A Message from Mayor Walker Getting Ready For a Better Economy: Everyone has experienced the "great recession" as history will call it from 2008-2009 until the present time. For the last 5 years or so we have experienced a time that has presented many challenges to our country, and right here at home in Boaz. While things have not turned around completely, there are definite signs that better economic times are ahead. Unemployment is

down overall, and a recent article I read said that most companies in America believe they will add jobs in the next few years. We need to understand that we have a world, national, and local economy, and that in most cases they are dependent upon each other. As Mayor of Boaz, I focus mainly on the local economy, and it is time to look and prepare for better times ahead. City Hall has been busy over the past few years planning and preparing for better times, and one of the hardest things that we have had to do is to practice patience, waiting for better economic times. During this time of waiting, your city has worked on several things that will make our future better, in better economic times. I will outline some of these projects: Infrastructure Improvements - Over the last few months, we have paved over 12 miles of city streets.

(continued on page 2) “The Hook” is provided through the generosity and support of BPI Media Group, Boaz, AL

What’s Trending in Boaz

THE HOOK:

A Community Service of the Boaz Chamber of Commerce and Boaz High School

Volume 2, Issue 1 February 2015

In this issue…

Message from Tim Walker, Mayor of Boaz February Calendar

BCSS Schools

Snead State

Chamber News

Happenings in and around Boaz sponsored by the Boaz Area Chamber of Commerce

(continued from page 1) We were able to secure some funding from the Alabama Department of Transportation, If you added all the paving together it is over 1 million dollars worth of paving alone. We have also improved curb and gutters, side walks, and drainage pipes around town with more of this work to come. Securing buildings and land for new industry - Boaz is fortunate to have an aggressive Industrial Development Board that has purchased land and vacant buildings to recruit new industry. Some of the land and buildings are adjacent to rail services, and sites, such as these should get lots of attention as the economy turns around.

Getting our city in a better financial position has been a focus of the city council, and to build a reserve fund for those unexpected opportunities. When the right industry or retail business comes to the area we need to be able to move financially to meet their needs. The City of Boaz recently received a credit rating increase to A+favorable by Standard and Poors rating service. This is important for our city going forward. Making sure we have good leadership in all of our departments is key to going into an improved economy. Our department heads are people that are important to insure to the world that we offer service to our citizens that is second to none. Whether it is public safety or services from the library, recreation

department, or the senior center, we want to tell the world that Boaz is a great place to do business, live, and raise a family. We are seeing new signs for new businesses that are locating in Boaz. A new "Dairy Queen Grill and Chill" and "The Grid Iron Grille" will open in the early Spring. Just recently opened is "Sally's Beauty Supply", and "Papa Murphy's Take and Bake Pizza". This shows that the economy is on the rise, with more to come. These are just a few of the things that we try to improve on everyday. I think we are headed for better times and I want you to know that Boaz is ready for the challenge, and we can't wait to get started. The city council and I welcome your ideas about making our town better, please call, come by, or visit us on the web at cityofboaz.org. Come on Boaz let's go to work.

Tim Walker The City of Boaz office email: admin@cityofboaz.org

February Calendar of Events February 1 Boaz Citizen of the Year 2015 nomination forms will be available at the Boaz Area Chamber of Commerce Office. The forms are due by March 1. For more information call 256-593-8154 February 2 Ground Hog Day

February 10 BHS Soccer at Guntersville, Chorba Lee Stadium Girls 5:00, Boys 7:00 pm February 14 Valentine’s Day

February 16 BHS Baseball Sand Mountain Classic, Pirate Park, 4:30 pm February 16 President’s Day-BCSS Schools will be in session

February 17 BHS Baseball North Jackson, Pirate Park, 6:00 pm

February 19 Boaz Public Library, Third Thursday Thrills for students 6-12, contact the Boaz Public Library for more information at 256-593-3000 February 19 BHS Baseball, Randolph 4:30 pm, Albertville 6:30 pm, Pirate Park

February 21 Boaz Parks and Recreation Dept. Youth Baseball & Softball Registration ends. See information box below. February 21 BHS Baseball Arab 11:00 am, Scottsboro 4:00 pm, Pirate Park

