Gas and convenience retailer breaks ground in Ashville
QuikTrip (QT), one of the nation’s leading convenience and gasoline retailers, has broken ground on a new travel center in Ashville, ushering in what is believed to be an economic boon for the area. It will be located along U.S. 231 and Interstate 59.
QuikTrip currently has eight locations operating in Alabama with multiple additional stores under construction. The Ashville travel center is expected to open in the spring of 2026. QT opened a traditional location in Pell City in 2023.
As a travel center, Ashville’s location features a larger lot and a more spacious store design than a traditional QT.
“We are excited to continue to bring QuikTrip’s signature commitment to quality and efficient service to Alabama residents and travelers by breaking ground on a new location in Ashville,” said QuikTrip Corporate Communications Manager Aisha Jefferson.
“From the very beginning, we have felt a warm welcome and overwhelming support from Mayor (Derrick) Mostella and the other community leaders, which played a huge role in our decision to invest in this community. We’re looking forward to providing a convenient and reliable resource for Ashville and becoming a part of its growing community.”
Huge crowd and city, county officials take part
For decades, people have looked to QT for an on-the-go snack or meal as well as a comfortable atmosphere. The Ashville location will include full-service QT Kitchens featuring freshly prepared grab and go items and custom-made menu items. QT Kitchens customer favorites include warm, soft pretzels, custom breakfast tacos, hardwood smoked BBQ sandwiches, cold brew coffee and frozen treats like QT’s QuikShake®.
Customers will also be able to enjoy fresh donuts, sub sandwiches, wraps, QT’s signature pizza by the slice and roller grill items.
“The City of Ashville would like to extend its heartfelt gratitude to the QuikTrip team,” Mostella said at the groundbreaking. “They have been incredible to work with on this project and have a real commitment to providing a quality shopping experience as well as providing an opportunity for employees to grow within the company. Their professionalism and collaboration have made this project possible.”
St. Clair County Commission Chairman Stan Batemon agreed. “I would like to commend Mayor Mostella and the QuikTrip team for all of their hard work on this project. This company is known for its excellence and will be a destination for travelers. I believe it will also be the catalyst for additional development at Ashville’s interstate interchange.”
This location will create approximately two dozen new jobs.
Since its founding in 1958, QT has established a reputation for its benefits to employees, receiving national recognition as a top place to work year after year. In addition to providing superior benefits and opportunities for advancement, QT offers competitive pay, tuition reimbursement, medical insurance and excellent 401k benefits.
QT expresses pride for its positive impact in the communities it serves, with the company donating five percent of its annual net profits to charitable organizations. Among the organizations QT supports are United Way, Safe Place, local food banks and schools. It also supports Folds of Honor, a non-profit whose mission is to provide educational scholarships to the military and first responder families of those who have been killed or disabled while on active duty.
Over the past 66 years, QT has grown its footprint to more than 1,100 stores across 19 states and employs over 31,000 people.
Story and photos by Roxann Edsall Submitted photos
There’s been a lighted cross just off U.S. 231, south of Pell City, for over a year, marking the spot where a new church will soon stand. Shovels tipped the dirt on a drizzly February morning, signifying the beginning of construction on the $7 million New Life Church.
Site work has already begun at the property adjacent to Cosper Construction on Easonville Road in preparation for the first phase of the project, which will include the building of an outdoor chapel to accommodate 150 people.
The main building will house 20,000 square feet of worship space, classrooms and offices with seating capacity for 300 in the sanctuary.
Byron Smith, owner of studiosmith Architecture, LLC in Pell City, designed the facilities with a nod to the casual “lake life” feel of the area. “In conceptual listening sessions, church members indicated that the proximity to the lake and its relaxed and informal nature was important to incorporate into the design,” said Smith. “The steeple will actually be a cupola with windows on four sides, which you might find at the peak of a home overlooking the lake.”
New Life sanctuary plans
Smith describes the style as “traditional southern vernacular with a modern edge.” “Traditional forms, soaring ceiling heights and exposed timber roof structures were important to me in designing a public building that is recognizable, like a home,” he added. “It’s a reflection of the people who will use it.”
