Latest news with #Hartselle
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mike Swafford running for Hartselle City Council Place 5
HARTSELLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Mike Swafford with the Morgan County Sheriff's Office announced on Sunday that he will be running for Place 5 on the Hartselle City Council. Swafford made the announcement on his Facebook page. He is currently the public information officer for MCSO and has owned and operated a small business for the last eight years. Voting will begin on Aug. 26, 2025. You can read his full announcement below: I'm Mike Swafford and I am happy to announce that I am running for Hartselle City Council, Place 5. I love Hartselle and what it means to our family. Hartselle has allowed us to be part of the community, make long lasting friendships and grow as a family. It has been the perfect backdrop for Sallye, Brennan, Rowe and myself to build our life. But, this didn't just happen. This has only been possible through the work of those that came before us. Decisions made long ago have given us the Hartselle that we know and love. Now it is time for new ideas and perspectives to build on Hartselle's legacy for the next generation. In short, I believe we can do more. We can do more to improve our infrastructure including our roadways, sidewalks and traffic flow. We can do more to bring our park and recreation facilities back to life and be on par with area facilities. Hartselle is a proud City and our facilities and offerings should reflect that. We can do more to help the citizens be informed and connected to the work of our city government. City Council meetings should be streamed and archived so they can be viewed on your schedule. We can do more to make our City easy to do business with and maximize revenue growth without sacrificing existing business. Hartselle has allowed me to do many things over the years: NFL Flag Football Commissioner, Coaching numerous sports Hartselle Chamber of Commerce Boardmember Hartselle Citizen Police Academy Alumni Park and Rec Parent Advisory Committee 2 time Kiwanis Club president School Board Member Dixie Youth Baseball Board Football Game parking coordinator QB Club President and 8 years as Santa on a firetruck just to name a few. In my professional life, I have 20 plus years of award-winning corporate leadership and management experience. While I curremtly serve all of Morgan County as the Public Information Officer for the Sheriff's Office and have owned and operated a small business for the last 8 years. Additionally, Sallye and I are active members of Hartselle First Baptist Church where I serve as a deacon. In closing, by the time I was 18, I had moved 33 times. This turbulent early beginning instilled in me the value of belonging, knowing your neighbors, investing where you live and having a place to call home. I have seen many conversation trying to define what Hartselle is and isn't. At the end of the day, it is home. The home our family chose and with steadfast leadership maybe the home our children will one day long to return to. I have grown to know many of you and welcome your ideas. For those that I haven't met yet, I look forward to doing so and hearing your thoughts. I can say up front, that I do not have all the answers, but I do know that I am approachable, genuine and ready to listen in order to make the best decisions for Hartselle. On August 26, 2025 I hope I can count on your vote and work to do more! Mike Swafford Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Morgan County Sheriff's Office says authorities searching for missing woman
MORGAN COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — The Morgan County Sheriff's Office says crews are searching a wooded area for a missing 19-year-old. MCSO said deputies, along with fire and EMS crews, responded to the 1300 block of Community Lane near Hartselle Monday, searching for the woman who authorities said went into the woods and did not return. According to MCSO, the woman was wearing a pink skirt and a white and black striped shirt and has a medical condition that could disorient her. Authorities said she was with two dogs when she went missing. MSCO had not released the identity of the woman as of 10:07 p.m. Monday. The sheriff's office said that residents should use caution in the area due to multiple agencies actively searching. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Final Hartselle superintendent candidate interviewed
May 17—Tony Dowdy, deputy superintendent of Calhoun County Schools, was the last of three superintendent finalists interviewed Thursday by Hartselle Board of Education members. On Wednesday, board members interviewed Rachel Poovey, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning at Trussville City Schools, a job she has held since 2021. On Monday, board members interviewed Holly Sutherland, superintendent of Haleyville City Schools, a job she has held since 2017. After a 1 1/2 -hour interview, board members and members of the public held a reception for Dowdy. Hartselle City Schools has more than 3,600 students in six schools, including a high school, junior high, intermediate and three elementary schools. During the interview, board member Daxton Maze said implementing technology requires leadership and a support system. He asked Dowdy how he would foster a culture of innovation and continuous professional development for teachers and staff. "This might get me in trouble," Dowdy said, "but I'm still a little old school at work. I feel like technology is a tool. I don't feel that technology should replace the personal one-on-one relationship with the teacher in the classroom." He listed two reasons for this. "Number one, we have a generation that can't collaborate, they can't communicate, they don't talk, they don't interact, so if you do too much technology-wise that keeps them in that world and out of the communication and the humanness part of the teacher that is in that world. However, that's the world that this generation lives and works in, so there has got to be a good balance between the two." He suggested that students use technology to gain information but put it back together in their own words. Maze followed up with another question: "We've seen big growth in STEM curriculum, (and) robotics. How would you continue to support our programs and help them expand?" Dowdy responded by saying, "if it's innovative and we can do it, let's do it. The only no answer I will ever have on innovation is if that man right over there says we can't finance it," he said, pointing to the chief financial officer. Board member Sabrina Buettner asked Dowdy to describe how he would collaborate with stakeholders in shaping initiatives that support student success academically, athletically and artistically. "I think you just have to have a conversation. You've got to meet with the community. You've got to meet with the state boards. You've got to meet with the city council. You've got to meet with the civic organizations You've got to meet with the churches," he said. He said the story of the school and what is going on there day to day can be told on social media because that reaches the most people. He said where he works they do an end of the year recap to learn how they can improve throughout the district. His school system includes eight high schools, five of those grades 7 to 12 and two of them grades 9 to 12, plus two middle schools and seven elementary schools. Total student population is 7,950, he said. Dowdy has been deputy superintendent of Calhoun County Schools since 2023. Before that, he spent 25 years with Pell City Schools, including 10 as math teacher at Pell City High School. He also served as head baseball coach, assistant football coach, assistant baseball coach and junior varsity baseball coach. For six years he was assistant principal and then principal of Pell City High. He worked four years as coordinator of instructional support services before retiring in 2019. He returned to education to take his current role at Calhoun County Schools. Dowdy earned his master's, educational specialist and doctoral degrees in educational administration from the University of Alabama. He was a platoon sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves from 1990-96. He never deployed, but he did finish his six years of reserve time. — or 256-340-2361
