The Dallas-Wilcox BAMA Club continues to set a high standard of excellence in 疯客直播 and Dallas County, and we鈥檙e grateful for that.

On May 9, the Dallas-Wilcox Club awarded 17 scholarships valued at $45,000 to the Class of 2024. Students receiving scholarships include Anna Brech (Morgan Academy), Mariah Flennory (Southside), Shamia Foster (Southside), Kadasia Hall (Dallas County), Milton Hand (Morgan Academy), Chryshaun Hatcher (疯客直播), Markus Jackson (Keith), Claire Johnson (Morgan Academy), Amira McCants (Wilcox Central),聽 Margaret Minter (Morgan Academy), Camaya Moore (Dallas County), Anne Frances Pearce (Morgan Academy), Alexis Perry (疯客直播), Demetria Tabb (Dallas County), Anne Hayes Utsey (Morgan Academy) and Frank York (疯客直播).

Dallas-Wilcox Bama Club president Ronnie Leet said the Dallas-Wilcox Club started with an initial endowment fund of $10,000 in 1987 and now has an endowment market fund value

over $1.1 million. We鈥檙e impressed with the club’s longevity and for always ensuring seniors have a bright future.聽

We applaud the Dallas-Wilcox Bama Club board, which consists of Ronnie Leet, Anne Williamson, Buddy Perkins, James McNeill, Beau Boyd, Tom Glover Ill, Barbara Leet and Laura Beth Boyd. The whole club deserves a pat on the back. We鈥檙e looking forward to next year鈥檚 Dallas-Wilcox Bama club banquet.

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Graduation season always falls between Mother鈥檚 Day and Memorial Day.

One of the few gripes I had about Stillman College involved graduation was it was always held on Mother鈥檚 Day.聽

I remember the day when my sister graduated in 1989, it was a rainy Mother鈥檚 Day. We did not want my mother and grandmother to cook, and all of the restaurants in Tuscaloosa were packed. We ended up getting takeout at Kentucky Fried Chicken, a large box with mashed potatoes and coleslaw.

Things slightly improved by the time I graduated in 1992. Stillman College retained its graduation ceremony on Mother鈥檚 Day.聽聽

My situation was a little complicated, things all created by me. I missed the Friday graduation rehearsal because I was interviewing for a job at The Biloxi Sun Herald. A day before graduation, I got caught up right up to our farewell banquet on things I missed.

I could not miss church service hours before graduation because they did so much for me. Things got tangled when my uncle forgot to pick me up at church and use his car. I got a ride home and picked up a car, with my mother along.聽 I feared the worst: being left out of my graduation march. Luckily, I was late with some of my classmates. No harm, no foul, as the saying goes.

The graduation ceremony went better than I anticipated. I earned a medallion as the top communications student. My sister cooked dinner at her house where the family gathered together to celebrate Mother鈥檚 Day and my graduation. It was a lesson, no doubt, she learned from her graduation.

By the time my cousin graduated from Stillman two years ago, the graduation policy changed. The ceremony is now held on the first Saturday in May. Celebrating at her house was more enjoyable than the experiences we went through.

James Jones is the managing editor of The 疯客直播 Times-Journal. He can be reached at james.jones@selmatimesjournal.com.

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疯客直播 has a rich history of aviation at Craig Airport. The airport on the former military base was a hub of activity all the way up until the 1970s, when the federal government closed the base.聽

While the base is no longer active, Craig Airport has redefined its purpose over the years and its still a vibrant part of our community. One of those redevelopment opportunities has been to make aviation-related classes available to the students of 疯客直播 and all throughout the Black Belt.

That鈥檚 why this year鈥檚 Aviation Day was probably the best way to showcase that facility to hundreds of students in the coverage area of Wallace Community College-疯客直播 to perhaps spark an interest in aviation for local high school students.

All of the credit goes to the staff of Craig Airport and WCCS for putting on the event. It was a great show of cooperation and synergy between the two institutions.聽

鈥淲e鈥檝e got the facilities 鈥� you see our beautiful hangar. Wallace has the organizational structure, and they’ve got the energy to set up all the tables,鈥� Craig Airport and Industrial Authority executive director James Corrigan said. 鈥淲e coordinated with recruiters, the military, the institutions, civil air patrol and Goodwyn Mills Cawood. All of these organizations that wanted to influence young men and women’s lives.鈥�

WCCS President James Mitchell said the focus on aviation didn鈥檛 end with the aviation day.

