Warren Truss never saw this coming. When the North Carolina settler purchased a large piece of land along the Cahaba River in 1817, his vision was of a quiet, peaceful farmland on which he and his brothers, and their families, could settle. Four years later he built a grist mill and began grinding wheat, rye and corn into flour for baking and cattle feed. The mill attracted other farmers from surrounding acres, and thus began the settlement that would bear its founder’s name.
No doubt, ole Warren must have taken moments to gaze upon his beautiful landscape, rolling fields dotted with sprawling oak trees, flanking the crystal clear river waters flowing to the southwest. Cows grazing in the pasture, the steady crank of the mill powered by the large water wheel, the chirp of the cardinals and crows as they glided beneath the sunny southern sky. What a scene of serene paradise, he must have thought. Industrial Birmingham was twenty miles away. That was like a distant foreign land back then.
Warren never could have dreamed that one day many thousands of his trees would
Coming Out of the Bedroom
be cut down, and hilly pastures graded, to make room for row upon row of new houses and businesses. He couldn’t have pictured endless lines of high powered horseless carriages inching along a paved highway through the center of a bustling business district. He had no idea that, within fifty years, the railroad would build tracks through town, connecting his little village with all points north and south. By 1947 the area would be incorporated as Trussville. The population was 1,443. From then until now, the city has fought hard, and struggled mightily, to retain the feel of a peaceful bedroom community. Broadly defined, a bedroom community is a place where people live, but in which they don’t work. The advantages of residing in such a city are obvious. You avoid the concrete, smokestacks and noise of a deeply urban metropolis. You go to the big city to earn your paycheck, and then you return to your quiet, small town to spend it.
Trussville retains much of the beauty and neighborly personality established by Warren Truss and his family 200 years ago. But it might be time to relinquish the desperate grip we are try-
ing to maintain on the bedroom community concept. It just doesn’t work for us anymore. The downside to being a bedroom town is that everybody has to converge on our infrastructure at the same time, in order to get out of town and go to work, usually to Birmingham. Same is true when it’s time to come home. The linear structure of Trussville doesn’t help, with virtually
every business and service located on or just off Main Street (Highway 11), or Chalkville Road. The result is gridlock, often paralyzing traffic flow, trapping people in adjoining subdivisions who can’t get out, and creating safety concerns about the ability of emergency vehicles to navigate in an emergency. Ask Trussvillians to list the biggest challenges facing our
town, and number one with a bullet will undoubtedly be over development and traffic. There is no shortage of suggestions as to how to improve the situation on Highway Eleven. Some want to widen it, some want to put turn lanes on it, others want to put stop lights on it. But maybe we are trying to solve the wrong problem. Instead of wondering how to get the cars moving, perhaps we should be figuring out how to make it unnecessary for those cars to be there in the first place. We do that by creating jobs in Trussville. Specifically, jobs on the periphery of the city limits. Jobs residents can get to from their subdivisions without dealing with Main Street. Deerfoot Parkway comes to mind, for example.
But wait you say. We don’t want the smokestacks and the factories here. Neither do I. That’s not where our folks are going when they head out en masse to Birmingham. They’re going to UAB, and Alabama Power and Regions Bank. They’re going to high tech office jobs that provide the income level they require for the upscale living we enjoy here. They’re going to handsome, architecturally pleasing tech offices in plac-
Katie Britt’s big gamble
Jeff Poor
There’s no doubt that Katie Britt is one of the emerging power players in national politics. She is one of the most recognized figures on Capitol Hill and on the fast track to something beyond being Alabama’s junior U.S. Senator.
In Alabama, she is already there among the top five power players, if not the most powerful.
In her nearly four years in the U.S. Senate, she has earned seats on the Appropriations, Judiciary, Banks and Rules committees, which is not a small feat for a freshman lawmaker.
It would be ill-advised to get on her bad side if your business model relies on the federal government in any capacity.
Britt is following in the footsteps of her mentor Richard Shelby. Over the span of four decades, Shelby slowly accumulated his power by climbing the Capitol Hill ladder and building a war chest that gave him an insurmountable advantage over any challenger.
At this point, there is no scenario in which Britt would find herself vulnerable to a challenger in a Republican primary.
