Students from Holly Pond, Good Hope, Vinemont and Fairview practice together Tuesday afternoon in preparation for their trip to Universal Studios in Orlando next week. / Heather Mann

CULLMAN - For the first time in the history of each school, band members from Holly Pond, Good Hope, Vinemont and Fairview will join together as one “superband,” which will march in the Universal’s Superstar Parade next week in Orlando, Florida. Comprised of 150 students from seventh through 12th grades, the band will march down the streets of Universal Studios on Friday, March 23, as part of each school’s spring band trip.

The band is made up of 30 students from Vinemont, 16 from Holly Pond, 34 from Fairview and 70 from Good Hope.

When asked who came up with the idea to combine and how, the band directors stated that the idea had come to them over the summer when they realized that they all had the same idea for their spring trips.

Skylar King, director of the Vinemont Eagle Band, said, “Once we all realized we were working toward the same goal, we decided it would be great for our students to get to come together with other band members in the county. It was more of a great-minds-think-alike and the-more-the-merrier idea than anything else.”

With the help of Tim Sullivan from Sullivan Travel, the schools were able to coordinate the combined performance.

Holly Pond Band Director Evan Curtis said, “This will be the first time we’ve had a combined group like this perform at a parade at Universal Studios. It’s really cool to see all the groups come together for this performance!”

Said King, “First, thank you to our families, schools, and community for helping make this trip possible. Every fundraiser we put on, every concession stand item we sell, and every piece of equipment were able to purchase through those endeavors help make these opportunities possible. Secondly, working hard towards a goal are the skills we often times cannot teach in the classroom, that you do have to work hard and sacrifice your time and energy to make a better outcome and that is something that makes me incredible proud of all 150 students going on this trip.”

Fairview Band Director Nathan Kilgo shared, “It’s always exciting to see students from different schools come together for a performance. To be able to do it at a place like Universal Studios makes it even better. This will be the largest crowd many of these students will ever perform for. I want to thank Mr. King, Mr. Walker, Mr. Curtis, and Mr. Sullivan for all of their work in making this possible for all of our students.”

Look for updates on the band’s performance next week!

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WALTER - Two people have been killed in a head-on collision near the community of Walter, confirmed Cullman County Coroner Jeremy L. Kilpatrick. The wreck happened in the 30000 block of Alabama Highway 91 around 8 a.m.

This is a developing story.

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

GJ = grand jury; FTA = failure to appear

Cullman County Sheriff’s Office

Armstrong, Jason Eric, 42

• third-degree domestic violence

Boatner, Joseph Dewayne, 31

• non support/writ of arrest- child support

Buchanan, Joshua Lee, 34

• FTA- third-degree domestic violence- harassment

Cole, Nicholas J. 34

• third-degree domestic violence- harassment
• driving while suspended
• improper lane usage
• possession of drug paraphernalia
• second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana

Collier, Lori McKenzie, 41

• DUI- .08 BAC or greater

Mead, Jody Alan, 33

• judge’s order- first-degree theft of property (3 counts)

Mead, Melanie Kay, 42

• third-degree domestic violence- harassment
• illegal possession of alcohol

Sponaugle, Zena Marie, 52

• FTA- third-degree criminal mischief
• FTA- third-degree criminal trespassing
• FTA- harassment
• FTA- fourth-degree theft of property

Cullman Police Department

Parker, Kristin R., 29

• FTA- third-degree theft of property

McDonald, Steven S., 33

• FTA- possession of drug paraphernalia

Hanceville Police Department

No arrests reported.

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

Seated, (left to right): Lilly Nassetta and Alison Gongre; Standing, (left to right): Ashley Morris, Gabrielle Bennett, Claudia Fallin, Abigail Curtis and Riley Holmes

CULLMAN - Saint Bernard Prep School cheerleaders are conducting a shoe drive fundraiser from now until April 24, 2018, to raise funds to attend cheer camp. Cheerleaders will earn funds based on the total weight of the pairs of gently worn, used and new shoes collected; Funds2Orgs will issue a check for the collected shoes. Those dollars will help send every cheerleader to camp.

All donated shoes will then be redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network of micro-enterprise (small business) partners. Funds2Orgs works with micro-entrepreneurs to help them create, maintain and grow small businesses in developing countries where economic opportunity and jobs are limited. Proceeds from the sales of the shoes collected in shoe drive fundraisers are used to feed, clothe and house their families. One budding entrepreneur in Haiti even earned enough to send to her son to law school.

Shoes must be new or used, any size or style and in wearable condition.

“This is both a fundraiser and a service project for my girls,” said cheerleader sponsor Elicia Fallin. “I hope along the way they realize how blessed they all are and that it is their responsibility to try to help others who are less fortunate. The money raised will go towards camp and new signs and pom-poms.

"We are encouraging everyone to do some closet cleaning and clear out those gently worn shoes that are taking up space. By doing so, we raise money for our cheerleaders at Saint Bernard and we have the chance to help families in developing nations who need economic opportunities. It's a win-win for everyone.”

