It’s time to say, “Goodbye” to the For the past four and a half

years, we have thoroughly

enjoyed experiencing all that

is Sylacauga,

Alabama, and

sharing what

we found with

our growing

and loyal audi­

ence. But, just

as in all as­

pects of life as

we know it,

change is in­

evitable. And

so it is with

thelocalissue.net.

This is our

final edition of

our on­line

publications

for and about the people of

the City of Sylacauga. No

more Sylacauga Digest, no

more The Native Son, no

more Coming Up.

And other than these final

editions, you won’t see us for

a week or so while we transi­

tion into the next phase of

our lives. But when we re­

turn, we hope you will be

pleased with what we have in

store for you, the many won­

derful citizens of the greater

Sylacauga area. The same

goes for those who, like us,

transitioned their lives and

livlihood for the benefit of

themselves and their families,

even those who moved away

from their

home town in

the process.

You see,

change is in­

evitable. It

happens

around the

clock every­

day. But it

doesn’t have

to be a nega­

tive thing. In

fact, with the

proper amount

of inspiration,

perspiration,

and love and

enthusiasm for what you

are doing, it can be a very

good thing. We hope you

will love, appreciate, and

support what is next as

much as you did our site

thelocalissue.net. Thank you!

Administrators of Sylacauga City Schools are committed to

the partnerships with families and the community to prepare

graduates who are ready for college, career, and community

success. They would like to ask for your help in evaluating our

progress. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey

that best fits your involvement with the school system. Your

feedback is important in helping to guide the direction of our

educational programs and support services. Thank you.

Parent Survey:http://www.advanc-ed.org/survey/public/1561774

Staff Survey:http://www.advanc-ed.org/survey/public/0956076

School Climate Teacher Survey:http://www.advanc-ed.org/survey/public/2671100

Student Survey for Indian Valley:http://www.advanc-ed.org/survey/public/9630935

Student Survey for Pinecrest:http://www.advanc-ed.org/survey/public/5693970

Student Survey for Nichols-Lawson:http://www.advanc-ed.org/survey/public/7674201

Student Survey for Sylacauga High:http://www.advanc-ed.org/survey/public/7674201

City Schools ask for help with evaluation surveys

Several April days have been setaside for parents to register new stu­dents for Sylacauga’s Indian Valley El­ementary School, grades Kindergartenand 1st­Grade, on Tuesday, April 21st(8:30a­2:00p)& Thursday, April 23rd(4:00p­6:00p).

Please bring the following itemswith you to Registration:

• Alabama Immunization Form(Blue Slip)• Birth Certif icate (Must haveraised seal.)• Proof of Residency (Two forms)Only a mortgage or lease and a util­ity bill in parent or guardian’s namewill be accepted.

Please be informed of the followinginformation:• Parents must live within the citylimits of Sylacauga in order to enroll achild in Sylacauga City Schools. (Bringannexation paperwork if applicable.)• Students must be five years oldby September 2, 2015, to qualify forpublic kindergarten and six yearsold by September 2, 2015, to regis­

April dates set for Indian Valley new student registration

ter for First Grade.• Only parents or legal guardians areallowed to register students. (Bringguardianship paperwork to school atthe time of registration.)

• In the case of a divorce or guardian­ship, please bring legal paperwork thatwill affect any school decisions.• Students must be present at reg­istration.

The business community is invitedto a special “Dutch Treat” lunch atKinfolks Restaurant on Highway 280in Childersburg on Wednesday, April22nd at 12:00 noon. It’s a great newopportunity  to  network  as  part  ofthe newly­formed   group, Childers­burg Business Associates.

It’s a very informal ­ no scheduledspeaker  ­  opportunity  to  eat  lunchsomeplace besides your desk!  Feelfree to invite others you feel mightbenefit  from  this  unique  new  net­working opportunity.

For more  information, contactAngelia  Todd at 256­480­2126, orvia e­mail at:angelia.todd@alcc.alabama.gov

New Childersburg Business Associates meets on April 22nd

There’s a lot going on in April,

2015, but don’t let that distract

you from one of the great annual

reunion events ­ the Frosty Inn Re­

union! The “young at heart” rou­

tinely gather at Sylacauga’s

Central Park every April to relive

the “good old days” of their

youth. The event has become so

popular, it has also sparked a num­

ber of multi­class reunions at

other times of the year with old­

timers wanting to spend as much

time together as possible.

It’s almost time for the annual Frosty Inn Reunion!

Grads of Sy­lacauga High, B.B.

Comer High, andplenty of other

area high schoolsspent hours on

end forging

friendships at thefamed Frosty Inn,

and all who didare welcome to

come on down

and hang out just like old times!The ever popular lap of town

(with the Sylacauga Police Depart­ment escorting the crowd instead

of trying to catch it) will start at4:00 p.m. Gather in Ogletree Plaza.

There will be plenty of time to

talk old times, as organizers havereserved Central Park across from

Blue Bell Creameries from 10:00a.m. until midnight (or later) on Sat­

urday, April 25th!

Fresh off the excitement of

the Coosafest 475 celebration

earlier in April, the Childersburg

Historic Preservation Commis­

sion is set to get right back into

action with the

5th Annual Grits

Festival at the

Kymulga Grist

Mill on Satur­

day, May 25th

from 9:00 a.m.

until 4:00 p.m.

The event has

been moved up

a week this year

to open the

door to more

and better ven­

dors and attrac­

tions. The

educational aspect of the event

and its historic venue have been

ramped up with inclusion of

three demonstration attrac­

tions, including a Fayetteville­

based blacksmith; an historic

horseshoeing vendor; and some­

one who will demonstrate the

art of hobo nickels, a sculptural

art form involving the creative

modification of small coins, re­

sulting in creative works of art.

Entrance into the Kymulga

Grist Mill Park area will still be

free, and the day will also in­

clude plenty of live entertain­

ment. That will include such

crowd favorites as Violet Blue &

Friends, Hole in the Wall, and a

Childersburg­based Elvis imper­

sonator. The festival will also

feature carriage and hay rides,

along with park’s remarkable na­

ture walking trails.

A lot of visitors come for the

grits, of course, and they won’t

be disappointed. There’ll be

plenty of cooked grits available,

plain grits and also flavored with

sausage and shrimp. The food

fare will also in­

clude hamburg­

ers, hot dogs,

and French fries,

and plenty to

drink. And, you’ll

be able to pick

up grits and corn

meal to take

home with you,

along with local

honey. There

will even be an

area just for the

young visitors,

including plenty

of inflatable bouncy attractions

for the children!

The Childersburg Historic

Preservation Commission this

past year renovated the facil­

ity’s bathrooms, and the funds

raised by this year’s big event

will go back into a fund to sup­

port maintenance and up­keep

of the historic grist mill.

If you’ve never attended one ofthe annual Mule Day celebrationsat the historic Weogu�a Center,you just can’t grasp the magni­tude of whole affair. Covering theentire grounds of the center forarts, education, and entertain­ment, Mule Day is THE big annualevent at the Weogu�a Center.The day gets started early with

a sausage & biscuit breakfastserved in the Home EconomicsBuilding from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m.as literally hundreds of vendorswill be setting up.There will be all sorts of live

demonstrations, many includingthe name stars of the event ­mules from the Mule OwnersClub! Plus, one of the best classic

Antique Car Shows around.There’s always a wide array oflive entertainment acts dottingthe campus, along with some ofbest eating that exists!

Railroad Man, Mr. Robert Pear­son, will have a wonderful displayof his trains inside the school.And the History Room is filledwith wonderful old pictures fromthe school. If you have any photo­graphs you would like to donateplease call Ms. Linda Alexander,Coordinator at 256­234­0030.To help support this wonderful

facility that opens its doors to somany groups and organizationsthroughout the year, there is atwo­dollar charge for parking forthose who attend Mule Day. A few vendor spaces are still

available for just $10.00 perbooth. For more informationcontact Ms. Lola Parker, Coordi­nator at 256­245­3826

Once Upon a Time dedication scheduled for April 26th

Once upon a time, a talented

young sculptor came to Sylacauga

for the annual Magic of Marble

Festival... and for all  intents and

purposes, didn’t leave...

What Craigger Brown did was to

create pieces of marble art that will

live for the ages in the heart of our

city, a symbol of our history...

Browne’s Sylacauga Emerging has

literally become the most recogniza­

ble symbol of our community on the

lawn of the City Hall Complex...

And recently, his four latest

pieces of art, the Once Upon a

Time collection were moved from

their birthplace at the corner of

Norton & Hickory to the lawn of

the B.B. Comer Library for their

finishing touches...

The work was commissioned to

honor the memory of Mayor & Mrs.

