Staff Writer

TUSCUMBIA – A woman who authorities said had alcohol and drugs in her system at the time of a fatal Colbert County crash pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, according to court records.A Colbert County grand jury recently indicted Emma Claire [...]]]>

NEWS ALERT By WB Franks

Staff Writer

TUSCUMBIA – A woman who authorities said had alcohol and drugs in her system at the time of a fatal Colbert County crash pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, according to court records.A Colbert County grand jury recently indicted Emma Claire Snipes, 25, of Tuscumbia, in the death of Jimmie D. Smallwood, 76, of Tuscumbia.On Nov. 23, 2023, the vehicle Snipes was driving collided with the one Smallwood was driving on Alabama Highway 20, south of Muscle Shoals, Alabama troopers said.Smallwood was pronounced dead at the scene by the Colbert County Coroner’s Office. A toxicology report indicated Snipes had alcohol, methamphetamine, and THC in her system, according to the indictment. In addition, troopers she was traveling at a high rate of speed.Snipes was released from the Colbert County Jail on a $50,000 bond. She was arraigned in Colbert County Circuit Court on Tuesday in front of Colbert County Circuit Judge Kyle Brown. Snipes is being represented by Florence Attorney Ralph Holt.

By WB FranksStaff Writer

The city council may have taken a wrecking ball to a plan to demolish the parking deck at the corner of Tennessee and Pine streets Tuesday night when the council voted to turn down a contract for the project.By a 4-2 vote, the council denied [...]]]>

NEWS ALERT FLORENCE

By WB Franks
Staff Writer

The city council may have taken a wrecking ball to a plan to demolish the parking deck at the corner of Tennessee and Pine streets Tuesday night when the council voted to turn down a contract for the project.
By a 4-2 vote, the council denied a $774,260.85 bid from Tomlin Excavating and Demolition, of Birmingham, which was the low bidder for the project.
Those opposing it said they learned during a Monday meeting that the structure is not at risk of collapsing, but does have issues with problems such as sections of concrete falling.
Several said if it is dangerous enough to demolish, the city should not allow anyone to park there while they decide on the deck’s future.
A new deck was opened earlier this month at the corner of Pine and Tombigbee streets.
The plan had been to tear down the old deck and using it for staging for construction of a new city hall, which was to be build in the parking lot of the current city hall across Tennessee Street from the old deck.
Since then, the council has voiced concerns that the bids for the city hall project are expected to exceed the $48 million bond issue Florence obtained to pay for the project. Now, the future of that project is uncertain.

Authorities have confirmed to Shoals Insider that a fast food restaurant manager was arrested last week and charged with multiple sex crimes involving an underage employee.

Police have identified the suspect as Garrett David Wilkins, 38 years old, of Florence.

On September 25, 2024, detectives opened an investigation involving [...]]]>

NEWS ALERT FLORENCE

Authorities have confirmed to Shoals Insider that a fast food restaurant manager was arrested last week and charged with multiple sex crimes involving an underage employee.

Police have identified the suspect as Garrett David Wilkins, 38 years old, of Florence.

On September 25, 2024, detectives opened an investigation involving an adult having inappropriate sexual activity with an underage juvenile. Detectives were able to establish probable cause to issue warrants for Garrett Wilkins.

Wilkins was located in Salt Lake City, Utah by the US Marshals last week and he was transported back to Florence.

Wilkins was booked into the g we Lauderdale County Detention Center and charged with 6 counts of Pornography/Obscene Material, 6 counts of Possession of Child Pornography, 2nd degree of Sexual Abuse, 2 counts of Transmitting Obscene Material to a child, Enticing a Child to Enter and Electronic Solicitation of a Child.

The victim is reportedly 15 years of age. This according to court records.

Garrett David Wilkins is being held at the Lauderdale County Detention Center on a $606,000 bond.

MULTIPLE VEHICLE CRASH ON HATCH

Firefighters, police, and ambulances responded to the scene of a multiple vehicle crash on Hatch Boulevard in front of Oakwood Cemetery in Sheffield.

The incident occurred at around 5:45 pm Monday near the intersection of Darby Avenue and Hatch Blvd.

NEWS ALERT 🚨 An inmate who was facing trial on a trafficking of methamphetamine charge in Lauderdale County this week has instead pleaded guilty to a lesser offense.Robert William Redding Jr., 38, of Sheffield, will serve 15 years in prison after pleading Thursday to possession of a controlled substance with intent [...]]]>

NEWS ALERT An inmate who was facing trial on a trafficking of methamphetamine charge in Lauderdale County this week has instead pleaded guilty to a lesser offense.Robert William Redding Jr., 38, of Sheffield, will serve 15 years in prison after pleading Thursday to possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and first-degree permitting or aiding an escape, according to court records.The sentences will run concurrently with sentences from prior convictions. Redding currently is in the Limestone Correctional Facility, where he has served just over seven years of a 17-year sentence on convictions of first-degree theft of property, two counts of second-degree theft of property and one count each of second-degree possession of a forged instrument and second-degree escape, according to the Alabama Department of Corrections.He also has prior convictions on two counts of third-degree burglary, according to corrections records.By WB Franks

A single-vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 1:37 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, has claimed the life of a Tuscumbia teen. The 17-year-old was fatally injured when the 2007 Toyota Camry that the juvenile was a passenger in, left the roadway and struck an embankment. After the initial impact, the [...]]]>

NEWS ALERT TUSCUMBIA

A single-vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 1:37 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, has claimed the life of a Tuscumbia teen. The 17-year-old was fatally injured when the 2007 Toyota Camry that the juvenile was a passenger in, left the roadway and struck an embankment. After the initial impact, the Toyota overturned, struck a utility pole and then a culvert. The teen was not using a seat belt at the time of the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The driver of the Toyota, another 17-year-old also of Tuscumbia, was injured and airlifted to a local hospital for treatment. A 17-year-old and a 16-year-old, both of Tuscumbia, who were additional passengers in the Toyota, were also injured and transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The crash occurred on Woodmont Drive near Ponderosa Drive, approximately four miles south of Tuscumbia, in Colbert County.

State Troopers continue to investigate the crash. /JR

PEDESTRIAN KILLED IN CRASH

A single-vehicle crash involving a pedestrian that occurred at approximately 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, has claimed the life of a Florence woman.

The pedestrian, Joyce Mansell, 72, was fatally injured when she was struck in the roadway by the 1996 Toyota 4Runner driven by Michael H. [...]]]> NEWS ALERT FLORENCE

PEDESTRIAN KILLED IN CRASH

A single-vehicle crash involving a pedestrian that occurred at approximately 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, has claimed the life of a Florence woman.

The pedestrian, Joyce Mansell, 72, was fatally injured when she was struck in the roadway by the 1996 Toyota 4Runner driven by Michael H. Bishop, 47, of Florence.

Mansell was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash by the Lauderdale County Coroner’s Office.

The crash occurred on Lauderdale County 11 near Alabama 157, approximately 10 miles north of Florence, in Lauderdale County. 

State Troopers continue to investigate the crash.