She will be a U.S. Senator for as long as she wants to be. In the interim, Britt has
apparently decided to put her influence to the test.
Barry Moore, the current occupant of Alabama’s first congressional district seat, has opted not to seek reelection and instead to run for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Tommy Tuberville, who is now a candidate for governor.
Two years ago, a federal court-appointed special master redrew our state’s congressional district lines after a 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Milligan v. Allen and a lower court’s dissatisfaction with the Alabama Legislature’s redistricting effort in response to that decision.
The aftermath resulted in Moore, the then-second congressional district congressman, facing Carl, the then-first congressional district congressman, in a rare incumbent-versus-incumbent match-up.
Despite a concerted effort by different elements of Alabama’s political establishment to preserve Carl’s position in the U.S. House of Representatives, Moore defeated Carl by three points in the 2024 GOP primary.
With Moore moving on for the greener pastures of the U.S. Senate, Carl is vying for his old seat.
He came within 3,600 votes out of more than 104,000 ballots cast two
years earlier. It seemed like a no-brainer with built-in name identification. This time, he just needed to do more to shore up the western end of AL-1, where his support resides, and he needed to improve in the Wiregrass, the eastern side of the district.
Sure, there would be other candidates, but wouldn’t Jerry Carl be a prohibitive favorite in the district he almost won two years earlier?
Not everyone saw it that way, including Britt. Britt announced she was backing State Rep. Rhett Marques from her hometown of Enterprise for the soon-to-be-open congres-
sional seat.
Behind the scenes, Britt was frustrated by Carl and other Republican members of Alabama’s U.S. House delegation for voting against a March 2024 omnibus spending bill. The legislation was passed by overwhelming margins in both the House and the Senate, despite not having the support of Carl and other Republicans.
Katie Britt wants a team player in the U.S. House, and, at least by her view, Marques is better suited for that role.
Last August, Britt formally announced her endorsement of Marques.
Do endorsements matter? Maybe or maybe not in an electoral sense. Even Donald Trump, who is very popular in Alabama, took a loss by backing Luther Strange in the 2017 U.S. Senate special election.
Where it matters is what a Britt endorsement potentially brings: financial support that Marques could not have generated on his own as a congressional candidate.
As was the expectation in 2024 from Britt, the same is true in 2026: Back her pick or face potential consequences.
For the most part, the big checks have gone to
es like Inverness and Liberty Park.
Couldn't we entice developers to build those here? Surely we can find space adequately separated from Highway Eleven on which to construct visually appealing office buildings to serve as health administration, academic and IT project management headquarters. Deerfoot Parkway is begging to be developed. The commuters would no longer have to commute. Their jobs would be in town, but on the edges of town. No need to clog Highway Eleven or Chalkville Road. Those would become streets you merely use to go shopping, eat at a fine restaurant, see a movie, or listen to the Bee Gees tribute band.
This would be a long term solution, for sure. Certainly not a quick fix. But it may ultimately be the only one that can work. Our city is going to continue to grow. Let’s consider putting Trussvillians to work in Trussville, even though it would mean giving up the bedroom community concept. Let’s ask ourselves if it’s time to come out of the bedroom.
After all, Warren Truss and his family wanted to live and work here. He was on to something.
Marques in this congressional election.
It is not without risk, however. Suppose Carl wins on May 19, or the June 16 runoff, if needed.
In this scenario, he will likely win the general election and return to Congress. As a member in good standing, he will likely have his committee assignments restored, including a spot on the House Appropriations Committee.
While that is not as valuable as a spot on the Senate Appropriations Committee, it would still pose an interesting quandary for those who declined to support Carl in this election.
For Britt, it is her first test in a high-stakes election.
If Marques pulls off a win, it would be perceived as a political upset. He will have defeated Carl, the de facto incumbent, and it will be because of Britt. That would solidify her as Alabama’s kingmaker. If Marques loses, it would be a significant blemish on her record.
By making her supporters walk the plank and choose a side in a contested congressional race and not winning, those supporters might be reluctant to back her in a similar future scenario.
It is a gamble, and she is betting big early on.
