Alabama's Surplus Property Division to hold surplus auction Wednesday

MONTGOMERY, Al.

From desks, chairs and laptop computers to vehicles and vending machines, if you’re looking for something, there is a good chance you can find it at the state surplus property auction on Wednesday.

The state’s Surplus Property Division, part of the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, is holding the auction at its warehouse at 4590 Mobile Highway in Montgomery. It begins at 8 a.m. and continues until the last item is auctioned.

Along with office equipment and vehicles, the items for auction include medical equipment, golf carts, boats, lawn equipment and much more.

In addition to property no longer used by state and federal agencies and military bases, Surplus Property also acquires unclaimed property from several airports in the Southeast.

To bid on the items, you will need a photo ID and Social Security number or a federal employee ID.

The items are available for on-site inspection on Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Public auctions are held three times a year, but surplused items are available at any time to city and county governments, state agencies and qualified nonprofit organizations.

For more information, call 334-284-0577.

Man arrested on sodomy charges in Tuscaloosa County

BUHL, Al.

Randall Justin Roberts

Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's deputies arrested a man on sodomy charges early Friday.

Randall Justin Roberts, 33, was charged with first-degree sodomy and possession of drug paraphernalia after deputies were called to the 12000 block of Buhl Cutoff Road around 2 a.m.

Witnesses told deputies they saw Roberts performing oral sex on an unconscious 23-year-old man during a party at the house, according to Capt. Loyd Baker, commander of the Tuscaloosa Metro Homicide Unit.

Roberts left the scene when witnesses stopped him. He was later arrested by deputies, Baker said.

Roberts was taken to the Tuscaloosa County Jail. His bond was set at $41,000.

Coast Guard searches for missing diver south of Pensacola

MOBILE, Al.
Various vessels and aircraft joined the search for a 53-year-old diver reported missing this morning, U.S. Coast Guard officials in Mobile said in a news release.
The man had been diving approximately 22 miles off the coast of Pensacola at the site of the sunken Oriskany warship, and failed to resurface at the scheduled time.
Officials received the initial report at approximately 11:30 a.m., according to the release.
"We have multiple surface and air assets saturating a search area of approximately 614 square miles of the Gulf of Mexico for the missing diver," said Ensign Timothy Williams, public affairs officer for Sector Mobile. "Our dedicated crewmembers are working closely with local agencies and good Samaritans."
The Coast Guard issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast to mariners in the area, according to the release.

Montgomery Fire Department conducts new exercises at controlled burn

MONTGOMERY, Al.
Six units from the Montgomery Fire Department set fire to an abandoned Woodley Road home Saturday as part of a controlled burn exercise to learn new methods to fight fires.

The field exercise brought out 22 MFD firefighters to the scene to practice new techniques recently introduced in the field. 

Montgomery District 1 Chief T.L. White said that the practice burn focused mainly on vertical ventilation and breeching techniques, which require the men to cut holes in the ceiling of a burning home. 

The 2,000 square foot home, located on the 2000 block of Woodley Road, was donated to the city for MFD use. The owners planned to demolish the home before making the donation.

Russell County residents warned of lottery scam

RUSSELL COUNTY, Al.
The Russell County Sheriff's Department is warning residents in the area to keep an eye out for a scam involving a winning $1 million lottery ticket.

According to Sheriff Heath Taylor, someone is phoning senior citizens and telling them they've won the $1 million prize. The scammers then say "winners" can claim the prize by sending a $100 check. 

Do not send money. It is a scam.

More than 20 animals seized in Dale County cruelty case

Ozark, Al.

Dale County Sheriff’s investigators and Ozark Animal Control authorities have made what Dale County Sheriff’s Chief Investigator Harvey Mathis calls the largest seizure in at least four years of malnourished animals, which were found at a residence on Dale County Road 122 on Thursday.

Around 20 malnourished dogs were found, their bones were visible under their skin as they ran from authorities throughout the wooded property.

Two dog feeders were found, but both were empty and their bags of food appeared empty too and the little water that remained was dirty and full of leaves.

Dale County Sheriff’s Investigator Joe Weaver said the dogs taken to Animal Control included puppies and some of them were too weak to walk. Weaver said “It’s one thing to have been barely fed, but some of them seemed to have been starving.”

