Diamond solution
Homewood’s new diverging diamond interchange on I-65 aims to untangle Lakeshore Parkway traffic
By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.
Gary Smith remembers driving through a diverging diamond interchange about a dozen years ago in Atlanta. And the Alabama Department of Transportation opened Alabama’s first diverging diamond interchange along Interstate 10 in Baldwin County in 2020. But the concept isn’t new.
Diverging diamond interchanges have been around probably at least 20 years, said Smith, ALDOT’s operations engineer for the East Central region, which includes Birmingham and Homewood.
See DIAMOND | page 22
By KARIM SHAMSI-BASHA
When tennis legend Andre Agassi called pickleball one of the greatest games ever invented, he may have been predicting what would happen next. Over the last two decades, the once-obscure paddle sport has exploded across the United States, filling parks, gyms and recreation centers with players of all ages. Now, that fast-growing craze has found a new
Deana Perkins, left, and Kiki Oneagocha play at Pickleball Kingdom.
Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
Workers are building the new diverging diamond interchange at the intersection of Interstate 65 and Lakeshore Parkway in Homewood. Photo courtesy of Alabama Department of Transportation.
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ABOUT US
Editor’s Note By Kyle Parmley
Summer is here, and particularly in July, we celebrate our country.
This July, our nation marks 250 years since a group of brave men signed their names to a document that changed the world forever. The Declaration of Independence is a piece that has stood the test of time. Plus, this will be the only time we have an excuse to master the word semiquincentennial in our lives.
Sure, we’re not a perfect country. No nation is. But the freedoms we enjoy — the ability to speak our minds, worship as we choose and build a life on our
own terms — are worth celebrating.
So this Fourth of July, fire up the grill, find a good spot for fireworks (check the events section of this paper for some options) and, if you’re like me, tune in to watch Joey Chestnut inhale an inordinate amount of hot dogs in 10 minutes. Thanks for reading! Please send me an email at kparmley@starnesmedia. com with any story ideas.
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New City Engineer Amy Zari is a problem solver
By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.
Amy Zari said she’s always been a curious person.
“Growing up as a kid, I was always just tinkering with whatever my dad had laying around the house,” Homewood’s new city engineer said. “I always was trying to figure out how things worked and how to solve problems. Just as a person, I love figuring out puzzles.
“To me, a lot of engineering is just a big puzzle,” she continued. “You’ve just got to try to solve the problem, solve equations, figure out the best solution to every problem that you have.”
Zari loved playing with Legos, taking a giant box of the interlocking plastic building blocks and building houses, cars and random objects.
“I did a lot of that, and my dad just always had random auto parts or whatever sitting around,” she recalled. “I’d get my fingers in that and mess around with that a little bit. He was probably annoyed by it.”
Zari remembers taking an elective course at Madison’s Bob Jones High School where students got to intern at an engineering company around Madison and Huntsville.
“That’s when I realized that engineering is something that I want to do and what I’m interested in,” she said. “That kickstarted my desire to attend engineering school and to get my degree.”
The aspiring engineer earned that degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. And while she has not yet sought a postgraduate degree, she said she has learned a lot from internships.
“You can only learn so much from school,” she said. “I’ve been interning since my senior year of high school, whether that’s during the summers or during the actual school semesters. That’s where I got most of my real-world
knowledge in the engineering field.”
After a year and a half in Jefferson County’s Department of Roads and Transportation, Zari applied to be a senior civil engineer in Homewood.
“I was just aware of an opportunity to come to Homewood and learn under Cale,” she said, referring to Cale Smith, who formerly was Homewood’s city engineer. “It was a great opportunity to get mentored by Cale. That was the initial plan.”
That plan changed a bit when Smith was named interim city manager when Homewood launched its council-manager government. Zari was elevated to interim city engineer, and then
Smith hired her as permanent city engineer when he was approved as Homewood’s first permanent city manager.
Hiring Zari was an easy decision, Smith said.
“She’s so talented and brilliant and a really great engineer,” he said. “She’s really good with the community and everybody that lives here. And she works well with all contractors and developers and all the staff in the city. It was really an easy decision.”
Smith said Zari is much more talented than he was in the position.
“She has many more years of experience in the world of traffic engineering and planning,” he said. “We worked together well as a team
when we were both upstairs on the fourth floor. I’m still here to help however I can, but she’s really taken the bull by the horns and has done a great job.”
When Zari is not doing that job, she said she enjoys scouting for dining options.
“I love eating,” she said. “My husband and I love looking for new places to eat.”
An ideal day for the couple includes a trip to Edgewood Creamery and then walking in the park with their two 6-year-old dogs, a miniature dachshund and an Italian greyhound.
The two are proud puppy parents.
“They go to day care, so they’re basically like a child,” Zari said.
Amy Zari is the city engineer for Homewood.
Photo by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.
Mayor’s Minute
By Jennifer Andress
The Shades Creek Greenway is one of my favorite places in all of Homewood. I have visited the trail multiple times a week for the past 20 years and have known anecdotally what the Greenway has meant for Homewood. There are so many visitors from all over the region who enjoy time on the trail, then stick around for coffee or lunch, pick up groceries or fill up their gas tank before they head home, adding to Homewood’s sales tax revenue that allows us to re-invest in our city. The amenity also adds to our own quality of life, allowing us to recreate, enjoy nature, and improve our physical and mental health.
We were thrilled to learn recently just how much the Greenway attracts usage. The city has invested in Placer. ai technology, which is software that provides location intelligence and foot traffic insights using anonymous mobile device data (similar to traffic counts that measure the number of cars on a road without identifying drivers).
We learned from Placer.ai that we have 260,000 annual users of the Greenway on foot or bicycles, the highest for any trail in Jefferson County. The Greenway, at 3.9 miles along Shades Creek, is in consistent use from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the week. This
CITY
is a 21% year-overyear increase for the last three years, and users come from every direction in Jefferson County. Samford University students are regular users of the trail, and the income category most represented is $25,000 to $100,000 annually.
Users return an average of 3.5 times a year.
And there is more good news about our trail! A study was commissioned by A Mission for Michael, a mental health treatment organization focused on wellness and behavioral health care.
Researchers from Cherry Data Signals surveyed 3,025 Americans about what factors they associate with longevity and how likely they feel they will reach 100 years old, focusing on how people view their health, stress levels and environment.
The results showed that Homewood ranked 121 nationally, second in all of Alabama, and was recognized for our outdoor culture, centered around our Greenway and beautiful parks that make spending time outdoors part of our everyday life.
So the numbers are starting to show what we intuitively know: outdoor recreation is a vital asset for any community, and Homewood is one of the top destinations in all of north central Alabama!
CITY
UAB professor seeks grant to help save salamanders
By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.
A biology professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham is seeking a grant to help save salamanders along South Lakeshore Drive in Homewood.
Megan Gibbons told Homewood city leaders in June that she wants to build vernal pools on the south side of South Lakeshore Drive to provide suitable habitats for salamanders to breed so they don’t have to cross the busy road.
Gibbons described rainy spring nights in Homewood when hundreds of spotted salamanders crawl out from their underground burrows in Homewood Forest Preserve and cross South Lakeshore Drive near Homewood High School to reach temporary ponds, or vernal pools, on the north side of the road.
“In those ponds, they lay eggs, and their larvae develop in those ponds like tadpoles,” she said. “The migration is part of an ancient breeding cycle that once expanded across Shades Mountain. But after decades of development, the habitat has been degraded. Most of the pools that were once used for breeding have disappeared, and these seasonal wetlands were filled with soil and drained by digging ditches as roads, athletic fields and other developments were constructed.
