The mighty city of Jasper and the lowly redneck-filled crevasse of Cordova are a mere 15 minute drive from one another. But you mean to tell me that they haven’t played a regular season high school football game against one another in almost 50 years?

(I’m just kidding, by the way. Cordova isn’t “filled” with rednecks… it’s populated by them.)

I love this. Really. If Jasper becomes the competitive disc golf center of the universe, nothing would make me happier.

Credit CG for the tip:

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth cause a stir at Walmart in Cullman, Alabama

Warnke says she doesn’t have any idea why Cyrus was in the Cullman Walmart, although she says rumors have been flying that Miley or her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, have a house on Smith Lake. “No one knows if it’s the truth,” Warnke says.

Oddly, the article is quite crapily titled Too smart for our own good?

Hundreds of years ago, a brave group of religious outcasts, hired servants and freedom seekers embarked on an uncertain voyage that would subsequently transcend the course of civilization. These valiant individuals sought a means by which to escape persecution levied by an unforgiving dictatorship and they found such means in the establishment of what is now the United States of America. These people, our forefathers, created a democratic government that, to this day, thrives on the collaboration of each citizen.

Without this collaboration, democracy, despite its beauty, encounters its own fallacy; meaning that as we, as a trailblazing nation, have grown and progressed, our priorities have shifted greatly. In a day and time where our own practical application of science is becoming master over our society, we must ask ourselves: Is technology threatening to become our downfall?

The title implies I’m making fun of my hometown website - and i kinda am - though I’m actually quite impressed. The site is more well organized than it’s former, bland counterparts [1998, 2000) though I wouldn’t go so far as to call the appearance “clean” like the NYTimes.

The ability to ‘thumbs up’ articles is nice… but for some authors (I’m talking about you, Ben Hamilton) a ‘thumbs down’ could come in quite useful. Comments under the articles? Yes, please. You’re begging for post-game online commentary battles between rival schools.

The kicker: social network-integrated. Yes, you can create your own DME profile. I did.

Jasper has a “Duck Hunter”. Wish we could tag this with ‘things I wish I was joking about.’

Jasper debuted it’s brand new disc golf course yesterday, and they pulled out all the stops. You think I’m joking.

Following the event, participants got to learn more about disc golf from Tom Monroe, a national world champion whose artistry with a flying disc earned him a Guinness World Record.

Let me get this straight: The town without one espresso-centric coffee shop has found enough public dollars and public support to develop a disc golf course.

Jasper, you never cease to entertain me.

Make no mistake, disc golf is a blast. And if the Jasper Park & Rec starts weekend tournaments in the college football and men’s/women’s softball off season, people will show. Wait. What was that?
“…more tournaments to be held at the 18-hole course are being planned.”

I’ll pay good money for a ‘2010 Jasper, Alabama Disc Golf Champion’ t-shirt.

It’s been brought to my attention that Walker High School’s football team will be facing off against Bubba Davis’ team in Columbus, Mississippi on a Thursday night this fall. [credit Joey Sparks]

I actually had no idea that Bubbda was coaching in Columbus, so I did some Googling. Here’s my favorite part of a 2008 article:

Bubba Davis has left New Albany after one season to be the new head football coach at Columbus.

The hire received school board approval Monday morning. Davis has a career record of 223-88 and won four state titles at West Point in the 1980s. He led New Albany to a 3-8 record and a Class 4A playoff berth this past season.

Only in Southeastern high school football could one finish the regular season at 3-7 and still go to the playoffs.

To The Members of Jasper’s First Baptist Church [original pdf]

We wanted to thank you for your kindness and faithfulness shown over the last 26 years.

When our father Conrad accepted God’s call to Jasper, we were 3-years-old and 18-months-old, respectively. Now 29 and 27-years-old, it’s amazing to look back and realize that there wasn’t an area of life you did not positively affect. You were the first church family we knew, and God could not have selected a better group of individuals to instill our Christian foundation.

You have treated us as your own sons, grandsons, and brothers. Not a day went by where your hospitality and friendship was not shown in countless ways. There is no way for us to thank you enough, much less return the favor; we can only assure you that we will attempt carry out the Great Commission in the same manner as yourselves.

Jeremiah 29:11 reads, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God has big plans for Jasper’s First Baptist Church. We know that you will continue to provide the same encouragement and support to future church leaders that you have so graciously provided to our father over the last 3 decades.

It is with the utmost sincerity that we say it will be difficult to love another church family as much as we have loved you. While Jasper’s First Baptist Church is no longer our church home, it will always be our home church.

God Bless,
Landon & Aaron Howell

The ad in the upper right hand corner has been freaking me out for a while. I a back-n-forth email session with some friends yesterday, someone else voiced their concern as well.

Her eye makeup is way too dark, and her hair way too light.

The weird thing: it doesn’t link to anything.

Thanks to all who participated in Tuesday’s Twitter extravaganza involving the hash tag: #jasperrumors (Jasper Rumors).

To follow past and future discussions - or to participate - simply search #jasperrumors on Twitter.

It’s been a while since Walker County had people go missing in the Lake.

Should have uploaded this a long time ago.

[Click for larger image.]

Good Lord, I was on pins and needles Tuesday night waiting for Jasper to get another shout out on LOST. The episode was about Sawyer (whose character is from Jasper) and whole time Chelsea’s telling me, “They’re not going to mention Jasper. Better not get your hopes up.” But I’m as ignorant as can be. I just KNEW they were going to mention Jasper. But they didn’t. But they did.

Want to call your attention to the newspaper clipping that I can assume is supposed to be the Daily Mountain Eagle. Notice the first sentence which, as my 20/20 vision sees: “Jasper police…”

Ok, Jasper folks. Tell me about this restaurant. God knows that any business with down home cooking and an uneccesary misspelled name has great potential.

There was plenty of proof at Thursday’s city council meeting that several citizens are upset about a local businessman’s plan to sell alcohol at his store, which is adjacent to a school.

In Seattle many coffee shops offer wine and beer as options. Though I’ve never partaken within a coffee shop, seeing the options on the menu has never phased me. And it doesn’t even slightly offend me.

A business person who wants to sell alcohol close to Carbon Hill High School? Please. Those high school kids will get more Bud Light and Jack Daniel’s from their fathers on any given night of the week than they ever will from a corner shop in Carbon Hill.

Is Carbon Hill just that podunk, or have I grown numb to the alcohol conversation?

Walker County ranks as state’s third unhealthiest in national report.

Kinda makes me proud. Viva la Victoria’s!

You know that moment when you realize that you’ve been singing a song wrong your entire life? How about a song you sang practically every Sunday in church since you were 3-years-old? That happened to me over the weekend when I challenged Jasper friend John Byars to complete the following chorus which the members of Jasper’s First Baptist Church sang at the end of each service for the better part of 3 decades.

I’m so glad I’m a part of the Family of God,
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I’m part of the family,
The Family of God

That part in bold? I’ve always said ‘hands’. Makes sense, right? I thought so, too.

Article: Miss Bevill State pageant has record number of participants

[I kid! I kid!]