Funeral Service for Sandy Fenske, age 59 of Hanceville, will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 15, 2018 at Cullman Heritage Funeral Home with Wyndell Peterson officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Baptist Cemetery. Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Ms. Fenske passed away on Tuesday, February 13, 2018. She was born May 12, 1958 in Turlock, CA to John and Mary Jo Fenske. Survivors include her parents, sister, Linda Denney, brothers; John (Kim) Fenske and Charles Denton, friend, Gloria (Jim) Wise, and a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Thursday, February 15, 2018 at Cullman Heritage Funeral Home.

Charles Warren Cordes of Cullman passed away on February 9, 2018 at the age of 96.

He was born in Cullman on March 10, 1921 to Cord Henry and Laura Russell Cordes. He was a veteran of the United States Army.

Funeral services are Thursday, February 15, 2018 at 1 p.m. at Moss Funeral Home Chapel with interment in Good Hope Cemetery.

Survivors are his daughter Carol Hulgan, son Tony Cordes, grandchildren Garry and Barry Hulgan and Brandon, Mitchell and Jordan Naramore.

Funeral services for Donald Gene Stewart, 71 of Hanceville, will be 2 p.m. Friday, February 16, 2018 at Mt. Grove Baptist Church at Hanceville, with a viewing one hour prior to the service. Jerry Scott will be officiating. Interment will follow in the adjoining cemetery. Cullman Heritage Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Stewart passed away Tuesday evening, February 13, 2018, at Cullman Medical Center. He was born January 22, 1947 to his mother, Francis Crawford Stewart.

He was preceded in death by his mother; wife, Nell Stewart; son, Christopher Coats Stewart; daughter, Daphney Stewart; two brothers, J.L (JoAnn) Stewart, W.J. Stewart; and sister, Jeweline Barrett. Survivors include two daughters, Felicia (William) Buchanan, Donna Stewart; sister, Karen Hill; sister-in-law, Karen Stewart; and grandchildren, Web and Fisher Buchanan, and Kayla Hines (Ryan) Smith.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home.

Ben Harrison / Photo courtesy of the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce, www.cullmanchamber.org

VINEMONT - Cullman Regional Airport General Manger Ben Harrison has been selected to serve on the National Air Transportation Association’s (NATA’s) Airport Business Committee. Harrison will serve a three-year term.

According to NATA, the Airport Business Committee is made up of people who work at aeronautical businesses and are familiar with issues that arise as part of owning and operating that business. As such, members on the committee are tasked to promote the interests of the association's airport businesses by addressing regulatory and legislative issues and industry concerns. The committee members represent the diversity of operations at airports by working on a variety of issues such as community relations, leasing, minimum standards, environmental, security, miscellaneous business concerns and regulatory compliance issues.  

“The committee helps serve as the voice of aviation businesses and I am honored to be invited to join the committee,” Harrison said.

Committee members support the NATA strategic plan as it relates to on-airport businesses, including working in a cooperative manner with NATA staff, Congress and the various regulatory agencies in the monitoring of regulatory and legislative proposals.   NATA’s advocacy is member-driven, utilizing a committee structure encompassing the members’ lines of business to ensure a progressive and proactive advocacy agenda.

Harrison is expected to attend three meetings per year.

“We are excited to welcome Mr. Harrison on the NATA Airport Business Committee. His years of experience in airport management and his passion for aviation will be invaluable to our committee.  We look forward to having him on board,” stated NATA’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel Tim Obitts. 

For more than 75 years, NATA has ensured the needs of this critical Industry segment are appropriately represented by the staff. NATA member companies provide fuel, on-demand air charter, aircraft rental, storage, flight training, aircraft maintenance, parts sales, line support and business aircraft and fractional ownership fleet management, and including FBOs run by airports.

Cullman Regional Airport is jointly operated by the City of Cullman and Cullman County.  More than 80 aircraft are based at the facility that boasts a 5,500-foot runway and parallel taxiway.

Harrison has worked at the airport for six years and was promoted to general manager in 2014.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

CULLMAN - Below are the arrests reported for Feb. 14. All persons are innocent until proven guilty.

