East of Huntsville

Moores Mill Road Closed Today, Feb 9th

2009-02-09T09:07:00.007-06:00

The Huntsville Times is reporting that the southbound lanes of Moores Mill Road between Winchester Road and Highway 72 will be closed throughout the day today. Traffic is being re-routed onto Jordan road and Chase road while crews work on the railroad crossing.

Like It or Not, You Need Insurance

2008-04-03T09:18:00.002-05:00

If you've ever needed to take advantage of insurance, you know just how important it can be!

We all hate making that payment or seeing that deduction every month for the various insurances we pay. Whether it is Health Insurance coming out of our paycheck, auto insurance for the car we haven't wrecked in 10 years, Life Insurance we will never derive the benefit from, or Home Owners / Renters / Flood insurance that "we'll never need" it is always a drag.

Probably the only thing worse than making those insurance payments is having to change and calling the insurance agent to get an insurance quote because you KNOW you'll never hear the end of it. "You really should carry more" or "we've got the cheapest insurance" or even "do you have pet insurance?" PET INSURANCE!?

Without a doubt though, insurance is one of life's necessary evils. Imagine coming home to a smoldering pile of timber and ashes or getting a call that your daughter has been in a car accident, and you have no insurance for either.

In the near future East of Huntsville will begin to compile and post links to the insurance agents that serve the area east of Huntsville and have an office out here. If you are one of those agent, or know one, be sure to email your information to editor [at] EastOfHuntsville.com. Look for the post within the next week...and get your insurance up to date!

Have You Gotten A Traffic Ticket?

2008-03-20T21:41:00.003-05:00

With all the construction going on especially at the bottom of Chapman Mountain near the intersection of Moores Mill and Highway 72, it may be a good time to review how the traffic ticket process works.

We all dread those blue lights flashing in our rear view mirror. We fear the piece of paper the officer hands us as we are cited for one or more traffic violations.

Receiving a Traffic Ticket

It's your first traffic ticket. You've heard all sorts of horror stories. Relax. Help has arrived!

At the bottom of the citation the officer has given you, there is an "action due date." This is your court appearance date. You have several options before this date. Some of your choices don't even require you to go to court.

A week to 10 days after your ticket, your local Traffic Court will have your ticket ready for processing. Be patient, it takes time for the ticket to be processed. Once it has been processed, but before your appearance date, you can do one of the following:

Plead guilty by paying the fines and fees

Plead not guilty and request a trial date before a Traffic Court judge

If you choose to plead guilty, you can pay all violation charges and fees in one of several ways. You can pay your tickets online using the Alabama Public Safety Web site. You can also pay by telephone through an Interactive Voice Response System, by mail, or in person at the Court Clerk's office. Just make sure whichever option you choose is completed before your appearance date.

If you choose to plead not guilty and request a trial date, you will do this on your first appearance date. If you need to change the date of court, you can do so before the appearance date by phone or in person at the Court Clerk's office.

If you take no action before the appearance date set on your ticket, your information will be sent to the Department of Public Safety and your license will be suspended. An arrest warrant may also be issued. Additional fees will be placed on your fine that must be paid before your license can be reinstated.

To learn about ticket violations or court locations and addresses in specific Alabama counties, visit the Alabama Traffic Service Center Web site or call 1-877-252-7294.

NOTE: If you receive a speeding ticket in a construction zone and workers are present, you must appear in court.

Do you need a lawyer to handle your traffic ticket? Well, that's up to you. You can engage the services of a lawyer that specializes in traffic tickets and sometime they can help you beat the ticket. Why pay a lawyer the same or more than the ticket to beat a ticket? Because many times there are financial costs beyond the ticket like increased auto insurance rates and the like. You have to look at the whole picture to see if hiring a lawyer for your traffic ticket is right for you.

Points

Alabama, like other states, assign points to traffic violations. Those points will be put on your driving record. Points can raise your auto insurance rates or cause your license to be suspended or revoked.

Thanks to DMV.org for this info!

Spring Forward to Daylight Shifting Time

2008-03-08T09:50:00.004-06:00

What? You've never heard of Daylight Shifting Time? Well read on!

We all love to bask in the added daylight brought on by the longer days of summer, but did you know that an innovative idea by none other that Benjamin Franklin himself managed to add MORE sunlight to summer's days?

