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By Nathan Prewett, From Tribune staff reports For the Tribune
TRUSSVILLE, Ala. – LEEDS,Witches Ala. – The Trussville RideCity is of Leeds has announced now accepting nominationsa series of paving that for who will beprojects the benefiwill address 20 fullfundraisor parciary of this year’s tial streets in Leeds starting er. thisThe week.nonprofit, whose The $1,128,995 investmission is “witchy women ment will over cause,” 7 tons riding for use a local REPAVING, SeeSee WITCHES RIDE, Page Page 3
New owners Leeds ofElementary Dobbs Ford celebrate installing first year of fence around managing playground dealership after dangerous By Chris Basinger, driver incident
News Editor By Nathan Prewett, Ala. – ForBIRMINGHAM, the Tribune
It has been a year of firsts for LEEDS, Dobbs Ala. Ford– During as newa owners Joey and Rachel meeting on Tuesday, April Goshein celebrated 15 Leedsrecently City Schools Sutheir first yearJohn as managing perintendent Moore partners and that as members of announced a barriSeeLEEDS DOBBS FORD, Page See ELEMENTARY, Page 3
FRI
SAT
SUN MON TUE
WED
57 79 39 63
69 82 52 64
68 82 43 62
60 85 38 64
65 86 39 66
75 90 44 68
78 85 50 63
2% 44%
7% 24%
59% 35%
19% 17%
16% 13%
4% 6%
35% 24%
Dear Grandson, What LassHere’s But Not Least: A You’ve Day at theMissed Carnival
6 Page 7
www.TrussvilleTribune.com
March246 - 30 12 April
Leeds Nominations announces open for this series of major year’s Trussville repaving Witches Ride projects beneficiary
THU
Pinson drops state championship Hewitt wins big to on Paul W. Bryant Senior night
Page 10
2025
Trussville Girl Scouts After prolonged political lecture Play ball! Amerex Miracle celebrating Council 100 years of Camp recognizes from Mayor Thomas, Springville Coleman Presidential League Field opens in Trussville Award Council approves pay raise for police Melanierecipient Dimler
From Tribune staff reports
By Terry Schrimscher
SPRINGVILLE, Ala. – 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. As the meeting got underway, the council apBy Chris Basinger, News proved Editor the minutes from the last meeting in February. Mayor Dave Thomas Ala. moTRUSSVILLE, tioned them reconsid– The for City oftoTrussville, er the minutes memAmerex, and noting hundreds of bers motioned to adjourn community members joined before business togetherconducting to celebrate the on the agenda without that opening of the new Amerex motion recognized. Miraclebeing League Field at the ThomasSports then proceeded Trussville Complex to a dissertation, as on deliver Thursday. he called it, for the nextwith 55 Amerex partnered minutes, the city tocross-referencing build the field, political addressing donating history, $500,000, to prorecent quotvide aneditorials, inclusive and space for ing Teddyand Roosevelt, Jesus, children adults of all and Socrates the way. abilities to along participate in Although not technically a sports. filibuster, the lecture was deDesigned by architect signed to prolong the meetRyan Vernon of Lathan Aring allowing Thomas air chitects, the new fieldtofeahis displeasure at the surface lack of tures a specialized
Mayor Dave Thomas delivers a lengthy dissertation to members of the city council. (Terry Schrimscher/Trussville Tribune)
focus on city business. At one point, Thomas 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. “The council had every opportunity redress the that is safer totoplay on as well error chose otherwise, as fullybut accessible dugouts. wanting showMayorto move Buddyon, Choat, ing their frustration the Trussville Miracle and League effectiveness of the filibusparticipant parent Stephanie
ter,” Thomas said. “The example they set by refusing to adjust salaries wasn’t about their faux martyrdom, sacrificing for the greater good,” he added. “The example they set 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, shackLangford, Amerex President ling nextHarrison administration and the CEO Bishwith the consequences of op, and McWane Chairtheir he said. spoke man actions,” Phillip McWane Speaking to The Tribune during the dedication of the
afterward, Thomas said he just needed to air his frustrations 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 consent calendar for approval. That approach was denied. Many other cities in the Tribune coverage area approve non-controversial items with a single vote through a consent agenda, a procedural process used to reduce the need for discussion and lengthy meetings. After re-introducing parliamentary rules to the meeting process, Thomas led the council through new business which involved acceptance of bids for a new sewer 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 Februfield. ary Following agenda were addressed the dedication individually. purchase and first pitch,The the Trussville Miracle League played its See SPRINGVILLE, Page 2 opening game.