The population of both St. Clair County and Pell City continues to grow, with more than 200 new homes being built just a stone’s throw from this new church.
“Pell City is growing, with new homes and new businesses,” said Rotunda Forman, Pell City Chamber of Commerce vice president. “Even though we do have quite a few churches in Pell City, new churches are about a new voice, a new direction. People need to find what fits them. Our younger generations are looking for that.”
Wes Savage, who serves as lead pastor of New Life Church, agrees wholeheartedly. “We believe firmly that new churches help reach new people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” he says. “We’ve seen increases in visitors who were ‘unchurched’ or ‘de-churched’ people coming to experience renewed faith and a passion for their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We expect that to continue as we are able to provide new facilities for children and youth to meet the needs of families moving into the area.”
“At New Life,” adds Rev. Savage, “we are committed to raising up a new generation of believers and providing a place for families and adults to make new personal connections, find purpose, build community in a local body of Christ, and become equipped for the work Christ has called them to do for his kingdom and for his glory.”
New Life Church was planted in November of 2022 and has quickly grown to 300 members with seven staff. It is an independent church which upholds Protestant Christian beliefs as contained in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds.
Building committee members celebrate groundbreaking with architect and general contractor
Savage goes on to explain, “First and foremost, we are followers of Jesus Christ, grounded firmly on the unchanging word of God and guided by his eternal spirit. We believe all people should have the opportunity to hear and respond to the good news offered through Jesus. We believe God’s grace is abundant and the new life he offers is life changing.”
Helping to change lives is an important part of New Life’s mission of “glorifying God, making disciples, and blessing others in Jesus’ name.” In their first two years, a focus on missions has been in the forefront of the more than 25 projects New Life members have embraced.
From supporting the physical and spiritual needs of children in Juarez, Mexico, through Hunger House International to supporting the heroes at the Colonel Robert L. Howard State Veterans’ Home in Pell City, there is always a place to serve.
New Life members have collected food for the Christian Love Pantry and participated in distributing at the food giveaways, in addition to providing Thanksgiving dinner for inmates in St. Clair County. Other missions include Dovetail Landing, the Sheriff’s Boys’ Ranch, the Gideons and St. Clair County DHR’s Foster Children Christmas gifts.
Teams have also built solar cubes to help bring electricity to people in 18 countries through Designs for Hope.
Following the disastrous effects of flooding from Hurricane Helene in October, New Life sent a team to work with Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief in Boone, North Carolina. “It was such a humbling experience,” said Suzanne Freeman, chairperson of missions for New Life. “We helped three families who had extensive flood damage. We thought we’d come to help them but found ourselves even more blessed by them.”
Services on the new property will begin in the Spring. Until then, services are held each Sunday at 8:30 a.m., 9:40 a.m., and 10:30 a.m. at the Pell City Municipal Complex at 1000 Bruce Etheredge Parkway.
In a time when personal attention in medical care may seem like a relic of the past, Dr. Rock Helms sees his new practice – Helms Healthcare – as reconnecting the patient and the doctor and employing modern advances to enhance the whole experience.
An exam room
The longtime Pell City family medicine physician opened Helms Healthcare in nearby Vincent in late-March, offering “a concierge-type practice for everybody,” he said. “When you call, you get a human. When you want to be seen, you can be seen right away. We prefer appointments, but it’s not a mandate.”
The aim is to make it easier for patients to have “easy access to their doctor or nurse practitioner for medication refills, questions about test results or a question about referrals to a specialist,” Helms explained. “Typically, there are too many barriers to achieve that. I want to break those barriers down.”
Dr. Helms envisions a practice where the doctor-patient relationship is at the core, reminiscent of the times when doctors knew their patients personally and were deeply invested in their well-being. It gives the doctor a more comprehensive understanding of the patient’s health history and needs.
Pell City is set to become a premier dining destination as Darden Restaurants, a global leader in full-service dining, officially broke ground on a new Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse on May 18, 2025.
