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News from Around Alabama
News from Choctaw County: Economically speaking we have site prep going on for our hospital. That will employ 130 people. Site prep for our module home manufactures - that will employee 200 people.
Four other things in the works that we hope will be finalized shortly:
Wahaluk Lumber Company is up and running. They employ 50 people.
Site prep being worked on in the Choctaw County industrial park for a trucking company- they will employ 8 in phase one and additional employees into phase 2 and 3.
Cheryl Morgan with the Small Town Design Initiative was just down with the team 3 weeks ago to work with Gilbertown on their town plan. They will give their final presentation in September. Nancy Gibson.
News from Thomaston: In honor of Rural Fun Day’s 20th Anniversary, Saturday, August 26, 2006, the Rural Heritage Center in Thomaston is honoring Alabama Artisans and Crafters. Response has been good and the center expects the grounds of old Marengo County High School, Hwy 25 in Thomaston to be filled with excellent Alabama Arts and Crafts as well as other items familiar to rural festivals. The highlight of the day will begin at 1:30 when Alabama’s Storyteller, Kathryn Tucker Windham takes to the Heritage Center Stage to tell her wonderful stories and then autograph her books. Kicking off the day is the annual 5K Rural Fun Run that draws runners from throughout the state as well as the Univ of West Alabama Lady Tigers basketball team who comes to run exhibition. Immediately following the 5K, children will enjoy participating in the St. Jude’s Children’s bike-a-thon, also an annual event and afterwards, the kids parade that brings them to the campus of old MCHS. Entertainment from the Heritage Center stage will begin at 9:30 with the Central AL Strummers from Selma “putting on a show.” Ronnie Richardson, a fixture and favorite at Rural Fun Day, will sing Elvis songs during the morning as well as Thomaston’s own JOY Choir. Emcees for this year’s event will be Mitzi Gates and Don Dailey, WZZK news director, Birmingham, who is a Marengo County native. Miss UWA, Kate Cartwright, is also scheduled to make a guest appearance. The day’s events include a health fair, domino tournament, old-timey kids games, antique farm equipment exhibit, wood carving, weaving, quilting, basket making and much more. Of course lots of food and Good Ole Thomaston BBQ will be available throughout the day. Mark your calendar for Saturday August 26 for a day of fun in the country. Rural Fun Day hours are 9:30 until 4:30 PM and is an annual event held under the trees on the campus of the old Marengo County High School in Thomaston. No admission. For information call 334-627-3388.
News from Alabaster: Limiting clear-cutting by developers. Alabaster is considering a tree ordinance to stop developers from clear-cutting and mass-grading land before building subdivisions.
The ordinance would require developers to submit a tree survey of the property underdevelopment before being granted a land disturbance permit.
How many trees a developers would be required to save would be determined during discussions with the city's planner and engineer.
The proposed ordinance is being reviewed by the Alabaster Planning and Zoning Board, which, along with the City Council, would have to approve the rules.
Nearby city Helena passed an ordinance to ban clear-cutting in 2002 and nearby Pelham passed an ordinance requiring developers to submit landscaping plans.
News from Pelham: Pelham City Council voted to adopt rules for architectural style, landscaping, lighting and signs along six of the city's major roadways. The new zoning ordinance governs U.S. 31, Alabama 119 and 261 and Shelby County roads 11, 17 and 52. The Corridor Overlay District is designed to create a more aesthetically pleasing community. Other communities in Shelby County have done similar districts: Alabaster adopted a Corridor Overlay District on Shelby 11. Montevallo has adopted one near the American Village and Helena created the Cahaba River/Buck Creek Overlay District, prohibiting development within 200 feet of the river and 150 feet of the creek.
News from Leeds: Leeds joins the growing ranks of state scenic byways with Highway 119/411, also referred to as the Stagecoach Route. The route is one of Alabama's longest-lived stagecoach routes and passes through Leeds. Leeds council member Carol Phillips sees the byway as a way to beautify and promote the city and as an incentive for businesses to locate there.
Overall, it could provide ample opportunity in tourism and federal grant dollars. They formed a nine-member committee called the Byway Management Team, which will oversee the progress of the byway. To date, the state scenic byway hasn’t cost the city a dime, and they hope to keep it that way. They also hope to see it improve their opportunities for tourism.
News from Skyline: The Nature Conservancy has purchased an environmentally sensitive tract in the Paint Rock River Valley to add over 1,600 acres to the Walls of Jericho Preserve near Skyline. A U.S. Senate committee approved a bill to provide over $1 million to help the Forever Wild program buy the tract from the Conservancy. The site includes the area where Hurricane Creek spills out of the Walls of Jericho and meets Estil Fork to become the Paint Rock River.
