DODGE CITY - The Dodge City Town Council welcomed two special guests to its latest meeting- Cullman County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Phyllis Little and Executive Director of the First Source for Women pregnancy center, Catherine Bethell.
Little addressed the council about the EMA’s newly-issued emergency evacuation plans in the event of a catastrophic failure of Smith Lake Dam....
Dr. William E. Smith
CULLMAN - According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Early diagnosis can often lead to a complete cure of colon cancer. Cullman Regional is hosting a Colon Cancer Awareness Seminar on Thursday, March 16. Join surgeon, Dr. William E. Smith as he...
LOGAN - Harmony School will be holding an Outdoor Classroom Workday on Tuesday, Mar. 21. Students, parents, faculty and community volunteers will be building pollinator and butterfly gardens, planting native plants and trees, establishing a berry patch and working on raised beds. They will also be constructing a sensory garden with plants and herbs that will provide multi-sensory experiences...
CULLMAN - The Cullman County Sheriff's Office would like to remind the citizens of Cullman County about the availability of the Nixle Alert System.
You can sign up to receive Nixle Alerts from the Cullman County Sheriff's Office and get up-to-date information about such things as major car accidents/road closures, missing dementia patients, major weather events and criminal activities.
To sign...
Cullman Rotary Club President Dale Greer
CULLMAN - Crowds filled the Cullman Civic Center on Friday evening for the Cullman Rotary Club’s 44th annual fundraising auction. Hundreds of items were available through silent and open auction including big-screen TVs, furniture, jewelry and watches, firearms, art, lawn care equipment, tools, gift certificates, fine wines and liquors, Cullman City Parks and Recreation...
CULLMAN - Alabama’s spring tornado season is upon us. Spring tornado season is typically defined as lasting from the beginning of March to the beginning of May. However, tornadoes can and do occur earlier than March. Summer tornadoes are extremely rare in Alabama.
Though there are some notable exceptions, spring tornado season is when Alabama usually experiences violent, long track...
Cullman Fire Rescue Division Chief Brian Bradberry stands outside the simulator
CULLMAN - It takes more than a driver’s license and a badge to drive an emergency vehicle. It takes lengthy training (Cullman firefighters will be on the job for three years before they even get to try,) and lots of practice. This week Cullman area emergency responders got the...
Cullman County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Mark Persall and Lt. Rex Sorrow
CULLMAN - This weekend, the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and Cullman Police Department (CPD) are out in force, for a worthy cause. Deputies and officers were at the south Cullman Wal-Mart Friday and will be again tomorrow, Saturday, taking donations to help support Cullman’s Special Olympians, and to...
Alabama State Trooper Rodney Wallace, Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry and Cullman County Sheriff's Sgt. Daniel Cummings
CULLMAN - Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry today presented commendations to Cullman County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) Sgt. Daniel Cummings and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) State Trooper Rodney Wallace.
Cummings was injured in the line of duty last weekend in a scary incident in...
Rick Cason addresses the council
HANCEVILLE - Questions of city jurisdiction outside the city limits were on the front burner at Thursday night’s Hanceville City Council meeting. The City of Hanceville, as do other municipalities in Alabama, has the authority to enforce ordinances up to 1-and-a-half miles outside the city limits; that distance encompasses the city's police jurisdiction.
Rick Cason, of...
The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) are founding a chapter in Cullman: "We exist to teach our youth about our early American History, to promote patriotism and to support our veterans."
Members must prove they have an ancestor who was a patriot in the American Revolution; The group has a chapter registrar who will assist potential members in doing...
FAIRVIEW - Last year, representatives of the Lions Club of Fairview told the Tribune that they hoped to increase the number of family-friendly community activities in their town, and they are staying true to their word.
On Saturday, Apr. 1, the Lions will host a free Spring Fling at Fairview Park. Activities will abound, and folks will be coming from...
HUNTSVILLE – The Alabama Career Center System will host a series of job readiness workshops beginning Friday, March 10 and continuing through Thursday, March 16 at Career Centers and other locations located throughout the Huntsville area.
Staff from several area Career Centers will conduct the three to four-hour training, which will cover such topics as résumé preparation, interview skills, how...
