Big things for Big Canoe Creek

Changes, innovation, expanded education on the horizon for nature preserve

Story by Paul South
Photos by Graham Hadley
Submitted photos

“Come to the woods, for here is rest.”
— John Muir, American naturalist

Even in late August on the banks of Big Canoe Creek, change was in the air. Doug Morrison can see it from his side porch as he sips his morning coffee.

 Leaves turned red, yellow and gold. Some even surrendered without a fight to the coming autumn. Soon, a crisp chill will be at home in the air, exciting stuff after months of heat and humidity.

But for Morrison, manager of Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve, nature isn’t the only architect of transformation. There are exciting human changes coming this fall to the 422-acre preserve in Springville, part of Alabama’s Forever Wild lands.

The preserve, one of the most biodiverse parcels of land in the nation’s fourth-most biodiverse state, has a new education coordinator, Auburn University graduate Lucy Cleaver.

“We’ve got endangered species and threatened species in the Big Canoe Creek watershed,” Morrison said. “She will be working with different educational programs. We’re about to light it up and make it happen.”

Local students learning about the animals found in the Preserve

Cleaver, a native of Salem, Ala., holds a master’s degree in natural resource management from Auburn. She assumed her current role in August but has worked for the City of Springville for about three years.

Her work extends beyond the preserve and area schoolchildren, she said, even though she’s already conducted field trips for classes.

“When people think about outdoor education, they think it’s mostly about K-12 groups,” she said.

“But it’s also my goal to reach out to our landowners in St. Clair County. It’s equally important to me to educate them as to what they can do on their own property to help our entire watershed. It’s not just about what’s going on at the preserve. I want to make sure everybody has access to the knowledge that we have.”

Cleaver also plans to partner with entities like The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Geological Survey of Alabama, St. Clair County Soil Conservation District and the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service.

The preserve, which opened in 2024, boasts some eight miles of trails, including one hiking only trail (Creek Loop),  two combination hiking and biking trails  (the Fallen Oak and Slab Creek trails) and one combination hiking and horseback riding trail, called the Easy Rider trail.

Biodiversity on display

The magic of the preserve’s flora and fauna – even Creation’s s smallest treasures –  captures the imagination of visitors.

Some examples? Consider the Canoe Creek Clubshell, a freshwater mussel found only in the Big Canoe Creek Watershed and listed as endangered on the Endangered Species List. It’s an important barometer of the health of the creek, Morrison said.

“Mussels are important to the water system because they’re livers for the river because they filter the water,” Morrison said. “They are also good bio-indicators. If they are there, it means the water hasn’t been polluted enough to kill them. Their food source comes from the water and as they ingest the water, they filter the water, thereby cleaning turbid water of sediment.”

Lucy and Doug at the cabin and preserve office

The tri-spot darter, featured on the preserve’s logo, is a threatened species. It also calls the preserve home. The small fish features three dark saddle-like markings on its back. But during the mating season, males become brightly colored reddish orange and green.

Other aquatic species in the watershed found in a tributary of the Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve are the Western Blacknose Dace, a creature not documented in the area since the 1980s. A new find, the Gold Striped Darter was recently discovered, which is a rare find above the Fall Line.

For plant lovers, there are an array of blossoms – Mountain Laurel in the spring and wild azaleas are plentiful. The oak leaf hydrangea has bloomed out for the season. There are stands of Woodland Spider lilies, similar to the Cahaba Lily and a variety of  irises and other wildflowers.

In the fall, Morrison said, the resplendent purple Beauty Berries are plentiful. The forest becomes more open as the leaves tumble to the ground.

“There are beautiful, big patches of old hardwoods,” Morrison said. “We have  persimmons, paw paw trees, Muscadine.”

The unique finds fit the preserve’s motto, “Explore and Discover.”

An exciting journey ahead

As far as future goals for the preserve, Morrison is excited.

“We’re wide open,” he said.

 An August grant of more than $335,000 from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs will help fund the construction of a new open-air educational pavilion. The project will also get a boost of nearly $84,000 in local matching funds.

The new facility will house restrooms, an area to host educational classes and general gathering space.

Initial design renderings of new pavilion

“One of our locals, Mike McCown worked diligently with me and (St. Clair Economic Development Council Grants and Leadership Director) Candice Hill on the grant application. Mike really put a lot of time and effort into this. As a matter of fact, he inserted many links to past articles in Discover (magazine)that I believe helped craft the story. Our journey speaks for itself, a journey of perseverance, faith and huge community involvement. We are beyond thrilled this will be underway soon,” Morrison said.

Also in its earliest phase, a Nature Playscape for kids crafted not from plastic, but from rock and other natural features is planned. It is hoped that the playscape will open in 18 to 24 months.

“We just got the concept plan for that created by Learning Landscapes Design,” Morrison said. “We’re waiting on the projected costs of that, and then we’ll go after grants to help build that. Hats off to donor, G.T. LaBorde, for funding the Concept Plan and coming up with the idea. This design is incredible and will be a big attraction once built. Again, more community involvement.”

Already, Cleaver has scheduled  fall  field trips with homeschool and other school groups from as far away as Birmingham.

When Cleaver talks about the preserve, she thinks of a spot in Slab Creek where stones like flat dominoes seem to provide a natural footbridge over the water.

“What makes (the preserve) special is there’s nothing else like it in this community,” she said. “We don’t have another nature preserve where people can go for free and go hiking or horseback riding or mountain biking. To me, it’s very special that we offer this to the community.”

With all the happenings at the preserve, Morrison and Cleaver are like kids at Christmas. Cleaver’s addition only adds to the excitement as the preserve charts a course into the future.

“It’s a great journey, and it’s a great job,” said Morrison. “We are beyond grateful for our community support.”

More at the Museum of Pell City

Art of Nettie Bean and students kicks off new program at Museum of Pell City

From the work of budding student artists to seasoned professionals, a burgeoning art community is finding a home at Museum of Pell City.

The museum has already hosted the Helen Keller Foundation of Alabama Art Show twice with plans to bring it back in September. Featuring the creations of students across the state with visual impairments, blindness, and/or deaf-blindness, this show is growing in popularity in Pell City because of these inspirational works.

The museum has presented the annual Duran Junior High School Art Show as well, giving students a home to display their works for the public to see.

Now comes the next level – providing a home for the entire art community.

“Our community is so blessed with talented artists of all mediums, but artists have long lacked a place they could call their own in terms of shows,” said Museum President Carol Pappas. “Before we even opened our doors in 2022, we talked of an eventual evolution to cultural arts center. Yes, we are a history museum, but we recognized the need to expand our reach and become a center for the art community, too.”

The museum’s board invested in infrastructure to create gallery space leading into the museum with a hanging wall system, ideal for shows and art displays. Because of the mezzanine-type venue, it is prominently visible to museum goers, but it is also piquing interest from the heavily traveled lobby of the municipal complex.

“It gives us an opportunity to reach more people – more opportunities to expose these creative works to the public,” Pappas said. “We’re excited about the potential.”

To kick of what the board hopes will be a regular event, noted artist Nettie Bean of Gallery of Eden and her students were the inaugural show, which opened in July and continued through early August.

Bean is an Alabama-based artist who creates stunning oil paintings of landscapes, wildlife and birds. After college, she became known for her “house portraits,” painting door-to-door for clients.

Her life-size eagle paintings are displayed at The Lodge at Guntersville State Park.

She is passionate about teaching and conducts weekly painting classes at the gallery she owns with husband Wally Bromberg.

Bean said she believes that art is a gift meant to be shared, and she strives to make original art accessible to all. “That’s precisely what we’re trying to do through this new program to showcase our art community at the museum, one we hope will grow and thrive for years to come.”

The Helen Keller Foundation of Alabama Art Show is slated for Sept. 11-27.

More exhibits on the way

In addition to its latest venture into art, the museum is planning even more events in the months to come.

