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The Sylacauga Police Department has closed Oldfield Road near Marble City Heights Circle, due to a train derailment.

“Due to a train derailment, Oldfield Road near Marble City Heights Circle is currently closed to all traffic. At this time, we do not have an estimated timeframe for reopening,” said a news release from the SPD.

The police department strongly advises motorists to avoid the area and use alternate routes until further notice. Emergency crews and workers are on the scene, and your cooperation is appreciated to ensure their safety and efficiency.

“We will provide updates as more information becomes available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”

Watch the May 22, 2025 meeting of the Sylacauga City Council, courtesy of the “Things Going on in Sylacauga Facebook Page.”

Due to a scheduling conflict with the 2025 Alabama League of Municipalities Convention, the May meeting of the Oak Grove Town Council was postponed to Tuesday, May 20th with the following items covered.

In Old Business, the Senior Center and Pavilion Rental Agreement was revised, combining the revisions and the policy on standing reservations into one new rental agreement form, and pending review and approval from the town legal counsel.

Under New Business, Kevin Couch advised the council that the Global Atlantic account had reached the time limit for the guaranteed rate, and the interest rate would decrease to 0.5% for the next year. Couch offered options for investment. After discussion, the council opted to remove the funds from the Global Atlantic account and open a new Athene account and add an additional amount to bring the total investment to $400,000. The rate for investment is 5% for 5 years.

In other business, The council reviewed two quotes received regarding testing the work done on Gantts Junction Road. Legal counsel provided guidance on moving forward. After discussion, no action was taken on the quotes, and the contractor will be permitted to make repairs as needed to the pavement.

The Council discussed the Town Hall HVAC unit and recent repairs. The decision was made to wait until the unit breaks to order new replacement unit, with no action taken.

The Council discussed options presented on an Arete renewal. The decision was made to renew for 36 months at $25 per endpoint versus $26.50 for a 12-month renewal.

The Council unanimously agreed to make no changes to participation in the Back to School Sales Tax Holiday, so no action was necessary.

Separate motions were approved to pay expenses for sewer force main repair, as well as electrical costs for sewer flow meter disconnect and reconnect.

An item to approve payment of electrical costs to replace existing electrical panel on the East Side Well was tabled over the lack of detail in the invoice.

Town Attorney, Faith Adam stated they were preparing to enforce the order against the Campbell property for zoning violations again. The property was cleared on April 1, but he has started accumulating junk vehicles again and working on vehicles, thus operating a business without a license.

Ms. Adam then gave the council an update on property owned by Samuel Webb, who is receptive to giving the property to the town in exchange for tax credits/benefit. His only stipulation so far is an easement for access to properties in his control located behind the property to be transferred to the Town of Oak Grove.

Councilman David Harris provided a review of the AL League of Municipalities Conference held in Huntsville May 13 through 15. Harris said he met with a vendor called Southcon Lighting, about LED lighting for the park. He also met with a representative from Safeguard and discussed festival fundraising and committee membership with the representative, suggesting setting up a festival meeting. Harris also brought up the concept of the town proactively adopting an ordinance to exempt certain items from sales tax, mentioning that the move could be used as a marketing tool to attract grocery stores.

Council member Mary Carter asked about paving over the road where the sewer pipe caved in. The road will be paved once the earth settles for a stable bed for the pavement.

Frank Young of the Sewer Board reported that disconnect notices were being reviewed by the town’s legal counsel.

Read the accounts of the meeting &/or watch the full meeting video below:

With ADECA grant funds set to expand roads in the Childersburg Industrial Park for industrial expansion, the Childersburg Council passed Resolution 2025-07 which approved Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood, Insite Engineering, and Utility Engineering Consultants to provide services on an as-needed basis through December, 2027. Those services will be necessary for the road work to facilitate a pair of major industrial expansions from Cooper Steel and Blair Block.

The Childersburg Council approved four requests from the Police Department. Chief Kevin Koss will attend the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police Conference the first week of August in Orange Beach. Expenses approved include a $200 registration fee, lodging, and per diem.

Approval was given to add Kristian Glenn and Christian Blair as full time permanent police cadets, pending APOST requirements being met. The two new officers will attend the Anniston Northeast Law Enforcement Academy August 25th through November 25th this year. Their pay rate will be $16 per hour, and upon completion of the academy, the pay rate will increase to $17.50 per hour.

Payton Haisten was approved as Code Enforcement Officer for the Police Department at a rate of $14 per hour. The Council also approved to advertise for an opening for a Police Records clerk.

The Council approved $16,406.93 for five new sets of turn-out gear for the Childersburg Fire Department from American Emergency Products, paid from Fund 65- Direct Support. Also gaining approval was the hire of Howard O’Neal as part-time temporary, as-needed Fire/Medic at a rate of $16 per hour.

Payment of invoices were approved in the amount of $208,961.05

The next regular meeting of the Childersburg City Council will be held on June 3rd, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.

