Anniston- Anniston Mayor Jack Draper announced in a publicly released letter that he is resigning The letter states his last day will be today Download the WEIS Radio app in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our text alerts here pass field on final day to claim third Class 4A state track title in four years Lisa Howard Holland always takes a relatively small group to the state track meet but the veteran Anniston coach always gets the most out of them The Bulldogs passed the field on the third and final day Saturday in Gulf Shores and will bring home their third Class 4A state title overall and third in the past four years The Class 4A-7A meets concluded on schedule in Gulf Shores beset by weather delays completed just after 9 p.m Anniston’s boys won state titles in 2022 and 2023 surpassing defending state champion Hamilton (69) on the final day and we were down by 16 points coming into today,” Holland said so you can’t take anything for granted going up against teams like that Anniston stood in second place with 32 points through Friday Saturday’s highlights saw Elijah Lanier win the 110 hurdles in 14.63 seconds after finishing second in preliminaries The 4×400 relay team won in state-record 3:23.15 “Eli was strong going into the hurdles and he was a part of two relays,” Holland said “It was a group effort with a bunch of younger guys These ones haven’t been with me as long as some of the others in the past.” Keddrick Jordan took second in the 400 dash () third in the 200 dash (22.14) and fourth in the triple jump (45-10.50) Pilot’s birthday would’ve been Friday he (Jordan) told me it was personal,” Holland said “He came out and ran in second place Thursday and Friday saw Keddrick Jordan take second in the 400 dash (49.23) Ahmad Kelly second in the long jump (22-02.50) and Sharontee Bailey second in shot put (50-07.25) The 4×800 relay team took third (8:23.17) Rounding out teams in Class 4A: Handley (41) fifth Cherokee County (4) 31st and Talladega (2) 38th HANDLEY: Elijah Stegall won the triple jump (48-00.25) Alex Busbin took third in the 400 dash (49.70) HOKES BLUFF: Conner Wellingham led Hokes Bluff’s boys finishing second in discus (144-05) and javelin (162-06) He also scored at seventh in the shot put (40-03.25) WHITE PLAINS: Josh Duke had the top finishes for White Plains’ boys at fourth in the 3,200 run (9:57.25) and sixth in the 1,600 (4:25.61) ALEXANDRIA: Jayden Phelps took fifth in the 3,200 (10:04.97) CHEROKEE COUNTY: Bryce Gaudreau finished first in the ambulatory 100 dash (15.10) and 200 dash (29.50) and Daniel Burton took first in two ambulatory events: discus (41–06) and shot put (14-01.50) TALLADEGA: The 4×100 relay team was seventh (44.42) and White Plains (29) tied for seventh to lead area teams WHITE PLAINS: Maddyn Conn added her 10th and 11th state titles in cross country She won the 1,600 run (5:20.85) Thursday and the 3,200 run (11:52.49) Friday.  She also finished fourth in the 800 run (2:24.66) Abbie Dickeson scored with an eighth-place finish in the 3,200 run (12:27.41) TALLADEGA: Justasia Pointer took second in the 100 dash (12.40) and 2000 dash (25.33) and Zae Cunningham was third in the 300 hurdles (46.54) ANNISTON: Liberty Lewis took fourth in the 200 dash (25.83) and sixth in the 400 dash (59.63) and the 4×100 relay team took first (49.68) CHEROKEE COUNTY: Deannia Starr took fourth in discus (111-02) and sixth in the shot put (35-00.50) Shamiya McElrath finished third in the 200 dash ( 25.51) fifth in the 400 dash (59.55) and seventh in the 100 dash (12.77) ALEXANDRIA: Anna Beth Stewart’s state high-jump title (5-02.00) on Thursday led the Valley Cubs and Tyasha Hunt took fifth in the discus (103-06) HANDLEY: Trinity Askew finished fourth in the 100 hurdles (15.90) Jacksonville (58) and Lincoln (43) to round out the top four teams CENTRAL-CLAY: Kevin Cherry won the 110 hurdles (14.57) and the 200 dash (21.66) and took fourth in the 100 dash (10.92) Tristan Wilson won the triple jump (43-06) and DeShaun Gibbons was second in the long jump (21-10.75) Gibbons also scored with a fifth-place finish in the 100 dash (11.10) and sixth in the 200 dash (22.70) JACKSONVILLE: Tyshaun Cameron is a state champion in the 400 dash (50.50) and 300 hurdles (39.55) Aaron Nixon took second in the triple jump (43-05.75) and fourth in the long jump (20-10.50) Quinn Weaver took third in the 1,600 (4:31.57) and fifth in the 800 run (2:00.11) The 4×400 relay team took second (3:25.46) LINCOLN: Aaron Davis took second in the 800 run (1:58.56) and third in the 300 hurdles (41.45) Jack Wiggins finished fourth in the 1,600 run (4:35.80) and fifth in the 3,200 run (10:02.01) Elijah Carter was fourth in the triple jump (43-02.00) Rider Wheldon was second in pole vault (13-06.00) and Central-Clay (59) led area teams in fourth place CENTRAL-CLAY: Mia Lindsey took first in the 300 hurdles (45.22) third in the 100 hurdles (15.54) and fifth