Broadband Expansion Plans Reach Our Neighborhood
De Armanville, AL · July 8, 2026
Fog is thick enough to chew this morning, so take it slow on the curves of Choccolocco Road. Once it burns off, we are looking at a standard July scorcher that will make the shade of the porch look better than any yard work.
📰 The Lead
The Calhoun County Commission is moving forward with a proposal to bridge the digital gap in our corner of the valley. A new grant application, discussed in preliminary sessions yesterday, targets unincorporated areas like ours for high-speed fiber expansion. For those of us who have spent years toggling between spotty satellite signals and expensive hotspots, this move toward reliable infrastructure is a long-awaited shift.
The project aims to utilize existing utility poles to run lines directly to residential properties that have historically been overlooked by major providers. While the final vote on the matching funds is still pending, the engineering maps already show the residential clusters around De Armanville as a primary beneficiary. The next step involves a formal public hearing where the specific route maps will be available for resident review.
🏙️ Local Pulse
Oxford Library Hits Reading Milestone — The summer reading program hit a record 5,000 books logged this week with local students leading the charge.
Zinn Park Shaded Seating Complete — Construction crews finished the new shaded pavilion near the playground just in time for the mid-July heat.
🌫️ Today's Outlook
- High 92°F · Low 72°F — Fog Keep your low beams on during the early commute until the valley mist clears.
📅 What's On Around Town
Anniston: Downtown Farmers Market — Zinn Park, 7:00 AM–11:00 AM Fresh peaches and silver queen corn are hitting the stands this morning.
Oxford: Summer Matinee Series — Oxford Performing Arts Center, 2:00 PM A cool, dark theater and a family-friendly film for a few dollars.
Oxford: Teen Maker Workshop — Oxford Public Library, 4:00 PM Hands-on session for middle and high schoolers to learn basic 3D printing.
📸 Spotlight & Story
- The Choccolocco Valley Iron Ore Heritage Long before the valley was known for its quiet pastures, it was a hub for iron ore mining. Small pits scattered around the De Armanville area once fed the furnaces in Anniston, fueling the region's industrial boom in the late 1800s. You can still find the occasional rusted tool or slag heap tucked away in the woods near the creek.
De Armanville Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.
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