Mold Remediation in Birmingham, AL

A federal judge in Alabama is trying to bring two opposing legal teams together at the table -- literally.

In a filing issued two days before Thanksgiving, Northern Alabama District Court Judge David Proctor ordered legal teams representing Koch Foods of Alabama LLC and former Koch Foods employee Pamela McCullers to go to lunch together on or before Dec. 31.

After the order was posted to X by Florida lawyer Matt Margolis, users took to the platform to share their takes on the unusual move, with most posters supporting Proctor’s stance.

Failure to comply shall result in a ten minute timeout and no screen time for a week https://t.co/bWQRPWudWL

— Evan Thomson (@EvanThomson01) December 9, 2024

"Act like two grown ass adults who are professionals" https://t.co/XA1RhtwjRX

— JACK2024 (find me in the sapphire atmosphere) (@OohWah90) December 9, 2024

Does brunch count?

— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) December 9, 2024

This order came after McCullers, who is suing Koch Foods on claims of sexual harassment, a hostile work environment, and discrimination on the basis of sex, among other things, said she would only agree to the defendants’ request for an extension on their pleading deadline if they did not file a motion to dismiss her complaint in the future.

In his order, Proctor wrote that these conditions were “wholly inappropriate.”

“There is generally no good reason that an extension such as this should be opposed, let alone denied,” he wrote.

“The Golden Rule—do unto others as you would have them do unto you—is not just a good rule of thumb for everyday life. It is a critical component of legal professionalism.”

“Sadly, in recent years compliance with the rule is becoming rarer and rarer in the litigation arena. It is time to reverse that trend, even if it is only in this case.”

Proctor went on to say that this move was not in the spirit of the season.

“Here, Plaintiff’s counsel’s conditioning of any agreement to an extension was wholly inappropriate, particularly in light of the looming Thanksgiving holiday,” he wrote.

“Such nonsense wastes time, damages professional relationships, and makes the lawyer withholding consent (or conditioning it) appear petty and uncooperative. Judges rightly expect lawyers to handle minor procedural issues like extensions without unnecessary conflict, and refusing to do so is unprincipled.”

The judge granted the defendants’ extension request based on the “meritless” opposition of McCullers’ counsel.

According to the order, the Defendants’ answer or responsive pleading shall now be filed on or before January 6, 2025.

But Proctor did not stop there.

The order went on to mandate that counsel for both the plaintiff and the defendants are to go to lunch together on or before Dec. 31, 2024.

“Plaintiff’s counsel will pay the bill; Defendants’ counsel will leave the tip,” the order reads.

“The parties will discuss how they can act professionally throughout the rest of this case. Within ten (10) days of the lunch, the parties SHALL file a joint report describing the conversation that occurred at lunch and the amount of the tip.”

Maggie Lynn Martin, a lawyer at Birmingham’s Wheeles & Garmon, LLP, who is representing McCullers, said the firm had “no comment” on Proctor’s order.

Lawyers at Birmingham’s Littler Mendelson who are representing Koch Foods did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

From Wadley’s Dominance to Thompson’s Dynasty, Here Are the Top Performances and Stories That Defined the 2024 AHSAA Season

The 2024 AHSAA Football State Championships delivered unforgettable moments, record-breaking performances, and dominant displays from Class 1A to 7A. Here’s a breakdown of the top stories and lessons learned from each Alabama high school football state title game.

Class 1A: Wadley Dominates En Route to First State Title

Wadley entered the championship as an unstoppable force, averaging 56 points per game and never being tested within four touchdowns. That dominance carried over to the title game, as the Bulldogs routed Maplesville 37-7 to claim their first-ever state championship. Jaquez Wilkes, a Class of 2026 four-star standout, earned 1A MVP honors with 312 rushing yards, two tackles for loss, and an interception. The Bulldogs end their season with a flawless 13-0 record.

