WEST POINT - Monday's contest between the West Point Warriors and the Cold Springs Eagles was just as great as expected. Each team had no problem scoring in the first. The biggest lead of the quarter was held by West Point at four but their lead was cut to just one on a jumper by Josh Freeman at the end of the quarter. The Warriors held on to a slim 14-13 lead at the end of the first eight minutes.

After tying the game twice, Cold Springs took their first lead of the game with 2:43 left in the second on a tough Triston Chambers lay-up, putting the Eagles up 25-24. After a Warrior turnover, Eli Hamby hit a jumper deep in the lane and Chambers hit a free throw to up the Cold Springs lead to four. They would extend their run to 9-0 on a deep three by Chambers, but Tanner Rusk of West Point nailed a three of his own as well a pair from the charity stripe to cut the Eagles' lead four, 33-29, heading to the half.

Cold Springs started to pull away in the early part of the third quarter due to a 12-4 run that included back-to-back deep threes from Chambers, however the Warriors were not done. They fought back tooth and nail to shrink the deficit to just six, 48-42, heading to the final frame.

The Warriors scratched and clawed in the fourth but could not get closer than two. Cold Springs 65, West Point 63.

GIRLS

After a relatively slow start, Cold Springs started to pour in the points in the last two minutes of the quarter thanks in big part to Emme Willoughby, who had 10 points in the first. After one, Cold Springs led 22-14.

The second quarter was full of runs, by both teams, as West Point was able to cut the lead to six before Cold Springs came fighting back to push the lead back to 11, forcing a Lady Warriors time out. The stoppage didn't faze Cold Springs as they were able to add to their lead, taking a 40-27 lead to the locker room at the half.

West Point was on fire in the third, cutting the Cold Springs lead to as little as seven, but the Lady Eagles were able to weather the storm and get their lead back to double digits. Cold Springs led 57-43 at the end of three.

West Point played hard in the fourth but could not overcome the lights-out three-point shooting of Cold Springs as they fell to the Lady Eagles by the final score of 71-52.

CULLMAN -  A fatal traffic accident occurred overnight in Cullman. At approximately 10 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 1,  Summertown, Tennessee resident Michael Hurgeton, 43, was struck and killed as he turned onto AL Highway 157  headed home.

Cullman County Coroner Jeremy Kilpatrick said Mr. Hurgeton, "was on a 2013 John Wayne 49cc scooter."

"After talking to his mother he was just passing through on his way home," he continued.

Kilpatrick stated that Hurgeton "pulled out and pulled off the side road near County Road 1180 and turned north with traffic."

The name of a young woman involved in the incident has not been released at this time. Kilpatrick said she was unharmed physically.

Photo shows Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, Jonathan McConnell

CULLMAN - This month’s Cullman County Republican Party (CCRP) breakfast meeting, on Saturday, Feb. 6, will include a buffet of area Republican candidates ahead of the much-anticipated March 1 primary. The featured speaker will be Jonathan McConnell, who is running against incumbent U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby. A forum for the Cullman County Commission Chairman candidates will also take place, including incumbent Kenneth Walker and his two challengers Darrell Hicks and Eric L. Parker.

There will be a question and answer session where local residents will be able to speak and ask questions of all of the candidates.

The breakfast meeting is on Saturday, Feb. 6 at the Cullman Elks Lodge. Breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m. and the program at 8 a.m. The cost of the breakfast $10; there will be no charge to attend the meeting at 8 a.m. The general public is encouraged to attend.

For more information on the CCRP or the monthly breakfast program, please visit www.cullmangop.com or contact CCRP Vice Chairman Waid Harbison at 256-708-1650.

The Cullman Elks Lodge is located at 1609 Brantley Ave. NW.

Pictured are, from left, Wallace State President Dr. Vicki Karolewics, Johnny Thornton (WSCC contributor), Cindy Mallard (athlete), Larry Slater (coach), Buddy Jones, WSCC golf coach Dan York and WSCC Vice President Dr. Tomesa Smith.

Buddy Jones accepted the award on behalf of his son, Trey Jones, a former WSCC golfer and Florida State coach. York accepted the award on behalf of former WSCC golfer and PGA tour pro Brett Wetterich.

HANCEVILLE - Wallace State’s 12th-ranked softball team collected three victories over the weekend in the season-opening JUCO Classic in Clearwater, Florida.

The Lady Lions (3-4) opened the season by winning consecutive games against Northwest Florida State College and Pasco-Hernando State (Florida) College. They also defeated Daytona State College on Saturday.

Wallace State lost to Indian River State College, Florida State College at Jacksonville, Palm Beach State College and Polk State College over the three-day tournament.

Wallace State’s Katie Parr, Shelby Brown and Taylor Beshears each homered in the 8-0 victory over Pasco-Hernando.

Brown finished the tournament with five hits, including the homer and a double. Beshears, the team’s shortstop, added four RBIs in her first collegiate games.

Sophomores Molli Garcia and Olivia Royal had five hits apiece for the Lady Lions over the weekend. Among her five hits, Garcia had a pair of doubles and collected four RBIs. Royal had a double, triple, scored five runs and swiped four bags.

Freshman outfielder Amber Hammonds had four hits, scored five runs and collected three stolen bases.

In the opener, freshman right-hander Brittany Ledbetter was the winning pitcher in Wallace State’s 5-4 triumph over Northwest Florida State College. She went the distance, striking out five and allowing three earned runs on four hits.

Jessie Butler, a freshman from Lexington, tossed a four-hitter, striking out five, in a five-inning shutout over Pasco-Hernando.

Haley Hughes became the third Wallace State freshman pitcher to record a win on the mound in a 3-0 blanking of Dayton State. Hughes threw a six-hitter, recording two strikeouts and one walk.

Wallace State begins play Friday at the Creek Indian JUCO Classic in Atmore.

Wallace State athletics inducts second Sports Hall of Fame class.

Wallace State inducted its second Sports Hall of Fame class on Sunday in conjunction with the college’s 50th anniversary. The 2016 inductees are former women’s coach Larry Slater, former Wallace State golfer and PGA tour pro Brett Wetterich, former Wallace State golfer and current Florida State golf coach Trey Jones, former Wallace softball player Cindy Mallard and contributor Johnny Thornton.

Wallace State plans to add a new class to the Hall of Fame every two years.

Here’s a closer look at the 2016 class:

• Larry Slater was the long-time leader and face of the Wallace State women’s basketball program, establishing the Lady Lions into a perennial state contender. Slater coached at Wallace State from 1989-2011, compiling a 479-163 career record. Slater’s teams won six conference championships, advanced to the conference title game on 15 occasions and made four NJCAA Division I national tournament appearances. Slater will also be inducted into the Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame this May.

• Brett Wetterich is a former Wallace State golfer and former professional golfer on the Nationwide and PGA tours. Wetterich, an Ohio native, played for Wallace State from 1992-94. From 2000-05, he won two events on the Nationwide Tour before winning his first PGA event in 2006. As a rookie, Wetterich earned a spot on the United States’ 2006 Ryder Cup team. Wetterich compiled career earnings of more than $7 million. He is also a member of the NJCAA Hall of Fame.

• Trey Jones is a former Wallace State golfer and assistant coach and currently the head golf coach at Florida State. Jones, a Cullman native, golfed at Wallace State from 1987-1988 and served as a Wallace State assistant coach from 1992-1995. Jones has led Florida State men’s and women’s golf since 2004 and guided Florida State to its most successful season in 2015, earning ACC Coach of the Year honors for the second time. Jones, who was also the ACC Coach of the Year in 2008, has led 14 of his 19 teams at the Division I level to the NCAA Championship tournament.

• Cindy (Barksdale) Mallard was an integral member of the first Wallace State slow pitch softball team in 1981, which won a state tournament in its inaugural season. Mallard was an outfielder on the 1981 team and named state tournament MVP. She was also an all-tournament selection as a sophomore in 1982 when the team finished conference runner-up. An employee since 1994, she remains an active supporter of Wallace State athletics.

• Johnny Thornton, who today broadcasts each Wallace State home basketball game on 92.1 WKUL-FM, served as Wallace State’s sports information director from 1982-97, providing publicity for the college’s athletics and as the statistician for the basketball, softball and volleyball teams. Thornton was also inducted into the Cullman County Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit http://athletics.wallacestate.edu/.

The key to my success would be studying a lot and working hard.”

Aliyah Ryan

CULLMAN - The 2016 (89th annual) Cullman County Spelling Bee was held on Monday night, Feb.1 at Temple Baptist Church in Cullman.  Twenty-four third- to eighth-grade contestants from schools throughout Cullman County took the stage in hopes of taking home the title:  2016 Cullman County Spelling Bee Champion. Fifth-grader Aliyah Ryan from Welti Elementary came out on top.

During the event, four of the contestants were recognized for making their second appearance in the county-level competition. Those students were Ella Stephenson from Cold Springs Elementary, Brady Cleek from Hanceville Elementary, Claudia Fallin from Sacred Heart School and Briana Harshman from Vinemont Elementary.

The competition Monday night alternated between spelling and vocabulary words for the first six rounds, which eliminated 18 contestants. The next four “spelling only” rounds ended with Aliyah Ryan (Welti Elementary) and Olivia Kraft (West Elementary) battling it out through round 11 for the championship. Audience members sat on the edge of their seats as they watched the showdown that would eventually declare the winner. 

In the end, it was Ryan who correctly spelled “strategy” to stay alive in the competition.  The misspelling of “finesse” by her competitor led to the championship word in round twelve for Ryan.

“V-i-v-i-s-e-c-t-i-o-n,” she said, after taking a deep breath and watching the judges in anticipation. After spelling the word correctly, she was given the title: 2016 Cullman County Spelling Bee Champion!

