By BARTON PERKINS | Staff Writer

Mayors from all across Shelby County recently signed a statement, which vocalizes their support for the nation of Israel in the wake of the war crimes committed by Hamas.

“We recognize the brutality of war and the death and destruction it wreaks; however, the battle for justice against injustice and good versus evil must prevail to protect the innocent and ensure liberty,” the statement reads. “We pray for a speedy end to hostilities and a lasting peace.”

The statement goes on to condemn Hamas attacks on civilian populations on Oct. 7, Israel’s sovereign right to defend itself against terrorist forces and demands the immediate release of all hostages currently held by Hamas. 

The document itself cements the mayors of Shelby County as being firmly on the side of Israel, and focuses heavily on the crimes Hamas has committed against the Israeli people. However, the document neglects to mention many of the war crimes also perpetuated by Israel itself on its Islamic population and citizens in Gaza which include the violation of medical neutrality.

The letter was signed by the following local politicians:

• Tony Picklesimer, mayor of Chelsea
• Scott Brakefield, mayor of Alabaster
• Theoangelo Perkins, mayor of Harpersville
• Frank Brocato, mayor of Hoover
• Rusty Nix, mayor of Montevallo
• James Latimer, mayor of Vincent
• Ricky Ray Morris, mayor of Wilsonville
• David Mitchell, mayor of Columbiana
• Jon Graham, mayor of Calera
• Brian Puckett, mayor of Helena
• Brenda Bell-Guercio, mayor of Indian Springs
• Gary Waters, mayor of Pelham
• Larry Riggins, mayor of Westover
• Deborah Wilson, mayor of Wilton

The post Mayors of Shelby County speak out in support of Israel appeared first on Shelby County Reporter.

By JOSH BOUTWELL | Special to the Reporter

TROY – It’s been a long road, but Alabama’s very first legal bourbon whiskey distillery attraction, Conecuh Ridge Distillery, is planning for a May 2024 opening as the complex in Troy nears completion.

Conecuh Ridge Distillery will produce the official state spirit of Alabama, Clyde May’s Alabama Style Whiskey. The moonshine whiskey was made famous by former moonshiner Clyde May, a native of Alabama.

After proudly serving his country in the Army’s 77th Infantry in World War II – earning a Bronze Star and Purple Heart – Clyde May returned home to Alabama and became known as one of the “most wanted” moonshiners in the state. His original still was set up close to Pike County in nearby Bullock County.

While Clyde May passed away in 1990, his son, Kenny May, launched the legal Clyde May’s Alabama Style Whiskey in 2001 and it became the official state spirit of Alabama in 2004.

While Conecuh Ridge Distillery has bottled and produced its products outside of Clyde May’s home state of Alabama over the years, it will now return to Troy, Ala., when it opens in 2024.

Conecuh Ridge Distillery will produce numerous products, including Clyde May’s Alabama Style Whiskey, Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon, Clyde May’s Cask Strength, Clyde May’s Straight Rye Whiskey and Clyde May’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

The facility will feature not only the distillery but also a bottling plant, a restaurant and bar, tasting rooms, a retail shop and a barrelhouse to age barrels of whiskey.  All of that will be part of tours that will be featured at Conecuh Ridge Distillery.

The distillery will create approximately 50 new jobs in Pike County once it is fully operational and up to capacity.

Steve May (no relation to Clyde May) serves as vice president and general manager of the Conecuh Ridge Distillery. Prior to joining Conecuh Ridge, May served as director of marketing operations for the Jack Daniel’s Distillery in Tennessee.

During his tenure there, he oversaw significant growth in the distillery’s retail sales and annual guest count, which grew from 191,000 to over 300,000 annually. That growth also added to the economic growth of the area. During his tenure, the Jack Daniel’s Distillery invested more than $25 million in capital improvements at the site, as well.

“I was responsible for marketing operations for the Jack Daniel’s Distillery, one of the largest tourist attractions in Tennessee,” May said. “Before the pandemic, we had over 300,000 people a year taking tours there and 190 employees just in marketing. It had an enormous economic impact on the area and it’s our hope that we can do similar things in Troy.”

The distillery will offer five different types of tours when it opens with prices ranging from $20 to $45. Tours will begin at the Clyde 240, Clyde May’s original moonshine still, which was named so because it took $240 worth of copper to make the still. After learning the history of May and Conecuh Ridge Distillery, tourists will get to tour the entire distillery facility and process.

“We will be very family friendly. If you bring your children you can take a tour that doesn’t include any alcohol,” May said. “We have a little bit of everything going on here. We are not just a tourist attraction but a full-fledged distillery with a bottling plant that will produce Clyde May’s whiskey and Conecuh Ridge whiskey.”

“We’ll be buying local grain grown in Alabama,” May said. “Our corn will come from farms right here in this area.  We’ll sell our spent grain, which is very nutritious, to local cattle farmers.”

Troy Mayor Jason Reeves said that he believed the distillery would bring a unique tourist experience to Troy.

“The Conecuh Ridge Distillery will provide a quality tourism destination and investment on the north side of Troy,” Reeves said. “It will be a unique opportunity for those traveling through Troy as well as those within a few hours who would like to take a weekend or even a day trip to see our community and the Clyde May brands’ process. I have no doubt it will be a distinctly fun experience.”

Steve May said that the distillery is planning for a May 2024 opening, but weather and other issues may push that back. Regardless, Summer 2024 looks like it will see the opening of Alabama’s first whiskey distillery that will be located off Highway 231 where 3 million cars travel annually.

