Roy Mitchell

At the July 13 th Town Council meeting, Cedar Bluff approved the purchase of a piece of property that will become the home of the town's police department. The property is on the corner of Spring Street and Highway 68 next to the lot where the municipal offices are already located. The police department currently shares the same building as other Cedar Bluff agencies.

July 14 th Braden Hull visited the WEIS Studio, where afternoon radio personality Crystal Wells interviewed the country singer. Hull spoke of his CD and played a couple of songs on the air, including his new single “End This Way.”

Published: Pleasant Valley Baptist #2 of Collinsville invites children to Vacation Bible School July 17-18.

CENTRE The city took measures at the July 14 th council meeting to simplify business license and building permit purchases. The council will let their contract with AVENU run out and switch to TekconnectGov for both business license and building permit purchases. Business permits are currently sold by the city itself. The council approved paying a $5,000 initial fee and $2,500 for the two modules, pending the approval of the contract by the city attorney.

At the July 20 th city council meeting, Mayor Jeff Chandler announced city personnel changes. With Ross Orr and Shelton Driskill set to retire, Collinsville has hired Ricky Robles, Kevin McElrath, and Kenneth Wilbanks. While McElrath is completing the last two weeks of his previous job, Robles and Wilbanks will start duties such as mowing and training for garbage truck routes.

In the Piedmont City Council's work session, Brandy Faulkner of Kemp and Associates presented the results of the city's audit report. The CPA stated that the firm found “no reportable problems.” Faulkner noted that in the last two fiscal years, Piedmont took in less money than it spent. She attributed some of that discrepancy to increased prices.

At their July 20 th meeting, children's librarian Shelby Simpson updated the Collinsville City Council about the summer reading program. Through June and July, 113 children participated, learning about bugs and making bug-related projects. The finished products will be a part of an art exhibit on display during Turkey Trot. The November Turkey Trot festival is sponsored in part by the Collinsville Historic Association. It includes arts and crafts, an antique car and tractor show, and a turkey toss from the roof of a building.

Piedmont police chief Nathan Johnson and fire chief Todd Kirkland updated the Piedmont City Council on their departments' actions during their July 21 st meeting.

According to a City of Gadsden social media alert, an ammonia leak was reported and contained this morning, July 22 nd , at the Tyson Foods plant (formerly Keystone) on Steele Station Road.