A 30 year old Gadsden man is on Trial in Etowah county this week accused of killing his girlfriend’s son. Jury selection began monday in the capital murder trial of 30-year-old Ronnie Kirksey. Kirksey is charged in the April 2006 death of 23-month-old Cornell Norwood. Authorities say the child died from massive trauma to the head and body. Prosecutors say the child’s mother and her other two children had walked to the store and left Kirksey with the toddler when the injuries occurred. Jury selection in this case is expected to last through this afternoon with the jury being struck sometime Wednesday. Opening statements are expected inside Judge David Kimberly’s courtroom Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning.
From the Alabama 810 News Center
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Piedmont Power
There's some good news for piedmont residents struggling to pay high power bills. The Piedmong City Council has approved a program allowing power customers to pay high winter Power bills in installments. Fifty-percent of the amount due must be paid right away, but the remainder of the bill can be paid in monthly installments. To take advantage of the program, residents must apply at the Water-gas Building located on South Center Avenue in Piedmont.
From the Alabama 810 News Center
From the Alabama 810 News Center
Pell City tax vote
Shoppers in Pell City will be paying one of the highest sales tax rates in the area in 60 days. The Pell city mayor and council In a 5-1 vote Monday night, approved an ordinance that will increase the city’s sales tax from 9 to 10 percent.
The cities School System will receive 50 percent of the revenue generated from the new sales tax increase which Officials say will generate $2 million to $2.5 million annually.
The School System will receive half of the tax increase for the first four years and the city will receive the other half. After four years, the city will receive the entire revenue generated from the increase.
School officials that the additional tax will allow the School System to tap into low interest rate bonds at 1.8 percent, for the renovation of Iola Roberts Elementary School.
Mayor Bill Hereford said the city needs the tax increase to meet future obligations, including money to pay off a $12 million bond the city secured to fix its sewer system problems, its $50,000 a year obligation for the new St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital, and its obligation to purchase a required amount of water each month from the Coosa Valley Water Supply District when the new surface water treatment facility is up and running.
Opponents of the tax say with the economic downturn and local businesses closing their doors in recent months, this is no time to raise taxes. The tax increase, they say, will hit the poorest residents at the worst time
Proponents of the tax say the sales tax hike is an investment in children, who are the future of the city.
From the Alabama 810 News Center
The cities School System will receive 50 percent of the revenue generated from the new sales tax increase which Officials say will generate $2 million to $2.5 million annually.
The School System will receive half of the tax increase for the first four years and the city will receive the other half. After four years, the city will receive the entire revenue generated from the increase.
School officials that the additional tax will allow the School System to tap into low interest rate bonds at 1.8 percent, for the renovation of Iola Roberts Elementary School.
Mayor Bill Hereford said the city needs the tax increase to meet future obligations, including money to pay off a $12 million bond the city secured to fix its sewer system problems, its $50,000 a year obligation for the new St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital, and its obligation to purchase a required amount of water each month from the Coosa Valley Water Supply District when the new surface water treatment facility is up and running.
Opponents of the tax say with the economic downturn and local businesses closing their doors in recent months, this is no time to raise taxes. The tax increase, they say, will hit the poorest residents at the worst time
Proponents of the tax say the sales tax hike is an investment in children, who are the future of the city.
From the Alabama 810 News Center
Sibert Cleanup
The Army Corps of engineers say that Cleanup crews are back at the old World War II Camp Sibert area in Etowah county cleaning up hazardous material in one site. Army Corps of Engineers spokesman Pat Robbins said crews from private contractor Parsons Corp. were at Site 2A removing dirt contaminated by material used decades ago to clean or neutralize munitions. Robbins said the cleanup crew is wearing contamination-protection moon suits because of the possibility of vapors from disturbed dirt.
According to a report in 2007 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a tract in Site 2A was used for chemical agent decontamination training and contained buried material in three separate pits. The pits were dug up in 1948 and treated in various ways, including using chloride of lime.
The Army recommended the area only be used for grazing, but when the property started being transferred to government or private ownership in 1948, the grazing restriction did not follow in the titles.
The Army said in 1993 other burial sites might be within Site 2A. Other studies showed contaminants in area underground water and in soil samples.
Camp Sibert was a 37,000-acre, live-fire training area for chemical weapons southwest of Gadsden. Interstate 59 traverses the site. Old munitions such as mortar rounds or parts of them have been found and removed.
From the Alabama 810 News Center
According to a report in 2007 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, a tract in Site 2A was used for chemical agent decontamination training and contained buried material in three separate pits. The pits were dug up in 1948 and treated in various ways, including using chloride of lime.
The Army recommended the area only be used for grazing, but when the property started being transferred to government or private ownership in 1948, the grazing restriction did not follow in the titles.
The Army said in 1993 other burial sites might be within Site 2A. Other studies showed contaminants in area underground water and in soil samples.
Camp Sibert was a 37,000-acre, live-fire training area for chemical weapons southwest of Gadsden. Interstate 59 traverses the site. Old munitions such as mortar rounds or parts of them have been found and removed.
