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General

Miss Manners: Is getting soda water from the fountain machine stealing?

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Self-service fountain machines at pizza parlors and delis have the different sugary sodas labeled with big buttons, while there are often smaller black “water” and “soda” buttons below.

I have always believed that the aerated water dispensed by the “soda” button is still just water, meaning I can fill up a cup for free. After all, it is not on the menu for purchase. Is my assumption correct? My partner says that this is stealing and I need to pay for it.

I once asked at the register to confirm this was OK, and the young guy there said “sure.” But at lunch at a different restaurant, I said I was going to get some soda and my partner said “OK, if you want to steal it” — right in front of the owner, who was walking by our table. I do not identify as a thief, and I felt hurt.

Is there something I am overlooking? Should I ask each time, at each restaurant? Or is my assumption OK that aerated or not, water is still water? I do acknowledge that the soda button uses a small amount of the aeration cartridge shared by the other beverages.

I am happy to change my practice and ask each time, but now I’m just irritated with my partner and digging in my heels. Please weigh in.

GENTLE READER: The argument that compels Miss Manners the most is that soda water is not otherwise on the menu. Is this true for every establishment? That would be the question to ask: “May I have a cup for soda water, or is that something I can purchase from you?”

You then have full permission to give a smug, satisfied smile to your partner when the answer is in your favor. Provided you still want to dine with someone who has been calling you a thief.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at missmanners.com, by email to [email protected], or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

General

Dense fog advisory in place for Alabama until Saturday morning, visibility limited to 1/4 mile

The National Weather Service released a dense fog advisory at 4:55 a.m. on Saturday in effect until 9 a.m. for Marion, Fayette and Winston counties.

The weather service states to expect, “Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog.”

“Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous,” describes the weather service. “If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.”

Fog safety: Tips from the weather service for safe travels

When a dense fog advisory is issued for your area, it means that widespread dense fog has developed and visibility can plummet to a quarter-mile or less. These conditions pose challenges for travel, so exercise extra caution on the road or consider postponing your trip if possible.

If driving through fog becomes inevitable, remember these safety guidelines:

Reduce speed:

Slow down and allocate extra time for your trip to reach your destination safely.

Visibility priority:

Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which automatically activate your taillights. Utilize fog lights if your vehicle is equipped with them.

Avoid high-beams:

Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.

Keep your distance:

Maintain a significant following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifts in traffic patterns.

Stay in your lane:

Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to staying in the correct lane.

Visibility near zero:

In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, initiate your hazard lights and locate a secure spot, such as a nearby business parking area, to pull over and come to a halt.

No parking options:

If no designated parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.

By adhering to these recommendations from the weather service, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring your well-being.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

General

Dear Annie: Advice from a Pre-K teacher

Dear Annie: I’m writing to “Tired Mom” about the situation with her and her best friend’s toddler girls not getting along. As a teacher who worked with little ones for many years, I found that it works better when you correct with a positive instead of a negative.

Instead of saying, “We don’t hit,” say, “Hands are for helping, not hurting.” Also, if possible, get the child involved — “Repeat after me, ‘Hands are for helping, not hurting.’” I hope this helps. — Pre-K Teacher

Dear Pre-K Teacher: Thank you for your letter! I hope it resonates with others the way it did with me. This is a great reminder of how important our words are and that even the smallest shifts can go a long way — especially with our kiddos.

Read more Dear Annie and other advice columns.

“How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit Creators Publishing for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to [email protected].

General

Dense fog advisory issued for Covington County until Saturday morning – 1/4 mile visibility

On Saturday at 3:21 a.m. a dense fog advisory was issued by the National Weather Service in effect until 9 a.m. for Covington County.

The weather service states to anticipate, “Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog.”

“Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous,” adds the weather service. “If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.”