This highly anticipated project, valued at over $6 million, is the result of a dynamic partnership between Darden Restaurants, I-20 Development, the City of Pell City, and the St. Clair County Commission. The spirit of collaboration was present at today’s groundbreaking ceremony, held on the development site located at the intersection of US Highway 231 and Hazelwood Drive, adjacent to the I-20 West ramp.
“This is a ‘we thing,’ not a ‘me thing,’” said Bill Ellison, President of I-20 Development, who spearheaded the project. “It’s been a total team effort, and I want to compliment the City and County for their commitment and cooperation. As long as we can keep these relationships in place, there are limitless possibilities for what comes next.”
The new restaurants are projected to generate a combined $10 million in annual sales for Pell City, significantly boosting the local economy. Moreover, they will create numerous job opportunities for area residents and enrich the city’s dining scene with diverse culinary options, attracting visitors from across the region.
St. Clair EDC Executive Director Don Smith outlines path of success
Darden Restaurants, renowned for its commitment to exceptional dining experiences, operates over 2,100 locations worldwide. In Alabama alone, the company employs more than 3,300 team members across its 38 existing locations.
“It’s a tremendous feeling to know that these businesses that have so many choices on where to locate choose make their investment in our community,” said Bill Pruitt, Mayor of Pell City. They recognize that this is a special place to be. We’re grateful for the work of Bill Ellison and for the County Commission’s partnership, and we’re honored to welcome Olive Garden and LongHorn into the Pell City family.”
The Pell City restaurants will uphold Darden’s high standards, offering the beloved menus and inviting atmospheres that have made Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse favorites. Guests can look forward to indulging in Olive Garden’s signature pasta dishes, soups, salads, and breadsticks, or savoring LongHorn Steakhouse’s expertly grilled steaks, sides, and appetizers. Both locations will also feature full-service bars and delectable desserts.
“This entire project is exciting,” St. Clair County Commission Chairman Stan Batemon said. “Bill Ellison saw a vision over here, and myself and the other Commissioners are grateful for his and the City’s work in bringing these restaurants to St. Clair County.”
The Pell City locations are expected to open in 2026.
Pell City Breaks Ground on Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse
Pell City is set to become a premier dining destination as Darden Restaurants, a global leader in full-service dining, officially broke ground on a new Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse on May 18, 2025.
This highly anticipated project, valued at over $6 million, is the result of a dynamic partnership between Darden Restaurants, I-20 Development, the City of Pell City, and the St. Clair County Commission. The spirit of collaboration was present at today’s groundbreaking ceremony, held on the development site located at the intersection of US Highway 231 and Hazelwood Drive, adjacent to the I-20 West ramp.
“This is a ‘we thing,’ not a ‘me thing,’” said Bill Ellison, President of I-20 Development, who spearheaded the project. “It’s been a total team effort, and I want to compliment the City and County for their commitment and cooperation. As long as we can keep these relationships in place, there are limitless possibilities for what comes next.”
The new restaurants are projected to generate a combined $10 million in annual sales for Pell City, significantly boosting the local economy. Moreover, they will create numerous job opportunities for area residents and enrich the city’s dining scene with diverse culinary options, attracting visitors from across the region.
Darden Restaurants, renowned for its commitment to exceptional dining experiences, operates over 2,100 locations worldwide. In Alabama alone, the company employs more than 3,300 team members across its 38 existing locations.
“It’s a tremendous feeling to know that these businesses that have so many choices on where to locate choose make their investment in our community,” said Bill Pruitt, Mayor of Pell City. They recognize that this is a special place to be. We’re grateful for the work of Bill Ellison and for the County Commission’s partnership, and we’re honored to welcome Olive Garden and LongHorn into the Pell City family.”
The Pell City restaurants will uphold Darden’s high standards, offering the beloved menus and inviting atmospheres that have made Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse favorites. Guests can look forward to indulging in Olive Garden’s signature pasta dishes, soups, salads, and breadsticks, or savoring LongHorn Steakhouse’s expertly grilled steaks, sides, and appetizers. Both locations will also feature full-service bars and delectable desserts.
