Please note that Bama’s Best Breakfast seeks to promote Alabama-based restaurants, so national chains will not be eligible. However, specific locations of Alabama-based chains will be eligible to compete.

Nominations close November 29 at 1:00 p.m. The top eight nominees will be ranked in a bracket and then compete in daily head-to-head matchups from December 10-20.

The winner, which will be announced December 20, will receive a $300 cash prize and a commemorative plaque, along with being featured in the fifth season of “Simply Southern TV.”

This contest is sponsored by the Alabama Wheat & Feed Grain Producers, a division of the Alabama Farmers Federation. “Simply Southern TV” is a production of the Alabama Farmers Federation and the Alabama Farmers Cooperative. It airs on Sunday mornings in each media market across the state.

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

Bambarger noted that the prestigious medal honors “some of the most amazing acts in the annals of human rescue.”

The company’s post added, “Indiana Jones and Superman have nothing on the American Towman. The Medal Ceremony has evolved over the years into the March of the Heroes.”

You can read Yellowhammer News’ original article on Harris’ incredible story here.

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

Whether we want to admit it or not, much of what we believe, and the way in which we vote, has to do with our religiosity. The majority of individuals surveyed by the PRC claim to believe in a god. Of these individuals, 84 percent of Republicans, 72 percent of Democrats and 76 percent of people with no political party leaning consider religion to be either a “very” or “somewhat” important part of their life. Our study of God, mainly the God we serve or do not serve, influences our morals, values and belief system. And most assuredly, what we believe impacts how we vote.

Therefore, to my Democratic, Republican and independent friends, family and colleagues, I say again, where is your theology? We live in a cultural climate that is not uncommon to man. Division has always seemed to creep into our institutions. Hate has always run marathons across our landscape. Racism has always plagued our societies like a never-ending disease. With these difficult realities in mind, I say again, where is your theology? We should not be surprised by what we see in our nation or our world. Division and dissension are a part of mankind. Trouble will always find its way into the hearts of man, and bad things will always happen as long as this Earth exists. The question now becomes: What should our response be?

Should it be to treat your neighbor as yourself and to show mercy and compassion, love and respect, gentleness and kindness? Should your response be to be of good cheer when you face trials and tribulations because your joy does not come from things of this present age? Should your response be to let your light shine brightly in dark places? Should your response be to be alert and vigilant, to be set apart, to be not conformed to the behaviors and actions of this
world? The answers are obvious, which is precisely why the question is not, “What is your theology?” but where.

Many of us know what our theology should be. We know what our religious literature says about how we should operate in life. And through spiritual revelation, we know how our God has called us to live. But many of us have lost our way. Some of us have lost sight of compassion, love, and respect for our neighbor. Some of us have forgotten “The Golden Rule.” We have misplaced our theology — but there is hope.

When politics gets involved, it seems as if answering questions regarding theology becomes difficult for people of faith. It seems as if our knowledge of God begins to take a backseat to the gods of greed, malice, anger, racism, temporary pleasures and those many other things that take one’s focus off the one true God. This truth should cause us to pause and ponder.

Where is your theology? Who is your God? What do you know about him? Would your God be okay with your behavior? Would your God be pleased with how you treat the least of your community? Would your God be satisfied with the way you treat your friends, foes, and other fellows? How has your knowledge of your God influenced your vote and your life? How should it?

I ask these questions because it seems as if people of faith can sometimes find themselves expressing their God with their lips, but their hearts are far from that very thing they claim to believe and worship. In America, especially during election season, we sometimes present God in two ways: a God of love or a God of hate. Sadly, even those who serve and represent a loving, merciful, compassionate God miss the mark sometimes. And their failure is understandable, for we all are merely human. This dichotomous image of a deity continues to project itself in various forms. For Christians, a misrepresentation of God is toxic to the society we claim to love and desire to reach.

Our nation saw these images during slavery, where some who believed in the God of the Bible would use biblical references to subjugate a group of people. Instead of relaying the words of God in the way they were intended, these enslavers presented apocryphal elements of God’s divine nature and desire, which led to a bloody, bloody war between the free and slave states. We then saw these same misguided “Godly” expressions during the Period of Reconstruction and then Jim Crow. In today’s political and social climate, we still see the complicated nature of theology play tug-of-war with right versus wrong, good versus bad, love versus hate.

With this in mind, I must raise the question once more: Where is your theology?

