No sooner than Thanksgiving’s leftovers are history, a transformation of Lakeside Park begins to take place – lighting up the nighttime sky to add sparkle to the Christmas season.
While Lights in the Park has grown each year, 2024’s version stepped up to an unrivaled level of spirit.
Presented by the Pell City Parks & Recreation Department with decorative help from businesses, organizations and individuals, the spirit of competition added to the excitement. The holiday-themed displays lining both sides of the roads winding through the park drew over 80 entries.
Hundreds of attendees voted for their favorites, and the final tally crowned these winners:
Overall Winner: Woody’s Tree Service
Anna Otterson / Edward Jones: Silent Night Award – Simple and clean display
Jessica Blackerby / EXP Realty: White Christmas Award – Best use of white lights
Woody’s Tree Service: Deck the Halls Award – Most over-the-top use of lighting
Clean Haul Roll-Off: Christmas is in the Air Award – Best use of inflatables
House of Prayer: The Reason for the Season Award – Best Nativity display
Faith Community Fellowship: Holly Jolly Christmas Award – Best display that makes you laugh
Alabama Clearing & Excavating: Rock Around the Christmas Tree Award – Best use of animation
Metro Bank: The Rudolph Award – Best use of holiday characters
Girl Scouts Troop 24216: Christmas Story Award – Best youth inspired display
“The Pell City Parks & Recreation Department would like to express its sincere gratitude to all participants, visitors and voters of the inaugural ‘Lights in the Park’ Holiday Competition,” said Civic Center Manager and Contest Organizer Valerie Painter. “We commend the community for their enthusiastic participation and thoughtful voting.”
The winners can already plan their next decorating adventure. They have the opportunity to select their locations in the park for next year’s competition.
“The warmth of our community and the wonder of the Christmas season combine every year for ‘Lights in the Park,” Painter said. “It’s heartwarming to see Pell City come together to create such a magical experience. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone involved.”
From start to finish, the 2024 edition of Pell City Rotary Jingle Bell Run 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk had it all.
By the numbers, over 120runners and walkers participated in this second edition of the run, clearing the way for more than $50,000 raised for St. Clair Sheriff’s Boys Ranch and other charities in the community.
Santa was there, cheering on the runners, having his picture made with kids of all ages and managing to delight the crowd by giving a hefty lift to the spirit of the season.
Miss Leeds Area 2025 Samantha Hennings performed the National Anthem to rousing cheers, and more than a few spirited runners donned holiday attire for the festivities.
The Dec. 14 run at Lakeside Park was as Pell City Rotarians intended – a fun communitywide event for the entire family. It drew runners from all over the region and state on a 5K route that took them on scenic trails through the park and along the shoreline of Logan Martin Lake.
“We had a tremendous amount of support from the community this year. For our Club, this event is an opportunity for us to make an impact with some very worthy causes like the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Boys Ranch. Our Jingle Bell Run is about more than running, it’s about making a difference. Thank you to all who ran, donated and served.”
Citing the $50,000 raised, Furgerson added, “We could have never done that without the generosity and involvement of our community. We can’t wait to do it again next year!”
Run Chairman Bill Ellison echoed the notion that it all comes back to service. “Rotary saw a need in the community for an event of this magnitude that the whole family could enjoy. But more important, it saw the need for funds to build a home and help with other renovations to reopen the Boys Ranch this past year.”
He lauded the efforts of sponsors who made the fundraiser possible, the volunteers and Rotarians who helped with every aspect of the event along the way and to the community and runners who supported it.
“It really does take all of us working together to make our community a better place. All involved in the Jingle Bell Run are testament to that.”
Pro fishing tips on Logan Martin Lake and Neely Henry Lake with Zeke Gossett
Logan Martin
During the winter, fishing on Logan Martin is the best time to catch the biggest bass in the lake.
The water temps usually vary this time of year because Alabama temperatures vary so much. So, the type of technique you have to use to catch these big bass during this time may vary as well.
Here are a few ways I approach Logan Martin to catch the biggest bass of the year and maybe of a lifetime!
