February unemployment

Alabama's unemployment rate dropped to 7.6% in February for its seventh straight month of improvement. State officials said today the jobless rate for last month was two-tenths of a percent better than the January number. The improvement means people are no longer eligible for extended jobless benefits. The new maximum length of time on unemployment is 73 weeks, down from 99 weeks.

Locally jobless rates were down in Blount County--seven-point-four to seven-point-three percent, Cherokee --eight-point-four to eight-point-two, DeKalb --10 percent even to nine-point-eight, Etowah--eight-point-two to seven-point-nine and Marshall--seven-point-nine to seven-point-seven. Calhoun County was flat--remaining at eight-point-three percent.

Hobson City bingo

Hobson City is a step closer to getting a bingo hall. Developers demonstrated electronic gambling devices Thursday for the Calhoun County Bingo Regulatory Commission, which found nothing wrong with the machines. The commission agreed to write a letter to that effect to the sheriff and the district attorney, who will decide if the machines can legally be used in the county. A South Carolina businessman is planning to open a bingo hall on Martin Luther King Drive in April.

Awakening March

The congregations of several churches in Marshall County are joining together tomorrow to march and pray against methamphetamine and for an end to hunger and homelessness. Following a prayer gathering, the Awakening March for the Mountain will start at 8 in the morning at Boaz Church of God and end at the Church at Lake Guntersville. That's over 12 miles and there will be drivers to help those who can't make it all the way. You can find out more at the Awakening March's Facebook page.

Toomer's Corner tree injections

Auburn University's horticulturist is hoping an experimental procedure can help the historic trees at Toomer's Corner. On Monday, Gary Keever on Monday oversaw the injection of sugar into the trees. Tennessee-based company drilled a series of 49 small ports around the circumference of the oaks and then siphoned in a carbohydrate-rich cocktail of fructose, glucose and sucrose using flexible tubing.
Harvey Updyke, a University of Alabama fan, is accused of poisoning the trees with a powerful herbicide shortly after the 2010 Iron Bowl.

Longhorn in Gadsden

Longhorn Steakhouse could be coming to Gadsden. The city council is considering an agreement that would give the owners of Longhorn, RARE Hospitality, incentives of up to 225-thousand dollars over five years to cover infrastructure costs. Plans are to locate the Longhorn Steakhouse on Albert Rains Boulevard, current location of The Fish Market. That restaurant will be torn down and moved to Rainbow Drive. The Gadsden City Council will hold a public hearing on the incentives on April 10th.

Sex abuse arrests

The Etowah County Sheriff's Office reports the arrest of a man and woman on sex-related charges involving a 14-year-old girl. Deputies with the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Task Force made the arrests Monday. 41-year-old Tracy Melvin Wilemon of Altoona is charged with first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree hindering prosecution. 38-year-old Robert Wilson Hall, also of Altoona, is charged with one count of rape and one count of first-degree sexual abuse. Wilemon and Hall were being held in the Etowah County Detention Center on 50-thousand dollars bond each.

Fort Payne vandalism

Fort Payne is trying to catch some vandals and the city is putting up a one-thousand dollar reward to help find them. Mayor Bill Jordan says somebody shot at the oldest building in town, ruining two large pane windows at the Coal and Iron Building on Gault Avenue. The structure was built in 1888. Damage was estimated at 15-hundred dollars. If you know anything about the vandalism, contact Fort Payne police.

Guntersville company honored

For the third time in four years, a Marshall County company has won a Governor's Trade Excellence Award. Kappler, a Guntersville-based company that manufactures protective clothing, was one of eight business to win the award this year. Kappler's products are bought by the departments of Defense and Homeland Security, environmental cleanup and hazmat agencies and the medical industry.

Marshall County park

Marshall County is moving closer to getting a new park located just north of the River Bridge on Highway 431 in Guntersville. Phase one would be a 71-space parking lot for recreational vehicles. Next would come a welcome center and splash park. County Commission on Monday approved 10-thousand dollars for a final TVA environmental study. Final approval will come from the Guntersville Planning Commission.

