Free Home Buyers Relocation Packet for Gadsden, AL

Alabama

	Gadsden	Alabama	United States
Population	38,978	4,447,100	281,421,906
Median age	39	35.8	35.3
Median age for Male	35.5	34.4	34
Median age for Female	42	37.2	36.5
Households	16,456	1,737,080	105,480,101
Household population	37,548	4,332,380	273,643,273
Average household size	2.28	2.49	2.59
Families	10,253	1,215,968	71,787,347
Average family size	2.91	3.01	3.14
Housing units	18,797	1,963,711	115,904,641
Occupied units	16,456	1,737,080	105,480,101
Vacant units	2,341	226,631	10,424,540

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Check out what's happening in the NewQuestCity Forums for Alabama .

Fugitive Bank Robber Arrested in Huntsville
03/26/2012

HUNTSVILLE, AL - A fugitive from Florida is in the Madison County Jail.

Danny Madison was arrested Saturday night at a Huntsville hotel.

He was wanted on bank robbery charges in Florida and Tennessee.

Investigators say he held up a bank in Tampa on March 13th, then robbed two banks in Nashville.

Madison had just been released from federal prison after serving ten years for bank robbery.

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The Tech Guy: Apps and Smartphone Rules
03/26/2012

NASHVILLE, TN - Everybody loves free apps, but there is a price to pay. Free apps drain your battery faster than paid apps. According to a study from Purdue University, advertisements inside free apps use 75% more power than the game or app itself.

The study used the free version of Angry Birds. The game uses 18% of the power, but advertisements use 60% of the power. So, if making your battery last longer through the day, the $.99 version may be worth the money.

There may be a good reason flight attendants told Alec Baldwin to put away the Words with Friends game he was playing on a flight. Or is there? The FAA is looking into whether mobile devices really do interfere with an airplane’s navigation and operational system. As it stands now, each airline has to test individual gadgets like iPads, smartphones and Kindles before relaxing the rules on individual devices. So, it’s been easier for them to just ban them all during takeoffs and landings.

Now you can take a trip down the Amazon without hopping on a plane. Google Street View has added the Amazon to its growing list of places it covers. The Amazon street view gives 360 degree photos down the river and on the trails. It took 50,000 photos to cover the Amazon.

Are you tired of hearing your phone ring when everything is quiet around you? Like in a movie theater or church? Even if you forget, there is an Android phone app that turns itself down. Ring Dimmer is a $.99 app that controls the ringer based on the sounds around you. If it’s nice and quiet, ring dimmer rings softly. At a ballgame or loud party, the ringer turns itself up. So, no excuses for annoying rings in your next business meeting.

Keeping you plugged in, I’m Jamey Tucker.

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WAAY 31 Sports, Focus on Faith Big Winners at AP, ABBY Awards
03/26/2012

BIRMINGHAM, Ala (WAAY) - WAAY 31 won several key awards at the 2012 Alabama Associated Press and Alabama Broadcaster's Association Awards ceremony in Birmingham Saturday night.

Melissa Riopka won two AP Awards for her "Focus on Faith" segment. she was named  Best Specialized Reporter, and her special reports "Finding Hope in Haiti" won the Best Series Award.

WAAY 31's Rachel Keith was named the top photojournalist in the state, winning the prestigious Stan Tarilton Best Photographer Award from the AP.

WAAY 31 was also given the AP's Cooperation Award, for contributions to the group throughout the year.

WAAY 31 Sports was recognized with two major awards. 

Friday Night Football was named Best Sports Program in the state. The award honors the hard work of more than a dozen people in front of, and behind the camera to bring you the best high school football coverage possible. Named this year were : Anchors Ronnie Duncan and Kyle Burger, Producers Mike Brown and Josh Voight, Photographers and Reporters Brian Barnett, Barry Hiett, Erika Odell, Lillian Askins, Rachel Keith and Scott Michael, Director Stan Williams, Graphics Designer Brian Holcomb, Intern Tucker Sargent and Editors Eric Eisgrau and Chondi Gray.

Ronnie "Slam" Duncan walked away with the biggest award in his field, winning the ABA 2011 Sportscaster of the Year Award.

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UPDATE: 14 Year Old Florence Girl Stabbed To Death
03/26/2012

17 year old Autumn Wood is charged with murder after Florence police said that she stabbed 14 year old Brooklyn Hollins to death.

