The Trussville Tribune – January 18 - 24, 2023

PINSON – Valentine’s Day is only weeks ways and while some couples may already be making plans, others may not have even started thinking about it yet. Wheth-

Moody Council enters agreement to develop entertainment center

MOODY – At a meeting on Monday, Jan. 9, the Moody City Council entered into an agreement to develop an entertainment center at a property located behind the Publix.

Trussville

owners donate

check to Alabama Fallen Warrior Project

From The Tribune staff reports

TRUSSVILLE — Members of the Trussville Veterans Committee, American Legion Post 205, and City Leadership were present when local business owners Jayraj and Zinkal Patel presented their second $15,000 check to the Alabama Fallen Warrior Project.

The Patels have pledged to donate $50,000 to the Alabama Fallen Warrior Project and other veteran causes.

“The Patel’s have been so generous in honoring our veterans,” Councilmember Jaime Anderson said. “They are a wonderful testament to our community and country, and we are so proud to have them and their businesses in Trussville. I would encourage everyone to support them whenever they can.”

The Patels, who immigrated to the United States from India in 2010, are the owners of Wing it On in the Publix Shopping Center and Beau Lash & Brow Spa on Truss-

LEEDS – During a short meeting at the Leeds Board of Education Building, the

MortgageRight in Leeds holds grand opening & ribbon cutting

From The Tribune staff reports

LEEDS — MortgageRight in Leeds held its grand opening and ribbon cutting on Thursday, Jan. 12, with the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce and a host of Leeds area business professionals

the Wreaths Across America program and knew he wanted to donate to the cause.

Through continued conversations with members of the Trussville Veterans Committee, the Patels knew they wanted to give back in a big way and decided to give big to the Alabama Fallen Warriors Project that is currently underway in the town they live, work, and play in.

“When Americans think of the word Heroes, they think of first responders, military members, and athletes,” Trussville Veterans Committee’s Chad Carroll said. “Who we don’t think about are the community members that make a difference within their community. The Patel Family has touched this community in many ways with their donations to the veteran community. They are the real Heroes.”

If you’re interested in learning more or donating to this project, visit http://alabamafallenwarriorsproject. org.

Sen. Shay Shelnutt considers bill to cut ADEM budget over handling of Moody landfill fire

TRUSSVILLE — An underground landfill fire continues to burn in Moody, and the smoke churning out of the blaze is causing health issues for people in surrounding communities. Now, one lawmaker is ready to take a stand against one of the largest agencies in the state.

The smoke from the fire has been blanketing parts of western St. Clair County and eastern Jefferson County. Billows of smoke have been continuously crawling over the treetops and homes downwind of the fire. Although the fire was first reported in late November, it is unclear when or how it started.

Two of the largest subdivisions in the city of Trussville, Carrington Lakes and Stockton, are some of the most impacted areas. Trussville Mayor Buddy Choat said he has heard from people in his city that are dealing with coughing and sinus issues.

“It’s pretty prevalent, particularly in the Carrington Lakes area, but I’m sure there are other areas as well,” Choat said.

Debbie Pitts Palmer lives in Trussville and said she couldn’t escape the smell.

“If you go to a door, front door, back door, it doesn’t matter where you are. It stinks, and you can smell it,” said Palmer.

“It’s just a horrible smell. It’s terrible. The stench is horrible.

Although the “environmental” landfill was only permitted for natural debris such as leaves, limbs and trees, Palmer and others believe there is more underground than natural debris. On Friday, an online petition had over 380 signatures calling on the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) to act.

“ADEM has failed Alabamians for years,” the petition reads in part. “ADEM has displayed consistent inaction to properly enforce laws that are in place to protect Alabamians when permits are violated, and our waterways or air are polluted.”

The petition calls on Gov. Kay Ivey to bring new leadership to ADEM.

Sen. Shay Shelnutt (R-Trussville) agrees that the ADEM has not acted quickly and efficiently to the fire. He is having a bill drafted to make changes to operations within the ADEM.

“I am looking at maybe cutting their budget,” Shelnutt explained. “Maybe moving some money around to somewhere else that would have maybe acted and done more for the situation than ADEM.”

Shelnutt said he is worried about what the ADEM allowed to be placed in the landfill and its failure to re-

Clay Council accepts bid to remove condemned property

CLAY — The Clay City Council held its first scheduled meeting of 2023 Tuesday night, Jan. 10. City Manager Ronnie Dixon moved quickly through the brief agenda, which contained an update

Springville accepting resumes for appointment to vacant council seat

SPRINGVILLE — The Springville City Council held its first scheduled meeting of the year on January 9, with most of the agenda being addressed in the work session

From The Tribune staff

reports

SHELBY COUNTY — A Leeds man was arrested on multiple counts of possession of obscene matter on Monday, Jan. 9.

According to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office,

Leeds man arrested on multiple counts of possession of obscene matter

Pinson Valley Arts Council to host ‘Heart & Soul’ Valentine’s Dinner and Dance charity

Leeds Board of Education approves pavilion renovations for elementary, 2023-2024 calendar

There’s something in it. It’s not just your regular fire.”

Leeds Arts Council prepares to take the stage with ‘She Loves Me’ a romantic comedy

Photos of Moody environmental landfill fire

er you’re the type to plan in advance or wait until the last minute, one thing is for sure: no one enjoys standing in long lines waiting to pay for overpriced food.

Thanks to the Pinson Valley Arts Council, couples in the city of Pinson and surrounding areas have a new and exciting alternative option for Valentine’s night. On Feb. 14, 2023, the Pinson Valley Arts Council will be hosting its first-ever “Heart & Soul” Dinner and Dance at the Pinson Rock School.

“With the Pinson Valley Arts Council, I’ve been trying to keep something going every couple of months,” PVAC founder DieDra Ruff said. “With Valentine’s coming up, we want to make sure that we have something for everybody and that they’re able to have a good time.”

The “Heart & Soul” Valentine’s date night isn’t just about good food and entertainment, though. This event will also serve as a charity to benefit homeless people in the Pinson community.

“I don’t think that Pinson realizes that we have homeless people here,” Ruff said. “We have homeless people in this city and there is a need. A lot of times, you might see them at the store, you might see them at a gas station, you might see them with their little cup out or little signs. We’re just coming out of Christmas and folks had great holidays, but nobody’s thinking about what those homeless people went through. A lot of them have estranged family situations – you just don’t know what people are going through when you see them sitting in front of a store with a can out, with a sign up. Then some-

times you see them and they have children.”

Ruff is asking everyone who plans to attend “Heart & Soul” to bring a pair of gently used or new shoes, and/or a package of new socks to donate to the homeless.

“This whole idea came from my sister-in-law, Pamela Ruff,” she said. “I knew I wanted to do something for Valentine’s Day, like a Valentine’s dance, but she said, ‘Heart and Soul,’ and that we could collect and give away shoes – I liked that. Everybody’s got shoes that they’re not wearing. So, that’s why we call it ‘Heart & Soul,’ for the shoes, and to give from your heart whatever you can. Then we’ll just make it a date night. Everybody is looking for something to do on Valentine’s night. Couples are looking to go out to dinner or something like that.

Just come to us, bring an extra pair of shoes, and you’re being a blessing as well as being blessed, because we’re going to feed you and entertain you.

And bringing socks or shoes –whatever you bring – is being a blessing to somebody else.”

Ruff said the donated shoes can be any size and for any gender, and that a second event to give these items out to the homeless while feeding them a meal will be planned for the near future.

“Once we collect everything, we’ll set up a separate date and let people who are in need go through the bins and get what they need,” she said. “And then we’re going to feed them.”

For just $25 per couple ($15 for singles) plus their donation of shoes and/or socks, those who attend “Heart & Soul” will be served a sit-down Italian dinner and have the opportunity to hit the dance floor and enjoy live entertainment from a DJ.

“We want people to get up and dance and have a great time,” Ruff said. “The music is going to be great dance music, whether it’s slow or fast. We’re focusing on ’70s and ’80s music – good music.”

L / R egion Mortgage

Additionally, Ruff said that there will be drawings for door prizes. But there is a catch: anyone planning to attend must reserve and pay for their spot by Jan. 31, so that the Pinson Valley Arts Council, which is a nonprofit, knows how much food to order.

To purchase tickets, call or text DieDra Ruff at (404)3790096. Again, tickets ($25/couple or $15/individual) must be purchased in advance by no later than Jan. 31.

Alpha United Ministries is sponsoring the event, and Ruff said that the Arts Council is looking for other businesses and organizations to be sponsors, as well. Anyone interested in sponsoring the “Heart & Soul” Dinner and Dance can also contact Ruff via text or phone call.

“We want to make it a nice night for everybody,” Ruff said. “We don’t ever know what tomorrow brings for us. We don’t know what kind of shape we’ll be in next year, next month, next week … and we don’t know the destiny of our own children. So that’s the whole point of this dance, to give back. To help somebody in need.”