Ryan advances to the statespelling bee competition to represent Cullman County in Birmingham on March 12.

What does a fifth-grader have to say about her big win?

“The key to my success would be studying a lot and working hard,” she said. 

Mrs. Myra Faye Carroll went to be with her Lord on January 31, 2016. She was 67 years old.

Mrs. Carroll was born March 27, 1948 to Leonard and Era Mar Whaley Barnett.

Services will be held February 4, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Duck River Baptist Church. She will lie in state from 12 noon until 2 p.m. at the church with interment at the adjoining cemetery.

Visitation will be Wednesday at the Funeral Home from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.

She is survived by her Husband: Gene Carroll, Daughter: Nina (Keith) Duke, Son: Keith (Jo Ellen) Carroll, Sisters: Carol (Barry) Patton and Rita (Gene) Mayfield, Brothers: Derrell "Bobo" (Janice) Barnett and Sherrell "Moochie" (Toni) Barnett, 4 Grandchildren and 2 Great Grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and Sisters: Brenda Burns and Joyce "Jo" Burrow and Brother: Gerald Barnett

Photo shows 2nd Lt. Phil J. Dryden of Gulf Shores (left) and Maj. David R. Mauritson of Fairhope (right).

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE– Two members of Civil Air Patrol’s Alabama Wing died Monday when their single-engine plane crashed near Mobile while they were returning from a 170-mile compassion flight to southern Louisiana.

The pilot, Maj. David R. Mauritson, 67, of Fairhope, joined CAP in September 1991. Second Lt. Phil J. Dryden, 66, of Gulf Shores, a CAP member since November 2015, served as mission scanner for the flight. The two were members of the Mobile Composite Squadron.

Their CAP Cessna 182 was found 1 mile west of Mobile Regional Airport at 2 a.m. today after searchers tracked the aircraft’s emergency locator transmitter to the crash site. They were returning from Louisiana Regional Airport in Gonzales, near Baton Rouge, after returning a medical caregiver and patient to her home.

Pilots perform compassion flights as a public or charitable service, often to transport patients or their family members to or from treatment in cases where ground travel would be too painful or difficult or when expediency is required.

The pilot bears the expense of the fuel, maintenance and related costs for such flights.

Mauritson flew as a volunteer pilot for Mercy Flight Southeast, based in Leesburg, Florida and for SouthWings, an aviation-oriented conservation group. He was a Certified Flight Instructor with 50 years of flying experience.

He was chairman of the Awards Committee of the Flying Physicians Association, previously served as its president and received the group’s Distinguished Service award in 2004. A lawyer as well as a physician, he also belonged to the Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association.

After joining CAP on Nov. 3, Dryden gained certification in emergency services and trained as a mission scanner. He served as the Mobile squadron’s assistant operations officer.

“Dr. Mauritson was a hero to our Mercy Flight Southeast family, having signed up to fly 33 missions over the years,” said Steve Purello, CEO of Mercy Flight Southeast. “He was an admired pilot who flew over 11,000 hours and was a certified instructor. Taught to fly by his mother who was also a certified flight instructor, David passed along his passion for flying to his children and was their instructor as well. His compassion and commitment to our cause to get people to far from home medical care will be sorely missed. Our sincerest condolences go out to the Mauritson and Dryden families.”

Mercy Flight Southeast’s network of 650 volunteer pilots provides free air transportation to life-saving medical appointments for people who otherwise could not get there. For information about Mercy Flight Southeast, visit http://www.mercyflightse.org/.

About Civil Air Patrol

Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force, which consists of regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, along with Air Force retired military and civilian employees. CAP, in its Total Force role, operates a fleet of 550 aircraft and performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 78 lives annually. Civil Air Patrol’s 56,000 members nationwide also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. Its members additionally play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 24,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet program. Performing missions for America for the past 75 years, CAP received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014 in honor of the heroic efforts of its World War IIveterans. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit http://www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.

About Mercy Flight Southeast

Mercy Flight Southeast is a non-profit volunteer pilot organization that provides free air transportation by private aircraft to distant medical facilities when commercial air service is not available, impractical or simply not affordable. Mercy Flight Southeast is a member of Air Charity Network, an association of charitable aviation organizations comprised of more than 7,500 pilots and who represent over 90% of all charitable non-emergency flights flown in the nation. Mercy Flight Southeast has won the seal of approval from Independent Charities of America recognizing Mercy Flight Southeast as a good steward of the funds it generates from the public.

Funeral service for Linda L. Burney will be held on Thursday, February 04, 2016 beginning at 2 p.m. at Moss-Service Funeral Home Chapel.

Moss-Service Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, February 03, 2016 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Ms. Betty June Mead Underwood, 84 of Hanceville, passed away Monday afternoon, February 1, 2016, at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Akron Ohio to William Levi and Lola Mae Walker Mead.

Ms. Underwood worked many years in a "care-takers" role in the health care field.

She is predeceased by her parents; husbands, George Underwood, Raymond Vasser; infant twins, Becky & Jimmy Underwood; brother, Frank Mead.

The "Best" Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Friend and Sister that anyone could ever have is survived by sons, Danny (Brenda) Underwood, Dale (Brenda) Underwood; daughter, Terri (Roger) Holmes; brothers, Jerry Mead, Walker Mead; grandchildren, Cristy, Dale, John, Rachel, Stephanie, Heath, Kenny, Matt; great-grandchildren Camden, Landon, Abby, Emma, Toby, Jace, Wyatt, Lilly, Brayden; and her loving pet, friend and constant companion "Mickey".

Services for Ms. Underwood will be Thursday, February 4, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Holly Pond Funeral Home Chapel with visitation from 12 noon until 2 p.m. funeral time. Burial at Eidson Chapel Cemetery. Rev. Ray Bradford officiating.

MONTGOMERY - Gov. Robert Bentley on Tuesday held his annual State of the State address launching his 2016 legislative agenda and strategic plan through 2019.

Alabama will celebrate its 200th birthday in 2019, and Gov. Bentley’s Great State 2019 Plan is aimed at fundamentally changing Alabama, opening doors of opportunity, clearing the path to prosperity and solving decades-old problems by the time Alabama celebrates its bicentennial milestone.  The strategic plan has a special focus on Alabama’s most rural and underserved areas.

The Great State 2019 agenda includes:

Investing in Alabama’s Education

• Investment in High Quality Pre-Kindergarten
• Alabama’s FUTURE Scholarship Program
• Workforce Development

Increasing the Number of Health Professionals in Rural Areas

Addressing the Prison Problem with Long-Term Solutions

• Alabama Prison Transformation Initiative
• Justice Reinvestment

Alabama’s HOPE (Helping Our People Excel) Through Broadband

Other Issues

• Gulf State Park Project
• Supporting our Veterans
• Assessing Our Water Resources
• Supporting Small Business Development and Success
• The Alabama Transportation Institute
• Accessing Affordable Coastal Insurance Options

“The Great State 2019 Plan is aimed at prioritizing greater opportunity and access to a good strong education, quality healthcare and game-changing technology for all Alabamians,” Gov. Bentley said. “There is no better way to celebrate the state’s bicentennial than by working together to make the lives of Alabamians better. Our state’s rich history is made up of a series of Alabamians who have courageously confronted problems and executed the necessary strategies to accomplish much needed solutions.”

Details on Gov. Bentley’s Great State 2019 Plan can be found at http://qrne.ws/govb.

HANCEVILLE - Wallace State Community College in Hanceville congratulates the 749 students named to the President’s List and Dean’s List for the Fall 2015 semester. To earn a spot on the Wallace State President’s List, students must maintain a perfect 4.0 GPA for the semester while taking a course load of 12 or more hours. Placement on the Dean’s List is awarded to students maintaining a 3.5 GPA or higher while also taking a course load of at least 12 hours.

President’s List

Addison: Maneka ShaLane Blackwood, Matthew Howard Ergle, and Taylor Grace Robinson

Albertville: Shelby Reed Till

Altoona: Ian Alexander, Crystal Katherine Bryant, and Jackson Lee Morton

Athens: Claudia Lemae Bates, Seth B. Mays, and Elizabeth Nicolle O’Neal

Arab: Jared Gavin Chafin, James A. Crawford, Caitlyn Nicole Jett, Laura Faye Lewis, Jessy Ann-Marie McIntosh, Rebecca Irene Owens, John S. Skidmore, Joseph Rodney Turnage, and Chelsea Leigh Young

Arley: Lesleigh Amanda Cleghorn, Jed Hayden Cross, Alexus Shyanne Kilpatrick, Seth R. Newton, and Joseph David Storms

Auburn: April N. Lott

Baileyton: Austin Rafeal Echevarria, and Summer L. Walker

Birmingham: Lisa Hayes Dunn, Alice A. Lowery, William Blake Schilleci, Zohra Vishram, and David Samuel Wilson

Blountsville: Omar Aguilar, Kristen Rheagan Cole, Tucker Cole Heptinstall, Madison Taylor McGee, Lauren Anne McHan, Ashleigh Paige Posey, Annaliese D. Rutherford, and Vernon Larry Smith

Boaz: Whitney N. Nabors

Bremen: Steve Austin Bell, Erin Kaye Langham, and Bailey Madison Queen

Cleveland: Angie Renee Bailey, Cierra Marie Barrios, Amanda Bullard, Fabian Cervantes, Kana Ann Coker, William Reid Graves, James Collin Jackson, Deborah Kay Kilgore, Mary Beth Lawrence, and Howard S. Oden

Crane Hill: Holly Rena Carnagey and Samuel John Carnageym

Cropwell: Joseph Mario Pilato

Crossville: Lacey C. Coffey and Savannah A. Hamilton

Cullman: Scottie L. Bartlett, Megan Lachelle Brown, Mona Lisa Brown, Rachel Lauren Brown, Trevor A. Campbell, Karla G. Contreras, Matthew Paul Creech, Danny Lloyd Currie, Desiree Faye Doll, Ethan S. Drake, William Dean Farrell, Hadyn Whittney Ford, Victoria Leigh Francis, Theodore Hunter Freeman, Josie Lee Gagnon, Christopher Matthew Green, Lindsey Ellen Guy, Jeffrey Taylor Hale, Jimmy Earl Harris, Joshua F. Heatherly, Brian Stephen Hutson, Heather Ashley Johnson, Mason Storm Jones, Ryder D. Jones, Trent C. Key, Ariana M. Knighten, Matthew Hester Lancaster, Levi A. Laney, Grace LeBlanc, Stephen Lee, Amy Elisabeth Leonard, Jake Austin Lindsey, Jennifer Nicole Love, Andrea Ray Lovetto, Blake Edward Lowe, Rodney Bertram Lubert, Megan Renea Marks, Joshua Isaiah Martin, Kayla Lashae Mauldin, Wendell Tyler McCormick, Sarah Catherine McDonald, Kayla Marie Meador, Mayra M. Mendoza, Janna Marie Mickelson, James Christopher Joyce Miles, Mariah Jenkins Miles, Chrystal Marie Montgomery, Haley B. Netherton, Cody T. Norton, Rebecca Annette Oden, Jac E. Ohair, Melanie Kay Patterson, William Gabriel Pautler, Robert Ray Petrimoulx, Kalyn Amanda Rakestraw, Brandon Ellis Roberts, Richard Evan Self, James C. Shavers, Yusuke Shimizu, Reagan Elizabeth Short, Prem Lal Shrestha, Breanna K. Smith, Cecily Leshae Smith, Makenna R. Smith, Noah L. Smith, Robert Theodore Smith, Tammie M. Stanley, Edward J. Stanulevich, Piper Jean Stewart, Erika Suarez, Kayla Marie Sullins, Brett Michael Taylor, Surya B. Upreti, Gregory Michael Vance, Madison Taylor Wilhite, Chelsey Ceara Wright, Christopher Daniel Young, and Palita Montgomery Youngyuen

Danville: Kaitlyn L. Holmes, Kheala Roberts, and Sean Wesley Weaver

Decatur: Erica Frances Barnhouse, and Hayley Blaine Johnson

Dora: Hollie Marie Fuller, Josh Shawn Sanford, and Zachary James Weldon

Double Springs: Makayla Bree Bullock, and Erica Dean Roberson

Empire: Kevin Armes, Joshua D. Byrd, and Mckayla Lauren Carroll

Eva: Anna L. Baker, Zachary Wayne Boldin, Krysten D. Cunningham, and Catherine Malerie Drinkard

Falkville: Kayla M. McDearmond, Amanda Lynn Woodard, and Shaye Elizabeth Yoakum

Fayetteville, TN: Morgan Elizabeth Higgins

Florence, AL: Makaylin D. Abernathy

Fultondale: Sara Megan Muncher

Gadsden: Donna Hilyer Davis and Adam B. Smith

Gardendale: Beverly June Bailey, Ryan Christopher Bradley, Abigail N. Grenade, Aubrey June Green, Tanner Muncey, Shelby Madison Ponder, and Michael Claude Watson

Geraldine: Jamie Elizabeth Pittman

Gurley: Neeki Meshell McNeely

Hampton Cove: Julia E. Dailey

Hanceville: Bryce A. Allen, Savanah Alexandria Allred, Martha F. Armstrong, Tyler Samuel Baker, Christina Marie Bowlds, Laura Nicole Campbell, Ricky Dewayne Cason, Nathan Wesley Choisser, Caleb Dean Downing, Ronnie Lee Gregory, Ashlee Elizabeth House, Anthony Jimenez, Madison Lyndsay Johnson, Destiny G. Quick, Jennifer Beth Roberts, Brianna L. Sims, Lee D. Stansell, Cyndi Turney, Briana Nicole Vincent, and Caleb Joshua Woods

Hartselle: Russell Blake Adams, Sarah Ellen Battles, Morgan R. Corum, Jordan Hailie Johnson, Karessa R. Kelley, Jake Guston Nelson, Rachel A. Ryan, Ned Anthony Stephenson, and Jordan Cade Wilemon

Hayden: Heather L. Adams, Robin Nicole Akins, Noe Chavez, Alexander Everett Hays, Clay M. Morrison, Michael Anthony Renda, Michael Colten Snow, Alan Keith St. John, Becky L. Sullivan, and Kayla Brooke Tucker

Hazel Green: Stephanie Eckerd

Headland: Elizabeth Ann Chancey

Hokes Bluff: Kelsey Leigh Cooper

Horton: Whitney F. Stevens

Hueytown: Shelby Nicole Brown and Heather R. Hawkins

Huntsville: Nicole Sarette Brown, Mary Rebekah Miller, Timothy Dwight Robinson, and Brittany Nicole Wills

Iron City, TN: Alana Marie Hill

Irondale: Terry B. Standridge

Jacksonville: Ashton Leigh Gaddy

Jasper: Brandy Lynn Crawford, Allison Goforth, Donald Wayne May, Amber N. Murray, Amber Dawn Peltz, and Karissa Leeann Windham

Joppa: Samantha Burns and Karley Lynn Camp

Killen: Michael Lynn Johnson

Kimberly: Mackenzie H. Singletary

Locust Fork: Cara MiShea Beasley, Tori Abriell Beasley, and Stormie D. Copeland

Logan: Tyler Ryan Elrod

Loretto, TN: Elizabeth Ann Hemmen and Melissa Renee Quillen

Madison: Chelsea Lynn Haines and Allen Jeremy Knowles

Montgomery: Tracey Michele Campbell

Morris: Jordan E. Barr, Alexander J. Gonzalez, Carol Ann McClendon, Jennifer L. Merrill, Morgan C. Riddlesperger and Christopher K. Stone

Mount Hope: Lelia Brooke Daniel

Mount Olive: Pennye J. Conner, Shiann B. Harper, Joseph Aaron Oakley, and Jeri L. Todd

Mountain Brook: Lucy T. Burrett

Muscle Shoals: Anna Catherine Thompson

Nauvoo: Anna Katherine Guthrie and Lindsey Karyl Manasco

Oneonta: Rachel M. Awtrey, Alberto Chavez, Elizabeth Ashley Harvey, Olivia Nevada Henry, Dustin Scott Hogeland, Grace Tillie Lohner, Logan Richard McDerment, Angela McAuley Moody, Juan A. Sanchez, Vicki Shannan Seale, Laura A. Sweatt and James Heith Williams

Owens Cross Roads: Christopher Josef Dunseith

Pinson: Rayme Richelle Davis and Shelby Diane Reid

Pisgah: Jeffrey Keith Mitchell

Rainville: Jessica Janet Ruiz

Remlap: Casie Lynn Hall and Jeffrey Benjamin Horsley

Scottsboro: Marty Duran Bishop

Sheffield: Eleanor Grace Robbins

Somerville: Tina Marie Boles, Nicole R. Hollingsworth, Morgan L. Lemons, Lucas Eli Randolph, and Jordan Ashley Seago

Stevenson: Savannah Paige Stubblefield

Sumiton: John Micah Oliver

Tallassee: Mary Catherine Rushton

Town Creek: Claire Margarette Boston

Trafford: Shelby Lynn Hancock and Heather Lynn Harrell

Trussville: Jonathan Blake Campbell, and Daphne Nadine Eggleton

Tuscaloosa: Abigail Elise Hensley and Megan J. Quimby

Tuscumbia: Kayla Jane Elom

Union Grove: Jamie Brooke Owens and Morgan N. Warren

Vinemont: Lindsie P. Barton, Mackenzie Baswell, Maria Deolinda Cipollari, Erin LeeAnn Handley, Joshua R. Kent, Gregory Collin Milligan, Nathan Scott Persall, Emily F. Sandlin, Angela Owens Stout, and Micah Logan Suits

Warrior: Angela Juanell Andrews, Skyler Brian Cherry, Spencer A. Crane, Maegan E. Dailey, Rebecca Horton, Bradley Austin Norris, Amairani Neyed Rodriguez, Tamara Powell and Rush William Valenta

Weaver: Anna Catherine Davis

Southside: Braxton Kane Light

Spencer, WV: Carla June Chandler

Warsaw, NC: Xavier Johnte McCoy

Woodville: Brandon Lewis and Katelyn R. Anderson

Dean’s List

Adger: Erin Brooke Benson

Alabaster: Jasmine Ciara Holmes and August Newberry

Albertville: John Alan Sanders, Jr., Kendall Leigh Wallace, Savanna A. Wolvington and Thifany C. Nelson

Altoona: Hannah Marie Williams and Karanina Tatyana Short

Arab: Justice Wade Bradford, Blake E. Hicks, Andrew Z. Walker, Andrew Laurence Harnack, Lucas Chandler Smith, Christopher A. St. John, Patrick W. Hammond, Matthew James Bell, Zachary D. Weaver, Jennifer Leigh Latham, Leah Brianne Price, Abbe Gayle Gresham, Kristen Marie Allred, Logan B. Gibbs, Alison Nicole Owens, Jolene Nicole Chasse, Samantha Faith Shell, and Baili Charis Calvert

Arley: Roger Keeton Cleghorn, Brooke Chase Ary-Maze, Maggie Renee Frederick Wright, Mallary N. Guthrie, Maci E. Parris, and Sara Christine Gladney

Athens: Kaleigh B. McMeans

Auburn: William Kelley Eiland, John Bradford Norman, Jonathan Bernard Smith, and Mark Allen Brown

Baileyton: Justin Daniel Clayton-Hodges, Matthew A. Adge, Taylor D. Edge, Kylee R. Yancy, and Macy Alexis Ray

Bessemer: Jason Thomas Carrell

Birmingham: Hayward A. Black and Briana Monique Toliver

Blountsville: Garrett Wayne Hamrick, Kerry Daniel Adams, Nathan Earl Sansing, Justin Rilee Johns, Connor Dungan Franks, Lana Charlene Price, Chasey Lane Alldredge, Ashley Dawn Billings, Joshua S. Misenhimer II, Darby E. Hamm, Dana Victoria Willingham, Georgia Taylor Flowers, Casey Brooke Smith, and Brittany Orion Suhy

Boaz: Savanna Marie Hughes, Nikki E. Gunter and Leigh Allison Reaves

Bremen: James Austin Moore, Erika Gabrielle Nix, Gregory Allen Dean, Michael Scott Sullivan, Keegan L. Johnson, Britney Nicole Anderson, and Cinda Marie Simmons

Bryant: Hannah A. Vest

Carbon Hill: Joseph T. Howard

Chickasaw: Austin Jacob Miller

Cleveland: Andrew Garrett Hawkins, Gwin Daniel English, Samuel SHavez Mendoza, Joel Chacon, Kristin F. Cook, Victoria Katelyn Hollingsworth, Jessica Acosta, and Leandra Mendoza

Collinwood, TN: Alissa Michelle Littlejohn

Courtland: Tammie Mckelvy Johnson

Crane Hill: Marcus Alan O’hair, Destini H. Williamson, Savanna A. Blackmon, and Anna Michelle Waldrep

Cullman: Nathan Eli Marty, Paul Duke Cleghorn, Tyler Delane Townson, Maison Clark Goodwin, Devan G. Parker, Bryant Jon Farley, William Zachary Brooks, Jacob William Powell, Benjamin Robert Hamner, Cody James Stewart, Landen Jace Ballew, Charles Herman Paine V, Christian Ty Livingston, Charles Randal Nelson, Jr., Michael Kirven Addison, Nathan T. Ashton, Lance Stuart Cleveland, Riley Voce, Clayton Rodney Hooper, Drake Alan Powell, Gary Wayne Sanders, Tyler Eugene Heflin, Justin H. Turner, Sarah Elizabeth Mayo, Lara Renee Frost, Jenny Perkins, Angela M. Miller, Krystal Lashay Baker, Brandy Michelle Luna, Saschia Eaden Wilbanks, Desiree Elise Thomas, Amber N. Murphy, Alexus Gabrielle Cagle, Sarah Leann Rosen, Katie Rose Edmondson, Summer Elizabeth Neal, Tiffani M. Rowan, Taylor Denise Ruehl, Kristin Kayla Evans, Katherine Taylor Sexton, Morgan B. James, Courtney Lynn Walker, Kaitlyn G. Stephens, Adriana Suarez, Kaci N. Waters, Kelly Sorrow Prince, Danielle Denise Gremillion, Emily J. Laney, Caitlin Netherton, Olivia C. Law, Abby B. Nelson, Chloe N. Smith, Sarah L. Bagwell, Katelyn Ann Downs, Haley Regina Jacobs, Sadie E. Wise, Alexis A. Bell, Lilian M. Hardman, Ashton B. Laney, Madison N. Mcelroy, Maria K. Owens, Rachel E. Kincade, Lindsey Mae Pope, Courtney Elizabeth Burgette, Alyssa Clark Remington, Tabitha Brooke Taylor, Alena Evgenevna Katana, Cerri Clark Harbison, Courtney Creel, Madison Brooke Wren, Amanda Laprade, Alixandra B. Young, and Anna L. Trevarthen

Danville: Whitney L. Greenhaw

Deatsville: Cassidy E. Dooley

Decatur: Eric Anthony Marchan, Rockale Deshar Lyons, Jon Braxton Lemley, Lawrence Bruce Hartman, Christen Ashley Stevens, Emily Annette Davis, and Autumn G. Guyse

Dora: Kortney A. Glover and Macie L. Calvert

Double Springs: Amy Lynette Crow

Empire: Caleb Seth Grayson

Eva: Samuel Lee Martin, Faulyn Skye Cagle, and Josie Lee Frost

Falkville: Kenneth R. Potts, Benjamin Jake Oden, Lyndsey Breann Smith, Katrina Elizabeth Koerber, Avery Goodwin Swader, and Sydney Louise Shields

Fayette: Valarie Ann Barnes

Florence: Kendall N. Scott, Elizabeth Rena Daniel, and Amanda Christine Burgess

Foley: Laura Ann Chambers

Fort Payne: Autumn M. Clark and Summer Lee Anne Phillips

Frisco City: Melanie Kaye Harris

Fultondale: Jamie Walker, Nijma S. Thabata, and Twanna Renee Washington

Gadsden: Justin Ryan Gramling, Patty Lynette Burns, and Susan D. Johnson

Garden City: Joshua Brooks Arnold

Gardendale: Christian Blake Abston, Jarred Wesley Rizzo, Adrian Christopher Thomas, Hunter Zane Herron, Benjamin Austin Myers, Jeremy Michael Dunn, Caroline Marie Wilkerson, Mary Elizabeth Wilkerson, Cassidy L. Hughes, Kelci A. Tuggle, Lindsey Gilbert, and Emerald H Fines

Geraldine: Makenzie Bearden

Grant: Winter Chase Bolding

Guntersville: Kyle Matthew Rice, Natalie Elizabeth Marion, Haley Mackenzie Flack, and Melissa A. Ramos

Gurley: Christina Anne Staggs

Hanceville: Brody Lee Quick, Eric Hadyn Jackson, Maxim V. Mansoorov, Isaac E. Teichmiller, Garrett Braden Henry, Darren Deunn Williams, Michael Lenn Trimble, Bryan Heath Pirkey, Michael J. Mendonca, Dusty Stine Alexander, Lance K. Kean, Royce Alex Sutton, Cory Gage Madison, Francis Grabriel Mendonca, James Clinton McCormick, Kimberley Breanna Baggett, Cassandra Marie Campbell, Taylor Nicole Chambers, Ashley Sherrill, Taylor LaShea Cupp, Makenzie M. Dunn, Ashley M. Fincher, Julie Newton, Kaylee N. Natt, Haley Michelle Johnson, Amber Nicole Norris and Meagan Diane Corum

Hartselle: Trey J. Moody, Timothy Toby Swims, James G. Roberts, Anthony Kim Sanders, Hilary Ann Eason, Lindsey Taylor Romager, Kelsey Leigh Winton, Jami-lyn Rose Letson, Kristen Ashley Basden, Asa Brooke Parkman, Sullivan P. Wilson, Chelsie Danielle Owens, and Cristal Rios Ruiz

Harvest: John David Clem

Hayden: Thomas Clay Phillips, Tyler Keith Wix, Nathaniel Chayse Walker, David Austin Horton, Jordan Scott Thomas, Nathan A. Duffel, Elisabeth J. Phillippo, Kelsie R. Salvage, Hannah E. Padgett, Amanda Marie Pearson, Devon A. Goodwin, and Janessa Leanett Adams

Hokes Bluff: Courtney N. Bearden

Holly Pond: Saegan T. Daugherty, Taylor Danielle Chestnut, Kelly H. Powell, Taylor L. Rowell, and Rachel B. Weaver

Homewood: David Carlyle Galloway and Catherine L. Sellers

Hoover: Brantly Kyle Ballenger, Emily Candace Day, and Vi Thi Vo

Hueytown: Lane M. Wallace

Huntsville: Peyton Lodge Hayes, Dana M. Brooks, Sarah Marina Gregory, Staci Nicole Baker, and Heather Blair Owen

Jacksonville: Mallory Patterson

Jasper: George Brendan Voce, James M. West, Kaitlyn Aaron Wilson, Kelsey N. Hester, Lisa M. Sanchez, and Amanda Jo Gosa

Joppa: Nathaniel Carroll, Aubrey Lynn Humphries, Hannah Victoria Howard, and Terance Maze

Kimberly: Ryan Kendall Tucker, Reid Austin Billitz, Jacob T. Agnesia, Morgan Ashley Cantrell, Melinda Christine Hosche, and Jessica Lauren Lee

Leeds: Anthony Wayne Marting, Jr. and Lauren Makenzie Pintaro

Lenexa, KS: Chloe Rachelle Kraus

Lexington: Alicia Nicole Plum

Lithonia, GA: Tareka Sade Cameron

Logan: Christopher Treece and Zachary Dakato Richter

Loretto, TN: Brinlee L. Glass

Louisville, KY: Mackenzie L. Henderson

Madison: Bradley T. Landin, Claire O. Yates, and Susannah R. Delaney

Mansfield, TX: Lane Alexander Meyer

Maylene: William Denver McCaig

Memphis, TN: Andrew Barksdale Plunkett

Meridianville: Taylor K. Shewbart

Montgomery: Jaylen M. McCoy

Moody: Cristen Alexandrea Holloway

Moreno Valley, CA: Molli Breane Garcia

Morris: David Wayne Cole, Jr., Will Garrett Brown, Holli Michele White, Ellen Gayle Fricke, Brenna Katelyn Noles, and Susan Diane Loggins

Moulton: Jesse Aaron Childress, Jackie Renee Thompson, and Natalie A. Johnson

Mount Olive: Austin J. Perkins, Holly Thomas Chapman, Lana Kate Riley, Judy Shelby Painter, and Maura Nicole Curtin

