INSIDE TODAY: Lawmakers plan to scale back prison construction bill / A4 MARCH 5, 2017 JASPER, ALABAMA — SUNDAY — WWW.MOUNTAINEAGLE.COM $1.50 INSIDE Camp McDowell executive director considering run for Alabama governor By ED HOWELL run and was overwhelmed by Friday that so many people have contacted Daily Mountain Eagle afternoon at the response he had re- me. It’s pretty unbelievable,” he ceived. said. “I’m so overwhelmed with NAUVOO — The leader of Camp “I’ve thought about it for two phone calls I am just exhausted.” McDowell for the past 26 years says years,” Johnston, 66, said Friday, He noted he knows people from he will be retiring — and that he is adding that he plans to retire from across the state, but added he is seriously exploring the idea of run- his post at the camp probably some- “pleasantly surprised” at how ex- ning for governor in 2018. time this summer no matter what he cited people have responded to a The Rev. Mark Johnston, a Demo- decides on the governor’s race. possible campaign. crat, posted on social media Wednes- “I’m really exploring. I’ve found it The Rev. Azaleas day night that he is considering a has been affirming and humbling See JOHNSTON, A10 Mark Johnston beginning to bloom Take a look down INSIDE every street and in almost every yard here in Walker County and you are TO A TEE almost assured to see azaleas soon to Jasper native sees the world on pro golf tour be in bloom. In fact, azaleas may very By DALE SHORT well be the single Daily Mountain Eagle most popular flow- ering shrub in Ala- It all came down to a phone call. Randall Watts, Supporters declare bama. / B1 facing burnout after 16 years of teaching, had a pride in president, major career change in slam his opponents mind when he called an BRIEFS old college buddy who was From Colorado’s state Capi- an up-and-coming golfer tol to Trump Tower in New City council to on the pro touring circuit. York and the Washington meet Tuesday Spike McRoy laughed. “You’re not going to be- Monument, groups of hun- The Jasper City lieve this,” the golfer said. dreds of people rallied for Council will meet at “It must be divine inter- President Trump on Saturday, 10 a.m. Tuesday in vention or something, be- waving “Deplorables for cause my caddie just quit the council cham- to go work for somebody Trump” signs and even carry- bers on the second else. Why don’t you come ing a life-size cutout of the floor at City Hall in down to Florida and we’ll president. / A10 downtown Jasper. see how it goes?” The year was 1998. The meeting is Over the next several open to the public. years, Watts would live DORA VOLUNTEER his dream job as a caddie, FIRE AND RESCUE traveling to 38 states and Sumiton seven countries. council to He was no stranger to golfing. As a freshman at meet Tuesday Walker High School, he Box assumes The Sumiton City played on the golf team and spent countless hours Council will meet at on the course at Musgrove role as fire 9 a.m. Tuesday at Country Club. ”I thought Sumiton City Hall. I was getting pretty good,” he recalls, “but then I chief in Dora started to play in some prestigious amateur tour- Fire department receives new DEATHS naments and I saw ex- breathing equipment / A10 actly where I stood on the Kathy Hardeman, 64, food chain.” From then on, By LEA RIZZO Jasper when he watched golf on Daily Mountain Eagle Mary Jo Lankford Rollo, 88, television, “I started pay- Jasper Dora native David Box, a fire- ing more attention to the The Rev. Billy Powell fighter and certified EMT, recently caddies. Before that, Garrett, 78, Oakman took over the role of fire chief with they’d just been part of Daily Mountain Eagle - Dale Short Dora Volunteer the background, but I Full obituaries / A2 Randall Watts retrieves his golf bag from a cart at Musgrove Coun- Fire and Rescue See WATTS, A2 try Club's course. after being with the department WEATHER for 11 years. Box stepped WALKER COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION into the position High Low in November after Chris Edwards 64 53 stepped down as Firefighters from across the county fire chief after his election to the Dora City Council Fire Chief INDEX participate in fire training program in August. Before David Box that, Box had Classifieds..............B6 served as assistant chief since 2009. Dear Abby...............B4 By ELANE JONES Box, 45, has lived in Dora his en- Horoscope..............B4 Daily Mountain Eagle Lifestyles.................B1 tire life and graduated from Dora Opinion...................A6 Firefighters from fire de- High School in 1989. He and his Sports.....................A7 partments