SOS (Save OurSelves Movement for Justice and Democracy) announced plans to march all the way from Selma to Montgomery on the 50th Anniversary of the world famous 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery March that helped bring about the landmark Voting Rights Act. State and national leaders, including representatives from SOS and SCLC, held a news conference  Wednesday, October 15th, at 11:15 a.m. on the 3rd floor of the Alabama State House to announce plans for the upcoming march re-enactment.
Charles Steele, National President of SCLC, the organization that organized and led the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery March, said, “No single act of Congress brought more democracy to America than the 1965 Voting Rights Act. It changed America by including the left out. Without the Selma-to-Montgomery March and the events that preceded it, there would be no Voting Rights Act.”
The re-enactment will commence on Sunday, March 8 and conclude on Friday, March 13, 2015. It will commence at the end of the annual Bloody Sunday March and the Bridge Crossing Jubilee.  SCLC, and leaders of the Bridge Crossing Jubilee and the National Voting Rights Museum have sponsored the full march from Selma to Montgomery every five years since the 1970s and sometimes in between.
Hank Sanders, Alabama State Senator said, “The march will be a celebration, but it must also be a call to struggle. Voting rights are under the most severe attacks since the 1950s and 60s. We must protect and expand voting rights as we celebrate.”
Representative Alvin Holmes, who co-chaired the Selma to Montgomery March in 2012 said, “The March started in Selma but ended in Montgomery. Montgomery must be a key part of the re-enactment of the Selma-to-Montgomery March on the 50th Anniversary.”
Representative John Knight said, “The 50th Anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery March is a great time for all of us that have benefitted from the Voting Rights Act to come together in celebration and recommitment.  The struggle for voting rights is not over but continues on all fronts.”
Representative Thad McClammy said, “We will work together with others to make this the most successful Selma-to-Montgomery March Re-enactment of all times.  The original march was successful because so many leaders and organizations worked together. We must work together.”
Dr. Joe Reed said, “We must do everything in our power to protect voting rights that are under relentless attack. The Selma-to-Montgomery March is one way to advance the continuing fight for voting rights as we celebrate.”
Tuskegee Mayor Johnny Ford said, “The March is big enough to include everybody. No one is excluded and everyone is invited.  Voting rights protect us all and we all have to protect voting rights.”

MONTGOMERY – Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange has announced the convictions of Dr. Deann K. Stone, the former Director of Federal Programs for the State Department of Education, and her husband, Dave Stone, an employee of Information Transport Solutions, Inc., on felony state ethics charges. Both are from Wetumpka.
Attorney General Strange’s Special Prosecutions Division partnered with agents and auditors with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General in an investigation into the allocation of $49,000,000 in federal grant money under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for failing Alabama schools. The Office of Inspector General’s February 2012 Audit Report found a conflict of interest and raised serious concerns about the 2010 awarding of Recovery Act School Improvement Grant funds to local education agencies.
“These defendants not only betrayed taxpayers but also the citizens and students of Alabama who were counting on scarce resources to help schools that were in dire need,” said Attorney General Strange.
Prosecutors presented evidence at a trial that began on September 29 and lasted through October 9 showing that with the help of her husband Dave, Dr. Deann Stone took actions to manipulate the grant process to ensure that school districts that have agreements with Dave Stone’s business employer received millions in federal grant money. The jury deliberated for part of Friday morning before returning guilty verdicts for both Deann K. Stone and Dave Stone as charged in the following five counts:
·                 Count 1 charged Deann Stone and Dave Stone with violating the state ethics law by intentionally using Dr. Stone’s official position as Director of Federal Programs to obtain personal gain for themselves or Information Transport Solutions, Inc., through the allocation and funding of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Title I, Part A, 1003(g) School Improvement Grant to the Lowndes County School System;

·                 Count 2 charged Deann Stone and Dave Stone with violating the state ethics law by intentionally using Dr. Stone’s official position as Director of Federal Programs to obtain personal gain for themselves or Information Transport Solutions, Inc., through the allocation and funding of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Title I, Part A, 1003(g) School Improvement Grant to the Marengo County School System;

·                 Count 3 charged Deann Stone and Dave Stone with violating the state ethics law by intentionally using Dr. Stone’s official position as Director of Federal Programs to obtain personal gain for themselves or Information Transport Solutions, Inc., through the allocation and funding of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Title I, Part A, 1003(g) School Improvement Grant to the Coosa County School System;

·                 Count 4 charged Deann Stone and Dave Stone with violating the state ethics law by intentionally using a state computer, a state email account, the human labor and/or the time of Dr. Stone and another state employee, or documents and/or materials created by state employees, for their private or business benefit through the allocation and funding of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Title I, Part A, 1003(g) School Improvement Grant to the Lowndes, Marengo, and Coosa County School Systems; and

·                 Count 5 charged Deann Stone and Dave Stone with violating state ethics law by intentionally soliciting or receiving meals, transportation, and hotel expenses in Boston, Massachusetts from Cambium Learning, Inc., for themselves for the purpose of influencing official action.

