By MACKENZEE SIMMS | Staff Writer COLUMBIANA – Educators and students from across the county gathered in the Grande Hall of the Shelby County Arts Council in Columbiana for the 2023-2024 Student and Educator of the Year Awards on Wednesday, April 17. Hosted by the Shelby County Chamber and sponsored by AmFirst, the award ceremony recognized excellence in the classroom and throughout the community by honoring outstanding students and educators in Shelby County. The ceremony began with Warren Averett COO and the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Chair April Harry commenting on the importance of ..read more

By DONALD MOTTERN | Staff Writer PELHAM – The Pelham Beautification, Entertainment and Arts Team, BEAT, have announced plans to present another entry in its series of dinner theatre productions scheduled for Friday, May 10 at the Pelham Civic Complex. With doors set to open at 6 p.m., BEAT is once again cooperating with South City Theatre to produce “Love, Loss and What I Wore,” based on the book of the same name by Ilen Beckerman. With directorial guidance by South City Theatre Board Member Sue Ellen Gerrells, the production is themed around, and promises to blend nicely with, the celebratio ..read more

By DONALD MOTTERN | Staff Writer PELHAM – On Thursday, April 18, the Pelham Fire Department held its annual promotional, badge pinning and awards ceremony that brought forth attention to the many lifesaving efforts currently on display within the department. Beginning with an opening prayer led by Pastor Tamane Moore, the ceremony began with the presentation of the colors that marked the beginning of the department’s annual promotional, badge-pinning and award ceremony. Multiple city officials were in attendance for the ceremony, including Pelham Mayor Gary Waters, Councilmembers Chad Leveret ..read more

By MACKENZEE SIMMS | Staff Writer CALERA – Benefitting students in Shelby County, the 2024 Leadership Shelby County Golf Tournament teed off on Monday, April 15 at Timberline Golf Club. In addition to a silent auction, the golf tournament raised money for Leadership Shelby County’s youth programming. The event started with a meal provided by Alabaster’s Full Moon BBQ. Participants could socialize or network over barbecue sandwiches and peruse the prize baskets while others snuck in some last minute practice at the driving range. At 12:30 p.m., groups containing four players dispersed across t ..read more

By TYLER RALEY | Special to the Reporter PELHAM – The Pelham Panthers used a big offensive performance to pick up their 20th win of the season on Thursday, April 18, over the West Blocton Tigers at Pelham High School. The victory was made possible by a seven-run fourth inning surge, which helped the Panthers in going out on top 8-2. Pelham got the scoring going early in the game with a two-out rally in the first inning. After a ground out and a line out began the frame, Jordan Howard got the team’s first base runner on with a ground ball that resulted in an error. After Shelby-Grace Bailey dr ..read more

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor PELHAM – After competing throughout the outdoor track and field season, the best athletes from around Shelby County descended on Pelham High School on Wednesday, April 17 to decide who was the best in the county in the Shelby County Championships. In the end, the Chelsea Hornets walked away as the boys champions and the Oak Mountain Eagles claimed the girls championship. Finishing behind Chelsea’s 177 points in the boys standings was Oak Mountain in second with 125 and the Thompson Warriors and Pelham Panthers tied in third place with 114 points. As for the ..read more

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor PELHAM – After a tightly fought first meeting where not much separated the two sides, the Briarwood Christian Lions and Pelham Panthers appeared to be in a similar deadlock as the second half got underway in their second match of the year on Tuesday, April 16, this time with the area title on the line. However, the Lions found their way through the Panthers defense on the counter-attack and scored three goals in 10 minutes to pull away for the 4-0 win at Pelham High School to clinch the area championship and the No. 1 seed out of Class 6A, Area 8. The Lions ..read more

By MACKENZEE SIMMS | Staff Writer PELHAM – The Birmingham Bulls suffered a game three loss to the Evansville Thunderbolts on Saturday, April 13, ending their postseason run. The 4-3 overtime defeat occurred on home ice at the Pelham Civic Complex after a 2-1 loss on Thursday, April 11 in Evansville and a 5-4 victory on home ice on Wednesday, April 10. The Bulls kicked off the playoffs at the Pelham Civic Complex on Wednesday, April 10. Despite the rare weekday appearance, the crowd was electrified from the excitement. This energy manifested on the ice with a frenzied speed of play only found ..read more

By DONALD MOTTERN | Staff Writer COLUMBIANA – Senior citizens in Shelby County will soon have a day of community and fellowship when they attend Shelby County’s upcoming Senior Picnic and Spring Fling event scheduled for later this month. “This is probably one of the biggest events of the year (we have), said Mindy Dent, manager of community services with Shelby County. “The Shelby County Senior Picnic serves anywhere from 750 to 1,000 of our senior citizens every year. This year, it is being held at the Shelby County Exhibition Center in Columbiana.” Running from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesda ..read more

By RACHEL RAIFORD | Staff Writer  PELHAM – It was a warm, sunny day as Pelham residents walked their pups into Pelham City Park for the return of Paws in the Park on Sunday, April 14.  This was the fourth year for Paws in the park, a fur and family-friendly event that benefits the Pelham Pet Pantry. While the event was free, attendees were encouraged to bring a donation of dog or cat food to support the Alabama Pet Pantry.  Pelham Parks and Recreation Assistant Director Alicia Walters played a large part in planning the event.  “This has been our largest event to date,” Wa ..read more