Falling tree limbs in Birmingham kills one person (WBMA) - Growing drought concerns across Alabama as water levels in the Birmingham area are impacted with most of the region in exceptional drought the worst category for drought monitoring purposes Alabama has seen a gradual increase in drought conditions since the summer months The entire state is reporting at least abnormally dry conditions The Birmingham area is considered to be in a moderate drought There are pockets of extreme drought in the state including along the Tennessee/Alabama border and along the Mississippi/Alabama border northwest of Mobile The city of Birmingham did not record measurable rain for 32 consecutive days Birmingham finished October with one-quarter inch of rain Inland Lake is also trending well below full pool Inland Lake was last at full pool in early June The current level of Inland Lake is its lowest since December of 2022 Inland Lake's lowest level in data provided by the BWWB dates back to December 2012 when levels dropped to only 38 percent of full pool © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices Historic Lake Purdy Dam which has provided water resources to Birmingham for over a century the Birmingham Water Works (BWW) announced they have begun work on the century old dam The Lake Purdy Dam Improvement Project will focus on stabilizing and strengthening the dam’s foundation and enhancing its capacity to handle increased water flow especially during extreme weather conditions “We are committed to ensuring the safety and efficiency of Lake Purdy Dam These improvements are part of our ongoing efforts to invest in infrastructure that benefits our community clean water in the most reliable and responsible way.” The construction project is expected to last until March 2028.  which serves nearly 770,000 people in Jefferson will work closely with local and federal agencies to ensure the upgrades meet all required safety standards and regulations about 50% of its customers depend on the water that flows from the Lake Purdy Dam The improvements were made possible by an Environmental Protection Agency Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the Birmingham Water Works. BWW held a community informational meeting about the project Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards All content on this site is Copyright ©  Rushing Waters Media LLC/Bham Now 2016-2025 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page LAKE WALES — Lake Wales sophomore wide receiver Kaneiliues Purdy has so much upside as a football player that colleges couldn’t even wait until he got to high school to make him an offer Purdy was at a Lake Wales' practice when Marshall coaches were there “It was unbelievable,” Lake Wales coach Tavaris Johnson said Purdy was working out on the side when the coaches saw him and the questions about him started he’s become one of the most highly recruited players of his class Purdy has more than lived up to the expectations on the field He was an impact player last year as a freshman and is one of the top wide receivers in the state he had 30 catches for 681 yards and 10 touchdowns he said he didn’t expect to have as big of a season as he did as he finished as a first-team despite battling injuries — he missed one game and parts of others — he has 32 catches for 517 yards and five touchdowns He has 15 receptions in the past two games against Elite teams Orlando Jones (7 rec. “I like that game a lot because it showed me where I was at against great players,” Purdy said Purdy will try to continue that production when Lake Wales plays host to rival Bartow at 7:30 p.m Purdy said he expected to be on varsity as a freshman as Johnson told him as long as he made all the workouts and was committed “Nothing has ever been given at this program,” Johnson said “To play varsity as a freshman in the ’90s It would have been a great honor just to be in the shadow of some of those players The way he has handled committing to the summer workouts He was taking 80 percent of the reps at some of these camps and showcased to where we knew he was special You can see the effort behind his greatness he knew how to have the relationships with the coaches but he’s definitely an asset to Lake Wales High School football.” the getting skinny at times," Johnson rambled 190-pound Purdy has the physical skills that college coaches look for in size and he can literally turn sideways and just burst for 60 right now good luck trying to touch him in the dark.” Johnson his hesitant in comparing Purdy to former Highlander great Ronney Daniels noting that Purdy still has room for growth Purdy played everywhere in youth football on offense — quarterback wide receiver — and has seen snaps as a wildcat quarterback and at running back in high school Johnson said the challenge for college coaches is to figure out where he fits best because of his size and athleticism Purdy pretty much played on his natural ability He just relied on his athleticism and instincts He watches video more closely to understand defenses and his assignments “It took me awhile to learn that (read defense),” Purdy said Johnson told Purdy that his improvement on the mental part of the game will determine how far he goes and has seen Purdy’s tremendous growth in that part of the game Purdy first was just watching his own highlights telling him he needs to go beyond that to become a better player “You have to really watch the game,” Johnson told Purdy learn how to study your opponents so that it makes your game better but he believed us enough to realize that hey I got because that's what it's going to take at the next level.” Purdy still has two more years of high school football Johnson would like to see him work on his speed and likes that Purdy plays basketball and will run track more college offers will be heading his way he said he doesn’t feel pressure to live up to anyone’s expectations but his own A major upgrade is planned for the Lake Purdy Dam improvements are planned to make sure the dam meets standards for safety and structural integrity The project will focus on stabilizing and strengthening the dam's foundation and is expected to be completed by March 2028 "We are committed to ensuring the safety and efficiency of Lake Purdy Dam," said Darryl Jones "These improvements are part of our ongoing efforts to invest in infrastructure that benefits our community clean water in the most reliable and responsible way." The updates are expected to extend the lifespan of the dam Birmingham Water Works will receive $171 million through the U.S Environmental Protection Agency's Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan program to improve drinking water infrastructure said the money will be used to rehabilitate the Lake Purdy Dam Jones said the loan provides critical funds to maintain the water system which supplies water to more than 700,000 citizens it is not limited to the city of Birmingham We touch parts of five counties in our state We don't differentiate because of their zip code or municipality The money will be used in the most critical parts of the water system," said Jones Jones did not have specifics regarding the repayment of the loan but said repayment would not necessarily impact rates for customers "Not necessarily due to this particular loan but there are some rate increases that will happen just because of the operational costs of the water utility We don't say because we borrowed this money You may have rate increases because it costs more money to provide that cost of service to our customers Rate increases will happen but not specifically because of this loan," said Jones Birmingham Water Works is the first utility in Alabama to receive a WIFIA loan "The Biden-Harris Administration has made it a top priority to upgrade our nation's aging infrastructure and that includes ensuring every American and Alabamian has access to clean "I hope this project will not only improve health outcomes but foster economic development across our city and make a real difference in the lives of so many especially those in my constituency." the Little Cahaba River and the Cahaba River—major sources of drinking water for metro Birmingham Read on to learn more about the agreement + why it matters When you turn on a faucet at home or take a sip of water from a public water fountain, its easy to take for granted the fact that the water you’re drinking is clean. However, by the time it reaches your lips, each drop of water has undergone numerous purification steps and has been tested and monitored to ensure its safe to drink As the largest drinking water provider in Alabama Birmingham Water Works produces more than 100 million gallons of water each day to be used by upwards of 600,000 people in metro Birmingham Lake Purdy—a 990-acre reservoir on the Little Cahaba River—is a major source of that drinking water After a decades-long legal struggle that began in 2001 the groups finalized a settlement that will require the Birmingham Water Works to protect the land around Lake Purdy the Little Cahaba and the Cahaba River from development filtering stormwater runoff and other contaminants from the drinking water used by hundreds of thousands of people in Birmingham the natural buffer helps reduce the cost of treating water before consumption “We now have a strong tool that engages the community with the Water Board in long-term protection of the land and drinking water source We appreciate that the Birmingham Water Works Board and the Attorney General worked with us to find a solution that benefits all.” According to the Birmingham Water Works Board the protective measures of the agreement apply not only to the current custodians of the land—the Birmingham Water Works Board—but to any potential future owners The agreement will require restrictive covenants that will “run with the land” for at least 75 years or as long as the Birmingham Water Works Board uses Lake Purdy and the Cahaba River as a water source “This agreement underscores this utility’s commitment to provide safe and affordable drinking water to our service area Our responsibility extends beyond the present moment and this collaboration ensures that our precious water resources remain protected for generations to come.” The Cahaba Riverkeeper and Cahaba River Society will have a legal right to enforce all protections on the land and perform regular inspections Excited to see clean drinking water in Birmingham protected for years to come? Tag us @bhamnow on Instagram to let us know your thoughts This rustic cabin on Inland Lake in Blount County was valued at $79,000 it was bought by the Birmingham Water Works Board for $450,000 The utility continues to acquire cabins along the watershed.Joseph D .