🌱 Special Election Called + Reporter's On-Air Report Turned Proposal

Hi all. It's me, Sean Peek, your host of the Patch newsletter. Let's get this Thursday started off right, with a quick guide to the most important things going on in town these days.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: Humid; a p.m. t-storm or two. High: 91 Low: 73.
• Friday: Thunderstorms. High: 89 Low: 71.

Here are the top three stories today in Mountain Brook:

1. With the resignation of Steve Ammons, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey called a special election for County Commission on Jul. 18. This special election primary is non-partisan and will feature The District 5 commission candidates, former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Mike Bolin, developer David Silverstein, and Jeff Wise. The Jefferson County Commission is divided between two Republicans and two Democrats. (AL Today)
2. A Birmingham News Reporter's breaking news story ended in a wedding proposal. On-air reporter Valerie Bell was responding to reports of a vehicle in the water when she was told to turn around. That's when she saw her boyfriend, firefighter Blake Bjornson, down on one knee where he popped the question. (AL.com)
3. A Mountain Brook-based writer has published a collection of poems set in the Yellowhammer State. Matt Layne's "Miracle Strip" is set in the Wiregrass area, as well as the Gulf Coast region. Readers can also scan a QR code on each page to listen to selected songs and soundscapes for each piece; the digital album can be found on mattlaynepoetry.com. (Bham Now)

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Today and tomorrow in and around Mountain Brook:

Thursday, July 6

• Munchkin Music At Mason Music (1:00 PM)
• Thursday Family Fun Night At Levite Jewish Community Center, Birmingham (5:30 PM)

Friday, July 7

• Margarita Night And Happy Hour At Charbar No. 7 (11:30 AM)
• Improv 101 With Red Mountain Theatre Company At O'Neal Public Library (1:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Have you been experiencing street light outages? The City of Mountain Brook asks residents to report outages through its website. (City of Mountain Brook via Facebook)
• The source of public grants in Birmingham and Jefferson County is being scrutinized after a federal court case revealed an alleged kickback scheme. According to prosecutors, two state lawmakers, a legislative aide, and a youth baseball league were involved in the misuse of thousands of public dollars. (AL.com)
• Get ready for the Birmingham Museum of Art's Art on the Rocks event on Aug. 4. Enjoy one of the best summer events of the season for $35! (Birmingham Museum of Art via Facebook)
• The Mountain Brook Police Department wants to help stop crime this summer in Alabama. The Department asks residents to lock their doors, set home alarms, and add their homes to the home watch list for extra protection. (Mountain Brook Police Department via Facebook)

Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you around.

— 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.