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

Weather:

Today: A chance of drizzle. Cloudy, with a high near 60. North wind around 5 mph.

Tonight: A chance of drizzle. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Best bets for today:

Cullman Products luncheon: Former employees and retirees will meet at 1 p.m. today for a dutch treat luncheon at Johnny’s Barbecue, 1401 4th St. SW, Cullman 35055. Info: Carl Veigl at 256-734-9652.

CRMC to host WomenFirst/SeniorChoice Christmas party: Cullman Regional Medical Center is hosting a Christmas party for WomenFirst and SeniorChoice members from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. The event will be in the Col. Cullmann Room in Professional Office Building 2 at the hospital. Turkey, dressing, ham, green beans and drinks will be provided. Attendees may bring your favorite side dish or dessert.

Upcoming events:

Advent retreat: An advent retreat will be led by Father Doug Vu, priest of dioc. of Birmingham, Dec. 5-7, at the Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center. Focus: Joy of the Gospel. Celebrate Sacrament of Reconciliation, join monastic community for mass and Liturgy of the Hours. Cost is $210/person for private room; $185/for shared. Call Center for details: 256734-8302 or email retreats@shmon.org.

Operation Go at Simcoe: Simcoe Worship Center, 5185 Highway 69 N, Cullman 35058, will distribute toys, clothes and food to families in need at 9 a.m. Saturday, December 6, at the church. All members of the family need to be present to receive these items. Doors will stay open until the last item is given. Info: Heath Tinker at 256-796-1184.

Booksigning at Ave Maria Grotto: Amy Welborn of Birmingham and mother of five is the author of over 20 books for Catholic children, youth and adults. She will be signing books at Ave Maria Grotto from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, December 6.

Peter Pan play: The Fairview High School Theatre Department will present “Peter Pan” at 7 p.m. Thursday, December 4, in the school auditorium. Tickets are $5/adults; $3/students; and children 5 years or younger are free. Proceeds will benefit the Theatre Department at the school. Info: school office at 256-796-5106.

Sensory friendly movie for those with autism: The Cullman Autism Networking Group will view a sensory-friendly movie for all individuals with delays and disabilities and their families at 4:30 p.m. December 5, at Cullman Carmike Cinemas. The movie, Penguins of Madagascar, is $6.75/person at the door. The sound will be lowered and it won’t be as dark. The entire theatre will be reserved for this group. Info: Rhonda Davis at 256-962-2208; pdrd@hotmail.com; Facebook at cullman autism networking group.

Lights of Love annual event Dec. 4: The Cullman Regional Medical Center Foundation’s 24th annual Dr. Herman C. Ensor Lights of Love Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, December 4, in the Col. Cullmann Room at CRMC. The event is named in honor of the late Dr. Herman C. Ensor for his many contributions to the community and to Cullman Regional Medical Center. Dr. Ensor was a member of Cullman’s medical community and is fondly remembered by those who knew him as a caring and dedicated physician.

Your gift of $20, $40, $60 or more will place a light on the tree as a tribute to someone special to you. Your tax-deductible gift will help support CRMC Foundation’s Patient Oncology Assistance Fund in its continuing effort to aid in medical needs for cancer patients in our community.

Acknowledgement cards will be sent to those you have honored and to the families of those being remembered. Please only one acknowledgement per contribution. All contributors are invited to the tree lighting ceremony to view a presentation of the names of those being honored or memorialized. Special holiday music will be provided and light refreshments will be served.

Donations may be contributed throughout the entire holiday season. Contributions can be made in memory or in honor of someone special in your life. Donate online at www.crmchospital.com/LightsofLove or call the CRMC Foundation Office at 256-737-2558 for more information.