If was Franklin who came up with the idea to move our clock dials ahead one hour in the spring, effectively shifting an hour of early morning sunlight to the end of the day when more people were awake to enjoy it, and thus making the day even longer. So in reality a more accurate name for what we call Daylight Saving Time would actually be Daylight Shifting Time.

It Hasn't Always Been This Way...

While Franklin may have come up with the idea, it took quite a while for it to catch on. It wasn't until WWI that the US passed a law standardizing time zones and establishing daylight saving time. After the war, the US went back to standard time.

In 1966, DST was legislated across the US and after a brief alteration during the energy crisis of '75, we've been on it ever since...well most of us have.

No Everyone Goes On DST...

There are a few places that choose not to take advantage of the added daylight afforded by DST. Hawaii, Arizona and some parts of Indiana do not observe daylight saving time...go figure! To further confuse the issue, despite having a large portion of it's population in Arizona, the Navajo Nation DOES use DST so, wow, I can't even keep up with it.

A Safety Reminder

The two times a year when we change our clocks is also a good time to check the batteries in your smoke detectors also. So take a few minutes tonight and change those batteries, swing your clock forward, and then go to bed!

Follow Up: Bank Robbed on Winchester Road

2008-02-28T11:55:00.003-06:00

This is an update to our earlier story Bank Robbed on Winchester Road regarding the robbery of the North Alabama Bank on January 10, 2008.

Antonio Lawshawn Drake, 21, was arrested on January 10th after allegedly holding up North Alabama Bank on Winchester Road at gunpoint. Yesterday, Drake was indicted on bank robbery charges in U.S. District Court.

Drake is alleged to have walked into the North Alabama Bank a 1590 Winchester Road on January 10th and demanded money at gunpoint. Approximately $9,000 was stolen in the robbery and then scattered across the parking lot and down the road as he made his get-away.

If convicted Drake faces up to 25 years in prison.

Forever Wild Buys Jackson County Lands

2008-02-28T09:58:00.002-06:00

In a Breaking News story published on AL.com, Steve Doyle reports Forever Wild buys land along Paint Rock River that's home to endangered species.

The state Forever Wild program on Tuesday bought 1,500 acres along Jackson County's upper Paint Rock River. The remote site near the Estillfork community includes the spot where Hurricane Creek and Estill Fork come together, forming the Paint Rock River. The river is home to several endangered fish and freshwater mussel species found almost nowhere else on the planet.

Traffic Accident at Winchester Road & Homer Nance Road

2008-02-22T14:27:00.003-06:00

Yesterday's accident at Winchester Road & Homer Nance emphasize growing pains in northeast Madison county.

The accident Friday just east of the intersection of Homer Nance and Winchester road was likely the result the light rain experienced in the area early yesterday afternoon but it also serves as a reminder that with growth comes new challenges.

Added traffic resulting from new residential and commercial development in the northeast part of the county and the limited amount of roadway improvement may lead to an increase in this type of incident. In fact before the rescue crews could wrap-up from this accident there was another accident just south of the intersection on Homer Nance. As always drivers are encouraged to slow down and drive defensively.

Yesterday's accident also highlighted some jurisdictional challenges in this part of the county. As 911 operators were dispatching the call there was some confusion over the proper agency to respond. In this instance the driver was fortunate because EVERY agency responded. Units from Moores Mill Volunteer and Huntsville fire departments, Madison County Rescue Squad, Huntsville Police and Madison County Sheriff's department all responded.

As growth in this part of the county continues, residents and officials alike should be prepared for the challenges that will inevitably occur.

Editor's note: As of this writing there was no update available on the condition of the driver in yesterday's accident.

Drama Continues to Surround Missing Workers At Cinram

2008-02-15T11:36:00.004-06:00

Two weeks after local apartment owners raised the flag about "missing" workers, the apartment owners now find themselves under the microscope.

It was just over two weeks ago that local apartment owners began raising red flags about some of their tenants, temporary immigrant workers, were missing. The workers were brought to America on H2-B work visa as temporary help for the holidays at local DVD manufacturer Cinram, Inc.

Cinram is a Canadian company with several locations across the country, their Huntsville plant can be found at the intersection of Moores Mill and Highway 72. The plant located at the bottom of Chapman Mountain experiences a significant surge in business in preparation for Christmas DVD sales and regularly hires temporary workers to ensure adequate capacity.

