How Witnesses are Helping Birmingham Police Close ‘Significant’ Number of Homicide Cases

August 29, 2024

ScottThurmond-1b — Birmingham Police Department Chief Scott Thurmond said more witnesses are coming forward to help the BPD make arrests and close a “significant” number of homicide cases. (File)

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times

This is another installment in Birmingham Times/AL.com/CBS42 joint series “Beyond the Violence: what can be done to address Birmingham’s rising homicide rate.” Sign up for the newsletter here.

More witnesses are coming forward to help the Birmingham Police Department (BPD) make arrests and close a “significant” number of homicide cases, but now is not the time to celebrate, as gun violence continues to increase in the city, BPD Chief Scott Thurmond said during a recent interview.

Police credit an “outpouring of assistance” from community members in obtaining arrests warrants for suspects in the shooting death of 21-year-old Asia Poole on Tuesday, August 20. A total of five suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting after the fifth was taken into custody Wednesday and fourth to be charged with murder.

In another case this month, with the help of a witness, police were able to arrest a suspect in a seven-year-old homicide case involving a 57-year-old woman who had been stabbed to death. Until recently, investigators didn’t have enough evidence to make an arrest. That changed when a witness came forward, police said.

Thurmond, who is on the Crime Stoppers Board, said he sees “first-hand” the number of people providing tips that are leading to more arrests. Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama is a nonprofit that offers cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solve felony crimes and lead to arrests of persons wanted on warrants charging them with felony crimes.

“The number of cases that citizens have called about and the number of arrests that Crime Stoppers has been given information for law enforcement to make the arrests has increased dramatically this year,” the police chief said. “The clearance rate from where it was last year to where it is this year has increased significantly, which means we’re closing more cases by arrests.”

He added, “Citizens who get involved by calling Crime Stoppers can be 100 percent anonymous, get a reward, and help law enforcement get these individuals off the streets of Birmingham—and that’s what we want. … We want a safer Birmingham, too.”

According to BPD Officer Truman Fitzgerald homicide detectives “have made arrests in 44 cases” this year through Friday, August 23. Although it was unknown how many were a result of witnesses who came forward, Thurmond reiterated that the number was “significant.”

Three months ago, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin called on residents to help police solve homicide cases. (Adobe Stock)

“Get Killers Off the Street”

Residents seem to be responding to pleas from city leaders to share information anonymously.

Three months ago, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin called on residents to help police solve homicide cases.

“I need the public to help us take shooters and killers off the street who harm our most vulnerable community members, which are our children and our seniors,” Woodfin said in mid-May after a 62-year-old man in a wheelchair was killed and two children were injured in gun shootings. “That is my direct plea to the public: We need your assistance. If you need safe harbor or help in sharing that information, let us know so we can give it to you.”

While more arrests are being made with the help of witnesses, Thurmond said now is not the time to celebrate.

“The only way I would celebrate is if the number of murders in the city went down significantly,” he said. “We have to stop having homicides. … It’s still very frustrating when people are still losing their lives. … Yes, we’re making arrests, … we’re closing those cases, but people are still being killed and there are families that are still being destroyed. That’s the disturbing, … more troubling part to me.”

On August 13, a 61-year-old man became the city’s 100th homicide of 2024 when he was shot to death inside an apartment at the North Birmingham Homes public housing community, also known as Vice Hills. Last year, the city didn’t reach 100 slayings until October 3. So far in 2024, 108 people have been killed, including 8 justifiable death rulings.

Thurmond said he sees personally what impact violence can have when families visit BPD headquarters.

“We’ve got mothers saving voice mails because it’s the last time they ever heard their child’s voice, and they play it day after day. … That’s the only memory they have of them,” he said.

“It’s very disturbing when you see these mother’s faces, these family member faces, and you see what they’re going through, whether it’s the day after, six months, a year, two years later,” he continued. “They think about it when Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, special family days come. Whatever it is, that loved one is not there.”

Even if the department is closing more cases, Thurmond added, “It doesn’t fix your heart or your mind.”

“Senseless”

Asia Poole was killed last week following a fight at the Monarch Ridge Apartment complex, an incident that was streamed on social media. (Provided)

The interview with the police chief took place one day after a fight at an apartment complex in Birmingham escalated into a shooting that left 21-year-old Asia Poole dead and a man injured. Authorities said it was all captured on videos posted to Facebook, which showed Poole in a brawl involving multiple people at the Monarch Ridge Apartments, according to Al.com.

The altercation appeared to start near a vehicle in the parking lot and then moved to a breezeway in one of the apartment buildings and continued before gunfire erupted.

“The reason we see people getting murdered in our city is just senseless,” Thurmond said. “Look at the [Poole] homicide. The young lady, she’s 21 years old, and another female are engaged in a physical altercation. Somehow that turns into gunfire. [Poole] is dead, another [person] is shot. [Poole] had a 1-year-old that now has no mother. … This is senseless.”

Police said they documented 168 rounds fired in that shooting, according to AL.com. Residents and witnesses described the shooting as “something out of a movie” and said it appeared to be premeditated. There were multiple shooters, they said, some wearing masks and armed with assault-type rifles and guns with Glock switches. (A Glock switch, according to the GunZone.com, is “a device used to modify a Glock pistol to allow for automatic firing.”)

The mentality of some perpetrators is totally different than most, Thurmond said.

“Killing someone is not a big deal for them,” the police chief said, “Talk to the guys on the street now about having a gun, [and they say things like], ‘Well, I have to have a gun because everybody else has a gun, so I have to level-up.’ … ‘If I didn’t carry a gun, they all have guns. I may be a great fist fighter, but that’s not going to stop bullets.’ … ‘I have to get the biggest, baddest gun I can because a lot of other people have the biggest, baddest guns.’”

In addition to making arrests, the challenge for police is to determine “the root cause” behind the gun violence, Thurmond said.

“Is there something that the police or some group can do to get out in front and stop that thing from occurring? … It’s just disturbing that these simple little things are leading to people losing their lives. As a law enforcement leader, it makes you want to beat your head against wall,” said Thurmond.

Anyone with information about a homicide incident is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. Your call will be anonymous, and you could receive a reward.

