| Local goods a natural fit for Whole Foods
Ten years ago, Bessemer-based Earth Creations Inc. was no more than a couple of people selling clay-dyed T-shirts at festivals. Today, the company sells at least 200,000 T-shirts and other garments a year through retailers all over the nation, including organic grocer Whole Foods Market. The company, started by Martin Ledvina and his wife, Joy Maples Ledvina, sells primarily organic cotton clothing that has been dyed using an array of clays collected throughout the Southeast. Earth Creations' clothing is the only apparel carried by Whole Foods' Birmingham-area store. "The whole concept of Whole Foods goes well with what we're about," said Ledvina. Earth Creations is one of several Alabama companies that have found a place on the shelves and in the coolers at Whole Foods.
Conflict in Iraq blamed for Vernon population loss
New U.S. Census estimates indicate Vernon Parish — home to the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk — has lost nearly 9 percent of its population, or 4,430 people, since the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. Even more residents than that actually left the area during that period, but the loss was countered by a birth rate nearly three times the death rate. Residents of this central Louisiana parish that touches the Texas border have a hard time believing their numbers are dwindling. There’s a Lowe’s and Walgreens under construction. A new modular building manufacturer with 170 workers has set up shop in the industrial park. Byrd Regional Hospital in Leesville just finished a $9 million expansion. New homes are in demand. National chain restaurants are scouting locations.
City to sell, not demolish 2 historic homes
The city of Mobile has boarded up and will try to sell two historic houses on Elmira Street, instead of knocking them down. The houses had been set for demolition last year, until preservationists got the city to put that on hold. The city spent $3,000 to board up a house at 1004 Elmira Street and $3,300 to do the same at 1169 Elmira. Mobile City Council members voted 6-0 today to assess those costs to the owners. The city can't find the owners, however, said Devereaux Bemis, director of the Mobile Historic Development Commission. The city plans to place liens on the property for the work, foreclose on the liens, and sell its interest in the houses at public auction. - Jeff Amy, posted at 4:30 p.m. .
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