🌱 Coach Ronnie Stapler Retiring + Arts Huntsville Seeks Volunteers

Hello all. It's me, Sean Peek, your host of the Huntsville Patch newsletter — here to tell you all the most important things happening in town.

Also, FYI: I’m filling in temporarily to write your morning newsletters after Amy’s departure last week. But I wanted to let you know that Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Huntsville Patch newsletter and make it their own. We want to pass the torch to someone truly local and in-the-know to write about Huntsville 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:

Partly sunny. High: 83 Low: 53.

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Here are the three top stories in Huntsville today:

1. Legendary high school basketball coach Ronnie Stapler is retiring after 53 seasons. Stapler coached at four different Huntsville area high schools during his career, winning 868 games and leading three of his teams to state titles. Stapler also coached golf, wrestling, football, and softball teams. He has been inducted into the Alabama High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame and won the organization's Coach of the Year award three times. He is looking forward to spending time with his family and teaching skills development at the Alabama Basketball Academy. (AL.com)
2. Local nonprofit organizations are working to serve over 33,000 veterans living in Madison County. The American Red Cross offers mental health services and works with people actively serving as well as retirees and veterans. Still Serving Veterans offers services for career transition, VA benefits, and resource connections for veterans experiencing a crisis. Both organizations are part of the United Way of Madison County network. (News 19)
3. Arts Huntsville is seeking volunteers for this year's Panoply Arts Festival. The event is set to take place at Big Springs Park during the last weekend of April. Volunteers are needed for a variety of roles, including greeting festival attendees, face painting, and assisting with art and STEAM activities. Volunteers will have free admission to the festival before and after their shifts. To learn more or sign up, click here. (News 19)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Huntsville:

• Tenth Birthday Celebration, At Mason Dixon Bakery & Bistro (3:00 PM)
• Multimodal Safety Action Plan: Public Input Session, At North Huntsville Library (5:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• If you're heading Downtown, there are ongoing road closures and detours due to repaving. Closures are expected through Apr. 24. (Downtown Huntsville via Instagram)
• The Huntsville Botanical Garden is hosting a workshop on plant propagation next month. Attendees will learn about propagating perennials, annuals, and herbs. Click here to learn more or sign up. (Huntsville Botanical Garden via Facebook)
• The Huntsville Police Department issued a big thank you to students from Cedar Hill Elementary School for the get-well-soon cards the students made for Officer Albert Morin. (Huntsville Police Department via Facebook)
• Huntsville's Department of Urban and Long-Range Planning is hosting three public input sessions next week. These meetings are focused on Vision Zero Huntsville, a plan that has a goal of eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries by 2055. To participate in the online survey, click here. (City of Huntsville, Alabama - Government via Facebook)

You're all caught up for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new update!

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.