🌱 Natalee Holloway Disappearance Suspect Extradited + Red Mtn. Expway

Hello, friends! I'm here with your fresh copy of the Mountain Brook Patch newsletter, filled with all the things you need to know about what's happening in town. Including updates on...

• A suspect in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway is being extradited to Alabama.
• Rebecca Gordon, a chef and entertainer from Mountain Brook, is dead at 50.
• Red Mountain Expressway is set to be repaved.

But first, today's weather: Humid; an afternoon t-storm. High: 82 Low: 66.

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Here are the top three stories today in Mountain Brook:

1. A prime suspect in the 2005 disappearance of Mountain Brook native Natalee Holloway is set to be temporarily extradited to Alabama from Peru, to face charges of wire fraud and extortion. He was the last person to be seen with Holloway, before she disappeared on a trip to Aruba. The man, Joran van der Sloot, has been serving a prison sentence in Peru after pleading guilty in 2012 to the murder of a Peruvian college student. (WVTM 13)
2. Rebecca Gordon, who founded Buttermilk Lipstick, a cooking and entertainment website, is dead at 50. Gordon, who went to Mountain Brook High School, also worked as a pastry chef before working for 13 years at Southern Living. She "had just the absolute best, bubbly personality," recalled Brian Pope, who was formerly part of WBRC Fox 6. (AL.com)
3. Get ready for a smoother drive — the Alabama Department of Transportation plans to start resurfacing Red Mountain Highway next week, on or before May 15. (WVTM 13)

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Today in Mountain Brook:

• Live Maine Lobsters — pick up (8 a.m.)
• Storytime at the Gardens — Birmingham Botanical Gardens (10 a.m.)
• Live music — Otey's Tavern (8:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Check out a new member spotlight from the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce — meet Amy Smith Gardner, State Farm Agent, located at 3900 Montclair Road, and specializing in Auto, Home, Life & Health Insurance. (Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)
• The Mountain Brook Police Department suggests using their lobby as a meeting place for online and social media purchases. (Mountain Brook Police via Twitter)
• The O'Neal Library might be physically closed due to recent flooding — but you can still access books through the apps Hoopla or Libby. (The O'Neal Library via Facebook)

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Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get Delighted Every Week (May 16)
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• REFLECTIONS FROM MOZART TO GOSPEL - Huntsville Choral Festival Concert (June 3)
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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with a new update.

— Dashiell Allen

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Mountain Brook Patch newsletter? Contact me at mountainbrook@patch.com