280 Living
April 2017 | Volume 10 | Issue 8
neighborly news & entertainment
a cornerstone of
CHELSEA
Sgt. Matt Savage sits in his car while on duty March 15. Photo by Sarah Finnegan.
Crime in Hoover dips 6% in 2016
By JON ANDERSON Hoover started 2016 with a high-profile homicide in Lake Cyrus that rocked the community, but the year as a whole saw a 6 percent drop in crime, Police Department statistics show. The Jan. 5, 2016, fatal shooting of Lake Cyrus resident Mike Gilotti in front of his home got many residents talking about beefing up home and neighborhood security measures ► Statistics and helped prompt city comparing officials to hire 10 more crime rates in patrol officers. 2015-16, A31 Hoover partnered with other agencies to quickly get leads on the four suspects in Gilotti’s killing and in less than three months had all four teenagers in jail and charged with murder. By the end of the year, the total number of crimes reported in Hoover had fallen from 5,085 in 2015 to 4,799 for 2016. That included three homicides in 2016, compared to five the year before. Police were particularly pleased to see only 41 robberies in Hoover in 2016. That was down
City pays tribute to ‘incredible’ civil servant who helped to establish and shape it By SYDNEY CROMWELL
T
he touch of Bob Wanninger’s hand can be seen around Chelsea: the fire stations and community center he designed, the city clerk’s position that he first held and even the fact that Chelsea incorporated in 1996. But he was not the kind of man who would put his own name on his achievements. “He never wanted attention or the spotlight on him,” former Mayor Earl Niven said.
Bob Wanninger
So, in fall 2016, the Chelsea City Council decided to shine the spotlight for him. Following the completion of the new community center, the council unanimously voted to name the road leading to the center Wanninger Way. Before Bob Wanninger died of a stroke in December, he and his wife, Merritt Wanninger, had the chance to see the road sign and hear the council’s
See WANNINGER | page A30
INSIDE
Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Tupelo, MS Permit #54
See CRIME | page A31
Merritt Wanninger and former Mayor Earl Niven stand in front of the Wanninger Way street sign at the Chelsea Community Center. The road was named in honor of Bob Wanninger, who passed away in December 2016. Photo by Sydney Cromwell.
INSIDE
Sponsors .............. A4 280 News ............. A6
Spring Home Guide
Business ............... A11 Chamber..............A14
Events .................. A17 Opinion ............... A27
Spring is in bloom, and it’s the perfect time to plant a garden, do some cleaning or start a home renovation. Find tips and tricks from area businesses in our Spring Home Guide to jump-start any project.
See page B1
Community ........ A24 Sports .....................C1
School House ...... C11 Calendar .............. C21 facebook.com/280Living
The Right Place Ex-pro players Wes Helms and Matt Guerrier enjoying their journey as assistant coaches for Briarwood’s baseball team.
See page C1