Today's News

The City of Vestavia Hills has appointed Shane Ware as the new Police Chief. He will be sworn in on 11 December. Ware has 27 years of experience in the law enforcement department. He began his career as a police officer with the Bessemer Police Department in 1996 and moved to the Vestavia Hills Police Department in February 2000, where he held various roles, like Police Officer, Corporal, Sergeant, lieutenant, and, most recently, Captain. Ware holds a Bachelor's in Business Administration from Birmingham-Southern College, and a Master's in Justice Administration from Faulkner University. Shane Ware will replace Dan Rary.

Col. James J. Handura recently became the new Commander for the South Pacific Division. He assumed command from Col. Chad W. Caldwell who has been serving as Acting Commander. Col. Handura graduated in 1996 as a Distinguished Military Graduate and commissioned in the Engineer Regiment. His command assignments include Commander, Sacramento District, USACE; Commander, 19th Engineer Battalion, 20th Engineer Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps; and Deputy District Commander, New Orleans District, USACE. Col. Handura’s operational deployments include Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm; Operation Joint Guardian; Operation Enduring Freedom; and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He most recently served as the Chief of Staff for the US Army Corps of Engineers. Col. Handura holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Austin Peay State University, a Master of Science in Geology and Geophysics from the University of Missouri-Rolla, a Master of Military Art and Science in Theater Operations from School of Advanced Military Studies, and a Master degree in Strategic Studies from the US Army War College.

Del McOmie has recently became the next Director of the Wyoming State Construction Department. McOmie previously served as Director of the State Construction department from 2016-2019. He has also served as Director of the Wyoming School Facilities Department and spent 15 years as Chief Engineer with the Wyoming Department of Transportation. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Policy and Finance from Rochester Institute of Technology and a Master of Science in Urban Planning & Environmental Studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. McOmie replaces Jerry Vincent, who resigned after leading the agency since 2021.

Freeborn County, Minnesota’s Board of Commissioner has appointed Ryan Rasmusson as the official County Administrator. Rasmusson has more than 22 years of experience working with the Freeborn County. He joined the Freeborn County in 1998 as the Property Appraiser, then in 2003 he was appointed to serve as the County Assessor till March 2020 and rejoined as the Assessor in August 2022 and in May 2023 he was appointed as the Interim County Administrator. He was also employed with Vanguard Appraisals, Inc. from March 2020 till October 2022. Rasmusson has earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Winona State University. Rasmusson will also serve as the Freeborn County’s Assessor until new County Assessor is hired.

President Joe Biden has nominated Amy M. Baggio to be a U.S. District Judge for the District of Oregon. Presently a Judge at Multnomah County, Oregon, Baggio has served as Principal of Baggio Law, as an Assistant Federal Public Defender and an Attorney at the Federal Public Defender's Oregon District, and as a Staff Attorney in the Office of the Metropolitan Public Defender in Portland, Oregon. She earned a BA at Wake Forest University in 1995 and a JD at Lewis & Clark Law School in 2001. If confirmed, Baggio will succeed retiring Judge Marco A. Hernandez.

Campbell County, Kentucky announced the appointment of Chantelle Phillips as the county’s new Public Library Director. Phillips has over 23 years of experience working with the library administrations. She joined the Campbell County’s Public Library in July 2008 as the Branch Manager of the Newport Branch and then in November 2012 she was promoted to serve as the county library’s Assistant Director. Prior to being employed with the Campbell County she worked with the Clermont County’s Public Library as the Branch Manager and before that with F+W Media, Inc, as the Editor. Phillips holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Professional Communications from Xavier University and master’s degree of Library and Information Science from the Kent State University.