By Theadoris Morris|Staff Writer

Jemison Church of Christ, located on Highway 191 experienced a flood on the second floor of its church Friday night.

An estimate of approximately $500 worth of damage was done after a broken hose from a water fountain on the church’s second floor damaged the ceiling and Sheetrock, said the church’s minister Brian Funderburg.

The flood caused three inches of water on the floor and soaked through the ceiling and ran down the wall of the first floor, said Funderburg.

“The water soaked into the ceiling tiles and they fell in,” said Funderburg. “It was coming through the electrical sockets and light bulbs – the light bulbs were popping.”

Everything has already been repaired and cleaned in the church except for the replacement of the tiles, which is in the works.

“Everything was okay on Wednesday and we received the call Friday night, so we assumed it happened on Thursday,” said Funderburg. “We would like to give a special thanks to the police and fire departments for being there and for their help.”

By Drew Granthum | Staff Writer

Some people enjoy a fishing trip to get away from it all for a while. Other people choose to trail ride on all terrain vehicles to free their mind of their problems. Still others like a good game of poker with friends to ease the stress of a workweek.

Those who enjoy all three are in luck this weekend.

Minooka Park in Jemison will be hosting a combination poker run and fishing tournament Saturday, May 21. Event Coordinator Gerald Arrington said that the idea to have the two back-to-back came from the positive response to previous events.

“We’ve had several poker runs and [people] enjoyed them,” he said. “We had one fishing tournament last year, and everybody enjoyed doing it.”

For those unfamiliar with what a poker run is, the concept revolves around an organized group of motorcycle riders following a course and moving from checkpoint to checkpoint collecting markers.

After the riders have collected the markers from the five stations along the trail, they return to the starting line, where the five markers are exchanged for playing cards. The rider with the best poker hand wins the event.

“It’s not a race,” stressed Arrington. “It’s open to all ages, and everyone has an equal chance of winning.”

Prizes have yet to be decided, but there might be up to three places awarded, depending on the turnout.

The gates will open at 9 a.m., and the poker run will start at 10 a.m. and will run to 2 p.m. It will also be open to four-wheelers, ATVs, and side-by-side vehicles, such as off-road golf carts. The entry fee is $10 per vehicle, and all riders are required to wear a helmet, unless the entry has a roll cage.

Following the poker run will be the fishing tournament. Its concept is a little simpler.

“Biggest fish wins,” said Arrington. “We’ll have people on both sides of the lake weighing, and then once the weight is written down, the fish gets released.”

The entry fee for the tournament is $5, and will last from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Arrington said that the trails will be open till 8 p.m., and that even if someone doesn’t want to participate in the events to still come out.

“There’s plenty of area for picnic, and we’re hoping for a good crowd,” he said. “For people looking to make it a weekend, we still have plenty of room in the RV section.”

For more information, contact Arrington at 312-1376.

By Drew Granthum | Staff Writer

The Chilton County Lighthouse Cruisers will be hosting a benefit ride June 18 for fallen Jemison police officer Josh Newman’s family.

The idea for the ride came about after the success the Lighthouse Cruisers had with the benefit ride for Karli Chadwick, an Isabella student awaiting a kidney transplant, on April 2.

“A police officer [came up with the idea],” said Cruisers Vice President Ernie Ragsdale. “He asked about putting one on for [Officer Newman].

The ride will start with registration at 8 a.m., and will depart at 10 a.m. from the Jemison Municipal Complex. Ragsdale said that the details of the ride are still being worked out., but that the plan is to make the ride about 120 miles, round trip.

He also hopes to have a similar turnout to the ride for Karli Chadwick.

“I’m hoping it’ll be big, even bigger than the one we did for Karli,” he said. “And we had over 200 there.”

The entry fee is $25 per bike, and benefit’s will go to Newman’s family. Lunch will be served that afternoon.

For more information, call Ragsdale at 646-0338.

The Jemison City Council on Tuesday discussed potential sources of revenue for the city.

Mayor Eddie Reed told the council to consider a proposed contract for rental of the old city hall, which sits adjacent to the Jemison Municipal Complex.

Reed said the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles would occupy half of old city hall for two years at a rate of $575 a month, if the council approves the measure at its next meeting.

