Oxford Lake Softball Complex Secures Four-Field Turf Upgrade
De Armanville, AL · September 29, 2026
Watching the morning fog lift over Choccolocco Creek makes for an easy start to this clear Tuesday. With sunshine quickly warming the valley, it is an ideal day to take care of outdoor work early.
The Lead
The Oxford City Council has approved a $2,928,309 construction agreement with Gameday Athletic Surfaces to convert four athletic fields at the Oxford Softball Complex at Oxford Lake to synthetic turf. Part of the city's newly adopted fiscal year 2027 budget, the capital upgrade is designed to eliminate drainage delays and expand regional tournament capacity at the lakeside park. The project addresses long-standing maintenance challenges caused by heavy rains, which frequently forced weekend cancellations on traditional dirt outfields and basepaths. By switching to all-weather turf, municipal leaders anticipate drawing larger youth leagues while keeping local recreation schedules intact when storms roll through the valley. Gameday Athletic Surfaces will coordinate with the city's parks department to establish a construction timeline ahead of spring play.
Local Pulse
Chamber Leader Announces Year-End Retirement Business Executive Director Linda Hearn will step down in December after steering Calhoun County's commercial advocacy for thirty-six years.
County School Board Reviews Financial Plan Schools Officials project $126 million in total revenue for the upcoming school year as district enrollment stabilizes across campuses.
Today's Outlook
- High 86°F · Low 52°F — Clear
- Keep a light jacket handy for the crisp morning before afternoon sunshine takes over.
What's On Around Town
Today
Little Explorers Preschool Class Anniston Museum of Natural History (800 Museum Dr), Anniston, 11:00 AM · Paid Hands-on science discovery and live animal interactions for young learners.
Eastman Sediment Science Briefing Bynum Community Center (200 Victory Dr), Eastaboga, 5:30 PM · Free Informational overview of Choccolocco Creek research and future cleanup milestones.
The Tortoise & The Hare Oxford Performing Arts Center (100 Choccolocco St), Oxford, 6:00 PM · Paid Glowing electroluminescent puppetry bringing classic Aesop fables to the stage.
Tomorrow
- Computer Skills: Using Databases Oxford Public Library (110 E 6th St), Oxford, Noon · Free
- Lunch Munch Movies Jacksonville Public Library (200 Pelham Rd S), Jacksonville, Noon · Free
- Wednesday Night Trivia Buffalo Wild Wings, Oxford, 6:30 PM
Thursday
- Youth Free Play Carver Community Center (720 W 14th St), Anniston, 5:00–7:00 PM · Free
- Steppin' Out Dance Fitness Norwood Hodges Community Center (3125 Spring Valley Rd), Anniston, 5:30–6:15 PM
- Dionne Warwick with the ATL Pops Strings Oxford Performing Arts Center (100 Choccolocco St), Oxford, 7:00 PM · Paid
Spotlight & Story
- Cotton Antiques & Collectibles
- Purchased in 1981 by Rev. Oscar B. Cotton and managed today by his daughter Nancy Cotton Burnell, the family storefront at 518 Main Street still transports inventory between floors using an operable, late-nineteenth-century hand-pulled rope freight elevator.
De Armanville Daily Digest — compiled from local sources as of 6 AM. For breaking updates, follow your local newsrooms.
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