March On
The Thompson High School Band represented our city, state, and school system in New York City on Saint Patrick’s Day. The community is so proud of these awesome representatives of Alabaster.
Pickleball
The new Pickleball courts and playground at Veterans Park are complete and opened to the public! These new facilities are located near the park’s back restroom—for our residents.
Triple Crown Award to Alabaster Finance Department
Congratulations to Alabaster’s Finance Department for once again earning the prestigious Triple Crown award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. Alabaster was among a small percentage of cities in the U.S. and Canada to earn the Triple Crown, which is awarded to governments that have received the GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award, and Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.
Alabaster’s Finance Department from left, Milly Stewart, Michelle Vercher, John Haggard, Leslie Davis and Lindsey Holler.
Alabaster’s Specification Rubber Products expands again.
Specification Rubber Products is expanding its operations for the sixth time since 1968 with the purchase of a 120,000-square-foot warehouse on more than 16 acres in Pelham. Located less than half a mile from Spec Rubber’s manufacturing headquarters, the new location will house finished goods inventory and raw materials. Spec Rubber, which celebrated its 55th anniversary last year, manufactures molded rubber products for the waterworks industry. “Since our doors opened in 1968, we’ve had six significant expansions and have outgrown our existing property,” says Spec Rubber President Steven Smith. “Purchasing this property ensures our strategic goals for growth are met in the next five to 10 years, and we are able to continue to meet the needs of our customers.”
Specification Rubber is a subsidiary of Birmingham-based AMERICAN Cast Iron Pipe Company, founded in 1905. Recognized as a Shelby County Small Business of the Year in 2023 and one of Alabama’s safest manufacturers, the company has also been named a Rubber News Best Place to Work. Visit specrubber.com to learn more.
City Employees Adam Roper and Mark Hughes get certification
Congratulations to Alabaster Environmental Services employees Adam Roper and Mark Hughes for recently earning grade IV public wastewater system operator certifications. This certification is extremely difficult to obtain and means Adam and Mark are now certified to operate wastewater systems almost everywhere in the United States. Thank you both for your dedication to providing the very best service to Alabaster’s residents!
2nd annual Alabaster Government Academy Graduates
Congratulations to the following residents who completed the second annual Alabaster Government Academy program. Over the past several months, these individuals got an in-depth look at each city department and learned what it takes to keep the city running.
Graduates in the 2023-2024 class:
Ron Turney
Mike Festino
Konnie Festino
Kimberly Rogers
Maria Elena Frias
Dan Jarnigan
Kelly Preveaux
Tim Mitchell
Jessica Mitchell
Chris Forbes
Angela Kemp
Peter Bevel
John Goldman
Dorothy Goldman
Shellie Suber
Yolanda Marshall
Meredith Currie
Jeremy Currie
Victor Thompson
Eva Thompson
Marion Lynn Stewart
Billy Stewart
Taylor and Brice Christensen
Susan Alexander
Heidi Ramey
Belinda Oden
Jerry Young (posthumously)
Be on the lookout this summer for 2024-2025 class applications.
New plans revealed for the Alabaster City Schools Champions Craft Academy
Plans are under way to build a state-of-the-art workforce development facility to provide in-demand career pathways for students in Alabaster Schools. The school purchased the former Winn Dixie on Highway 119 for nearly $2 million where the academy will be housed. The ACS Champions Craft Academy will provide in-demand, career pathways for students in Alabaster City Schools. The 48,000-square-foot facility will offer career academies in Building Construction, HVAC, and Welding and Mechatronics (formerly known as Industrial Maintenance) when the 2025-2026 school year begins. Additional workforce development programs such as electrical and auto body repair will come later, and further plans will be unveiled as the program progresses.