Orr seeks input on TVA revenue; advanced learning center popular
By Eric Fleischauer, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
What should a community do when it finds $21 million in the pocket of its trousers?
An expected change in the distribution of Tennessee Valley Authority in-lieu-of-tax proceeds may leave Morgan County with that question.
State Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, wants the money to make a lasting difference.
A bill that has passed the House and that has strong support in the Senate would end the practice of distributing a portion of the TVA revenue to dry cities and counties not served by TVA. For Morgan County, the change would increase TVA proceeds by about $1.2 million in the first year, growing by about 5 percent per year after that.
The new money is enough to service a bond of about $21 million.
The bill provides that a local law would govern the allocation of the new money, which means the local legislative delegation gets to make the call.
“I think it’s an historic opportunity to do something that would enhance Morgan County for the people who live here,” Orr said.
His vision is to embrace a project that would benefit the entire county. What project?
“I’m not pushing one project or another,” Orr said. “Maybe it would be a basketball arena for tournaments. Maybe a state-of-the-art baseball facility. Maybe a collaborative effort among our three school systems to formulate a school of technology or robotics or engineering. Maybe a jobs training facility that will help bring new jobs in.”
Orr said he wants Morgan County residents to contact their legislators with ideas.
“If we don’t work together as a county, the money likely will be disseminated among the budgets of school systems, cities and the county,” Orr said. “It would be divided up so we could not have a large, visionary enhancement to the county. We’d end up with a new backhoe for a County Commission district. What do the citizens want?”
One of Orr’s ideas is a technology center providing specialized instruction for high school students anywhere in the county. Students would remain at their local schools, attending the new facility for a block of classes on certain days.
“I’m imagining a 21st Century technology institute that all the systems can participate in and have some real enhancements, so Danville High can send students to the Wallace Center (site) a few hours a week to participate.
‘Gold standard’
“It could be a gold-standard program on ‘X’, whether ‘X’ is robotics or technology or engineering or whatever, that sets us apart,” Orr said.
“But that’s just one idea. Maybe something entirely different.”
Orr said locating something at the vacant Lurleen B. Wallace Center, a 160-acre site between Decatur and Hartselle on U.S. 31, might make sense. The state owns the land.
“A government entity can get a good price on that facility,” Orr said, “and it’s centrally located between the main population centers of Decatur and Hartselle.”
He said students could attend the center one or two days a week, while taking core classes at their home high schools. The center might, he said, feed some students to Calhoun Community College and to the robotics training center under construction there.
Tourist attractions
Tami Reist, director of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said there are plenty of tourist-type attractions that would benefit the county — including completion of Ingalls Harbor — but she thinks an advanced learning center focusing on robotics would be best for the county.
“I have my passion for enhancing Ingalls, but I think something like this with robotics is going to give the technical training. It’s going to bring education into play,” Reist said. “Hopefully, from there we create a spinoff of companies that want to come to our city and locate here, which again brings more visitors in.”
Despite success with sports tournaments, Reist said, the events account for a small portion of visitors to Morgan County.
“When you look at tourism and you look at where all these people come from, industry is a majority of it.”
There is no better way to attract industry, said Morgan County Economic Development Association President Jeremy Nails, than increasing the engineering and technological skills of high school graduates.
“Anything that would give our students an edge on skills in robotics or engineering would be beneficial for the county as a whole when it comes to trying to recruit businesses,” Nails said. “One of the first things they look for is the education of the workforce that’s coming out of our high schools.”
To successfully recruit industry, a community must be able to distinguish itself.
“That’s what economic development is all about: trying to find your niche and set yourself apart. You can’t be Huntsville or Birmingham or Mobile, so how can you distinguish yourself, not only from the rest of the state but the rest of the world?”
Combined with the robotics training center under construction at Calhoun Community College and successful high school robotics programs in Decatur and Priceville, Nails said, an advanced learning center would give Morgan County a dramatic advantage in competing for the many industries that rely on robotics.
The beauty of an advanced learning center, said Sheila Davis, chairman of the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, would be its flexibility. Robotics is the hot industrial recruitment tool of the day, but the curriculum could fluctuate as student interests and economic opportunities change.
Davis, who has coordinated high school students and industries on workforce development issues for a decade, said she finds pockets of interest from students that no single high school can accommodate.
