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Think your holiday shopping list is the only thing growing this season? Think again.

Scammers are working overtime, turning the rush for gifts and deliveries into a goldmine of fraud. From fake shipping alerts to too-good-to-be-true deals, criminals are using the chaos of the season to steal your money and personal information.

Fraudsters use the chaos of package deliveries as a ruse to steal your information and money. We call that a non-delivery scam. It’s big business for criminals.

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, non-delivery related scams cost American consumers $785 million last year. Credit card fraud accounts for nearly $200 million more in losses.

“From fake websites and ‘too good to be true’ offers to porch pirates, fraud and theft during the holiday season will peak over the next few weeks,” said Jeff Taylor, head of Commercial Fraud Forensics at Regions Bank. “Fraudsters will continue to use these tactics, so it pays for everyone to be fraud aware.”

According to the FBI, non-delivery scams use the confusion of the season to take advantage. Some examples to look out for:

7 FBI tips to protect you from non-delivery scams

“Stay alert!” said Kimberly Reece, Financial Crimes Customer Advocacy Manager for Regions. “Protecting yourself from non-delivery scams starts with skepticism and smart checks. Don’t click on unverified links and remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

If you think you are a victim of a non-delivery scam, report it immediately to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov).

Think your holiday shopping list is the only thing growing this season? Think again.

Scammers are working overtime, turning the rush for gifts and deliveries into a goldmine of fraud. From fake shipping alerts to too-good-to-be-true deals, criminals are using the chaos of the season to steal your money and personal information.

Fraudsters use the chaos of package deliveries as a ruse to steal your information and money. We call that a non-delivery scam. It’s big business for criminals.

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, non-delivery related scams cost American consumers $785 million last year. Credit card fraud accounts for nearly $200 million more in losses.

“From fake websites and ‘too good to be true’ offers to porch pirates, fraud and theft during the holiday season will peak over the next few weeks,” said Jeff Taylor, head of Commercial Fraud Forensics at Regions Bank. “Fraudsters will continue to use these tactics, so it pays for everyone to be fraud aware.”

According to the FBI, non-delivery scams use the confusion of the season to take advantage. Some examples to look out for:

7 FBI tips to protect you from non-delivery scams

“Stay alert!” said Kimberly Reece, Financial Crimes Customer Advocacy Manager for Regions. “Protecting yourself from non-delivery scams starts with skepticism and smart checks. Don’t click on unverified links and remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

If you think you are a victim of a non-delivery scam, report it immediately to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov).

Sleigh bells are ringing and the Parks & Recreation department has it on good authority that Santa is making his way to Huntsville for the third annual Big Spring Jingle this week.

Big Spring Park in downtown Huntsville will transform into a winter wonderland for all to enjoy as Huntsville Parks & Recreation is hosting a night of holiday magic Friday from 4-8 p.m.

Rock the night away with a DJ dance party, warm up with a snack and hot cocoa from local food vendors and more.

Kids can enjoy creating a craft that could serve as a perfect homemade gift or memento and collecting a light-up prize. Santa will bring flurries from the North Pole and is excited to visit and take photos with all his friends.

Thanks to Downtown Huntsville Inc., and the Huntsville Museum of Art, folks can also stroll through the Tinsel Trail and have some fun at Skating in the Park.

“The holidays are a busy time of year,” said Parks & Recreation Director James Gossett. “Parks & Recreation is proud to host this event as an opportunity to slow down and really enjoy the season.”

Courtesy of 256 Today

Think your holiday shopping list is the only thing growing this season? Think again.

Scammers are working overtime, turning the rush for gifts and deliveries into a goldmine of fraud. From fake shipping alerts to too-good-to-be-true deals, criminals are using the chaos of the season to steal your money and personal information.

Fraudsters use the chaos of package deliveries as a ruse to steal your information and money. We call that a non-delivery scam. It’s big business for criminals.

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, non-delivery related scams cost American consumers $785 million last year. Credit card fraud accounts for nearly $200 million more in losses.

“From fake websites and ‘too good to be true’ offers to porch pirates, fraud and theft during the holiday season will peak over the next few weeks,” said Jeff Taylor, head of Commercial Fraud Forensics at Regions Bank. “Fraudsters will continue to use these tactics, so it pays for everyone to be fraud aware.”

According to the FBI, non-delivery scams use the confusion of the season to take advantage. Some examples to look out for:

7 FBI tips to protect you from non-delivery scams

“Stay alert!” said Kimberly Reece, Financial Crimes Customer Advocacy Manager for Regions. “Protecting yourself from non-delivery scams starts with skepticism and smart checks. Don’t click on unverified links and remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

If you think you are a victim of a non-delivery scam, report it immediately to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov).

7. Two men, Derrick Bean and Keith Davis, were arrested near Alabama’s Fountain Correctional Facility on Christmas Eve after being found with potential Christmas presents for inmates – a backpack was found containing drugs, cell phones, and charging blocks. Authorities, K9 units, and local police discovered the suspects in a wooded area near the prison, where the backpack held marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and contraband items. Both men face multiple charges, including possession with intent to distribute and promoting prison contraband, as the investigation continues.

6. A FedEx contract driver from Alabama might be responsible for some missing Christmas gifts after he was arrested in Florida for dumping dozens of undelivered packages in wooded and roadside areas. Holmes County authorities identified Latavion Lewis as the culprit after contacting FedEx and traced the missing packages to him. During questioning, Lewis admitted to discarding them because it was late and he didn’t return to the warehouse. Authorities recovered 44 packages, which were redirected to the Bonifay Post Office for proper delivery, while Lewis faces charges of organized fraud, grand theft, and illegal dumping.

5. In his Christmas address, Pope Francis called on people worldwide to knock it off, silence their weapons and overcome divisions when he highlighted conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and other global regions. The Pope emphasized reconciliation, even with enemies, and prayed for the release of hostages taken by Hamas in 2023. As throngs of pilgrims walked through the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica to receive spiritual indulgences, the pope urged unity and mercy amid heightened security following recent global tensions.

4. Alabama reached record highs in employment, labor force participation, and wages but the unemployment rate increased to 3.1% in November, up from October’s 2.9%. The state’s labor force grew to 2.35 million, with wage and salary employment hitting 2.23 million, driven by gains in private education, health services, leisure, hospitality, and government sectors. Average private weekly wages rose to a record $1,065.50, reflecting robust growth across multiple industries, with Shelby County and Homewood boasting the state’s lowest unemployment rates.

