Making the move to ArchWell Health is easy. From our sign-up process to booking your first appointment, switching to a doctor at ArchWell Health has never been so simple. You deserve a primary care provider who really listens, same-day sick appointments for members, and convenient locations. Call today and let us help you get started.
• More time with your doctor
• Conveniently located near you
• Same-day sick appointments for members
• 24/7 access to a provider and more!
Community
Looking
School
New
Keeping up with good things going on in our local schools
Events
Buddy
Back pain holding you
back?
Our team of orthopedic specialists are here to help.
Orthopedic & Spine Surgeon Welcoming Jay Fitts, MD
At UAB Medical West, our team of orthopedic specialists are dedicated to helping patients restore mobility and enhance their quality of life. We are committed to bringing quality, stateof-the-art orthopedic care to the residents of West Jefferson County, AL and are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jay Fitts to our team. Dr. Fitts specializes in spine surgery and is now accepting new patients at both our brand new main hospital location and our Hoover location. To schedule an appointment with a UAB Medical West Orthopedic surgeon, call us today at (205) 481-8570. For more information about UAB Medical West and all of our services, visit us online at medicalwesthospital.org.
J. Dory Curtis, MD | Erika Issis-Vasha, PA-C | Patrick Rowan, MD | Scott Seibert, MD | Jay Fitts, MD
On the Cover Staff
Matthew Allen Publisher (205) 617-9609 matthew@jbmcmedia.com
Michelle Salem Haynes Marketing Consultant (205) 381-1311 michelle@jbmcmedia.com
WestJeff Magazine serves the communities and people of West Jefferson County. Published every month, the magazine is available for free at more than 100 locations in Bessemer, Hueytown, McCalla, Pleasant Grove, Concord, Oak Grove, Sylvan Springs, and other areas.
Subscriptions are available for $35 per year.
Email subscribe@jbmcmedia.com for details on how to subscribe or send a gift subscription.
Does your business want to connect with West Jefferson County residents? Email us: advertise@jbmcmedia.com, and let’s talk!
All content in this magazine remains the property of JBMC Media, LLC. Any requests to reprint or republish should be directed to matthew@jbmcmedia.com.
Copyright 2025. All rights reserved.
Buddy and Maria Vines at the Buddy Vines Fishing Camp near Bessemer. Buddy Vines wrote the cover story in this issue starting on page 16.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW ALLEN
The West Beat
by JESSE CHAMBERS
Welcome once again to WestJeff Magazine, a monthly publication dedicated to covering West Jefferson County. With the appearance of this April issue, we celebrate our first anniversary.
We’re thrilled to have completed our first year, and it seems like a good time to recap our goals and philosophy in starting the magazine. We’ll also once again extend an invitation to our readers to take an active part in our efforts.
At WestJeff Magazine, we’re dedicated to giving the communities of West Jefferson County the media coverage they deserve. We write about the people, places and things that make the Western communities special.
Each month, we curate the best selection of entertaining, informative content from West Jefferson County you’ll see anywhere.
I have a great affection for the western communities, even though I grew up in East Lake, in part because the area became a big part of my life earlier in my career.
After stints at the now-defunct altweeklies Birmingham Weekly and Weld for Birmingham, I went to work at Al.com and The Birmingham News in 2012 as the West Communities beat reporter.
In my nearly three years with The News, I learned more about the Western area than I ever had before, including Bessemer,
McCalla, Hueytown, Midfield, Fairfield, Lipscomb, Brighton, Concord, Pleasant Grove and Sylvan Springs.
In the years since I left The News, the media business has continued to change radically due to the internet, smart phones and the explosive growth of social media.
Newspapers as we knew them have now all but died and print media in general has struggled. The Birmingham News is no longer printed, and outlets like AL.com are doing less and less local coverage.
In fact, the total amount of local and hyper-local reporting available in many communities – even counting TV and radio coverage – seems to have shrunk.
At WestJeff Magazine, we want to fill that gap for West Jefferson County, but we can’t do it alone. We actively solicit information, stories and photographs from our readers.
We currently do not run op-eds or opinion pieces but always love receiving news or announcements about events, businesses, schools and community groups. We’re always seeking items to include in our events calendar, including city council and other government meetings.
You can share your ideas for feature articles in the magazine, including cover stories or even special sections. Feel free to submit your own personal or humorous stories.
And we love and need good photos, as long as they are at least 500 KB, preferably at least 1 MB. We’re a print publication, so good photos are essential – and they dramatically improve a story’s impact and make it more attractive to readers.
I’m happy to share that more and more folks in West Jefferson County have started to contact us with ideas and information. We have written many of those stories and included them in the magazine.
For example, in March, we ran a story about the 100th birthday celebration of Belle Cheatham in Hueytown, and her family members submitted virtually all of the information and photographs.
This month, we have a cover story written by one of our readers and published under his byline – Buddy Vines, the owner of the legendary Buddy Vines Fishing Camp near Bessemer.