Late last summer, Cinram made application to fill the Christmas need by bring in 1,500 plus temporary employees from outside the United States. In October the first of the approximately 1,100 foreign workers began arriving from Jamaica, Nepal, Bolivia, Ukraine, and the Dominican Republic.

As attention was drawn to the missing workers, most of whom are Nepali and have left for better paying jobs, the spotlight also fell on the apartment owners / managers who raised the issue. And that light has not revealed a pretty picture in some cases.

Truitt Evans, enforcement coordinator for the Fair Housing Center of Northern Alabama, confirmed yesterday to The Huntsville Times (see Workers' Housing Probed) that they are investigating the living conditions in which these workers were living. Some workers were apparently paying full-price to share an apartment with three or four other workers. Their investigation is still underway.

Doug Wilson is president of Ambassador temporary agency, the company that worked with Cinram to bring the foreign employees into the States. He told the Times that his company has worked with 20 landlords to provide housing upon arrival and has had difficulties with only two. Ambassador inspected apartments prior to the workers' arrival, the real challenges began when apartment owners started competing with one another for occupants.

Wilson goes on to say that despite some problems, bringing in foreign workers helps Cinram keep its 2,500 plus permanent workers and $120 million payroll at the Moores Mill plant.

A Dusting of Snow and A Few Days of COLD

2008-02-14T10:18:00.004-06:00

After a very light dusting of snow yesterday and a few days of waking up to below freezing temperatures, the area is poised for a warm-up today. With highs forecast for the 50's into the weekend and 60 by Sunday we can feel spring fever just around the corner. And if you're feeling like you've been stuck in the heart of winter for too long, check out our friends from Red Deer, Alberta and a recent story in the Red Deer Digest entitled Red Deer, Central Alberta Slammed With Blowing Snow!Feb 8/08. Be sure to leave a comment for our friends up there and let them know we'll be sending spring as soon as we can!

Overpasses for Moores Mill and Shields Roads on Highway 72

2008-02-08T13:10:00.000-06:00

Just a quick update here on a story we've been covering.

There has been quite a bit of discussion about all the work going on at Moores Mill Road and Highway 72, just at the foot of Chapman Mountain. One question that seems to keep coming up has to do with the proposed overpasses at Moores Mill and at Shields Roads where they cross Highway 72. If said overpasses are indeed in the works, why all the work at Moores Mill now only to have it torn up again for overpass construction?

In a recent email from Troy Bell, Asst Utility Manager & Environmental Coordinator at AlDOT in Guntersville, he says in part,

"Currently, there is not a public meeting scheduled for this project. We hope and anticipate another public meeting in the next six to twelve months."

Ok, well if that's the case then when do they anticipate the work actually getting started? No answer to that question as of yet but it would seem from the public meeting schedule that it won't be anytime soon.

Keep up-to-date with what's going on at Harris Hills, Moores Mill, and Shields Roads on the east side of Chapman Mountain. Get your free subscription to East of Huntsville via RSS or if you prefer having the news emailed to you, use our free subscription form on the right margin of this page!

Severe Weather Aftermath

2008-02-06T10:05:00.000-06:00

In the wake of severe weather outbreak last night, results are mixed east of Huntsville.

In the immediate area east of Huntsville, eastern Madison County, most residents made it through last nights outbreak with little or no damage. In fact, damage reports from around the county are pretty difficult to come by this morning. While a potentially tornadic cell did traverse Madison County last night, the more severe weather passed to our northwest and southeast. That's the good news.

A little further east in Jackson County, at least one person has lost their life. Linda Tinker's body was found more than 300 feet from her Pisgah house. The home was destroyed, leaving only the foundation. Many others are without homes or are working through the damage to see what can be salvaged.

Please keep these fellow citizens in your prayers today and in the coming weeks.

With the recent focus on Huntsville's local TV meteorologists (see Winter Weather Update), how do you think they did yesterday? Were their forecasts and live coverage accurate and helpful? Sound off in the comments below.

Volunteer Fire Fighters Busy Today

2008-02-05T14:35:00.000-06:00

Two structure fires keep volunteers engaged

This morning a house fire in the Riverton community required units from Moores Mill, New Market, and Central Volunteer Fire Departments to contain.

At about 2:30 this afternoon the call went out to Owens Cross Roads and Big Cove to respond to a fire Anna Drive and Johnson Avenue. Early units on the scene advised the structure was fully involved.