February 23 BHS Soccer at Crossville, Memorial Stadium, Girls 5:00, Boys 7:00 pm February 24 BHS Baseball at DAR 4:30 pm, Pirate Park 6:30 pm

February 26 BHS Baseball Sylvania 4:30 pm, Pirate Park, At Sylvania 6:30 pm February 27 BHS Soccer v. Cherokee County, L.F. Corley, Jr. Stadium, Girls 5:00 pm, Boys 7:00 pm February 27 BHS Baseball at Oneonta, 4:30 pm

February 28 BHS Baseball at Plainview 4:30 pm, At North Jackson 1:30 pm

Boaz Parks & Recreation Department Youth baseball/softball registration continues

through Saturday, February 21.

Registration is open to boys age 5-14 and girls age 5-12. A child must be 5 years old by April

30, 2015. The registration fee is $50 per child. If you have any questions please

contact the department at 256-593-7862.

Boaz Civic Clubs and Organizations Information Altrusa International Club of Boaz meets the third Monday at 5:30 at the Boaz Chamber of Commerce. 256-593-8154

BHS Band Boosters meet the first Monday at 6:00, BHS Band room.

Boaz Arts & Craft Club meets the second Monday at 6 pm am at the Boaz Public Library

The Boaz City Council meets the 2nd and 4th Monday night each month at 6:00 pm at the Boaz Senior Center, 112 Church Street. For additional information phone 256-593-8105 or e-mail: cityhall@cityofboaz.org Boaz Civitan Club meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday at 12 pm at the Western Sizzlin’ Steak House meeting room Boaz Masonic Lodge No. 546 has a stated meeting on Tuesday at 7 pm Boaz Rotary Club meets on Wednesday at the Snead State Community College Cafeteria Community of Boaz Civitan Club meets the first and third Tuesday at 7:00 pm at Grumpy’s Restaurant, Boaz Friends of the Boaz Public Library meets the second Tuesday at 6:00 pm at the Boaz Public Library

Sand Mountain Twilight Dulcimer Society meets on Tuesdays from 4:00pm – 6:00 pm at Branch Water Village

Northeast Alabama Genealogical Society, Boaz Chapter meets the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 at the Boaz Public Library. VFW-Veterans of Foreign Wars meets at the VFW Fairgrounds 2nd Thursday of each month. Hwy. 431, Boaz

The Boaz Public Library announces a new program

that is open to students ages 6-12. The free

afterschool program is called Third Thursday Thrills

and will take place at 3:00 pm on the third Thursday of each month from now until May. Anyone interested in

participating in this program is asked to call the library beforehand and let them

know so they can plan the activities for the number of

participants. For more information on any of the programs the library

offers call 256-593-3000.

Boaz Elementary School Read Across America is a nation-wide emphasis on reading the week of March 2nd—6th. Watch for exciting news about a special family event on Tuesday night, March 3rd.

BES Spirit Night at Chick-fil-A will be Thursday, February 26th from 5:00-8:30 PM at the Guntersville location. Our school will receive 10% of sales for the night and the class with the highest dollar amount wins a Chick-fil-A ice dream party. Don’t forget to spin the $1.00 wheel to win free food at Chick-fil-A! Please come out and help support our school! All of our kindergarten and 1st grade classes will be going on a field trip on Tuesday, February 10th to see Jack Hartmann in concert at the Albertville Fine Arts Center. Students need to turn in $4.00 to their teachers by Monday, February 2nd. PreK classes will go on Wednesday, February 11th. All students must return a signed release form to their teachers by Monday, February 2nd. Students without a release form will remain at school. PreK will have a Community Helpers Field Trip on Friday, Feb. 27th. Students without a release form will remain at school.

Corley Elementary School On January 13 the NED Show visited Corley Elementary School. The NED Show is a 45-minute school-wide Character Education Program. NED is a lovable cartoon character who shared with stories with our students about focus & perseverance, kindness & sharing, and diligence & excellence. This program is designed to teach children how they can be “Champions in School and Life.” This message not only resonates with our students, but our teachers as well. Our students and teachers are working every day to be better than the day before. At Corley Elementary we understand true learning happens when we reflect upon our previous mistakes and strive to improve. At Corley Elementary we are learning to Persevere through our struggles. At Corley Elementary we know that there are people around us who need to be shown Kindness. At Corley Elementary we are striving for Excellence. At Corley Elementary we are striving to be Champions in School & Life.

