At Thursday night’s Huntsville city council meeting, city leaders approved a contract with a design firm for a master plan for future developments in the northern part of the city. The North Gateway Master Plan focuses on the northern bypass and developing retail and residential property along Highway 231-431. A Food City Grocery Store is already in the works in the area. City leaders tell WAFF TV a tentative operational date for the northern bypass where it intersects with Highway 231-431 is by the end of the year. It should be completed by late 2025. Huntsville also approved a major sewer project along Pulaski Pike and the northern bypass that will open up about 400 acres for new residential development on the north side of town.
Students across the Limestone County Schools district faced delays and longer bus routes during the last school year. Limestone County Schools officials tell WHNT TV that they have multiple driver positions to fill as many of the drivers retired during the COVID-19 pandemic. The district is now setting up an incentive package that will pay for driving training and offer substantial bonuses. You can find the information at lcsk12.org.
The Huntsville Police Department is accepting applications for its 72nd session of the Huntsville Police Academy, which begins in February 2025. Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen, be 21 years old at the time of graduation, have a valid driver’s license, a high school diploma or GED and pass a drug screening, medical examination and polygraph. More information is at joinhuntsvillepd.com.
The University of Alabama in Huntsville has once again been named the Best Value university in Alabama. That’s according to SmartAsset, an online financial services provider. The 2023 rankings mark the eighth time that UAH has received this honor. A news item from UAH says SmartAsset evaluated schools on various financial metrics, such as scholarships awarded, starting salaries, tuition, living expenses and retention rates. Among numerous other factors, UAH boasts the highest median starting salary in Alabama: $62,200, according to this report.
The City of Huntsville’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion will host a Juneteenth Festival in Big Spring Park West on Saturday from 5pm to 9 pm. The event will feature live music as well as free health screenings and haircuts. There will also be exhibitors, a display by Huntsville Revisited Museum, recognition of local Black leaders and fireworks. Manna House is donating food to the first 1,500 families in attendance.
The Huntsville Botanical Garden will host special guided hikes this summer featuring the fireflies that call the Garden home. The bugs are most active as the sun is setting and it starts to get dark. You’ll learn about their life cycle and how to create a habitat for them in your backyard. Hikes will be held Tuesday evenings, June 18, 25, and July 9, 16, and 23. Due to limited capacity, registering in advance is required. More information is at