in the 400 dash (1:00.27) Zykeria Heflin took second in the 100 dash (12.36) and 200 dash (25.13) Dymond Heflin finished fourth in the triple jump (35-07.50) JACKSONVILLE: Jayci Taylor finished third in the 400 dash (59.93) and seven in the 200 dash (26.07) and the 4×400 relay team took fourth (4:20.02) Wilson finished second in the 400 dash (49.00) and the Yellow Jackets racked up points in relays: second in the 4×100 (41.68) second in the 4×400 (3:22.20) and third in the 4×800 relay (8:08.65) SOUTHSIDE: Evan Christopher scored with an eighth-place finish in the 3,200 run (9:45.49) SOUTHSIDE: Rylann Shaw finished third in the javelin (124-05) OXFORD: Alexis Johnson finished fourth in the high jump (5-02.00) Paid Advertisement – Click for More Information Copyright © 2025 Calhoun Journal  |  Designed and Managed by JLM Communications We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at ggray@annistonstar.com or call us at 256-236-1551 Falling tree limbs in Birmingham kills one person Mayor Jack Draper of Anniston has resigned expressed gratitude for Draper's years of dedicated service and leadership "His commitment to the City has left a lasting impact and steady guidance he provided throughout his tenure," the city said in a statement "We wish Mayor Draper all the best in his future endeavors and continued good health." Vice Mayor Ciara Smith will assume the office of Mayor Smith was unanimously appointed to the position by the Anniston City Council on November 3 The City of Anniston will begin accepting resumes for the vacancy on Monday Resumes should be hand-delivered to the City Manager’s Office at 1129 Noble Street or sent via email to citymanager@annistonal.gov by Monday Interviews for eligible applicants will be conducted on Thursday May 15th at 6:00 PM at the Anniston City Meeting Center The City emphasized its commitment to a smooth leadership transition and maintaining exemplary service to Anniston residents we will continue moving Anniston forward," the statement concluded This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience The hopes for Coldwater Mountain in Anniston, Alabama, have been ambitious since the very beginning. In 2012, IMBA Trail Solutions drew up plans for 60 miles of trails at the site, with a goal of making Coldwater “into a world-class mountain biking destination over the next 3-5 years.” Thirteen years on, Coldwater Mountain boasts about 50 miles of singletrack and has just landed the first Leadville qualifying mountain bike race east of the Mississippi, dubbed the “Coldwater Trail.” Over a million dollars was invested in trails recently delivering a mix of new and improved singletrack with an eye toward moving the region from an IMBA Bronze-level Ride Center to Silver Since 2012, about $4M has been invested in the trails at Coldwater Mountain, according to Northeast Alabama Bicycle Association (NEABA) President Tom Nelson. Last year, the club received an Innovate Alabama grant for $1.1M, which is being used to construct new trails and rework some of the more popular, signature trails like Bomb Dog NEABA contracted professional trail builders from Rock Solid Trails and Anniston-based Flow Motion to complete the majority of the work with volunteers chipping in to handle the rest The most ambitious upgrade to Coldwater is the newly opened Southern Traverse trail intermediate-level singletrack connector that spans from one end of the property to the other The new bi-directional trail starts near the bottom of Bomb Dog and traverses the south side of Coldwater Mountain until it reaches the Oval Office trail But don’t let that fool you; this trail has plenty of ups and downs along the way the trail gains 985ft of elevation and drops 870ft overall (Coldwater boasts almost 1,000ft of vertical between the high and low points in the trail system.) Most will ride Southern Traverse to create a loop with existing trails like Chilhowhee Southern Traverse will “allow us to start connecting trails up to the top of the ridge,” Nelson told me “There’s a lot of property over there.” Riding all the trails at Coldwater Mountain today would easily clock 50+ miles with very little doubling back With fresh access to the south side of the property the original 60-mile trail vision is surely within striking distance The Flow Motion build team started at one end of the trail The two teams cut trail until they met in the middle the 8.5-mile trail was completed in less than nine months There wasn’t any signage when I rode the Southern Traverse trail on April 3 Massive bench cuts allow the trail to hug the sides of the mountain and the trail builders used large rocks to create optional features to keep things interesting The new trail corridor appears to be cut a bit wider than some of the existing trails at Coldwater and Nelson tells me that’s by design to make the system more race-friendly for passing it’s pretty common for a new