Please Be Patient With Our Audio Tests While Visiting WireGrass News

Please be patient with us during your visits to WireGrass News.. We are working on preparing our site to offer more to our viewers every day. We are working on bringing you LIVE News Talk Show to our Site.

You may hear us testing and tweaking our audio streams with voice and music during your visits to our site.

We hope to have our live broadcasting working error free in the next few days.

Thanks WireGrass News Staff.

Suspect in 2009 north Alabama shooting arrested in Nebraska

By The Associated Press 
NORFOLK, Nebraska — A man suspected in a 2009 shooting in Alabama has been arrested in Nebraska.

Trejo-Carbajal

The U.S. Marshals Service says a tip received Friday led authorities to Samuel Trejo-Carbajal, who was picked up Saturday morning at a Norfolk apartment. He was taken into custody without incident.
Trejo-Carbajal is suspected in a Sept. 11, 2009 shooting at Funland Park in Decatur, Ala. Authorities say he was among three men who fired assault weapons at three other men inside a truck. The victims suffered gunshot wounds.
Trejo-Carbajal faces three counts each of attempted murder and second-degree assault and one count of criminal conspiracy to commit murder in the shooting.
The marshals service says Trejo-Carbajal has ties to members of the Los Zetas, a drug-trafficking organization based in Mexico.

Update! 2 more children who visited Opelika pool test positive for E. coli

By The Associated Press  
OPELIKA, Alabama — Two more children who visited an Opelika park have tested positive for E. coli infection.
The Alabama Department of Public Health says a total of four children who visited the Splash Park at the Opelika Sportsplex and Aquatic Center between June 12 and June 18 have now tested positive for the disease.
The department says a total of six children have been hospitalized with symptoms of severe gastrointestinal disease after playing in the park.
State environmentalists are conducting tests on water samples from the park.

Alabama lawmen, Justice Department officials to meet to review state's new immigration law

(Photo Courtesy of ICE)

 By The Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Alabama law enforcement leaders plan to meet next week with officials from the Department of Justice to discuss the state's tough new immigration crackdown.
The new law allows officers to detain anyone who cannot prove they are in the country legally during a stop, detention or arrest.
The Alabama Sheriffs' Association wants clarification about how long those suspected of being in the country illegally should be detained.
Gov. Robert Bentley told WSFA-TV on Friday that he's open to changes in the bill. He said "it is the strongest immigration bill in the country, but we asked for that."

Antique Car Show at Our PLace Diner on 231 Ozark We will be broadcasting live !

On July 9th, 2011 at 5:00 pm til close, the Our Place Diner at 2751 Hwy 231 in Ozark will be holding an antique car show. Drivers from all around the wiregrass area will be coming to show off  their pride n joy rides!

The James Bayne DJ Service will be there playing the good ole golden oldies while Wiregrass News will be there to cover the event. Wiregrass News is in the process of starting Wiregrass News Talk Radio and plans on introducing this new service by broadcasting LIVE!

Come get some good food and enjoy the cars!
We hope to see you there !

Bank robber nabbed while urinating

LaGrange police have found the man they say robbed the SunTrust bank last week.

He was approached by authorities after he was spotted urinating outside his car near Atlanta.
They arrested him, but were not able to recover the stolen money.

Police took him to Troup County Jail where he admitted to robbing the bank on Church Street.

2 VEHICLE ROLL OVER IN SKIPPERVILLE 105

We just got reports that on hwy 105  close to H&W store that there is a 2 motor vehicle accident. there is reports of 9 injuries and one entrapment Skipperville Fire & rescue is calling on Echo and Ozark for mutual aid.

We will keep you updated as the report comes in to us.


A reader report: The car accident on Hwy 105 is just past H&W country Store at the bottom of the hill at the beaver pond. More then 7 ambulances have passed our house. Injuries are serious.It was a van from Eufaula. More then 10 people are injured or stuck in the vehicles

Bingo trial: Ronnie Gilley says two defendants fought his gambling development at first

Ronnie Gilley (The Birmingham News/Joe Songer)Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley testified this afternoon that two of the defendants in the State House vote-buying case initially fought his project.
Gilley also testified that he never thought about electronic bingo until someone from the lieutenant governor's office called in 2007 and asked if there would be an interest in making the gambling machines part of his development.
The brash and controversial casino promoter took the stand for the prosecution this afternoon. Prosecutors got about an hour into his testimony before the trial broke for the day. Gilley described the early days of Country Crossing development and how investors were clamoring to be part of the project once he brought in electronic bingo.
"Money was chasing me," Gilley said.
Gilley is a key witness for prosecutors, who claim he worked with VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor and others to buy votes for gambling legislation. Prosecutors allege Gilley and McGregor offered legislators campaign contributions and business opportunities to change their votes on gambling legislation.
McGregor and Sen. Harri Anne Smith, also a defendant in the case, initially opposed the project, Gilley testified.
Gilley said McGregor in 2008 was backing a bill that would have allowed his tracks and other locations, not including Country Crossing, to have gambling machines. Smith, an independent from Slocomb, was pushing a bill aimed at stopping Country Crossing from having electronic bingo machines.
Gilley said Smith later withdrew the bill and he co-hosted a fundraiser for her. Gilley said he did not speak to Smith before she withdrew the legislation
"I came to the fundraiser and handed her a check. She hugged my neck and we buried the hatchet," Gilley said.
Gilley said the check was for $5,000. Smith later went to his office and returned the check, Gilley testified. Testimony ended for the day after Gilley described the fundraiser.

