Council welcomes Municipal Judge Phil Seay

On Tuesday, Jan. 21, the City of Pell City welcomed Municipal Judge Phil Seay to the bench at City Hall.

Judge Seay was appointed to the position by the City Council during its regular meeting on January 13. He retired as Presiding Circuit Judge for St. Clair County on Jan. 20. Seay has served as a judge in St. Clair County for the past 20 years.

Pell City Municipal Judge Phil Seay

During his tenure, Judge Seay made a considerable impact on the St. Clair County Court System. Among many other accomplishments, he launched the county’s first Juvenile Drug Court, established a Community Corrections program, and created a dedicated domestic violence docket. 

Seay serves on several community boards of directors in Pell City and St. Clair County, including Lakeside Hospice, St. Clair County Day Program, the St. Clair County Children’s Police Council, the Coosa Valley Youth Services Board, the St. Clair County Boys and Girls Club Advisory Board, and the Pell City DARE Board.

He previously served as president of the Pell City Kiwanis Club, the Pell City Chamber of Commerce, and the Logan Martin Red Elephant Club. Seay also served as chairman for the St. Clair County GOP, and a member of the Alabama GOP Executive Committee.

Judge Seay was selected as Trial Judge of the Year by the Alabama Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates in November 2024.

Seay replaces Judge James Hill, who was sworn in as St. Clair County Circuit Judge, also on Jan. 21. Hill served as Pell City Municipal Judge from October 2024 to January 2025. 

Judge Hill was appointed to replace outgoing Judge Brandi Hufford, who was sworn in as St. Clair County District Judge on October 15, 2024.

Judge Hufford was appointed to the position of Pell City Municipal Judge following the retirement of Judge Van Davis in 2018.

Pell City Municipal Court convenes Tuesdays at City Hall at 2 p.m.

Dancing with our Stars 2025 set for March 1 at CEPA

Dancing With Our Stars, the annual tradition where the area’s best and boldest dancers come together for a cause, returns to CEPA in Pell City on March 1. 

This annual event, now in its 11th year, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support organizations like the Pell City Police Department, Pell City Fire Department, and the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office. Each year, the Pell City Line Dancers, long led by director Doris Munkus, turn their love of dancing into a fundraising effort for all kinds of good things in the community.

Sponsorships are still available at three levels: Friend Sponsor ($750), Championship Sponsor ($1,000), and Hero Sponsor ($1,500). All packages include event seating and promotional considerations.

Tickets are $30 online at pellcitycepa.com/tickets or $35 at the door.

To register dancers, purchase tickets or sponsorships, or make other donations, contact Munkus at (205) 473-4063 or email dorito30711@gmail.com.

Boots and Bows: 2025 Rotary Father Daughter Dance arrives Feb. 8

Now in its 10th year, the Father-Daughter Dance returns to Pell City on Feb. 8 with an exciting new theme: Boots and Bows (Plus a Little Disco).

Hosted annually by the Pell City Rotary Club, this year’s dance promises to delight couples (or trios and beyond) with a blend of country charm and disco sparkle.

Rotarians transform Pell City High School into a gala event venue, serve dance attendees dinner, and offer plenty of music and dancing throughout the night. The entire evening is dedicated to fathers and daughters making memories together that last a lifetime.

Proceeds from the event support the Pell City Rotary Foundation, which provides numerous community grants each year to organizations such as The Children’s Place, Pell City School System, Lakeside Hospice, Pell City Police Department, and many more.

Last year, Pell City Rotary partnered with the City of Pell City to finalize downtown streetscape improvements, installing 20 black, cast-iron benches and 11 matching litter containers along Cogswell Ave.

City, Rotary partner to finalize downtown streetscape improvements

Space is limited, so buy your tickets now! Tickets are $30 per couple ($15 for each additional child) or $40 at the door ($20 for each additional child) and include music, finger foods, party favors, and photographs. 

They can be purchased at Metro Bank in Pell City, Pell City Coffee Company, online at pellcityrotary.com, pellcitycepa.com/tickets, or by contacting Meg Clements at (205) 812-5187.

Statement from the City of Pell City: Misinformation is not helpful to our shared goal of saving animal lives

The City of Pell City is grateful to all who reached out to us in response to a recent social media post regarding the Pell City Animal Control Center. We received many offers to help, and we heard many ideas that could improve animal welfare in St. Clair County. For those, we’re very thankful.

PCACC is St. Clair County’s only animal shelter, serving around 275 animals a month. In 2024, intake reached a historic low, while adoptions reached the highest rate ever at PCACC.

Over the past 8 years, more than 5,000 animals have found forever homes thanks to animal rescue organizations that partner with the Center. These organizations will continue to be part of our strategy.

Recently, there have been some concerning allegations we would like to address. Widespread misinformation (represented below in bold) is not helpful to our shared goal of saving animal lives.

$50 “pull fees” are harmful to rescue organizations. This information is being misrepresented. Rescue fees are not charged in most circumstances.

Our new procedures are part of a greater improvement plan for PCACC that intends to increase efficiency through digitization, organization, and improved communication.