Is your knowledge of God exegetical in that it adequately represents the God you claim to serve? Is it committed to exuding what your God would find acceptable, reasonable, and honorable? Is your knowledge of God eisegesis, in that it has consciously or unconsciously pushed out the core principles and ideals of the theology you claim to know and believe? We should all examine the way we vote, how we treat people, if we support the least of these, and ask ourselves whether or not our actions are in line with our God’s will.

Our nation is in trouble. There is hate, division and intimidation around every corner. And, though these negative and tumultuous elements are not new to our society, I fear that we are on our way to digging a pit so deep, it will be nearly impossible to climb out of in the future. I also fear that people’s theological amnesia has caused this trouble.

For generations, counterfeit religion has been used as a tool to control, oppress and intimidate people. However, I believe that rediscovering proper theology can be the solution to our nation’s problem. Peoples’ knowledge of God is mixed with numerous theological theories, hypothesis, and critical observations. As humans, we may not — and we will not — agree on everything. But one thing we should strive toward is the ability to respect each other, treating each other with dignity and showing compassion to both our supporters and dissenters.

Are we as believers in God doing that in the United States?

Democrats, Republicans, and independents: Where is our theology?

Wherever it is, I hope we find it.

Our nation’s future, our children’s future and our future depends on it.

Christian Crawford is a graduating senior at Auburn University at Montgomery from Birmingham and will be receiving a Bachelor’s in Social Science and Liberal Arts in political science in December of 2018. In 2015, Crawford conducted an impromptu prayer at his high school graduation that went viral across the country, and the world. That prayer led him to be featured in numerous news and media articles, and it also allowed him to appear on local and regional news outlets such as “Good Day Alabama” on Fox 6, “Good Morning America” on Fox and Friends, and more. Crawford has been a motivational speaker for eight years.

Stone explained that her heat went out months ago, but she did not pay attention to the issue in the stifling summer months.

However, as colder weather has crept in, Stone turned to using space heaters to keep warm. That is when Taylor Cater and other neighbors realized her predicament and took action.

“I just knew it was the right thing to do,” Cater told CBS 42. “I couldn’t stand the thought of her sitting over here cold when the rest of us had heat.”

Cater is a member of the Hueytown Chamber of Commerce with Jamie White, the owner of Brown Heating and Cooling, so she immediately knew who to call for expert help.

And while Cater was only seeking an estimate, with neighbors planning to pay for the repairs, White took it from there.

He sent someone out the very day after Cater called, and the repairman realized the needed repairs were extensive and expensive.

While working on the HVAC unit, White’s team member noticed some damage that could have potentially been deadly.

CBS 42 reported, “He said the damage could have released carbon monoxide throughout the home, and it’s a miracle they caught it.”

White’s help, free of charge, and the neighbors’ proactive Christmas good deed did not go unnoticed by Stone.

“I just cried when they told me they were going to do this,” Stone emphasized.

She continued, “I couldn’t imagine, because I didn’t have any extra money for a big thing, you know, heating and air is not cheap.”

For White, he just knew it was the right thing to do.

“It really makes you feel good. I mean ’tis the season. It’s that time of year, you know, it’s just what you’re supposed to do. You’re supposed to help your neighbors, especially in the community of Hueytown. It just makes us feel good to help someone out,” White shared.

“Everyone is family here. We are all very close and we take care of our own,” Cater added.

Then, a great closing line from CBS 42, before adding, “Stone says White is her Santa Claus this year.”

“The workers were able to turn the heat on, warming Stone’s home and the community’s hearts,” the report said.

Watch:

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

A huge thank you to the @USSOCOM Para-Commandos for jumping right in to Bryant-Denny Stadium! Roll Tide! #BamaSalute 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/F1oP38kBlj

— Alabama Athletics (@UA_Athletics) November 10, 2018

The Para-Commandos are members of current Special Operations Forces. They are comprised of active duty special operators, including Army Special Forces, Army Rangers, Navy SEALs, Air Force Combat Controllers and Marine Raiders. Their jump into Bryant-Denny has become an annual tradition for UA.

Thank you to the @USSOCOM Para-Commandos who made the jump today! #BamaSalute 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/TlvrZ8aLdF

— Alabama Athletics (@UA_Athletics) November 10, 2018

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

In 1945, a World War II veteran from Birmingham, Raymond Weeks, led a delegation to Washington, D.C. to urge then-Army Chief of Staff General Dwight Eisenhower to support their efforts to create a national holiday honoring all American veterans.