Typically, when you read any article on fishing in the winter, it’s going to include fishing deep most of the time. Not saying you cannot catch bass deep on Logan Martin in the winter, but a lot of my bigger fish come out of shallow water in the winter. This is especially true if the weather is in a warming trend.
Most of the time in the winter, I start on the main river. There are a couple key things I look for in order to feel like I’m fishing the most productive waters.
First, there must be some type of baitfish in the area. Second, I’m looking for more vertical structure this time of year. The baitfish change daily on what part of the water column they may use. Vertical structure allows fish to move up and down easily with the baitfish.
A couple examples of this might be deeper docks or steep riverbanks with rock and laydowns. A few of my favorite baits this time of the year are a flat sided crankbait, spinnerbait and jig.
Usually, I’m going to throw some type of red or crawfish color pattern on the crankbait. This is one of the better baits to use if the water is colder than 60 degrees. The flat-sided crankbait is a great way to get bass to react in cold water.
If the water has a little stain to it, a spinnerbait can be deadly on warmer days. Most of the time, the spinnerbait works best slow rolling it on the bottom. I use a ½ ounce spinnerbait with a single Colorado as the blade.
The type of jig I use depends on water color. If the water is dirty, I typically will flip a black and blue jig. If the water is clear, I’ll stick with the more natural colors like green pumpkin. A jig is a great way to get really big bites this time of year.
The new fad is, of course, using forward-facing sonar. You can still catch plenty of fish without it this time of year, however, if you do use forward-facing technology, this is a great time of year to use it as well.
The first key to success on using forward-facing sonar is to find the baitfish. This is usually dependent on water clarity and temperature. You may find the baitfish in creeks or main river.
If the water is colder on the main river, that will usually help me cut down on a lot of time since they will most likely be in the creeks. Most of the time, this bite is better midday to late afternoon as the shad tend to get higher more in the water column. This is not only a great way to catch bass but any other type of fish species such as stripe and crappie.
Of course, my number one bait while using FFS will be some type of minnow bait on a jig head. I’ll also mix in a jerkbait and Alabama rig. You have to let the fish tell you what they want on any given day.
January and February are not the best for catching numbers of fish, but if you bundle up and brave the elements, you could possibly catch some of the biggest fish in the lake.
Neely Henry
Neely Henry historically is one of the better lakes on the Coosa for wintertime fishing. Why? It sets up really well. Neely Henry is full of rip rap banks and vertical bluff walls on the bottom end of the lake. This allows bass to move up and down with ease with changes in the weather and water temp.
Neely Henry also has a lot of docks and flat clay points. These two choices are also great wintertime hot spots.
On the rip rap, I’ll first reach for a square bill crank bait. I keep colors fairly simple. Either I’ll throw a red or some sort of shad pattern.
Boat positioning is a big key to success with the crankbait as well. I typically will hug the boat fairly tight to the bank and make repeated parallel casts. This allows me to cover more water efficiently and keep my bait in the strike zone longer.
My next bait choice is a jerkbait. A jerkbait can be a real good fish catcher if the water is a little clear. I’ll fish a jerkbait around clay points and deeper docks in creeks.
Another great bait at Neely Henry is a jig. The jig probably ranks up there as one of my favorite baits at Neely Henry. The reason I like the jig is because I can fish it around any type of structure. It doesn’t matter – rock, docks or wood.
If the water is below 60 degrees, a jig will always be my first choice when fishing Neely Henry. Fishing the north end of the lake around the Gadsden region can produce as well.
If they’re generating water, typically the spotted bass will get stacked in around current areas. Much like the bottom end, they like rip rap and docks.
Another place to look is in the smaller creeks where the baitfish tend to try and hide from the current or colder water. Here, the largemouth tend to hide out and feed up during the winter. Largemouth, in my opinion, are more of the “lazier” species of the two, and these smaller creek arms are a perfect place to find them. They might not be far from the river but noticing where the shad or baitfish are will help you find them a lot faster.
Using forward-facing sonar helps a lot with finding them. My baits will stay the same even on the north end of the lake. A jig once again will more than likely be my number one pick to catch the big fish. I tend to catch more numbers on the crankbait and jerkbait as well.
Neely Henry is a great place to catch some big wintertime bass. Get suited up and dress warmly because Neely Henry produces its best quality bass of the year!
