have been identified as the victims in a double homicide in Nashville Valdez-Garcia is believed to have traveled to Nashville on Sunday with his friend They both were found in the woods between Lincoya Bay Apartments and Percy Priest Lake Homicide Unit detectives are actively pursuing leads in the case Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463 A cash reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience – Two teenagers from the city of Alabaster have been identified by authorities as the victims of a double homicide that took place in Nashville the bodies of two teens were discovered in the woods between Lincoya Bay Apartments and Percy Priest Lake in Nashville Both teens suffered from multiple gunshot wounds The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department confirmed the two deceased teens as Amir Landan Wilkerson Valdez-Garcia and Wilkerson are believed to have traveled to Nashville together Wilkerson was identified through a wallet found on his person and was last seen by his family on the afternoon of Sunday The investigation into the homicide is ongoing and authorities are working to determine why the teens had come to Nashville and to identify the identity of the person or persons responsible for their deaths Those with information on the case are requested to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463 Just one AAC game is on Monday’s college basketball schedule That contest is the Wichita State Shockers squaring… The Memphis Grizzlies (38-22) face the Atlanta Hawks (27-33) as 8.5-point favorites on Monday take on the Brooklyn Nets (21-39).… The Wichita State Shockers versus the North Texas Mean Green is a game to catch on the Monday… The Monday college basketball slate has plenty of exciting matchups in store Our computer model has suggested picks… What would make you consider a digital subscription to Shelby County Reporter View Results The body of Amir Landan Wilkerson, a 19-year-old resident of Alabaster, Ala., was found on the afternoon of April 28 by a resident walking a trail through the wooded area The bodies were located between Lincoya Bay Apartments and the lake in the wooded area of the Army Corps of Engineers Wilkerson was last seen by his family the day before on April 27 Police said he was identified by a wallet found on his body The second victim has not yet been identified Police have not released additional details about that individual according to a statement from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department Police are asking anyone with information to call 615-742-7463 located about 15 minutes from downtown Nashville is 42 miles long and spans roughly 14,000 acres the reservoir is a popular spot for outdoor recreation Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@gannett.com The Alabaster City Council has awarded a $43.7 million construction bid to start building a new recreation center and library The new municipal facilities will be located near the intersection of Alabama 119 and Thompson Road The Council awarded the bid to the Clements Dean Building Company during its April 14 meeting Construction is expected to begin Summer 2025 The new library will nearly triple the space of the current library “We’re so excited to move forward with this plan to breathe new life into one of our most high-profile parts of town and finally have an opportunity to give our residents the recreation center and library they deserve This will allow us to continue our vision of creating a true city center including the Police Department entertainment options and future recreation center and library.”  In addition to the new rec center and library, Alabaster has recently added a new Alabaster Police Department, Senior Center expansion, amphitheater and renovations to Larry Simmons Stadium and Jim “Peanut” Davenport baseball field. The fast growing city also launched last Spring a $242 million commercial development plan off I-65 For more news around the Greater Birmingham Area, sign up for our newsletter today Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards All content on this site is Copyright ©  Rushing Waters Media LLC/Bham Now 2016-2025 Try a different filter or a new search keyword Streaming and Download help Shipping and returns Redeem code supported by 121 fans who also own “A Blade Because A Blade Is Whole” Just the kind of gentle soundtrack I need when I am doing simple repetitive manual tasks Impossible to decide on a favourite track because they are all wonderful supported by 79 fans who also own “A Blade Because A Blade Is Whole” supported by 66 fans who also own “A Blade Because A Blade Is Whole” Awe-inspiring soul with orchestral tinges; nuanced R&B full of serene Multi-instrumentalist Mavondo backs Australian Poetry Slam Champion Fadlelmawla across seven uplifting supported by 61 fans who also own “A Blade Because A Blade Is Whole” Love the free grooves and how warm this sounds The IVtet have a unique was of fusing jazz with lovely ambient atmospheres Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp Exploring the Sounds of UNESCO World Heritage Sites Heavenly Sweetness Releases Colorful Soul From All Over The World Backxwash joins the show to discuss her recent release, "Only Dust Remains." “Down to do some jujitsu with a jazz-poet and redefine your concept of dignity?” Sure is a lot going on there and the recipient found himself at a Brazilian-jujitsu gym near Wall Street the loose-fitting martial-arts uniform known as a gi The word “TRIAL” was written on the gi’s belt practicing chokes from the mounted position a forty-four-year-old recording artist from Manchester He plays saxophone (jazz) and speak-sings his lyrics (poet) to often-improvised accompaniment The approach and even the sound can bring to mind Van Morrison’s “Astral Weeks,” though the songs are often political (“I Was Gonna Fight Fascism”) or earnestly affirming (“Don’t Forget You’re Precious”) when he was walking in London in some flamboyant clothing which sounded to his ears like “Alabaster DePlume.” It being his nature to convert negative feelings and experiences into positive energy as one might do with an opponent’s gambits on the mat he adopted this as a nom de guerre—and de plume DePlume was in town prepping for a tour in support of his new album “A Blade Because a Blade Is Whole.” Three years ago he started doing jujitsu whenever he could (“I come back from a tour and everyone else has new belts,” he said.) The discipline gave him clarity and solace and it figured into some of the songs on the album with bright eyes and a mischievous grin that recalled Peter O’Toole in one of his friskier moods DePlume switched positions to lie on his back on the mat told the Trial Guy to straddle a young blue belt named Eric who began to teach him some moves from the mount “Are you ready to choke someone?,” DePlume called out They won’t strangle themselves.” After a while and suddenly the Trial Guy was rolling with Chad a tangle of limbs and toil that felt a little like a fight for survival: concept of dignity redefined DePlume was rolling with a bulldog of a man and whispering comments to himself with a gentleness that seemed almost carnal “One thing at a time.” “Yes.” “What are you going to do now?” “Yes.” Afterward resting his head on the Trial Guy’s shoulder “If I try to do one of the things I’ve learned to do it’s a symptom of my failure to be present.” He was talking both about making music and doing jujitsu: better to react without thinking DePlume undressed and put on many necklaces and rings a T-shirt reading “Sonic Liberation Front,” a kaffiyeh while he answered the other fighters’ questions about himself he had a tattoo of six stick figures in a row “These are the people I have been in the past and that I have killed off I don’t need to treat them with cruelty anymore.” led the way to a café in an old bank on Exchange Place The grapplers had coffee and talked of humility and acceptance of “graciously receiving” remarks and experiences as one might absorb the efforts of another fighter “Being glad.” He recited some verses of “Thank You My Pain,” a song on the album remembering this: it is rude to escape from your pain “I always tell the Trial Guy,” DePlume said “the Trial Guy is making more courage than the rest of the room put together.” He spoke into the Trial Guy’s recording device who is a different you from the one who sits with me and who knows something that the you who sits with me now does not yet know: you are amazing A long-ago crime, suddenly remembered A limousine driver watches her passengers transform The day Muhammad Ali punched me What is it like to be keenly intelligent but deeply alienated from simple emotions? Temple Grandin knows The harsh realm of “gentle parenting.”  Retirement the Margaritaville way Fiction by F. Scott Fitzgerald: “Thank You for the Light.”  