Speaker to discuss impact of AI on work at upcoming Leeds Chamber of
By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune
LEEDS, Ala. – David Salters of Salters Advisory will speak at a luncheon hosted by the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce on July 16 to discuss the potential impact of AI on the workforce in the
New owners of Dobbs Ford celebrate first year of managing dealership
Springville places one-year moratorium on data center proposals
SPRINGVILLE, Ala. –
By Chris Basinger, News Editor
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –
The city of Springville has imposed a one-year moratorium at its most recent city council meeting Monday, July 6, as the city develops more thorough planning and zoning regulations for similar projects in the future.
The moratorium pauses
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
DOBBS FORD, Page 3
Cahaba outdoor classroom to be named for late principal Joy Tyner
TRUSSVILLE, Ala. –
After prolonged political lecture from Mayor Thomas, Springville Council approves pay raise for police
By Terry Schrimscher
Irondale launches $1.50 transit service
IRONDALE, Ala. –
The Trussville City Schools Board of Education unanimously approved naming a future outdoor classroom at Cahaba Elementary School in honor of the school’s late founding principal, Joy Tyner.
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.
During a special-called meeting Tuesday morning, July 2, the board approved the Joy Tyner Outdoor Classroom.
Tyner, who passed away in June at 62-years-old, had advocated for the project for several years and helped shape its design alongside architects prior to her death.
with helping make the project possible. School officials previously said nearly $175,000 was raised for the outdoor classroom pavilion.
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.
By Chris Basinger, News Editor
Board members said the district does not routinely name facilities or spaces for individuals but agreed the circumstances warranted an exception.
“It’s just an honor, I think, to be able to name this for her,” one board member said before the unanimous vote.
The City of Irondale has officially launched its new on-demand transit service throughout the city, bringing curb-to-curb pickup and connections to the metro-Birmingham’s MAX bus system.
MAX On-Demand officially began operations Wednesday, July 1. This will stand as a 15-month pilot program, funded through
TCS Superintendent Patrick Martin said Tyner remained focused on her students even as she faced ongoing health challenges during her last year as principal.
“What I love most when I think about Joy is even though she was going through what she was going through, the students were at the absolute top of her list,” Martin said.
Tyner last visited Cahaba Elementary just before spring break. As school officials became concerned she may not return to her
As the meeting got underway, the council approved the minutes from the last meeting in 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
role as principal, Martin asked Ryan Vernon of Lathan-McKee Architects to include her in the design process.
focus on city business.
“If Joy mentioned the outdoor classroom one time, she mentioned it a thousand times,” Martin said.
“Joy believed the space should be much more than another playground.”
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.
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.
Martin recalled Tyner’s persistent advocacy for projects she believed would be best for her students.
“She would propose something to you, and right as you’re about to say, ‘I don’t know,’ she’d flash that smile and you’re like, ‘Joy, this is going to happen, isn’t it?’” Martin said. “‘Yes, it is. Yes, it is,’” she would reply.
Tyner envisioned a space would students could spend time away from screens, where they could develop relationships, and engage in hands-on learning while enjoying the outdoors.
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.
“I can’t think of a more fitting way to honor Joy’s legacy than by creating a place where future generations of Cahaba students can learn, grow and thrive, just as she always hoped that students would,” Martin said.
“This was truly her passion project,” Martin said.
“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.
Tyner served as Cahaba’s first principal when the school opened in its current form in 2016. During her time, the school became one of Alabama’s highest-rated elementary schools, developing a culture centered on recognizing student achievement and setting high standards. She retired at the end of the 2025-26 school year after more than three decades in education.
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.
Trussville Travel Club experiences history in special trip leading up to Fourth of July
Foxhound Bee Company to bee-gin construction on new education center
Drew Taylor
Growing up, the Fourth of July was like Christmas for Clarissa Winchester and her family.
As a child, Winchester was instilled with a sense of patriotism, especially from her father, who immigrated to the United States and met her mother while attending Auburn University and later doing work for NASA. It was this sense of pursuing the “American Dream,” as well as Winchester’s own interest in American history, that made her feel a real kinship with what it was like to be American.
By Chris Basinger, News Editor
“Going to Colonial Williamsburg during our fifth grade trip was where I learned that I loved history,” said Winchester, a travel agent who rungs Travel with Clarissa in Trussville.
IRONDALE, Ala. – Bee enthusiasts will soon be swarming to Irondale to visit a new beekeeping education center designed to teach students and community members about the world of pollinators.
Martin credited Rep. Danny Garrett, Sen. Shay Shelnutt, Zeke Smith and the Cahaba Elementary PTO
Speaking to The Tribune
“Joy Tyner will be missed,” Martin previously said, “but I am so appreciative that her legacy will live on through this space that students and teachers will be able to enjoy for decades to come.”
Items from the February agenda were addressed individually. The purchase
See SPRINGVILLE, Page 2
Human bones found by local dog are connected, coroner says From Tribune staff reports
Pinson council approves city communication app
PINSON, Ala. – The Pinson City Council recently approved incorporating an app by CivicPlus that sends notifications on various happenings to citizens.
“It’s a system that if you have Facebook, Twitter (or X), if you have Instagram, iPhone, Android, flip phone, email, voice mail, it should hit everybody,” said Coun-
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
See BONES, Page
Beltone Hearing Foundation donates new hearing aids for Pinson resident
Leeds High School freshmen take action to address rising school shootings
Nathan Prewett
By Tanna McGuire
TRUSSVILLE, Ala.
– Jimmy Holbrooks was seated across the desk of a provider at Beltone Hearing Care in Trussville while she unfolded a laptop and played a movie clip to test the new pair of hearings that he had just been fitted with.
He said that he liked war movies and so a clip from “Battle of the Bulge” was played. He was able to distinguish the dialogue amid a storm of gunfire and exploding tank shells.
“Oh, nice” he said. “That’s so good.”
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.
schools.
with but was the result of sensorineural hearing loss in later life.
Birmingham-based Foxhound Bee Company is preparing to break ground on the 5,000 square foot facility
As part of the tour, the group took a tour through different American Revolution sites in Boston, such as the Lexington Battle Green as well as toured the
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
It was this sense of patriotism that led Winchester to suggest that she and her group, the Trussville Travel Club, take part in a weeklong tour through the northeast to trace the footsteps of the American Revolution, starting in Boston before making their way through Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, DC. The travel club has made three trips since it was first founded in 2022, with six people taking part in the 250th American anniversary tour last week.
opened on Saturday.
Freedom Trail at Lexington, Massachusetts, where “the shot heard round the world” began the revolution.
“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.
In New York City, the group went to Wall Street, where George Washington was first sworn in as president of the United States on April 30, 1979. They even got to see “Hamilton” on Broadway.
Before then the 78-yearold Pinson resident had been relying on a much older hearing aid. It was a little early but he could already note an improvement. The hearing care provider, Sarah McClendon, had just programed a new pair.
“Everyone on the project seemed to speak highly of working with Irondale and its leadership. So, when we approached the
“That was just so nice to see in the theater,” fellow
See TRAVEL CLUB, Page 4
“Well, I couldn’t understand anything,” Holbrooks said of his condition before that day. “I’d have to repeat, ‘please talk louder’ on the telephone.”
The condition was one that he had not been born
The young leaders have not only compiled critical statistics but are also working with local officials and educators to promote stronger safety measures in schools. Their project, which will be presented at the FCCLA state conference in March, aims to raise awareness about the devastating impact of school shootings and propose actionable changes to improve safety protocols in Alabama
Current federal requirements mandate that schools perform lockdown or truder 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.
“It is a damage to the inner ear nerves and there are a lot of reasons why people have that but age is one of them along with trauma to the hearing nerves, so loud noise exposure – that could lead to that as well,” McClendon explained.
“When people’s lives are on the line, we can’t just do the bare minimum,” Davis said.
“Schools should take intruder drills as seriously as they do fire or tornado drills.” Johnson echoed this
Holbrooks is a retired policeman and now lives on a fixed income. As his hearing worsened over the years he reached out to Beltone for an evaluation in 2021 but found that even
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.
“We need to make sure that every school feels safe and ready to handle anything that could happen.”
with insurance there was not enough to help him. If anyone has hearing loss or knows someone who does they’ll be familiar with just how expensive hearing aids are; with new, updated hearing aids often costing thousands. Buying a new pair was not an option for Holbrooks though. He was losing hope.
McCormick highlighted the importance of turning awareness into action.
“School shootings are such a huge problem, and we
Living with this condition without help is not something that anybody should do, McClendon pointed out.
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)
Members of the Trussville Travel Club at West Point during its recent trip across the northeast to see different sights from the American Revolution. (Courtesy of Clarissa Winchester)
Sarah McClendon (left) looks up a movie to play for Jimmy Holbrooks (right) to test the new hearing aids he's just received.
