Alabama unemployment benefits debit card to offer new services

 Montgomery, Al.
'The 40,000 Alabamians who get unemployment compensation via a state-provided debit card soon will receive some new services.
When they receive new cards that will be mailed next week they'll be able to access the funds without surcharges at more ATMs; receive deposit and low-balance notifications via email, phone or text; access accounts via the Internet; and access free customer service by phone.

The Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, which manages the unemployment benefits program, has changed debit card providers, director Tom Surtees announced Friday.
"The state is saving money by using this provider, and we are able to offer more services to our customers that will make it easier and more convenient to keep track of transactions and payment to the card," he said in a statement.
Unemployed Alabamians who use the state debit cards should start using the new one on Feb. 23. Deposits will be made to the old ones through Feb. 22, and funds can be accessed via the old cards through April 30.
Funds on the old cards will revert to the state if not accessed by April 30.

'Bite the Tail off Cancer' crawfish boil set for March 31

MONTGOMERY, Al.
  The American Cancer Society's Junior Executive Board of Montgomery will be hosting its seventh annual “Bite the Tail off Cancer” crawfish boil on Saturday, March 31 at the Train Shed at Union Station.

The crawfish boil includes all-you-can-eat crawfish, sausage, corn and potatoes. Food vendors will be available just in case you're not a fan of the Cajun fare. The event will also include live music.

The Junior Executive Board, formed in 2005, is dedicated to raising awareness for the American Cancer Society by creating programs for young professionals.

The "Bite the Tail off Cancer" crawfish boil is for ages 18 and up from 6 to 9 p.m.

For ticket information, call 334-612-8177.

Shelby County school system to reinstate Harmon Acker to job as bus driver

 Alabaster, Al.
The Shelby County School system said today that it will reinstate Harmon Acker to his job as a bus driver.

Harmon Acker

On Monday, the school system announced that it had placed Acker on leave with pay while it looked into an incident involving Acker being arrested and charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing at Thompson High School.
Alabaster police say they arrested Acker at about 1 p.m. Saturday at the school after responding to a call about a burglary in progress.
A witness notified police that he had seen a man trying to climb through a window at the school, police said.
"Mr. Acker stated that he entered the school to retrieve a personal item, which school officials were able to confirm," the school system said today in a news release. "Charges against Mr. Acker are still pending with the city of Alabaster Municipal Court."
Acker, a former Alabaster city councilman, is the son of Shelby County Commissioner Dan Acker Sr.
He is the brother of Daniel M. Acker Jr., a retired fourth grade teacher who is currently being held in the Shelby County Jail on six counts of child sexual abuse.

9 Birmingham teenagers charged with robbery after man beaten, bike stolen

BIRMINGHAM, Al.
A group of teenagers -- eight boys and one girl -- beat a man and stole his bicycle Thursday afternoon, according to Birmingham police.
Birmingham Police Sgt. Johnny Williams gave this account:
At about 4 p.m. Thursday, East Precinct officers responded to a robbery call in the 6100 block of 1st Avenue North.
The victim said he was assaulted by the group, who also took his bicycle.
Officers found the suspects about five blocks away with the victim's bicycle in their possession.
All suspects were arrested and charged with robbery. The suspects are in the custody of Jefferson County Family Court. The suspects names were not released because they are juveniles.
The victim's injuries are not life threatening.
According to police radio dispatcher reports heard Thursday afternoon, the suspects were all wearing school uniforms at the time of the attack.

Jefferson County judge rules bingo machines are illegal gambling devices

BIRMINGHAM, Al.
A Jefferson County judge today found that more than 300 electronic bingo devices confiscated during raids last year are illegal gambling machines and should be turned over to the state.
Jefferson County Presiding Judge Scott Vowell, in his order issued today, also determined $4,260 confiscated during the raids are profits from gambling and should be awarded to the state's General Fund.
Law enforcement officials in May and August raided five electronic bingo halls that were operating in Jefferson County, confiscating 329 gaming machines and the $4,260. The bingo halls were in Pinson, Center Point, Tarrant and Oak Grove.


In December, Vowell during a bench trial heard arguments from the plantiff, Jefferson County District Attorney's office, and the defendants, the operators of the bingo halls, regarding the legality of the machines.
Vowell said in his order that the machines that defense attorneys asserted only offered bingo games are "slot machines or gambling devices" and " do not play bingo" as provided by state law.
Vowell did not order the machines destroyed as prescribed by state law, instead finding that some other use could be found for the computers that will be turned over to the Alabama Department of Public Safety.

