Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Al Blanton When Rusty Richardson accepted the Alabama Retail Association’s 2026 Gold Retailer of the Year award on November 5, he could have spent his time reflecting on decades of business success. Instead, he talked about the people. He thanked his wife, Elizabeth, who had nominated him
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Josh Gates named Alabama’s Outstanding ACE Mayor; Jennifer Williams Smith receives statewide ACE Leadership Award JASPER, ALA. – Jasper earned statewide recognition for municipal leadership and secured a place in the Alabama League of Municipalities’ Economic Development Academy during the 2026 Municipal Leadership Institute on Tuesday, October 20. Mayor Josh Gates was named Alabama’s Outstanding ACE Mayor, and
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Words by Linley Allred | Images by Al Blanton Jasper’s own Joe Kelley was among 12 individuals honored as the Alabama Nursing Home Association (ANHA) inducted its inaugural class into the Legends of Long Term Care Hall of Fame. Established in 2026 as part of ANHA’s 75th anniversary celebration, the Hall of Fame recognizes individuals
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Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Al Blanton Chad Hayes says serving his community has always been about the people and relationships formed along the way. However, being recognized for that service came as a complete surprise. Hayes was recently named the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County’s 2026 Volunteer of the Year,
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Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Al Blanton Carol Duncan’s five-decade career with Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center began in a rather unlikely place: a tent at the county fair. She accompanied her aunt to the fair hoping to find a volunteer opportunity that might keep her entertained. While visiting a booth, the
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Words and Images by Jenny Lynn Davis On October 22, Capstone Health celebrated 25 years of growth, service, and commitment to accessible healthcare with an anniversary ceremony at Capstone Summit in Jasper. The celebration brought together staff, board members, community partners, and supporters to reflect on the organization’s history, recognize those who have contributed to
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The Jasper-based bank ranked #2 among nation’s top-performing community banks under $2 billion in assets. JASPER, Ala. – Pinnacle Bank of Alabama is proud to announce that it has been recognized as the #2 top-performing publicly traded bank in the United States by American Banker. The prestigious industry recognition highlights exceptional financial performance among community
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Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Al Blanton and courtesy of Tiffany Conner For 12-year-old Rylee Strickland, walking a runway is nothing new. Walking a runway at New York Fashion Week, however, was an entirely different experience. The Oakman Middle School sixth grader recently made her New York Fashion Week debut, modeling for
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Ervin Smith, a student in Bevill State Community College’s HVACR program in Sumiton, recently received the Building Futures Scholarship. The Alabama Community College System and the Alabama Association of Resource Conservation, & Development Councils (RC&D) awarded Building Futures Scholarships for the first time this year. Approximately 50 students enrolled in the Alabama Community College System
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Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Al Blanton When Cody Gardner began designing a fictional restaurant for a Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) competition, he wasn’t necessarily thinking about a national award; he was thinking about challenging himself. The Oakman High School junior had competed through FCCLA before, completing a
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