DETAILS: Date – Feb. 14, 2023

• Time – 7 p.m.

• Location – Pinson Rock School, 4509 Pinson Blvd., Pinson, AL 35126

• Dress – Casual-nice Cost – $25/couple or $15/ individual, plus a donation of shoes or socks Deadline to purchase tickets – Jan. 31, 2023

• Contact – DieDra Ruff (404) 379-0096

and chamber board members. The ribbon cutting was at 4:00 p.m., and the grand opening celebration was from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

MortgageRight is located at 7910 Parkway Drive Southeast in Leeds.

Loan Officer NMLS 1734162, Kristi Graham Scott, cut the ribbon, and it was a festive celebration. Food was catered by Rusty’s Bar-B-Q, and the MortgageRight cake was catered by Three Earred Rabbit.

“It is our goal to deliver a 5 Star Customer Experience, and we will request a 5 Star Online Review once we close your loan,” Scott said. “If, at any point during the process, you don’t feel like you are our only client, please let us know immediately.”

ADEM

From front page

spond to the emergency initially. He hopes to have the draft of the bill completed soon.

Ivey responded to some citizens who wrote to her office about the fire and their concerns. The letter from Ivey read:

Thank you for your recent email to my office and I appreciate the thoughts and ideas expressed in your correspondence.

These are important issues and I value your opinion regarding the fire near Moody. It is truly an honor to serve as Governor of this great State and I thank you for your support as we strive to move Alabama forward.

Again, thank you for sharing your concerns with me. If I can be of assistance to you in the future, please feel free to contact my office.

Palmer said as a resident who feels her health and quality of life are at stake, the governor’s response to a citizen wasn’t what she expected.

“The governor just pushed us off like it was nothing,” Palmer said. “It was terrible. We need answers. We need to know how long this is going to be going on and what it is.”

The St. Clair County Commission is taking bids for work that needs to be done at the site. The winning bid will have to be sent to the ADEM along with a letter to the governor requesting funds. Choat said he and other officials in the area would sign the letter to Ivey.

Meanwhile, Palmer is worried about the health of her family and neighbors. She said as a child, she lived in an area where air quality was poor. Years later, her sister died of pulmonary sarcoidosis, and she didn’t want that to happen to her loved ones.

“If you inhale this over a long period of time, you don’t know what this could bring, and I’m speaking from experience with that one,” she said. “Something needs to be done to protect people because this is just horrible.”

ADEM has not responded to a media inquiry concerning the accusations made by those who signed the petition. However, the agency said in a previous news release that the landfill is not subject to state regulatory oversight or permits because it is not authorized to accept household garbage or hazardous waste. The agency said it had connected the commission with private companies that have expertise in dealing with underground fires.

Ivey’s office has not yet responded to a media inquiry.

To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.

prior to the meeting at 5:30 p.m. During the regular session, at 6 p.m., Mayor Dave Thomas announced the city will begin accepting resumes for the vacant District 3 seat on the Council.

“Those who are interested, if you will contact City Hall with regard to the district maps to find out whether or not you meet the residency requirements,” Thomas said. “Those who do meet those residency requirements, if you are interested, please submit your information and a resume.”

as interim. The Council is expected to vote to remove the interim title and appoint Hennings as Mayor pro tempore in the January 23 meeting.

In the work session prior to the meeting, Chris Dunston presented his ideas for a design for a proposed city flag. The Council formed a committee to review design ideas to be voted on at a later meeting if the city moves forward creating a flag.

In the December 19 meeting, the Council heard from Springville High School junior Carson Dubose, who introduced the idea of creating an official flag for the city. Mayor

Leeds

From front page

board passed two action items related to pavilions at Leeds Elementary School and the school calendar; Superintendent John Moore spoke briefly about plans for the year.

The board voted on a public works item in which two pavilions at the elementary school that was in “dire” need of repair were renovated at the cost of $39,000. The second action item was to approve the calendar for the 2023-2024 school year.

With this being the first meeting of 2023, Moore said that the board will be looking into teacher units and possibly adding more of them based on the school system’s growth.

“But that kind of has to dovetail with the budget that we received from the legislature,” he said. “We try to do a preliminary projection for the

LAC

From front page

Thomas said the city plans to move quickly due to ambiguity in state regulations. If the city does not fill the position in a timely manner, within 90 days of the announced vacancy, the responsibility for filling the position would move from the consideration of the Council to an appointment by Governor Ivey.

“We are going to move expeditiously. In our next council meeting, we will hear from those who have submitted their names and applications, and we’ll either make a decision that meeting or the following meeting,” Thomas said.

To qualify for consideration, interested parties must be Springville residents and live in District 3 in the city. District maps can be found on the zoning page of the Springville website, www. cityofspringville.com.

The position became vacant when council member Wayne Tucker passed away in December. He also served as Mayor pro tempore. During his illness, council member Katrina Hennings was appointed

Thomas said the city has received multiple requests to create an official Springville flag.

In other business, the Council approved work on new sidewalks in Big Springs Park and asked for bids to repair the transmission for a city truck.

Asa Sargent delivered his quarterly report for Building and Zoning. In the last quarter of 2022, the city issued 173 total permits, including 25 residential construction permits, generating $69,813 and a total of $77,491, including fees and other revenue.

Chief Wayne Walton also updated the Council on the quarter for Springville Police. In October, the department answered 503 calls to service. In November, it answered 505 calls to service and answered 457 in December, for a quarterly total of 1465. For the year, the department answered 6021 calls to service.

The next meeting of the Springville City Council will be held on January 23, with a work session prior to the meeting.

This romantic comedy is the third adaptation of the 1937 play Parfumerie by Hungarian playwright Miklós László, and it followed the 1940s film called the shop around the corner.

“It’s been around for quite some time,” McClaran said. “This shop around the corner was actually the premise for the 1998 movie, You’ve Got Mail. So if you’re familiar with You’ve Got Mail, it’s the same premise.”

The Leeds Arts Council will transport you to a 1934 Budapest Parfumerie, which sells women’s toilet articles such as shampoo, soap, and makeup. The two main characters, George Nowack (Brian Allison) and Amalia Balash (Kathryn Schmidt), unbeknownst to each other, ended up working in the Parfumerie.

However, Amalia and George do not see eye to eye, frequently arguing, believing the other to be infuriating, but not all is as it seems.

“They’re both members of a Lonely Hearts Club, and they have never met their pen pal,” McClaran said. “They have decided that through their letters, they’re madly in love with each other, even

principals for planning purposes so they know how many teachers they may get to add to the schedule for next year.”

Chief Financial Officer Ryan Miller gave reports for the months of October and November. In October, the first month of the fiscal year, 6.37% of the general fund revenues and other financing sources were received. In addition, 2.31% of the local

though they’ve never seen each other and they don’t know each other’s names.”

McClaran said that this is only the second week of rehearsals, and the extremely talented cast has gelled together and is making the musical their own.

“So they’re all very well versed, very talented, vocally and in acting ability,” McClaran said. “It’s a smaller cast, so they’ve gelled really well together. They’re telling a really beautiful story.”

Dan O’Rourke (Mr. Maraczek) explained that the audience should expect a wholesome romantic comedy.

“There’s a purity to the story and innocence to the story that I think anyone could enjoy,” O’Rouke said. “So these two characters, at long last, are willing to unfold themselves up to the point where they’re vulnerable to someone knowing about them and exploring that other person. It’s the way that I wish more love stories played out.”

Join the Leeds Arts Council as the audience dives into the twist and turns that come with discovering that their pen pal is the person who irritates them the most. What happens when the truth is unveiled? Will love prevail?

The show opens after Valentine’s Day on February

revenues were received, down 43.81% in October 2021.

Expenditures and other uses in the general fund were 8.07% of the budget, under a target of 8.33%. Accounts payable were $671,349.

Gross payroll expenditures were $1,236,141. The month was ended with an excess of expenditures over revenues in the general fund of $485,139.

The unreserved fund balance

on Oct. 31 was $3,660,776.

During November, the second of the fiscal year, 14.49% of the general fund revenues were received. Also, Miller said 7.49% of the local revenues were received, which is down 34.03% from November 2021.

Expenditures and other uses in the general fund were 16.19% of the budget, under a target of 16.67%. Accounts payable were $416,076. Gross payroll expenditures were $1,216,609, and the month was ended with an excess of expenditures over revenues in the general fund of $569,407.

The unreserved fund balance on Nov. 30 was $3,549,498.

The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Leeds City Board of Education on 1517 Hurst Avenue. The board meets on the second Tuesday of every month.

24 and 25, March 2 and 4 at 7 p.m., and February 26 and March 5 at 2:30 p.m. You can purchase tickets at lac.booktix.com.

“I consider February to be the month of love, and if you’re looking for a really great night out with your significant other, this will be a perfect show to come see,” McClaran said. “It’s just a beautiful, lovely story, and the talent is fantastic.”

