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Trussville school board approves free breakfast for students

By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune

TRUSSVILLE, Ala. –Students at Trussville City Schools will be eligible for free breakfast this upcoming school year after the board of education voted in favor of universal breakfast on Monday, June 15.

Chief School Financial

Officer Jim Kirkland said the program will offer every

New owners of Dobbs Ford celebrate first year of managing dealership

By Chris Basinger, News Editor

Lakeshore Foundation announces partnership with United Spinal Association

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –

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

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –Lakeshore Foundation and United Spinal Association have announced they are engaging in a partnership in efforts to expand programming and better advocate for people living with spinal

After prolonged political lecture from Mayor Thomas, Springville Council approves pay raise for police

Mural honoring Leeds veterans dedicated during 250 celebration

Nathan Prewett

By Terry Schrimscher

SPRINGVILLE, Ala. –

LEEDS, Ala. – “How much do you think all of this cost?” asked Frank Little of a crowd gathered at the dedication of a mural depicting three Medal of Honor recipients from Leeds as the city celebrated America’s 250th year on Saturday.

A veteran of the Vietnam War, Little elaborated with the stories of the three whose images were immortalized on 8th Street adjoining the library on Parkway Drive and dedicated during the centennial celebration. And the cost? As it turned out it wasn’t really a question of money. The more relevant question was what it cost the three and others like them in order to ensure the freedom to put up anything the community wants, Little said.

him. Smoke filled the plane and obscured the pilot’s vision. Realizing that it could put the rest of the crew in danger he resolved to get the bomb out of the plane.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.

By Chris Basinger, News Editor

“Without regard for his own safety, he picked it up and feeling his way, instinctively, crawled around the gun torrent and headed for the co-pilot’s window,” Little read.

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.

during Tuesday night’s meeting honoring Hewitt-Trussville High School Physics teacher Melanie Dimler.

ple wounded, with Lawley’s co-pilot dead. Lawley himself was injured and could only fly with his left hand.

a crash landing on a fighter base.

focus on city business.

“Blood covered the instruments and visibility was impossible,” said the Medal of Honor citation read aloud by Little.

1st Lt. William R. Lawley Jr. was a pilot aboard a B-17 airplane on a bombardment mission over Nazi-occupied continental Europe in 1944. Approximately 20 enemy aircraft attacked and shot the plane out of formation, inflicting heavy damage and leaving multi-

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.

“That, my friends, is what it cost for you and I to have this,” Little said.

ter,” Thomas said. “The example they set by refusing to adjust salaries wasn’t about their faux martyrdom, sacrificing for the greater good,” he added.

The Springville City Council took a detour Monday night before it returned to unfinished business held over from the Feb. 17 meeting. After an extended work session and a short break, the March 3 meeting began around 6:45 p.m. As the meeting got underway, the council approved the minutes from the last meeting in February. Mayor Dave Thomas motioned for them to reconsider the minutes noting members motioned to adjourn before conducting business on the agenda without that motion being recognized. Thomas then proceeded to deliver a dissertation, as he called it, for the next 55 minutes, cross-referencing political history, addressing recent editorials, and 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-

Though the bomb continued to burn him as he carried it he managed to find his way to a window to discard it, saving the lives of everyone else.

“That, my friends, is what freedom cost us,” Little said.

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.

The situation became desperate as a fire broke out and the engines were failing. The B-17 was attacked again but Lawley managed to evade them as he navigated the plane to the English coast. He passed out from exhaustion and blood loss but was revived by a bombardier before making

Sgt. Henry “Red” Irwin was a radio operator on a B-29 aircraft during an attack on Koriyama, Japan where he was also tasked with dropping phosphorus smoke bombs that helped assembling the formation when the launching point was reached.

“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.

During the mission a faulty bomb exploded in the launch chute. The force and heat of the bomb destroyed Erwin’s nose and blinded

Speaking to The Tribune

PFC Alfred McLaughlin was cited for his actions as a machine gunner in the Marine Corps during the defense of his outpost in the Korean War in 1952. Under artillery and mortar fire he planned the defense of his platoon before an enemy attack.

“When hostile forces attacked in battalion strength during the night, he maintained a constant flow of

After re-introducing parliamentary rules to the meeting process, Thomas led the council through new business which involved acceptance of bids for a new sewer project which will need further action for financial decisions. The council also renewed the city’s garbage collection contract with Waste Management. Items from the February agenda were addressed individually. The purchase

Irondale to launch ondemand transportation services in new pilot program

Human bones found by local dog are connected, coroner says From Tribune staff reports

Terry Schrimscher

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

IRONDALE, Ala. –Irondale residents will have a new way to travel to work, medical appointments, grocery shopping and more beginning July 1. On June 3, Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. announced a 15-month pilot

Page 4 See TRANSPORT, Page

Foxhound Bee Company to bee-gin construction on new education center

Clay Council sets hearing for employee terminated for second time

Nathan Prewett

CLAY, Ala. – A hearing has been set for a former Clay city employee who was terminated by Mayor Jane Anderton for the second time after he was reinstated by the council during a meeting in May.

By Chris Basinger, News Editor

An appeal was made by the terminated employee, Hunter Merola, who was the building inspector for the city and posted a video of the firing on social media. At the meeting on Tuesday, June 9 Anderton read aloud a statement saying that on April 28 City Hall was visited by a representative of the Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule or BCEGS. The program grades cities based on building codes and how they are effectively enforced.

No action.”

Anderton then stated that the city currently holds a class 99, which is unrated.

By Tanna McGuire

See SPRINGVILLE, Page 2

See VETERANS, Page 4

See BONES, Page 4

Trussville Witches Ride names 2026 beneficiary

Leeds High School freshmen take action to address rising school shootings

TRUSSVILLE, Ala.

– The Trussville Witches Ride, Inc. has chosen Titan Lutfi, a year-old Trussville resident recovering from a life liver transplant, as the nonprofit’s 2026 beneficiary. Each year, Trussville Witches Ride choose a local person or family to support with the funds they generate from their annual charity bike ride.

was informed that the building inspector did not hold ICC credentials, that the formal inspection and plan review checklist was not in place, no additional training was done in the previous year and that no funds were budgeted for department training.

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.

father works to support the family.

Funds raised through the 2026 Trussville Witches Ride will go directly toward softening the financial strain of Titan’s ongoing medical care as he recovers.

