The Tribune
TRUSSVILLE • ARGO • MOODY • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • SPRINGVILLE LEEDS • MOODY • TRUSSVILLE • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO SPRINGVILLE • TRUSSVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • TRUSSVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • PINSON CLAY CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • TRUSSVILLE PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY TRUSSVILLE • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO • SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS MOODY • TRUSSVILLE • PINSON·CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • TRUSSVILLE • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • ARGO SPRINGVILLE • LEEDS • MOODY • TRUSSVILLE • PINSON • CENTER POINT TRUSSVILLE • ARGO • MOODY • PINSON • CLAY • CENTER POINT • SPRINGVILLE
By Nathan Prewett
LEEDS – An ordinance to grant a request to rezone a property on Hawkins Road from residential to agricultural failed after a 3-3 vote by the Leeds City Council during a relatively brief meeting on Monday, March 4. See LEEDS, Page 5
Springville plans for growth after accepting SEEDS grant Members of the Springville City Council heard an update on the SEEDS grant the city received last week from the State of Alabama. Don Smith, Executive Director of the St. Clair County Economic Development Council discussed the grant during the work session prior to the regular See SPRINGVILLE, Page 6
City of Clay amends schedule for Alabama Open Pickleball tournament By Terry Schrimscher
CLAY — Pickleball players will descend upon the City of Clay in March as the city plays host to the 4th annual Alabama Open. The pickleball tournament will take place at the city’s Pickleball See CLAY, Page 4
Pinson Trade Days offers words of gratitude after a successful weekend By Terry Schrimscher
Pinson Trade Days founder Patti, of Patti’s on Main Street Flea Market and Consignment Shop, offered a word of thanks to the public for another successful market last weekend. Pinson Trade See TRADE DAYS, Page 8
Inside the Tribune
FRI
SAT
SUN MON
TUE
74 54
72 57
67 57
66 44
62 38
64 41
67 46
44%
43%
58%
58%
10%
12%
5%
February 29
Civitan Donation
Page 7
Page 3
www.TrussvilleTribune.com
March 6 - 12
Agricultural rezoning request fails at Leeds City Council meeting
WED THU
2024
Trussville and other cities to benefit as Alabama reaches $220 million settlement with two opioid distributors Montgomery – The State of Alabama reached a $220 million settlement on Monday, March 4, with Cardinal Health and Cencora (formerly AmerisourceBergen). The settlement, announced by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, is part of the state’s ongoing litigation in the opioid crisis. “Today reaffirmed our decision to decline participation in the national opioid settlement with Cardinal and Cencora, as that proposal failed to adequately acknowledge the unique harms faced by Alabamians,” said Marshall. The State independently filed multiple lawsuits to combat the opioid crisis. Alabama had already reached settlements totaling over $500 million to resolve claims against drug manufacturers and other entities before the latest settlement was announced. Trussville was one of several cities in Alabama to vote to participate in the opioid litigations when the lawsuits were announced. The City
Trussville is one of many Alabama cities to join the state’s fight in the opioid crisis. Photo Steveheap, Dreamstime.com
Council passed a resolution in July of 2022 to participate in the lawsuits and settlements. “We’ve been on most of the opioid lawsuits and have received some funds in the past but it’s too soon to tell how much the city will get from this settlement,” said Trussville Mayor Buddy Choat. “We really appreciate the attorney general’s work on these cases.” In the 2022 resolution, city leaders said Trussville has been harmed by the opioid epidemic and they believed it was in the best interest of the
community to participate. According to the wording in the resolution, “the city of Trussville finds that participation in the various Opioid Settlements, Settlement Agreement, and Sign-On Agreement is in the best interest of the City of Trussville and its citizens because such a plan would ensure an effective structure for the commitment of Settlement Funds to abate and seek to resolve the opioid epidemic.” “While this settlement will not bring back those lost to this devastating epidemic, it
presents a historic opportunity to ameliorate the harm that opioid abuse has caused in our communities and to finally move us out of this epidemic altogether,” Marshall said. According to the terms of the agreement, Cardinal and Cencora will pay a combined $220 million in abatement funds over ten years. Per the terms of each agreement, the settlement funds are to be used only to remediate the harms caused by the opioid crisis in Alabama. Cardinal and Cencora will also be responsible for paying fees and costs for the State’s counsel, allowing the State to direct the entirety of the settlement funds to opioid abatement. The State’s share of the settlement funds will be deposited directly into the General Fund. As with previous opioid settlements, Alabama will share settlement funds with local governments and public hospitals. No determination has been announced on the amount Trussville will receive from the settlements.
