Man surrenders after toddlers are struck during Bay Minette hit-and-run

BAY MINETTE, Al.
 A 30-year-old man surrendered to Bay Minette police late Saturday night after police said he injured 2 toddlers in strollers in a hit-and-run earlier Saturday night.

Dewayne Lavon Brown

Bay Minette Police Chief Mike Rowland identified the suspect as Dewayne Lavon Brown of Bay Minette. Brown was taken to the Baldwin County Corrections Center and was released early today on bail totaling $10,000.
Brown was charged with 2 counts of leaving the scene of an accident with injury, according to jail records.
A 23-month-old was airlifted to University of South Alabama Medical Center with injuries that Rowland said "don't appear to be life threatening." An 18-month-old was treated at the scene, he said. The children were not identified.
The incident took place about 7:30 p.m. on Moran Street. Rowland said that the mothers were pushing the strollers across Moran Street when a car turned the corner at a high rate of speed and struck the children.
The driver of the car then left the scene. Rowland said that Brown was identified through tips that came in to police shortly after the incident took place.
The car was found abandoned about an hour later at a trailer park not far from the crash scene.
Rowland said that, once police were able to identify Brown as he driver, they contacted him by phone and convinced him to come in. He surrendered about 11 p.m. and was released on bail this morning, according to jail records.

Man shot to death on residential street in Prichard; police hope you can help

PRICHARD, Al.
 A man was shot to death on a Prichard street Saturday night, Police Chief Jimmie Gardner said.

No arrests had been made as of tonight.

The victim was identified as 30-year-old Robert Savage of Prichard. Gardner said that Savage was shot twice and was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

The call came in about 8:20 p.m. for the report of a shooting in the 100 block of Edison Drive, between Prichard Avenue and Sweeney's Lane a few blocks from city hall.

Gardner said that Savage was walking with a woman on the street when 3 men approached him and pushed him to the ground, after which he was shot. The men then ran off.

Anyone who has information about the incident is asked to call Prichard police at 251-452-2211.

Doo-Nanny starts soon

Outsider Folk Art Event

March 30 - March 31, 2012

Doo-Nanny

Begun as a roadside folk art show in 1996, the Doo-Nanny is now located on a beautiful 80 acre farm in Seale, AL, near Columbus, Ga, and includes a wacky "lo-fi" film festival, fun food, and an eclectic assortment of music and activities.  Camping is limited and we suggest planning ahead.
......start tying stuff to your roof now.......
Come all ye inventors, movie makers, ballerinas, bikers, morticians, bakers, artists, conspiracy theorists, scientists, foodies, eco-whatevers, moonshiners, comedians, fire-spinners, yodelers, he-shes, animal-trainers, pickle-makers, party girls, sock monkeys, stackers, jugglers, musicians, whittlers, spankers, fisherpersons, beggers, wanderers, and map-makers.......


New & Always Improving!

Outsider Art Show, 24-hour "lo-fi" Film Festival (bring your homemade movies, please), Food, Music & Mirth Making!
Big Ass Bonfire Sculptural Burn, Spa Village, Tree Houses with Mini-bars, Solar Showers, Worm Powered Outhouses and Spontaneous Merriment and Art...did I say Art?!

So many new events schedule this year...we've got a new sewing hut (please bring your scraps) & the newish Bike fleet for tooling around the woods of wonder!

Art Show on Saturday 10-5pm.
Be sure not to miss the Friday night Possum Trot auction at 7pm!

Join a krewe...there's lots that need doo-ing! Joining in on the early projects is a big part of the full Doo-Nanny expereince. Come early & stay late...

A truly unique experience!....a casserole of southern folk art, home cookin', homemade movies, camping, foot-stompin' music, experimental architecture, guessing, oddities, unusual characters, a movie festival, surprises, cracker ingenuity, and much more!... Folks coming in from NY, TX, CA, and beyond beyond beyond...

Come join us and help build something unique on Butch's property mix up some cocktails, or just pass home-made Hors d'œuvres...

