Good Hope High baseball coach Mitch Witcher, left, receives a check in the amount of $15,000 from CCCDC board member Kelly Duke. The money awarded will go to help build a concession stand at the high school baseball field.

The Cullman County Community Development Commission (CCCDC) has awarded four grants, which primarily center on public safety and education.

The Hanceville Police Department was awarded $5,429.96 to  repair damages to antennas that have adversely affected the departments communication.

“This grant was primarily considered an emergency and safety issue,” said Ashley Graves, a project coordinator for Cullman County Economic Development.

According to Hanceville Police Chief Bob Long, the antenna may have sustained damage from a storm two years ago.

“We’re unsure of what exactly happened,” Long said. “It may have been struck by lightning, but it has started to affect communication in the last two months.”

The bid to repair the damage will cost the department $6,200.

“We’re in the process of obtaining the additional funds needed, and some repairs will begin Monday,” Long said.

The Berlin Volunteer Fire Department received a $15,000 grant to proceed in a two-part operation with the volunteer fire department in Fairview.

Fairview has already received its half of the grant.

The two volunteer fire departments will collaborate to build a joint fire station on land donated by Merchants Bank. The location will be on Alabama Highway 69 next to Simcoe.

“This will not only help us respond faster,” said Doug Williams, the fire chief at Fairview. “It will also help homeowners in the area on homeowners insurance.”

Construction on the department has begun, but rainy conditions have limited progress. The foundation and retaining walls are the current project.

The CCCDC also issued a grant of $10,000 to Welti Elementary School to initiate a Leader in Me program.

“The program will be incorporated into the entire curriculum,” said Principal Gina Webb. “It’s a seven-step program that teaches the fundamentals of being a good person.”

The program is quite costly according to Webb, and the grant will fund not only training but also some physical modifications during implementation.

The school will become a visage for the program, as program-specific artwork will be incorporated throughout the school. This also includes repainting. Webb believes the grant will positively affect the children and the physical body of the school itself.

“We definitely appreciate everything the CCCDC has done,” Webb said. “We’re planning to begin the program in the fall.”

Cold Springs Elementary will also receive a $10,000 grant to update their computer lab.

According to Graves, the grant recipients will receive checks at the next meeting on Aug. 7 at 6 p.m. in the Cullman County Economic Development building.

The previous meeting’s grant recipients received their checks this week. Those grants included $15,000 to Garden City for sewer renovation, $15,000 to Good Hope for new concessions at the baseball field and $10,000 for a United Methodist Church program for disadvantaged children.

Zack Winslett can be reached by e-mail at zackw@cullmantimes.com.