Alabama

The Brookside Town Council announced tonight that a community development block grant for $407,000 was approved by the Jefferson County Commission, clearing the last hurdle for construction to begin on a new fire station.

Construction could start later this month.

The fire station was destroyed May 7, 2003, after 8 to 11 inches of rain fell on Jefferson County and pushed Five Mile Creek over its banks. In October, a new $3.5 million municipal complex opened in Brookside, including a town hall and community center.

(Read the full post about ‘Brookside gets grant for new fire station’…)

The Interstate 459 north on-ramp at U.S. 31 in Hoover has reopened after Hoover police finished their on-site investigation into a wreck that blocked the ramp and sent a teenage girl to UAB Hospital in critical condition.

The wreck happened about 3:15 p.m. when a Toyota 4Runner driven by the teenage girl and headed north on I-459 apparently collided with a concrete truck, then flipped off the interstate and landed upside down on the ramp, Hoover police Capt. Jim Coker said.

The ramp reopened shortly after 6 p.m., according to a police dispatcher.

Heavy rains and possibly severe weather may occur tonight and Tuesday across Central Alabama, according to the National Weather Service.

The Hoover City Council voted tonight to rezone nearly 11 acres on the southeast corner of South Shades Crest Road and Morgan Road to a community business district.

The property, owned by Walgreen Co., was recently annexed from Jefferson County, where it was zoned agricultural. Walgreen officials have not confirmed any plans for a store on the company’s land.

The Springville City Council voted tonight to reschedule its second meeting this month from Jan. 19 to Jan. 20 due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

The council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in council chambers at the City Hall annex.

Today brought the first — but probably not the last — SEC freshman of the week honor for Alabama freshman forward JaMychal Green.

Green averaged 12.5 points and 6 rebounds in victories over Quincy and Georgia Tech, making 64.7 percent (11-of-17) of his shot attempts.

More than anything, Green showed he may have overcome his early-season problems staying out of foul trouble. If the Crimson Tide is to make a move down the stretch, Green must be a factor in the post.

Associated PressAlabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain talks with quarterback Greg McElroy during Sugar Bowl practices in New Orleans. T.G. Paschal/BamaOnline.comStar Jackson redshirted the 2008 season.

The big story of the spring is already set. Alabama’s football team is preparing for the first genuine, wide-open quarterback competition since Nick Saban was hired two seasons ago.

The two main participants in the race to replace John Parker Wilson — Greg McElroy and Star Jackson — were good enough to discuss their thoughts on the immediate future with me after Friday night’s Sugar Bowl.

(Read the full post about ‘Alabama QB Greg McElroy: “I’m ready to go”’…)

This is hardly surprising news by this point, but updating a reported story …

Former Alabama defensive assistant Kevin Steele is indeed in Clemson today and has met with several Tigers players, according to TigerIllustrated.com, Clemson’s site on the Rivals network.

The overall situation hasn’t changed since last week, when the Press-Register reported that Steele had agreed to take over as Clemson’s new defensive coordinator after the Sugar Bowl.

The only surprise is Clemson hasn’t yet made an official announcement while the school completes its process of background checks (which were reportedly late to begin because of the recent holiday).

(Read the full post about ‘Kevin Steele is in Clemson; formal announcement is imminent’…)

To follow up on a column today by Gannett’s fine Louisiana reporter Glenn Guilbeau (who you may remember from a previous appearance on the blog), which reported that LSU was interested in Alabama defensive line coach Bo Davis …

LSU coach Les Miles told reporters today that Davis is no longer a candidate to join his coaching staff. There was reportedly initial interest from Miles, but the deal never came together, and the Tigers will go in another direction.

Be sure to check Guilbeau’s Web site for more on the Tigers’ coaching hires.

Montgomery Advertiser/Lloyd GallmanShula gets to coach his old Tide QB Wilson during the Senior Bowl later this month.

Officials of the Senior Bowl released word today that staffs of the Cincinnati Bengals (North) and Jacksonville Jaguars (South) will be coaching this year’s Jan. 24 game in Mobile.

That Jacksonville staff, of course, includes its quarterbacks coach: Former Alabama head coach Mike Shula.

Throw in the fact that departing Crimson Tide QB John Parker Wilson is one of four Tide players bound for the Senior Bowl, and that makes a very interesting angle to this year’s event.

Wilson originally signed with Shula out of Hoover High and started every game of Alabama’s 2006 season, which proved to be Shula’s last in charge.

(Read the full post about ‘Mike Shula and John Parker Wilson to reunite for Senior Bowl’…)