Images Prattville, AL: 2010

Growing the Smart WayParks, downtown take center stage

LIKE MONEY IN THE BANK

Whitney National opens

operations center

GARDEN ON WHEELSFire truck goes

green, gets rolling

Video tour of the golf course

at Capitol Hill

What’s Online

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SPONSORED BY THE PRATTVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

PRATTVILLE, ALABAMA

2010 | IMAGESPRATTVILLE.COM

®®®

www.imagesprattville.com

www.jacksonthornton.com

2010 EDITION | VOLUME 7

PRATTVILLE, ALABAMA

ON THE COVER Heritage Park in downtown Prattville Photo by Antony Boshier

DEPARTMENTS

4 Almanac: a colorful sampling of Prattville’s culture

14 Portfolio: people, places and events that defi ne Prattville

23 Health & Wellness

27 Community Profi le: facts, stats and important numbers to know

28 Membership Directory

33 Business Guide

PRATTVILLE BUSINESS 16 Like Money in the Bank

Whitney National moves its operations center to Prattville and adds 60 IT jobs.

19 Biz Briefs

20 Chamber Report

®

CONTENTS

FEATURES

8 PRESERVATION MEETS PROGRESSPrattville honors its rich heritage while embracing the future.

10 VARIETY IS THE SPICEDining options abound downtown.

12 GROWING THE SMART WAY Project Prattville energizes the city's parks, trails and historic downtown area.

25 GARDEN ON WHEELSRetired fi re truck takes on new life as a unique, mobile exhibit.

All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE

PR ATT VILLE IMAGESPR ATT VILLE .COM 1

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Carol Brooks Home & Holiday

Creekside gift shopping at its best. Including:

Arthor Court, VIETRI, Crabtree & Evelyn,

Mark Roberts fairies, Trollbeads and so much more.

Order lunch, then browse our unique gifts and jewelry

or pick up a Casserole-To-Go by Fanci Gourmet.

Salon and spa consisting of full hair care, manicure and

pedicure, facials, massage, make-up, reflexology and waxing.

Professional decorating staff, custom upholstery

and area rugs, custom window treatments and blinds.

Step back in time as you enjoy afternoon tea or an overnight

stay in the only B&B and tea room in the historic district.

From home to school and back again. Games and toys for

the young and young at heart, educational materials and

supplies, Christian products, books and much more.

Serving infants to grandparents with gift items,

accessories, dance wear and more.

Cajun market selling cooked and uncooked Cajun food.

Featuring Crawfish Etoufee, Chicken and Sausage Sauce

Piquante, Gumbo, Alligator Sauce Piquante,

and daily specials.

Great gift items for all occasions and all ages.

Come check out our other lines such as Vera Bradley,

Brighton, Sorrelli, Karlie, Liz & Jane, and much more.

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Unique shopping and

eateries in the historic district

Shop Prattville

Downtown Unlimited

www.carolbrooksshoppe.com

www.fancifreeboutiqueandgardencafe.com

www.paravicinis.net

www.smithbyrdhouse.com

www.theturtleshell.com

www.theturtleshell.com


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imagesprattville.comTHE DEFINITIVE RELOCATION RESOURCE

PICTURE PERFECT

VIDEOS

FACTS & STATS

RELOCATION

In our Interactive section, watch quick videos by our editors and photographers featuring people, places and events.

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINEImages gives readers a taste of what makes Prattville tick – from business and education to sports, health care and the arts.

LOCAL FLAVOR

Go online to learn

even more about:

Schools•

Health care•

Utilities•

Parks•

Taxes•

We’ve added even more of our prize-winning photography to the online gallery. To see these photos, click on Photo Gallery.

Considering a move to this

community? We can help. Use our

Relocation Tools to discover tips,

including how to make your move

green, advice about moving pets

and help with booking movers.

From the simple to the sublime, the delicious offerings here are guaranteed to satisfy every appetite.

“Find the good – and praise it.” – Alex Haley (1921-1992), Journal Communications co-founder


www.aum.edu

Something To CelebratePrattville's first annual Back to School Street Dance in

August 2009 was a hit, drawing about 3,000 people –

thousands more than expected. This popular new event

is just one of many gatherings the city hosts for the

community each year.

The two-day Prattville CityFest – which draws around

20,000 people – has been an annual mainstay since 1987.

The Fountain City Arts Festival in March is also a big draw.

Other celebrations include the Independence Day Parade

and Fireworks, a Halloween Candy Walk, Spinners Pumpkin

Patch Arts and Crafts Show, Prattville Christmas Parade,

Prattville Mardi Gras Parade and a Miss Fountain City Pageant.

The city also organizes free Movie Under the Stars events,

with movies shown on a 30-foot inflatable screen.

Almanac

Heart of the ArtsThe Prattauga Art Guild has a new home, and it is indeed a sweet

home. The guild is now headquartered in an 1890s house on Chestnut

Street near the Creekwalk, and the home (owned by the city) has

become the Prattville Creative Arts Center. The center has several

rooms of gallery space, including the main room where visitors enter.

Along with showcasing art, the guild is involved in several special

events such as ARTrek, the Prattauga Art Guild Juried Fall Show and

Prattville CityFest.

“The guild is very well respected in this community and beyond,

and now we have a spacious building where we can show off what

we are most proud of – fine art,” says Barbara Simpson, president

of the guild and acting director of the Prattville Creative Arts Center.

Flying HighLocated about 10 miles southeast

of Prattville, the Maxwell- Gunter

Air Force Base has a major impact

on the city in terms of population

diversity, retail sales and real

estate growth. Many of the base’s

military families and civilian staff

make their homes in Prattville.