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. Birmingham-based Foxhound Bee Company is preparing to break ground on the 5,000 square foot facility

The grading spans from 1 to 10, Anderton explained, with 1 being considered the most favorable rating. The visit in April was to grade Clay for the 2025 building code enforcement program. She stated that the city

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

opened on Saturday.

“What was particularly troubling is that the BCEGS had attempted to evaluate the city of Clay since 2013,” she said. “And for over a decade those outreach efforts went unanswered. No response. No engagement.

“It means that our residents are paying more for property insurance than they should be, with none of the premium credits that homeowners in neighboring actively rated cities are receiving,” she said. “That’s a public safety issue.”

“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.

What began as jaundice and difficulty gaining weight for Titan weeks later ended with a diagnosis of biliary atresia, a rare, life-threatening pediatric liver disease where bile ducts are blocked or fail to develop properly.

schools.

liver transplant needed to save his life at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. The family described the transplant as a miracle but said recovery remains ongoing.

“Everyone on the project seemed to speak highly of working with Irondale and its leadership. So, when we approached the

She elaborated further in her statement that “strong” building codes were need-

See COUNCIL, Page 8

At four weeks old, Titan underwent a lifesaving Kasai procedure at Children’s of Alabama in effort to restore bile flow from his liver to his small intestine. The procedure was unsuccessful, which resulted in months of complications, tests, and hospital stays.

Titan was eventually put on a transplant list, and at 8 months old he received the

The young leaders have not only compiled critical statistics but are also working with local officials and educators to promote stronger safety measures in schools. Their project, which will be presented at the FCCLA state conference in March, aims to raise awareness about the devastating impact of school shootings and propose actionable changes to improve safety protocols in Alabama

Current federal requirements mandate that schools perform lockdown or intruder drills; in Alabama, public schools are required to conduct two such drills per semester. However, Davis believes these measures are insufficient and is advocating for more frequent and comprehensive drills.

Titan is immunocompromised, requiring his family take extra care to ensure he stays healthy. Frequent follow-up visits to his doctor in Nashville, where his family frequently stays at the Ronald McDonald House, have proven difficult to perform safely.

“When people’s lives are on the line, we can’t just do the bare minimum,” Davis said.

The Trussville Witches Ride, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to support families in need by raising money with its annual costumed charity bike ride through the Cahaba Homestead Village District in Trussville. Every year members nominate individuals or families who they believe could benefit. The organization’s board then selects the beneficiary.

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.”

Rides in the past have raised thousands of dollars for local causes, including heart transplants and the treatment of rare medical conditions.

The financial and emotional burden on Titan’s family has been significant. His mother stepped away from work to become his full-time caregiver as his

“Schools should take intruder drills as seriously as they do fire or tornado drills.” Johnson echoed this

McCormick highlighted the importance of turning awareness into action.

“School shootings are such a huge problem, and we

Registration for the 2026 ride will open later this summer. More information will become available through the Trussville Witches Ride’s Facebook and Instagram page.

See STUDENTS, Page 3

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)

Clay Mayor Jane Anderton. Photo by Nathan Prewett.

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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Brannon Dawkins, Tribune Unscripted Producer & Account Manager

Sean Dietrich

It’s weird. Being back in America again.

For one thing, they don’t call it “America” over in Europe. It’s bad form. They call it “the U.S.”

When in Europe, to call your mother country “America” is considered egotistical and disrespectful to other North Americans, Central Americans, South Americans, as well as Puerto Ricans, people from the Virgin Islands, and people from Guam, who all sort of consider themselves “Americans,” too.

Although I’ve never heard any South American friend refer to himself or herself in this way. They always say, “I’m Colombiano,” or “Argentino,” or “I’m a Peruano.” If you were to call a Central American an “American,” they’d laugh and then spike your food with ceremonial death chiles.

Still, modern decorum dictates that you’re not supposed to say “America.” It’s considered rude, and sort of low rent.

Sorry, those are the rules.

After all, Mexicans are also from North America, along with Canadians. But again, I’ve never once heard a self-respecting Canadian refer to themselves as “North American.” Neither do Mexicanos refer to themselves as North Americans. In fact, “Norteamericano” is a Mexican term reserved for persons from the United States.

So anyway, this modern vocab issue was a problem for me the very first time I visited Europe. I kept responding to people’s questions of my origin by replying, “I’m from America.”

And they’d look at me like I had just mowed down the Sistine Chapel with a Sherman tank. By modern political correctness stan-

The A Word

dards, I was an uneducated little puke.

“It’s called the U.S.,” I was quickly informed by Europeans.

Except, wait. No. I’m mistaken. They’re NOT called “Europeans.”

Erroneously, I assumed that people from Europe must follow the same dialectal rules we Americanos are expected to follow. So I began referring to European Union citizens as being from the E.U. I did this exactly once, and a Frenchman quickly gave me a dressing down.

“I am not FROM the European Union, monsieur,” he said with a piteous laugh. “I am French because my country is named France.”

“And I am from Italy,” added another woman nearby. “Therefore I am Italian.”

“So what does that make me?” I asked.

They shrugged and went back to smoking cigarettes. So, later that night I did some research in my hotel. According to the internet, I discovered the correct term was “One who is from the U.S.” Or in some cases: “United-Statesean.” This is considered politically correct language. Even in the States, it is more acceptable to use this terminology.

This means we must update many of our classic song titles, such as the classroom melodies, “United States the Beautiful,” “My United States ‘Tis of Thee,” and “Bye, Bye, Miss United States Pie.” George Gershwin’s tune needs to be renamed to “A United-Statesean in Paris.” So does Grand Funk Railroad’s timeless anthem to rock and roll, “We’re a United-Statesean Band.”

Even so, I caught on very quickly in Europe. When I ordered a diluted espresso, I would merely ask for “watered-down espresso.” The baristas would all look at me funny and reply, “You mean a café Americano?”

“Shame on you,” I would respond.

And at one restaurant they advertised a sandwich with “American cheese.” I called the chef and asked him to alter his menu to be more inclusive to Canadians.

Once, while walking the streets of some foreign country, I heard Tom Petty’s “American Girl” blasting through the radio of a local shop. I was offended. I walked inside and asked them to change the station, since this song wasn’t fair to Puerto Ricans.

But then, one day in a small French town, I had a conversation with a Frenchwoman shopkeeper. She was elderly and gray, and old enough to remember World War II, when Allied soldiers liberated her country.

