Lauren Estes-Velez and Rebekah Martin

Hartselle Enquirer

2017 was a busy year for the City of Hartselle. Top news stories published in 2017 editions of the Enquirer include the opening of new businesses and restaurants; changes in leadership in both the community and the school system; and special city events.

1. After the citizens of Hartselle decided to allow alcohol sales inside city limits in November 2016, the City of Hartselle was officially ready for alcohol. City Hall received four applications from businesses and restaurants Jan. 3.
2. Two new restaurants made waves in 2017: Arby’s and Zaxby’s locations were opened on Highway 31. The first 100 customers at Zaxby’s received a “52 Meal Dealz” card that provided one free Zaxby’s meal a week for a year to each of the 100 customers.
3. When Jon Godwin submitted a letter of resignation to the school board Jan. 12., the search to find his replacement was on. Godwin was put on paid administrative leave Dec. 1, 2016, pending an investigation in relation to personnel issues. Bibb County native Bradley Colburn was hired to fill the empty position.
4. This summer, Hartselle City Schools board found a replacement for Vic Wilson in Dee Dee Jones, who began as the new superintendent July 31. Jones is entering her 30th year in education with experience as a teacher, reading specialist, assistant principal, principal, secondary and career tech supervisor and director of learning and teaching for Ft. Payne, Decatur and Hartselle City Schools.
5. Hartselle High School baseball coach and former interim superintendent William Booth has won eight state championships since 1990 and saw his 1,000th victory this year. In a previous article, the Hall of Fame inductee said he never would have imagined his career would have turned out the way it did. “I have to give thanks to all the players and coaches who bought in and helped me to achieve all of this,” Booth said.
6. Danville High School football player Kane Hogan made a triumphant return to the gridiron after a battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia that threatened to end his football career. “I am blessed. My team has gotten me through this the whole way, and they’re my family,” Hogan said in an article published in August. “If I ever need anything, I call them.”
7. A dispute between a customer and an employee at Eagle 1 Roofing on Highway 31 left one dead and led to an investigation into the cause in May. The victim was identified as Nicholas Elliott Cazier of Decatur. The investigation is still ongoing.
8. In February, Fairview–The Grace Place hosted the Tim Tebow Night to Shine event, a prom for children and adults with special needs. The event, which began three years ago and is centered on God’s love, has become a worldwide movement. According to the Tim Tebow Foundation, this year more than 150,000 volunteers in more than 375 churches around the world will serve more than 75,000 honored guests simultaneously on one night.
9. Jerome Ward, longtime English teacher at Hartselle High School was hired as the new assistant principal and will begin those duties in early 2018.
10. The 2017-18 school year saw the opening of a branch of Redstone Federal Credit Union inside Hartselle High school. Five finance students and two teachers spent time training at the bank over the summer to be prepared to handle money through opening accounts, taking deposits and making transfers within their branch. Superintendent Dee Dee Jones was one of the first to open an account. Redstone covered the expenses for construction, equipment and training. The credit union will also offer financial education workshops for students and staff throughout the year.