Students learn to make parts, find careers at special Calhoun camp
Jun. 13—Colton Naylor tested his skill — and luck — while making precision machine parts this week during a special camp at Calhoun Community College.
The intensive four-day Precision Machining Academy gives dozens of students practical, hands-on exposure to the world of CNC machining, parts design and modeling, said Amber Fortenberry, director of talent development and recruitment for the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, which partners with Calhoun for the event.
There will be another camp in July. Participants gained experience in programming skills, including such tasks as configuring tool offsets, setting up machines and operating equipment safely and proficiently. Students were also introduced to the use of precision measuring tools.
This camp for students entering grades ninth through 12th grades was held at the Advanced Technology Center on Calhoun's Decatur campus.
Naylor, 16, of Hartselle, who is home schooled, said he was drawn to the camp as a sort of career exploration. Machining interested him.
"Just trying to figure out what I want to do," he said.
He learned a lot this week.
"I learned just how complicated machining is. I knew programming was complicated but there is a lot more learning to that than I knew."
He said he "really liked" the machining part of the camp. He said each part had to be programmed before they could make it. He held out something he had made — a tiny cylindrical metal device that lets air pass through. He said it was part of an engine that blows air. He gets to keep the gizmo as a memento.
Fortenberry said there is such a need for machinists in the Decatur-Morgan County area that the camp is a good way to generate interest.
"What's happening is we have a population that is aging out; they are ready for retirement. So, we are really trying to expose these kids to the machining trade and how to work all of the machines so we can get them into the industries that are looking for them."
According to the chamber, those who sponsored the event were able to connect their brand with future workers in the industry while supporting them in gaining valuable, high-demand skills as well as partnering with Calhoun to drive local workforce development.
Fortenberry said sponsors included Indorama Ventures, Industrial Manufacturing Specialties, Nucor Decatur, Joe Wheeler EMC, Redstone Federal Credit Union and Turner Industries.
In addition to learning how parts are machined, the students get to see where these parts wind up, Fortenberry said. For example, the parts they make may end up with United Launch Alliance and end up in space.
— jean.cole@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2361
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Mohawk Industries, Inc. Invites You to Join its Second Quarter Earnings Conference Call
CALHOUN, Ga., June 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In conjunction with Mohawk Industries' (NYSE: MHK) Second Quarter 2025 earnings release on Thursday, July 24, 2025, you are invited to listen to the conference call that will be broadcast live on Friday, July 25, 2025, at 11:00 am ET. What: Mohawk Industries' Second Quarter Earnings Call When: July 25, 2025 11:00 am ET Where: Select 'Investors' tab How: Live via the Internet – Log on at Register for the conference call at Live Conference Call: Dial 1-833-630-1962 (U.S./Canada) Dial 1-412-317-1843 (International) For those unable to listen at the designated time, the call will remain available for replay through Augst 22, 2025, by dialing 1-877-344-7529 (U.S./Canada) or 1-412-317-0088 (International) and entering Replay Access Code 7404010. The call will be archived and available for replay for one year under the 'Investors' tab of ABOUT MOHAWK Mohawk Industries is the leading global flooring manufacturer and creates products that enhance residential and commercial spaces around the world. Mohawk's vertically integrated manufacturing and distribution processes provide competitive advantages in the production of carpet, rugs, ceramic tile, laminate, wood, stone, and vinyl flooring. Our industry-leading innovation has yielded products and technologies that differentiate Our brands in the marketplace and satisfy all remodeling and new construction requirements. Our brands are among the most recognized in the industry and include American Olean, Daltile, Durkan, Eliane, Elizabeth, Feltex, Godfrey Hirst, Karastan, Marazzi, Mohawk, Mohawk Group, Pergo, Quick-Step, Unilin and Vitromex. During the past two decades, Mohawk has transformed the business from an American carpet manufacturer into the world's largest flooring company with operations in North America, Europe, South America, Oceania and Asia. Contact: Mohawk Industries, Inc. James Brunk, Chief Financial Officer 706-624-2239Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
With qualifying over, campaigning begins for municipal elections