Police said that it happened around 3 a.m. Saturday morning at home on Winona Street in Florence.  Officials said that parents were gone and a group of around 20 students were having a party when a fight broke out between four girls including the victim and suspect. Police said things ended in the kitchen where Woods allegedly grabbed a knife and stabbed Hollins in the chest.  She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Wood was not at the scene when police arrived, but turned herself in not long after. She will be tried as an adult.

Police are still investigating what instigated the fight.

Michelle Swinney said that this hit too close to home for her.  She said that she can't imagine losing her daughter who was a good friend of Hollins.

"I know I can't keep her in the house all the time, but this is just one of the times she wanted to get out and I wouldn't let her," said Swinney.  "Now, I'm grateful this morning and thanking God that I kept her home."

Swinney said that she visited Hollins' family and they are coping the best they can.

"It's just hard.  It just hasn't sunk in yet," said Swinney.  "Brooklyn's mom is pretty torn up.  I mean, she's holding up the best she can under the circumstances."

Swinney said that it's a shame how so many people are affected now by this senseless act.

"With these kids these days, not only do you have to kind of stay closer to them as parents, but you have to know their whereabouts at all times," said Swinney.  "I mean just a simple going out can turn tragic just as this."

A skate memorial is being organized at the Florence Skate Center from 5:30-8 p.m. on April 12th.

We're told that both Wood and Hollins were currently being home schooled.

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Tuscumbia Police Investigate Learning Center Break-in
03/19/2012

Tuscumbia Police are investigating a recent break in to the Lighthouse Learning Center located on Woodmont Drive in Tuscumbia.

Police said that someone broke in to the school through the back window on Wednesday night.  Tuscumbia Police Department received a call about it on Thursday morning.

This is the third time in six months that this has happened.  Thankfully, this time nothing was stolen.

Investigators said that whoever broke in on Wednesday night, cut their hand on the glass and left a bloody handprint.  That has been sent to forensics for testing.

If anyone has any additional information, call Tuscumbia Police at (256) 383-3121.

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Bentley Orders 10.6% Budget Cut
03/19/2012

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has ordered a 10.6% spending cut for state agencies.

Bentley issued the proration order Friday. He said the state General Fund budget has been impacted by several factors, including the cost of tornado recovery and reduced earnings from state investments.

State Personnel Director Jackie Graham said she's already been contacted by several departments about the procedures for layoffs.

State Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan notified his employees Friday that their salaries could be cut up to 7.5 percent because of the budget reduction.

Graham said the Agriculture Department is the only department that has sought approval for pay cuts instead of layoffs.

The budget cuts do not affect the state education budget.

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Bobcat Band Gives Thanks to the Community Through Concert
03/19/2012

The Phil Campbell High School Band is getting ready to perform its first concert since the April 27 tornado destroyed their band room and instruments last year.

They are planning to "Give Thanks" to the Shoals community on Saturday night for supporting and helping them rebuild their program during such a devastating time.  

During the past 11 months, the program has received more than $100,000 in grants and donations from people and organizations around the world, and thanks to that, they now have new uniforms and instruments.

"It's important for the community to see how resilient these children are, and in turn, the community of Phil Campbell.  These children represent the community of Phil Campbell," said event coordinator Melanie Orseske.  "Many of them lost homes, some lost family members, and this is something that brought them together and gave them hope and brought some normalcy to their lives."

Orseske said that more than 100 invitations were sent out, but the event is free and open to the public.

The concert starts at 5 p.m. on Saturday night in the Sears court area of Regency Square Mall in Florence.  

The concert is expected to last about an hour.

"This is one of those concerts that's going to make you smile," said Orseske.  "You're going to walk out of here feeling that this is a community that is back up on their feet and perhaps you are one of the ones who helped them."

For those who are unable to attend, the concert will be streaming live at www.ustream.tv/channel/phil-campbell-high-school-concert .

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Man Responsible for Kony Video in Custody
03/19/2012

PACIFIC BEACH, Calif. - Jason Russell, the 33 year old co-founder of "Invisible Children" and the driving force behind the "Kony 2012" campaign, has been detained by police in the San Diego area after an alleged lewd act Thursday night.

According to TMZ, Russell was allegedly drunk vandalizing cars and masturbating when approached by police. 