Ronnie Gilley was one of 11 people arrested in October, but he struck a deal with prosecutors, pleaded guilty and cooperating with the prosecution. (The Birmingham News / Joe Songer )

Smith is accused of changing her stance on Country Crossing as a result of campaign contributions from Gilley. Her defense has contended she changed her mind because polls showed the project was popular.
During his testimony, Gilley provided a history of the Country Crossing project, at times deviating into the sales-pitch he so often made at the State House.
Gilley said that, in 2007, he originally had envisioned developing "Little Nashville," which he said would be a retirement community with a country music theme. But Gilley said the real estate market tanked, and the project with it.
But Gilley said in the middle of 2007 someone from the lieutenant governor's office called to ask if there was interest in putting electronic bingo machines in Little Nashville. He did not name the person with the lieutenant governor's office or say what their interest was.
Gilley said he had no idea what electronic bingo was at the time. He discussed it with his chief financial officer, Chuck Taylor, who Gilley said had some connections to McGregor's accountants.
After talking to Taylor, Gilley, said he came to the conclusion that it would be a "great idea" to include bingo in the project. Gilley said he had interest from financial investors almost immediately.
"We had money chasing us," Gilley said.
Gilley said he tasked his lobbyist Jarrod Massey with getting gambling legislation passed. Gilley said Massey would be paid up to $500,000 per year for each bingo casino that they built. Massey also pleaded guilty and will testify for prosecutors.
Gilley is expected to testify Friday about how Smith and McGregor started being proponents of County Crossing.
Defense lawyers will hammer Gilley on his credibility when prosecutors conclude their questioning.
McGregor lawyer Joe Espy in opening statements disparaged Gilley as a crook. Defense lawyers have argued Gilley is the one behind any wrongdoing and is now trying to shorten his prison stay by helping prosecutors

14 YR Old Boy Transported to Hospital after being ran over by Garbage Truck

In Daphne Al , A 14 yr old boy riding his bicycle was hit by a Waste Management Garbage truck early this afternoon in Baldwin County highway 13 & 64

The trucks rear tires crushed the boy's chest , The boy was transported by ambulance to the University of South Al Medical Center in Mobile  The child was reported still alive and gasping for air when rescue workers arrived.

 Click Here for full story at AL.Com

State investigates Opelika pool after two kids became ill

From the Alabama Department of Public Health
OPELIKA, AL - The Alabama Department of Public Health is advising parents of children playing in the Splash Park at the Opelika Sportsplex and Aquatics Center between June 12 and June 20 to be alert for symptoms of illness.

If a child has nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal cramps parents should seek medical attention for their child.
Dr. Mary McIntyre, medical officer of the Bureau of Communicable Disease, said, "Based on what we know now, four children who were in the Splash Park between June 12 and June 18 have been hospitalized at East Alabama Medical Center with gastrointestinal illness."
The Splash Park was closed June 20 for testing. The health department's Bureau of Clinical Laboratories is conducting tests on water samples and specimens from the affected children, and two children have been found positive for E. coli infection.

At this time it appears that the common exposure is the Splash Pool at the Opelika Sportsplex and Aquatic Center.
The health department's Epidemiology Division is currently investigating this outbreak. Additional calls and follow-up with parents of children who may have been exposed can be expected.
The health department is also working with the medical community to better define the extent and cause of these illnesses. Doctors have been advised to notify the department's Epidemiology Division if any child in the Lee County or surrounding areas presents with symptoms of bacterial infections.
Health officials are working with city officials to evaluate and correct the problem

LISTEN LIVE ONLINE TO THE NATIONS NUMBER 1 TALK RADIO SHOW

Face to Face with Brian Holland airs Monday through Friday nights from 9 til 11 pm eastern time. Originating from studios outside of Hampton, VA, the program features nightly interviews with celebrities, human interest stories, politicians, authors, and newsmakers from around the world.
Hosted by award winning broadcaster and journalist Brian Holland, this is the last of the true interview programs on air today. With guests like Peter Tork of the Monkees, Mary McDonough of The Waltons; Little House on the Prairie's Alison Arngrim; star of ET, The Howling, and Cujo, Dee Wallace; TV star Matt Iseman of Clean House; Hall of Fame song writer Charles Fox, the genius behind "Killing Me Softly"; and so many more, Brian goes Face to Face with the movers and shakers around the world.



Ghost Tales Network, an internet network specializing in paranormal programming and research, recently awarded Brian with their fan voted Radio Host of the Year Award. Congrats to Brian for the recognition.

Opelika woman pleads guilty in son's death; she prayed but did not seek medical help

By The Associated Press

OPELIKA, Alabama — An Alabama woman who prayed for the healing of her sick son rather than taking him to a doctor pleaded guilty in his death but isn't going to prison.
Court records show 47-year-old Kay Lynn Burdette of Opelika pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide last week in the death of 17-year-old Jesse Lynn Burdette.
The teenager died at home in 2008 after suffering from flulike symptoms for weeks. Authorities say he had pneumonia.
Burdette wrote a letter to a Lee County judge saying her conscience is clear about her son's death. The self-employed cleaning woman says she didn't seek treatment because of her and her son's belief in trusting God for healing.
A judge gave the woman a suspended six-month sentence, meaning she won't serve any time in jail.

