Here’s what’s happening this Thursday afternoon, January 19…

Gingrich’s ex-wife interviewed. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is rising fast in the Republicn presidential primary polls for this Saturday’s South Carolina vote, but a bombshell interview with his ex-wife Marianne may affect that race. The interview is set to air tonight on ABC, just after a GOP debate on another channel.

Perry rides off into the sunset. Texas Gov. Rick Perry has dropped out of the presidential race, after floundering in the polls going into the South Carolina primary, and he endorsed Gingrich for the nomination. Perry, on the conservative wing of the GOP, entered the race to much fanfare late last year, but was never able to get much traction. That leaves four major candidates in the race: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, and Gingrich.

Bachus secures grant for Kimberly fire department. Congressman Spencer Bachus announced today that his office has secured a $145,285 grant for  Kimberly Fire and Rescue. It’s a grant designed to make the department part of “North Jefferson Net” that would also include departments from Warrior, Mt. Olive and Fultondale. The grant would allow for updated communications equipment that would help the departments communicate with each other more easily. The grant came through the Assistance to Firefighters Program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Another honor for a Fultondale Wildcat. ArDarius Stewart, the junior quarterback/free safety who broke all sorts of records last season, was named the Class 2A Back of the Year yesterday by the Alabama Sports Writers Associaiton. Stewart was presented with the award at a banquet in Montgomery, sponsored by the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association. Stewart was the only junior to win a Back or Lineman of the Year award in any of the six AHSAA classes or the Alabama Independent Schools Association. In addition, Stewart placed fourth in the balloting for Mr. Football, the award given to the best player in the state, regardless of classification. He was the only junior to be considered for Mr. Football.

County hoops tourney wraps up Friday. The Jefferson County Schools Boys Basketball Tournament continues tonight at Gardendale High with the large school winner’s bracket semifinals. Play concludes Friday night with the finals in small and large schools, with Corner facing Hueytown in the snall-school championship at 6:30.

Weather: Clouds return tonight, with much milder temperatures. For Friday, scattered showers are possible with a hgih in the mid-60s. More showers and maybe some storms on Saturday with highs near 70, and near-record highs Sunday with a little rain.

By the way, are you a subscriber to our print edition? If not, we have a deal for you, but you’ve gotta move fast. New subscribers in the local area can get a full year of The North Jefferson News for just $10. That’s a savings of $29 off the single-copy price, but ONLY if you order before 2 p.m. Friday! Call 631-8716 and ask for “Danielle’s $10 Special.”

Note: This update corrects a typo in the paragraph about the Kimberly fire department grant, which originally made the amount appear to be much less.