Leeds chamber luncheon focuses on AI and the future of work
By Nathan Prewett,
Tribune
LEEDS, Ala. – Members of the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce heard a speech from business advisor, planning consultant, and leadership coach David Salters, of Salters Advisory, focusing on how artificial intelligence is reshaping business.
Rather than looking at AI as a threat, Salters en-
Page 4
New owners of Dobbs
Irondale man one of five indicted in child exploitation cases
celebrate first year of managing dealership
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. –
By Chris Basinger, News Editor
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –
An individual from Irondale was one of five people indicted by a federal grand jury in separate child exploitation cases, based on a recent statement made by U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama.
49-year-old Gregory Alan Lee, of Irondale, was
See IRONDALE, Page 5
After prolonged political lecture from Mayor Thomas, Springville Council approves pay raise for police
Springville police chief discusses investigation leading to bank robbery arrest
By Terry Schrimscher
SPRINGVILLE, Ala. –
SPRINGVILLE,
Springville Police Chief Jason Mize credited the work of officers, help from the public, and other law enforcement agencies with locating and arresting the suspect connected with the July 13 robbery of a PNC Bank in Springville, according to a recent statement.
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.
Mize said every employee at the Springville Police Department is committed to serving businesses and residents and the department would continue to pursue those who come into the city with plans of breaking the law.
“What we may lack in immediate resources, we will overcome with relentless pursuit and fearless dedication,” Mize said.
focus on city business.
By Chris Basinger, News Editor
handgun to his riding jacket and left the scene.
Investigators used Flock Safety cameras in Springville to help track possible exit routes Tribble took after leaving the bank to help identify the type of motorcycle used in the robbery.
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.
Mize said investigators from the Springville PD, FBI agents from the Birmingham field office, and a physical security coordinator from PNC also reviewed bank surveillance footage.
al charges are expected to come out of Jefferson County, according to Mize. The robbery occurred Monday, July 13, at the PNC Bank at 6384 U.S. 11 in Springville.
50-year-old Kristopher Michael Tribble was booked into the St. Clair County Jail without bond on a charge of first-degree robbery following the execution of search warrant at the suspect’s home Friday.
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.
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.
is now believed to be aluminum foil or some form of heat shielding, according to Mize. The suspect entered the bank wearing a motorcycle helmet, ski mask, sunglasses, a riding jacket, riding pants, and motorcycle boots.
“Numerous hours were spent by SPD officers reviewing video and Flock camera playback revealing the motorcycle and riding gear the offender used at the time of the robbery,” Mize said.
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
Tribble is being held without bond, and addition-
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
“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-
“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, shackling the next administration with the consequences of their actions,” he said.
Trussville approves upgrades to police evidence lockers
Mize said officers initially responded to a panic alarm at the bank at around 12:41 p.m. Officer D. Weal was first to arrive, where he met with bank employees. According to employee reports, the suspect arrived on a motorcycle covered in a metallic material, which
After re-introducing parliamentary rules to the ing process, Thomas led the council through new busiwhich 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 February agenda were addressed individually. The purchase
On July 16, Crime Stoppers of Alabama received an anonymous tip about the robbery. According to Mize, the tip said “the tin foil motorcycle guy” had been seen heading down Clay-Palmerdale Road toward Alabama
Miss Trussville Pageant crowns 2027 winners
TRUSSVILLE, Ala. –
Foxhound Bee Company to bee-gin construction on new education center
The Miss Trussville Organization crowned its 2027 winners at its annual Miss Trussville Pageant at Hewitt Middle School, on Saturday, July 11, with Reagan Hanson earning the title of Miss Trussville 2027 and Eva Litkenhous earning Miss Trussville’s Teen 2027.
Hanson is a sophomore at the University of Alabama and will go on to represent the city of Trussville at the 2027 Miss Alabama Competition.
15-year-old Litkenhous is a rising sophomore at LeeScott Academy in Auburn. She will represent Trussville at the 2027 Miss Alabama’s Teen Competition.
By Chris Basinger, News Editor
and star on television series The Bachelorette.
Mize said the suspect unzipped his jacket, pulled a gun from his chest, laid it on the counter, and pointed the firearm toward the teller. After receiving the money, the suspect returned the
TRUSSVILLE, Ala. –The Trussville City Council unanimously approved an appropriation of up to $150,000 for an upgraded evidence storage facility for the Trussville Police Department Tuesday, July 14, after receiving complaints from officials that the current space is full and needed
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 SPRINGVILLE, Page 2
See ARREST, Page 4
3 See BONES, Page
See LOCKERS, Page 4
Pinson Council holds first reading for moratorium on data centers
Leeds High School freshmen take action to address rising school shootings
By Tanna McGuire
PINSON, Ala. – Pinson may join other communities in Alabama in imposing a moratorium on data centers for the time being.
At a meeting on Thursday night the Pinson City Council held the first reading for an ordinance to implement a 12-month moratorium on data centers, which would add the city to a list of other communities that have passed similar policies.
IRONDALE, Ala. – Bee
The Miss Trussville Organization is directed by Christy Pair Taylor and Sherry Pair and is a local scholarship organization and an official preliminary competition to the statewide Miss Alabama and Miss Alabama’s Teen competitions.
enthusiasts will soon be swarming to Irondale to visit a new beekeeping education center designed to teach and community members about the world of pollinators.
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
Miss Trussville has been a part of the community since its inception in 1983 and is designed to provide young women with opportunities to earn scholarships, develop skills as leaders and individuals, and give back to the community.
Several former Miss Trussville winners have gone on to earn recognition both in Alabama and across the nation. Among these are Melinda Toole Gunter, who earned the title of Miss Alabama 2006; Anna Laura Bryan Strider, who took Miss Alabama 2012 and became a top 12 finalist at Miss America; Abbie Stockard, who became Miss Alabama 2024 and Miss America 2025; and Hannah Brown who went on to become Miss Alabama USA
opened on Saturday.
“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.
“Everyone on the project seemed to speak highly of working with Irondale and its leadership. So, when we approached the
The Miss Trussville Organization is dedicated to the core values of the Miss America Opportunity by emphasizing style, service, scholarship, success, and sisterhood. Throughout the year, winners serve as ambassadors for Trussville, volunteering at community events, promoting Trussville, and representing the community at events across the state. For more information about the Miss Trussville Organization or to book an appearance, visit www.misstrussville.com.
Due to their environmental impact and their effects on residents data centers have become a subject of controversy in recent times.
LEEDS, Ala. – Over the past 25 years, school shootings in the United States have surged to alarming levels, with a reported 574 incidents occurring between 2000 and 2025, according to data from Statista. Three Leeds High School freshmen, Amelia Davis, Madilynn Johnson, and Beatrice McCormick, members of the Leeds High School Chapter of Future Career Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), are determined to address this pressing issue through their state conference project.
Pinson Mayor Hoyt Sanders said that data centers came up at a meeting of the Alabama League of Municipalities where a speaker cautioned that infrastructure costs would be the responsibility of applicants instead of homeowners.
schools.
“There are some pros,” Sanders said. “They don’t have a lot of truck traffic. They don’t throw wild parties. So, in the right industrial setting they could be a fit but there are just a lot of things to work through.”
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
Sanders mentioned that no one has proposed that any such thing be built in Pinson but that the city government wants to be prepared. Despite some of the drawbacks there are still potential upsides, he said.
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.
City Attorney Shane Black would speak in more detail at the next meeting in August, Sanders remarked.
crosses the Beltway and not through the nature preserve. The council also approved the fiscal year 2027 budget, which included a number of grants as well as 10% in savings. The general fund was “slightly” more than $5 million, Sanders Pointed out.
