The Cullman County Auburn Club will hold its Scholarship Banquet at the Cullman Civic Center on May 3, 2018. The speaker will be OL coach J.B. Grimes. The eagle Spirit will be available for pictures from 5-7 p.m.

Tickets are $35 for adults and $15 for children 12 and younger. The deadline for ordering tickets is April 26.

Food will be by Freddie Day Catering, and there will be a silent auction and merchandise sales.

Doors open at 5 p.m.; coach will be available for autographs at 6, and the program starts at 7.

For tickets or more info, call Ronnie Crocker at 256-347-6976.

Photo credit: Auburn University

CULLMAN - Cullman County’s circuit and district judges recently decided to update the county’s bail bond schedule, which had been in effect since 2016. Several drug-related offenses on the schedule have had bond amounts drastically reduced, and two lesser offenses--criminal littering and consumption/possession of alcohol by a minor--were reduced from monetary bonds to release on recognizance.

An official with the county court system explained that suspects who receive high initial bond amounts for those particular offenses typically have the amounts reduced at subsequent hearings, so the new schedule is an effort to bring the initial bond amounts in line with the bond amounts those suspects would end up with anyway.

Several crimes involving violent behavior or threats of violent behavior have had their bond amounts retained, but they have been amended to include a provision that the suspect can have no contact with the alleged victim.

Three new categories have been added to the schedule: harassment/harassing communications, reckless driving and violation of a protection from abuse order.

The Cullman County Bond Schedule

Terms

• Felony - category of serious crimes (Fel. on chart)
• Misdemeanor - category of crimes considered to be minor offenses (Mis. on chart)
• Violation - lowest category of minor crimes, including traffic tickets and others (Viol. on chart)
• Degree - first, second, third, or fourth; the seriousness of a crime which may occur in different forms.  First degree is the most serious. (1d, 2d, 3d, 4d on chart)
• Class - A, B, C, or D; like degree, refers to the seriousness of an offense.  Class A is the most serious. (cA, cB, cC, cD on chart)
• ROR - suspect released on his or her own recognizance, without bond

Bond Schedule in effect since Jan. 30, 2016

Bold indicates changes made on the Mar. 19, 2018 schedule.

• Assault 1d, Fel. cB - $10,000...Now $10,000 plus no contact with victim
• Assault 2d, Fel. cC - $5,000...Now $5,000 plus no contact with victim
• Assault 3d, Mis. cA - $3,000...Now $3,000 plus no contact with victim
• Attempting to Elude, Mis. cA - $3,000...no change
• Attempting to Elude with injury/fatality, Fel. cC - $5,000...no change
• Burglary 1d, Fel. cA - $20,000...no change
• Burglary 2d, Fel. cB - $10,000...no change
• Burglary 3d, Fel. cC - $5,000...no change
• Carrying Concealed Weapon, no category/class listed - $750...no change
• Carrying Pistol without Permit, no category/class listed - $750...no change
• Contributing to Delinquency of Minor, no category/class listed - $500...Now $500 plus no contact with victim
• Criminal Littering, Mis. cC - $500...Now changed to ROR
• Criminal Mischief 1d, Fel. cC - $5,000...no change
• Criminal Mischief 2d, Mis. cA - $3,000...no change
• Criminal Mischief 3d, Mis. cB - $1,000...no change
• Criminal Trespass 1d, Mis. cA - $3,000...no change
• Criminal Trespass 2d, Mis. cC - $1,000...no change
• Criminal Trespass 3d, Viol. - $500...no change
• Discharge Firearm into Occupied Dwelling/Vehicle, Fel. cC - $5,000...Now $5,000 plus no contact with victim
• Disorderly Conduct, Mis. cC - $500...no change
• Domestic Violence 3d, Mis. cA - $1,500...Now $1,500 plus no contact with victim
• Domestic Violence Assault, Mis. cA - $1,500...Now $1,500 plus no contact with victim
• Domestic Violence Harassment, Mis. cA - $1,500...Now $1,500 plus no contact with victim
• DUI, Fel. - $5,000...no change
• DUI, Mis. - $2,000...no change
• Felon in Possession of Firearm, Fel. cC - $5,000...no change
• Forgery/Possession of Forged Instrument 1d, Fel. cB - $10,000...no change
• Forgery/Possession of Forged Instrument 2d, Fel. cC - $5,000...no change
• Forgery/Possession of Forged Instrument 3d, Fel. cD - $4,000...no change
• Forgery/Possession of Forged Instrument 4d, Mis. cA - $3,000...no change
• Fraudulent Use of Credit Card, Fel. cD - $4,000...no change
• Giving False Information to Law Enforcement Officer, Mis. cB - $1,000...no change
• Harassment/Harassing Communications (not on 2016 schedule), Mis. cC - $1,500 plus no contact with victim
• Illegal Possession of Alcohol/Public Intoxication, Viol. - $250...no change
• Illegal Possession of Prescription Medication, Mis. cA - $3,000...no change
• Leaving Scene of Accident with Injuries, Fel. cC - $5,000...no change
• Leaving Scene of Accident without Injuries, Mis. cB - $1,000...no change
• Menacing, Mis. cA - $3,000...Now Mis. cB - $3,000 plus no contact with victim
• Minor in Possession/Consumption of Alcohol, Mis. cC - $500...Now ROR after 24 hours
• Obstructing Justice/Using False ID, Fel. cC - $5,000...no change
• Open House Party, Mis. cB - $1,000...no change
• Possession of Burglary Tools, Fel. cC - $5,000...no change
• Promoting Prison Contraband 1d, Fel. cB - $10,000...no change
• Promoting Prison Contraband 2d, Fel. cC - $5,000...no change
• Promoting Prison Contraband 3d, Mis. cA - $3,000...no change
• Rape 1d, Fel. cA - $20,000...Now $20,000 plus no contact with victim
• Rape 2d, Fel. cB - $10,000...Now $10,000 plus no contact with victim
• Receiving Stolen Property 1d, Fel. cB - $10,000...no change
• Receiving Stolen Property 2d, Fel. cC - $5,000...no change
• Receiving Stolen Property 3d, Fel. cD - $4,000...no change
• Receiving Stolen Property 4d, Mis. cA - $3,000...no change
• Reckless Endangerment, Mis. cA - $3,000...no change
• Reckless Driving (not on 2016 schedule), no category or class listed - $500
• Resisting Arrest, Mis. cB - $1,000...no change
• Theft of Property 1d, Fel. cB - $10,000...no change
• Theft of Property 2d, Fel. cC - $5,000...no change
• Theft of Property 3d, Fel. cD - $4,000...no change
• Theft of Property 4d, Mis. cA - $3,000...no change
• Traffic Violations, Viol. - $300...no change
• Trafficking Illegal Drugs, Fel. cC - $1,000,000...Now $500,000
• Unlawful Breaking and Entering of a Motor Vehicle, Fel. cC - $5,000...no change
• Unlawful Distribution of a Controlled Substance, Fel. cB - $20,000...no change
• Unlawful Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance 1d, Fel. cA - $1,000,000...Now $500,000
• Unlawful Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance 2d, Fel. cB - $1,000,000...Now $500,000
• Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, Fel. cD - $4,000...no change
• Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Mis. cB - $1,000...Now $300
• Unlawful Possession of Marijuana not for personal use 1d, Fel. cC - $5,000...no change
• Unlawful Possession of Marijuana for personal use 1d, Fel. cD - $4,000...no change
• Unlawful Possession of Marijuana 2d, Mis. cA - $2,000...Now $500
• Violation of Protection from Abuse Order (not on 2016 schedule), Mis. cA - $1,500 plus no contact with victim