The 2016-17 Leadership Wallace State group visited Montgomery, where they met with acting system Chancellor Jimmy Baker and sat in on a board meeting. They also toured the state Capitol.
HANCEVILLE – Over the past few months, Wallace State’s 2016-2017 Leadership Wallace State group has toured the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) office in Montgomery, where they met with acting...
I like English and science, but math more than anything. Numbers speak to me better than words.”
Zackery Reynolds
HOLLY POND - Zackery Reynolds enjoys running. He competes in track and field and cross-country for Holly Pond High School (HPHS), scoring near the top of the team roster this year in 2-mile and 5K events. And while he’s running circles around...
DANVILLE - A Danville man is being held at the Cullman County Detention Center without bond after authorities arrested him for a string of burglaries in Cullman, Morgan and Lawrence Counties this week.
Joshua Felton Ledlow, 33, of Danville is facing two counts of third-degree burglary in Cullman County, as well as additonal, pending charges from Morgan and Lawrence Counties.
The...
Holly Pond Mayor Bill Oliver and Town Attorney Dan Willingham
HOLLY POND - The Holly Pond Town Council met Monday evening, with infrastructure on the agenda: roads, town boundaries, water and sewers.
Streets Committee Chair Councilwoman Carla Hart brought a motion to have Wesley Avenue striped from Highway 278 to the town limit, as several motorists have reported having trouble seeing...
stock image
CULLMAN - A motor vehicle collision involving a Cullman County Schools school bus occurred this morning on Highway 31 South in the northbound lane in front of the old Nicholson File building. No injuries were reported, according to Cullman Fire Rescue Public Information Officer Brian Bradberry.
"There were no injuries," said Cullman County Schools Superintendent Shane Barnette. "Everyone is...
Image shows full Baileyton Town Council from late 2016: Wendell Peterson, Greg Griffin, Mayor Johnny Dyar, Windell Calloway, Myra Martin and the late Walker Mead.
BAILEYTON - The Baileyton Town Council met this week, with one notable absence. The council and the town of Baileyton are mourning the loss of Councilman Walker Mead, who recently lost his battle with cancer....
CULLMAN - On Friday and Saturday evenings, the West Point Band Boosters presented the 34th Annual Ford IPRA Stars and Stripes Rodeo. Friday night mostly featured special activities for children and families, such as face painting and boiled peanuts, with the main event on Saturday night. The West Point FAA String Band set the mood for an old-fashioned rodeo.
The...
Academy Sports + Outdoors representative Tim Hodes addresses the commission
CULLMAN - On Monday afternoon, the City of Cullman Planning Commission met at Cullman City Hall, with four topics on its agenda, including a proposed site plan for the long-rumored Academy Sports + Outdoors store.
Academy Sports + Outdoors- 63,000-square-foot facility at 1807 Cherokee Ave. SW. That's just behind the ALDI...
FAIRVIEW - With the weather warming up and spring sports starting back, the Fairview Town Council is planning ahead for future maintenance of the community park. After the approval of the minutes from the last meeting, Mayor Keith Henry welcomed the meeting's guests. One guest, Kenny Brockman, offered his services for mowing and upkeep of the park. After a...
CULLMAN - Cullman County residents are invited to join Sheriff Matt Gentry and deputies from the Cullman County Sheriff's Office during the month of March for coffee to discuss issues that may be occurring in their communities. Citizens can come by just to chat and have coffee, to get an update on law enforcement activities in their communities or...
Caleb Alexander, left; Phillip Pope, right
CULLMAN - Two men are facing charges today after an incident Saturday in which Cullman County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) Sgt. Daniel Cummings was hit and dragged by a vehicle, according to the CCSO.
Caleb Dennison Alexander, 20, of Lacey's Spring, the driver of the vehicle, has been charged with attempted murder of a police officer,...
U.S. Rep Robert Aderholt, R-Alabama
CULLMAN - Alabama State Treasurer Young Boozer may have been the featured guest speaker at Saturday’s Cullman County Republican meeting, but it was U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R- Alabama who stole the show. All eyes were fixed on Aderholt as he gave the group an update on what’s happening in Washington.
