NewsDigestforAugust2016(Clickoneachlinktoopen)

Bevillgets$15,000forMachineToolDivision–JournalRecordBevillStatelauncheshonorsocietychapter–CorridorMessengerEnrollmentontheriseforBSCC–DailyMountainEagleDr.FergusononTalkofAlabama–ABC33/40

JasperStudentCenterreceivesamakeover–www.BSCC.edu

The BSCC News Digest is a sampling of news articles and information regarding Bevill State Community College that appears in local media. If there is and article that you see that is not listed, please send to

Andrew Brasfield at andrew.brasfield@bscc.edu

IN THIS

ISSUE . . .Classifieds ....................3BLifestyles ......................7AObituaries......................8AOpinion ..........................4ASports ............................1B

‘Music in the Park’

set for Aug. 20

in Twin- See page 3A.

Special sessionstarts Mondayon lottery issue

- See Steve Flowers column on page 4A.

MARION-WINSTONCOUNTIES

COMMUNITYACTION AGENCY

Non-profits shouldapply now for foodand shelter funds

- See page 7A.

LES WALTERS/STAFF

Bevill State Community College-Hamilton recently received a $15,000 grant check that willbe used for scholarships and certification needs in the machine tool technology division.Shown recently at a check presentation on the campus were (from left) Bevill State auto-motive mechanics instructor Chad Bryant, Haas Foundation representative Todd Hayes,Bevill State machine tool technology instructor Prentice Howell, Bevill State dean of careertechnical education and Sumiton Campus Dean Al Moore and Dr. Russell Howton, interimassociate dean of the Hamilton Campus. Please see story on page 3A.

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OURNALECORD

75¢47TH YEAR, NO. 63

Don Bussey dies at 79n Businessman recalled asfriend, community promotor

By TRACY ESTESNews Editor

Known for a devoted love for his family, his faith and his horses, one ofthe most visible businessmen in Marion County has died.

Don Bussey had been recoveringfrom a recent illness at a Birminghamhospital at the time of his death onTuesday, Aug. 2. He was 79.

The long-time partner and owner ofState Bank and Trust was known forhis keen sense of business and hiscommunity service--most of it per-formed behind the scenes.

Speaking with local leaders who have worked with Bussey over the years,one could see how his character had struck a chord with many.

“Don was an old-school gentleman, who trusted a man for his handshakeand his word,’’ said Winfield Mayor Randy Price. “I have always appreciatedthat about him. Those things meant a great deal to him.

“You were not a number to him in terms of banking. You were a customerand in many cases, a friend. He always made each person he came in contactwith feel important. He was a pleasure to work with in my dealings with himfor the city.

“He loved this area and was always looking for ways to help us grow. Hewanted us, meaning this entire area, to have a bright future.’’

C3 of Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance ExecutiveDirector David Thornell had sat with Bussey at the organization’s board ofdirectors table for three years. His relationship with Bussey grew deeper withtim.

“He was a man of strong faith,’’ Thornell recalled. “He taught SundaySchool in his church for many years and was so active there. He will certainlybe invited to a better place.

“He had a strong sense of humor. He was athletic and had continued towork with his horses. He had traveled to those events across the country foryears and made so many friends in that arena. He was a pleasure to work withas he always had a smile on his face. He was a calming influence and wasvery logical in his thinking. He was a hard-working guy who had had muchsuccess because of his hard work. He was surrounded by a loving family.’’

Thornell recalled a time in 2012 when he was sitting at his own father’sbedside as the male role model in his life was nearing his final breath.

Looking up, Thornell and his family watched as Bussey and two other

ED HOWELL/STAFF

Honoring one of its own

State Bank and Trust re-cently honored former chiefexecutive officer and chair-man of the board DonBussey by lowering theflags at its offices to halfstaff.

Bussey more

than a friend to

bank president

- See page 6A.

See BUSSEY on page 6A.

n Center supervisor explains services

By ED HOWELLAssistant News Editor

HAMILTON - Many services for potentialworkers, many unknown to most people, are lo-cated at the Hamilton Career Center in Hamil-

ton, including money for training and work pro-grams to give extra help for people ages 18-24.

