Univ. of Alabama Graduation Boosts Tuscaloosa’s Economy
WVUA (Tuscaloosa) – April 30
More than 4,700 degrees will be awarded to University of Alabama graduates over the weekend. With friends and family coming to Tuscaloosa to celebrate, local restaurants, stores and hotels have noticed a boost in business all week, and expect an even bigger one this weekend.
Burke receives Capstone Inspiring Teacher Award
Cleburne News – April 30
Friday morning, before her students arrived for class, Chrissy Burke, the University of Alabama’s Capstone Inspiring Teacher Award winner, was sitting at her desk chatting with a former student. The student, Jami Morgan, the soon-to-be graduate of the university who nominated Burke for the award, was wearing a T-shirt advertising the Ms. Burke Fan Club. Morgan graduated from Cleburne County High School four years ago, but comes back to visit her favorite teacher often, she said. As a senior at UA, Morgan was eligible to submit an essay to the university about her favorite high school teacher for the award, which was created in 2010. A committee of high school teachers, students and staff judged the essays and the Cleburne County Career Technical School business teacher won, earning both her and the school $1,000. Submitting the essay was second nature, Morgan said. Her high school years were difficult and Burke helped her get through it and transition to college, she said. “This class was like my haven,” Morgan said. “Any chance I have to show her some appreciation and to tell anybody how wonderful she was to me, I take it.”
Shoals native Lesley Beattie a semifinalist for Birmingham Fashion Week’s Emerging Designer
Florence Times Daily — April 30
For the first five years of Birmingham Fashion Week, there has typically been a representative from the Shoals in one form or another. This year will be no different as Florence High School graduate and University of Alabama senior Leslie Beattie will be competing as a semi-finalist in the Emerging Designer competition. An apparel design major, with a second major in marketing, Beattie said she’s excited to be a part of the annual event. “Being in the apparel design department, you hear about it, and it’s always thrown at you,” Beattie said. “I figured it’s my last year, I might as well do it. The worst thing is they could say no.” According to William Lacey, Fashion Week executive producer, Beattie is competing against college students from both the University of Alabama and Auburn University, as well as students from Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi.
Anniversary of John Servati’s death
Fox 6 (Birmingham) – April 30
This week marks one year since University of Alabama swimmer John Servati was killed after saving the life of his girlfriend when a retaining wall fell on top of him during an April storm. A former teammate of John Servati is hoping a tribute video will keep his friend’s memory alive. Kyle Weeks said it took it nearly a year to find the right words and pictures for the video. Weeks says it wasn’t an easy process. “It was a slow process because I’d write a little bit and like well up and maybe have a good cry and go back to it later,” Weeks said. Weeks says John was full of life in and out of the pool. “You could see in the video he’s lip syncing to this video he made for Christmas for one of his friends and you just see he’s goofy and fun loving…and just lit up any room he went into too,” he said.
NBC 12 (Montgomery) – April 30
Montgomery Speed Cameras
WNCF-ABC (Montgomery) – April 30
According to the Center for Advanced Public Safety at The University of Alabama in 2010, before the cars were ever put in use in Montgomery, 44 pedestrians were involved in vehicle accidents. In 2014, two years after the cars were implemented, the city had 79 accidents. None of the fatal accidents before 2011 happened in a neighborhood, construction zone, or school zone, yet that’s where all the speed cars are parked.