We hope that the residents and business people and organizations in the area will see the magazine as a great platform for them, as a sort of town square.
If you are part of West Jefferson County, you are a part of WestJeff Magazine. It’s your magazine.
Write us and send us your ideas and submissions to jesse@jbmcmedia.com.
Sweet Georgia Barbecue
Columbus, Georgia. I was eating at a barbecue joint not far from the state line.
My cousin, John, insisted that this joint serves the best barbecue in the state of Georgia. He made me promise to try it.
I ordered the ribs.
I ate them without sauce. The true test of ribs is to eat them dry. Barbecue sauce is like a beautiful woman. If she’s too sweet, she’s hiding something. If she’s too spicy, you’re going to be sorry in the morning.
Behind me was a young couple, eating. Early 20s. Maybe late teens. I could hear their conversation.
“Has your mom texted yet?” said the young man quietly. They were eating a massive plate of smoked meat.
“No,” said the young woman. “Not yet.”
“Do you think she’ll text you?”
“Don’t know. She’s definitely mad.”
“Bad mad?”
“Yes.”
“You think she’ll ever forgive us?”
The girl spoke with a mouthful. “I don’t know. She doesn’t like what we did.”
“You mean that we snuck off to get married?”
“It’s called ‘eloping.’ I think that’s what they call it when you run away to get married.”
“She doesn’t like that we ’loped.”
“EE-loped.”
“I can’t believe we’re really married.”
“I know.”
I ate my ribs and listened. I have my mother in me. I can eavesdrop with the best of them.
The boy was chewing as he talked. “I think lots of people’s grandparents ee-loped. My grandparents went to Donaldsonville to get married. You could get married in Donaldsonville back then, without your parents’ permission.”
“So how can it be so wrong if our grandparents did it?”
Shrug. “I know. And my grandparents are super old, too. My grandma is almost 60.”
I turned around to sneak a glance at them. She was pretty. He was so skinny, God love him. He would’ve had to stand up five times just to make a shadow. They were sitting on the same side of the table.
“My mom will come around,” she said. “As soon as we get good jobs. Don’t worry.”
“I’ll start looking for a better job as soon as we find a place to live.”
“God. Where are we going to live?”
“Anywhere. As long as we’re together.”
I started working on my coleslaw and listened to them take inventory of their assets.
“How much do we have?” said the young woman.
“I have $329 in my checking. But I got a paycheck coming this week.”
“That’s not a lot.”
“That guy said he’ll rent us the apartment, so we’re good. We can do this.”
“Can we?”
“I’ll do whatever it takes. I won’t be a loser forever.”
“You’re not a loser.”
“Yes, I am. But I’m going to make you a good husband. I’m going to show them how much I love you. I’m going to break my back to prove it.”
“I’m going to do the same thing.”
“Maybe one day, our grandkids will be talking about how we ee-loped, the same way our grandparents did.”
Best barbecue in Georgia.
SEAN DIETRICH
In The Kitchen with Kathleen Phillips
Kathleen Phillips is a food blogger, food stylist, cookbook author, and former Oxmoor House test kitchen director (Southern Living cookbooks). On her food blog, GritsAndGouda.com, she creates Southern shortcut recipes. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.
Spicy Sweet Potato Fries
April is the beginning of spring and summer festivals and that means unique food truck food! Food and family fun are the highlights of outdoor festivals, for me.
I'm like a kid in a candy shop when I see the line of food trucks because I know there will be plenty of fresh, locally sourced food cooked in creative ways to satisfy the hungry crowd.
French fries, loaded fries and tater tot nachos are often among some of the most popular menu offerings. I'm sharing my recipe for Spicy Sweet Potato Fries... made in the air fryer! They really aren't "spicy hot", but rather coated in a spice mixture to add an extra layer of flavor to the sweet and savory sweet tater.
No worries if you don't have an air fryer, I'll include directions to bake in the oven and fry on the stovetop.
I hope you can get out this spring and feast on some festival fare. If not, I've got you covered with more shortcut recipes at GritsAndGouda.com.
Ingredients
2 small sweet potatoes peeled and cut lengthwise into thin strips
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon table salt or ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
TIP
Leave out the cinnamon for a more Cajun-like seasoning.
Instructions
Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
Toss sweet potatoes in a large bowl with olive oil.
Combine all the spices except salt in a small bowl and sprinkle over the sweet potatoes, tossing to coat.
Place half of the sweet potatoes in the fryer basket, sprayed with an oil spray, and cook for 8 minutes. Do not overcrowd the basket. Turn or shake, cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes or until crispy and browned. Remove them from the basket and sprinkle with salt. Repeat procedure with remaining half of potatoes.
If you have a large air fryer, you may be able to cook the entire batch at one time.
Oven Fries: Use 2 tablespoons of oil to toss potatoes, line the baking sheet with parchment paper and bake at 425°F for 20 minutes, turn with a spatula and bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with salt.
