Latest news with #Calera
Fox News
3 days ago
- Fox News
Alabama kindergarten teacher, 49, accused of enticing teen into bathroom for sexual encounter
An Alabama kindergarten "Teacher of the Year" was arrested Friday morning on sex charges involving local teenagers. Heather Ozment, 49, who is an educator at Calera Elementary School, is charged with sexual abuse in the first and second degree and enticing a child to enter a vehicle or house for immoral purposes. The Calera Police Department said that the alleged conduct happened after school hours and did not occur at a school facility or with Ozment's students. Ozment was awarded Teacher of the Year for 2024-2025, per the school's Facebook page. "Allegations involving sexual misconduct with minors must be investigated immediately, thoroughly, and methodically, David Hyche, the chief of police at the said in a press release. "Nothing we do in law enforcement is more important than protecting the most vulnerable in our community." Hyche said that Owens House, a children's advocacy non-profit, partnered with police to conduct forensic interviews and examinations of the juvenile victims. Shelby County Schools officials said they were made aware of the allegations in April. It is unclear when the alleged crimes took place. "The teacher was immediately put on leave for the remainder of the school year while the matter was investigated by local law enforcement," according to a school statement provided to "The alleged conduct occurred after school hours and did not take place at a school facility. We are unable to provide more information as it is an employee matter." According to the Shelby County Jail, Ozment was booked into the facility on Friday and released on the same day.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Calera family praying for safe return of missing grandfather as search efforts continue
CALERA, Ala. (WIAT) — A massive search effort continues into Friday evening in Calera for 72-year-old Reuben Waithaka. Calera police said Waithaka was last seen walking away from a relative's home in the Timberline subdivision around 11 a.m. on Thursday. According to police, Waithaka is about five feet tall. He was last seen wearing khaki pants and a blue and white plaid button-up shirt. He and his wife, Elizabeth Waithaka, are visiting from Nairobi, Kenya to see their first-born grandson graduate from Calera High School on Tuesday. While he's never been diagnosed with dementia, the family said he seemed to be confused when they last spoke on Thursday morning. We talked with his wife and his daughter-in-law, Mary Waithaka, outside their home in Calera on Friday morning. Elizabeth Waithaka said her husband seemed somewhat confused when he stepped outside on Thursday morning and began walking. She said she had started to follow him but realized that she had left the door open. She rushed back to lock the door and said when she returned, he was gone. 'I'm so worried, I'm so, so worried,' she said, standing in the front yard of her son's home in Calera. Despite their growing concern, the family has said that they remain hopeful that the search and rescue efforts will bring him back safely. 'We're praying. We're very prayerful, we're a prayerful family. Everyone is praying,' Mary Waithaka said. Calera Police Chief David Hyche said they've talked with the individual who gave Waithaka a ride to the Chevron gas station near the entrance of Timberline subdivision. Waithaka was spotted on surveillance video entering the gas station. Chief Hyche is asking for the public's help in case someone else gave him a ride. 'We would like to ask that if anybody else might have given this man a ride, we think that's a possibility, and actually we're hoping that somebody did that, because that would be far better than him being in the woods on a day like today for that long, being of his age and with his health problems, we're very concerned' Hyche said. Hyche said this has been an extensive search involving multiple agencies with helicopters, drones and dogs from the Red Mountain Search Dog Association. 'We had reports from several civilians in the area that they had seen the person that met the description, so we decided to concentrate on this area,' Calera Fire Chief Sean Kendrick explained when asked about the location of the command center and the search area off of Highway 310. This unexpected turn of events has not dimmed the family's hope that Waithaka will still get to see his grandson graduate. 'It is supposed to be a happy occasion,' Mary Waithaka said. 'But we have hope that he's going to be here and will get to celebrate.' The search effort is expected to continue throughout the night if necessary, according to officials. 'It's been amazing. It's been overwhelming, just seeing people come out,' Mary Waithaka said. Anyone who may have seen Reuben Waithaka is asked to contact Calera Police at 205-668-3505 or call 911. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
San Francisco Chronicle
09-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Duckhorn discontinued this classic Napa wine brand. What will happen to its flashy new tasting room?