Prichard police: Children, ages 6 and 7, witness murder-suicide

EIGHT MILE, Al.
A man and woman are dead as a result of a murder-suicide in a residence in the 300 block of Sasser Road, according to Prichard Police Chief Jimmie Gardner.
Speaking from the scene this morning, Gardner said the unidentified man and his girlfriend died Thursday evening. He confirmed that a knife was the weapon used, and that the crime was witnessed by the man's children, ages 6 and 7.

304 Sasser Road

He said that though the case is still under investigation, preliminary findings are that the children went to sleep after witnessing the altercation and alerted a neighbor this morning. The house is at 304 Sasser Road.
Curtis Loveless, who lives two houses down from the crime scene, said the victim's son knocked on his door around 7 a.m. today saying he needed to go to school. Loveless said he walked the child back to the home, where he discovered the man's body in the kitchen, lying face down in "gore, black blood." At that time the victim's daughter emerged from an adjacent room. Loveless led the children outside and called 911, and waited for police to arrive, he said.
Loveless said neither child appeared to be injured and he saw no weapon inside the home. After police arrived, Loveless said he saw a woman's body lying in "gore" in the living room of the home.
Gardner confirmed that the children are in the care of their mother. No more details are available at this time.

Sportsman’s Outfitters to hold a Basic Pistol Safety Course

Dothan, Al.

The Dothan Police Department will be working in conjunction with Sportsman’s Outfitter’s to bring weapons training and awareness to our community. In an effort to afford Dothan citizens with the opportunity to learn basic pistol safety and receive information about pistol permitting as well as weapons familiarization, Sportsman’s Outfitters will hold a Basic Pistol Safety Course on February 11, 2012 beginning at 1:00 p.m. Personnel from the Dothan Police Department (firearms instructor), Game Warden Authorities and (A.I.M.) American International Marksmanship Academy will be present to assist with this beneficial course. For more information, please call Josh at Sportsman’s Outfitters (334) 699-1374.

UPDATE: Man using stolen card at a local atm machine arrested

Charles William Deason, white male, 20 years of age, of Fairfield Drive was arrested and charged with Fraudulent Use of a Debit Card with a $15,000 bond. 

Charles William Deason

 

On December 22, 2011 the Dothan Police Department released the photograph of a man taken by a local atm machine in an effort to seek the help of our local media and community in identifying the man wanted in connection with an open investigation. Police responded to a breaking and entering of a vehicle in November 2011 during which an atm card was stolen. During the course of the investigation, police received a photo of an unknown white male using the stolen card at a local atm machine. Investigators say they have now identified and arrested the man from the photograph bringing closure to this case.

Eufaula's Lakeside School girls reach AISA Final Four

MONTGOMERY, Al.
Eufaula's Lakeside School girls basketball team advanced to the AISA Class AA Final Four with a 73-68 overtime comeback victory over Patrician Academy at Huntingdon College on Thursday.
Lakeside (27-5) advances to play next Tuesday at 6 p.m. against undefeated Autauga Academy (31-0).
The Chiefs were down 15 points in regulation before storming back to send the game into overtime at 63-63.
Lexie Gibson had a huge game for Lakeside, scoring 28 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. She also netted four 3-pointers.
Jasonie Guice contributed 20 points and Kasey Grant scored 15 with 14 rebounds.
Patrician Academy was led by Erin Jamerson with 25 points and Gabby George with 18.
Patrician Academy boys 62, Lakeside 33: The Chiefs’ season came to an end. For Lakeside, Mack Goff scored 12 and Brady Buchan 10.

Dale Co. Deputy dies in single vehicle accident

Deputy Don Williams

Ozark, Al.
Deputy Don Williams, 61, lost his life when involved in a single-vehicle crash just after he completed serving papers. It appears he may have suffered a medical situation that caused him to lose control of his patrol vehicle. Deputy Williams has been Serving and Protecting the People for 17 years and as a Reserve Deputy, he did it all for $1 a year salary. Deputy Williams was a reserve civil process server for the Dale Co. Sheriff Office. Along with his Reserve duties, Deputy Williams also worked as a security guard at the Southeast Alabama Medical Center. 
Deputy Williams was on duty Wed. evening in his patrol vehicle. Just after he had served papers, he returned to his cruiser and began driving when something caused him to lose control of his vehicle and wreck. The first Officers on scene attempted emergency CPR efforts as they waited for medics to arrive. Sadly, Deputy Williams succumbed. Preliminary investigations show it appears Williams may have suffered from a medical condition, which is believed to have been a heart attack.
 "Don was just an extraordinary individual — the way he made people feel, his energy and the pride he had in the sheriff's department. He has been through a lot, but the one thing he's always done was take care of his family and never complained about anything," Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson said. "We've literally grown up together as a family in this department."
He is survived by his wife and six children.

