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

• Pharmacy retailer CVS may soon build a new store at the corner of U.S. 31 and Yeager Street. The Warrior Planning and Zoning Board recently approved a rezoning request made by CVS to change the zoning from agricultural to business district.

• A new Chick-Fil-A is one step closer after Gardendale’s Planning and Zoning Board unanimously approved a request amending a drive-through regulation. The new prototype store will be at the former location of Hardee’s and most recently Tastes Good Chinese Buffet restaurant.

• A low-income housing project proposed for Gardendale is one step further away after it was denied by the Gardendale Planning and Zoning Commission’s nine members.



10 years ago

• Lt. Gov. Don Siegelman has pushed to the forefront the issue of an education lottery. High School principals Kenneth Abbott at Gardendale, Bill Casaday at Fultondale, Keith Champion at Tabernacle and Jimmie Trotter at Mortimer Jordan all oppose a lottery because they oppose gambling. However, principals Ed Bruce at Corner, Tommy Hobson at Warrior and Steve Latta at Hayden would support a lottery if the money went solely to education.

• The Fultondale Police Department has arrested 43-year-old Michael Ray Baird in connection with the murder of two Fultondale residents, who were found shot to death in their home at One Hundred Oaks Mobile Home Park.



20 years ago

• Gardendale City Council set a public hearing on a proposed zoning change that would allow a new car dealership to locate on five acres near the Fieldstown Road interchange. Serra Chevrolet would like to build a Chevrolet dealership on the land if the zoning change is okayed.

• A new traffic signal costing $31,990 will be installed within the next 90 days at the intersection of New Fieldstown Road, and Odom and Shugart Ridge roads.

• Two 15-year-old juveniles from Birmingham were arrested Saturday night in side the Gardendale High School gym after reportedly breaking into a snack and soft drink machine at the school. The juveniles had been released in their parents’ custody.



30 years ago

• A lifetime resident of Warrior and the employee working the most years for the city of Warrior died Tuesday after a long bout with an illness. Tom Whisonant, 54, was head of the street department and worked in virtually every job the city had during his 31 years of employment.

• Morris Mayor Lamar Reid said he had interviewed a doctor who is interested in working at the city’s proposed new medical facility.

• The Fultondale Chamber of Commerce is tying up loose ends for a 1978 Harvest Festival to be held at the Fultondale High School gym. The group is also relying on residents for the successful establishment of the happening.