SPORTS MIDFIELD Families can get help with utility bills / 2W

MINOR FACES ANOTHER PLAYOFF FAIRFIELD Councilman Ves Marable will recognize
TEST IN PERENNIAL POWER BUCS 5W community spirit / 2W

Covering Bessemer Cutoff, western Birmingham, Fairfield, Forestdale, Adamsville, Graysville,

Hueytown, Midfield, Pleasant Grove and other west Jefferson County communities
www.al.com Wednesday u November 12, 2008 u Section W

ENSLEY FAIRFIELD

Ramsay-McCormack New mayor

pushes for
recommended for cooperation
National Register listing in Fairfield
By ANNE RUISI That makes a listing on the National By BILL PLOTT
News staff writer Register “one of the critical pieces for News staff writer
The state has recommended that this project,” Fleming said. Although the discussion
Ensley’s only skyscraper, the Ramsay- The landmark building on 19th was congenial, new Fairfield
McCormack Building, be placed on Street in Ensley was completed in 1929 Mayor Kenneth Coachman ex-
the National Register of Historic and for years was a thriving business pressed his concern over dis-
Places. center where doctors, dentists and agreements in what was ex-
other professionals had their offices. It pected to be a routine
The Alabama National Register Re- was also a symbol of Ensley’s financial organizational meeting for his
view Board two weeks ago unani- strength and of a once-flourishing administration.
mously voted for the recommenda- business district set amid the steel “This city will not survive
tion, said David Fleming, executive mills and plants that fired Birming- divided for the next four years.
director of Main Street Birmingham, ham’s economic engine. Our situa-
which has been working with the com- When the steel industry died, down- tions are too
munity, developers and planners to town Ensley began to decline and so grave,” said
save the 79-year-old building. did the towering office building. The Coachman at
Veristar Development Services few remaining tenants moved out the Fairfield
wants to overhaul the 10-story art more than 20 years ago. City Council’s
deco building for senior citizen hous- Since then the building has re- first meeting
ing. The $12 million Ensley Centre mained vacant and has deteriorated. shortly after
would contain up to 46 apartments for Over the years there have been several Nov. 3 swear-
ing-in cere-
low and moderate income senior citi- attempts to redevelop the structure for
monies. Kenneth
zens. When completed, the develop- offices or senior citizen housing, but
ment would complement the commu- those failed. This year, it was placed C o u n c i l Coachman
nity’s housing and economic revival. on Preserve Alabama’s list of Places in members had
Peril, historic buildings threatened by been unable to settle on coun-
“That would be great. It would really cil procedures for the next ad-
neglect or possible demolition.
be a star in our crown of renovation,” ministration and also the se-
said Magnolia Cook, president of the The next step is for the state to sub-
lection of a mayor pro tem.
Ensley Community. “I’m very proud of mit the nomination to the National Those disagreements carried
our progress out here.” Park Service. It’s not known exactly over into the regular meeting.
when the National Park Service will Council member Vincent
Winning the designation recognizes rule on the Ramsay-McCormack appli- Smith, re-elected in District 2,
the historic value of the building, but cation, but once it is received, the park NEWS STAFF/JERRY AYRES said he would like to have
it serves another purpose: developers service has 45 days to decide, Fleming
who want to make improvements to said.
The 10-story Ramsay-McCormack Building in Ensley was completed in time to get to know three new
1929 and was part of a thriving business district during the heyday of council members and study
buildings on the National Register can their resumes to see what ex-
apply for tax credits. E-MAIL: aruisi@bhamnews.com Birmingham’s steel mills. perience they bring to the city.
He voiced the same argument
for the appointment of coun-
cil committees.

Adamsville wins grant for heart defibrillators “I just finished my first

term,” he said. “I would like
abetter opportunity to under-
stand better what the commit-
By MONIQUE FIELDS heart monitors are older and only one the department used a $300,000 grant 1980s and was in need of replace- tees are. We don’t know each
News staff writer has 12 leads that can provide a full to purchase a new fire engine. ment. other. I’d like to understand
picture of what’s happening with a Grants are “the best way to get up-
The Adamsville Fire Department patient’s heart. This year, though, two grants have See FAIRFIELD Page 2W
grades,” Harbison said. “It’s a win-win
has won a $38,000 federal grant to re- helped the department secure new situation, if you can get the grant.”
place two heart monitor defibrillators. “It’s not only helping us provide equipment. The department will soon
care, but it’s helping citizens by re- receive a new extrication tool, a pur- If there had not been a grant for the
new heart monitors, Adamsville may BESSEMER
The Fire Act Grant, sponsored by ceiving a higher level of care,” said Lt. chase that would not be possible
the Department of Homeland Secu- Scott Harbison. without a $5,000 grant awarded by have had to sponsor fundraisers to
rity, will allow the department to re-
place two older models and give fire- Under the grant guidelines, the city
CAWACO Resource Conservation &
Development Council, Harbison said.
purchase the equipment.
Instead, Harbison expects the
Schools use
fighters more capability to examine a
patient’s heart.
has to match 5 percent, or $2,000, of
the total grant awarded. The grant is
the second federal grant the depart-
The city absorbed the rest of the
$16,000 cost. The city’s current extri-
department will have its new equip-
ment by the end of the year. grant to curb
Both of the department’s current ment has received since 2002, when cation tool was purchased in the E-MAIL: mfields@bhamnews.com
smoking
By RAHKIA NANCE
News staff writer
TeErykah
Perkins, 10,
writes on a
Jonesboro Elementary group The Alabama Department
of Public Health granted
$29,000 to Gateway, a nonpro-
greeting card
as part of a
community
reaches out with letters, cards fit counseling organization, to
partner with Bessemer City
Schools in a Tobacco Free
service By RAHKIA NANCE The students also hosted a toy drive to benefit program. The program targets
project at News staff writer Children’s Hospital and the Bessemer Fire sixth-graders and high school
Jonesboro As the holiday season rolls around, a Department. students.
Elementary Jonesboro Elementary School community “You know how it feels when I give you Gateway began working
School. She is service group is doing its part to help others. things,” Murray told the children. “Think with the system after review-
part of a Last week the group began writing what the little kids at the hospital are going to
ing results from a survey that
community Christmas cards to soldiers and Marines serv- do. It’s going to change their Christmas.”
showed heavy tobacco use
service group ing in Iraq.
among youths in Bessemer
that will send For some students, writing the letters pro-
The group has nearly six times as many stu- schools, said Jennifer Lackey,
greeting dents this year than it did last year when it a Gateway program director.
vided a personal connection to the war being
cards to fought overseas. For others, it was a personal
launched. Last year the group had 23 stu- At Jess Lanier High School,
soldiers and introduction, said Becky Murray, the group’s
dents. This year 137 students are in the group. students in the Student Gov-
Marines in coordinator. Murray came up with the ideas as she was
ernment Association have
Iraq. “They’re hearing about things going on brainstorming service activities for the group
been brainstorming ways to
mark the Great American
with the war,” she said. “They’re going to stop over the summer. Smokeout on Nov. 20.
and think, ‘Maybe they got one of my cards.’ ” “A lot of the activities I saw were actually
TeErykah Perkins, 10, said she joined the Last year, students met at a
for adults,” she said. “But I realized that the Bessemer shopping center
group because she thought it would be nice to kids can do this too. If you give the kids a and educated passers-by
help other people. chance, they can start early. And that’s what about the dangers of smoking.
“(The soldiers and Marines) will feel happy we’re trying to get them to see. You can make This year, students will par-
because we thought about them,” she said. a difference no matter what your age.” ticipate in an awareness event
This month the group also collected more
NEWS STAFF/RAHKIA NANCE
than 1,000 canned goods during a food drive. E-MAIL: rnance@bhamnews.com See SMOKE Page 2W

JUST A CHAT JAMES M. WOOTEN

‘I’m a part-time judge. I’m a full-time lawyer, husband and father.’
Bio: James M. Wooten has been an attor- lived out in Brookside. theft, any kind of misdemeanor that oc- thankful and proud to have it, but I don’t
ney for 21 years and practices employment Will you continue practicing law? Yes. curs within Brookside. expect anyone to call me judge. I’m a part-
and labor law. On Nov. 3, he was ap- (Being municipal judge) is a part-time po- What is your philosophy on crime and time judge. I’m a full-time lawyer, hus-
pointed municipal judge for the town of sition. We’ll have court one night every punishment? My philosophy is pretty sim- band and father.
Brookside. He lives in Homewood with his month. Fortunately, there aren’t a lot of ple. I try to be fair to the person. I try to What do you do in your spare time? I’m
two sons, 11 and 7, and his wife, Tracy. municipal violations in Brookside. listen to the circumstances under which cub master for a Cub Scout pack in Home-
What’s your connection to Brookside? I What kind of cases will you hear? It will the violation was committed. wood. I’ve helped coach baseball to some
grew up for the most part in Forestdale be mainly traffic violations, DUI, domestic How do you feel about being called extent for both of their baseball teams.
and as a result I knew a few people who disputes, domestic violence, misdemeanor judge? That’s a name. It’s a title, and I’m Monique Fields