Top: West Point sixth-grade scholars’ bowl team (L-R): Aaiden Jones, Eli Taylor, Katie-Beth Yovino, Brodie Henry (All-State and Team Captain), Silas Baty and John-David Yovino; Bottom: West Point eighth-grade scholars’ bowl team (L-R): Judd Douglas (2nd Team All-State), Abigail Roy (captain), Zeke Cornett and Kaleb Perry (contributed)

HOOVER, Ala. - Last Saturday, the West Point Middle School sixth-grade scholars’ bowl team placed third in the sixth-grade division of the Alabama State Middle School Scholars’ Bowl Championship.  Brodie Henry was the fourth-highest scorer in the tournament, and was named to the All-State Team.

West Point coach Lee Henry said, “I couldn’t be prouder of this group.  I can’t wait to see what these kids can do over the course of the next six years. Next stop: Nationals in Chicago!”

The eighth-grade team went 3-2 in its division.  Eighth grader Judd Douglas was the seventh-highest scorer and made Second Team All-State.

On social media, Henry said of his eighth graders, “These kids have worked so hard and will be representing West Point and the State of Alabama at the National Tournament in Chicago in May!  And we’re going to have a KILLER JV Team next year at West Point High!”

Based on their previous competitive success, West Point’s teams were pre-qualified to compete at the national tournament in Chicago this May.

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CULLMAN, Ala. - Below are the arrests and incidents reported on March 1, 2019. All persons are innocent until proven guilty.

GJ = grand jury; FTA = failure to appear

Cullman County Sheriff’s Office

No incidents or arrests reported.

Cullman Police Department

Incidents

No incidents reported.

Arrests

Cheatwood, Ronda L. 56

• FTA- third-degree theft of property

Taylor, Joshua L. 40

• FTA- insurance violation
• FTA- no tag

Cook, Ryan A., 36

• second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana

Rowland, Kayla K., 29

• FTA- fourth-degree theft of property

Johnson, Jordan R., 23

• FTA- DUI

Hanceville Police Department

No incidents or arrests reported.

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

Brad Meeks (Cullman County Sheriff's Office)

CULLMAN, Ala. - Bradford Neal Meeks, 28, of Bremen, the man awaiting trial for reckless murder in the death of Cullman High School student and athlete Curtis James Wilson, 15, on Sunday, May 7, 2017, has been arrested again by Cullman County authorities. Meeks was taken into custody Thursday for bail jumping, new charges of third-degree domestic violence- harassing communications and harassment, as well as unlawful possession of a controlled substance, according to a spokesman for the Cullman County Sheriff's Office, who said Meeks was found with methamphetamine when warrants were served. He is being held in the Cullman County Detention Center on a $25,000 cash bond.

Meeks was indicted by a Cullman County grand jury for reckless murder on Oct. 10, 2017, in connection with the fatal car crash that killed Wilson. Toxicology reports from UAB Hospital revealed that Meeks, the driver of the truck that hit Wilson and his mother, Ashley Wilson, then 43, had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .256, approximately three times the legal limit, at the time of the wreck.

Meeks is also facing charges in Madison County for unrelated crimes.

This is a developing story.

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Images taken from security cameras show the suspect. (Cullman Police Department)

CULLMAN, Ala.- An armed robbery took place after 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Woodforest National Bank inside Wal-Mart on Olive Street in Cullman.

The Cullman Police Department is searching for the suspect, described as a white male with dark hair, wearing a red Alabama T-shirt and ball cap and carrying a black backpack. The suspect is possibly armed with a gun.

Police said the suspect demanded money, but did not show a weapon. They said he fled through the garden center. He got away in a gray/silver sedan.

This is a developing story.

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Hanceville Councilman Justin Pruett, left, accepts a plaque from Hanceville Mayor Kenneth Nail at  Thursday night's Hanceville City Council meeting, Pruett's last meeting with the council. He has resigned his seat on the council due to travel requirements for his full-time job. (Christy Perry for The Cullman Tribune)

HANCEVILLE, Ala. - The Hanceville City Council on Thursday night said good-bye to Councilman Justin Pruett, who has resigned his seat on the council due to travel requirements for his full-time job.

Mayor Kenneth Nail presented Pruett with a plaque in appreciation of his service to the City of Hanceville since 2016, saying, “He wasn’t afraid to throw his opinion out there and I appreciate that.”

Pruett addressed those at the meeting, sharing, “It’s been an honor and a privilege to work with all of you. I’ve really enjoyed it. Also, police and fire, you all do an outstanding job.”

Pruett will be moving from Hanceville, but he is staying in Cullman County.