“The good news is we’re meeting with the gentleman that’s going to rent the other half (on Wednesday),” Reed said. “That’s another income for the city, and we’re grateful for that.”

The council met Tuesday instead of Monday, its usual meeting day, because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Partly because of the success of renting the city’s auditorium, Councilwoman Faye King suggested the city clean out and rent the rescue building.

“It’s sitting there; we might as well make money off everything we can,” King said.

King also recommended the city purchase tablecloths for use in the auditorium. Renters could also rent the tablecloths; the council agreed it would be necessary to charge to compensate for having to clean the tablecloths.

In her final money-producing idea, King asked the council to vote to have a certified letter sent to two former firefighters, asking they repay money the city spent for them to attend a training course.

The council agreed the men had not met requirements put in place before the city agreed to spend the money.

The city paid $750 for each of the two men for them to attend the training.

In other business, the council:

•Allowed Fire and Rescue Department Chief John Dennis to spend up to $10,000 on renovations to the city’s fire station.
Dennis said he wants to turn some existing space into a dormitory and also upgrade the station’s bathroom facilities.

“Our plan is to eventually have people there 24 hours a day, and this is helping us move toward that,” Dennis said.

•Approved Nick Barnett to serve as a reserve police officer, based on the recommendation of Deputy Chief Marc McMinn.

The city of Jemison is changing the route for its annual Christmas Parade.

This year’s parade, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 4 at 2 p.m., will line up at 1 p.m. in the Jemison High School parking lot as usual. However, the parade will stay solely on U.S. Highway 31, traveling south from the high school and ending at Jemison First Baptist Church.

In past years, the parade turned off of 31 and circled back to the school.

“The old route caused us to have to cross the railroad tracks at two different locations,” said Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer. “It’s always been my fear that a float or some other vehicle participating in the parade would get hung up on the tracks. We have also always dealt with the problem of the front of the parade catching the rear and the parade bottling up and coming to a standstill. This new route will eliminate those two things for sure, and I think will present a much safer and enjoyable event for the people and for the parade participants.”

Spectators are encouraged to occupy both sides of Highway 31 from just below the school all the way to Jemison Florist. This will allow those in the parade who do not need to go back to the high school to simply continue south on U.S. 31 to their destinations, Fulmer said.

Thorsby’s Christmas Parade is being held at 4 p.m. that afternoon, and many participants in the Jemison parade go on to join Thorsby’s parade as well.

“This will allow them to continue from our parade to Thorsby’s with not much trouble if any,” Fulmer added. “This new route is 4-tenths of a mile shorter than the old route.”

Jemison City Clerk Sheila Hogge is helping the city move forward.

Hogge, who started July 19, has put in place initiatives to help Jemison’s city council make more informed decisions.

Before every council meeting, Hogge provides council members with a list of expenses due in the next 30 days, along with what funds the monies will come from.

Jemison Mayor Eddie Reed and other council members have raved during meetings about being able to see such a detailed expense report before voting to “pay the bills,” as is the customary next-to-last step of a council meeting—right before the vote to adjourn.

Hogge is a 1971 Jemison graduate and a 1975 graduate of Jacksonville State University, where she studied accounting.

The clerk worked at Brown Moulding, which is now Woodgrain Distribution, in Montevallo for 33 years before leaving for the Jemison post.

Hogge said she has had to adjust from a corporate position to working for a municipal entity.

“With corporate, you’re dealing with one set of books, but there are different accounts with municipal accounting,” Hogge said. “You’re also dealing with the public, and I’ve enjoyed that.

“When they need help with people bringing in their water bills, I help out there.”

Hogge said she also enjoys working in Jemison’s new Municipal Complex and the help and encouragement she received from Reed and other officials.

“We’re proud of what Mrs. Hogge has done,” Reed said. “She has brought some fresh ideas to the table that are working out very well.”

Hogge and her husband, Chuck, have two children, Leah Wadkins and Heath Hogge, and four grandchildren.

By Scott Mims

The Jemison Lady Panthers swept the Thorsby Lady Rebels Monday night, 25-12 and 25-8.

Thorsby was first to put points on the board, but Jemison caught up and was soon off to an early lead. The second set was tied 5-5 at one point, but the Lady Panthers never lost their momentum and secured another win.

“Right now, we have some people out of position because we’re hurt,” Jemison coach Leighsa Robinson said. “We’re having to really communicate on the floor and gel well.”

