West Alabama Thursday Briefing

Good morning West Alabama. It is Thursday, October 24, 2024.

Thursday Morning Observations:

Virtually every day on the calendar is some type of National Day for Celebration. Many of them or add or just downright strange such as:

• National Crush a Can Day on 27th September. It has nothing to do with recycling. The idea is to crush the cans out of frustration, stress or in anger.
• National Kiss A Ginger Day on 12th January across the world. This could get you slapped, or worse arrested.
• National Proofreading Day (maybe that is something we all should do) on 8th March. The genesis of this day is to honor of teachers, English professors, and parents who proofread all your assignments, papers and sometimes even text messages,
• National Blame Someone Else Day on the ‘first Friday’ which falls on 13th in the yearly calendar. This could be more properly titled National Pass-the Buck Day.
• National (World) Sleep Day observed annually on the Friday before the March equinox. Now here is one that makes sense in advance of losing a whole hour's sleep due to Daylight Saving Time.
• National Opposite Day on the 25th of January. This could also be called National Confusion Day when you are supposed to say and do the opposite thing, such as saying goodbye instead of hello. That is just plain weird.
• National Joke Day is on 1st July. We all need to learn to laugh more so this might be a beneficial day.
• National Spaghetti Day on 4th January. This is one I can really support as long as you add meat balls.
• National Wear Your Pajamas to Workday on April 16th. Now this would be comfortable, but I can already envision some HR complaints.
• National Clean Your Desk Day on January 16. This might take more than a day.
• National Brew a Potion Day on January 19. This one actually goes back as far as the 1100s, even before Harry Potter.

There are literally dozens of odd and just downright strange days each year. As for today, it is National Food Day to encourage eating healthy.

Weather:

It looks like weather for the remainder of University of Alabama Homecoming Week will be near perfect.

Read More: Alabama Homecoming Forecast and Detailed Hourly Temperature Outlook

The Forecast

The Tuscaloosa County Branch of the NAACP is alleging potential voter suppression. The organization reports several residents have not received their absentee ballots, despite submitting applications as early as three weeks ago.

Organization President Lisa Young also alleges incumbent Circuit Clerk Magaria Bobo has been in the proximity of the absentee ballots despite being a candidate for re-election against former Tuscaloosa City Council member Sonya McKinstry.

Alabama set a historic 8% low for paroles last year. That is up to 20% this year, which is still well below state guidelines and national averages. The numbers are blamed for prison overcrowding.

During an oversight committee hear in Montgomery yesterday, Tuscaloosa Democrat Rep. Chris England did not receive a good explanation from pardons and paroles chair Leigh Gwalthney as to why parole rates are so low and why the board will not allow inmates to attend their parole hearings as required.

England told Gwalthney is changes need to be made to the guidelines they will, if changes need to be made to personnel, that will be made too.

Committee members say they want answers to numerous questions by the end of next month.

Developers have requested the Tuscaloosa Planning and Zoning Commission to annex the property at 5921 New Watermelon Road and rezone it for commercial use. That has raised concerns among nearby residents.

A petition with 500 signatures was presented to the commission earlier this week opposing the rezoning near the near the McWright’s Ferry Road extension project. They are concerned about crime, property value, environmental effects, noise and traffic if that property were developed for commercial use as a gas station/convenience store.

Progress on development of Warner Parkway as it enters West End has been slowed by disagreement between the City of Tuscaloosa and the railroad that owns the iconic 125-year-old trestle. The city wants to open the bridge to make way for better traffic flow, but trains still cross the trestle, and the railroad is concerned about impact from the proposed work.

Read More: Tuscaloosa Leaders Optimistic Railroad Trestle Project Will Finally Advance

Linden Elementary, in Marengo County, has seen impressive improvement in math scores on standardized tests. In the last two years the school’s report card score has gone from 70 to an 83 in math.

There will be another guilty plea in the death of a Walker County Jail inmate. This time a member of the medical staff. Daniel Wyers will plead guilty to deprivation of rights under color of law, according to federal court records made public on Wednesday.

Wyers is the sixth person to plead guilty in connection to Mitchell’s death, which has been ruled a homicide.

33-year-old Anthony "Tony" Mitchell died after two weeks in police custody at the Walker County Jail in 2023. His death has now been ruled a homicide caused by "medical neglect," according to a report from the Walker County Coroner's Office.

Topping Sports News:

With the Alabama Men’s Basketball Team pre-season ranked near the top of the AP Poll and predicted to win the SEC Title, Tide Pride Season Ticket packages quickly sold out for the coming season.

A limited number of single-game tickets will be available starting Monday, at 9 a.m.

Tide Football Coach Kalen DeBoer apparently was not interested in taking questions from many fans during last night's "Hey Coach" program at Baumhower's. He spent most of the show answering questions from Crimson Tide Football Host Christ Stewart instead of fans upset over Bama losing two of the last three games they have played.

Read More: The Kalen DeBoer Show Prior To Missouri

Two West Alabama Prep football games are on the schedule tonight. Oakman travels to Midfield and Oak Grove will be at Fairfield. A full slate of games is on tap for tomorrow night in Week 9 of the AHSAA Football Season.

Jacksonville State remains undefeated in Conference USA play after a 42-20 win over Middle Tennessee State in Jacksonville last night. Jax State and Western Kentucky are the only undefeated teams in the FBS conference's play, and they face each other at the end of the regular season.

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Have a fantastic Thursday!! ROLL TIDE!!