Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Coming Wednesday

Around 9,000 students attend Jacksonville State University. Ask any of them what the school's best feature is and a large number are likely to say it's the beautiful campus. Many of those students, however, only see it through their windshield. Staff writer Amanda DeWald examines why almost everyone drives where they're going at JSU, even though the campus is little more than a mile across, and the parking problem that creates.

Brenda Crider of Barfield readily admits her addiction - antiques. They fill her home, which itself is an aging gem, reportedly built in 1857. Retired Star editor Basil Penney profiles Crider and her massive collection, and tries to ffathom the depths of her attraction to collecible artifacts.

We'll also have accounts from meetings of the Anniston and Oxford city councils, and a mess of crime news, including the story of a robber or robbers who made off with 120 pairs of shoes from an Anniston clothing store.

Monday, July 24, 2006

Money, math and meth

In Tuesday's Anniston Star, we'll have a look at the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative, which is stationed at Jacksonville State University this summer. Eleven sites around the state have been selected to help math and science teachers sound less like ... math and science teachers in their classroom presentation.

The JSU Board of Trustees is trying to decide where to put its new Musical Arts building -- on campus or McClellan, where the facility could be as large as 142,000 square feet.

Bulding art of another kind is on display down in Roanoke, and this would be classified as modern art. The new justice facility looks like something out of Star Wars. It's a collection of pods and igloos that the staff says are indestructible.

We'll also have a rundown on a meth bust outside Oxford.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Coming in Friday's Star

Here are a few of the stories our reporters are working on or Friday's edition:

- Reporter Rachael Scarborough King is preparing an update on the investigation of a fatal shooting that happened Wednesday afternoon in Ohatchee.

- Reporter Todd South is planning to look at old-fashioned swimmin' holes in the South. Todd, a Kansan and student from the University of Georgia, spent time at local swimming holes to get a feel for the experience. With the heat recently, it seems a perfect time to cool off.

- Reporter Dan Whisenhunt, who covers the City of Anniston and Calhoun County, is examining the financing for resource officers at area schools. Will Anniston and Calhoun County schools have resource officers when school opens next month?

- Columnist George Smith will have his usual Friday morning offering.

- Sports will have coverage of the British Open golf tournament and an update on the Tour de France, among many other things.

- And put this on your calendar: In Saturday's edition will be a look at power shoppers -- people who say they're born to shop -- in advance of the opening of the Oxford Exchange shopping center in Oxford.

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Coming Tuesday

Star reporters have been busy on this slew of stories in the queue for Tuesday:

Lakeside living is coming to mean something new in Ohatchee, where construction on one home is running at $1.5 million so far - that's more than 18 times the value of the average home in the town, according to the Census Bureau.

Capital Correspondent Brian Lyman takes a look at a Montgomery firm - Matrix - that produced much of the advertising in some state Senate primary races, including the expensive defenses mounted by incumbents Gerald Dial and Jim Preuitt against their well-funded challengers.

Also, we'll have stories on Solutia's plans for a new landfill to hold PCB-laden soil removed from contaminated property in Anniston, and the Oxford City Council's reversal of a road-renaming measure that could land an Anniston Army Depot employee in hot water, Jacksonville's newest apartment complex offering "luxury living" to 500 JSU students, an Anniston woman who found her long-lost father through an Internet search and a new "Super Jacks" restaurant coming to Piedmont.

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Coming in Friday's Star

Here are a few of the stories reporters and editors of The Star are working on for Friday's edition:

Have you driven past the intersection of 10th Street and Quintard Avenue in downtown Anniston this week? If so, you've seen workers cutting down the trees that run alongside the parking lot for Regions Bank and next to Grace Episcopal Church. Reporter Josh Keller, a Star intern this summer, is trying to find out who's cutting down those trees, and why.

Everyone's noticed that gas prices are rising again. Reporter Rachael King, another Star intern, is out talking to Calhoun County residents this morning in an effort to determine the mood of local drivers. Are they upset over the prices? Is it affecting their summer driving plans? Are they aware that significant international events in Iran and North Korea have an effect on local gas prices?

The Sunny King Charity Golf Classic tees off tomorrow, and reporters Al Muskewitz and Steve Ivey are tag-teaming the advance coverage. Ivey's story tomorrow will look at the weekend's weather, the possibility of rain, and what effect this summer's drought has -- or hasn't -- had on the three local golf courses participating in the tournament. Muskewitz, The Star's lead golf writer, will advance the tournament in tomorrow's sports section. Tee times for all three days of the tournament are on The Star's Web site, www.annistonstar.com.

That's just a few of the stories we're working on for tomorrow. We'll also have coverage of the latest national and international news, including President Bush's 60th birthday, the on-going international crisis involving North Korea's missle launches, and Gov. Riley's announcement of employee benefits for the Avondale Mill workers across Alabama.

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Coming in Thursday's Star

Here are a few of the stories reporters and editors of The Star are working on for Thursday's edition:

Reporter Steve Ivey -- an accomplished golfer, apparently -- is examining the effect the Sunny King Charity Classic has on the business community in Calhoun County. The tournament's field is laden with doctors, lawyers, bankers, and businessmen of all sorts. And that means a significant amount of Calhoun County's business community shuts its doors or limits its workload this week. All in the name of golf. And charity, too.

Reporter Andy Johns, who covers the police beat for The Star, is taking a look at the coroner's race between Patrick Brown and Marvin Southard.

Reporter Crystal Jarvis, who covers Jacksonville and Piedmont, is working on a story about the concerns Jacksonville's police and fire chiefs have over the building of another apartment complex in that city.

And reporter Bryan Lyman, The Star's Capitol Correspondent in Montgomery, is going to write on Alabama's economy. Alabama Gov. Bob Riley touts the state's improving economic status as part of his re-election campaign. But how good really is Alabama's economy?

Catch all that, plus the Features department's Escapes section, in Thursday's Star.

Monday, July 03, 2006

Coming in Tuesday's Star

Here are a few of the stories the staff of The Anniston Star is working on for Tuesday's edition:

- For the Fourth of July holiday, intern Todd South will tell the story of a Chinese immigrant who now lives in Anniston and recently became a U.S. citizen. Mei Ling Li manages restaurants in Calhoun County.

- Reporter Andy Johns, who covers the police beat for The Star, takes a look at the race between Marvin Southard and Pat Brown for the Calhoun County Coroner's office.

In sports, editor Scott Adamson has returned from vacation and will resume his daily columns. Plus, the Atlanta Braves play host to the St. Louis Cardinals tonight, and The Star's sports department will provide a full report Tuesday.

And a word of note: Make sure to check out The Star's Food section on Wednesday. Features Editor Shawn Ryan reports that this week's section will be a true southern delight with information on all types of popular Southern fare. Included will be a report by Star intern Josh Keller, a Californian who last week enjoyed his first Southern breakfast of grits, gravy and biscuits.