Boating-related accidents

Memorial Day weekend marked the unofficial beginning to the summer vacation season. For many that also means it’s lake season. Which is a wonderful thing, but we’ve also received the bad news that always comes along with lake season: Tragic boat-related accidents.

It was on Memorial Day at Logan Martin Lake when 72-year-old Delbert Shaw was helping dock a pontoon boat, fell in the water and drowned.

The day before on Lake Mitchell, a 39-year-old man was cranking the motor on a Maxum bowrider when it burst into flames, injuring him and two others.

And earlier this month a woman’s leg was cut off during a bizarre incident. Her husband said they were taking a boat ride to Gravine Island in the Tensaw River when a steering cable broke and spun the boat so hard it threw them both into the water.

The boat motor’s propeller cut off her left leg above the knee and badly cut her right leg.

Y’all be careful out there. Enjoy the season, but remember that everything is a little less stable when you’re on water. You might need to take an extra moment to think through what you’re doing and where you’re stepping.

Union’s beef

We said when the workers at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance voted against organizing earlier this month that the election might not just happen and then quietly go away.

We knew that the United Auto Workers union had filed complaints of unfair labor practices against Mercedes.

Well, AL.com’s William Thornton reports that Labor Department filings show that the automaker contracted with consulting firms from California, Oklahoma and Florida to speak to workers at the plant. Huffington Post has reported they brought in at least 11 people to hold anti-union meetings.

These meetings are one of six points raised in the union’s unfair labor practices filing.

Last week, the UAW petitioned the National Labor Relations Board for a new election.

Transplant Games

The Transplant Games of America are coming to Birmingham, reports AL.com’s Mark Heim.

Organizers expect thousands of transplant recipients, living donors, donors’ families, people awaiting transplants and professionals in the donation or transplant field to make it to the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex on July 5-10 for competitions such as swimming, basketball, table tennis, golf, cornhole, ballroom dancing and Texas Hold ‘Em.

The Games happen every other year and are produced by the Transplant Life Foundation. The goal here is to raise awareness for and celebrate organ, eye and tissue donations.

Competitors are expected to represent all 50 states and several other nations. Admission to the events is free.

Quoting

“I do it to connect with who I am. I am still just ‘Shae.’”

Adrian Peterson Fields, HUD’s southeast regional director, on visits back home to Birmingham.

By the Numbers

That’s how many separate dog attacks occurred Sunday in Valley. Each one sent a victim to a hospital for treatment. After each attack, the dogs were described as a brindle pit bull and a rottweiler.

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Born on This Date

In 1972, actress Laverne Cox of Mobile.

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