West Alabama Friday Briefing
It is Friday, October 20, 2023, and drought conditions continue to worsen across West Alabama and statewide. The few sprinkles of rain we received last night did nothing to abate the dry soil conditions and there doesn't look to be any help on the way for the foreseeable future.
No rain is in the forecast through mid-next week and that is expected to exacerbate drought conditions and raise fire concerns. Lamar, Fayette, Walker, extreme east and northeast Tuscaloosa County and most of Bibb and Perry Counties are now in severe drought while the rest of West Alabama remains in Moderate Drought.
Southwest Alabama is struggle with Extreme Drought conditions and every county in the state has at least one area under drought advisory of some type.
Meteorologist Neil Golita with the National Drought Mitigation Center reports long-range computer models do not offer much hope for significant rainfall through the remainder of fall and moving into the first weeks of winter.
The good news about the weather is it will be perfect for tonight's high school football game and tomorrow afternoon's Cigar Bowl as Tennessee visits Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The Forecast:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 81. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
High School Football Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 48. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Crimson Tide Football Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 82. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
The New Work Week: Sunny days with highs in the upper 70s with clear to partly cloudy nights and lows in the upper 50s.
Topping the News:
Tuscaloosa City Schools officials have begun making their case for the first property tax increase in the city in 40 years. It would add an additional $100 per $100,000 appraised value. Superintendent Mike Daria tells news partner ABC3340 without the increase the system will have to trim back academic programs. If ok’d by the city, the Alabama legislature will have to approve before the referendum can go to city voters. The plan would add $17 million to the system's budget.
The Alabama Department of Public Health has just completed a month of community events called Community Conversations across the state to address health issues. There were two major concerns voiced according to State Health Assessment Coordinator Carlene Robinson: access to healthcare in rural communities and getting to a doctor. Each event focused on a health issue. The West Alabama meeting in Guin highlighted the problems in rural health care.
31-year-old Ellory Kate Johnson of Moundville has pleaded guilty to practicing medicine without a license at a Tuscaloosa clinic. She has also pled guilty to felony identity theft and first-degree theft. TPD’s Criminal Investigations Division says more charges are possible. Johnson will be sentenced next month.
A toddler found at a Tuscaloosa Apartment has been reunited with her moth. The 4-yo named Emma was found alone at the Links around 5:30 yesterday afternoon.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville is supporting a bill to redirect $100 million in U.S. aid intended for Palestinian civilians to instead go toward Israeli defense efforts.
If Tuberville is successful in his efforts, that $100 million would instead be directed toward funding Israel’s Iron Dome, a missile defense system that intercepts rockets and artillery shells that the U.S. has funded to the tune of $2.6 billion since 2011.
In Sports:
It’s "Squeeze the Big Orange" weekend in Tuscaloosa. Already hotels and motels are reporting fan arrivals for the battle between #11 Bama and #17 UT tomorrow afternoon at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
In Vegas Alabama is an 8 ½ point favorite but CBS is picking the Vols by the same margin. By the way, the 2:30 kickoff is televised by CBS and can be heard on Tide 100.9 and 95.3 The Bear with Eli Gold delivering the play-by-play.
Area High School Football Schedule: Tuscaloosa Academy hosts Sulligent, Pickens County is at Hubbertville, Gordo entertains Oakman, Fayette County travels to Winfield, Francis Marion is home to Southside-Selma, Sipsey Valley welcomes ACA, Jasper gets a visit from John Carroll, Hillcrest hosts Paul Bryant, Central travels to Bessemer City, Greensboro hosts Alabama Christian, Linden travels to University Charter, AL Johnson is at RC Hatch, Holy Spirit entertains Brilliant, South Lamar hosts Marion County, Bibb County visits Dallas County, Marengo hosts Sweetwater, TCHS hits to road to Thompson, Lynn @ Berry, Aliceville travels to Winston County, Greene County visits Cold Springs, Holt hosts Montevallo, Northside is home to Dora, Demopolis @ Holtville and Northridge hosts Hueytown.
Let's make it where the Vols can't hear themselves think at Bryant-Denny tomorrow afternoon. RTR!!!!!!!!!!!! Have a great weekend!
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