Wetumpka is the site of the greatest natural disaster to ever hit Alabama, a large meteor strike. It created a five-mile wide crater that is still visible near the city. This happened over 85 million years ago near the end of the “Age of Dinosaurs”.

First discovered in the mid 1970s, an astrobleme, meaning “star wound” was confirmed and registered in 1998 by Dr. David King Jr., Professor of Geology, Auburn University. Because the location was covered by a shallow sea at the time of impact, scientists have declared it to be one of the “best preserved marine impact craters in the world”.

Each year the Wetumpka Impact Crater Commission and City of Wetumpka sponsor several Crater events, a Thursday evening public lecture by Dr David King and Friday school tours and Saturday public tours of the Crater.

Dr. King will conduct a free public lecture on the science of the Crater on Thursday, February 21st at 7:00 pm in the Wetumpka Civic Center, Main Street, Wetumpka.

Auburn, Ala. - With recent rain systems moving through the area, it’s an ideal time for residents to assess their yard’s drainage and whether they should consider installing a stormwater best management practice. The Smart Yards Incentive Program could help Auburn residents, living in the designated Saugahatchee Creek Watershed, fund the landscape project. The City of Auburn’s Water Resource Management Department has joined forces with SWaMP, the Saugahatchee Watershed Management Plan, to implement the program. The Smart Yards Incentive Program helps fund up to 60% of the cost of pre-approved projects that are designed to minimize erosion and intercept pollutants being carried into local streams during storms. Potential projects include rain gardens, streambank restoration projects, repair of badly eroded areas and installation of rainwater systems.

Findings from the economic impact study released today point to a brighter future for the people of Alabama, according to Commissioner John McMillan of the state Department of Agriculture & Industries.

A collaborative effort between Auburn University's research division, the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service the Alabama Agribusiness Council, the study shows that agriculture, agribusiness and forestry impact the state's economy by $70.4 billion a year.

"This study clearly indicates that agriculture, forestry and agribusiness are the backbone of Alabama's economy, amounting to some 40% of the state's $175 billion gross domestic product," McMillan said.

In addition, the study, entitled "Economic Impacts of Alabama's Agricultural, Forestry, and Related Industries," reports 580,295 Alabamians - roughly one-third of all workers in the state - work in agriculture, forestry and related industries.

"Growth in our sector, thanks to strong foreign demand