She was a little girl living in Paris at the time. Her father had been brutally murdered during the war, and her mother had been taken captive by German mercenaries. After France was liberated by U.S. troops, a large victory parade took place on the streets of Paris wherein soldiers walked alongside French citizens in celebration. She remembered that parade in detail. As though it were yesterday.

“There was so much cheering it hurt your ears,” she said. “We were so happy to be free.”

The French people showered U.S. soldiers with gifts and confetti and falling food. Baguettes fell from the sky. So did money.

And—seriously—women’s underwear.

Young women kissed U.S. soldiers marching by, seemingly at random. Old Frenchwomen embraced passing sergeants and wept into their uniforms with gratitude. Old Frenchmen shook the hands of teenage buck privates with tears in their ancient eyes and said “God bless you” in broken English.

My grandfathers and forebears were among those gallant and battered soldiers who fought such a terrible and costly war. Maybe yours were too. The old Frenchwoman telling me this story was actually weeping as she spoke. She wiped her eyes, then took my hand.

“Let them call you whatever they wish,” she said. “But to me, ‘American’ will always be a beautiful word.” Anyway, it’s good to be home.

Supreme Court blocks Alabama’s execution by nitrogen

ATMORE, Ala. – The U.S. Supreme Court has blocked Alabama from performing a execution using nitrogen gas Thursday night, June 11, after lower courts found the method unconstitutional.

The call has spared 49-year-old Jeffery Lee from being executed by gas at William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. The Alabama Department of Corrections said the execution was called off for the evening and the state would not attempt to use a different method Thursday night.

Lee was set to become the ninth person in the U.S. executed by nitrogen, a method Alabama adopted in 2024.

The legal battle centered

on whether the method violates the Eighth Amendment, which bans cruel and unusual punishment.

Lee filed a lawsuit challenging the use of nitrogen.

The method was initially ruled constitutional by U.S. District Judge Emily Marks in May, but a panel of three judges from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision Monday. The appeals court said the three minutes it could take to lose consciousness created an unacceptable risk of suffering.

Marks reevaluated the case Tuesday and ruled the protocol amounted to cruel and unusual punishment.

The state appealed to the Supreme Court, who elected

not to lift the injunction and let nitrogen be used.

The ruling does not prevent Alabama from using other means to execute Lee, such as the electric chair

or lethal injection. It is unknown how quickly the state plans to seek alternative means.

Death by nitrogen hypoxia involves using a respira-

tor-style mask to replace the inmates air with nitrogen, causing death by lack of oxygen.

Lee was originally convicted in 1998 for the mur-

ders of Jimmy Ellis and Elaine Thompson during a robbery at a pawn shop. Lee entered Jimmy’s Pawnshop with a sawed-off shotgun, shot Ellis, Thompson, and an employee.

A jury voted 7-5 to sentence Lee to life in prison, but a judge elected to sentence him to death. In 2017 Alabama ended the practice of judicial override and no longer lets judges impose the death penalty over a jury’s recommendation.

The Supreme Court’s decision leaves Lee’s execution on pause for the moment, as Alabama’s nitrogen hypoxia policy is scrutinized. Officials have yet to announce when they plan to seek a new execution.

Charge dismissed against man accused of throwing kittens from vehicle in Homewood

HOMEWOOD, Ala. –

Prosecutors have dismissed a case of aggravated animal cruelty against 21-year-old

Thomas Ronald Liccione on Friday, June 12, who was accused of throwing kittens from a moving vehicle on Interstate 65 in Homewood on May 30. Liccione was arrested May 31 by Homewood police.

According to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, a motion was filed Friday asking that the charge be dropped.

“Upon further investigation by the Homewood Police Department and the

Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, it has been determined that there is no longer sufficient probable cause to believe Thomas Lic-

cione is guilty of the charged offense,” Deputy District Attorney Shawn Allen wrote in the motion.

Jefferson County District Judge William Bell granted the request and dismissed the charge.

Liccione’s attorney, Elijah Sargent, stated that his client maintained his innocence from the beginning.

“We appreciate the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office for its professionalism and thorough review of this matter. After a careful examination of the facts, these charges have been dismissed. Our client

has maintained his innocence from the beginning and is grateful for the opportunity to move forward,” Sargent said.

“While the allegations generated significant public attention, the swift dismissal speaks for itself,” Sargent said. “Let this serve as a reminder to the public to not rush to judgment, and that an arrest is just an unproven allegation.”

Police said at the time that witnesses reported seeing five kittens thrown from the vehicle and later struck and killed by traffic midday May 30.

Deputy District Attorney

Shawn Allen said Friday that only one 911 call came in from the occupants of a vehicle that was following Liccione. During the call, the caller provided the a tag number, vehicle and physical descriptions of the driver.

Officers from the Homewood Police Department later contacted Liccione past the intersection of U.S. 31 and Lakeshore Parkway and determined that he was the vehicle’s sole occupant. Officers later spoke with the two occupants who made the 911 call.

Allen said officers later located and photographed the

remains of two cats on Lakeshore Parkway near the I-65 bridge.

After a warrant was issued, investigators reviewed evidence, including the 911 call, body camera footage, and interviews with witnesses and data from Liccione’s cell phone.

After consulting with investigators, Allen said it was determined that no probable cause existed to believe Liccione committed the crime.

The district attorney’s office said that it could take further action if more evidence appeared identifying Liccione as the person responsible.

*Amount of rebate will not exceed purchase price.

program with MAX Transit/Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority to launch MAX On-Demand transit services in the city.

Mayor Stewart announced MAX On-Demand services will begin July 1.

“Transportation is about more than getting from point A to point B—it’s about connecting people to jobs, healthcare, shopping, education, and opportunity,” Stewart said in a statement.

“The residents of Irondale made it clear through our survey that there is a need for this service, and thanks to the partnership and investment of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham and MAX Transit, we’re excited to deliver a solution that improves mobility and quality of life for our community.”

In total, 535 Irondale residents responded to a survey about the service, with nearly 66% of respondents saying they would use the service occasionally and approximately 20% saying they would use the service at least two or three times a week.

The pilot program is fully funded by a $513,750 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham and will deploy two passenger vans six days a week between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Rides are expected to cost $1.50 per passenger.

Notice is hereby given that Hand Service Company, Inc., 110 Greenbrook Dr., Hazel Green, AL 35750, has co Well #17 and #18 P 3-011-23, for All persons having any c materials, or othe with this project, should immediately notify the above named contractor and Trussville Gas and Water, 127 Main Street, Trussville, AL 35173.

transit in the community.”