“We’re very optimistic; for the...
Alabama State Treasurer, Young Boozer
CULLMAN - The Cullman County Republicans held their monthly meeting Saturday morning, with guest speaker, Alabama State Treasurer Young Boozer. Boozer was first elected state treasurer in 2010, and ran unopposed in 2014 for another four-year term. Vice-Chair of the Cullman County Republicans, Alex Chaney, lead the meeting in the absence of Chair Waid Harbison....
Updated 3/5/17 7:16 p.m.
LOGAN - A Hanceville man was killed late Sunday morning after the 1991 Kawasaki motorcycle he was driving collided head on with a 2003 Chevrolet pickup truck on County Road 813 in the Logan community.
Joseph Lee Gregory, 20, of Hanceville was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Cullman County Coroner Jeremy L. Kilpatrick.
The cause of...
Sacred Heart School Principal Greg Hughes
CULLMAN - On Saturday evening, Sacred Heart School (SHS) held its eighth annual Legacy Gala at Stone Bridge Farms’ Browne Stone Centre. Previously a formal soiree, this year's event went casual, earning it the self-styled title of the "un-gala."
While the wardrobe was a little easier, the cause was the same: to raise scholarship funds...
Haley Johnson, left, of Birmingham, and Trey Moody of Hartselle, rehearse a scene from “Our Town” for an upcoming production of the Thornton Wilder classic at Wallace State Community College, Hanceville. The pair portrays the roles of Emily Webb and George Gibbs.
HANCEVILLE - Wallace State Community College’s Theatre Department is preparing for its production of “Our Town,” scheduled...
Childhaven Executive Director, Dr. Jim Wright
CULLMAN - Childhaven's efforts to help its kids got a shot in the arm from its yard sale Friday and Saturday.
Dr. Jim Wright, Childhaven executive director, said, "It's been a good couple of days; very good, actually. The community's been very responsive. I don't have a final count yet for certain, but it's going...
GOOD HOPE - Cullman County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) Sgt. Daniel Cummings was treated and released from Cullman Regional today, following a scary incident in which he was hit and dragged by a vehicle, according to Sheriff Matt Gentry.
"Sgt. Cummings was responding to a call," said Gentry. "After he pulled the suspects over and made contact, the suspects drove off,...
CULLMAN - For the fourth year in a row, the online Mothers Helping Mothers (MHM) community put on their annual expo in Cullman, this year at the Cullman Civic Center, to allow small business owners the chance to advertise and sell their wares. This year's expo had so many participants, the civic center auditorium was practically standing-room only. Along...
Hope Horses, Inc. receives a donation from the Cullman Community Lions Club
CULLMAN - For the past few years, Camp Seale Harris has partnered with the Cullman Community Lions Club to put on a Family Fun Day for children with diabetes and their families. The event, along with most other events the camp puts on, aims to provide children and...
Why did the duck cross the railroad tracks? To get to the lake, of course. Sportsman Lake, that is.
CULLMAN - For Cullman County Parks and Recreation Director, Doug Davenport, each day is a new adventure. An avid outdoorsman, Davenport and his job are a perfect fit.
Not one to sit behind a desk any longer than absolutely necessary, he frequents...
The Link of Cullman County Founder and Executive Director, Dawn Owens
CULLMAN - Seven years ago, Dawn Owens felt a calling to serve the needy in the Cullman community. She met with various people and groups around the area, and the eventual result was The Link of Cullman County. This week, the organization celebrated five years of service by moving...
CULLMAN - Choirs sang and bands played as the city of Cullman officially kicked off its observance of the 200th anniversary of Alabama statehood, during a ceremony at the Cullman Depot Friday afternoon. This day was chosen, since it was on March 3, 1817 that the U.S. Congress passed the act that would lead to the creation of the...
NWS Huntsville's Dan Dixon and Cullman County EMA Director Phyllis Little talk before the program
COLONY - When the news or your weather radio warns you that bad weather is happening where you are, those alerts aren't just based on people looking at computer screens in Huntsville. The National Weather Service (NWS) Huntsville office does have computer screens full of...
