Editor’s note: Every day this week, the Times-Journal will look back on some of the top stories of 2015. Here’s the Year in Review for September and October.

Selma man opens fire in church, injures three

During a Sunday morning church service at Oasis Tabernacle Church in East Selma Sept. 20, 26-year-old James Junior Minter opened fire, shooting his girlfriend Sharnika Born, her 1-month-old boy Jamieyon Minter and assistant pastor Bobby Carswell.

Minter was charged with three counts of attempted murder, and his bond was set that following Monday at $3 million.

“There used to be a time when the worst criminal would respect the church. They wouldn’t go into the church and do anything crazy, but those days are gone now,” said District Attorney Michael Jackson.

 

Alabama River Raft Race returns to Selma

After over three decades of inactivity, Selma’s raft race returned to the Alabama River on Labor Day, Sept. 7. Twenty-four rafts and 12 canoes launched down the Alabama River. Some tried to beat the competition, while others were out on the river enjoying the nice weather and having a good time.

Al’s Towing had a raft in the late 70s and early 80s that dominated the competition, and it was no different in 2015. Using a raft made out of bicycles, corner pieces of metal buildings and two jet fuel tanks, Al’s Towing once again took home first prize, proving that they are still the team to beat decades later.

Race organizer Victor Shaw said he expects the race in 2016 to be bigger and better.

 

G Mommas runs for Super Bowl ad

G Mommas Cookies found itself with the opportunity of a lifetime in early September through the Small Business Big Game competition from Intuit Quickbooks. G Mommas was one of 10 small businesses nationwide to be named as a finalist to win a free ad in Super Bowl 50.

There were over 15,000 submissions, and G Mommas owner Robert Armstrong said it was overwhelming to know that he was one of 10 who had a chance to take his business to the next level with an ad in the Super Bowl.

In early November, Armstrong was flown out to San Jose, California where he learned that his business did not make the top three, but he was thankful for the experience because he believed it taught him a lot about how to grow his business.

“It was probably 99 percent of me that wanted it, but there was a small percentage, one percent, that was like ‘Whew. That would’ve been crazy if we would have won,’” Armstrong said.

 

Mike Huckabee visits Selma

To cap off an unbelievable year of celebrities and political figures visiting Selma, Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee stopped in Selma on Oct. 1 to address supporters during a private fundraiser held at Side Porch Sandwiches.

Huckabee said it was important for him to visit Alabama because of the impact of the primary election.

“The SEC primary next March is going to be very, very significant,” Huckabee said. “It’s going to make a big difference in the process of the nomination.”

 

Quarterback Club welcomes Blind Side’s Tuohy

Leigh Ann Tuohy, best known for being the legal guardian of NFL lineman Michael Oher and having her family’s story featured in the hit movie “The Blind Side,” visited the Selma Quarterback Club on Oct. 8. The club had its biggest crowd of the season to watch Tuohy speak.

 

Alumni return for Morgan’s 50th anniversary

Morgan Academy’s football stadium was packed on Oct. 16 as students, family, friends and alumni filled to stands to honor the Senators’ 50th anniversary. Alumni were welcomed that weekend to take a tour of the campus to see the changes Morgan has been through in the past half-decade.

Thirty former Morgan homecoming queens were recognized before the start of the game, and former football players took the field as honorary captains prior to the game.

 

 

Selma Civil War cannons pulled from South Carolina river

Two Brooke rifle cannons manufactured in Selma and used in the Civil War were discovered in late September at the bottom of the Pee Dee River in South Carolina. The cannons were thrown overboard to prevent them from falling into Union hands before the ship was set ablaze. Catesby ap C. Jones, whose great-grandfather built the cannons, traveled from Selma to South Carolina just to see the cannons in person.

“I’m really excited. As a 90-year-old, you don’t get excited about anything,” Jones said with a laugh.