West Alabama Tuesday Briefing
Good morning, West Alabama! It is Tuesday August 13, 2024.
Enjoy another day of relatively normal Alabama summer heat because elevated heat levels are being forecast Thursday through the coming weekend. Portions of southwest Tuscaloosa and southern Lamar counties, most of Pickens, Greene, Hale and Marengo counties will be impacted. All of Sumter County is included in the heat bump-up.
The lack of significant rainfall has helped reduce soil moisture to near 10% and that has in turn allowed the Moderate Drought area to begin expanding again. The new U.S. Drought Monitor coming on Thursday is expected to reflect that spread.
The Forecast:
Men ranging in age from 19 to 48 have been caught in a child solicitation undercover operation by the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force. The two-week operation led to the arrests of eight men from West Alabama, including five from Tuscaloosa and one from Northport. More arrests are possible as the investigation continues.
Read More: Tuscaloosa Task Force Arrests 8 Accused of Seeking Sex with Minors
Tuscaloosa recorded its 19th homicide of the year this past weekend at Creekwood Village Apartments. District 1 Councilman Matthew Wilson told news partner ABC 3340 overall crime has decreased in the city but violent crimes, most between acquaintances, gives a different perception, especially in some specific areas of town.
Authorities say the sheer number of rounds often fired during shootings puts nearby innocents at risk.
Read More: 1 Dead, Another Injured After Overnight Shooting in West Tuscaloosa
If you had your Regions Bank Visa debit card declined yesterday, it most likely wasn’t your fault. The bank is reporting a system issue that lasted for several hours has been resolved. A regions media release emphasized the issue was technical and did not involve cybercrime.
According to court documents filed Monday, a telephone scam involving fake calls about jury duty in Tuscaloosa County began six months ago when a victim contacted the sheriff's office to report he'd been scammed out of $1,500.
Police arrested 31-year-old Christopher Mathews in Georgia, charging him with pretended to be calling from the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office and telling victims they had not appeared for jury duty and owed $1,500 that had to be paid immediately, or else arrest warrants would be issued.
Read More: Phone Scammer Posing as TCSO Lieutenant Arrested After Long Investigation
New weapons detectors at Tuscaloosa County’s middle and high schools have not detected any weapons but they have been going off. Officials say large binders with metal springs and dense metallic objects can sound the alarm. That results in the student going back thru the detector. Officials are advising concerned parents that no students have been late to class or missed breakfast because of the alarm.
That accident we told you about yesterday morning that had north and south lanes of U.S. 11 blocked for hours in Greene has now been reported by ALEA Troopers as a man being struck and killed. ALEA says 59-year-old Eddie J. Winters was walking on U.S. 11 near the 47mm around 4:40 am about two miles north of Eutaw when he was hit.
Read More: Pedestrian Fatally Struck by Car in Greene County Monday Morning
A vote is set for tonight by the Tuscaloosa City Council on a proposed $2-million renovation to Burrell G. Odom Park in West End. Additions include two new playgrounds, basketball courts, security measures, park lighting and additional pavilions to the PARA facility.
The Democratic National Convention begins next week but there is turmoil within the party in Alabama. State Chair Randy Kelley has sent a letter to the DNC alleging racism prompted former Alabama U-S Senator Doug Jones to prevent blacks from being elected delegates. Jones says the claim has no merit.
Topping Sports News:
Former Ole Miss and current Auburn head coach, Hugh Freeze, had two wins against retired Bama Coach Nick Saban, both came during his tenure at Ole Miss. He also has four losses against Saban.
Now Freeze is claiming the record should be reversed with him having four wins instead of four losses versus the GOAT.
"We easily could have beat him a few more times." Freeze told ESPN. He blames himself for mistakes he made that led to Tide winds.
Well coach, "Could a, should a, but didn't," applies here.
Read More: Auburn’s Freeze, “I Should Have Four Wins vs. Alabama”
The Associated Press Pre-Season College Football Poll looks very similar to the one recently released by the USA Today/Coaches Poll. It is also very SEC heavy.
AP Top 25 Poll (SEC teams highlighted):
1. Georgia (46 1st place votes)
2. Ohio St (15)
3. Oregon (1)
4. Texas
5. Alabama
6. Ole Miss
7. Notre Dame
8. Penn St.
9. Michigan
10. Florida St.
11. Missouri
12. Utah
13. LSU,
14. Clemson,
15. Tennessee,
16. Oklahoma,
17. Oklahoma State
18. Kansas State
19. Miami
20. Texas A&M
21. Arizona
22. Kansas
23. USC
24. NC State
25. Iowa
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