The post Alabama’s first bourbon distillery experience to open in 2024 appeared first on Shelby County Reporter.

By SASHA JOHNS | Special to the Reporter

Shelby County Schools is on the lookout for new school bus drivers to meet the ongoing needs and growth of the county’s school transportation system.

Currently, there are available driver positions all over the county, but there is also a great need for substitute drivers, particularly in the Helena and Oak Mountain school systems.

Wanda Adams, who works out of the main Bus Shop in Columbiana, wants potential drivers to know that there are benefits to both having a regular route and being a substitute driver and that each offers attributes that may appeal to different kinds of candidates.

“The obvious benefit to taking on a regular route is the county benefits like health insurance and retirement, but substitute drivers have more flexibility in their schedules and can choose which days they want to work,” Adams said. “And of course, there (is no working on) weekends or holidays for drivers.”

There are also available opportunities for drivers to pick up extra work, such as driving for field trips and transporting students and teams for games.

Bus driving is a great job for retirees and stay at home parents, but often entrepreneurs find that it works well with their schedules too, and it presents a viable route to receive benefits.

The Bus Shop will accept a new class of trainees on Thursday, Jan. 4, but wants interested parties to know there are a few things that candidates need to accomplish to qualify for the class. Most importantly, those interested need to acquire a CDL Learners Permit and must submit to a background check as well as a few other prerequisites.

One new driver, Connor Preston, is one of several new additions to the roster who completed the most recent class this past fall and did so in a search to acquire insurance. Preston, who is also a children’s minister at a local church, is currently working as a substitute driver in Columbiana.

“When I first started the classes, I didn’t realize all the things I’d have to learn when it came to the safety checks you have to memorize for the pre-trip and it was a little intimidating,” Preston said. “Austin Shifflet, one of the bus mechanics, was a great trainer though and it ended up being a lot easier than I thought it would be.”

Interested candidates can hear more information about the qualifications and prerequisites needed to join the January bus class by visiting the Shelby County Board of Education website under the Transportation tab or by calling the Bus Shop at 205-682-7130.

The post Shelby County Schools seeks new bus drivers appeared first on Shelby County Reporter.

By BARTON PERKINS | Staff Writer

A hazy smoke fills the air, forcing cars to a stop as police close one of the busiest highways between Columbiana and Alabaster on Friday, Nov. 3 as local firefighters tried to control a fire spreading across the dry grass and leaves along County Road 26.

This has been a common theme recently with seven brush fires occurring in Shelby County during the past 30 days, while 393 have been spurred across the state with more than 3,000 acres burning.

“It’s definitely very dry,” said Chelsea Fire Chief Joe Lee, who recently had his department battling a brush fire near U.S. 280. “We haven’t had significant rain in a couple of months now.”

A fire requires only three specific things in order to occur which are fuel, the right weather conditions and a single spark. At the moment, Alabama is dangerously abundant with all three.

Fuel

In Alabama, the months of October, November and December are marked by a steady dryness and lack of humidity. Weeks can and do go by without a drop of rain, rivers and streams run lower and lower and combustibles, such as dead leaves and dry grass,  gather on the forest floor. For the last 60 days there has not been any rain in the entirety of Alabama, and Gov. Kay Ivey has officially declared both a statewide “no burn order” and a “drought emergency.” 

“We haven’t gotten a lot of rain recently,” said Dave Holley of the Alabama Forestry Commission. “When you combine that with other weather conditions like relative humidity that dries out the leaves, the grass and just everything else. You can hear it when you walk through the forest. Everything just goes ‘crunch, crunch, crunch.’”

Similar to starting a campfire, a forest fire begins with small combustibles being set aflame. The fire then rapidly builds from there, spreading out and consuming sticks then logs and then finally larger materials, such as trees and buildings

“The number of wildland or grass fires has increased this year,” Calera Fire Department Deputy Chief Shane Stoudenmire said. “Nothing has been really big yet, and we’ve been significantly blessed for that.”

To some people, the obvious answer to the problem of having this degree of kindling lying around and simply waiting to start a massive fire is to just have a series of controlled burns. But this is not viable for a couple of reasons.

“Population density plays a big role in that, because of air quality,” Stoudenmire said. “When you start burning off all the underbrush in rural areas some of it will start to settle in the nearby urban areas and create all sorts of issues with air quality.”

Stoudenmire noted that the way the winds have been working the last few months plays a big factor in this, both in how they push smoke into more populated areas and how they can help wildfires spread quickly.

Correct weather conditions

In addition to a fuel source, fire also requires the presence of oxygen and active winds help flames grow and spread. This leads to wildfires finding purchase in more of the dry grass and kudzu that covers much of the county.

“Windy days are when you’re at your highest risk when you burn, because the wind is gonna push these embers in the direction of the land,” Stoudenmire said.

Higher wind speeds and drought are both major contributors to wildfire risk, and both have also been linked to global warming and climate change.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, has stated that increased temperature has resulted in a severe lack of moisture in potential fire fuels such as trees, shrubs and forest debris. Studies have also shown that this has in turn more than doubled the rate of large wildfires in the US since 1984.

The current weather conditions may be providing the perfect environment for wildfires, but ultimately a fire cannot be started without a source. While wildfires do naturally occur, brought about by lightning and other natural phenomena, more often than not they are brought about through human action and error.

The spark

When the Saginaw Fire Department reported that six acres of land was burned in a brush fire near County Road 26 on Friday, Nov. 3, they were able to determine that the fire’s origin stemmed from a single bottle rocket.

When conditions are as primed and prepared for fire as Alabama is currently witnessing, something as small as a bottle rocket can lead to a wildfire that can potentially consume countless acres. It was only thanks to the immediate action and reaction from firefighters that this latest fire only spread across six acres.

According to Stoudenmire, the incident was hardly an outlier, saying he has been called to multiple scenes where fires have been started from something as small as someone tossing a smoking cigarette out of their window while driving down the highway.

“Luckily those fires are usually small, but if you get a good windy day, they can quickly get hard to control,”  Stoudenmire said.

Similar to the Smokey Bear saying, “Only you can prevent wildfires,” local fire departments across Shelby County are asking for the help of the public to make sure residents aren’t put into those dangerous situations.

“The best thing that people living in the community can do is just refrain from outdoor burning of all types,” Lee said. “If they can just hold out until this winter when we have plenty of rain, then it’ll be fine. But this isn’t the right time of year to have fires outside.”

The Dangers of fighting fires

When fighting a wildfire, it’s less about putting the fire out and more about just keeping the flames contained and preventing the spread of destruction.

“Depending on the terrain and where the fire’s at, we sometimes just can’t get water up there,” Cahaba Valley Fire Chief Buddy Wilks said. “A lot of times, it just gets into a position where we’re just trying to contain it by clear-cutting lines into the ground.”

Wilks noted that fire departments often call in the local forestry commission to aid in wildfire containment efforts by using tractors to dig trenches around the fire. 

“It’s a lot,” Wilks said. “It’s a very strenuous activity because we are just basically using rakes, hoes and chainsaws to cut down trees and to monitor things.”

Alarmingly, these wildfires can continue on for days. Wilks went so far as to comment that several fire departments in Shelby County have been fighting the same fires for days on end at the time of this writing.

“It’s a very difficult operation we go through and very manpower intensive,” Wilks said. “Just rotating companies around and working with the forestry commission to keep things contained.”

Sometimes, though, the environment gets ahead of the firefighters. The wind may start blowing the other direction, or a stray ember may jump over the trenches and into a fresh batch of dead leaves. That’s when things get truly dangerous.

“There comes a point that you just have to let it go because you can’t get can’t get ahead of it,” Wilks said. “Then it’s all just trying to protect houses and doing your best.”

Luckily, there have been no recorded fatalities in Shelby County from any of the recent wildfires, and all of the firefighters across the assorted departments in the county have expressed their dedication to continuing fighting fires and keeping people safe. They all stressed the importance of abiding by the burn ban as long as it lasts.

“The rain this weekend, if we get it, will probably help the fires that are burning right now,” Wilks said. “But it’s not going to change the drought conditions enough to keep fires from starting elsewhere. It’ll help a little bit, but we’ve got a long period of time for us to get out of real danger.”

The post Battling the blaze: Local fire departments combat wildfires during recent drought appeared first on Shelby County Reporter.

By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – During a span of two days, youth leaders from across Shelby County participated in a special kickoff event at the Alabama 4H Center in Columbiana along the banks of Lay Lake.

The group of carefully selected leaders are members of the Youth Leadership Shelby County Class of 2024 and were hand selected by a committee.

The class of 33 were picked from more than 100 applications to participate in the prestigious program and took part in the opening retreat Nov. 5-6.

The retreat kicked off a special start to a journey that will last throughout the school year with the students participating set to take part in different class days that will occur each month.

Throughout the year, the participants will also join together in different groups to work on projects that will help make a difference in the community by picking a non-profit or organization in need of help.

The students will use their different leadership skills and personalities to come together and make a difference in their community as juniors in high school.

Throughout the opening retreat, they got their first taste of what to expect throughout the months long venture that will culminate with a graduation near the end of the school year.

Activities included going through the ropes course at the 4H Center and working together as teams, personality assessments, a round table with Youth Leadership Shelby County alumni to learn what to take advantage of during the class, a class introduction featuring the participants introducing each other in unique skits and many more icebreakers.

“The Youth Leadership Shelby County Opening Retreat opened my mind up to so many different possibilities and ideas I had never thought of before,” said class member Abby Nave of Shelby County High School. “I got to meet so many wonderful, remarkable, and truly inspiring people, who I can’t wait to continue this journey with. The Class of 2024 is definitely the best class yet!”

The event, however, was centered around the goal of the class, which is learning about each other as leaders in the community.

Students, who range from high schools around the county, got to hear from Alabama Teacher of the Year Jeff Norris, motivational speaker Timothy Alexander and many more throughout the two days, showcasing the true definition of what it takes to be a selfless leader and leave your impact.

“The professionals we had the opportunity to learn from at the retreat provided great insights on how to successfully apply leadership qualities to life endeavors outside of school,” Pelham student Brenna Vickery said.

The opening retreat helped build bonds and friendships, while bring together young leaders in the community who all make a difference in their own way.

Now, they’ll work together the next few months to bring their leadership skills together to make a difference.

