July 2026 | Volume 17 | Issue 2
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Diamond solution Homewood’s new diverging diamond interchange on I-65 aims to untangle Lakeshore Parkway traffic By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.
G
ary 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
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.
Pickleball Kingdom brings new place for America’s fastest-growing sport
Deana Perkins, left, and Kiki Oneagocha play at Pickleball Kingdom. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
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
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INSIDE
Sponsors.................. 4 City............................ 6
Business..................10 Schoolhouse...........13
Sports......................16 Events......................18
venue in Homewood with the opening of Pickleball Kingdom at Wildwood Center on June 13. The new indoor facility features 14 courts and a wide range of amenities designed to create both a competitive and a social atmosphere for players, from complete beginners to seasoned competitors.
See PICKLEBALL | page 23 Life...........................21
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Amy Zari
All-South Metro
Introducing the new city engineer for Homewood.
Another exceptional year is in the books for the All-South Metro teams.
See page 6
See pages 16-17