YEAR IN REVIEW 2015: June

Redmont Pharmacy, 1102 Golden Road, was the scene of a robbery with hostage situation in June.

One in custody after Red Bay robbery

A robbery with hostage situation developed Tuesday morning in Red Bay, ending with no injuries before 11 a.m.

Redmont Pharmacy, 1102 Golden Road, was the scene of a robbery beginning shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday, according to Red Bay Chief Janna Jackson, who, along with Capt. Eddie Chandler, was first on the scene.

Emily Taylor, a pharmacy technician who was in the building at the time, recounted a portion of the ordeal. “He came to the door and asked if we were open, and we said yeah,” Taylor said. “He went out and came back in with a gun.”

Jessica Young, pharmacy cashier, said the gunman told them, when he walked back in, “Don’t be stupid; you know what’s happening.”

“We were all praying God would let us all get out safe,” Young added.

People began to form prayer groups in the community as well, as the situation continued, Jackson said.

Donna Weatherford, pharmacist, talked the gunman into letting the rest of the staff go after 15-20 minutes. Weatherford remained a hostage for some time.

The Franklin County SRT unit was activated. “Our captain did have some phone contact with him a couple of times,” Jackson said. “At one point he was demanding narcotics.”

Officers eventually took the suspect, Christopher Trail, 28, Red Bay, into custody. He was charged with pharmacy robbery, a Class A felony; kidnapping first degree, a Class A felony; four counts of kidnapping second degree; two counts of theft second degree for theft of controlled substances from the pharmacy; and one count of burglary second degree, according to district attorney Joey Rushing.

Bond was set at $450,000 for Trail.

“We argued that he was a danger to others,” Rushing said. “Anybody who goes to that extreme over such a short period … is very dangerous.”

Jarred Pierce, of Frog Pond, signed deals with Press Management Group and Red Ridge Entertainment to produce his first single, “It’s Going Down,” and subsequent album this summer.

Local artist signs record production deal

New artist Jarred Pierce has signed with Press Management Group and Red Ridge Entertainment, according to a recent press release. Press Management Group is helmed by artist managers David Kiggins and Kimberly Novosel, who will be leading their team to manage Pierce’s quickly-developing career, while Red Ridge Entertainment’s Gary Sadker is serving as producer of Pierce’s first record.

Pierce is a local who grew up in the country in the small town of Frog Pond. Surrounded by music history and a family known for their musical talent, he was introduced to musicianship at an early age. “I can remember my first Merle Haggard concert,” Pierce said. “When I left that night, I was inspired by him to write my own songs and stories.”

He learned to play guitar at 8 years old, and by 15 he was in a band performing festivals and the local fair circuit. He then set out playing his own songs in acoustic shows. Speaking on his love of country music, Pierce said, “I think for me it was obvious. I grew up in the country. I am a hunter and an avid fisherman. Something about the way a country music song told a story spoke right to my heart. I could relate.”

Pierce’s first record features songs written by Pierce himself, as well as several from songwriters Sam Brooker (of Sam and Ruby) and Jesse Rice (Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise”).

The record includes first single “It’s Going Down.” The single and the record both came out this summer. For more info, visit www.jarredpierce.com.

Jarod Massey joined the Red Bay City Council in June to replace Mike Stockton.

Red Bay welcomes new councilman

The Red Bay City Council has returned to full strength with the swearing in of Jarod Massey Friday.

“It’s a great honor to get to serve in this capacity,” Massey said. “I’m looking forward to working with this great council.”

Mayor David Tiffin said he and the council are “just tickled to death.” “We’re very excited he has accepted the challenge,” Tiffin said.

Massey, who grew up in Red Bay and graduated from RBHS, took over for Mike Stockton, who resigned from the council because of growing time conflicts with his business responsibilities.

RCS Engineering put Russellville on the map this year – first with a national win at the Team America Rocketry Challenge and then in the international sphere, with a first place win in the International Rocketry Challenge in Paris.

RCS Engineering wins international rocketry competition

RCS Engineering is still putting Russellville on the map – now in the international sphere, with a first place win in the International Rocketry Challenge at the 2015 Paris Air Show on June 19.

The U.S. team, sponsored by Raytheon, beat teams from the United Kingdom, who came in second place, and France, who took home third, according to a recent press release from the Aerospace Industries Association.

Competing teams designed, built and launched rockets with a goal of reaching an altitude of exactly 800 feet within a 46-48-second flight window. This year’s contest required rockets to separate into at least two sections during flight. The main section, containing a payload of one raw hen’s egg and an altimeter, had to return to the ground safely with a single parachute as its sole recovery device.

Scores were determined by how close the rockets approached the required height and time; cracked eggs would disqualify the flight.

RCS Engineering includes Cristian Ruiz, 16; Niles Butts, 17; Andrew Heath, 17; Katie Burns, 13; Evan Swinney, 18; Cady Studdard, 14; and Chelsea Suddith, 15.

The team achieved a winning flight score of 49.53 and logged an altitude of 824 feet.

The Russellville City Council named June 19, 2015, “Russellville City Schools Engineering Rocket Team Day.” Numerous honors were bestowed upon the team following the international win, including special invitations to the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville as well as the White House in Washington, D.C.

RCS Engineering progressed to the international competition following a win in the Team American Rocketry Challenge in Virginia earlier this spring.