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Joseph D. Bryant | jbryant@al.comThe Birmingham Water Works Board is spending $795,000 to buy three cabins along the banks of Inland Lake in Blount County that they plan to abandon The price for the group of three rustic buildings in rural Blount County at a flat rate of $265,000 per cabin is significantly lower than recent purchases The water works board has the first option to buy and reclaim the contracts when they are put up for sale The utility has long paid top dollar for rustic buildings like these The board in 2024 spent $1 million to purchase two cabins to be destroyed the utility has spent about $5 million for cabins over the last two decades The new flat fee for all new cabin sales ends the former process where the owners named their own price to sell the buildings Those prices were not determined by appraisals but rather by how much the cabin owner wanted That system sometimes led to outsized purchase prices that yielded heavy profits for the cabin owners at the expense of the public utility Inland Lake in Blount County is the largest water source for the Birmingham Water Works.Contributed file photo “It could be a cost reduction because the price was going up,” General Manager Mac Underwood told AL.com “People realized that the Birmingham Water Works wanted to purchase the cabin so they would be getting a high cost or high purchase price and they would expect us to pay that price.” For example, the water works in 2024 paid $450,000 for a cabin that was valued at $79,000. The cabin purchase was five times what the structure was worth according to Blount County property assessment records Cabin inhabitants own the actual buildings They pay the water works annually in a contract for the rights to the site under long-term land leases that began when the property belonged to the former Birmingham Industrial Water Board owners use the cabins for recreation and pay a $1,800 annual fee for the lots and access to the boathouses and docks Boat access is the only way to the properties 26 approved buying the buildings from Virginia Brengelman “We’re going to continue to purchase them until they are all gone,” Underwood said “Anything that sells at Inland Lake we’re going to offer $265,000 for it and hopefully we can get the cabins purchased and off the lake for that price.” The cabin owners also have the right to sell or bequeath their agreements to heirs The Water Works about 30 years ago acquired both Inland Lake and Lake Purdy when it acquired the former Industrial Water Works Board in 1994 The board in the early 2000s then established a policy of reclaiming the cabins under the premise of protecting the watershed from possible contamination “We’re really concerned about the septic system because this is around an area with no infrastructure,” Underwood said then it could cause harm to the water supply The main thing is to stop the septic use.” Board members in the past have acknowledged the price to reclaim the Inland Lake cabins was expensive but said they had no other choice if they wanted to secure the area Others have criticized the program as an unchecked waste of public money. The water works did not pay a realtor to handle the purchases The program began under the leadership of former longtime water board chairman Anthony Barnes in the early 2000s called the old cabin agreements outrageous even though he advocated buying the buildings and keeping people off the lake Barnes at the time told The Birmingham News that in addition to securing the watershed he had a philosophical objection to a select group of people having exclusive use of private cabins that sit on public property ‘’We’re paying for something that we own essentially,” he told The Birmingham News in 2005 Underwood said the utility is committed to protecting the watershed from unnecessary long term use and development they are really left to go back to nature over time,” Underwood said regarding the structures “The septic tanks will dry up and go back to nature.” Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) white and blue is now flying over Lake Purdy Many locals say they're seeing eagles more often For years they've been hard to find in our state ABC 33/40 spoke with people who've seen them and talked to experts about how to keep them in Alabama At least one employee at the Alabama Wildlife Center at Oak Mountain State Park says these eagles likely are coming in from neighboring states but it's not difficult to keep them nesting in Alabama If there's one animal that makes us feel American pride more than anything else it's most likely the one gliding in our skies "It’s like seeing freedom soar over the water is the best way that I can put it When you see them swoop over that lake and grab that fish Daniel Newton's words capture the feeling best: “You can go just about anywhere in the world where there’s woods and see deer You can go probably anywhere there’s a lake and catch a fish How many times have you seen a bald eagle in the wild other than in captivity?” For many fishermen at Lake Purdy they're able to answer give a number Jerrod Atkins say he's fortunate to witness them “I’d never seen one out here before that and you know so you just gotta take it all in,” Atkins told ABC 33/40 The Alabama Wildlife Center experts say it's because pesticides like DDT made the shells of their eggs soft and they would crack when a mother sat to warm their young ABC 33/40 Reporter Patrick Thomas asked Atkins what it was like to watch the beast of prey soar I mean every time I get a chance to see an eagle it’s kinda like seeing freedom soar ABC 33/40 learned from local conservationists that these eagles have offspring and mate primarily in December Management and proper conservation are wildlife experts' top priorities Did you know that you can row in the greater Birmingham area?  The ultimate team sport-demanding the complete focus and effort of every team member – is a favorite hobby of mine I sought out a rowing group when I moved to Birmingham from Wales last year.  Fortunately I found one Find out what it’s about and how you can get rowing too But rowing is also a fun recreational activity where you can complete a great workout and just enjoy being out on the water.  less than 15 miles away from Downtown Birmingham has been provided this opportunity since 2013 Find out more about learning this great sport The Lake Purdy Rowing Association was formed in 2013 to give people throughout Greater Birmingham an opportunity to experience the joys of rowing Their vision is “to bring individual rowers high school and collegiate athletes and teams and corporate sponsors together to build a robust community rowing program.”  They hold adult Learn-to-Row classes each summer (see details on their website) and have year-round recreational and competitive training opportunities for members They’ll even help you hold next corporate training day LPRA sponsors the Samford University Crew. Did you know that a high percentage of youth rowers receive athletic college scholarships? Read more about Magic City Rowing Juniors and Olympic bronze medalist at the Montreal Olympics 1976 (the first Olympics with Women’s rowing) “This is such a great club situation to be part of at Lake Purdy Rowing is not easy – it takes a lot of practice and dedication to get right I really love seeing the camaraderie between everyone that rows together no matter what their skill level or experience They appreciate one another and recognize how difficult the sport can be.” On the rowing options offered at Lake Purdy you’ll be handling one oar on a particular side of the shell (the boat) this is where you’ll be using two oars to propel through the water they can go out on a single seat boat whenever they want which is great if there’s not a complete crew available.” “We have a group of about 25 regular rowers and they are all very welcoming We’ve seen some spectacular sunsets and it’s always nice to get out on to the flat calm lake in the early morning.”  This is something I have personal experience of having competed in coastal rowing championships in Wales and Europe there are so many reasons why I think rowing is fun Karin Fecteau to find out what attracted her to the sport It’s been such a great feeling to learn how to row and then be able to go out with a crew and glide elegantly across the water.”  Karin explained how rowing is about more than just exercise “not only did I learn the basics for a new sport that will keep me active I’ve met some amazing friends who are all from completely different backgrounds and we’re connected through a love of rowing!” There are four main components of the rowing stroke which is the process of using an oar to drive the boat forward.  Each member of the crew will follow the stroke rhythm of the rower who sits closest to the stern of the boat and they are referred to as sitting in the stroke position.  