Sign up for our daily newsletter to receive the best stories from The New Yorker. The Alabaster Career Center is Hosting a “Second Tuesday Job Fair” Alabaster – The Alabaster Career Center is hosting a Multi-Employer “Second Tuesday Job Fair” This is a multi-employer job fair that will run from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Tuesday and come meet with local employers who are hiring right now Expect to see recruiters from ESD CDL Training The job fair will be held on Tuesday April 8th The job fair will take place at the Alabaster Career Center located at 109 Plaza Circle Those who wish to learn more about the job fair can contact the Alabaster Career Center or specifically reach out to Kristina Lawrence Kristina.Lawrence@alcc.alabama.gov at the Alabaster Career Center Members of the media seeking more information should contact Jonathan McNair at jonathan.mcnair@labor.alabama.gov Auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities The Opelika Career Center will be hosting a Job Fair The Dothan Career Center is Hosting a Spring Job Fair Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Auxiliary aids and services available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Deaf, hard-of-hearing, speech-impaired, or deaf-blind customers may contact Alabama Relay: 800-548-2546 (TTY) and 711 (Voice). Equal opportunity is the law. ALABASTER – A sea of visitors sporting the color red will pour through the gates of Alabaster’s Patriots Park to show their support and to spread awareness of strokes during the second annual installment of Alabaster Goes Red God Did It Ministries will host the second Alabaster Goes Red event on Saturday This year’s event is set to feature a bike ride giveaways and resources from the Greater Birmingham Area The event’s purpose is to spread awareness about the dangers of strokes—a mission that hits close to home for God Did It Ministries Founder Sanchez Tanniehill who survived a stroke at just six weeks old wear red and we hope everybody has a great time,” Tanniehill said Broadcaster Chris Stewart will be the guest speaker at Alabaster Goes Red and will share his thoughts with those in attendance Stewart has been a broadcaster since 1988 and has served as the Alabama men’s basketball announcer for the Crimson Tide Sports Network since 2002 Stewart is a 1992 graduate of the University of Montevallo and was recognized with the 2009 Alumni Achievement Award and was inducted into the UM Athletics Hall of Fame event in 2021 “We are very excited about this year’s speaker Chris Stewart,” Tanniehill said “This is the first time we’ve had a speaker so we’re excited to have him come speak to us about his story.” In addition to the festivities at Patriots Park God Did It Ministries is hosting a Stroke Awareness Bike Ride which will begin at 10:15 a.m Attendees are welcome to wear red shirts in recognition of stroke awareness and, for those interested, God Did It Ministries will be selling red stroke awareness bows for residents to decorate their mailbox with. Awareness bows can be purchased online for $5 at Givebutter.com/redbow Residents can also signup at the link for the fun run for $15 This is a multi-employer job fair that will run from 10 AM to 2 PM on Tuesday Expect to see recruiters from Alabama Department of Corrections The job fair will be held on Tuesday March 11th Unemployment Compensation Tax Forms Are Now Available Online Alabama Department of Workforce and the Alabama Personnel Department Team up to Host Inaugural State Agency Job Fair Alabaster Mayor Scott Brakefield inducted the 2025-2026 Alabaster Teen Council during a meeting on Monday ALABASTER – With their right hand held aloft a group of teens invested in learning more about the city they call home repeated an oath as they were sworn in as members of the 2025-2026 Alabaster Teen Council The newest Alabaster Teen Council took their oaths and were sworn in by Mayor Scott Brakefield on Monday April 28 at the start of that night’s City Council meeting “It offers our young teens a leadership opportunity,” Brakefield said an opportunity to show them what all their city has to offer.” The mission of the Alabaster Teen Council is to provide local youth with an opportunity to impact the community while learning about local government and to create active and informed teenage citizens The program intends to transform their view of the role of local government by exposing the teen council to municipal responsibilities volunteerism and through executing outreach peer events “When I was growing up here in this little the last place that I ever thought I would be was here,” Brakefield said “I did not see Alabaster as a viable option for me when I was 17-18 years old but having the teen council and having our future leaders spent a little time with us we are showing them that Alabaster is a viable option for you to return to to take advantage of a great school system.” The Alabaster Teen Council first began under the leadership of Alabaster Mayor Marty Handlon in 2014 as a way to engage the city’s youth and educate them on what it takes to run the city The program has grown over the years with the inaugural teen council consisting of only 12 members and the latest iteration now featuring 34 members the teen council is open to all Alabaster high school students The students each serve a one-year term on the council that begins and expires each year in April The council aims to create an informed group of students who are familiar with municipal issues to develop lasting relationships between students and city leaders sustain youth presence in a broad range of impact and decision-making areas across the community develop future civic leaders and to organize events for community teens Alabaster residents had the chance to do some spring cleaning and dispose of unwanted paper from their homes during the 12th annual Alabaster Clean Sweep ALABASTER – Alabaster residents had the chance to do some spring cleaning and dispose of unwanted paper from their homes during the 12th annual Alabaster Clean Sweep The Clean Sweep season kicked off with a litter pickup event on April 5 which saw the Alabaster Church of Christ and Girl Scout Troop 28212 pick up 20 bags of litter and piles of junk off of two miles of roadways on 5th Ave. The Thompson High School ROTC collected three large bags of recycled plastic bottles through a program with Alabama People Against a Littered State and the Alabaster Beautification Board “The 12th Annual Alabaster Clean Sweep event saw another year of success,” said Stacy Rakestraw city council member for Alabaster’s Ward 3 and the organizer of the Clean Sweep The city of Alabaster held its paper shredding and electronic recycling event on Saturday to noon with a new location this year at the parking lot of the Alabaster Senior Center at 1097 7th St The event was open to Alabaster residents only as we had a constant traffic flow for four hours,” Rakestraw said 15 THS football players helped unload cars of paper and electronics—filling ten pallet crates and an entire shredding truck so respectful and we appreciate them giving up their Saturday to help the residents of Alabaster,” Rakestraw said “A big thank you to coach (Mark) Freeman as well for recruiting them for the past eleven years.” Rakestraw said that Alabaster hosts the Clean Sweep each year in order to promote the beautification of the community and to raise awareness about the importance of litter prevention and to promote environmental stewardship “The main purpose of this event is to encourage and educate our community on the importance of being a litter-free city and the effects that trash and junk can have on our environment,” Rakestraw said Rakestraw also thanked Tami Boyd for sponsoring the event and participating in the Alabaster Clean Sweep as well as Lisa Glasgow Andy Lackey and members of the Alabaster Public Works department for helping out “Tami Boyd was on hand to help do a little of everything and we appreciate her and Ashleigh Springer McLaughlin sponsoring this event for three years in a row,” Rakestraw said “Three of our beautification board members were on hand to direct traffic and help wherever they were needed.” Rakestraw expressed her gratitude for the volunteers who ensured that the event ran smoothly and accomplished its goal of making Alabaster a cleaner place to call home “The volunteers are always one of the best parts of working the events throughout the Alabaster Clean Sweep,” Rakestraw said “They have a servant heart and genuinely enjoy helping do whatever needs to be done to clean up and help the residents and our city.” ALABASTER – Families can look forward to a day of Easter fun this weekend as the Alabaster Lions Club hosts an Easter egg hunt “We’re going to have food and