Off The Record: The latest rumors and rumblings in North Alabama

The party must go on

By all accounts, the reception at our nation’s capital honoring the swearing-in of Congressman-elect Dale Strong was top notch. It’s too bad the newly elected U.S. representative had to miss it due to being on the floor casting votes in the numerous Speaker ballots. That’s right, due to the Speaker of the House election log jam, the D.C. reception to honor the swearing-in had no swearing-in and no Congressman Strong. We hear Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth was able to attend the event much to the delight of well-wishers and attendees.

Meanwhile, visitors from Alabama looking to meet with the House Delegation will get to save a few steps. Congressman Jerry Carl from Mobile and Strong’s offices are around the corner from each other in the Longworth House Office Building and Congresswoman Teri Sewell’s is just two floors below.

CMMC millions

Is big, big money coming from the federal government for CMMC? The pressing cybersecurity requirements for Defense Industrial Base companies, which has been called perhaps the biggest challenge North Alabama’s economic base has faced in decades, could be getting a helping hand from the federal government to the tune of millions and millions of dollars. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requires any company doing work with government to achieve a lengthy and very expensive certification to bid on government contracts. The process and resources will price out many small to midsize companies in North Alabama and beyond. Funding assistance from the government could be the difference between sink or swim for numerous Alabama businesses.

Will he or won’t he?

Will Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle run for re-election in 2024?  “He WILL” is the emphatic word we are getting from a staff member. Battle is serving his fourth term after easily being re-elected in 2020. And what about aspirations for Alabama’s top job? A recent article put the odds of Battle running for governor again at 25:1. Battle was defeated in the 2018 primary for the governor’s race by Gov. Kay Ivey.

Mailboxes are a cluster

The United States Postal Service has started enforcing a rule requiring cluster mailboxes for new construction in some areas. The uncertainty on how and where this will be implemented continues to cause headaches for homebuilders and homeowners alike. In Triana, the city council president says all the new subdivision developers have been made aware of the requirement and going forward the city will require a signed form from the Post Office to approve plats.  The new mandate means new homes in developments do not have their own mailbox, rather homeowners have to get their mail from a cluster mailbox within the neighborhood.

‘Never were’

Following a reclassification by the the U.S. Census Bureau of Hazel Green from an urban to rural designation, one resident of the unincorporated community shared with me, “You’d have to be a tree high squirrel to not know that.” Indeed. Also included in the rural reclassification: Haleyville, Hamilton, Hanceville, and Moulton.

Jackson ready to rumble?

In the most confounding bit of news discovered this week, the oft mentioned garrulous talk show host Dale Jackson will be entering a wrestling ring this weekend. A “Rumble” presented by Rocket City Championship Wrestling will see Jackson entering the ring with the likes of “Tiger Kid,” “The Villain,” and “Scrap Iron Lewis” just to name a few. We hear the “Tiger Kid” in particular is gunning for Jackson in the squared circle.

Have a rumor or rumbling to share? Email [email protected].