I caught Opelika’s fireworks from downtown’s Confederate Memorial.  I wish I could have cut off a few street lights, but I could see most of the high fireworks. Upon returning to the house, little buddy Mitch was kinda of skittish.  He didn’t like the Boom, Boom at all.  I have a friend that goes to the vet for some pills to give his dog to calm him down, before they ever begin.  Redman puts ole Snoop Dog in the bathroom and he can’t hear anything.  I guess we all have our ways with our dogs.

Anyone else think these three stories in the same week in Alabama was funny. First, NBC held auditions for the Biggest Loser in Mobile, Second, Alabama near the top in US Obesity rankings and finally, the emergency helicopter service gets a bigger chopper to carry heavier patients. I’ll report, you decide!

So it was Auburn High’s 20 year Reunion this past weekend on one of the Presidents men was town for the event. Iain Stewart was there and sent over this picture of wife Noelle with our man in Washington.

Auburn High School 20 Year Reunion

The City of Opelika was notified by Scott Sagen of Standard & Poor’s (S&P) during the last week of June, 2009 that their bond rating has been upgraded from an A+ to AA-.  Standard & Poor’s, a division of the McGraw-Hill companies and one of the national credit rating agencies, provides meaningful opinions on the creditworthiness of a borrower.  Credit ratings play an important role in the growth and effective functioning of the global capital markets, which is why S&P continues to take steps to provide investors with enhanced transparency for assessing credit risk and greater clarity about the ratings process.
Opelika is one of 19 Municipalities in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas which were upgraded after review of their credit strength.  The criterion that goes into assigning a bond rating includes:  economy, debt structure, financial condition, demographic factors, management practices of the governing body and administration.  These criteria are also used to analyze revenue bonds and lease obligations.  Standard & Poor’s reasoning for upgrading Opelika can be found in their assessment analysis overview, which states:

Opelika, with an estimated population of 29,000, is located just east of Auburn in eastern Alabama. The city serves as regional retail center, as evidenced by what we consider a strong 179% retail sales per capita, and its strong market value per capita reflects in our view healthy industrial investment and development. Following three consecutive years of general fund surpluses equal to at least $4 million, we believe the city’s financial position is solid with very strong reserves equal to 61% of expenditures. We understand that management does not plan to draw down reserves, and has an informal reserve target equal to 20% of expenditures. The city has historically funded its capital needs on a pay-as-you-go basis, so debt levels are in our view moderate.

Upon hearing the news, Mayor Gary Fuller stated, “This is great news for the City of Opelika.  All of us….Administration and City Council have worked hard to be good stewards of taxpayer money and I appreciate Standard and Poor’s for recognizing Opelika for our efforts, especially during these tough economic times when many communities are having a difficult time making ends meet.  This new rating will help us in our continuing efforts to properly grow and develop this great city!”
City Council President Eddie Smith, who is also the Senior Vice President of AuburnBank of Opelika, agreed with the mayor’s assessment and stated, “The upgrade in the City’s financial rating from A+ to AA- speaks highly of the administration and City employees in their diligence of managing the tax payers’ money.  This rating puts our City in a class which only a very few other cities in the State of Alabama can claim.  This rating will certainly be beneficial as we look down the road toward financing such things as fiber optics, waste treatment plants, schools and roads.  Congratulations to everyone involved on a job well done!”

S&P’s rating grades are as follows:
Best Quality – AAA
High Quality – AA+ / AA / AA-
Upper Medium Grade – A+ / A / A-
Medium Grade – BBB+ / BBB / BBB-

A reminder from the City of Opelika. This family night of fun and excitement includes giant inflatable games and activities for the kids, musical entertainment, skydivers, food and the largest fireworks display in the area. Bring the whole family, a lawn chair or blanket and relax on the grass!  Enjoy the special musical entertainment provided by  Summer Breeze – A local band with sounds to please : easy listening from the 60’s and 70’s, rock ‘n roll, rhythm and blues. Summer Breeze plays the hits everyone knows. Enjoy a picnic supper (food is available for purchase or you can bring your own). At 7:30 p.m. the amazing Buddy Blue and 3 other Skydivers will bring down the Stars and Stripes when they land on the adjacent baseball field. Earlier in the evening the kids put their name on a paper plate and if a skydiver lands on his plate, that child wins a prize.  Prepare to be amazed at dark with the area’s largest and most impressive Fireworks Show.  Don’t miss this family night of fun. LifeSouth Bloodmobile will be on site. Please donate. Free to the public.