Cullman County Sheriff’s Office

Barnett, Santanna Marie, 27

• failure to appear- possession of drug paraphernalia
• failure to appear- unlawful possession of a controlled substance

Bowling, Alodie Brooke, 41

• failure to appear- first-degree receiving stolen property

Dauksza, April Maranda, 31

• harassing communications

Dauksza, Christopher Lee, 32

• harassment

Duke, Keelen Lee, 37

• unlawful possession of a controlled substance
• parole violation/revocation- unlawful possession of a controlled substance

Hale, Draven Kayne, 19

• public intoxication

Hancock, James Edward Jr., 38

• two headlights required
• improper lane usage
• possession of drug paraphernalia

Hopkins, Joseph Andrew, 46

• failure to appear- unlawful breaking and entering of a vehicle

Lawrence, Kristi Tyson, 37

• IPA illegal possession of alcohol in a dry county
• possession of drug paraphernalia
• unlawful possession of a controlled substance

McDonald, Steven Scott, 32

• possession/use of a credit/debit card (6 counts)
• third-degree theft of property (3 counts)

Mikel, John T., 32

• third-degree burglary
• first-degree theft of property

Palmer, Christy Dawn, 44

• probation violation- unlawful possession of a controlled substance (2 counts)

Swann, Jamie Deann, 36

• probation violation- unlawful possession of a controlled substance (2 counts)

Thomas, Bobby Wayne, 35

• third-degree burglary
• fourth-degree theft of property

Woods, Kathy Michelle, 37

• possession of drug paraphernalia
• second-degree promoting prison contraband (2 counts)
• unlawful possession of a controlled substance (3 counts)

Cullman Police Department

Mikel, John T., 32

• possession of drug paraphernalia

Barksdale, Lucien W., 50

• third-degree domestic violence
• second-degree criminal mischief

Gardner, Adam S., 36

• harassment

Hancock, James E. Jr., 38

• failure to appear- possession of drug paraphernalia
• failure to appear- no tag light

Hanceville Police Department

No arrests reported.

Find arrest reports online Monday-Friday at www.CullmanTribune.com

Pictured are the contestants for the 2018 Holly Pond Fair Queen Representative Pageant. Seated: Kirsten Campbell, Leah Tarvin and Molly Gambrill; standing: Abrey Norman and Lili Harris

The Holly Pond Fair Queen Representative Pageant will be held on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. at the school.

The Senior Miss Bronco and Junior Miss Bronco Pageants will be held on Friday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m.

Admission to each pageant is $5. The money raised will go toward special projects around the school.

Crews were onsite on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018 taking down the signs from the Bojangles’ building on Cherokee Avenue. The restaurant closed unexpectedly late Valentine’s Day night. / Noah Galilee

CULLMAN - Bojangles' of Cullman locked its doors for the last time Valentine’s evening when, according to former employees, the franchise owner came in at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018 to let those employees on shift know that the store was closed. As of Thursday afternoon, the building's signs have already come down and the location has been removed from the Bojangles' website.

A sign posted to the door Thursday morning read: "This Bojangles' franchise location, formerly owned and operated by JAX's Alabama Bo, LLC has permanently closed. We have enjoyed being a part of this community and sharing the Bojangles' experience with Cullman, AL."

The restaurant, which was located at 1821 Cherokee Ave. SW in Cullman, had been open for approximately eight years.

The Cullman location is not the only Bonjangles' in Alabama to close without warning recently. WSFA reported that four locations in Montgomery and Selma closed in late January.

Founded in 1977 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bojangles' serves Southern-style fast food, including biscuits and fried chicken.

The chain's hometown newspaper, The Charlotte Observer, sounded the warning bells back on Jan. 12 in an article titled "Bojangles’ is sputtering two-plus years after going public. What’s wrong?"

"I don't know if it was a franchise or a company decision, but it's still disappointing to our community," said Cullman Economic Development Agency (CEDA) Executive Director Dale Greer.

Said CEDA's Susan Eller, "It is always disappointing to hear when a business doesn’t survive. We had heard from employees things were not going very well, so this doesn’t come as a total surprise. 
We will be working to help fill this location. Cullman is on the radar for a lot of retailers/restaurants looking for space to locate in Cullman. With the prime location on Cherokee Avenue we hope this building will have a new tenant soon."

The Tribune received the following statement from the store's franchisee late Thursday:

Our family has made the difficult but necessary business decision to discontinue operations at our Cullman, AL franchised Bojangles' restaurant. Approximately 25 full and part time employees will be impacted by the closing, and as a long-time employer in that community, we are committed to meeting all of our responsibilities. Our franchise group has enjoyed sharing the Bojangles' experience with the wonderful people of Cullman."

- Ed Manns, JAX'S Alabama Bo, LLC

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Cullman Police Chief Kenny Culpepper, right, received a custom-made 40-year pin, presented by Councilman and Public Safety Committee Chairman Andy Page, and a standing ovation from the room, at this week’s Cullman City Council meeting. / W.C. Mann

CULLMAN -  If you grew up or have lived in Cullman from the 1980s until now, you know the name Kenny Culpepper. A generation or two of kids remember him from classroom visits. He’s the mostly-quiet, definitely-humble, man in charge of the Cullman Police Department (CPD). On Monday evening, Chief Culpepper was honored by the Cullman City Council for a rarely-heard-of 40 years of service.  For 30 of those years, he has served as chief. 