trail corridor to shrink over time as vegetation returns and riders establish the preferred line the Southern Traverse trail is open to electric mountain bikes Signature trail Bomb Dog was among the first trails to open at Coldwater The blue trail is a must-ride for first-time visitors A portion of the $1.1M grant is being used to rebuild part of upper Bomb Dog including the iconic “berm with a view” as seen in the photo above The Baby Bear trail is also getting a major update which will turn it into a jump line that’s located close to the main trailhead parking lot as seen in the photo at the top of the story was not yet open to the public in early April To ensure the Coldwater Trail race runs smoothly a tunnel is being constructed at a crucial trail intersection The club plans to tackle this project on their own using volunteers to get the massive sectional culvert system in place and backfilled with dirt With these and other investments, Anniston is hoping to earn an IMBA Silver Ride Center designation. Birmingham, about an hour to the west, is working toward the same goal Local advocates are hoping to attract even more riders, and not just to Coldwater. There’s a jump track being built beside a baseball field in nearby Oxford, and the trails at McClellan regularly host high school mountain bike races for riders from all over the state Once the Coldwater Trail race rolls into town in October making backers’ grand 2012 vision all but official: Anniston is finally a world-class mountain bike destination Enter your email for the top stories in mountain biking plus product picks and deals delivered to your inbox each week — A single-vehicle crash on Tuesday afternoon claimed the life of Trevor S The wreck happened at approximately 3:40 p.m about a mile north of Muscle Shoals in Colbert County Malone was driving a 2007 Honda Pilot when the vehicle veered off the roadway sustained injuries in the crash and was transported to Helen Keller Hospital for treatment The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Highway Patrol Division is investigating the incident and no further details are available at this time AL – Families and wildlife enthusiasts are invited to an exciting “Creature Feature” at the Anniston Museums and Gardens on Saturday This monthly event offers guests a unique opportunity to meet one of the museum’s live animal ambassadors up close and learn more about their behaviors Held inside the museum’s exhibit halls the “Creature Feature” program showcases a rotating selection of reptiles Because the featured animal changes each month visitors are encouraged to return regularly—there’s always something new to discover This educational and engaging event is included with regular museum admission and is free for Anniston Museums and Gardens members It is part of AM&G’s ongoing efforts to connect the public with nature and inspire conservation through firsthand experiences The Anniston Museums and Gardens is located at Museum Drive in Anniston or simply looking for a fun Saturday activity this is an event you won’t want to miss For more information, please contact the organizers. For a full list of local events click here announced his resignation from his position after 8 1/2 years of service The Mayor released a statement announcing his resignation and career being the main reasoning behind his resignation He is set to officially resign at the close of business on Friday AL — The West Anniston Foundation invites the public to Zinn Park on Saturday for a special three-hour community event celebrating the connection between Earth Day and Mother’s Day the event aims to raise awareness about environmental protection Families and residents from across West Anniston are encouraged to attend and engage in hands-on learning about how environmental stewardship directly affects health and quality of life in local neighborhoods Organizers emphasize the importance of clean air attendees can drop in to explore practical information on environmental and health topics including how pollution impacts homes and communities Participants will gain valuable tools and knowledge they can use to help protect their surroundings guests will have the opportunity to take part in a community science survey using their smartphones making it accessible for all ages and experience levels The event is part of the West Anniston Foundation’s ongoing commitment to environmental justice and public health equity Organizers hope it will inspire residents to take action and become more involved in creating a cleaner For families looking to make a difference while learning about the environment this free event at Zinn Park offers an opportunity to connect and help shape a better future for West Anniston AL (WBMA) — A routine patrol turned into a high-speed chase on McKleroy Avenue and W 34th Street in Anniston when C-Shift officers attempted to stop a vehicle for improper use of