Parole denied for Decatur man who killed wife, buried remains under fish pond

By The Associated Press
    DECATUR, Alabama --The state of Alabama has denied parole for a Decatur man convicted of killing his wife in 1984 and burying her dismembered remains under a fish pond in their yard.
Morgan County District Attorney Scott Anderson says the only person to speak in favor of William David Stewart was a former prison cellmate.
Debbie Stewart was 32 when she died. Her family members were among the 20 people who came to the state Pardons and Paroles Board hearing Wednesday in Montgomery to express their opposition to releasing Stewart. Anderson also spoke against it.
Stewart is accused of strangling his wife, chopping her up and having a fish pond installed to hide the spot where he had buried her remains. He was indicted in 1987 when his wife's remains were discovered.

Death row inmate gets Lethal Injection for killing 78 yr old savannah woman

A death row inmate convicted of killing a 78-year-old Savannah woman is set to become the first person in Georgia executed using a new lethal injection drug. Roy Willard Blankenship is scheduled to be put to death at 7 p.m. tonight for the 1978 killing of Sarah Mims Bowen, who died of heart failure after she was raped in her Savannah apartment.

We'll have reaction from President Barak Obama's speech last night. It seems members of his own party are leading the criticism of the troop withdrawal plan from Afghanistan. They say it's not fast enough, while Congressional Republicans call it too rash. The president's drawdown plan calls for bringing 33,000 U.S. troops home from Afghanistan by next summer, with 10,000 leaving by the end of this year.

Three sheriff's deputies from Talbot County find themselves on the other side of the law this morning. The trio, along with a jailer, has been charged with extortion. Federal officials say it started out as a drug investigation

Phenix City expands jail, creates 13 new jobs

By The Associated Press
PHENIX CITY, Alabama — An overcrowded Alabama correctional facility is building an addition to the jail and creating jobs in the process.
The $3 million project will add more than 13,000 square feet to the current Russell County facility, which is equipped to house 226 inmates. Russell County Sheriff Heath Taylor says the jail is currently housing up to 400 inmates.
The new addition to the 20-year-old facility will help ease the burden of staffing an overcrowded jail, when at times one officer is alone to monitor dozens of inmates.
The expansion will also allow for 13 additional employees to be hired at the facility.

Houston County judge to consider Dothan doctor's request for bond

By The Associated Press
  DOTHAN, Alabama — A Houston County judge says he will take a request for bond under advisement for a Dothan doctor convicted of domestic violence.
Circuit Court Judge Larry Anderson heard arguments in the request for Andrew Osborne, who was convicted last week of felony second-degree domestic violence. After the conviction, Anderson ordered deputies to take Osborne into custody until his sentencing on July 1.
The jury convicted Osborne of assaulting his wife, Suzette Marie Osborne. District Attorney Doug Valeska says the victim described being hit with an open hand more than 30 times until she blacked out. Suzette Osborne also suffered a broken arm during the assault during the fall of 2010.
Anderson says he doesn't think there's any danger of Osborne fleeing, but he's concerned about possible danger to his wife.

Blood type O negative at low levels in blood banks

By The Associated Press 
 MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Health officials say that there is a critical shortage in the universal blood type O at the American Red Cross.
Regional efforts are being made to educate people about blood donation and encourage donors to help. A spokesperson with the Red Cross says eligible donors with type O negative blood are needed to help supply the needs of patients, particularly for emergency situations.
While all blood types are needed during the summer months, the Red Cross says a shortage of type O negative blood often occurs during the summer when fewer donors are giving because of vacations and fewer blood drives.
Type O negative blood is always in high demand because it can be transfused to patients with any blood type.
Donors must be at least 17-years-old and meet weight and height requirements.

Baby was alive when Reno mother set her on fire

Medical tests show a terminally ill infant had still been alive when her mother placed her in a plastic bag, doused it with gasoline, and then set the bag on fire, according to Thursday testimony in Washoe District Court that ended with the woman’s release from jail.While the autopsy of the baby, named Brandy, has not yet been completed, Sparks police Detective Steve Fiore testified that a pathologist from the county’s medical examiner’s office reported a recent blood test concluded the 2-month-old had inhaled smoke — meaning she was alive when Suceli Ardon burned her on March 6 in a Sparks field.
Deputy District Attorney Luke Prengaman said during Thursday’s bail reduction hearing that he will likely be filing homicide charges against Ardon, a 26-year-old mother to two other children who live locally with their father. But until the autopsy report has been completed, his hands are tied.
Ardon is currently charged with third-degree arson for scorching a small area of the Sparks field near Earmark Drive and Silver Coyote Court where police can’t identify its owner, and of destroying evidence related to her ridding of the gas can she used and her baby’s morphine medication. Both are punishable by probation. She had been in jail without bail until Thursday’s hearing.
Judge Steven Kosach said he had to balance a bail amount for her current offenses, which normally carries a bail of $1,500, with the “invisible gorilla in the room,” meaning the likely murder charges that have not yet been filed. Kosach ordered she be released on her own recognizance Thursday, and wear an electronic monitoring bracelet among other conditions such as surrendering her passport and driver’s license and maintaining a job.
Prengaman argued that Ardon is a flight risk because she is a native of Guatemala and knows she will be facing homicide charges.
“I trust you,” Kosach told Ardon. “If you let me down, I will hunt you down myself.”
According to court testimony, Ardon and her boyfriend, Luis Martinez, also the baby’s father, had an argument that caused Martinez to stay with his relatives for a matter of days. When he returned, the baby was gone. She first claimed hospice workers took the baby, and later said told him she had really sent the baby to her family in Guatemala.