games and will have multiple egg hunts for different ages throughout the morning,” said Neal Wagner vice president of the Alabaster Lions Club The Easter egg hunt will take place on Saturday at Thompson High School’s courtyard at 1925 Warrior Parkway “I think it’s really going to be a great location for it because it’s a closed off area where the kids will be safe and parents can keep track of them a little bit easier,” Wagner said The event will kick off with egg hunts for the younger kids starting at 9:30 and will offer successive hunts for older groups until approximately 11 a.m And we’ve got a ton of prize eggs and prizes for the kids donated by local businesses we’ll be giving those out… Every kid that participates will get something for sure.” During the event, the Easter Bunny will be making a special appearance so that families can take a free photo which will be available for download on the Alabaster Lions Club Facebook page Admission to the Easter egg hunt is $7 per person and can be purchased online or in person at the event The Easter egg hunt will be made possible thanks to the collaboration of the Alabaster Lions Club and the Thompson High School Leo Club “We’re a service organization here in town and we try to do multiple service projects every year in conjunction with the Leo Club,” Wagner said “We’re really trying to increase our presence in the community by doing more service projects every year this event is a fundraiser to help us to be able to do more in the community The Alabaster Lions Club plans on establishing a scholarship for a deserving member of the Leo Club for after they graduate from Thompson High School “We’re really looking forward to being more visible and doing more service projects in the community,” Wagner said ALABASTER – Derek Henderson will serve another five years on the Alabaster City Schools Board of Education after being reappointed to the position by the Alabaster City Council the Alabaster City Council unanimously approved the reappointment of Henderson to Place 4 on the Alabaster City Schools BOE with a term expiring June 2030 “We met with the candidates last week at our work session‚” said Jamie Cole and we decided to reappoint Derek Henderson to Place 4 He is a Ward 5 resident—(I’m) very proud of that He represents us on some statewide boards and committees and does that very well.” Henderson was first appointed to the ACS Board of Education at the school system’s inception in May 2013 and has served successive terms since including reappointment as the board’s vice president Henderson has been a resident of Alabaster for nearly 30 years and is a member with the Alabama Trust for Boards of Education “Congratulations to our Board of Education vice-president on his reappointment to the Alabaster Board of Education,” read an official Facebook post by Alabaster City Schools He’s been a vital member of our Board of Education since 2013.” Henderson previously served 36 years as an insurance professional in evaluating risks as well as leading and managing various operations units before retiring from State Farm Insurance Companies as an underwriting team manager in August 2012 Henderson currently serves on the Alabama Association of School Boards as District V director He has served on the AASB’s Budget and Finance and Nominating Committee and is a trustee for the Alabama Trust for Boards of Education Henderson was named an All-State School Board Member in 2022 and has achieve Master Level status in the AASB Academy “His contributions are deeply valued—and have helped shape the direction and success of our students schools and community,” read a post by Alabaster City Schools The next seat for reappointment on the Alabaster City Schools Board of Education will be Place 5 in June 2026 which is currently occupied by Misty Johnson Johnson was first appointed to the BOE in April 2019 to fill the vacancy of Linda Church Johnson was reappointed in 2021 by the Alabaster City Council Those interested in learning more about the Alabaster City Schools Board of Education may visit Acsboe.org/page/board-of-education the Alabaster City Council unanimously approved the awarding of a bid of $43,676,000 to Clements Dean Building Company for the construction of the city’s new rec center ALABASTER – Construction on the city of Alabaster’s new recreation center and library will begin this summer after the Alabaster City Council approved a nearly $44 million bid for the project during a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday “We’re so excited to move forward with this plan to breathe new life into one of our most high-profile parts of town and finally have an opportunity to give our residents the recreation center and library they deserve,” Alabaster Mayor Scott Brakefield said “This will allow us to continue our vision of creating a true city center entertainment options and future recreation center and library.” Alabaster received a total of four bids for the construction of the recreation center and library with Clements Dean Building Company According to Councilpersons Jamie Cole and Zach Zahariadis the bids were highly competitive and came in under budget The new recreation center and library will be located near the intersection of Highway 119 and Thompson Road at the site of the old Thompson Intermediate School The rec center is designed to include multiple indoor courts a workout and fitness area and an outdoor pool and splash pad The new Alabaster library will be nearly triple the space of the Albert L providing room for greatly expanded collections and greater space for library programming and community events “I would like to (share) how excited I am about the recreation center and library project,” said Rick Ellis Improvements are also being made to the Hwy 119 and Thompson Road intersection including a new right turn lane on Hwy 119 and traffic signal improvements library and retail development will also have ample on-site parking According to City Administrator Brian Binzer a significant amount of the project was a part of the Alabaster Forward comprehensive plan which was adopted by the city in 2016 “The vision is to deal with the city center and to have new things that are beneficial to the community like the new police station that was built a few years ago the addition of the stage amphitheater that was built just last year and now the rec center and the library and then ultimately connecting everything with Buck Creek Trail,” Binzer said to see this happen and come out of the ground—we’re more than excited.” Work on the site of the recreation center and library started in January with the first phase of demolition on the old Thompson Intermediate School facility Phase two of the demolition will begin later in 2025 after the Alabaster City Schools Central Office moves out of the remaining half of the building and into its new facility on the grounds of Thompson High School In addition to the new recreation center and library another project is planned to be developed on the corner of Highway 119 and Thompson Road the city is in talks with developers to create a mixed-use facility on the property that would involve multiple businesses and compliment the new recreation center the city hopes to begin development on the project at the same time as the recreation center The city of Alabaster set aside $5 million in its fiscal year 2025 budget to begin construction on the new recreation center and library The city also had an issuance of $80 million of bonds for the project’s construction If the current projected timeline does not face any delays the city plans on build out of the project being completed in December 2026 with Alabaster opening up the facility in Spring 2027 “We’re really excited to get that out of the ground and hopefully by early 2027 we’ll have a new rec center a new library and even some other development on the corner there to keep forming our city center on 119,” Cole said This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Falling tree limbs in Birmingham kills one person — The Alabaster City Council has approved a $43.7 million construction bid for a new recreation center and library marking the largest project the city has ever undertaken in terms of financial investment The funding will be sourced from bonds that will be paid off over time "This project is the largest project that this city will ever undertake when we're talking about the amount of dollars that we're going to the bond market to get," said Alabaster Mayor Scott Brakefield to be built on land purchased from the Alabaster City School District The library will be more than double the size of the current facility SEE ALSO: Alabaster approves $43 million construction bid for new rec center and library SEE ALSO: 82% Complete: BJCC leaders give latest Coca-Cola Amphitheater update