logo
Sunday services to proceed after fire strikes Solid Rock Church

Sunday services to proceed after fire strikes Solid Rock Church

Yahoo08-06-2025
PINSON, Ala. (Trussville Tribune) — Pastor Larry Ragland of Solid Rock Church in Pinson took to social media even as firefighters from the Center Point Fire Department battled a blaze in the church building to explain the situation on Saturday night.
Ragland said he was notified of the fire by an alarm company. The call, he said, came after power outages due to a storm at his home and the church.
The Center Point Fire Department notified the public of a fire in the 5000 block of Pinson Valley Parkway at about 9 p.m.
Storms cause significant damage in Mulga
Ragland said in a later post that the fire did not reach the sanctuary, but the gym and administrative offices wing had sustained significant damage and smoke damage was extensive.
While the cause of the fire is still uncertain, as is the condition of the structure, the pastor was not uncertain about Sunday services. They will proceed as scheduled.
Ragland said special services to celebrate the Day of the Pentecost were already planned. The title of today's sermon? The Burning Ones. Services begin at 10 a.m. and will be streamed live on the church's Facebook page and on YouTube.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Another Hurricane Ian recovery milestone: Popular Fort Myers boat ramp reopening today
Another Hurricane Ian recovery milestone: Popular Fort Myers boat ramp reopening today

Yahoo

time9 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Another Hurricane Ian recovery milestone: Popular Fort Myers boat ramp reopening today

Under normal circumstances the reopening of a boat ramp in Southwest Florida wouldn't be a very big deal. But Hurricane Ian wasn't normal and the historic storm was a big deal when it slammed the Southwest Florida coast almost three years ago on Sept. 28, 2022. More: It's been a minute! Sanibel's popular Causeway Islands Park open to public again The recovery steps from the damage caused by Ian has been similar to reaching milestones as each day has passed since the storm hit. Today (Aug. 21) is another chance to celebrate the ongoing comeback when the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp in Fort Myers will open for public (boaters) use at noon. What is being termed a "soft launch" by Lee County officials − there is still some work needed on the ramp before it's 100% back to where it was before Ian − will start with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Lee County Commissioners, Lee County staff, Florida Department of Transportation officials and others are expected to attend the ceremony at the restored boat ramp located at 15001 Punta Rassa Road. The public is welcome to the ceremony. Punta Rassa Boat Ramp: What to know According to a press release from Lee County, the boat ramp will open with limited amenities, including the ramp, partial docks, parking and restrooms. Work will continue at the site in the coming months. Future improvements include: Completed dock access A fish cleaning station Landscaping and additional lighting. Signs and buffers will be in place during this process. Boaters are asked to stay off docks that remain under construction and refrain from climbing on the riprap along the Causeway. Lee County Parks & Recreation will have staff and rangers on site. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will also mark for the conclusion of the Florida Department of Transportation's Sanibel Causeway Emergency Restoration project. This is the first time since Hurricane Ian that boaters have been able to access the Punta Rassa ramp. In partnership with FDOT, the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp served as a staging site for permanent Sanibel Causeway repairs and was pivotal in the restoration of this arterial road connecting barrier islands to the mainland. The soft reopening of this site marks the completion of a major step forward in long-term recovery, the press release said. How to watch the ceremony if you can't go Those unable to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony can watch it via livestream on Lee County's YouTube channel, or on Lee County's Facebook channel, Boaters are encouraged to follow progress at the site and others by using Lee County Parks Project Information Tool at The Project Information Tool gives updates on design, construction and completion of projects. Information about FDOT's Sanibel Causeway Emergency Restoration Project is available at The event will air online via livestream on Lee County Government's official Facebook and YouTube channels. Watch at: This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Is the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp near Sanibel Island, Florida open?

Tropical Storm Erin Update as Chances of US Landfall Increase
Tropical Storm Erin Update as Chances of US Landfall Increase

