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.

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.

A suspect has been arrested and charged with assaulting a Florence police officer after an altercation at a local residence.

FPD released the following statement regarding the incident:

On Monday, October 7, 2024, at around 6 PM, officers responded to a residence in the 500 block of North Franklin [...]]]>

NEWS ALERT FLORENCE

A suspect has been arrested and charged with assaulting a Florence police officer after an altercation at a local residence.

FPD released the following statement regarding the incident:

On Monday, October 7, 2024, at around 6 PM, officers responded to a residence in the 500 block of North Franklin Street to assist a homeowner with an unwanted guest. Tyler Reeves was present and refused to leave. Reeves had warrants for his arrest. Officers made contact with Reeves at the front door, and he slammed the door. A short time later, Reeves opened the front door again, and officers attempted to grab him. Reeves slammed the front door. The door struck the officer’s arm, causing the glass to shatter. The officer sustained a deep laceration to his arm. Reeves was taken into custody and charged with Assault of a Police Officer and Resisting Arrest.

The officer was treated and released from the North Alabama Medical Center.

Tyler Reeves, 31, of Florence, is being held at the Lauderdale County Detention Center on a $2800 bond.

FPD said 30-year-old Olivia Young, 30-year-old Jacob Austin, 48-year-old Lori Gholston and 25-year-old Evan Young, all four from Florence, for possession of a controlled substance and various other drug charges [...]]]>

FLORENCE, Ala — The Florence Police Department says four people were arrested Wednesday after a search of a home found fentanyl pills and methamphetamine.

FPD said 30-year-old Olivia Young, 30-year-old Jacob Austin, 48-year-old Lori Gholston and 25-year-old Evan Young, all four from Florence, for possession of a controlled substance and various other drug charges after a search on Wednesday.

According to authorities, the four were arrested after agents with the Lauderdale County Drug Task Force searched a home in the 100 block of Foy Avenue in Florence. The department said the search warrant was obtained due to what it called “drug dealing activities” by someone living at the house.

FPD said officers stopped the target of the warrant away from the house and that she was found to have fentanyl pills and meth on her person at the time. Several other people were found during the search of the house.

The department did not specify which of the people arrested was stopped away from the house and which were found inside the home during the drug task force’s search.

SUSPECT LEADS POLICE ON HIGH-SPEED CHASE

On Friday, July 5, 2024, at around 1:30 AM, a Florence police officer observed a black Hyundai Sonata make an improper turn on Cloverdale Road. The vehicle accelerated to speeds of over 90 MPH. Officers pursued the vehicle.

The vehicle continued to try to elude officers [...]]]>

FLORENCE

SUSPECT LEADS POLICE ON HIGH-SPEED CHASE

On Friday, July 5, 2024, at around 1:30 AM, a Florence police officer observed a black Hyundai Sonata make an improper turn on Cloverdale Road. The vehicle accelerated to speeds of over 90 MPH. Officers pursued the vehicle.

The vehicle continued to try to elude officers by making several turns and continuing to drive at high speeds. The driver lost control and struck a light pole around County Road 42 and Chisholm Road.

The vehicle was only occupied by the driver, who was transported to the North Alabama Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The incident is still under investigation.

Last Saturday, on March 23, 2024, at approximately 10:45 a.m., Florence Police responded to Budget Inn on Florence Boulevard to the report of an unresponsive person.

When officers arrived [...]]]> Authorities have released the identity of a man who was found deceased at a Florence motel and is the subject of a death investigation.

Last Saturday, on March 23, 2024, at approximately 10:45 a.m., Florence Police responded to Budget Inn on Florence Boulevard to the report of an unresponsive person.

When officers arrived they found 44-year-old Justin Tidwell deceased on the floor of the room. Detectives responded and processed the scene.

The victim was transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences for an autopsy. The cause of death is still under investigation.

City officials were at the groundbreaking of the Tombigbee Public Parking Deck that took place Thursday morning at 10:00.

The new six-level public parking deck consisting of 273 automobile spaces and 23 bicycle spaces will be on the corner of Pine Street and Tombigbee Street.The project is expected to be completed in 2024. [...]]]>

City officials were at the groundbreaking of the Tombigbee Public Parking Deck that took place Thursday morning at 10:00.

The new six-level public parking deck consisting of 273 automobile spaces and 23 bicycle spaces will be on the corner of Pine Street and Tombigbee Street.
The project is expected to be completed in 2024. Brett Bollman, Vice President-Operations and Martin Shows, Vice President-Field Operations of Roy Anderson Corporation Contractors along with Calvin Durham, Principal and Jason Tucker, Architect of LED Architecture delivered comments during the ceremony.