Sentencing is set for December 15, 2014, when the defendants will face potential penalties of two to 20 years and fines of up to $30,000 for each of the five counts for which they were convicted.
“I want to thank the Office of Inspector General for performing a thorough audit of the federal stimulus money intended to help struggling Alabama schools and the Investigative Services Branch for partnering with my office to investigate this matter,” said Attorney General Strange. “This kind of cooperative effort among state and federal law enforcement agencies maximizes our resources to more effectively combat crimes of public corruption.”
“As the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Department of Education, ensuring that those who steal Federal education funds or game the system for their own selfish purposes are stopped and held accountable for their criminal actions is a big part of our mission,” said Kathleen S. Tighe, Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Education. “That’s why I’m proud of the work of OIG and our law enforcement colleagues for holding these individuals accountable for their criminal actions.”
The Attorney General commended Assistant Attorneys General Bill Lisenby and Pete Smyczek and Special Agents in the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division, as well as Special Agents and Auditors of the United States Department of Education, Office of Inspector General.

Invited guests reflect on the impact of the arts in Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Woodlawn Foundation, Audiostate 55 Recording Studios, and Berklee College of Music co-hosted a gathering of some of Birmingham’s thought leaders to reflect on the role the arts, and particularly music, may play transforming and enhancing the greater Birmingham community.
The October 9th event was held at the newly remodeled Veranda on Highland restaurant reopening as Gallery and Garden and presented in the “Jeffersonian Meal” format, in which a dozen invited guests from varying backgrounds and industries gather together to discuss a specific topic that’s of interest to the group. This private event was held to support and raise awareness of the Woodlawn Music Technology Program, which is for middle through high school age students to build awareness of the technology used in music production and recording engineering using the state-of-the-art recording studios and music tech labs at Audiostate 55 and the Woodlawn Music Tech Lab.
Since 2013, Audiostate 55 Recording Studios and the Woodlawn Music Technology Program have been members of the exclusive Berklee City Music Network, a nonprofit education initiative that harnesses the energy of contemporary music to reach underserved students across the country. Through BCMN, students and teachers have access to the Berklee PULSE Music Method and students are eligible to receive scholarships to attend Berklee’s Five-Week Summer Performance Program, and ultimately Berklee College of Music. To date, two Audiostate 55 students have received City Music Summer Scholarships and one has received a City Music College Scholarship.
Woodlawn Foundation is the lead organization for the Woodlawn United comprehensive community change effort. Having a lead organization is one of the unique features of the Purpose Built Communities holistic revitalization model. Woodlawn Foundation focuses solely on the shared vision of Woodlawn United partners and works to: improve communications among partners, eliminate duplication of efforts, and leverage resources.

Audiostate 55 Recording Studios & Entertainment Company is a premier state-of-the art facility located in the heart of Birmingham’s Woodlawn Business District. The company’s world-class team of engineers and arrangers has produced for many notable award-winning artists and record companies such as Stevie Wonder, the Neville Brothers, Chaka Kahn, and American Idol winners Ruben Studdard and Carrie Underwood. Audiostate 55’s founder and president, Dr. Henry Panion, III,  created The Woodlawn Music Tech program to provide an opportunity for elementary through high school age students to gain exposure to and awareness of the technology used throughout the entertainment industry and to allow them opportunities to gain real-world experiences that can lead to rewarding college and career opportunities.

Berklee College of Music was founded on the revolutionary principal that the best way to prepare students for careers in music is through the study and practice of contemporary music. For more than 65 years, the college has evolved to reflect the state of the art of music and the music business, leading the way with the world’s first baccalaureate studies in jazz, rock, electric guitar, film scoring, songwriting, turntables, electronic production, and more than a dozen other genres and fields of study. Berklee serves distance learners worldwide through its award-winning online extension school, Berklee Online. The college’s national after school music program for underserved teens, the Berklee City Music Network, is in 30 cities and counting. A new campus in Spain, Berklee in Valencia, began hosting the college’s first graduate programs in the fall of 2012. With a diverse and talented student body representing more than 100 countries, and alumni and faculty that have collectively won more than 305 Grammys and Latin Grammys, Berklee is the world’s premier learning lab for the music of today – and tomorrow.