Mayor Brakefield emphasized the city's growth as the driving force behind the decision "As the school system continues to do well we'll continue to attract young families so we got to have the amenities here to meet the needs of the people who are going to be moving here," he said reflect the city's efforts to keep pace with its growth "We are the largest city in the county and it was kind of time that we have fell behind a little bit.. Really trying to catch up to really where we should have been ten to fifteen years ago," he said the city hopes to celebrate a grand opening in spring 2027 A domestic violence call in Alabaster on Tuesday night escalated into a vehicle pursuit that ended in Hoover with the death of 44-year-old Christopher Grant Hulgan prompting multiple Alabaster police officers and one Hoover police officer to open fire The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is currently investigating the shooting At a public safety committee meeting on Thursday Alabaster Police Chief Curtis Rigney provided an update on the officers involved in the incident "The officers that are involved in those instances and we're making sure our most important thing is to make sure their well-being is that they're doing okay," Rigney said All officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave the council discussed the search for Chief Rigney's replacement as he has announced his retirement for June The council is considering a proposed contract with the Center for Public Safety Management the same company used by Pelham for selecting its fire and police chiefs SEE ALSO: Puppy death case heads to trial in Hoover, owner seeks justice SEE ALSO: 44-year-old man killed in officer-involved shooting after chase in Hoover Alabaster Mayor Scott Brakefield emphasized the importance of a thorough search for the new chief. "I want there to be a sense of, hey, they uncovered every stone, they cast a net far and wide to get the best candidates, and that sometimes involves using outside agencies to help you in those avenues," Brakefield said. Some council members raised concerns about the cost of the contract, questioning why the city could not manage the process independently. Mayor Brakefield defended the expenditure. "Spending $20.000 on a position as important as a police chief is really a drop in the bucket because of the amount of decisions that they have to make from a legality standpoint that keeps us out of lawsuits, that makes sure we're operating above board," he said. The council has added the contract to the agenda for its next meeting on Monday. Falling tree limbs in Birmingham kills one person, another injured Authorities are actively searching for Ana Lopez, a 49-year-old Hispanic woman who has been reported missing. Lopez is described as approximately 5 feet tall, weighing 125 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair. She was last seen on April 15, 2025, around 5 p.m. in the vicinity of 119/Hwy 31. At the time, she was wearing a grey Mickey Mouse t-shirt and blue jeans, with her hair styled in a bun. Officials urge anyone with information regarding Lopez's whereabouts to contact local law enforcement by calling 911. ALABASTER, Ala. — Officer Rishan Wright, of the Alabaster Police Department, passed away unexpectedly on March 7, 2025, following a brief illness according to the police department. Wright had served with the department for the past two and a half years, having begun his law enforcement career with the Montgomery Police Department. Wright was known for his dedication to his work and was respected by his colleagues. He was also a devoted husband and father, deeply loved by his family. "Our hearts go out to them during this unimaginable loss," said a statement from the department. "Please keep his family, friends, and all who knew him in your thoughts." The community mourns the loss of Officer Wright, remembering him as a committed officer and a beloved family man. Alabaster Goes Red is a community inspired Stroke Awareness event, Saturday May 10, 2025. President Donald Trump makes a major sports announcement. The announcement comes amid reports Washington, D.C. will host the 2027 NFL Draft. The city of Alabaster announced Monday it awarded a $43.7 million construction bid for a new recreation center and library Clements Dean Building Company will be responsible for the new construction near the intersection of Alabama 119 and Thompson Road library and retail development will be constructed on about 24 acres off one of its major corridors “We’re so excited to move forward with this plan to breathe new life into one of our most high-profile parts of town and finally have an opportunity to give our residents the recreation center and library they deserve,” said Alabaster Mayor Scott Brakefield “This will allow us to continue our vision of creating a true city center including the Police Department The city said the rec center will include multiple indoor courts The new library is planned to be nearly triple the space of the current library and provide greater space for library programming and community events The city said improvements are also being made to the Alabama 119-Thompson Road intersection including a new right turn lane on 119 and signal improvements Parking for the new development was emphasized by the city who said it would be "ample." The city said these new amenities will join other recent city investments in the Siluria Mill District including the new Alabaster Police Department amphitheater and renovations to Larry Simmons Stadium and Jim “Peanut” Davenport baseball field The Shelby County Children’s Policy Council hosted another installment of Pinwheels for Prevention on Saturday ALABASTER – Local families enjoyed a morning of fun family-friendly activities while learning more about child abuse awareness and prevention during the fourth annual Pinwheels for Prevention event “The fourth annual Pinwheels for Prevention event went awesome once again this year,” said Jo Davis chairperson for the council’s Parent Involvement and Skills Committee “We had many families who came out to enjoy the event and to take advantage of what we were all doing in the park that day All participating organizations worked together to make this year’s event a success.” The event was free for visitors to attend and featured approximately 26 different organizations that were willing to share information and resources with families there were a variety of activities for children to enjoy such as games “Although there were concerns that it would rain we were fortunate that it did not rain during this year’s event,” Davis said “I am truly grateful for everyone who came out and participated.” The Shelby County Children’s Policy Council holds the event each year in April in coordination with National Child Abuse Prevention Month April has been recognized as being Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month,” Davis said we all wanted to create an event where families come out to learn more about abuse prevention and to also learn more about many local organizations that help families in many ways We wanted to create an event that was free The event gets its namesake from pinwheels which are used as the symbol for child abuse prevention and awareness “Blue pinwheels are used to represent a childhood that is safe from abuse and neglect It is a representation of children experiencing joy during their childhood,” Davis said Prevent Child Abuse America launched the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign in 2008 and made the blue pinwheel the national symbol of the movement “The Parent Involvement and Skills Committee with the Shelby County Children’s Policy Council has now been working together to put on this event for the last four years,” Davis said “We are all trying to work together to help families in Shelby County.” More information on the Shelby County Children’s Policy Council can be found on its official Facebook page The Character in Action Awards honored students in Alabaster Hoover and Pelham that are making a positive difference in their schools MONTEVALLO – Shelby County Juvenile Court Services and the Shelby County Children’s Policy Council hosted an awards ceremony dedicated to students who consistently demonstrate exceptional character at the schools they attend The Character in Action Awards were held on Thursday at the American Village Ballroom in Montevallo The awards are a partnership between the Shelby County Juvenile Court the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office the American Legion Matthew Blount Post 555 and the school districts in Shelby County Students from the various schools represented were recognized for making a positive impact through actions that reflect the core values of respect the chief juvenile probation