West Alabama Wednesday Briefing

Good morning West Alabama!! It is Wednesday, September 2, 2025.

The destruction left behind by Category 4 Hurricane Helene is incomprehensible. That is the react from people who have been in the gigantic damage swath cut by the huge and powerful storm.

Ashville, N.C. is almost inaccessible according to response teams attempting to get supplies into the historic city. "Recovery will not take months, it will take years," according to Ashville Mayor Esther Elizabeth Manheimer.

Supplies are actually being flown into the city of 95,000 in a "Berlin Airlift" type operation. Pack mules are even being used to access isolated damage area.

Crews are worker 24/7 to virtually rebuild the water system, power remains out as lineman work day and night to restore it.

Destruction is everywhere from the Florida Gulf Coast into the Appalachian Mountains. That is why former Northport Mayor Bobby Herndon is again collecting supplies to truck to those in such desperate need along the Florida Big Bend that got hammered with high winds and a 20-foot storm surge.

As he has for disaster victims over the last 13 year, Herndon is gathering donations to take to Florida. The gathering point is his survey company, Herndon, Hicks & Associates located at 2728 Lurleen B Wallace Blvd. 

Herndon is also accepting financial contributions, funds that will be used to buy more supplies. Herndon says checks should be made out to Benevolent Way.

If enough donations come in Herndon will look at taking more supplies to Ashville.

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That tropical disturbance in the Carribean is still being watch but so far computer models do not show it becoming much. Deveopment over the next 48 hours is zero while there is only a 40% chance of development in the next 7-days.

The Forecast: 

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The Tuscaloosa City Council’s Projects Committee has cleared the way for the next phase of the Riverwalk along the Black Warrior River. Committee Chair Norman Crow told news partner ABC3340 it is a continuation of the effort to increase access to outdoor activity in a community that is so outdoor oriented.

If approved by the full city council, construction will start in fall of 2025 and take a year to complete.

Tuscaloosa native Fitzgerald Washington retired yesterday from his position as Alabama's Secretary of Labor. His decade in office is the longest by any state secretary in Alabama history. He was first appointed in 2014.

“Alabama has achieved all-time low unemployment rates, and we have more people working today than at any other point in our state’s history. I am grateful for the role Secretary Washington has played in that success over the last decade, and I thank him for his dedicated service,” said Governor Ivey.

Marty Redden has been appointed by Ivey to serve as the interim secretary. He has served as Alabama's Office of Information technology Secretary since 2019 after more than a decade in state government before his appointment.

Read More: Tuscaloosa’s Fitzgerald Washington Retires As Alabama’s Labor Secretary

CVS Health, which has several locations across West Alabama, is cutting nearly 3,000 jobs in an effort to slash costs. That is less than 1% of the company’s work force and is not expected to impact jobs at stores or distribution centers.

A ribbon cutting is set for 9:00am next Tuesday morning for the renewed Kaulton Park

Funded by Elevate Tuscaloosa improvements include:

• A new pavilion with restrooms,
• New playground, and
• Improved lighting and security.

The improvement project cost $1.8 million is one of similar project at seven other park funded by Elevate Tuscaloosa.

The Port of Mobile is one of 18 ports along the Gulf and East Coast impacted by a Longshoreman’s Union strike that began Tuesday. Businesses and consumers will not notice an impact initially but if it persists experts say it will impact medications, car part imports and possibly Christmas sales. President Biden has refused to intervene.

Junior League of Tuscaloosa and Temporary Emergency Services are team up to help women in need through the "Find the Good Day" Initiative.

Read More: You Can Help West Alabama Women in Need of Feminine Hygiene Items

Eddy Lacy, a start for the Crimson Tide Football Team between 2009 and 2012 and also played with the Packers and Seahawks in the NFL has been arrested.

He was stopped by Scottsdale, AZ patrol officers after they witnessed him driving erratically and breaking several traffic laws according to a report by TMZ.

Lacy was booked on four separate DUI charges, including "Extreme DUI." Under Arizona law that means his blood alcohol content was .20 or higher. lacy also reportedly had an open container in his vehicle when he was stopped.

Lacy has since been released pending further legal action.

Tide Football Coach Kalen DeBoer credited his team's preparation and desire to win for Bama's big win over Georgia in last Saturday night's game at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

This week UA plays its second road game and second conference game at Vanderbilt. The first year Alabama coach told reporters at his weekly press conference yesterday that there is still plenty of room for improvement.

Read More: Kalen DeBoer’s Thoughts During Monday’s Press Conference

Apparently, it wasn't just Alabama and Georgia fans that were anxious to see the titanic faceoff between the Tide and Bulldogs last weekend. The contest was the third of three games on ESPN and became the most viewed on the cable sports network since 2017.

Read More: Bama v. UGA Draws Record Breaking Viewership Numbers

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Have a wonderful Wednesday and ROLL TIDE!!