Home 2019
Archives
Colony unhappy with tax service after state levies fine for missing reports
COLONY, Ala. - The Colony Town Council on Tuesday evening returned to the tax issues that were the topic of a special called meeting...
Pet of the Week: Spencer’s looking for his forever home
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Animal Shelter volunteer Donna Ruttkay shares The Cullman Tribune’s Pet of the Week:
Spencer is a 1-year-old hound mix. He’s...
New Alabama law requires CDL programs to teach drivers how to recognize human trafficking
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - On Monday, Aug. 12, Gov. Kay Ivey held an official signing ceremony to give public recognition to several bills passed during...
Whatever happened to Nosey the elephant?
HOHENWALD, Tenn. - In Nov. 2017, after a failed attempt to put on a circus performance in Cullman, The Liebling Bros. Family Circus put...
Vinemont Baptist Church preparing to celebrate 100th anniversary
VINEMONT, Ala. - On Sunday, Aug. 18, 2019, Vinemont Baptist Church will celebrate 100 years of service to its community.
As the congregation prepared, local...
Dodgeball tournament raises more than $1.3K for emergency responders
HANCEVILLE, Ala. - Eight teams and their fans from around Cullman County gathered at Hanceville High School’s Lane Horton Gymnasium Saturday for the second...
Celebrate Cullman! Downtown merchants throw their biggest party of the year
CULLMAN, Ala. - In downtown Cullman, 2nd Fridays events have become a big summertime thing, but last night, things got even bigger as the...
Officials address Smith Lake concerns at Brushy Pond town hall meeting
BRUSHY POND, Ala. - At the Brushy Pond Community Center Thursday evening, local and state officials addressed questions from the Smith Lake community. Alabama...
Alabama’s poverty rate declining, but state still 6th poorest
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - According to a recently published report, while Alabama’s poverty rate continues to fall, the state is still the sixth poorest in...
(Bonus) Pet of the Week: Fire up your life with Char-Coal!
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Animal Shelter volunteer Donna Ruttkay told The Tribune its most recent Pet of the Week, Scout, has been adopted,...
County and City high schools ban cell phones, CCBOE introduces new security features
CULLMAN, Ala. - In July, Cullman High School laid out a new policy banning cell phones from classrooms, and the Cullman County Board of...
‘Thank you, Cullman County, for loving children in our community as much as we do!’
CULLMAN, Ala. - Gov. Kay Ivey last week awarded $419,214.21 in federal funds allotted to the state for crime victims’ services to Brooks’ Place,...
ALDOT updates response to Hwy. 278/CR 831 safety concerns
LOGAN, Ala. - After the most recent accident at the U.S. Highway 278/County Road 831 intersection in west Cullman County, several area residents contacted...
Gudger, Shedd visit Holly Pond for town meeting
HOLLY POND, Ala. - Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview and Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman on Tuesday night visited Holly Pond for the first in a...
Turning canine companions into good citizens, and much more
TRIMBLE, Ala. - Paula Kretzschmar is a dog person, and that’s putting it mildly. On a quiet little west Cullman County back road, the...
Attention nonprofits: United Way seeking applicants for funding
CULLMAN, Ala. - The United Way of Cullman County (UWCC) this week announced that applications are now available for nonprofit entities seeking funding. The...
(Updated) EXCLUSIVE: Franey resigns from Cullman Chamber, Danford declines interim post
Updated 8-6-19 at 5:02 p.m.
CULLMAN, Ala. - A source close to the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce Monday evening reported to The Tribune that...
Teachers, administrators getting ready for school, part 2
Part 1
CULLMAN, Ala. – It won’t be long until kids- and the grownups charged with riding herd over them- head back to school. The...
Wallace State kicks off new year of senior education and enrichment through WaLLi
HANCEVILLE, Ala. - Wallace State Community College (WSCC) on Thursday held a kickoff and registration luncheon for the 2019-20 year of its Wallace State...
Good Samaritan receives $5K from Cullman Savings Bank, announces 5th annual Caring for Cullman...
CULLMAN, Ala. - The staff of Cullman Savings Bank on Thursday presented Good Samaritan Health Clinic (GSC) a check for $5,000 ahead of this...