Jun. 26—Running for office isn't cheap, and experienced politicians say the candidates who qualified for the 2025 municipal elections should be prepared for the campaign costs. Qualifying for the Aug. 26 elections ended Tuesday with 26 candidates entering Decatur's mayoral, City Council or Board of Education races. Qualifiers in five of the 11 races are unopposed, with five incumbents seeking reelection. The race to replace Mayor Tab Bowling, who is completing his second term and isn't running again, features four candidates: Billy Jackson, Kent Lawrence, Butch Matthews and Suzie Wiley. Bowling said Wednesday that he spent about $23,000 on his 2016 campaign and close to $50,000 in 2020. While his costs more than doubled, he said he was fortunate he didn't have to buy signs in the reelection campaign. District 5 Councilman Jacob Ladner, who also isn't seeking reelection, said he raised closed to $10,000, and he has about $30 left in his election account. "I spent it all on signs, door hangers, mailers, social media and a website," Ladner said. "I hired Heather Wilson as a consultant for about $1,000." Paige Bibbee has been through three campaigns. She ran unsuccessfully in 2008 for District 3 school board. She was elected to the City Council in 2016, but lost her reelection bid in 2020. Bibbee said she was more conservative than some candidates. She estimated she spent $5,000 to $6,000 on her campaigns because she didn't want to owe a contributor for a future vote on an issue. "I didn't take contributions, but I can see where someone in a council race could easily spend $9,000 or $10,000 if they solicit contributions," Bibbee said. She also said a mayoral candidate spending $50,000 on a campaign "is not out of the realm of possibility. Mayor is a pretty big step up from a city council race." All three said they see this year's campaign as different from the 2020 campaign because the previous race occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Going door to door, even during a hot summer campaign, has always been one of the most effective ways to campaigning, but personal contact was limited in 2020. Ladner said his campaign left a lot of door hangers and, since "most people didn't want to answer the door," he hoped he could catch them out in their yards and have a conversation. Don Kyle went through four mayoral campaigns, winning two and losing two. He spent close to $20,000 in his 2016 campaign. Kyle said he thinks door hangers were the most effective for him, particularly with the city's older residents. He said door hangers "might be the only time a resident thinks about you because they are so busy with their daily lives." While direct mail is necessary, he said it often gets lost in the junk mail that people receive. All four former or outgoing politicians agreed that it's important to take advantage of opportunities like city events and political forums to speak with people and talk about their platforms. Kyle said they tried to hit each home two or three times with a door hanger during the campaign and especially hit as many homes as possible two weekends before the election. That gives the electors plenty of time to put the election on their calendar, "so hopefully they won't forget," Kyle said. He said older residents aren't as tied in to social media, but it's a necessary tool in a campaign. "You still need to be active and constant on social media to reach the younger residents," Kyle said. While a higher percentage of older residents voted in past elections than younger voters, Kyle said he read a report this week that younger voters (ages 25-34) almost doubled in the New York City mayor's primary, which had in-person voting Tuesday. "That's amazing," Kyle said. "But trying to get younger people interested is very difficult." Kyle and Bibbee said one of the difficulties they had as incumbents was finding time to campaign while at the same time doing their job as mayor or councilwoman. "When I took the job I wanted to give it my all," Bibbee said. "I know of candidates who just abandoned their job for their campaign, and that's just not me." The upcoming municipal elections are a year later after the state Legislature passed a law in 2021 that pushed the term from four to five years, after which they will revert to every four years again. The change moves the municipal elections off of the even years when general and congressional midterm elections occur. Kyle said he's concerned that the change could create election fatigue and impact turnout, especially since he thinks municipal elections are more important than state and national elections. "I kind of wonder if people are kind of tired of elections," Kyle said. "We had the big one last year (presidential election) and the midterm is next year. It was a mistake (to move the municipal elections) because now there will be an election every three out of four years." Kyle said they moved the municipal