3. Alabama has lost over 350 pharmacies since 2018, with closures occurring at a rate of more than one per week, prompting a federal lawsuit by five independent pharmacies, including Huntsville’s Star Discount Pharmacy. The suit accuses Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and GoodRx of price-fixing schemes that reduce reimbursements to pharmacies, making it financially untenable to operate, especially for rural and independent establishments. Amid ongoing struggles, calls for reform face resistance from powerful entities like Blue Cross Blue Shield, leaving pharmacists and patients grappling with dwindling access to essential healthcare services, Alabama lawmakers attempted to address this last year but the bill went nowhere.

2. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) touted over $1 billion in funding for Alabama’s military installations, personnel, and families through the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Major provisions include infrastructure investments at Anniston Army Depot and Redstone Arsenal, support for Fort Novosel’s future capabilities, and expanded access to behavioral health care for servicemembers and their families. Additionally, the legislation provides historic pay raises — 14.5% for junior enlisted servicemembers and 4.5% for others — while advancing missile defense, disruptive technologies, and military career development initiatives, reinforcing Alabama’s vital role in national defense.

1. President-elect Donald Trump was definitely working on Christmas Day by firing off Truth Social posts targeting Canada, Greenland, the Panama Canal, China, President Joe Biden, and “leftist lunatics.” He suggested annexing Canada as the 51st state to lower taxes, expand businesses, and enhance military protection, while mocking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “governor.” Trump also renewed interest in buying Greenland for national security purposes and criticized Panama’s control of the canal, promising action against what he described as exploitation of U.S. investments. President-elect Trump is continuing to set expectations for his presidency through his social media site and making clear what his priorities are before he is even sworn in.

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and from 10-11 a.m. on Talk 99.5 and News Radio 1440, with a rebroadcast Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from 3-4 p.m.

With Christmas just two days away, it’s an appropriate time to take note of Alabama’s historical role in the national holiday.

For decades, historians have speculated that the Yellowhammer State was the first in the country to officially celebrate the religious holiday in 1836. If accurate, it would mean that Alabama preceded the federal government in recognizing Christmas by over thirty years.  It wasn’t until June 26, 1870, that President Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill officially recognizing December 25th as an unpaid national holiday.

According to The History Channel, the Heart of Dixie was followed shortly by Arkansas in 1838 in making Christmas official. The dates are repeated in multiple online sources and have been accepted by many historians as accurate.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History has traced the speculation that Alabama led the nation in establishing Christmas as an official holiday to at least 1954, when it appeared in James H. Barnett’s The American Christmas, A Study in National Culture, without citation.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten

Radio talk show host Dale Jackson and 256 Today CEO Mecca Musick, take you through Alabama’s biggest political stories. Mecca Musick is the CEO of 256 Today. Sign up for the 256 Today newsletter here. Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN, Talk 99.5, and News Radio 1440 from 10-11 a.m., and on Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from 3-4 p.m.


No one believes Cullman is a ‘sundown town’

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and from 10-11 a.m. on Talk 99.5 and News Radio 1440, with a rebroadcast Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from 3-4 p.m.

State Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) is sticking up against claims on social media that Cullman is a “sundown town” that isn’t safe for minorities.

In response to the city being No. 9 on Southern Living’s list of cutest southern Christmas towns, some social media influencers started claiming that Cullman is still a racist place. TikTok influencer Josh Colburn argued that Cullman isn’t a “Hallmark town.”

Gudger, who recently was elected by Alabama Senate Republicans to be the new Senate pro-tem, discussed the issue on WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show,” Friday.

“It hurts our town,” Gudger said. “We have got the best people, the most welcoming people. We have worked so hard for this Christkindlmarkt that we’ve opened. There’s approximately 200,000-250,000 people coming to our town in the next four weeks and just stuff like this. That’s not true. All that does is hurt us, and it’s ridiculous that this is still out there after, you know, 60 to 80 years of myths. But it is truly, I think, a myth. I’ve lived there my whole life, and I don’t think there’s a more welcoming town than Cullman, Alabama.”

RELATED: WATCH: A magical look at Cullman Christkindlmarkt – a cherished holiday tradition returns

Southern Living cited the Christkindlmarkt as one of the reasons it made the list. “Cullman Christkindlmarkt is one of many happenings around town and one of the most popular,” the story said, “with a life-size Nativity, a restored antique merry-go-round, and traditional music.”

Because of his life’s work, Gudger was able to effectively debunk claims by some that Cullman had a sign posted in the town that said minorities aren’t safe in the community.

“I do architectural salvage, and so one of the things that we do is go in and take architectural pieces out,” he explained. “One of the things I collect are signs. I’ve been looking for that sign forever, and I was born there in 1975 my parents moved to Cullman, Alabama, from Tennessee in 1966. My father said he’s never seen the sign. I’ve never seen the sign. There’s always rumors about it. But truly, I think that that  sign never existed in my personal life. And I’m somebody that searches for those type of things of history all the time. So, I have never seen it, and it totally puts a shadow over the people of Cullman, Alabama, wherever you go. I was checking in at the beach one time, and they said, ‘Oh, that’s the place where the sundown town.’ I was like, that’s not correct. You know, come back and see our people. It’s different than what people have made it out to be.”

“But it makes me mad thinking of what people are trying to do to our community,” Gudger continued, “especially right now, when we’re trying to bring people together from all over the nation.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

The Regions Center in Birmingham is once again bringing holiday cheer to The Magic City on a grand scale. Each year, the 30-story tower features designs of Christmas trees, a giant wreath, and a huge stocking that illuminates the building’s glass “curtain wall.”

The display can be seen for miles including on Red Mountain, driving on the Interstate, and even landing at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.

In a new spin on the tradition, Regions hosted a lighting ceremony at the base of the tower Friday evening. Bank executives in attendance had the honor of “flipping the switch” for the display.

“Every year since the 1970s, this building has celebrated the season in a way that’s become a Birmingham tradition, and Regions Bank is proud to keep that tradition alive,” Deno Posey, executive vice president of Enterprise Operations for Regions. “There’s a lot of work that goes into this and a lot of testing to make sure all the right lights and all the right colors are in place. Teams comb through the building with grids showing which colors are needed in which windows. Then, they place ‘gel sleeves’ on the lights above each window that’s part of the designs.”

“Their work pays off in a beautiful display.”

Greg Gammill, vice president of Critical Facilities at Regions Bank, explained the process of preparing for the holiday tradition that captivates thousands.