the roadway Four suspects were apprehended and face various felony and misdemeanor charges "Our officers are committed to ensuring the safety of our community at all hours," police said in a statement Anniston Police expressed gratitude to the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office and the Oxford Police Department for their assistance highlighting the importance of inter-agency cooperation in maintaining public safety SEE ALSO: Birmingham police investigate early morning homicide on 8th Court West SEE ALSO: Tuscaloosa Police investigate early morning homicide on 1800 Links Blvd We will continue to provide updates as they become available (WBMA) — Quantities of illegal narcotics were recovered in Anniston after search warrants were executed Wednesday The 7th Judicial Major Crimes Unit said the warrants were in collaboration with the Anniston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol and were part of an extensive investigation into fentanyl sales in Anniston and surrounding areas the crimes unit said authorities seized 7.3 ounces of fentanyl and authorities said no further information will be released at this time (WBMA) — A single-vehicle crash early Sunday morning claimed the life of a 21-year-old Anniston woman Stovall was fatally injured when the 2019 Kia Optima she was driving veered off the roadway Authorities reported that Stovall was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash resulting in her being ejected from the vehicle The accident occurred at approximately 5:39 a.m about six miles east of Ohatchee in Calhoun County Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Highway Patrol Division are continuing to investigate the incident Anniston City Council recently awarded a $1.2 million bid for infrastructure construction at the Summerall Subdivision on McClellan Boulevard The city believes it will incentivize new businesses to move to the retail site The 38-acre subdivision is expected to have enough space for eight individual parcels and an area behind the retail properties "This is done through a process called a 772 amendment That gives a local government the ability to incentivize development you see it done through tax abatements and tax incentives but you can also use your 772 amendments to do the public infrastructure work needed for these developments," explained Jackson Hodges City of Anniston Public Relations Director Building it all out so that by the time the tenant is ready This is what you see in a lot of progressive communities when it comes to economic development The city steps in to alleviate some of the burden." Vulcan Materials Asphalt and Construction will begin working on the project in late January "It may just benefit these businesses but these businesses benefit the community as a whole through the jobs and economic impact they are going to generate," said Hodges the sales tax revenue for the city is estimated to be between $1.4 million to $2.4 million annually The total economic impact of the completed subdivision is $45 million The construction phase alone could have a $47 million economic impact An ALDI grocery store currently occupies one property A new business is expected to be announced next week The subdivision's development is also supported by a $350,000 Rebuild Alabama grant which is being used to develop access points to the property from McClellan Boulevard "We know this development is really going to be the linchpin toward the future growth future direction of the Northern Anniston area," said Hodges the McClellan Development Authority board voted to start the dissolution process for the authority and transition development responsibilities to the City of Anniston — The City of Anniston has announced the appointment of Skyler Bass as Interim City Manager The decision was made by a unanimous 5-0 vote from the Anniston City Council during their meeting on March 18 Bass will officially assume her new role on April 10 following the retirement of current City Manager Steven D Bass has served as the City Clerk since 2018 dedicating the past seven years to ensuring transparency Her leadership during this transition highlights her commitment to the city’s success Bass is a first-generation college graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration from Jacksonville State University She is a certified Municipal Clerk and an active member of the Alabama Municipal Clerks and Administrators Association Bass's leadership is driven by her passion for community engagement and accountability in local government she remains committed to fostering growth and progress for the City of Anniston the City of Anniston marked a significant milestone with the groundbreaking of a new Starbucks located at the Summerall Subdivision on McClellan Boulevard This new addition is set to bring 40 new jobs and contribute over $100,000 annually to the city’s tax base reinforcing Anniston’s status as a growing destination for new businesses will join ALDI Grocery Store as an anchor tenant at the Summerall Subdivision The groundbreaking of the Starbucks location is expected to be completed between the fall and winter of 2025 further enhancing the area’s appeal and attracting more tenants to the site “The new Starbucks will be a tremendous asset to our community,” said Anniston City Mayor Jack Draper “Their global presence and commitment to sustainability and quality make them an ideal fit for the Summerall Subdivision Their arrival underscores the tremendous potential of this development and we’re excited about what’s to come for Anniston.” the Summerall Subdivision continues to take shape with land being cleared to make way for future tenants which includes a $1.3 million contract awarded to Vulcan Materials Asphalt & Construction is poised to make Summerall Subdivision one of the most attractive development opportunities in the region “We are grateful to Blackwater Real Estate LLC for their efforts in bringing Starbucks to this development and to the Alabama Department of Transportation for their crucial support through the Rebuild Alabama Grant which funded the creation of vital infrastructure for the site,” Mayor Draper added The development also includes six remaining parcels available for further growth and city leadership is eager to announce more tenants in the near future Starbucks operates over 16,000 locations across all 50 U.S states and has expanded to 85 countries globally and community-focused values makes them an ideal addition to the growing Anniston community The City of Anniston looks forward to seeing the Summerall Subdivision thrive as an economic hub and amenities to the area in the coming years AL – Cat lovers and enthusiasts will have an exciting opportunity to witness a spectacular feline showcase as Alabama Paws and Claws presents a premier cat show at the Anniston City Meeting Center The event will feature up to 72 different cat breeds including popular and exotic breeds such as Maine Coons Attendees will be able to observe over 100 pedigreed and household pet cats competing for Best in Show in each of the seven judging rings throughout the day This event is designed for families and cat lovers of all ages Children will receive free cat-themed coloring books and spectators can enjoy interactive experiences such as meeting some of the cats and learning about different breeds offering a variety of cat-related supplies and toys Tickets will be available for purchase at the door (cash only) as some vendors may not accept credit cards While some cats may be available for petting guests are encouraged to ask for permission first and use hand sanitizer between interactions Personal pets are not permitted at the show to ensure the health and safety of the participating cats but flash photography may be restricted to avoid startling the animals kittens will not be available for immediate adoption though attendees may have the opportunity to connect with breeders for future pet inquiries A food concession will be available on-site For those looking to fully experience the event it is recommended to arrive at least two hours before closing time to ensure ample opportunity to explore all exhibits and judging rounds Don’t miss this exciting chance to see some of the most beautiful and unique cats in the world compete for top honors The Anniston City Meeting Center is located at 1615 Noble Street UPDATE: The Missing Person Search for 1-year-old Za'Nariyah Parchman has been canceled by the Aniston Police Department The Anniston Police Department is urgently seeking the public's assistance in locating Za’Nariyah Parchman The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) issued an Emergency Missing Child Alert for the one-year-old who was last seen on April 1 around 8:00 p.m in the area of West 29th Street in Anniston Authorities believe she may be with her biological mother and could be in the Northwest Florida area She is described as having brown eyes and brown hair Anyone with information regarding Parchman's whereabouts is urged to contact the Anniston Police Department at (256) 238-1800 or call 911 The Anniston Fire Department responded to a structure fire on North Noble Street The fire department said North Noble Street is closed between 24th Street and 27th Street to ensure the safety of the public and allow emergency personnel to work efficiently Motorists were urged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes until further notice The department expressed gratitude for the public's cooperation as they work to contain the situation and ensure everyone's safety — The Anniston Police Department is seeking the public's help in locating a runaway juvenile 16-year-old Adrian Dejesus left his home at Cane Creek Apartments in Anniston on foot He is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 140 