Curtis Liles, Jr. And on Sunday,

April 26th at 2:00 p.m., the marble

art collection will be unveiled and

dedicated in a special ceremony on

the lawn of the library!

Dance and Music Revolution Concert at SHS on April 28th

Music, dance, and fun are the hall­marks of entertainment on Tuesdaynight, April 28, when the choral musicsingers of Sylacauga City Schools pres­ent “Dance, Dance Revolution.” Theconcert will be held in the SylacaugaHigh School auditorium at 6:00 p.m.Admission is free, but donations at thedoor will be welcomed. 

Music director Dontavius Tidwellhas brought energy and enthusiasm inrebuilding the music program for mid­dle and high school students. SHS hasnot had choral music in four years,making this the debut performance ofthe Aggie Fine Arts revolution. Approximately 100 Nichols­Lawson

and Sylacauga High students will be

featured in the production of songand dance. Don’t miss the “Dance,Dance Revolution” Tuesday night,April 28, at 6:00 p.m.Pictured is Music Director Dontavius

Tidwell as he rehearses a group ofchoral music students from Nichols­Lawson Middle School for the produc­tion “Dance, Dance Revolution.”

Alabama joins a national exercise day on April 29thWalking is one of the easiest and most

effective forms of exercise, but it can be

hard to find time to enjoy it. That's why

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama is invit­

ing you to walk at your lunch during the

9th annual National Walk@Lunch Day on

Wednesday, April 29th.

Blue Cross celebrates National Walk

@ Lunch Day because walking is one of

the simplest and easy to start forms of

exercise. National Walk @ Lunch is de­

signed to encourage people of all ages,

backgrounds and lifestyles to make

walking a healthy habit for life.

For more information, contact Heidi

Ramey by phone at (205)220­6881 or

email at hramey@bcbsal.org.

Here’s a behind the scenes look

at, Too Soon for Daisies! from the Sy­

lacauga Community Playhouse. It’s

the hilarious story of a small, out­of­

the­way place, a picturesque water­

front village which attracts some

very interesting but peculiar drifters

­ including three elderly ladies who

just happen to be on the run after

escaping from a retirement home.

Tickets are on sale now ­ only

S.C.P. presents the return of live theater to Sylacauga!

$10.00 in advance and $12.00 at

the door. If you call ahead and re­

serve your tickets but pick them

up at will call you still get the

$10.00 price. Now, how do you

get tickets? Simply message the

Sylacauga Community Playhouse

on Facebook; email them at syla­

caugacommunityplayhouse@gm

ail.com; or call (256) 208­5768

(ask for Sherry) or come by in

person to Maxye Veazey Senior

Center in Sylacauga.

The show dates are:

Friday, May 1st @ 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 2nd @ 2:00

Saturday, May 2nd @ 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 3rd @ 2:30 p.m.

The Sylacauga City Schools system announces a pre­

school program for children who will be four years old on or

before September 1, 2015, and reside in Sylacauga City

School zone. This special preschool program has an empha­

sis on providing all children with “school readiness” experi­

ences that meet their individual needs.

So, what is, “School Readiness?” It includes:

1. Enthusiasm for Learning

2. An Ability to Function in a Social Setting

3. Age­Appropriate Communication and Problem Solving Skills

4. Age­Appropriate Physical and Emotional Skills

5. Optimal Health

The preschool program will follow the August 2015 ­ May

2016 Sylacauga City Schools calendar for students and will be

conducted at Indian Valley Elementary School.

Interested parents should complete the preschool applica­

tion and submit it by May 8, 2015, to any school location, includ­

ing the central office. Contact Jennifer Rosato for more infor­

mation and/or application at (256) 249­7012.

You may also click here for the link to the application:

http://ow.ly/LhKmo

City Schools announce Preschool Program Registration

C.A.W.G.A. writers are banding together for common good!

http://ow.ly/H2Pfq

If you feel the need to be more pur­poseful  in  networking  for  your  Syla­cauga­area  business,  a  neworganization gives you  your chance!

The brand new Sylacauga BusinessAssociates provides you an opportunityto network and eat  lunch somewhereother than at your desk  as it hosts itssecond  meeting  on  Wednesday,  May13th at the Hickory Street Café (CVMC)in the Marble City Room at 12:00 noonfor a “Dutch­Treat” lunch.

It’s really simple to join ­ there areno fees, dues, or requirement to jointhe Chamber of Commerce.  You mayinvite anyone you feel would benefitfrom attending.  Don't forget to bringyour  business  cards  or  brochures  toshare with those in attendance.

