The Sylacauga City Council met on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. Watch the meeting video, brought to you by the Things Going on in Sylacauga Facebook Group & the Things Going on in Sylacauga youtube channel.
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Since his days as a college freshman, Childersburg native Arttravious Twyman has found a growing love for designing hot new fashion trends. The Stillman College marketing graduate has been holding successful “pop-up” shows on college campuses across the southeast.
This weekend, he’s showing some love for his hometown by holding a special holiday season show and sale in Childersburg, “I’m bringing my “SkyBlue Inspirational Clothing” line home to downtown Childersburg.
The name came to him as a slogan back in college, “It served as an inspiration to me, motivation to follow my passion and love for creating new fashions. It’s time to spread that love at home.”
Twyman chose the downtown event center, The Patio at 906 1st SW in Childersburg. He’ll be setting up shop for the day from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The nearly 500 students at Indian Valley Elementary School were thrilled by an air-lift visit from Santa Clause Tuesday morning (12-17) to pick-up late Letters to Santa.
“It was an important stop on my schedule,” said Santa, “A lot of the students had not sent in their letters yet, so I scheduled a stop in Sylacauga. We had a bit of trouble with the sleigh, so the Lifesaver Helicopter crew stepped up to help, along with their fellow first responders in the area.”
Wade Pruitt, Manager of the Sylacauga Municipal Airport, who came up with the plan explained, “I remembered as a kid that a Birmingham helicopter pilot made such stops with Santa around the region. I talked with our Lifesaver 4 crew, and they said they’d be happy to join the project, as they suggested getting other area first responders involved, too. I’m so glad that everything came together, and the weather cooperated for a quite unique experience for the kids,”
Sylacauga Superintendent, Dr. Michele Eller was also on hand for the visit, “Things like this is why I came to Sylacauga in the first place, so many community partnerships coming together for the good of the community. Just look at all the smiles!”
In her capacity as a PTO Mom, Sylacauga City Councilman, Laura Barlow Heath added, “Such a magical time for our students, a time for smiles and joy to be treasured as lifetime memories.”
You can read the accounts of the latest Childersburg City Council meeting &/or watch the meeting video:
Last night, Tuesday, December 17th the redistricting plan from the East Alabama Regional Planning Commission for Childersburg became official Tuesday (12/17) with passage of Ordinance 1148.
The vote sets the Ward registered voter totals as follows:
Ward A – 956
Ward B – 978
Ward C – 943
Ward D – 946
Ward E – 931, with new residents in the new housing development, College Park, to be included once completed.
In the pre-meeting work session, the Mayor & Council announced a plan to schedule a paper-shredding and consumer electronics disposal event for March of the new year. Also discussed was a plan to lease leaf vacuuming equipment from ACTS, likely after the first of the year.
The Council adopted Resolution 2024-30, obligating the remaining $11,000 from the American Rescue Plan funds toward the Childersburg Police/Judicial Complex renovation project. It’s hoped that the project will be completed by the end of March, but it could take until May of the new year.
In the meantime, the Council approved use of the RS Limbaugh Community Center for Municipal Court until the new Complex is completed at 34011 US Highway 280.
Approval was given to three training requests for the Childersburg Police Department. Kristen Glenn will enroll in an on-line training session, “Conducting a Records Inventory and Purge” with an associated cost of $159. Chief Kevin Koss and Investigator Micah Northcutt will attend Command Leadership Training in Hoover from February 3rd through 7th. The cost will be $795 each including meal reimbursement, paid from Fu7nd 13 – Police Special.). Koss will attend the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP) Winter Conference in Montgomery, February 9th through 13th. There is a $200 registration fee.
Deborah Morris was approved as a part-time temporary, as needed driver for the public transportation system at a rate of pay of $10 per hour. Mayor Ken Wesson noted that the two new transportation vans have been delivered and are already in service
The Council approved payment of invoices in the amount of $169,905.64.
The next regular Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 7th, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
Childersburg Police Chief Kevin Koss is one of many with a December birthday. And while it was his stated wish for his special day to “get lost” in the holiday shuffle like so many do, that wasn’t going to happen!
So, on December 10th his birthday was announced in public by GCV Chamber execuitive John Mark Freeman. Then fellow City workers Ami Burnett and Ada Hamilton led the crowd at the Chamber Coffee in singing, “Happy Birthday” to Chief Koss.
