Read “The Alabama Oasis” to follow life and real estate in Madison County, Alabama. Whether you’re already here or on the way, you’ll stay current on happenings, proposals and developments that affect our lives and home values in Hampton Cove, Huntsville, Madison and Owens Cross Roads. If you want to learn more about the area, find something to do, see what others are doing or buy or sell a Madison County home, you can get it all here. Set up email alerts, follow us on Facebook and Twitter or start your Madison County Home Search. However you stay connected, you’re going to love it here!
Filed under About
Alabama PTA names Dee Fowler as Superintendent of the Year
The Alabama PTA named Madison Superintendent Dee Fowler its Superintendent of the Year.
Fowler was awarded the honor a few minutes ago at the state PTA’s annual convention, held at the Sheraton Hotel in Birmingham.
Dr. Dee Fowler
Madison school board member Ray White praised Fowler in a statement released in conjunction with the award.
“I don’t think that there is a finer superintendent in the state than Dee Fowler, so this honor is very well deserved,” White said. “Anyone that knows the history of Madison has a deep appreciation for what a significant accomplishment it is for our school system to be among the best in the nation. And they know that Dr. Fowler has been a key part of that effort since Day 1.”
Fowler has been superintendent of the Madison school district since 2007. Prior to that, he served as assistant superintendent for two years.
In his 38 years in education, he also served six years as director of administration, operations and personnel for the district, according to Madison City Schools.
Fowler holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Lipscomb University in Nashville and a master’s degree in education administration from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. He earned his education certification from Alabama A&M University and his educational doctorate from the University of Alabama.
Fowler serves as secretary of the School Superintendents of Alabama’s executive board and is a member of the board for the Huntsville Botanical Gardens and the Boy Scouts of America.
He and his wife, Marcia, are members of Asbury United Methodist Church, the district said. Their son, James, is a graduate of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
Crystal Bonvillian can be reached at 256-532-2630 or at cbonvillian@al.com.
via Alabama PTA names Dee Fowler as Superintendent of the Year | al.com.
Filed under Madison County "in the news"
Bob Jones, Grissom among magazine’s top high schools in Alabama
Grissom and Bob Jones high schools were again named among the top high schools in Alabama by U.S. News & World Report.
The magazine today released its annual rankings, which aim to show parents which schools best prepare students for college-level work. According to the magazine’s website, it uses state-mandated assessments, as well as schools’ education of their black, Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students, in the rankings.
Students’ performance on Advanced Placement tests and in International Baccalaureate programs, where applicable, is also taken into consideration. The magazine looked at more than 21,000 public high schools from 49 states and the District of Columbia.
Bob Jones was ranked 5th in Alabama and No. 802 in the nation, according to the website. Grissom was ranked 7th in the state and No. 890 in the nation.
Loveless Academic Magnet Program in Montgomery was named the No. 1 public high school in Alabama and 7th in the U.S. It was the only Alabama school to be ranked in the top 300 nationwide.
The No. 2 school in Alabama was Mountain Brook High School, which was ranked No. 378 in the nation.
To see the full list of Alabama rankings, click here.
To learn more about U.S. News & World Report’s annual high school rankings, visitusnews.com/education/best-high-schools.
via Bob Jones, Grissom among magazine’s top high schools in Alabama | al.com.
Filed under Madison County "in the news"
Huntsville to host Association of the U.S. Army’s 2014 Winter Symposium
Redstone-Huntsville Chapter of the Association of the United States Army‘s efforts to land a major meeting has paid off.
AUSA will host its 2014 AUSA Winter Symposium and Exposition in Huntsville. It’s the first time the Rocket City has hosted the meeting, which attracts thousands of military and civilian officials. The symposium is conducted on alternate years with the support from a featured command, normally Army Materiel Command or Army Training and Doctrine Command. In recent years it has been held in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
AMC, based at Redstone Arsenal, will be the 2014 featured command.
In January, the Redstone-Huntsville Chapter hosted AUSA’s Senior Leadership Reception with retired Gen. Gordon Sullivan, president and chief operating officer of AUSA, and retired CSM Jimmie D. Spencer, director for noncommissioned officer and soldier program of AUSA. Local AUSA officials said the event gave them the chance to demonstrate Huntsville’s capabilities in hosting a major event.
“We were trying to show the capabilities we have at places like the Von Braun Center and Davidson Center and hotels to support things like conventions,” Paul Elliott, president of the Redstone-Huntsville AUSA, said at the time.
