Cullman County Revenue Commissioner Barry Willingham (Cullman Tribune file photo)

If you vote yes, everything stays the same.  If you vote no, what you pay in the county-everything stays the same; what you pay in the city would be a loss, but everybody would lose money.”

Cullman County Revenue Commissioner Barry Willingham

CULLMAN, Ala.  - On March 19, voters across Cullman County will head to the polls to vote on the continuation and renewal of an existing property tax allocation for schools. The tax is not new or an increase. State law requires the allocation be renewed through a referendum every 30 years. 

The current school tax portion of property taxes in Cullman County is confusing because it’s not one tax. There are six different taxes that support one or more public school systems in the county.  Additionally, due to several parcels of land along the Cullman/Marshall County line having been annexed into the city of Arab, and up to two percent of that system’s student population coming from Cullman County, even that school system gets money from two Cullman County taxes and a separate one of its own which will be on the ballot in the upcoming election.  

You’ll need to know before proceeding: What’s a “mill” in tax terms?

A property tax “mill” equals one tenth of one percent of the value of a piece of property.  For property valued at $1,000, for instance, one mill equals $1.

Taxes on this referendum’s ballot include:

• 3 mill county-wide tax to be divided among all city and county schools, plus the Arab city system
• 1 mill county-wide tax to be divided among all city and county schools, plus the Arab city system
• 3 mill district tax specifically for the county system, school district 1, to be voted on by county residents not within Cullman or Arab city limits
• 3 mill district tax specifically for the Cullman city system, school district 2, to be voted on by residents within Cullman’s city limits
• 3 mill district tax specifically for Cullman County students attending Arab city schools, school district 8, to be voted on by residents in the portion of northeast Cullman County that lies within Arab’s city limits

The city of Cullman has an additional and separate 10.5 mill school tax that is not up for a vote in this referendum.  Because the state of Alabama requires a minimum tax millage that is above the current total of county-levied taxes, residents pay an additional 3 mill tax that is not currently subject to a vote.

Voters will vote on three of the taxes: the two countywide and the tax for their specific district.

State law requires 10 mill school tax, regardless of local vote

The State of Alabama requires each county to give a minimum of 10 mills of its property taxes to education.  Counties and municipalities can exceed that amount, but if their local taxes fell below the minimum when Alabama constitutional amendment 778 passed in 2006, a special tax had to be enacted in order to bring the local amount up to the 10-mill minimum.

Cullman County Revenue Commissioner Barry Willingham explained:

“There’s a law that says we have to have a minimum of 10 mills of tax locally to go to education.  Back in ‘04, we only had seven mills, so when the statewide referendum passed, it kicked in an automatic three additional mills.  So we have 10 mills in the county that goes straight to education. Again, the three mill and the one mill, which we call the four mill county-wide, is distributed based on enrollment.  So roughly 77 percent of that tax goes to the county board of education. The remaining portion goes to the City of Cullman, and then you’ve got just less than two percent, I believe, goes to Arab right now.

“You have then the three mill that goes straight to the city board of education.  And since we have-there’s a 10.5 mill tax that’s a city tax that was passed by the City of Cullman, they don’t get that additional three mills special tax because they’ve already reached their minimum of ten mills.  So we collect, in the city of Cullman 17.5 mills. Now, all that 17.5 mills does not go to them, because the four mills is based on enrollment.”

If all of the school tax renewals are voted down...

Because the state requires a 10 mill tax anyway, failure to renew the local tax will not affect the amount of tax paid by county residents outside the city of Cullman.

Said Willingham, “The tax that you pay in the county, or if you live in Hanceville or Vinemont, or any of those--because all of those are considered county school systems--you won’t actually see a difference of taxes you pay, at all.  If you vote against it, it won’t be any difference.”

While the amount of taxes paid will not decrease, according to Willingham, the amount of funding received by the school systems will drop.

Willingham shared, “The City of Cullman would lose about $1.3 million if it fails, because that’s what they’re getting on the 3 mill.  But they’d actually lose more than that, because they’re getting 20-something percent of the entire 4 mills . . . They’d lose (approximately) $700,000 on that, so they’d be losing about $2 million probably, if it fails.”

The commissioner added that the amount may be a conservative estimate, and the final loss total could be even higher.

As to the county system, Willingham said, “I think the county board of education would lose close to $1.5 million if it doesn’t pass.  The City of Cullman would lose a lot more than that.”

What does it all mean?

Due to the state minimum requirement, failure to renew the taxes would not lower the amount paid by residents in the county but, according to the commissioner, it would lower the amount of money reaching county schools.

In the city of Cullman, a no vote would actually lower property taxes.  

Willingham said, “Right now they’re at 38.5 (mills) total. So it would actually go down to 31.5 mills.  So their property (tax) would go down $70 per hundred thousand dollars, or $140 on commercial property.”