Gun range complaints

The chairman of the Marshall County Commission Chairman has requested that the county attorney look into complaints about noise from a Wyeth Mountain shooting range. According to the Sand Mountain Reporter, several residents appeared at the commission's work session last Thursday to complain about noise that started about a month ago from the Alabama Tactical Shooters Club, which is located in the county between Guntersville and Albertville. However, Commission ChairmanJames Hutcheson said the county can only do so much because it doesn't have home rule

Fishing runnerup from Guntersville

Guntersville's 2012 Bassmaster Classic champ was a runner-up at a tournament in Florida over the weekend. Chris Lane finished 13 pounds behind the winner, Ish Monroe of California, at the Bassmaster Elite Series Power Pole Slam on Lake Okeechobee. Lane, who grew up in Lakeland, Florida, says Okeechobee, which has sustained drought and flood over the past decade, has--quote--"come back better than ever."

Calhoun inmate escape

An inmate from the Calhoun County jail was on the loose for more than 24 hours last week. According to the sheriff's office, 29-year-old LaQuinta Decree Mitchell of Anniston was being booked into the jail last Tuesday on a charge of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He was somehow able to join a group of inmates being booked out of the jail and left. Authorities tracked him down to an apartment in Sandy Springs, Georgia, Wednesday night, at which time he surrendered. Mitchell now faces an addtional charge of first degree escape.

Gas prices

According to Triple-A, the national average price of a gallon of regular gas is just over a dime away from four dollars. It's currently three dollars-89 cents a gallon, up six cents from a week ago. The statewide average price in Tennessee is three-72 a gallon, an increase of seven cents from last week. A check of gas-buddy-dot-com finds the price of a gallon of regular gas in Albertville ranging from three-65 to three-75.

Dog victim recovering

A Rainsville woman is recovering at DeKalb Regional Medical Center in Fort Payne after being attacked by five dogs. Mary Katherine Carroll was jogging near her home last Thursday when the dogs bit her and pulled her to the ground. Carroll sustained lacerations on her arms, legs and body and underwent five hours of surgery. The dogs have since been put down and the owner charged with a misdemeanor. And Carroll says the city of Rainsville is working on a leash law to prevent similar attacks in the future.

DeKalb drug busts

The DeKalb County sheriff's office reports that its drug task force agents made five more arrests late Tuesday night. 23-year-old Hillary Diane Nichols of Valley Head was arrested after a search of her home turned up a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. 42-year-old Sammy Leon and 35-year-old Holly Marie Garmany were arrested at their home in Henagar, where agents found meth and needles. And 39-year-old Bobby Ray Emory and 34-year-old Melinda Marie Rowland, both of Albertville, were stopped at a drivers license checkpoint in Crossville and found to be in possession of meth, marijuana and pills and paraphernalia.

Hazardous weather outlook

The National Weather Service at Huntsville has again issued a hazardous weather outlook for an area including Marshall and DeKalb counties. Thunderstorms are expected to return across the Tennessee Valley as a weak surface trough pushes into the region from the west. A few storms will linger into the evening across far Northeast Alabama, but the greatest coverage is expected earlier in the day along and east of a line from Arab to Winchester, Tennessee. A few strong storms producing wind gusts from 30 to 40 miles an hour and small hail are possible, otherwise lightning and locally heavy rainfall can be expected.

Bo Jackson's ride

Heisman Trophy winner and Auburn football great Bo Jackson has announced plans to ride his bicycle 300 miles through Alabama. Jackson's goal is to raise one million dollars, which will go to the Governor's Emergency Relief Fund. On his website, Jackson says--quote--"The reason for this ride is for state unity and to pay homage to the great Alabamians who lost their lives on April 27th, 2011. I am my brothers' and sisters' keeper." The ride is scheduled April 24th through the 28th beginning in Henagar in DeKalb County and going through Lake Guntersville State Park, Arab and other tornado- damaged areas on the way to Tuscaloosa.

New Gaylesville principal

The Gaylesville School has a new principal. Scott Hays was officially named to the job Tuesday by the Cherokee County Board of Education. Hays has served as an assistant principal at Gaylesville and takes over for Paul McWhorter, who has retired.

Murder and burglary

Anniston police say forensics have connected the accused killer of Officer Justin Sollahub to an unsolved home burglary. In addition to capital murder, 24-year-old Joshua Eugene Russell is now charged with third-degree burglary in the robbery of a home on Altamont Road in Anniston. The crime occurred just weeks before the killing of Officer Sollohub.