Give it a shot, and you might be surprised at what you might catch while others are inside or deer hunting.
Zeke Gossett of Zeke Gossett Fishing grew up on the Coosa River and Logan Martin Lake. He is a former collegiate champion and is now a professional angler on the B.A.S.S. tour circuit and is a fishing guide. Learn more about Zeke at: zekegossettfishing.com.
Now that the holiday season is over and you’re putting away your Christmas and New Years decorations, Coosa Riverkeeper staff would like to remind you of how to properly sink your Christmas tree for your local fish habitat!
Sinking your Christmas tree allows life to flourish and can provide an entire ecosystem for the smallest level of the food chain (like phytoplankton, the Coosa crayfish, and minnows), to the biggest predators we all love to catch, creating a fishing hotspot over time.
Join other anglers and lake lovers to sink your Christmas tree this winter! Follow the steps below to make sure your tree will be a viable habitat for many years to come.
Secure your tree trunk to a heavy base (like a cement block) to make sure the tree will sink to the bottom of the waterbody and stand straight vertically.
Trim some limbs off to make space for both large and small fish.
Find an area of the lake where fish hang out that is plenty deep and away from navigational areas. Be sure it is deep enough to avoid creating boating hazards!
Sink your tree and give yourself a pat on the back for helping create more habitat for our fisheries!
If you can’t sink your tree on your own but would still like to learn about Christmas tree recycling, contact your Alabama’s conservation department to learn about designated recycling locations in your area!
Follow Coosa Riverkeeper on Facebook & Instagram @CoosaRiverkeeper For more information, swim over to www.CoosaRiver.org.
If you had to describe Boo Bash 2024 is a single word, it would have to be creativity. From giant rubber ducks to a pontoon disguised as a 50s baby blue Chevy on its way to the Boo Hop to a floating carnival, creative was the dress of the day. And that was just the boats.
Add docks and boathouses dressed to the hilt in spiders, ghosts, a scene from the Wizard of Oz, witches, mechanical pirates and skeletons and even a groovy 70s backdrop, and the day just seemed to ooze creativity.
But wait, there’s more! How about Minnie Mouse, witches of all shapes and sizes, a dog in a tutu, pirates galore and a kid cop keeping guard over a boat cell of prisoners, complete with prison bars, orange jumpsuits, mugshots and tatoos?
Pontoon cellblock with lake view
It all adds up to a huge success for the 2024 edition of Boo Bash, brought to you by Logan Martin Lake Protection Association, Tiki Hut and a host of volunteers and Boo Bashers extraordinaire.
By the numbers, Boo Bashers numbered more than 1,506 children and adults and 42 pets with 85 docks participating.Three major land stops – Lakeside Park, Riverside Beautification Organization and Tiki Hut drawing crowds and sparking even more fun. Trick or treaters of the kid kind were treated to thousands of bags of candy and surprises, and the adults? Well, let’s just say host stops provided grownups with special liquid treats of their own.
Funds raised from Boo Bash will go to LMLPA’s lighted buoy project.
It was a fun and innovative way to bring our lake community together for a day of fun for a good cause. Our hats are off to Sonya Hubbard and Kelli Lasseter, who had an idea a couple of years ago that trick or treating dock to dock might just grow into something big.
What began as a spark of an idea to bring an outdoor music event to the community caught fire and has grown year over year into one of the hottest attractions around.
Casey Cambron and the Five16 Foundation created Lakeside Live Musicfest and Car Show in 2021 as a family event to be held each fall at Lakeside Park.
This popular fall festival has a little something for everybody. The car show draws enthusiasts from all over the region. The music gets better every year with old favorites, like the WingNuts, and new headliners, like The Spin Doctors.
Vendors display their wares. Food trucks serve up a variety of palate pleasers. Kids flock to the inflatables and other activities designed just for them. And the Battle of the Badges – a three-event challenge pitting the police department against the fire department – is a crowd favorite.
Karter’s Korner was one of the vendors
It has evolved into a free, community event for the whole family whose success story is seen in the crowds that grow bigger every year and the good works throughout the region that the Foundation has been able to support.
