School is now in session for many students in the Tennessee Valley. Huntsville Police Officer David Broom tells WHNT TV that drivers should know where the school zones are on their route to and from work, expect delays in those zones, and should leave a little bit earlier. Remember you cannot pass a school bus when the stop sign is out and flashing, even if you’re on the other side of the road. However, if the road is a divided highway with a barrier, you may keep driving if you’re on the opposite side of the divider from the bus. Speeding in a school zone or passing a bus could result in fines, community service, or even license suspension.
Fifteen million people visited downtown Huntsville last year. That’s according to data from Downtown Huntsville Inc. Downtown Huntsville CEO Rob Buddo says they got the numbers from Placer AI, a tool that tracks foot traffic movements. According to Buddo, the busiest days downtown were Oct. 25 and Dec. 8. The city hosted the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s state volleyball tournament at the Von Braun Center on Oct. 25. There were several holiday events downtown on Dec. 8, including Tinsel Trail at Big Spring Park. AL.com notes Downtown Huntsville Inc. was involved in hosting both events.
Huntsville Utilities is reporting a new scam targeting customers. The scammer calls and claims to be a Huntsville Utilities employee offering a bill reduction program. The scammer says to enroll in the program, there is a $99 fee, then asks for financial information. A news release from Huntsville Utilities says that if customers receive this type of call, they should immediately hang up and not provide the caller with any personal information. Customers can always check the status of their bill through the My Account on the utility’s website or by calling the Contact Center at 256-535-1200.
Raytheon Technologies was awarded a contract worth nearly $2 billion. The Defense Department announced the award last week for the company to build a variant of its next-gen Standard Missile-3 for the U.S. and Japanese militaries. Work will be performed in Tucson, Ariz., and Huntsville, according to the department. AL.com reports the missiles are designed to travel at 13 times the speed of sound for more than 700 miles and deliver a projectile that can destroy a ballistic missile or satellite.
The “World’s Longest Yard Sale” runs through Sunday. Vendors in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan will set up shops spanning 690 miles along rural Route 127. WHNT TV reports that in Alabama, the yard sale locations start at Noccalula Falls Park in Gadsden. There are stops at the intersection of AL-176 (Lookout Mountain Parkway) and AL-68 in Collinsville and Akins Shady Pines in Fort Payne. Vendors typically open their booths at 8 a.m. and close in the evening, though there is no set time for operating hours. Printable road maps, locations of interest, lodgings and more can be found on the 127-Yard Sale website, www.127yardsale.com.
Huntsville’s free Concerts in the Park series closes Monday Aug. 5. Intuitive Research and Technology Corp., a sponsor of the annual 10-week concert series held at Big Spring Park, will put on a drone performance after the concerts wrap at about 8:30 p.m. The Concert in the Park event begins at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees may bring seating, and leashed pets are welcome.