WOODFIN - Two fishermen found a body "wrapped in debris and mud" along the French Broad River May 4 according to the Woodfin Police Department Two men were fishing Sunday afternoon along the river's west bank just north of Flynn Branch Road when they saw what they believed to be a body the department said in a news release on Facebook May 5 Woodfin police received a call around 4 p.m about the possible body in the river just north of Asheville Woodfin officers responded and removed the body from the water with assistance from West Buncombe Fire Department and the Medical Examiner's Office The victim has been sent for examination by the state's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner "Our staff will continue working with the Medical Examiner's Office over the coming days and weeks to identify the body and hope to bring closure to a family who has been missing their loved one We will update our community as the investigation progresses," the post said The Citizen Times asked Woodfin Police Chief Jacqui Boykin whether there is any indication of foul play or if the person is a potential Tropical Storm Helene victim More: Body of Helene-related missing camper from Avery County believed to be found More: Helene-related missing camper found in Avery County: Family finds solace 6 months later Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober (WLOS) — A dead body wrapped in debris was found in the French Broad River over the weekend Woodfin Police Chief Jacqui Boykin told News 13 on May 5 that the body was that of a male and was discovered on May 4 by a local fisherman WOODFIN POLICE ARREST MAN WANTED IN ASHEVILLE KNIFE ASSAULT CASE "We got a call from a fisherman at 4 p.m You could tell the way the body was wrapped in debris that it had been there for quite some time," Boykin said Boykin said with the help of West Buncombe Fire Department the body was extricated and sent to the North Carolina Medical Examiner's Office to be identified Boykin said it's too early in the investigation to tell if there was foul play or if this was a victim of Helene According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services the number of victims in North Carolina from Helene is 107 The last victim to be identified was Russell Wilbur a Tennessee man missing for more than six months after he and his wife's camper was swept into the Toe River at the Buck Hill campground in Avery County will join Navin Girishankar on Betting on America to discuss how the city of Birmingham has emerged as a leading hub for U.S biotechnology innovation by leveraging its strengths in biodata and public-private partnerships -- advancing U.S This event is made possible through general support to CSIS See Media Page for more interview ©2025 Center for Strategic & International Studies Copyright 2025 City of BirminghamPowered by Interpersonal Frequency Falling tree limbs in Birmingham kills one person (WBMA) — Birmingham mayor Randall Woodfin held a news conference Wednesday to address the issue of blight in the city The news conference was held in the Smithfield community Woodfin expressed optimism about the city's ongoing efforts to reduce the number of blighted houses highlighting the completion of 126 demolitions in 2025 the city has demolished nearly 2,500 structures "Neighborhood revitalization is our top priority," said Mayor Woodfin "The city is committed to removing blighted structures and enhancing public safety in our communities City departments coordinate each week to target problem areas to ensure our efforts are effective in creating positive change in our neighborhoods." Woodfin was accompanied by representatives from Birmingham Fire and Rescue Services The city allocates funds annually for the demolition of blighted structures with this year's budget set at $1.5 million The demolition process involves a legal procedure where structures are inspected and then presented to the Birmingham City Council for consideration before being added to the demolition list the city said 20 properties were condemned for demolition during the council meeting The city also encourages private property owners to demolish condemned structures through code enforcement efforts Demolition costs vary based on the structure's size averaging between $4,000 and $7,000 for residential buildings the city said it's operating budget includes over $20 million for neighborhood revitalization projects such as street resurfacing Residents can report neighborhood concerns to 311 while the city continues to identify blighted properties daily through code enforcement the city said it had a dedicated budget of $1.5 million allocated for blight removal The city said it has contracted demolition companies to manage the task following a legal process for demolishing private property The city then attempts to contact property owners presents the case to the council for consideration and places the property on a demolition list contracted companies are assigned 20 properties at a time contractors successfully demolished and removed 14 structures while the Department of Public Works handled an additional four Birmingham has seen a total of 2,340 demolitions reflecting the city's ongoing commitment to addressing urban blight Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Woody was a veteran of the US Army and an avid outdoorsman Richard Proffitt (Ashley); daughter and son-in-law The family will receive friends on Saturday 2025 from 3:00 PM until 4:30 PM at Smith’s East Hall Smith Funeral & Cremation Service 865-983-1000 www.smithlifeandlegacy.com Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors It is my pleasure to present the City of Birmingham’s 2018 Mayoral Transition Report titled I pledged to ‘Put People First.’ I believe now more than ever that for Birmingham to reach its full potential every citizen must trust that their elected officials have their best interests at heart and well-qualified transition team to evaluate our city’s readiness to put people first and to submit recommendations for improvements I am optimistic about the future of our great city We must embrace an “all hands on deck” approach if we want to tackle the challenges that plague our city This report will help us write the next chapter of Birmingham’s history with the citizens and small businesses that helped shape my campaign The people have made it clear that they expect progress for all 99 neighborhoods to be driven by the Mayor’s Office (WLOS) — Woodfin police have arrested a man wanted in connection with a knife assault case out of Asheville Asheville police had been searching for Richard Haulman following a stabbing incident on Wall Street in downtown Asheville on Tuesday MAN WANTED FOR ASSAULT IN DOWNTOWN ASHEVILLE REMAINS AT LARGE AFTER KNIFE ALTERCATION According to a post on the Woodfin Police Department’s Facebook page officers spotted a “suspicious person” leaving a convenience store Wednesday night Police said the individual was identified as Haulman who was charged with assault with a deadly weapon Woodfin police said Haulman was taken into custody and booked into the Buncombe County Detention Center "It is cooperative working relationships that keep the wheels of justice turning," Woodfin police's post said "We appreciate the dogged work of our officers and the community's help in quickly apprehending Haulman." Asheville police say Haulman is currently being held on no bond (ineligible for release) by a magistrate due to the Pretrial Integrity Act The Alabama Senate County and Municipal Government Committee discussed a bill proposing changes to the make up and procedures of certain municipal water boards Birmingham Water Works leadership presented their case the committee about the improvements that have been made with the organization Senate Bill 330 applies to water works boards that serve customers or have assets in four or more counties excluding the county where the authorizing municipality is located Birmingham Water Works serves 770,000 people in the City of Birmingham and five counties SB330 proposes converting municipal water works boards to regional boards All current board members on the BWW Board of Directors would be taken of the board and replaced with new directors selected in the format proposed under SB330 The board would go from a nine member board to a five member board SB330 requires board members to have financial and business backgrounds Huffman discussed the improvements made over the last nine months to resolve issues that took years to develop She said SB330 would set Birmingham Water Works back and the organizations future plans Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin released a statement saying: More of the recommendations presented to Mayor Randall L Woodfin from the independent Birmingham Crime Commission continue to move into planning and development Mayor Woodfin provided an update to the Birmingham City Council Tuesday morning The commission released its report on January 6 Mayor Woodfin has committed to provide status updates during the process of implementation Of 82 recommendations made by the commission 19 are in the planning and development phase Another 30 are in pre-launch or in progress “My last update has a heavy emphasis on the policing side,” Woodfin said “I want to share some of the focused deterrence and intervention piece which compliments what happens on the law enforcement and policing side.”   Mayor Woodfin highlighted several actions underway:    A strategy around focused deterrence is soon to be presented The Office of Community Safety Initiatives met with Interim Chief Pickett and BPD leadership on Feb 21 to discuss a policing strategy that aims to reduce crime by targeting high-risk individuals and groups with law enforcement and social services The public was invited to a Community Safety Meeting and Feedback Session to share insights and contribute to a Violence Reduction Strategic Plan that reflects the needs of the city (A full list of recommendations and progress notes are attached.)    Mayor Woodfin formed the independent commission in October 2024 to utilize the expertise of residents and leaders from business and non-profit sectors to identify strategies to address the city’s homicide rate members researched policies established in other cities to determine best practices The Commission’s report is the most recent step in a comprehensive effort by Mayor Woodfin to combat gun violence in the city Mayor Woodfin and the Birmingham City Council approved a $16 million recruitment and retention program in October to increase the number of officers within the police department Mayor Woodfin has advocated on the state and federal level to expand the crackdown on devices such as the “Glock switch,” which converts conventional semi-automatic handguns to function as a machine gun The Woodfin administration has cultivated increased collaboration between the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and federal law enforcement partners the Birmingham City Council approved $2 million to support the Mayor’s Office of Community Safety Initiatives strategy which aligns with recommendations published in the Birmingham Crime Commission report Search MORE RESULTS Kolton Schmidt and Will Woodfin made the most of a last-minute partnership at the 2025 San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo roping three steers in 14.0 seconds to take the average title for $8,287 a man April 18 For Schmidt, a two-time NFR qualifier from Barrhead, Alberta, the $9,720-a-man trip to San Angelo pushed him to 17th in the PRCA world standings. On the heel side, Marshall, Texas’ Woodfin—the 2013 Resistol Rookie Heeler of the Year—jumped to No The Team Roping Journal caught up with Woodfin to talk about the their rodeo plans and where they’re headed next TRJ: What does it mean to win San Angelo for the first time and to head into the spring with this major win I really haven’t done a whole lot of good this winter and this is a good jump for having a chance to get to the circuit finals I’m not real sure what my plans are right now for this year but TRJ: Will we see you on the road much this year WW: I really don’t know exactly what I’m doing yet. I’m kind of just trying to feel my way through it a little bit. I took some time off there for a little while, and then last year I went in July to try to get into the winter rodeos and roped with Riley Kittle Then he and I did something different here recently I’m just trying to figure out what I need to do for the rest of the year—what’s the best decision for me and my family TRJ: How did you and Kolton get partnered up in San Angelo WW: Whenever Riley started doing something different So we were both kind of just in limbo at the moment and the books were closing on San Angelo and the BFI and all that and now we’re just trying to see what happens in the future we’re kind of jus winging it a little bit feeling our way through and trying to figure out what we both need to do But we’re going to rope in May at some of the circuit rodeos here and then just see what happens [Winning San Angelo] would be special either way but I’m glad it worked for both of us since we were kind of last minute but it still worked out where we could do some good WW: The first steer we had was really good I thought Kolton did a great job and got a good start I fumbled my dally a little bit to be a little bit faster Then we had a little bit of a tricky steer on the second one He kind of wanted to come left and stop the first time so I just tried to leave him alone and not over-haze our steer but Kolton did another good job and hung it on him fast and made it an easier we really just needed to complete the course to take the lead a person just wants to be riding out of the arena winning first The team ahead of us had a little bit of a lead they were still going to have a chance to get ahead of us I just wanted to go to the lead when we were leaving the arena and then just let the chips fall where they may TRJ: That steer looked tricky on the head side Didn’t really want to get out there and hop good WW: I was riding a 7-year-old sorrel that I call Easy (registered Look At My Business) He’s kind of been my second horse the last couple of years TRJ: You said you and Kolton are roping this May as well I’ve got a handful of outside horses at my house and then just some of my own stuff TRJ: I know you said you’re uncertain the plans for this season but is gunning for the NFR still on the table But I’ve got two little girls and a wife at home so I’m trying to figure out the best route to just make a living I would love to just take off and go to every rodeo I could get to But trying to figure out what’s the best decision for my family and everything involved I would love to—qthat’s what I want to do; that’s what I’ve wanted to do since I was a little kid trying to figure out the routes to make that happen and whether this year is the best time to do it right now or not Sign up for news and updates from The Team Roping Journal and Equine Network This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again AL – Days after Hurricane Katrina tore through her