West Alabama Monday Briefing

Good morning West Alabama. it is Monday, December 16, 2024.

Monday Morning Observations:

There are days in our lives that are burned indelibly in our memories. We remember everything about it, Saturday, December 16, 2000, 24 years ago today, is one of those days for me and many more Tuscaloosans who were around when an EF-4 tornado cut a some 20-mile-long path across south Tuscaloosa.

11 people died that day, ranging in age from 16 to 84. with 125 injured, 243 homes were damaged or destroyed. It was the worst and most power December tornado disaster ever in Alabama.

Events began when weather radar detected a debris field associated with a warned system near Meridian, MS. It moved into Alabama on a direct line toward Tuscaloosa County. Storm spotters sighted the twister just above the ground in Fosters. Sirens were sounded and everyone braced for the inevitable.

ABC3340's tower camera picked up the tornado as it moved on the ground to the northeast toward Taylorville. For 38 minutes the storm chewed up businesses, neighborhoods and vehicles on roadways.

Despite all the advance warning, thousands were caught off-guard, especially in Bear Creek Trailer Park where nine of the 11 died. It was from that trailer park that the iconic image of that disaster occurred. A photograph taken by then Tuscaloosa News Photographer Michael Palmer depicted Mike Harris carrying an unconscious 6-year-ol Whitney Crowder from the rubble.

Besides Bear Creek Trailer Park, Hillcrest Meadows and Hinton Place suffered significant damage, vehicles traveling on 69south were sucked into the storm killing some of their occupants.

A Federal Disaster Declaration was issued, property was repaired and rebuilt but the impacts on lives remain to this day, 24 years later.

Weather:

Cool and damp weather with give way to highs in near the 70s for a couple of days before another shot of cold air returns toward the end of the week. The warmer weather will also bring us rain chances each day through midweek.

Forecast:

Today

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Showers likely, mainly between 9pm and 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Tuesday

A 40 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.

Wednesday

Showers likely, mainly after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.

Remainder of the Week

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Top of the News:

Another local government is set to take another step in unity. A resolution is on the agenda for tonight's Northport City Council to join Tuscaloosa and the county commission is petitioning Gov. Ivey for the state to purchase the Black Warrior Parkway toll bridge.

If the three governing body's joint request is successful, the state would purchase the bridge and remove the toll.

The parkway connects U.S. 82 with U.S. 11 and I 20/59.

Tuscaloosans remember the EF-4 tornado that ravaged south Tuscaloosa killing 11 people and injuring 125 24 years ago today. It was the most destructive December tornado in Alabama history.

34-year-old Matthew J. Belk of New Orleans was killed when the car he was driving left the road and hit a tree in Lamar County over the weekend. The crash happened on Lamar County 16 near Alabama 17, around one mile east of Detroit. Troopers reports Belk was not wearing a seatbelt.

ALEA is investigating a Friday confrontation between and parent and a School Resource Officer at Curry Elementary in Walker County. According to the school system the incident was triggered by a child custody fight. The parent struck the SRO with a car in the parking lot. That officer was transported to a Jasper hospital.

Governor Ivey is awarding nearly $44.5 million in grants to help low-income households cover the expense of staying warm during the winter.

“Unfortunately, there are times when some Alabama families must decide between paying utility costs and other essential expenses like buying medicine and groceries,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am pleased to award these funds to provide temporary assistance to keep families from having to make decisions that could jeopardize their health and welfare particularly during the winter and summer months.”

The funding will be distributed through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Community action agencies accept applications at the local level from residents seeking assistance.

In West Alabama the funds will be distributed by:

Walker County Community Action Agency Inc.: $587,811. (Walker) 205-221-4010, caawalker.org.
Community Service Programs of West Alabama Inc.: $4 million. (Bibb, Choctaw, Dallas, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Perry, Sumter, Tuscaloosa) 205-752-5429, cspwal.com.
Pickens County Community Action Committee and Community Development Corp. Inc.: $223,109. (Pickens) 205-367-8166, caapickens.org.

Cottondale Republican State Senator Gerald Aller has presented a resolution honoring the life of the late Joe Barger. He was the longtime owner of the iconic City Cafe in Downtown Northport.

Allen presented the resolution to Barger's daughter Geanie Brown and his grandson Nick Brown.

Alabama Senior Republican U-S Senator Tommy Tuberville is joining other Republicans complaining that the federal government is too big. He believes, with President Trump, that the federal government is too unwieldy. Tuberville especially wants to see cutbacks to the FBI and ATF.

You might want to take a quick trip across the state line before tomorrow night. The Mega-Million Lottery Jackpot is up to $740 million with a $345 million cash payout option

Topping Sports News:

As many as six SEC teams are expected to be ranked in the AP Men’s Basketball Top 25 when it is released this week. Alabama will be one of them after Saturday's win over Creighton.

The Alabama Wone's Basketball Team is off to an undefeated home game streak. The Tide is 6-0 at home and 10-1 on the road. Bama is also 2-0 in neutral site games.

Up next, Alabama is set to travel to Florida for the West Palm Beach Classic on Dec. 20-21, where they will face the undefeated Michigan State Spartans on Dec.20 at 3:30 p.m. CT, available to watch on BallerTV.

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