Mayor's weekly blog
Weekly Letter – Friday, February 29, 2008 – Friday, March 7,
2008
I send greetings to you from the Mayor’s office. I hope you and
your family has had a good week and will be able to find
something exciting to do this weekend, even though the weather
outlook may not be the best. The forecast is winter warnings,
and I think Dallas and up to Mississippi have already seen snow
begin to fall.
Friday night Kay and I went to Shoney’s with Dinah, our
daughter, and two grandkids, Asa and Alex. We enjoyed the
seafood buffet that they have on Friday nights. I think this
night is catching on because the crowd has increased each time
we have been lately.
Saturday morning I attended the monthly Coffee Call at the
Veteran’s Museum. There were around 150 people there for a good
breakfast and fellowship. They had a young man in uniform to
play the National Anthem and Taps on his bugle, and the
renditions were very moving to me. This event continues to be
one of our most popular events that honor our men and women who
have served in the military, and those who continue to serve. I
appreciate all the folks who volunteer their time and efforts to
make our museum and its activities very successful.
I went to our Polk Sallet practice at 10:00 at the Council on
Aging Center. All the folks who are in the skits were in
attendance, and did a good job getting their acting roles honed
down for the program which begins this Thursday night. Jackie
Greenhaw and Jackie Jackson are doing a great job directing the
Polk Sallet, and we are looking forward to another successful
production that will raise a lot of money for our aging
programs.
I was still not feeling well today, so I did try to get some
rest. Kay and I spent most of our day and evening staying around
the house and keeping away from anyone who may be ill with the
crud that is making everybody sick. Our grandkids were in and
out all day and evening.
Sunday morning I was not feeling well at all. My cold or
whatever was getting worse. I did not go to Church this morning,
but Kay went ahead. She did cook a nice lunch for us today and
several of the kids came over for lunch.
I went to our Polk Sallet dress rehearsal at 2:00 this
afternoon. I didn’t feel all that well, but made it through the
entire program without passing out. Everyone did their parts
well, and our director, Jackie Greenhaw is to be commended for
doing a good job of directing. Jackie went through a critique of
each skit and made corrections which will improve the overall
show. One of the big items everyone has to work on is timing.
This is important as to when the skit begins, and also makes the
skits funny at the proper time.
Kay and I attended Church tonight. I was feeling better and
enjoyed hearing Brother Tim Williams preach at our Revival.
There was a large crowd at the service tonight. He is a big guy,
and speaks loudly. I think most everyone enjoyed his sermon.
Monday morning I was feeling much worse. I went directly to
Valley Medical Center and saw Dr. Purner. He gave me a big shot
of some kind, two antibiotic pills, and cough medicine. I went
back home and within two hours I was almost well. The shot was
fast acting and made me feel much better. There were a lot of
sick people at the Doctor’s office this morning. I am always
reluctant to go to the Doctor at a time when everyone is sick,
but I felt I had to go today. I sat in the corner of the waiting
room, and tried to stay out of the way of everyone’s sneezing
and coughing.
I cancelled a trip to Montgomery with the Elk River Development
Board for tomorrow. We had planned to go down to talk with our
Legislators about the Rural Village business, but I was still
too ill to go down with them. I am sure that Ed Sandlin and
Jerry Bradford took care of whatever business needed attention
in Montgomery. This board is an excellent one, and does a good
job of taking care of the business for the Elkmont Rural
Village.
I did go by the cemetery this afternoon to see Pam Christopher
and her family as they buried their Dad, Mr. Leamon Britton. Mr.
Britton had been very ill for some time and passed away Friday
night. Pam is the wife of our Fire Chief, Cliff Christopher. She
and her brothers and sisters had a good Daddy and they will miss
him. They still have their Mom, and I know they will be a great
comfort to her during this sad time. This is a very good family
and I hope all of you will pray for them to be comforted during
this terrible time.
Tuesday morning I worked in the office catching up on paperwork
and making some calls. The cold weather was making me concerned
about having some kind of relapse, but I guess I got by without
getting any worse.
Kay had lunch with her friends today at Applebee’s. She,
Vonnette Harper, and Susan Todd meet quite often and enjoy each
others company. They usually have more friends for their lunch,
but I think several are ill at this time.
Dinah and I went to Church tonight for another Revival service
at First Baptist. There was another good crowd in attendance,
and the sermon by Brother Tim was directed to the big group of
teenagers present.
One of our old friends is now back home in Athens and First
Baptist Church. George Stewart, who grew up on Coleman Hill at
Second Street and Grace Avenue, has retired from the ministry
and moved back home. He and his wife seem to be enjoying Athens
and it is always good to see him. George was a year behind me in
school, and behaved so much better. George was a good influence
on everyone, and still is. His Dad, Arthur Stewart, was Mayor
while we were in school.