The Trussville Tribune
190 Main Street
Trussville, AL 35173 (205) 533-8664
Scott Buttram, Publisher publisher@trussvilletribune.com
Brady Flanigan, Editor trusstribeditor@gmail.com
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Sherry J. Parker, Marketing Executive & Photographer, sherry.parker@trussvilletribune.com
– As the United States of America celebrates her 250th birthday, millions will salute her flag and the Republic for which she stands. And, more importantly, the Constitution that gave birth to this Republic.
That flag first rose in the Revolutionary War to defend the freedom and independence of a people determined to break from the most powerful empire in the world. It has flown ever since over a Constitutional Republic that is at once never changing and ever changing — anchored in enduring principles of liberty, limited government, and self-rule, yet capable of reform and adaptation when those principles demand it.
The flag that flew over a country that allowed slavery is the same flag carried by hundreds of thousands of Americans who died to end it. The Constitution that once counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person was amended to abolish slavery and guarantee equal protection under the law. The system contained within itself the means of its own correction.
That pattern has repeated. When an assassin struck down Abraham Lincoln, the Republic did not collapse. America proved bigger than one man. Constitutional processes continued, and the hard work of restoring the Union and securing the fruits of victory moved forward without a king or dictator to hold it together.
In World War I and again in World War II, the same flag flew over American forces that helped save the world from oppression — first from imperial aggression and then from the totalitarian regimes of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. The Republic answered
calls that went far beyond its borders because its people believed the principles it represented were worth defending everywhere they were threatened.
Even in the depths of the Great Depression, the constitutional order adapted. Here in Trussville, the Cahaba Project — one of the New Deal’s planned communities built under FDR’s Resettlement Administration — offered families decent housing and a measure of stability during the nation’s worst economic crisis.
While the project was seeded by the federal government, it is no coincidence that less than a decade later it was turned over to the people. Those same citizens then gave rise to the City of Trussville, which we will celebrate on its 80th birthday next year. It was an imperfect response to an immense challenge, but it reflected a government working within its framework to help citizens help themselves — and then trusting them to carry the work forward.
In Birmingham and across the South, the Civil Rights Movement showed the same capacity for self-correction in action. Citizens exercised
rights protected by the First Amendment to assemble, speak, and petition. The flag that once flew over legal segregation eventually flew over court rulings, legislation, and national resolve that dismantled Jim Crow. Birmingham’s pivotal role in that struggle helped move the entire country toward a more faithful application of its founding promises.
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy was another moment of national grief and uncertainty. Yet despite the loss of a leader, freedom moved forward. The space program he championed reached its goal when American astronauts walked on the moon in 1969 — a triumph of ingenuity and national will that the constitutional system made possible.
The attacks of September 11, 2001, tested the Republic again. Here in Trussville, the Alabama Fallen Warriors Monument at Veterans Memorial Park stands as a lasting tribute to the Alabamians who gave their lives in the War on Terror that followed. Their sacrifice, like those of earlier generations, reminds us that the flag still calls citizens to defend the principles it rep-
resents. The United States is flawed and imperfect, yes — because we are human and humans make mistakes. But it is also righteous and self-correcting because the Constitution allows and encourages the people to seek God’s guidance without fear of punishment or retribution, to speak freely, to reform laws, to amend the founding document itself, and to hold leaders accountable through regular elections. That framework has carried the nation through war, economic collapse, social upheaval, and tragedy without surrendering the core promise of government by consent of the governed.
On this 250th anniversary of American independence, the flag remains worth standing for because the Republic it symbolizes has repeatedly proven able to confront its failings and keep moving toward a more perfect union. The Constitution did not promise perfection on the first day. It promised a system sturdy enough to pursue it across generations.
As I stand today to salute that beautiful banner, my heart is full. I hope yours is, too. God bless America.
L oca L / R egion
Teen indicted in crash that killed two Corner High graduates
JEFFERSON COUN-
TY, Ala. – A teen from Jefferson County has been indicted on reckless murder charges tied to a 2025 car crash that took the lives of two Corner High School graduates and injured several others.
19-year-old Kamden
Ryan Willis was indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury on charges of reckless murder with extreme indifference to human life in connection to the deaths of 19-year-old Tristan Drake “Tink” Cox, and 18-year-old Treylen Anderson Floyd. The crash occurred at roughly 2:58 a.m. July 20, 2025, on Mount Olive Road near Patridge Loop Road. Willis was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado with seven additional passengers inside when the vehicle left the roadway and hit a utility pole.
Detective Ralph Goodwin of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said previously that the truck was traveling 88 miles per hour in a 45 mph zone just before the vehicle crashed.
Eight people were in the car, with Willis driving, a passenger sitting on the center console beside him, one person in the front passenger’s lap, and four others seated in the back.
Goodwin testified that officers at the scene noticed the smell of alcohol and
slurred speech among several of the teens. A blood test taken by Willis around five hours later returned a BAC of 0.049. Goodwin said passengers later told investigators that Willis had been swerving and remembered him saying “don’t call the police” and “say a car came out of nowhere” after the crash occurred.
Cox and Floyd were pronounced dead at the scene at 3:24 a.m. Both were 2025 graduates of Corner High School, where they had been student-athletes. Both suffered blunt force trauma to the head and torso, and one was ejected from the vehicle.
Six others, including Willis and five females between the ages of 19 and 19 were taken to UAB Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Willis’ attorney, John Robbins, described his client as devastated by the deaths of his friends.
“These were his best friends, you know, as a human being he is devastated, he understands how the family feels,” Robbins said.
“I think it is obvious, and I think it is obvious in the initial reporting everyone that was in the truck had been participating in a good time that night, that morning,” he said.
The defense challenged the reliability of the witness statements Goodwin testified to, arguing that Willis suffered a head injury and several statements were collected months later.
He further noted that the deceased teens also had alcohol in their system and others may have as well. Investigators did not test anyone other than Willis and the two deceased teens.
Willis was initially charged last year and remains out of jail on bond.
Judge William Bell Jr. previously set bond at $150,000 per reckless murder charge, coming to $300,000, with extra stipulations including no contact with the victims’ families, monthly drug and alcohol tests, and a suspended driver’s license.
The case will proceed in Jefferson County Circuit Court.
Suspect arrested in Northport attic after killing two people and dog in Brookwood
BROOKWOOD, Ala.
– A 24-year-old has been charged with murder after two people and a dog were found dead from gunshot wounds at a home in Brookwood on Monday, according to officials.
24-year-old De’Kendrick Crawford was taken into custody following a multi-agency operation that concluded when officers found him hiding in the crawl space of a relative’s attic on Deerfield Drive in Northport.
Victims were identified as 31-year-old Jose Felix Alvarex-Duenas and 22-year-old Jazmine Alexis Bates, a student from the University of Alabama.
Brookwood police were contacted the afternoon of Monday, July 6, to perform a welfare check at a home on the 12900 block of Alabama Junction Road. Investigators said the homeowner was out of the country and became concerned after being unable to reach a friend who was house-sitting.
The homeowner inspected footage from a doorbell camera and noticed a suspicious person on the back porch during the late hours between July 5 and July 6.
The homeowner contacted the landlord, who requested a welfare check.
Capt. Jack Kennedy of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit said investigators identified Crawford through the doorbell camera footage alongside other evidence. According to Kennedy, the victims knew Crawford and the homeowner through work.
At the time of arrest, Crawford was already wanted on a felony warrant from May after authorities said he fired multiple shots into an occupied office building near Coleman Coliseum after being let go from a con-
When officers entered the home, they found Alvarez-Duenas near the front door. Bates was later found in a closet in the back bedroom. Both were dead from an apparent gunshot wound. A dog was also found shot and killed inside the home.
tract job on the University of Alabama’s campus. Investigators clarified that job was unrelated to the workplace Crawford shared with the victims.
After obtaining a warrant for capital murder, the U.S. Marshals Task Force assisted in finding Crawford at a relative’s apartment in Northport. Crawford initially refused to come out, forcing officers to enter and secure the building. He was booked into the Tuscaloosa County Jail on his outstanding warrant and two counts of capital murder. Investigators said more charges are expected as the investigation continues.
Moratorium
consideration and approval of data center projects for one year, buying the planning and zoning commission time to better study the issue and draft regulations.
City officials described the move as proactive and unrelated to any current proposals. “There is no plan, no project in the pipeline. There’s nothing coming down the line,” one official said. “This is strictly a proactive approach by the council.”
Irondale
From front page
a $513,750 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham.
The service will run Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. using two vans.
Rides will cost $1.50 with no more than two extra passengers able to join for 75 cents apiece.
“MAX On-Demand is more than a new transportation service — it’s an investment in opportunity,” Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. said.
“Whether someone needs to get to work, a doctor’s appointment, the grocery store or the library, this program will help connect our residents to the places and services that matter most.”