Bond amounts for murder, attempted murder and manslaughter are set by judges on a case-by-case basis.

General Bond Schedules for offenses not listed

2016

• Class A felony…$10,000 to $60,000
• Class B felony…$5,000 to $30,000
• Class C felony…$2,500 to $15,000
• Class D felony…$1,000 to $10,000
• Class A misdemeanor…$300 to $6,000
• Class B misdemeanor…$300 to $3,000
• Class C misdemeanor…$300 to $1,000
• Violation…$300 to $500

2018

• Class A felony…$30,000
• Class B felony…$15,000
• Class C felony…$10,000
• Class D felony…$5,000
• Class A misdemeanor…$3,000
• Class B misdemeanor…$1,500
• Class C misdemeanor…$500
• Violation…Released on Own Recognizance

What is a bail bond?

Bail is an amount of money paid, or property pledged to a court to secure the release of an accused person prior to hearings or trials.  It is given to help guarantee that the defendant shows up at court when he or she is supposed to do so. Bonds can take three main forms:

• Recognizance bond – For cases in which the bail amount might be very low and the defendant is considered to be a low flight risk, that person might simply sign a pledge to pay a certain fine if the court date is missed.
• Property bond – The defendant or others acting on his or her behalf sign over interest in real property of a given dollar value to secure the defendant’s release.  Think of it as a temporary mortgage to the court. These are often set with high dollar amounts.
• Cash bond – The defendant or others acting on his or her behalf must deposit actual money with the court.  This is where bail bondsmen often come in. These bonds are often much lower than property bonds, but can be more difficult to procure, since they require actual money in-hand.

Upon completion of the case, the money is returned or property reverts to the owner’s control.  If the defendant fails to appear in court on the set date, cash money is forfeited and property can be seized.

Who has a right to bail?

The 8th Amendment contained in the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution reads:

“Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”

Article 1, sec. 16 of the 1901 Constitution of the State of Alabama reads:

“That all persons shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses, when the proof is evident or the presumption great; and that excessive bail shall not in any case be required.”

Section 7.2 of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedures (ARCP) begins:

“Any defendant charged with an offense bailable as a matter of right may be released pending or during trial on his or her personal recognizance or on an appearance bond unless the court or magistrate determines that such a release will not reasonably assure the defendant’s appearance as required, or that the defendant’s being at large will pose a real and present danger to others or to the public at large.”

Defendants have a right to be released on bond pending hearings and trials, unless they are charged with capital offenses or the judge/magistrate considers them to be flight risks or threats to the community.

Judges are given wide leeway in assigning bail amounts.  To a degree, it’s a judgment call (no pun intended) on their part, but it’s an educated judgment call informed by numerous factors.

Fair v. excessive bail

So how does the system determine what is fair and what is excessive?  The ARCP sets forth guidelines to be considered when imposing bail:

• The age, background and family ties, relationships and circumstances of the defendant
• The defendant’s reputation, character and health
• The defendant’s prior criminal record, including prior releases on recognizance or on secured appearance bonds, and other pending cases
• The identity of responsible members of the community who will vouch for the defendant’s reliability
• Violence or lack of violence in the alleged commission of the offense
• The nature of the offense charged, the apparent probability of conviction, and the likely sentence, insofar as these factors are relevant to the risk of nonappearance
• The type of weapon used
• Threats made against victims and/or witnesses
• The value of property taken during the alleged commission of the offense
• Whether the property allegedly taken was recovered or not; damage or lack of damage to property allegedly taken
• Residence of the defendant, including consideration of real property ownership, and length of residence in his or her place of domicile
• In cases where the defendant is charged with a drug offense, evidence of selling or pusher activity should indicate a substantial increase in the amount of bond. (More on this later)
• Consideration of the defendant’s employment status and history, the location of defendant’s employment, e.g., whether employed in the county where the alleged offense occurred, and the defendant’s financial condition
• Any enhancement statutes related to the charged offense

These considerations lead to a few examples.  In cases of similar offenses:

• A defendant who is young and healthy may get a higher amount than an elderly or ill defendant.
• A defendant who lives or has significant connections outside the state may get a higher amount than one whose roots are local.
• A repeat offender with a history of criminal behavior may get a higher amount than a first-time offender whose prior reputation was positive.
• A defendant with personal access to substantial financial resources may get a higher amount than a defendant who is poor.
• A defendant in a drug distribution or trafficking case is likely to get a higher amount than defendants in cases of other crimes within the same felony class.

The drug issue

Why do people charged with drug distribution/trafficking face such high bond amounts?

First, let us define “trafficking.”  Drug trafficking involves possession of large amounts of a drug with intent to sell or distribute and carries substantially higher penalties than simple possession.  It is based on amounts: the justice system assumes that possession of very small amounts would be for personal use. On the following table from the Code of Alabama section 13, the amounts shown are the minimum amounts of each drug that would lead to a trafficking charge.  Many drugs are included in the Code; those common in the Cullman area are included here.

• Marijuana/Cannabis…………………………………….1 kilo/2.2 pounds
• Cocaine………………………………………………….28 grams/.99 ounces
• Opiates, including Morphine and Heroin……………….4 grams/.14 ounces
• Amphetamines………………………………………….28 grams
• Methamphetamine………………………………………28 grams

The Code and ARCP both note that persons arrested for trafficking who are found to be in possession of a firearm at the same time will face additional penalties, as will those arrested for distribution to minors or distribution within 3 miles of a school or public housing facility.  These issues might also figure into bond considerations.

Statistics concerning drug defendants

Below are a few facts about drug defendants (those arrested but not yet convicted) from the Federal Bureau of Justice Statistics, that might shed some light on the system’s particular targeting of accused drug dealers for high bond amounts.

