Judge To Decide District 7 Race; Reward For Missing Pickens Man

Good Morning Tuscaloosa!

In today's Daily, we have an update on a contested Tuscaloosa City Council race, a professional chainsaw sculptor and a reminder to not miss the Tuscaloosa Farmers Market this morning!

First, today's weather:

Occasional showers before 7 a.m. Mostly cloudy before gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 64 degrees and a low around 39.

Tuscaloosa Daily is made possible in part by Patch sponsor JamisonMoneyFarmer. To become a sponsor of Tuscaloosa Daily or the Tuscaloosa Patch website, email ryan.phillips@patch.com.

Patch Pick: Here's a quick look at professional chainsaw sculptor Chad Gainey, who hosted demonstrations Thursday and Friday at Northport Power Equipment as part of the company's spring open house. Click here for my story on him.

Here are the top 5 stories today in Tuscaloosa

1. The No. 2 seed Alabama men's basketball team will tip off first round play in the NCAA Tournament today as the Tide takes on the No. 15 seed Iona Gaels and coach Rick Pitino at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on TBS.

2. Read Jason Morton's watchdog coverage of the contested District 7 Tuscaloosa City Council race, which will see Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Robert S. Vance preside over the case filed by incumbent Councilwoman Sonya McKinstry. McKinstry lost by a narrow margin on March 2 to Cassius Lanier and claims his felony record should bar him from holding office. (Tuscaloosa News)

3. A free baseball camp will be held today from from 9 a.m. until noon at the McDonald Hughes Community Center, which is located at 3101 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The effort is made possible by the Tuscaloosa YMCA and the Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority (PARA). For more click here.

4. The family of a missing Pickens County man — Preston Peeks — is offering a $3,000 reward for information in the case, Annie Mapp reports. Peeks was last seen in the Reform area on Feb. 15. Those with information are asked to contact the Pickens County Sheriff's Office at (205) 367-2000. (ABC 33/40)

5. As spring practice kicks off for the Crimson Tide football team this week, Teddy Couch reports on defensive back Malachi Moore, receiver John Metchie III and several others who are not expected to get many reps due to injuries. (Tuscaloosa News)

Today in Tuscaloosa

- Tuscaloosa Farmers Market (7 a.m. - noon)

- March into Spring at CHOM! (9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

- The Alabama Steel will take on the Fairhope Storm in semi-pro football action at Central High School (4 p.m.)

- The Velcro Pygmies will be playing a free show at Rhythm & Brews (10 p.m.)

- Thomas Hinds live at Egan's (10 p.m.)

Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook

- The Alabama Secretary of State’s Office will host a mobile photo ID event today from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Piggly Wiggly on Culver Road. Voter registration forms will be available.

- A total of 24 University of Alabama students on the Tuscaloosa campus tested positive for the coronavirus this week, along with three faculty/staff.

- Connor White tallied the win for the Tuscaloosa County High Wildcats baseball team Friday night 12-4 over Daphne. Brian Cooley and Brax Garrison both hit homers in the effort.

- Shelton State's men's and women's basketball teams easily defeated Lawson State on Friday, by scores of 79-59 and 84-58, respectively.

Now you're in the loop to start your weekend. But don't miss out during the rest of the day!

Be sure to follow me on Tuscaloosa Patch and its social media platforms for more.

If you see me out and about today, don't be shy!

- Ryan

About me: I grew up in Tuscaloosa. I'm a graduate of the University of Alabama, an experienced journalist, editor and columnist and the founder of Tuscaloosa Patch. You can find me at baseball games, public meetings, events in the local arts community and wherever live music is played!