Category: Community News

The long journey to a new Sylacauga Rec Center gets closer to reality

Sylacauga – When Sylacauga Parks and Recreation Director Steve Masters opened the ground-breaking ceremony on Wednesday (8/12), he referenced an already long journey it took to get to that point, “The idea started in 2017, and it didn’t take long to understand that nothing government moves quickly.”

But Masters noted many of the ideas and people involved that made it work. The previous Council that committed ideas and funding for an overall “master plan” for his department, “We’ve renovated two parks, with two more coming. We replaced a non-functioning eyesore and turned it into the quite busy Courtside Park. We’re improving Boat Dock Lane for better access to Lake Howard. And there are so many to thank for being part of this long burt productive journey to improve the quality of life for families and citizens.”

Mayor Matt Hubbard, who was the Parks Board Chair when this all got started said, “It’s about hope and opportunity, it’s about making lifetime friends and memories, it’s about healthier lifestyles that make a strong contribution to our quality of life in meaningful ways.

Council President Tiffany Nix opened her remarks by thanking former council member Ashton Fowler and Lee Perryman for their insights and leadership in making the ground-breaking day possible, “When people and businesses look for new homes, they look at industry, education, and recreation. With this master plan for our Parks and Recreation Department, we will have all three of those things among the strongest anywhere. That’s something that should make us proud.”

The Sylacauga Farmers Market 2026 will extend well into September

SYLACAUGA, Ala. – Weather has cooperated with area farmers during the 2026 growing season. So, the Sylacauga Farmers Market, which often ends its summer operation near the start of a new school year, will extend the season into September, before hopefully making way for a fall market as well.

That means fresh fruits and vegetables from local farms, plus all sorts of Home Cottage industry products like fresh-baked breads and eggs straight from the farm will continue for the foreseeable future.

The local farmers market program is administered by the Alabama Farmers Market Authority, a program to aid marketing of agricultural products from the farm to the consumer. This assures the consumer a better quality product at a reasonable price and a fair return to the producer by providing a convenient, dependable place through which producers and buyers to gather on a regular basis. In Sylacauga, that will be every Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon until further notice.

The Market also serves as a place for area seniors to use the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) cards from the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries.

RadioAlabama hosted the August Childersburg Area Chamber Coffee

Sylacauga – RadioAlabama’s Lee Perryman welcomed everyone to the August Chamber Coffee from the Childersburg Area Chamber of Commerce, “Our missions are to meet people and make a difference. We have 63 people on our payroll across 13 radio stations serving a region along 280 from Chelsea to Auburn/Opelika, from Pell Cit to Montgomery, along with affiliated websites and phone apps.”

Perryman went on to explain that there are 2.8-million people living and working in that coverage area, looking to be entertained and informed about things going on in their community, “Our focus is on high school sports, bringing play by play action to loyal fan-bases.”

The Chamber announced a lot of upcoming community activities. There’s a ribbon-cutting for Frontline Offroad on Highway 280 on Friday, August 21st at 11:00 a.m., and another ribbon-cutting for B&A Photography, also on Highway 280, on Wednesday, August 26th at 10:00 a.m. A few days later, on Saturday, August 29th at the original John Cox Stadium, it’s Childersburg Trade Days from 10:00 to 3:00. The Chamber will host a Job Fair on Thursday, September 17th from 9:00 to 1:00 at the Childersburg Parks & Recreation. And they’re registering vendors for Childersburg Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 17th.

There was exciting news from the Talladega County School System. The South Talladega County Elementary schools just got their 3rd-Grade reading test scores back as follows: Watwood Elementary – 93, Fayetteville Elementary – 100; and Childersburg Elementary – 100. Congratulations!

Sylacauga Chamber hosts “New Beginnings Breakfast”

SYLACAUGA, Ala. – Last week, the Sylacauga Chamber helped welcome the new educators for Sylacauga City Schools and Talladega County Schools at the New Beginnings Breakfasts presented by AEA UniServ District 15. Thanks to the donations of several local businesses, we were able to give every new educator a bag full of supplies to help them get their classrooms started.

The Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce is grateful for the incredible educators who dedicate themselves to preparing the next generation of our workforce. Every lesson taught, every skill developed, and every student encouraged helps build a stronger future for our businesses, our community, and our local economy. Thank you for investing in the leaders, innovators, and employees of tomorrow! Have a great school year!

School start means more traffic, stronger enforcement

STATEWIDE, Ala. – with the start of a new school year, there are a few “gIvens” involved in your morning and afternoon plans, even if you don’t have kids in school. There will be more traffic on the roadways, as school busses, parents transporting children, and students licensed to drive will be making their way to and from school.

Crossing guards will be directing traffic at each school location during school traffic hours, in both the morning and afternoon hours throughout the school year. Police officers will be closely monitoring school traffic, particularly near these intersections to ensure that motorist is complying with the crossing guards, traffic control devices and state traffic laws – especially those involving traffic as school buses pick-up and drop-off students along their routes.

Every year the first few days of school bring excitement for the students and faculty, as well as a certain amount of aggravation to those who are trying to get to work during the increased traffic that comes with the start of school. In a couple of days, everyone will readjust to the flow of traffic and the fact that we have more vehicles on the roadway during these times. Be patient, drive defensively with the understanding that there will be more traffic during these times and that many of them are inexperienced drivers. People trying to get to work may want to leave a little earlier than normal to avoid becoming delayed, particularly during the morning traffic, maybe even selecting a new route to avoid school zones.

$25 million direct loan approved to support continued development of Westwater’s Kellyton Graphite Plant

Kellyton – Westwater Resources, Inc., an energy technology and battery-grade natural graphite company, today announced that the Export-Import Bank of the United States has approved a $25 million direct loan to support continued development of the Company’s Kellyton Graphite Plant in Coosa County, Alabama.

The financing was approved under EXIM’s Make More in America Initiative, which supports export-oriented domestic manufacturing projects that strengthen critical U.S. supply chains. J.P. Morgan’s Securitized Products Group served as the Arranger and Structuring Agent in connection with the transaction.

The $25 million loan will provide non-dilutive capital to advance construction, equipment installation, commissioning and operational readiness activities at the Kellyton Graphite Plant. The financing is expected to support Westwater’s objective of commencing commercial production in 2027.

“This non-dilutive financing represents a significant milestone for Westwater and an important federal commitment to building a secure domestic supply chain for battery-grade natural graphite,” said Terence Cryan, Executive Chairman of Westwater Resources. “Kellyton is the most advanced American battery-grade natural graphite processing project, enjoying a 3-5 year first mover advantage over potential North American competitors. EXIM’s support strengthens our path toward commercial production in 2027 and recognizes the strategic importance of establishing this critical manufacturing capability here at home.”

Phase I of the Kellyton Graphite Plant is designed to produce approximately 12,500 metric tons of coated spherical purified graphite annually. The plant is strategically located in Alabama near a growing concentration of battery and automotive manufacturing operations across the southeastern United States.

The Kellyton Graphite Plant is the downstream advanced processing component of Westwater’s vertically integrated, mine-to-market strategy. The Company is also advancing the Coosa Graphite Deposit, located approximately 30 miles from Kellyton, as a potential long-term domestic source of natural graphite flake concentrate for the plant. Westwater holds mineral rights across approximately 41,965 acres at Coosa, which the Company believes is the largest and most advanced natural flake graphite deposit in the contiguous United States.

The Nevermore celebrates its first year in downtown Childersburg

Childersburg – Aaron Campbell’s downtown Childersburg creation. “The Nevermore,” celebrated its first anniversary of the weekend.

“It’s been an interesting journey, taking things step by step, with a long way to go,” said Campbell We asked the business owner to name a few superlatives he’s experienced so far.

