MADISON COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — While many Americans view the Fourth of July as a time for joyous celebration, for one business owner in Madison County, it turned into a day fraught with difficulty.

“It’s incredibly disheartening that this had to occur on the Fourth, of all days. People are simply looking to celebrate,” stated Evan Lake, owner of Crazy E’s Fireworks.

The night before Independence Day, Lake and his family stocked their store with an array of fireworks, preparing for the holiday festivities.

However, in the predawn hours of that fateful day, Lake received alerts from his store’s security cameras.

“Upon checking, we discovered numerous images of individuals breaking in and essentially ransacking the entire store,” Lake recounted.

This is the first time his store has been broken into, but he’s not alone. Lake said local businesses take a big hit when incidents like this happen.

“We are, and all the others, we’re all local family-owned businesses, so it really hits us where it hurts. It’s not something where we’re a big chain and we can just write it off,” Lake said.

And this theft hit his wallet hard on what was supposed to be a very busy day at the store. He said they lost a minimum of $10,000.

“We had all the massive inventory in there,” Lake said.

He’s now asking residents to keep an eye out for the people involved.

“Five young men. They’re all 2os. One even looks like he could be in his teens. Most of them, they were hooded, and they had a mask on covering their faces. But there is one you can see his face pretty clear in the footage,” Lake said.

Right now, Lake and his family are looking to increase security next year.

“We’re just going to try and do what we can to prepare better for next year. Somehow we’ll get funds to keep doing this and then to get better security,” Lake said.

If you have information on the people involved in the break-in, you’re encouraged to reach out to the Madison County Sheriff’s Office at 256-533-8820. A reward will be offered for information leading to an arrest.

Countess Luann de Lesseps is not only a master at stirring up drama but also at discovering the perfect retreats to unwind. 

The 61-year-old star of “The Real Housewives of New York City” recently gave an exclusive glimpse into her favorite havens in the Big Apple, highlighting the spas she loves and the gyms she frequents.

“Maintaining wellness is vital for being stage-ready—and for slipping into my Jovani gowns,” de Lesseps shared in an interview with The Post.

For lymphatic drainage: IMD Health and Wellness

Among her top picks is the Upper East Side location of IMD Health and Wellness, which she describes as “the most amazing place for detoxing and feeling rejuvenated.”

De Lesseps is particularly fond of their $325 Brazilian signature lymphatic drainage treatment. This indulgence begins with an infrared sauna session, wrapped in a magnesium thermal blanket, and culminates in a lymphatic massage.

The one-hour treatment is touted as boosting the immune system, decreasing cellulite and sculpting body contours. 

“It’s good for your blood, circulation and puffiness,” said de Lesseps, who later this year will represent NYC on the 20th anniversary of “Ultimate Girls Trip” on Bravo. “It cleans your system out.” 

For anti-aging injections: Velour Medical

Money might not buy you class, but it can buy you Botox and filler at one of the city’s top medical practices, Velour Medical — which she swears is “the best in the business.”

The man responsible for her camera-ready look is Dr. Michael Kennis, a facial biomechanics expert and Velour’s founder. His pricing for fillers starts at $1,000 a syringe, and he also offers biostimulators, PRP injections, chemical peels and smooth threads.

“It’s really about maintaining a natural, refreshed look — nothing overdone, just subtle enhancements that keep you looking your best,” said de Lesseps. “For me, staying on top of my beauty routine is part of wellness.”

She books sessions  “religiously” — and sometimes with “Real Housewives” pals Sonja Morgan and Kelly Bensimon — for what Kennis dubs “Frozen Forehead” parties.

For massages: Mandarin Oriental Spa

De Lesseps’ favorite rainy day respite happens to be one of Manhattan’s poshest hotel addresses. 

“When it’s a miserable day in New York, I love escaping to the Mandarin Oriental Spa and pretending I’m on vacation,” she said. “It’s such a beautiful, calming space. I’ll get a full-body massage and just fully unwind.”

Her favorite, the therapeutic full-body massage, rings up at $275 for 50 minutes or $385 for 80 minutes. It also includes access to the amethyst crystal steam room, vitality pool and relaxation lounge. 

