Good morning West Alabama! It is Thursday, October 17, 2024.

Thursday Morning Observations:

If you are looking for an early start to the weekend tonight you should head out to the family friendly “Venue” at 6:00 and catch a first-class performance by the Tuscaloosa Big Band.

You might say Tuscaloosa Big Band is a group of historians actually. They are preserving music that is uniquely American from the era of swing and sweet big bands of the 1930s and 40s.

Their music keeps alive the days of giants in the music business like Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, the Dorsey Brothers, Stan Kenton, County Basie, Woody Herman, Coleman Hawkins, Ted Heath, Cab Calloway, Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington and many more whose tunes fill the pages of the Great American Song Book. And there is some original music too.

Contrary to the perception of some, big band music is not dead it has adapted through the advent of rock, rise of country and the heyday of rap music and still has fans of all ages today.

Big Band music is still alive and kicking. Roy Hargrove Big Band was nominated for a Grammy and the Christian McBride Big Band won a Grammy in 2012. Numerous ghost bands from the era still exist (current bands that maintain the famous name and style) and still tour.

What is impressive about TBB is the group of 17 or so musicians do it for the love of the music and performing. The ensemble is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) with proceeds from their performances going to further the band’s mission of keeping alive some of America’s greatest music.

Band Manager Milton Powel urges everyone to come out tonight and experience a true big band. And for those who have heard TBB before Powell says, "Lots of new music if you have heard us before. The band is swinging hard so it should be a great night."

The band is available for wedding, reunions, holiday balls, anniversaries and any other event by contacting band manager Milton Powell (205-454-0519), bandwreck@aol.com or the TBB webpage.

Grab you coat and dancing shoes and head out to The Venue (6052 Watermelon Rd. in Northport). Tonight’s performance begins at 6:00 and ends at 8:00pm. It is free but donations are accepted.


Weather:

It has been 19 days since any measurable precipitation has fallen across West Alabama and it looks like the remainder of October will remain dry. The current U.S. Drought Monitor shows most of West Alabama under Moderate Drought Conditions with NE Marengo County in Severe Drought. The remainder of the region remains Abnormally Dry.

For those of you headed to Rocky Top for Saturday afternoon's showdown with Tennessee, the forecast looks like a perfect fall day for football.

Read More: Knoxville, TN Weather & Temp Guide for Traveling Alabama Fans

The Forecast:

Today
Sunny, with a high near 69. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Tonight
Clear, with a low around 41. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 73. East wind around 5 mph.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 75. East wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night

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Topping the News: 

UAPD is investigating a hazing incident at the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity that occurred earlier this semester. Four UA students have been arrested and charged criminally for their actions.

Alabama law defines hazing as any action that intentionally or recklessly endangers a student's mental or physical health. It is a Class C misdemeanor.

Read More: Several University of Alabama Students Arrested for August Hazing


The crispy clear weather may feel good after a long hot summer may be welcome but not at the Alabama Forestry Commission. Dry, breezy, cool, low humidity weather have combined to create perfect conditions for wildfires.

Currently 32 wildfires are being fought across the state this morning. Seven of those fires are here in the West Alabama counties of Fayette, Lamar, Pickens Perry and Marengo.

All current wildfires are considered contained are ripe for additional fires.


A new Dollar Tree store is now open at a location near Stillman College. This will mark the fourth Dollar Tree stores in Tuscaloosa.

West End is an underserved community, and much work is underway to bring more retail stores to the community.

There are more than 16,000 Dollar Tree Stores in the lower 48 states and five Canadian provinces. More than 211,000 employees work for the discount giant.


Good news for the Oakman Waterworks. A half-million-dollar grant will allow the Walker County agency to increase the size of its main water line giving enough capacity to meet customer demands and reduce chances for extended outages like the one during extreme winter weather in January. The waterworks serves customers in Walker, east Fayette and Northern Tuscaloosa Counties.


The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Tuscaloosa Office will be staffed on Election Day. Special agents will be available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on Election Day. There is considerable concern on all levels for potential violence.


The 2024 class of the Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame will be inducted at 2 this afternoon at the Tuscaloosa River Market. The 2024 inductees are Dr. William N. Dansby, Robert L. "Bobby" Ingram, Jr. and Marlin D. "Lin" Moore III.  The induction ceremony is open to the public.



Topping Sports News:

The line has risen slightly on the Alabama at Tennessee games Saturday afternoon in Knoxville. The Crimson Tide is now a 3-point favorite. The line initially opened at 1.5-points, went to 2.5 yesterday before reporting at 3-points today.


 

It is UT week and every word uttered by coaches, players and media types is broken down and digested by fans from both sides. This is new Tide Head Coach Kalen DeBoer's first experience with the 'Third Saturday in October'. He talked about it on his weekly radio show last night.

Read More: The Kalen DeBoer Show Ahead of Tennessee


 

There are two college football games on the schedule for tonight:

  • Georgia State at Marshall, 6 p.m. CDT on ESPN2
  • Boston College at Virginia Tech, 6:30 p.m. on ESPN

Keep up with all the West Alabama news, sports and weather by clicking on TuscaloosaThread.com throughout the day. Better yet, download the app.

Have a terrific Thursday and don't forget the Tuscaloosa Big Band concert tonight at 6:00 at The Venue.

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