Prayer Vigil for Desta Dodson Byrd (Jody Byrd)

(video quality is not good, our apologies) 

Desta Dodson Byrd was discovered murdered at her Brierfield, Alabama residence on February 26, 1999. In the 12 years since her murderer has not been brought to justice.

At a prayer vigil held on February 26, 2011 at Linn Park in Birmingham her husband Jody spoke to friends and family of his beloved wife. For more information on Desta's unsolved murder please visit Justicefordesta.org or look for Justice For Desta on facebook.

For full print coverage of Saturday's Prayer Vigil please read Wednesday's edition of The Centreville Press.

Prayer Vigil for Desta Dodson Byrd (Christine Shattuck)

(poor video quality, our apologies)

Christine Shattuck, childhood friend of Desta Dodson Byrd and co-founder of "Justice For Desta" spoke on Saturday, February 26th at Linn Park in Birmingham during a Prayer Vigil which marked the 12 anniversary of Desta's murder.
Desta was killed at her residence in Brierfield by a single shotgun wound to the head in 1999. Since then nobody has been charged with her murder. Justice For Desta is an awareness group committed to finding the killer and bringing him, her, or they to justice. For more information on the case please visit Justicefordesta.org and look for "Justice For Desta" on facebook.

Read full print coverage of Saturday's Prayer Vigil in this Wednesday's edition of the Centreville Press. 

12-year old Brierfield murder case remains unsolved

Victim, Desta Dodson-Byrd lived a beautiful and charmed life

 By Daniel L. Bamberg

“She had the sort of personality that made people who were around her want to be around her that much more,” explained Jody Byrd of his wife Desta. 

On the evening of February 25, 1999 Jody arrived at their Brierfield home to discover his 29-year-old wife’s lifeless body, the result of a single gunshot wound to the head from his own .22 caliber rifle.

Since then, no one has been charged in connection with her apparent homicide.  Was this a case of a random act of violence?  Nobody seems to know for certain.  The one-thing friends and family of Desta Dodson-Byrd understand is that for nearly 12 years someone has gotten away with her murder.

Now, six childhood friends have established, “Justice For Desta,” in hopes of raising new awareness in this case.  With a website, facebook page, and billboard signs in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, members of the group hope to find justice.  Such a thing could bring closure to Desta’s parents Ronnie and Vonciel Dodson, her husband and to her childhood friends. 

The Justice For Desta Group explains that Desta lived a beautiful and charmed life.  They explain that the world is missing someone valuable since the violent act that took such a young life.  Few perhaps feel the void of Desta’s absence more than her husband who explains that he and Desta were practically inseparable.

The Young Ladies of Tiger Pride Place 6th in National Competition!

Congratulations to the West Blocton High School Cheerleading Squad who attended the National High School Cheerleading Championship.  The group placed 6^th in the nation for this Universal Cheerleaders Association annual competition. 

Kornegay and Lawley sign Softball Scholarships

By Daniel L. Bamberg

The Bibb County High School Girl’s Softball program has been producing some major talent over the past few years.  Over the past handful of seasons the program has been feeding college programs with talent.

On Friday, January 21^st Alyssa Kornegay and Grace Lawley signed athletic scholarships in the presence of their friends, family, current coach and future coaches.  Kornegay signed with the Central Alabama Community College Trojans.  CACC have won 8 Alabama Community College Conference Championships since 1997.

Whatley to play on Shelton State Diamond

By Daniel L. Bamberg

He has arguably been one of the most rounded overall athletes in Bibb County High School athletics over the past few years.  Darren Whatley, former linebacker and quarterback and current pitcher and infielder with the Choctaws signed an athletic scholarship with Shelton State Community College on Monday, January 24. 

“He is going to be just like all the other kids we have picked up from Bibb County,” explained Shelton State Head Baseball Coach Bobby Sprowl.  “There isn’t any doubt that baseball and Bibb County is as good as anywhere in the state.  Darren is a very unique talent in the fact that he’s a tremendous pitcher and can play at other positions.  If he stays focused and works hard he has a great future in this game.”