so the crew member in the stroke position must maintain a consistent stroke rhythm and the crew members sitting behind must keep in consistent time with each element of the stroke the Coxswain (who sits facing the rowers) will act as an on-the-water coach for the crew They can make sure the crew member in stroke keeps a consistent pace and can let other crew members know if they are not keeping in rhythm (or time with the stroke) Catch:  The moment the blade enters the water and initiates the drive Drive:  Portion of the stroke that propels the boat through the water The drive starts at the catch and ends with the release when the rower removes the oar from the water and then feathers Recovery:  The portion of the stroke after the rower releases the oar from the water and returns to the catch position Lake Purdy Rowing Association has a website and Facebook page where you can find out lots of information about their Learn to Row program as well as joining them as a member to enjoy rowing on the water all year round For more information about rowing on Lake Purdy and Learn to Row, contact:  lakepurdyrowing@gmail.com Originally from Wales (UK) and a fluent Welsh speaker Longtime sustainability and recycling champion Career highlights include introducing innovative recycling systems and achieving a point where households throw out trash just once a month Competed in international coastal rowing championships and followed Wales throughout Europe in their Rugby and Soccer endeavours .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a} Lake Purdy is a primary source of drinking water in the Birmingham area 2000 when the water level reached dangerously low levels The lake is currently under a Stage 4 drought declaration Drought has gripped much of Alabama this years with many areas seeing exceptional drought conditions These photos show how bad the drought has become Little River Canyon Falls as shown in 2015 No water is flowing over the falls and only pockets of water in the riverbed DeSoto Falls in 2016 with no water going over the falls Just a small trickle of water is flowing over the falls Water flow at normal levels under the Swann Covered Bridge in Blount County is 2015 Swann Covered Bridge in Blount County with rocks exposed due to low water level A maple tree at the entrance of Palisades Park in Oneonta as shown in 2015 A maple tree at the entrance of Palisades Park in Oneonta as shown in 2016 Black Creek roars over Noccalula Falls near Gadsden Virtually no water is flowing over the falls Little River Canyon as shown in November 2015 The river was flowing normally through the canyon the river is not flowing but is stagnant in pools Although there is some fall color in the canyon Calvert Prong of the Little Warrior River in 2014 Horton Mill Covered Bridge in Oneonta over the Calvert Prong of the Little Warrior River in 2014 Calvert Prong of the Little Warrior River now Horton Mill Covered Bridge in Oneonta over the Calvert Prong of the Little Warrior River as shown on November 3 A tree that ablaze with color on Hwy 75 between Palmerdale and Oneonta in 2015 75 never turned it's normal brilliant yellow color You can see the leaves turning from green to brown Above Little River Canyon Falls as shown in 2015 Little River flowing through the canyon in 2015 Little River is dry in many places at Little River Canyon as shown November 3 .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Dennis Pillion | dpillion@al.comMore than 200 volunteers turned out for a cleanup event Sunday at Lake Purdy which has receded dramatically in the midst of a record-setting drought in Alabama a major source of drinking water for the Birmingham area is down to about 25 percent of its usual capacity exposing large swaths of land usually covered by water The volunteers took advantage of the opportunity to remove hundreds of beer bottles and cans and at least one discarded computer with a crayfish living inside (see the video below) John McDonald of Birmingham said he visited the lake just to look around on Saturday and came back the next day for the cleanup "It's just incredible," McDonald said of the dry lake bed "We probably got 10 or 15 bags (of trash) "It's great that there's such a big turnout today but hopefully we never have to do this again." manager of the Lake Purdy Fish and Boat shop said a lot of people are visiting the lake outside of the usual crowd of bass fishers "We're actually sort of becoming a tourist attraction," Delap said "How often can you go walk along somewhere that's usually 20 feet underwater?" and during the afternoon became "Trash Man," by hot-gluing small pieces of trash to his suit A large dumpster brought out for the occasion was almost completely full by the end of the cleanup See the video below for more from Sunday's event at Lake Purdy \n m_gallery = \"lake_purdy_cleanup_day_nov_13_\";\n m_gallery_id = \"21523567\";\n m_gallery_title = \"Lake Purdy cleanup day: Nov 2016\";\n m_gallery_blog_id = \"4558\";\n m_gallery_creation_date = \"Monday 9:26 AM\";\n m_gallery_permalink = \"http://photos.al.com/4558/gallery/lake_purdy_cleanup_day_nov_13_/index.html\";\n m_gallery_json = \"https://blog.al.com/photogallery/4558/21523567.json\";\n m_gallery_pagetype = \"embed\";\n m_gallery_type = \"photo\";\n <\/script>\n Gallery: Lake Purdy cleanup day: Nov. 13, 2016 the Office of the Alabama Attorney General Office and the Cahaba River Society announced Thursday a settlement had been reached aiming at protecting the crucial water source that serves the Birmingham metropolitan area Cahaba Riverkeeper and Cahaba River Society which was represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) said the agreement is expected to protect 7,000 acres of forested land around Lake Purdy and the Cahaba River from development that could impact drinking water The SELC said the protected land is a natural buffer filtering stormwater runoff providing clean drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people and recharging the water supply while keeping treatment costs low for all water users According to Birmingham Water Works (BWW) General Manager Michael Johnson "This agreement underscores this utility’s commitment to provide safe and affordable drinking water to our service area Our responsibility extend beyond the present moment and this collaboration ensures that our precious water resources remain protected for generations to come." “We are relieved that after more than 20 years the Birmingham Water Works Board has finally honored the commitment they made to legally protect this land,” said David Butler “We have fought hard to defend the right of ratepayers to clean and will continue to do so moving forward.” BWW said the protective measures encompass not only the current custodians of the land but also any potential future owners the shield of preservation remains intact—a testament to the unwavering dedication to securing the region's water resources for generations to come BWWB and AG entered into a settlement agreement requiring the parties to establish a conservation easement to protect the watershed from harmful development The agreement also allowed ratepayers to enforce it After attempting for three years to persuade the BWWB to record legal protections on the land on behalf of Cahaba River Society and Cahaba Riverkeeper filed suit in 2021 to compel the board to act the SELC said the Alabama Supreme Court unanimously sided with the conservation groups and ruled that the Board failed to adequately protect the land as required by the 2001 settlement agreement you didn’t know Birmingham’s Cahaba Community was a thing It’s made up of one neighborhood: an old coal-mining area called Overton you’re going to want to visit because there’s a lot going on This is the sixth in a 23-part series on Birmingham’s 99 neighborhoods Here’s my best shot at telling you where it is: most of it is South of I-20 (near Leeds) The Cahaba community / Overton neighborhood is what’s left Let’s look at what is in Birmingham’s Overton neighborhood This is actually the only neighborhood in the Cahaba community Bet you didn’t even know most of that was in Birmingham According to Diamonds in the Rough: A History of Alabama’s Cahaba Coal Field and Henry DeBardeleben named the coal town for Jesse M the Nashville capitalist who financed the venture.” At one point there was quite a thriving community on both sides of Overton Road 2 made the front page of the New York Times an explosion killed somewhere between 53 and 61 miners They never did find out what caused the blast The Overton mines and many others lie underneath this community Much of the land has been reclaimed and put to new uses as will the new location of the Southern Museum of Flight some people enjoy being near the water—the Cahaba River or Lake Purdy some people enjoy the convenience of being near the shops at The Summit or on 280 longtime locals remember when 280 was a country road some like the country feel parts of the neighborhood provide Restaurants on 280 and at The Summit are national chains There you can stop in to Miss Myra’s Barbecue This yellow house with a lakehouse feel is literally a stone’s throw from the Cahaba community If you’re driving from 280 toward Cahaba Heights on Blue Lake Road it’s on the right-hand side across from the lake Have you considered a career in real estate? Flexible hours and unlimited income potential! Check out what Brik Realty’s looking for—maybe it’s you Ready to take a trip out to the Cahaba community Love eating and shopping—check out The Summit Adore the outdoors—the Cahaba and Lake Purdy are waiting if fast cars and motorcycles are your thing—Barber Motorsports has more than you could possibly imagine Interviewer + Adventurer | Telling stories to make a difference Aaron Purdy of Olney Hamilton Hospital caught a whopper of a largemouth bass on Jan 2 that appears to have broken a Graham Lake record that stood for a decade Texas Game Warden Josh Espinoza confirmed that Dr Purdy reeled in a bass that weighed 12.42 pounds on the state Parks & Wildlife-certified scale at United Supermarkets in Graham Purdy submitted paperwork to certify that his monster bass is the largest of its species to come out of Graham Lake The previous record holder was a 12.34-pound specimen caught by Les Norton on Feb Some area anglers were not as enthused about Dr as he reportedly began sport fishing last year and can be found at the lake only when his spouse allows Texas - I don’t think there is a lake within 100 miles,” griped one fisherman who asked not to be identified “He just bought his boat three or four months ago.” Another sportsman recalled that Dr Purdy also called in a huge bull elk on his first ever hunt an accomplishment about which he has not stopped bragging “I know of a few tournaments he has coming up so all eyes will be on the new record holder.” “Or is he Young County’s new semipro outfitter?”) Mr Purdy may have to wait a while for bragging rights for his latest feat – it took state biologists 33 days to certify the latest rod-andreel record-holder 