L-R: Lynn Harris, Ron Seybold, Sheila M. Edwards, Dr. Christopher Laganke, Mayor Woody Jacobs, Ann Nuss, Summer Breakow and Rachel Bryant
CULLMAN - Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs on Friday proclaimed the month of March 2017 "MS Awareness Month" in the city of Cullman. The proclamation was presented at the office of Dr. Christopher Laganke, North Central Neuology. Laganke has long...
Seedlings waiting to be planted in the upgraded garden beds
CULLMAN - Springtime is almost upon us. That’s planting season in the agricultural world, and it’s a busy time for the North Alabama Agriplex in Cullman as well. They’ve got a lot of stuff coming up, including (of course) planting stuff!
The Tribune sat down with Mandy-Shea Riggins, Americorps Vista volunteer...
CULLMAN - The Cullman Community Lions Club will hold their annual Family Fun Day for Diabetic Children this Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. This year's theme is "Horsing Around with Camp Seale Harris," and the event will take place at Hope Horses, Inc.
Activities will include games, diabetes education, a short horse ride and grooming the horses.
Entrance is free for...
Wallace State Quiz Bowl members are, from left, Paul Knetter, Caleb Still, Zakk Waddell, Derik Arendall and Ross Wallace.
HANCEVILLE – Wallace State’s Quiz Bowl team finished ninth nationally at the 2017 National Academic Quiz Tournaments’ Community College Championship last weekend. The event was held at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.
Wallace State’s team, made up of freshmen Zakk...
Animal Control Capt. Tim McKoy, Sgt. Chris Westmoreland and Officer Cameron Berryhill
CULLMAN - The Cullman County Animal Shelter takes in a wide variety of animals, from kittens and tiny lap dogs to livestock. But what happens then?
The shelter has 33 kennels, plus a small outdoor pen for livestock. It takes in an average of around 2,300-2,500 animals per year,...
CULLMAN - After a three-year absence from the calendar, Childhaven will be once again be hosting its annual yard sale. The event, which will be on March 3 and 4, from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m., will feature items that have been donated to the children’s home, but are not currently filling a need.
“This is certainly one of our...
CULLMAN - Strap on your spurs and head out to the Cullman County Agricultural Trade Center this Friday and Saturday for the 34th Annual Ford IPRA Stars and Stripes Rodeo, put on by the West Point Band Boosters.
Tickets are on sale now at Jack’s Western Wear in Good Hope- $9 for adults and $7 for children and senior citizens....
Kim Searcy addresses the Colony Town Council
COLONY - Girl Scouts of North Central Alabama (GSNCA) is looking for a few good girls...around Colony. The closest troop to the community is located in Good Hope, a fair distance. Parents of girls who want to be scouts may have difficulty making the commute. The Scouts hope to solve that problem.
Kim Searcy,...
First Source for Women Executive Director Catherine Bethell
GOOD HOPE - The Good Hope City Council closed the month of February on a high note with several positive council reports and a visit from the First Source for Women pregnancy center, which has been visiting town councils throughout the county to spread the word about its services. Councilman Greg Brown...
COLONY - Colony welcomed Director Phyllis Little of the Cullman County Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), and officially signed off on the agency's emergency evacuation plan for Smith Lake Dam (Lewis Smith Dam) at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
Should the dam fail, Colony is an area of the county that would see significant flooding.
Little said, "For the past year my office...
CULLMAN - Site Selection magazine has named Cullman as the no. 2 micropolitan in the country for 2016. It’s the second consecutive year Cullman has ranked second. Micropolitans are cities with a population of 10,000 to 50,000 that cover at least one county. There are 575 micropolitans in the U.S.
Findlay, Ohio ranked no. 1 again for total number of...
Cullman City Schools Superintendent Dr. Susan Patterson addressed Cullman City Schools dismissing early Wednesday due to threat of inclement weather: "We are waiting to see the latest briefing in the morning. The county was already releasing early for PD."
Cullman County Schools will dismiss at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, March 1, due to the threat of severe weather.
CCS Interim Principal Cheryl Parker
CULLMAN - Cheryl Parker retired a few years ago, after working as a teacher and counselor in the Morgan County public school system for 31 years. Most recently, she taught at Falkville Elementary School. Like so many retirees today, though, she might just be busier now than she was back then.