Birmingham Blocks Streets in East Lake to Reduce Crime. But Can it Save Lives?

Birmingham Times

August 29, 2024

Alaina 1 — Birmingham has put up barriers at 18 entry points and alleys within the East Lake neighborhood as part of the Safe Streets initiative. Since the initiative’s launch in July 2024, the barriers have been a hot topic for many East Lake residents. (Alaina Bookman, AL.com)

By Alaina Bookman | abookman@al.com

This is another installment in Birmingham Times/AL.com/CBS42 joint series “Beyond the Violence: what can be done to address Birmingham’s rising homicide rate.” Sign up for the newsletter here.”

For weeks, cars have tried to drive into Birmingham’s East Lake neighborhood, only to be stopped by road closed signs and bright yellow concrete barriers.

Project Safe Streets is a City of Birmingham four-month pilot program that aims to make the neighborhood and city safer by controlling and limiting access points to the neighborhood. Officials hope to deter speeding, shootings, theft, prostitution and violent crime. City officials also are identifying abandoned properties and illegal dumping sites for cleanup and revitalization. The city has put up barriers at 18 entry points and alleys within the neighborhood.

Since the initiative’s launch in July, the barriers have been a hot topic for many East Lake residents. For some residents, the barriers are a nuisance and a punishment. For others, they are a symbol of safety and hope.

Marquis Tucker has lived in East Lake for 23 years and was one of the artists who painted the barriers with black and red abstract shapes, green peace lilies and children. He said the barriers represent a future for his 2-year-old son.

“Painting the children onto these barriers not only reminds us of the losses we’ve had to violent crimes but shows that there’s a future that is still living in these communities that deserve to see tomorrow,” Tucker said.

“I think the barriers are definitely a great thing to have in place. Something needed to be done and things have improved a lot.”

Birmingham is on track to have the most number of homicides in a year in recent memory; so far in 2024, 108 people have been killed, including 8 justifiable death rulings and eight children who have been killed. The youngest victim was 5-year-old Landon Brooks, who died after being shot.

The other seven children were Markell Sanders, 15; Aston Starky, 13; Jonathan O’Dell Thomas Jr., 18; Jaylin Lee Jenkins, 16; Jaquavius James Weston, 18; Cornelia Rose Lathan, 15; and Prentice Lovell Little, 15.

East Lake has seen several violent crimes and deaths in recent months; in May, before the barriers were deployed, a 10-year-old boy was shot while walking in East Lake Park.

In June, Kameron Connell, 30, was shot and killed in an East Lake parking lot near a dice game.

Later that same month, a shootout on First Avenue North in front of East Lake Park left Martavius Williams, 19, dead and two other people seriously injured. Shot Spotter registered more than 50 rounds fired.

The city’s homicide spike comes as many cities across the United States have reported a decrease in violent crimes.

Marquis Tucker has lived in East Lake for 23 years and was one of the artists who painted the barriers as part of Birmingham’s 2024 Safe Streets initiative. He said the barriers represent a future for his 2-year-old son. (Alaina Bookman, AL.com)

Measuring Success

Since the implementation of the Safe Streets initiative, the city has hauled more than 292 tons of trash to the landfill, made more than 45 arrests, identified over 35 structures for condemnation, cut over 120 overgrown lots and written more than 100 traffic violations just in the East Lake area, according to city officials.

“We do see some impact being made,” Alicia Lumpkin, the City of Birmingham director of process improvement, said.

Mayor Randall Woodfin told AL.com in July that the city would track and assess the effectiveness of the East Lake program at the end of the pilot to determine if the initiative will continue or if the city will reopen the streets.

The city will track information from the police department’s Shot Spotter program, 911 calls and incidents of illegal dumping to compare to previous years to determine if the barriers made a substantial difference.

City officials will also periodically check in on residents to gauge their opinions.

Resident Responses

Before putting up the barriers, City of Birmingham officials canvassed the East Lake neighborhood and hosted neighborhood meetings to hear from residents about their thoughts and gain their support on the initiative.

Warren Seay, who has lived in East Lake for 21 years, said Woodfin came to his door in June to talk to him. He told the mayor he didn’t want the barriers.

“Everybody on this block told him we didn’t like it and he still did it,” Seay said. “I’m handicapped and I have to go all around the world just to get out of my own neighborhood. I have to go way out of my way just to get home.”

Lumpkin said city officials mostly heard support, so in early July, workers placed the barriers.

“We decided to try out a pilot program to see if we can curb some of these issues happening in the community. The goal is to stop so many people from just going straight through the community, committing crimes and then leaving,” Lumpkin said.

Virginia Morgan and Mary Buchanan said they never heard from the city before the barriers went up. They left their homes one day only to find that they were blocked into their own neighborhood.

“To me, it feels like I’m being punished just for living there. And it feels less safe to me…It prevents people who live here from driving in and out of our own neighborhood. It makes me feel trapped,” Morgan said.

“I feel like I’m in a prison camp,” Seay agreed.

Buchanan, who has lived in East Lake for 25 years, said she thinks the barricades are “ridiculous” because she believes there is not a lot of crime on her side of the neighborhood.

Morgan, Buchanan and Seay said they are concerned they won’t be able to quickly navigate out of the neighborhood during an emergency or that police and firefighters will take too long to reach a resident in need because of the barriers.

“I had to U-turn five different times to get to where I was going because of the barricades,” Buchanan said.

At a community meeting at the beginning of August, one resident said the barriers were “thoroughly confusing.”

But other residents said they have seen the barriers make a positive difference.

Felisa Woods, an East Lake resident, was in a car accident that totaled her car after a reckless driver ran a stop sign on Division Ave.

“By having those streets blocked, they have cut a lot of the speeding and people just running the stop sign,” Woods said.

As a part of the Safe Streets initiative, the city added four-way stop signs, barriers and speed bumps onto Division Ave.

“My kids feel a lot safer playing outside because that roadblock is there. I see the police patrolling the neighborhood more. I see less trash. I’ve seen a lot of positive things,” Woods said.

Next Steps

The Safe Streets initiative is similar to one launched in 2023 by the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District where streets were closed with concrete barriers to limit easy access to high-crime areas.

