Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, AL) articles from December 2006

Montgomery Advertiser (Montgomery, AL) archives from December 2006

Budget dispute winds up in court.
December 31, 2006... Byline: Nigel Duara Dec. 31--Montgomery's budget standoff ratcheted up a notch late Friday when four City Council members sued Mayor Bobby Bright in Montgomery County Circuit Court, alleging the mayor overstepped his authority when he...

Montgomery Advertiser, Ala., Real People at Work Column.
December 30, 2006... Byline: Julie M. Bennett Dec. 30--KRISTIE WATSON: Breathing. It's a simple act that goes unnoticed until it becomes difficult. Then it's a life-endangering priority. That's where Kristie Watson, a certified respiratory therapist at...

Mayor Bright sees city growth ahead.
December 30, 2006... Byline: Marty Roney Dec. 30--Mayor Bobby Bright is looking forward to a good year in 2007 for the Capital City. More retail offerings will be coming in the next year, and the city's interstate system will see much-needed improvement,...

Tuskegee mayor to seek funds for roads.
December 30, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 30--Tuskegee Mayor Johnny Ford said he would apply for state road funds because of a major traffic detour this week that sent thousands of motorists into his city. Ford said a stretch of U.S. 80 that passes...

Company offers taxi alternative.
December 29, 2006... Byline: Lisa Horn Dec. 29--For those hoping to enjoy an excessive New Year's Eve, a local business wants to drive you home. Bar Hoppers has transported airmen and other military personnel stationed at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base...

Plaza project cutting into downtown businesses' profits.
December 29, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 29--Until three months ago, Shari Rossmann's restaurant was a hopping spot, replete with pop-art frescos, a gourmet sandwich selection and a healthy customer base to enjoy it all. But that changed in...

Sweet shop closes doors at mall.
December 28, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 28--The owner of Montgomery Mall has been mum about prospects for the center's sale but promised an update in January. Ohio-based Glimcher Realty Trust put the mall and four others up for sale in May. ...

Site ticks off war's toll on taxpayers.
December 27, 2006... Byline: Lisa Horn Dec. 27--Comparing the number of college scholarships to the cost of the war in Iraq is one tool a nonpartisan research group is using to illustrate the Iraq War's inflating cost and its effect on Montgomery taxpayers....

Family warms to life on plantation.
December 27, 2006... Byline: Crystal Bonvillian Dec. 27--COOSADA -- Peter Waldo never expected to move back to his native Alabama, much less as the owner of a historic -- and some say haunted -- plantation home. Waldo and his wife, Janet, this month...

Crowds rush back to stores.
December 27, 2006... Byline: Jamie Kizzire Dec. 27--Many shoppers hit area stores Tuesday to take advantage of post-Christmas sales, use their gift cards or return those not-so-perfect gifts. Some hoped to buy more gifts -- some belated, some for next...

Hunt's Alley renovation continues.
December 26, 2006... Byline: Marty Roney Dec. 26--PRATTVILLE -- Things are progressing nicely in the effort to breathe new life into Hunt's Alley in downtown Prattville. Hunt's Alley, an area of about 5 acres, has known hard times. The Miles-Ellis Barnes...

Montgomery Advertiser, Ala., business profile column.
December 25, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 25--BUSINESS Q&A: FRANCES COPELAND: OMO stands for "On My Own," a statement of independence emblazoned on the side of Frances Copeland's building that describes her business philosophy. What it means is that...

Expansion of Maxwell-Gunter complex to ease strain on shoppers.
December 24, 2006... Byline: Lisa Horn Dec. 24--The opening of a new convenience store and fueling center at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base is expected to make long gas lines a thing of the past for those who work on the installation. Crews broke ground...

New officer will uphold city codes.
December 24, 2006... Byline: Erin Elaine Mosely Dec. 24--WETUMPKA -- The city will hire a code enforcement officer to identify violators and enforce city codes in response to residents' complaints west of the Coosa River. "We are enforcing our existing...

Studies flunk area's poor library system.
December 24, 2006... Byline: Nigel Duara Dec. 24--If any Montgomery County agency proves you get what you pay for, it may be the Montgomery City-County Public Library. The joint city-county library system performed poorly both on a national library study...

Habitat delivers special gift.
December 23, 2006... Byline: Marty Roney Dec. 23--PRATTVILLE -- Christmas will have an even more special meaning this year for the Willis family of Prattville. They will be spending it in a new home. A dedication service is set for this morning for...

