Morning Update

Good morning, readers, take a look at what’s going on today:

Traffic:

Road closure: The Cullman Street Department announces the closure of St. Joseph Drive NW between Highway 157 and old Highway 157 (Karen Lane — which runs behind Arby’s down to Cracker Barrel and in front of the hotels and apartments in that area). The closure is for new developments by an independent contractor until work is done (yet undetermined date). Restaurant access can be gained by Highway 157, instead the back way at the light on St. Joseph Drive.

Weather:

Today: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.

Today’s best bets:

Today’s flu clinic at WSCC cancelled: The flu clinic, sponsored by the Cullman County Health Department and Wallace State Community College, and scheduled for October 7 at the college, has been cancelled.

Adult luncheon: Northbrook Baptist Church, 3691 Highway 157 NE, Cullman 35058, will hold an adult luncheon in their atrium at 10:30 a.m. today with guest speaker, Mike Graves on fire safety and prevention. Info: Wade Maynard at 256-734-6401.

Breastfeeding support group: CRMC’s Breastfeeding Support Group will meet at 9 a.m. today in the CRMC Community Education Center (1912 Alabama Highway 157, POB II, Cullman, AL 35058). Info: CRMC Nursery at 256-737-2221.

TOPS: The TOPS group will meet at 5:30 p.m. todayat Southern Benedictine Manor, 200 Janeway Drive, Cullman 35055. Info: Kathleen Camardella at 256-531-3086 or Jo Schaffer at 256-734-7428.

Free college workshop at Fairview High School: Potential magazine will host a free Countdown to College Admissions and Scholarships Workshop today from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Fairview High School in Fairview, Alabama. This information-packed workshop is part of a series of events designed to help 7-12th grade students and their parents as they begin the process of preparing for college. Parents and teens in 7-12th grades are encouraged to attend. The workshops are free of charge and open to the public.

CRMC’s Oktoberfest dinner: Cullman Regional Medical Center’s annual Oktoberfest Dinner will hold a traditional German buffet dinner and entertainment today, in CRMC’s Colonel Cullmann Room, Professional Office Building 2. Cost for dinner is $15/person. All proceeds will go to the SeniorChoice program. Reservations are available for five seating times: 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Make your reservations by visiting www.crmchospital.com or call CRMC’s Marketing Department at 256-737-2600. Menu consists of Jåger-Schnitzel, Paprika-Schitzel, German Potato Salad, Rotkohl, and Black Forest Cake.

Flu shot clinic/potluck for seniors in Cold Springs: A flu shot clinic will be conducted today, at Cold Springs Senior Center from 10 to 11 a.m. A potluck meal will begin at 11 a.m., with donations going to the upkeep of the center. For more information, contact the Cullman County Commission on Aging at 734-1241.

WSCC’s health fair: Wallace State is set to conduct a free Healthy Living Street Festival from 9 a.m. to noon today, in the Student Center parking lot. All are invited to join a stretching session at 9:30 a.m., a zoom body workout at 10:30 a.m. and a hula hoop exercise at 11:30 a.m. Vendors at the festival will include Wallace State’s Wellness Center, the nursing department administering blood pressure checks and the massage therapy department conducting chair massages. Free hot dogs and drinks will be available. The festival is sponsored by the Healthy Campus Committee. For more information about the festival, call 256-352-8042. For more information about Wallace State, visit wallacestate.edu.

Upcoming events:

Frightful entertainment: A haunted house in Hanceville will be from 6 to 10 p.m. every Friday and Saturday nights in October at 902 Commercial St. NE, Hanceville 35077, (behind the Rec. Center). Cost is $5/person – not recommended for those under six years of age. All money raised will benefit Hanceville Parks.

Bearcat Invitational Open 5k race: This special event is open to anyone interested, is just $10/person on a team or $15/individual if registered before October 8 online (www.active.com/cullman-al/running/races/bearcat-invitational-open-5k-race-2014?int=72-2-A2). Fee is $20 on race day, October 11; with registration at the Cullman High School Tennis Court Building from 6:15 to 7 a.m. The course is double-looped through the east side of the CHS campus on a natural surface and trails through fields and woods. Olympic-style finish on the CHS track. Top 10 overall individuals get “Elite Finisher” T-shirt; new course record (18:20) receives $100 prize; Top Team receives Cullman Open XC Championship Trophy.

HFUMC pageant: Hanceville First United Methodist Church, 702 Commercial St. SE, Hanceville 35077, will hold a pageant October 18, with all proceeds going to the church’s preschool classrooms. Cost is $50 to enter all events. Registration will be from 5 to 8 p.m. October 17. No door entries. To obtain a form, email taleahhancevillefumc.org or call Adrian Burtis at 256-595-3382 or Taleah Shenutt at 256-532-3237. Forms may be mailed to 1349 County Road 520, Hanceville 35077.

