Jun. 05, 2025

Welcome back. Did you know the lawman who killed Billy the Kid was from Alabama? That was Pat Garrett of the Cusseta area. He was born 175 years ago today.

Y'all have a great Thursday. Thanks for reading,

Ike

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Whether it's indicative of a change in priorities for the Defense Department's "Golden Dome" initiative remains to be seen, but a Huntsville industry summit for small, nontraditional contractors has been canceled, reports AL.com's John R. Roby. It had been scheduled for next week.

Remember, Golden Dome is President Donald Trump's name for a national-defense project that would emphasize space technology. The Missile Defense Agency had been promoting the Huntsville summit as a way for defense companies to learn what Golden Dome will be needing and what roles they might play.

Huntsville, with its heavy presence of defense contractors and suppliers and space-industry firms, would logically be in the running for a healthy slice of the $175 billion that may be sunk into Golden Dome.

The summit for nontraditional contractors had a goal of finding players who would bring outside-the-box thinking to the project, according to the Missile Defense Agency.

A agency spokesperson did not know why the summit was canceled or whether the desire to bring in those nontraditional firms was still a priority.

As if the Birmingham Water Works doesn't have enough going on, police are now investigating employees regarding alleged copper theft, reports AL.com's Joseph D. Bryant.

The state legislature, led by Republicans who cited reports of poor customer service, a lack of transparency and excessive spending, voted this year to change the Water Works board by bringing in members from outside the city. The City of Birmingham has filed a lawsuit to challenge the resulting legislation.

The new board has agreed to seek a forensic audit along with asking state examiners to take a closer look at finances and operations.

Now there are accusations that a group of Water Works employees have been stealing copper from a utility warehouse and reselling it. Because of the investigation, managers and board members wouldn't talk details, even the estimated value of the theft or how long it's been happening.

A pool contractor has been sentenced in a case involving fraud, forgery and theft, reports AL.com's Heather Gann.

Gregory Kirk operated Pristine Fiberglass Pools out of Muscle Shoals. He previously had filed for bankruptcy in 2022 under the company name Pristine Pools, leaving several clients with unfinished work.

Pristine Fiberglass Pools filed for bankruptcy this past November. Kirk's crimes include stealing money that was paid to him, forging a contractor's license, using a forged building permit and fraudulently using a customer's credit card.

In all, he was charged with stealing more than $600,000.

He pled guilty this week and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Saturday is Alabama's Free Fishing Day, reports AL.com's John R. Roby.

That doesn't mean you won't spend a few bucks if you decide to go fishing. It just means that on most of the state's waters -- salt and fresh -- you won't need a fishing permit.

You'll need a fishing permit if you're on one of Alabama's 23 Public Fishing Lakes that the state manages.

But in nearly all other waters, no permit is required.

Note that if you're at a state park you still pay the entrance fee. If you're at a pier that charges fees you'll still owe that.

You'll need gas to get to the boat ramp, then gas for your outboard if you use one. Bait and tackle. Sunscreen. A good pair of polarized sunglasses wouldn't hurt. And the cost of a couple ham sandwiches in a brown paper bag.

But other than that, it's Free Fishing Day.

Unless you drag one past a 10-pound bass and set the hook. Then you'll owe a taxidermist.

Otherwise, Free Fishing Day. Remember to obey all size and bag limits and be careful on the water.

Alabama Department of Commerce branding landed in a high-visibility place: atop anchor Craig Melvin's head on the “Today” show. Commerce staffer Lauren Rowland, who was visiting the set, handed Melvin the ballcap.

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That's the spot the Flora-Bama Lounge landed on USA Today's ranking of the 10 best beach bars in the country. It was outranked only by OceanDeck Restaurant and Beach Bar in Daytona Beach.

In 1850, Old West lawman Pat Garrett of Cusseta, Ala. His family moved to Louisiana when he was 3.

In 1925, former Congressman William L. Dickinson of Opelika. He served in the House of Representatives from 1965 to 1993 and passed away in 2008.

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