The following a guest article from Cullman County EMA Specialist Brent McDonald.
In emergency management, one thing has always remained constant: the responsibility to protect people before, during and after an emergency. What has changed — dramatically over the years—is how people expect to receive information, how quickly they expect...
CULLMAN - The current drought is really hurting the cattle industry in my legislative district and relief is no where in sight. This week, I met with numerous agribusiness officials in Montgomery, including Alabama Cattlemen Association officers to discuss ways to help cattle farmers in my district.
Yesterday, I spoke...
Dear Editor,
On September 12, 2020, a horrendous crime was committed to someone very near and dear to our hearts. Herndon “Junior” Self was a hard-working and outgoing husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and uncle whose only fault was putting his trust in the wrong person.
The shocking part about this...
Dripping Springs NSDAR members at the 120th annual conference at Auburn University. Back row, (left to right) are Linda Kuykendall, Pam Reid, Brenda Scott and Pat Kahler. Seated on the front row, (left to right) are Rhonda VanZandt, Athelia Gibbs, Julia Floyd, Linda Schiger and Julea Moats.
The Holly Pond...
Photo shows James Webb Space Telescope mirror segments.
“Yeah, sure, NASA launches rockets and sends probes into outer space. It’s neat I guess. But, so what? What they do doesn’t affect me personally.” I’ve heard a few folks say this in my 23+ years with NASA. And every time they...
I’m not exactly sure how he managed to live in this world this long, especially in the South, and never experience one of the sweetest treats of life. Some of you have watched my grandson, Drew, grow up… if not in person, at least through my writings. He is...
Anyone who has ventured into the world of animal rescue knows that the list of challenges facing them seems endless. Every day, there is another crisis, another urgent call for help and another day of feeling desperately overwhelmed. Despite the awareness of pet overpopulation and the knowledge that scores...
Today, April 22, is Earth Day! www.earthday.org/earth-day-2023
Sustainability can be a hot topic these days, and in a world as busy as ours, it's typically not on the top of our to-do lists. Between the day-to-day of school drop-off line, work, shopping and family time, convenience is king. Convenience often...
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...
It was total chaos at the Dollar General store in Margaret, Alabama. People rushed out the doors carrying poster board, silver balloons and rolls of crepe paper. The party supply aisle looked as if a mob of looters had swept through it. Outside, throngs of white-haired grandparents frantically taped...
There is a nearly constant negativity in the Cullman community surrounding the mere existence of Rock the South. This year was no different and the naysayers are having a field day after this year’s festival. Yes, it rained. It rained a lot. What they don’t seem to understand is...
The purpose of this letter is to draw public attention and awareness statewide to a travesty concerning a profession that should command better wages. Some states, cities and counties are much more equitable than others, however, some officials need to be held accountable for the inequity they allow and...
ODE TO WANDERLUST
I long to walk there, maybe there and then there.
More joy-filled I’ll return, you may surely trust.
In my lifetime, I shall flaneur everywhere,
Just my feet, my daydreams and wanderlust.
“I love to go a-flaneuring” just doesn’t have quite the earworm viability of “I...
Right-thinking, fact-driven Americans have hit their high-water mark, frustrated with the liberal news media fabricating stories about conservatives. Every day, since the Nov. 8, 2016 election (almost three years ago), liberal Democrats and members of the counterfeit media have worked around the clock fabricating, packaging and pounding this president...
When companies scout new locations, the standard checklist includes availability of a quality and skilled workforce, infrastructure, and operating costs. Yet public safety, too often underestimated, plays an important role. Public safety officials protect people and assets, which strengthens the long-term stability of businesses both large and small.
Law enforcement...
It was a horrible, sickening phone call. Within a few seconds, my hopes and dreams were crushed like someone stepping on a Coke can. And to think my mom did it!
Let me elaborate. Growing up, I was a comic book kid. Beginning about the age of 8, I began...
Tide escapes disastrous upset. Alabama’s season almost came to an end Saturday as LSU returned to Tuscaloosa for the first time since beating the Tide behind a monstrous game that helped seal a Heisman trophy for Joe Burrow. No, their season wouldn’t literally be over had they lost, but their shot at...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala. (AL-04) today released the following statement regarding a push by Democrats to make it illegal to display the Confederate flag in national cemeteries.
“What we are seeing is a politically charged symbol being used to divide people along racial lines,” said Aderholt....
Last week, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed into law S.B. 202, a piece of reform legislation that will enhance the security and integrity of elections in our neighbor state.
While the bill makes numerous changes to the voting process in Georgia, the bill requires proof of identification to be submitted...
One of the best singers Britain has produced in decades, Corinne Bailey Rae is a breath of fresh air. She's gonna guide you right on in to work with a smile on your face this morning! Here's "Put Your Records On."
Bio from www.corinnebaileyrae.com:
From Leeds, England, artist Corinne Bailey Rae...
During the peak of storm season, our greatest concern is for the safety of everyone who will be affected by a storm. State Farm encourages all residents in the projected path of any storm to protect themselves and their property.
Despite taking proper precautions to prepare your home for a...
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...
Local legislation is often required to authorize a local entity to do something specific that otherwise is not authorized by law or the state constitution.
Local legislation can usually be passed if all the local legislators, House and Senate agree or at least do not oppose the proposed local law.
For...
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...
For several months there has been discussion and downright controversy surrounding the use of lodging tax dollars by the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce. It’s time for a formal audit to disclose exactly how and where the lodging tax money is spent. Secrecy and mistrust are two words you...
I just read an article about a man who was disqualified from a fishing tournament for cheating. Y’all, I think Jesus is coming soon. Fishing is a sport that has long been known for its liars. Ever heard the term “fish story?” But when people start cheating in fishing...
Carol Berry with Angie Young (Brittany Howell for The Cullman Tribune)
For the Christmas edition of Community with Carol, I wanted to showcase Hope for the Homeless, a division of Cullman’s Little Pantry. The Little Pantry was installed in April 2017, but this division is brand new. Angie Young is...
March marked the 150th month of the war in Afghanistan. Since October 7, 2001, U.S. troops have been deployed there. Their primary task had been to eliminate Afghanistan as a safe haven for terrorism, specifically the bases used to train and harbor those implicit in the September 11th attacks...
Have you ever wondered what volunteer opportunities are available for you to assist the Cullman community? Doing your part has never been so easy! Here is a list of several community efforts in the area.
Donating
There are many things you can do to assist area residents, but let's start with donations. A simple closet cleanout can benefit several households. You...
Where were you when the phones stopped ringing, that January day? That January day was Wednesday, Jan. 14. For roughly 10 hours that day, I and approximately 200,000 other Verizon cell phone users had no service.
Perhaps you recognized my question as a play on Alan Jackson’s hit song, “Where...
Many rivers have locks, but not only the kind that lower or raise boats in its water. You may have seen them before, but quite honestly, I never had. On our recent visit to Europe, I saw them for the first time. There were tons of padlocks hanging from...
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...
Howard Cannon, a restaurant expert witness and forensic scientist, last year released his book “Restaurant Ridiculous: Dram Shop & Alcohol Liability Personal Injury Lawsuits.” It advises the reader of negligent acts within management and signs of visible intoxication among those served. Normally I don’t read nonfiction, but I found this informative and digestible. It made me take a closer look...
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...
Carol Berry with Linda Bailey (Brittany Howell for The Cullman Tribune)
My guest this week on Community with Carol is Linda Bailey with the Committee on Church Cooperation (CCC). This local nonprofit, located in the Cullman County Department of Human Resources (DHR) building on St. Joseph Street in Cullman, was...
At a Lieutenant Governor political forum in Hoover last month, one of the moderators posed a simple question: name your favorite historical figure. Without a moment’s pause, I responded with Margaret Thatcher.
Margaret Thatcher had the courage to lead with conviction, stand firm under immense pressure, and fundamentally reshape her...
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...
The following is an opinion piece submitted to The Tribune by U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Alabama. The opinions expressed are Aderholt's.
Our beliefs, our ideals and our very way of being are almost entirely rooted in the way we were raised. The values that are instilled in us by our...
Well, it’s official and it feels weird. So weird, that I dug up my old fraternity jacket to see if it fits. Not even close, by the way. I’m sure you are asking why I would do such a thing. Because after almost a half century, I’m headed back...
That, my friends, is the sound of a very distinctive holiday: the Fourth of July.
Sure, we've got more important ones. Like Thanksgiving, that glorious celebration of food, football and silently wondering, "How can I possibly be related to these people?" The thing most of us are truly thankful for is the sight of...
I just finished my annual reading of “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Wow. As long as I live, I will read this novel. And for me, there’s a bonus. Every time I pick up the book, I’m reminded of a special graduation gift I gave to someone.
Let’s face the facts...
