January 31, 2010

We attended early (8:30 AM) mass today and afterwards helped host a breakfast sponsored by the Parish Council. Then it was off to "Family Day" at the Order Of Athena's Mardi Gras Float Barn down on Gayle Street in Mobile. There was an open cash bar, hot dogs, burgers and a cake auction which Deborah was highest bidder for her favorite sour cream pound cake. Blow-up Moon Walks for the kids and tons of items to purchase for the parade: Beads by the bundle, four foot high plastic bags of 2 oz. peanuts to throw from the floats and tons of Athena plastic glasses.

Deb was assigned to the "Pagent Girls" float and picked up her costume. Athena rolls Mardi Gras Day at 10:00 AM, Route A. (pictured are Deb and Sara Jane Whitley, a fellow Athena member)

January 30, 2010

Woke up not feeling well this morning. . . grabbed a cup of coffee and headed for St. Thomas Church - Sullivan Center to deliver a piece of sculpture as Mardi Gras decoration for Sunday mornings Parish Council breakfast. Backed up the Ford SUV to leave and tore up the bumper on Cheryl Box's Toyota Camry. Good gravy. . . what else can go wrong today? I'm going home to sulk and eat worms.

January 29, 2010

This evening the planning committee for 2010 Coming Home- The Year of Smalltowns and Downtowns met at the Civic Center to plan for the Oct. 30, 2010 Founders Day and "Coming Home to Chickasaw" event. It was determined that we would have a silent auction, entertainment from locally and well known groups, arts and crafts booths and lots of food vendors. We are shooting to attract 1,000 people to the event and recruit some select sponsors for the occasion. There is talk of having the Gumbo-Cook Off as part of

Founders Day and bringing together groups of people that graduated in Chickasaw during the 50's, 60's and 70's. Our next scheduled meeting will be the Friday after Mardi-Gras at 6 PM for those who might be interested in joining the committee

January 28, 2010

The city has hired an architect to start on the new Safe House, which is a shelter for seniors during a hurricane or severe weather mishap and a new community center the rest of the year.

We received a $1.2 million dollar grant to make this happen and pictured are the committee that helped with the preparation of this upcoming structure. Construction should begin by March of this year. Tomorrow is our next meeting of the 2010 Coming Home activities that will happen this October along with Founders Day sponsored by the Chamber Of Commerce.

January 27, 2010

Good News! Next Tuesday we will have a GRAND OPENING of Little Caesars Pizza on Hwy 43 in the ABC store center. The Mayor, Council and Chamber Of Commerce will be there to celebrate with a ribbon cutting and welcome gift from the Chamber. The ceremony is scheduled for 10:00 AM at this time, but could be subject to change depending on the finishing touches left for the facility. We wish them well and I am inclined to believe they will "rack-up" on Super Bowl Sunday. If you have wondered whether the economy has hurt the furniture business, don't wonder about Sawyers Furniture in Prichard. Tonight it burnt to the ground.

January 26,2010

This morning I had a conversation with the mayor about the direction toward financial solvency we are choosing and what the numerous boards can do to help. He has asked me to meet with several potential new business prospects. This afternoon I met with Mrs. Irene Deaton and her son, Andy up at the old drugstore. They gave ne a tour of the entire complex including all the way around the rear of the premises. The Commercial Board is going to work on a plan to help her with the property after we get an accurate assessment. I then took photographs of business property that is vacant for our grant writer. Tonight I will attend the Tuesday Council meeting.

January 25, 2010

At Kiwanis today our speaker was Randy Davis, representative from our area. Randy spoke of bills introduced and passed by the state and sent on to the Senate. One of those bills was a carte-blanche "open" bill on gambling and the other is a new energy bill to capture the Carbon Dioxide from coal plants, such as Barry Steam Plant and send it by pipeline to natural gas deposit areas like Citronelle, and use it to pressure the natural gas out of the ground. Of course, some of the more vocal, liberal members of the club criticized the finances of Chickasaw and threatened to

create problems at the next council meeting. You never know what to expect at some of these club lunches. Hey, that's what makes America great!

January 24, 2010

After church I had a great breakfast at Spot Of Tea and thought since I was downtown, I would go out Michigan Ave. to the "Convoy Of Hope" show appearing at Ladd/Peebles Stadium and see what it was all about. It apparently was about getting groceries and clothes for FREE. I've never seen so many people pushing and shoving to secure freebies in a long time. I had no intention of entering the stadium, but I hope they saved some merchandise for Haiti just out of respect.

