Alabama Football Fans! ::

Photographed a couple of years ago in Gurley, Alabama.

Yard Sale Heaven ::

I was just up in Grant visiting my vet to pick up some pills for my dog and today is yard sale day up there with sales all over the mountain. I should've taken a photograph, but I didn't. If you love yard sales you should head up there! It's also a pretty drive!

Another Ernest Nunley Update ::

I got this just a few minutes ago in comments:

Ernest Nunley is back on the road and made it through Spicewood Texas today on Hwy 71 west headed toward Llano. His one horse wagon has been set up now for two horses to pull it. Pulling his wagon are Shorty and Big John, and of course he still has Snowey. Today is Saturday Sept 18th, 2010.

I didn't know that Ernest was using a wagon now, but that must be easier than just riding Snowey.

Here's a photo of Ernest riding Snowey from when he passed through here a couple of years ago:

Governer's Race Debate ::

I forgot about this debate and came into it about halfway through. From what I can see so far Sparks is winning and is highlighting more positive programs than Bentley.

[update] Unfortunately Sparks seems to have bypassed the grammer classes in school, or at least he didn't learn anything. One thing that really turns me off is bad grammer!

[update] Bentley doesn't believe that the tax code in Alabama is unfair to lower income Alabama residents? WTF!

[update] Yep, Sparks is kicking Bentley's butt on health care.

[update] Closing statements and Sparks was very forceful, but I wonder just how the few who watched this feel about the outcome of the debate. I'll also be interested in seeing how the newspapers write this up tomorrow.

I will head over to the local Democratic Headquarters this weekend and pick up a Sparks for Governor sign!

The Owens Crossroads Volunteer Fire Dept. ::

The great news is that the Owens Crossroads volunteer fire department won the fire engine that was being given away by E-One, a manufacturer and marketer of emergency vehicles.



Here is the complete article about the winning fire department:

CHICAGO, Ill. -- An Alabama chief still struggles to find the words to describe what winning a new fire truck will mean to his community.

"Unbelievable, unreal -- I just can't think of all the adjectives I want to use," a jubilant Owens Cross Roads Fire Chief Dan Kelly said Monday.

Kelly said he and his firefighters are still awestruck that they were the winners of an E-ONE Tradition ES commercial pumper. The announcement was made Friday afternoon at FRI 2010 in Chicago.

The engine replaces a 1968 truck that recently failed a pump test, he explained.

The story about the rural department -- one of several hundred received by E-ONE --included a very personal tidbit along with the need for the replacement engine.

Members wrote about the dedication and devotion of a founding member, the late Robert Murray Maples, who spent a lot of his own money to keep their old engine in service for many years.

"I think we told a very touching, heart-felt story about our assistant chief of 51 years," Kelly said.

When the department was notified in April that it was one of the seven finalists, members were stunned. "I thought it was a joke at first," Kelly said. "I just couldn't believe it."

Knowing they were up against some really tough competition from other needy departments, Kelly said he brainstormed with members about how to get people to vote for them. Their efforts, that included contacting organizations across the country, paid off.

People voted for their favorite department online, and Kelly said his crew is grateful for those who chose their story.

"This is a once in a lifetime experience for our small department," he said. "We can't thank everyone enough."

While the engine was lettered as they watched, Kelly said he was so excited he didn't mention that they got the name of his department wrong. "They've promised to fix it, and add an 'S' to road," he said with a laugh. "I was just so blown away..."

Kelly said he still doesn't know when it will actually be rolling into their little town of 3,400.

E-ONE officials also haven't told them when the firefighters will get training on their new engine that comes with five-inch hose and tools.

Whenever the training is set, Kelly said he and his crew will be ready.

"The friendships I made with the folks from other departments was something else. We were close, and everybody was rooting for everybody. It was just incredible."

Late Monday afternoon, the chief still sounded like a child on Christmas morning. "I'd again just like to thank everybody involved twice or three times again. We still can't believe we're getting a new truck here."

E-ONE CEO Peter Guile said in a prepared statement, "We were again moved by the compelling nature of the stories and the immense need for equipment and apparatus in the fire service. We are very proud to be able to offer another deserving department a new fire truck and would like to thank all those who entered."

My congratulations to the Owens Crossroads fire department and to the entire community which made this possible.

I hope to have some photographs of the new fire truck after it is delivered!

Madison Co. Democratic Headquarters Grand Opening ::

Here's an update on this morning's under publicized event as published in the "Today's Events" section of The Huntsville Times:

Grand opening of Madison County Democratic Headquarters, music, food, speeches and meet and greet candiates, Old Huntsville Times building, 216 Holmes Ave., 10am., ddermody@prodigy.net

It looks like I'm going to be in town at some time during that time period and I hope to have the chance to stop by. Hope to see you there!




Note that this is a cross post and the event is this morning, Sat., September 11 at the address above.