While younger players stepped up for the Panthers, Thorsby senior Kendra Dawson served in place of fellow senior Holly Smith. Dawson’s performance Monday night drew praise from both coaches.

“I thought she did a good job, and the team did a good job getting the ball to their setter,” Robinson said.

The Lady Panthers were 43 for 45 from the service line with Hallie Amos, Haley Smitherman and Morgan Posey all serving 100 percent. Tanya Liveoak was 5 for 6 with 1 ace.

Emily Smithey had 9 digs; Kasie Wells racked up 6 assists, 4 kills and 2 blocks; Denton Ellison made 4 kills; Kortney Robinson had 2 blocks and a kill; and Ashley Evans had 4 digs and 2 kills.

For Thorsby, Dawson was credited with 6 assists and Desiree Evans had 5 digs.

“At times tonight we looked very good,” said Thorsby coach Ginger Williams, adding that consistency is the team’s biggest goal.

Thorsby won their junior varsity match against Jemison, 25-12 and 25-18, and the Thorsby Middle School team won two out of three games, 25-17, 21-25 and 15-12.

The Jemison Lady Panthers scored a home court victory over rival Chilton County High School Lady Tigers on Tuesday, 25-16, 25-21, 19-25 and 25-17.

Tanya Liveoak was 24 for 25 serving for the Lady Panthers with 4 aces, 10 digs and 2 kills.

Kaysie Wells was 17 for 18 serving with 15 assists and 4 kills, while Morgan Posey and Emily Smithey had 7 and 10 digs, respectively.

The Panthers’ Kortney Robinson and Shelby Griffin each had 8 kills and a combined 8 blocks.

“I thought we were slow starting, but we picked up the pace a little bit,” Jemison coach Leighsa Robinson said. “Right now we’re still making way too many mistakes, and we’ve got to be more consistent in order to compete.”

Robinson said that despite the team’s victory, there is still room for much improvement.

“Our goal is to improve every single set and every single match. Until we do that, I don’t think this team will be satisfied,” she said.

For CCHS, Lauren Stewart scored 6 digs, 3 kills and 3 blocks; Rachel Johnson had 3 kills and Renee Lewis made 5 blocks.

“We need to work together more as a team and fight for every point,” CCHS coach Misty Jones said.

By Scott Mims

Chilton County Sheriff’s Deputies and Clanton Police have arrested a husband and wife team suspected in a string of burglaries in the Clanton, Jemison, Calera, rural Chilton County and Autauga County areas.
Quantez Nathan Perry and Sonya Denise Perry, both of Birmingham, were arrested on Wednesday, Aug. 4 following a short foot pursuit and scuffle with law enforcement officers.
Quantez Perry was arrested leaving the scene of a residential burglary located at 847 Lake Mitchell Road in Clanton, according to Clanton Police. A passerby had reportedly become suspicious and dialed 9-1-1, which led to the arrest.
Cpt. Erick Smitherman with the sheriff’s department was the first officer on the scene. Upon arriving at the residence, he noticed a back door had been forced open. The male suspect exited the door and a foot pursuit ensued, and he was apprehended close to the residence.
Sonya Perry was arrested at the Lake Mitchell Exxon. Both offenders were armed at the time of arrest.
“It just happened that we had people in the area and the response time was good,” Chilton County Sheriff Kevin Davis said. “We are appreciative of the help from the citizen who made the 911 call.”
Davis also commended other agencies involved, which included Clanton PD, Jemison PD, Calera PD and the Autauga County Sheriff’s Department.
“It was good police work between all agencies to bring them to justice,” he said.
Detectives with Clanton Police Department have signed 29 warrants on the two listed offenders stemming from seven burglaries within Clanton city limits. The bonds have been set at $260,000 for each defendant on these cases. Both were charged with seven counts of burglary and theft of property, and Quantez Perry was also charged with one count receiving stolen property for being in possession of a stolen firearm.
Clanton Police Chief Brian Stilwell said Sonya Perry has been cooperative with law enforcement.
“(She) has told detectives that they were planning on going out like Bonnie and Clyde,” Stilwell said, adding, “I am glad no one was hurt. The sheriff’s deputies and police officers did an outstanding job making this arrest with only minor injuries to Mr. Perry.”
The couple also face 22 total charges (11 each) for crimes in the Jemison area ranging from burglary to theft of property to criminal mischief. Jemison PD has set $220,000 bond on each.
“It’s unfortunate that things like this happen, but they do,” said Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer, recognizing all agencies involved. “It’s not uncommon that we get out-of-towners. The majority of our (incidents) were within a 2-mile radius of the Interstate.”
Jemison Police are in the process of recovering the stolen property so that it can be returned to the victims.
Meanwhile, much property was recovered from a Birmingham residence after Chilton County Sheriff’s Investigator Shane Lockhart presented a search warrant to a Jefferson County judge, who approved the warrant.
Both Davis and Fulmer indicated that further charges are pending.
“Of course, it doesn’t stop there,” Fulmer said. “You’ve got to connect all these cases and do a lot more investigation.”

