January 17, 2024
WEDNESDAY
SPORTS: Bob Jones’ Lady Patriots and James Clemens’ Lady Jets go head-to-head in thriller
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Rate increase Madison Utilities has announced an increase in water and wastewater rates for residential customers. Page 3A
By MARIA RAKOCZY maria@themadisonrecord.com
First real test
Local band programs Award winning bands from Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools were honored Thursday by the Madison City Board of Education. Page 5A
Finding Nemo Jr. Columbia Elementary School Drama Club will relate the exploits of a lovable fish who just keeps on swimming when they present their 2024 musical, “Finding Nemo Jr.” Page 7A
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Look out for these changes at Huntsville Airport
Brrrrr!
The bitter cold in the weather is the first test of improvements the Tennessee Valley Authority has made in the wake of the utility’s first-ever rolling blackouts in December 2022. Page 4A
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At press time (Sunday evening), snow and frigid temperatures are in the forecast for the Madison area and much of north Alabama. Behind the expected winter precipitation will be bitter cold. Many residents woke up this morning to single digits. The coldest temperatures expected during the early morning hours are around 6 degrees. As of Sunday, the high Wednesday was expected to still be slightly below freezing, at 31 degrees, with the high on Thursday up to 41. With wind chills as low as 0 to -10 degrees this morning, please take a minute to learn how to best protect your house, family, and pets! Avoid being outdoors if possible, and bundle up in multiple thick layers if you must go outside. Go to www.themadisonrecord. com for our continued coverage of the winter weather.
Award winners named for Polar Express Christmas Tree Trail and Christmas Parade By GREGG PARKER gregg@themadisonrecord.com MADISON – At Madison City Council’s meeting on Jan. 8, representatives from local businesses, nonprofit organizations and service groups accepted awards for excellence in Madison’s Christmas observances. Debbie Overcash, President of Madison Station Historic Preservation Society, said the society is pleased to partner with the City of Madison for the Polar Express Christmas Tree Trail and the Christmas Capers. Overcash also announced award-winning entries in the Madison Christmas Parade, coordinated by Madison Parks and Recreation Department. “The fifth reenactment of a
Mayor Paul Finley presents the Merry and Bright Award to Girl Scouts, Service Unit 212. wonderful Madison Christmas tradition begun by Doc Hughes, the Christmas Capers, on Dec. 16 saw our largest attendance
to-date,” Overcash said. On the roof of Hughes Drug Store, Larry Anderson, Walt AnderSee PARADE Page 3A
HUNTSVILLE - If you’re planning on traveling in 2024, the Huntsville airport will look a little bit different thanks to a handful of improvements the airport is making to its facilities. The most extensive of those improvements are the ongoing concourse renovations. The airport is currently working to expand the area between the TSA checkpoint and the concourse level to allow better access to and from the gates. Renovations include adding another elevator and two additional escalators. “The first and last steps of a long journey can be the most crucial for passengers,” said Mary Swanstrom, Public Relations Manager for Huntsville International Airport. “To create the best possible travel experience for our customers at HSV, we are renovating the concourse connector area between the TSA checkpoint in the terminal and the concourse gates by doubling elevator and escalator access and bringing 30-year-old infrastructure up to date.” The improvements not only help the flow in the concourse connector area but also make it more accessible for flyers with disabilities by updating the infrastructure to Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The updated area will also have modern glass and stainless-steel features. The $13.3 million project is largely funded by a $10 million grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law while the rest is covered by the FAA. The project began back in the summer of 2023 and is expected to be completed later this year. While construction continues, travelers are being redirected through a system of ramps to reach their destinations in the airport smoothly. If you are picking up a loved one from the airport, you may notice this second improvement at the Huntsville airport. A brand-new See AIRPORT Page 8A
Madison leaders celebrate first Safe Haven Baby Box in state By MARIA RAKOCZY maria@themadisonrecord.com MADISON – Madison city officials cut the ribbon on the brand-new Safe Haven Baby Box on Wednesday, Jan. 10 at Madison Fire Station 1. The Alabama legislature passed a bill last summer laying the foundation for Safe Haven Baby Boxes to reach cities across the state,
and Madison led the charge on the initiative with the first baby box in Alabama. “We are honored that the first Safe Haven Baby Box to be installed in the state of Alabama is happening right here in the city of Madison,” Lee Marshall, founder and CEO of Kids to Love that has partnered with Madison Fire and Rescue on the See CELEBRATE Page 8A
Lee Marshall, founder and CEO of Kids to Love, cuts the ribbon in front of the Safe Haven Baby Box at Madison Fire Station #1
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