native New Orleans in 2005 Sherry-Lea Bloodworth Botop saw a slew of inequities rise to the surface water and support while those resources were being distributed to more affluent areas with lesser need That fire fueled Bloodworth Botop to jump into action The working mom organized and led evacuation and relocation efforts for more than 900 people She then directed her efforts toward supporting the underserved on a national level Bloodworth Botop has worked with local city and county governments to develop and implement plans and programs aimed at improving the quality of life for all residents with a focus on the natural and built environment She has raised significant capital for and led large-scale post-disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts including affordable housing access to healthcare and critical infrastructure both nationally and globally She also testified before the 110th Congress about impediments in federal disaster programs and policies Mayor Woodfin recently named Bloodworth Botop as the Chief Resilience and Sustainability Officer for the City of Birmingham This is a new role for the City of Birmingham for one of the city’s newest teams and makes clear the city’s intent to accelerate climate-centric solutions “Sherry-Lea is a proven strategist in addressing social and physical challenges in communities on a local national and global level,” Mayor Woodfin said “Not only does she bring her 15 years of expertise but she also brings a heart of compassion and commitment to making our community a better place.” The Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Sustainability will develop a comprehensive framework to enable our community to become more resilient to acute shocks such as natural disasters infrastructure failures or economic shifts and stresses such as systemic inequality lack of affordable housing or accessible public transportation This framework will provide guidance that will enhance public safety “Recognizing the rich diversity of Birmingham this plan will view actions through the lens of social equity cultural preservation and economic empowerment,” she said uplift marginalized communities and ensure that all residents—regardless of race or socioeconomic status—benefit from sustainable growth resilient infrastructure and access to renewable resources.” Bloodworth Botoop is a Harvard National Preparedness Leadership Initiative alumna and President Obama’s inaugural White House Innovation Initiative committee member She created and led the National Resilience Initiative a partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities She was part of the team that worked with The Rockefeller Foundation to launch 100 Resilient Cities the international program that created the Chief Resilience Officer role in 100 urban cities around the world “I look forward to the opportunity to work with Birmingham’s leaders and stakeholders and to implement strategies to help protect and grow this great city in ways that benefit the whole community.” Bloodworth Botop will collaborate with departmental leaders across the City of Birmingham, as well as agency partners, residents, and other stakeholders to create a more sustainable and resilient Birmingham. For more information, contact the Mayor’s Office of Resilience and Sustainability at ors@birminghamal.gov Woodfin has released the Birmingham Crime Commission’s 66-page comprehensive blueprint for reducing homicides and gun violence in Birmingham It outlines key recommendations that align community assets and national best practices to achieve measurable results The report calls for strategies to immediately disrupt violence within the city increase the number of police on the street advocate for state-level policies related to firearms and devices such as “Glock switches,” and enhance collaboration throughout the criminal justice system in Birmingham and Jefferson County Immediate actions identified by the Commission include: “I am grateful to this team of professionals who are committed to the success of our city,” Mayor Woodfin said “The final report is well-researched and provides thoughtful recommendations to deal with gun violence in our city immediately while establishing long-term transformational change.” The Commission established their efforts through three subcommittees: National Models and Data Their work included a thorough analysis of crime data consultations with law enforcement and criminal justice officials and engagement with national experts on crime prevention models the Commission facilitated focus groups with the community to gather insights into local challenges and identify effective interventions The Commission is chaired by Lee Styslinger Vice President of Alabama Power Company’s Birmingham Division “Our vision as a commission is not only about reducing crime but transforming Birmingham into a model of resilience unity and opportunity for the nation to follow,” Styslinger said “Our recommendations call for a sustainable plan which can be supported not only by government entities the members were driven by their love of Birmingham and our shared desire to find solutions to a problem facing many cities across America,” Williams said “This report is designed to address violent crime from multiple directions with a focus on immediate impact as well as long-term change.” Former Birmingham Police Chief and retired Lt Roper consulted the Commission as Strategic Advisor “The findings of the Commission put us in a position to make transformational change in Birmingham,” Lt “Police and the criminal justice community play a critical part in this plan but each of us has a role to play in achieving change.” To read the entire report, click here A list of all the Birmingham Crime Commission’s recommendations is available starting on page 59 of the report either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Randall Woodfin took over as Mayor of Birmingham and the challenges affecting many cities in the United States and especially the South: food deserts the ongoing public health response to COVID-19 and job growth Woodfin and his administration have taken an active role in trying new ideas to promote jobs and economic activity he shared the trajectory of Birmingham going back to its founding in 1871 when it emerged as a booming steel town and became known as the "Magic City" for its rapid growth in such a short time "Like many Rust Belt cities and industrial southern cities that pivot in the late 1970s and 80s turned into health care as well as financial services," Woodfin said He notes that the city found a way to evolve Health care and financial services have had their own shocks over the last few decades including the recent pandemic and the less recent "Birmingham finds itself in the midst of its third economic identity," the mayor Morehouse political science and Samford law graduate Woodfin was an assistant city attorney and a school board member before becoming mayor and continued manufacturing as keys to the city's future success and notes that its location in the center of the state and southeast offers important regional and local proximity "The third iteration can't only be about attracting talent yielding tangible results for the people who live within your city," Woodfin said Woodfin renamed the Office of Economic Development to the Office of Innovation and Economic Opportunity This office is meeting with local businesses on the broader mission of improving the city's job prospects it's been very simple for us to do a couple things and then use my pulpit to convene