🌱 Hoover PD Hiring + New Down Syndrome Alabama Director Named

Hello, friends. I'm here right on time with your Saturday edition of the Hoover Patch newsletter, full of all the things you need to know about what's going on locally.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: A drenching t-storm; humid. High: 89 Low: 74.
• Sunday: Humid; an afternoon t-storm. High: 91 Low: 75.

Here are the top three stories today in Hoover:

1. The Hoover Police Department is actively hiring to fill the gap left by a wave of retiring officers. Open to both men and women, the department is looking for individuals who want to make an impact on their community, even seeking non-post-certified candidates without prior law enforcement experience for specialized training. Lieutenant Daniel Lowe highlighted the opportunity for new recruits to make a difference in their community and urged those feeling called to this path to apply as the department aims to reach full staffing quickly. Learn more and apply here. (WBRC)
2. Missy Haughery, a seasoned educator with 26 years of teaching experience and a personal connection to Down syndrome through her son, has been selected as the new executive director for Down Syndrome Alabama. Aiming to utilize her background in education and leadership, Haughery hopes to teach acceptance and inclusion, while enhancing the lives of individuals with Down syndrome and their families. With her initial goal of building strong relationships with members for the betterment of the community and state, she brings an invigorated purpose to the organization, which is headquartered in Hoover and provides education, advocacy, and connections across Alabama. (Hoover Sun)
3. An'ton Je'horam Lewis, 21, and Daxton Elliot Keith, 22, have been indicted on capital murder charges relating to the 2022 fatal shootings of Lauren Anne White, 39, and Blakely Meachelle Nelson, 24, at a Hoover apartment. Both victims, residents of the complex, were discovered unresponsive by officers responding to an emergency call, and were pronounced dead at the scene, with authorities indicating that the suspects were known to them. No trial dates have been set for the accused as of yet. (AL.com)

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Today and tomorrow in and around Hoover:

Saturday, August 5

• Football Family Fun At Hoover Public Library (1:00 PM)

Sunday, August 6

• The J'LA GALA At Levite Jewish Community Center, Birmingham (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Two Hoover restaurants, Eugene’s Hot Chicken and Little Donkey, made AL.com's top 10 list of Alabama’s best fried chicken! (AL.com)
• The Hoover Police Department offered condolences to the Vestavia Hills Police Department in the passing of Chief Danny Rary who dedicated 42 years of service to the City of Vestavia Hills. (Hoover (AL) Police Department via Facebook)
• On Thursday, a blood drive was held to honor Hoover teenager Sophia Zeigler who was shot and killed inside a Marathon gas station last year. (WIAT - CBS42.com)

Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll be in your inbox soon with your next 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.