New Market: Ryan A. Shields and Kaylee Amber Davis

Northport: Timothy D. Costello

Oneonta: Keaton Wallace Jones, Evan James NeSmith, Robert Preston Murphree, McKenzie Orion Robbins, Devin Michael Sherrer, Trevor R. Yates, Stacy Michelle Howard, Kelsey Taylor Mallon, Kristen H. Cox, Jennifer Nicole Bates, Taylor P. Brock, Yessica Chacon, Gaudalupe Chacon, Andrea Tafolla, Sarah E. Lowe, Lori R. Mckoy, Jadey B. Walker, Bethany Nicole Murphree, Maria Fernanda Espinoza, and Bailey Mackenzie Moody

Owensboro, KY: Bailee M. Daugherty

Owens Cross Roads: Larry Dale Pinkerton and Jennifer Lynn Celeski

Pelham: Ashlin Alton Robins

Phil Campbell: Crystal D. Henley-McClelland

Piedmont: Tracie Alexandra Donaldson

Pinson: Brandon Riley Mooney, Joel David James, Andrew P. Garrison, and Rebekah Anne Williams

Providence Forge, VA: Natalie Rose Cross

Quinton: Christopher James Thacker

Reform: Ann Margaret Heritage and Terri Ann Booth

Remlap: Andre Lee Smithey, Logan Blake Huffstutler, and Reagen Brianne Smith

Rising Fawn, GA: Lauren Elise Breeden

Rogersville: Walker Ray Gordon

Scottsboro: Brittney Lynne Miotke

Section: Jessica Lynn Gray

Sheffield: Treasure S. Mayfield

Somerville: River Nevada Shadix, Caleb Andrew Dunaway, Cody Easton Wimberly and Riker D. Tanner

Springville: Tyle Joseph Dennis, Jordan LaRae Hardiman, and Isabella Marie Smith

Sulligent: Kristin Briana Colvin

Sylacauga: Kayla Dyann Wilkinson

Sylvania: Allison R. Stubblefield and Ashlyn Lee Shirey

Tarrant: Daniel Derrell Nixon

Trafford: Jeffrey B. Forte, Douglas Paul Wolfe, Grady Freeman Bannister, Michael D. Johnson, and Baylee Anne McCay

Trinity: Joshua E. Holcomb and Lexie Suzanne Green

Tuscaloosa: Christopher Seth Patterson and Emily Noel Giles

Tuscumbia: Sydney P. Ellis

Trussville: Emily Grace Baldridge, Ashley Marie Bishop, and Madison Ruth Wright

Union Grove: Hannah Faith Black and Angela Marie Murphree

Valley Head: Bethany Ashton Dailey

Vinemont: Blake Edward Kimbril, Arthur Clinton Watson, Jr., Nickolas K. Nuss, Justin K. Burnett, Nicholas Thomas Parrott, Jacob Thomas Andrews, William G. Wrenn, Daniel C. Moss, Sarah Renee Barnett, Vanessa Murphree Shedd, Samantha Karon Sanford, Josie Brooke Wilson, Mackenzie Leigh Bryson, Courtney Marie Andrews, Kaleigh A. Looney, Ashley Nicole Chambers, Laura Susan Jane Hood, Autumn Brooke Tankersley, Courtney E. Carpenter, Sarah Katherine Dyer, Katelin Brooke Martin, Caitlin Michele Carini, and MiKayla Shauntel Waters

Waterloo: Mackenzie Brooke Frederick

Warrior: Gregory Keith Ernst, Seth Cole Reno, Kevin Gene Knoop, Hunter S. Graves, Jennifer Renee Campbell, Courtney Rae Ritchie, Raven McKenzie Freeman, Jessie Ann Bender-Gladys, Tayler E. Blalock, Madison K. Miller, Kayla D. Byrd, Kaitlin McKenzie Parr, Zoey Nicole Scheetz, Savana L. Sullivan, Brandi B. Green, Lauren Ashley Box, Christina Deone Justice, Summer Mahtei Haggenmaker, and Ashley Nichole Stephenson

Wellington: Melinda Dale Currie

West Blocton: Tanner Cail

Wildwood, GA: Sarah Anne Reid

Woodville: Katelyn Renee Anderson and Brianna Nicole Geiger

Photo shows Beasley with his granddaughter many years ago. His granddaughter is now 18-years-old.

CULLMAN– Jeremy Hogan is known for helping fellow Marines, but just recently he came across someone who needs a lot more help than he alone can give. What started out as a simple project to build a wheelchair ramp for a local Vietnam veteran has turned into a crusade for Hogan to help his brother-in-arms get everything he needs.

U.S. Marine Cpl. Kenneth Beasley has been down on his luck for quite some time. He lost his left leg to diabetes and is about to lose his right foot to gangrene. He has been having mental health issues and is not able to take care of himself. When Hogan first heard that Beasley needed a new wheelchair ramp, he went right to the man’s house to see what kind of supplies he would need. When he arrived, he saw a veteran, a hero, who was in dire need of much more help than just a new ramp. He needed help to survive.

“When I found him he was living in filth and his right foot has gangrene set up in it,” said Hogan.  “I talked him into letting me get him some hospital care, so I contacted the VA’s care advocate who helped me get him into the hospital where he is getting the healthcare he needed.

“Cpl. Beasley has been having a rough time taking care of himself,” he continued. “He has gone too long without help and feels the government has failed him. Let's show him that the American people haven't failed him.”

When word spread of Beasley’s situation, people from all over Cullman County began offering their help. On Saturday, Jan. 30, volunteers met at Beasley’s residence and began cleaning up the property, as well as the home.

“We have started cleaning, which will take until this next weekend to finish up,” Hogan explained, “then we will move to the repairs. Once we get the place clean we will then do some tree trimming and yard excavation to help with water and tree damage. Next we will build two decks, one 12x10 with a ramp and then one a 10x10 with ramp. The windows and doors might need replacing. Carpet and flooring are needed, as well as metal siding and gutters for the roof and skirt going around the outside.”

“His bathroom needs to be handicap-accessible, so we need a bathtub he can get into and rails put in, along with a wider door to get to the bathroom,” he continued. “His washer and dryer need replacing and he has little or no kitchen utensils, a garbage can, cleaning supplies, food and mattress for his queen bed. He needs living room furniture and all light fixtures replaced. The outside needs painting as well as the inside. Plumbing needs to be checked. His heating and air conditioning need to be replaced, and the driveway needs asphalt and grading work. We also need to dig a ditch around his home and driveway to give the water a place to go besides under his house and down his driveway.”

Hogan hopes to have all the repairs completed before Beasley is released from the hospital. In the meantime, he can use all the help he can get.

Below is a list of materials needed for Cpl. Beasley’s home:

• Lumber for two decks with ramps and stairs
• Front and back doors for trailer (handicap-accessible)
• Interior doors x3 (handicap-accessible)
• Vinyl flooring
• Interior and exterior paint (paint colors to come soon)
• 2 exterior light fixtures
• 2 exterior flood lights
• 3 interior light fixtures
• 1 ceiling fan
• Kitchen cabinets (handicap-accessible)
• Windows for a single-wide trailer
• Sheet metal or tin to repair roof
• Gravel for his driveway
• Asphalt company for the driveway
• 6" corrugated pipe for French drain
• Feed lot panel (sheep/goat)
• Chicken wire
• Lumber for chicken coop
• Green house materials
• 8x10 storage shed
• Chickens / Chicken feed
• Plants for landscaping (would like to plant a few fruit trees too)
• Energy efficient light bulbs
• Bathroom pedestal sink

Types of companies from which the group is hoping to get donations (need contacts):

• Prosthetics
• Wal-Mart Distribution
• Hardware
• Clothing
• Furniture
• Wheelchair / Home Health

Volunteers with the following skill sets are needed:

• Electrician
• Plumber
• Carpenters
• Painters

From one American hero to another, Hogan has chosen to do what it takes to help a fellow Marine. Humble and kind, he takes no credit for the good work he has started, but rather chooses to use his works as a way to glorify God. 

“I pray to our Lord and Savior that he will guide each and every one of us in the path he so chooses and allows us to shelter this great American veteran and his family,” he smiled warmly. “I pray that God will give me the strength to keep doing what I am doing to help this man.”

Those who are interested in volunteering should call Hogan directly at 352-440-4076. For more information, visit http://qrne.ws/marine. There is a work day scheduled for this Saturday, Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Click here for more details and to sign up: http://qrne.ws/workday.

Photo shows Gov. Robert Bentley, left; State Auditor Jim Zeigler, right

MONTGOMERY - In an unusual move, a Republican elected official gave a rebuttal to Gov. Robert Bentley’s “State of the State Address” today.

Republican Alabama State Auditor Jim Zeigler attended Bentley’s speech, but then gave his own rendition Wednesday, saying, “The state of the state is a mess.”

Two conservative groups requested Zeigler respond to Bentley’s address, the Alabama Tea Party Conservative Coalition and the Common Sense Campaign.

Spokesman for the groups, Dr. Lou Campomenosi, said, “Tax-paying, anti-establishment conservatives have a right to hear a rebuttal from one of their own.”

Zeigler rejected Bentley’s call for an $800 million bond issue that would pay for four new state-of-the-art prisons to replace all of Alabama’s current prisons. He instead proposed a cost-free reduction in prisoners termed “voluntary relocation.”

Zeigler said the state’s costliest agency, Medicaid, could saves tens of millions a year with a plan he calls the “Live at Home Plan.” He says Medicaid home care for seniors is less than half the cost of nursing home admission.