After studying criminal justice at Auburn University (including an internship with the CPD), Culpepper joined the department in February 1978.

During the award ceremony, Assistant Chief Craig Montgomery said, “I can count on two fingers the number of chiefs in this whole state who have been on the job as a chief longer than him.”

CPD Office Manager Rita Bailey worked with the department’s insignia supplier to create a custom pin for the chief, since the company simply had nothing in its inventory to honor 40 years of service.

Before the council meeting, Culpepper recounted for The Tribune his first night with the CPD, along with a few other choice tidbits.

What does 40 years with the Cullman Police Department mean?

“A lot of good memories, a lot of good people.”

How did it start?

“Here’s the deal: I was a senior at Auburn, and I did my internship here.  So, I remember the first call I went on with the police department as a college intern.  I wasn’t even an officer.

“And I walked in, and Chief Roy Wood said, ‘You got a gun?’  I said, ‘Yes, sir.’  And I’m a college student.  He goes, ‘Well, go over there and get you a uniform out of the closet.’  ‘Okay.’

“So I went, and the first call we went on, we went right over here (gesturing southwest of city hall): it was a doctor’s office that the alarm was going off.  And back then they had the magnetic tape alarms on the windows, where if somebody breaks the window it breaks the tape.  And what would happen: somebody would come in the lobby for a call or something, and scratch the tape to where it wouldn’t connect.  The alarm would go off, the alarm would go off; then (the owners would) turn it off because they’d get frustrated with it.  And then (the robbers) would come and burglarize or do something.

“Actually, I was riding with Officer Ron Burrow.  So we were like a stake-out, in case they came and broke in.  

“Well then, the second call: they called and said they needed backup at this house, because a guy had pulled a shotgun on two officers that had walked up to the door.  Keith Brown and Russell White were the two officers that went up to the door.  

“So we go flying over there, and Sgt. Bill Mickle was there.  So he told Officer Burrow to go around back with the other two officers, and he looked at me, and he said, ‘Grab that shotgun out of the car.’  So I got the shotgun.  And I’m a college intern; I’m not even a police officer, but I’m in uniform.  Been with them for two hours or three hours, total.  

“And he said, ‘Get behind this pine tree there.’  He says, ‘He’s got a shotgun; he’s inside that house.  I’m gonna walk up to the edge of the porch and try to talk him into giving up.  If he comes to that window behind me with that shotgun,’ he says, ‘you kill him.  Don’t let him shoot me.’  I said, ‘Yes, sir.’  

“So I’m behind this pine tree with a 12 gauge shotgun aimed at a window, thinking, ‘Oh, my gosh: my first night as a college intern doing a ride-along, and I’m gonna have to shoot this guy!’  

“Well, anyway, the guy eventually passed out on the couch, and they were able to go inside and get him and everything.  Nobody got hurt.  

“And they came back over there, and Sgt. Mickle looked at me, and he said, ‘Now be sure and unload that shotgun.’  And I went (gesturing the racking of the shotgun slide), and I go, ‘There’s not even one in the chamber!’  And he said, ‘You mean you were covering me with an unloaded shotgun?!!’  Well, I just grabbed it out of the rack.  I didn’t know; I thought they kept them loaded.  I mean, it had some in the magazine, but not in the chamber.

“So I was hooked: you know, the adrenalin rush and the excitement; you know, the camaraderie of being in those kinds of situations had me hooked from that first get-go.”

What’s the biggest difference in law enforcement between now and 40 years ago?

“There’s just too many of them to really talk about, but the biggest thing now is just the technology.  You think about, over the last 40 years, just in any business, all the different technological advances just in society, just with cell phones and computers, and all that.

“Back then, we didn’t have take-home cars.  I think we had eight or nine patrol cars, and you would hot rack them.  You know, you’d come in, and somebody else would get their stuff and put in it, and when you came in--you’d just share the same car over and over again.  

“And the same thing on walkie talkies; we had enough to where the guys on duty had (one), and you just hoped you’d get enough of a charge to where you could make it through a shift.  And no cell phones.

“When I started out, we had just a single bubble light on top, kind of like Andy (Griffith).  And then we went to a double bubble; and we thought that was cool, because we had one on either side.”

How has Cullman changed?