Authorities are still trying to determine who owned the animals, and the owner is expected to face a misdemeanor animal cruelty charge for each malnourished pet found. Mathis said that the animals were taken to Animal Control and they likely would not be available for adoption until the conclusion of the investigation.

“It’s not about whether it’s a human or a pet,” Mathis said. “It’s about the fact that if you can’t take care of a living being, you have to take the necessary measures to find someone that can. Otherwise, we will aggressively pursue charges against you.”

Animal cruelty in Alabama is generally a class A misdemeanor that carries a possible punishment of up to a year in jail and/or fines and court costs.

Ex-Alabama Rep. Spicer to plead guilty to bribery

MONTGOMERY, Al.
Former state Rep. Terry Spicer of Elba has worked out a deal to plead guilty in the federal government's investigation of gambling corruption at the Alabama Statehouse, becoming the fourth person to do so.

Terry Spicer

Documents filed in federal court in Montgomery show Spicer has been charged with bribery as part of a plea agreement and is scheduled to enter his plea Nov. 15 in Montgomery. "The defendant, Terry Spicer, has indicated to the court that he wishes to enter a consent plea," U.S. Magistrate Judge Wallace Capel Jr. wrote in 1 of the documents.
Documents filed by federal prosecutors say Spicer agreed to accept cash, campaign services and a ski vacation from lobbyist Jarrod Massey in return for using his influence to get companies and organizations to hire Massey as their lobbyist. The documents also say Spicer agreed to accept campaign contributions and concert tickets from Country Crossing casino owner Ronnie Gilley in return for supporting Gilley's efforts to develop the casino in Dothan.
Spicer, a Democrat, lost his re-election campaign in 2010. He also served as Elba's school superintendent while serving in the Legislature and has continued in the post since leaving the Legislature. He declined to comment, as did his attorney, David Belser.
Justice Department spokeswoman Laura Sweeney also declined to comment Friday.
Gilley and Massey, who lobbied for Gilley, pleaded guilty earlier, along with another of Gilley's lobbyists, Jennifer Pouncy.
During a trial of 9 other defendants in the gambling case this summer, Massey testified that he paid Spicer $1,000 to $2,000 per month in cash for about seven years to help him line up lobbying clients and gave him $9,000 for a boat.
Gilley testified that he gave Spicer $20,000 in campaign contributions for supporting pro-gambling legislation designed to help Country Crossing. Gilley also testified that Spicer asked him for a $100,000-a-year consulting job in 2008 when Country Crossing was in the planning stages, but he declined.
During the summer trial, prosecutors would never say why they were eliciting testimony about Spicer when he hadn't been charged at that time.
Jim Parkman, defense attorney for state Sen. Harri Anne Smith of Slocomb, said Friday that prosecutors privately notified defense attorneys during the trial that they had worked out a plea agreement with Spicer and would be filing court papers later. He said it has no effect on Smith's case because the two were not working together.
The trial ended in August with two defendants acquitted. The jury could not resolve all the charges against seven others, including Smith, and they face a retrial in January.

Phenix City man turns self in after fatal shooting

PHENIX CITY, AL.
The Phenix City Police Department responded to a shooting incident early Saturday morning in the 900 block of 4th Street.  
Upon arrival, police discovered Anthony Ford, 34, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.  He was taken to Columbus Medical Center where he died a short time later.
Investigation revealed that Ford had been involved in a physical altercation with Cedric Williams, 27, of Phenix City.
Williams turned himself in to police and a handgun has been recovered. 
He has been charged with murder and is currently being held at the Russell County Jail with no bond. 

Texas man charged with sexual torture of Etowah County, Al. child

Etowah County, Al.
A Texas man charged with sexual torture was booked into the Etowah County Jail on Friday, Sheriff Todd Entrekin said.

Kevin Lynn Sweetin

Kevin Lynn Sweetin, 35, lives in Conroe, Texas, but lived in Etowah County in 2007 at the time he is accused of the sexual torture of a 10-year-old girl.
Sexual torture is a Class A felony and is described as penetration using an inanimate object, Sheriff's Office investigator Carla Carroll said.
Sweetin, a corrections officer at St. Clair Correctional Facility at the time of the incident, allegedly used his police stick and another object on the girl's private area.
The crime was brought to the attention of the sheriff's office on Sept. 1 and an investigation began. The girl was interviewed at the Barrie Center for Children.
Carroll said Sweetin was not employed in the law enforcement field at the time of his arrest.
Etowah County deputies assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service's Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force began an investigation to determine where Sweetin was living, and he was located in Texas, Sgt. Stephen Hooks said.
The task force contacted the U.S. Marshals Service in Houston and Sweetin was arrested on Oct. 3.
He was brought to Etowah County on Friday. He is being held on a $50,000 cash bond.

