Here’s a look at what we’re working on for the Jan. 3 edition of The North Jefferson News:



Residents donate truckloads of gifts to ARC



North Jefferson County residents blew everyone’s expectations out of the water recently when it came to donating for Christmas.

Sprint Nextel stores in Gardendale, Fultondale, Hoover and Pelham were helping collect items for The ARC (Association of Retarded Citizens).

Terri Geer, operations director for USA Digital Sprint Nextel, said there were so many donations that it took several truckloads to get the gifts to their recipients.



Lawsuit filed over coal mine near Black Warrior River



Environmental groups have filed a lawsuit that could affect anyone in north Jefferson County who drinks or uses tap water.

On behalf of Black Warrior Riverkeeper, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) has sued the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) for permitting a coal mine that it says poses risk to Birmingham drinking water, according to a press release.

“It affects anybody who drinks Birmingham water,” said Nelson Brooke, executive director of Black Warrior Riverkeeper. North Jefferson County gets its water from Birmingham Water Works.



Gardendale boys take Christmas tourney



In sports: Gardendale’s boys win the Springville Christmas Classic, and the Mortimer Jordan girls lose a heartbreaker in the first round of the Metro-Jefferson County tournament. Plus Robert Carter asks, “Andre Smith or Charles Barkley – who’s dumb, and who’s dumber?”