May 30, 2009

Morning came at 8:30 AM with the First Semi-Annual Tomato Walk, held at Burrell Walking Park, on Ray Sawyer Dr. At least 20 to 25 energetic, "bright eyed and bushy tailed", walkers showed up to support the Chickasaw Garden club. This evening the Chickasaw United Methodist Church featured a movie and car show at the

Amphitheatre and Civic Center. A fairly large contingent of beautifully restored vehicles showed up and were a joy to behold. The movie began at sundown,

masterfully handled by Steve Warren and his son.

Went over to West Lee Street to meet with the city inspector at a location where a new business wishes to open. The application will go before the Commercial Board
to vote their decision. Then it was on to the police station to edit a $25,000 grant
which needed to be submitted by the "other" grant specialist this afternoon. During the evening hours the Smalltown Alabama and Chamber jointly discussed the large upcoming 2010 event to be held in October of next year. (see picture)

May 27, 2009

The Chickasaw Kiwanis gave a $1,000. donation to Kathy Couey for assistance with the summer recreation program. This afternoon I had conversations wth the Mayor and Public Safety Director about new business coming into our town and congratulated him on the settlement with the Chickasaw Civic Theatre. Part of tomorrow will be spent editing a new grant application.

May 24, ,2009

This morning the whole crew attended services at Roswell Street Baptist Church (see photo) We then went to lunch at Dreamland Barbeque and over to the North Mall to let Debbie Jo look at the dolls at American Girl. After some ice cream and a tour of the north end of the city, we returned home to watch the Movie: Iron Man.
We will head back to Chickasaw tomorrow after lunch.

May 23, 2009

Horrendously rainy day traveling from Chickasaw to Atlanta, but we made it with very little problems except very tired eyes. We met the kids and little Debbie Jo at the Hotel and beat a path to Chili's to get a bite to eat. Pictured are Deborah, Debbie Jo with chocolate syrup on cheek and her mom, Courtney. Planning on meeting them at church tomorrow morning.

May 21, 2009

The Chickasaw Chamber Of Commerce met this morning as a board and also for our monthly catered luncheon. The event was sponsored by Southern Ionics and their new plant manager, Gill Craig. Ms. Judy Culbreath, editor for Mobile Bay Magazine, gave us a slide presentation and an interesting disscussion about the what makes the periodical worthwhile, even down to selecting the front cover. We also presented the first annual Recycling Award to Jennifer White on behalf of the Historic Society. They had managed to save over 200 pounds of paper products. Later this afternoon
Ed Baxley, Cecilia Ann Dailey and I attended a Shell Oil community board meeting
headed up by Chad McDaniel and learned that Shell right here in Saraland makes the JP-8 jet fuel used in President Obama's: Air Force I, as well as the other military planes. In fact Shell has a 138,000,000 gallon yearly contract with the US Government.

May 20, 2009

A good portion of my morning was utilized reading and editing Chickasaw's grant applications for a multi-use "quint" fire truck, gas detector and a simulator for fire training, then emailing them to Ms. Graham. At 6:00 PM we had a consortium meeting which included the Industrial Development Board and the Port Of Chickasaw businessmen. We were able to impart some information to them concerning Port of Mobile matching grant deadlines and our success in obtaining a Viaduct Rd. enlargement grant. Ed Baxley has offered to take me to Shell Oil to look at their firefighting training center. Our next meeting with the Port is set for August
19, 2009

May 19, 2009

Paid bills, ordered equipment, then worked on those pesky flower beds in back. This afternoon, I broke away to pick up the Recycling Award for Thursdays Chamber Meeting. Tonight I was invited as the escort to my bride, Deborah, for the annual Woman's Club Banquet. Betty Sheffield welcomed everyone and introduced Dr. Henry Creel who gave an appropo innvocation about the wonderful deeds of the women represented here tonight. Dinner was superb, served on fine china and
sporting actual silver-plated utensils. After the banquet, Betty summed up the years activities and thanked some of the ladies that made it happen.

May 18, 2009

Met with the committee for Citizen Of The Year planning this morning and discussed programs, caterer and flowers for each table. Then there was lunch at Kiwanis where we voted to donate $100. to the East Village Restoration Society. Thom Ray spoke to us about the importance of the organization to the rebuilding of Chickasaw. If you haven't had a chance to see our billboard about the Smalltown Alabama celebration in 2010 along with Founders Day, it's worth a trip down I-65
and back. (see pictures)

May 17, 2009

The historic East Village of Chickasaw had a planned meeting today at the Civic Center to inform it's citizens of their plans for improved safety and beautification. Effort and change begets effort and change as several homeowners have found by painting and landscaping their property. This has prompted a positive response from the neighbors. The unwritten statement that people have had enough and will no longer put up with theft, drugs and juvenile crime has surfaced in that area and
there will be no going back. The East Village has asked the city for help with the streets, better night-time lighting and elimination of graffiti which will be an expected act from the new Mayor. Donations are being sought to fix the fence which keeps small children off the railroad tracks and signs which ask the homeowners to: "Believe In The East Village."

May 16, 2009

There is nothing quite as rude as being awakened by an alarm clock at 5:00 AM unless it's being told you are pretty nice, for a fat guy. But, like a good soldier, I showed at 6:30 AM on the dot for my 6K run assignment. Then again, just in case you have been deluded into believing that I was one of the runners; just remember:
I would rather show up at 3 AM than try that. . . .there was a time, but that was light years ago. Stay on track, Tom. The race was a success with a gentleman from Africa taking first place and breaking a previously held record here in Chickasaw.
We (Kiwanis) gave out many Freedom Tee-shirts and of course, engraved awards
for the winners in each category. Red beans and rice, pizza, beer and water were
served afterward so everyone could "carb-up".
I spent the rest of the afternoon washing the SUV, going to Lowes for pine straw and cypress chips then coming home and dutifully cooking dinner for my bride.

May 15, 2009

I had an afternoon appointment with a business in Creola that is extremely interested in moving their operation to Chickasaw. I promised that the Industrial Development Board would do everything we could to find them suitable headquarters here. With Deborah having to work late this evening, I had my supper
with a couple of friends and talked about the renewed outlook for the future for our town. I also stopped by to see my friend Mike Nettles who introduced me to a brand of bottled water he plans to distribute.

May 14, 2009

I took care of all my phone calls and paperwork this morning, then set about with Deborah to plant knock-out roses and begonias behind the pond. We haven't put down the pinestraw yet,
but here is a preview of what has been done so far. The next item on the agenda is to finish weedingthe shade-garden and put down cypress mulch. Deb goes to her North Mobile Garden Club meeting tonight, but I'm going to rest and watch the ball game since tomorrow I must prepare my notes for the Port of Chickasaw and Industrial Board meeting on the 20th.

May 13, 2009

The better part of my morning was spent trying to locate a digital compressor, limiter, crossover and speech processor for the University Of Miami, who has seven concerts coming up over the next fourteen days and had their unit stop working last night. I located a dbx 4820, but it won't be off the assembly line until Tuesday. My next stop was city hall to pick up my mail and I had the opportunity to speak with
some of our Chickasaw's finest.
An afternoon appointment with Amanda Bray of Plan B Marketing gave me the opportunity to pass on some of the City Planning that has been done with our stake-holders, using Alabama Powers Planning commision as a catalyst and our anticipation of the Auburn Urban Planning Department visiting us in October. She had several good ideas that will be considered as we progress with our communications to the
citizens.

May 12, 2009

There was a great article in todays Mobile Press about Chickasaw and the job Mayor Pittman and the Commercial Board are doing. http://www.al.com/news/press-register/metro.ssf?/base/news/12421197069780.xml&coll=3 With every success there are some problems to overcome, but sor far the results are in the positive column. Tonight at the council meeting, it was announced that a $10,000. matching grant was awarded to the city for the Auburn City Planning Group to assist us this fall.

May 11, 2009

Kiwanis Club met at noon today and we voted to donate $1,595. to Childrens and Womens Hospital. It was good to see Gerald Easley and Louritha Nicholson at the gathering, since we haven't seen them in a while. After some business was taken care of in Saraland, I returned to attend the Chickasaw Historic Society. One of the
revelations coming out of tonights program is that the old Drug Store at 43 and Viaduct Rd. dates all the way back to 1922, which would indicate that it was originally built by Tennessee Coal and Iron right after World War I.

May 10,2009

It being Mothers Day, Deborah opened gifts with our coffee before we attended church. Lunch was enjoyed at Carrabba's on our way to see Star Trek at the theatre.
For you fans who ever wondered how Spock and Capt. James Tiberious Kirk got to serve together on the USS Enterprise, this will answer all your questions.
When we got back to Chickasaw, we stopped off at Radneys to pay our respect to Alan Kirksey's mother who passed away last week.

