CULTIVATE CULLMAN: The Countywide Arts & Gardening Celebration, which includes “Culinary Cullman” and musicians with Cullman County roots, grew from a seed of an idea to a big, beautiful, flowering thing faster than kudzu after an Alabama summer rainstorm. (Date for the 2024 CULTIVATE CULLMAN Arts & Gardening Show...
CULLMAN, Ala. - In its April 2022 term, the Grand Jury of Cullman County issued felony and misdemeanor indictments in 257 cases with a total of 492 counts. Several defendants have multiple cases, and many cases include multiple counts. Here is a breakdown of the counts for each of...
More than half the time I conduct interviews, the episode concludes with the interviewee saying one of two things (actually the same thing in two different ways):
“Make me look good, now!” And yes, most of them add the “now;” this is the South, you know.
“Please don’t make me look...
With any issue, finding the right balance is the key to success. The prison/criminal justice system issue is no different.
The purpose of prisons, in my view, is to keep the public safe! And, provide the opportunity for inmate rehabilitation when possible. We have to be careful with that one.
Innocent...
I love me some BBQ. That’s because I’m Southern, and it’s the law. If you cut me, I will probably bleed smoky, sweet, red sauce. Any kind of meat is fine, but I have a strong lean toward pork ribs. I firmly believe a properly barbecued pigsicle can change...
Ah, yes it’s the time of year when politicians and those with political aspirations fill out paperwork as they prepare for the upcoming election cycle. It’s also a perfect opportunity to bring those candidates and elected officials together for traditional debates to find out where they truly stand and...
A couple of days after our recent visit to Andy Griffith’s hometown of Mt. Airy, North Carolina, we visited the home and library/museum of another famous North Carolinian – Dr. Billy Graham. I had never realized the comparisons and contrast between those two men. They both grew up in...
From my personal perspective, one of the most wonderful things about having grandchildren (besides being able to give them back) is that we get to choose the names that they call us. I’m certainly glad this is the case, but considering how parents micromanage every aspect of their kid’s...
“Of Women and Salt” by Gabriela Garcia, follows Jeanette, a young woman who is battling addiction and in search of the deeply hidden truths about her family's history. Her desperate quest for answers takes her from Florida to Cuba, Cuba to Mexico, and even further into South America. This...
Change is a largely evolving concept. Occasionally, we are swept up in this giant wave of newness and gives us a feeling of being dipped into ice water. Initially, when submerged in freezing water, the human body has what is known as a “cold shock response.” The lungs immediately...
MONTGOMERY - Final passage of a five-year farm bill by Congress today (Dec. 12, 2018) was welcome news for Alabama farmers eager to prepare for the 2019 crop year.
The House of Representatives approved the bipartisan legislation by a 369-47 vote, following Senate passage on Tuesday by an 87-13 vote....
It all started with the best of intentions. My sister had a small, ornate, antique table with a broken leg, and since she knew I fooled around with old furniture, asked if I could fix it. “Oh sure, I can,” I said. “Why don’t you let me take it home?”...
Jeremy Hogan, founder of Saving Forgotten Warriors (Carol Berry)
Saving Forgotten Warriors’ mission statement is “Advocating for the health, safety and wellbeing of our military veterans no matter the era or conflict.” This statement was exactly what Jeremy Hogan described in our interview this week.
Jeremy didn’t really set out...
I heard a rumbling noise coming from the second floor of my house. Since we almost never go up there, I thought that one of our dogs might’ve cornered a squirrel that got in through the attic. I made my way up the stairs, walked in the bedroom and...
TEA FOR TWO
Picture you upon my knee
Just tea for two
And two for tea
Just me for you
And you for me alone.
- Music by Vincent Youmans; Lyrics by Irving Caesar
Tea as a tonic for “joyous aging” is documented 300 years before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth when a Chinese army...
Readers who frequent the Cullman County Public Library System share reviews of some of their recently read books.
Submission date: July 11, 2023
Reviewer: Heather Allen
Title: “Devolution”
Author: Max Brooks
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Thoughts about the book: I can read this book again and again! There are so many layers. A...
It is hard to believe that 20 years ago the first Empty Bowls of Cullman County dinner was held on Nov. 17, 2003. From the very beginning, it was very apparent that God gathered the people together to make it happen: the potters, the culinary experts, musicians, businesses, churches,...
Jean and I had planned a mega road trip for the summer of 2020. The few remaining states on our bucket list of setting foot in all 50 states included North Dakota. When you live in Alabama, you don’t go to North Dakota…unless…you are going to North Dakota. It...
