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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.

Plus “scenes” from the GCV Chamber Coffee

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.

Scenes from the Coffee event:

The City of Childersburg gathered a great crowd for their annual Tree Lighting and related holiday activities in “Downtown Christmasburg.”

Starting at the historic Butler-Harris-Rainwater House, the city’s official tree was lit, along with lots of hot Chocolate, the Grace Baptist Choir, and even a Live Nativity scene.

The festivities then moved down 1st Street for Smores with the VHS Baseball team, downtown shopping, Whoville in Kiwanis Park, a train ride, and of course, Sant Claus himself!

The Childersburg Christmas Parade is scheduled for Thursday, December 12th, starting 6:00 p.m.

Every year about this time, the City of Childersburg is transformed into Christmasburg. It’s a product of volunteerism in action among citizens and organizations, led by First Lady Trish Wesson.

According to Wesson, a grand example of community cooperation is the new downtown Train Station, “The Termite Group and Jimmy Landers made the ticket booth. Donald Haynes made the Railroad crossing signs here and at Santa’s workshop. Krissy Morris made the train. Thank you so much Steve Yarnel for stabilizing our train and the fence down at the reindeer farm. Thank you to the Street Department (Eddie Strickland, Floyd and Stubblefield) for your help getting all the pole lights up.

Others pitching in have been Candy Mahaffey, Jennifer Riddle, Kathy Matthews, Diana Rutherford, Ma Jeannie, Donna Mayfield, Grace Baptist Church, Karen White Lori Reed, Misti Payne, along woth the Childersburg Fire and Police Departments, and so many other anonymous elves!

It all comes together on Our is Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. for Childersburg’s annual Christmas tree Lighting at the Butler-Harris-Rainwater House, and spreading throughout the entire downtown.

Shuttle buses will be available to board at City Hall starting at 5:15 p.m. to take visitors to the Rainwater House and back downtown after the tree lighting. Families can visit Santa at Santa’s Workshop, catch the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who at Kiwanis Park after the tree lighting.

The kids can board the train to Santa’s workshop and Whoville after the tree lighting . Have fun in the snow at Kiwanis Park. Carriage rides are available for those who quickly filled out the reservation list. Hot chocolate and Apple Cider stations will be available at just about every block.

Visit Pam’s Hair Heaven Gift Shop and stop in for Hot Cocoa there. Our newest downtown business, Fair to Middlin’ Gifts & Boutique will be open for Christmas shopping.

Roads will be closing at 5:15 p.m., so get to town early for a convenient place to park. See you in downtown Christmasburg and Merry Christmas!

It was a universal assessment – Rob Blanchard was a valuable asset to wherever he placed his attention. That was recognized on Monday, November 18th as a new Food Distribution Center was dedicated in his memory.

“What a man,” said SAFE Family Services Director Margaret Morton, “He had such humility to serve others. Today, we are here to thank his family for sharing him with us.”

Betsy Hosp described Blanchard as an idea guy, “Rob was a great resource, someone to bounce ideas off.” She went on to describe the process by which Blanchard helped design and write a grant to fund building the new Food Distribution Center.

“Rob was multi-talented,” said Sylacauga Housing Authority Executive Director Sam Royster, “It seemed he knew everything, and when he didn’t, he took steps to know the next time a subject came up.”

Royster told the crowd that Blanchard was the type of person to get involved, to help any way and every way he could contribute to the Housing Authority, and by extension to the Sam Wright Sylacauga Grows Community Garden. The Food Distribution Center that bears his name is open daily during the week, providing fresh, seasonal produce to those in the community who need the service.

After so many heart-warming words remembering Rob Blanchard and his contributions, his memory was further served as after-school program students gathered for another in a series of “Farm to Table” lessons, complete with a meal prepared with the bounty of the community garden. Many even commented that Rob was surely present, watching over the many aspects of the garden to which he lent his inspirational expertise.