Anyone wishing to donate may drop off gently worn, used and new shoes at the following locations: Cullman County Sheriff’s Office, Saint Bernard Prep Administration Building, Sacred Heart Church and School in Cullman, Cullman EMS and Journey Church in Eva.

The discarded shoes will be given a second chance to make a difference in people’s lives around the world.

WALTER - Two people were killed in a head-on collision near the community of Walter Thursday morning, confirmed Cullman County Coroner Jeremy L. Kilpatrick, who identified the victims as Michelle Denean Hicks, 45, of Hanceville and Natasha Nicole Byrd, 31, of Hanceville.

The wreck happened in the 30000 block of Alabama Highway 91 near County Road 653 around 7:30 a.m. according to Alabama State Trooper Chuck Daniel.

The collision involved two vehicles, of which each victim was a driver. There were no passengers.

The Walter Volunteer Fire Department was first dispatched to the scene, along with Cullman EMS and Alabama State Troopers, who are in charge of the investigation.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Dana Adams will be presented with the Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty award at the AACC annual convention on April 28-May 1.

HANCEVILLE–  Wallace State math instructor Dana Adams has been named a recipient of the inaugural Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty award, as presented by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC).

Adams is one of only 50 community college instructors across the United States to earn the designation.

“It’s a huge honor to know our administration believes I do a lot of good things for Wallace State and our students, even though I don’t think I do anything beyond what the rest of our great faculty does,” Adams said. “I’m excited and blessed to be among the first recipients.”

Adams, who has taught at Wallace State for 10 years and is an alum of the college, is among the faculty leaders in instructional innovation. She has been instrumental with developing Wallace State’s Teaching and Learning Academy (TLA), Accelerated Math Program (AMP) and is the college’s Instructional Coach for faculty.

Dr. Beth Bownes Johnson, Wallace State’s dean of Academic Affairs, nominated Adams for the award.

“Dana was awarded the Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty Award because of her demonstrated passion for student success, both inside and outside of the classroom. She shares this enthusiasm and her innovative pedagogy with peers through her role as Instructional Coach.  Dana also developed one of our first Accelerated Math Programs (AMP) in order to streamline students through developmental studies and to increase the likelihood of completion and graduation.  It is a privilege and pleasure to work with someone so dedicated to our mission here at Wallace State,” Johnson said.

The Dale P. Parnell Distinguished Faculty award was established to celebrate individuals making a difference at their college.

Criteria for Adams and other nominees included:

• Demonstrating passion for the students and the classroom.
• Showing a willingness to support students, inside and outside of the classroom.
• Being in inclined to participate in college committees.
• Going above and beyond what is required to ensure that students are successful in their academic endeavors.

Adams will be recognized by the AACC at its annual convention in Dallas on April 28-May 1.

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

Cullman attorney Randy Hames, shown here in his mugshot from Monday, March 5, 2018 / Cullman County Sheriff's Office

CULLMAN - Two more civil lawsuits have been filed against disgraced Cullman attorney Randy Allan Hames. According to court documents obtained by The Tribune, the plaintiffs are Doris M. Watson and Alisha Cobb; the complaints were filed on March 13, 2018. Both women are represented by Cullman law firm Crocker & Sparks, as well as Birmingham firm Wiggins, Childs, Pantazis, Fisher & Goldfarb, LLC. The firms are now representing a total of four women in cases against Hames.

“On Tuesday, the 13th, I and another law firm I’m working with, filed two lawsuits against Randy Hames,” said attorney R. Champ Crocker. “The human trafficking law has a civil right of action in it. A victim of human trafficking has got a right to have their own private lawsuit, and that’s what we did.”

All four civil suits stem from human trafficking charges levied against Hames, 75, in the last few weeks.

Hames was arrested on Feb. 22 for two counts of second-degree stalking and two counts of promoting prostitution, misdemeanor charges. Kayla Carreker and Tomeka Bartlett accused Hames of requesting sex for rent payments. The two lived at Hames Trailer Park, owned by the accused. Carreker and Bartlett also accuse Hames of making crude sexual remarks to them. The two were the first to file civil complaints against Hames.

Hames was out on bond and practicing law inside the Cullman County Courthouse when he was arrested again on March 5 for two counts of second-degree human trafficking. He made bond that same day. Bond was $15,000 property for each count of human trafficking. A Cullman County Sheriff’s Office spokesman said the Cullman County District Attorney's Office decided to move forward with the human trafficking charges after reviewing the case and speaking with the victims and others.

Hames was arrested again on March 10 and charged with first-degree human trafficking and second-degree human trafficking. He was booked on an $80,000 bond. He made bond and has been released.

Authorities have not confirmed whether March 10's charges relate to the same victims whose accusations led to his arrest on March 5, or whether they relate to the two new woman who filed civil complaints March 13.