MONTGOMERY – Transportation Director John Cooper has announced the timeline for completing the transition to a new organizational structure for the Alabama Department of Transportation.
Under the timeline announced in late September, efforts will begin immediately to finalize the process of consolidating ALDOT’s nine divisions into five regions. The new organizational structure is aimed at providing increased decision-making authority at the local level, along with greater accountability and efficiency.
The remaining consolidations will create ALDOT’s Northern Region, West Central Region and East Central Region. Previous consolidations created the Southwestern Region in July 2013 and the Southeastern Region effective Oct. 1.
In north Alabama, the First and Second Divisions are combining to form ALDOT’s Northern Region. The Northern Region will consist of Cherokee, Cullman, Dekalb, Etowah, Jackson, Madison and Marshall counties from the First Division and Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone and Morgan counties from the Second Division. Cooper has appointed First Division Engineer Johnny Harris to the position of region engineer for the Northern Region. This consolidation will be completed by Nov. 1. The Northern Region office will be located in Huntsville.
ALDOT’s West Central Region will be operational by Dec. 1. Cooper has appointed Second Division Engineer James Brown to the position of region engineer for the West Central Region. The West Central Region will be made up of the Fifth Division counties of Bibb, Chilton, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, and Tuscaloosa counties, plus Marion and Winston counties from the Second Division, Dallas County from the Southeast Region (former Sixth Division) and Walker County from the Third Division. Fifth Division Engineer Dee Rowe will serve as the assistant region engineer for the West Central Region. The West Central Region office will be located in Tuscaloosa.
ALDOT’s East Central Region will be operational by Jan. 1. Cooper has appointed Fourth Division Engineer Dejarvis Leonard to the position of region engineer for the East Central Region. The East Central Region will be made up of Blount, Calhoun, Chambers, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Jefferson, Randolph, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega and Tallapoosa counties. Third Division Engineer Brian Davis will head a new Office of Engineering Services working with ALDOT’s chief engineer on statewide planning and policy issues.
“When we announced the process of consolidating our nine divisions into five regions, we recognized it would be a phased process,” Cooper said. “We have piloted the process in the Southwestern Region based in Mobile, and have found it to be effective and efficient from a customer service standpoint with citizens and local government officials, and in managing our construction and maintenance needs. I have every confidence that we will see continued improvements in our responsiveness, customer service and project management under this new organizational structure.”

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Renasant Bank will host a FREE workshop for small business owners on Thursday, October 23 from 9:30 to 11a.m. at the Pratt City Library.  The topic will be Financing, Lending Sources and Credit.  The session will be led by Jarvis Morehead, Vice President, and Relationship Banker for Renasant Bank. Mr. Morehead will discuss financing, lending sources, and credit requirements, as well as strategies you may be able to implement to enhance your credit.
To register, please visit: http://movetogreaterservice.com/smallbiz.
This is the third in a free six-part entrepreneurial success series that Renasant Bank is hosting to help small businesses succeed. Series topics include Financial Management, Networking and Relationship Building, Social Media, Tax Information, Business Plan Components, Human Resources and Access to Capital.
Renasant staff and local experts are leading these valuable learning sessions throughout the Birmingham and Shelby County communities. The event is co-sponsored by Birmingham Public Library System and Trudy Phillips Consulting.  Complimentary refreshments will be served.
Tracey Morant Adams, Senior Vice President Small Business and Community Development Director said of the series, “This free series is part of Renasant Bank’s continuing commitment to further the success of small business owners and entrepreneurs in our area. We are pleased to provide valuable tools and insight to help our local community businesses thrive and flourish.”

Future sessions include:
Nov. 20, 2014       Self-employed & Small Business Tax Workshop            Woodlawn Public Library
Jan. 15, 2015        One-Page Business Plan with Financial Projections         Alabaster City Hall
Feb. 12, 2015        Contract Employees vs. Full Time Employees                Avondale Public Library

To register for any of the sessions, please visit: http://movetogreaterservice.com/smallbiz.

