Even as five state parks in Alabama are scheduled to close Thursday, local authorities are making plans to take over three of them. In Florala, for example, ownership of the state park there will revert back to the city. A development that Florala Mayor Robert Williamson is excited about. He says crews will begin Friday improving the landscaping of the park and the city will begin promoting the Rodney J. Evans Conference Center which is also part of the property. Two other parks slated for closure, Paul M. Grist in Selma and Roland Cooper in Wilcox County, were under lease by the state from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Officials in those areas are reportedly working on negotiating their own lease for the parks.
Hidden Ammunition
Alabama prison officials say hidden ammunition was found inside St. Clair County Prison near Springville. The prison wide search was conducted last week after two 19-year-old males and a 36-year-old woman from Birmingham were caught by a prison guard tossing packages over a prison fence. According to the Department of Corrections, the packages contained handguns, cell phones and drugs. Corrections officials say they have not determined if the ammunition is connected to the arrests. Its also unclear how or when the bullets got into the prison.
AEA Ruling
A federal appeals court has ruled that the Alabama Education Association cannot subpoena the files of GOP politicians to try to prove legislation was motivated by political revenge. The Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Thursday ordered that the subpoenas be quashed. AEA claimed Alabama Republicans were motivated by political retaliation when they passed a 2010 law that stopped public employees associations from collecting dues by payroll deduction. The state law said payroll deductions can't be used to support political activity.
Anniversary Plans
Organizers for the upcoming commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott joined Mayor Todd Strange Thursday to discuss initial plans for the anniversary. Civil rights activist Lloyd Howard, says this year the Montgomery Improvement Association will focus on the youth. More details regarding the anniversary will be released November 2nd.