He said, “With my job, I’m going to be doing a lot of traveling. I can’t make the commitment that I’d be here when they needed.”

Pruett is a member of his employer R.E. Garrison Trucking’s organization, Garrison Gives Hope, which raises money for the Stephen K. Griffith Memorial Fund. The fund, established in memory of Cullman attorney and community leader Stephen K. Griffith through the Cullman Area Mental Health Foundation, supports the increased availability of mental health services in Cullman County. 

Explained Pruett, “We are busy raising money and planning fundraisers. We have a 5K coming up and a gun giveaway. All the money we raise benefits mental health locally.”

City employee passes away

Nail asked those in Hanceville to keep the family of the Hanceville Water and Sewer Board’s Jeff Gregory in their prayers. Gregory passed away unexpectedly Wednesday night.

Councilman Charles Wilson said of the sudden loss, “He worked for water and sewer and was just 20 days from his retirement. He had been with the City since ‘98 or ‘99, longer than anyone else. He was a good employee. A GOOD employee. He was our encyclopedia is what he was.”

Funeral services for Gregory, 62, will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday March 3 at Hanceville Funeral Home Chapel.  Visitation will be at 1 p.m. at the funeral home. Gregory will be laid to rest at the Bethlehem East Cemetery.

In other business

The council voted to terminate the local emergency order put in place prior to last week’s rain and storms. The council thanked everyone who came out to help fill sandbags and perform other tasks ahead of the storms. 

The FY 2019 budget was amended due to the repairs of the pavilion at Veterans Park. Repairs to the pavilion are near completion. The pavilion collapsed when its brackets failed during a thunderstorm in 2018. The pavilion was rebuilt without the use of brackets. 

The council held first readings for several ordinances. Two ordinances regarding rezoning will be voted on following public hearings scheduled for March 28 at 6 p.m. at city hall. The first ordinance (623) will set zoning for newly annexed property. 

Ordinance 624 would rezone property on Boyd and Hopewell Roads. The rezoning would be to R4 to allow garden homes. 

Ordinance 625 addresses salaries for the mayor and council.

Nail explained, “The state requires this council set the salaries for the next mayor and council during this term.”

The Hanceville mayor and council have seen no pay increase in at least 12 years. Pruett recommended the pay be increased to $400 per month for council members, $500 per month for the mayor pro tem and $47,000 per year for the mayor.

Pruett said, “In my opinion, the next mayor’s pay should be comparable to police chief and fire chief’s pay. There’s a big gap there now- a really big gap. You can’t have a full-time job and make a living making $31,000 a year.”

Wilson asked for time to research pay of other area mayors and councils of cities comparable in size.  The council will vote on the ordinance at the scheduled meeting on March 14, 2019.

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Empty Bowls Coordinator Tanya Shearer presents Cullman Caring for Kids Director Javon Daniel a check, bringing the 2019 Empty Bowls of Cullman County Chili Dinner's total contribution to the food bank to $14,000. (contributed)

CULLMAN, Ala. - On Friday afternoon, Cullman Caring for Kids (CCK) got the final numbers, and the last check, from the proceeds of the 2019 Empty Bowls of Cullman County Chili Dinner, which took place on Feb. 18. Event founder and coordinator Tanya Shearer presented CCK Director Javon Daniel a check that brought Empty Bowls' total contribution to the food bank to $14,000 for this year.

Afterward, Daniel told The Tribune, “It was a tremendous, tremendous success.  There was maybe a glitch or two, but this year seemed to go off very smoothly. The entertainment was incredible!  The volunteers that helped in both of the kitchens, the carry-out, that helped with the silent auction, helped with carrying the carry-outs to the people on the outside...  We had the Scouts there. We had the Youth Leadership kids there. Many volunteers. It has been a tremendous success!”

Including this year, Empty Bowls has raised approximately $125,000 for CCK since 2003.

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Robert Cook, 77, of Baileyton, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019. He was born March 19, 1941, to Robert and Marlene Bertbigler Cook.

Mr. Cook was a millwright by trade. He also served his country in the armed forces. For his service we are grateful. Robert was a member of Pan Creek Church and a frequent patron of Parkside Café.

Robert is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Richard Cook; and sister, Karen Worth.

 Survivors include his daughters, Lisa (Alan) Joyce, Diana Dean, Angel Herriman; sister, Betty Vieau; ten grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorial services for Mr. Cook will be held in northern Michigan at a later time.

Holly Pond Funeral Home is honored to serve the Cook family.

Michelle Wade Smeltzer, 52, of Jasper passed away on Feb. 28, 2019 at her home surrounded by her family.

