I am writing this letter in hopes of encouraging Chilton County residents to take advantage of a wonderful resource we have available located here in Chilton County.
I, along with several other committee members, recently had the opportunity to plan a faculty/staff Christmas party for Jemison Middle School. When original plans fell through as to the “where,” I immediately decided to try to contact Minooka Park in Jemison about the possibility of hosting it out there.
I was out there last December to check out the grounds for a professional development activity for our teachers, so I knew it would be a great place to go. Plus, all of the people I work with who had not been out there in many years would have the perfect opportunity to revisit an “old friend.”
Gerald Arrington, the park manager, was extremely helpful in assisting us plan our party. Not only did he help us get everything organized but accommodated our requests for seating.
He decorated the office and rooms where we would be having the party.
We had a nice, warm fireplace inside and even enjoyed the spacious deck with the aid of fire pits we brought. All we had to do was show up.
Not being from Chilton County originally, I do not have the fondness of Minooka Park that some of my people who are Chilton County natives hold. I do not know what it looked like before the restoration, but I can honestly say that is it something to behold now.
I encourage all of you to take advantage of the many resources Minooka Park has to offer. Not only can you walk miles and miles of trails, ride ATVs, or just enjoy the beautiful scenery, but you, too, can rent the building for a nominal fee.
I feel confident in saying that Mr. Arrington welcomes anyone who desires to rent the facilities at Minooka.
Our faculty and staff thoroughly enjoyed having our party out at Minooka Park and are already planning on having our next one at the end of the year out there as well.
Thanks to all of the people who worked on restoring Minooka Park, who work to maintain it, and those who are constantly striving to improve it because it is truly one of Chilton County’s treasures!
If you have not visited Minooka lately or in years like so many of my fellow teachers, I hope you will add it to your to do list very soon.
– Shonda Copen, Jemison Middle School

By David Seale

The Jemison Middle School basketball season got underway Nov. 5 and Nov. 7 at the Jemison Middle Tip Off Classic for boys. After dropping the first game to Millbrook, the Panthers rebounded on Saturday to defeat Clanton Middle.
The full season began when both the boys and girls teams traveled to Holtville and left with two wins.  For the boys, John Underwood led the Panthers with 10 points and eight rebounds, with Kortlin Zeigler adding nine points and B.J. Kornegay tossing in seven.
The girls were led by 7th grader Jennifer Paschal’s five points and three others with four points, giving Jemison the 20-12 win.
Fortune turned the other way when JMS went to Dallas County to take on Martin Middle School.  While the boys lost, the bright spot was the 20-point performance by B.J. Kornegay, along with Randy Satterfield’s seven rebounds. The Panthers lost by only one point.
The girls we led by Yasmine Stoudamire’s two points and eight rebounds as they also took the defeat.
The Panthers returned to their winning ways in their home opener against Marbury on Nov. 16.
Laura Vinzant paced the girls with six points and four rebounds, and Kaitlyn Caudle added five points as the Lady Panthers dominated the Bulldogs 23-15, and leading 12-0 at the half.
The boys were even more powerful as they trounced Marbury 58-26. Satterfield led all scorers with 16 points and had seven rebounds and five assists. Zeigler and Underwood were also in double figures, with 12 and points, respectively, as the Panthers never trailed.
Both teams will host rematches after Thanksgiving, with Holtville visiting on Nov. 30 and Martin Middle coming for a rematch on Dec. 1. The action for both evenings will start at 5 p.m. at the Jemison High School gymnasium.

– David Seale is the assistant principal of Jemison Middle School.

