The Tribune
TRUSSVILLE • ARGO• IRONDALE • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO CENTER POINT • SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • TRUSSVILLE • PINSON CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • TRUSSVILLE • IRONDALE LEEDS • MOODY • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE TRUSSVILLE • LEEDS • IRONDALE • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • TRUSSVILLE • PINSON • CLAY • IRONDALE PINSON • CENTER POINT • IRONDALE • SPRINGVILLE • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY TRUSSVILLE • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • IRONDALE • SPRINGVILLE LEEDS • MOODY • TRUSSVILLE • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • IRONDALE ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • TRUSSVILLE • PINSON • IRONDALE CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • CENTER POINT
By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune From Tribune staff reports
LEEDS, Ala. –COUNTY The City JEFFERSON has announced –of ALeeds lengthy investigationa seriesthe of paving projects that by Jefferson County will address 20 full or parSheriff’s Office resulted in streets Leeds starting atial search andinseizure of over this week. in illegal drugs $600,000 andThe cash,$1,128,995 according toinvestHenment use over 7 tons ry Irbywill of JCSO. REPAVING, 3 SeeSee CENTER POINT, Page Page 4
New owners Moody woman of Dobbs Ford sentenced to 7 celebrate years in prison first year of for elder fraud managing scheme in dealership Mountain Brook By BIRMINGHAM, Chris Basinger, Ala. – News Editor A mother and daughter have been sentenced for their inBIRMINGHAM, volvement in an elderAla. fraud– It has been a year U.S. of firsts scheme, announced Atfor Dobbs as new torney Prim F.Ford Escalona. owners and Rachel U.S. Joey District Court GosheinAnna recently Judge M. celebrated Manasco their first year as managing sentenced Mykia L. Henpartners32, andofasMoody, members of derson, to 87 See DOBBS FORD, Page 4 3 See FRAUD,
FRI
SAT
SUN MON TUE
WED
57 85 39 68
69 86 52 69
68 86 43 69
60 87 38 71
65 88 39 71
75 88 44 72
78 89 50 72
2% 24%
7% 24%
59% 24%
19% 35%
16% 35%
4% 38%
35% 35%
Dear Grandson, Here’s What You’ve Missed Sean of the South
6 Page 3
www.TrussvilleTribune.com
March 67 -- 12 August 13
Over Leeds $600,000 inannounces drugs and series of major cash seized in repaving Center Point projects search
THU
Pinson drops state championship to Paul W. Bryant Guest Editorial
Page Page10 8
2025
Trussville Alabama After prolonged political lecture correctional Council Standing on Prayer: The officer charged recognizes from Mayor Thomas, Springville with drug crimes Presidential Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast in Award recipient Council approves pay raise for police Trussville draws record crowd Melanie Dimler
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 approved the minutes from the last meeting in February. 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 quotFrom Tribune staff reports ing Teddy Roosevelt, Jesus, andTRUSSVILLE Socrates along–the Theway. anAlthough not Prayer technically nual Mayor’s Break-a filibuster, lecture was defast in the Trussville draws signed prolong meetpeople to from every the corner of ing Thomas air the allowing community. This toyear, his displeasure at the lack of it drew a record crowd.
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 Leaders from the business be a burden on the city. community, elected leaders, “The council every faith leaders and had communiopportunity redressfrom the ty leaders jointocitizens error but chose every walk of life otherwise, with a sinwanting to move gular purpose. Lifton, theshowcoming theirinfrustration munity prayer. and the effectiveness of thewas filibusJune Mathews the
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 of error Director the becomes Trussvillea mistake,” he said. of “ButComnow Area Chamber the window to actwhen has closed merce in 2021 Mayas last Wednesday, shackor of Buddy Choat asked the ling groupthetonext put administration the event towith gether.the consequences of their“The actions,” said. by mayorhestopped to Theone Tribune the Speaking chamber office day,
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 Photo actionbyfor Ronfinancial Burkett decisions. The council also renewed thethe city’s garbage handed me program of collection contract with a mayor’s prayer breakfast Waste Management. he’d attended in Gardendale from theMathews FebruthatItems morning,” ary were‘I addressed said.agenda “He said, want one individually. The ‘You purchase of these.’ I said, got See SPRINGVILLE, See PRAYER, Page 2 5
ODENVILLE, Ala. (WIAT) – An Alabama correctional officer was arrestBy Chris Basinger, ed Thursday and charged Newsdrug Editor with crimes. According to the AlaTRUSSVILLE, Ala. bama Department of Cor-– The Trussville City enforceCouncil rections, its law passed a proclamation during ment services division Tuesday anight’s executed search meeting warrant honoring Hewitt-Trussville at an Odenville residence. HighADOC School stated Physics teacher The narcotics Melanierecovered Dimler. the followagents
See 3 See ST.AWARD, CLAIR, Page 4
Human bones Leeds business found gain by leaders local dogon are insight connected, workforce coroner says development atTribune Chamber From staff reports luncheon
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –ByADiane humanPoole, skull and a left tibia found by aTribune dog in East Special to the Birmingham last year are confirmed belonged LEEDSto –have The Leeds to the same person, Area Chamber of accordComing to hosted the Jefferson merce its JulyCounty ChamCoroner’s Office. ber Luncheon on Thursday, was confirmed JulyThe 17,link at First Methodist
