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From Tribune staff reports
SPRINGVILLE, Ala. – The City of Springville is rolling out what they hope will become an annual celebration next Saturday, June 15, with the inaugural Big Canoe Creek Jam at Homestead Hollow. The family-friendly event is a collaboration between the City of See CREEK JAM, Page 3
Traffic stop near Moody escalates to chase through Greater Birmingham From Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – ALEA arrested two suspects after engaging in a car chase through St. Clair, Jefferson, and Shelby County Tuesday morning, according to ALEA Senior Trooper Vu Quang. See CHASE, Page 4
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Former HTHS band director dies following accusations of sexual misconduct By Chris Basinger, Staff Reporter
COMMERCE, Texas – Michael Guzman, a former Hewitt-Trussville High School band director who was recently accused of having a sexual relationship with a former student has died. The Tribune has confirmed with Texas A&M University–Commerce, where Guzman worked as the associate director of bands, that President Mark Rudin announced Guzman’s death on Friday in an email to students and staff at the university. His death comes after a former student of his at Southwest Miami Senior High School wrote a public Facebook post on Thursday accusing Guzman of sexual misconduct while he worked as a band director at the school between 2008 to 2011. Jackie Rodriquez claimed that Guzman had “groomed” her while she was a student in band and
Jackie Rodriguez and Michael Guzman during a Southwest Miami High School football game. Courtesy of Jackie Rodriguez.
that their sexual relationship started when she was 15 years old. “Like many, band was my safe space, and when I met him he was exactly what I needed,” Rodriguez wrote. “He got close to me and became a safe haven for my problems and encouraged me. He fully took advantage of me and wanted to be my safety.”
She recounted messages that he would send her, some of which she posted, and wrote that Guzman also had a “folder of naked and lewd pictures” of Rodriguez, which his wife discovered during her senior year. Rodriguez also claimed that Guzman “coerced” into signing a private Sallie Mae loan so she could go to the University of Alabama where he was pursuing his
doctorate and posted screenshots of statements that appear to show Guzman as the co-signer of the loan. She went on to say that she ended up with almost $40,000 she had to pay off by the time she graduated and that Guzman had asked her to take him off the loan prior to graduating. “I ended the cycle of abuse and took control of my life. With this, I seek protection for other women that were victims,” Rodriguez wrote, saying that she suffered for years from the trauma of her experience. She continued, “I hate how this affected me. I hate how it affected me financially and that I paid for all of that by myself after what he did. I hate that he could potentially still be out there doing things with no repercussions.” Soon after Rodriguez made the original post, a GoFundMe was organized on her behalf seeking to “help Jackie reclaim the tui-
From Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – A Center Point teen has been charged with attempted murder in connection to the shooting of a 12-yearold boy in March, BPD Officer Truman Fitzgerald announced yesterday. The suspect has been identified as Joshua Brown, 18, of Center Point. On March 22 at approximately 3:12 p.m., officers were dispatched to a report of a person shot at the 1800 block of Carson Road. According to Birmingham Police Sgt. LaQuitta Wade, officers entered an apartment and observed the
Leeds Council reluctantly approves court-ordered rezoning request
From Tribune staff reports
LEEDS – Despite objections from the public that the Leeds City Council shared, a court-ordered Planned Community Development (PCD) rezoning request for a 40-acre property on 1730 See LEEDS, Page 5
Joshua Brown
From Tribune staff reports
STARKVILLE, Miss. – A Trussville student attending Mississippi State University is writing her name in the stars by being named as a recipient of the nationally renowned Astronaut Scholarship, a prestigious
See ASTRONAUT, Page 3
‘Art on the Wild Side’ to bring splash of color to Ferus Artisan Ales From Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE, Ala. – Ferus Artisan Ales in Trussville has announced that it will be hosting Two ThreeLegged Dogs’ (23LD) newest art show, “Art on the Wild Side,”next Wednesday evening.
See ART SHOW, Page 3
Ways to prepare for ‘very active’ hurricane season From Tribune staff reports
ATLANTA, Ga. – Sally, Katrina, Ivan, Opal…the names of some of history’s most powerful hurricanes are well known to the people of Alabama. With hurricane season officially beginning on June 1, FEMA and Alabama
See HURRICANES, Page 4
Alabama Free Fishing Day this Saturday From Tribune staff reports Damage done by gunfire to the victim’s apartment building. Courtesy of Courtney Chester.
By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune
Trussville student named Astronaut Scholar at Mississippi State
See HTHS BAND, Page 4
Center Point teen arrested in shooting that injured 12-year-old
See SEED GRANT, Page 3
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Moody, Springville poised to expand manufacturing jobs with SEED grant ST. CLAIR COUNTY – Moody and Springville will be two big winners from the SEED grant money that was announced by Governor Kay Ivey in February. According to the Birmingham Business Journal,
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Springville rocking out at the Big Canoe Creek Jam
THU
12-year-old victim lying on the floor suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Services arrived on the scene and transported the victim to Children’s Hospital. “The preliminary investigation suggests the victim was outside in the rear
of the apartment building with others when they were approached by a group of unknown suspects who began firing shots,” Wade said soon after the incident. “The victim was struck by gunfire while running away. There was no one else injured.” The boy suffered life-
threatening injuries but has since been released from the hospital. Detectives obtained a warrant for Brown’s arrest on May 16. On May 22, Brown turned himself in to police custody at the Jefferson County Jail where he was then booked.
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) is inviting everyone to break open their tackle boxes and cast out their lines in public waters across the state this Saturday for Alabama’s Free Fishing Day. The day allows both Alabama residents and non-residents to enjoy a day of both
See FISHING, Page 4
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