District 7 Update + AHSAA Baseball Playoff Results

Good Morning Tuscaloosa! I hope this Saturday is off to a smooth and easy start.

In today's Daily, we have these stories and more ...

• A west Alabama college closing its doors.
• What Mayor Walt Maddox has planned in the next year.
• A strike continuing for a west Alabama coal producer.

First, today's weather

Tuscaloosa can expect a mostly sunny Saturday, with a high near 81°.

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Patch Pick: Congratulations to Natalie Sanders (left) on earning the title of valedictorian for Tuscaloosa Academy's Class of 2021 with a GPA of 4.8828, while Maria Sealy finished as salutatorian with a 4.8684 GPA.

Here are the top 5 stories today in Tuscaloosa

1. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox provided his policy visions and funding plans for Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority on Friday. Check it out here (More on Patch)

2. Two suspects have been charged with capital murder and attempted murder after a Wednesday night shooting left a 16-year-old dead and another person injured. (More on Patch)

3. United Mine Workers of America continues to strike at Brookwood-based Warrior Met Coal and will hold another solidarity rally on Wednesday at Tannehill State Park.

4. A lawsuit will be allowed to move forward over the death of Megan Rondini — a former University of Alabama student who killed herself after claiming she was raped while attending UA. (Associated Press)

5. Trustees voted this week to close Judson College in Marion due to financial strains and declining enrollment. Founded in 1883, the school is the fifth-oldest women's college in the United States (WVUA 23 News)

3 things to do today

1. Early risers can check out both the Tuscaloosa and Northport farmers markets, which both end at noon.

2. The Woodstock Music Festival is set for today at Holiday Raceway in Woodstock. Colt Ford will be the headlining act. (More)

3. Looking for something to do with the kiddos? Check out CHOM's Day of Play today (More)

Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook

- Mayor Walt Maddox say that the special election for the District 7 seat on the Tuscaloosa City Council will likely be between July 20 and August 3, as the Council will have 60 days from May 18 to set the date.

- Maddox also said future plans could see bollards — or heavy temporary barriers — put in place to block off areas of The Strip with high pedestrian foot traffic at certain busy times of day after a suspected drunk driving crash seriously injured two UA students.

- The Northport City Council will hold a special called meeting Monday at noon to consider filling the position of city engineer and allowing the chair of Council's Administration Committee to negotiate with the selected candidate.

- Alabama Center for Real Estate at The University of Alabama on Friday announced its REimagined diversity initiative, which is designed to bring more people from underrepresented groups into entry-level positions in the real estate industry.(More)

- The Tuscaloosa City Schools Board of Education this week approved renaming the Verner Elementary School library as the Elizabeth F. Curtis Library, to honor the principal of the school for more than 30 years. (More)

- Looking for a part-time job with good pay? The Tuscaloosa County School System will host orientation meetings on Tuesday, May 11, at 6:30 p.m. for those interested in being bus drivers and bus aides. (More)

Quotable

"When we have violent criminals with known histories of violence, they shouldn’t be out on bond — period ... What bizarre world do we live in that that’s acceptable?"

- Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox on Friday in response to the killing of a Tuscaloosa teenager by two suspects, one of whom is a 17 year old who was out on bond for murder in the shooting death of another man in June 2020.

From the cheap seats ...

- The Northridge High Jaguars baseball team swept Chilton County in a double header Friday to advance to the 6A semifinals. The Jags will take on Faith Academy next week for a chance at moving on to the state title round.

- The Hillcrest High Patriots baseball team saw its 2021 season come to a close on Friday dropping a double header to Faith Academy in the quarterfinals of the 6A playoffs.

- American Christian Academy swept Bibb County in 4A playoff baseball action Friday to also advance to the state semifinals.

- Shelton State baseball (35-14, 23-9 ACCC) trounced Coastal Alabama in the first round of the Alabama Community College Conference tournament on Friday and will now face Southern Union State today at 7 p.m.. (More)

- On the softball diamond, the Shelton State Bucs (21-18, 13-15 ACCC) saw its 2021 season come to an end Friday in the conference tournament by way of a single-elimination loss to Wallace-Dothan. (More)

- The University of West Alabama women's tennis team climbed to No. 4 in the new Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II rankings released Friday. (More)

- In football news, Kevie Thompson has been named defensive backs coach for the UWA Tigers and comes to Livingston from Hinds Community College in Mississippi, where he served as associate head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. (More)

Area baseball scores

Alabama 6, Vanderbilt 9

Shelton State 14, Coastal Alabama 0

American Christian 5, Bibb County 2

American Christian 3, Bibb County 0

Hillcrest 0, Faith Academy 1

Hillcrest 6, Faith Academy 8

Northridge 6, Chilton County 1

Northridge 8, Chilton County 1

Stat line: Congrats to the area pitchers who secured playoff wins on Friday — Bodie Vail & Tate Robertson (Northridge); Chad Fendley & Nathan Shelton (American Christian).

Area softball scores

Alabama 11, Ole Miss 7

Shelton State 0, Wallace Dothan 4

North River Christian 2, Jackson Academy 12

Stat line: Crimson Tide senior Kaylee Tow went 3-for-4 as Alabama clinched its final regular season series on Friday against Ole Miss.

Now you're in the loop and ready for this weekend. But don't miss out during the rest of day! Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content every day of the week.
I'll see you around!

- Ryan

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.