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...]
Getting the Ball Rolling: 15th Annual Antiques at the Gardens Honors the First Chairs of the Event
By Christiana Roussel It takes a lot to pull together the Antiques at the Gardens event each year, and it took even more work to establish the first event more than 15 years ago. This year, the nonprofit Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens will honor Kim Matthews and Joan Starnes, chairs of the first show, when it puts on the annual event Sept. 30 to Oct. 3. The longtime … [Read more...]
Vestavia Hills City Schools Names New Athletic Director
The Vestavia Hills Board of Education named a new athletic director for the school system on July 26. In a regularly scheduled meeting, the Board approved the hiring of Myra Miles as the new athletic director. Miles served as athletic director for Hoover High School from 2007 to 2014, during which time the Buccaneers won more than 20 state championships in 10 … [Read more...]
Local Flavor: Otey’s Fest Returns with Lineup of Local Acts
By Emily Williams-Robertshaw After taking a break last year due to pandemic shutdowns and restrictions, the annual Otey’s Fest is returning to Crestline Village, taking over the parking lot in front of Otey’s Tavern on July 31. Otey’s Tavern owner Will Haver founded the event shortly after he bought the Crestline Village bar in 2008. According to Haver, the event has … [Read more...]