CullmanTimes.com, Cullman, Alabama

UNSUNG HERO: James Bell
James Bell — better known as “Bubba” — is a custodian at Cullman Middle School. While his job at the school is important, it’s the way he interacts with the students and other staff members that makes him an Unsung Hero.
UNSUNG HERO: Brenda Graham
The person who nominated her said, “I was always amazed at how she cared for all the children as if they were her own. She gave love and caring, and bought countless coats, shoes, toys and clothes out of her own money.”
UNSUNG HERO: Martha Gutherie
Martha Gutherie retired from the Parkside Middle School lunch room two years ago. Since then, she has volunteered her time at the school to help children read. Teachers and students look forward to this Unsung Hero coming every Thursday to read with the kids.
UNSUNG HERO: Marvin Key
Marvin Key began his career in education in 1952 at Meek School in Winston County. The next year he came to Cullman County to teach at Dowling Junior High. He retired in 1988 but continued to work until the beginning of this year at age 85.
UNSUNG HERO: Dee Lawrence
Losing both her parents at such a young age gave her an extra ability to care for other people. She makes sure that anyone who crosses her path is taken care of.
UNSUNG HERO: Billie Sue Persall
Love is best shown when someone gives of their time and energy. Anyone who helps others when they are sick, injured or moving into a new home is a special person.
UNSUNG HERO: Cathy Pilgrim
The person who nominated Cathy Pilgrim as an Unsung Hero described her as “one of the most unselfish, caring and generous people I know.”
UNSUNG HERO: Grace Walsh
Grace Walsh had a teaching career spanning more than 30 years, including a quarter century teaching art history at Jefferson State Community College.
MARIMAN POPE AND KRISTINA MATTOX: Taxidermist passing the torch
In the 45 years that Mariman Pope has been in the taxidermy trade, he’s created quite a reputation for both himself, and his business.
TRACIE FUQUA: A painful reminder
Tracie Fuqua, a medical assisting instructor at Wallace State Community College, has always known the importance of registering as an organ donor. But a few years ago, a personal tragedy brought that realization into painfully sharp focus.
JIMMY HAMRICK: A much-appreciated job
This is a job that doesn’t always stink.
KEN ALLEN: Tragedy led him to God
Cullman County is full of churches. From Catholic to Protestant to the occasional non-denominational, one fact is true among them all: fellowship and worship.
CREEL FAMILY: Busy all the time
Cullman County’s Farm-City Family of 2008, the Creels, are probably the busiest people in the county. Steven and Dana Creel and their two children, Shalyn and Alex like to be at home working on the farm or riding their horses but they have a long list of other demands on their time.
DON SIZEMORE: Keeping people talking
With a slogan like “We Can Make You Talk,” you had better be prepared for some lively conversation when visiting the Dodge City C.B. Shop just off of I-65.
TIM MARTIN: Neighbors helping neighbors
Tim Martin still remembers, nearly four years later, the day when the importance of merely doing his job became starkly clear.
MORROW AND JACK DOSS: More than horse sense
Morrow Doss saddles up one of his prize-winning horses, the daughter of a five time world grand champion show horse. With stunning ease he guides her out of the family barn in Good Hope and into a nearby pasture.
STEVE HART: Continuing family business, starting another
Steve Hart doesn’t take the traditional route when it comes to running a business.
ELIZABETH DUELAND: The more the merrier
Elizabeth Dueland studied biology at UAB and then Samford, but her heart was never really in it. Her career ambition was to be a stay-at-home mother, as her own mother had been, and to reach the pinnacle of that line of work by having as many kids as she could.
CULLMAN: Drought hits city, but growth continues
This year has been full of challenges and accomplishments for the city of Cullman. Businesses and industries have flourished despite an historic drought which kept the city’s water supply, Lake Catoma, well under full-pool for most of the year.
GARDEN CITY: Natural beauty abundant
“Garden City is place is where buses stop and people shop,” Garden City resident J.G. Bennefield said while pumping gas at the only station in the small town.
HANCEVILLE: Growth continues
Katie Whitley has seen Hanceville change considerably since she moved to the town 45 years ago.
VINEMONT: Good things planned for the future
Just north of Cullman, South Vinemont is going in the right direction according to town leader Melba Patton.
HOLLY POND: Country lifestyle with city amenities
Small town, small town, small town. That is how Holly Pond Mayor Paul Barnett described his city. However, Barnett said being a small town doesn’t mean residents have to drive for miles to get the necessities.
WEST POINT: Series of major changes coming to town
Residents of the town of West Point should be expecting a few major changes around their community in the coming years.
DODGE CITY: A tasty stop
Hungry residents of Dodge City head to the Road House, one of the most well known family operated restaurants in the small town.
FAIRVIEW: Moving into the future
There’s one in every family: The austere, elderly relative who delights in reminding anyone present how things used to be, how all that land used to be cotton fields as far as the eye could see.
COLONY: A small town that’s about to get bigger
Cullman County’s southernmost town, Colony, may be small in population, but the close-knit community and town officials who genuinely care for residents make for a refreshing change from the hustle and bustle of bigger cities.
