🌱 Emergency Alert For Missing Infant + City Council Approves Budget

Hi all. It's me, Joyce Nash, your host of the Huntsville Patch newsletter. Follow along to find out the most important things happening these days in town.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and very warm. High: 89 Low: 60.

Here are the top three stories today in Huntsville:

1. The Huntsville Police Department has issued an Emergency Child Alert. Kamarria Sharnay Bates, who is seven months old, has not been seen for a month and is thought to be in danger. Kamarria is described as weighing 18 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen on Aug. 23 near Cutler Drive. Kamarria may be with her mother, Kiayah Miliayah Barnett, 15, who may be traveling to Calhoun or Colbert counties. (WVTM)
2. The Huntsville City Council has voted to approve an amended budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Amendments to the budget included the addition of $25,000 for United Cerebral Palsy of Huntsville, as suggested by Councilman Devyn Keith. The city's budget includes nearly $20 million for road repairs and resurfacing, as well as $800,000 for sidewalk construction and repair. The council was expected to also vote on proposed changes to the city's hands-free driving ordinance, but that was tabled until the council's Oct. 12 meeting. (WHNT)
3. Greyhound busses have been spotted in Huntsville after being out of service for nearly two weeks in the city due to "permit issues." This service disruption comes after Greyhound already resumed its Huntsville route following a stoppage in September 2022. The new Greyhound station is currently located inside a Texaco station on Memorial Parkway. Huntsville City Council member Jennie Robinson said she has heard from constituents about the bus station's unusual location, which is not convenient to major transportation arteries, restaurants, or hotels. Robinson said that city officials are working with Greyhound to find a location on I-65. (WHNT)

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Today in Huntsville:

Saturday, September 30

• Pooches & Pumpkins: Featuring The Pooch Parade At Huntsville Botanical Garden (12:00 PM)
• The Dirty Doors: A Tribute To The Doors At Furniture Factory Bar & Grill (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Today, Sep. 30, the Rocket City Roller Derby is presenting its second annual Hail Skatin' Mixed Scrimmage. This event will take place at the NSS Conference Center, and doors will open at 1:00 p.m. Click here to learn more or buy tickets. (Rocket City Roller Derby League via Facebook)
• Huntsville has welcomed a record number of tourists in the past year. In 2023, the city has seen nearly four million visitors with an economic impact of over two billion dollars. (City of Huntsville, Alabama - Government via Facebook)
• Starting today, Sep. 30, Get-A-Way Skatepark will open on weekends at 8:00 a.m. and close at 9:00 p.m. On weekdays, the park will be open from 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. (Huntsville Parks and Recreation via Facebook)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all soon for another update!

— Joyce Nash

About me: Joyce is a freelance writer and poet whose work has appeared in the Hello Gloria newsletter and Nine Cloud Journal. Her background ranges from journalism to fitness instruction and spans the east coast to the West. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her husband and two cats.