South Talladega County Future Teachers of Alabama are preparing for their 3rd Annual “Rudolph’s Rockin’ Reindeer Bash,” and they could use your help in making it a success.
The event is a Christmas party for Talladega County Elementary Collaborative Education Special Needs and Pre K students. They have created an Amazon Wish List, and are asking for your help in filling in that wish list. Please follow the link:
The Oak Grove Town Council met at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12th at 6:00 p.m.
Councilman David Harris reported that the recent Oak Grove Fall Festival essentially broke even in terms of expenses and sponsorship revenues, “It was our smoothest and most successful festival, thanks to everyone joining in and working together.”
The Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department made their monthly report to the Town Council for October 2024:
Total Calls – 54 Structure Fires – 6 General Fires – 5 EMS-Only Calls – 41 Non-Fire, Non-EMS Calls – 2 Aid Given Calls – 4 Aid Received – 6 No-Aid Required – 44 Calls Inside Town Limits – 14 Calls Outside Town Limits – 40
The following are action items from their agenda:
William L. Taylor was approved to joing the Oak Grove Volunteer Fire Department.
The Council approved the 2025 Town holiday schedule for Town Hall and employees. The only change in the traditional schedule is for the Christmas holiday, with Friday (12/26) added to the schedule , along with Wednesday (12/24) and Thursday (12/25).
Repairs to the bumper of the Street Department’s 2022 Ford F-250 were approved at a cost of $1,700 by Collier Motors.
The Town Council approved the purchase of 2024 Gooseneck Trailer ($9,500) and hitch ($699). The 8.5’ by 30’ trailer will allow the Street Department to transport all three lawn mowers to job sites.
Resolution 617 approved declaring the 15-passenger Transportation bus as surplus and authorized disposal of the 2017 E350 Cutaway Bus.
The Council discussed a proposed 2.5-percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for town employees. The proposal will be formalized with a Resolution during the December regular meeting.
The Town of Oak Grove voted to approve Resolution 616, which joins the State of Alabama in approving a Sales Tax Exemption for Agricultural Fencing, up to $25,000.
A revision of the National Flood Insurance Ordinance had its first reading and will be considered during the December regular meeting.
The required Oak Grove Annual Safety Meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, November 27th at 2:00 p.m.
A contingency budget of $500 was approved for the annual Oak Grove Christmas Tree Lighting event, which is scheduled for Monday, December 2nd at 6:00 p.m. in Oak Grove Park.
Bates Industrial & Safety Supply hosted the November Coffee from the Greater Coosa Valley Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, November 12th. Besides the spotlight on the Highway 280 business, details were provided on a lot of upcoming holiday events in the region.
Ragan Bates welcomed visitors on behalf of the host company, “We opened two years ago to provide for the needs of our industrial community, along with a lot of merchandise the general public loves and appreciates, too!”
Pete Storey spoke on behalf of Majestic Caverns, “Christmas at the Cave is always a special time for families to build lifetime memories.” This year, Adventus is coming this December 14, 21, & 28 and is the perfect Christmas event for families, friends, and churches looking to celebrate together with live music, festive entertainment, and holiday magic in the most unique setting.
Kara Eslinger was introduced as the owner of the brand new Fair to Middlin’ Gifts & Boutique on 1st Street in downtown Childersburg. “It truly provides something for everyone on your holiday shopping list,” said John Mark Freeman of the Chamber.
The City of Childersburg hosts their annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on Tuesday, December 3rd, starting at 6:00 p.m. with all sorts of family fun throughout the decorated downtown.
The Childersburg Parks & Recreation Department hosts Breakfast with Santa on Tuesday, December 10th, Find details at Childersburg.recdesk.com
The annual Rainwater House Christmas Bazaar is scheduled for Saturday, November 23rd, hosted at the Limbaugh Community Center from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The 2024 Childersburg Christmas Parade is set for Thursday, December 12th, sponsored by Cadence Bank.
Holiday season shoppers are reminded to turn in sales receipts from businesses in the Greater Coosa Valley region at the Chamber Office at 805 3rd St SW in Childersburg. A drawing for ten $100 gift cards will be held and winners announced on Tuesday, December 10th, when the historic Butler-Harris-Rainwater House hosts the December Chamber Coffee.
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.
Coosa Valley Medical Center (CVMC) invites the community to celebrate the season with its annual Christmas Tree of Love lighting ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 6:00 p.m.
The event, organized by the Coosa Valley Auxiliary, offers individuals an opportunity to honor loved ones by purchasing a light on the Christmas tree. Proceeds from the sales benefit the Coosa Valley Medical Center Foundation.
In the meantime tribute lights are available for $2, or $3 with a card notification, while group tribute lights with card notifications are priced at $20.
To purchase a tribute light, community members can scan the QR code in the attached graphic or by visiting this link – https://givebutter.com/treeoflove24
The Sylacauga City Council held their first regular meeting of the month on Thursday night, November 7, preceded by a work session. Read the accounts of the meeting &/or watch the meeting video below.
The Council opened their meeting with a pair of public hearing on property rezoning requests. Hearing no opposition, property located on Coaling Road was rezoned from AG-2 (Agricultural District) District to a RT-1 (Zero Lot Line Residential District) District. Property located on Talladega Highway was rezoned from MX-2 (Limited Mixed Use) District to a B2 (General Business) District.
