The Alabama Beacon

A 51-year-old Pleasant Grove man is charged with two counts of capital murder in the Sept. 8 shooting death of a Birmingham man in the city’s Roosevelt neighborhood. Derrick Rasard Gray was arrested the day of the shooting by the Birmingham Police Department’s Violent Crime Apprehension Team in the 2200 block of Third Street Northwest...

Kahmiya Custard and Kenyon Rudolph at their baby shower.

Bessemer couple celebrates the coming arrival of baby Keylen

Kahmiya Custard and Kenyon Rudolph at their baby shower.(above) Kenyon Rudolph and Kahmiya Custard are parents to be, and they recently celebrated the coming birth of Keylen Rudolph at the Unity Event Center, 397 Fourth Ave. SW in Bessemer. With their parents, siblings, friends and other loved ones on hand, the Cookie Monster themed celebration...

Therapy dog Lily pays a visit to Empower Community School

Principal Dr. Luther Riley, Dr. Smith, Pet Partners’ Warrene Self and therapy dog Lily with Empower Community School staff and students(above) Empower Community School in Bessemer recently hosted its first pet therapy session, provided by Pet Partners volunteer Warrene Self and Lily, a trained Yorkshire terrier. The pair visited the campus at 751 Academy Drive...

A chat with Danny Sullivan, fire chief, city of Hueytown

Lori Davidson loves the theatre. A talented actress, she is a member of the Hueytown Arts Council and the Hueytown Community Theatre. Her family moved from Fairfield to Hueytown when Lori was 2 years old. Recently she was asked to serve as the public relations liaison for the Hueytown Arts Council. A member of Fusion...

Lawson State lineworker program is first in Alabama approved for Workforce Pell

Lawson State Community College’s Lineworker Training Program is the first program in Alabama approved for Workforce Pell, Gov. Kay Ivey’s office announced Sept. 14. Workforce Pell extends federal Pell Grant eligibility to approved short-term training programs for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand jobs. The Alabama Department of Workforce reviews the applications with the Alabama Workforce Board;...

Sample ballots for Nov. 3 general election now online

Sample ballots for the Nov. 3 general election are available on the Alabama Secretary of State’s website, Secretary of State Wes Allen announced Monday. Ballots for all 67 counties are posted at sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes. Allen thanked county probate judges and election officials for preparing and reviewing the ballots. “As a former probate judge, I know firsthand...

Free expungement clinic set for Oct. 22 at Boutwell Auditorium

Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham and its partners will hold the last expungement clinic of the year from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at Boutwell Auditorium, 1930 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr. Boulevard, Birmingham. Attorneys, court personnel and voting rights restoration experts will help eligible people petition to clear certain charges from their records. Participants...

SOUTHERN STYLES: Labor Day and college football enjoyed by friends and family at barbecue

The shouting of “Roll Tide” and “War Eagle” echoed along Morgan Road over Labor Day weekend, as neighbors gathered to celebrate. The delicious spread featured barbecue, fried fish, and crawfish, perfectly timed with the official kickoff of the college football season. Mona and Commissioner Jimmie Stephens hosted the festive Labor Day barbecue and fish fry...

Chamber’s 35th annual Golf FORE Progress tournament set for Oct. 1