According to court documents, Watson was a tenant at Hames’s trailer park from September 2012 until May 2013.  “Soon after Plaintiff moved into the trailer park, Hames showed up at Watson’s home and invited himself inside telling Watson that he wanted to talk to her over a glass of homemade elderberry wine,” reads the complaint. “Plaintiff agreed to talk with Hames. During the course of the conversation, Hames noticed Plaintiff’s tongue ring. After plaintiff finished her one and only glass of wine, Hames said to her ‘I bet you know how to use that tongue ring’ and ‘You need to give me a (b**w job).’’

The complaint details Watson’s allegations that Hames continued to come to Watson's home, and she would hide from him. She says he continued to make lewd, suggestive comments.

In Cobb’s complaint, she alleges that Hames, who was appointed Guardian Ad Litem of Cobb’s children from December 2010 through 2013, on multiple occasions asked Cobb “personal, private questions. For example, Hames asked Plaintiff whether she was still having sex with her ex-husband; whether she ever gave her ex-husband ‘(b**w jobs)’, whether she was having withdrawals from not having sex; what she ‘liked’ sexually, and whether she shaved her pubic area.” Cobb alleges Hames told her he needed to know these things because “it’s part of the case.”

Cobb alleges Hames showed up at her home at night. During meetings at his office, she alleges he told Cobb he wanted to come to her house and bring elderberry wine. During one meeting, she alleges he touched her inappropriately. He told her, “I’m here to help you. I can get your kids back.” She alleges he left lingerie for her on her front porch and at one point told her, “You’ll lose your kids if you don’t have sex with me.” According to the documents, “When Plaintiff would challenge his solicitation of her, Hames would respond with statements like “Who is going to believe you? DHR’s got your kids.”

Cobb alleges that after she continued to refuse Hames’s advances, Hames “became rude and adversarial to Plaintiff in court and began supporting DHR’s petition to terminate her parental rights.”

A court hearing, a status conference, will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday on the original misdemeanor charges, evictions and protection orders filed against Hames. It is not known how the human trafficking charges, which are felonies, will affect tomorrow’s hearing.

Further reading: What is human trafficking?

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Cullman County Schools Superintendent Shane Barnette poses with Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry and the system’s School Resource Officers Thursday at the Cullman County School Board meeting. / W.C. Mann

HOLLY POND - In the wake of recent violent school tragedies across the country, the Cullman County Board of Education (CCBOE) took time out of its meeting at Holly Pond High School Thursday evening to recognize and thank Sheriff Matt Gentry and his team of School Resource Officers for their service in keeping area schools safe.

As students distributed gift bags to the sheriff and his deputies, CCBOE Superintendent Shane Barnette said, “I can’t brag enough on our resource officers and Sheriff Gentry, and I told them today as we were having to work through an issue today, I said I feel like sometimes our school system’s their number one customer.  But I’m really proud that you guys are there. I know you have our backs, and I know that everything that you guys do (is) to keep our kids safe; I don’t ever want you to think we don’t appreciate you, because we do.”

Resource Officers:

• Cold Springs - Boyd Posey
• Cullman Area Technology Academy/Child Development Center - Sgt. Randall Chambers
• Fairview - Jeff Lawson
• Fast Track/Rebound - Jimmy Posey and Neal Whitlock
• Good Hope - Eric Robertson
• Hanceville - Chad Whaley
• Harmony/Cullman Area Resource Education - Sgt. Arvel Allison
• Holly Pond - Shane Chambers
• Parkside - Matthew Rutherford
• Vinemont - Jim Butts
• Welti - Lt. Erik Ryan
• West Point - Kevin Folds

Facility improvements

The board voted to accept the following bids for facility improvements:

• $213,800 from A&S Electrical for electrical and HVAC upgrades and renovations at the Child Development Center
• $68,792 from Miller Roofing for reroofing and QZAB renovations at Fairview High School
• $1,884,497 from KC Construction for reroofing, HVAC and electrical upgrades and renovations at the Cullman Area Technology Academy
• $58,750 from A&S Electrical for electrical upgrades to the cafeteria at Hanceville High School

Faculty, staff and team recognitions

Barnette commended the system’s transportation department for receiving a state Award of Excellence in bus safety for having less than 10 percent major deficiencies in the state inspection.  

Melissa “Missy” Donaldson of Holly Pond Elementary School was recognized for her nomination to Jacksonville State University’s Teacher Hall of Fame.

Letha Miller of Holly Pond Elementary School and LaTisha Jackson of Good Hope High School were recognized as the CCBOE’s nominees for Alabama Teacher of the Year in their respective divisions.

In his report at the end of the meeting, Barnette congratulated the Fairview High School basketball team for winning the county championship.

Other board business

The board approved a block of resignations, leaves of absence, transfers, appointments, non-faculty coaches, substitutes and contract changes, but did not immediately release the list of affected employees.

