Local Career Tech Teacher Wins National Honor

Natalie Lavender, Health Sciences teacher at Pickens County College and Career Center in Carrollton, was awarded the Teacher of the Year in the Health Sciences division at the national conference meeting of the Association of Career and Technical Education held in San Antonio, Tex., on Nov. 29.

Natalie Lavender, Health Sciences teacher at Pickens County College and Career Center in Carrollton, was awarded the Teacher of the Year in the Health Sciences division at the national conference meeting of the Association of Career and Technical Education held in San Antonio, Tex., on Nov. 29.

BY GENA HUFF, Editor

Natalie Lavender, Health Science teacher at the Pickens County College and Career Center (PCCCC) in Carrollton, has been awarded Teacher of the Year in the Health Science division by a national organization for career technical educators known as the Association for Career and Technical Education.

Economic Injury and Disaster Loans Available

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and private nonprofit organizations located in Alabama as a result of rainfall and flooding from April 1 through June 30, 2018.

The loans are available in the following counties: Colbert, Franklin, Lamar, Lauderdale, Marion, Mobile, Pickens, and Washington in Alabama.

Commission Newcomer has Quarter-Mill Solution

Current Pickens County Commissioners, from left: District 4, Jerry Fitch; District 3, Drew Elmore; District 5, Mark Gray; District 1, Bobby Bain; and District 2, Bobby Ingram.

Current Pickens County Commissioners, from left: District 4, Jerry Fitch; District 3, Drew Elmore; District 5, Mark Gray; District 1, Bobby Bain; and District 2, Bobby Ingram.

BY GENA HUFF, Editor

The newly-formed Pickens County Commission, containing two newcomers in the form of District 2 Commissioner Bobby Ingram and District 5 Commissioner Mark Gray, met for their first administration meeting the morning of Nov. 27. After general business was conducted, District 4 Commissioner Jerry Fitch raised the issue of a new motor grader for each district, an issue he had brought to the Commission’s attention several times before.

Aliceville Council Hears Recommendations Regarding City Eyesores

Aliceville Council

The building on 3rd Avenue in Aliceville, formerly a funeral home and a Methodist church, is still waiting either for repair or demolition. The city may file suit against the property owners if some action to alleviate the problem isn’t promptly taken.

BY GENA HUFF, Editor

As far back as June 27, the Aliceville City Council has been working to get the former funeral home on 3rd Avenue either demolished or repaired by the owners.

Santa Makes Emergency Stop in Aliceville

Santa preferred his sunglasses after a bump to the head last Friday afternoon. After a few minutes (and a few cookies), Santa was back to himself and ready to finish preparing for Christmas.

Santa preferred his sunglasses after a bump to the head last Friday afternoon. After a few minutes (and a few cookies), Santa was back to himself and ready to finish preparing for Christmas.

BY GENA HUFF, Editor

Lively St. Nick had to make an emergency stop at the Aliceville Public Library last Friday afternoon. Apparently, Santa was doing a fly-over to gather coordinates for the many parades scheduled in Pickens County over the next couple of weeks. Rudolf, Santa’s favorite reindeer and GPS, had a malfunction due to some bad reindeer lettuce and ended up in an emergency “crash” landing close to the library.

Proper Taxidermy Essential for Mounting Trophy Kills

Michael Stevens of Hill Country Taxidermy shows a remount of a deer killed by his father. Stevens used the most current form for the mount which was sculpted by Ben Mears from Mississippi. The sculpt is anatomically correct and fits Southern deer “like a glove.”

Michael Stevens of Hill Country Taxidermy shows a remount of a deer killed by his father. Stevens used the most current form for the mount which was sculpted by Ben Mears from Mississippi. The sculpt is anatomically correct and fits Southern deer “like a glove.”

BY GENA HUFF, Editor

With deer hunting season now upon us, all the male and female hunters out there begin thinking of that big trophy buck. The one they can hang on the wall and reminisce about the wait and the kill.

Mounting a deer is no easy task and it is definitely not for the inexperienced. One local taxidermist sat down with me to discuss his process and experience mounting deer and other wildlife for display.

WAB’s Drew Wade Completes Executive Development Institute for Community Bankers

West Alabama Bank of Reform COO Drew Wade, right, receives his plaque for completing a rigorous 19-month leadership development program.

