Young will answer questions at a public meeting for residents & businesses in Prichard & Chickasaw May 6 The Receiver will answer questions and provide an update on the following: The current status of operations; Progress of ADEM-funded repair projects An overview & status of Receiver’s Recommendation for the MAWSS Solution Status of efforts to secure grant funds from ADEM and USEPA This public meeting will provide residents of Prichard and Chickasaw with a direct opportunity to ask questions and listen to the Receiver Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Jake spent his formative years in the Hornick area before graduating from Westwood High School Jake faithfully served his country in the United States Navy from 1971 to 1973 during which he was stationed in Pearl Harbor and served seven months on the gunline in Vietnam His commitment to service continued throughout his life as he remained a proud member of Hindman-Steele American Legion Post 492 in Hornick for 50 years Following his honorable discharge from the military initially taking up a position at Ebasco as a heavy equipment operator where he had started working as a teenager He became a member of Local 234 Operating Engineers and at his own family business JPF Manufacturing near Hornick where he enjoyed the freedom of the open road Jake was united in marriage to Loretta Reisdorph on July 29 This union was blessed with three children Jake was known for his sociable nature and was often regarded as a good friend to many his greatest joy came from being a devoted husband He cherished spending time with his grandchildren frequently attending their activities and celebrating their milestones Jake enjoyed exploring the great outdoors and embraced activities such as fishing He also enjoyed playing cards with family and friends He was a member of the Hornick United Methodist Church had served as a Hornick City Council Member for 3 years and had served on the Hornick Volunteer Fire Department for 15 years IA; daughter Jennifer (Blake) Simon of Sioux City; sons Justin (Jennifer) Prichard and Jesse Prichard and Braelyn Simon; brothers Jeff Prichard of Sgt Bluff and Jason Prichard of Hornick; mother-in-law Lorraine Reisdorph of Sioux City; brothers-in-law Rodney Reisdorph and Ross Reisdorph both of Sioux City; and cousin Ron (Brenda) Thoma Jake is also survived by several nieces and nephews Visitation for Jake will be held on Wednesday Burial with military honors will follow at Willow Township Cemetery Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel is assisting with arrangements Add to Calendar Complete the form below to RSVP for the Visitation for Jake M Complete the form below to get directions for the Visitation for Jake M Add to Calendar Complete the form below to RSVP for the Funeral Service for Jake M Complete the form below to get directions for the Funeral Service for Jake M This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors "This isn't just a financial problem anymore it is a potential public health emergency." A stunning admission Tuesday from Prichard Water Works and Sewer Board receiver John Young was appointed by a judge to avoid that conclusion Prichard will follow the same tragic path as Jackson and now Young says the system is teetering on complete failure "I've seen firsthand what happens when these systems fail,” he said in a video he released on his website what we're facing in Prichard and Chickasaw is just as urgent." Young is now calling the current situation a potential health crises and recommending the system to be taken over by the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System or MAWSS After releasing a supplemental report to his master plan Young made himself available to talk with NBC 15 News He compared the system's situation with other cities that have faced a water supply crises we haven't had the health crises,” said Young “but we have as bad a crumbling infrastructure as any of those systems and other systems I've worked with in the past Hopefully we can avoid a catastrophic public health issue we've already have environmental issues with sewer overflows And it can only get worse unless we turn it around and start investing money now." is not a great time to be looking for funding And Young says fixing the system will take a lot of it Young says the Prichard system needs 400 million dollars in investment just to remain viable and says that's not sustainable "We're looking both at the federal and the state level And it's made a whole lot tougher with the new administration They right now don't know how much money is going to flow down from the federal government to them." Young sees a union with MAWWS as the only hope MAWSS has the technical management and financial capacity that allows them to apply for the loans that ultimately become grants Young says many of the 10-thousand customers of the Prichard water system are paying the highest water bills in the state the system loses more than 60% of its treated water every day while sewage flows in the streets after every big rain But there's something else he says the system could lose if this merger doesn't happen "You also need to understand that the bond holders could decide we're gonna take the 26 million dollars we're holding of your money and we're gonna go away,” he warned there's a good chance if that occurs the receiver goes away and the water board comes back in and they have some huge It's all about providing facts to people hopefully the people with the money understand those facts could result in something pretty bad if something isn't done quickly." Young also talked with NBC 15 News about the effects of politics on the system and why he believes a takeover of the system by a proposed local group would be a mistake You can see the entire interview HERE You can also attend a community meeting with young set for Thursday at 6 p.m. The receiver released a supplemental report to the Draft Master Plan "that confirms the MAWSS is the most feasible long term solution for customers." The full news release and fact sheet are are also accessible at FixPrichardWater.com The finding concludes PWSB’s systems are nearing complete failure PWSB’s water supply is already purchased from neighboring MAWSS and delivered through seven master meters The daily average System customer demand is estimated to be 1.94 million gallons of water; however an estimated 56% of the average daily demand is lost to system leaks and water theft resulting in an estimated additional 2.5 million gallons being lost from the System each day Prichard Police officers responded to a call from a local store regarding suspicious activity at one of its self-checkout registers officers located a scanner