The service will offer rides throughout Irondale and connect riders with both the Woodlawn Transit Center and Birmingham’s MAX system.
During the system’s inaugural day, The Irondale
The decision comes on the heels of concerns from the community about whether future development at Commerce Park might include a data center.
Officials said that discussions with St. Clair County found no validity to those concerns.
Public Library emerged as a top destination. Officials also stated that they expect to see high demand for rides to Publix and medical offices.
Prior to launching the system, the city surveyed
535 residents about their transportation needs. The feedback was then used to help the city determine ideal service hours and high demand destinations.
The MAX Customer Care Team will hold assistance sessions at the Irondale Public Library and Senior Center to help residents download the app, book trips, and create an account. First-time riders can receive a free ride by entering the promotional code IRONDALE in the MAX Connect app.
LEGAL NOTICE INVITATION FOR BIDS
Sealed Bids will be received by Trussville Gas and Water located in Trussville, Alabama, until the local time set forth below, for furnishing all labor, equipment and doing the work of constructing, according to Bid Documents on file in the office of Trussville Gas and Water, the project hereinafter described. No bids will be received after the time set forth below; and the Bids will be publicly opened and read at Trussville Gas and Water Engineering Dept., 6620 Green Drive, Trussville, Alabama 35173.
Pavement Replacement July 2026
Project Number: 7165-02, 7165-03
Bid Date and Time: July 23, 2026 at 10:00 AM Local Time
The work of the asphalt pavement replacement will be let under one contract, the principal items of work are as follows:
1. Remove Ex. Cold Patch Asphalt
2. Furnish and Install Hot Mix Asphalt Paving
3. All miscellaneous work as required by drawings and specifications
Plans, Specifications, Contract Documents and Contractor
Prequalification Requirements for the project described above are open to public inspection at Trussville Gas and Water Engineering Dept., 6620 Green Drive, Trussville, Alabama 35173. Telephone: (205) 228-1108.
Trussville Gas and Water reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any informality in any bid, and to accept any bid considered advantageous to the Owner.
No bid may be withdrawn after the time for opening bids has passed. Trussville Gas and Water reserves the right to hold the bids for a period of Sixty (60) days after the date of receiving Bids.
If said bid equals $20,000.00 or more, a certified check or bid bond must accompany each bid in an amount of not less than five percent (5%) of the total bid, but in no event more than $10,000.00. The payee of such check, or the obligee of such bond, shall be Trussville Gas and Water.
Contractor agrees to comply with all specifications and plans as furnished by Trussville Gas and Water. Contractor must be licensed under the provisions of Title 34 Chapter 8, Code of Alabama, 1975 and must show evidence of license before bidding or bid will not be received or considered.
Prospective bidders must pre-qualify to bid on this project. Specific requirements are provided in the contract documents under “IV. MINIMUM CONTRACTOR QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS FOR AWARD”. The deadline for submission of pre-qualification package is also listed.
Hearing Aids
“The longer that we go with untreated hearing loss it will get worse,” she said.
“It has effects on the brain because that part of the brain is not being stimulated like it should.”
However, the hope that seemed to be slipping away was renewed with a program by the Beltone Hearing Care Foundation that donates free hearing aids to those who can’t afford them.
“While everybody deserves help he just couldn’t
Travel Club
From front page
Travel Club member Frank Howard said. “It’s definitely a different way to learn about history.”
Making its way to Washington, D.C., the club got to take in the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, where they got to visit the Alabama booth and take their picture with a cut-out of Gov. Kay Ivey.
“It was just a full circle moment on the trip,” Winchester said. “I saw that my group was having a great time and that’s what it is all about.”
Howard, who grew up in West Virginia, remembers how his father used to take him and the family to Civil War monuments when he was a boy, but to see all these American Revolution sites with his wife, Nicola, with the club made him appreciate his country more.
“It really hit home in terms of making this year special, to see where the Revolutionary War happened,” he said. “I’m sure I have some distant relatives who fought.”
Despite having been to many of these locations herself over the years, what was different this time around for Winchester was when the group visited the
manage that,” McClendon said. “And so that’s when I heard or I knew about the foundation and I typed out the application for him and they sent me an email and said absolutely.”
The pair that Holbrooks received was called the Beltone Envision. McClendon explained that they are among the latest and are equipped with AI to assist in adjusting hearing levels and background noise.
“Everybody deserves to have good hearing, whatever their circumstances are,” McClendon said. “We had
tried to work together for the longest time and in my head I was like, ‘I’ve got to get this guy help’ because quality of life, right?”
The news that he would be getting help was more than welcoming for Holbrooks.
“Just gleeful,” Holbrooks said when asked what his reaction was when he heard he was going to get the hearing aids. “I just couldn’t believe it, you know, somebody giving me something free, something good for free? I could never have been more pleased.”
Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, where Washington’s tent he slept in during the war is on display.
“Seeing history up close like that will make you step into your American citizenship in a way that can’t really be experienced any other way,” she said. “To go to these actual places and know that this is where Washington slept, where he ate, where he was debating next steps at Valley Forge, it made an impact on me and I know I will walk away from this trip an even better person.”
In addition to seeing all the American history exhibits on the trip, Howard was particularly excited to see
an Amerex fire extinguisher at the Wright Tavern in Lexington.
“My Dad worked at Amerex and I worked there one summer,” Howard said of the Trussville-based company. “Take a look in most buildings and you’ll find one.”
For its next trip, the Trussville Travel Club is looking to take a Christmas cruise down the Danube River in Europe, where they will make their way through Budapest and other cities.
For more information on how to get involved with the club, visit the contact form on travelwithclarissa. com or email Winchester at trussvilletravelclub@gmail. com.
LEGAL NOTICE INVITATION FOR BIDS
Sealed Bids will be received by Trussville Gas and Water located in Trussville, Alabama, until the local time set forth below, for furnishing all labor, equipment and doing the work of constructing, according to Plans, Specifications and Contract Documents on file in the office of Trussville Gas and Water, the project hereinafter described. No bid will be received after the time set forth below; and the Bids will be publicly opened and read at Trussville Gas and Water Engineering Dept., 6620 Green Drive, Trussville, Alabama 35173.
Interested contractors can obtain prequalification applications from TG&W Engineering Department (“Engineering Department”), 6620 Green Drive, Trussville, Alabama 35173; Telephone: (205) 655-3211 and must submit the completed prequalification application to the Engineering Department at the above address, no later than 4:00 p.m. on July 14, 2026.
Project Name: Magnolia Street Gas Main Relocation
Project Number: 2-006-25
Bid Date and Time: July 28, 2026 at 10:00 A.M.
1. Installation of approx. 1,300 L.F. of 2” PE Gas Main by Directional Bore
2. Installation of approx. 1,300 L.F. of 3/4” PE Gas Service Line by Directional Bore
3. Installation of new service taps, EFVs, risers, and cutoffs for all new service lines
Plans, Specifications and Contract Documents for the project described above are open to public inspection at Trussville Gas and Water Engineering Dept., 6620 Green Drive, Trussville, Alabama 35173. Telephone: (205) 655-3211.
Trussville Gas and Water reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any informality in any bid, and to accept any bid considered advantageous to the Owner.
No bid may be withdrawn after the time for opening bids has passed. Trussville Gas and Water reserves the right to hold the bids for a period of Sixty (60) days after the date of receiving Bids.
If said bid equals $20,000.00 or more, a certified check or bid bond must accompany each bid in an amount of not less than five percent (5%) of the total bid, but in no event more than $10,000.00. The payee of such check, or the obligee of such bond, shall be Trussville Gas and Water.
Contractor agrees to comply with all specifications, plans and contract documents as furnished by Trussville Gas and Water. Contractor must be licensed under the provisions of Title 34 Chapter 8, Code of Alabama, 1975. Prior to submitting a bid for this project, contractor must be prequalified as a Gas Line Utility Contractor for Trussville Gas and Water. Contractor prequalification applications may be obtained at Trussville Gas and Water Engineering Dept., 6620 Green Drive, Trussville, Alabama 35173.
Clarissa Winchester with her daughter, Holly, in Washington, D.C. during the Trussville Travel Club’s recent trip seeing different sights from the American Revolution. (Courtesy of Clarissa Winchester)
New ShopWell storefront in Springville to create jobs for human trafficking survivors
SPRINGVILLE, Ala. –
One of the largest residential programs in the country dedicated to serving women who have been trafficked or sexually exploited operates right here in Alabama. The WellHouse has spent years providing safe housing, restoration and long-term support to survivors — and now it is expanding that mission.
On July 10 and 11, The WellHouse will host its grand opening for the ShopWell Store, a new storefront at 6099 U.S. Highway 11 in Springville. The social enterprise will directly employ survivors while inviting the community to support their journey toward independence and restoration.
