🌱 Patch AM: Could FEMA rules block Pelham flood victims from crucial home buyouts?

Good morning Pelham! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Could FEMA rules block Pelham flood victims from crucial home buyouts?
• How Pelham’s new thermal drones could find you in an emergency
• How could Pelham’s online sales taxes shift under this lawsuit?

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

• Thursday: A shower and thunderstorm, with a high of 61 and low of 39 degrees.
• Friday: Sunny much of the time, temps: high: 52, low: 30.
• Saturday: Sunny and pleasant, with a high of 64 and low of 43 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Pelham questions FEMA's denial of flood-prone home buyouts (abc3340.com) — Pelham officials are pressing FEMA after only 14 of 83 local applications for flood-prone home buyouts were even approved for review, largely over strict flood insurance rules. Assistant City Manager Justin Smith says townhome owners with proper coverage are being blocked because neighboring units lack policies, leaving many Pelham residents stuck in high-risk flood zones with few options.
   

2. ‘The capability to find you quickly': Pelham Police using thermal drones to find missing people (wbrc.com) — Pelham Police are now using thermal drones to quickly locate missing people, a tool that just helped officers safely find a woman who vanished while walking her dog in the Windstone neighborhood. The department has two drones, including one small enough to fly indoors, and can also deploy additional units through partner agencies to search for vulnerable residents or track suspects more efficiently.
   

3. Madison joins online sales tax lawsuit against state (themadisonrecord.com) — Pelham is one of several Alabama cities joining a lawsuit challenging how the state handles online sales tax revenue, a case led by Tuscaloosa and now joined by Madison. The suit argues the Simplified Sellers Use Tax diverts local dollars away from city services. Madison’s council narrowly approved joining, reflecting broader concern among participating cities about lost revenue.
   

4. Chelsea City Council denies rezoning for The Trails of Double Oak (shelbycountyreporter.com) — Chelsea’s City Council narrowly rejected rezoning for The Trails of Double Oak, a proposed subdivision next to Chelsea High School that raised traffic, school crowding, and land-use concerns. During debate, the developer stressed that both this project and nearby Pelham housing developments would build out slowly over many years, not flooding Highway 11 with new homes all at once.
   

📸 Around Pelham

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Pelham

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Friday December 19

• Tai Chi
  Pelham, AL Calendar , 50 Racquet Club Parkway , Pelham
  10:00 am
• Women's Frosty Doubles league
  Pelham, AL Calendar , 100 Racquet Club Parkway , Pelham
  10:00 am
• Crocheting
  Pelham, AL Calendar , 50 Racquet Club Parkway , Pelham
  10:30 am
• Public Skate Session
  Pelham, AL Calendar
  11:45 am
• Barre
  Pelham, AL Calendar , 2020 Pelham Park Boulevard , Pelham
  5:00 pm
• Christmas Mania Youth Night
  Pelham, AL Calendar , 2020 Pelham Park Boulevard , Pelham
  5:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• Zumba
  Pelham, AL Calendar , 2020 Pelham Park Boulevard , Pelham
  7:30 am
• Body Sculpt
  Pelham, AL Calendar , 2020 Pelham Park Boulevard , Pelham
  8:30 am

📣 Pelham Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• Dumpling Making Class
  Cala Coffee Cahaba Heights , 3950 Autumn Ln , Vestavia Hills
  6:00 pm

Friday December 19

• Girls Wrestling @ Moody Inv.
  Moody Inv. Alabaster, AL 35007
• Men's Basketball @ Pepsi Classic - Austin HS
  Austin HS Alabaster, AL 35007
• JV Wrestling @ Pelham Inv.
  Pelham Inv. Alabaster, AL 35007

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Does anyone recognize him?
  I saw him on Canyon Trail while walking my dog. I gave him some water. And he is limping. TIA!! (Nextdoor Canyon Trail)
• Has anyone had their dryer vent cleaned out (ours goes up from dryer and out of the attic)?
  If so, who did you use and would you recommend? Thanks (Nextdoor Crosscreek)

• College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving posted a job opening for Mover Team Leader in Pelham, AL - No Experience Required in Pelham. Apply here.
• Tractor Supply Company posted a job opening for Team Member in Pelham. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Pelham here.

Ok Pelham! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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