🌱 Teen In Critical Condition After Shooting + Toyota Field BBQ Fest

Good morning, neighbors. It's me, Joyce Nash, your host of the Patch newsletter. Here's everything you need to know about what's happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Partly sunny and hot. High: 97 Low: 72.

Here are the top three stories today in Huntsville:

1. A shooting incident that occurred on the morning of Thursday, Jul. 27 has left a 15-year-old in critical condition. Police confirmed that the incident occurred at a residence on Hammond Avenue, and a spokesperson for HEMSI said that officers received a call about a possible accidental shooting and arrived at the scene around 8:15 a.m. The 15-year-old boy suffered a gunshot wound to his stomach and was taken to Huntsville Hospital for treatment. Officers are continuing to investigate and said there is no danger to the immediate area. (WHNT)
2. The Smoke in the Outfield BBQ Festival will be coming to Toyota Field on Aug. 4-5. Competitors will be arriving from Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, and Florida to see who can smoke the best meat. Attendees will be able to buy pulled pork, chicken, turkey legs, brisket, and ribs. This event will also feature mechanical bull rides, face painting, live music, and more. Click here to find tickets. (WAFF)
3. Sign-ups are now open for the City of Huntsville's Civic Engagement Academy (CEA), and former participants are encouraging residents to attend. The CEA is a free, eight-week program that educates citizens on the workings of the city government. Past CEA attendee Rion Golden said the program's behind-the-scenes view into the local government made him optimistic about Huntsville's future. The upcoming CEA course starts on Sep. 26 and will run every Tuesday evening through Nov. 14. To learn more about the program or apply, click here. (HuntsvilleAL.gov)

Shoutout to the awesome local business that keeps this newsletter running:

Martinson & Beason, P.C. have been been providing trusted legal advice in Huntsville since 1937. Give your loved ones peace of mind with a comprehensive estate plan. Click here for more info.

Click here to get your business featured in this spot.

Today in Huntsville:

Friday, July 28

• Creative Latte And Learn At Studio 127 – A Conservatory For Creativity (11:00 AM)
• Free Stretch & Flow At Light On Yoga Fitness (4:30 PM)
• Sturgill's Turtles Live At Stovehouse (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• There will be a Back-to-School Bash on Saturday, Jul. 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Jaycee Community Building. Performances from local cheer teams and bands, inflatable water slides, a dunk tank, and more will be at the event. (City of Huntsville, Alabama - Government via Facebook)
• After being canceled due to storms, Huntsville's Light Up the Night event has been rescheduled for Friday, Aug. 4 from 7:00-10:00 p.m. at Big Spring Park. There will be fun lighting, glow foam cannons, music, and more. (Huntsville Parks and Recreation via Facebook)
• The Huntsville Police Department is currently hiring Public Safety Dispatchers. Click here to learn more or apply. (Huntsville Police Department 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.