Alissa D. Brown, the employment servicesupervisor for the Hamilton Career Center,which is part of Alabama’s Career Center Sys-tem, spoke about the center’s services at theMonday, July 18, Hamilton City Council meet-ing.

Mayor Wade Williams invited Brown to

HAMILTON CITY COUNCIL

Hamilton Career Center has funds,assistance for younger workers

See CAREER on page 6A.

$15,000 Haas grantto help BSCC

machine tool classes

ALABAMA LEGISLATURE

Stutts defendshimself againstal.com column

n Senator: Money raised after election as he spent personal money

By ED HOWELLAssistant News Editor

State Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, said in re-sponse to a recent al.com column that he collecteddonations after his election in a legal manner in orderto pay himself back for personal funds that he putinto the 2014 campaign, and that he is using a cam-paign fund to simply give donations to local schoolsand charities.

Stutts talked to the Journal Record on July 29 about the July 27column, noting that al.com columnist Kyle Whitmire never calledhim up to get his side of the story.

“I’ve never even met the guy,” Stutts said. “I have no idea whyhe always wants to write something about me....I’ve never met him

Stutts

See STUTTS on page 10A.

Wednesday, August 10, 2016 Journal Record Page 3A

n Money to be used forscholarships,certification

By ED HOWELLAssistant News Editor

HAMILTON - BevillState Community College-Hamilton has received a$15,000 donation which willhelp with scholarships andcertification in the machinetool technology classes.

A check was recently pre-sented to Bevill State fromthe Gene Haas Foundation,according to machine tooltechnology instructor Pren-tice Howell.

Howell said that GeneHaas of Haas Automation ofOxnard, Calif., “really sup-

ports these technicalprograms. We use alot of his equip-ment.” 

Haas also setsasides his personalmoney touse forgrants tob e n e f i tcolleges, hesaid.

“Our Haas dealermade us aware of thisgrant,” he said, noting he ap-plied for a grant from thefoundation.

“This money will be usedfor scholarships,” he said.“The program is also goingthrough National Institute forMetalworking Skills (NIMS)certification.” 

Capital equipment cannotbe purchased with the money,but smaller items can also bepurchased, he said.

Howell was pleased with

how thegrant willbenefit hisdepartment.

“It’s

a big benefit. It helps bringsthe shop up to date for ourNIMS certification. The pro-gram can be certified and thestudents themselves can becertified. It will go to get ourprogram up to date for pro-gram certification and it willalso go for student certifica-

tion.”The student usually has to

pay $35 for a certification,and they will usually get four

certifications. Three schol-

arships have al-ready been

awarded for the fallsemester, he said.

“It’s really greatfor the program andfor the commu-nity,” Howell said.

Bevill State re-leased the follow-ing informationfrom Haas about

the Gene Haas Foundation: “In 1999 Haas founded

the Gene Haas Foundation.Growing up with a strong so-cial conscience instilled byhis family, Haas initiallyformed the foundation tofund the needs of the localcommunity and other deserv-

ing charities. “Haas is the owner Haas

Automation, Inc., America’sleading builder of CNC ma-chine tools, which he startedin 1983. Haas Automation isa now a $1 billion companyand this extraordinary growthhas all come in an era whenAmericans were being toldthat the United States doesn’tmanufacture anything hereanymore. Those perceptionsand decisions made in oureducation system regardingvocational education have ledto dire statistics.”

The company noted that arecent report called “TheSkills Gap in U.S. Manufac-turing 2015 and Beyond”projects that, “Over the nextdecade, nearly three and ahalf million manufacturingjobs will likely need to befilled, and the skills gap is ex-pected to result in 2 millionof those jobs going unfilled.”

The Haas release said,“Gene’s commitment to theimportance of U.S. manufac-turing has incited him togrow his personal foundationand direct his foundationboard to focus on manufac-turing education and grantsfor scholarships for studentsentering CNC machinisttraining have been a key areaof focus.

“Grants are funded thathelp some strong technicalprograms that teach theseskills grow and expand.Meanwhile, Haas still re-mains a primary supporter ofthe community where his 1million-square-foot manufac-turing facility is located.