Wednesday morning I was at Athens Middle School to read a
Proclamation for Student Art Month on the Channel One school
program. This is a neat program at the school every morning, and
it is put on by the students. They have the news, sports,
weather, words of wisdom, and they also spotlight special events
such as the Art Month. It was interesting to watch them do their
program, and do it well. Joe Jackson is their Principal, and he
does a good job with these young people.
Today at lunch, Jimmy Bailey and I went to Ardmore to eat with
several of our old buddies from the National Guard. They meet
there every first Wednesday, and this is the first time I have
been in more than a year. One of our Battalion Commanders, Col.
Tom Sharp was there, along with my long-time First Sergeant,
Billy Swanner. Tink Haney, a former Company and Battalion
Commander also attended. Joe Holland, Sherman Hargrove, James
Puckett, Bob Moore, Sgt. Major Rozell, and Robert Pullum came
for the lunch.
Thursday morning I met with citizens in my office about
different problems they are having. It is always busy toward the
end of the week, and you can always expect some of the
emergencies citizens have to occur on Thursday or Friday
afternoon.
I saw my friend Jimmy Christopher at Dub’s for coffee this
morning. He told me that his little brother, Phillip, who lives
in North Carolina, had found my weekly letter on-line. I was
glad to hear that he can now find out what is happening in his
home town without having to talk to Jimmy. Phillip was a member
of the class of 1958, and an outstanding athlete at Athens High
School. I remember him playing center on the football team with
other outstanding players like Mac Copeland, Steve Allen,
Richard Martin, Julian Newman, and Donald Duck Vinson.
Our 2008 Polk Sallet Review opened tonight to a packed house at
the Council on Aging Center. A prime rib dinner was served and
the show opened at 7:40 p.m. I thought it went well for the
first night, and I didn’t see too many mistakes. That usually
does not matter because when one of us messes up, it is usually
very funny. I heard many compliments from those attending, and
one even thinks it is the best show ever. I hope the weather
tomorrow night will not hinder the attendance.
Here is the community events scheduled by the Chamber of
Commerce that you and your family can enjoy during this month:
March
7 & 8 Mar - 7:00 PM - Poke Sallet Follies at Athens Senior
Citizens, Athens, AL, 256-233-6412
8 Mar at 6:00 PM - 3rd Annual Red Carpet Affair Beauty Walk at
Elkmont High School, Keila Berzett 423-3972 / 423-5754 or Debbie
Evans 732-4625
8-Mar - 7:00 PM - Tribute to the Famous Grand Ole Opry featuring
Huston Terry, Milton Woolridge, Lacey Snider, Early Walton Band
and more at Athens Opry, 24861 Airport Road, Athens, AL, $10.00
admission, 256-206-0211 or 216-1151 or gwh228@aol.com
8-Mar - Hop Downtown to the 1st Annual Easter Egg Hunt Sponsored
by the Spirit of Athens. Egg Hunt for the children ages 8 &
under and is at 11:AM, on the Courthouse lawn. There will be an
Easter Bunny so bring your own camera for photos. Special Eggs
for Adults from various merchants on the square.
8-Mar – at 7:30 AM – 10:00 AM – Limestone County High School
Baseball For Christ Pancake Breakfast at Applebee’s in Athens.
Proceeds will help the team travel to Canada in June to play
baseball and share Christ. $5.00 all you can eat, 256-655-2911
or mattstockman10@charter.net
9-Mar – Baseball for Christ-Baseball Camp at 1:00 PM-4:00 PM at
the Athens Sportsplex, North Quad for all ball players ages 5-14
(boys & girls welcome) - $55.00 fee for t-shirt and Sports New
Testament, 256-655-2911 or mattstockman10@charter.net
13-Mar - Ardmore Boys and Girls Club Annual Dinner at First
Baptist Church Family Life Center, Ardmore, AL, 256-423-8570
13-Mar at 7:00 PM - Critically-acclaimed pianist Robert Cowan
Concert at Athens State University, Athens, AL, McCandless Hall,
256-233-8126
15-Mar at 10-12 AM and 1:30-4:00 PM - Understanding the Horse
K-I-N Stables and Arenas {Indoor Arena}, K-1-N Stables and
Arena, Carter Road, Athens, AL, FREE, http://athensplus.com/kinstables.htm,
256-874-6781
15-Mar at 7-10:00 AM - Ardmore Veterans Organization Pancake
Breakfast at Ardmore, TN Annex Building, Main Street Ardmore,
Tickets are $5.00 each, children under 12 Free, 256-423-7588
23- Mar at 8:30 or 11:00 AM – Experience Easter – See and hear
the story of Easter come alive! At Lindsay Lane Baptist Church,
Athens, AL, www.lindsaylane.org
28 & 29 March – Ardmore Beauty Walk at Ardmore High School gym.