Cast:

• Brian Allison as George Nowack

• Kathryn Schmidt as Amalia Balash Heather Duncan as Ilona Ritter

Jon McClaran as Ladislav Sipos

• Dan O’Rourke as Mr. Maraczek

•

•

Jenna Rutledge as the Busboy Angela Forehand Ensemble

• Lori Theriot Ensemble

• Lara Moore Ensemble

• Shannon Jordan Ensemble

• Melissa Foster Ensemble

• Aidan Kay Ensemble

•

Asst

Lowery

•

Moody

From front page

The agreement was between the city, the Moody Commercial Development Authority, Shafiq, and Starz Events, LLC. City Attorney James Hill explained that the center is intended to hold family-friendly venues such as bowling.

The project will be developed on 6.75 acres on Carl Jones Road behind the Publix location. As part of the agree-

Later Mayor Joe Lee gave a brief update about the new police department building, saying that construction is set to begin on Feb. 1. In the meantime, the council approved a request from Police Chief Thomas Hunt to rent an 8′ X 20′ trailer for storage for 18 months at the cost of $9,600.

The council heard reports from department heads for the month of December, with Hunt reporting 1,592 calls, 36 arrests, 28 warning tickets,

Clay

From front page

on a previously condemned property and a public hearing on abatement at a private property.

In the Nov. 22 meeting, the Council approved a resolution condemning a burned home located at 6511 Self Lane. The property first appeared on the agenda for Oct. 25. Still, the vote to condemn the property was delayed until Nov. 22 because the mortgage company asked for a delay in an earlier meeting and has since informed the city that the mortgage on the property has been paid.

“We had a bid on tearing down the house,” Dixon said. “We only had one bid for $16,600. We’ll accept it. It’s in range, and we’ve worked with that company before.”

After the November meeting where the resolution was approved, Dixon said the city typically clears the condemned property and places a lien on the real estate for the cost of the demolition, which can be as high as $20,000.

The agenda also contained a public hearing on properties

Arrest

From front page

at 789 Chestnut Drive and 6791 Old Springville Road.

The

In

Both property owners were given 14 days to clear the properties, and no vote was taken on the proposed res-

olution to abate the nuisances at the expense of the property owners. The Council is expected to review the progress and will consider the pending resolution to clear the properties at the next meeting if the owners have not taken action.

The next meeting of the Clay City Council is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Jan. 24.

ment, the developer will pay $1.2 million in taxes to the city.

“This is a project that I know the city is very excited about,” Hill said. “And I think that this is something the people will be excited about as soon as we can get it going.”

St. Clair Economic Development Authority Don Smith was present and commended the council on the opportunity.

“I think this is a good fit not just for the community but for the developer as well,” Smith told the council.

No one spoke in opposition to the proposal, and it was passed unanimously.

128 total tickets, 99 reports, 88 misdemeanors (closed 77), 49 felonies (closed 28), and police vehicles drove 15,721 miles.

Fire Chief Larry Horton reported 193 responses, three fires (one vehicle, two woods, grass or rubbish), 13 wrecks, 34 medical calls, 17 public services, 27 lift assists, 29 false alarms, one mutual aid given, and one received. The average dispatch to enroute time was one minute, 55 seconds and the average dispatch-to-arrival time was seven minutes, 18 seconds. In addition, there were 10 annual inspections, 14 re-inspections, and one fire pump inspection.

in November 2022, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigators received a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. This information led to an investigation involving David Stephen West, 54, of Leeds.

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office stated that investigators arrested West on 10 counts of “Possession of obscene matter containing visual depiction of persons under 17 years of age involved in obscene acts”.

“At this time, investigators have no information that suggests the images were produced in or near Shelby County,” the Shelby County

on a $150,000 bond.

“I

another example of our deputies using this partnership to aggressively pursue those who prey on our children,” Sheriff John Samaniego stated

This investigation is still ongoing, and the Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with additional information to call the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at (205) 670-6000. An anonymous tip can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 205254-7777 or on their website at www.crimestoppersmetroal.com

For more information on the crimes charged, you can view the Alabama Criminal Code at http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/…/1975/coatoc.htm and search for code 13A-12-192.

Sean of the South: Uber

There we were. Standing outside the Back Forty Beer Company Brewery in Birmingham, Alabama. Me and a few friends. We had just finished watching an NFL football game on a large screen inside, and drinking Ovaltine. The Uber arrived. “Are you Sean?” the Uber driver asked.

“I’ve been called worse,” I said.

We all piled into the backseat of a nice SUV. It never fails to astound me how nice Uber cars are.

My personal transportation, for example, is not nice.

I drive a Ford that is 24 years old. That’s old enough to have several baby Fords of its own. My automotive interior is covered in canine fur and slobber. My seats are gnarled and look like a deranged coonhound has been chewing on the upholstery.

I have a broken radio. The A/C only works on days of the week beginning with P. And there is a hula girl mounted on my dashboard named Barbara.

But our Uber driver had a nice-looking car.

Tonight, our cab driver was a young woman. College-age. She was paralyzingly sweet. She spoke with a Birmingham accent that was thick enough to spread on a biscuit. And when one of my friends almost ralphed on her floorboards, she was cool about it.

“Y’all, is he gonna be okay?” the driver asked.

“He’ll be fine,” one of us explained. “He’s Episcopalian.”

She nodded solemnly as though she understood exact-

ly what this meant. Our driver followed the route home on her GPS. And she took each extra turn gingerly, taking care not to jostle the fully loaded Episcopalian among us.

When we approached the railroad tracks near Avondale, we were blocked by a passing freight train. We parked at the railroad crossing, while my Episcopalian friend placed his head between his knees and began reciting the Lord’s Prayer.

And I talked to the driver.

“Do you like your job?” I asked.

“Oh, I love it. My husband works days, and I watch the babies. I work nights, driving for Uber, while he puts the kids to bed.”

The young woman leads a busy life. Blindingly busy. She is 21 years old (younger than my truck). She was raised in Magic City. She and her husband work hard for a living. Bone hard. They have two children.

She had her first child at age 18. Her newborn son was born with a chromosomal abnormality, he could not digest food. When the doctors first told her this, it was a crushing blow.

“Y’all,” she began, “we lived in the NICU. My son was practically dying the moment he was born. Doctors thought I was going to lose my baby. I was a mess.”

Doctors put her son on a feeding tube. They treated him. She and the teenage father of her son lived at UAB, surviving on vending machine food, sleeping on vinyl chairs, praying for their child. Day and night. Night and day.

“I was so scared,” she said. “All these doctors, telling me that my son, my baby, might die at any time. But,

you know what? My son lived. He’s 3 years old today. My son is alive.”

Her son is not without his obstacles. He was recently diagnosed with autism. He is nonverbal. He can’t communicate.

“But I know my baby,” she says. “I have this way of communicating with him that is above words. I always know what he’s saying even though he’s saying nothing at all.”

She went on to say that she knows there will be other diagnoses in the future, due to her son’s chromosomal problems. But she tells me she knows can deal with it.

“I know my life is going to be hard. I know my son is going to have struggles, I know we might not make much money, I know hard times are coming. But I can get through them. That’s what I’ve learned about myself. I’m stronger than I think I am. So is my husband. I have faith.”

“In God?” one of us asked.

She nods. “Yes, but I also have faith in the doctors at UAB. Those men and women save lives. They made a miracle in my baby’s life. And they saved mine, too. They are good people.”

The Uber finally arrived at our house. The young woman threw her car into Park. We helped my exceedingly cheerful Episcopalian friend from the vehicle. We told our driver goodnight.

My Episcopalian friend bid farewell by saying: “The Lord be with you, darling.”

Our Uber driver smiled at us and we all knew that we were looking at a young woman who will be canonized in her own lifetime.

“Thanks, y’all,” she said. And also with y’all.

Lass But Not Least: Home Improvement

You glance up at the clock and realize it’s 5 pm on a weekday night. Time to get your child/grandchild dressed, gather up the equipment, and head to the Trussville sports park for his or her baseball game, or soccer game, or practice. You wonder why, for some reason, these events always seem to be scheduled right in the teeth of rush hour traffic.

You battle the downtown Trussville gridlock and finally arrive at the sports park, only to find the nearest open parking space is somewhere between Argo and Springville. Out of desperation, you create your own parking space. After all, the folks who drove that minivan you just blocked in probably won’t mind. Besides, that handicapped sticker dangling from their rearview mirror is probably a forgery anyway.

You bolt out of the car with your young athlete and trudge to the field. Somehow you always wind up toting the backpack. At last, the game begins. You slump back into a spot on the blisteringly hot bleachers and draw a deep breath. You find yourself pondering why you have spent all that money on uniforms, gear, and registration fees, just to watch your child completely lose interest in the game as he sits down behind second base, entertaining himself by filling his ball glove with infield dirt, and then pouring it out on his newly washed pants.