“Just the growth.  You know, when I started, up on (Highway) 157 you had Red’s Gulf and Joe’s Exxon--the two service stations--on the far side of the interstate, and there was nothing until you got to (Highway) 31, and 157 stopped right there.  It didn’t go any further.  And so, from there all the way to the interstate was just pasture.”

The final word

“My job’s always been easy, because number one, you’ve got a great community with great people, and number two, I’ve worked with great people and had great people in the department, and it’s made my job easy.”

Chief Culpepper was emphatic in stating his desire that people understand that 40 years is a milestone, not a destination.  He has no plans to retire, yet.

“Just getting a pin,” he said, “just like everybody else.”  

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

See updated story here: http://www.cullmantribune.com/articles/2018/02/16/1-dead-after-wreck-cr-...

Updated 2-15-18 9:30 p.m.

CULLMAN COUNTY - Multiple emergency personnel responded Thursday night when a car ended up in Smith Lake at the end of County Road 437. A witness told The Tribune that the vehicle went airborne over the barrier and went into the water.

Occupants of the vehicle were rescued from the water. One was airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham. Two were taken by ambulance to Cullman Regional.

As of 9:30 p.m. Thursday, no details have been released on the conditions of the occupants.

The Loretto Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene, along with Cullman EMS, Cullman County Sheriff's Office and Alabama State Troopers.

Troopers are handling the investigation.

This is a developing story.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Photo courtesy of Susan Peek.

Students from CATA's heating and air conditioning program were on hand to speak to visitors at Thursday night's Open House. / Nick Griffin

CULLMAN - The Cullman Area Technology Academy (CATA, formerly the Cullman Area Career Center) on Thursday night held its second annual Open House, with prospective students, their families and others coming out to see what CATA has to offer. Classrooms were filled with displays and projects, along with teachers and students to help walk visitors through the different programs offered at the academy.

CATA specializes in Career and Technical Education (CTE) and offers 15 career/technical programs, including:

• Auto Collision Repair
• Auto Service Technology
• Building Construction
• Cosmetology
• Culinary Arts
• Drafting Technology
• Electrical Technology
• Engineering Technology
• Health Science
• Heating/Air Conditioning
• Horticulture
• JROTC
• Mechatronics Technology
• Precision Machine
• Welding

Principal Billy Troutman was excited to see the turnout and to be able to offer education for a wide variety of careers.

“I try to do it every year and it’s great for recruitment, but the biggest thing is it gives those students a chance to see what their opportunities really are,” Troutman said. “Up here we have 15 different programs and everywhere from a student who is college-bound who’s thinking about being a nurse or a doctor or for the student who’s thinking about being an engineer or wants to do some drafting, so there’s that, but then there’s so many practical craft trades, skill-based knowledge shops. Anywhere from the machine shop, to the auto mechanics to welding so it’s just a great variety. There’s no reason in this day and time in my opinion for someone to be unemployed.”

Troutman said he’s seen a rise in demand for the types of careers that CATA focuses on, and knows his students can take advantage of that.

“We’re in a timeframe now where the market is flooded with college graduates, but if you can do something, you’re in high demand. If you’re a licensed plumber, a licensed electrician, a licensed carpenter, mechanic or nurse, you have a skill set that the normal public does not have and you’re in demand,” he said. “So, to me these are exciting times for career tech and that’s what I tell the students, too. We have every student that’s a ninth-grader in Cullman County (Schools) has come through this week, we have students from Cullman High School as well so next week they’re going to come, and they’ll bring their ninth-grade class on Wednesday and they’ll get to do the same thing as well.”

Troutman has been involved with career tech for as long as he can remember, having taught agriculture at Arab High School and Hanceville High School before joining the CATA staff in 2008. He has served as director for the past three years and the academy has always done the ninth-grade tours, but the Open House started just last year, and Troutman has seen it help in in CATA’s recruiting efforts. On the class tour during the week a student may only get to spend five minutes learning about a technical career, but the Open House allows them to bring their parents and spend more time with instructors.

“As far as enrollment goes, for the last two or three years we’ve been almost at maximum capacity and what I mean by that is the heavy shops, shops like automotive, welding, machine shop where there is heavy equipment, the state doesn’t mandate a maximum size, but they strongly recommend a safe working size around 15 students per class,” Troutman said. “So, for the last two years heavy shops have been full, and we’ve actually had to filter people away or steer them to other directions and so that’s been a wonderful problem to have. Between my career tech programs and my co-op program I’m at 700 students up here. That’s wonderful compared to when I first started up here; we were running closer to 400 kids, maybe 250-300 kids, so we’ve seen an awesome increase.”