Rescue fees have been in place since 2017 to offset treatment provided at the shelter. A $50 pull fee is meant for the most adoptable animals, who have received full veterinary care. Many partners will pay a $25 fee, which is less than the schedule set in 2017. And in many cases, there will be no charge for organizations assisting us in finding homes for animals.

This information has been communicated to all current and prospective rescue partners. Rescue organizations can find registration and animal pull forms at pell-city.com/adopt.

PCACC does not provide adequate medical care or food for animals. All animals receive personalized treatment daily. They are also fed daily an amount appropriate for their weight.

Conditions at PCACC are inhumane. We are aware of the need for minor cosmetic maintenance, which has been reported. These areas do not impact the Shelter’s ability to provide humane treatment. All animals at PCACC are treated with the utmost care.

Pell City is seeking to make a profit from the Center. More than 90 percent of the Center’s annual funding comes from the City and other local government partners. Fees and donations account for less than 10 percent of the Center’s budget. The Center is projected to lose $42,000 in 2025, absorbed by the City of Pell City.

For those asking what you can do to help, first and foremost, spay and neuter your pets, and encourage others to do the same. Animal intake at the shelter declined last year, and we want to see that trend continue.

Second, volunteer or foster. PCACC is always open to help from caring citizens looking to assist in our efforts to provide the best possible animal care. You can find registration forms at pell-city.com/adopt.

Each of your messages and emails has been received and read, and we thank you again for reaching out. We appreciate this community’s dedication to animal welfare and our shared mission at PCACC to save lives.

Important Information: Winter Weather in Pell City, Jan. 9-10, 2025

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Pell City ahead of a system that is likely to impact travel on Thursday, January 9, and Friday, January 10, 2025.

Up-to-date information can be found by following the following organizations and agencies on social media via the following links:

See below for important information for Pell City residents related to the incoming weather system.

As of 4 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, the probabilities are increasing that there will be impacts to travel throughout the area from the incoming winter weather system. Northern St. Clair County is more likely to experience impacts than Pell City, however, the NWS reported that dangerous or impossible driving conditions are expected across far northern portions of Central Alabama, with hazardous driving conditions extending further south. Black ice will also be possible areawide through Saturday morning.

THURSDAY: Snow and sleet likely before 5 a.m., then sleet, possibly mixed with snow and freezing rain, could occur. The chance of precipitation is 100 percent, but little to no ice is expected.

FRIDAY: Rain, freezing rain and sleet, possibly mixed with snow are possible before 11 a.m. NWS anticipates rain, possibly mixed with sleet between 11 a.m. and noon, then rain after noon. Ice accumulation of less than 0.1 of an inch is possible.

RESIDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO AVOID TRAVEL. BLACK ICE IS POSSIBLE THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING.

The City of Pell City

City offices and facilities will delay opening until 10 a.m. on Friday, January 10. The Pell City Civic Center will delay opening on Saturday, Jan. 11 until 10 a.m. as well. Please monitor https://www.facebook.com/cityofpellcity and https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057558785396 (Pell City Parks & Recreation).

Pell City Schools

PCSS will be closed on Friday, January 10, 2025. All classes and school activities are canceled for the day. Please monitor https://www.facebook.com/PellCityPanthers for more.

Garbage Collection

Meridian Waste will not operate garbage collection services on Friday, January 10. According to representatives, trash pickup will resume on Monday, January 13 and the collection schedule will be one day behind next week.

St. Clair County EMA

According to the St. Clair County EMA, Warming shelters will be open in our area to provide safe and warm spaces for those in need. The Pell City and Ashville Courthouse Basements will be open from 5 p.m. – 8 a.m., Thursday, January 9 – Friday, January 10. Please monitor https://www.facebook.com/stclairema for more.

Alabama Power

Should the incoming winter weather affect power in our area, Alabama Power provides residents with real-time information on outages. Find the map at https://outagemap.alabamapower.com/.

Pell City 12U Baseball becomes official Little League partner

After months of preparation, Pell City Parks and Recreation is proud to announce that in 2025 some of its athletes will join the biggest name in youth sports – Little League.

Little League is the world’s largest organized youth sports program, with over 2 million baseball and softball players in communities across every U.S. state and over 80 countries.

This partnership marks a monumental step forward for the community’s young athletes, offering them the chance to compete on larger stages and potentially earn a spot in the Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Millions across the globe watch the annual tournament, including many young players right here in Pell City.

“We’re excited, and we know our players will be, too,” Athletic Director Joey Morrow said. “It’s not just a potential opportunity to represent their local community in televised games, it’s a chance for them to compete at youth sports’ highest level of competition.”

The transition to Little League will only affect 2025 players signing up for 12U Baseball leagues with Pell City Parks and Recreation. All other baseball leagues will remain in USSSA, and all All-Stars programs will continue as they have in years past.

The move to Little League underscores Pell City Parks and Recreation’s commitment to fostering youth development and community pride. Alongside skill-building and athletic competition, Little League emphasizes character development, leadership, and a love for the game of baseball.

Registration for the upcoming season is now open. Parents can register their children at pellcity.recdesk.com.

Register Now

For more information on Little League, visit LittleLeague.org.