When it comes to assessing an entire county's quality of life, researchers must give scores and numbers to often intangible concepts such as security, happiness and success. The team of researchers at Alabama State University chose to focus on four areas of data collection: the economy, health, public safety and education.

The ASU team recently released their study called "Counties in Crisis," which compares all 67 Alabama states in each of those areas. Overall, Shelby County took the number one spot, followed by Madison, Baldwin, Jefferson and Limestone, respectively.

See how your county measure up in comparison by clicking here for a PDF of the study.

The president of the University of Montevallo, Dr. John Stewart, will address the Montevallo Chamber of Commerce during their luncheon meeting on Wednesday, July 20. The Chamber meets at the Parnell Memorial Library at 11:30 a.m. and lunch is served at noon.

Lunch costs $10.

Find out more on the Montevallo Chamber of Commerce Facebook page. 

Is the University of Montevallo's new Game Studies minor just an excuse for college kids to play games and call it homework? According to the university's description of the minor on their website, a minor in Game Studies and Design entails much more than having the top score in Angry Birds or claiming "check mate" in a game of chess.

Beginning in fall 2011, UM students who sign up for the Game Studies minor will "explore the impact of different genres of games including video games, board games, card games, role-playing games and other varieties of games."