TRUSSVILLE, Ala. –By Chris The Basinger, Girl Scouts of News Editor Alabama are North-Central inviting the community to TRUSSVILLE, Ala. at– come enjoy the outdoors The Trussville Camp ColemanCity onCouncil Saturpassed a proclamation during day, May 3, in celebration of Tuesday meeting the camp’s night’s 100th birthday. honoring Hewitt-Trussville The Girl Scouts have Highthe School Physics teacher had privilege of serving Melanie Dimler. of Camp as the caretakers
SeeCOLEMAN, AWARD, Page See CAMP Page 3
Pinson HumanCouncil bones approves found by rezoning local dog for are proposed connected, Valley coronerCrest says subdivision
From Tribune staff reports By Nathan Prewett, Ala. ForBIRMINGHAM, the Tribune
– A human skull and a left tibiaPINSON, found byAla. a dog in East – During last year aBirmingham lengthy meeting held are on confirmed April to have Thursday, 17,belonged the Pinto the same person,approved accordson City Council to the to Jefferson aingrequest rezone County several Coroner’s in Office. properties the city to conThethelink was confirmed struct proposed new Val-
SeePINSON, BONES, Page 4 See
High School Foxhound Bee Company New principals named Leeds Irondale policefreshmen chief take action to retirement, address rising to bee-gin for Paine,construction Magnolia, announces schoolchief shootings new program director on new education center interim named
for special education
From Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE, Ala. – Trussville City Schools announced the appointment of new leadership for the 2025-2026 school year, including new principals at Magnolia Elementary and Paine Elementary, as well as a new program supervisor for Special Education, according to a statement released on Tuesday. Dr. Lisa Lothspeich and Dr. Phyllis Faust are retiring A concept of the new education center in Irondale. (Foxhound Bee Company) from Paine and Magnolia, Pictured (from L to R): Dr. Cheryl Guilbeau, Mrs. Erin By Chris Basinger, coming which opened on Saturday. respectively, after building in thePiper, Dr. weeks, Lisa Lothspeich, Mrs. Jaime Giangrosso, Dr. News serve Hamilton, as an expansion looking for a two ofEditor the highest academ- willTiffany and Dr. Phyllis“When Faust. (Chris Basinger/ our new beeically ranked elementary from its current location in place to build Trussville Tribune) keeping store, we continued IRONDALE, Ala. – Bee Hardware Park. schools in Alabama. In addition educationto hear and comments about enthusiasts will Hamilton soon be Schools, Dr. Tiffany and toour board success, I am eager to how and Irondale doing al opportunities STEM lead swarming to Irondale to viswas named principal at members for the and opportunisupportwas Magnolia programming, great things,” said growth. founder it a new beekeeping educaMagnolia Elementary. She ty to serve in thethe role center as the toward continued will principal also sell ofa Magnolia range of “One Adam Hickman. tion 18 center designed to teach next has years of experience Pack, Stronger Toproducts sourced fromHambees, gether!” “Everyone on the projstudents andandcommunity in education most re- Elementary School,” including and beesseemed to speak highly members aboutasthe world of ilton cently served Supervisor said. honey “I am thrilled to ect Martin said Hamilton wax, the as well as supplies for would of working with Irondale pollinators. for Secondary Teaching & join Magnolia family, help Magnolia conbeekeepers. and the its high leadership. So, Birmingham-based Fox- and Learning at TCS. I look forward to con- tinue achievement It will be the builtamazing across the when we isapproached hound Bee Company pre- necting “I would like to isthank with school known for. the from thestaff, all-new Ruffner paring to break ground on faculty, Dr. Patrick Martin, Superand parents. Complex, which See BEES, Page 2 3 the 5,000 square foot facility intendent of Trussville City ISports have a passion for student See PRINCIPALS,
By Tanna McGuire By Chris Basinger, LEEDS, News Editor Ala. – Over
the past 25 years, school shootings in the IRONDALE, Ala.United – AfStates to alarmter 34 have yearssurged of serving the ing levels, with a reported community, Irondale Police 574 incidents occurring Chief Jason Wiggins has between 2000 and to 2025, announced his plans reaccording data from tire from thetodepartment in Statista. Three Leeds High September. School freshmen, Amelia “It has truly been my Davis, toMadilynn honor serve the Johnson, wonderand citizens BeatriceandMcCormick, ful businesses members of the Leedssaid. High of Irondale,” Wiggins School Chapter of Future In his announcement, Career Community he thanked many Leaders of the of America are people he had(FCCLA), the privilege determined address this of working to with including pressingDan issue through their Mayor Praytor, Mayor state conference project. James D. Stewart, Jr., Chief TheGibson, young leaders have Wally Chief Jerry not only and compiled McIntosh, Chief critiKen cal statistics but are also Atkinson. working local officials “Yourwith mentorship has and educators promote been invaluable,toand I apstronger each safety measures preciate of you more in schools. Their project, than words can say,” Wigwhich will be presented at gins said. the “There FCCLA havestate beenconfercountence inofficers March, aims raise less who to have awareness my aboutcareer—too the devenriched astating impact of Ischool many to name—but must shootings and propose actake a moment to acknowltionable changes to improve edge Lonnie D. Martin. He safety in Alabama was notprotocols only a colleague but
Pictured: Beatrice McCormick, Madilynn Johnson, and Amelia Davis.
schools. sentiment, emphasizing the Current federal require- emotional and psychologiments mandate that schools cal toll that school shootings Chief Jason Wiggins (Irondale Police Department) perform lockdown or in- take on students and their trudera friend drills; and in father Alabama, “You shouldn’t “The friendships I’ve also fig- families. public schools are required have tohere worry about being mean the world ure. Lonnie brought joy and forged to conduct twoshifts, such and drillsI to scared you’re just“The tryme,”when Wiggins said. laughter to our per semester. However, Da- Irondale ing to learn,” said. PoliceJohnson Department miss him dearly.” vis He believes measures is “We need makeofsure that truly a to family excepalso these acknowledged are fellow insufficient and isfour” ad- tional every officers, school feels and Isafe haveand no his “fantastic vocating for more ready they to handle anything will continue to members from thefrequent acade- doubt and comprehensive drills. achieve that could happen.” great things for our my–Rodney Ogle, Yolan“When people’s are on city.” McCormick highlightda Turner, andlives Jonathan the line, we can’t do the ed “We the importance turnare deeply of grateful Hayes–and the justmemobare they minimum,” Davis said. ingChief awareness into action. Jason Wiggins for ries have shared and to “Schoolsthe should take intrud- his “School shootings are such 34 years of dedicated thanked many residents er drills as seriously a huge toproblem, we the City and of Ironand business owners as hethey has service do fire ortotornado gotten know drills.” over the Johnson echoed this SeeSee STUDENTS, IRONDALE PD, Page 3 5 years.
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