While I was on my way home from the food store, I thought I would hit one of the intersections that Ervin Dailey was collecting for Salvation Army delivery to Haiti. I was sure he would be there, because three people called me before I left for downtown asking where he was going to set up collection points. Since I am the one who secured his permits, I knew that we had taken care of that task. When I pulled up to the stop sign at Kansas and Lee there was no-one. Oh well at least he'll be at Hwy. 43 and Sutherland. Not a chance! It hadn't rained since noon, so that couldn't be it. Did he get sick? Did he forget? Somebody clue me in!

January 23, 2010

Congratulations to Matthew Warren, son of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Warren from Chickasaw United Methodist Church, who celebrates his 16th birthday today. I had stopped by the Civic Center to return a key I had borrowed and found them setting up for his party, live band and all.

I had received a call from one of our board members that a lady on Thompson Blvd. was selling items and food from her home after she had been told previously that her home was NOT approved for food sales due to the zoning. The board member alerted the Mayor, and the code inspector was sent out to shut her down This is not only a violation of Chickasaws zoning laws, but a clear snub to Mobile County's Food Licensing Dept.

January 22, 2010

I went to the Post Office to get a roll of stamps before I went to the drugstore with my prescriptions. When I got back to the car my prescriptions were gone. . . .vanished from the seat.

So a good deal of my day was calling my two doctors getting them to write new scrips. After a trip to the Police station to pick up permits for Dr. Ervin Dailey to have a "stop traffic and donate" Sunday for the Haitian people, I retreated to Springhill Country Club and hit a few balls with a friend. What a beautiful day; I wish I had brought my whole set of clubs. Returning home, I found my bride had gotten off early, so we went to pick up new prescriptions and went out to eat at Butch Cassidy's on Florida Street.

January 21, 2010

I am just going to say this about today's program; if you missed the "Voices Of Mobile" you ought to be ashamed. That was some of the most beautiful harmony I have ever heard from a Choir of College students in my life. Four and five part harmony that would make you cry and blister the paint at the same time. Dr. Roger Breland has done very well at the University Of Mobile Center For The Performing Arts. We (the Chamber Board) were sworn into office by Judge Don Davis, from our Probate Court. The Business Of The Month plaque was presented to Jackie Benson from North Mobile Internet Services starting a trend of awarding the honor at our meetings rather than their place of business. Ross Naze provided us with a list of city accomplishments in 2009 with promises of more to come. Dr. Dailey, his wife Cecilia Ann along with Eloise Clubbs and Loraine Harris sponsored the lunch today which consisted of a salad, vegetable soup, cornbread and yummy cobbler. It just gets better and better.

January 20, 2010

Since Martin Luther Kings birthday was on Monday, the Kiwanis meeting got rescheduled until today. Too bad our speaker was unable to reschedule, but perhaps we will hear from him later. We used the time to go over what profit was made from the Disc Golf tournament, what charity we would fund with the money and another thanks to Cecil (with the city) who is the chief promoter of this event. Tomorrow is Chickasaw Chamber Of Commerce and we will be entertained by speaker: Dr Roger Breland, Dean University Of Mobile Center For The Performing Arts and the legendary group: "Voices Of Mobile". (pictured)

January 19, 2010

The city code inspector and I toured the facility behind BJ's Grocery this morning. It is a monster space with plumbing and setups for restaurant hoods. The client running BJ's would like to lease areas of it for a flea market. . . . furniture, clothes, crafts, snack shops etc. If advertised correctly, it could be a thriving selection of spaces.

Then there is the big story of the day: HUD has awarded a twenty million ($20,000,000.) grant to the City Of Prichard to destroy over 300 houses in Alabama Village and build new homes. Will these homes be for the same people or will they move them somewhere else. In my humble opinion, if they put the same people in the "new" Alabama Village, within ten years it will be the same as it is now. Just my opinion for which I will more than likely catch some flack.

January 18, 2010

While I was at the Chickasaw Civic Theatre, my bride Deborah was in Mongomery with our grand daughter, Debbie Jo. Here they are taking lunch, talking over an important business deal.

I talked today to to our code inspector about an apointment tomorrow and started making plans for the Chambers sponsoring of the first Mobile Baybears Game where they get our mayor to throw out the first pitch.

January 17, 2010

After church, Deborah lit out for Montgomery to see Courtney (daughter) and Debbie Jo (that sweet, zany, little grand daughter) for a few hours of shopping bliss. Me, I stayed in Chickasaw and took in the last portrayal of "Harvey" the mystical rabbit. The play was probably presented in the forties, because I remember seeing the movie in the fifties starring Jimmy Stewart. Well it is still as funny as I remember. . . . with the local Sanitarium not knowing who to put into a padded cell and by the end of he play everyone was seeing Harvey. I particularly enjoyed the overzealous intern who either wanted to throw you into a whirlpool bath or "open up a can of "whup-ass" on you. The cast was perfectly picked. Another winner.