Stovetop Frying: Use 1 tablespoon of oil to coat the fries so the spices will stick to them. Heat 2 to 3 inches of vegetable oil in a pot to 365°F. Fry sweet potato fries in batches 3 minutes or until tender and lightly browned on edges. Remove to drain on paper towels; sprinkle with salt.
At WestJeff Magazine, we seek to provide comprehensive coverage of business activity of all kinds in West Jefferson County – and not just the big projects. We want to hear news and updates about all of the businesses in the area, both large and small. We also report on real estate, construction and infrastructure projects. Please contact us with any tips, information or photos you have at jesse@jbmcmedia.com.
‘World-class’ clinics, new diner, go Local
by JESSE CHAMBERS
UAB Medicine opened seven new specialty clinics at UAB Medical West in Bessemer in January. The clinics, located on the sixth floor of the facility’s medical office building, are cardiology, endocrinology, neurosurgery, rheumatology and pain treatment, as well as a pulmonary clinic and the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, according to UAB News.
The new clinics will allow patients in West Jefferson County to obtain “world-
class treatment closer to home,” said Lou Baverso, chief operating officer of the UAB Health System.
UAB Medical West, an affiliate of the UAB Health System, opened its new facility in Bessemer in August 2024. It replaced the hospital’s original home, which was built in 1964.
UAB Medical West is a 412,000-squarefoot, nine-story hospital with 200 beds and a 127,000-square-foot, seven-story medical
LEFT: UAB Medicine recently opened 7 specialty clinics at UAB Medical West, which was completed in August. The clinics are located in the facility’s medical office building. BELOW: UAB Medical West was designed to bring natural beauty inside, including paintings and photographs.
office building. The facility features a new surgical and endoscopy suite, including robotic surgery and 12 operating rooms, state-of-the-art imaging technology, and numerous intensive care beds.
The facility is also meant to be a warm, inviting, eco-friendly facility, with many natural features, including trees, a pond and walking trails. The hospital also contains lots of artwork that depicts nature, including birds, animals, plants and lilies from the Cahaba River.
“Our new facility was designed around nature,” UAB Medical West CEO Keith Pennington told UAB News in July 2024.
PHOTOS BY BRITTNEY FIELDS
Southerners love a good meat-and-three. The Midway Diner is now open in McCalla.
Selling out
The McCalla area has a new family-style restaurant, the Midway Diner, located at 6530 Pocahontas Road. Midway Diner – a meat and three – had a soft opening on Feb. 18, according to Birmingham Business Journal and other outlets. Owners posted on their Facebook page that the opening was “a huge success” and that they sold out of food. “We went through our entire truck today… in about three hours!” owners posted. This included about 20 menu items, including 8 pans of cobbler, 10 pans of dressing, 40 pounds of slaw, 50 pounds meatloaf and 10 pounds of black-eyed peas. For more about Midway Diner, call 205-800-7011 or go to facebook.com/Midwaydinermccalla.
Going Local
Hueytown has a new coffee house and eatery, The Local, which opened in February at 3135 Allison Bonnett Memorial Drive. The menu includes coffee, cappuccinos, lattes and mochas, as well as acai bowls, smoothies, frappes and treats like cheesecake and cake pops. In addition to food and drink, customers can find succulents and flower arrangements.
Customers will also find a friendly atmosphere at The Local.
“We want The Local to feel like a second home, a place where people feel comfortable, welcomed and connected,” co-owners Chris and Holly Nelson told WestJeff Magazine in an email. “Our vibe is laid-back, warm and family-friendly.”
The Nelsons have deep ties to Hueytown. Holly grew up there and graduated from Hueytown High School, and she and Chris have made their family in Hueytown since 2010.
“The Local is a co-owned family partnership for the Nelson family,” the couple said. “We built this together as a
space for the community that we both love so much.”
Chris has a background in hospitality and Holly has been a social worker and worked at her family's business, Bagley’s Florist in Fairfield.
This background gives them “a solid understanding of how to create meaningful experiences for people,” the couple said. Their experience also “inspired us to create a space that's welcoming, supportive and uplifting,” they said.
In addition to The Local, the Nelsons operate Venue 31|31, a wedding venue with a bridal house, chapel, courtyard and The Studio events space. The facility is located at 3131 Allison Bonnett Memorial Drive.
For more information about The Local, call 205-277-9118 or go to facebook.com/ TheLocalHueytown. For more about Venue 31|31, go to venue3131.com
Guarding the flock
Drip Spring Hollow Farm, located on Taylors Ferry Road near Bessemer, covers about 130 acres.The farm also has about 700 free-range chickens and sells the eggs from a shed at the front of the property, according to a recent story at WVTM 13 News. Given the current outbreak of avian or bird flu, it makes sense that the farm’s owner, Britnie Niedermeier, is working hard to protect her birds. “We don't let people come in from outside, around the chickens, just so that they're not bringing in pathogens from their feet or anything else," Niedermeier told the station on Feb. 11. If the chickens were contaminated by the flu, they would have to be euthanized. “We're very nervous," Niedermeier said. "We've had to enact several biosecurity measures here.” For more about Drip Spring Hollow Farm, call 205-578-2331 or go to facebook. com/dripspringhollowfarm.