device illegally attached to the register The device closely resembled the store’s legitimate equipment Store attendants first noticed the issue when two individuals attempted to remove the scanner the individuals immediately left the store The scanner is designed to capture debit and credit card information when a customer swipes their card believing they are completing a normal purchase The suspects needed to physically retrieve the device to access the stolen information This is the first reported case of this type of scam in the City of Prichard Similar incidents have been reported in other parts of the country and now appear to be reaching our area If you recognize the individuals or have any information related to this incident you are asked to contact the Prichard Police Department at (251) 452-2211 The Prichard Police Department reminds all local businesses to regularly inspect self-checkout equipment and immediately report any suspicious devices or behavior Prichard Water Works & Sewer Board has reported on multiple Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO) that began on April 6 and ended on April 8 Location - Estimated Gallons - Receiving Water 2407 Whistler St.- 372,600 - Gum Tree Branch 933 Semler St.- 36,425 - Three Mile Creek advises area residents to take precautions when coming into contact with any standing water that may have accumulated as a result of these overflows Those who have come into direct contact with untreated sewage are advised to wash their hands and clothing thoroughly Area residents should take precautions when using Gum Tree Branch Chickasaw Creek and Three Mile Creek for recreational purposes because of these overflows All seafood harvested in this general area should be thoroughly cooked before eating People should wash their hands after cleaning seafood and before preparing food (WPMI) — The City of Prichard Public Services Department has announced an adjusted garbage and trash collection schedule for this week due to Good Friday Holiday There will be no collection of garbage or trash on Friday The revised pick-up schedule is as follows: Residents should place garbage and trash curbside night before on the revised collection day contact Prichard Public Services at (251) 452-7841 By Stephen AlexanderPublished: Apr. 27, 2025 at 6:00 AM CDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile Baykeeper on its Facebook page has a post asking people to tell the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to take action and prioritize Prichard wastewater reform in upcoming infrastructure funding sewage spills flood the streets due to a collapsing infrastructure more than 50 million gallons of raw sewage have spilled into the streets and many Prichard residents are paying high bills for unreliable water The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) has the opportunity — and the tools — to help fix this outline shovel-ready projects and long-term improvement plans What’s missing is the funding to make it happen Tell ADEM to take action now and prioritize Prichard in upcoming infrastructure funding a multi-agency Law Enforcement Operation was conducted in Prichard with the primary objective of projecting law enforcement presence into the area thereby disrupting criminal operations and enhancing public safety through visible saturation patrols and the US Customs and Border Protection all participated with this operation The operation resulted in over 20 citizen contacts and the recovery of over (3) pounds of marijuana “This operation received widespread attention on several social media platforms where it quickly trended,” says Sheriff Paul Burch “This shows that the presence of law enforcement was both recognized and impactful within the community and we will continue this operation in other areas throughout Mobile County (WPMI) — This is a story of more than a decade of political entanglement missed opportunities and even law enforcement raids And part of the troubling story is the fact that voters actually approved a MAWSS takeover of the system That first vote was in 2012 with the passage of a statewide referendum to allow MAWSS to take over Prichard Water Works and Sewer Board the Alabama Supreme Court overruled the voters sending control of the system back to the Prichard Water Board Voters approved a takeover again in June of 2014 MAWSS backed out after the Prichard water board renewed a 25 million dollar contract with Severn Trent to operate the system basically thwarting the voters' efforts to stabilize the system And the system did chug along for a few more years until.. That's when a multi-year battle over fire hydrants began between the utility and the City of Prichard with the water system shutting off water to city hall citing more than a quarter of a million dollars in unpaid water bills But it was in February of 2022 when the utility's house of cards began to collapse That's when NBC 15 News obtained credit card reports from the Prichard Water Board outlining four years of questionable spending which included the now "infamous" purchase of a $17,000 Louis Vuitton handbag and a $9,000 Gucci handbag "The Louis Vuitton bags and some of the other things are included,” said then Mobile County District Attorney Ashley Rich “ as well as a lot of building materials and building supplies that have been purchased on behalf of the Prichard water board but not used at water board facilities." the Mobile County District Attorney's office announced it was investigating the Prichard Water Works and Sewer Service Board for that questionable spending bt what would happen next would trigger anger and astonishment for the beleaguered utilities customers -It was a local and federal raid of the utility's office in Prichard "For the lack of a better term,” said Rich “this is a criminal enterprise going on at the Prichard Water Board." Things fell mostly quiet until June of 2023 when the utility fell more than a million dollars behind in bond payments prompting bond holders to file a suit to appoint a receiver telling NBC 15 News that the only solution remaining for Prichard’s troubled and decaying water and sewer system.. PRICHARD, Ala, (WPMI) — Prichard's mayor has pushed back on the assertion that MAWSS should take over Prichard Water in a statement released Thursday: MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) — WATCH PRESS CONFERENCE A three-year investigation that began with a multi-agency raid of the Prichard Water Board offices in February 2022 has led to arrest of 7 people The indictment alleges that from as early as 2018 Nia Bradley and 6 others defrauded the Prichard Water board of over $2.4 million who is charged in State court with theft along with Bradley