For all the low-down: http://doo-nanny.com/
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Event Location:
41 Poorhouse Rd
Seale, AL  36875
(private 80-acre farm)
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Art Show
Saturday, March 31, 2012 10 AM  -  5 PM
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Special events:
Possum Trot Auction
Friday evening, March 30^th 7 PM - 10 PM
6 Dogwood Lane, Seale AL 36875
Free admission
Bidding and Donations encouraged
(costumes encouraged)
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Camping
Pay fees in advance, via PayPal on Doo-Nanny web-site
(children under 5, free with adults)
Fees:
$50 per person, 2 day Basic camping
$60 per person, RV site (16 spots available)
$70 per person, Private Deluxe Campsite (10 spots available)
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Hotels:
Phenix City, AL
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Art Booths
Pay fees in advance, via PayPal on Doo-Nanny web-site
Categories:
•Handmade (by the artist)
•Creative Antiques
$50 per space
donations to the auction are appreciated!
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Films/Movies/Videos:

WOW Fest, 24 hour lo-fi movie festival

Send submissions (5 mins or less)
Format: DVD or VHS
send to:
CM Laster
PO Box 424 Crofton, KY 42217
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Bands:

Previous March 2011 line up

Mad Tea Party, Screaming j's, Morgan O'Kane, Doc Dailey & Magnolia Devil, Jake Fussell, Resistance Ensemble, STORMSHELTER, Red Hot Sugar Babies, Jenny Juice, Bibb City Ramblers with Shady Branches, Shadowville All-Stars Buford Dogs & Boogie Butter

Bonus: Butter Holler on the Pickin’ Porch, all weekend

New charges filed against Hoover man accused of impersonating police, robbing Hispanics

HOOVER, Al.
Authorities have filed additional charges against a Hoover man who is accused of impersonating a police officer and targeting Hispanics to rob them.

Ryan Daniel Phebus

Hoover police Capt. Jim Coker said Ryan Daniel Phebus, 29, now faces four additional charges of first-degree robbery, one first-degree theft of property charge and another charge of impersonating a police officer.
Police announced Wednesday that Phebus was charged four counts of first-degree robbery and one count of impersonating a police officer, stemming from four separate reports on March 2 of a man representing himself as a police officer and targeting victims at apartment complexes on Lorna Road.
Police said Phebus robbed some of the victims at gunpoint and asked others for identification. In two of the cases, he entered the victims' apartments and took money from them. Each victim described the suspect as wearing a shirt or jacket resembling that of a police officer and having a police-type badge around his neck.
Police arrested Phebus on Sunday at his apartment in the 2200 block of Little Valley Road. Coker said the new charges against Phebus also arise from March 2. The new charges carry a bond of $285,000. Phebus is already in the Jefferson County Jail without bond.
Detectives continue to investigate the March 2 incidents, in addition to similar robberies that occurred in August 2011.
Police encourage any other victims of similar crimes to contact the department at 739-6730. A Spanish-speaking detective can be reached at 444-7534.

Deputies arrest man who led Tuscaloosa law enforcement on 36-mile car chase

TUSCALOOSA, Al.

Dustin Blake Smith

  Eight days following a 36-mile chase through Tuscaloosa County involving multiple law enforcement officers, 18-year-old Dustin Blake Smith was arrested by Tuscaloosa Sheriff's deputies after another pursuit.

Blake, from Duncanville, was taken into custody after a brief vehicle and foot pursuit, according to the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office. Law enforcement officers from the Tuscaloosa Police Department, Sheriff's Office and U.S. Marshals worked together throughout the day Thursday to find Smith, whom he was with and which vehicle he was in.

At approximately 10 p.m. Thursday night, Tuscaloosa Police Department officers and sheriff's deputies traveled to a home in Elrod where smith was believed to be present. As they approached the residence, officers and deputies observed a green Chevrolet Cavalier leaving with three individuals in the car, one believed to be Smith.

Officers and deputies turned around on the vehicle and attempted to stop it, before the Chevy driver attempted to elude law enforcement. After an approximately 10-mile chase that reached top speed of 60 mph in a rain storm, the suspects stopped their vehicle and bailed out running into the woods. After a brief foot pursuit, Smith was taken into custody and transported by deputies to the Tuscaloosa County Jail.

Smith was charged with third-degree burglary, reckless endangerment, second-degree criminal mischief, two counts of attempting to elude and third-degree burglary in Marion County, with bonds totaling $22,500.

"I am extremely proud of the collaborative partnership with local and federal agencies," said Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ted Sexton, according to a press release. "Working together, we took into custody a habitual Offender that fled from a Marion County court, traveled at speeds over 100 mph placing the public in danger during a 36 mile chase last week."

Smith was previously wanted after leading police on a high-speed pursuit throughout Tuscaloosa County earlier this month. Police noticed Smith when he drove a blue Ford Mustang going across the Hugh Thomas Bridges into Northport. The investigator knew Smith had felony warrants for third-degree burglary, second-degree theft of property and second-degree criminal mischief with the Marion County's Sheriff's Office.

Police said once a Northport officer in a marked unit pulled behind the investigator, both vehicles activated their emergency lights and sirens. The suspect then took off at a high speed, and the pursuit began.