“Now there’s only a small population of spotted salamanders left in the area in the Homewood Nature Preserve, and they have to cross the road with traffic in order to breed,” the biologist said. “There is a pool that’s on the nature preserve side, but it’s literally just draining all the way, so mostly they cross the road to breed in the pools on the [north] side.”
Gibbons said the two main pools on the south side of the road have man-made drainage. Those pools don’t remain long enough for salamanders to complete their life cycle.
“As someone who has gone out and observed the migration almost every year since 2001, I can tell you that every year a lot of salamanders get hit by cars as they’re crossing the road, and the number of salamanders in general that complete the migration has been steadily declining pretty much every year,” she said.
A vernal pool is a temporary seasonal wetland that fills with rain in the winter and spring and dries completely by summer or fall.
Because vernal pools lack permanent water sources, they sustain no fish, making them vital and safe breeding grounds for specialized amphibians and insects, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Gibbons said she would love to build one or two small pools, each of which would cost about $4,000.
“They’re not very expensive to build,” she said. She showed the Homewood City Council a map with eight areas where ponds for salamander breeding could be built. The most difficult and costly one to build was labeled Homewood 1 and would cost about $76,000, so she doesn’t plan to start with that one, she said.
“We want to do some practice ones that are cheap,” she said. “Hopefully we can have some impact quickly. We want to do something by the end of the year, if we can.”
Her grant application to UAB is due July 31, and she probably won’t find out if she gets the grant until the end of August, she said.
The reason she came to the city is because she needs city permission to build the pools on the city right of way, she said.
Homewood Mayor Jennifer Andress said city officials learned last year how highly salamanders rate with Homewood residents when there were hearings about potential development on the south side of Lakeshore Drive.
Children hold spotted and marbled salamanders at the annual Friends of Shades Creek Salamander Festival at Homewood High School in January 2023. File photo.
This map shows eight potential locations for vernal pools to be built to serve as breeding grounds for salamanders thar are native to the Shades Mountain area in Homewood. Map courtesy of Megan Gibbons
Business Happenings
COMING SOON
Coming to The Edge, Scoop City is an ice cream shop owned by chef Nick Carpenter, whose Tuff Love Hospitality owns Nicky’s Sammie Shack, Porky’s Pride Smokehouse and The Que*Bicle. The shop will be at 815 Green Springs Highway and serve scoops of ice cream, shakes, sundaes, floats and splits. The opening date has not yet been announced. tlhospitality.com
Big John Buffet was set to open in June with an all-you-can-eat buffet filled with Southern country cooking. Owner John Yoon brings more than 20 years of restaurant experience and returns to Birmingham. The buffet is in the former Cantina Tortilla Grill location at 162 Oxmoor Road. 404-644-6850
NOW OPEN
Planet Fitness, located at 140 Wildwood Parkway, kicked off its annual high school summer pass program, which allows teens ages 14 to 19 to work out for free at its locations until Aug. 31. Teens can register online and receive access to the facilities and free fitness training from certified trainers. The program allows teens to focus on their mental and physical wellness during the summer break. Participants are also given access to the Planet Fitness mobile app, which provides digital workout content. 205-719-1722, planetfitness.com/summerpass
Zozo’s Kitchen, located at 1830 29th Ave. S. in the former Cava space, recently opened. The eatery is owned by the Cassimus family, who founded Zoe’s Kitchen. It serves menu items that will be familiar to past Zoe’s guests like roll-ups, the gruben, Greek
salad, kabobs and more. Zozo’s also has locations in Cahaba Heights and Tuscaloosa. 205-380-2591, zozoskitchen.com
New Shoes Soft Serve, a soft serve ice cream shop, recently opened at 2856 18th St. S., Suite A. Created by Wil Drake, founder of Full Circle Doughnuts, New Shoes offers a rotating lineup of soft serve flavors, including mango, birthday cake, vanilla sweet cream and strawberry shortcake.
205-724-9699, heynewshoes.com
Top Dog Homewood recently opened a dog day care at 2804 Crescent Ave. The company claims to be the first small dog-only day care in Alabama. The day care provides a dedicated environment for dogs 35 pounds and lighter.
205-922-1420, topdogbirmingham.com/homewood
Balance Bodyworks and Wellness, which specializes in professional massage therapy, recently opened at 507 Brookwood Blvd. The clinic offers customized treatments to help reduce pain, relieve stress and support long-term health and wellness. In addition to massage services, clients can also enjoy recovery amenities, including an infrared sauna and cold plunge therapy.
205-593-4507, thebalancebodyworks.com
RELOCATIONS AND RENOVATIONS
After closing in January for a $5.3 million renovation and expansion, the Homewood Piggly Wiggly is expected to reopen in the fall. The grocery store will grow from 12,000 to more than 20,000 square feet, replacing the decades-old structure on the same corner of Oxmoor Road and U.S. 31. The Piggly Wiggly is located at 3000 Independence Drive.
205-879-0884, pigglywigglybirmingham.com
Couple opens Icona Health to provide hormone health
By LAUREN H. DOWDLE
To support both women and men through the changes that occur in midlife and beyond, Dr. Alan McCool and his wife, Amy, opened Icona Health in Homewood on June 12. Having lived in Homewood for more than a decade, the couple brings a mix of medical and personal experience to the hormone health and wellness clinic.
Amy knows firsthand what it’s like navigating perimenopause and wants to help other women on similar journeys. She said she didn’t realize some of her symptoms, like middle-of-the-night anxiety and quiet depression during the day, were related to perimenopause.
“Women are often neglected in treatment, and it’s passed off as normal aging and part of life,” Amy said. “They aren’t getting the treatment they deserve a lot of times.”
Women often wait until their annual visits with their gynecologists to seek help and understand what’s wrong, whether they’re experiencing decreases in energy, mood or libido. However, there might not be enough time during that visit for the doctor to fully understand and treat their symptoms, Amy said. She confided in Alan about what she was experiencing, which prompted him to research her symptoms.
With more than two decades of experience, Alan is a board-certified urologist and serves as chief of surgery and chairman of the robotics committee at Baptist Health Medical Center in Jasper. Having observed men receiving proactive treatment for low testosterone for years, Alan said he noticed a deficiency in care for women navigating perimenopause or menopause.
Wanting to change that, he pursued advanced certification in women’s hormone health through the Academy for Advanced Women’s Health Medicine. That also led him and his wife to found Icona Health, which strives to provide wellness that integrates science, artistry and empathy.
Alan is the primary provider at Icona, and they also have a nurse practitioner, Mary Margaret Manzella, who will assist patients. They provide services for both men and women including hormone replacement, weight loss management and supplements.
To create personalized plans for each individual patient, the team at Icona works to pinpoint the right approach and adjust the treatment as needed to achieve the best results. While hormone replacement therapy is their primary treatment, they also offer weight loss management. If patients aren’t candidates for hormones, there are also non-hormonal options.
“We really just want it to be a place people feel comfortable talking about these sensitive issues,” Alan said. “We want to get men and women feeling like themselves again.”
Though it can be a difficult topic for women to discuss, Amy and Alan encourage them to reach out and seek treatment so they can feel more like themselves.
“Women often don’t want to talk about it publicly because either they’re embarrassed or ashamed, but it’s starting to get a lot of attention now,” Amy said. “The hope is that those women who are suffering in silence finally have a place to go and be heard.”
Icona Health is located at 3415 Independence Drive in the bottom floor of the Skin Wellness building. For more information, visit iconahealth.com.
Dr. Alan McCool and his wife, Amy, founded Icona Health in Homewood.
Photo courtesy of AMD Creative.
BUSINESS
By APRIL COFFEY
A Birmingham-based consulting firm is drawing attention for a new accounting and financial model designed to modernize how companies manage service contracts and extended warranties.
Kerper Bowron, an actuarial and insurance consulting firm currently operating in Homewood, recently published its patent-pending Kerper Bowron Method in the peer-reviewed journal Risks. The methodology was also featured in the April 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
Founded by John Kerper, a Hoover native and John Carroll Catholic High School graduate, and Lee Bowron, a Mountain Brook High School graduate, the firm has spent more than two decades developing the system, which is intended to help businesses more accurately estimate costs and revenue tied to service contracts, including vehicle extended warranties, appliance protection plans and
electronics coverage.
Rather than grouping large numbers of contracts into broad averages, the method evaluates each contract individually using customized calculations and statistical analysis.
“At its heart, the method uses concepts most students learn in high school algebra and statistics but applies them in a new way,” Bowron said. “Instead of averaging thousands of contracts together into one rough curve, it builds a separate, customized equation for each individual contract.”
According to Kerper and Bowron, the approach is designed to improve financial forecasting, strengthen risk management and align with modern accounting standards used throughout the insurance and financial industries.
Bowron said the project also reflects a longstanding Birmingham business legacy.
“My great-grandfather James Bowron was renowned for his financial acumen in stabilizing and growing Birmingham’s early industrial
giants through superior accounting practices,” Bowron said. “The Kerper Bowron Method carries that legacy forward by transforming service contract accounting with data-driven, probabilistic precision — moving beyond outdated aggregates to individual contract-level estimates for better decision-making and risk management.”
Kerper and Bowron say the methodology aligns with accounting standards including Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606 for revenue recognition and International Financial Reporting Standard 17, a comprehensive international accounting standard for insurance contracts. Company leaders also believe the model could eventually create new opportunities involving lending and financial products tied to service-contract portfolios.
While the concept has potential applications across national and international markets, the founders say maintaining roots in the Birmingham area has remained important. The business has operated in several Birmingham-area
locations over the years, including Mountain Brook, before establishing its current operations in Homewood.
Bowron, a longtime Mountain Brook resident and 1985 graduate of MBHS, credited his education for helping shape the mathematical foundation behind the project.
“I’m deeply grateful for the strong foundation I received through my education in the Mountain Brook school system, especially the rigorous algebra instruction that stayed with me,” Bowron said. “That early grounding proved invaluable as we completed this project more than 40 years after graduation in 1985.”
Kerper, Bowron and their affiliated company, Irish Trinity, jointly hold the intellectual property connected to the methodology.
Although the model is still in the early stages of broader industry adoption, the company says interest has increased following publication in Risks and growing visibility through online academic and artificial intelligence research platforms.
Lee Bowron John Kerper
Kerper Bowron, an actuarial consulting firm founded by Hoover native John Kerper and Mountain Brook native Lee Bowron, has its headquarters at 600 University Park Place in Homewood.
Photos courtesy of Kerper Bowron.
Coach Robbie Gibbons hanging up the whistle
By APRIL COFFEY
On any given morning along U.S. 280, you might spot him — not with a whistle and headset anymore, but a calmer, less-rushed version of himself: coffee in hand, with no practice to manage or scoreboard to check. Coach Robbie Gibbons says he is finally learning what it feels like to “move through time without rushing it.”
After decades shaping middle school athletes at Homewood Middle School, Robbie Gibbons is stepping away from coaching — but not stepping away from the community that shaped him or the corridor he calls home.
“I’ve never really had a summer off,” he said. “This is the first time I’ll really be able to slow down.”
That slowdown includes golf, fishing and a long-awaited Alaskan cruise with his wife, Brooke. But even as he talks about salmon fishing and panning for gold, it’s clear his identity isn’t leaving the field — it’s simply expanding beyond it.
“I love being on the water,” Gibbons said. “I love catching fish. I love eating fish. I don’t love cleaning them, but I love everything else about it.”
Ask Gibbons about his wins and losses, and he doesn’t reach for numbers.
“I don’t know my record,” he said. “We won championships — I know that because they’re on the banner that hangs in the HMS gym — but that wasn’t what mattered most.”
What mattered to Gibbons was the growth he saw in students and the relationships he formed with them.
“I loved seeing them grow up. I loved watching them graduate,” he said. “It was always about the kids.”
That philosophy shaped a career defined less by strategy sheets and more by life lessons,
especially making space for kids to be more than one thing at a time.
“I believe in youth sports,” he said. “I believe in keeping kids active. I believe in giving students opportunities to try different things.”
At Homewood Middle School, that often meant making sure students didn’t have to choose between football and fine arts, athletics and band, or performance and practice.
“I never wanted families sitting around the dinner table arguing about what to choose,” he said. “I wanted kids to be able to do it all.”
That mindset has defined both his coaching and his life.
Now, instead of heading to early morning practices, he’ll have time to indulge some longmissed hobbies.
Gibbons admits he is still figuring out what life after coaching looks like. There are
conversations about summer programs or social media development of his brand “Robbie Rainbow,” which came after his appearance as a cast member on the television show “Castaways.” Or it may be something new entirely, like sportscasting. For now, Gibbons is comfortable with not knowing what the immediate future holds.
“I just need some time to take care of myself,” he said. “I’ve never had that before.”
www.iterfw.com
Castellano
Robbie Gibbons was a coach at Homewood Middle School for 28 years.
Photo courtesy of Robbie Gibbons.
SCHOOLHOUSE
From Patriot to Army Cadet
Homewood soccer captain earns coveted West Point appointment
By APRIL COFFEY
As the final whistle sounded at the state championship soccer match, Ryanne Ezekiel stood on the field facing a difficult reality. Homewood High School’s remarkable postseason run had come to an end.
For many athletes, the moment would have been defined by disappointment. Instead, what Ryanne remembers most is what happened afterward.
Coaches embraced her. Teachers sought her out. Mentors stopped to offer words of encouragement. In one of the hardest moments of her high school career, she found herself surrounded by people who had helped shape her into the young woman she had become.
For the Homewood High School Class of 2026 graduate, it was a fitting reflection of the values that have guided her journey — a journey that will soon take her from Homewood to the United States Military Academy at West Point.
“I really hope that, even when I get there and I’m being challenged, I can still put everyone else before myself,” Ryanne said. “Instead of worrying about my own success, I hope I can focus on building everyone else up.”
That mindset is one of the reasons her appointment to West Point feels less like a college decision and more like a calling.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF DREAM
Ryanne has never been afraid of hard work.
A standout student who completed six Advanced Placement courses, she balanced a demanding academic schedule while serving as captain of the Homewood High girls soccer team. She has played soccer for most of her life, competed at high levels and helped lead the Patriots to a state championship appearance during her senior season.
But unlike many students planning for college, Ryanne never viewed higher education simply as the next expected step.
“College was never meant to be a party for me,” she said. “I always saw it as a growing opportunity — to better myself for the future.”
This resolve has served her well; the path to West Point is notoriously difficult. In addition to strong academics and athletic achievement, candidates must secure congressional nominations, complete extensive applications, pass physical fitness evaluations, submit essays and recommendations and undergo rigorous reviews.
In addition to meeting all the other benchmarks, Ryanne earned nominations from U.S. Representative Terri Sewell and both Alabama senators — an accomplishment few applicants achieve.
Initially, West Point entered the picture through soccer recruiting opportunities. She attended a camp at the academy during the summer before her senior year, hoping to learn more about the school, but what she found there exceeded her every expectation.
A local family connected to the academy welcomed her during the visit and introduced her to the culture, traditions and history that make West Point unique.
“They showed me every little detail about the history,” Ryanne recalled. “West Point is literally living, breathing history.”
She toured monuments and memorials, learned about distinguished graduates who had shaped the nation and experienced the deep sense of purpose that permeates the academy.
One moment in particular stands out as particularly poignant to Ryanne. During the tour,
she visited a statue where visitors traditionally spin the spurs on a soldier’s boots for good luck.
“That was the moment,” she said. “When you know, you know.” By the end of the visit, Ryanne could picture herself there. Not because of soccer or prestige but because she had found a place that aligned with who she wanted to become.
THE HOMEWOOD DIFFERENCE
As she prepares to leave Alabama for New York, Ryanne knows exactly what she will miss most: the Homewood community. She credits Homewood City Schools with helping her become a well-rounded person rather than simply a successful student.
She also believes Homewood’s teachers genuinely invest in students as individuals. That support system has helped shape the person she is today.
“I am incredibly proud to see Ryanne find such a perfect fit at West Point,” Homewood High School Principal Dr. Joel Henneke said. “I have known Ryanne for almost seven years and witnessed how she has consistently modeled the discipline and intellectual fortitude necessary to excel in an environment of rigorous physical and academic demands.”
Henneke believes Ryanne’s character and work ethic will continue to serve her well in the years ahead.
His confidence reflects what many in the Homewood community already know: that
“
always felt like I was meant for more. I wanted to grow in different areas and become a different type of person.
RYANNE EZEKIEL
” I
Ryanne’s accomplishments are rooted not simply in talent but in discipline, humility and a genuine desire to serve others.
THE NEXT MISSION
Ryanne’s departure was set for June 27 for Beast, West Point’s intensive seven-week summer training program for incoming cadets. After that, she will begin four years at one of the nation’s most demanding academic institutions before fulfilling at least five years of active-duty military service.
She is considering a future in cyber operations or signal communications and hopes to study mathematical fields related to operations research and logistical optimization.
Yet when Ryanne talks about her future, she rarely focuses on titles, ranks or personal achievements. Instead, she talks about growth, character and, most of all, service.
“I always felt like I was meant for more,” she said. “I wanted to grow in different areas and become a different type of person.”
In a world that often measures success by personal gain, Ryanne Ezekiel has chosen a path defined by responsibility, sacrifice and leadership. While her road through West Point and military service will not be easy, those who know Ryanne best have little doubt that she is ready for the challenge because she is dedicated to her mission to serve.
Above: Ryanne Ezekiel spent her high school career as an integral part of the Homewood High School soccer program. Photo courtesy of Scott Butler.
Left: Ryanne Ezekiel is heading to West Point to begin her college journey. Photo courtesy of Ryanne Ezekiel.
Ready for the world
Homewood High School held its 2026 graduation ceremony on May 16 at the Pete Hanna Center at Samford University. Photos courtesy of Scott Butler.
All-South Metro Softball
Madison Letson named Hitter of the Year
By KYLE PARMLEY
The Birmingham area continues to produce some of the best high school softball anywhere in Alabama, and the 2026 season was no exception. The All-South Metro Team aims to recognize the best players in the area for the season.
Corey Goguts capped off an exceptional career at Hewitt-Trussville, winning Player of the Year honors after another extraordinary year. Vestavia Hills eighth grader Kate Flanagan has burst onto the scene with a great season, while Harper Looney carried Hewitt to another state title, as the duo shares Pitcher of the Year honors.
Homewood’s Madison Letson broke a state record with 16 consecutive at-bats with a hit earlier in the season. She finished the year with an eye-popping .636 average and .688 on-base percentage.
Hewitt-Trussville coach Taylor Burt is Coach of the Year after leading the Huskies to yet another state championship.
► Player of the Year: Corey Goguts, Hewitt-Trussville
► Hitter of the Year: Madison Letson, Homewood
► Pitchers of the Year: Kate Flanagan, Vestavia Hills, and Harper Looney, Hewitt-Trussville
► Coach of the Year: Taylor Burt, Hewitt-Trussville
FIRST TEAM
► Pitcher: Kate Flanagan, Vestavia Hills; the eighth grader dominated area hitters, posting a 21-4 record with a 1.04 earned run average and 174 strikeouts in 141 innings.
► Pitcher: Harper Looney, Hewitt-Trussville; led the Huskies back to a state title, finishing 21-1 with a 2.32 ERA in 141 2/3 innings. She was a dominant 6-0 in the state tournament.
► Pitcher: Jaley Young, Spain Park; went 11-5 with 109 strikeouts and a 2.30 ERA for the Jaguars.
► Catcher: Chloe Wade, Spain Park; batted .396 with 42 runs batted in and eight home runs for the Jaguars.
► Infield: Erin Coleman, Hewitt-Trussville; one of the most productive hitters in the area, batting .407 with 72 RBIs and 72 hits for the Huskies.
► Infield: Addison Ferrell, Vestavia Hills; put together a strong sophomore year, batting .393 with 57 hits and 29 RBIs.
► Infield: Avery Chaney, Hoover; a steady presence at shortstop for the Bucs, batting .394 with 56 hits and 40 RBIs.
► Infield: Julia Willingham, Chelsea; drove in 32 runs and hit .363 with 18 doubles for the Hornets.
► Infield: Reagan Roberts, Spain Park; batted .338 with 52 hits, 29 RBIs and 36 stolen bases.
► Outfield: Reagan Rape, Mountain Brook; put together one of the area’s best offensive seasons, batting .576 with 57 hits, 39 RBIs and 32 stolen bases.
► Outfield: Presley Hull, Hewitt-Trussville; one of the area’s top hitters, batting .475 with 85 hits and 56 RBIs in 59 games.
► Outfield: Madison Letson, Homewood; the area’s Hitter of the Year batted .636 with 77 hits and 65 runs scored.
► Outfield: Emily Williams, John Carroll; finished with a .465 average, 42 RBIs and 11 doubles for the Cavaliers.
► Designated hitter: Corey Goguts, Hewitt-Trussville; the Player of the Year batted .618 with 29 home runs, 91 RBIs and 94 runs scored.
► Designated hitter: Mollie Hanson,
Hoover; drove in 45 runs and hit .346 with five home runs for the Bucs.
► Designated hitter: Abby King, Spain Park; batted .389 with 13 home runs and 44 RBIs for the Jaguars.
► Utility: Claire Carver, Hoover; batted .423 with 47 hits, 26 RBIs and 27 stolen bases for the Bucs.
► Utility: Lorelei Beck, Chelsea; drove in 49 runs and hit .374 with eight home runs and 15 doubles for the Hornets.
► Utility: Marian Cummings, Oak Mountain; went 12-7 in the circle with a 2.02 ERA while batting .427 with 32 RBIs at the plate.
SECOND TEAM
► Pitcher: Anne Hope Howell, Homewood; went 16-6 with a 2.74 ERA and 137 strikeouts
in 110 innings for the Patriots.
► Pitcher: Aaliyah Hayes, Hoover; the eighth grader went 10-8 with a 2.75 ERA and 152 strikeouts in 99 1/3 innings.
► Pitcher: Maxie Provost, Spain Park; went 14-5 with a 2.44 ERA for the Jaguars as a freshman.
► Catcher: AT Goldman, Mountain Brook; batted .333 with 20 RBIs and seven doubles for the Spartans.
► Infield: Rylie Redden, Oak Mountain; batted .427 with 41 hits and 19 RBIs for the Eagles.
► Infield: Cate Bruce, Hewitt-Trussville; contributed as a freshman, batting .364 with 43 hits for the Huskies.
► Infield: Molly Shea, Mountain Brook; batted .374 with 40 hits and 27 RBIs
for the Spartans.
► Infield: Allie Stuman, Homewood; batted .366 with 34 hits and 22 RBIs for the Patriots.