Fog safety: Tips from the weather service for safe travels

If a dense fog advisory is issued for your area, it means that widespread dense fog has developed and visibility often drops to just a quarter-mile or less. These conditions can make driving challenging, so exercise extreme caution on the road, and if possible, consider delaying your trip.

If driving in fog becomes unavoidable, remember these safety tips:

Moderate your speed:

Slow down and allocate extra travel time to reach your destination safely.

Visibility matters:

Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights. If you have fog lights, use them.

Avoid high-beams:

Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.

Maintain safe gaps:

Maintain a significant following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifts in traffic patterns.

Stay in your lane:

To ensure you are staying in the correct lane, use the road’s lane markings as a guide.

Visibility near zero:

In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a safe spot, like a nearby business parking lot, to pull over and stop.

No parking options:

By adhering to these recommendations from the weather service, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring your well-being.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

General

Dense fog advisory for West Central Alabama until Saturday morning, limited visibility

The National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory at 2:31 a.m. on Saturday in effect until 9 a.m. for Lamar, Pickens, Sumter, Greene, Hale and Marengo counties.

The weather service states to expect, “Visibility 1/4 mile or less in dense fog.”

“Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous,” explains the weather service. “If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.”

Navigating fog: Safety tips by the weather service

If driving through fog becomes inevitable, remember these safety guidelines:

Moderate your speed:

Slow down and allow extra travel time to reach your destination safely.

Visibility matters:

Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights. If you have fog lights, use them.

Avoid high-beams:

Refrain from using high-beam lights, as they create glare, making it more difficult for you to see what’s ahead of you on the road.

Maintain safe gaps:

Maintain a significant following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifts in traffic patterns.

Stay in your lane:

Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to remaining in the correct lane.

Zero visibility protocol:

In extremely dense fog where visibility is near zero, the best course of action is to first turn on your hazard lights, then simply pull into a safe location such as a parking lot of a local business, and stop.

Limited parking options:

If no parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far to the roadside as possible. Once stationary, turn off all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.

By adhering to these precautions from the weather service, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the likelihood of accidents and ensuring your personal safety.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

General

Dense fog advisory issued for Geneva County until Saturday morning – limited visibility

On Saturday at 2:10 a.m. the National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory in effect until 8 a.m. for Geneva County.

“Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog,” can be expected according to the weather service. “Visibility will start to quickly improve about one hour after sunrise.”

“Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous,” says the weather service. “If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.”

Navigating fog: Safety tips by the weather service

If you must venture out in foggy conditions, keep these safety tips from the weather service in mind:

Reduce speed:

Slow down and allow extra travel time to reach your destination safely.

Visibility matters:

Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights. If you have fog lights, use them.

Avoid high-beams:

Refrain from using high-beam lights, as they create glare, making it more difficult for you to see what’s ahead of you on the road.

Keep a safe distance:

Maintain a generous following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifting traffic patterns.

Stay in your lane:

Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to remaining in the correct lane.

Zero visibility strategy:

In situations of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a secure location, such as a nearby business’s parking lot, to pull over and come to a stop.

No parking options:

If no designated parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.

By adhering to these precautions from the weather service, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the likelihood of accidents and ensuring your personal safety.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

General

Dear Annie: I was drugged and sexually assaulted at 14

Dear Annie: In 1962, I was 14.5 years old and in my first year of junior high. Feeling desperate to be cool, I believed a girl from school when she told me that her brother, who was home on leave from the military, wanted to meet me. I told my mom and dad that I had a babysitting job, and I walked to a neighborhood drugstore where this guy picked me up.

We went to a house where I saw a woman in the kitchen, who he said was his mom. He escorted me upstairs, and when he offered me a Coke, I accepted, thinking I was really cool. Soda was seldom allowed at my house and only on special occasions. That’s pretty much all I remember, other than him on top of me and then nothing. Then I recall making my way downstairs again where the woman was on her hands and knees scrubbing the carpet. I was then handed $5 and dropped off at the drugstore again where I had been picked up.

I now know I’d been drugged but knew nothing of such things at the time. I had two loving parents and was raised with four siblings in a strong Christian family. I had told this guy that my parents thought I was babysitting, so I think the $5 may have been “babysitting” money? I never told anyone what happened, and since I had lied to my parents, I felt even worse.

When I got married, I made up some story about a work-related injury when my husband asked about my virginity. Life went on, but then came the “#MeToo” movement, and all of the old, ugly memories came with it. Now after over 50 years of marriage, do you think it would serve any purpose at all to tell my husband what happened that day? I can picture the whole thing as if it were yesterday, and although I don’t remember the girl from school or the guy who was supposedly her brother, I find myself hoping they are no longer on this earth.

About six months ago, I did tell my younger sister about it, and she thought telling my husband now wouldn’t be a good idea. Rape will always be rape, but I was too young to know any better or call it what it was! — Just a Kid From Milwaukee

Dear Just a Kid From Milwaukee: I’m immensely sorry for what happened to you that day, and for every day since that you’ve carried such a heavy and painful burden. Please know that none of this was your fault. You were, as you said, just a kid, and one that was severely taken advantage of. Your strength and resilience are remarkable, and I hope you know how brave you are.

The decision to tell your husband or not is entirely yours. On one hand, it may bring a sense of safety and relief. On the other, it could be triggering, painful or confusing — for you, or for him. It’s OK to take your time, too. If it doesn’t feel right, you can always revisit your decision later on.

As you continue healing, you might consider seeing a therapist or joining a support group to feel less alone with what you’ve been through. And remember, what happened that day does not define who you are, your worth, your marriage or your future.

Read more Dear Annie and other advice columns.

General

Jalen Milroe sounds warning for teams that bypassed him in the NFL Draft

Jalen Milroe had a message on Friday night for the teams that let the Alabama quarterback stay available in the NFL Draft until the Seattle Seahawks took him at No. 92.

“Belt to ass,” Milroe said.

But it might be a while before Milroe can administer those whuppings.

The Seahawks took Milroe in the third round on Friday night and added him to a roster that already had four quarterbacks. At the top of the depth chart is Sam Darnold. Seattle signed the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft after he resurrected his career with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024.

After trading QB Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Seahawks signed Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract in March. Darnold earned a Pro Bowl invitation last season, when he led the Vikings to a 14-3 regular-season record and threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns.

“We don’t use patience a lot around here,” Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said, “but there’s always going to be an urgency in how we’re developing our players and how we’re training them, and Jalen’s going to be right there with everybody else. But, yeah, I mean, Sam’s going to take, by far and away, over 90 percent of our snaps this year, and whatever, however Jalen deserves and earns the right to go out there, then we’ll do that if it’s going to help the team, it’s best for us to move the ball and give these defensive coordinators some headaches. I’m really happy it’s not going to be us, so that’s awesome.

“I don’t want to put a timetable on it, but, yeah, it’s not an immediate need for him to go out there and be taking a bunch of snaps for us initially.”

Milroe became the third quarterback chosen by John Schneider in his 16 drafts as Seattle’s general manager. He took Russell Wilson in the third round in 2012 and Alex McGough in the seventh round in 2018. Wilson became a nine-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion with the Seahawks. McGough became the USFL MVP and a USFL champion with the Birmingham Stallions.

“He’s an incredible athlete,” Schneider said of Milroe. “Very, very fast. I think, literally, it’s 21.2 (mph) or something like that — his GPS speed. But hard worker. And he’s the William Campbell Award, like academic Heisman award, winner. He’s had four different offensive coordinators, worked his tail off. His mom’s former Navy. Dad’s a Marine. He came in on a visit. He had a really great visit. And he was in a spot and he just kept coming, and he was there by himself. …

“He’s a unique, special, special kid, special athlete, special kid, special young man. And we’re going to develop him as a quarterback. But with that, you know, he can add something special as we go.”