Babysitter Convicted in 16-month-old child Death

LIBERTY, Mo. -- A Clay County jury convicted a babysitter of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 16-month-old child on Monday.
Megan Griffith was facing a second-degree murder charge in the death of Izzack Doolin.The boy died of head injuries he suffered while he was in Griffith's care.Griffith could be sentenced to serve up to seven years in prison. Jurors have not yet recommended her punishment.

Parents charged in toddler's death

A couple has been charged with aggravated child abuse after their 21-month-old son died Wednesday at the hospital.
Adrien Hickerson was taken to LeBonheur Children's Hospital in extremely critical condition Tuesday and was diagnosed with abusive head trauma. He died the following day.
Sabrina Hickerson told investigators she flew into a rage when the little boy became defiant.
Memphis police say the 22-year-old and the boy's father Gary Hickerson may face additional charges after the Medical Examiner issues an autopsy report.
In court Friday, a judge denied Gary Hickerson's request to attend his son's funeral.
"You would think in a country where we're presumed innocent that perhaps the judge would have done so," said Gary Hickerson's attorney Joseph Osment. "However, the judge declined to let him go to his own's son funeral."
A police report confirmed the child collapsed while home alone with his mother. Sabrina Hickerson told officers her child was made to perform "exercise discipline" which she described to them as "smoking." She told police she has "uncontrollable rage over the child's behavior and may have harmed him."
Gary Hickerson is facing the same charges because according to the state he knew his son was being abused by his wife, but he did nothing to prevent it.
Loved ones called Adrian Hickerson a hero. His donated organs have already saved lives around the country.
"He's going to be a help to so many other's lives," said his grandmother Annette Hickerson. "Several children will benefit from his sacrifice."
Sabrina Hickerson is being held on $500,000 bond. Her husband is behind bars on $250,000 bond.

The Rape & Murder of a Baby Briana ( Very Graphic viewer discretion is advised ) (Update with sentences in description area)

This is a disturbing but important story of a fatal case of child abuse. It is the case of baby Briana Lopez, who was abused from birth by both parents and other family members. We as a nation must make cases like these nonexistent.
This story has strengthened my desire to work in the social service field. The reporter is Kim Vallez, and the copyright is by KRQE news 13, www.krqe.com
UPDATE:
The mother of baby Brianna, Stephanie Lopez, was found not guilty on the charge of intentional child abuse resulting in death.

She was convicted of child abuse resulting in death and child abuse negligent permit.

She was found innocent of intentional child abuse, because she did not inflict the abuse but allowed it to happen.

Brianna's father, 22-year-old Andy Walters, was convicted of child abuse resulting in death, conspiracy, criminal sexual penetration and two counts of child abuse.

Uncle Steven Lopez was found guilty of child abuse resulting in death, conspiracy and criminal sexual penetration.

Paternal grandmother Patricia Walters and uncle Robert Walters were found guilty of failure to report child abuse.

Sentencing...
Susana Martinez asked for the maximum punishment possible for all of them. Sadly, their sentences do not fit their crimes. It took a jury
of seven men and five women nine hours to find all of them guilty.

Andy Walters, the father, received a mere 57 years in prison and
her Uncle Steven Lopez received only 51 years for sexually abusing
and causing the death of Briana due to abuse and neglect.

Stephanie Lopez, her mother received a very short sentence of 27 years in prison for child abuse and neglect resulting in death. The
Jury decided that she was not guilty of intentional abuse since she
did not inflict the abuse but had allowed it to take place.

Briana's Grandmother, Patricia Walters and her Uncle, Robert Walters Jr each got off easy with only 60 days in jail for failing to
report the abuse and save Briana's life.

Keep in mind that prisoners usually get out much earlier than the sentences given, with good time, 20% of the sentence can be eliminated. There is also parole available.

As each guilty verdict was read, the Lopez and Watlers families
showed their emotions by embracing and crying. The only one of
the defendants to show emotion at that time was Steven Lopez who
is the twin brother of Stephanie, put his head in his hands and started to cry.

When the jury was dismissed and had left the court room, the
defendants then began to show their emotions by crying and
hugging their lawyers who tried to console them. Stephanie and Steven were allowed to hug eachother and cry before being lead out of the court room by guards.

Law enforcement searching for escaped prisoner

 By Staff Writers

Haleodore Zepeta

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Area law enforcement officers are currently searching for a 37-year-old prisoner serving jail time for drug charges who escaped from a Montgomery prison earlier today.
This afternoon the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Haleodore Zepeta was declared missing from Maxwell, a minimum security prison work camp in Montgomery, early Wednesday morning.
Zepeta was in prison for possession and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. His release date was set for October 2018.
The department is working with local and state police and the F.B.I. to locate the man said to be 5'7 with black hair and brown eyes, weighing approximately 130 pounds.
Anyone with information on Zepeta should contact law enforcement or the U.S. Marshals Service at 334-657-0559.

