Fairfield, Al, man WANTED for First Degree Theft of Property in Dothan.

Dothan, Al. 
 Damien Greene, black male, 32 years of age, of Fairfield, Alabama is WANTED for First Degree Theft of Property.

The Dothan Police Department is seeking the help of our local media and community in locating a person wanted following a recent investigation of theft. Investigators say the suspect, Damien Greene, entered a local cellular provider in September and attempted to open a business account with ten telephone lines. Greene identified himself as Carlos Smith and presented a fraudulent drivers license. During the course of the transaction, the company detected possible fraud and recorded the suspects’ vehicle tag license. The suspect left the store before law enforcement arrived and a warrant for his arrest has now been obtained. Investigators say the fraud may go beyond this case and further charges may be pending. Greene is a resident of Fairfield, Alabama but has been in the Dothan area during the past two months. Police are asking anyone with information about the case or location of the suspect to call the Dothan Police Department or CrimeStoppers 334-793-7000.

'There's nothing like Daphne,' new Mayor Bailey Yelding says

DAPHNE, Alabama — For Bailey Yelding, this will always be home.
He was born and raised in Daphne, as was his father. Even his grandfather lived in the Yellingville community, just east of town.

Mayor Bailey Yelding

In high school, Yelding would walk past what is now City Hall, on his way to Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, which he still attends.
He is the third of seven siblings, six of whom still live in Daphne. All four of his grown children live and work here, too.
“Of all the places I’ve been, there’s nothing like coming home to Daphne,” he said. “There’s something about the people of Daphne, the quality of life, the camaraderie. ... You live and work in a place where it’s all been great for you, why not love it?”
But as a child, the city’s first black mayor, selected last week by a majority vote of the City Council to replace outgoing Mayor Fred Small, never imagined a future in politics.
“I had no idea we’d ever be a part of government,” Yelding said, “not in this magnitude.”
Yelding took office Tuesday after Small resigned from the post a year early. Yelding plans to finish out the term and retire from politics in 2012.
Daphne resident and former Baldwin County Commissioner Samuel Jenkins Sr., who has known the mayor all his life, said the Yelding family “was known as progressive even way back then.”
Yelding, now 70, grew up when the city’s school system was segregated.
In 1969, he was a teacher at what was then Baldwin County Training School when schools were integrated. He recalled that transition as smooth on the Eastern Shore.
Yelding transferred to Fairhope High School in 1970, and quickly rose through the ranks of the county’s education system, retiring in 2000 as an assistant principal.
“And I guess I jumped out of the skillet into the frying pan,” he said during a recent interview at City Hall, “because I came right on and became councilman for District 1.”
Though he may forever be known as “Coach Yelding,” having coached football and basketball for nearly 30 years, Yelding spent the last 11 years on the Daphne council.
As he moves into another leadership role, Yelding points to “teamwork” as a means to accomplishing his goals.
“The first thing I did was meet with all the department heads and share with them the importance of working together,” he said. “I made that my number one priority.”
Yelding will be honored during a swearing-in ceremony at 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall.
In 1957, Yelding graduated from Baldwin County Training School (where W.J. Carroll Intermediate now stands) and earned a bachelor’s degree from Alabama State University.
He coached and taught state history at his former high school before leaving to teach physical education at Fairhope High School.
In 1975, he became the school’s varsity basketball coach — the first African-American to lead an integrated high school team in Baldwin County.
Yelding’s wife, Elizabeth, died in 2007, and he continued serving the city, he said, to remain active for his children.
In 2009, he was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame.
Councilman John Lake, who served on the council with Yelding for 11 years and voted for him as mayor, attended Fairhope High School when Yelding was a coach.
“Guys used to go to him when they had problems,” Lake said. “If you couldn’t talk with someone else, you could always talk with him.”
That should prove to bridge understanding between the council and the mayor, a relationship that in the past has sometimes been strained, Lake said.
“He’s always been the kind of a person who was able to build ties between various groups,” Lake said, “acting as the glue between different philosophies or attitudes.”
Yelding coached Jenkins’ five sons, and was known as “very strict” on the court and in the classroom, an attribute Jenkins respects and believes will carry Yelding through as mayor.
“I think he will do well in that position with the city,” Jenkins said.

