Chelsea council recognizes Bronze Star recipient, hears from municipal judge candidate

The Chelsea City Council and Mayor Tony Picklesimer took time to honor a resident who Picklesimer said is "a hero in my mind" during the May 2 council meeting.

During the mayor's report, Picklesimer read a statement from the United States Department of the Army, stating Chelsea resident Skip Brown was the recipient of a Bronze Star Medal.

"Private First Class Brown performed commendably as a combat infantryman and demonstrated exceptional skill and courage as an armored vehicle crewman in operations against enemy base areas. ...Brown's combat skills and courage reflect great credit upon himself, the first cavalry and the United States Army," Picklesimer read.

Brown served in the army during the Vietnam War and was injured in February 1972. He was in the hospital for four months, and while some survivors of the ambush received their Bronze Stars, Brown did not. Brown's commanding officer realized this five years ago, when he was writing a book on the war, according to a presentation Brown gave in Delray Beach, Florida, where he used to live. Brown received his Bronze Star during a ceremony there on April 25, 45 years after he left combat.

During the Chelsea City Council meeting, former Shelby County Sheriff Chris Curry pinned Brown's Bronze Star on his chest.

"Not bad for 45 years," Brown said, with a laugh. 

In addition to serving in the army, Brown formerly served as a Delray Beach police officer. While there, he helped establish a Citizens On Patrol volunteer force, and was a liason between Delray Beach and the City of Chelsea as Chelsea established its own COP program.

Prior to the meeting during pre-council, the council met Jeff Hester, a Birmingham-area lawyer and the municipal judge for Calera and Vincent. 

"He is my recommendation to you for Chelsea municipal court judge," Picklesimer said. The pre-council meeting served as an opportunity for a "judge confirmation hearing," Picklesimer said, allowing council members to ask Hester questions about his past experience.

Hester is a Chelsea resident "and he has an impeccable record," Picklesimer said. 

Hester gave a brief introduction to the council, noting he attended law school at Mississippi College, has his own private law practice which covers family and general cases, became municipal court judge for Vincent in 2005 and became municipal court judge for Calera in 2015.

Councilor Scott Weygand asked Hester if he is comfortable helping set up the city's court, which will be brand new. While he has not helped set up a court before and admitted he is not familiar with the computer programs or court clerk responsibilities, Hester told Weygand "I have no question we will do things right once we have everything set up.

Councilors asked what sort of cases Hester typically sees, and he said they can range from traffic violations to domestic violence to DUI. He holds court two days a month in Calera, with two dockets each day, but Councilor Cody Sumners said he believes Chelsea will only need one day a month where the municipal court is open.

Councilor Tiffany Bittner also asked Hester how people will react when they receive a city hall notification for a municipal violation. Hester said people will typically come into compliance after receiving a summons to come to court.

A resolution to approve Hester as judge will come before Chelsea City Council during its May 16 meeting, Picklesimer said. Finding a municipal court judge is "step two" in the process of establishing the city's court, he said.

During the meeting, the council also:

- Approved a resolution changing a road name for White Oak Manor Subdivision for Shelby County 911.

- Approved to pay the city's bills.

- Heard an update from Forest Oaks Elementary Principal Sasha Baker. Baker thanked the council and city for its support of FOES and highlighted a few successes from the past year. The school has focused on teaching GRIT - growth, resilience, initiative and tenacity, something Baker said teaches students perseverance. She also noted strides made through student-led conferences, the school's coding club and the school's new Chromebooks as a learning tool.