Wadley's Jaquez Wilkes (6) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown during the Class 1A football state championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Ala., on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. He finished with 312 yards rushing and an interception on defense, while earning MVP honors in Wadley's 37-7 victory over Maplesville. / Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Class 2A: Reeltown Captures Elusive State Title

After falling short in two title games against powerhouse Fyffe, Reeltown finally broke through with a decisive victory over Tuscaloosa Academy. Behind a dominant performance both in the air and on the ground, the Rebels forced key turnovers that turned a close game into a rout by the third quarter. Reeltown finishes their season 14-1, capturing their fourth state championship and first since 2009.

Dec 6, 2024; Birmingham, AL, USA; Reeltown High players celebrate with the Blue Map trophy at Protective Stadium in the AHSAA 2A State Championship game. Reeltown defeated Tuscaloosa Acadmey 49-13. / Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Class 3A: Mars Hill Survives Shootout Against Houston Academy

The Class 3A title matchup lived up to its billing as an offensive showdown, as Mars Hill and Houston Academy combined for a staggering 93 total points. Houston Academy’s quarterback set a 3A title game passing record, but Mars Hill prevailed 50-43, securing victory after recovering an onside kick late. With this win, the Panthers have now won state titles across three classifications: 1A, 2A, and 3A. Mars Hill finishes the year at 14-1.

Mars Hill Bible players and coaches celebrate victory after the Class 3A football state championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Ala., on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. Mars Hill Bible defeated Houston Academy 50-43. / Jake Crandall / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Class 4A: Jackson Makes History with Record-Breaking Blowout

Jackson put on a historic performance, dismantling Cherokee County, 69-6, in one of the largest blowouts in AHSAA state championship history. Junior quarterback Landon Duckworth was the star, completing 14-of-17 passes for 325 yards and five touchdowns. The Aggies overwhelmed Cherokee County from start to finish, capturing their third state title and ending the season at 14-1.

Dec 6, 2024; Birmingham, AL, USA; Jackson's Landon Duckworth (1) comes to the line of scrimmage to run a play against Cherokee County at Protective Stadium in the AHSAA 4A State Championship game. Duckworth passed for 325 yards and five touchdowns in leading his team to a 69-6 victory in the state final. / Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Class 5A: Montgomery Catholic Wins Back-to-Back Titles

Despite moving up from Class 4A, Montgomery Catholic proved they could dominate at any level. The Knights capped off an undefeated 14-0 season with a gritty 17-14 win over Moody in a defensive battle. This marks Montgomery Catholic’s second consecutive state title, solidifying their place among the elite programs in Alabama high school football.

Montgomery Catholic head coach Kirk Johnson hugs BJ Bedgood (6) and Keltric Washington (5) during the Class 5A football state championship at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Ala., on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. Montgomery Catholic defeated Moody 17-14 for its second consecutive state championship / Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Class 6A: Parker Claims First State Title Behind Defensive Line Dominance

In a battle of titans, Parker's early momentum and suffocating defensive line set the tone against undefeated Saraland. The game turned on a critical fourth-and-goal false start by Saraland, forcing them to settle for a field goal. Parker capitalized and closed out a 28-17 victory, securing their first-ever state championship and finishing the season 14-1.

The Parker bench reacts to the final touchdown that sealed their 28-17 victory over previously undefeated Saraland, at Protective Stadium in the AHSAA 6A State Championship game. / Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Class 7A: Thompson Continues Its Dynasty with Sixth State Title

In a rematch of last year’s title game, Thompson once again proved why they are among the best teams in the Southeast. After an early score by Central Phenix City, the Warriors took control, locking down their opponent with fundamentally sound defense. Thompson cruised to a 21-7 victory, earning their sixth state title and finishing the season at 11-3.

Thompson coach Mark Freeman and his team are presented their championship trophy after defeating Central Phenix City in the AHSAA 7A football state championship in Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday December 3, 2024. / Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Final Thoughts

The 2024 AHSAA State Championships showcased exceptional talent, resilience, and historic milestones. Congratulations to all the champions and teams for another thrilling season of Alabama high school football. As the lights dim on 2024, fans can already look ahead to August with anticipation for another unforgettable year.

