West Alabama Monday Briefing
Good morning, West Alabama! It is Monday August 19, 2024.
The weather this morning could be considered the calm AFTER the storm. The week is beginning sunny and relatively comfortable after a stormy late Sunday left damage behind.
The storms started out with mainly thunder and high winds across Tuscaloosa County. They left a few power outages and a little damage in the Fosters area of Tuscaloosa County before strengthening as they passed over southern Hale County and swept into Perry County.
More than 350 customers in Hale County and 200 in Perry County remained without power this morning. That is down considerably from the near 20,000 customers left in the dark across the area last night. Power crews worked through the night to restore service and almost all are expected to be back online by noon today.
Hale County Emergency Management Agency Director Russell Weeden reports six homes were damaged by falling trees. EMA is working with Red Cross to find temporary residences for those impacted.
The Forecast:
Topping the News:
Alabama Democrats are in Chicago for today’s start of the DNC. The convention comes amid infighting with the state delegation. Party chair Randy Kelley has threatened to challenge the state’s delegates who were selected by the Harris/Waltz campaign. Amid claims of racism, Kelley has also called former Democrat U-S Senator Doug Jones a “Confederate Democrat”.
A GoFundMe account in the name of 20-year-old UA student Lauren Alexis Whinery of Cape Coral, FL has raised almost $10,000 of a $50,000 goal. It will be used to fund a UA scholarship in her name.
The Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority member passed away unexpectedly on July 1st.
The Marketing major with dual minors in Sales and Global & Cultural Perspectives had a 4.0 Grade Point Average (GPA), earning her a place on the President’s List for the Spring Semester of 2024.
The City of Demopolis is considering turning the historic 110-year-old former Demopolis High School building into apartments. That plan has drawn the ire of nearby residents who claim the plan would create parking and traffic congestion. They also claim the building is too old for apartments.
Gov. Kay Ivey signed the John Wesley Foster Act, a piece of legislation that requires public schools to have a cardiac emergency response plan in place. The plan instructs people to dial 911, start CPR, and use an AED on campus and at school-sponsored athletic events in the case of a cardiac emergency.
Current laws require AEDs in schools but there is no requirement for personnel to learn how to use the device.
The FutureFocus: West Alabama Education and Workforce Conference is set for this coming Wednesday from 10:30am until 1:00pm at the Bryant Conference Center of the UA campus.
According to a release from West Alabama Works, the conference combines the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama's Education Summit with West Alabama Work's Talent Conference in exploring the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities in education and workforce development across West Alabama.
An education panel will include Tuscaloosa City Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Daria, Tuscaloosa County Schools Superintendent Dr. Keri C. Johnson and Pickens County Schools Superintendent Jamie Chapman.
The after-lunch session will include Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth who is considering a run for the governor's office.
Click HERE to register.
Alabama Football Raffle tickets will be on sale until Monday, Aug. 26 with funds going to support Turning Point, the second-oldest domestic violence shelter in the state of Alabama.
The tickets are premium Champions Club seats for the season opener against West Kentucky at Bryant-Denny Stadium. It is a 6:00pm kickoff.
Turning Point's service area encompasses Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Marengo, Pickens and Sumter counties.
Topping Sports News:
Former UA and now PGA rookie golfer Nick Dunlap is now ranked 48th in the battle for the FedEx Cup after finishing in a tie for 5th at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis Sunday. The 20-year-old told media he overcame the late pressure that may have cost him a chance to win. His finish qualified him for next week’s BMW Championship.
Four-star linebacker Jaedon Harmon has flipped his commitment from Alabama to Tennessee.
The 6’1 215 LB from Rome, GA had been Committed to the Crimson Tide since April.
Read More: Alabama LB Commit Flips to Rival
The 20th ranked Crimson Tide Soccer Team bounced back from a season opening 3-0 loss to TCU with a 2-1 win over North Texas over the weekend. It took a late game rally for Bama to pick up its first win of the new season.
Alabama will host North Alabama in its home opener Thursday at 7:00pm
Click TuscaloosaThread.com throughout the day for the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather. Better yet, download the app.
Have a great week and enjoy the quick preview of fall-like weather.
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