News

Plane makes emergency landing in Clanton

Submitted by MyFoxAL Web Staff on Thursday, May 16th, 8:26 am

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- A small plane was forced to make an emergency landing on Highway-31 in Clanton on Wednesday night.

This happened around 9 p.m. near the Russell Do-it Center hardware store.

Police say the pilot was forced to make the landing because of a mechanical problem. He got his aircraft fixed, turned the plane around and flew to Chilton County airport.

No one was hurt.

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Chilton Co. residents may have to wait years for new hospital

Submitted by Arielle Clay, Fox 6 News Reporter

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 10:44pm

The strain of having no local hospital hits patients and EMTs. Source: WBRC video

CHILTON COUNTY, AL (WBRC)- A plan to build a new hospital in Chilton County will require millions of dollars and may not become a reality for several years.

Commissioner Alan Caton says rather than reopen the old hospital the plan is to build a new, smaller facility. He says the idea is to fund the $16 million-project with a new tax.

"The legislative group was really insistent on a sales tax," Caton said. "They felt that was something that would be more equal for everybody in the county."

But with the current legislative session coming to an end that tax would not be up for a vote until 2014. If that tax is approved next year, leaders expect crews to need 18 months to build the new facility. The bottom line: it could be years before Chilton County residents have nearby emergency care again.

It's something that Dwayne Whatley of Care Ambulance says he and the residents will have to deal with.

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Alabama found lacking in computer science students

Submitted by Arielle Clay, Fox 6 News Reporter

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 8:23am

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- With more job opportunities than any other college major these days, computer science is hot. The Bureau of Labor says there will be up to 800,000 new jobs in this area by 2020. So, why are fewer than 100 students in Alabama learning about this field?

"I'm always surprised that we have to go out and advocate for computer science education," computer science teacher, Carol Yarbrough said.

Whether it makes sense or not the computer science industry is in need of some good publicity. And who better to be the face of it than a Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and a few of their very successful friends. They are a part of a short film on the site code.org. It's advocating the need for computer programming education specifically teaching high school students how to write code.

"We heard there was a lot of folks in industry putting an effort to raise the awareness of computing," University of Alabama professor, Jeff Gray, said.

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County engineers welcome state funds to fix roads

Submitted by Alan Collins, Fox 6 News Reporter

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013, 1:53pm

MONTGOMERY, AL (WBRC)- A number of rural roads and bridges in Alabama are in bad shape. Monday, Governor Robert Bentley announced 254 road and bridge projects which will be getting funding to fix them.

In Chilton County two bridges will get help. The bridge on County Road 2 over Mahan Creek will get $464,000 and the other will be County Road 32 over Walnut Creek will get $530,000.

"These are the ones that are most restrictive on weight. Not allowing school bus traffic and in a couple of areas is hindering future development of the county," Tony Wearren, Chilton County Engineer, said.

In Bibb County resurfacing work will cost $2.1 million on County Road 20 and Antioch Road, and $1.3 million on County Road 24 and Vance Road. Bibb County officials said the money is welcomed.

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Chilton Co. leaders focus on building new hospital

Submitted by Arielle Clay, Fox 6 News Reporter

Monday, May 13th, 2013, 10:49pm

Leaders say the Chilton Medical Center will need to be rebuilt. Source: WBRC file video

CHILTON COUNTY, AL (WBRC)- Chilton County leaders have ditched the idea of reopening the currently closed Chilton Medical Center. Now, instead, they are focused on building a brand new hospital.

County commissioners and the hospital board plan to meet Tuesday about how to fund the new building. All the while the people of Chilton County are frustrated about the time it's taking to fix this problem.

"I thought there would be some way found to reopen it quicker," Tina Atchison said.

Atchison is a former employee of the hospital. She lost her job when it was closed seven months ago. The Clanton native says she has strong ties to the hospital.

"I was born here May 20, 1962. When I was sixteen my mother laid here before she died with cancer. When I got out of nursing school I came here. I told them years ago to get rid of me you had to drag me out or lock the doors and lock me out. They locked me out," Atchison said.

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Ala-based firm to combat cyberattacks

Submitted by Melynda Sides, Digital Content Producer

Monday, May 13th, 2013, 12:03pm

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - A new company is being launched in Birmingham to combat computer-based attacks.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is starting an intelligence company called Malcovery in a public-private partnership.

The director of UAB's computer forensics office, Gary Warner, will serve as the company's chief technologist while remaining in his role with the university.

Warner says the company provides real-time intelligence to identify cyberattacks as they occur worldwide. Malcovery is an outgrowth of Warner's work identify computer security threats.

Malcovery is based jointly in Birmingham and in Pittsburgh, Pa.

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