From the Alabama 810 News Center
Monday, February 8, 2010
Three killed in weekend accidents
Three people were killed in separate traffic accidents over the weekend. 51 year old Stoney Fuqua of Gadsden was killed shortly after 4pm Saturday afternoon four miles northeast of Hokes Bluff on Etowah county road 71. Fuqua’s 99 honda collided with a 98 nissan driven by 61 year old Virginia Bartlett of Piedmont. Bartlett was taken to Gadsden regional hospital for treatment. A one vehicle accident near 8:30pm Saturday night on Lions Street in Munford claimed the life of a 40 year old Eastaboga man. Toopers say that Harold Angle was killed in the accident while 34 year old Josie Stay, who was driving the 2000 Isuzu was taken to regional medical center in Anniston. A Sunday morning accident on Hiway 431 two miles north of Attalla claimed the life of a 70 year old Altoona woman. Troopers said that Mary Carol Spearman Faust was killed when her vehicle veered off the highway and struck a tree. Faust was taken to UAB hospital where she died just before 4pm Sunday afternoon.
From the Alabama 810 News Center
From the Alabama 810 News Center
Mediation ordered in McClellan suit
Calhoun County circuit judge Joel Laird has issued an order for all parties involved in a legal battle for control of McClellan development to attempt to mediate their issues. Lairds order comes a week after a lawyer requested the judge be removed from the case.
Laird filed the mediation order at the request of County Administrator Ken Joiner, who is also the court-appointed receiver of Joint Powers Authority’s assets at mcclellan. The parties involved have 30 days to begin the mediation process.
JPA attorney William Hancock filed a motion with the Alabama Supreme Court last week to remove Laird’s involvement with his lawsuit against the dissolution of the JPA, should the case return to Calhoun County Circuit Court.
Laird dissolved the JPA, in August 2008 and handed control of the former base to the Calhoun County Commission. He decided to dissolve the JPA because the Alabama Legislature never officially recognized the body.
Hancock filed an appeal against the decision, which the Supreme Court recently denied. Last month Hancock filed for a rehearing on the case, which has yet to go before the Supreme Court.
If the Supreme Court rules against Hancock again, the case will return to Laird’s courtroom. Hancock argues in his motion that a judge who has not been involved in previous litigation should preside over the case. Hancock filed the suit on behalf of the JPA, it is unclear who is paying his fees or is making the decisions on the appeals.
Talladega attorney Blake Lazenby, whom Laird appointed as mediator for the parties involved, said Friday he would call the attorneys involved in the case.
From the Alabama 810 News Center
Laird filed the mediation order at the request of County Administrator Ken Joiner, who is also the court-appointed receiver of Joint Powers Authority’s assets at mcclellan. The parties involved have 30 days to begin the mediation process.
JPA attorney William Hancock filed a motion with the Alabama Supreme Court last week to remove Laird’s involvement with his lawsuit against the dissolution of the JPA, should the case return to Calhoun County Circuit Court.
Laird dissolved the JPA, in August 2008 and handed control of the former base to the Calhoun County Commission. He decided to dissolve the JPA because the Alabama Legislature never officially recognized the body.
Hancock filed an appeal against the decision, which the Supreme Court recently denied. Last month Hancock filed for a rehearing on the case, which has yet to go before the Supreme Court.
If the Supreme Court rules against Hancock again, the case will return to Laird’s courtroom. Hancock argues in his motion that a judge who has not been involved in previous litigation should preside over the case. Hancock filed the suit on behalf of the JPA, it is unclear who is paying his fees or is making the decisions on the appeals.
Talladega attorney Blake Lazenby, whom Laird appointed as mediator for the parties involved, said Friday he would call the attorneys involved in the case.
From the Alabama 810 News Center
Man found competent to stand trial for Oxford murder
A 61 year old suspect h as been found competent to stand trial in the 2006 murder of a man an an oxford business. After hearing expert testimony from two psychiatrists, Talladega County Circuit Judge Bo Hollingsworth ruled that accused murderer Fred Allen Walker was competent to participate in his own defense and could be tried as soon as Feb. 22. Walker is accused of killing his employer, Jerry Wayne Harrell, at MotorCycle Sports in Oxford in February, 2006, the business is located in Talladega county. Some time before the shooting, Gragg testified that Walker believed he had been contacted by the U.S. Marshall Service and ordered to execute Harrell. He also said God had condoned the execution. Walker said he told God he did not want to kill Harrell in front of his children. Gragg said he believed when Walker arrived at the store and none of Harrell’s children were present, it was a sign for him to proceed.
Harrell was shot once in the back of the head with a 9 mm handgun. Walker was armed with that weapon and a .22 caliber handgun when law enforcement arrived.
When Talladega County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the crime scene, Walker was on the phone with the actual Marshall Service headquarters in Washington, D.C., attempting to report the successful completion of his mission.
If convicted, Walker faces 20 to 99 years or life in prison.
From the Alabama 810 News Center
Harrell was shot once in the back of the head with a 9 mm handgun. Walker was armed with that weapon and a .22 caliber handgun when law enforcement arrived.
When Talladega County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the crime scene, Walker was on the phone with the actual Marshall Service headquarters in Washington, D.C., attempting to report the successful completion of his mission.
If convicted, Walker faces 20 to 99 years or life in prison.
From the Alabama 810 News Center
