Alabama
Pregnant mother, 29, fatally shot by stalker in Alabama murder-suicide
An Alabama mother who was set to give birth to her second child was gunned down by a cowardly stalker — who later turned the gun on himself while being hunted by authorities.
Shelby Amidon, 29, was fatally shot by Ricky O’Neil Beck Jr., at her home in the city of Warrior early Thursday morning, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said.
Amidon, who was married and pregnant with her second child, identified Beck as her stalker when she phoned 911 after being shot, AL.com reported. The creep had apparently been stalking the victim for some time, according to reports.
It’s unclear how the pair knew one another.
Beck, 43, took off from Amidon’s home in his Chevrolet Z71 with a silver toolbox, according to an alert issued by local police.
Senior ALEA Trooper Brandon Bailey said he saw Beck pull out a gun while ramming a responding Blount County sheriff deputy’s patrol vehicle, the outlet reported.
The deputy opened fire, but Beck was able to get away — sparking a manhunt.
Beck’s body was found in a wooded area later that same day, where he appeared to have shot himself, Bailey told the outlet.
The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation is still investigating.
Amidon was married to Nick Amidon, a data analyst at a local bank. The two share one young son, according to a GoFundMe organized by Nick’s mother.
“Shelby was a beautiful soul who brought love, warmth, and light to those around her. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her,” she wrote.
“No family should ever have to endure this kind of pain.”
The GoFundMe was close to clearing the $12,000 mark as of Tuesday evening.
The Alabama Strawberry Festival has been named Alabama’s Best Music Festival in Alabama Magazine’s 2026 Best of Bama Awards, the latest statewide recognition for one of Cullman’s signature events.
The Best of Bama Awards celebrate top attractions, events, restaurants and destinations across the state.
Held each April in downtown Cullman, the festival has grown into one of Alabama’s premier destination events, combining nationally known entertainment with local agriculture, family attractions, artisan vendors and food.
“This recognition belongs to our entire community,” said Nathan Anderson, executive director of Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism, in a statement. He said the festival has become far more than a weekend event, calling it an economic driver, a tourism asset and a source of community pride. Anderson noted the festival drew nearly 70,000 guests from 35 states this year, which he said shows people are coming to experience Cullman itself, not just a concert.
Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs said the recognition reflects years of deliberate investment in building experiences that support the community while drawing outside visitors, calling the festival one of the signature events not just for Cullman, but for the entire state.
Harmony Heard, executive director of Cullman Area Tourism, said the festival continues to strengthen Cullman’s reputation as one of Alabama’s top travel destinations, noting that tens of thousands of out-of-state visitors translate into impact across local hotels, restaurants, retail shops and attractions.
Festival Manager Daniel Wyatt credited the recognition to the work put in year-round by the team behind the event, from booking entertainment to improving the guest experience and coordinating vendors.
The award adds to a strong year for Cullman’s event calendar. Cullman Christkindlmarkt was named the Alabama Tourism Department’s 2026 Event of the Year earlier this summer, meaning two of the city’s flagship festivals have now received statewide recognition in 2026.
The next Alabama Strawberry Festival is set for late April 2027 at Depot Park in historic downtown Cullman.
Courtesy of 256 Today
Alabama has Talent will return Aug. 1 to the Mount Vernon Performing Arts Center in Tallassee, where organizers hope to once again showcase performers from across the state while bringing communities together through the arts.
“There’s so much talent out there and a lot of it just needs an opportunity to be discovered,” organizer Veronica Harris said. “In a world where we seem more and more disconnected, doing things that promote community is a way for us to come together and connect.”
The second annual competition includes separate divisions for children under 16 and adults, with grand prizes of $500 and $1,000. Entry is free for contestants and family-friendly acts of all kinds are welcome. Registration remains open through July 20.
Among those helping spread the word locally is Greenville artist and Muse Alabama Executive Director Jill Marlar. After attending last year’s inaugural competition, Marlar contacted Harris and has since encouraged several of her own students to participate in this year’s youth division.
“It was top-notch talent and all different ages,” Marlar said. “To sit there in a place I grew up, in a full theater, and see that just really gave me chills.” She said meeting Harris and seeing the event firsthand inspired her to become involved and introduce her students to the competition.
Alabama baseball is expected to hear another player’s name called as the 2026 MLB Draft gets underway today.
Several members of the Crimson Tide’s latest College World Series team are eligible for selection, but the biggest name to watch is shortstop Justin Lebron.
Over three seasons in Tuscaloosa, Lebron accumulated a .309 clip with 46 home runs. Defensively, he was just as impressive, posting a .947 fielding percentage to continue solidifying himself as one of the top shortstops in the draft class.
The first round of the draft will start at noon on Saturday, July 11. Picks one through 40 can be seen on TV at MLB Network.
Where Justin Lebron stands in final 2026 MLB Draft projections
In the final MLB Pipeline mock draft, Jonathan Mayo picked Lebron to go 11th overall to the Washington Nationals. Jim Callis selected Lebron as the pick for the Los Angeles Angels, going 12th, which is also what The Athletic predicted in its July 10 mock.
ESPN’s last mock draft had Lebron going 10th to the Colorado Rockies.
FanGraphs’ mock draft on July 8 projected Lebron as the 17th overall pick, going to the Houston Astros.
Lebron’s highest projection came from USA Today. Wajih AlBaroudi had the 21 year-old going 8th overall to the Oakland A’s.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. she can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.
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