Can you relate to this experience? What if I told you there was a way you could get your child involved in a city recreation activity with-

out having to leave the comfort of your own home? An activity even you could get involved in. And it’s free!!

It’s true. I noticed the other day the Tribune reporting the Trussville Parks & Rec department has announced a new program which they call “esports.” For those of us born in the Dark Ages, the “e” stands for electronic. That’s right. It’s video games. League video games. All those hours you thought your kid wasted staring at a monitor, furiously manipulating joy sticks and colored buttons, can now be channeled to develop his competitive instincts and maybe even sharpen their multi-tasking ability.

TPC is offering three different game competitions on three different nights. Monday is Mario Kart, Thursday brings Rocket League, and Friday it’s Fortnight. I’ve never played Fortnight, and I have no clue what Rocket League may look like, but I have played me some Mario Kart. Oh brother, have I. My pre-teen son mastered it quickly and always challenged me to races. He would literally toy with me, allowing me to lead the entire race until just before the finish line, whereupon he would release bombs that blew me off the road, then pass by me to win, all the while laughing his annoying little head off.

Frustrating as it was, I did have to admire how the games seemed to develop his reflexes and force him to think quickly and analytically. He’s in his late thirties now, well-established in a solid career, and I actually think the video games helped him in certain ways. He still fires up the console occasionally, though his games are now far more complex and probably more graphic than just watching Luigi careen off the road into a brick wall.

You will have to join the Trussville Parks & Rec community on the Mission Control app to join a league. The website is https://missioncontrol.app. link/communities/66. Mission Control bills itself as “a

platform where players can squad up with their crew or compete against frenemies in local recreational esports leagues.” Duke University has a league on the site. So does Special Olympics of Oregon. And now Trussville has one as well. Deadline for registration for this season is January 27. Got questions? You can ask Josh Taylor at jtaylor@trussville.org.

Don’t get me wrong. I understand the value of good old outdoor team sports. There are social and health benefits to running up and down a soccer field or rounding the bases. Then again, if the Moody underground landfill fire is still blowing smoke into our collective lungs, you may want to rethink outdoor activity. That’s a column for another day.

But just think. No uniforms, no special equipment, no battling through traffic, no contemplating illegal activity to secure a parking space. If something like this had existed when I was a child, my parents would probably have never sent me to school. Of course, when I was a child, we didn’t even know what a computer was.

If this concept is new to you, you are a bit late to the party. Avid gamers have been slapping on the headphones and playing video games against opponents in other locations for years. Might be fun to try.

Just be aware there is a good possibility you might get beat by someone who is not as old as the slippers you are wearing.

o utdoo R s Cook: Deer activity in most of Alabama approaching peak

For most of the state, Alabama deer hunters are in the midst of the peak hunting period when deer start moving with increased rutting activity. Chris Cook, Deer Program Coordinator with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Division, says hunters need to spend as much time as possible in the woods for the rest of the season.

“If we get normal weather for the rest of the season, I suspect a lot of deer will be killed,” Cook said. “In the southern part of the state, the rut is getting ready to start up. When you’ve got that going on, and the weather is good, then hunters are going to be in the woods. That’s usually the big factor. It’s not necessarily the deer activity; it’s the hunter activity too. Hunters are a lot more likely to stick it out and spend more time in the woods if the weather is in the 40s as opposed to the 70s or teens and it’s not raining. Weather really plays huge part in hunter activity.

“With the rut starting, the bucks are getting interested. This is the time to be out hunting if you’re in the lower two-thirds of the state.”

The deer season in the majority of the state runs through February 10. Visit www.outdooralabama.com/seasonsand-bag-limits/deer-season for details about deer season dates in Alabama’s multiple deer zones.

Cook said the hunting season didn’t start particularly well because of the fall weather and an unusually cold spell at Christmas.

“It was really dry leading into the hunting season in a lot of the state,” he said.

“That’s always going to have an impact on wildlife, especially deer. The acorn crop was hit or miss. In some areas, it was pretty good, some just average, and some below average.

“That four or five days of freezing cold weather really put a hurting on everybody’s food plots. Most people don’t plant enough acreage to impact the carrying capacity or overall food supply for the deer herd, but it definitely could impact people’s hunting success because a lot of people rely heavily on those food plots.”

Cook said to have a noticeable impact on the deer herd, landowners and leaseholders would have to maintain a significant amount of the land area in wildlife openings.

“Most people plant to attract deer during hunting season,” he said. “For them, it’s about finding the right location to allow access to the hunters. If they’re planting food plots with the purpose of improving overall habitat quality, carrying capacity of the land, and affecting deer health, then you’re probably going to need at least 5% of the acreage in good-quality food plots throughout the year. A bare minimum would be 2-3%. Most proper-

acreage, then the challenge is planting the right stuff for the deer to have something to eat year-round and not just during hunting season.”

With the moderation of temperatures lately, Cook said some of the food plots will recover. With other browse material in short supply, the surviving food plots may be the place to be.

“If they do have a few food plots that bounce back and start growing well, they may be able to have an outstanding finish to the season,” he said.

“We’ll see how it goes. This continuing warmer weather should help everything. It’ll take a little time, but I’ve already had reports that some of the clover is coming back.”

years, that has changed. Anyone who keeps up with Alabama’s deer season through social media has seen another year with really large deer, not only antler-wise but also body size, with numerous deer above that 200-pound mark.

“Anytime you see a deer that big, it’s usually a combination of age and having good food to eat,” Cook said. “A lot of people are managing their properties for wildlife, and that would include not only the food plots but how they manage the timber stands with burning and thinning.”

Alabama instituted a three-buck limit in 2007 during all combined seasons. One of the three must have

ty, where bucks must have a minimum of three points on one side). That buck limit and a movement toward quality deer management have shifted the attitude of many hunters toward a more selective harvest.

“Probably the biggest factor is people are letting deer get old enough to get that big,” Cook said. “That’s been a trend for a lot of years now with people more and more receptive to passing on a really good 3-year-old and letting them become 4-year-olds. You definitely didn’t see that as widespread 20 years ago as you do now. Deer have to have that age to get those bigger bodies.”

Alabama had its first cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) last season, with two deer in Lauderdale County confirmed with the disease.

To date, no deer harvested during the 2022-2023 season has tested positive for CWD.

The WFF staff recently completed another mandatory weekend of sampling in the CWD buffer zone of Colbert County and the eastern section of Lauderdale County. Cook said the sampling quota in Lauderdale County has been met, and only a few more are needed to meet the quota in Colbert County.

“It’s a good thing we have met our quota in Lauderdale County and haven’t had any positives,” he said. “That’s encouraging. Just because we’ve met the quota doesn’t mean we’re going to quit sampling deer. We’ll sample

we’ll keep sampling.”

Cook also encourages Alabama deer hunters to take advantage of the numerous self-service sampling locations with freezers where hunters can drop off their deer head to be sampled. Visit www.outdooralabama.com/ cwd/cwd-sampling for an interactive map of freezer locations.

“Anyone willing to have their deer tested can use one of our drop-off freezers,” he said. “We have the materials there with sample tags. They fill out the tags, put the deer head in the provided bag, put it in the freezer, and we’ll have it tested.

“Surveillance is important to detect CWD early. You do that by surveillance in all parts of the state, not just in northwest Alabama. We want hunters in all parts of the state to help us.”

Visit the CWD page at www.outdooralabama.com/ cwd/cwd-alabama for more information.

It also appears that Alabama’s deer herd had lower incidents of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) during the past year.

“We didn’t get nearly as many calls this season,” Cook said. “We had a lot of calls last year of skinny deer. They probably had the EHD virus during the summer and got over the virus but had lingering problems that caused them to lose weight. We do a survey of our staff, and they report any deer they got reports on or any deer they examined, and they haven’t had nearly as many incidents this year as they did in 2021.”

Approval of Aniah’s Law by Alabama voters has enhanced public safety in our state

When it comes to politics, it is easy to understand why the public is so easily jaded.

They hear politicians make promises, only to break them soon enough. So when you finally see something positive happen from lawmakers, it is something that should draw praise. Our state needed new laws to protect against violent predators, and the Alabama Legislature delivered a solution.

Alabama lawmakers sent Aniah’s Law to the voters for them to decide whether to give judges the necessary power to keep violent felons behind bars as they await trial. The judges now have the discretion to deny bond for those alleged to have been charged with serious crimes such as murder, rape, kidnapping, sodomy, and domestic violence. These are suspects prosecutors need to be able to keep behind bars because of concerns they may commit another violent crime if released back on the streets.

The new addition to the state Constitution was approved, and this week, the law is being used to try to keep a felon behind bars who was accused of

a New Year’s Eve shooting in Mobile, where one individual was killed and seven wounded. This law is working as intended by keeping violent felons off of the streets and to protect the public safety. And while this is not the first time the law has been used since it became law, hopefully, judges will use this law as necessary to protect or communities.

