Alabama fire-related deaths down 30% in 2011

May 22, 2012 | The vast majority happened in single family homes, Paulk said, and many of them were started by people heating their homes in dangerous ways -- such as using stoves for heating or misusing space heaters -- and leaving food unattended on the stove... The number of fire related deaths in Alabama dropped 30 percent in 2011, according to the state fire marshal's office. But even one death is too many and all 86 deaths in 2011 could have been prevented, said State Fire Marshal Ed Paulk. Despite last year's drop, Alabama continues to have one of the worst fire fatality rates in the nation, according to the U. S. Fire Administration. The drop comes after 122 people died in fires in 2010 -- the highest number since 1997 -- and something that was possibly due to that year having an unusually harsh winter. It's ultimately our personal responsibility," Paulk said. "We take our safety for granted. Read more »

America: Land of Opportunity, Land of the Consumer

May 22, 2012 | We don't have meters on our heaters in each room that you have to feed money into to stay warm, like they do in Europe. We actually heat our bedrooms. We don't have to walk or ride bikes or use public transportation (Heaven forbid) to get to work.

Mendon library moves book club due to lack of heat

May 22, 2012 | Children's Librarian Andrew Jenrich said the library is using space heaters in the meantime. Grimshaw has said the library would not be able to afford a new furnace without the grant, and would not be able to open during the winter because the building