By Scott Mims

Lynn Russell of Clanton and Makenzie Johnson of Jemison may not look much alike on the outside, but they are traveling the same journey together — the long, and often painful, journey of arthritis.

Russell, 46, was first diagnosed 10 years ago but first felt symptoms in her early 20s. She has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Johnson, 10, was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis in July 2008 but experienced symptoms as early as age 3.

This year, Russell is the adult honoree of the Chilton County Arthritis Walk, and Johnson is the junior honoree. Both have found that despite their disease, they can make a difference in the worldwide search for a cure.

“I’m honored to be chosen as this year’s adult honoree,” Russell said. “If I can help educate people that arthritis is not just a disease of fingers and toes, I think more people in the community will want to be involved.”

Russell has rheumatoid arthritis, which can inflame fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulders and other joints. But the pain goes deeper than people tend to think, she said.

“The primary focus is on joint pain, but it also affects the organs in your body, and that’s what a lot of people don’t know about,” she explained.

Ankylosing spondylitis affects areas all up and down the spine — the neck, chest, hips, shoulders and knees.

“As the disease progresses, your joints and vertebrae fuse together and it limits your movement…and, of course, the pain,” Russell said.

Her first symptoms were periodic flare-ups in her joints, but the doctor would give her steroids and the pain would subside. Sometimes she would even go several years in between flare-ups.

Then, one day in mid-September in 2000, it hit hard. Russell recalls severe pain in her elbows and down her arms, and a feeling that made her sick all over. She described it as being “like pneumonia” but unlike anything she had felt before. She had to stay in bed for several weeks.

“Since that day, every minute of every day has been a lot of pain,” she said.

For about 20 years, Russell worked at BellSouth as a project manager for computer systems. But once her lungs became inflamed and she developed double pneumonia, she was unable to work.

Aside from the pain, perhaps the most difficult part has been her partial loss of independence. For example, the kids would have to accompany her to the store.

“I couldn’t lift a ketchup bottle,” she said.

As her daily struggle continues, Russell realizes that although she cannot actually walk in the Arthritis Walk, she can be an important part of the effort.

“I am asking my friends and local businesses to help,” she said.

Meanwhile, Johnson continues to improve year after year. Aggressive treatment has helped her get to the point where she does not look like a child with arthritis. In fact, just this past week, her doctor took her off her shots.

“He (the doctor) has not seen any active arthritis in her joints in almost a year,” said her mother, Rhonda Johnson.

The upcoming fifth grader at Jemison Middle just attended Camp MASH (Make Arthritis Stop Hurting) at Camp Grace in Mobile, a camp for kids with different types of juvenile arthritis, for the second consecutive year. There she was able to participate in activities like horseback riding, paddle boating, arts and crafts and even a floating obstacle course known as “Wibit.”

Johnson’s family is selling candles with Makenzie’s picture on them to help support the Alabama Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. All proceeds will be funneled through Team Makenzie at this year’s Chilton County Arthritis Walk.

“It’s her favorite scent, which is lemon drops,” her mother said.

The candles are $7 apiece. To order a candle, contact the Johnsons at (205) 907-9114 or by e-mail at rhonjohn64@aol.com.

This year’s Walk is set for Saturday, Oct. 16 at 9 a.m. in front of Chilton Medical Center. The campaign kickoff date is Thursday, Aug. 26 at noon in the Alabama Power Conference Center in Clanton.

For more information, call the Alabama Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation at (205) 979-5700.