This week’s issue of the Shelby County Reporter includes a special section – our annual Profile edition.

Profile features in-depth stories about the people, places and organizations that shape our county. The format allows for longer stories and more photos – something that is not possible with a weekly paper.

The publication does not necessarily feature the most “important” people. Instead, it shines a light on people and placed with interesting stories and strong connections to Shelby County. What we found this year, as we do every year, is that there is no shortage of intriguing, inspiring and entertaining stories in Shelby County.

This year’s issue features people from many walks of life. We check in with former mayors, Shelby County Speedway racers and members of Montevallo’s Sister City Commission.

If there is a common theme in this year’s stories, it’s that they are inspiring. There are the Calera brothers who found solace in sports and each other after their dad died. Then there is the Alabaster woman who created a shopping cart for older special needs children.

This year’s Person of the Year, which is a closely guarded secret until publication, is District Attorney Robbie Owens. Owens’ official contributions are well known. He’s been a DA for more than three decades, including more than 20 years in Shelby County. He also helped found Owens House, Shelby County’s Child Advocacy Center.

What many people don’t know is how much Owens gives back in other ways. After losing his wife to cancer in 2007, he found solace in grief support groups and eventually began volunteering as a facilitator for the same groups.

We are proud to have Robby Owens as Shelby County’s District Attorney. We hope you will find his story – and all of the other stories in this year’s Profile – as inspiring and interesting as we did.

The editorial is the opinion of the Shelby County Reporter editorial board.