Wetumpka is the site of the greatest natural disaster to ever hit Alabama, a large meteor strike. It created a five-mile wide crater that is still visible near the city. This happened over 85 million years ago near the end of the “Age of Dinosaurs”.

First discovered in the mid 1970s, an astrobleme, meaning “star wound” was confirmed and registered in 1998 by Dr. David King Jr., Professor of Geology, Auburn University. Because the location was covered by a shallow sea at the time of impact, scientists have declared it to be one of the “best preserved marine impact craters in the world”.

Each year the Wetumpka Impact Crater Commission and City of Wetumpka sponsor several Crater events, a Thursday evening public lecture by Dr David King and Friday school tours and Saturday public tours of the Crater.

Dr. King will conduct a free public lecture on the science of the Crater on Thursday, February 21st at 7:00 pm in the Wetumpka Civic Center, Main Street, Wetumpka.

The Lightwood Volunteer Fire Department is holding its annual steak dinner fundraiser on Saturday, February 16th from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m.

For $12 you get a rib eye steak, baked potato, salad, roll and a slice of cake.  The dinner will take place at the New Hope Baptist Church, which is located at 6191 Lightwood Road in Deatsville. (Six miles north of Slapout on Highway 23).  You can dine-in or pick up your dinner.

For further information or to order tickets, call Daphne at 334-569-2264. or 334-303-1750

All proceeds will go to benefit the Lightwood Volunteer Fire Department.

The Swift Creek Cleanup scheduled for Feb. 16 at Strickland’s Landing has been cancelled because of significant rain. The event will be rescheduled at a later date.

For a complete listing of the 2013 Renew Our Rivers schedule, please visit www.renewourrivers.com or http://www.alabamapower.com/community/lakes/2013-schedule.asp.

Information Source: Alabama Power