“A man sent from heaven blessed by the Best,” was honored during the 25th Annual Peace Parade held Saturday, Jan. 26, in Daleville.

People of all ages participated in the three-mile walk that began near the Fort Rucker gate and ended at the Daleville Christian Fellowship Worship Center.

“We are here to honor a man who fought for economic and social justice,” said Master of Ceremonies Robert Bender at the program held in memory of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Daleville Christian Fellowship Worship Center following the parade. “We are here because of his struggles but I assure you the struggle is not over,” Bender said.

The Daleville Christian Fellowship Worship Center Mass Choir, the Chapter 7 singers from Elba and a solo/liturgical dance by Jessica Smith and Sharon McDole were among the performances during the program.

Elder Cedric Smith delivered the invocation, Deaconess Carolyn Logan delivered the welcome, Zakiyyah McKinney explained the purpose of the event, Jakerion Ware did an inspirational reading and Archbishop Carl McComb gave the closing remarks and benediction.

Retired NASA executive James Jennings was keynote speaker at the program. “Look where he brought us from: From darkness to light,” was the theme of the program honoring the legacy of the slain civil rights leader.

“The theme this year is ‘Just look where he brought us from,’” Daleville Mayor Jayme Stayton told those attending the program at the church on Martin Luther King Circle. “That means not just Dr. King, but the Lord.

“It’s our responsibility to make sure that we move forward, not backward,” Stayton said. “This country is not fully where Dr. King wanted it and I don’t know if it will ever be because you are always going to have hate and there is always going to be racism in this country no matter how hard we try to change that.”

Tolerance and social justice begin with each individual, Stayton stressed. “But we can continue to teach and help the future generations to understand where this country was and we are at today,” Stayton said. “It is okay to turn your head and look back to the past in order to know what not to do again but never turn around and walk toward the past, always move forward.

“If we can do that then Dr. King’s legacy will never be ‘in the dark.’ It will always be ‘in the light,’” Stayton said. “Right now his legacy is shining with us but if we don’t pass it on, it may dim.

“But if it’s not shining then the devil can get in because the devil doesn’t like the light,” he added. “So it must shine like a bright beacon because if it’s not, then everything Dr. King worked for was for nothing. “What he taught us wasn’t just for the ‘then.’ It’s for the ‘now’ and for the ‘forever,’’ Stayton said. “And I’m not going to let it go out on my watch.”

The Daleville High School Chapter of the Senior National Honor Society Officers conducted the new member indication ceremony held Friday, Jan. 18, at the DHS library. Participating in the ceremony are, from left, DLS NHS Officers Danielle Jackson, Lauren Dorminey, Paige Henderson, Phaybein Green Christopher Roblez and DHS NHS Sponsor Roni Gilley.

We're pleased to present to you this year's Annual Quality Water Report. This report is designed to inform you about the quality water and services we deliver to you every day. Our constant goal is to provide you with a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. We want you to understand the efforts we make to continually improve the water treatment process and protect our water resource. Daleville Water Board utilizes groundwater from four wells which pump water from the Clayton and Ripley Aquifers. The groundwater supplied to our customers requires no special treatment; however, chlorine is added for disinfection purposes. We are committed to ensuring the quality of your water.

We have completed our Source Water Protection Plan, which provides more information such as potential sources of contamination. The assessment plan is available for review in our office. I'm pleased to report that our drinking water is safe and meets federal and state requirements. If you have questions about this report or concerning your water utility, please contact Orson Bullard at (334) 599-3747. We want our valued customers to be informed about their water utility. If you want to learn more, please attend our regularly scheduled meetings held on the third Tuesday of each month at the Daleville City Hall located at 740 South Daleville Ave.

In 2019, Mayor Jayme Stayton used the words “bigger” and “growth” to describe his goals for the city, particularly for events and other items of business that began in 2018.

“The first year of me being mayor was learning, trying to figure out what was the best way to approach things and how to get things here, how to reach out to people and speak with them and get them to understand and see the vision that I see,” he said. “A lot of the citizens of Daleville have the same vision.”

He said that, though he continued learning in 2018, he was able to see some of his “vision” come to life.

“In 2018, once I learned (the systems in place), we started having these events,” he said. “Of course, the first one is always the hardest. So, in 2019, this is just going to come naturally. Every event that we have is going to run smoothly and be more relaxing than worrying.

“In 2019, it will be good to see some growth.”

The Daleville Family Fun Fest, which was a first-time event last year, is expected to be even bigger this year, according to Stayton.

“This Daleville Family Fun Fest is going to be bigger because we’re going to have concerts,” Stayton said. “In January, we’re going to start kicking it off and really advertise for Daleville.”

He said the event will also offer event-goers bigger rides and more to do for a range of ages, including younger children.

Another first-time event, the Fall Festival, brought businesses, churches and other organizations together to provide games and treats for families.

Stayton said planners for the fall festival are already planning to make this event bigger as well.

“It was great,” he said. “We had a good turnout there, so they’ve already decided that they’re going to have more stuff, so that will make that event bigger.”

The Inter-Tribal Native American Pow Wow returned to Daleville after a several-year absence. Stayton said this event will also come back bigger and better.

“It’s going to be bigger than it was,” he said, stating the event offers visitors a unique experience. “What’s good about the Pow Wow and what people need to understand is, there are no Native American restaurants. When are you going to get to try actual, handmade Native American food, unless you go to a reservation somewhere? This is your chance to come out and try it.

“It’s a chance for (people) to come out and try some different culture.”

Though it was held in April 2018, it will return to the City of Daleville in November for National Native American Heritage Month.

Two annual city events already saw growth in 2018: Spartan Fest and the city’s annual Christmas Parade.

“It’s always good,” Stayton said of Spartan Fest. “(Last year), we did a tournament. It’s going to be a little bit different this year; it’s going to be bigger. Not too much bigger, but it’s going to be great.”

He also predicts this Christmas parade will grow even more in 2019.

In addition to growth for events and entertainment opportunities for citizens, Stayton said he hopes to see growth in economic development for the city.

“There are businesses that have their eye on Daleville that I feel that (they could come) in 2019,” he said. “You never want to say something is going to happen and it doesn’t happen, but they are looking our way.”

He also said he is continuing to work on bringing an industry to the city.

“I’m still working hard on industry,” he said. “I want jobs here. I want something like the old Tri-Glass to come back.”

He said other, larger cities do affect h

The water will be shut off immediately due to water pipe break on the following:
Old Hwy 134, Pridemore, Greentree Apt, 810 Old Hwy 134, east Ridge, West Ridge, Tank Hill, Brewer, Green, Zimmer, Pattel, Demaria
The Daleville Water Department is working on it and will have it back up ASAP.

***UPDATE***
Water is back on