Work of West Blocton alum forever featured on U of A Walk of Champions

By Daniel L. Bamberg

Many people from West Blocton know the name, Jeremy Davis.  A graduate from West Blocton High School, he left his mark in drawings and murals of the tiger mascot across the facility.  Today, as many of you read this Davis has come from hometown boy, to home town hero, to hometown legend – a legend that seemingly will only keep growing. 

In July of 2010 Jeremy was commissioned by the Univeristy of Alabama Atheletics department to conceive a statue for Nick Saban to be placed in the Walk of Champions next to statues of every Crimson Tide National Championship winning coach.

On Saturday, April 16 just before the University of Alabama A-Day Game (scrimmage game) a large bronze version of a clay based model sculpted by Jeremy was unveiled. Currently the West Blocton favorite will now be known by many former strangers as the guy who built the model in the most coveted enshrinement in our state of who is arguably the most respected and feared college football coach in the game today.

The University of Alabama Athletics Department contacted the Art Department for suggestions about the construction of the Nick Saban statue.  Jeremy’s name was brought up and on a Thursday evening he was contacted about doing some sketches.  The next day he presented a few ideas and the Athletics Department along with Terri Saban looked over Jeremy’s ideas.

“Mrs. Saban loved them so much that she decided to go with me,” explained Jeremy.  “It was a surprise that she looked at them and it is an honor that she had such a hand in approving me for the job."

After being commissioned in July, Jeremy began doing sketches.  After the proper sketch was approved he began sculpting.  The project took about 3 months.  One of the details which was Jeremy’s own idea, is in setting Coach Saban’s watch to one o’clock p.m. also known as thirteen hundred hours in military time was, representing Saban’s national championship, the school’s thirteenth.

Matt Downs off to an ASTROnomical start in 2011

By Daniel L. Bamberg

The way the San Francisco Giants moved former Bibb County High School baseball sensation Matt Downs around in 2009 and 2010 it might have seemed convenient if he had changed his middle name to Upsand. 

The well liked, hard hitting, and hard nosed infielder was placed in impatient situations and while showing signs of potential he was never seemingly given enough stage time at the show (Major League Baseball) to prove what he was all about.

Severe Friday weather rampage in Bibb County

Eoline, Pondville and West Blocton receive majority of damage

By Daniel L. Bamberg

The Friday morning of April 15 may have been a fairly normal beginning for citizens in Bibb County.  By afternoon however, citizens of Eoline, Pondville, and West Blocton would be standing face to face with serious weather on the verge of crisis. 

As storms crossed into Alabama at the Southwestern most corner from the Southeastern most area of Mississippi several areas across the state prepare for the inevitable damage which occurred in other states.

A tornado touched down in Tuscaloosa causing a lot of property damage and heading on a direct path to some of Bibb’s rural areas.  Meanwhile more severe weather was coming out of Greensboro. 

Seven arrested on drug related charges by Brent PD

By Daniel L. Bamberg

Following an extensive undercover operation Brent Police Department arrested seven individuals on Tuesday, April 12 for drug related charges.

According to Brent Chief of Police, Terry Nichols Assistant Chief Ricky Heard has been working with the 4th Judicial Alabama Drug Task Force for several months on this sting.

Assisted by the Alabama Beverage Control Board and the Bibb County K-9 the Brent Police force arrested the following:

Earnest James, 78 of Brent was charged with 2 counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, 2 counts of possession of a controlled substance (crack cocaine), 1 counts of selling alcohol without a license, one count of possession of untaxed liquor, and one count of unlawful alcohol with attempt to distribute.  He is currently out on $132,000 bond.

April is Autism Awareness Month

Imagine Life With Autism

 Dr. Caroline Gomez, State Autism Coordinator and State Senator Cam Ward

Close your eyes and imagine for a moment that as a child you are woken in the morning after sleeping for only a few hours. Exhaustion. You get out of bed, but have no idea where you are going that day. Anxiety. Someone helps you get dressed, but the tag in the back of your shirt feels like a pin pricking your skin over and over. Discomfort.

You sit at the table for breakfast, but can’t eat because your feet don’t reach the ground and you begin to feel dizzy. Confusion. You ride in the car without knowing where you are going. Distress. You sit in the grocery cart as told, but the florescent lights overhead cause your head to begin throbbing. Pain. Now imagine that all of this takes place and you have no way to tell anyone that you are experiencing exhaustion, anxiety, discomfort, confusion, distress, and now intense pain and this was only the first hour of your day. How would you “communicate” your desperate need to get out of that grocery store before your head explodes? It sounds like a nightmare for many of us but it is a living reality for many children.

Rep. Weaver and Sen. Ward take self-imposed pay cut

By Daniel L. Bamberg

Last week Bibb County’s own, Alabama Representative April Weaver and Shelby County’s own, Senator Cam Ward whose district includes Bibb County, volunteered to 15 percent pay cut.

They did this along with other members of the Shelby County Legislative Delegation.

“If we are to truly lead by example we should be willing to share the burden with everyone else who is struggling,” explained Representative Weaver.  “The pay issue is something we felt needed to be addressed and we as legislators should be doing all we can to help those we are elected to represent.”

Gun stolen nearly 8 years ago found by Brent Police

If ever something has been stolen from you, and the police seemed to be unable to recover it here is proof that sometimes even the most lost items are recovered.

Brent Police Department recovered a .223 black Remington 700 while investigating another case.  The gun was reported stolen from an automobile on November 26, 2003 after a break in at the former Hilltop Apartments (now Cahaba Glades). 

Photo: Brent Police Chief Terry Nichols poses with the gun reported stolen in late 2003, which his department recently recovered.