“This entire project is exciting,” St. Clair County Commission Chairman Stan Batemon said. “Bill Ellison saw a vision over here, and myself and the other Commissioners are grateful for his and the City’s work in bringing these restaurants to St. Clair County.”
The Pell City locations are expected to open in 2026.
It’s hard to imagine that Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve is celebrating its first birthday already. It was more than a decade in the making, and it sometimes seemed that opening day would never arrive.
But it did. On Feb. 3, 2024, 731 people streamed in, and the crowds haven’t stopped. Over 400 attended the grand opening, ribbon cutting ceremony the day before. And the numbers since that time have not only climbed, they show no signs of slowing.
Ribbon cutting, opening ceremony a year ago draws huge crowd
In the first year of operation, 13,000 people, an average of 1,100 a month, have visited the preserve – 422 acres of nature nestled in the city of Springville, whose population is just a little over 5,000, according to the latest census.
Its hiking, biking, birding and horseback riding trails wind their way beneath towering canopies of hardwoods, pine and maple trees with colorful palettes of flowers and diverse native plants marking the paths as if guiding the way.
A meandering creek, pristine as it flows through the heart of it all, is the ideal centerpiece – home to aquatic species – some not found anywhere else.
As Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve Manager Doug Morrison says, it’s the perfect place to “get your nature on.”
Early days
On an unseasonably warm day in late February, Morrison sits on the porch of the preserve office – a tiny wooden building, almost cabin-like in its appearance. He reminisces as he motions to the trails, bioswale and parking, surrounded by dense woods forming a picturesque backdrop.
Much of what you see was absent the year before. Trails were being built. A bioswale was being created to remove pollutants from stormwater runoff and let it settle in the soil to decompose rather than polluting the preserve below.
Entrance roads and parking lots were constructed. Signs erected. Benches were strategically placed throughout as a welcome respites along a hike or a placid place just to enjoy the scenery.
Activity was at a fevered pitch as work was tireless in its efforts to open. It had been long awaited to fulfill a longtime dream by Morrison and others.
For a decade or so, they waged a passionate campaign to have the land preserved and protected so that generations from now, the preserve can still be experienced and enjoyed. Forever Wild Land Trust bought the acreage and set wheels in motion to do just that – preserve it forever.
These days
These days you’ll find Morrison and company planning, visioning, working toward improvements to the experience and enhancing its awareness and education programs to take it to the next level.
Lucy Cleaver has joined the team as education coordinator. Jake Tucker is maintenance technician. With Morrison, the trio keeps the preserve running on a daily basis.
Entertainment at first birthday celebration cookout
Education has long been a central focus of the preserve. It is key to its future to facilitate not only an understanding of the importance of nature, but a passion for preserving it.
Cleaver enters the picture with an impressive resume with a bachelor’s degree in Agriscience Education and a master’s in Natural Resource Management from Auburn University. She taught high school Agriscience classes before joining the Park and Rec Department of the City of Springville.
Already, she has the education calendar full of activities.
On March 8, it held its second Youth Turkey Calling Expo, getting youngsters up and out on a Saturday morning at the preserve to learn all about wild turkeys. They learned how to make turkey calls and all about turkey hunting and the outdoors. The free event had a multitude of sponsors and the value of items given away to the kids totaled over $5,000.
On March 10, Jones Valley teaching farm interns and students went for a hike at the preserve and learned all about its features.
April 5 will see the preserve partnering with Alabama Cooperative Extension for a native tree workshop. June 7 is set for an invasive species seminar, and Sept. 26-27, it will be the site of Forest Her, a workshop for women on how to read deeds, bank documents and wills and how to manage land. It is a joint effort with the U.S. Soil Conservation Service for Women in Agriculture, necessitated by a growing number of women inheriting the family farm and needing such guidance.
She is networking with educators in the Alabama Environmental Association to help develop more programs.
Rounding out the year, Creek Jam, the popular outdoor music festival at Homestead Hollow to benefit the preserve, is set to return Oct. 25.