Biggest Accomplishment: “August 3rd, 2025 – simply getting the doors open for business. The three months before that and the three months after were so important, putting things together, making adjustments, taking big steps as we laid the foundation for what was to come.”

Best Decision(s): “First was getting the kitchen open at just the right time. That’s been huge. Adding karaoke on Friday nights really kicked things into another gear, allowing us to add fun things throughout the week. And, it was huge to expand to being open seven days a week. So, timing of the way things came together provided the best decisions.”

Biggest Surprise: ”I’d say there’s been a couple of things – the way a strong group of regulars embraced what we’re trying to create – a place to gather for enjoyable time with friends. They drive the ideas behind the place, the menu, the events and activities we’ve added along the way.”

Biggest Obstacle Overcome: “Knowing from the start that I can’t do this alone, it’s been about finding the right people to give The Nevermore it’s personality, it’s identity as a place people want to enjoy good food, good friends in a fun atmosphere. People – that’s the difference-maker for any business, but it’s vital for a gathering place.”

What’s Ahead: “Oh, plenty! Next is probably adding lunch in the coming weeks. To go along with that, we’ll add more seating as we expand into next door, where we’ll also have our micro-brewery, adding our very own brews, built around interesting Scottish ales. That’s been where we’ve been heading all along – creating a unique restaurant and pub with signature tastes people enjoy, step by step.”

Gov. Ivey offers $10,000 reward in Talladega County murder investigation

ALPINE, Ala. – Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whomever is responsible for the February shooting death of in Alpine.

Early on February 23rd, Talladega County sheriff’s deputies initially responded around 1:40 a.m. to a report of a single-vehicle crash in the 2000 block of Grist Mill Road. 51-year-old LaDale U. Garrett was found suffering from an apparent gunshot wound inside his truck on Grist Mill Road near Reynolds Mill Road.

Garrett was taken to Citizens Baptist Medical Center before being transferred to UAB Hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 5:40 a.m. Garrett’s family said he had been on his way to work. The Talladega County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the incident.

Jury awards $5 million to a Sylacauga native after she suffered rare form of paralysis

Jefferson County – A Jefferson County jury has awarded $5 million to a Sylacauga native in a verdict against the University of Alabama Health Services Foundation, the private corporation that employs UAB Hospital providers.

According to the complaint, filed in January 2018, Anna Comer suffered a catastrophic brain injury after being hospitalized at UAB in 2016 for liver failure. The filing stated that improper sodium monitoring and inadequate water intake over multiple days led to a rare condition called “locked-in syndrome.”

That condition left Comer fully conscious but completely paralyzed except for eye movement She emerged from locked-in syndrome after two months and underwent extensive inpatient rehabilitation to relearn basic functions including walking, talking and other daily activities. While her legal team described her partial recovery as as “miraculous,” Comer continues to experience permanent issues.

Attorneys Rip Andrews and Derrick Mills of Birmingham firm Marsh, Rickard & Bryan represented Comer during the 10-day trial.

The Childersburg Water, Sewer, and Gas Board was recently targeted by an attempted cyber attack

Childersburg – The Childersburg Water, Sewer, and Gas Board has reported that its Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system (SCADA) was targeted by a cyberattack late last month. The attack happened July 27th and targeted a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) within the SCADA system.

Board Director Travis Mizzell said that multiple other public utilities also were targeted. Mizzell told the Council, “The community’s drinking water supply was never threatened and customers experienced no service disruptions during or after the incident.”

Once the attempted intrusion was identified, department personnel took the SCADA network offline as a precaution as all operations – water, sewer, and gas services continued without interruption via manual operating systems.

Mizzell reported the cyber attack to the FBI and other appropriate agencies in accordance with established procedures, “We are cooperating with authorities as the investigation continues.”

In the meantime, utlitiy crews are installing additional cybersecurity protections. The upgrades are designed to strengthen defenses against future attacks and improve overall system security and should be completed in a week or so.