By Rubin E. Grant Sam Willoughby already was playing football when his dad, Lee Willoughby, suggested he also try wrestling. Lee Willoughby had been part of a state wrestling championship team at Hewitt-Trussville in 1988 and encouraged his son to give the sport a try. “He took me out there on the mat, and I liked it,” Sam Willoughby said. “I’ve been wrestling eight or nine … [Read more...]
Spontaneous Wedding: Moving up the Date Almost Made the Planning of a Forest Park Wedding Easier
By Ingrid Schnader When Awbrey Golden and Ross Saxon first got engaged, they thought they would have plenty of time to plan their wedding. The date they originally had in mind was in March 2020. But two months before their engagement party, which they had been planning for Oct. 5 in the backyard of Awbrey’s parents’ house in Forest Park, the couple decided to make a … [Read more...]
Running Against the Odds: UAB Associate Professor, Leukemia Survivor Runs Marathons to Raise Funds for LLS
By Emily Williams Five years into his cancer treatment, 41-year-old Adam Wende of Vestavia Hills knows he is one of the lucky ones. After being diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia, Wende was able to receive treatment via daily medication without having to alter his or his family’s lifestyle too drastically. Wende is a scientist by trade, working for the … [Read more...]
Labor of Love: Bride Makes Her Own Cake, Then Starts Making Them for Others
By Ingrid Schnader For as long as she can remember, JoAnna Feldewerth has enjoyed cooking and baking. Her Nana moved in with JoAnna’s family when JoAnna was still in high school. JoAnna learned little cooking tricks from her Nana, who was always sitting in the kitchen with her. But JoAnna never made a wedding cake until the day of her own wedding. “I had never made one … [Read more...]
Heart and Work Ethic Required: Athletes Pivot to Open New Walk-Ons Bistreaux & Bar in Hoover
By Ingrid Howard For former Ragin’ Cajuns wide receiver Matt Roth, a sports-themed restaurant started by two LSU walk-ons was the perfect opportunity to make some extra money. He had been living in Lafayette, Louisiana, working at his environmental company that does oil and gas business. He was eating at Walk-Ons Bistreaux & Bar at least three or four times a week. “We … [Read more...]