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CULLMAN – With the second annual Rock the South music festival just a few days away, the staff at RTS have been working hard to ensure a safe, fun concert going experience for the estimated 20,000 fans expected to converge on the grounds of Cullman’s Heritage Park.

The two-day event, June 21-22, will play host to the likes of local musicans such as the Blake Scott Band and Vintage Cowboys to country headliners and legends the likes of The Band Perry, Greg Allman, and Hank Williams Jr.

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions, complete with answers, which the Rock the South staff has fielded which will be invaluable come concert time.

Q: Can I use my two day ticket Friday and someone else use it Saturday?

A: All tickets are non-transferable. When you arrive on Friday, you get a wristband that will become your ticket for Saturday. Do not take the wristband off!

Q: Can I leave and come back?

While it’s difficult to encapsulate the moods of tens of millions of people born between 1946 and 1964, one thing has often been said about boomers -- they share a determination to stay forever young.

Next to improving diet and shunning tobacco, nothing a person does increases life expectancy more than exercising, according to the National Institute on Aging. As such, many boomers are busy with their quest for immortality on the bike paths and exercise mats of America.

While exercise is great for body and mind, it doesn’t come without risk. And an injury can derail a routine quickly.

Here are five ways boomers can ensure they’re staying safe and having fun with exercise:

MONTGOMERY— Gov. Robert Bentley joined representatives of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently for the formal award of $49.1 million in supplemental disaster funding. HUD awarded the money to assist with Alabama’s ongoing recovery from tornado damage incurred in April 2011.

"Alabamians have made great progress in recovering and rebuilding — not just their houses, but also the communities they call home,” Gov. Bentley said. “This funding will go a long way in helping families and communities complete the long-term recovery.”

HUD notified the state in late March that funds would be allocated in response to requests by Gov. Bentley and Alabama’s congressional delegation for additional assistance. HUD then published regulations governing the use of the funds and Alabama submitted a finalized action plan describing how the money would be expended. Today’s formal award follows HUD’s approval of the state’s plan.

MONTGOMERY— Companies that pursue energy efficiency measures can become more competitive and create jobs, Gov. Robert Bentley told attendees today at the Alabama Summit on Industrial Energy Efficiency.

Bentley spoke to representatives from more than 70 businesses, trade associations, utility companies and other organizations attending the meeting at the Capitol. The summit marked the completion of Alabama’s participation in a special program supported by the National Governors Association called the Policy Academy on Enhancing Industry Through Energy Efficiency. The effort brought together dozens of state government and private industry representatives to develop ideas about how state government can assist industries and companies looking to cut expenses by implementing voluntary energy efficiency measures at their facilities.

CHICKASAW – The 2013 Word of Life Community Church Mighty Men of Valor Men's Conference will take place Thursday, June 13 through Saturday, June 15 at The Life Center, located at 351 S. Craft Highway, Chickasaw, AL 36611. 

Your host, Dr. Henry W. Roberts, II invites you to come and share in an explosive time in fellowship and the Word of God, as impartation is given surrounding this year's theme, "The King's Valiant Men," with scripture coming from Song of Solomon 3:7-8. 

Special guest speakers include Pastor Steve Shaw of Apostolic-Bethlehem Ministries of Mobile, AL; Bishop Freddie Phillips of Jehovah Ministry of Baton Rouge, LA; Pastor Marlon Jones of Franklin St. Baptist Church of Mobile, AL; and Pastor Ellis Harper, Jr. of Ark of Safety Church of Mobile, AL. 

For more information call (251) 456-2652.

HANCEVILLE – Wallace State sophomore catcher Andrew Dennis was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 37^th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft over the weekend, marking the second consecutive year a Lion was selected.

Dennis hardly missed a start behind the plate during his Wallace State career. The Huntsville High grad hit .315 this season with 25 RBIs, earning him a spot on the ACCC All-North Division second team as the Lions finished 29-23-1. As a freshman in 2012, Dennis hit a team-high .368 with 24 RBIs, helping Wallace State win a share of the ACCC regular season North Division title and finish runner-up at the state tournament.  

High School students to learn film business and technology from film pros

JACKSONVILLE – The Northeast Alabama Entertainment Initiative today announced a brand new summer event aimed at high school students and others interested in filmmaking.  High school juniors, sophomores, and graduating seniors are invited to attend the Northeast Alabama Film Business and Technology Camp to be held at Longleaf Studios in Jacksonville June 17-21.  This weeklong film “boot-camp” will feature hands-on instruction in nearly every aspect of filmmaking, from screenwriting, cinematography, and lighting to sound and editing. 

According to Northeast Alabama Entertainment Initiative (NEAEI) Chairman and Studio Director Pete Conroy, “JSU now has Longleaf Studios right next door so for the first time ever, regional future filmmakers can learn with top media pros and work in the new facility with Alabama’s largest ‘green screen.’”

MONTGOMERY – Governor Robert Bentley on Thursday held a ceremonial bill signing for Senate Bill 340, a measure that will help increase efficiency in Alabama Medicaid while also helping improve patient care.

“We’re providing a way to improve care for people on Medicaid and make smarter use of the tax dollars that support the program,” Governor Bentley said.  “This bill will benefit people enrolled in Medicaid by helping them have access to well-managed care.  This bill will benefit taxpayers by controlling costs to the state.  This represents an important milestone in our efforts to make Alabama Medicaid a more efficient and more affordable program.”

HANCEVILLE – A recent Yahoo! Education article compiled a list of five careers that have the potential for high salaries, but don’t require a lot of time in school to become qualified. Wallace State Community College in Hanceville provides education in all five of those careers.

The article used two criteria in creating the list of careers, with the first being a median annual salary above $40,144.That is the median annual salary for full-time workers in all occupations in the United States, as calculated from the median weekly earnings reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for the fourth quarter of 2012.The second criteria was that the careers chosen did not require a bachelor degree or higher for the applicants to quality.

In all cases, the Wallace State programs can normally be completed in four to six semesters and many offer the option for online and hybrid classes.