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Battleground’s Daniel White’s melons break records…again
Daniel White, of Battleground, poses with "Don," his 288-lb., state-record-setting watermelon. (Photo courtesy of Daniel White)
Battleground resident Daniel White’s melons are breaking records- again....
Battleground’s Daniel White’s melons break records…again
Daniel White, of Battleground, poses with "Don," his 288-lb., state-record-setting watermelon. (Photo courtesy of Daniel White)
Battleground resident Daniel White’s melons are breaking records- again....
This Father’s Day bittersweet for Senator-Elect Garlan Gudger
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...
‘Material Girl’: Pilot Club Fashion Show & Luncheon April 25
The grand prizes that will be given away at this year's Pilot Club Fashion Show & Luncheon (Peggy Harris)
CULLMAN - Need some inspiration for...
A first-hand account of tumultuous times, part 2
Ms. Pearl Jackson Green / contributed
Read Part 1 here.
Ms. Pearl Jackson Green wears many hats. No pun intended, but the lady has a hat...
A first-hand account of tumultuous times, part 1
Ms. Pearl Jackson Green, second from left, with some of her Delta Sigma Theta sisters in January 2018 / Courtesy of Ms. Pearl Jackson...
Give your home the farmhouse look
Signs, both vintage and reproductions, are a hallmark of the farmhouse look. / Loretta Gillespie
Gone are the days of country blue kitchen cabinets or...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: whatnots
I’ve been constantly reminded of my grandparents’ house this morning. First, I got up way before daylight, about 4:15 a.m., which they always did,...
‘Food talks to me’: Former presidential chef/valet, north AL native Quincy Jackson reflects on...
Mount Hope, Alabama native Quincy Jackson was in charge of the White House staff kitchen during the terms of three U.S. presidents- Bill Clinton,...
Bonsai for beginners: Dr. Bob Wendorf to teach class Jan. 18
CULLMAN - Maybe you really should put more thought into the gifts you give. You never can tell when a gift will turn into...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: glitter in the cornbread
Since when did everything switch from rushed to warp speed? Christmas and other holidays are always a hectic time, but this is just ridiculous!
Even...
Foxgloves and Fireflies: the moral of the Thanksgiving story
You know it’s going to be a bad day when you get up and start preparing your Thanksgiving dinner at daylight and you pour...
‘The Exchange’: participant reflects on Boston experience
Kacey Hall, Loretta Gillespie, Kristi Robertson and Proncey Robertson, make up the team of people who traveled to Boston as part of a cultural...
TRIBUNE COLUMN: The importance of honoring all veterans
Vietnam veteran Jim Alderman reacts during a therapy session for combat-related stress at the Bay Pines Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Bay Pines, Fla....
Local hero: Logan’s Eric Gilbreath rescues lost Alabama toddler
The photo Eric Gilbreath took of himself and 3-year-old Serenity Dawn Sanders after he found the missing toddler in the woods early Friday morning...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: Decorating for fall, y’all!
Candles always give a space a warmth and coziness; use your plaid throws to enhance the feeling and to prolong your time spent on...
Farm-City group tours Birmingham
CULLMAN - What do you get when you load up a bus with approximately 50 gardeners, farmers and others who enjoy growing things and...
Plant It: Georgia Peach Heuchera, or ‘Coral Bells’
Georgia Peach Heuchera, or ‘Coral Bells’ perform well in Southern humidity. / Loretta Gillespie
This charming little plant will soon become part of a heuchera...
County fair still something special
The Cullman County Fair started the year that I was born. At the time, people were getting back a sense of normalcy after the...
An afternoon with author Delos Hughes
Author, Dr. Delos Hughes, right, speaks to a guest at Sunday’s book signing and discussion event at the Cullman County Museum. / Drew Green
CULLMAN...
Plant It: Lilacs
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...
Sharing the benefits of yoga: Sept. is National Yoga Month
CULLMAN - September is National Yoga Month and Cullman yoga practitioners are gearing up for an awareness campaign emphasizing the national observance to educate...
North Alabama couple waits for news from Houston
David and Glenda Young await news from Houston, where their son, Davey and his wife Lindsay, live and work among the chaos of Hurricane...
Plant It: preserving hydrangeas
Dried hydrangeas make beautiful centerpieces. / Loretta Gillespie
If you want to preserve your hydrangeas you must bite the bullet and cut them now, while...