鈥淎s I mentioned earlier during my welcome speech, this is an opportunity for these students,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淲e will offer an aviation pathways program. It is not going to just lock into one area of aviation. Students can go to air traffic control. They can go to avionics. They can go into aircraft mechanics. They can do drone certification. So it just opens up a whole new world for these students.鈥�

There is a tremendous demand for new pilots, air traffic controllers, mechanics and every job connected with aviation. And it will only increase as more of those pilots and traffic controllers age out of the business. It鈥檚 a business where we need new and younger faces, and right now, very few are pursuing those careers, careers that will give young workers a good living plus benefits.

It鈥檚 important to to see Craig Airport and WCCS working together to attract more aviation workers. Hopefully, there will be some students who decide to pursue those good-paying jobs. It鈥檚 a win-win situation for everyone.

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An important person who helped the start of my journalism career passed away on May 5.

Cecil 鈥淗ootie鈥� Ingram, a former All-SEC football player and athletics director at the University of Alabama, died last week. He was 90 years old.

Ingram was well-known in Alabama as an All-SEC in football and baseball between 1951 and 1954. His 10 interceptions in 1952 is a school record that still stands. With Alabama鈥檚 rich history of stellar defensive backs, I鈥檓 amazed that mark has gotten broken.聽

My association with Ingram came during the fall of 1991. I was a senior at Stillman College taking magazine journalism classes at Alabama. For the Alabama West Magazine, I was assigned to a story on Alabama鈥檚 gymnastics program, which just won its first national championship under legendary coach Sarah Patterson.聽

I called Ingram, now the Crimson Tide鈥檚 A.D. on the phone about what the school would do for the gymnastics program.

Ingram鈥檚 response: 鈥淛ames, I鈥檝e got guests over. We can talk later.鈥�

I was not upset. Me and Ingram never connected. I just followed my mother’s suggestion: 鈥淛ust say Hootie wouldn鈥檛 comment.鈥� I took her advice and did just that.

Everything worked out. I got an A on the project. I graduated the following spring and got hired by the Biloxi Sun Herald.聽

Nearly 30 years later, I began working at The 疯客直播 Times-Journal. The newspaper has a spot reserved in the press box for Alabama football games at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. Our seat was next to Ingram, now in his late 80鈥檚 and sat beside a caretaker. We traded handshakes and watched whoever the Crimson Tide played.

We looked at each other and nodded whenever the Crimson Tide scored behind All-American quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.聽

I did not bring up any of the stuff about him not calling me back in 1991. It was unnecessary. In many ways, Ingram鈥檚 action was a lesson that I learned how to become an award-winning journalist. Thank you for everything, Hootie Ingram.聽

James Jones is the managing editor of The 疯客直播 Times-Journal. He can be reached at james.jones@selmatimesjournal.com.

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For the last few years, I鈥檝e watched the Alabama High School Athletic Association playoff format for football, basketball, volleyball, softball and baseball.

I compare the AHSAA to the Mississippi High School Activities Association, where I spent 26 years covering football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, baseball, track and softball.

The only differences are soccer and track. None of our five public schools field soccer teams, and track is mostly known for high placing individuals and relay teams. Sorry track coaches, I鈥檓 just keeping it real here.

While the football playoff format is similar, the top four teams in regions qualify for the postseason. You won鈥檛 hear complaints from me, I love it.

My grievances came with baseball and softball in Mississippi, unlike the Alabama format.聽 Four teams advance in basketball, based on how they finished in the regional. In the past, three teams reached.

The former sports editor and I at The Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald often disagreed on high school sports issues, but we agreed over this one. You have four teams in divisions for baseball, softball, three make the postseason. The division winner gets a first-round bye.

We always asked, 鈥淗ow could you spend two months eliminating one team?鈥� For me, I always thought: just have an area tournament where the top two teams advance.聽

Dallas County, Keith and Southside softball teams are excellent examples of my theory surviving the tournament and making the regionals. Both boys basketball teams at Southside, 疯客直播, Keith and Dallas County survived area tournaments through the years and reached the regional round.

I can still see the 疯客直播 High girls basketball team being 18-0 and ranked in the Top 10, but coach Wil Morgan is not satisfied.聽

Of course, I received countless emails from coaches and fans about us complaining about the MHSAA format. 鈥淭he best team always wins,鈥� they would say.

I no longer work in the Magnolia state, but I still prefer the Alabama way. And the reason is not because I live in 疯客直播. The system works better for me.

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A movie about Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. is finally in the works.

According to various media reports, Universal Pictures is involved in a new movie based on Jonathan Eig鈥檚 biography, 鈥淜ing A Life.鈥澛� Regarding books on MLK, none come close to Elg, who goes deep into who the civil rights activist was.