Image credit: Prime Magazine
There is just no good answer to the age-old question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”
Many have tried to come up with some comforting and reasonable sounding answer, but there really isn’t one. You can come up with all the platitudes you wish, heartfelt...
Local businessman, Cullman City Council President and Senator-Elect Garlan Gudger, Jr. is first and foremost a husband and father. This year, Father's Day will be bittersweet because of the recent loss of his dad, who was a familiar face in Cullman and a hero to his children and grandchildren. (Loretta...
Photo: Members of First Baptist Church of Cullman giving a check to First Source with funds they raised through our Baby Bottle Boomerang program.
Have you ever felt challenged by parenting? Have you ever felt overwhelmed by pregnancy? Any parent can honestly say that parenting has its challenges! We are...
The summer mansions of Newport, Rhode Island, are the setting for this book, which is about three women in three different eras written by three different authors. Money, old and new, and secrets held in the boathouse dominate the story.
The first storyline is set in present-day Newport with Andie Figuero, who...
Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman is seen here with supporters in Cullman on June 5, 2018. (Cullman Tribune file photo)
On Tuesday, Governor Kay Ivey signed the Rebuild Alabama plan (House Bill 2) into law—understandably, this measure to increase Alabama’s investment in infrastructure has received a lot of attention. Alabama’s gas...
You may have that friend, or a strange cousin named Booger Ray, who has more miscellaneous junk than a neighborhood hardware store, all piled high inside his favorite mode of transportation. If their vehicle looks like that, can you imagine how their house must look? We may be afraid...
Plagiarism—quite possibly the dirtiest word in academics and journalism. Oxford Languages defines plagiarism as “the practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own.” In other words, it’s theft and continues to pose a real problem.
In journalism, plagiarism can be the theft of...
This morning's feel good song makes it almost impossible to be sad..."Don't Worry, Be Happy" is one of those tunes that just plain makes you smile. Happy Monday, y'all !!!
Bobby McFerrin Jr. (born March 11, 1950) is an American jazz vocalist and conductor. He is a 10-time Grammy Award...
It happened 50 years ago, on Saturday, June 14, 1975. I remember that day so well that it almost seems like it was last week, or at most the week before that! I remember that it rained that day, but it stopped prior to the wedding. As the song...
Despite rising salaries, a robust economy and a highly competitive job market that is forcing some employers to entice new workers with signing bonuses, many Alabamians continue to struggle financially and find themselves living from paycheck to paycheck.
A national study conducted just last month indicated that 57% of those...
Let me begin this review by simply saying, y’all, I could not put this one down. This week, the book of choice has been “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides. This story is a subtle psychological thriller which will have readers convinced they have figured everything out, and then...
Continued from www.cullmantribune.com/2025/07/06/column-south-dakota-is-amazing
Almost 221 years ago, in 1804, Lewis and Clark headed west under the commission of President Thomas Jefferson, to see what we had bought in the Louisiana Purchase. In the fall of that year, the explorers had made their way westward to what would eventually become North...
“But when he, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth.”
John 16:13 NIV
Personal trainers are a wonderful asset in a person’s life. Almost everyone would love to have one. They work with individuals on a one-on-one basis to help them develop strong and physically...
Martha Lawrence, left, and Carol Berry, right (Brittany Howell for The Cullman Tribune)
Martha Lawrence was my guest this week on Community with Carol. In April 2017, Martha started Cullman’s Little Pantry, the first in the state of Alabama. The pantry, a wooden box located on Fourth Street Southeast behind the...
For the last several years, I’ve enjoyed leading an April-in-Alabama history walking tour through Cullman. Like Martina McBride sang, “word gets around in a small, small town,” and I’ve been fortunate to attract some positive, fun buzz and good-sized crowds.
To keep it interesting for any repeats and myself, I...
This is the true story of heartache, physical, sexual and alcohol abuse, love, hate, financial burdens and finally, finding joy, happiness and hope.
We trust that you will understand why the names and some of the circumstances had to be changed to protect the privacy and safety of some of...
Brooke Astor was known as “The Queen of New York.” Her beloved country house, “Holly Hill,” in Briarcliff, New York is the regal setting for “The Winners Circle Birthday Party.” The Westchester County estate has more than 10,000 square feet, including 24 rooms, 13 bedrooms and both indoor and...
This will be a cross between a sports story and an opinion
piece. When you first start reading, you may ask, “Why is this in this
paper? This isn’t about a local sports player.”
Read to the end, I think you will understand…..
Kaetlyn McGriff is a volleyball player from Huntsville
Junior High School...
Welcome to March 14, or 3.14, commonly known in math geek circles as “Pi Day.”
“Pi” or π is the Greek letter that represents the English letter P. In geometry, the P stands for “perimeter,” the distance around a circle (also known as circumference). Mathematicians have pretty much always known...
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman County was enveloped in a thick sheet of ice and sleet in the early days of the week, creating the perfect scenery along with ingredients for the perfect storm: slick and treacherous roads. A winter storm brought the wintry mix on Monday night; projections that...
The following is an opinion piece submitted by a member of the community. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of CullmanSense, the CullmanSense staff or any other contributors to CullmanSense.
To the Citizens of Cullman:
I want...
It’s late-August and we are cooling off with the joy-giving, cool kids on a giant ice ring at “The Ringy-Dingy Birthday Party.”
The United States has hosted the modern Olympic games, which started in 1896, in six locations: Atlanta (Summer, 1996), Lake Placid, New York (Winter 1932 and 1980), Los...
As the new year begins and we reflect on 2020, we are faced with the sad reality that almost 4,800 Alabamians have died from COVID-19, the highly contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Last spring when we learned about the illnesses and deaths due...
In the five years since I became Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System, nothing has been a higher priority than making sure we provide world-class, affordable education and training so our students have the skills to succeed in a constantly evolving economy. During this time, we’ve successfully aligned...
Bones and Barrels is one of the most underrated trail races you will find. Zombie Trail Races, a local running company, hosts seven of these races annually. The Bones and Barrels Endurance Beer Mile 5K took place at Palomino RV Resort in Cullman on March 16.
From my perspective and to...
Kate Quinn has done it again! After authoring numerous gripping novels about women in World War II, she does not disappoint with “Diamond Eye.” It is based on the true story of Lyudmila Pavlichenko, a sniper for the Russian Army during the German invasion. There were 2,000 female snipers...
(Announcer): “From ‘Television City’ in beautiful Burbank, California—It’s ‘The Tonight Show Birthday Party’ with Johnny Carson and this week’s special, joy-giving guests: singer/songwriter Katy Perry, Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Moss Hart, New York comedy icons Fanny Brice and Fran Lebowitz, that ‘Family Guy,’ Seth MacFarlane and real...
These drone sightings over New Jersey remind me of a time years ago when mysterious lights were spotted over Birmingham, Alabama. I know because I’m the one who did it.
I have to make a confession: UFOs have always fascinated me. Maybe that’s because I watched “The Day The Earth...
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen recently signed a joint letter to President Donald Trump with 19 other conservative secretaries of state urging the repeal of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA).
Below is the content of a media release issued by Allen’s office:
This repeal would cut government fees and red...
I drove by our community ballpark the other day and saw that the All-Star baseball games were well underway. It’s hard to believe that the Little League baseball season has already come and gone. Has it already been two months since Opening Day? It seemed like I just saw...
March 3, 2020 the citizens of Cullman County have an incredible opportunity to set the course for their future. Voting to support the proposed 1-cent sales tax has the potential to provide approximately $10 million of additional funding for Cullman County and Cullman City Schools. Said funding will be...
(Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News via AP). Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs guard Morgan William, right, is mobbed by guards Blair Schaefer (1) and Dominique Dillingham (00) after making the game-winning basket in overtime against Connecticut.
DALLAS, Texas - An upstart program from the Southeastern Conference changed the culture in the NCAA...
Long time, no see, readers. We are picking after She Reads’ small hiatus and hitting the ground running with this week’s story, ‘A Simple Favor’ by Darcey Bell. This mystery story is told from the three varying perspectives of the main characters Stephanie, her best friend Emily, who we...
Alabama Republican Party Chairman Terry Lathan released an open letter to Sen. Doug Jones, D-Alabama on Thursday. It appears in its entirety below.
An open letter to Senator Doug Jones:
Stop it, sir. Please just stop it. The NFL referees in the New Orleans playoff game may not have thrown...
We all know someone who seems compelled to ruin any and every conversation. I call them the one-uppers. Regardless of your experience, they feel compelled to one-up every single one. They can effortlessly make every statement, story, situation and conversation about them. To the one-uppers, how about you shut-upper.
The...
Over the next several days leading up to Christmas, Tribune columnist Loretta Gillespie will be sharing Christmas tips with our readers. They will include recipes, craft projects, unique home decorating ideas and more.
Most people start out with good intentions about holiday spending, but by the time Christmas Eve gets...