The Local is a new coffee house and eatery in Hueytown. BELOW: (left) You get no eggs without chickens, so an area egg farmer is guarding her flock from bird flu.
PHOTO BY WIKIMEDIA USER SAFARITRAVELPLUS. CC0.
PHOTO BY KP CAPTURES
PHOTO COURTESY OF MIDWAY DINER
The birth of a pilot
Born in 1952, I grew up – and still live today – at the Buddy Vines Fishing Camp, located at Bankhead Lake on the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River. My grandfather, John Aaron “Buddy” Vines, founded the camp in 1915,
In the 1940s, the U.S. government embarked on a program to fight malaria, and the plan in our area was to use low-flying airplanes to spray the river and Bankhead Lake with a mixture of diesel fuel and DDT to kill the mosquitoes which spread the deadly disease.
Pursuant to this, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leased a portion of our property here at the fishing camp to construct an air strip.
The completed runway was appropriately 1,200 feet long and 100 feet wide. At its near end, it was just 60 yards behind our house. At the far end, it crossed the road leading around the camp, then terminated into Glaze Creek. There were two large signs on either side of the road warning of “Low Flying Aircraft.”
At the runway’s upper end was a large tank containing the diesel fuel, a small metal storage building containing the cardboard barrels of DDT, a mixing drum, a 5-horsepower mixing engine and a large hose used to fill the tank on the airplane.
My father, Charlie Vines, had the job of mixing the poison and filling the plane upon the pilot’s arrival. Dad despised the job because it interrupted his normal activities.
One day Dad and his friend, Red Hastings, were sitting on the porch of the Camphouse. While Dad was inside, Red heard the plane land. When Dad came out, Red exclaimed, “Charlie, he’s lit.” Apparently Red saw the plane as nothing more than a rather large housefly. Dad mumbled an expletive and began his walk over to the airfield.
Most every year we had a different “spray pilot,” and I always tried to get to know them personally. For years, they flew Stearman biplanes, but in the early 1960s, they switched to Piper Super Cubs. The work was dangerous, to say the least. They flew under bridges, under power lines and up dead-end sloughs. I remember several times the planes would return with small tree limbs hanging from the undercarriage. But, in spite of the perils involved, we never lost a pilot.
My favorite pilot was a young man from Dalton, Georgia, named George Carpenter. He was tall, thin, aloof and carried a Buck knife on his belt, which I thought at 15-years-old was super cool. Much later in life, when I could afford one, I bought a knife identical to the one
BY BUDDY VINES
PHOTO BY MATTHEW ALLEN
Buddy Vines in a hangar at Bessemer Airport with his private plane, the Mooney 252, a single-engine, fourpassenger craft. Vines has been an avid pilot for over 50 years.
George carried. I still have it in my gun case. George and I became good friends, partly because he thought my sister was a knockout.
On a steamy day in July, Dad had completed loading the 90-gallon belly tank on the Super Cub. I hung around to watch George take off. I watched intently as he went through his checklist, put on his helmet, then yelled “clear prop!” The Lycoming engine sprang to life, leaving a cloud of dust behind the tail of the plane. George looked at me and gave me a “thumbs up” as the plane began moving forward. After moving only a few feet, it stopped and the engine died.
”What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Come on,” he said, as he motioned for me to get into the plane.
I thought my heart would leap out of my chest as I ran under the wing and climbed in behind my idol. There was no seat, just a small sheet of plywood to sit on. And, the plane had no door. It had presumably been ripped off years before during some mishap. I sat on the plywood and held on to the metal tubes above for support. I knew my parents would be upset at me flying with George, but there was no time to ask permission. Plus, I figured the whipping to come would be more than offset by the exhilaration of my first flight.
”Clear prop,” he once again exclaimed, and the engine started immediately. As we began moving down the strip, I watched the wheel below me gain RPMS as it rolled through the grass.
As George moved the stick forward we were suddenly on two wheels, then I saw the wheel I was watching leave the earth. I had never felt such exhilaration. We were flying! We sailed over the road at the end of the runway, then over the cattails, then out over Glaze Creek, gaining altitude the entire time. The plane banked around the bend in the river, then dropped down low, no more than 20 feet off the water and began spraying the poison, leaving a cloud behind us that gently settled into the water. Turning upstream, the wings were near vertical as we banked around the bends, then flew under Maxine bridge, leaving a trail of the deadly mixture behind us.
We flew over islands with treetops passing only a few feet below us. Birds roosting in the trees would scatter as we approached. On one occasion, we flew under a power line at the mouth of a dead end slough, then up the slough with large pines at the upper end. George then turned the plane near vertical to avoid the trees. Our wheels missed the pine tops by a good three feet!
