By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



The following events were reported in The North Jefferson News during this week in 2004, 1999, 1989 and 1979.



Five years ago

• Grading is complete off of Mt. Olive Road for the future site of Gardendale First Baptist Church. Workers are currently getting ball fields ready for the church’s Upward sports program. The ball fields are near the newly graded site.

• Castle Pines Country Club owner Dewey Barber is serious about making dramatic improvements to his golf course. Workers recently put in a $300,000 irrigation system at the course and put in a well, dug the lake deeper, poured concrete and raised the dam.

• Fultondale distance runner Sammy Morris is not slowed down by a bout with prostate cancer. Within just a few weeks, Morris was again running eight to 10 miles a day and 15-20 miles a day on weekends.



10 years ago

• Students and faculty at Mortimer Jordan High School are mourning the death of Stephen Dale Edwards, 17, who died in a one-vehicle accident on Bill Jones Road. Two other students who were with Edwards were injured.

• The formation of a new school system for Gardendale schools is a possibility. Co-chairperson Karen Smith, of the School Support Committee, said the No. 1 priority is to better the schools to benefit the children of Gardendale.

• On Monday, the Executive Board of the North Jefferson Baptist Association unanimously passed a resolution affirming their stand against gambling and a state lottery.



20 years ago

• After more than a year of negotiation and months of uncertainty, a franchise agreement between the City of Gardendale and the Fultondale Gas Board was finally approved. The previous franchise agreement expired in 1988.

• Warrior residents will soon be paying $5.50 per month for the garbage pickup service they now receive at no charge.

• Gardendale Mayor G. William Noble confirmed this week he has been contacted by representatives of the Gardendale First Baptist Church expressing an interest in purchasing the civic center, but stressed that no serious negotiations have taken place.



30 years ago

• Six teenagers ranging in age from 15 to 17 have been arrested over the past few weeks for possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia at Rogers Vocational School in Gardendale.

• The Warrior City Council voted to pay almost $2,000 to update the fire department’s communications system. Five units and a base station will be installed in the next six to eight weeks.

• The Fultondale Chamber of Commerce makes two donations. A $650 donation to the Fultondale High School choral program will go toward the purchase of a new piano and $500 for Fultondale Park will be used for playground equipment for younger children.