officer for Shelby County Wellborn described the event as having an electric atmosphere while Styers believes the event highlights more than tangible achievements “The thing that I love most about it is that it just highlights goodness more than academics “It’s about how decent of a human being you are… It is based solely on who has the best character.” Hoover and Pelham City Schools represented in this year’s class Styers highlighted one of the important parts of the ceremony as his favorite to witness “Every single child gets a medal from American Legion,” Styers said “We all just take a moment to really highlight that child Wellborn believes that in a world that tends to look on the pessimistic side uplifting events like this one can serve as vitally important to a community “I feel that in this day and time we are so inundated with negativity,” Wellborn said “We tend to immediately see the bad in society… This is just an opportunity for pure goodness This is the opportunity to acknowledge and make a big deal about being kind compassionate and being a good person… It’s certainly one of the best parts of the year for me in this job.” Wellborn further expressed her hope that the awards received by the students only strengthen the schools they are a part of and the students go back and talk about the experience with their peers,” Wellborn said “I’m hoping that by hearing about the experience from another child it inspires them to be better and to hopefully get that award next year.” Students are nominated via a form that is sent out to the administrators of every single school represented Each school has the discretion after this to come up with their own process and nominate students Schools generally take in requests and nominations from faculty and staff for the awards by deciding who is awarded the honor Styers concluded by talking about the array of projects the Children’s Policy Council puts together including the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and the Pinwheels For Prevention campaign emphasizing that projects like the Character in Action Awards are essential for a community’s vitality what we need more than anything else is an ability to fundraise in order to continue these projects moving forward with help from the community,” Styers said The following students from Alabaster City Schools Pelham City Schools and Hoover City Schools were honored at the awards: A 6-month-old girl is dead after a dog attack in Alabaster The coroner's office has identified the baby as Ember Southard from Bibb County the child was dropped off at a relative's house in Alabaster on March 14th by her mother Evans says the baby was found unresponsive with injuries consistent with a dog attack Southard was taken to Children's Hospital where she was pronounced dead A pit bull mix and Rottweiler were at the home It is unknown whether one or both of the dogs were involved in the attack An Alabaster police spokesperson says the dogs are in mandatory quarantine In a public Facebook post Ember's mother She added the service is open for anyone who loved her daughter ALABASTER – A new business is set to join the city of Alabaster’s medical mile when ThrIV Infusion Centers opens its services in Alabaster in April ThriV Infusion Centers is set to open up services in the 1022 Tower in Alabaster off of Highway 31 with an opening tentatively planned for April “We are extremely excited to bring our infusion services to Alabaster,” Business Development Director Jack Fain said “ThrIV Infusion is committed to making wellness and medical infusions more accessible in the state of Alabama and we have chosen Alabaster Fain said they found there to be a strong need for high-quality infusion services with some patients in the area currently having to travel an hour or more to receive necessary treatments “I’ve worked in this industry here in Birmingham for the past 10 years and we’re very excited to bring a new and innovative version to Alabaster and Shelby County,” said Joe Williams Fain said that the infusions offered are safe and are administered by licensed professionals who follow strict safety protocols “Medical infusions are necessary for patients with chronic disease to help manage their conditions like rheumatoid arthritis multiple sclerosis to name a few,” Fain said ThrIV Infusion Centers offers private rooms for its patients to relax in during their therapy sessions where they can enjoy snacks spa-like atmosphere with private rooms for our patients and their families,” Fain said “(We offer) convenience and comfort compared to alternative sites of care.” ThrIV Infusion Centers handles intake and copy assistance enrollment to make any potential referral processes simple and seamless for providers “Our services are given on a referral basis from their provider but we want the community to know that there is a convenient and comfortable solution in their community now,” Fain said He said that they recognize that upwards of 8 percent of the population have conditions that deem infusion therapy necessary and shared that they put an emphasis on serving communities that have individuals excessively traveling to receive care “ThrIV infusion was founded with a vision to revolutionize the infusion experience by merging medical expertise with a private spa-like atmosphere,” Fain said the business will also offer a menu of hydration options for those needing rapid rehydration athletic recovery or the general wellness offered by  hydration therapy “ThrIV Infusion is again extremely excited to serve this community and give them exceptional care,” Fain said Construction is set to begin soon on a new 7 Brew on Highway 119 next to Taco Bell in Alabaster ALABASTER – After a yearlong wait from its initial announcement a new 7 Brew location is set to begin construction in Alabaster Construction on a new 7 Brew is set to begin on Highway 119 next to Taco Bell in Alabaster The business’s opening was first announced in March 2024 along with the nearby Taco Bell the 7 Brew encountered development delays due to permitting The Alabama Department of Transportation had an easement on the property which needed to be deeded over to the developer site prep work is underway with construction set to begin soon “We can’t wait to welcome this new business to Alabaster,” read an official Facebook post by the city of Alabaster The upcoming 7 Brew in Alabaster marks the second location to come to Shelby County after one opened in Calera on Nov A third 7 Brew location is set to open in the future off of Highway 280 in Chelsea where the Marathon gas station was formerly located Gaining its namesake from its original lineup of seven coffees 7 Brew is a drive-thru coffee stand brand that offers more than 20,000 drink combinations Arkansas opened in 2017 and the business began its expansion at the beginning of 2020 after coming under new ownership “7 Brew is so much more than just a coffee stand,” read an official post on the business’s website “It’s the concept of cultivating kindness and joy with every drink—through our service It’s contagious and it’s changing the drive-thru coffee industry.” In addition to its lineup of original flavors—blondie German chocolate and sweet and salty—7 Brew also offers a variety of other refreshments ALABASTER – Alabaster City Schools will be closed on Monday March 31 due to the oncoming threat of severe weather impacting Shelby County Alabaster City Schools announced the closure on the afternoon of Sunday citing an elevated risk of severe weather as forecasted by the National Weather Service According to the National Weather Service at Birmingham there is a risk for severe thunderstorms across Central Alabama late Sunday night through Monday afternoon from approximately 1 a.m damaging winds of up to 70 mph and large hail up to the size of a golf ball NWS encourages residents to have a reliable way to access weather warnings and to have a safe place designated in their homes in the event a storm affects their area and to continue to check for updates Sorry, this product is unavailable. 