The lowering of the property tax in the city would, though, be accompanied by a reduction in the amount of money sent to the schools.

According to Willingham, “If you vote yes, everything stays the same.  If you vote no, what you pay in the county-everything stays the same; what you pay in the city would be a loss, but everybody would lose money.”

The vote will take place on March 19.

See a full sample ballot at www.cullmancourts.org/assets/probatecourt/PDFs/sampleBallot.pdf.

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Randall Shedd (Cullman Tribune file photo)

CULLMAN, Ala. -  Yesterday, the Alabama House of Representatives voted on the fiercely-debated Rebuild Alabama Infrastructure Plan, approving a 10-cent-per-gallon increase in the state gas tax. After five hours of debate, the House approved the bill Friday on an 83-20 vote. It now moves to the Alabama Senate.

Rep. Randall Shedd, R- Fairview voted yes on the bill, while Rep. Corey Harbison, R-Good Hope and Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle voted no.

Reaction to the vote was swift, many on The Tribune's social media pages voicing displeasure with Shedd's vote. Saturday morning, Shedd issued the following statement:

I am willing to risk the next election when I am convinced it's important for the next generation.

Governor Kay Ivey's infrastructure legislation is important to the future of our state and is important to my district.

Alabama's economy is at risk if we don't fix our infrastructure. The automotive industry depends on a "just in time delivery" system for their manufacturing supplies.

If they can't move their supplies in they'll move their good-paying jobs out.

Shipping poultry and other agricultural products from my district to the worldwide economy is very important. This legislation expands that capacity.

This legislation not only brings more than $50 million the next ten years for county roads to the four counties I represent, it also puts me in a good position the next four years to successfully ask for state projects for my district that current and future generations need.

With increased fuel mileage and electric vehicles becoming the dominant choice of the future, funding for road and bridges is declining while construction costs are increasing. That is a formula for safety disaster as well as economic disaster.

Many of you are asking why I voted for it. These are the reasons. 

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CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Animal Shelter volunteer Donna Ruttkay said the shelter’s had a good week for dog adoptions, including The Tribune’s Tuesday pet, so we asked her to share something new. Meet The Cullman Tribune’s very first feline Pet of the Week, Moggie, who’s out to prove how good your luck can be with a black cat!

“Moggie,” by the way, is a British term for the domestic shorthaired cat.

Despite the name, she’s an all-American domestic shorthair of unknown age.  Ruttkay describes her as a “kind-hearted girl who likes to be fussed over; she’s vocal when she sees you; she’s grateful for your attention.” 

Moggie’s adoption fee is $65, which includes: spaying, current inoculations, worming and a general exam.

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 2019 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Shown left to right are Judge Kim Chaney, Joyce Sedlmayr, Jan Peterson, Justin Lynch, Charlotte Libbee and Judge Rusty Turner.  (Photo courtesy CASA)

CULLMAN, Ala. - On Feb. 20, Cullman County District Judges Kim Chaney and Rusty Turner swore in four new volunteers for Cullman’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program: Charlotte Libbee, Justin Lynch, Jan Peterson and Joyce Sedlmayr will serve as advocates for children who have come into the Cullman County court system due to abuse, neglect or family custody issues.

CASA is a third-party entity which helps to make sure that a child’s best interests are being served and that permanency is being achieved as quickly as possible. Trained personnel are assigned to specific cases by courts and conduct independent investigations into cases of abuse, to do whatever is in the child's best interest. 

Cullman County CASA is under the umbrella of Cullman Caring for Kids (CCK).

According to CCK Director Javon Daniel: “Volunteers, strictly volunteers, are trained, screened very thoroughly, and then after that is done, then they are sworn in by the district court judges, and they become court officials on a case that they are assigned to. Their job, in those instances, is to do their own investigation to determine the facts about a particular case. They are assigned to a case of a child who is in court for abuse or neglect, and they do their own investigation. When they’re finished with the investigation, they write a report to the judge, and in that report they state the facts that they learned during the investigation and make recommendations to the judge, based on those facts.

Daniel continued, “What we usually say is they become the eyes and ears for the judge, because the judge cannot get out and do that in every case.  But, more importantly, I think, is that they become the voice for the child, because children have very little to say about custody cases and abuse cases.  It’s just important that they know that they have somebody who, their only purpose is to be there for that child. We don’t work for DHR (Cullman County Department of Human Resources); we don’t work for the attorneys.  We are there as volunteers to help that child to get into a safe, permanent home as soon as possible.”

The new CASA volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds:

• Joyce Sedlmayr, who retired in 2011 after working for 24 years as a tax compliance auditor in Cullman County, said, “I want to know that I helped a child.”
• Jan Peterson is a retired physical therapist from Florida.  Jan’s husband, Doug, is also a CASA volunteer. She said, “We want to help these children and their families to make a better life.”
• Justin Lynch is a family man who is the founder of Preventive Action in Cullman and the pastor of Church 212.  He said, “I want to volunteer with CASA because there are children in need of help and I want to do everything I can to make sure I am helping as many people as I can.  As a Christian, I believe it is my responsibility to help those in need.”
• Charlotte Libbee, a former paralegal from California, said, “ I just want to know that children are safe and families are being helped.”

For more information about CASA, visit www.cullmancaringforkids.com/casa.html or call 256-739-1111.

Copyright 2019 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Gordon Lance Winstead (Cullman Police Department)

CULLMAN, Ala. - A Hanceville man has been charged with trafficking methamphetamine. Gordon Lance Winstead, 48, was arrested on Friday, March 8, 2019 by the Cullman Police Department's Crime Suppression Unit (CSU).

A media release from the department said the arrest came after the CSU made contact with the occupant of a suspicious vehicle parked at an apartment complex.

"(A) narcotics K-9 indicated on the vehicle, and after officers conducted a search (they) recovered approximately 31 grams of methamphetamine, along with hypodermic syringes, a glass methamphetamine smoking pipe, digital scales and other drug paraphernalia items."

Winstead was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. He was on parole at the time of the arrest. 

Winstead was transported to the Cullman County Detention Center where he was booked in with a bond of $500,300. He has since been released.

Copyright 2019 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Funeral services for Elsa H. Arnold, 86, of Hanceville will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with interment following in Catholic Cemetery, Hanceville Funeral Home directing.  Mrs. Arnold’s family will receive friends Tuesday evening beginning at 6 p.m. at the funeral home and a rosary will be recited at 7:30 at the funeral home.

Elsa was born Dec. 26, 1932 in England and passed to heaven March 8, 2019 in Cullman, Alabama.  She is survived by children Ann Arnold, Steven Arnold and Sally Martinez. There are five grandchildren, one great grandchild and a brother, Alan Hoare.

Mr. Billy Eric Reaid, 61, of Cullman passed away on Thursday, March 7, 2019.  A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Glenda Jean Yeager, age 76, of Hoover, formerly of Cullman, died Friday, March 8, 2019.

After graduating from Cullman High School, she retired from Regions Bank. She was a member of the Church of Christ and Homewood Lions Club. Glenda loved playing bunko and taking beach trips. Everyone loved her and her loving smile.

Glenda is survived by her daughters: Karen Baggett (Tim) and Lynett Morrison (Stewart); husband, Dan Yeager; sisters: Marcy Manning (Paul) and Pat Freeman (Frankie); stepdaughter, Gina Yeager; grandchildren: Michael Neil, Matthew Neil, Nicholas Morrison, Taylor Baggett (Margaret), Allison Baggett, Stephen Baggett (Amberlee), Amanda Smith (Tyler) and Boston Yeager; and her great grandchildren: Izaiah Smith, Dalton Smith, and 2 other great grandchildren that are on the way.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 from 11:30 a.m. until the celebration of Glenda’s life, which will begin at 1 p.m. at Moss Service Funeral Home in Cullman. Burial will follow in Cullman City Cemetery.

Please visit www.mossservicefh.com to leave condolences for the family.

Moss Service Funeral Home directing.

Cullman Rotarian John Lang holds up an item at Friday’s 46th annual Cullman Rotary Club Auction at the Cullman Civic Center. (Christy Perry at The Cullman Tribune)

CULLMAN, Ala. - The Cullman Rotary Club held its 46th annual auction Friday evening. The event is the club’s only fundraiser each year, with all money raised put back into the Cullman County community.

Cullman Rotary Club President Michael Fuller spoke to The Tribune Friday afternoon, sharing, “Our motto is ‘Service above self.’ Our mission is to help make the community we are in better.”

Rotarians volunteer their time in many ways, including reading to primary school students, picking up trash and recently hosting a math team tournament at Wallace State. Fuller estimated around 700 students participated in the tournament. 

Last year, the Rotary Club gave approximately $58,000 to organizations and projects throughout Cullman County, including Childhaven, The Link of Cullman County and other nonprofits. Most recently, it donated funds toward the landscaping at Ingle Park. 

Rotary members were joined by Wallace State Rotaract members at the auction.

Fuller said, “Rotaract is the college-level version of Rotary. Hannah Manley is president of Rotaract this year. They have taken Rotaract from a groundswell of interest to 70-80 members involved today.”

Friday’s event kicked off with a silent auction of a variety of items donated by area businesses. Artwork, pet products, gift certificates, gift baskets and more were available.

After the silent auction, the exciting live auction was held. An estimated 45 items were auctioned off, including vacation packages, golf packages and VIP tickets to Rock the South. An AR-15 rifle brought in $1,000. Furniture, coolers, office equipment, tools and yard equipment, watches and an outdoor fryer were just a few of the items donated by businesses and individuals. One high bidder walked away with a year’s supply of Pepsi products. Raffle tickets were sold at the door for two big prizes. A drawing was held at the conclusion with one lucky guest winning $500 cash. The other drawing was for a 9mm Glock handgun. 

Said Fuller, “We love what we do. The next thing in line during my fiscal year of presidency is funding scholarships for some high school students.”

Find our more about the Cullman Rotary Club at www.facebook.com/Cullman-Rotary-Club-115283305172250/.

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Lion Charlie Powell calls in orders as take-out diners line up in the drive-through lane outside Cullman Middle School’s lunchroom during the Cullman Lions Club Fish and Ham Dinner Saturday. (W.C. Mann for The Cullman Tribune)

CULLMAN, Ala. - Rain and bad weather didn’t dampen spirits Saturday at the annual Cullman Lions Club Fish and Ham Dinner at Cullman Middle School.  The outdoor cooking area was moved onto a covered walkway, and the fun went on as planned. By noon, the sky was heavily overcast, but the drive-through pickup line stretched down the street and the cafeteria was filling up with folks who had come out to eat a good meal and support the Lions’ charitable causes.  At 5 p.m., despite rain and storms moving in, the Lions were still handing out plates and carry-out orders to a steady stream of diners.

Around lunchtime, Lion Frank Odell, the event coordinator for this year’s dinner, told The Tribune, “It hasn’t hurt us a bit yet, and we’ve got our safety committee kind of watching the radar. We’ve got plans in place in case it gets bad later on.

“We’re excited about it.  I think that a lot of people that maybe would come in for dinner are going to come in at lunchtime and get their meal, and then they’ll be ready if there’s any unfortunate weather later on in the day.”

Odell went on to comment on the experience of putting on the annual event:

“We’re real excited about the Fish and Ham (Dinner).  This function’s been going on for about 50 years, every year.  And I used to think it was strictly a fundraiser. We only charge $10 a meal as a donation, and catfish is expensive now.  But I’ve realized that we raise money for local organizations; we also celebrate Lionism and the fact that we serve where we’re serving the community.  The people that choose to eat in, those are a lot of our supporters. We enjoy having them here.

“We have a very good meal at a reasonable price, so we’re helping out people with that.  Some of the Lions donate their tickets for some specifics like, in many years we’ve donated meals to people at Childhaven.

“But then it’s also a team-building exercise where we’re all under the same roof for a whole day, working in different teams, working together to get as much fish and as much ham produced for the customers as they come in, and try to do a better job every year.  I’s always worked out quite well.”

The Lions, Lionesses and high school Leos began prep work on Friday, then got ready to serve up to 1,500 meals on Saturday.  A team worked in the outdoor cooking area, frying up fish and hushpuppies, while volunteers inside baked potatoes, made slaw, poured drinks, fixed plates and packed carry-out orders.  Lionesses covered a line of tables with desserts, while Leos ferried carry-outs to the drive-through line outside.

The funds raised by the event goes to local charitable projects.  

Odell shared, “There’s any number of things that we contribute to during the year.  We haven’t ever actually just said it’s going to go for this particular project, but all the projects we do, this goes and helps to fund those.”

The money raised by Lions Club events like the Cullman County Fair and this dinner will mainly benefit eyesight-related causes like providing eye exams and glasses to needy patients, along with other eye services through the UAB Callahan Eye Hospital and the Alabama Lions Eye Clinic located at that hospital.  The club will also support numerous other local causes, as well. Over just the last few years, Cullman Lions have contributed to:

• Cullman Caring for Kids United Way Food Bank
• Good Samaritan Health Clinic
• Grace Episcopal Church’s Grace Place
• Stiefelmeyer Park
• Field of Miracles
• Cullman Regional Foundation and renovations of Cullman Regional waiting rooms
• Hope Horses, Inc.
• Sponsoring diabetic kids to go to Camp Seale Harris
• Sponsoring high school students to go to Troy University’s youth leadership conference

The Cullman Lions Club has on multiple occasions been named the top local chapter in the state, even more often named the top club in the northern district, and is the largest local chapter in Alabama.  It is also the state’s largest supporter of the Alabama Lions Sight project at UAB.

For more information on the Cullman Lions, Lionesses, or Leos, visit www.cullmanlions.com.

Copyright 2019 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Hanceville High School’s Enhancer Pageants will be Saturday, March 16 at 1 p.m. at the Betty Leeth Haynes Theater at Wallace State Community College.  Admission is $6.

(Above) Miss Enhancer contestants are, front (left to right): Anna Tidwell, Savannah Wimberly and Ella Absher;  back (left to right): Josey Brown, Chandlar Brown and Katie Lee.

