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.

Troy University’s Continuing Education Center will offer another session of the popular “Instant Piano” course for novice musicians on Monday, Feb. 25.

The one-night class will be held from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Dothan Campus, inside Adams Hall.

Perfect for anyone who has always wanted to play the piano but felt they did not have the time to learn, "Instant Piano for Hopelessly Busy People" will introduce participants to the basic techniques needed to make piano playing a part of their lives. Instructor David Haynes focuses on chord techniques, and will teach participants the skills needed to play any song in any style or key.

Registration is $50 plus a $25 materials fee that covers a book and practice CD.

Space is limited and preregistration is required. For more information, or to register, call (334) 983-0005.

Source:  Troy University Office of Media Reltaions