On average, more than 30 percent of defendants who are released while awaiting trial on drug charges will commit another similar offense before they go to trial.

Almost one in four federal drug defendants fail to show at scheduled court appearances.

Released drug defendants have the highest re-arrest rate of any defendant category.

Almost one-third of persons arrested for drug-related offenses will commit the same or a similar offense while awaiting trial.  The commission of a second crime while out on bail can lead to the right to bail being revoked and may possibly result in bail paid or pledged being forfeited to the court. Therefore, high bail amounts for drug cases not only increase the chances of defendants showing up for court, they also encourage those most likely to repeat their offense to obey the law while they wait.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs, center, signed a proclamation designating April as Community College Month. Pictured are from left: Paul Knetter of Springville, a business major, representing Rotaract; John Elliott of Joppa, a general studies major, representing Phi Theta Kappa; Maci Key of Hayden, a machining major, representing Skills USA; Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs; Gabrielle Leek of Arab, a general studies major, representing PTK; Emily Dia of Hayden, a business major, representing PTK and the Student Government Association; Challie Johnson of Hartselle, representing PTK and the All-Alabama Academic Team; and Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics.

HANCEVILLE– Wallace State Community College is celebrating National Community College Month in April, which is one of the busiest months for activities and events on campus.

This month, the college will welcome “Making Alabama: A Bicentennial Traveling Exhibit” as part of the state’s three-year celebration of its 200th anniversary as a state. The exhibit will be on display at The Evelyn Burrow Museum from April 15 through May 24, with a special grand opening reception on April 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Burrow Center for the Fine and Performing Arts.

The Burrow Museum will also host a Bicentennial Art Competition for Cullman County K-12 and community college students April 24 through May 24, with an awards ceremony on May 14.

The 2018 4th District Congressional Art Competition will be on display on or about April 19 through April 23 in the Burrow Center. Congressman Aderholt will be on hand April 23 to recognize the winning artist, whose work will hang in the Capitol.

On April 3, the Wallace State Diversity Committee welcomes The Birmingham Sunlights in concert at 11 a.m. in the Burrow Center Recital Hall.

Wallace State will host job and career fairs for its Health Science programs on April 4 and for Applied Technology, Liberal Arts/General Studies on April 5 in the Peinhardt Conference Center of the School of Nursing and Center for Science. The job fairs will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.

On April 7, Miss Wallace State and volunteers from the college will participate in Miss Alabama Serves Cullman event at The Link of Cullman County.

On April 10, a Learning Communities event sponsored by the English Department and Sigma Kappa Delta will feature attorney, child advocate and author Liz Huntley at 9:30 a.m., at the Bailey Center Auditorium.

Wallace State’s Fine and Performing Arts programs have a number of events on tap during the month.  The Wallace State Singers will present “Broadway Baby! Music of the Great White Way” April 12-14 at 7 p.m., and April 15 at 2 p.m., in the Burrow Center Recital Hall. Admission is $10 adults, $5 children under 10.

The Wallace State Jazz Band will host its annual Big Band Ballroom Dance on Friday, April 20, at 7 p.m., in the Burrow Center for Fine and Performing Arts. Admission is $15. The Wallace State Concert Band will present “The Best of Hollywood: 75 Years of Stage and Screen” Tuesday, April 24 at 7 p.m., in the Betty Leeth Haynes Theatre. Admission is $5.

An Earth Day Celebration sponsored by the Green Team, featuring guest speaker Dr. Todd Steury, Wildlife Ecologist with Auburn University, will be held on April 19 at 11 a.m., in Peinhardt Conference Center in the School of Nursing and Center for Science.

On April 26, the Wallace State Alumni Association will hold an Occupational Therapy Assistant/Physical Therapist Assistant Alumni Connection in the James C. Bailey Center, starting at 7 a.m. A Nursing Alumni Connection will be held on April 17 in Peinhardt Conference Center of the School of Nursing and Center for Science.

Wallace State’s athletics programs will host several home games during April, starting on April 3 with Men’s and Women’s Tennis vs. Coastal Alabama on April 3 at 1 p.m. Women’s tennis matches will also be played on April 6 at 4:3 p.m. against Central Alabama.

Wallace State’s Softball team will play Marion Military Institute at on April 3 at 2 p.m; Bevill State in a double header on April 10 at 2 p.m.; Snead State in a double header on April 12 at 2 p.m.; and Southern Union in a double header on April 17 at 2 p.m.

Wallace State’s Baseball team will take on Lawson State in a double header on April 14 at 2 p.m.; Bevill State in a double header on April 21 at 2 p.m.; and a double header against Shelton State on April 28 at 2 p.m.

A cheerleading stunt clinic will be held on April 15 at 1 p.m., in the Wellness Center Gym.

Wallace State Community College has been serving Cullman County and surrounding areas since 1966. The college is national pacesetter, recently named an Achieving the Dream Leader College, and selected as an Aspen Prize Nominee for the third time in five years. Wallace State was chosen as one of 30 community college in America to launch the American Association of Community College’s Pathways Project and is a leader in student success in the Alabama Community College System.  It is ranked among the nation’s fastest growing community colleges with enrollment of 5,000  and is the first choice community college for students taking the ACT.

The college has also been designated as a National League of Nursing Center for Excellence, All-Steinway School, and Military Friendly Institution, among other accolades.

On Monday, the mayors of Hanceville and Cullman signed proclamations recognizing Wallace State during Community College Month. A similar event in Oneonta will be held Wednesday.

Throughout the month, Wallace State will celebrate the stories of students and alumni. The Wallace State Future Foundation is also celebrating the month by encouraging donations to help fund scholarships so that students can begin their stories at Wallace State. For more information, visit wsccfuturefoundation.org.

To learn more about Wallace State and events scheduled during Community College Month, visit www.wallacestate.edu.

CULLMAN - The Cullman County Animal Shelter’s Donna Ruttkay introduces us to Priscilla, The Cullman Tribune’s Pet of the Week.

“Priscilla is an Anatolian mix, approximately 11 months old.  She’s quiet, humble, and unassuming, a laid-back, low energy pet.  She understands leash etiquette, and she’s not a jumper; she’ll be respectful of your space.  Priscilla enjoys the company of children.

Animal shelter staff and volunteers work with their dogs to make sure they are accustomed to being around people, walking on a leash and practicing good behavior.  Five of the shelter’s dogs have recently been ‘hired’ to work as special needs service dogs. You will get good pets from the Cullman County Animal Shelter.”

