Downtown Revitalization Efforts Bring Home State Honors
De Armanville, AL · August 27, 2026
The morning haze is lingering low across the valley pastures, but the local calendar is moving right along today.
The Lead
Historic downtown preservation received a major spotlight this week as local programs earned top honors at Main Street Alabama’s 13th annual Awards of Excellence banquet in Enterprise.
Historic Main Street Oxford took home an Award of Excellence for its Downtown Oxford Zoning Overlay Project, an initiative crafted to preserve historic architectural integrity while supporting pedestrian-friendly commercial growth. The Oxford High School Ambassadors Program was also celebrated as the district’s Main Street Hero for student volunteer service. Just up the road, Patrick “Wig” Wigley earned Main Street Anniston’s Hero recognition for decades of work promoting cycling, downtown commerce, and civic vitality.
The statewide recognition highlights an ongoing community push to preserve rural and historic character even as commercial corridors continue expanding across Calhoun County.
Local Pulse
Calhoun County Lands Rural Healthcare Grants State funding announced this week will expand local clinic outreach and medical transport services across unincorporated valley communities.
ADEM Distributes Solid Waste Reduction Grants New state environmental funding will support regional recycling collection sites and unauthorized roadside cleanup initiatives this fall.
Today's Outlook
- High 88°F · Low 71°F — Overcast
- A persistent blanket of clouds keeps the afternoon heat manageable for your midday errands.
What's On Around Town
Oxford: Otter Creek Family Night Otter Creek Farmstead, 4:00–8:00 PM Casual dinner specials and farm grounds open for family strolls.
Anniston: Open Swim Session Anniston Aquatic Center (801 Blue Mountain Rd), 5:00–7:00 PM Public lap and leisure swim hours before the weekend rush.
Oxford: Community Yoga Flow Friendship Community Center (2930 Friendship Rd), 5:45–6:45 PM Gentle evening stretching session open to all experience levels.
Spotlight & Story
- The Anniston Runners Club
- Founded in 1980, this volunteer-run crew quietly logs thousands of collective miles while anchoring valley fitness. Beyond organizing the region's premier road races, members coordinate weekly group runs and assist with trail maintenance across the county’s public ridges.
De Armanville Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.
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