Damage to both structures is not know as of this writing. Updates as details dictate.

It's Super Tuesday - Have You Voted Yet?

2008-02-05T13:31:00.000-06:00

It's not too late to vote in today's Democratic and Republican primaries. Polls are open till 7:00 pm tonight across the eastern side of Madison County. Probate Judge Tommy Ragland says turnout has been strong so far so expect a short to moderate wait if you go after work. The Probate Judge, responsible for the conduct of elections in Madison County, says results will be updated on their website in ten minute increments as they are tabulated. You can find the Probate web site at www.co.madison.al.us/probate/electionresults

Much Ado About Cinram

2008-02-04T19:20:00.000-06:00

In the wake of over one hundred foreign workers coming up missing, much speculation, criticism, and many questions are left behind.

Just over a week ago, East of Huntsville reported on the disappearance of one hundred plus foreign workers from Cinram, Inc. (see What's Going On At Cinram?). Aparently this DVD manufacturing and packaging plant at the intersection of Moores Mill Road and Highway 72 East has caused quite a stir. East of Huntsville has been contacted by media outlets and reporters from around the world seeking additional information and details!

Several stories have been published today attempting to refute much of the mystery associated with this event. The Huntsville Times (and subsequently picked up by the Associated Press) is reporting the Nepalese were informed they could resign and many of them interpreted this as an approval to leave and seek better paying opportunities.

The Times story goes on to say that the tales of workers cleaning out their furnished apartments is also untrue. Some of the remaining Nepali workers told local reporters that when fellow Napali laborers would leave, they would borrow or trade out furniture and TVs. Those same remaining workers went on to say their friends are not missing, they just went somewhere else to work.

Many readers have commented on this topic on this site and several others, the gist of the comments centering around the practice of importing labor from foreign countries when Americans are unemployed. Worker Out of A Job made this comment at Topix.com:

well this same company just closed a plant in Los Angeles plant in the city of Vernon putting 142 people out of work. so they should get out of the business of importing workers and let american workers continue to earn a decent living were the source of the company's profits comes from

Many other readers agreed with WOOAJ and some disagreed. Take this comment from an Anonymous reader at East of Huntsville:

Americans don't want the jobs. ... Its the same reason vacancies at Wal-Mart and McDonald's go unfilled, because some of these people have too much pride to put in some hard work for a decent wage...

Unemployment in the Huntsville, Alabama area is very low, around 2.5% so is it reasonable to believe that Cinram couldn't find willing workers in the local marketplace? If that's the case and considering that they recently closed a plant in California, does the company have any obligation to use those employees rather than import foreign workers?

As Homeland Security and Immigration & Customs Enforcement continue their investigation, so to will the discussion surrounding this most recent turn of events just east of Chapman Mountain at Cinram, Inc.

What are your thoughts? Should Cinram be held responsible for the workers they vouched for walking away from their jobs? What should happen to the missing workers when they are found? Share your comments on this story by clicking on the comment link below.

What's Going On At Cinram?

2008-01-30T19:11:00.000-06:00

First foreign workers are brought in to work at local DVD manufacturer Cinram, now they're missing!

As if terrible traffic were not enough, now there's another controversy brewing at the corner of Moores Mill and Highway 72 these days. Cinram, Inc. is nestled up against the foot of Chapman Mountain and for the past three months has been home to several hundred foreign nationals from Jamaica and Nepal working on H2B visas. Now anywhere from 100 to 150 of these workers have vanished!

Taking not only their own belongings from their Huntsville apartments, it appears many of them have also made off with the furnishings provided with their apartments. By some estimates as much as $200,000 worth of furniture.

While the conditions of their visas limited most aliens to six months working in the states, these workers have left only half way through their intended stay. The questions now is where did they go and why did they leave without any notice or warning? The FBI and Homeland Security are investigating.

Lane Shift Signals Progress at Moores Mill and Hwy 72

2008-01-28T17:41:00.001-06:00

A shift in the east bound lanes at the intersection of Moores Mill and Highway 72 is tangible evidence that work is progressing!

Drivers headed eastbound over Chapman Mountain got an unexpected surprise this afternoon as they approached the intersection of Moores Mill and Highway 72. Just before 4:00 this afternoon work crews shifted the two right-most lanes of eastbound Highway 72 putting the far right lane onto the newly paved new construction. The shift also left the leftmost lane blocked by barrels.

