Texas tragedy

Among the victims of Friday’s flooding in Texas Hill Country was 8-year-old Sarah Marsh of Mountain Brook, reports AL.com’s Hannah Denham.

At our deadlines the overall death toll being reported by the Associated Press had risen above 80. Ten girls from Camp Mystic were still missing. Sarah was attending that Christian retreat near the Guadalupe River when heavy rains overnight Thursday into Friday led to flash flooding that devastated the area.

Meteorologist James Spann posted on social media that Sarah was a student at Cherokee Bend Elementary School in Mountain Brook.

Union effort

The United Auto Workers has taken steps to unionize workers at an Alabama powertrain plant, reports AL.com’s William Thornton.

Last year the UAW invested millions into expanding its footprint, and union officials vowed to increase unionization in the South. It met rejection in Tuscaloosa County, where 56% of Mercedez-Benz employees voted against joining.

Then last week, the UAW filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to represent workers at Huntsville’s International Motors. The plant manufactures diesel engines and transmissions for International’s assembly plants.

According to the paperwork, it affects 220 full- and part-time manufacturing employees.

Risky celebration

Fourth of July celebrations didn’t go off without at least some fireworks-related injuries.

At Lake Martin, an explosion on a pontoon-boat-turned-launch-pad resulted in six injured people, reports AL.com’s Carol Robinson and Jeremy Gray.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said the fireworks were not permitted.

Two people were airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham. The others were taken to area hospitals.

The explosion took place in Blue Creek on Lake Martin in Tallapoosa County.

Mormons in Madison

The City of Madison’s zoning board has approved what would be the second Mormon temple in Alabama, reports AL.com’s John R. Roby.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wants to build a one-story, 30,000-square-foot facility topped with a 120-foot spire.

Just last week, Madison’s planning commission recommended that the city annex just under 14 acres of the church’s property on the east side of the temple site.

There are an estimated 40,000 Mormons living in Alabama. Their other temple opened in Gardendale 25 years ago.

RIP Bruce Underwood

Longtime radio host, former TV journalist and popular Guntersville personality Bruce Underwood has passed away, according to a story by WHNT and a social-media post by the Guntersville Advertiser-Gleam. Congressman Robert Aderholt also acknowledged Underwood’s passing with a weekend post.

Underwood started doing radio while Alabama’s governor was Jim Folsom — Big Jim Folsom.

WHNT reported that Underwood had been doing a morning radio show on WTWX 95.9 in Guntersville since 1958. He also became one of WHNT’s first reporters when they hired him to cover Marshall County in 1963. And he had been a weather observer for the National Weather Service, calling in temperatures and rainfall totals since the late 50s.

Quoting

“Twenty years ago, if you would have asked me, ‘Would you want to have A-Day?’ I’d say, ‘Yes.’ Today, I would say, with all the things that come now surrounding it, I think it’s better for us not to have A-Day and focus on the UA-generated events that don’t require so much security personnel and other logistical support.”

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, to The Tuscaloosa News

By the Numbers

$8 million

That’s the budget shortfall the University of Montevallo is trying to chip into by canceling some majors, laying off some staff and increasing tuition.

More Alabama News

Born on This Date

In 1902, Negro League pitcher, catcher and, later, manager Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe of Mobile.

In 1906, Hall of Famer pitcher Satchel Paige of Mobile.

In 1927, singer, songwriter and guitarist Charlie Louvin of Section.

In 1980, Miss America 2005 Dr. Deidre Downs Gunn of Pelham.

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