Priscilla’s adoption fee is $90, which includes her DHLPP vaccine, Bordetella vaccines, rabies vaccine, wormer, general exam at the vet, spay, microchip, free 45-day health insurance policy issued by 24PetWatch (with valid email only) and a free bag of food from Cullman Pet Depot (you must pay sales tax).

Please consider adopting to give a rescued pet a chance at a happy and healthy life.

Contact the Cullman County Animal Shelter at 256-734-5448, or visit them at 935 Convent Road NE.  Reach them by email at cullmancountyanimalshelter@gmail.com.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

CULLMAN - Below are the arrests reported for April 2. All persons are innocent until proven guilty.

GJ = grand jury; FTA = failure to appear

Cullman County Sheriff’s Office

Boone, Katrina Sheree, 21

• first-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument

Butler, Larry Trebor, 29

• possession of drug paraphernalia

Campbell, Joshua Adam, 34

• FTA- first-degree criminal mischief
• first-degree criminal mischief

Carty, David Wayne, 54

• third-degree domestic violence- harassment

Frost, Carla Marie, 44

• FTA- possession of drug paraphernalia
• FTA- second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana
• second-degree bail jumping- unlawful possession of a controlled substance
• FTA- unlawful possession of a controlled substance

Hallmark, Tony Lawayne, 43

• FTA- third-degree domestic violence- harassment

Hammond, Tyler James, 29

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

Hazel, James Wellington Jr., 51

• carrying a pistol without a license

Jones, Kevin Doyle, 32

• FTA- third-degree forgery (3 counts)

Kimbril, Danny Lee, 57

• FTA- second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana

McKinnon, Roger Kyle, 20

• first-degree theft of property

Oden, Nicholas Wayne, 29

• writ of arrest- child support

Smith, Amber Danielle, 33

• possession of drug paraphernalia

Storer, Kenneth M., 36

• negotiating a worthless negotiable instrument (2 counts)

Cullman Police Department

Robinson, Carolyn A., 27

• FTA- fourth-degree theft of property

Smith, Timothy M., 31

• FTA- fourth-degree theft of property

Wilson, Donald L., 68

• fourth-degree theft of property

Johnson, Ladonna W., 38

• third-degree criminal trespassing

Johnson, Catherine L., 18

• fourth-degree theft of property

Bollen, Lena R., 53

• possession of drug paraphernalia

Jones, Laurie A., 32

• resisting arrest
• attempting to elude

Humanes, Mark A., 56

• DUI

Hanceville Police Department

No arrests reported.

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

Wallace State students Kaitlyn Richards, left, and Ryan Ratliff are both participating in the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars program through April 25.

HANCEVILLE–  Wallace State students Kaitlin Richards and Ryan Ratliff have each been selected as National Aeronautics and Space (NASA) Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS).

Both Richards and Ratliff began the five-week online program on March 21. Through April 25, they’ll participate in a myriad of online activities, including completing short quizzes and discussions and interacting with NASA engineers and scientists through webinars. Richards and Ratliff will also participate in webinars with fellow students in the program and complete an assigned NASA project.

Students who successfully complete the web-based activities are eligible to earn an onsite experience at NASA, where they’ll attend briefings by engineers and scientists, tour NASA facilities and work on a team project led by NASA engineers, among many other activities.

Richards, 24, has aspirations to carve out a career as an aerospace engineer. At Wallace State, she is a member of the following honor societies: Phi Theta Kappa, Mu Alpha Theta and Sigma Kappa Delta.

“Ever since I was a kid, I was in love with space. My end goal is to experience what NASA aerospace engineers do and this will definitely help prepare me for my future. I’m working hard towards that goal,” said Richards, a mother to four children. “I’m excited about this opportunity and competition. I would absolutely love to work for NASA, so I know this entire experience is going to be beneficial.”

Richards plans to transfer to UAH in the fall.

Ratliff, 24, has fallen in love with math and the STEM Pathways as he has progressed as a Wallace State student. Ratliff, a Hayden High grad, will graduate from Wallace State’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program in May in addition to completing all of his pre-engineering courses. Ratliff has already earned his paramedic license.

“In high school, math was one of my worst subjects. I did enough to get by. When I came to Wallace State, I realized how much I enjoyed math, once I made an effort to understand it. My dad has always encouraged me to pursue an engineering degree because I loved tearing things apart and putting them back together as a kid,” Ratliff said. “As I’ve worked on completing my EMS degree, I’ve also decided to pursue a mechanical engineering degree.”

Ratliff, who also plans to transfer to UAH in the fall, has high hopes as a NCAS participant.

“I’m absolutely thrilled for this opportunity. I can’t think of anything better to help better prepare me for the next step in life. It’s a dream to have the chance to work with real NASA scientists, which is not something everyone gets to say on a regular basis. My dream job is to work for NASA and help send rockets into space and design cars that make this world a better place,” Ratliff said. “If all goes well, I’m ecstatic to have the chance to meet some of these scientists face-to-face and see what possibilities come from it.”

Richards and Ratliff were each nominated by Wallace State math instructor Renee Quick.

“I’m very proud of both of Kaitlyn and Ryan. They are both great students, and I’m very excited to see we had two students accepted into the program this year. We’ve had students selected in the past, but this is the first time in a while to have two selected at the same time,” Quick said. “I know they’ll both do a great job, and I look forward to seeing them get to experience visiting the Johnson Space Center.”

Richards and Ratliff were selected among a large pool of candidates based on their application profile, submitted essay and letter of recommendation.

Before Richards and Ratliff, David Schwaiger was the last Wallace State student to be selected to the program.

NASA’s Community College Aerospace Scholars is a project funded in part by the Minority University Research and Education Program, or MUREP, which is committed to the recruitment of underrepresented and underserved students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to sustain a diverse workforce.

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

The Holly Pond Town Council met on Monday evening. / Nick Griffin for The Tribune

HOLLY POND - Circuit Court Judge Martha Williams, Probate Judge candidate Carol Berry and Cullman County Commissioner Garry Marchman each took a few minutes to speak at Monday night’s meeting of the Holly Pond Town Council before the council got down to its agenda.

While going over old business, Mayor Bill Oliver gave an update on the progress on the new storm shelter. The pad has been completed for the shelter. The town is now waiting for Aqua Marine to come in and finish its portion of the work.

Governor’s Park has a new gate. An unknown person(s) drove a vehicle into the old gate, destroying it. The council said it had it replaced with a more durable version. The council also agreed to not make Governor’s Park available for rent after tabling the issue at last month’s meeting.

The council passed an ordinance to give the Town more power to prevent people from parking on the streets for long periods of time. The ordinance will allow the Town to tow vehicles left on the road at the owner’s expense.

