Good morning, Huntsville.

John Chancellor, a veteran pilot who first learned to fly at 16, served in Vietnam flying missions that delivered supplies and extracted troops along the Ho Chi Minh trail—he said his service taught him that freedom is earned and now he appreciates Huntsville’s warm welcome for veterans.

Huntsville held a Veterans Day parade on November 11 that honored local service members and recognized their sacrifices from across North Alabama — community members gathered to show their support.

Major Stan Minkinow battled early hardships and served our country with grit—he joined the Army at 19, flew missions in Vietnam, and later ran a coin business in Huntsville before retiring from Redstone Arsenal.

Born in Poland and a Holocaust survivor, he is honored in the Hall of Heroes and remembered by his daughter as a true hero who inspired many.

Leaders at Joe Wheeler State Park will dedicate a trail at the Creek Boat Ramp on Mclean Drive this Saturday to honor Howard Fuqua — the first African-American park ranger in the state parks system — and Samuel Harden Sr., who served for 38 years.

The ceremony recognizes their legacy and the barriers they broke in park services.

On November 15, the Huntsville chapter of Tunnel to Towers Foundation will host a 5K Run/Walk on the UAH campus; the event will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the race starting at 9 a.m. from 851 John Wright Dr. NW (registration is required).

Drake State Community and Technical College hosted a veteran celebration at the Von Braun Center on November 3 where Sal Gonzalez, a Marine Corps veteran and musician, shared his journey of recovery after an IED explosion and local veteran Manuel Tony Hernandez recounted his struggles with addiction following his service. The event also featured tables from veteran groups providing resources and networking help — a strong display of community support in honoring veterans.

KBR engineers in a digital lab at Redstone Gateway are testing a laser system that can shoot down drones — with Huntsville City Councilman John Meredith joining the simulation to help evaluate the new defense technology.

The company’s local workforce is working on this project to improve national security measures.

FOX54 recognized Dr. Raschelle McLean, a 5th grade teacher at Oakwood Adventist Academy, as a top educator—highlighting her commitment to quality teaching.

At its November monthly meeting, the Alabama Public Charter School Commission detailed plans to use a federal grant for 23 charter school projects over the next three years—seven new, four replication, four expansion, and eight conversion schools.

The board also revised its bylaws to give the executive director the power to hire and fire staff and apply for grants.

Financial expert Marshall Clay said baby boomers drove the housing market by the end of April and warned that long-time homeowners must keep records of home improvements—needed to lower tax costs—since the IRS offers $250,000 and $500,000 exclusions for single sellers and married couples.

Boomer, the Huntsville Police Department’s bomb detector dog, completed his final parade duty on Tuesday at the city’s Veterans Day Parade—marking his retirement from service.

Ryan Welch, a former Army Apache pilot with nearly 400 missions, now leads U.S. Army programs at BAE Systems in Huntsville to build trusted, mission-critical technology.

His combat experience guides his team in ensuring equipment safety and reliable performance — a standard that supports defense operations.

A recent report using U.S. Census data shows Alabama counties are ranked by veteran population share, with Coffee County leading at 16 percent (6,360 veterans) and other top counties ranging from 9.2 to 14.6 percent.

The analysis uses federal estimates to spotlight veteran demographics in the state.

Gingerbread Marketplace

4 PM - 8 PM — Alabama a & M Univ Agribition — $3 — Discover unique holiday gifts from over 100 local vendors and enjoy festive activities.

Medieval Fest & Market

11 AM – 6 PM — The Lost Highway Lounge — $10 admission — Experience a vibrant outdoor artist market with medieval-themed entertainment and food.

Auditions for A Streetcar Named Desire

6-7 p.m. — Theatre Huntsville Scene Shop and Rehearsal Space — Free entry — Try out for a role in the classic play filled with emotional depth and captivating characters.

A Day To Remember Concert

6:15-7:45 p.m. — Propst Arena — Ticket prices vary — Celebrate 20 years of Ocean Avenue with A Day to Remember and Yellowcard on the Maximum Fun Tour.

Phat Sammy's Phusion Comedy Open Mic

9-11 p.m. — Phat Sammy's — Free entry — Unleash your laughter at Huntsville's favorite open mic night featuring local comedians.

Sell Your Camera Gear at GigaParts

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. — GigaParts — Free entry — Get instant quotes and top dollar for your used photography equipment with trade-up bonuses available.

Huntsville Havoc vs. Pensacola Ice Flyers

7:00-8:30 p.m. — Propst Arena — Ticket prices vary — Catch the thrilling ice hockey matchup between local favorites and the visiting Pensacola team.

The Awakening Tour 2025

7-8:30 p.m. — Propst Arena — Tickets on sale August 15 — Experience a night of high-energy performances with Skillet, Jeremy Camp, and We Are Messengers, sparking a movement to awaken a generation.

Phat Sammy’s Phusion Comedy Open Mic

9-11 p.m. — Phat Sammy's — Free entry — Join local comedians for a night of laughs and entertainment at this open mic event.

32nd Annual Turkey Trot 5K

8:00 AM – 10:30 PM — The University of Alabama in Huntsville — Registration open — Kick off Thanksgiving with family and friends while supporting crisis services.