ShopWell is more than a store — it is an employment
program where survivors gain job skills, earn income and build confidence as they move toward sustainable independence. The new storefront will feature:
• Products from 30 freedom-based businesses
A coffee shop where every purchase supports survivor employment
• A candle-making studio for hands-on experiences and private parties
• Thriftique, featuring “like new, with tags” brand-name clothing, shoes and bags
Every detail of the space carries meaning. The building was fully gutted and renovated by survivors, creating not just a place of business but a symbol of restoration, resilience and new beginnings.
The WellHouse continues to see significant impact across its programs. According to its most recent annual report, dozens of women are served each year through residential and outreach programs.
Gas prices in Birmingham continue to fall
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –
The cost of gasoline in Birmingham fell slightly over the past 7 days.
According to a study conducted by GasBuddy of 550 stations across the metro area, the average price in Birmingham fell 2.8 cents, coming to $3.40 per gallon. This makes prices now 39.4 cents lower than a month ago, but 68.6 cents higher than this time last year.
GasBuddy reported the lowest price in the Birmingham area on Sunday was $3.11 per gallon, and the highest was $3.99, an 99cent deficit.
Across Alabama, prices ranged from $3.03 to $4.59 per gallon.
Leeds
From front page
The luncheon is titled “AI and the Changing Workforce: Job Losses or Jobs Created?” Salters will address topics such as the creation and elimination of jobs by AI, college students being prepared for the workforce and what skills employers may look for in
Council
From front page
cilor Dawn Tanner, explaining that the city can send residents notices and alerts on incidents such as downed trees on roads.
The app is versatile, being able to “target” certain areas and people, said Director of Operations Eric Winfrey. An example would be the city being able to send notifications to a specific neighborhood in case of a road closure or communicating with a specific city department. Citizens will
Other metro areas in Alabama also saw declines. Prices in Huntsville fell 5.6 cents, coming to $3.35 per gallon, and prices in Montgomery fell 2.6 cents to $3.46. The average across the state fell 0.9 cents to $3.40 per gallon. Across the nation, the average price for fuel fell 6.8 cents over the last week, coming to $3.71 per gallon. Diesel fell 11.8 cents,
the future.
An announcement from the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce stated that the luncheon is aimed at the general public but those who are business owners, managers, educators and HR professionals may take an interest.
The event will be held at Leeds First Methodist Church on 1189 6th Street.
also be able to select what kind of notifications they can receive.
“The more we communicate the more knowledge that they have,” he said.
“The more knowledge we have the more we can inter-
act with the public.”
The agreement with CivicPlus was approved at a meeting of the city council on Thursday night for an initial charge of $5,755 with an annual payment of $4,600.
Terry Schrimscher
Jeff Poor
For most of my middle and high school years, the spring and summer journey east to Atlanta to Six Flags Over Georgia was at least an annual rite of passage. In later years, it became a semi-regular occurrence.
By the time I was in college, the trip had been taken a couple of times. Then, at age 21, there were other thrill-seeking opportunities to explore.
For the first time in nearly 30 years, I made the trip to Six Flags. Using the excuse of taking my five-yearold, who was not tall enough for hardly any of the rides, I went to satisfy a cultural curiosity: Do people still go to amusement parks?
In its heyday in the 1990s, the lines for the rides sometimes stretched for hours. And we endured it to get the thrill-ride sensation of the Great American Scream Machine, the Free Fall, the Mindbender and the Georgia Cyclone.
The 2026 iteration of the long-standing amusement park generally retains its usual aesthetic, but with a more corporate-sponsorship feel.
However, the crowds weren’t there.
Parents, mostly from Generation X and the Millennial generation, were
Ken Lass
It is a breezy, humid summer morning in Trussville. I am driving through one of the larger subdivisions in town. As I approach an intersection, a young girl, I guess her to be around nine or ten years old, comes whirling around from the street on my right, riding one of those electric scooters. I am always a bit stunned at the speed these small vehicles can achieve. She makes a left turn and heads down the street in my direction. Several feet behind her follows a boy, about the same age, on an electric bicycle. They are both on the road, not on the sidewalk. Complicating the situation is the fact that cars are parked on the street, narrowing the passage between us to one lane. My car is clearly going to reach the point where the parked vehicle rests before the kids get there from the opposite way. But it will be close. Can I trust these youngsters to have the awareness to stop, or pull
Rethinking ‘fun’ in America
there with their kids. There were no lines. You could walk up and wait no more than 5-10 minutes to get a spot.
It was also July 3, a Friday and a day off in observance of the Fourth of July, since it fell on a Saturday this year.
Younger people don’t go to amusement parks anymore. Some of it may be because minors of a certain age must now be accompanied by an adult. Somehow, as high school teenagers in the 1990s, driving from Birmingham to Atlanta and going to an amusement park did not seem like a big deal to our parents.
What has changed? How do reckless young adults trigger the massive dopamine rush and the release of endorphins that roller coasters once triggered for my generation?
Technology has changed the world. Investments in multimillion-dollar roller coasters may not be the moneymaking opportunity they once were, given the proliferation of virtual reality simulators around the country.
The instant-gratification dopamine hit from social media may have taken the “seeking” aspect out of thrill-seeking. In other words, there are more ways to have fun now
A 25-year-old Birmingham man has been charged in the deaths of Eric Ashley, Jr., Akira Berry, and Landon Brooks, who were shot and killed while driving last summer.
Jacorrian McGregor, 25, has been charged with capital murder (two or more persons) and is being held in the Jefferson County Jail with no bond. On July 13, 2024, Ashley (28), Berry (28), and Brooks (5) were
Bones
From front page
Police
it was a targeted shooting and that the suspect fled the scene in a vehicle.
Following an investigation, BPD’s BPD’s Crime Reduction Team partnered with the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force and the State of Alabama
than ever before.
following a DNA analysis of the bones, though authorities still do not know the identity of who they belonged to.
Pardons and Parole to apprehend McGregor on Tuesday, Feb. 24 in the 900 Block of Von Dale Lane.
not, technology delivered through the internet is more available.
Our policymakers have helped to push it along. The COVID-era push for rural broadband has exacerbated the trend. Every nook and cranny in Alabama will have access to the bandwidth required for a lot of things that once required a journey to a big city.
It is in our public schools, too.
Some parents reflexively shudder at the thought of their child in front of a screen all day, but that is what is being used to teach in schools, and it’s being applauded as a positive.
over on to the sidewalk, until I get past the narrow gap? That would be foolish and unnecessarily risky. So I pull over behind the parked car and stop, allowing the children to come through. They do so without so much as a glance in my direction. I’m really not sure they ever saw me. They are reveling in the moment, power beneath their feet, wind blowing through their hair, enjoying the ride as though it were a cruise down the freeway in a convertible with the top down. As I watch them sail past, I confess part of me envies them. How cool would it have been to have an electric bike or scooter when I was their age. I grew up in the country. A boy uses his bike a lot when he grows up in the country. It’s a decent journey just to the house of the nearest playmate. Sometimes, when the weather was nice, my parents let me ride my bike four miles to the little country elementary school I attended for my first eight grades. There was one long, uphill stretch on that
There will always be the family pilgrimage to Disney World at least once during childhood. There might even be the around-theworld excursion at Epcot for those a little older. But consumer dollars are not going to regional amusement parks like they once did.
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.
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.
The numbers back this up. A recent Axios report revealed attendance at Six Flags parks fell 13% in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 9.3 million, compared with the year before.
Investigators believe the skull was moved from its original location, which remains unknown, to the property by the homeowner ’s dog.
The coroner’s office per-
The report also revealed that so-called “destination giants” are moving aggressively. Three years ago, Disney committed to a 10-year, $60 billion investment in
mately technology prevails, and culture moves on by
amples of this throughout
Film technology led to movies and movie theaters
Leeds PD help ide retail
We essentially ceded the point that, despite its drawbacks, digital technology was a net positive for society, and that we need to embrace it or be left behind.
LEEDS, Ala Police in Leeds are asking for the public’s help in identifying an individual believed to be involved with an organized retail theft investigation.
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.
As much as we want to preach vigilance about limiting technology and screen time with our children, the reality is that screens are winning. They’re not just winning with our kids but with adults, as well. It is like anything else in human history. We fret
ogy made it possible to hear music without going to live concerts.
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.
Digital technology makes music and film more accessible to consumers. Digital technology appears to be making “fun” more accessible, as well. Whether we like it or
An Electric Childhood
route which always served as a challenge, one which I frequently wasn’t up to, and wound up walking the bike to the top. Wouldn’t it have been awesome, I ponder, to just hit the acceleration gear on my electric bike, and power my way up that hill. As it was, trudging uphill was daunting, but after school, coming down, was nothing short of terrifying. The steep decline forced you to ride the brake, and even then you always felt on the verge of losing control and tumbling all the way to the bottom. It scared the daylights out of me. And I loved it.
