The Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce has a trio of traditional Christmas events lined up and ready to launch, culminating in the annual Christmas Parade on Thursday, December 4th. But the holiday fun gets started this Sunday.
Kick off the holiday season at the annual Christmas Open House in downtown Sylacauga on November 2nd from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. It’s a great day to see what’s available for the season. Enjoy special sales and deals from local merchants, get a head start on your shopping list, and savor delicious offerings from downtown restaurants.
Family-friendly festivities include balloon artists, photo opportunities, and sweet treats at every participating location. Plus, there’s some winning fun on tap. For every $25 spent at participating Chamber member businesses, you’ll be entered to win $250 in Chamber Bucks!
Don’t miss this beloved event that brings the holiday spirit to our community! And, that’s far from all the holiday spirit building. There’s the big parade night, sponsored by Coosa Pines Federal Credit Union, there’ll be loads of holiday fun coming on Sunday, November 30th from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. as First Bank of Alabama presents the Sylacauga Christmas Tree Lighting.
Read the meeting accounts &/or watch the meeting video below:
With projected revenues of $5,901,950, the Childersburg Council has approved Resolution 2025-27, which is the Fiscal Year 2026 budget, scheduling spending of $5,874,150, with a surplus of $27,800.
Resolution 2025-28 allows the Childersburg Fire and Rescue Department to enter into an agreement with the American Red Cross to provide a monthly blood supply for the purpose of administering emergency blood transfusions.
The Council approved the following appointments to the Planning Commission: Bill Moody to a term effective November 1, 2025 to October 28, 2028; Gene Piatkowski reappointed through October 8, 2031; Frank Black reappointed through October 28, 2031; Mayor Ken Wesson and Councilman Tommy Ivey as Municipal Official members, effective November, 2025 – 2029.
Also approved were the following appointments to the Commercial Development Authority: Robbie Riddle as the Council Representative, effective November, 2025 – 2029; Bruce Hunt reappointed through March 15, 2029; Billy Moody to a term effective November 1, 2025 through March 15, 2029.
The following were appointed to the Water and Gas Board: Mayor Ken Wesson and Councilman Wesley Allen as Municipal Official members, effective November 2025 – 2029; Angie Twyman to a term effective November 1, 2025 through March 6, 2030.
Approval was given for the Childersburg Police Department to have Flock Group install four (4) License Plate Readers at a total cost of $36,000 for three years. $18,449.48 is derived through state grant funds, with the additional $17,550.52 paid from Fund 55. After the three-year period, there is an option to renew.
The Council approved payment of invoices in the amount of $313,482.62.
On Monday, November 3, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., there will be an Open House for the new Police/Judicial Complex on US Highway 280, to include a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The organizational meeting of the newly elected Council members will follow at 4:00 p.m. The next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
Prior to the meeting, a public hearing was held to allow comment on a proposal from Long Lewis of Coosa Valley, LLC for a ten year tax abatement period for their new location at 36115 US Highway 280. If ultimately approved after another public hearing prior to the November 4th regular meeting, 65-percent of the sales tax revenues they generate will be returned to Long-Lewis to help cover development costs of the used car supercenter. For the remaining four years, the company will receive 50-percent of the sales tax revenues they generate.
Mayor Ken Wesson announced that those who live on or along Forest Hills Drive, or regularly travel the city road, should expect delays starting at 8:00 a.m. next Tuesday, October 28th for the duration of a repaving project.
The annual Sylacauga City Schools Foundation 5K & 10K Race is set for Saturday, October 25th, starting at 8:00 a.m. at Legion Stadium. The Sylacauga Police Department has issued a Traffic Advisory for the event.
The Sylacauga Police Department has issued a Traffic Advisory to inform residents and visitors about temporary road closures and traffic delays for the event.
Event Details: Both races will start and finish inside the Sylacauga High School Stadium. Routes will include portions of 6th Street, Norton Avenue, Main Avenue, Park Street, Coaling Road, Walnut Street, Western Avenue, Spring Street, Elm Avenue, Avondale Avenue, 3rd Street, and 4th Street. Officers and volunteers will be stationed throughout the course to ensure the safety of runners and motorists.
Traffic Impacts: Expect temporary road closures and minor delays along the race routes between 7:45 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. We ask that drivers use caution, follow posted detours, and respect officers’ directions during this time.
Event Start/Finish Location: Sylacauga High School Stadium
Cuppa Grace has been around for a decade now, and they’ve scheduled a special event to celebrate on Sunday, October 26th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Join Cuppa Grace for a fun day of memories – learn a bit about their history, catch up with past owners and baristas, and meet the new owners, Jerry Wayne and Heaven, along with their new team. They’ll have cake and a few new items launching that day, along with tons of surprises for those who help them celebrate.
With the aim of drawing attention to the growing number of businesses in Childersburg, especially downtown, the 3rd Thursday Block Party is back with more on Thursday, October 16th.
There’s a great line-up of new businesses that have joined the long-time downtown Childersburg businesses. And Padgette Goings McGrady of District One Real Estate has been busy making arrangements for adding even more unique vendors to the events – from handmade woodworking, to indoor and outdoor plants, to fragrances, crafts, gifts, books, and lots more unique vendors from across the region. Bring the whole family and enjoy what downtown Childersburg has to offer!
