🌱 Hoover Meth Trafficker Gets 15 Years + Mayor Presents $154M Budget

Hi all! I'm here with your fresh copy of the Hoover Daily, filled with all the things you need to know about what's going on in town. Without further ado...

First, today's weather:

A thick cloud cover and humid. High: 86 Low: 71.

Here are the top three stories in Hoover today:

1. A Hoover man has received 15-plus years after a camera placed in an oscillating fan recorded the details of a large-scale meth trafficking organization. Robert Alan Ozment was operating in the Ross Bridge neighborhood and has been charged with both gun and drug charges. Several individuals had previously been sentenced for conspiring with Ozment to distribute. (The Cullman Tribune)
2. Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato presented a $154 million budget for the 2023 fiscal year. The budget is a 2.6 percent increase from the original 2022 budget and a 19 percent increase from actual expenses in fiscal 2021. The proposed budget includes funds for road paving projects, sewer system upgrades, a new Interstate 459 interchange near South Shades Crest Road, and the widening of South Shades Crest Road. (Hoover Sun)
3. Hoover city officials are looking into the redevelopment of the Riverchase Galleria, which may include a health care facility. The city’s Health Care Authority has hired an attorney with expertise in the health care industry to prepare the paperwork for a Certificate of Need, which is required by the state in order to build a health care facility. Mayor Frank Brocato said, “Hoover is the sixth-largest city in the state. We’re a city of 100,000 and need a medical facility.” The vacant Sears store at the Galleria may be an ideal location for the medical facility. (Over the Mountain Journal)

Today in Hoover:

• True Stories Book Club At Hoover Public Library (2:00 PM)
• Foodtruck Festival At The Narrows (5:00 PM)
• Adult ESL Classes At Virtual (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Looking for a new home? There are a handful of new houses available in and around Hoover. We particularly liked the incredible views at the South Oak property. (Hoover Patch)
• The Humane Society of West Alabama is trying to find a home for curious explorer Dora. The brown tabby is very friendly and loves playing with feather toys. (Humane Society of West Alabama via Instagram)
• The Splashpad located at the Hoover Met Plex is closing for the season on Sep. 15. It will reopen on May 15, 2023. (City of Hoover via Twitter)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you around!

— 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.