When we ran out of poison and the tank was empty, we dipped down close to the water on the open river, then I saw the tire hit the water spinning violently, then the other one. He was water skiing the airplane! As he dipped down even further, river water was actually coming over the wings. George then let out a laugh and turned the plane on its tail shooting skyward as river water flew off the undercarriage.
As we returned to the camp and the plane softly touched down, I did
The wings felt as if they were extensions of my arms as I rose, then fell, then banked left and right. This was freedom as I had never experienced.”
A peaceful scene at the Buddy Vines Fishing Camp on Bankhead Lake, founded in 1915 by John Aaron “Buddy” Vines.
The spray pilots at Buddy Vines Fish Camp flew Piper Super Cubs beginning in the 1960s.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW ALLEN
Buddy Vines in the early 1970s.
PHOTO COURTESY BUDDY VINES
not want it to end. It was without a doubt the most fun I had ever had. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING compared to this.
I was hooked. I knew that somehow, someway, someday, I would learn to fly. It became the most important thing in my life.
I flew with George many, many more times. On one occasion, he had to take the plane to Tuscaloosa for repairs and I came along.
On the way home, he yelled over his shoulder, “Put the extension on and fly us home. I’m going to sleep.”
The extension was an 18” piece of pipe that fit over the short pipe on the fuselage between my legs which allowed the back seat occupant to fly the plane.
”How do I get there,” I asked. “Just follow the river,” he said. “And wake me up when we get to the camp.”
I took control and began to make small turns getting used to the feel of the plane. I felt as though I had the plane to myself as George was indeed asleep in the front seat suffering from a hangover. The wings felt as if they were extensions of my arms as I rose, then fell, then banked left and right. This was freedom as I had never experienced.
On another flight, we were too heavy and the plane would not lift off. We bounced across the camp road, ran through the cattails and settled into five foot deep water in Glaze Creek. We both swam out. I got the Jeep and pulled the plane out of the creek by the tail wheel.
The day in 1972 when Buddy Vines received his private pilot’s license.
I got my pilots license when I was 19 and bought my first plane – a 1967 model Mooney M20C – many years later. I have now been flying for more than 50 years and, in 2017, bought my second airplane, a 1987 model Mooney 252, a single-engine, four-passenger plane. When it was made, the Mooney 252 was the fastest certified single-engine aircraft in the world. In fact, that’s how it got its name – it will cruise at 252 miles per hour. It resides in my hangar at the Bessemer airport. My wife Maria and I make regular trips to Destin as well as some to Colorado, Boston, Chicago, Charleston and any other interesting destinations.
Flying my plane is ultimate freedom to me, and every trip is a challenge for me to execute everything flawlessly. Plus the views from 10,000 feet are gorgeous.
And it all began in my backyard in the back of a Super Cub with no door, seat, or seatbelt sailing out over the river I love.
A GREAT STORY FROM A WESTJEFF READER
We all love hearing a good story. After all, stories of all kinds can be deeply moving and entertaining. We’re compelled to listen because we want to know what happens next or how the story ends. We read or listen to stories because they’re funny, or inspiring, or even because we learn something about other people or other parts of the world. Humans are just hardwired to love and respond to storytelling – in books, in movies, in the breakroom, or even sitting around the campfire. Consuming a story even brings us closer – at least temporarily – to the person who tells it. We certainly think that’s true of the story we present in our cover story this month as a way to commemorate the first anniversary issue of WestJeff Magazine. In reading this story, “Birth of a pilot,” you’ll grow closer to the author, Buddy Vines, who tells us how he fell in love with airplanes as a teenager in the 1960s. Vines is the co-owner of Buddy Vines Fishing Camp near Bessemer, which was founded in 1915 by his grandfather, also nicknamed “Buddy.” We wrote about the camp in our first issue in April 2024. Through the first year of WestJeff Magazine – including my “West Beat” column this month – we’ve encouraged readers to send us story ideas or even to send us stories they’ve written themselves. Vines was the first reader to take us up on the offer and submit his own, bylined piece. We certainly hope that he won’t be the last. In any case, enjoy the story!
PHOTO BY WIKIMEDIA USER ROBERT FROLA. FLICKR, GFDL
BY BRITTNEY FIELDS
WestJeff Magazine – with the publication of this April issue – is celebrating our first anniversary. We are proud to serve West Jefferson County and its people. This photographic montage is a way to bring back some warm memories from our first year in operation through the use of some of our favorite images. This is also a great chance to say thanks to our marvelous photographers, Brittney Fields and Allison Carpenter. The most important thing about any community is its people – their lives, their dreams, their passions, their unique faces. We really enjoy capturing those stories and those faces, and we hope to be around as a part of West Jefferson County for a long time.
A year in pictures at WestJeff Magazine
Zoe Thomas is one of dozens of people young and old at Forward in Faith, a ministry and teaching ranch in Bessemer.
PHOTO
HOUSEHOLD DROP-OFF EVENT
SPRING
WestJeff Magazine has shone a light on entrepreneurs like CJ Harris of Hueytown.
PHOTO BY BRITTNEY FIELDS
Randy and Amanda Jones of Oak Grove.
PHOTO BY BRITTNEY FIELDS
Pleasant Grove High School Theater Director Taylor Chatman with student Eriana Ealons.
PHOTO BY ALLISON CARPENTER
Students at the innovative Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School in Bessemer, which is soon to have a new campus.
PHOTO BY BRITTNEY FIELDS
The Oak Grove High School band won a state title in 2024.
L-R: Connor Allen, Assistant Band Director Anna Gugel, Band Director Joshua Meyer, Aubrey Blair and Kaden Haggard.
PHOTO BY BRITTNEY FIELDS
We try to keep track of people doing good in West Jefferson County, like these volunteers who picked up litter for Black Warrior Riverkeeper.
Pleasant Grove High School has an active theater department. Theater Director Taylor Chatman (left) poses with some of her students (L-R): Amiyah Hall, Eriana Ealons, Kyla Caffey, Kayla Burroughs, Alana Williams and Kaleigh White.
for WestJeff Magazine.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BLACK WARRIOR RIVERKEEPER
Sophie Whitfield, a model and photographer in Hueytown, took this self-portrait
PHOTO BY SOPHIE WHITFIELD
PHOTO BY ALLISON CARPENTER
We marked Veterans Day with a story about U.S. Army vet Marvin Smith of Pleasant Grove.
PHOTO BY BRITTNEY FIELDS
We wrote a story about a close-knit family in Oak Grove led by Randy and Amanda Jones, who have been married for 43 years and have five children and 12 grandchildren.
PHOTO BY BRITTNEY FIELDS
Hueytown Intermediate Students enjoy field trip to Montgomery
Fourth-grade students from Hueytown Intermediate School recently experienced a field trip to Montgomery. While in the state’s capital, the group had the opportunity to visit the Capitol Building, Old Town Alabama and the Montgomery Zoo.
McAdory High School fine arts students experience Samford University
Students from the McAdory High School Fine Arts Department recently visited Samford University for an in-depth look at its campus and fine arts programs. This experience allowed students to explore potential academic and career paths while gaining insight into the university’s offerings in the arts.
Kendall Tucker to represent McAdory at SkillsUSA State Competition
Congratulations to Kendall Tucker for winning the Job Skill Demonstration SkillsUSA District Contest for the second year in a row. Her dedication and talent have earned her a spot representing McAdory High School at the SkillsUSA State Competition.
Hueytown alum pays it forward with Auburn Engineering Scholarship
Hueytown High School graduates now have a new opportunity to pursue their dreams, thanks to Patrick Duke, Class of 1994. Committed to investing in the next generation, Duke has established the “For Htown — Class of 1994” Auburn University Engineering Scholarship. This endowed scholarship will provide financial support for Hueytown students pursuing engineering degrees, ensuring they have the resources needed for success. Through this initiative, Duke is empowering future graduates to achieve their academic and professional goals.
Hueytown High School Cheerleaders compete at national level
The Hueytown High School Cheerleaders represented the school at the UCA (Universal Cheerleaders Association) High School Nationals in Orlando. The event was held from Feb. 7–10 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The team delivered an outstanding performance and gained valuable experience competing among the best teams in the country.
McAdory Elementary honors Black History Month with inspiring program
McAdory Elementary School recently hosted its 2025 Black History Month program, celebrating history, achievement and future aspirations. The event featured guest speakers from various industries who shared their experiences and encouraged students to work hard and follow their dreams. Parents and families joined both in person and online, showing strong support for the school community. The program was a meaningful opportunity for students to learn, reflect and be inspired.
Hueytown High School students commit on National Signing Day
Three Hueytown High School football players recently committed to their respective colleges on National Signing Day on Feb. 5. Congratulations to the following: JiQuez Daniels, a wide receiver, committed to Millsaps College; Jordyn Jackson, a defensive lineman, committed to University of Tennessee at Martin; and JuQuarius Brooks (JQ), a cornerback, committed to Jacksonville State University.
Hueytown High School Boys and Girls Basketball Teams named area champions
Congratulations to the Hueytown High School Boys and Girls Basketball teams for both recently winning the 6A Area 7 Basketball Championships.
Hueytown High Students shine at District Jobs for Alabama Graduates competition
Hueytown High School students recently participated in the district competition for the Jobs for Alabama Graduates (JAG) program, demonstrating their skills in leadership, career readiness and public speaking. This event provided them with an opportunity to showcase their talents, gain valuable experience and prepare for future success in the workforce.
McAdory High School students honored in state art competition
Congratulations to Dayana V.M. (Grade 12), Carson P. (Grade 9) and Zoe S. (Grade 9) from McAdory High School for having their photography selected to represent the Jefferson County Schools at the State Superintendent's Art Show in Montgomery. Their work is among just 10 pieces chosen from 27 middle and high schools across the county.