Macdonald said he thought offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak could find a use for Milroe’s special talents. In addition to throwing for 2,844 yards and 16 touchdowns for Alabama in 2024, Milroe ran for 726 yards and 20 touchdowns.

“One of the reasons we hired (Kubiak) was his ability to incorporate the whole roster and really bring out what everybody does really well,” Macdonald said. “So adding Jalen’s a part of that. And the ability to kind of employ everyone and bring the best out of all the players is really exciting, so that’s how it fits.

“I mean, we’re going to be running Klint’s offense, and Jalen’s going to fit right in. And when he’s in there, we’re going to be doing the stuff that he does great, just like we will when Sam’s leading the charge. So, yeah, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

But Macdonald said Seattle did not plan to turn Milroe into a Swiss Army knife in the style of Taysom Hill with the New Orleans Saints. Kubiak worked with Hill as the Saints’ passing-game coordinator last season.

“The way they used him was more like in a tight end, fullback, hybrid role with sometimes taking snaps,” Macdonald said. “Jalen’s a quarterback through and through. He’s going to be trained to play quarterback for us, and when he’s in there, he’s going to be playing quarterback. But the athleticism is going to come to life when he’s on the field, and that’s how he’s going to help us.”

Milroe said he hopes to be able to compete.

“I’m coming in to learn — learn, grow, and bring nothing but positive vibes to the offense and fulfilling all that as a necessity with my role on the team,” Milroe said. “So, of course, once I get there, I’ll understand my niche, for sure. But ideally I’m competing — no matter what day it is, no matter how many reps I get — competing for the opportunities that present themselves at the quarterback position.”

Despite the wait, Milroe said he thought he made a good landing in the draft.

“I know going into this process, my ultimate goal was to hear my name called, and I was able to hear that today,” Milroe said, “so it’s definitely a dream come true. You know, the best thing about it, I would gather with family throughout this whole process. It’s definitely a unique journey, for sure, not knowing where you can go. But it’s all about that right spot, and I know I’m in the right spot moving forward. …

“Right spot because I know this is a community of people that believe in me, that’s all in on me, and I felt that from the jump when I visited Seattle for my 30 visit and being around the coaching staff.”

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

General

No. 1 Hewitt-Trussville sweeps Sparkman; advances to 7A quarterfinals

Hewitt-Trussville’s Christian Helmers and Hudson Mitchell earned complete-game victories on the mound and Koal Duckett was eclectic on offense as the top-ranked Huskies swept a playoff doubleheader over Sparkman in Friday’s Class 7A first-round series.

The Huskies won 4-0 and 5-1 in a series that was delayed early due to heavy rains but finished before midnight.

“Both of our pitchers pounded the strike zone,” Hewitt-Trussville coach Jeff Mauldin said. “They changed speeds, pitched both sides of the plate, up and down. We knew they, offensively, did not strike out a bunch. They’re going to put a lot of balls in play, and we had to be ready. Our pitchers did their job locating pitches, but our defense was outstanding.”

Hewitt-Trussville (33-2) jumped ahead 2-0 early in the nightcap, but allowed the Senators to score their only run of the series on an RBI single by Braxton Williams in the bottom half of the frame. Duckett brought Tennessee signee Steele Hall home on a single and scored on an error.

Mitchell allowed only a single baserunner in the final six innings of the nightcap.

Hall, Duckett and Cameron Simpsons produced consecutive singles in the fifth — Duckett scoring Hall for a second time — and Cooper Huffman brought Simpson around on a double for a 4-1 advantage over the Senators.

Colby Durden and Cale McIntosh led off the sixth with back-to-back singles, and the latter scored the former for a 5-1 lead following consecutive errors in the infield.

In Game 1, McIntosh got the Huskies on the board first with an RBI groundout in the second, and Duckett and Huffman increased the lead to 3-0 at the end of the third frame. Duckett scored on an error and Huffman brought Simpson in on a single.