“After the Christmas trees, wreath, and stocking designs are put back in place, we illuminate the building a few times in the early morning hours during the fall to ensure we’ll be ready for the night after Thanksgiving, which is always the first night of the display,” said Gammill. “Most recently, we’ve seen social media posts where people capture an image of those tests and declare that it’s almost the holiday season. Now that the season is here, we’ll keep watch on the display and ensure it shines bright every night.”

Christian White, a Birmingham market executive for Regions Bank, explained the significance of the display for those in the city.

“This tower is more than a key element of the city’s skyline; it has also brought the community together through meaningful displays over the years,” White said. “With the return of the Christmas trees, the wreath, and the stocking tonight, we extend our best wishes to our headquarters city for a joyful holiday season.”

According to Regions, the tower will remain illuminated every night until New Year’s Day.

Crews reassemble the display each year because the same lights are used in the spring to illuminate a giant golfer on the sides of the building in celebration of the annual Regions Tradition golf tournament. For that design, different colors of gel sleeves are wrapped around the lights to create the image of the athlete teeing off. The red and green sleeves from the Christmas display are stored until later in the year, when the holiday images return.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten

‘Tis the season for glittering lights, festive melodies and sugar plum fairies. Huntsville offers a celebration for every tradition— from watching ballerinas in The Nutcracker to listening to a chorus give new life Christmas classics to enjoying festive fairs at new Huntsville landmarks.

Here is a list of just a few of the Huntsville holiday celebrations to unwrap this year.

Tinsel Trail
The Tinsel Trail is a walking path featuring 400 decorated Christmas trees in downtown Huntsville’s Big Spring Park. The trail opens Friday with the lighting of Mayor Tommy Battle’s Rocket City Tree at 6 p.m. Take time to wander through the forest of festive furs or wander through the Black Friday Market from 2-8 p.m.

Big Spring Jingle
Jingle all the way to downtown Huntsville during the Big Spring Jingle. The event features a wonderland of lights, live music, open dance floor and giveaway gifts. Expect a special appearance by Santa himself, and perhaps he might bring a flurry of snow direct from the North Pole. Join in the fun Dec. 20 from 4-9 p.m.

Huntsville Ballet Company’s “The Nutcracker”
The Huntsville Ballet Company presents the 55th annual production of “The Nutcracker” accompanied by the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. Journey through the story of Clara and her noble Nutcracker with swirling snowflakes, a mischievous mouse king and a whole host of glittering characters. The show is Dec. 13-15 at the Von Braun Civic Center’s Mark C. Smith Concert Hall.
For those who want even more out of the holiday treat, consider taking part in the Sweet Seats ticket option. This experience includes a tour led by a cast member, onstage photo opportunities and gifts from the Sugar Plum Fairy and more.

“A Christmas Carol”
Experience the holiday classic performance of “A Christmas Carol” presented by Fantasy Playhouse. Based on the work of Charles Dickens, take a journey through time with Scrooge as he learns the power of community and camaraderie. This fresh telling is adapted by Huntsville local Cherie Evans.
Tickets are $23 per adult and $18 per child, military discounts are available. Take in this performance from Dec. 6-8 and 12-15.

Orion Winter Park
The Winter Park at the Orion Amphitheater offers a variety of festive fun for all ages including glice skating, curling, photos with Santa, a ride on the Orion Express, festive performances and delectable treats. Some activities do require purchase of a ticket to participate.
The Orion Amphitheater invites guests to join in the holiday cheer from Nov. 30 – Jan. 1.

Dickens Christmas Fair
What is Christmas without Charles Dickens and his holiday stories? Immerse yourself in the classic Dickens Christmas Fair at the Orion Amphitheater Dec. 20, from 5-9 p.m.
Enjoy the traditional Victorian England fare and festive libation as you listen to timeless holiday carols brought to life by Fantasy Playhouse performers. Take a moment to stop in and take a photo with Santa Claus. There will be an additional option to take part in a Dickens Feast on stage with Chef Josh.

The Living Christmas Tree
The Living Christmas Tree is back to bring holiday melodies to life during its 40th annual season. The eye-catching 39-foot tree is the centerpiece of this choral and orchestral performance of Christmas music presented by First Baptist Church.
Reservations open Dec. 2 and are recommended to ensure there is enough seating available. Tickets are available for Dec. 12-15.

Skating in the Park
Huntsville Museum of Art is bringing back Skating in the Park for its 12th season. The ice skating rink is open Nov. 27 to Jan. 5. Rental skates will be available from the kiosk or feel free to bring your own. For those who want to just watch the show, enjoy treats from the rink-side vendor and get comfortable on available seats with heaters to keep you toasty.
Admission and rental pricing:

There is no shortage of ways to celebrate the season with the Huntsville community. Enjoy your favorite traditions and take a chance on new ones that are sure to inspire holiday cheer.

Courtesy of 256 Today.

Radio talk show host Yaffee, filling in for Dale Jackson, and 256 Today CEO Mecca Musick take you through Alabama’s biggest political stories.

Mecca Musick is the CEO of 256 Today. Sign up for the 256 Today newsletter here.

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Gift cards are the worst.

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 am weekdays on WVNN, on Talk 99.5 from 10-11 am, and on Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from noon to 1 pm.

Every December Santa delivers toys, games, and electronics to children across our nation.  Yet residents of the North Pole buy almost nothing from us, producing a massive trade deficit.  Santa’s gift-giving offers perspective on international trade in addition to spreading Christmas joy.

What do we learn from our Santa trade deficit?  For one, our trade deficit (or surplus) with any nation is a statistic aggregating thousands of transactions.  Nations do not trade.  Individuals and businesses trade.  We buy imports because they offer better value than other available products.  Businesses outsource production when this offers better value than producing domestically.

Santa’s trade policy would normally draw outrage.  China merely subsidizes its exports, through either government assistance or currency manipulation.  China makes its exports more affordable, not free.  Santa gives stuff away, the ultimate form of dumping in international trade.

Indeed, Santa personifies the extreme economists use to illustrate the benefits of one-sided international trade.  Suppose China (or Japan when I started teaching) sent us goods and wanted nothing in return, not even green pieces of paper.  Children’s joy on Christmas morning reminds us that we benefit from one-way trade.

Export subsidies break the rules of a pure market.  Economists often use sports analogies to illustrate markets.  In sports, cheating harms us or our favorite team.  But market competition differs here.

Apple and Samsung compete to sell phones, with each sale like a score.  The value creation in sports ends when the contest concludes.  Thus, rigging a contest necessarily undermines its entertainment value.  Customers use their phones after purchasing them, which is the true value creation.  A company which sells its products at a lower price due to cheating benefits consumers.