Metal thefts arrests

Oxford police have arrested three people in connection with recent thefts of metal. An unoccupied blue Chevy truck with the engine running was found Sunday night on U.S. 78 near Seal's Welding and Fabricating Company with two-thousand dollars' worth of steal beams that the owner of the company said were stolen from his shop. The same truck later showed up in video surveillance from Oxford Machine and Fab on Sherman Drive, where 11-thousand dollars' worth of steel rollers were taken over the weekend. The truck was reported stolen by 34-year-old Jennifer Grace Perkins of Anniston, whose two alleged roommates, 34-year-old Dustin Lee Howell and 34-year-old Wesley Dean Roosa, both from Ohio, were arrested Tuesday and charged with first-degree theft. Perkins was arrested for filing a false police report.

Hazardous weather outlook

The National Weather Service at Huntsville has issued a hazardous weather outlook for an area including Marshall and DeKalb counties. Thunderstorms will increase from west to east today as a slow-moving cold front and upper air disturbance approach. The highest coverage of storms today will generally be along and west of the I-65 corridor but numerouus thunder storms are expected for the entire area this evening before diminishing early tomorrow morning. The primary hazards will be lightning strikes and locally heavy rainfall.

Anniston metal thefts

Police in Anniston say it wasn't hard to spot the stolen aluminum which had been sold to a scrap yard -- the pieces were the in shape of fire hydrants. Thieves had stolen the fire hydrant molds from Swafford's Machine Company in downtown Anniston and chiseled down the logos on them. The Anniston Star reports that the crime is part of what has been a growing trend of metal thefts. Earlier this year, that trend prompted Anniston police to launch a special investigative unit to look into such crimes.

School computer theft

Students at Boaz Elementary School are having to get by with fewer computers. Police say that, over the weekend, four Dell laptops, plus a Canon camera and a switcher, were taken from one of the classrooms. Estimated value of the items is seven-thousand dollars. There was a similar theft reported over the weekend at Fyffe High School; nine computers were taken from that school's lab. It's not known if the two cases are connected.

Bad check arrests

About 100 people were arrested in Marshall County Tuesday for writing bad checks. Two dozen law enforcement officers were out as early as four AM making arrests. Those arrested were taken to the worthless check unit at the District Attorney's office to deal with bad checks, along with unpaid traffic and court fees. The arrests followed an amnesty period during which some 700 cases were cleared and about a quarter-million dollars was collected. Some people who were not picked up Tuesday are still being sought.

Twice in four days

An Albertville man was arrested twice in four days on drug charges last week. The Mashall County sheriff's office says 37-year-old Jerry Chad Bearden was arrested last Tuesday in Asbury on charges of possessing methamphetamine. While he was out on bond on those charges, Bearden was stopped for a traffic violation Saturday at Alabama Highway 75 and Davis Road. Deputies say a search of his vehicle turned up meth, drug paraphernalia and several pills.

Child sex abuse arrest

The Etowah County sheriff's office has arrested a Hokes Bluff man on charges of child and sex abuse. 54-year-old Guy Terry Hogue is accused of sexually and physically abusing a girl over the past two years at a residence on Euclid Road in Hokes Bluff. Hogue was released from jail on bond of 50-thousand dollars.

Little River Canyon drowning

A man from Rome, Georgia, drowned Sunday at Little River Canyon near Fort Payne. Authorities say 24-year-old Ramirez Austin was swimming with friends when he went under the water and did not resurface.

Two killed in wreck

Witnesses say one of two people killed in a wreck last night on U.S. 231 about a half-mile north of Arab was racing at the time. According to state troopers, 26-year-old Samir Patel of Huntsville, driving a Toyota, crossed U.S. 231 North from the median and briefly turned southbound into the northbound lane. That's when he struck a blue Mustang driven by 21-year-old Devon Raabe of Arab. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene. Wtinesses said they had seen Raabe, in the blue Mustang, racing at a high rate of speed with a red Mustang, which left the scene of the accident.

Anniston building demolition

An historical building in Anniston is becoming history. On Monday, workers began demolishing the 123-year-old Anniston City Land Company. The downtown office building had been vacant for more than a decade and was already starting to fall apart. As crews began demolishing nearby buildings last month to make way for a new police headquarters and justice center, part of an exterior wall of the Land Company building came down. A city inspector declared the building a danger and a public nuisance. But the city's historical preservation commission was able to get the demolition delayed while certain architectural features were saved.