Its success is measured in the growing number of sponsors who add their names to a movement that brings the community together in fun and fellowship while bolstering missions of charities and nonprofits throughout the area.
Funds raised from Lakeside Live this year will go to St. Clair Children’s Advocacy Center and other local nonprofits.
When Cambron and his foundation created Lakeside Live, it was part of its own mission to be a beacon – “Shining our light through fundraising, service, and good works in our community.”
Judging by its positive momentum and impact over the past four years, that light is growing ever brighter.
New St. Clair tradition returns December 14 to Pell City Logan Martin Lakeside Park
In its inaugural race in 2023, Pell City Rotary Jingle Bell 5K Run & 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk became what organizers had hoped for – a resounding success.
The goal was to create a family-friendly event to raise much-needed funds for the Alabama Sheriff’s Boys Ranch and months of planning led to the establishment of one of the premier runs in the region.
In 2024, Jingle Bell Run returns for a much-heralded encore at Pell City Lakeside Park Dec. 14, this time raising funds for the Boys Ranch and expanding to other charitable organizations in St. Clair County.
The 2023 edition raised over $50,000, making it possible to open a new home at the Boys Ranch, a program that helps turn lives of young men around.
From the starting point to the finish line, this event brings the community together for a common cause, and the end result is a December morning of holiday fun for the whole family. Special guest is that favorite visitor from the North, Santa himself. He’ll be part of the festivities from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., much to the delight of young and old alike.
Rotarian Bill Ellison heads effort for second year
Meanwhile, runners will lace up for worthy causes and an unforgettable run through the scenic park. The course winds through wetlands, a wooded nature trail, native plant garden and along the shores of Logan Martin Lake.
“This has been an incredible experience for everyone involved,” said Chairman Bill Ellison. “From our generous sponsors to our volunteers to our runners, this community event is truly a team effort. What an amazing testimony to what can happen when we all work together.”
To register, you may go to: runsignup.com. Race day registration and packet pick-up is at the Jerry Woods Pavilion at Lakeside Park from 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
Entry fees are $35 for adults and $20 for students, K-12, if you register by Nov. 22. After Nov. 22, adults are $40, and students are $25. Fees include a race T-shirt and swag bag.
After the race, light refreshments and drinks will be available. Awards will be presented following the race.
Medals will go to the top three male and female contestants in nine different age categories. The team with the most registered participants will receive a donation to their own organization or a charity of their choice.
Pro fishing tips on Logan Martin Lake and Neely Henry Lake with Zeke Gossett
Logan Martin
Finally, cooler weather makes it to East Alabama! Hopefully, the cooler weather will drop the water temps on Logan Martin, and the fish will begin to eat and fatten up for the winter time.
November and December are my favorite months to fish on Logan Martin, and I hope my tips will help you become more successful during this time of the year.
Remember, there are a few things happening during these months. First, the lake should be at winter pool which condenses the fish into a smaller area. However, don’t forget winter pool for Logan Martin now is three feet down unlike previous years when it used to be five feet down.
The new winter pool level has changed the way I’ve fished Logan Martin a little. Some places are not as shallow now with the extra two feet of water and the fish have adapted quickly.
Another thing that happens during these months is the fish are feeding up for the winter months. What that means is that they’re heavily feeding on shad most of the time. Finding suspended fish in the creeks is one my favorite ways to catch them. It’s an easy equation. You find the bait fish, the bass won’t be far behind.
A small damiki rig and deep diving jerk bait are some of my favorite ways to catch them. Also, a square-bill and spinnerbait are a couple of great choices when covering shallow points or channel swing banks.
I mainly focus on the main river with these two baits. Typically, the banks with deeper water nearby are my favorite. During this time of the year, to get a bigger bite, I usually use fishing a jig. This is especially true in the latter part of December when the water temp is below 55. It also helps if the lake has a foot of visibility or less.
These two months on Logan Martin offers anglers a lot of options to catch fish many different ways. The fish are getting fat, and there is less boat traffic, so go enjoy some fish catching action.
Neely Henry
Neely Henry is also a great late fall/early wintertime lake. I mainly focus on the bottom end of the lake during these two months. There are a lot of bluffs, docks, and rip rap in this region of the lake that are some of my favorite places to fish.