Are there downsides to gifts, either from Santa or nations subsidizing exports?  I see two, national security and dependence.

The potential for war to disrupt trade creates a cost of imports, one which market prices may not incorporate.  For instance, Taiwanese companies have great expertise in and manufacture most of the world’s semiconductors.  American companies might not expect any profit producing computer chips under normal circumstances.  But this leaves the world economy vulnerable a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

National security concerns extend beyond economics, so I will not discuss this further.  But national security has long provided cover for businesses seeking protection from foreign competition.  Security claims must be very closely scrutinized.

Dependence is also a danger.  Consider a young man whose generous grandmother gives him $3,000 a month.  He decides to live on this and drops out of college and play video games all day.  He might face difficult circumstances with no degree, job skills, or work history when the money runs out.  (Unless he makes lots of money on Twitch and YouTube.)

Becoming dependent on gifts is a problem, one also extending to international trade.  We will face adjustment costs if export subsidies we have benefitted from end.  Suppose China’s leaders decide in a fit of economic sanity to stop subsidizing America.  We would have to start making things China currently sells cheap.  The line between adjustment costs and dependence is a matter of subjective perception.

One criterion for dependence is perhaps a lack of domestic production capacity.  Increasing the production if Santa closed his toy shop would be much easier if there were still U.S. toy makers.  We would retain the know-how of production.

Economic integration involves interdependence, which limits the exploitation of dependence.  Remember that nations do not trade.  Chinese companies produce for Americans and Europeans, not Chinese consumers.  They have factories, machines and workers specialized in producing these goods and cannot easily switch to producing other things.  Being cut off from the global market leaves these companies with no customers and ultimately no way to pay their workers.

We benefit from Santa’s “dumping” of toys and games on the U.S. market.  But just as dependence on the kindness of others is bad, we should not become dependent on other nations’ misguided economic policies.

Daniel Sutter is the Charles G. Koch Professor of Economics with the Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy at Troy University and host of Econversations on TrojanVision. The opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Troy University.

The prison warden circulated a note to inmates asking for suggestions on the kind of party they’d recommend for his 25th anniversary. The prisoners all had the same idea: Open house!

Christmas is the season when many people have “open house” parties. But “open house” is misnamed, isn’t it? When you plan an open house, do you invite everyone? I rather doubt it.

We must be exclusive, for there isn’t enough food, or space or time to invite everyone. Some folks by necessity get left out

This is the way much of life is. Travel on an airplane is exclusive: one must purchase a ticket, come to the airport at the appointed hour and pass through security. College enrollment is exclusive: one must score well on the ACT or GRE, be accepted and pay tuition. Marriage is exclusive: one must find a willing mate, take a blood test, buy a license and locate an officiate.

And sadly, some organizations are exclusive. Only certain kinds of people are welcomed. We build walls separating us from others and erect signs reading “Members Only” or “No Trespassing.”

However, on the first Christmas in Bethlehem, the Creator God sponsored a non-exclusive open house. The invitation went out to everybody. Note the message given the shepherds: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to ALL people” (Luke 2:10, emphasis added).

It’s significant that these shepherds received an angelic invitation. They were unclean men, both physically and religiously. Their work precluded matters of social decorum and religious ritual. The Old Testament law made clear they wouldn’t be welcomed in the temple, and they probably weren’t welcomed at the inn, either. But they found welcome with a Nazarene family in a stable.

On the other side of the social spectrum were the wise men, whose path was following “yonder star,” as the carol proclaims. They were intelligent, revered and wealthy. They, too, found a warm welcome at Bethlehem’s stable–not because of their bank account, but because they honored Israel’s newborn king.

There were no walls, no barriers and no “members only” signs at the manger.

Later Jesus himself said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Here I am. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him, and he with me” (Matthew 11:28, Revelation 3:20).

To a world of exclusion where petty men build walls of restriction, the message of Christmas comes: salvation is available to all people. God is preparing the banquet table of salvation, and everyone who humbly accepts is welcomed. -30-

Reflections is a weekly devotional column written by Michael J. Brooks, pastor of the Siluria Baptist Church in Alabaster. The church’s website is siluriabaptist.com.

If ever you have the chance to visit Athens, Alabama, please do.  For seven wonderful years I was blessed to serve as Pastor of First Baptist Church in Athens.  I love the place dearly.

No visit to Athens would be complete without viewing the courthouse.  The courthouse was built at the turn of the last century and stately stands overseeing the whole of Limestone County.  The courthouse has four grand second story porches with dozens of limestone stairs ascending to each.  A copula adorns the top.

On the north west corner of the square sits U. G. White Hardware.  For many years Mr. & Mrs. Hubert Aycock owned and operated the vintage store.  If Mayberry had a hardware store, it had to be exactly like U. G. White.  There, you could buy a #2 washtub, a length of chain, or a Christmas gift.  The place just smelled of home.

Each Christmas eve I try to visit members who have lost loved ones during the previous year.  I make a special effort to visit those who have lost children.  One Christmas eve, as I made my evening rounds, I noticed the lights were still burning at U. G. White.  I stopped to visit for a moment.  

As soon as Mrs. Aycock made eye contact, I knew something was amiss.  I asked if she was ok and she was not.  She told me that a single mother had come into the store months earlier and put her child’s Christmas on lay-a-way.  Over the months since she had come by regularly to make payments on the gifts.  She had paid in full yet she had not picked up the gifts.  She knew making each payment was a financial sacrifice for the young mother.  With each payment, came a visit, and in each visit the two forged a relationship.  

In tears, Mrs. Aycock said, “I just can’t bear the thought of that child not having Christmas because I closed before his mother got here.”  Honestly, that thought never entered my mind.  

That cold Christmas eve I left Mrs. Aycock with a prayer and an offer to assist in any way possible.  She hugged me, thanked me, wished me a Merry Christmas, and stayed to keep the lights on and the doors open just a little longer. 

This Christmas don’t miss the greatest gift of your life.  The price has been paid.  You need only receive it.  The lights are still on and the door is still open, for now.

Aaron Johnson is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News and the pastor of Christ Redeemer Church in Guntersville.

The Alabama Republican Party is raising funds to help the families of two Alabama veterans captured in Ukraine. The goal is to raise enough money to pay off their bills before Christmas.

In June, Alex Drueke and Andy Huyn were captured by Russian forces in Ukraine. The two veterans had been serving alongside Ukrainian forces to fight against the Russian invasion.

After being reported missing in June, the men were released in September as a part of a prisoner exchange.

