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The Sports Ledger
December 2021
Newsworthy Notes & Events RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR - Tim James has reportedly filed his paperwork to run for Governor of Alabama. This will be his third time to run for Governor. James, the 59-year-old son of former Alabama Gov. Fob James, ran unsuccessfully for the position in 2002 and 2010.
Sheriff Candidate Arrested by SBI A candidate running
Man arrested for rape and child sex abuse ROCK THE SOUTH - The "Biggest Party in the South” is back in Cullman on August 5-6, 2022, with an incredible lineup of musicians. Morgan Wallen and ALABAMA will be the 2022 headliners with other well-known musicians, HARDY, Jamey Johnson, Koe Wetzel, Jimmie Allen, Colt Ford, Matt Stell and Dee Jay Silver. APPOINTMENT - Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has appointed law enforcement veteran John Hamm, the current deputy secretary of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, to serve as the next commissioner of the Department of Corrections. Hamm comes to the post with more than 35 years of law enforcement experience. Prior to serving as deputy secretary of ALEA, he was at the helm of the State Bureau of Investigation and served in other capacities at the agency. His extensive law enforcement background also includes work in corrections, both at the state and local levels. Hamm’s background in public safety goes back as far as his educational background where he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Justice and Public Safety from Auburn University at Montgomery. Hamm’s appointment is effective January 1, 2022. CRANE FESTIVAL - Over 14,000 Sandhill Cranes alongwithseveral pairsofWhoopingCranes spend thewinter each year at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge (WNWR) in Decatur. In celebration of the winter migration of these long-legged and long-necked birds, Wheeler Wildlife Refuge Association hosts a two-day event offering a variety of indoor and outdoor activities appealing to people of all ages. Set for January 15-16, 2022, Festival of the Cranes takes place at the Refuge, and along with two days of nature walks, live raptors and special programs, there are additional activities taking place in various locations within Decatur before, during and after the festival. There are activities for both experienced birders and for anyone who would like to learn more about birding and other wildlife that call the Refuge home. Guests are invited to visit the Observation Building to view thousands of Sandhill cranes along with several Whooping cranes, ducks, geese, raptors and perhaps a bald eagle from the comfort of the heated building. There are bleachers and spotting scopes available along with volunteers and staff standing by to answer questions. For more information on the Festival of the Cranes, visit https:// www.friendsofwheelernwr.org/ or follow www.facebook. com/FOCatWheeler for the latest updates. The Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge was established on July 7, 1938 by Executive Order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt as the first National Wildlife Refuge placed on a multi-purpose reservoir to provide habitat for wintering and migrating birds. Covering 35,000 acres, it attracts thousands of wintering waterfowl each year and is home to Alabama’s largest wintering duck population. The Refuge also supports the state’s largest concentration of Sandhill Cranes and the endangered Whooping Crane. CHORAL PERFORMANCE - The Albertville High School Choral Program recently had the opportunity to perform at the 2021 Governor's Mansion Holiday Tours in Montgomery.
for DeKalb County Sheriff in the next election as been arrested. According to a press release from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, on Friday, December 3, Terry Wayne Wadsworth, age 57, was arrested by the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office after an investigation was conducted by Special Agents with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) State Bureau of Investigation. (SBI). Wadsworthwasarrested and formally charged with Computer Tampering and Impersonating a Peace Officer.
VINTAGE MARKET - Vintage Market Days of North Alabama will host a Spring 2022 "Going To Market" event on April 1-3 at the Sand Mountain Park in Albertville. Vendors from Alabama, and other states, will be attending. CHRISTMASAT THE PARK - During December several events are happening at the Lake Guntersville State Park including Santa Pictures, Ornament Making, and the park's Christmas Buffet. For more info call 256-571-5440. SPRING REGISTRATION - Students attending Gadsden State Community College can register for Spring Semester classes now through Jan. 6. The first day of classes is Jan. 7. To apply, visit gadsdenstate.edu/apply. For more information on the application process or to register, visit gadsdenstate.edu or call 256-927-1805. HYBRID ADVANTAGE - Gadsden State Cherokee has three new programs at the Centre campus. The College is now offering Child Development, Health Information Technology Management and Massage Therapy, all in a hybrid format. The programs will begin Spring 2022. For more info visit www.gadsdenstate.edu/hybridadvantage. ICE SKATING - The City of Fort Payne is set to transform its Rotary Pavilion into a ice skating rink on December 17-20, 2021. For more information contact the Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce at 256-845-2741. SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE – Gadsden State Community College is currently accepting scholarship applications from graduating high school seniors. The deadline to submit an application for a variety of scholarships is March 1. For more info call 256-927-1805. VISITINGDONALDTRUMP- Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill recently visit with President Donald Trump at The Mar-a-Lago Club to discuss election integrity, transparency, and accountability. They also collaborated on an upcoming project, which will be announced early next year. NEW DEAN NAMED - Dr. Farrah Hayes has been named the new dean of Academic Programs and Services at Gadsden State Community College. She will assume the role on Jan. 3, 2022. The current dean, Dr. Leslie Worthington, is retiring from Gadsden State. As the dean of Academic Programs and Services, Hayes will execute leadership of all academic instructional programs, library services, online instruction, international programs and the Alabama Language Institute. She will manage faculty and staff in institutional effectiveness and be responsible for the academic instructional programs’ budget. EAGLE AWARENESS 2022 - Lake Guntersville's 35th Eagle Awareness 2022 weekends are set. The dates are January 21-23, January 28-30, Feb. 4-6, and Feb. 11-13. Day passes are $15 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under. Lodging packages are also available. For more information call 256-505-6621 or 1-800-ALA-PARK. $25,000 GRANT - Gadsden State has received a $25,000 grant for a new Standardized Patient Program from the Stringfellow Health Fund Grant of the Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama. The total grant funding provided by CFNE is $19,199.14 with the Cardinal Foundation granting an additional $5,800.86 for a grand total of $25,000 for the project. The Standardized Patient Program will be used to train all disciplines of Health Science students at Gadsden State. The College intends to use the grant funds to completely outfit four standardized patient rooms and the equipment needed to start the SP program. The SP simulation will involve using trained individuals to portray the roles of patients, family members and others to allow students to practice physical exam skills, history-taking skills, communication skills and other exercises. Steve Hildebrant, the past president of the Cardinal Foundation, helped in securing the grant.
