National FFA Week was
Feb. 16-24, and the Daleville
High School FFA celebrated
with activities, dress up days
and recognition from the
City of Daleville.
“We’ve definitely been
trying to get everybody
involved,” President Lauren
Dorminey said, stating the
organization held several
dress up days and activities
throughout the week. “We’ve
had a lot of participation.”
Activities throughout
the week included speaking to elementary students
about FFA and hosting trivia
events.
“Tuesday, we went to
the elementary school,”
Dorminey said. “We got to
talk to the kids about what
we do in FFA and what FFA
really is because a lot of people (think) FFA stands for
Future Farmers of America
and (we) want to focus on
the farming part, but we are
a leadership organization;
we’re the largest youth-led
leadership organization.
“That’s really what I tried
to express to the elementary
school kids,” she said. “We’re
the ones running the organization. We have advisors that
give us guidance, that give
us assistance, keep us on the
right track, but we still plan
(everything).”
Students were also
encouraged to dress up during the week as a way to have
fun and bring attention to
the DHS FFA.
Tuesday was cowboy
or farmer dress up day.
Students were also encouraged to wear different hats,
which Dorminey said was a
favorite of the DHS students.
Wednesday was America
dress-up day, Thursday was
college sports dress-up day
and Friday was FFA day.
On Friday, members were
encouraged to wear FFA
shirts or accessories, and
students were encouraged
to wear something blue or
yellow.
The City of Daleville
also joined in on the recognition of FFA Week, with
Mayor Jayme Stayton signing a proclamation officially
recognizing FFA Week in the
city on Wednesday, Feb 20.
FFA officers were also
recognized at the proclamation. Officers are Dorminey; Anenna Reynolds, vice
president; Sierra Lindsey,
secretary; Sean Henk, representative; Alex Peters, sentinel; and, Lauren Perkins,
treasurer.
The National FFA Organization, first called Future
Farmers of America, was
officially founded in 1928.
According to the organization’s website, it “is a dynamic youth organization that
changes lives and prepares
members for premier leadership, personal growth and
career success through agricultural education.”
An FFA chapter was
established in Dale County
at Dale County High School
in 1929. This first organization was highlighted in a
book collected by the grandmother of current DHS FFA
advisor Franky Jackson.
The DHS chapter of FFA
was formed in 1980, according to Jackson. Alan Waters
was the first advisor of the
organization.
In the years since its formation, the organization has
boasted several state awards,
including a third place win
in 1994 and first place win in
1995 in turf and landscape
management by Randall
Graham.
Adam Sconyers was also
named the Alabama Future
Farmer of the Year in 1997,
and Beckie DeBruler served
as sentinel for the National
F

Pictured, back row, from left, are Pre-K through second grade leaders Tyson Kynard, Kamill Walton, Tyreece Kelsey, Jayden Gomez Blanco, Carlos Ruiz Yax Cal and Sophi Fluellen. Pictured, front row, from left, are Alexis Willet, Malachi Walstrum, Janessa Ibarra, Eros Marcy, Dakota Stevens, Caitlin Sikes, Xerman Casarez and Graysen Burgess. Not pictured is Erica Lopez.

Love was in the air at the Daleville Senior Center and
Windham Elementary School on Valentine’s Day as
both seniors and students held parties on the day
of love.Each grade at WES set time aside to snack on sweets, sing
happy songs, share gifts and spend some time together with
friends and family.
The senior center offered fellowship for friends, and
on Valentine’s Day, seniors were also treated to sweet and
savory snacks to celebrate the holiday. Jay Skeen was on hand to provide some musical entertainment, including playing requests from senior center members. One request came from Owen Lovely. He requested the song “I Overlooked an Orchid,” a phrase
he uses to describe his love, Katie Snellgrove. As the song played,
Lovely proposed to Snellgrove while their friends cheered around
them.

A festival, lights and paving projects were on the agenda during the Daleville City Council’s Feb. 5 meeting.

The council approved entering into an agreement with the carnival group, Family Fun Fest, for the second time to bring the Daleville Family Fun Fest back to the city. The Daleville Family Fun Fest arrived in Daleville for the first time in March 2018.

The council approved the dates for the Daleville Family Fun Fest during its Jan. 15 meeting, which are March 12-16.

During that meeting, Mayor Jayme Stayton also presented a three-year contract to the council, which he said is the same as last year’s contract. He said the only change is the three-year time frame of the contract.