Phone: (940) 564-5558
Fax: (940) 564-3992 .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Jeff Hansen -- The Birmingham NewsView full sizeBIRMINGHAM Alabama -- Soaking rains this week brought welcome relief to the blistering heat and also raised the Lake Purdy water reservoir level to an amount considered safe A total of 1.64 inches of rain fell at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport Tuesday through Thursday and a total of 1.8 inches fell at the Shelby County Airport in Calera The reservoir had been below what the Birmingham Water Works considers a "safe yield" from June 6 through Tuesday but by Wednesday -- as the heaviest rains fell -- that ended The only other times Lake Purdy has been below its "safe yield" level since 1999 came in the two extreme drought years of 2000 and 2007 Safe yield is basically a sloping line from 100 percent full on May 1 to 25 percent full on Dec That's the time of year that is often drier and the demand for water is greater to keep lawns green and shrubbery healthy the reservoir completely refills during the winter and early spring This week's rains also broke the back of a heat wave The high temperature in Birmingham was 95 or greater for 22 of the 23 days from May 30 through June 21 That was followed by just 1.03 inches in the first 20 days of June Throughout June the Birmingham area has been listed as abnormally dry by the U.S and south and southeast parts of the state have had higher levels of drought Robert Bentley issued a "no burn" order for all 67 Alabama counties on June 7 That order was still in effect on Friday but will be re-evaluated next week according to the Alabama Forestry Commission Join the conversation, add a comment or email: jhansen@bhamnews.com Warm weather is here which means it’s time to gas up the car and make a beeline for the lake There’s no need to travel far because Birmingham has several nearby Here are six to visit and what to do when you get there Top activity: Boat rental. Visit Lake Purdy Fish & Boat Launch to rent: Lay Lake is a great choice for a quick getaway when you’re in need of relaxation or water-filled fun Top Activity: Fishing + fishing tournaments are held year-round This special spot is located on the Sipsey Fork of the Black Warrior River you’ll be met with 21,000 acres of picturesque views and tons of activities on and off the water Top Activity: Visit Sportsman Lake Park for paddle boat rentals Whether you’re seeking a fun-filled day on the lake this majestic lake offers 17,000 acres of beauty Logan Martin is known of having the best bass fishing in the nation You likely know Oak Mountain State Park located in Pelham for its beauty and hiking trails, but did you know it’s the largest state park in the state? It’s also home to the Alabama Wildlife Center the largest being Double Oak Lake that features a sandy beach and water activities for fun with family and friends Top Activity: Flipside Aqua Park—an inflatable obstacle course on the water of Beaver Lake inside Oak Mountain State Park with slides Oak Mountain State Park is the ideal setting for camping. Check out campsite amenities and make your campground reservation but still under a two-hour drive from Birmingham you’ll discover everything from recreational activities to great restaurants and beautiful places to stay.  Top Activity: Cliff jumping at Acapulco Rock (Chimney Rock) View 291 vacation rentals at Lake Martin.  Check out these Huntsville lakes that make the perfect summer destination Birmingham Water Works Board approved a land management with a developer who will now have the rights to bow hunt on 6,300 acres of land surrounding Lake Purdy and the Cahaba River BWW owns the land for water shed protection Several adjacent land owners expressed concerns about the agreement at Wednesday’s board meeting “We are property owners,” Tricia Sheets told the board Sheets told the BWWB she’s worried about the agreement “There will be hunters moving through our neighborhoods,” she said “The water board land weaves in and out around houses and a lot of houses Sheets was among several property owners asking the board to reconsider the agreement They said they would have expressed concerns earlier if they had known about it their families and their animals and also just for our privacy,” Barbara Rhodes told the board about why she’s opposed Developer Michael Peeples will pay BWW $20,000 per year for five years for the land rights BWW General Manager Michael Johnson explains why the agreement was put in place “We’ve had a significant problem with feral pigs,” he said “We’ve had problems with people going onto the property We’ve had cases of firearms being discharged And we’re just trying to protect the property.” Johnson said hunters will honor boundary lines “We want to try to generate revenue as much as we can outside of what we charge customers for water bills If we were to hire individuals to tour 6500 acres of property Peeples says he has a similar agreement in place to manage land for U.S He says he only plans on having around 10 hunters using the BWW land He told ABC 33/40 they’ll be responsible and not interfere with private property Peeples said he has a 100 foot buffer from private property lines “100 percent the profit I make off of any of this I’ll give back to the board,” he said in the meeting Peeples says the majority of the activity on the land will be trapping He notes hunting will only be allowed with a bow Property owners at the meeting asked Birmingham Water Works Board to rescind the agreement “People moving through wooded areas have been known to burglarize homes,” said Sheets and you call the police and say there’s unusual activity they may say oh it’s just hunting going on.” They also expressed concerns about not being notified such an agreement was in the works The agreement was approved at the November 26 board meeting ABC 33/40 checked Birmingham Water Works website That agenda was not posted online with the others With the weather heating up and the days getting longer what’s a better way to enjoy summertime than by getting out and casting a line We’ve got your guide to 10 great fishing spots in the Birmingham area A Birmingham transplant who can usually be found hitting a new hiking trail or restaurant opening when she's not writing stories and snapping photos for Bham Now We know—it’s hot out there. With temperatures climbing toward the 90s by morning, we have to find ways to stay cool Keep reading for seven ways to get on the water and beat the heat around Birmingham this summer Flip Side Watersports is a cable wakeboard park located at Oak Mountain State Park Whether you’re just starting out or a professional rider they have the coaches and the features fit for any skill level With one of the longest cable in North America Did you know you can go scuba diving right outside of Birmingham Blue Water Park also has many fun water activities and rides PLUS—you can bring your own paddle board or kayak and just enjoy the lake if that’s more your vibe Lake Purdy is a state water reservoir with some of the cleanest water in the state Bank fishing is free and they have lots of fishing equipment to purchase live and artificial bait and boats for rent Sounds like the perfect way to enjoy a day on the water a fishing expedition or just some good ole family fun Big Canoe Creek is a great setting for it all Their creek is great for all levels from beginner to advanced experience No Worries Kayak Rental makes preparing for your summer adventure very easy life jackets and anything else you can think of Treeline Expeditions has a variety of kayaking expeditions including a scenic night cruise where the moonlight guides you down the Cahaba River wildlife and enough moving water to keep things fun Tag us and let us know your favorite spots @bhamnow Fishermen in Alabama don’t have much to complain about. We are one of the most ecologically diverse states in the country with a plentiful amount of rivers, streams, lakes, beaches, and ponds to choose from. Birmingham alone has East Lake, the Cahaba, Lake Purdy, Lay Lake, Smith Lake, Logan Martin Lake, and more waterways in close proximity. But where does Alabama rank amongst the best fishing states in the country Lawn Love did some research to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day on September 24th and found that our state ranks a solid 14th of 50 when it comes to the top fishing experience The site used a 22-metric system that centered around benefits such as the affordability of a fishing license in the state, the average proximity to fishing sources, community interest, and the availability of gear and bait shops throughout the state. Alabama broke the top five when it comes to fishing-gear stores per 100,000, coming in at number four. We placed even higher when it came to the number of Bassmaster tournaments with a 3rd place finish Alabama was also found to have the eighth highest rank in regards to number of fish species The results show that there are plenty of fish in the sea so to speak when it comes to fishing in our beloved state There are plenty of great locations to turn to for a good fishing experience in Alabama the scenic Lake Guntersville in North Alabama is a good option and Pickwick which is shared with Tennessee and Mississippi and the beautiful Alabama coastline also provide great fishing that can’t be experienced in many other parts of the country and even sharks are prevalent on the coast - and bring eager fishermen from all over to try their cast in our wakes and waves There will be a Bassmaster tournament at Pickwick Lake in Florence from November 9th through 11th Next year will see Lewis Smith Lake in Cullman host two youth tournaments in March a Southeast Region showdown at the Jasper end of Lewis Smith Lake April a return to Jasper with a Kayak competition in May and a College Series Wild Card tournament