🌱 Local Teen Reported Missing + 'Heartbeat In A Bottle' At UAB

Hi all. It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Birmingham Patch newsletter. Let's get this Monday started off right, with a quick review of the most important things happening in town.

Also, FYI: I wanted to let you know that Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Birmingham Patch newsletter and make it their own. We want to pass the torch to someone truly local and in-the-know to write about Birmingham long term. So if you’re interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy. High: 72 Low: 62.

Business owners and marketers in Birmingham: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories in Birmingham today:

1. Terricka Lashay Hartley, 14, was reported missing after running away from home. Police have stated that the teen could be in great danger. Hartley is suspected to be near the Woodlawn and Tarrant areas and has not been found as of Sunday evening. (WVTM13 Birmingham)
2. Felicia Vaugh, a nurse at the University of Alabama’s Center for Palliative and Supportive Care, brings happiness and support to families of patients by gifting them with a “Heartbeat in a Bottle” - the last recorded heartbeat of their loved one in a medicine bottle. The gift, meant to be worn around the neck, is presented with an attached string and a picture of the patient’s EKG on the front of the bottle. Over 700 Heartbeats in a Bottle have been made. (WBRC)
3. Inspired by Asbury University, revival broke out at Samford University’s Reid Chapel on Wednesday as college students and the outside community gathered to pray, sing and testify. According to Kevin Blackwell, the executive director of the Ministry Training Institute at Samford, students met for over seven hours on the first day. By 2 a.m. the next morning, there were between 150-200 students praying for revival. (AL.com)

Today in Birmingham:

• Taxes With AARP At Birmingham Public Library (9:00 AM)
• Library Love Tiny Art Show At Birmingham Public Library (9:00 AM)
• Grab N' Go - Black History in Art At Birmingham Public Library (9:00 AM)
• Happy Hour At Cabo Coastal Grill (4:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Record warm temperatures are expected this week with highs near 70 degrees today, approximately 10 to 15 degrees above normal. Tuesday has a high of 75 and a low of 55 with a chance of storms, Wednesday has a high of 80 and a low of 65, and Thursday has a high of 81 and a low of 65. (WVTM13 Birmingham)
• In honor of President’s Day, most government-run establishments will be closed today, including public schools, post offices, and other city, state, and federal workplaces. Shopping centers like The Summit, Riverchase Galleria, Mountain Brook Village, and Downtown Homewood will remain open and offer shoppers holiday sales. (Bham Now)
• Searching for some rich and authentic Middle Eastern cuisine to satisfy your taste buds? Bham Now gathered seven local Middle Eastern restaurants in Birmingham that are sure to impress your appetite this week. (Bham Now)

Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with a new update.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or practicing film photography.