🌱 Patch AM: Which Vestavia Hills educators just entered the City Schools Hall of Fame?

Hello Vestavia Hills! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Which Vestavia Hills educators just entered the City Schools Hall of Fame?
• Why a Vestavia Hills man may stay jailed under Aniah’s Law
• Why Vestavia Hills firefighters rushed to a smoky Walmart on Lakeshore Parkway

Today's riddle: I think I’ll wear only one boot today. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 51 and low of 33 degrees.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, temps: high: 58, low: 43.
• Friday: A little afternoon rain, with a high of 59 and low of 53 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Best Stories of 2025: "5 inducted into Vestavia Hills City Schools Hall of Fame" (vestaviavoice.com) — Vestavia Hills City Schools has inducted five beloved longtime educators into its Hall of Fame, honoring decades of teaching, counseling, coaching, and leadership that shaped local students’ lives. The ceremony at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center also spotlighted this year’s Teachers of the Year from multiple Vestavia campuses, and residents can already submit nominations for the next Hall of Fame class.
   

2. Rape and kidnapping suspect derides Aniah's Law: ‘Should have kept her mouth shut' (al.com) — A Vestavia Hills man is being held without bond as a judge weighs Aniah’s Law in a case involving allegations of rape, kidnapping, and domestic violence against his former girlfriend in Jefferson County. Prosecutors say recorded jail calls show him disparaging both the victim and the state law that could keep him detained while a grand jury considers indictment.
   

3. Fire deliberately set inside Homewood Walmart Supercenter, police say; suspects sought (al.com) — Vestavia Hills firefighters helped battle a deliberately set fire inside the Lakeshore Parkway Walmart in nearby Homewood, which filled the store with smoke and forced an evacuation but caused no injuries. Police say suspects ignited bedding in the home goods section before fleeing, and investigators are still working to identify them. The same store saw a previous arson fire in August.
   

4. Best Stories of 2025: "After second open-heart surgery, Samford senior White back on bike" (thehomewoodstar.com) — A Vestavia Hills college student, John White, is back on his bike less than 10 weeks after a complex second open-heart surgery, showing what determined recovery can look like. The Samford senior, born with a serious heart defect, trained hard before surgery and leaned on skilled surgeons and family support to return to long rides, finish his degree, and plan his upcoming wedding.
   

5. 2025: North Alabamians who inspired us this year (hartselleenquirer.com) — Vestavia Hills firefighters were part of an Alabama Task Force 2 team that deployed to Texas after deadly flooding, searching debris piles for survivors alongside crews from nearby cities. Their work is highlighted in a broader look at north Alabama residents who inspired others in 2025, from volunteers aiding disaster victims to local leaders helping children, single mothers, and people in recovery.
   

📸 Around Vestavia Hills

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Vestavia Hills

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Monday January 5

• Libby Meet & Greet
  Hoover Public Library - Circulation Lobby
  10:30 am

Tuesday January 6

• One-on-One Tech Help
  Hoover Public Library -
  10:00 am
• Libby Meet & Greet
  Hoover Public Library - Circulation Lobby
  3:30 pm

📣 Vestavia Hills Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday December 31

• City Hall Closed - New Year's Eve
  City of Irondale , 101 20th St S , Irondale
  7:00 am
• Zumba Gold
  Pelham, AL Calendar , 50 Racquet Club Parkway , Pelham
  10:45 am
• Public Skate Session
  Pelham, AL Calendar
  11:45 am
• Yoga
  Pelham, AL Calendar , 50 Racquet Club Parkway , Pelham
  12:00 pm
• Silver Sneakers
  Pelham, AL Calendar , 2020 Pelham Park Boulevard , Pelham
  1:00 pm
• On Wednesdays We WINE for half-off!
  Hoover Chamber of Commerce , 5426 Hwy 280 Suite 6 , Hoover
  3:00 pm
• In-Trinity Warrior
  Pelham, AL Calendar Pelham, AL 35124
  5:30 pm
• Bootcamp
  Pelham, AL Calendar , 2020 Pelham Park Boulevard , Pelham
  5:30 pm

Thursday January 1

• Movie Madness
  Pelham, AL Calendar , 50 Racquet Club Parkway , Pelham
  1:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Vestavia Hills PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

Ok Vestavia Hills! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I heard there’s only a 50 percent chance of snow.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook