West Alabama Friday Briefing
It is Friday, October 27, 2023. Next Tuesday is Halloween and it looks like Mother nature is going to do a little trick or treating. For those who like the warm weather we have been having it will be a trick. For those cold weather enthusiasts, it will be a treat.
A cold front moving through the state Monday night into Tuesday will drop daytime highs into the 50s and 60s and overnight lows into the 30s. Even worse news, that front will bring less than 1/100th of an inch of rainfall, nowhere near enough to put a dent into the spreading drought.
According to the current U.S. Drought Monitor released by NOAA Thursday, Counties from Pickens and Tuscaloosa Counties northward are now in Severe Drought. Counties roughly from the I20/59 corridor southward remain in Moderate Drought.
The drought conditions continue to exacerbate the wildfire threat throughout the state. 68 wildfires are currently burning, most in North Alabama. Six of them are in West Alabama. All are listed as being under control.
A NO BURN order remains in place.
Topping the News:
A letter written by an anonymous long service Tuscaloosa police officer is claiming the department is rife with racism, nepotism, fraternization and a flawed promotion process. The letter also points to forced overtime and an inadequate retirement system as additional reasons for staffing shortage.
The Tuscaloosa County Branch of the NAACP is vowing to investigate. In a written statement TPD replied that it does not respond to baseless allegations.
Greene County Sheriff Jonathon Benison has filed a lawsuit claiming several bingo casinos in his county are violating mandates set by the state supreme court. But critics are questioning the sheriff’s motivation claiming he has a personal relationship with at least one other bingo parlor.
TPD is searching for missing 13yo Alexis Nicole Williams who left her home near Cypress Creek Avenue Thursday morning and has not been seen since. Alexis is described as 5-feet tall and 130 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Call TPD at 349-2121 if you have information.
Alabama Junior Senator Katie Britt sits on the U-S Senate Appropriations Committee that will consider President Biden’s Israel aid package next week. She told CBS This Morning she supports Israel because Hamas is a clear and present danger. Britt says the committee will make sure the $100 million aid package is what The White House claims it is.
Ground was broken at the antiquated 2-Mile Creek Bridge in Northport yesterday for work to rebuild it to modern standards. Northport resident Kevin Shobe tells news partner ABC3340, it is about time…(SB/ks).>>The bridge work is part of the upgrade work being done on MLK Blvd., which is closed.
Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge Daniel Pruet has denied a motion to dismiss Capital Murder charges against former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles. The case involving the shooting death of a Birmingham woman just off the strip in January.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day organized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is scheduled for tomorrow. DEA is encouraging the public to dispose of unnecessary medications as a preventive measure against medication misuse and the onset of opioid addiction.
West Alabama "Take Back Day" locations are:
Bibb: Woodstock Police Department 28513 AL-5, Woodstock, AL.
Lamar: Fulton Police Department; Family Pharmacy 1313 S Adams St, Fulton, MS
Perry: Selma Police Department, Walmart 1501 AL-14, Selma, AL 36703
Tuscaloosa: Walgreens 69 South 8701 Alabama Hwy 69 S, Tuscaloosa, AL, CVS 4260 University Blvd E, Tuscaloosa, AL, Walmart Neighborhood Market 4201 Hargrove E Rd, Tuscaloosa, AL, CVS 808 Veterans Memorial Pkwy, Tuscaloosa, AL, CVS 1910 McFarland Blvd, Northport, AL 35476
Walker: Jefferson County Sheriff Department 2651 Center Point Pkwy, Center Point, AL.
All counties without a "Take Back Day" location are urged to use one of the locations above.
In Sports:
In Thursday night prep football action: St. James beat Sumter Central 34-8.
Tonight’s week 9 area action has Holy Spirit is at Sumiton Christian, Aliceville at Greene County, Fayette travels to Midfield, Lamar County in on the road to Winston County, South Lamar welcomes Lynn, TA visits Cold Springs, Sipsey Valley hosts Hale County, Berry hosts Brilliant, ACA is home to Montevallo, Linden @A.L. Johnson, Jasper is the home team to Pleasant Grover, Northside travels to Hamilton, Central is on the road at Hueytown, Hillcrest visits McAdory, Marengo gets a visit from University Charter, Bryant is the guest at Bessemer City, Northridge at Brookwood, West Blocton hosts Dallas County, County High is at Vestavia Hills.
Baseball's World Series begins tonight in Arlington, TX with the two most unexpected teams. The Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks were the two least successful teams to make the playoffs, but the regular seasons are sitting at home watching.
The American League's Diamondbacks eliminated the National league's powerful Phillies while Texas vanquished down state rival Houston to make it to the fall classic.
Alabama and LSU have the weekend off while they prepare for their showdown Saturday week at Bryant-Denny. But that has not stopped the Las Vegas oddsmakers from establishing their lines on next week's game. The Crimson Tide is a 4.5-point favorite to beat the Tigers.
Have a wonderful weekend!!
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