Victims of shootings counseled soldiers: One received his doctorate from UA
Tuscaloosa News – May 14
Navy Cmdr. Charles Springle made a career of treating soldiers for combat stress caused by frequent deployments to battle zones. He also tried to fight the stigma that can prevent those who need mental help from seeking it. Springle, 52, was deployed at a U.S. military clinic in Baghdad, Iraq, counseling service members when an Army sergeant finishing up his third tour of duty allegedly shot and killed him and four other comrades. . . . Springle also spent about three years in Tuscaloosa. The Navy paid for Springle to take leave as an active duty officer to earn his doctorate in social work at the University of Alabama. He graduated from the school in summer 2003. “He was one of those kind of students that is an honor to work with,” said Mike Parker, a professor in the school of social work.
KFC, Oprah coupon fallout felt locally
Tuscaloosa News – May 14
Just as panic from swine flu began to abate, chicken outages shocked the country. In the past week, flocks of annoyed customers struck out at that most Southern of chains, Kentucky Fried Chicken, further seeking to reboot as KFC with its new grilled chicken…. “[The promotion] must have been one of those things where everybody’s in a room thinking it’s a great idea,” said Karla Gower, an associate professor of advertising and public relations at the University of Alabama. . . . “But they didn’t consider three things: the Oprah factor, free food when some people are struggling for their meals and the impact of social media. It wasn’t just Oprah watchers. People got online and Twittered about it.”
Census finds Alabamians growing older faster
Birmingham News – May 14
The number of Alabamians aged 45 to 64 increased by 200,200, or 20 percent, from 2000 to 2008, according to a Birmingham News analysis of U.S. Census Bureau population estimates released today. That jump includes people in their prime years for leadership and wealth, said Annette Watters, manager of the Alabama State Data Center at the University of Alabama. “But it also means they will be moving into the very senior age group within not too many years.”
Gas prices jump past $2 in Birmingham area
Birmingham News – May 14
Pump prices have jumped in the past week, leaving the $2-a-gallon mark in the rear view mirror. Some experts expect the cost of regular unleaded to keep rising as the summer vacation season beckons. . . . A combination of rising crude prices, a change to summer-grade gasoline and a normal holiday bump are behind the sudden climb in prices, said Peter Clark, a University of Alabama chemical engineering professor who follows energy markets.
Luther Strange announces bid for attorney general
Montgomery Advertiser – May 14
Birmingham attorney Luther Strange kicked off a Republican campaign for attorney general Wednesday by accusing GOP incumbent Troy King of ethical lapses that have damaged the office’s integrity and made voters ready for a change. . . . David Lanoue, chairman of the political science department at the University of Alabama, said Strange’s hard-hitting announcement was no surprise because King has had problems within his own party. That includes feuding with Republican Gov. Bob Riley over the legality of gambling and being investigated by a federal grand jury led by a Republican prosecutor. “When there is an investigation, there is always the possibility of an indictment,” Lanoue said.
Chapter endows scholarship
Clanton Advertiser – May 13
The late Judy Melton Mims was an educator for 32 years and a lifelong Alabama fan, and now her devotion to the profession and to the school will continue even after her passing. A partial scholarship endowment to the University of Alabama established May 1 was named after Mims because of a significant contribution made by her husband, Troy Mims, to the Chilton County Chapter of the University of Alabama National Alumni Association’s scholarship fund.
Graduation Held for Leadership Tuscaloosa
WVUA Tuscaloosa – May 13
Today, Tuscaloosa has a fresh new group of leaders and the economy is one of the big things getting their attention. Mercedes-Benz president and CEO Bill Taylor was the keynote speaker for today’s Leadership Tuscaloosa graduation at Hotel Capstone. Leadership Tuscaloosa is put on by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and the University of Alabama’s College of Continuing Studies….
Alabama Teacher of the Year From Montgomery
WSFA-12 Montgomery – May 14, 2009
. . . Shannon Finley, an elementary school teacher at Alexandria Elementary School in the Calhoun County School System (Alexandria), was named 2009-2010 Alternate State Teacher of the Year at the 2009 Alabama Stars in Education Awards. . . . She is a National Board Certified educator who received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education at The University of Alabama and her Master’s in Elementary Education from Jacksonville State University.