“To date, more than 1,200charitable 501(c)(3) organi-zations and schools have re-ceived funds totaling over$27 million from the GeneHaas Foundation.”

BEVILL STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE-HAMILTON

Bevill gets $15,000 for machine tool division

By KATHRYN HIRSCHFELDStaff Writer

HAMILTON - The Northwest Ala-bama Gas District (NWAGD) has ex-tended its bill pay period to 15 days,adding another five days to the previouspayment period.

During the gas board’s Tuesday,Aug. 2, meeting, general manager KellyKinnett noted that customers were pre-viously given 10 days to pay their bill.

“We’ve added five days to thatschedule,” he said. “That way, peopleare not frantically trying to pay their billjust as soon as they receive it.

“I think giving five extra days isgoing to go a long way towards helpingfolks.”

Asked by board member SulligentMayor Scott Boman about the time-frame for gas cutoffs, Kinnett said cus-tomers are given until the next meterreading billing cycle to pay their bills.

“If they are reading meters in Sulli-gent, they are probably going to comeback and do cutoffs right after they fin-

ish driving around reading all the me-ters,” Kinnett said.

He also noted that, on their bills, cus-tomers are told to pay before the delin-quent date and that disconnections willstart seven days afterwards.

Kinnett also said July’s bills did notyet have the five-day payment periodextension on them.

“When you get your bill this month(August), it should say 15 days,” Kin-nett said. “We also call customers be-fore we disconnect and give them atleast until the next Friday to pay.

“We want to remind persons to takeaction and give them an opportunity topay. We are making every effort we can.We also knock on doors. We don’t wantto cut people off that went on vacationand inadvertently forgot to pay a $12bill, which is why we added five days.

“If persons will call us before we rundisconnects, we will work with them tomake payment arrangements.”

In other business, the board:• Heard Kinnett note that Septem-

ber’s gas bill would include a safety

message and marketing information ongas water heaters.

• Discussed the possibility of seekinga person trained as an engineer for theopen gas district position of mapping,which also includes dealing with federaland state Geographic Information Sys-tem (G.I.S.) compliance.

By mapping the gas district’s supplysystem, the G.I.S./mapping employeewill be able to answer customer in-quiries concerning available suppliesfor both residential and industrial cus-tomers.

Kinnett said a person trained as anengineer could also help deal with proj-ect management.

• Voted to wait on naming a thirdtrustee to the gas district’s defined ben-efit and defined contribution pensionplans. Voting was unanimous except forboard member and Guin Mayor PhilSegraves, who is also a financial repre-sentative for Northwestern Mutal Life,which deals with a wide array of prod-ucts that include retirement and invest-ment-related products.

By TRACY ESTESNews Editor

TWIN - Anyone who loveslive music and great food mightwish to mark the calendar forthe annual “Music in the Park’’on Saturday, Aug. 20, in Twin.

Organizers are welcomingvisitors to the Twin Oaks Parklocated on Marion CountyRoad 3 beginning at 4 p.m. aslive music will be held at themain pavilion, along with foodto be provided through a con-cession format under the shadetrees at the park.

Marion County native sonand well-known musician Hol-lie Wayne Spiller will be thefeatured entertainer at theevent. Also taking the stagewill be his daughter, Angela,who now lives in Nashvil le,Tenn., son Wayne and grand-son Seth, both who currentlylive in Winfield, and StancelKimbrell of Brilliant.

Also singing at the eventwill be local singers BertReese and Kenzi Cochran andSharon Bounds and BrighterDay of Northport.

“This is our day in Twin.Other towns have Mule Day,Mayfest, Coalfest and the JerryBrown Arts Festival. And wehave Music in the Park,’’ saidTwin councilor Smithie Weeks,who is assisting with the eventcoordination.

“We are really excitedabout this event. And we thinkit will be well-attended. Withother additions at the park andlocal interest in music, I believethe turnout will continue togrow.’’

Construction of the parkbegan in 2006 as the site wascleared for the facility withmore visible work at the sitebeginning in 2009 with theconstruction of the largest ofthe three pavilions.

The covered bridge over

Cooper Creek was erected in2010, followed by a walkingtrack, restrooms and parkingimprovements in 2011.

In 2014 and 2015, twosmaller pavilions were built--one near Cooper Creek with adeck and stairs which lead vis-itors down directly to thecreek. This gives children achance to play directly in thewater on a warm summer day,Weeks noted.

The other new pavilion islocated near the playgroundarea with two picnic tables andbenches also put into place, al-lowing parents to be near theirchildren as they play. Alsoadded earlier this year was newplayground equipment to com-pliment that which was alreadyin place.

While the main pavilionand stage will be the focalpoint, there is no permanentseating available in the park.Seats will be brought in by thetown to accommodate more

than 100 visitors. But event or-ganizers are encouraging asmany who can to bring a lawnchair to take in the show.

Doing so will allow visitorsto sit near the pavilion or un-derneath one of the shade treesnearby.

A permanent stage area islocated at one end of the mainpavilion to host events such asMusic in the Park. Viewing ofthe musical talent appearing atthe festival will be enhanced asthe stage area is elevated.

But Weeks reminded thevisitors not to plan on sittingthroughout the day as therewill be good food to be had asprovided by Jerry’s Grillin’ ofWinfield.

Jerry Spann will offer fries,hot dogs, hamburgers, steaksandwiches, drinks and water.

Also on site will be Gray’sCreamy Delight by Walter andMarie Gray to provide some ofthe finest homemade ice creama person could ever want.

Anyone interested in learn-ing more about the event maycall Weeks at 468-3571 or 412-2882 or council memberFrankie Humber at 468-0642.

‘Music in the Park’set for Aug. 20 in Twin

n Event will feature live music, grilled food

RE-ELECTWADE

WILLIAMSMAYOR OFHAMILTON

Pd. Pol. Adv. By Wade Williams 218 Brookview Dr., Hamilton, AL 35570

To continue the great work we have begun, I ask for your

Vote and Support on August 23!

EXPERIENCE MATTERS:• A proven leader with 16 years experience

in city government • Advanced Certified Municipal Official • Close working relationship with

all Local and State Officials • Voted twice Journal Record’s

All Around Community Leader

EXPERIENCE RESULTS: • Sound money management with

city credit rating improving from A to A+• Clean annual audits• Upgrades in all city departments’

equipment and services • New business and job creations

thru Economic Development

EXPERIENCE CONTINUES:• I will continue to be a hard-working,

full-time mayor to ALL citizens • I will continue to be willing and able

to make the tough decisions • I will continue to move Hamilton forward

with the many projects in the making • I will continue to support our Local

Schools, Businesses and Industries

NORTHWEST ALABAMA GAS DISTRICT

Five days added to bill pay periodn Accounts now delinquent after 15 days

We are at a very crucial point in our city's history.

We must make informed, sound financial decisions during this

time of potential growth. We have a one-time opportunity to

increase our tax revenue and increase job opportunities at our

interstate access point, to ensure financial stability for our

future. We cannot afford mistakes. It is my belief that we must

work with all surrounding communities and counties, to

successfully market northwest Alabama to potential industry.

We must realize our strengths, our weaknesses, and most

importantly, our financial limitations while recruiting new

businesses to ensure a good return on our investments. We

must continue to support our schools and our healthcare

facilities. I also believe we must support and aide all of our

current industries and businesses that have been the backbone

of our community for many years. We must be good stewards

of our citizens' tax dollars and we must be patient.

Good results take time and effort. We are living in difficult

economic times and we must make every penny count.

I encourage you to vote for conservative common sense.

My name is Chuck Mullins,

and I am a Mayoral Candidate

for the City of Winfield.

Paid Pol. Adv. By Chuck Mullins, 2962 Co. Hwy. 14, Winfield, AL 35594

VOTE FOR CHUCK MULLINS ON AUGUST 23rd!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION!

Marion County Prep Football!!! IT’S COMING . . .

In The Wednesday, Aug. 17, JOURNAL RECORD!