Off the highway, the progress is continuing on Harris Hills Blvd as well. The Moores Mill extension is paved and poles are being set for lighting.

Good Steak At A Good Price

2008-01-27T13:25:00.000-06:00

Oh!Bryan's Family Steak House
2136 Highway 72 East
Huntsville, AL 35811
(256)852-7933
www.OhBryans.com

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars!

It was my first trip to this Oh!Bryan's Family Steakhouse. I'd had the pleasure of visiting their Madison, Alabama location last fall and was looking forward to trying the chain's newest outlet. Located about a mile east of Moores Mill and Hwy 72, Oh!Bryan's is the latest restaurant to occupy this building. Having frequented the location as Four Mc's and most recently Ken's, we found the foyer dining rooms have retained their original layout but with booths now occupying some floorspace where tables once stood. The decor was clean and fresh and in the Oh!Bryan's style with old signs decorating the walls.

We arrived about 6:00 pm with a party of four. The parking lot was about two-thirds full, well lit and easy to get in and out. We were seated without a wait as were most guest that arrived after us. Our waitress arrived quickly taking our drink orders and again when we were ready to order dinner.

I'm a sucker for a good steak, that's why on our night out for Authentic Mexican Fare at Gurley's El Coyote last week I had a ribeye at a Mexican place. Well this week we're at a steak place so our Anonymous commenter from last week should be ok with me having a steak this week. {wink} Anyway, I had the Take Two combo plate with the petite sirloin and fried shrimp. Add a big baked potato, a trip to the salad bar, and a bottomless glass of good southern sweet tea and I had myself a meal.

The salad bar was very well stocked with a wide variety of fixings and dressings. As usual the steak was ordered medium and it was delivered perfectly. Four shrimp and a small portion cup of cocktail sauce composed the "combo" portion of the meal. The potato was a good size portion and came with plenty of butter and sour cream on the side. The only drawback to the meal came with the delivery of our order. We ordered on a split ticket, my wife and me on one ticket, the other two members of our party on another, and that's the way our food was delivered, almost ten minutes apart. My wife ordered the beef tips and tea bringing our total bill to $26.09 before the tip.

Overall the experience at Oh!Bryan's Family Steak House on Hwy 72 was very enjoyable. The portions were generous and the food was good. If you're in the market for a good meal the whole family can enjoy, you should consider Oh!Bryan's on Hwy 72.

Food: 3 of 5
Service: 4 of 5
Atmosphere: 4 of 5
Overall: 4 of 5

T & L Grocery in Owens Cross Roads Robbed!

2008-01-26T12:50:00.000-06:00

***Breaking News*** T&L Grocery in Owens Cross Roads was robbed at gunpoint Saturday Morning.

Madison County Sheriff Deputies police units from Owens Cross Roads, New Hope, and Gurley are looking for the suspect. Stay tuned for more updates as they become available.

Subscribe to our RSS Feed to stay on top of breaking news!

Another TV Weather Anchor Responds

2008-01-24T10:22:00.000-06:00

Local TV Weather Anchors were invited to comment on last Saturday's story Winter Weather Update. We now have another response to our questions.

Many people around Huntsville, Alabama awoke this past Saturday expecting to see a fresh covering of snow over their lawns. Instead almost all saw nothing. The disparity between the forecast, as perceived by the public, and what actually comes to pass has forever been the basis of many a weatherman joke, but that gap seems especially pronounced here in the Huntsville & Madison County area. As a result of what many saw as another missed forecast on Saturday, East of Huntsville contacted all three local weather outlets and posed several questions about the weather, forecasting, and the effect of "new media" on their jobs. The first response came from WAAY forecaster Brad Huffines and was covered in our follow up, Local Meteorologist Responds to 'Snow Hype'. Wednesday we received a response from James-Paul Dice from NewsChannel 19.

One Area of Agreement

On one topic, the two respondents do agree. "Weather is dramatic enough without exaggeration," says Dice, consistent with the feelings of Huffines from Sundays article. Dice continued, "All when can do is provide the information and try to be as accurate as possible."

The Need For "Professional Interpretation" Dice believes the public is more informed now than ever before, "but, I'm not sure they understand the information they're getting." With the proliferation of weather data through numerous alternative outlets like the Internet and cell phones, the public now has access to unprecedented amounts of data that "...on many occasions...still needs professional interpretation from meteorologists with years of experience."

Certainly we can't argue against that. The vast majority of area residents have only cursory knowledge of the weather and it's intricacies. That is why it is so important that we are able to depend on the information coming from our trusted news sources. "We were downplaying the event big time on NewsChannel 19," says Dice, again in line with WAAY and the National Weather Service.

So Why the Gap?

So if both these outlets along with the National Weather Service were forecasting little to no snow at all, why did so many Huntsville and Madison County residents expect snow on the ground Saturday morning? (see Huntsville Hit With Another 'Snow Job' at AL.com) When asked why he believed there was such a gap, Dice replied, "I'm not sure. It's always a challenge for us to communicate weather information. We shiver, pardon the pun, at the mention of snow. Even when the science is pointing to flurries or a dusting, we are afraid to mention it because often times the public interprets this as a blizzard or major Winter event." Huffines has a different point of view. "I believe there is a great disconnect in this community regarding weather forecasting because there is so MUCH sensationalism with ... every weather event that we have ... made people believe ... that we are invincible, while we in the ... weather community as a whole are ANYTHING BUT. Nature is still predominantly not perfectly forecastable and will remain so."

Certainly forecasting the weather is not a profession many of us would undertake. As Dice points out, "[N]o one remembers a good forecast. They only remember when there is a mistake." The weather is a fickle and uncooperative element and forecasts are many times limited to well educated guesses. Perhaps the gap is the result of what we want to hear rather than what they say. Maybe it comes from a limited understanding of the process of forecasting weather by those of us hearing the reports. Or perhaps it comes from the difference between the weather report and the stories reported in the remaining portions of the newscast. Whatever the cause, these two TV meteorologists believe they are putting their best efforts into their work and want us to believe it as well.

What are your thoughts?

The previous two installments in this series have been responsible for tremendous amounts of traffic to EastOfHuntsville.com. Clearly this is an important, hot button topic for many of you. Feel free to leave your comments by clicking on the Comments or Post a Comment link below. Why do you believe there is such a gap between the forecast and reality? Or is there a gap? Do you feel the TV weather teams are getting it just right? Let us know what you think!

Local Meteorologist Responds to 'Snow Hype'

2008-01-20T18:59:00.000-06:00

Following up on Saturday's Winter Weather Update, meteorologists from the local TV outlets were invited to respond to the hype surrounding the latest weather NON-event.

After several days of build-up and foretelling of snow and winter weather, residents in the communities east of Huntsville and around Madison county woke to... nothing.

Flash back just a few days to Jan 10 when the forecast of violent weather was so dire that many schools and businesses closed early or took other preventative measures in order to be safe. On that day, as with this past weekend, the ominous weather conditions did come to fruition, just not in Huntsville.

Granted the weather is a very difficult beast to predict, even in the best of circumstances so shouldn't we be willing to cut these guys a little slack and give them the benefit of the doubt? They can't be expected to get it right every time can they? Well, in fact, some of them did.

Just because you see it on TV...

As early as Thursday one local television meteorologist and his team started revising the gloom and doom forecast toward a much lighter, and in fact more accurate, prediction of what would come to pass. Brad Huffines and the WAAY weather team began putting the word out that the threat for frozen precipitation in our area was less and less. Was Huffines and his team privy to some special information the other stations were not made aware of? Absolutely not! As so often happens when events of this nature are in the outlook, the National Weather Service gave a briefing at 10 a.m. Friday to go over their forecast and what they were predicting. At that briefing the NWS began downplaying the event for our area and forecast the band of snow and frozen precipitation that ultimately fell from Tuscaloosa through Birmingham to Atlanta. So the question has to be, if the National Weather Service and at least one of your peers is calling for a non-event, shouldn't the weather teams from WAFF and WHNT have re-evaluated their positions? Shouldn't they have at least said it MIGHT not happen? They should, but they didn't.

After such a huge miss on Saturday, East of Huntsville emailed each of the local media outlets to offer then the opportunity to share their opinions on what happened. In his reply, Huffines from WAAY air of sensationalism created around every weather event in the area that local residents have become over sensitive to negative weather reports.

"The weather can be scary enough," says Huffines. "Broadcasters who scare should be removed from the industry, but it will take the viewers to do that with their remotes."

So now what?