This week, the Duckhorn Portfolio announced plans to phase out several wine brands, including Paraduxx. But the timing couldn't have been worse for the 30-year-old Napa Valley winery: Paraduxx was set to reveal a major, multi-year renovation of its tasting room in June. The news has ignited uncertainty over the future of Paraduxx's tasting room and winery, which sits on some of the most premium Cabernet Sauvignon land in Napa Valley. While Duckhorn said it will close three tasting rooms next month — Migration in Napa, Sonoma-Cutrer in Windsor and another in Washington — Paraduxx was not on the list. Paraduxx has been working on its luxe and modern transformation — complete with a massive new patio — for years. In 2020, Napa County approved the winery's proposal to increase its annual production capacity by 50%, increase annual winery visitation by 87% and remodel its hospitality spaces. But last fall, just as Paraduxx was hitting the final stretch of construction, Duckhorn sold to private equity firm Butterfly Equity. Once the winery revamp wraps up next month, the tasting room will continue to host tastings of Paraduxx; even though it has stopped producing wine, it needs to move through its remaining inventory. But the space will also offer visitors add-on tastings of Duckhorn's Pinot Noir stalwarts: Anderson Valley's Goldeneye, Central Coast Pinot Noir legend Calera and Sonoma's Kosta Browne. In a statement to the Chronicle, the company said this will 'enable club members and fans of our wineries to experience more of the wines that they love at one of Napa Valley's premier winery locations.' A much bigger change will take place later. In 2026, timed with Duckhorn Vineyards' 50th anniversary, the company will close its storied Lodi Lane tasting room in St. Helena for a year-long renovation. Paraduxx will become the new hub for Duckhorn Vineyards visits; when the Lodi Lane tasting room reopens in 2027, it will host higher-end Duckhorn tastings and events while the Paraduxx site will focus on more casual, entry-level options. The Paraduxx estate will continue to offer tastings of Duckhorn's other brands. Paraduxx was a radical concept when Duckhorn founders Dan and Margaret Duckhorn launched it in 1994. Focused on unconventional blends — crossing Bordeaux varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon with outsiders like Zinfandel — it represented the experimental nature of Napa Valley compared to its Old World counterparts. In 2000, winemaker Dave Phinney took a similar approach with his edgy wine brand the Prisoner, crafting an unusual blend of mostly Zinfandel and Cabernet, just like Paraduxx's flagship. But while the Prisoner took off, selling to Constellation Brands for roughly $285 million in 2016, Paraduxx never fully broke out of Duckhorn's shadow. The winery, alongside several other brands Duckhorn will phase out, was 'underperforming' and accounted for just 3.9% of Duckhorn's gross profit, the company said. Paraduxx is set on Duckhorn's famed Rector Creek Vineyard, just north of Yountville and right off the Silverado Trail. 'It's a spectacular piece of dirt. That ground is some of the most hallowed ground for Cabernet in the world,' said Tony Biagi, Paraduxx's founding winemaker, who left the winery in 2001. 'It has the same dirt as Screaming Eagle,' he added, referring to Paraduxx's neighbor and one of Napa Valley's most noted cult Cabernet brands. Some Rector Creek grapes are used in Duckhorn's highest-end wines. 'There was always a fight in-house for them,' Biagi said. 'The winemaker at Duckhorn and I would fight over who got the blocks.'
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Calera Main Street kicking off 2025 festival season
CALERA, Ala. (WIAT) — Calera Main Street is launching its 2025 festival season on Friday, April 4, starting its First Friday series with its fourth annual Crawfish Boil. The First Friday festival series will take place on the first Friday of each month from April to August. The event includes a variety of artists, designers, makers, up-cycler and local producers. It also features performances, food trucks and other activities. Each week, the event has a different theme. Here is this the lineup for this year's First Fridays series: April 4 — Crawfish Boil This event will include live music, local vendors, games and an authentic Cajun/ Creole spread featuring fresh crawfish. May 2 — Calera's Got Talent This event is sponsored by Shelby County Newspapers. It will feature performances from local talent, food trucks, games and local vendors. June 6 — Backyard Bash This event will feature a dunking booth, Calera's annual Food Truck Slider Showdown, music, games and more. July 4 — Festival Fun and Fireworks This event is sponsored by TNT Fireworks and Calera Parks and Recreation. It will feature a fireworks display, food trucks, vendors and family-friendly activities. August 1 — Back to School This event is sponsored by Central State Bank. It will include a backpack giveaway, vendors, food and activities. Each First Friday event will be held from 6- 10 p.m. in the Calera Courtyard at 1120 17th Ave. 'We are thrilled to bring back these signature events that make Calera such a wonderful place to live and visit,' Jackie Batson, Executive Director of Calera Main Street said in a statement. 'From celebrating local talent and small businesses to bringing the community together for the holidays, we have something for everyone in downtown Calera.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