(Below) Junior Miss Enhancer are, front (left to right): Rachel Sweeney, Hannah Teeter, Haliey Farley, Jasmine McDonald and Kyra Bales; back (left to right): Zoe Pitts, Haley Guthery, Haylee Nethery, Josie Radcliff, Makenzie Fowler and Koley Grace Patty. 

MONTGOMERY, Ala. –  Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted January 2019 unemployment rate is 3.8 percent, unchanged from December 2018’s rate, and below January 2018’s rate of 3.9 percent.  Following end-of-year revisions, 3.8 percent marks record low unemployment rate for Alabama.

Cullman County’s rate ticked up to 3.7 percent in January 2019, up from 3.0 percent in December 2018 and steady with January 2018’s rate of 3.7 percent. Cullman County remains tied for the second-lowest rate in the state.

Employment records

For eight consecutive months, the number of people counted as employed in Alabama has reached record highs.  In January 2019, this number measured 2,123,398, breaking December 2018’s revised count of 2,120,769.

“People are working in Alabama.  Employers are hiring in Alabama.  We continue to report record numbers of people with jobs, and we are seeing fewer and fewer people counted as unemployed, which is what we like to see,” said Fitzgerald Washington, secretary of the Alabama Department of Labor. 

The number of people counted as unemployed in January measured 83,406, which is the third lowest count in history. A year ago, this number measured 86,250.

“While maintaining our record low unemployment rate, we’ve also seen some great over-the-year growth in some of our high wage industries,” continued Washington.  “Both the construction, information, and manufacturing sectors saw significant increases from January 2018 to January 2019.”

Over the year, wage and salary employment increased 31,500, with gains in the leisure and hospitality sector (+7,600), the trade, transportation, and utilities sector (+4,400), and the construction sector (+4,200), among others.

The construction sector experienced job growth measuring 5.0 percent over-the-year, the information sector experienced growth measuring 3.9 percent and the manufacturing sector experienced job growth measuring 1.4 percent over-the-year.

Counties with the lowest unemployment rates are Shelby County at 3.2 percent, Marshall and Cullman Counties at 3.7 percent, and Tuscaloosa, Morgan, Madison and Elmore Counties at 3.8 percent.  Counties with the highest unemployment rates are Wilcox County at 10.5 percent, Lowndes County at 8.2 percent and Clarke County at 7.9 percent.

Major cities with the lowest unemployment rates are Homewood at 2.7 percent, Vestavia Hills at 2.9 percent and Alabaster at 3.0 percent.  Major cities with the highest unemployment rates are Selma at 8.8 percent, Prichard at 7.5 percent and Anniston at 6.1 percent.

County Unemployment Rates by TheCullmanTribune on Scribd

Funeral services for Mrs. Nelda Joyce Hendrix, 87, of Cullman are Tuesday, March 12 at 2 p.m. at Cullman Funeral Home, with interment in Cullman Memory Gardens.  Visitation on Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m.

Cullman Funeral Home directing.

Mrs. Hendrix passed away Sunday, March 10, 2019.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas E. Roy and Mattie Culpepper Roy; husband, Jerry Wayne Hendrix; brother, James Thomas Roy and sisters, Mildred Stalnaker and Mary Brooks.

She is survived by her son, Jerry (Dolores) Hendrix; granddaughter, Sabrina (Tyler) Cloud and sisters, Carolyn (Elton) Bellomy, Virginia Knight and Sharon (Vic) McCrory.

John Preston Partridge, 85, of Houston, Alabama died Saturday, March 9, 2019 at the home of his daughter, Wendy Jones. He was born April 2, 1933 in Shelby, Alabama, the son of John Henry and Minnie (Howard) Partridge.

In May 1973, he retired from the United States Army after proudly serving for 20 years. In April 1995, he retired from the United States Post Office after being a letter carrier for 20 years. He was a member of the Arley First Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy; his parents; his sisters, Sarah Nell Merritt and Minnie John Hope Littlefield; and his brother, James Partridge.

Survivors include his daughter, Wendy (David) Jones; three sons, Michael (Susan) Partridge of Huntingdon, Tennessee, Andrew (Lisa) Partridge of Alabaster, and Byron (Kim) Partridge of Pondville, Alabama; six grandchildren, Michelle (Brandon) Whitehead of Hermitage, Tennessee, Jonathan (Tabitha) Partridge of Port St. John, Florida, Jacob (Leah) Partridge of Huntingdon, Tennessee, Stephanie (David) Lovett of Woodbury, Tennessee, Ashlynn Partridge and Joshua Partridge of Pondville, Alabama; and nine great-grandchildren, Emma, Weston, Ella, Koert, Cody, Kara, Kaleb, Faith, and Walker.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 from 11 a.m. until noon at Arley First Baptist Church in Arley, Alabama, where services will be at noon. A graveside service will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2019 at 11 a.m. in Harless Cemetery in Montevallo, Alabama. Dr. Charlie Ballew and Dr. Roger White will officiate.