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o bitua R ies
Wanda Browning Dansby
january 17, 1936 — april 19, 2026
Wanda Browning Dansby, age 90, passed away after a brief illness on April 19, 2026. She was a member of Central Baptist Church in Argo. She was preceded in death by her parents, J.Y. and Elsie Browning and her six siblings as well as her husband of 45 years, John Dansby. She is survived by her daughters, Lisa (Dean) Sides and Rachel (Ron) Freeman; grandchildren Melynda (Dennis) Schauer, John (Jen) Sides, Luke (Kayla) Sides, Joseph Freeman, Will (Sophie) Freeman and was “Gigi” to 9 great grandchildren. She was known for her love of God, family, her church, her smile, and her kindness. She will be missed greatly by family and friends who take comfort in knowing that she is now with Jesus. Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, April 24, 2026 at Jefferson Memorial East Chapel, Paul Brasher officiating. Burial will be in Jefferson Memorial Gardens East. Visitation will be from 1:00-2:00pm. Memorial contributions may be made to Central Baptist Church, in her memory.
Barbara Harris Walker
march 27, 1935 — april 19, 2026
Barbara Harris Jones Walker passed away on April 19, 2026, at the age of 91.
She was born in Wetumpka, Alabama, to the late Cecil and Bernice Harris. After moving to Birmingham, she attended Woodlawn High School, where she met her high school sweetheart, William (Bill) Roland Jones. They were married in 1953, and together they raised four daughters: Karen Harford (Mike), Donna Poe (Keith), Sandy Green (Steve), and Jenny Montgomery (Bill).
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Alice Padgett, and her first husband, Bill Jones. In 1992, she married Jack Walker and gained an extended family. She is survived by her daughters; her grandchildren Erin Brodrecht (Robert), Ryan Poe (Nicki), Major Green, Harris Green (Kaylan), Hannah Hurst (Bailey), and Braden Montgomery; and her great-grandchildren Mia, Holden, Ellie, Hannah, Abby, Caleb, and Beau. Barbara was a faithful member of the church of Christ throughout her life, worshiping with congregations at 77th Street, Huffman, Pell City, and Edwards Lake. She retired in 1995 from Alabama Central Credit Union, where she worked for many years. Barbara’s gorgeous smile created friendships wherever she went, and she always enjoyed socializing.
Barbara loved the outdoors and took great pride in her beautiful flower gardens. She enjoyed gardening, playing sports—especially golf—spending time at the lake, and traveling with Jack, including many cruises together. She was also an avid fan of Alabama football and enjoyed watching and attending Atlanta Braves games. One of her simple joys was keeping bird feeders in her yard, especially for the hummingbirds she loved to watch.
She would often say she had been very blessed. We were all certainly blessed by her.
Joan Nall R. Herren
october 6, 1936 — april 24,
2026
With deep love and gratitude for a life so beautifully lived, we announce the passing of Joan Nall R. Herren, who entered her heavenly home on April 24, 2026, at the age of 89.
She was born on October 6, 1936, and lived a life marked by devotion to her family, strength, and a deep, steady love that shaped generations. She had a gift for making others feel seen, cherished, and at home— whether through time spent together, hands busy creating, or tending to the beauty of the world around her.
She is survived and deeply missed by her daughter, Kathy Garrison (John Garrison), and her son, Kirk Herren (Paige Herren); her beloved grandchildren, Destin Riggins (Brittany Riggins) and their daughter, Eva Kate Riggins; Carson Riggins (Kim Riggins) and their children, Rinli and River; Alyson Herren Hamilton (Seth Hamilton) and their children, Seth “SJ” and Mac; and Chloe Herren Morris (Jake Morris); as well as her brother, Layne Nall (Barbra Nall). Her legacy lives on in each of them.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Charles Radcliff, Jr. (1957), and her late husband, Edward Herren (1990); her parents, Lila and John Nall; and her siblings, Margaret Nall Murphy, Harold Nall, Juanita Nall Collins, Helen Nall Abernathy, and Mildred Nall Stokes.
Though our hearts grieve her absence, we find peace in knowing she is restored, whole, and celebrating in heaven—reunited with those who have gone before her.Those who knew her best carry forward her love, her strength, and the way she made each of them feel deeply cherished.
In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor her memory by giving to a charity that is meaningful to you.
