Look Back ... to RMC's purchase of storage-tank property, 1999

July 13, 1949, in The Star: The city-sponsored DDT dusting campaign under the direction of the Calhoun County Health Department began this morning. More than 30,000 pounds of DDT dusting powder were received by the department several weeks ago for use in the campaign. All homes, businesses and manufacturing establishments will be dusted with the powder in an effort to control the rat flea which carries typhus fever. More than 8,000 homes were dusted last year in a similar campaign in Anniston. Also this date: Nine new school buses, representing an expenditure of around $25,000, were authorized by the Calhoun County Board of Revenue at yesterday’s afternoons’s meeting. The nine new buses will replace old ones that will be taken out of service.

July 13, 1999, in The Star: This year’s school year will be the last for Anniston Middle School. The Anniston School Board’s plan to close the middle school and consolidate grades six through eight in elementary schools was approved late last week by U.S. District Judge Lynwood Smith. The judge’s decision allows the school system to close the school in August 2000 — just 13 years after it opened — sell the building and land and construct additional classrooms at the six existing elementary schools. After a series of community debates on the issue, the school board approved the idea in April by a 3-2 vote. School board member Bob Etnire said, “I’m glad it’s closing down, but I’m sorry that we have to build so many new classrooms. We just have too much overhead.” He estimated that around 30 classrooms will have to be built for the reassigned students. Also this date: Regional Medical Center on July 12 shelled out $440,000 to the city of Anniston for a 2.7-acre parking lot along Eighth Street. The hospital bought the lot on the north side of Tyler Park to plant a 25,000-gallon fuel tank [or “tanks,” the article uses both]. The tanks will hold fuel to power emergency generators and boilers in the event of a blackout. Because of liability issues surrounding the storage tanks, RMC officials felt they should buy the land rather than seek an easement.