Running death arraignment

A hearing is scheduled Wednesday for the Etowah County grandmother and stepmother charged with murder in the death of a 9-year-old girl who was allegedly run to death.
Circuit Judge William B. Ogletree on Friday set the arraignment hearing for 46-year-old Joyce Garrard. She faces a possible death penalty in the death of her granddaughter, Savannah Hardin. The girl's stepmother, 27-year-old Jessica Hardin, also is set to appear in court that day. The judge scheduled the hearing to accept initial pleas from the women and consider any motions in their cases. Defense attorneys have said both women will plead not guilty.

Cyclist death indictment

A man accused in the death of a cyclist has been indicted by a DeKalb County grand jury. 44-year-old Craig Chandler is charged with negligent homicide. Investigators say Chandler was driving an SUV on Alabama Highway 35 near Rainsville in June of last year when he struck and killed 22-year-old Christina Brooke Genco. Genco was part of a group of cyclists taking part in an 81-day bike ride to raise money for Habitat Humanity. If convicted, Chandler could be sentenced to up to a year in jail and fined six-thousand dollars.

Calhoun County fatal wreck

A fatal accident in Calhoun County just after midnight on Sunday: Alabama state troopers say 20-year-old Magen Elaine Huges of Ragland was killed in a single-vehicle crash. It happened on Alabama 77 about two miles south of Ohatchee. Troopers released no other details about the wreck.

Hawk certified to run

The campaign of a Marshall County Circuit Judge seeking re-election has announced that he's been certified by the Alabama Secretary of State to run as an independent. Howard Hawk submitted 52-hundred signatures requesting that his name be included on the November ballot; only 774 were required. Hawk's efforts over the past year and a half to switch parties from Democrat to Republican were rejected by the GOP, resulting in his name being taken off the ballot in January. Hawk initially said he would not run as an independent but later changed his mind.

Ex-jail trustee indicted

A former jail trustee in Boaz has been indicted for stealing items from the Boaz Police Department. Freddie Keith Payne had allegedly taken cell phones from the department's property room and compact discs from the office of Police Chief Terry Davis. The chief said--quote--"it's what I get for having them in my office, I guess, instead of at home or in a cd case." Davis said video surveillance cameras are among the security upgrades that have since been installed. Payne was booked into the Marshall County Jail on a 30-thousand dollars bond.

Beating, strangling arrest

A Marshall County man is accused of strangling and beating a female victim on two occasions. The alleged crimes took place at a Durham Road residence in Altoona. 32-year-old Christopher Ray Tompkins of Arab was arrested Wednesday and booked into the Etowah County Detention Center. Tompkins is charged with two counts of second-degree domestic violence by strangulation.

Man in trunk update

We told you last week about a Gadsden man who was found badly beaten in the trunk of a car in Cleburne County. The victim, identified as 46-year-old Lyndon Baines Smith, is said to be progressing and doing better at UAB hospital in Birmingham. 22-year-old Melvin Floyd, who was driving the car, is facing several charges including kidnapping with serious bodily injury. He was to be extradited to Cherokee County in Georgia where the beating and kidnapping allegedly occurred. More arrests in the case are expected.

Meth arrests

Two local men have been arrested for unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Sheriff's investigators say Jerry Chad Bearden of Albertville and Phillip Nathan Pointer of Crossville were found in possession of methamphetamine at a home in the Asbury community. Bearden is being held without bond. Pointer posted a five-thousand dollar bond.

Hazardous weather outlook

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for North Alabama, including Marshall and DeKalb counties. Scattered to numerous thunderstorms are expected later today as an upper disturbance out of the midwest moves across the area. A few strong to marginally-severe storms are possible, with large hail and brief heavy downpours the main threats. Some thunderstorms might linger into the evening or overnight as an unstable airmass remains well-entrenched across the Tennessee Valley.

Kathy Lowe plea

A Marshall County woman tried twice for the death of her husband has now pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Kathy Lowe, whose previous trials ended in hung juries, entered the plea Wednesday. Lowe had admitted killing her husband, David Lowe, and claimed she acted in self-defense. Prosecutors said Lowe shot her husband to collect insurance money. A judge sentenced her to three years probation and gave her credit for time served, meaning she will do no further jail time. Lowe was fined five-thousand dollars.