elections because city clerks and probate judges complained that they were having trouble finding poll volunteers. Instead, he thinks they should have put the general and midterm election together with municipal elections. "That was probably too logical," Kyle said. Bowling said he doesn't think the date change will impact Decatur's turnout. He said the number of City Council and mayoral candidates shows the amount of interest in city issues. "It (the election change) might apply in the future, but right now in Decatur I think a lot of people are paying attention to the upcoming election," Bowling said. The election comes after almost two years of protests following the fatal Sept. 29, 2023, shooting of Steve Perkins by a Decatur police officer. While the city waits on the officer's murder trial, a review by a third-party consultant led to a police chief change. The city is also in the midst of growth as it tries to manage a large number of new subdivision developments and issues like build-to-rent homes and short-term rentals. Bibbee said she agrees with Bowling that this Decatur election will get plenty of attention, but said Kyle could be right about election weariness in the future. "There's so much going on in Decatur there's going to be a big push, although the turnout could depend on the weather too," Bibbee said. "The change may not impact this year, but people could have election fatigue for future elections." Bowling said he "perceives, and I could be wrong, some candidates are running on kind of an isolated agenda." He said City Council candidates should be aware that a lot of work goes into representing their districts if they're elected. — or 256-340-2432
Associated Press
5 days ago
- Associated Press
Willo Products Launches the LatchGuard™: A New Security Innovation that Addresses a Widespread Vulnerability and Pain Point for Correctional Facilities
DECATUR, Ala., June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Willo Products Company LLC, the trusted leader in the design, engineering, and sale of innovative detention locking systems, today announced the launch of the LatchGuard™, an enhancement to the company's Wedge® locking platform. The patent-pending LatchGuard is engineered to eliminate one of the most commonly used methods to defeat institutional locks. 'Door and lock tampering has evolved, and so have we,' said Russell Roberts, President and COO of Willo Products. 'The LatchGuard represents our ongoing commitment to forward-thinking engineering, ensuring that all facilities can benefit from next-generation protection.' Due to staffing limitations, many correctional facilities are moving to indirect supervision of residents in the cell block. That results in doors staying open longer during the daytime, which leads to more tampering. Under these conditions, residents can insert various materials and substances into the body of traditional Grade 1 Max Security locks. This tampering is intended to disable the deadlock function or compromise other critical internal components, creating unsecured doors, unsafe conditions, and hindering understaffed officers and short-staffed maintenance teams. The Wedge with LatchGuard solves this problem at the source. Its innovative design restricts any material from entering the lock body when the bolt is retracted. The result is a locking system that remains secure and operational. 'The Wedge with LatchGuard is another line of defense against tampering and common defeat methods in these kinds of conditions,' says Roberts. Willo developed the LatchGuard in direct response to feedback from correctional facilities who routinely deal with residents trying to compromise the locks on their cell doors. By making it available as an optional feature to Willo's Wedge and Wedge SurfaceMax™, Willo empowers administrators to improve the security of their existing doors and locks, increase safety for staff and residents, and lower maintenance costs. For more information about the LatchGuard or to schedule a demo, visit or contact the press contact below. About Willo Products Company: Founded in 1945, Willo Products provides innovative, high-quality, engineered solutions and services for the detention industry that improve the security and safety environment within correctional facilities, protecting the lives of the residents and staff. Today, Willo Products locking devices, hollow metal products, and other detention equipment are in use in more than 1,500 jails in the United States, Puerto Rico, and various countries. The company provides new locking device upgrades and retrofits, replacement control panels, and The Willo Wedge, the industry's only patented locking system, to State, County, and Municipal facilities. Willo also provides replacement parts, service, and preventative maintenance solutions. Press Contact: Jamie Britnell Phone number: 256-353-7161 Email: [email protected] A video accompanying this announcement is available at