200-plus jobless seek farm work in Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Al.
Some jobless Alabamians have been eager to volunteer for a new state program that tries to link the unemployed up with seasonal farm jobs being vacated by illegal immigrants.
Employers have been slower to respond.
As of this week, 256 people have signed up with the unemployment offices as willing to do temporary agriculture jobs. Three employers with a total of 39 jobs available have signed up for the program.
"We've got willing workers," said Tom Surtees, director of the Department of Industrial Relations.
"We want to help (employers). Whatever we can do to provide them with applicants, we will," Surtees said.
The Department of Industrial Relations started the program in the wake of the labor void employers say was caused by Alabama's sweeping new immigration law. Surtees said it's similar to what the state did to find workers to remove tar balls on Alabama beaches or remove debris after storms.
On the state's employment service website -- joblink.alabama.gov -- job seekers can sign up if they are interested in temporary agriculture jobs and employers can list available work.
"We have been working very hard to get the word out to people who haven't used us before ... Our focus is to get Alabamians back to work," Surtees said.
He said employers who sign up with the program will get a list of people willing to do farm or agriculture work in their county, or state workers can notify job seekers of opportunities.
Framers, landscapers and others have complained that workers, both illegal and legal, have fled since the immigration law went into effect. A 2010 report from the Pew Hispanic Center estimated that illegal immigrants made up 5.1 percent of Alabama's work force.
Cullman sweet potato farmer Keith Smith said he has not had trouble finding people who want to do the work. His problem is finding people who are able, he said.
Smith said he has 10 or more people a day calling him saying they are willing to do the farm work, but he said most quit after a few hours because it is such intense labor.
"Most American workers aren't in good enough shape. They can't do this work. You get two, three or four hours out of them, and they're gone. They say they can't do this no more," Smith said.
He said he has heard of the state program, but he hasn't tried it because he doesn't think he will get any better quality workers.
"I ain't signed up for it. Why should I call them when I've got people calling me?" Smith said.
Smith, who freely admits he used illegal immigrants to pick sweet potatoes, said three-quarters of his crop is still in the field after his workers moved away.
"We ought to be half done or better by now," he said. Smith, who is a strong critic of the immigration law, said his crop will rot in the first freeze of the year.

Rejects notion
Surtees said he rejects the idea that Alabamians aren't willing or able to do the difficult work.
"I think the governor referred to that the other day as insulting," Surtees said.
"I'm hearing only the Hispanics can do this. Well, I'm saying who did it before them? Alabamians did," Surtees said.
Surtees and Smith do agree on one thing. People are looking for work in the tough economy.
Smith said he has found a few workers, including at least one he was surprised to be interested in working in fields and chicken houses.
"One guy, he's got a degree in computer science or something, and he's tickled to have a job," Smith said.

Eden: Updated Do's and Don'ts for immigration law

By: TOMMY EDEN | Business columnist

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley signed into law the Beason-Hammon Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act on June 9, and U.S. Federal District Judge Sharon Blackburn temporarily blocked certain portions of the law on Sept. 28.

TOMMY EDEN

On Oct. 14, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals enjoined two additional provisions. Almost all of the provisions affecting Alabama employers remain in place as of this publication and impose significant new employer-related compliance obligations.

