Good morning West Alabama. It is Tuesday, October 8, 2024.

The Northport City Council passed a resolution last night that proclaimed this as Fire Prevention Week. The Tuscaloosa City Council has done the same. The theme is "Smoke Alarms, Make Them Work for You!". The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recognizes this week to educate people about how to keep themselves and their loved ones safe from home fires. 

Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue and Northport Fire Rescue are working to inform residents of the importance of having an operational smoke alarm. As Northport Chief Bart Marshall pointed out last night, having a functioning smoke alarm improves your chances of surviving a fire by 60%.

Unfortunately, most fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms or with malfunctioning smoke alarms. Most malfunctioning alarms result from dead batteries. They should be changed twice a year, once when Daylight Savings Time begins and again when it ends. It could save members of your family's lives.

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All eyes are watching the monster hurricane Milton as it moves across the Gulf of Mexico toward the Florida Peninsula. It will have no impact on Alabama weather, but it could have some minor impact on gas prices.

Keep those in the path of Milton in your prayers and well as those still recovering from Hurricane Helene.

The Forecast:

Today
Sunny, with a high near 81. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight
Clear, with a low around 56. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 83. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night
Clear, with a low around 57. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 83. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night

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Topping the News:

The Tuscaloosa City Council is expected to pass a resolution at tonight’s meeting to encourage ALDOT to keep access to Julia Tutwiler Drive open from McFarland Blvd. The transportation department claims they need to close it for safety when the new Woolsey Finnell Bridge is constructed.

Council President Kip Tyner counters ALDOT's safety concerns with a study that reveals only eight traffic crashes at the Tutwiler Drive exit ramp in the last eight years.

ALDOT says a final plan has not been developed.


The Tuscaloosa City Council will also consider setting a public hearing date for the proposed Planned Unit Development Terrace at Skyland on 53rd Street. The hearing for the 26 single-family lots will be 6pm October 22nd, if approved.


The Tuscaloosa City Council will consider setting a public hearing date for the proposed Planned Unit Development Terrace at Skyland on 53rd Street. The hearing for the 26 single-family lots will be 6pm October 22nd, if approved.


The Northport City Council also passed a resolution recognizing Battalion Chief Richard Brown as the 2024 Northport Fire Rescue Firefighter of the Year. His family was in attendance as Mayor John Hinton read the resolution to those in the council chamber.


Stillman College will host their 3rd annual National Night Out event on campus tonight. The 4 to 8pm event is free and is intended as a community-building campaign to promote police and community partnerships. There will be performances by the Stillman and Paul Bryant Marching bands and kids' activities.


 

The continuing drought is sparking a return of wildfires to the state. There are currently four active fires in Alabama and three of them are in West Alabama. All are small two-to-three-acre blazes and are considered contained.

One West Alabama fire is in northwestern Marengo County, another is Hale County southeast of Havana just east of Highway 69 and the third is located in extreme northern Perry County.

The only other current fire in the state is a 3.5 acre on located just southwest of Decatur, in Morgan County.

No rain is in the forecast through the coming weekend.


The Beat Bama/Beat Auburn Food Drive that leads up to the Iron Bowl got officially underway at the state capitol yesterday with Auburn Grad Gov. Kay Ivey making the first donation. Ivey issued a proclamation touting the importance of the 31st annual event.

Bama president Kenndi Preston calls the food collected by both sides more important than the rivalry itself.

Bama collections go to the West Alabama Food Bank.


 

In 2023, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Eta Xi Omega Chapter awarded a local first-year educator a $1,000 grant to support their efforts in the classroom. Now they hope to expand that.

Read More: Tuscaloosa Sorority Expands Grants for First-Year Educators



Topping Sports News:

The unveiling of the Final Four banner by the University of Alabama Basketball Team is set for 8:30 pm Friday in special event at Coleman Coliseum. According to UA there will be team introductions, a ring presentation, 3-point and dunk competitions and a team scrimmage. It will cost you $10 bucks to attend.


 

Learn a lesson and move forward was the theme of Alabama head Football Coach Kalen DeBoer's Monday press conference in the wake of Saturday's humbling loss to Vanderbilt in Nashville.

Read More: Kalen DeBoer’s Thoughts During Monday’s Presser


 

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

Have a terrific Tuesday.

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