Consider that since 1919, Americans had celebrated Armistice Day each year on November 11, the anniversary of the end of World War I. It was President Woodrow Wilson that year who declared it a day of remembrance and reflection to honor the bravery and heroism of World War I veterans.

Then, it was Weeks, some 26 years later, who hoped to expand the holiday to honor all U.S. veterans. While Eisenhower was receptive to his idea immediately, he was not in a position to unilaterally make the change quite yet in 1945.

This did not stop Weeks’ dream from coming to fruition. The Alabama veteran took it upon himself in 1947 to organize an unofficial “National Veterans Day,” which included parades and other festivities. That year, it was indeed Birmingham that held the nation’s first ever Veterans Day parade.

Seven years later, with Eisenhower now occupying the White House, Congressman Ed Rees from Eisenhower’s home state of Kansas pushed a bill through Congress establishing Veterans Day. Eisenhower proudly signed it into law almost a decade after Weeks had first come to him with the idea.

And on one historic Veterans Day, November 11, 1982, President Ronald Reagan presented Weeks with the Presidential Citizens Medal, declaring him the “Father of Veterans Day.” Reagan, in a moving ceremony at the White House, described Weeks as a person who “devoted his life to serving others, his community, the American veteran, and his nation.”

Indeed, for 38 consecutive years (from 1947 until his death on May 6, 1985) after Weeks organized the nation’s very first Veterans Day parade in his hometown of Birmingham, this Alabama hero served as the city’s director of the National Veterans Day Celebration.

So as Alabamians around the state attend their local Veterans Day parades this year, they’ll not only be honoring America’s courageous servicemen and women, they’ll also be carrying on the legacy of an American hero and Alabama legend — Raymond Weeks.

To quote Reagan once more, “So let us go forth from here, having learned the lessons of history, confident in the strength of our system, and anxious to pursue every avenue toward peace. And on this Veterans Day, we will remember and be firm in our commitment to peace, and those who died in defense of our freedom will not have died in vain.”

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

The Old Testament and Jesus are crystal clear: the very essence of God is love.

Therefore, anyone who hates another person acts against God and his purposes for humankind. Jesus took it another step by joining the Commandment to love one another with the Commandment to love God. Saint John in his first letter is explicit. He writes, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

Our obligation to love one another applies to everyone. Indeed, the very presence of hate inside us is the work of evil, and we should all strive against that evil in our own lives. And when a particularly tragic work of evil happens, as happened in Pittsburgh, we need to speak out so that we reinforce our collective resolve against it.

In the heart of election season, it is especially important to remember that more unites us than divides us. As Americans – and as humans – we are united by common bonds of love, faith and understanding. Far too often, we get caught up in the areas of disagreement, instead of realizing that far more brings us together.

We are all imperfect humans made by our Creator. While we are often divided by where we live, our age, our background, our race or our gender, we are brought together by many important common factors.

My study of U.S. history long ago convinced me that our national principle of the equality of all people, explicit in The Declaration of Independence and reiterated by President Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address, is rooted in our Founders’ understanding of the Bible’s clear teaching that we are all created and loved by God, and therefore must love and must value one another. So violent attacks on people because of their race or religion are truly un-American as well.

An attack on any human because of their religious beliefs or the color of their skin or their background is an attack on all of us and the values we hold most dear. When we let these actions further divide, we only fuel the fire of hatred. Instead, we should use events like we saw in Pittsburgh to unite us and bring us closer together.

So, please allow me to add my voice with many others against the evil of these and other acts of violence. There is no place, and this is no time, to hate.

U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne is a Republican from Fairhope.

The video then shows Lassinger explaining why he is so involved, noting that when he noticed their basketball net was tattered, Lassinger went and bought the children a new net and basketball. He also said it is a small deed compared to actions of his fellow officers.

Lassinger explained that this type of compassion, and going the extra mile, by police officers is not often reported on by the media.

“I think it’s important to get out and do things like this, but it happens all the time. It really does. It happens way more than anybody notices,” Lassinger remarked.

He added, “People just don’t realize – every day, officers are doing something [like this]. And a lot of times it’s the bad things that get seen and put on the news, but everyday officers are out there doing positive things, I can assure you of that.”

Watch:

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

According to the vet, the owner’s claim “was a lie and the dog is healthy besides being extremely malnourished.” With this information in hand, Erica responded to the owner with the credible possibility of “pressing animal cruelty charges,” and the owner quickly “said Erica could keep the dog.”

However, not only did Erica save the dog’s life, she has discovered that he has a previous owner who has been desperately trying to get him back.