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Final Hartselle superintendent candidate interviewed
May 17—Tony Dowdy, deputy superintendent of Calhoun County Schools, was the last of three superintendent finalists interviewed Thursday by Hartselle Board of Education members. On Wednesday, board members interviewed Rachel Poovey, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning at Trussville City Schools, a job she has held since 2021. On Monday, board members interviewed Holly Sutherland, superintendent of Haleyville City Schools, a job she has held since 2017. After a 1 1/2 -hour interview, board members and members of the public held a reception for Dowdy. Hartselle City Schools has more than 3,600 students in six schools, including a high school, junior high, intermediate and three elementary schools. During the interview, board member Daxton Maze said implementing technology requires leadership and a support system. He asked Dowdy how he would foster a culture of innovation and continuous professional development for teachers and staff. "This might get me in trouble," Dowdy said, "but I'm still a little old school at work. I feel like technology is a tool. I don't feel that technology should replace the personal one-on-one relationship with the teacher in the classroom." He listed two reasons for this. "Number one, we have a generation that can't collaborate, they can't communicate, they don't talk, they don't interact, so if you do too much technology-wise that keeps them in that world and out of the communication and the humanness part of the teacher that is in that world. However, that's the world that this generation lives and works in, so there has got to be a good balance between the two." He suggested that students use technology to gain information but put it back together in their own words. Maze followed up with another question: "We've seen big growth in STEM curriculum, (and) robotics. How would you continue to support our programs and help them expand?" Dowdy responded by saying, "if it's innovative and we can do it, let's do it. The only no answer I will ever have on innovation is if that man right over there says we can't finance it," he said, pointing to the chief financial officer. Board member Sabrina Buettner asked Dowdy to describe how he would collaborate with stakeholders in shaping initiatives that support student success academically, athletically and artistically. "I think you just have to have a conversation. You've got to meet with the community. You've got to meet with the state boards. You've got to meet with the city council. You've got to meet with the civic organizations You've got to meet with the churches," he said. He said the story of the school and what is going on there day to day can be told on social media because that reaches the most people. He said where he works they do an end of the year recap to learn how they can improve throughout the district. His school system includes eight high schools, five of those grades 7 to 12 and two of them grades 9 to 12, plus two middle schools and seven elementary schools. Total student population is 7,950, he said. Dowdy has been deputy superintendent of Calhoun County Schools since 2023. Before that, he spent 25 years with Pell City Schools, including 10 as math teacher at Pell City High School. He also served as head baseball coach, assistant football coach, assistant baseball coach and junior varsity baseball coach. For six years he was assistant principal and then principal of Pell City High. He worked four years as coordinator of instructional support services before retiring in 2019. He returned to education to take his current role at Calhoun County Schools. Dowdy earned his master's, educational specialist and doctoral degrees in educational administration from the University of Alabama. He was a platoon sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves from 1990-96. He never deployed, but he did finish his six years of reserve time. — or 256-340-2361
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Hartselle man out on bond for burglary arrested for second-degree rape
May 17—A 27-year-old Hartselle man was charged with three counts of second-degree rape after investigators say he had sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old on three separate occasions, according to an affidavit. The Morgan County Sheriff's Office said they arrested Benjamin Preston Bolan on Tuesday at an apartment on Mitwede Street in Hartselle and initially held him in lieu of a $300,000 bond. On Wednesday, Morgan County District Judge Stephen Brown revoked that bond after finding probable cause that Bolan committed new crimes while out on release for a previous third-degree burglary charge, according to court records. On April 26, an investigator with the Sheriff's Office contacted the Department of Human Resources after he received a report from the father of a 13-year-old female that his daughter had sex with a male over the age of 21, according to the affidavit. The investigator conducted a forensic interview with the victim on May 7. "She disclosed during the forensic interview that the male subject's name was (Ben) and they had sex at three different locations," the affidavit said. "Two of the locations were at her mawmaw's house and her mimi's house. The third location is unknown." The affidavit said during the third encounter, Bolan parked down the street and the victim walked to his vehicle and had sex inside. "(The victim) disclosed that every time he showed up, they smoked weed and had sex and he knew she was 13 years old and he could get in trouble," the affidavit said. On May 8, the victim and her mother came to the Sheriff's Office and gave the investigator a picture of the victim and Bolan, and he confirmed Bolan as a suspect from the picture on his driver's license. "(The victim) also identified Bolan in a photo lineup and the vehicle he was driving," the affidavit said. Bolan also faces other charges. In 2024, Bolan was charged with third-degree robbery. An affidavit said the owner of a storage unit in Hartselle made a report on Oct. 31 that the unit had been broken into and multiple items including a guitar, amplifier, and power tools were stolen. On Nov. 4, a Morgan County Sheriff's deputy went to Pawns of Decatur and recovered a receipt showing that Bolan had pawned the items from the storage unit on July 1 for $650 and "then went back to get the pawned items on July 22." He was arrested and taken to Morgan County Jail on Nov. 6, but was released the same day on $2,500 bail, according to court records. — or 256-340-2442.