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.
During his comments Sanders mentioned a permit that the state is seeking to fill wetlands in order to allow for a highway project, citing media stories that have reported that part of it will run through Turkey Creek.
Sanders clarified that the affected location is in the Glenwood area where it
“Schools should take intruder drills as seriously as they do fire or tornado drills.” Johnson echoed this
“We need to make sure that every school feels safe and ready to handle anything that could happen.”
McCormick highlighted the importance of turning awareness into action.
“School shootings are such a huge problem, and we
Center Point Fire Chief Brandon Dahlen gave a report for the month of June, saying that there were 894 calls for service, five of which were structure fires, 520 were EMS calls, and 327 transports. Dahlen mentioned that there were large fires at the Woodside apartment complex, which is a vacant lot
See DATA CENTERS, Page 4
See STUDENTS, Page
See MOODY, Page 4
A concept of the new education center in Irondale. (Foxhound Bee Company)
Pictured: Beatrice McCormick, Madilynn Johnson, and Amelia Davis.
Mayor Dave Thomas delivers a lengthy dissertation to members of the city council. (Terry Schrimscher/Trussville Tribune)
left to right: Sherry Pair, Director, Eva Litkenhous, Miss Trussville Teen, Reagan Hanson, Miss Trussville, Christy Taylor, Director.
The Trussville Tribune
190 Main Street
Trussville, AL 35173 (205) 533-8664
Scott Buttram, Publisher publisher@trussvilletribune.com
We left New York, bound for Pennsylvania. We crossed the border and entered the Horse-and-Buggy State. All of a sudden the scenery changed. We saw farmhouses, porch swings, clotheslines, and large, steaming piles of organic matter on highway shoulders that definitely weren’t left by SUVs.
We sped through Amish country on our way to meet our friend Kris at a restaurant called “Funck’s.” My wife, Jamie, was convinced the name of this restaurant was an unfortunate typo.
“That can NOT be the real name of the restaurant,” said Jamie.
“Why not?” I said.
“Because it almost sounds like a cuss word.”
“That’s not very nice. It’s someone’s name.”
“It’s NOT a real name.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Have YOU ever met a Funck?”
“No, but I’ve met plenty of people who acted like one.”
Then, I explained to my wife that this is Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania, lots of people marry Funcks. Funck is a completely ordinary thing. Funck is a natural and normal part of life.
Then, I started thinking of all the imaginary Funck family reunions in the Keystone State, with everyone getting together for the annual Funck barbecue, with lots of happy Funck families running around. I imagined tiny brother and sister Funcks, a Father Funck and a Mother…
Anyway, we met our friend Kris at the restaurant where the hostess assured me that Funck is a real name and you are free to use this word in social settings without offending anyone. (“Quit acting like a Funck…”) They even use this name in religious cere-
monies and nobody thinks twice. (“Do you, Liz Martin, take this man, Chip Funck, to be your lawfully wedded Funck…?”)
“I actually know a woman named Funck,” one customer in line offered. “We tried to convince her to name her first daughter ‘Uptown.’”
End of digression.
So, Kris arrived bearing handpicked flowers in a glass jar. Her smile was infectious. We hugged in the restaurant parking lot. Kris is a good hugger. And we ordered Funcky appetizers.
I first wrote about Kris when I met her at a book event a few years ago. She is a Presbyterian pastor from Thailand. She’s been a pastor for nearly 40 years. The majority of which have been spent in the States.
It bears mentioning that Kris is the first female Presbyterian minister I have ever met, let alone the first female Thai minister. Also, she holds the distinction of being the first minister I’ve ever met who ordered beer for lunch on a weekday.
“Would you like a beer?” Kris asked.
I replied yes, I would like a beer for lunch on a weekday. So, Kris flagged the waiter and, boom, just like that, for the first time in my life I was drinking with the Presbyterian clergy.
“When I was young, there were no women ministers coming from Thailand,” said Kris. “Many people discourage me from this ca-
reer, but this only made me want it more. I would say to myself, ‘These people cannot tell me what God has in store for me.’ Nobody can tell you what God has planned.”
When I first met Kris, she attended one of my oneman trainwrecks along with a young Thai woman named Oat. I say “young” because this is how Oat seemed. Youthful. Although Oat is in her mid-forties. Oat quickly became my friend, too.
Oat’s parents were ministers, long ago. They were Kris’s dear friends. Oat’s father died in a car accident, and Oat’s mother died of cancer. Oat came to live with Kris for an extended period. Kris became Oat’s unofficial adopted mother. But now Oat is back in Thailand.
“Now that she is gone, I miss the sense of purpose I felt when she lived with me. I miss going to the supermarket and having someone besides myself to shop for. Now all I do is shop for my cats and make them fat.”
I asked what sort of work Oat is doing in Thailand.
With bright eyes, Kris smiled. “She is teaching seminary.” Then she wiped her eye and added, “Let’s order another beer.”
After our meeting with Kris, and some more beer, I staggered to the parking lot, crawled into the passenger seat, and my wife buckled me in and wiped the drool from my collar. Soon, we were entering Lancaster County, just in
time to get stuck behind a horse and buggy. The buggy was moving so slowly, we knew something must be holding it up.
So I rolled the window down and looked ahead to see what the problem was. Ahead of the buggy was yet another buggy. Ahead of that buggy was another buggy. And ahead of that one was another buggy. We were behind multiple buggies. This is not a real picture. But the feeling it represents is.
Thus, after surviving our first Amish traffic-jam, we arrived at our friends Shawn and Maile’s house. Shawn is an old friend whom we affectionately call “Shawn of the North.” Shawn and Maile are both authors who own a bookstore in downtown Lancaster called Nooks, where I’ll be performing for an event to deter any potential customers.
Shawn’s wife, Maile, had prepared Indian food for supper. The house smelled glorious, with scents of cardamom, coriander, and ginger in the air. No sooner had we entered Shawn’s living room than we were greeted by Winnie, Shawn and Maile’s enthusiastic Yellow Labrador Retriever.
All night, Winnie was content to lie on the floor and let me rub every square inch of her body, which I did for hours. Whenever I would quit rubbing, Winnie would dutifully begin to lick my palm, sometimes going so far as to lick between my fingers and even chew my fingernails with tiny lovebites until I resumed petting.
We all had deep conversations around the table, laughing and carrying on, while Winnie trimmed my excess fingernail growth. We stayed around that table until 11:00 p.m., until it was time to clear off the table.
See PENNSYLVANIA, Page 5
L oca L / R egion
Man charged in Pinson shooting at “The Pit” seeks dismissal on grounds of self-defense
PINSON, Ala. – Defense for a man charged in the 2025 firearm-related death of 18-year-old Kimber Mills are asking a Jefferson County judge to dismiss the case on the grounds of self-defense.
27-year-old Steven Tyler Whitehead is charged with one count of intentional murder and three counts of attempted murder in connection with the October 2025 shooting at “The Pit” in Pinson that killed Mills and injured three others.
A July 17 motion asked the court to hold a pretrial immunity hearing based on Alabama’s self-defense law before proceeding to trial.
The defense contends that Whitehead’s use of deadly force was legally justified and he should be immune from prosecution. If the judge finds Whitehead’s use of force was justified, the defense is asking that the charges be dismissed with prejudice, meaning charges could not be refiled in the future. A ruling has not yet been made on the request.
