🌱 Mountain Brook SROs No. 1 + NFL Player Speaks At Local Nonprofit

Good morning, hello! It's me, Sean Peek, your host of the Mountain Brook Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm. High: 89 Low: 72.
• Sunday: T-storms, some severe; humid. High: 88 Low: 70.

Here are the top three stories today in Mountain Brook:

1. The Alabama Association of School Resource Officers has honored the SRO team from Mountain Brook with the title of the state's best for the 2022-23 academic year. With a combined 100 years of police service and specialized training for school environments, the six officers were recognized for their exceptional performance in maintaining safety and building relationships within the district. Mountain Brook Schools Superintendent Dicky Barlow expressed gratitude for the SRO team and emphasized the value of their partnership with the city in providing security and support to students, staff, and the entire school community. (Village Living)
2. On Thursday, former Alabama and NFL player Ramzee Robinson delivered a message of hope and encouragement to members of Alabama Appleseed, a nonprofit supporting the recently incarcerated. Robinson, director of player engagement for the Kansas City Chiefs as well as a board member for Alabama Appleseed, engaged with former inmates associated with the organization at Canterbury United Methodist Church in Mountain Brook. Having experienced personal tragedy with the murder of his cousin Terry Childress while in prison, Robinson has been motivated to bring about positive change in the lives of individuals within the criminal justice system and beyond. (WIAT - CBS42.com)
3. While Jefferson County sewer users may recall the system's bankruptcy declaration in 2011 and subsequent rate increases, many remain unaware of the factors and projects that led to the county accumulating a staggering $3.14 billion in sewer debt during the late 90s and early 2000s — a burden still carried by customers today. Among these costly ventures was the infamous "Tunnel to Nowhere," estimated to have cost the county $19 million. The project involved leaving a $3 million tunneling machine underground and later having to retrieve it, ultimately leading to the abandonment of the expansion endeavor in 2022 due to tunnel instability. (Subscription: AL.com)

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Today and tomorrow in Mountain Brook:

Saturday, July 8

• Saturday Drink Specials At CharBar No. 7 (11:30 AM)

Sunday, July 9

• Everything Crypto: State Of The Crypto Industry At Porch (1:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• WIAT recently featured Anni Towe of Mountain Brook as the Athlete of the Week. The 12-year-old gymnast has been noted for her professionalism and resilience on the mat and has her eyes set on college gymnastics in the future. (WIAT - CBS42.com)
• The process to become a notary in Alabama has undergone an overhaul, with the updates going into effect this September. The recent changes aim to improve training, protect against fraud, and formalize the penalties for negligent notaries. (Yellowhammer News)
• Jeni's Ice Cream's summer collection will kick off on Jul. 13! You can stop by the Mountain Brook location on Jemison Lane through the summer, with a new flavor to be released in-store and online weekly. (Village Living via Facebook)

You're all caught up for today! I'll see you soon.

— 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.