Services for Mr. Clyde “Wally” Johnson, 86, of Hanceville will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at Hanceville Funeral Home, Reverend Paul Campbell officiating. Interment will follow in Hopewell Cemetery. Visitation for Wally will be Tuesday evening beginning at 5:30 at the funeral home. He passed away Saturday after an extended illness.

The son of the late Alex and Willo Pender Johnson was a U.S. Army veteran and is survived by a son, Mike Johnson; a daughter, Misty Viscarri; grandson, William Viscarri; Brother, Walter Johnson and a sister, Faye Fox.  He was preceded in death by brothers Gene, Milton and Alton “Pete” Johnson as well as sisters Betty Kovach and Mildred “Othelia” Briscoe.

Funeral service for Gracie I. Brumblow, 67, of Blountsville will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at Hanceville Funeral Home with Reverend Wendell Peterson officiating.  Burial will follow at Hopewell Cemetery in Hanceville.  Gracie’s family will receive friends at the funeral home Monday evening beginning at 5:30 p.m.

She is survived by a daughter, Amy (Danny) Whitehead of Holly Pond and a son Terry McCormick of Virginia. Grandchildren are Matthew Whitehead, Adam Whitehead, Rachel McCormick, Jonathan McCormick and Danyael McCormick.  She is also survived by brothers; J.C., Fred and Julius and Shirley Helms.

Customers line up at Marco's Pizza in Cullman Monday morning. The new restaurant is located at 1302 Second Ave SW (U.S. Hwy. 31) Unit A in Cullman. (Christy Perry for The Cullman Tribune)

CULLMAN, Ala. - A robust crowd came out for the much anticipated opening of Marco’s Pizza Monday. Partner and operating manager Evan Rollet and his staff were working hard to keep up with the enthusiastic response to the store’s opening.

Rollet laughed, “Our reinforcements just arrived,” as the phones continued to ring and a steady stream of customers came to dine in.

The Cullman store is the second store Rollet has opened. He is also partner in the Athens location that opened two years ago.

Rollet said he was excited to finally see the store open after waiting longer than expected for the location to be completed. The weather played a major role in the delays. He said he is working to get staffing where he would like it be.

"We have around 15 on staff now, but ideally we would be at 25 or more. We are short on the delivery end and hope to hire more. We deliver to the greater Cullman area,” he said.

Located at 1302 Second Ave SW (U.S. Hwy. 31) Unit A in Cullman. The restaurant offers a variety of traditional and specialty pizzas as well as salads, subs, wings, cheesy breads and desserts. It also offers delivery, carry out and dine-in options. Marco’s is open Sunday-Thursday from 10:30 a.m.- 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-midnight. Hours are the same for dine-in, carryout and delivery.

For more information, visit www.marcos.com or call 256-255-7070. 

Copyright 2019 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Nathaniel Riley Thomas, left; Joshua Gerald Lott, right (Cullman County Sheriff's Office)

CULLMAN, Ala. - Two men were arrested on Thursday, March 7, both charged with first-degree kidnapping and first-degree burglary. A media release from the Cullman County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) said Joshua Gerald Lott, 28, of Hanceville and Nathaniel Riley Thomas, 35, of Cullman were arrested following an investigation that lead deputies to the state of Tennessee.

The CCSO said deputies were alerted Wednesday, March 6, 2019 that a victim was missing and had possibly been kidnapped by Lott and Thomas.

"As the investigation continued late into the night, and as CCSO deputies followed up on tips and leads, it was confirmed by (the) CCSO that the victim had been taken by the suspects at gunpoint from his home," said the release.

On March 7, said the CCSO, it was determined that Lott and Thomas were just outside Chattanooga. Tennessee law enforcement detained the pair until CCSO deputies and investigators arrived.

The victim was located safe and unharmed.

"We can't go into a lot of detail at this time due to certain aspects of this case still being investigated, but I would like to thank the deputies, investigators and Tennessee law enforcement officers who helped us arrest these two suspects," said Sheriff Matt Gentry.

Lott and Thomas remain in the Cullman County Detention Center, each on a $70,000 bond.

Copyright 2019 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

CULLMAN, Ala. – Below are the arrests and incidents reported on March 11, 2019. All persons are innocent until proven guilty.

