Local News
No-burn order reinstated
By Brittany WoodbyFire spread over 10 acres of land in Cold Springs Thursday, erupting only hours after Gov. Bob Riley signed into effect a no burn order for most of the state.
“In these conditions, a lot of things can start fires,” Cold Springs firefighter Jim Carnathan said. Carnathan was one of several firefighters from Cold Springs Fire Department and Dodge City Fire Department keeping watch over the flames off of County Road 92. “Broken mirrors and chrome from cars, coke bottles, if the sun catches these things it could cause a fire.”
However, Carnathan and Cullman County forester Steven Jones said one of the biggest causes of wildfire blazes is disobedience to the No Burn Order.
“There’s always someone who’s going to ignore [the no-burn order],” Carnathan said. “As dry as it is, it only takes someone throwing a cigarette out their window to catch a fire.”
Under the No Burn Order, it is illegal to do any outdoor burning, including bonfires and campfires. Burning leaves and trash is forbidden and Jones said no burn permits will be issued from the county forestry office.
State Forester Linda Casey said in a press release the No Burn Order was recommended by the commission after an increase in reported wildfires.
“Some of these fires have directly threatened homes and if not for the efforts of commission firefighters and volunteer fire departments we would have lost homes,” she said.
Carnathan said his department has not seen as many wildfires as he anticipated, but the ones they have responded to have been large and hard to control.
“We were out here [on County Road 92] Monday with this fire,” Carnathan said. “We stayed until about 10 p.m. and had it put out. The forestry commission came out and bulldozed a break around the bottom of the hill but then we got another call [Thursday] that it had flared up again.”
The fire had burned one acre of land Monday before being rekindled. Firefighters controlled the fire Thursday evening, preventing the fire from posing a threat to homes in the area.
Carnathan said the cause of the fire is undetermined and is under investigation by the county foresters.
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Train vs. car, no one injured
Sean Hart, 32, had driven County Road 917 at least a hundred times to reach his Johnson’s Crossing home, but Thursday afternoon was different.
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Train vs. car, no one injured
Sean Hart, 32, had driven County Road 917 at least a hundred times to reach his Johnson’s Crossing home, but Thursday afternoon was different.
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Wrong number leads to drug arrest
If you’re calling someone to set up a drug buy, it’s important to make sure you dial the correct number first.
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Taste of Cullman event raises $8,000
The annual Taste of Cullman event raised approximately $8,000 for the Cullman County United Way Tuesday night.
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School H1N1 clinics to start Mon.
Local schools will begin hosting free H1N1 swine flu vaccine clinics next week for elementary students.
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Farm family recognized at annual banquet
Sam and Cynthia Black and family were honored as the 2010 Farm family of the year at the annual Farm-City Banquet Thursday evening at the Cullman Civic Center.
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Annual Farm-City banquet Thursday at Cullman Civic Center
The Farm-City Banquet will be Thursday at the Cullman Civic Center at 6:30 p.m.
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Commissioner takes Smith Lake water proposal to town council
County commissioner Wayne Willingham addressed West Point’s town council Monday evening regarding the county’s proposed Smith Lake water project.
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LePard trial pushed to Dec.
The trial for Derrick LePard, a former Cold Springs teacher accused of extortion and attempting to produce obscene matter of a child, should move forward in early December.
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County commission not satisfied with city Duck River contract
The Cullman County Commission will not sign onto the city’s Duck River water plan until certain aspects of the project contract are addressed.
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Man with meth lab in bag attempts to elude deputies
Cullman County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a local man Thursday after he allegedly tried to elude them while carrying a bag of meth-making materials.
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