Tornadoes tileAlabama gets more tornado help
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama is getting nearly $120 million in federal assistance to help with recovery from the deadly tornadoes in April 2011.
Gov. Robert Bentley announced Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will provide the state government with $49.2 million to distribute to recovery projects. Tuscaloosa will get $43.9 million, Birmingham $17.5 million and Jefferson County $9.1 million.
Bentley said the new funding will help several areas of the state that still are suffering long-term effects from the storms.
HUD will develop guidelines on how the new allocations can be used. The $119.7 million is in addition to nearly $56 million that HUD allocated to Alabama in January 2012.
New veterans cemetery planned
PARKERS CROSSROADS, Tenn. - A new state veterans cemetery will be located in the Henderson County town of Parkers Crossroads.
According to The Jackson Sun, cemetery steering committee chairman Chris Dangler said the first burial there is expected in August 2016.
Parker's Crossroads is about halfway between Jackson and the Tennessee River and convenient to Interstate 40.
Dangler said the new cemetery is needed because space is being rapidly used in veterans cemeteries in Memphis and Nashville. He said Memphis is doing about eight burials per day and Nashville is performing about five per day.
The total cost of developing the cemetery will be about $6 million. About $1 million of that is for the land, which will be bought with state and donated funds. The federal government will pay for development.
Preserve holds spring tours
ATTALLA, Ala. - Tigers for Tomorrow in Atalla, Ala., will hold tours of the facility and its Legacy Living Classroom three days a week until April 5.
Visitors will learn about some of the world's predators, their instincts and behaviors as well as the story of how they came to be at Untamed Mountain, according to Susan Steffens, executive director of the preserve.
"New this year, we will feature the Tigers of Color," Steffens said. "This showcase exhibit features three of the four different color variations of tigers. They include the gold, the tabby and the snow, only one of which is still found living in the wild.
"Golden tabbies are the world's rarest color variation in a big cat," she said. "These three juvenile tigers are incredible and certainly a treat to learn about and enjoy for those of all ages."
Tours will be held Wednesdays through Fridays until April 5 with gates opening at 1 p.m. CDT. Admission for these tours is $10 for children 3-11 and $15 for visitors over 12. Children under 3 get in free.
For directions and more information, visit the preserve's website at www.tigersfortomorrow.org.