And in doing so, honors the memory of Aniah Blanchard, for whom the bill was named.

Paul DeMarco is a former member of the Alabama House of Representatives and can be found on Twitter at @Paul_DeMarco.

o pinion

The dehumanization of turning Mawmaw into fertilizer

Occasionally, a story comes along with some major creep factor. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but the creep factor exists.

Such was the case with a recent “Daily Wire” article explaining that New York is the sixth state to legalize the composting of human remains. Apparently, the old dark joke about turning into worm dirt when we die is becoming reality not only in New York but in five other progressive states as well.

Some forms of human composting only use an eighth of the energy of cremation or conventional burial. The process is “more environmentally friendly,” California Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-CA) says, noting that “with climate change and sea-level rise as very real threats to our environment, this is an alternative method of final disposition that won’t contribute emissions into our atmosphere.”

It is the dehumanizing aspect of this story that makes it creepy, for it values human beings only for the sum of their parts and for their convenience to others. Perhaps it’s not surprising that the same states that have enacted legislation to accommodate the ability to plant a tree in Mawmaw’s remains are the same states that see some of the most ardent pushes for abortion.

Human composting takes place when the decedent is

placed in a box “surrounded by wood chips, alfalfa, and straw for one month” to enhance “‘change on the molecular level resulting in the formation of nutrient-dense soil,’” the “Daily Wire” explains. Lest we forget, it’s a common practice to fertilize farm fields with manure. It seems we’ve gone so far down the rabbit hole that we no longer think twice about relegating a loved one’s remains to the same level as nitrogen-rich manure.

Such disrespect for life is also pagan in nature. “Pantheists have argued that everything can be reduced to matter, God is everything and everything is God, and that every existing entity is only one Being,” Baptist Pastor Josh Buice, president of G3 Ministries tells the “Daily Wire.” “Under this view, there is no difference between wood chips, alfalfa, and a human body,” Boice explains. “From the earliest of times, the human body has been considered sacred. The rationale is based on what is known as the imago Dei, which affirms the fact that God created every person equally in his own image.” In essence, the human form is special, not a mistake, aberration, or a piece of clay to be molded.

The idea of composting soil made from humans is just another way of demanding that science dehumanize us. We’ve seen this first in cries for abortion. Then we saw it in demands for euthanasia, which in Canada now extends to those with mental illness. Even the move to-

ward “gender fluidity” does this by indicating that the human body is wrong and must be molded to fit one’s truth.

Such thoughts and practices were once the stuff of science fiction and dystopian movies but are now the reality of a progressive agenda. We are becoming like the 1973 movie “Soylent Green,” where rampant overpopulation, pollution and global warming create severe shortages of food and water — causing the poor to be fed highly processed wafers, among which is Soylent Green — and where government-run clinics are used for assisted suicide to ease population growth. When one of the lead characters, Detective Thorn (Charlton Heston), realizes to his shock and horror that the superfood the government is feeding the masses is made from human remains, he tries to warn the world by shouting, “Soylent Green is people!” And yet,

here we are some 50 years after the release of “Soylent Green,” discussing a similar form of creepy dehumanization. Only this time it’s not science fiction, it’s true.

In a society that has dehumanized human life, it is increasingly easy to move to a place where the most vulnerable in society — the unborn, the sick and infirm, and the mentally ill — can just be modified or put out of their misery. And now once they’re out of our way, we can simply turn them into a bag of potting soil and fertilize the raised beds where we grow tomatoes to feed the family. Soylent Green is people indeed!

Am I overreacting? You be the judge. But I do know that what we do with living, breathing, soul-filled humans — or their remains once they’ve passed — should never be based solely on questions of cultural convenience, finances, logistics or selfish emotion.

In my view, the composting of human remains to fertilize a garden is just one more step in the dehumanization of humanity.

But then, maybe dehumanizing is what was intended all along.

To contact Phil or request him for a speaking engagement, go to www.rightsideradio.org. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.

2023 Alabama Wedding Showcase

January 28 @ 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

the Nile by Candice Millard

March - The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd April - Horse by Geraldine Brooks

May - Song of the Cell by Siddhartha Mukherjee Video Game Tournament - Teen Wednesday, January 18: 4:00pm - 5:30pm Trussville - LBK Auditorium

AGE GROUP: ADULT (AGES 18+)

EVENT TYPE: DROPIN, CRAFT, ADULT PROGRAM

Knitters and crocheters, join us for fellowship and creativity!

cLassified

AUCTION

REAL ESTATE AUCTION - February 4th, 11:00am 377 plus or minus acres to be offered in eight parcels or as an entirety. Fayette County Alabama for brochure and more information call Redmont Auction & Land Inc. Eddie Propst AL License 1161. 205822-4229 or 888-285-8408

SERVICES

Venue: Trussville Civic Center

The first annual Alabama Wedding Showcase presented by The Trussville Tribune, sponsored by Shirley’s Florist, will take place on January 28th at the Trussville Civic Center. We will have dozens of vendors for all your engagement, wedding, and honeymoon needs.

Preschoolers at Play

Wednesday, January 18: 10:30am - 11:30am

Trussville - LBK Auditori-

um

AGE GROUP: EARLY LEARNERS (BIRTHPRE-K)

EVENT TYPE: CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

AGE GROUP: TEEN (6TH - 12TH GRADE)

EVENT TYPE: TEEN PROGRAM, GAMING

Knit & crochet meetup group (aka The Yarn Manglers). Bring any projects you are working on; join us for fellowship and creativity. This is a great way to check in, catch up, see what everyone is working on, and get help if you are stuck. Please join us - newcomers are welcome! Join our Facebook group: YARN MANGLERS ANONYMOUS

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Call (205) 533-8664

Join Ms. Alicia for special playtime program for preschool-aged children. A guided sensory time will begin at 10:30, followed by free play at several stations set up around the large auditorium with various toys. We will briefly highlight an activity to help your child with reading and school readiness that you can also use at home.

Parents are asked to stay with their children and travel with them as they play with the different selections of toys.

Ages 2-5 years old. Held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 10:30 am. No Registration is Needed.

Adult Book Club

Wednesday, January 18: 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Trussville - Cahaba Room

AGE GROUP: ADULT (AGES 18+)

EVENT TYPE: BOOK GROUP, ADULT PROGRAM

Each month the library will be hosting a video game tournament for teens. We will play a different competitive game each month with our champion winning a prize. The type of game will vary. Some months it will be a fighting game, a racing game, or even motion games. Snacks and refreshments are provided at the event. Open to anyone in the 6th to 12th grade.

(Photographs may be taken during the program and used by the TPL. If you do not want pictures of your child to be taken please let the Librarian in charge of the event know)

Children’s Storytime Thursday, January 19: 10:30am - 11:30am

Trussville - LBK Auditorium

AGE GROUP: EARLY LEARNERS (BIRTHPRE-K)

EVENT TYPE: STORYTIME, CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

ACT Prep Saturday, January 21: 10:00am - 4:00pm

Trussville - LBK Auditorium

AGE GROUP: TEEN (6TH - 12TH GRADE)

EVENT TYPE: TEEN PROGRAM, CLASS

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The Trussville Public Library will be hosting a two-part ACT Prep class on January 21st from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and January 22nd from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The class will be conducted in person in the library auditorium. Saturday will be an extensive review session and the Sunday will feature a practice test.

Students will need to bring a notebook, pencil and calculator.

Lunch will be provided on Saturday. The fee for BOTH days of the class is $43.50. No refunds will be issued.

EDUCATION

ATTENTION ACTIVE Duty & Military Veterans! Begin a

new career and earn your Degree at CTI! Online Computer & Medical training available for Veterans & Families! To learn more, call 866-4751014 (M-F 8am-6pm ET).

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DirecTV Satellite TV Service Starting at $59.99/month! Free Installation! 160+ channels available. Call Now to Get the Most Sports & Entertainment on TV! 844-5947108

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AUTOMOTIVE

SUPPORT THE BLIND! Donate a car to the American Council of the Blind. FAST FREE PICKUP. 24-hour response. Running or not. maximum tax deduction and no emission test required! Call 24/7: 844-601-1342.

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Join us for Adult Book Club! Connect with your community and share your thoughts about the books you’ve read.

Book Club meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 2PM. Contact the Adult Dept (205-6552022 or tr.adult@jclc.org) if you need assistance in obtaining books. 2023 meeting dates are Jan 18, Feb 15, Mar 15, Apr 19, May 17, June 14, July 19, Aug 16, Sept 20, Oct 18, Nov 15.

Book selections: January - Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

February - River of the Gods: Genius, Courage, and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of

Join Ms. Alicia for stories, songs, bubble time, and lots of fun! The event will be held in the library auditorium every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. All ages. Every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Understanding Medicare

Thursday, January 19: 1:00pm - 2:00pm

Trussville - Parkway Room

AGE GROUP: ADULT (AGES 18+)

EVENT TYPE: ADULT PROGRAM Educational seminar about Medicare options. Learn about important Medicare Parts A and B topics that could impact you, including enrollment, costs, benefits, etc. Your questions will be addressed by Health Benefits specialist Linda Reynolds. Registration is optional.