Michelle was born on Sept. 19, 1966 in Haleyville. She was a member of Meek Baptist Church for 28 years.  Michelle graduated from Winston County High School in 1984 and went on to graduate from Athens State University with a bachelor’s degree and the University of West Alabama with her master’s degree.  She taught school for over 20 years at Meek Elementary School and Meek High School, and also served as the librarian.  Michelle sponsored the scholars' bowl and was part of many school activities including Book Club, Color Guard, and the Veterans Program.  She was a lifelong bookworm who enjoyed traveling and shopping.

Visitation will be held on Saturday from 12:30-3 p.m. at Nichols Funeral Home in Addison where services will be held at 3 p.m. Brother Steve Thomas will officiate.  Burial will be at Fairview Baptist Church Cemetery in Double Springs.

She is survived by her husband, James P. Smeltzer; mother, Jane Nellene Wolfe Wade; sons, Joshua Don Price and his wife Alivia and Jacob Wade Price; brothers, Dale Wade and Michael Wade and his wife Kelly; sisters, Jayne Hunter and her husband Terry and Gloria Nielson and her husband Aron.

She was preceded in death by her father, Edsel Ford Wade.

Memorial services for Mr. Billy Joe Kilgore, 90, of Cullman are Sunday, March 3, 2019 at 2 p.m. at Cullman Funeral Home, Rev. Wade Maynard officiating.

Cullman Funeral Home directing.

Mr. Kilgore passed away on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019.  He was born and raised in Alabama.  After a stint in the Air Force, Billy started a career in north Alabama supporting NASA programs including the Voyager probe to Mars and the Space Shuttle program.  He retired in 1994 from Rockwell International.

He is survived by his wife, Rebecca Glover Kilgore; sons, Brent Kilgore and Clark (Sherry) Kilgore; grandchildren, Brig Kilgore, Faith Kilgore, Tanner Cooper and Dillon Cooper; brother, Andy Kilgore and sister-in-law, Helen Kilgore.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Burdette Kilgore and Mary Sims Kilgore; sister, Tommie Naramore and brother, Truman Kilgore.

Funeral service for Jeraldene Lee Vaughn Eddy will be Sunday, March 3, 2019, at 2 p.m., at Cullman Heritage Funeral Home. Jackie Camp is officiating.

Mrs. Eddy passed away Friday, March 1, at her residence. She was born March 28, 1936, to James Albert and Mary Lillie Vaughn. She was a bookkeeper at West Point School for 30 years, a member of Eastern Star Vinemont Chapter 534, and a past Grand Chaplain for the State of Alabama Grand Chapter. She was also a member of Liberty FCM Church where she had been a Sunday School teacher and children’s choir director, and was actively serving as the church choir director.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Bradley Lee Eddy; and two sisters, Joie and Joyce Vaughn.

Survivors include a daughter Lynn (Billy) Byrd; son Chuck (Lisa) Eddy; grandchildren, Jerri Ann Williams, Ben Satur, Charles Eddy, Rei Sterling, and Nathan Eddy; five great-grandchildren; a brother, James Euclid Vaughn; Special Friends, Larry and Debbie Penn, Joel and Brenda Holiday, Tabitha Brown, and all of SouthernCare; and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Visitation will be Saturday, March 2, 2019, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Cullman Heritage Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Heart Association or SouthernCare.

Funeral services for Jeffrey Dale Gregory, 61, of Hanceville will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 3, 2019 at the Hanceville Funeral Home Chapel. Mr. Gregory's family will receive friends at funeral home Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. Mr. Gregory will be laid to rest at the Bethlehem East Cemetery.

Mr. Gregory worked at the Hanceville Water Department for many years. He enjoyed his garden, his grandchildren and spending time with his friends.

He is predeceased by his infant son, Justin Jerome Gregory and his father Jackie Lee Gregory.

He is survived by his daughter, Emily Ferrell (Pat); grandchildren Hank, Margaret, Hannah, Amos and Porter Ferrell, all of Opp, AL; his mother Glenda Hataway of Ashford, AL; sister Teresa Gregory of Orlando, FL and a brother, David Gregory of Valley Head, AL.

Mary Cato Hollis, age 79, passed away Feb. 28, 2019, at Hanceville Nursing Home and Rehab. Visitation will be Saturday, March 2 from 5-7 p.m. at Moss Funeral Home Cullman. Memorial service will be at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 3 at East Side Baptist Church, Cullman with Pastor Matt Smith and Rev. Sam Hollis officiating. Visitation before the funeral will start at 2 p.m.

Mary is survived by her husband of 55 years, Sam; her son Paul Hollis (Jill); granddaughter, Elianna Hollis; brother, John Cato (Brenda); sister, Karen McDonough (Johnny); brother-in-law, Jack Berry; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Grady and Sarah Louise Cato; and sister, Carolyn Berry.