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Every source I’ve checked also confirms that Gip’s Place known as the last backyard juke joint in America was in Bessemer until its blues guitarist founder passed away in October 2019 at the age of 99 It’s useful to know that when we meet Weezy, the first character to speak at the Mint Museum — in the first Carolina Actors Studio Theatre production anywhere since its 2014 NoDa demise Weezy tells us that she lives at a small farm “right near” Gip’s Place in Alabaster we have ample reason to question Weezy’s veracity from the get-go since she also introduces herself as a goat playwright Audrey Cefaly could coyly blame her geographical inaccuracy on this cantankerous barnyard beast she created invoking the special malleability of a stone that has been reshaped by sculptors and artisans for millennia As we continue to follow the scrappy encounter between two artists in backwoods Alabama — one a celebrated photographer of celebrities and the other an unknown painter — we often find that Weezy is Cefaly’s surrogate Weezy even delivers a message from the playwright to one of our protagonists Weezy serves as an irascible Jiminy Cricket for June When she isn’t offering up prompts and explanations channeled from Cefaly the self that is wishing to break free of her self-imposed isolation and artistic obscurity When sweet optimism sours into clear-eyed skepticism and cynicism Weezy becomes the painter’s inner voice — June’s worst critic And sometimes she’s a goat caring for her ailing mama Both Bessemer and Alabaster are prone to tornadoes Cefaly’s tornado has radically reshaped June demolishing her farm and turning the entire left side of her body into a relief map of scars Zoe Matney has a l-o-o-o-o-ng preshow routine for she must spend much more time than usual backstage getting director/makeup designer Michael Simmons’ concept applied — front and back from torso upwards — with help from assistant director/makeup artist Dee Abdullah Then she is onstage as the audience arrives we wouldn’t have a reason to hear from June though her first response to the goat’s prodding is no more than a well-chosen finger we are quickly liberated from the confines of an inner dialogue by June’s distingué visitor with Annie Leibovitz and no further than a light meter’s distance from Demi Moore Alice’s career has recently taken a hairpin turn to the scarred-women project she’s working on now Trying to reach the traumatized inside of her subjects (all women) while finding the dignity and beauty mixed with the deformity outside Alice documents them in video interviews and by snapping coffee-table-quality portrait photos Cynthia Farbman Harris as Alice (left) and Zoe Matney as June in ‘Alabaster.’ (Photo by Cravotta Photography)When asked about the switch away from glamor assignments She only gives herself away slightly when asking June about her “accident” — a word more apt for her own trauma — and she scrolls back far enough among the places she’s been before Alabaster to reach her rehab A fresh aspect of the artist’s choice comes into play with Cynthia Farbman Harris as Alice Florida — the first stop in a “Rolling World Premiere” presented at 11 member companies of the National New Play Network spanning from New Jersey to Oregon The Queen City had a company in that Network which had rolled with some of these co-op premieres before So it shouldn’t be too surprising to learn that Actor’s Theatre was scheduled to premiere Alabaster in the latter half of its 2022-23 season you may remember that Actor’s Theatre did not make it to the end of 2022 planting its gravestone among the most honored companies in Charlotte’s theatre cemetery before the halfway point of its 34th year Read more: Performers Discuss Tragic Demise of Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte who auditioned for that abortive ATC production She had worked with Simmons at CAST plus a variety of other stints at Moving Poets and Theatre Charlotte — including a pair of diva roles Maria Callas in Master Class and Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire If the role of Alice stuck with her after ATC’s demise there must have been plenty of meat on the bone With an eye toward reviving the edgy theatre vibe that reigned while ATC have founded Actors Collaborative Theatre to help make it happen The new ACT is an associate producer of Simmons’ rebirth while Moving Poets and Charlotte Contemporary Theatre are among the companies listed in the digital playbill on CAST’s thank-you list If you know how long ago Harris starred as Blanche then you know Alice is a bit of a stretch no matter how much she wanted it We’re not just talking about the yoga scene With Abdullah serving as intimacy director June’s master bedroom becomes more than an artist’s studio June brashly inquires whether Alice is gay before we learn the photographer’s full backstory Matney and Harris make their love-hate relationship work altogether naturally and spontaneously It only becomes a little more cerebral than Cefaly imagined it They lean into the age difference a little instead of pretending it doesn’t exist The two artists debate whether their meeting is like The Bridges of Madison County or not Yet they could also debate whether they are both hostile animals locked in cages of their own making — while the liberating keys are always in their hands they do talk about that.Matney’s performance is every bit as stunning as Harris’ if for no other reason than June is so moody and mercurial Ambivalent about having her paintings exposed to the outside world June is living with desperate intensity in her present isolation hoping for a sunnier future — she has invited Alice here though she is wary — while repeatedly tortured by her past trauma Something as trivial as the beep of Alice’s camera can trigger flashbacks to the worst Adding to the inner psychological circuitry are the stresses of fresh lightning and thunder — plus the partial nudity at the start of the photo session Matney calibrates her various disturbances well when her hurting is raw and she channels energy convincingly into compensatory actions when June is striving to appear calm and well-adjusted She also leaves room for just the right amounts of flirtation and coquetry can tell you how long ago Harris sashayed into N’awlins as Blanche for she was an outstanding Stella Kowalski in that same Theatre Charlotte Streetcar way back when this talking goat decisively demonstrates that she can still command a stage before discreetly receding into the background Mizell gets to show Weezy’s tender side caring for Bib her mostly pallet-of-hay-ridden “Mmaaahaaaahaaaa… maaaaaah!”  You can see Harris wanting to play Alice enough to partly bankroll and publicize a production but with so much stage time and so little spotlight (or vocabulary) as this old goat Debbie Swanson had to really want this Mama Bib role Otherwise, there are remarkably few signs that Simmons and the Harrises are doing all this on a shoestring. Lighting design by Dave Meeder easily ranks with the best we’ve seen at the original Mint Museum’s Van Every Auditorium on Randolph Road, where Alabaster is running through March 16 another name we fondly associate with a bygone era installs a marvelously rusticated twin-level set design that simultaneously gives off vibes of woodsiness Sophie Carlick’s costumes don’t have to be lavish Weezy and Alice to radiate an outdoorsy aura June’s bedroom outfit hides her preoccupation with painting as decisively as her splotched overalls proclaim it but the goat costumes also strike a perfect note So do the many artworks fashioned for June’s artistic oeuvre on barnwood to be auctioned off when Alabaster completes its run Simmons’ sound design and special effects are on point but I wish they had impacted more — louder with more lightning crackle and windy sweep Nor was the ringtone on Alice’s cell as ugly as Cefaly intended I had to chuckle at the sadly unprofessional equipment we were seeing Yet I could empathize with Harris — and admire her all the more — when she had to keep that lame videocam running and the still camera showing snaps on its screen When Alice instructs June on how to use a smartphone when she shows her how to trip the shutter and how to review the photo portraits on the wee screen … quiet moments like these resonate with us because they are part of a bonding process Two resurrections (three if you count the rehab June and Alice join in on with those barnwood scraps) Along with the resurrections of CAST and a vital drama that Actor’s Theatre never got to present SUPPORT OUR WORK: Get better connected and become a member of Queen City Nerve to support local journalism for as little as $5 per month Our community journalism helps inform you through a range of diverse voices Comment *document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a4b6d1495879f2cf02953fd4bc2c1bd5" );document.getElementById("b526024170").setAttribute( "id" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Email: info@qcnerve.com OR (f)(last name)@qcnerve.com The Alabaster Lions Club had success with its first ever Easter egg hunt event on Saturday April 12 which saw 200-300 people in attendance ALABASTER – Laughter echoed about Thompson High School’s courtyard as children excitedly snatched eggs and threw them into their baskets during the Alabaster Lions Club’s inaugural Easter egg hunt “I really don’t see how it could have gone any better,” said Neal Wagner “We probably had between 200 and 300 people show up We were really happy with the turnout we