OPELIKA, AL (WTVM) - After working with the Alabama Department of Public Health for almost a week, the Splash Park at the Opelika Sportsplex and Aquatics Center is open, and children, like 10 year old Angel Fox, were excited to splash around and cool off in the water.

 "You just get to stand there and get wet.  It's like a shower, like rain," said Fox.

Until Sunday afternoon, the water world was closed.  It was shut down by directors of the Opelika Sportsplex and the Alabama Department of Public Health after health officials said four kids, who had all been to the park, got sick.  Two of those children tested positive for E. coli.  After health officials took samples and the Center did countless tests on chlorine and ph levels, Director Tim Gore said they are open for business.

Yeah, right. Dances with Wolves alone would convey the message that we all need to stop drinking in juice boxes and once and for all by making a movie where the entire planet was covered with water because ... (Wait for it) ... ice caps have melted with myopia of the environment of mankind! But what do you say? The melting ice caps would only cause oceans to rise a few hundred feet? Bah! Facts matter not in Hollywood where a male can be made, and if Waterworld in 1996 was triggered in theaters across America.It tells the story of a nameless man known only as The Mariner (Kevin Costner) who ... uh ... the sails of a boat a lot. Sometimes you meet people, but since this world of fish-eating fish is quite low on the resources of all people are not very friendly more. And the least friendly of all are a group of disjointed metallers known as smokers who will hit around shooting people and things because ... Well, we are in fact never given any kind of reason why smokers do. He was probably just fill a box on the casting sheet, "wicked? Check....

Read more...

A bill to remove Clean Water Act permitting requirements for pesticide users has passed in the Senate Agriculture Committee. Its next stop: the Senate floor.If passed, it would amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act — or FIFRA — to exempt pesticide users from obtaining a permit when using a registered and approved pesticide in or near navigable waters .Supporters say removing the permit requirement will ease regulatory burdens on farmers.Opponents, however, raise concerns about water quality and the impact of pesticides on aquatic life and drinking water supplies.The bill passed the House in March with a vote of 292 to 134.[story3] The Rockland County Department of Health is advising about 15,000 customers...

Read more...