Christmas

A math expert at the University of Mobile is looking to take some of the guesswork out of decorating your Christmas tree.

Troy Henderson is a professor of mathematics at the university. He has developed and released a free online calculator that anyone can use to determine the optimal way to string lights on their Christmas tree. Henderson's calculator takes the dimensions of the tree and the length of lights available and uses calculus to determine the optimal spacing.

“Tru and Nelle: A Christmas Tale”

Author: G. Neri    

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Pages: 336

Price: $16.99 (Hardcover)

Only a year ago, G. Neri had a nice success with “Tru and Nelle,” a novel based on real and imagined events in the childhood friendship of Truman Capote and Nelle Harper Lee in Monroeville.

The two were friends, played word games, wrote stories together, and solved a mystery together, with young Truman taking the role of Sherlock.

                While the presents have been unwrapped the Christmas holiday has wrapped up and it is time to remove the decorations. Those with live Christmas trees need to make sure they dispose of them properly.                           

                These winter months have been some of the driest months of the year and the current drought situation make it more likely for a fire to ignite.

Scott Pilgreen is the state of Alabama’s fire marshal. He says cities across the state will help you get rid of your tree.

If your neighborhood postal truck looks fuller than usual today, there’s a good reason. 

The U.S. Postal Service says today will be the busiest delivery day of the year around the country as well as here in Alabama. An estimated three quarters of a billion packages will find their way to mailboxes and doorsteps over the holiday season.

Debra Fetterly is the U.S. Postal Service’s regional spokeswoman in Alabama. She says this extra holiday business means a twelve percent increase over holiday parcel deliveries last year.

Alabama state troopers are increasing patrols during the busy holiday traveling season.

Secretary of Law Enforcement Stan Stabler urged motorists to be cautious and "to help us make our roadways safer for everyone."

The holiday travel season typically brings an increase in traffic fatalities. Stabler said troopers investigated 14 traffic fatalities during the five-day Thanksgiving travel period. Last year, troopers investigated 26 traffic deaths during travel period around Christmas and New Year's Day.     

As the holiday season rolls along, groups in Tuscaloosa are working to make things a little bit easier on veterans. The University of Alabama’s College of Continuing Studies is partnering with the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama for a gift drive for the patients at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center.

Leroy Hurt is the associate dean for community engagement at the College of Continuing Studies. He says they’re taking typical household items on their visit…

The Alabama State Fire Marshal’s Office is reminding residents to pay attention to possible fire hazards in the home now that the holiday season is in full swing,

Scott Pilgreen is the Alabama Fire Marshal. He says one hazard people don’t usually think about during the holiday season is burning candles.

The city of Elba will host a town hall meeting to decide how to distribute $2 million of FEMA flood mitigation funds.

The city is using the money to buy and tear down houses damaged during the 2015 Christmas flood.

Coffee County Emergency Management Director Larry Walker says there isn't enough funding for everyone who's applied for the buyout.

He adds homeowners with major damage will be guaranteed assistance.

Walker says there are about 40 homes with minor damage and they're not sure if there's enough money to cover them all.

The Alabama Senate has approved a bill that the sponsor says will keep education about Christmas and Hanukkah in public schools.

The Senate voted 22-7 Thursday for the bill by Republican Sen. Gerald Allen of Tuscaloosa. His bill now goes to the House for consideration.

Allen's bill allows schools to educate students about the history of traditional winter celebrations and allows student and staff to exchange traditional greetings.

Thanks to our listeners and supporters, all of us as Alabama Public Radio have a lot to be grateful for!  We hope you will join us as we celebrate the holidays with special programming that will run throughout the month of December and ending on New Year's Day.

A list of some of our upcoming specials:

12/17
9 a.m. The Carol Connection II
10 a.m. Christmas with the Morehouse & Spelman Glee Clubs
11 a.m. St. Olaf Christmas Festival

If you're traveling during the holidays, one of the first decisions is what to do with your pet.  You can take it with you, board it, or have someone come to your home to care for it.  Once you decide what's best for you and your best friend, you can relax knowing both of you will have a good holiday.

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'Tis the season to deck the halls with boughs of holly and lots of other pretty things that we enjoy; but our pets may see the decorations as potential toys. 

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