So how do we as individuals know who trust and what to believe? Why can't we just turn on the TV or hit the Internet and get a single, correct forecast? The most likely answer to that question has to do with rating. Local TV news programs have to compete just like the other shows for viewers and ratings. Since most of the outlets, and especially the weather portion of the broadcast, cover the same stories they are forced to try and differentiate themselves with the personalities.

Huffines suggests we "STOP believing claims and forecasts, test out the forecasters, and reject those that are consistently over-promising disaster and delivering empty results. If consumers stop eating at their table of hype, then the restaurant will either close or adapt to the changing wants of would-be consumers." I agree. Send an email to each one of them and let them know what we expect from them. But don't stop there, be sure to let them know when they're doing it right too! I know they will appreciate it!

Brad Huffines at WAAY-31

Dan Satterfield at WHNT-19

Brad Trais at WAFF-48

Be sure to let them know you are responding to this story from East of Huntsville and let them know how you feel! Be sure to leave a comment here on East of Huntsville also and share your experiences with everyone.

Winter Weather Update

2008-01-19T11:59:00.000-06:00

With more than a foot of snow forecast for Friday night and Saturday morning, residents wake to a (not so) big surprise.

Bracing for more than a foot of snow and the logistical and travel difficulties that would accompany such an event, residents of the Dug Hill and other communities east of Huntsville, Alabama woke this morning to, well, nothing. No snow, not even flurries, no accumulation, nothing. Very anti-climatic for all the gloom and doom that had been forecast. (see Huntsville Hit With Another 'Snow Job' at AL.com)

In all fairness, the National Weather Service office in Huntsville did begin backing off their forecast as early as 10 a.m. Friday morning. Somehow that message didn't seem to make it out to the masses. Why not? Well perhaps because as late as Saturday morning at least one local news outlet was playing up the preparations for winter weather (see Winter weather preps are underway on WAFF.com).

Understandably, the weather is difficult to predict and having to go on the air to state with confidence "this will happen" or "that will happen" doesn't make it any easier. Yet thousands of area residents, including those of us east of Huntsville, depend on the forecast of the TV meteorologists. With that trust comes authority and with that authority comes responsibility.

Brad Huffines of WAAY appears to have done the best job explaining exactly what to expect in specific areas as the cold front moved through. His webcast (see Storm Force 31 Evening and Overnight Webcast in the right margin video player) was posted to the WAAYTV.com site sometime after 6:30 pm last night and clearly laid out what his expectations for Friday night and Saturday morning. As of this writing, neither WAFF or WHNT have updated forecast available on their websites. Meteorologists from all three outlets in Huntsville have been invited to comment on this weather event and we hope to bring you their comments in the near future.

Authentic Mexican Fare at Gurley's El Coyote

2008-01-19T11:44:00.000-06:00

El Coyote Mexican Restaurant
6027 Highway 72 E
Gurley, AL 35748
(256) 776-9913
Find it on Google!

Overall Rating: 3 of 5 stars

After hearing several good things about El Coyote, my wife and I decided to give it a try Friday night. We arrived to a full parking lot out front (plenty of room left in the back) and an almost full main room. We were able to be seated immediately and despite the volume of patrons, the steady stream of new guests never seemed to wait.

After being seated we were instantly presented with chips and a small carafe of salsa. Being avid chips and salsa fans we were both very happy with this offering and the carafe was a great idea as well. I think this was the first time we never ran out of salsa! Our waiter took our drink order and came right back with out drinks. If you'd like water with or before your meal, you will have to ask.

After a few minutes perusing the menu, we were ready and, as though here were reading our minds, our waiter appears to take our order. My wife had the chicken fajitas for one and I had the Carne Coyote, a 10oz ribeye with rice and beans.

Our food arrived hot and cooked to order. The fajitas came with a very generous supply of meat, onions, and peppers as well as an ample supply of fixings. The steak was far from the best I've ever had but quite delicious none the less. I only left one small piece on my place! Satisfied, we asked for our check and left.

Having spent the last thirteen years in Texas, it has been a challenge to find good, authentic Mexican food since we've been in Huntsville. Frankly, that hasn't come as a big surprise and probably has led us to judge Mexican food here a tad on the harsh side. That being said, Gurley's El Coyote is a fine restaurant with good Mexican food and a very reasonable price. Our total bill, including one import and one domestic beer) was only $24.57. We will go back to El Coyote in the future and recommend it to you.