Jasper woman charged with threatening life of Alabama governor

Gov. Robert Bentley

MONTGOMERY, Al.
A Jasper woman could get five years in jail after authorities say she threatened the life of Alabama's governor over the state's tough law cracking down on illegal immigration.
The Montgomery Advertiser reports that 38-year-old Tiffany R. Morales is accused of calling Gov. Robert Bentley's office Sept. 29 and telling a member of his staff: "Tell the governor he has a bullet with his name on it."
Morales, who says her fiance is an illegal immigrant, was arrested Oct. 1 and charged with threatening certain state officers, a felony.
Her lawyer said at a pretrial hearing Friday Morales has medical problems and a nervous condition and shouldn't be considered a threat.
The judge denied Morales' request to reduce her bond and ordered that she undergo a mental evaluation.

Cruise ship leaves behind unknown economic impact in its wake

 

 

MOBILE, Al.

 When Carnival’s Elation leaves the Alabama Cruise Terminal today, on the way to its new home in New Orleans, it will leave in its wake an economic impact in the millions of dollars.

The most obvious victim is the city of Mobile. The city owns the cruise terminal and uses proceeds from passenger parking to pay $2 million a year in debt service.
Hotels will also feel an immediate impact. Cruise passengers booked 15,000 room nights a year, according to tourism officials.
Some passengers and crew members also ate at restaurants, shopped at stores and visited attractions in Mobile, but how much money they spent is harder to know.
Elation will head to New Orleans, where it replaces a sister ship, Ecstasy, that Carnival will move to Port Canaveral on Florida’s Atlantic Coast.
Carnival announced in March that it would leave the Mobile market, saying fuel costs for Gulf of Mexico cruises were more expensive than for Caribbean cruises and that trips from Mobile commanded below-average rates compared to other Gulf ports.
Alabama Real Estate Holdings, an arm of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, borrowed $20 million to build the cruise terminal south of downtown Mobile in 2004 after Carnival announced it would home port a ship here.
In 2008, the city borrowed $18.6 million to buy the terminal, then the next year paid $2.6 million to build a new gangway for the terminal to allow a larger ship to dock there. Last year it paid $970,000 for a pie-shaped parcel of land, about the size of a football field, at the corner of Government and Water streets for overflow parking from cruises.
City spokeswoman Barbara Drummond said the city will slash operating costs at the terminal when the cruise ship leaves, only spending as much as necessary to maintain the facility.
Mobile Mayor Sam Jones has lobbied other cruise companies to use the terminal, but so far has had no success. Drummond said that until another cruise ship comes to Mobile, the city may try to lease parking space to downtown businesses or use it for big events like Mardi Gras.
Parking revenue from the past year will cover the debt payment this fiscal year, she said. But if the city can’t find new revenue streams from the terminal before next October, she said, it will have to dip into its general fund to pay off the building.
"It’s 2013 when we’ll be impacted financially," she said.
The impact will be more sudden for area hotels. David Randel, president of the Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau, said 15 hotels offer a stay-and-cruise package that lets customers leave their cars at the hotel during the cruise provided they stay the night before. The package gets about 15,000 takers a year, he said, and it was gaining in popularity.
"That’s what personally hurts me the most," he said. "People were coming in a day early and starting to enjoy this great city."
Randel said many of the 900 crew members on board the ship also ventured into the city on the five-hour breaks they had between trips. Most of them took a bus out to Bel Air Mall, he said.
"They’d come back filled with packages," he said.
David Rasp, who owns the Royal Scam, the restaurant closest to the Cruise Terminal, said cruise customers had only a modest impact on his business.
"I’m not saying it’s not going to have an effect," he said of the cruise ship departing, "I just don’t know how measurable it’s going to be."
The impact on other local attractions is similarly murky. According to data from University of South Alabama economics professor Semoon Chang, attendance is up by nearly 3,000 a month at the Gulf Coast Exploreum since Carnival arrived in October 2004, but it has dropped at both the USS Alabama Battleship Park and at Bellingrath Gardens.
Gretchen Faust Jaspering, who took over as executive director at the Exploreum earlier this month, said she hadn’t been there long enough to have a definitive view on the cruise ship’s impact.
She did note, though, that when the Exploreum opened its Kangaroo Kraze exhibit last week, a few of the cruise ship employees decided to check it out.
"A couple of Australian dancers came over to get a taste of their home," she said.

