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The missing secretary

More details have come out since Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spent time in intensive care at Walter Reed Medical Center without some key people knowing about it.

The Associated Press reported that Austin has prostate cancer and that he was at Walter Reed to treat a urinary tract infection related to his surgery before Christmas. Doctors have said the cancer was detected at a screening in early December, that they found it early and that he has an excellent prognosis.

We’ll have to see about the political prognosis. Much of Washington has had a collective conniption since finding out the secretary was out of pocket with all the current global instability involving allies of the U.S.

Austin, who’s 70 and from Mobile, was taken to Walter Reed by ambulance and put into intensive care on Jan. 1. Some of his authority was transfered to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, but she didn’t know why — and the white House apparently wasn’t informed — for three days. And it was another day before Congress and the rest of us knew about it.

As a matter of fact, Reuters reported that President Biden didn’t know about Austin’s cancer until yesterday.

The pickle business

The investment firm Fenwick Food Group has acquired Wickles Pickles, reports AL.com’s William Thornton.

Founded in 1998 by brothers Will and Trey Sims and Andy Anderson, Wickles has grown into one of one of Alabama’s iconic food brands. Some people will will swear by Wickles Pickles the same way they will McEwen & Sons grits or Bud’s Best Cookies.

In a quarter century the pickles have gone from being packed by hand in a Dadeville home to being available in all 50 states.

Details of the deal are unknown. A news release from Fenwick said its headquarters will be in Birmingham and that it’s interested in brands similar to Wickles. It already has another Alabama brand, Moore’s Marinades & Sauces, under its umbrella.

Trolling N’Orleans

Mobile, of course, claims the oldest Mardi Gras celebration, going way back to 1703. And it hasn’t missed many opportunities to troll New Orleans about it.

One year Alabama Tourism even bought billboards in Louisiana during Mardi Gras to make the point. Folks and businesses from both cities have ribbed each other back and forth through signs and social media. And St. Louis has tried to cut in, making the dubious claim that it’s the second-biggest annual Mardi Gras celebration to the Big Easy.

With the celebrations upon us — the tree-lighting ceremony was held in downtown Mobile this past weekend — Mayor Sandy Stimpson has revisited another traditional trolling. AL.com’s John Sharp reports that the mayor read a proclamation Tuesday giving New Orleans and St. Louis permission to celebrate Mardi Gras in 2024.

Mind your garbage

The City of Birmingham has now given out brand-new, 90-gallon garbage carts for residents to use. The problem is, many people just aren’t quite up to using them.

AL.com’s Greg Garrison reports that city officials are exasperated that some folks are still just piling their trash by their curb.

Which, I suppose, is better than piling it by someone else’s curb.

Council member Valerie Abbott flat-out told people to get their act together. Council President Darrell O’Quinn said people need to know that if trash doesn’t fit in the cans that they can bring it to a landfill rather than letting in rot in their front yard.

State House newcomers

Winning special elections Tuesday night were:

• Republican Wes Kitchens (Arab), Senate District 9.
• Republican Bryan Brinyark (Northport), House District 16.

Quoting

“The Port of Mobile is our Redstone Arsenal.”

Mobile Councilman Joel Daves, after Forbes Magazine listed Mobile as the second-fasting growing port in the U.S.

More Alabama news

Born on this date

• In 1825, Confederate Brigadier-General Alexander Travis Hawthorn of Conecuh County
• In 1938, Baseball Hall of Famer Willie McCovey of Mobile

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