at Logan Martin Lake in Lincoln in June As Too $hort didn’t say in his anthem with ‘Gettin It’ featuring Parliament Funkadelic “You better get it while the fishing is good.” Alabama has plenty of locations to do exactly that Cases linked to fight at Lake Monroe resolved through mediationAssociated Press and H-T ReportA judge says restorative justice was successfully used for one of the first times in Indiana to remediate a confrontation in which a Bloomington Black man said a group of white men assaulted him and threatened to “get a noose" while at Lake Monroe more than a year ago The alleged assault gained national attention in July 2020 when Vauhxx Booker, a civil rights activist and former member of the Monroe County Human Rights Commission said he called 911 after five men assaulted him and pinned him to a tree at the lake just south of Bloomington He said the men accused him of trespassing on private property and Update from January: Criminal case in 2020 Lake Monroe melee continued as mediation process goes on Booker himself faced criminal charges more than a year after the confrontation that earlier led to charges against two white men accused of attacking Booker: Sean Purdy and Jerry Cox II from Hendricks County filed by a special prosecutor in Monroe Circuit Court were the same recommended by Indiana Department of Natural Resources investigators in a 68-page report that included 16 witness accounts and also called for Purdy and Cox to be charged All charges against all parties in the case were dropped after a restorative justice process concluded in March the offender and victim in a case come together in a conference to discuss what happened and the offender has the opportunity to apologize Johnson County Superior Court Judge Lance Hamner, who was appointed to oversee the case after Monroe County judges stepped aside, said it was the first time he’s seen a criminal case resolved through restorative justice based in Elkhart, facilitated the mediating discussion about the incident between Booker and those he accused of attacking him “It’s kind of a grown-up way of just handling a case and taking it out of the court system,” Hamner told WISH-TV “They explained it to me as a new and innovative way to resolve cases that achieve all the goals of the criminal justice system but it doesn’t have to go through the full judicial process.” Booker initially declined to enter into the restorative justice process Court records indicate he decided to re-enter the process in December That’s the source of a lot of conflict," Hamner said "After it’s all had a chance to cool down and people had a chance to think about it and that’s when your restorative justice can kick in because then people can start thinking with their minds instead of with their emotions." Photo gallery from 2020 demonstration: Vauhxx Booker Demonstration who said he was “really impressed” by the remediation process added it also spares the state justice system expenses and resources who is currently running for Johnson County prosecutor said “that’s something I want to look into even more” should he get elected Neither Booker nor his legal counsel immediately replied to requests for comment Monroe County prosecutors originally charged Purdy with felony criminal confinement battery resulting in moderate bodily injury and intimidation. Cox was charged with felony criminal confinement and battery resulting in moderate bodily injury Last August, Booker was charged with misdemeanor trespass and felony battery for his involvement Booker said the men threatened to break his arms and said “get a noose,” while telling his friends to leave the area He said one of the men wore a hat decorated with a Confederate flag and that the men made statements about “white power.” Witnesses who were with Booker that day said they heard racial slurs being shouted and someone said “get a noose” and “leave the boy here we will take care of him.” Cellphone video posted on Facebook that showed part of the altercation was viewed millions of times online Cox and Purdy claimed Booker was trespassing and denied the allegations regarding a noose Both maintained that Booker threatened them first and their lawyers said the two men were victims of a “smear campaign.” Calling all anglers! This week marks National Fishing and Boating Week you’ll have the chance to reel in some fish – for free National Fishing and Boating Week is a national celebration that highlights the importance of recreational boating and fishing most states offer free fishing days where you can grab your pole and fish on public bodies of water without a fishing license Put your cowboy hat away… it’s not that sort of rodeo, sorry! Instead, grab your fishing gear and lots of bait and attend the Family Fishing Rodeo Hosted by the City of Birmingham Park and Rec this is the 20th Annual celebration of this fun event free community fishing event in the state of Alabama with over 3,000 pounds of catfish just waiting to be caught No fishing license required on this day (Thank you Where else can you fish near Birmingham for free this June 9 you’ll enjoy beautiful views and great fishing at Cosby Lake Park Catch a range of fish from bass and brim to catfish and crappie No motors (except electric trolling motors) allowed on the lake Oak Mountain State Park is a favorite spot of many in the greater Birmingham area it’s the place to be if you’re the outdoorsy type with two 85-acre lakes and one 60-acre lake stocked with largemouth bass Electric trolling motors and private boats only bait and other supplies are for sale at Flipside your chances of getting a bite at Lake Purdy are pretty good There’s a lengthy list of different fish to catch this spot Boat rentals are available at lakeside store on AL Hwy If you love to fish whether or not it’s free, be sure to purchase your Alabama Fishing License before fishing on public bodies of water You’ll need it on every date besides June 9 Do you have a favorite fishing spot near Birmingham it’s so easy to do in Birmingham that it only requires three steps we have all the info you need to start fishing in Birmingham There are plenty of places you can take your bait and tackle to fish, you just have to know the rights spots. Birmingham is geographically lucky because we’re surrounded by beautiful rivers including the Cahaba River Park. Check out these fishing in Birmingham spots where fishing is easy to do: FUN FACT: Birmingham Roebuck Springs habitat for the endangered Watercress darter to be restored You can fish in your county of residence from the bank without a fishing license when using a cane pole you will be required to have a resident fishing license No license is required if you are fishing on a private lake or pond Get your license online here from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources When fish that you catch might be unsafe to eat Alabama will put out warnings for local fishers but it’s best to toss them back into the water According to the Fish Advisories for Alabama in 2021 some local fish you’ll want to avoid eating include:: you feel more confident now and can start fishing in Birmingham We 💗 our waters and remember to leave no trace Sign up for our newsletter to learn more about fishing in Birmingham and other buzzy news Art enthusiast and expert on all things tea Water flow returns to area lakes and rivers The drought of 2016 has subsided in Alabama Here are then and now photos from around central and northeast Alabama The before photos were taken in November 2016 at the height of the drought and the after photos were taken the first week of January 2017 Little River Falls from the observation deck in November 2016 Little River Falls from the observation deck now Above Little River Falls in November 2016 show a dry river bed Above Little River Falls  now shows the river flowing freely over the falls The Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River near Swann Covered Bridge in Blount County in November 2016 Rocks were visible with very low water flow The Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River near Swann Covered Bridge in Blount County now DeSoto Falls at DeSoto State Park in November 2016 Water is flowing over all of the upper falls The lake was down almost 20 feet in November 2016 Lake Purdy water levels are up about 7 feet now Black Creek at Noccalula Falls near Gadsden in november 2016 Black Creek at Noccalula Falls near Gadsden now After several rain events over the holidays Just a trickle was flowing over this portion of the falls DeSoto Falls at DeSoto State Park now shows heavy water flow over this portion of the falls Dramatic difference from just two months ago Little River Falls view from the park then Little River Falls view from the park in November 2016 shows a dry river bed Little River Falls view from the park now shows normal to above normal flow of Little River Lake Purdy at the boat rental location then The lake is up 7 feet and need another 13 feet to reach full pool Black Creek below Noccalula Falls near Gadsden in November 2016 showing exposed rocks and sand Black Creek below Noccalula Falls near Gadsden now Heavy water volume flows from the falls downstream Locust Fork near Swann Covered Bridge then The Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River near Swann Covered Bridge in Blount County in November 2016 shows stagnant pools and very little flow Water is flowing freely and most of the shoal rocks are under water Lake Purdy at Grants Mill Road bridge then Lake Purdy at the Grants Mill Road bridge in November 2016 Lake Purdy at the Grants Mill Road bridge now Very little difference even though the lake level is up 7 feet Little River as it runs through Little River Canyon then Little River as it runs through Little River Canyon now Water flow freely through the canyon from the falls Lake Purdy boat docks on dry ground in November 2016 Lake Purdy boat dock remain on dry ground today Little River as it runs through Little River Canyon in November 2016 pools of water can be seen but very little flow was observed Same overlook two month later shows excellent water flow in Little River Before and after