The Greater Coosa Valley Chamber, along with friends, family, and community members officially welcomed “Another Level Cards” to downtown Childersburg last week. It is owned and operated by Maddie Pagan and Conner Ogle.
The shop is located at #4 8th Avenue SW in downtown Childersburg, with a great selection of collectibles, including all sorts of sports cards – MLB, NFL, and NBA. They have a lot of autographed memorabilia, plus bobble-heads, and jerseys.
“I’ve been a collector since I was 10-years-old,” explained Ogle of his interest in collectibles, “ and having my own retail outlet for collectibles has been a longtime dream of mine.”
Pagan and Ogle are assisted by Austin Allen, the resident expert on everything Pokemon and more, “I’m working on adding One-Piece and Magic of the Gathering collectibles, too.”
Although kids love the new store, there is a decidedly adult following that understands both the fun and the value in collectibles, something that appreciates over the years.
Several decades ago, not wanting to leave out any child wishing to participate in a Sylacauga Community Playhouse childrens’ theater production, a tradition began where a custom script and a series of songs were created as “Alice in Wonderland” appeared for a “trial” before the King and Queen of Hearts, with all sorts of other characters testified in word and song.
That production was recreated over a dozen times over the years, and the concept returns this weekend with a new twist. This Saturday, April 5th at 2:00 p.m., the Sylacauga Community will present “Character Sing-Along” at the Sylacauga Parks and Recreation Department.
Dressed as their favorite characters, actors and actresses will perform songs associated with those characters. Here’s hoping that the experience will lead the young and old to give the stage a try and keep a 45-year-plus S.C.P. tradition alive!
Four year’s ago Ben Nelson organized a 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk as a fund raising effort in support of the many Kiwanis Club of Childersburg projects on behalf of kids in the community. Now, the annual event is named in memory of the ong time Kiwanis member.
This year’s 4th Annual Run/Walk is scheduled for this coming Saturday, April 5th, starting at 6:45 a.m. for registration at Kiwanis Park, 4th Street at 4th Street SW in downtown Childersburg. The 5K Run starts at 7:45 a.m. with the Fun Run/Walk to follow at 8:00 a.m.
The Kiwanis Club of Childersburg asks for your help and participation in raising money for scholarships, Kiwanis Park maintenance, and other needs for the children in our community.
Sylacauga’s annual “Magic of Marble” Festival has officially started, running from April 1st through the 12th, and some of the fun started earlier. The Comer Museum is hosting the scavenger hunt for the Marble Festival this year. You can pick up the Forms are available at both the museum, as well as the BB Comer Memorial Library. It’s always fun to fun to watch everyone run around town and see if they could spot the featured marble throughout the beautiful city. Cash prizes are available!
Over this past weekend, the “Lunch & Learn” series at the Wallace Center for Arts and Reconciliation in Harpersville was held as a new addition to the festival line-up, hosting a special presentation featuring famed marble author Ruth Cook and Craigger Browne, a renowned Sylacauga sculptor.
Also new to the line-up this year is the return of guided tours of the historic Sylacauga Cemetery. That will feature some unique twists this year. You’ll be able to meet historical figures, as costumed actors will portray the stories of Sylacauga’s past residents, bringing their lives to vivid reality. You can uncover local legends, hearing captivating tales of the people who shaped our community. You can marvel at the marble monuments, as you admire the exquisite craftsmanship of the stunning marble headstones, a true testament to Sylacauga’s marble heritage.
All in all, it’s a perfect Marble Festival activity, an engaging and educational experience for everyone! There are two presentations scheduled: Saturday, April 5th from1:00 to 3:00 p.m., and Sunday,
A pair of Sylacauga High School alumni were recently inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society chapter of the University of Alabama Heersink School of Medicine (UABHSOM).
Levi Parker, Sylacauga High School Class of 2017, and Vyshi Rallapalle, Class of 2018, are both current third-year medical students at UAB Heersink School of Medicine. Both were bestowed the prestigious honor on Thursday, March 20 at Regions Field.
Parker and Rallapalle, along with six other medical students within their class, were inducted based on academic merit as the top eight from their first two years of medical school among a class of nearly 200.
AOA was founded in 1902 as an organization dedicated to honoring academic achievement, professionalism and exceptional teaching in the field of medicine. This honor will follow Parker and Rallapalle throughout their careers in medicine. Both are set to graduate medical school next spring in May 2026. At this time, Parker plans to pursue a career in Rheumatology by way of Internal Medicine and Rallapalle plans to pursue a career in Dermatology.
Coach Pete Rich grew up in Pell City and was a standout athlete, playing football for the all time winningest coach in Pell City High School history, Will Glover. That pair were to be honored during a very special exhibit in late March at the Pell City Museum. Coach Rich had to undergo emergency gall bladdr surgery, with another procedure the following day.
The exhibit will still be open at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 29th at the museum, located in the Pell City Municipal Complex, Suite 200 on the 2nd Floor. Rich’s birthday celebration will be rescheduled when he is up to attending the event, but Coach Glover will still be honored with an exhibit.
Rich’s daughter, Lori Rich Billingsley said, “The love that so many of you have showned for our Dad has been overwhelming. Your prayers at this time are greatly appreciated.”
There are a lot of Sylacauga people who fondly remember the Pell City legend for the time Rich and his family spent living in the Marble City as an assistant for Coach Tom Calvin at Sylacauga High School.
One of his former players at Sylacauga High, Wayne Stephens said of Rich, “He is loved and respected by athletes and students at two different schools across many years of coaching. He also has the respect and friendship of many other coaches over the years at Pell City and opponents.”