“Since installing these blockages, there’s been a night and day difference in criminal activity. Children can play outside safely. Residents are safer. The initiative has been very effective in the reduction of crime,” Ken Foreman, director of public safety with the housing authority, said.

Research has found that offenders are less likely to commit crime in areas that are unfamiliar and difficult to access. Drive-by shootings may be prevented because cars cannot easily enter a roadblocked street.

Birmingham is not the first city to implement roadblocks as a crime deterrent. Other cities have had mixed results with their own initiatives over the years.

In 1992, a Dayton, Ohio neighborhood, deployed a street closure initiative and witnessed a 40% decline in violent crime within one year.

In 2000, Charlotte, North Carolina, started a similar initiative with only two barricades on the neighborhood’s busiest routes. Within one year, the neighborhood saw a 54% reduction in violent offenses.

Despite the initiative’s success, pressure from residents who believed the barriers were not a substitute for policing resulted in the discontinuation of the project.

In 2022, Jackson, Mississippi had to make changes to their “Ticket Arrest Tow” initiative after a class action lawsuit claimed that the roadblocks violated Black residents’ rights, according to a Mississippi Free Press report.

The East Lake Safe Streets pilot will end in October. While some residents will be glad to see the barriers go, others will want them to stay.

Alaina Bookman’s violence prevention reporting at AL.com is supported by grants and individual donations.

One of Birmingham’s Longest-Serving City Councilors Announces Retirement

Birmingham Times

August 29, 2024

ValerieAbbott — City Council District 3 Councilor Valerie Abbott has announced her retirement after 20 years on the Birmingham City Council. (File)

By Barnett Wright

The Birmingham Times

One of Birmingham’s longest serving elected officials has announced her retirement.

City Councilor, Valerie Abbott, who has represented Birmingham’s District 3 since 2001, said she plans to step down after her current term ends next year. She has served 6 terms, with each term lasting four years, and worked with six mayors beginning with Bernard Kincaid in 2001 through Randall Woodfin, the current mayor.

Her 24 years on the council at the end of this term is second only to William Bell’s 25 (1979–2001 and 2005–2008) as far as longevity in the City of Birmingham.

“It’s time for me to step aside and let a younger person begin the public service journey,” she said. “It takes a couple of terms to really learn how the public sector functions, because it’s not like the private sector. I have been searching for a successor for several years now, because I can’t leave in good conscience unless District 3 is in capable, honest hands.”

Abbott currently serves as chair of the Planning and Zoning Committee and a member of the Administration, Budget and Finance, Governmental Affairs and Public Information, Public Improvements and Beautification committees.

She is a former council president who worked for AT&T Services for nearly 45 years before retiring in 2018. The Birmingham native, who grew up in Glen Iris, served as a neighborhood officer for about 19 years.

She was first inspired to run for city council after seeing the work of former District 3 Councilor David Herring. “I just admired the way he handled it,” she said in an interview and recalled that Herring was professional and “very careful” about spending city money.

Abbott decided she would run for the city council when Herring retired. She faced Jimmy Blake in the 1993 municipal election and lost. She lost again four years later.

“The next time I ran I thought, OK, third time is either a charm, or you are going to take the hint,” Abbott said. “And I won.”

Abbott developed a reputation for seldom missing council or neighborhood meetings or city events and regularly stayed in touch with her constituents. She said she is told all the time that she is the “voice of reason” on the council.

“I think that is going to be on my tombstone – the voice of reason – because so many people say that,” she said.

Fallout From Alabama’s Anti-DEI Law: College Offices Close, Websites Scrubbed

Birmingham Times

August 29, 2024

City0829_print — At University of Alabama System campuses, former DEI staff have moved to new offices, which will focus on “access” and “engagement.” (1819 News, Brian Moats)

By Rebecca Griesbach | rgriesbach@al.com

As freshmen thumbed through dorm posters and shopped for school supplies at the University of Alabama’s student center during the first week of school, other spaces in the building were noticeably empty.

References to “diversity” have been scrubbed from office name plates. All signage had been removed from the once-bustling Black Student Union office. The former Safe Zone Resource Center, formerly filled with books, Pride flags and portraits of LGBTQ trailblazers, is now just an ordinary conference room.

The offices have been closed and “will not be relocated,” according to the university.

“We are saddened by this loss – not just of a physical space, but of a place where we have gathered, shared, and built a community rooted in our shared experiences, struggles, and triumphs,” BSU President Jordan Stokes wrote in a statement on Instagram Wednesday. The organization was established in 1968.

“Our office was more than just four walls; it was a haven for all of us, a place where we could be ourselves, support one another, and celebrate our culture and heritage.”

The changes stem from a state law, signed by Gov. Kay Ivey in March, that stops state institutions and universities from using public funding for diversity, equity and inclusion offices, or for any DEI programming that advocates for a so-called “divisive concept.”

“I refuse to allow a few bad actors on college campuses – or wherever else for that matter – to go under the acronym of DEI, using taxpayer funds, to push their liberal political movement counter to what the majority of Alabamians believe,” the governor told media in March, and reiterated again to AL.com in August.

The law takes effect Oct. 1. Alabama now joins Texas and Florida, which also have strict anti-DEI laws aimed at state colleges. In those states, some student support programs also have been rolled back.

So far, six Alabama universities have announced plans to dissolve diversity departments, impacting roughly 50 employees. Some eliminated the offices entirely, leaving staff to apply for open positions elsewhere. At University of Alabama System campuses, former DEI staff have moved to new offices, which will focus on “access” and “engagement.”

In response to questions, University of Alabama System representatives said officials at the three campuses will continue to “serve and provide supportive resources to all campus community members” as they work to become fully compliant with the law.

But some students say that hasn’t been the case.

And for much of the summer, they have awaited more answers about which services would stay, and which ones would go. As students return to class, many questions remain.

“There’s so many unknowns that it’s almost terrifying in a way, because nobody knows exactly how this is going to go,” said Neph Irvin, a junior at the University of Alabama at Huntsville, as they prepared for move-in this month.

