Ladies and gentlemen, introducing another week of chatter!
Hey, that was pretty tepid. Let’s try it again: Ladies and gentlemen, introducing another week of chatter!
Thank you, you’re very kind. Which reminds us of former Columbus mayor Bob Poydasheff.
At Monday’s 25th annual Black History Observance Breakfast, of which he was co-chairman, Poydasheff was introduced to a crowd of folks finishing off plates of eggs, grits, bacon and both patty and link sausage.
A few people put down their forks to applaud, and Poydasheff took the stand and said he hoped they would give the guest speaker, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri, a warmer reception.
And then Poydasheff, still standing at the podium, reintroduced himself and received a much more impressive round of applause.
If at first you don’t succeed…
In this economy any new jobs are good jobs.
And such was the case this week when Daewon America announced a $13 million expansion of its auto parts plant in Opelika, Ala.
The South Korean supplier to automakers Hyundai, Kia, General Motors and Chrysler unveiled its plans before Opelika City Council Tuesday evening, saying the move will create 32 jobs in the area.
In an era of relentless unemployment and sluggish economic growth, that’s welcome news. It also reinforces the fact that the auto manufacturing industry in the area remains on a major roll, which is fueled, of course, by the Kia Motors assembly plant in West Point, Ga.
Daewon America landed in Opelika in 2007, pledging to create 170 jobs at a 170,000-square-foot plant that makes suspension coil springs and stabilizer bars. Its investment in the factory will now top $65 million.
“It is important that our existing industries be nourished so that they grow in Alabama. We have made this one of our top priorities,” Greg Canfield, Alabama Development Office director, said in a statement.
Amen to that.
And let’s hope that nourishment creates even more interest in the area, spreading the wealth to both Phenix City and Columbus.
Becca Hardin, executive vice president of economic development with the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, says that indeed is the case, with five auto-related companies now actively searching for sites in the surrounding area.
“Some of these projects that we’re working on are looking in Columbus as well,” she said. “I’m hoping that something’s going to be able to come to fruition this quarter.”
Now, for a little chatter culture thanks to Slovenian born master artist Bruno Zupan.
The master, who has a Columbus home, has donated 1,440 copies of the book “Bruno Zupan, Graphic Work, 1975-1991,” to the Muscogee County School District.
Zupan made all of the graphics and his wife, Jane Zupan, edited the book and wrote text.
“It is a wonderful book and a wonderful gift,” said Robbie Holt, school district director of arts and humanities.
Holt said the books will be put in school media centers and art classes and, perhaps, history classes as well.
“It is a lot of books but we will make good use of them,” Holt said.
Zupan has exhibitions of his work in places such as The Kennedy Center and United Nations Headquarters.
Finally, some chatter out of chatter central, better known as Columbus Council.
When Columbus Council goes into executive session, it normally clears the chambers of all spectators and goes about its business in secret. But at Tuesday’s hearing on whether to overturn a ruling by the Personnel Review Board, the councilors filed into their anteroom instead of clearing the chambers.
Was it because there were so many spectators that it would have been uncomfortable for them to mill around the chair-less Plaza Level for close to an hour?
No, it was because they had lunch waiting on them.
Ah, the perks of high office.