Air University – the Air Force’s

center for professional military

education – is headquartered

at Maxwell AFB, along with the

42nd Air Base Wing. Air University

provides the full spectrum of Air

Force education and is a key

component of Air Education

and Training Command. Visit

www.maxwell.af.mil for more

information.

What’s Online eeTake a virtual tour of the Prattville Creative Arts Center in our quick video. Visit imagesprattville.com.

4 IMAGESPR ATT VILLE .COM PR ATT VILLE


What’s Online ee Check out the golf course at Capitol Hill, part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, in our quick video. Visit imagesprattville.com.

Hands-On Approach to LearningIn Angie Barrett’s fourth-grade class at Daniel Pratt Elementary School, science

lessons include the study of electricity. But the students do much more than memorize

the difference between series and parallel circuits.

“It culminates in them actually wiring a little house for electricity,”

Barrett says. “They do it, and it’s wonderful. They don’t know they’re

learning, because they’re having fun.”

Daniel Pratt is one of six Autauga County public schools

involved in AMSTI, the state-sponsored Alabama Math

Science and Technology Initiative designed to better

prepare students for a high-technology world.

Participating teachers attend two weeks of training

during the summer, for which they receive a minimal

stipend. They return to their classrooms armed with

boxes of materials to create activities – such as

wiring the miniature house – for their students.

The idea behind AMSTI is to put children in

groups and encourage them to tackle a project

together, share the responsibilities and take

turns performing different tasks.

Fast Facts Autauga County

was established in 1818, an entire year before Alabama became a state.

Autauga County takes its name from Atagi, the American Indian word for pure water.

The late Wilson Pickett, a legendary R&B singer, grew up in Prattville.

Prattville’s excellent public schools are part of Autauga County Schools.

Prattville has been named an official Community of Character by the International Association of Character Cities, and the Prattville-Autauga Character Coalition organizes character development programs throughout the community.

In the Swing of ThingsThe Navistar LPGA Classic has put Prattville – and the entire state – on the global map.

In 2009, the Golf Channel cable television network beamed the prestigious Navistar

LPGA Classic held here to a worldwide audience for the second year in a row. The

women compete on a course called The Senator, located at the Robert Trent Jones

Golf Trail at Capitol Hill. The Capitol Hill complex has three 18-hole championship

courses named The Senator, The Legislator and The Judge, with The Senator featuring

a European links-style layout complete with 150 pothole bunkers. Capitol Hill is one of

11 golf venues throughout Alabama that are part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail,

which has made the state a premier golfing destination.

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POPULATION (2008 ESTIMATE) Prattville: 32,480

Autauga County: 50,364

LOCATIONPrattville is in the central part of Alabama,

about 13 miles across the Alabama River

from Montgomery, the state capital. In

the heart of the River Region, the town

stands at the convergence of the Coosa

and Alabama rivers.

BEGINNINGSPrattville is named for Daniel Pratt,

known as Alabama’s first industrialist.

He arrived in the early 1830s and

purchased land along Autauga Creek.

There, Pratt built facilities known today

as Continental Eagle Corp.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONPrattville Area Chamber of Commerce

131 N. Court St.,

Prattville, AL 36067

Phone: (334) 365-7392

Fax: (334) 361-1314www.prattvillechamber.com

Prattville At A Glance

What’s Online ee Take a virtual tour of Prattville, courtesy of our award-winning photographers, at imagesprattville.com.

Prattville

The Fountain CityBefore Prattville became known as the Preferred

Community, its nickname was The Fountain City

because of the many artesian wells found here. Some

of the city’s historic, free-flowing wells still produce

water, and residents can be seen filling up a jug or

two at various locations. Visitors can enjoy a drink

of water and relax under the tin-roofed well shed

on Doster Road, sip from a dipper at the well in the

backyard of the Prattaugan Museum and Heritage

Center, or get water from any of the other public

artesian wells.

Fun for FamiliesPrattville and Autauga County are full of fun

activities for families to enjoy throughout the year.

Emerald Falls Adventure Park offers a range of

options such as mini-golf, go-karts, bumper boats,

batting cages and paintball. The park is open seven

days a week, and every Sunday is Family Fun Day

with reduced prices.

Wonder World Family Fun Center also provides

a variety of activities seven days a week, including

roller skating, inflatables, video games, a pool table

and much more.

Each summer, dozens of kids compete in

Prattville SummerSlam Basketball, a five-on-five,

no-contact, nonprofit basketball competition. But

in this case, winning isn’t the ultimate goal. The

competition is designed to provide a safe and

competitive environment that fosters teamwork

and sportsmanship among children ages 10-18

Soccer, softball, basketball and baseball

leagues also help keep children active and fit.


Almanac


www.prattvillechamber.com

PreservationProgressMeets

Golfers prepare to play at Capitol Hill on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.


W ith a unique combination of New England style and Southern charm,

Prattville is one of the most unusual towns in Alabama – and visitors are drawn to its laid-back appeal.

Prattville’s many attractions include a historic downtown that’s a bustling hub of activity. The town was built in the 1830s by Daniel Pratt, a New Hampshire industrialist who took advantage of the town’s location along the Autauga Creek to build factories powered by water. He also built churches, schools and houses for factory workers, and Prattville became a village built around industry – much like the classic mill towns of Pratt’s native New England.

“I’ve had people come through and say, ‘I could be in Massachusetts right now!’” says Ann Boutwell, a 27-year Prattville resident who conducts tours for visitors. “Not many towns have a creek like we do, and the dam created the water power that made it possible for Pratt to build his factories.”