‘Losing An Asset’

In January, student journalist Brychelle Brooks covered the 60th anniversary of Auburn’s integration. Student Harold Franklin attended classes for a year in 1964, before leaving for another university that would support his research.

Brooks wrote for The Auburn Plainsman that President Christopher Roberts was “proud of the steps this institution has made” in terms of diversifying the campus; the college, like others across the state, had expanded its DEI office in recent years.

But by the end of the school year, she said his tone changed.

“The week that the bill was passed, he sort of backtracked and said we were going to follow it no matter what legislation was passed,” she said.

This month, Auburn closed its Office of Inclusion and Diversity and reassigned staff. A news statement said leaders “remain resolute in our commitment to deliver exceptional experiences and to support all students, with particular emphasis on providing access and opportunity.”

Today, Auburn remains the least racially diverse public university in Alabama.

Just 5 percent of Auburn’s students are Black – a percentage that has shrunk in the past decade. Hispanic students make up 4 percent of the population, and Asian students make up 3 percent. Brooks said she rarely has a class where she isn’t the only student of color in the room.

A spokesman for the university did not respond to a request for comment about any new plans to improve those metrics, services impacted or additional guidance shared with students and staff.

Drake Pooley, a graduate who was involved in some of the college’s early diversity efforts, is now an investment manager who, while in graduate school, spent several months examining higher education funding in Alabama.

He said Auburn’s lack of diversity could be helped by directing funding toward needs-based scholarships, data-driven programs and targeted outreach, rather than tearing down an office that costs a just fraction of the campus’s operating budget.

“Everybody treats problems nationally nowadays, and so they see what’s happening at Berkeley, and they think that that’s happening at Auburn,” he said. “And these are two different worlds.”

A year after campuses across the state celebrated progress made since the first students successfully integrated the University of Alabama, the University of North Alabama and Auburn, some universities scrubbed links to student scholarships, retention programs and faculty affinity groups, among other offerings.

“Diversity” And “Equity” Removed

An AL.com review found that at least 30 resources formerly provided by UA System campus DEI offices are no longer accounted for on university websites.

The University of Alabama removed references to “diversity” and “equity” from its strategic goals and has shifted some retention and enrollment efforts to focus more on students’ class than their race, AL.com found. The university also appears to have deleted its diversity plan altogether.
In response to questions about those changes, officials at each of the three UA System campuses provided the same response in July:

“Initiatives, programs and responsibilities across campus that do not comply with applicable new law will be discontinued or modified,” the statement read. “Beyond the announced closure of the DEI office, it is premature to comment on other programs as compliance efforts are ongoing. Officials are in the process of meeting with individuals regarding impacted areas and working with them to implement necessary changes to ensure compliance.”

By the beginning of the school year, as campuses began to give guidance to students and organizations, the situation didn’t become much clearer.

Different campuses have made different changes, but one impact has been clear: Less funding for student organizations working on racial diversity, LGBTQ support and multicultural education.

Miguel Luna, a junior at UAB, serves on the student government, where students are working to find out how to support a number of student organizations that have recently lost university funding.

His own organization, Esperanza, was originally founded to improve retention rates of Hispanic students, which make up about 6 percent of the student population. In his role, he has been able to connect students with internships and raise awareness of issues that affect the school’s growing Hispanic community.

Esperanza, like many student groups, also relied on some funding and partnerships through the school’s DEI office to host events and programs. Now, Luna says, he thinks he will have to find hundreds of dollars to cover food and travel for upcoming events.

“These programs are supposed to be for improving retention and graduation rates, and trying to provide more opportunities for people to take their rightful seat at the table,” he said. “But with these programs gone, I think we’re going to start seeing communities that have begun to heal start to get more hurt.”

AL.com’s Alaina Bookman contributed reporting.

What Red and Green Channel Markers Mean on the Water

Birmingham Times

August 29, 2024

As we end our summer series on water safety, our final focus will be on the road signs of the water – red and green markers. Most of the markers and buoys you will see will be either red or green, and these colors help identify which side you will want to pass them on to remain in a channel.

As a general rule of thumb, when you are heading from open water to inland water, or heading upstream in a river, you will want to keep the red markers to your right and the green ones to your left. So, when you are heading from the ocean into a bay, or from a bay into a creek, harbor, or port, the red markers belong on your right side.

Red Colors, Lights & Even Numbers – these mark the edge or the channel on the starboard (right) side as you enter from open sea or travel upstream.

Green Colors, Lights & Odd Numbers – the edge of the channel is on the port (left) side as you enter from open seas or travel upstream.

Red & Green Colors with Lights – these aids of navigation are located at the junction of two channels and indicate the preferred channel where they split. In this case, the color that’s highest on the markers indicate the preferred or primary channel.

Hence, the old saying, “red right returning.” This universal phrase helps inexperienced boaters to learn how to navigate and use the aids. This expression refers to the fact that when entering a channel from the open sea or proceeding upstream, a boater must keep the red aids on the starboard (right) side of the boat.

There are variations to the U.S. Coast Guard AIS. When on the Mississippi River and its tributaries above Baton Rouge, La., and several other rivers flowing into the Gulf of Mexico, boaters must follow a system called the Western Rivers Marking System. Numbers displayed below daymarks along this system are not associated with the right or left side of the channel. Instead, these numbers indicate distance from the river’s mouth.

An exception is the Ohio River, where they indicate distance for the headwaters.
The Intercoastal Waterway (ICW) is a chain of local channels linked together to provide an inland passage along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Channels that are part of the ICW are identified by yellow symbols on channel buoys and markers. Note that the color of the buoys will typically correspond to the “red, right, returning” scheme.

Play it safe by Keeping an Eye on Safety. When you encounter a colored buoy, read it, react accordingly and you will be a safe boater.