Local Pilot Club members attend Vegas convention; Cullman’s Wilkerson named district governor
2017-2018 Alabama Pilot Club District Officers: left-right, Beverly Wilkerson, governor (Cullman); Mellissa King, governor-elect (Andalusia); Kay Chandler, treasurer (Decatur); and Peggy Day, secretary (Cullman)...
Plant It: Buckeye bush
Buckeye bush / Loretta Gillespie
I knew that buckeye bushes grew in Alabama, and that they had beautiful red flowers, but I never would have...
Plant it: Show-stopping Clematis
Grown in fertile soil, with medium moisture, and well-drained containers, in full sun to part shade, these vining plants are showstoppers. Best suited for...
Composting creates healthy soil
Worms are a sure sign of healthy soil. / Courtesy of wjpa.net
Composting creates richer, looser and more organic soil, is easier to work with...
Cullman Rotary hosts Earl Smith, veteran who helped divert nuclear disaster in 1961
Earl Smith, formally an explosives expert with the USAF, spoke to the Cullman Rotary last week. / Loretta Gillespie
Airman 1st Class, Earl T. ‘Buster’...
Plant It: The care and feeding of roses
Knock Out roses / Alabama Cooperative Extension
Caring for rose bushes doesn’t have to be intimidating, no matter what you’ve heard.
First off, choose good stock;...
Southern gospel tradition: Joyful Hearts 25th anniversary homecoming Aug. 5
Southern gospel group Joyful Hearts will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a homecoming gospel singing on Saturday, August 5 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.
CULLMAN...
Plant it: Orange Lucifer
These exuberant flowers are a brilliant, vibrant orange, even more deeply colored at the edges. They begin to flower about a week later than...
Plant it: Black-eyed Susan vine
Black-eyed Susan blooms are typically warm orange or lemon yellow, and sometimes a darker, more mustard-colored bloom with a characteristic dark spot in the...
Cullman, through a visitor’s eyes
This week, Linda Alexander visited the Cullman County Museum for the first time. She was intrigued by the vast wealth of information to be...
Plant it: blue chalk sticks
This plant is a real eye-catcher. With blue plants a rarity in nature’s green-on-green palette, the blues and burgundies are always superstars.
This is especially...
Alabama Bicentennial workshop July 10
Image: Alabama 200
CULLMAN - You might want to keep that red, white and blue bunting up this year, after all, this year through the...
Yummy, cooling summer salads and dressings
Loretta’s Poppy Seed Dressing / Loretta Gillespie
In the hottest months of summer, especially in the South, we learned long ago to serve as much...
Recipes: scrumptious, easy dishes made with vegetables from the garden
Asparagus roll-ups / Loretta Gillespie
This time of year when everything is so fresh, garden dishes for your table are just the thing to bring...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: Broken hearts and ‘a little thought with eyes’
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...
Broken Arrow: Alabama native Earl Smith international star of Cold War documentary
Earl Smith, right, speaking with Thierry Ptlantanida, gave his first-hand account of the near-miss nuclear disaster that he helped to divert, in 1961, near...
Recipes and tips: Homemade ice cream
Vintage ice cream maker / Melinda Cox Hall on Pinterest
It’s that time of the year again. No, not taxes or tags or even graduation,...
Snakes you might encounter here
Edited 6-21-17
The Western Pygmy Rattlesnake is found in Alabama. / JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC PHOTO ARK/National Geographic Creative
CULLMAN - First, you may never see...
Foxgloves & fireflies: propagating mums
I just read an article about how people waste money. There were a lot of things in the article like bottled water, expensive clothes...
Cradle of love
Last week I went down to Landersville, a wide spot in the road between Moulton and Russellville. There isn’t even a caution light there...
Foxgloves & fireflies: Throwing a simple graduation party
Fruit kabobs are an easy dessert or snack for a simple graduation party. Image: Pinterest
There are graduation parties, and then, there are graduation parties....
30th annual Oakville Indian Mounds Park and Museum’s Multicultural Indian Event this weekend
Jim Sawgrass
DANVILLE - Just a short drive from Cullman you’ll find a vastly different culture celebrated each year at the Oakville Indian Mounds Park...
