A&E's "The First 48" portrays Birmingham's Martez Seay as cold-blooded killer

Birmingham, Al.
The reality crime show The First 48 has turned its spotlight on Birmingham's Martez Seay and finds him a cold-blooded killer, according its latest edition. It was shown Thursday on the A&E cable channel and the episode was called "Loose Ends".
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Martez Seay

Seay is currently serving a life without parole sentence in Alabama's prison system after agreeing to a plea bargain deal that allowed him to avoid the death penalty. He admitted to roles in five homicides, plus one in the attempted slaying of his girlfriend Kandi Hawkins who was left paralyzed.
The First 48 shows depend on the help of law enforcement, and police and prosecutors usually appear in a favorable light. In this latest case, a full hour on Seay, shows Birmingham detectives and Jefferson County prosecutors as a driven and dedicated group. Seay with his friends and family are presented as a chilling group.
And it's hard to be sympathetic with Seay when his own defense lawyer acknowledges on video that his client made chilling comments in private that raised the hairs on the back of the lawyer's neck.
If you missed the show, follow these links to see the full hour, as well as a second unbroadcast short feature on Kandi Hawkins, Seay's girlfriend and a key witness against him.
• Bringing Martez Seay to justice
• Why Kandi Hawins testified

Madison pizzeria creates 'face' pizzas in honor of Alabama's Championship win

MADISON, Al.
Some people have statues erected in their honor while others have portraits painted.

Carlucci's"face" pizza,  featuring  Nick Saban

But in the Tennessee Valley, a Madison pizzeria is going out of the norm to create pizzas in the likeness of football icons.
That's right, folks. You can either eat or gawk at the faces of the University of Alabama coach Nick Saban and his legendary predecessor Paul William "Bear" Bryant today at the Kroger supermarket when the guys at Famous Joe's Pizzeria bring four of their unusual concoctions in light of the Bowl Championship Series Coaches' Trophy appearance at the locale from 4 to 8 p.m.
Joe Carlucci, owner of Famous Joe's Pizzeria, says he and one of his employees -- high school student Ethan Gulley -- spent numerous hours meticulously crafting the "face" pizzas out of basic cheese used to top pizza. The technique, however, remains a secret, said Quentin Coleman of Famous Joe's.
The idea for these pizzas came about through Carlucci's love of now Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow.
"I want Tim Tebow to come to my restaurant to do some kind of sponsor night where we sell some of the pizzas with his face on it and raise money for charity," said Carlucci, who is a four-time World Pizza Champion and a Guinness World Record Holder. "But, I told myself you have to be fair since you live in Alabama and give some credit to the (University of) Alabama.

Another "face" pizza,  featuring  Tim Tebow 

"And, he (Tebow) was only two or three seconds away from going to Alabama instead of the University of Florida," he said. "That's when I decided to do the Saban and Bear Bryant pizzas."
After Carlucci made his prized Tebow pizza -- which he vows to also create one of the quarterback doing his signature "Tebowing" move -- he went on to sculpt the faces of Saban and Bryant.
"We did four already this morning and doing another four to deliver today," Carlucci said.
And don't worry, people. In the future, Carlucci added that the pizzeria will custom make other "face" pizzas for customers, whether it's a grandma, a mother, cousin or friend.
Yum, Yum.

Bobby Bright decides not to run for Congress at this time

MONTGOMERY, Al

Bobby Bright

Former Democratic Congressman Bobby Bright decided on the last day of qualifying not to run for another term representing Alabama's Second Congressional District.
A former mayor of Montgomery, Bright served one term as a conservative Democrat representing central and southeast Alabama. He was defeated two years ago in a close race by incumbent U.S. Rep. Martha Roby of Montgomery.
Bright had been considering another run for Congress, but said Friday he decided not to run at this time. He said he feels "God has other plans" for his life, but would not rule out another run for Congress later.
He had considered running as either a Democrat or a Republican.
Roby is the only Republican in the race. Therese Ford of Montgomery has qualified to run as a Democrat.

Man arrested in armed robbery of cash advance business

HUNTSVILLE, Al.
Police arrested a man who they said pulled a pistol on employees and robbed a cash advance business on Triana Boulevard late this afternoon.

Zackary Taylor Clark

Zackary Taylor Clark, 28, was charged with first-degree robbery and is in the Madison County Jail with no bond set, according to police from the west precinct and the Madison County Jail.
Police said Clark entered Advance America at 2900 Triana Blvd. at 4:43 p.m., pulled a toboggan over his face and pulled out a pistol.
He took money from the register and then forced the employees to the back of the business, police said. He demanded money from the safe, police said. They said he was given the money from the safe and ran away.
Police found him a short time later at an undisclosed location and arrested him, police said.

Lee County Sheriff's Office looking for storage unit burglar

LEE COUNTY, Al.

Dennis Melton

The Lee County Sheriff's Office is looking for a 27-year-old man in connection with several pending felony warrants after discovering $6,000 worth of stolen property in a storage unit registered under the man's name at Rock's Storage Units, according to a recent release.

The items found in the unit were stolen from other individuals who were renting storage units from the facility as well as Panther Mini Storage, both located on Lee Road.

Investigators found the stolen items while performing a search at the facility on Jan. 11.

Dennis Adam Melton, 27, of Smiths, is wanted on two counts of burglary in the third-degree and two counts of theft of property in the first-degree, according to the Lee County Sheriff's Office.
  
Melton is described in the report as a white male, approximately 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Melton was previously arrested on Jan. 4 on two counts of burglary in the third-degree, one count of theft of property in the third and first-degree and one count of criminal mischief in the third-degree. Melton posted the $12,500 bond and was released at 6 p.m. the same day. 

Cabot Street man arrested on Narcotics Charges

 Dothan, Al.
Justin Elliot Hawkins, black male, 27 years of age, of Cabot Street was arrested and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with a $15,000 bond. 
 

On January 12, 2012 Dothan Police Patrolmen were looking for a suspect wanted for a minor assault that had just occurred. One officer saw a subject that matched the suspects’ description in the 1000 block of Cabot Street. The officer attempted to speak with the subject, later identified as Justin Hawkins, but Hawkins attempted to flee. After a short foot pursuit, Hawkins was detained. The officer walked back to an area where he saw Hawkins drop an unknown object to the ground during the chase and recovered a clear bag containing cocaine. Police collected the evidence and arrested Hawkins for narcotics charges.

Dothan P.D. selected as a National Award Winner by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW)

 Dothan, Al.

Alabama State News would like to congratulate the Dothan P.D. for being selected as a National Award Winner for outstanding participation in the 28^th Annual National Night Out! They were recently notified by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) and congratulated for an award we would be receiving in conjunction with the 2011 National Night Out!

The residents of Dothan should be proud of the great job Chief Benton and the Members of the Dothan P.D. does for their city.

Below is a copy of the notice and the plaque they will be presented.

Dothan man arrested for Violation of the Community Notification Act

Dothan, Al.
Michael James Luke, white male, 45 years of age, was arrested and charged with Violation of the Community Notification Act with a $2,500 bond.
 

On January 11, 2012 the Dothan Police Department made a felony arrest for Violation of the Community Notification Act. During a routine registration offender check, investigators learned that a registered sex offender was not dwelling at the address he had provided to the police department but was staying at another address. The suspect was arrested for this violation.