Commissioner Hayes commends community on search efforts for missing woman
The Shelby County Commission had more than regular business to attend to at its first meeting of February.
Commissioner Robbie Hayes took time at the end of the Feb. 12 meeting to thank the community. Over the weekend, tragedy struck Chelsea as a car wreck was discovered Saturday morning on Shelby County 36 in Pelham. The driver, Chelsea resident Lisa Holman, was missing.
Several law enforcement agencies and more than 500 volunteers showed up on Sunday morning to help search for Holman. Hayes served as a liaison between law enforcement and the volunteers, who met at Chelsea High School on Sunday morning.
“I got a call from Hub [Harvey] that she was found alive in the woods. Folks, that just doesn’t happen often. You just don’t have someone missing for 30+ hours, and then you find them alive,” Hayes said. “…I can’t tell you the elation from all of those people.”
Seeing the community come together for the search was a proud moment, Hayes said, and an emotional day. Capt. Jay Fondren with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was also at the commission meeting and involved in the search efforts.
“For that many folks to want to give up their day off to assist, it was really ... It gets me choked up talking about it,” Fondren said.
According to a statement released from the Holman family and posted to the Pelham Police Department Facebook page, the wreck resulted in a few broken bones and other minor injuries for Holman.
“We would like to express our deepest gratitude to the coordinated effort provided by the Pelham Police Department, Pelham Fire Department, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office,” the statement read. “They led this rescue mission not only with determined tenacity, but also with true compassion. They kept the family comforted and well informed while organizing the rescue efforts. We would also like to thank the following agencies who assisted in the search: Shelby County EMA, Chelsea Fire Department, Childersburg Rescue Squad, Alexander City Rescue Squad, Regional Paramedic Service, SAR K9’s of Alabama, the American Red Cross and Red Mountain Search Dog Association.”
The family also thanked the hundreds of volunteers for arriving at Chelsea High School beginning at 5:30 a.m.
“We are grateful to be part of a close-knit community that never hesitated when their assistance was needed,” the statement said.
Also at the meeting, the commission:
- Awarded bids for various county supplies, including a gas convection oven and heater proofer cabinet, an air-cooled chiller, stone and sand and a critical incident response bag.
- Approved an extension for the emergency shelter grant.
- Approved alcohol beverage licenses for Rockett’s Bug Juice Gardens near Mt Laurel, Country Store in Montevallo and Quick Stop near Mt Laurel.
- Approved an alcohol beverage license and fees levy for fiscal year 2017-19.
- Heard from Reggie Holloway, who provided a preview of polling place location changes that will come before the commission at a future meeting. These changes are due to overcrowding at some locations and a lack of poll workers, Holloway said. One change, if approved, would redistribute votes from BlackWatch Sports in Chelsea to North Shelby Baptist Church.