ListentoLaney

ListenToLaney.com

Articles

My Latest Work

Photo by Egor Kamelev on Pexels
WAFF •

Why experts say you should winterize your home this week

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - November 12th through the 18th is Winter Preparedness Week in Alabama. Experts believe this is the perfect time to prepare your home for severe winter weather.

Dr. Ian Giammanco, Lead Research Meteorologist at the Insure Institute for Business & Home Safety, has provided tips to save you a financial headache.

If you haven’t already, Giammanco said to turn on your heater or HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning ) unit. He said you don’t want to use it at the
WAFF •

7th annual One Table event returning to the Shoals

FLORENCE, Ala. (WAFF) - A popular event will be returning again to downtown Florence. The 7th annual One Table event will be back on November 2nd.

One Table is a yearly free community meal shared along one table. The food will be catered by Jill’s Sweet Memories in Florence.

Guests do not have to register or pay money to attend the annual event and enjoy the company.

Chelsea Wassner, an event coordinator for One Table said the idea came from another city and the event’s team thought it would
WAFF •

What parents need to know during National Teen Driver Safety Week

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - National Teen Driver Safety Week is from October 15th through October 21st. During this period, driving experts remind parents that they play a crucial role in keeping their children safe while behind the wheel.

According to the CDC, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of teen deaths in the United States. Michelle Anderson, The Director of Operations at the National Road Safety Foundation, said it is vital for parents to speak to their teens about safe driving
https://www.waff.com •

ALEA, service organization warn about Fourth of July driving safety

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate. It’s also one of the most dangerous because Impaired drivers often hit the roads.

Alabama state troopers are on a mission to keep you safe on the road.

“We are going to have our troopers out doing very targeted campaigns as it relates to being able to keep motorcyclists safe in conjunction with taking those impaired drivers off Alabama roadways,” Jeremy Burkett, State trooper with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Burkett
https://www.waff.com •

Huntsville mental health professional gives advice for preventing back-to-school anxiety

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - Returning to the classroom after the summer break can be exciting for students. But for other kids, it can be overwhelming and cause students to be anxious.

Monretta Vega, Psychotherapist and owner of Huntsville Psychotherapy and counseling services, says that it’s normal for students to be slightly anxious. Still, she said things such as separation from loved ones, transitioning to a new routine, and upcoming course load can enhance anxiety at the beginning of the sch
https://www.waff.com •

National Road Safety Foundation offers safe driving tips for Fourth of July holiday weekend

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - Teen driver safety is a top priority for the National Road Safety Foundation this holiday weekend.

Most teens are out of school and involved in activities that consist of them driving a car.

Michelle Anderson, Director of Operations at the National Road Safety Foundation, said although they can get better over time, most teens are inexperienced drivers. Anderson said teens should be even more careful on the roads.

The warning also comes as the organization said Teen
https://www.waff.com •

Take the First Step: Alabama health officials encourage screenings for PTSD

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - June 27 marks National PTSD Screening Day, and mental health officials in Alabama are encouraging you to take a PTSD self-screening test.

Gabriel Metz, a social worker and therapist in Alabama, calls PTSD a “treatable condition.” Metz says it will help you learn if your feelings and behaviors are related to the disorder.

“Having that open, honest dialogue with a trained clinician to help screen you is a vital first step for coming up with the treatment plan and a way
https://www.waff.com •

Alabama Department of Public Health official details health impact of wildfire smoke

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - Madison and Morgan counties are under an air quality alert until 9:00 p.m. on Friday due to smoke and particles from Canadian wildfires.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and weather reports, it is unlikely that Alabama could see heavy clouds of smoke like some areas of the country.

Dr. Wes Stubblefield, with the Alabama Department of Public Health, said if you travel to cities such as New York, Philadelphia, or Washington, D.C. from Alabama right
https://www.waff.com •

‘More than just a horse’: Family reflects on life of Northeast Alabama Community College mascot

RAINSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - An Alabama family is reflecting on the recent loss of Trouper, a once wild mustang from Nevada turned well-known mascot in north Alabama.

Trouper was the mascot for Northeast Alabama Community College in Rainsville. His story all started when Amber Mathewson went to support a friend at the Extreme Horse Makeover Competition in Texas in 2007. She was amazed at the horse shows and knew it was something she wanted to do.

In 2009, Mathewson entered the competition. She wa

Explore a featured selection of my written work below.

Eagle Eye TV •

Missing Teen Found Dead As Three Auburn Men Are Charged In His Kidnaping

Auburn, AL (EETV) - A body discovered early Thursday morning has been identified as 18-year-old Thomas Greene.