had.” The event featured three egg hunts for ages 0 to 1 The kids also enjoyed other Easter activities with a spoon race and a bunny hop race “We can’t say enough about the people that turned out and attended the event,” Wagner said “We really appreciated them coming and we appreciate all the volunteers from the Lions Club and the Leo Club because those boots on the ground really did help us.” When they weren’t hunting for eggs around the courtyard children were able to enjoy a variety of other activities we tried to make sure there was some kind of event for the kids to do so they wouldn’t be bored,” Wagner said “It was so much better than we could have possibly imagined for our first event.” The Alabaster Lions Club also had supplies and was able to feed attendees thanks to the help of the event’s sponsors One of the Thompson High School Leo Club members participated in the event and dressed as the Easter bunny allowing families to take photos together throughout the event he stayed in costume from the beginning of the event to the end of the event,” Wagner said “He did a really good job of interacting with them and making their day special with photos and everything.” Tickets to the egg hunt were $7 per person and all the funds raised at the event went straight to the Thompson High School Leo Club to give them a bigger budget for projects Wagner expressed his gratitude to Thompson High School for letting the Alabaster Lions Cub utilize the school’s facilities for the egg hunt “We had a really good location there at the courtyard of the high school,” Wagner said and we really appreciate the school for letting us use that.” the Alabaster Lions Club look to the future and the club’s members discuss what events to hold next and so we’re already looking forward to next year and making it bigger and better,” Wagner said Those interested in learning more about the Alabaster Lions Club may visit its official Facebook page at Facebook.com/AlabasterLionsClub ALABASTER – Children will have the chance to get a hands-on look at a variety of unique vehicles during the city of Alabaster’s third annual Touch-a-Truck The city will host this year’s installment of Touch-a-Truck on Saturday at Veterans Park in the back parking lot near field three The event will feature vehicles from local businesses including the fire department and police department family-friendly event that will tie in with our (Parade of Teams for) baseball and softball,” Alabaster Community Programs Manager Morgan Lawley said “The kids (will get) to see different vehicles tractors and heavy equipment up close and personal.” In addition to a variety of vehicles on display attendees can also enjoy an assortment of food trucks “We will already have a lot of families in the park for the parade and we try to tag team and offer the Touch-A-Truck while we have everybody out there,” said Neal Wagner public relations manager for the city of Alabaster Lawley said he expects to see a surge in attendance this year as well as an increase in the variety of vehicles that are on display for attendees to enjoy “It’s just a time for kids and adults to see vehicles and equipment from many different occupations,” Lawley said Those who want to learn more or would like to  register a vehicle may visit Cityofalabaster.com/604/Touch-A-Truck-April or can Lawley at 205-664-6840 For more information on city events and activities visit the official Alabaster Parks and Recreation Facebook page at Facebook.com/alabasterparksandrec Alabaster DePlume is unlike any artist of today He recites his poems over a backdrop with some of the UK’s best jazz musicians voices that take the shape of a post-modern Greek chorus and vibrato-laden saxophone passages that run from fragile bursts and whimpers to beast-like strength Many of the words are selections from his 70-page poetry book Healing is the forming of a whole…A blade could be used to attack but it could also be used to cut oneself loose – in the process of getting free.”  The instrumental opener “Oh My Actual Days” sets his vibrato-laden sax against Macie Stewart’s string arrangements and Kenney’s airy “Thank You My Pain” with these lines was inspired by Vietnamese monk and activist Thich Nhat Hanh His half-sung thoughts come through in a seesaw wavering way as he plays electric guitar and tenor and sings along with drummer Thompson and bassist Goller folk-like feel as DePlume sings about self-respect in his idiosyncratic way (last line: “let go To give you a flavor of the shifting instrumentation The slow motion “Form a V” comes closest to a monologue taking its title from his jiu-jitsu practice where the whole contingent will stand in a V facing one lone individual It’s his way of expressing his readiness to take on any challenge the string and voice arrangements are by Momoko Gill The voices in “A Paper Man” sound like a large group of Gregorian monks and Goller with the music generated by a saxophone trio The tune is about owning up to one’s mistakes using the paper lighting candles as if he is not vulnerable to the flames The following four consecutive tunes are instrumentals save for DePlume’s wordless vocals here or there He sings through his horn with the same aforementioned saxophone trio on “Who Are You Telling Gus.” His ability to bend notes on the sax combined with his voice create a sonic akin to Indian music although I’m not at sure that’s what he was after The pivotal instrumental track is “Prayer for My Sovereign Dignity,” one fleshed out with piano a tune that celebrates dignity with swelling strings swaying “Salty Road Dogs Victory Anthem” is another short piece about celebrating oneself His vibrato goes to an even higher level here Vocals reemerge on “Too True,”  which begins as a duet with DePlume on acoustic guitar and Miller on cello Every time Deplume does spoken or half-sung passages we also lose the self we were in relation to that thing the full ensemble with string arrangement from Stewart returns for the closer “That Was My Garden.” The lyrics are simple “That was not a car park/That was my garden.” He let the garden go to waste He thinks of the flowers he could have had and feels grief PRIVACY POLICY | PRIVACY SETTINGS | | ADVERTISE | ACCESSIBILITY ALABASTER – Alabaster residents will have the opportunity to browse a variety of items sold by their neighbors during the city’s annual City Wide Spring Yard Sale The Alabaster Spring City Wide Yard Sale will take place on Saturday to noon at Veterans Park at 7305 Highway 119 “We’re excited to host the City Wide Yard Sale,” said Morgan Lawley “It’s a time that residents can do some spring cleaning around the house and come out and fellowship with local residents.” Alabaster hosts two citywide yard sales with one held in the spring and another held in the fall “This is a great event our Parks and Recreation department organizes twice a year and we always have a good turnout,” Public Relations Manager Neal Wagner said “It’s a good opportunity for residents to enjoy the spring weather while meeting neighbors and getting some great deals.” there will be more than 70 booths spread across the park featuring a variety of items for purchase including “This will be the third one at Veterans Park and they’ve been bigger each time,” Lawley said the city is currently planning on having a limited selection of food trucks present at the event which are currently listed as “to be announced.” the spring yard sale will be delayed to Saturday Those wishing to check the rain-out status may call 205-378-4055 With Veterans Park having the capacity to support more than 100 booths at the event Parks and Recreation is accepting registrants through Saturday The price is $10 per a 20 by 20 booth and vendors must supply their own tables “What people love to do is to drive through their booth and unload out of the back of their car then their car can stay there the whole time,” Lawley said The city plans on having a charitable organization present to collect any items left over after the conclusion of the yard sale that vendors wish to dispose of Those looking to register for the City Wide Spring Yard Sale may visit Cityofalabaster.com/220/city-wide-yard-sale-april (WBMA) — The city of Alabaster announced crews have begun demolition at the old Thompson Intermediate School building to make way for the city's new recreation center and library Preparation for the buildings near the intersection of Thompson Road and Highway 119 began last October The city said construction on the new rec center and library is set to begin this summer (WBMA) — A major multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 65 South in Alabaster left multiple injuries and led to the closure of all southbound lanes near the 240 mile marker Thursday night The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) said the