Pratt’s original cotton gin plant started off as the Daniel Pratt Factory and became the Continental Eagle Corp. It is still producing cotton gins today.

The Daniel Pratt Historic District is in downtown Prattville, and it includes the commercial business area and its adjacent residential section. The whole district is on the National Register of Historic Places. This creates a picturesque downtown enhanced by the presence of some dozen artesian wells in the historic district, remnants of a past when Prattville had more than 400 such wells and was known as The Fountain City.

The Creek Walk downtown is a lively strolling path decorated with folk art from Autauga County native Charlie Lucas – an artist known as The Tin Man for his metal sculptures. The Creek Walk has become a center of community life.

“Downtown is where everyone comes together,” Boutwell says. “I’ve had people come from all around the country, and we give them a taste of small-town America that’s disappearing.”

While Prattville honors its rich history, the town is becoming known as a sportsman’s paradise, with prime boating and fishing along the Alabama River. The waterway hosts championship fishing, including one of the Bassmaster Elite 50 bass tournaments.

Bass fishing is so popular that Bass Pro Shops built its first Alabama store in Prattville. The mega outdoor retailer is one of the state’s top three retail tourist attractions.

One of golf’s most-photographed holes is found at Capitol Hill, one of 11 stops on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, a unique collection of 11 golf courses across Alabama offering what the New York Times calls “some of the best public golf on Earth.”

Prattville, which hosts 82,000 rounds of golf each year, is the only site with three 18-hole championship courses, set on 1,500 picturesque acres.

Greens fees for the Judge, the Legislator and the Senator are as low as $45, says Mike Beverly, director of golf at Capitol Hill.

“We’re the best value for the money,” he says. “The Judge is regarded by the traveler as the premier course, and it’s one of the prettiest on the trail.”

CITY HONORS RICH HERITAGE, EMBRACES THE FUTURE

STORY BY JEANNIE NAUJECK

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A mountainous 1.5 million pounds of beef have been sold at Fat Boy’s Bar-B-Que Ranch since it first opened in downtown Prattville in 1998.

Customers can’t get enough of the barbecue pork, beef brisket, smoked sausage, smoked chicken and ribs that are slow-cooked over natural hickory hardwood.

“After 25 years in the trucking and cattle business, [my wife] Gretchen and I opened Fat Boy’s downtown on the banks of the Autauga Creek,” says owner Danny Loftin. “Everything here is homemade, the way it’s supposed to be.”

Fat Boy’s is just one of several restaurants in downtown Prattville that draw customers by the dozens.

Uncle Mick’s Cajun Market & Café is a new local favorite that offers authentic Cajun dishes –even alligator – and the friendly staff encourages visitors to taste before ordering. This busy spot’s tagline is, “Only one bite away from the Bayou,” and diners can dine in, relax on the back porch or get their hot, fresh food to go.

In July 2008, Connie Dismukes opened Fanci Free Boutique & Garden Café on West Main Street, and she does a bustling business Monday through Saturday.

“Fanci Free is interesting because you can eat lunch while

DINING OPTIONS ABOUND DOWNTOWN

STORY BY KEVIN LITWINPHTOS BY ANTONY BOSHIER

What’s Online ee Take a virtual tour of the Smith-Byrd House Bed & Breakfast and Tea Room in our quick video. Visit imagesprattville.com.

VarietySpicetheIs

A plate of barbecued meats, peach cobbler and a side of fries from Fat Boy’s Bar-B-Que Ranch in Prattville

shoppers around you are trying on clothes, looking at Southern jewelry and buying name-brand purses,” Dismukes says. “It’s a fun atmosphere.”

Fanci Free offers a variety of food items, but the most popular is fresh chicken salad.

“We have also become known for our pimento cheese with pecans that is spread on bagels or croissants and the cheesecake and key lime pie for dessert.”

Another downtown destination is MarChelle’s Bistro & Bakery, which opened in March 2006. It has become known in dining circles for its fine food and a wide variety of wines.

“At MarChelle’s, we believe the natural pairing of food and wine is in constant motion, and we strive to keep up with the dance,” says Mark Taylor, owner of MarChelle’s with his wife, Michelle. “Our wine list and our menu are f luid, and we continually strive to find innovative and unusual combinations that surprise and please the palate.”

Downtown Prattville is also home to the Smith-Byrd House Bed & Breakfast and Tea Room, a traditional tea room that serves lunch Wednesday through Saturday and offers 70 varieties of tea and a wide selection of tasty scones.

“We feature a Victorian atmosphere, and we encourage our diners to slow down and take their time,” says Beth Melling, owner of the B&B with her husband, Dave. “Our tea room isn’t fast food. We don’t mind if people take a two-hour lunch.”

“Dave makes a three-cheese quiche with sun-dried tomatoes that customers love, and he cooks up quite a few other delicacy specialties as well,” she adds. “This city has been very receptive to what Dave and I are doing with our business, and we couldn’t be more pleased to be in Prattville – especially downtown.”

Other delicious dining options downtown include Roy’s Deli, the Fountain City Grill, and Pasta Pizzeria & Grill.



Growing

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theSmart


Ample green spaces, excellent schools, a variety of cultural offerings and growing retail presence – Prattville

offers all of this along with character, history and a homey, small-town feel.

It’s no wonder that Prattville’s population has nearly doubled since 1990, and the trend is expected to continue.

Through Project Prattville: The Next Chapter, local leaders aim to stay on the right track. They have solicited input from the community about how best to preserve Prattville’s assets while moving ahead with plans that will add even more spice and substance to the city’s mix. Launched in September 2008, the project sponsored a series of public workshops and online surveys with fun, interactive formats designed to invite participation.