Mary was a faithful Christian serving alongside her husband in 55 years pastoral ministry. She excelled in ministry to children: directing children's choirs, teaching Sunday school and vacation Bible school. She was gifted musically: playing the piano, singing solos, singing in ladies ensembles and church choirs. She was a loving caring mother and grandmother. She loved her extended family, lavishing her brother and sisters, nieces and nephews with her generosity. She was a friend to all who would allow her to be. She will be missed, but our loss is Heaven's gain.

Mary's family expresses its appreciation for the loving, compassionate, professional care she received through Hanceville Nursing Home and Rehab, North Alabama Hospice, Kindred Home Health Care, Dr. James Hoover and Nurse Practitioner Marsha Tillman.

In lieu of flowers the family prefers that donations be made to The Gideons International or the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Online condolences and special memories can be left for the family at www.mossservice.com.

Cullman County’s state legislative delegation, left to right: Rep. Corey Harbison, R-Good Hope; Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview; Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle; and Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman (contributed)

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - When the Alabama Legislature convenes for its 2019 regular session on March 5, it will have a full slate waiting; 50 bills have already been pre-filed in the House of Representatives, and 35 have been pre-filed in the Senate.

What will our legislators be doing?

Each legislator has been assigned to serve on certain House or Senate committees:

• Rep. Corey Harbison, R-Good Hope - Economic Development and Tourism Committee, Constitution Campaigns and Elections, Technology and Research (Vice Chair)
• Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview - Children and Senior Advocacy Committee (Vice Chair); Financial Services Committee; Local Legislation Committee (Vice Chair); Transportation, Utilities, and Infrastructure Committee; Urban and Rural Development Committee (Chair)
• Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle - Local Legislation Committee; Boards, Agencies, and Commissions Committee, State Government Committee
• Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman - Finance and Taxation Education Committee, Governmental Affairs Committee, Agriculture Conservation and Forestry Committee, Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee (Vice Chair), Tourism Committee

Legislation proposed or supported by members of Cullman County delegation

Cullman County’s legislative delegation has had a hand in pre-filing certain pieces of that collection of bills.  

HB19 - Introduced by Rep. Kyle South (R, Distr. 16), cosponsored by numerous others including Rep. Randall Shedd, Rep. Corey Harbison, and Rep. Scott Stadthagen.  The bill would require the State Board of Education to review and approve any rules relating to student participation eligibility before adoption by any high school athletic organization, and would require 25 percent of the membership of the governing body of that organization to consist of individuals appointed by the State Superintendent of Education or the State Board of Education.

HB22 - Introduced by Rep. Chris Blackshear (R, Distr. 80), co-sponsored by Rep. Corey Harbison and Rep. Scott Stadthagen.  The bill would allow a person who is a resident of a state bordering on the State of Alabama who carries on a business, profession, or who is regularly employed in the State of Alabama to be commissioned as a notary public by the judge of probate of the county in which the person carries on his or her profession, business, or employment.  Currently, any Notary Public in Alabama must be a resident of the state.

HB37 - Introduced by Rep. Scott Stadthagen and co-sponsored by others including Rep. Randall Shedd, the bill would encourage state agencies to save money by allowing them to keep ten percent of any unspent money from their budget in a given year and convert that money into employee bonuses.  The other 90 percent of unspent funds would revert to the state’s General Fund, so that it could be rerouted to other places where extra funds might be needed.

Proposed amendment could make Curtis Wilson-Stephanie Harmon Interlock Act permanent

In 2018, the state enacted a law (SB1, Act 2018-517) named in part after Cullman teen Curtis Wilson, who was killed by a drunk driver (A reckless murder case against the driver is still pending), requiring persons charged with DUI and enrolled in pretrial diversion programs to have ignition interlock devices installed in their cars.  The devices would require the driver to pass a breathalyzer test before the car will crank. See www.cullmantribune.com/articles/2018/04/25/new-law-targeting-drunk-drive....

The law as enacted last year was what is called a “sunset act,” a law which only remains in effect for a specific time.  Act 2018-517 is currently set to expire in July 2023. The amendment, proposed by Sen. Jim McClendon, R-Springville, who sponsored SB1 in 2018, would remove the sunset clause and make the interlock act permanent.

The fuel tax

Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced her Rebuild Alabama Infrastructure Plan, which proposes a 10-cent increase in Alabama’s fuel tax with an index designed to coincide with the rising costs of building roads. Alabama currently imposes a flat excise tax of 18 cents-per-gallon on gas and 19 cents-per-gallon on diesel, without adjusting for inflation and other construction and maintenance costs. The governor’s office said this combined fuel tax revenue generates 80 percent of Alabama’s transportation funding. The plan’s 10-cent increase, which is being hotly debated, would be phased in over the next three years.

