Events, Jeans, Basketball, Worksession and Stats | News

Today Events
Book Sale: Helena Library will have their big book sale today from 10:00am -7:00pm.
Planning and Zoning: The Helena Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 6pm. To discuss 4755 Helena Road 35080 request to change from R-3 to B-4 and to modify the B4 Design Review and Cell Tower Review Committee.

Teen for Jeans
The Helena Belles are collecting denims for the Teens for Jeans program which provides clothing to youth in need at shelters. Jeans are the number one request clothing request by the, They will be collecting until Sunday Jan 27th at 1pm. If you contact them at HelenaBelles@gmail.com they will pick them up or you can drop them off at 430 River Oaks Lane in Riverwoods. For every jean donation, Aeropostle will match with a new pair jeans to a youth in need in Jefferson and Shelby County. Please clean out your closet and help!

HMS Girls Basketball
Principal Knight posted on Facebook that the HMS Girls Basketball has finished their season as Conference Champs and they are the Tournament Runner-ups after last night (they were 6 point shy of winning the entire tournament. Way to go Girls, we are proud of you!

HMS Boys Basketball
Rod Davis emailed about the Helena Middle School 8th grade boys basketball and their first Southern Conference Championship after defeating Riverchase 45-37.
“To reach the finals the Panthers defeated Calera 47-23 and Briarwood 38-26. Named to the All-Tournament team were Riley Davis, Cirrahn McFarland and Most Valuable Player Jon Brown. Other team members are Austin Davis, Justice Edwards, Justin Butler, Jeremy Leath, Evan Bowen, Dean Benton, Brooks Brophy, Andrew Bush and Trevor Smith. Coaches are Kane Peckham and Matt Bishop. The Panthers finished the season with a school record 20 wins with only 4 losses”.

Name in Lights
Local musician and songwriter Steve Norris performed last night at the Historic Bama Theater. It was also special because it was for a taping of his new music video "All those Years Ago". The event was presented by the Arts Council and included musicians from all around the country. His new CD is titled I Just Can’t Help Myself and includes some of Birmingham’s best musicians and singers. Tributes to Family and Friends, his first CD, was released in January, 2002. The photos are by Dale Short.

Council Work session
The City Council, Mayor and department heads had a work session on Wednesday night. Neal Wagner, the city editor from the Shelby County Reporter, was in the audience and he wrote an article about the meeting so you can check it out here:Helena Work Session Article

Below are my own observations, theses are not official so if you want an official copy of the minutes, you can get them from Amanda Traywick the City Clerk.

Discussion of repealing ordinance 593-02: I had requested that the council consider repealing this ordinance which interferes with the Planning and Zoning powers as set in the Alabama Constitution. Jack Gray explained the need and how the approval process works between the Inspections Department and the Planning and Zoning Commission. I had contacted Katherine Ennis and the League of Municipality and both agreed it interfered with the powers set by Alabama Law. The Council approved to add it to the next Council Meeting.

Discussion on open comments during council meetings: I had asked about allowing comments from the audience, outside the posted agenda, to be allowed at the end of City Council Meetings. I didn't get approval but I understand their point of view because residents can talk directly to the Mayor and council members and request it be placed on the agenda.

Discussion on non-profits using the Recreation Center: Leigh Hulsey and her committee are reviewing the procedures for rental of various City facilities and she wanted the Council to have a discussion about how to handle request from non-profits for free rentals. She said that the Parks and Rec Department was having to cover the cost of setting up and cleaning up for theses request. After some discussion, Leigh said was going to write a draft and we would discuss it at another meeting.

Review of the newsletter bids: The City received two bids to do the Helena Newsletter. The Council looked over the cost from last year and each member will review the bids and come back together to discuss later.

Presentation of Two by Two Rescue: Jennifer Nolen introduced Sonya Smith who gave a presentation about the efforts of Two by Two Animal Rescue in Helena. The group acts as animal control and recue in Helena which made us the only municipality in the United States which is a “no-kill”. The volunteers for the group filled the entire side of the council chambers. They find homes for all the pets and also mantain the kennel in the City. The Mayor thanked them for their efforts. Several cities have contacted her to see if they can replicate their success in Helena. Also the City and Sonya Smith will be featured in a documentary on the National Geographic channel in the future. You can learn more about them here: http://twobytworescue.com

Discussion of the street light repair project: This was something that Mike Jones and I have been discussing. It will be an effort to replace all the burned out Street lights in Helena. The City is paying Alabama Power even if the bulbs burned out so we need everyone help to find them and get them replaced. Mayor Hall is getting the police officers to make notes during their patrol. Cris Nelson said that Alabama Power said it takes around 10 days to replace bulbs so we are getting a list together. George Pickle explained that the bulb are replaced for free and the cost of adding new light poles versus adding a light to a pole. The second part is to identify areas that need additional lighting (looking ahead for the high school traffic). Due to the cost of installing a light pole where their wasn't one before, we need to carefully examine locations.

Discussion of the Shelby One marketing plan: We discussed the Greater Shelby County
Chamber of Commerce proposal of a 5 year plan called Shelby One to recruit businesses to the area.