Events Calendar
RIGHT: As always, the beautifully renovated Legacy Arena at the BJCC is hosting lots of events, including Christian musician Forrest Frank and a stop on the 25th anniversary tour for rock band Disturbed. BELOW: Known as “The Diva of Contemporary Comedy,” Sommore will be one of the stars at “Legends of Laughter" at the BJCC.
Western Area Events
April 7: Pleasant Grove City Council. 6 p.m. Pleasant Grove City Hall, 501 Park Road. The Pleasant Grove City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. 205-744-1723. cityofpg.com.
April 7: Fairfield City Council. 6-8 p.m. Fairfield City Hall, 4701 Gary Ave. The Fairfield City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. 205-788-2492. cityoffairfieldal.org.
April 8: Hueytown Board Of Zoning Adjustments. 4:30-5 p.m. City Hall, Council Meeting Room, 1318 Hueytown Road. 205-497-0522. hueytownal.gov.
April 8: Bessemer City Council. 6 p.m. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The Council meets the first Tuesday of each month in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org.
April 8: Brighton City Council. 6 p.m. Brighton City Hall, 3700 Main Street. The Brighton City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. 205-428-9547.
April 10: Jefferson County Commission. 9 a.m. 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Room 270, Birmingham. The Commission meets on the second floor of the County Courthouse downtown in the Commission Chambers. 205-325-5300. jccal.org.
April 7, 14, 21 and 28: District 8 Walking Group. Birmingham Crossplex, 2331 Bessemer Road. Each Thursday at 8 a.m., meet at the CrossPlex Starbucks for a coffee and a casual 1.5 mile loop. Walkers of all abilities and speeds are welcome. Sponsored by the Freshwater Land Trust. freshwaterlandtrust.org/ get-involved/events
April 14: Midfield City Council. 6 p.m. Midfield City Hall, 725 Bessemer Super Highway. The Midfield City Council meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.
April 15: Bessemer City Council. 9 a.m. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The Council holds a planning session on the second Tuesday of each month in the multi-purpose room on the first floor of City Hall. 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SOMMORE.COM
STAFF PHOTO
April 15: Hueytown City Council. Hueytown City Hall, 1318 Hueytown Road. The Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. The pre-meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. and the regular meeting begins at 6 p.m. 205-491-7010. hueytownal.gov.
April 15: Bessemer Board of Zoning Adjustment and Appeals. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The city’s Board of Zoning Adjustment and Appeals meets on the second Tuesday of each month. For meeting times, call 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org.
April 17: Fairfield City School Board. 6 p.m. Fairfield Board of Education, Gladys T. Coleman Boardroom, 6405 Avenue D. Fairfield. The five-member school board meets on the third Thursday of each month. 205-783-6850. fairfieldschoolsystem.com.
April 21: Fairfield City Council. 6-8 p.m. Fairfield City Hall, 4701 Gary Ave. The Fairfield City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. 205-788-2492. cityoffairfieldal.org.
April 21: Pleasant Grove City Council. 6 p.m. Pleasant Grove City Hall, 501 Park Road. The Pleasant Grove City Council meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. 205-744-1723. cityofpg.com.
April 21: Bessemer City Council. 9 a.m. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The Council meets the third Tuesday of each month in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org.
April 22: Brighton City Council. 6 p.m. Brighton City Hall, 3700 Main Street. The Brighton City Council meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. 205-428-9547.
April 22: Bessemer Planning and Zoning Commission. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission meets on the third Tuesday of each month. For meeting times, call 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org.
April 22: Hueytown Planning & Zoning Commission. 5-6 p.m. City Hall, Council Meeting Room,
1318 Hueytown Road. This nine-member board, appointed by the mayor and City Council, meets on the third Tuesday of each month. 205-497-0522. hueytownal.gov.
April 24: Jefferson County Commission. 9 a.m. 716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N., Room 270, Birmingham. The Commission meets on the second floor of the County Courthouse downtown in the Commission Chambers. 205- 325-5300. jccal.org.
April 28: Midfield City Council. 6 p.m. Midfield City Hall, 725 Bessemer Super Highway. The Midfield City Council meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.
April 28: Bessemer Beautification Board. Bessemer City Hall, 1700 Third Ave. N. The city’s Beautification Board meets on the fourth Monday of each month. For meeting times, call 205-424-4060. bessemeral.org.
April 29: Hueytown City Council. Hueytown City Hall, 1318 Hueytown Road. The Council typically meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month, however this month the meeting will be held on the second and third Tuesday, due to the holiday schedule.. The pre-meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. and the regular meeting begins at 6 p.m. 205-491-7010. hueytownal.gov.
Ongoing: Exercise classes. Legacy YMCA, 1501 Fourth Ave S.W., Bessemer. Legacy presents a wide variety of exercise classes for members year round, including swimming, aerobics, aquacise, yoga, cycling, Zumba and Power HITT. Legacy also offers lots of youth sports, camps and health and wellness programs. For details, call 205-426-1211 or go to legacyymca.org.
Acclaimed singersongwriter Amos Lee is scheduled to appear at the Alabama Theatre on April 15.
