Harvest Select’s expansion of its operations is great news for our area and the catfish industry.

Catfish farming is an important and vital business for the Black Belt region and the state of Alabama. So important is this industry that Governor Don Siegelman was in Uniontown to take part in the announcement of the expansion.

Siegelman knows the importance of catfish in our area and said, &uot;The industry is critical to the economy of West Alabama.&uot;

Harvest Select has grown from 75 employees and 100,000 pounds of catfish weekly to 220 employees and 700,000 pounds of catfish processed weekly. The new expansion is supposed to produce 60 more jobs.

We are glad to see Harvest Select making an investment in its plant and the catfish farming industry. Catfish farming has experienced some tough times recently. The industry has had to battle the mislabeling of imported Vietnamese fish passed off as Alabama’s own. That was one battle that Alabama farmers should have never have had to fight.

Catfish farmers have also had to deal with low prices and the ups and downs of a farming venture.

That’s why the news of Harvest Select’s expansion is so positive. It shows that the catfish farming industry is still a good investment and that the industry still has many good days ahead of it.

Sears re-opening to be applauded

By Staff Report / Selma Times- Journal

We are very glad to hear about the re-opening of the area Sears store in Selma. The store is an important part of our retail sales picture and a store that provides many quality products to area residents.

The owners of the local Sears are to be commended for coming back so soon from a fire that forced the temporary closure of their business.

We encourage all area residents to visit the local Sears store and support its re-opening.