“For example, I get lots of questions about culinary skills,” Davis said. “With an advanced learning center that would be possible.”
Orr’s idea of an advanced learning center at the Wallace Center received a lukewarm reception from superintendents of the three school systems in Morgan County.
Proration problems
Sam Houston, superintendent of Decatur City Schools, said the most pressing need is to increase funding for a proration-strained budget.
“I appreciate Sen. Orr’s vision in trying to come up with a project that benefits the entire county,” Houston said. He said Decatur City Schools already does an excellent job educating high school students in pre-engineering and robotics fields.
Along with the superintendents of Hartselle City Schools and Morgan County Schools, he sent an e-mail to Orr suggesting the money — none of which has to go to the schools — would be more useful to fund a program reducing dropout rates in the three systems.
“I’m not closing the door on (an advanced learning center) concept,” said Hartselle City Schools Superintendent William Michael Reed.
“We’re just taking another approach to it. We’re not closing the door on Sen. Orr’s original concept, we’d just like this other thing to be looked at, too.”
Davis said her experiences, both in workforce development and as a parent, suggest an advanced learning center would confront the dropout problem at the same time it gave the county’s most talented students opportunities to advance their skills.
Orr said he likes the idea of an advanced learning center, but his main concern is that the new revenue go to a project that Morgan County residents want.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Women's BASS event canceled
By Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society has canceled its women’s tournament series, which eliminated one of the events set for Ingalls Harbor this year.
BASS had scheduled its Women’s Bass Tour to fish here in March as part of its partnership with Academy Sports and Outdoors. The tourney would have featured 100 female anglers.
BASS officials informed the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau it shut down the 5-year-old series because of declining participation.
The Bass Anglers Sportsman Society has canceled its women’s tournament series, which eliminated one of the events set for Ingalls Harbor this year.
BASS had scheduled its Women’s Bass Tour to fish here in March as part of its partnership with Academy Sports and Outdoors. The tourney would have featured 100 female anglers.
BASS officials informed the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau it shut down the 5-year-old series because of declining participation.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Reist represents state on federal economic board
By Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
Tami Reist has been named to represent Alabama on the Appalachian Regional Commission, a federal agency responsible for spending millions to improve economic conditions in the 13-state region.
Reist, president of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, will be one of 14 commissioners who serve with governors of the 13 states and a federal co-chairman appointed by the president.
Each year, ARC provides funding for hundreds of projects in the Appalachian Region, in areas such as business development, education and job training, telecommunications, infrastructure, community development, housing and transportation.
The commission allocated more than $5 million in economic development projects through the Appalachian region of Alabama in 2009. It provided $54,000 to the North-central Alabama Regional Council of Governments for planning and administration, $200,000 for the Athens Industrial Rail Spur and $100,000 for the Limestone County Voice Over Internet Protocol Network.
Reist said it is an honor to be asked to serve on the commission, which usually meets twice a year in Washington, D.C.
She said one advantage of serving on the commission is having more opportunities to meet with senators and representatives to promote local and regional projects.
Reist replaces Dana Lee Jennings, executive director of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Association. She served on the commission for seven years and recommended Reist as her replacement.
Jennings said ARC is fully on board with tourism as an economic development engine, so Reist should find opportunities to share her experience.
“She has one of the brightest tourism minds around,” Jennings said. “She’s one of the hardest-working CVB directors that we have.”
The Appalachian region extends more than 1,000 miles, from southern New York to northeastern Mississippi, and is home to 24.8 million people. In 1965, one in three Appalachians lived in poverty. In 2000, the region’s poverty rate was 13.6 percent.
Tami Reist has been named to represent Alabama on the Appalachian Regional Commission, a federal agency responsible for spending millions to improve economic conditions in the 13-state region.
Reist, president of the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, will be one of 14 commissioners who serve with governors of the 13 states and a federal co-chairman appointed by the president.
Each year, ARC provides funding for hundreds of projects in the Appalachian Region, in areas such as business development, education and job training, telecommunications, infrastructure, community development, housing and transportation.
The commission allocated more than $5 million in economic development projects through the Appalachian region of Alabama in 2009. It provided $54,000 to the North-central Alabama Regional Council of Governments for planning and administration, $200,000 for the Athens Industrial Rail Spur and $100,000 for the Limestone County Voice Over Internet Protocol Network.