(Bonus) Pet of the Week: He’s a Dandy!
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Animal Shelter volunteer Donna Ruttkay shares a bonus Cullman Tribune Pet of the Week:
Dandy is an 11-month-old bulldog mix....
Teachers, administrators getting ready for school
CULLMAN, Ala. - It won’t be long until kids- and the grownups charged with riding herd over them- head back to school. The Tribune...
No longer ‘helpless’: Smith Lake area fire departments prepare to launch second fire/rescue boat,...
CULLMAN, Ala. - At one time, firefighters and EMTs around Smith Lake faced a formidable barrier to responding to emergency calls: the shoreline. Having...
ALDOT responds to request for safety upgrades at Hwy. 278/CR 831; What do you...
LOGAN, Ala. - After contacting the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to request safety upgrades such as a traffic light at the intersection of...
The wheels of justice: active homicide cases in Cullman County, part 2
Editor’s note: All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty.
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Tribune continues its review of pending homicide cases in Cullman County,...
Pet of the Week: You’ll be D-lighted with Annie D!
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Animal Shelter volunteer Donna Ruttkay introduces The Cullman Tribune Pet of the Week:
Annie D. is a heeler mix who’s...
Case of man accused of killing Tommy Piper heading to grand jury with additional...
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County District Court, with Circuit Judge Gregory Nicholas as authorized acting district judge on behalf of District Judge Rusty Turner,...
Flat-out fun! CP&R puts on ‘The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, Jr.’
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman Parks, Recreation and Sports Tourism (CP&R) on Saturday afternoon concluded its annual week-long summer theater camp with a production of...
Choice Rentals’ Cruise-In raises more than $1,600 for Curt’s Closet
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman’s Choice Rentals on Saturday reached out to help Ashley Wilson and Curt’s Closet, her local nonprofit clothing and accessory boutique...
The wheels of justice: active homicide cases in Cullman County, part 1
Editor’s note: All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty.
CULLMAN, Ala. - It has been said that the wheels of justice turn slowly, and...
Hanceville students set up lemonade stand to help classmates
HANCEVILLE, Ala. - Hanceville Elementary School students Colton Hunter (left) and Kason Hitt (right) set up a lemonade stand in front of Hanceville City...
Choice Rentals hosting Cruise-In for Curt’s Closet this Saturday
CULLMAN, Ala. - Choice Rentals is putting on its inaugural charity car, truck and bike show, the “Cruise-In for Curt’s Closet,” this Saturday, and...
Opioid Institute holds seminar in Cullman
CULLMAN, Ala. - Representatives of the Opioid Training Institute (OTI), a collaboration between the Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy and the Alabama Department...
Pet of the Week: On a hot summer day, you’ll enjoy a cool Breezy
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Animal Shelter volunteer Donna Ruttkay introduces The Cullman Tribune Pet of the Week:
“This sweet girl is Breezy. She was...
Inside the Tyson/Mulberry Fork lawsuit: Who did what, who’s asking for what
JASPER, Ala. - On Friday, the Sipsey Heritage Commission and Chandler Holdings, along with 40 individual property owners along the Mulberry and Sipsey Forks...
Cullman council OKs 10-year tax abatement for REHAU expansion; $12.5M investment to create 70...
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Cullman City Council on Monday night approved a 10-year abatement of “all state and local noneducational ad valorem taxes, all...
50 years later: To the moon and beyond; Apollo 11 and Cullman’s role in...
CULLMAN, Ala. - Today, the United States celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became...
Cullman Community Theatre presents ‘Oklahoma!’
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman Community Theatre on Friday evening premiered Rodgers and Hammerstein’s iconic “Oklahoma!” to a large crowd at Cullman High School. The...
ALEA suspends search for missing Smith Lake boater
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) on Friday announced it has suspended search efforts to locate Kelsey Starling, missing on Smith...
BREAKING: Residents, organizations file suit against Tyson over spill, plant conditions
JASPER, Ala. - On Friday, the Sipsey Heritage Commission and Chandler Holdings, along with 40 individual property owners along the Mulberry and Sipsey Forks...
Pet of the Week: Meet Miss Bea!
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Animal Shelter volunteer Donna Ruttkay shared some great news: all of the dogs taken to last week’s 2nd Fridays...