For a bathhouse experience: Juvenex Spa 

Sometimes, relaxation is also romantic — like at her favorite Korean-inspired bathhouse, Juvenex Spa, which is open 24/7.

“It’s fun because you can go with a date or do a couples experience,” said de Lesseps, who’s dating Hamptons real estate agent Michael Riemerschmid. “For a couple’s pampering day, they put you both in a tub. It’s a fun hang, complete with a steam, sauna, all of that!”

The spa’s Basic Romantic Couples Getaway package runs $435 per couple and includes two hours of a private soaking tub in the celebrity room, which is stocked with flowers, aromatherapy candles, fruit and beverages. And there’s a Korean-style scrub or 60-minute massage. 

“It’s amazing, they wash your hair and everything. It’s very rejuvenating for the skin,” she said.

For a luxe upgrade, the enhanced package costs $635 and lasts for three hours.

“It’s honestly heaven,” gushed de Lesseps, who’s also joining the cast of E’s “The Golden Life” this fall. “It’s such a treat, it really refreshes you.”

For facials: Skin Studio by Irena

De Lesseps doesn’t trust her pores to anyone but Irena of Skin Studio by Irena. 

She swears by the aesthetician’s signature $350 HydraFacial, which uses the “most amazing products” from Japanese skincare line Forlle’d.

While lying on a natural crushed stone chakra mattress, clients’ faces and necks are cleansed, exfoliated and moistruized. The hour-long treatment also includes dermaplaning and a head and neck massage.

When she wants to pump up the pampering, she also gets Irena’s Factor Five Chemical Peel, dubbed the “no-peel-peel,” on her chest and hands. The treatment promises to renew skin using advanced acids and growth factors to improve texture, tone and radiance with minimal downtime.

For fitness: Barry’s Bootcamp and Isaac Boots

This self-declared “busy bee” says she was always “very active and sporty” — she has to be, with plans to head back on the road with her “Love” cabaret tour in October.

She likes yoga, tennis and, more recently, pickleball. “I kind of pioneer my own workouts. I love using outdoor gyms in parks and have my own routine,” she said.

One of her long-standing faves is Barry’s Bootcamp, where she does the full-body run and lift classes.

She’s also a huge fan of celebrity trainer Isaac Boots, whose A-list fans include Kelly Ripa, Jessica Chastain and Gwyneth Paltrow. 

He hosts pop-up classes and retreats, including a summer residency at EHP Resort and Marina in East Hampton, and his Torch’d classes are also accessible via his Instagram page.

As for her gym must-haves, she always carries a Roar Organic drink and raw almonds — and shows up in Lululemon and Alo. 

“I always try to keep it looking sexy!” she said. 

In a dramatic turn of events, a surfacing whale collided with a boat belonging to a New Jersey fire department, prompting the firefighters onboard to hastily vacate the vessel on Friday. The daring incident unfolded as they were making their return from a July 4th marine security mission in New York Harbor, authorities reported.

The Carteret Fire Department noted that Marine Unit 2 was navigating back to its home waters in Carteret around 4:30 p.m. on Friday. This followed a collaborative security operation spanning the New York/New Jersey Port area when a whale unexpectedly breached, striking the stern near the entrance of Raritan Bay.

Officials detailed that the impact from the marine giant inflicted severe structural damage on the boat, causing it to rapidly take on water. With only moments to act, the firefighters had no choice but to abandon ship.

Thankfully, the department confirmed that all firefighters involved in the mishap managed to escape unharmed, underscoring the fortunate outcome of an otherwise precarious situation.

Officials said a nearby recreational jet ski operator and another boater immediately came to the firefighters’ aid before members of the Perth Amboy Fire Department’s marine unit arrived and helped rescue the crew from the water.

A nearby recreational vessel reported seeing multiple whales breaching before and after the collision, the Carteret Fire Department said.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under review, and officials said additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Mayor Dan Reiman described the incident as a “harrowing experience” in a public statement, saying the surfacing whale struck the vessel beneath its stern and caused catastrophic damage.