See SeeBONES, LEEDS, Page 45
Highexploitation School freshmen Leeds officials ribbon Leeds Foxhound Beecut Company Child take action to address rising for Birmingham Terminal sting to bee-gin construction operation nabs 6 school shootings Station exhibit, presents on new education center in Trussville
check to historical society
A concept of the new education center in Irondale. (Foxhound Bee Company) By Chris Basinger, News Editor
IRONDALE, Ala. – Bee enthusiasts will soon be swarming Irondale to visBy NathantoPrewett, it a the newTribune beekeeping educaFor tion center designed to teach students community LEEDSand – Just before members about the morning world of 10 a.m. on Friday apollinators. train came barreling past Foxthe Birmingham-based historic Leeds Depot in houndwas Bee aCompany is prewhat fitting coinciparingduring to break groundcuton dence the ribbon the 5,000 foot facility ting for ansquare exhibit dedicated
in the coming weeks, which will serve as an expansion from its current location in Hardware Park. In addition to educational the opportunities and STEM to Birmingham Terminal programming, the center Station and a presentation of will alsoforsell rangeHisof $75,000 the aLeeds products sourced from bees, torical Society. including honey and beesA crowd gathered in a wax, aswith wellpictures as supplies for room of the beekeepers. depot back in its heyday It will be built across during the 1800s where the from the Ruffner exhibit wasall-new dedicated and Sports Complex, which celebrated with a ribbon
opened on Saturday. “When looking for a place to build our new beekeeping we continued Photostore, by Nathan Prewett to hear comments about how Irondale was doing cutting. great founder Anthings,” openingsaid speech was Adam Hickman. given by James Lowery, “Everyone on theChapprojPresident Mid-South ect of seemed to speak ter the Railway & highly Locoof working withSociety. Irondale motive Historical and“The its Leeds leadership. So,a Depot was when we approached the logical location for housing BEES, Page 4 3 SeeSee STATION,
By Tanna McGuire By Tribune Staff
LEEDS, Ala. – Over the TRUSSVILLE past 25 years, –school Six shootings the United men were in arrested during have anti-human surged to alarmaStates two-day trafing levels, ficking andwith childa reported sex ex574 incidents occurring ploitation operation conbetween by2000 2025, ducted the and Trussville according to data Crimifrom Police Department’s Statista. Three Leeds nal Investigations and High SpeSchool freshmen, Amelia cial Operations Division, in Davis, Madilynn Johnson, partnership with the Coveand Rescue BeatriceGroup. McCormick, nant members of the LeedsoperaHigh The undercover School of July Future tion tookChapter place on 31 Career Community Leaders and Aug. 1 within the city of America (FCCLA), Acare limits of Trussville. determined to address this cording to authorities, the pressing believed issue through their suspects they were state conferencewith project. communicating a child The young 15 years old or leaders youngerhave via not onlyinternet compiled critivarious platforms, cal statistics butmedia are also including social and working with officials websites. Afterlocal agreeing to and educators promote engage in sexualtoactivity in stronger for safety measures exchange payment, the in schools.traveled Their to project, individuals meet which willonly be presented at the minor, to be met by the enforcement FCCLA stateandconferlaw taken ence in March,without aims to raise into custody inciawareness about the devdent. astating of school The impact following indishootingswere and arrested propose and acviduals tionable changes to improve charged: safety protocols in Alabama Michael Oliver Trice,
Pictured: Beatrice McCormick, Madilynn Johnson, and Amelia Davis.
schools. Current federal requirements mandate that schools perform lockdown or intruder Alabama, 47, of drills; Vestaviain Hills, was public schools are required charged with electronic soto conduct such licitation of atwo child and drills travper semester. eling to meet However, a child forDaan vis believes unlawful sexthese act. measures His total are insufficient and is adbond was set at $90,000. vocating more frequent RandyforLamar Ware, and of comprehensive 19, Birmingham, drills. was “When people’s lives aresoon charged with electronic the line, we the licitation of acan’t childjust anddotravbare minimum,” Davisfor said. eling to meet a child an “Schools should unlawful sex act.take Hisintrudbond er drills seriously as they was set atas$90,000. do fire or tornado Lilisra Jamesdrills.” Creer, echoed was this 34, Johnson of Birmingham,
Inside the Tribune
News - Pages 2,4,5,6,7,9 1-4 Opinion - Page 8 5 Outdoors Page Lifestyle - Page 610 Lifestyle Obituary -- Pages Page 83,11 Obituary Calendar--Page Page12 9 Calendar Page 13 Classified - Page 9 Classified - Page 13 Sports - Pages 10-12 Sports - Pages 14-16
Service & Maintenance • Lift Kits • Accessories 3620 Vann Rd Birmingham
205-661-3828
sentiment, emphasizing the emotional and psychological toll that school shootings take on students and their families. with “You shouldn’t charged electronic sohave to worry about licitation of a child andbeing travscaredtowhen eling meetyou’re a childjust fortryan ing to learn,” Johnson said. unlawful sex act. His bond “We also needsettoatmake sure that was $90,000. every schoolRay feelsVigneulle, safe and Thomas ready to handle 35, of Pelham, wasanything charged that could happen.” with electronic solicitation highlightof aMcCormick child and traveling to ed thea child importance of turnmeet for an unlawful ing act. awareness into action. sex Bond: $90,000. “School shootings such Robert Ronaldare Lassita huge and was we ter, 63, ofproblem, Summerdale,
See STUDENTS, 3 See STING, Page 4