Friday, the group responded to the incident, releasing the following statement : 
"Jason Russell was unfortunately hospitalized yesterday suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, and malnutrition. He is now receiving medical care and is focused on getting better. The past two weeks have taken a severe emotional toll on all of us, Jason especially, and that toll manifested itself in an unfortunate incident yesterday. Jason's passion and his work have done so much to help so many, and we are devastated to see him dealing with this personal health issue. We will always love and support Jason, and we ask that you give his entire family privacy during this difficult time."

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George Clooney Arrested at Protest - UPDATED
03/19/2012

WASHINGTON (AP) - Actor George Clooney and his father have been arrested at a protest outside the Sudanese Embassy in Washington.

The protesters accuse Sudan's president, Omar al-Bashir, of provoking a humanitarian crisis and blocking food and aid from entering the Nuba Mountains in the county's border region with South Sudan.

Clooney and others, including Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Moran of Virginia and NAACP President Ben Jealous, were arrested after being warned three times not to cross a police line outside the embassy. They were handcuffed and placed into the back of a U.S. Secret Service van.

Clooney said earlier that he hopes to draw more attention to the issue and that if action is not taken in the next three to four months "we're going to have a real humanitarian disaster."

UPDATE - 3:30 p.m. - Clooney paid a $200 fine and was released from jail a couple of hours after the arrest. "Paid a fine." Clooney told reporters after being released. "There was a, it was fun.  We were all in, it looked like, we were all in a cell together.  It was nice."

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Clerk Shot During Gas Station Hold-Up
03/19/2012

DECATUR, Ala (WAAY) - Decatur Police are looking for two men who barged into a gas station Thursday night, demanding money. The duo jumped the counter and got into a scuffle with the clerk.

The clerk was shot in the arm during the fracas, and the robbers ran when he was able to get his own handgun and scare them off. Police say the clerk fired his weapon at the suspects as the fled, but they don't believe the men were hit. The clerk's injuries were on life threatening.

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Bama Loses to Creighton, Eliminated From NCAA Tourney
03/19/2012

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) - Doug McDermott scored 16 points and Creighton overcame an 11-point deficit in the second half to beat Alabama 58-57 Friday for its first NCAA tournament victory in 10 years.

Alabama had a chance to win during the frantic final seconds, but Josh Jones blocked Trevor Releford's 3-point attempt from the top of the key as time expired.

McDermott, the MVP of the Missouri Valley Conference and the nation's third-leading scorer at 23.2 points per game, was held scoreless for more than 14 minutes but then scored nine points in the game's final 14 minutes.

He grabbed a huge rebound with 33 seconds left after teammate Greg Echenique missed the front end of a one-and-one. McDermott was fouled immediately and converted one of two shots.

Alabama answered with an inside basket from Andrew Steele to cut the lead to 58-57 and Jones missed two free throws on the other end. But Alabama couldn't come up with the winner.

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Supreme Court Voids PACT Agreement
03/19/2012

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama Supreme Court has tossed out the settlement over Alabama's financially troubled Prepaid Affordable College Tuition plan.

The court's 6-1 decision Friday voids the settlement approved last year by a Montgomery judge at the request of the PACT board and many participants in the program.

An attorney representing parents who opposed the settlement, Wally Walker, called it a victory that will provide for full tuition rather than the partial tuition in the settlement.

But an attorney for parents who supported the settlement, Doyle Fuller, said he will ask the court to reconsider because PACT lacks the money to pay full tuition. He said that if the ruling stands, PACT will likely collapse unless it gets more money from the Legislature.

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Cullman to Commemorate April 27th with Concert
03/19/2012

CULLMAN, Ala (WAAY) - Cullman was hit hard during the April 27th tornado outbreak. An EF4 tornado tore through the city, destroying and badly damaging many local landmarks.

Two people were killed in the storm, and millions of dollars in damage was done. 

To commemorate the event, the city of Cullman has decided to celebrate on April 27th, rather than mourn. They've organized a new music festival they're calling the "Rock the South" festival.

Friday morning, officials announced the event will be held on Friday, April 27th at Heritage Park. 

The headliners of the event will be country stars Dierks Bentley and former American Idol Kellie Pickler.

More artists are expected to be added to the lineup in coming weeks.

Tickets for the show will cost $10 if purchased ahead of time. They'll be $15 at the gate the night of the show. City officials will release more information about ticket sales next week.

