What a busy holiday season! Hopefully, by now, most of us have packed up the lights, garland and tinsel and managed to clear out the holiday leftovers from the fridge! As you plan activities for 2017, please consider cleaning out your closets, storage buildings and garages and donate all those unneeded items to Christ in Us Ministries on Wintzell Avenue. Shelter Directors, Freddy and Lynn Harbison, have opened a thrift store in the rear of the old Schambeau’s building next to Regions Bank in Bayou La Batre. All proceeds will support the family shelter located directly across the street from the store.
Volunteering in the community is another goal that you might be interested in pursuing in the days ahead. Many organizations and boards are busy with special projects and an extra hand is always welcome; one such organization is the Bayou La Batre Planning Board. In 2015, the city received a grant to complete a comprehensive plan for the Greater Bayou La Batre Planning Area. The plan was recently completed under the leadership of former planning board chairman, Col. Roosevelt Lewis and board members, Ida Coleman, Debi Downey, Nancy McCall, Hulen Owens, Michael Place, Denicia Presley, Frank Williams and South Alabama Regional Planning Commission consultant, Nicole Taylor. Phillip Clarke, Brett Dungan, Bill Hibberts, John Wiggins and John Ladnier also contributed many hours of research in the development of the comprehensive plan. The previous board voted to dedicate the 2035 Comprehensive Plan to the memory of board member, John Ladnier, who passed away during the course of his work on the board. He was replaced on the board by Debi Downey who completed his term, which ended on November 1, 2016. Stephanie Godsey was then appointed to that position on the board by the previous administration.
On November 28th, following the election and swearing in of Mayor Terry Downey, on November 7, 2016, new Planning Board members were appointed by Mayor Downey to join him on the board; Lana McGuff- Chairwoman, Debi Downey, and Kimberlyn Barbour. The new board members joined Godsey, Owens, Place, Presley, Williams and Mayor Downey as they voted to accept the 2035 City of Bayou La Batre Comprehensive plan. The next project before the planning board is to complete a total review of all zoning ordinances in place in the City of Bayou La Batre. All those interested in this undertaking can volunteer to assist by attending planning board meetings and participating in various research activities that go along with the zoning review process. Monthly meetings are posted at city hall and can also be found at www.cityofbayoulabatre.com; you may also call 251-824-2171 for the date and time of the next meeting. Public input is needed and always appreciated.
Alma Bryant High School Ambassadors have also been very busy volunteering throughout the year. Current members, under the leadership of Vice Principal, Willie Lewis, serve the school and community in various capacities. It is always a pleasure to see these fine young people out working to make things better in our area. Members are: Anna Adams, Nathaly Alvarez, Ava Balliviero, Morgan Boone, Jeremy Bopp, LaQuincia Burden, Hannah Clary, Haleigh Collier, Madison Copeland, Meagan Crawford, Tessa Davison, Kheia Doss, Tyler Fickling, Kayleigh Garrett, Amber Gorlott, Madison Gunter, Taylor Gunter, Gillian Harmon, Courtney Harris, Addie Holmes, Farrah Horne, Lyona Huot, Brianna Jaimes, Lucero Lopez, Autumn Lovelace, Christina Matis, Cearra McManus, Tobias Moore, Madison Morgan, Fredrick Pettway, Delina Phillips, Kamryn Pigg, Juliana Popple, Brianna Roberson, Sabrina Salter, Wesley Sclumpf, Cody Sclumph, Victoria Serra, Maris Siedell, Jenna Simms, Addy Stringfellow, Mya Thompson, Khayly Voracheck, Kathy Vu.
Congratulations are extended to Alma Bryant High School student, Kamryn Pigg, daughter of Dena Pigg, on her selection as one of the fifty 2017-2018 Azalea Trail Maids for Mobile County! Kamryn also received the prestigious honor of being selected Second-Lady-in-Waiting to the Mobile Azalea Trail Queen. Approximately 1000 girls vie for the honor to serve as an ambassador for the City of Mobile, Alabama. Congratulations to all 2017-18 participants that made it to the interview process and final selections! Current 2016-2017 trail members from Alma Bryant High School are to be commended for their excellent volunteer service throughout the year. Current members serving on the court are: Stephanie Banashak, Jordan Blackmon (First-Lady-in-Waiting), Mary Katherine Brown, Marissa Collier and Brenna Stringfellow. Thank you, MaryLane Hodges Jacobs, ATM advisor, for your dedicated volunteer work with the program. Contributed by, Annette Johnson