“While the Carteret Fire Department Marine Unit regularly trains to rescue civilians from the water and respond to marine emergencies, fires, and vehicle incidents, an event of this nature is something no one anticipates,” the fire department said. “Understandably, it has left those involved shaken, but we are incredibly thankful that everyone returned home safely to their families.”

The department used the incident to remind boaters, jet ski operators and kayakers to wear properly fitted life jackets, noting that every firefighter aboard was wearing one when the boat was damaged.

Officials have not identified the species of whale involved. It was not clear whether the animal was injured.

Folarin Balogun’s participation in the impending World Cup clash against Belgium on Monday remains uncertain as a contentious dispute unfolds, sparked by Donald Trump’s unexpected involvement in his red card controversy.

Belgium’s soccer authorities, outraged by the overturning of Balogun’s suspension, have successfully secured the right to challenge FIFA’s decision. They are hopeful of a resolution before the evening kickoff in Seattle, although it remains unclear whether the appeal will result in Balogun’s ban being enforced.

Both countries have been instructed to submit relevant information regarding the appeal process by 5 a.m. PST on Monday. With the match scheduled for 5 p.m. PST, there is a tight timeframe for FIFA’s appeals committee to review the case, and a designated member has been appointed to handle the proceedings.

The controversy began when Balogun, currently the USA’s leading scorer in the tournament with three goals, received a controversial red card during the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32. The decision was heavily criticized and initially meant that Balogun would have to sit out the next game.

Further intrigue was added when it emerged that President Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino, seeking clarification on the rationale behind the red card and subsequent suspension, according to sources from the Daily Mail.

The source added that the ‘US government provided additional evidence that was used in the appeal process.’

FIFA then announced on Sunday that it had suspended Balogun’s ban for a one-year ‘probationary’ period, wiping it out unless he commits another offence of ‘similar nature and gravity’. 

After FIFA kicked back Balogun’s ban, Trump, who was awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize by Infantino last year, wrote on Truth Social: ‘Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP.’ 

Infantino was sat next to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick during the game where Balogun was sent off in the San Francisco Bay.

‘We celebrate that decision,’ USA manager Mauricio Pochettino said on Sunday. ‘This is good for football, to celebrate [that] in the next game if an unfair thing happens you can reverse the decision.’

But now, his plans are potentially in chaos if his star man is ruled out once again just hours before the game starts. 

Ironically, Balogun qualifies to play for the United States due to ‘birthright citizenship’ – a rule Trump was wanted to overturn. 

His heavily pregnant mother was stopped from boarding a flight out of the United States when she was heavily pregnant and Balogun was then born in Brooklyn, New York. 

Belgium soccer bosses hit out at the unprecedented move in an angry statement, saying it was astonished’. Its coach, Rudi Garcia, added: ‘I didn’t know that at the World Cup, July 5th is now April 1st – April Fool’s Day. We’re defending football and its ethics.’

They were backed up by European soccer’s governing body UEFA, who went to war with FIFA with a blistering statement of their own. 

‘When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined,’ UEFA said.

‘Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws. 

‘We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.’

Balogun was sent off in the second half of the win against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the San Francisco Bay after a tangle of legs with opposition defender Tarik Muharemovic.

The United States striker’s leg raked down Muharemovic’s calf while he was struggling balance and jostling to win possession of the ball.

Balogun, who had scored earlier in the game, was shown a red card after the referee watched the incident back in slow motion on a video replay, deciding the USA man was guilty of serious foul play.

The United States are trying to reach the World Cup for the first time since 2002 by beating Belgium, with many considering Monday night’s game the biggest ever in US soccer. 

If Balogun was to now miss the game, Ricardo Pepi would be expected to start in his place. 

Trump is not expected to attend. Despite going to multiple major US sporting events since beginning his second term as President, he has not made it to a World Cup game yet. 

He is, however, set to attend the final on July 19 with Infantino saying recently that he and Trump will hand the trophy over to the winner ‘together’.

Infantino, speaking to Fox before Trump’s call about Balogun’s red card, said: ‘We will be together with the president enjoying ​the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together.’