Separate murder, manslaughter and attempted murder cases are on the criminal jury term docket for Clarke County Circuit Court that starts Monday, Dec. 3. Trenton Juawan McClain is facing murder charges. He allegedly shot Jamaury Whittaker with a shotgun in the neck and head Sept. 1, 2006. The two were at a hangout on Fool’s Acre Road in the Gainestown […]
Ribbon cut at new police station
Top photo: Past and present Jackson city officials, police officers, past police chiefs and members of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce attended a ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday, Nov. 27, at the new Jackson Police Department, which has been open for approximately a month. An open house was conducted for the public from 2-6 p.m. Those attending were given tours […]
Traffic stop turns into manhunt for JPD
A traffic stop, Friday, Nov. 23, turned into a manhunt as the driver of the stopped vehicle fled from Jackson Police. According to Police Chief Charles Burge, Officer Norman “Buzzy” Jordan stopped former Jackson resident Timothy Wright, around 4:15 p.m., Friday, for a traffic violation in the north part of the jurisdiction. Wright, who currently resides in Mobile, was wanted […]
Sen. Vivian Figures attends literacy meeting in Jackson
The Literacy Coalition of South Alabama, an organization that has been functioning primarily in Mobile County, has branched out to become more of a service organization rather than a passthrough. The coalition has been helping Clarke and Washington County address literacy needs. The organization plans to use the model formed in Clarke County to serve other counties’ literacy needs. Dr. […]
Upcoming events announced for Christmas season in Jackson
The Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce and other organizations have a number of Christmas season events planned for the coming weeks. The city will host a Christmas tree lighting ceremony Nov. 30 at 5 p.m., downtown. Pictures with Santa will be offered at the downtown fire station. The annual Step Sing will be conducted at the First United Methodist Church […]
LHS teacher arrested again
Schmitz turned over to federal authoritiesA Leroy High School teacher accused of having sexual relations with one of her students was turned over to federal authorities following a bond revocation hearing, Tuesday, Nov. 27. She allegedly had illegal contact with the student during Friday night’s football game in Leroy. In addition to the original charges against her, Charlene Schmitz, 55, of Leroy, now faces a […]
Garbage rates to rise
The Washington County Solid Waste Authority met Nov. 26 and the entire meeting was taken up with changes that will take place in the new contract with Allied Waste and the new year with garbage pickup. It was hoped that the authority could set the new rates for 2008 at this meeting but Allied Waste had not gotten the necessary […]
Meeting to focus on community needs related to TK steel plant
Southwest Alabama communities impacted by the ThyssenKrupp plant will be provided some direction through a region-wide public meeting, sponsored by Gov. Bob Riley’s Alabama Rural Action Commission, today (Thursday) at 3 p.m. in the Chatom Community Center. The steel plant, which Riley announced in May will be built near Mount Vernon, is expected to have an immediate and long-term impact […]
Commissioners and state representative examine county’s roads and bridges
Clarke County Engineer Sam Noble and the county commission met Tuesday with State Representative Thomas Jackson for an overview of the county road and bridge system. Noble had invited all the state legislative delegation for the county for a tour of the system Tuesday “to make sure they are familiar with the situation that we are faced with, the increase […]