The following expenditures were approved:

• $25 per hour to Kim Kanaday as a part-time tutor at Hanceville Middle School
• $800 to Daniel Moore as athletic director and C2C manager at Cold Springs Elementary School
• $60 to Robert Strane and $260 to Geoff McGukin for keeping the clock for Fairview High School basketball games
• $750 to Jacy Douglas as yearbook sponsor at Parkside School
• $500 to Josh Drake to coach the archery program at Vinemont Elementary School
• $100 per day for four days to Rebecca Rodriguez to attend the State Department of Education’s “Failure in Not an Option” workshop

The board approved requests to surplus a hot/cold bar from Garden City School, pass-through warmer and pass-through cooler from Good Hope High School, and a Hobart mixer from Hanceville High School.

The board also approved the following out-of-state field trip requests:

• Fairview High School physics and AP chemistry classes to Atlanta for Math and Science Day at Six Flags, April 2
• Good Hope High School math department to Atlanta for Math and Science Day at Six Flags, April 2
• West Point High School softball team to Fayetteville, Tennessee for a softball tournament, April 20
• Fairview High School anatomy class to Atlanta for the “Bodies” exhibit, April 23
• West Point High School scholars’ bowl team to Rosemont, Illinois for the Middle School National Scholars’ Bowl Championship Tournament, May 10

The board approved a recommendation from Barnette to suspend a classified employee for three days without pay.  The name of the employee and offending action were not released.

Barnette announced that Wednesday, April 4, which as a first Wednesday is usually a half day, will be a full day.  Several recent short-term school closures created a need for more instructional time before the end of the year.

The CCBOE’s next meeting will be April 19 at 6 p.m. in the Good Hope High School lunchroom, with work session at 5:30.  The public is invited to attend.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Fair Queen contestants are Desmarie Moore, Sydney Newton and Madi Isbell. / Cold Springs High School

BREMEN - Cold Springs High School will hold its Fair Queen and Miss Cold Springs Pageants on Friday, March 16 in the school’s downstairs gymnasium. The pageants begin at 7 p.m. Admission is $5.

Fair Queen contestants are Desmarie Moore, Sydney Newton and Madi Isbell.

Vying for Miss Cold Springs will be Savannah Aaron, Jada Peterson, Katie Dollar, Maggie Uptain, Hannah Stricklin and Lilly McSpadden.

Junior Miss contestants are Vivian McMickens, Kadie Henderson, Savana Jackson, Emma Chambers, Kylan Hamby, Breanna Bell, Emi Harbison, Anna White, Heather Twilley and Annelise Hyche.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

CULLMAN - When it saw the increased number of suicides in Cullman County in 2017, a small group of concerned citizens started looking for something it could do to make a positive difference in the lives of people who are hurting.  Founding members Justin Lynch, Jerica Jones and Cliff Powell (a 2015 CullmanSense Citizen of the Week and author of “Pray Hard & Speak Life”) are not mental health professionals, counselors or vocational ministers; they are just people who felt the need to do something.  And they became Preventive Action of Cullman (PAC).

Lynch explained, “Towards the end of last year, I got together with a couple of people, and, you know, just posed the question of who would be interested in putting together a group to kind of fight against depression and suicide and bring awareness to it within Cullman.  And we got several people that felt the need that there was a need for that.

“So, starting this year, in January, we’re setting up meetings in a different community each month.  So, in January we did our event at Good Hope Community Center, to target the Good Hope community. And then, last month, we did Cold Springs and that community.  And so, in March, we’re actually going to be meeting in Dodge City, at the town hall there, the 24th of this month.”

The goal

Lynch continued, “But really, what the goal is, is to set up in each community, because there may be people that are struggling with depression or suicide themselves, or they know somebody that is.  A whole lot of people, if they’re dealing with it themselves, they’re not really wanting to reach out and talk a whole lot. We’re targeting those people, but we also want to target the ones, if they know a friend or a family member, or someone like that who is dealing with depression, or dealing with suicidal thoughts or whatever.

“Obviously, our main goal is that we want to let people that are struggling with it or that are in a state of depression (know) that there are people out there that care about them, that love them, that will listen to them.  And we figured kind of the best way to reach out is to host a community event in each community.

“And then also we really want to focus on getting into schools and stuff like that, just to kind of talk to kids that are in high school and things like that because, looking through research, high school age up to early to mid-20s, it’s a pretty high rate with that age group that ends up dealing with suicide.”

At its community meetings, PAC provides visitors with fact sheets on suicide in Alabama, along with information on recognizing the warning signs of a person in danger, and an extensive list of resources like phone and text hotlines and websites.  PAC also attempts to bring in people with stories of real-life struggles to help listeners know what those struggles are like, and help the hurting know that they are not alone in their experiences.

For now, PAC is a Cullman County project partnering with like-minded local groups like Karma in Cullman and Cook Ministries in Hanceville, but Lynch and its other members hope to see the program reach students and communities in Birmingham, Decatur and Huntsville.