Troutman said parents being part of the tour during Open House is definitely a positive for the potential students and the academy. He believes it’s a great opportunity for an older generation to see how industries and technology are evolving.

“Career tech education has changed, just like everything else has changed. Technology has touched us just like it has every facet of life. Growing up in school, especially my generation, the kids’ parents’ generation, their grandparents’ generation, this wasn’t necessarily seen as high-demand, high-wage. This was something where you were told you need to go to college and you don’t really need to go to the trade school, that’s what they called it then, but I’m telling you, we’ve done everything we can to change that image and also society is changing that image,” he said.

“Look at Cullman’s manufacturing growth over the last 10 years with Rehau and Topre and Royal Technologies. We’re changing as a community and so all of a sudden career tech is in demand. Now it’s seen as something that is worthwhile, it’s kind of encouraged, and I only want that to grow more and more. I want to show more and more validity and more and more potential because obviously I believe in it.”

Learn more about CATA at  http://cata.ccboe.org.

See a full photo gallery from Thursday night's Open House here.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

CULLMAN COUNTY - One person died following a single-vehicle wreck on County Road 437 Thursday night. Cullman County Coroner Jeremy L. Kilpatrick said that Valetta Goddard Essary, 78, of Berry died at Cullman Regional from injuries sustained in the crash.

The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. at the end of CR 437 where the roadway meets Smith Lake. A witness told The Tribune that the vehicle went airborne over the barrier and went into the water.

Occupants of the vehicle were rescued from the water.

According to Alabama State Troopers, Essary was a backseat passenger in a 2010 Ford Explorer that left the roadway, struck an embankment and overturned. Essary, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was transported to Cullman Regional where she later died. The driver, Darrel E. Goddard, 79, also of Berry, was injured and transported to Cullman Regional. A front seat passenger was airlifted to UAB Hospital.

The Loretto Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene, along with Cullman EMS, the Cullman County Sheriff's Office and State Troopers.

Troopers are handling the investigation.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Updated 2-16-18 9:30 a.m.

FAIRVIEW - Fairview High School is currently on a "soft lockdown" following online threats according to Ed Roberson, chief financial officer of Cullman County Schools.

"There is no threat right now," said Roberson. "We received a couple of online communications saying that they were going to do this to the school or do that, so we had the sheriff's department do some investigating last night and this morning."

Roberson continued, "As a safety precaution, we've got the school on a soft lockdown and we've got some extra deputies out there today. It's been determined that there wasn't a legitimate or credible threat to the school. Still, just as a safety precaution we're erring on the side of caution with everything that's been going on down in Florida."

Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry said the lockdown is a result of an ongoing investigation into anonymous threats that were made over a PlayStation gaming system on Wednesday.

“First and foremost,” Gentry said, “I want parents and citizens to know, there has been no incident at the school, and all of the children are safe. Nothing has happened. A couple of days ago, over a PlayStation gaming system, some kids received an anonymous message of a possible threat at the school. For two days, our investigators have been working around the clock, have been trying to find out where the anonymous message came from. Because the safety of our children is the most important thing, what we did this morning is put extra law enforcement personnel at the school to ensure the safety of our children."

Gentry said investigators are still working to identify where the message came from.

“Even if it’s a practical joke, we take everything seriously. Because of the seriousness of today’s times, those are not jokes anymore.”

Gentry said that if the person or persons are identified, they could face criminal charges.

Roberson said a soft lockdown means that all outside doors are staying locked, and that the school is monitoring who's coming onto campus.

Cullman County Schools Superintendent Shane Barnette released the following statement to the media Friday morning:

Due to very recent issues in schools across the country,  administrators determined that some online communications may be a security threat to teachers and students. Investigators with the Cullman County Sheriff's Office were involved in the process as well.

"We have determined there is no legitimate or credible threat to the schools in Fairview. The schools are on soft lockdown solely as a precaution and us erring on the side conservatism and complete caution.

Soft lockdowns are a common practice and best standards protocol we invoke any time a concern exists in a school, or issues arise in the areas surrounding our schools.

I want to tap down any rumors or speculation about this situation. While we do have extra staff on-site as part of our standard procedure in cases like this - I want to reiterate - there is no credible threat nor immediate danger to anyone.

Rumors to anything other than what I've just said are unfounded and false.”
 

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Photo courtesy of Cullman County.

Wallace State’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society has welcomed one of its largest groups this semester. / WSCC

HANCEVILLE– Wallace State’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society recently welcomed approximately 180 new members during its annual spring induction ceremony, marking one of the largest groups in recent history.