Ivey said new revenue generated by the increase would be dispersed between state, county and municipal governments in Alabama, with these funds to be used for transportation infrastructure improvement, preservation and maintenance projects. A separate portion of the revenues would go to pay a bond to be issued to finance improvements to the ship channel providing access to the facilities of the Alabama State Docks.

Contact your legislators

During the session, you can contact your legislators in their Montgomery offices at the following phone numbers and email addresses.  Rep. Stadthagen does not currently have a House email address; the address came from his personal legislative website.

Rep. Corey Harbison - 334-261-0578, corey.harbison@alhouse.gov

Rep. Randall Shedd - 334-261-0530, randall.shedd@alhouse.gov

Rep. Scott Stadthagen - 334-261-0436, g.s.stadthagen@gmail.com

Sen. Garlan Gudger - 334-261-0855, garlan.gudger@alsenate.gov

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Wallace State Singers director Tiffany Richter and Wallace State student Riley Adams of Cullman accept a $1,600 donation from the Cullman County Bicentennial Committee on behalf of the Wallace State Fine and Performing Arts program.

HANCEVILLE, Ala. - Wallace State Community College’s Fine and Performing Arts program received a $1,600 donation from the Cullman County Bicentennial Committee, supporting the program’s upcoming production and European tour of “Stars Fell on Alabama: Music Inspired by a Southern State.”

“I sincerely want to thank the local committee for their support of this project,” said Tiffany Richter, director of the Wallace State Singers. “This donation will go a long way in helping us as we get ready to take more than 50 students to Europe to perform our show celebrating the music of Alabama during the state’s bicentennial celebration.”

The show will incorporate the music of Alabama artists and music made in Alabama, with nods to legends like Hank Williams, Percy Sledge, Tammy Wynette, the group Alabama, as well as to songs recorded at FAME and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio by acts such as Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Rolling Stones, Cher and more.

Each of Wallace State Performing Arts programs will all be taking part in the production, with local performances planned for May 2-4 in the Betty Leeth Haynes Theatre. Less than two weeks later, the group will depart for a nine-day trip to Germany and France. The group will perform in at least three cities, with one performance planned in Cullman’s sister city of Frankweiller, Germany.

The Wallace State Future Foundation is accepting donations to help sponsor students taking the trip.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these students, and they are very excited at the prospect of traveling to Europe,” Richter said.

For more information about the show or trip, contact Tiffany Richter at 256-352-8034 or tiffany.richter@wallacestate.edu. For more information about Wallace State’s Fine and Performing Arts programs, visit www.wallacestate.edu/fpa.

CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Human Trafficking Task Force Chairperson Kathy Wilson shared with The Tribune about “sextortion,” the use of privately-made, sexually-explicit photos or videos to coerce victims into compliance.

Sextortion can be tied to human trafficking because the definition of sextortion is when an individual coerces victims into providing sexually-explicit images or videos of themselves, then threatens to release or distribute the images or videos unless the victims comply with demands.  In many cases, the demands include more photos or performing sex acts with the individual making the demands. Sextortion can be facilitated in many ways by those seeking to exploit vulnerable individuals sexually or for financial gain.

Sextortion affects children across all demographics.  Victims often withdraw from family and friends and can exhibit signs of anxiety, physical and emotional trauma, and bullying; they are at a higher risk of dropping out of school and of developing suicidal thoughts.

How can you protect your kids?

Supervise your children’s computer, mobile device or tablet.  Devices like smartphones are more difficult to manage due to their mobility and technical capabilities.  As teenagers’ brains are not fully developed, they often struggle with impulse control and anticipating consequences.  It’s very important to discuss with your children appropriate uses for these devices when they are given access to them.  This includes communicating with others online and sending photos. Parents should maintain their child’s online account access information and be able to log in at any time.

Communicate with your children.  Have discussions with your child about the dangers associated with communicating with unknown people online, sending photos or engaging in other risky behavior online.  To help protect your children from online predators, it’s important to educate your children about sextortion and the motivation of those who extort children. Let your children know they can come to you without fear should they ever be faced with this type activity.

Sextortion is a crime.  The coercion of a child by an adult to produce child pornography is a Class A misdemeanor that carries heavy penalties; just having sexually explicit images of a minor on your phone or tablet is considered possession of child pornography and is a Class C felony.  If human trafficking is involved, those penalties can be up to life in prison. Remember: the definition of human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of commercial sex act.