Update on the budget: We are in the final stages of the City’s budget.  The Council is creating a balance budget but money is tight and it will be bare-bones. When the budget is completed it will be posted online for everyone.

Health Inspector
-Frankie’s Market Café; 4257 Highway 52 West; Helena; 01/08; 94.
-San Antonio Grill; 425 Helena Market Place; Helena; 01/08; 97.

Helenite Marriages
Gathel O. Runnels Jr., 58, of Helena to Lucile Elizabeth Hill, 46, of Helena.
-John Christian Dawkins, 24, of Helena to Candria Lynn Edwards, 21, of Helena.
And there was 1 divorce.
Helena Police Report
Here are the Police Reports from the Shelby County Reporter. There was bunch of damage to the Joe Tucker playground equipment. We have so great parks in Helena that are being torn up by vandals. Please be on the lookout and let the police know if you see someone damaging equipment by calling 663-6499.

Jan. 1
-Driving under the influence from County Road 17 (highway, street).
-Domestic violence third degree from the 7500 block of Spencer Lane (residence, home).

Jan. 2
-Information only from the 300 block of Rocky Ridge Circle (residence, home).

Jan. 3
-Information only from the 2000 block of Helena Market Place (restaurant). Recovered was an iPhone valued at $200.
-Domestic incident from the 400 block of Bentmoor Way (residence, home).

Jan. 4
-Information only from the 4300 block of South shades Crest Road (highway, street).
-Theft of property first degree from the 1200 block of Hillsboro Parkway (construction). Stolen was a Miller 400CC valued at $7,000.
-Unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle from the 300 block of Chestnut Forest Drive. Stolen were a Rossi .223 rifle valued at $300, a .30-06 rifle valued at $1,000 and $5 in U.S. currency.
-Failure to appear – expired tag – Alabaster Police and lost and found property from the 800 block of Highway 52 East (government, public building).
-Theft of property third degree from the 300 block of Hillsboro Lane (residence, home). Stolen was an iPad 2 valued at $430.

Jan. 5
-Harassing communications from Environs Parkway (residence, home).
-Harassing communications from the 4300 block of Morning Side Drive (residence, home).
-Theft of property third degree from Baronne Street (residence, home). Stolen were a Nikon camera valued at $229.99 and miscellaneous prescription drugs valued at $27.
-Driving under the influence and fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement from Highway 95 at Highway 52 East (highway, street).
-Domestic incident from the 1900 block of Seattle Slew Drive (residence, home).

Jan. 6
-Domestic incident from the 200 block of the Lee Apartments (residence, home).

Jan. 7
-Theft of property from the 1000 block of Townhouse Road (convenience store). Stolen was a case of Bud Light beer valued at $22.
-Criminal mischief from Joe Tucker Park (other, unknown). Damaged was a pogo pole assembly in the amount of $1,538, a stock car and steering wheel in the amount of $1,175, a swing safety belt in the amount of $100, an enclosed tot seat in the amount of $137, a backhoe digger in the amount of $835 and assorted washers, bolts and a mount in the amount of $31.73.
-Harassing communications from the 1600 block of Paddock Lane (residence, home).
-Failure to appear from the Hoover City Jail (jail, prison).

Jan. 8
-Domestic disturbance from the 1600 block of Keeneland Drive (residence, home).
-Driving under the influence and possession of drug paraphernalia from the 2800 block of Highway 261 (highway, street). Recovered were a pipe used to smoke “Maryjane” valued at $5 and a grinder used to grind “Maryjane” valued at $5.
-Domestic incident from the 100 block of Penhale Park Road (residence, home).
-Criminal mischief third degree from Ruffin Park (other, unknown). Damaged was a 1994 Ford Ranger in the amount of $200.
-Failure to appear from the Alabaster Police Department (other, unknown).
-Identity theft from an unknown address (other, unknown).

Jan. 9
-Probation violation from the Hueytown Police Department (jail, prison).
-Failure to appear from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (jail, prison).

Jan. 10
-Warrant arrest – Montevallo PD from Highway 261 near Cunningham Drive (highway, street).
-Domestic violence by strangulation or suffocation from the 7200 block of Highway 13 (residence, home).

Jan. 11
-Warrant arrest – Baldwin County SO and warrant arrest – Pelham Police (highway, street).

Jan. 12
-Driving under the influence and resisting arrest from Secretariat Drive (highway, street).
-Harassing communications from the 1100 block of Highway 277 (residence, home).

Jan. 13
-Criminal mischief third degree and warrant arrest from the 1100 block of Dearing Downs Drive (residence, home). Damaged were a mailbox and post in the amount of $40 and grass and landscaping in the amount of $200.
-Theft of property third degree from the 1200 block of Southwind Drive (residence, home). Stolen was a Samsung Galaxy tablet valued at $199.

Jan. 14
-Failure to appear from 816 Highway 52 East (jail, prison).
-Domestic incident from the 100 block of Riverbridge Drive (residence, home).