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

Birmingham Times

August 29, 2024

PPT0829 2 — Jermaine "Funnymaine" Johnson (Provided)

By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times

TODAY…
**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!
**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.
**OPEN MIC THURSDAYS with EUNICE ELLIOTT, 7 p.m. at StarDome Comedy Club.
**SISTER CITIES SHOWCASE with COMEDIANS FUNNYMAINE AND JOEY LYCETT – From Birmingham, Alabama to Birmingham UK. Live taping to be aired on Skymax in the UK at the StarDome Comedy Club.
**OPEN MIC THURSDAY with EUNICE ELLIOTT.
**GLADYS IMPROV at Saturn.
**LAST WAVE INDIE NIGHT at the Nick featuring ALEXA FONTAINE, DANNY HAMMONS, COLBY REGISTER & TBA at The Nick Rocks.
**EVERY THURSDAY LATE NIGHT with GRACE & ANANDA at The Nick Rocks.
**ALABAMA BLAZIN BINGO, 6 p.m. at Overtime Grill and Bar.
**FILM at Sidewalk Film.
**KARAOKE WITH JOSEPH, 7 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

FRIDAY…
**INSPIRE BANQUET 2024, the Pastoral Anniversary Honoring Rev. D. Kurt Clark, Sr., featuring Dr. A.B. Sutton, 6 p.m. at the Avondale West, on Bessemer Superspeedway, in Midfield.
**THE YELLOW DANDIES, 6 p.m. at Elysian Gardens.
**ROARING 20’s Gatsby Murder, 6:30 p.m. at Arlington historic House and Gardens.
**THE EMO NIGHT TOUR. 8 p.m. at Zydeco.
**GOGOL BORDELLO at Iron City.
**GIMME GIMME DISCO at Saturn.
**BIRMINGHAM ARTWALK 2024, 5 p.m. downtown on 20th Street North.
**THE RUGS, PORTICO, The PSYCHES, 7:30 p.m. at WorkPlay.
**DANIEL CHAMPAGNE, 8 p.m. The Upstairs at Avondale Brewing Co.
**BADFLOWER – NO PLACE LIKE HOME TOUR 2024, 7 p.m. at Iron City
**LADIES SOIRAVE at The Nick Rocks.

SATURDAY…
**KARAOKE SATURDAYS, 3 p.m. at 3605 Gray Avenue, Adamsville, with the ALL-EN ONE BBQ with Chef Randy ”Dee” Allen and The Lovely LaToria at the 7 Angels Coffee & Smoothie Café.
**PURPLE MADNESS -TRIBUTE TO PRINCE at Iron City.
**LEVELS HOUSE PARTY at Saturn.
**TO INFINITY AND BEYOND AFTERS with DJ LEMON BELOVED Late Night Party, 11:55 p.m. at The Nick Rocks.
**Q DOT JAXXXON AND FRIENDS at The Nick Rocks.

SUNDAY…
**EASE BACK 4th SUNDAYS, 5 p.m. at True Story Brewing.
**COLD HARD STEEL and AUTOLITH at Saturn
**CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR JIMMY PALMER at The Nick Rocks.
**BENJAMIN ARMSTRONG at the Nick Rocks.
**EVERY 4TH SUNDAY TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH at The Nick Rocks.

MONDAY…
**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at the Nick.

TUESDAY…
**ZOO CULTURE: THE DELIVERY TOUR , 7:30 p.m. Upstairs at Avondale Brewing Co.
**BIRMINGHAM SONGWRITER’S ROUND with Host SUSANNAH SEALS at The Nick Rocks.
**JOSE CARR EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT at True Story Brewing.

WEDNESDAY…
**DJ BLESSED DREGS GOTH DANCE NIGHT at Saturn.
**REAL FUNNY COMEDY WEDNESDAYS at True Story Brewing. Sign up at 7:30 p.m.
**FIGHT CLUB OPEN DECK with Host LEMON BELOVED! EVERY Wednesday at The Nick Rocks.

NEXT THURSDAY…
**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!
**TAUREN WELLS & DANNY GOKEY- THE TAKEBACK TOUR, 7 p.m. at BJCC.
**HALF DREAM, JUCO & PEOPLE YEARS at The Nick Rocks.
**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.
**OPEN MIC THURSDAYS with EUNICE ELLIOTT, 7 p.m. at StarDome Comedy Club.
**THE LIE WITHIN CALLIE – Album Release Party at Saturn.

NEXT FRIDAY…
**BADFLOWER at Iron City.
**BMR presents MICHAEL MARCAGI at Saturn.
**STEVIE TOMBSTONE with SCOTT IVEY at The Nick Rocks.
**LADIES DOIRAVE at the Nick Rocks.

COMING TO BIRMINGHAM FROM AROUND THE WORLD…

**COMEDY FROM UNITED KINGDOM …TODAY – SISTER CITIES SHOWCASE from Birmingham, England to Birmingham, Alabama at the StarDome Comedy. This is a live taping to be aired on Skymax in the UK. Comedians JERMAINE JOHNSON and JOEY LYCETT will take the stage for a hilarious performance, starting at 7 p.m.
**MUSIC FROM ICELAND – SEPTEMBER 25 – KALEO – PAYBACK TOUR, at the Avondale Brewery. The Icelandic rockers KALAEO will kick their world tour off in the States and is coming to Birmingham. Emerging from Reykavik, KALEO.

THIS WEEK…
**CARIBBEAN MUSIC with TRINI FRESH, DJ PUMPKIN and RICH MUZIC at JAMAICA BAMA REGGAE BLOCK PARTY, 7 p.m. Saturday at Black Creek Tavern in Fultondale, 1731 Decatur Highway. If you love Caribbean food and drink, come and grab a rum punch and pineapple bowl and enjoy the Caribbean Party for Adults ONLY. There will be JERK CHICKEN AND SHRIMP (Specials 7-9 p.m.) Hosted by Rich Muzic, with Island Vibe Beats by TRINI FRESH/DJ PUMPKIN. There is a Limbo Line contest. FOR PARTY BUS INFO, call or text 205-538-1533 OR 205-427-0710. (If you are experiencing any symptoms associated with respiratory illness, including shortness of breath, fever, or cough, they ask that you stay home.)

**MAGIC CITY CLASSIC PARADE REGISTRATION ENDS, Sunday, September 1st. Register at magiccityclassic.com. Join the Streets of downtown Birmingham, Saturday October 26 and prepare to be entertained by the best bands, dance teams and entertainment around. The parade will be led by the McDonald’s float carrying celebrities and the game Ambassador; the parade will be broadcast LIVE on Fox 6 in Birmingham and Gray Television in Huntsville, Montgomery, Dothan and Mobile.

AROUND TOWN….
**SEPTEMBER 7 – PAW PATROL LOVE! “HEROES UNITE” at BJCC.
**SEPTEMBER 7 – BARE HANDS, INC. MEMORIAL ALTER: at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.
**SEPTEMBER 7 – END OF ALL, 9 p.m. at The Nick.
**SEPTEMBER 7- LOCAL MAN w/SPC PXMOOR. 8 – 11:55 p.m. at Elysian Gardens.
**SEPTEMBER 8 – BITTER CALM with MOOD ROOM & MIGHTY MENACE, 8 p.m. at Earth Libraries on 41st Street North at Saturn.
**SEPTEMBER 8 – BILMURI, 8 p.m. at Iron City.
**SEPTEMBER 13 – 2024 Arts Block Party, 5 p.m. at the Alys Stephens Center.

FOR THE LOVE OF FOOD…
**SEPTEMBER 16 – FOOD TRUCK INFORMATIONAL SESSION, 2 p.m. at Sloss Furnaces Visitors Center, 20-32nd Street North. Learn the new mandatory requirements coming this fall. The new permitting process for 2025, Updates on Magic City Classic and business licensing, and more. Register at: register@birminghamal.gov. For more information, go to www.birminghamal.gov/foodtruck.

FOR ART LOVERS….
**SEPTEMBER 28 – RHYTHMS OF COLOR Art Festival & Student Art Competition, 5- 9 p.m. at the Harbert Center.

FOR NATURE LOVERS…
FRESHWATER LAND TRUST will have a few things for you to get involved in during the coming month, starting today…

**TODAY – INAUGURAL ‘CALL ME TRIMTAB’ event will highlight TrimTabs in our community, 5 p.m. for a panel discussion and short-film viewing that showcases the TrimTabs that care for our rivers and waterways. Panelists include Cindy Lowry, Rusha Smith, Jake Lasseter, Charles Scribner and David Butler.

**SEPTEMBER 14 – MULGA LOOP ROAD, 10 a.m. 12 p.m. you can join neighbors for the litter Clean-Up at Mulga Loop and surrounding roadways. It is focused on removing litter from the roadways to prevent litter being washed by rain or carried by wind into Village Creek and Bayview Lake. Volunteers are asked to drive to a designated area and work in groups. Certificates for 8 hours of community service will be available after event. Materials are provided: t-shirts, safety vests, gloves, trash bags, trash grabbers and bottled water. Register at Minor Community Center, 3105 Church Avenue, 35224. For more info, contact Jefferson County’s Stormwater Program at 205-325-8741.

**SEPTEMBER 20 – ANNUAL ENDANGERED SPECIES TOUR, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. will go to six unique sites throughout Jefferson County to observe the endangered fish: watercress, rush and vermilion darters. Presenters include Bernie Kuhajda of the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute, Jeffrey Drummond from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Charlie Scribner from Black Warrior plus more. The Alabama Forestry Foundation will provide lunch. Register FREE. Transportation and lunch is provided with registration.

**ADOPT-A-TRAIL Program is for families, neighborhoods, business groups of all kinds to help keep the RED ROCK TRAIL SYSTEM clean, safe and enjoyable. Possible trails include: Shades Creek Greenway, high Ore Line West and Birmingham Eastside Ecogardens. Contact Savannah at savannah.thompson @freshwaterlandtrust.org.

FOR YOUTH…JOBS AND CAREERS… PLEASE SHARE THIS!!!
**TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY —LEAD EARLY BIRMINGHAM 2024-2025 COHORT APPLICATION deadline is August 30. Apply at www.bhamyouthfirst.or/leadearly. This is for families and children ages birth through five. To learn more visit bhamyouthfirst.org/leadearly-birmingham/ OR call 205-320-0879 OR email: dys@birminghamal.gov.

**SAFE HAVEN INITIATIVE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM is Monday through Wednesday for grades K-5 beginning September 9, 3:30- 7 p.m. that will provide reading initiative, chess club, homework help, creative writing and tutoring. It will be in Central Park, Ensley, Memorial, Hawkins, Fountain Heights, or ML King. Call 205-254-2391 for location and more information. This is a Birmingham Parks and Recreation After School Program.

**FALL TRADE EXPO 2024 – Looking for career opportunities? Then this is for you. UAB’s TRIO Educational Opportunity Center’s Fall Trade Expo 2024 is September 5, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. with plumbing, GED, CNA, PST, CDL, Cosmetology, welding and more, at the Birmingham downtown Library, at 2100 Park Place North. Sign up for a trade or apply for a job. For more information, contact Rico Drakes at 205-224-7571 or rdrakes@uab.edu.

**STRIVE BIRMINGHAM, a 10 week, NO COST PROGRAM to start a career in Healthcare and Office Operations. Program includes training, certifications and job placement assistance, earn-as-you-learn incentives for students and lifetime support services for graduates. Strive helps people facing the biggest societal barriers to employment obtain the training and support they need to build a career. Visit www.strive.org/birmingham OR contact birmingham@strive.org.

**BETTERHELP – Think Big Foundation and BetterHelp are bringing you free therapy. Betterhelp removes the traditional barriers to therapy to give everyone access to affordable and convenient mental health care – 100% online. Think Big Foundation has partnered with BetterHelp to offer 3-months of free therapy to support you and give you a head start on your mental wellness journey. Starting therapy for the first time is something to be proud of, but it can also feel daunting. Here are a few reminders about the process: Your therapist isn’t here to judge you. BE honest and be authentically you. It’s ok to start therapy even if you feel like you don’t have lots to talk about. Figuring out your goals is part of the process. Your therapist cares about who you are and how you’re doing. The relationship between you is where a lot of the most important work happens. Switching therapists is totally ok. You can switch anytime and as many times as you need to find the right fit. Go to betterhelp.com/voucher and type in: think-big. Have a question? Email contact@betterhelp.com.