Friday's Alabama (Prep) High School Football Scores

Friday Night High School (PREP) Football

Abbeville 55, Daleville 22
Abbeville Christian Academy 39, Meadowview Christian 14
Albertville 38, Arab 0
Alexandria 35, St. Clair County 7
Aliceville 49, Northside 27
Alma Bryant 47, Mary Montgomery 27
American Christian Academy 56, Vincent 26
Andalusia 63, Headland 0
Anniston 47, Jacksonville 14
Auburn 24, Opelika 16
Autauga Academy 14, Clarke Prep 12
B.B. Comer 20, Beulah 2
Barbour County 22, Wicksburg 21
Bayside Academy 42, Excel 7
Berry 56, Hubbertville 16
Bessemer Academy 48, Pickens Academy 6
Bessemer City 21, Carver-Birmingham 6
Bibb County 56, West Blocton 8
Billingsley 32, Central-Hayneville 12
Blount 39, Baker 7
Bob Jones 17, Decatur 3
Brantley 48, McKenzie 6
Briarwood Christian 42, Sylacauga 21
Brooks 52, East Lawrence 14
Carroll-Ozark 34, Rehobeth 20
Cedar Bluff 34, Gaylesville 14
Central-Florence 33, Ardmore 18
Central-Phenix City 59, Smiths Station 14
Chelsea 42, Moody 20
Chilton County 7, Central-Tuscaloosa 6
Clay County 54, Central Coosa 8
Clay-Chalkville 55, Huffman 6
Cleveland 45, Cold Springs 9
Colbert Heights 34, Lexington 21
Collinsville 49, Valley Head 13
Coosa Christian 42, Jacksonville Christian 6
Cordova 48, Winston County 27
Corner 17, Haleyville 14
Crenshaw Christian Academy 47, Lowndes Academy 12
Crossville 21, DAR 6
Dadeville 32, Beauregard 31
Davidson 13, Murphy 7
Demopolis 41, Selma 21
Deshler 62, Wilson 35
Donoho 42, Akron 6
Dora 55, Good Hope 0
Dothan 35, Northview 0
East Limestone 17, Athens 14
East Memorial Christian Academy 32, Macon-East 26
Edgewood Academy 48, Glenwood 24
Elba 80, Red Level 6
Elkmont 45, Clements 14
Elmore County 40, Holtville 23
Escambia Academy 32, Fort Dale Academy 30
Escambia County 33, Monroe County 0
Etowah 27, Boaz 8
Eufaula 17, Charles Henderson 9
Evangel Christian Academy 26, Ashford Academy 21
Fairfield 12, John Carroll Catholic 11
Fairhope 63, Williamson 13
Flomaton 57, Choctaw County 14
Florence 27, Hazel Green 21
Foley 50, Satsuma 12
Fort Payne 38, Scottsboro 10
Fultondale 55, Victory Chr. 12
Fyffe 37, Sand Rock 6
G.W. Long 26, Ariton 8
Gardendale 21, Jackson Olin 0
Gaston 47, Woodville 8
Geneva County 18, Pleasant Home 7
Glencoe 20, Susan Moore 10
Gordo 55, Greensboro 8
Greene County 54, Jemison 45
Greenville 14, Brookwood 0
Gulf Shores 21, Faith Academy 7
Guntersville 26, Cherokee County 13
Hanceville 42, Hamilton 26
Handley 46, Leeds 0
Hartselle 20, Cullman 13
Hayden 29, Mortimer Jordan 26
Hewitt-Trussville 28, Gadsden 25
Highland Home 40, Calhoun 16
Hillcrest 35, Northridge 14
Hillcrest-Evergreen 10, Alabama Christian Academy 7
Holly Pond 32, Vinemont 14
Holt 50, Southside-Selma 26
Houston County 51, Cottonwood 50
Hubbard 44, Vina 0
Huntsville 36, Grissom 7
Ider 34, Pleasant Valley 0
Isabella 34, Francis Marion 8
Jackson 28, Thomasville 9