It will unveil an outreach program this month that puts mini-exhibits in public places like schools, city hall and county courthouse. “The idea is to give the public a glimpse at what they might find at our 4,000 square foot museum,” Pappas said. “People just don’t realize the depth and scope of our museum, so we want to take it to them – at least a little part of it.”

The outreach exhibits’ theme is Find it at Museum of Pell City, and it shares nuggets of the historic stories, photos and artifacts we have to offer through compelling, custom-designed displays.

Starry Night at Waffle House in the style of Van Gogh by Penny Arnold a crowd favorite

They encourage people to find out more at the museum, which is open Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is always free.

Coming soon is a model train exhibit that has been built by a team of volunteers over the past several months. The 17-foot display with a running train depicts the 1920s version of Pell City.

“It all began with a train,” Pappas noted, referring to the ‘first’ founding of the town in 1890 when Sumter Cogswell missed his train to Talladega, spent the night in Pell City and envisioned a town.

Nationally known artist Dirk Walker has donated his original painting of one of the train depots, and the board will be using it as a fundraiser for the museum along with selling numbered, matted prints of the original.

“We owe Dirk a debt of thanks for his generosity,” Pappas said. “He and his wife, Debbie, have been so supportive of our efforts. You can see all about him and his work in our museum, which features Pell Citians who have made a national name through their talents in art, music, sports and film.”

In November, the museum presents its annual Salute to Service, which will see its military section redesigned and expanded to better cover modern days wars in the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan.

It also will feature oral history videos from local veterans and St. Clair County District Attorney Lyle Harmon as keynote speaker at the Nov. 7 special program. He is a veteran of the second invasion of Iraq in the101st Airborne Division, 217th Calvary. He was a helicopter pilot flying reconnaissance missions.

“As you can see, we have lots in store for museum goers,” Pappas said. “Like history, it evolves. We aim to keep our programming fresh, giving people a reason to come and come back again to discover our rich history.”

McClendon’s legacy

Jefferson State names nursing wing after former senator

Story by Carol Pappas
Submitted photos

When Jim McClendon was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2002, state Sen. Jack Biddle asked him what he wanted for his future in politics.

“I want your seat,” he told Biddle, one of the most powerful senators at the time. Biddle retorted, “You’re not ready yet. You don’t know where the money is.”

In the years that followed, Senator McClendon not only found the money, he invested it in what is becoming a lasting legacy for St. Clair County and the region.

Jefferson State Community College recognized the longstanding support of McClendon by naming the Nursing Wing at the St. Clair-Pell City Campus in his honor with a ceremony on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

Dr. McClendon has been an ardent supporter of Jefferson State initiatives for many years. He was instrumental in the opening of the St. Clair-Pell City Campus in 2009 and the establishment of the Nursing Wing in October 2017, an expansion that included two simulation labs, a fundamental instruction lab, two classrooms, six offices and a conference room.

Nursing students at the opening of the new wing in 2017

 “Dr. McClendon was instrumental in Jefferson State starting in St. Clair County,” said Jefferson State President Keith Brown. “Because of his efforts, we’ve been able to educate hundreds of RNs, and they’re working and caring for people right here in this community.”

Just before unveiling the plaque commemorating the new name, Brown talked of McClendon’s dedication to education and health care in the form of support for the college. “It’s just my job,” Brown said McClendon told him.

“I’ve always had an affinity for nurses,” he joked to the crowd gathered for the ceremony. “I married one.”

Jefferson State’s first presence in the county was in Moody, but it was only temporary – representing a “foot in St. Clair County” – as McClendon described it. The college was built in 2009 with an LPN program. In 2012, the RN program became a reality, and the opening of St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital in 2011 and the Col. Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home in 2012 catalyzed the program’s growth.

“All of this was critical to educating these folks here and creating good jobs,” McClendon said. He noted that graduates have a 100 percent rate of job placement before graduation. “It’s a model for other state programs. They are educated here. They come back here. Health care in our area is getting better and better because of what’s going on at Jefferson State in Pell City.”

The college, he said, represents so many opportunities for St. Clair Countians. Many times, it is the first time higher education doors are open to families. “It’s changing Alabama. It’s changing our community. And they’re doing it the right way.”

A vision for the college

Looking back to the earliest conversations about locating a community college in St. Clair County, “there was always a recognition that there was a need for what a community college could bring to our region,” said Guin Robinson, dean of Economic Development at Jefferson State.

“Workforce development was at the top of that list,” Robinson said. “It was very obvious that health care was a driver for St. Clair County and the entire region, so it made sense there would be a need for nursing in Pell City and St. Clair County. It has certainly been a priority,” bolstered by the location of hospital and the state veterans home near the campus and doctors’ offices throughout the area.

The nursing program is expensive to operate and is not fully funded by tuition. The community’s and McClendon’s support have been “vitally important,” Robinson stressed. “Sen. McClendon has been our partner since the beginning. He could not have been a greater partner.”

McClendon’s influence and determination ensured that this legacy will continue, Robinson said. “And he did it without fanfare because we needed it for our community. He played a major role in the generational impact it is having in our community, and we wanted to honor him now so that we can show our appreciation.”

The McClendon story

Born in Mobile, McClendon earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Birmingham-Southern College in 1965 and his Doctor of Optometry degree from the University of Houston in 1967.

 McClendon then joined the United States Navy Medical Service Corps in 1968 where he was commissioned as an officer. Lt. McClendon served with distinction in Vietnam, for which he was decorated with the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device.

Over the course of his optometry career, McClendon distinguished himself as a leader in Alabama›s optometry community, serving as president of the Alabama Optometric Association.

Retired senator chats with new senator, Lance Bell

 In November 2002, McClendon retired from his private practice to pursue public service. That year, he was first elected to the Alabama House of Representatives, representing the state’s 50th District, where he was subsequently reelected for two additional terms.

Among other notable postings and accomplishments (including Chair of the House Ethics Committee and Chair of the House Redistricting Committee), Rep. McClendon served as Chair of the Health Committee, where he played a pivotal role in the passage of the Medicaid reform legislation.

In 2014, McClendon was elected to the Alabama Senate where he represented Alabama›s 11th District for two consecutive terms. He served on and provided leadership for various critical Senate committees, including the Rules Committee, Education and Youth Affairs, Fiscal Responsibility and Economics Development, Transportation and Energy, Health and Human Services, for which he served as Vice Chair, and the Senate Healthcare Committee for which he served as Chair.

 McClendon personally introduced 210 bills in the House and Senate on a range of critical issues, including education, public safety, economic development, and, of particular personal importance to him, healthcare and the advancement of Alabama’s healthcare professions.

“During my time as a legislator, I always heard the importance of job creation, employment and improving Alabama by creating good jobs,” said McClendon. “That’s exactly what Jeff State is doing, and it is a model for all other programs in the state.”

Friends Bound for New Horizons

Unique fundraiser nets $24,000 for nonprofits

Story by Carol Pappas
Submitted Photos

It was 2011 when retired Pell City educator Deanna Lawley offered an idea to help boost the Pell City Schools Educational Foundation’s funding following an economic downturn for investments.

A group trip to Italy with friend Diane Schilleci sparked the idea. The representative of the travel company, Collette Tours, asked her if she ever thought about getting groups to travel. “You’d be perfect,” they said, and she could put the commission into whatever project she wanted.

Diane and Craig Caufield admire incredible view from hilltop village of LaMorra over Langhe wine country.

She loved to travel and as a natural born teacher, she remembered how important grants were to her classroom. This would give her an opportunity to organize trips for groups so they could learn more about the world, and it could raise money for the Foundation.

Friends Bound for New Horizons is the moniker she gave it, and off they went to Ireland that first year, raising $7,000.

Since that time, the Foundation’s coffers have grown by more than $100,000 courtesy of the travels of Friends Bound for New Horizons.

Lawley and her groups didn’t stop there – on their traveling or their giving. A few years ago, the Pell City Library became a recipient of funds each year. “I couldn’t do this job without Danny,” Lawley said, referring to Library Director Danny Stewart, who helps coordinate the trips.