Mills was a senior and cheerleader at Cleveland High School when she was shot during the party on the 7900 block of Highway 75 North, near Clay-Palmerdale Road. Three others were also injured. According to investigators based on first-hand accounts, a verbal and physical altercation escalated into
gunfire. Silas McCay, one of those wounded in the shooting, claimed that he and another person confronted Whitehead after hearing that Whitehead was allegedly harassing Mills. “My ex-girlfriend came up to me at the party and said he was trying to do stuff to this girl named Kimber,” McCay said after the shooting. “My buddy and I found him, and we started fighting him. I grabbed him and put him over my shoulder and had him on the ground. My buddy pulled me off him,
and that’s when he pulled his gun out and started shooting.”
McCay said he was shot 10 times.
Whitehead was initially held without bond, but a judge later set bond at $330,000 with a stipulation that he be monitored electronically as a condition of his release. He was released on bond in January 2026.
McCay and Hunter McCullough are also charged with third-degree assault in connection with the case.
Whitehead has not been convicted.
Deputy arrested for assaulting inmate in Jefferson County Jail
A deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has been charged for assaulting an inmate in Jefferson County Jail.
24-year-old Nicholas Chaz Austin was taken into custody Wednesday, July 15, following an ongoing investigation alleging he assaulted an inmate in Jefferson County Jail.
Austin has been charged with 2nd degree assault and placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no further information is available for release at this time, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information relevant to the case is encouraged to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 205-325-1450 or Crime Stoppers at 205-2547777.
Victim in west Birmingham shooting identified
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.
— Authorities have released the name of the man killed in a Monday night shooting on Tuscaloosa Avenue SW.
53-year-old Mark Jhawntee Louis, of Birmingham, was injured from gunshot wounds under unclear circumstances on the 1000 block of Tuscaloosa Ave., according to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office. The case is being investigated by the Birmingham Police Department as a
West Precinct officers were dispatched to 1017 Tuscaloosa Avenue SW around 10:42 p.m. after receiving a ShotSpotter notification signaling that 16 rounds had been fired. As officers traveled to the signal, the call was updated to a report of somebody sustaining gunshot wounds. When officers arrived, they found Louis lying on the ground unresponsive. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him
dead at the scene at 10:51 p.m.
Police said the preliminary investigation found that residents heard multiple gunshots and saw Louis lying on the ground. A witness then called 911. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Birmingham Police Department Homicide Unit at 205254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
Police said this is Birmingham’s 26th murder investigation of 2026.
homicide.
Moody, the project will resurface streets in several of Moody’s oldest residential areas, including Blue Ridge and Monte Bello Estates.
In response to the grant, Moody Mayor Nick Rutledge said, “around this time last year, I campaigned on our need for additional funding to improve the safety and quality of our roads here in Moody. Thanks to Governor Kay Ivey and her team, we can finally see some of these projects be addressed head on.”
Rutledge went on to thank his team at city hall for their work securing the grant, “I especially want to thank our team at City Hall. Our administrative staff have been right here in this effort since day one of taking office, and I know without a doubt that we couldn’t have done it without their support and expertise.”
Moody will contribute $116,821.46 in local funds. The state will contribute $328,670.49, bringing the project to a total of $445,491.95.
The project was one of 11 road improvement proj-
couraged employees and business owners to consider it a tool with the potential to increase efficiency and open new paths for growth.
Salters noted that as automation continues to change the landscape of many white-collar jobs, human skills that artificial intelligence cannot replace will become increasingly valuable. Examples he gave included communication, relationship-building, leadership, and emotional intelligence.
“The human element matters more than ever,” Salters said.
ects across Alabama selected for a second round of funding this year by the Alabama Department of Transportation through their annual grant program.
Across the state, the most recent round of funding included $3,648,487.44 from the state and $1,547,828.41 in matching local funds. This brings the total to $5,196,315.85.
“Strong, safe and reliable infrastructure is one of the reasons our state attracts record-breaking investments and jobs,” Ivey said. “Rebuild Alabama is delivering lasting improvements, ensuring we have the strong
thorities still do not know the identity of who they belonged to.
The coroner’s office has reported that multiple missing person cases have been ruled out by the DNA analysis as the identity of the remains.
75 before turning onto Brookwood Road toward Miles Springs Road.
The skull was discovered by a homeowner on the shoulder of the roadway next to his residence near the 1300 block of 5th Place NW on Aug. 20, 2024.
Mize said he and Springville Police Sgt. K Snider traveled to the area after receiving the tip where Snider checked dumpsters at nearby businesses and schools for possible material used to cover the bike but did not discover anything.
Investigators believe the skull was moved from its original location, which remains unknown, to the property by the homeowner ’s dog.
described as red and not displaying a license plate.
Mize said he relayed that information to law enforcement agencies in Blount County, later contacting Pinson public safety administrator Chris Sharit.
transportation network needed to support our growing economy and those who drive our roads and bridges.”
The Rebuild Alabama Act was passed and signed into law in 2019. It requires that ALDOT set aside at least $10 million every year from a portion of the state’s revenue from gas taxes and local transportation projects.
All projects that receive funding are required to move forward within a year of receiving the award.
Salters also spoke about demographic changes and trends in the workforce as younger generations prepare to enter an economy during a time of radical change. He encouraged people to rethink about they train em-
ployees and develop leaders to prepare for demands in the future. For more information about the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce, visit www.leedsareachamber. com.
The coroner’s office per-
Later that evening, Mize said he saw a BMW GS1200 traveling down Miles Springs Road matching the evidence from PNC Bank and Flock cameras. The driver at the time was described as a slender white man and the passenger as a slender white female.
The motorcycle then turned north on Alabama 75, heading toward Blount County. The driver turned onto Mitchell Farm Road and accelerated quickly before Mize lost sight of the vehicle. The vehicle was
Since its passage, ALDOT has awarded more than $81.8 million in funding for local projects through its annual grant program. improvement.
“As it currently stands, the City of Trussville, I don’t know what year that evidence room was built out, but it’s well past needing an upgrade in that area,” Trussville Mayor Ben Short said during workshop.
According to Short, the city’s evidence storage room is so full that evidence is also being stored at other nondisclosed locations around the city.
“I won’t tell you where all of our evidence is stored,” Short said jokingly. “But that creates a liability on the city.”
quired a search warrant and executed a search at 3:15 p.m. the same day.
Tribble attempted to flee out the backdoor of the property but was stopped by an officer, according to Mize.
On Friday, July 17, Mize said Sharit helped obtain pictures and video footage of the motorcycle in the Miles Springs Road area. Investigators further obtained footage of Mize following the bike the prior evening on Alabama 75.
FBI agents arrived shortly after and assisted with gathering evidence from the property.
formed an autopsy on the skull and determined that the victim had been shot. The same dog found the second bone, a left tibia, on Dec. 12, 2024.
“At this point, we were confident that our suspect was a white male driving a red and white BMW 1200 motorcycle,” Mize said.
The information was confirmed Friday morning when Springville police received another anonymous phone call. The tip led to a home on Miles Springs Road. Research into the address showed Tribble lived there and owned a red and white BMW 1200.
Springville police ac-
Using GPS trackers, officials have outlined the dog’s roaming range, but searches of the areas frequently visited have not turned up any additional remains.
Springville Mayor Austin Phillips praised the department’s work Friday after Tribble was taken into custody.
“I’m just really proud of our officers and the investigative work they’ve done,” Phillips said. “They’re still processing the scene of the search, but the suspect is in custody.”
Notice is hereby given that Hand Service Company, Inc., 110 Greenbrook Dr., Hazel Green, AL 35750, has completed all work on the Well #17 and #18 Project 3-010-23 and 3-011-23, for Trussville Gas and Water. All persons having any claim for labor, materials, or othe is in io with this proj notify the above na Trussville Gas Street, Trussv
“This case, like most I’ve worked, can only be successful with devoted police officers and the assistance from the public along with assistance and resources from other law enforcement agencies,” Chief Mize said.
through keyless evidence lockers, three wall-mounted gun lockers, and a workstation.
cause of the amount of money involved.
Equipment and installation would amount to around $101,000. The remaining $48,000 would be used for construction necessary to prepare the space, according to Short.
Estimates for the equipment, delivery, and installation by Patterson Pope came to $100,089.60.
The offer included 65 bays of Spacesaver fourpost shelving, two bays of wide-span shelving, pass-
“We believe we can get that project done for under $150,000,” Short said.
The item was originally listed on the consent agenda, but Councilor Jim Miller requested that it be moved to the regular agenda be-
“I would like to move that item from the consent agenda to the regular agenda since it’s $150,000,” Miller said. “I always ask to move any large items of money that we’re going to spend from the consent agenda to the regular agenda.”
Short said the city could use a Sourcewell contract for the purchase, meaning no public bidding would be required.
in Center Point. The fire district is working with the city of Center Point to abate it, he said.
In other business the council: Approved the purchase of HVAC material at the Palmerdale Homestead Community Center for $16,967.22,
The council approved the appropriation unanimously.
• Passed an ordinance preventing encampments and other unnecessary uses at the city park,
• Appointed Montrese LeMaster to the Planning and Zoning Commission and
• Approved an agreement with the Jefferson County Commission for a $75,000 infrastructure grant.
Pinson City Council meets on the first and third Thursdays of every month at City Hall on 4410 Main Street. Live-streamed meetings can be seen on the city’s Facebook page.
Ken Lass
We finally made it. After spending the past two days driving through the rolling mountains of Tennessee, the horse farms of Kentucky, and the sprawling corn fields of Illinois, Sharon and I are, at last, crossing the state border into Wisconsin. The place where we were both born and raised. The dairy state. Where blocks of cheese have become a statewide symbol of pride and unity. Where folks talk with that unmistakable twang as they bite off their words and end their sentences with “once” and “ya know”. Where small, neighborhood taverns pop up everywhere and serve as the hubs of community gatherings and fellowship. Where solid, middle class people work hard for a living. and play just as hard when work is done.
A place where a toboggan is a sled, not a hat. Where you carry your lunch in a bag, not a sack. Where you refer to others as “youse guys” instead of “y’all”. Where you drink from a bubbler, not a water fountain. Where the sports idols are names like Vince Lom-
Irondale
From front page
bardi and Giannis Antetokoumpo, not Bear Bryant and Nick Saban. It was a great place to spend the first 27 years of my life. Swimming, boating and fishing in the summer, sledding, cross country skiing, snowball fights, and playing hockey on frozen lakes in the winter. It’s where I had my first kiss, where I played guitar in a rock band, where I was captain of the track team, where I met and married the love of my life, where I buried my father and mother. It’s what I answer when people ask me where I’m from. It was……. home.
All of those memories wash over me as we drive Interstate 90 over the border to Madison, then cut northeast to Appleton, a city that used to have a population of around 50,000 in my youth, but has now ballooned to about 75,000. This is where Sharon’s sister lives. We come to see her every summer. She’s getting older and has some special needs, and Sharon brings her all manner of supplies and makes sure she is getting the care she requires. We get to spend a few precious days with her on these trips. We
child pornography. The incidents are believed to have occurred between July and August 2025 in Madison County.
The Road Home
are pleased and relieved to see she is doing well and seems to be happy.
No trip up here is complete without taking in at least one Friday Fish Fry. Our favorite is the lake perch dinner, deep fat fried perch served with potato salad sprinkled with paprika, buttered rye bread, and cole slaw. We just can’t find anything quite like it in the south.
We usually make time for a 30 mile jaunt up to Green Bay to drop in at Lambeau Field, the residence of my beloved Green Bay Packers. The Packers are the only major league sports franchise that is publicly owned, and as the proud possessor of two shares of stock, I get invited to attend the stock-
in April 2026 in Franklin County.
holders meeting each July. Some years we are able to time our visit with the opening of training camp, and I get to scope out my team at its first few practices, but this summer we had to come a bit earlier. So, lunch at the 1919 Kitchen & Tap located inside the stadium (so named because the Packers were formed in 1919) will have to suffice, along with the obligatory stroll through the stadium gift shop, where I will dutifully perform my annual ritual of buying a ridiculously over-priced teeshirt or hat.
One of the highlights of this particular trip was the opportunity to reunite with a couple we have been good friends with for more than fifty years. Sharon had
Pennsylvania
From front page charged with coercion and enticement of a minor, possession of child pornography, and solicitation of child pornography. Prosecutors claim the incidents occurred between September 2024 and November 2025 in Jefferson County.
Indictments were handed down Wednesday, July 15, by U.S. Attorney Phillip W. Williams Jr. 65-year-old John Spencer Murphy, of Huntsville, was charged with transportation and possession of
22-year-old Abigail Marie Roberts and 26-year-old Michael Clinton Chambers, both from Carrollton, Georgia, were charged with conspiracy to engage in the sexual exploitation of children, conspiracy to receive and distribute child pornography, sexual exploitation of children, distribution of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. The incidents are believed to have taken place
20-year-old Landon Chace Williams, of Cherokee, was charged on 13 counts of sexual exploitation of children, coercion and enticement of a minor, and possession of child pornography. The incidents are believed to have occurred between June 2024 and February 2025 in Colbert County. The cases were part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice program that began in 2006 to reduce the number of incidents of child sexual abuse.
When it was time to leave. We all participated in The Long Southern Goodbye Process on the porch. We are long Southern-goodbyers, and there is a specific method for long-Southerngood-bying:
After saying your initial goodbye, you embrace again, laugh some more, descend exactly one porch step, then tell 312 more stories. Whereupon you then descend to the next porch step and do it all over again. This takes hours as you fol-
stayed in touch with them by phone over the years, but we hadn’t actually seen them since 2006. We met them for lunch. How do you know if someone is a true friend? I believe one of the ways is when you can pick up right where you left off with them, even though you haven’t seen them in two decades. There was some urgency to this reunion. The woman was recently diagnosed with colon cancer. She and her doctors are examining her treatment options. She seems to be handling it well, but we can tell deep down inside she is fearful. Of course she is. Who wouldn’t be? We give her an extra long hug as we depart and promise we will pray for her.
Alas, time goes by quickly. It’s been another busy but memorable trip. Eventually, hotel rooms and restaurant food start to wear thin, and it’s time to climb into the car for the 922 mile journey back, through all the road construction, rainstorms, back-ups caused by wrecks, maneuvering around all the huge semi trucks that dominate the freeways. At long last, we connect with Interstate 65 just south of Nashville, and 90 minutes later
low each other out to the car and climb into the passenger seat with departing guests, still telling stories and conversing as you drive away. And as we all bid goodbye, and as Winnie licked every nanometer of my exposed skin, I got to thinking about how I’ve had life all wrong. For many years, I’ve had it wrong. This is life. Right here. Right now. This. It might sound incredibly boring. Maybe even tedious. But life is not about achieving things. It’s not about stuff. It’s not even about being happy, or about
we cross the Alabama border. Sweet Alabama, where I watched both of my children being born, where I walked my daughter down the aisle and gave her away to be married, where I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior and was baptized, where I spent 33 years as a television news and sports anchor, covered so many incredible events and met such a throng of interesting people, where I play hide-and-seek with my grandkids, where the house we had built for us in Trussville in 1989 waits for us. My church is here, my wonderful friends, my pickleball groups, my life. This is…….home. Funny how things change. When we first moved to Alabama in 1983, we would refer to our summer trips to Wisconsin as “going back home”. But somewhere over the years, I can’t pinpoint just when, Wisconsin became the place we go for a nice visit, but we always look forward to coming “home”. Back to Alabama. Back to Trussville. I guess home is the place where you feel loved and connected. The location may change, but your heart will always lead you there.
self-actualization, or about finding answers, or about ultimate truth or wisdom. Life is about people. It’s always been about people. Also dogs. Possibly cats. But mostly people. Because their love is the only thing you can take with you when you leave. For our final goodbye, Shawn held his hand out to shake mine.