Christopher Nanni, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, echoed that thought, calling the project a workforce issue and explained that was the main factor in funding transportation through the Foundation.

Riders can hail rides via a smartphone app—an option preferred by 72% of respondents in the survey— or by phone. Service from Irondale will link to the existing Birmingham bus network and Woodlawn Intermodal Center where passengers can connect to other services if needed. Nearly 65% of respondents named Publix as their top destination.

only state that does not provide some amount of state funding for public transit, although several cities fund bus, trolley or paratransit services. Cities often rely on federal funding, local taxes or community partnerships like the pilot program in Irondale to provide transportation services.

injuries and similar disabilities.

“Research was done by the Brookings Institute that showed that if you have a vehicle in Birmingham, in the Birmingham region, you have access to 100 times more jobs in a 30-minute radius,” Nanni said. “Because of the high poverty rate in our region, there are a lot of people who don’t have vehicles, so for us this is a workforce development issue,” he said.

When the 15 month pilot program ends, the city will have the option to continue offering the service with its own funding sources or discontinue the program. Nanni said other cities have continued and expanded pilot programs in the past but it is up to the city to measure the response.

“Out of that survey, we realized that 102 people either missed a doctor’s appointment or they missed getting to work,” Stewart said. “Which helps us to really understand how vital it is to be able to have micro

“So, from our perspective as Community Foundation if we can grow micro transit or alternative forms of public transportation then we can help our community with regard to workforce development, getting people to medical appointments and those types of things,” Nanni said.

Alabama is currently the

“They can get the data. If it doesn’t work out for the city, then there’s no commitment. They don’t need to continue it,” Nanni said.

“What we’re finding is in Birmingham itself they’ve doubled the zone and they’re doing 20,000 rides a month. Now we’re launching this service in Irondale July 1 and we’re also starting service in Homewood July 1 and there’s also limited service in Mountain Brook.”

The partnership will combine Lakeshore’s focus on providing fitness and health access with United Spinal’s resources supporting individuals living with spinal cord injuries.

“I am thrilled to announce Lakeshore’s new national strategic partnership with United Spinal Association,” said John D. Kemp, president and CEO of Lakeshore Foundation. “Our world-class adapted sports and fitness programs combined with United Spinal’s peer support and spinal cord injury resources will strengthen both organizations as we work together to provide new opportunities

devastating fire upon the enemy, alternating employing two machine guns, a carbine and hand grenades,” said the citation as read by Little.

In the ensuing battle McLaughlin was wounded and forced to carry a blistering hot machine gun against an almost overwhelming enemy force. By the end, the enemy casualties amounted to 150 dead and 50 wounded.

“That, my friends, is

for individuals with disabilities to live active, healthy and independent lives.”

The agreement will see Lakeshore assist United Spinal with sports and health programming, and United Spinal will expand these services across its national network, marketing the non-profit’s services to a larger audience.

“By combining our strengths, we are creating stronger pathways for people with disabilities to thrive and lead healthier, more connected lives,” Matthew Castelluccio, CEO of United Spinal Association, said.

One of the first collaborations will be the distribution of new co-branded “New Beginning Backpacks” for patients recently diagnosed with spinal cord injuries. The backpacks will

include essentials for recovery, resources, and guidance information from experts.

Birmingham’s Lakeshore Foundation is a 501(c) (3) that promotes research, fitness, research, and sports advocacy for people with disabilities, veterans, seniors, and parasport athletes. It’s location in Homewood is also a U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site and home to the Lakeshore National Adapted Sports Organization, which functions as the nation’s governing body for USA Wheelchair Rugby, U.S. Para Powerlifting and Boccia United States.

The United Spinal Association is a nationwide nonprofit that advocates for people living with spinal cord injuries and disorders as well as wheelchair users.

what it cost for you and I to come here and gather like we’re doing today,” Little said.

The mural was painted over the course of several weeks by Dan Seymour of Outer Limits Arts and Media based in Calhoun.

country,” he said in a post on social media.

“I’m truly honored that the City of Leeds chose me to paint this mural honoring three of their hometown heroes — three men whose courage, sacrifice, and service represent the very best of this community and this

Music was performed by the Leeds High School Band under the direction of Chip Wise, Praise Ringers from First Baptist Leeds and the Leeds Community Chorus. The dedication was preceded by the USA Parade on Main Street in which local kids and parents walked in procession with a patriotic theme. The winners of the parade were announced as Louie Lochridge, Rowan Parsons and Saylor Cusumano.

Remarks were delivered by Mayor Eddie Moore.

“Two hundred and fifty years is a profound milestone,” said Moore in his speech. “When we look back at the founders of our country, we see men and women who overcame hardships and fostered pride in our great nation. Their legacy is the bedrock upon which our nation stands.”

Mayor James D. Stewart Jr. with Charlotte Shaw, president and CEO of the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority, with one of the micro transit vans serving Irondale. Photo courtesy City of Irondale.

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child: Bobby Ray Statham; her grandchild; Michael Owen Lawless, Jr.

She is survived by her daughters: Carol Sipes, Sheila Thompson, and Pam Lawless; grandchildren: Angela Hudson, Pat1icia Douthitt and Michelle Searcy; and six great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

She was known for loving God and her steadfast belief in His Word, her kindness, her passion for life, and her potato salad. She will be dearly missed, and we know she is in the loving arms of God. She has left us with many memories that will replace our broken hearts.

Visitation will be held on Friday, June 19, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. until service time at 2:00 p.m. at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home.

Leland Wade Weber

october 4, 1962 — may 30, 2026

Leland “Lee” Wade Weber, born October 4, 1962, to William “Bill” and Doris Weber passed away on May 30, 2026. He is survived by sisters Rita Hosmer (Jerry), Elizabeth McLaughlin, Karen Sapp, brother William “Hank” Weber, devoted relatives, nephew Timothy Adams, Aunt Gloria Campbell, cousins Dan Campbell (Misty) and David Campbell (Kitty), along with a host of family members too numerous to name.

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Lee was preceded in death by his parents William “Bill” and Doris Weber, sister Teresa Roper, grandparents Leland and Naomi Wright, and grandmother Gertrude “Billie” Louise Adkins.

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Lee loved the outdoors, animals, going to the gym, working on his art, Elvis Presley, Alabama football games (Roll Tide!), Coach Nick Saban, Miss Terry, God and his family. Lee was a sweet, kind, loving man with a tender heart, infectious smile and a mischievous sense of humor.