Zeigler’s rebuttal can be read in its entirety below.

For more information, contact Zeigler at 251-656-0292 or jim.zeigler@auditor.alabama.gov.

Read Zeigler’s rebuttal:

The State of the State is a mess. This could not have been made more clear as Governor Bentley once again betrayed Alabama taxpayers with plans for bigger government and increased spending as a solution to our problems. This embrace of Democrat principles comes in the wake of a tumultuous 2015 in which Gov. Bentley disappointed Alabamians with flip-flopping and repeated betrayal of our values and his campaign promises.

This stew needs to be stirred. As the Governor said: “The urgency, the challenge is now.”

The legislature has received budget requests that are out of balance.  They are about $225 million in the hole on day one.  The Governor decided not to present any plans for solving that shortfall.  The good news is that he did not propose any tax increases.  The bad news is that he did not present any plans for saving money in state government by eliminating:

Waste, mismanagement, duplication, and low-priority spending.

And he did not present any plans for promoting: New efficiencies, cost-savings, and better ways to get things done for less money.

We have an admission by the Governor that there is a huge imbalance in budget requests over revenues.  We have the Governor’s decision not to do anything about it.

What we saw was a complete abandonment of budgetary duties by the Governor.  He has abdicated his leadership.

One of the problems in the Bentley administration is that the Governor and his advisers believe a budget shortfall can be solved only in two ways – by raising taxes on the citizens of Alabama or by cutting services to the citizens.  As a result of this misconception, we saw six state parks closed by the Bentley administration.  We saw a bungling attempt to close drivers’ license offices in 31 counties.  And we saw the State Auditor’s office cut by about 25%, much more than any other agency was cut.

I suggest a third alternative – not raising taxes on the public and not cutting services to the public – but a better option I call THINKING OUTSIDE THE TAX.

THINKING OUTSIDE THE TAX is delivering needed state services at a lower cost.  A substantially lower cost.  This cannot be done with the same old approaches that got us into this deficit situation.  It will take entirely new approaches. Thinking outside the tax.

One example is the state Medicaid budget.  It is one of the largest and fastest-growing parts of Alabama’s general fund budget.  With the growth of our elderly population, the Medicaid budget by itself has the potential to bankrupt state government.  Unless we think outside the tax.

I have an option for consideration of the legislature and the Medicaid agency.  I call it the LIVE AT HOME PLAN.  Right now, it costs the Medicaid agency around $6,000 a month to pay for a Medicaid patient in a nursing home.  And for the rest of the seniors’ life no matter how long they live.  Granny would prefer not to go to the nursing home.

She and her family would rather she live and die in the comfort of her own home.

Unfortunately, Alabama Medicaid pays for only a small number of patients on home care.  The irony is that home care can cost Medicaid less than half of what the nursing home costs.  Around $3,000 a month or less, rather than $6,000.

A few baby steps have already been taken toward Medicaid home care.  This has been enough to show that home care works.  It is cheaper – half price or less.  And the seniors and family are happier with Granny living at home.

What we are suggesting is not an unrealistic, novel program but an aggressive stepping up of Medicaid home care that has already been proven to work.

Nursing homes and their important lobby should not be opposed to the Live at Home Plan for two reasons.  One, many nursing homes are at capacity and have waiting lists.  As the number of seniors increases, the waiting lists will become longer.  The Live at Home Plan can help solve this problem of growing waiting lists.  Second, a small but growing number of nursing homes are diversifying and adding home care services in addition to the residential nursing care, a logical extension.  The legislature should look at an automatic or expedited certificate of need approval for nursing homes wanting to add Medicaid home care.  This provision could help win support of the important nursing home lobby.

The Live at Home Plan would save Alabama Medicaid tens of millions of dollars a year, starting immediately.  THINKING OUTSIDE THE TAX.

A second large and growing area of expense is state prisons.  The Governor proposed a bond issue for prisons, which would of course have to be repaid by obligating Alabama taxpayers over 20 years.

Studies have concentrated primarily on how to solve the prison crowding problem in order to avoid a potential federal court takeover.  What the studies largely did not do was THINKING OUTSIDE THE TAX.

Alabama taxpayers provide more money each year for a prisoner than for a school student. And more money for a convict that for active-duty military. Alabama taxpayers do not want to pay more for inmates than for students and military.

We badly need a return to old, time-honored approaches to corrections.  Approaches that cost far less than providing the present prison facilities.  THINKING OUTSIDE THE TAX.

We will ask the legislature to consider a far cheaper way to safely reduce our prison population than simply building more facilities at taxpayer expense.  So-called experts have had years to come with solutions to Alabama’s prison crowding problem. They have not done so, at a risk of federal court intervention.  When those failed experts hear of this novel approach, which is actually an adaptation of an old-fashioned, time-honored approach, they will scoff and make fun.  Don’t listen to these business-as-usual failures.  Consider the common sense approach I have named “VOLUNTARY RELOCATION.”  Here is how it could work, with emphasis on WORK: Qualifying inmates who have served a certain amount of time would be allowed to VOLUNTEER for voluntary relocation. As a condition of early release, they would agree to go at least two states away from Alabama and not return.  They can make their own arrangements for work and living arrangements there.  Or they can go, with private business assistance, to one of those places in the U.S. which have a large immediate need for unskilled labor.  For those healthy, non-violent, non-addicted inmates who qualify, they can have a good job waiting for them.  The employer would agree to transport the workers there.

If an inmate on voluntary relocation violates his terms of release and is caught back in Alabama, he will be revoked to serve out the rest of his original term.

I fully expect the so-called experts and political commentators to thoughtlessly scoff at my voluntary relocation plan. The taxpayers will not. They would prefer a program at no taxpayer expense to get the inmates away from Alabama rather than the big tax bill to keep building prisons and pay for an all-expenses-paid stay in the prison motels. THINKING OUTSIDE THE TAX.

The Governor made no mention of the proposal for “Zero-Based Budgeting” to significantly reduce the cost of providing services by each state agency. We support that proposal and insist that it be true baseline budgeting and not in name only.

The Governor made no mention of the state parks which he earlier threatened to close unless the legislature passes additional taxes. The closure last year of six state parks was not necessary. The parks internally generate around 85% of the funds needed for their operation. With minor tweaking, the parks can become self-sufficient, requiring no taxpayer funds. That is our proposal to the legislature.

The legislature has before it a bill to enable the Governor to appoint a “Taxpayer’s Advocate.” We are 100% against having the Governor make this appointment.  To have Governor Bentley appoint a Taxpayer’s Advocate is like having the fox guard the hen house. We will seek to amend the bill so that the State Auditor will appoint the Taxpayer’s Advocate subject to ratification by the Alabama Senate.  If this is not done, the Legislature could save the salary and benefits of the Taxpayer’s Advocate by simply vesting its duties in the State Auditor, who is already salaried. Merely put the duties and staff of the proposed Taxpayer’s Advocate under the State Auditor, who is already performing taxpayer advocacy above and beyond what that office had done in the past.

Appointing a duplicate Taxpayer’s Advocate could itself be a waste of taxpayer’s money.

The Governor made no mention of the important second-amendment rights to allow Alabama people to better defend themselves and their families. We will support the bill to recognize the right to carry a gun in your vehicle without a gun permit. We ultimately support universal carry, recognizing the God-given and constitutional right to keep and bear arms with no permission needed from the government. We call this “Constitutional Carry.”

The Governor made no mention of the vital issue of pro-life and stopping the abortion industry in Alabama.  We support the bill to stop abortion clinics within 2,000 feet of a school.

The Governor made no mention of preserving our heritage and stopping the politically-correct obliteration of monuments to Veterans and other historical items. We support SB13, which would make it illegal to remove or tamper with monuments to Veterans without approval of the legislative council.

We will also seek to add an addition to this bill that would mandate that the portraits of Governors George and Lurleen Wallace be returned to their legal and historical spot in the capitol rotunda.

The Governor made no mention of the 23,000 Alabama families who prepaid for their children’s college tuition only to have the state lose much of that money with ill-advised investments. These families are not receiving what they paid for and what the state had agreed to provide – four years of college tuition. We have a plan to have the colleges simply honor those contracts and admit the qualifying students who have already pre- paid.  It will cost no taxpayer dollars.

The Governor made no mention of The Student and Parent Privacy Protection Act. We support this bill by Rep. Arnold Mooney to restrict what data on students that schools can gather and share.

The legislature has before it legislation to prevent Syrian refugees from coming into Alabama.  We support a stronger, more effective approach.  We are against Syrian refugees coming into the United States anywhere.  If an Islamic militant comes into the United States elsewhere, he or she is mobile enough and well-financed-enough to travel to Alabama. The French terrorists had come into Greece disguised as refugees and they easily got to France.  We need to support America first and keep the refugees out of our country, not just out of Alabama.

We call for an independent investigation into the state’s new STAAR software. It does not work. Millions in state bills have gone unpaid or late. The procedures by which the contract was awarded are questionable.  We ask the legislative branch to designate an investigative team consisting of one member of the house and senate, the state auditor, and a representative of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office. Notice that we have purposefully left out the State Attorney General’s office. They have had ample time to do something about this already and have no interest in this major problem. We do not want an AG on this investigation.

The State of the State is a mess. The taxpayers ask the legislature to exercise their constitutional checks and balances with the strongest steps to right the ship of state.

Jim Zeigler, State Auditor

HANCEVILLE - Wallace Statebaseball was a win shy last season of claiming its first conference title since 2006, finishing as the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) runner-up for the second time in four years.

Coach Randy Putman and the Lions hope last season’s late push translates into a bigger prize in 2016. Wallace State hosts Motlow State at 2 p.m. Friday for the season opener and also welcomes Volunteer State to James C. Bailey Stadium over the weekend, hosting a doubleheader on both Saturday and Sunday.