Rain? No problem! Dinner on First goes off without a hitch
Danny McAfee, left, shares a laugh with Dyron's Lowcountry Chef Randall Baldwin, right. Dyron Powell, owner of Dyron's Lowcountry, is shown in the background...
Mother’s Day Profile: Mrs. Gracie Grissom
Mom's 100th birthday celebration with family last November
It isn’t every day that you celebrate a century milestone. Most of us have never known anyone...
Foxgloves & fireflies: About to be the mother
Her first Mother’s Day…
As I write this, my daughter is in a holding pattern, waiting for that first little twinge that is like nothing...
Richter’s celebrates 70th anniversary
Old family photos can be found throughout the Richter’s store.
CULLMAN - In 1947, the first O.F. Richter & Sons opened for business in Cullman....
Ms. Senior Cullman County pageant Saturday at Wallace State
CULLMAN - Six local beauties will vie for the coveted title of 2017 Ms. Senior Cullman County tomorrow. The popular pageant is set for...
Final April Walking Tour: Ben South’s Cullman Classic Cakewalk
CULLMAN - The last of this year’s free April Walking Tours will be tomorrow, Saturday, April 29, and it’s going to be sweet. Literally.
This...
Rave reviews for 2017 State of Our Communities event
Hanceville Mayor Kenneth Nail with Cullman City Councilwoman Jenny Folsom
CULLMAN - “The people were so warm and inviting,” said Colony Mayor Donnis Leeth. “Chamber...
Morning music: “Rock the Boat”
When I worked at Saturn on an assembly line for 10 hours a day, we used to play games that we made up to...
Container gardening
Containers flank the sides of this gazebo. Planted with prolific "Marguerite' sweet potato vine and hot pink and white impatiens, they add height as...
Morning music: “Glory, Glory, When I Lay My Burden Down”
At first you might think you are listening to another version of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" and it is very similar, but "Glory,...
Morning music: “Roll with It”
This song literally helped us make it through the night...the first time I ever heard it was about middle way through the 90s. I...
Morning music: “You Make My Dreams Come True”
Good morning, Cullman! If this song doesn't make you feel good, you should make an appointment with your doctor because something is wrong! It's...
Gearing up for Bloomin’ Fest 2017
Talmadge Butler
CULLMAN - This year’s Bloomin’ Fest Arts and Crafts Fair at St. Bernard Prep School in Cullman is just in time for all...
Cullman Regional Foundation Gala set for April 29; tickets now available
2016 Gala attendees, from left, Shirley and Tim Quattlebaum take a moment to pause with Judy and Keith Wise at the annual Cullman Regional...
Want to learn about aquaponics?
One of the hottest topics in agriculture right now is aquaponics. Aquaponics is a form of farming that integrates aquaculture and hydroponics (growing plants...
Cullman Walking Tours begin this weekend
Tours meet at the museum steps at 10 a.m. each Saturday in April.
CULLMAN - Get ready to start walking and talking, Cullman!
Annual, statewide walking...
Morning music: “I Feel for You”
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...
Morning music: “River of Dreams”
Hey Morning Music fans! We are back and ready to rock and roll you on your way to work this morning!
Today's song is one...
Morning music: “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”
Happy first day of spring, y'all! Here's "Can't Stop the Feeling!" by Justin Timberlake.
I knew there was something extra special about Justin Timberlake when...
City schools recognize distinguished alumni, teachers of the year
Image shows Cullman Middle School Teacher of the Year Brent Hill, center. Photos by Jay Betts
CULLMAN - Cullman High has ample reason to be...
Morning music: “Macarena”
"Macarena"
This song had the longest climb ever to no. 1 in the history of the charts, but it was worth it. “Macarena” held that...
Morning music: “Put Your Records On”
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...
Morning music: “Here Comes the Sun”
I was in the ninth grade when this song hit the airwaves, It was such a happy song that you'd have a hard time...
Morning music: “Oh Happy Day”
"Oh Happy Day" is a spiritual song that will move you for many reasons...the beat is astounding, the heart and soul of the song...
Happy birthday to Candi Staton, Colony’s international star
COLONY - Canzetta Maria "Candi" Staton was born March 13, 1940 in Colony, Alabama and is an multiple award winning American soul and gospel...
