LIFE LIST UPDATE – No. 736: Visit Hank Williams’ grave in Oakwood Cemetery in Montgomery

Hank Williams Memorial in Montgomery

Butler County native Hank Williams is considered one of the most important country music artists ever, and he’s arguably one of Alabama’s most famous natives. He passed away at the age of 29 on New Year’s Day 1953, and who knows how much he would have accomplished if he hadn’t died at such a young age.

A couple of years ago I read that Williams was buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Montgomery and that anyone could visit his gravesite if they so desired. I added this trip to my “life list” a year or so ago and finally scratched it off my list when I passed through Montgomery Saturday on my way to Auburn.

Oakwood Cemetery is located in downtown Montgomery at 1305 Upper Wetumpka Road. This large, historic cemetery is located just a few minutes off of the interstate, just north of Patterson Field. The cemetery, which contains a number of historical markers, is open to the public during normal daylight hours.

Hank Williams gravesite is easy to find if you know where to look. Don’t enter the cemetery’s main entrance, but continue down Upper Wetumpka Road until you see the entrance with the large, marble “Hank Williams Memorial” sign. Turn into this entrance and follow the paved road around to the right. The Williams memorial is around the corner on the left.

The Williams memorial stands out from among the surrounding gravesites because it consists of two large stone monoliths – one for Hank Williams and one for his wife, Audrey Sheppard Williams, who passed away in 1975. The gravesite also consists of a large area of green outdoor carpet with two stone benches. The stone monoliths, which appear to be made of marble, actually stand over both graves, which are set down into the center of the carpeted area.

Both monoliths were decorated with large musical notes. Across the top of the Hank Williams monolith are the words “PRAISE THE LORD – I SAW THE LIGHT,” and across the top of the Audrey Williams monolith, you’ll find the words “NOW I’M SO HAPPY. NO SORRY IN SIGHT.” The monolith at Audrey Williams’ grave had a large “AW” at the base, and the monolith at Hank Williams’ grave had a unique cowboy had marker at the base. Between both graves is a marker that reads “PLEASE DO NOT DESECRATE THIS SACRED SPOT. MANY THANKS, HANK WILLIAMS, JR.”

While there, I couldn’t help but think about the Alan Jackson song, “Midnight in Montgomery.” In this song, which was released in 1990, Jackson sings about stopping to visit Williams’ grave while on his way to Mobile for a New Year’s Eve show. As he’s standing there, Williams’ ghost appears and thanks him for visiting his grave.

In the end, how many of you have ever visited Hank Williams’ grave? What did you think about it? Do you know of any other famous Alabama graves? Let us know in the comments section below.

LIFE LIST UPDATE – No. 935: Watch an Auburn game from the press box at Jordan-Hare Stadium

View from the press box at Jordan-Hare.

Auburn University’s Jordan-Hare Stadium is one of the most historic sporting venues in the entire state of Alabama, and I’ve always wanted to watch a college football game from the press box at this 87,451-seat stadium. I’d been to more than a few games at Jordan-Hare, but I’d always watched from either the stands or from the sidelines. The press box seats are arguably the best seats in the house, which is why I put this item on my “life list” a couple of years ago.

A couple of months ago, the newspaper I work for, The Evergreen Courant in Evergreen, Ala., was notified by the Alabama Press Association that we would receive a press box pass for the Alabama-Auburn game, which was scheduled for Nov. 30 in Auburn. My boss, Courant publisher and editor Robert Bozeman, had first dibs on the pass, but he was kind enough to allow me to use it when he learned that he’d be unable to attend the game. As things turned out, this past Saturday’s Alabama-Auburn game shaped up to be the “Mother of All Iron Bowls,” and it had huge national implications at No. 1-ranked and undefeated Alabama faced No. 4-ranked Auburn.

Getting to see an Iron Bowl from the press box at Jordan-Hare Stadium was sort of a big deal for me because, growing up, I never thought I’d ever see an Iron Bowl in person. As a youngster growing up in rural Southwest Alabama, my perception was that getting to go to the Alabama-Auburn game in person was something that only rich, important people got to do, certainly not someone like me, a nobody from the woods down below Frisco City.

