POWERGRAMS

33 on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage. White says that while the pharmacy area and most of the interior is about the same as it has been for generations of customers, the business has changed a lot in the past decade. "You can't make it anymore just filling prescriptions," she says. "We have to do all these other things nowadays." Cowart Drugs employees give immunizations, sync medications and provide free vitamins to children 5-12 years of age. Purchases can be delivered free to the customer's doorstep: "a perk of a hometown pharmacy," White says. The traditional shelves of cough and cold remedies, bandages and aspirin are now supplemented by a section where everything's $1. As for the big CVS that opened next door ... "It's not deterred business for us by any means, and our prices are comparable," White says. "It's actually helped us because it highlights how we're different. We're the only independent pharmacy left in Calera; there's four big-box pharmacies. I think there's still the need for Cowart Drugs." Founder Cecil Cowart would be proud there have been only four owners of his drug store in a century of operation. His retired son, Steve Cowart, shows appreciation by dropping in several days each week to speak with current customers. "We definitely have a loyal customer base," White says. "Their parents shopped here, their grandparents shopped here … seeing the people I grew up with bring their children in here is so exciting." RED ZONE SPORTS GRILL Rock music plays as about 25 patrons seated beneath 37 big- screen TVs sample the $9.99 "all you can eat" buffet of baked chicken, country friend steak, pot roast, vegetables, cornbread and peach cobbler. It's a mixed lunch bunch – some dressed in suits and ties, others in T-shirts and shorts – that Jamie Storey goes table to table greeting. Barely a year ago, the former Marine was serving brews across the street. Storey envisioned something more, so when a barbecue restaurant shut down, he opened the Red Zone Sports Grill. He and 30 employees now start serving breakfast at 6 a.m., lunch at 11 and dinner at 5 p.m. before filling a mug or two until the doors close at 10 p.m. on weekdays and midnight Friday and Saturday. "The bar did well for five years but we thought it would be better for the community if the business was kid-friendly," Storey says about his restaurant, which is one of only a couple in Calera that are locally owned. Storey and business partner, Todd Bowen, operate another Red Zone in Jemison that employs 10 workers. A huge American flag hangs on the wall above the buffet in Calera. Framed and autographed jerseys of former Alabama football stars Andrew Zow and Jeremiah Castille hang near a Montevallo baseball jersey. The owners stay true to their original business sports theme, with employees all wearing T-shirts labeled "Eat. Drink. Score." "Football season is always great for us," Storey says. "A lot of people come watch the games." Storey takes pride in buying all local produce and using a local distributor for everything else purchased for Red Zone. "We don't serve canned vegetables," he says. "We start cooking our food early every morning and keep on through the night. We serve some good ole country food." Storey and Bowen have branched out to RZ Catering, recently providing a barbecue luncheon for about 250 employees of a local factory, among similar events. In turn, they give back to the community in various ways, including donating 10 percent of that day's sales to the church whose members bring the most bulletins when they eat at Red Zone on Sunday. "We're just two young men trying to make a living and provide for our families by making good food," Storey says. LOCAL OFFICE EMPLOYEES SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY Calera Business Office Manager Chris Cano has been working for Alabama Power for a decade, having started as a customer service representative in Anniston. He joined Birmingham Division in 2010, before becoming the Columbiana Office supervisor in 2012 and moving to the Metro Central Office in the same position two years later. In 2016, Cano became Business Practices specialist for Birmingham and this past July was named business office manager in Calera. Cano grew up in Virginia "right outside D.C.," and moved with his family to Alabama when he was 13. He graduated from Oxford High School and received a bachelor's degree in Finance from Jacksonville State University. Customer Service Representative Brandi Jackson has been with the company for 20 years, beginning in the Columbiana and Pelham offices before moving to Birmingham Division, then to the Montevallo and Auburn offices. She spent 10 years in Birmingham Merchandise Sales Credit and Collections before transferring to the Calera Office, where she's worked for six years. "I like Calera," says the Montevallo native. "It's very convenient and the people are nice. It's small-town living but with all the conveniences you need." Customer Service Representative Dwain Pounds has worked for Alabama Power for 20 years. He previously worked for two years in Metering Services, 12 years in Pelham and three years in the Birmingham Call Center before joining the Calera Office staff three years ago. "It's a small town where everyone knows everyone," says the Trussville native who resides in Calera. "There's not a lot of the hustle and bustle like in the big city." Customer Service Representative La'Toya Bryant is the newest member of the Calera Office team. She was previously with the Customer Service Center and worked at Metro Central for three years. Calera Customer Service Representative David Porter retired at the end of August after 20 years with the company. Cowart Drugs is approaching a century in business. Cano, Jackson, Bryant and Pounds in APC Calera Office. Red Zone Sports Grill serves patrons from early to late.

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