By Stephen Dawkins | Assistant Managing Editor

Cody Carroll’s performance in the classroom and on the baseball field would give no indication of an obstacle he’s had to overcome.

During the 2010 school year, his junior year, Carroll was hospitalized for six days with an illness doctors have been unable identify.

“We still don’t know what was wrong,” Carroll said.

Despite having to make up many days worth of work and missing valuable working out with his baseball teammates, Carroll excelled in both endeavors.

He is ranked in the top 10 in his graduating class academically, is a class salutatorian and was the ace pitcher on the THS baseball team that made the school’s first ever appearance in the semifinal round of the Class 2A state playoffs.

Carroll also played basketball for the Rebels.

Because of his perseverance in overcoming difficulties, Carroll was the winner of the Area 7, Region 4 Bryant-Jordan Student Achievement Award and honored at the Bryant-Jordan banquet.

As regional winner, Carroll was awarded a $2,500 scholarship to be used toward the school of his choice.

By Stephen Dawkins

In a little more than a year, Warren Lee has gone from knowing nothing about BMX to being one of the sport’s up-and-comers.

Warren’s father, Larry, said the relative ease of getting involved makes bicycle motocross an ideal activity for kids like Warren, and Clanton is an ideal location for aspiring BMX riders because the city sits between tracks in Prattville and Oak Mountain.

Warren, 8 years old and a Thorsby student, got started in BMX because of a cousin, but it didn’t take long for Warren to make the sport his own.

“He had just got a bike from a pawn shop,” Larry Lee said. “It was an old bike, a ’99 model or something. He went out there on that bike and won his first race.”

Warren’s first race was at the Fountain City track in Prattville, where he practices often. He has since won national competitions in Lexington, S.C., and Peachtree City, Ga., but Lee made a name for himself by finishing fourth in his division, 8 Expert, at the President’s Cup in Columbus, Ohio, a event that drew more than 1,000 competitors.

Warren will next compete in the “Indy indoors” competition on Jan. 30 in Indianapolis. His long-term goals are to make the main event at the Grand Nationals (he would have to finish in the top 8 of his division), and to ride the Olympic training track in California.

Still, Warren’s motivation is simple.

“I just like riding my bike,” he said, “and the hills make it even more fun.”

Lee has trained with Barry Nobles, a pro from Wetumpka, but Nobles has moved to California to practice for the 2012 Olympics.

Larry Lee said most people don’t know BMX is an Olympic sport, and also that some colleges and universities are starting teams and offering scholarships.

Along with the travel and meeting new people with similar interests, the potential for a future in the sport is a reason to get involved, Larry Lee said, but BMX success isn’t achieved easily.

“You kind of have to take a leap of faith,” he said. “You’ve got to wreck a few times to get good at it.”

The season opener at Fountain City is scheduled for Feb. 12. Anyone interested in getting involved should visit fountaincitybmx.com.

A former Miss Peach is now Miss Mississippi USA.

Thorsby native Keeley Patterson, now living in Starkville, Miss., and attending Mississippi State University, won that state’s precursor to the Miss USA pageant, which is part of the Miss Universe pageant.

Patterson competed in Miss Peach pageants for 13 years before winning the crown in 2008 and said the local pageants prepared her for the competition of a state level pageant and for the responsibility that comes with winning one.

“If anything, I was taught never to give up from that,” Patterson said. “And once I won, getting to meet the public, always being on my toes and ready to speak, representing Chilton County—it definitely prepared me.”

Patterson also won the 2009 Miss Alabama Teen USA pageant.

She is a sophomore studying marketing at MSU.

“This year marks the 60th anniversary for the Miss Mississippi USA pageant, and our new Miss Mississippi USA, Keeley Patterson, will advance to the nationally televised 2011 Miss USA pageant on NBC,” Kim Greenwood, executive director of Greenwood Productions, said in a press release. “All of the winners are receiving a plethora of prizes including wardrobe, jewelry, and modeling opportunities. Additionally, the winners of Miss Mississippi USA and Miss Mississippi Teen USA will receive scholarships and other prizes.”

The Miss Mississipi USA pageant was held Nov. 6 at Harrah’s Casino in Tunica, Miss., and the Miss USA pageant will be held in April.

Patterson said the response from proud friends and relatives back home has been “overwhelming.”

“I didn’t expect that,” she said. “I think it’s important to remember where you came from. Chilton County will always be my home, no matter what state I’m representing.”

By Stephen Dawkins

Parents of Thorsby students are concerned about the future of the school, and they will have the opportunity Thursday to ask about it.

The three candidates for Chilton County superintendent of education will take questions at Thorsby’s second parental involvement meeting of the year, scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in the school auditorium.

The monthly meetings, which are open to anyone interested in education at Thorsby, have replaced the school’s parent organization, a club with a fee required for membership.

“We’re just trying to educate the community a little more about how schools are funded and how decisions are made,” Thorsby Principal Russ Bryan said.

More than 900 students are enrolled at Thorsby, making it the county’s largest single campus. So, Bryan said parents are anxious to know what direction the superintendent hopefuls would take.

“The No. 1 question I’ve been hearing since the last meeting is, they want to know plans for the future of Thorsby School,” Bryan said. “We can hold what we’ve got—we can house the students we have now—but what’s the future?”

The school uses two mobile classrooms, but Bryan said those are for part-time instruction. But if the school took on more students, more space would be necessary.

Provision of basic school supplies is also an issue, said Pam Price, who organized this month’s meeting.

“Last year, my child did not have a textbook in any of her classes—that’s why I got involved,” Price said.

Questions at the forum will come from audience members and will be screened by a panel that will include Thorsby First Baptist Pastor Von McQueen and retired teachers Jerry Jones and Charlotte Kelley. Candidates will not know what questions will be asked beforehand.

The parental involvement meeting will also feature a cake auction, with proceeds to benefit the school. “Dollar” Bill Lawson of Birmingham radio station 102.5 The Bull will help with that portion of the meeting and will even bake a pound cake to be auctioned off.

The parental involvement group has already helped purchase new curtains for the Thorsby auditorium and will also implement the Partners in Education program at the school.

Meeting dates and locations could vary each month, Bryan said, to keep open the option of having different activities—a play put on by a class, for example. Last month, about 40 attendees went over testing guidelines.

“We just need more community involvement,” Price said.

Thorsby School this year has instituted “parental involvement meetings” in place of the typical parent-teacher organization used at most schools—and at Thorsby in the past.

The idea is an interesting one: instead of requiring membership in a club, why not invite anyone interested in school affairs to an open meeting? It’s too early—this week’s meeting will be only the second of the year—to determine whether this format will better serve the school, but those involved with the meetings are off to a good start.

At the meeting this week, scheduled for 6 p.m. at the school auditorium, Thorsby community members will have the opportunity to hear from the three candidates for Chilton County superintendent of education: Democrat Jason Griffin, Republican Dave Hayden and Independent Louise Pitts.

The candidates will visit Thorsby’s parental involvement meeting to take part in a forum. Audience members will submit questions through a panel, which will make sure the question is legitimate.

The superintendent hopefuls won’t know which questions are coming, which should make their responses especially telling. According to people in tune with the community, Thorsby parents and teachers want to know what is planned for their school, which is bursting at the seams as the county’s largest single campus.

Sounds like the meeting will be productive, and we hope that continues to be the case.

“We’re just trying to educate the community a little more about how schools are funded and how decisions are made,” Thorsby Principal Russ Bryan said.

As long as people show up like they should, Bryan’s goal is being accomplished.

By Ben Flanagan

North Chilton County schools are preparing for the 2010-11 year by holding orientations to allow students to see their class schedules early, visit with teachers and fill out paperwork ahead of time.

Jemison High School will hold several orientation sessions for students next week, beginning Monday, July 26 at 6-7:30 p.m. for grade eight. Grade 12 will meet on Tuesday at 5-6:30 p.m., and grade 11 at 6:30-8 p.m. that same evening. Grade 10 will meet on Thursday, July 29 at 5-6:30 p.m. followed by grade 9 at 6:30-8 p.m. On Wednesday, July 28, JHS will hold a new student orientation from 9 a.m. to noon. All students must have a parent or guardian with them to register. Students can provide family contact information as well as check-out information, which indicates who can check students out of school for illness or emergency situations. Students will also receive their class schedules at orientation, and they can purchase lockers for $10.

Jemison Middle School will hold an open house from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 6 for registration where parents can meet their teachers and parents can fill out any necessary paperwork. They are also invited to tour the new facility. Students are required to rent lockers this year at a $5 cost. They will not be allowed to carry backpacks during the day.

Jemison Elementary School will hold orientations on Aug. 3 for kindergarten at 6 p.m. and first grade at 7 p.m. They will hold orientation on Aug. 5 for second grade at 6 p.m., for third grade at 6:30 p.m. at fourth grade at 7 p.m.

Thorsby School will hold a new student registration meeting Aug. 2-3 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1-3 p.m. in the counselor’s office. Orientation for all students will take place on Aug. 5 at 6 p.m. in the auditorium. Students can bring school supplies and purchase lockers for $10.

From Staff Reports

The Chilton County Board of Education approved employees for the 2010-2011 school year Monday afternoon at its monthly meeting.

