CULLMAN, Ala. – The 2019 2A State Champion Cold Springs Lady Eagles basketball team was honored Tuesday morning by the Cullman County Commission. Wearing their royal blue state champion T-shirts, the young women, along with head coach Tammy West, listened as the official proclamation was read in their honor.
Commission Chairman Kenneth Walker congratulated the team and West for “another awesome job. As stated in the proclamation, ‘the fifth-ranked Lady Eagles outlasted sixth-ranked Fyffe in an overtime thriller.’” The Cold Springs girls defeated Fyffe 57-53 in a win celebrated by not only the team, but also fellow students, the community and all of Cullman County.
The proclamation went on to describe the 2019 champions as “having the reputation of being the best 3-point shooting team in the state.” This is the fourth basketball state championship in the school’s history, and although the team will graduate four seniors, strong underclassmen leadership keeps optimism high.
Junior Elizabeth Hill was named the class 2A Player of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association for her overall contributions, leadership and strong performance throughout the season.
Camryn Crider, who knocked down 157 3-point shots this season, is one of the graduating seniors. Although she said she was sad that her high school career was coming to an end, she acknowledged the depth of talent on the team.
After hearing the proclamation and receiving special Cullman County pins, the team was given a tour of the courthouse and headed out to lunch before returning to school.
The 2019 2A State Championship Cold Springs Lady Eagles are: Shay Sellers, Camryn Crider, Kinley Campbell, Elizabeth Hill, Toni West, Emi Harbison, Neely Ellison, Emma Chambers, Sadie Terry, Kylon Hamby, Aubrey Negron and Lina Lieckfeld.
Commission business
A year after the 2018 hailstorm, the Cullman Area Rural Transportation Service (C.A.R.T.S.) has finally reached an acceptable deal with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to replace eight buses destroyed in the storm. The buses will be replaced and five additional buses purchased.
C.A.R.T.S. Director Joyce Echols said, “Over the past year, we’ve been going back and forth with ALDOT trying to get this worked out. Originally they wanted us to purchase eight buses to replace the eight buses that were destroyed at 100 percent funding. Now, we have settled with them and they have offered to just take this additional $21,946.69 along with what they already have, which is a little under $300,000, which is saving the county $500,000- $600,000 and will put us in good shape again.”
The commission approved the additional $21,946.69 payment to ALDOT. It also awarded a bid for equipment for the bus wash at C.A.R.T.S. The low bidder was InterClean Equipment, LLC at $164,831.66.
C.A.R.T.S. drivers Wade Hancock and Teresa Givens were recognized and presented with certificates after a great showing at the Alabama Rural Transit Assistance Program (RTAP) Statewide Bus and Paratransit Roadeo held March 23 in Eufaula. Hancock took first place in the Van Division. Givens earned third place in the Bus Division.
In other business
The commission approved all of the following agenda items:
- Proclamation declaring April as Fair Housing Month
- a Benefit Consulting Agreement between Cullman County Commission and Cobbs Allen to consolidate all benefit strategic planning needs under one broker of record.
- Adoption of Federal Procurement Guidelines
- Authorization of Revenue Commissioner Barry Willingham to sign an agreement with LexisNexis Risk Solutions for data research information at $350/month.
- Authorization of Willingham to subscribe to a Cost Analysis Valuation subscription by Tax Management Associates at a cost of $2,995 annually.
- Request from Redemption Church to use the vacant lot south of the courthouse for a prayer gathering April 29- May 2 leading up to the National Day of Prayer on May 2.
- Surplus of a 1996 GMC bucket truck from the road department
The next commission meeting will be April 23 at 10 a.m. preceded by the commission work session at 8:30.
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