For now, they’re reaching out, making contacts and appointments, forming partnerships and plans.  Nothing fancy, just concerned and committed. As Lynch said, “It’s just a small group of people that saw an issue and wanted to provide a solution for it, to help.”

Upcoming PAC event

PAC will be at Dodge City Town Hall at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 24.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/CullmanIntervention.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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

GJ = grand jury; FTA = failure to appear

Cullman County Sheriff’s Office

Berry, Crystal Gail, 38

• probation violation- false Medicaid statements

Boyd, Lucas Andrew, 30

• FTA- possession of drug paraphernalia
• FTA- first-degree unlawful possession of marijuana for personal use
• FTA- unlawful possession of a controlled substance

Hammons, Angelia Carol, 40

• FTA- expired tag
• FTA- following too close

Herron, Jason Edward, 41

• possession of drug paraphernalia
• resisting arrest

Kelley, Shane Wesley, 31

• judge’s order- unlawful possession of a controlled substance

Light, Zackary William, 29

• possession of drug paraphernalia

Moore, Christina Johnson, 40

• unauthorized use of a vehicle

Netherton, Brandon Heath, 39

• FTA- negotiating a worthless negotiable instrument

Powell, Joseph Dustin, 20

• FTA- third-degree domestic violence- harassment

Simpers, Angela Michelle, 29

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

Tudor, Jody Jay, 46

• attempting to elude
• public intoxication

Tyler, Roger Shaundale, 35

• FTA- negotiating a worthless negotiable instrument

West, Tiffany Leann, 19

• fourth-degree theft of property

Wilkins, Rachel Johnson, 43

possession of drug paraphernalia

Cullman Police Department

Byess, Dawn C., 38

• FTA- third-degree theft of property

Chaney, Christopher L., 35

• FTA- third-degree criminal mischief

Jacobs, Tyler V., 29

• DUI

Lee, Jeffrey A., 37

• FTA- expired tag
• FTA- insurance violation

Graves, Steven K., 29

• third-degree criminal trespassing

Harbison, Ann M., 34

• third-degree criminal trespassing
• attempting to elude

Stiefelmeyer, Carl A. III, 53

• FTA- public intoxication

Miller, Bradley L., 27

• FTA- possession of drug paraphernalia
• FTA- running a red light

Willingham, Larry S., 43

• FTA- possession of drug paraphernalia
• FTA- driving without a license

Ballard, Joseph A., 33

• FTA- fourth-degree theft of property

Hicks, Timothy L., 33

• FTA- third-degree criminal trespassing

Freeman, Daryn E., 19

• FTA- fourth-degree theft of property
• FTA- no tag light

Mikel, John T., 32

• FTA- possession of drug paraphernalia

Smith, Hannah K., 22

• second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana
• possession of drug paraphernalia

Reaid, James M., 67

• trafficking
• unlawful distribution of a controlled substance
• possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance
• unlawful possession or receipt of a controlled substance
• possession of drug paraphernalia

Hanceville Police Department

No arrests reported.

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

Ronald Brannon / Cullman Police Department

CULLMAN - The Cullman Police Department’s Crime Suppression Unit on Thursday arrested Ronald Jason Brannon, 45, of Vinemont for trafficking in methamphetamine and unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

Police say Brannon sold more than an ounce of methamphetamine.

Carla Sheiree Swann, 42, of Cullman was with Brannon at the time of the arrest. Swann was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, illegal possession of prescription drugs and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Brannon remains incarcerated in the Cullman County Detention Center. Swann has been released.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

James Reaid / Cullman Police Department

CULLMAN - The Cullman Police Department’s Crime Suppression Unit on Thursday arrested James Michael Reaid, 67, of Vinemont for trafficking in methamphetamine, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police say Reaid sold more than an ounce of methamphetamine. During a search of Reaid’s home, police allegedly recovered 20 additional grams of meth, multiple pills and drug paraphernalia.

Reaid was transported to the Cullman County Detention Center where he remains incarcerated. 

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

The alleged victims of Cullman attorney Randy Hames came to the hearing as a group, wearing matching shirts emblazoned with a barcode, which has become a common symbol in anti-human trafficking movements. At their request, the victims themselves were not photographed. /  W.C. Mann

CULLMAN - On Friday afternoon, Madison County Circuit Judge Donna Pate held a status hearing in an effort to organize the many moving parts in a complex set of criminal and civil actions facing Cullman attorney Randy Hames. After arrests for soliciting prostitution and stalking, and filings by alleged victims for protection from abuse, Hames was additionally charged with multiple counts of human trafficking for allegedly requesting sex acts as rent payment from tenants and as payment for legal services from a client.

Pate was asked to come from Madison County to oversee the case after local judges recused themselves from the case. Hames was, prior to his arrest, actively practicing law in Cullman and had professional connections to all local judges.

“We’re just getting started,” said Champ Crocker who, with his partner Anna Sparks, is representing the alleged victims in the civil cases. “This is an initial status conference, and it dealt more with the criminal cases than the civil cases I’m involved with. So we’ve got an out-of-town judge who’s just trying to schedule some routine matters.”