This year’s class includes:

-Grant Blakely, Chelsea High School

-Belle Casey, Oak Mountain High School

-Sofia Contreras, Spain Park High School

-Ella Fields, Vincent High School

-Sasha Gann, Thompson High School

-Andrew George, Chelsea High School

-Addison Grigsby, Shelby County High School

-Ava Horn, Calera High School

-Abe Ivey, Oak Mountain High School

-Mia Kendrick, Evangel Christian Classical School

-Addie Knight, Pelham High School

-Patrick Maddox, Chelsea High School

-Camdyn Martin, Pelham High School

-Ali Mims, Chelsea High School

-Halle Morris, Evangel Christian School

-Abby Nave, Shelby County High School

-Will O’Dell, Oak Mountain High School

-Lissy O’Kelley, Oak Mountain High School

-Abby Olsen, Briarwood Christian School

-Jake Parker, Evangel Christian School

-John Will Peterson, Oak Mountain High School

-Aiden Poe, Vincent High School

-Alyson Ragland, Helena High School

-Anjali Reed, Helena High School

-Kailyn Reynolds, Thompson High School

-Jarret Scott, Helena High School

-Maddie Shebs, Pelham High School

-Madi Claire Sims, Chelsea High School

-Thomas Starkey, Calera High School

-Mallory Venable, Shelby County High School

-Brenna Vickery, Pelham High School

-Sydney Williams, Calera High School

The post Youth Leadership Shelby County celebrates new class at opening retreat appeared first on Shelby County Reporter.

By DONALD MOTTERN | Staff Writer

VESTAVIA HILLS – The Megan Montgomery Foundation is readying to hold their second annual Gingerbread Jam on Saturday, Dec. 9.

Set to take place at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center at 1090 Montgomery Highway, the event holds its origins in a family tradition that stretches back more than 4 decades. For Susann Montgomery-Clark, building gingerbread houses was always a special and distinct family tradition that saw herself, her two daughters Meredith and Megan, family members and a long list of friends gather together in the spirit of the season.

Following the tragic murder of her daughter, Megan, on Dec. 1, 2019 and the founding of MMF in April 2021, that family festivity is being continued with the added vestige of raising awareness.

“It’s a way to carry on the tradition that our family and friends loved for many years and now a new generation can participate as they build their own houses to enter,” Montgomery-Clark said, “The most fun will be viewing and voting for your favorite houses through the People’s Choice Awards and bidding in the silent auction for beautiful gingerbread houses made by professional bakers in the culinary division.”

MMF’s Gingerbread Jam currently holds the distinction of being the only gingerbread house competition of its kind in the Birmingham metro area. Returning after its support of the inaugural event, Edgar’s Bakery will once again serve as the signature sponsor of the event.

“This event is a fun way to raise funds for implementing healthy relationship education for men and women,” said Meredith Montgomery-Price, Megan’s sister and executive director of the Megan Montgomery Foundation.

In accordance with the foundation’s goal of ending domestic violence before it begins, this year’s theme for the Gingerbread Jam is, “every home should be a happy home.”

The Gingerbread Jam will be free and open to the public for viewing the gingerbread houses from 9 a.m. to noon. Children of all ages are also invited to visit and take part in the kid’s corner which will offer a host of craft activities for their enjoyment. Kids will also have the chance to meet and have their picture taken with Santa, who will also be in attendance.

A $5 admission fee applies for those seeking to submit a gingerbread house of their own. Those who choose to do so are asked to design, build and decorate their houses at home and then drop them off at the Vestavia Civic Center the day prior to the event, Friday Dec. 8.

Those who are interested in submitting a gingerbread house for the competition are encouraged to submit their application and view more details on the event’s website at Gingerbreadjam.swell.gives.

All proceeds from the event will benefit The Megan Montgomery Foundation which provides grants to high schools, colleges and non-profits in order to bring about age-appropriate healthy relationship education, help young adults recognize unhealthy behaviors and stop relationship violence before it starts.

More information regarding MMF and their mission can be located at Megansfoundation.org.

For more information about the event, please contact Kim McAdams at 205-837-4649.

The post Megan Montgomery Foundation readies for second annual Gingerbread Jam on Dec. 9 appeared first on Shelby County Reporter.

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

The Thompson Warriors stayed put as the No. 2 team in Class 7A in the Week 10 football rankings that were released on Wednesday, Nov. 1, while the Helena Huskies dropped three spots and the Spain Park Jaguars and Vincent Yellow Jackets both received votes.

Thompson held on to its No. 2 spot in the Class 7A poll as the Warriors received 172 votes, including one first-place vote. Thompson finished out the regular season with a 21-11 win over Hoover to cap off an 8-1 record.

The Warriors will have a bye week before facing Florence in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs on Nov. 10.

Also in the Class 7A rankings, Spain Park earned six votes to finish just outside the top 10 in 11th place. The Jags gained ground in the poll with a 42-17 win over rival Oak Mountain to finish off region play with a 6-3 record.

The Jaguars will finish the season with a county battle against Pelham on Thursday, Nov. 2.

Helena moved down from No. 6 to No. 9 in the Class 6A rankings after its first loss of the season. The Huskies fell to Benjamin Russell, 20-17, in the region championship game last week.

Helena will close out the regular season with a non-region game at Vestavia Hills on Thursday, Nov. 2 before its first-round game in the Class 6A playoffs against Wetumpka at home on Nov. 10.

Vincent also received two votes in the Class 2A rankings this week. The Jackets fell to Thorsby, 36-18, in their final game of the regular season. The now 6-4 Yellow Jackets will have a bye week in Week 11 ahead of a trip to Clarke County in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs on Nov. 10.

To see the full rankings, read more in the list below:

CLASS 7A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Central-Phenix City (18); 8-0; 225
2. Thompson (1); 8-1; 172
3. Mary Montgomery; 10-0; 153
4. Dothan; 7-2; 116
5. Auburn; 7-2; 115
6. Vestavia Hills; 7-2; 86
7. Enterprise; 7-2; 81
8. Baker; 7-2; 50
9. Hewitt-Trussville; 7-3; 43
10. Austin; 8-2; 33

Others receiving votes: Spain Park (6-3) 6, James Clemens (7-3) 3.