After scanning the husky for a microchip, Erica discovered the original owners, who were from Alaska of all places.

As Loftin outlined, “Two years ago, their daughter was sick & they believed that she was allergic to the dog so they rehomed him hoping to keep her out of the hospital (it was actually a severe sun allergy). The family immediately regretted it & contacted the [new owner] but she wouldn’t give them any information on where the dog was.”

Now, Erica is getting the dog healthy again and will return him to his original owners, “where he’ll get to spend the rest of his life.”

Loftin commented, “Can you imagine the look on that babies face when he’s reunited with his people after being on a chained & starved?!”

She added, “I’m thankful for people in my circle who aren’t afraid to risk going to jail in order to save a dogs life… Not all stories have such a happy ending but this one deserves to be shared. It’s also a great reminder of why you should microchip your dog & that animal cruelty is happening EVERY DAY. Please stay alert & report anything that looks suspicious or animals that look to be neglected.”

Loftin explained that even though Erica wanted no credit for the good deed, she had to share the story to showcase Erica’s “heart of gold” and inspire others who may encounter abused pets.

Loftin runs a Facebook group called “Wiregrass Rescue Pets,” about which she emphasized, “We constantly need fosters, donations, transports, & people to share posts to network animals.”

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

The show features eight truck-driving, gun-toting, beer-swilling, family-raising women, Al.com reported.

A trailer for the pilot made its debut in August on YouTube, showing cast members doing everything from working on a farm to mudbogging to getting a tattoo.

Its pilot episode will be shown during a free public screening Nov. 10 at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville.

The screening is part of an event that will also include appearances by the cast.

The 30-minute episode offers a sneak peek at the show created by a Huntsville company, Helen Evans LLC, and directed by Kevin Wayne of Kevin Wayne Films.

Wayne, a Birmingham filmmaker, also serves as executive producer of the series, which started recruiting cast members in May 2017 and began filming later that year.

“From mud bogs to overcoming addiction and divorces, these ladies are just the beginning of what life in Sweet Home Alabama is like,” the series website states, touting a “new Southern drama filled with Southern charm.”

It’s unclear if the series has hooked a network deal or not, but updates on the show are posted on the official website and Facebook page, Al.com reported.

Cast members made an appearance on Sept. 29 at the Smith Lake Country Music Festival, for example, and Seawright, a singer-songwriter from Fort Payne, performed there with her band.

When “Redneck Housewives” announced its casting call last year, a representative for the show said the ideal candidates would be outgoing, outdoorsy women who are adventurous and colorful.

At the time, the show’s website said the creators also were looking for drama, via women who are “battling with serious and realistic issues such as suicide, divorce, broken relationships, bankruptcy, infidelity, family feuding, alcoholism, deadbeat dads and foreclosures.”
(Associated Press, copyright 2018)

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The dog’s name is Milo, and, as you can tell, he is excited to have Captain Williams back home.

Williams is a Cavalry Troop Commander and earned his commission as an Army Officer through Auburn University’s ROTC program. He is a fourth-generation Army officer, and his grandfather did a tour in Korea 55 years ago this year. When Williams first arrived on the Korean peninsula in January of this year the tensions were at their highest level since his grandfather was there, but diplomatic tensions have eased to the calmest levels in recent years during his deployment.

“Praise God,” Williams’ father, state Sen. Phil Williams (R-Rainbow City), told Yellowhammer News, referencing the deescalation of tensions with North Korea and his son’s safe return.

My favorite video of the year! My son is home from a 10 month deployment to Korea! His dog sees him for the first time…..#SupportOurTroops pic.twitter.com/tsy45TZMzq

— Sen. Phil Williams (@SenPhilWilliams) October 15, 2018

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

“It’s a simple gesture, but I think it’s something that will make someone very happy around here, because it’s a symbol of our country and it really is something we can bond over and see as something that tears us down [but] also builds us back up with just a little help from each other,” Olivier said in the video.

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

At the beginning of the video, Jay described growing up in poverty, as he showed a film crew the small mobile home he and his family shared. The home often lacked lights or water and Jay reflected on the many days when there was no food and having to use the bathroom outdoors.

His step-dad worked overtime to provide more for the family and ultimately got them out of the situation.

Jay explained how he and his family persevered in the toughest of times.

“Faith kept us together and, of course, music,” he said.

“I always prayed that I would make it out someday,” Jay added. “But I’m appreciative of the struggle. It really made me who I am today.”

In the audition itself, Jay described why he chose “God Bless the Broken Road.”