Family backs grandmother

A defense lawyer says relatives are backing the Etowah County woman facing possible execution in the death of her 9-year-old granddaughter, who was allegedly run to death as punishment. An attorney for Joyce Garrard released a statement Wednesday saying the woman's family is united with her as she fights charges in the death of Savannah Hardin. A prosecutor says the support isn't surprising since those relatives have yet to see the evidence. Garrard and Savannah Hardin's stepmother are facing murder charges in her death. Authorities say the older woman ran the girl as punishment for three hours, and stepmother Jessica Mae Hardin did nothing to stop the abuse.

Forgery charges in GA

A DeKalb County man has been charged in Georgia with two counts of first-degree forgery and two counts of cashing a fake check. Floyd County authorities say that, lasst August, 27-year-old Christopher Nickalus Bourne of Leesburg passed a check for 255 dollars at a gas station and one for 356 dollars at Food Lion on that same day. Bourne was in the Floyd County Jail with a 10-thousand-100 dollar property bond.

Sentence in Gilbert shooting

In July of 2008, Loretta Gilbert was riding a motorcycle on Highway 411 south of Leesburg when someone pulled up beside her in a truck and began shooting at her. Gilbert eventually recovered from her wounds. Monday, a Cherokee County circuit judge setenced Danny Chandler of Collinsville to a split term of 20 years for his role in the shooting. That means Chandler will serve five years in prison followed by 15 years probation. Last month, James Thompson Stimpson of Sand Rock was sentenced to 30 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of soliciting Loretta Gilbert's murder.

Forced to swallow lye

An Arab area man is accused of forcing a woman to swallow lye during a domestic altercation. Arab police say it happened March 9th. 27-year-old Kristopher Hopkins allegedly held the woman down and poured Red Devil Lye down her throat. The woman was taken to Marshall Medical Center North, then transferred to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital. Doctors there put the victim into a coma to help her body fight off the poison. After interviewing the woman earlier this week, police arrested Hopkins on Tuesday and charged him with second-degree assault.

New Gadsden police chief

There's a new man in charge of the Gadsden Police Department. Johnie Crane was sworn in Tuesday morning and Mayor Sherman Guyton presented him with his badge. Crane told the Gadsden Times that his priority now is to--quote--"sit back and listen. I'm not coming in with any big sweeping changes or 'let's do it this way.'" Guyton had pushed for the Gadsden Civil Service Board to name captain and acting chief Roy Harbin to the post, but the mayor said he's looking forward to working with Chief Crane.

Missing Albertville girl

A 17-year-old girl from Albertville was reported missing one week ago today and police are still looking for her. Her name is Paris Long and she lives on Burns Street. She is not believed to be in any danger and might be with Hannah Wansart. Paris Long is described as 5-5, 100 pounds with blue eyes and sandy-colored hair. If you know where Paris might be, you're encouraged to call Albertville police.

Fraud sentence

A federal judge has sentenced a Gadsden woman to 10 months in prison and ordered her to pay 195-thousand dollars in restitution to the state for her role in a more than seven million dollar fraud scheme. 34-year-old Lauren Young, former marketing director for the Alabama Small Business Consortium, pleaded guilty last year to charges of wire fraud and filing false tax returns.

Arab man busted in Ohio

An Arab man has been arrested in northern Ohio in connection with a meth lab found in a hotel room. 37-year-old Anthony Henry was busted Monday night when police and firefighters responded to a report of smoke in the third-floor hallway of an Econolodge in Brimfield Township, just east of Akron. Henry is charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and tampering with evidence.

Couple in meth bust

Someone tipped off Guntersville Police that a man and a woman were buying items often used in making meth. An investigation took officers to the Overlook Motel where, one of the rooms, they found a meth lab. Arrested and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine wre 46-year-old Michael Keith Scott of Albertville and 46-year-old Samantheia Smith of Guntersville.

Death penalty in running death

Etowah County District Attorney Jimmie Harp says his office will seek the death penalty against a woman whose granddaughter died after being forced to run three hours as a punishment. 46-year-old Joyce Garrard was indicted last week for capital murder in the death of 9-year-old Savannah Hardin. The girl's stepmother, 27-year-old Jessica Hardin, for felony murder. Prosecutors charged Garrard with the capital offense because the girl's death happened during another felony, child abuse. Authorities said Jessica Hardin did not intervene when Garrard punished the girl for lying about eating chocolate bars.