WBHS Senior Star Softball Players Score Scholarships

On January 19, 2011, two of West Blocton High School’s star softball players signed to receive scholarships to play for two different colleges. Senior Starla Vining committed to play ball for the Marion Military Institute Lady Tigers softball team, and senior Kristen Evans committed to play ball for the Jefferson Davis Warhawks softball team. Both girls play under the leadership of Coach Brad Rooker. WBHS anticipates a wonderful season this year. Congratulations Starla and Kristen! Good luck this season!

BCHS Football Players to play at college level

BELL, CREWS, MORTON, RUTLEDGE, SMITH, WATKINS and WESTBROOK

By Daniel L. Bamberg

DIAHEEM WATKINS SIGNS WITH UAB

Is it too early to refer to one of the most physically gifted BCHS senio

rs as Diaheem the Magic City Dragon?  Perhaps, but as a UAB Blazer if Diaheem Watkins’ dominance from high school carries over, there may not be a witty enough nick name to describe him.

On Wednesday, February 2 – National Signing Day, Watkins became the 3^rd division one college football scholarship athlete in 4 years.  In 2011 he will put on the green and gold of the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB).

According to Watkins the decision of where to sign wasn’t easy.  He had a variety of schools to pick from.  Memphis, Arkansas State, Troy, South Alabama, and Louisiana Tech were chasing him.  In the end it would be a school closer to home than those, which would get his personalized ink on the bottom line of a scholarship.

READ ALL SIGNINGS by clicking "The Rest of the Story" link below.

Preliminary report for West Blocton plane crash

By Daniel L. Bamberg

The National Transportation Safety Board recently completed a preliminary report regarding the aircraft crash, which occurred on Sunday, February 6^th in West Blocton just off of

According to the report the crash occurred at 4:45 in the afternoon.  William “Bill” Belcher’s amateur built Firestar aircraft collided with trees and eventually the ground while maneuvering in the vicinity of a private airfield. 

WBHS and CMS students help David take on Goliath

By Daniel L. Bamberg

West Blocton High School students along with Centreville Middle School students recently participated in a fundraiser for Kyli’s Krusaders, a Relay For Life team started by Jennifer Steele of Centreville.

Jennifer is the wife of West Blocton High School teacher and coach, David Steele.  The couple’s infant daughter, Kyli was diagnosed in 2010 with cancer.  Jennifer began Kyli’s Krusaders to help raise money for Cancer research and awareness in honor of their daughter.

Upcoming Legislative Session to reapportion Alabama

Bibb County may wind up with only two State Legislators

By Daniel L. Bamberg
Alabama Representative April Weaver (R) and Alabama Senator Cam Ward (R) recently discussed reapportionment of legislative districts in Alabama.
Weaver and Ward whose districts include Bibb County seemed enthusiastic about the task, which will begin, in the upcoming March session of the Alabama Legislature. They expressed their opinions about how this might positively affect their constituency.
“Right now Bibb County has four legislators,” said Ward. “April (Weaver), Bobby Singleton, Ralph Howard and myself. Under reapportionment Bibb County and other rural counties will maintain one legislator from the House and Senate.”
At least making sense of the boundaries from the district map as it pertains to rural counties seems to be one of the main talking points in the issue of reapportionment. According to Ward the geographic nature of some districts on the current map allows less focus on the small corners of rural counties, which fall in such a district.

‘Relay For Life’ kicks off enthusiastic 2011 season

By Daniel L. Bamberg

The Bibb County Chapter of the American Cancer Society’s fundraising event, Relay For Life held its kick off lunch on Tuesday, January 25. 

The meeting was held at Centreville Baptist Church among an enthusiastic group of citizens, inspired mostly in hopes for a cure to one of the world’s most dreaded diseases.  

This year, it is estimated that more than 1.3 new patients will be diagnosed.  1,500 people are expected each day will die from cancer in 2011.  According to the American Cancer Society one of every three deaths is attributed to some form of cancer. 

This year’s fund raising goal for the Bibb County Chapter is $65,000.  Community Representative for ACS, Jennifer Hallman believes that the money can be raised through the efforts of 25 local teams.  

Rep. Weaver assigned to Health Policy Committee

By Daniel L. Bamberg

Bibb County citizen and newcomer to the Alabama House of Representatives, April Weaver (R) has received her committee assignments.

