Bumps in the road
Photo: 2016 Cold Springs High School football team, cheerleaders and coaches
CULLMAN - We are less than a week away from the kickoff of the 2016 high school football season. It is the only time...
Prep volleyball season coming soon
Photo: 2016 West Point Lady Warriors varsity volleyball team
CULLMAN - A lot of changes will be seen when the 2016 local high school volleyball season gets started on Aug. 25.
Defending county champion Good Hope...
Obituary: Robert Talmadge Wilbanks
Robert Talmadge Wilbanks, 87, passed away August 13. A graveside service will be held Wednesday, August 17 at the Cullman City Cemetery, beginning at 10 a.m. Moss Service Funeral Home directing.
No election for West Point
Photo shows current West Point Town Council. Front row, Frankie Jones, Mayor Kenneth Kilgo and Alton Bailey. Back row, Darion Daniels, Gerald Schaefer and Mike Barnett
WEST POINT - The Town of West Point will...
Files from Yesteryear: 1902, 1932, 1933, 1952
From the Files of 1902
Albert Shell is recovering from an illness.
Beautiful kitchen cabinets - $6.00 at Drehers’. Adv.
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Allred, Junior, of Birmingham are visiting relatives at Fontella.
J.S. Jones, Frank Bridges, Joe...
Native American girl walks 700 miles home to Alabama
Photo: Tom Hendrix
This group of Indians were walked from right here (Florence) to the Indian Nation, which is what we call Oklahoma today; around 850 miles from here.”
Tom Hendrix
FLORENCE – Family stories have...
Cullman County Youth Football jamborees set
CULLMAN - While the varsity football teams have been on the practice field for almost two weeks, so have the youth programs across Cullman County.
Since the end of last season, changes have been witnessed...
Early morning traffic incident leaves 1 dead, 3 injured
CULLMAN – An early morning traffic incident on Interstate 65 South near exit 308 has left one person dead and three others injured, one critically, confirmed Cullman County Coroner Jeremy L. Kilpatrick.
Quitman Clarke, 18, of Mobile...
Obituary: Gerald L. Entrekin
Memorial services for Gerald L. Entrekin, 72, of Cullman were held Saturday, August 13, 2016 at 4 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Hanceville; Rev. Paul Campbell officiating. The family will receive friends...
Obituary: Mary Ellen Weeks
Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Ellen Weeks, 88 of the Center Point Community, will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, August 14 at Holly Pond Funeral Home Chapel. Interment following in Center Point Baptist Church...
Obituary: Arthur Wayne Rich
Mr. Arthur Wayne Rich of Falkville Alabama passed away on August 12, 2016 at his residence at the age of 66. He was born on April 30, 1950 in Gadsden Alabama to Arthur Jack...
Obituary: Evelyn Louise Nelson
Evelyn Louise Nelson, 82, passed away August 12. Arrangements are incomplete at this time. Nichols Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Fancher Education and Tutoring Services expands
CULLMAN - Local educator Cherrelle Fancher’s business is expanding, both space- and service-wise. Fancher Education and Tutoring Services recently moved into a larger space that will function as a full-on educational center. This is...
Bearcat GROWLS prowls into Depot Park
This event is a way the community can come together to help make sure every child has a great start with the right tools. Every child deserves that.”
Mary Hovater
CULLMAN – Depot Park was hopping...
Karma in Cullman’s canned food yard sale aims to help those in need
We take in donations of all kinds here; clothing, furniture, whatever. Everything we get, we give back to the community for free. We never charge for anything.”
Rachel Bryant
CULLMAN – Local nonprofit Karma in Cullman...
Chef Randall Baldwin will headline this year’s Farm to Fork Dinner
Photo: Chef Randall Baldwin of Dyron's Lowcountry Restaurant in Mountain Brook offers his thoughts on the importance of eating fresh, whole foods. The Chef will be preparing the Farm to Fork dinner using only...
County School Board meets day after new session begins
CULLMAN - The Cullman County School Board began the 2016-17 school year with its first meeting Thursday night, a day after students returned to the classroom, ending summer vacation.
The board heard the first public...
Veterans Day celebration expanding to include bigger flight experiences and a Rosie the Riveter...
