Huntsville Times Tim James won the Madison County Republican Men's Club poll Saturday

HUNTSVILLE, AL - Greenville businessman Tim James, the son of former Gov. Fob James, got the most votes for governor Saturday in a straw poll of the Madison County Republican Men's Club.

James, who attended the club's breakfast meeting, got 52 of 148 votes cast or 35 percent.
He is seeking the Republican nomination for governor next year.

Tuscaloosa physician Robert Bentley polled 10 votes or 7 percent, and the remaining votes were scattered among other candidates.

Nearly 250 people attended the meeting at which the straw poll was conducted, but only those adults who had attended a club meeting before were allowed to vote, according to club President Elbert Peters.

"I had the privilege of meeting the enthusiastic Republicans of Madison County this morning," James said in a statement released later. "I am honored to have their vote."

Ellen Hudson / The Huntsville Times Joseph McCarty, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Huntsville Hospital spoke at the Doctors' Health Care Rally Tea Party on Saturday. HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Hundreds were on hand at noon today at the Huntsville Medical Mall  for the Doctors' Health Care Rally Tea Party against further government involvement in healthcare.

Sponsors of the rally included the AlabamaMedMarch, Doctors4PatientCare and the Huntsville Tea Party movement.

The rally, which coincided with others across the United States, came as the Senate debated its version of a health care bill Saturday in Washington. Sens. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, and Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, both oppose it.

U.S. Rep. Parker Griffith, D-Huntsville, voted against a House version that has already passed that body.
View full sizeEllen Hudson / The Huntsville TimesPeople cheer at today's Doctors' Heath Care Rally Tea Party.
Dr. John Fanning, an internal medicine doctor at Huntsville Hospital and the lead organizer of the rally,  addressed the crowd.

Fanning was one of many doctors who spoke against the pending legislation, government-run health care and any bureaucracy that would come between doctors and patients.

"We're all affected by this dismantling of the best health care system in the world,"  Fanning told the crowd. "We must kill this bill."

HUNTSVILLE --- Ulysses Banks rushed for 160 yards and scored a touchdown to lead Alabama A&M to a 17-12 victory over Mississippi Valley State Saturday.

With the win, A&M (7-4, 4-3) captured the Southwestern Athletic Conference's Eastern Division title and will play Prairie View in the championship game on Dec. 12 at Birmingham's Legion Field.

MVSU ended the season 3-8 and 1-6.

 

 

 

View full sizeSubmitted Photo"Mamma Mia!" cast members Adam Jacobs and Liana Hunt will continue performing this weekend at the Von Braun Center Concert Hall. HUNTSVILLE, AL -- "Mamma Mia!" is perfect for a girls night out. There's singing, dancing and some of the funkiest costumes since 1979.

But fellas, watch out. You too may leave the show humming tunes by the Swedish pop group ABBA

 "Mamma Mia!", presented by Broadway Theatre League, opened Friday night at the Von Braun Center Concert Hall. The show continues today at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m and Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. 

Tickets range from $16 to $61.

Huntsville's Broadway Theatre League opens its 50th season with "Mamma Mia!"

"Mamma Mia!" tells the story of Donna (Michelle Dawson), a single mother who owns a small hotel on a Greek island. Her daughter, Sophie (Liana Hunt), is about to get married. On a quest to find the identity of her father, Sophie invites three men from Donna's past to the Mediterranean paradise. Over a chaotic 24 hours, love blooms and old romances are rekindled. The musical features such ABBA hits as "Dancing Queen," "S.O.S." "Money, Money, Money' and "Take a Chance on Me." 

"Mamma Mia!" is full of spunky characters, over-the-top dance numbers and playful costumes. And there's lots of sexual innuendos, that, at times, are pretty funny. 

"What do you suppose we'd do with three men?" asks Donna's friend Rosie.

Take a guess. 

Sophie is played magnificently by the sweet smiling, sweet-voiced Hunt. The young actress sparkles on stage as she tries to discover the true identity of her father, who is either Harry the Englishman (played by understudy Matthew Tyler), Sam the architect (John Hemphill) or Bill the writer (Martin Kildare). Hemphill, who has a pleasant singing voice, and Kildare are both convincing as potential dads.But Tyler is simply too young to play Sophie's possible father, and his English accent is horrendous.

Two standouts in "Mamma Mia!' are Jane Cooke (an understudy) and Rachel Tyler, who play Donna's friends Rosie and Tanya, respectively. No matter what scene Cooke and Rachel Tyler are in, they seem to steal it.

And when they're together with Donna, it's a hoot.  When the trio sings 'Dancing Queen," the feather boas fly, blow-dryers turn to microphones, and there's a certain chemistry between the women that's fun to watch.

By the end of the show, you'll either have had your fill of ABBA or you'll want more. 

Either way, make sure to stay for the finale.  It's filled with spandex, platform boots and a few dancing queens.

If you go:
"Mamma Mia!" presented by Broadway Theatre League
Where: Von Braun Center Concert Hall
When: Today at 2 p.m and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: Range from $16 to $61

If you are headed to the show, read about the Von Braun Center construction and how it will affect "Mamma Mia!"