Month: October 2025

Cooper Steel South celebrates openings for new office and Cooper Clinic

Cooper Steel South showed off their new office facility Wednesday, along with the new Cooper Clinic, holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony and looking forward to a new plant expansion project set to begin in the next few weeks.

“We are a third generation company, celebrating another growth milestone today,” Said Cooper Steel South COO, Cory Cooper. “We celebrate another example of our Cooper culture in our family of workers and investment in the community that is home to our company.”

Cooper Steel executives were joined by local officials, city and business leaders during an Open House for their state-of-the-art new office facility. And that building hosts a unique commitment to their family of employees, the new Cooper Clinic.

“The Cooper Clinic has been operational for about two months now,” explained Human Resource Manager, Macie Huey, “And it’s already a hit. We are staffed through RMC – Anniston. It’s an Occupational Health Facility, open two days per week, on Mondays and Thursdays for our employees and their immediate families. It’s a free service for them, paid for by Cooper Steel South.”

Managing the facility and overseeing the upcoming expansion is a dream job for Reid Crockett, “I blessed that they chose an old lifetime steel and iron guy like me. We have a great crew, setting production records, and looking forward to growth. We just completed the demolition of our original office and are clearing acreage for a new plant expansion that will help us add employees and better serve our customers.”

That expansion project will get started in the next few weeks on a 106,000 square foot facility, with a projected completion date between October and December, 2026.

“I am so excited for and about Cooper Steel South as a growing industrial employer in Childersburg,” said Mayor Ken Wesson, “And I have to add that they have proven to be a true community partner for the City. Every time we have called on them, they have stepped up to show their commitment to invest in Childersburg and its people.”

The ALICE Center begins the transition to brick and mortar with a ground-breaking ceremony in Childersburg

With active programs focusing on aiding in the education of the next generation, the ALICE Center signaled the move to a brick and mortar foundation with a well-attended ground-breaking ceremony along 9th Avenue SW in downtown Childersburg on Monday, October 13th.

The ALICE Center concept has been one of bringing together so many aspects of the community to shape and support a bright future for the families and children that make up the local community. That cooperative effort was front and center during the ground-breaking event, highlighting why Gerald Wallace had a dream inspired by his mother, Alice to create an entity to meet community needs.

“With property secured, we focused first on getting programs started toward our mission, “explained Gerald Wallace, “and now we will work on creating a place where opportunity lives, a place for children to learn, grow, and thrive. I can promise you that we will see potential in every child, and we will invest in that potential.”

That first phase of building will be to add to the base line of work already in progress, creating a new, modern home for the Talladega, Clay, Randolph (TCR) Child Care Corporation in Childersburg, housing the Head Start program – The ALICE Head Start Learning Center. TCR, a non-profit corporation, is committed to elevating the lives of eligible children and families. With locations throughout Alabama, TCR has been providing services and programs centered on education and health for more than 45 years.

Kay Jennings, TCR Executive Director, said, “At the heart of our mission lies a steadfast commitment to nurturing the potential in every child and supporting Alabama families in their journey towards a brighter future, providing programs with a purpose. Thanks to a long time part of TCR, Jackie Hall introducing us to Gerald Wallace, we were able to do exactly what she suggested we would – share a common goal and difference-making purpose for new generations of children.”

Jodi Hopkins, Wallace’s personal assistant for more than two decades explained, “Watching this project transition from an idea to action is a testament to what is possible by coming together.”

Hopkins highlighted the groundwork already laid by ALICE Center programs – engaging programs, making an impact before buildings, like a tutoring program for Childersburg students. It’s a program conducted by local educators who literally grew up as products of, as students the schools they now serve through the ALICE Center – Jasmine Shepherd and Ashley Norwood.

“I look at it as creating opportunities where they did not already exists,” said Norwood.

Shepherd echoed her thoughts, “I am a native of Childersburg, shaped by Childersburg, sharing my blessings this new generation of students.”

There was a large placard with names of partnering business, industry, and other community entities that are already on board with the goals and missions of the ALICE Center. Together with ALICE Project Director, Ty Knight and a strong ALICE Center team, this is not a project from Gerald Wallace. It’s a project for, from, and by the community itself, whose purpose will be to help the community grow and prosper. Together.