We are going fully immersive this year. Participants will have the opportunity to watch a 40-minute film about a mission, and then ride in the plane and ‘conduct’ that mission.”
Col. Ken Brown
CULLMAN – It...
Dodge City to hold blood drive to honor town’s first responders
DODGE CITY - Dodge City held its monthly town council meeting this week and discussed an upcoming event for the town’s first responders.
On Friday, Sept. 9 the American Red Cross is inviting everyone to...
Meek Tigers eager to continue progress on the gridiron
ARLEY - Since 2013, the Meek Tigers have made a steady climb in being victorious on the gridiron.
From three wins in 2013, the Tigers raised the bar and got five victories in 2014. The...
Johnny Dyar seeking 3rd term as mayor of Baileyton
I want to thank my council and the people of Baileyton for supporting me over the last eight years as mayor.”
Johnny Dyar
BAILEYTON – Baileyton Mayor Johnny Dyar is seeking his third term in the...
Latest County Commission meeting a busy one
CULLMAN - The Cullman County Commission came together on Tuesday morning for a regularly-scheduled meeting.
First up was a public hearing for resident Edith Bullard Thompson and resolution 2016-25 – Vacation of a portion of...
Some unwanted excitement at 2nd Fridays event
CULLMAN - The third Friday night celebration of the summer, the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce and Cullman City Parks and Recreation’s 2nd Fridays Cullman got off to its usual start with shoppers perusing...
Camp Liberty postpones Freedom Fridays
BATTLEGROUND - The Freedom Fridays program at Camp Liberty was set to begin tonight, Aug. 12, but had to be postponed due to technical difficulties.
“I sincerely regret to announce that Freedom Friday will be...
Man drives off Highway 157, into woods
CULLMAN - The driver of a four-door silver Cadillac sedan driving westbound on Highway 157 careened off the road and into the woods earlier this evening.
The car hydroplaned in the westbound lane, drove over...
Saturday Event Guide- August 13
Cullman Farmer's Market – Festhalle- Starts at 7 a.m.
Fresh, local produce, breads and meats, along with plants and crafts. The Farmer's Market is now open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 7 a.m.-2 p.m....
CHS grad Will Raney named National Advanced Placement Scholar
CULLMAN - Will Raney, a 2016 graduate of Cullman High School, was recently named a National Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar by The College Board.
As noted by the College Board, a National AP Scholar Certificate is...
Cullman’s Don Morgan honored with BCA Distinguished Leader Award
Photo: Don Morgan, left, receives the BCA Distinguished Leader Award.
POINT CLEAR, Ala. - The Business Council of Alabama’s board of directors at the Governmental Affairs Conference on Aug. 5 honored long-serving BCA board member...
Wallace State Lifelong Learning Institute -WaLLi – formally introduced to Cullman community
HANCEVILLE - About 100 Cullman area residents gathered on the 12th floor of the James C. Bailey Center at Wallace State Community College to be formally introduced to WaLLi, a new program for local...
Saint Bernard Prep opens school year
CULLMAN - School bells are ringing and another banner year has begun at Saint Bernard Prep School. A newly renovated library and classroom building, as well an updated science and math building, greeted 216...
Operation Lifesaver makes Cullman a stop on tour
CULLMAN – At Cullman City Hall on Friday morning, Nancy Hudson, executive director of Alabama Operation Lifesaver, addressed members of the press and department heads of the City of Cullman.
According to the organization, Operation...
Hanceville City Council: Fire chief reports busy month; kids back in school
HANCEVILLE - The Hanceville City Council held a regular meeting on Thursday evening at Hanceville City Hall with all council members present.
Councilman Doug Batemon opened the meeting with prayer after the mayor called the...
Ruby Tuesday, Inc. to shut down 95 company-owned restaurants by September
UPDATED Aug. 12, 2:42 p.m.
Ruby Tuesday Inc., through its public relations firm, has just given us the following statement:
“Our Fresh Start Initiative is designed to improve our financial profitability and ultimately create a...
Bill McElroy seeking mayoral seat in Baileyton
I would like to see some businesses come into the community so more people can have a local job.”