Reist said it is an honor to be asked to serve on the commission, which usually meets twice a year in Washington, D.C.
She said one advantage of serving on the commission is having more opportunities to meet with senators and representatives to promote local and regional projects.
Reist replaces Dana Lee Jennings, executive director of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Association. She served on the commission for seven years and recommended Reist as her replacement.
Jennings said ARC is fully on board with tourism as an economic development engine, so Reist should find opportunities to share her experience.
“She has one of the brightest tourism minds around,” Jennings said. “She’s one of the hardest-working CVB directors that we have.”
The Appalachian region extends more than 1,000 miles, from southern New York to northeastern Mississippi, and is home to 24.8 million people. In 1965, one in three Appalachians lived in poverty. In 2000, the region’s poverty rate was 13.6 percent.
Tourism officials forced to make cuts
By Paul Huggins, Staff Writer, The Decatur Daily
A 30-percent drop in revenue during the first quarter has forced the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau to cut about $36,000 from its budget.
“It’s not a pretty picture,” said Wade Weaver, treasurer for the bureau’s board of directors. “Our expenses are not out of line, but the revenue’s not there.”
The bureau last May had budgeted to receive about $70,000 monthly in revenue but is pulling in $46,000 to $49,000. The first quarter ended with a net loss of $40,000.
The bureau is entirely funded by lodging taxes collected by the city. The city gives 75 percent to the bureau. It has received $135,978 for the first quarter of fiscal 2010 compared to $195,136 for the same period last year.
Occupancy fee
The drop in lodging tax revenue naturally mirrored the drop in revenue raised by the $2-per-night room occupancy fee that pays for tourism projects, such as Ingalls Harbor.
The fee generated $34,000 less revenue in the first quarter compared to last year.
Dana Lee Jennings, executive director of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Association, said because of the country’s economic troubles, tourism revenue is down not only across North Alabama, but at nearly every tourism destination nationwide.
Tami Reist, bureau president, said there were a variety of first quarter expenses, such as host fees for sporting events, that won’t be a revenue burden for the remaining nine months of fiscal 2010, and noted November revenue was up 4 percent.
The biggest budget cut the bureau made was renegotiating the contract with the FLW fishing tournament in November.
TV coverage
Scheduled television coverage was canceled, Reist said, so the bureau was able to lower the host fee by $30,000.
Other cuts included reducing the hours of the weekend greeter at the bureau office, eliminating travel to trade shows, reducing some advertising with Charter Cable and Southern Living magazine and cutting membership fees to sports associations.
A 30-percent drop in revenue during the first quarter has forced the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau to cut about $36,000 from its budget.
“It’s not a pretty picture,” said Wade Weaver, treasurer for the bureau’s board of directors. “Our expenses are not out of line, but the revenue’s not there.”
The bureau last May had budgeted to receive about $70,000 monthly in revenue but is pulling in $46,000 to $49,000. The first quarter ended with a net loss of $40,000.
The bureau is entirely funded by lodging taxes collected by the city. The city gives 75 percent to the bureau. It has received $135,978 for the first quarter of fiscal 2010 compared to $195,136 for the same period last year.
Occupancy fee
The drop in lodging tax revenue naturally mirrored the drop in revenue raised by the $2-per-night room occupancy fee that pays for tourism projects, such as Ingalls Harbor.
The fee generated $34,000 less revenue in the first quarter compared to last year.
Dana Lee Jennings, executive director of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Association, said because of the country’s economic troubles, tourism revenue is down not only across North Alabama, but at nearly every tourism destination nationwide.
Tami Reist, bureau president, said there were a variety of first quarter expenses, such as host fees for sporting events, that won’t be a revenue burden for the remaining nine months of fiscal 2010, and noted November revenue was up 4 percent.
The biggest budget cut the bureau made was renegotiating the contract with the FLW fishing tournament in November.
TV coverage
Scheduled television coverage was canceled, Reist said, so the bureau was able to lower the host fee by $30,000.
Other cuts included reducing the hours of the weekend greeter at the bureau office, eliminating travel to trade shows, reducing some advertising with Charter Cable and Southern Living magazine and cutting membership fees to sports associations.
