Paine Primary School kindergarten teacher Angela Shorter applied for and received a grant from Birmingham Audubon Society to plant a habitat garden this year.

The garden will enhance the bird sanctuary that the Audubon Society also funded outside her classroom window.

Part of the habitat garden
submitted photo

Shorter’s kindergarten class with the help of buddy teacher Marcia Segers’ class has completed the garden and will be writing plans to use the area as an outdoor learning environment for the elementary schools.

The city of Clay now has a contingency fund in case of an emergency.

The Clay City Council has set aside $50,000 for use in a disaster situation. An additional $50,000 in funds from the general fund has also been set aside for road projects.

The city of Clay was hit hard by an EF-3 tornado on Jan. 23, 2012. Six neighborhoods were affected, resulting in 321 damaged homes, 170 of which suffered heavy to severe damage. One person, 16-year-old Christina Heichelbech, died in the tornado, and 40 to 50 people were treated and transported to area hospitals.

City Manager Ronnie Dixon said these funds were among many steps the current administration is taking toward fiscal responsibility.

In other news, Mayor Charles Webster announced that the city may receive the police cars it has been wanting at no charge. The city currently employs two full-time deputies along with a handful of reserve deputies. The reserve deputies are limited by equipment.

“We talked to the people in Irondale and told them about our need,” Webster said. “They said they were looking to get rid of some of their cars. They would have to check some things but they would like to just donate them to us.”

The additional cars would allow for greater police coverage in Clay by reserve deputies.

The city council also honored the other major source of emergency service in Clay, the Center Point Fire District. The council proclaimed May 19-25 as Emergency Medical Services Week in honor of the work done by Center Point Fire District. Fireman Brad Appleton was on hand to receive the award on the department’s behalf.

Seven area football players have been named to the North All-Star football team, part of the 17th annual Alabama All-Star Sports Week in Montgomery July 15-19.

The game will be played July 18 at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery.

The teams were announced by Alvin Briggs, director of the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association.

Pinson Valley’s Jeffrey Blair (4) celebrates after a tackle against Clay-Chalkville last season.
file photo by Anna Malone

Making the team from Clay-Chalkville are running back Kenterrius Gray, defensive lineman LeVante’ Price and defensive end Daniel Clayton. Clayton made the Class 6A All-State team as a senior.

Making the team from Pinson Valley are defensive back Jeffrey Blair, running back A.J. Freeman and defensive back Mondeno Gibson. Freeman made the Class 5A All-State team as a senior. Pinson Valley head football coach Matt Glover will serve as an assistant coach for the North squad.

Offensive lineman Casey Dunn made the team from Hewitt-Trussville.

The North won last year’s game 34-12, but the South holds a 29-23-2 edge in the North-South series, which began in 1948.

Three of the seven area players invited to the All-Star game signed football scholarships this spring:

Dunn signed with Jacksonville State University.

Gray signed with Delta State University. 

Blair signed with Faulkner University. 

Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.

Funeral service will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 11 a.m. at Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Chapel with Rev. Greg Jones officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 from 6-8 p.m. and Thursday, May 23, 2013 from 10 a.m. until the hour of service at the funeral home.

Hildred Ausbon Carlson

Hildred was a dedicated homemaker. She was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene. She was also a member of the Marshall County Art Guild in Lewisburg, TN and the Cahawba Art Club in Trussville, AL.

She is survived by two daughters, Diane Riggsbee (Bynie) of Wake Forest, NC and Karen Vertrees (Mark) of Cunningham, TN; son, James Carlson (Tobi) of Nolensville, TN; sister, Dorothy (Dot) Grogan of Trussville, AL; ten grandchildren; and eleven great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be William Carlson, Ethan Carlson, Noah Carlson, Steve Vertrees, Dan Riggsbee, Ryan Bull, Matt Riggsbee, and Greg Turnquist.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shiloh Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 4812 Shiloh-Canaan Road, Palmyra, TN 37142. Arrangements entrusted to Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040. Online condolences may be made at www.neal-tarpley.com.

MONTGOMERY — Hewitt-Trussville head baseball coach Jeff Mauldin was asked about community support.

The crowd answered for him.

Mauldin has been to four state championship series now in Montgomery — in 2003, 2005 and 2006 at Clay-Chalkville, and 2013 at Hewitt-Trussville — and this year’s trip brought the most fans.

Hewitt-Trussville fans cheer during Game 2 of the AHSAA Class 6A state championship series at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery on Saturday.
photo by Ron Burkett

Some grounds crew workers at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery on Saturday, busy removing the tarp from the infield after a steady rain, told Mauldin they had been working there 10 years. They said they have never seen a school supported like Hewitt-Trussville was by its fans.

“That means a lot to coaches and players when you see that,” Mauldin said. “It’s overwhelming and it’s really neat. I think it’s great for our kids.”

Junior pitcher Alec Talley said fans and students showing up throughout the Class 6A playoffs was important to the team.

“They’ve been behind us from the start,” Talley said.

The team says a prayer before every game, and part of that prayer, Mauldin said, is to honor God on the field and off the field.

“There’s no question these guys do that,” Mauldin said. “I just think people should be unbelievably proud that these guys represent our community the way they do.”