Ongoing: Classes and workshops. Bessemer Public Library, 400 19th St. N. Bessemer. The library presents a wide range of classes, workshops and other activities for children, teens and adults. Adult classes include nutrition, computers and self-publishing. Activities for children include a toddler playgroup and Pre-K storytimes. 205-428-7882. bessemerlibrary.com.
April 3: Taste of Bessemer Job Fair and Business Expo. 4-7p.m. Bessemer Civic Center. 1130 Ninth Ave. SW. The Taste of Bessemer Job Fair and Business Expo is an opportunity to explore local businesses, connect with potential employers and sample food from area restaurants. This event showcases the best of Bessemer’s business community while also providing job seekers with valuable networking and career opportunities. Tickets are $20. 205-425-3253. bessemerchamber.
April 7, 14, 21, 28 and May 1: Free Senior Citizens Self-Defense Class. 10-11a.m. Bessemer Recreation Center. 100 14th Street. District 1 Councilman Jarvis Collier presents a free self defense class for Bessemer-area senior citizens the first Monday of the month through May 1. The classes will be instructed by Sensei Mustafa Ali.
April 8: Job Fair presented by Hueytown Chamber of Commerce. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Hueytown Rec Center. 1348 Hueytown Rd. The Hueytown Chamber of Commerce will host a job fair featuring local businesses seeking to hire. The event aims to connect job seekers with employers offering full-time and part-time positions. The deadline to register for a booth is April 1, and the cost is $50 for Chamber members and $75 for nonmembers. For more information, go to hueytownchamber.com.
April 9: “Egg My Yard” entry deadline. Hueytown Chamber of Commerce, 1318 Hueytown Road. This is the deadline to enter the annual “Egg My Yard” fundraiser, a fun and festive way to celebrate Easter on April 20 while supporting the local community. Chamber members hide colorful eggs in your yard, creating a magical Easter morning for children and adults. The deadline to register and pay is April 9. For information or to sign up, call 205-491-7010 or go to hueytownchamber.com.
April 12: Kingdom of Hope Colors of Hope 5K and Kids Dash. 9 a.m. Kingdom of Hope Church. 7570 15th St. Rd. The Colors of Hope 5K at 9 a.m. is followed by the Kids Color Dash for ages 4-11, where parents and guardians can participate for free. After the race, attendees can enjoy a community egg hunt, block
party and live music by DJ Russell Davidson. All finishers, including children, will receive a medal, and awards will be given to the top male and female finishers. You must register by March 28. For more, go to facebook.com/kingdomofhopeconcord.
April 21: Hueytown Arts Council Scholarship Application Deadline. The Hueytown Arts Council is excited to offer a scholarship opportunity for graduating high school seniors passionate about the arts. Eligible applicants must be students at Hueytown High School, Oak Grove High School, Brooklane or Bessemer Academy, or be a Hueytown resident. Applicants must also be accepted into an arts program at an institution of higher learning and actively involved in a high school fine arts program such as band, choir, art, or theatre. For more information, further requirements and application details, visit hueytownarts.org.
April 25-27 and May 2-4: “Death and Taxes.” Showtimes vary. Hueytown Community Theatre. 1348 Hueytown Road. Get ready for a night of mystery and laughter as the Hueytown Arts Council presents “Death and Taxes,” a comedic whodunit by Pat Cook. This production is filled with quirky, small-town characters, unexpected twists and plenty of humor as a murder investigation unfolds during a chaotic town meeting. For more information, call 205-903-6312 or go to hueytownarts.org.
Other Area Events
April 11: Legends of Laughter. 8 p.m. BJCC Concert Hall. 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N. Prepare for an unforgettable night of comedy at the Legends of Laughter tour featuring a star-studded lineup of some of stand-up's brightest stars, including Sommore, Lavell Crawford, Don DC Curry, Arnez J, Guy Torry, and Special K. Tickets are available now through Live Nation and Ticketmaster.
April 12-13: Birmingham Spring Craft & Vendor Market. Riverchase Galleria. This two-day event brings together talented artisans, crafters, and local vendors offering unique handmade goods, home décor, boutique items, and more. Whether you're looking for the perfect spring gift or just want to browse and support small businesses, this market is the place to be. More information at hometownvendormarket.com.
April 15: Amos Lee. 7:30 p.m. Alabama Theatre. 1817 Third Ave. N. Renowned singer-songwriter Amos Lee, who blends folk, rock, and blues, is set to perform as part of his “Transmissions” tour in the historic setting of the Alabama Theatre. 205-252-2262. alabamatheatre.com
April 18: Annie DiRusso. Saturn Birmingham, 200 41st St. S. Born in New York and based in Nashville, Annie DiRusso is an indie-rock musician who blends garage rock and high-energy performances with a pop flair. She’s currently on her “Back in Town Tour.” 8 p.m. 205-703-9546. saturnbirmingham.com
High-energy Nashville musician Annie DiRusso brings her indierock to Saturn on April 18.