Present before Judge Pate were Crocker and Sparks, Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Cline, who is prosecuting the criminal cases, and defense attorneys Johnny Berry and Brandon Little who are defending Hames in the criminal cases. Defense in the civil cases has not been named. Hames and his family were present, but Hames spent most of the hearing away from the courtroom in an attorneys’ lounge while family members sat in on the hearing.

The hearing was routine but experienced a moment of drama when the alleged victims arrived as a group, some wearing wigs and sunglasses to mask their identities. They wore matching shirts emblazoned with a barcode, a common logo used by movements the combat human trafficking, and the phrase “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.”

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for mid-April.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

East Elementary School Principal David Wiggins is excited for Saturday morning’s second annual Shamrock Shuffle. The run starts at 8 a.m. at the school. / Nick Griffin

CULLMAN - The second annual Shamrock Shuffle 5K/ 1-Mile Color Run is upon us and it will get started at East Elementary Saturday morning at 8. The East Elementary School PTO sponsors the event, which is meant to bring members of the community together to have fun and promote an active lifestyle, as well as raise funds for the school.

This year’s proceeds will be directed toward East Elementary technology according to EES Principal David Wiggins. Wiggins is excited for the chance to keep building on existing tech as well as investing in new equipment.

“When I started here 12 years ago we were fortunate enough to invest in Smartboard technology, interactive white boards, but as you can imagine, after 12 years those are very outdated,” said Wiggins. “So, we have been systematically, as a school and a school system, replacing those antiquated Smartboards with new Smart panels and right now we are about nine short from having everybody in the school a new Smart panel, and when I say everybody I mean every classroom.”

Last year’s run was put on to raise money for new playground equipment for the students, and while this year’s focus is technology, Wiggins and the PTO may still have some plans in place for more playground upgrades.

“Every penny of the proceeds from our monthly Spirit Night events and of course this will go towards technology. We do have plans to continue our playground expansion. PTO’s focus last year between the cookie dough fundraiser and Shamrock Shuffle was to offer new equipment. They removed broken pieces of equipment, old pieces of equipment and unsafe pieces of equipment, and have put in some new really fantastic equipment for our kids,” Wiggins shared. “So, we may go that direction as well, but every penny goes right back into the school for our students.”

The run is a fundraiser for East Elementary first and foremost, but Wiggins doesn’t want that to make anyone feel unwelcome. Wiggins even gave an example of some of the more colorful participants who showed up from out of town for last year’s event.

“This is to benefit East Elementary, but just like our movie night, we call it a community event. We are a small-town neighborhood school, we’re a community school, so we want anybody who wants to come be a part of this. It’s not about if you go to East you can come run. This is anybody that wants to,” he smiled. “Last year we had a couple of ladies that came in full outfits. They had green and white tutus and beads and antennae with shamrocks on top of them, headbands, painted their faces and they were from north Alabama, they weren’t from here and they’re coming back so I can’t wait to see what they’re goofing off with this year.”

The 5K run will feature a timer this year to allow finishing runners to see their times, but Wiggins reiterated that everyone is welcome regardless of whether they want to walk, run, ride or push a stroller through Cullman’s historic neighborhoods behind the school.

“The 5K is the hot ticket this year. Last year was just a fun run 5K, but this year we’re doing times, and everybody can see their time when they go through. Next year we’re looking at doing places so it’s an evolving event at East Elementary. It would be our dream to have this become a staple in our community and a staple in the world of runners. The 1-mile is a fun run/walk but hey, bring a bicycle, bring your child in a stroller, bring your pets, we want people to have fun.”

The starting gun for both the 1-mile fun run and the newly timed 5K run will be at 8 a.m. Saturday. Even if runners are competing and tracking their times, the priority is coming together and celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in a fun and active way together.

Click here for more information.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Brittney Hudson, Roger Steele / Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center

Submitted by Leah Bolin, president and CEO of the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center

Chamber hires Hudson as director of community development

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Brittney Hudson as director of community development at the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center.
 
This newly created position is vital to the growth of Cullman County and to the success of the Chamber's 5-year strategic plan. Key objectives Brittney will immediately begin tackling include: Addressing the area's housing shortage, fostering downtown connectivity and revitalization in Cullman and Hanceville, and developing a plan to recruit people by promoting all of Cullman County as a “live, work, play” community.
 
The area's housing shortage will take early priority, with Brittney set to lead the Chamber's new Housing Taskforce. She will organize a housing assessment study to better identify Cullman County's housing needs. Once these gaps are known, Brittney will then advocate with builders and developers to help populate our market.
 
The hiring of a community development director is the last piece of the 'Converging for Success' puzzle. Brittney is uniquely qualified for this position. She earned her bachelor's degree from Auburn University, as well as her master's degree in community development and planning. I am confident that Brittney’s knowledge, skill set and ‘can-do attitude’ will make 2018 a productive year for our community.
 
