Mountain View
April Killian
'Dead Man's Fingers' Bizarre Fungus Found in North Alabama
Imagine that you're walking down your favorite trail on a beautiful day in north Alabama. As you enter an especially dark area of the forest and walk past an old, rotten log, something catches your attention. You stop, take a few steps back, and slowly lean over to get a better look. That's when you see it. Reaching forth, out of the cold, damp earth, you see what looks like the blackened fingers on the hand of a rotting corpse. Do you run? Call the cops? Suddenly need a change of underwear? Actually, you can count yourself lucky. You've just seen a fungus known as "dead man's fingers." Believe it or not, it grows in north Alabama - and we have photos to prove it!
'Easter Legend' and Native American Folklore of the Dogwood Tree
If you're from the south, you're probably very familiar with the flowering dogwood tree. This small native tree grows all over the eastern United States but is especially plentiful in the south, where its fragrant blooms dot the woodlines each spring. The flowering dogwood has come to hold special significance for many cultures. From native Americans to the early Appalachian Christian settlers, there are several wonderful legends attached to the flowering dogwood tree.
'Lab Grown Meat' Sold in Alabama? Nope! Here's the Real Dish...
You've probably seen the posts on social media that claim the Aldi grocery store chain is selling "meat grown in a lab." Last week, I saw two posts in particular shared widely in Alabama. One post shows some strange looking raw chicken and another post shows a package of bacon, both supposedly from Aldi and both warning customers that the product is "lab grown." A lot of people are taking this issue very seriously. Is the "lab grown meat hysteria" in Alabama justified? Here's the truth you need to know about these viral posts.
She Was Found 42 Years Ago in Alabama and We Still Don't Know Her Name
Warning: this article contains photos of the deceased, which some may find disturbing. She was a petite woman with shoulder length brown hair. Police say she was sexually assaulted, brutally beaten, and strangled before her body was dumped in a river in Alabama. This is the tragic story of the woman known as Miss X or Jayne Doe. Forty two years later, her real name and identity are still unknown.
Granny Dollar: Legendary Cherokee Woman of Alabama's Lookout Mountain Who Escaped the Trail of Tears
She was a fixture at Lookout Mountain in Alabama in the early 20th century. Half Cherokee and half Scott, she was known locally for her amazing life, longevity, and Native American knowledge. Having escaped the Trail of Tears and Indian removal to the American West, she lived out her final years in a cabin in northeast Alabama in what is now DeSoto State Park. Some say her spirit still wanders the area and has been seen walking with her faithful companion in life, an old dog named Buster. This is the story of Granny Dollar, the legendary Cherokee woman of Lookout Mountain.
Funny Way to Silence a Facebook Scammer on Messenger
Recently, several of my friends in Alabama have recieved messages via Facebook Messenger from obvious scammers. I'm sure the same or similar messages have been sent to people across the country. The messages start with an "apology for the intrusion" and end, of course, with the person asking for money. Some claim to be sent from Ethiopia and some from other countries, including Ukraine. One message that I recieved personally was from the obviously fake profile of a U.S. Army General. I have found that when you "flip the script" on a scammer, they suddenly disappear. Here's a sure fire way to silence a Facebook scammer via Messenger...
Go Native! Better Gardening with Native Alabama Plants
My dad had an amazing knowledge of native trees and plants of north Alabama. It was uncanny, really. He could name practically every tree and plant in the forest. When it came to landscaping, dad rarely went to a retail shop or nursery for plants. He always said it was best to use species of plants, trees, and shrubbery that were native to Alabama. Over the years, he did just that. It wasn't unusual for dad to return from a hike with a new plant or sapling he had found somewhere in the wild. I didn't appreciate his wisdom in that choice as a kid. It was only years later that I realized what beautiful native choices we have in Alabama and how well those plants are likely to thrive in their native soil. Here are some of his choices and a couple of my own - all native to Alabama soil which makes for more carefree gardening. Some of these may surprise you that they're native to Alabama! Keep reading for resources on aquiring native plants at the end of this article!
North Alabama Sheriff Finds Unique Way to Announce 'Closed for Business'
A few days ago, an Alabama Sheriff shut down a local "business." As a courtesy, he put up a sign to let the community know. This was no ordinary or legitimate business, however. It was a local drug house, and as of February 22nd, it's permanently closed.