**BIRMINGHAM CAREER CENTER WORK BASED LEARNING is short-term training on the job for young adults. Employers benefit also. Information of what or how you can help is available. Young adults develop occupational skills through worksite instruction & supervised job tasks in a structured, paid work experience. (Earn while you learn.) It is available to in-school and out-of-school youth and can be part time, full-time, internship, summertime and more. Go to the Birmingham Career Center, 3216 4th Avenue S, Birmingham, 35222 OR Call 205-582-5200. TODAY!

**BE THE PEACE COMMON GROUND INITIATIVE will help empower youth in Birmingham City Schools. Common ground is a restorative justice program.

**BROOKS LAW GROUP CAR ACCIDENT SCHOLARSHIP is accepting application for their annual Car Accident Scholarship. It is open to high school seniors and undergraduate students. The deadline for applications is December 31. The scholarship amount that will be awarded is $1,000.

Well, that’s it. Tell you more ‘next’ time. People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send your contact info with your events, your things of interest and more to: gwenderu@yahoo.com and thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com.

“The way I’m running my jam session is the way I was taught.”

Birmingham Times

August 29, 2024

JOSE CARR, ALABAMA JAZZ HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE WHOSE HIGH SCHOOL BAND DIRECTOR PLAYED FOR TRUMPETER AND VOCALIST LOUIS ARMSTRONG; ALABAMANEWSCENTER.COM, AUGUST 22.

4th Arrest Made in Connection of Young Mom Gunned Down in Birmingham

Birmingham Times

August 28, 2024

MonarchRidge 1a — A 21-year-old mother, was tragically killed last week following a fight at the Monarch Ridge Apartment complex. (AL.com)

By Bria Chatman | WBRC

Asia Poole, a 21-year-old mother, was tragically killed last week following a fight at the Monarch Ridge Apartment complex, an incident that was streamed on social media.

Following the arrest of four individuals by the Birmingham Police Department, including one on Tuesday, Councilor Clinton Woods has expressed a strong desire to see more action taken at the complex to prevent such incidents from happening again.

In 2021, the city attorneys sued the Monarch Ridge apartment complex, and as part of the settlement, the complex was supposed to share its camera feed with the Birmingham Police Department’s real-time crime center and provide information from its license plate readers. However, the police department has stated that this cooperation never occurred.

Although Chief Scott Thurmond confirmed that the complex has cameras, he mentioned that the police still have no access to them. The original settlement agreement from 2021 was meant to last for a year, but it is currently uncertain whether any parts of the settlement were fulfilled by the apartment complex. Woods highlighted the significance of Asia Poole’s murder and stressed the need for changes to address ongoing issues at the complex.

“You’re talking about a murder. They killed someone and they could’ve killed multiple people and there was no reason for it. So looking at the totality of the situation and what could’ve been done to prevent this. We’re having conversations with the property owner there as well as the community and we need to understand what’s been going on. It has been quiet when you lose a life that should not have been lost things have to change,” adds Clinton.

He says that the Birmingham Police Department, the city’s attorneys’ office, and the property owners are now collaborating to find solutions to ensure the safety of the apartment complex.

Nonprofit Picks Up Tab as Shoppers Get $55 Worth of Free Groceries in Fairfield

Birmingham Times

August 28, 2024

_DSC4485 — Theresa Valentine, left, and Barbara Gary shop during the grocery giveaway, created by Cara McClure hosted at the Carver Jones Market in Fairfield. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | For The Birmingham Times

Charles and Maryland Voltz were among several dozen residents who stood in line Tuesday morning for $55 worth of free groceries from Carver Jones Market, a recently opened and Black-owned business in Fairfield.

The couple said they have lived in nearby Belwood for nearly 42 years and it feels “wonderful to have a grocery store so close to home,” said Charles Voltz. “When we first moved to Fairfield there was a lot of good things here. It’s taken a dip over the years but … It’s good to be on the up and go,”

After the closure of Walmart in the city, the couple did their shopping in neighboring communities like McCalla and Hueytown, and that left the city of approximately 10,000 without a local grocery store.

James Harris, President and CEO of Carver Jones Market. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

But now James Harris, President and CEO of Carver Jones is giving Fairfield residents a place to shop for groceries. The Carver Jones Market is named for George Washington Carver and Fredrick McKinely Jones, two Black inventors.

Customers can find everything in the market they expect from other national chains as well as affordable, private label options. “It took seven years for myself and my team [to open] what we thought would work in an environment like Fairfield where you need a smaller grocery store,” said Harris. “There are no grocery stores at all and we were invited to come and start here. It is a passion to see things change and to try to change them.”

The Voltz couple along with the first 55 senior citizens and single parents received $55 worth of free groceries thanks to ReVote Community Voter Project presented by Faith and Works Founder, Cara McClure, who was celebrating her 55th birthday and a decade of activism by giving back.

“This is huge. We’re meeting several needs. People are always asking how we keep our community safe. Feeding people keeps our community safe and cuts down on crime,” McClure said. “We want to end hunger in the communities, and we want to make sure we promote fresh fruits and vegetables while also supporting a Black owned business. Fairfield was a food desert and now they have a grocery store, but we got to make sure that people know about it,” she said.

From left, Charles Voltz; Cara McClure, Faith and Works founder, who was celebrating her 55th birthday, and Maryland Voltz, at Carver Jones Market in Fairfield. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Founded in 2019 and launched in 2020, Faith and Works serves as a social justice and civic engagement organization.

McClure said she knows firsthand the challenges of being a single parent and wanted to do something for her community. “I wanted to find a way to support a Black owned grocery store while helping the community I love. I am a single parent and I’m near being a senior,” she said.

“I’m also celebrating 10 years of activism,” she added. “In December 2014, was the rise of Black Lives Matter [movement]. That’s when I started and I’m one of the co-founders of the Black Lives Matter Birmingham chapter. After years of BLM, I realized that there was something missing in all the meetings and all of the organizations. It was either power or it was either prayer. To me there was a gap between the church and activism and that created Faith and Works for me.”

Carver Jones is located at 4800 Gary Avenue in Fairfield, Alabama.

‘You Know That I Love You, and Want to Spend the Rest of My Life With You, Right?’