pounds Authorities ask that if anyone has any information about Adrian's whereabouts contact the Anniston Police Department or call 911 the Anniston City School system hired a teacher/coach for Golden Springs Elementary School was working with the Randolph County School System at Woodland High School when a criminal complaint of sexual misconduct was filed with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Patillo was placed on paid leave and was no longer actively working in the capacity of a teacher/coach Patillo eventually resigned his position with Randolph County and applied for a position with Golden Springs Elementary The Calhoun Journal spoke to different school boards in the area and learned the process for being hired as a teacher is similar in all areas The teacher files an application with the school for the principal to review and verify and any other steps necessary to approve or deny a potential teacher Once the school principal is ready to sign off on the candidate they submit the request to the superintendent of the school system they will then submit the application to the school board for a vote the teacher is eligible to start working immediately The Calhoun Journal also located the online application for teachers in the Anniston School District which includes two applicable questions asked of the applicant The first is “Been investigated based on a report of child abuse or neglect or suspected child abuse or neglect by a state agency?” The second is “Had a report of child abuse or sexual activity involving a K through 12 student or other minor filed against you with a school district or in a court of law?” We attempted to contact the Anniston City School Board and the Superintendent of the school system but no one has returned any calls at the time of this publication The Journal also attempted to contact the Principal returned the call the next morning and advised that the principal was unavailable When asked about Patillo’s pending criminal case and his status as a teacher/coach at the school “How did you find out about this” Wilson then explained that she needed to make a phone call and would call back in five minutes; we have not heard back from anyone at the school the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office initiated their investigation in February of 2024 2024 when the file was given to the District Attorney’s Office The evidence was presented to a Grand Jury School Employee Sexual Contact (13A-006-082) The indictment also stated that the victim is between the ages of 12 and 16 Patillo entered the Randolph County Jail and was released on a $30,000 bond The Calhoun Journal also spoke to the victim’s mother “When [victim] found out that he was teaching at an elementary school No one will listen to them if he does it again.” The mother also said that she attempted to let the Golden Springs school know about the charges The victim’s mother then referred the Calhoun Journal to another person who did make contact with the Aniston Superintendent’s office She went on to give more details of the original allegation and stated “It happened on school grounds during school hours” “The incident happened on February 1st We filed a report with Randolph County the next morning.” The person who spoke with the superintendent’s office who asked to have their name withheld from the article “I called the superintendent’s office and asked to speak with him I was transferred to a different person and explained the events that had happened he can be a teacher until he is found guilty” I can’t be sure if it was the superintendent or not because it was over the phone The Calhoun Journal reached out to the Alabama State Department of Education and spoke with Michael Sibley When asked about the requirements for teachers in the case of an arrest or indictment Sibley said he didn’t have an immediate answer and needed to check He asked us to send our questions via email so he could forward them to the right department and he confirmed that our questions were sent to the legal department Anniston City School’s Board President but messages were not returned from either party. When we spoke to Anniston City Officials they stated they did not have any ability or authority on the employment practices of the school board or the hiring or firing of Anniston teaching staff The hiring of Scottie Patillo at Golden Springs Elementary School has raised questions regarding the hiring practices within the Anniston City School system Following allegations of misconduct in February 2024 the processes for evaluating teacher candidates including background checks and principal reviews This situation underscores the importance of ensuring that hiring practices are thorough and transparent to maintain the safety and trust of the community Scottie Patillo has not yet been to trial and should be considered innocent until found guilty in a court of law