Claudine Parker Dempsey
july 21, 1939 — april 23, 2026
Claudine Parker Dempsey, 86, passed away on April 23, 2026. She is preceded in death by her Mother, Mable Ruth Parker, her Father, Claude Parker, her brothers, Robert Riley, Sr. and Tommy Parker, her son, William Shepherd, Jr. and along with a host of family. She is survived by her daughters, Patricia Shepherd, Karen Cole and Cynthia James; nephews, Alan Parker, Robert Riley, Jr. and his wife, Denise Foster Parker; nieces Qwen Parker, Lisa McQuire; grandchildren, Jeremy James, Zachrey James and his wife, Meagan James, Andrew James, Matthew James, Jayden James, Jasmine James, Mitchell Howton, Destiny Howton Acosta and her husband, Joey Acosta, Danielle and Sophia Kibe; great grandchildren, Serenity James, Jericho on the way in July, Blake James, Elijah James, Hadleigh James, Aiden Cato and Taylor Patterson and a host of family and friends.
She was a longtime resident of Alabama and spent a short time in Mississippi. She attended Faith Fellowship Church in Clay, Alabama. She was a Sunday School Teacher. She was a loving Mother, Grandmother and Sister. She was a nurse assistant. She loved to serve others and bring others to salvation through Christ, our Lord. She loved Jesus and attending Church. She loved her family and friends. She said, Smile and be happy and be happy for her because she was going home to be with the Lord.
Forgiven by grace. What a day it will be when we shall all be together in Heaven.
Marcelline K. Bannister
august 23, 1937 — april 23, 2026
Graveside Services for Mrs. Marcelline K. Bannister, age 88 of Pinson, will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at Sunrise Memorial Gardens with Bro. Al Choquette officiating. Marcelline passed away peacefully on April 23, 2026. Born on August 23, 1937, in Hackleburg, AL to L.C. and Carmey Kennedy. She was alongtime resident of Pinson, AL.
Marcelline was preceded in death by her husband W.C. Bannister. She is survived by her son W.L. Bannister (Katia), daughter Karen L. Bannister (Debbie), nephew Randall Green (Kathleen), longtime companion Bob McGuyer and grandchildren David and Amalia.
Ada Irene Parr Taylor
may 30, 1937 — april 25, 2026
Ada Irene Parr Taylor was born on May 30, 1937 in Birmingham, AL and grew up in the Norwood community. She spent her later years in Leeds, AL. Ada left to celebrate eternity in Heaven on April 25, 2026, just shy of her 89th birthday.
She is survived by her children, Cindy Taylor Freeman (Gaylon), David Taylor (Hope); seven grandchildren, Steven Freeman (Heather), Cheryl Freeman Milam (Brian), Jonathan Freeman (Allie), Brandy Taylor Eberhart, Chaz Taylor, Amy Phillips Riggs, Michael Phillips; step grandson, Travis Vanderslice; and nine great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
She is preceded in death by her parents, William H. Parr and Elizabeth Lahman Markham; brother, James Parr; sister, Brenda Markham; and daughter, Tammy Taylor Phillips. Ada was a woman of great faith in her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Her life was one of service to others and love of family. She is completely healed and singing praises to the Lord.
There will be a family graveside service on Thursday. April 30th. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the UAB Palliative Care Unit. 1713 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233. 205-996-6870.
Alethia Iona Jones
january 2, 1933 — april 16, 2026
Alethia Iona Jones, age 94, passed away on April 16,2026. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ruby and Jim Powell, her son, Wiley Jones, her granddaughter, Mandi Zweifel, as well as her husband of 53 years, Charles Jones.
She is survived by her son Webster (Star) Jones, daughter Jennifer Roberts and daughter-in-law Sherri Jones; grandchildren; Michael (Leslie) Jones, Sarah (Michael) Flamion, Jim (Melissa) Boncek, Jessie (Tom) Hodge; greatgrandchildren; Kevin Zwiefel, Morgan Jones, Christian Jones, Rosemary Boncek, Magnolia Boncek, Webster Boncek, Grayton Hodge and Bohannon Hodge.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to St. Joseph’s Indian School of Chamberlain, South Dakota in her name.