Elementary students Grades K-5 from Cedar Hill and Johnson
Elementary schools compete Friday, March 28 at 6:30 PM, Ardmore
High School students grades 6-12 compete on Saturday, March 29
at 6:30 PM and girls through 5 years of age compete on Saturday,
March 29 at 11:00 AM, 256-423-2555 or ardmorebeautywalk@hotmail.com
29-Mar, Dinner at 6PM, Show at 7PM - Yesterdays Showband
Featuring Kevin Adams at Yesterdays Event Center, Athens, AL,
www.yesterdaysevents.com,
29-Mar - CASA Roast - Rev. Dusty McLemore at Athens Senior
Center, Athens, AL Tickets $30.00 each, 256-232-5751
Weekly:
Pickin’ & Grinnin’ at Ardmore every Thursday night at 6:30 PM at
the Ardmore TN Annex Building, 256-423-7588
Pickin’ & Grinnin’ at Elkmont every Monday night at 6:30 PM at
the Elkmont Depot, 931-427-6296
1st Friday Night of Each Month at 6-8 PM - Athens Cruz Inn
Downtown Athens, AL, 256-603-1227 or 230-6048
Friday morning I ate breakfast at Lu Vici’s, the restaurant that
is now located inside the U.G. White Hardware building. For
those of you who have been away from Athens a long time, the
Aycock family has retired from the hardware business, and the
north portion has the new restaurant. You can now go there to
eat, and shop around in the hardware store at the same time. Try
the new place if you have not already done so.
My Finance Director, Evan Thornton, and local attorneys, Bill
Matthews and John McClain, ate with me today. I enjoy the
company of these young guys, and I always learn something from
them. They always have a different perspective on things than
many of us older guys.
I took a drive around town with Councilmen Gill and Crutcher
this morning to look at what is going on in their districts. We
looked at one project where a new house has been laid out too
near the street, and we are trying to decide how to remedy this
problem without too much trouble and expense. We looked at some
new building areas that are under construction, and it is
amazing the number of new homes that will soon be under
construction on the east side of town. We looked at Hobbs
Street, from City Hall to Highway 31, and found that our Public
Works crews have planted a large number of Creap Myrtles and
Magnolias for our beautification project.
Kay and I had lunch today at Jack’s new restaurant on Highway 31
North. We have been there a couple of times, and there are
always a lot of folks there enjoying their food. It seems as if
Jack’s and everyone else who sells food in Athens are doing
pretty well at this time.
Kay had to go for therapy on her broken arm this afternoon. She
is doing much better, and is able to do much more for herself at
this time. I appreciate all the concern you have shown to her
and me during her hard time. I hope she will be completely
healed by summer and have no more problems with it.
The City Council will meet Monday night, March 10, for a regular
meeting and the following items of business will be considered:
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
1. Logan’s Roadhouse - 16132 Athens Limestone Blvd. – For the
sale of alcohol.
2. Gary’s Quick Stop - 2030 Highway 72 West – For the sale of
alcohol.
RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES;
A. Resolution to designate property as surplus for the Water
Department. Property and equipment that is no longer needed by
the City, must be declared surplus before it can be sold at
auction. This property consist mainly of vehicles.
B. Resolution to approve cash advances for the Electric
Department.
C. Resolution regarding State Legislation impacting wireless
facilities. This is an attempt by those who install towers and
wireless facilities to take away power from municipalities in
Alabama to control the location sitting, and other aspects of
them locating in a municipality. The Legislature should not pass
this legislation in any form.
D. Resolution to approve the sale of alcohol for the Village
Pizza. This will be the new pizza restaurant located on the
Courthouse Square in the old Cluxton’s building.
E. Resolution to approve the appropriation from the Wastewater
Department Capital Infrastructure Fund for the Looney Road
sanitary sewer extension. The City required a developer to
construct 750 feet of 8” sanitary sewer line to and through his
development to serve it and other property beyond his
development. We will reimburse him for the portion that serves
beyond his property in the amount of $36, 270. We will recoup
this investment when the property beyond his is developed.
F. Resolution to support a quarterly meeting between the City
Council and the County Commission. This is an effort to set a
time for a regular meeting between the Council and the
Commission to meet quarterly and discuss the business of the
City and County. It is an effort to keep everyone of our elected
officials informed about what is happening.
The meeting will be held in the new Police facility auditorium,
beginning with a work session at 4:30, and the regular meeting
beginning at 5:30. These meetings are public and everyone is
invited to come out to them.
I guess this is enough for this time. Take care and I’ll see you
next time. mayordan