According to the press release, “The ALGOP has started a GoFundMe account to aid the families, and Chairman Wahl has also arranged for anonymous ALGOP donors to personally match all funds raised towards the target amount.”

“We are incredibly thankful for Alex and Andy’s sacrifice,” Wahl said, “both during their time in the U.S. military and what they went through on behalf of the people of Ukraine. When I learned their families were paying off their flights home, I felt it was important for us to step up and help.

“These families went through so much, and I wanted to show that we cared. The Alabama Republican Party has always been supportive of our veterans, and this is just one small way we can help give back.”

Wahl said the campaign is just a way to show “appreciation” to the veterans this Christmas season.

“People across our state prayed for Andy and Alex’s safe return,” he said. “We thank God that they made it home, and that they are able to spend this Christmas with their families. We hope this campaign will do a little to show our appreciation, and let them know that the people of Alabama are glad they are home this holiday season.”

Alabama’s political committee rules do not allow the Republican Party to contribute directly.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to raise $5,000 for the families. All funds raised will go directly to Dianna Shaw – Alex Drueke’s aunt.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee

The magic of the holidays can be found on Alabama stages.

Here are five must-see holiday performances happening across the state in December:

  1. Fantasy Playhouse presents “A Christmas Carol” in Huntsville Dec. 2-4, 9-11
  2. Cirque Dreams Holidaze in Birmingham Dec. 9-10
  3. Mobile Symphony Orchestra: A Cinematic Christmas in Mobile Dec. 10-11
  4. Trans-Siberian Orchestra: “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve” in Birmingham Dec. 15
  5. Alabama Ballet’s 20th year anniversary production of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker” in Birmingham Dec. 16-23

(Courtesy of Alabama NewsCenter)

For those who bravely untangle last year’s Christmas tree lights, imagine covering an entire zoo or botanical garden with the illuminating bulbs.

All across Alabama, the custom of lighting up Christmas rises to the level of art with dancing elves, prancing reindeer, walking Gingerbread men, and in one case, a mooning Santa. The displays range from dramatic to whimsical, high in the tree tops to below ground, and from elegant to so tacky that the infamous Griswold house would not make the cut.

From November through January, you can fill your senses with holiday cheer. Start early, and follow the lighted trail from north to south. Or, choose an old favorite to share with the whole family. These light displays are filled with joy, whimsy, motion, humor and the holidays at their best.

(Galaxy of Lights/Contributed)

Huntsville Botanical Garden’s Galaxy of Lights (Huntsville)

Santa meets astronauts in the Rocket City. Starting with a patriotic red glare, moon rovers light the way. Just down the way, space meets pre-history with dinosaurs alight. In between there are fairy tale heroes and heroines, woodland scenes and a host of flowers. Follow the 2.5-mile path either by foot or car through the light display scenes. On dog walking nights, your four-footed friend can chase an animated squirrel. The lights are on from November 11 through January 1 from 5:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Christmas at the Falls (Gadsden)

Arrive early at Noccalula Falls for a two-for-one spectacular. Get there before dark and take the walkway to the Falls where you can see nature’s superb light show with a sunset/view combo. Then, take your time walking through the lights and music of dancing snowflakes and exotic animals. Get a cup of cocoa and ride the train that circles the light show. On Paws for the Falls nights, canine companions are welcome, but you may want to keep them away from the animated tigers! Santa visits between November 25 and December 23. The lights run from November 24 to January 2.

Annual Sportsman Lake Winter Wonderland (Cullman)

Here is your chance to hear sleighbells in the snow. With a snow machine and horse and carriage rides, you can jingle all the way through Sportsman Lake Park. Or, take the train. Or, drive your car to see more than a million lights sparkle along the way. Snap your Christmas card picture in the photo booth. Santa may photobomb you with candy canes. The park will be celebrating the 20th year of this holiday spectacular. Open November 19-23, 26-28, December 1-5, 8-12, 15-23. December 26-30 is drive-through only.

(Wacky Tacky Light Tour/Mark Peavy)

Wacky Tacky Light Tour (Birmingham)

Going against the grain of beautiful lights, the Wacky Tacky Light Tour seeks out the most outrageous, crazy, kooky and just downright funny home light displays. They claim their standards are low, and hard to meet. This two-hour bus tour includes Santa’s Trailer Park, Dueling Neighbors, Mooning Santa, Toomer’s Corner in Lights, and Star Wars—since nothing says Christmas like a few Darth Vaders. Including a Hanukkah House with its spinning dreidel, fiddler on the roof, and Joy to the World, minus the ’J’, it is your most inclusive light tour choice. The homeowners are in on the joke, as someone who hangs 10,000 lights from his roof is not cursed with shyness, and they lobby to join the tour. The tour runs four nights: December 13, 15, 20 and 22, with buses leaving every ten minutes. Reservations required. Participants can purchase seats or reserve a private bus for this popular fundraiser for underserved children.

Glow Wild at the Birmingham Zoo (Birmingham)

Lanterns glow in the night at this new holiday show, which has been described as Zoolight Safari on steroids. Wild animals and sea creatures rise into the sky aglow from lantern lights. You may spy a mythical dragon along the way! Before you walk through the Zoo, take a lift on the Red Diamond Express Train, followed by a twirl on the Carousel. While you will not be able to see the animals, you may hear some of the night calls, giving the setting all of the magic of an illuminated jungle. This show runs on non-rainy nights from November 16 through January 16, Wednesday through Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., entry closes at 8 p.m.

(Majestic Caverns/Contributed)

Majestic Cavern’s Christmas Laser Light Show (Childersburg)

Prepare your pupils as you walk into total darkness before laser lights illuminate the caves in a colorful explosion. Majestic Caverns (formerly Desoto Caverns) enjoys a grand theater for its light show: a 120-foot high and 100-yards long cathedral cavern. This show is the perfect choice for families with young children: it runs during the daytime, is not impacted by weather and stays a modest 60 degrees year-round. Their Christmas Laser Light Show will be on display during all tours from November 20 through December 31, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Montgomery Zoo’s Christmas Lights Festival (Montgomery)

Penguins can be spotted outside as the Montgomery Zoo transforms into a Winter Wonderland. Thousands of lights morph into your favorite animals. Walk the tour, but also catch a ride on the train or the Zoofair Skylift. Warm up in the Mann Museum while you get new decorating ideas from the Christmas Tree Village. Santa and fresh-baked cookies accompany hot chocolate on select nights.  Live entertainment plays at the Overlook Café. The display runs from December 2 to 25. Give the gift of life for animals in the wild at the Animal Angel Tree.