While on the Plains, Brittney served as a graduate school senator and member of the National Political Science Honor Society. She's also worked as a graduate research assistant, providing extensive real estate and community development analysis within the university's Community Planning program. Her focus on floor area ratio analyzed the effects of land use regulations on property values and the rate of development.
 
Brittney has made Cullman County home with her husband, Courtney and their two daughters, Carleigh (3) and Cicily (1).
 
Please join us in welcoming Brittney and her family to the Chamber and to the community!
 

Chamber names Steele permanent director of tourism

The Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center has lifted ‘interim’ from Roger Steele's title and made him the permanent director of tourism. The move was recently approved by the Chamber's executive board and reaffirmed by the Chamber’s tourism board. 
 
Roger has been hard at work since joining the Chamber staff in late October. Over that time, he's been responsible for forming a Smith Lake Advisory Committee to develop a new website promoting the lake, vastly increasing exposure of the Visit Cullman Facebook page, assisting in the development of a more user-friendly Visit Cullman AL mobile app, and locking down Smith Lake as the site of the 2018 Fishers of Men Southeast Region 2 Championship to be held in November.
 
Currently, Roger's top priority is establishing a strategic plan for tourism focusing on four key areas: Smith Lake, sports marketing, religious tours and agritourism.
 
Roger comes to us with almost 20 years of sales and marketing experience. He has a passion for Cullman and has proven himself to be a valuable asset to our team and for tourism in Cullman County.

Roger is a Cullman High School graduate and received his bachelor's and master's degrees from UAB. An accomplished writer, he's won multiple awards from the Alabama Press Association and had academic work published in “The Alabama Review.” Roger and his wife, Karen, have two children, Amelia and Nathan.

Harrison Outdoors employees Ricky Cone, customer service representative; Gaynell Partain, customer service representative; Patrick Stark, parts manager; Ross Harrison, owner; Chris Edmondson, service manager/technician and Alex Parker, technician, pose for a photo on Friday at the store’s new location. / Nick Griffin

CULLMAN - Friday morning was the grand opening for Harrison Outdoors, formerly Greencraft Mowers, and customers found their way to the new location as soon as the doors opened. Owner Ross Harrison has shifted to the new location at 1631 Second Ave. NW, just around the corner from the original Greencraft location at 1414 Sportsman Lake Road NW.

Rebranding has been on Harrison’s mind ever since he first bought the business.

“I’ve been thinking about it since I bought my uncle out in 2013. Obviously, I wanted to recoup some funds before I just jumped into a new facility, but I really got serious in the last year. We’ve just outgrown where we were; it’s an outdated facility, we needed more room, we needed something up to date and we needed to be able to provide better efficiency on service and a cleaner sales facility so that’s what we did. This deal worked out to lease this building the first of the year, so we’ve been working hard since January 1 to be able to open before spring.”

The old location is still being put to use, for the benefit of the new facility. Because the new location is close by, Harrison and his staff have been able to use the original building as a warehouse and an extension of the new facility. The proximity to the old store also means that customers new and old won’t have to learn any new directions to find the new store.

“I didn’t want to go far. We’ve been established; this is an established business that was started in the late 80s and so we obviously get a lot of new customers, but we also have a lot of old customers that are very familiar with where we are. So, I didn’t want to have to train every old customer we had that’s 10 miles away or however far they are,” said Harrison. “The big advantage is we are very close to where we were, basically just around the corner and also our buildings almost touch in the back, so it gives us the ability to have a warehouse basically at our sales facility and not have to go to an off-site location to get products that are in storage.”

The aesthetics of the new location are something that Harrison thought was very important and help separate the new store from the original. The new location is larger with new floors and a sleek look that Harrison believes his customers will notice as soon as they walk in. The fresh, clean look will not only be a plus for the customers up front, but also for the technicians working in the back.

“In doing this, I had an intention to make it nice. I didn’t know to what extreme that would go. I was talked into doing some extra things that originally, I had not planned on, but now I’m glad that I did after seeing the facility; that would be doing the floors like we did, doing the metal across the walls, just making it look modern,” Harrison said. “When I try to come up with these ideas I put myself in the shoes of the customer and a place that I would want to go in and feel comfortable buying whatever the product may be and so I wanted this to be a clean, well-organized facility. My main goal that I’ve told all my employees, myself included, is I want to be able to provide the best customer service around. Cullman is very word-of-mouth advertising, and obviously if you treat someone the way they want to be treated, they’re going to recommend you because they had a great experience there and so that’s what we’re trying to do. The number one thing walking in the front door is a cleaner, larger showroom that’s welcoming to customers. They don’t feel like they’re cramped, they don’t feel like they’re having to trip over items to look at what they want to look at and we can provide better service in the shop. It’s bigger, it’s going to be able to provide more efficient service just because the technicians have more room to work in their areas and a cleaner shop environment also, not just the sales side.”

Harrison is optimistic that the move, along with the re-branding of the business, will make for some new growth and new clientele going forward.