Mobile-built Hunley Confederate submarine being righted for 1st time since it sank

By The Associated Press
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — Scientists in South Carolina began the painstaking job Wednesday of righting the Confederate submarine the CSS H.L. Hunley, which sank on its side during the Civil War after becoming the first sub in history to sink an enemy warship.
Workers rotated the famed submarine, which was built in Mobile, Alabama, by about 10 degrees by midafternoon Wednesday in a delicate effort that is expected to take 2 days to complete.
The Hunley was resting on its side at a 45-degree angle when it sank off Charleston in 1864 and was raised in slings that way 11 years ago. The hand-cranked sub and its crew of eight went down after sinking the Union blockade ship Housatonic but why it sank remains a mystery.
Rotating the sub upright and removing the slings will reveal the entire hull for the first time in nearly 150 years and may provide clues as to its fate.

No 'smoking guns' on sub so far                         
 But Paul Mardikian, the senior conservator on the Hunley project, doesn't expect to see any obvious clues once the sub is upright and the slings obscuring the hull are removed.
"I don't think there have been any smoking guns on the submarine so far. We were expecting we would find a quick answer 10 years ago. But I think it's more subtle," he said.
He said any new clues will probably have to wait until the sediment encrusted on the hull is removed, a process that will take a year or more.
When the sub was raised, there were 15 slings supporting it. Last week, the Hunley was raised 3 feet from the bottom of its water-filled conservation tank and in recent days half the slings were removed.
The remaining slings were fitted with sophisticated sensors which can tell how much weight each is supporting.
Workers lined the inside of the drained 90,000-gallon conservation tank on Wednesday and periodically eased the tension on the remaining slings as the Hunley was slowly rotated toward an upright position.
Once upright, the sub will be supported by keel blocks beneath the vessel.
"Everything's going according to plan," said Mardikian who noted it took several years modeling the delicate process of righting the sub both in a computer simulation and using a model of the hull.
Theories as to why the Hunley sank include that it was damaged by fire from the Housatonic or the crew was knocked out by the concussion from the blast that the ship. It may also have been damaged by another Union vessel rescuing the Housatonic.
Studies showed the crew died of a lack of oxygen, which can overtake a person very quickly. The remains of the crew members, who were buried in 2004 in what was called the last Confederate funeral, were found at their stations and there seemed no rush to the escape hatch.
At the time of its development, the Hunley was considered a secret weapon developed to try to break the Union blockade that held the South in a stranglehold. It would not be until World War I that submarines were commonly used in warfare.

_____

Associated Press Writer Bruce Smith wrote this report.

Bank repossesses foreclosed funeral home in Phenix City, sheriff moves body to morgue

By The Associated Press The Associated Press

The Russell County Sheriff's Department enforced an order by Macon County District Judge Aubrey Ford Jr., entering the funeral home Tuesday afternoon. A moving company carted away items from the family business owned by Arthur Sumbry Sr.
The seizure of the business ended a stalemate between Sumbry and Columbus-based Synovus Bank, which records show executed a mortgage with the business in 1996. Synovus initially filed a "Complaint for Ejectment" on Feb. 7 of this year, saying Sumbry had defaulted on his mortgage last year, with the property being foreclosed upon Nov. 1, 2010.
The closing comes two months before Sumbry is scheduled to stand trial on charges of perjury and forgery. Sumbry, 70, a Phenix City councilman, is charged with forging a warranty deed and lying about it under oath during a 2009 hearing in Russell County Circuit Court.
Sheriff Heath Taylor says movers found a body in the funeral home. Taylor says the body was taken to the morgue and officials are working with the family to take it to another funeral home.

BREAKING NEWS: 75 arrests At The Pines restaurant in Troy.

By the Associated Press


TROY, Alabama — More than 75 people are facing charges after police raided a fraternity party at a restaurant in Troy.

Lt. Thomas Price of the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board says most of the people arrested late Tuesday and early Wednesday were charged with underage alcohol possession. But two were charged with drug offenses.
The Troy Messenger reports that the party was hosted by the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, which has a chapter at Troy University. The state agent says officers got a tip that minors were consuming alcohol during a party at The Pines restaurant in Troy.
Price says more than 300 people were at the gathering, and some fled to the roof when officers arrived. Authorities called a fire truck to help them off the building.

Attalla man faces capital murder charge in strangulation death of wife

GADSDEN, Alabama — An Etowah County grand jury has indicted an Attalla man on a capital murder charge in the strangulation death of his wife.
Roy Thomas Smith was indicted on Tuesday.
The 53-year-old Smith was charged in November with murder in the death of his wife, 44-year-old Carla Parton Smith, whose body was found Nov. 1 in the trunk of her car parked in a gravel lot.
Marcus Reid, chief assistant district attorney, says the charge is under the statute of murder for monetary gain. He says he can't talk about the facts of the case.
Carla Smith, a nursing supervisor at Riverview Regional Medical Center, did not show up for work on the morning of Nov. 1. Her body was found that afternoon by ambulance personnel who recognized the car.

Car Runs CRASHES into Dothan Dollar General Store Front. Mtgmy Hwy.

From RSN 

Around 12:45 Dothan PD and Fire were dispatched to the scene where a car ran into the store front of a Dollar General. This is not the first occurrence of this happening at this location. The driver of the car is fine. The damage to the front of the store continues inside to the cooler where wine and beer were kept, it’s a big mess. A tow truck is having a hard time getting the car unstuck.

Former Eufaula radio host to produce film

By Staff Writers                                                 

Former Eufaulian and Lake98 radio personality, Brian Holland has taken on a unique project. Holland is working on a film called “Why Did They Hurt Me?”. The purpose of the film is to awaken the concern and caring in people and hopefully shake people to work for the end of animal abuse in all forms. Holland states “With the exception of a few television commercials, nothing really highlights the suffering of our companion animals, we hope to show people what happens and what can be done”.  

