Where's the No-Bid Plaza?/A Truly Fantabulous Contest

The Alabama legislature is considering a no-bid law for public works projects. We chiefly support bids on most everything connected with government spending, but we know that some projects are exempt. The services of an architect is one exemption, and this can be either good or bad. In case you've forgotten:

College Street Plaza

So how is this project going? We have no idea. The last mention of the project seems to have been in February 2014 when architect Donnie Phillips stated his plans should be finished by May 2014. Once work started, Phillips estimated the plaza would be open in four months.

We feel sure there has to be a parallel universe somewhere in which the College Street Plaza sits side by side with the UNA College of Intergrative Health and a fully operational rail car plant.

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Well, we seem to have missed another holiday...and it was a biggie. How could we have overlooked "National Pate Day?" The Pate family has a long and distinguished heritage in Colbert County:

Joseph David Pate WWII

Now it seems there's a National Pate Day, and we feel so horrible about missing it, we have come up with an appropriate way for everyone to salute the Pate brothers while actually doing something for one of the area's most worthy causes.

Below is a picture of the Pate Brothers, presumably posted for Siblings Day which somehow morphed into National Pate Day. We want you, our wonderful readers to vote on your favorite Pate. This is strictly going to be on an honor system, but if you vote, you need to make a donation to HASRA or Safeplace. We'll have the poll up by tomorrow, but in the meantime, you can be making your selection now.

L to R: William, Shaun, Joey, & Daniel

Shoalanda