he 1962 Governor’s Race was between George Wallace, James “Big Jim” Folsom, and newcomer Ryan DeGraffenreid, a state senator from Tuscaloosa. Television had become the new medium. Therefore, Wallace, Folsom, and DeGraffenreid had all bought 30-minute, live television shows the night before the election.STEVE FLOWERS Columnist MICHAEL BIRD Columnist

I was told today that Alabama Power may come on private citizens property and install power particulars without the proper property documents filed in our county courthouses, and the PSC has no power whatsoever to stop this. Since retiring to Alabama in 2004, I have noticed this violation over and over again, as well as lack of courtesy to even contact, and ask for authority to come on private property. And because of this weakness, other big utilities (Spectrum Cable, and AT&T) will follow suit to hang service lines on the power poles without property owner consent or notification. If these weak agencies will not support private citizens as in their by-laws, then why are taxpayers supporting the existence of such waste? I’m not sure that Alabama Power can stand much more negative advertising after the recent releases on questionable action by their organizational leaders. Maybe it’s time that citizen/ voters demand proper representation from their legislature. y former colleague at Robert E. Lee High School, percussion instructor and baseball coach Donnie Hudson, used to get excited by the smell of freshly cut grass on our Ann Street practice field and say, “it’s almost band season.”gathered to welcome the mighty Lee Band back home.

– seven thousand people. I have a recording of the WHHY-AM 1440 (now Y-102 FM) aircheck of the event, and the announcer, Dave Hartline, reports a crowd estimated at 7000 people in attendance. It was like a giant pep rally welcoming home the victors.

That’s right

It is hard to imagine a school band gaining that kind of positive notoriety, but I believe it is still possible. From the time of John Philip Sousa at the turn of the last century, people have expected band music at various events, such as football games. Can you imagine attending a silent football game with no music accompanying the action? With Dr. Robby Glasscock and

Mrs. Melanie Skeen finishing up band camp at Tallassee last week, we also want to commemorate a special anniversary from ten years ago this year. Mr. Ed Watkins was honored by the National High School Band Directors Hall of Fame for his work as a music educator in the Tallassee community. “The Colonel,” a classmate of Dr. Long’s at the University of Alabama in the 1940s, served as Tallassee’s band director from 1950-1987. He established many of the traditions of our band and ensured the band’s important role in our school.

In just a few months, we will be moving out of our old rehearsal space into a new facility. But no one will ever forget the contributions of all who came before, especially the life and legacy of Mr. Watkins and his entire teaching career being spent at one place.

As lines are painted on practice fields, marching drills are charted, routines are worked out, and music is being memorized, we are grateful that the school band legacy lives on in our town and thousands of other communities like ours. For over 120 years, schools have relied on band programs to provide everything from pep to pomp.

Dr. Long used to begin the first band rehearsal of the summer by telling us that “the moon is turning into a football”. Let the games, and band season, begin!