Jeff Lumpkin to take over Springville football
By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
SPRINGVILLE – For
the second time in as many years, the Springville Tigers have hired a new head football coach. During Monday’s council meeting, principal Madelyn Cave announced Jeff Lumpkin as the next leader of the Springville football team and the board approved the hire at Tuesday’s meeting.
After one year at the helm of the Tigers, former coach Chris Metcalf resigned his position to take a job with Mountain Brook as an assistant coach, leaving the Tigers searching for a head football coach for the second consecutive season.
Before Metcalf, Jon Clements spent four years at Springville. Lumpkin served on Clements’ staff for two of those years as an assistant.
Lumpkin, a graduate of Alexandria High School
where he was a multi-sport athlete, has served as an assistant coach for more than two decades, coordinating all three phases of the game.
Most recently, he served at Gadsden City High School as Defensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach.
In addition to football, Jeff has head coaching experience in multiple sports, including serving as head varsity boys basketball coach at Baldwin County High School and Lincoln High School, as well as head baseball coach at Lincoln High School.
“I am thrilled to be the next head football coach at Springville High School,” said Lumpkin. “Having served as an assistant here during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, I’ve already built relationships with many of our players. It has been great to be back with them each day—their energy and enthusiasm have been
outstanding, and we look forward to building on that momentum throughout the summer and into fall camp.
I want to thank Principal Dr. Madelyn Cave, Rusty St. John, and the St. Clair County Board of Education for this opportunity and for
their trust in me. When the position became available, my wife Amanda and I both felt this was where we were meant to be. I am truly grateful for the chance to lead this program. Our focus is on our players. This is a special group of young men
who have shown resilience, and nothing would mean more than seeing them succeed. We are already seeing positive progress in our workouts and installations, and we’re excited about what’s ahead.”
Coach Lumpkin continued, “Our goal is to build a program that our school and community can be proud of. We want our players to compete with confidence and represent Springville with toughness, discipline, and character. It’s important to us that our student-athletes not only perform on the field, but also carry themselves the right way and excel in the classroom and in the community. We want to be known for our effort and discipline. Our goal is for our players to play fast, play physical, and enjoy the game. The energy around our program right now has been contagious, and our players are excited about the opportunity in front of them.
We’re looking forward to getting to work.”
Despite playing in one of the toughest regions in all of Alabama, the Tigers look to improve on a 1-9 2025 season. Springville will take on region opponents such as Oxford, Pinson, and defending state champions ClayChalkville in Lumpkin’s first year.
“There is a lot of outstanding football played in our area, from 4A through 6A, and our region—5A Region 6—is especially competitive,” said Coach Lumpkin. “Week in and week out, we’ll be facing wellcoached teams and strong programs. That challenge is something we respect, but it’s not something we will shy away from. Our focus will be on going to work each day and doing everything we can to prepare our players to compete at a high level. We’re committed to giving our guys the best opportunity to be successful.”
Hewitt Tops Hoover 5-2 on the Road
By John Goolsby, Prep Sports Editor
HOOVER – Hewitt
(26-7) defeated Hoover 5-2 on the road Friday to complete the sweep of the Bucs. The Huskies got on the board in the first in-
ning when Taylor Alfano’s RBI single scored Hudson Mitchell. Hoover tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a homer.
Hewitt scored four runs in the third inning. Hunter
Futrell’s RBI single brought home Bryson Clements and
Blake Bales before Sawyer Bales reached on an error that let Kaleb Kynard and Lane Bilodeau score, making the lead 5-1. Walker Smith got the win after working four innings. The sophomore allowed one run, four hits with three strikeouts.
Futrell, Alfano, and Sawyer Jackson each had one RBI. Mitchell, Koal Duckett, Bales, Futrell, Alfano, and Smith each had one hit.
Hewitt heads to Madison to face James Clemens on May 1 in the first round of the playoffs.
Huskies sweep Bucs to finish the regular season. Credit: HTHS
Credit: Jeff Lumpkin
Tigers’ season ends at Lincoln
By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
LINCOLN – The Springville Tigers fell in the first two games of a best-ofthree series on Thursday as the traveled to Lincoln in the first round of the playoffs. Coming off of four straight wins, the Tigers had momentum heading into the first round series, but could not get past the Golden Bears.
