A ribbon cutting and open house was held Thursday morning to call attention to the newly renovated Morgan County District 3 shop and offices at 151 Buster Road in Falkville. Commission Chairman Ray Long cuts the ribbon in the absence of District 3 Commissioner Don Stisher who was in South Alabama for the funeral of a close friend. Also pictured is Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce officers and ambassadors, District 3 employees and county and local elected officials. | Clif Knight

Morgan County Commission District 3 employees are no longer cramped for space and won’t have to burn up in the summer and freeze to death in the winter thanks to their newly renovated shop and offices at 151 Buster Road in Falkville.

The facility was officially opened on Thursday with a ribbon cutting conducted by Hartselle Chamber of Commerce and an open house observance complete with guided tours and a grilled hotdog lunch.

Unfortunately, District 3 Commissioner Don Stisher was unable to be present. He was in South Alabama for the funeral of a close friend, leaving Commission Chairman Ray Long to preside.

“We all knew Don (Stisher) and his crew needed a better workplace,” Long said. “This shop is a dream come true for he and his employees. It’s a testament to their patience and hard work.

“He has gone from having the worst to the best shop in the county, and it couldn’t happen to a better person.”

Stisher’s wife Van added, “Don is so proud of this place but he would not take a bit of credit for making it happen. He would prefer to give the credit to his employees.”

“We all enjoy working here because we worked in the old shop where we didn’t have enough room,” said shop foreman Roger Shipley.” This building is very close to the footprint of the plans we had drawn up for a new building several years ago, “It’s  clean, comfortable and well organized, and it allows us to work on more than one piece of equipment at the same time.”

An estimated 100 people attended the open house. They included District 2 commissioner Randy Vest, District 4 Commissioner Greg Abercrombie, District 10 State Representative Ed Henry and Morgan County Schools Superintendent Bill Hopkins Jr.