By JAY REEVES, Associated Press Writer Sun May 20, 3:41 PM ET

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A partnership with roots in luxury automobiles and moon rockets is thriving between Alabama and Germany, with ThyssenKrupp AG only the latest German company to locate in the state.

ThyssenKrupp made a splash May 11 when it said it would build a mammoth, $3.7 billion steel plant near the Gulf of Mexico in Mobile County. But before it, there were other German companies in Alabama including BASF AG, Degussa AG and — the crown jewel of all — DaimlerChrysler AG‘s Mercedes-Benz.

The largest building permits issued during the week of May 7-11 in the city of Huntsville went to Consolidated Construction Co., $9.5 million, for a building for FCA Properties at 6728 Odyssey Drive. Huntsville-based Colsa Corp.

held a groundbreaking ceremony last year for a new 132,000-square-foot building, the company's third building at its campus on Odyssey Drive in Cummings Research Park. In all, the buildings will include nearly 300,000 square feet.

Sunday, May 20, 2007From staff reportsHuntsville Times
Company plans to have 1,300 workers at new state headquarters

Verizon Wireless has selected the first group of employees to join its team at the Huntsville Call Center, hiring several human resources professionals who will be recruiting hundreds of employees to fill the new state headquarters.

Connie Howell has been named the center's manager of human resources, field operations.

She previously held the same position at the company's Columbia, S.C., call center.

Joining Howell's team are seven HR professionals: Justin Jesser of Madison, Valerie Villarreal of Athens, and Huntsville residents, Felicia Colley, Karen King, Debra Dunbar, Patricia Moore and Nacole Seldon. Jesser, Villarreal and Colley have taken positions as HR analysts. King, Dunbar and Moore have joined the team as HR consultants.

Several years ago, increasing traffic accidents on the roads of Huntsville caused parents to worry for the safety of their young children. In response, the city began its traffic calming program to slow cars down.

The city began by using asphalt devices to slow cars. However, the installation process was labor-intensive and time-consuming. When products were removed, streets had to be resurfaced. Each time the city wanted to move a device, an entire new one had to be constructed.

Asphalt devices change shape from heat, cold, and usage, no longer conforming to specifications. The local fire department also reported that the devices would slow down and tear up their vehicles.

The Alabama Department of Homeland Security, the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and the Huntsville Stars minor league baseball team are encouraging fans to prepare for emergencies through a “Be Ready Alabama” promotion at the Huntsville Stars game on Saturday, May 19th, at 2:05 p.m. at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville.

“This is a great way to spread the message of preparedness to our citizens,” said Alabama Homeland Security Director Jim Walker.

“Governor Riley continues to make citizen preparedness a top priority of his administration. We hope this outreach effort with minor league baseball will encourage Alabamians to prepare for disasters and take part in community programs that will keep Alabama a safe place to live, work, and worship.”

Haverty Furniture Companies Inc. opens its newest store Friday at 930 Old Monrovia Road in Huntsville with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m.

The showroom is across from Madison Square Mall in a former Food World location. During the grand opening sale, shoppers may register to win a $2,500 furniture shopping spree.

The new showroom is the seventh Havertys in Alabama. Havertys was founded in 1885 in Atlanta and now operates more than 120 furniture showrooms in 17 states.

A prime piece of property is no longer on the open market.

You probably pass the old Heart of Huntsville Mall often.

It sits just off South Memorial Parkway at the corner of Clinton Avenue.

Over the past year most of the tenants at the Heart of Huntsville Mall moved out for various reasons.

Already word leaked out that plans are in place for a $150 million hotel and entertainment area.

Jubilee CityFest is Montgomery's Premier Family Weeekend Festival and has been voted as Montgomery's Best Event by the Montgomery Advertiser's Reader's Choice Awards. The 16 city block festival features three stages with non-stop performances by national, regional and local entertainment. But Jubilee CityFest is so much more than just a music festival.

The event also hosts a juried art show, a crafts vending area, delicious food, Kidsfest (featuring magicians, storytellers, cakewalks and more), contemporary Christian music, symphony concert, 8k and 2-mile run, and a sunrise church service. The mission of Jubilee CityFest is to become a premier tourism attraction by creating a family weekend festival, featuring entertainment, cultural events, visual and performing arts, sporting events, and educational children's activities that enhances the quality of life in the City of Montgomery, Alabama and the surrounding area.

This year's Jubilee CityFest will be held May 26, 27 & 28, 2006.

marianne@jubileecityfest.org / 334.834.7226 / www.jubileecityfest.org

JOHN PECKTimes Staff Writer john.peck@htimes.com
Constellation complex to feature two hotels, retail, offices, condos

Huntsville developer Scott McLain said Wednesday he hopes to create a more attractive gateway from Memorial Parkway to downtown with a $150 million retail and hotel complex that will be named Constellation.

The complex would feature two 160-room hotels, 60,000 square feet of office space, several restaurants, a high-rise apartment or condominium complex and a multideck parking garage surrounded by 40,000 square feet of retail space.

more info: http://www.al.com/news/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/news/1179393736245110.xml&coll=1

USA TODAY named 20 students to its 21st annual All-USA High School Academic First Team.

The students will each receive a trophy and $2,500 cash award. "We're pleased to be able to honor these remarkable students who have demonstrated both impressive scholarship and leadership. They are destined to make a difference," said USA TODAY Editor Ken Paulson.
Following are the 20 First Team members:

-- Johnny H. Hu, Virgil I. Grissom High School, Huntsville, Ala.
Parent: Zhengwei Hu and Margaret Huang