West Alabama Bank of Reform COO Drew Wade, right, receives his plaque for completing a rigorous 19-month leadership development program.

The Graduate School of Banking at Colorado (GSBC) is pleased to announce that Drew Wade, COO, West Alabama Bank, Reform, Ala., has graduated from the Executive Development Institute for Community Bankers® (EDI), a rigorous 19-month leadership development program for up-and-coming executive officers of community banks.

Elected Officials are Sworn into Office

Four of the five Commissioners were sworn in by Probate Judge John Paluzzi. From left: District 3 Commissioner Drew Elmore, District 5 Commissioner Mark Gray, District 1 Commissioner Bobby Bain, and District 2 Commissioner Bobby Ingram.

Four of the five Commissioners were sworn in by Probate Judge John Paluzzi. From left: District 3 Commissioner Drew Elmore, District 5 Commissioner Mark Gray, District 1 Commissioner Bobby Bain, and District 2 Commissioner Bobby Ingram.

BY GENA HUFF, Editor

The swearing in of elected officials in the Pickens County community occurred over the past couple of weeks, welcoming all those elected to their positions in an official capacity. Former Pickens County District Attorney Chris McCool was sworn in as the Court of Criminal Appeals Judge Place Number 2 on November 9 in Montgomery.

At the swearing in of the Commissioners on Nov. 14 at the Judicial Building in Carrollton, McCool was on hand to swear in District 4 Commissioner Jerry Fitch.

Carrollton Gets $350,000 Grant for Lagoon Project

From left: Senator Gerald Allen; Governor Kay Ivey; Carrollton Mayor Mickey Walker; Kenneth Boswell; and Cory Johnson, Director West Alabama Regional Commission.

From left: Senator Gerald Allen; Governor Kay Ivey; Carrollton Mayor Mickey Walker; Kenneth Boswell; and Cory Johnson, Director West Alabama Regional Commission.

Carrollton received the Community Block Development Grant for $350,000 for the wetland lagoon cell, for tertiary advanced treatment, at the waste-water treatment plant on Latham Street. 

Robotics Club Forms for its Inaugural Year at Career Center

Robotics Club

The Pickens County College and Career Center’s Robotics Club posed with their entry to Bevill State Community College’s BEST Robotics competition. (Photo was taken on Halloween day.) Front Row, from left: Collin Vang, GHS; Tori Pulliam, PCHS; Briana Harris, PCHS; Trishyla Means, PCHS; Jessica Phipps, GHS; Talaija Smith, AHS; Castella Sherrod, AHS; and Glenn Draper, PCHS. Back row, from left: Judson Stanfill, PA; Benjamin Stephens, GHS; and Wesley Junkins, GHS.

This year’s topic was Saving the Sea Turtles and Clean our Oceans.

Veterans Day: Honoring Those Who Served Since 1919

Brandon Garrison, left, and Brian Pearson, right, were recently honored as Veterans of the Month by the Foreign Wars Veterans Post 4767. World War II Veteran Ken Lucas, center, presented the awards.

Brandon Garrison, left, and Brian Pearson, right, were recently honored as Veterans of the Month by the
Foreign Wars Veterans Post 4767. World War II Veteran Ken Lucas, center, presented the awards.

The staff of the Pickens County Herald would like to thank all those who have served or are serving our great nation. We appreciate your sacrifices and honor you, not only on Veterans Day, but every day.

Acker / Whitney

Acker / Whitney

Acker / Whitney

Mike and LuAnn Acker of Carrollton are pleased to announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Hannah Leigh Acker, to Charles Joseph “CJ” Whitney, son of Jeffrey and Lea Whitney of Georgetown, Delaware.

Happy Halloween

Ghosts and ghouls greet commutors at the intersection of Hwy. 17 and Hwy. 82 in Reform. Citizens Glenda Adcock and Jacob Callahan voluntarily decorate the high-visible block of the city each year for the enjoyment of the city’s residents and passerbys.

Ghosts and ghouls greet commutors at the intersection of Hwy. 17 and Hwy. 82 in Reform. Citizens Glenda Adcock and Jacob Callahan voluntarily decorate the high-visible block of the city each year for the enjoyment of the city’s residents and passerbys.    

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