everyone in the city who will touch economic development Hold yourself out as an economic development organization Woodfin shared that education has been a key pillar of his workforce and economic development approach that pipeline is cradle to career," he said "You can't detach economic development from workforce development and you can't detach workforce development from education either One of the first major programs installed was Birmingham Promise which provides city public high school graduates with two- and four-year college scholarships at in-state schools over 1600 students have graduated college through the program which is funded in part through private partnerships "The key words are exposure and opportunity," Woodfin said "The whole idea is for intentional design creating a whole workforce pipeline This is not charity...it's a workforce design strategy that we've implemented." Woodfin also enacted a workforce tax abatement to help subsidize local employers' ability to pay a living wage a mark notably higher than the federal or state minimum wage He's also had to make an effort to attract recent college graduates many of whom are attracted to bigger cities like Nashville They want to know what is there for me to do in the city So attached to this whole opportunity piece is quality of life," Woodfin said "I put our city up against any city as it relates to affordability of housing." He also touted the city's outdoor scene and proximity to amenities "You get the quality of life with good weather to hike and bike and be [driving distance] from the mountains or the beach," Woodfin said along with the push around quality of life have led to successful partnerships with companies like Shipt a facilities management software company that moved from San Francisco in 2024 has a 700-person manufacturing facility in the suburbs and U.S Steel maintains a presence 10 miles outside of Birmingham Others are growing because jobs and opportunities began to spread out and people like being near mountains parks and houses they can reasonably afford This new South exists beyond Atlanta and Nashville He reiterated the need to work with employers through public-private partnerships to deliver workers the training they want companies can offer employment and pathways to comfortable lifestyles "A lot of elected officials feel they have to choose between labor and unions and corporate or local business," he said "I believe you have to work with both if you want to yield tangible results for the people you represent." Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsletters in your inbox See all Alabama Initiative for Independent Journalism Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin officially kicked off his campaign for a third term during an event held Saturday morning at Iron City saying the city has come too far to turn back “Some folks have got amnesia,” he said to the crowd “We’ve got to remind them of what we’ve done.” The mayor also said that during his time in office the city experienced a reduction in six of the seven types of violent crime city leaders recently passed a $16 million police recruitment and retention program He added that the city has also invested more than $8 million in youth programs such as conflict resolution mental health resources and financial literacy courses Woodfin also touted the city’s success in supporting education through programs such as the Page Pals literacy program the Birmingham City School recently saw the percentage of third graders who read at proficiency climb from 54% to 81% Woodfin asked the crowd at Iron City to commit to working with him so that Birmingham could “keep building and keep rising.” “We’re facing challenges that demand bold leadership,” he said “I think it’s fair to say that Birmingham is at a crossroads and I want to define that crossroads as follows: We can either keep pushing forward safer neighborhoods and real opportunity for every single family or let outside forces and old ways of thinking hold us back It’s about building a city that works for all of our residents.” Woodfin ran for and won the mayor’s office for the first time in 2017. He said then that he intended to serve only two terms. But as his time began to wind down, he reconsidered. In the fall he told Birmingham Times in a text message: “There is much more work to do for neighborhoods and infrastructure If the people of Birmingham will have me I’m more than willing to continue to serve.” two candidates have said publicly that they’re running against Woodfin: state Rep One group of journalists faces an obstacle that no others do – homework May 4, 2025 April 27, 2025 April 20, 2025 April 13, 2025 May 5, 2025 April 28, 2025 April 21, 2025 April 14, 2025 News and useful information about Birmingham are at your fingertips. BirminghamWatch depends on donors to support its public service journalism Click here to make your tax-deductible donation (WBMA) — With Birmingham recording its deadliest year in decades concerns are growing over whether Mayor Randall Woodfin's efforts to curb crime are working some community members and political opponents have voiced concerns about the city's safety expressed a need for improvement when it comes to the city's deadly shootings data from the Jefferson County Coroner's Office reports 92 homicides in 2015 102 in 2016 and 111 in 2017 in the City of Birmingham The violence is something Woodfin talked about during his inauguration speech in November of 2017 "We have had enough of violence in our city and I stand before you today to let you know here are the homicide totals in Birmingham each year: homicide numbers are according to Jefferson County Coroner's Office data) Mayor Woodfin has repeatedly addressed the issue of violence throughout the years he has been in office "The violence out there can find its way in doorsteps he emphasized that the solution to gun violence isn't solely the responsibility of law enforcement or city officials During a news conference held in January regarding the Birmingham Crime Commission's report with findings at it relates to homicide reduction strategies is do everything we can to decrease gun violence in our city." The mayor and the council do not care," one resident said "I need the city of Birmingham to take more action You can always shift blame to the Alabama legislature but what are you doing to govern over crime?" ABC 33/40's I-Team asked Woodfin about this on January 6th during a news conference: "There’s been four police chiefs under your leadership but how soon will we see permanent leadership and how many leaders within the police department is it going to take under your administration to curb the violence we are seeing at a record number?" Chief Thurmond decided he wanted to retire we find ourselves in a position of interim Chief Michael Pickett who’s leading our department now." However, leadership changed four times during Woodfin's tenure. A.C. Roper did not seek re-appointment when Woodfin took office Woodfin has not provided a timeline for appointing a permanent chief but went on to answer the question by discussing the importance of equipping police leadership and increasing police presence The focus is on making sure the police department has every available resource that leadership is equipped to lead and provide good morale for the men and women who patrol and investigate crime to increase police presence and solve crime.' Woodfin acknowledged the need for further action but claimed overall crime is down "Many of you know that we made a promise in 2024 to reduce crime and the truth is we did that," he said But there was this one category that overshadowed everything else Despite his remarks that other violent crime categories aside from homicides were down there is no information available to confirm or deny that ABC 33/40's I-Team reached out to Birmingham Police Department for data in all categories of violent crime for 2024 The public information office for the department said those statistics are not available yet Woodfin supporters like Rodriguez Williams and Jeremiah Jackson continue to back Woodfin I think there’s areas where you can always grow Mayor Woodfin has not responded to multiple interview requests from the I-Team's Valerie Bell to discuss crime and other pressing city issues we submitted a request to talk one-on-one with Woodfin to discuss eight years in office and strategies outlined in the crime commission's report his office said they would be in touch after checking his availability We followed back up on January 13th with no response "Son of Birmingham," on GMA 3 on ABC having the opportunity to serve and lead." "I have a sense of urgency to get it right not just for my city but to make sure no other mother ever feels the way my own mother does." letting his office know we would make ourselves available at the mayor's convenience to answer our questions as well Woodfin’s office has yet to respond to repeated interview requests from ABC 33/40’s I-Team despite his willingness to discuss city matters on national television (WBMA) — Mayor Randall Woodfin appointed Sherry-Lea Bloodworth Botop as the Chief Resilience and Sustainability Officer for the City of Birmingham The city said the appointment of this new role marks a significant step in the city's commitment to climate-centric solutions the city said Botop has collaborated with local governments to enhance quality of life through improvements in the natural and built environment Her efforts have included raising capital for post-disaster recovery and rebuilding testifying before Congress on federal disaster program impediments and leading initiatives for affordable housing and critical infrastructure The city said Botop raised significant capital for and led large-scale post-disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts including affordable housing "Sherry-Lea is a proven strategist in addressing social but she also brings a heart of compassion and commitment to making our community a better place.” The city said Botop witnessed firsthand the inequities following Hurricane Katrina in her native New Orleans It lit a fire in my belly." This passion led her to organize evacuation and relocation efforts for over 900 people and later focus on supporting underserved communities on a national scale The city said Botop's new role will develop a comprehensive framework to enable the community to become more resilient to acute shocks such as natural disasters This framework is expected to provide guidance that will enhance public safety "Recognizing the rich diversity of Birmingham and economic empowerment," Botop said "It seeks to address systemic disparities and ensure that all residents—regardless of race Botop is a Harvard National Preparedness Leadership Initiative alumna a former Clinton Global delegate and a member of President Obama’s inaugural White House Innovation Initiative committee The city said she also led the National Resilience Initiative in partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities Botop will collaborate with departmental leaders across the city "I look forward to the opportunity to work with Birmingham's leaders and stakeholders and to implement strategies to help protect and grow this great city in ways that benefit the whole community." Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin issued the following statement via his social media platforms shortly after learning Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed Alabama State Senate Bill 119 into law His office also issued the following written statement this afternoon: regarding the passage of the Glock Switch ban law As reported by Alabama Reflector and other outlets the law went into effect immediately thanks to an amendment offered by the Alabama State House of Representatives This also occurred hours before a scheduled public meeting at the Birmingham Crossplex Wednesday afternoon to share and collect more community input about the crime commission report on violence in Birmingham delivered in early January and begin developing a community-driven plan to reduce violence WOODFIN - An 83-acre parcel adjoining Richmond Hill Park has been purchased for permanent conservation by an Asheville-based nonprofit Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy which bought the property March 18 for $12.4 million said the acquisition ends a yearslong legal battle over a permit for an "intensive" development proposed for the property “This is a great outcome for this prominent forested bluff above a big bend in the French Broad River especially in light of the shared desire among locals to support the river’s recovery from Hurricane Helene,” said executive director Carl Silverstein in a news release The parcel sits just outside city of Asheville limits in Woodfin and was the prospective site for a controversial development that became the subject of litigation, community frustration and deep environmental concern opposed the permit until the March sale signaled an end of the hard-won fight longtime resident of the nearby Rolling Oaks neighborhood was among those who spent years fighting the development called the sale a "wonderful outcome" for both current residents and future generations “We’re not going to be able to save every forest but that was certainly a very critical spot to keep from having a massive development," he said Woodfin Town Manager Shannon Tuch said they were glad to hear the news of the purchase Of the ongoing lawsuit between the developer and town over the conditional zoning approval process "we have been in communication with the complainants and are expecting that they will be withdrawing the suit." did not respond to request for comment by deadline More: The Bluffs developer sues Woodfin; Resident concerns over a 'megadevelopment' renewed The property was on SAHC's wish list for conservation for the past 20 years The nonprofit ultimately hopes it can be added to the city's Richmond Hill Park a wooded 160-acre campus threaded with walking trails Michelle Pugliese, land protection director for the conservancy, described the acquisition as a "huge relief," its success made even more significant by the property's proximity to the city. To have the Richmond Hill parcel and Deaverview Mountain slated for permanent conservation so close to an urban area is rare walked the property on a sunny afternoon in March Though she had charted paths pre-Tropical Storm Helene downed trees complicated the route into the thickly wooded forest It was slow going — clambering over deadfall and pushing through thorny undergrowth “It is a little bit surreal just knowing that I’m standing right here and this could have been under construction right now," Pugliese said Developing the property could have had "devastating" impacts Headwater streams and tributaries flow through the property to the French Broad River A vernal pool at its northern edge plays host to a variety of wildlife The wedge-shaped property fronts about three-quarters of a mile along the French Broad River It was especially relevant for its habitat value prominent viewshed and proximity to Richmond Hill Park "Seeing hundreds of landslides as well as businesses and homes washed away in Hurricane Helene underscored the importance of protecting our floodplains and forested slopes to soak in and filter stormwater and help reduce future flooding risk," Hartwell Carson forested areas in combating the urban heat-island effect providing wildlife habitat and clean water SAHC will assess damage to the land due to Helene which will be addressed according to the property’s land management plan Parks and Recreation Spokesperson Christo Bubenik said March 20 that while the city has not yet spoken with SAHC expanding offerings at the park or increasing its size are in line with its strategic goals land acquired by the conservancy is located in Woodfin town limits so they would need to be brought into discussions There are also other factors we need to consider including the land’s potential recreational use and if we have adequate staffing levels to properly take care of the space," he said via email he said partnerships with organizations like Pisgah Area SORBA and WNC Disc Golf Association have helped to expand the park's offerings "It is a community asset in every sense of the word so the community may have an impact on any action regarding the 83 acres recently acquired for permanent conservation by SAHC," he said Richmond Hill Park remains closed after Helene Several days with high winds have brought down large trees since the storm Bubenik said they hope to share an update on reopening soon More: Asheville seeks team to help rebuild historic muni golf course after extensive Helene damage More: UNC Asheville chancellor says campus properties, including urban forest, will be developed Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky (WLOS) — Woodfin Mayor Jim McAllister vows to continue fighting for residents despite his fellow councilmembers voting to censure him in October 2024 The Town Council of Woodfin formally censured Mayor McAllister on Oct in a 4-2 vote for multiple violations of the town's code of conduct and ethics during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene "Two councilmembers and the town manager have made it very plain they don’t want me to speak under any circumstances," the mayor said the censure follows a series of actions by the mayor that the council deemed contrary to established protocols A resolution document by the town council censuring McAllister details several incidents where the Woodfin mayor allegedly defied public safety directives during a state of emergency following the arrival and impact of Hurricane Helene The town council noted that its code of conduct and ethics prohibits elected officials from influencing town staff in their administrative duties The document says the McAllister's actions were seen as pressuring staff to "reverse a public safety measure during the pendency of a state of emergency." WOODFIN POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES NEW CHIEF The resolution says McAllister held a "press conference" outside town hall in which he requested residents attend in person despite directives from officials advising against traveling A previous announcement from the Woodfin Police Department (WPD) had advised the following: The council also criticized McAllister for directly communicating with WPD staff while neglecting to consult with the town manager during some post-Helene relief operations The town's code of conduct and ethics requires that such interactions "be directed first to the town manager." FEMA ADMINISTRATOR CONTINUES PUSHBACK AGAINST FALSE CLAIMS AS HELENE DEATH TOLL RISES the document addressed McAllister's comments to the media on assistance after the storm in which he allegedly stated: "We are getting almost no supplies from the [Buncombe County Emergency Operations Center] or the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA.]" In response to this the council stated that this was "inconsistent with the observations of a majority of Town Council." The town council also responded to this with the following statement: show that Mayor McAllister "repeatedly violated the foregoing component of the code of conduct and ethics," resulting in the mayor being formally censured WOODFIN'S NEW RIVER ATTRACTION TO OPEN THIS FALL AFTER STORM DELAYS declared the town manager as Woodfin's designated spokesperson for media requests regarding town business Mayor McAllister told News 13 he will continue to speak as he sees fit during his term "It’s important to speak on behalf of the voters because they want me to," McAllister said "Even the crowded room the night of the censure A video circulating social media of people walking through downtown streets with firearms caught the attention of many Birmingham residents and visitors Randall Woodfin reacted to the video Tuesday morning during a special called news conference The video is described to show individuals on 20th Street and 3rd Avenue North holding firearms and openly walking in the road Woodfin said after watching the video it sparked concern from him too Woodfin said he sat down with the Birmingham Police Department and asked them what is being done illegally in the video what we got in that street that we know is illegal is jaywalking "And let me define that word because I don't want you to run with 'that sucks' because that is not what I mean It is unfortunate that that is the part that is illegal The state of Alabama now says you don't have to have a pistol permit with any form of a firearm." Woodfin said after learning the only illegal activity apparent in the video was jaywalking he asked about any other public ordinances these people may have violated in the video He mentioned the individuals causing public alarm and potentially charging them with disorderly conduct Woodfin said to satisfy that in front of a judge there must be a witness The city could not get anyone to come forward as a witness ASHEVILLE - A new chief of the Woodfin Police Department has been named, following former Chief Michael Dykes' sudden departure from the role in April 2024 Jacqui Boykin started as the town's top cop in January Boykin joins the department after serving as chief of the Zebulon Police Department in Wake County for the last four years She started her policing career with an 18-year stint at the Wilson Police Department Boykin is filling the role once held by Dykes who quietly left the department on April 19 town Mayor Jim McAllister declined to say whether Dykes was fired or resigned but said it would become public record "before long." Town Manager Shannon Tuch confirmed with the Citizen Times Feb two sentence resignation letter penned to Tuch Dykes wrote it had been "my pleasure to serve the Citizens of Woodfin for almost 24 years" and that he'd be resigning "effective immediately," according to a copy obtained by the Citizen Times Dykes confirmed with the Citizen Times Feb 20 that he now works as the captain over operations at UNC Asheville's University Police I am still unable to talk about my departure from Woodfin," Dykes said via text led the 20-person department in the interim Regarding a "rumor" that had spread on social media saying Dykes took passwords to computers and that the town can no longer access some computer programs McAllister said in April: "that is nonsense." Everything is secured and has been the entire time," McAllister said More: Woodfin after Helene: amid 'acts of kindness,' town unites; whitewater attraction update The storm caused the catastrophic failure of three water treatment facilities and "leveled" the town's Silver Line Park which