In the interest of full disclosure, Saturday wasn’t the first time I’d ever set foot in the press box at Jordan-Hare. When you get a sideline pass as a photographer, you are allowed to go up to the press box take advantage of the food they have set out in the hospitality area, which is right behind the press box seats. I’d been up there looking around a few times in the past, but had never watched an entire game from up there.

This past Saturday, my assigned seat was on the lowest tier of press box seats, and I found myself seated between Tommy McGraw, the owner and publisher of the Sumter County Record-Journal in Livingston, and Charlie Potter, the assistant sports editor of The Crimson White, the University of Alabama’s student newspaper. Sports radio personality Paul Finebaum was seated about six seats down, and Alabama State Trooper Willie Locke of Evergreen was also on duty in the press box.

As things turned out, Auburn won the Iron Bowl on Saturday, beating archrival Alabama, 34-28, on the final play of the game. Auburn scored its last touchdown by returning a missed field goal 109 yards. The crowd went wild and stormed the field, and the game is already being included in discussions of Auburn’s greatest wins ever. ESPN’s Sports Center also featured the game in a segment Sunday about the greatest game endings of all time. Of course, I was pulling for Alabama, but I had to do so silently, since there’s no cheering in the press box.

In the end, special thanks to the Alabama Press Association, which provided our newspaper with a press box pass to Saturday’s game and to my publisher Robert Bozeman, who allowed me to use the pass. Robert could have used the pass himself, but he let me go instead, which was mighty nice of him.

The Evergreen Courant's News Flashback for Dec. 2, 2013

Alabama Governor Guy Hunt

12 YEARS AGO

DEC. 6, 2001

Local weather reporter Harry Ellis reported .08 inches of rain on Nov. 28, 2001 and .87 inches of rain on Nov. 29, 2001. He reported high temperatures of 81 degrees on Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 and a low of 41 on Nov. 30.

“The new Conecuh County Jail, one of Leadership Conecuh County Class of 1998’s projects, is finally nearing completion. Plans are underway for Leadership 2002.”

“Representing the grand marshals for the 2002 Evergreen Christmas Parade, set for this Saturday at 4 p.m., are Matthew Davis, Evergreen Fire Chief, and James Simpson, Evergreen Police Chief. They are pictured with Eric Basinger, Executive Director of the Evergreen-Conecuh Chamber of Commerce, who is sponsoring the parade.”

“Utopia Cassady received certification from the Alabama Supreme Court to practice law on Sept. 28, 2001 after successfully completing the bar examination in the summer of 2001.
“Cassady received her doctorate degree in law from the Thomas Goode Jones School of Law in Montgomery, where she achieved the highest grade point average in her class at the conclusion of her first year of law school
“Cassady will practice law with her husband, Max Cassady. Effective Oct. 1, 2001, the firm was renamed Cassady & Cassady. The firm has moved into new offices across from the post office in Evergreen.”

27 YEARS AGO
DEC. 4, 1986

Local weather reporter Earl Windham reported 1.65 inches of rain on Nov. 25, 1986, .81 inches on Nov. 28 and 1.54 inches on Nov. 29. He reported highs of 76 on Nov. 25 and Nov. 26. He reported lows of 47 on Nov. 27 and Nov. 28. Total rainfall for the month of November was 8.22 inches.

“The Fuji Blimp created some excitement when it made a scheduled stop at the Evergreen Municipal Airport Middleton Field last week. The blimp got weather in and didn’t get airborne until Tuesday. The blimp, the small of two Fuji Corp. blimps, is 170 feet long and can reach airspeeds over 50 knots with its two Porsche 911 engines.”

“Governor Elect Guy Hunt has appointed Michael J. Evans to his 79-member transition team. Evans, who is a native of Evergreen (China community), presently resides in Montgomery and is Executive Director of the Rural Alabama Development Corporation, a statewide employment and training agency.”

“Ross Ryals, the son of Evergreen residents Kenneth and Margarette Smith, has been appointed as a supreme court justice to the Auburn University at Montgomery Student Government Association for the 1986-87 school year.”

“Evergreen resident Sarah Noble has been awarded a Vice Chancellor’s scholarship to Auburn University for the 1986-87 academic year.”

42 YEARS AGO
DEC. 2, 1971

“Capt. Ronald T. Golson left Nov. 23 for his second tour of duty in Vietnam.”

