Alabama
Alabama State Parks adding 12 pollinator gardens thanks to grant funding
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The Alabama Association of Resource, Conservation and Development (RC&D) Councils presented a $25,000 grant to Alabama State Parks on Friday, June 21 during the Pollinator Festival at Oak Mountain State Park (OMSP).
The RC&D grant will fund development of 12 pollinator gardens at state parks throughout the state.
“We truly appreciate RC&D for funding this project, which will create a new interactive experience for State Parks visitors to enjoy,” State Parks Director Greg Lein said. “These pollinator gardens are more than just something pretty to look at and enjoy. They also improve and enhance habitat for pollinators, and that has incredible ecological benefits for all Alabamians.”
The check presentation also included a surprise for Lein as officials dedicated the pollinator garden at OMSP in his honor in recognition of his visionary leadership and unwavering passion to preserve natural spaces. The festivities were part of the first Pollinator Festival at OMSP, which celebrates National Pollinator Week and debuts the first of the 12 pollinator gardens.
“This is an unexpected honor, and I’m greatly humbled by this recognition,” Lein said.
The pollinator gardens funded by the RC&D grant will be located in 12 Alabama State Parks:
- Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham
- Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores
- Wind Creek State Park in Alexander City
- Lakepoint State Park in Eufaula
- DeSoto State Park in Fort Payne
- Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville
- Lake Guntersville State Park in Guntersville
- Cheaha State Park in Delta
- Chewacla State Park in Auburn
- Roland Cooper State Park in Camden
- Meaher State Park in Spanish Fort
- Lake Lurleen State Park in Coker
Tasha Simon, Chief of the Natural Resources Section for Alabama State Parks, welcomed the opening of Oak Mountain’s pollinator garden. She shared the paced park-by-park schedule of pollinator garden installations will allow park guests to see all the gardens in full bloom by 2025.
Six of the 12 will include a story trail, which will be a children’s storybook experience within the pollinator garden. Oak Mountain State Park’s pollinator garden includes a story trail, as do the gardens at Gulf, Wind Creek, Lakepoint, DeSoto and Joe Wheeler State Parks.
Alabama State Parks Chief of Interpretation and Education Renee Raney also shared, “Each pollinator garden allows educators to utilize interactive learning tools through our on-site Teacher Toolkits. The kits paired with the pollinator garden trail experience provide opportunities beyond the park and into the classroom for students and educators.”
Bees, birds, moths, bats and other pollinators have been in decline in many parts of the country due to habitat fragmentation, pollution and invasive species. Pollinators need flowering plants and vegetation to live and forage for food, which the Alabama State Parks’ new pollinator gardens will supply.
“Healthy ecosystems depend on pollinators,” Simon said. “In fact, at least 75 percent of all the flowering plants on earth are pollinated by insects and animals. These plants stabilize our soils, clean our air, supply oxygen and support wildlife.”
At Oak Mountain, the pollinator garden was installed in an area that was devastated by a tornado in March 2021. “It was the perfect place to create habitat for our pollinators,” Simon said.
Pollinators play a critical role in ecological balance, food production, biodiversity and environmental health.
“The new pollinator gardens are sure to become popular experiences at our State Parks. We again want to express our appreciation to RC&D for providing the funding,” Lein said. “We strive for every visitor to enjoy a first-class experience in our state parks, and these gardens definitely fulfill that goal.”
Park leaders welcome guests to stay, play, and explore naturally in all 21 Alabama State Parks by making reservations through the Plan Your Adventure Online portal at Alapark.com. Advance planning is encouraged to secure preferred dates.
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Alabama
Vigor offensive lineman and Alabama commit Micah Dubose is transferring to Theodore for senior season
![Vigor offensive lineman and Alabama commit Micah Dubose is transferring to Theodore for senior season](https://gray-wala-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NDJTV4HHRNGTTIGQT4MUOJFSIE.png?auth=2c72faeb3408dee06d9ad5314beeb39eb04d181048eeba27e221d4b215f9cb37&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – Four-star offensive lineman Micah Dubose is transferring from Vigor to Theodore for his senior season, Theodore Bobcats Head Coach Steve Mask confirms to FOX10.
The announcement comes just two weeks after Vigor announced it was relieving Markus Cook of his duties as head coach.
Mask says the decision to move was based on Micah’s education and the Alabama commit plans to graduate in December.
Dubose is considered one of the top players in Alabama in the 2025 class, being named first team all-state by the Alabama Sports Writers Association in back-to-back seasons.
Dubose committed to Kalen DeBoer and the Tide while on his official visit in Tuscaloosa over the weekend.
Copyright 2024 WALA. All rights reserved.
Alabama
Alabama Ag Commissioner Rick Pate speaks on 2024 peanut projections
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DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) – After a below average yield in 2023, peanut farmers across Alabama are hoping for a more productive 2024.
Dry weather made for a challenging crop but so far this year, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture Rick Pate said things are on pace for at least an average year.
“Last year was kind of a struggle for a lot of our farmers, especially in the west side of the state. We had a drought that lasted so long so production was way down,” said Commissioner Pate. “We are hoping to get just an average yield this year and so far, so good.”
Even with a proclaimed below average year, the state of Alabama still produced 480 million pounds of peanuts with Houston, Geneva and Henry County being among the top four producers for the state.
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Copyright 2024 WTVY. All rights reserved.
Alabama
Alabama 4-star OL commit Micah DeBose transferring schools for final HS season
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Alabama 4-star offensive line commit Micah DeBose has transferred from Vigor to Theodore for his final season.
Bobcats’ head coach Steve Mask confirmed the news to AL.com on Thursday. Mask said DeBose enrolled earlier this week.
“This was an educational decision for Micah and his family,” Mask said.
Both Vigor and Theodore are Mobile County Public Schools.
DeBose told AL.com on Sunday that he plans to graduate in December.
The one-time Georgia commit committed to Kalen DeBoer and Alabama during his official visit to Tuscaloosa on Saturday night. He told AL.com on his way back home Sunday that his recruitment was officially shut down.
“It was really their plan for how they are going to get me acclimated to college – that whole process. That was the difference,” DeBose said of why he decided to commit to Alabama.
DeBose announced his commitment in front of a room full of recruits and their families, Alabama coaches and some player hosts in Tuscaloosa.
He is the 8th-ranked senior recruit in the state, according to the 247 composite rankings, and the 8th-ranked player at his position in the nation. He joins Southside-Selma WR Derrick Smith, Carver-Montgomery RB Anthony Rogers and Saraland DL Antonio Coleman as top 20 in-state players in the Class of 2025 committed to the Tide.
Former Vigor coach Markus Cook said they sky is the limit for DeBose moving forward.
“He can be as good as he wants to be,” Cook said. “As long as he keeps God first, commits to the weight room and pursues excellence every day then the sky is the limit. Micah can be as Micah wants to be.”
DeBose goes from the Class 5A, Region 1 race at Vigor into the tough Class 6A, Region 1 race with Theodore. The Bobcats open the season against Baker on Aug. 23.
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