A single-vehicle crash involving a pedestrian that occurred at approximately 2:40 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, has claimed the life of a Decatur man.

The pedestrian, Matthew Anderson Ryan Kelley, 31, who was lying in the roadway, was fatally injured when he was struck by an unknown vehicle that [...]]]>

NEWS ALERT LAWRENCE COUNTY

A single-vehicle crash involving a pedestrian that occurred at approximately 2:40 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, has claimed the life of a Decatur man.

The pedestrian, Matthew Anderson Ryan Kelley, 31, who was lying in the roadway, was fatally injured when he was struck by an unknown vehicle that left the scene of the crash. Kelley was pronounced deceased at the scene by the local Coroner’s office.

The crash occurred on Lawrence County Road 209, approximately 10 miles east of Moulton, in Lawrence County.

State Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate the crash.

A two-vehicle crash involving a Keller ambulance that occurred at approximately 9:25 p.m. Saturday, March 23, has claimed the life of a Blountsville man.

According to State Troopers, Sidney L. Canada II, 33, was fatally injured when the disabled 2003 Honda VT600 motorcycle that he was on was struck by the 2017 Ford [...]]]>

A two-vehicle crash involving a Keller ambulance that occurred at approximately 9:25 p.m. Saturday, March 23, has claimed the life of a Blountsville man.

According to State Troopers, Sidney L. Canada II, 33, was fatally injured when the disabled 2003 Honda VT600 motorcycle that he was on was struck by the 2017 Ford T250 Ambulance.

Canada was pronounced deceased at the scene by Lawrence County Coroner Scott Norwood.

The ambulance driver and and the on-board patient were both transported to Helen Keller Hospital in Sheffield for injuries. This according to state troopers.

The crash occurred on Alabama 157 near Lawrence County 243, approximately 2 miles north of Moulton, in Lawrence County.

Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate the crash.

A former Sheffield resident pleaded guilty Thursday in Colbert County Circuit Court to two sexual abuse charges in exchange for a 24-month prison sentence.

According to court records, John Thomas Sledge, 70, of 385 Jones Road in Russellville, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse in the first and second degrees with the sentence to [...]]]>

A former Sheffield resident pleaded guilty Thursday in Colbert County Circuit Court to two sexual abuse charges in exchange for a 24-month prison sentence.

According to court records, John Thomas Sledge, 70, of 385 Jones Road in Russellville, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse in the first and second degrees with the sentence to run concurrently.

The indictment stated Sledge did subject someone less than 12 years of age to sexual contact and the second indictment stated Sledge subjected someone older than 12 years of age to sexual contact.

As part of the plea agreement, the court will recommend to the Alabama Department of Corrections that Sledge be evaluated for the Aged and Infirmed prison in Hamilton, Alabama. Sledge will have a three year suspended sentence upon release from the penitentiary. He began his prison sentence on Thursday.

According to courthouse records, one incident occurred on July 7th of 2022 and the second indictment stated the incident occurred on August 8th of 2016.

Sledge is being held in the Colbert County Jail awaiting transfer to Kilby Correctional Facility for processing.

At a special called meeting Friday afternoon, the Russellville City Schools Board of Education officially hired Dr. Tim Guinn as the next superintendent of Russellville City Schools.

Guinn is no stranger to Russellville or to Russellville City Schools. While Guinn is currently serving as superintendent of Satsuma City Schools in South [...]]]>

At a special called meeting Friday afternoon, the Russellville City Schools Board of Education officially hired Dr. Tim Guinn as the next superintendent of Russellville City Schools.

Guinn is no stranger to Russellville or to Russellville City Schools. While Guinn is currently serving as superintendent of Satsuma City Schools in South Alabama, where he has been superintendent for the past two years, he was at Russellville prior to that post. Guinn came to Russellville in 2002 and served as the Assistant Principal at RHS from 2002 to 2009 before moving to the principal position for the next seven years. In 2016, Guinn accepted a position at the RCS Central Office as an administrative assistant, which is the position of assistant superintendent. He served in this capacity until accepting the superintendent’s job at Satsuma in January 2022.

“We are looking forward to Dr. Guinn coming back and know he will do an excellent job upholding our traditions and the excellence we’re known for,” RCS Board President Greg Trapp said. “Having someone who is already familiar with our system and how things work is going to be a plus for us and hopefully make this transition a smooth one. We look forward to working with him.”

As a native of Franklin County, Dr. Guinn said he was excited and ready to come back home to a city and system he loves and believes in.

“I am genuinely honored and humbled to have the opportunity to lead a school system as great as Russellville City Schools,” Dr. Guinn said. “Russellville is a special place, and I am thankful to be coming back to work with people I respect, both personally and professionally.”

Both Trapp and Guinn expressed their gratitude to RCS Superintendent Dr. Heath Grimes for all he’s done over his almost nine-year tenure.

“I would like to thank Dr. Grimes for his contribution to the tradition of excellence established at RCS,” Trapp said. “I wish him well in the future.”

“Dr. Grimes has done an excellent job, and I appreciate all of the hard work and dedication he gave to this system during his time here,” Dr. Guinn said. “I am looking forward to picking up the torch and moving our system forward.”