“I think being in that championship game gives these sophomores hope and motivation to take the extra step this season. The conference tournament run was a great one for us. We were playing good early in the season and then didn’t get on the field for 31 days (because of inclement weather). We hit a lull halfway through the season, but played a whole lot better in all phases of the game as May approached, and the game became fun again,” said Putman, whose team clinched a postseason berth on the final day of the regular season. “Baseball is all about consistency. You’re only going to be as good as your pitching staff, and I think we have the right mix of sophomores and freshmen to make another strong run this season.” 

Wallace State, which went 29-24 last season, has 15 sophomores on its 2016 roster, including returning pitchers Garrett Suchey, Will Eiland and Jansen Acton, outfielder Turner Vincent, catcher/third baseman Stephen Dobbs and first baseman Lance Cleveland. 

Suchey, Eiland and Acton should anchor a deep pitching staff along with freshman Jesse Scott, an Auburn transfer, and Zack Moon, a freshman from Grissom.

Suchey, who sat out last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, is in the mix to be Wallace State’s ace after a strong fall season and signing with Alabama for the 2017 season.

Suchey, an ASWA honorable mention All-State selection out of Mortimer Jordan, pitched in seven games during his freshman season in 2014, tossing 21 2/3 innings before experiencing elbow troubles.

“Garrett Suchey has responded well from Tommy John and did an excellent job in the fall. He’s a lot more mature than he was two years ago. That third year allows guys to grow up some,” said Putman, who has led Wallace State to the postseason in 24 of 26 previous seasons.

Eiland, an Auburn native, and Acton, a Saraland grad, should also register significant innings for the Lions.

Eiland, who has already signed with South Alabama, pitched primarily out of the bullpen last season, compiling a 2.37 ERA. Acton, who has signed with Georgia State, struck out 16 batters in 20 1/3 innings last season out of the bullpen.

Lane Wallace (Hueytown), Brantley Ballenger (Hoover), Wes Crawford (Mortimer Jordan) and Lane Meyer (Mansfield, Texas) round out the sophomore pitchers.

Scott, a freshman lefty who transferred from Auburn, is expected to be a big piece of the pitching staff after helping Cullman High win its fourth state baseball title last May. Scott was a Class 6A first-team ASWA All-State selection in high school. 

Putman also believes Moon can be a freshman arm to lean upon.

Vincent and Dobbs return to the Wallace State lineup after both were named to the ACCC all-tournament team last season. Vincent hit a team-leading .337 with three homers and 17 RBIs.

Cleveland, a Cullman grad, returns at first base after leading the Lions in RBIs as a freshman.

Versatile outfielder Darien Prewett and utility men Ryan Goodman and Chris Steele are also back for their sophomore seasons.

Freshman Cole Collins, the 2015 Class 6A Hitter of the Year at Cullman, should be penciled in at second base for the Lions, while Brad Norman, an Auburn grad, will rack up a lot of innings behind the plate.

Putman said Mason Goodwin, another Cullman product, had one of the best individual fall seasons on the team and should see time in the outfield along with Tennessee transfer Andrew Plunkett.

Putman believes his hitters can create havoc on the base paths this season.

“We tried to become a little more athletic than we were last year. We tried to recruit some freshman guys who can go first to third easily instead of playing station-to-station baseball. We want to put pressure on the other team,” Putman said. “The teams who have won here in the past have always been able to hit and had strong pitching. Last year’s team struggled to hit at times. I feel we are now capable of scoring runs in multiple ways.”

Wallace State’s roster includes four players (Cleveland, Collins, Goodwin and Scott) from Cullman High and three from Auburn High (Eiland, Norman and infielder Jonathan Smith).

Pitchers on the roster not previously mentioned are Neal Collins (Gadsden City), Blake Schilleci (Oak Mountain), Jake Nelson (Hartselle), Parks Shoulders (Mountain Brook), Peyton Hayes (Grissom), Chance Holliman (Cleveland) and Braxton Light (Southside-Gadsden).

Position players on the roster not previously mentioned are Blake Helton (Northgate, Georgia), John Sklopan (Saraland), Briley Reeves (Rogers), Kristian Franklin (Milton, Georgia), Tanner Moye (Oneonta), Gerrio Rahming (Bahamas) and Will Wren (West Point).

Wallace State begins conference play on March 17 at Calhoun. The home conference opener is March 19 vs. the Warhawks.

Putman, a NJCAA Hall of Fame coach, enters his 27th season at Wallace State with a 939-425 career record, guiding his teams to seven ACCC championships and six NJCAA Division I World Series appearances.

“I love being on the baseball field every day, whether it’s the first season or 27th. Like Nick Saban referenced, I’ve always been involved with a team since I was 6 years old. I can’t see myself doing anything else,” said Putman, who has coached six players at Wallace State to make the major leagues, including Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel, Texas Rangers starter Derek Holland and Brewers infielder Jake Elmore.

Chad Shannon enters his second season as Wallace State’s pitching coach, and Luke Satterfield returns to the coaching staff for the third consecutive year.

For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit http://athletics.wallacestate.edu/.

I'm just crazy in love with Jesus and the people that he created to love him and serve him! I just hope that the JOY that God has given me will rub off onto others!”

Justin Truett, youth pastor

Photo shows Chelsea and Justin Truett.

SIMCOE - Even though Simcoe Worship Center was damaged in a huge fire in January, the spirit of the congregation remains strong, if not stronger, in the community. Because their motto is, ‘CALL, CONNECT, CARE!’ they believe in calling on God, connecting with God and caring for all people.  By spreading the Word of God to those around them, there have been many people throughout the community who have been either touched, blessed or helped by them.

God calls very special people to tend his flock. Justin Truett, for example, is one such person. Truett is the church’s youth pastor and he has a special knack with teenagers. He relates to them in a way that allows him to bring Jesus into their lives – and they love it!

Truett and his wife Chelsea both work with the youth. The two have been married for six and a half years and have two beautiful children, 4-year-old Kaylee and 2-year-old Judah.  Truett was born in Montgomery, but grew up in Prattville where he graduated from Prattville High School in 2002.  He moved to Arab eight years ago and currently works for a government contractor at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.

“I knew at a young age, probably around 14-15, that God had a great calling on my life to preach his word,” Truett began. “Thankfully, I grew up in a Christian home where my parents loved Jesus.  My PawPaw, Reverend Donald N. Denmark, was an amazing man. He was actually the greatest man I've ever known. He was a dedicated, passionate and loving Church of God pastor for over 30 years. MawMaw, to this day, is the sincerest and Godliest women I have ever met,” he smiled as he thought about his religious upbringing. “I'm just crazy in love with Jesus and the people that he created to love him and serve him. I just hope that the JOY that God has given me will rub off onto others.

“As a teen, I was given the opportunity to preach at my home church, Church at the Brook, in Millbrook, Alabama, under an amazing man, Bishop Randy Eubanks,” he continued. “When we later moved to Guntersville, I became the junior high youth leader at The River Church of God.  We were there for about seven years,” he smiled warmly. “Those seven years were the greatest years of my life; it is where God TRULY changed my life. He gave me the grace to fall in love with the Word of God. It’s where I truly started learning, growing and functioning in the call that God had on my life! It’s where my wife and I got married and where our children were born.  If the Lord had never led me to The River COG, my life would NOT be great like it is today.” 

Truett is extremely passionate about his role in the church. He takes his responsibility very seriously and works hard to help the youth understand that God truly loves them.

“If God has a plan for someone's life, I believe that there needs to be people to encourage them along the way,” he grinned. “Someone needs to tell them things like, ‘If God is for you, it doesn't matter who or what is against you’ and ‘Nothing is impossible with God, and nothing is impossible for those who believe in Jesus!’ In this evil and twisted world we live in, the people of God MUST be ENCOURAGED! That's my goal in life, and it’s one of my biggest goals for the youth at Simcoe Worship Center. They can do anything if they simply trust in the Lord with all of their heart. As youth pastor I am there to help lead them, but I always want to encourage them.”

Simcoe Worship Center holds a special place in Truett’s heart and it shows when he speaks of it. He gets excited and beams when he thinks of what his church means to him.

“We are a spirit-filled, Holy Ghost- and fire-baptized group of people wanting to see lost people saved,” he roared. “We want all people to be changed and set free by the power of God - that is the greatest thing I can say about Pastor Heath Tinker and the people of Simcoe Worship Center; they truly cry out and call on God, just as the Bible speaks of God's people doing! God’s “will” be done at and through Simcoe Worship Center,” he grinned. “My wife and I are excited about what God has in store for everyone at SWC, as well as for those lives that God is going to change around us!”

A fire may have damaged Simcoe Worship Center, but it’s not done a thing to destroy God’s Spirit within the church. The church needs your good thoughts and prayers in the coming months as they work to rebuild. To keep up to date on their progress, follow them on Facebook at http://qrne.ws/swc.

CULLMAN– Many people think of February as the month of valentines and pink hearts, but the Cullman County Public Library System thinks of it as something a little different. For CCPL, February is Love My Library Month, and from Feb 1-28, CCPL will be forgiving all overdue fines.

“Patrons have the whole month of February to ‘feel the love’ that the library has for the community,” said Library Director Sharon Townson. “Patrons can eliminate overdue fines by simply asking for fine forgiveness. They can call or come by any one of the five library branches or even email the request to cullmanpubliclibrary@gmail.com. With a simple request, all overdue fines will be forgiven.”

Fees for lost or damaged items will not be forgiven, only those for overdue items.

