Signs everywhere; Orr honored; a ‘robust’ Ivey; and more in this week’s OTR

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

‘Sign, sign, everywhere a sign’

Ever noticed signs for candidates with no opponent? It’s a reasonable bet there’s a higher office on the horizon. While some local officeholders face Libertarians in the November election, others will run unopposed by candidates of any party. One of those running unopposed is Madison County District Judge Don Rizzardi, yet numerous campaign signs with his name have begun to spring up in downtown Huntsville. As to why that would be, political pundits speculate that the Judge and former assistant district attorney and his camp have taken that step to build name recognition for a future run for Circuit Judge or some other office.  As a political strategy, signs are proven to build name recognition in the current race … and the next one. 

Orr to be honored for saving life of Melson

It was just going to be a routine recruiting trip to South Korea for an Alabama legislative delegation last July. But then, State Sen. Tim Melson was stricken with a heart attack. Fellow Sen. Arthur Orr reacted immediately, performing CPR on Melson for about 30 minutes when medical personnel arrived to take the Florence Republican to a hospital. For his heroism, Orr (R-Decatur) will be honored Monday at Decatur Fire & Rescue Station 5 by the Alabama Fire College and members of the Alabama Firefighters’ Personnel Standards and Education Commission. Coincidentally, June is National CPR and AED Awareness Month.

79 years young

On Thursday, Governor Kay Ivey along with other state and local leaders celebrated the opening of Lockheed Martin’s $18 million engineering facility at Redstone Gateway in Huntsville.  Ivey has faced a barrage of barbs regarding her age. At 79, Ivey is the oldest currently serving governor in the United States. However, by all accounts the Governor gave a robust speech stressing the strategic importance of Huntsville in shaping the future of defense yesterday.  Ivey became Governor in 2017, after Bentley resigned amidst scandal.  As governor’s cannot serve three straight terms, it will be nearly a decade of Ivey governorship in Alabama when she leaves office in January 2027.

Booked

The Huntsville International Airport, recently voted No. 1 Best Small Airport, and Delta airlines added two new non-stop destinations for football fans this Fall. Delta is flying to Madison, Wisconsin and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – but only for the two weekends Alabama Football will play there. If you haven’t already booked you will have to hope for a cancellation as both flights booked up quickly after word of the flights spread on social media.