Greene’s body was discovered along Lee Road in west Lee County. Investigators suspect foul play in the discovery of the body.

On Thursday, Sept. 9, 2020, Auburn Police released surveillance footage of attempting to enter a convenient store on the 800 block of Martin Luther King Drive but departed after realizing it was closed.

Later that day , Auburn Police, with the assistance of me
Opelika-Auburn News •

New refrigerated van helps Food Bank of East Alabama and Auburn Housing Authority bring food to families for spring break

The Food Bank of East Alabama and the Auburn Housing Authority joined forces to combat hunger during spring break, and they had a secret weapon: a refrigerated van provided by the city through COVID-19 relief money.

When the two organizations passed out 100 food boxes late last week at the Boykin Community Center, it was the food bank’s first chance to use its newly purchased refrigerated van to deliver cold and frozen foods to those in need.

In preparation for spring break, each household rec
The Auburn Plainsman •

Patti LaBelle delivers emotional sold-out show

Patti LaBelle is no stranger to selling-out shows, and she delivered her first show in Auburn Sunday evening to a sold-out crowd. The "Godmother of Soul" filled up the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center. The 77-year-old singer performed hit songs such as "On My Own," "If Only You Knew" and "New Attitude." She also performed Chris Stapleton's "Tennessee Whiskey" and The Rance Allen Group's "Something About The Name Jesus." On stage were the singer's black grand piano with several designer
Eagle Eye TV •

High-speed chase beginning in Auburn resulted in an officer firing weapon.

AUBURN, Ala. (EETV) - A high-speed police chase resulted in one officer firing their weapon. The pursuit began in Auburn on I-85 Northbound Monday afternoon.

The chase continued into Chambers County, and the suspect willingly pulled over. When an OPD officer approached the vehicle, the suspect took off and struck the official.

According to Opelika City Police Chief, the officer then fired shots at the suspects' vehicle. The officers received non-life threatening. Injuries and was treated at th
The Auburn Plainsman •

'There are hungry people out here'

With a face riddled with wrinkles, the thin-haired man sealed up boxes of Del Monte's green beans with a tape gun. As warehouse lights beamed down on his salt-and-pepper-colored hair and sweat rolled down his face, the man lifted the first of many packages and placed it on a cart. This is work, hard work. But this is a regular assignment James Newton, 66, takes on without pay regularly. The rewards come from knowing that citizens who will benefit from his free labor will not go to bed hungry. Si
Opelika-Auburn News •

Auburn girl wanted everybody to enjoy Girl Scout cookies, so she partnered with local food pantry

When Peyton Allison, a 9-year-old Girl Scout, began her cookie sale in January, she knew she wanted to sell thousands of boxes. But she also wanted to use the treats to make a difference.

That is when Peyton and her mother, Danielle Allison, came up with an idea to donate 1,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to the Community Market, an extension of the Food Bank of East Alabama which provides food relief for low-income Lee County residents. They planned to achieve this goal by encouraging people t
Eagle Eye TV •

OPD asking for help in identifying a suspect in auto shop theft

AUBURN, Ala. (EETV) The Opelika Police Department is asking for help in identifying an individual suspected of stealing from a local auto shop.

The suspect, a light complected male, can be seen on camera wearing a yellow shirt and driving a silver Kia Optima.

The incident occurred at Sun Self Storage, located at 2000 Columbus Parkway. While at the location, the suspect removed the Catalytic Converter and took a box of tools from a 2003 F-150.

If you have any information on the identity of thi
OANow.com •

'He was more than just the Lemonade Man': Auburn remembers James Echols, the 'master mixer' of Toomer's Drugs

“He was like a mentor to me,” said Lipscomb, 63, a property manager. “I admired his work ethic the most because he was a do-whatever-needs-to-be-done kind of guy. There were days where he would be in pain, but he squeezed several cases of lemons in a day, delivered medicines to patients and hand-repaired many items in the store.”

“He would hold the bottom of the glass with one hand and stir the lemonade with a long pitcher spoon with the other as he smiled and talked to you with the other,” she
Living Democracy - Auburn University College of Liberal Arts •

The Collinsville Panther Pride Band is back - Living Democracy - College of Liberal Arts - Auburn University

The sounds of trumpets and tubas pierce the air in the band room at Collinsville High School. But this is no ordinary practice.

The Collinsville Panther Pride Marching Band is preparing for their most memorable performance to date on July 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the historic Cricket Theatre.

That performance will celebrate the fact that the band is back after having being inactive for 10 years. The program had stopped receiving funding then because of the lack of participation from students and the