Food: 3 of 5
Service: 4.5 of 5
Atmosphere: 3 of 5
Overall: 3 of 5

Election 2008 - Several Key Offices Up For A Vote

2008-01-15T23:39:00.000-06:00

With monumental focus being applied to the race for the Whitehouse in 2008, East of Huntsville wants to focus on candidates and issues for our community as well.

With elections slated this year for 14 key city and county offices, as well as mayor and the entire city council in the towns of New Hope, Gurley, and Owens Cross Roads, it will be more important that ever for everyone living and working east of Huntsville to know about the candidates and the impact they hope to bring to their constituents.

Over the course of the coming weeks, East of Huntsville will be highlighting each of the races, the incumbents and challengers, and the issues facing the prevailing candidate...and we would like your help. Please click on the comments link below with questions you would like to have posed to candidates in any of the upcoming local races. We will incorporate those questions into our interview with the candidates and post their answers here.

Races of Interest To Eastern Madison County
Below is a list of offices of interest to eastern Madison County that are up for election this year. There are races not listed here that do not directly impact the area. Unless otherwise indicated, names shown are incumbents, whether or not they have announced their intent to seek re-election.
Circuit Judge, 23rd Judicial Circuit

Place 2 - William Bell
Place 3 - Bruce Williams

District Court Judge

Place 1 - Ruth Ann Hall
Place 4 - Schuyler Richardson

Madison County Commission

Chairman - Mike Gillespie
District 1 - Roger Jones
District 2 - Faye Dyer
District 3 - Jerry Craig
District 5 - Mo Brooks

Tax Assessor

Fran Hamilton

Tax Collector

Lynda Hall

License Commissioner

Mark Craig

County Board of Education

District 3 - Mary Stowe

City of Huntsville

Mayor - Loretta Spencer

City of Gurley

Mayor - Stan Simpson
Council District 1 - Robert Sentell
Council District 2 - Robert Winn
Council District 3 - VACANT
Council District 4 - Ann Miles
Council District 5 - James Hollingsworth

City of New Hope

Mayor - Brad Beasley
Council District 1 - Dean Manley
Council District 2 - Jason Smith
Council District 3 - Frita Rogers Keel
Council District 4 - Craig Hill
Council District 5 - David Pritchett

City of Owens Cross Roads

Mayor - Curtis Craig
Council District 1 - Charles Furlough
Council District 2 - Larry Furlough
Council District 3 - Toney K. Craig
Council District 4 - Audie Craig
Council District 5 - Cathy Bounds

Sheriff's Deputy Resigns Amid Charges

2008-01-11T20:43:00.000-06:00

Two weeks after a late night pursuit and subsequent arrest, Scott Bishop resigns as deputy.

Two weeks ago Deputy Scott Bishop led Game Wardens, Huntsville Police, and fellow deputies on a high-speed chase through the Dug Hill and Ryland areas of eastern Madison County. Today he resigned his position with the Madison County Sheriff's Department.

In a story previously reported on East of Huntsville (see: Sheriff's Deputy On Leave After Chase from December 31st), 39 year old Scott Bishop attempted to run from two Alabama Game Wardens after they allegedly observed him spotlighting deer in the early morning hours of December 30th. The chase ended when Bishop's truck was disabled after running over a set of spike strips off Old Gurley Road, southeast of the Shields and Highway 72 intersection.

Following the chase, Bishop was booked into the Madison County Metro Jail on 11 misdemeanor counts. He was later released on $3,300 bond. Today's announcement did not elaborate on the charges or their status.

Bank Robbed on Winchester Road

2008-01-10T13:10:00.000-06:00

Major crime comes east of Huntsville

Madison County Sheriff's deputies were called to North Alabama Bank's Riverton Branch at 1590 Winchester Road this morning around 8:30 a.m. in response to a bank robbery. The suspected bank robber is however already in custody.

The suspected robber, Antonio Drake, was apparently sped away from the scene in a primer colored vehicle that was spotted by an off-duty deputy. The deputy called in the speed and direction and the information was distributed to law enforcement in the area. An Alabama State Trooper working an accident scene east of the bank at Winchester Road and Riverton Road saw the vehicle, gave chase in car and on foot, and apprehended the suspect.

Three near by schools, Riverton Elementary, Riverton Middle School, and Mt. Carmel Elementary, were briefly locked down as a precaution.