West Alabama Thursday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama. It is Thursday, October 3, 2024.
My how time flies. It is hard to believe this is week six of the high school football season and teams are beginning the second half of the season. Let's take a look at some of the more notable accomplishments from the first half of the 2024 season.
This week's local prep schedule includes a couple of mega traditional rival matchups. Northside is home to Sipsey Valley and Hillcrest travels north of the Warrior River to take on arch-rival Tuscaloosa County. The outcomes of these games are always important.
One of the true prep powerhouses in West Alabama is Gordo. The Green Wave is working on extending their record of winning seasons to 32 straight. Their lone loss this season was 28-7 to Winfield back on in September on Friday the 13th. Definitely an unlucky day for the Greenies.
The creme of the crop in West Alabama so far in Hale County. The Wildcats are undefeated through the first half of the season at 5-0 and at 3-0 in their region play. However, three of their final five games are on the road but each of those teams are beatable as long as the cats don't have a letdown.
The other local team to put themselves in line for a potential play of spot is Northridge. The Jags are 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the region.
Hillcrest went through a three-game rough sports recently, dropping games to Hoover, Vestavia Hills and Hewett-Trussville by big margins. That proves to adage that moving up in classification (to 7-A) is always difficult. The Pats are 3-3 and 0-3 in region play.
Northside is having another stellar season with their only loss being 35-28 to a tough Shelby County squad. Most importantly, they are 2-1 in region play.
Sipsey Valley, at 4-2 is having a productive season. With a 1-1 slate they are still in the hunt for a post-season playoff spot but they have a tough schedule ahead. They are at Northside tomorrow night then face Demopolis and Montevallo on the road and host Selma to close out the regular season.
Bibb County is another team putting together a promising year. The Choctaw's only loss was by one-point to Gordo the second game of the season. Otherwise, they have run the table. They are 3-0 in the region and in good shape for a potential playoff spot.
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You might want to carry a raincoat to tomorrow night's high school game. However, with a 30% chance of wide scattered showers, you may night have to wear it.
The Forecast:
A driver and a Walker County sheriff’s deputy are recovering this morning from non-life-threatening injuries after a high-speed chase on I-22 near Jasper ended in a crash.
According to a Facebook post by the Walker County Sheriff's office, "The driver collided with a Walker County Sheriff’s Office cruiser near the area of Industrial Boulevard and I-22 and wrecked out in the ditch. The driver was taken into custody by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at the scene, and the deputy was flown to a Birmingham area trauma center for further evaluation."
The Tuscaloosa County Commission has requested the Corps of Engineers place a hold on permits for the controversial University Beach Resort planned for U.S. Highway 82 West in Northport. The Commission wants answers about environmental impact on wetlands and forest land in the area.
Former Northport Mayor Bobby Herndon will arrive in Florida this afternoon to deliver several vehicles of supplies for the victims of powerful Hurricane Helene. But he continues to solicit donations to be delivered to hard hit North Carolina next week.
Donations can be dropped off at Herndon, Hicks and Associates at 2728 Lurleen B Wallace Blvd.
Bobby Herndon's Benevolent Way is not the only area organization attempting to help the hurricane devastated states to our east. Sanders Aviation in Jasper has partnered with Operation Airdrop to deliver supplies to communities in such desperate need in Georgia as well as North and South Carolina.
Aircraft have flown out gallon-size Ziplock bags, coolers, boxes and food to the impacted areas.
It is about to get a little brighter at night near the Temerson Square Entertainment District in Downtown Tuscaloosa. The Tuscaloosa City Council is moving forward in conjunction with Alabama Power to increase the brightness of some 20 streetlights in the area of 4th Street and 23rd Avenue.
The committee has also approved $6 million to be used for a citywide road resurfacing project
Read More: Downtown Tuscaloosa Poised to Get a Little Brighter
The Pine Beetle infestation continues to damage woodlands and pine trees in homeowner’s yards across the state and in particularly here in West Alabama.
The loss is at $87 million and counting statewide and has resulted in federal financial assistance for private forestland owners in Alabama. Drew Metzler with the Alabama Forestry Commission says a normal year usually see 200 to 300 trees infested. This year he puts the number at more than 10,000 and still spreading.
Metzler adds that homeowners can use insecticides to protect their trees.
The Tuscaloosa City School System has been selected for membership in the prestigious nationwide League of Innovative Schools. Their selection is based on educational leadership, innovation and achievements.
There is a new mobile phone app that can be used by Tuscaloosa residents and visitors to contact TPD. The app is available for iPhones and Android users. The app can also receive public safety alerts and weather warnings from the national Weather Service.
Another aspect for parents allows them to contact the school resource officer at their child's school directly.
The app is available in the app store as "Tuscaloosa PD".
Habitat for Humanity is calling on the women of West Alabama to come volunteer time and sweat equity to build a home in honor of the legendary Miss Terry Saban.
Read More: Women Needed for Habitat Tuscaloosa’s Home Build to Honor Miss Terry Saban
Topping Sports News:
Alabama Wideout Ryan Williams should feel right at home Saturday afternoon when the Tide travels to Vanderbilt. The 17-year-old should be a senior in high school and due to renovations Vandy’s stadium will feel more like a large high school stadium with only 29,000 seats available. Bama is a 24 ½ point favorite.
The Tide's Deontae Lawson was named Lott Trophy Player of the Week. This award honors the best performance from a defensive player each week.
Read More: Lawson Named to the Lott Trophy of the Week
March Madness will return to Birmingham in March of 2028. The NCAA has selected the downtown Legacy Arena as the site for the first two rounds of the NCAA basketball Tournament that year.
Stillman College athletics and the HBCU Athletic Conference games are now available on streaming platforms.