Alabama law

In 2017 Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law the Sex Offender Reporting Bill, which includes sections to update Alabama’s Criminal Code on sex crimes involving the use of technology:

“A person commits the crime of distributing a private image if he or she knowingly posts, emails, texts, transmits, or otherwise distributes a private image with the intent to harass, threaten, coerce, or intimidate the person depicted when the depicted person has not consented to the transmission and the depicted person had a reasonable expectation of privacy against transmission of the private image.”

A first offense is a Class A misdemeanor; subsequent violations are Class C felonies.

“A person commits the crime of sexual extortion if he or she knowingly causes another person to engage in sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, sexual contact, or in a sexual act or to produce any photograph, digital image, video, film, or other recording of any person, whether recognizable or not, engaged in any act of sadomasochistic abuse, sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, sexual excitement, masturbation, breast nudity, genital nudity, or other sexual conduct by transmitting any communication containing any threat to injure the body, property, or reputation of any person.”

Offenses of this type are Class B felonies.

Speak up

If you suspect someone is involved, or know someone who is a victim of sextortion, contact:

Cullman County Sheriff’s Office - 256-734-0342

Cullman Police Department - 256-734-1434

FBI - 1-800-225-5324

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children - 1-800-THE LOST (1-800-843-5678)

Copyright 2019 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, left, and Roy Drinkard, right, at Saturday's Cullman County Republican breakfast (Christy Perry for The Cullman Tribune)

CULLMAN, Ala. - Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth visited Cullman County Saturday morning to speak at the Cullman County Republicans' monthly breakfast meeting. A large crowd came out to hear Ainsworth speak on a variety of issues, including Gov. Kay Ivey’s recently released infrastructure plan that includes a 10-cent per gallon increase in fuel tax. 

Ainsworth thanked Cullman County for continuing to be one of the top three "Republican" counties in the state, based on general election results.

He also recognized Mr. Roy Drinkard, saying, “It’s an honor to have Roy Drinkard here today. It’s an honor to call you a friend for sure.”

After giving a brief overview of the responsibilities of his office, Ainsworth tuned to Ivey's Rebuild Alabama Infrastructure Plan, which proposes a 10-cent increase in Alabama’s fuel tax with an index the governor's office said is designed to coincide with the rising costs of building roads. The state currently imposes a flat excise tax of 18 cents-per-gallon on gas and 19 cents-per-gallon on diesel, without adjusting for inflation and other construction and maintenance costs. This combined fuel tax revenue generates 80 percent of Alabama’s transportation funding. Ivey said the plan’s 10-cent increase would be phased in over the next three years.

Said Ainsworth, “The governor has addressed the need and I think all of us can agree, there certainly is a need there. So the question is, what am I doing as lieutenant governor on the infrastructure issue? I want to applaud the governor for actually trying to solve a problem.”

Ainsworth said the proposed bill would include a Joint Transportation Committee to provide oversight over the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT). The committee would be responsible for holding ALDOT accountable and for putting “needs over politics.” Ainsworth said polls show a growing distrust among Alabamians of how ALDOT handles taxpayer money. He said the current committee has not met in three years. Ainsworth said he hopes to change that and expand the committee.

When asked how the state would make sure Cullman County received its fair share of money from the gas tax, Ainsworth replied, “What we are working on to make sure Cullman County gets taken care of is the accountability measure with the Joint Transportation Committee which is going to consist of, if the bill passes, 10 members of the Senate. I’ll appoint them and there will be 10 members from the House. That committee is responsible for making sure that the money is based on need, which obviously Cullman County would have a lot of needs....the interstate running through here and there’s a lot of industry. So that is the purpose of the committee, to hold DOT accountable and make sure its transparent with every tax dollar that we appropriate, which is what the Legislature does.”

Workforce development is what Ainsworth identified as his office’s no. 1 priority, He said his office is currently developing an app that will be available to all students listing all available jobs within 60 miles of each student. He said the aim of the app is to help students see what opportunities are out there and what training and education is needed in those jobs and careers.

Ainsworth explained why he believes kids need this app to receive this information, saying, “Parents aren’t doing their job anymore. Counselors aren’t telling these kids that, so we’ve got kids literally graduating from high school that have been told- how are you doing on your ACT and where you going to college. Statewide, about 60 percent of students do not go to a two- or four-year college. We’ve got to get people, what I call, 'job-ready.'”

Ainsworth also hopes to make pre-K available for Alabama children. He said reading initiatives targeting Kindergarten through third-grade students are also a priority.

Ainsworth said his office is also working on a plan to help incentivize growth and expansion for both local and out-of-town businesses and is involved in the work to help overhaul Alabama's correctional system.