Yarn Manglers (Knit & Crochet Group) Thursday, January 19: 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Trussville - Cahaba Room

If you have any questions, please contact Jacob.Sartain@jclc.org or call 205-655-2022.

Chess Club Monday, January 23: 5:00pm - 6:00pm

Trussville - LBK Auditorium

AGE GROUP: UPPER ELEMENTARY (3RD5TH) TWEEN (3RD-6TH) LOWER ELEMENTARY (K-2ND) ELEMENTARY (K-5TH)

EVENT TYPE: TWEEN PROGRAM, GAME NIGHT, FAMILY EVENT, CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

Learn the basics, cool tricks, strategy, opening, and tactics in chess from a professional chess teacher. All supplies provided. Parents are welcome to join the fun! K - 8th Grade Students. No Registration Needed. Parents are welcome to participate with their child.

Katie Mae (Trucks) Miller

july 16, 1931 ~ january 4, 2023 (age 91)

She

Katie

She

o bitua R y

Norma Free Holsombeck

october 29, 1934 ~ january 7, 2023 (age 88)

On January 7th, 2023, Norma Ruth Holsombeck, 88, peacefully left this earth surrounded by her family. She joins her beloved husband, Billy P. Holsombeck along with many family and friends in heaven. She lived her life full of love, kindness and faith. She is survived by her daughters Terri (Jim) Caradine, and Tammy (Paul) Harbin. She was blessed with two wonderful grandchildren Blake (Kaci) Caradine and Courtney (Guy) Walker who gave her 8 beautiful great grandchildren. She loved her family and was completely devoted to them along with her church and many close friends. She will be missed greatly by all. The family will receive friends from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home in Trussville followed by a funeral at 2:00 p.m. Reverend John D. Stirewalt officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, 6704 Deerfoot Parkway, Clay, AL 35048

Larry Don Shackelford

july 9, 1955 ~ january 4, 2023 (age 67)

Larry

host of nieces, nephews and special friends. Special thanks to Cindy Griffin Larry and Libby’s assistant for 12 years loving care.

In lieu of flowers please make donations in memory of Larry Shackelford to the Mr Larry

me/8df03d30

Betty Keith White

november 9, 1931 ~ january 5, 2023 (age 91)

BETTY KEITH WHITE 91 (11/09/1931-01/05/2023) passed away in the home of her daughter in Helena, Alabama, surrounded by her family. Betty is now in the presence of her beloved Jesus and has been reunited with the love of her life, BOBBY DALE (“Bob”) WHITE 89 (01/02/1932-04/15/2021). She was predeceased by her daughter, Sheri Charmagne W. Sturgis. Betty was happiest in her kitchen where she worked tirelessly preparing meals and baked goods for friends, family and those in need. She volunteered at BSA Hospital for many years amassing over 10,000 hours of time. She was active for many years in the Amarillo, Texas chapter of Daughters of the Nile. She also loved crocheting many keepsake

in 1986 from the

for her family and friends.

of Reclamation after 32 years of service in the

Department. She achieved the thrill of a lifetime when she went sky

at age 65. Bob passed away peacefully in his home in

ones at his bedside. He was a salesman for Cadillac for 52 years. He

and enjoyed flying his

to

Texas for over 50 years. He was

What Death Benefits does the VFW Provide?

The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW) provides advisory and financial assistance to members and surviving spouses, children, and dependents. If you are an eligible military service veteran and not currently a VFW member, you can join by visiting vfw.org/join today.

Life and Accident Insurance

The VFW provides free, member-only limited accidental death benefits. The amount of coverage varies based on the type of injury and the age of the deceased member.

Burial Planning

The VFW helps members obtain benefits such as a presidential certificate, American flag, perpetual care, and an official US Armed Forces headstone. Many of these services must be requested in advance, and the VFW can help file the necessary paperwork. The VFW can also help surviving family members receive benefits if they are eligible.

Benefit Assistance

The VFW can help veterans and families file forms and determine which financial benefits spouses and dependents are eligible for. The VFW provides free administrative assistance to members.

Assistance

VFW service officers are familiar with current legislation and can help survivors file government forms and appeal death benefit for which they are eligible.

Jimmie Lou (Cox) Dixon

september 30, 1938 ~ january 7, 2023 (age 84)

Jimmie Lou Cox Dixon, 84, received the beautiful gift of complete healing when she went to her heavenly home on January 7, 2023. She faithfully served Jesus, teaching children in Sunday School and joyfully singing in the church choir for more than 50 years. Jimmie was active in civic organizations throughout the years and held many leadership positions. After devoting her young adult life to her family, she returned to the workforce as a licensed insurance agent in 1991, eventually retiring in 2016.

Jimmie was the loving wife of Charles R. “Sonny” Dixon for almost 66 years. They are the proud parents of three children: Ronnie (Kathy) Dixon, Connie (1959-2021) (Ronnie) Everett, and Tammy (Kirk) Flowers. They were loving grandparents to their six granddaughters, Ronni Suzanne, Jae (David) Skinner, Lindsey (Jonathan) Buse, Jimmi (Josh) Amick, Sydney (Malcolm) Reddoch, and Brett (Jake) Cole. They were further blessed with 10 great grandchildren: Eli and Drew Buse; Michael and Dixon Roye; Asa, Jude, Titus, and Abe Skinner; and Charlie and Rhett Amick. She is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews.

Family, friends, and others whose lives Jimmie touched are invited to Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home for visitation at 2:30 on Wednesday, January 11, 2023, and to the graveside following at 3:30.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alabama Baptist Children’s Home or Big Oak Ranch.

John Jones

december 26, 1949 ~ january 8, 2023 (age 73)

John E. Jones, 73, beloved husband, father and Pops was called to his eternal resting place on January 8, 2023.

John was born on December 26, 1949 in Gadsden, AL. He graduated from Ensley High School in 1968. John married his high school sweetheart Gloria, on August 15, 1969. He attended IBEW to learn his electrical degree and began his career as an Electrician in 1971.

John enjoyed the outdoors. Some of the things he enjoyed in his younger days hunting, riding dirt bikes and water skiing. John was an avid Alabama football fan and loved the Crimson Tide. He also liked taking trips to the mountains, going to church, spending time with his family, bass fishing, cross-stitching, and was always up for a good game of canasta…but hated to lose!

John is survived by his wife of 53 years, Gloria Jones; his daughter, Tania Oswalt (Shannon); his son, Timothy Jones (Heather, Alexis and Brock); three granddaughters, Brittany Wayman (Nick), Bethany Bearden (Andrew), Brooke Isbell (Chris); five great-grandchildren, Weston Wayman, Ashton Bearden, Tinley Grace Isbell, Brayden Bearden, Camden Wayman; brother, Eddie Jones (Joette); as well as several nieces and nephews, and a host of many close friends.

John is preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Emmiett Jones; his brother and best friend, Joseph Wayne Jones; twin sister, Janie Robinson; and sister, Pamela Moore.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, January 12, 2023 at the Healing Place Church 5709 Trussville Clay Rd., Trussville, AL 35173 from 5pm- 7pm. Funeral Services will be held Friday, January 13, 2023 at 12pm at the Healing Place Church and Graveside Services will follow at Jefferson Memorial Gardens.

Edna Workman

may 2, 1929 ~ january 9, 2023 (age 93)

Edna Workman died January 9 in the soft bed of her home with loved ones close. She was born Edna Earl Walker May 2, 1929, in rural Iuka, Mississippi.

After her graduation from high school, she married her high school sweetheart, Milford Smith. She now is Edna Earl Smith. They soon will be blessed with a home of their own and a lively son. But a tragic accident will take out of her life her husband and her son. Now alone in an empty home, she must rebuild her existence and her livelihood.

In these days of remaking, she grew in strength and endurance and in the beauty of a vital and compassionate character.

She cultivated an uprising career with South Central Bell, now AT&T. But work is not her only journey; she meets Charles T. Workman, a professor at then Virginia Polytechnic Institute, now Virginia Tech. They come to love the character wonders they see in each other, and that will likely give birth a dedicated life together. She now will be known as Edna Smith Workman and they will have a son, Charles Edward Workman, who will in time’s ordination become a

in the World Languages Department of Samford University. This marriage made in heaven will last 58 plus years, until her death parts them.

upon the gospel of Mark 12:25.

Graveside Services will be held Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 12:00PM at Jefferson Memorial Gardens.