Lee was very proud he graduated from Hayden High School. He attended The Exceptional Foundation in Homewood, AL for many years and thrived in the loving, fulfilling environment they provided.

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The family would like to thank The City of Vestavia Hills Administration, Employees, Police Dept., Fire Dept., and Finance Dept., as well as S & W Electric, Inc. (Richard Stewart and Joe Willoughby Jr.) for their support and out pouring of love, kindness and accommodation over the years regarding Lee. Special thank you to friend and mentor Melvin Turner, III for your time, efforts, tireless devotion, and visits to ensure Lee’s happiness and wellbeing, Nina Brakefield who always made time to send Lee Birthday cards and Christmas cards never missing an occasion in 10 years, Lee was always thrilled! Marshea Peet and Lincoln and Suzanne Remenschneider who would take the time to visit Lee when additional help and support was needed. Each of you were instrumental in filling Lee’s life with joy and happiness, creating a deep sense of profound love and acceptance. Thank you to all our family and friends for their love and support during such a difficult time.

HEALTH/BEAUTY

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Virginia Maxine Kemp

january 7, 1927 – june 13, 2026

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Virginia Maxine H. Kemp, passed away on June 13, 2026. Maxine was born in Fayette County, Alabama near the town of Bankston, AL to her parents, William Howard Hendon and Nola Sylvia Dobbs Hendon. She was a charter member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Birmingham and Trussville for 70 years. She loved working with the Children from nursey age to preschool ages. She was a Training Union Secretary for almost 25 years. She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, JC Kemp; one brother, Ralph Hendon and his wife, Mary and one brother-in-law, Charles Alexander. She is survived by her daughter, Wanda Faye Kemp and sister, Eloise Alexander; she is also survived by 2 nieces and a nephew.

What will Kay Ivey be remembered for?

Jeff Poor

Alabama is on the verge of having a new governor.

For the first time in nearly a decade, the occupant in the governor's suite at the State Capitol won't be Kay Ivey.

Ivey's path to the state's highest office was an unlikely journey. In the early 1980s, she did not win electoral office in then-Democrat-controlled Alabama, losing a bid for State Auditor.

After a couple of decades of toiling in the fields at different stations in state government and politics, she won a 2002 bid for State Treasurer as a Republican, which was eight years ahead of the GOP's complete takeover of state government.

Her name had often been floated for higher office, and in 2009, she launched a short-lived bid for governor. After failing to gain traction in a crowded 2010 gubernatorial field, she launched a bid for lieutenant governor and successfully defeated longtime Democratic incumbent Lieutenant Governor Jim Folsom Jr.

Ivey's time as lieutenant

governor was not particularly remarkable, but Alabama being Alabama, she was thrust into the governor's role after then-Gov. Robert Bentley resigned amid a scandal fueled by adultery and ethics allegations.

Our state's second female governor was given a lengthy grace period by scandal-weary Alabamians, who within the span of a year saw the top officeholders in the executive, Judicial and legislative branches forced out before the end of their terms.

One of the most difficult challenges she confronted early on was calling a special election for the U.S. Senate.

Donald Trump's victory in 2016 set into motion a game of political musical chairs that the state is arguably still reeling from a decade later.

Jeff Sessions resigned his post in the U.S. Senate to serve what would be an unfortunate two years as U.S. Attorney General. Bentley, Ivey's predecessor, had appointed Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange, who was the pick of Ala-

bama's senior U.S. Senator Richard Shelby and many of his colleagues in GOP U.S. Senate leadership.

Ivey's decision to call the 2017 special election ruffled a lot of feathers, and Republican voters' decision to nominate Roy Moore set the stage for Alabama to elect Democrat Doug Jones later that year.

That seemed not to matter in 2018, with Ivey arguably the toughest election challenge of her Republican political year, fending off Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, State Sen. Bill Hightower and evangelist Scott Dawson without the need for a runoff in the Republican primary.

Perhaps it was a bit of an overreaction to Jones' victory, but statewide Republicans went on defense in the election cycle a year later, including Ivey facing Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox in her bid to win the governor's office.

Fears of serious challenges from Democrats turned out to be mostly perpetuated by wish-casting from the liberals in Alabama's media. Ivey defeat-

ed Maddox by 20 points in 2018.

Despite being widely panned in her first term for her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, she went on to win her reelection bid more convincingly than her election four years earlier — winning the GOP primary once again without a runoff and convincingly defeating a less-than-serious 2022 Democratic Party gubernatorial nominee, Yolanda Flowers.

It was not as if Ivey had a Reagan-esque tenure up until that point. She had been the driving force behind a self-perpetuating increase in the state gasoline tax, with a take-no-prisoners approach to whip votes for its passage in 2019.

Her reluctance to follow neighboring states' lead

and release the state's population from a Draconian COVID-19 protocol also led some to question her fidelity to conservatism.

Yet, throughout all of that and to this day, Ivey polled statewide as one of the country's most popular governors. Notwithstanding lingering rumors about her health dating back to her days as lieutenant governor, voters gave Kay Ivey a mandate for more of the same in her final term.

However, Ivey's second elected term has been nothing like her first.

Except for a failed gambling push in 2024, she has gotten most of what she had wanted from the Alabama Legislature — a gas tax increase, renewal of economic incentives packages, reconstitution of the state veterans' affairs department, teacher pay raises. She hasn't asked for much relative to her predecessors. What she couldn't get out of the legislature, she has pursued on her own, including a billion-dollar, solely state-funded West

Alabama Corridor that leveraged the next 20 years of gas tax revenues.

When the new governor is sworn in on January 18, 2027, Kay Ivey will hold the record as the longest consecutively serving governor in Alabama's history.

Unfortunately, history will not remember her for her lengthy political resume and consequential decisions while serving as governor. She will likely be remembered as Alabama's absentee governor. Going three years without a press conference, in addition to no media interviews in her second term, except for a few Alabama Public Television appearances, will leave a lasting impression.

Unlike Joe Biden, Alabamians have been willing to accept an out-of-pocket chief executive, at least at the state level.

After she leaves office and if we ever get an honest assessment of who was in charge in Ivey's final days as governor, will someone ever ask the quiet part out loud: Why did the public tolerate a missing-in-action governor for so long?

Southern Summer - We Don’t Sweat, We Marinate

Joe Hobby

“Honey, it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.”

