Luther Strange

October 24, 2007
By Nancy Glasscock
Decatur Daily

MOULTON — Thirty-two Lawrence County high school students made wreaths, stuffed candy bags and read to children Tuesday during Community Service Day — a new component to the Youth Leadership Lawrence program.
Miranda Ball, who co-chairs the program with Mandi Phillips, gave an overview of Youth Leadership Lawrence at the monthly Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday.

Students in Leadership Lawrence were chosen last spring by the Chamber of Commerce to participate in the nine-month program for high school juniors and seniors. They helped residents at nursing homes make wreaths for their doors and packed candy bags to prepare them for Halloween trick-or-treaters. They also read to children at Moulton Elementary School.

Students in the program learn about team building, politics, government, industrial development and agriculture by spending one day each month with a community leader, Ball said.

In November, the group will visit farms in Lawrence County and the Servico gin in Courtland. In March, they will meet with legislators in Montgomery.

Luther Strange, 2006 candidate for lieutenant governor, was the guest speaker at the chamber meeting.

Strange, a Mountain Brook resident who grew up in Sylacauga and Homewood, said he learned the value of hard work by becoming an Eagle Scout when he was 13 years old and by playing college basketball for Tulane University. He encouraged students to take an active role in their communities by volunteering and becoming involved in local government.

"I hope you will do that," he said. "Whether you want to be a Republican or a Democrat, just get involved."

Strange said the automotive industry is bringing more high tech jobs to North Alabama.

"It's going to happen in this area," he said. "Those jobs are coming here. From Birmingham north and Huntsville south, there's going to be tremendous opportunities for you."