This project will require Holland and crew to travel the nation for a period of about three months, meeting with people, examining shelters and organizations. They will need all of the support they can get to make this happen. If you would like more information or to donate to this worthy cause please visit the Why Did They Hurt Me? website.

Holland is currently Promotions and Imaging Director at K Talk 1650am in Hampton, Virginia and host of the popular talk radio show Face to Face with Brian Holland which airs on WHKT 1650am and the internet Mon. through Fri. 9pm till 11pm eastern time.

Former Decatur official told to repay $48,000 in retirement benefits

By The Associated Press
 
DECATUR, Ala. — Retirement Systems of Alabama is asking former Decatur building director Jimmy Brothers to repay more than $48,000 in retirement benefits.

Retirement Systems benefits director Bill Kelley sent a letter to Brothers last week saying that the state agency has reversed its position on his January retirement. It now says the departure was voluntary, contradicting the city's claims suggesting he was forced out.
Kelley says that as a result, the 57-year-old Brothers will have to repay the money or face suspension of his retirement benefits until RSA recovers the money.

The decision brings a possible end to months of controversy regarding two letters sent in December to RSA, one signed by Mayor Don Stanford, the other by Brothers, that appear to tell the state agency Stanford forced Brothers into retirement.

Owner of Deepwater Horizon oil rig blames BP for decisions that led to explosion, spill in gulf

By The Associated Press 
 
ATLANTA, Georgia — An internal investigation by the owner of the rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico last year largely blames oil giant BP for the disaster.
The Transocean report released today said the April 20, 2010, Deepwater Horizon explosion and resulting oil spill was the result of a succession of well design, construction, and temporary abandonment decisions that compromised the integrity of the well and compounded the risk of its failure. The Swiss firm said many of the decisions were made by well owner BP in the two weeks before the incident.
Transocean said its evidence indicates that BP failed to properly assess, manage and communicate risk.
BP's own internal report on the disaster blamed a cascade of failures by multiple companies. Government investigations also have spread around the blame. The findings by all of the various sides will be argued about for months and perhaps years to come as numerous lawsuits make their way through court. The companies involved in the disaster have sued each other seeking to recoup their losses or expected losses from the disaster.
BP officials did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
In addition to owning the well that blew out, London-based BP was leasing the rig that exploded from Transocean. Eleven rig workers were killed and the government estimates some 206 million gallons of oil spewed from BP's Macondo well a mile beneath the sea before the well was capped three months later. It was the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history, staining hundreds of miles of shoreline, hurting fisherman and businesses and prompting new rules for deepwater drilling. BP has already spent or committed tens of billions of dollars to clean up the mess and compensate victims.
The Transocean report was the culmination of work by an internal investigation team comprised of experts from various technical fields and other specialists. Transocean said the loss of evidence with the rig and the unavailability of certain witnesses limited its investigation and analysis in some areas.
Among Transocean's findings:
— BP did not properly communicate to the drill crew the lack of testing on the cement or the uncertainty surrounding critical tests and procedures used to confirm the integrity of the barriers intended to inhibit the flow of hydrocarbons from the well. A hydrocarbon is a compound consisting of hydrogen and carbon that is found in oil and gas.
— BP adopted a technically complex nitrogen foam cement program for sealing the well. The resulting cementing job was of minimal quantity, left little margin for error, and was not tested adequately before or after the cementing operation. Further, the integrity of the cement may have been compromised by contamination, instability, and an inadequate number of devices used to center the casing in the wellbore.
— Cement contractor Halliburton and BP did not adequately test the cement slurry used to seal the well.
— BP also failed to assess the risk of the temporary abandonment procedure used at Macondo. BP generated at least five different temporary abandonment plans for the Macondo well between April 12, 2010, and April 20, 2010. After this series of last-minute alterations, BP proceeded with a temporary abandonment plan that created risk and did not have the required government approval.

Historic armor shipment reaches Ft. Benning , Ga

Ft. Benning, Ga.--It's a historic day at Ft. Benning.

Nearly 100 civilians and military personnel spent today unloading the largest shipment of armor equipment to arrive at Ft. Benning's Ochille Railhead from Fort Knox.
"The army has always trained as it fought," Logistics Director Curtis Grover said. "And now that we have brought the armor here we can how have a combined arms with the infantry and armor together to create more fire on the battlefield."
The shipment is considered the most significant in terms of the variety of vehicles delivered.
"Every infantry and army officer will be trained here at Ft. Benning, Georgia. By October we will train 51% of the United States army," Grover said.
Drivers transported about 70 vehicles, which included Abrams tanks, Bradley fighting vehicles and Stryker vehicles to maintenance stations.
"It's actually fun being in them and driving them," Staff Sgt. David Flores said. "The training side of them gets repetitive, but being inside and actually driving and shooting the bradleys or the tanks, that's what makes the army fun."
Safety is one of the main priorities at the rail station at Ft. Benning and there's a safety team on site at all times. One of the main issues is the heat. Solider's make sure there are ice towels on hand, just in case it gets too hot.
"You got a lot of heat radiating out just from the engines being in the back," safety specialist Tim Messer said. "You don't want to be standing within approximately 5-6 feet behind them because that obviously radiates a lot of heat."
With today's shipment, the armor school move is about 70% complete.
Grover says there are under 100 days to go.
Training on the tanks is set to begin October first.