Alabama unemployment rate stays low.
December 23, 2006... Byline: Jamie Kizzire Dec. 23--The unemployment rate in Alabama held steady at a record-low 3.2 percent in November, well below the national unemployment rate of 4.5 percent. Montgomery County matched the state's performance, while...

Alabama approves $20.6 million psychiatric hospital.
December 23, 2006... Byline: Mike Linn Dec. 23--The state has approved construction of a $20.6 million psychiatric hospital in Montgomery, according to a report issued Friday. The 60-bed River Region Hospital will be built on an undeveloped 3.2-acre plot...

Montgomery Advertiser, Ala., Real People at Work Column.
December 23, 2006... Byline: Karen S. Doerr Dec. 23--Al Burnette can decorate your house from floor to ceiling. After 36 years in the interior decorating business, he has built a client base of Montgomery customers and even some out-of-towners. Burnette...

Pike Road, Ala., mayor optimistic about town's annexation.
December 23, 2006... Byline: Nigel Duara Dec. 23--The town of Pike Road was in the news this week with a special election Tuesday night when it nearly doubled in population after nearby residents decided to be annexed into the town. The Montgomery...

Suit: Sheriff aided bingo monopoly.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Mike Linn Dec. 22--Seventeen charitable organizations are suing Macon County Sheriff David Warren, claiming he helped the owner of VictoryLand create a monopoly in the bingo gaming market. His actions, they allege, unfairly...

Four Elmore County teachers achieve high standard.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Erin Elaine Mosely Dec. 22--WETUMPKA -- Four Elmore County Public School System teachers joined the ranks of more than 1,000 veteran teachers in Alabama when they achieved one of the teaching profession's highest standards,...

As coliseum loses events, officials push for makeover.
December 22, 2006... Byline: Jamie Kizzire Dec. 22--Montgomery faces losing more big money-making events like the governor's inaugural ball if Garrett Coliseum isn't renovated, Alabama's top agriculture official says. State Agriculture Commissioner Ron...

Ruckers shut over failure to pay taxes.
December 21, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 21--PRATTVILLE -- An Elmore County judge shut down a Prattville furniture store because the store's owners failed to pay state taxes they accrued over two years, court records show. Circuit Judge John Bush...

Military day care open to government employees.
December 21, 2006... Byline: Lisa Horn Dec. 21--Child-care directors at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base are trying to get the word out about a program open to the children of city, state and federal employees. The program, which was introduced last spring,...

Autauga County schools bid big to win 40 acres in Prattville.
December 21, 2006... Byline: Pat Lewandowski Dec. 21--PRATTVILLE -- A secret bid process imposed on the sale of 40 acres of land cost the Autauga County Board of Education $150,000 more than the property might be worth. The land, located behind...

State receives recognition for tax relief.
December 21, 2006... Byline: Jamie Kizzire Dec. 21--A progressive think tank has recognized Alabama for giving tax breaks to families this year by raising the income tax filing threshold, which had been the lowest in the nation. The Drum Major Institute...

Discord delays city budget again.
December 20, 2006... Byline: Nigel Duara Dec. 20--In an attempt to avoid a potential legal challenge, five members of the Montgomery City Council voted to table passing the city's budget for another two weeks at a meeting Tuesday night. An ordinance...

Historic area gets coffee shop.
December 20, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 20--If you've never ordered a $3 iced latte in a 19th-century village, the time has arrived. The husband and wife team of Teresa and Dave Cameron -- local entertainers and new entrepreneurs -- have opened a...

Many in state lack health insurance.
December 20, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 20--Approximately 14 percent of adult Alabamians don't have health insurance, a total of some 440,000 people, according to a new survey released locally this week. Compiled by the Alabama State University...

Residents opt to join Pike Road.
December 20, 2006... Byline: Nigel Duara Dec. 20--PIKE ROAD -- Pike Road nearly doubled in size Tuesday night after an election among 10 neighborhoods north of the town brought the population to more than 4,000. "For us, it's just a huge compliment,"...

Dilworth offered same salary as former MPS superintendent.
December 20, 2006... Byline: Antoinette Konz Dec. 20--The Montgomery County Board of Education will offer superintendent-designate John Dilworth a three-year contract with a base salary of $155,000 plus benefits and incentives. Mary Briers, chairwoman of...

Several local schools reach 'highly qualified teacher' goal.
December 20, 2006... Byline: Erin Elaine Mosely Dec. 20--Evelyn Boyd arranged the hands on a bright-yellow clock to teach her fourth-grade class at Wetumpka Intermediate School a math lesson on elapsed time. Unlike Boyd's students, who will get another...