Durden capped the scoring in the opener, 4-0, on a fielder’s choice in the sixth inning,

Star of the Series: Pitching. Helmers and Mitchell each went the distance for the Huskies and allowed only 2 hits each, the latter giving up the only run on a single in the first inning of the nightcap.

Helmers issued 4 strikeouts and 2 walks in his two-hit shutout, while Mitchell totaled 8 strikeouts against a single walk.

“Coach Mauldin gave us a really good game plan, told us how to pitch every single guy in the lineup, and Hudson and I really executed. The defense was really good and Steele made a lot of plays behind us. The defense was solid throughout and we just went out and threw strikes,” Helmers said.

Stat sheet: Hewitt-Trussville – The Huskies gave up only 4 hits in the doubleheader and turned a pair of double-plays in the opener. Duckett was 2-of-4 with a pair of RBI singles in the nightcap and scored twice on errors. Huffman and McIntosh both went 2-for-6 with 2 RBIs in the series, followed by Durden, who was 1-of-1 and reached base on a hit-by-pitch, a fielder’s choice and two errors. Sparkman – Brenner VanDeWynckel took the loss in Game 1 and gave up 6 walks, with 4 coming by way of a hit batter. RJ Freiholtz started the nightcap and gave up 5 runs on 7 hits, and Tripp Morris closed each game in relief. Will Peccia was 2-for-2 with a pair of singles in the opener, and Williams was 2-of-3 in the nightcap and scored the only run on a single in the first inning.

Coachspeak: “The two guys we threw dominated the strike zone and our defense dominated the game. We stay humble and we stay hungry. Stay humble with what’s going on, but stay hungry for your next opponent. I don’t think it’s going to be hard. We’ve been in this situation all year, ranked top in the state or top 10 in the country, but none of that matters in the playoffs. Whoever we play is a top 10 or top 5 team. Only eight teams left playing and we’re grateful for that.” — Hewitt-Trussville’s Jeff Mauldin

What’s next: Hewitt-Trussville advances to the quarterfinal round of the Class 7A playoffs and will face either No. 2 Bob Jones or No. 6 Thompson, who are tied 1-1 in their first-round series.

General

Bob Jones staves off elimination with 1-run victory over Thompson to force Game 3

Class 7A second-ranked and defending champion Bob Jones forced a deciding Saturday contest against sixth-ranked Thompson with a 2-1 Game 2 pitcher’s duel, decided by a wild pitch.

Thompson (27-14) won the first game 6-2. Game 3 will be played on Saturday at 1 p.m.

With the score tied 1-all in the fifth inning of Game 2, Bob Jones’ Mason Rinehart was walked and stole second, followed by a sacrifice bunt and walk to Dillon Adkins. Rinehart scored on a wild pitch to provide the game-winning run for the Patriots (33-10).

Bob Jones pitchers Jack Shaw and Reece Brazeal combined to strike out 4 with 4 walks and allow 3 hits while Thompson pitchers Wyatt Williams and Evan McCrory surrendered only 2 hits with 10 strikeouts and 6 walks in the game.

The Patriots’ Robert Chatmon tied the game in the fourth with an RBI-single after Thompson’s Ashton Blair scored on a passed ball after walking, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt and stealing third in the second inning.

That was it for the scoring with strong pitching ruling the remainder of the game.

Ma’Kale Holden scattered 5 hits and struck out 11 to pitch the Game 1 victory and belted a 2-run homer in the first inning to give the Warriors a lead they wouldn’t lose.

Holden was 2-for-3 with a walk while Anderson Harris was 3-for-4 with a solo homer and run-scoring single.

Wyatt Williams had a 2-run double and scored a run.

Zack Johnson stroked a solo homer for Bob Jones and Mick Tyrrell was 2-for-3 with a double.

Tanner Hermesch struck out 9 in the loss.