For the past year, select members of the Junior and Senior classes from Childersburg and Fayetteville High Schools have been privileged to be a part of the Greater Coosa Valley Chamber Young Professionals group, on a journey to learn and grow. This past week, this class was honored with a graduation ceremony.
“Young Professionals is about showing our youth of today, the possibilities of tomorrow,” explained Chamber President/CEO John Mark Freeman, “We strive to help our youth learn more about leadership, the community, and themselves.”
During the year-long program, the students experience local business and industry, participate in putting on local events, and so much more that the community has to offer, “By the time they graduate, we want them to be in tune with all that is the Greater Coosa Valley.”
This year’s graduation ceremony for the GCV Young Professionals was held at the Childersburg Parks & Recreation Center. Young Professionals Addison Gleason of Childersburg High and Ethan Butler of Fayetteville High were named recipients of 2024-25 Young Professional Scholarships.
Graduating Young Professionals were
Childersburg High: Addison Gleason, Arardia Harrison, Shakira Harrison, Clarrisa McAdams, Caleigh Pearson, Chase Price, and Gracie Wallenfang.
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.
Read the accounts &/or watch the meeting video below:
Mayor Ken Wesson reported that all City departments were proactive in preparing for this past weekend’s storms, “They inspected their facilities, collecting and storing all items that might be subject to problems from the expected high winds. With over four-inches of rain in a very short period of time, we did experience a few short-term flooding issues, but we were pleased at how quickly the excess rain subsided. We were fortunate that we did not experience what our neighbors in Winterboro dealt with.”
Wesson reported that the City storm shelter housed 35 people during the evening on Saturday, March 15th, while 52 took advantage of the safe zone at the Limbaugh Community Center, “We got the all clear at 11:00 p.m. and allowed our emergency visitors to go home.”
The Childersburg City Council opened their Tuesday, March 18th regular business meeting by revisiting an item from the last meeting, when they approved ABC Beer and Wine Retail licenses for Quik Sak (32522 US Highway 280, Childersburg. This meeting, the Council also approved a Retail Liquor Class C license, added by the ABC Board.
Having completed his certification, Joseph Lide was approved for a classification change to firefighter/paramedic at an hourly pay rate of $16 per hour.
The Council approved a hole sponsorship for the scheduled April 14, 2025 golf tournament for Elks Lodge 2295 for $100, paid from Fund 23.
Payment of invoices was approved in the amount of $844,125.84, including a $400,000+ payment on the construction project for the new Police-Judicial Complex on Highway 280.
Wesson also announced receipt of approval of ADECA grant funds for the Childersburg Police Department in the amount of $23,540.
After the meeting Chief Kevin Koss said that the grant funds will be used in a variety of projects inside the new Police-Judicial Complex, “The funds are to address gun violence, and the terms will allow a wide range of uses that meet the standards. It will be difference-making.”
The next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday April 1st, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
With conflicting assessments by the companies involved, the Oak Grove Town Council has voted to seek an independent assessment of the Gantts Junction paving project which has shown signs of premature breakdown in spots.
In making the proposal, Councilman David Harris said, “I think we need to get ahead of this, to have an outside expert make an independent assessment of exactly what we’re looking at, what’s behind the road surface breaking down in spots, and what our options might be going forward.”
The Council voted to spend up to $5,000 to make the independent assessment.
In other new business, a draft agreement with Talladega County for responsibilities and duties during the upcoming municipal election was presented for study. A vote on the agreement is expected to be on the April meeting agenda.
Mayor Tony White reported his plans to attend the Alabama League of Municipalities Convention in Huntsville, May 13 – 16. Several Town Council members were not certain of their plans at the moment. A vote was tabled on the Voting Delegate Authorization form selections, along with authorization of expenses for attendance.
