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Cordova residents consider modular homes

Many Cordova homeowners are still searching for ways to rebuild. The city has barred FEMA trailers because a city ordinance bans singlewide mobile homes.

Friday, Cordova residents retrieved a chance to consider alternatives such as modular built homes.

"We do a higher standard than a mobile home. we do a lot of building on the coast and the key to that, we have to build to 170 mile per hour wind zones," Dan Griszka said.

Another company can offer alternatives that can be built within days.

"We are meeting that unpaid response model. We ship it cheap out on a noel flatbed bit. We can construct them quickly using local labor within a week's time," Michael Morgan said.

The cost of these types of alternatives houses range from $40,000 to $100,000 or more. The small business administration says it will help with low-interest loans.

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Mysterious public meeting leaves Cordova citizens confused

Folks in the Walker County town of Cordova have been left with so many unanswered questions.

A city council meeting yielded no results to an ongoing temporary housing battle in the town. It was a public meeting on Thursday night to deal with a long-term recovery agreement with FEMA. The meeting ended with the passing of a resolution, but no one will explain the details.

Residents and even some council members are confused by the resolution.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Jack Scott hurried his way into the chamber before passing out the resolution. The council voted and passed the resolution and Scott promptly left the meeting only minutes after arriving. Scott refused to answer any questions on the way to his truck.

FEMA's Walker County spokesperson Mary Margaret Walker says the plan involves putting storm victims in rental housing within 25 miles of the city.

Federal officials working to resolve Cordova trailer conflict

Federal officials are now getting involved in the housing controversy in Cordova.

A meeting between federal and state emergency management teams may not have ended as many Cordova residents had hoped, but the good news is the work to find housing for those displaced on April 27th is still underway.

People in the town are outraged that Mayor Jack Scott is upholding a law that prohibits single-wide trailers in most of the city. That includes the single-wide FEMA trailers that would be used as emergency housing for storm victims. At the request of Governor Robert Bentley, FEMA and Alabama EMA representatives met with Mayor Scott on Wednesday.   

21 Alabama trails receive national recognition

21 Alabama trails receive national recognition

Out of a total of 41 hiking trails in the U.S. that will be honored nationally on Thursday, more than half of those trails are located in Alabama. For the second consecutive year, Alabama leads the way with the number of trails that will receive the National Recreation Trail designation. This year, 21 of the state's trails will be honored, bringing the number of trails honored in the past two years up to a total of 30.

“Alabama is blessed with a rich diversity of outdoor recreation opportunities,” Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Director Jim Byard Jr. said. “These designations not only prove our state has many high-quality trails, they also are evidence of the hard work and the community pride of countless Alabamians."

ADECA encouraged local trail managers to submit applications for the designation to the National Park Service.   

Beville State hosts auditions for local horror film

Beville State hosts auditions for local horror film

If you've always wondered what goes into the making of a horror movie, here's your chance to find out. On Wednesday, June 1, two local filmmakers are hosting auditions for a horror movie at the Beville State Community College Jasper campus cafeteria from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The movie is titled "The Last Trip" and the idea for the story came from one of the co-director's nightmares, according to an article in the Daily Mountain Eagle. The plot follows three high school students as they are stranded at a house haunted by a victim of a cult's sacrifice.

AFC announces sign up dates for “Prescribed Burning and Hazardous Fuel Reduction Grant”

AFC announces sign up dates for “Prescribed Burning and Hazardous Fuel Reduction Grant”

From the Alabama Forestry Commission:

If you own 250 or less forest acres in Alabama, are interested in control burning 10-80 acres or mulching up to 5 acres, and are not enrolled in another cost-share program, you may be eligible for a new grant.

Volunteers urged to be cautious when working in the heat

It may not be officially Summer on the calendar, but we are breaking temperature records here in Alabama.

June starts with the intense heat that ended May. With homeowners, volunteers and workers still cleaning up storm debris, that heat has the potential to turn into a health hazard.

Despite the warm weather, crews are out repairing homes and rebuilding roofs. They say they are trying to start work early so they can avoid the hottest part of the afternoon, drink lots of water, and check on their coworkers to make sure they are not overheating.

Workers say they are constantly reminded to drink more water as they work. While the say it is not the ideal situation, they are committed to helping storm victims.

There's not a lot of difference between 80 and 90 when you've got a chainsaw," says Gorden Thomasen, who is helping with the rebuilding effort. "It does pose a little more problem, people need to drink more.