On Tuesday, Feb. 21, Parker...
Tribune file photo/Dec. 2015
CULLMAN - Reconstruction of Larkwood Road should begin in mid-April, according to the Cullman City Council, who met for a regularly-scheduled meeting Monday evening. A section of the road was undermined and severely damaged in the Christmas flood of 2015, and has been closed since that time.
After review by the City and CDG Engineers, the council...
CULLMAN - This week, you may see and hear some things that are a little out of the ordinary around town: people wearing more beads than usual (especially purple, green and gold), churches serving pancakes for supper, and folks going about with sooty smudges on their foreheads. What's going on?
It's Mardi Gras! If you've ever been to New Orleans...
CULLMAN - The Cullman County Alabama Extension Office announced today that it will hold another tree sale; the office held the popular Arbor Day tree sale event earlier this month and quickly ran out of trees.
This sale will take place tomorrow, Feb. 28, beginning at 8 a.m. at the North Alabama Agriplex, 1714 Tally Ho St., Cullman. Trees will...
Hanceville Elementary School students give each other high fives during a demonstration on how germs are spread. Each student started with one spot of paint on their hand before they started going down the line giving each other a high five.
HANCEVILLE - On the wall outside one set of bathrooms at Hanceville Elementary School is a painting of a...
HANCEVILLE – Registration for Wallace State Community College’s spring semester Mini Term II classes takes place Thursday, March 2 and Friday, March 3. Classes begin March 3.
Wallace State has multiple options, including online courses, that students can register for during the second mini term. Mini Term II classes are eight-week courses and conclude May 5.
Mini Term II classes offered...
CULLMAN - The Link of Cullman County will host its 2017 annual event and fundraiser on March 2 at The Link of Cullman County Community Place, 708 Ninth Street SE. Festivities will begin with a ribbon cutting at noon with the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce and Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs.
From noon-4 p.m. the new campus will be open...
Back (L-R): Shane Rusk, Danny Baker, Wess Glispie, Shay Brown and MiKayla Hadley
Front (L-R): Jo Anna Brown and Jasmine Rusk
Other volunteers not pictured: Johnathan Shofner, Sherry Swindall and Ilen Gutherie
CULLMAN - Members of the Etha Baptist Church on Friday held the first of what they hope will be an annual barbecue fundraiser to raise money for their yearly...
CULLMAN - An inmate at the Cullman County Detention Center has died. According to a media release from the Cullman County Sheriff's Office, inmate Cody Dwayne Strickland, 26, of Cullman, was taken to Cullman Regional early Sunday morning after being treated and evaluated for an illness. He was pronounced dead at the hospital a few hours later.
Early indications are...
Marty and Karen Martinez on the porch of their shop
HOLLY POND - We normally think of folks retiring to Florida, but where do folks in Florida retire to? Well, according to former Floridians Marty and Karen Martinez, Holly Pond is a pretty good place.
"How do you get from Florida to Holly Pond?" said Marty Martinez, "Hang a Left at...
CRANE HILL - Capt. Tim McKoy and the Cullman County Animal Control Office (CCAC) are looking for a horse that is missing and presumed stolen from the Crane Hill/Guthery's Crossroads area.
On Feb. 9, Terry Turney reported a female horse named "Doll" stolen from her pasture on County Road 222. The incident took place one week after a 7-year old...
CULLMAN - On Saturday, the Cullman Lions Club and Lioness Club put on their annual fundraising fish and ham dinner at Cullman Middle School's cafeteria. Diners could eat onsite or take out; drive-thru service was even available. Lions prepared the dinners, while the Lioness Club brought in more than 150 homemade cakes for dessert.
The Cullman Lions Club has been...
The Stork Bus
HANCEVILLE - First Source for Women (FSW), a pro-life pregnancy and parenting resource center in Hanceville, sees around 90 visitors a month. The agency is one of only a few in this part of the state, and serves a large area, including other surrounding counties. It is not always an easy thing for a client to get...
