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PAGE 2A March 2026
FIRST RESPONDER TRAINING - Gadsden State Community College has announced that the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), in partnership with the Gadsden State Police/Public Safety Department, will host a Tactical Medical Training for First Responders on May 21, 2026, and May 22, 2026. This training opportunity is free of charge and open to first responders from across the region, including Police Officers, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Personnel, Public Safety-First Responders, and Jail and Corrections Personnel. As an added bonus, each participant who registers for either the May 21 or May 22 class will receive a FREE Tactical Medical Kit valued at approximately $300. The Tactical Medical for First Responders course provides hands-on instruction in critical, life-saving skills designed for high-risk and emergency environments. Participants will gain practical experience in Hemorrhage control, Casualty care under stress, Rapid medical response in tactical environments, Critical decision-making when seconds matter most, and Commitment to Training and Partnerships. Training space is limited and expected to fill quickly. To register, contact Emily Feemster at 256- 549-8276 or efeemster@gadsdenstate.edu. For more info contact Chief Freeman at jfreeman@gadsdenstate.edu. STATE ARCHERY CHAMPIONSHIP - The largest youth archery competition in Alabama, the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) Alabama State Championship, will be held on April 9-10, 2026, at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery. This year’s event will feature nearly 2,000 student archers in Grades 4-12 from schools across the state who earned an opportunity to compete in the state championship after advancing in one of eight regional qualifying tournaments. These students will compete for the title of state champion and the opportunity to advance to the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) Eastern National Championship on May 7-9, 2026, in Louisville, Kentucky. The first flight of arrows begins at noon on Thursday, April 9. An awards ceremony will take place after the last flight on Friday, April 10. The public is encouraged to attend and enjoy the many fun activities planned for the event. During the awards ceremony, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) will be awarding up to $16,000 in scholarships to select archers. The University of Montevallo will be awarding additional scholarships to the top high school male and female archers. There is no entry fee to attend. BOAZ CHAMBER BANQUET - The Boaz Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual banquet on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Rockledge Terrace. The social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m. Dinner and Awards will follow, starting at 6:30 p.m. YAMAHA RELOCATING TO GEORGIA - Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp has announced that Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. has officially decided to move its U.S. headquarters to Kennesaw, GA. The company is opting to relocate out of California following roughly 50 years of operation there. This decision follows a meeting between the governor and Yamaha executives in October of last year at the Southeast U.S./Japan (SEUS-Japan) annual gathering in Tokyo. A manufacturer of ATVs, boat engines, personal watercraft, and other motorized products, Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. already has a strong presence in the Peach State, employing over 2,300 Georgians. The 1.3-million-square-foot Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America factory in Newnan opened in 1986 and currently employs roughly 2,000 Georgians. Yamaha relocated its marine division to Kennesaw in 1999, expanding the facility with a 75,000-square-foot Marine Innovation Center in 2023. In 2019, the company moved its motorsports operations to the state to benefit from close proximity to the existing facilities. The relocation of the Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S. headquarters will begin this year and is expected to continue through 2028. APPOINTMENT - Governor Kay Ivey has appointed Heath Edward Meherg of Cullman to serve as District Judge in the 32nd Judicial Circuit in Cullman County. A graduate of UAB, the Birmingham School of Law and The University of Alabama School of Law, Meherg succeeds District Judge J. Chad Floyd who was appointed to the position of Cullman County Circuit Judge by Governor Ivey on February 5, 2026. NEWS & EVENTS
Crackdown on Illegal Trucking Operators Photo Courtesy of Governor's Office