For example, at one meeting, community members marked on a map where they want future trails, parks, community centers, high-density housing and other developments to be located. Participants in a Monopoly-themed online survey received an allotment of Prattville Bucks to “spend” on their top-priority projects.

The resulting data will shape public policy for the next 10 to 20 years, says Joel Duke, Prattville city planner. The project updates the plan that has guided development since 1998.

“Overall, we’ve gotten a good, consistent, detailed response to the planning process,” Duke says. “It’s not any surprise that quality of life issues – such as maintaining and improving our parks, trails and historic downtown – take priority with residents. It’s what sets us apart.”

Lining up with residents’ green priorities are projects such as the new Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Garden,

PROJECT PRATTVILLE FOCUSES ON PARKS, TRAILS AND HISTORIC DOWNTOWN

STORY BY CAROL COWANPHOTOS BY ANTONY BOSHIER

Prattville’s ReLeaf initiative and expansion of the downtown Creekwalk.

Located on 3 acres of the 80-acre Auburn University Agriculture Experiment Station, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Garden is a vibrant tribute to the first lady, who was an early advocate of conservation and beauti-fication and spent time in Prattville throughout her life.

Phase I, which opened in June 2009, includes a butterfly and hummingbird garden and a children’s garden.

“The bed of the butterfly and humming bird garden is actually planted in the shape of a butterfly,” says Mary Ray, president of Friends of Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Garden. “The children’s garden includes plants of the world, a pizza garden (with herbs traditionally used to make pizza), the Three Sisters Native American Garden,

a dinosaur garden for digging fossils, and a giant garden with sunflowers where we’re creating a maze.”

The organization is partnering with the Autauga County Board of Education to provide field trips and educational offerings at its certified outdoor classrooms.

Adding foliage to residential property hit by a devastating tornado in 2008 was the purpose of Prattville’s first ReLeaf project, held on Arbor Day 2009. The mayor’s wife, Beverly Byard, spearheaded the effort, which brought some 300 volunteers out to plant 500 trees in the affected areas.

Phase II of the Creekwalk revitalization also wrapped up in 2009. The Creekwalk’s new custom-made street lamps, wrought- iron railing and spacious platform overlooking Autauga Creek add to the charm and ambiance of the city’s historic district.

Beverly Byard is chairwoman of Prattville’s ReLeaf project, a plan to add trees to residential property damaged by a devastating tornado in 2008.


Portfolio

Former U.S. president Andrew Jackson was a frequent visitor to

Buena Vista, a historic 1822 mansion on County Road 4 in Prattville.

In fact, Jackson was so enamored with the circular staircase in the home that he duplicated it when his own house – The Hermitage – was constructed in Nashville, Tenn.

“Buena Vista was the first landmark in Autauga County ever to be entered on the National Register of Historic Places,” says Blanquita Robin Hughes, executive director of the Autauga County Heritage Association, which owns and operates Buena Vista. “It is an exquisite home that

today is available for weddings and parties as well as tours each Tuesday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.”

The mansion is constructed mainly of pine, and the finishing materials for the home were shipped from England to Mobile, Ala., before being transported up the Alabama River to Washington Landing. From there, mule-drawn carts hauled the materials to the three-story house.

“The crown moldings are stunning throughout the mansion, especially in the double parlor,” Hughes says. “In the parlor, carvings depict women who seem as if they are holding up the ceiling. There are unusual and interesting touches such

as these throughout the entire home.”The mansion has seen many owners

throughout its history, including Fred and Catherine Whittaker, who purchased it in 1937 and named it Buena Vista.

“There is even a cemetery on the grounds, and a local Eagle Scouts troop has undertaken a project to restore and spruce it up a bit,” Hughes says. “Besides weddings, parties and tours, Buena Vista hosts a Murder Mystery Night each June. The group participation event features a staged murder that occurs after we serve an elegant dinner. It is very interesting, which is what Buena Vista is always all about.”

Buena Vista home was the first Autauga County landmark to be entered on the National Register of Historic Places.

Andrew Jackson Slept HereHISTORIC BUENA VISTA HOME NOW SERVES AS ELEGANT SPOT FOR SPECIAL EVENTS


Salute to Small Towns

The Creekwalk in historic downtown Prattville will get

some special attention on April 30, 2010, when a historic marker is scheduled to be unveiled.

It’s all part of the Year of Small Towns and Downtowns, a themed program – ongoing through 2010 – sponsored by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel. The marker will be revealed in conjunction with Prattville CityFest 2010 on April 30 and May 1.

“The marker will be supplied by the state of Alabama and will focus on the importance that water has played in our community history,” says Jeremy Arthur, executive vice president of the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce. “The Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel has done a series of ‘Year of ’ themes in the past, including food, arts, history, gardens and sports. They have been very successful, and Prattville has participated in each one.”

The marker will specifically mention city founder Daniel Pratt choosing this location for the new town because of its proximity to Autauga Creek and the Alabama River. His gin mill, sawmill and gristmill on the banks of Autauga Creek led to employment in those industries for generations of families.

As for the Year of Small Towns and Downtowns program, the Bureau of Tourism and Travel will ultimately publish a book with photographs and a brief history of each participating town. Other Prattville events will include a Prattauga Art Guild poster contest and special programs backed by the Prattville-Autauga Public Library, Autauga County Heritage Association and the Way Off Broadway Theater League.

Arthur hopes the festivities will draw many people to the city during CityFest.