During the Feb. 5 work session, Stayton said City Attorney Henry Steagall reviewed the contract.

He also told the council on Jan. 15 that the fair will feature new rides and concerts this year.

“It was well received,” Council member Jo Reese said during the Jan. 15 meeting. “They were nice people. I remember meeting a lot of the people. It was pretty well run.”

The council also approved installing a 100 HPS light, to be installed by Alabama Power, on Old Newton Road for $103 annually.

It tabled the initial request from Stayton to place additional lighting on Old Newton Road during its Jan. 15 meeting until a price could be presented.

Stayton told the council during its Feb. 4 work session that Alabama Power offered two prices.

For a 100 HPS light, the annual cost would be $103. It would cost $62.85 annually for a 70 HPS light.

Stayton told the council the light would only have to be installed on the pole already placed at the location.

The council approved the 100 HPS light for $103 annually.

During the Feb. 5 meeting, Council member Katheryne Horace, who made the motion, said the area would “benefit” from a light.

“I hear discussions that it’s really dark down there, and they would benefit from that,” she said.

In other business, the council approved allowing the Daleville Area Chamber of Commerce to use Culpepper Park to hold two events in the coming months: the Butterfly Princess 5K and Spartan Fest.

During the Feb. 4 work session, Chamber Executive Director Kecia Ham told the council volunteers would clean up the area after the chamber-sponsored event, which was being held in Daleville because of its nearness to Fort Rucker and the city’s support for the military.

She said the route would be located around Culpepper Park, away from major roads, though a specific route had not been mapped out at the time of the Feb. 4 work session.

“All the proceeds of the race go to the foundation,” Ham said. “The vendors (fees)… will go to the chamber.”

She said vendor spots are $50 for non-chamber members and $25 for chamber members.

When asked, Ham said the focus of the run is to bring awareness to Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood, though the race is named after the child of the creator of the race.

Ham said she contacted the SUDC Foundation, who confirmed this race would be associated with the foundation and stated a table would be onsite on the day of the run to provide information on SUDC to visitors.

The Butterfly Princess 5K will be held on April 27 from 7 a.m. to noon.

Spartan Fest, an annual softball game between the City of Daleville and the 1st of the 223rd, will be held on Saturday, May 18, at Culpepper Park.

According to the request letter from the chamber, the event will also feature free bouncy hou

Daleville girls can now register to take part in the 2019 Miss Daleville pageants, hosted by the Daleville Area Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s theme is “The Year of New Beginnings,” celebrating a return to basics for the pageants, according to Chamber Executive Director Kecia Ham. The pageant will be held on Saturday, March 9.

Registration for the pageant is $75, and participants are required to also purchase a T-shirt and number button for $25. Both items may be kept after the pageant.

A new director will take the lead for this year’s pageant. Gwendolyn Attaway, according to Ham, has over 20 years of experience with pageants.

“She has stepped up and taken the reins,” Ham said of Attaway. “She has brought new ideas to help make the pageant even better.”

Girls can compete in six pageants: Miss, Teen Miss, Junior Miss, Petite Miss, Little Miss and Future Little Miss Daleville.

For the Miss Daleville pageant, girls must be a junior or senior on or before Dec. 15 and must be 17 years of age by Oct. 1.

Teen Miss Daleville pageant participants must be in the eighth, ninth or 10th grades, and Junior Miss Daleville pageant participants must be in the fifth, sixth or seventh grades.

Petite Miss Daleville pageant participants must be in the second, third and fourth grades, and Little Miss Daleville pageant participants must be in the first grade.

Future Little Miss Daleville pageant participants must be four, five or six years old and not registered in the first grade.

Each contestant must never have held the title of the pageant they are participating in, must attend an approved Daleville public or private school or home school program and must live within five miles of the Daleville City Limits.

Ham stated a professional photographer of Adaway Photography will take headshots of the participants on Feb. 15, as well as photos the night of the pageant. Pictures will be available for purchase.

The night of the pageant, March 9, programs will be available for purchase for $15, which will contain well-wishes from businesses, individuals and others. Contact the Daleville Area Chamber of Commerce for more information.

For interested girls, the application is available for pickup at the Chamber office next to City Hall, or it is available for download on the Daleville Area Chamber of Commerce website. The application can be found under the community new tab.

The deadline to turn in applications is close of business on Friday, Feb. 22.

“I’m excited,” Ham said about the pageant.