He recounted, “It’s the first country song I ever heard in my life. I was on the way to school one day and ‘God Bless the Broken Road’ came on. I started crying and chills came all over my body.”

From there, Jay’s love of country music took off, and his ascent appears to be far from complete.

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

“It’s all about giving and that’s what she’s about,” Kayla’s father, Roosevelt Glover, said.

This year, Kayla has decided to sacrifice a birthday party with friends and will instead spend her ninth birthday feeding the homeless in the Wiregrass area.

At first, Kayla’s parents were taken aback when their young daughter said she wanted to give up having a typical celebration for her birthday.

“This was a couple of months ago,” Roosevelt explained. “We gave it a little time to kind of smoke over and see if the answer would change. So, about two weeks ago, she said it again. We asked what she wanted to do for her birthday and she said that she wanted to feed the homeless.”

Her big heart has been on display countless times before this extraordinary gesture.

“Since the first grade, Kayla will always wanted me to bring extra snacks to the school for the kids I didn’t have a snack,” Kayla’s mother, Karon Glover, reminisced.

She continued, “When she actually brought this up, I was like, I know you have a big heart, but for you to sacrifice your friends coming over and having a big birthday party, it was very heartwarming.”

Kayla’s birthday is a few days after Thanksgiving, so she wants to do a Thanksgiving theme for the food she passes out. Now, her family is working hard to make sure this birthday wish turns into a tremendous success.

“It’s real big because she’s 8,” Roosevelt added. “You wouldn’t expect that, but we’re going to make it happen.”

“#MyLilHomie,” he added.

He’s been a mentor to this same little boy for 3 years. Pre-game prayer been a home game ritual. He finds him in the stand post-game and gives him his gloves or sleeves. @_Davis_Boy12 is the epitome of a team leader in every sense. ADORE him & his sweet mama. ♥️

— beach (@beachws) October 3, 2018

The Prichard native and Vigor High School graduate has not been afraid to share his faith in college, which is evidenced by his senior spotlight interview.

“Keep God first,” Davis said. “For a lot of people, it’s not going to be what you are thinking, especially when it comes to short-term things such as playing time. It’s easy to feel like you’re losing faith, but don’t.”

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

The mother of four kids still gets emotional when thinking about the betrayal that led to her paralyzation.

“The person that said they loved me then shot me, and I never a thought that this would ever happen to me, you know, I didn’t know the signs because I’d never been in a domestic violent relationship or around it,” Smith said.

Smith, who now speaks to young people about her experiences to save others from domestic violence, managed to bring the group of friends and families to tears of joy at her 43rd birthday celebration.

“You know I just wanted to surprise them,” she shared. “I didn’t want to tell nobody. They were surprised, especially my kids they had no earthly idea. … To take steps in there and to see their faces was just priceless because it hasn’t been just me going through this – my kids, my support system, I have a great support system.”

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

The first class of students to complete the program, which was launched in September 2016 by the Alabama Department of Corrections, took classes four days per week, including Bible, theology, counseling, discipleship and practical ministry courses. Birmingham Theological Seminary, in collaboration with other ministries, also offered inmates workshops and seminars in areas of biblical manhood, conflict resolution, relational wisdom and life skills.

Dr. Thad James, BTS Vice President and director of the prison initiative, welcomed the graduates and guests to the inaugural graduation ceremony, which was held on September 14.

“This first cohort group is a true testimony and affirmation to the redemptive and transformation work of Jesus Christ in the hearts and minds of men,” James emphasized.

Over the course of the two-year program, James said he observed the students growing both theologically and spiritually in their relationship with God and man. He referred to scripture to describe their spiritual transition.

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect,” James said, citing Romans 12: 1-2.

South Carolina Department of Corrections Commissioner Jon Ozmint, who has spent most of his adult life serving on all sides of the criminal justice system and instituted a successful, model prison ministry program in that state, delivered the commencement address to Alabama’s first class.

Ozmint outlined that “empirical evidence demonstrates that faith-based programming reduces recidivism and while not a quick-fix, the intensive and demanding BTS program will improve the culture in ADOC, making prisons and neighborhoods safer for Alabama taxpayers.”

After receiving his certification in Biblical Studies, one graduate said he and his fellow classmates were indeed evidence that men can change.

“God is working in all of us and just because you have a prison mindset, doesn’t mean you can’t change.  God is a changer of men and we’re living proof of that,” Patrick Johnson said.