“Lynn Lynch, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ray D. Lynch formerly of Evergreen, was third runner-up in the Mary Montgomery High School (Mobile) Beauty Pageant on Nov. 19. The former Sparta Academy student was one of 36 contestants.”

“Members of the Class of 1946, Evergreen High School, held a silver anniversary reunion at The Murphy Club on Friday. The turnout for the class’ first reunion since graduation was excellent with 32 of the 52 members present at various times in the afternoon and evening.”

“State Rep. J.E. (Jimmy) Warren of Castleberry said today that he would oppose any proposal in the special session of the legislature which opened Tuesday that would increase taxes.”

“Conecuh County 1971 Christmas Seal Chairman, Mrs. R.G. Kendall Jr., announce that once again the citizens of Conecuh County are showing their faith in the voluntary fight against tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases by supporting the campaign.”

“Conecuh County Public Schools have received a grant from the U.S. Office of Education under the Emergency School Assistance Program for the school year 1971-72. This grant is in the amount of $64,388 and provides for the services of five counselors and 12 teacher aides in the various schools.”

57 YEARS AGO
DEC. 6, 1956

“Thousands gathered in Evergreen yesterday to watch the Seventh Annual Christmas Carnival parade, described by some witnesses as the best seen here in many years. The crowd was conservatively estimated at 4,000 and by some observers as high as 6,000.”

“Miss Sylvia Harrison was crowned Queen Joy and Miss Bessie Ruth Butler was named Princess Gaiety in ceremonies at the Seventh Annual Christmas Carnival here yesterday. Miss Harrison was escorted by Autel Brantley, and Miss Butler by William Ashcraft. Both young ladies represented Repton High School.
“Other contestants and their escorts in the contest were: Castleberry, Miss Louise Turner, escort, Robert Warr, Miss Betty Jane Smith, escort, Dewey James; Lyeffion, Miss Mamie Lou Fields, escort, Robert Riley, Miss Jennie Lou Johnson, escort, Lyle Salter; Evergreen, Miss Caroline Morrison, escort Charles Searcy and Miss Shirley Watson, escort, Bert Tuggle.”

“Rev. Sam Granade, pastor of the Evergreen Baptist Church, has been appointed chairman of the Red Cross Fund Drive, according to the Conecuh Chapter, chairman, Rev. J.H. Bullington. Clarence Miller will be the co-chairman.”

“In a very impressive ceremony on Tuesday of this week, the Woodmen of the World, national fraternal insurance organization, presented a flagpole and a flag to the Brockton School. The pole, a 43-foot seamless steel tube, was manufactured by Southern Coach Manufacturing Co., who made a special effort and price on the structure for the benefit of the gift.”

72 YEARS AGO
DEC. 4, 1941

“Freeborn Mixon Charged With Shooting: Freeborn Mixon was arrested Monday on an affidavit which charged him with shooting his brother-in-law, Dr. W.A. Stacey. It is said the shooting took place in a pasture on the Stacey plantation. A shotgun was used which was loaded with No. 4 or 5 shot. Dr. Stacey was hit by several shot but his wounds were said to not be of a serious nature. Mr. Mixon had not made bond Wednesday afternoon.”

“Rev. W.F. Cann was returned as pastor of the Evergreen Methodist church at the Conference held in Mobile last week. He is beginning his fifth year here.”

“The annual Thanksgiving squirrel fry had to be postponed because of weather conditions, although the crowd of visitors gathered at various homes and enjoyed the day.”

“Dr. and Mrs. R.W. Stallworth accompanied their little daughter, Betty, to Mobile Sunday where she underwent an operation of appendicitis Monday at the Mobile Infirmary.”

“Tax collector John H. Tranum received earlier this week for $18,791.83 in payment of L&N Railroad Co., taxes for this year. The L&N is the county’s largest taxpayer by far. The next largest taxpayer among the corporations is the Alger-Sullivan Lumber Co., with taxes at $8,359.30. Next is T.R. Miller Mill Co., with taxes at $3,542.55; W.T. Smith Lumber Co., $2,438.48 and the Alabama Power Co., $2,230.39.”

Daily Weather Observations for Mon., Dec. 2, 2013

Temp: 46.2 degrees F

Rainfall (past 24 hours): 0.00 inches

Humidity: 82 percent (High)

Conditions: Clear skies; light fog visible in the distance; birds audible and visible; dogs audible.