By David Seale | Jemison Middle School

On a perfect night for a homecoming, Jemison Middle School finished its football season in winning fashion as the school crowned its Homecoming Princess.
Quarterback Jacob Hatch piloted the Panthers to a 28-0 shutout of the visiting Marbury Bulldogs, giving the school a final season record of 5-2. The Panthers were also sparked by Randy Satterfield’s interception return and catch for touchdowns, as well as scores by Hatch and running back Kortlin Zeigler.
Before the teams squared off, JMS named Kasey Killingsworth its 2009 Homecoming Princess. Escorted by her step-father  and crowned by 2008 Princess Brooke Glazner, Killingsworth joined seventh grader Savannah Barefield, sixth grader Kelsey Mitchell and fifth grader Kelsea Trice as members of the Homecoming court.
In other JMS news, JMS will join other schools in the county by celebrating Red Ribbon Week this week.  Students wore blue jeans on Tuesday to recognize that “drugs give me the blues”; on Wednesday, students will bring a canned food item and wear shirts that acknowledge their youth group, hometown, or local business to celebrate Community Pride Day; Thursday is Red Ribbon day when students will wear red; and Friday is Team Spirit Day, when students will wear jerseys of their favorite team.
“This week is an excellent time for students to not just recognize the harm drugs can do to their bodies but also see how great a drug-free life can be,” Jemison Middle School counselor Sherry Parrish said.
Parrish also said that the involvement and initiative of the school’s FCCLA has made a big positive impact.
Also in news from Panther Country, fifth grader Kayla Lowery won her division in the Chilton County Farm-City Poster Contest sponsored by 4-H. Hers was chosen from hundreds of entries county-wide and will represent Chilton County at the state level.
Lowery and her reading teacher, Nancy Sewell, will be recognized at the Farm-City Banquet on November 12.
Finally, JMS students voted for Student Government Association officers last week. The new SGA President is Wendy Spigener. She is joined by Vice-President Griffin Street, Secretary Shelbie Robinson, and Treasurer Macey Thompson.

– David Seale is an assistant principal at Jemison Middle School.

By David Seale | Jemison Middle School

The homecoming court for Jemison Middle School’s Oct. 20 homecoming game against Marbury has been announced.
Eighth grade representatives are Savannah Brackin, Yoandro Camarillo, Denten Ellison, Kasey Killingsworth and Morgan Faith Lucas.
Seventh grade representatives are Amelia Baker, Savannah Basefield, Lauren Crosby, Ashley Dutton and Shelbie Robinson.
The sixth grade is represented by Meghan Jackson, Kelsey Mitchell, Kelsea Smith, Ashley Ward and Anna Wilson.
And the fifth grade court members are Tammy Marie Edwards, Courtney Higgins, Jessica Paschal, Kali Faith Trice and Kelsea Hope Trice.
In other Jemison Middle School news, the football team improved its record to 4-2 with a heart-pounding 28-24 victory over Calera on Oct. 13.  Led by Randy Satterfield’s 120 all-purpose yards and acrobatic catches, defensive standout Tyler “Hit Man” Henderson, and quarterback Jacob Hatch, the Panthers ensured themselves another winning season.
Scoring touchdowns were Keyshawn Jemison, Austin Chapman and Kortlin Zeigler, who reached the end zone twice, including a game clinching 40-yard run in the fourth quarter to seal the win.
“I was really proud of how the guys stayed in the game and kept their composure, even when Calera made a run towards the end of the game,” head coach James Morrison said. “That showed a lot of character and gives us confidence going into our last game.”
The Panthers finish the season Oct. 20 against the Marbury Bulldogs.

– David Seale is an assistant principal at Jemison Middle School.

By David Seale

Jemison Middle School commended several teachers with its Employee of the Month award. For the month of August, 8th grade teachers Karen Hayes and Christy Popwell were given the honor.  According to the nominating staff member, Hayes and Popwell went “above and beyond their job descriptions” in preparing the school’s Continuous Improvement Plan over the summer.  Their efforts allowed JMS to receive Title I funding.

For the month of September, special education teacher and department head Laurie Marcus received the EOM award. “For [Marcus], school doesn’t end at 3 o’clock,” according to the teacher who nominated her. Along with working with several teachers every day and with students with needs, “she expresses a positive outlook on learning, and passes it on to her students.”

The EOM for October is 6th grade reading teacher Sandra Millard. An exceptional educator in every sense of the word, Millard is “a great listener, an honest team player, and the 6th grade leader when the grade level is planning,” states the nominating teacher. The former cheerleading sponsor and current Public Relations Committee member, Millard has also been instrumental in helping new teachers adapt to JMS every year.

 “We are very fortunate to have such an incredible staff,” Jemison Middle School principal Mark Knight said. “And these four are perfect examples of our school’s commitment to student learning.”

In other JMS news, the Jemison Middle School football team scored its largest margin of victory of the season on Sept. 29 at Marbury, winning 44-14. Tyler Henderson, Randy Satterfield, Austin Chapman, John Underwood, and Jacob Hatch all had touchdowns, with Satterfield rolling up 145 all-purpose yards and Chapman gaining 90 yards rushing. The team played Calera at home on Oct. 13 and will finish the season with its homecoming game against Marbury on Oct. 20.

The JMS volleyball team finished the season exceptionally strong with a third, dominating win over Thorsby on Sept. 28 and a key away victory against Isabella on Oct. 1, avenging their in-school match loss from earlier in the season. The young team finished the year 6-6, an impressive record from a group with only two returning starters.

– David Seale is an assistant principal at Jemison Middle School.

By Ansley Bittle

By David Seale

By David Seale | Jemison Middle School

In coach language, “rebuilding year” is usually just a euphemism for “not going to win much because we’re young and inexperienced”.

And when one looks at the Jemison Middle School volleyball roster, he or she will see only three returning players from last year’s squad and a lot of 7th graders.

But “rebuilding” teams do not go into both Thorsby and Marbury and post impressive road victories as the Panther volleyball team did last week.

At the Thorsby/Sylacauga tri-match on Sept. 1, JMS took Sylacauga to a third game in a losing effort but bounced back with a win over host Thorsby.

According to coach Aubrey Sharit, every single player on the team not only played but contributed to the win.

“Every girl made a difference,” Sharit said. “It was great to see the captains step up and lead the younger players. This was a total team victory.”

The winning ways continued on Sept. 3 when JMS traveled to Marbury and won the match three games to one. Eighth graders and captains Denton Ellison and Morgan Lucas each had kills in the match. Again, the performance impressed Sharit.

“This team of mostly 7th graders works hard and they never quit,” she said. “They always are asking questions and listening for adjustments when things get tough in a game. I believe that by sticking with the basics and keeping these girls mentally prepared, we can have a winning season.”

The 2-2 Panther volleyball team will play Chelsea and Montevallo at Montevallo on Sept. 14.

The JMS football team dropped a heartbreaker on Sept. 1 in their first home game against Clanton Middle, 22-7. 

Leading the Panther charge was Austin Chapman, who turned a short pass into a 90-yard touchdown, outrunning everyone in a white jersey on his way to the end zone and, coupled with the extra point, gave JMS a temporary lead.

Leading the Panther defense was 7th grader Tyler Henderson, who recorded 10 tackles, and 8th grader Kortlin Zeigler, who had four.

The JMS football team will play Thursday, Sept. 10 at Holtville, where head coach James Morrison believes the Panthers can notch their first victory.

– David Seale is the assistant principal at Jemison Middle School.

By David Seale

Jemison Middle School will be launching a huge fundraiser Aug. 27. 

It is in conjunction with Great American Opportunities and involves magazine subscription renewals. 

Principal Mark Knight is optimistic the fundraiser will be a success.

“This is a very easy fundraiser because it doesn’t involve selling magazines but getting people to renew the ones they already have. And if each student can do just a couple, it will make a real difference since the school gets a percentage of the renewal profits,” Knight said.

Because of state cuts in teacher supplies, professional development, technology and books, Knight said this event is necessary to maintain the high standards the school has set.

“The money we make will go directly into our general fund to offset those cuts. Even things like copy paper and ink cartridges for printers are going to be tough to buy without the state money we usually get. We know money’s tight for everyone, but if each student can do a little, it will add up to a lot,” Knight said.

Information packets will be given to students on Thursday to take home to their parents.

In other school news, the Jemison Middle School fall athletic schedule is ready to kick it into high gear.  Or spike it, as the case may be.

The JMS volleyball team will host its first home match Aug. 31 against Isabella at the JHS gymnasium at 4:30 p.m. 

Coach Aubrey Sharit is excited to get the new season started: “This is a young group with just three returning players from last year’s team. That means a lot of seventh graders will be getting some significant playing time. We’re ready to play a real opponent after a summer of conditioning and camp with just inner-squad scrimmages.”

Morgan Lucas, one of the three JMS volleyball captains, said, “We can’t wait for the first match.  We’re young, but we know we can win this year.”

The JMS football team will also host its first home game the same week when it takes on the Clanton Middle School Tigers on Sept. 1. The new JMS coaching staff is fired up about the Panthers hitting some helmets of a different color.

“We’ve got a hungry group this year,” head coach James Morrison said. “They’ve worked for it. Hot summer practices, long afternoons. And still, they want more. This year’s team will surprise and impress a lot of people in the area.”

Joining Morrison on the sidelines will be Chris Baker, Steve Karn, and Ty Riggins.  

The award-winning JMS cheerleading and dance teams will be performing at the football game as well.  The JMS-CMS game will start at 6 pm at the JHS football. stadium.

– David Seale is assistant principal at Jemison Middle School.