Childersburg’s downtown bank hosts all sorts of fund-raising activities every October, and along with their always delicious breakfast treats for the October Coffee for the Greater Coosa Valley Chamber, they highlighted their efforts to raise important funds for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama this week.
They have several fun every day activities – Pick a Pink Duck & vote for your favorite painted pumpkin – leading up to their famous Witches Brew Lunch, featuring homemade chili or soup, plus crackers, dessert, and drink with all the proceeds supporting breast cancer research in Alabama. That’s set for Friday, October 31st from 10:00 to 4:00, or as long as the supplies last.
Bill Moody made his final report on the state of the City, before Gerald Wallace takes over as the City liaison to the Chamber Board. Moody reported that new housing development continues to grow, with College Park entering Phase 2 with another 100 new homes planned. New and expanding industry will be celebrated this month with ribbon-cuttings at Cooper Steel South on the 29th and at ARC Robotics new plant the next day, on October 30th. The City itself will host an Open House for the new Judicial/Police Complex on Highway 280 on November 3rd from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting to follow.
Kicked off during last months GCV Chamber Coffee, the Childersburg High “Building Beds” program surpassed their fund-raising goal and build more beds than planned, to meet a greater need than most realize – beds for Talladega County students that don’t have a bed to call their own. Now, the focus in on collecting funds for bedding – comforters, bedspreads, sheets, etc to go along with the beds.
CACC announced that Spring Term registration will kick off later this month, urging students to get signed up early to secure class spots before they fill up.
The monthly GCV Chamber Coffee normally takes place on the second Tuesday of each month, but with the annual Veterans Day holiday falling on that same day, the November event – at the new Judicial/Police Complex – has been moved forward to Thursday, November 13th at 8:30 a.m.
With the aim of drawing attention to the growing number of businesses in Childersburg, especially downtown, the 3rd Thursday Block Party is back with more on Thursday, September 18th.
A pair of new businesses are gearing up for ribbon-cuttings tomorrow. There’ll be new vendors along with some old favorites. There’s classic music outside and karaoke inside The Nevermore Bar & Grill, along with plenty of delicious food from the Chicken Coop and Dominos, plus Bubble Cheese, a visit from Berry Calhoun’s great entres and sides, and cool treats from Lulu’s Ice Cream, and more.
From handmade woodworking, to indoor and outdoor plants, to fragrances, crafts, gifts, books, and lots more unique vendors from across the region. Bring the whole family and enjoy what downtown Childersburg has to offer!
Court records show that a Sylacauga couple has been indicted on charges of willful child abuse in Talladega County.
Felicia Dawn Gates and Deavon Scot Burtran were each indicted for willful abuse of a child under the age of 18.
According to complaints filed in 2024 when Gates was first taken into custody on December 6, 2024 by the Talladega County Sheriff’s Department, she was reported to have struck the child in the face with a shoe and withheld food from the child.
Burtran is accused of grabbing and fracturing that child’s arm, as well as malnutrition. Burtran entered a not guilty plea and waived arraignment.
Read the accounts of the meeting &/or watch the meeting video below:
When Mayor Ken Wesson called the Tuesday, September 16th meeting to order, it opened a new era, holding their first meeting in their new City Council Chamber inside the new Judicial Complex on Highway 280, “We have hosted a number of out-of-town visitors the past few weeks, and they have all been quite complimentary of our entire new complex.”
In New Business, the Council adopted Ordinance 1150 which approves the 2025 Floodplain Development update, under the umbrella of the Talladega County plan.
Resolution 2025-24 was approved, awarding the Forest Hills Paving Project to James Paving Company out of Tuscaloosa. The total cost of the paving will be $317,150 and will begin once several procedural steps take place through the state as a Rebuild Alabama funded project.
Also gaining approval was Resolution 2025-25, which gives approval to Mayor Ken Wesson, in his capacity as LRA Chairman, to execute a letter of intent for 500 +/- acres at the Childersburg Industrial Park with a potential buyer(s).
The Council approved Johnny Swain to install an additional parking area on city property adjacent to 8th Avenue SW in downtown Childersburg.
Approval was given to the Street Department to hire Corey Jones as a full-time, permanent Crew Leader at a rate of pay of $11 per hour.
The Council approved payment of invoices in the amount of $292,445.39.
During the pre-meeting work session, it was announced that Another Level Cards will host a downtown festival on Saturday, October 11th from 2:30 to 6:00 p.m. featuring a host of food and other vendors, along with a meet and greet with former Atlanta Braves centerfielder, Andruw Jones.
Gerald Wallace’s dream of a unique new type of community center is taking a step forward on October. The ALICE Center and TCR Childcare are partnering to create a new community hub at the corner of 9th Avenue and Southern Street in downtown Childersburg.
There will be a ground-breaking ceremony and celebration for the new facility that will feature:
Head Start for children ages 6-weeks to 5-years-old
Tech Center for youth programs, workforce training, and family support
The ground-breaking event will take place on Monday, October 13, 2025, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. The event will include food and drink, remarks from Gerald Wallace and TCR Childcare, and the ground-breaking ceremony. Please RSVP to the event by following the attached QR Code below.
