Cullman Today, Friday, Sept. 25

0:01 >> Good morning, Cullman. I'm Crystal Corley, and today is Friday, September

0:14 25th. Coming up, Bill Penny Motor Company plans a $4 million collision center in

0:20 Cullman. Plus, another hangar project moves forward at Cullman Regional Airport. And, Zinc Fast prepares to

0:27 expand its Huntsville operation. All this, plus our Friday night football preview, four and four, weather, and

0:34 more. First, here are today's top stories. Bill Penny Motor Company has confirmed plans for a new full-service collision

0:45 repair center in Cullman. BP Collision Dent and Glass will be located at 4950 Alabama Highway 157.

0:54 Hunter Johnson, Bill Penny's chief operating officer and partner, told the Tribune the company expects to invest

1:00 about $4 million in construction and in equipment, not including the property. Plans call for 20 repair bays, a paint

1:08 booth, alignment rack, frame machine, and vehicle calibration equipment. The site will handle repairs and also

1:15 serve as a drop-off point for some vehicles sent to the company's Huntsville Collision Center.

1:21 Hiring is underway with eight to 10 employees expected. Another construction project is moving

1:28 forward at Cullman Regional Airport. Bidding closed September 16th for the airport's midfield hangar development

1:34 project. Cullman documents show the work includes grading, drainage, paving, electrical construction, and the hangar

1:41 building itself. The project follows earlier site work documented in 2025 to prepare the

1:47 midfield area for hangars, including a stub taxiway for future development. Public documents do not identify the

1:56 planned tenant, hangar size, total cost, or funding breakdown. It also follows a nearly $2.7 million

2:03 hangar contract tied to an aviation partnership involving Martin Aviation and Wallace State Community College.

2:11 Records do not establish whether this project is separate or another phase of previously approved development.

2:19 In Ensley, ZincFast is prepared to expand its galvanizing operation after receiving a tax abatement from the city

2:26 council. The council approved the abatement September 10th, but the company's planned investment, number of new jobs,

2:33 and value of the tax break were not disclosed during the public portion of

2:37 the meeting. The recent ZincFast job posting describes what the company calls a significant plant expansion and seeks a

2:46 maintenance technician to help coordinate contractors and vendors. ZincFast operates at 301 Industrial Boulevard and is part of Birmingham's

2:56 fastener. The property is also undergoing a voluntary environmental cleanup overseen by the Alabama Department of

3:04 Environmental Management. Records do not establish that the cleanup was caused by ZincFast or connected to the expansion.

3:12 The company has not announced the project size, construction schedule, or expected number of new jobs.

3:19 And in Cullman, a planned 56-unit apartment development on County Road 770, has reached another stage.

3:27 Ashford Gardens is planning a new family housing, according to the Alabama Housing Finance Authority.

3:34 State records show 56 units, including four in the agency's disabled and homeless housing set-aside.

3:41 The project receives nearly $1.8 million in housing credits, which is not the total construction cost.

3:49 A September 6th permit lists Ashford Gardens Limited as owner of as owner and five construction company

3:55 as contractor with a valuation of about $1.87 million. Records do not show what portion of the

4:03 development that amount covers. Expected rents, tenant income requirements, and an opening date have

4:09 not been released in the records reviewed. Two unbeaten teams, two county matchups, and a first-ever meeting highlight

4:18 tonight's local football slate. We'll break down all four games after the break. >>

4:33 >> Welcome back. Here's what to watch under

4:49 the Friday night lights. Addison and Cold Springs enter tonight with a combined 9-0 record. All four

4:56 local games kick off at 7:00 p.m. and are non-region matchups. Cullman, Fairview, Hanceville, and Meek

5:03 have open dates. Addison is 5-0 and hosts 1-4 Oakman. The Bulldogs have outscored opponents

5:11 251 to 13 and won every game by at least 28 points. Addison has three shutouts and its first

5:19 team defense has not allowed a point this season. Senior quarterback Elijah Roberts is

5:25 averaging nearly 229 total yards per game. In last week's 56-6 win over Meek,

5:33 he threw for 123 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing score. Oakman has lost three straight. Addison

5:43 leads the all-time series 19-8-1, but the teams have not met since 2009. Cold Springs is 4-0 and travels to 2-2

5:54 Holly Pond. The Eagles are coming off a 36-21 win over previously unbeaten Cleveland.

