West Alabama Monday Briefing

Good morning West Alabama. It is Monday, December 2, 2024.

Monday Morning Observations:

It is Cyber Monday. Consumers are shopping online today and are expected to spend close to $14 billion to take advantage of discounts from online companies. Interestingly, this year retail experts say many products can be had at local stores for close to the same discounts. Plus, every dollar you spend online goes to another part of the country, not Tuscaloosa, Northport or other communities across West Alabama.

Recently Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox urged area residents to protect local businesses by shopping local. The life blood of a city is its small businesses, and those small businesses depend on you and me to survive. Their survival is at the center of every city and town in West Alabama's survival.

The taxes paid on purchases made locally keep local government resurfacing roads, providing quality fire and police protection, picking up garbage and providing a good public education. All of those services get virtually nothing when you shop online.

As Mayor Maddox wrote in a "Mayor's Minute" last month, "Our local businesses - not online retail giants - are the ones who support our community by sponsoring youth sports teams, community events and so much more." The local business are also the ones who provide local jobs.

Before you click on "Complete Purchase" online, think about how much the few dollars you save will cost your community in the long run.

(Opinions expressed in Morning Observations are not necessarily those of ownership, management or staff of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)

Weather:

Temperatures in the 20s made walking out the door a shock this morning. In some areas the wind chill brought the feels like temperatures down into the teens. After a brief warmup during the early afternoon Old Man Winter will take over again tonight and the current cold snap is expected to hang around through Wednesday.

The drought has scaled back only a bit in Alabama according to the current U.S. Drought Monitor. However, West Alabama continues in various levels of dry conditions. Most of West Alabama is Abnormally Dry but portions of Greene, Hale, Lamar, Perry and Pickens Counties remain in Moderate Drought while Marengo County is still in Extreme Drought.

Elsewhere in the state seven wildfires continue to burn but none in West Alabama.

The Forecast:

Today

Sunny, with a high near 52. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 27. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight.

Tuesday

Sunny, with a high near 46. North wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday Night

Clear, with a low around 25. Calm wind.

Wednesday

Increasing clouds, with a high near 54. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.

Wednesday Night

Showers likely, mainly after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 45. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Remainder of the Week

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Topping the News:

20-year-old Jordan C. Hallman was the driver of a 212 Toyota Camry which left the roadway on Alabama Highway 171 in Fayette County early yesterday morning. The vehicle left the road, struck and embankment and overturned, killing Hallman. A passenger in the vehicle was injured.

ALEA Troopers report Hallman was not wearing a seatbelt.

Read More: Young Fayette Man Dies in Single-Vehicle Wreck Sunday Morning

Republican Congressman Robert Aderholt, who represents parts of Tuscaloosa County and West Alabama, is backing President-Elect Trumps plan to force federal workers back into Washington offices they have abandoned since the pandemic. Federal officials estimate only 16% of the capital work force are working out of their offices.

Aderholt points out that it costs too much to run empty buildings.

You can still donate a toy in place of paying a Tuscaloosa parking ticket. A $10.00 donation pays one $18.00 ticket. A $20.00 donation covers two parking tickets.

You have until Thursday to get you toy donation to the Tuscaloosa Municiple Court Building along with the receipt for your purchase.

Beulah Baptist Church is collecting bicycle donation for area children for Christmas. Tye church has partnered with several local community groups and schools to provide the bikes.

Rev. David Gay says the church wants to be able to fill all requests. If you want to help, contact Beulah Baptist Church at (205) 758-9560. This number is for donations only.

The 12th annual 200+ Christmas Tree Tinsel trail and Holidays on the Plaza ice-skating rink are already up and operational for the holiday season at Government Plaza downtown but there is more to come.

Dickens Downtown in Northport will conduct its annual Victorian-style Christmas event from 5:00pm until 8:30pm tomorrow night. The celebration is inspired by author Charles Dickin's tale The Christmas Carol.

Friday night the annual Hilaritas concert which has been a cherished holiday tradition since 1969 will perform at the UA School of Music.

The 48th Annual West Alabama Christmas Parade is a week from tonight in Downtown Tuscaloosa. It steps off at 6:30pm right after the 5:15pm annual Christmas tree lighting in front of the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse. "Santas Workshop" is this year's theme.

The Nutcracker will be presented at the Bama Theater downtown between December 12th and 15th by the Tuscaloosa Community Dancers. Breakfast with the Nutcracker is scheduled for 8:45am on December14th at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center just down Greensboro Avenue from the Bama. Click www.tuscaloosadancers.com for ticket information.

The Kentuck Holiday Market is scheduled for December 14th from 9:30am until 2:00pm. The event is at Kentuck's new home on Warner Parkway. Click www.kentuck.org for details.

The Christmas Movie Classics are set for a two-day run later this month:

December 21: How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) – (2:00 p.m.) and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (7:00 p.m.)
December 23: Home Alone (2:00 p.m.) and The Polar Express (6:00 p.m.)For more information, visit Bama Art House.
For more holidays events click here: Visit Tuscaloosa

Topping Sports News:

Tuscaloosa Academy is the only West Alabama high school football team still playing. The Knights face Reeltown in the State 2A AHSAA Super 7 Title game at 3:00 Friday afternoon. TA eliminated Sulligent last Friday night to make it to the finals.

On the strength of Alabama's 28-14 win over Auburn Saturday in the Iron Bowl, the Crimson Tide has moved up to 11th in the new Associated Press College Football Poll.

The Tide victory didn't impress the coaches as much. Bama is 13th in this week's poll.

The new College Football Playoff Brackets will be released at 6:00 tomorrow night.

AP College Football Poll (SEC Teams Highlighted):

1. Oregon (12-0)

2. Texas (11-1)

3. Penn State (11-1)

4. Notre Dame (11-1)

5. Georgia (10-2)

6. Tennessee (10-2)

7. Ohio State (10-2)

8. SMU (11-1)

9. Indiana (11-1)

10. Boise State (11-1)

11. Alabama (9-3)

12. Arizona State (10-2)

13. South Carolina (9-3)

14. Miami (10-2)

15. Ole Miss (9-3)

16. Iowa State (10-2)

17. BYU (10-2)

18. Clemson (9-3)

19. UNLV (10-2)

20. Colorado (9-3)

21. Illinois (9-3)

22. Missouri (9-3)

23. Syracuse (9-3)

24. Army (10-1)

25. Memphis (10-2)

Coaches College Football Top 25:

1. Oregon

2. Ohio State

3. Texas

4. Penn State

5. Notre Dame

6. Miami

7. Georgia

8. Tennessee

9. SMU

10. Indiana

11. Boise State

12. Clemson

13. Alabama

14. Ole Miss

15. South Carolina

16. Arizona State

17. Tulane

18. Iowa State

19. BYU

20. Texas A&M

21. Missouri

22. UNLV

23. Illinois

24. Kansas State

25 Colorado

The Bama Women's Basketball Team is playing a morning game at Coleman Coliseum today. The 23/20 ranked Tide tips off at 1::0 against Georgia State.

There is no love lost between Auburn and their former head football coach Brian Harsin. After the Tigers were defeated by Alabama Saturday, giving them a losing record and ending hopes of a bowl game, Harsin had a little online fun this morning.

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

Have a great week and keep warm!