Crews to work on I-20/59 Saturday night

The inside, left lane of northbound I- 20/59 in Bessemer will be closed at 3 p.m. Saturday for crews to continue concrete repairs on the interstate surface.

An on-going job, this will be the third time in three years that work crews will try to repair the stretch of road.

—Tribune staff report

Jordan Frazier out at Chrysler

Jordan Frazier, the man who brought Chrysler to Bessemer, has suddenly left the dealership.

According to sources inside the dealership, the locks were changed on Monday.

The dealership says that Frazier has resigned.

Frazier got a $2 million gift from the city two years ago, which he reportedly paid Chrysler to keep his part of the dealership.

The money was given to him so that he could open a used-car super center.

—Tribune staff report

Things that make you say hmmm...

We took the day off yesterday, sort of -- contemplating our collective navel and wondering why Ed May is still the mayor of Bessemer.

You know, things that make you say hmmm....

But a lot of time was taken up listening to complaints about a local publisher (not this newspaper) who has been spreading libel (slander, actually) about one his former advertisers -- not a good thing.

If he wants to commit suicide, however, who are we to stand in his way?

—Tribune staff report

More Jeffco layoffs ahead

Remember the six- and seven-hour waits to get your car tags last summer?

Well, they could be back.

The Jefferson County Commission today ordered department head to prepare a list for cutting back operations.

Seems tax collections are down, among other things.

But in the Tax Collector's office there are still thousands of unprocessed tax payments just sitting in bins, waiting for employees to get to them.

—Tribune staff report

SEE COMPLETE STORY IN NEXT WEEK'S NEWSPAPER

Council sues mayor

Bessemer's City Council yesterday filed a lawsuit against Mayor Ed May to force him to issue business permits allowing the reopening of electronic charity bingo parlors.

Also named in the suit is Travis Brooks who is running the city's Revenue Department on a temporary basis.

The parlors voluntarily closed on Feb. 6.

Robert White, who operated the Anchor Club, says he will open for business the day he gets his permit.

—Tribune staff report

READ FULL STORY IN NEXT WEEK'S NEWSPAPER

Lu-Lu's bill soars higher

EXCLUSIVE

Legal costs for Bessemer Councilwoman Louise Alexander are continuing to soar even though the trial is over.

Besides the original bill for $367,000 from White Arnold & Dowd, there is still an invoice for $76,000 pending from the first attorney in the case, Glennon F. Threatt.

Combined, it comes to a whopping $443,000 for the defense.

The Tribune has learned that the first bill from White Arnold & Dowd was for about $500,000.

For some unknown reason they discounted the total.

At a City Council meeting last fall, U.W. Clemon said he was giving a discount to the city. Instead of charging his usual rate of $750 an hour, he agreed to defend Alexander for the paltry sum of $500 an hour.

Mere chicken feed.

—Tribune staff report

ON NEWSSTANDS NOW

Lu-Lu-'s whopping legal bill ... Feds make new hub possible ... council attorney on thin ice ... and lots more ...

A busy week

Public safety personnel in Bessemer and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office will be honored on Wednesday at a lunch sponsored by the Bessemer Area Chamber of Commerce in Ethel Hall at Lawson State.

For tickets, call the chamber at 425-3253.

And on Friday, the Concerned Citizens of the Bessemer Cutoff will hold its 26th annual African American Heritage Program at the Bessemer Civic Center.

For tickets, call Senator Priscilla Dunn at 426-3795 or Simmie Roberson at 267-0111.

—Tribune staff report