Saturday Night at Eighth & Rail ~If you could harness the power in Gareth Asher’s music you’d have enough hi-octane passion to fuel a Ferrari. Born and raised in the small town of Bowdon, GA, Gareth was exposed at an early age to the music of iconic artists like Jackson Browne, Don Henley and The Eagles, groups he now counts as some of his biggest influences. But everything changed one day in 1987, when, at the age of seven, Gareth woke up one morning to the sweet sounds of Otis Redding flowing through the rooms of his childhood home. Since then, Gareth has been addicted to the sweet grooves of the late 60s and early 70s, especially those emanating from Motown, and has made it his undertaking to channel many of those sounds in his music today. ” I just want to make people feel something, the way I do” says Asher.

As a singer, songwriter, and guitarist raised on a steady diet of old school funk, rock, and soul, Gareth also attributes many of his musical sensibilities to monumentally influential artists like Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins, and groups like Chicago and Earth Wind & Fire. On the rock side of things, his primary influences are more contemporary – Toad the Wet Sproket, Aqualung, and Amos Lee among them.

Fish Taco back at Eighth & Rail tonight at 5:30PM.  The folks from Red Door June do the prep for that. Gareth Asher over at Eighth & Rail for music at 9:30PM on Saturday Night.

Got this note today from “Fine Wine & Beer by Gus” ~ Jerry, We received some new beers Wednesday. They are from Unibroue. Awesome!! These are done in a Belgium style such as Chimay.  From the Unibroue website, “There is more to certain beers than simple refreshment. Unibroue has raised the standards of conventional beer in by brewing craftsman beers for savouring.  Of incomparable quality and a taste, the beers at Unibroue are entirely natural, contain no chemical additives or preservatives, and are made with first quality ingredients. Rediscover beer with Unibroue. You will never taste beer the same way again! Drink less, drink better!”

So, last week I bought a truck built in Indiana.  I know, the Chevy Colorado was just three years old and some would say, “Why did you buy a truck?” Actually, more than a few did ask that question.  First of all, I loved the Colorado.  It made a few trips to Savannah and two races in Atlanta, plus Talledaga. It was great on the road, bringing in about 26 miles per gallon. And I only got one speeding ticket in it in Butler, Georgia.  But, as I look ahead, with a desire to find that perfect camper for some race camping, plus weekends at some Alabama State Parks, and more, I wanted something with a bit more towing power.  My choices of a camper have been extended with the 6,800 pounds of towing of my new GMC Sierra. But more about a camper later.  I guess you already know, it’s probably Red.  Yep, it is! So, I went over to Marrell at Bence Hartley and traded.  Just for the record, instead of 3 years on the note, I now have 5 with a lower payment; my taxes have gone down on the new truck and USAA reduced my insurance fees as well.

I was trying to think of the cars/trucks I’ve owned in my lifetime.  In order beginning in 1966 they were; a Black Mercury Comet, a 1967 Gold & Black Chevy Camero, a Mid-60’s  White Chevy Impala, a Green Chevy Monte Carlo, a 1970 Blue VW Super Bettle, a Blue Dodge D-100 Pickup, a Red Dodge Challenger, a White Dodge Spirit, a Red Chevy, S-10, a Red VW New Beetle, a Red Chevy Colorado

The Comet was my first car that Dad bought for me in the 10th Grade, I got the Camero in the 11th grade while working at WMRE Radio and traded it when I joined the Navy so Mom could have a new Chevy Malibu, The Chevy Impala came from Dad while I was in the Navy and a friend Totalled it for me while I was home for the weekend from Brookline, MA.  The Monte Carlo was mine for a few months after I got out of the Navy, and had to trade it for the Beetle. And the rest of the history isn’t so exciting. So how about you? Join the conversation! Make a Comment!  

From Carol Swindell ~ “What can anyone tell me about J.M. Golden and Mrs. L.A. Cherry, the original owners of the Golden Cherry? Also what year was it built and who built it? I have had people say they thought my father (Harold Swindall) built it. I’d love to know some history.”

Got an answer to this one? Join the conversation!