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May 2023 | Volume 11 | Issue 1
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May 19 - 21
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Tomorrow’s leaders Vestavia Hills High School seniors prepare for graduation By NEAL EMBRY
T
he Class of 2023 at Vestavia Hills High School includes seniors involved in student government, political campaigns, leadership and future medical professionals. The Vestavia Voice has highlighted four
students who stand out among their peers in this year’s graduating class.
RYLEN DEMPSEY
When the world shifted to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, it served as a “launchpad” for Rylen Dempsey. Dempsey went to work for President Joe Biden’s inaugural committee. If he
had to work in person, he might have been confused for a lowly intern instead of someone responsible for the committee’s digital work.
See GRADUATES | page A18
Photo by Erin Nelson.
1Rebel 1Future: Vestavia Hills heads to the polls in special election By NEAL EMBRY On May 9, voters in Vestavia Hills will head to the polls in a special election to determine whether to approve a 9.8-mill ad valorem property tax increase that would fund what the city’s Board of Education and Superintendent Todd Freeman say are needed improvements to the school system. The election will cost the city of Vestavia Hills about $75,000, which will be reimbursed by the Board of Education. The city will use Jefferson County voting equipment. If the 1Rebel 1Future plan is approved, Vestavia Hills Elementary West will receive new spaces for multipurpose use and for STEM classrooms, among other upgrades. Photo by Erin Nelson.
VOTER INFORMATION
City Clerk Rebecca Leavings said residents should receive a neon-colored voting
INSIDE
Sponsors............... A4 News....................... A6
card in the mail before the election informing them of their voting place. A precinct map, along with an application for an absentee ballot and a sample ballot, can be found at vhal.org/departments/city-clerk/ municipal-elections. Those who previously voted at Town Village, Vestavia Hills Elementary Central, Vestavia Hills City Hall and the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest will all now vote at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center adjacent to City Hall. The precincts are as follows: 1. Shades Mountain Baptist Church 2. Vestavia Hills Methodist Church 3. Mountaintop Community Church 4. Vestavia Hills Civic Center 5. Cahaba Heights Baptist Church
Business............... A12 Chamber.............. A17
Community........... B4 Schoolhouse......... B6
6. The Church at Liberty Park The deadline to apply to file an absentee ballot is Thursday, May 4. A copy of a government-issued photo ID must be included with the application, which should be mailed to “Rebecca Leavings, Absentee Manager, City of Vestavia Hills, 1032 Montgomery Highway, Vestavia Hills, Alabama 35216.” Absentee ballots must be turned into the city by noon on May 9, Leavings said. Those needing to register to vote or update their registration should visit sos. alabama.gov/alabama-votes/voter/register-to-vote to download or submit a state mail-in voter registration form.
See ELECTION | page A19
Events................... B10 Sports................... B12
Opinion................. B14 facebook.com/vestaviavoice
Summer Reading
‘Hidden Gem’
Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest kicks off its summer reading program.
Vestavia Hills’ Anna Towry is the ‘perfect kid to coach’
See page B1
Cummings
See page B12
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