Knight and Lamar were arrested Thursday morning Burden and Jones turned them selves in to federal authorities the scheme involved a false and fraudulent contractor scheme employees and board members of the Prichard Water Board The federal government will be seeking monetary judgments in the amounts of $2,459,279.39 The indictment alleges that Nia Bradley and Randy Burden laundered $960,000 through a business owned and operated by them Ayanna Payton plead guilty to Conspiracy to commit mail bank fraud and make false statement in tax document Payton entered that plea in November 2023 and was found guilty on November 11 She has a sentencing date currently set for April 28 Stephanie Hunn plead guilty to the same charges in February 2023 she also has a court date currently listed as April 28 Randy Burden and Steve Jones have both entered not guilty pleas Penalties range from 3 to 30 years in prison PREVIOUS ARTICLES ON PRICHARD WATER According to the indictment unsealed today were charged with various federal crimes listed below Payton and Hunn previously pleaded guilty to all charges against them and are awaiting sentencing Their proceedings were sealed in light of the ongoing investigation which led to charges recently filed against Bradley Each of the defendants face potential sentences of decades in prison The Grand Jury returned an indictment alleging the following scheme: starting as early as 2018 through 2022 the defendants bilked the Prichard Water Board of at least approximately $2.4 million dollars through a false and fraudulent contractor scheme involving outside contractors and employees and board members of the Prichard Water Board Approximately $960,000 of the money was illegally laundered including through a business owned and operated by Bradley and Burden The Prichard Water Board provides water and sewer services to approximately 8,000 residential and 2,000 commercial clients and is funded by customer payments and also through a $55 million bond it secured in 2019 The indictment alleges that the criminal scheme involved the creation of a fictitious business by Hunn and the creation of false invoices to justify unlawful payments to Hunn who were employees of the Prichard Water Board allegedly falsified payment authorizations and received kick-back payments and other benefits Payton and another uncharged co-conspirator served on the board of the Prichard Water Board where they are alleged to have falsified payment authorizations and received kick-back payments and other benefits for their roles Several of the conspirators communicated through coded messages and destroyed evidence to attempt to avoid detection of the crimes and Jones committed tax fraud to avoid revealing the criminal scheme and to avoid paying taxes to the United States the United States is seeking money judgments in the amounts of approximately $2,459,279.39 as well as the forfeiture of three real properties which were purchased using fraud proceeds and involved in the money laundering scheme Nia Bradley is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud; Conspiracy to Defraud the United States (Taxes); Money Laundering Conspiracy; Wire Fraud; Bank Fraud; and related tax charges Randy Burden is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud; Money Laundering Conspiracy; and Bank Fraud Steve Jones is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud; Money Laundering Conspiracy; Bank Fraud; and filing false tax returns Larry Knight and Dejuan Lamar are charged with Conspiracy to Commit Mail Ayanna Payton and Stephanie Hunn have pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Mail and Wire Fraud; Conspiracy to Defraud the United States (Taxes); Wire Fraud; Bank Fraud; and False Tax Filings and both women are awaiting sentencing “The taxpayers of the Southern District of Alabama deserve to be able to rely on competent honest public servants,” said United States Attorney Sean P Together with our partners in law enforcement we will continue our efforts to protect the taxpayers and hold accountable thieves who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of our community.” “Fraud and theft by government employees from the very people they are put in place to serve will not be tolerated,” said FBI Mobile Division Supervisory Special Agent Parker Still “This investigation is another example of law enforcement cooperation between federal state and local entities to ensure people have trust in their public works.” “Corrupt public officials waste government resources and diminish the trust citizens place in their government to provide the essential services they expect,” said Special Agent in Charge Demetrius Hardeman “IRS Criminal Investigation special agents will continue investigating and forwarding for prosecution those who disregard the public trust by misusing taxpayers’ funds to enrich themselves and their coconspirators.” Postal Inspection Service remains steadfast in our commitment to protect the nation’s mail system from illegal use,” said Shameka Jackson Acting Postal Inspector in Charge of the Houston Division “With the collaborative investigative efforts of local state and federal law enforcement agencies we will continue to work together to bring to justice those who abuse the trust given to them by the American people.” Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case with assistance from the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office Heisterhagen are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States An indictment or information is a formal accusation of criminal conduct A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law Monday afternoon Circuit Court Judge Michael Youngpeter denied the motion filed by Prichard Water to force MAWSS to become a part of the lawsuit The court appointed receiver John Young filed a motion in opposition to Prichard’s request Judge Youngpeter also extended the pause in the lawsuit for another six months Wednesday morning, attorney for Prichard Water filed a motion to force the Mobile Area Water Sewer Service(MAWSS) to join the lawsuit filed by Synovous Bank that resulted in the appointment of John Young as the receiver by not publicly rejecting Young’s contention that they are the only viable solution to Prichard Water situation they have made themselves an “indispensable” party to the suit In a supplement to Young’s Final Draft filed with the Circuit Court at the end of March Young says that having MAWSS take over the Prichard Water System is the only way prevent what he called a “catastrophic health crisis” The filing points out that MAWSS has been silent on the issue thus far “It is now time for MAWSS to take a position” “If MAWSS has no intention of accepting