Volume 2 | Issue 4 | August 2014
Forging a path
Breaking the silence
VHHS graduate Theo Roth has made national headlines with his medical research. Read about his journey inside.
See page A14
Back in the game
Parents share their loss to help prevent future tragedy Check out what’s ahead this season with our Vestavia Hills High School football preview inside this issue.
See page B8
INSIDE Summer Fun........A2 City .......................A5 Business ..............A6 Food ......................A9
Community ........A12 School House.....B2 Sports .................B8 Calendar .............B13
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By SYDNEY CROMWELL and REBECCA WALDEN On a chilly February night, Ricky David Norris III, known to friends and family as Tripp, left his band’s gig and went to a friend’s
house. Along the way, he withdrew $20 from his bank account. Only a few hours later, Rick and Suzanne Norris got the phone call every parent dreads. Tripp died on Feb. 25, 2011, from a mix of alcohol and $20 worth of street heroin. He was
Suzanne and Rick Norris lost their son, Tripp, to a mix of alcohol and heroin in February 2011. Photo by Karim Shamsi-Basha.
only 22 years old. “It was such a waste of a life that had so much to give,” Rick said. Three years later, Rick is sharing about his
See CHANGE | page A18
Revolution on wheels Food trucks roll into Vestavia Hills
Pre-Sort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Birmingham, AL Permit #656
By KATIE TURPEN When the Red Mountain Crawfish Company team parked their bright red food truck on the former Vestavia Motor Lodge lot this past spring, they realized that Vestavia Hills residents were hungry. Very hungry. “We’ve been selling out every week. The response has been phenomenal,” Manager Jason Burcham said.
See FOOD TRUCKS | page A17
Red Mountain Crawfish Company Manager Jason Burcham hands a sack of crawfish to a customer. Photo by Katie Turpen.