By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – Residents heard an update on numerous business and community happenings at the quarterly Columbiana Mayor’s Breakfast on Dec. 4 in the Grande Hall at Old Mill Square.

Mayor Stancil Handley gave a “state of the city” presentation, covering topics such as new business openings, subdivision updates and progress on the Old Mill Square facility and grounds.

“I feel like we’re being bombarded in Columbiana by good things,” Handley said. “It’s the place to be, and people are starting to find that out.”

New businesses include Designs Salon and Spa on Shelby County 47 South; La Patrona, a Mexican restaurant in the former Annie’s Place location near Shelby County High School; and Dollar Tree in the Columbiana Square Shopping Center, where Winn-Dixie was located.

Construction continues on the new Taco Bell located on West College Street.

The 30,000-square-foot Old Mill Square facility, which houses the Shelby County Arts Center and a multipurpose venue, is mostly complete. Work has started on the grounds, where sculptures by artists Ted Metz and Nelson Grice will be installed, along with a three-tiered fountain from Milan, Italy.

Shelby County Arts Council Executive Director Bruce Andrews said eight shows have taken place since the arts center’s soft opening in September, and have drawn visitors from different parts of Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.

“We plan on holding tons of events here,” Handley said of the venue. “The county seat needs to have class and dignity, and I think this building is a big part of that. It puts Columbiana on another level.”

Regarding community happenings, Columbiana Main Street Director Brenda Sands said the city’s first Witches Ride that kicked off the 2019 Monster Walk was a success, raising $1,140 for SafeHouse of Shelby County.

Sands recognized volunteers Lisa Davis, Terri Reynolds and Ali Payne for organizing the event.

“This collaboration couldn’t have been possible without these three women,” Sands said, adding local businesses also contributed to the event through sponsorship and donations. “The event was totally donor and volunteer based, and we’re very proud of that.”

Main Street Alabama President and State Coordinator Mary Helmer presented Edward Jones financial advisor Kyle Mims with the Hometown Hero award for his collaboration with Columbiana Main Street to hold an annual Touch-A-Truck event.

Mims was unable to attend a banquet at which the Main Street awards were presented to each community’s recipients in August.

“It is a pleasure to receive this award,” Mims said. “This is a big honor.”

In other news, the first phase of the city’s new Springs Crossing subdivision at the intersection of Alabama 70 and Shelby County 26 is nearly complete, and work on homes in the second phase is slated to start in early 2020.

Handley shared several examples of young adults buying houses in Springs Crossing and moving back to Columbiana.

“Our young people are our treasure,” he said. “That’s what this growth thing is all about. It thrills my heart to see these young people who had to leave being able to come back.”