The Alabama House of Representatives and Senate on Thursday adopted a joint resolution for the immediate creation and funding of three 24-hour crisis care centers throughout the state. The resolution was sponsored by Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview and Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman. The centers will serve as alternatives to hospital and emergency room visits by providing suicide prevention and other mental health services on an immediate, walk-in basis. These centers will be established in fiscal year 2021.

Fifty-five days after an EF-2 tornado wiped out three homes in Town Creek, Alabama taking the lives of two, leaving four others severely injured in the care of three different hospitals, state and local legislators gathered at Town Creek City Hall to present cash donations and scholarships raised on behalf of these families for shelter, medical bills, and other disaster relief needs.

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In response to the storm’s devastating effects, Town Creek Police Chief Jerry Garrett created a GoFundMe account to help support the needs of these three families. An outpouring of support came in and the account raised more than $46,000 to be given to the families through a Good Samaritan account set up at Independent Bank in Courtland. The fund was set up for Wayne and Rhonda Lovett, Marcus Johnson and Landen Godsey.

The 2020 session of the Alabama Legislature begins next month, and the members of Cullman County’s delegation shared some of their goals with members of the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce Friday at the chamber’s monthly Community Luncheon.

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State Reps. Randall Shedd, Corey Harbison, and Scott Stadthagen were joined by State Sen. Garlan Gudger to discuss some of the issues at the forefront of the session, which begins on Feb. 4. 

The Cullman Historical Society received a $10,250 grant from the State Historical Society to aid in the restoration and upkeep of Brindley Cemetery in the Simcoe area, but they will be seeking additional funds from the state to complete the restoration work.

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“We’ll do everything we can,” agreed Gudger. “This should be a state-recognizable site. It’s significant for everyone in the state if they helped shape the constitution. It’s not just this region, but it’s statewide.”

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State Sen. Garlan Gudger said promoting the county as a tourist destination would make residents forget about International Paper shutting its Courtland mill five years ago, taking 1,100 jobs and millions of tax dollars with it.

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“Within five years, we’ll be way past IP,” said Gudger, R-Cullman, at a town hall meeting in Moulton on Monday night. “We can get there with tourism. It brings people in from out of town. Tourists won’t be using infrastructure. They’ll buy things from the 7-11, buy gas, buy something here before they keep cruising down the road or going back home.

"In a statement, Gudger expressed his strong support of small businesses across the Yellowhammer State.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Alabama’s economy — as of 2017, Alabama is home to over 382,000 small businesses, and 47 percent of Alabamians are employed by a small business,” he outlined.

“It’s an honor to be named to the Commission, and I look forward to working with other commission members to identify new ways to make the process of starting and sustaining a business easier and more efficient,” Gudger said......."

"The recent passage of the Firefighter Cancer Benefit Act is being celebrated across Alabama and by Fire Service organizations nationally as a significant step in protecting our firefighters from the dangers they face. Increase cancers in firefighters have been recognized for years and while we work to increase prevention efforts, we know we can't eliminate toxic exposures or erase those who have already experienced."

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The League is grateful to Gov. Ivey for her support and to Sen. Garlan Gudger for sponsoring the bill in Senate and Rep. Phil Pettus for sponsoring in the House.

"The Alabama Legislature on Thursday passed a bill that would allow people who have been temporarily committed for mental health reasons to be kept for further care, even after the expiration of their court-ordered commitments, under certain conditions.  The bill was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, while a partner bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview.  Gudger’s was the first to get through, and went to Gov. Kay Ivey for signing with the support of both legislators, along with that of the Cullman area’s other legislators."