Birmingham Times

August 28, 2024

BY JE’DON HOLLOWAY-TALLEY | Special to the Birmingham Times

BRITTANY AND JOSEPH HOLLIS

Live: Birmingham/Norwood

Married: Jan. 6, 2019

Met: Fall 2010, at a Kappa party near Alabama A&M University’s campus in Huntsville. Brittany was beginning her sophomore year, and Joseph was beginning his senior year. They did not formally meet that night, but Brittany thought Joseph was attractive and “went on a search” to inquire about him through his line brother, who then passed along her number to Joseph. When Joseph called, “We talked for hours,” said Brittany.

“The thing that resonated with me is that he is the first guy that ever introduced himself to me using his full name… He called me and said, ‘I’m Joseph Matthew Hollis’ and explained how he got my number, and that stood out to me,” Brittany said. “We talked like we knew each other, we talked about random things and figured out we had a lot of commonalities, and within a week we decided to meet.”

They arranged a quick meet-up at Normal Hills student apartments on campus. “It was really funny… I didn’t want to go because [my friend and I] were leaving the rec center and had just finished working out and I thought I looked busted, but my friend talked me into it,” Brittany said.

“I look for a person’s true self, so [her appearance] was cool by me. We just sat out there and got a feel for each other and it was a cool meeting, and we saw each other again within a couple of days,” Joseph said.

First date: Early September 2010, at the Parkway Mall in Huntsville.

“Brittany said she had never had a smoothie from Planet Smoothie, and I was like, ‘shoot let’s go then’. That was the perfect cheap little first date. We walked around the mall and talked,” Joseph said.

“He took me to a place that I’d never been before and I thought that was pretty cool because he listened to me [during conversation]. I also liked that he came and picked me up from my dorm because he didn’t live on campus…,” said Brittany.

The turn: Spring 2012. “Joseph had already graduated [the year before], and I was a junior about to be a senior and we were still talking to each other and doing the long-distance thing because he had moved back to Birmingham…,” Brittany recalled. “I had moved off campus and he was visiting and he asked me to be his girlfriend at my apartment, and then we went to the Bridge Street Mall [in Huntsville], and he bought me a Fossil watch,” she laughed.

“I don’t really remember buying the watch that day, but I was planning on making her my woman because we had been talking for a while, and it made sense. Everything was clicking and running on all cylinders, and to be honest, she was my woman way before then, “ Joseph said. “I had committed to her probably three months before I told her… That was just my way of bringing her up to speed on where I was at.”

Britney and Joseph Hollis met at a party near Alabama A&M University in 2010 and married in 2019. (Provided)

The proposal: July 21, 2018, at their shared residence in Norwood. Brittany had since graduated from A&M, completed her master’s degree at Auburn University, and moved home to Atlanta for a year, before moving to Birmingham to settle down with Joseph in the new house he’d bought for them.

“I was getting ready for work, I had an evening shift at Apple [at the Summit], and he came upstairs and was acting funny. He was like, ‘you know that I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you’, right? And I said ‘are you alright’ because I thought somebody had died,” Brittany said. “And then he started sliding off the bed and got on his knee and opened up the box and showed me the ring and said will you marry me? There was absolutely no hesitation, I said ‘yes’, and I told him I was happy no one had died,” she laughed. “Then I proceeded to go to work and was happy all day. I remember telling everybody I had gotten engaged.”

“Ultimately, it was just about moving us to the next step, we had been together a long time and had achieved a lot of milestones. We had a little dog at that time, I had bought the house and it was time for us to become an official unit,” Joseph said.

The wedding: At the Canary Gallery in Birmingham on 2nd Ave, officiated by Joseph’s best friend, Evan Fancher, and their colors were red and white.

Most memorable for the bride was arriving at her wedding and approaching her groom. “When I first walked in I remember walking up the stairs to him and I remember seeing his face when he saw me. We got married up the stairs and everybody else was on the floor at the bottom, and looking down and seeing all the beautiful faces and seeing all of our friends and family in the intimate space made the moment feel so right,” Brittany said. “And the house party [after the reception] was also one of the most memorable things…”

Most memorable for the groom was “seeing the culmination of our lives come together,” Joseph said. “We had friends come together from everywhere to witness our union, and we basically had a house party after the reception, and seeing everybody come together for that too made me feel good.”

They honeymooned in Atlanta, Georgia. “We took a ‘funny-moon’ [how they referred to their quick getaway as they did not want to consider the short trip their honeymoon]. “We just went someplace familiar and went to dinner at Two Urban Licks, and to the High Museum in Atlanta,” Brittany said.

Words of wisdom: “Never lose yourself when you get married, always remember who you are because in order to be a happy couple you have to be happy with yourself,” Brittany said. “Don’t be afraid to compromise because that’s a lot of what marriage is. And when things are hard, remember the foundation of why you guys started and continue to be who you are as a unit…”

“Don’t have unnecessary arguments, and don’t argue for the sake of arguing,” Joseph said. “You can’t make anybody happy if you’re unhappy with yourself and also realize that you can’t make your spouse happy, but it’s your job to nurture an environment where they can be happy,” Joseph said. “The environment is super important and that’s the one thing you can control. Fulfill your role (whatever that role is) so that you’re doing your part for the family, and do it to the best of your ability.”

Happily ever after: The Hollis’s have two children, a daughter, Umi, 21 months, and, a son, Yuseph, 2 months old.

Brittany, 32, is an Atlanta, GA native and Woodland High School [metro ATL] grad. She attended Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in biology, and Auburn University, where she obtained a master’s degree in science and chemistry. Brittany is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and works for Education Farm as the senior manager of community engagement.

Joseph, 35, is an East Birmingham native, and Ramsay High School grad. He attended Alabama A&M where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Joseph previously worked as an agent/broker for 12 years, and now works for the Birmingham Association of Realtors as the Education Director.

“You Had Me at Hello’’ highlights married couples and the love that binds them. If you would like to be considered for a future “Hello’’ column, or know someone, please send nominations to Barnett Wright bwright@birminghamtimes.com. Include the couple’s name, contact number(s) and what makes their love story unique.

Birmingham Personal Injury Attorney | Guster Law Firm, LLC

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