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

Blount County students and football fans stand and say the Lord’s Prayer out loud before tonight’s game. This action after the district stopped allowing led prayer over the intercom before high school games because of a complaint. Listen- @WVTM13 pic.twitter.com/5NppbaHzjx

— Brittany Decker (@BrittanyWVTM13) September 22, 2018

NBC 13 reported many in the stands were also wearing “We Believe” T-shirts provided by local churches before the game.

Fans, cheerleaders, even the hornet mascot at Locust Fork High School wearing shirts that read “We Believe” with Lord’s Prayer on the back. @WVTM13 pic.twitter.com/gHSn5mlS8q

— Brittany Decker (@BrittanyWVTM13) September 22, 2018

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

“You guys take that and grow this thing,” Zimmern said after revealing the prize. “And get that coleslaw in every single supermarket in America, because that is magic. Congratulations.”

Granny’s Fish ‘N Grits parks near Birmingham Daiquiris located at 324 9th St N in Birmingham. Their normal hours are 5:00-11:00 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 5:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m. on Friday and 6:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m. on Saturday. Follow their Facebook page here for special hours and events.

The food truck out of Chubbfather’s restaurant in Alabaster and Highway Kabobery out of Huntsville were also featured on the same episode. The new TV Network show will award one featured truck per episode the $10,000 “tip.”

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

After the storm, he knew that he wanted to help.

“We’ve been given this really great opportunity to help people. So why not do that while you’re alive in this world,” Owen advised.

Owen also serves on the JSU Board of Trustees and Jeff Cook’s wife, Lisa, is a fellow graduate, too. When he went to Jacksonville and saw the damage done to his beloved school, it reportedly broke his heart.

“Once I talked to Teddy and he said ‘Hey, we’d love to do something’ and then I got in touch with Jeff. I knew that we wanted to do something similar to what we did with Bama Rising in Birmingham,” he reflected to WHNT. “I really thought it was important, for as far as the healing process, to do it on campus with all the kids and the alumni from all over, that they could be part of it and help.”

The tornado relief concert will be at Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium on Wednesday, September 26. This will be the only chance to catch Alabama in concert in the Yellowhammer State this year.

“I want to do something spectacular for the university and once again, to bring the spirit of everybody up as much as we could because that’s what we do, we play music and try to bring hope and happiness and a look toward the future for everybody for Jacksonville State because we need it,” Owen added.

“If that spirit can be lifted up any more, we hope to do,” he emphasized. “It’s important to the university. It’s important to the spirit of our school.”

The concert starts at 6:00 p.m. and will be held rain or shine. For ticket information, click here.

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

He added, “Some people may disagree with it, but the legislature voted to allow it.”

On the other hand, Brock Boone, an attorney for the ACLU in Alabama, said, “I think it is unfortunate the county school board wants to make people who disagree, or may not be religious, or of a different faith feel alienated. If someone wants to attend a private religious school, then that’s fine to post it.”

The motto, which does not reference a specific faith or god, has been official since 1956, as declared by a joint resolution of Congress. As you can read more about here, “In God We Trust” has also appeared on U.S.-minted coins since 1864.

A similar phrase, “In God is our Trust,” appears in “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which was adopted as the national anthem in 1931. Written by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812, the fourth stanza includes the phrase, “And this be our motto: ‘In God is our Trust.’”

State Rep. David Standridge (R-Hayden), who sponsored the legislation and said that the idea came in part out of recent debate about school safety, also views displaying the national motto as a way to bring added comfort to students, teachers and staff while they are at school.

“It’s a simple message, but I believe it’s a powerful message,” Standridge said in a recent appearance on “Fox and Friends First.”

Blount County School System Superintendent Rodney Green echoed Standridge, advising, “I think having a basic, fundamental national motto in ‘In God We Trust’ gives our students a level of comfort that our national motto supports a recognition of a higher authority and we can depend on that higher authority for protection.”

The sentiments expressed by Standridge and Green are shared by a Cullman County resident and mom interviewed by NBC 13.

“I think now, more than ever, we need God,” Terri Peppers said.

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

Bengals CB Dre Kirkpatrick hosted a tailgate party at a nursing home before tonight’s game. This lady stole the show when Snoop Dogg came on… @WLWT @DreKirkSWAG pic.twitter.com/LSPSs3D4P5

— Brandon Saho (@BrandonSaho) September 13, 2018

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

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Just remember…

Favourite wise-words-from-Abe-Lincoln meme of the day: pic.twitter.com/lOhlGjdwI0

— Melanie Tait (@MelanieTait) April 24, 2013