Two years ago, the Museum of Pell City, co-founded by Lawley, was added to the list of beneficiaries of the gifts. “The museum is special to my heart,” she said. Since serving as co-project manager for Pell City’s hosting of the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street in 2014, “I started thinking about people and our history that was being forgotten about.” In 2023, the city’s own museum opened in a 4,000 square foot suite in the Municipal Complex.

In May, the group traveled to Italy – 41 ‘Friends’ – and while they benefitted from a ‘bucket list’ trip filled with memories, their travels generated $10,000 for the Education Foundation and $7,000 each for the museum and library.

Their Italian adventure took them to Tuscany, where they spent the final four days at an historic estate outside Florence called Hotel Villa Casagrande.  They visited Turin, known for fashion and design, and saw the Shroud of Turin in the chapel at Savoy Palace.

They stayed at Sestre Levante, right on the Italian Riviera, and they visited Cinque Terre – five villages on the coast that hang over the sea.

Among the many sights they still savor were Lucca, the Medieval-walled Tuscan hill town, home of Puccini, the great Italian opera composer and the Chianti Road to the winery and olive oil cannery. “Both were incredible,” said Lawley.

Greve was a small Chianti village with only two squares, where they shopped and had farm-to-table lunch.

As for the group’s favorite moments, “I loved seeing all the laundry hanging from balconies,” said Patti Harper. “I’ve always seen it in pictures, and they really do it! Also, how the boats had rented spaces on the walkway in Cinque Terre” because there isn’t enough space on the water. The captains have to carry boats down to the sea.

Johnny and Cheryl Gregg’s favorite experience was “the day trip to Cinque Terre. The train ride, the architecture and the beautiful blue water of the Mediterranean.”

For Mara Walls, it was “the town of La Morra, but especially the camaraderie of everyone in our group.” Husband Blythe singled out “City of Greve and the countryside.”

“The village at Manola was especially beautiful, nestled in the hills, and the Mediterranean,” added Jeff Hestley. His wife, Vicki, had a vivid recollection. “The day we spent at the olive vineyard and the afternoon in Greve were a perfect day for me.”

Their stories are typical of the conversations among these travelers upon returning home. They are dream trips carefully put together for maximum enjoyment and memories to last a lifetime.

There were three Danas on the trip – Dana Corte of Fairhope, Dana Merrymon and Dana Ellison of Pell City

About a month after returning home, they recounted their experiences at a special Italian dinner held at The Grill at the Farm in Cropwell. It was an opportunity for them to reunite, reminisce and be honored for their gifts to the Foundation, library and museum.

In accepting for the Foundation, Vice President Jackie Robinson said how vital the funds have been to their efforts to enhance classroom experiences through grants to teachers. The Foundation’s account now stands at over $1 million, with grants for everything from microscopes to books funded through the interest earned.

Stewart recounted traveling with the group in years past, helping Lawley coordinate trips and the personal enrichment it gave to him. Through the fundraising, the library is now able to do so much more to serve its patrons, especially children. A Christmas event featuring Santa and the Grinch draws over 300 children and landscaping lights outside the library were but two of the projects made possible in part with the funding.

Museum President Carol Pappas called the gift an honor to accept. The museum is launching its “Digging Deeper Initiative,” a series of new exhibits and oral history films that will dig deeper into Pell City’s history and present those stories in new, compelling and interactive ways.

“Stay tuned,” she said. “Because of Friends Bound for New Horizons, Museum of Pell City is bound for new horizons, too.”

Next up on the itinerary for the Friends group are a Rhine River Cruise and Painted Canyons of Utah, both in September.

In August 2025, the group plans to head to Scotland with tickets to the famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tatoo, a spectacular show “celebrating British Military, Scottish Heritage and international culture with world-class lighting projects and cutting-edge sound technology.” They are even offering an additional option trip – a 4-day, 3-night London pre-tour with fast train to Edinburgh.

Editor’s note: For more information on joining Friends Bound for New Horizons on their next adventure, contact Lawley at dnlawley@gmail.com.