Rain totals usually dictate where I spend the majority of my time fishing. If there has been a lot of rain, typically, Alabama Power will be generating water. This is when I will focus on main river points and docks.
A couple of baits I always start out with is either a bladed jig or square-bill crankbait. The current should have the fish setup and ready to bite whatever eases past them. Now, once the water temp gets below 50 degrees, that’s when I will ease my way back into the creeks.
Typically, I want to be in the region of the creek where I feel like most of baitfish action is taking place. What I mean by that is either I’m seeing bait fish on my electronics or maybe a slight degree or two difference in water temperature.
Once I find that, I’ll heavily depend on my forward-facing sonar and pick off bass that are maybe chasing bait in creek channel bends or just off the banks. I’ll use either a damiki rig or jerk bait depending on where the fish are in the water column.
Another way to catch fish once the water temp is 55 degrees or lower are in creek mouths. Typically, I fish the smaller creek mouths with either a square bill crankbait or jerk bait depending on watercolor.
I also choose a bladed jig or spinnerbait. My bait choices really depend on the water color. To find the most productive creek mouths, look for shad. The shad will keep fish there in the same general area until they decide to leave.
Over the years, I have found that the colder mornings are, the more the shad will congregate together in the creek mouths. This is when the bass will feed heavily in the creek mouths. It’s an easy meal for the bass as they fatten up for the winter months.
Keep your lure choices simple and keep moving during these two months and find that special spot where the fish are most active.
The fish can change by the hour or even minute on this particular body of water.
Zeke Gossett of Zeke Gossett Fishing grew up on the Coosa River and Logan Martin Lake. He is a former collegiate champion and is now a professional angler on the B.A.S.S. tour circuit and is a fishing guide. Learn more about Zeke at: zekegossettfishing.com.
Coosa Riverkeeper has had a lot of events and patrols throughout 2024 and we’re gearing up for more events this November! We’re happy to share with you some of our accomplishments this year, by the numbers.
Of 8 volunteer clean-ups that were hosted on the Coosa this year, Coosa Riverkeeper staff and volunteers were able to collect over 2,000 pounds of litter by boat ramps, parks, and popular fishing and swimming locations. These clean-ups are hosted monthly and will continue after the holidays! Get involved with our volunteer clean-ups at CoosaRiver.org/Take-Action/Volunteer!
We’ve hosted 12 individual Free Fishing Clinics which totals to teaching over 245 kids how to fish! Not to mention, through our after school programs, Free Fishing Clinics, workshops, and more we’ve educated over 470 kids through 2024 about the Coosa. We also hosted 7 town hall meetings in 2024 to ensure folks are informed about what’s happening on their river and in their community. Want to volunteer for an education event? Become a River Rat today by visiting CoosaRiver.org/Take-Action/Volunteer!
Now that our Swim Guide program has come to an end until next summer, we’re happy to announce that 8 of our seasonal employees helped us take 1,918 samples throughout our watershed, testing for E.coli bacteria, turbidity, pH, and algae! Through our Riverkeeper Patrol program, Coosa Riverkeeper staff also collected 20 PFAS samples across our watershed. To learn more about our Swim Guide or Riverkeeper program visit our website at CoosaRiver.org!
Follow Coosa Riverkeeper on Facebook & Instagram @CoosaRiverkeeper For more information, swim over to www.CoosaRiver.org.
Innovative LMLPA program gives kids up-close look at Logan Martin Lake’ diverse turtle population
Story by Loyd McIntosh Photos by Richard Rybka
It’s Friday night in early June, and a group of parents and their children are wandering through the boggy marsh on the banks of Logan Martin. With flashlights guiding their way, the group follows the lead of Grover Brown, an assistant professor from the Department of Biology at Jacksonville State University.
A specialist in herpetology, the study of reptiles and amphibians, he waves his flashlight around, shining the light into the treeline until he finds what he is looking for, a pink ribbon tied to a low-hanging branch indicating the general area he set a turtle trap in the shallow water below.
A couple of girls catching turtles
Brown feels around in the murky water until he finds the rope and starts tugging the trap toward the shore. Brown pulls the trap out of the water to a chorus of “Cool!” and “Wow!” The trap is filled with turtles. “We did pretty good,” Brown says as he clears the trap of debris. “What we use as bait is a can of sardines. Apparently, I put two in here because I wasn’t paying attention,” Brown says.
As the kids gather around, shining their flashlights around frantically as they attempt to get a glimpse of the haul, Brown removes the turtles from the trap and explains to the excited children what they caught.
“We have two species in here. We’ve got what we call a pond slider,” he explains as he holds up a small turtle, about the size of a hockey puck.
“This is a male, and I know it’s a male because of his feet,” Brown explains, as he points out the turtle’s long “wolverine” like toes. He asks the assembled children what they think the turtle uses his long claw for and after a few moments of the children shouting out an array of good to goofy answers, he finally gives them the truth.
“The ladies find them very attractive,” Brown says as the group, adults and children, burst out into laughter.
Next, Brown shows the group another catch, a small female turtle commonly known as a stinkpot, inviting everyone to smell the reptile before sharing the smelly truth behind its name.
“They’re very small and need to come up with a form of protection, and they basically act like the turtle equivalent of a skunk,” Brown says. “When they get scared, they release a really foul, smelly musk.”
After a few more minutes of discussion, Brown allows the kids to handle the turtles and release them back into the water before making their way down the path to the next trap.
The scene is part of Frog Night WithTurtles, an annual event organized by the Logan Martin Lake Protection Association (LMLPA) honoring the late Dr. George Cline, a beloved professor of biology at Jacksonville State who passed away in February 2022. Known affectionately as Dr. Frog, Cline taught biology, ecology, conservation, animal behavior, herpetology and vertebrate anatomy for close to 30 years and also volunteered his time at the Anniston of Natural History, where he founded Herpfest, an annual celebration of reptiles and amphibians.
Brown, who, with good humor, suggests Dr. Turtle as a suitable nickname for himself, is now in his third year leading Frog Night With Turtles. As he prepares for the event underneath a pavilion at Pell City Lakeside Park, he can barely contain his enthusiasm to showcase the unique biodiversity of Logan Martin Lake and the state as a whole.
Hunting turtles
“It’s a great opportunity for these kids to get to see the wildlife that occurs in their own backyard,” Brown says.
“Alabama is really lucky to have a warm climate, and we have topography, so we have species that only occur in the mountains and species that may only occur along the coast,” he adds. “So with that gradient, we get incredible biodiversity.”
For the first half of the event, Brown and his colleague Bethany Adams, an instructor of Biology with a special interest in Alabama’s snake population, talk to the group about the reptiles and amphibians they are likely to encounter in the area.
He and Adams also have a little show-and-tell, bringing out some exotic turtles and even a rat snake, allowing the kids – and their parents – to see and touch these animals. Brown said their goal is to help the group appreciate their natural surroundings in an interactive and fun way.
“They’re going to learn about their ecology without knowing they’re learning about their ecology,” says Brown. “We’re going to say what these turtles do, why they’re important to the environment, and why we should care about them and protect them because we know if the environment is healthy for them, then the environment is also healthy for us.
“We try to weave in a few lessons of why they should care about these species and why these species, in my opinion, make Alabama so special,” Brown adds. “We have more total species in our state than most countries do around the world.”
An evening of wonder
As the sun sets and the moon shines its silvery light on the surface of the lake, the kids show no signs of slowing down as Brown pulls yet another trap from the murky water. Excitedly, they gather around the biologist and wait for their turn to hold a turtle, gently drop it back into the water, and watch it swim away, before hustling back for another turn.
“It was amazing!” said Layon Nixon, an 11-year-old student at Williams Intermediate School in Pell City. “I’ve never gotten to hold a turtle before!”
Layon’s mother, Lisa Nixon, said she brought her daughters, Layon and Adalle, to Frog & Turtle Night to support their interests but also to emphasize the importance of the area’s wildlife and caring for the health of the lake.
“First of all, they love this sort of thing,” says Nixon. “We’ve always known about the association (LMLPA) and support the association, and just knowing the science behind it and knowing the animals that are part of the lake and the need to take care of them is huge.”