“When I purchased the business, I changed the corporate name to Harrison Outdoors because obviously I wanted to grow the business, but I didn’t want to be just a lawnmower shop or just a chainsaw shop; I wanted to be somewhat of an outdoors store,” Harrison said. “Now I’m not talking about selling fishing equipment; I’m talking about things that go along with lawn equipment. Some things that you’d see on your patio whether it be chairs or grills. Just small things like that, that go along more with an outdoors store, not just what people think of as a lawnmower shop. It’s kind of a difficult change because people know Greencraft Mowers and that’s why we still have it on the sign, but we would like to eventually get the mindset that we are Harrison Outdoors.”

Find out more at www.harrisonoutdoors.com or www.facebook.com/Harrison-Outdoors-156783531365138.

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Hanceville’s Irish Heritage Celebration will take place in downtown Hanceville today, Saturday, March 17, from 2-4 p.m. / Nick Griffin

HANCEVILLE - Hanceville is going to be debuting a new tradition this St. Patrick’s Day with an Irish Heritage Celebration. Mayor Kenneth Nail has had the idea presented to him in the past and he, along with a few other organizers, decided to break ground on the tradition this year.

“Several years ago, Coleen Vansant, who is the public relations person for the Alabama Forestry Commission who just happens to live in Hanceville and went to school at Hanceville, she’s been chewing on my ear for two or three years about we need an Irish heritage festival. I said you know you’re exactly right because Cullman has the German heritage festival with ‘Johnny’ Cullmann and all that, but to be honest with you, there was probably more Irish in Cullman County than there were Germans,” Nail said. “My great, great grandfather was what they called the old red Irish with the red hair and the whole nine yards so we kind of decided to do a little bit this year. We hope to build on this next year and do a little bit more; we would love for it to get bigger and bigger.”

This being the inaugural festival, Mayor Nail and the others didn’t have as much time to prepare and organize this year’s event as they will in the future. However, Nail is still excited for the attractions and activities they’ll have Saturday for the public to enjoy.

“We didn’t want to get too deep because we didn’t want people expecting just a whole bunch of different things and we’re really just starting out with four or five people so this year basically what they’re going to do, between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. they’re going to meet around the library downtown, the Hanceville band is going to be there and they’ll be playing some music and there’s going to be a bake sale and you might be able to get some green Kool-Aid.”

Outside of the bake sales, live music and other features, this year’s festival also has activities planned for the kids.

“One of the things we’re going to do is between 2 and 4 the kids can come to the downtown area between Jimmy Hale Mission and Bangor Avenue and hunt for the gold around downtown Hanceville, and what they are is gold rocks. If you bring the golden rocks to the library, you will get certain prizes. I did notice that there’s some prizes like a wheel alignment and if little Johnny finds a golden rock he probably doesn’t need the wheel alignment but Mom and Dad sure would probably like to get it,” Nail joked. “There’s gift certificates from places like Luna’s BBQ, there’s a set of jumper cables and some toys and things that we’ll be giving away, so the rock/gold hunting is pretty much for the kids and then of course we encourage everyone to visit the stores downtown.”

Hanceville’s Irish Heritage Celebration will take place in downtown Hanceville today, Saturday, March 17, from 2-4 p.m.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Droves of runners turned out for East Elementary's second annual Shamrock Shuffle 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run Saturday morning. / Nick Griffin

CULLMAN - It was a wet and overcast start to Saturday morning, but that didn’t scare off any of this year’s Shamrock Shuffle participants. East Elementary Principal David Wiggins embraced the weather, saying he was happy the runners would get an authentic Ireland experience running in the conditions. The runners either entered a 1-mile fun run or a timed 5K around Cullman’s historic neighborhood area behind East Elementary and finished in front of the school.

The event was sponsored by the East Elementary PTO, and its president, Melissa Aaron, was excited to help put together the Shuffle.

“I think it’s been a great event; we’ve had over 150 people that have run it last year and then again this year, so we look forward to doing it again next year,” Aaron said. “The fundraising that we do can help make improvements for the playground and then also the technology at the school so we just like everyone in the community to participate, not just those that go to East Elementary, but the primary school, West (Elementary), the middle school and high school as well.”

Aaron was also excited to see another great turnout for the run despite another year of wet weather.

“Everyone has really been supportive, and they start talking about it and I know we’ve had last year’s and this year’s in the rain, we can’t overcome the rain, but people still show up and have fun.”

Click here for a full photo gallery.

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HANCEVILLE - The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred around 11 p.m. Friday evening at a driver's license checkpoint at Alabama Highway 91 and County Road 747. The incident involved the Hanceville Police Department.

The Tribune is awaiting a statement from Hanceville Police Chief Bob Long.

Here's what we know so far:

• The shooting involved a driver that was stopped at the checkpoint who attempted to flee.
• The person who attempted to flee in his vehicle was shot.
• The person's injuries are not life-threatening.

This is a developing story.

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