 

Investigators return to Opelika site where remains of child found

 

Police are planning more searches of an Opelika trailer park where a child's human remains were discovered.
Opelika Police Capt. Bruce DeLong said that police plan to return to the site today and thoroughly search the area for any more skeletal remains or evidence.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has joined Opelika police in the investigation of skeletal remains found at the Brook Haven Trailer Park in Opelika.

Remains, including a skull, were discovered there on Jan. 28. Police believe they are that of a child of less than 10 years of age at the time of death. Tuesday, the Lee County Coroner's office announced the death a homicide.

Investigators returned to the location in the 1700 block of Hurst Street on two other occasions in which more remains were discovered scattered around the trailer park and subsequently sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery.

Police say the race, gender and exact cause of death of the child are unknown.

Lee County grand jury indictment charges violin teacher with child enticement

AUBURN, Al.

Mario R. Urbina

A Columbus, Ga., man was arrested today after surrendering to authorities on an indictment charging him with child enticement for immoral purposes, according to the Auburn Police Department.

The suspect was previously arrested on Nov. 23 on a warrant charging him with sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old.

He was giving the female victim private violin lessons.

The indictment was issued by the Lee County grand jury after a representative in the department of Human Resources filed the report on Oct. 25.

Mario R. Urbina, 46, was arrested and taken to the Lee County Detention Center. Bond was set at $5,000.

Limestone woman who died after cosmetic surgery overdosed on methadone

ATHENS, Al.
Authorities say an autopsy report shows that a north Alabama woman who died after cosmetic surgery on her lips suffered from a painkiller overdose.
Limestone County officials said that 57-year-old Janet Green died of acute methadone intoxication.
Sheriff Mike Blakely says Green had cosmetic surgery on her lips the day of her death in August. However, Chief Investigator Stanley McNutt says methadone wouldn’t have been prescribed for the surgery.
Investigators initially considered the possibility Green’s death was a homicide. She was going through a divorce at the time.
However, Blakely says examinations found no sign of injury. Officials say the woman’s death was accidental, and the case is closed.
Green says it’s still unclear why Green took methadone.

Police: Small knife likely killed Mobile officer Steven Green

MOBILE, Al.
The weapon used to fatally stab Mobile Police Officer Steven Green in the neck and back on Feb. 3 was a small 3-inch knife that authorities believe was hidden on robbery suspect Lawrence Wallace Jr.’s body when he was arrested for trying to hold up a dollar store.