was part of the ongoing Woodfin Greenway and Blueway parks and recreation project Boykin emphasized the importance of partnerships and invited civic organizations She also said she hopes Woodfin residents will "continue to have positive engagements" with police officers and that she welcomes the opportunity to meet with local residents "I believe deeply in community policing and the idea that it takes a village," Boykin said in the post "Every person in our community has value and we all must work together to further the smart growth and prosperity of our town." Boykin also acknowledged how important family is to her The Citizen Times reached out to her for comment More: 'I feel like the water keeps rising': Woodfin brewery in ruins, founders hold on to hope More: Woodfin Police Chief Michael Dykes 'no longer chief,' mayor says; interim named More: After historic election, Woodfin reformed land use; now policing after violent arrests? Read the Latest Press Release detailed discussion on how the City of Birmingham builds its annual budget—and how your tax dollars are spent From paving streets and addressing blight to supporting public safety the town hall laid out the city’s priorities and progress Residents also submitted questions on neighborhood funding and long-term plans for community improvement Watch the full video and hear how Birmingham is working to build a more efficient (WLOS) — The Woodfin Police Department announced Jacqui Boykin as its new police chief in a Feb "I started at the beginning of January coming from central NC," the post read "I am so excited to be working with the men and women of WPD!" The reason for Dykes' departure was not disclosed A town spokesperson at the time told News 13 that no comment or official statement could be made as it was a "private personnel matter." Boykin said she's worked in law enforcement for 29 years including 18 years at the Wilson Police Department before moving to Wake County She later became police chief in Zebulon from 2020-2024 "I believe deeply in community policing and the idea that it takes a village," Boykin said in the Facebook post "Every person in our community has value and we all must work together to further the smart growth and prosperity of our town I hope you will continue to have positive engagements with our officers Randall Woodfin is seeking a third term as the chief executive of Birmingham government He just hasn’t made the traditional declaration of his candidacy Woodfin has not yet stood at a podium and said that he’s again running for the office He nonchalantly told a WBHM reporter last week, “I’m running for a third term,” in response to a question asked at the end of an interview about his book. Woodfin’s memoir, “Son of Birmingham,” has been published and is being released Tuesday He’s also sent emails to supporters asking for campaign contributions, AL.com reported He began fundraising in August and has since raised more than $450,000 for his campaign according to financial statements filed with the Secretary of State’s Office He ended 2024 with $480,752 in his campaign account He’s also launched a website for his campaign Iva Williams III asked Woodfin in the August 2023 edition of his UrbanNews podcast about his original pledge to serve only two terms as mayor we are not saying there are only going to be two terms anymore?” Following that appearance, Woodfin replied to a Birmingham Times inquiry about his candidacy, Woodfin sent a text message that read “There is much more work to do for neighborhoods and infrastructure There are reasons a candidate might delay making an official announcement and opt to keep people guessing “I think he might want to delay criticism because he’s been in office eight years now,” said Miles College political science professor Alan Tharpe although he said he isn’t an expert on Birmingham politics and campaign announcements  “He wants to stay another four years and that’s likely to generate criticism If he puts it (an official announcement) off two candidates have said publicly that they’re running against Woodfin and community activist Kamau Afrika told AL.com he’s running for the office Givan recently ran for the congressional seat ultimately won by Shomari Figures Afrika is making his third bid for Birmingham mayor; he has run for numerous state and local offices including seats on the Birmingham City Council and the Jefferson County Commission finishing far ahead of his seven challengers with 64% of the vote Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales was a distant second with 21% and former Birmingham Mayor William Bell came in third with 9% Neither Givan nor Afrika have yet filed financial disclosures for the mayor’s office with the secretary of state Pickett has received numerous law enforcement training certifications including He has obtained managerial and executive leadership certifications through the Personnel Board of Jefferson County He is also a 2024 graduate of the FBI National Academy Chief Pickett is currently pursuing his Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Homeland Security and Advanced Counterterrorism By Ramsey Archibald | rarchibald@al.com Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has a sizable advantage early in his bid for a third term as the Magic City’s mayor He’s currently sitting on hundreds of thousands of dollars more in campaign cash than the only other person who has reported contributions in the race And he’s getting contributions from all over the country Woodfin’s campaign reported about $121,000 in cash contributions in March bringing his total for cash raised in 2025 to about $350,000 Woodfin’s campaign started the year with about $481,000 and has reportedly spent about $226,000 so far this cycle That leaves him with about $685,000 in campaign cash who has reported just $54,000 in cash so far Givan officially kicked off her campaign in March and has time to make up ground before the August 26 election With several months left to go before the election But one notable takeaway so far is how much support Woodfin has garnered from sources outside Birmingham Woodfin has earned donations from nearly every state in the nation including 80 individual contributions from the state of California Woodfin has more cash from out-of-state sources than Givan has total most of Woodfin’s contributions are in-state and a little over three quarters of his total cash raised in 2025 are from inside Alabama Roughly 40% of his total contributions came from the Magic City and the majority of his cash so far this year Woodfin has earned plenty of donations from some of Birmingham’s nearest suburbs But he also reported 26 donations from Atlanta the most from any city not named Birmingham Almost six months to the day of Birmingham’s next mayoral election officially launched his reelection campaign for a third term in office packed Iron City Birmingham with hundreds of enthusiastic supporters who came with signs and danced to music from a live DJ to rally behind the mayor’s campaign Woodfin is attempting to accomplish something that hasn’t happened in Birmingham since 1987 when Richard Arrington won his third term after being elected as the city’s first African American mayor in 1979 Bernard Kincaid ran unsuccessfully for a third term as mayor in 2007; he was defeated by Larry Langford. William Bell ran unsuccessfully for a third term as mayor in 2017; he was defeated by Woodfin. So far, Woodfin faces challenges from State Rep. Juandalynn Givan and community activist Kamau Afrika both of whom have announced plans to run for