PSC investigates complaints.
December 20, 2006... Byline: Jamie Kizzire Dec. 20--The Alabama Public Service Commission has taken steps that could revoke the license of an Indiana company accused of charging elderly Alabama customers with unexpected fees after switching their phone...

Amphitheatre at center of city's Christmas ornament.
December 19, 2006... Byline: Crystal Bonvillian Dec. 19--Prattville artist Cecilia Scogin Howe has become part of a Montgomery Christmas tradition. Howe was chosen to design Easter Seals Alabama's 2006 "A Capital City Christmas" ornament. Howe's ornament,...

1921 school faces the wrecking ball.
December 19, 2006... Byline: Antoinette Konz Dec. 19--A staple of the Catoma community for nearly a century soon will no longer exist. Montgomery Public Schools will turn over the keys of the old Catoma Elementary School building to contractors Thursday...

Council wants King to rule on budget.
December 19, 2006... Byline: Nigel Duara Dec. 19--The budget standoff between the mayor and City Council could be resolved today, but a looming issue from the four-month impasse will be appealed to a higher authority. Council members said they will draft...

Montgomery Advertiser, Ala., business profile column.
December 18, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 18--BUSINESS Q&A: TOM METHVIN: When Tom Methvin took over as the president of Beasley Allen, a nationally renowned law firm, he didn't have much of a staff to manage. Methvin, who graduated from the...

Payday lenders on defensive.
December 18, 2006... Byline: Francis X. Gilpin Dec. 18--A senior airwoman at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base needed $500 to catch up with rent and car payments. So she took out a cash advance, agreeing to pay the lender $600 in two weeks. But she couldn't...

Litigation takes toll on road builders.
December 18, 2006... Byline: Mike Linn Dec. 18--John Harper says he spends 35 percent of his time defending lawsuits against his road construction company and the rest of his time running it. His insurance company has shelled out $1.6 million already...

Zoning changes could block manufactured homes.
December 18, 2006... Byline: Crystal Bonvillian Dec. 18--MILLBROOK -- Manufactured homes may no longer be allowed in residential areas in Millbrook under a proposed revision to the city's zoning ordinance. The Planning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m....

Who makes up the payday players.
December 17, 2006... Byline: Francis X. Gilpin Dec. 17--Of the Montgomery area's 10 largest payday lenders, only one is homegrown. Others are based elsewhere in Alabama or in states like Georgia and South Carolina. Here's a bit more about four of the biggest...

Work on Marriott Renaissance moves inside.
December 17, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 17--One by one they rose into the sky -- huge slabs of concrete, metal piping and steel wire, the building blocks of Montgomery's newest downtown destination. For 14 months crews have been working long hours...

Retirement Systems of Alabama builds vision for city's future.
December 17, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 17--Downtown Montgomery's new hotel and convention center is the latest addition to a growing portfolio of high-end properties held by the state's retirement system. After developing dozens of golf courses...

Sheriff set to close gambling centers.
December 17, 2006... Byline: Nigel Duara Dec. 17--Hidden behind black reflective glass and crowned by a yellow sign announcing it as the Hot Spot, the small business in a strip mall on the corner of Perry Hill Road and Atlanta Highway has a fairly simple...

Why does Montgomery have so many cash stores?
December 17, 2006... Byline: Francis X. Gilpin Dec. 17--By state law, payday lenders weren't supposed to dole out more than $500 each time Terrence T. Cooper borrowed from them. Yet, when the Montgomery computer salesman filed for bankruptcy protection...

New hangar plan cleared for takeoff.
December 16, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 16--Local developers were granted approval Friday to build a series of personalized "condo hangars" and a private-use terminal on the northeast corner of Montgomery Regional Airport. The multimillion-dollar...

Enstar merger clears hurdle.
December 16, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 16--The Enstar Group, a public company based in Montgomery, received the go-ahead this week from federal regulators to merge with a partially owned subsidiary and move its operations offshore. Enstar and...

Montgomery Advertiser, Ala., Real People at Work Column.
December 16, 2006... Byline: Lloyd Gallman Dec. 16--FAYE COLLIER: Faye Collier is a veteran store clerk. Sales, Collier says, just gets in your blood. "I've been in sales all my life," she said. "I really enjoy it." She retired after working 34...

Guide tells renters, landlords their rights.
December 15, 2006... Byline: Jamie Kizzire Dec. 15--Renters and landlords can learn more about their rights under a new state law through a free handbook and brochure being offered by several advocacy groups. The state's first landlord-tenant law takes...