Morning music: “Young Hearts Run Free” by Cullman County’s Candi Staton
We have a very special edition of Morning Music today! A native of Hanceville/ Colony, Candi Staton is a hometown girl who made good,...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: A little thought with eyes
I have a friend who was revived after being coded, and later on her sister, who is a nurse, looked up the hospital records to...
Morning music: “Happy”
"Happy" is a song written, produced, and performed by American singer and record producer Pharrell Williams, from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack album. It...
Morning music: “I Will Survive”
Ready for the number one dance song ever?
Lauded as the no.1 song of the 100 Greatest Dance Songs in 2000, "I Will Survive"...
Morning Music: “Don’t Leave Me This Way”
This song was one of the biggest hits of the disco era. With a driving, rhythmic beat that will have you longing for those...
Morning music: “Everybody Plays the Fool”
Morning listeners! This morning's selection also has a trivia question...Anyone know whose father was the lead singer of this 1973 hit song by the...
Morning music: “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”
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...
Director Doug Davenport talks county parks
Why did the duck cross the railroad tracks? To get to the lake, of course. Sportsman Lake, that is.
CULLMAN - For Cullman County Parks...
Part 5: There but for fortune: a mother’s story
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...
Morning music: “I Can See Clearly Now”
Good morning! What more perfect song for today than this 1972 chart buster by the guy who discovered Bob Marley! Open your sunroof, put...
Morning music: “Good Morning”
Good morning ! We got ‘cha rolling this morning with Mandisa’s “Good Morning” requested by reader Becky Lee. Thanks for listening and spreading the...
Morning music: “If You’re Ready, Come Go with Me”
This is the fourth installment of a new weekday morning post called "Morning music." From The Tribune's Loretta Gillespie: "We are about to make...
Part 4: There but for fortune: a mother’s story
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...
Morning music: “You Make Me Feel Like Dancin’”
This is the third installment of a new weekday morning post called "Morning music." From The Tribune's Loretta Gillespie: "We are about to make...
Morning music: “Heaven”
This is the second installment of a new weekday morning post called "Morning music." From The Tribune's Loretta Gillespie: "We are about to make...
Morning music: “Love Train”
As Thursdays, yesterday was one of the best. Mainly, I think, because before daylight yesterday I heard “Love Train” on the soundtrack of a...
FFA Week with Ethan Lake
Freshmen FFA group after receiving their green hand degrees
WEST POINT - At the ripe old age of 27, Ethan Lake has come full circle,...
Part 3: There but for fortune: a mother’s story
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...
Bicentennial kickoff set for March 3
CULLMAN - Plans for the upcoming Alabama 200, three-year bicentennial celebration are taking shape.
The statewide kickoff for the event is March 3, 2017, when...
Part 2: There but for fortune: a mother’s story
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...
Foxgloves & Fireflies: life in the South
I was asked recently what I love about life in a small town. It caught me off guard, but after thinking about it, I...
“Historic Alabama Courthouses: A Century of Their Images and Stories” by Delos Hughes
ALABAMA - Professor of politics (emeritus) at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, Delos Hughes has gathered a wonderful pictorial collection of courthouses...
Bonkers for bees!
CULLMAN - Ever play in a bed of clover when you were a child? If not, that might have been because the little blooms...
A tribute to my friend, Tom Drake
Tom Drake and his best buddy, Miss Minnie
Did you ever wonder if people dance in Heaven? What about pets, do you ever wonder if...
Part 1: There but for fortune: a mother’s story
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...
Leldon Maxcy: Making wood look good since 1997
For the Southern Makers debut, Leldon Maxcy designed and built a 12-foot-tall replica of the state of Alabama, with each of the 67 counties...
Remembering Tom Drake: Dec. 5, 1930 – Feb. 2, 2017
Updated to add service information:
Visitation will be Sunday, Feb. 5 from 1-3 p.m. at Vinemont Baptist Church.
Funeral Services will be on Sunday, Feb. 5...
“Hey, grandpa, what’s this gizmo?”
This milk can was mistaken for a propane tank by a 25-year-old who had never seen or heard of a milk can.
CULLMAN - Ever...
Missoula Children’s Theatre presents “Treasure Island” today at the civic center
The cast of “Treasure Island” rehearsing for Saturday’s performances
CULLMAN - If you’d like to expose your children to the performing arts, perhaps to give...