Terry Wayne Wadsworth
Wadsworth was booked into the DeKalb County Jail with bond set at $1,000. No further information was available at press time as the investigation is ongoing.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey recently announced that The J.M. Smucker Co. plans to build a new manufacturing facility and distribution center in Alabama, supporting production of Smucker’s Uncrustables, generating large- scale job creation in the Birmingham area. With a total financial investment of $1.1 billion, the facility in the Jefferson County community of McCalla will be constructed over three phases creating up to 750 jobs. The company said investment and job creation will align with the completion of established production milestones for each phase of the project. “Because The J.M Smucker Co. is one of America’s leading consumer packaged goods companies in the food sector, its decision to make a significant investment in Jefferson County represents a powerful endorsement of Alabama’s inviting business environment,” said Governor Ivey. “Not only will the Company’s growth project create a large number of jobs in McCalla, but it will also permit us to build a long-standing relationship with a top consumer brand.” Construction of the facility is expected to begin no later than January 2022, with production commencing in calendar year 2025. “Our Smucker’s Uncrustables brand continues to be one of the fastest growing in our portfolio and in the food sector more broadly. We are proud of the success the brand has achieved, due in no small part to the tremendous efforts of our employees, and we’re excited to take advantage of the opportunities and growth our investments will enable,” said Mark Smucker, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We appreciate the support we have received from the state of Alabama and Jefferson County officials, and we look forward to being a part of the greater Birmingham community,” he added. Smucker’s new manufacturing facility at the JeffMet Industrial Complex will mark the third dedicated to Uncrustables sandwiches, alongwith facilities in Scottsville, Kentucky, and Longmont, Colorado. Smucker said the continued demand for the frozen handheld sandwiches has driven the brand’s growth over time to approximately $500 million in annual net sales, demonstrating double-digit net sales growth annually over the past decade. This new facility, and a completed expansion at the Longmont location, will support the Company’s strategy to more than double its current production capacity. With this increased production capacity, the Company expects to grow the Smucker’s Uncrustables brand over the next five years to approximately $1 billion in annual net sales. “Alabama plays host to an impressive roster of world- class corporate partners, and we are excited to add The J.M. Smucker Co. to this lineup,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “Smucker’s products have long been a favorite in kitchens across America, and it’s great to know that the company’s popular Uncrustable sandwiches will be made right here in Alabama.” Smucker said construction of the facility and production will occur in three phases over multiple years, creating up to 750 jobs. Financial investments and job creation will align with each of the three phases and are contingent on the approval of tax and business incentives and the closing of the transaction to purchase the property where the facility will be located, the Company added. “Smucker’s is a household name, and we are proud they have selected Jefferson County for their next manufacturing facility,” said Commissioner Steve Ammons, chair of the Jefferson County Economic Development Committee. “It’s important for us to recognize the previous Commission and their forethought to add acreage to the Jeffmet Industrial Complex. The McCalla area is hot right now due to useable land availability, interstate access and productive growth potential. We are excited for the continued momentum of job creation for the citizens of Jefferson County and the region as a whole.” Ron Kitchens, CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance, said this is one of the largest economic development projects in Jefferson County’s recent history, both in capital investment and jobs. “It is a strategic move for Smucker to leverage Birmingham’s strong distribution and logistics network, central location in the Southeast and a shovel-ready site to seize an opportunity for one of its fastest-growing brands,” said Kitchens. J. M. Smucker Company to Build Manufacturing Plant in McCalla
A Flat Rock man is in the DeKalb County Detention Center regarding sexual abuse of a minor. According to a press release from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Mark Anthony Bryson, age 40 of Flat Rock, has been arrested on charges of Rape 1st (x2), Rape 2nd, Sex Abuse Child Less Than 12 and Sodomy 1st. Bryson was arrested for a previous investigation in an alleged sexual abuse of a minor. His bond was set at $1,100,000. “To protect the family and the victim, as always,
Mark Anthony Bryson information on these cases are limited,” said DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden. “This is a great job by our investigators whose sole purpose is to protect our children from predators like this,” added Welden.
Past Time Alabama The following picture in this month's Past Time Alabama gives us a chance to reminisce and relive some of the Magic of Christmas, as we honor some very talented musicians from the 2012 Northeast Alabama Community College Christmas Concert. If you have a picture or a story that you would like to share with us for future Past Time Features in the Alabama Ledger please contact us at 256-506-7368.
File Photo by Brandon K. Pierce | Alabama Ledger
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