New Sylacauga Business Associates meets on May 13th

Cindy McKee Alford * Jerry PhurroughSherry Machen * Memorey Adams

Danielle LovettCindy Barnes Brashear * Lauren OwensbyThe ladies of Trendsetters hair Salon invite you tocome visit their new home at 113 North Broadway.

Coosa Valley Medical Center’s Circle of Care Caregiver SupportGroup is going strong in 2014 with a new day & time ­ the 2ndWednesday of each month from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon in thechapel of the hospital. The next meeting is  May 13th.

The  goal for this group is to provide education, support, and out­reach not only for family members of the patients on the unit,but to the community and surrounding areas as well.

For more information about the Circle of Care Support Group,call CVMC’s Senior Behavioral Inpatient and Outpatient Programat (256) 401­4674.

The  South  Talladega County Relay  for  Lifemeets the second Thursday of every month atthe Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce. Commit­tees meet at 5:30 p.m., and Team Captains meetat 6:00 p.m. That means that the next monthlymeeting will  be  held on  Thursday, May  14th,2015 at the Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce!Get more information, or get involved with

an  existing team,  or  start  your  own team bycontacting Katie Wesson at 256­404­2948, or viae­mail at  Katie.wesson@cancer.org

Got an item for our

Community Calendar

Or, maybe a news item

Contact us

via E­mail at:thelocalissue@hotmail.com

Tuesday, April 21st - This is the first day of open registration fornew students for the coming school year at Indian Valley ElementarySchool in Sylacauga. It will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.at the school. Please bring your child’s Alabama Immunization Form(Blue Slip), Birth Certificate, and two forms of proof of residency -mortgage or lease & utility bill.

Wednesday, April 22nd - The business community is invitedto a special “Dutch Treat” lunch at Old Town Grill in Childersburgon Wednesday, April 22nd at 11:00 a.m. It’s a great new opportunityto network as part of the newly-formed group, Childersburg Busi-ness Associates. It’s a very informal - no scheduled speaker - op-portunity to eat lunch someplace besides your desk! Feel free toinvite others you feel might benefit from this unique new networkingopportunity. For more information, contact Angelia Todd at 256-480-2126, or via e-mail at: angelia.todd@alcc.alabama.gov

Thursday, April 23rd - This is the final day of open registrationfor new students for the coming school year at Indian Valley Ele-mentary School in Sylacauga. It will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.at the school. Please bring your child’s Alabama Immunization Form(Blue Slip), Birth Certificate, and two forms of proof of residency -mortgage or lease & utility bill.

Wednesday, April 29th - Walking is one of the easiest and mosteffective forms of exercise, but it can be hard to find time to enjoyit. That's why Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama is inviting you towalk at your lunch during the 9th annual National Walk@Lunch Dayon Wednesday, April 29th. For more information, contact HeidiRamey by phone at (205)220-6881 or email at hramey@bcbsal.org.

Friday, May 8th - This is the deadline to register for a specialpre-school program for Sylacauga four-year-olds, with an emphasison providing all children with “school readiness” experiences thatmeet their individual needs. Interested parents should complete thepreschool application and submit it by May 8, 2015, to any schoollocation, including the central office. Contact Jennifer Rosato formore information and/or application at (256) 249-7012. You mayalso click here for the link to the application: http://ow.ly/LhKmo

Monday, May 11th- The Central Alabama Writers Guild Al-

liance (CAWGA) meets at 6:30 p.m. at the Comer Museum. Forthose that write, or are interested in writing, wether it be novels(fiction/nonfiction), poetry, short stories, etc., or even as a sup-porter of authors and literature, you are urged to think about join-ing. It promises be an interesting and informative meeting. Thoseinterested and/or considering joining are welcomed to come andsit in - speak up with your comments, ask questions, or just sit andlisten! In the meantime, please visit and "Like" the CAWGA Face-book page at: http://ow.ly/H2Pfq

Wednesday, May 13th - A Dutch-Treat lunch meeting of the Sy-lacauga Chamber of Commerce’s “Sylacauga Business Associates”will be held at 12:00 noon at the Hickory Street Cafe. To make areservation of to get more information, contact Angelia Todd at 256-480-2131, or via e-mail at: angelia.todd@alcc.alabama.gov

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Wha t’s up, Sy la ca ug a ­ ca lenda r o f c omm unit y eve nts