Elba dam, Huntsville mail, BSC baseball: Down in Alabama

Published: May. 27, 2024, 5:34 a.m. By Ike Morgan

Room to Spawn: The Story of a Century-Old Dam

On the backdrop of the Pea River in Coffee County, a 110-year-old dam is being dismantled. The Elba Hydroelectric Dam, one of the oldest in the state, stopped serving its function after a flood in 2015. With its deconstruction, the Pea River can now flow as intended, opening new habitats for the fish species of the area.

This dam’s history is as rich as that of the state itself – construction was completed in July 1913, and by the summer customers in nearby Troy were marveling at the power of electric lights. The removal of the dam, funded by a $3.7 million federal grant, will give way to 34 miles of river habitat for the Gulf sturgeon and the Alabama shad – two species of concern for conservationists.

Huntsville Mail: Efficiency on the Line?

Congressman Dale Strong has made a case for the establishment of a postal processing and distribution facility in Huntsville. Strong, a Huntsville Republican, has written to the Postmaster General. In his letter, the Congressman argues that since the consolidation of Huntsville distribution center with the one in Birmingham more than a decade ago, the rise in the Huntsville population makes it difficult for the Birmingham facility to handle both areas efficiently. With the population expanding from 180,000 to 226,000, Huntsville is now the most populous city in Alabama.

Not Done Yet: BSC Baseball’s Last Stand

Facing the closure of Birmingham-Southern College after more than 150 years, the BSC baseball team is standing tall. Despite the College set to cease its operations on Friday, the Panthers will fight it out in the first round of the Division III College World Series. They’re guaranteed to play at least through Saturday, with the championship series scheduled for June 5-6.

More Alabama News: A Quick Recap

• Huntsville has been identified as a hotspot for Parkinson’s disease.
• A man dies after a shootout inside Birmingham’s The Quest nightclub – the second fatality from the incident.
• Alabama’s softball team continues their home postseason dominance, advancing to the super regionals.
• A significant vote is on the horizon for Southern Baptists over the role of women as church pastors.

Born on this date

In 1912, St. Louis Cardinals all-star outfielder Terry Moore was born in Vernon.