A public hearing for the Development Reimbursement Agreement with Cabash Investments, LLC was scheduled for Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
Approval was granted to Wharf Casual Seafood, LLC for a thirty-day extension for opening, until January 31, 2025.
The Council approved a series of budget amendments from FY2024 to FY2025 to account for open invoices that stretched between the two budget years. They were approved as follows:
a) General Fund encumbrances, totaling $749,599.01. b) Improvement Project Fund encumbrances, totaling $623,020.55. c) Airport Fund encumbrances, totaling $87,996.24.
Approval was given to hire Reams Custom Homes to seal cedar roofs at the Marble City Cemetery, totaling $1,247.75. (Funding from Marble City Cemetery Fund.)
The Council approved Building & Earth to provide engineering consultation and construction materials testing services for project site located at 799 N Norton Ave., totaling $18,100. (Funding from Capital Improvement Fund.) This piece of property is proposed for a new Recreation Center, adjacent to the E.A.R.T.H. Job Development Center from Safe Family Services.
The Fire Department was approved to purchase Thermal Imaging Cameras, totaling $35,315, plus shipping charges. (Funding from Capital Improvement Fund.)
The Council gave approval for the reimbursement of an overpayment to Gail Vick, case # MC23-0000856, totaling $60.
The Acme Sandwich Shop, Inc, located at 108 North Broadway Avenue was approved for an 020 – Restaurant Retail Liquor License, pending approval from the ABC Board and all required documents.
Approval was granted for payment Fiscal Year 2024 Accounts Payable invoices totaling $134,637.76; as well as Fiscal Year 2025 Accounts Payable invoices totaling $352,432.63.
Tiffany Nix was re-elected as the City Council President for the next twelve-month period, and Nate Brewer was elected to serve as the City Council President Pro-Tempore for the next twelve-month period.
The Council approved a new job description for the vacant position of Accounting Manager in the Administration and Finance Department, effective November 7, 2024.
The next regular meeting of the Sylacauga City Council is set for Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 6:00 p.m., preceded by a work session at 5:00 p.m.
Kara Eslinger opened the doors to “Fair to Middlin’ Gifts & Boutique” with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 7th, including both the Greater Coosa Valley & Sylacauga Chambers of Commerce.
Childersburg Mayor Ken Wesson welcomed the new downtown business, “The transformation has been nothing short of amazing. This is a shop that Kara and her family can be proud of creating, something special for the future of downtown Childersburg. It’s great to see such a crowd welcome her and her new shop.”
Eslinger got more than a bit teary-eyed as she explained the name she chose, Fair to Middlin’, “The name is a tribute to my GrandPa, using one of his favorite sayings. I was blessed to have such a supportive family. Everybody chipped in, allowing me to research what I wanted to include, while getting the building ready, and deciding how to display everything. I know he’d be so proud of everything about Fair to Middlin’.”
Here are some scenes for the dig day:
Check out “Fair to Middlin’ Gifts & Boutique in person at 705 1st Street Southwest in downtown Childersburg.
Read the accounts of the meeting &/or watch the meeting video below.
A major flooding issue that has plagued Childersburg’s Pleasant Valley area is a step closer to resolution as a project that has created better darinage is nearing completion.
Approval of Resolution 2024-22 authorizes Mayor Ken Wesson to execute a change order for the Storm Drain Northwest Project #CS010832-03 that approves Civil Contractors to complete the project using available SRF funding. Residents have reported great improvement already, draining flood waters in a matter of hours instead of days.
Resolution 2024-23 approves Lincoln Excavating and Construction a one-year road and sidewalk repair contract. It includes more than a dozen projects for the Water Board, as well as ten for the City itself.
A pair of Resolutions, 2024-24 & 2024-25, gained formal approval on behalf of the Childersburg Water Board. The first amends a 2023 Community Block Grants and Appalachian Regional Commission funds to include an increase of local matching funds by ten-percent and authorize the Mayor to submit and sign required documents.
The second accepts funds through the same grant programs to provide sewer system improvements and awarding the construction contract to Baird Contracting.
The Council approved a JAG Grant expense for the purchase of two (2) Axon Fleer Dash Cameras with License Plate Readers. The total amount is $30,548.40, with $20,939.64 from the JAG Grant balance, and a city match of $9,608.70 from Fund 10.
The first regular Council meeting in December has been moved from Tuesday, December 3rd to Monday December 2nd at 6:00 p.m. to avoid a conflict with the planned City Christmas Tree Lighting and related events on the regular meeting night.
Approval was given to advertise with the Childersburg High Tip-Off Club in the amount of $300 from Fund 12-LRA.
The Council approved an 011-Lounge Retail Liquor Class II (Package) License for TCB Package Store owner Walter Blackmon. It is located at 6 9th Avenue SW.
Approval was given to pay invoices in the amount of $211,248.85.
And in an item added to the amended agenda, the Council approved a $2,450 payment to Misty Thacker for gymnastics class service provided through the Childersburg Parks & Recreation Department. All of the funds were generated through participation fees collected by the Recreation Department. There is a formal agreement for the classes under development.
The next regular Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 19th, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.
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.
