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More Tarrant turmoil

Tarrant politics are something else, folks.

Since Mayor Wayman Newton came into office in the small town north of Birmingham, there has been friction between him and members of the city council. One time to the point where, after a contentious meeting about Newton’s firing of the fire chief, Councilman Tommy Bryant punched Newton. He was found innocent at trial because the punch was in retaliation to what Newton had just said about the councilman’s wife.

The punching episode happened in November 2022, but it has to come up as background in any “Tarrant politics are something else” stories.

This week, Mayor Newton has suspended police chief Wendell Major for the third time, reports AL.com’s Joseph D. Bryant.

The mayor is accusing the chief of professional misconduct such as downgrading serious offenses and soliciting outside work as an attorney.

Both the mayor and the chief are lawyers, by the way. Chief Major said he will appeal the suspension, which is unpaid. In the past, the council has ultimately overruled the mayor and returned Major to work.

Passing of a news veteran

Newsman Mike Gurspan has passed away only around two months after being diagnosed with brain cancer, reports AL.com’s Howard Koplowitz.

Gurspan spent more than 30 years reporting and anchoring news and sports in the Wiregrass area, since 2018 at WDHN in Dothan and before that at WTVY in Dothan. During that time he’s covered stories such as the ‘94 Elba floods, the deadly ‘07 tornado at Enterprise High School and the McLendon murder spree in Geneva County.

In the late ‘80s, early ‘90s you might’ve got your news from him during stints at the two Panama City TV stations.

Gurspan had the work ethic to match his experience.

“He would start reporting at 9 in the morning, then make his way to the station by noon, put together his stories in the afternoon, then anchor the evening newscasts,” WDHN News Director Glen Horn said. “He talked about slowing down, but never could. He absolutely loved this business.”

Mike Gurspan was 66 years old.

Radio duo will stay in it one more year …

The guys on “The Rick & Bubba Show” have announced that program will finish its long run on radio at the end of the year, reports AL.com’s Mary Colurso.

Hosts Rick Burgess and Bill “Bubba” Bussey have been doing the show for 30 years. They’re syndicated nationally and based at Birmingham’s WZZK-FM. Bussey said they’re healthy and remain friends. He did say doing the show a few more years would’ve been nice in some ways, but “we don’t always get to pick how things end.” Burgess said ending the show after another year seemed like their best option.

But they’re on through December, and the show’s not going out with a whimper. They’re still on more than 60 radio stations in 18 states. And, of course, these days you add podcast and YouTube numbers to that.

The radio show airs on weekday mornings.

… and recent Alabama-celebrity exits have people nervous about someone else

With Nick Saban having retired and Rick & Bubba ending their radio show, Alabamians are reaching out to check on meteorologist James Spann’s plans for the near future.

Because that could lead to way too much change for some folks.

Spann addressed it on social media: “After this morning’s Rick and Bubba announcement… I’m seeing some social media posts stating that ‘James Spann will be making his retirement announcement later this week.’ That is as far from the truth as it gets. I’m just getting started… I feel better now physically than when I was in my 20s, and my mental cognition is better than ever thanks to being in good physical condition. Some people slow down as they get older… I speed up.”

He can speed up. Just as long as he doesn’t roll up his sleeves too much this spring.

(If you know, you know.)

By the numbers

$98 billion

That’s 2022 economic impact of the Port of Mobile, according to a report from the Alabama Port Authority.

Born on this date

In 1982 U.S. Sen. Katie Britt of Enterprise.

On the calendar

Today is Groundhog Day. So rise and shine, campers, and let me know if that big rat predicts anything useful — such as the spring pompano run.

More Alabama news

The podcast