CCSO’s Special Needs Rodeo Celebration: The 2014 Cullman County Sheriff’s Office Special Needs Rodeo Celebration will be held Thursday, December 11, at the Cullman County Agriculture and Trade Center on Highway 31 North, Cullman, Alabama. This annual event allows over 600 children and adults with learning disabilities to be entertained by local cowboys and a hayride sponsored by our Cullman County deputies. Participants will be bussed to the Ag Center from all county and city schools, the Cullman Child Development Center, and the Margaret Jones Center. This year’s special event will be a petting zoo sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Zoo. The zoo will display exotic and domestic animals including a camel, sheep, goats, and friends from the barnyard for the children to interact with. Free T-shirts and souvenirs will be presented and a picnic lunch and snacks will be offered for our participants. Each year we are assisted by the Cullman Pilot Club and teens from the Key Clubs from area high schools who help with the activities. The event will begin at 9 a.m. If you would like to be a sponsor or make a donation to our Special Needs Rodeo, contact Deputy Mark Persall at 256-735-2721.

HP calendar for sale: The 2015 calendar, “Historic Homes in the Holly Pond Area,” is now available for $5 from any member of the Holly Pond Historical Society or from Murphy’s Health Mart, 11069 U.S. Highway 278, Holly Pond 35083. Proceeds from this calendar will go to historic markers in the Holly Pond area. For more information, contact Brenda Scott at 256-796-5806.

Church bazaar: Addington Chapel United Methodist Church, 185 County Road 59, Bremen 35033, will hold a church bazaar from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. December 6; also, attic treasures and chili, baked goods for sale. Proceeds will go to church’s Special Needs Ministry Fund.

Swamp John’s meal: Lonesome Dove Cowboy Church, 97 County Road 1677, Cullman 35083, will hold a Swamp John’s meal from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, December 4. All proceeds go to the building fund and community outreach programs. Cost is $10/plate.

Whole ham shoot: A whole ham shoot will be held at 8 a.m. 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/directions: Roy Taylor at 256-385-1034.

Turkey shoots:

• The Cullman Moose Lodge will hold turkey shoots every Saturday through December 6, from 8 a.m. to noon 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.

• The Town of Fairview will hold a turkey shoot at 7 a.m. Saturday, December 6, at the Fairview Feed Store behind Fairview Town Hall (7525 Highway 69 N, Cullman 35058). All proceeds to go to Fairview School Stadium Renovation.

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. WAR CLINIC IN KURDISH BORDER TOWN STRUGGLES TO TREAT WOUNDED ANTI-IS FIGHTERS

With most Kobani hospitals in ruins, only one is still working thanks to only three doctors and five nurses and despite shortages of basic equipment and supplies.

2. OBAMA SAID TO HAVE SETTLED ON NOMINEE TO SUCCEED HAGEL

Ashton Carter, 60, has never served in the military or in Congress, unlike many defense secretaries.

3. WHO IS REFUSING TO COMPLY WITH DEMAND FOR AIR BAG RECALL

Japan’s Takata Corp. says the decision to withdraw the faulty equipment is up to the automakers, setting the stage for a showdown when the company appears before the U.S. Congress today.

4. CALIFORNIA WOMAN SUES BILL COSBY

Judy Huth says she was molested by the comedian in a bedroom at the Playboy Mansion around 1974 when she was 15.

5. BOMB BLAST HITS YEMENI CAPITAL

At least two people are dead in a massive explosion that took place near the home of the Iranian ambassador.

6. WHY POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING MICHAEL BROWN’S STEPFATHER

Louis Head made angry comments on the streets of Ferguson ahead of the arson, vandalism and looting that followed the grand jury’s announcement.

7. INDIA MARKS 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF BHOPAL TRAGEDY

Protesters want harsher punishments for those responsible for the world’s worst industrial disaster that killed 15,000 people.

8. HOW COYOTES ARE CAUSING A CALIFORNIA CONTROVERSY

Hunts for the varmints are facing a possible ban as wildlife advocates and hunters clash.

9. ROLLING STONES’ SAXOPHONE PLAYER DIES AT 70

Bobby Keys, a lifetime rock ‘n’ roller, was famed for his solo on “Brown Sugar.”

10. WHICH ONE-TIME FOOTBALL POWER IS TURNING THE PAGE

Michigan fires coach Brady Hoke after four seasons during which the Wolverines sank into mediocrity.