Local News with Dave Fitz
July 3, 2009
The latest Census Bureau estimates show Etowah County's population grew .2% between July 1, 2007 and July 1, 2008 but it is still at its highest level since 2000 with an estimate of 103,303. Most cities in the county also experienced an increase although Gadsden declined by .2%. Both Rainbow City and Southside increased by 1.7% while Hokes Bluff and Glencoe each went up by .9%. All counties adjacent to Etowah also experienced an increase.
It'll be a busy time on Broad Street. First Friday begins this evening at 6 pm and the Broad Street area is expected to be packed as thousands turn out for the entertainment and attractions. Freedom Saturday begins at 2 pm tomorrow with the unveiling of a sculpture that is a tribute to the air conditioner at the Center for Cultural Arts. Activities downtown will go on all day with the fireworks scheduled for 9 pm. There will be shuttle service between Convention Hall and downtown both nights.
Fort Payne police have identified the man who broke into his ex-wife's home with a rifle Wednesday night and apparently ended up taking his own life. Fort Payne Police Commissioner Ron Ogletree said no one was at the home when Charles Stewart, 41, of Dawson reportedly broke in. His ex-wife, her sister and brother-in-law came in a few minutes later and a fight broke out with one shot fired. Every one but Stewart fled the home. When police tactical units entered later they found the body.
Alabama's maximum unemployment befits will be going up $10 per week for people who file new claims starting Sunday. That will move the maximum benefit up fro $255 to $265 per week. It is the second of two increases the Legislature approved last year. The increase is only for new claims filed on or after Sunday. Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees says the increase will help struggling families until they can find new jobs.
July 2, 2009
Gadsden Police say 40-year-old Sedrick Cox, who was shot to death by officers on Wednesday, was a suspect in the abuse of a one-year-old girl who is in Children's Hospital with multiple injuries. Cox was shot by officers a few minutes after he allegedly stabbed two persons who had cooperated with police in their investigation into the child abuse case, Three officers involved in the shooting have either been lace don administrative leave or given non-law enforcement duties pending the outcome of the investigation by the ABI.
Former Birmingham politician John Katapodis is in jail today following his conviction on 97 counts of fraud. He was found guilty of using money from a Computers for Kids program he diraectaed for his personal u se. In the mid 90's, Katapodis was a frequent visitor to Gadsden. He was reportedly working on landing an international airport in the Gadsden area to handle the overflow from Atlanta. He also received money from a number of local governments to help in his efforts.
State Representative Jack Page of Gadsden says the state of Alabama's financial condition is not improving and things look bleak. He told the Gadsden Civitan Club that beginning a speech with a joke is appropriate but Alabama finances are not a laughing matter. Unless there is a sudden financial upturn, he says he afraid Governor Riley will either have to increase the education budget pro-ration from 9% or take more money from the rainy day fund for education.
It's going to cost over $5-million to correct problems that have developed in the expansion of Paul Snow Stadium on the Jacksonville State campus. The elaborate project also includes a dormitory and is already costing around $62 million but that is expected to go up after work crews drilling in dirt disrupted the foundation at the southern end of the stadium. That caused some bleachers, including those where the band sits, to settle.
July 1, 2009
Gadsden Police plan to issue further details this afternoon on the shooting death of a Gadsden man by a police officer early this morning. The officer was one of several who had responded to a call on Raley Street in East Gadsden where two persons had been stabbed and seriously injured. The assailant was also injured and an officer followed a trail of blood into a wooded area where he was confronted by the suspect with a knife. The officer then fired. The case will be investigated by the ABI.
Two Marshall County residents have been arrested as they apparently attempted to get an identity theft operation going. Marshall County deputies seized bank statements, Social Security information and credit information. It had apparently been taken from from mailboxes at homes in Dekalb and Marshall Counties. Krystal Champion, 30, and Michael Ryan, 26, were arrested when they reportedly attempted to use a stolen credit card to get a room at a motel.
The third and final phase of the campaign to dispose of chemical weapons at Anniston Army Depot is getting underway. The first two phases dealt with different types of nerve agents. All that remains is the mustard blister agent weapons which are not as dangerous to the surrounding area. There is a large number of mortars filled with mustard and officials say it will take until about April of 2012 to complete the disposal. The operations at the Anniston Army Depot began in Augusat of 2003.
With the Fourth of July holiday coming this weekend, the National Weather Service is urging the public to stay up to date on weather conditions. Strong thunderstorms will be possible on Saturday and Sunday. They will be capable of producing gusty winds and small h ail. The biggest uncertainty is the timing of the storms and those will be refined as the weekend approaches. Today, humidities remain low and that could cause an increase in the number of wildfires.
June 30, 2009
Mountainboro is a step closer to annexation to Boaz with a ruling by Etowah County Circuit Court Judge David Kimberly. He has dismissed a challenge to the 2007 referendum on annexation after the Supreme Court differed with his earlier ruling that the vote was a tie. At issue was some challenged votes but with the questions on those resolved, proponents of the annexation won a narrow victory. There is a different administration now than there was when the vote was held in October of 2007.
Etowah County authorities are waiting for the results of an autopsy on a 43-year-old woman found shot to death in the yard of her home. Sheriff's Investigator Jeff Hopper identified the woman as Tracey Richards. Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin said the initial call came in saying the victim had suffered a self inflicted wound but he said some things seemed suspicious and he wanted to wait for a report from the Forensics lab.
A Dekalb County woman is recovering after being bitten on the foot by a small copperhead. Charlotte Gentry was bitten in the yard of her home but killed the snake with a hoe and carried it with her to the hospital for identification. She was taken first to Dekalb Medical Center and was then transferred on to Erlanger in Chattanooga. She said the foot was about twice the size it normally is but that is her only problem. Dekalb hospital officials said it is the second poisonous snake bite they have treated this year.
A federal court jury could begin deliberations today in the case of former Birmingham area politician John Katapodis. The man who was the leader of the drive to get an international airport near Gadsden is on trial in Birmingham, charged with 97 counts of fraud. While working on the airport, Katapodis formed an agency known as the Council of Cooperating Governments and managed to get money from a number of cities and counties.
June 29, 2009
There could be a re-match of the mayoral election in Gadsden next year. Incumbent Sherman Guyton has already said he will seek a second term, pointing out there are a number of projects that have started the past four years that he wants to see completed. Steve Means, who has held the office seven terms, told MIX 102.9 that a lot of people are encouraging him to run and admits it is "tempting." He says he'll make a decision soon.
The battle between Governor Bob Riley and Attorney General Troy King over electronic bingo is continuing. Riley says King is responsible for the spread of the games over Alabama, pointing out he left out some important information in his 2004 report on gambling in the state. Riley said King failed to mention that a study found evidence that some machines at major gambling centers did not meet standards separating legal bingo machines from illegal slot machines. King denies it, saying Riley got the same report he did.
Etowah County had its first experience of the month with severe weather on Sunday. The National Weather Service issued three severe thunderstorm warnings during the afternoon. A few trees were reported down from the first storm which occurred early in the afternoon. It was worse in adjacent counties. There were numerous trees and power lines downed between Anniston and Alexandria and trees and power lies fell on a house in Blountsville.
A California Congressman has lost in his bid to cut $150-thousand from an Interior Department appropriations bill. The money was for the re-construction work of the 120-year-old Fort Payne Coal and Iron Building near the Opera House in downtown Fort Payne. Congressman Robert Aderholt had put in the funding but his colleague, John Campbell, said budget cutting had to start somewhere. Aderholt won the fight when the House defeated Campbell's amendment, 317-114.