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Arraignment Set for Savannah Hardin Case
03/19/2012

GADSDEN, Ala. (AP) - An Etowah County judge has scheduled a hearing for the grandmother and stepmother facing murder charges in the death of a 9-year-old girl who was allegedly run to death.

Circuit Judge William B. Ogletree has set an arraignment hearing for Wednesday for 46-year-old Joyce Garrard. She's facing a possible death penalty in the death of her granddaughter, Savannah Hardin.

The girl's stepmother, 27-year-old Jessica Hardin, also is set to appear in court that day. Defense lawyer Morgan Cunningham says the judge scheduled the hearing to accept initial pleas from the women and consider any motions in their cases.

Defense lawyers say both women are innocent and expect to be vindicated in Savannah's death last month.

Prosecutors say the child collapsed and later died after being forced to fun as punishment.

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Did You Know : Streights Raid
03/19/2012

If you grew up in Alabama, you probably learned about Streights Raid sometime in elementary school. With the sesquicentennial upon us, the Cullman County Museum has put together an exhibit that brings to life those battles across north Alabama in the Spring of 1863.

"If you want to learn how NOT to conduct a cavalry raid, you look at Streights Raid. He mounted his men on mules, and he should have been on horses," said John Kelton, who designed the exhibit.

"They all brought mules. Unfortunately they made a mistake, because it rained a lot the roads were muddy, mules couldn't handle it, they were ornery, they wouldn't comply, they ran away," said Bob Sackheim of the Blue and Gray Museum of North Alabama.

Colonel Abel D. Streight led the mules and the Union Cavalry into north Alabama on a mission to disrupt Confederate supply lines. General Nathan Bedford Forrest made that a difficult task as the Southern Soldiers and their horses chased the Union Troops with running battles across the Tennessee Valley. 3 battles over a 24 hour period.

The exhibit features a short film and artifacts. It also tells you about the Alabamians who fought on both sides of these battles. That's right there were Alabamians who fought for the Union in Streights Raid.

"Some of them led Colonel Streight through north Alabama as his guides. The men that were in what is now Cullman County were divided on the issue of secession. Some joined the Confederate Army. Those that joined the Union Army were assigned to the 1st Alabama Cavalry U.S."

"Forrest used a ploy, saying in the interest of sustaining more casualties it's wise for you to surrender because we outnumber you 3 to 1. The truth is the Union Cavalry outnumbered the Confederates 3 to 1. Forrest bluffed him, and Streight and his guys surrendered."

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18 yr old in Run-off for School Board Seat
03/19/2012

Limestone County, AL-
There are two candidates running for Limestone County's District 6 Board of Education seat.
One has held the office for 5 years....and one just got the right to vote.

"I couldn't vote til this year. First time I voted, I voted for myself. I won't ever forget it no matter what happens," said 18-year-old Cory Elrod.

After Tuesday's votes were tallied, only 20 votes separated the two candidates.
Elrod came out on top with 383 over Anthony Hilliard's 363 votes.
Now they are headed into a run-off.

Though surprised, Hilliard has nice words to say about his opponent,
who was actually one of his daughter's classmates.

"He's a nice young man. I respect him and he's ambitious."

But, Hilliard goes on to say, that doesn't mean his opponent is qualified for the job.

"We are an advisory board. And I think my background in business management and education would help me to continue to do that, where as he would possibly be a little overwhelmed at first because he is 18 years old. He hasn't had life experiences or background to be involved in any of that," said Hilliard.

But Elrod disagrees.
He says the fact that he is young and fresh out of school will help him.

"We need some younger people on the board of education to help them keep up to date academically and socially with what's going on inside the classroom. Just because you have kids or grandkids in school itself it's not like being amongst the kids and their environment. I can help them that way," said Elrod.

The run-off is set for April 24th.

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Big Items on School Board Agenda
03/19/2012

  Huntsville, AL- The Huntsville School Board had two big items on the agenda Thursday evening. Money is always a hot button item and the board heard an update from the newly hired CFO Frank Spinelli.  The school system is currently attempting to dig its way out of debt and Spinelli says a few changes have made all the difference.
 
“Just like you balance your checkbook at home we are trying to balance the budget here at the district. We want to spend less than what we receive as revenue. In the past the district did spend more than it received.”
 
He says that they are making progress towards achieving a one month budget reserve which is mandated by the state.
 