Comedian Chris Rock is reportedly in talks to serve as director and producer of the project, while Steven Spielberg has signed on as an executive producer. No casting has been made because the film is still in development.聽

For years, I鈥檝e said that a biopic about MLK is long overdue. The 鈥湻杩椭辈モ�� movie had its moments, but MLK needed his own story.

From where I sit, the MLK movie is in good hands with Rock and Spielberg.聽

Rock is well-known as a stellar comedian but he has directing experience. Rock directed Head of State (2003), I Think I Love My Wife (2007), and Top Five (2014). Rock has a reputation for working well with others.聽

Fifteen years ago, Spielberg and his company DreamWorksSKG obtained a license from MLK鈥檚 estate to use his copyrighted speeches in a film. The movie at the time was canceled, but Spielberg kept the copyright. He also obtained filmmaking access to Dr. King鈥檚 life and intellectual property. MLK鈥檚 actual speeches and words may be used in the upcoming film.

Word has it that executors of MLK鈥檚 estate, his children Bernice, Dexter, and Martin, are very selective about the licensing rights. It seems they approve of Spielberg and so do I. I鈥檝e always been a fan of Spielberg.聽

Also, Spielberg was impressed with actor David Oyelowo’s portrayal of MLK in 疯客直播 and reportedly asked him for the lead role. Oyelowo has not confirmed, and I hope he says yes.

No doubt, the City of 疯客直播 must be a big part of the movie because MLK led the 疯客直播 to Montgomery March between March 21 and March 25, 1965.聽

Of course, John Lewis must be portrayed in the movie for leading the historic 鈥淏loody Sunday鈥� march on March 7, 1965, eventually leading to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.聽

With Speilberg and Rock at the helm, this movie has the potential to win Academy Awards. I鈥檓 looking forward to hearing more.

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This past week, everyone in 疯客直播 has seen the issues that city leadership are dealing with in relation to crime and the 疯客直播 Police Department.

One apparent issue is that there is a disconnect between the mayor’s office, the city council, 疯客直播 City Schools and the police department. Mayor James Perkins Jr. said in his press conference Wednesday that directives he鈥檚 made to the police department are not being followed for one reason or another. We are at the point where Perkins has placed Police Chief Kenta Fulford on administrative leave.

疯客直播 City School leaders have requested more police presence. The response has not been adequate enough to feel comfortable to return to in-person instruction this week after a pair of shootings this past weekend have raised concerns about student safety.

The City Council was unwilling to terminate Fulford last year after Perkins placed Fulford on administrative leave last year due to Perkins鈥� expectations not being met. It is unclear if there are enough votes to change its position on Fulford.

It appears that some needs are not being met within the police department.聽

In Perkins鈥� press conference, he stated, 鈥淭he chief and I developed a plan for staffing two and a half years ago, maybe three years ago probably. And there were steps for the completion of that. Those plans have not been met.鈥�

Perkins did not elaborate on why those plans weren鈥檛 being met, though he added that 鈥淚 can’t think of a financing request of the 疯客直播 Police Department that the council has not honored.鈥�

First, let us be honest: we do not know what the solution to this problem is. However, it is abundantly clear that no one is on the same page. No one can agree on a solution, much less what the problem really is.

The only way this cycle will end is when all sides can come together and outline what the issues facing public safety are in 疯客直播. Is there a staffing problem? Is there a leadership problem? Is there a crime problem?

One thing is for sure, there is no simple solution. It鈥檚 likely going to have to take some concessions on all sides to come to an agreement.

If no deal can be struck, nothing will change. We urge everyone to come to the table and find an agreement that will work for all parties involved and will improve the public safety of our citizens.

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Another All Dallas County basketball聽 team was named last week and published in last weekend’s edition of the 疯客直播 Times-Journal.聽

That means we鈥檙e down to the All-County selections in baseball and softball, which will be published later during the spring.

We always enjoy our process of selecting the team every year in all sports: football, basketball, softball, baseball and volleyball. All seven schools, 疯客直播 High, Southside High, Keith High, Dallas County High, Morgan Academy, Ellwood Christian Academy and Meadowview Christian School, each get nominations..

I鈥檓 not going to sit here and say picking the team has a secret formula. For those inquiring minds who don鈥檛 know can ask any of the coaches. I鈥檓 sure they鈥檒l be happy to tell you.

We take nominations from the coaches in the respective sport on who they want on the All-Dallas County team. Each school gets a player on the regular team. Then we ask for others to get honorable mention.

