Morning Update

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

Weather:

Today: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 60. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Best bets for today:

Benefit singing: A benefit singing for Roger Lawrence, to help him pay medical bills while out of work, will be at 7 p.m. Friday, November 21, at Bellview Heights Baptist Church, 11400 Highway 278 W, Cullman 35057, with singers, Joyful Hearts and Bellview Heights Quartet. Mr. Lawrence has an unknown illness for which the Mayo clinic is trying to figure out how to treat him. Info: Brenda Foxx at 256-775-0103 or Patrick Allred at 256-590-4840.

Holiday craft show at the civic center: The annual Vinemont Band Boosters Craft Show will be November 21-22, at the McGukin Civic Center 510 5th St. SW, Cullman 35055. Doors open at 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Free admission; door prizes; photos with Santa available; and 67 vendors featuring unique crafts and products. Children’s hour begins 5:30 p.m. and at 10 a.m. Saturday for preschool through second grade. Parents shop while children enjoy stories and activities. Also, an American Red Cross blood drive from noon to 5 p.m. Friday, November 21.

‘Bye, Bye, Birdie’ musical at East Elementary: Forty East Elementary School students in grades 2 through 6 will present the Broadway Musical “Bye, Bye, Birdie” November 21 at 7 p.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday in the East Elementary gymnasium. Admission is $5/person; children under 5 are free. Proceeds help fund the next musical production at the school. The play lasts about an hour.

Operation Christmas Child (OCC) Shoebox Ministry: The OCC decorated shoeboxes and “How to Pack A Shoebox” brochures may be picked up at Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1310 St. Joseph Drive, Cullman 35055, (256-739-0505), or at Chick-fil-A restaurant. Filled shoeboxes can be delivered to Christ Covenant during the week of Nov. 24. All shoeboxes must be delivered prior to 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 24.

This weekend:

Food bank to open: The Garden City Church of God food bank will open from 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday at 123 Short St. SW, Garden City 35070. Info: Diane West 256-739-3791 or Kathy Day at 256-352-5787.

Midway community dance: The Midway Community Center will hold a dance at 7 p.m. Saturday featuring the Classic Country Band. Admission is $4; all proceeds go to upkeep of community center, 164 Midway Road, Union Grove 35175.

Whole ham shoot: A whole ham shoot will be held at 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, 29 and Dec. 6, 13, at the hayfield in Simcoe (same place as last year), as a fundraiser for Mattie Sims, who will be taking a trip to the United Kingdom for the People2People Ambassador project. Cost is $6/shot. Info: Roy Taylor at 256-385-1034.

Church bazaar: Eva United Methodist Church Women’s group will hold a holiday bazaar from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, at the church at 4195 Eva Road, Eva 35621. Many Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations, gifts for under the tree, and more. Soup and sandwich lunch available for purchase at 10:30 a.m. (shop and eat right at the church). Bake sale also, for those who’d rather bring home the homemade goodies to serve during the holiday season. All proceeds will benefit the church building fund.

Al-Anon: The Cullman Serenity Al-Anon Family Group will meet at 7 p.m. Sunday at 1519 St. Joseph St. NW, Cullman 35055. All meetings are non-smoking. This group is a fellowship of relatives and friends of alcoholics. Info: www.alnwfl-al-anon.org or 256-531-4429.

Sacred Heart’s annual spaghetti dinner: The Altar Society of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 112 2nd St. SE, Cullman 35056, will hold a spaghetti dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. November 22, (complete with slaw, bread, dessert and beverage [drinks are dine-in only]) in the Family Life Center. Cost is $8/adults and $4/children. Takeouts available in a separate line. The Knights of Columbus will also hold their annual turkey bazaar, with prizes of meats, eggs, cheeses and more, to be won with the spin of the wheel. This event follows the spaghetti supper. Tickets will be available at the event, with all proceeds benefitting the church needs fund and community projects fund. Anyone may partake of these events, just show up, bring your family and friends and enjoy this once-a-year event.

Norris family reunion: The descendants of John William and Edna Savana Norris will reunite November 22, at Eva Community Center. Bring covered dish for lunch at noon and old photos.

Turkey shoots this weekend:

• Fairview Lions Club will hold turkey shoots November 22 and 27 (Thanksgiving Day) at the pool field, 1337 Wesley Ave. N, Fairview 35058. Also, tickets will be sold for Thompson Venture .270 Winchester rifle with camouflage case and scope with drawing on Thanksgiving Day. Cost is $1/ticket or $5/6. All proceeds go to Fairview Lions Club’s community projects fund.

