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CULLMAN – On Monday it was announced that four administrators and personal with Cullman City Schools have been nominated for the Alabama Chiquita Marbury Technology Innovation Award.

“I am pleased, but not surprised, that CCS has four finalists in the prestigious Marbury Technology Innovation Awards program,” said Dr. Jan Harris, CCS Superintendent. “Our district has been recognized at the national and state level because of our commitment to excellence in teaching through the immersion of technology. As such, the student achievement outcomes realized in CCS have been noteworthy.”

CCS has a tendency to shine brightly and the nominations for this year’s awards ceremony is no different, as four of the staff received invitations to the awards presentation at the SDE Alabama Education Technology Conference in June. 

CULLMAN — Infrastructure repairs were the most common need expressed by attendees at a public meeting held today to gather input on how $49.1 million in pending federal disaster relief funds should be spent. The funds would be available to assist only those areas impacted by the April 2011 tornadoes.

The Alabama Department of Community and Economic Affairs conducted the meeting at Cullman City Hall to identify the greatest needs that remain two years after the disaster. In addition to infrastructure recovery, ADECA officials said that other common requests are likely to be for housing rehabilitation and economic development projects.

More than 50 county commissioners, mayors, consultants and residents listened as ADECA officials described what might be eligible for funding and how the grant process will work.

HUNTSVILLE – An upper level storm system will move closer to the Tennessee valley region today, with showers expected to increase in coverage across the area. Afternoon high temperatures will range from the mid to upper 60s.

A Flood Watch is in effect from 7 p.m. tonight through 7 p.m. Saturday for areas along/west of Interstate 65. Areas east of Interstate 65 are included from 7 a.m. Saturday through 7 a.m. Sunday morning. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches of rain are possible area wide, with amounts up to 4 inches possible across Northeastern Alabama and Southern Middle Tennessee. In addition to the rain, temperatures will be cooler than normal, with daytime highs in the upper 50s to lower 60s this weekend.

FLOOD WATCH

Autism Walk draws crowd despite threat of rain

HANCEVILLE – On the day marking the two year anniversary of the devastating tornados of 2011, a group of care free, fun loving children and adults converged on the grounds of Wallace State Community College to celebrate life while raising awareness for a life altering condition.

The 9^th Annual Autism Walk featured a multitude of events for everyone, including bounce houses, face painting, tumbling display by Cullman Gymnastics, horse and buggy rides, and even a special appearance by the Cullman Police Department Helicopter.

Melissa Dew is the autism specialist with Encore Rehab for Cullman County. Dew, who has been working as a specialist for 10 years, said the walk great for everyone involved, from the organizers down to the participants.

CULLMAN – Four small trophies, two grand trophies, a plaque and an entry into the Farm-City record books has the board members and volunteers with Cullman Farm-City excited after “cleaning house” at this year’s award ceremony.

“We cleaned house, thank goodness,” said Cherrie Haney, 2012 Farm-City Chair. “We won for our division, which is 35,000 people and above, then we won the overall Best Farm-City Committee.”

In a report submitted by Haney and the rest of the Farm-City committee, the group detailed how they were able to cover the 2012 theme of “Grown Safely, Extra Tasty.”

8:15 P.M.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING

...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 830 PM CDT

FOR SOUTHEASTERN CULLMAN COUNTY...

AT 816 PM CDT...DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM

CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS

OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR HANCEVILLE...OR 10 MILES

SOUTH OF CULLMAN...MOVING NORTHEAST AT 30 MPH.

LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...

HANCEVILLE...GARDEN CITY AND COLONY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES

PER HOUR...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN.

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF

YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT

DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD

CULLMAN – The Cullman Fire Department battled a house fire beginning shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday night at the end of Loch Drive Northeast, located in a subdivision bordering Lake Catoma, preventing damage to any neighboring homes.

Cullman Police Department Officer Matt Tucker was one of the first to arrive on the scene of the single dwelling blaze. Tucker said the immediate concern was for the resident of the home.

"We have not been able to locate the home owner at this time but we are actively searching for her," said Tucker shortly after 8 p.m. "We know she is a religious woman, so we are trying to track her down through her church."

Shortly after the initial on scene interview, Tucker announced that the homeowner had been located.

"We just got confirmation that the resident is out of state," said Tucker at 9:59 p.m.

CULLMAN — Cullman Regional Medical Center staff gets back to business as usual after Sunday evening’s bomb threat caused the facility to evacuate patients.

The bomb threat was called into the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office around 8:30 pm on Sunday, April 21. The decision was made to evacuate due to similar threats made by a patient in the CRMC Emergency Department earlier in the week.

“The decision to evacuate the facility was not made without much thought and consideration for what was best for patient safety,” Jim Weidner, CRMC President/CEO said.

With the help of multiple entities, close to 300 persons including patients, staff and family members were evacuated from the facility within less than one hour.

“Thanks to multiple mutual aid organizations we were able to get all patients and staff evacuated and out of harm’s way in a very short amount of time,” Vice President of Ambulatory Services, Susan Copeland, RN, MSN said.

April 22, 10 A.M.

CPD Assitant Chief Craig Green told CS that "investigators are currently working with other neighboring law enforcement agencies before we interview the person of interest. We plan on interviewing him Tuesday morning."

April 22, 7 A.M.

CULLMAN – With thoughts of terrorism fresh on the minds of many across the country, a new wave of threats were phoned in to both Cullman and Marshall Counties late Sunday evening in the form of a bomb threat targeting the three hospitals, including Cullman Regional Medical Center.

HUNTSVILLE – Severe weather, including the threat of damaging straight-line winds and isolated tornadoes, is possible late tonight through Friday morning across all of Central Alabama. A line of thunderstorms is expected to move into West Alabama after 11 p.m. tonight and exit East Alabama by noontime Friday. The approximate arrival times for the storms are listed on the image. The best chance for severe weather is expected mainly north and west of Interstate 59.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES: LAUDERDALE-COLBERT-FRANKLIN AL-LAWRENCE-LIMESTONE-MADISON-MORGAN- MARSHALL-JACKSON-DEKALB-CULLMAN-MOORE-LINCOLN-FRANKLIN TN-

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH ALABAMA AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN MIDDLE TENNESSEE.

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT...