The Green Tomato

Calhoun County's Most Trusted News Source Since Recently

Vol. I, No. 1 · Calhoun County, Alabama · Wednesday, April 29, 2026

★ BREAKING: CALHOUN COUNTY COMMISSION CLEARS FULL AGENDA ★ DEVELOPING: OXFORD MAN STILL FROM OXFORD ★ RAPTOR RUN INVESTIGATION ONGOING ★ MUMMY DESCRIBED AS STABLE ★ DOLLAR GENERAL CALLED "COMPLEMENTARY" ★
★ Today's Headlines ★
Breaking!!Developingcommunitysports

3 Dead, 5K Continues: Raptor Run Marred by 'Minor Incident,' Organizers Say

Runners flee the finish line at the Anniston Museum Raptor Run 5K

The Anniston Museum of Natural History's third annual Raptor Run 5K concluded Saturday with a record 847 finishers and what organizers are characterizing as 'an unfortunate but ultimately manageable situation' involving three fatalities.


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communityanniston government

Anniston City Council Completes Civility Training Refresher; Trainer Notes Most Members 'Engaged Throughout'

All five members of the Anniston City Council successfully completed a four-hour civility and conflict de-escalation training session Monday afternoon, marking the third such training the body has undertaken since 2010 and reaffirming what Mayor Lyle Henley described as 'this council's ongoing commitment to respectful and constructive dialogue.'

Developingartscommunity

Berman Museum Annual Gala Concludes With 'Tremendous Community Support'; Several Artifacts Currently Unaccounted For

The Berman Museum of World History hosted its 28th annual Patrons' Gala on Saturday evening, with attendance up an estimated fifteen percent over the previous year and what museum director Dr. Lawrence Pell described as 'an outpouring of generosity from across the region.' Several pieces from the museum's standing collection were not present in their display cases when staff arrived Monday morning.

Developingsportscommunity

Cheaha Challenge to Route UCI World Qualifier Through Three Counties Where Hospital Access Is Pending; Riders Express Concern About Pavement

Organizers of the 33rd annual Cheaha Challenge confirmed Tuesday that this year's UCI Gran Fondo World Series qualifier will follow its traditional 100-mile route through Calhoun, Cleburne, and Clay counties, where hospital access continues to evolve and where, according to several pre-registered cyclists, the road surface has emerged as a 'real consideration' for the May 16 event.

Developingcommunity

Cheaha State Park Reports Third Hiker Disappearance of 2026; Park Cites Strong Visitor Numbers

Cheaha State Park officials confirmed Tuesday that a hiker who entered the park Saturday morning has not been seen since, marking the third such incident at Alabama's highest peak this year. Park staff have cited the rising number of visitors as evidence of the park's continued appeal as a regional destination.

Folding table with Hawaiian Punch and off-brand cookies at the Dollar General groundbreaking, Anniston Country Club visible in the background
Breaking!!economic developmentretail

Dollar General Breaks Ground Adjacent to Anniston Country Club, Described as 'Complementary'

County officials and retail representatives gathered Tuesday for a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new Dollar General location on Country Club Road, calling the development 'a natural fit for the corridor' and 'exactly the kind of investment this area has been waiting for.'

Developingcommunitysports

Vendor Dispute at Downtown Farmers Market Escalates Into Amateur Wrestling Match; Three Folding Chairs Damaged

Saturday's Downtown Anniston Farmers Market concluded with what market officials are characterizing as 'a spirited exchange' between two vendors after an unresolved disagreement over the sourcing of heirloom tomatoes resulted in approximately eleven minutes of unscripted amateur wrestling near the kettle corn tent.

Developingcommunitymuseum

Anniston Museum Mummy Described as 'Stable' Following Annual Wellness Check; Mummy Unavailable for Comment

The Anniston Museum of Natural History has completed its annual wellness assessment of the museum's Egyptian mummy, declaring the approximately 3,000-year-old exhibit 'stable' and 'unchanged,' according to a statement released Tuesday.

Breaking!!economic developmentretail

Oxford Exchange Welcomes Newest Tenant; Mayor Calls Gentleman's Club 'Complementary to Existing Retail Mix'

Mayor Lyle Henley joined Oxford Exchange property managers and chamber of commerce officials Wednesday morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at The Velvet Magnolia, the newly opened gentleman's club located between the Olive Garden and the family-owned framing store.

Developingcommunityschools

Oxford Middle Schooler Wins Third Place at Regional Science Fair; Invention Raises Ethical Questions Regarding Time Travel and the End of History

Madison Tilley, a seventh-grader at Oxford Middle School, took home a third-place ribbon at the East Alabama Regional Science Fair on Saturday for an invention that several attending judges and at least one Department of Defense observer have described as 'potentially significant.'

economic developmentretail

Quintard Mall Welcomes Fourth Vape Retailer; Property Manager Calls Opening 'A Sign of Continued Momentum'

Quintard Mall property managers, joined by Mayor Lyle Henley and representatives from the Calhoun County Economic Development Council, gathered Tuesday afternoon to celebrate the grand opening of Quintard Vape Vault, the eleventh location of the regional retailer and the fourth vape shop currently operating inside the mall.

Developingsportscommunity

Raptor Run Course Record Broken; Top Finisher Declines to Be Photographed

The Anniston Runners Club confirmed Tuesday that the course record at Saturday's Raptor Run 5K was broken, with the top finisher posting a time of 12:47 — the fastest at any Calhoun County road race in approximately a decade.

Developingcommunitymedia

Anniston Star Photographer Among Wounded; Dispatch Wishes Him a Speedy Recovery

Trent Wickliffe, longtime staff photographer at the Anniston Star and a familiar figure at Calhoun County community events, was reportedly among those injured at Saturday's Raptor Run 5K. The Calhoun Dispatch extends warm thoughts to Mr. Wickliffe and the entire Star organization during this difficult time.