“It will be celebrated as a homecoming event for anyone with a connection to Prattville,” he says. “Whether someone grew up here, lived here briefly, has relatives here, was stationed here in the military – we are encouraging everyone to come back home that weekend.”

– Stories by Kevin Litwin

The Creekwalk downtown is a community gathering spot.

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N ot bad for tough national economic times.In July 2009, Whitney National Bank opened

a brand-new operations center in downtown Prattville, complete with 60 employees who

will earn a combined total of approximately $2 million in salary each year.

Whitney National invested $7.5 million to renovate its building in the Daniel Pratt Historic District. The building at 124 W. Main St. now houses the Prattville Operations Center and a first-floor bank branch.

“During these economic times, Whitney’s investment into the Daniel Pratt Historic District, coupled with its job growth, could not come at a better time,” says Prattville Mayor Jim Byard.

The operations center oversees a number of information technology functions, including check processing, account maintenance and online updates and backups. Its mission is to ensure that day-to-day operations of all Whitney National Bank branches throughout its five-state coverage area perform smoothly, regardless of severe weather or other disruptive events that could arise.

In fact, severe weather is a big reason why Prattville was chosen for the new operations center. Whitney National is headquartered in New Orleans, and its former operations center there was impacted in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina roared through the Crescent City.

“Geography is a big factor for this move,” says Gene Crane,

Whitney National Bank regional president. “Operating two centers will make us less vulnerable to natural disasters.”

Whitney National, which was founded in New Orleans in 1883, first arrived in Autauga County in 2001 and now has four local branches in the River Region, including the one in the Prattville Operations Center building. Altogether, Whitney National has 16 branches throughout Alabama.

“We hope that as we grow, more and more people in Alabama will discover that Whitney is a bank that suits them and their diverse needs,” says Frank DeArmas, Whitney National’s executive vice president in charge of operations and technology.

To help attract the operations center to this area from New Orleans, Prattville and Autauga County officials contributed incentives to Whitney National. That investment has been primarily used to train local residents who replaced former employees who chose to remain in New Orleans.

“Our new Prattville Operations Center is a highly visible symbol of Whitney’s commitment to the market here in the state’s River Region,” says John Hope III, CEO and chairman of Whitney National Bank. “It is another sign that the 125-year-old Whitney is expecting healthy growth in the state as we continue to expand our presence across the South.”

Whitney National Bank’s current service area spans a five-state Gulf Coast region including parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

It has assets totaling more than $11 billion.

WHITNEY NATIONAL OPENS OPERATIONS CENTER, ADDS 60 IT JOBS

STORY BY KEVIN LITWIN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTONY BOSHIER

Like

BANKin theMoney

Top: Mayor Jim Byard Jr., left, and County Commission Chairman Danny Chavers examine plans at City Hall. Bottom right: Lydia Roberts is team leader supervisor for research and adjustments at Whitney National Bank.

Business


www.marriottcapitolhill.com


Biz BriefsBUSINESSES – BOTH LARGE AND SMALL – THAT HELP DEFINE

PRATTVILLE’S STRONG AND WELL-BALANCED ECONOMIC CLIMATE

AVON BEAUTY CENTERBiz: Licensed AVON beauty centerBuzz: Owned by AVON representative Pam Marchant, the AVON Beauty Center in Prattville offers a wide array of AVON beauty products. AVON is a leading global beauty company that markets to women in more than 100 countries through more than 5 million independent sales representatives. The Prattville shop is at 2457 Pinnacle Way #H101. (334) 285-5755

RIVER BANK AND TRUSTBiz: Regional bankBuzz: The Prattville-based River Bank and Trust has three office locations – Montgomery, Prattville and Wetumpka – and offers online banking, business banking, personal banking and wealth management services. Lobby hours at the Prattville office, 2611 Legends Drive, are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with additional hours for the drive-through. www.riverbankandtrust.com

A TOUCH OF NEW YORKBiz: Fashion accessories boutique and gift shopBuzz: A Touch of New York is a unique boutique that offers an assortment of fun fashion accessories, specialty gifts, inspirational items and an array of eclectic art, including paintings, pottery, handmade crosses and much more. Owned and operated by Jan McDowell, the popular shop is located at 135 E. Main St. in downtown Prattville.(334) 491-8669

VICTORIA’S BOUTIQUEBiz: Women’s clothing and gift shopBuzz: Victoria's Boutique is a women's clothing store that carries popular clothing lines such as Vera Bradley, along with collegiate items, Beanpod Candles, Sorrelli jewelry, Brighton jewelry and accessories, and much more. Owned and operated by Lori McClellan, Victoria's Boutique is located at 133 W. Main St. in downtown Prattville. (334) 491-2220

ScorecardBUSINESS AT A GLANCE

$43,784,342Retail sales ($1,000)

$9,771Retail sales per capita

$4,692,297Accommodation and food services sales ($1,000)

309,544Total number of firms

Source: U.S. Census QuickFacts

Business

Moving on UpRETAIL AND BANK BOOM SIGNAL PROGRESS

A booming retail sector anchors a thriving local economy, and the

Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce is working to keep a good thing growing.

“We have at least four new retail stores coming online in late 2009, and we have banks opening either a branch or their headquarters here,” says Jeremy Arthur, executive vice president of the chamber. “These are strong indicators that a lot of other communities can’t boast about.”

Prattville now is home to River Bank & Trust, which opened its headquarters here and serves the surrounding counties, and First Community Bank is building its second local branch.

These new financial outlets will plug into the local scene in multiple ways, says Arthur, who also points to the city’s retention of major tourism sites and events as further evidence of its attractiveness.

