Opelika AL News Commentary and Reading Recommendations

Awesome statistics. But how long will the boom last?

From http://www.wtvm.com/Global/story.asp?S=2841648&nav=8fapVTLq:
 
A record breaking number for home sales in the Auburn-Opelika area... that's what agencies are calling the $316 million poured into residential real estate in 2004.
"There are two sides to a real estate transaction: the listing side and the selling side. In that $300 million plus, there were about 2,800 sides to the real estate transactions," said Sherri McCollum, a realtor at First Realty in Auburn.(...)
"Rates are still low, and availability should still be good in 2005. We're predicting a little bit of a slow down, but you can't have a record year every year," said McCollum. The average mortgage rate last year was 5.5 percent. However, bank officers say the increase should be minimal, and you might find the home of your dreams for a reasonable price.

When everybody claim that real estate prices will only go up and up and up... that's when the risk is greatest that there is a real estate bubble. And bubbles can burst...

06:29 AM   

It's kind of rare that Tuscaloosa inspires Auburn to do anything. But even rivals can learn from one another :-)

From http://www.theplainsman.com/vnews/displa...3/42022aca16cc8:
 
"Auburn City Council is favorable in requesting the state Legislature to put in a vote for the traffic cameras," Ham said.
He said that the idea of installing traffic cameras came from looking at research and test efforts done in Tuscaloosa. (...) "The bill puts the cost of the ticket at $250. Not only is it a lot to pay for a ticket, but you are also paying a big amount for a small violation," Watkins said. (...) The Opelika City Council plans on asking legislation during the 2005 session to pass the resolution that would enable cities to install traffic light cameras.(...)
"The streets belong to the public. When you drive on public streets you give up some of your privacy rights. Running red lights is a serious traffic hazard, and this project would make Opelika and other cities safer to drive in," Fuller said.

The cost to purchase and install a camera right now is $50,000. That seems kind of steep considering that you can get a video home security system for a few hundred buck these days, but I guess they're paying government prices...

08:36 AM   

Great news!

From http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity...10636209.htm?1c:
 
Jo-Ann Stores Inc., an Ohio-based fabric and craft retailer, announced plans Thursday to build a $45 million distribution center here that will eventually provide 425 jobs.
The company said it plans to break ground on the 700,000-square-foot distribution center in March, and it should open in April 2006.

Jo-Ann Stores operates 743 fabric and crafts stores and 114 superstores in 47 states.
 
I loved to shop there when my son was little, as they have plenty of nickle- and dime items that can bring as much joy to a child as a high-priced toy.
 
Just walking through the store will give you plenty of ideas for fun activities that don't involve the TV.

08:20 AM   

The Auburn Plainsman reports that Lee County, which already has the third-lowest unemployment rate in Alabama behind Blount and Shelby counties, saw a further drop in unemployment: from 6.0% in August to 5.7% in September.

From http://www.theplainsman.com/vnews/displa...1/41936c21674a4:
 
Clenney said once school starts back, there are more jobs available and less people looking for jobs. Unemployment rates for October are expected to be released next week. Clenney thought that would be when something out of the ordinary might appear.
Clenney said, “I don’t have any reason to think that they’ll go up any.” She said unless there are major layoffs in Lee County, the county’s unemployment rate should continue to drop.

From the article, it looks like the drop is mostly a seasonal trend. But it's nice to see that Lee County is going (relatively) strong.

09:53 AM   

Amazing... and a shame, really.

From http://www.andalusiastarnews.com/article...ion/891opin.txt:
 
Section 182 is still on the books. It lays out very specific - some of which are archaic - stipulations as to who cannot vote in this state. That section reads: "All idiots and insane persons; (...) those who shall be convicted of treason, murder, arson, embezzlement, malfeasance in office, larceny, receiving stolen property, obtaining property or money under false pretenses, perjury, subornation of perjury, robbery, assault with intent to rob, burglary, forgery, bribery, assault and battery on the wife, bigamy, living in adultery, sodomy, incest, rape, miscegenation (interracial marriage or union), crime against nature, or any crime punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary, or of any infamous crime or crime involving moral turpitude (...)"
(...) With 287 sections and a whopping 742 amendments, Alabama's constitution is the largest state constitution in the United States.

I do wonder why it's so hard to change a document. Section 102 on interracial marriages was stricken down by an amendment in 2000. Why not tackle all the other racist phrases, too? It's about time.

