Endorsements lacking in Huntsville city council race; restaurant announcement on menu; up, up, and away at Handy fest; and more …

Off The Record: The latest rumors and rumblings in North Alabama

District One endorsements, or lack thereof

The Huntsville City Council District 1 race is heating up ahead of the Aug. 27 vote. The district’s voters have three candidates to choose from: incumbent Councilman Devyn Keith, School Board Member Michelle Watkins and Reggie McKenzie. One local political observer noted the Huntsville Committee of 100 BizPac endorsements that were recently released contained no endorsement in the race for District 1. The omission is notable because the perception of some is that Michelle Watkins could be a disruptive force on a Council that for the most part has worked with Mayor Tommy Battle and the Committee on many issues. Most insiders believed the committee would strongly support the incumbent, Devyn Keith, for his voting record but, apparently, his legal difficulties stemming from his shoplifting arrest were too much for the Committee to overlook. The observer does point out that the similarly aligned local Realtors PAC did endorse Keith over his two opponents.

Another win for Crunkleton

Fresh off its Hattie B’s win, we hear Crunkleton Associates has another ace on deck. The agency announced it has signed Nashville-based Hattie B’s to open its first Huntsville location at Stadium Commons with an anticipated opening in late 2025. Next up, Crunkleton will reportedly be making another restaurant announcement next week. Stadium Commons is the first phase of a mixed-use development adjacent to Joe Davis Stadium. 

Big North Huntsville news coming

We hear more big announcements are on the way for North Huntsville. In June, the city council approved a contract to develop a land use plan for development where Bob Wade Lane and the under-construction Northern Bypass intersect with Memorial Parkway. There are a handful of tracts already at play in the area and with the impending construction of the Northern Bypass, a number of new developments are anticipated and likely to be announced soon.

A view from the sky

The final weekend of the WC Handy Festival in the Shoals is underway and, in addition to the nearly 200 events that make up the 10-day festival, there will be hot air balloon rides tonight. R&B Services Heating and Cooling will be sponsoring free hot air balloon rides at Riverside Jamz in McFarland Park at 7:30 p.m. The rides will apparently continue until they run out of hot air.