Also discussed was the futures of 5 are principles. In years past school principles were able to obtain tenure just like teachers but now they are subject to review periodically. Thursday the contracts of Frederick Barnes of Lakewood Elementary, Christie Finley of Blossomwood Elementary, Patty Boyd of Morris Elementary, Dr. Deborah Hargett of Huntsville Middle and Greg Hicks of Whitesburg Middle were all up for renewal. Board President Laurie McCaulley says all aced their reviews.
 
“Their evaluations were great. We look on their evaluations and based upon their evaluations and the atmosphere of their school--we use a lot of different factors to determine if we will renew their contract-- and all of them met the criteria for continuing on with us.”
 
A sixth principle is also up for renewal this year, the unnamed persons future was not discussed at tonight’s meeting. McCaulley says the matter is being handled by the human resources department.

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Decatur Residents Concerned About Drug Bust
03/19/2012

Decatur-Morgan County drug agents raided a home in Decatur and discovered a major pot growing operation.

Wednesday night investigators discovered a home on Bob White Drive had been rigged to grow marijuana. Neighbor Linda Mize lives three houses away and is
concerned. "Its the craziest thing that's ever happened in this neighborhood. This is usually a quiet neighborhood" Mize said.

According to police the walls of the home were covered with foil insulation. Air and heating units and special lighting were used to grow Marijuana plants. Investigators say the crooks were stealing electricity to power the house. Sheriff Ana Franklin says this operation is bigger then Morgan County. "This is huge, its a lot of money and the amount of work and effort into this is definitely part of a organized criminal activity this is not a one person thing" Franklin said.

Authorities say at least 300 thousand dollars worth of pot has been grown at the house in recent months. 100 marijuana plants were confiscated. A warrant has been issued for the homeowner who was not at home during the raid. The suspect is a Mexican national who has already been deported once for a robbery.

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X-ray Heist at Huntsville Hospital
03/19/2012

HUNTSVILLE, AL - Huntsville Hospital administrators say they are working with investigators to track down the con man who stole hundreds of patient x-rays. According to the police report, someone impersonating an employee from a medical recycling company walked out the front door with two 55-gallon barrels of the films.

"We obviously believe it was taken for the purpose of the silver content in it," says Director of Communications Burr Ingram.

Recently, hospitals across Ontario were victim to the same crime. Hospitals in massachusetts were also hit. A medical recycling firm in Florida says the two stolen barrels of films could yield up to 20 ounces of silver. At $32 dollars an ounce, the silver could sell for hundreds of dollars.

Regardless of the criminal's motive, local residents say it never should have been able to get to them in the first place.

"I'd feel totally violated if I knew that any part of my medical record was taken out of the medical facility for someone's own personal gain.

Administrators say they are reviewing their policies and procedures to make sure something like this never happens again. Calls to Huntsville Police for more information were never returned.

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Alabama Bats at risk for White-Nose Syndrome
03/19/2012

Bridgeport, AL-

Bats are being threatened by a deadly disease called White-Nose Syndrome.
Bats infected with the fungus grow white spores around their noses, and usually die from the infection.

It was first discovered in a New York cave in 2006, and has rapidly spread down South.
The first confirmed case in Alabama was found at Russell Cave National Monument on Wednesday.

“It's a terrible disease. And because these night time flyers are not something that you commonly see, people don't think about the impact right away. This is a devastating disease for this critter,” Superintendent Park Ranger, John Bundy said.

Over 5.5 million bats have died in North America because of White Nose Syndrome. Park rangers at Russell Cave hope that number doesn’t spread.

“It’s a big worry because people don’t understand the ecosystem. It doesn’t just affect bats; it also affects everything they eat,” Park Ranger, Keena Graham said.

A bats favorite snack: mosquitoes!

“When you are outside and you are hitting yourself because a mosquito bit you for the third or forth time, a bat would have eaten that guy for you and made life much more comfortable,” said Graham.

They also help plants grow.

“We think of them at the nighttime version of honey bees,” Bundy said.

They help pollinate plants and their droppings are also rich in nutrients.

Wildlife experts are worried about the impact this disease could have on our ecosystem.
For now, the long term affects are unknown.

Experts ask that cavers take special care to clean off all their clothing and shoes with a disinfectant spray after leaving a cave.

People can easily spread the White-Nose spores to other caves if we are not careful and aware.