Looking ahead to 2020, Ainsworth had the U.S. Senate race on his mind, saying, “We gotta make sure that we have a senator that represents Alabama values in 2020. We’ve gotta beat Doug Jones. We’ve got a senator that is pro-abortion, that’s anti-Trump, and that basically everything we stand for, he’s against. It shocks me how liberal Doug Jones has been.”

Copyright 2019 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Jeanette Estes, 83, of Holly Pond, passed away Friday, March 1, 2019. She was born Nov. 2, 1935, to Odie J. and Hester Gorham Sweatmon.

Mrs. Estes enjoyed attending the Senior Citizens Center where she loved to play Rook with her friends.  Jeanette attended and enjoyed Camp Bluebird of Alabama as a cancer survivor for many years. In 1954, she married the love of her life, Feltus Estes, and began a family. Jeanette’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were her treasures on earth. Her heart was her family and she will be missed greatly by her family and friends.

Jeanette is preceded in death by her parents, Odie and Hester Sweatmon; her beloved husband of 36 years, Feltus Estes; daughter, Joyce Shaddix; brother, Edward Sweatmon; and sister, Lavonda Blackwell.

She is survived by her son, Donald (Vanessa) Estes; son-in-law, Danny Shaddix; brother, Junior Sweatmon; sisters, Faye (Harry) Owens, Gaye (Winton) Cannington; grandchildren, Jeremy Shaddix, Scotty Estes, Angela Jones, Skipper Estes, Kayla James; and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Mrs. Estes will be 1 p.m. Monday, March 4, 2019, in the Holly Pond Funeral Home Chapel, J. Wesley Jones, Jr. officiating. Jeanette will lie in state from 12 noon until services begin at 1 p.m. Burial will follow in Brooklyn Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, March 3, 2019, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Holly Pond Funeral Home is honored to serve the Estes family.

Louise R. Cowart, 93, of Haleyville passed away on March 1, 2019 at her home surrounded by her family.

Louise was born on Dec. 21, 1925 in Foley, Alabama. She was a member of Sunny Home Baptist Church for over 50 years and loved her church and church family very much, but most of all she loved the Lord.  Louise worked at Haleyville Textile and Nailfast, and enjoyed being outside where she could be seen working in her yard from her wheelchair by neighbors and those who passed by in vehicles.  Her family called the wheelchair her Cadillac.  She also enjoyed fishing and camping with her daughters.

Visitation will be held on Monday, March 4, 2018 from 2-3 p.m. at Nichols Funeral Home where services will be held at 3 p.m. Brother Larry Dover will officiate.  Burial will be in Littleville Cemetery.

She is survived by her daughters, Carloyn Smith Butler and her husband Freddie, and Elaine Smith Abbott; she was GG to 5 grandchildren, Kim Butler, Barry Butler, Keith Butler, Heath Cleveland and Todd Abbott; 6 great grandchildren, Melissa Butler, Ashley Ozbirn, Jerett Butler, Tiffany South, C.K. Smith and Cody Cleveland; and 7 great grandchildren, Gage Butler, Kiah Taylor, Emma Taylor, John Michael Ozbirn, Brantley Ozbirn, Emily Cleveland and C.J. Cleveland.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Kate and James Rice; and her grandson, Rodney Dale Butler.

Elmer Andrew Shedd, 92, of Wyandotte, Michigan formerly of Haleyville, entered into rest on Feb. 26, 2019 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan.

Mr. Shedd was born on Aug. 29, 1926, in Phil Campbell, Alabama. Elmer served in the United States Navy during World War II. He worked as an electrician at Great Lakes Steel and retired as a superintendent of the 80 Inch Mill in Ecorse, Michigan. Elmer loved fishing and having a large garden every year.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 3, 2019 from 6-8 p.m. at Nichols Funeral Home in Haleyville, where services will be held on Monday, March 4, 2019 at 11 a.m. Brother Gary Wakefield will officiate. Burial will follow in Ashbank Freewill Baptist Church Cemetery in Nauvoo, Alabama.

Elmer is survived by his loving wife of 74 years, Minnie Roberta Shedd; daughter, Sarah Shedd; brother, Cardine Shedd; and a host of nieces and nephews. He was “Poppow” to 2 grandchildren, Teresa Hipshire, Lisa Ulsh and “Grandpa” to 1 great grandson, William Peek III.

He was preceded in death by his son, Ralph Shedd; and parents, Phillip and Nora Shedd.

Wallace State’s Phi Theta Kappa honor society recently welcomed its spring inductees.

HANCEVILLE, Ala.– Wallace State’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society welcomed new members this week during its annual spring semester ceremony.

