Updated 6-26-19 at 10:58 a.m.
COLONY, Ala. – Colony’s Tuesday evening town council meeting was fairly uneventful, but it gave The Tribune a chance to catch up with town officials on local events. The big news for everyone was the groundbreaking for the county’s newest Dollar General just outside the town limits on Alabama Highway 91, east of Interstate 65. Creative Concrete, which is handling both site preparation and concrete work, started a little more than a week ago, elevating the pad in an area known to see high water during heavy rains. A specific timetable for completion was not available.
The location of a Dollar General in Colony has been part of Mayor Donnis Leeth’s platform for years. The site of this store is outside the town, but Leeth will be meeting with officials from the North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments (NARCOG) to talk about what will be required to annex the property.
Town Clerk Patricia Ponder reported that Colony’s children and youth just got to participate in their first harvest in the town’s community garden, sharing, “We are currently harvesting herbs, yellow crookneck squash, zucchini and cucumbers from the garden. We have tomatoes on the vine that we are closely monitoring, and the eggplants are blooming. A variety of peppers are being seen but are not yet ready to pick. The corn is growing tall and the watermelon plants are spreading out.”
Through the season, the garden’s produce will include a wide variety of vegetables. Long-term plans for the garden include a handicapped-accessible bed that can accommodate gardeners with canes, walkers or wheelchairs.
The Cullman County Extension Service brought its Mobile Kitchen last week for a Healthy Food Demonstration.
According to Ponder, “They prepared meatless spaghetti, French bread with an herb butter and a garden salad that contained cucumbers from the town’s community garden as well as other fresh produce.”
Ponder also reported that the town’s summer feeding program typically sees more than 20 visitors per day.
In council business, members considered the continuation of its host agency agreement with NARCOG for participation in the Senior Service America, Inc./Alabama Department of Senior Services Senior Community Service Employment Program. Questions arose over the cost of the program and whether the benefits of the program so far have justified that cost. In an effort to give members an opportunity to review the program contracts, the issue was tabled. A special called meeting will take place at Colony Town Hall at 2 p.m. Friday to decide on the agreement ahead of its June 30 deadline.
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Colony’s kids got to participate in their first harvest in the community garden. (Photo courtesy of Patricia Ponder)