USA TODAY: pies from Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q among top ten in nation
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur is featured in USA TODAY as one of the ten great places in the nation to enjoy fresh baked pie. Other restaurants featured along with Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q include Square Meal in New York, Du-par’s in Los Angeles, Hoosier Mama Pie Company in Chicago, Dahlia Bakery in Seattle, and Eileen Blake’s Pies & Otherwise in Martha’s Vineyard.
From the article “10 great places to have a slice of National Pie Day” by Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY:
When it's time for dessert on Saturday, make sure to order pie. It's National Pie Day - as if the American Pie Council really needed to give us an excuse to have a slice. Whether sweet or tart, flaky or crusty, pie is an American tradition, says Ed Levine, founder of SeriousEats.com, a website devoted to the pleasure, culture and business of food. Levine has sampled slices across the nation. He shares his favorite pie purveyors with Larry Bleibergfor USA TODAY.
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q
Decatur, Ala.
This Dixie restaurant doesn't skimp on dessert - it bakes pies fresh daily. "They make those classic mile-high Southern pies," Levine says. "They tower and can fall if they're placed on your table at the wrong angle." His favorite here: coconut cream. But chocolate meringue and lemon icebox have devoted followings, too. 256-350-6969; www.bigbobgibsonbbq.com
For the complete article please see http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/10great/2010-01-21-national-pie-day_N.htm
From the article “10 great places to have a slice of National Pie Day” by Larry Bleiberg for USA TODAY:
When it's time for dessert on Saturday, make sure to order pie. It's National Pie Day - as if the American Pie Council really needed to give us an excuse to have a slice. Whether sweet or tart, flaky or crusty, pie is an American tradition, says Ed Levine, founder of SeriousEats.com, a website devoted to the pleasure, culture and business of food. Levine has sampled slices across the nation. He shares his favorite pie purveyors with Larry Bleibergfor USA TODAY.
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q
Decatur, Ala.
This Dixie restaurant doesn't skimp on dessert - it bakes pies fresh daily. "They make those classic mile-high Southern pies," Levine says. "They tower and can fall if they're placed on your table at the wrong angle." His favorite here: coconut cream. But chocolate meringue and lemon icebox have devoted followings, too. 256-350-6969; www.bigbobgibsonbbq.com
For the complete article please see http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/10great/2010-01-21-national-pie-day_N.htm
Friday, January 22, 2010
River Promotion
The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau knows promoting the Tennessee River is beneficial to the economy. President Tami Reist explained how the bureau is promoting the river and its future plans.
Holding and promoting various fishing tournaments, including having a least one televised competition, such as the Bassmaster Elite on ESPN or FLW tournament aired on VERSUS.
The bureau is working with the Alabama High School Athletic Association to make competition bass fishing a championship sport in high schools.
Working with The University of Alabama at Huntsville Rowing Team on the possibilities of bringing rowing events to Wheeler Lake.
Holding Splash N’ Dash promotional campaigns for travel writers and media to promote Wheeler Lake and the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic by giving writers air balloon rides along the lake.
Working with the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce to attract new waterfront restaurants.
Publicizing the Boat Parade of Lights at Christmas and temporary attractions, such as the recent Belle of Cincinnati river cruise.
BY HOLLY HOLLMAN
Holding and promoting various fishing tournaments, including having a least one televised competition, such as the Bassmaster Elite on ESPN or FLW tournament aired on VERSUS.
The bureau is working with the Alabama High School Athletic Association to make competition bass fishing a championship sport in high schools.
Working with The University of Alabama at Huntsville Rowing Team on the possibilities of bringing rowing events to Wheeler Lake.
Holding Splash N’ Dash promotional campaigns for travel writers and media to promote Wheeler Lake and the Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic by giving writers air balloon rides along the lake.
Working with the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce to attract new waterfront restaurants.
Publicizing the Boat Parade of Lights at Christmas and temporary attractions, such as the recent Belle of Cincinnati river cruise.
BY HOLLY HOLLMAN
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Corinne Trang- Visits Decatur, Alabama
Destination: Florence and Decatur, Alabama
Exploring world-famous Muscle Shoals, Tennessee River, and Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q . . . Life is definitely good!
By Corinne Trang at Johnnyjet.com
Picking up where I left off in Birmingham, I head toward the northwest corner of Alabama to sample Southern comfort food. But my plans changed, which often happens to me—and generally for the better. So in three days, not only did I get to eat all the stick-to-your-ribs food one can possibly handle (wear loose clothes, if you plan to follow suit!), but had a blast fishing, enjoyed a massage, grooved to Muscle Shoals' R&B on 92.3 FM, and got the chance to reclaim my luggage that American Airlines lost over 15 years ago—a long shot, I know.