January 16, 2010

We would have loved to see the christening of the USS Independence this morning and had tickets, but I just could not (for the life of me) see driving and standing around in the rain. Just too old, I guess. But we did have a chance to party tonight with a trip to the Saenger Theatre to listen to the works of Wagner, Bruch and Brahms., all German composers. In fact at the the pre-show party for the season ticket holders we celebrated with Bratwurst, German Cabbage and Sourcraut along with plenty of Becks beer. I just love entertainment where they feed you too.

January 15, 2009

This morning I finally started on the Knights Of Columbus yearly reports that must be completed by Deputy Grand Masters and submitted in January. There are 28 of them covering everything that our council has done for 2009 (in duplicate) I finished around 3 PM just in time to get a phone call that the City would not be able to pay the salaries or furnish the fire truck for a Haiti donation point that Dr Ervin Dailey wanted them to set up. I think it made him pretty mad, but the Chamber Of Commerce's main goal is to help Chickasaw business, not international disasters.

I am going to set up a contribution jar at the next Chamber meeting so we can do our part.

January 14, 2010

For some technical reason I was unable to show the Christmas Parade winners the other day. So here they are. Chickasaw School, First Baptist and Chickasaw UMC. Jennifer White accepted for Chickasaw School. I got a call from Ervin Dailey today wanting to combime Chickasaw and Saraland Chambers Of Commerce to raise money for the people of Haiti. It's a decent idea, but
will have to run it past the two mayors before we can set it up. I assume we would use one or two collection points with help from the Boards of Directors. Will give you more information as it develops.

January 13, 2010

I won't even comment on the TV news interview with Henry Phillips and Adam Bourne. It has become obvious that I need to leave this subject to the experts. I'm just wondering how the city hopes to move forward without any money. A good portion of my afternoon was spent renewing my drivers license and picking up light fixtures from Lowes. As a surprise to Deborah, I was going to stop in Saraland and pick up a couple of Reuben sandwiches for our lunch. Talk about startled! I pulled into Arby's and they are GONE. Sign covered, Name on building covered. First it was Checkers, then the Art Gallery, now Arby's. Hmmmmmmmm!

January 12, 2010

Spent a large part of the day working on speaker schedules for the Chamber, meeting with the Code Inspector and going to the Council Meeting tonight. The city Won a new grant which provided us with a brand new black Dodge Charger. The awards for best parade float were announced with Chickasaw Methodist and First Baptist Church coming in third and second place. Chickasaw School Of Math and Science took place Number One. Congratulations Michelle.

January 11, 2010

Today is Kiwanis Monday and we ate our corned beef and cabbage at the auditorium rather than the Civic Center which was still being cleaned after the Disc Golf Tournament on Saturday. The programs for January are courtesy of Adam Bourne and this morning he introduced us to Lydia Pettijohn from the National Exchange Club Foundation. Lydia handed out pamphlets explaining why it is so important not to ever shake a baby when it is crying and explained how couples who are under restraining orders due to violence or verbal abuse can hand off children from one parent to another. The mother is sent to the back door of the Exchange Club and the father to the front door for the children to change hands. They provide a wonderful service to children and parents in need of some help within the relationship. Tonight the Historical Society meets

in the Civic Center.

January 10, 2010

These early starts are beginning to get old. I was at the Pilot service station in Satsuma at 6:45 AM this morning to meet up with some of the Chickasaw Knights Of Columbus going to Prattville for the State semi-annual members meeting. It was a good day spent with friends, albeit a long one. We had lunch up there and finally made it back at 7:00 PM tonight. We (the Chickasaw chapter) voted on purchasing $200. worth of "right to life" magnetic emblems for

members of the St. Thomas Catholic Church.

December 9, 2010

For a retarded (retired) guy, 6:00 AM is pretty dang early to shower and shave. But the Disc Golf Tournament was this morning and our Kiwanis president gets a little peeved when you show up late. There was sausage to cook, coffee to make and chili to heat up preparing for the rush of players seeking to sign up and catch a quick breakfast. The casche of prizes looked terrific and many folks braved the icy cold morning. (17 degrees) After a few hours, I checked out and went to my SWARM (South West Area Railroad
Modelers) for our monthly meeting. This morning we met at Bob Hillman and his wife's home off Three Notch Rd in West Mobile.
Bob has a collection of O gauge railway cars and engines and he has engineered a really nice layout which he presented along with Coffee, muffins, cookies and hot-chocolate. Fun for all.