photos show drought's stunning effect on Alabama Drought 2106 photos from across Alabama Lake Purdy Severe Drought photos Experience the thrill of turkey hunting as a group of hunters pursue the elusive North American Turkey Slam Live turkey activity updates from our experts in each region Coverage from the annual trade show in Las Vegas Alabama's largest city has a number of bass fishing options very near at hand Here's a look at a few of those fishing holes Topwater lures fished around springs on Island Lake both early and late in the day can fool the spotted bass the largest metropolis in the Cotton State is probably not the first place you think of in relation to your favorite sport you can find plenty of great bass fishing right in the back yard of downtown Birmingham Lake Purdy and the Locust Fork of the Warrior River all contain tremendous When you consider that anglers sometimes catch 8- to 14-pound largemouth bass and 5- to 7-pound spotted bass from Inland Lake and Lake Purdy you may want to take a weekend off from the big waters and check out these smaller Let's take a look at these three Birmingham backyard bass bonanzas and learn how and when to fish them INLAND LAKE Jason Redding is the lake manager at Inland Lake a 5,000-acre impoundment with 56 miles of shoreline and a length of 7 1/2 miles from the boat landing to the dam in Remlap Serving as one of the water-supply reservoirs for the city of Birmingham a few redeyes and even some smallmouth bass there wasn't a single smallmouth caught last summer at Inland," Redding reports "The lake also has a large number of saltwater stripes and hybrid bass These were added to the lake to help control the gizzard shad population in Inland the stripers are the most-often-caught bass in the lake." Because of the habitat created by Inland's clear water and rocky shoreline "When someone does catch a largemouth at Inland," Redding quickly adds We had three 8-pound largemouths come in to the boat dock at the lake last year as well as plenty of 4- to 6-pound largemouth bass." "The largemouth bass is an incidental catch for the Inland Lake spotted bass fisherman," Redding continues "Inland has so many spotted bass that very few of our anglers deliberately fish for largemouths." In the summer there are mainly two places on Inland where spots are caught The spotted bass hold either in the cooler water of the spring-fed feeder creeks or around the deep points on the main lake expect to catch the spots all the way down to about 35 feet "The bass concentrate around the springs because cool water comes into the lake during the hot summer months," Redding reiterates "You can locate underwater springs in Box Creek You also find cool water coming in from Highland Lake Two creeks near the boat landing are also spring-fed." Redding has specific recommendations regarding lures when it comes to fishing in creeks "A 1/4-ounce spinnerbait in either white or chartreuse," he recommends with no hesitation "Or use a double-willow-leaf spinnerbait or a 4-inch finesse worm fished with a jighead The favorite colors of the spotted bass for hitting plastic worms include red bug regardless of which lure I'm fishing creeks with." He went on to recommend tossing and twitching topwater jerkbaits at dawn or tossing stickbaits both early and late in the day he switches to a 1/4-ounce jighead with an 8-inch black plastic trick worm but Inland has a lot of deep rocky banks on the main lake," Redding advises let the worm fall and then hop it along the bottom." Although you catch an occasional largemouth on the points and along the rocky banks most of those bass come from 6 to 20 feet of water in the creeks You are likely to have the most success fishing for bass early and late in the day during the heat of August but generally you can take a limit of spotted bass without too much difficulty "We have so many spotted bass up here that we encourage our fishermen to keep the smaller spots and eat them but release the bigger spots," Redding mentions "We ask our anglers to always release the largemouths they take there are some good-sized bass to be found here When the Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries electrofished Inland last year the effort produced 20 spotted bass of 5 pounds or better and 20 largemouths of the same size during about an hour of shocking Although not members of the black bass family stripers and hybrids add to the fishery on Inland At first light when the fish come up on the surface and start chasing shad is the time to target them and big stickbaits can all be used to catch these surface-busting linesides "Inland also has some anglers who come up here and fish with downriggers and live shad and catch good numbers of hybrids and saltwater stripers," Redding advises Smallmouth bass have almost vanished from the Inland Lake fishery the reservoir produced a number of smallmouths; however low water levels on the lake during droughts the last two or three years may have caused the population to crash apparently the smallmouths have not made a comeback "Some biologists believe that the spotted bass are out-competing the smallmouths for food I believe that the smallmouths have just about played out at Inland," Redding concludes travel north from Birmingham on State Route (S.R.) 75 towards Oneonta turn at Jet Pep service station and the sign for Inland Lake To launch a boat at Inland costs $5 per day LAKE PURDY Because of Lake Purdy's proximity to Birmingham they all seem to incorrectly believe that they have to travel more than an hour from Birmingham to find good fishing located 25 minutes east of downtown Birmingham on S.R offers some highly productive bass fishing Lake Purdy is another of Birmingham's water supply facilities In order to protect it from foreign vegetation no private boats are allowed on the reservoir This restriction also keeps fishing pressure on the lake down rent boats at the lake and bring your own motor Purdy is also a clear lake whose waters are dominated by spotted bass habitat Lake Purdy is not stocked with hybrids or stripers "We have a really good shad population in the lake," says Ken Delap and my fishing buddy caught two 7-pound largemouths from Purdy that same day," he continues "so you can't disregard the largemouth fishing in the lake either." points to late February and early March as the time for successful largemouth fishing at Purdy the spotted bass rank as the dominant bass in the catch This requires using a depthfinder to locate humps You can bring your own portable depthfinder or rent one at the lake "One of the really neat aspects of fishing Lake Purdy," Delap says "is you can fish the shallow-water wood cover and catch largemouths or you can move offshore and fish the underwater structure and take spots early and late will be the best time to catch the largemouths in the shallows Then you can move out and catch spotted bass later in the day." Another trick for finding the fastest action in summer months is to become nocturnal and do your fishing at after dark the lake is so close to town that it is possible to fish late and still get back to Birmingham in time for bed and work the next day fish a Carolina-rigged 6-inch plastic worm "I like to use a worm on a 3-foot leader," Delap reports "If the bass aren't taking the worm on the bottom Carolina rigging seems to be the best way to catch limits of nice spotted bass on offshore structure all summer long." The lake manager also has some specific areas of the lake he targets during the summer heat "Some of the best areas to fish for bass in the summer at Purdy include right out in front of the boat landing on Sunken Island; the ridge between Sunken Island and Goat Island; and Picnic Point which is about 2 1/2 miles from the boat landing This point extends out about 400 to 500 yards and is an ideal place for fishing a Carolina-rigged worm "Then two points down from the boat landing," Delap adds which tends to hold bass throughout the summer too." For more information on Lake Purdy and its facilities as well as nighttime bass tournaments held there LOCUST FORK OF THE BLACK WARRIOR RIVER The Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River stretches from its junction with the Mulberry Fork at Howton's Camp on Bankhead Lake northward almost to Guntersville the river gives up numbers of spotted and largemouth bass you find primarily float-fishing opportunities for spotted bass homes some of the premier canoeing and kayaking waters in the state," says Jerry Moss longtime fishery supervisor for District III "This upper section of the Locust Fork is where you find some virtually untouched spotted bass fishing "There's bad news and good news about the Locust Fork," Moss adds "We have some problems on the lower end with silt caused by upstream erosion Siltation is beginning to clog up the access The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has contacted the U.S Army Corps of Engineers to try and obtain a grant to have this lower section dredged to permit more access to fishermen and boaters." anglers have success with 4-inch slider-type worms fish the same types of baits but increase the size of the offerings a bit since both spots and largemouths are likely to be present To reach Howton's Camp from Birmingham for access to the lower river get off I-59 at the Hueytown exit and follow C.R 46 (Taylors Ferry Road) until it dead ends To learn more about canoe or kayak fishing the Locust Fork check out Alabama Float Trips and Canoe Rides Either can provide details about put-in and take-out points the environs of Birmingham have plenty of good bassin' action in the back yard These hotspots close to downtown promise better-than-average bass-fishing opportunities especially for small-boat owners and anglers on foot this summer Discover even more in our monthly magazine, and have it delivered to your door! Subscribe to Alabama Game & Fish As Kevin undertakes another day of pursuing the elusive Rio Grande Turkey demonstrates effective patterning and preparation techniques for a successful turkey hunt Kevin Steele continues the thrilling North American Turkey Slam right in his backyard exploring his