After high school, Rich went on to the University of Southern Mississippi before first coaching at Jones Valley High School. From there, he served in Sylacauga. In 1968, he retired from coaching, but only for one year before Pell City called him home. He served two different stints as the head coach at PCHS and many years as an assistant coach for several head coaches at his alma mater.
The Pell City stadium was named in his honor the 1990s. He is loved and respected by athletes and students at two different schools across many years of coaching.
His dedication to coaching is well known, as he found it quite difficult to step away from the game for good, but one of the things that sealed his legendary legacy as a coach were the values of character, discipline, teamwork, and leadership he shared with his teams!
Former Talladega Mayor Larry Hugh Barton passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, with the love of his life, Mary, by his side just as she has been since they married in December, 1956. He was 85-years-old.
The colorful and often controversial Barton served four terms as the mayor of his hometown. According to his obituary, his tenure as mayor included the city purchase of the Ritz Theater, development of a municipal golf course, the acquisition of two city parks, and the recruitment and expansion of over 100 businesses in the city.
Barton’s professional career began as a banker at Talladega National Bank, and he also served as a barber, and a self-taught musician with a Gospel group, The Pioneers, who produced over a dozen albums during his time with the group, as well as several stints as a media host with shows on television and radio.
The Sylacauga Board of ion opened their Tuesday, March 18 business meeting with approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with First Bank of Alabama for the Centennial Building donation. The building, located on the north-east corner of the Norton Avenue at 1st Street intersection, will be used by the school system as an alternative school location, among other uses to be determined.
In other New Business, the Board approved financials: Payroll, Accounts Payable and CNP Accounts Payable, along with New Teacher Mentors for second semester of the current 2024-2025 school year, as well as adoption of the K-12 Science Textbook/Supplemental Curriculum.
The Board approved a bid for $266,807.12 to Incare Technologies for the Network Switch and Wireless Access Point, required by E-Rate.
In Personnel matters, the Board accepted the following retirements: Sharon Futral, Full Time Bus Driver, effective June 1, 2025; Gail Duncan, CNP Worker, Pinecrest Elementary, effective April 1, 2025; Sheila Giddens, School Nurse, Pinecrest Elementary, effective June 1, 2025; and Tracy Green, Fifth Grade Teacher, Pinecrest Elementary, effective June 1, 2025.
The resignation was accepted from: Heather Collier, Indian Valley Elementary, Special Education, Self-Contained Teacher, effective at the end of 2024-2025 school year.
The Board also approved the following transfers of: Kelley Holbrook, Nichols Lawson Middle School Bookkeeper to Sylacauga High School Bookkeeper, effective March 31, 2025; Malesha Garrett, Nichols Lawson Middle School Secretary to Nichols Lawson Middle School Bookkeeper, effective March 31, 2025; and Skylar Patterson, Nichols Lawson Middle School Special Education Teacher to Sylacauga High School Special Education Teacher, effective 2025-2026 School Year.
Employment was approved for: Eula Renae Moon Walton, CNP Manager, Pinecrest Elementary, effective March 31, 2025; and Erica Harwell, Sylacauga High School, Attendance Clerk, effective March 19, 2025.
The Board approved a pair of Summer Programs for: Summer Literacy/Math Camp Staff, effective Summer 2025; and Transportation Summer Workers, effective Summer 2025.
Supplements were approved for: National Board Certified Teachers Supplements; additional hours for SHS Teachers for AP Review Sessions; Additional hours for SHS and NLMS Health Science Teachers; Isaac Jennings, Varsity Boys Volunteer Coach for Track, Sylacauga High School, effective immediately.
Leaves Of Absence were approved for Brenda Durden, Nichols-Lawson Middle School, effective immediately through end of 2024-2025 school year; and Lane Strickland, Nichols Lawson Middle School, effective March 31 through end of 2024-25 school year.
The Board approved Emilyanne Steers as a system-wide Substitute Teacher, effective immediately.
Prior to the meeting, the Board enjoyed a presentation celebrating Arts Education Month with highlights of the school system’s Fine Arts Programs. Also highlighted was the Sylacauga High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team and Coaches for their excellence during the just completed season, which ended as the 5A State Runnerup with a 30 – 4 overall record.
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 annual Holiday Bazaar to benefit the historic Butler-Harris-Rainwater House was a big hit over the weekend, helping raise funds for 2025 projects from the Childersburg Historic Preservation Commission.
“We gathered the best-ever group of vendors,” said Dianne Lester Newman, “And we had a steady flow of shoppers all day. And, I want to emphasize that they were buying from our vendors like never before!”
Newman said that 2024 saw the Commission complete landscaping around the historic landmark, along with automatic irrigation, “It looks better than we even imagined it would. thanks to help from Gina Hudson of Gina’s Greenhouse. This coming year, we’re looking to re-do our brick sidewalk, make it look better and be a safer walkway.”
December means several other annual holiday season traditions for the B-H-R House in downtown Childersburg. On Tuesday, December 3rd, they will host the 6:00 p.m. start of the downtown Christmas Tree Lighting festivities. On Tuesday, December 10th at 8:30 a.m., it’s the December Coffee from the Greater Coosa Valley Chamber of Commerce.
“We get so much help throughout the year from the Childersburg Street Department to make our downtown area clean and attractively decorated,” explained Newman, “we’ll be serving the entire crew a holiday dinner as our way of showing our thanks for all they do. And, yes, we’ll literally be “serving’ them. They’ll just come in, sit down, and enjoy the meal. They make such a difference, it’s important for them to know how much we appreciate the many ways they volunteer to help!”