Young’s recommendations it can file a response confirming its disagreement with and rejection of Young’s findings and conclusions.” A hearing on the motion to add MAWSS to the suit is set for April 22 PREVIOUS ARTICLES ON PRICHARD WATER (WPMI) — The Mobile County Sheriff's Office will now be investigating all major crime cases for the Prichard Police Department Sheriff Paul Burch says on Tuesday morning Prichard Chief Walter Knight requested the sheriff's office take over because Prichard doesn't have enough officers "They just don't have the numbers The chief is actually having to answer some calls himself," said Burch "They're at a critical staffing level." MCSO already processes homicide scenes and forensic evidence for the Prichard Police Department it’ll be providing detectives to investigate the case The sheriff's office will investigate homicides and sexual assaults for the foreseeable future All other crimes Prichard Police will continue to handle Burch added a detective to the major crimes unit Tuesday morning He says he has the personnel to handle the change but the shift could strain other units in his department but they're still citizens of Mobile County and so I'm going to make sure that they have adequate protection," said Burch and it's not clear if the county will seek any kind of reimbursement from Prichard A spokesperson for the Mobile County Commission says it's such a new development there hasn't been time to consider that According to FBI Crime Data in the last five years in Prichard meaning an assault with a deadly weapon like a gun "A lot of the crimes that we respond to are after hours significant overtime costs," said Burch Prichard's mayor released a statement expressing gratitude for the partnership: All non-emergency calls within the City of Prichard should continue to call 251-452-2211 Mobile County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Prichard Police of a homicide that occurred at 2016 Helen Street MCSO Major Crimes detectives along with MCSO Crime Scene Unit arrived on the scene and found the victim lying face down in the front yard with multiple gunshot wounds to his body MCSO took over investigation and interviewed witnesses on the scene Witnesses say an argument broke out between several people playing dice and Wright was shot Mobile County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two people with the murder of James Wright Jadedeon Blount (DOB 1/22/04) and Kenneth Padgett (DOB 1/10/04) were arrested and charged with Murder MCSO Detectives are continuing to investigate this crime If anyone has any information about this case, please call 251-574-8633. If you would like to provide information anonymously, you can go to www.mobileso.com/crimetips/ psychology and neuroscience professor at the University of St was quoted in a Live Science article on how the human circadian rhythm and various lifestyle factors can play into the "second wind" of energy This happens because the body's wakefulness signals remain relatively high, while sleep-promoting signals, such as the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin, haven't fully kicked in yet, Roxanne Prichard a professor of psychology with a background in neuroscience at the University of St this burst of energy may have helped our ancestors complete essential tasks "like making an evening meal and making sure there's a safe place to sleep," Prichard explained the wake maintenance zone lasts for a few hours but its exact length varies from person to person this wake maintenance zone can be longer than those of "morning larks," who may experience a shorter second wind and find it comparatively easier to fall asleep early (WPMI) — The City of Prichard has issued a statement calling on federal and state agencies to provide immediate assistance in addressing long-standing issues with the Prichard Water and Sewer Board (PWSB) "similar to the support provided to Flint When I was appointed Receiver of the Prichard Water Works & Sewer Board (PWWSB) by the Mobile County Circuit Court in late 2023 I inherited more than just a utility in distress I inherited a system teetering on the edge of collapse residents in Prichard and Chickasaw had endured unreliable service The source of these problems goes far deeper than broken pipes It lies in the failure of a governance structure Let us be clear: this looming crisis is the result of decades of local mismanagement a politically appointed board—with no requirement for professional water utility experience—operated without strategic planning and failed to complete the financial audits necessary to qualify for state and federal funding the utility now has limited access to the bond construction fund Compounding this problem is the issue of non-payment of water bills Roughly 10% of PWWSB customers are not paying their water bills putting further strain on already fragile finances When you pair that with water loss rates exceeding 60%—six times the industry’s goals the result is a system hemorrhaging both water and revenue This is unsustainable and unfair to the 90% of customers who do pay their bills yet receive inconsistent service my job is not to apply short-term band-aids But that mission is a delicate balancing act I must address the root causes of the system’s decline—outdated infrastructure our team must respond to the day-to-day symptoms: low water pressure I have talked to customers that think we are not doing anything It is just not always in ways that are immediately visible alongside urgent leak repairs and service improvements we have also focused intensely on building the foundation for long-term progress we have secured a $5.8 million grant from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM)—the first of many grants we’re pursuing This initial grant will fund critical repairs: water tank rehabilitation and the design of 50,000 feet of new water mains upgrades to a major sewage treatment plant We’ve obtained additional grant funding to perform financial analyses of the system and complete long-overdue financial audits—essential for future grant eligibility Our team has applied for nearly $50 million more from state and federal sources including $15 million currently pending approval with USEPA and $34 million of new grant applications from ADEM to address public health and environmental issues but they represent our aggressive push to restore this utility with the help it desperately needs We are responding to ADEM’s Consent Orders for water and wastewater and have established regular communication This is a major shift from past frustrations with previous Prichard Water Works & Sewer boards Some in our community have raised concerns about my recommendation to eventually