Watch the May 6, 2025 meeting of the Sylacauga City Council, courtesy of the “Things Going on in Sylacauga Facebook Page.”

Read the accounts of the meeting &/or watch the meeting video below:

The Childersburg City Council opened their Tuesday, May 6th meeting with approval for a pair of resolutions concerning grants. Resolution2025-05 approves creation of a revised purchasing policy and code of ethics to meet regulations for federal grant funs.

Resolution 2025-06 approves Keven Kessler of Community Consultants to make application for an Economic Development Grant for improvement and installation of an access road on Industrial Park property to accommodate growing traffic for a pair of expanding industries – Cooper Steel and Blair Block.

The Council approved notice publication of the upcoming Municipal Election in The Daily Home on June 11th, 2025 in the amount of $86.40.

Also approved was a full-page color ad in The Daily Home’s2025 First Responders:”Our Heros on the Homefront” in the amount of $1,288.50, paid from Fund 23.

The Council approved an important security measure for the new Municipal Court Building, the purchase of a PD-6500i Metal Detector ADA Package installed at the court entrance located at 34011 US Highway 280. The cost will be $8,010 from Fund 11 – Municipal Corrections.

The Childersburg Parks & Recreation Department is gearing up for Summer Day Camp with approval to hire two lead day camp counselors at a rate of $10 per hour, as well as 17 counselors at $8.50 per hour. Shifts will be assigned on a rotation basis.

The Council approved AIS to install five security cameras at the Rainwater House at a cost of $2,795, as well as a pair for the Rainwater Library at a cost of $2,075, paid from Fund 65 – Direct Support.

Invoice payments were approved in the amount of $208,030.41.

The subject was brought up about the debris build-up on the Tallahatchie Creek Bridge on Plant Road that causes issues into nearby residential areas. Mayor Ken Wesson reported Wednesday morning that he had been in contact with R.J. Corman Railway, the company responsible for the bridge maintenance. Wesson reported that a clean-up has been scheduled to take place in the next two weeks.

The next regular meeting of the Childersburg City Council will be held on May 20th at 6:00 p.m.

More than 25 artists from around the world have gathered from around the world for the opportunity to work with Sylacauga’s pure white marble through April 12th. They will be joined by one invited sculptor from Italy, Edi Carrer, and this master sculptor will teach on site and conduct a symposium for visiting sculptors at the nearby B.B. Comer Memorial Library.

fESTIVAL PHOTO SLIDESHOW

We have “regular” visiting and resident sculptors, like our adopted Craigger Brown; Frank Murphy, a Sylacauga native who lives in Romer, GA; Bill Cook from Tennessee; Glenn Dasher from the Huntsville area; and the Cummings from Titus, along with a pair of Sylacauga sculptors, Lewellyn Peters and Jonathan Douglas, and a host of other newcomers and regulars to the Festival.

Besides our own Sylacauga art and architecture, our native marble graces dozens of buildings in Washington, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Birmingham, Montgomery, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, and beyond.

And that is the point behind Sylacauga’s unique festival – to celebrate the art, architecture, as well as the many industrial, food, and pharmaceutical uses. Visitors to “The Marble City” sometimes ask, “When will the marble run out?” It will still be in the Alabama earth, still being mined, still creating hundreds of jobs, still being sculpted when our great-great-great-grandchildren go to see the Sylacauga Magic of Marble Festival.

For over 40 years, the City of Talladega has seen a unique event, “April in Talladega,” continue to grow with community events highlighting the city’s architecture, art, and more during what is typically a pleasant spring weekend.

Scheduled in 2025 for Friday and Saturday, April 11-12, “April in Talladega” features the traditional tour of historic homes, along with live painting, artisan demonstrations, handmade woodwork, jewelry, and pottery, and all sorts of other arts and crafts.

“April in Talladega” exists to showcase the city’s rich history and the architecture unique to its three National Historic Districts.

All proceeds from the event are used for historic preservation purposes, such as the restoration of the Ritz Theater facade and sign, improvement of facades for adjacent buildings, enhancements to the Chamber of Commerce building as well as Heritage Hall, improvements to the Hall of Heroes, tree planting projects in the historic district, home owner grants programs, and more.

A day of celebration has grown into an entire weekend with community events galore – a huge bake sale, a free KidZone with bounce houses and slides, a live music DJ, food trucks – all of this equals fun for the whole family.

Scheduled events include:

• “April in Talladega” Luncheons – Friday, April 11 (12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.) & Saturday, April 12 (11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) at 105 North St. E
  
• * Wine and Cheese Party – Friday, April 11 (5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.) at Heritage Hall Museum, 200 South St. E
  
• * Oak Hill Cemetery Tour – Saturday, April 12 (Time TBD)
  
• * April on the Square Block Party – Saturday, April 12 (All Day) at the Talladega Square