All Neighbors in Lauderdale County, AL
Top Neighbors: The magic behind the mirrors
You will never have to pay to be listed as a top neighbor. Period. That important detail clarified, let's discuss how we arrive at two "top neighbors" for a given region:
Localism is a bustling collection of hyper-local communities, and the top neighbors should reflect those members who are most active. When ranking users in a given region, several factors are considered. To get your foot in the proverbial door, you need to have posted at least one "Localism" article or photo for the region.
The very best way to quickly rise to #1 is to post high-quality local content. Keeping a steady strem of incoming posts and photos will massively tilt the scales in your favor.
What doesn't count toward the top neighbor ranking? ActiveRain points and community sponsorships. The top neighbor spots will always go to the most active members in a region. We want to create a level playing field that encourages the growth of communities — talent and dedication are required to win the day.
After a very dry couple of years, Florence Alabama and the Shoals area has finally had a decent amount of rain! According to the National Weather Service, Florence had almost 4.5" of rain over Tuesday and Wednesday...and it's still raining. From what I heard on the news earlier today, that's more rain over a couple of days than we have had since the rains from Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The creeks and rivers around the area have been pretty low, so hopefully this will help fill them up a little. Here is a Times Daily article about the weather in Florence, AL over the last few days: 
Yes, it does snow in Alabama. Usually it's just a light dusting that doesn't stick around very long...but just the threat of snow and/or ice is enough to let schools out early! 
Shoals Bucking The Trend - Economic picture rosier than most