Bill McElroy
BAILEYTON – Baileyton’s Bill McElroy has announced he will seek the position of mayor of...
Colony Town Council Notes- Aug. 2016
Photo from July 2016
COLONY – The Colony Town Council held a regular council meeting this week.
Mayor Vernon Fields was not in attendance. The council members present were Alexander Twitty acting as mayor pro tempore,...
Stefany Pate named new Wallace State cheerleading coach
HANCEVILLE - Former Wallace State cheerleader Stefany Pate is the new coach of the college’s varsity squad.
Pate, 27, who has worked for Wallace State since Feb. 2014, took reins of the program earlier this...
Same faces, different places for Town of South Vinemont
Photo shows current Vinemont Mayor J.D. Marcum in Jan. 2016.
VINEMONT - In the latest meeting of the South Vinemont Town Council, things progressed normally, with one exception.
A change in the leadership was announced...
Acclaimed Nursing program graduates around 100 students at Wallace State Community College
Photo: Deborah Hoover, center, director of the Wallace State Community College Department of Nursing Education, presented several students with the Nightingale Award during the recent pinning ceremony. Pictured from left are, Practical Nursing graduates...
3-way race for City School Board, Place 2
Photo: l-r, Kevin Binkowski, Chris Branham and Susan Martin Hauk
CULLMAN - The Cullman City School Board, Place 2 race has three Cullman residents vying for the position left available by Brenda Howell’s decision to...
First day of school
They say that one of the strongest memory triggers is the sense of smell. That must be true because whenever I smell chalk or yeast rolls, I think of the first day of school.
It...
Cullman Lions named District Club of the Year
Photo: Left, Barry Willingham, club president; right, Charles McBrayer, retired club president
CULLMAN - Recently the Cullman Lions were designated as Lions District 34-A Club of the Year for 2015 - 2016. District 34 -...
Wallace State nursing faculty congratulated for job well done
HANCEVILLE - The faculty of the Wallace State Community College Department of Nursing Education gathered on Tuesday, Aug. 9 in celebration of a successful year that was topped off by the program’s achievement of...
UPDATE: Sheriff’s Citizen’s Academy is now full
UPDATE: Aug. 11: The fall session of the Sheriff's Citizen's Academy is now full. Those who wish to participate can apply again in the spring.
CULLMAN - The Cullman County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is now...
Cooking class to be held in Colony
COLONY - Donna Shanklin, a regional extension agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension Program, will be leading the Rite Bite Cooking School, focused on nutrition, diet and health at the Colony Educational Complex beginning...
Wallace State Occupational Therapy Assistant Program graduates 42 students
HANCEVILLE - The Class of 2016 for the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program at Wallace State Community College started with 42 students and ended with the same number as they walked across the stage...
Lee Powell has sights set on City School Board, Place 3
CULLMAN - Local businessman Lee Powell is running for Cullman City School Board, Place 3.
Powell, a former educator, says he has been surrounded by education professionals his entire life.
“With my mother, father, grandmother and...
Bentley awards funds to upgrade equipment; keep roads safe
MONTGOMERY - Gov. Robert Bentley has awarded a $601,189 grant to improve Alabama’s continued efforts to take unsafe drivers off the road.
The grant will enable the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences to purchase 50...
Update: Antique shop in Holly Pond ‘probably not going to happen’
HOLLY POND - Wayne White, the antiques dealer planning on opening a physical location for his traveling business at the old post office in Holly Pond, said Tuesday morning that the opening of his...
More than 40 volunteers, including off-duty deputies, detectives and EMS, search for missing woman
CULLMAN - The family of missing woman Jordan Lee Wilson received an outpouring of support this past weekend from more than 40 volunteers who traveled from throughout the country to join several off-duty Cullman...
Good Hope City Council meets; Rep. Harbison addresses upcoming tax discussion
GOOD HOPE - A regular Good Hope City Council meeting was held on Monday night at Good Hope City Hall. Visitors included State Rep. Corey Harbison, R- Good Hope and his wife.
Councilmen John Harris,...