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 otherwise in connection with this project, should immediately notify the above named contractor and Trussville Gas and Water, 127 Main Street, Trussville, AL 35173.
As is the case with many of the next best things that have come along over the years, we have not given much thought to the unintended consequences beyond the creative destruction that accompanies them.
Yes, it may mean that record shop, movie theater and amusement park employees have to look elsewhere for employment. But human behavior changes in ways that sometimes go unnoticed, including recreation, which is no small thing.
“The Leeds Police Department requests the public’s assistance in identifying this individual,” officials said on social media “He is a suspect in an Organized Retail Theft Investigation. If you recognize this individual or have any information about this crime please
The gentle whir of the little motor on these e-bikes and scooters adds to the sim ulation of a grown-up vehi cle. Back in the 1950s we used a clothes pin to attach a playing card to the back wheel bar. The card would extend into the wheel, and when the spokes flapped through it, it made a crack ling sound like a car with a bad muffler. The faster you pedaled, the higher the pitch of the crackle, just like en
6961 Gadsden Hwy Trussville, AL 35173
gine noise rises as you accelerate. It was way cool, until your dad found out you ruined his brand new deck of playing cards. Yep, part of me envies these kids and their electric rides. But another part of me doesn’t. That part of me is scared and worried about safety. I can’t kick the feeling these pre-teen travelers are a tragedy waiting to happen. You see, the thing is, when you have to pedal your own bike, or push your own scooter, by its nature it forces you to pay attention to the road. You need to know what’s in front of you so you can calculate how hard to pedal, or whether you need to ride the brake. You must manually adjust your speed to negotiate a curve or a turn. But when an electric motor is doing all the work for you, it’s way too easy to relax and daydream and enjoy the scenery, wave at friends in their driveway, have races side-by-side, and even feeling you are on equal footing with cars, entitled to the same amount of space. The motor allows you to accelerate quicker,ing they can beat cars to an intersection, or even pass a
just more daring and more careless than little girls. (Truth be told, that proba bly doesn’t change in adult hood.) Head injuries are the most frequent and the most serious. Helmets can only protect to a point.
disturbing sight of those beautiful kids, hooked up to an array of tubes and splints and bandages. The images haunt me when I see today’s kids darting around on their Hey, I get it. We love
In 2024, there were more than 114,000 injuries from e-scooters alone. That was more than double the total from the previous year. Indren, boys accounted for 81 percent of the incidents. Little boys, it seems, are
35235
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Joy Triggs Tyner
jan 9, 1964 — jun 30, 2026
Joy Triggs Tyner was taught about Jesus as a child and she accepted Him as her Savior. She grew to understand what a relationship with Christ looked like as a young adult and learned how to trust and depend on her Savior as she went through life. As an adult, every decision Joy made was to please, serve, and share with others about her Savior. On June 30, 2026, Joy got to meet her Savior face to face.
A native of Yazoo City, Mississippi, Joy experienced a wonderful childhood there. She would go on to graduate from Yazoo City High School in 1982 and then attend Mississippi State University and later, Mississippi College. By her own admission, Joy went to MSU in search of a “Mrs.” degree and that part of her education didn’t take long. Before classes even started in her freshman year she went to a
“Welcome” party on a Tuesday night at the Baptist Student Union (BSU) on campus. She introduced herself to a senior, not mentioning that she was a freshman, and they hit it off. William asked Joy and her roommate to go with him to church supper the next night. Thursday saw William and Joy together again as they talked for hours on end. Friday evening they discussed their marriage and Joy said “yes”. They got engaged “officially” at Christmas and two years later were married, even before Joy earned her other degree. That other degree would be in “Elementary Education”, and it would be God’s calling on her life.
After her graduation from MSU in 1986, Joy began what would be an incredible 39 year career in education. As William pursued his career, Joy accepted teaching positions at each location; Madison County Schools, Yazoo City Schools, Tupelo Public Schools, Jackson Public Schools, and then back to Madison County Schools. She would have said she was a “good” teacher, but not a “great” teacher. She knew she was making a difference and that she was where God called her to be, but she wanted to do more. It was about this time that her principal came to her with an opportunity, get her administrative certification, and come to work for her. Joy’s first thought was, I love kids – that’s who I want to be around, I can’t have an impact on them as an administrator! The next six years as an Assistant Principal would began to shape how she would prove that idea so very wrong, and how she would lead when she was finally a principal.
Another couple of moves saw Joy back in the classroom as a multi-age teacher and a developmental reading teacher.
In 2004 she would accept a job as Assistant Principal at Northside Elementary in Clinton, MS. She would have the privilege to serve there and learn for the next 5 years and become Principal of Northside in 2009.
Joys ideas for creating an environment where school was fun, teachers enjoyed coming to work, and kids were always the first priority was about to take shape.
Over the next 7 years, Northside Elementary became one of the top elementary schools in Mississippi. The school would win lots of awards and receive much recognition for their achievements. They even hosted First Lady Michele Obama and the Rachel Ray Show. Northside moved into a new multimillion dollar building in 2012 and didn’t miss a beat. The Northside staff would later help Joy and her husband through the death of their oldest daughter, Perry, in 2013 and still continue to achieve great success. Three years later when the Tyners youngest daughter, Molly, became ill, circumstances dictated that Joy retire in Mississippi after 29 years and follow Molly and her husband to Alabama to help take care of her following a stem cell transplant. While in the hospital Molly talked her mother into applying for a position as Principal in Trussville, Alabama. Joy didn’t think there was much need, but applied to appease her daughter. Joy would soon accept the job as Principal of Cahaba Elementary, a brand new K-5 elementary school. She would miss the opening day of school that year though, to attend Molly’s funeral. While many thought the Tyners might return to Mississippi, a fresh start in Trussville was God’s plan for Joy and her husband. Joy would lead Cahaba through the next decade with those same ideologies about education and saw those theories proved again as the school earned an “A” grade every year and became one of the top elementary schools in Alabama. Joy made the students her priority and always amazed them by knowing all 500 plus of their names and remembering them when they came back from upper grades in the future. In December 2025, Joy decided the time had come for her to finally retire and that retirement was announced in February 2026. The diagnosis of a rare cancer, Neuroendocrine Carcinoma in April would unfortunately cut that retirement very short. If you had asked Joy about her life, she and William would both tell you they were very blessed. Their Christian faith was evident in their daily lives. Joy had numerous opportunities to share her faith and the witness of a strong dependence on her Savior. She was always bold in sharing how God had brought her through the deaths of her daughters, and later the deaths of her parents. Joy also was clear that prayer was the cornerstone of her life and work, nothing was too small to pray about. She didn’t get caught up in so many of the things most of us worry about, she just loved people the way Jesus would! Joy had a sign in her office at Cahaba that read, “Work Hard and Be Nice”. That was almost correct, it should have read, ‘Work Hard and Love Everyone” That was Joy Triggs Tyner! Joy was preceded in death by two daughters, Perry Tyner Tate and Molly Tyner Boland. Parents, Gene and Robbie Triggs and father-in-law, Dr. Fred H.Tyner, Jr. She will be greatly missed by her loving husband of just over 42 years, William Tyner, of Trussville, AL. Her brother, Austin and Dr. Betsy Triggs of Nashville, TN. Her brother-in-law, Charlie and Angie Tyner of Collierville , TN. Niece, Elizabeth Triggs Tipton (Hughes) of Nashville, TN. Nephews, Andrew Triggs (Mary Fowler) of Nashville, TN. , John Luke Tyner (Morgan) of Fairhope, AL., Ryan Tyner (Hannah) of Memphis, TN. and Logan Tyner of Collierville, TN. She will also be greatly missed by her mother-in-law, Jane Tyner of Tupelo, MS. and her best friend, Jana Carter of Clinton, MS. Joy will also be missed by her “sons” Derrik Boland and Garon Tate. She was also loved by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of other family and friends. Joy loved many things; while God, family, friends, and children topped the list, she loved so much more. She loved her Praise and Worship music and wasn’t afraid to play it loud! She loved to sing as a soloist and part of ensembles, and was a highly trained classical pianist. She loved all things MSU and loved returning to campus and ringing her cowbell! She was known to ring it in the halls of Northside and Cahaba too! She loved teaching a small group that met in the Tyners home for the last four years. She said getting to know and love on those young people, and their kids, was one of the biggest blessings in her life. She loved the outdoors; watching Molly play and coach softball, being on the lake and fishing with William, shopping with Perry, and being at the beach with family and friends. She was always up for travel and an adventure!