6:02 Kase and Alexander rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown. Cooper Johnson added 71 yards and two

6:09 scores, and Ethan Day intercepted two passes. Brooks Black returned a fumble 90 yards

6:17 for a touchdown. Holly Pond is looking to rebound from a 54-14 loss to

6:22 Vinemont. Cold Springs won the most recent meeting 42-7 in 2023. Vinemont travels to Appalachian

6:34 for what record show will be the first meeting between the programs. Vinemont is 3-2 after scoring a

6:41 season-high 54 points against Holly Pond. Quarterback Josh Rhodes ran for a touchdown and threw three more, while

6:49 Caleb Speegle had two interceptions, returning one 25 yards for a score. Appalachian is 2-2 and averaging nearly

6:57 346 yards per game. Quarterback Cole Smith is averaging almost 296 yards of total offense.

7:07 And Good Hope takes a three-game winning streak to West Point. The Raiders are 3-1 after shutting out

7:14 Crossville 46-0 last week, and Good Hope is also 3-0 in region play. West Point is still looking for its

7:22 first win, but the Warriors are coming off their best defense showing of the

7:27 season in a 15-10 loss at Ardmore. Good Hope won last season's meeting. Still ahead, Cullman County Schools

7:36 honors two employees, Oktoberfest preparations pick up downtown, and a local farm opens its sunflower fields to

7:43 the community. >>

8:04 >> Welcome back. It's time for your four

8:18 stories in under 4 minutes. Cullman County Schools and AmFirst are recognized are recognizing two employees

8:29 for their work supporting students and staff. Good Hope Primary School pre-K teacher Britney Calvert is teach is teacher of

8:36 the month while Jeff Quarter of the Child Development Center is a staff member of the month.

8:42 Calvert helps other pre-K teachers across the district and her classroom is being considered as a state mentor

8:48 classroom. Quarter works in maintenance and custodial custodial services at the Child Development Center and was

8:56 recognized for his work ethic. AmFirst gives each recipient a $100 gift card. The hay people are back in Cullman, a

9:06 familiar sign that Oktoberfest is almost here. The seasonal displays have returned ahead of Cullman Oktoberfest, which runs

9:13 October 1st through 4th. And as Oktoberfest is right around the corner, festival preparations will also

9:21 bring several downtown closures beginning this week. Depot Drive between the historic train depot and Depot Park will close at 10:00

9:30 p.m. Saturday and remain closed through October 7th. The Cullman County Museum parking lot

9:36 and part of 1st Avenue Northeast will close Sunday night with more closures beginning Monday along Arnold Street,

9:43 Clark Street, and nearby areas. Most of the closures will end Sunday night or Monday while Depot Drive will

9:50 remain closed through October 7th. 2nd Avenue Northeast will remain open throughout the festival.

9:58 And Haynes Farm is inviting the community to enjoy a 5-acre sun sunflower field free of charge. The 7th

10:06 Generation Farm calls its annual gift to the community and encourages visitors to take photos,

10:12 pick a few sunflowers, and enjoy the scenery. A 60-year-old Allis Chalmers tractor is also parked in the field for

10:20 pictures. Haynes Farm is at 150 County Road 1654 along Alabama Highway 69 between Simcoe

10:28 and Fairview. That's your 4 and 4. After the break, we'll remember a member of our community

10:35 who has passed away, then check your weekend forecast. >>

11:05 >> Welcome back. Let's take a moment to

11:22 remember a member of our community who has passed away. Nikki Leon McLendon, 61 of Vinemont,

11:32 passed away Wednesday, September 23rd. A memorial service will be Sunday, September 27th from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at

11:40 Cullman Funeral Home. >> >> Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

11:49 >> >> Now to the forecast. We'll start Friday with some patchy fog, then settle into a

11:54 mild and mostly sunny weekend. Today starts with some patchy fog before 9:00, then turns mostly sunny with a

12:05 high near 80. >> >> Tonight will be partly cloudy with a low

12:08 around 55. Tomorrow looks mostly sunny with a high near 82, and tomorrow night

12:14 will be mostly cloudy with a low around 56. Sunday brings more sunshine and a high

12:20 near 82, followed by partly cloudy skies Sunday night and a low around 54.

12:31 And that wraps up another edition of Cullman Today. Thank you for sharing your morning with us, and remember to

12:36 follow us on social media, and visit cullmantribune.com for the latest from our community. We'll be back Monday

12:42 morning at 6:30, and until then, I'm Crystal Quarles, and this is Cullman Today. Have a great one, Cullman.