CLASS 6A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Saraland (15); 9-0; 216
2. Clay-Chalkville (4); 9-0; 183
3. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa; 10-0; 149
4. Muscle Shoals; 8-0; 133
5. Parker; 9-1; 114
6. Mountain Brook; 7-2; 83
7. Hartselle; 7-2; 74
8. Oxford; 7-2; 43
9. Helena; 8-1; 31
10. Spanish Fort; 8-2; 21

Others receiving votes: Benjamin Russell (7-2) 20, Theodore (6-3) 7, Hueytown (6-3) 4, Pike Road (7-2) 3, Gadsden City (7-3) 2.

CLASS 5A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Gulf Shores (13); 9-0; 200
2. Ramsay (5); 8-2; 174
3. Central-Clay Co. (1); 9-0; 159
4. Pleasant Grove; 8-1; 140
5. Leeds; 7-2; 91
6. Moody; 8-2; 88
7. Russellville; 8-1; 69
8. Southside-Gadsden; 7-2; 51
9. Fairview; 8-1; 32
10. Guntersville; 7-1; 27

Others receiving votes: Demopolis (7-2) 19, Scottsboro (7-2) 8, Arab (7-2) 7, Vigor* (6-3) 7, Charles Henderson (6-3) 4, Eufaula (6-3) 3, UMS-Wright** (5-4) 2, B.C. Rain (7-2) 1, Valley (7-2) 1.

*–Record includes 1 forfeit loss.

**–Record includes 1 forfeit win.

CLASS 4A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Catholic-Montgomery (12); 10-0; 207
2. Cherokee Co. (4); 9-0; 176
3. Jackson (2); 8-0; 149
4. Andalusia; 9-1; 145
5. West Morgan (1); 9-0; 116
6. Handley; 9-1; 92
7. Jacksonville; 8-1; 76
8. Bibb Co.; 9-1; 58
9. Oneonta; 7-2; 29
10. Corner; 8-1; 18

Others receiving votes: American Chr. (8-2) 5, Westminster-Huntsville (8-1) 5, BTW-Tuskegee (6-3) 2, Haleyville (7-2) 2, Deshler (7-3) 1, Dora (7-2) 1, Oak Grove (5-4) 1.

CLASS 3A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Mobile Chr. (16); 10-0; 216
2. Madison Aca. (3); 9-0; 173
3. Gordo; 8-1; 134
4. Mars Hill Bible; 9-1; 129
5. Lauderdale Co.; 9-0; 111
6. St. James; 7-2; 96
7. Sylvania; 8-1; 79
8. Geraldine; 8-1; 48
9. Thomasville; 7-1; 38
10. Houston Aca.; 8-1; 33

Others receiving votes: Straughn (8-1) 15, Trinity (9-1) 4, Winfield (8-1) 3, Fayette Co. (5-4) 2, Walter Wellborn (7-2) 2.

CLASS 2A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. B.B. Comer (14); 10-0; 212
2. Fyffe (4); 8-1; 169
3. Reeltown (1); 9-0; 161
4. Highland Home; 9-1; 127
5. Pisgah; 8-1; 114
6. Cottonwood; 8-0; 96
7. Locust Fork; 10-0; 83
8. Sulligent; 8-1; 42
9. Goshen; 8-2; 37
10. Tuscaloosa Aca.; 7-2; 26

Others receiving votes: Tanner (7-3) 10, Thorsby (7-2) 2, Vincent (6-4) 2, Collinsville (7-2) 1, Luverne (7-3) 1.

CLASS 1A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Leroy (19); 8-0; 228
2. Elba; 9-0; 170
3. Sweet Water; 8-1; 148
4. Loachapoka; 9-0; 127
5. Lynn; 8-1; 111
6. Wadley; 8-1; 85
7. Millry; 8-2; 73
8. Decatur Heritage*; 8-1; 52
9. Coosa Chr.**; 3-5; 34
10. Hackleburg; 8-1; 13

Others receiving votes: Georgiana (7-2) 12, Pickens Co. (6-3) 8, Spring Garden* (8-2) 8, South Lamar (6-3) 6, Addison (7-2) 4, Linden (6-2) 4.

*–Record includes 4 forfeit losses.

**–Record includes 1 forfeit win.

AISA (final)

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Lowndes Aca. (15); 10-0; 212
2. Chambers Aca. (4); 9-1; 180
3. Lee-Scott; 9-1; 149
4. Glenwood; 9-1; 141
5. Banks Aca.; 9-1; 114
6. Patrician; 7-3; 92
7. Fort Dale Aca.; 8-2; 72
8. Jackson Aca.; 8-2; 54
9. Autauga Aca.; 7-3; 35
10. Wilcox Aca.; 8-3; 26

Others receiving votes: Clarke Prep (7-4) 8.

The post Thompson holds No. 2 spot in Week 10 rankings, Helena remains in poll, others receive votes appeared first on Shelby County Reporter.

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

The Thompson Warriors and Helena Huskies held steady in the Week 9 football rankings when they were released on Wednesday, Oct. 25, while the Vincent Yellow Jackets continued to receive votes and Spain Park re-entered the discussion for the top 10 after its biggest win of the year.

Thompson held on to its No. 2 spot in this week’s rankings as it earned 172 votes from the media, including one first place vote. The Warriors improved to 7-1 in Week 9 thanks to a 39-0 shutout win over Tuscaloosa County which clinch Thompson’s first region championship since 2020.