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

Wallace State’s Phi Theta Kappa conducts a spring and fall semester ceremony each year.

New Wallace State inductees to the honor society are:

Addison: Emarie Herald

Albertville: Sonya Juan, Maria Ramirez, Somer Saint

Altoona: Sumerlyn Humphrey, Ethan McDerment

Arab: Madison Camp, Anna Garrett, Riley-Grace Jordan, Bryan Vanegas

Athens: Hayley Patterson

Attalla: Hannah Busha, Caleb Hudson

Baileyton: Hunter McKelvy

Blountsville: Grace Battles, Chloe Cruz, Anna-Marie Kusz, Lakshmi Tummalapalli

Boaz: Kailee Upchurch

Carrollton: Joseph Hedrick

Chelsea: Kinsley Gardner

Cleveland: Hannah Armstrong, Rosalinda Castillo, Lindsay Fountain

Crane Hill: Lani Current, Chasilyn Morrow, Erika Persons

Cullman: Isabella Allred, Caleb Barnette, Kaitlyn Bassett, Isaiah Bell, Shane Brewer, Danielle Collins, Marigrace Dunn, Dylan Finch, Kirsten Graveman, Caroline Grimes, Stacy Holt, Sam Johnston, Kate Kent, Summer Laymaster, Andrew Morton, Chloe Ray, Madison Roberts, Te’a Seely, Andrew Shaw, Christian Smith, Nolan Warner, Jacob White, Preston White, Eli Wilhite, Madalyn Williams

Danville: Elizabeth Anderton, Autumn Byrum

Dawson: Matthew Malone

Decatur: Zachary Johnson, Kele Nelson

Empire: Aimee Carroll

Eva: Henslee Brindley, Faulyn Childs, Haley Earwood

Falkville: Kaitlin Harding, Jordan Hinkle

Fultondale: Stacey Marcus, Kristyn McPherson, Rebecca Richards

Gardendale: Joshua Carlisle, Jonathan Williams, Beth Morris

Geraldine: Karlee Hale

Guntersville: Austin Salinas, Katie Wood

Haleyville: Stephanie Acevedo

Harvest: Lauren Church

Hayden: Hannah Aycock, Sarrah Aycock, Logan Chappell, Madilyn Chappell, Kimberly Frazier, Caleb Houston, Heaven Randolph, Kiera Thrasher, William Thrasher,

Hanceville: Bayleigh Arnold, Brandon Danecker, Jonathan Kornegay, Mackenzie Ledbetter, Sydney McDougal, Kasey Murphree, Matthew Ridden, Beth Veigl, Haley Wilbanks,  

Hartselle: Makayla Henderson, Anna Mathis, Nicholas Prater, Paxon Preuitt, Sydnie Ricks, Joshlyn Rowland,

Hernando, Miss.: Kaitlyn Doyle

Holly Pond: Logan Chambers  

Hoover: Alex Leary

Horton: Ashley Smith, Lindsey Stewart

Huntsville: Anna Katherine Eads, Karen Valadez

Jasper: Janie Akins, Angekya Kellum   

Joppa: Anthony Camp

Kimberly: Connor Bruce, Avery Dunn

Laceys Spring: Hannah Craddock

Leeds: Misty Campbell

Locust Fork: Jayleigh Tawbush

Logan: Tiffany Treece

Madison: Jordan McMeans, Jessica Mouser

Mount Olive: Garrison Clements

Morris: Makayla Pharris

Muscle Shoals: Lauren Leeds

New Hope: Lorianne Fite

Newton: Jordan Hollis

Northport: Macy Montgomery, Makala Worrell

Oneonta: Yessica Chacon, Andrew Elrod, Alyssa Gilland, Samantha Mendez, Katie Montgomery, Tatiana Sims

Owens Cross Roads: Ashlynn Owen

Parrish: Haley Pettit

Pinson: Destiny Wallace

Rainsville: Consuela Holkem

Russellville: Rachel Harris

Somerville: Morgan Childers

Union Grove: Hannah Phillips

Vinemont: Jennifer Brooks, Meredith Calvert, Emily Dyer, Devin Jenkins, Aaron Perry, Kinlee Puckett, Samuel Roberts, Jake Wood

Warrior: Brandy Borden, Emily Cleveland, Jessica Fetner, Danielle Mydland, Troy Yeager

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

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

Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics will be recognized with the Shirley B. Gordon Award of Distinction by the national Phi Theta Kappa organization  during PTK Catalyst 2019, the Society’s annual convention, April 4-6 in Orlando, Florida.

The Wallace State induction was held in conduction with Phi Theta Kappa Awareness Week. For more information on the organization, visit www.ptk.org/Default.aspx?TabID=3848

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