UPDATE: Logan’s files for bankruptcy, will close 18 restaurants
CULLMAN - We reported last week that Logan’s Roadhouse Inc. was said to be close to filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy. According to a news release from the Nashville-based chain, the company officially filed on...
Addison Bulldogs return to 1A football for 2016 season
ADDISON - Reclassification by the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) in January changed the culture for the Addison Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs were placed back in Class 1A after the two previous seasons being in...
Holly Pond Town Council meets to set price with new business
HOLLY POND – On Monday night Holly Pond’s Town Council held a special meeting to cover a topic that wasn’t able to be discussed at their last meeting, due to the meeting being cut...
Cullman welcomes 6 new firefighters, 4 police officers
CULLMAN - The Cullman City Council met on Monday night for a regular meeting with all council members present, and the council welcomed six new firefighters to Cullman Fire Rescue and four new police...
Changes, but no election, in Colony
COLONY - The Town of Colony will see plenty of changes in its local government this month, but there will be no election.
There are three candidates for the five positions on the town council,...
Local teen Dae Spradlin to walk runways in NYC’s Fashion Week
CULLMAN - Seventeen-year-old Dae Spradlin will be heading to New York City this fall to participate in Fashion Week.
Spradlin is originally from Graysville (a suburb of Birmingham), and although she and her family moved...
Cullman County citizens invited to open tax discussion this Saturday
FAIRVIEW – Citizens of Cullman County are invited to an open tax discussion on Saturday, Aug. 13 in the Fairview High School auditorium. The purpose of the meeting, according to organizer Ron Stone, is...
Good Hope’s Oldacre submits resignation
GOOD HOPE - Another change in the athletic department at Good Hope High School has taken place.
Girls’ basketball coach Michael Oldacre submitted his resignation Aug. 1, nine days before the new school session is...
Wallace State Community College celebrates Winston County Works project with Gov. Bentley in attendance
Photo: Gov. Robert Bentley practices with the Wallace State virtual welding machine during the Winston County Works Open House.
HANCEVILLE – Celebrating a project that will provide workforce training to approximately 250 students over the...
Cullman County awarded $30,984 for emergency food and shelter
CULLMAN - Congress has appropriated $120 million to supplement and expand the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP). Each jurisdiction’s award is based on the jurisdiction’s total number of unemployed as compared to the...
Rock and Glow 5K takes over Sportsman Lake Park
CULLMAN – Hundreds of runners gathered at Sportsman Lake Park Saturday night to participate in the third annual Rock and Glow 5K.
The event is not an intense running competition. Rather, it is an opportunity...
2016 Carmike Cinemas Summer Kid Series wraps up
Overall it’s been a good summer and a pretty good year all around.”
Harold Barnard
CULLMAN - The 2016 Carmike Cinemas Summer Kid Series came to an end this week. The 10-week series offered a little...
Historical Profile: Mr. George Hoenig – 1845 ~ 1931
Photo: George Hoenig on the right with his son-in-law, Bob Mize, on the left.
CULLMAN - George Hoenig was born in Grossumstadt, Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany (although he would later say he was born in Milwaukee,...
Files from Yesteryear: 1905, 1930, 1935, 1955
From the Files of 1905
There was not more than a third of a crop of strawberries this year.
The little son of Mr. and Mrs. A.F. Stinson was climbing a tree, caught a live telephone...
Special night of singing and worship for Hanceville teen
This is such a huge blessing and it couldn't have come at a better time; we are down to one car again and we have decided to get Lexie a better wheelchair.”
Amanda Kilgo
CULLMAN -...
SEC ready and roaring for the 2016 season
CULLMAN - Three more Saturdays. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how close we are to the start of the 2016 college football season. With pigskin play just around the corner, let’s take a look...
Shedd makes surprise presentation at Fairview band event
Photo: Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview, presents Nathan Kilgo, band director and Jonathan Watwood, band booster president with a $2,000 check from the State of Alabama for new uniforms.
All of us parents were in tears...
Varsity scrimmage part of Aggie Media Day; update on Dafford Smith Stadium
FAIRVIEW - Saturday was like a family reunion for the Fairview football program. The Aggies conducted their media day on the practice field with the youth program, middle school and varsity all involved in...