The final announcement came as a surprise to the crowd. The ALICE Center has acquired the former Phyliss Wheatley High School and Community Center, allowing for programs to be located on both sides of US Highway 280.

Sylacauga native named to the Huntingdon College Athletic Hall of Fame

This past Saturday morning, Sylacauga native, Dima Pacha McCuiston was inducted into the Huntingdon College Athletic Hall of Fame. She played a vital role in helping build the women’s tennis program at the Montgomery school.

She was named her team’s Most Valuable Player and Best All-Around Player. In 1999, she won her conference Women’s Singles Championship, earning the school’s first ever women’s tennis selection to the NAIA National Tournament. She topped that “All American” honor as an Academic All American, as well.

After the induction ceremony, she did not want to talk about her tennis career. She wanted to talk about the help and support of her high school coaches – Randy Carter and Nathan Brown, who attended her ceremony with his wife, Laura.

She wanted to talk about her college coach, fellow Huntingdon Hall of Famer, legendary John “Coach Johnny Mac” McWilliams. Prior to the induction, she was presented with a classic antique “Chris Evert” tennis racquet from her late coach’s son, even carrying it to the podium to receive her honor.

She wanted to talk about the support she has received from her team mates throughout her tennis career, along with the unwavering support from a family of outstanding tennis players.

“There are so many who contributed to my athletic and academic career at Huntingdon, said Dima, “It’s one of the things that makes this place so special. I feel very fortunate to have been inspired to be my best.”

And Dima reserved her biggest smiles for the non-athletic side of her time at Huntingdon, the role played by Dr. Lisa Olenik-Dorman, “She was so much more than a professor, an academic advisor, a mentor. She inspired my passion. We worked together to develop a physical activity program for those who had many challenges to overcome in life that would have otherwise limited their opportunities to find the joys of athletic activities that most of us take for granted.”

Competitive tennis was, for sure, a highlight for Dima Pacha McCuiston, that earned her a deserved place in the Huntingdon College Athletic Hall of Fame. But it was the Huntingdon Motto, “Enter to grow in wisdom; go forth to apply wisdom in service,” that became the difference-making life lesson that put a “heart” on her time at Huntingdon College.

Flagg Mountain Observation Tower officially named as terminus of the Pinhoti Trail

WEOGUFKA, Ala. – As part of “Alabama’s Year of Trails,” the Alabama Trails Foundation and the Alabama Forestry Commission held a special dedication ceremony to recognize Flagg Mountain’s Observation Tower as the southernmost point of the Pinhoti Trail and to celebrate a project that has finally brought reliable water to the mountain, from the Stewartville Water Authority.

Flagg Mountain, the southern-most Appalachian peak in Alabama at 1,156-feet, and the tower at 54-feet, the Pinhoti Trail Head was officially moved to the Flagg Mountain Observation Tower in the Weogufka State Forest.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built the iconic stone tower in the 1930s, which served as a fire lookout for decades. Its recent restoration returned the tower to its original grandeur, allowing visitors to once again climb to the cab for panoramic views of the surrounding landscape that, on a clear day, allows visitors to see across seven counties.

In keeping with this restoration, the tower will now Officially serve as the iconic beginning of Alabama’s longest footpath, the Pinhoti Trail that connects with the Appalachian Trail in Georgia.

“The restoration and work done on Flagg Mountain is more than just a project; it’s a celebration of Alabama’s natural heritage,” said Paul DeMarco, President of the Alabama Trails Foundation. “By preserving this historic structure and formally linking it to the Pinhoti Trail, we are creating a world-class destination that will attract hikers and nature lovers from across the country while providing a better experience that all Alabamians can enjoy.”

Rick Oates, State Forester of the Alabama Forestry Commission, added, “This partnership demonstrates the great things that can happen when we all work together for a better Alabama. The renovated tower complements the new Pinhoti trailhead. We hope the combination of the two will encourage not only avid hikers, but also outdoor enthusiasts to embark on exciting adventures right here on the peak of beautiful Flagg Mountain. We are proud to help make this historic resource accessible to the public.”