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has signed Senate Bill 242, legislation aimed at improving safety on Alabama’s highways by ensuring commercial motor vehicle operators meet federal work authorization and communication standards. The legislation requires commercial driver license (CDL) holders operating in Alabama who hold a foreign CDL to possess valid U.S. work authorization and requires all CDL holders to demonstrate English language proficiency, while also making it a criminal offense to present a false foreign CDL during enforcement encounters. “Alabama’s economy is booming, and our hardworking truckers play a vital role in keeping goods moving across our state and across this country. At the same time, Alabama families travel these same highways every single day, and they deserve to know the rules are being enforced,” said Governor Ivey. “If you cannot read, write and speak English, you do not need to be driving a commercial vehicle on our roads.” Sen. Lance Bell, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure strengthens safeguards for Alabama motorists while supporting legitimate commercial drivers who follow the rules. “The Highway Safety and Fairness Act is about protecting Alabama families and ensuring the integrity of our trucking industry,” said Sen. Bell. “By giving law enforcement additional tools to address fraudulent licenses, enforce existing federal standards and hold bad actors accountable, this legislation helps keep our highways safe while supporting the hardworking Alabama truckers who follow the rules every day. I commend my colleagues in the Legislature for supporting this bill and thank Governor Kay Ivey for signing this important measure into law.” Rep. Steve Clouse, who carried the legislation in the House, affirms the bill ensures accountability across Alabama’s transportation system. “The passage of the Highway Safety and Fairness Act helps ensure fairness, accountability and safety across Alabama’s transportation system,” said Rep. Clouse. “By establishing clear requirements for commercial drivers and meaningful penalties for those who violate the law, the Legislature has taken decisive action to protect the traveling public. I am grateful to Governor Ivey for her leadership in signing this important bill into law.” The legislation builds upon ongoing enforcement efforts conducted by ALEA’s Motor Carrier Safety Unit (MCSU), which conducts inspections and traffic stops involving commercial motor vehicles across the state. Since October 27, 2025, ALEA’s Motor Carrier Safety Unit has referred more than 555 individuals to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for immigration status verification following commercial motor vehicle inspections and passenger vehicle stops. Of those referrals, 221 individuals were detained by ICE based on their immigration status. In addition to the collaboration with ICE, ALEA MCSU Troopers conduct English Language Proficiency (ELP) tests, which are federally mandated to ensure drivers can read highway signage, understand safety instructions and communicate with law enforcement during inspections or emergencies.
This past December, Governor Ivey announced significant results from the coordinated efforts of ALEA and ICE to crack down on illegal trucking operators. Since January 1, 2025, ALEA’s Motor Carrier Safety Unit has issued 548 English Language Proficiency violations to commercial drivers. These enforcement efforts have coincided with measurable improvements in roadway safety. “Our law enforcement officers are already doing the good work to keep these unsafe drivers off Alabama’s highways,” added Governor Ivey. In 2025, Alabama recorded 106 fatalities involving commercial motor vehicles, the lowest number since 2021. In several high-crash corridors, ALEA Troopers report a noticeable decline in commercial motor vehicle crashes. Additionally, compared to the period between October 1 and December 31, 2024, commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities decreased 25 percent in 2025. Overall, CMV-related fatalities declined 10 percent statewide from 2024 to 2025. ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said the legislation supports ongoing enforcement efforts to remove unsafe and unqualified drivers from Alabama roadways. “Under Governor Ivey’s leadership, Alabama continues taking meaningful steps to strengthen highway safety and hold commercial drivers to the highest standards,” said Secretary Taylor. ATA President and CEO Mark Colson highlighted the importance of equipping law enforcement with stronger tools to keep Alabama’s roadways safe. “Alabama’s law enforcement agency is a national leader in highway safety and SB242 will give them additional tools to keep illegal operators off the road. This bill will save lives and help create a fair and level playing field in Alabama,” said Colson. “Most of the solutions to root out bad actors in trucking are being implemented uniformly at the federal level as outlined in a national action plan called Trucking Resurgence. This bill is an important state component that aligns with federal law and increases penalties for law breakers.” SB242 takes effect October 1, 2026.
C OLLINSVILLE D RUGS Brandon Boswell h Pharmacist/Owner h 256-524-2981 “Caring for You Like Family” 588 South Valley Avenue P.O. Box 498
Collinsville, AL 35961 (256) 524-2981 (256) 524-2987
Happy Easter
Brandon Boswell, PharmD Pharmacist/Owner
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