Sophomore catcher Cyle Moore said Hewitt-Trussville reaching the Class 6A state championship series earns the baseball program more respect. The more fans that showed up to games, the louder the cheering was, the more belief the team had that it could come back to win games in which it fell behind.

The Hewitt-Trussville baseball team prays in right field before Game 2 of the AHSAA Class 6A state championship series at Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery on Saturday.
photo by Ron Burkett

“It gives us more hope,” Moore said.

When Talley talked about the future of the program, he said “when” Hewitt-Trussville gets back to the state championship, not “if.” Talley said it could be next year, that Mauldin talks about this is the team that put Hewitt-Trussville on the map.

“We’re the ones that started this off, started the journey to state championships,” Talley said.

Mauldin said this year’s team was “infectious” for Trussville and that he has never been a part of a high school baseball environment like earlier this month against Hoover in the state semifinals and over the weekend against Pelham.

“I think the city of Trussville should be very proud that these guys represented our community and how they handled themselves on and off the field,” he said.

Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.

A handful of Pinson Valley baseball seniors signed scholarships Tuesday to play at the next level.

Pitcher Wyatt Burns, outfielder Scott Falkinburg, first baseman Tyler Evans, shortstop Josh Hines and pitcher Brad Eckmyre all signed Tuesday afternoon at Pinson Valley High School.

Burns signed with Samford University, Falkinburg signed with Lawson State Community College, Evans signed with Wallace State Community College (Selma), and Hines and Eckmyre signed with Huntingdon College in Montgomery.

Senior pitcher Bailey Chesser signed with Auburn last year.

Pinson Valley finished the 2013 baseball season with a 32-14 record. It reached the Class 5A semifinals before being eliminated by eventual state champion Hartselle.

Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.

Paine Primary School is scheduling full-day student orientations on Aug. 19-21.

Principal Betsy Schmitt said the orientations are being held in an effort to ease the transition to kindergarten for students.

Schmitt said students will be divided into three groups and assigned to attend one of the orientation days. The assigned day will be given to parents at the parent-only chat night, which will be indicated on the teacher letter slated to go out in mid July.

Paine Primary School
file photo

On their assigned day, students will report to school, where the teacher will explain playground, bathroom and lunchroom procedures, daily routines and complete some initial assessments. Students will also get a tour of the school and practice their dismissal procedures. Bus drivers will become acquainted with the kindergarten students in small groups and more easily learn their names and bus stops.

“Hopefully, by allowing students to begin school in a small group, much of the confusion and misunderstandings that can occur during those first few days can be alleviated, if not eliminated altogether,” Schmitt said in an email.

All kindergarten students will begin their regular daily schedule Aug. 22. The first day of the 2013-2014 school year for Trussville City Schools is Aug. 19.

Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.

Meteorologist and Trussville resident Bill Murray talked to Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce members at a luncheon last week about tornadoes.

Murray’s speech had three takeaways: tornadoes can happen in any month, so have a plan for wherever you happen to be whether it’s home, work, school, or anyplace else; take a Skywarn Spotter Course to help you to be better prepared; and know the difference between tornado watches and warnings, and know what to do in the case of each.

From left are Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce Board President Eddie Seal, Al Sikora and Henry Helzberg.
submitted photo

The chamber also recognized Henry Helzberg and Al Sikora of Red Wing Shoes as its May Customer Service Award recipients. The nominator said the customer he received at the store “was probably the best service I’ve received anywhere.”

Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.

A Trussville native’s book about the Cold War has been reprinted and is now in 240 academic libraries worldwide.

“Secrets of the Cold War” by Leland McCaslin focuses on a dark period of a silent war and offers a perspective on the struggle between the superpowers of the world told in the words of those who were there.

About 240 academic libraries worldwide have acquired the 248-page book, including Harvard, Princeton, Yale, the FBI Academy and West Point.

The Trussville Public Library has the book.
photo courtesy of Trussville Public Library

McCaslin, his brother, father and mother were all Army officers. McCaslin graduated from Mississippi State in 1969, where he majored in communications, studied military science and obtained his Army commission as a second lieutenant in the Intelligence Corps.

He served at Military Headquarters, the Pentagon from 1973-1976. In 1979, he arrived in Heidelberg, Germany, and served 16 years at U.S. Army Europe, where he participated in the Cold War.

After he retired from civil service, McCaslin taught speech at several local colleges. With his background in security and intelligence, he worked as a contract investigator for Immigration and Customs Enforcement with 9/11-related duties.

McCaslin is now fully retired.

Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.

The Trussville City Pool will open for the summer Saturday.

The pool is located on Parkway Drive and is open to Trussville residents and their guests only.

Pool passes went on sale April 29.

For specific hours of operation, visit www.trussvilleparks.org/pool. This link includes information on pool maintenance time, swim pass swim time, private and semi-private swim lessons times, group swimming lessons times, times for splash pad parties and open swim times. The link also includes pricing information and pool rules.

The Trussville City Pool
photo courtesy of Trussville Parks and Recreation

The Trussville City Council last week approved of hiring 11 lifeguards for the summer.

For more information, visit www.trussvilleparks.org or call the pool at 205-661-0490.

Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.