transfer the utility to the Mobile Area Water & Sewer System (MAWSS) I understand the fear of losing local control—but let us face facts: local control is what got us here Given its current physical and financial condition and the improvements required Over five hundred residents have already signed a petition supporting this change The goal is not to take the utility away from the community Fixing Prichard’s and Chickasaw’s water and sewer systems is a marathon not a sprint—but we have left the starting line and committed leadership—we will fix what has been broken for far too long Statewide referendum election approved for MAWSS to take over Prichard Water Works and Sewer Board Alabama Supreme Court overturned that referendum and returned control of Prichard Water to the PWWSB Voters approved a second referendum for MAWSS to take over MAWSS Board votes to walk away from the takeover following PWWSB renewal of a $25 million contract with Severn Trent to operate the system which was the cause of MAWSS pulling out a year earlier Years long legal battle between PWWSB and City of Prichard over fire hydrants begins with PWWSB turning off water to City of Prichard Municipal Complex over $243,000 unpaid bill NBC 15 News obtained credit card reports from PWSSB outlining questionable spending from January 2018 through October 2021 Mobile DA announces investigation in spending at PWWSB Multi-Agency raid at PWWSB Offices included FBI Anthony Bradley arrested at the home during raid Randy Burden and Teresa Lewis arrested and charged with theft in relation to PWWSB investigation Trustee for the $55 million bond issue files suit to appoint receiver over system after PWSSB fell more than $1.1 million behind in payments Court appoints John Young as receiver over the system John Young states in his report that the only viable solution going forward is to have MAWSS take over the system John Young in his report states the only viable solution going forward is to MAWSS take over the system The MCSO said Prichard Police Department officers responded at about 9:36 a.m where Jymatric Pickens was shot to death at his mother’s home Detectives with the sheriff’s office were then called in and interviewed two people who were in the home at the time of the shooting The detectives found that Pickens went to this mother’s home Sunday morning and threatened and attacked her The MCSO said a younger brother went into the room where his mother and brother were fighting and fired shots at Pickens who was was hit several times and died on the scene Officials said Prichard police previously responded to the home several times last year because of Pickens threatening his mother AI (Artificial Intelligence) is changing how we do many things today and education is no exception.   Morehead State University Instructional Designer Dr Bridget Prichard is like many people figuring out ways to incorporate this innovative technology into her field and she sees promise for its use in the classroom.   as I began working with AI tools more frequently I realized just how powerful they can be when used properly," Prichard said "AI has helped me become more efficient in my work and encouraged me to think more creatively While there are still ethical considerations to navigate can enhance both teaching and learning."   When she is not training professors and instructors at MSU Prichard is going the extra mile to explore AI in education She is developing ways to maximize its potential impact on student learning which has resulted in her work being featured internationally a leading educational technology company for learning and teaching in higher education selected Prichard to speak at its 2024 Anthology Together Conference This annual event brings educators and technology experts together to explore the latest trends and tools in the field.   Before presenting at international conferences the Ashland native's journey to her current role at MSU was unconventional While she discovered an early interest in educational technology by watching her big brother Prichard initially went to college for occupational therapy before pursuing a career in education After earning a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Psychology from Liberty University (LU) she later earned a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction (2021) a Doctor of Education in Educational/Instructional Technology (2023) and a Certificate of Higher Education/Higher Education Administration (2024) from the institution She spent three years working at Rose Hill Christian School in Ashland from 2019 to 2022 as the STEM teacher and later director of technology.   After completing her master's degree and being accepted into LU's doctoral program she decided to pursue opportunities more aligned with her passion for instructional design This led to her accepting a full-time position at MSU as an instructional designer in the fall of 2022.   Prichard said her favorite part of working at MSU is working with students getting to know them personally and hearing their unique stories.   "I enjoy interacting with them at campus events and I often visit the campus for dinner," she said "It's always a highlight for him to engage with the college students and these experiences help foster a love for learning and being part of the MSU community."   Prichard's background as an educator and instructional designer led her to develop an AI integration framework called the CLAIM method She introduced it at the Anthology Together Conference through two presentations that focused on the evolving role of artificial intelligence in education.   "I believe AI will drastically reshape education much like the internet did when it was first introduced.. Just as the internet opened up new opportunities and increased accessibility in education I believe AI will eventually do the same," she said AI can foster creativity and facilitate personalized learning we used ChatGPT to help him create images for a story he was working on I guided him through the process of prompting the tool which sparked great conversations about how AI works allowing students to deepen their understanding and expand their creative potential."   Prichard said she was honored to share her experience and outlook on AI with an international audience She looks forward to working with her students on utilizing AI in her classrooms She said representing MSU at this level was an honor and speaks to the education students can receive as an Eagle.   "This recognition showcases that good things come from rural Appalachia and determination of the MSU community," Prichard said "Our programs empower educators and students alike to push boundaries and make a global impact MSU is a place where dreams can become reality and we have the potential to be leaders in the ever-evolving world of education and technology It's a testament to the strength of our programs and our ability to contribute to the future of education on a global scale."   Dr. Bridget Prichard can be reached at b.prichard@moreheadstate.edu.  To learn more about Instructional Technology at MSU, email blackboard@moreheadstate.edu or call 606-783-2140.  Copyright ©2025 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. she was in search of a program and a coach that matched her toughness and competitive mindset She found exactly what she sought following the 2023 season when she spoke to Vann Stuedeman who brought with her an impressive track record of success at Alabama Stuedeman has been determined to build a program that competes for championships and is a regular participant in NCAA Tournament play During Prichard’s sophomore season at Eastern Illinois the Panthers won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament and played in an NCAA Regional Prichard’s sacrifice fly in the 2023 OVC Championship game scored the final run for her team She knows what it looked like to play at a high level “One of my former hitting coaches that I really trusted really believed in Vann and everything she said about Vann was what I wanted,” Prichard said she asked me to come here to be a leader and that really stood out to me I feel like I have invested in that role of being a leader but I lead by my actions and she trusts me with that.” hails from the Southeast Texas town of Liberty and she was eager for the opportunity to play close to home so to be able to have my family come see me play I’m really grateful for it,” Prichard says Very early in her tenure, Stuedeman introduced the team’s motto of #PluckEm, which embodies the grit of the Roadrunner. (You can watch this video for Stuedeman’s full explanation of #PluckEm).    Thanks to a gift from her mother, Prichard sports a #PluckEm sleeve on her right arm when she plays. It serves as a constant reminder of all the traits she brings to the field. “I like it because I’m a really gritty player,” Prichard said. “I don’t like to lose. Having that on my arm and then having the other team ask me about it. It’s just funny when I’m standing on second and they ask me what it means. And I’m like, ‘The ball to the fence, that’s what it means. I just plucked your team.’ Growing up, I was just told to be gritty. Coming to UTSA and Vann making it a brand, I really liked it and I like to flex it.” Prichard is one of her team’s top hitters this season, starting all 13 games and boasting a .342 batting average. She has driven in a team-best eight runs and has helped the Roadrunners to a historic 9-4 start on the year. The confidence with which she’s been able to play in 2025 has been a major factor in her success. “During my at-bats, I get a little spicy,” she said. “Being humble in my thoughts really helped that, but being able to flex it when I can is really nice.” Her coach believes that Prichard embodies everything about the team’s motto. “She can flex it,” Stuedeman said. “She is the definition of #PluckEm. She is gritty.” And it’s possible that there’s one other reason that Prichard is a perfect fit for UTSA. “I also look good in orange,” she quipped.  University of Montana AthleticsPrichard’s clinch against the Cats leads to Player of the Week honors4/16/2025 9:38:00 AM | Women's Tennis That's the CLINCHER over the CATS from Kate Prichard!! 😤#GoGriz pic.twitter.com/vyJtwOaUu2 the Mobile County Sheriff's Office and the Prichard Police Department responded to 1120 Travis Avenue The Mobile County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes and Crime Scene Units responded to the scene was taken to a local hospital where he immediately went into emergency surgery The suspect fled the scene before deputies arrived According to witnesses at the scene when shooting occurred three people where inside the home and two began arguing The suspect went outside to retrieve a gun from his vehicle and fired two shots through the front door striking the victim The suspect has been identified as Joseph Rayshaun Williams (DOB 8/15/1981) MCSO Detectives have signed warrants for Assault 1st and shooting into an occupied building If anyone has any information as to the whereabouts of Williams please call the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office 251-574-8633 Jones’ surgery is complete and he is listed in critical condition Johnny Prichard passed away peacefully at home surrounded by the love of his family Johnny was born in a little farmhouse a few miles southeast of Waco Jackie and Sean Prichard (Davis); two grandchildren Sarah Raye Layden and Tommy Joe (TJ) and Magarci (Robyn); sister Sarita Nelson (Don); and numerous nieces and nephews He was preceded in death by his two other sisters Peggy Bentley (Bob) and Martha Sawyers (Earl) his family moved across the Red River to Lawton He lived in Lawton until graduating from high school Upon graduating from Lawton High School in May of 1950 he joined the United States Navy on June 26 After completing Basic Training at San Diego he was sent to Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Florida where he flew in P2V Neptune Patrol Bombers as a Radar Operator His Squadron of six P2Vs left Florida and was sent to the Island of Malta in the Mediterranean for six months North Africa for six months to patrol the Mediterranean for German subs Florida where he was discharged and attended Florida University for one semester before transferring to the University of Oklahoma and joined the United States Air Force Reserves he was called to active duty as an AF Staff Sergeant and sent to Sheppard AF Base TX where he taught Electronics on Snark and Atlas Guided Missiles he was recommended to attend the Officer Candidate Training School He graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant and was sent back to Sheppard AFB He went back into the classroom to teach senior officers who were scheduled to supervise missile squadrons He was then sent to Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach He became the supervisor of the Airman’s Electronic training He was selected for Operation Bootstrap to complete his college training He graduated from the University of Nebraska He was later transferred to Kessler AFB in Biloxi Mississippi as a supervisor of the Officer’s Club He served two tours in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star for his service He was the first Town Manager of Pilot Mountain He taught electronics at East Surry High School for three years He left East Surry to become the Planning Director for Surry County After which