If a team emerges with a standout year, a player of the year candidate usually comes from their squad. We ask for the coaches鈥� blessing if we choose a player of the year from their team and they usually approve.

From there, if a coach feels they have a player worthy of All-State consideration, we send those nominations to the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA). That process is not easy. A player must have solid statistics competing against other players across the state, and we鈥檙e always willing to 鈥渇ight鈥� for the local kids to get all-state recognition. Sometimes, it works. Other times, it doesn鈥檛.

We often hear complaints about not attending enough games to pick certain teams. Under this selection process, we don鈥檛 have to. The coaches have a right to select who they want on the All-County team and we鈥檙e fine with that.

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An Editorial Opinion of The 疯客直播 Times-Journal

On April 21, the 疯客直播 Housing Authority and the Black Belt Foundation held a lottery for who would receive the new home on Washington Street. As you know by now, that home went to Tamicka Newberry.

She was so excited to receive her home after she lost everything in the tornado last year that she just couldn鈥檛 contain her emotions. She was jumping for joy and needed to sit down in a chair for a moment to regain her composure so she could enter her new home for the first time.聽

This home will be Newberry鈥檚 with no out-of-pocket expenses to her other than maintenance. With it being a new home, those expenses should not be too high. And the home is built up to code with new, energy-efficient appliances.

How this home can be hers basically free of charge is due to an initiative by the National Assistance Corporation of America (NACA). This $169,000 home that Newberry received will be financed on a 15-year low-interest loan that will use her housing vouchers to pay for the home.聽

Bruce Marks, CEO and founder of NACA, said that Newberry was approved for three-bedroom housing for her and her husband along with children and grandchildren, who also stay with her. Her housing voucher from the 疯客直播 Housing Authority will go toward the mortgage payments instead of going toward the landlords of Section 8 housing.

鈥淚t’s a game changer because someone who starts out with no wealth will end up in 15 years with over $200,000 in wealth,鈥� Marks said. 鈥淪o instead of using that to pay the landlord and generate wealth for the landlord, we use it for the housing choice recipient to generate wealth for themselves. So in 15 years, they would own it out right.鈥�

This is an awesome program and has a lot of potential to help increase the wealth of local families. Right now 疯客直播 Housing president and CEO Kennard Randolph said they have five more homes already ready to go with five more on the way. The initial goal is to build 27 of these homes in the city, all of which would be at no out-of-pocket cost to the homeowner.

If this program can continue to be successful, this could be revolutionary for 疯客直播, as you will not have to worry about dilapidated homes and you will have new homes that will serve the community for decades to come.聽

In addition to that, these families will also be able to build equity while building credit so that they will be able to build wealth here. We are hopeful that it could transform the local economy of 疯客直播.

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Dallas County has a unique connection to the NFL Draft.

Over the last 20 years, three local players were selected by NFL teams: Michael Johnson, Ben Obomanu and Lachavious Simmons.

Obomanu, who played at 疯客直播 High School, was a member of the undefeated 2005 Auburn team that did not play for a national championship. Obomanu was a seventh-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in the 2006 NFL Draft. Obomanu, now an attorney in Seattle, played seven NFL seasons in Seattle.

Johnson, who played at Dallas County High School, was a third-round selection of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Johnson, who starred collegiately at Georgia Tech, played 10 NFL seasons, 2009-2018, mostly with Cincinnati.

Simmons grew up in 疯客直播, but graduated from Keith High School. Simmons, who played collegiately at Tennessee State University, was a seventh-round pick of the Chicago Bears in the 2020 NFL Draft. Simmons is currently on the Tennessee Titans鈥� roster.

What impresses me about all three athletes is they haven鈥檛 forgotten their roots. Obomanu often returns to 疯客直播 and gives back to his hometown. Johnson lives in town and is always giving back through the MJ 93/90 foundation. Simmons will have a youth football camp in June.聽

Obomanu, Johnson and Simmons were not first-round picks, meaning they did not earn eight-figure salaries right off the bat. Johnson鈥檚 selection meant he鈥檇 automatically make the roster and be in line for a starting role.聽 Teams with selections in the first three rounds mean they are looking for starters.

Johnson answered the challenge and had a 10-year NFL career. Obomanu and Simmons were picked in the final round, but overcame odds to work their way onto NFL rosters, something I respect greatly. Rounds four and five are players in reserve roles. Rounds six and seven are practice squad players.

For the local players with NFL aspirations, they should follow the examples set by Obomanu, Johnson and Simmons. All three worked their way up the NFL ladder and did things the right way. For that, we are proud of them.聽

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