January 8, 2010

Tonight the Chickasaw Commercial Development Board met to vote on a new restaurant moving into the 115 West Lee Street address. This is the location of the old Mama Lewis diner and will be called Hadee's Family Restaurant. Mr. James Hallmark, a City Of Mobile crime division officer described his new venture as a breakfast and lunch buffet operation enabling patrons to obtain thei food of choice in a fast efficient manner. The facility will be open Monday through Saturday from 6 AM until 10 AM then from 11 AM until 2 PM. Diner will be announced upon their opening week. Pricing will range between $5.50 and $7.00 for a full meal.

The famous play, later to become a "hit" movie Harvey, about an invisible rabbit opens tonight at the Chickasaw Civic Theatre. I will be working the box office next Saturday. This should be a delightful comedy as only the Chickasaw Theatre cast can pull-off.

January 7, 2010

Spent the morning doing Chamber Business; writing a newsletter, trolling for guest speakers, etc. We had tickets to the GMAC bowl, but I had forgotten that I had a Parish Council meeting at the exact same time. I did get to see the double overtime when I got home. Good game. In spite of it all, there is no getting around tonight being the one, the

only: Alabama vs Texas BCS Bowl. I just hope that Greg McElroy is feelin' right and is

going to tear up the Texas defense. I'll be in front of the tube at 8 PM, will you?

January 6, 2010

The Commercial Board received two new applications for opening a business in Chickasaw. One is for Hadee's Restaurant in the same building as Mama Lewis and the other is The Butt Hut (a barbeque outlet) in the building where the Sno-Cone store was located on Lee Street. We will be meeting with them Friday to evaluate their applications. Tonight was the St. Thomas Parish Council meeting and my first responsibility as

President. After approving a new smoke alarm system and welcoming our new members to the council, it was time for all the members to have their pictures taken for the publications. I snapped a picture of the photographer taking the individual photos.

January 5, 2010

This morning I went to a 2010 Port Grants meeting at the International Trade Club, hosted by Sherrill Roberts and Hal Hudgens. The new grants will be a no-share (government pays it all) for the ports.

Applications are due Feb. 12, and notification should be announced by Sept. 30, 2010. The Mayors Banquet was next over at the conention center with basketball legend Charles Barkley as the main speaker. The GMAC team players, Troy State and Central Michigan were honored and several scholarships were awarded. Decent lunch with a welcome by Mayor Sam Jones.

January 4, 2010

Today was the Kiwanis business meeting and our assignments for this coming Saturday morning when we will meet at the Civic Center for the annual Disc Golf Tournament. We will be signing up players and selling sausage dogs and hamburgers. Prizes have been purchased and seven

discs have already been sold. Should be a cold, albeit competitive event. This evening the Planning Commission met in the Court Room to discuss the merits of introducing new legislation to the council for a clothesline ordinance. This would prohibit hanging clothes on fences or lines strung between two trees to dry. It would also restrict clothes being dried any where except in the backyard of a home.

January 3, 2010

Today we went to early mass since there was a Knights Of Columbus and Ladies Auxiliary meeting immediately afterward. We voted to form a Knights Round Table with some Cathollic men in Citronelle who don't have enough persons to form a chapter. After the meeting we joined the Ladies for breakfast at Barnyard Buffet in Saraland. It was so cold out that we beat a hasty retreat to the house and watched DVD's all afternoon. Here's one more view of the new Saraland High School who held their open house today.

January 2, 2010

I will try to post some of the pictures taken at Carnes and Mary Ann Craigs wedding on Thursday night. Today I got a sneak peek invitation to the new Saraland High School to have its grand opening tomorrow. It is really a beautiful school and it makes me furious to even think about Ken Meggeson's leaked proposal that the Mobile County School Board is contemplating the opening of a "head start program" school at our Chickasaw School of Math and Science.

January 1, 2009

Some of you may have noticed that there was no blog yesterday. . caused by my inadvertent opening of an email that flashed (in giant red type) that I had a virus attacking my computer system. It then displayed a response suggesting that I "click here to stop the virus". Stupidly I clicked the tab only to find out I had opened a "fake virus" and the only way it would allow me control of my computer is to pay $69. for the company to remove it and cleanse my files. I immediately unplugged the rascal and took it to the computer repair store. So today I am working from Deborah's lap top. OK, there I've admitted "my bad" . . . if it ever happens again, just stone me!
Last night, (New Years Eve) we went to Carnes Craig (Chickasaw's Code Inspector) and Mary Ann Smith's wedding. It was a special affair with violin and vocal preliminaries followed by the nuptials, fine dining and dancing. The event was held in St. Andrews subdivision, off Halls Mill Rd.
in West Mobile. We wish them a life of married happiness and health.