Bessemer News

The Bessemer Library will extend its hours beginning in October. The City Council is "giving" the Library $70,000 to make up for a "budget shortfall." Why the ""? Well, whose fault was the shortfall? Just asking.

On Mondays and Thursdays the library will stay open until 9 PM and Saturday hours will be 10 AM to 4 PM and Sunday 2 PM to 5 PM.

Why Mondays and Thursdays? Library director Oscar Smith says homework assignments are given out on Mondays and are due on Fridays, making Mondays and Thursday heavy traffic days.

Road Paving Update The city council voted to take bids for paving, killing for the time being at least, Mayor Ed Mays proposal to create a new city department for paving. Council person Jimmie Stephens said bidding out the work is most cost effective. Council person Louise Alexander said before we pave we need to clean up the city. In other words, paving would never get done.

Fire Rating Insurance rates are based on Fire Ratings and Bessemer has not had an assessment in 24 years. Our ISO (Insurance Services Organization) rating is 4. Inspectors have been here and are expected to release their findings in December.Fire Chief Paul Syx says we are light years ahead of where we were in 1984 (I certainly hope so). A lower rating would mean lower insurance premiums.

High School Name This sounds silly, but its really great for community involvement. Bessemer residents will be able to vote on a name for the new high school. On October 14, 2008 residents can go to any school until 2 PM or to the central office at 1621 5th Ave N until 3:30 to vote. Choices are: Bessemer Millennium High School, Marvel City High School, and Bessemer City High School. Suggested names that didn't make the cut are Renaissance High School, New Phoenix High School, Kainos Learning Academy of Bessemer and Bessemer School of Excellence. For those who don't know, Bessemer is called "The Marvel City." As for some of those other names, your guess is as good as mine.