Alabama releases $148 million to expand broadband in 48 counties bamians.” Alabama Power is among the organizations supporting broadband expansion.
By Alabama News Center Staff
A new wave of grants will support the continued expansion of high-speed internet service to unserved areas across the state. Gov. Kay Ivey this week unveiled the 66 Capital Projects Fund grants, totaling $148.3 million. The grants, awarded to 16 internet providers, are designed to expand high-speed internet access to homes, businesses and public institutions in portions of 48 counties. “High-speed internet service continues to strengthen and expand across the state, and we are taking the necessary strides on this journey to achieve full broadband access for Alabama,” Ivey said. “This has been a monumental task, but it is one that will pay multiple dividends for our state and its residents.” The most recent “last mile” projects translate to more than 5,000 miles of broadband infrastructure that will provide access to almost 54,000 households, businesses and key facilities, such as
A new round of grants will help expand internet access in portions of 48 Alabama counties. Photo Stihl024 Dreamstime
hospitals, schools and libraries. The projects are supported by federal American Rescue Plan Act funding. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants. The latest grants follow a Feb. 5 announcement by the governor’s office of $188 million in grants for the Alabama Anchor Institution/ Middle Mile program. The middle-mile projects are an
MARTY’S TRUSSVILLE
News - Pages 1-10 Lifestyle - Page 11 Opinion - Page 12 Outdoors - Pages 13-14 Calendar - Page 15 Classified - Page 15 Obituary - Page 16 Sports - Pages 17-20
essential precursor so that internet providers can complete the last-mile projects to reach homes, businesses and important institutions. “This has been a remarkable journey made possible by Governor Ivey, the Alabama Legislature, the state’s internet service providers and so many other willing and eager participants,” said ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell. “Once completed, these projects will provide access for thousands of Ala-
Man charged in murder of Moody woman From Tribune staff reports
St. CLAIR COUNTY– Maxwell Allen St. John, 35, was charged on Monday with the murder of Kyla Elaine Bobo, according to the St. Clair County Sheriff. Bobo, who was from the Moody area, was last seen on Jan. 30, 2022 in Chula Vista. Her family contacted the sheriff’s office in February See MURDER, Page 6
Springville principal named Alabama’s 2024 High School Principal of the Year By Blair Moore
SPRINGVILLE — When Dr. Gregory Moore of Springville High School walked into the gym after lunch one day in February, cheers erupted. The entire student body, his family and See PRINCIPAL, Page 5
Woman charged in Moody police officer’s murder pleads guilty, sentenced to life
The latest grants are going to: • AT&T Southeast – Five grants totaling $6.97 million to expand broadband services in Franklin, Jefferson, Mobile, Morgan and Russell counties. The expansion has the potential to reach more than 1,871 households and businesses. • Central Alabama Electric Cooperative – Seven grants totaling $21.94 million to expand broadband services in areas of Autauga, Chilton, Coosa, Dallas and Elmore counties. The service area includes more than 6,000 potential households and businesses. • Connect Holding (Brightspeed) – Two grants totaling $388,061 to expand broadband services in Pickens and St. Clair counties. The projects have the potential to reach
From Tribune staff reports
See BROADBAND, Page 4
See SHOPLIFTING, Page 4
MOODY — The second person charged in the shooting death of Moody Police Lt. Stephen Williams pleaded guilty to the murder Wednesday, acSee TYSON, Page 4
Trussville PD Shoplifting Review: Trussville resident among 12 accused From Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville Police Department released its latest shoplifting review on Thursday, featuring 12 arrests from Jan. 30 through Feb. 26, 2024.
Robin’s Sewing Shoppe www.robinshoppe.com 5886 Trussville Crossings Blvd 205.655.3388
• NOW OPEN •
- Fabric - Machines - Classes - Demos
Service & Maintenance • Lift Kits • Accessories 3620 Vann Rd Birmingham
205-661-3828