🌱An Ode To Jim Page + Decades-Old Cold Cases Solved

TGIF T-Town! Grab the coffee, let the dog out and get all caught up with us before you breeze through this Friday morning and start the weekend.

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

• Deceased serial rapist identified.
• Jim Page stories you've never heard.
• Parking lot dispute in Northport.

But first, today's weather: Couple of thunderstorms. High: 60 | Low: 53 ⛈

🏘️ Looking to differentiate yourself from other real estate agents in Tuscaloosa? Partner with the Tuscaloosa Patch and gain access to a targeted, engaged audience through our premium newsletter sponsorships. Click here to learn more.

---

🗣 Patch Shout Out 🗣

Our Shout Out this morning goes to longtime United States Sen. Richard Shelby, who was honored for his decades of service Thursday night by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama as he returns to his hometown to enjoy retirement. (More)

🗞 Here are the top 5 stories today in Tuscaloosa 🗞

1. With the annual Chamber meeting on Thursday, I saw so many great business leaders and friends honored for their contributions to the community, but I had to put down this crude tribute to my friend, Chamber CEO & President Jim Page, before he leaves for a new job next month. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
2. The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit on Thursday announced the identification of a longtime serial rapist who was suspected of sexually assaulting two women in the Tuscaloosa area in 1990 and 2001. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
3. Alabama softball standouts Montana Fouts and Ally Shipman have been named to the 2023 Preseason All-SEC Softball Team. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
4. Here's the latest on an ongoing dispute over parking in downtown Northport that has sparked public debate and sharp words for elected officials. (Stephen Dethrage, Tuscaloosa Thread)
5. Greenetrack casino will soon no longer "make you money" after the owner of the controversial venture announced this week it would close for good. (Tim Reid, CBS 42)

---

🗓 Today in Tuscaloosa 🗓

• Psychotropic Century Art Showcase @ Shelton State Community College (More)
• Process Art @ Kentuck Art Center (More)

🏃‍♂️ On The Move 🏃‍♂️

Give it up for Northside High football standouts Aidan Parsons (do-it-all lineman) and Braden Green (fleet-footed QB) for signing scholarships to continue their careers at Concord University and Huntingdon College, respectively. As a Northside alum and former football player, I'm obviously a little biased, not to mention Aidan's Dad was one of my teachers and Braden toddled around at our baseball practices as a youngster while his Dad was an assistant coach. Go Rams! (More)

❤️ Our Media Partners ❤️

Tuscaloosa Patch is proud to be media partners with WVUA 23 News at the University of Alabama and Tuscaloosa Radio. Catch their great content and our headlines here and there on your cable provider, online and, for our radio partners, at the following stations: 92.1 The Possum, 102.1 WJRD, Rock 106.3, and 96.1 The Blessing.

5️⃣ Other Stories I'm Reading Today

1. Sources: Alabama's Nate Oats to receive multi-year contract extension through 2028-29 season (Jon Rothstein, CBS News)
2. Greene County Residents Concerned Over Greenetrack shutdown (Mary Barron, WVUA 23 News)
3. Shaun Alexander on Nick Saban, facing Tom Brady & why Alabama doesn't retire numbers (Creg Stephenson, AL.com)
4. Alabama gymnastics coach Ashley Johnston shares Power of Pink lessons from her career (Mikey DiLullo, Tuscaloosa News)
5. Tuscaloosa City Schools start paid student-teacher intern pilot (Muriel Bailey, ABC 33/40)

🙏 Obituaries 🙏

Carolyn Brasher, 69, of Tuscaloosa (Memory Chapel)

Katherine Owens Zane, 80, of Duncanville (Magnolia Chapel)

Richard Wade Holtzhauer, 65, of Northport (Magnolia Chapel)

Elizabeth (Stewart) Gwinn, 91 of Las Vegas, formerly of Tuscaloosa (Rainey Mortuary)

Garland K. Hicks of Centreville (Rockco Funeral Home)

---

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— RP

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Tuscaloosa Daily? Contact me at ryan.phillips@patch.com