• Hanceville High School’s Quarterback Club will hold a turkey shoot (for meat and money prizes) every Saturday through November 22, and Thanksgiving Day, from 8 a.m. to noon, on the lot on Highway 31 S at Johnsons’ Crossing. Also, register to win $500 cash. Tickets are available at each shoot for $1. Drawing will be held Thanksgiving Day-ticket holders do not need to be present to win. Info: Leann Waldrep at 256-338-0927 or Lanita Long at 256-347-2425.

• The Cullman Moose Lodge will hold turkey shoots every Saturday through December 6, from 8 a.m. to noon and Thanksgiving Day, at the lodge home, 1729 Eva Road NE, Cullman 35055. Hams, turkeys, bacon, cheese and cash are prizes. All proceeds to go to the Cullman County Child Development Center. Info: Nathaniel Hutchinson at 256-255-5266.

Of note:

Gun safety classes offered in Hartselle: The HCPAAA helps educate the public in the practices and procedures of the Hartselle Police Academy. It helps the community to maintain a supportive and interactive relationship with the Police Academy which in turn creates more public awareness for the people of Hartselle. Currently the HCPAAA is offering a Gun Safety Class taught by Sgt. Randy Adams, who is a 17-year veteran of the Hartselle Police Department. He oversees all training for the department and is a certified firearms instructor and trainer. The class costs $25 dollars and is tax deductible. It is a four-hour class with the first three hours being classroom instructions on gun safety and proper usage and the last hour being live fire training. If you, or someone you know, are unfamiliar with handling and shooting a firearm properly this is an excellent opportunity to work with the trained professionals of the Hartselle Police Department. Classes will be scheduled when enough people call to register: Contact Myron Thompson at 256-773-2132 or contact Sgt. Adams at radams@hartselle.org.

Cares & Shares food drive: The Cullman Times’ Cares & Share food drive is in full force, with a goal of 195,000 pounds of food for the Cullman Caring For Kids Food Bank. The Times, partnering with the Cullman Lions Club, is collecting food and taking donations for the children of Cullman County, knowing that the winter time is particulary a time when food quickly runs out. Many of the donations that came through in 2013 were cash offerings. Cullman Caring For Kids is able to buy food at seven pounds per dollar. Donations of $100, for example, will purchase 700 pounds of food. Area schools are also collecting for the drive. Cash donations should be brought to The Times’ office at 300 Fourth Avenue SE, Cullman 35055, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. each weekday. Canned goods may also be dropped off at The Times, where they will be weighed and recorded for the food drive. Anyone with large pallets of food should have those weighed in advance and delivered to Cullman Caring For Kids at 402 Arnold St., Cullman, where they will be attributed to the food drive. Any questions concerning the food drive may be answered by calling The Times at 256-734-2131 or Cullman Caring For Kids at 256-739-1111.

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. WHAT’S NEXT FOR OBAMA ON IMMIGRATION

Despite Republican opposition, the president heads to Las Vegas to sell his executive actions on reform as good politics and good policy.

2. ANOTHER BILL COSBY ACCUSER COMES FORWARD

Therese Serignese, a 57-year-old nurse from Boca Raton, Florida, says the TV icon raped her in 1976 when she was 19 following a show in Las Vegas.

3. U.S. CONTINUES TO PRESS ANKARA ON ISLAMIC STATE GROUP

Vice President Biden will become the latest U.S. official trying to push Turkey to step up its role in the global fight against the Sunni extremists.

4. WHY THINGS COULD GET EVEN WORSE IN BUFFALO

The snow has stopped, but the city by Lake Erie faces a mammoth cleanup and potential for rain and flooding this weekend.

5. PROFILE OF FLORIDA STATE GUNMAN EMERGES

Myron May, 31, was an FSU graduate and attorney who believed the government was targeting him for persecution, authorities say.

6. WHAT CHINA IS DOING TO COUNTER DISSENT

A state-owned newspaper sent reporters to secretly sit in on lectures by dozens of university professors, aiming to catch remarks critical of the Communist Party.

7. “GOLDEN PARACHUTE” OFFERS SOFT LANDING FOR TITANS

The CEOs who’ve decided to sell in the 10 biggest U.S. deals this year are set to rake in an estimated $430 million in payments, a study finds.

8. HOW AFGHANS ARE COPING WITH WAR

Afghanistan’s first amusement park offers a rare respite for families in a country blighted by armed conflict and poverty.

9. A GIFT FOR THE TECH SAVVY

AP’s Anick Jesdanun says that for $100 or less there are devices that can stream online video to your big-screen TV set.

10. WHO GOT THEIR FIRST WIN IN MORE THAN A YEAR

It took 368 days, but the Oakland Raiders broke a 16-game losing streak when they beat AFC West-leading Kansas City 24-20.