At the meeting, the board approved the transfer of superintendent duties to Dr. Jason Goodwin, the current administrative assistant, pending Dr. Guinn’s arrival.

The investigation, which will be conducted by the Civil Rights Division, will examine whether [...]]]>

WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice announced today that it has opened an environmental justice investigation into the wastewater disposal and infectious disease and outbreaks programs of the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Lowndes County, Alabama, Health Department.

The investigation, which will be conducted by the Civil Rights Division, will examine whether the Alabama Department of Public Health and the Lowndes County Health Department operate their onsite wastewater disposal program and infectious diseases and outbreaks program in a manner that discriminates against Black residents of Lowndes County in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI). The investigation will also examine whether the health departments’ policies and practices have caused Black residents of Lowndes County to have diminished access to adequate sanitation systems and to disproportionately and unjustifiably bear the risk of adverse health effects associated with inadequate wastewater treatment, such as hookworm infections.

“Sanitation is a basic human need, and no one in the United States should be exposed to risk of illness and other serious harm because of inadequate access to safe and effective sewage management,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “State and local health officials are obligated, under federal civil rights laws, to protect the health and safety of all their residents. We will conduct a fair and thorough investigation of these environmental justice concerns and their impact on the health, life, and safety of people across Lowndes County, Alabama.”

The department has not reached any conclusions regarding the allegations in this matter. This investigation marks the Department of Justice’s first Title VI environmental justice investigation for one of the department’s funding recipients. Title VI prohibits recipients of federal financial assistance from discriminating on the basis of race, color or national origin. Up until now, the Civil Rights Division has regularly provided counsel and support to other federal agencies whose Title VI compliance efforts have involved environmental programs. The department’s grants do not often go to programs that conduct environmental work, limiting its direct jurisdiction to conduct these types of administrative investigations.

The Civil Rights Division’s Federal Coordination and Compliance Section is conducting this investigation with the support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama. Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Federal Coordination and Compliance Section by email at AL.Lowndes.EJ@usdoj.gov.

Staff Reports

Emantic Bradford Jr. has been identified as the 21-year-old man shot

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) received a request Friday, Nov. 23, from Tenth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Mike Anderton to investigate two shooting incidents that occurred Thursday, Nov. 22, at the Riverchase Galleria in the Jefferson County, [...]]]>

Emantic Bradford Jr. has been identified as the 21-year-old man shot

MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) received a request Friday, Nov. 23, from Tenth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Mike Anderton to investigate two shooting incidents that occurred Thursday, Nov. 22, at the Riverchase Galleria in the Jefferson County, Ala., the city of Hoover.  D.A. Anderton requested ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) take the lead in an officer-involved shooting involving Hoover Police Department, as well as a shooting that occurred prior to the officer-involved incident at the same location. The request was submitted collaboratively by the D.A., Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale, Sheriff-Elect Mark Pettway and Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis to ensure an independent and transparent investigation by an outside agency with Hoover PD’s full cooperation.

SBI agreed to lead the investigation of both events and SBI Agents engaged with Hoover PD and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigators to determine information that has developed to date.

The events in question occurred Thanksgiving night in one of Alabama’s largest indoor shopping venues. Once the SBI completes its investigation, the file in its entirety will be turned over to the Tenth Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office. SBI does not release information in relation to ongoing/pending investigations.

Individuals with information concerning these shooting incidents are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama at 205.254.7777 or email a tip to https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=646&C=202020.

MONTGOMERY–Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that Quenton Wesley, a former bailiff in the District Court for Tuscaloosa County, pleaded guilty to one felony count of violating the Alabama Ethics Act. Specifically, Wesley admitted to intentionally using his office or position for personal gain. Wesley’s plea in Tuscaloosa Circuit Court Wednesday follows his removal from [...]]]>

MONTGOMERY–Attorney General Steve Marshall announced that Quenton Wesley,
a former bailiff in the District Court for Tuscaloosa County, pleaded guilty to one felony
count of violating the Alabama Ethics Act. Specifically, Wesley admitted to
intentionally using his office or position for personal gain. Wesley’s plea in Tuscaloosa
Circuit Court Wednesday follows his removal from his position as a bailiff in
November 2016.
The conviction arises from Wesley’s use of his position as a bailiff to obtain money from
defendants in district court cases. Wesley falsely told defendants that they had tested
positive for illegal substances during a urinalysis screen and that Wesley could change
their results if the defendants paid him. In addition to this scheme, Wesley provided
other defendants with false documentation for them to file with the court to satisfy their
community service obligations in exchange for money and free labor for a business with
which Wesley was associated.
“This defendant corruptly profited from his position of trust in Alabama’s criminal
justice system and has been held accountable for his actions.” Attorney General
Marshall said. “As Attorney General, I will not tolerate violations of Alabama’s Ethics
Act and I will continue to vigorously enforce the law against those who illegally profit
from their public service.”
Wesley is scheduled to be sentenced on March 26. He faces a potential penalty of two to
twenty years in prison for the Ethics charge, a Class B felony.
Attorney General Marshall expressed thanks to the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
for its assistance and commended Assistant Attorney General Kyle Beckman and
investigators in the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division.