Air Conditioner Thieves stricks On Dellwood Ave. One Suspect still at large !

Around 1:oo PM Dothan PD was dispatched to the scene of a robbery where two individuals  stolen an air conditioner units from a resident who repairs them in his backyard. The thieves were unaware they were being watched by the owner. PD units arrived on scene and Officer Womack began chase immediately, he was in a brief foot pursuit before taking his suspect into custody. The other suspect ran and jumped into a green pickup truck and sped away. Officers are looking for that suspect/vehicle now.

Two individuals were in progress of stealing an air conditioner unit from a residents home where he repaired units. The theives was not aware that the home owner was watching them attempt to steal the unit, whom called the police which later arrived on scene. Officer Womack chased one individual which who was caught after a short foot chase and is now in custody, The 2nd individual ran and jumped into a green truck and escaped. Officers are still looking for the vehicle and the 2nd suspect.

Mortgage lender CEO sentenced to 3 years of prison in fraud that helped sink Alabama's Colonial Bank

By The Associated Press The Associated Press
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia — The CEO of what had been one of the nation's largest private mortgage lenders has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for his role in a $3 billion fraud scheme.
The 40-month sentence for 55-year old Paul R. Allen of Oakton, Va., on Tuesday is slightly less than the six-year term sought by federal prosecutors.
Allen was CEO at Florida-based Taylor Bean and Whitaker, whose executives pulled off one of the largest frauds in U.S. history. Among other schemes, the company double- and triple-sold mortgages to other investors, including Alabama-based Colonial Bank.
Allen's lawyer argued for leniency because Allen was CEO in name only and the real mastermind was company chairman Lee Farkas, who will be sentenced next week

Prattville man receives 90-year prison term in child sex case

By The Associated Press The Associated Press
PRATTVILLE, Alabama — A 37-year-old Prattville man was sentenced to 90 years in prison in Autauga County Circuit Court on seven child sex convictions.
Michael Pierce McCullough was convicted by a jury in December of five counts of possession of obscene matter depicting a person younger than 17 and two counts of sexual abuse.
Records show his two victims were girls younger than 12 at the time the incidents occurred in 2008.
The jury found that he took obscene photos of one girl and touched the other girl inappropriately.
Circuit Judge Sibley Reynolds sentenced him to 10 years on each of the child pornography charges and 20 years on each of the sex abuse charges. The sentences are to run consecutively.
McCullough did not comment when given two opportunities before being sentenced.

BREAKING NEWS - Bessemer I-459 crash takes 2 lives

BESSEMER, Alabama - Three men died following a single-car accident this morning on Interstate 459 in Bessemer.
Two died on the scene and a third at UAB Hospital, said Jefferson County Chief Deputy Coroner Pat Curry.
The accident happened about 9 a.m. near mile marker 5 when a tire blew on their vehicle and the car flipped, Curry said.
Authorities are withholding their names until they have notified next of kin.
Bessemer police are investigating the accident.

Valley, Al man confesses to producing child porn results to one woman arrest.

Valley authorities states that Anthony Rider confessed to producing child porn when a Sim card was found that contained several home recorded videos was turned over to local police.

Rider was charged with sexual abuse  & sodomy of a child under 12 yrs of age and production of porbagraphy with minors,

Additional , Alice Finch 28  is facing charges of permitting a child to engage in pornography and two accounts of production of pornography with minors.

Officials states that Rider and finch lived together and the children has been placed in foster care.

Alabama judge promises ruling by August in prepaid tuition suits

By The Associated Press 

MONTGOMERY, Alabama — A Montgomery judge said Monday he will decide by August on a proposal to settle litigation surrounding Alabama's troubled program that was meant to allow families to prepay college tuition.

Montgomery County Circuit Judge Johnny Hardwick listened to more than seven hours of testimony about the Prepaid Affordable College Tuition plan or PACT.
Hardwick must decide the future for tens of thousands of recipients of prepaid college tuition contracts.
"I am trying to put myself in the position of people who put money in the program," Hardwick said.
The hearings follow a proposed settlement that PACT contracts are to be paid at the Fall 2010 level, with additional funding to be paid by the contract holder. Shortfalls in the Educational Trust Fund Budget mean the contracts cannot be fulfilled as originally written.
The deficit in the Educational Trust Fund stems from an increase in college tuition statewide, as well as an economic downturn. In the current state, the Education Trust Fund budget will reach the "point of no return" in 2014, meaning current contract holders will not receive the full amount of tuition paid toward their PACT program.
"Our obligations exceed our assets," Boozer said.
The Legislature started the PACT program 21 years ago with parents paying in a fixed amount of money when a child was small and then expecting that upon graduation from high school, the child would get four years of tuition paid at a state university. The program invested the money to pay tuition, and it worked well until 2009, when it was hit with plunging stock values and tuition prices that rose faster than program officials had anticipated.
That led to lawsuits from some parents seeking to get the tuition they were promised.
More than 60 contract holders filed objections to the settlement. Many of those appeared Monday at the hearing.
David Howle of Heflin holds two contracts with PACT. He said he and his wife took a chance when they invested, and they trusted that the state would come through on its promises.
Ricky Murphy of Woodland also purchased two contracts. He said, "I don't think this is fair, because these are all different, based on individual preferences." He was referring to the differing costs of attending different schools.
George Beck, an attorney representing the parents, said, "How can we go to them and say you can't get what you contracted for?"
State Treasurer Young Boozer said the settlement is the best deal possible under the circumstances.
"This is part of the compromise," he said. "I'm trying to provide the greatest benefit to contract holders."
"We've got to get something resolved, get it locked down, then put a long-term financial plan in place."
No new contracts are being added.
The proceedings lasted until 8:30 p.m. Monday as contract holders were allowed to voice their objections to the settlement. The hearing began at 1 p.m.