Jacqueline "Jackie" Keenum

april 2, 1936 ~ january 12, 2023 (age 86)

Ms. Jacqueline “Jackie” Keenum, 86, went home to be with the Lord Tuesday, January 10, 2023. Memorial Services will be held Friday, January 13, 2023 at 2:00pm.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Chester Arie Keenum Jr.; parents, Rufus Jackson and Francis Vick; brothers, R.J. Vick, Houston Vick, Gordon Vick; sisters, Sherrill Bishop, and Mary Jane Sweatman.

Ms. Jackie is survived by her sons, Chet Keenum (Lynne), Robin Keenum (Tammy), Brian Keenum (Julie); daughters, Debbie Skaggs (Randy), Lisa Keenum (Denell); sister, Faye Nelson (preceded, Ralph); grandchildren, Chet Keenum IV (Alicia), Clint Keenum (Krystal), Chip Keenum (Kristy), Krista Hubmer (Tom), Chris Coffey (Heather), Laura Bessom (Jeremy), Robin Keenum (Brandi), Jessica Keenum, Madison Keenum; 16 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.

She attended Parkway Christian Fellowship for many years. Ms. Jackie loved to cook, have family gatherings, and was an avid Alabama Football fan. She was very stylish and sarcasm was her second language. Ms. Jackie is remembered for her beautiful smile and wonderful laugh. She was truly loved and will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers please make donations in memory of Ms. Jacqueline “Jackie”

Alberta Wadsworth

Mary

Alberta worked at Liberty National in the 1970’s

husband, Gary. She was a member of First Baptist Church Pinson, where she worked for many years. Throughout her years she was heavily involved in many areas of ministry for the church. She finished her career at Lakeside Baptist Church, where she retired in 2018.

She is survived by her loving husband Gary Wadsworth; Son, Derrick Wadsworth (Erin); Daughter, Jennifer Neal (JR); Grandchildren, Colin Wadsworth, Noah Touchton, Brenan Touchton, Corban Neal, Mary Neal, Davis Wadsworth and Lily Neal; Sisters, Rachel Byrd (Tommy) and Regina Graham (Jeff), and countless nieces and nephews.

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14, 2023

2:00

TRUSSVILLE – 2022 was a great year for the football teams in our coverage area. There are many players who have signed to play bigtime football with more to come in the February signing period. With the help of our writing team, head coaches and others who were so gracious to give input, the Trussville Tribune has compiled the following list of players that

young men have worked hard and represented their teams both on and off the field. Congratulations to the recipients!

Cole McCarty was selected as the Tribune’s Player of the Year for 2022. Cole put up “video game numbers” week in and week out during the season. He led the Moody Blue Devils to a 10-2 (10 wins is a team record) record on the season and was the head man of an offense that put up more points per game (41) and more total points (489) than any team in Moody football history.

2022 All-Tribune Football Team

On the season, Cole was 169 of 241 (70% completion) for 3006 yards and 37 touchdowns and a 142 QBR. He also ran for 422 yards and had 4 touchdowns on the ground for his Blue Devils.

Leeds coach Jerry Hood is the Tribune’s 2022 Coach of the Year. Hood has been around for a long time and everywhere he has been he has succeeded. Leeds is no different.

In 2022, Leeds went undefeated in the regular season, even beating the jug-

gernaut that was Moody, on their own field. That was really the only close game Leeds had on the season until they played Ramsay in the third round of the playoffs, a game that saw Leeds lose for the first time in 2022.

The All-Tribune Team is made up of first and second team offense and defense and a group of honorable mention players. This is not listed in the order in which they were selected, but by position. Congratulations to all players who made the 2022 All-Tribune Team.

Tevis Metcalf (Pinson)

Jacob Mayhand (Shades Valley)

Tyrell Averhart (Hewitt Trussville)

Brown (Shades Valley)

Posey (Pinson)

Jackson (Pinson)

Summers (Leeds)

Griffin (Moody)

Finley (Clay Chalkville)

RB: Mahlon Alverson (Springville) Aaron Osley (Clay Chalkville) LB: Parker McAdams (Springville) Matthew Yafonda (Clay Chalkville)

Logan (Moody)

Kendall Odom (Shades Valley) Jeremiah Hall (Leeds) OL: Gerald Perry (Center Point)

WR: Brett Mosley (Hewitt Trussville) Harold Holloman (CenterPoint)

Moody girls win overtime thriller against Springville, 50-49

SPRINGVILLE – On Tuesday night, the Moody Blue Devils brought their ladies to Springville for an area game between these two rivals and this game was exactly what rivalries are supposed to be. Lots of back and forth, hard work, sportsmanship and an ending that would bring every fan in the gym to their feet.

“Gutsy. It was real gutsy,” said Moody coach Becca Davis of her team’s showing on the night.

Springville coach Warren House said, “We played really hard and Moody played really hard.”

The Lady Tigers took command in the first quarter, outscoring Moody 11-8. Farrah Hawkins owned the period with 9 of the 11 total points for Springville.

Moody’s Emma Kyle, Tarryn Woodall, Tori Pyles and Serenity Rutledge would each have 2 points for the Lady Blue Devils.

Moody would close the gap in the second, winning the quarter 12-10. Pyles would catch fire as she scored 9 of the 12 points for Moody.

Audrey Talton would lead Springville with 5 points, helping her team to a onepoint lead heading into the locker room at 21-20.

The Lady Devils would continue to swing the momentum their way in the third quarter, scoring 13 points to Springville’s 9. Hawkins would once again lead her Tigers, this time with 6 points. Pyles would continue her outstanding night with 9 points in the period. Heading into the fourth quarter, Moody would have the lead 33-30.

The fourth quarter would continue the dog fight be-

tween these two teams as Springville would do everything they had to do to stay in the game. With 25 seconds left in the game, the game was tied at 42. Hawkins would hit a clutch layup to put her team up 44-42 in the final seconds of regulation. She was also fouled on the play and missed the free throw. Coming out of a timeout, Pyle’s drove the lane for a shot and missed, but she was fouled on the play. With ice water running through her veins, she hit both free throws to tie the game at 44 and send it to overtime. On the quarter, Springville outscored Moody 14-11. Hawkins had 11 points for the Tigers while Emma Kile put up 5 for Moody.

In overtime, the game did nothing but get more exciting. Like a heavyweight boxing match, each team

Springville wins key area matchup against Leeds, 50-38

LEEDS – After a win on Tuesday night against rival Moody, the Springville Tigers avoided any letdown in the big area game against Leeds on Friday, marching into enemy territory and walking out with a 50-38 win over their area rivals.

The Green Wave started out strong with 5 different players putting up points in the firs quarter, leading to a 11-5 advantage in the period for the home team. Ronald Miller led his team with a 3 points, followed by Jaelyn Felder, Ty Bedell, Chris Burge

and Tabari Davis with 2 each. Springville was led by 2 points each from Asa Morrison and Collin Lockhart in the quarter.

The Tigers would explode in the second quarter, put-

ting up 22 points on Leeds. Ayden Walton would lead Springville with 8 points, followed by Ty Harrison with 7.

Husky girls demolish Spain Park in area matchup, 67-18

HOOVER – The Hewitt Trussville lady Huskies are in the midst of an amazing season and the dominance continued Friday night as they traveled to Spain Park, defeating the hosts by almost 50 points and solidifying themselves as one of the top teams in 7A girls’ basketball in our state.

The Hewitt defense was all over the Jaguars right out of the gate. Spain Park only managed 6 points, scored on 2 successful three-point

Cougar girls get senior night win over Hueytown, 63-30

CLAY – The Hueytown Golden Gophers traveled to Clay on Tuesday night with hopes to ruin senior night for the Cougars, but Coach Kevin Carter’s girls were up to the challenge, dominating the Gophers by 28 points.

Clay’s defense would smother the Gophers in the first quarter, only allowing them to score 4 points. Senior Aniyah Crenshaw and

come out and almost double their first half point total, putting up 13 points on the Cougar defense. Not to be outdone, the Cougars would answer with 15 points of their own. Seniors Renesha Smiley and Cheyenne Pearson would lead Clay with 4 points each to send Clay into the fourth quarter with a 4420 lead.

The final quarter would spell more dominance from the home team with Clay outscoring the Gophers 19-10.

Cougars get win over Hueytown on senior night, 62-55

CLAY – The Clay Chalkville Cougars celebrated senior night on Tuesday night by welcoming the Hueytown Golden Gophers and politely sending them

home with a 7-point loss.

Clay got the lead early and held on for the entire game to get the victory, scoring 14 points in the first quarter while holding Hueytown to just 6. Davon Cheatham and Victor Odiari both put up 3 points in the period to lead

all scorers while 4 others contributed 2 points each for the Cougars.

Spreading the love once again on offense, the Cougars had 5 different players combine for 12 more points in the second quarter. Erin Callens led with 3 points. On the de-

fensive side of the ball, the Cougars showed some holes and let the Gophers put up 17 up on them before the half. The score heading into the locker room would be 26-23 Cougars.

Pinson stays perfect by whipping Mortimer Jordan, 88-43

only 16 on the defensive side of the ball. White added 10 more points to his spectacular night, paired with 6 points each from Amarion Bowens and Terry Conor.

In the fourth, Coach Barber would call off the dogs on offense while the defense continued to suffocate the Mortimer Jordan boys, hold-

Junior Kamoriah Gaines had 5 points each in a 16-point quarter for the Cougars that also saw Senior Cheyenne Pearson add 4 points.

The second quarter would be much of the same as the defense held Hueytown to 3 total points, dominating them once again. This time, Clay would score 13 points in the quarter, led by Booklyn Phillips, a Junior, who scored 8 points to send the home team into the half with a 29-7 lead.

Hueytown would make adjustments in the third and

Leading the scoring would be Gaines who exploded for 10 points in the final frame, leading to the 63-30 final.

On the night, Kamoriah Gaines led all scorers with 18 points. Cheyenne Pearson followed with 13 points, while Brooklyn Phillips and Kameron Sanders contributed 11 points each.

Clay Head Coach Kevin Conner said, “I thought we played really well defensively. Hueytown has one of the

MORRIS – The Pinson

Valley Indians Boys’ Basketball team are on an absolute tear this year, now 17-0 on the season. Tuesday night, the Mortimer Jordan Blue Devils had the unfortunate task of trying to take down the giants and that did not work out well at all. Pinson beat them in dominating fashion, 88-43.

The Indians would show a bit of mercy at the beginning,

starting somewhat slow. They scored 17 in the first quarter while holding Mortimer Jordan to 12. That was as close as the game would get as Pinson would begin pouring on the points after the first quarter. Raymon McCants would lead Pinson with a pair of three-pointers in the first period. Pinson would begin a 2-quarter scoring onslaught as they dominated Mortimer Jordan 28-8 in the second frame. Caleb White exploded for 11 points in the quarter,

followed by teammates Terry Conor with 7 and Clyde Walters with 5. Pinson would take a commanding 45-20 lead into the break.

As if they were shot out of a canon, the Pinson Valley Indians would come out of the locker room and put up an outstanding 31 points on the Blue Devils while allowing

would deal blows to the other as the scoring went back and forth. Pyles would score the first points in the bonus period from the charity stripe to put Moody up 46-44. After a steal, Kyle got the ball in the paint and hit a layup to put the Devils up 48-44. Hawkins would answer with 2 of her own to close the gap to 48-46 but then she would get a chance from the stripe and miss both free throws. Tarryn Woodall hit what would be the game-winning shot to put Moody up 50-46. In an effort to pull out the win for her team, Hawkins hit a 3 pointer to make it a 1-point game, but time would run out and Moody would walk away with a 50-49 win.

Springville’s Farrah Hawkins finished off her historic night with 31 points in the losing effort. She also eclipsed 1,000 points in her career.

Moody was led by Tori Pyles with 24 points, Emma Kile with 10 and 7th grader Serenity Rutledge with 8 on

the night.

“We did a great job rebounding but it seemed like every time we got a ball, we gave half of them back to Moody as a turnover,” said Coach House. “We did a good job defensively. We shot poorly, partly due to Moody’s defense.”

Coach Davis said, “We had a lot of turnovers and we did not play our best game. There were a few times where I thought ‘here it goes’ and we kept our composure and

we kept playing and let things work out for us.”

Going into the overtime period, Davis told her team, “It’s a new ball game. Free basketball. Let’s go. There’s no pressure on us. We beat them the first time and everyone but us thought it was a fluke. I never felt like the pressure was on us. I never put the pressure on them.”

Moody plays St Clair County Friday night while Springville travels to Leeds to take on the Green Wave.

shots, in the first quarter. The Huskies, led by Deandrea Powell’s 6 points, both three-pointers, and April Hooks’ 5 points, put up 21 points on the offensive side of the ball.

Believe it or not, the second quarter got worse for the lady Jaguars. These Huskies came to dominate on this night and that is precisely what they did. Spain Park managed one shot from the field and a free throw in the period, totaling only 3 points. Meanwhile, on the offensive side of the ball, the Husky ladies had no problem putting up points. Audre Benson and

Jordan Hunter had 10 points each to lead Hewitt to a 45-9 advantage heading into the break.

Once again, the Huskies would dominate on defense, holding the Jaguars to just 2 three-pointers, much like the first quarter. Hooks would add 2 threes of her own to lead Hewitt in an 18-point quarter. The visiting Huskies would lead 63-12 heading into the final quarter.

In the fourth, Coach Tonya Hunter would call off the dogs, only putting up 4 points (2 each from Olivia Burton and Amber Newman, while having a repeat of the second on defense, only allowing another 3 points from Spain Park.

On the night, the Huskies were led by Audre Benson, who had 15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 6 steals in the game. Jordan Hunter followed with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal. April Hooks also scored in the double digits with 11 points to go with 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 steals.

“I am really excited about how we ended the first round of area play,” said Coach Tonya Hunter. “We have to maintain our focus and continue to make strides.”

These young ladies plan to do just that as they head to Central Phenix City on Tuesday night. With the win Friday, they improved to 18-6 on the season and stayed undefeated in the area.

Coming out of the break, the Cougars tightened up on defense, holding Hueytown to 11 points. Led by Devon McKinnon’s 7 points and Cheatham’s 4, Clay would score 19 for the quarter, going up 45-34 with just one quarter to play.

Devin Finley scored 9 along with 4 other players who had 2 each. The final score would be 62-55 with the home team getting the win on senior night.

On the night, Devin Finley led Clay with 12 points followed by Devon McKinnon with 11 and both Tiawan Hardy Jr and Victor Odiari with 9 points each.

them within range. It was an up-tempo game that was full of physical and athletic play,” said Chris Richardson, Clay Chalkville’s head coach.

Coach Richardson added, “It was senior night for us. I thought my guys did a good job, for the most part, of focusing on our game plan through all of the senior night festivities.”

The Green Wave would only manage 8 points in the second quarter, led by Burge, who had 3 free throws. Springville would take a 27-19 lead into the locker room.

Both teams would struggle to find a lot on offense in the third as the defenses shut down the scoring for the most part. Leeds scored 10 points in the period, led by Davis and Kendarrius Jones who had 3 each. Springville would put up just one point less with 9 of their own. Walton would score 5 of those points himself. The Springville lead would be cut to 36-29 heading into the fourth quarter. In the final frame of the contest, Springville would answer the call on defense and give

themselves some distance, putting up 14 points to Leeds’ 9. Bedell and Burge would lead the scoring for the Green Wave with 3 each in the quarter. For Springville, Brodie Frederick would score 6 to lead the Tigers for the period.

On the night, Leeds would be led in scoring by Ty Bedell with 9 points, Chris Burge with 7 and Gavin Bowlin with 6.

Springville would be led by Ayden Walton with 16 points, followed by Ty Harrison with 9 and Brodie Frederick with 8.

“Total team effort. I was very impressed with how our team prepared and practiced to get ready for this game,” said Springville head Coach Brandon Easterwood. “Leeds is very talented and always prepared. We knew it would

be a challenge. After getting off to a slow start in the first quarter, we responded on defense. We were able to get several stops in a row and turn those into possession points.”

“I’m just proud of our guys for getting a big area win on the road,” Coach Easterwood continued. “Those wins never come easy.”

Because of this win, Springville will get the luxury of playing their area tournament games at home this season. The Tigers improve to 14-7 with a game in the MLK Day Classic on Monday against host Brookwood High School.

Leeds, now 3-9 on the season, will look to rebound Tuesday night as they travel to St. Clair County in an area rival matchup.

Despite being outscored 21-17 in the final period, the Cougars would still find a way to win. Of the 17 points, Senior

best players in the Birmingham area. We talked all week

“Both teams competed hard for 4 quarters. We jumped out to an early start but Hueytown answered with timely shots to keep

about trying to limit her production. I thought we did a really good job against her which gave us the ability to pull away.”

The Cougars move to 9-9 over all (0-1 in the area). They will host Mortimer Jordan Friday night.

The Lady Cougars improved to 13-5 heading into a key area matchup on the road at Mortimer Jordan Friday night.

ing them to 7 points in the final period while scoring 12 themselves. White and Terry’s younger brother, Austin Conor both had 5 points to lead the Indians in the quarter.

On the night, Pinson put 5 players in double digits in

scoring. White led the way with 26 points, 4 steals and 3 rebounds. Terry Conor had 18 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals. Amarion Bowens had 13 points, 5 rebounds and 4 steals. Raymon McCants had 12 points followed by Austin Conor with 10.

“I was pleased with how we played,” said Darrell Bar-

ber, head coach of the Indians. “We placed 5 guys in double figures and made 11 three-pointers.”

Pinson, the top-ranked team in Alabama 6A basketball and now nationally ranked #49 by MaxPreps, will look to stay red hot Thursday night as the travel to Plainview High School.