Phi Theta Kappa is the college’s honor society, and Wallace State students are eligible for consideration if they maintain a 3.5 GPA for 12 or more credit hours the previous semester. Wallace State’s Alpha Chi Tau Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa is a 5-star achiever, the highest mark among the organization.

New Wallace State inductees to the honor society are:

Addison: Reagan Smothers

Albertville: Lauren Johnson

Allgood: Yesmin Leon

Amory: Collin Hester

Arab: Andrew Bailey, Gabrielle Leak, Jacklyn Protz

Arley: Brittany Noe

Athens: Zarley Lawson, Lindsey Moore, Alysia Anderson

Baileyton: Jordan Coppett, Morgan Wilson

Birmingham: Hallie Hall

Blountsville: Christina Barbier, Carly Battles, Marlen Serrano, Stephanie Serrano, Nicholas Tawbush, Kimberly Vickers

Bremen: Audrey McMickens

Cleveland: Luz Elizarraraz, Morgan Plyler, Alyssa Pylant

Columbiana: Lexie Riggins

Crane Hill: Makayla Calvert  

Crossville: Lacy Hendrix

Cullman: James Allen, Jessica Arriaga-Aguilar, Kayla Baker, Tyler Ball, Loren Bates, Sam Briehn, Kirsten Campbell, Matthew Daniel, Check Freeman, Kacie Griffith, Kourtney Harris, Kaylee Maddox, Rebecca McConnaughay, Emilee McDonald, Viabhavi Patel, Jamie Phillips, Alyssa Pylant, John Riley, Katherine Sanders, Kelsey Shaddrix, Branden Singleton, Ben Smith, Gian Smith, Vanessa Smith, Caleb Still, Ella Thomas, To Tran, Cohen White, Maddie Woods, Cassidy Wright, Talia Yates

Danville: Emma Ann Eady, Susan Fuller, Breanah Lawrimore, Austen Lindley, Carson Owens, Morgan Weatherwax

Deatsville: Alli Johnson

Decatur: Haley Cheatham, Diane Daniel, Margaret Yambrek

Elmore: Rheagan Wyche

Empire: Jacob Dutton, AshLynn McClendon

Enterprise: Morgan Kyles

Eva: Brittany Bogle, Alec Miller

Falkville: Kassi Ingram, Anna Mason, Susan Morgan, Spencer Rutherford

Fayette: Riley Linton, Tristen Merideth

Florence: Mackenzie Call, Haley Lester

Fort Payne: Bentley Lance, Brandi Rogers

Fultondale: Kaylinn Brown

Gadsden: Miatia Eddie, Whitney Kircus

Gardendale: Lauren Bowman, Hannah Burns, Elena Cronin, Nash Harrington, Lara Landers, Kaitlyn Williams, Barbara McMillan

Grant: Emily Bonds

Guntersville: Meagan Schwieterman

Hartselle: Emily Herbert, Breanna Spangler, Juliette Stiles, Kaitlyn Thompson, Abbey Vinzant

Hayden: Madelyne Bairrow, Tina Howell, Jewel Mizzell, Taska Morrison, Allison Sloan, Dae Spradlin, Jessica Woods

Hanceville: Lacie Bartlett, Bethany Gray, Hayden Hatton, Malia Howell, Leticia Minor, Sierra Palmer, Madeline Ridgeway, Nichole Wedding

Hazel Green: Makenzie Cantrell

Holly Pond: Logan Murphree

Hoover: Joshua Gilley, Maya Jones

Horton: Yasmin Cruz-Jaimes

Huntsville: Sidney Edwards

Jasper: Khanie Cantrell, Emily Wilson, Mary Ann Wolfe

Joppa: Jon Elliott, Lindzey Hughes, Chase Martin

Kimberly: Makenzie Singletary

Laceys Spring: Abby Borden

Locust Fork: Nancy Deason

Madison: Garrett Brown

Millbrook: Garrett Baker

Morris: Breanna Barber, Savannah Colley

Moulton: Taylor Barkley, Hollie Henderson, Emily Shockley

Mount Olive: Caeley Williams

Muscle Shoals: Lauren Burcham

Norfolk, Va.: Dennis Robinson

Ohatchee: Brennan Wink

Oneonta: Edson Silva, Cassie Torres, Kathy Williams, Lucas Henderson, Jasper Hutchens

Pinson: Alesha Triplett, David West, Callie Ray

Rainbow City: Courtlyn Barber

Red Bay: Anna Seahorn

Social Circle, Ga.: Anna Williams

Scottsboro: Christa Haynes

Trafford: Kellyn Calvert, Kimberly Clements, Alexis Hicks, Katie Lewis

Trinity: Taylor Goodpastor

Trussville: Katie Edwards, Lauren Keplinger, Jacey Taggart

Union Grove: Stephanie Redd, Caleb Thrasher

Vernon: Keeli Bobbitt

Vestavia Hills: Zachary Bambinelli

Vinemont: Brandie Carter, Kelsey Rogers

Warrior: Courtney Crane, Stella Harris, Anna Hill, Kallee Knox, Jordan Pugh, Myranda Rice, Chase Skinner, Samantha Wright

Wellington: Emily Spaulding

Wallace State’s Phi Theta Kappa sponsors are math instructors Brandon Smith and Stacey Sivley.