Ozark contractor wins federal fraud case

By The Associated Press
 
OZARK, Alabama — A federal jury awarded an Ozark-based contracting company more than $1.8 million in damages after finding an engineering firm committed fraud, negligence and contractual interference in relation to work at U.S. Helicopter.
Court records indicate the jury reached the verdict for Glenn Construction against Barge Waggoner Sumner & Cannon on Friday. . The complaint stems from work Glenn Construction performed for an expansion of U.S. Helicopter at Blackwell Field in Ozark. BWSC, the lead contractor for the project, is a Tennessee-based company with an office in Dothan.
The complaint said BWSC failed or refused to notify Glenn Construction of a pre-existing underground stream and other drainage features that caused unexpected soil conditions.
The jury found BWSC made false statements and withheld facts from Glenn Construction with the intent to deceive.

Diver finds man's lost wedding ring on Lake Martin bottom

 By The Associated Press

OPELIKA, Alabama — An Opelika man has his wedding ring back after losing it during an outing on Lake Martin.
The man, 32-year-old Matt Hall, lost the ring last week when he jumped into the water.
After an Internet search for help, he contacted 42-year-old David Reiterman, an expert scuba diver.
Wearing his wetsuit, scuba gear and armed with a flashlight, Reiterman dived into Lake Martin on Saturday on a mission to find the gold-and-diamond ring.
Reiterman says most of the shiny objects he found were bottle caps, until something caught the reflection of his flashlight just right. He reached down and grabbed a ring.
Hall says he jumped into the water and hugged Reiterman, thanking him for finding the ring his wife had picked out.

New Sex charge against Dothan teacher

Bell-Tharpe

The Dothan teacher that was arrested last week on a sex crime charge involving a student now will face at least one additional charge for allegedly molesting the same 16-year-old male student.  Dothan police arrested Bell-Tharpe on Friday on a charge based on a newly enacted law of a school employee having sex with a student.

Dothan police investigators talked about some of the evidence in their case against 30-year-old Calvin Bell-Tharpe at a bond reduction hearing Monday.

Bell-Tharpe’s Attorney Shaun McGhee asked the court to reduce Bell-Tharpe’s current $175,000 bond. McGhee who claimed his client is not a flight risk had nearly a dozen relatives who attended the hearing. “He actually has no ties to anywhere outside this county,” McGhee said. “He has no prior violations with the law, not even a speeding ticket.”It’s not a violent type of crime,” McGhee said. “We just the court to reduce the bond to a “reasonable amount” in this case”.

District Court Judge Benjamin Lewis denied Bell-Thorpe’s bond reduction request late Monday afternoon.

Houston County District Attorney Doug Valeska said a second charge of misdemeanor sexual misconduct will be filed against Bell-Tharpe by detectives on Tuesday.“A teacher should know not to have contact or give rides to students,” Valeska said. “We don’t think the bond is excessive. Children must be protected at all cost.”

Dothan police Investigator Reyna Johnson said the alleged victim in the case was a 16-year-old boy who was a student at Northview.

Johnson said the allegations stem from the victim being picked up twice and taken to a home that belonged to a relative of Bell-Tharpe. She said on the first occasion the two ate dinner together. Johnson said the offenses occurred on the second occasion, after the victim had apparently fallen asleep on a couch while watching television.“He was asleep, and it woke him up,” Johnson said. “He (Bell-Tharpe) then invited him back to the bedroom in the house for sex. He says he did not consent to it, that he felt pressured or forced to do it.”Johnson said the sexual assault reportedly lasted anywhere from a few minutes up to an hour.

Valeska said prosecutors planned to take the case to a Houston County grand jury this week. Johnson also testified of a revealing Facebook conversation between Bell-Tharpe and the student that included such phrases as “Be real pretty boy.” She also testified Bell-Tharpe allegedly sought pictures of the student through the Facebook conversation.

Johnson also said police are investigating Bell-Tharpe’s cell phone usage. “He sent a picture of graphic nature by cell phone to the victim,” Johnson said. Dothan Police Sgt. Doug MaGill testified that Bell-Tharpe admitted to sending the graphic cell phone image by mistake. MaGill said Bell-Tharpe told police he meant to send the image to his girlfriend.

Johnson said during cross examination by McGhee that police did not find out about the allegations until May. But she said there had been an ongoing internal investigation by the school since November 2010. Bell-Tharpe remained employed as a teacher during the school’s investigation.

Johnson said the offenses allegedly happened between Halloween and Thanksgiving of 2010.

 “Mr. Bell-Tharpe denied taking him to any house, but had driven him to get food, and given him a ride home,” MaGill said.MaGill said police acquired a search warrant for Bell-Tharpe’s Denton Road home where they seized four computers and four cell phones.

According to the Northview High website, Bell-Tharpe has been a Dothan educator for five years, since January 2006. The school’s website also said Bell-Tharpe works as an art teacher and is the head tennis coach for the school. The website also said Bell-Tharpe graduated from Dothan High School and later earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Troy University.