There will be two Celebration of Life services. First Baptist Church in Trussville, AL and Morrison Heights Baptist Church in Clinton, MS. Joy will be buried in Lakewood Memorial Park in Clinton, MS alongside her daughters. The two services are being held because of the large number of lives Joy impacted in each location. Joy wanted to ask that if you attend, please attend the location that is most convenient for you. Service times are:
Monday, July 6 at FBCT Visitation 5:00-7:00
Tuesday, July 7 at FBCT Visitation 1:00-2:00
Service 2:00
Thursday, July 9 at MHBC Visitation 11:00-1:00
Service 1:00
Burial
William would like to thank UAB Oncology, UAB Infusion Center, UAB Palliative Care, and ACG Hospice for their care, support, and very genuine concern for Joy during this process. He would also like to thank The Cahaba Elementary Family – especially Amanda Pennington, FBC Trussville, their Ballard Place neighbors, and the entire community of Trussville for their love and support during this time, and for the past 10 years.
In lieu of flowers, William believes Joy would suggest gifts to others. She loved her church, FBC Trussville, and the ongoing building campaign for middle school space. Other options would be pre-school, children, high school, senior adult, and music ministries. If FBCT isn’t your church, make an extra gift to your church. Give to schools, the library, historic society, sports programs, or any other local programs that help others. Love with Joy!
Finally, Joy’s father had lots of sayings that he loved to use over and over. Looking at the outpouring of affection from across several states, he would have been very proud of Joy and said, “That girl cut a wide swath” Indeed she did!
Pauline Palokonis Ratliff
may 22, 1927 — july 2, 2026
Pauline “Polly, Betty” Ratliff at the age of 99 passed away July 2, 2026. Preceded in death by her husband of 57 years Robert M “Bob” Ratliff, parents Mary Silver Hammon and John Palokonis, 6(six) siblings, Mary Jane Flower and Dorothy Chasco, brothers John “Jackie” Palokonis, Robert Palokonis and Charles “Pokey” Palokonis, Thomas “Tommy” Palokonis along with 2(two) daughters Sherry Ann Hughes and Margeret Dian Barker.
She is survived by her sons Robert “Bob” Ratliff (Mary) and Scott Ratliff (Dottie) along with grandchildren Robbie Martin, Stephanie Hughes, Steven Hughes, Rachel Ratliff and Sarah Ratliff and great granddaughter Scotti Hughes.
Pauline left her home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the age of 16 to join the Army during WWII. Serving state side, she acted as an assistant to a Colonel, something she seemed to have fully enjoyed and was very proud of. It was there that she met her husband Robert “Bob” and they were married only 3(three) weeks later. She volunteered at the local schools and hospitals doing what she could, but it was her passion for sewing that allowed her to do many different things for many people. One of those things, all be it for sad situations, was making burial gowns for infants. While emotionally a tough thing to do, she provided a blessing for families going through a difficult situation while providing her with a purpose for her skills.
Services will be July 10, 2026, at Jefferson Memorial Gardens in Trussville, Alabama with visitation from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. with a grave side service to immediately follow. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity in her memory.
Ava Ruth Putman
june 23, 1951 — july 1, 2026
Ava Ruth Love Putman, age 75, of Argo, Alabama, passed away on July 1, 2026. Born on June 23, 1951, in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, Ruth lived a life defined by faith, love, and devotion to her family and her Lord. She is survived by her beloved husband of 55 years, Harold Wayne Putman; her son, Harold Wayne Putman II of Trussville, Alabama; her daughter, Ava Elizabeth Andrews and husband Paul of Alabaster, Alabama; her cherished grandson, Christopher; and her brothers, David Love and Charles Virgil Love. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Emma Sue Love; her brothers, John G. Love, Jimmie Love, and Oliver Fred Love; and her sister, Maggie Turner. Ruth faithfully devoted more than 60 years of her life to serving the Lord. She was a gifted pianist who faithfully played for her church, using her musical talent to glorify God and bless those around her. Her unwavering faith was the foundation of her life and a source of strength to her family. She will be remembered as a loving wife, devoted mother, proud grandmother, caring sister, and faithful friend. Her kindness, gentle spirit, and steadfast faith touched the lives of all who knew her, and her legacy of love will continue through the family she cherished. Though she will be deeply missed, her memory will live on in the hearts of those who were blessed to know and love her. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in her memory.
Elizabeth Ann DeFranco
april 3, 1940 — june 23, 2026
On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Elizabeth Ann DeFranco accepted her heavenly reward for a life well lived. She left this world much the way she lived in it—with quiet strength, unwavering grace, and a heart that somehow always had room for one more person. She wasn’t interested in being extraordinary. She simply believed in showing up, keeping her word, kindness, loving friends and family fiercely was enough. It turns out, it was everything.
She loved music and had an infectious laugh; she was witty and competitive. She worried about everyone but herself, and made every visitor feel like the one she’d been hoping would stop by.
Ann made this world a better place.
Her greatest accomplishment was the family she nurtured, the friendships she treasured, the traditions she created, and the lessons she passed along without ever realizing she was teaching. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Paul Frank DeFranco and parents Mary Scruggs Stephenson (Oscar) and Paul McDonald (Odell). Ann leaves behind those that loved her deeply and who now carry pieces of her into the future, her son, Lon DeFranco, her daughter, Carla DeFranco Rouss and son-in-love, Keith. Her sisters Lynda Stephenson Wilder, Pearl DeFranco Bailey and Paulette McDonald Haley. Many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The measure of a life is not how long it lasts, but how deeply it is woven into the lives of those left behind. By that measure, hers was immeasurable.
May we honor her not only by remembering her, but by living a little more like she did— with faith, generosity, humor, kindness and love.
“Tell all my friends I love them. Tell everyone I love them. God bless and may the good Lord bless and keep you and yours always and in all ways.” – Ann.
Foundation, structure are the goals for Eagles’ first year under Grady Griffin
By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor
CENTER POINT – The Center Point Eagles are beginning the season with a new head coach for the second time in two years as Grady Griffin takes over for Dre’Mail King who, after a 1-9 season that saw great improvement despite a lack of success on the scoreboard, was let go from the position. Before King, the Eagles were led by George Bates, now at Shades Valley, who went to the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons.
On January 14, Center Point officially began the Grady Griffin era as the former Pinson Valley offensive coordinator was named the next head coach for the Eagles’ football team.
Before his time at Pinson, Griffin served as head coach at Aliceville and Francis Mason, compiling a 29-27 record over five years and going to the playoffs in each year at Aliceville including a 2022 season that saw Griffin’s team make it to the third round of the playoffs.
Griffin hit the ground running in his first seven months at Center Point.
“It’s been seven months since I walked in and met the boys,” said Griffin. “It’s been great. The mindset has really changed. Everyone knows Center Point is go-
ing to have athletes. But the off field stuff, is it coached as it needs to be. The accountability and trust and those things have really grown since we have been here. The previous coaches have done a great job and we want to do that and continue improving on it. They have really bought into our process.”
Griffin came in and hired quite a talented coaching staff to help him, bringing several coaches from Pinson to be assistants. “A lot of guys from the previous
staff left, which sort of made it easier because I got to hire guys I know I have worked with. I did retain two coaches from the previous staff here in James Brazier and Johntay Lilie. Brazier has been here the longest as I am his fourth head coach. I was able to score big with some buys like Flip Madison, who is that mastermind on defense and he keeps us organized and structured on that side of the ball. I brought in Kirakias Shepard who is a former Ashville head coach and defensive coordinator at
Pleasant Grove. He brings the grit on that defensive side. Rodney Jackson, who is our basketball coach, is going to coach the secondary. We got a new young coach who played at Indiana and played at Ramsay on one of those championship teams under Reuben, his name is Cedarius Doss and he’s helping with cornerbacks. On offense I got to bring some guys that I have been already coaching with in Vic Gerald, DJ Cunningham, and Dakota Tolbert, who came over with me. We
Credit: Johnny Sanders
have a real good group who express the same message.”
When asked about players we need to be on the lookout for, Griffin expressed that the defense will be experienced and the offense will be young, but there are playmakers all over the field. “Our defense are the old guys on the team. Our secondary, starting with Cameron White, who has multiple offers. He’s a cornerback. Damon Canty is an athlete, so he can play both sides. Jayden Hill and Justin Lomax are
our safeties, and they have offers as well. Those guys are battle tested. At middle linebacker, Jayden “JayMo” Moore, he’s our leader in the middle and he has a couple of offers as well. Those older guys are the rocks. On offense, we are young, but very talented. They will be easy to mold. We are waiting on one guy to really step up. Someone who is on the doorstep is Aiden Padgett-Robinson. He’s a track kid and a standout on the basketball team, and we are looking for big things out of him.”
When asked what he hopes year one looks like for Center Point under Grady Griffin, the Eagles’ head coach said, “In December, we would love to be in South Alabama and bring back some hardware that is colored blue. But if not, we want to have the structure and the foundation and have the building built. We want it to be solid and just be ready for some renovations and paint. Year one is the struggle, year two is better, but year three is usually that year. I think we will be good in year one and I think we will look back and see that we laid that foundation and were well coached and we will be a problem for folks in the future.”