Newsweek

time12-08-2025

  • Newsweek

Tropical Storm Erin Update as Chances of US Landfall Increase

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast warned that Tropical Storm Erin is expected to strengthen into a hurricane in the coming days as it treks westward across the Atlantic Ocean as the chances of a U.S. landfall have increased slightly. Why It Matters The Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1 and runs through November 30. Tropical Storm Erin is the fifth named storm of the season and the second to form this month, following Tropical Storm Dexter, which fizzled out over the ocean in the first week of August. Erin could become a major hurricane, a designation that occurs when a storm's wind speeds reach 111 mph or higher, classified as a Category 3 hurricane. Should it strengthen as meteorologists expect, Erin could become not only the first hurricane but also the first major hurricane of the season. What To Know Tropical Storm Erin formed on Monday morning. Meteorologists had been tracking the storm, which originated as a tropical wave off the western coast of Africa, for days. As of Tuesday morning, Erin's maximum sustained windspeeds were measured at 45 mph, with stronger gusts. A forecast map from the NHC shows that Tropical Storm Erin's path has shifted slightly south. A forecast map from the NHC shows that Tropical Storm Erin's path has shifted slightly south. National Hurricane Center A forecast map from the NHC anticipates the storm will become a hurricane by Thursday morning. Further strengthening is expected, with Erin intensifying into a major hurricane by late Saturday morning. A major hurricane forms once the hurricane becomes a Category 3 storm, in which windspeeds are measured at 111 mph or greater. Shortly after Erin formed on Monday, Max Velocity, a meteorologist with 1.3 million subscribers on YouTube, shared the NHC forecast map in a post on X, formerly Twitter. "BREAKING: Tropical Storm Erin has been born, and we now have our first look at where the NHC believes this system could go," he wrote with the post. "We cannot completely rule out a US landfall, and the NHC expects this to become a MAJOR hurricane." BREAKING: Tropical Storm Erin has been born, and we now have our first look at where the NHC believes this system could go. We cannot completely rule out a US landfall, and the NHC expects this to become a MAJOR hurricane. — Max Velocity (@MaxVelocityWX) August 11, 2025 Later in the evening on Monday, Velocity published another post about how forecast models are shifting for Tropical Storm Erin. "Though the odds are low of a US landfall, it CANNOT be ruled out still. This will likely become a major hurricane," he posted. "Even if this doesn't make landfall, a close approach would still cause some problems. Still a very large spread, and details remain unclear. As it develops, the track will become clearer." Models are shifting WEST for Tropical Storm Erin, which will shortly become Hurricane Erin. Though the odds are low of a US landfall, it CANNOT be ruled out still. This will likely become a major hurricane. Even if this doesn't make landfall, a close approach would still cause… — Max Velocity (@MaxVelocityWX) August 12, 2025 AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva told Newsweek that there has been a southward shift in some of the forecast models, which moves the storm closer to the Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico. Those areas could see between 1 to 2 inches of rain as the storm passes by. "Since the trend has been further south, that does increase the chance slightly of a U.S. landfall," DaSilva said. Even if the storm doesn't make landfall, some impacts could still be felt on the East Coast, such as dangerous rip currents. As of Tuesday morning, there are no hazards affecting land and no watches or warnings in effect for coastal areas. What People Are Saying DaSilva told Newsweek: "I still think the most likely scenario is a track somewhere between the Outer Banks [of North Carolina] and Bermuda. DaSilva added: "However, due to the fact that this storm has been moving a little further south and west, that can certainly increase the chance it can come closer to the United States." NHC in a recent key message issued for Tropical Storm Erin: "It is still too early to determine what impacts, if any, Erin may bring to the northern Leeward Islands, Bermuda, or the east coast of the United States. As we approach the climatological peak of the hurricane season, this is an opportune time to ensure your preparedness plans are in place." What Happens Next Erin could become a hurricane as soon as Thursday morning. People in nearby areas, such as the Leeward Islands and the East Coast, should monitor local weather guidance as the storm develops.

Durban beach clip wrongly shared as Russian tsunami disaster
Durban beach clip wrongly shared as Russian tsunami disaster

News24

time02-08-2025

  • News24

Durban beach clip wrongly shared as Russian tsunami disaster

Screencapture/YouTube An 8.8-magnitude quake hit Russia's Kamchatka peninsula on 30 July, sparking tsunami warnings across the Pacific. A viral video falsely claimed to show waves from the quake, but was filmed in Durban years earlier. 'A powerful tsunami hits Russia, sea waves over 13 feet high enter Russia,' reads a Sinhala-language Facebook post shared hours after the 8.8 magnitude jolt struck off the coast of Russia's Kamchatka peninsula (archived link). The tremor was the region's strongest since 1952, the regional seismic monitoring service said. Storm surges of up to four metres (12 feet) were predicted for some parts of the Pacific with more than a dozen nations - from Japan to the United States to Ecuador - evacuating citizens from coastal regions. The warnings were later lifted, allowing millions of temporary evacuees to return home. The only reported fatality was a woman killed when her car fell off a cliff in Japan as she tried to escape, local media reported. The post featured a video of waves crashing onto the shore as people flee from the beach. Similar posts were also shared by users from India, Pakistan, and the Philippines but the footage does not show a tsunami hitting Russia. A reverse image search on Google surfaced multiple YouTube posts sharing the clip in March 2017 (archived here and here). The posts say it shows a beach in the coastal city of Durban. Screencapture/AFP Local media outlets eNCA and Southlands Sun reported that the beaches were closed due to the high tides at the time (archived here and here). Using details from the news reports, AFP was able to confirm the location of the video by comparing it with Google Maps street imagery of a beach in Durban.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store