In a discussion about business licenses, the council mulled the institution an issuance fee. Oliver said the Town loses around $1.50 for every business license issued, and it cannot afford to keep losing money on the licenses. The council did not make any official decisions about issuance fees but tabled the discussion for next month’s meeting.

Oliver was given authorization to renew the Town’s contract with J&W Pest Control in Holly Pond.

To end its meeting, the council approved a motion to apply for an Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) grant to build two new sidewalks in Holly Pond, one stretching from Holly Pond Elementary to Guy Hunt Library, and the other from US Highway 278 to the storm shelter. The council will hold a public hearing on April 16 at 7 p.m. in the Guy Hunt Library conference room regarding the grant application.

The Holly Pond Town Council’s next meeting will be Monday, May 7 in the conference room at Guy Hunt Library. The public is welcome to attend.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

From the left: ANHA Communications Director John Matson, Woodland Village employees and disaster assistance recipients Melia Lewis and Robert Foshee and Woodland Village Administrator Emily Holcomb. Not pictured are Jayme Guthrie and Faithlyn Ward.

CULLMAN - The Alabama Nursing Home Association (ANHA) on Tuesday presented disaster assistance checks to four employees of Woodland Village Rehab & Healthcare Center. Each employee’s car suffered damage when severe weather swept through the area March 19, 2018.

“These individuals dedicate their lives to caring for the residents and patients at Woodland Village,” ANHA president & CEO Bill O’Connor said. “This financial assistance is one way we can help them recover from the storm and enable them to continue their important work.”

The checks total more than $1,500 and will cover the cost of replacing damaged windows in the employees’ vehicles. The funds were provided through the ANHA Education Foundation’s Disaster Benevolence Fund. The ANHA Education Foundation is a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Disaster Benevolence Fund is supported by the generous contributions of ANHA members.

CULLMAN - Goat Island Brewing, Cullman’s hometown craft brewery, just added another accolade to its collection with a win in the annual Alabama Craft Beer March Madness competition at Slice Pizza & Brew, a gourmet pizza restaurant and brewhouse in Birmingham.  The victory was determined by sales: one purchase meant one vote on equally priced beers.

Goat Island put its new Blood Orange Berliner Weisse up against 15 other craft beers from brewers around the state, choosing that brew out of its lineup because of the immense popularity the flavor has found since its introduction about three months ago.  Goat Island CEO Mike Mullaney described Blood Orange as a tart, sweeter summer flavor with an attention-getting orange color.

Mullaney noted that the Birmingham market is a tough one to get into, and the victory will go a long way toward that goal.  

“Winning means we will get four of our beers on tap at Slice Pizza for a month.  This is a big break for us in the Birmingham area,” said Mullaney. “We had a hard time getting traction there and having a big line-up of our beers at a well-known craft beer restaurant like Slice Pizza will really introduce us to people who don’t know about us yet!”

The award comes just in time for Goat Island’s second anniversary, which will be celebrated the evening of Saturday, April 7.
For more information on Goat Island Brewing, visit https://www.facebook.com/goatislandbrewing/.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Image courtesy of Goat Island Brewing.

CULLMAN - There’s only one place where you can hear updates about the area’s education, healthcare, government and more all in one day — and that’s at the Chamber’s “Chick-fil-A State of Our Communities.”

The Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce’s Governmental Affairs Committee would like to invite the public to attend this year’s all-day event on Friday, April 27 at the Cullman Civic Center.

Doors will open at 7 a.m. Major session topics include the State of Education, State of Healthcare, State of Local Government and a Legislative Forum. Representatives from agencies and organizations related to human services, utilities, tourism and recreation, economic development, and the Chamber will be set up in breakout rooms and provide information/demonstrations to visitors until the event concludes at 3 p.m.

One breakout room will also be reserved for the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) Trade Show. This event will allow YEA! students from Cullman High School and Holly Pond High School to showcase the products and services they’ve been working hard on this academic year through booths and displays.

The “Chick-fil-A State of Our Communities” is free to the public. However, attendees do have the opportunity to purchase an All-Access Pass for $50, which includes priority seating, breakfast, lunch, hospitality room access and a swag bag. Breakfast ($15) and lunch ($20) can also be purchased separately.

The Chamber is currently seeking questions from members and the public for the State of Healthcare and Legislative Forum. To submit a question, visit surveymonkey.com/r/2018StateofourCommunities. Submitting a question does not guarantee it will be asked.

See below for an overview of each major session:

State of Education

Time: 8 a.m.

Premier Sponsor: Wallace State Community College

Corporate Sponsors: Cullman-Jefferson Gas | Cullman Electric Cooperative

During this session, we’ll hear from Cullman City Schools Superintendent Susan Patterson, Cullman County Schools Superintendent Shane Barnette and a Wallace State Community College representative. The Student of the Year and Career Technical Student of the Year will also be announced. The Teacher of the Year for the city and county school systems is also recognized.

State of Healthcare

Time: 10 a.m.

Premier Sponsor: Katherine Morgan - State Farm Insurance & Financial Services

Corporate Sponsors: Cullman Electric Cooperative | Bradford Health Services

This panel discussion will feature WellStone Behavioral Health COO Chris Van Dyke, a Cullman Regional representative and Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry, and touch on relevant local healthcare topics, such as the opioid epidemic.

State of Local Government

Time: 11:30 a.m.

Premier Sponsor: American Proteins, Inc.

Corporate Sponsors: Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood, Inc. | Jackson & Williams Attorneys At Law During this session, Cullman County Commission Chairman Kenneth Walker and local mayors will provide general updates from their respective areas.

Legislative Forum

Time: 1:30 p.m.

Premier Sponsor: James R. Smith Trucking

Corporate Sponsor: Cullman-Jefferson Gas

This Q&A style forum will feature local nominees for the District 4 State Senate seat, Paul Bussman and Garlan Gudger, and for the District 12 Alabama House of Representatives seat, Corey Harbison and Alex Chaney.*

* Additional participants subject to be announced.

For more information or to purchase an All-Access Pass, contact the Chamber at 256-734-0454 or info@cullmanchamber.org.

CULLMAN - Below are the arrests reported for April 3. All persons are innocent until proven guilty.