While Thompson has already wrapped up the top seed out of Class 7A, Region 3, the Warriors still have one region game remaining this Friday against Hoover. A win on the road over the Bucs will clinch an undefeated run through region play ahead of Thompson’s Week 11 bye.

Elsewhere in the Class 7A rankings, Spain Park received three votes after pulling off one of the biggest upsets of the week by beating Hewitt-Trussville on the road, 50-29. The Huskies tumbled four spots from No. 5 to No. 9 as a result of the defeat.

The Jags will close out region play against Oak Mountain this Friday ahead of their final home game of the season in Week 11 against Pelham.

Helena stayed at No. 6 in the Class 6A rankings thanks to the 83 votes they received from the media. The Huskies improved to 8-0 with a 49-0 win over Calera and are one win away from their third undefeated region record and region title.

Helena will play on the road against Benjamin Russell in a region title game in Week 10 to finish out region play.

Finally, down in Class 2A, Vincent received three votes in the Week 10 rankings. The Jackets lost to Isabella to drop to 6-3, but they still received multiple votes ahead of their final game of region play against Thorsby.

To see the full rankings, read more below:

CLASS 7A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Central-Phenix City (18); 8-0; 225
2. Thompson (1); 7-1; 172
3. Mary Montgomery; 9-0; 152
4. Dothan; 6-2; 113
5. Auburn; 6-2; 105
6. Vestavia Hills; 6-2; 86
7. Enterprise; 6-2; 85
8. Baker; 6-2; 48
9. Hewitt-Trussville; 6-3; 47
10. Austin; 7-2; 41

Others receiving votes: Spain Park (5-3) 5, James Clemens (6-3) 3, Bob Jones (4-4) 1.

CLASS 6A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Saraland (15); 8-0; 216
2. Clay-Chalkville (4); 8-0; 183
3. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa; 9-0; 149
4. Muscle Shoals; 8-0; 132
5. Parker; 8-1; 112
6. Helena; 8-0; 83
7. Mountain Brook; 6-2; 66
8. Hartselle; 7-2; 65
9. Theodore; 6-2; 37
10. Oxford; 6-2; 15

Others receiving votes: Spanish Fort (7-2) 13, Center Point** (7-1) 6, Carver-Montgomery (7-2) 3, Hueytown (5-3) 2, Pike Road (6-2) 1.

**–Record includes 1 forfeit win.

CLASS 5A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Gulf Shores (14); 8-0; 210
2. Ramsay (5); 7-2; 170
3. Central-Clay Co.; 8-0; 157
4. Pleasant Grove; 7-1; 138
5. Southside-Gadsden; 7-1; 102
6. Fairview; 8-0; 78
7. Leeds; 6-2; 62
8. Moody; 7-2; 52
9. Vigor*; 6-2; 29
10. Russellville; 7-1; 28

Others receiving votes: Guntersville (6-1) 25, Scottsboro (7-1) 12, Demopolis (6-2) 10, Charles Henderson (5-3) 4, Arab (6-2) 3, Eufaula (6-3) 1, UMS-Wright** (5-3) 1, Valley (5-3) 1.

*–Record includes 1 forfeit loss.

**–Record includes 1 forfeit win.

CLASS 4A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Andalusia (14); 9-0; 213
2. Cherokee Co. (2); 8-0; 167
3. Catholic-Montgomery; 9-0; 154
4. Jackson (2); 7-0; 144
5. West Morgan (1); 8-0; 113
6. Handley; 8-1; 91
7. Jacksonville; 7-1; 74
8. Corner; 8-0; 55
9. Bibb Co.; 8-1; 43
10. Oneonta; 6-2; 20

Others receiving votes: Westminster-Huntsville (7-1) 4, T.R. Miller (6-2) 2, American Chr. (7-2) 1, BTW-Tuskegee (5-3) 1, Oak Grove (5-3) 1.

CLASS 3A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Mobile Chr. (16); 9-0; 216
2. Madison Aca. (3); 8-0; 172
3. Gordo; 8-1; 131
4. Mars Hill Bible; 8-1; 129
5. St. James; 7-2; 97
6. Thomasville; 7-0; 80
7. Lauderdale Co.; 8-0; 78
8. Sylvania; 7-1; 74
9. Geraldine; 7-1; 44
10. Houston Aca.; 7-1; 32

Others receiving votes: Straughn (7-1) 21, Trinity (8-1) 4, Fayette Co. (4-4) 2, Walter Wellborn (6-2) 2, Winfield (7-1) 1.

CLASS 2A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. B.B. Comer (14); 9-0; 210
2. Highland Home (2); 9-0; 173
3. Fyffe (3); 7-1; 162
4. Reeltown; 8-0; 133
5. Pisgah; 7-1; 99
6. Cottonwood; 7-0; 96
7. Locust Fork; 9-0; 82
8. Tanner; 7-2; 47
9. Sulligent; 8-1; 30
10. Goshen; 7-2; 28

Others receiving votes: Tuscaloosa Aca. (6-2) 19, Vincent (6-3) 2, Collinsville (6-2) 1, Luverne (6-3) 1.

CLASS 1A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Leroy (19); 7-0; 228
2. Elba; 8-0; 169
3. Sweet Water; 7-1; 141
4. Millry; 8-1; 131
5. Loachapoka; 8-0; 115
6. Lynn; 7-1; 98
7. Wadley; 7-1; 73
8. South Lamar; 6-2; 40
9. Decatur Heritage**; 8-1; 32
10. Coosa Chr.*; 2-5; 31

Others receiving votes: Pickens Co. (6-3) 7, Georgiana (7-2) 6, Hackleburg (7-1) 5, Addison (6-2) 3, Linden (5-2) 2, Ragland (6-3) 1, Spring Garden** (7-2) 1.

