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 search is on for Alabama’s outstanding senior volunteer.

The Salute to Senior Service program, sponsored by Home Instead, Inc., the franchisor of the Home Instead Senior Care network, honors the contributions of adults 65 and older who give at least 15 hours a month of volunteer service to their favorite causes.

Nominations for outstanding senior volunteers will be accepted between Feb. 1 and March 31, 2013. State winners then will be selected by popular vote at SalutetoSeniorService.com. Online voting will take place from April 15 to April 30, 2013. From those state winners, a panel of senior care experts will pick the national Salute to Senior Service honoree.

Home Instead, Inc. will donate $500 to each of the state winners’ favorite nonprofit organizations and their stories will be posted on the Salute to Senior Service Wall of Fame.

MONTGOMERY— Bargain hunters will have an opportunity to find a deal on vehicles, computers, office supplies and many other items at the state of Alabama surplus property auction on Wednesday.

The Surplus Property Division of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is hosting the auction at its warehouse at 4590 Mobile Highway in Montgomery. The auction begins at 8 a.m. and continues until the last item is sold.

In addition to property no longer needed by state and federal agencies, ADECA acquires abandoned items from several airports in the Southeast.

To bid on the available items, you will need a photo ID and social security number or federal employee ID. Items will be available for on-site inspection from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Tuesday.