Gas price hike fails to top record.
December 14, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 14--Montgomery motorists should get some relief at the gas pumps in the next few weeks despite efforts by the world's large petroleum producers to restrict oil production, a Washington energy analyst said...

Plan would close Wetumpka Junior High School.
December 14, 2006... Byline: Erin Elaine Mosely Dec. 14--WETUMPKA -- The clock is ticking for Wetumpka Junior High School. Built in 1926, the campus has been the heart of the community for 80 years as the city's former high school. The Elmore County...

Dillworth eager to begin leading Montgomery Public Schools.
December 14, 2006... Byline: Antoinette Konz Dec. 14--Montgomery's school superintendent-designate said Wednesday he hopes to be in the Capital City and on the job within the next two months. John Dilworth, 53, said he will first wait for the school...

Local low-wage workers struggling to pay rent.
December 14, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 14--A minimum-wage worker in Montgomery would have to clock 93 hours a week to afford a two-bedroom apartment and still pay his other bills, a new report shows. In the Montgomery area, the average rent for a...

Political shift could delay downtown plans.
December 13, 2006... Byline: Nigel Duara Dec. 13--Winds of change in Washington could have an impact closer to home for Capital City residents, as the Democratic takeover of Congress could slow Montgomery's plans for downtown revitalization. The city may...

Dilworth to lead schools.
December 13, 2006... Byline: Antoinette Konz Dec. 13--Montgomery's school board chose a lifelong educator with a track record for turning troubled schools around as its new superintendent Tuesday night. John Dilworth, who spent 26 years with the Caddo...

Group seeks tax for state road upkeep.
December 12, 2006... Byline: Mike Linn Dec. 12--Alabama's road builders want the state to pump more money into highway construction and maintenance to offset the skyrocketing costs of supplies and insurance. The Alabama Road Builders Association, a...

Schools' new leader named tonight.
December 12, 2006... Byline: Antoinette Konz Dec. 12--Two men hoping to take over as superintendent of Montgomery Public Schools will find out tonight if their future lies with the district. Either John Dilworth or Harold Dodge will be named to the...

State's biofuel future bright.
December 11, 2006... Byline: Jamie Kizzire Dec. 11--Alabama could be "the Saudi Arabia of biofuels" by converting wood and switchgrass into fuel, a possibility raised by an Auburn University professor that's gained the support of several elected officials....

Millbrook Wal-Mart makes rapid progress.
December 11, 2006... Byline: Crystal Bonvillian Dec. 11--MILLBROOK -- Mayor Al Kelley said progress on the 205,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter is moving along better than anticipated. The store at the intersection of Alabama 14 and Camp Grandview Road...

Montgomery Advertiser, Ala., business profile column.
December 11, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 11--BUSINESS Q&A: Melissa Ferraro Mercer had a longtime vision of becoming a restaurateur. She learned the nuts and bolts of running a business at Auburn University, majoring in finance and minoring in...

Police, city crew get new vehicles.
December 11, 2006... Byline: Erin Elaine Mosely Dec. 11--WETUMPKA -- The city has purchased some new wheels. Two new police cruisers and two trucks for the public works department cost taxpayers about $120,000. The City Council approved the outlay this...

Abuse hits workplace -- Employers learn alternative to firing victims.
December 10, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 10--A man shows up at work with a dozen red roses. Do you have reason to be worried? If he's your ex-boyfriend and likes to hit women, quite possibly. His gesture could put you in an emotional tailspin, and...

Students show off 'BEST' robots in state.
December 10, 2006... Byline: Erin Elaine Mosely Dec. 10--AUBURN -- Getting teenagers excited about doing the laundry can be a real chore. That is, until you blare music, add screaming fans, bands and bragging rights. For the roughly 40 middle and...

Montgomery Advertiser, Ala., Real People at Work Column.
December 9, 2006... Byline: Tammy McKinley Dec. 9--REAL PEOPLE @ WORK: RAY FERRIS: Few students can keep up with 66-year-old ballroom dance instructor Ray Ferris. Ferris has been teaching ballroom dancing since 1957. "I started teaching the week the...

Online glitch costs Alagasco customers.
December 9, 2006... Byline: Scott Johnson Dec. 9--Some Alabama Gas Corp. customers are having to take an unwelcome walk down memory lane thanks to a glitch in the company's billing system. About 100 customers have received letters that automatic...

Crowell succeeds McLeod as Chamber of Commerce chief.
December 8, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 8--The new chairman of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce officially took control of the group Thursday during its annual meeting. Montgomery's Ed Crowell received the gavel from Purser L. "Mac" McLeod...