across Walker wife, Jolene, have two children, County participated in a Larken, 14, and Harris, 13, who at- Two sections, 18 pages fire training program tend Sumiton Christian School. hosted by the Walker In order to spend more time with his children when they were Check County Firefighters Associ- younger, Box cut back on the amount out our ation and the Alabama Fire College. of calls he would run. He also told Facebook the department at that time that he page at Richard Fikes, president of the Walker County Fire- wouldn’t run calls at night anymore Jasper Daily Mountain Eagle fighters Association, said because it took so much out of him this was one of the largest and made it difficult to get up for his training classes using the regular job the next morning. fire college’s Mobile Burn In addition to his work with the Trailer. fire department, Box’s full-time job “The Mobile Burn Trailer Daily Mountain Eagle - Elane Jones is as a computer-aided drafter. has visited our county sev- Firefighters from across Walker County participated in a training “I’ve done everything from design eral times, but I believe and detail the structures for the this is probably the largest session hosted by the Walker County Firefighters Association and overhead signs on the interstate. the Alabama Fire College. The training included a Mobile Burn Then I went to sewer and water See TRAINING, A2 Trailer brought in by the Alabama Fire College. See BOX, A10 OPEN HOUSE TODAY 2-4 NEW LISTING MLS#16-1992 MLS#17-194 3BR/1.5BA $79,900 4BR/3BA $149,900 1202 Che rokee Rd. 17 Bruce Jasper, AL Randolph Rd. Ken Ma rtin Providence, AL 275-0589 James Ann Directions: From 3 LOCATIONS: Elliott Blvd. turn JASPER SUMITON/DORA SMITH LAKE Martin onto Cherokee 803 Airport Rd. S. 2371 Old U.S. 78 Duncan Bridge 275-3994 Rd., house on R. (205) 384-1113 (205) 648-1113 (205) 221-1221 A2 — DAILY MOUNTAIN EAGLE Jasper, Ala., Sun., March 5, 2017 www.mountaineagle.com Today’s weather DEATHS & FUNERALS Forecast for Sunday, March 5, 2017 TENN. Kathy Hardeman The Rev. Billy Oxford Kathy Hardeman, 64, of Jasper, went home to be with 61/54 Huntsville the Lord Friday, March 3, 2017, at Walker Baptist Med- Powell Garrett ARK. 68/53 ical Center. The Rev. Billy Powell Garrett, 78, of Oakman, died A graveside service will be held today, March 5, 2017, Friday, March 3, 2017, at his residence. at 2 p.m. at Bennett Cemetery. Friends and family will Visitation will be held Monday, March 6, 2017, from 6 GA. be officiating the service. until 9 p.m. at Collins-Burke Funeral Home Parlor. Fu- neral services will be held Tuesday, March 7, 2017, at Greenville Birmingham Hardeman is preceded in death by her parents, Elmer 64/56 66/55 Hock and Jack and Edith Hardeman; and a grandson, 11 a.m. at Collins-Burke Funeral Home Chapel, with Christian West. burial to follow at Walker Memory Gardens. Randy She is survived by her loving husband, Charles Brand will officiate. Hardeman; six children, Shannon Dunn (Jimmy), Faye Garrett was preceded in death by his father, Fayette West (Ira Boshell), Misty McWhirter (Kenneth), Charles Garrett; mother, Billie Burke Earnest Garrett; and Jackson Montgomery brothers, Gordon Garret and Roger Garrett. 69/59 Hardeman, Jr., Rebecca Alexander (Tim), and Melony 71/54 Alexander (Johnny); brother-in-law and sister-in-law, He is survived by his wife, Norma Dean Poe Garrett, Tony and Faye Gerbin; 15 grandchildren; eight great- Oakman; daughters, Angela Fondren and Mary Jane grandchildren and a host of other relatives and dear Pendley (Roy), all of Oakman; sons, Randall Garrett Brookhaven Hattiesburg 68/61 friends. (Donna) and Sammy Garrett, all of Oakman; sister, 72/58 Brenda Brown (Rayford), all of Oakman; brother, Don- Wilson Brothers Funeral Home; 205-924-4147 ald Garrett of Oakman; grandchildren, April Woodard, Mobile 71/60 Jeff Terry (Lindsey), Brittany Day (Jeff), Nick Myers, LA. FLA. (Marcy), Tiffany Madison (Johnathan), Hannah Pend- ley, Heath Garrett, Heather Fondren (fiance, Boog Mary Jo Lankford Rollo Finch), and Zack Fondren, all of Oakman; and six great- Mary Jo Lankford Rollo, 88, of Jasper, died Saturday, grandchildren, all of Oakman. March 4, 2017, at Walker Baptist Medical Center. Garrett was a veteran and retired from Berry mines Funeral arrangements will be announced by Collins- as a heavy equipment operator and mechanic. His de- Burke Funeral Home. votion and love for his Lord and Savior led him to de- liver the Gospel of Christ for 45 years. He was a very ©2017 AccuWeather, Inc. Collins-Burke Funeral Home; 205-384-5571 loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfa- ther.