From the Editor St. Clair growth, charm around every corner

It’s hard to look around St. Clair County lately and not see signs of growth in just about every corner you look. Pell City and Moody lead the way, but others are quickly grabbing a piece of the coattail and riding its upward path.

Industry expansions, a massive retail development going up, rooftops rapidly multiplying in nearly every area, buildings under construction and ribbon cuttings crowding the calendar – they all point to the same conclusion. St. Clair County is on the grow … again.

It is no small wonder that the county continues to make the top 10 list for fastest growing counties in Alabama every year, and some of its municipalities are making their mark, too. No doubt would-be residents and businesses alike have deduced what we’ve known all along – the county is an ideal place to live, work, stay and play.

Our business section this edition is chocked full of updates and announcements that underscore the notion that St. Clair’s future looks bright in the weeks, months and years that lie ahead. Just take a look at the mega-shopping center rising above I-20 in Pell City or the hundreds of homes being built throughout the region.

Check out the expansion news in Pell City’s industrial community or the commerce park development in Moody. There’s even a Starbucks going up there. A bustling city is evolving from its ‘crossroads’ past, now only a distant memory.

Even as the county leaps forward in terms of big city progress, it manages to hold on to its small-town charm, neighbors helping neighbors and quality of life amenities abounding.

Take Chef T’s, for instance. The Ragland café occupies a nondescript building on the town’s Main Street. What it may lack in curb appeal, it more than makes up for inside, where – like Cheers, everybody knows your name, and they serve up some of the best food around.

Over at the new Steele Library, you’ll see what we mean about quality of life. From the perch of its new home, the library has become a gathering place for youngsters and adults alike, serving them with new programs and activities designed to expand their horizons.

At Pell City’s Love Pantry, serving others is the main order of the day year-round, helping feed their neighbors in need.

If it’s history you like, learn about historic Ashville, which just celebrated its bicentennial – 200 years of history.

Or, step back in time to the early days of stock car racing and how St. Clair Countians helped drive the pioneering sport into what is now NASCAR.

No matter the interest, St. Clair County seems to have it all. Turn the page and discover it all with us.

Carol Pappas Editor and Publisher

Serving up the perfect sandwich