GJ = grand jury; FTA = failure to appear

Cullman County Sheriff’s Office

Incidents

March 7

• domestic violence; County Road 461
• theft of property; County Road 437
• domestic violence; County Road 1141
• domestic violence; County Road 544
• theft of property; Hwy. 278E
• violation of protection order; 1st Ave. NE
• theft of property; County Road 852
• domestic violence; Hwy. 91
• domestic violence; 3rd St. Hanceville
• theft of property; County Road 1286
• unlawful breaking and entering a motor vehicle; County Road 1194
• theft of property; County Road 1742

March 8

• theft of property; Hwy. 91
• possession of drug paraphernalia; County Road 1315, County Road 1339
• possession of drug paraphernalia; County Road 1080
• harassment; County Road 643
• harassment; Megan Lane
• unauthorized use of a motor vehicle; County Road 773
• burglary; County Road 556
• violation of a protection order; County Road 1386
• theft of property; County Road 1391
• theft of property; County Road 645
• unlawful possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia; 2nd Ave. NW
• harassment; Cemetery Road
• permitting dogs to run at large; County Road 522

March 9

• trespassing, theft of property; County Road 613
• violation of a protection order, criminal mischief; Calvert Road
• harassment; County Road 464
• domestic violence; County Road 831
• domestic violence; Hwy. 231
• unauthorized use of a motor vehicle; County Road 1273
• theft of property; Hwy. 278

March 10

• illegal possession of prescription drugs; Hwy. 31
• violation of a protection order; County Road 1386
• harassment; County Road 490
• unauthorized use of a motor vehicle; County Road 831
• theft of property; County Road 1371
• domestic violence; County Road 502
• trespassing; Hwy. 69S
• theft of property; Brooklyn Road
• unlawful breaking and entering of a motor vehicle; County Road 1184
• possession of drug paraphernalia; 1st Ave. S Garden City
• domestic violence; County Road 1740

Arrests

March 7

Burns, Kie Jeffery, 19

• probation violation- third-degree burglary (2 counts)
• fourth-degree theft of property

Crutchfield, Chad Thurston, 38

• third-degree domestic violence- harassment

Hall, Jennifer Lee Ann, 34

• third-degree domestic violence- harassment

Jasso, Joel Antonio, 36

• public intoxication

Lott, Joshua Gerald, 28

• first-degree kidnapping
• first-degree robbery

Thomas, Nathaniel Riley, 35

• first-degree kidnapping
• first-degree robbery

Whitaker, Brian Keith, 37

• third-degree domestic violence- third-degree trespassing

Williams, Billy Leon, Jr., 35

• probation violation- unlawful possession of controlled substance

March 8-10

Ballenger, Cody Lee, 30

• FTA- public intoxication

Barnett, Christian Davis, 22

• FTA- unlawful possession of a controlled substance
• FTA- second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana

Barnett, Trent Mackenzie, 18

• possession of drug paraphernalia

Blackmon, Joshua David, 33

• FTA- unlawful possession of a controlled substance

Brizendine, Christopher Neal, 44

• possession of drug paraphernalia
• second-degree promoting prison contraband
• unlawful possession of controlled substance

Burgess, Charles Patrick W., 27

• unlawful breaking and entering of a motor vehicle

Cannon, Amy Brasher, 40

• illegal possession/use of a credit or debit card (old charge)

Carr, Patrick Dewayne, 38

• probation violation- incest
• probation violation, second-degree rape

Carroll, Kevin Douglas, 46

• FTA- second-degree unlawful possession of marijuana

Cook, Ronald David, Jr., 40

• third-degree domestic violence- harassment

Ford, Megan Brittney, 29

• illegal possession of prescription medicine

Fullard, James Tony, 54

• DUI – alcohol and controlled substance
• expired driver’s license
• illegal possession of alcohol in a dry county
• possession of drug paraphernalia

Fulton, Brandon Ken, 35

• probation violation- first-degree receiving stolen property
• probation violation- unlawful possession of controlled substance

Gatlin, Joshua Alexander, 22

• third-degree domestic violence- harassment

Harris, Anthony Gerome, 49

• writ of arrest – child support

Hills, Jason, 43

• negotiating a worthless negotiable instrument

Huber, Kenneth Allen, 33

• violating a protection order

Knighten, Jennifer Suzette, 33

• contributing to truancy (2 counts)

Kovacik, Robin Lynn

• illegal possession/use of credit or debit card (old charge)

Littrell, Logan Mundy, 35

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

Mead, Jody Alan, 34

• attempting to elude
• probation revoked-first-degree theft of property (3 counts)

Mendoza, Jose Luis, 22

• third-degree domestic violence- harassment (2 counts)

Moses, Lauren McKenzie, 19

• possession of drug paraphernalia

Palmer-Powell, Louis Jagar, 23

• DUI – influence of alcohol

Pecina, Leslie, 22

• judge’s order/harassment

Phillips, Barry Eugene

• third-degree burglary

Raymond, Robert Clifford, 46

• third-degree domestic violence- harassment

Reid, James Wallace, 25

• third-degree burglary

Shearin, Amanda Nichole, 27

• FTA- possession of drug paraphernalia

Thomas, Larry Ray, 39

• FTA- negotiating a worthless negotiable instrument

Vanegas, Armando, 21

• third-degree domestic violence-third-degree assault
• third-degree domestic violence- harassment

