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March 2024 | Volume 11 | Issue 11
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%
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SERVING VESTAVIA HILLS, THE 280 CORRIDOR, HOMEWOOD, HOOVER, MOUNTAIN BROOK AND TRUSSVILLE
VESTAVIA HILLS’ COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE VESTAVIAVOICE.COM | STARNESMEDIA.COM
Extra 20% off in Store only. Valid only in Vestavia and Birmingham Shoe Station stores. Cannot be combined with additional discounts or coupons or used on prior purchases, refunds or exchanges. Excludes Doorbusters, Accessories, Apparel, Socks and Gift Cards. Excluded Brands: Crocs, Asics, Reef, Nike, Under Armour, New Balance, Sperry, Chaco, Birkenstock, Timberland, Timberland PRO, KEEN, OOFOS, HEYDUDE, Guess, Frye, Jack Rogers, Seychelles, Antelope, Chocolat Blu, Dolce Vita, Rainbow, Hoka One, Brooks, Dansko, Alegria, Naked Feet, Steve Madden, Koolaburra by UGG and UGG. Other exclusions may apply. To redeem present coupon at checkout. One coupon per transaction. Offer subject to change without notice. Valid 03/01/2024-04/06/2024 11:59 pm EST.
Vestavia Hills City Center • Brook Highland Plaza
REAL ESTATE SPOTLIGHT Vestavia Hills real estate market poised for a hot 2024 By LOYD McINTOSH
D
espite higher mortgage interest rates, lower-than-average inventory and average home prices heading toward $600,000, area experts say Vestavia Hills remains one of the most in-demand residential real estate markets in the area. In 2023, Vestavia Hills saw 610 homes sold, an 18% decrease from the 742 homes sold in 2022, according to statistics from the Greater Alabama Multiple Listing Service.
See REAL ESTATE | page A16
Lynne Dobbins, a staging coordinator, works with Jana Hanna, right, as they prepare a home for a showing on Feb. 14. Photo by Erin Nelson Sweeney.
2 Republicans vie to replace Palmer in Congress By JON ANDERSON The Republican race for Alabama’s Sixth Congressional District has shaped up to be a battle about term limits and who can better advance a conservative agenda. U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer, a Hoover resident who is nearing the end of his fifth two-year term in Congress, broke an earlier promise not to seek more than 10 years in office and decided to run again. His two challengers in the March 5 Republican primary, Gerrick Wilkins of Vestavia Hills and Ken McFeeters of the Indian Lake subdivision in north Shelby County, have criticized that decision. Wilkins said Palmer has done more talk
than action and made poor decisions that do not adequately represent conservative Alabama values. Palmer said he makes his decisions based on the right thing to do and doesn’t check to see how groups score politicians before he votes, but he said he has maintained a 95% rating from the American Conservative Union. Palmer said he struggled greatly with the decision to run for a sixth term, but many people he admires encouraged him to do so, and he prayed about it and felt God leading him in that direction.
See REAL ESTATE | page A18
INSIDE
Sponsors.......................... A4 News.................................. A6
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer, R-District 6, left, and challenger Gerrick Wilkins of Vestavia Hills listen to challenger Ken McFeeters of north Shelby County talk during a Mid-Alabama Republican Club forum for Congressional District 6 at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest on Jan. 13. Photo by Jon Anderson.
Business..........................A10 Schoolhouse................... A12
Sports............................... B4 Events..............................B10
Opinion............................ B12 Summer Camp Guide.... B13 facebook.com/vestaviavoice
Batter Up
Camp Guide
High school baseball season is underway at Vestavia.
Explore summer camp options in our Summer Camp Guide.
See page B1
Cummings
See page B13
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