$10,000 drawdown/dinner/Bingo: The West Point Quarterback Club is currently selling tickets ($100 each) for their drawdown fundraiser on November 1, at West Point Middle School, 4541 County Road 1141, Vinemont 35179. The evening will begin with a barbecue dinner for two at 6 p.m., followed by Bingo, with prizes awarded. All proceeds will go to the Club for facility upgrades and equipment. To obtain tickets, contact Tim Martin at 256-303-2037 or Greg Wrenn at 256-339-7898.

CRMC’s Dinner on the River: The Cullman Regional Medical Center’s Service Guild will hold a fall party, “Dinner on the River” at 6:30 p.m. October 10, at Randy and Johanna Johnson’s cabin on the Mulberry River. Enjoy a catfish and chicken dinner while listening to Round 2, this year’s musical entertainment. Tickets are $100/couple or $50/person, with all proceeds going to Refresh-A-Room campaign at the hospital. To reserve your spot, contact the CRMC Foundation by October 6, at 256-737-2565 or email them at crmcfoundation@crmchospital.com.

Pat Buttram Day festival: The Civitan Club of Addison will hold the Pat Buttram Day Festival Saturday, October 11, beginning with a parade at 9 a.m. to include “Mayberry” squad cars adn other entries. Events to include Andy Griffith cast tribute artists portraying Odis, Floyd the Barber, Goober and the Pickle Queen; games for children, a photo gallery of Pat Buttram, and his movies will show all day; and a quilt show. Live music all day, with Bluegrass bands starting at 4 p.m. in the Addison School Gymnasium. Tickets are $10 for the Bluegrass event. Vendors are welcome, contact Shirley Sudduth at 256-747-2779 or 256-620-0180. Proceeds are used to purchase playground equipment for handicapped children, and other ongoing projects.

Baileyton School’s 6th annual pumpkin 5k run: The sixth annual Pumpkin Run is a fun 5K race through Baileyton, beginning at Parkside School (12431 Highway 69, Baileyton 35019) and ending at Baileyton Town Park (95 Fire Station Road, Baileyton 35019) willl be Oct. 25 at 9 a.m. All ages and experience levels are welcome. Awards will be given for overall winners and age group winners. Registration is $20/advance or $25 at the door. Registration begins at 8 a.m. on race day. Proceeds to benefit education-related needs for students/teachers at the school.

Of note:

Total Access: Had to get out-and-about and didn’t bring your paper? No time to run and find a paper? Wonder what everyone is talking about, but you’re far from home? Neighbor’s dog play fetch and not bring it back? Well, we have a simple solution: Try Total Access. Anyone who has a print subscription to The Times, can have a free online subscription. Access it on your work computer, your smart phone or any device you can use to access your email. To activate it, contact the Circulation/Audience Development Department at 256-734-2131. Information needed: Valid email address and a password at least six characters long, a valid phone number, and the current address the paper is delivered to. Digital-only subscriptions are available; contact the same department for more information.

10 Things to Know for Today

By The Associated Press

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:

1. U.S. HEALTH PROVIDERS EXPAND EBOLA PRECAUTIONS

Some hospitals even send actors with mock symptoms into emergency rooms to test how good their staff members are at spotting the symptoms of the virus.

2. GOP GRAPPLES WITH GAY MARRIAGE

The Supreme Court’s decision to reject appeals from five states reignites a debate between pragmatic Republicans and religious conservatives.

3. AIRSTRIKES HIT ISLAMIC STATE GROUP NEAR SYRIA

Warplanes strike positions held by the militants near a Syrian border town that beleaguered Kurdish forces have been struggling to defend.

4. WHO WINS NOBEL IN PHYSICS

The prize goes to Isamu Akasaki and Hiroshi Amano of Japan and U.S. scientist Shuji Nakamura for the invention of blue light-emitting diodes — a new energy efficient and environment-friendly light source.

5. WHY BIDEN IS IN TIGHT SPOT

The vice president’s verbal blunders cause more than just a few rough headlines and a momentary nuisance for the White House.

6. HONG KONG PROTESTS WANE

Despite their dwindling numbers, student activists insist the movement is far from defeated.

7. SMUGGLED PHONES SERVE AS LIFELINE FOR NORTH KOREANS

Illegal but widely available in North Korea, cellphones help defectors connect with long-lost relatives and send them desperately needed cash.

8. MOROCCO MULLS LEGAL POT GROWING

The move is intended to aid the economy but the country’s Islamic faith creates a strong taboo toward drugs.

9. WHAT STUDIES FIND ABOUT ‘TALKING’ TO CAR

Voice-activated smartphones and dashboard infotainment systems are so error-prone or complex that they require more concentration from drivers rather than less.

10. COFFEE ADDICT? BLAME YOUR DNA

Scientists have long known that your genetic make-up influences how much java you consume. Now a huge study has identified some genes that may play a role.