Sun
No-wait appointments? That’s tight. Call or visit BhamSmile.com to schedule a free consultation.
VOLUME 10 | ISSUE 7 | APRIL 2022
HOOVER’S COMMUNITY NEWS SOURCE
Best of the Best
Hoover City Schools teachers, students bestowed Finley Awards and Milken Awards for exceptional character and performance.
JUMPING RIGHT IN
See page A8
Hoover Happenings
Erin Colbaugh, the new director of the Hoover Parks and Recreation Department, sways on the jungle gym at Hoover Central Park. Photo by Erin Nelson.
New parks director Erin Colbaugh brings familiarity to job By JON ANDERSON
Events are ramping up this month, including Household Hazardous Waste Day and Celebrate Hoover Day.
See page B4
INSIDE Sponsors........... A4 News....................A6 Schoolhouse..... A8 Business........... A12 Community...... A17
Sports.............. A20 Events.................B4 Spring Home & Garden...........B8
E
rin Colbaugh has been managing events for the city of Hoover for 16 years, and now she’s tackling a new challenge. In February, she became the new director of the Hoover Parks and Recreation Department, replacing Craig Moss upon his retirement. Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato said Moss did a great job in his 16-plus years as parks and recreation director, and he feels Colbaugh will
Now she will oversee a department with about 75 people in it, including part-time employees. Brocato said Colbaugh’s work experience prior to joining the city of Hoover fits very well with the parks and recreation job. Colbaugh said she knew early in her life she wanted to pursue a career that involved athletics, even when she was at Danville High School in Danville, Kentucky. She served as a football, baseball and
See COLBAUGH | page A27
Wayne Richardson, Hoover’s longest serving principal, retires By JON ANDERSON
facebook.com/hooversunnews
slide easily into her new role. “She’s familiar with everything going on in parks and recreation, so she’ll be able to jump in it without too high of a learning curve,” Brocato said. Colbaugh has an incredible work ethic and a great ability to work with everyone, Brocato said, noting that she has already worked with the employees she now will manage. As events manager, Colbaugh had one assistant working with her, but her job involved a lot of coordination with most city departments.
The Hoover school system is saying goodbye to its longest-serving principal as Deer Valley Elementary Principal Wayne Richardson steps into retirement. Richardson’s last day was scheduled for March 31, capping off a 34-year career in education, all in Hoover City Schools.
He is the only principal Deer Valley Elementary School has had since it opened in 2001, and faculty members said they are going to miss him greatly. “He is the most awesome principal,” said Anna Gray Koch, who has taught fifth grade at Deer Valley for five years. Koch was in the first grade at Deer Valley when the school
See PRINCIPAL | page A26
Wayne Richardson describes a photo of himself to Anna Gray Koch and Olivia Hoffman, fifth grade teachers at Deer Valley Elementary, during his retirement party March 8 at the school. Photo by Erin Nelson.
Roofing • Fences • Gutters • Decks • Pools • Remodels • New Construction • Flooring • Patios • Concrete • Siding