images prattville, al: 2010
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The Fountain City of Prattville earned its nicknamed because of its many artesian wells, and it also has abundant waterways for boating and fishing. Gracing this picturesque community are classic older homes from the 1800s along with several new, upscale and affordable neighborhoods. Adding to Prattville’s beauty is the Capitol Hill golf complex, which is part of Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Nearly 90,000 rounds of golf are played each year at the three 18-hole championship courses at Capitol Hill.TRANSCRIPT
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
®®®
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
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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.
O
Sal
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Unique shopping and
eateries in the historic district
Shop Prattville
Downtown Unlimited
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What’s Online Onlnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
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
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.
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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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Prattville
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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.
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Almanac
PreservationProgressMeets
Golfers prepare to play at Capitol Hill on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.
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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.
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Growing
Way
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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
PR ATT VILLE IMAGESPR ATT VILLE .COM 21
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
PR ATT VILLE IMAGESPR ATT VILLE .COM 23
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
24 IMAGESPR ATT VILLE .COM PR ATT VILLE
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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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.
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More facts, stats and community information, including relocation tools and links to resources.tools and links to resources.
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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.
PR ATT VILLE IMAGESPR ATT VILLE .COM 27
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
28 IMAGESPR ATT VILLE .COM PR ATT VILLE
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
PR ATT VILLE IMAGESPR ATT VILLE .COM 29
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
30 IMAGESPR ATT VILLE .COM PR ATT VILLE
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