‘They’re great, they’re patriotic and they show a lot of great leadership’
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) annual Sheriff’s Youth Leadership Academy (SYLA) is underway this week, and The Tribune talked with...
Cullman Caring for Kids: Community responding, more needed
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Tribune Tuesday checked in with the staff at Cullman Caring for Kids (CCK) to see how the restocking of the...
Cullman Community Theatre presents ‘Oklahoma!’ this Friday, Saturday
CULLMAN, Ala. - Building on the success of last year’s “The Music Man,” Cullman Community Theatre returns this week with “Oklahoma!,” the very first...
Arbor East residents swarm Cullman City Council meeting over fly problem
CULLMAN, Ala. - On Monday evening, more than a dozen residents from the Arbor East subdivision near Cullman’s wastewater treatment plant on County Road...
Notre Dame Children’s Choir to sing at St. Bernard Mass this Friday
CULLMAN, Ala. - This Friday, July 19, the Notre Dame Children’s Liturgical Choir from the University of Notre Dame’s Sacred Music Academy will sing...
Cullman County Courthouse hosts 127th annual singing convention
CULLMAN, Ala. - On Saturday, shaped note Sacred Harp singers and traditional music fans filled Judge Kim Chaney’s District Courtroom for the first day...
‘By supporting them, they’re supporting you’; 2nd Fridays returns to downtown Cullman with 4-legged...
CULLMAN, Ala. - Each summer, the Warehouse District and the rest of downtown Cullman see a surge of visitors thanks to the annual 2nd...
Flourish of Cullman, Inc. named AL-APSE Agency of the Year
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Flourish of Cullman, Inc. a local service that works with State of Alabama Vocational Rehabilitation Services to help people with developmental...
‘The shelves are empty’: Cullman Caring for Kids in desperate need of donations
CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman Caring for Kids (CCK), the area child abuse prevention advocate best known for its very active food bank, is desperately...
Cullman VFW honors law enforcement, emergency responders, scouts
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman’s Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2214 Thursday night honored local law enforcement officers, emergency responders and Eagle Scouts at...
Wallace State announces partnership with Kubota Tractor Corporation
HANCEVILLE, Ala. - Wallace State Community College (WSCC) on Thursday announced a new partnership with the Kubota Tractor Corporation.
According to a WSCC press release:...
Fire damages camper on CR 700
CULLMAN, Ala. - On Wednesday evening, firefighters from Berlin and Johnson’s Crossing were dispatched to the 1400 block of County Road 700, where the...
Editorial: ‘Make me look good, now!’ A guide to positive media relations
More than half the time I conduct interviews, the episode concludes with the interviewee saying one of two things (actually the same thing in...
Colony mayor: ‘The library will not be closed’
COLONY, Ala. - Eleven days after the Colony Town Council voted not to renew a contract with the North Central Alabama Regional Council of...
(Updated) ATV accident near Cullman-Morgan Co. line; victim has ‘severe’ injuries
Updated 7-9-19 10:59 p.m.
VINEMONT, Ala. - An ATV accident north of Vinemont Tuesday evening along the Cullman/Morgan County line near Lacon has left one...
Bowling for Babies! Upcoming tournament to benefit First Source for Women
CULLMAN, Ala. - Over two upcoming weekends, the Cullman Bowling Center will host “Bowling for Babies,” a fundraising mixed team tournament to benefit First...
Pet of the Week: Spend your weekends with Bernie
CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman County Animal Shelter volunteer Donna Ruttkay shares The Cullman Tribune Pet of the Week:
Bernie is a 1-year-old basset hound/bully mix. ...
Meet Brooksie, the Cullman County Courthouse’s new facility dog
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Cullman County Courthouse on Monday officially welcomed its newest officer, Brooksie, a 2-year-old female labradoodle trained by Service Dogs Alabama...
127th annual Cullman County Courthouse Singing Convention coming July 13-14
CULLMAN, Ala. – This Saturday and Sunday, July 13-14, Cullman will celebrate what has become a unique tradition in Alabama: the state’s last regular...
Two vehicle accident in Simcoe sends three to hospital
SIMCOE, Ala. - A Sunday afternoon wreck in Simcoe had Gold Ridge firefighters working hard, and led to the medical transport of three injury...