► Infield: Kloeanne Smith, Homewood; batted .356 with 36 hits and 20 RBIs for the Patriots.
► Outfield: Ryanne Head, Vestavia Hills; batted .372 with 42 hits and 28 RBIs as a freshman for the Rebels.
► Outfield: Hannah Claire Miller, Hewitt-Trussville; batted .325 with 50 hits for the Huskies, including several clutch hits in the postseason.
► Outfield: Emily Stuman, Homewood; went 10-2 with a 2.20 ERA in the circle and batted .449 at the plate as an eighth grader.
► Outfield: Reagan Lawson, Hoover; batted .348 with 47 hits and 23 stolen bases for the Bucs.
► Designated hitter: Chloe Krackenberger, Hewitt-Trussville; batted .359 with 60 hits and 37 RBIs for the Huskies.
► Designated hitter: Klara Thompson, Spain Park; had 20 stolen bases and six home runs for the Jaguars.
► Designated hitter: Kindal Whistle, John Carroll; batted .477 with 31 hits, 28 RBIs and seven home runs for the Cavaliers.
► Utility: Morgan Minich, Mountain Brook; batted .400 with 30 hits and 32 RBIs for the Spartans.
► Utility: Caroline Brown, Chelsea; batted .384 with 28 hits and four home runs for the Hornets.
► Utility: Lilly Ferguson, Vestavia Hills; pitched and played second base for the Rebels, racking up 53 hits and 41 RBIs.
HONORABLE MENTION
► Pitcher: Caroline Chaney, Hoover; Rachel Reed, Hewitt-Trussville; Maggie Bell, Hewitt-Trussville; Maddie Prevallet, Oak Mountain; Mackenzie Wedell, Mountain Brook; Charlotte Kearse, Mountain Brook.
► Catcher: Ashley Heinemann, Briarwood; Taylor McLaughlin, Hewitt-Trussville.
► Infield: Emily Renda, Hewitt-Trussville; Lucy Robinett, Homewood; Peighton Letson, Homewood; Teagan Huey, Spain Park; Addison Green, Oak Mountain; Hallie Kelly, Oak Mountain.
► Outfield: Sadie Wilson, Chelsea; Jordan Weiner, Spain Park; Cheyenne Conner, Hoover; Jakayla Byrd, Homewood.
► Designated hitter: Allie Whitaker, Spain Park; Marianna Murray, Mountain Brook.
► Utility: Sadie Sutton, Chelsea; Anna Kate Shea, Mountain Brook; Larsen Cummings, Briarwood.
Homewood’s Anne Hope Howell.
Homewood’s Madison Letson. Photos by Kyle Parmley.
All-South Metro Baseball
Levi Nickoli named Hitter of the Year
By KYLE PARMLEY
Another season of high school baseball in the books, and like always, many new players rose to the top and are recognized on the All-South Metro Team. In 2026, Hewitt-Trussville captured its second state championship. Spain Park was one of the best teams in the state over the second half of the season and rode that momentum all the way to a Class 6A runner-up finish.
As for individuals, Hoover’s Will Adams earns Player of the Year honors after a dominant year both on the mound and at the plate for the Bucs. Homewood’s Levi Nickoli capped off a brilliant two-way career with an incredible season with the bat and on the bases to win Hitter of the Year. Hewitt-Trussville’s Jace Riggan takes Pitcher of the Year honors, although he certainly had huge two-way impacts for the state champs.
Jeff Mauldin of Hewitt-Trussville is Coach of the Year after leading his program to the state title. After 11 great years leading the Vestavia Hills program, Jamie Harris recently announced his retirement as well.
► Player of the Year: Will Adams, Hoover
► Hitter of the Year: Levi Nickoli, Homewood
► Pitcher of the Year: Jace Riggan, Hewitt-Trussville
► Coach of the Year: Jeff Mauldin, Hewitt-Trussville
► Career Achievement Award: Jamie Harris, Vestavia Hills
FIRST TEAM
► Pitcher: Jace Riggan, Hewitt-Trussville; went 8-3 with a 1.05 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 60 innings, while hitting for a .422 average with a .530 on-base percentage.
► Pitcher: Cale McIntosh, Hewitt-Trussville; went 8-0 with a 1.25 ERA, striking out 88 batters in 61 2/3 innings while hitting .328 with 24 runs batted in.
► Pitcher: Ben Roberts, Homewood; led the area with 10 wins, posting a 1.77 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings.
► Pitcher: Houston Hartsfield, Briarwood; went 8-1 with a 1.81 ERA, striking out 68 batters in 73 2/3 innings.
► Catcher: Evan Taylor, Spain Park; hit .356 with four home runs and 45 RBIs in 40 games for the Jags.
► First base: Gavin Smith, Vestavia Hills; hit .473 with a .652 OBP, five home runs and 29 RBIs.
► Second base: Hudson Mitchell, Hewitt-Trussville; finished with a .386 average, .491 OBP and 40 RBIs.
► Third base: Connor Greb, Spain Park; hit .393 with a .500 OBP, five home runs and 39 RBIs.
► Shortstop: Jaxson Wood, Hoover; hit .417 with seven home runs, 38 RBIs and 28 stolen bases.
► Infield: Luke Houser, Mountain Brook; hit .360 with seven home runs and 41 RBIs.
► Infield: Rhys Jones, Spain Park; hit .415 with a .517 OBP, finishing with 22 RBIs and 25 stolen bases.
► Outfield: Will Adams, Hoover; the Player of the Year got on base at a .643 clip, slugging 13 home runs with 52 RBIs.
► Outfield: Cohen Walker, Vestavia Hills; hit .429 with 18 stolen bases for the Rebels.
► Outfield: Joe Cross, Spain Park; hit .382 with 36 RBIs and 23 stolen bases.
► Designated hitter: Paul Barnett, Mountain Brook; hit .368 with a .553 OBP, seven home runs and 35 stolen bases.
► Designated hitter: Jamison Barnes, Briarwood; hit .308 with five home runs and 30 RBIs.
► Utility: George Brockwell, Homewood; hit .390 with six home runs and 41 RBIs for the Patriots.
► Utility: Levi Nickoli, Homewood; the Hitter of the Year batted .398 with a .660 OBP and 63 stolen bases while also excelling on the mound.
SECOND TEAM
► Pitcher: Houston Holmes, Spain Park; went 8-1 with a 1.88 ERA, striking out 47 batters in 52 innings.
► Pitcher: Wilson Szymela, Vestavia Hills; posted a 1.89 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 63 innings.
► Pitcher: Hudson Franks, Spain Park; went 6-2 with an 0.89 ERA, striking out 42
batters in 39 2/3 innings.
► Pitcher: Bryant Diddell, Mountain Brook; led the area in strikeouts with 85 punchouts in 60 1/3 innings.
► Catcher: Cooper Mullins, Homewood; hit .295 with 36 RBIs in 41 games for the Patriots.
► First base: Luke Neill, Chelsea; hit .271 with seven home runs and 31 RBIs for the Hornets.
► Second base: Grayson Payne, Hoover; hit .306 with a .425 OBP in 39 games for the Bucs.
► Third base: Ben Heath, Oak Mountain; hit .279 with a .456 OBP and 19 RBIs.
► Shortstop: Charlie Taaffe, Vestavia Hills; hit .371 with a .551 OBP, two home runs and 30 RBIs.
► Infield: Sam Estes, Mountain Brook; hit .365 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs.
► Infield: Bryant Wisdom, Chelsea; hit .347 with four home runs and 21 RBIs as a freshman.
► Outfield: Cross Tonsmeire, Vestavia Hills; hit .398 with a .511 OBP, four home runs and 39 RBIs.
► Outfield: Cooper Sain, Homewood; hit .361 with a .478 OBP, 33 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.
► Outfield: Glavine Tillman, John Carroll; hit .414 with two home runs and 21 RBIs in 35 games.
► Designated hitter: Drew Monte, Hoover; reached base at a .521 clip with 23 RBIs in 34 games.
► Designated hitter: Ivan Hand, Briarwood; hit .375 with six home runs and 39 RBIs while also going 7-3 on the mound.
► Utility: Garrett Barnes, John Carroll; hit .402 with 34 RBIs while also posting a 3-2 record on the mound.
► Utility: Charlie Williamon, Oak Mountain; hit .380 with three home runs and 23 RBIs while contributing on the mound.
HONORABLE MENTION
► Pitcher: Jude Davidson, Mountain Brook; Michael Baguley, Homewood; Cooper Anderson, Vestavia Hills; John Gregory, Mountain Brook; Cooper Morgan, Chelsea; Braden Bentley, John Carroll; Brody Smith, Spain Park; Rylan Clark, Hewitt-Trussville; Grant Hill, Chelsea; Silas Osbourn, Chelsea; Branson Hogan, Oak Mountain; Jacob Towe, John Carroll; Robbie Paulsen, Briarwood.
► Catcher: Sam Prier, Oak Mountain; Jacob Harris, Vestavia Hills; Jackson Cramer, John Carroll; Wes Hardy, Hewitt-Trussville.
► Infield: Xander Hughes, Oak Mountain; James Eady, Homewood; Luke Channell, Oak Mountain; Dallas Huggins, John Carroll; Avery Floyd, Chelsea; Max Crowder, Hoover; Luke Snowden, Vestavia Hills; Michael Johnson, Spain Park; Blake Bales, Hewitt-Trussville.
► Outfield: Charles Dedmon, Briarwood; Koal Duckett, Hewitt-Trussville; Jack Bland, Homewood; Jack Crosby, Mountain Brook; Aiden Craven, Chelsea; Will Siegel, Homewood; Sawyer Jackson, Hewitt-Trussville; Cam Graham, John Carroll.
► Designated hitter: Slade Bounds, Spain Park; Andrew Walker, Hewitt-Trussville; Noah Crosby, Mountain Brook; Tyler Hohne, John Carroll; Taylor Alfano, Hewitt-Trussville; Haines Bridges, Vestavia Hills; Josh Vincent, Oak Mountain.
Homewood’s Levi Nickoli. Photos by Richard Force.
Homewood’s Ben Roberts (9).
EVENTS
Where to enjoy Fourth of July celebrations
By LAUREN H. DOWDLE
From rides and live music to historical reenactments, there are several Fourth of July events around town where residents can celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.
FESTIVAL IN DOWNTOWN HOMEWOOD
There will be something for the whole family at the Fourth of July festival in Downtown Homewood. Hosted by the city of Homewood and the Homewood Parks and Recreation Board, the festival on July 4 will have inflatables and rides in the streets, along with a DJ. Activities will end at the beginning of Thunder on the Mountain at 9 p.m., but the location is the perfect viewing spot to stay and enjoy the fireworks.
The festival will open at 5 p.m. and is free to enter. To ride or play on the attractions, an unlimited wristband is $10, which will be available for purchase near the intersection of 18th Street South and 29th Avenue South.
OUR LADY OF SORROWS CATHOLIC CHURCH
The 77th annual Our Lady of Sorrows Fourth of July festival will be held at the church’s campus in Homewood on July 4. The festival will feature food, bargain sales, games, a raffle and more.
The Trash and Treasure rummage sale will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the school gym and parking lot. Hot plate lunches will be available from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Parish Hall, and bulk barbecue (cold slabs of St. Louis ribs, whole Boston butts, half chickens and smoked turkey) and sides will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Early bird bulk barbecue will be available on July 3. There will also be children’s games and
bingo from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A raffle drawing for 11 prizes, including the $10,000 grand prize, will be at 3 p.m. in Parish Hall.
SWEET HOME 250
Enjoy a patriotic event for the whole family at the two-day Sweet Home 250 celebration at American Village in Montevallo. From live music to historical reenactments, Sweet Home 250 will bring the country’s past to life on July 3-4.
The event will feature 18 Alabama musical artists, including Taylor Hicks, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Chuck Leavell, Myles
Morgan, Roman Street, Act of Congress and many more. A lineup of acclaimed authors, historians and storytellers will share more than 100 stories that helped shape the nation. There will be children’s activities such as a stunt dog show, up-close encounters with birds, a puppet show, an interactive reenactment of Paul Revere’s ride and colonial games. Attendees will also have the opportunity to enjoy celebrity chef demos, enter foodeating contests, see historical interpretations and watch fireworks. For more information or to purchase tickets to the 250th celebration, visit Sweethome250.com.
Homewood’s 2024 Fourth of July festival and Thunder on the Mountain. Staff photo.
THUNDER ON THE MOUNTAIN
As the state’s largest fireworks show, Thunder on the Mountain will light up the sky around Birmingham on July 4 starting at 9 p.m. The illuminating sights can be seen from multiple vantage points across Birmingham and Homewood — or directly at Vulcan Park and Museum on Red Mountain.
Parking at Red Mountain is available, but attendees are encouraged to arrive early. Several local radio stations will be synced to the show’s playlist.
Before Gatsby: The Fitzgeralds’ Alabama influences
By KELLI S. HEWETT
Literature lovers can step straight into the Jazz Age without leaving Homewood on Wednesday, July 8.
From 1-2 p.m. in the Round Auditorium at the Homewood Public Library, 1721 Oxmoor Road, writer and educator Mollie Smith Waters will explore “Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald’s Alabama Connections,” tracing how a Montgomery belle and her husband left their imprint on American literature.
The event is free.
Waters, an instructor of American and Southern literature at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Greenville, has spent years teaching Fitzgerald’s work and was a longtime volunteer at The Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum in Montgomery.
That mix of scholarship and hands-on experience has given her a close-up view of the couple behind the legend, including writing about mental health issues decades before doing so became mainstream.
“Fitzgerald was the face of his generation,” Waters said. “He and Zelda were famous for being famous. They were the Kardashians of their time. But when you look at his literature, it’s how he speaks to that younger generation — insecurity, vulnerability, trying to make it in the world. Those are universal truths.”
Alabama, she said, is woven more deeply into that story than many readers realize. Zelda’s diaries and journals often found their way, almost word for word, into her husband’s fiction.
“Sometimes he would lift whole passages from her journals and put them in his books and short stories and give them to characters,” Waters said. “There’s a lot more southern influence there than people sometimes realize.”
Waters will also touch on Zelda’s own writing, including her novel “Save Me the Waltz,” and the way the couple’s turbulent rise, fall and partial redemption mirror the arc of 20thcentury American letters.
One of her favorite discoveries from the museum is Fitzgerald’s meticulous financial ledger, a record that undercuts the popular image of a purely frivolous pair.
“People think they were just throwing money away,” she said. “But that ledger tells a
Woven Wood Bamboo Shades
different story — how much he spent trying to keep everyone afloat.”
For Waters, the Fitzgeralds still have plenty to teach today’s writers.
“Early success does not always equate [with] permanent success,” Waters said. “There’s also a second chance in the way his work came back from obscurity.”
The program is part of Tales from the Writing Life, a series that invites audiences to meet authors and dive into the art of storytelling. It is
Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald’s Alabama Connections
► Where: Homewood Public Library Round Auditorium
► When: Wednesday, July 8, 1 p.m.
► Cost: Free
► Web: homewood.libnet.info
supported by a grant from the Alabama Humanities Alliance.
“We are featuring local authors to come and describe their creative process and the books they have written,” said Leslie West, head of adult services for the Homewood Public Library. “By taking a look at his Alabama connections and their influences on Fitzgerald, one will better comprehend the great man’s writings.” Register for free at homewood.libnet.info.
Mollie Smith Waters. Photo courtesy of Mollie Smith Waters.
F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, 1921. Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society.
EVENTS
Save the Date
BLOOD DRIVE
► Where: Homewood Public Library, 1721 Oxmoor Road
► When: July 17, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
► Web: homewoodpubliclibrary.org/ events
► Details: The American Red Cross will host a blood drive, accepting donations from anyone who is healthy and eligible. Most donations take about an hour.
SIDEWALK SALE
► Where: Downtown Homewood
► When: July 25, 10 a.m.
► Web: homewoodchamber.org
► Details: Sponsored by the Homewood Chamber of Commerce, the 2026 Sidewalk Sale is an opportunity for businesses to line the sidewalks in front of their shops with discounted merchandise. Many of the businesses will have items discounted up to 75% off.
► For more events news, connect with The Homewood Star online by scanning the QR code.
► Have an upcoming event to share? Email Kyle Parmley at kparmley@starnesmedia.com.
RETRO RUN
► Where: 2839 18th St. S.
► When: July 25, 7-9 p.m.
► Cost: $40
► Web: trakshak.com
► Details: The Trak Shak Retro Run 5K will have a dueling theme of retro country music and southern rock. A local band named Redwood will play before and after the event. Participants are invited to show their versions of retro country or southern rock ideas. There will also be a costume contest. The contestant with the most entertaining costume will be spotted at the finish line and must run the entire 5K to compete. The winner will be picked by crowd reaction as everyone is introduced and will win $100 cash. Each race participant will receive a race T-shirt and a running bib, which is their food and beer ticket.
QUESTION REALITEA
► Where: The Dance Foundation, 1715 27th Court S.
► When: July 26, 1: 30 p.m. tea party; 2:30 p.m. aerial and dance performance
► Cost: $25
► Web: facebook.com/events/ the-dance-foundation/question-realitea-tea-party-aerial-dance-performance/817116324598987/
► Details: The Dance Foundation is holding a tea party with tea from Cha House, followed by an aerial and dance performance by Fireflyer Productions, a creative performance group based in Birmingham. Treats provided by Gem’s Granola.
the
Homewood grad takes his wrestling career to Montevallo
By APRIL COFFEY
Q: Where are you currently attending college? Why did you decide to go to college there?
A: I just completed my freshman year at the University of Montevallo. I decided to attend Montevallo because I was recruited by the wrestling team. I have always wanted to be a college athlete, and wrestling keeps me busy. A small school like Montevallo helps me to keep my focus. Also I am the third generation of my family to go to Montevallo; my grandfather and my mother both attended Montevallo as well.
Q: What extracurricular activities do you participate in at school or in the community?
A: I am a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) on campus at Montevallo, and, of course, I am a wrestler. I do not live on campus at Montevallo. I typically have practice for Montevallo’s wrestling team in the morning and with club wrestling in the evenings. As a commuter and an athlete, I do not have much time for anything else.
Q: How long have you been wrestling, and what do you enjoy most about it?
A: I have been wrestling since seventh grade. What I enjoy the most about wrestling is the community and the physical aspect of the sport. I played a lot of team sports growing up, but wrestling is both a team sport and it is one on one. When I win matches, it is because of my hard work that I have put in, and I have to prove myself as an individual to earn points for the team. I have a lot of friends that I compete with and against in the wrestling community, but we are all supportive of one another.
*Preorder through Sept. 7 *Gas logs to be installed in September
Q: What important life lessons have you learned from participating in wrestling?
A: I feel like I have learned a great deal from wrestling, such as how to work hard [and] never quit, leadership skills, teamwork and how to achieve personal goals. Wrestling takes a lot of hard work because it takes a toll on your body. It requires a lot of persistence. I have to take care of my body well, such as stretching, hydration, nutrition and recovery, so that I can keep going.
Q: What are you planning to pursue as a major at Montevallo, and why did you decide to major in that field?
A: I am currently studying finance in the college of business. I decided on that major because it has a lot of diverse options for careers.
Q: What do you miss most about attending Homewood High School? What advice would you give students new to Homewood High School?
A: The things I miss the most about Homewood High are the people, my friends and the coaches/staff that I basically grew up around because my dad is the head football coach at Homewood High. My advice to a new student at Homewood would be to enjoy the four years to the fullest because they go by so fast.
Q: What is next for you? Where do you see yourself in five years?
A: My short-term plans are to become a starter on the wrestling team at Montevallo and try to become an all-American at nationals. In five years I hope to be finishing graduate school and starting my career.
Homewood High School graduate Luke Berguson is currently attending the University of Montevallo, where he is studying finance. Photo courtesy of Luke Berguson.
DIAMOND CONTINUED from page 1
Which yields the question: What took Alabama and Homewood so long to get on board with the idea?
The latest diverging diamond interchange is under construction in Homewood at the crossing of Interstate 65 and Lakeshore Parkway, also known as Alabama 149. According to ALDOT, more than 50,000 vehicles travel through those on-ramps and off-ramps every day.
“There’s always a resistance to change,” Smith said. “I still get calls frequently about roundabouts and DDIs saying, why are we doing this? This will not work. People are just real hesitant to change. It’s a lot of money to spend on something that you’re not positive is going to work.”
But the state has watched other areas that implemented them with success, he said. “We’ve seen now they do have a positive benefit,” Smith said. “It just took a little while for us to enact some, I guess, and fund them in Alabama. But once we have, we have realized they’re beneficial.”
The state initially sought construction bids for the Lakeshore DDI in 2021, but ALDOT rejected all the bids it received. Smith said the plan was changed somewhat to make it more cost-effective.
“It just took a while to get funding in place, I guess, to let it the second time,” he said. “We let it in 2025. There’s basically a four-year delay from the first letting to the second.”
The total cost of the project is about $29 million. The city of Homewood’s share is about $5.8 million, with Jefferson County contributing $1 million toward the city’s required local match, Homewood City Engineer Amy Zari said.
The impact in Homewood should be obvious.
“The diverging diamond interchange is expected to significantly improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and enhance safety at the interchange,” Zari said. “This design allows vehicles to make left turns onto the I-65 ramp without crossing opposing traffic, improving operations during peak travel periods. In addition, the DDI configurations require fewer [traffic] signal phases, which helps reduce vehicular delays and promotes a more efficient flow of traffic.”
No one would ever confuse a diverging diamond interchange with a roundabout, which manages surface-level traffic without a traffic signal with a series of right turns. Conversely, a diverging diamond is particularly effective where there had previously been a lot of left turns at an off-ramp.
“At this [Lakeshore] interchange, we do have a lot of left turns, both getting on and off the interstate,” said Smith, the ALDOT engineer.
With the diverging diamond design, “Left turns flow freely coming off the interstate because you don’t have to cross traffic there. The traffic crosses on the correct side of the interchange with the ramp. You do not have to have a signal there to get you across; you can flow freely to the left.
“People coming southbound on [I-]65, say, will not have to go through a traffic signal to go left, to go out Lakeshore and vice versa,” he said. “If you’re coming northbound and you want to get over to the shopping area, you will flow freely from the ramp onto Lakeshore toward the shopping area. It really provides smoother, quicker intersection movement there, instead of having a signal there at the ramp.”
Despite being a new way of entering and exiting I-65, Smith said he doesn’t think motorists will require special instructions to maneuver the DDI.
There will be signs, and the roads will be striped, he said. “The first couple I went through, I didn’t know what I’d done,” he said. “I just followed the stripes. You go through it, [and] you don’t have a problem with it. … It’s pretty intuitive.”
The diverging diamond interchange will feature two traffic signals, one on either end of the bridge crossing I-65.
“You do flip sides,” Smith said. “Your [eastbound] and westbound traffic ... on Lakeshore
swaps sides. Where they swap, there will be traffic signals. You’ll still have two signals. If you’re trying to go end to end down Lakeshore, which may be green and may be red, you may have to stop. You may not, but people coming off the interstate won’t have to stop. As they come off the interstate, they’ll be able to get on [Lakeshore]. That’s the benefit of it.”
The ALDOT engineer said motorists exiting the interstate can flow freely to the left or the right whenever they come off the ramps.
“Either direction coming up the interstate ramps, you move without having to wait for a signal, which will be neat,” he said.
Smith recalled some driver confusion when
roundabouts were added to roadways. The frequent question then was: Who has the right of way? The answer, he said, is the person in the circle has the right of way, and the person approaching the circle has to yield.
“People have figured it out quite quickly,” he said. “There’s no question anymore who has right of way. Sometimes when you were in the circle when it first opened up, you had to be ready to slam on your brakes because the person approaching may not stop. But I never see that anymore. They yield the right of way to the person already in the circle. Once you figure that out, [roundabouts] work really well.”
So people exiting the interstate onto Lakeshore Parkway will have right of way?
“Well, they just don’t have to stop due to the nature of the roadway,” Smith said. “In a sense, they have right of way. Whenever they get to the far end of the bridge, to where they cross back onto their correct side of traffic, they may have to stop. But that’s only one signal. They’ll have to stop once possibly instead of twice. Now, you have one [stop] at the top of the ramp, and you have one at the other side of the bridge, at the other ramp. You will only have to stop once at the most, instead of now at two at the most.”
After a four-year delay from when construction bids were initially sought for the project, completion of Homewood’s DDI is within sight. Smith said completion can be gauged two ways.
“The main way that will be apparent to the traveling public is when traffic shifts and new traffic patterns are in place,” the ALDOT engineer said. “That will be, I would say, early fall at the rate they’re going now. They’ve made some pretty good progress lately. But early fall is when the [motorists] will notice the new traffic pattern of being shifted and crossing directions … actually going through a diverging diamond interchange.”
Smith said the project itself will probably not be truly complete until next spring when the final layer of asphalt, the permanent traffic signals and any additional concrete work have been done after the traffic shift is made.
“All those kind of things will be taken care of over the winter and into the early spring,” he said. “It may be April or so before things are totally complete there. But as far as the traveling public and the traffic know, the big change will be implemented and operational changes will be implemented, I’d say, early fall, maybe September.”
The new design for the I-65 interchange at Lakeshore Parkway begins to take shape. As construction continues, motorists should start to see lanes of traffic shift to new routes early this fall, according to ALDOT. Photo courtesy of Alabama Department of Transportation.
Workers put down pavement for the new ramp to I-65 at Lakeshore Parkway in Homewood.
Photo courtesy of Alabama Department of Transportation.
This map shows how the new I-65 diverging diamond interchange at Lakeshore Parkway will work once it is completed and opens, allowing for fewer traffic lights and more continuously flowing traffic. Map courtesy of Alabama Department of Transportation.
PICKLEBALL
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But for many involved, Pickleball Kingdom is about far more than the game itself. It is about community, health and connection.
For lifelong Homewood resident Randy Billingsley, the sport’s arrival in Homewood feels deeply personal.
Billingsley now serves as head coach at Pickleball Kingdom, where he oversees daily events ranging from leagues and tournaments to open play sessions and beginner classes. He also teaches a free hour-long “Pickleball 101” course designed to introduce newcomers to the sport.
Six years ago, Billingsley became hooked on pickleball around the time the COVID-19 pandemic changed daily life across the country. As families searched for safe ways to stay active outdoors, pickleball courts quickly filled with players looking for both exercise and social interaction.
“It became a family event for us and so many people that we knew,” Billingsley said. “Kids could play, older people could play and people wanted something active after being closed inside.”
Pickleball changed his life in more ways than one. He said the sport helped him lose 80 pounds because of the constant movement involved during games.
“Anybody can play,” he said. “It’s healthy, social and keeps you moving.”
A longtime football fan, Billingsley compares pickleball strategy to calling plays as an offensive coordinator, constantly thinking several shots ahead during a match. He also follows professional pickleball on the PPA Tour channel and believes the Homewood facility will become a major destination for players across Alabama.
“The beauty of the biggest indoor facility in Alabama is that people can play year round,” he said. “Rain, snow, sleet or tornadoes, we can still play.”
Pickleball has also shaped Pickleball Kingdom owner Anjali Mukherji Doria’s personal life in unexpected ways. She said she met her husband in 2022 through the sport, and what began as a shared hobby eventually turned into a shared business dream.
“Pickleball was one of the first activities we ever did together, and it is now an activity our entire family loves,” Mukherji Doria said. “Not only do we love it as a sport, but we love the fact that it is a very inclusive sport that brings communities together.”
In addition to owning the Homewood franchise, Mukherji Doria serves as executive director of a nonprofit organization that supports sustainable health care in rural America. She said Homewood stood out immediately as ideal for the facility.
“Homewood is a beautiful city with a thriving group of pickleball players,” she said. “It is centrally located and will attract players from all over Birmingham and the surrounding areas.”
General manager of Pickleball Kingdom, Kyle Johnson, said one of the sport’s biggest appeals is that it does not depend only on
athleticism.
“I’ve seen a 70-year-old beat a 20-yearold,” Johnson said. “There is a lot of strategy involved, and knowing where to put the ball gives you a huge advantage.”
Johnson said he began playing pickleball two years ago and quickly became a fan.
“It’s been an absolute blast,” he said. “It’s
like working out without knowing it. I lost 15 pounds in the first few months.”
Pickleball Kingdom offers something for nearly every kind of player. The facility hosts open play seven days a week for nine hours each day, allowing players to drop in without needing a partner. Three-hour open play sessions cost $15, creating an easy and
Above: Pickleball Kingdom at Wildwood Center in Homewood opened as Alabama’s largest indoor pickleball facility, with 14 courts offering open play seven days a week alongside leagues, tournaments and a free beginner course called “Pickleball 101.” Three-hour open play sessions cost $15, with memberships starting at $85 a month. Photos by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
welcoming entry point for newcomers.
Memberships start at $85 a month and include unlimited open play, up to three sessions a day, along with discounts on leagues, tournaments and coaching sessions. The facility also offers lessons, organized leagues and competitive tournaments designed to help players improve their skills while building friendships within the growing pickleball community.
Beyond the courts themselves, the facility includes two community gathering spaces, an outdoor deck area, locker rooms with showers and a fully stocked pro shop that sells paddles, pickleball gear, bags, snacks, drinks, beer and court shoes designed for quick lateral movement.
“This space is intended to be more than just pickleball,” Johnson said. “It offers players an environment where they can compete, relax and connect with others in the growing pickleball community.”
Johnson said first-time visitors can expect an energetic and welcoming atmosphere from the moment they walk through the doors.
“A first timer can expect a top-class indoor facility with a friendly staff that is excited to welcome them to the kingdom,” he said.
Ultimately, owner Mukherji Doria said the mission of Pickleball Kingdom extends beyond sports.
“Our goal as an organization is to create community,” she said. “Watching people get healthy, have fun and form friendships through pickleball is one of the most rewarding feelings ever.”
Left: Pickleball Kingdom head coach Randy Billingsley, left, and General Manager Kyle Johnson.
