The Times-Journal

State Senator Hank Sanders welcomed community leaders, elected officials and industry representatives attending a Wallace Community College Selma breakfast Monday with &8220;greetings in the spirit of work. All our interest is to see that everybody has a job.&8221;

Underwritten by international engineering consulting firm CH2MHILL, a Selma Works Program contractor, the breakfast preceded a Jobs Fair sponsored by U.S. Rep. Artur Davis, WCCS, City of Selma, Dallas County, and a number of industries.

During the breakfast, college President James Mitchell presented plaques to several companies and organizations in appreciation of their support of student training and employment advocacy, among them CH2MHILL.

In brief and positive remarks Mitchell said, &8220;Selma Works concept was born on a napkin, from a few words scribbled on that piece of paper by me, Mayor James Perkins Jr., Probate Judge Johnny Jones, Sen. Hank Sanders and others in this room today. Sen. Sanders is a person you can call on any time, a person who truly cares about human beings, a person who with love, honor and respect has provided millions for this program.&8221;

Perkins spoke also, &8220;Look around this room and see Selma. The chronically unemployed are being aided, our focus is on the people we serve. I say to you sincerely &8216;Thanks Selma!’&8221;

Davis spoke of the progress on jobs in Jobs Fairs held in Perry, Wilcox, Lowndes and other Black Belt counties. &8220;This couldn’t be done without WCCS, the mayor’s office, the Dallas County Courthouse office &045; and in a program that was fragmented, the change is nothing short of remarkable.&8221;

Davis also referred to &8220;the $11 million being spent on Highway 80 and the $100 million on Highway 85 plans. At the state level the change is as remarkable, thanks to the Alabama Development Office and to Hyundai, which is a transforming event from which every county in the southern Black Belt is benefiting.

In speaking of medicine and provisions of health care &8220;not dependent on bank accounts, Davis said &8220;Small business works for doctors and hospitals. This is close to the core of what the mayor is working on now.&8221; (Possibly referring to Good Samaritan project).

After breakfast, the guests joined several hundred other area residents in the WCCS gymnasium where display booths were set up and manned by local and state businesses and industries, among them International Paper, Cahaba Mental Health, American Apparel, Selma and Dallas County school boards, CH2MHILL and home interiors.

Flyers and leaflets were available at each booth and information readily available from representatives of the companies present and applications for employment were accepted Nancy S. Griffin of home interiors said she received a number of applications from prospective employees who will enroll in her training class at WCCS. Wallace College classes include academic, plumbing, electricians, nursing and medical assistants.