I declined.
“Sorry,” I said, holding up my dog-licked, sticky hand. “I’d love to shake your hand, but I can’t.” Because my hand was all Funcky.
Bring back Alabama’s bid requirements
Jeff Poor
In 2021, Gov. Kay Ivey called a special session of the Alabama Legislature to authorize and fund the construction of two mega-prisons in Elmore and Escambia counties.
The legislature acted accordingly and green-lit $1.3 billion in financing.
That plan used a combination of a $785 million bond issue, $400 million from the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) and a $154 million surplus from the General Fund.
At the time, it sounded reasonable. Sure, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi and Florida had used their federal windfall to initiate tax relief.
But Alabama had to act, and it was better to use that money to fund prison construction rather than be confronted with a tax increase later on down the road.
Problem solved. Criminals will be off the street, and Alabama will be safer, correct?
First, a little background. The legislature passed the plan under duress. Ivey and her allies demanded urgency due to pending federal litigation. Alabama’s U.S. Attorneys under then-President Donald Trump’s Justice Department were hinting at the worst-case scenario.
Alabama could wind up like California, or as it had decades before under Gov. George Wallace, under federal control, with the bill coming to the state’s taxpayers. Or worse, the Feds would take over and release inmates to meet capacity standards.
There was no time for discussion. The state had to act to achieve an “Alabama solution to an Alabama problem,” a line Ivey repeatedly used back when she made regular public appearances.
In addition to the financing, part of the plan was an insistence on the ability to bypass the state’s bid process. Proponents of that proposal argued that time was of the essence and that only a handful of qualified select builders were capable of completing projects of this magnitude.
Nearly five years later, neither prison has been completed.
To make matters worse, the cost of constructing the Elmore County facility, already fraught with delays, has skyrocketed to an estimated $1.25 billion, consuming nearly all the financing intended for the original two-prison plan.
You may wonder how that could have happened. At the time, there was likely an element of wish
casting by the Ivey administration. As it turned out, two prisons with a price tag of $1.3 billion were too good to be true.
No one likely knew how much the two facilities would cost. Had the projects been put out for bid independently, with a request for proposals and a bid process with qualified contractors, the dirty little secret would have been revealed that the Ivey administration lowballed the legislature.
The Ivey administration had failed with its prior effort to go at it alone without the legislative branch. In the years before the special session, Ivey had attempted to partner with a private contractor to build and lease the prisons.
The state had already dumped money into this effort, which allowed the
prison plans to be drawn and the land to be acquired. The contractor, a consortium of builders, was allegedly unable to finance the plan because the politics of the time, under the banner of Black Lives Matter, scared off potential lenders, who did not want to be targets. They already had the blueprints. All they needed was money, simple as that. Little of it worked as planned. In 2023, the Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority approved an increase from the initially stated $623 million to $975 million. From that point forward, other increases have been approved, and the cost for one prison has increased to well north of $1 billion.
They blamed inflation. Sure, inflationary pressures caused the cost of con-
struction labor and materials to rise. However, as bad as inflation has been since 2021, it wasn’t a 100% rate of inflation that would warrant a doubling of cost.
Some of these cost overruns could have been prevented had the legislature insisted on not abandoning its traditional procurement process.
The outstanding question is whether the Ivey administration engaged in a baitand-switch scheme to win votes for what might have been a politically unpopular vote.
Yes, we are five years into it with still no new prisons online, but we are also five years into it without a federal takeover, which included a Biden administration that, in theory, would have seemed to be more willing to throw its weight
around on incarceration.
Was that threat of federal intervention embellished to get the legislature to cede an exception to the state’s competitive bid laws?
The state went with a design-build method that did not cement a baseline cost as a design-bid-build process would have required by law. What we have learned in this case is that the competitive bid process is a safeguard against waste, cronyism and unnecessary spending.
With another prison awaiting construction in Escambia County, taxpayers should demand a return to the competitive process that would ensure honest pricing, fair competition and transparency. Otherwise, we will repeat the same mistakes made on the first go-around.
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● Trussville City Council Meetings: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m., City Council Annex
●Trussville BoardofEducation Meetings:3rd Monday of eachmonthat6 p.m.,
TCSCentral Office
●Yarn Manglers: Thursday July 25 at 2p.m.- Knitters and crocheters, join us for fellowshipand creativity!
Bicentennial Park:Thursday, July 25 at 4p.m.- It’stimeto saygoodbyetoanother wonderfulSummerReading Program!Enjoy free access to theSplashPad, crafts,food trucks,& so much more!
●Parks and RecTrivia: Thursday,July25at6 p.m.
●ClayCityCouncil Meetings:2nd and 4thTuesday of eachmonthat6 p.m.
● Trussville Board of Education Meetings: 3rd Monday of each month at 5 p.m., TCS Central Office
●PinsonCityCouncil Meetings: 1stand 3rdThursday of eachmonthat7 p.m.
● Clay City Council Meetings: 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.
●CenterPoint City Council Meetings:1st and 3rdThursday of eachmonth, at 6:30 p.m.
● Pinson City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.
●ArgoCityCouncil Meetings:2nd and 4thMonday of eachmonthat5 p.m.
● The M.W. Hosey American Legion Post 205, Clay-Trussville, meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Clay
●ClassicCinema: Friday July 26 at 2p.m.- Come and watchaclassicmovie in the library auditorium! Pinson Public Library
●SplashBashatPinson
●GlowParty:TeenFinale: Thursday,July27at4 p.m. -Celebrate theend of another successful teen summer readingprogram duringour Glow PartyTeenFinale. Enjoysnacks,games,music,&
ties!
● Center Point City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month, at 6:30 p.m.
●Springville City Council Meetings:1st and 3rdMonday of eachmonthat6 p.m.
● Argo City Council Meetings: 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 5 p.m.
●IrondaleCityCouncil Meetings:1st and 3rdTuesday of eachmonthat6 p.m.
● Springville City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 6 p.m.
●Leeds City Council Meetings:1st and 3rdMonday of eachmonthat6 p.m.
● Irondale City Council Meetings: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.
●Moody City Council Meetings:2nd and 4thMonday of eachmonthat6 p.m.
Trussville Public Library
● Leeds City Council Meetings: 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 6 p.m.
● Moody City Council
●SummertimeStories: Thursday,July25at9:30 and 10:30 a.m. -JoinMs. Alicia fora summer-themed
Gary Milton Tucker
o bitua R ies
january 11, 1953 — july 16, 2026
Gary Milton Tucker entered heaven on July 16th at the age of 73. He was born on January 11,1953 to Robert “Bob” Tucker and Mattie Jo. He grew up in the heart of Trussville, Alabama surrounded by a host of cousins and special friends. He graduated from Hewitt Trussville High School and then completed training to become a master journeyman plumber. He retired from Jefferson County Board of Education, where he used his skills to service many schools. He had a love for the outdoors, tinkering with projects that kept him busy, and Alabama Football.