Culpepper special guest at Cullman County Republicans breakfast
CULLMAN – On Saturday morning the Cullman County Republicans held a breakfast event at the Elks Lodge in Cullman.
The breakfast started at 7:30 a.m. and Cullman City Police Chief Kenny Culpepper, the event’s guest...
Pancakes, pencils and prayers
Photo: Little Eva Alvarado will be able to start kindergarten with plenty of school supplies thanks to the Pancakes, Pencils and Prayers event at Good Hope Baptist Church Saturday morning.
This event today has been...
Colony provides school supplies for 28 children
COLONY – Colony concluded its annual summer program with a back-to-school event.
The event capped off a summer program that gave 28 registered students all the supplies they will need for the new school year.
“I...
Gaylon Ponder speaks at Colony Educational Complex
COLONY – On Friday afternoon at the Educational Complex in Colony, Gaylon Ponder, owner and president of Words+, gave a presentation on his company and the abilities the software and hardware Words+ sells is...
Kids and families enjoy a night out in Hanceville
HANCEVILLE - Despite the thunderstorms earlier in the afternoon, hundreds of families ventured out to C.W. Day Park in Hanceville for the town’s annual Kids’ Night Out event on Friday evening.
Attendance was lower due...
Thank you, Deputy Nunn
Last week, my husband and I were going south on Interstate 65 when we hit a piece of steel in the road. One tire blew right away. Because of it being a steel tire,...
Park-like setting on Smith Lake
SMITH LAKE - Ah! Summertime and the livin’ is easy, well, technically we’d probably all like to live that way, but for some, lazy days are few and far between, even on the lake....
Patient Care Specialist graduate finds rewarding job in healthcare field
HANCEVILLE - A recent graduate of the Patient Care Specialist (PCS) program at Wallace State Community College is pleased with the training she received and how quickly she was able to find a job...
Pads popping at Cullman’s first day in full gear
CULLMAN - With the football season beginning in two weeks, the Cullman Bearcats waited for the moment Friday evening to get into full gear, with pads popping with plenty of intensity.
It was the first...
Saturday Event Guide- August 6
Inside Yard Sale- Starts at 6 a.m.
Friday and Saturday, Aug. 5-6, 2016! Lots of stuff for sale including jewelry (most of it new, from $.50 to $10), household items, odds 'n ends furniture, pool...
Elderly dog, Joco the Rock, rescued from sewer
Photo: Joco and Dr. Susie Dickerson enjoying the sunshine this afternoon.
CULLMAN - Joco has been on quite the adventure this week. Lesley Hyde’s 15-year-old black Labrador retriever went missing on Aug. 2 before daybreak....
Annual Military Order of the Purple Heart memorial service this Saturday
HARTSELLE - Each August, Chapter 2212, the Finis J. Self Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, sponsors a memorial service to honor the fallen warriors of Cullman and Morgan Counties. Those...
UPDATE: Road rage incident earlier this week began in Hartselle
CULLMAN - According to Cullman City Police Officer Joey Duncan, the road rage incident that occurred on Wednesday, Aug. 3 at the intersection of Highways 157 and 31 was the culmination of an argument...
Governor Bentley approves emergency funding for Zika response
MONTGOMERY – Gov. Robert Bentley on Friday announced that he has approved the use of emergency funds to support the state’s efforts against the Zika Virus.
Bentley approved the use of emergency funds up to...
REHAU announces $5 million expansion, 50 new jobs
CULLMAN –REHAU Construction, LLC, known locally as PEX pipe division, along with the Cullman Economic Development Agency, this morning announced plans for a $5 million, 5-year expansion of its Cullman facility. This expansion will...
4 fun Friday events
Inside Yard Sale
Friday and Saturday, Aug. 5-6, 2016! Lots of stuff for sale including jewelry (most of it new, from $.50 to $10), household items, odds 'n ends furniture, pool table, a 2002 Buick...
Do you know Gaylon Ponder? You should.
COLD SPRINGS - Gaylon Ponder is the owner of Words+, a company that makes the products used by legendary theoretical physicist and cosmologist Stephen Hawking and others with similar disabilities.
Ponder runs the industry-leading company...