*–Record includes 4 forfeit losses.

**–Record includes 1 forfeit win.

AISA

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Glenwood (18); 9-0; 225
2. Lowndes Aca. (1); 9-0; 169
3. Lee-Scott; 8-1; 155
4. Chambers Aca.; 8-1; 134
5. Banks Aca.; 8-1; 111
6. Patrician; 6-3; 78
7. Wilcox Aca.; 8-2; 75
8. Fort Dale Aca.; 7-2; 50
9. Jackson Aca.; 8-2; 49
10. Autauga Aca.; 6-3; 19

Others receiving votes: Clarke Prep (6-4) 18.

The post Thompson and Helena hold spots in Week9 rankings, Spain Park, Vincent earn votes appeared first on Shelby County Reporter.

By BARTON PERKINS | Staff Writer

VINCENT – The Vincent Revival Center will host its tenth iteration of “Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames” starting Sunday, Oct. 22.

“It is like a dramatization of different real-life scenarios of where people are faced with the reality that their life on Earth is over,” said Brandy Wallace, the Revival Center’s outreach pastor. “And will they spend eternity in heaven, or will they spend eternity in hell?”

Billed as a ‘live Christian dramatic presentation,’ churches from all over the United States buy the production rights for “Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames” from Reality Outreach Ministries. According to Reality Outreach Ministries’ website the production rights to “Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames” cost $4,450 for three productions.

“They (Reality Outreach Ministries) come into local churches who invited them in, and the congregation of the local church becomes the cast,” Wallace said. “So we learn the parts, and we do it for three nights—Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.”

Official rehearsals for the Revival Center’s production begin on Saturday, Oct. 21, and around 50 people are involved in the play’s cast and production.

“That’s how we know it has to be the Lord that is walking through this because there’s no way you can remember all of that in just a couple of hours,” Wallace said. “We have a lot of fun with it. We really, really do.”

Wallace herself has been in “Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames” several times and has played various roles.

“I’ve gone to heaven once, I’ve been dragged down to hell and then I was an angel last time,” Wallace said. “There was this one role where I had the opportunity to play a mom. My daughter and I were out shopping and had gotten some new clothes, and we were on our way home and we were in a horrible car accident. My character realized what was going on, and had never explained to my child what heaven was about, so her child could go to heaven, but my character couldn’t.”

“Heaven’s Gate and Hell’s Flames” primarily consists of skits that follow this format, where an individual or a group of people die and find themselves ascending to heaven or condemned to hell based on their lives on earth and whether or not they are Christian.

According to its website, “Heaven’s Gate and Hell’s Flames” has been produced for roughly 43 years and more than 100 countries worldwide.

Despite popularity, the production has received criticism over the years for using “scare tactics” to convert people to the message of Christianity, along with its depictions of suicide, self-harm and the use of alcohol and drugs. However, despite the seriousness of the subject matter, many view the play as a necessary conversation that covers a series of real-life scenarios that are worthy of depiction and discussion.

The Vincent Revival Center’s production of “Heaven’s Gate and Hell’s Flames” will run for three nights first on Sunday, Oct. 22 at 6 p.m., then on Monday, Oct. 23 and Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. The play is free to attend, but refreshments will be available for purchase. Child care is available for children five and under.

“We just give parents a warning because some of the scenes, especially for those things that end in people being taken to Hell, are really graphic and can scare some smaller children,” Wallace said.

The post Vincent Revival Center plans 10th ever “Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames” appeared first on Shelby County Reporter.

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

The Helena Huskies may not have done much work over their bye week, but they did move up one spot in the Class 6A poll when the Week 8 rankings were released on Wednesday, Oct. 18, while the Thompson Warriors held firm at No. 2 in Class 7A and the Vincent Yellow Jackets received votes in Class 2A.

Helena moved up one spot to No. 6 in the Class 6A rankings thanks to 78 votes from the media. While the Huskies were on the bye last week, Parker’s knocked Mountain Brook back to the eighth spot with a win in their Week 8 matchup, which allowed Helena and Hartselle to each rise one place.

Helena will face Calera at home on Oct. 20 as it looks to improve on its 7-0 record. A win and a Benjamin Russell loss to Briarwood would clinch the region championship for the Huskies.

Thompson stayed at No. 2 in Class 7A rankings as it earned 171 votes, including one first place vote. The Warriors held on to their spot thanks to their 67-7 victory on the road over Oak Mountain. Thompson scored three touchdowns in the first three minutes to apply pressure early and walk away with the victory.

With the win over Oak Mountain, Thompson improved to 6-1 overall and 5-0 in region play. The defending state champions from the last four seasons can clinch their first region title since 2020 with a win over Tuscaloosa County on Oct. 20 in the Warriors’ final home game of the regular season.

Vincent received four votes from the media after the Yellow Jackets improved to 4-2 on the season. The Jackets have now won back-to-back games after losing twice in a row, with their most recent win coming over Woodland in Week 8.

Vincent will take on Isabella on the road on Oct. 20 with playoff implications at stake. Vincent, Isabella and Thorsby are all battling for the second through fourth seeds, and the Jackets will close out region play with matchups against both of those teams.

