By Rubin E. Grant Ashley Hardee had admired the Vestavia Hills volleyball program for some time. So, when he got a chance to become the Rebels’ head coach in the spring, he jumped at it. Hardee took the reins of Vestavia Hills’ program in March and now he’s about to embark on his first season. “I’m tickled and excited about the opportunity to be the head coach at … [Read more...]
Mask Up?: Local School Systems Deciding on Mask Rules Ahead of the New School Year
Editor's Note: This article was updated on Aug. 5 to reflect new mask ordinances from local public health officials, as well as updated policies for local school systems. By Emily Williams-Robertshaw Here we go again. Throughout the spring and much of summer vacation, things were looking up on the coronavirus front. It looked like the 2021-22 school year would be a … [Read more...]
MVP, MVP, MVP: John Carroll’s Ogle Shines in All-Star Softball Doubleheader
By Rubin E. Grant During the sixth inning of the second game of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s All-Star Sports Week North-South Softball All-Star doubleheader last Wednesday, the public address announcer told the fans, players and coaches to stick around afterward for the MVP presentation at Lagoon Park in Montgomery. John Carroll Catholic pitcher Macey Ogle … [Read more...]
‘Serve and Help’: Hoover Firefighters Support Responders at Florida Condo Collapse
By Rubin E. Grant Hoover firefighter Tory Rigsby has responded to a number of tragic incidents, but nothing compared to what he experienced earlier this month. Rigsby, a district captain, and Hoover Lt. Jeff Harris were part of a 14-member crew from fire departments across the nation that was deployed July 8 to the condo building collapse in Surfside, Florida. The crew are … [Read more...]
California Dreaming: Jags’ Flannery Playing in Prestigious Softball All-American Game
By Rubin E. Grant Spain Park junior Katie Flannery might not be participating in a prestigious All-American softball game if it weren’t for her friends several years ago. As Flannery tells it, although she began playing softball when she was 5, she also was a pretty good soccer player back then. “I played up and I played against the boys,” she said matter-of-factly. But one … [Read more...]