Sun HooverSun.com
Neighborly news & entertainment for Hoover
June 2014 • A1
Volume 2 | Issue 9 | June 2014
Renewal relief
Honoring service
coming to the Met
TAGS
Several Hoover students recently received scholarships from the Hoover Service Club. Find details inside.
See page A14
Beautiful belles
The Hoover Belles were presented at an annual ceremony in May. Read more inside.
See page A15
INSIDE City .....................A5 Business ............A8 Food ...................A11 Community .......A12
By WILLIAM C. SINGLETON III Hoover city officials want to operate a county annex at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium that will allow residents to renew their car tags within city limits. After the council earlier this month passed a resolution essentially allowing the city to enter the car tag renewal business, Hoover o ff i c i a l s said their desire is to ultimately operate a courthouse annex to serve new tags for cars, motorcycles and boats and issue driver’s licenses to Hoover residents. “It will be a full-service annex,” Council President Pro Term Brian Skelton said. “We certainly have the space there.” Skelton said the annex would be at the Met, but officials have to discuss what a potential annex would look like and whether modifications would be necessary to accommodate such a facility. Mayor Gary Ivey said he has
already begun pursuing the idea. “We’ve met with Sen. (Jabo) Waggoner and State Rep. (Paul) DeMarco and asked that they look at us for a pilot program for a full-blown annex,” the mayor said. Earlier this year, the two legislators were instrumental in sponsoring and pushing through a bill that gives Jefferson County cities the right to issue car tag renewals. Vestavia and Hoover are the only Jefferson County cities to act on the new law. The new legislation provides relief to Hoover and Vestavia Hills residents who would otherwise have to
See NO LINES | page A16
Triumph through trials Former state trooper shares dark story of addiction with youth across Alabama
School House ..B9 Sports ...............B11 Calendar ...........B13
By KATIE TURPEN
Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Birmingham, AL Permit #656
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Hoover resident Matthew Creighton is a former Alabama State Trooper who fell into a gambling addiction that ultimately landed him in and out of prison three times. He has since written a book titled Don’t Get Sidetracked and shares his message at schools and churches across the state. Photo by Katie Turpen.
Matthew Creighton will always remember that moment. He watched his son walk toward him inside the Alabama state prison. Creighton was used to appearing regal and polished in front of his child, proudly dressed in a state trooper uniform. That day, however, Creighton looked down at his white suit, unable to believe his son had to see him this way. “I’ll never forget that look on my son’s face,” Creighton said. “He absolutely broke down and said he could not come back to that place ever again.” Creighton had created a successful life for
See CREIGHTON | page A16