Boaz Intermediate School It is hard to believe it is already February! Boaz Intermediate School students have been working on strengthening their academic foundation as to prepare them for their future. Character counts at Boaz Intermediate School. The character pillar for the month of February is “Trustworthiness.” There are a few items of note during the month of February for BIS students. Group pictures will take place on Wednesday, February 4th. Appropriate order forms will be sent home with students in their take-home folder. Valentine’s Day falls on Saturday this year. BIS will not be accepting any Valentine’s deliveries. The BIS 4th Grade Music Program will take place on Thursday, February 19th at 6:30pm. This program will be held at the Bevill Center. The following is an excerpt from the BIS “Home & School Connection” for the month of February.

Talking About Current Event If a scary event is in the news, you may wonder whether to discuss it with your child. In general, wait for him/her to bring up the topic. Concerned they’ll hear about it in school? Try starting a conversation by asking what people are saying. Then, stick to the facts, and talk about what you’re doing to help him/her stay safe.

Boaz Middle School The club being highlighted this month at Boaz Middle School is the Bama Belles, a group of seventeen girls who participate in a service learning based group. The picture shows the girls making their own jewelry. Mrs. Candice Richardson and Mrs. Angela Grizzard

are teaching these ladies to become strong, Southern classy young women. The girls help the elderly and students in the younger grades. They are taught good etiquette and manners, how to dress for

special occasions, how to do hair and make-up, as well as how to speak confidently. The Bama Belles will finish the year by dressing up, getting their hair and nails done, and going to a nice place to eat as the male teachers and principal serve the ladies.

Boaz High School The newly formed Boaz High School Girls and Boys Soccer Teams have been practicing for their season, which will begin in February. The roster consists of 18 boys and 15 girls. They are under the coaching direction of Jason Johnston. The teams will play a similar schedule with their first game being against the Guntersville Wildcats on February 10. The Hook monthly calendar will include their game schedule. Congratulation to the members and good luck this season. them good luck. Members of the team are: Boys- Maynor Aguilar Leo Aragon

Jeffrey Atrisco Juan Baeza Cesar Carrillo

Elmer Carrillos Uriel Cortes Thomas Eubanks

Cesar Garcia Larry Gonzalez Juan Lucas

Alberto Ramirez Ben Ramirez Marlon Rivera Jaime Sebastian Pascual Sebastian Veilin Velazquez

Brayan Villela Mgr:MarcusPerkins Girls- Sarai Aragon-Cruz Yulisa Aragon-Cruz Isabel Baeza

Cecilia Cruz Melissa Diaz Keily Esquivel Yvonne Esquivel Laura Jarquin Marlena Ramirez

Pamela Rivera Gisselle Salazar Jennifer Tovar Fatima Zaragoza Karen Flores

Snead State Community College The critical need for educational attainment in Marshall County could receive a positive turnaround thanks to a proposal by U.S. President Barack Obama to make community college education free for “everybody who’s willing to work for it.” The America’s College Promise proposal could benefit an estimated 9 million students nationwide by saving each student an average of $3,800. To take advantage of the program, students will be required to maintain a grade point average of 2.5. “The proposal would be an awesome opportunity to make it possible for everybody to improve their quality of life,” said Snead State Community College President Dr. Robert Exley. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment for people who failed to