May 9, 2009

Today, there was a lot going on in our small community. I had to miss my model railroaders meeting so I could intercept folks coming to the rescheduled Gumbo Cook-Off. Ed Baxley, Janice Chitty, Ervin Dailey and I sat with a city patrolman to make sure everyone was informed. Meanwhile, across Gotham City the North Mobile Garden Club was "cranking-up" the tour of homes which extends from Creola to Chickasaw. I was then off to buy a mothers day gift for my bride. (pictured are Liz Niesen and Debbie Harbin as tour helpers and Jennie Bourne and an Azalea Maid.)

May 8, 2009

Today was spent taking down Gumbo posters and helping Deborah on her North Mobile Garden Club Tour Of Homes preparation. Had a bite to eat with a good friend and spent the evening watching girl's softball at the Mauvilla Forest ballfield.

May 6, 2009

Today was not the best of days for city social plans. This morning I received a call from Kendra Bell of the Mobile Health Dept. With only 2 1/2 days left before the North Mobile Gumbo Cook-Off, I was told that not only did each person entering their gumbo in the cook-off have to come downtown and view a film on food prep.
but also had to pay a $15 license fee and could not prepare their gumbo before bringing it to the event. It had to be prepared in the small kitchen at the Housing Board. Needless to say, this last minute enforced regulation has resulted in the Chamber Of Commerce rescheduling the Cook-Off for a month or two. Some valuable lessons were learned here today. We will issue refunds or allow those tickets to be used later.

May 5, 2009 (Cinco De Mayo)

We finished trimming azaleas just in time to be 15 minutes late to the Garden Club Meeting after showers and a change of clothes. The club made a final profit of about $350. on the Plant Sale after all the accounting was done. While our president was absent due to his boy being ill, Marilyn Jones introduced todays speaker: Bill Barrick from Bellingrath Gardens in Theodore, AL. He is a graduate of Auburn in Horticulture and worked for years at Callaway Gardens located in Pine Mountain ,GA. (picture of Bill) After the meeting we slipped on over to Saraland to celebrate Mexican Independence Day at La Cazuela Restaurant. (That's Big-T shielding his eyes from the sun.) At 7:00 PM the Commercial Board met to hear about the future "stakeholders" meetings and to vote on RTC Commodity Transfer doing business in
Chickasaw.

May 4, 2009

At Kiwanis today we voted to allow beer to be sold at the 6K Annual Freedom Race coming up on May 16th. Also they voted to donate $25 to the Chamber to offset cost of purchasing soft drinks for the Gumbo Cook-Off. Three more entries have signed up to cook gumbo for Saturday's event. I spent part of the afternoon talking with Ed Baxley and Mike Sweet about setting up tables for the event. I was also able to ascertain for a few citizens that had called, that the new Intertek Testing Lab on Sutherland will not look like a metal building, but be finished with brick and stucco
for an attractive appearance on the outside. (See picture)

May 3, 2009

After church this morning, we "spread the wealth" in Chickasaw by having lunch at the world famous Whataburger. Before Deborah left to attend a last meeting prior to the North Mobile Garden Clubs Tour, we visited Ed and Marilyn Jones, who's home will be one of the featured estates. As I had expected, the yard was beautiful with many flowers in bloom as well as green beans and lettuce ready to harvest. (pictured: their greenhouse)

Pancakes at 7:30 AM is usually not my way to start the day, BUT since this occasion was for a fenced in yard for a nine year old blind boy, I managed to rally the effort to defeat my laziness this time. By the size of the crowd, I would guess the lad got his fence with very little problem. This afternoons lunch was a farewell get together for Noco Howell and the members of the "Silver Haired Legislature" It was
an excellent turn-out and a delightfully good lunch prepared by the Chickasaw United Methodist Church. Todays speaker was Rep. Randy Davis who explained why the 4% food tax may not be the best idea for the state. He fielded questions about the school system, the racetrack and the stimulus program. At the close of the meeting Noco announced that all funds left in the group's account would go toward a scholarship for at least one lucky young person.

May 1, 2009

Most of the day was spent researching the proper acoustic treatment for a studio of one of my better clients in Atlanta. He is also planning to purchase a step-van for use as a remote truck to record live bands and events, which takes another type of treatment and use of quiet electrical generators. By late this afternoon, I was able to head to Airport Blvd. to take care of some other chores. By the time I returned it was almost time for Relay For Life, a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society and the fine organization they are. Pictured are Debbie Harbin thanking those survivors and friends who have turned up to support this event.
Also pictured are Mayor Byron Pittman and his lovely wife, Kelly who spoke of the hope for eradication of this disease in our lifetime.