GJ = grand jury; FTA = failure to appear

Cullman County Sheriff’s Office

Alexander, Janet Michelle, 42

• chemical endangerment of a child

Cantrell, Julie Fulmer, 45

• probation violation- second-degree theft of property

Deen, Dena Solana, 42

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

Duke, Randall Joseph, 35

• third-degree attempted burglary
• second-degree criminal trespassing

Dunn, Ronald Shane, 46

• public intoxication

Henry, Sabra Mylaine, 44

• FTA- second-degree attempted theft

Millican, Wesley Mark, 28

• unlawful possession of a controlled substance

Niblett, Herman III, 39

• possession of drug paraphernalia

Scott, Cody Allen, 28

• probation violation- third-degree burglary
• probation violation- unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance

Smith, Roger Dale, 35

• brass knuckles
• possession of drug paraphernalia

Warren, Tracy Scott, 49

• harassment

Cullman Police Department

Hastings, Roy M. Jr., 29

• false reporting to law enforcement

Klocek, Anissa M., 39

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

Jenkins, Daphnie S., 45

• third-degree possession of a forged instrument

Harris, Rex A., 51

• harassment

Sherrell, Cameron D., 20

• attempting to elude

Hood, Robert C., 60

• unlawful distribution of a controlled substance (2 counts)

Clemons, Phillip, 44

• fourth-degree theft of property

Speakman, Tyler L., 23

• third-degree criminal trespassing

McAlpine, Nicholas D., 35

• FTA- insurance violation

Dunn, Ronald S., 46

• FTA- possession of drug paraphernalia (2 counts)

Prince, Michael D., 20

• FTA- speeding

Hanceville Police Department

No arrests reported.

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

MONTGOMERY - Supernumerary District Attorney Ellen Brooks announced today that the investigation of former Gov. Robert Bentley and others has been concluded. The Special Grand Jury, empaneled in Montgomery County on July 11, 2016, has issued its final report and has been dissolved by Circuit Judge Johnny Hardwick.

A copy of the Grand Jury Report is available at this link: grand jury report. The report can also be seen below.

Bentley resigned from office from office amidst allegations he covered up an affair with former adviser Rebekah Caldwell Mason. He plead guilty to misdemeanor charges in relation to those allegations.

From WVTM 13:

Special Grand Jury Report by cullmansense on Scribd

Image courtesy of WVTM 13.

CULLMAN - The Cullman County Animal Shelter is seeing more dogs than normal come in and is in need of help to get them adopted. The shelter’s Donna Ruttkay introduces us to The Cullman Tribune’s second Pet of the Week.

“Hunter is a Mountain Cur/Plott Hound (North Carolina state dog) mix, approximately 1 year old. He’s a medium-energy pet who needs a job, maybe as a jogging/hiking partner, or as a comfort/companion dog,” said Ruttkay.

Hunter is a shelter ‘veteran’ who was adopted from the shelter last year.  When Animal Control picked him up this time, he was healthy and clean, but officers were unable to reach anyone at the phone number on his microchip, so he’s available again.

Because he has already been neutered and had his shots, Hunter’s adoption fee is only $5!  Ruttkay has offered to supply the first bag of food, and the shelter will provide collar, leash, and treats at no charge.

“Animal shelter staff and volunteers work with their dogs to make sure they are accustomed to being around people, walking on a leash and practicing good behavior.  Five of the shelter’s dogs have recently been ‘hired’ to work as special needs service dogs. You will get good pets from the Cullman County Animal Shelter.”

Please consider adopting to give a rescued pet a chance at a happy and healthy life.

Contact the Cullman County Animal Shelter at 256-734-5448, or visit 935 Convent Road NE.  Reach them by email at cullmancountyanimalshelter@gmail.com.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Tours meet at the museum steps at 10 a.m. each Saturday in April. / Drew Green

CULLMAN– While the annual Walking Tours did not kick off on April 1, the four weekend tours will begin at 10 a.m. this Saturday, April 7 on the steps of the Cullman County Museum. The best part – they’re free of charge!

If you have attended these tours before you’ll know that they are a great learning tool for history buffs, people who love stories about where certain streets, bridges, crossroads or cemeteries got their names, or people who just love walking and looking at pretty gardens decked out in spring blooms. There is something for everyone on the four April Walking Tours.

A total of 30 towns across Alabama will be on display during Saturday mornings in April as part of the Alabama Tourism Department's April Walking Tours.

Tour guides will lead the free tours through the historic districts or courthouse square areas of their hometowns. The hour-long tours will start at 10 a.m. on April 7,14, 21 and 28.

The tours are being coordinated with the Alabama Tourism Department.

“In Cullman each tour will begin at 10 a.m. on the front steps of the Cullman County Museum,” said Drew Green, museum historian, curator and first week tour guide. “This year we are tying the walks to Alabama's Bicentennial celebration.”

When asked about possible bad weather, Green stated, “The tours are rain or shine events and the only reason they would be canceled is dangerous weather.”

Those concerned about constant walking during the one-hour historical tours need not be worried as there will be frequent stops to take in the sights and listen to the stories of Cullman’s past.

“It is a slow-paced refreshing walk to learn about the fascinating history of our town. There will also be places along the way to rest,” said Green.

This year, the walking tours will be led by: first Saturday/Drew Green; second Saturday/Michael Sullins; third Saturday/Sharon Rowlette; fourth Saturday/ Greg Richter.

“Each Saturday will have a different local historian as a leader, so come every week to learn more!” said Green. “Every walk is different because the leaders and the participants bring unique insights each Saturday.”

More information about the April Walking Tours is available on the Alabama Tourism Department website at https://alabama.travel/trails/april-walking-tours#.

Locally, contact Drew Green at the Cullman County Museum, at 256-739-1258 or via email at dgreen@cullmanal.gov.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Carter Robinson, Peyton Oden and Jacob Ryder delivered the treasure map to the Cullman dental office of State Sen. Paul Bussman (second from left) Tuesday. / Photo courtesy Carter Robinson

CULLMAN - Last week, three students from the county school system’s Cullman Area Technology Academy (CATA) displayed an art project at Cullman City Hall intended to get middle school students thinking about developing career skills. Peyton Oden (Fairview High School), Carter Robertson (Fairview High School) and Jacob Ryder (Good Hope High School) are all 11th graders who attend career tech classes at CATA. Their “treasure map,” titled “Career Island: Find Your Personal Skills Treasure,” is a community service project for SkillsUSA, and will be entered in competition later this month.

CATA Building Construction Tech Teacher Mike Burkett described the project:

“This artwork was created by three students in the Building Construction Program at the Cullman Area Technology Academy as an educational tool that is part of a Community Service project for SkillsUSA, a leadership development organization for Career Technical Education students.  The work emphasizes the importance of Personal Skills as a part of an overall employment framework that also includes Workplace and Technical Skills. Their premise is that without adequate Personal Skills on day one of a new career, the other two just aren’t as essential to local employers.     

