Perfect football morning

Work crews were out early Saturday morning installing lines on the turf field at the new Bessemer City High School stadium off Academy Drive.

The field features purple end zones for the Purple Tigers who won their sixth consecutive game of the season on Friday night, 26-7 over Tuscaloosa County, at the venerable Snitz Snider Stadium.

—Tribune staff report

Former friends of da May

These folks are looking for Bessemer Mayor Ed May after he questioned the Tribune's family tree at this week's council meeting.

BEATDOWN

Bessemer's City Council tonight took Mayor Ed May to task for months of frustration and basically gave him a beatdown.

During the nearly three-hour meeting the council complained not having access to City Hall, financial records and conditions are the city animal shelter.

May tried to defend himself but the council wasn't having any of it.

The council many times was cheered by a capacity audience that didn't believe anything the mayor said.

Council President Earl Cochran said tonight was just the beginning of many more beatdowns the unpopular mayor can expect to get between now and next August's city elections.

—Tribune staff report

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Clemon brought Armstrong into Lu-Lu's case

The hiring of noted defense attorney Ralph "Buddy" Armstrong by Bessemer Councilwoman Louise Alexander is an addition to her legal team, which is still led by former U.S. district judge W.W. Clemon.

Armstrong, who won a similar case in 2005 with a former Bessemer councilwoman, was brought into the case by Clemon.

An exact trial still has not been set, but it is tentatively scheduled for January 2010.

—Tribune staff report

Anti-bingo forces to protest

Tonight's special called meeting of the Bessemer City Council may be waylaid by a church group that is planning to show up and protest charity bingo.

Reports are that members of Canaan Baptist Church on Morgan Road will show up in large numbers.

The council is hoping to discuss other issues, including starving dogs and resolutions that are not acted upon.

One council member said tonight will be a circus.

—Tribune staff report

There will be a runoff Nov. 10

Clare Mitchell will face Lawrence McAdory in a runoff Nov. 10 for the District 56 state house seat.

Mitchell, along with her husband, former Bessemer mayor Quitman Mitchell, said they expect to win the unexpired term of Priscilla Dunn, who recently won election to the state senate.

In her first ever attempt to win office, Mitchell came in first with 43 percent of the vote, followed by McAdory with 32 percent.

Bessemer Councilwoman Louise Alexander finished third, and Margy Varner was in last place.

—Tribune staff report

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ON NEWSSTANDS NOW

It's the Big Top edition as the circus comes to Bessemer... Lots to chew on... Plus, who's running for mayor...

More workers at courthouse, plus a protest

There are workers inside the Jefferson County Courthouse this morning, but there were still long lines and long waits for those trying to buy car tags.

Six employees returned on Monday morning.

Visitors were meant by a protest by the local NAACP chapter.

—Tribune staff report

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