time he was appointed a Magistrate for Surry County for eight years He moved from North Carolina to Polk County in Bartow He was the Polk County Housing Inspector for 2.5 years he left Florida and moved back to North Carolina to fully retire and spend time enjoying his family Johnny was also known as a “dog whisperer” Johnny was a member of the Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church in Pilot Mountain A graveside service will be held at 2:00 on February 28 Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text has been located and safely reunited with his family Carter was found in good condition following efforts by law enforcement and the public who responded to the department request for assistance The Prichard Police Department would like to thank the community for their swift action in helping locate Mr The Prichard Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 92-year-old William Carter Jr. His son reported him missing on January 23 after the vehicle’s GPS tracker indicated it was in the Evergreen Carter suffers from Alzheimer’s/Dementia and has previously driven off to other cities He is known to have a son in the Evergreen area Carter’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Prichard Police Department at (251) 452-2211 or notify local authorities The priority is to safely reunite him with his family The Prichard Police Department thanks the community for their support and assistance We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money Flanigan Funeral Home proudly serving families since 1990 we provide professional shipping anywhere inside the United States However WE DO NOT OFFER International shipping \u003ca href=\"/\"\u003eRead More\u003c/a\u003e Michelle Prichard Taylor, age 53, of Flowery Branch, GA passed away on Sunday, January 12, 2025. She is survived by her husband of twenty-four years, David A. Taylor; children, Michael and Rose Young of Dahlonega, GA, Jordan Young of Flowery... View Obituary & Service Information The family of Michelle Prichard Taylor created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Made with love by funeralOne The court-appointed receiver tasked with managing the Prichard Water Works and Sewer Board is now warning Prichard could become the next Flint John Young calls the current situation a potential health crisis and is recommending MAWSS take over the system "I am firmly against us transferring our assets to anybody We need to control our own destiny," said Carletta Davis who leads We Matter Eight Mile advocacy group Davis does not believe a MAWSS takeover is what's best long term for Prichard and says there are resources that could help the troubled utility The state of Alabama has received millions of dollars The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill was passed back in 2023 and they have received dollars," said Davis Prichard's mayor wrote a letter to federal and state leaders pleading for emergency assistance "Other cities facing similar crises have received substantial federal support and Prichard deserves no less," wrote Jimmie Gardner Mayor Barry Broadhead says water contamination He also worries about the non-working fire hydrants in the city "The system is at a crisis point," said Broadhead Broadhead believes it's time to take the court-appointed receiver's advice and have MAWSS take over Policy makers need to take the political piece of this out and look at what is best for their citizens And we are convinced that the operation by MAWSS is the right answer," said Broadhead which we are still waiting on from the conservator cannot affect our current customers' rates," MAWSS said in a statement to NBC 15 News (WPMI) — If you asked Claudette Kimble for a drink of water gazing at a tiny trickle coming from her kitchen faucet “This is all the water I got coming into my house Claudette says it's been like this since she moved into her house on Edison Avenue in Prichard about 6 months ago "I've called and called and called and called.. She's referring to the Prichard Water Works and Sewer Board Claudette is one of many unsatisfied customers of the beleaguered utility "Every time I call they tell me somebody's gonna come out and do this or do that,” she says forcing her to take showers at her sister's house The water board is not a function of the city a candidate for Prichard mayor says she wants to use the power of that officer to help fix the problem I'm gonna take an all government approach to this and fix the water problem once and for all," says Carletta Davis She's been the leader of the advocacy group "We Matter Community Association" often aiming it's sites at the Prichard utility "I do understand that resources are needed,’ she says “Those same lack of resources are what we were all complaining about before when the board was in place NBC 15 News went to the offices of the Prichard Water Board and was met by the man now in charge of the system.. Young acknowledged some of the water pipes feeding homes in that area are old two inch pipes that have corroded inside causing the pipe to narrow to the point where even water struggles to get through "What we're actually trying to do is maybe blow some high-pressure air through the pipes to clean them out Where you have to be careful is if you blow too much pressure through So we are in that decision making process." And hopefully this week we will see if we can blow some of the tuberculation out We've already been successful at other locations we'll have to lay in some 2 inch line which will obviously cost the utility some money." And that is something Claudette can understand.. Claudette's pipes are just one small problem for a water and sewer system dealing with many John Young says millions of dollars in grants have been secured to fix major problems in the system applying for those grants is up in the air because of the massive layoffs and firings happening in Washington.. In some cases it's difficult to know who is in charge of those grants and if those persons will even be there tomorrow. recently spoke to WCCO Radio about digital dependency and the impact smartphones have on our neurology offering her expertise on topics like sleep Roxanne Prichard is a professor of psychology with a background in neuroscience at the University of St we have things that both activate our fight or flight response and stress us out,” says Prichard our way to do ‘tend and befriend,’ comfort us pass the time in fun ways and look at pictures So it’s a source of both stressful events and access to stressful events all around the world a tool that helps us connect with people far and a tool that helps us listen to beautiful music and make cool art (WPMI) — Those in the pews Thursday