“The Personal Skills shown on the artwork carry a priority designation by SkillsUSA within their Workplace Framework.  While there are many other important characteristics in personal skill development, these are deemed more crucial to a new hire on the first day of his/her job.  

“The students who created this artwork used a treasure map theme because it has a broad appeal with virtually everyone, but also appeals directly to their target audience, which are children in the intermediate or middle school grades.  Studies show that personal skill development has the greatest impact on students in the middle school ages, and they carry that on into high school.”

On Tuesday, the poster was moved from Cullman City Hall to the dental office of State Sen. Paul Bussman, R-Cullman, where the students got to meet the senator.  Afterward, it will go to the North Alabama Agriplex, Fairview Middle School and Harmony School, before traveling to Birmingham for the SkillsUSA State Conference on April 23-24.  There it will be entered in a promotional bulletin board contest.

Burkett said of the students, “Jacob Ryder said, ‘It was interesting to meet city and state leaders while doing this project.’ Payton Oden said that he learned how important personal skills were to potential employers because he thought they only wanted people with technical skills.  Carter Robertson said that he liked doing the art work and he now knows where city hall is located.”

Shared Burkett,“This was a unique opportunity for our CATA students to engage with their community and fellow students while also learning what employers want, especially with regards to personal character.”

For more about CATA, visit www.facebook.com/cataschool/.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

CULLMAN - Below are the arrests reported for April 4. All persons are innocent until proven guilty.

GJ = grand jury; FTA = failure to appear

Cullman County Sheriff’s Office

Edwards, Stacy Dion, 41

• third-degree domestic violence- harassment

Gilley, Colton Chase, 21

• probation revoked- first-degree criminal mischief
• possession of drug paraphernalia

Hathcock, Elizabeth Ann, 51

• possession of drug paraphernalia

McGregor, Ronald Lloyd, 62

• probation revoked- unlawful distribution of a controlled substance

Owens, Chad Michael, 33

• FTA- driving while revoked (2 counts)
• FTA- speeding

Sanford, Breana Michelle, 30

• second-degree bail jumping- second-degree domestic violence

Thompson, Destiney Kiah, 20

• FTA- possession of drug paraphernalia
• possession of drug paraphernalia
• FTA- first-degree unlawful possession of marijuana not for personal use

Walker, Jackie Lee Jr., 21

• possession of drug paraphernalia

Cullman Police Department

Long, Craig A. Jr., 22

• fourth-degree theft of property

Owens, Chad M., 33

• FTA- driving without a license

Brown, Andrea N., 35

• FTA- third-degree domestic violence

Goodrich, Charity L., 42

• FTA- public intoxication

Hanceville Police Department

No arrests reported.

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

The first boat slips into the waters of Smith Lake from the newly-expanded boat ramp on Thursday morning, April 5, 2018. / Nick Griffin for The Cullman Tribune

TRIMBLE - There was a small crowd gathered at Smith Lake Park Thursday morning for the official ribbon cutting of the park’s brand-new boat ramp. The new ramp is three times the size of the original, making for a much more convenient launching spot for people looking to enjoy the lake.

Cullman County Parks and Recreation Director Doug Davenport was excited to see the project come to fruition and start serving the community. Several factors delayed the project over the last few months, but they were able to complete the project in a relatively short time nonetheless.

“This project came from the state, the game and fishery department (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources), so there weren’t any local tax dollars used for it. It is a six-ramp, we did have a two-ramp facility here before and we always had complaints from people during tournaments or during the Fourth of July, so we got a permit and got this process going to bring us to today’s adventure five and a half years ago,” Davenport said. “The project kept getting delayed for different studies of the different species in the water and getting permits and finding the funding and when we finally got to the time to break ground we ran into a winter freeze and rain. Our goal was to get it completed in 95 days and we were about two and a half weeks beyond that, but the state actually told us they were very happy with the timeframe that we were able to complete the project.”

Although the grand opening celebration took place Thursday morning, there are still some more features that will be added in the near future.

“The second phase will take place starting about mid-October. There’ll be all the piers put in, there’ll be a little 8-foot-wide foot bridge and there’ll be more parking as well,” Davenport said. “We’re basically going from 93 parking spaces to 198 and from two slips to six so this is a great day for Cullman County. This is kind of a once in a lifetime deal that you and I won’t see take place again and this should last for generations to come, too.”

The new boat launch will not only serve as a state-of-the-art convenience for casual boaters and fishermen in the community, Davenport is optimistic that the new facility will allow the department to host events on the lake and bring in an economic impact that it couldn’t before.

“We reached out about five years ago to FLW (Fishing League Worldwide) about hosting a tournament here and even to the Bassmasters. They just told us up front that our facilities couldn’t accommodate what they need. Walker County gets the majority of the big tournaments down there because of all the ramps so we wanted to be able to have the same opportunity in Cullman and give anglers a better place to launch out of,” Davenport said. “Even our tournaments here, a lot of them still launch from the dam and come up to this end, but this facility with all the docks we’ll have, I think it’s going to be close to 300 feet of dock, we’re just very excited for it. It’s a great day for the community and for the park.”

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Rumors Deli owner Annette Harris cuts the ribbon to mark the restaurant’s official grand re-opening at 601 Fourth St. SW on Thursday, April 5, 2018. / W.C. Mann for The Tribune

CULLMAN - On Thursday morning, Rumors Deli officially completed its move from the Warehouse District with a ribbon cutting at its new location at 601 Fourth St. SW, at the intersection of Main Avenue and US Highway 278.  The 18-year old Cullman eatery now occupies the former Nearen Construction office in a historic one-time mercantile store, many elements of which were preserved in the remodeling of the facility.

“There’s a lot of history in the building,” said Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce President Leah Bolin.  “We always appreciate any business who comes in and takes care of all of our well-loved buildings and revitalizes them.”

Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs told owner Annette Harris and her staff, “We look forward to y’all being over here.  Cullman’s seen some growth, more growth over on this side, and we appreciate y’all stepping out.”

Harris thanked Nearen Construction for the facility and its renovation, Cisco Systems for its help in the set up and stocking of the kitchen and the Chamber of Commerce for its support and advice.  She also offered special recognition to her employees, who stayed loyal to Rumors despite a five-week layoff during the move.

“I’m excited,” said Harris, “and I’m proud to have them.  Then we’ve got about five more new employees, and so we hope to keep adding to the workforce here.”

Rumors had already been up and running for three full days prior to its official grand opening on Thursday.  On Wednesday, Harris posted photos on social media of a line stretching all the way through the dining area and out the front door.  

After the ribbon cutting, she told The Tribune, “The first day was good, kind of quiet, but it was steady.  The second day was crazy, and we worked out some more kinks.  Yesterday was absolutely wild, and we loved it! (The line) went out the door for two hours.  Packed it out; I loved it!