At the core of the law is compliance with the federal Form I-9 requirements under the Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986 and enrollment in the federal E-Verify program. The following list is a “Do’s” and “Don’ts” summary of the employer obligations updated following the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals’ Oct. 14 decision:

» DON’T knowingly employ, hire for employment or continue to employ an unauthorized alien to perform work within the state of Alabama. Effective Jan. 1, 2012, all Alabama business entities seeking to contract with the state of Alabama, or any political subdivision thereof (city, county, public authority, etc.), or “transact business” with any of these same entities, should prepare now to verify the status of every new employee through the federal E-Verify procedures, secure documentation that they are in fact a business entity (most like a record from the Alabama Secretary of State), fire unauthorized aliens and have an immigration compliance check-up conducted to allow the business to provide a good faith affidavit of immigration compliance [Sections 9, 15, 26 and 30 of the Act] to the political subdivisions it seeks to contract with or “transact business” with.

Hopefully, a central filing by a business entity with the Alabama Secretary of State or Alabama Department of Homeland Security will allow for this to be an orderly process as no later than 90 days following the effective date of the act all Alabama employers enrolled in E-Verify will have their name listed on a state website [Section 26 of the Act]. 

» DO enroll in E-Verify. Effective April 1, 2012, every Alabama business entity or employer should be enrolled in E-Verify to verify the employment eligibility of every new hire in the state of Alabama. E-Verify provides a safe harbor so that an employer who uses the E-Verify system “shall not be deemed to have violated [Section 15 of the Act] with respect to the employment of that employee.”

A business entity or employer that uses E-Verify to verify the status of an employee in good faith “and acts in conformity with all applicable federal statutes and regulations is immune from liability under Alabama law for any action by an employee for wrongful discharge or retaliation based on a notification from the E-Verify program that the employee is an unauthorized alien.” Three violations involving employment of unauthorized aliens can result in permanent revocation of all licenses and permits to do business throughout the State of Alabama.

» DO schedule Form I-9 Supervisor Training. The federal E-Verify system is only as accurate as the information collected on Form I-9.  Also, do put an E-Verify policy in your employee handbook and make sure that you are using the latest version of Form 1-9. 

» DO have an outside Immigration Compliance Check-up done on your Form I-9s and Immigration Practices. E-Verify is an employer’s only get-out-of-jail card with Immigration Compliance and Enforcement and the only safe harbor under the Alabama Immigration Act.

Millions of dollars of ICE fines and prison sentences have been levied against employers that are out of compliance. Effective Jan. 1, 2012, every business entity, employer and subcontractor that contracts with any public entity in the state of Alabama will have to prove by affidavit, under penalty of perjury, that they are enrolled in E-Verify and have a good faith belief that they are currently only employing those legally eligible to work in the United States [Section 9 of the Act].  Two violations by an Alabama employer can result in permanent revocation of all licenses and permits to do business throughout the state of Alabama. Expect businesses to mandate by contract such affidavits as well.

» DO properly terminate any employee if you become aware of their unlawful status. The employer could face severe business penalties involving probation, suspension and permanent revocation of Alabama business licenses and permits [Sections 9 and 15 of the Act].

» DON’T enter into contracts with unauthorized aliens. The act provides that no court shall enforce the terms of, or otherwise regard as valid, any contract between a party and an alien unlawfully present in the United States [Section 27 of the Act].

» DO have employees carry ID proving their lawful status in the U.S. Significantly, the 11th Circuit left in place Section 18 of the act (drivers of motor vehicles to have their driver’s licenses in their possession at all times or subject to detention to verify citizenship); and Section 30 (must prove lawful status to enter into any “business transaction” with public entity, i.e. business license, license plate, driver’s license renewal, non-driver ID card, etc.). An unexpired Alabama driver’s license or non-driver’s ID card issued by the Alabama Division of Motor Vehicles is sufficient verification of lawful status. Placing in your job description that possession of a valid driver’s license as an essential job qualification may be considered to ensure that your employees will not be detained while driving on company business. 

Tommy Eden is an attorney with Capell & Howard P.C., a member of the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law and has presented throughout the state of Alabama on Immigration Workplace Compliance in 2011. He can be contacted at tme@chlaw.com or 334-241-8030.

Alleged assault leaves Valley man dead at Lake Harding

UPDATE: click here

Lee County, Al.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a Valley man whose body was found Sunday morning in the Lake Harding area.

Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said Lee County sheriff’s deputies responded to an alleged assault on Lee Road 367 in the Lake Harding area Sunday at approximately 9:15 a.m. and found a 58-year-old man with no signs of life.

East Alabama Medical Center emergency responders and Lee Chambers volunteers responded and declared the subject dead, and Harris pronounced the man dead at the scene at 10:24 a.m.

The man’s name is being withheld pending notification of family members, according to the Harris. The man’s body has been transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery for a postmortem examination.

No other details are being released at this time pending the ongoing investigation by the Lee County Sheriff’s office, the Lee County Coroner’s office and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.

Harris said that exactly what transpired prior to the man’s death is still under investigation.

The 'Godfather' of Birmingham Radio,Ben McKinnon, has died

Ben McKinnon

BIRMINGHAM, Al.
Ben McKinnon, former executive director of the Alabama Broadcasters Association known as the "Godfather of Birmingham Radio," died Saturday night, the association announced.

Mr. McKinnon is best known for his work managing WSGN in Birmingham for nearly three decades during the growth of rock n' roll and then 18 years at the helm of the association.

"He mentored so many people in this business," said Sharon Tinsley, president of the Alabama Broadcasters Association.

Mr. McKinnon, a native of North Carolina, graduated from U.S. Navy Reserve Midshipman School at Columbia University, then received a bachelor of arts degree in Journalism from the University of North Carolina. During WWII Mr. McKinnon served as Lt. senior grade in the U.S. Navy, earning Battle Stars from France and Okinawa. He later served as commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars at Kelly Ingram Post 668 in Birmingham for three years.

Mr. McKinnon's first civilian job after the war was in the newspaper business in North Carolina but he soon moved into sales with the broadcasting industry in North and South Carolina. In 1955, he was offered a position as general manager of WSGN in Birmingham where he led that station to become the first full-time 'top 40' station in the city, according to an association press release.

Mr. McKinnon was the vice president and general manager of WSGN from 1955-1979 and served as the company's president from 1980 -1982. He then accepted the position as executive director of the Alabama Broadcasters Association and served in that position for 18 years, until 2000.

Honors Mr. McKinnon received included: Alabama Broadcaster of Year in 1979; University of Alabama Distinguished Broadcaster Award; Birmingham Ad Club Silver Medal Award; Governor - Seventh District- Advertising Federation of America; and National Association of Broadcasters State Executive of the Year 2000. He also served a three-year term as Elder in Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church.

Funeral arrangements will be announced soon.

On-ramps from U.S. 31 onto I-65 in Birmingham being closed for Corridor X work

BIRMINGHAM, Al.
The southbound and northbound on-ramps from U.S. 31 onto Interstate 65 in northern Birmingham will be closed beginning noon Monday as part of the work to build an interchange that will connect I-65 with Corridor X, state transportation officials have announced.

Once completed, the Birmingham-to-Memphis highway project -- Corridor X -- will become Interstate 22.  The ramps will remain closed until the interchange project is complete, which is scheduled to be in 2014.

The Alabama Department of Transportation contractor building the I-65/Corridor X interchange  has reached a phase of work that will require the closure of the on-ramps from U.S. Highway 31 to I-65 northbound and southbound, according to an ALDOT statement.  The ramps are being closed as this project continues to move forward with the adding of new lanes, bridges, ramps and other construction all simultaneously, according to the statement.

Right now, the off-ramps from I-65 onto U.S. 31 will continue to be open.

Weather permitting, the ramp closures will begin at noon on Monday.

In order to access I-65, motorists will be directed on a detour to Exit 267 at Walkers Chapel Road. A reduced speed limit of 45 mph is in effect throughout the work zone. Motorists are requested to consider using alternate routes, adjust arrival or departure times, observe work zone speed limits and other work zone signs, and use extreme caution in this area, according to the ALDOT statement.

For additional road closure information, go to www.dot.state.al.us