Here’s a look at what we’re working on for the Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009, edition of The North Jefferson News. Don’t forget to see Saturday’s paper for our exclusive 2009 football preview section.

Also, come see us at Founder’s Day on Saturday. Register to win a free subscription at our booth, located adjacent to the Chamber of Commerce stage at Black Creek Park.



Fultondale hires parks director



The City of Fultondale took its dedication to its parks one step further this week with the hiring of a new parks director.

Phi-llip Loden, a longtime Fulton-dale resident, was hired last week and began his new job on Monday. He said he looks forward to working with the city’s elected leaders, employees and residents on making improvements to park facilities.

“The parks are going to be a reflection of what kind of city we are,” he said. “We just want people who come from outside the city to treat them with respect, as if they were their own.”

Loden, who is the son of city councilman Tommy Loden, has helped the city for several years as a liaison between the city’s parks organizations.

Loden will work more closely with parents and with school officials in preparing fields for play. He once coached football at McAdory High School and said he knows how much work coaches have to put into their own fields.



School receives grant for fresh fruits, vegetables



Fultondale Elementary students love to hear the sound of fruits and vegetables coming down the hall.

“They hear the cart coming and say, ‘Here comes Mrs. Sherry,’” said PTA president Sherry Lollar, who hands out the food twice a week to every student.

Fultondale Elementary is the only school in Jefferson County that received a federal grant, administered through the Alabama Department of Education, to receive fresh fruits and vegetables every week.

Marie Dixon, Fultondale Elementary’s cafeteria manager, said the school asked for $21,000, but received $50,000. She said it was enough to provide fresh snacks to every student and teacher twice a week.

A wall in the lunch room is covered with notes from students saying how much they love getting the snacks every week.

“I love the notes,” said Dixon. “I read every single one.”



Civitan’s ‘General’ wins major recognition



Robert E. Lee was a revered confederate general during the Civil War.

Gardendale native Robert E. Lee is revered as “The General of Recruiting” as the president of the Gardendale Civitan Club.

Lee has led the club for more than 20 years and he’s recruited about 200 people into the organization. “There’s a secret to recruiting for Civitans and I’m one of the few people that knows it,” he said. “The secret is a-s-k. You just have to ask people to join.”

The club, which meets each Monday night at the Gardendale Civic Center, currently has 62 members, about 30 more than when Lee first became a member.

Lee joined the club in 1985 and has since won just about every award the international civic organization has to offer. He has served as the club’s president since 1988, with the exception of a short period of illness.

This summer, Lee was presented with the organization’s highest honor, the International Honor Key.

Lee received the District Honor Key in 1998 and was named Outstanding Civitan in 1999. He also has all four of the club’s international fellows — research center fellows, foundation fellow, junior civitan fellow and freedom fellow.



Bachus talks health care concerns



A Warrior cafe was packed to the rafters Wednesday by citizens and business leaders wanting to get the latest from Washington.

U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Vestavia Hills, was the guest of honor at the town hall meeting. He spent the better part of an hour explaining the reasons he will not vote for President Barack Obama’s proposed national health care plan.

Warrior residents Chester Jolly and Tom Eaton organized the event. At least 50 people filled Rick’s Main Street Cafe to hear the congressman speak.