AROUND THE AREA

Musclecar Museum Reopens

The Wellborn Musclecar Museum held its grand reopening Saturday, June 20th, with the Meeting of the Musclecars. Some 100 cars of all makes and models were on display as car enthusiasts came from across the country to show off their rides and check out the new exhibits. The museum underwent renovations during the two-month closure for COVID-19. Cars inside the building were rearranged, and new ones were rotated in from the personal collection of museum owner Tim Wellborn. ~ Amy Passaretti

CACC names new acting president

Alabama Community College System Chancellor Jimmy H. Baker last month announceed the Jeff Lynn is now the acting president at Central Alabama Community College.

Lynn will lead CACC following the departure of former CACC president Dr. Susan Burrow.

According to an ACCS press release, Lynn will serve in the role of acting president until a president is named following the completion of a search.

Lynn has more than 20 years of workforce and economic development experience across several Southeastern states. He brought his distinctive skill set to ACCS in 2016 where he currently serves as the vice chancellor for aerospace and aviation. Prior to his role at ACCS, Lynn served as the executive director of Workforce Development Programs at LED FastStart for Louisiana Economic Development.

“Mr. Lynn’s experience in both the private sector and in higher education gives him a unique perspective that is advantageous as our colleges strive to meet community and industry needs,” Baker said in the release. “Jeff’s enthusiasm for helping to improve the lives of Alabama’s community college students combined with his practical experience is a perfect fit to lead the CACC family during this time of transition.” ~ Staff report

Jeff Lynn

ACCS Vice Chancellor Jeff Lynn will act as president at CACC until a new president is named.

New LMAEDA director to start next month

More than a year after the unexpected death of Don McClellan, the board of LMAEDA selected Chad Odom, executive director of Wharton Economic Development Corporation in Texas, to lead efforts of industry recruitment in Tallapoosa and Coosa counties. Odom brings more than five years of experience as an executive director at economic development authorities and extensive other business experience to Tallapoosa County.

“Chad in addition to having a very good resume, there is something about him,” David Sturdivant said. “He seems to be a go-getter. I was very impressed with him. I feel like we got a good guy.”

Odom starts Aug. 10 to develop how to possibly restructure the staffing of LMAEDA. ~ Cliff Williams

Wetumpka: A City of Natural Beauty Gets an HGTV Makeover

Above: Townspeople gathered downtown and cheered at the announcement that Wetumpka has been chosen as Erin and Ben Napiers' takeover project; Right: The Napiers announced their choice for the 2021 feature series in a video chat during their television show.

HGTV to feature Wetumpka series

HGTV’s Erin and Ben Napier this month announced they will makeover the City of Wetumpka in their 2021 series, Home Town Takeover. Filming is expected to begin this fall, as the biggest single renovation project in HGTV’s history.

The Napiers have played a large part in Laurel, Mississippi’s, revitalization and economic comeback by renovating homes and businesses, making the town more attractive and appealing to newcomers. After they upgraded a home on a Laurel street, others fixed up the remaining buildings, and whole neighborhoods were transformed, Erin Napier said in a July 2 broadcast saluting the couple’s home town.

With Home Town Takeover, the Napiers hope to bring about similar changes in Wetumpka, an Elmore County community that last year was ravaged by a tornado.

“Our city has come a long way. You guys are going to be the catalyst that takes us all the way,” Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis told the Napiers during a video chat in which the couple announced Wetumpka as their choice for the new series. ~ Betsy Iler