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Trash Trail in Limestone County
03/19/2012

LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. - Highway 72 at Seven Mile Post Road has turned trashy. "It's just debris everywhere, all down through there," Limestone District 4 commissioner Bill Daws showed WAAY 31 FirstNews. Daws is tired of the trash trail.

On the side of 72, household garbage: a milk jug, a paper plate, a fruit jar lid. Even a garbage bag is tangled in a barbed wire fence.

Trash is nothing new. You can often see it along the highway. "Not like this," Daws told us. "Not this. Look, see we're about a half mile from the transfer station."

Daws says all signs point to the Seven Mile Post Transfer Station. Allied Waste, formerly BFI, operates the facility. "They transfer it to a landfill in Lawrence County," Daws explained.

John Farrar raises cattle near Allied's transfer station. He's also raised concerns about the roadside garbage. "Just a constant trash mess," Farrar told us. "Trash just flying off the truck. Their covers flapping up in the air when they're coming down the road."

Farrar fills a five gallon bucket in fewer than five minutes. He's even stuck with trash in his trees. "I get on the phone to complain and whoever I get on the phone says we'll see what we can do," Farrar said.

We found a constant string of garbage going all the way to the Lauderdale county line. Sheriff Mike Blakely tells WAAY31 FirstNews he's warning Allied Waste to keep its trash in its trucks. Blakely is ordering his deputies to step up patrols around the transfer station. The sheriff wants garbage trucks ticketed if they can't contain their loads of trash.

"The majority of what you see up and down the road is coming from BFI (now Allied)," Jeff Day told us. Day complains he's seen trash tumbling from Allied's trucks. He found one especially interesting document in his front yard. "It's a work order from Tennessee Valley Authority," Day showed us. The document, dated March 5th, is from Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant. Allied tells WAAY 31, its trucks haul garbage from the nuclear plant.

Allied general manager Bill Brinkley says, before now, he hasn't heard any complaints. But, he promises Allied will look into the problem.

That's welcome news for Bill Daws. "We've got to get it settled because it's just getting worse. It ain't getting better."

Allied Waste tells WAAY 31 FirstNews it controls trucks leaving its transfer station, but not the ones coming in. Allied admits windy days are a challenge. But, Bill Brinkley says Allied wants to do whatever it takes to make neighbors happy.

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Tech Guy : Maximizing Phone Battery Life
03/19/2012

One of the biggest problems for smartphone users is keeping the darned things charged up.

Batteries haven’t changed all that much in our lifetime. But Duracell has come out with a product aimed at keeping your phone charged.

Stassi Anastassov is the President of battery giant. He thinks they’re about to solve the problem, with plastic discs. Powermat technology is going to be a lifesaver, he believes.

Powermat technology has been around for a couple of years now, and is really taking off now that big battery companies are investing in the idea. Basically, the charging process is as simple as lying your phone down on a charged mat. The mat uses magnetic induction to charge the battery. For a more scientific look at the process, check out this article from EzineArticles.com. Duracell has created smaller powermats for arenas, bars and restaurants. They’re already installed at Madison Square Garden. They are the size of drink coasters and come wireless.

But a powemat will only charge the battery, it doesn't claim to extend battery life. To do that, you need to get under the hood of your phone, so to speak. There are apps that are constantly running in the background. Those cause a drain, and many of them you can function just fine without. You can always reopen them when you need them.

Using wi-fi instead of a data network saves power too. Just don’t leave your wi-fi on all the time, or else your phone will continuously search for wi-fi which runs down the battery.

If your phone has 4g, try using the 3g data network when you can. 4g can drain the batterynearly twice as fast as 3g.

Despite what others may say, keep your battery charged. There are some who think it’s best to run the battery all the way down before putting it on charge. That’s not true. Call it a "new old wives tale". Studies have shown that the life of a battery is longer if you keep it charged up as much as possible. If you don’t already have one, get a car charger too.

Here are a few more, web-exclusive tips I didn't have time to mention in my on-air report :

Turn off location services. Programs that track your phone, such as weather apps and GPS drain the battery fast. Camera and video apps will require location services be turned on. With the iPhone you can turn off location services inside the settings tab/icon. Android phones have a battery saving option under settings.

On the iPhone, opened apps can be found at the bottom of the screen. Double tapping the home button brings up the bottom line. Hold down one of those icons until you see the icons begin to wiggle or shake. close out the apps by touching the minus sign on any apps that need to be closed. Those apps will re-open when you touch them on the screen.