Mobile Police Chief Micheal T. Williams

Mobile Police Chief Micheal Williams spoke at length Thursday about the slaying, ending speculation surrounding a diamond-shaped medallion Wallace was wearing that was believed to have played a role in Green’s death.
“The necklace that Wallace had around his neck had nothing to do with injuries or stabbings. It’s not the weapon.” The small knife that was recovered is “consistent with the stab wounds and was not something that would have been concealed in the medallion,” Williams said.
A preliminary investigation also revealed that Wallace had a small handcuff key in his shoe that he likely used to slip out of the restraints while being transported from police headquarters to Mobile County Metro Jail.
“We believe somewhere between police headquarters and Metro, Wallace took his handcuffs off,” Williams said. “We believe the handcuff key was concealed somewhere on his body. We don’t know where. We may never know where.”
The escaping Wallace fatally stabbed Green at the sally port of the jail last Friday. Police tracked him down a short time later and eventually shot and killed him in an exchange of gunfire as he hid beneath a home
“This was one of those life and death gunfights you hear about or see on television,” Williams said, “where the suspect refuses to surrender.”
Here’s what police have pieced together from video surveillance at the jail, accounts from witnesses and a preliminary autopsy report:
At 11:10 a.m. Feb. 3, Wallace took several hats and a can of lighter fluid to the store register. Eventually, he demanded cash from the register and safe, police said. When the clerk refused, Wallace began squirting lighter fluid on a store display. An off-duty police officer restrained him. Police were called at 11:13 a.m. and arrived four minutes later, according to a police call log.
Williams, and Capt. Jack Dove, who worked the crime scene that day, said that Wallace was patted down and searched before leaving the parking lot. Green took Wallace to police headquarters where he was escorted upstairs. Robbery detectives interviewed him, then charged him with robbery and arson.
Williams said Wallace was handcuffed behind his back and escorted from the back door to the police cruiser.
Officer Green drove him from headquarters to the Metro Jail, which is typically a 10-minute trip. Wallace pretended to be handcuffed when Green took him out of the car at the jail, Williams said. “He escorted Wallace toward the intake door and they stood there for a moment side by side.”
Then, they faced each other, Williams said, adding that Wallace took his left hand and placed it near his nose. The officer reached for the suspect’s left hand “and when he did it was clear that Wallace had armed himself,” Williams said. There was a brief struggle and “he stabbed the officer once in the neck and once in the back.”
During the fight, Green dropped his keys. Wallace picked them up, jumped into the police cruiser and rammed it through the sally port door. There were at least two others in the vicinity when Green was bringing Wallace in, Williams said, who likely saw what happened through nearby glass windows.
Wallace drove to Interstate 10 and headed west. After a few miles, he exited on the southbound Dauphin Island Parkway ramp. Chief Williams said when he heard an officer had been wounded, he got in his car and headed in the direction of the stolen police car.
From DIP headed south, Wallace turned left onto Cedar Crescent Drive. He made a turn onto Jacksonville before ditching the vehicle on Daytona, police said. Officers arrived within minutes, and began searching for Wallace on foot, Williams said.
Wallace hid under a house in 1400 block of Daytona.
“We knew we had him contained,” Williams said. “Officers began to search and as they approached he began to fire shots. ... The officers returned fire.”
Chief Williams said he was already on the scene when the first shots were fired.
Wallace grabbed two service weapons he found in Green’s police car, which were .40-caliber handguns, which he then used to shoot at officers surrounding the home where he was holed up.
After the first rounds of gunfire from Wallace and police, there was a tense, nearly hour-long period when authorities said they tried to get Wallace to surrender. Police told him to “come out and show your hands” Williams said.
During the cease fire, teams of police went door-to-door trying to safely evacuate neighbors if they could. Multiple containers of tear gas were lobbed under the home in an effort to get Wallace out.
During the lull in gunfire “we were not sure if he was injured or dead at that point,” Williams said. “The position and location of the home made it dangerous for us to approach. He had an advantage. He could see out but we couldn’t see underneath the house.”
Ultimately, Williams said, “officers approached the home. Wallace fired more shots.” In the gunfire, a detective was wounded. Police fired back at Wallace, killing him.
Wallace, who was shot multiple times by at least two different weapons, received wounds to his hands, arm and torso, Williams said.
Green, a police officer for nearly two years, was laid to rest Wednesday at Lawn Haven Memorial Gardens. More than 500 people attended a standing-room only service at the Sunlight District Auditorium in Prichard, where hundreds more stood outside to pay their respects.
Green, 36, is survived by his wife, three children, his parents and six brothers and sisters.
In the days following the officer’s death, Williams said, he has received cards and letters containing nearly $20,000 he plans to give to Green’s family.
“It touches my heart,” the chief said. “The support of all the people in Mobile. It is overwhelming to know that people have that kind of kindness.”

SAMC earns the Gold Plus Stroke Award

DOTHAN, Al.

As the child of a stroke victim, I have witnessed the great work that Southeast Al. Medical Center (SAMC) has provided for their patients. My mother, who lives in Eufaula, suffered her second stroke last year while my brother was visiting her. Thanks to the stroke education we received from SAMC after her first stroke he knew what was happening and called the rescue squad right away. She was quickly taken to Medical Center Barbour, which is an affiliate of SAMC, where they stabilized her and transported her to SAMC for her care. After her treatment at SAMC she spent 2 weeks at HealthSouth and was discharged.

Thanks to the combined efforts of the Eufaula Rescue Squad, Medical Center Barbour, SAMC, and HealthSouth , plus the Education they provided, my Mother shows very little signs of a stroke and is still able to care for my Father and herself.

Here is the release from SAMC :

Southeast Alabama Medical Center (SAMC) is the region’s gold standard for providing patients with quality stroke care.

SAMC recently became the first hospital in the region to earn the prestigious Gold Plus Stroke Award from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association. The Gold Plus Award is an advanced level of recognition acknowledging SAMC for compliance with the quality measures within the Get With The Guideline-Stroke Program.

“To earn the Gold Plus Award, a hospital must demonstrate at 85 percent compliance in each of the seven “Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Program” measures for at least 24 consecutive months,” said Carla English of the American Heart Association. English presented the award during a Wednesday morning news conference at SAMC.