mayor Woodfin pledged that this year’s August 26 election would be a continuation of the progress that began when he was first seated in 2017 “We can either keep pushing forward—fighting for good jobs and real opportunities for every family—or let outside forces and old ways of thinking hold us back,” he said “This campaign is about one thing: building a city that works for all of our residents and ensuring that every single child in Birmingham has a pathway to success.” Woodfin also touched on a subject that will be central to his campaign and is certain to be amplified by his challengers throughout the spring and summer: public safety but there has been a reduction in all other crimes—including robbery and auto theft—during Woodfin’s time in office The mayor added that the city has invested about $16 million in police recruitment and retention and $8 million in youth mental health and financial literacy so that when children grow up “they can make better choices,” he said “I’ve got a secret to tell y’all,” Woodfin told supporters I am in a room full of foot soldiers that are committed to making sure we continue to fight The mayor was flanked by two elected officials who have been longtime supporters: State Sen Merika Coleman and Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson “[We’ve had] 8,000 jobs created under the Woodfin administration,” said Coleman “That’s 8,000 families that have some stability 8,000 people that now can feel like they have a path to prosperity … [And] the Birmingham Promise [Tuition Assistance program for Birmingham City Schools students which was implemented] under the Woodfin administration has allowed 1,600 students to go to college tuition-free.” “It’s our time to do what we need to do to help our future The only way we can do that is by getting out to vote That means you got to go get your neighbor Tyson said Woodfin has had seven years to address problems that were created over decades and added Mayor Randall Woodfin has shown y’all that he can make something out of nothing You would be a damn fool not to vote this man back in office,” Tyson said (WLOS) — A major new attraction for river enthusiasts is slated to open in Woodfin this fall After some minor Helene damage, construction is moving forward on The Wave. It will span across the French Broad River People who drive on Riverside Drive can see the dam construction in the riverbed where kayakers will be able to paddle and do tricks in The Wave WOODFIN MOVES FORWARD WITH MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR WAVE PROJECT ON THE FRENCH BROAD RIVER "What folks should expect is a natural-looking ledge extending across the river water flowing over it hopefully creating the world’s best river surfing wave," said Hunt Asheville’s tourism authority awarded several million dollars to the venue which will also anchor a major greenway expansion north from the River Arts District Match Expires at Midnight GIVE NOW How landowner Max Woodfin is giving new life to his family's farm by planting 36,000 trees on his property Max Woodfin is unfazed by the cold February winds blowing across the Delta as he and his nephew Greg Garrison walk parallel to the team of professional tree planters on their family farm Work is in full swing to plant the challenging alluvial soil with more than 36,000 strategically selected varieties of oak and other hardwood seedlings to reforest the Woodfins’ farm in an area known as Dark Corner Located off Highway 17 between Brinkley and Cotton Plant in the Arkansas Delta you couldn’t see the sun standing here on a sunny day,” says Woodfin Today is a tribute to my father and mother who gave back to their community with their time and talent The Woodfin family has owned these 235 acres since the 1920s He pauses to take in this moment: his family’s farm serving as the center of a unique event with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Milks navigates plowed rows to greet Woodfin, whose expression moves quickly from stunned amazement to a wide satisfied smile upon hearing the news: The Woodfins are the first landowners to sign on to TNC's Floodplain Reforestation Program to reforest their land for the next 30 years amused and a little bit amazed to find out that we were the first landowners to participate in this program,” he says The Woodfin family's farm is located in a region that’s experiencing intense impacts of climate change including more frequent and devastating floods flooding in the Mississippi River Delta region has hit historical highs More than 75% of Mississippi River Delta floodplains are now developed for agriculture—but climate change is making it difficult for many landowners to continue farming in the region Many low-lying acres that once sustained crops are now seasonally or permanently inundated with water This means a loss of revenue for the landowner The Floodplain Reforestation Program is designed to help farmers make their land more resilient and earn revenue in the process “This site is a dream for reforestation,” says Milks as he surveys the teams skillfully planting the seedlings “The fact that this sits in the elbow of hundreds of surrounding acres of conservation work that has been done in the area in the last several decades and this is the last piece to be reforested putting the farm into the reforestation program is also about family legacy It sits in the elbow of hundreds of surrounding acres of conservation work that has been done in the area in the last several decades and is the last piece to be reforested It's serendipity or divine intervention Woodfin discovered another benefit to enrolling in the program The reforested portion of the land was reclassified as timberland resulting in a county property tax reduction of 84% The Woodfins' relationship with TNC started when the organization sought his permission to access the Bayou DeView from his farm to confirm a kayaker’s sighting of an ivory-billed woodpecker—a bird not seen in decades the Woodfin family farm was ground zero for TNC scientists and conservation partners who hoped to find the elusive bird’s habitat When it was time for TNC to reach out to farmers about the new reforestation program Woodfin was one of the first landowners who received a call due to the family’s growing frustration during the last 20 years of farming The reforested portion of the land was reclassified as timberland “I don’t want to cast any aspersions on native deer,” he whispers as if deer are eavesdropping “but we were losing crops to deer because this was one of the few fields in production The deer thought of this as their salad bar.” With few good options for managing the crops to keep deer away TNC’s offer to reforest his farm was worth serious consideration “What we see here is a reforestation program that will blend with the natural environment that was disturbed more than 100 years ago to put the land into farm production.” bringing him to the property when he was young “It’s part of our heritage and part of our story I hope my kids appreciate that and in 30 years I love that we’re using some common sense and purposeful thought to make a great place for wildlife and nature in general.” Woodfin encourages Delta landowners to enroll their marginal land into the Floodplain Reforestation Program we would urge you to talk to The Nature Conservancy to see if your property would be a good fit for this program The Nature Conservancy is a wonderful partner,” he says you’re going to benefit your own bank account and you’re going to be helping The Nature Conservancy in their overall objectives