Harris continued, “It’s a beautiful building.  I love every minute of it. I love this building; every time I come in, I love it more.  It’s got such character, and we hope to keep it to where people can remember how it used to be, and we tried to keep as much of that as we could.”

Pointing to the east wall with its original shelving units, she added that she has future plans to offer locally-made goods such as homemade candies, honey, soap and other items that will allow visitors to take a little Cullman home with them.

Concluded Harris, “The community has been amazing.  My friends, they’ve been amazing. I’ve got so many people surrounding me, supporting me, giving me positive thoughts all the time.  So, it’s meant to be; it’s a good thing.”

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

James Bowling / W.C. Mann

CULLMAN - James Bowling is another Republican hoping to fill the Alabama House of Representatives District 9 seat being vacated by Rep. Ed Henry, R-Hartselle. The Tribune sat down with Bowling last week. A graduate of Danville High School and captain in the Danville Volunteer Fire Department, Bowling works in chemical plant maintenance and has owned a trucking company. He is married with two children.

What led you to seek elected office?

“Well, I’ve been part of the volunteer fire service for most of my life.  I’ve been around the fire service my entire life. My grandfather was a founding member of a volunteer fire department in Priceville, Alabama.  So public service has always been part of who I am, and this is a way for me to expand on that, to help others.

What in your life got you ready for this?

“My life experiences.  I’ve been in the trenches with everybody.  I’ve watched how the government is kind of like a government overreach: they’re trying to govern more and more of our lives. They started catering to a few, instead of worrying about the rights of the many. There’s a lot of different aspects that got me involved and prepared me to go to Montgomery.  It’s life experiences that will help you make sound decisions, because you had to have experienced some of these things in your community to be able to represent them and have an idea of what others may need.

“Plus, I have the attitude that I want everybody to come to me.  You have to not worry about what happens four years from now. Your mindset needs to be ‘What can I do right now, today?’ and we’ll let the future handle itself.”

What do you hope to accomplish in office?

“Well, I want to address mental health.  I’ve been talking about this subject for many years, especially over the last year.  I believe we can help some of our prison overcrowding, we’ve got a lot of bullying issues going on in our schools, we’ve got drug abuse, we’ve got true mental emergencies.  

“There’s a lot of things tied into mental health nowadays, and they stripped all the funding away.  And I’m not sure where that funding went, but I would like to have the opportunity to try to bring it back to mental health.

“Or education: everybody talks about education’s number one on their list.  Well, I think we need to put our money where our mouth is and dedicate ourselves to making the education system better.  There’s about 15 earmarks that I was sent a month or so ago, during the budget hearings, that are just ridiculous. They may be good programs, but they have nothing to do with education, and they’re pulling money out of the classroom.  And I want to see more money make it to the classroom, so our children are more prepared for the future.”

Are there differences between you and your opponents that people should consider?

“I believe that’s something that a lot of people will kind of have to judge for themselves.  One of the main differences is I am a lifelong resident of this community. I was born, raised and grew up here.  I’ve worked, bled, sweated and cried next to a lot of people. I’m very accessible; I’ve always been the guy that never could say no, that always tried to help.  I’m very honest up front; I don’t dance around questions. I’m a very big proponent of the Second Amendment; people can go back and look last year. I’m a rock-solid person.  

“I believe people will have to look at each of us, and decide which aspect sets us out from the next.  But I can tell you, I’ve got the spine and the spirit to make a difference. I believe if people pay attention, they’ll see that.”

If you could boil your platform down to a concise statement, what would you want people to know?

“Elect one of US.  That’s what it boils down to.  Elect one of us: elect a working-class person to represent the people, somebody that can make a difference.”

For more information, visit http://bowlinghd9.com.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Justin Morrow / W.C. Mann

CULLMAN - Last week, The Tribune caught up with Justin Morrow, one of the Republicans hoping to fill the Alabama House of Representatives District 9 seat being vacated by Rep. Ed Henry, R-Hartselle. Morrow is a Falkville native who attended Wallace State and Athens State University. He works in business development for Wayne’s Environmental Services. He is married with two children.

What led you to seek elected office?

“Growing up, you know, some people when they graduated high school knew that they wanted to be a doctor, lawyer, mechanic.  I never knew exactly what I wanted to do as far as a career; I just knew that I wanted to help people and serve people, because that’s what we’re put here for, is to serve.  Now I get to do that in my current occupation. I get to help people, but I feel like I now have the opportunity to serve thousands of my neighbors, and potentially the whole state.  So that’s kind of the reason I wanted to do this, because I feel that I’ve been called to serve.”

What in your life got you ready for this?

“I grew up in a small family business my dad and grandfather owned, as a child.  Then I, of course, worked in small businesses throughout high school and college.  To me, the main qualification to represent this area is growing up here, experiencing and knowing this community.  

“And specifically, in education.  I’ve experienced our state education system first-hand.  I know the teachers, know the schools. And we have great schools and teachers, but I know what improvements we can build on.”

What do you hope to accomplish in office?

“One, as I mentioned, is improving education.  I’d love to see us invest more in pre-K programs, dual enrollment for high schoolers and college, and of course more investment in partnerships with trade schools and businesses as well.

“One of the main topics that I’m talking to people about is, I call it strengthening child safety laws.  Mainly what I’m tackling there is the human trafficking epidemic we have in this country, that’s also in this state as well.  With the interstate system we have with 65, I-20, even the highways like 72 in Madison, we’re just this perfect funnel for these, if you want to call them criminals, that are taking women and children and entering them in human trafficking.  So I want to sit down with state law enforcement agencies and figure out what do you need to better combat this.”

Are there differences between you and your opponents that people need to consider?

“I would just say this: everyone needs to look at all the candidates running.  You need to really investigate who they are and what they do. I honestly believe you really do need someone who’s been here a while, that knows the community, knows the people.  So I just encourage people to always research candidates, find out everything you can, call and ask questions. My personal phone number’s on everything, if people want to call me.  So I just encourage people to do that.”

If you boiled your platform down to a concise statement, what would you want people to know?

“Here’s the deal: like I said, I really hit the thing on knowing the community.  But we need to make sure that we have a Representative who is going to be a voice for all of the district; not just one city, one group of people.  We are a large district: very rural, very spread out. Towns are a little different, have their own personalities. We just need to make sure that we have a Representative that understands that he is beholden to his neighbors, but also represents the whole district, not just a part.”

For more information, visit www.justinmorrowfordistrict9.com or www.facebook.com/JustinMorrowDistrict9.

Copyright 2018 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.