Wind: Not measured.

Barometric Pressure: 29.44 inHg

Week to Date Rainfall: 0.00 inches

Month to Date Rainfall: 0.0 inches

Fall to Date Rainfall: 4.75 inches

Year to Date Rainfall: 46.95 inches

NOTES: Today is the 336th day of 2013 and the 72nd day of Fall. There are 29 days left in the year.

Readings taken at 0700 hrs Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily, just west of the Monroe-Conecuh County line, near Excel, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.42834°N Lon 87.30131°W. Elevation: 400 feet above sea level. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-4, Station Name: Excel 2.5 ESE.

COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK – “The Savage Sword of Conan” #175 (July 1990)

'The Savage Sword of Conan' #175

This week’s “Comic Book of the Week” is “The Savage Sword of Conan” #175, which was published by Marvel Comics in July 1990. This comic was titled “Blade of the Demon Slayer.” and in addition to that story, the comic also included a six-page portfolio of Dave Simons Conan drawings.

This issue’s creative team included John Arcudi, writer; Armando Gil, penciler and inker; and Janice Chiang, letterer. Dorian Cleavenger was the cover artists, and the issue sold for $2.25 at newsstands.

“The Savage Sword of Conan” #175 was a 64-page issue that begins with a horse-riding adventurer named Isham of Iranistan. He’s being chased through the mountains on the border of Khitai by two large, hungry mountain lions. After his horse collapses, Isham barely escapes by climbing to the top of an isolated cliff.

On top of this cliff and to his surprise, Isham finds the remnants of a long-ago battle, complete with the skeletal remains of humans and nonhumans alike. Sunk deep in the large horned skull of something that died millennia ago, he finds a large ornate sword that is so sharp that it can cut boulders in two.

The scene then shifts to the night camp of a bunch of drunken bandits just as a group of bounty hunters, led by Conan the Barbarian, storms in and wipes them out. Conan and his friends take the heads of their bandits back to the Khitan trade village of Shar-Pei, where they plan to turn them in for a bounty. While riding into town, they encounter corpulent local crime lord Dai-Ling, the former employer of the bandits Conan killed. Conan and Dai-Ling exchange a few words and dirty looks before they go their separate ways.

Elsewhere in the town, Isham is meeting with a local witch woman named La-Fei, who is examining a bunch of old scrolls Isham found on top of the cliff with the sword. She reads the scrolls and explains that 8,000 years ago a brotherhood of wizards banded together to fight “forces of magic” that threatened to wipe out mankind. The brotherhood combined their life forces to form three powerful wizard warriors, and the best of the three wielded the sword that Isham found atop the cliff.

La-Fei buys the scrolls from Isham, but he refuses to sell her the sword. On the way out of La-Fei’s shop, Isham accidentally bumps into Dai-Ling, and a fight ensues in which Isham cuts down two of Dai-Ling’s bodyguards with his magic sword. Everyone in the town square sees this, including Conan and a host of other folks who begin making plans to steal it.

Later that night, Conan tracks Isham to an inn, where he finds him dead with his throat cut in an upstairs room. While Conan’s still in the room, a trio of ninja-clad thieves working for Dai-Ling slip in the window, and Conan kills two of them while the third escapes. Naturally, the magic sword is nowhere to be found.

A few minutes later at Dai-Ling’s house, he receives word that the sword has been stolen and is then paid a visit by the witch, La-Fei. She convinces him that she’s found a secret within the scrolls that will make him more powerful than the magic sword he seeks.

As the sun begins to rise over the mountains, Conan is still on the hunt for the sword. The town drunk, Ton-Fun, tells Conan that Isham was killed by Mowki and his giant sidekick, who have left town, headed east.

While Conan takes off after them, La-Fei is leading Dai-Ling through an ancient ritual she learned from reading the scrolls sold to her by the late Isham. In the end, the ritual renders Dai-Ling invincible. La-Fei, who is watching Conan through a crystal ball, tells Dai-Ling that the only thing that can harm him is the magic sword Conan’s going after.