Jackson Academy 53, Sparta Academy 7
John Essex 40, Shades Mountain Christian 0
Keith 21, Autaugaville 13
Kinston 14, Florala 0
Lamar County 21, Hatton 20
Lanett 26, Horseshoe Bend 22
Lauderdale County 41, Colbert County 0
Lawrence County 30, J.O. Johnson 28
Lee-Montgomery 16, Sidney Lanier 6
Linden 63, Marengo 0
Lineville 34, Reeltown 14
Livingston 56, Dallas County 0
Luverne 41, Dale County 15
Madison Academy 49, Brindlee Mountain 10
Madison County 41, Southside-Gadsden 35
Maplesville 69, Sunshine 0
Marion County 63, Lynn 28
McGill-Toolen 38, Daphne 28
Midfield 34, Fayette County 6
Minor 30, Tuscaloosa County 27
Mobile Christian 57, Cottage Hill 12
Monroe Academy 28, Lyman Ward 15
Montevallo 35, Hale County 20
Morgan Academy 48, South Choctaw Academy 6
Mountain Brook 17, Hoover 9
Muscle Shoals 48, Lee-Huntsville 26
New Brockton 23, Samson 16, OT
North Jackson 30, Fairview 21
North Sand Mountain 57, Section 12
Oak Grove 61, Tarrant 32
Oneonta 49, Cleburne County 34
Oxford 66, Shades Valley 20
Parrish 40, Brilliant 6
Paul Bryant 46, Wilcox Central 12
Pelham 23, Homewood 14
Pell City 42, Austin 38
Pickens County 61, Holy Spirit 0
Piedmont 41, Ashville 12
Pike County 14, Geneva 7
Pike Liberal Arts 6, Lee-Scott Academy 0
Pinson Valley 49, Shelby County 8
Pisgah 35, Randolph School 15
Prattville 52, Jeff Davis 13
Prattville Christian Academy 36, Hooper Academy 22
Providence Christian 17, Houston Academy 16
R.C. Hatch 58, Thorsby 27
Ragland 30, Appalachian 14
Ranburne 21, LaFayette 14
Red Bay 35, Cherokee 7
Restoration Academy 53, Lakeside School 19
Robertsdale 24, Baldwin County 14
Rogers 41, Danville 22
Saraland 42, W.S. Neal 28
Sardis 35, Geraldine 21
Sheffield 27, West Morgan 6
Shoals Christian 21, Addison 12
Sipsey Valley 48, Decatur Heritage 28
Slocomb 25, Opp 16
South Lamar 34, Meek 13
Southern Choctaw 35, J.U. Blacksher 7
Spain Park 38, Thompson 0
Spanish Fort 42, Citronelle 7
Sparkman 30, Buckhorn 27
St. James 41, Bullock County 6
St. Paul's 35, Enterprise 14
Straughn 25, Ashford 8
Sulligent 41, Phil Campbell 7
Sumiton Christian 17, Westminster Christian Academy 14
Sumter Academy 44, Cornerstone Christian 35
Sumter Central High School 56, Dallas County 0
Sweet Water 56, McIntosh 8
Sylvania 42, New Hope 41
T.R. Miller 48, Catholic-Montgomery 7
Tanner 42, Oakman 7
Trinity Presbyterian 40, Montgomery Academy 21
Valley 54, Tallassee 7
Vestavia Hills 28, Oak Mountain 0
Vigor 35, LeFlore 7
Walker 33, Curry 6
Washington County 30, Clarke County 13
Waterloo 62, Tharptown 34
Weaver 42, Hokes Bluff 20
Wenonah 14, McAdory 7
West End-Walnut Grove 48, Falkville 0
West Limestone 70, Priceville 20
West Point 49, Brewer 7
Westbrook Christian 21, Ohatchee 7
Wetumpka 28, Stanhope Elmore 7
White Plains 24, J.B. Pennington 0
Wilcox Academy 36, Marengo Academy 7
Winfield 35, Carbon Hill 13
Woodland 31, Randolph County 28
Zion Chapel 23, Goshen 15