crash happened just before 8:00 p.m Traffic is being diverted at exit 242 onto Shelby County Road 52 The Alabaster Fire Department said it and first responders from the Pelham Fire Department are attending to the injured with multiple patients being transported for medical care TRAFFIC UPDATES Officials said severity of the injuries remains unknown at this time Authorities are urging drivers to use caution and avoid the area if possible Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInALABASTER, Ala. (WBRC) - Drivers getting off of the interstate in Alabaster early Sunday morning were met with a crime scene “There is currently an ongoing investigation,” Detective Andrew Rowan told the WBRC 6 News team WBRC saw several Alabaster Police officers police cars and a fire truck at the gas station the Shelby County Coroner’s Office confirmed to WBRC that authorities are investigating a homicide the department said it is limited on what it can share it did state officers were called to the gas station on reports of an argument in progress authorities said they discovered one person was shot Law enforcement did want to reassure residents there is currently no active threat “There is no danger to the public,” Rowan confirmed Get news alerts in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or subscribe to our email newsletter here The Alabaster City Council approved an agreement for The Shoppes at District 31 and honored Alabaster City Schools bowling teams during a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday ALABASTER – The Alabaster City Council approved an agreement for The Shoppes at District 31 and honored Alabaster City Schools bowling teams during a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday Alabaster Mayor Scott Brakefield presented proclamations to the Thompson High School women’s bowling team for becoming state champions and the THS men’s bowling team for receiving state runner-up “This remarkable accomplishment demonstrates the dedication hard work and exceptional athletic ability of the players coaches and support staff,” Brakefield said in his proclamations The mayor also delivered additional proclamations declaring Feb 2025 as Arbor Day and March 2025 as Amyloidosis Awareness Month the Alabaster City Council approved an ordinance related to the burning of trees and brush within the city the section’s purpose is to establish regulations for the controlled burning of onsite debris during land development and clearing limiting permissible burning methods to air curtain destructors and box burners to minimize environmental and public health impacts “This goes to the contractors that are building some of these neighborhoods and things so we wanted to cut down on the burning” Council member Rick Ellis said operational details and proof of compliance with state and federal regulations The City Council also approved an amendment to the city’s agreement to The Shoppes at District 31 development agreement CEO and managing partner of Alumni Properties) an opportunity to get financing faster and it also gives him an opportunity to get construction going faster,” Ellis said hopefully we’ll see something coming out of the ground fairly soon.” The Shoppes at District 31 is planned to be on U.S located just off the Interstate 65 at Exit 238 Construction on the Shoppes at District 31 is currently underway with a planned opening for fall 2025 Several tenants for The Shoppes at District 31 have been announced the Alabaster City Council approved the following: The next regularly scheduled Alabaster City Council meeting will take place on Monday March 10 with a work session prior on Thursday President Donald Trump delivers Investing in America remarks from the White House. WATCHAlabaster commission approves Walker Springs subdivision amid environmental concernsby Austin Pratt Tuesday 12/17 the Alabaster planning and zoning commission approved the preliminary plat of the Walker Springs subdivision This comes after approving the master plan the month before Both decisions were made in consideration of the developer receiving a permit from the U.S That permit was awarded 11/13/2024 after a nearly 2 year process The property where Walker Springs is planned for is next to Ebenezer Swamp Many residents and local leaders have spoke out against the subdivision out of concerns for the swamp SEE ALSO: State officials stress safety measures as Alabama battles contagious bird flu outbreak The commission had no issue approving the preliminary plat and did so unanimously since it had the approval of the corps The developer will have to strictly adhere to the plan approved by the corps The only step remaining before beginning to break ground is the city engineers approval The city council will not be involved in any more decisions regarding the approval or status of Walker Springs from here on out The only thing left for the commission to consider will be the final plat which will legally divide the subdivision into lots allowing for the construction of homes (WBMA) — An Alabaster man was found guilty on multiple charges of sexual offenses in Chilton County Friday District Attorney CJ Robinson said a jury found 36-year-old Kenneth Stevenson guilty for first-degree sodomy and two counts of enticing a child for immoral purposes Officials said the trial for Robinson began Monday February 24 and concluded today with just a one-hour jury deliberation. Authorities said the victims in the case were ages 12 and 8 at the time of the abuse. Robinson said prosecutors proved Stevenson sexually abused both victims on different occasions and at least once at the same time. Authorities also said Stevenson forced the victims to commit sexual acts on each another. "It is never easy tot take on a case on this type and have to spend hours reviewing evidence and witness testimony of such sickening criminal acts," said Robinson. "The strength it took for the victims to stand up to this monster is unimaginable, and they are heroes. The facts of this case should disgust us all and if the death penalty were available as a punishment for his crimes, he 100% deserves it." "I am grateful to the Jemison Police Department, DHR, and the professionals at Butterfly Bridge Children's Advocacy Center who all contributed to building a strong case against Stevenson, I am also proud of the prosecutors, victim service officers, and investigators of our team at the DA's Office who worked to ensure justice was served," Robinson added. Two rezoning requests to The Alabaster Planning and Zoning Commission were withdrawn after negative feedback from the commission and the public 24 lot subdivision on just over an acre of land on Smokey Road The commission took issue with the small width of the lots and the traffic congestion a neighborhood would bring to the area With a high percentage of small lot and high density housing in Alabaster the commission is looking for larger lot developments Something the representative for the development disagreed with saying "there's a demand and there's market or demand now for smaller compact homes little or no maintenance responsibility." SEE ALSO: Homewood's holiday hustle: Local stores see rush as last-minute shoppers hit the streets However neighbors of the proposed development shared the commission's concerns "we're certainly concerned about the impact to our area.. you'd have an increased amount of traffic that would inevitably have to come through that area." The second-the Fox Valley Road Development is an 89 lot subdivision proposed off of Fox Valley Farms Road Again the commission took issue with the density of this neighborhood Many residents showed up to comment on this plan such as Jessica Bennett - who said "I feel that keeping it agricultural is basically the wishes of everyone in this room.. We're piling in these kids I mean we've got 100 and something touching on all the local developments that's so many kids piling into an already packed out school." With the requests withdrawn they can be changed and resubmitted to the commission The Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has begun a project to add lanes and fix bridges on I-65 between Calera and Alabaster The work will be performed between Exit 231 south of Calera and Exit 238 at Alabaster.  According to 2023 Census data, Calera is one of the fastest growing towns in Alabama. The city of Alabaster also approved in 2024 a new $242 million commercial development at Exit 238 on I-65 which was first announced by Governor Kay Ivey in August 2023 Dunn Construction of Birmingham was awarded the first phase of the project ALDOT is telling motorists to expect delays and reduced speed limits while the project is implemented. Drivers are encouraged to visit ALGOtraffic.com or use the ALGO Traffic app for real-time traffic updates and alternate routes