Pre-sale orders are now available for Sylacauga Sings Christmas” from Sylacauga’s new state-of-the-art MusicWorks Audio – Video Productions. It’s a unique holiday album featuring professional Sylacauga area talents to benefit the Sylacauga Animal Shelter.

“I feel great about the quality of what we’ve put together for the holidays, featuring so many of our great talents of the music business,”
said David Harris, who served as Producer/Chief Engineer for the project, “Whether you’re looking to support the Animal Shelter, love Christmas music, or want to hear local artists, you’re going to be quite pleased.”

Here is a list of “Sylacauga Sings Christmas” songs & artists:

“Please Come Home For Christmas” Aaron Smithey
“Christmas in Dixie” Hunter Reynolds
“Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” Mike Shell
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” Patrick Barnett
“Winter Wonderland” Mandy Harris
“Silent Night” Cherry Avenue, featuring Jaxon & Sadie
“Holly Jolly Christmas” Kanyon Ogle
“O Holy Night” David Maxwell
“Blue Christmas” Danny Reynolds
“Silver Bells” Roy Strickland
“Quickdraw The Cowboy” Don Horton

The beneficiary of the proceeds will be the Sylacauga Animal Shelter, and maybe you’re wondering what they’ll be doing with the money raised. That list starts with emergency food needs, especially when veterinarians call for special needs diets. The funds will also help cover emergency Vet needs, primarily for radiology and surgery, along with Vet medications, such as vaccines, antibiotics, preventatives, etc.

The CDs should be in just prior to Thanksgiving week, and can be pre-ordered by contacting MusicWorks Audio – Video Productions at (256) 245-7229. MusicWorks is arranging for some local merchants to carry the Christmas collection, and they’ll be publicizing where you can pick up copies.

Sylacauga native Jerry Carl represents Alabama’s First Congressional District. He lives in Mobile with his wife Tina. Here are his thoughts on the “Inflation Reduction Act” from an article he wrote for 1819 News.

Roughly two years ago, the Biden-Harris administration rammed through their so-called “Inflation Reduction Act (IRA),” claiming it would stop inflation and get prices under control for struggling Americans. From the moment they introduced this bill, I was opposed to it for numerous reasons. This was the bill that included $80 billion for the IRS to hire 87,000 new agents (including more armed agents), as well as billions of dollars for pointless Green New Deal projects. Unsurprisingly, the IRA has been a total failure and, in many cases, is actually driving up the cost of living. 

One of the biggest failures of the Biden-Harris IRA is the rising cost of Medicare Part D, which is intended to give seniors the option to choose between numerous affordable plans. Just this year alone, more than 100 plans have been removed from the list of options, and these have disproportionately affected low-income seniors. In fact, seniors currently have the fewest options to choose from than at any point in the 20-year history of the program. 

Not only has the Biden-Harris IRA stripped seniors of Medicare options, but it has also increased the premiums seniors are paying for both their Part D and Medicare Advantage programs. The monthly premiums historically have been flat or have seen a slight increase; however, this year they are up 21-30%. Even worse, they are expected to increase next year by as much as 50%. This is a shame, and the Biden-Harris administration is flat-out lying to the American people about how they’ve completely failed our seniors. 

If you are wondering why these plans have been stripped away and why premiums are going through the roof, you are not alone. It turns out, the Biden-Harris IRA robbed $270 billion from Medicare to pay for ridiculous pet projects which include subsidizing China’s production of electric vehicle batteries and solar panels. Now, America’s seniors are footing the bill for the Biden-Harris administration’s disastrous policy. Instead of admitting their mistake and working to undo this damage, this administration is lying to the American people to hide their failures. 

As the November election rapidly approaches, Democrats are campaigning on the IRA as a big success, but the American people know better. Since Biden and Harris took office, we’ve seen the cost for nearly everything increase, and the American people simply cannot afford another four years of this. If you’re as sick as I am of the Biden-Harris administration’s America-last agenda, I encourage you to show up in force on Election Day and make your voice heard. That’s the only way we can fix this. 

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.