West Alabama Christmas Day Briefing

Good Christmas Day Morning! It is Wednesday, December 25, 2024.

Christmas Morning Observations:

Christmas morning, no matter how old I get, evokes childhood memories. Those memories begin with the traditions of my dad's side of the family assembling at my grandparents' house on Christmas Eve with the extended family for an always noisy and enjoyable dinner and Christmas present exchange. It was a small house filled with family togetherness and love.

Events always ended relatively early amid parental reminders that Santa was on his way and all the grandkids needed to be home and asleep so he wouldn't have to pass our house. Once home it still was never easy for my parents to get me to bed because I wanted to play with my presents. (unless the gifts had been clothing and that was always a bummer).

After considerable coaxing mom and dad eventually would get me to bed dreaming of what I might find under the tree the next morning.

To their annual consternation, Christmas morning always started early. We were not a wealthy family by any means, but my parents always found a way to have most of the presents I had asked for under the tree. Bleary eyed from late nights before assembling Fort Apace or my electric train, they would always stumble in and manage to look astonished at what Santa had brought.

One of my favorite memories is of my mother having to push my dad and Uncle Don to quit playing with my Lionel train so I could. (They had spent much of the night assembling it).

After a too short time to play with Santa's gifts it was time to get ready for the short trip to my mom's parents' house where again, happy noise and wonderful aromas from the kitchen linger in my mind's eye today.

Us kids ate Christmas lunch on a card table in the living room while the adults assembled around the large dining room table. One year we had an extra guest and dad ate with us kids, lamenting that he thought he had, "graduated" from the card table long ago.

Then there was another Christmas gift swap, leaving wrapping paper all over the floor. It was always my grandad Dewey's job every year to collect it in a bag and take it to the garbage while we kids played, and the adults sat around watching and talking.

I'm fortunate to have such rich memories of Christmas. The prove that more important than the presents, its family that matters most.

I hope each of you in your own way have similar memories or are making new ones this Christmas Day. But most important of all is I hope we all, as the saying goes, "Keep Christ in Christmas" and remember the holiday is not about how much we get but about how much we give.

(Opinions expressed in Morning Briefing are those of the author and not necessarily those of the ownership, management, staff or sponsors of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)

Weather:

We are starting Christmas morning off with sunshine but as the day progresses clouds will increase from the west. Daytime high temperatures will in the lower 60s across most of West Alabama. So, you can get the kids outside to play for at least awhile (unless they got computer games).

The Forecast:

Christmas Day

Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Christmas Night

A 20 percent chance of showers after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. East wind around 5 mph.

Thursday

Partly sunny, with a high near 62. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday

A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 66. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 60. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

The Weekend

Showers and possibly a few non-severe thunderstorms Saturday and Saturday night. Sunday, a slight chance of daytime showers will give way to partly cloudy skies overnight. Highs will be in the upper 60s to near 70 with overnight lows of mid 50s Saturday and mid 40s Sunday.

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Topping the News:

TES Needs Help

Tuscaloosa Temporary Emergency Service needs assistance. We are just getting into winter and while the forecast is for a number of above normal temperatures days, there will be plenty more freezing and sub-freezing nights ahead.

Tuscaloosa Temporary Emergency Services is asking for blankets, coats, handwarmers and other items to keep the homeless and person living in substandard housing warm.

TES (located across from Annette Shelby Park on 15th Street) is closed today but will reopen Thursday.

TPD Still Searching

Tuscaloosa Police are still searching for a missing woman. Melvianna Horton was last seen on foot on Tuesday morning in the area of Herman Avenue. The 23-year-old is 5-5, 185 lbs. She was last seen wearing a pink nightgown with no shoes and an orange handbag.

Please call 205-349-2121 if you see her.

Jasper Teen Dies in Pothole Induced Crash

A Jasper 18-year-old driver has died after they struck a pothole on Whitehouse Road near Industrial Parkway in Walker County.

The 18-year-old was not wearing a seatbelt according to ALEA Troopers.

Read More: Jasper Teenager Dies Day After Hitting Pothole Causes Crash

Governor Ivey Extends Christmas Wishes

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has released her annual Christmas message to Alabama residents.

"Christmas is a time to cherish what truly matters – our faith, our family and our loved ones. It’s also a time to remember those who may be struggling this season." Ivey stated in her message.

Bloody Christmas Week

A man in Morgan County died during a Monday afternoon officer-involved shooting in Morgan County, in Center Point a man died from wounds received in a shooting Monday night, and a Monday shooting in Chilton County left one man dead.

ALEA fears more violence during the holidays as family members and acquaintances gather and potential arguments flare.

Hanukkah Begins Tonight

The Jewish festival of Hanukkah begins Wednesday tonight. It is an eight-day celebration, the timing of which is based on the lunar calendar. It is the first time in almost two decades, Christmas and Hanukkah fall on the same day.

Each of eight Hanukkah nights, candles are lit on a menorah according to what day of the festival it is. Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple. The celebration includes special foods and prayers.

The first candle will be lit at dusk tonight.

No Lottery Christmas Present

There was no Christmas Eve winning Mega Millions lottery number, so Mississippi lottery sellers are bracing for an influx of Alabama residents crossing the state line.

Topping Sports News:

Bama Women Back in Top 25

As expected, the Alabama Women's Basketball Team has re-entered the AP Women's College Basketball Poll. The 20th ranked Tide was also selected as Team of the Week by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association.

UA returns to Coleman Coliseum on Dec.29 to face the Jacksonville Dolphins at 11:00 a.m. CT, with the game also available on SEC Network+.

Read More: Alabama Women’s Basketball is Ranked No.20 in the Latest AP Poll

AP Women's Basketball Top 25 (SEC Team Highlighted):

UCLA
South Carolina
Notre Dame
USC
Texas
LSU
UConn
Maryland
Oklahoma
Ohio State
TCU
Kansas State
Georgia Tech
Duke
Tennessee
Kentucky
North Carolina
West Virginia
Michigan State
Alabama
California
North Carolina State
Michigan
Iowa
Old Miss

Others Receiving Votes: Nebraska 10-2, Vanderbilt 12-1, Utah 10-2, Illinois 102, Oklahoma State 11-1, Harvard 11-1, FSU 11-2, Baylor 11-2.

USF Wins Hawai'i Bowl in 5 OTs

The University of South Florida (7-6), a team Alabama has struggled with the last two years, won Tuesday night's Hawaii Bowl with an astounding 41-39 five-overtime thriller, the longest bowl game in history, against the San Jose Spartans (7-6) in a game that ended at 11:24 am CST.

There are three bowl games tomorrow. The GameAbove Sports Bow matches Pittsburgh and Toledo, the Rate Bowl has Rutgers against Kansas State and the 68 Ventures Bowl in Mobile pits Arkansas State and Bowling Green.

Click TuscaloosaThread.com for the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather. Better yet, download the app.

May Christmas Day be all it should be and may you carry the spirit of the season throughout the year.