Not the media, says May

Bessemer Mayor Ed May is back to his old tricks.

At a Bingo Committee meeting yesterday the mayor referred to the Tribune in a bad way.

"They're not part of the media," he told a visiting reporter.

"And you're not the mayor," the Tribune reporter shot back.

May acted like he didn't hear it.

—Tribune staff report

'I am the city clerk'

A Bingo Committee meeting of the Bessemer City Council today nearly erupted into a brawl when Travis Brooks and council President Earl Cochran got into it.

The meeting was essentially over when the tape recorder beeped, signaling that the tape had run out.

Cochran told Brooks not to tape any more and Brooks said he had to, screaming that he is the city clerk and it is his duty.

Brooks turned the machine back on when Cochran rushed over and unplugged it.

Again, Brooks told those in attendance that he was the city clerk.

By law, Bessemer doesn't have a city clerk and has not had one since November 2006. Brooks is listed as a senior accountant.

In the meeting, council bingo attorney Kim Davidson and Mayor Ed May scheduled a 10 a.m. meeting on meeting to see if they can work out an arrangement over which halls can remain open.

Davidson will meet with the committee at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, an hour before a regular council meeting.

—Tribune staff report

Marks announces candidacy for House District 57

Confirming rumors that have been circulating for months, Hueytown Councilwoman Carol D. Marks announced today she is seeking the state House District 57 seat currently held by Rep. Merika Coleman.

Marks is the first to enter the June 1 Democratic primary.

Marks, 60, heads Donor Relations at Children's Hospital and serves on the board of the Alabama Kidney Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of Central Alabama.

The district includes parts of Hueytown, Fairfield, Midfield, Brighton and southwest Birmingham.

—Tribune staff report

Paul R. Jones dies

Bessemer native Paul R. Jones, who built one of the largest collection of 20th century African-American art, has died in Atlanta.

He was 81.

Jones began collecting art in the 1960s and was soon drawn to African-American art after noticing it was underrepresented in public galleries.

Besides being an art collector, Jones was also a civil rights activist.

—Tribune staff report

Crews work to clean oil spill in Bessemer

ADEM work crews are in Bessemer cleaning up an oil spill at 28th Street and Eighth Avenue.

Tanks ruptured during the recent cold snap, according to officials.

The tanks are owned by Jack Gordon, a Mississippi state senator.

This is the second time in a year that ADEM work crews have had to respond to spills on the northside property.

The clean up will take about a week. No word on fines that are pending against Gordon.

—Tribune staff report

Bingo Committee meets again today

Pro-electronic charity bingo operators will again meet today with the City Council's Bingo Committee in an effort to clarify rules and reach a possible agreement with Mayor Ed May.

The 3 p.m. meeting will be held in the council conference room.

—Tribune staff report

You really got to know somebody

Everybody knows you have to know somebody to get anything done, and now elected leaders of Bessemer are trying to figure out how to get to know somebody.

The subject of paving the I-20/59 came up last night because the council was trying to figure out how to get the state to put bulbs in freeway lights.

That's when Mayor Ed May and some members of the council pointed out that the freeway in other parts of the metro area will maintained nicely — but not the portion that runs through Bessemer.

Everyone agreed that the other towns must know somebody.

May is now looking for some new friends at the Alabama Department of Transportation.

—Tribune staff report

Final touches to Bessemer budget

Bessemer City Council last night put its final touches on a proposed $35.5 million budget for 2010 and expects to approve it next Tuesday.

The spending plan calls for revenue of $36 million.

Combined with some small cuts, the council expects to have a reserve of about $750,000.

—Tribune staff report

Jobless rate remains at 14.7%

Bessemer's unemployment in December was unchanged at 14.7 percent, according to numbers from the state.

While the rate remained unchanged it was up significantly from the 8.7 percent of December 2008.

Bessemer has a civilian workforce of 10,346 and 1,519 are without work.

—Tribune staff report

ON NEWSSTANDS NOW

Why the mayor wants Lu-Lu convicted ... Somebody's going to clean up Bessemer again ... Bingo becomes a chess match ... Bubba's on fire ...

Council to return to budget

Between all the battles over bingo, the Bessemer City Council has forgotten about the 2010 budget.

But all of that will change come Tuesday night when the council again meets on Mayor Ed May's $36 million budget, which should have been approved last Oct. 1 — but what's a few extra months?

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.

—Tribune staff report

Minor flooding from storm

Minor flooding and some power outages were reported in the Bessemer area today as heavy rains moved in this morning.

By early afternoon, however, the storm — which produced plenty of thunder and lightening — moved off the east.

Rain will be back in the forecast later this week, including the possibility of frozen precipe for next Sunday morning.

—Tribune staff report