During the pursuit, multiple agencies were involved including Tuscaloosa Police, Northport Police Department, Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Pickens County Sheriff’s Office. Tuscaloosa's police helicopter also assisted during the pursuit.

The pursuit started at the intersection of McFarland Boulevard and Highway 69 in Northport, turned onto Highway 43 North, Highway 171 and then onto an unknown dirt road.

The chase ended in a wooded area near Upper Columbus Road. Three people inside the car fled the vehicle, according to police. Officers caught one of the suspects, Cody Len Estes, who police said was in the front passenger seat when the pursuit started and switched with Smith to drive the vehicle during the pursuit. The pursuit reached speeds of 100 mph at times, police said.

During the pursuit, Smith threw a five-gallon paint bucket out the window at the investigator's vehicle, according to police. The third occupant inside the vehicle was a female, and no charges are pending on her. The pursuit lasted 30 minutes and covered 36 miles. Investigators obtained warrants on Smith from the pursuit.

Etowah County grand jury hands down indictments in Savannah Hardin case

ETOWAH COUNTY, Al.

Savannah Hardin

 An Etowah County grand jury today handed down indictments against two women charged in the death of 9-year-old Savannah Hardin, District Attorney Jimmie Harp announced tonight.
Savannah died Feb. 20 at Children's of Hospital where she was taken Feb. 17 after collapsing when she was made to run non-stop for three hours, authorities have said. Savannah was made to run as punishment for lying about eating a candy bar, authorities said.
Savannah's paternal grandmother, Joyce Garrard, 46, of Attalla, was indicted on a charge of capital murder. Savannah's stepmother, Jessica Hardin, 27, of Attalla, was indicted on a charge of felony murder.
Garrard is currently being held without bond and Hardin is being held on a $500,000 bond.
Garrard was originally charged with felony murder on Feb. 22. Court records show Garrard was charged with capital murder on March 2.
Harp and Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin will hold a press conference about the indictments Monday at 10 a.m.

Students from all over hit Gulf Shores, Orange Beach for Spring Break

GULF SHORES, Al.
Bill McGinnes gets spring break rolling with a St. Patrick’s Day pub crawl where more than 1,500 locals and tourists gather at his business, Papa Rocco’s, to toast the Irish and a day at the beach on March 17.
Four professional bagpipers will be playing when the doors open at 8 a.m. at the oyster bar and restaurant McGinnes opened 27 years ago. Then the sea of green will march their way to a dozen more clubs.
"It coincides with spring break and gives every bar a good start," said McGinnes, who is Scotch-Irish.
Welcome to spring break, Gulf Coast-style, where the fun starts in early March and runs till early April. The beach traffic season is based on when students from kindergarten to college take a break in the Southern and Midwestern states, according to tourism officials.
Last spring brought record-breaking numbers of visitors who boosted lodging and retail spending, according to Herb Malone, president and CEO of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism. "I’m hearing from businesses that March and April bookings are the same as last year’s or better," he said.
The BP oil spill in spring 2010 devastated rentals and beach businesses, and tourism officials typically use 2007, 2008 or 2009 figures to compare with the 2011 season.
There was $38 million spent on rental lodging in March and April 2011 compared to $31 million in 2009, according to the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism reports. The retail sales hit $106.3 million in March and April 2010, compared to $90.8 million in 2009.
There are 16,312 hotel and condominium units in Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan and Orange Beach, according to the tourism office.
"We’re a spring family vacation destination," Malone said. "We’ve never pursued the "Girls Gone Wild" stuff. We welcome college students who want to relax and enjoy the beach."
Rental agencies are not offering room discounts this spring, but they are monitoring the volatile gas prices. Most consumers are accustomed to the increase in gas prices, according to Bill Bender of Bender Realty in Gulf Shores. "They may not eat out as much or go shopping, but they still come to stay at the beach," he said.
Bender Realty’s rental bookings are 32 percent higher than last year’s spring break, he said. "Last year was one of our best years ever."
Brett/Robinson in Orange Beach has 400 condo check-ins coming in Thursday (March 15), the largest number at one time for this spring break season, according to Marie Curren, a spokeswoman for the company that manages 2,000 rental units.
"We have our fingers crossed for no storms, no oil or whatever else they can throw at our beautiful white beaches," she said.
Waterville USA in Gulf Shores hopes the visitors stay longer this spring break, said John Turberville, general manager of the water park. "Last year was a little soft for us," he said. "We had a lot of people in town, but they were three- to four-day stays. We’re an all-day destination and we do better with longer stays. But we’re looking forward to a good year." The amusement park and Flowrider have opened and the water park will open in mid-May.