That’s not just a saying in the South - it’s a warning. Everyone who lives here knows we pay for those mild winters every summer. You don’t notice it in January when you’re wearing a light jacket and feeling smug watching people up north using snowblowers to clean off their driveways. Or in mid-February when you spot one of your neighbors in shorts and a tee shirt washing their car.

But come late June, the bill comes due. And when August rolls around, we’re just trying to make the minimum payment so we can get through a trip to the mailbox. People like to brag that we can play golf eleven months out of the year down here. That’s true.

The twelfth month is

August, when even the golf balls stay in the bag out of self-preservation. By August, we’re not living in hot weather. We’re living in a crock pot. I’ve been to Arizona when it was 105 degrees. And yes, that’s hot. However, it’s not a “why is the air angry?” kind of heat. I’ll take 105 dry degrees in Arizona over 90 degrees with humidity in the South any day of the week. Out there, it’s like standing in an oven. Down here, it’s like being slowly poached, The difference is the humidity. Our air is already saturated with water vapor like a sponge that has reached its limit. So, when you sweat, it doesn’t evaporate. It just sits on there. As a result, you don’t cool off, you marinate. And you sweat everywhere, not just the usual places. Places on your body that you didn’t even realize

had pores, suddenly join in. You walk outside for thirty seconds and come back in looking like you’ve just completed a triathlon no one invited you to. Simple tasks become ordeals. Taking out the trash feels like an expedition in the Amazon rainforest. Walking to your car requires a recovery period. And getting into that car is an adventure all its own. The steering wheel feels like it’s been preheated to 400 degrees. The seatbelt buckle doubles as a branding iron. And the seat? That’s less a seat and more a cast iron skillet. By the time the air conditioner finally kicks in, you’re asking yourself, “why did I insist on the black interior?” And then there’s New Orleans, which may be the gold medalist of humidity. It’s a whole different level of summertime misery.

Since it’s flanked by a river, a swamp, and a lake, the air just sits there like it has nowhere else to go. Walking outside feels less like stepping into weather and more like entering a broth.

The heat and humidity don’t just affect you down there. They attack. You can actually watch an assault a person in real time. I once saw someone step out of an air-conditioned building looking confident, put together, and ready to face the day. Three seconds later, it was all over. Their glasses fogged, their clothes surrendered, and their hair doo collapsed. New Orleans is the only place I know where a hairstyle has the lifespan of a mayfly. Forget the hairspray, use polyurethane.

Southerners learn to adapt. We plan our day around shade and air conditioning. We move slower and talk slower - not because

we’re lazy, but because speed leads to sweating, and sweating leads to regret. We become experts in identifying the shortest distance between two air-conditioned spaces.

We also develop a kind of quiet pride about it. Surviving a Southern summer becomes a badge of honor. Anyone can handle a dry heat. That’s amateur hour. Real toughness is standing in a parking lot in July while the asphalt feels like hot pudding, and trying to remember why you came to the store in the first place. In the meantime, your shirt slowly bonds to your back.

And yet, every year, we act surprised. Like somehow this summer will be different. Maybe milder. Maybe less… aggressive. But it never is. The heat shows up right on schedule, bringing the humidity along with it like an unwelcome cousin at

a Thanksgiving dinner. By August, we’ve all reached a kind of understanding. We don’t fight it anymore. We accept it. We nod at each other in quiet solidarity, united by damp collars, wet armpits and the shared knowledge that this, too, shall pass - eventually. Then one morning in late September, you step outside and something feels a little different. The air is lighter. You can breathe again. Your clothes don’t immediately cling to you like plastic wrap. And for a brief moment, you remember what it feels like to be comfortable outdoors.

Every year, when that first cool morning shows up, we step outside, take a deep breath, and say the same thing:

“That wasn’t so bad.” Which is how you know we’ve learned absolutely nothing.

student in the system the opportunity to eat breakfast at no cost throughout the coming school year.

“This is very exciting,” Kirkland said.

Kirkland explained that the program is funded through an allocation that covers the difference between paid, reduced-price breakfast and the free-meal reimbursement rate, granting every student the chance to receive free breakfast.

The program is currently approved one year at a time, depending on the amount of funding allocated by the legislature annually.

“It’s something we want to continue as long as the state is allocating the funds,” Kirkland said.

“Just a great opportunity to have every student have the ability to come in and eat breakfast for free … there’s just so many studies about how a good breakfast in the morning affects instruction during the day … I think this is critical for our student body.”

Mayor Ben Short, who was in attendance alongside Trussville City Council President Jaime Anderson, praised the board’s decision. Anderson serves as City Council liaison to Trussville City Schools.

Shark attack survivor Lulu Gribbin to speak at Trussville’s 2026 Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast

TRUSSVILLE, Ala. –Trussville’s 2026 Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast has been scheduled for Friday, Aug. 14, at the Trussville Civic Center. Lulu Strong Foundation founder and shark attack survivor Lulu Gribbin will be the keynote speaker. The event will be hosted by the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce.

The breakfast is designed to bring together elected officials, faith leaders, school administrators, business professionals, and residents for a time of prayer and contemplation.

“Moments like the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast remind us that, despite our differences, we are strongest when we come together as a community,” Short said.

Short said he hopes the gathering will continue to promote unity, service and care for one another.

wisdom for our families, our city, and our nation,” Short said. “My hope is that this gathering continues to promote unity, service, and a shared commitment to caring for one another.”

and part of her right leg. Gribbin was airlifted to a hospital in Pensacola, where doctors made the decision to amputate her leg. Now she spends her time as an adaptive athlete, youth advocate, and public speaker.

A portion of the proceeds from the breakfast will be given to the Lulu Strong Foundation. Reservations are required, with individual seats available for $25, and a table of eight available for $300. Reservations may be made by calling 205-6557535 or visiting the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce website.

“I appreciate the Board of Education’s leadership and their willingness to take action on something that will have a direct and positive impact on Trussville families,” Short said. “Taking advantage of federal dollars to make breakfast available at no cost for this next school year helps remove a barrier that some children face before they ever walk into the classroom.”

Council

From front page

ed to ensure the safety of citizens and vowed to raise the rating by updating city codes, mandating standardized checklist use during all inspections, requiring building department staff to be “properly” credentialed and maintain current certification, as well as partnering with the local building and development community for timely inspections.

“Our goal is not simply to improve our rating,” she said. “Our goal is to improve safety, accountability

Short said giving students the opportunity to start the day on a full stomach empowers TCS and the community both.

“When students start the day fed and ready to learn, our schools are stronger and our community is stronger,” Short said. “Grateful to our administrators, educators, and Board members for the impact they have on Trussville day in and day out.”

and confidence in our city.” When reached for comment Merola declined to give a response. The hearing was set for June 16 at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall. In other business the council:

• Adopted the Division “G” Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan,

• Approved playing the invoice for the refurbishment and replacement of high school football helmets to the Jefferson County Board of Education for $16,780,

The board approved the agreement with a unanimous vote.

Passed a resolution adopting towing and abandoned vehicle abatement policy and procedures, and

• Passed an ordinance establishing city towing contractor and rotation procedures.

Meetings take place every second and fourth Tuesday at Clay City Hall located at 2441 Old Springville Road. Pre-council begins at 6 p.m. followed by the regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are recorded for the city’s YouTube channel.

“In a time when division can feel overwhelming, I believe there is value in pausing to reflect, pray, and seek

Gas Prices

From front page

ing to the latest survey of 550 stations in the area. Prices are now 34.7 cents lower than last month, though they remain 91.8 cents higher than the same time last year.

GasBuddy reported the cheapest station in Birmingham was advertising a price of $3.23 per gallon on Sunday, June 14, whereas the most expensive sat at $4.39 per gallon, a spread of $1.16.

Across Alabama, the lowest reported price was $3.22 per gallon, only a penny lower than the cheapest price polled in Birmingham. The highest across the state was $4.99.

Other key Alabama markets saw prices fall as well. Montgomery averaged $3.66 per gallon, down 6.1 cents. Huntsville averaged

On June 7, 2024, Gribbin, who was 15 at the time, was attacked by a bull shark while diving for sand dollars with friends in Florida. The attack severed her left hand

First Baptist Church Trussville is the presenting sponsor for the 2026 Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast. Hospitality sponsors are Courtesy Birmingham GMC and Massey, Stotser & Nichols. Additional sponsors include Avadian Credit Union, Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home & Gardens, TurnerBatson, Bryant Bank, People’s Bank, and The Cahaba Law Group.

$3.64 per gallon, down 12.1 cents. The statewide average was $3.64, down 11.1 cents from the week prior.

The national average fell 9.3 cents to $3.99 per gallon. The national average is down 52.4 cents from last month, but still 91.1 cents higher than a year ago.

The national average for diesel also fell 11.7 cents over the past week, coming to $5.182 per gallon.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said prices declined in 47 states over the past 7

days, as oil prices dropped following rumors of a possible agreement between the United States and Iran.

“The decline came as oil prices moved sharply lower in reaction to news of a potential deal between the United States and Iran, though it remains to be seen whether the agreement will hold,” De Haan said. “For now, the national average could continue falling, provided there isn’t a drastic reversal and the U.S. and Iran continue moving in a positive direction.”

Springville’s Cody Wilkerson wins two coach of the year awards

By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor

SPRINGVILLE –

Springville Tigers’ boys soccer coach Cody Wilkerson has been recognized for his efforts in 2026 as he has been selected as the AHSAA Class 1A-5A Small Public School Coach of the year as well as the All-County Coach of the Year.

Coach Wilkerson’s 2026 team went 19-3-2 on the season before a challenging playoff run that included close games in each contest after the first-round win over Carver-Birmingham 3-0. The Tigers depended on late goals and penalty kicks to get them to the big stage, but they got there none the less. In the state championship, Wilkerson’s Tigers fell to St. Michael Catholic by a score of 5-1. However, the future looks very bright as the 2026 team was young, fielding 14 sophomores and seven seniors.

Wilkerson, the only boy’s soccer coach that the Tigers have know since its inception in 2012 and Wilkerson was tasked with coaching the first-ever team. In that time, the Springville graduate has turned his alma mater into a soccer powerhouse. His teams have multiple section championships with four appearances in the elite eight, two final four appearances, and two state championship appearances,

both of which ended with the Tigers taking home the red map representing the runners-up.

This is the second time Wilkerson has won the AHSAA’s 1A-5A Small Public School Coach of the Year award. He won it in 2019

after his team finished as 5A runners-up. He has also won multiple All-County awards.

“It’s crazy, you know,” said Wilkerson. “We have had a really good run, winning this in 2019 when we made it to the finals. We’ve

won two awards but we have lost two finals so I would say the blue map looks way better than the red one in the trophy case so I would like to get one of those too. But, we started in the first year and we went to the playoffs nine years in a row. I did not envision where we would be 12 years ago, so it is amazing.

Coach Wilkerson continued, “This year was great. We had seven seniors who were bought in and put the team before themselves. They wanted to win for each other and that was fun to coach. I read a book called “Legacy” and I was trying to sort of re-set the culture and get back to what worked. That helped me set

some guidelines. One of those things was, we had the seniors clean up after ever practice and every game. Usually that’s the freshmen, but it gave the seniors some ownership. I wanted them to appreciate the moment rather than run out. The last thing those seniors did was clean the locker room. And they bought into it.” Getting over the hump and achieving that blue map is the ultimate goal. “We are in the 5A group with Mountain Brook and Albertville and those bigger schools. We will be one of the smaller schools. It is going to take the 14 upcoming juniors doing the small stuff, the dirty stuff and being ok with a 1-point win.”

Troy rallies past Ole Miss, earns first College World Series win

By John Goolsby, Prep Sports Editor

OMAHA, Neb. – Troy’s

seventh and eighth, to eliminate the Rebels with a 12-8 victory Sunday at Charles Schwab Field to keep their dream season alive. Ole Miss looked in control early, scoring two runs in the first inning before Troy tied it, then pulled ahead with three home runs to take a 6-2 lead through four innings. Troy would not be de-

terred and began their rally in the fifth. Sean Darnell’s tworun RBI after a bases-loaded walk cut the Ole Miss lead to 6-5. Jimmy Janicki’s home run to left field tied the game at six apiece in the seventh before Jabe Boroff’s two-run double scored Darnell and Drew Nelson, and Houston Markham’s RBI single gave Troy a 9-6 lead. The Rebels cut the lead to 9-7 in the bottom of the seventh before the Trojans added three more runs in the eighth for insurance. Blake Cavill’s home run, an Ole Miss error, scored Nelson and Darnell to give Troy a 12-7 lead. Darnell was 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs. Janicki was 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBIs. Boroff had two hits and two RBIs. Markham and Aaron Piasecki each had two hits. Troy finished with 14 hits as a team. The Trojans’ Tommy Egan and Hayden Smith gave up six runs over the first three innings before Noah Thigpen entered the game. The Georgia native worked five innings in relief, allowing two runs and six hits with five strikeouts to pick up the win. Zach Crotchfelt turned in a scoreless ninth inning to secure the win for Troy. The Trojans will continue in the elimination bracket and face the loser of West Virginia-North Carolina on Tuesday.

Credit: Springville Soccer

“Coach Cola” era set to begin at Pinson

By Johnny Sanders, Sports Editor

PINSON – For the seventh time in eight years, the Pinson Valley Indians football program begins the season with a new head coach. Coach Logan Colafrancesco, “Coach Cola” as he is referred to, looks to stop that revolving door on the Reservation on Highway 75 and it all started the day he accepted the job as he put his players to work immediately. The work continued into Cola’s first spring at Pinson.

“We were short-staffed on the coaching side of things this spring, but we made it work and we were able to install some of our offense,” said Coach Colafrancesco. “We did not get to work with the offensive line as much as I would have liked to. The defense was ahead of the offense and that is really what you want, but we are moving forward now and we will continue throughout summer and fall camp and get the offense up to speed. But, the kids got to see how we practice from a structure standpoint and our terminology standpoint. The number one thing we wanted was to be physical. We were very physical. We hit and tackled every day.”

Colafrancesco takes over a Pinson team that lost

a good bit of talent to graduation, but the cupboard is never bare on the Reservation. It all starts with quarterback Raymond Howard who looked good in limited playing time during the 2025 season.

“Raymond Howard has done a real good job for us,” said coach. “He’s an athlete and can beat you with his legs. He can throw as well. Marvion Foreman will be a great receiver for us. He’s tall and can boogie. Matthew McKinney and Ian Maxwell are working at running back for us and we feel good about those guys. Ian can play that tight end/sniffer position. The heart and soul will be both lines and on offense we have Mikey

Thomas at center coming back. On defense, Anthony Garner is back and Caden Farley is young but will be a big time player.”

Despite major improvements on the field last season, the Indians have not experienced a winning season since 2022 when Lee Guess took Pinson to a 6-4 record. However, Pinson is no stranger to championships, taking home the blue map in 2017, 2018, and 2020 under Patrick Nix and Sam Shade respectively.

The Indians look to build a culture of hard work and winning and that is what Coach Cola expects from his team and he has hired staff members who share that passion.

“We just want to be physical and work hard,” said coach. “We’ve hired Taylor Burgess as defensive coordinator. He comes to us with a lot of experience as Bill Burgess’ grandson and he’s just a good man. Sam Crane will coach offensive line and help with run game. KJ Robertson is a former Thompson coach and has coached at Vanderbilt. He will do special teams and help with defense. Cord Sandberg is one we are trying to get hired on soon. He played at Auburn and most recently coached at Moody and he will help us with quarterbacks and running backs. We kept Justin Brown. He is a staple and he is Pinson through and through and he’s our wide receiver coach. James Fletcher is helping us on defensive line as well.”

The road will be tough for Pinson as they enter class 5A Region 6 where some of the best teams in the former 6A, and in the state, play. The likes of Oxford and defending state champs Clay-Chalkville await Colafrancesco’s innaugural Indian squad. However, the veteran coach has no intentions of backing down from the challenge.

The Indians get the Coach Cola era started on August 21 as they host the Florence Falcons out of Region 7.

Daniel takes Junior title

By John Goolsby, Prep Sports Editor

ANNISTON – Hewitt-

Trussville’s Merritt Daniel added another accomplishment to her growing list of achievements Wednesday, capturing the 63rd Alabama Girls State Junior Championship at Anniston Country Club.

Daniel entered the final round with a one-shot lead and held on to claim the title with a three-round total of 4-under-par 212.

Brooklyn Sutter of Cullman finished second at 213, while Courtney Grace of Birmingham placed third at 214.

Daniel’s victory comes on the heels of an outstanding high school season. The Hewitt-Trussville stand-

out finished as the AHSAA Class 7A state runner-up and adds another state junior championship to her résumé. The win also carries significant rewards. Daniel earned an exemption into the 2026 U.S. Girls Junior Championship at Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham, North Carolina, July 13-18. She also secured an automatic berth in future Alabama Girls State Junior Championships for the remainder of her eligibility, along with five-year exemptions into both the Alabama Women’s Match Play Championship and Alabama Women’s State Amateur Championship.

In addition, Daniel earned a spot on Team Alabama’s 2026 Southern Junior Cup squad.

Pinson head coach Logan Colafrancesco addresses his team after a spring practice. Credit: PVHS Football

Daniel claims Title. Credit: AGA

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Community Transformation at the Global Level

Founded in 2005, Vapor Ministries establishes international outreach centers to alleviate extreme poverty and advance the gospel.

What began as a 12-person discipleship group on a soccer field in Kenya has grown into a ministry operating seven centers across Kenya, Togo, and Haiti–with two more under construction.

Vapor Ministries focuses on areas marked by

severe economic hardship.

While the World Bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than three dollars per day, Key Partner Coordinator Raquel Hustad notes that many in Vapor’s serving areas “don’t even make three dollars a week.”

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A Changed Life Joyce has lived in the Gichagi slum outside Nairobi, Kenya, for 12 years. Her family often struggles to meet their basic needs, including food. Because of Vapor’s ministry center, her life is changing.

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the

How to Support Vapor Thrift Stores offer shoppers a unique opportunity to buy high-end secondhand apparel, home décor, and electronics, all while creating tangible change for those who need it most.

Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Services: In-store shopping, donation drop-off, and donation pickup services.

Learn More: Visit VaporThrift.com and VaporMinistries.org or follow @vaporthriftstore on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for daily deals and updates.

OPENING THIS FALL!

four other Birmingham-area locations

an online store that fuel

Sylacauga-based ministry’s mission.

CONGRATULATIONS CONGRATULATIONS

SHADES VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL SHADES VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

CLASS OF 2026 CLASS OF 2026

Dear Graduates:

Your hard work, perseverance, and determination have brought you to this moment— and your future is full of exciting opportunities.

As you take your next steps, carry with you the lessons you’ve learned, the relationships you’ve built, and the confidence to chase your dreams. We are proud of you and look forward to all that you will accomplish.