“We’ve got the Navistar LPGA Classic coming back for a third year, which is a big coup for us,” he says. “And our Bass Pro Shops has been ranked the third most popular tourist destination in the state. The others are in larger, more destination cities, so this is quite something for us.”

By focusing on a variety of economic development efforts while serving its

900 members, the chamber has been able to be both an advocacy and support organization. The chamber also focuses on business recruitment and retention at local and regional levels.

“Constant diversification is what we strive for in terms of employment and job creation,” says Connie Bainbridge, president and director of economic development. “We try to focus on many different sectors – both in terms of companies already here and those that are looking at the area – to accomplish that. In the last couple of years our focus has been on retail, because that enhances our quality of life and gives us more amenities as a community.”

The new storefronts and businesses are also providing work for Prattville residents, cutting down on the numbers of workers who commute to nearby Montgomery for jobs.

The chamber is also emphasizing seminars and professional development. By partnering with technology firms, universities and state agencies, the chamber is working to make sure business and community leaders are aware of cutting-edge trends and of ways to be more efficient and effective in their fields.

– Joe Morris

ALLSOUTHProfessional Commercial Real Estate

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into reality.

Markets change but our commitment to

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Build your Commercial Real Estate Success on our

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542 McQueen Smith Rd. N. Prattville, AL 36066

(334) 358-0047

www.allsouthcorp.comPrattville Area Chamber of Commerce staff members

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Business | Chamber Report

www.allsouthcorp.com

Board of Directors 2009-2010OFFICERS

Chairman of the BoardRichard Ray, Alagasco

Chair ElectRandy Grissett, Sterling Bank

Past ChairGinger Henry, Prattville Baptist Hospital

TreasurerDiane Steinhilber, Jackson Thornton

Vice President Economic Development, Clay McConnell, Alabama Power Company

Vice President Membership Services, Edward Clinton, City of Prattville

Vice President Special Events, Rendi Tallmage, ABF an Innerspaice Company

Preferred Way Campaign, Diane Steinhilber, Jackson Thornton

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dave Burns, First Baptist Church

Bo Evans, Bo Evans Realty

Mike Lamar, River Bank & Trust

Mike Miller, Knology

Terry Mullins, Retired

Wade Seamon, BankTrust

Steve Steele, BankTrust

Mike Beverly, Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill

Chris Day, Academy Sports and Outdoors

Brenda Ward, Auburn Montgomery, Continuing Education

Don Forst, International Paper

Gary Smith, Artesian City Marketing

Walter Kennedy, Marriott Legends at Capitol Hill

EX OFFICIO

Mayor Jim Byard, City of Prattville

Mayor F. B. Ward, Town of Autaugaville

Mayor Greg Davis, Town of Billingsley

Chairman Danny Chavers, Autauga County Commission

138 S. Washington St.Prattville, AL 36067 (334) 365-0606 (334) 361-9481 Kindergarten (334) 361-9497 Mom’s Day Out [email protected]

First Baptist

Cobbs FordMain Street

Wash

ing

ton

Str

eet

I-6

5

Exit 179

Third Street

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Sunday Morning Sunday School 8:15 a.m. & 9:45 a.m.

Worship 8:15 a.m. & 9:45 a.m. Praise & Worship Service 11:00 a.m.

Sunday Evening Discipleship Training 5:00 p.m.

Worship 6:00 p.m.Wednesday Evening

Prayer Service 6:00 p.m.

Superintendent Greg Faulkner, Autauga County Board of Education

Lt. Gen Allen Peck, Maxwell Air Force Base

J. Robert Faulk, Attorney at Law

CHAMBER STAFF

Connie Bainbridge, President, Director of Economic Development

Jeremy Arthur, Executive Vice President

Patty VanderWal, Financial/Office Manager

Melanie Cleveland, Membership Director

Jennie Prochazka, Administrative Assistant

Sheila Morrissette, Economic Development Assistant

Annette Ray, Special Events Coordinator

Gwen Babston, Membership Assistant


www.fbcprattville.org

www.baptistfirst.org/facilities

Picture this: a community hospital with imaging capabilities matched only by medical centers in

metropolitan areas. That’s what Prattville Baptist Hospital and its Radiology Department offer area residents.

“We have the best nuclear-medicine camera between here and the University of Alabama at Birmingham,” says Nell Nelson, the hospital’s radiology manager. “It has a larger weight limit, so we can accommodate heavier patients, and the table gantry is also wider, so it’s more comfortable for the patient. And it gives us just beautiful images of the heart. Our cardiac studies are just stellar.”

Hospital CEO Ginger Henry calls Nelson the “proud mama” of the recently installed Siemens e-CAM, a gamma camera that captures images inside the body after the patient takes radio-pharmaceuticals either orally or intravenously.

“The modality doesn’t require us to use radiation to acquire the images,” Nelson explains. From bone scans to renal, soft tissue and tumor studies, the e-CAM images boast excellent resolution and are acquired much faster than when traditional radiology is used.

Prattville Baptist Hospital’s imaging capabilities don’t stop there. Also new to the Radiology Department is the ZONARE z.one ultrasound platform, a portable unit that features all the capabilities of larger stationary equipment. The hospital also offers CT scans, routine radiography and fluoroscopy.

Prattville’s hospital joined the Baptist Health family in 1998.

Based in Montgomery, Baptist Health owns several central Alabama medical facilities, including the 85-bed Prattville Baptist Hospital and Prattville Medical Park, a medical office building with an outpatient imaging center. Its services include magnetic resonance imaging.

