Arts & Entertainment, Economic Development, Featured
The Alabama State Council on the Arts has awarded the Lincoln Theater, located in Historic Downtown Bessemer, a $21,000 design grant. keep reading
0
Featured, Sports
Andrew Zow uses the word “challenge” a lot in describing his new position as head coach of the Bessemer City High School Purple Tigers football team. keep reading
City Life, Public Safety, Upcoming Event
The city of Bessemer Police Department will host the annual National Night Out in Bessemer on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at the Bessemer Recreation Center, 100 14th Street South.The event will take place between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. There will be free food, drinks and popcorn. School supplies will also be given away.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.
For more information on the event in Bessemer, contact Police Sgt. Alexia Bruister at 205-417-3900.
Arts & Entertainment, City Life
Published with permission of The Cutoff News.
Volunteers from the Bessemer Historic Society showed up to help begin the cleanup and restoration of the Lincoln Theater in downtown Bessemer on Saturday, July 13th.
The Bessemer Historic Society volunteers removed almost a complete dumpster full of garbage from the once majestic theater. They swept the floors and removed a lot of dust that has built up over the years.
Benjamin and Connie Hancox of Standard Furniture provided lunch from Bob Sykes for the volunteers. Glenny Brock of the Alabama / Lyric Theater was on hand to guide in the cleanup efforts. Ann Griffin of Hueytown also dedicated to helping with the cleanup.
The Lincoln Theater was built and opened in 1948, with seating provided in orchestra and balcony levels. It catered to African-American audiences. It was closed in the late-1970’s.
The theater was purchased in 2017 by award-winning actor and Bessemer native Andre Holland and is being restored by his non-profit Holland Project, established in 2018.
“On behalf of The Lincoln-Holland Project we would like to extend our deepest appreciation and gratitude to all the volunteers who contributed with the Lincoln Theatre clean up. The support that we’ve received has been remarkable, and we sincerely thank each and every one of you from the bottom of our hearts,” says Mary Holland of the Lincoln-Holland Project.
Government
NOTICE FOR SOLICITATION OF LICENSED CONTRACTORS FOR THE CITY OF BESSEMER ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT’S CLEARANCE PROGRAM
Economic Development, Government
The city of Bessemer continues to operate with strong financial management as evidenced by another successful audit, city officials were told earlier this week.
The audit, which covers the period from Oct. 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018, was completed by the firm of Kellum, Wilson and Associates, P.C. The audit was presented to Mayor Kenneth Gulley and members of the City Council during the July 9, 2019 Planning Session.
“The city is healthy financially and that comes from good financial management,” said CPA Lori Kes, the City’s external auditor.
Kes noted that city’s general fund revenue increased by 11.6 percent compared to FY17. Tax revenue increased by 9.1 percent, exceeding expectations. Kes further noted, that there were significant improvements in the city’s sales tax collection and attributed a portion of this increase to the city’s participation in the state of Alabama’s Simplified Sellers Use Tax. This tax allows online sellers to collect and remit a flat fee for sales made online.
Overall, the city’s actual revenues exceeded budgeted revenues for the year. City expenditures decreased 1 percent during the same time period, the audit shows.
Mayor Gulley praised the work of Finance Director/Treasurer Kela Pryor, CPA and staff for their roles in maintaining the city’s strong financial status.
“The city of Bessemer continues to operate under good financial management”, city officials were told earlier this week in a presentation of the most recent audit.
The city’s Finance Department is responsible for safeguarding the city’s finances. It oversees treasury management, accounts payable, purchasing, revenue collection, debt management, budgeting, payroll and human resources and internal auditing. In addition, the finance department is responsible for grant management, contract compliance, and the establishment and implementation of internal controls policy and procedure.
Each year the city of Bessemer provides its completed audit report on-line. To read the audit report, click City of Bessemer Financial Statement 2018.