Phi Theta Kappa is the largest honor society in American higher education with 1,285 chapters on two year and community college campuses in all 50 states and in Canada, Germany, Peru and other select republics or territories. More than 2.5 million students have been inducted into Phi Theta Kappa since its founding in 1918, with approximately 135,000 students inducted annually.

For more information about Wallace State, visit www.wallacestate.edu.

CULLMAN - Below are the arrests reported for Feb. 15. All persons are innocent until proven guilty.

Cullman County Sheriff’s Office

Chapman, Colby Michael, 20

• second-degree rape

Copeland, James Michael, 24

• DUI- .08 BAC or greater

Dean, Stephanie Woodsmall, 44

• third-degree theft of property (2 counts)

Gregory, Joanna Jean, 31

• possession of drug paraphernalia

McDonald, Sarah Dionna, 58

• possession of drug paraphernalia
• possession of prescription medicine
• unlawful possession of a controlled substance

Mikel, John T., 32

• third-degree burglary
• first-degree theft of property

Parker, Rufus Jerome, 53

• failure to appear- third-degree theft of property (old charge only)
• failure to appear- second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana

Phillips, Zachary Taylor, 22

• writ of arrest- child support

Raphael, Lorena Lynn, 36

• possession of drug paraphernalia
• unlawful possession of a controlled substance

Rogers, Aja Celeste, 36

• establishment of residence SORNA

Cullman Police Department

Lovell, Brandon L., 29

• public intoxication

Hanceville Police Department

No arrests reported.

Find arrest reports online Monday-Friday at www.CullmanTribune.com.

Alabama State Trooper G.W. Parker was honored Friday with a resolution from the Alabama House of Representatives, commending him for saving Cullman resident Donny Robertson’s life. / Courtesy of Corey Harbison

CULLMAN - It’s been a little more than a year since the wreck that took part of Cullman resident Donny Robertson’s leg. Today, the Alabama State Trooper who saved Robertson’s life was officially recognized by the State for his actions.

The Alabama House of Representatives passed a resolution, sponsored by Rep. Corey Harbison, R-Good Hope, commending Trooper G.W. Parker for “heroic actions in saving a life.”

Parker, a Cullman resident himself, was off duty and having dinner on Jan. 4, 2017 at the Downtown Grill on Fourth Street Southwest when people ran in saying there had been an accident and someone needed help.

The collision happened at the intersection of US Highway 31 and US Highway 278. Robertson, on his motorcycle, was traveling southbound on Highway 31 when a vehicle traveling northbound on Highway 31 attempted to turn left onto Highway 278 in front of him.

Robertson’s left leg was severed below the knee in the wreck, and attempts to stop the bleeding by bystanders did not work. Parker retrieved a kit from his truck and was able to apply a tourniquet to Robertson’s leg to stop the bleeding.

The resolution reads, in part, that Parker was “placed in a harrowing situation and without a moment’s hesitation, Trooper G.W. Parker saved a life through his knowledge and extensive training…Alabama State Trooper G.W. Parker epitomizes the qualities of those who serve and protect, and he is truly deserving of the distinguished honor bestowed upon him.”

Parker is friends with the Robertsons, said Harbison. “He didn’t realize it was his friend Donny when he was applying the tourniquet.”

Harbison said Donny Robertson’s son Eric Robertson is a deputy with the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), and his other son, Ryan Robertson, is also in law enforcement.

Parker is a former CCSO deputy.

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The Cullman Lions Club will host its annual Fish and Ham dinner on Saturday, March 3 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. in the Cullman Middle School cafeteria.

Dinner will consist of fish or ham, baked potato, slaw, hush puppies, homemade dessert and other trimmings.

Patrons can eat in, carry out or drive through- all this for a donation of $10.

Funds will be used to support Cullman Lions Club projects.

Come bring a friend and join others.

