Southern Charm: The Oldest County Courthouses in Alabama
There's nothing like the southern charm of an old county courthouse. We're fortunate in Alabama to have several county courthouses that have survived over 100 years. Here are the oldest courthouses in Alabama - all at least a century old.
Read full storyMysterious and Unsolved Cattle Mutilations in North Alabama
In the 1970s, the gruesome phenomenon of cattle mutilations gained worldwide attention. Across the midwestern United States, cattle farmers were regularly finding healthy cattle mysteriously deceased. All had similar mutilations that ranchers said were not natural signs of decay or typical predator or scavenger damage. In the early 1990s, there was a sudden number of these same cattle mutilations in north Alabama.
Read full storyDon't Be a Sell-Out and Never Trust a City Slicker: Things I Learned from The Andy Griffith Show
I always loved the Andy Griffith Show. Growing up in a small town in Alabama, it was a show I could relate to—its characters, its humor, and the slower-paced, southern charm of the imaginary town of Mayberry. By the time I was in grammar school, the Andy Griffith Show was in full syndication, with reruns airing every day after school. I never grew tired of the show. Even though I had seen every episode at least a dozen times, it was still entertaining and funny. What I didn't realize at the time, however, was what it was teaching me. Woven neatly into the script were values and lessons that I follow to this day. Here are 12 things I learned from the Andy Griffith Show.
Read full storyAnimal Adoption Event Coming Up This December at Alabama Shelters!
"Empty shelters = full hearts." From December 1st through the 17th, you can adopt a pet from a participating shelter in Alabama at a reduced rate. Sponsored by the Bissell Pet Foundation, it's the largest event of its kind in the country. Read on to see what the event is about and which shelters in Alabama are participating! Plus check out these adorable pets up for adoption at Alabama shelters.
Read full storyThe Alabama Lawyer Who Believed the Original Garden of Eden was in Florida's Panhandle
E. E. Callaway was a man on a mission. A self-made man, a lawyer, author, activist, and preacher of sorts. He walked away from his small hometown and strict religious upbringing in Alabama, only to return to those bible-based roots in his later years. He was hell bent on what he felt was his calling: to proclaim to the world that the original Garden of Eden was not located in the Middle East, as most scholars believe, but in the present-day southeastern United States. As ridiculous as it may sound, he had some valid points to his theory. This is the story of E. E. Callaway, the Alabama lawyer who believed the original Garden of Eden was in the Florida panhandle.
Read full storyMovies You Might Be Surprised to Know Were Filmed in Alabama!
Alabama is one of the most biodiverse states in the nation. We also have an extremely diverse landscape: from the mountains in the northeastern tip of the state, to the cityscapes and rural country side, all the way to Mobile Bay and our white sandy beaches on the coast. Combine the beauty and diversity of Alabama with our southern hospitality, and it's no surprise that Hollywood has been coming to Alabama for decades. Here are some movies that you might be surpised were filmed in part in Alabama.
Read full storyHeartwarming Stories from Alabama
With all the negativity, war, and political fighting in the news today, I think it's time we take a break. The stories below are all about good news. Enjoy these heartwarming stories....all from the state of Alabama.
Read full storyAlabama's 'Giant Skeletons'
Around the turn of the 20th century, there were dozens of newspaper reports around the globe that detailed amazing discoveries of the skeletons of mysterious ancient giants. Even in Alabama, many giant skeletons were found in burial mounds, graves, and caves across the state. Below are three articles detailing such finds that appeared in Alabama newspapers.
Read full storyJared and Ivanka Adopt New Family Pet From 'Big Dog Ranch Rescue' in Alabama
A year ago, Big Dog Ranch Rescue was just getting started in it's new Alabama facility at the site of a former dog racing complex. A year later, and one of their rescue dogs has become an instant celebrity, after being adopted by Jared and Ivanka (Trump) Kushner and their three children. Who's the lucky pup? A Lab and German Shepherd mix who was abandoned on an Alabama highway. Here's the whole story....
Read full storyBring Southern Back: Phrases Every Southerner Ought to Know!
If you're a Southerner and your roots go back a generation or two in the South, you probably grew up hearing all kinds of "southernisms." Those are the funny and colorful southern phrases used by our grandparents or parents that we rarely hear or use today. Let's embrace our southern culture and bring southern back - starting with this list of "southernisms" that everyone from the south ought to know. When you're done, leave your own favorite southernism in the comments!
Read full storyShould Cursive Writing Continue to Be Taught in Alabama Schools?
Alabama is one of 21 states where cursive writing is currently taught in school. Although many states have chosen to stop teaching cursive writing altogether, Alabama adopted a law in 2016 that mandates cursive writing be taught to all students prior to the end of third grade. As writing by hand becomes more obsolete in today's electronic world, however, the debate on whether teaching cursive writing in school should continue is far from over. There are strong arguments both for and against the instruction of cursive writing in today's classroom. What do you think? Read on to see the current state of teaching cursive in Alabama, and leave your opinion in the comments!