She will serve on the Health and Education policy committees. Weaver will serve on these committees through 2014.  She believes strongly that her background in medicine and government relations will help her tremendously in her assignment as part of the Health Policy Committee.  

Before being elected, Representative Weaver spent a great deal of time working with health plans for the state in Montgomery.  Weaver, who is the Director of Business Administration at Shelby Baptist Medical Center, believes she can bring her extensive and thorough experience in the medical field to benefit of Alabamians. 

Ward elected president of Alabama Law Institute

During their quarterly meeting, the Alabama Law Institute elected State Senator Cam Ward of Alabaster to be their new President.  The Council for the Law Institute also selected State Representative Marcel Black of Tuscumbia to serve as their Vice-President.

Created by act of the Legislature in 1967, the Alabama Law Institute works closely with the Legislative Reference Service in the yearly placing of acts passed by the Legislature within the Code of Alabama for proper placement and codification. The membership of the Alabama Law Institute is limited to a maximum of 150 members of the Alabama State Bar Association who are elected for fixed terms, the judges of the Alabama Supreme Court, courts of appeals, and circuit courts, federal judges domiciled in Alabama, full-time law faculty members of Cumberland Law School and the University of Alabama School of Law, all members of the Institute Council and all lawyer members of the Legislature, who are licensed to practice in Alabama.

Experimental aircraft crashes in West Blocton Sunday evening

Pilot said to be in “serious” condition

By Daniel L. Bamberg

On the afternoon of Sunday, February 6, around 5 p.m. an experimental aircraft crashed into the woods just off of Mt. Carmel Drive in West Blocton.

The pilot, Bill Belcher of Brent was airlifted from the scene.  The Federal Aviation Administration stated on Sunday night that the pilot’s injuries were “serious,” but few other details were released.

Belcher was the only man on board the craft.  LifeSaver Helicopter landed

Kyli Steele is Bibb County’s 2010 Inspiration of the Year

The Centreville Press staff has announces the recipient for 2010 “Bibb County Inspiration of the Year.  This award is in conjunction with the “Centreville Press Newsworthiness Awards.”  Last week voters on our blog; “Bibblogger” determined the 2010 “Bibb County Newsmaker of the Year” and the 2010 “Bibb County Moment of the Year.”

The Inspiration of the Year was determined based upon word of mouth consensus of the public as the staff has seen it. 

This year we recognize Kyli Steele for her inspirational and moving story which has not only touched the lives of many in the community but actually has forced the hands of positive action.  Kyli is the daughter of David and Jennifer Steele.  Earlier this year Kyli was diagnosed with cancer but has maintained one of the most heart melting smiles in the county meanwhile motivating a group of local citizens to form “Kyli’s Krusaders.”  The group was founded by Kyli's mother.  They conduct various benefits to help raise awareness for cancer research.

Krista Elam is Bibb County’s 2010 Motivator of the Year

The Centreville Press staff has announced the recipient for 2010 “Bibb County Motivator of the Year.”  This award is in conjunction with the Centreville Press Newsworthiness Awards.  Last week voters on our blog; “Bibblogger” determined the 2010 “Bibb County Newsmaker of the Year” and the 2010 “Bibb County Moment of the Year.”

The Motivator of the Year was determined based upon word of mouth consensus of the public as the staff has seen it. 

This year we recognize Bibb County High School Marching Band Drum Major, Krista Elam for her ability (along with her band mates) to rise above the disappointment of leader abandonment as the BCHS band director resigned early in the football season.  

Greg Blake is Bibb County’s 2010 Newsmaker of the Year

By Daniel L. Bamberg

Readers of the Centreville Press and Bibblogger (online) have spoken.  In early January polls were placed on our blog for readers to select from some of the most newsworthy items and persons for our first ever “Centreville Press / Bibblogger” Newsworthiness Awards.

One of the two choice categories was “Bibb County’s Newsmaker of the Year.”  In this category State Representative April Weaver, the late Reverend W.D. Dickerson, Bibb County High School’s and Alabama’s 4A defensive lineman of the year, Diaheem Watkins, and Woodstock cancer awareness volunteer Tina Brown received votes but not as many as the overall winner, newly elected Bibb County Schools Superintendent Greg Blake. 

Blake got off to a fast start as leader in the polls almost immediately.