HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Dr. Chryssa Kouveliotou, an astrophysicist at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, is one of Time magazine's 25 most-influential people in space. Time calls Kouveliotou, a native of Greece, a "Gamma-Ray Argonaut." 

Time's list was published in the magazine's recent "New Space Discoveries" edition. 

The caption under Kouveliotou reads: "As a child growing up in Greece, Chryssa Kouveliotou spent summer nights lying on the beach searching the sky for falling stars and tracings of satellites. Her determination to explore the heavens graduated to more exotic phenomena. 'My first love was always gamma-ray bursts,' recalls Kouveliotou, of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, 'tremendous explosions that rock the universe like nothing else.' One source of gamma rays is magnetars, the tiny, superdense remains of supernovas that generate the most powerful magnetic fields in the universe; imagine a magnet strong enough to pull the keys out of your pocket from a distance halfway to the moon."

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[al.com]

RUSSELLVILLE - Officials with the Franklin County Industrial Development Authority want to make sure businesses that might wish to move into the Mike Green Industrial Park know what they're getting, Executive Director Mitch Mays said.

 

In 2008, the park became the third in the state to be designated an AdvantageSite by the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, meaning the industrial development authority made sure the park met all criteria including specifics regarding size, zoning, accessibility and environmental conditions. The designation has to be renewed every four years. Earlier this week, the Mike Greek Industrial Park was re-designated as an AdvantageSite.

 

"Basically, (an Advantage-Site desigination means) a site has been set so that if a company should want to come in and locate there ... the industrial park has a competitive edge," said Val Walton, communications director for the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama. "(The park is) featured on our database that's used by site selection consultants for companies that are looking to expand in Alabama."

 

Mays said the designation not only helps with marketing, but it also means the development authority has all of the documents to prove to companies all of the environmental, historical and engineering studies have been completed, along with many others.

 

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[TimesDaily]

Do You Want To Help Build Alabama's Economy?

An Economic Development Representative Associate is being announced for application. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in economic development, business administration, marketing, engineering, geography, or a related field. The applicant must also have two years of experience in economic development. A graduate degree in economic development, international relations, international business, or a related field will be allowed to substitute for one year of the required experience. An examination will consist of an evaluation of training and experience as shown on the application. Qualified applicants may also be required to complete an Experience Record Questionnaire. The deadline to apply for this job is November 14, 2012.  The salary range is $37,389.60 - $56,685.60 Apply online, by mail, or by fax. To print an application: http://personnel.alabama.gov/Documents/Announcements/101507_A.pdf Apply online: http://personnel.alabama.gov/Applications/Announcements/AnnouncementDefault.aspx Fax: (334) 242-1110 State of Alabama Personnel Department 64 North Union Street P. O. Box 304100 Montgomery, AL 36130-4100 Phone: (334) 242-3389