evening at Prichard's Sure Word Outreach Ministries Church came on what might be considered a good night A reasonable stream of water was flowing out of one of the men's room faucets It gets worse if there are two flushes in the building A good thing it wasn't raining tonight I have new carpet in there that we bought to put down We have urinals that don't properly flush When we're cooking we are buying water Those were some of the reasons the pastor got up to speak.. but to testify about water problems during this public meeting on issues concerning the Prichard Water Works and Sewer Board The meeting was hosted by the church and advocacy groups We Matter Eight Mile and Mobile Baykeeper the appointed receiver for the troubled water system who only days earlier had gone public with the shocking conclusion that the system is on the verge of collapse and a public health crises could be just around the corner "This is not a temporary setback,” he said Young came to the church Thursday night to explain the situation and to take questions Young repeatedly came back to the same conclusion "Our only solution is to get money and invest it in infrastructure,” he told the crowd “This is a problem we've been having for decades and we're not going to fix it in a year." Young says the system needs 400 million dollars to get back on its feet He told those gathered he has secured several millions in grant money so far money that is mostly going toward refurbishing long ignored water tanks when leaks in the pipes themselves are fixed the increase in water pressure makes pipes fail elsewhere down the line He's now calling for a takeover of the system by Mobile Area Water and Sewer Services Prichard mayoral candidate and leader of "We Matter Eight Mile" isn’t so sure "I definitely believe we need better management and we need more resources,” she told NBC 15 News at the meeting And it also needs to have autonomy over its destiny." considering the desperate condition the system is in how much more damage could a MAWSS takeover do We don't know the details of the deal,” she responded “And I've been saying from the very beginning we've got to know the details of the deal MAWSS hasn't even said that they wanted it..." currently there’s only suggestions and talk But Davis said she would want the City of Prichard at the table if that happened Prichard's city council doesn't run the system but it does appoint it's board members "I feel like MAWSS or anybody that can do an adequate job,” he confirmed “ I'm for what's right and going to help our community It's just time out from passing the ball and everybody's got a stroke of genius idea but nobody is putting it to work." You can get more information about the current state of the system by going to www.fixprichardwater.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 17, 2025) — Crystal Wilkinson, acclaimed novelist, short story writer, essayist and poet, is the featured speaker for University of Kentucky Libraries’ 2025 Edward F. Prichard Lecture who was Kentucky Poet Laureate for 2021-22 “Praisesong for the Kitchen Ghosts” and participate in a moderated conversation with journalist and cookbook author Ronni Lundy “Praisesong” is a lyrical culinary journey that explores the hidden legacy of Black Appalachians through powerful storytelling alongside nearly 40 comforting recipes The Prichard Lecture is 5 p.m. Friday, March 28, in the William T. Young Library Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public, and Wilkinson will sign books after the lecture. Seating is limited and RSVPs are appreciated Wilkinson’s writing explores Black Appalachia and the rural South Her genre-spanning work also includes three novels “Water Street” (2002) and “The Birds of Opulence” (2016); and a book of poetry poems and essays have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies including The Atlantic Wilkinson is recipient of an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Poetry where she is the Bush-Holbrook Endowed Professor and director of the Division of Creative Writing Ronni Lundy is a former restaurant reviewer and music critic for The Courier-Journal and former editor of Louisville Magazine Lundy has long chronicled the people of the hillbilly diaspora as a journalist and cookbook author and has been recognized for her work with the Southern Foodways Alliance Craig Claiborne Lifetime Achievement Award Her book “Victuals: An Appalachian Journey with Recipes” is an exploration of the foodways people and places of Appalachia and winner of the James Beard Foundation Book of the Year Award Since its inception in 1977, the Edward F. Prichard Lecture Series has featured nationally acclaimed authors The Prichard Lecture is made possible by an endowment created by Edward F a New Deal activist who later championed educational change in Kentucky As the premier research library in the Commonwealth, UK Libraries empowers lifelong learners to discover, create and connect by providing ever-expanding access to quality information and collaborating with academic and creative communities worldwide to advance knowledge, enhance scholarship and preserve the history and culture of the Commonwealth. More information about UK Libraries can be found at libraries.uky.edu the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing It's all made possible by our people — visionaries disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene of a shooting in Prichard Alabama on Edison Drive at Prichard Ave MCSO Detectives say the victim has been identified as Harry Bracy Bracy was found with two gunshot wounds to his upper torso and was taken to a local hospital Surveillance video at a nearby convenience store shows two Black men fleeing the scene on foot after the shooting MCSO Detectives say the suspects drove to the scene but left their vehicle at the scene If anyone has any information about this case, please call 251-574-8633 or go to our website, www.mobileso.com/crimetips/ and report anonymously (WPMI) — Prichard Water Works and Sewer Board has reported that 1.538 million gallons of sewage overflowed during heavy rains from Friday through Sunday Area residents should take precautions when using Gum Tree Branch and Toulmin Spring Branch for recreational purposes because of these overflows  She enjoyed painting and belonged to a book club  Funeral services will be on Wednesday 2024 at 1:00 pm in Hampton-Gentry Funeral Home where friends may visit from 11:00 am until the time of service at 1:00 pm  Burial will follow in Maple Hill Cemetery  Survivors include her loving husband Grady Stephens and Gavin Stephens; many nieces and nephews  In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to https://redemptionranchk9.com/