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August 2025 | Volume 13 | Issue 10
Sun
SERVING HOOVER, THE 280 CORRIDOR, HOMEWOOD, MOUNTAIN BROOK, TRUSSVILLE AND VESTAVIA HILLS
HOOVER’S COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE HOOVERSUN.COM | STARNESMEDIA.COM
2025 VOTER GUIDE
FACE OFF Brocato vs. Derzis By JON ANDERSON When Hoover voters go to the polls Aug. 26, there will be 16 names on the ballot. Two of them are highly familiar — two-term Mayor Frank Brocato and his challenger, Hoover police Chief Nick Derzis. The others are 14 people battling for five seats on the Hoover City Council.
See VOTE | page A8
On the Ballot: Meet the candidates running to serve as the next mayor or City Council member. See page A10
Ask the Candidates: Candidates for mayor and council share their views on key issues facing the city. See page A16
Follow us for more: Stay up to date with Hoover election news by connecting with us online.
From father to son, from Berry to Spain Park, the Kerleys reflect a city’s tradition — and a school that has arrived By TIM STEPHENS The air outside Spain Park’s stadium is heavy with July humidity, thick and still under the late-afternoon Alabama sun. Eric Kerley barely notices. He stands in the shadow of a stadium that didn’t even exist when he wore this jacket — his old Berry High letter jacket, draped over his shoulder, the black-and-orange pirate stitched on the sleeve faded but still proud. Next to him, his son EJ tosses a
Eric and EJ Kerley, a father-son duo who represent a divided family. Eric is the last Buc to make it to the SEC from the old Berry High before the school closed to make way for Hoover High. He's a Hoover Athletics Hall of Famer. But his son now stars for Spain Park. They're Hoover through and through on both sides of the rivalry. Photo by Tosha Gaines.
football in his Columbia blue Spain Park shirt, the son of a Buc now wearing Jaguar colors as he steps into his senior season. Father and son. Buc and Jaguar. Two colors — one family. Two schools — one city. Berry High School may have closed in 1994, but its black-and-orange Bucs lived on under a new name and a new roof.
See SPAIN PARK | page A22
INSIDE
Sponsors..........................A4 Schoolhouse....................A6
Business...........................B4 Real Estate...................... B7
Events...............................B8 Sports............................. B10
Community.................... B14 facebook.com/hooversunnews
Back to School
Under the Lights
Hoover schools shift into high gear with automotive academy.
The Bucs and Jags are gearing up for football season.
See page A6
RE-ELECT COUNCILMAN DERRICK
HOOVER CITY COUNCIL PLACE 5
See page B10
SERVANT LEADER “In order to be a great leader, you must first be a great servant.” - Derrick M. Murphy
www.derrickmmurphy.com Paid for by the Campaign to Elect Derrick M. Murphy PO Box 360571 Hoover, AL 35236