🌱 Huntsville Area COVID Updates + HEMSI Toy Drop Off

Happy Thursday, friends! Here are the most important things happening in town today:

• COVID updates
• HEMSI toy drop update
• Last minute Christmas fun

I also wanted to give a special shoutout to some of our Patch Supporters, Grant Thomson, Joy Jenkins, Mike Jackson, Victoria Clendenon and Wanda Whyte. Thanks for helping make local news happen in Huntsville! If you want to support local news in Huntsville, Click here to learn more about becoming a Patch Supporter.

First, today's weather:

Sunny and not as cool. High: 58 Low: 40.

Shoutout to our premier local sponsors:

• Martinson & Beason, P.C. have been been providing trusted legal advice in Huntsville since 1937. Give your loved ones peace of mind with a comprehensive estate plan. Click here for more info.
• Women4Women OBGYN is Huntsville's most unique women's health center. They offer comprehensive medical care for women, by women. Visit them here to learn more.

Want to see your business featured in this spot? Click here to get started.

Here are the top 3 stories in Huntsville today:

1. COVID numbers have gone up. Madison County now sits at a 10.7% positivity rate. Three cases of the Omicron variant have also been detected in North Alabama, so take extra care through the holidays. (WAFF)
2. The Huntsville area hospitals are seeing a rise in patients with COVID that are admitted to the hospital. Numbers for beds taken by COVID patients, including ICU beds, are rising again as well. Huntsville Hospital has 6.37% of regular beds taken by confirmed cases and 17.4% of ICU beds. (Huntsville Patch)
3. The Annual HEMSI toy drop off has been able to help the most kids ever this year. They teamed up with the YMCA to distribute to kids at the YMCA. (WHNT)

From our sponsor:

Hey Huntsville, are you looking to buy a house, refinance or just explore your options? Check out the new Patch Mortgage Center for all your home financing needs!

Today in Huntsville:

• Skating in the Park (4:00 PM)
• Rocket City Christmas Light Show (5:00 PM)
• Today is the last day to visit Santa in his snowglobe at EarlyWorks! (5:00 PM)
• Christmas on Main in Madison Tinsel Trail - Have you visited this hidden gem? I went this week and my favorite tree had to be I Vote Madison's smores theme! Make sure to check it out and let me know your favorites, too! (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Don't forget today is the last day municipal offices will be open until Monday! (Details)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Save 15 Percent On FTD’s Christmas Collection (December 25)
• Add your event

Housing:

• Charming 2br/2ba house (Details)
• Add your listing

Loving the Huntsville Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe
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• Get your local business featured in front of readers
• Send me a news tip or suggestion at huntsville@patch.com

You're all caught up for today. I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update!

— Amy Young