Later that day, Dai-Ling and six of his men accost Conan and his group of bounty hunters on a narrow mountain pass. Dai-Ling challenges Conan, who hacks Dai-Ling up one side and down the other without inflicting any damage on him. Conan quickly figures out that his sword is useless, but then gets on his horse and charges Dai-Ling. The horse knocks Dai-Ling off the mountain and the rest of his host flees in fear. The scene ends with Dai-Ling unharmed at the bottom of the mountain, shaking his fist at Conan.

Conan and his group eventually track down Mowki and his giant friend to a small village where they are running a money making scheme that involves a village challenger taking on the giant armed with the magic sword. The giant kills one of the villagers by cutting him in half, but Conan accepts the challenge and gets the magic sword after dispatching the giant with a vicious stab to the gut.

Back in Shar-Pei, Dai-Ling’s men are going on a rampage, killing people left and right and raping any woman they come across. The town drunk, Ton-Fun, slips away to get Conan, who agrees to return to Shar-Pei to take out Dai-Ling. Little do they know that this is all part of La-Fei’s plan. Dai-Ling flips out when she tells him that Conan has the magic sword, but she tells him not to worry.

Around sunrise, Conan and his men arrive back in Shar-Pei, which has been devastated by Dai-Ling and his men. A few minutes later, Dai-Ling steps out, arrayed in full battle armor and “bathed in an aura of white light.” The battle begins and Dai-Ling gets the upper hand until he’s betrayed by La-Fei, who removes the protective aura from around Dai-Ling. Conan cuts him down pretty quick after that.

Later that night, Conan’s in a weird mood around the camp fire and when one of his friends tries to cheer him up, Conan almost loses control and nearly cuts him in two with the magic sword. Conan stops himself just in time and realizes that something’s not right. He then has a vision in which he sees that La-Fei is trying to turn him into her pawn in hopes of getting the magic sword.

Soon thereafter, Conan kicks in her door, and she hands over the ancient scrolls to keep from getting cut down. The story ends with Conan standing on a cliff high over the shores of Lake Ho. He puts all of the scrolls and the magic sword in a big sack and throws them into the lake.

This comic (unless I’ve sold it) and others are available for purchase through Peacock’s Books on Amazon.com. If you’re interested in buying it, search for it there by title, issue number and date of publication.

New 'Walking Dead' book debuts on best-sellers list this week

Today is Sunday, so that means that it’s time for my weekly breakdown of this week’s Publishers Weekly Best-Sellers Lists. According to those lists, there are two new books at the top of the four major best-sellers lists this week.

"Takedown Twenty" by Janet Evanovich replaced "Sycamore Row" by John Grisham as the No. 1 book on the hardcover fiction best-sellers list.

"Notorious Nineteen" by Janet Evanovich replaced "Touch & Go" by Lisa Gardner as the top book on the mass market paperback best-sellers list.

"Miss Kay's Duck Commander Kitchen" by Kay Robertson remained the top book on the trade paperbacks best-sellers list for the second week in a row.

"Killing Jesus" by Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard remained the top book on the hardcover nonfiction best-sellers list for the third straight week.

There were three books on this week’s hardcover fiction best-sellers list that weren’t on that list last week. They (and their places on the list) included "Takedown Twenty" by Janet Evanovich (1), "King and Maxwell" by David Baldacci (2) and "S'' by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst (14).

There were three books on this week’s hardcover nonfiction best-sellers list that weren’t on the list last week. They included "Miracles and Massacres" by Glenn Beck (3), "Staying Strong" by Demi Lovato (11) and "Let Me Off at the Top!" by Ron Burgandy (14).

There were three new books on this week’s mass market paperbacks best-sellers list. They included "Notorious Nineteen" by Janet Evanovich (1), "Hunting Eve" by Isis Johansen (3) and "French Silk" by Sandra Brown (10).

There were two books on this week’s trade paperbacks best-sellers list that weren’t on the list last week. They included "The Walking Dead, Vol. 19" by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard (3) and "Beautiful Beginning" by Christina Lauren (8).

As a reminder, I’m posting these lists each Sunday because they, as a whole, represent a great, contemporary recommended reading list. These lists are initially released each week on Thursday, and if you’re interested in reading them then, visit Publishers Weekly’s Web site at www.publishersweekly.com. Below you’ll find all four of this week’s best-seller lists.