Phase 2 repairs underway on Hwy. 278 W at New Bridge
CULLMAN - Phase two of the repair work on U.S. Highway 278 West at New Bridge/Kugler Creek is now underway, according to the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT).
“Wiregrass Construction has begun work on the...
Logan’s Roadhouse, Inc. said to be filing bankruptcy
CULLMAN - According to multiple media reports, Logan’s Roadhouse Inc. is preparing to file for bankruptcy. It is unclear at this time if the restaurant's Cullman location will remain open if the bankruptcy is...
3rd annual Cullman’s BIG Latch On this Saturday
The Global BIG Latch On is an organization whose goal is to normalize breastfeeding.”
Ashlee Wright
CULLMAN – This Saturday, Aug. 6, the third annual Cullman’s BIG Latch On will take place at Sportsman Lake Park...
Family history classes available at Wallace State
HANCEVILLE - Classes on researching your ancestry through genealogy and local history will be offered through the Wallace State Continuing Education program this fall. The classes will be taught in the college’s library on...
Hanceville’s new coach putting the Bulldogs to work
HANCEVILLE - Craig Flanigan didn't have any time to waste after he was hired on July 19 to be the new football coach for Hanceville High School.
Flanigan had to organize a coaching staff, and...
News from the Pond: Mrs. Ruth Smith celebrates her 100th birthday
Photo: 1-year-old Maddie Claire Shedd, her grandpa Rep. Randall Shedd and Mrs. Ruth Smith
An excerpt from this week's installment of News from the Pond, by Jimmie Dean Carnell:
A very exciting time was held on...
Road rage leads to minor incident at Highways 31 and 157
CULLMAN – Within the last hour a dual incident occurred at the intersection of Highways 31 and 157. The first incident was minor and the two parties chose not to report it and handled...
Cullman High announces hiring of James Johnson as assistant principal
CULLMAN - In a special called meeting of the Cullman City Board of Education Wednesday morning, the position of assistant principal at Cullman High School was filled.
New principal Kim Hall announced the hiring of...
Vinemont Eagles on the hunt come Aug. 18
VINEMONT - It has been a learning process for Matt Norris during his time with the Vinemont Eagles. In 2014, Norris was the defensive coordinator and the Eagles made a late season surge that...
Obituary: Armon F. Thompson
Funeral services for Armon F. Thompson, age 79 of Cullman, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 6, 2016 at Faith Baptist Church with Tim Aris, Jim McNees, Garry Waddell and Jared Folks officiating....
Obituary: Rodney Robertson
Rodney Robertson, age 47, of Cullman passed away at his home Sunday evening, July 31, 2016. He was born in Blount County to Clifton "Bud" and Betty Bradford Robertson.
Rodney is predeceased by his parents.
Survivors...
Obituary: Elizabeth Inez Holmes
Funeral services for Elizabeth Inez Holmes, 94, of Cullman will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, August 4, 2016 at Cullman Funeral Home Chapel, Rev. Jimmy Drinkard officiating, with interment in Cullman Heritage Cemetery.
Arrangements by...
Obituary: Elizabeth Inez Holmes
Funeral services for Elizabeth Inez Holmes, 94, of Cullman will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, August 4, 2016 at Cullman Funeral Home Chapel, Rev. Jimmy Drinkard officiating, with interment in Cullman Heritage Cemetery.
Arrangements by...
Zika virus confirmed in Cullman County- Cullman Regional prepared
CULLMAN - After one confirmed case of the Zika virus in Cullman County, Cullman Regional wants area residents to know the hospital is prepared.
In the event that a patient presents with possible signs and...
Wallace State anglers Ryan Shields, Chayse Freeman finish 17th at Carhartt Bassmaster College Series...
Photo: Chayse Freeman, left, and Ryan Shields
HANCEVILLE – Wallace State anglers Ryan Shields and Chayse Freeman finished 17th among 82 teams at the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship in Campbellsville, Kentucky over the...
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PREP SOCCER: Warriors, Lady Warriors down New Hope at home
WEST POINT, Ala. – Both the Warriors and Lady Warriors were back home to host a pair of varsity matchups against New Hope Thursday...