'Alabama Dog Tethering and Outdoor Shelter Act' to Be Introduced
Representative Phillip Ensler of Alabama plans to introduce a bill that will provide a statewide law against certain types of outdoor dog tethering and also require that outdoor dogs have adequate shelter and access to fresh water. Here's what we know about the "Alabama Dog Tethering and Outdoor Shelter Act" and why many people in the state feel that it's time we had a statewide law to cover these issues.
Target Shoplifting: Alabama's Most Stolen Items
Shoplifting is a national problem that is on the rise. Although Forbes Advisor recently ranked retail theft in Alabama "16% lower than expected based on it's share of the U.S. population," shoplifting is still a huge problem. Target retail stores alone are losing millions each year to shoplifting. So, what are people stealing? FinanceBuzz gathered a list of the top 15 items stolen from Target stores alone. Although this list was gathered from a nationwide survey, local Target managers say that this list represents the top 15 items they are seeing stolen in Alabama stores, as well. Items on the list are in no particular order.
Mysterious Cryptid Legend from North Alabama: The 'Downey Booger'
In the late 1800s, several locals from Winston County of north Alabama had a terrifying close encounter with an unknown creature. The creature was described as "part man and part beast," and some say it lives in the woods of Winston County to this day. This is the legend of the Downey Booger.
Hellhounds: Legends and Sightings Across Alabama
Around the world, there are tales of otherworldly creatures that appear as terrifying, huge black dogs with glowing red eyes. Most often, they are associated with hell or death and are called hellhounds or devil dogs. They can be found in the folklore and mythology of every ancient culture on earth, being especially prevalent in Greek, Norse, and Celtic mythology. In many areas of the world, tales and sightings of these four-legged dark creatures endure to this day. Even in Alabama, there are several local legends of hellhounds.
Explore a Private Cave or Have Your Photo Taken in a UFO: Unique Experiences in or Near Alabama
Overnight stays and vacation rentals aren't the only kinds of listings on Airbnb.com. The website also offers "experiences." They include fun adventures, tours, and unique experiences around the world. Several can be found in Alabama and the nearby Florida panhandle. From an afternoon of Alabama cave exploring, to a photoshoot in a house shaped like a UFO, to a real haunted ghost walk, here are some of the most unique "experiences" in or near Alabama!
Chapel Built Around a Huge Boulder in Alabama Holds a Lingering Story of Love and Loss
In the foothills of the Appalchian Mountains of East Alabama, centered in a small clearing, stands a little rock chapel that was uniquely built around a massive, natural boulder. The construction of the little church around the huge rock isn't the only unusual feature of the church. The story behind the chapel is one of an amazing man of many talents and his inspiring dedication to his first true love.
Is This Girl Scout Camp in Alabama Haunted?
Everyone knows that some of the best ghost stories are told while camping. All that's needed is a dark night, a campfire, and a good scary story. In Alabama, we have the quintessential location for this: a campground that's rumored to be haunted. It's called Camp Cottaquilla, a campground just for Girl Scouts, located near Anniston. Camp Cottaquilla was founded in 1947, according to the the Anniston Star. Two well-known ghostly legends surround the camp. Are these legends simply campfire tales? You decide!
When Taylor Swift Had Her Senior Prom at an Alabama High School
In 2008, Taylor Swift was 18 years old and a rising star. In the spring of that year, when most kids her age were picking out dresses for the senior prom, she was touring with Rascal Flatts and promoting her second album, Fearless. Her career and hectic schedule, however, meant that Swift would miss the one night that most teenage girls dream of: her senior prom.
Alabama Professor Finds Ancient Ruins Using Satellite Imagery
She is credited with finding ancient ruins all over the world using satellite imagery. When she's not in Egypt, she's at home in the Yellowhammer State. Meet Sarah H. Parcak, Alabama's own Indiana Jones of the digital age.
April Killian
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April Killian is a native of Florence, Alabama and writes about the unique people and places found in the great state of Alabama. Before writing for Newsbreak, she enjoyed a long career in music and advertising for many years in the Birmingham and Shoals area as a copywriter and vocalist. She was employed by Crawford Broadcasting (WDJC) for several years and also worked for the New York Times (via the Times-Daily of Florence). She is the mom of three adult children and many pets. In her spare time, she fosters animals and enjoys the beautiful nature and biodiversity of Alabama. She is a lifelong supporter of charity work and has done public speaking for Safeplace, a local women's shelter in the Shoals. Most of all, April tries to be a positive force in this world in everything she does. Her favorite quote is from Pablo Picasso: "The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away."
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