Published Dec 7, 2024

TP HAMMOCK

TP Hammock is a sportswriter born and raised in Montgomery Alabama. He has been covering the state of Alabama with the Alabama High School Football Historic Society (AHSFHS) since last 2023, but has followed Alabama high school football since he was a kid. He also covers college football and freelances for The Plainsman and other publications. He began contributing High School on SI for SBLive Sports in 2024.

Miss Astrid’s Tavern, a new restaurant and bar offering chef-driven Southern cuisine, opens today in the Cahaba Heights community of Vestavia Hills.

The restaurant -- tucked behind Resultz Day Salon at 3160 Cahaba Heights Road -- is in the former home of The Fig, a neighborhood eatery that closed this summer after several years.

Jessica Armstrong, the executive chef at Miss Astrid’s Tavern, says she has had her eye on the space for a number of years, and when it became available, she partnered with Resultz Day Salon owner Denise Boley to open her restaurant.

“I just love it,” Armstrong tells AL.com. “It’s charming, and the community is wonderful.”

Miss Astrid’s Tavern will open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. today (Dec. 6) and for brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 8) before beginning its regular lunch and brunch hours next week, Armstrong says.

Those hours will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays for lunch and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays for brunch.

Next Friday, Dec. 13, Miss Astrid’s Tavern will begin dinner service. After that, regular dinner hours will be 5 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.

Armstong previously served as the chef de cuisine at Cellar 91, the restaurant at Greystone Country Club, and as the executive banquet chef at Vestavia Country Club and executive chef at Anniston Country Club.

She also worked under longtime Birmingham chef George Sarris at The Fish Market and Yellow Bicycle Catering Co.

“I’ve been doing this since I was 14 years old, and I’m 42,” the single mother of five says. “So I’ve got a lot of experiences under my belt.”

The Miss Astrid’s Tavern menu will feature such signature dishes as a Southern pork roulade with an apple juice-brined pork loin stuffed with collard greens, green apples and ham and wrapped in candied bacon, and a pickled jalapeno-brined fried chicken sandwich with rutabaga, green apple and bacon slaw.

“It’s mostly my signature dishes that I’ve created along the way,” Armstrong says. “It’s really heavy on Southern elements. I like to make people’s bellies happy, but, you know, just put (the dishes) together in an elegant way. It’s a very chef-driven menu with a lot of Southern highlights to it.”

Lunch will also feature meat and three options, as well as signature sandwiches and build-your-own salads, Armstrong says.

The restaurant’s name is an homage to the late Astrid Smyer, the mother of another one of the building’s owners, Armstrong says.

Miss Astrid’s Tavern is at 3160 Cahaba Heights Road in Vestavia Hills, Ala. The phone is 205-644-3690. For more information, go here.

Please note: Guests are asked to enter the Miss Astrid’s Tavern parking lot via Pipe Line Road. The front parking lot is reserved for customers of Resultz Day Salon.

A south Alabama woman suspected of abducting her three children as they waited for a bus in Virginia was captured Thursday after a brief chase near Birmingham, authorities said.

Shanice Chante Davison, 35, of Evergreen, was taken into custody by Alabama state troopers and U.S. Marshals following the short pursuit on I-459, said Augusta County, Virginia Sheriff Donald L. Smith.

Davison’s three children -- ages 6, 8 and 10 -- were in the car and unharmed, Smith said.

Two other adults besides Davison were also in the vehicle, according to Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Lt. Jeremy Burkett. They were not publicly identified.

Davison was booked in the Jefferson County Jail on a charge of fugitive from justice. She also faces charged in Virginia.