Future plans
While the early chapters of this success story have already been written for the preserve, officials have no intention of stopping there. Innovation, accessibility and more education are its guides.
Immediate plans call for making a section of the lower trail more accessible by paving a 1-mile section to allow wheelchairs. This will be made possible as the result of funding from grants secured by the Big Canoe Creek Preserve Partners, announcements forthcoming.
Tucker is working on a ram pump, which employs a set of valves working together to provide pressure enough to move 14,000 gallons of water from a spring through 350 feet of line up an 80-foot elevation without electricity.
Morrison discovered the ram pump idea from Randy Moody, a friend who had previously lived on the property in a rental house. “I asked him, how did you get water because I knew no water lines were run up here,” Morrison said.
Moody explained that the remnants of an old spring house had a gathering reservoir that fed into a pipe and there used to be a ram pump there. Morrison had never heard of a ram pump before, but he and Tucker researched. Tucker found a ram pump kit online and installed it.
“Jake can do anything I throw at him,” Morrison said. As long as the water collected into the pipe flows downhill, a ram pump inserted inline on the pipe could gather and push water uphill. For every 1 foot of fall on the pipe, it could push 7 feet uphill.
The end result? “We collect water through the pipe, the ram pump pushes it uphill, and we can collect it in a reservoir. Right now, we have a small 250-gallon tote, but plans are for a much bigger reservoir to collect the water and send the overflow back to the stream, thus providing water for irrigation and possibly flushing future toilets.”
Eventually, this off the grid creation will become an education model.
Meanwhile, pollinator gardens planted in the fall will be in full swing in spring and summer.
They are hopeful that an open-air pavilion with restrooms is on the horizon, made possible by a $400,000 grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs as part of its Recreational Trails Program. It was written by Mike McCown with assistance from Morrison and Candice Hill, director of St. Clair County’s new grant resource center.
There, they will be able to hold education and other events, and restroom facilities will now be available.
Why they do what they do
“This watershed is very, very special,” Morrison said as he talks of the protected species there, especially the Canoe Creek Clubshell Mussel, which had nearly become extinct. In 2022, they were placed on the endangered species list.
He points to the ecological potential for the future and a 2013 project on the creek.
Students from Jones Valley Teaching Farm schooled in features of preserve
In November 2013, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, river conservationists, The Friends of Big Canoe Creek, Coosa Riverkeeper and the Geological Survey of Alabama, DCNR and Alabama Power united to remove Goodwin’s Mill Dam. The former grist mill dam was built in the 1880s, and it was abandoned in the 1940s. At the time above the dam site, 15 different fish species, but no mussels, were found. Below it, twice that as more than 30 species of fish, were found, signaling that the dam had been obstructing the free flow of the fish.
“The fish passage was hindered by the dam. Fish have a symbiotic relationship with mussels. You see the female mussel releases glochidia (mussel larvae if you will) that latch onto the fishes’ gills. They feed off the blood of the fish for a few weeks, then drop off. And that’s where their life journey begins,” Morrison explained. Ten years later, they found mussels there, Canoe Creek Clubshells at that. Once the fish passage was unobstructed, the mussels were returning, and their role as a natural water filter will be vital to keeping the creek pristine.
After USFWS folks discovered the Clubshell there in 2023, they worked with Paul Johnson and Michael Buntin at Alabama Aquatic Center in Marion where they raise mussels. They released over 120 Clubshells and about the same number of Coosa Mocassinshell mussels in early 2024 into Big Canoe Creek, Morrison said, and they have high hopes for what it means for the future.
Through the preserve and the environmental and conservation work being done, “We want to teach people more about our watershed, how important the critters are that live here and how to take better care of our waterways so these special critters can exist. We must do what we can to prevent further extinctions,” Morrison said.
“All of God’s creatures have a right to exist to live a full life. We can tune in more to nature, explore more and discover more. Who knows what is still undiscovered? Bottom line, we all need to ‘get our nature on’, and maybe your existence will be rewarded tenfold.”