Over recent months I have noticed an increase in AI content on social media. It was horrific to see several people interacting with the posts and actively engaging in the comments under the impression that it is legitimate footage. Now, this isn’t a new concept and believing what we...
It is Christmastime, and I am rereading my favorite Christmas book, “A Redbird Christmas.” I remember Fannie Flagg on the WBRC-TV Morning Show in the 60s. After being refused a raise she quit her job and moved to New York City. Flagg has written several novels including “Fried Green...
Alabamians may have felt their wallets bulge a bit last month when the Legislature approved our bill that slices the sales tax on groceries in half and implements the single largest tax cut in state history.
Alabama was one of only three states that taxed groceries at the full rate...
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...
Since wonderful Covid locked us down for a while before excessive safety measures were put in place, The Tribune debates have been an event we look forward to as it allows hopeful candidates to actually debate and exchange ideas without being coached or given a list of questions well...
(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...
Lilacs aren't very common in our area, although great strides have been made in developing more heat/humidity tolerant versions in recent years. A demand for these lovely, heavenly-scented shrubs led horticulturists to develop such lilacs as “Miss Kim,” a cultivar of Syringa patula, which has been publicized as a...
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....
From the Alabama Press Association:
The International Trade Commission unanimously voted today to reverse the newsprint tariffs. We will know about the commission’s reasoning when it issues a final report on Sept. 17. The cash deposits will be refunded to newsprint manufacturers, but that will take several months.
Thank you to...
Josh Swindall with his wife and children (contributed)
I was impressed with my guest this week on “Community with Carol,” Josh Swindall, the new principal at Cullman Christian School. Cullman Christian School began as a nonprofit protestant school in 2007 and accommodates children of all ages from 3 (pre-Kindergarten) through...
This simple list of horror, thriller and suspense movies will help you navigate the horror and thrills in the days leading into Halloween.
The movies on the list can be viewed on many online streaming services. Some of the titles you may have to search for, but in the end...
Anyone know who wrote this song? No cheating! Listen and you can hear the way his other songs sound...
"I Feel for You" is a song written by Prince that originally appeared on his 1979 self-titled album. The most successful and best-known version was recorded by R&B singer Chaka Khan,...
Every year when Halloween comes around, everyone has their go-to list of movies they traditionally like to watch. Whether it’s an installment of the "Halloween," "Saw" or "Friday the 13th" franchise, you know what you're going to get and probably have them memorized by now. These are some options...
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Health Care Authority of Cullman County/ Cullman Regional Board of Directors this week announced that they have received Emergency Alabama Certificate of Need (CON) approval to add an additional 30 beds to the hospital, including 13 additional critical care beds.
During the final months of 2020...
On Saturday, Nov. 4, the citizens of Cullman County will honor their military veterans at a daylong event at Cullman Regional Airport in Vinemont. Full details on the entire event can be found at www.cullmanveteransday.com. Parking and admission are free.
This year, the focus of the entire event is on...
At the risk of sounding like an old man, I have realized there is a great difference in how the youth of today entertain themselves and how the youth of my generation did so.
One big difference is that we mostly played outdoors. It was safer to do so back...
Kristin Hannah’s latest book is historical fiction set in 1966 during the Vietnam War. The first part of the book takes place in Vietnam. The second part is about the return home to the United States.
Frances “Frankie” McGrath has just completed nursing school. Her golden boy brother, Finley, has graduated from the Naval...
Jennifer Garner must have asked me a thousand times, “What’s in your wallet?” The answer is always the same, “Nothing, absolutely nothing!” I keep hoping maybe she has put some money in there without me knowing, but no, it’s still nothing. A more pertinent question might be, “What’s under...
ODE TO SUMMER
My longtime favorite season is summer.
Though fall, spring nor winter is a bummer.
At 70, this thought’s not a newcomer;
It came decades ago with my first frozen rummer.
“Summer afternoon” according to American-born British writer, Henry James, are the two most-beautiful words in the...
As we approach Christmas, I would like to send a heartfelt wish of good luck to all of you parents out there with young children. You’ll need it. If this is your first time to have Christmas when Santa Claus magically delivers all of the gifts to your house,...
Obamacare or the “Affordable Care Act” continues to be highly debated four years after being signed into law. Conservatives present it as the poster child of liberal big government overreach. Liberals defend it as the reason they see for government to exist, to protect those with less, and to...
At the heart of every great community are its seniors. Cullman County is no exception, and with hard-working entities such as the Cullman County Commission on Aging and Senior Outreach, the county if full of fun activities for its seniors. So much so that the Cullman’s special events often...