home state of California in search of the elusive Rio Grande species The North American Turkey Slam challenges hunters to harvest all four species of North American turkeys: the Rio Grande Kali Parmley kicks off the adventure by heading to Florida to pursue the elusive Osceola In this episode of “Crash Course,” host Shane Beilue takes a look at the buzz toad a versatile lure that pairs the topwater action of a buzzbait with the anti-fouling properties of a weedless frog Packing all of your essentials is a necessity when heading out to camp But you must have a vehicle to get everything from point A to point B And the Polaris Xpedition has ample cargo space to transport most anything you could possibly need all while providing a fully enclosed ride along the way Gone are the days where your side by side exposes you to the elements The fully enclosed Polaris Xpedition keeps you comfortable and dry regardless of what Mother Nature throws your way during your camping adventures Fishing an unfamiliar body of water can be equal parts exciting and overwhelming Our eagerness to dial in the bite is often weighed down by the magnitude of the task at hand In this episode of “Crash Course,” host Shane Beilue provides some tips that can make the process a bit more methodical Many bass fishermen agonize over the color of whatever lure they are using Game & Fish “Crash Course” host Shane Beliue contends that taking note of things like forage and water clarity are more important than having every color under the sun at your disposal Tungsten Super Shot (TSS) loads in 12 gauge 28 gauge and .410 bore have taken turkey hunting by storm but there are some misconceptions about what TSS is and what it can do in the turkey woods Join Adam Heggenstaller and John Taranto from Game & Fish as they sit down with Jason Lonsberry of Apex Ammunition and Michael Waddell of Bone Collector to discuss the advantages that TSS loads provide to turkey hunters address the cost of TSS turkey loads and recount the performance of TSS ammo during recent spring gobbler hunts Use the onX Hunt app's Compass Mode and Rangefinder Tool to boost your turkey hunting success this spring See All Other Magazines See All Special Interest Magazines Get the top Game & Fish stories delivered right to your inbox every week This website uses online tracking technologies, such as cookies and pixels, to serve advertising and improve our services. We also share information about your use of our site with our advertising and analytics partners. See our Privacy Policy All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine Get Digital Access Subscribe Now By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use Alabama -- The bridge on Grants Mill Road linking Birmingham two counties and multiple cities will reopen Tuesday ending more than a year and a half of detours speculation and frustration from thousands of motorists Birmingham Mayor William Bell said the bridge was among the first issues he was confronted with by anxious commuters after taking office in January 2010 "We maintained all along that we could do that "Various people put pressure on us to rush the process I had one council member berating me about it from the minute I was sworn in and we received all kinds of letters of complaint about the bridge not being replaced The 74-year-old bridge across Lake Purdy in eastern Jefferson County was ordered closed in December 2009 because the city could not enforce weight restrictions About 8,000 vehicles used the bridge daily in many cases to reach Interstate 459 and avoid U.S Drivers were forced to detour six miles around the closed bridge was a frequent critic of the city's actions regarding the bridge Rafferty agreed with Bell in calling the new bridge an attractive structure with a rustic look that will blend well with its surroundings "It is a beautiful bridge," she said "It's going to have a big impact on the folks who live out there and commute every day There were several concepts for the project Shelby County and Jefferson County and even a short-lived proposal from Bell to reopen the structure as a toll bridge to pay for the replacement In the end the city completed the project on its own -- and without a toll booth Bell quipped that he wasn't sure what happened to the city's partners in the two counties the bridge serves "The only government entity that has kept its commitment has been the city of Birmingham," he said said the opening is set for Tuesday at 3 p.m The city in January awarded Bob Smith Construction a $1.06 million contract to replace the bridge The project included widening the street from 18 to 24 feet Bittas said he's glad to have good news about the project "I get phone calls all the time about the bridge status," he said Join the conversation by clicking to comment or email Bryant at jbryant@bhamnews.com By Paul Sokoloski psokoloski@www.timesleader.com Lake-Lehman’s Chase Purdy (33) and Madison Brdaric (3) race back to their bench to celebrate winning the Wyoming Valley Conference overall championship with a last-minute 35-33 win over Hazleton Area at Berwick Middle School Purdy’s 3-pointer shocks Hazleton Area Hazleton Area’s Kyra Antolick and Lake Lehman guard Lia Keefe battle for a loose ball at Berwick Middle School Hazleton Area’s Kyra Antolick and Lake Lehman guard Lia Keefe battle for a loose ball during the Wyoming Valley Conference girls basketball championship game Saturday at Berwick Middle School Hazleton Area’s Marissa Trivelpiece (front) and Lake Lehman forward Chase Purdy (back) and Lia Keefe (No 1) chase after a loose ball buring the Wyoming Valley Conference girls basketball overall championship game Saturday at Berwick Middle School 14) and the rest of the Black Knights celebrate winning the Wyomign Valley Conference girls basketball overall championship with a last-minute 35-33 victory over Hazleton Area on Saturday at Berwick Middle School reason or even real plan for Chase Purdy to put up a 3-point attempt with time winding down With her coach frantically trying to call a timeout Saturday and more time remaining than she thought Purdy flung up a 25-foot 3-pointer that swished through the net with nine seconds to play as Lake-Lehman stunned Hazleton Area 35-33 to win the Wyoming Valley Conference girls basketball overall championship at Berwick Middle School “I was really feeling it at halftime,” Purdy said It was the only 3-pointer Purdy attempted all game and the only trey Lehman made in seven tries I really don’t shoot out there all the time,” said Purdy she drove a stake into Hazleton Area’s heart once again The Cougars lost in the league finals for the second straight year after holding a late lead before watching Holy Redeemer roar back at the end for the title last season and Lehman do the same in the final minute this time “That’s a tough one to lose like that,” a dejected Hazleton Area coach Joe Gavio said The Cougars believed they finally broke through against 6-footers Claire Dougherty Hailey Kline and a much taller Lehman team but Olivia Wolk popped three 3-point field goals in the third quarter to help Hazleton Area pull even Marissa Trivelpiece and Brooke Boretski scored baskets early in the fourth quarter to put the Cougars up by four and despite surrendering Dougherty’s scooping lay-in Hazleton Area took a two-point lead into the last minute two minutes off the clock,” Gavio said “They’re in a one-and-one (foul situation) With 20 seconds to play and trailing by two Purdy rebounded a missed Hazleton Area foul shot and took a pass with her side to the basket down at the other end of the floor she awkwardly slung up a one-handed shot — “There was a little form to it,” she argued — and then prayed “I knew if I shot it with confidence and that’s what I did,” Purdy said “I was concerned that coach was calling a timeout I was praying (the officials) didn’t hear him.” “It was in the middle of me calling a timeout,” Lake-Lehman coach Charlie Lavan said he wanted to plan a play that put game in the hands of Sarah Salus the WVC Division 2’s leading scorer and top 3-point shooter “It wouldn’t have been a 25-footer,” Lavan laughed “I was trying to call a timeout to draw one up where we have a play set up for Sarah let’s do it right now.’ All of a sudden she (Purdy) threw it up She does those types of things that make you say ‘What are you doing?’ And she makes the basket The shocking shot made with nine seconds on the clock lifted Lehman into a 34-33 lead and Dougherty sewed up the title by stealing the inbounds pass and hitting a free throw to set the final score and give her a team-high 14 points but a 3-point try at the final horn fell well short as a league tournament where every game featured an upset ended with the biggest one Both Hazleton Area and Lake-Lehman were division runners-up and beat each other’s division champs in the semifinal round of the four-team tourney which entered with the worst record of the foursome at 14-8 avenged two double-digit loss from December in consecutive WVC playoff games by dumping Dallas 50-35 in the semifinals before stunning Hazleton Area anybody can beat anybody on a given night,” Lavan said “I like the way our defense keeps us in games We came out in the third quarter and played poorly the Black Knights stayed around to the end and stuck a shot that put them on top of the league as they head into the District 2 tournament next week “It means a lot to us,” said Purdy a sophomore who was part of the team that was left out of a wild card spot in last year’s league tournament by mere percentage points in the District 2 power ranking system “This gives us a lot of confidence.” HAZLETON AREA (33) — Brooke Boretski 2 2-2 6 LAKE-LEHMAN (35) — Lia Keefe 0 0-0 0 The weather is starting to warm up in Alabama which is always a welcome sign after the colder winter months While we are grateful for the sunny days ahead we must also be prepared for the humid heat that is coming right behind we can embrace it-and the best way to do so is spending our days surrounded by water Here are a few wonderful spots to take in the Alabama weather There are only a handful of places on the planet that can boast