Turkey call of the wild

Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve kicks off education program

Story by Roxann Edsall
Photos by Mackenzie Free

Wattle, caruncle, snood!  Characters in a Dr. Seuss book?  Though quite amusing to say, and quite like the nonsensical words used in the works of children’s author Theodore Geisel, these are real words that describe features of a gobbler, a tom, or a hen or simply a turkey. 

The wattle is that flap of skin under the turkey’s chin, while the caruncle are fleshy bumps on the turkey’s head and throat.  The snood is the fleshy flap that hangs just above the turkey’s beak. 

Fun facts about turkeys kept the attention of dozens of young people and their parents at the Youth Turkey Call Expo, held at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville to kick off its education program.  The Preserve opened in March, and the education component will be a key focus.

Traci Ingleright helps a child practice using a turkey call

The goal was to get kids outdoors and learning about the sport of wild turkey hunting, an activity they can do now with adults and continue to enjoy into adulthood. They learned about turkey behavior, their habitats, turkey calling and about habitat management. 

If you’re wandering around the woods and find a turkey feather, don’t worry, that bird has quite a few more…about 6,000 more. And if you want to find that turkey, you’re going to want a locator call.  There are basically three types of turkey calls – locator, diaphragm (or mouth) and friction. 

Locators help to find where the turkeys are. Diaphragm-type calls are those that are held in the mouth, and sound is made by forcing air through them. Friction calls use a rubbing motion to make sound and include push-button, box and slate calls.  Which type a hunter uses depends on his or her need at the time and their skills and preference.

“My favorite is a slate call,” said Miller Gauntt, already a seasoned hunter at 12 years old.  His dad, Trey Gauntt, took him on his first hunt six years ago.  “He didn’t even want to take a gun,” says Trey.  “But I killed a turkey that day, and he changed his mind.”  Miller says what he likes most is hearing them gobble. “100 percent it’s hearing them gobble … and being outside.”

Male turkeys are called gobblers or toms. Females are hens, and young turkeys are called poults.

As three children from one family head home, they excitedly reflect on their favorite lessons of the day. Five-year-old Noah and his 10-year-old brother, Caleb, were particularly impressed with their newfound knowledge on identifying turkey droppings. “Boy turkey poop is shaped like a hockey stick,” says Noah. Caleb completes the lesson by adding that the female’s skat can be identified by its more artistic spiral shape.  Macy, their 9-year-old cousin, now knows that turkeys have three toes, a lesson learned this day through pushing a metal impression of a turkey’s foot into a bit of modeling clay.

“I think events like this are crucial to getting people out here,” says David Hopper, senior conservation officer and wildlife biologist for the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. “Being a turkey hunter myself, I think it’s imperative to teach kids about the traditional ways of turkey hunting. We want to teach them to be safe and to respect the bird.” 

He explains that respecting the turkey includes only killing what you plan to eat. And, if pictures are posted to social media, making sure the bird is cleaned up. “Make sure he’s shown respectfully,” says Hopper. “They’re beautiful creatures.”

Hopper grew up hunting and credits his grandfather as his outdoor mentor. “Turkeys and hunting, period, kind of shaped my career path, down to both degrees I ended up getting,” he says. 

“As much as the outdoors and hunting has given to me, it became natural to give back. And the way we give back is to manage these resources so that my kids and their kids and everyone else have these natural resources for the future.” 

He was four when his grandfather took him hunting for the first time.  It’s a tradition he is planning to carry on with his own children.

Three generations of one family are enjoying the event and learning about the sport.  Kyle Mavin, from Springville, has brought his son, Jake, and 5-year-old grandson Rowan to introduce the youngster to the family pastime. “I introduced Jake to hunting when he was a young boy,” says Kyle.  “Now we’re introducing Rowan to it together. We wanted to get him outside, away from technology. Today’s been a great day to do that.”

Traci Ingleright leans in to help a child practice using a turkey call.  She’s a teacher by day and volunteers with educational events for the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF).  Having grown up turkey hunting with her dad, she is helping to educate future hunters as a tribute to him. 