Accident in Holly Pond leaves two with minor injuries
HOLLY POND, Ala. - Shortly after 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon, two minivans collided at the intersection of State Hwy. 91 and U.S. Hwy. 278...
Freedom Celebration lights up the night in Fairview
FAIRVIEW, Ala. - During the evening of Independence Day, crowds filled Randall Shedd Fairview Town Park as the town’s First Baptist Church hosted its 18th...
(Bonus) Pet of the Week: King seeking his palace!
CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County Animal Shelter’s Donna
Ruttkay informed us of happy happenings: our last two Pets of the Week, Chip
and Remmy, have...
Pets on Parade at Downtown Merchants Association celebration coming up July 12
CULLMAN, Ala. - This coming Friday, the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce will enjoy another of its increasingly popular 2nd Fridays summer celebrations, and...
Search continues for missing boater on Smith Lake; Crane Hill Chief describes initial response...
SMITH LAKE/CRANE
HILL, Ala. – On Friday, the search continued for a boat passenger missing since
a two boat collision on Smith Lake Thursday evening. The incident,...
Search continues for missing boater on Smith Lake
SMITH LAKE – On Friday morning, searchers resumed their efforts to locate a missing boater who disappeared on Smith Lake late in the evening...
Colony does not renew NARCOG contract for town librarian, library faces possible temporary closure
COLONY, Ala. – After a special called meeting last Friday, on Monday the Town Council of Colony delivered to North Central Alabama...
Mystery deepens around Cullman Casting accident as contractors fail to appear for meetings with...
CULLMAN, Ala. – Two days after an
underage worker died in a fall from the roof of Cullman Casting, the primary
roofing contractor still cannot name...
Garden City, local churches celebrate freedom with community fireworks show
GARDEN CITY, Ala. - On Sunday evening, Garden City got a jump on the Independence Day holiday by holding a community fireworks show...
Victoria’s Hope Thrift and Treasures now open in Cullman
CULLMAN - On Monday morning, April German, who created Victoria’s Hope (VH) last year as a way to help single parents and families in...
Pet of the Week: Help Remmy find his forever home
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Cullman County Animal Shelter’s Donna Ruttkay informed us that Peanut, a recent Pet of the Week, has been adopted; and...
(UPDATED) 15-year-old worker falls to death in accident at local business
Updated 7-1-19 at 4:40 p.m.
CULLMAN, Ala. – On Monday, a 15-year-old Guatemalan roofing worker fell to his death from the roof of Cullman Casting...
Be safe on Smith Lake this Fourth of July holiday
SMITH LAKE, Ala. - The Fourth of July is a busy time on and around Smith Lake, which has already seen its share of...
CHS Theatre student Grant Holland brings home school’s 1st Superior rating from International Thespian...
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA - On Thursday, Cullman High School (CHS) Theatre student Grant Holland became the first student in school history to earn a Superior...
Drug crimes on the rise across Cullman County
CULLMAN, Ala. - Drugs are a constant issue for law enforcement across Cullman County and, increasingly, they are finding their way into the day-to-day...
Dollar General breaks ground near Colony
Updated 6-26-19 at 10:58 a.m.
COLONY, Ala. - Colony’s Tuesday evening town council meeting was fairly uneventful, but it gave The Tribune a chance to...
State wants your opinion on ADEM director’s job performance
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Have an opinion about how Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) Director Lance LeFleur is doing his job? The State would...
Tim Scott Recreational Trail at Duck River Reservoir wins national award
CULLMAN, Ala. - During Monday evening’s Cullman City Council meeting, Mayor Woody Jacobs took time to recognize the Cullman Economic Development Agency and Cullman...
Pet of the Week: Who can resist a Chip?
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Animal Shelter volunteer Donna Ruttkay shared with The Tribune our most recent Pet of the Week, Luna, has been...
Cullman Parks and Rec cheerleaders honored for performances in national competition
CULLMAN, Ala. - On Monday evening, the Cullman City Council took time to recognize the national-level achievement of three “Xtreme All Star” cheerleading teams...