They're selling it all from A to Z.
December 7, 2006... Byline: Scott Johnson Dec. 7--Erle Moorer, 80, has shown endurance, beating cancer three times and bouncing back after business failures. Time, though, has caught up with A to Z Furniture & Surplus, the business at 925 S. Court St....

Hyundai donation funds bus boycott project.
December 7, 2006... Byline: Cyril Josh Barker Dec. 7--The story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott will get a fresh retelling, thanks to Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. The auto manufacturer gave a check for $80,000 to The Rosa Parks Library and Museum...

Head changes vote on city budget.
December 6, 2006... Byline: Nigel Duara Dec. 6--Montgomery City Councilman Tim Head said his decision was made from the heart. His former allies on the council said he's thinking with his political future in mind. In a surprise move Tuesday morning,...

'Mini mall' rap music to jingle writer's ears.
December 6, 2006... Byline: Darryn Simmons Dec. 6--While the publicity Sammy Stephens has received on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and the success of his Flea Market Montgomery commercial may seem like music to his ears, the actual music is by Montgomerian...

Cloverdale rezoning plan OK'd.
December 6, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 6--The City Council unanimously approved a rezoning proposal Tuesday that paves the way for a mixed-use development near the Five Points in Cloverdale. The project will incorporate residential and retail...

Ad man raps with host of 'Ellen' show.
December 6, 2006... Byline: Cyril Josh Barker Dec. 6--Rapping retailer Sammy Stephens made his national television debut Tuesday on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," giving a helping hand to the hip-hop-challenged hostess. On the show, Stephens danced with...

Activists laud bus boycott's achievements.
December 5, 2006... Byline: Crystal Bonvillian Dec. 5--Sleep did not come easy to black Montgomerians on the night of Dec. 4, 1955. With the start of the bus boycott just hours away, their hearts strummed with an undercurrent of emotions. Anger at the...

Gas bills set to go up.
December 5, 2006... Byline: Jamie Kizzire Dec. 5--Customers of Alabama Gas Corp. will see their bill go up by 2 percent starting this month, an increase the company sees as "good news" because rates still are lower than last year. Alabama Gas rates rose...

Attorney sues housing director over inquiry.
December 5, 2006... Byline: Mike Linn Dec. 5--The regional director of the U.S. Department of Public Housing and Urban Development refused to pay the former general counsel of the Montgomery Housing Authority $25,000 for work he did at the authority's...

Professional services funds cut from two Montgomery departments.
December 4, 2006... Byline: Nigel Duara Dec. 4--While some Montgomery youth programs stand to gain from an amendment to the city's budget, two departments took a major blow. The city's Legal Department lost $100,000 from its $350,000 professional...

Shift in city funds benefits youth programs.
December 4, 2006... Byline: Nigel Duara Dec. 4--In a last-minute budget maneuver called "unfair" by their opposition, five members of the Montgomery City Council have chosen to increase funding for youth activities in their districts. The increased...

Montgomery Advertiser, Ala., Real People at Work Column.
December 4, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 4--BUSINESS Q&A: Manuel Williams calls himself a product of the very organization he heads up today -- Resurrection Catholic Missions. He went to school to be a priest, but in the early 1990s he became an...

Loans may help residents rebuild.
December 4, 2006... Byline: Nigel Duara Dec. 4--The sirens wailed at mid-morning and the radio warned of storms in Pintlala. Everything was quiet for a while, but the next time Chrissy Williams heard the tornado alarm, she said it was too late. "Sounded...

Some retailers 'just hanging in' at Montgomery Mall.
December 4, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 4--Foot traffic at the beleaguered Montgomery Mall has slowed this holiday season, despite strong buyer turnout the day after Thanksgiving, shop managers and customers said Sunday. This is the first holiday...

Asian imports threaten Alabama catfish farms.
December 3, 2006... Byline: David Irvin Dec. 3--DALLAS COUNTY -- Every day Butch Wilson watches thousands of live catfish lifted from his ponds in the western part of this Black Belt county, one slippery pound of flesh after another. But there are...

Events mark end of boycott anniversary.
December 3, 2006... Byline: Crystal Bonvillian Dec. 3--The yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott is coming to a close, and local black leaders are not going to let the milestone go unnoticed. The National Center for...

Changes raise cost of Montgomery Public Schools' building plan.
December 3, 2006... Byline: Antoinette Konz Dec. 3--The first phase of Montgomery Public Schools' massive building plan will cost $30 million more than expected and several projects will be delayed at least a year, according to officials with the firm hired...