graduate high school is 11.5 percent as compared to a rate of 7.4 percent among those who have secured a high school diploma. The unemployment rate decreases to 6.6 percent for someone who has a high school diploma (including GED) and some college education without obtaining a degree. For individuals holding a two-year academic transfer degree, the unemployment rate is 4.8 percent; for those with a two-year technical degree, it is 4.0 percent, and for those completing a Bachelor’s degree, it drops to 2.7 percent. In comparison to the national statistics, only 25 percent of people in Marshall County have a degree beyond a high school diploma. While just over 39 percent of the United States population and 33.1 percent of Alabamians have an Associate Degree or higher, only 24.9 percent of Marshall County residents have a degree. “Obviously there’s a huge need for educational attainment in Marshall County,” Dr. Exley said. “Educational attainment is directly connected to unemployment. This proposal would give us another way to open the door wider for more individuals to be able to afford to come to school.” Snead State has made educational attainment a college priority through the College Completion initiative. Students receive information on the value of a community college education and the steps they should take while at Snead to earn their Associate degree. The initiative has resulted in a significant increase in the College’s graduation rate. During the 2008-2009 academic year, 244 degrees were awarded. During the 2013-2014 academic year, 463 students earned degrees. “We’ve got to make educational attainment a priority, not just at the college, but within our community and our state. The impact of securing higher education is significant. A person with an Associate degree can earn as much as $15,860 more annually than someone who has only a high school diploma. The degree could mean a job promotion or career opportunity for people who may not achieve those opportunities otherwise,” said Dr. Exley. The President’s proposal could also mean an increase in enrollment, which in turn could mean an increase in funding for Snead State. More funding would provide resources for the College to expand services and implement new programs, such as training for the high-demand field of cyber security. Snead State is one of the only colleges in the area certified by the Department of Homeland Security to offer cyber security education. Additional funding would allow Snead State to grow the program by providing necessary staff and equipment.

Join the Boaz Area Chamber of Commerce The mission of the Boaz Area Chamber of Commerce is to promote and enhance economic growth and community development. Our chamber is a membership organization consisting of local business owners and executives who want to see businesses of all sizes grow and prosper. The chamber provides a host of programs and services designed to help businesses gain visibility in the local community to help with your business success story. The chamber also assists the City of Boaz, Sardis City and Marshall County to attract and retain a strong workforce and actively pursue opportunities for positive growth in all areas of business and economic development. As a Chamber member, you become a part of a dynamic organization that is completely focused on making the Boaz area stronger by promoting commerce. Together, our efforts will provide a more solid environment to live and work~ a place we can be proud to call home. An application can be found on page 8 of this edition of THE HOOK.

These benefits apply to all our members who join the Chamber- Networking Make important business contacts at chamber functions. Chamber Publications Members will receive all printed materials sent out by the chamber of commerce. This will include invitations to all events and seminars, a monthly newsletter and other community activities. Marketing Opportunities The chamber offers many opportunities for you to promote your business through event sponsorships. Ribbon Cuttings, Ground Breaking's, Open Houses, Grand Openings Assistance with these events will be provided to all chamber members. Photos of these events are featured in the newspaper and chamber newsletter, as well as on the Chamber website.

Email Blasts to Members Members are welcome to utilize the chamber fax and email program to broadcast special events or sales. New members receive two free blasts and each blast after the first two cost only $10 each. Presence on the Internet Members are listed on the chamber website www.boazchamberofcommerce.com as an avenue to attract potential customers. We can also link to your website. Brochures Displayed Members may display flyers, brochures and business cards at the chamber office. Referrals Member names and phone numbers are distributed to thousands of people inquiring about goods, services, shopping and visiting opportunities. We are open from 8 am—4pm, five days a week to serve our membership and the general public. Community Resource Data The chamber has access to date useful to businesses or residents in the community. Such data includes major employer directories, demographics, census information, apartment guides, churches, clubs and organizations. Volunteer Programs Add extra value to your chamber membership with involvement in programs dealing with tourism, customer service, special events, membership, education, and more. Membership Decals Display your membership plaque to affirm your commitment to the chamber and the efforts made to help foster

a more prosperous environment within the city of Boaz.

The Boaz Area Chamber of

Commerce is accepting nominations for Boaz Citizen of the Year 2015 beginning in February. If you know of a deserving citizen

who has made outstanding

contributions to Boaz please contact the

Boaz Area Chamber of Commerce at

256-593-8154, email: chamber@boazchamb

erofcommerce.com

Boaz Area Chamber of Commerce: 256-593-8154, email: chamber@ boazchamberofcommerce.com

Boaz Area Chamber of Commerce “A Vision for an Improved Quality of Life”

Membership Application

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