Her dad, Ben Knight, was a two-time world slam turkey hunter. A world slam turkey hunter is one who has harvested one of each of the North American subspecies of wild turkey in a given year. 

Another grand slam turkey hunter is helping with another presentation today. Preston York got his single season grand slam in the spring of 2021. A family friend took him turkey hunting when York was 18 years old. “It spurred my love of the outdoors,” he says. “It got me in the woods every day of the season.” 

Preston York (left) talks turkey with Trey Gauntt and his son, Miller

Now he’s in the woods a lot as owner of FloMotion Trail Builders, the company that built most of the trails at the Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve and another 200 miles of trails in 40 locations in five states.

The VanWagner family loves coming out to the Preserve. “It’s a huge resource for us,” he says. “I do a lot of hiking and landscape photography, and this is a great place for that.” He has brought his two girls out for the day to enjoy time outdoors and to participate in the turkey call expo. 

Eight-year-old Emma can hardly contain her excitement as she talks about her love of these “fuzzy and cute” creatures. She says she’s always wanted to use a turkey call, but that her dad won’t get her one. 

Thanks to the vendors who donated prizes for the day, the VanWagner family has a very happy daughter. Emma won her very own turkey call. She’s sure to summon a gobbler soon, complete with wattle, caruncle and snood. 

Maybe one day, she’ll be a grand slam turkey hunter, too.

Modern Manufacturing Program takes shape

Honda steps up with SUV for workforce development program at Eden Tech

Story and photos
by Graham Hadley

Once again, St. Clair County is leading the way for the rest of Alabama when it comes to workforce development programs in public education – and Honda Manufacturing is already stepping in to help.

The John Pope Eden Career Technical Center in Ashville, working with the St. Clair Economic Development Council, is taking a lead role in the Modern Manufacturing Program, a partnership between the Alabama Works initiative and local school systems, as the state continues its efforts to boost the number of qualified manufacturing professionals.

The program at is already well on its way to being another workforce development success story for the region. Now, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama has joined those efforts, donating a Honda Pilot SUV and more to MMP at Eden in late October.

“At the Honda Alabama Auto Plant we are excited about the opportunity that the Modern Manufacturing Program can provide for students and industry alike,” said Michael Gaines, division leader at Honda Alabama.

Handing over the keys

“Modern Manufacturing will provide the necessary skills for entry level manufacturing positions in our company, as well as other manufacturing companies in our region. Almost all industries in our area are experiencing manpower shortages, and this program will give students the basic skills they need before entering the workforce, helping to increase their career options, and hiring potential, while also helping local employers to fill open positions with individuals already advanced in work-based skills.”

Bob Johnson, who helms the program at Eden and a former HMA employee, expressed his gratitude to his former employer for its generosity. “The MMP program at Eden Career Technical Center is very thankful to Honda. This donation will contribute to ensuring that every student is prepared to meet future opportunities beyond high school.”

Students and guests attend the MMP presentation at Eden

And that generosity goes beyond just the Pilot. “Honda has contributed parts, materials and money and worked with the St. Clair County Board of Education to make this happen,” he said.

Jason Roberts, director of Industry and Workforce Development at St. Clair EDC, was credited with playing a key role in bringing everyone together. He said the partnership is essential to the success of the MMP program and was quick to point out that across the state, all of the major manufacturers, especially the big automotive companies – Honda, Mercedes, Toyota-Mazda and Hyundai – are stepping in to make sure the skillsets they need are being taught.

The donation is a first for Eden and for schools in the region, said Kristen Holder, executive director for Central Six AlabamaWorks. She, along with other officials, like Alabama School Board Member Marie Manning, EDC Director Don Smith and St. Clair Superintendent Justin Burns, attended the event.

“This is such an opportunity for our students,” Burns said. “I knew it would be a good opportunity when you partner with companies like Honda or Unipres, and Eden Career Tech is the perfect next step in the workforce development process. … I know this is just the beginning. Thank you for giving us the opportunity.”