West Alabama Friday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama!! It is Friday, October 11, 2024.
According to Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, the son of Cottondale Senator Gerald Allen, 92% of those eligible, are registered to vote in Alabama. That is roughly 3.5 million people in a state of near 5 million.
The question is how many will turn out to vote in November? Alabama, like many states has and abysmal voting turnout record with 61% being the highest percentage of registered voters to cast a ballot in any election.
As we approach the big day there are several deadlines to remember:
- In person voter registration ends the close of business on October 21st.
- The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is October 29th by mail and October 31st in person.
- November 4th is the last day to return an absentee ballot in person and noon Nov. 5th is the deadline for mailed absentee ballots.
Click HERE for a 2024 Alabama Voter Guide
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Though we need rain, it is hard to beat the weather in the forecast for the next week or so. Cool and comfortable is the only way to describe it.
The cooler temperatures and dry conditions are beginning to produce fall colors.
Read More: Peak Times to Experience Alabama’s Fall Foliage
The Forecast:
A fifth former Walker County Correctional Officer will plead guilty in connection to the hypothermia death of inmate Tony Mitchell who died in January of 2023 after two weeks in the county jail. The charge against Grayson Colin Woods is Deprivation of Rights Under Color of Law. The maximum penalty under the terms of the plea agreement include imprisonment for not more than one year and a fine of not more than $100,000.
A public hearing on the planned Sports Illustrated Resort just off Rice Mine Road is scheduled for Tuesday night at 6 at Tuscaloosa City Hall. The 9-story, 150 condo and 250 timeshare unit facility has received mostly favorable public comment from residents. However, some residents have voiced the use concerns about traffic congestion and call the timeshares questionable.
34-year-old Jeremy Hyche Jordan has been charged with making a telephone threat to kill two probation officers and shoot up the probation office in Tuscaloosa. His threat led to a building evacuation Monday.
43-year-old John Edward Jones of Coker has been missing for a week. He was last seen on October 4th - last Wednesday - on Olivewood Road in Coker, where he lives.
Jones is described as a white male, standing five feet, nine inches tall and weighing 170 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes
Read More: Coker Man Reported Missing Was Last Seen Almost 1 Week Ago
It is a big home football weekend in Tuscaloosa, but Alabama and South Carolina fans are not the only guests at local hotels. Cancellations by football fans have created space for some evacuees from Hurricane Milton who are not yet able to return home to Florida.
The evacuees tell Tuscaloosa Thread they are being advised to wait until next week to return how so debris can be cleared from roadways and power can be restored.
There are still 2.25 million customers without power in the wake of the powerful Cat. 3 hurricane and it may be several more weeks before entire power systems can be rebuilt.
Hundreds of first responders from power companies, first responders, emergency management, relief organizations and National Guard are currently in Florida assisting with the response and recovery.
Northern Lights were visible as far south as the Alabama Gulf Coast last night. Numerous photographs were posted on social media from across the state showing the purple, yellow, red and greenish colors resulting from a strong geomagnetic storm.
The National Weather Service in Birmingham posted information about the deep south viewing of the Northern Lights on their Facebook page.
Topping Sports News:
Congratulations go out to a couple of local sports figures:
- Jake Vickerson, Assistant baseball Coach at Shelton State, been named the NJCAA Division I Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association. Vickerson has been on immensely successful Head Coach Bobby Sprowl' staff for nine years.
- Stillman College's Farrah Pearson has been selected to the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Preseason All-Conference Second Team.
Friday Night High School Football Schedule:
- Sweet Water hosts Fruitdale
- Marengo travels to McIntosh
- University Charter is at Choctaw County
- Francis Marion is home to R.C. Hatch
- Keith visits Autaugaville
- Pickens County welcomes South Lamar
- Aliceville is home to Vincent
- Greene County is on the road at Isabella
- Tuscaloosa Academy hosts Lamar County
- Sumter Central hosts Wilcox Central
- Hale County travels to Thomasville
- Gordo visits Vinemont
- Oakman is at Winfield
- American Christian welcomes Tarrant
- Bibb County is home to Oak Grove
- Holt gets a visit from Pleasant Grove
- West Blocton entertains Fairfield
- Fayette County welcomes Curry
- Sipsey Valley is at Demopolis
- Northside is home to Jemison
- Central travels over to Brookwood
- Northridge travels across town to Paul Bryant
- Jasper welcomes Muscle Shoals
- Hillcrest is home to Thompson
- Tuscaloosa County is at Hoover
Bama is a 21 ½ point favorite over South Carolina tomorrow morning at Bryant-Denny. The over/under is 50.5 points.
Both teams are coming off losses. Bama is 4-1 after an embarrassing defensive showing against Vanderbilt that has made the 'Dores QB Diego Pavia a national hero for leading the 40-35 upset of then #1 Bama. Vandy was the more physical team.
South Carolina is 3-2 after getting blown out by Lane Kiffin's Ole Miss Rebels 27-3 last weekend.
Alabama leads the all-time series 13-3, including an 8-1 record when in Tuscaloosa. However, the Gamecocks and Crimson Tide have evenly split the last six meetings.
Kickoff is set for 11:00am CDT on Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Listen to the radio broadcast on Tide 100.9 or 95.3 The Bear. The telecast is on the SEC Network.
SEC Network's SEC This Morning has suggested today that Alabama Head Football Coach Kalen DeBoer is too player friendly and that it has resulted in a lack of discipline on the team.
"You know as a coach you've gotta be in tune with what your team needs. Sometimes they need to be encouraged, sometimes they need to be made to feel they are better than they are," offered former Florida and NFL receiver and now SEC Network commentator Chris Collingsworth. "Then there other times you need to hold them (players) accountable and that I think is the question we have in Tuscaloosa right now."
Collingsworth pointed to Alabama's reported laid-back practice style under DeBoer with music and ice cream trucks during practice and an outward look of unconcern over the Vandy loss from the first year Tide coach.
Click TuscaloosaThread.com to keep up with the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather throughout the day. Better yet, download the app.
Have a wonderful weekend and ROLL TIDE!!