Sure, his face turned a bit red from the turn of events, but you’re loved and appreciated, and your special day officially recognized. Happy Birthday Chief Kevin Koss.
By Jim Zeigler
The state of Alabama has set up several programs for families to use and pay for school options.
The CHOOSE Act
Education Scholarship Program
Alabama Accountability Act
Special Education Evaluations
Charter Schools
Each program has its own requirements, benefits and limitations. Any one program can prove a bit complicated for a family wanting to know their education options. Surveying all the programs and making sound decisions can be an even bigger challenge.
Now, citizens in Alabama have set up a non-profit to serve as a guide and assistant to families seeking to navigate the new and changing world of school options.
Love Your School Alabama provides a website and Facebook page with frequently asked questions and one-on-one support.
Love Your School also produces a podcast titled “Bama Knows Education.” It can be accessed here.
The podcast is hosted by Sheila Bannister of Madison, the regional director of Love Your School.
To keep up with changes in the programs, a free e-mail update is available here.
Families needing one-on-one support about their situation can set that up at Love Your School, which has Parent Support Specialists available.
The organization describes itself on its site as follows:
Love Your School believes every family should be able to answer the question “do you love your school?” with a resounding “yes!” Love Your School Alabama celebrates education options and helps Alabama families navigate the Education (CHOOSE) Tax Credit, special education, school options and more. We take pride in offering one-on-one support to families, taking them from problem to solution.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. ÏHe is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
By Jim Zeigler
Many folks think that Christmas trees cannot be grown in Alabama, that it takes the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. Well, here is my story of growing one of Alabama’s early Christmas tree farms — the Zeigler Christmas Tree Farm outside of Sylacauga.
My father, Bloise Zeigler, was raised on an 80-acre farm in the Russell Chapel area near Fayetteville in Talladega County. About 1951, he bought a 20+ acre farm in the Oak Grove community adjacent to Sylacauga for our growing family. You can’t make a living and support a family of six on 20 acres, so Bloise Zeigler worked full-time at Kimberly-Clarke Newsprint, now Resolute Forest Products, near Childersburg.
As Dad worked full-time, he also worked part-time on his small farm for additional income. Sometimes, a few cattle, chickens or hogs. Always wife Bernice Zeigler’s garden, including a cornfield and strawberry patch — my Mom with a green thumb.
After retiring from the newsprint plant, Bloise Zeigler wanted to utilize the family farm more. He turned to his unofficial adviser on all things agricultural. Dr. John Woodruff is married to my older sister, Ina (to those around Sylacauga, “Ina Gayle.”) John Woodruff is an agricultural genius. Award-winning. The two minds got together and came up with it. Alabama’s soil and climate were perfect for growing Pinus Virginiana. Virginia Pines. Christmas trees.
Bloise and Bernice Zeigler started the area’s first “choose-and-cut” Christmas tree farm. It took just three years for Virginia Pine seedlings to become mature Christmas trees. A nickel seedling could become what then was a $15.00 to $30.00 Christmas tree (They can cost more now). Eastern Red Cedars and Leland Cypress trees were added to the gourmet selection of Christmas trees.
Plan the work and work the plan. By 1979, we were attracting families across East and Central Alabama. The families would make an outing of it. Bring the children and grandchildren. Get your saw from Bloise Zeigler. Rummage through the fields until you find the tree you like. Cut it. Take it up to the Zeigler barn, where you could shake the dead needles out using a “shaker” invented by cousin Mickey Zeigler. And wrap it in a netting using a gizmo invented by Mickey Zeigler, mechanical genius.
In 1996, a tree from the Zeigler Christmas Tree Farm was selected as the official Christmas Tree of the Governor’s Mansion, adorning the inside of the mansion. That was the first time that something Zeigler-grown stayed in the Governor’s Mansion.
For 30 years, families from Birmingham to Auburn, from Gadsden to Clanton, came to the Zeigler Christmas Tree Farm. It became a tradition. It was also a tradition for Bloise Zeigler to witness to the families about salvation through Jesus Christ, the true meaning of Christmas.
Nowadays, all that remains of The Zeigler Christmas Farm is that witness and the pleasant remembrances of thousands of families.
Do you know anybody over age 40 near the Sylacauga area? Ask them about the old Zeigler Christmas Tree Farm. And ask them about Bloise and Bernice Zeigler. You will be amazed at the Christmas stories they tell you. Old-fashioned Alabama Christmas stories.
Jim Zeigler is former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
When old friends,Kesha Martin (‘97) and Maida Davis (‘00) started to put an idea into action, they had no idea what a Childersburg High School Alumni Picnic would become.
“We had heard of such events turning out fun,” said Maida Davis, “And we just wanted to get as many old friends from high school together as we could, an informal multi-class reunion. We had no idea what the response would be. We want to send out a big Shout Out to Brad Logan and the Parks & Recreation Department for trusting us with the stadium! Everybody appreciates it so much!”
They challenged CHS graduating classes to get together, erect some sort of tent for classmates to gather. Some organized pot luck dinners, while others collected and fired up grills and cookers, and others even brought in professional caterers. The result was enough picnic fare to feed a literal army.
Now, you have to have some sort of entertainment, and DJ Flexx was summoned to John Cox Stadium, bringing “Cuz” with him. They had the place hopping well into the evening, dancing as individuals, class groups, and even large line dances.
A cold morning turned into a sunny, mild afternoon as the crowd grew. And grew. And grew some more! Dozens turned into hundreds until the stadium grass was full of old friends reliving old times and renewing fun class rivalries. Cell phones came out, calling even more to join the fun. Cars were literally parked everywhere within walking distance.
The bottom line consensus was, “We’ve got to do this more often and watch it grow!”
By Sylacauga native Jim Zeigler
They were headed separately to Pearl Harbor, a peaceful assignment in Hawaii — or so they thought. He, a new medical doctor. She, a nurse.
They first met in San Francisco, waiting for a ship to take them to Honolulu. They fell in love and married.
Dr. Howard L. Cockerham and wife, nurse Itaskah Maxwell Cockerham, then lived in a house overlooking Pearl Harbor. Her unusual name is Native American, which runs strongly in her blood.
On Sunday morning, Dec. 7, 1941, Dr. Cockerham was the doctor-in-charge at the hospital at Pearl Harbor. He was finishing up three days on duty, or so he thought. Just as he was getting ready to turn the charge over and leave, wounded soldiers began being brought in by the dozens. They were from the airfield, which was the first target of Japanese attacks, so American planes could not defend the rest of the attack. They had bullet wounds.
“They look like they have been in a war,” Dr. Cockerham proclaimed. How right he turned out to be, the very beginning of America’s Pacific Theatre of World War II.
It didn’t take long before an attack on the airfield spread to a major attack on the harbor and its “Battleship Row.”
As the dead began to be brought in, Dr. Cockerham and the hospital quickly ran out of room and had to stack bodies in the hallway. That’s a sight that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Meanwhile, Nurse Cockerham was at their home overlooking Pearl Harbor. She was aware that war games had been conducted just a few days before. When she began to hear the booms and see the smoke over the harbor, she at first thought it was more war games. A lot of locals thought that but for only a short time.
She tried to get in touch with her husband, who was supposedly finishing up his duty to come home. Communications had either been cut off or knocked out. For three days, Nurse Cockerham did not know what had happened to her husband.
Dr. Cockerham continued to work on the hundreds of wounded. Finally, he was relieved and got to go home. It was the first time that Mrs. Cockerham knew that he was alive and heard the stories of the wounded and dead.
The Cockerham residence was situated where it did not get hit. Dr. Cockerham and Nurse Cockerham were not injured.
Dr. Cockerham was then ordered to islands in the Pacific where he headed MASH units for three years.
Fast forward a decade. Goodwater and Coosa County did not have a medical doctor. The Cockerham couple and their growing family moved there and made a life-changing impact.
It’s a long way from Pearl Harbor to Goodwater. The same doctor treating the wounded at Pearl Harbor later treated the sick and injured in Alabama.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
SYLACAUGA, Ala. – Two days after a BOLO alert was issued, authorities say the body of a man who was reported missing from Sylacauga has been found in Lake Martin.
On December 2, 2024, the Sylacauga Police Department issued a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) alert for 31-year old Clifford Wesley Beach, a Harpersville man who had been reported as missing from the Sylacauga area.
On December 4th, authorities were called to the Stowe Ferry boat ramp to meet with two people who thought they found a body in the lake. The body was sent to the Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery, and it was identified as Clifford Wesley Beach. A cause of death has not yet been released.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Talladega County Central Dispatch at (256) 761-1556 or SPD Investigator Miller (256) 391-4391.
