AROUND THE AREA

Good Roots grant plants oaks

The Alexander City Municipal Complex gained 14 trees last month.

Alexander City Mayor Woody Baird proclaimed Saturday, Jan. 22, as Arbor Day and the Alexander City Tree Board recognized the day by planting 14 overcup oaks in the parking lot medians, designed to provide shade as they grow and visually frame the entrance.

This project was done with the help and coordination of parks and recreation director Sonny Wilson and the Parks and Recreation Department.

The project was a joint effort of the tree board, Wilson and Benjamin Russell High School’s FFA chapter.

Representing the FFA chapter were students Weston Blake, Kayden Ray, Slade Davis, Stihl Smith, Camden Adair, Robert Bice, Sarah Brown, Palmer Peppers, Anna McCaleb, Nathan Jones and Grayson Weithoner and FFA advisor Josh Williams. Tree board members Larry Bates, Eric Brown, Richard Wagoner and Rick Jones were also present.

The trees were mostly paid for by a $1,000 grant from the Alabama Power Foundation’s Good Roots program, supporting public initiatives that maintain an excellent quality of life in our communities; enhancing and improving the quality of the environment in communities across the state; and encouraging active community involvement. The foundation believes that trees are key to creating healthy environments and improving the quality of life in Alabama. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and filter dust, pollen and other pollutants from the air, as well as release oxygen. According to Good Roots, treeshaded neighborhoods can be between three and six degrees cooler, and properly placed trees can decrease air conditioning bills up to 75 percent. Good Roots recipients are public entities and must plant the trees in public areas. Alexander City’s tree board has now planted almost 400 trees in town.

~ Staff Report

Cushion Source brings jobs to New Site

Custom decorating manufacturer Cushion Source will bring 25 cut-and-sew jobs to Tallapoosa County in a building previously used in the textile industry. The company makes custom order indoor and outdoor cushions. Cushion Source owner Gerry Monroe said the company has been built with the idea of keeping jobs in the United States.

“From the very beginning the Cushion Source brand has been built on ‘Made in the USA’,” Monroe said. “With all that has happened over the last few years, more people are realizing how strategically important it is for us not to depend on some offshore company to provide us what we need. Cushion Source is doing our part to bring back these skilled jobs at a company that values the contribution of our team members.”

Monroe believes Tallapoosa County is the ideal place to expand Cushion Source.

“We believe that New Site is the perfect location to hire a qualified, dedicated team to create the highest quality cushions available anywhere,” Monroe said.

LMAEDA Executive Director Chad Odom said vision and partnerships are bringing new jobs to Tallapoosa County. The Cushion Source announcement just proves what can be accomplished working together.

~ Cliff Williams

First Responders treated to Lunch on the Farm

Brown bags were filled with cheeseburgers and hot dogs at Kylee Cooper Farms as the Alabama Forestry Commission held a luncheon for area first responders on Jan. 21. Representatives from the Alexander City Fire Department, New Site Police Department, Jacksons Gap Police Department, Dadeville Police Department, Camp Hill Police Department, Tallapoosa/Alexander City Rescue Squad, Lake Martin Rescue Squad and volunteer fire departments were recognized. Photo by Cliff Williams