March 9 at 1:30 p.m. - Extensive ACT review class
● Chess Club: Monday, March 10 at 5 p.m. - Learn the basics, cool tricks, strategy, opening, and tactic in chess from a ChessKidsNation coach
don or sitting on the back porch eating homemade ice cream, Owel was always the same humble, genuine man. That consistency was one of the many things that made him so special. During the last few years of his life, Owel faced several health challenges, but he met each one head-on with courage and determination. In the end, he was ready to go home and be with Jesus. He is now experiencing a joy and glory that our earthly minds cannot fully comprehend. We can only imagine the welcome he received as he heard the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” He is lovingly survived by his devoted wife of 70 years, Barbara; his son, Terry, and daughter-inlaw, Stephanie; and his cherished granddaughters, Brooke and Emma Grace, who brought him immense joy and pride.
Owel was preceded in death by his beloved youngest son, Gary, his parents, Ira and Edna, his brothers and sisters: Lorane Patterson, Maxine Culp, Juanita Martin Baker, Mae Wingard, Royce Grissom, Tom Grissom, and his best friend, Bob Smith.
Active Pallbearers will be Bill Wingard, Billy Kynard, Doug Grissom, Herb Wingard, Jammy Erwin, Larry Hancock and Scott Smith.
● Books & Brews: Monday, March 10 at 7:15 p.m.
● Storytime for Growin’ Beans with Ms. Allison: Friday, March 7 at 10 a.m.
Gary is survived by his children, Jill (Scott) West, Shelby (Danielle) Tucker, and Justin Thomas, his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, his sister, Donna Deavours, and his nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents: Bob (Jan) Tucker, Mattie Jo (Ed) Hall, his grandparents, and a host of cousins, and friends.
- An evening Adult Book Club meeting at Ferus Artisan Ales
- Our theme is Smell. We’ll read books, have fun, do a craft, & have a snack
Owel W. Grissom
● Ukulele Club: Tuesday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. - Beginner ukulele club
● Preschoolers at Play: Wednesday, March 12 at 10:30 a.m. - Join us for a short movement and story with Ms. Alicia followed by free play with various toys
● Children’s Storytime: Thursday March 13 at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. - Join Ms. Alicia for stories, songs, bubble time, and lots of fun
● Homeschool Hangout: Thursday, March 13 at 1 p.m. - A place for homeschool teens to hang out, socialize, and play games
● Goat Yoga: Saturday, March 8 at 1 p.m. - An-
october 21, 1935 — july 15, 2026
nouncing “Goat Yoga” with our friends at Olive Valley Farms & our host, “Yoga with Kayla.” This will be a day of yoga, laughter, & the adorable company of friendly goats! Registration required
J.C. Ral ph
march 10, 1940 — july 19, 2026
● Cult Classic Cinema: Thursday, March 13 at 5:30 p.m. - An evening highlighting the other half of Trussville’s Core Collection of movies–Cult Classics. This month’s feature: “Little Shop of Horrors” (1986) Pinson Public Library
for ages 18-25
● ACT Prep: Saturday, March 8 at 10 a.m. - Extensive ACT review class
● ACT Prep: Sunday
● Dahl’s Delightful Kits: March 3-8, All week - Join us as we celebrate the imaginative world of Roald Dahl! Stop by the library to lightful exciting & beloved stories
● Tech Tuesdays: Tuesday, March 11 at 10 a.m.Drop by for helpful tech tips and tricks with Mr. Keith! Please bring your device with you if you are able
● Geek Guild D&D (Teens): Tuesday, March 11 at 4:30 p.m. - We’re playing Dungeons & Dragons! Delve into the Forgotten Realm in this fantasy Role-Playing Game.
● Junior Jamz: Wednesday, March 12 at 10 a.m.
Owel passed away on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at Aspire Physical Recovery Center at Cahaba River. “Owel”… I bet you never heard of anyone else with that name. But I bet you also never knew anyone quite like Owel Wallace Grissom. Born into a large, Christian, hard-working farm family, Owel never completed school, but you would be hard-pressed to find a man of greater wisdom. If you needed to know anything about weather, nature, animals, repairs, or just about anything else, he had the answers. His father, Ira, was instrumental in the establishment of Oak Grove Church of God (Itawamba County, Mississippi). Owel and his brothers and sisters were raised in the church and built their lives on the godly principles they learned there. Owel shared many funny stories of growing up in the country, filled with Huck Finn-like escapades involving his family and friends. He had a lifelong love of the outdoors and nature and especially enjoyed hunting and fishing. There was hardly anything he was afraid of, and he would tackle just about any challenge. In the 1950s, he moved to Zion, Illinois. There, he met the love of his life. Seeing Barbara Barber working behind the counter in a drugstore, he boldly asked, “When are you and me going out?” It must have worked because they married and went on to have two sons together. They walked through hardships and good times together with faith, love and unwavering commitment. Owel and Barb’s marriage of seventy years stands as a beautiful example of what marriage should be. He worked for Clark Candy Company and eventually worked his way up to become a supervisor. Heeding the call to return to the South, Owel moved his family to Birmingham in the late 1960s, where he found work with his brother, Royce. In 1976, they started their own HVAC company, Grissom Brother Service Company. The company became known for its integrity, outstanding service, and the strong relationships they built with their customers. Owel’s favorite pastime, besides working on his award-winning landscaped yards, was spending quality time with family and friends.
- Bring your little kiddos to jam at the library! We’ll provide a variety of musical instruments for the children to explore
J. C. (Jerry Charles) Ralph, of Springville, AL, was born on March 10, 1940, at Marshall Medical Center to Albert and Evie Mooney Ralph. He was the last of 7 children who have all proceeded him in death: sister Francis Ralph Oden, brothers Willard Ralph, Willis Ralph, Lester Ralph, Junior Ralph, Donald Ralph and a grandson Harrison Hayes Weaver.
He met and fell in love with Brenda K. Ralph, and they married on April 17, 1993. They had 33 years together spending time laughing, loving and sharing their love with their children; Adrianne Ralph McGuire (Richard), Sondra Cox Heath (Lee), and Michelle Cox Leopard (Kelly), grandchildren Kerby Smith Blackmon (Michael), Kelli Smith Weaver (Blake), Kalen Lee Smith, Robert Andrew Smith, Jordan Lee Heath (Tiffany), John Woodrow Leopard, Joshua Baine Leopard and great-grandchildren Jack Riley Weaver, Payton Kellett Weaver, Hudson James Weaver, Barrett Blake Weaver, Emery Elizabeth Heath and Lucy Lee Heath.
J.C. was an alumnus of Athen State College, Athen, Alabama. After graduating in 1964, he taught history and was the Head Basketball Coach at Elkmont High School, Elkmont, Alabama for two years. He moved to Fort Payne, Alabama in 1966 and took a position of Basketball Coach for Fort Payne High School, as well as continuing his teaching career. After he left coaching, his love for basketball continued and as such, he became a local referee for surrounding areas in Dekalb County, Alabama.
In 1969, J.C. took a position with Farm Bureau Insurance as a claims adjuster, which he thoroughly enjoyed because the adjuster position allowed him to meet many people along his travels. He was promoted to District Manager and then to Regional Manager with Alfa Insurance. He thrived, alongside his many agents, with Alfa Insurance and received many accolades and awards as an Outstanding Manager. J.C. retired in 2008 and began serving the Lord at Springville Methodist Church in multiple positions, as well as his community. He also served for many years on the First State Bank board where he loved serving the people of DeKalb County. J.C. was most commonly known as ‘Granddad’ to his friends and family; the job of grandfather was his favorite. He was a kind, big-hearted man who loved nothing more than spending time with those he loved. Everyone who knew him always walked away with laughter and joy because he was huge joke and storyteller; he found humor in practically every situation. He was quite the character and will be missed by his friends and family.
