Rain for 2009 Spirit of Freedom Celebration?

Planning on attending this year's Spirit of Freedom celebration at McFarland Park? Then consider packing some rain gear along with the sunscreen. Weather prognosticators are predicting a 35% chance of precipitation on Independence Day.

The festivities begin this year at 10:00 a.m and end at 10:00 p.m. Lets hope the TimesDaily photographers can find some more flattering images of the festival than those they captured last year.

*****

Our column on Florence's battle with Nelson Engand Auto Salvage attracted the attention of Clay Eals, author of the definitive biography of legendary Steve Goodman. For all you Stevie fans out there, here's Mr. Eals web sight: Steve Goodman Biography. If the bio is half as impressive as Mr. Eals' sight, it will be a fantastic read.

*****

Today's TimeDaily reports that Holland Noah Elkins, one of two young men shot in a failed Colbert County home invasion last December, has again been arrested on burglary charges. Many of us here are lifelong friends of this young man's family. He obviously has a problem for which he is not getting the needed help. I hope that everyone who knows this family will contact the Lauderdale and Colbert County probation officers and ask how we can assist him.