 During the Birmingham City Council Meeting on October 14, 2014 Council:

Approved a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a Contract for Professional
Services with Public Resource Management Alliance Corporation (“PReMA Corp”) under
which PReMA Corp. will discover unlicensed non-compliant businesses in Birmingham,
Alabama and its Police Jurisdiction for all years applicable, for a term of 1 year and the
City will pay PReMA Çorp. a fee of 39% of collected business license taxes and related
fees, penalties and interest remitted to the City. For more information please contact the
Office of the Mayor at 205.254.2271.

Other items approved by the Council at today’s meeting include the following:
1. Approved an Ordinance authorizing the issuance of General Obligation
Refunding Bonds, Series 2014-A. For more information please contact the Office
of the Mayor at 205.254.2771.

2. Approved an Ordinance authorizing the issuance of General Obligation
Refunding Warrants, Series 2014-B. For more information please contact Office
of the Mayor at 205.254.2771.

3. Approved a Resolution determining that the National Veterans Day in
Birmingham Celebration, including the Veterans Day Parade, the National
Veterans Award Banquet and the World Peace Luncheon that will be held
November 10-11, 2014 serves a public purpose that promotes goodwill and
serves a public interest, and requesting that City funds be administered to pay for
this event in accordance with Section 3-1-7 of the General Code of the City of
Birmingham. For more information please contact the Office of the Councilor
Kimberly Rafferty at 205.254.2294.

4. Approved a Resolution appointing one (1) member (Jason Fondren) to the
Birmingham Planning Commission for a six (6) year term expiring October 6,
2020. For more information please contact the Office of the Councilor Jay
Roberson at 205.254.2294

5. Referred to the Committee of the Whole an Ordinance to increase the
compensation of the members of the City Council, said increase to be effective
on the first day of the new term following the City of Birmingham 2017 municipal
general election. For more information please contact the Office of the City
Council at 205.254.2234.

Announcements:

1. The Budget and Finance Committee meeting will be held Thursday, October 16,
2014 at 4:00 p.m. in the Conference Rooms D & E.

2. The Third Annual District 7 Football Classic will be held Saturday, October 18,
2014 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Wenonah High School football
stadium.

3. The Fifth Annual District 5 Fun Day will held Sunday, October 19, 2014 from 4:00
p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Railroad Park

4. The Public Safety Committee meeting will be held Monday, October 20, 2014 at
4:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

5. The Committee of the Whole meeting will be held Wednesday, October 22, 2014
at 4:00 p.m. in Conference Rooms D & E.

Are you unable to attend the Birmingham City Council meetings? Watch Council
Meetings on demand. From anywhere in the world you can log on to
www.birminghamalcitycouncil.org and click on the tab Watch Council Meetings; or from
the comfort of your home, tune to Bright House Cable Channel 340. The Birmingham
City Council meetings are free and on demand.

The Bessemer City Council met on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 10 a.m. and took the following actions:

Held a public hearing on 68 weed nuisance properties and approved their abatement.

Approved abatement of weeds at 2618 Sixth Avenue North, 2622 Sixth Avenue North, 2624 Sixth Avenue North, 2626 Sixth Avenue North, 1108 Avenue H, 2008 Long 14th Street North and 1018 Hall Avenue.

Approved report of costs for weed abatement activities at 29 locations for a cost of $10,240.

Approved a payment of $19,093 to EEFS Company P.C. Civil and Structural Engineers for engineering services provided to the city.

Amended resolution 1365-14 for the JB Processing Agreement, condemning two parcels related to the project and establishing JB Processing as the city’s agent of condemnation.

Awarded bid for construction of the city’s new Recreation and Wellness Center to Argo Building Company of Birmingham. The low bid was $12.2 million.

Rejected all bids from the Sept. 30 bid opening for the City Hall project.

Set noon, Nov. 3 as the organizational meeting for the newly elected council.

Approved a refund of $300 to Latoya Long for Bessemer Civic Center rental cancellation.

Approved a refund of $400 to Shatwaina Lester for Bessemer Civic Center rental cancellation.

At noon, the Bessemer City Council met and certified the results of the Oct. 7 run-off elections in the city.
In District 1, incumbent David Vance was declared the winner.
In District 3, Cynthia Stephenson-Donald was declared the winner.
In School Board District 3, Claire B. Mitchell was declared the winner.
In School Board District 6, Joseph Edwards was declared the winner.
In School Board District 7, Carolyn Hudson Wilson was declared the winner.