The visit apparently paid off, as did Huntsville’s large military presence.
“Locating our 2014 symposium in Huntsville, Alabama, with its close proximity to AMC headquarters, will allow us to maximize military, civilian and industry attendance during this period of constrained budgets and limited resources. This is a superb opportunity for their professional development and remains very cost effective,” Sullivan said.
“As a well-respected professional development forum, the Association’s annual winter symposium and exposition will continue to provide an all-important platform for participants to learn about and see not only what the Army needs, but also what industry is developing in the latest and best technologies to arm, equip, sustain and protect our soldiers for the future fight.”
The Redstone-Huntsville Chapter a multiple-year winner of the AUSA Best Chapter Award – has more than 2,600 military and civilian members.
via Huntsville tapped to host Association of the U.S. Army’s 2014 Winter Symposium | al.com.
Filed under Madison County "in the news"
Alabama Residential Report: March Sales Up 6%; YTD Sales up 8%
Alabama home sales up 5.7% from March 2012. Infograph courtesy of ACRE. All rights reserved.
Consistent with where the market closed in January and February, Alabama residential sales in March continued to “steadily” improve, up 5.8 percent compared to the same period a year earlier. Across Alabama in March, sixty-four percent of local markets reported on par or positive sales growth compared to last March reflecting there is still room for more improvement.
Click here to view or print the full report compliments of the ACRE Corporate Cabinet.
Supply: The statewide housing inventory in March was 32,276 units, a decrease of 2.7 percent from March 2012 and 18.6 percent below the month of March’s peak in 2010 (39,6600 units). There were 9.1 months of housing supply (6-7 months considered equilibrium) in March 2013 versus 9.9 months of supply in March 2012, a solid decline of 8.0 percent. March inventory has increased by 2.3 percent over the prior month. This trend is consistent with historical data indicating that February inventory on average (’08-’12) traditionally increases from the month of February by 1.6 percent. In contrast to reports of a looming lack of inventory problem at the national level, Alabama still has plenty of housing supply that has yet to be absorbed. Only 9 of 25 or 36 percent of local markets have single-digit months of housing supply so this is an area where more reduction will be welcome news.
Demand: In March, Alabama residential sales was outperformed by the US market which showed an increase of 10.3 percent from the prior year, according to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR). NAR also reported that the South region sales were up 12.7 percent from last March. Investors accounted for 19 percent of nationwide sales while 30 percent were all-cash sales and 30 percent were first-time home buyers (40% in typical market).
March statewide residential sales improved 20.4 percent from the prior month. This movement is consistent with seasonal patterns and historical data that indicates that March sales, on average (’08-’12), increase from the month of February by 30.0 percent. In comparison, US sales rose .4 percent from last month while the South region also improved by 1.0 percent from the prior month.
Pricing: The statewide median selling price in March was $124,988, an increase of 5.5 percent from last March. Historical data (’08-’12) reflects that the March median selling price traditionally increase from the month of February by 3.6 percent. Nationally, NAR states that distressed homes – foreclosures and short sales – accounted for 21 percent of March sales (13 percent were foreclosures and 8 percent were short sales), Foreclosures typically sold for an average 15 percent below market price in March, while short sales were discounted 13 percent.
Local Results: 16 out of the 25 local reporting associations (64% – this is slightly down from 68% in February) reflect sales gains from last March. In March, sales in metro markets (up 9% from last year) outperformed both midsize markets(up 2%) and small markets (unchanged). All 5 major metro areas representing 70% of Alabama sales have an overall positive year-over-year growth rate of 10 percent.
via Alabama Residential Report: March Sales Up 6%; YTD Sales up 8% | al.com.
Filed under Madison County "in the news"
WhistleStop Weekend
Come have a toe-tappin, barbeque-eatin’ good time and best of all it’s all for a good cause. All proceeds benefit EarlyWorks Children’s Museum and educational programs for area children.
May 3rd & May 4th
Friday – 4pm – 11pm
Saturday – 10am – 11pm
Historic Huntsville Depot
320 Church Street
Huntsville, AL.
Parking is downtown street parking.
Gateways are at the Church Street and Monroe intersections, the Church Street entrance of the Depot and on Meridian Street across from Walker Avenue.
via WhistleStop Weekend.
Filed under Things to do and see:
