Welcome To Chilton County News in Clanton, Alabama, located in the center of the State of Alabama in the Heart Of Dixie.
This web site contains local Peach Country information, news and happenings about the people of
Clanton, Jemison, Thorsby, Maplesville, Isabella, Verbena and Cooper in Chilton County, Alabama.
"Chilton County's Best-Read Weekly Community Newspaper"
RECENT NEWS FROM AROUND CHILTON COUNTY!
FOOTBALL THIS WEEK!
Friday night, September 20
CCHS at Jemison
Linden at Isabella
Maplesville at Keith
Thorsby at Vincent
Wadley at Verbena
FOOTBALL SCORES!
Thursday night, September 12
Montevallo 68 - - Jemison 40
Friday night, September 13
CCHS 14 - - Central Tuscaloosa 7
Maplesville 14 - - Linden 13
LaFayette 50 - - Thorsby 16
Billingsley 47 - - Verbena 0
Isabella 58 - - A. L. Johnson 0
Homecoming At Clanton Middle School
Clanton Middle School held Homecoming festivities on Thursday evening, September 19, in Tiger Stadium. The CMS Tigers defeated Jemison Middle School 36-8. Tamya Bulger was crowned 2019 Homecoming Queen by Anna Kathryn Baker, 2018 Homecoming Queen.
Sarah Beth Argent was named Eighth Grade Representative. Jenna Baker was named Seventh Grade Representative. Keilee Blackmon was named Sixth Grade Representative.
You Can Help The Relay For Life Queens
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The Chilton County Relay For Life Queens need help with a project they are sponsoring. They want to purchase new Halloween costumes for children at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham.
If you would like to donate money, or new costumes, for the children, you may take your donation to Acme Building Supply, 601 7th Street North in Clanton. The Queens will be collecting costumes and funds through September 30. They will deliver the costumes to Children’s Hospital the first part of October.
CCHS Alumni Band
Chilton County High School will host an Alumni Band performance on Friday, September 27. Former band members will march into the stadium and perform during the pregame show. They will also play in the stands with the 2019 CCHS Band during the first and second quarters of the game. Former Band Director, Jim Swindle, will be in attendance to conduct.
The band is also selling bricks to pave the way to the newly-constructed band tower at the practice field. Each brick will cost $100.00 and may be engraved with a name.Visit www.prideofchiltoncounty.org for more information on both the Alumni Band event and to purchase a brick.
Banquet September 19
Through The Grace Of God Ministries will hold their annual Fundraiser Banquet on Thursday, September 19 at the Clanton First United Methodist Church. Jerry and Crystal Russell will be the entertainment for the event which begins at 6:00 p.m.
You are invited to support this ministry by sponsoring a table or making a donation. There will be a live and silent auction, a special speaker and a delicious meal.
To purchase tickets or sponsor the event, call Ralph Bingham at 205-755-8199. Donations may be mailed to 75 Eighth Street South, Clanton, AL 35045. The ministry relies on the financial support of local churches, organizations, businesses and individuals to feed and help the less fortunate.
Celebrate Recovery
Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-centered, 12 step recovery program for anyone struggling with hurt, habit or a hang-up of any kind.
The program is held every Monday night at Clanton First United Methodist Church with a large group meeting at 6:30 pm and men and women’s small groups meeting at 7:30 pm.
Dinner is provided from 5:30 until 6:15 pm. The church offers Celebration Place for children 5 through 12 and childcare for children 3 to 4 years old.
Everyone is invited to attend!
Celebrate Recovery is a safe place to find community and freedom from the issues that are controlling your life.
Tailgate With The Tigers
Chilton County High School Homecoming 2019 will be October 18 when the Tigers will host to the Marbury Bulldogs. There will be a pre-game tailgate beginning at 4:00 p.m. Students, alumni, and community members may join in the festivities which will be held on the band practice field.
Groups, businesses, and individuals may reserve a tailgate spot for $25.00. Checks should be made payable to CCHS and sent to the attention of Jennifer Supri/Varsity Cheerleaders. “Whether you bring your tent and grill, or pick up pizza on the way, you are invited to join in the fun with fellow Tiger fans,” Supri said. “This is a great chance for graduating classes, churches, and community groups to fellowship together and support the Tigers.”
The school address is 1214 7th Street South, Clanton, AL 35045. For more information, call the school office at 205-280-2710.
Jazz Festival
Central Alabama Performing Arts Guild is hosting its third annual “In The Mood Jazz Festival” on Saturday, October 5. The event will be from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Senior Connection facility located in the Park Plaza Shopping Center in Clanton.
Bands will include: Mike Cogan and the Casuals, Prime Suspects Jazz Combo, Chuck King and the Swing Kings, and The Usual Suspects Jazz Band featuring the Innocent Bystanders vocalists.
Admission is free and it is a family-friendly event. The Clanton Evening Lions Club will be offering their famous Low Country Shrimp Boil for $15.00 per plate. There will be an Art Show featuring Alabama artist Susan Goodwin Hazzard. Booths available for anyone interested in participating. Call Mary at 205-907-0008 for more information.
CCHS TIGER BAND!
UNITED WAY LUNCHEON!
Clanton Councilman Says, Loud And
Clear, He Is Working For Taxpayers
By Becky Tucker, News Reporter
The Clanton City Council held its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday night, August 26. Whitney Barlow, Director of the Industrial Development Board, was present at the meeting to ask for more money from the City to be used at the property owned jointly by the city and county.
The 527 acres is located adjacent to Highway 145 and I-65 near Exit 212 and is the proposed site of the Alabama Farmers Federation planned Agriculture Center.
Barlow asked the council for $15,300.00 to be used for a wetland delineation study and a ground water study. The wetland delineation is usually done to set precise boundaries of wetlands on the property.
She said this study is part of an environmental assessment that should have been done three years ago, when the property was purchased.
According to Barlow, an engineering firm did a wetland delineation study for ALFA and it was an inconclusive report. She told the Mayor and council that she brought this up, prior to the Industrial Board member resignations, two months ago. “At the meeting, I said we have to have a wetlands delineation redone on the property,” Barlow said.
In addition, underground storage tanks were found on the property right-of-way on the southeast side. This is where an old gas station was located back in the 1960’s. Barlow said the environmental testing has to be done there in order to access federal funds for the project.
“I would like to say after this, you will still be paying what you approved for the rest of the environmental assessment,” Barlow said. That amount previously approved was $100,000.00 earlier this year by the city, as well as the county. As per the city’s deal with the county, they pay one-half of all expenses. This will bring the total for all the necessary environmental studies to $230,600.00, divided equally between the city and county.
“This study should have been done by December,” Barlow said. “It will now probably be January or February which means nothing can be done to that property until this is completed, by us or by ALFA. There is no project until there is an environmental study. The longer it takes to do the study, the longer it takes to do the project.”
Barlow said the county’s portion of expenses on the project comes from money given to the Industrial Development Board by the county.
Mayor Driver said, “What you don’t understand, you don’t have to get their approval to do anything.” Barlow agreed. Mayor Driver continued by saying, “I have to get approval from this council and I have to know what to tell them.”
Barlow said she presented the paperwork on three different occasions to the city. It was suggested to Barlow that she have items added to the meeting agenda so council members could have time to review them prior to the meeting.
Barlow said she takes her requests to Commissioner Matt Mims who then presents it to the commission to be put in the minutes. The county has already approved paying the $15,300.00.
The motion to approve paying the money was approved by the city council by a vote of 4 to 1, with council member Awlahjaday Agee voting against the motion. “Let me clarify for the record why I’m voting no,” he said.
“It is a little frustrating to receive information at meeting time. Me, being an elected official, I feel I’m held accountable for spending taxpayers money. I don’t mind the project, it’s an excellent idea. I just don’t like being presented with something and then having to vote to spend taxpayer money on the spot. It needs to be put on the agenda, we need to research it before we vote on it. That’s my reason for voting no.”
Three members who represented the county on the Industrial Development Board, Wesley Hicks, Brian Paschal and Allen Payton, along with the city’s representation, Roy Price, Bonny Smith and Wayne McKinnon have all resigned as of August 26.
The resignations leave Van Forrester, Chair; Monica Cooper, Vice Chair, Robert Threlkeld, Elizabeth Huntley, and Richard Moore on the Industrial Development Board.
According to Joseph Parnell, Chairman of the County Commission, the Industrial Development Board is reorganizing to form an Industrial Development Authority. “This will allow our municipalities to appoint members to the Board who would have voting rights,” he said. “The Industrial Development Board attorney will present a corporate structure to the Commission and the Cities to be voted on.”
Clanton Fire Calls
August 28, 2019
100 Block Charles Street-Stroke
100 Block Arthur Drive-Chest Pain
300 Block City Street-Traumatic Injury
100 Block Charles Street-General Illness
August 29, 2019
400 Block 14th Street South-Altered Mental Status
1000 Block 14th Avenue North-Fall
2100 Block 7th Street South-Seizure
August 30, 2019
2500 Block 7th Street South-Electrical Fire
4100 Block Autumnwood Drive-Chest Pain
1900 Block Baker Holley Road-Public Assist
4th Avenue North and Gowan Road-Motor Vehicle Accident
1600 Block 7th Street South-Seizure
August 31, 2019
1200 Block 1st Avenue-Seizure
400 Block Inverness Drive-General Illness
1400 Block 4th Avenue South-General Illness
September 1, 2019
1300 Block 4th Avenue South-Public Assist
100 Block Arthur Drive-Public Assist
900 Block Lake Mitchell Road-Altered Mental Status
3000 Block 7th Street North-Seizure
2500 Block Yellowleaf Road-Chest Pain
I65 212 Mile Marker South Bound-Motor Vehicle Accident
2nd Avenue North and 13th Street-Assist Police
3000 Block 7th Street North-Chest Pain
September 2, 2019
200 Block Willis Circle-General Illness
1100 Block 4th Avenue South-General Illness
500 Block 4th Avenue North-General Illness
September 3, 2019
1200 Block 7th Street South-Syncope
Airport Road-Motor Vehicle Accident
700 Block Airport Road-Helicopter Landing Zone
600 Block Clanton Market Place-Difficulty Breathing