With predictions of winter weather for all of northern Alabama on Sunday, drivers might find navigating area roadways a little bit more challenging.

The Allstate Insurance Company is offering drivers the following safety tips for driving in extreme winter weather conditions:

1.      Reduce your speed

Snow and ice greatly increase the stopping distance for all vehicles. Even four-wheel drive vehicles need to adjust to hazardous road conditions. Not knowing when you are about to encounter black ice, the best driving advice to those that must be on the road is, slow down.

2.      Maintain your car and check that the:

q       Tires don’t show excessive signs of wear

q       Battery is fully charged

q       Wipers are working and windshield fluid is full

q       Cooling system is in good working condition

An Elkmont resident is spearheading a drive to collect books and cards for children and teenagers hospitalized throughout North Alabama.

Through her tax-exempt, non-profit group, Pages for Children Inc., Olivia Hardy is collecting cards and used books and seeking private donations and business sponsorships to bring the items to hospitalized children from the following North Alabama counties: Limestone, Morgan, Madison, Franklin, Lauderdale, Jackson, Franklin, Colbert, Jackson, Marshall and Dekalb.

“All across America there are thousands of children and teens who have to spend some time in a hospital for one reason or another,” said Hardy. “Imagine lying in a hospital bed with nothing to do. Imagine if one of these children belonged to you.

The Eleventh Annual 100 Black Men of America-Greater Huntsville Chapter’s Eleventh Annual Holiday Gala was held last night at the Von Braun Center’s North Hall.

The theme for the event was "Planning for Our Future by Investing in Our Youth Today” and the program reflected the organization’s emphasis on mentorship and their commitment to growing and developing community youth.  The gala is one of two annual fundraisers that supports academic scholarships and the organization’s “Four for the Future” cornerstone programs (mentoring, education, economic development and health and wellness). The scholarships are awarded to area youth who meet prescribed requirements without regard to gender, race, or religious preference.