In game one, the Bears scored two in the first, three in the second, and a final run in the third before both teams went scoreless for the remainder of the game, ending in the shutout loss for the Tigers. Matthew Murray took the loss in the game, pitching a little over
one inning and yielding four hits and five runs. Cooper Dorsett came in to pitch the final four-plus innings and allowed four hits and a run and struck out two. Murray, Nate Brown, Luke Hale, and Cole Dixon each had a hit in game one. Game two was a much closer game as both pitchers dueled it out and neither team scored until the fifth inning. Lincoln scratched
three runs across the plate while the Tigers managed just two. Trigg Murdoch got things started as he scored on a Matthew Murray walk followed by a single by Caysen Reyer that brought pinch runner Drew Dixon to the plate.
The teams would go scoreless for the remainder of the game, giving the Golden Bears a 3-2 win to advance to the second round of the playoffs.
Ryan King went the distance on the mound, giving up just a single hit and three runs while earning seven strikeouts. At the plate, King and Reyer each had a hit with Reyer driving in one RBI.
The Tigers end the season with a 20-13-1 record.
Leeds’ Season Ends in Doubleheader loss to Sipsey Valley
By Tyler Lacey, For the Tribune
LEEDS – The Leeds Green Waves’ (23-13) season ended in heartbreak Friday night after dropping both games of a home doubleheader against the Sipsey Valley Bears. With the playoffs underway and their season on the line, the Greenies needed two wins to advance to the second round. Instead, a lopsided loss in game one left Leeds with no margin for error in game two, one that they ultimately could not overcome.
Game one was a nightmare for Leeds on the
mound, as the Green Wave surrendered 12 runs through five innings while committing five errors. Their struggles carried to
Dutton’s clutch heroics power Blue Devils to Round 2
By Henry Williamson, For the Tribune
DORA, Ala. – The
Moody Blue Devils visited Corner Thursday for Round 1 of the AHSAA Class 5A playoffs and left with a sweep, winning game one 8-4 in extras and game two 5-3 to advance.
Game one opened with JB Leatherwood ripping a two out RBI triple to right field, scoring Jayden Hicks from second to give the Blue Devils an early 1-0 lead in the first. Corner countered that in the bottom of the inning as Brett Schollian sent a two-run single up the middle to put the Yellow Jackets on top 2-1.
the plate as well, recording three hits with no runs. Leeds lost game one 12-0,
The next inning, Dewayne Whitsey walked and swiped second. Carter Mitchell singled and brought in Whitsey for the run to tie it at 2-2. With one man aboard for Corner, Bryant Nelson homered to left
field to make it 4-2. Bryant Hardin, who started on the mound, settled in from that point. He held Corner to no runs through the seventh and totaled nine strikeouts in the game.
Moody chipped at the deficit and added a run in the third. Leatherwood recorded his second hit and lined a double to score Jagger Ludolf, trimming it to 4-3. A balk in the fifth allowed Hicks to head home and even it back up at 4-4. It would stay at 4-4 until the bases were full in the eighth. That’s when Dutton unloaded, lifting a grand slam out the park to push the Blue Devils in front 8-4. Jake Whiddon slammed the door, closing with a strikeout and Leatherwood turning a double play to clinch game one. Leatherwood was handed the ball in game two, firing 110 pitches to the end. Both teams were scoreless
through the fifth until Corner ended that drought with a solo home run by Tanner Pritchett to lead 1-0. Moody tied it that same inning on a Leatherwood RBI single. Moody trailed again in the sixth. The Yellow Jackets reached on an error in the outfield that scored a run and an RBI groundout tacked on another to bump it to 3-1.
The Blue Devils weren’t fazed. A wild pitch was thrown and Hardin crossed to shrink it to 3-2. Whitsey moved to third and Marshall Teofilo drove him in with a single to knot it up at 3-3. Dutton came up to the plate and delivered once more, roping a two-run double in left field to go ahead 5-3.