Christmas Nights of Lights (Mobile)

There are no beads or moon pies, just a million lights—in fact, the largest synchronized light show in Alabama. Dancing on the street remains, however, as illuminated figures sway to the music. Tune your car radio to the posted station as you drive through. Expect to hear new holiday hits along with your favorite traditional carols. The path will light your way through nutcrackers, trees, and snowflakes as they sparkle to the rhythm. The illumination lasts November 11 through January 1, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

(Bellingrath Gardens and Home/Contributed)

Bellingrath Gardens and Home’s Magic Christmas in Lights (Mobile)

Come and see how creative the gardeners are—three million lights crafted into scenes designed and built by three Bellingrath employees. They work year-round putting the magic in Magic Christmas in Lights. There are plenty of botanical settings such as Secret Garden, Flower Walk, and Live Oak Plaza. If you look carefully, fish swim in the trees, butterflies flutter, and dragons parade in the Asian-American Garden. A Nativity Scene and Mardi Gras celebrate two holidays in separate scenes. Candyland and Gumball Cove are popular with the little ones. The illuminated path is made for walking, but wheelchairs and wagons are available. Tour the house, resplendent in holiday décor. Santa can be found nightly in the Magnolia Room from November 25 through December 23. Hot chocolate and hot food available.

Annual Christmas Lighted Boat Parade (Gulf Shores/Orange Beach)

Decorated from stem to stern, these boats are floating parties. Starting at Lulu’s, boats float on the Waterway Village with lights ablaze, heading for The Wharf. The parade can be viewed along the canal from Gulf Shores or Orange Beach. The boaters decorate sails and sides with colorful lights and lighted figures that glide by in the dark. The festivities begin at dusk.

(Courtesy of SoulGrown)

Neatly tucked onto four manicured acres – away from the hustle and bustle – a beautiful home on the shores of Alabama Power‘s Weiss Lake radiates all the joy of the holiday season.

Janet and Randy Tucker’s place in Centre is all the more inviting at this most special time of the year. Massive double doors are decked out in green garland and red and gold ribbon, and two nearly life-sized nutcrackers bid friends to enter. Visitors delight at the treasure trove of Christmas decorations carefully collected by the Tuckers during their 46 happy years together. Each of the home’s rooms appears lovelier than the one before.

It’s no surprise that the couple’s previous home in the Cherokee County Country Club area was often a stop on Centre’s Holiday House trail.

The Tuckers built their custom home at Weiss Lake in 2017, combining many Craftsman-style features. The home’s attractive entryway has wood beams that overhang the dark mahogany doors, ensconced in sturdy stone and brick. The corner lot, at the back of a dead-end street, overlooks the lake, ensuring privacy.

Janet is intent on creating a cozy abode for the couple and their extended family. Their sons, Auburn University graduates Jai and Logan, are both married with children of their own. The Tuckers love to indulge their five grandchildren – three boys, ages 4, 10 and 15, and twin girls, 8 – by creating a magical Christmas of which every youngster dreams.

At Thanksgiving, Randy excitedly called the grandchildren outside at dusk, triumphantly flipping a switch that made the trees surrounding the driveway dance with light.

Meanwhile, adult visitors “oooh and aahhh” at the sight of myriad holiday scenes throughout the Tuckers’ home. Janet’s philosophy matches many a Southerner’s ideas about decorating for the holidays: “The more, the better. We have always done that, ever since the boys were little.”

Indeed, Janet has decorated the five bedrooms with trees bedecked in ornaments. One tree pays homage to her sons’ years at Auburn University. A beribboned tree welcomes the grandchildren to their immense “bunk room” with one queen- and four twin-size beds with Santa pillows. An interior designer added upholstered coronets above the twin beds, matching the lake’s deep blue hues.

Traditionally, when Logan’s children come for Christmas, the Elf on a Shelf, “Sprinkles,” follows along.

“I decorate for every holiday, including Halloween and Thanksgiving,” Janet said, smiling. “We had no trick or treaters, but I still put up my decorations for the grandkids and me. They love the decorations.”

To Janet, decorating is part of the joy of the season. “I want my younger grandchildren to have the joy of Santa Claus as long as possible,” she said.

Gorgeous features abound in custom home

As the center of hearth and home, the kitchen has many luxurious touches. Numerous bright, white cabinets and drawers provide plenty of storage for implements needed to whip up delicious gourmet meals. Befitting the holiday season, the cabinets are draped in red ribbons. Janet’s beloved Santa cups await hot chocolate next to the stove.

A glamorous “stone” backdrop surrounds the stove. Made from synthetic materials, the backdrop prevents overheating of the cooking area. Above the stove, a tall chrome faucet makes it easy to fill cookpots. The huge, quartz-topped island is the perfect spot for Janet to decorate her holiday sugar cookies.

One’s gaze is drawn to the expansive windows in the family room, featuring views of Weiss Lake, the inground pool and the beauty of the landscape surrounding the home. Ten tall windows allow the outdoors in, directing one’s view to the placid waters, and perhaps a daydream about the mountains that loom in the distance.

“We see the weather out here. We have a spectacular view,” Janet said about their area of the lake, Little Nose. “I haven’t seen another one like it. We love the lake; it gives us a different view of each season.

“We get to watch the eagles. There are about three eagles that live near here,” she said. “We get to watch the pelicans. There’s a lot to see. … It’s beautiful out here, even when a storm comes. It looks just like the ocean, sometimes, the way it whitecaps. We love it out here.”

The cozy fireplace, flanked by a beige stone mantle, is the family room’s centerpiece. Above the fireplace, dark wood panels add warmth to the airy space.

“When we bought this property, it was completely wooded,” said Janet, who, with Randy, grew up in Centre and often visited the Piney area of Weiss Lake. “There was an old wood house on the land, and it turned out that one of our best friends – this is where she grew up. We got the wood from that old house. It had been part of the walls. It was just kind of meant to be for us to be out here.”

Janet recently selected new couches and chairs, covered in white fabric that adds to the room’s light and bright feel. A Santa pillow adds whimsy. Custom-made curtains – a muted mixture of beige, coral and teal – echo the colors of the floor rug while framing the windows. Seated beneath the tree, the family’s black-and-white Havanese, Lexi, could be a stuffed toy.

To the left of the family room, the Christmas tree awaits eager grandchildren to open brightly wrapped packages.

“These ornaments are special,” Janet noted about the tree decorations. Every year, she buys two new, identical ornaments. “My thought was that one day, as our boys got older, they will take them for their tree.”

