Good morning, Decatur.

Towns across North Alabama will host Christmas parades on various December dates—Decatur's parade is set for 6:30 p.m. on Dec.

8 and WAAY will join parades in Athens and Huntsville—with many communities scheduling their own events.

Leissa Hill, CFO at Decatur-Morgan Chamber of Commerce, will retire after 34 years of service—she has been a key leader in both the Chamber's finances and community volunteer work.

The Chamber is searching for her replacement to ensure a smooth transition.

Eagle Consulting in Decatur was named a Top Ten Finalist for the 2025 Alabama Small Business of the Year Awards in the 51 to 100 Employees category after being recognized by the Business Council of Alabama and the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama on November 18 in Birmingham. The company, led by Dr. Larry Little who was honored as the Chamber’s Small Business Person of the Year, partners with over 100 organizations and offers thousands of counseling sessions each year through its two divisions — Eagle Center for Leadership and Eagle Counseling.

Two Decatur companies will pursue a combined $37.6 million in manufacturing expansions — one of them set to add at least 40 new jobs to the area.

The Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce hosted its 4th Annual Workforce NOW Summit on November 14, where local industry and education leaders met to review future workforce needs.

The event featured a panel moderated by Zach Lee — with insights from experts at Career Academies of Decatur, GE Appliances and Hubbard & Drake as well as breakout sessions led by Johnny Jones and the ACCS Innovation Center.

North Alabama restaurants will be open for Thanksgiving Day with hours and menus that include special holiday offerings in Huntsville, Ardmore, Madison, and Rogersville—several locations have announced extended dining hours and holiday menus.

Patrons should call ahead to confirm times and reserve tables when needed.

WAAY 31’s Big Game Friday Night will feature highlights, scores, and matchups for North Alabama high school football state playoff Round 3 games with today’s contests including ASCOTTSBORO at FAIRVIEW and APLAINVIEW at GOOD HOPE — additional games are scheduled for November 21.