The following individuals at North Chilton County schools were approved:

•Jemison Elementary: Counselor and Media Specialist Jared Hood, Elementary Teacher Brandi Bean, Elementary Teacher Samantha McClendon, Elementary Teacher Melissa Short.

•Jemison Intermediate: Cafeteria Assistant Manager Alyson Glass (transfer), Media Specialist Karen Hayes, Special Education Teacher Assistant Rebecca Faucett.

•Jemison High: Cafeteria Assistant Manager JoAnn P. Hall (transfer), Eighth Grade English Teacher Jaime E. Mitchell.

•Thorsby: Assistant Cafeteria Manager Frances Allison (transfer), Science Teacher Timothy K. Williams, Science Teacher Derrick Littleton, Collaborative Education Teacher Holly Deavers (transfer).

By Scott Mims

Local public safety officials will introduce themselves to Thorsby students on Thursday in observance of Safety Day in Richard Wood Park.

Thorsby Fire Department, Thorsby Police Department, the Chilton County Sheriff’s Department, The Chilton County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, and Operation Lifesaver — a group that teaches railroad safety — all will share important information and helpful tips with students from 9 a.m. until noon.

The event coincides with Thorsby School’s annual SKIP Program, which teaches elementary students the nationally renowned “Think First and Stay Safe” curriculum for a full week each May.

While Safety Day is mainly for students, community members are also welcome to attend.

“It allows kids to be able to meet public servants here in the town and become familiar with them,” said Thorsby Police Chief Rodney Barnett.

Barnett said one goal of Safety Day is to ease any fears that kids might have of police officers or other officials. One way of doing this is by providing contact information and letting kids know that officers are there to help them.

Students will break up into groups and spend approximately five minutes at each station in the park. During that time, they will get to see vehicles and equipment up close and receive a few “goodies” to take home.

Following that morning’s activities, members of Operation Lifesaver will go into Thorsby School and speak to older students.

“Hopefully, what they’ve learned this week and next week will enable them to have a safe summer,” Barnett said.

By Scott Mims

Thorsby School is gearing up for its S.K.I.P. program, which teaches elementary students about the danger of sexual predators and other threats.

S.K.I.P. — an acronym for Safeguarding Kids is Priority — is founded upon the researched-based literature series “Think First and Stay Safe,” distributed by Child Lures Prevention, a national sexual abuse, abduction, Internet crime, drugs and school violence prevention program.

The S.K.I.P. program was started in 2006 and is part of the school’s health curriculum for grades K-5.

“Throughout the years that I’ve been teaching, I was aware of children in my own classroom that had been physically and sexually abused,” said teacher Angie Barnett, founder of the S.K.I.P. program. “When you see the emotional and physical scars that are left behind, it just evokes a desire to try to prevent this from happening to any other child.”

A variety of subjects are covered, ranging from bullying to Internet safety. A strong emphasis is placed on sexual predators and the 16 lures they commonly use to gain children’s trust.

For example, kids are taught that other people are not allowed to touch them in a sexual manner.

“Kids sometimes think that’s normal in their family because they don’t know any better,” Barnett said. “We teach them that it’s against the law.”

The “Think First and Stay Safe” curriculum will be taught the week of May 10-14. On Thursday, May 13, local law enforcement agencies will host a Safety Day. They will do demonstrations for students, such as escape techniques.

As a precursor to S.K.I.P., Thorsby and Maplesville schools are partnering throughout the month of April to raise $2,000 to benefit Child Protect Children’s Advocacy Center. Handprints are being sold for $1 apiece. The program is called “Helping Hands to Heal a Heart.”

Barnett predicts the schools will surpass their goal.

“The kids have just had a very good response,” she said.

By Stephen Dawkins

Thorsby’s weightlifting team won the Class 2A state championship on April 10, continuing the school’s strong tradition in the activity.

Thorsby has claimed state titles in four of the last five years it has participated in the event, but the last time a Thorsby team competed was 2003.

“We get down there—and this is their first event—and you could see it in their faces: nervous, couldn’t breathe,” coach Keith Williams said.

The Rebels struggled early in the event, logging several disqualifications for improper lifts.

But Thorsby recorded 19 good lifts—one from each of the team’s participants—in the power clean and claimed the trophy.

Senior Kevin Brasher was the overall state champion in his weight class, 132 pounds. Both Jonathan Spivey (258 pounds) and Colton Castleberry (81 pounds) took third place in their respective weight classes.

Thorsby also won team state championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

The lifters began preparing for the state meet in January, working out four days a week and taking a break only for spring break, Williams said.

Williams has been heavily involved in the weight training of athletes for several different sports at the school and said he thinks the lifters’ success at the meet will carry over into other sports.

“I think weightlifting is the backbone of all sports,” Williams said.