The coffered wood ceiling in the dining room adds to the soaring space. Janet delights in serving Christmas meals on treasured Vietri china – the Old St. Nick pattern – handmade in Italy. A metal-and-glass bar cart in the corner holds crystal wine glasses as Santa looks on from a wreath at the window. At left, a small Christmas tree is loaded with colorful decorations.

A mahogany staircase lends grandeur to the foyer. While the house was being built, Janet’s interior designer discovered several beautifully carved, Art Deco-style mahogany stair pieces in  an old building in Birmingham. The reclaimed, curlicued wood adds a special touch to the structure.

“She had just got those, and that lucked out perfectly for us,” Janet said. “You’ve got to have a staircase so you can decorate for Christmas.”

Outdoor living at its finest

“It’s beautiful here,” Janet said. “The lake has so many different looks. It’s calm, stormy, serene. When it storms, it almost looks like the ocean – we feel like we’re living at the ocean when the waves come above the seawall.”

Stepping from the family room to the outdoors, one can imagine lounging at a favorite vacation spot at the beach. An attractive stone patio – built from rock similar to the stone of the house – is steps away, along with the  pool. Adding more Christmas flair, the pool area is outfitted with colorful red umbrellas and comfy loungers with red seat cushions, providing a relaxing setting for entertaining friends and family.

“It’s so quiet out here, and we rarely hear a lot of traffic on the lake, even with the boat traffic,” Janet said. “I like to sit out here and read. It’s so peaceful.”

Randy enjoys grilling steaks and beef brisket in their outdoor kitchen. The covered cookhouse can be used rain or shine, and is both utilitarian and attractive. The space allows Randy to chat with family and friends while he grills. Best of all, the outdoor kitchen allows the couple to cook without making the house uncomfortably warm in the summer. A table and chairs provide plenty of seating for guests.

At the boat house, to the right of the backyard, Janet has placed a stuffed Santa that seems to survey the lake. Like many Weiss Lake homeowners, the Tuckers enjoy taking a spin in their pontoon boat.

The couple agreed they are living the sweet life at Weiss Lake.

“We are very happy,” Randy said. “It’s like being on vacation all the time. We love having our children and grandchildren here for the holidays.”

(Courtesy of Alabama NewsCenter)

The Christmas season is an especially busy season for virtually everyone. Whether it’s travelling to see family and friends, preparing for countless holiday parties, or making sure you’ve purchased the perfect gifts for all your loved ones, it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of the season and lose sight of the meaning of Christmas.

Additionally, the past two years have been hard on all of us as we continue dealing with the COVID pandemic, economic uncertainty, and divisiveness across the nation. Despite this, we can all take a moment to slow down this Christmas season and give thanks for the miracle of Christmas.

The first chapter of the John’s gospel tells us, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Even in the midst of what feels like some very dark days in our nation’s history, we can take comfort in the gospel story that began some 2,000 years ago when God sent His only Son to be born of the Virgin Mary.

God’s love for us overpowered evil more than 2,000 years ago, and this same love shines just as brightly today. I’m reminded of this all-powerful love on days when I’m most frustrated, discouraged, or angry.

This has been a hard year for so many, but I am convinced our best days are just around the corner. Although we are still dealing with COVID issues, I truly believe we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. In Alabama, our economy is rebounding as folks get back to work and businesses have reopened. Plus, thanks to the availability of vaccines and medicines to treat this virus, we will soon beat this pandemic.

This week, I hope you will take the time to reflect with your loved ones about the blessings of the Christmas season and the miracle of Jesus’ birth to save the world. We truly are so blessed, and we have so much to be thankful for this year and every year.

As we move toward the new year, Tina and I wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2022. May God bless you and your family this Christmas season, and may God bless continue to bless the United States of America.

Merry Christmas!

Jerry Carl represents Alabama’s First Congressional District. He lives in Mobile with his wife Tina.

Autumn brings falling leaves and pine needles. I recently cleared the pine needles off my roof to ensure Santa a safe landing. Economics students learn that economics is everywhere in our lives. Including up on the rooftop.

I made an economic choice, namely, not to hire someone to clean my roof. (I also do my lawn and leaves.) Growing up in the Sutter home we did a lot ourselves. I internalized this way of life.

I did not make use of the division of labor, which as an economist I know is the source of prosperity. When people specialize and do a task repeatedly, they learn it very well. DIYers take longer than specialists to do tasks. Specialization also facilitates invention of tools for doing tasks faster and more easily.

Specialists also perform tasks more safely than DIYers. Falls off ladders annually result in over 150,000 emergency room trips. Fortunately, I did not fall. Other DIY projects involve more risk, like electrical work.

To help ensure the expertise of electricians and other professionals, states enact occupational licensing laws allowing only persons with specified training to legally practice. Sometimes, however, licensing boards add unnecessary requirements to limit the competition, compromising safety. People are more likely to DIY if electricians cost too much, or it takes too long to get one to your house.

But I saved money cleaning my roof, right? Let’s see. Everyone’s time is valuable, and the value of my time was my opportunity cost. I could have done economist work, like consulting, during the two hours I spent on the roof.

The principle of comparative advantage suggests that I could clean my roof faster by earning money as an economist and hiring someone. But given my dearth of consulting gigs, my opportunity cost was low.

My DIY likely lowered GDP. How so? GDP is the market value of all goods and services produced in a year. We limit GDP to market transactions for two reasons: businesses (usually) keep track of their sales, and the price that the item or service sold provides an objective measure of value.

People perform many tasks – yard work, laundry, house cleaning, cooking – that they could pay someone to do. Economists call this household production. We exclude household production from GDP due to a lack of statistics on quantities and prices.

Excluding household production is one of several imperfections in GDP. Yet GDP is still an enormously valuable measure of economic activity: nations with higher GDP per capita (adjusting for national currencies and prices) are clearly more prosperous, and we usually recognize the ongoing economic downturn when GDP declines. GDP facilitates investigation of the causes of recessions and economic growth.

Imperfect statistics, however, require care in application. Societal changes over the past seventy years have artificially boosted GDP.

The average household has fallen from over 3.3 persons in 1950 to 2.5 in 2020 due to many factors, including people marrying later or not at all and more divorces. Smaller households engage in less home production. Consider June Cleaver, the stay-at-home mom on the classic TV series Leave It to Beaver. Mrs. Cleaver did not hold a job, but she and millions of American women worked, engaging in home production. Daycare today is nearly a $50 billion industry and cares for millions of children. This counts toward measured GDP while Mrs. Cleaver’s parenting did not.