Traffic light coming to Olive Street/Hwy. 31 intersection
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Cullman City Council on Monday night approved a maintenance agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) that will allow...
Cullman council honors police officers for promotions, years of service
CULLMAN, Ala. - On Monday evening, the Cullman Police Department (CPD) and Cullman City Council honored one of the city’s police officers for his...
Wells Fargo, Regions Bank consolidating Cullman branches
CULLMAN, Ala. - Both Regions Bank and Wells Fargo have announced upcoming consolidations of branch offices in Cullman, following a years-long national trend of...
West Point Baptist Church reaches out with music and ice cream
WEST POINT, Ala. - West Point Baptist Church invited its community in for a special evening of fellowship, music and a little ice cream...
Tyson Spill Update: Tribune visits Mulberry and Sipsey Forks
EMPIRE, Ala. - On Saturday morning, The Cullman Tribune visited the confluence of the Sipsey Fork and Mulberry Fork, known to locals as "The...
Downtown merchants plan to ‘put on the dog’ in July event
CULLMAN, Ala. - Members of the Cullman Downtown Merchants Association (CDMA) on Thursday night met at First Community Bank to discuss last Friday’s social...
United Way preparing for annual back-to-school supply drive
CULLMAN, Ala. - After success last year, United Way of Cullman County (UWCC) has announced its second annual “Stuff the Bus” school supply drive...
(Bonus) Pet of the Week: Help Luna find her forever home
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Animal Shelter volunteer Donna Ruttkay informed The Tribune that this week’s original Pet of the Week, Spy, has already...
‘This is heartbreaking for us’: River residents heavy-hearted; Tyson facing lawsuits
HANCEVILLE, Ala. – On Thursday, June 6, approximately 220,000 gallons of effluent (liquid waste or sewage) were spilled by the Tyson Foods, Inc./River Valley...
(Updated) Cullman Chamber officially closes door on lodging tax for CCBOE projects after superintendent...
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors on Tuesday voted to rescind its previous commitment of the lodging tax...
Pet of the Week: Great news on adoptions, but there’s a Spy in the...
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Animal Shelter volunteer Donna Ruttkay shared some good news about past Pets of the Week with The Tribune recently,...
CCBOE personnel changes approved June 2019
CULLMAN, Ala. - At its meeting this week the Cullman County Board of Education (CCBOE) approved the following personnel items. (Printed as received)
Principals
Transfer of...
Cullman County Human Trafficking Task Force: The Year of the Untrafficked Child
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Children’s Policy Council of Jefferson County has declared 2019 the “Year of the Untrafficked Child” in Alabama and, during this...
Tyson: ‘Oxygen levels in affected streams have returned to normal’
CULLMAN, Ala. – Last Thursday, June 6, approximately 220,000 gallons of effluent (liquid waste or sewage) were spilled by the Tyson Foods, Inc./River Valley...
Pet of the Week: Hungry for a friend? Grab a Peanut!
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County Animal Shelter volunteer Donna Ruttkay shares the Cullman Tribune Pet of the Week:
Peanut is a beagle mix who’s close...
Helen Glasscock retires from St. Bernard after 52 years in education
CULLMAN, Ala. - There are people around Cullman today who don’t know that St. Bernard Abbey’s school used to be a college, but Helen...
Bremen man’s 3rd trial in shooting of neighbor ends in mistrial
CULLMAN, Ala. - Jack Harold Wilson, 74, of Bremen this week made his third trial appearance in the shooting of his neighbor, with the...
Hanceville man convicted in 35-year-old sex abuse case
Updated 6-12-19 6:52 p.m.
CULLMAN, Ala. - Hanceville area resident Glen Leon Yarbrough, 78, on Wednesday was found guilty of one count of sexual abuse...
Fundraising campaign started to help Hanceville family devastated by weekend flooding
HANCEVILLE, Ala. - On Sunday, the east Hanceville home of Linda Brown and daughter Amanda Brown on the corner of Edward Street and East...



















































































