06:44 AM   

Brad Cotter, the most recent “Nashville Star” winner and Opelika native, will perform in front of the Beard-Eves Memorial Coliseum at 5 p.m. His concert will benefit an Auburn university hunger campaign.

From http://www.theplainsman.com/vnews/displa...4/416e7739b457c:
 
To get the message out to students, 19 student leaders were selected to form a campaign committee. Group members will solicit 19-cent donations during the concert. “We’re asking for 19 cents a day because that’s how much money it takes to feed a hungry child,” said Ira Fannin, a sophomore in political science.

06:39 AM   

The problem is that with the increase in state tobacco tax, cities will be barred from raising local taxes on tobacco. This will put a squeeze on a lot of rural areas.

From http://www.demopolistimes.com/articles/2...news/news18.txt:
 
A conference committee in the Alabama Legislature approved a 23-cent tax increase on each package of tobacco during Wednesday night meetings. (...) It's simple to see the logic behind organizations like R.J. Reynolds who manufacture tobacco products and don't like to see the continued criminalization of their product.
According to the company's "My Smokers' Rights" Web site, Alabama communities bring in $22.9 million in local sales tax on tobacco products. The state of Alabama rakes in $62.5 million each fiscal year from the tax. And the federal government, which taxes each pack at 39 cents, brings in $7.5 billion each year from cigarette tax collections.

A lot of local governments quickly increased the tobacco tax before the new state legislature takes effect.

06:40 AM   

Be careful with space heaters.

From Local woman killed in fire started by electric space heater:
 
A fire that engulfed an Opelika residence, killing a 71-year-old woman, appears to have been started by an electric space heater, fire officials said. (...) "Investigators say the fire appears to be electrical in origin and no foul play is suspected," said Lee County Coroner Bill Harris.
Dan Mitchell of the Opelika Fire Department said the wood-frame residence was divided into apartments and it appears the fire was started by an electric space heater in the living room of one unit.
He said two men in the apartment were able to escape but the woman died.

I love electric space heaters as they remind me of my childhood, and it creates a cozy environment to have a space heater on full blast next to you while you read a book. But, they are dangerous.

09:23 AM   

WFSA features a touching article about a local soldier killed in Iraq, in an ambush on his humvee.

From http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=1770560&nav=0RdEM8Uq:
 
Hiller says as a teenager, Dusty got into mischief and was sent to juvenile boot camp. That sparked his desire to join the Army. He got out then re-enlisted. Hiller says, "he wanted to retire. He wanted to be like my father. My father retired from the Army and that's what Dusty wanted."

Dusty's wife is pregnant. The baby is due in August. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.

08:58 AM   

Opelika is becoming truly cosmopolitan now.

From http://www.theplainsman.com/vnews/displa...9/40187be9c7862:
 
On Jan. 20, the Opelika City Council passed an amendment to City Code which would allow local nightclubs to remain open on Saturday nights until 2 a.m.
The amendment allows an extension from the previous closing time at midnight.
All council members, excluding Dr. William Lazenby, who was absent, and Patsy Jones, abstained, were in agreement.
Opelika businessman and owner of Eighth & Rail, Cooper Ray, said he was content with the support from City Council.
"It's just a good business decision," Ray said. "Opelika and Auburn are so connected that we basically share the same customer base."
Ray said just as things start to pick up, he has to announce last call and close for the night.
"We don't really get busy until 10:30 or 11 p.m. on a weekend," Ray said.
"So the fact that we have to close down at midnight while bars in Auburn stay open until 2 a.m. is like trying to run a business with your hands tied behind your back."

06:10 AM   

'Without a Trace', in Opelika... This case looks like it's on track to finally getting solved.

From http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=1614746&nav=0RdEKOHC:
 
A cold case is heating up for the Opelika Police Department. For two years, Investigators were hard pressed for clues in the disappearance of Al Wilson.
(...) Al Wilson left work at Palm Harbor on July 27th of 2001,to show a customer a manufactured home near-by, and he never returned.
He was never heard from again. Since that day, two years ago, investigators with the Opelika Police Department have searched for answers.
The only clue police had to go on was that Wilson was last seen leaving work in his 1996 green ford pickup truck. And through new leads there was a big break in the case. The truck was found in Talbotton, a town just north east of Columbus Georgia.
Investigators say this is definitely suspicious because they found the truck buried under five feet of earth.

Let Opelika authorities know if you have any more information in this case.

08:06 AM