● Let’s Jam!: Thursday, March 13 at 4 p.m. - Are you learning to play an instrument or have you been playing for years? Come jam at the library!
Mention Owel to anyone who knew him, and it will bring a smile to their face along with several funny stories to share. They will also tell you of his sterling character, kind nature, wonderful personality, and strong faith. When Owel made a friend, it was for life. When someone called with a need, he was there. He was a member of several churches throughout his life, but probably his favorite season was at Parkway Christian Fellowship with his best friend, Rev. Bob Smith. He faithfully served the church and lived his life as a genuine Christian example. He had a quiet but deep walk with God that was evident to everyone who knew him. In his later years, the joy of his life was his two granddaughters— Gary’s daughter, Brooke, Terry and Stephanie’s daughter, Emma Grace. They knew well his unconditional, sacrificial love for them. Nothing brought him greater happiness than being their “Pawpaw.” Whether enjoying a fine meal in a castle in Lon-
The family would like to thank Dr. Steven Hwang, his staff and the ladies that attended to him with the most excellent care (Joe Wilkes) at Grandview Medical Center. We would also like to thank the nurses and staff at Hospice Southerncare New Beacon for their care and comfort they provided J.C. and his family.
Services will be held on July 23, 2026 at Springville Methodist Church with visitation starting at 10 am, service at 11 am and graveside will follow at Jefferson Memorial Cemetery. Family will accept flowers or donations to Springville Methodist Church. If you would like to leave a favorite story or experience of J.C., please leave it on Jefferson Memorial Memory page.
Tribune Sports Live Football Media Days
By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor and John Goolsby, Prep Sports Editor
TRUSSVILLE – For the third consecutive year, the Trussville Tribune sports guys will be hosting football media days. This year’s show will be held back in the Tribune studio on Main Street in Trussville and will be spread over two days with four teams highlighted each evening.
The dates for this year’s media days are Monday, August 10 and Tuesday, August 11 with the show kicking off at 6:00 each evening and wrapping up around 8:30.
Just like in the past, John and Johnny will sit down with the head coach, one assistant coach, and at least two players from each of the eight teams in our coverage area to discuss the upcoming football season.
In Tribuneland, we have two defending state champions in Clay-Chalkville and Moody as well as Leeds and Hewitt-Trussville who were playoff teams last year. We also have a Shades Valley team who is sure to be much improved under second-year coach George Bates. In addition, we will welcome four new coaches to Tribuneland this year in Kyle Tatum (Moody), Grady Griffin
(Center Point), Logan Colafrancesco (Pinson), and Jeff Lumpkin (Springville). Join us on The Trussville Tribune’s Facebook Live each night as we talk about the upcoming year with these coaches and players and continue to build excitement for the 2026 football season, which kicks off on Thursday, August 20. The schedule for each night is below:
Monday, August 10: 6:15-6:45 – Springville
Tigers
• 6:50-7:20 – Leeds Greenwave
• 7:25-7:55 – Pinson Valley Indians
• 8:00-8:30 – ClayChalkville Cougars
Tuesday, August 11: 6:15-6:45 – Center Point Eagles
• 6:50-7:20 – Moody Blue Devils 7:25-7:55 – Shades Valley Mounties
• 8:00-8:30 –Hewitt-Trussville Huskies
Jaylen Mbakwe holds youth football camp
By Britney Bailey, For the Tribune
CENTER POINT –Georgia Tech cornerback and former Clay-Chalkville playmaker, as well as 2023’s Tribune Sports Player of the Year, Jaylen Mbakwe held his annual free football camp Saturday for boys and girls aging 5-13. This is Mbakwe’s third year hosting the camp in Center Point, at none other than Jay “Bubba” Mbakwe Field, which hosts the youth league programs.
Several former Cougars including LSU wide receiver Corey Barber, Jr., Alabama State running back Joshua Woods, and Alabama State quarterback Aaron Frye, showed up to help run the camp alongside Mbakwe. Cougar quarterback CJ Eldridge, safety Jamario Yadao and linebacker Isaiah Brown lent their talents as well.
New Orleans Saints cornerback and Pinson native Kool-aid McKinstry and University of Alabama defensive lineman Jeremiah Breaman (along with his pet snake) also joined in on the fun.
“It means a lot to me, just coming back to where I grew up at, where I played little league football at, just giving back to my community. It means a lot to me and it means a lot to the kids.
The kids get a crack out of it, seeing me out here and interacting with these guys,” says Mbakwe. Mbakwe had many roles throughout his career as a Cougar. The wide receiver, running back, defensive back Mbakwe led Clay to a state title in 2021 and the quarterback Mbakwe sent the Cougars home with an-
other
transferred to Georgia Tech.
“Life is great man. I’m in a good mental space, I’m good physically. Everything’s good. It’s been a work in progress. I’m excited for the season to start so I can show everybody was I can do still.”
said.
blue map in 2023. Mbakwe spent two years at Alabama and has since
Mbakwe
Jaylen Mbakwe holds youth football camp. Credit: Britney Bailey
The Green Flag: Joey Logano dominates return to points racing at North Wilkesboro
By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service
WILKES-
NORTH
BORO, N.C. – Joey Logano
had a gleam in his eye and a lilt in his voice as he readied to climb into the No. 22 Team Penske Ford for the start of Sunday night’s Window World 450.
“I think we have a fast car,” Logano opined optimistically before taking the green flag in the first NASCAR Cup Series points race at North Wilkesboro Speedway in 30 years.
Logano was right, but his assessment turned out to be a massive understatement.
After leading a single-race career-best 323 laps, Logano crossed the finished line 0.859 seconds ahead of series leader Denny Hamlin to win for the first time since May 2025 when he triumphed at Texas Motor Speedway.
The victory was Logano’s first in a points race at the 0.625 short track, though he also won the 2024 NASCAR All-Star Race at revitalized North Wilkesboro. In front of an enthusiastic sellout crowd, Logano recorded the 38th Cup victory of his career, 23rd-most all-time.
“It’s good to get back into Victory Lane,” Logano said. “It’s been a tough year. So getting the Shell-Pennzoil Mustang doing some big, smoky doughnuts around this place felt really good.”
The victory was a distinct bright spot in a troublesome season for the threetime Cup Series champion, who vaulted from 17th to 15th in the series standings, 49 points clear of the current cut line for the postseason Chase.
“(Crew chief) Paul (Wolfe) put together a good car,” Logano said. “I think
I know exactly what I need to go fast around this place. He’s able to give it to me.
“I knew coming into this weekend, we’ve got to capitalize on the points. A win was great, but we really need the points. Really capitalized on those tonight.”
Hamlin was able to stay close to Logano in the final stage, but the race winner worked traffic adroitly and never gave Hamlin a chance to close within striking distance.
The critical juncture came during a green-flag pit stop cycle in the final stage, with Hamlin steering his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to pit road on Lap 359 of 450. Logano followed a lap later and exited the pits roughly a half-second ahead of Hamlin.
That pit cycle proved decisive.
“Yeah, the pressure was there, for sure,” Logano said. “Denny got really good there the last run. Honestly, it was whoever was out front was going to win the race.
“We were pretty dominant. But as the race went along, Denny got better at the last run. Just did a decent job keeping up with the track. They did a good job keeping up.”
Though his extended pursuit of Logano proved fruitless, Hamlin expanded his series lead over second-place Tyler Reddick to 68 points, with five races left before the Chase field is set.
“You just have to compliment them on a great day and a great drive,” Hamlin said of Logano’s effort. “They were really good. There were a lot of times that I felt like my car was really close to where it needed to be; it was just a smidge off.