Waters, Steven Andrew, 39

• FTA- possession of drug paraphernalia

Wren, Daniel Ryan, 23

• possession of drug paraphernalia

Cullman Police Department

Incidents

March 7

• duty upon striking an unattended vehicle; person; Hwy. 157; damage to ’07 Chevrolet Malibu; $500

March 8

• fourth-degree theft of property; Catoma Package; County Road 1435; alcohol; $36
• fourth-degree theft of property; Belk; Cullman Shopping Center; sunglasses; $35

March 9

• fourth-degree theft of property, third-degree criminal trespassing; Wal-Mart; HWY 157; general merchandise; $60
• theft of property; person; Harmony Lane SW; medication; unknown amount of property value
• fourth-degree theft of property; Wal-Mart; Olive Street SW; general merchandise; $145

March 10

• third-degree domestic violence- harassment; Campbell Lane SE
• unlawful breaking and entering of a motor vehicle; Person; Hurricane Creek Park; wallet and contents, damaged window; unknown amount of property value

Arrests

March 8-10

Jacob R. James, 21

• FTA- speeding

Sonya L. Nail, 58

• DUI

James L. Reeves, 52

• making a terrorist threat

Caleb C. Cofield, 34

• unlawful possession or receipt of a controlled substance

Elizabeth C. Holladay, 22

• public intoxication

Brandon C. Fulton, 35

• fourth-degree theft of property

Gregory A. Aycock, 49

• unlawful distribution of a controlled substance (3 counts)

Gordon L. Winstead, 48

• trafficking
• possession of drug paraphernalia

Christian D. Barnett, 22

• unlawful distribution of controlled substance

James W. Reid, 25

• FTA- insurance violation (2 counts)
• FTA- leaving the scene of an accident
• FTA- failure to register vehicle
• FTA- driving while revoked

Sommer A. Link, 38

• unlawful possession or receipt of a controlled substance

Tommy C. Pennington, 57

• public intoxication

Devon P. Durante, 23

• FTA- possession of drug paraphernalia
• FTA- carrying brass knuckles

Roy M. Hasting, 54

• DUI
• unlawful possession or receipt of a controlled substance
• third-degree promoting prison contraband

Patricia D. Bradford, 53

• DUI

Zachary W. Jones, 26

• third-degree domestic violence- harassment

Jason K. Morris, 40

• FTA- third-degree criminal trespassing

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

CATA medalists, left to right, were: Savannah Sivley, Desirae Corbin, Maria Cortes, Dakota McDaniel, Karli Marler, Zach Stallings, Lillian Kaiser, Zack Warner, Adolpho Resina and Avery Hill. Medalists Raven Aldridge, Grace Allbright and Mackenzie Jones are not pictured.

HANCEVILLE, Ala. - High school students from across the region came together for the Northeast Alabama SkillsUSA Conference Friday at Wallace State. The conference featured competitions in numerous technical fields.  Cullman area students enrolled in technical programs at the Cullman Area Technology Academy (CATA) brought home their share of gold, silver and bronze medals, including:

• Raven Aldridge - Welding
• Grace Allbright - Auto Mechanics
• Desirae Corbin - Auto Mechanics
• Maria Cortes - Cosmetology
• Avery Hill - Welding
• Mackenzie Jones - Construction
• Lillian Kaiser - Cosmetology
• Karli Marler - Construction
• Dakota McDaniel - Construction
• Adolpho Resina - Construction
• Savannah Sivley - Cosmetology
• Zach Stallings - Construction
• Zack Warner - Construction

Welding Instructor Jacob Ayers, Building Construction Instructor Mike Burkett and Cosmetology Instructor Tasha Flanigan accompanied the CATA SkillsUSA team to Wallace.  

Burkett added commendations for three of his students who didn’t finish in the medals: “While I am very proud of all of our CATA student winners, I am especially proud of three students who chose very difficult competitions (Applied Technical Math and Job Interview).  They are Seth Walker from Cold Springs High School, Alex Black from Holly Pond High School and KC Lenz from West Point High School. These three students chose to compete in extremely difficult categories for their own personal learning, and although they did not place, they advanced their career skills and personal growth greatly and I deeply respect them for that.”

Flanigan, whose students brought home gold and silver medals Friday right on the heels of first- and second-place finishes in regional competition at Bevill State last week, told The Tribune, “I’m so excited for everyone!  This is great; it’s great! They worked very hard; everybody put everything they had into it. It was a great day for us.”

Said Ayers, “I’m super proud of all of them; they worked hard.  Very deserving, ready for state!”

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