By Rubin E. GrantMelissa Minich wasn’t sure she wanted her daughter Laine to follow in her footsteps as a soccer goalkeeper.Melissa Minich was a goalkeeper in college at Kentucky and Missouri after a standout high school career in the St. Louis area. It wasn’t a surprise when her daughter Laine Minich began playing soccer when she was only four. When she … [Read more...]
Bryant-Jordan Region Winner Charlie Sims: Homewood’s Charlie Sims didn’t let blindness in one eye stop him from excelling on the basketball court and in the classroom
By Rubin E. GrantHomewood senior Charlie Sims isn’t the typical high school basketball player. He’s completely blind in his right eye. “When I was little, they thought I might not be blind,” Sims says. “I went through a lot of therapy to try to strengthen it, but it’s completely blind now.”He continues, “I also went through speech therapy because I slurred my words. … [Read more...]
A Chip off Mom’s Block: Vestavia Hills’ Littleton Credits His Mother for His Athleticism
By Rubin E. GrantVestavia Hills senior Bruce Littleton didn’t have to think twice about where he gets his athleticism. “It 100 percent comes from my mom,” Littleton says without hesitation. “My mentality comes from my dad, but my athletic ability comes from my mom. In every sport she played, she was the best.”Littleton’s mother is Brigid Meadow, Vestavia Hills’ girls … [Read more...]
Rick Hedrick’s Legacy: A Lifetime of Transforming Children, One Zipline at a Time
By Nausicaa ChuJamie Blattman’s son had looked forward to this moment since kindergarten: the annual fifth grade campout. The campout was a legend among the students of Cherokee Bend Elementary, a weekend spent living in tents and conquering action-packed outdoor activities.But this time, there was an unexpected hitch. “I’ll never forget when my first son went through … [Read more...]
Classically Eclectic: Marianne Strong relies on bold colors and rich textures to achieve her signature style
By Barry Wise SmithMarianne Strong grew up in Nashville a nascent designer. “I loved design growing up. I was that kid who constantly rearranged her room,” Strong says. “My parents were very supportive and encouraged my creativity. They gave me free reign to paint and do what I wanted to do. But Strong also knew that she wanted to own her own business. She went to business … [Read more...]