Cullman Today, Thursday, Sept. 24

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

0:14 24th. Coming up, the Cullman County Commission approves next year's budget, and there's a deadline tomorrow if you pay a county

0:21 water bill. Plus, Goat Island Brewing has a new majority owner, and Was Soda Chop House

0:28 is closing its Cullman restaurant this weekend. All this, plus your four-on-four sports, weather, and more.

0:35 First, here are today's top stories. The Cullman County Commission has approved a $94.6 million budget for the

0:47 2027 fiscal year, which starts October 1st. Priorities include restoring both county roads and bridges, keeping good

0:56 employees, and maintaining the county's buildings and equipment. The commissioner also talked about a big

1:04 change for Cullman County water and sanitation customers. Tomorrow is the last day Cullman

1:10 Electric Cooperative will take payments for county water or sanitation. From September 26th through October 5th, no

1:17 payment will be accepted while billing moves over. Starting October 5th, all payments go

1:23 through the the Cullman County Water Department. If you have automatic payment set up through Cullman Electric,

1:29 you'll need to set them up again. The county says there will be a grace period

1:34 during the switch. Also approved, new speed limits on several county roads, and a resolution

1:41 allowing the sale of consumable hemp products in the county in line with state law.

1:48 Goat Island Brewing has a new majority owner. Longtime investor Russell Warren Sr. has bought the majority interest

1:56 held by founders Brad Glenn, Mike Malaney, and John Dean. Warren is now the company's president.

2:03 The brewery says operations will continue as usual. Warren plans to invest in both Cullman taprooms, add

2:11 community events, and add new products. And expand distribution into Mississippi and other markets. Goat Island opened in

2:21 2016 and added the Goat at Cotton Creek downtown last year. Wasota Chop House is closing its Cullman

2:29 restaurant this Saturday, September 26th, after about 2 and 1/2 years. The restaurant inside Cobblestone Hotel

2:37 and Suites on Main Avenue Southwest didn't provide a reason, but it says a

2:41 new concept is planned for the space with details to come. If you have a Wasota gift card, it must

2:48 be used by Saturday. The closing announcement covers only the restaurant, not the hotel.

2:54 Coming up next, Cullman County cheer squads bring home four first-place finishes. Sports is after the break.

3:11 >> >> Welcome back. Cullman County cheer

3:26 squads brought home four first-place finishes from Tuesday's AHSAA North Super Regional at the Cullman

3:36 Omniplex. Nine local squads competed in game day and traditional routines. Cullman High School led the way. The Bearcat The

3:46 Bearcats varsity won its 5A traditional division, and the junior varsity won both of its divisions. Good Hope Middle

3:54 School also took first in its junior high division. Hanceville and West Point varsity each finished second in game day

4:02 and Vinemont's varsity placed third in its traditional division. And Good Hope's varsity came up just 500th of a

4:10 point short of first in its traditional division. Congratulations to all of our local squads. You can find the full

4:17 results at CullmanTribune.com. Still ahead, how to spot today's scams, a red healer ready for adventure,

4:26 scholarships for two local students, and a book binding class downtown. And your four and four is next.

4:37 >>

5:06 >> Now it's time to speed things up with four stories in four minutes.

5:14 First up, scams keep getting smarter and on Wednesday a room full of Cullman

5:19 County seniors learned how to spot them. The Better Business Bureau of North Alabama held a community fraud summit at

5:25 the Cullman County Sheriff's Office Education Building. >> >> Speakers from the Alabama Security

5:30 Commission, Premier Bank of Cullman, and the Sheriff's Office shared tips to help people protect their money.

5:36 >> I'm I'm Kieran Reeves with the Better Business Bureau of North Alabama, and

5:40 we're here in Cullman today, and we were going to speak to a group of seniors

5:45 about ways that they can protect themselves. You know, they're experts. So, we're going to be here with us. We

5:50 have someone from the Alabama Securities Commission that's going to speak. We have someone here from Premier Bank.

5:57 Um we have Sheriff elect for Cullman County that's here as well. And so,

6:01 we're all going to share tips to help um help protect our seniors in our

6:06 community. >> The red flags to watch for are pressure to act right now,

6:13 >> >> requests for gift cards, crypto or cash, and callers claiming to be law

6:18 enforcement or government agency. If a call doesn't feel right, hang up and verify it yourself. If you've already

6:25 sent money, contact your bank and look and report it to local law enforcement.

6:31 Two Cullman County natives were honored at the Alabama Farmers Federation Scholarship Reception at Auburn. Auburn

6:38 freshman Jack Haynes received the Ronnie Donaldson Memorial Scholarship and junior Anna Leigh Allen received a

6:45 $2,000 scholarship from the Alabama Farmers Agricultural Foundation and the Cullman County Farmers

6:51 Federation. In all, 79 Auburn students shared almost $140,000 in scholarships. Applications for next year open November

7:01 1st at alfafarmers.org/scholarships. Next up, Sip 'n Strokes in downtown Cullman isn't just for painting.

7:12 The art shop in the warehouse district recently hosted a bookbinding class led by local artist Kayla Grace Murphy

7:18 Carnes. Students built and decorated their own books from start to finish. October's class are already full, but there could

7:27 be opportunity to join the fun in November. Painting classes are offered Monday and

7:33 every other Wednesday. You can find the schedule at sipsnstrokescullman.rezclick.com. And finally, meet Ruby, our pet of the

7:44 week. Ruby is a 1-year-old red healer at the Cullman County Animal Shelter. She

7:49 loves splashing in kitty pools, and she'll even carry a backpack of water and snacks on your outings together.

7:56 >> >> Her $130 application fee includes spaying, vaccinations, and a microchip. Visit the shelter at 935 Convent Road

8:05 Northeast Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 3:30, or call 256-734-5448. And that's your four stories in 4

8:17 minutes. When we return, we'll remember those we've lost and check your weather

8:22 forecast. >>

8:50 >> Welcome back. Now, we remember the

9:06 members of our community who have recently passed. >> >> Larry Wayne Moore, 77 of Bremen, passed

9:17 away Monday, September 21st. >> >> Visitation will be today from 11:00 a.m.

9:22 to 1:00 p.m. at Valley View Baptist Church, with the funeral service to follow. Burial will be at Valley View

9:29 Cemetery. Sylvia Diane Creeps, >> >> 68 of Cullman, passed away Monday, September 21st. A memorial service will

9:39 be Sunday, September 27th at 3:00 p.m. at Temple Baptist, Cullman. William Greg Kai Kindle, 70 of Cullman

9:49 passed away Tuesday, September 22nd. Memorial service arrangements are not provided at this time. Our

9:56 thoughts are with their friends and family. Clouds give way to sunshine today. Here

10:06 is your forecast. Today starts out cloudy then gradually turns mostly sunny with a high near 80.

10:16 >> >> Tonight mostly clear and calm with a low around 59 and tomorrow looks even better

10:22 with mostly sunny skies with a high around 82 and almost no chance of rain.

10:28 It will be a great day to be outside. Tomorrow night sees mostly clear skies

10:33 and a low near 56. >> >> And that wraps up this Thursday edition

10:42 of Cullman today. Thank you for sharing your morning with us. Please be sure to

10:45 follow us on social media and visit Cullmantribune.com throughout your day for the latest from across Cullman

10:51 County. We'll be back tomorrow morning at 6:30 but until then, I'm Crystal Corley and this is Cullman today. Have a

10:58 great one, Cullman.