about balancing the arts of adventure and relaxation. Limestone Canoe and Tube provides this experience just a short drive from Birmingham After purchasing your tube (and a recommended cheaper tube for a cooler for snacks and drinks) you begin a miles-long water journey that is mostly a calm ride laughing with friends kicking back you will face seemingly small rapids that still need to be approached with respect After each trial are wonderful relaxation areas to rope swing Not too far from Helena’s downtown is this wonderful stretch of the Cahaba River that is the perfect way to cool down with friends. The Old Slab has built a cult following and steady appreciation over the years We’d recommend bringing your trusty cooler and some water shoes as the walk down into the water can get slippery Bathroom facilities are at the beginning of the trail leading down and it’s a beautiful (sometimes bumpy) drive to this wonderful Alabama location Fishing in Alabama is a beautiful thing, and this statement is found truest at the pristine Lake Purdy The Grants Mill Road/119 drive that is often taken to get there is a teasing glimpse of the scenery that is this lake and the fishing is a whole other thing to brag about We’d recommend anyone who enjoys this hobby to visit this top area lake While it doesn’t open until May, we hope that Splash Adventure (and the accompanying Alabama Adventure) are on Birminghamians radars this year Not every city gets their own adventure and water parks and it’s a pretty win-win situation to support and lots of memories are hard to beat-and Splash Adventure has all that and a bag of chips All you need is a little Slip-N-Slide action to have some fun If you want to make one yourself all it takes is a tarp (or two) and hand soap I did this last year with friends and there is not a single doubt that we are taking up the hobby again this year It is highly recommended to invest in an inflatable to ride on for extra fun it doesn’t matter where or how you cool down in the Magic City-all that matters is you have a good time while doing so Whether it’s a venture to a hidden slab or pretending to surf in your own backyard-you are creating a Birmingham moment - Here's how Alabama enters 2008 after a year of record drought and heat: An estimated 1.9 million residents are living under water restrictions and rainfall totals are more than 30 inches below normal in some cities and the state is working on a political solution to make things better The drought was Alabama's top news story of 2007 and it's a lock to be one of the top news stories of '08 Long-range forecasts call for above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation through at least February As David Brommer of the University of Alabama puts it "We are going to feel it more this year," said Brommer but many peoples' lives weren't directly impacted." You've already felt the drought if you paid a fine for watering your lawn on the wrong day in Calera; your water bill went up in Gadsden to pay increased treatment costs; or you couldn't get your boat into Lake Martin because the concrete ramp was high and dry The arid weather and triple-digit temperatures meant less grass cutting in August since many lawns were scorched and brown by then But officials fear that too much more of the same could lead to worsening agricultural losses and shortages of drinking water leaders are considering a plan to build 51 miles of pipeline to take water from the Tennessee River and pump it around the county a main water storage site for the Birmingham Water Works which serves more than 600,000 customers in five counties weeds and cracked mud have replaced acres of clear water as the lake shrinks said there's nothing unusual about the reservoir being low this time of year But he's going to start worrying if the winter rains don't come soon "I've only seen one time that it wasn't full by the end of January," said DeLap State climatologist John Christy said Alabama is locked in a La Nina weather pattern that means drier than normal conditions for the foreseeable future "The lakes are so low that even a normal winter rainfall will not bring things up to where they need to be," said Christy "The chancesof having above average rain statewide are pretty low." Locked in a three-way court fight over water for nearly 20 years Florida and Georgia begin the new year with plans to develop a new agreement for sharing water by mid-February Bob Riley said the three states are looking to the lead of seven states that signed a water-sharing agreement in the West where water shortages and interstate disputes have been going on much longer "A lot of this is modeled after what they did out West," Riley said Local water systems in north Georgia have exceeded a state mandate to reduce water consumption by 10 percent but the state lacks the power needed to impose such rules in Alabama Christy said Alabama's hydrological and geographic diversity makes a single solution unworkable The Tennessee River provides Huntsville and the state's northern counties with all the water they need and the Mobile area has escaped the worst of the drought The worst problems lie in central and east Alabama where the weather has been the driest and reservoirs are fed by rivers and streams that are drying up Two people accused in the alleged racist assault at Lake Monroe have been charged.  Prosecuting Attorney Erika Oliphant said in the release that all criminal charges related to the incident have been filed Sean Purdy is charged with criminal confinement battery resulting in injury and intimidation The intimidation charge is related to the allegation that Purdy said "get a noose" in a threat of lynching against Booker Jerry Cox is charged with aiding or causing criminal confinement intimidation and two misdemeanor counts of battery Warrants have been issued for both men.  The charges come after nearly two weeks of police investigation and review by the Monroe County Prosecutor's office.  "After a review of the full and complete investigation by INDR Law Enforcement the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office believes that the above listed charges are supported by probable cause that admissible evidence will be sufficient to support conviction beyond a reasonable doubt and that the decision to charge is in the interests of justice," Oliphant said in a statement said in a Friday press conference on Zoom that the charges are the first step toward justice "The prosecution of these individuals is necessary to send a clear and unequivocal message that hate crimes and acts of violence committed against men and women simply because of the color of their skin is not only illegal "Vauhxx Booker is a proud Black man who suffered unspeakable indignities at the hands of these violent individuals." Liell began the news conference by disclosing that Booker has tested positive for COVID-19 who also was on the Zoom call, said he learned of the result Friday after taking the test Wednesday “as a precaution stemming from the attack.” Liell said she spoke with Purdy's attorney Friday and suggested his clients get tested immediately IndyStar has reached out to the defendant's attorney for comment IndyStar has left a message for Purdy's attorneys It's unclear whether the same attorneys are representing Cox Neither have attorneys listed online in the criminal cases a member of the Monroe County Human Rights Commission, said he was attacked by a group of white men and subjected to racist language Booker was there with a group of friends to watch a lunar eclipse.   Purdy gave Booker a ride on his ATV earlier in the day after Booker walked through private property to get to his camping site Purdy asked Booker not to cross through the property again Booker said a man he was with later told him the same white men were yelling "white power." That's when Booker said he decided to walk toward the group and let them know there were more people coming "and to not yell at them." the daughter of the property owner said Booker and several others approached her on the property and that "Booker threatened her and presented himself as a county official." The woman "ordered him off her property several times," court records show The woman told police Booker said he would "make (her) life miserable" and threatened her with fines.  Purdy "took a swing at me." Booker said Purdy and other men took him to the ground and held him against the tree Purdy later told police he was "just holding him in place." Police observed bruising on Purdy's face and multiple witnesses said Booker struck Purdy during the confrontation Investigators reviewed video of the incident which showed Booker being held against the tree Police observed a small scratch on Booker's left cheek Booker was later diagnosed with a mild concussion at the hospital and patches of hair were found to have been ripped out.  Someone in Booker's group later told police he heard someone yell "get a noose." Booker said he heard the same but only after his friend mentioned it. In later interviews with investigators three witnesses said they heard reference to a rope or a noose during the altercation Cox told police he intervened in the confrontation when he saw Purdy and Booker "rolling around in the bushes." Cox said he punched Booker after Booker punched him in the face.  In her Friday press conference with Booker Liell criticized the Thursday release of the DNR’s incident report and accused the DNR of attempting to suggest Booker might have committed wrongdoing before the prosecutor’s office handed down charges “I believe the DNR intentionally misclassified the status of the report in order to release it and preempt the charges that were being considered by the Monroe County prosecuting attorney’s office,” Liell said “They intended to malign the character of Vauhxx Booker by even suggesting that he had committed any battery that night.” IndyStar has reached out to DNR for response IndyStar Pulliam Fellow Madison O'Connor contributed to this story Contact IndyStar reporter Elizabeth DePompei at 317-444-6196 or edepompei@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter: @edepompei.