Congrats to our state champs!

South Alabama Electric Cooperative would like to congratulate the Brantley High School softball team and the Ariton High School baseball team on winning 2023 state championships.

Brantley won its sixth state title in school history with a 6-2 win in the Class 1A state title game. Ariton won its first championship in school history with a 2-1 victory over Vincent in the state finals.

We are proud of these teams’ hard work and dedication. Thank you for representing our area so well! 

Ariton High School Brantley High School

Pierce Gill, Cooper Campbell, Caden Collier, Lawson Leger, Coleman Bragg, Andyn Garris, Easton Kilpatrick, Aven Cook, Hayes Hammock, Conner Davidson and Hunter Holmes. Back row: Easton Lumpkin, Jason Howell, Taylor Polk, Myles Tyler, Connor Thrash, Landon Tyler, Gabe Jones, Paxton Steed, Tristan McGuire, Austin Evans, Landon Givens, Reiley Snellgrove, Hughes Hammock, Phenix Griffin, Dalton Murphy, Jackson Baker, Head Coach Bob Pickett and Coach Preston Herring.

The players and

Abbigail Stroud, Maddie Coggins, Kaitlynn Piggott, Marley Kate Kilcrease, Savannah Nichols, Lindsey Wells, Emma Crawley, CoCo Stamps, Collins Hawthorne and Kennedy Baggett. Back row from left are, Jonny Young, Bridgett Free, Kaylee Navarre, Riley Odom, Alex Grimes, Anna Claire Free, Hope Richardson, Annah Parker Little, Campbell Hawthorne, Cindy Hawthorne and Jimmy Johnson.

Play it safe at the beach this summer

One of the highlights of a beach trip is water recreation. But the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) reminds everyone to be mindful of safety around water this season.

Never swim alone. Stay in groups, and don’t drift too far from shore.

• Don’t swim near piers, pilings and platforms.

• Do not swim in areas being used by fishermen. Avoid swimming in areas where schools of fish are present.

• Use extra caution when water is murky. Avoid being in the water during nighttime hours.

• Rip currents are most prevalent when the waves crash perpendicular to the beach, rather than at an angle. Look for gaps between the waves; a small patch of calm water surrounded by waves is often a rip current. And look for discolored water near the shore. Rip currents tend to drag large amounts of sediment back out to sea; they’re identifiable by a noticeable flow of sand extending away from the shore.

• Heed beach warning flags, which are posted at all public beach areas in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Gulf State Park. For more on summer safety, visit alea.gov.

Alabama launches statewide action plan to eliminate cervical cancer by 2033

Alabama ranks third in the nation in the incidence and deaths from cervical cancer, and the burden is even worse in rural counties. To address the problem, the state Department of Public Health, primary care providers and several other health and advocacy groups have launched “Operation Wipe Out Cervical Cancer Alabama.”

The action plan will use evidence-based strategies to promote vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV), encourage cervical cancer screenings, and ensure follow ups when a screening indicates abnormal results.

HPV vaccinations help protect children and adolescents before they are exposed to the virus. Cancer screenings among women ages 21 to 65 detect abnormal cells in the cervix, which can lead to cancer. And appropriate follow-ups improve the chance of recovery from cervical cancer.

For more information on the statewide action plan, and to find out how you or your organization may get involved, visit alabamapublichealth.gov

Take us along!

We’ve enjoyed seeing photos from our readers on their travels with Alabama Living! Please send us a photo of you with a copy of the magazine on your travels to: mytravels@alabamaliving. coop. Be sure to include your name, hometown and electric cooperative, and the location of your photo.We’ll draw a winner for the $25 prize each month.