Read full storyAlabama's Roswell Incident: The Day a Flying Saucer Crashed in North Alabama
The summer of 1947 has been called "the summer of the flying saucer." In the months of June and July alone, there were over 800 UFO sightings reported across the U.S. This rash of sightings began with a news story first reported in June of that year. While flying near Mt. Ranier in Washington State, pilot Kenneth Arnold observed nine "saucer-like" objects passing by at what he estimated was 1200 mph. The press picked up the story, and it became the first widely reported flying saucer story of its kind. In fact, the term "flying saucer" was coined in one of those early articles. The most famous incident during the same period was the reported crash and military capture of a UFO near Roswell, New Mexico, on July 8th. Although the military quickly recounted that claim, the Roswell Incident became one of the most well-known and controversial events in UFO history. Roswell isn't the only small town where the crash of a UFO was reported that summer. There was also one in North Alabama....and this one had witnesses and wreckage.
Read full storyHow to Have a Real Southern Thanksgiving: Alabama Style!
"North is a direction, but 'South' is a lifestyle." Whoever coined that phrase knew what they were talking about. We have our own way of doing things in the South, with traditions like nowhere else in the world. When it comes to holidays, Thanksgiving is one that's especially rich with southern tradition. Some of y'all know exactly what I'm talking about. If you read that last sentence and didn't even hesitate at the word "y'all," then you're good. If you're a transplant to the south and have no idea what a real southern Thanksgiving is, then you're at the right place. Here's the ultimate guide for having a real southern Thanksgiving in Alabama.
Read full storyThe Tragic Tale of the Mummy of Hazel Farris: Alabama's Macabre Sleeping Beauty
Warning: This article contains photos of the deceased, which some may find disturbing. Thousands of people stood in line to see her. She was described as the ultimate femme fatale—an alluring temptress and cold-blooded killer. In life, Hazel Farris garnered little attention. In death, however, her mummified body was one of the most popular exhibits in the southeast. For close to a century, her remains were displayed at public venues, from carnivals and sideshows to political rallies and grand openings. She became a regular fixture at a small museum in Alabama, in the town where she met her demise. Many researchers and historians think her persona was a fabrication, but I found evidence that may give new insights into the life of this mysterious mummified woman. This is the tragic story of the Mummy of Hazle Farris, Alabama's macabre sleeping beauty.
Read full storyMystery of Viral Alabama 'God' Video Finally Solved?
After a storm system ripped through southwest Alabama in July of 2018, a local resident stepped outdoors to survey the damage. She took her phone and broadcast a live video to her Facebook page, under the name, Solo Dolo. As she talked about the damage from the storm, she panned her camera upwards to the sky to a break in the middle of the dark gray clouds. What she captured on the video was a figure that many claimed was God walking in the clouds. Was this video of a real supernatural event, a hoax, or simply a rare natural occurence?
Read full storyHillbilly Wisdom: Proverbs From the South
Referring to someone as a "hillbilly" used to be one of the most derogatory terms in the English language for country folks. Today, however, many of us southerners with true "hillbilly" roots embrace the term. It hearkens back to a simpler way of life, one with true grit and a lot of common sense. While our ancestors may not have had a lot of "book learning," as my grandmother would say, they had their own kind of "smarts" and wisdom. This collection of country folk proverbs below, often called "Hillbilly Wisdom," has been passed around online for several years. The original author is unknown, and it's certainly been added to over the years. I hope you enjoy the simplicity and logic of this list. Feel free to add your own tidbits of "Hillybilly Wisdom" in the comments!
Read full storyFreshwater Jellyfish Found in Alabama Lakes and Rivers: with Video Proof!
First alligators, and now jellyfish? More and more out-of-place critters are appearing throughout Alabama. Although this may sound like an April Fool's Day prank, it's not. It's October, and there are freshwater jellyfish appearing in Alabama lakes and rivers!
Read full storyBeware: It's Bite Season For One of Alabama's Most Dangerous Spiders!
Autumn in Alabama is one of the most beautiful seasons of the year. As nature gives cooler weather to enjoy the gorgeous fall foliage, it's time to break out the hoodies, sweaters, and boots! Unfortunately, there may be a dangerous surprise lurking in that cool weather clothing. Clothes or shoes can be a hiding place for one of the most venemous and feared spiders in Alabama: the dreaded brown recluse....and each year, October brings a huge spike in brown recluse bites.
Read full storyThe Ultimate Guide to Pizza in the Shoals, Alabama!
I took an informal poll among my friends in the Shoals area, hoping to find the best pizza places in Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. They named some great places! I put the results all together for the list below (in no particular order). Here's the ultimate guide to the best pizza in the Shoals!
Read full storyDoes Alabama Need a Statewide Ban on Dog Tethering?
It's a common practice in many parts of Alabama for a dog to be left outdoors chained up to a tree or doghouse. Legally, it's referred to as "tethering." Many owners don't realize that this practice is cruel and dangerous. Between 2003 and 2016, 405 people in the U.S. were attacked or killed by dogs that were on a chain or tether. Most of those victims were children.
Read full story