🌱 G.W. Carver Teacher Sentenced + Deadly Accident On John Rogers

Good morning Birmingham. Here's something special to check out today — especially for those of us who want to look and feel our best heading into fall. We asked Laura Silsbee, a Mountain Brook native and wellness expert, to help us find the best spa deals, yoga classes, "Boo-Tox" events and more — happening in and around the Magic City in October. She has some amazing finds, including beginner yoga classes for older adults, deals on facials and massages — and yes, even Goat Yoga, which looks more inviting than you might imagine! Check out her Birmingham Patch Beauty and Wellness Guide for October here.

But first, today's weather:

Pleasant with plenty of sun. High: 81 Low: 48.

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Here are the top three stories in Birmingham today:

1. A former G.W. Carver High School teacher and baseball coach has been sentenced to 54 months for sexting a minor. 57-year-old Richard Pope was charged with three counts of transmission of obscene material to a minor, to which he pled guilty. Pope began messaging the minor in March of 2020. (WIAT - CBS42.com)
2. A Birmingham man has been killed in a crash when his vehicle hit a light pole. 30-year-old Ledaniel Montrail Johnson died on Monday around 11:40 p.m. According to police, Johnson was traveling north on John Rogers Road when he apparently lost control of his vehicle, crossed over the other lane, and struck an embankment and a light pole. (AL.com)
3. Mattie Brown, a Birmingham woman who was saved during a violent dog attack, was able to meet the man who saved her. Thomas Allen jumped out of his car to assist Brown when he saw her on the ground. Allen fought off the dogs with an umbrella. (WBRC)

Today in Birmingham:

• Chair Exercise with Ms. Myra At Five Points West Regional Branch Library (10:30 AM)
• Slide City At North Birmingham Regional Branch Library (10:30 AM)
• Favorite Genealogy Resources At Birmingham Central Library (11:00 AM)
• Whiskey Wednesday At Avondale Brewing Co. (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Birmingham Times founder, Dr. Jessie J. Lewis, Sr., has received a Lifetime Achievement Award. This year, Vulcan Park and Museum received over 100 nominations from individuals in the Birmingham metropolitan area for the Lifetime Achievement Award. (Bham Now)
• Looking for a way to celebrate spooky season in Birmingham? On Oct. 6, Dave & Buster’s is hosting a Hocus Pocus trivia event. Click to view the full list of attractions. (Bham Now)
• Birmingham has taken the first step to allow medical marijuana dispensaries. Under state guidelines, Jefferson County could end up with as many as nine dispensaries. (AL.com)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday. I'll see you soon!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a born and raised Rhode Islander, now living in New York. She works as a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and is a graduate of The University of Rhode Island, where she earned a degree in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or photographing her neighborhood as a street photographer.