HARDCOVER FICTION
1. "Takedown Twenty" by Janet Evanovich
2. "King and Maxwell" by David Baldacci
3. "Sycamore Row" by John Grisham
4. "The First Phone Call from Heaven" by Mitch Albom
5. "Dust" by Patricia Cornwell
6. "Doctor Sleep" by Stephen King
7. "The Longest Ride" by Nicholas Sparks
8. "The Goldfinch" by Donna Tartt
9. "Mirage" by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul
10. "The Valley of Amazement" by Amy Tan
11. "Winners" by Danielle Steel
12. "The All Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion" by Fannie Flagg
13. "White Fire" by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
14. "S'' by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst
15. "Merry Christmas, Alex Cross" by James Patterson

HARDCOVER NONFICTION
1. "Killing Jesus" by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
2. "Things That Matter" by Charles Krauthammer
3. "Miracles and Massacres" by Glenn Beck
4. "The Pioneer Woman Cooks" by Ree Drummond
5. "Guinness World Records 2014" by Guinness World Records
6. "The Bully Pulpit" by Doris Kearns Goodwin
7. "Soul Healing Miracles" by Zhi Gang Sha
8. "David and Goliath" by Malcolm Gladwell
9. "George Washington's Secret Six" by Brian Kilmeade
10. "Si-Cology 1" by Si Robertson
11. "Staying Strong" by Demi Lovato
12. "I Am Malala" by Malala Yousafzai
13. "Good Tidings and Great Joy" by Sarah Palin
14. "Let Me Off at the Top!" by Ron Burgandy
15. "The Duck Commander Devotional" by Alan Robertson

MASS MARKET PAPERBACKS
1. "Notorious Nineteen" by Janet Evanovich
2. "The Gift of Christmas" by Debbie Macomber
3. "Hunting Eve" by Isis Johansen
4. "Poseidon's Arrow" by Clive Cussler and Dirk Cussler
5. "Touch & Go" by Lisa Gardner
6. "A Dance with Dragons" by George R.R. Martin
7. "Private: Number 1 Suspect" by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
8. "The Racketeer" by John Grisham
9. "Angels at the Table" by Debbie Macomber
10. "French Silk" by Sandra Brown
11. "Not Without You" by Nora Roberts
12. "Secret Santa" by Fern Michaels
13. "An Outlaw's Christmas" by Linda Lael Miller
14. "Wyoming Bold" by Diana Palmer
15. "A Big Sky Christmas" by William W. Johnstone

TRADE PAPERBACKS
1. "Miss Kay's Duck Commander Kitchen" by Kay Robertson
2. "Dark Witch" by Nora Roberts
3. "The Walking Dead, Vol. 19" by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard

4. "The Storyteller" by Jodi Picoult

5. "Hyperbole and a Half" by Allie Brosh

6. "Dear Life" by Alice Munroe

7. "Quiet" by Susan Cain

8. "Beautiful Beginning" by Christina Lauren

9. "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline

10. "Unlikely Loves" by Jennifer S. Holland

11. "Four Blood Moons" by John Hagee

12. "Brain on Fire" by Susannah Cahalan

13. "Beautiful Ruins" by Jess Walter

14. "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" by Maria Semple

15. "The Hit" by David Baldacci

In the end, let me know if you’ve had a chance to read any of these books. What did you think about them? Which would you recommend? Let us know in the comments section below.

Daily Weather Observations for Sun., Dec. 1, 2013

Temp: 41.4 degrees F

Rainfall (past 24 hours): 0.00 inches

Humidity: 81 percent (High)

Conditions: Partly Cloudy skies; birds audible; jet contrails visible.

Wind: Not measured.

Barometric Pressure: 29.77 inHg

Week to Date Rainfall: 1.40 inches

Month to Date Rainfall: 0.0 inches

Fall to Date Rainfall: 4.75 inches

Year to Date Rainfall: 46.95 inches

NOTES: Today is the 335th day of 2013 and the 71st day of Fall. There are 30 days left in the year.

Readings taken at 0700 hrs Central Standard Time (1300 GMT) daily, just west of the Monroe-Conecuh County line, near Excel, Alabama, USA, in the vicinity of Lat 31.42834°N Lon 87.30131°W. Elevation: 400 feet above sea level. CoCoRaHS Station No. AL-MN-4, Station Name: Excel 2.5 ESE.