On android phones, click "settings" then "applications". Under "battery use" you'll see which apps are using battery power. Click on any apps you aren't using and then "force stop" to keep the apps from using your battery power. They'll still work the next time you open them. The batter power screen also shows how much battery time is left on the charge.

Under "battery and data manager", you can find the option for "data saver". Turn it on to conserve battery.

For more, visit my Twitter!

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How to Talk to Kids about Tornadoes
03/19/2012

HARVEST, Ala. - It may feel like summer, but spring officially begins this week.  With the new season, the threat of tornadoes also begins to rise.  One local author says now is the time to talk to your children about these devastating storms.

 

For Madison County resident Stan Reese, being a dad is something he loves and doesn't take lightly.  He says, "You try just to make a difference.  You try to be a good parent every day, but there's no such thing as a perfect parent.  There is such a thing as a parent that tries."

 

Reese lives with his wife and children off Yarbrough Road in Harvest, a consistently hard-hit tornado target.

 

He says, "When I picked my oldest son up from school at Harvest and we drove through the neighborhood, I looked at his face as we were stuck there in traffic and he just has this whole look of terror on his face.  What do you say? And I guess that's what started the ball rolling."

 

Reese was a single dad for over 20 years, and now raises three toddlers.  The experienced dad uses his experiences when writing a weekly parenting column called "Relax Dad.”  He feels talking to kids about tornadoes is an important tip: “In this area you've got to be careful, you've got to know what to say."

 

So what do you say?  According to Reese, parents should stay calm, go over safety strategies with their children and monitor how much tornado coverage they watch on TV.

 

Reese explains, “News coverage is so good these days where it shows exactly where the tornado's possibly hitting, and they show the damage.  Do you let your kids watch that? Do you let them worry? Do you let them think that maybe their house is going to be next?"

 

No matter how you go about talking to your kids about these storms, Reese says it's not something to take lightly, because experiencing a tornado could have a severe impact: “Any traumatic event, whether it happens to them or happens to their neighbor, it's going to live in their memories for a long time.”

 

Reese also encourages teachers to talk to their students about tornadoes.  He believes classroom discussions could go a long way toward easing fears.

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Focus on Faith: Praying for Revival
03/19/2012

Guntersville, AL -- On a Tuesday night in downtown Guntersville, the back room at Baker's on Main has the feeling of an old-fashioned prayer meeting. Chairs have been scraped together to form a circle, and a man admonishes the crowd that, "if you're being filled up, you better go pour it out." Some respond with "amen." Others nod their head in agreement.

These meetings started in January, when Pastor Joey Beck, who is planning a revival in Boaz, heard that others in the community were also praying for revival. He thought it would be a good idea for these believers to come together and an open invitation was issued to all the Christian denominations in Marshall County. "It's not about me. It's not about my church. It's really about the kingdom of God, and he wants all of his people to come together as one," Beck says.

John Carriker, a local minister who helps lead the meetings, says he's already noticed a change among the participants, adding, "I've seen people abandoning their own ideas and opening up their minds to see what God wants done, what God is leading them to do." That's exactly what Beck hoped would happen. He explains, "we may be saved. We may be going to heaven, but sometimes we leave God out of our worship. We leave God out of witness. So, what we're asking God to do is recapture our hearts, so we can be in tune with Him, so we can go and reach the nation."

Beck's own outreach includes the Live Out Loud revival, planned for March 30th at the Tom Bevill Center in Boaz. The event is sponsored by a number of area churches and will include a message, music and prayer. The revival is scheduled for 6:30-8:30pm. There is no admission charge. For more information, e-mail liveoutloudrevival@gmail.com or visit liveoutloudrevivals.webs.com

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Murder Case Going to US Supreme Court
03/19/2012

MOULTON, AL - A 2003 Lawrence County murder case has gotten the attention of the US Supreme Curt.

On Tuesday, March 20th, the court will consider whether the state of Alabama was too harsh in sentencing Evan Miller to life without parole.

Miller was 14 years old when he beat 52 year old Cole Cannon to death with a baseball bat and set his home on fire to cover up the crime.

In 2006, he was convicted and sent to prison.

In asking the Supreme Court to review the case, his attorneys say the sentence was given with no consideration to his age or troubled youth.

In October 2006, Miller's accomplice, Colby Smith, pleaded guilty to murder, in exchange for a life sentence with parole.

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