BAILEYTON: ‘Where everybody knows you’
If you are headed out Highway 69 from Fairview to Arab, don’t blink or you might miss the tiny town of Baileyton.
GOOD HOPE: Town has improvements planned
When sitting down to discuss the accomplishments of the town of Good Hope over the last year, Mayor Gordon Dunagan said many of the town’s projects will take place in 2008.
RODNEY BASENBURG: The pursuit of perfection
At first blush, Rodney Basenburg, the drama and choir teacher at Saint Bernard Preparatory School, might not cut the perfect picture of a music industry veteran, a man who has seen the ins and outs of several sides of the music business.
BILL SHARPTON: Building his legacy
There are beautiful paintings all over Wallace State Community College. Walls in every department are adorned with original oil paintings and murals of landscapes, college buildings and staff members, and they are all created by one man, Bill Sharpton.
ROY WARD JR.: Passionate about the Tigers
Cullman County is full of Tiger fans, but most are not as enthusiastic about Auburn football as Roy Ward Jr.
FABIAN ZENKE: A world away
As the towering 18-year-old student walks with a helper into the office at Cullman High School, it’s hard to determine which one is the German and which one is the American.
DEAN GREEN: Mayor's wife ready to go
While sitting on the front porch swing that graces her home in the Hill Meadows subdivision of Cullman, Dean Green contemplates her getaway.
WHOLEY HARRIS: His love knows no bounds
Dennis Wholey Harris is driving. The ballistic missile system engineer does a lot of that since his home is in Cullman and Huntsville is his workplace.
DIANE CULPEPPER: Smitten by police-chief husband
A kind and tenderhearted man may not be the image that comes to mind when people here the phrase “chief of police.”
SONJA RODEN: Sheriff’s spouse has witty sense of humor
Married to Sheriff Tyler Roden for 18 years and the mother of two young children, Sonja Roden is anything but the stereotypical image of a politician’s spouse.
SUSAN SHARPE: Coaching from the stands
Wallace State men’s basketball coach Allen Sharpe has had an intense season full of thrilling wins and ending with one heartbreaking loss. But his wife, Susan Sharpe, has had a double dose of those emotions.
TRINA BAILEY: All in the family
At over 200 strong, just saying Trina Bailey has a large family might be inadequate.
JOE MILLER: Male breast cancer survivor
Joseph “Joe” Edward Miller is a man with something to get off his chest.
SCOTT LOCKRIDGE: Training for the future
Not only is the SportsFirst athletic trainer in a profession that he loves, but he’s also in a position where he can help his stepson prepare for a career in sports medicine.
MAVIS MARTIN: Passionate about Relay
A familiar face to people who visit the Cullman County Courthouse, Mavis Martin, 45, has worked in the revenue department all her adult life.
BARBARA BUETTNER: Chiropractor shares office with pets
Barbara Buettner has some unusual receptionists at her Chiropractic Practice, Chiropractic Arts. They can’t answer phones or file paperwork. They don’t line up appointments or show patients around, but they do serve a special purpose.
KEN ARFLIN: Death scare changes outlook
Hanceville resident Ken Arflin, 47, recently went through quite an ordeal, beginning with a bit of dizziness and nausea in Warrior, and almost ending on life support at Carraway Medical Center in Birmingham.
LESTER HARRIS: Accepting a call
When Lester Harris, Saint Bernard Preparatory School’s new band director, received the phone call from Father Joel Martin late last December, he had no idea Father Martin even remembered him.
RODNEY TERRY: Christian organization reaches out to students
Each Thursday morning, before classes begin at Vinemont High School, Rodney Terry transforms his podium into a pulpit as he leads meetings of the school’s Christian student organization.
SAM GREGORY: Offering strength for the youth
Young people today face many challenges, often struggling to make important decisions when confronted by everything from peer pressure to the temptation of drugs.
ROBERT S. DAVIS: A nose for history
Robert S. Davis, director of the family and regional history program at Wallace State Community College, likes to tell about being invited to a dinner party at a friend’s home.
TASHA FLANIGAN: Cuttin' class
Tasha Flanigan gets great satisfaction out of a good haircut, especially when it is accomplished by one of her students.
RANDY WILKINS: From ruckus to silence
Randy Wilkins has struck the perfect balance. He spends the first half of his day teaching agriscience to a classroom of up to 30 noisy kids. Then when the end-of-school bell rings, he drives home to spend the remaining daylight hours working on his wide-open, peaceful farm.
MARISSA KENT AND WILL THOMPSON: A special bond
Marissa Kent, an 8-year-old with a shy grin, a smattering of freckles on her cheeks and Shirley Temple curls, has taught her schoolmates — and even some of her teachers — a lesson about compassion, good will and community outreach.
BENJAMIN GOMEZ AND GRETCHEN VANDIVER: Top of the class
Benjamin Gomez excels at math, but he has trouble admitting it. Modesty is also one of his attributes.

Popular business directory searches