🌱 Derailing Trains In State Under Review + Local Athletes Return Home

Hello there, Hoover! I'm here in your inbox per usual to get you up to speed on everything you need to know about what's going on 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 Hoover Patch newsletter and make it their own. We want to pass the torch to someone truly local and in-the-know to write about Hoover 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, your local weather:

• Tuesday: Sunny, pleasant and warmer. High: 80 Low: 50.
• Wednesday: Partly sunny and comfortable. High: 84 Low: 51.

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Here are the top three stories in Hoover today:

1. On Monday, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) was expected to send a letter to Federal Railroad Administration head Amit Bose for an investigation into several train derailments in the state. This year alone, four derailments have already occurred, including one in Calhoun County in March and one earlier this Month in Shelby County near Helena. Sewell is working on a $10 million railroad elimination grant to expand railyards for trains to park and get off the tracks, as safety is a priority. (1819 News)
2. There was a big rivalry among local powerhouses this past weekend as Alabama won the three-game weekend series against SEC and state rival Auburn. The Crimson Tide started the weekend off on the losing end of the series, with the Auburn Tigers winning 8-4 behind a strong start on Friday night. The Tide bounced back on Saturday with a tough 4-2 victory while losing starter Garrett McMillian to injury to knot the series up. With the series tied one each going into Sunday, and with their back against the wall, the Tide once again came up big in a dominating 6-1 performance winning the series and moving to eighth in SEC standings and clinging to a spot in the SEC tournament in Hoover this post-season. (Roll Bama Roll)
3. A lot of Alabama natives, including former Alabama All-American and Auburn High School star Reuben Foster, had their names announced at Protective Stadium in nearby Birmingham during week one of the USFL football season this weekend. Foster returned to football for the first time since October 2018 for the Pittsburg Maulers and made his presence known, forcing a fumble for his team in the second quarter that resulted in a touchdown. The game featured many Alabama athletes, both high school and college, including Hoover High School graduate Justin Alexander-Johnson and athletes from Alabama A&M, Jacksonville State, Auburn, and the University of Alabama. (AL.com)

From our sponsor:

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Today and tomorrow in and around Hoover:

Tuesday, April 18

• Together With Tots At Hoover Public Library (10:30 AM)
• Grand Opening And Ribbon Cutting At Lake Homes Realty (1:30 PM)

Wednesday, April 19

• How To Navigate Obtaining Healthy Food At Birmingham City Credit Union in Birmingham (12:30 PM)
• Name Change Clinic At Magic City Acceptance Center in Birmingham (3:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Hoover Police Department is currently asking the public for any information or leads regarding these individuals (pictured at the link) who are wanted for a felony shoplifting case that occurred at a local business. According to reports, these three worked together and took $2,100 worth of merchandise. (Hoover (AL) Police Department via Facebook)
• This past Saturday, members of the Marching Buccaneer Drumline gave back to the community by playing for the runners of the Shades Crest Baptist Church High County 5K. Thankfully, the locals were not too upset about being woken up at 8:00 a.m. to the drumline performing. (Hoover High School Band via Facebook)
• Attention Hoover residents: If you have a family member with special needs, take advantage of the Special Needs Notification Service offered by Hoover PD. Click the link to learn more about the program and to register. (Hoover Police Department via Twitter)

Alrighty, you're all good for today. See you all soon for another 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.