CULLMAN — Good morning, readers, this is what's happening in your county today:



Weather:



Today: Partly cloudy. Patchy fog early in the morning. Highs around 60. South winds around 10 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the mid 40s. Light winds.

Saturday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 60s. South winds around 10 mph.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. Light winds.

Sunday: Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 60s. Light winds becoming south around 10 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night Through Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s. Highs around 70.



Best bets:



A Christmas Carol: The Dickens’ classic tale, “A Christmas Carole” — now adapted by the Cullman High School Theatre as “A CHS Christmas Carol Spectacular,” will be presented at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 in the CHS auditorium. Tickets are $5/adults; and $3/children and students. Live music will be provided by the CHS Choral Music Department. All proceeds will benefit the CHS Fine Arts Departments.



Cullman Art Guild: In place of the regular business meeting, the November/December meeting of the Cullman Art Guild will be a potluck dinner at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 at the Shop Around the Corner, 908 2nd Ave. NW, Cullman 35055. This is open to any artists and craftspeople. Existing members or those interested in membership are welcome. Bring whatever you like to make. Begin arriving at 6 p.m. RSVP to Laura Walker if you plan to attend at 256-775-1775.



This weekend:



A day with CHS cheerleaders: Children ages kindergarten through sixth grade will have a chance to sign up for a day with CHS cheerleaders Dec. 1. They can play games, learn cheers, jumps and dances while you do your Christmas shopping. The day begins at 9 a.m. and ends promptly at noon in the new gym at Cullman High School. Cost is $25 per child. Register at East Elementary (Rita Dean); West Elementary (Vicki Parker); or Cullman Primary (Tracie Kirkwood); or register at door on the day of the event. For more information, email Haley Nix at hnix@cullmancats.net.



WSCC’s Music Department to perform Christmas concerts: The Wallace State Jazz Band will perform a selection of popular favorites and holiday jazz standards at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at the Burrow Center for the Fine and Performing Arts. The WSCC Music Department’s annual Christmas Concert featuring the Concert Band, Concert Choir and ensembles will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, at the Betty Leeth Haynes Theatre in the Student Center. Admission is free to both events. Info: Music Department 256-352-8277.



Cullman County Christmas Parade: The Hanceville Civitan Club will present the parade at 2 p.m. Dec. 1, beginning at Wallace State Community College and ending at Hanceville City Hall, where Santa will visit with children. This year’s grand marshall will be Herman Reid. A veteran of World War II, Mr. Reid is a decorated war hero, Herman represented Cullman as well as the state of Alabama honorably and courageously. Herman Reid has been an esteemed member of Civitan International for 58 years of service. A lifelong deacon of Good Hope Baptist Church, an honored member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars for over 60 years. Mr. Reid served as the first mayor of Good Hope and served for 22 years. Governor Guy Hunt, by official proclamation, declared Aug. 7 as Herman Reid Day in Alabama. Herman currently serves as chairman of the Cullman County Mental Health Board as well as being a board member of the Margaret Jean Jones Center. He is a charter member of both the Cullman Civitan Club and the Hanceville Civitan Club. Info: Joann Walls at 256-352-9799.



5K and Kids’ Fun Run for Relay: Merchants Bank Relay For Life team will host a 5K Dec. 1, at St. Bernard ‘s running trails. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., 5k at 8 a.m. and fun run for kids is after the 5K is finished. Entry fee is $25/5K. Pre-registered runners will get a T-shirt; preregister by dropping form off at any Merchant Bank location or mail to: Merchant Bank Relay For Life, ATTN: Elizabeth Nichols, 900 2nd Ave. SW, Cullman 35055. No T-shirts given to those who register day of. Runners may register day of for the 5K event only. Make all checks payable to Relay For Life/American Cancer Society.



10 Things to Know for Today

By The Associated Press

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today (times in EST):

1. OBAMA TAKES “FISCAL CLIFF” FIGHT OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY

The president will employ campaign-style tactics in the Philadelphia suburbs, hoping to mobilize public support as the year-end deadline for reaching a deal with Congress over taxes and spending cuts looms.

2. WHY U.N. VOTE RECOGNIZING PALESTINE MAY ULTIMATELY DISAPPOINT

Real independence remains an elusive dream until the Palestinians negotiate a peace deal with the Israelis.

3. ISLAMISTS APRROVE EGYPT’S CONSTITUTION

A draft constitution is passed without the participation of liberal and Christian members, a move that further inflames the clash between the opposition and President Mohammed Morsi.

4. WHO MIGHT’VE HIT THE POWERBALL JACKPOT

The Missouri Lottery confirms one winning ticket and is expected to reveal the winner at noon. The second ticket holder, in Arizona, remains a mystery.

5. SENATE REVIVES DEBATE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES

By voting that American citizens suspected of terrorism and seized on U.S. soil may not be held indefinitely, it sets up a fight with the House, which rejected efforts to bar indefinite detention earlier this year.

6. RIGHTS GROUP URGES MORE COMPASSIONATE PRISON RELEASES

For humanitarian and economic reasons, the federal Bureau of Prisons should grant more early releases to incapacitated and terminally ill prisoners, advocacy groups say in a report.

7. MYANMAR TACKLES CITIZENSHIP QUANDARY

In an exclusive report by AP’s Todd Pitman, authorities in western Myanmar are tasked with determining who is a citizen. Rohingya Muslims seem to have the most to lose.

8. SOURCE TELLS AP: STRAUSS-KAHN AGREES TO SETTLE WITH ACCUSER

Hotel maid’s lawsuit alleged that the former IMF chief tried to rape her in a New York hotel.

9. RESEARCHERS NAIL DOWN SEA MYSTERY

Scientists have figured out how to determine the age of a lobster — by the number of rings in its eyestalk or in the teeth-like structures found in its stomach.

10. NOT SO SAINTLY NIGHT FOR BREES

The star quarterback throws five interceptions, damaging New Orleans’ playoff hopes in a 23-13 loss to rival Atlanta.