West Alabama Monday Briefing

It is Monday April 22, 2024. It is Earth Day!

Earth Day is a time to demonstrate support for environmental protection, participate in environmental awareness programs and clean-up your community. This the 54th annual Earth Day.

Several community clean-ups took place this past weekend including the annual Friends of Hurricane Creek Cleanup.

You can still dispose of home spring cleanout items from closets, attics, the garage, storage rooms, and basements at collection bins across Tuscaloosa County today. They are set up at twelve sites throughout the county - three in each commissioner's district.

Commission District 1:
- 13600 Highway 82 W (Camp
Coker)
- 17504 Finnell Road (Camp
Samantha)
- Highway 171 / Montgomery
VFD / Ballfield Parking Lot

Commission District 2:
- Jerry Tingle Activity Center
(21973 Highway 216)
- Highway 216 / Keenes Mill
Road (5826 Keenes Mill Road)
- Coaling Fire Department
(15150 Highway 11 N)

Commission District 3:
- Big Sandy Elementary School
(11950 Upper Hull Road)
- Englewood Elementary School
(10300 Old Greensboro Road)
- Maxwell Elementary School
(11370 Monticello Drive)

Commission District 4:
- Foster’s Grocery Store (13474
Highway 11 S)
- Buhl Elementary School (11968
Buhl School Road)
- Sipsey Valley Middle School
(15817 Romulus Road)

The cold start to Earth day will warm into the 60s but we will have one more very cool start to the day tomorrow before temperatures warm again.

The Forecast:

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"Mercedes, you are next", that is the message from the United Auto Workers Union after scoring a big victory in their fight to unionize non-union auto plants across the south. In two-days of voting 73% of the 4,000-plus workers who cast ballots at the Chattanooga Volkswagen plant elected to join the union.

UAW President Shawn Fain celebrated the historic vote, telling VW workers they have proven the pundits wrong; the union can win in the south. The vote has implications for the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa County where workers have a union vote set for next month.

With that union vote looming next month at Tuscaloosa County’s Mercedes plant, the Alabama House begins work this week on a bill passed by the senate that prohibits companies receiving state economic aid from recognizing a union without a secret ballot vote. During floor debate Greensboro Democrat Senator Bobby Singleton told bill sponsor Arthur Orr unions oppose the legislation.

The Mercedes vote will be May 13-thru17.

During their meeting tomorrow afternoon, the Tuscaloosa City Council Finance Committee is expected to consider offering an incentives package for a mixed-use development on the blighted former McFarland Mall property in south Tuscaloosa. The package will include tax abatements for revenue.  The property is owned by local businessman and developer Stan Pate.

Tuscaloosa Police are still searching for a missing 15-year-old. Cameron Minor was last seen at 6:00pm Friday when he left home. Call TPD if you have information.

With food prices continuing to rise, some West Alabama families could have a difficult time feeding their children this summer. That is because Alabama is one of 15 states that will not participate in the summer feeding program that provides E-B-T benefits to feed children. Gov. Ivey claims the state received the participation information too late. Advocates point out the legislature is still in session.

Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Deputies are continuing to look for two of 10 female suspects who attacked a Chevron Station Clerk on U-S 11 South a week ago. Eight adults have been arrested.

Dr. Jonathan Koh, President of Shelton State Community College and UA President Dr. Stuart Bell have signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two academic institutions. The agreement provides continuous and concurrent enrollment for Shelton State students transitioning to the University of Alabama. It calls for UA to accept up to 150 Shelton State students who meet the minimum requirements of 24 completed college credit hours, 3.0 GPA, and good academic standing.

Topping Sports News:

From NASCAR: Tyler Reddick prevailed in a typically frantic Talladega Superspeedway run to the checkered flag Sunday in the GEICO 500 NASCAR Cup Series race, narrowly avoiding a multi-car crash in the closing 400 yards and coming from third place out of Turn 4 to earn the win by 0.208 seconds when race leader Michael McDowell crashed trying to block competitors approaching the finish line. Reddick maneuvered around in the high lane to motor through to his first victory of the year and sixth of his career.

The 28-year-old Californian climbed the grandstand fence, pumping his fist to the screaming, adoring crowd while one of his 23XI Racing team owners, NBA legend Michael Jordan celebrated on pit lane, taking Reddick’s young son Beau in his arms and grinning from ear-to-ear. This was the first time Jordan had been at track when his team won a race.

A seven-run first inning proved too big of a deficit to overcome as Alabama (31-12, 8-10 SEC) fell in Sunday's series finale to Arkansas (32-12, 11-7 SEC), 8-0, in five innings. The loss was the second of the weekend to the Hogs.

From UA Athletics: Pauline Love, a highly respected coach who is considered one of the top recruiters in the nation, has been officially hired as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Alabama Women's basketball Team.

Havea wonderful week!!