Life in prison

An Anniston man will be spending the rest of his life in prison. 24-year-old Ularius Johnson was arrested in 2009 in connection with several kidnappings and home invasions and was found guilty last month of 27 counts of rape, sodomy, kidnapping and burglary. Monday, Circuit Judge Debra Jones gave Johnson 15 consecutive life sentences and, on the remaining 12 counts, another 192 years in prison.

Albertviille food companies merge

One Albertville food company has bought another. Albertville Quality Foods acquired Sunrise Foods, a processor of protein-based products also based in Albertville. According to the publication "Refrigerated and Frozen Foods," say the Sunrise operation will add more than 100 million dollars in additional revenue to combined company. Albertville Quality Foods and Sunrise Foods will together service foodservice, restaurant and retail customers through the operation of three facilities and eight state-of-the-art production lines.

Hawk collects signatures

A Democrat who tried to run as a Republican says he'll be on the November ballot as an independent. Marshall County presiding Circuit Judge Howard Hawk switched from the Democratic Party to the GOP in December of 2010. But within a month the Marshall County Republican Party Executive Committee voted to ask Hawk to stay with the Democrats. Earlier this year, the state GOP went along with the committee and took Hawk off the ballot as a Republican. Since then, Hawk said he's collected more than five-thousand signatures to be placed on the ballot as an independent. Only 774 signatures are actually needed.

DeKalb County fatal accident

A motorcyclist was killed in a two-vehicle crash Saturday night in DeKalb County. State troopers identified the victim as 34-year-old Brian Green of Crossville. The accident occurred just after 6 PM on Alabama 68, about two miles west of Crossville. Green was driving a Yamaha motorcycle. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured.

Chronic DUI violator arrested

A man arrested several times for DUI in Etowah and Calhoun counties has been sentenced in Virginia to seven years in prison and banned from driving for 20 years. It turns out that 39-year-old Tracy Michael Decker of Virginia Beach had racked up more than two dozen DUI arrests in Alabama, Georgia and Virginia. Decker spent more than four years in a Virginia prison after an arrest on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in which he was driving drunk, had an open container of alcohol and two four-year children not in car seats.

Savannah Hardin indictments

An Etowah County Grand Jury handed down indictments Friday in the death of nine-year-old Savannah Hardin. Savannah's grandmother, 46-year-old Joyce Garrard of Attalla was indicted for Capital Murder and her stepmother, 27-year-old Jessica Hardin of Attalla was indicted for Felony Murder. Sheriff's officials say the girl died after being made to run for three hours as punishment. Defense lawyers say both women are innocent and will be vindicated. Joyce Garrard is currently being held without bond, and Jessica Hardin is being held on a 500-thousand dollar cash bond in the Etowah County Detention Center.

DeKalb meth arrests

A DeKalb County sheriff's deputy found methamphetamine when he stopped a silver Dodge truck on Alabama Highway 227 last Wednesday. Three people were arrested and charged with unlawful possession of controlled substance and unlawful possession of a prohibited beverage. 27-year-old Amber Riley of Crossville, 28-year-old Ryan Pratt of Attalla and 33-year-old Maurice Stanton of Collinsville were all taken to the DeKalb County Detention Center and all have since been released on bond.

Calhoun County fatal accident

A two-vehicle crash in Calhoun County Sunday left one person dead and five others injured. Alabama state troopers say 51-year-old Ian Kaufhold of Attalla, was killed in the crash that happened just after 5 PM on U.S. 431 about seven miles south of Glencoe. He was driving a 2009 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. A passenger on the motorcycle, 27-year-old Racheal Kicklighter of Gadsden, was injured and taken to UAB Hospital. Four people in the other vehicle, Christopher and Jessica Morris, both 34 and both from Jacksonville, were taken to a hospital in Anniston, along with two children ages four and 11.

Toomer's Oaks new growth

There's new growth on the oak trees at Auburn University that were poisoned by a University of Alabama fan. An Auburn horiculturist says the new growth is encouraging but it does not necessarily mean the trees are going to survive.

No federal storm aid

Governor Bentley also toured areas of North Alabama hit by last week's tornadoes in Harvest and eastern Limestone County on Thursday. The governor says that, unfortunately, says the damage will not meet the approval for a federal disaster declaration that would allow for federal aid.

