Chelsea Retherford

At Pope's Tavern Museum, history isn't just preserved behind glass panes. It's actively being uncovered, catalogued and, in some cases, reinterpreted. Few people embody that ongoing discovery quite like Dena Guzman, a young staff member whose journey with the museum began not as an employee, but as a curious teenager with a love for mysteries.

At first glance, “Mean Girls” is all sharp one-liners, pink outfits and high school hierarchy, but inside the walls of The Ritz Theatre, the story is taking on new life, one shaped not just by the cult-classic film that inspired it, but by the voices of the performers bringing it to the stage.

By Chelsea Retherford Staff Writer Do you really want to know where she was April 29? (0) comments Welcome to the discussion.

By Stories By Chelsea Retherford Staff writer of 5 ELLA MCCULLAR 2026 4TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ART COMPETITION

Sandy Lane still remembers the moment she was — quite literally — pushed into the spotlight.

Students and faculty at the University of North Alabama have likely grown used to spotting the white SUV covered in Hello Kitty decals making its way across campus each week. That unmistakable “Hello Kitty car” driven by Pat Holley may be seen a little less often in the coming weeks as its owner prepares for retirement on May 30, closing out a decades-long chapter of service to the university.

Norman Simmon's calling is one that has followed him from his time with the U.S. Army to the pulpit, and now into his role as chaplain at the American Legion Post 31.

On any given Friday night, Dare 2 Dance Studio in Florence comes alive with music as dancers enter the floor. Some are seasoned. Most are not. Still, there's rarely a wallflower in sight. That scene is exactly what Alfred Perratta envisioned — a place where dance is less about perfection and more about connection.

Before Zach Thomas ever stepped onto a stage or into a recording studio, he was watching his grandfather, Edgar Hammond, lead jam sessions that were equal parts music and mischief. It was an early lesson in both craft and community that still shapes his career today.

For much of his early life, William Goggins felt like he was standing just outside the spotlight.