By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



The following events were reported in The North Jefferson News during this week in 2003, 1998, 1988 and 1978.



Five years ago

• North Jefferson votes no to Gov. Bob Riley’s $1.2 billion tax proposal this week. Eighty-five percent of voters in Gardendale, Fultondale, Mt. Olive, Morris, Kimberly and Warrior vote down the proposal.

• Gardendale Police officers are looking for an armed man who carries a gun and chemical spray. Last Tuesday, a man entered Circle C convenience store at the corner of U.S. 31 and Tarrant Road. The man pulled out a pistol, robbed the clerk and sprayed mace on him to help the getaway.



10 years ago

• For the first time since George Wallace’s visit, another Democratic gubernatorial candidate dropped in to tout his qualifications and agenda before local politicians in Gardendale. Lt. Gov. Don Siegelman met with several city council members and the mayors of Gardendale and Fultondale.

• What looked like a major drug bust going down in the Gardendale High School parking lot was actually just some training. The Gardendale Police Department’s Explorers Post No. 272 was learning what it was like to be police officers, as they “arrested” a suspected felon, who was really a GPD officer.

• Daniel Huffstutler opens The MaiZE – an intricate network of twists and turns carved into a five-acre cornfield in Locust Fork. There is only one way out of the two-mile maze.



20 years ago

• When municipal officials take their oaths of office Oct. 3 to begin a four-year term, Morris will start with a clean slate. Only one incumbent councilman ran in the Aug. 23 general election, and he lost his bid to become mayor.

• Fultondale officials have received word that their city is in line for a Jefferson County sewer extension project. A letter to Mayor John McCain states that the project has been designated as the “Walkers Chapel Trunk Sewer” and will serve a major tributary of Five Mile Creek.

• Kimberly Place 2 Council Adam D. Hayes lost his seat on the town council in a runoff election to James W. Knox. In the only other runoff race in Kimberly, Charles W. Norton defeated Betty A. Whatley for Place 4 on the Kimberly Town Council. Mayor Sammie Maze ran unopposed.



30 years ago

• Fob James, who is up against Attorney General Bill Baxley in the Democratic Primary runoff, will be at the Food World Mall Friday at 1 p.m. Everyone in the area is invited to come and listen.

• Guy Hunt, the Republican Gubernatorial candidate, was honored with a dinner at the Gardendale Civic Center this week, with about 125 people in attendance.

• At a Warrior City Council meeting, Mayor Jean Gayle brought up purchasing six new tires for the fire truck. Assistant City Clerk Joyce Brooks had a startled look on her face because a city employee had already purchased the tires, for more than $600. Councilmen were upset that an employee took matters into his own hands, with one saying that the employee should have to pay for the tires himself.