One of the most memorable lines I ever heard in high school was delivered to my friend Randy when he got into a heated disagreement with our English teacher, Mrs. Duncan. After about five exasperating minutes, she put an end to it when she said, “If you want to...
Does it break your heart that Khloe Kardashian sold her house for a mere $5.49 million? Or that her net worth of $20 million allows her to purchase a new home for $7.2 million?
What is heartbreaking about this is that half of those figures could put underprivileged children through...
I should’ve known. I mean, I know a bad omen when I see one. Why didn’t I pay attention? On a recent trip to Disney World, the people at our hotel rented my wife Carol an electric scooter with the number three on the back. I should have immediately...
Alabama Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview
Winning football coaches tell their teams to celebrate victory for 24 hours then get back to work.
We're ready to get back to work in Montgomery!
As I make my plans for the new legislative term, I have three number one legislative goals in no particular order;...
Since I had knee surgery earlier this year, I’ve been looking for a low impact method of exercise. Actually, my wife has been looking for me. My choice was no exercise – that’s low impact, right? Of course, she completely ignored my comments and promptly enrolled me in her...
I recently went to see singer Jackson Browne perform at the Alabama Theatre in downtown Birmingham, and a curious thing happened. After the first song, he looked around and said, “I remember this theatre. What a nice place to play music.” It’s a nice place to do most anything....
“Laughter is the best medicine” is a cliché everyone knows. And it is based on the truth. Studies have shown that laughter relieves stress, releases endorphins and helps your overall well-being. But in the case of cancer, I don’t think it’s true. If my doctor wants to treat me...
The late gospel singer and writer Andre Crouch had a popular song back in the 70s titled, “To God Be the Glory.” The opening verse says, “How can I say thanks for the things God has given me? Things so undeserved, yet he gave to prove his love to...
In many areas of Alabama, blogs or Facebook pages have begun to function as news agencies. While those entities can be helpful in distributing information, they lack the accountability to be considered an actual news outlet.
In my opinion, a news outlet should be credentialed in some form. Being a...
Excuse me, but did you ask me if I had ever been on Broadway? Well, yes, as a matter of fact I have. I have walked on Broadway, and I saw “Phantom of the Opera” there. I have never performed “on” Broadway, but last week I did perform “at”...
Each year, a local veterans’ organization leads our county observance of Memorial Day. Since this occasion is meant to remember and honor those Americans who have perished in service to our nation, this is a more subdued and solemn event.
This year, our county Memorial Day observance will be hosted...
Good morning!
I have a HUGE project that needs publicity within our Cullman community. I am the librarian at East Elementary and I have a group of advanced sixth graders who have just completed a project-based learning unit where they researched “summer slide” and the benefits of summer reading.
These students...
ODE TO BOOK JOY
Books are magic transportable.
Free libraries make them quite affordable.
It is well-known but still reportable,
Libraries need us to stay supportable.
John Grisham hoped he could make a living as a writer. I wasn’t so sure of his career plan, but I had a...
F-WORDS are not used frequently enough. At least that’s true for some F-WORDS. There are so many FABU F-WORDS, I’ve FINAGLED them into two fragments, 25 in this installment and 25 MORE F-WORDS in the next.
To fortify your familiarity with the four basic facets of “The S.U.N.S. (Smile-Making, Uniting,...
I became involved with World Changers about 20 years ago and through the years traveled to places like Indiana, Kentucky, Arkansas, Texas and Alaska with them, repairing, painting, cleaning and upgrading homes for the elderly and needy in our country. This organization, through the years, has helped many, many...
Any time you open a new book, you are introduced to a world of endless possibilities. There are a thousand--no, a million different places that stories could take you. As local libraries begin to reopen at full capacity and access to hands-on literature becomes available again, let us not...
America’s economic future hinges on energy — its reliability, affordability and availability. Nowhere is that future being written more decisively than in Alabama.
While much of the country debates how to adapt to growing energy demands, Alabama is acting. With foresight and purpose, our state is building a foundation of...
We’ve all seen the commercials that gave birth to the catchphrase, “Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” Since the 1980s, it has been on television, shirts, hats, songs and just about everywhere imaginable. If people were like Weebles, when we fall getting back up would not be...
Submitted by Mitch Reid, program director for the Alabama Rivers Alliance
The Roman orator Quintilian once said, “Whilst we deliberate how to begin a thing, it grows too late to begin it.” Last week’s decision by the State of Florida to escalate the water war over Georgia’s use of water...