Leatherwood got the final three outs in the seventh, stranding two runners to cap off the night. Dutton was the stand-
Moody celebrates advancing to round two of the playoffs. Credit: MHS Baseball
Leeds falls to Sipsey Valley. Credit: Tyler Lacey
See SEASON ENDS, Page 11
See BLUE DEVILS, Page 11
Day takes first win at Talladega
By John Goolsby, Motorsports Editor
TALLADEGA – A cha-
otic finish and a late caution set the stage for a dramatic finish Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway, where Corey Day scored his first career victory in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series AG-PRO 300.
A wreck on the last lap brought out the caution. Day took the lead just before the yellow waved, giving him the win.
Carson Kvapil showed speed early by winning Stage 1 while Justin Allgaier took the Stage 2 win. However, both Kvapil and Allgaier had to serve pass-through penalties lat-
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out performer in the series with a grand slam, a two-
er in the race for impeding cars still on the track, which reshuffled the running order.
From there, the race became a typical Talladega race, with multiple packs forming and breaking apart. In a unique side note, former NFL star Jason Kelce participated in the Hendrick Motorsports effort on Saturday, helping on pit road with gas cans for the No. 17 team. Day officially led just one time, but it was the only lap that counted. Justin Allgaier maintained his points lead despite finishing 23rd. Top 25 1. Corey Day
run double, and six RBIs. Leatherwood batted 4-for-8 at the plate throughout the series, hitting for extra bases twice with a triple and a
double. Moody progresses to 23-7 overall. Their upcoming Round 2 matchup will be against Sipsey Valley.
Hocevar earns first Cup Series win at Talladega
By John Goolsby, Motorsports Editor
TALLADEGA – Carson Hocevar earned his first NASCAR Cup Series win in the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway’s Jack Link’s 500.
Hocevar, who led 19 of the final 37 laps, beat Chris Buescher to the finish line by 0.114 seconds after a fierce three-lap shootout.
The Michigan native put on a wild post-race celebration.
“I’ve had this thought up for a while,” Hocevar said of his celebration. “I didn’t care how long it took — I was going to figure out how to do it.
Alex Bowman finished third, ahead of Chase Elliott in fourth and Zane Smith in fifth. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, Noah Gragson, and Kyle Busch rounded out the top 10.
The race was caution-free until the yellow came out on Lap 98 for Stage 1, which was claimed by Ryan Preece. The green flag fell on
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ending it early due to run rule.
Game two, however, proved to be far more competitive.
Leeds got off to a hot start in the first inning when Sam Lollar grounded out to first base, allowing Bennett Schorfhaar to score. The Bears responded at the bottom of the first inning, tying the game 1-1.
Lap 105, but it was shortlived, as a 26-car crash in Turn 3 on Lap 115 took out nearly half the field including some of the top contenders.
Contact between Alabama native Bubba Wallace and Chastain resulted in a nearly 10-minute red flag.
“Got wrecked there, unfortunately,” Wallace said.
“We wiped out a bunch of cars.”
Racing resumed on Lap 122, but that too was shortlived when Ty Gibbs collected Michael McDowell on Lap 124.
Chastain claimed Stage 2 on Lap 143 after the race went green again on Lap 130.
The score remained even until the top of the third inning when Brody Chambers ripped a line drive to right field with bases loaded, scoring Schorfhaar and Jackson Miller.
Despite a run from the Bears at the bottom of the third inning, Leeds held a 3-2 lead and swung the momentum back their way. This momentum quickly shifted, as Sipsey Valley scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning,
The race stayed green from Lap 151 to Lap 161, when Tyler Reddick cut a tire.
The race resumed on Lap 167 and stayed green until Lap 182, when Hocevar sent Erik Jones spinning, causing the final caution of the day and setting up the three-lap shootout.
The race featured 16 different leaders and 52 lead changes. Christopher Bell led the most laps with 31. Championship leader Tyler Reddick finished 14th and leads Denny Hamlin by 110 points in the standings.
The Cup Series heads next to Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday’s Würth 400.
taking a 4-3 lead. Leeds was unable to respond, losing by a score of 4-3.
Game two proved pivotal for Leeds. A win would have forced a decisive tiebreaker game on Saturday, but a loss instead brought Leeds season to a close.
Despite the early exit, Leeds finished its season with an impressive 23-13 record and showed resilience in a hard-fought game two battle.
Hocevar claims first Cup win. Credit: Drew Goolsby