“Great battle. At least I was able to keep them honest there, but he had a lot of speed and never gave up on the short run or the long run, so great job to our whole Progressive Toyota team for keeping us in the ballgame, but we will have to go regroup.”
Chase Briscoe ran third and Ty Gibbs fourth, despite an early pit road speeding penalty. Shane van Gisbergen, who maintained a presence in the top 10 for the entire race and led 49 laps (second most to Logano), placed fifth and climbed one position to 14th in the standings, 54 points above the current Chase cutoff.
In the semifinal of the NASCAR Cup Series In-Season Challenge, Todd Gilliland continued his unlikely march to the winnertake-all $1-million payday with an eighth-place finish to Chase Elliott’s 17th.
Elliott was buried two laps down when caution for a collision between the Chevrolet of Alex Bowman
and the Toyota of Reddick— as Bowman turned across traffic trying to enter pit road on Lap 183—interrupted a cycle of green-flag stops.
Elliott finished three laps down after a late pit stop.
Ryan Blaney, who finished 11th, two laps down, after a speeding penalty, ousted Christopher Bell from the In-Season Challenge. Like Elliott, Bell was a victim of the Lap 183 caution after pitting early in the cycle. He finished 19th, three laps down.
Blaney will face Gilliland for the In-Season title in next Sunday’s Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2 p.m. ET on TNT, IMS Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
The race featured five cautions for 43 laps, with the final stage running caution-free for 175 green-flag laps. There were 17 lead changes among nine drivers, the majority coming during green-flag pit cycles.
Gibbs won the first stage
before drawing his speeding penalty, with Logano exerting his dominance in winning Stage 2.
Sixth-place Bubba Wallace was the last driver to finish on the lead lap. Brad Keselowski, Gilliland, Daniel Suarez and Ryan Preece—all one lap down—completed the top 10.
NASCAR Cup Series Race – Window World 450 North Wilkesboro Speedway North Wilkesboro, North Carolina Sunday, July 19, 2026
37. (35) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, Suspension, 190.
NORTH WILKESBORO, NORTH CAROLINA - JULY 19: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford, leads the field during the NASCAR Cup Series Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro Speedway on July 19, 2026 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
(Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
The Green Flag: Palou wins in Nashville
By John Goolsby, Motorsports Editor
LEBANON, Tenn. – After a weather delay pushed the race into Monday, Alex Palou continued his remarkable run, adding another chapter to one of the most dominant stretches in modern IndyCar history.
Sunday’s scheduled 300lap race was originally set to begin shortly after the FIFA World Cup Final. However, lightning and heavy rain forced the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to postpone the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls until Monday afternoon.
Despite the heat, Sunday got off to a fast start in Lebanon with Matteo Nannini winning the INDY NXT race, vintage Indy cars taking to the track, a World Cup watch party and concerts by Chase Wright, deadmau5 and Backbeat Troubadours, with Mark Collie and Billy Bob Thornton performing “True American Racer.”
The race was scheduled to begin shortly after the FIFA World Cup Final, a broadcast window expected to benefit from the large television audience. Instead, weather postponed the race until Monday, resulting in a much smaller crowd and television audience.
Track crews worked to dry the 1.33-mile oval late Sunday evening, and a night race appeared possible, but another round of downpours forced officials to postpone the race until 2 p.m. Central on Monday.
The race was also shortened to 225 laps due to heat concerns.
When the green flag finally fell Monday, Palou once again proved why he remains the benchmark of the series, beating defending Nashville winner Josef Newgarden by 0.8731 seconds.
The four-time INDYCAR champion earned his 13th victory in the past 29 races behind the wheel of the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
The win was Palou’s 24th career victory and fifth this season.
“Incredible, honestly,” Palou said. “I’m so happy. I knew we had a great car. It’s one of those tracks where we’ve struggled in the past. I know we finished second last year, but we got a little lucky with a caution.
“Today, the caution helped us. I’m not going to say it didn’t. We were already running second or third, so we were right there. The No. 10 car was a little difficult at the beginning, but by the end I was so comfortable, especially once we got into the lead.
“I was a little nervous once we got into traffic because I know that’s where Josef really shines,” Palou said. “He’s been the best there the last few seasons. I was telling myself, ‘Come on, Alex, you need to do this.’
“I was committed. I wanted to give it everything I had,” Palou said. “I’m just so happy everything worked out.”
With the win in the Music City, Palou, who holds an 83-point lead, took another step toward a fourth consecutive championship and fifth in the past six seasons. David Malukas rounded out the podium after crashing hard in Saturday’s first practice session, forcing the Team Penske crew to rebuild his No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet. As a result of the crash, Malukas started from the back of the field.
With the third-place finish, Malukas moved to second in the points standings, four points ahead of Kyle Kirkwood.
Scott McLaughlin fin-
ished fourth to give Team Penske three cars in the top four. Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist completed the top five. For much of the afternoon, however, Kirkwood looked like the driver to beat.
Starting from the pole, the Andretti Global driver controlled the opening laps while holding off repeated challenges from Newgarden.
The day’s first caution came on Lap 19 when rookie Caio Collet lost the rear of his car exiting Turn 4 and made contact with the wall.
When pit road opened at the end of Lap 23, nearly the entire lead group elected to stop.
McLaughlin’s crew turned in a lightning-fast stop to move him ahead of Kirkwood, Palou and Newgarden.
Malukas, RLR’s Louis Foster and Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard stayed on track, inheriting the top three positions.
The race went green on Lap 32, and Malukas held the lead for the next 28 laps despite running on older Firestones while McLaughlin, Kirkwood, Palou and Newgarden battled behind him on new rubber.
McLaughlin went back to the front, with Kirkwood stalking him, when Malukas pitted on Lap 61 after losing time behind RLR’s Graham Rahal in traffic.
The second round of green-flag pit stops began around Lap 79. Once the cycle was complete on Lap 88, Malukas led McLaughlin, Kirkwood, Rinus VeeKay, Palou, Newgarden, Santino Ferrucci, Marcus Ericsson, Alexander Rossi and Christian Rasmussen. Malukas would lead the next 31 laps. On Lap 123, Rossi slowed to enter pit road when Scott Dixon struck the rear of Rossi’s car. The contact damaged both Indianapolis 500 winners’ cars and brought out the caution at the worst possible moment for several contenders.
Palou, who had fallen to eighth, made it to pit road before it closed under caution. That split-second tim-
ing completely reshaped the race.
When the field was reordered, Palou inherited the lead ahead of McLaughlin, Kirkwood, VeeKay and Ferrucci.
Meanwhile, Malukas found himself trapped a lap down before the caution and dropped outside the top 10 despite having one of the fastest cars on the track.
The race restarted on Lap 140, and Newgarden went into attack mode, quickly passing Ferrucci and VeeKay.
Malukas began another impressive charge and moved into the top 10 within a few laps.
As the final fuel window opened, VeeKay was the first leader to pit on Lap 179, followed by McLaughlin, Kirkwood and Ferrucci.
The caution flag flew moments later when Dennis Hauger crashed, allowing Palou, Newgarden, Rosenqvist, Malukas and several others to make their final pit stops under yellow.
The caution was costly for McLaughlin and Kirkwood, who had already committed to green-flag stops and found themselves outside the top 10.
The race’s final restart came with 31 laps remaining. Malukas moved to third, while McLaughlin climbed into the top five.
Out front, Palou never faltered despite running the harder primary tire compound while other leaders were on the softer alternates.
The Spaniard masterfully held off Newgarden before gradually pulling away over the closing laps to celebrate the victory, one day after Spain celebrated its World Cup title.
Palou led 97 laps to give Chip Ganassi his 150th INDYCAR victory.
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES heads to Portland on Aug. 9.