“It can be difficult to remember to return library materials; before you know it the fines have added up,” she continued. “We want everyone in the community to have access to materials in the library.  By giving patrons a one-time fine forgiveness, we are able to get them them back to the library where they can check out the materials they may want for personal reading or, as more often the case now, job searches and employment help. With this promotion we can eliminate that $7 overdue fine that may have kept someone from checking out that resume writing book or a small business startup book.”   

Now is the time to return those long overdue items and ask for fine forgiveness. Also, for people who may have lost their library cards, the library will replace them for free in February.

“The Cullman County Commission and the City of Cullman make sure that the library has what it needs to help improve the quality of life for the citizens in our community, and we want to do what we can to get the right information into the hands of the people who need it,” Townson added.

For more information, visit http://www.ccpls.com/ or your local CCPL branch:

Cullman County Public Library Main Branch

200 Clark St. NE

Cullman, AL 35055

256-734-1068

Garden City Public Library

Garden City Municipal Building

501 First Ave. S

Garden City, AL 35070

256- 352-4552

Guy Hunt Library

60 Lions Park Road

Holly Pond, AL 35083

256-796-5226

Hanceville Public Library

201 Commercial St.

Hanceville, AL 35077

256-352-0685

Tom Bevill Library - Colony

Colony Educational Complex

151 Byars Road

Hanceville, AL 35077

256-287-1573

CULLMAN - Agents with the Cullman Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) and deputies with the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) arrested nine individuals for unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia today after executing a search warrant in the 800 block of County Road 1319, also known as Basch Road.

Arrested for unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia:

• Santos Lynn Thomas             25, Hispanic, Cleveland, AL, $5,000 bond  
• Sarah Marie Milligan              23, White, Cullman, $5,000 bond
• Omar Rivera Loyola                24, Hispanic, Oneonta, $5,000 bond
• Tonya Lynn Wagner               35, White, Crane Hill, $5,000 bond  
• Brian Keith Bagwell                32, White, Holly Pond, $5,000 bond  
• Ricky Charles Mewbourn        50, White, Cullman, $5,000 bond

(Mewbourn also had a warrant for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia)

• Hugo Contreaus-Cenantes      33, Hispanic, Altoona, $5,000 bond
• Angela Denise Stewart           44, White, Hayden, $5,000 bond             

Arrested for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and also had warrants for unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia:

• Santanna Marie Barnett          25, White, Cullman, $13,000 bond

The operation that led to the arrest of the nine suspects was executed in the 800 block of County Road 1319, also known as Basch Road, on Thursday, Feb. 4. CNET and CCSO deputies made entry into the residence and arrested those suspects who had warrants. While inside, CNET and CCSO deputies located multiple suspects, as well as meth and other drugs and drug paraphernalia.

CCSO seized approximately 10 grams of meth, syringes, glass meth pipes, straws and marijuana.    

“I believe any time you can arrest a large number of drug pushers and several of them are not from our community it sends the message we don’t want your drugs in Cullman County, and if you come here you will go to jail,” said Sheriff Matt Gentry. “I would also like to thank CNET and our deputies for the great job they did on this arrest,” added Gentry.

HANCEVILLE- The Mortimer Jordan Blue Devils were on fire from three-point land in the first quarter of their matchup against the Hanceville Bulldogs on Thursday afternoon. Their first nine points came by way of the three, but Hanceville kept pace with quick drives to the bucket and transition shots. The two teams kept pace the entire quarter and played to a 15-15 stalemate after one.

Mortimer Jordan continued to shoot well in the second, pulling ahead by as much as 13 early in the frame. Hanceville settled in at the midway point of the quarter, trading baskets with the Blue Devils but found themselves down 11 at the half.

The third was chock-full of fast-paced play, with each team streaking up and down the floor, but it was the Blue Devils that extended their advantage by one, 48-36, heading to the fourth.

Hanceville cut deeply into the Blue Devil lead thanks to a quarter opening 7-0 run that pulled them to within five. Mortimer Jordan pushed it back seven before Hanceville rattled off another four points to briefly cut the deficit to three. A foul on a three-point shot put the Blue Devils at the line. All three free throws sank and the lead was pushed back six with 1:59 left to play.

The next few possessions were spent trading baskets before Isaac Weissend drilled a three from the right wing to pull Hanceville to within just a pair of points. The very next possession he hit another from the exact same spot to give Hanceville their first lead of the game, 56-55, with 26.5 left in regulation.

Justin Anderson was fouled on the Mortimer Jordan end and he sank both shots from the charity stripe to give the lead back to the Blue Devils with just 3.9 seconds for a shot. Jose Orozco's half-court shot missed it's mark and Mortimer Jordan took the game 57-56.

HOLLY POND - The Lady Broncos controlled the tip and secured a quick lay-up from Molly Gambrill but had major trouble scoring for the remainder of the first quarter- until Ruth Horton got involved that is. After the Lady Broncos went 0-4 from three-point land to open the game, Horton finished the quarter 3-3 to make the game dead even at 13 all after one.

The Scottsboro Lady Wildcats started the second quarter with a flurry, going on a 5-0 run before Horton hit her fourth three to close the gap to two. After a Scottsboro miss, she immediately drilled another to put Holly Pond on top for the first time since the game's opening possession.

Charleigh Bailey hit a three of her own to snatch the lead back for the Lady Wildcats. Three times and three lead changes later it was Holly Pond on top 26-25 heading to the half.

The second half mirrored the first to open the quarter, but it was the Lady Wildcats who took advantage of Holly Pond's streaky third quarter shooting, scoring 12 points while the Lady Broncos scored just five. Scottsboro held the advantage, 37-31 going to the fourth.

Scottsboro quickly pushed the lead to 11 on a deep three by Bailey, a two-point jumper by Jasmine Branford and a lay-up by her older sister Janez. Holly Pond fought back but could not get the game closer than 10. Scottsboro took the win by a final score of 52-40 over Holly Pond.

BOYS

The Broncos jumped out in front of the Wildcats early Thursday night thanks to a 5-0 run to start the contest. Scottsboro hung with them, however, and tied the game at nine midway through the frame. Holly Pond fired right back and finished the quarter on a 9-0 run to take an 18-9 advantage after the first eight minutes of play.

Scottsboro stood strong in the second, chipping away at the Broncos’ lead. They were able to pull to within two thanks to back-to-back threes from Malik Talley, including a deep, buzzer-beating shot. Holly Pond took the marginal lead, 30-28, to the locker room at the half.

The Wildcats took the lead for the first time on the night at the 5:40 mark, but in an instant, Holly Pond took it right back. The Broncos pushed the lead to seven but Scottsboro kept chipping away, shrinking the deficit to just one, 41-40, going to the fourth.

The fourth was a whirlwind of action, with points by both teams each trip up and down the floor halfway through the quarter. However, the last four minutes belonged to Holly Pond. They controlled the game on the boards, in the paint and from the three-point line. They finished the game on a 12-4 run to take the 62-50 victory.

VINEMONT– No county team is playing better basketball since the Cullman County Tournament ended than the Fairview Aggies. After getting ousted in the first round by Cold Springs on Jan.18, the Aggies have become a different ball club with the opposition getting to see it.

On Thursday night, the Aggies completed their first regular season under coach Eddie Groves by defeating Vinemont 55-43. That capped off four straight for the Aggies with the Vinemont game being their first road win since a 46-38 triumph at Good Hope in the first week of the season.

Fairview is alive with confidence going into the 5A, Area 14 tournament next week. The Aggies meet No. 1 seed West Point at Jim Boyd Gymnasium, but believe they have a chance for an upset due to the current performance of senior forward Austin Fletcher and others who have been inserted into the lineup.

Fletcher has demonstrated his ability to score. In the four-game winning streak, Fletcher has ripped apart the opponent for 104 points, an average over 25 per game.

He took care of Vinemont Thursday night with 32 points, 21 in the second half and all nine in the fourth quarter to protect a 46-35 advantage.

With Fairview leading 29-27 at halftime, the plan was to get the ball into the hands of Fletcher as much as possible in the second half. In the third quarter, the Aggies did that with Fletcher scoring on six of eight made shots and giving the visitors a 43-27 lead with 2:12 to play in the period.

Then he could not be stopped in the final stanza. He started the fourth with a three-point play and it was 49-38, and every time Vinemont made a run, he would put it to a stop on the offensive side.

He scored four straight from the line in a 15-second span with the last two coming at 0:27 and the game was out of reach for the Eagles.

The 32-point outing by Fletcher at Vinemont came three nights after he lit up Hayden for 29 on senior night in a 70-53 romp at Joe Shults Gymnasium.

Truman Boyd got eight points for the Aggies with Luke Yarbrough just coming off the county championship freshmen team and adding six to the total.

Vinemont was led by Corbin Barnett with 16 and Hunter Green 11.

Fairview 63, Vinemont 12 (Girls):

Following the first 5:00 of a hotly contested battle, the Fairview Lady Aggies made it a rout of Vinemont, ending the first with a 9-0 run for a 20-10 lead and scoring 19 in the second, keeping the Lady Eagles off the board for a 39-10 halftime cushion.

It became a 56-11 lead following the third with Fairview on its way to a 20-win season in the third year of the Mary Lauren Hartline era.

Center Abbi Taylor contributed 10 to the victory, but reserve Daiyla Dean pitched in nine as eight reserves accounted for 31 points to help the Fairview starters who racked up 32 on the evening.

Fairview now gets ready to go to Moulton for the 5A, Area 14 tournament Monday with a 6 p.m. assignment against Russellville. The Lady Aggies were second in the area regular season at 4-2 to Lawrence County’s 6-0 record. Lawrence County and West Point play at 7:30 p.m.