“This tremendous accomplishment is the result of hard work and dedication by our stroke team,” said Ronald S. Owen, SAMC’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our stroke team is comprised of highly skilled physicians, nurses and clinical team members who provide our patients with the best quality stroke care available.”

Owen said this award is another example of SAMC’s commitment to deliver the very best stroke care in the region. For patients that means a coordinated and quicker response time, which in turn means less damage caused by a stroke.

“Time is brain; one minute of insufficient blood supply to the brain can kill 2 million nerve cells,” said Dr. Stephen L. Fernandez, chairman and medical director for Radiology at SAMC and chairman of the Medical Center stroke care program “When experiencing a brain attack (stroke) our goal is to achieve the best outcome possible by coordinating treatment in a timely manner.”

A majority of the stroke patients come through SAMC’s Emergency Department where early recognition of stroke symptoms begins out in the field with area first responders.

“Once admitted to the Medical Center, a multidisciplinary team is alerted and responds to the Emergency Room,” said Dr. Alexander Benz, board certified Emergency Medicine physician at SAMC. “Many of the treatments to limit debilitating damage must be administered in a timely manner.”

In addition to treatment already in place, by late spring emergency room physicians will be able to consult with local neurologist via telecommunications. The TeleNeurology system will allow SAMC’s neurologists to diagnosis a stroke patient within the critical initial three hour window to administer Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) to dissolve blood clots to reverse some of the damage done by the stroke.  The neurologist will respond within 15 minutes of receiving the tele message. This eliminates the need for the neurologist to be in the hospital to diagnose the stroke victim, thus saving valuable time.

The Southeast Alabama Medical Center Foundation provided funding of more than $50,000 to purchase the TeleNeurology equipment and technology. 

With 420 beds, SAMC is the largest hospital in the Wiregrass with approximately 300 physicians on the medical staff supported by more than 2,500 hospital employees. The not-for-profit hospital is owned and operated by the Houston County Health Care Authority. As the Tri-State referral center, the hospital’s central location makes it easily accessible to more than 600,000 residents. SAMC has been acknowledged as the only hospital in Alabama to be recognized for six consecutive years in the top five percent nationally for patient safety. SAMC is also the only hospital in Alabama to achieve the HealthGrades 2011 Patient Safety Excellence Award.

UPDATED: Dothan Police Department makes an arrest in multi-agency homicide investigation

DOTHAN, Al.  

 Dothan police has made an arrest in connection to the body that was found in Henry County, Saturday evening in a wooded area in Tumbleton.

Antwain Jermon Wingard, black male, sixteen years of age, of  N. Bell Street was arrested and charged with Capital Murder, Kidnapping 1^st Degree, and Robbery 1^st Degree with no bond.
 

Justice Jerrell Knight, black male, twenty years of age, of N. Bell Street is WANTED for Capital Murder, Kidnapping 1^st Degree, and Robbery 1^st Degree no bond.

Arrested

On February 4, 2012 the Dothan Police Department became involved in a case regarding a possible shooting death of a Dothan resident. Officers received information that a twenty-four year old male named Jarvis Daffin had become the victim of a homicide. Investigators began a diligent effort to confirm details of the incident during which time they learned that Jarvis Daffin was last seen going to Headland, Alabama with two other males. Investigators developed further information that lead them to believe during this trip, Mr. Daffin was fatally wounded by a single gunshot wound and placed in a wooded area in the vicinity of Tumbelton, Alabama. Working in conjunction with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, Headland Police Department and A.B.I., investigators with the Dothan Police Department were able locate the victim and evidence that was left behind. Investigators stated the motive for the crime appears to be robbery. An autopsy conducted February 6, 2012 confirmed the victim was Jarvis Daffin.



Wanted

Investigators have now identified and signed warrants against two suspects, Antwain Jermon Wingard and Justice Jerrell Knight. On February 7, 2012 police located and arrested sixteen year old Antwain Jermon Wingard and charged him as an adult with Capital Murder, Kidnapping 1^st Degree, and Robbery 1^st Degree for his actions during the crime. Investigators say the second suspect, Justice Jerrell Knight remains at large but is believed to have fled the area. Knight is wanted for Capital Murder, Kidnapping 1^st Degree, and Robbery 1^st Degree. Police continue to ask anyone with information about the case or information on the whereabouts of Justice Knight to call the Dothan Police Department or CrimeStoppers 334-793-7000.