“In a world where time is of the essence, the swift action of law enforcement and the vital intelligence from the Alabama Fusion Center, along with our fellow counterparts across state lines, remind us that every second counts in the mission to safeguard our children,” ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said in a statement. “I commend all of our personnel, as well as all of our fellow counterparts in Virgina and Tennessee, and federal partners that worked tirelessly to ensure these three children were found safe.”

The Augusta County, Virginia Sheriff’s office received a call of a kidnapping around 8:27 a.m. Thursday at an apartment complex in Fishersville, Virginia.

The caller’s three children were waiting for a bus when a black four-door vehicle pulled up to the bus stop and took the kids, the sheriff said.

An AMBER Alert was issued in Virginia after the children’s disappearance.

Davison, who is the children’s biological mother, was identified as a suspect in the abduction.

Investigators determined she was traveling with the children and was likely headed from Virginia back to Alabama.

Davison was charged with three counts of felony abduction by Virginia authorities.

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Arlington Historic House and Gardens in Birmingham, AL will host a Christmas brunch on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to highlight Black history and several initiatives the venue will launch in 2025. Tickets are $20, and reservations must be made in advance.

Arlington House is located at 331 Cotton Ave. SW. To RSVP, please use their Google doc here. If you are having trouble accessing the link, call Arlington at 205-780-5656. They open Tuesday – Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Dec. 14 event is part of the Harmony and Heritage Lunch series, which was launched in September 2024 as a way to provide a space for healing, wellness and Black history highlights while consuming a fulfilling meal. Past lunches have featured grilled salmon atop mashed potatoes, lemon rosemary herb chicken, homemade chicken pot pie, salads, desserts and more.

The Dec. 14 brunch will feature scrambled eggs, plain grits, cheese grits, shrimp and grits, French toast, blueberry syrup, orange juice, mint-infused orange juice, roasted root vegetables, turkey sausage, turkey bacon, Spanish rice, coffee cake, tea and coffee.

The effort was made possible through a partnership with Arlington House and Birmingham native and attorney Ashley Mann of the Sandpiper Advisory Group. She sees this is a chance for people to connect, talk and grow in history.

In the past, Arlington offered lunches on the first Thursday of the month as a way for the community to experience top-notch dining at a historic Birmingham landmark. Mann worked with Toby Richards, director of the Arlington House, to rebrand the monthly lunches to add more cultural aspects to it. They now call the monthly lunch series, Harmony and Heritage.

“This was part of Mayor Woodfin’s 2025 Vision, and part of that was to continue to make the city’s spaces a more inclusive Birmingham for our residents,” Richards said. “All of our spaces can be redefined and reimagined.”

“So far, the response from the public has overwhelming. Each lunch series sells out, which tells me that people want to see more of this,” Richards said.

The Dec. 14 brunch will be the last one for 2024. They will return with the lunch series on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. The Thursday lunches will be from 12 to 1 p.m. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Reservations must be made in advance. Tickets are $15.

Arlington House Chef Matt Murphree does the meals. However, guest chefs from the community have collaborated with Murphree on some past events with the Harmony and Heritage series. Tablescapes have included rosemary and other herbs. They are unexpected and spark conversations.

Chef Matt Murphree prepares the meals at Arlington House for various events. His Arlington Salad, which is made with a homemade buttermilk Ranch dressing, is a popular staple for Arlington catered events. When it comes to the Harmony and Heritage lunch series, he also collaborates with area chefs. (Photo by Chanda Temple)

“We want to use this as a way to revision the culinary experience in a very different way,” Richards said. “Your senses are reawakened by the spices we display and infuse into the meal. We discuss how you can use these at home.”

“Harmony and Heritage is more than just a delicious meal. It’s a way to connect, learn and grow together.”

Plans for a new community garden at Arlington, juicing programs, a meal prep program and other developments will be announced soon.

Mann said that each program has been crafted to foster community bonding, deepen an understanding of heritage and showcase the healing power of shared experiences.

“Harmony and Heritage stands as a testament to the unifying and restorative impact that food, culture and community can have on healing,” Mann said.