Advance tickets may be purchased from any Cullman Lions or Lioness Club members or at the following locations: The Brandin’ Iron Restaurant - Business Solutions of Cullman Cullman Veterinary Hospital - Doug Doggett Jewelers East Side Barber Shop - Ed White Jewelers - Mary Carter Store Peek Auto Parts - Ponder Wrecker Service - Rennards Gallery

Memorial Graveside services for Mrs. Shirley Ann Coggins, age 75, of Cullman, are incomplete at this time, but will be announced later.

Shirley was born on May 11, 1942 and passed away February 14, 2018 at her home.

Cullman Funeral Home directing.

Funeral services for Jerald Henry McMurrey, 76, of Hanceville are Saturday, February 17, 2018 at Union Grove Baptist Church, Bobby Waddle officiating, with interment in the church cemetery. Visitation on  Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. at the church.

Mr. McMurrey passed away on Wednesday, February 14, 2018 at his residence.

He was born on September 7, 1941 in Jefferson County to Henry Lee & Nellie Mae Henderson McMurrey and is preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Vernie Mae McMurrey; siblings, V.L. McMurrey, Audrey Stubbs, R.L. McMurrey and James McMurrey.

He is survived by his wife, Wanda Light McMurrey; children, Jerald Henry (Brina) McMurrey, Jr., Tammy Louise McMurrey, Marcus Allen (Daphne) McMurrey and Waylon Edward (Candace Schmidt) McMurrey, Sean (Breanna) McMurrey, Steven Hooper and Rosanna (Daniel) Mahaffey; grandchildren, Lee, Cody, Drew, Spencer, Gregory Allen (Jazmen), Chase, Jessica, Waylon Jr., Nancy, James, Maycee, Skylar, Jace and Evan; great grandchildren, Khaleesi, Atreyu, Elijah and one other great grandchild, brother, J.C. McMurrey; and a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

Wendell Jeff Smith, 81, of Cullman, passed away on February 15, 2018.

He is preceded in death by his parents, William J Smith and Verla Britt Smith; and his brother Wayne Smith. He is survived by his wife, Betty Phillips Smith; daughters Kristie Smith Pinyan (Paul), Deanna Smith Little, and Karin Smith Richey (Terry); grandchildren Andrew Pinyan (Caroline Spade), Will Pinyan, Peyton Little, and Emily Little; brother-in-law R.C. Phillips (Jeanne); and sister-in-law Marge Goodwin.

The visitation for Mr. Smith will start at 1 p.m. on Sunday, February 18 until the celebration of Mr. Smith's life at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Cullman, with the burial following at Bethsadia Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to First Baptist Church Building Fund or the Grandview Community Center, located at 3074 County Road 222 Cullman 35057.

Moss Service Funeral Home directing.

MONTGOMERY - the Alabama Forestry Commission (AFC) encourages all Alabamians to join in this year’s observance of Arbor Week, which runs from Monday, Feb.19 to Sunday, Feb. 25. Proclamations, tree plantings and seedling distributions will mark the week for most all the 82 communities recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation across the State of Alabama. These plantings will add to the estimated 240 million urban trees that daily clean our air, purify our water and protect our soils.

The City of Cullman’s annual Tree-City Flag Raising Ceremony will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22 on the front lawn of city hall. On that same day, the annual Arbor Day Tree Sale will be held at the Cullman County Extension Office from 8 a.m. until noon (or until all trees are gone).

 “Trees provide a multitude of environmental, economic, and social benefits to Alabama citizens and their neighborhoods,” said Alabama’s State Forester Rick Oates. “We invite families across the state to take part in this celebration and share the joy of planting trees in their communities.”     

National Arbor Day, observed in all 50 states and throughout the world on the last Friday in April, April 27 this year, finds its roots in Nebraska. The idea was conceived and the name ‘Arbor Day’ proposed by J. Sterling Morton in 1872, who later became the US Secretary of Agriculture. The idea caught on, and over one million trees were planted that first year. Other states followed suit and, in 1887, Alabama Governor Thomas Seay signed the state’s first Arbor Day Proclamation. The tradition of a governor’s proclamation continued in Alabama until 1975 when the Birmingham Beautification Board, the State Garden Club, the AFC, and the State Board of Education collaborated with the State Legislature to pass a legislative act designating the last full week in February as ‘Arbor Week,’ a time more conducive for planting trees in the deep South.  

Everyone in Alabama is encouraged to plant a tree during Arbor Week. Information on selecting the right tree for the right place may be found on the AFC website at www.forestry.alabama.gov or on the ArborDay.org website. The mission of the Alabama Forestry Commission is to protect and sustain Alabama’s forest resources using professionally applied stewardship principals and education, ensuring that the state’s forests contribute to abundant timber and wildlife, clean air and water and a healthy economy.