First Source for Women Director Catherine Bethell
HANCEVILLE - When a woman finds herself in the sometimes frightening circumstance of an unplanned pregnancy, she may feel backed up in a corner with few options. First Source for Women (FSW), a faith-based pregnancy support service located in downtown Hanceville, seeks to provide women the help they need to give every baby...
Director's Choice winner Jared Johnson with Cullman EMS Director James Curtis
CULLMAN - It was a busy day at Cullman Emergency Medical Services on Second Avenue downtown Saturday, but not for the normal reasons. On this Saturday, firefighters, emergency medical responders and law enforcement officers from all over Cullman County gathered at Cullman EMS for their second annual charity chili...
FLORENCE - Tom Hendrix, the man behind Tom's Wall in Florence, has died, according to a report from WAAY-TV: "According to family members, Hendrix was 83-years-old and died of natural causes Friday."
The Tribune profiled Hendrix back in August 2016, when he shared with us the story of the wall and his great-great grandmother, a Yuchi Indian named Te-lah-nay.
Read it...
Event Mistress of Ceremonies, Ms. Ethel Alexander
COLONY - Citizens of Colony and others gathered in the town’s Educational Complex Friday night, packing its auditorium to celebrate Black History Month, and to celebrate Colony’s own history as a community. The event slogan was "Stepping from Our Past into Our Future."
Around the auditorium, displays recognized local families and noteworthy members of...
CULLMAN COUNTY - Agents with the Cullman Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) and investigators with the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) on Friday arrested eight individuals for various drug charges in two separate incidents.
After a tip from a local resident, CNET agents visited Countryside Acres in Fairview where drug activity was believed to be occurring. Agents searched a residence where...
CULLMAN - The annual Cullman Lions Club Fish & Ham Dinner will be held tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 25 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. in the Cullman Middle School cafeteria.
The cost is $10 per-plate, with a choice of either ham or a catfish filet.
According to Lion Dennis Berse, the organization has been holding this event annually for more than 40 years.
“When...
CULLMAN - The Cullman City Police Department is investigating a report of a man allegedly inappropriately touching a 9-year-old girl at the north Wal-Mart store. The incident happened on Wednesday, Feb. 22.
Sgt. David Nassetta is handling the investigation.
"We had a report of a girl who was touched inappropriately," said Nassetta. "We are looking for the gentleman to identify him...
CULLMAN - Cullman City Police officers conducting a traffic stop on a Ford Ranger pickup with a switched tag found that the passenger in the vehicle, Billy Alexander Parson, 20, of Hanceville had outstanding warrants with the state.
Sgt. Chris Thomason and Officer Trey Higginbotham conducted the traffic stop, where it was also discovered that neither Parson nor the driver...
CULLMAN - A Baldwin man was arrested in Cullman after a traffic stop led to the discovery of drugs and drug paraphernalia, according to the Cullman City Police Department.
Sgt. Chris Thomason and Officer Tyler Jackson conducted a traffic stop on Highway 278 West and Cleveland Avenue on a Honda Accord because an expired tag. The driver was identified as Jamey...
HANCEVILLE - The City of Hanceville is moving forward with its plan to pursue accreditation as an Alabama Community of Excellence (ACE). Last night, the Hanceville City Council approved a motion to apply for acceptance to the ACE program. If its application is accepted, the city will begin a three-phase project geared toward developing community programs and tools for...
CULLMAN - Alabama will hold its sixth annual severe weather preparedness tax holiday, starting today, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017 at 12:01 a.m. and ending Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017 at midnight, giving shoppers the opportunity to purchase certain severe weather preparedness items free of state sales tax. The City of Cullman and Cullman County will also waive taxes for the...
Wallace State Mechatronics instructor Keith Tolbert and Dean of Applied Technologies Jimmy Hodges
HANCEVILLE - At any given time, more than 6,000 children are in Alabama's foster care system. Every year, approximately 200 of them reach their 18th birthdays and "age out." Many of these, lacking skills and resources to make lives for themselves, will end up on welfare or...
CULLMAN COUNTY - The Cullman County Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) has issued an updated evacuation plan for areas of the county that could be affected by a catastrophic failure of, or high-volume discharge from, Smith Lake Dam (Lewis Smith Dam). It should be noted that this plan is part of a larger national level dam safety program initiated by...
Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs with St. Paul's Lutheran School's Gracie Moody, who won first place in her school's Arbor Day poster contest
CULLMAN - On Thursday morning, the Alabama Forestry Commission and Extension Service were on hand at Cullman City Hall to honor the city for its 29th consecutive recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City U.S.A....
Freshmen FFA group after receiving their green hand degrees
WEST POINT - At the ripe old age of 27, Ethan Lake has come full circle, well, at least for now. Lake, who is a graduate of West Point High School, is now living his dream of teaching and sharing his passion – farming. He brings to the next generation a...
GARDEN CITY - A large portion of the Garden City Town Council meeting this week focused on the town’s volunteer fire department and services. Of concern is that many of the people who live outside the town’s limits, yet still in the Garden City Volunteer Fire Department’s coverage area, are not paying their fire dues. The council proposed allowing...
CULLMAN COUNTY - Seven people were arrested over the weekend for various drug charges, including unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, public intoxication and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.
The Cullman Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) executed a search warrant on County Road 1836 in the New Canaan community, leading to the arrest of five...
SYLACAUGA – Forty-six young ladies from across the state, including one from Cullman County, will compete for the title of Miss Alabama’s Outstanding Teen 2017 and $500,000 in scholarships on March 4-5 at B.B. Comer Memorial High School in Sylacauga. The pageant is the only affiliate of the Miss Alabama Pageant.
Cullman County’s Kirsten Campbell, 15, a sophomore at Holly...
CULLMAN - Beautiful spring-like weather brought people out in droves to First United Methodist Church Cullman (FUMC) on Monday afternoon. The church hosted the 14th Annual Empty Bowls of Cullman County Chili Dinner. Guests enjoyed live entertainment, a silent auction and of course chili, all for a good cause. Proceeds from the event go to the Cullman Caring for...
Plans for a new convenience store on the south side of AL 157 in West Point.
WEST POINT - On Monday evening, the West Point Town Council once again addressed the upcoming extended deceleration/turn lane on Alabama Highway 157. The lane is planned for the eastbound side of the highway as it approaches the County Road 1242 intersection where Jack’s...
CULLMAN - The 44th annual Cullman Rotary Club Auction will be held on Friday, March 10 at the Cullman Civic Center. Proceeds will benefit local charities, projects and other community causes.
Admission to the auction is free. Items can be viewed beginning at 4:30 p.m. The silent auction is from 5:30-6:15 p.m., and the live auction starts at 6:45 p.m.
In...
FAIRVIEW - Mark Dobbs, Fairview High School theater teacher and director of Fairview Theater Works, put together a simple yet powerful performance over the weekend at the school's auditorium. With assistant director Leah Rodriguez, light/sound technician Ally Grund and technical assistants Katie Tucker and Kayley Hall, Dobbs helped deliver several important messages through FTW's rendition of the short play...
CULLMAN – Cullman City Parks and Recreation has several outdoor programs registering now for adults and children. Youth Outdoor Adventure, Kayaking Classes for beginner and intermediate boaters and Community Garden Classes are all open now for registration at the Cullman Civic Center or online at www.CullmanRecreation.org.
Youth Outdoor Adventure is open to ages 7-14 and will take place March 25-April...
CULLMAN - Interstate 65 northbound at Exit 318/Lacon will be down to one lane from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on both Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, according to the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT). Motorists should expect delays.
Crews will be working to repair the bridge and guardrail. Work will be performed as weather permits.
ALDOT urges motorists to drive with...
Signing letters of intent with the Machine Tool Technology were Austin Dibble, Bailey White, Baylon Lesley, Cameron Flippo, Christopher Widner, Colton Terry, Dylan Jones, Eli Jackson Denney, Jeremiah Childs, John Davidson, Joshua Pope, Matthew Campbell, Nick Tindall, Noah Brown, Olon Morris, Robert Winslett and Sturgis Hunter. They are pictured with instructors Gary McMinn, Jonathan Minyard and Steve Smith.
HANCEVILLE –...