Smaller households have increased GDP per person. Normally such an increase means more goods and services per person, the essence of higher living standards. Yet America had cleaning, cooking and childcare 70 years ago; they were just less likely to enter GDP.

Perhaps I should have boosted GDP instead of climbing my ladder. But I got a column idea and a clean roof. But I still have some leaves to rake. Merry Christmas everyone!

Daniel Sutter is the Charles G. Koch Professor of Economics with the Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy at Troy University and host of Econversations on TrojanVision. The opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Troy University.

Doug Taylor saw the pain in his brother’s eyes when he had no gifts to give family members at Christmas.

In July 2018, Taylor’s brother, Buford, returned home after 24 years of incarceration. At Christmas, he was still struggling to get back on his feet.

“He had no funds to buy gifts for anybody and kept apologizing to us,” Taylor said. “We understood, but he felt he brought no value to the family and was embarrassed because he didn’t have anything to give.”

That’s why Taylor is doing his part to make sure others don’t experience that same heartache. Through Rebirth Community Corporation (RCC), a nonprofit founded by Taylor in 2015, low-income individuals, including people recently released from jail or prison, got the chance to choose gifts, free of charge, for their families.

RCC joined with other community partners to host its second annual holiday “shopping spree” at Rebirth Christian Fellowship church in Birmingham. Families in need selected presents during the past two weekends, while parolees came to shop on Dec. 14-15.

“Who doesn’t look forward to giving gifts to their loved ones at Christmas? If you don’t have anything to give, you don’t have that joy, and that creates embarrassment,” said Taylor, RCC executive director. “We want these men and women to have a sense of pride knowing they can show their families how much they mean to them with a gift for Christmas.”

RCC is a holistic support organization in Birmingham that works to improve the lives of at-risk minority populations, including students, small business owners, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders and recently incarcerated individuals or ex-offenders. In partnership with the Alabama court system, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office and others, RCC has coordinated homeowner seminars, financial literacy and leadership workshops, school mentoring programs, coaching networks for entrepreneurs, and student and family counseling services. The Alabama Power Foundation has also provided support for RCC and its programs.

RCC serves as an advocate for all disadvantaged populations. But because of his brother’s experience, Taylor has a real passion for helping parolees regain their footing in the world.

“We believe that one of the best things you can ever have is someone who is for you,” Taylor said. “I’ve seen so many young men and women who have made poor choices. They don’t have the proper information to make decisions and avoid mistakes. We just want to come alongside them and say, ‘We’re here for you.’”

Taylor said the assistance can come in many forms. It could mean helping to provide temporary housing, find jobs, purchase prescription medication, obtain a driver license and arrange for vehicle repairs – a new service that will be offered in 2022.

RCC’s Advocate Plan features a three-pronged process: avoidance, assistance and advancement. During the first two phases of the program, RCC helps ex-offenders take the necessary steps to get back on their feet and avoid a possible return to jail. In the advancement phase, Taylor said the men and women are given the tools needed to become an advocate for others who are headed down the wrong path in life.

“The third phase is where the magic happens,” Taylor said. “We empower them to help someone else as we have helped them.”

During the holiday shopping event, RCC and its community partners spent about $7,000 to provide gifts to 150 families from the community and 15 recently incarcerated men and women who are taking part in the Advocate Plan. Among the items were clothing, shoes, gloves, household items, cellphones, headphones, 1,800 toys and personal care products. The families could even pick up gifts for their pets.

“It was amazing,” said Joseph Lewis, who chose gifts for his six children and three grandchildren. “It’s my first time at home after four years, and it means a lot to be able to give my family something. It was by the grace of God that I found out about this event.”

Antonio Sparks said he was thrilled to have the opportunity to find presents for his daughter, 5, and son, 2½.

“I was so emotional,” said Sparks. “I have small children, and this just came at the right time because I haven’t been able to work. It’s a true blessing.”

Taylor said seeing the smiles on the faces of these men and women meant “everything” to him.

“I was fortunate enough to be an advocate for my brother,” Taylor said. “I saw the joy he had from knowing that after his mistake, he was still loved and cared for. Everybody doesn’t have that. Having the opportunity to be a support for someone makes my Christmas so much more meaningful.”

(Courtesy of Alabama NewsCenter)

It’s been some time coming, but Cassandra Jones is in her home for Christmas.

This week Jones cut the ribbon on her new Habitat for Humanity home in Tuscaloosa, built with support from the Alabama Power Foundation and the Holle Family Foundation.

The brick home with its bright red door is in Tuscaloosa’s West End. Jones, a child abuse prevention educator for local public schools, was approved for the home in 2019, but the project took longer than estimated because of restrictions on volunteer labor caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Homeowners are required to contribute 250 hours of labor to Habitat projects to qualify, but Jones put in more than 300 hours, often alongside her mother and daughter, according to a report in The Tuscaloosa News.

Mark Crews, vice president of Alabama Power’s Western Division, was among those who joined Jones at the ribbon-cutting. Crews was part of a crew of area business leaders who helped with the home’s construction one day in October during the annual Habitat “CEO Build” event.

“It was truly special to be a part of the home dedication for Ms. Jones, just in time for the holidays,” Crews said. “She is so deserving and she put in a tremendous amount of work, along with the community, to make this possible.

“I am grateful that we were able to support this project through the Alabama Power Foundation, as well as by participating in the CEO Build to help complete the home,” Crews added. “This was a wonderful opportunity for us to be a part of, and share in, with other members of the Tuscaloosa community.”

The home is the second one to be built as a part of Operation Transformation, a project to create a new neighborhood of 40 homes while using the building sites as training grounds to teach construction skills to Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy (TCTA) students.

Volunteers from the Mercedes-Benz U.S. International plant in Vance also played a major role in the home’s construction.

Ellen Potts, Habitat for Humanity Tuscaloosa executive director, was all smiles as she handed Jones the keys to the new home. Guests then toured the home, with Jones leading the way.

Since the April 27, 2011, tornado that devastated portions of the city, Habitat for Tuscaloosa has built nearly 90 new homes and repaired more than 400 existing homes, mostly with volunteer support.

“We are grateful to the Alabama Power Foundation and generous corporate supporters who make all of this possible. Together, we can build a better Tuscaloosa County,” Potter said following October’s CEO Build.

Habitat for Humanity Tuscaloosa is seeking additional support for Operation Transformation. To learn more about volunteer opportunities or to donate to the initiative, click here.

To learn more about how the Alabama Power Foundation and Alabama Power employee volunteers work to improve quality of life in the state, click here.

(Courtesy of Alabama NewsCenter)