Tuscumbia News – Shoals Insider

FORMER POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON IN PEDESTRIAN DEATH

H. Wayne Nix — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 02:43:51 +0000

A former Tuscumbia police officer was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the 2022 death of a pedestrian struck by a police cruiser the officer was driving while intoxicated.Jay Steward received the sentence in the Oct. 10, 2022, death of Terry Hinton, who was struck and killed while Hinton was checking his mailbox.Steward had wanted the sentence split, rather than to serve all 20 years in prison, but Colbert County Circuit Court Judge Kyle Brown said there will be no split. Steward was taken into custody to begin serving his sentence immediately after the hearing.Brown said the police vehicle Steward was driving while off duty was going approximately 90 mph.Steward initially was charged with reckless murder in the case but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Aug. 13.He apologized to family and friends of Hinton’s during the hearing.”What I did was take a great man from you all,” he said. “I made a horrible mistake and made decision to do what was wrong.”

Tuscumbia mayor moves city contract to avoid personal conflicts

Staff — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 16:56:41 +0000

MAYOR UNDERWOOD

TUSCUMBIA–Mayor Kerry Underwood merged his accounting firm with King, Leigh, and Associates in 2019 following his 2016 mayoral win. Tuscumbia, along with many other cities, relied on the services of King, Leigh, and Associates to complete the city’s annual financial audits, prompting Underwood to scout another agency to handle the city’s contract once a merger was deemed imminent.

The merger that would produce Underwood, King, and Leigh was finalized in January of 2019 after the city’s business was moved to Hunt and Associates, Florence, at the mayor’s behest.

Hunt and Associates produced the city’s first audit on September 30, 2019. Our current understanding of the merger and surrounding events fails to indicate any impropriety on Underwood’s behalf.

By Elizabeth Reeder – Staff Writer

ShoalsInsider.com – Keeping You Informed

HUNTER JACKSON NEW MORNING HOST AT MY101.5

Staff — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 04:56:04 +0000

HUNTER JACKSON

TUSCUMBIA– You will hear a new voice on the FM dial starting Monday morning at 6 until 10 am. Singing River Media Group has added Hunter Jackson as the new Morning Show Host on MY101.5 FM.

Hunter is the son of former WVNA Operations Manager and Morning Show Host, Jim Jackson, who passed away from a heart attack in April of 2005, when Hunter was 14 years of age.

Hunter grew up at the WVNA radio station in downtown Tuscumbia. His birth was even on air. The station held a contest for listeners to win concert tickets if they could pick the correct time of Hunter’s birth.

So, it’s safe to say that radio is in Hunter’s blood.

“I want to invite all of my former listeners to tune in to MY 101.5 FM weekday mornings from 6-10 am, they will definitely love all the current hits we play and our on-air guest,” said Jackson.

Hunter wants listeners to know he will have a special music category for Shoals Area Music.

Hunter’s first musical guest will be Alecia Elliott. You can listen live at my1015.com.

Hunter will be taking your calls at 256-801-1015.

ShoalsInsider.com – Keeping You Informed

Nextran Truck Center in Tuscumbia Named Mack 2019 North American Dealer of the Year

Staff — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 21:58:09 +0000

(Left to right) Martin Weissburg, president, Mack Trucks; Dennis McDaniel, regional vice president, Southeast, Mack Trucks; Jon Pritchett, president and CEO, Nextran; Jonathan Randall, senior vice president, North American sales and marketing, Mack Trucks at the Mack 2019 Dealer of the Year Awards Ceremony.
Photo: Mack Trucks

TUSCUMBIA – Nextran Truck Center of Tuscumbia is Mack Trucks’ 2019 North American Dealer of the Year. Mack announced the winner during its annual dealer meeting, which brings together dealer leadership from the U.S. and Canada.

The Dealer of the Year awards are presented to dealers that consistently exceed their business targets for sales, parts and leasing, as well as recognizing dealers who continue to grow their businesses and rate highly among customers for satisfaction.

“Nextran Truck Center of Tuscumbia drove significant improvement over the years to ultimately achieve outstanding results, and we’re pleased to be able to recognize their ongoing commitment to the Mack brand with this award,” said Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior vice president, North American sales and marketing. “Nextran Truck Center grew its market share year-over-year and has excelled at parts sales and utilizing Mack Financial Services.”

Nextran has 16 full-service truck centers throughout Florida, Georgia and Alabama.

Mack Trucks also named 2019 winners for its regional sales divisions:

Northeast Region: Ballard Mack Sales & Service, Johnston, Rhode Island
Southeast Region: Nextran Truck Center, Tuscumbia, Alabama
Central Region: Kriete Truck Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Southwest Region: Vanguard Truck Center, Austin, Texas
West Region: TEC Equipment, Seattle, Washington
Canada Region: Vision Truck Group, Cambridge, Ontario

Tri-State Truck Centers, Memphis, Tennessee was named U.S. Mack Financial Services Dealer of the Year, while Vision Truck Group was named Canada Mack Financial Services Dealer of the Year. The Mack Leasing North America Dealer of the Year Award went to Bergey’s Truck Center, Souderton, Pennsylvania. Mack of Nashville received the North America Remarketing Dealer of the Year Award, and the overall Customer Satisfaction Award went to Interstate Trucksource Inc., Romulus, Michigan.

TUSCUMBIA FIRE CHIEF ARRESTED ON FELONY CHARGES

Staff — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 18:53:22 +0000

CHIEF RODNEY MCANALLY

TUSCUMBIA– Tuscumbia Fire Chief Rodney McAnally was arrested Friday on felony theft and ethics charges.

Authorities tell ShoalsInsider.com McAnally was charged with second-degree theft and using his office for personal gain,

The charges are related to McAnally’s time as Littleville Volunteer Fire Chief.

A police report was filed stating around $250,000 in cash and equipment were embezzled from the Littleville Volunteer Fire Department.

McAnally was placed on administrative leave on Monday by Tuscumbia Mayor Kerry Underwood.

Asst. Chief David Pate has been placed in charge of the Fire Department.

McAnally was released from the Colbert County Jail on a $18,500 bond.

More details as they become available.

POLICE IDENTIFY SHOOTING VICTIM

Staff — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 00:00:02 +0000

TUSCUMBIA– Authorities have identified the victim of a Labor Day homicide at a home on the corner of John Street and Hobson Street.

According to Tuscumbia Police Chief Tony Logan, John Thomas Call Mansell, 34, was murdered in a truck behind the home.

Sources close to the situation tell ShoalsInsider.com, a man named Kevin Hester is being sought after as a possible suspect and Hester’s girlfriend is reportedly in custody. Police are reportedly conducting a statewide manhunt for Hester.

Hester reportedly shot Call behind the home in an ambush-style attack.

According to courthouse records, Hester has an extensive criminal history.

RICHARD KEVIN HESTER

Call-Mansell’s body has been taken to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Huntsville for an autopsy.

TUSCUMBIA POLICE INVESTIGATING SHOOTING DEATH

Staff — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 11:59:24 +0000

TUSCUMBIA– Authorities are investigating the shooting death of a man whose body was found in a truck behind a home on the corner of John Street and Hobson Street.

Authorities tell ShoalsInsider.com they currently have two people of interest in the Monday night incident.

Colbert County Coroner Justin Gasque pronounced the victim and took the body to the Department of Forensic Sciences in Huntsville for an autopsy.

The home is directly in front of the Helen Keller Surgery Pavillion.

Police have not released the name of the victim pending family notification.

More details as they become available.

Tuscumbia officer placed on paid leave

Staff — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 17:08:15 +0000

Tuscumbia Officer Greg Scoggins

TUSCUMBIA– Tuscumbia police officer Greg Scoggins, who was involved in an off-duty incident this past weekend at Keller Court Apartments, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation into the incident.

A video of the incident went viral over the weekend after Muscle Shoals resident Ryan Williams, who filmed the incident, posted the video of the altercation on Facebook.

The video shows the two men, Williams and Scoggins, arguing and shows Scoggins pulling his service weapon on Williams just to see some identification. Scoggins, later in the video, denied pulling his handgun on Williams.

Scoggins was formerly employed by the Muscle Shoals Police Department. He was terminated from that job following an incident where Scoggins reportedly shot a deer on federal property while on duty near the Muscle Shoals Waste Water Plant on 2nd Street.

Scoggins reportedly lives at the apartment complex rent-free to provide security for the residents.

Chief Tony Logan said the department is conducting a thorough internal investigation of the incident and stated the results of the investigation should be available within a week.

Staff Reports

ShoalsInsider.com – Keeping You Informed

Jury selection begins Monday in jury tampering trial of local attorney

Staff — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 04:02:42 +0000

Tuscumbia Attorney Billy Underwood

TUSCUMBIA- Jury selection starts Monday in the jury tampering trial of prominent Tuscumbia attorney Billy Underwood.

Underwood, the former chairman of the Colbert County Democratic Executive Committee, was indicted in January of 2018 with attempting to bribe a prospective juror in a civil case.

Underwood is being represented by Former Attorney General Bill Baxley and Tuscumbia attorney William Hovater.

The indictment accuses Underwood, who has practiced law for over 30 years, of “offering, conferring or agreeing to confer any pecuniary benefit upon a juror with the intent that the juror’s vote, opinion, decision or other action as a juror will thereby be corruptly influenced in Colbert County.”

Cullman County Circuit Judge Martha Evans Williams will be hearing the case in the Colbert County Courthouse and the Alabama Attorney Generals office will be prosecuting the case.

Underwood was released from the Colbert County Jail in January of 2018 on $5,000 bail.

Bribery of a juror is a Class C felony, which is punishable by 1-10 years in prison.

TUSCUMBIA ARRESTS SUSPECT AFTER HIGH-SPEED CHASE

Staff — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 16:10:45 +0000

TUSCUMBIA – A suspect in numerous church burglaries and car break-ins was arrested following a high-speed chase.

Police tell ShoalsInsider.com that 23-year-old Chandler Phillips crashed a stolen vehicle into a truck ending the chase near the intersection of West 1st Street and North Milton Street in Downtown Tuscumbia.

Investigators say Phillips is the primary suspect in several church burglaries, car break-ins and thefts this past week.

CHANDLER PHILLIPS (FB)

Police say Phillips was taken by ambulance to Helen Keller Hospital for injuries he sustained in the wreck.