2016 mission trip to Nicaragua
CULLMAN - Etha Baptist Church can be a little hard to find: it has a Cullman address, but is located about midway between Fairview and Eva. It may be a challenge to figure out where they are, but the people have a clear view of where they're going: to their neighbors' homes, to Fairview's schools...
Chris Van Dyke, executive director of the Cullman Mental Health Authority/Mental Healthcare of Cullman
CULLMAN - For our last installment on mental health and the frightening 2017 suicide surge in Cullman County, the Tribune spoke with Chris Van Dyke, executive director of the Cullman Mental Health Authority/Mental Healthcare of Cullman (CMHA) about how the mental healthcare system works here...
Wallace State welding instructor Jim Thompson
HANCEVILLE – Wallace State welding instructor Jim Thompson has been selected to judge the 2017 US Invitational Weld Trials in Decatur next week. The six-day event is at the Robotics Technology Park in Decatur.
Thompson, who is approaching 22 years as a full-time instructor at Wallace State, also serves on the American Welding Society (AWS)/SkillsUSA...
CULLMAN - In our continuing series on suicide and mental health, the Tribune sat down with Cullman County Sheriff Matt Gentry to get his perspective.
Sheriff Gentry began by noting the differences between true mental illness and temporary conditions brought on by substance abuse. The outcome for law enforcement, though, is pretty much the same in any case, he says.
Gentry...
CULLMAN - Plans for the upcoming Alabama 200, three-year bicentennial celebration are taking shape.
The statewide kickoff for the event is March 3, 2017, when towns and cities all over the state will initiate the event in various ways. Cullman’s event will be held at 2 p.m. at the old railroad depot, catty-corner from the Cullman County Museum. According to...
MONTGOMERY - The Alabama Legislative Session began on Feb. 7. Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview (Alabama House District 11, which includes portions of Blount, Cullman, Marshall and Morgan Counties), spoke about some of the issues legislators are dealing with this month.
Impeachment
On Tuesday Shedd and Rep. Corey Harbison, R- Good Hope co-sponsored a resolution to re-open the investigation that could lead...
Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs and VFW member Sam Bates
CULLMAN - Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs today donated 50 U.S. flags, on behalf of the City of Cullman, to Cullman's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2214 for display throughout the city during patriotic holidays.
The mayor and city council recently purchased the 4' x 6' flags from the Office of Congressman Robert...
K-9 Deputy AJ and K-9 Lt. Joey Cone
CULLMAN - A Cullman County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) K-9 deputy today tracked down a suspect who was attempting to flee on foot. The suspect, Elijah Blake McDonald, 22, of West Point ran when deputies were attempting to serve him with arrest warrants. K-9 Deputy AJ, along with his handler, K-9 Lt. Joey...
CULLMAN - May 1-5 a group led by Northbrook Baptist Church Director of Senior Adults Wade Maynard will head out to the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky.
The total cost of the trip, including the $200 registration fee, due at sign-up, is $499. That price tag comes with admittance to the Creation Museum, the Arc Encounter, the Cincinnati Zoo and...
VINEMONT - On Thursday evening the Cullman Area Technology Academy (CATA, formerly the Cullman Area Career Center) held an open house for prospective students, parents and other interested visitors. All 18 of the school's programs were represented, working areas were open and active, and staff from CATA's partner programs at Wallace State were present.
CATA Principal Billy Troutman said, "Every...
Students from Welti Elementary School with Cullman County Schools Superintendent Shane Barnette
CULLMAN - Students, along with school system employees, were recognized at Thursday night’s Cullman County School Board meeting.
West Point High School’s Scholar’s Bowl team was recognized for winning first place at the Alabama Scholastic Competition Association district tournament. West Point went undefeated in Pool A of the...
TUSCALOOSA - The following students from the Tribune's coverage area made the Dean's List or President's List for the fall semester at the University of Alabama.
Addison:
Jeremy J Aderholt, Dean's List
Arley:
Carolina B. Barefield, Dean's List
Anna Katherine Tuggle, Dean's List
Thomas E. Weeks, Dean’s List
Baileyton:
Charlsie S. Burden, President's List
Katie M. Noriega, Dean's List
Summer L. Walker, President’s List
Bremen:
Lucas C. Marsh, Dean's List
Nathan Lee...