Henry says the hospital operates a six-bed intensive-care unit and “a very, very busy emergency department,” with the number of visits in 2009 approaching 30,000. Surgeon Parham Mora, M.D., is trained in the latest minimally invasive technique, called single-incision laparoscopic surgery. While a conventional minimally invasive procedure may call for two small incisions on the abdomen and one in the navel, this new approach requires entry only through the navel.

“What that means to the patients is a much shorter recovery period, and now just one scar, which is in your bellybutton so nobody sees it,” Henry says.

Specialties at Prattville Baptist include cardiology, orthopedics, gastroenterology, gynecology, pain management, physical therapy and podiatry. A speech and hearing clinic features a program for chronic tinnitus (ringing in the ears), vestibular training for patients plagued with dizziness, and therapy for patients who have difficulty swallowing.

In addition, many area residents enjoy a better night’s sleep, thanks to the hospital’s four-suite Sleep Disorders Center.

– Sharon H. Fitzgerald

The Picture of HealthIMAGING CAPABILITIES GIVE PRATTVILLE BAPTIST AN EDGE

Nuclear medicine machine at Prattville Baptist Hospital


Health & Wellness

Health & Wellness

PRATTVILLE HEALTH & REHABILITATION

Our Family

Caring for Yours

Physical TherapyOccupational Therapy

Speech TherapyDementia Unit

Medicare/MedicaidHospice/HMO

Call Ted Bugay to schedule your personal tour today!

visit ouradvertisersAlabama Power www.southernco.com

Alagasco www.energen.com

AllSouth Corporation www.allsouthcorp.com

Arrow Pest Control www.arrowpestcontrol.net

Auburn Montgomery www.aum.edu

Autauga Prattville Public Library www.appl.info

Baptist Health www.baptistfirst.org

Capitol Hill Golf Course www.rjtgolf.com

Central Alabama Electric Cooperative www.prattvillechamber.com

Country Hideaway Bed & Breakfast www.countryhideawaybb.com

First Baptist Church Prattville www.fbcprattville.org

Foster Drug

HomePlace www.homeplaceal.com

International Paper www.internationalpaper.com

Jackson Thornton www.jacksonthornton.com

Linda Buckner – State Farm http://online2.statefarm.com/ b2c1sf/agent/01/1762

Max Credit Union www.mymax.com

Mellow Mushroom Pizza www.prattville.mellowmushroom.com

Montgomery Eye Physicians www.onlinemep.com

Prattville Downtown Unlimited www.visithistoricprattville.com

Prattville Health & Rehabilitation www.northporthealth.com

Prattville Memorial Chapel www.prattvillememorial.com

Smith-Byrd House Bed & Breakfast www.smithbyrdhouse.com

The Park Apartment Homes www.theparkapartmenthomes.com

Troy University www.troy.edu

YMCA www.prattvilleymca.org


www.onlinemep.com

Arts & Culture

The city of Prattville knows how to get a good idea rolling – literally.

Its rolling garden exhibit, aboard a late-model fire truck, makes memorable appearances at parades and other Prattville happenings throughout the year, much to the delight of area residents.

The project’s wheels were set in motion last year by a single off-hand comment, says Ken Johnson, city horticulturist.

“I was down at the city’s vehicle maintenance station and noticed this old fire truck sitting in the surplus area,” he recalls. “Someone asked me, ‘Wouldn’t you like to have that?’ The idea struck me to plant it, so I got with the mayor and he took off with the idea.”

In 2009, the rolling garden sported a jungle theme – including a self-contained recirculating water feature, three topiary

monkeys, palms, mandavillas, birds of paradise and other tropical vegetation that is actually planted on the fire truck.

“The soil is on board, and the irrigation system is built in,” Johnson explains. “When the garden needs to be watered, we just pull into the fire station and plug into a hose.”

The unique garden on wheels draws lots of attention wherever it goes, and word has spread. At local schools where the rolling garden has visited, children adore it. When it’s not trekking around town, folks call the city offices to ask if they can come see it. It has even been given a name: Retired Firefighter.

But Johnson takes care not to overexpose the remarkable exhibit.

“It’s a novel piece, and we don’t want to wear out the novelty, so we only bring

Garden on WheelsRETIRED FIRE TRUCK GOES GREEN, GETS ROLLING

it out for special occasions,” he says. “We’ve had it positioned at Pratt Park, and it sat in front of City Hall over Memorial Day. It also appeared in the Fourth of July parade and other parades we’ve had. Picture a small Southern town with historic buildings lining Main Street, and here comes an old fire truck with its lights going, monkeys hanging on it, and the whole thing has a tropical theme – it’s really different. We get lots of positive feedback.”

The tropical plants have to spend the winter in a greenhouse, so that leaves the Retired Firefighter available for another theme – just in time for the Christmas holidays. Parades in summer 2010 will present yet another opportunity. The possibilities are endless, and Johnson isn’t tipping his hand about future themes.

“We want to keep the community guessing,” he says. “We want people to be saying, ‘I wonder what it’s going to be this time.’”

– Carol Cowan

A late-model fire truck now serves as a popular rolling garden, complete with topiary monkeys, palms and more.

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www.alabamapower.com/tips

www.troy.edu

www.troy.edu

CLIMATE

Prattville offers an extensive

spring and summer growing

season, with moderate to mild

winters. Summertime highs

can reach the upper 90s, but

winter lows seldom drop

below freezing.

35.5 FJanuary Low Temperature

57 FJanuary High Temperature

59 FJuly Low Temperature

92.7 FJuly High Temperature

PRATTVILLE

Community Profile

SNAPSHOTPrattville is a growing community off I-65 in the south-central part

of Alabama near Montgomery, the state capital. It’s a city that

values its history and works hard to maintain the small-town

character that residents value. Considered the birthplace of

industry in Alabama, the town is named for Danville Pratt, an

industrialist and philanthropist who came here from New

Hampshire in the 1830s.

Fresh Salads

We C AT E R!

Enjoy Our Massive Beer Selection!

THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED BY

MORE ONLINE

imagesprattville.com

More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.tools and links to resources.

t

E OEEE O

EDUCATION

All Prattville schools are accredited

by the Southern Association of

Colleges and Schools (SACS),

and they offer a variety of courses

and extracurricular activities

to suit the needs of each

individual student. The public

school system, Autauga County

Schools, serves the city of

Prattville and Autauga County.

Visit www.autaugacounty-

school.org for more information.

MEDICAL SERVICES

Prattville Baptist Hospital is a

licensed 85-bed community

hospital offering an array of

medical specialties for Autauga

and Elmore county residents.

The hospital includes an

endoscopy suite, 24-hour

emergency department,

cardiopulmonary services, a

sleep-disorders center and

more. Visit www.baptistfirst.org

for more information.



Bradford Branch (334) 358-9622

Child Care Branch (334) 358-1446

Don M. Smith Branch (334) 365-8852

Fitness Branch (334) 361-0268

Wellness Branch (334) 491-9622

600 E. Main St. P.O. Box 68009

Prattville, AL 36068-0009 (334) 365-8852

Fax: (334) 361-0569 www.prattvilleymca.org

841 Fairview Ave. Prattville, AL 36066

Prattville Memorial Chapel and Memory Gardens

(334) 365-7147 www.prattvillememorial.com


www.mymax.com

www.mymax.com

www.prattvilleymca.org

www.appl.info

www.prattvillememorial.com

www.arrowpestcontrol.net

Smith-Byrd House

Bed & Breakfast

& Tea Room

Located in the Daniel Pratt Historic District, within walking distance of downtown shops and restaurants.

Two bedrooms, each with king-size bed and private bath. The Royal Tea Room bath features a claw-foot tub.

The Smith-Byrd House is open for afternoon tea Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. and can be reserved for group events at other times. Please call for details.

Beth and David Melling Innkeepers and tea hosts

137 N. Washington St. Prattville, AL 36067

(334) 365-1459 www.smithbyrdhouse.com

LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR, STATE FARM IS THERE.®

For your insurance and financial needs, see State Farm Agent:

Linda Buckner1799 E. Main St.

Prattville, AL(334) 365-1800

Like a Good Neighbor, State Farm is There.®

STATE FARM INSURANCE COMPANIES

Providing Insurance and Financial Services

statefarm.com®

State Farm® Home Offices: Bloomington, IllinoisP026038 04/02


www.smithbyrdhouse.com

169 Ball-Enwright Rd.Deatsville, AL 36022

(334) [email protected]

IF YOU ENJOY the quiet country life, you will love Country Hideaway Bed and Breakfast north of Prattville at Pine Level just off US Route 31. Hidden away on 68 acres in the Autauga county hills lies a hotel alternative where you can see turkey and deer at play. You can choose to take a short woodland hike, fish for bass and bluegill in the stocked pond, or just relax beside the swimming pool.

John and Shirley Wachtel welcome you to spend some time at this relaxing country retreat.

ALSO CALL US ABOUT: Bridal showers

Weddings & receptions Luncheons & dinners

Family & class reunions Catering (on or off-site)

WONDERFUL ACCOMMODATIONS FOR:

Club meetings Company off-sites

Scrapbooking weekends Quilting bees

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

COUNTRY STYLE

Ad Index 26 ALABAMA POWER

48 ALAGASCO

20 ALLSOUTH CORPORATION

28 ARROW PEST CONTROL

3 AUBURN MONTGOMERY

28 AUTAUGA PRATTVILLE

PUBLIC LIBRARY

22 BAPTIST HEALTH

18 CAPITOL HILL GOLF COURSE

C3 CENTRAL ALABAMA

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

30 COUNTRY HIDEAWAY

BED & BREAKFAST

21 FIRST BAPTIST

CHURCH PRATTVILLE

24 FOSTER DRUG

15 HOMEPLACE

6 INTERNATIONAL PAPER

C2 JACKSON THORNTON

29 LINDA BUCKNER –

STATE FARM

28 MAX CREDIT UNION

27 MELLOW MUSHROOM PIZZA

24 MONTGOMERY

EYE PHYSICIANS

2 PRATTVILLE

DOWNTOWN UNLIMITED

24 PRATTVILLE HEALTH

& REHABILITATION

28 PRATTVILLE

MEMORIAL CHAPEL

29 SMITH-BYRD HOUSE

BED & BREAKFAST

C4 THE PARK

APARTMENT HOMES

26 TROY UNIVERSITY

28 YMCA


www.countryhideawaybb.com

Spec building

Interstate Business ParkPrattville, Alabama

50,000 sq. ft.

215-acre mixed use development55 acres dedicated to light industrial/retailFully infrastructuredLess than a mile from Interstate 65Direct interstate access to all major automotive manufacturing factories in AlabamaFive miles to the Prattville residential and commercial market

32 ft. eaves/35‘ center

Expandable to 80,000 sq. ft.

(334) 358-0047 www.allsouthcorp.com

Interstate Business ParkPrattville, Alabama

residenwww.allsouthcorp.com

www.allsouthcorp.com

www.theparkapartmenthomes.com

Images Prattville, AL: 2010

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