Grady and his Eagles get started on August 21 at Central Tuscaloosa.
Despite Youth, Floyd Believes Huskies Have the Pieces to Compete
By John Goolsby, Prep Sports Editor
TRUSSVILLE – The Hewitt-Trussville Huskies enter the 2026 season with a roster that is young in some spots, but not without experience.
The Huskies went 8-3 last season, climbed as high as No. 28 nationally and reached No. 1 in the ASWA poll for the first time since 1991.
Since 2014, Hewitt-Trussville has had the fifth-most wins in Alabama’s Class 7A.
Head coach Josh Floyd enters the season with a 197-70-1 career record, including four state championships, one state runner-up finish and eight region championships. At Hewitt, Floyd is 98-41 with two region titles.
“We’re excited about the year,” Floyd said. “We definitely are one of those teams where we’re going to have to rely on some young guys this year. We lost a really good senior class last year, and some of those guys have been three-year starters. They played a lot of football here. Lost a lot defensively from that group.
“But I really like our team. I like our guys, I really do. I think we’ve got a chance to be a really good football team. We’ve just got to stick together as a group.”
The Huskies return five starters on offense after averaging 33 points per game last season, seventh-best in Class 7A.
Defensively, Hewitt returns three starters from a unit that allowed 14 points per game, second-best in 7A.
Offensively, Hewitt returns experience at nearly every position group, led by senior tight end Jackson Martin, sophomore quarterback Jack Floyd and an offensive line that was forced to grow up quickly because of injuries last season.
Martin, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound tight end with multiple FBS offers, caught 17 passes for 213 yards and four touchdowns last season. Floyd said Martin’s versatility makes him one of the Huskies’ most important offensive players.
“You’ve got Jackson Martin, who we think is going to be a really big weapon for us; it is his third year to start here at tight end,” Floyd said. “He’s an H-back, receiver. He’s a guy that we move around a lot. I know what colleges like about him is that he’s pretty versatile and can do a lot of different things. Jackson is 6-4, 230, and runs really well. I think he’s going to have a huge senior year.”
Floyd returns at quarterback after starting five games last season. He completed 74 percent of his passes for 916 yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for 622 yards and five scores.
“He went 4-1 last year as a starter, and again, he’s one of those guys who got thrown in the fire,” Floyd said. “We had a plan for Jack last year to get some playing time. Obviously,
“The facts are we are kind of young,” Floyd said. “Due to some injuries last year, we had to play some of those young guys last year. You’ve got some sophomores playing. You had two or three freshmen last year who played, and two of them started for most of the year. They’re still young, but those guys got thrown in the fire when they were freshmen, and I think that’ll benefit those guys this year.”
Zach got hurt in week two against Gadsden City, so all of a sudden, about the second quarter, mid-second quarter, second game of the year, Jack’s the guy. His first three games were against top-10 teams, Hillcrest, Hoover, and Vestavia.
“I think Jack’s even a different level this year because of that. I think the game’s slowing down for him. He’s seeing things faster.”
Floyd also likes the depth behind his starting quarterback.
“Harris Tuggle will be a junior next year,” Floyd said. “I think Harris has improved as much as anybody has improved in about the last year and a half. He’s just done a really, really good job at quarterback, had a good offseason, got stronger and bigger, and we’re excited about him.”
Floyd said sophomore Judah Weber is another quarterback option.
“Judah’s a really good football player,” Floyd said. “He’s a guy who could play quarterback if we need him to.”
The offensive line, a concern entering last season because of a lack of depth, could become one of Hewitt’s strengths in 2026.
“We’ve got some good linemen coming back,” Floyd said. “One thing that hurt us last season was that we ended up having three offensive linemen, who had started a lot of games, miss the majority of the season, and two of them were seniors.”
Those injuries to the line last season gave younger players opportunities to gain game experience against tough opponents.
Seniors Micah Fantroy and Calvyn Speigner return alongside Searcy Ellis
and Odin Woodley, who all started games last season.
“You had at least four guys that started a lot of football last year up front,” Floyd said. “That’s something we’re excited about.”
Floyd also expects sophomores Anders Hardy and Hunter Jordan to provide depth to the unit.
“They’ve got good size and are going to get on the field,” Floyd said. “We still might be a little bit young up front, but a lot of those guys played last season, so that’s a positive.”
Sophomore running back Daniel Williams looks to lead Hewitt’s ground game after a standout spring that included more than 130 yards of offense in the Huskies’ spring game against Parker.
“He’s always been a bigtime weapon for that class, and we 100% believe in him,” Floyd said. “He has good speed, he’s tough to bring down and has really good vision. He’s a good receiver out of the backfield as well.”
While Williams is expected to get most of the carries, Floyd said senior Harrison Malone’s versatility will allow the Huskies to use one of their top defensive players on offense as well.
“When he was in ninth grade, Harrison was a heck of a running back,” Floyd said. “When he moved up his sophomore year, we wanted to find a way to get Harrison on the field.”
Floyd said senior linebacker Jayden Berry is another option in the backfield.
“Jayden’s one of our strong kids on the team,” Floyd said. “He’s about 220 pounds. He can also play running back and fullback, but he’s in the mix at linebacker, too.”
Floyd expects several players to contribute at the wide receiver position. Junior Dylan Price, senior Riley O’Neill, senior Lucian Nelson and junior Tyron Allen give Hewitt a mix of experience and speed.
“Riley’s going to be a big weapon for us this year,” Floyd said. “He’s had a really good summer, a really good offseason.”
Floyd said O’Neill started a couple of games and played extensively last season. He said Price gained valuable experience behind an older receiving corps and “will definitely be a really good player for us.”
Floyd described Allen as “explosive” and “definitely one of our faster kids on the team.”
Floyd called Nelson “a program guy that’s really bought into things” who has “had a really good offseason, gotten bigger, stronger and faster.”
Defensively, the Huskies must replace several starters, but they return three experienced players: senior defensive end D’ante Seals, senior outside linebacker Harrison Malone, and senior defensive back Simeon Watson.
Seals anchors a defensive line that must replace significant production from last season, but Floyd believes the group has the pieces to develop quickly.
Seals, a Troy commitment, returns after recording 47 tackles, six tackles for loss, and two sacks last season.
“We’re expecting him to have a huge senior year,” Floyd said. “He’s put on some mass this offseason, so I’m really expecting big things for him.”
Floyd also expects senior Eli Abney to emerge after seeing action last season.
“Eli’s about 6-foot, 220 pounds and one of our stronger kids in the weight room,” Floyd said. “He’s one of those guys who played some last year, but now he’s got a chance to be the guy. We think Eli’s going to have a really, really big senior year for us on the D-line.”
Senior Michael Ross is also expected to contribute to the rotation, while Floyd believes freshman Landon Donner has the potential to make an early impact.
“Even though he’s going to be a freshman, he’s a guy that could play defensive line for us.”
Malone returns to lead the linebacking corps after earning All-Region honors with 79 tackles, eight tackles for loss and two sacks last season.
“I’d say he’s one of our best pure football players on the entire team,” Floyd said. “He’s one of our leaders back on defense, being a three-year starter. One of our leading tacklers last year, just a guy who makes plays. He’s just a football player.”
Floyd also expects senior Jayden Berry and junior Ryker Dummitt to play key roles.
“Ryker’s about 6-2. Really good football player,” Floyd said. “He’s a big kid, and he’s going to be in the mix at linebacker.”
Sophomores Hunter Futrell and Joseph Deibert also figure into the rotation.
“Hunter played some as a freshman last year,” Floyd said. “Both those guys will play and have a chance to be really, really good. They’re going to be really good football players. Hunter played baseball, so he didn’t go through spring. Joseph did
See HUSKIES, Page 11
The Green Flag: Indycar heads to Nashville after McLaren 1-2 finish
By: IndyCar
LEXINGTON, Ohio –
Same papaya, different day. Different driver, too.
That was Arrow McLaren’s swap at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course where Pato O’Ward – and not polesitter Christian Lundgaard – won The Honda Indy 200 Presented by the 2027 CR-V Hybrid, the 11th race of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.
Lundgaard and O’Ward had started the 90-lap race together on the front row, and they effectively held their positions throughout a caution-free race except when they pitted. But on Lap 42, O’Ward capitalized on the polesitter’s wide exit off Turn 2, swiping the lead and holding it the rest of the
go through spring, but we didn’t get Hunter back until after that.”
Cody Parker, who led Springville in tackles last season, joined the Huskies during the summer.
“We did have one transfer here who was from Springville last year,” Floyd said. “I know he led their team in tackles. He didn’t get here till the summer, so he didn’t go through spring ball. We just got to show some evaluation there, but he’s a good-sized kid.”