Jennifer's 5K

Snead State in Boaz is joining with the family of a nursing student who died during the April 27th tornadoes to establish a scholarship fund in her memory. Jennifer Garmany Hallmark, who lived in Ruth, near Arab, was due to have received her diploma just a couple of weeks later. Money for the scholarship fund will be raised by holding the first annual "Jennifer's 5K" run on the Snead State campus on April 28th.

Man in trunk

A Cleburne County Sheriff's Deputy made a traffic stop on Interstate 20 last Sunday and found something unexpected: a man in the trunk. The deputy had noticed that the driver of the 2004 Mercury Sable was acting nervously and got his consent to open the trunk. Inside he found 46-year-old Lyndon Baines Smith of Gadsden, whom the deputy said had been beaten and was barely alive. The driver, 22-year-old Melvin Floyd, was arrested and has since waived extradition to Georgia, where it's believed the beating occurred. Smith is in UAB Hospital, where he was treated for multiple facial and rib fractures and is improving.

Alabama Bass Trail

Governor Robert Bentley held a news conference Thursday at Lake Guntersville State Park to announce the creation of the Alabama Bass Trail. Bentley and others are hoping the trail, which will be marketed with the slogan "Now You're Hooked," will increase tourism in the state. The Alabama Bass Trail will feature 11 of the state's premier bass fishing lakes, including Pickwick, Wheeler and, of course, Lake Guntersville.

DARE donation

The DeKalb County Knights of Columbus chapter donated 200 dollars to the sheriff's office on Thursday. The money will go to the DARE, Drug Abuse Resistance Education programs in DeKalb County schools. Sheriff Jimmy Harris thanked the Knights of Columbus saying "their donation was much appreciated, as funds for DARE have been limited."

Firefighter ink banned

The Albertville City Council doesn't want to see ink on its firefighters. According to the Sand Mountain Reporter, the council voted Monday night to add a new policy on tattoos and body art to the fire department's Standard Operating Procudure Book. It prohibits firefighters from displaying any body art, tattoos, intentional scarring or dental ornamentation while on duty or representing the department in any official capacity. Current employees who already have body art can be exempted at the discretion of fire chief Robert Terrell.

Boaz man sought in FL

A Marshall County man is wanted by authorities in Florida in connection with a drug investigation at a strip club. Daytona Beach police raided the Shark Lounge last week, arresting 10 people. Six others are still sought, including 21-year-old Tyler David Walis of Boaz. Walis is wanted for allegedly selling cocaine.

Anniston copper theft

Copper remains a hot item for local thieves. Anniston police say three air conditioning units and an unknown amount of copper wire were stolen from Anniston General Surgery Center on Leighton Avenue Tuesday morning. The stolen property was worth an estimated 75-hundred dollars and the thieves did 100 dollars in damage.

Bike trail viewing

The public gets a chance to see new bike trails being built near downtown Anniston this weekend. The International Mountain Bicycling Association is planning two presentations regarding the economic and health benefits of the Coldwater Mountain bicycle trails. The two million dollar project has been in the planning stages for more than a decade. The free events begin tomorrow at 2 PM at the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce building and on Saturday at 9 AM at the Anniston City Meeting Center and both finish with a viewing of the trails.

Six DeKalb drug arrests

Six people were arrested on durg charges in DeKalb County in two separate incidents on Monday. Sheriff Jimmy Harris says a deputy making a traffic stop saw items inside the car used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Drug Task Force agents were called in and arrested 44-year-old Mary Hopkins Dumas of Centre and 33-year-old Billy Matthew Tucker of Collinsville. Drug agents were working an unrelated detail later in the day when they arrested four people on drug charges: 27-year-old Peggy Nicole Taylor and 21-year-old Adrian Gerald Saylor, both of Albertville; and 22-year-old Tyler Scott and 29-year-old Edward Holmes Dover, both of Crossville.

Prosecutors wait on capital murder charge decision in Hardin death

Prosecutors are waiting to make a decision on whether to file capital murder charges against the stepmother of a 9-year-old girl who died after authorities say - she was run to death. 27-year-old Jessica Hardin of Attalla already is charged with murder in the death of Savannah Hardin. Authorities say Jessica Hardin did not take action as the child's grandmother forced the girl to run for three hours, as punishment for lying about eating chocolate. Savannah collapsed, and died.

