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By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal

The Lowndes County Commission received exciting news on March 12 that the county will help promote the state’s bicentennial celebration by hosting a traveling exhibit in Fort Deposit in June.

And in County Highway Department matters, the commission approved the trapping of beavers causing problems with pipe in the Benton area, leaned that Lowndes County Road 47 will be a federal aid project and approved a sales and use tax exemption for Koch Foods.

William Scott of Tristatz, the company that produces the Lowndes County Commission newsletter and who represents Lowndes County on the Alabama Bicentennial Commission, appeared before the commission to report on upcoming events to promote tourism in the county in connection with the state’s 200^th anniversary.

Scott said he has been able to partner with and work with organizations in Lowndes County to promote upcoming events.

Scott said Lowndes was approved for a $5,000 grant for the bicentennial celebration to market Calico Fort, April 14, Friends of the Civil Rights Movement, April 20-22, the Okra Festival in August, and the Jonathan Daniels Pilgrimage in August.

He said there will be interchangeable metal signs to promote the events, as well as rack cards and promotional advertising for all four events.

Scott along with Frieda Cross of the Fort Deposit Arts Council announced a Lowndes County Bicentennial Kickoff April 14 from 10-11 a.m. at Calico Fort with hopes that Governor Kay Ivey will attend.

And Scott informed the commission that Lowndes was also approved for a traveling bicentennial exhibit that promotes Alabama at Fort Deposit Exit 142 off Interstate 65 at Heart of Home Faming Shop and Wisteria Cottage.

He said the traveling exhibit will be at Fort Deposit June 10-24 with Fort Deposit Arts Council volunteers manning the event.

Scott also said to help promote tourism in the county, Lowndes County will have 10 Smartphone beacons at monument sites and events in the county that will send messages to the phones with details about that site and interact with it in addition to other technology.

County Engineer David Butts announced that County Road 37 has been given a project number as a minor collector federal aid project.

The commission approved Butts to spend $2,000 in joint effort with M&B Rail to trap beavers that are causing a problem with pipe in the Benton Road County/Road 40 area of Lowndes County.

In another matter, due to delays in the construction of a project at Koch Foods, the commission approved non-educational sales and use tax exemption extension from February to December.

Under the consent agenda the commission approved: Payment of invoices, minutes, an appropriation to the Lowndes County Economic Development Commission from the county in the amount of $2,500, an appropriation from High Vision in the amount of $4,000 from Commissioner Robert Harris, an appropriation to the Calhoun Community Organization in the amount of $3,050 from Simmons and Commissioner Joseph Barganier, an appropriation to ARK of Love in the amount of $600 from Commission Chairman Carnell McAlpine, an appropriation to the Central High Band in the amount of $1,000 from Harris and McAlpine and appropriation to Hayneville Middle School in the amount of $1,000 from Farrior and McAlpine.

The commission also heard from Tom Powell of Pioneer Electric on payment options and services available to help customers reduce their heating and cooling costs.