GETTING HERE AND AROUND
There is no direct flight to Florence or Decatur. The closest airports are either Birmingham or Huntsville, the latter being about a half hour from either destination. While at the airport be sure to pick up a rental car, because public transportation may be challenging.
CHOWING DOWN IN DECATUR
BIG BOB GIBSON BAR-B-Q: As you enter this no-frills place, you'll notice numerous BBQ competition trophies won by co-owner and celebrity champion pitmaster Chris Lilly, author of the acclaimed Big Bob Gibson BBQ Book. Of all the restaurants I list here, this is THE ONE PLACE NOT TO MISS. In fact, "they" say that one hasn't been to Alabama unless one has experienced a pulled pork sandwich, brisket, turkey, ribs, and of course the chicken with original white sauce from this world-famous joint. The saying "melt in your mouth" was coined here. Well, not really, but it should have been. The menu hasn't changed since 1925, with sides including kettle-baked beans, coleslaw, and potato salad, and featured desserts of scrumptious coconut, chocolate, and lemon ice box meringue pies. Sedated, having sampled all meats, sides, and sweets in a single sitting, I walk away all pumped up to judge the 2009 Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue in Lynchburg, TN, the next day, but that's another story for another time. (Bob Gibson's BBQ; casual, lunch and dinner, $-$$).
MORGAN PRICE CANDY COMPANY: This candy shop has everything from English toffee, to dark and milk chocolates and seasonal candies, to pralines, which is what they're known for. No order is too small (gift boxes start at $5) and they'll ship all over the world. ($) Morgan Price Candy
To Read a complete copy of the article please visit:
http://johnnyjet.com/folder/archive/Corinne-Trang-Alabama-2010-2.html
Exploring world-famous Muscle Shoals, Tennessee River, and Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q . . . Life is definitely good!
By Corinne Trang at Johnnyjet.com
Picking up where I left off in Birmingham, I head toward the northwest corner of Alabama to sample Southern comfort food. But my plans changed, which often happens to me—and generally for the better. So in three days, not only did I get to eat all the stick-to-your-ribs food one can possibly handle (wear loose clothes, if you plan to follow suit!), but had a blast fishing, enjoyed a massage, grooved to Muscle Shoals' R&B on 92.3 FM, and got the chance to reclaim my luggage that American Airlines lost over 15 years ago—a long shot, I know.
GETTING HERE AND AROUND
There is no direct flight to Florence or Decatur. The closest airports are either Birmingham or Huntsville, the latter being about a half hour from either destination. While at the airport be sure to pick up a rental car, because public transportation may be challenging.
CHOWING DOWN IN DECATUR
BIG BOB GIBSON BAR-B-Q: As you enter this no-frills place, you'll notice numerous BBQ competition trophies won by co-owner and celebrity champion pitmaster Chris Lilly, author of the acclaimed Big Bob Gibson BBQ Book. Of all the restaurants I list here, this is THE ONE PLACE NOT TO MISS. In fact, "they" say that one hasn't been to Alabama unless one has experienced a pulled pork sandwich, brisket, turkey, ribs, and of course the chicken with original white sauce from this world-famous joint. The saying "melt in your mouth" was coined here. Well, not really, but it should have been. The menu hasn't changed since 1925, with sides including kettle-baked beans, coleslaw, and potato salad, and featured desserts of scrumptious coconut, chocolate, and lemon ice box meringue pies. Sedated, having sampled all meats, sides, and sweets in a single sitting, I walk away all pumped up to judge the 2009 Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue in Lynchburg, TN, the next day, but that's another story for another time. (Bob Gibson's BBQ; casual, lunch and dinner, $-$$).
MORGAN PRICE CANDY COMPANY: This candy shop has everything from English toffee, to dark and milk chocolates and seasonal candies, to pralines, which is what they're known for. No order is too small (gift boxes start at $5) and they'll ship all over the world. ($) Morgan Price Candy
To Read a complete copy of the article please visit:
http://johnnyjet.com/folder/archive/Corinne-Trang-Alabama-2010-2.html
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