West Alabama Thursday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama! It is Thursday, January 30,2025. This is the 30th day of the year with 335 remaining.
Thursday Morning Observations:
January 30 is one of those infamous days in history. It is the day in 1933 that German President Paul von Hindenburg named Adolf Hitler, führer of the National Socialist German Workers Party (or Nazi Party), as chancellor of Germany. It started the world on the path to the most deadly and destructive war in world history and signed the death warrant for millions of Jews, political opponents, Gypsies and mentally challenged across Europe.
Hitler's rise to power resulted from Germany's defeat in WWI, crippling reparations, political turmoil and a charismatic speaking ability. His grasp on power was backed by the thuggish and violent nature of his cadre of supporters, the SA (or Brownshirts).
Hitler and his supporters were brought to power by extreme political polarization and social discontent in Germany. The far left (Communists) and far right (Nazis) were each extreme and those in the middle-lost power because Germans were looking for a strong leader and they got one. The best educated society in the world at the time buckled to Hitler and his henchmen.
Hitler promised to make Germany great again by controlling government, rebuilding the military and making life better for the average German. He pledged to restore Germany to its previous grandeur and standing in the world and to make the world powers respect Germany again.
What happened in Germany has happened in similar ways throughout time. That is why it is imperative for the people in a free society like the U.S., France and other nations to treasure their freedom and remember that power is in their hands. Make the politicians on all levels answer to them rather than they to the political elite.
(Opinions expressed in Morning Briefing are those of the author and not necessarily those of the ownership, management, staff or sponsors of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)
Weather:
Small chances of rain today and tomorrow will be accompanied by highs in the upper 60s to mid 70s. Rain possibilities remain tonight with lows in the 50s.
Next week will be virtually springlike with sunny warm days, mostly clear nights and highs in the mid 70s with lows in the lower to mid 50s.
Perhaps the Arctic weather will remain in the Arctic the rest of winter.
The Forecast:
Topping the News:
TPD Claims Home Incursion Followed Procedure
The Tuscaloosa NAACP is calling a video of TPD officers entering a home through a window to serve several warrants "deeply disturbing video." TPD claims officers attempted to get the house’s occupants to the door numerous times before making a legal entry through a child’s bedroom window.
The suspect wanted in the warrants; D’ereka Renee Geter Scott videoed the officer’s entry with her cellphone. The NAACP is demanding a meeting with Mayor Maddox and TPD Chief Brent Blankley and are calling for the release of officer body cam video.
Read More: Tuscaloosa Police Respond to Video Of Home Entry Through Children’s Window
Electric Busses Heading to UA Campus
New electric busses will make UA one of the first schools in the south to place electric busses on campus transportation routes. The 10-million-dollars for eight new busses were largely funded by a federal grant with UA contributing as well. The project will also include charging stations and will pay for maintenance personnel.
Unpaid Greene County Water and Sewer Board on Strike
Members of the Greene County Water and Sewer Board have never been paid in the 30-year history of the board. Now the current members are on strike, demanding to be paid $400.00 a month for their travel to meetings and the time it takes to conduct board business.
The strike is putting into jeopardy some $7 million in federal funds that has been awarded to the water authority.
According to the Greene County Democrat, Commissioner Garria Spencer address the board and informed them, "“We do not support your request for a stipend. We appointed you to serve in these board positions to give leadership and make decisions in the best interest of the citizens of Greene County.
Spencer continued, “ Our lawyer has sent you a letter clarifying our position. We appointed you to serve on this board and we have many similar boards, to provide service to the people of Greene County, not as a job. If you do not want to carry out these duties, you may resign, so we can appoint others who will carry out their duties.”
The county commission is looking for ways to deal with the strike, including the potential to impeach the board.
Alabama Test Scores Among Most Improved in the Nation
Data released Wednesday shows Alabama is one of a few states to grow in reading and math scores nationally since the pandemic. Alabama State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey said he is pleased with elementary math scores but mentioned there’s still more work to do.
Since 2019, Alabama has jumped from 49th to 34th in the nation for fourth grade reading and moved from 52nd to 32nd in the nation in fourth grade math.
Ballot for Tuscaloosa Municipal Election Set
The incumbents in every Tuscaloosa City Council seat except districts 3, 4 and 5 have drawn opposition for the March 4th Municipal elections. Mayor Maddox will also be challenged by Denson Ferrell II. All but only one of the city board of education incumbents are unopposed.
Read More: Here’s Everyone Running for Office in Tuscaloosa’s March Municipal Elections
Annual Great Tuscaloosa Chili Cookoff is Set
The Exchange Club’s 17th Annual Great Tuscaloosa Chili Cookoff is set for Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Bryant Conference Center, 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM. The event includes children’s activities, live entertainment, soda, water, free ice cream, free chili dogs, customized t-shirt and apron sales, and the privilege of sampling thirty-plus varieties of chili and voting for your favorite.
Awards are given for Best Judged Chili, People’s Choice Chili, Best Booth, Best Costume and Best Showmanship. Also, there will be opportunities for attendees to win valuable prizes. The funds raised by the Chili Cookoff are used for the Exchange Club’s work in Child Abuse Prevention, Youth Development, Community Service, and Honoring America projects.
For more information check with Whit Whitfield gaius.whitfield@regions.com or Candice Burge Candice.Burge@bryantbank.com
Admission is Adults - $10 each; Children 6 and under - Free
Visit: The Exchange Club’s Facebook Page or the Club’s Website: tuscexchange.wordpress.com for more information.
Topping Sports News:
Bama Wins Slugfest in Starkvegas
With Tide Guard Mark Sears (17 points) back in the lineup, the Crimson Tide Men's Basketball Team held off a strong performance by Mississippi State Guard Josh Hubbard (38 points) for a narrow 88-84 in Starkville last night.
Tuscaloosa's Chris Youngblood was 4th ranked UA's top scorer in the contest with 23 points.
The difference in the game was Alabama's 3-point shooting and rebounding. The Tide was 15 of 31 while MSU was 8 of 25 from the 3-point line. Bama crashed the boards to out rebound one of the best rebounding teams in the nation 41-35.
Bama is now 18-3 overall while State drops to 16-5.
Alabama hosts Georgia at 3:00 Saturday afternoon at Coleman Coliseum.
Read More: Alabama Survives Scrappy Game Against Mississippi State
Bama Women on the Road
It will be a battle of nationally ranked powers when #22 Alabama travels to #12 Kentucky for a 6:00pm game tonight (CST). The game will be played in the Historic Memorial Coliseum on the UK campus.
The Cats are 17-2/6-1 while Alabama is 17-4/4-3.
Former Bama Basketball Assistant Found Dead
University of Alabama assistant basketball coach Sammy Jackson, 59, was found shot to death near Atlanta, according to a report by AL.com's Howard Koplowitz.
Read More: Former Alabama Basketball Assistant Found Dead in Atlanta
Tribute to Lives of Four Tuscaloosa Athletes to be Unveiled
The city of Tuscaloosa will unveil a statue honoring the four local sons who were killed in the 1970 Marshall University plane crash, one of the worst disasters in US collegiate sports history.
A city spokesperson said the statue of Freddy Wilson, Larry Sanders, Joe Hood and Robert VanHorn would be unveiled next Thursday, February 6 at 9 a.m. The ceremony is open to the public and will feature light refreshments.
Read More: Tuscaloosa to Unveil Statue Honoring Natives Killed in Marshall Plane Crash
Click TuscaloosaThread.com for the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather. Better yet, download the app.
Have a happy Thursday!
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