Hello, Pell City! 

I didn’t think I would have an opportunity to write a column this week, but I was glad to find out that I did, so let’s get on with the news! 

Congratulations to Rolanda Turner who was named Miss Pell High this past weekend!  Senior Favorites at Pell City High School were Katie Roe, Taylor Green, Allie Haynes, and Shailynn Weed; Junior Favorites were Ryan Monistere, Keighan Spann, Abby Jones, and Kendall Smith; Sophomore Favorites were Maggie Bollinger, Lexie Carleton, Lauren Ferguson, and Lexie King; Freshmen Favorites were Hilary Hadley, Tameron Williams, Lexie Jonier, and Sophia Hernandez; and Miss Photogenic was Hilary Hadley.  Congratulations to all these young ladies at the Pell City High School. 

The Pell City Christmas Parade is scheduled for Thursday, December 12th, at 7 pm.  The parade will start at the Pell City High School and proceed through downtown Pell City.  This year’s Grand Marshall for the event will be J.P. Dice, Chief Meteorologist for Fox 6 News in Birmingham.  J.P. spends a lot of time in Pell City, especially at the local airport where he has a plane and often does a lot of flying in the area.  He considers Pell City “his second home”, and recently began doing the up-to-date weather forecast for the local radio station in Pell City, 94.9 FM The River, aka WFHK am1430. 

Congratulations to Larry and Deborah Moody on recently celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary!  The couple marked the occasion by renewing their vows at Hardins Chapel Church.  Pastor Doug Ford officiated the ceremony which was attended by many of Larry and Deb’s friends and family members, including Larry’s children Lance, Lincoln, and Kelley, their spouses and children; Deb’s mother, Dorothy Hines, and Deb’s sister Sherry, and her aunt Sally. 

Several of the couple’s “church family” also attended, and afterwards a reception dinner was held at the Pell City Steak House.  Happy Birthday this week to Chase Middleton, Teresa Brown, Robert Martin, Barbara Etheridge, John Pope, Tammy Cence, Tim Flowers, Julia Waits, Keith Lee, Bryan Tucker, Greg Jacobik, Madison Bowman, Bobbi Henderson, Samuel Shimsilowitz, Em Gaskin, Roger Bannister, George Gregg, Peyton Sorah, and Lisa Phillips Spradley. 

I was very saddened to learn earlier this week of the passing of a friend of mine since elementary school, Ginger Shirley Slovensky.  Ginger was a sweet, caring, and compassionate person who was always helping others; my thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time.

This coming weekend is a big one in the state of Alabama – not only is it the weekend after Thanksgiving, and the weekend of the Alabama v Auburn game, (unarguably the biggest and greatest college football rivalry in the country), but it is also Small Business Saturday, the date put aside for Americans to shop at their local “Mom & Pop” stores to help support local economies. 

So, if you get a chance to get out and do a little shopping his weekend, the busiest shopping weekend of the year, try to spend as much of your hard earned money as you can at your local retailers to help yourself, your neighbors, and your community. 

If you have any news or announcements please give me a call at 405-4135.  And once again I wish you and your family a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving.  Have a great week!