Etowah County prosecutors said Tuesday - no decision will be made this week about the new charges, according to the AP. Capital murder could carry a possible death penalty, with a conviction.

Road rage

Gadsden police are investigation an alleged case of road rage. A 57-year-old man says he was driving onto the northbound entrance ramp to I-59 from Alabama Highway 77 last Thursday afternoon when in another car almost hit him. The victim claims he tried to pass the other car, but the driver tried to run him off the road. Both drivers got out of their vehicles and the victim says the other man hit him with a pistol. The victim eventually knocked the pistol out of the man's hand; the man picked it up and drove off. The victim was injured and treated at a local hospital.

Investigation yields more arrests

The investigation into the stealing of weapons from patrol cars in Etowah County netted authorities a bonus. They followed up more than 100 tips concerning the stolen weapons, some of which led to drug busts. In fact, meth labs were found in Walnut Park and in North Gadsden. And there were 12 arrests that had nothing to do with the weapons. Etowah County drug agents found not only meth, but crack cocaine, illegal prescription drugs and marijuana.

Car-truck fatal collision

A car-truck collision on Interstate 59, just south of Fort Payne, left a Birmingham woman dead. Alabama State Troopers say Nancy McCray was driving a 2000 Nissan Sentra that was involved in a crash with a 1998 Mack truck at around 7:15 Thursday night. McCray was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck, a Virginia man, was taken to UAB Hospital in Birmingham.

Little River Canyon burns

U.S. National Park Service personnel in Fort Payne say they're planning a series of prescribed burns across the Little River Canyon National Preserve this week. About one-thousand fires will be set to burn off underbrush that could fuel wildfire and improve the habitat for plants and animals. Some two-dozen rangers and technicians will be managing the burns. If it gets too windy, the fires will not be set.

Drug bust

Concerned citizens in DeKalb County complained to law enforcement and got some action. Their tips led Drug Task Force agents to a home on County Road 880 in High Point. There they say they found John Preston McCurdy of Valley Head standing in the living room with a gun in his waistband and methamphetamine in his pocket. A search turned up several weapons, prescription drugs, drug paraphernalia and more meth. McCurdy was arrested on several charges and transported to the DeKalb County Detention Center, under a 13-thousand-500 dollar property bond..

Weather advisories

The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory for North Alabama, in effect until four o'clock this afternoon. Sustained winds speeds of 20 to 30 miles an hour with gusts of 35 to 40 miles an hour are likely. These strong winds will make driving difficult, especially for high-profile vehicles traveling over higher elevations. These winds will also blow around any unsecured outdoor objects and blow down loose tree limbs.

The weather service also advises that severe thunderstorms are expected during the late afternoon and evening hours, as a strong cold front approches the area from the west. Threats include damaging winds, large hail and tornadoes.

Car vs bike sentence

An illegal alien who admitted he was drunk driving when he struck and killed a man riding his bicycle in Marshall County a year ago was sentenced Wednesday morning. 22-year-old Marcos Hernandez will be sent to state prison for eight years, eight months and eight days. Hernandez pleaded guilty last month to leaving the scene of an accident with injuries. He confessed to drinking 10 beers before getting behind the wheel and running into and killing Chris Davis, who was riding his bike on Bulah Road in the Double Bridges area.

Hardin hearing

A judge is considering whether to reduce bond for a grandmother and stepmother charged with murder in the death of a 9-year-old girl who was allegedly run to death as punishment for lying. District Judge William D. Russell had scheduled the hearing for this morning in Gadsden. Joyce Hardin Garrard and Jessica Mae Hardin are charged in the death of Savannah Hardin, Joyce Garrard's granddaughter and the other woman's stepdaughter. The two are in jail with bond set at 500-thousand dollars each, but lawyers want a reduction. Defense lawyers say the two are innocent and should have a chance at freedom while they await trial.

Eastside Rapist verdict

The man known as the "Eastside Rapist" was found guilty on all 27 counts against him by a Calhoun County jury. 23-year-old Ularius Johnson of Anniston showed no emotion as the verdict was read. But victims were heard sobbing and saying "Thank you, Jesus!" as they left the courthouse. Johnson was accused of victimizing six women from 2007 to 2009, raping four of them. Charges against him included multiple counts of rape, sodomy, robbery, burglary, assault, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property. Johnson is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12th.