Watson returns to lead a secondary that must replace several experienced starters after battling injuries last season.
“Simeon’s a really good football player,” Floyd said. “He’s a really explosive kid. Breaks on the ball really, really well.”
Junior Zion Westry is
way. The win was the first for O’Ward in nearly a year since he won last season’s Toronto street race.
That was 15 races ago, a drought he couldn’t accept, especially as Lundgaard has won two races this year, including the most recent race at Road America.
The win also gave Arrow McLaren its first 1-2 finish in this series.
O’Ward hadn’t even scored a top-three finish this season despite being fifth in the standings. His best runs had been three fourth-place finishes and three fifth-place finishes.“It’s been a year, it’s been a tough one for sure,” the Mexican driver said. “I think today is just a perfect example of execution. I waited for the perfect time
expected to take on a much larger role after seeing limited action a year ago.
“Zion’s a really good player,” Floyd said. “He’s got a ton of potential. I think he’s got a big future. He’s going to get some more offers.”
Floyd also expects juniors Caleb Scott and Sam Dick to compete for playing time at safety, while sophomore Judah Weber provides another option.
“Judah’s another safety that’s a really good football player,” Floyd said. Another player Floyd expects to contribute is Parker Neigoot, who returned to football after spending last season focused on basketball.
“Parker didn’t play last year,” Floyd said. “He’s a basketball kid, but he came back out this year. We’re expecting him to be really good. He’s similar to Will Phillips as far as being 6-2
O'Ward - Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio - By Matt Fraver
pounce and from there we just controlled it.”
O’Ward’s pass of Lundgaard was noteworthy for a couple reasons, not the least of which stemming from what happens at year’s end. They are in their second season as teammates, but all signs point to Lundgaard driving elsewhere next year as Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist join O’Ward on the team.
or 6-3, long, with a lot of range.”
Special teams should again be a strength for the Huskies with Nathan Fritz returning after making 37 extra points and one field goal, Banks Loyd is back handling kickoffs, and Tony Hrbacek returning at punter. Floyd also expects sophomore Rivers Harbison to carve out a role after calling him “probably the most versatile” specialist in the program.
The Huskies will again face one of the state’s toughest schedules, opening the season at Auburn before non-region games against Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa and Pike Road.
“I think it’s extremely difficult,” Floyd said. “I think it’s probably one of the harder schedules we’ve had, maybe the toughest we’ve had top to bottom.”
Floyd expects Auburn to once again be among the state’s best teams.
That situation made O’Ward’s pouncing opportunity all the more interesting.
Lundgaard drifted a bit wide on the exit of Turn 2, allowing O’Ward to size him up and get a better run down the long straightaway that serves as the race’s starting point. By the time they arrived at the tricky, right-turning fourth corner, the cars were side by side, O’Ward on the outside. They touched at least twice at corner exit, and O’Ward had the preferred line into Turn 5 –and he used it.
By the time the Arrow McLaren twosome charged into Thunder Valley, O’Ward had the lead.
Later, he used a key pass of series rookie Dennis Hauger to create additional
“Auburn’s going to be in the top five,” he said. “They’re just like us as far as being top five and in the mix every single year. We’re going down to their place for the first game, which we’re excited about. We think that’ll be a fun environment. We like playing those kinds of games. That’s our preference.”
Hillcrest, in Class 5A this season, remains on the schedule.
“We know how good they are,” Floyd said. “They’re one of those teams that if this new playoff thing had been in place the last two years, they’d be in the playoffs. They’ve just been in our region.”
The Huskies close non-region play against Pike Road.
“They’re going to be really, really talented,” Floyd said. “Again, they’re going to be a top-five, top-10 team in 5A.”
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separation leading into the final pit stop. O’Ward stayed out as Lundgaard, along with two other challengers pitted, and he then ran two laps longer to pad his lead.
O’Ward’s winning margin was .9877 of a second, earning his second MidOhio victory in the past three years. This win was the 10th of his career, almost divided equally by circuit (four on ovals, three on street circuits, three on road courses).
Lundgaard’s second-place finish continued his strong season on road courses. In addition to winning races at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Road America, he also finished second at Barber Motorsports Park. With Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou finishing fifth, Lundgaard
Floyd knows how tough things get when region play begins.
“I do think the region’s tougher than it’s ever been, top to bottom,” he said.
“Spain Park comes in, and they’re back to where they used to be. They were playing really good football at the end of the year.”
He said there is little room for error in a league that includes perennial powers such as Hoover and Thompson.
“There’s just not a lot of margin for error,” Floyd said. “I don’t think people truly understand that unless you’ve been in the region. When you have to do it every single week, it’s just different. There’s no breather.”
Hewitt enters the season with continuity on the coaching staff.
“We are holding tight,” Floyd said. “There were one or two that I thought might be changes, but it actually
drew within 65 points of the series leader.
Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood finished third, getting a few points closer to Palou. Their separation is now 56 points, and Kirkwood overtook Team Penske’s David Malukas, who finished eighth, for second place in the standings. Lundgaard also jumped Malukas with O’Ward fifth. The top four drivers are separated by 66 points with seven races remaining, led by the July 19 Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by OnlyBulls at Nashville Superspeedway.
VeeKay scored his second fourth-place finish in the past three races following another such finish last month at World Wide Technology Raceway.
worked out where we were able to keep them here.”
Floyd said several assistants have had opportunities elsewhere, but the Huskies have worked to keep the staff together.
“We have some guys that have had opportunities every year, but we obviously try to do the best we can to keep our staff here.”
Despite the youth, Floyd said the expectations inside the Huskies’ locker room remain unchanged.
“I’m pleased with where we’re at as a program and pleased with our staff,” Floyd said. “Like everybody, we want to win a state championship. That’s the one thing we haven’t quite been able to get done. We’ve done about everything else since we’ve been here. We’ve proven to be top five, right there in the mix every year, but obviously, we want to win it. That’s always going to be the goal every year.”
Why Summer May Be the Best Time to Experience Senior Living
Summer offers unique benefits for older adults, especially in a senior living community designed to support wellness, connection, and convenience. At Salterra at Peachtree, summer creates natural opportunities for residents to stay socially engaged, physically active, and mentally stimulated, all while enjoying the ease of a maintenance-free lifestyle.
Offering independent living and assisted living services in the heart of Trussville, Salterra at Peachtree is managed by Leisure Care and backed by 50 years of experience delivering life-enhancing care. They’re helping today’s older adults rediscover purpose, connection, and new possibilities. At Salterra at Peachtree, it’s all about breaking stereotypes, exploring new experiences, deepening relationships, and leaving a meaningful legacy – with courage, confidence, and creativity.
SUMMERTIME IN SENIOR LIVING
That spirit of living fully is evident in the summer months, when longer days and warmer weather create even more opportunities to focus on health and well-being. With a little extra care and attention, older adults can fully embrace the fun in the sun while safeguarding their well-being.
Social connection is one of the most important contributors to overall well-being as we age. During the summer months, opportunities for connection naturally increase as residents spend more time outdoors and participate in seasonal activities together. At Salterra at Peachtree, social events are thoughtfully planned by experienced staff, making it easy for residents to enjoy the season without having to organize activities themselves. Summer also provides ideal conditions for supporting physical wellness. Regular movement helps improve balance, maintain joint flexibility, and support cardiovascular health, all of which contribute to greater independence and vitality. Residents may participate
in a variety of physical fitness activities throughout the season, including outdoor yoga sessions in the sunshine, group walks around the community or nearby parks, gardening clubs, friendly sports tournaments, community picnics with healthy seasonal foods, and lively dance parties.
Mental wellness is another important focus during the summer months. Longer daylight hours and engaging activities help stimulate cognitive function while encouraging residents to remain intellectually curious and socially connected. Residents may participate in outdoor brain games and trivia sessions, summer book clubs, nature walks, mindfulness workshops, creative art classes, and seasonal celebrations that inspire learning, creativity, and conversation.
Emotional wellness is supported through meaningful relationships and opportunities for self-expression. Summer-themed parties, family gatherings, peer discussion groups, and creative workshops allow residents to connect with one another, reflect on shared experiences, and celebrate the season together. These moments of connection foster a strong sense of belonging and emotional fulfillment.
Communal wellness also plays a vital role in daily life at Salterra at Peachtree. Shared dining experiences, resident-led clubs, volunteer initiatives, and group outings throughout the neighborhood help residents stay connected to both their community and the surrounding area. These collective experiences strengthen friendships, encourage collaboration, and create an environment where residents feel supported, engaged, and inspired.
At Salterra at Peachtree, your best years aren’t behind you. They’re waiting for you. This is where you can age boldly, declaring that life after 70 is not a slow fade, but a vibrant, intentional continuation (or even reinvention!) of life’s journey. It’s about leaning in, not stepping back; expressing, not repressing; pursuing passions, not retiring from purpose.
