LINDEN-If trains continue to block U.S. Highway 43 in Linden, they will no longer block the south end of the city from fire protection. Linden Fire Chief James Creel said at Tuesday’s Linden Council meeting they have established a station in the old Keyco building.

A truck was available, Creel said, but there were still some additions needed to get things up to par.

“We are in the station, but all three utilities are not completed yet,” Creel said. “The water is there, but we need sewer put to the building and the power company said they would be there as quickly as they can. They have crews in Florida right now, but as soon as they get back they will get to it.”

The building had previously been hooked to a septic tank, Creel said, but the tank had collapsed. Fortunately, there was a sewer line nearby they could tap into.

City Administrator Cheryl Hall brought more good news when she announced the city had been fully reimbursed for Hurricane Dennis.

“This week we received the $27682.94 for Hurricane Katrina cleanup and that was 100 percent of our money for that,” Hall said. “We still have some money out there for Ivan and a little bit of Dennis, but we should get that.”

The council voted to take hurricane relief money as it came in and place it in a separate account.

The council also took the time to honor another representative of the city. Councilman Butch King pointed out the Linden High School football team had advanced to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. King asked everyone to give these young men their support.

“The high school is in the playoffs and doing very well,” King said. “We should congratulate them and lend them our support. They have had a good season.”

The Patriots travel to Tuscaloosa this Friday for a rematch with American Christian. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Next week’s Thanksgiving holiday will alter business hours for the city of Linden. City offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 24. Christmas holidays are also set for Dec. 26 and Dec. 27.