To see the full rankings, check out the list below:

CLASS 7A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Central-Phenix City (18); 7-0; 225
2. Thompson (1); 6-1; 171
3. Auburn; 6-1; 140
4. Mary Montgomery; 8-0; 137
5. Hewitt-Trussville; 6-2; 110
6. Dothan; 6-2; 91
7. Vestavia Hills; 5-2; 66
8. Enterprise; 5-2; 60
9. Baker; 6-2; 35
10. Austin; 6-2; 34

Others receiving votes: Sparkman (5-2) 8, Bob Jones (4-3) 3, James Clemens (5-3) 2, Opelika (4-4) 1.

CLASS 6A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Saraland (15); 8-0; 216
2. Clay-Chalkville (4); 7-0; 183
3. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa; 8-0; 149
4. Muscle Shoals; 7-0; 133
5. Parker; 7-1; 110
6. Helena; 7-0; 78
7. Hartselle; 6-2; 68
8. Mountain Brook; 5-2; 62
9. Oxford; 6-1; 39
10. Theodore; 5-2; 24

Others receiving votes: Mortimer Jordan (6-1) 7, Spanish Fort (6-2) 6, Center Point** (7-1) 4, Benjamin Russell (5-2) 2, Carver-Montgomery (6-2) 1, Hueytown (4-3) 1.

**–Record includes 1 forfeit win.

CLASS 5A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Gulf Shores (14); 8-0; 210
2. Ramsay (5); 6-2; 166
3. Central-Clay Co.; 7-0; 156
4. Pleasant Grove; 6-1; 132
5. Moody; 7-1; 110
6. Guntersville; 6-0; 97
7. Southside-Gadsden; 6-1; 48
8. Fairview; 7-0; 45
9. Leeds; 5-2; 24
10. Vigor*; 5-2; 22

Others receiving votes: Russellville (6-1) 21, Charles Henderson (4-3) 20, Demopolis (5-2) 8, Headland (6-1) 6, Holtville (6-1) 5, Scottsboro (6-1) 5, Faith-Mobile (4-3) 3, UMS-Wright** (4-3) 3, Elmore Co. (6-1) 2.

*–Record includes 1 forfeit loss. **–Record includes 1 forfeit win.

CLASS 4A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Andalusia (15); 8-0; 216
2. Cherokee Co. (1); 7-0; 164
3. Catholic-Montgomery; 8-0; 154
4. Jackson (2); 6-0; 144
5. West Morgan (1); 7-0; 113
6. Handley; 7-1; 91
7. Jacksonville; 7-1; 75
8. Corner; 7-0; 51
9. Bibb Co.; 7-1; 43
10. Oneonta; 5-2; 18

Others receiving votes: T.R. Miller (5-2) 5, Westminster-Huntsville (6-1) 5, BTW-Tuskegee (5-2) 2, American Christian (6-2) 1, Oak Grove (4-3) 1.

CLASS 3A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Mars Hill Bible (16); 8-0; 218
2. Mobile Christian (1); 8-0; 171
3. Madison Academy (2); 7-0; 153
4. Gordo; 7-1; 125
5. St. James; 6-2; 103
6. Thomasville; 6-0; 85
7. Sylvania; 6-1; 77
8. Geraldine; 6-1; 52
9. Houston Academy; 6-1; 38
10. Straughn; 6-1; 23

Others receiving votes: Lauderdale Co. (7-0) 19, Trinity (7-1) 10, W.S. Neal (6-1) 4, Fayette Co. (4-3) 2, Walter Wellborn (5-2) 2, Winfield (6-1) 1.

CLASS 2A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. B.B. Comer (13); 8-0; 207
2. Highland Home (2); 8-0; 171

3 (tie). Fyffe (3); 6-1; 147

3 (tie). Pisgah (1); 7-0; 147

5. Reeltown; 7-0; 118
6. Sulligent; 8-0; 93
7. Cottonwood; 6-0; 74
8. Locust Fork; 8-0; 54
9. Tanner; 6-2; 30
10. Goshen; 6-2; 14

Others receiving votes: St. Luke’s (6-1) 9, Luverne (6-2) 6, Vincent (6-2) 4, Hatton (6-1) 3, Lamar Co. (6-2) 3, Tuscaloosa Academy (5-2) 2, Collinsville (5-2) 1.

CLASS 1A

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Leroy (19); 6-0; 228
2. Elba; 7-0; 169
3. Sweet Water; 6-1; 141
4. Millry; 7-1; 132
5. Loachapoka; 7-0; 113
6. Lynn; 6-1; 98
7. Wadley; 6-1; 72
8. Coosa Christian*; 1-5; 32
9. South Lamar; 5-2; 25
10. Decatur Heritage**; 7-1; 18

Others receiving votes: Florala (6-1) 16, Georgiana (6-2) 12, Pickens Co. (5-3) 12, Hackleburg (6-1) 6, Addison (5-2) 3, Linden (4-2) 3, Maplesville (5-2) 3.

*–Record includes 4 forfeit losses. **–Record includes 1 forfeit win.

AISA

Team (first-place); W-L; Pts

1. Glenwood (18); 8-0; 225
2. Lowndes Academy (1); 8-0; 170
3. Lee-Scott; 7-1; 148
4. Chambers Academy; 7-1; 125
5. Banks Academy; 7-1; 107
6. Jackson Academy; 8-1; 97
7. Fort Dale Academy; 7-1; 93
8. Clarke Prep; 6-3; 47
9. Patrician; 5-3; 38
10. Wilcox Academy; 7-2; 17

Others receiving votes: Autauga Academy (5-3) 14, Crenshaw Christian (6-3) 2.

The post Helena moves up to No. 6, Thompson holds at No. 2, Vincent receives votes in Week 8 football rankings appeared first on Shelby County Reporter.