Following discussion of a proposal from Rock Solid Operations, LLC for curbside pick-up of debris, the Council voted to authorize Mayor Tony White to confirm the length of the proposed agreement, which would greatly reduce the cost for providing twice per month service on the first and third Mondays of each month.
A proposal from Republic Waste to provide dumpster service for the Town of Oak Grove was tabled while the Town Clerk’s office solicits bids for service from other providers.
Read the accounts &/or watch the meeting video below:
The Tuesday, March 4th Childersburg City Council meeting opened with passage of Resolution 2025-04, which authorizes the City to enter into a working agreement with Talladega County and its Board of Registrars for the 2025 Municipal Election, authorizing Mayor Ken Wesson to execute the agreement.
The Council approved an ABC license for Quik Sak Grocery, located at 32522 US Highway 280, Suite A in the city. It includes off-premise-only sales for beer and wine.
The new Childersburg Police/Judicial Complex will have a new 60-foot flagpole, installed by Alabama Flag and Banner. The cost, including flags is $18391.50, paid from Fund 65-Direct Support.
The Council also approved purchase and installation of 30 Alibi Cameras, along with a network video system from Advanced Integrated Security at a cost of $27,7999 paid from Fund 25. It will give complete security coverage of the complex interior and exterior, and will include an outdoor “safe zone” for public transactions, child custody swaps, or any other citizen activity that would benefit from the service.
During a safety inspection of the baseball/softball complex, a dangerous loose wire was discovered. Mayor Wesson authorized the emergency repair at a cost of $2,100. That same inspection identified fencing issues needing repair before the start of the upcoming season. The Council approved costs, not to exceed $11,500 from Fund 65-Direct Support.
The Council approved payment of invoices in the amount of $180,879.55.
The next regular meeting of the City Council will be Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 6:00 pm.
During their February 2025 regular meeting, the Oak Grove Town Council reappointed Rick Morgan and Frank Young to their Sewer Board for terms ending in 2028 and 2030 respectively.
In other new business, The Council voted to indemnify the Town Clerk and Volunteer Fire Chief against legal liability in the course of carrying out their required duties.
The purchase of an Off-Road Tracker for town use was approved at a cost of $16,174 from Sylacauga Marine & ATV.
Repair expenses were approved to install new lighting for a Street Department vehicle to meet legally-required standards. The cost of the work by Dana Safety Supply is $1,559.34.
The Oak Grove VFD reported 59 total calls in January. There were five structure fires, fifteen property fires, thirty-six EMS-only calls, and three non-fire, non-EMS calls. Aid was given to other departments on seven calls, and aid recieved on ten calls.
Six of the calls for service were inside the town limits, with the other 53 calls outside, but still within the departments assigned service area.
Read the accounts of the meeting &/or watch the meeting video below:
The Childersburg City Council opened it second February meeting with a pair of reappointments to the Childersburg Water-Sewer-Gas Board. Billy Atkinson, Jr. will serve through 9/30/2030. Ron Websters term extends to 1/26/2031.
With Mayor serving as the Voting Delegate during the 2025 Alabama League of Municipalites convention in Huntsville, the Council selected Tommy Ivey as 1st Alternate, and Angie Twymn will serve as 2nd Alternate.
The Council approved a pair of grounds mainenance expences. The Street Department will have four (4) new Echo weed eaters from Russell Building Supply at $359.99 through the state bid list, with a fifth going to the Parks and Recreation Department. That total is $1,799.95, paid from Fund 23.
Approval also went for a Parks and Recreation requet for a Kubota Zero Turn Mower from Lincoln Tractor, priced at $11,798.72 on the state bid list, also paid from Fund 23.
The Council approved expense for the emergency replacement of a wooden trellis at the Rainwater Museum. It will be replaced by Yarnell Construction at a cost not to exceed $5,800.
Approval was given to pay invoices in the amount of $623,628.13 with $353,000 representing the latest payment on the construction work at the new Judicial Complex on US Highway 280.
The next regular meeting will be held on March 4, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
