Polar Vortex Continues to Plague Southern States in Late January and Early February by Chasidy Rae Sisk
As predicted, the polar vortex that wrought havoc at the beginning of the year strengthened and continued moving southward in late January, resulting in more unusually low temperatures and icy winds. This winter storm system impacted most of the country with 34 states being under some sort of winter weather warning or advisory during the last week of the month. While residents in the northern states are more accustomed to harsh winter precipitation, areas in the south were left floundering at the unusual
phenomenon of snow and ice that poured down in states that generally enjoy much milder winters. This ab-
normal weather system raised a lot of concern and caused significant damage in many southern metropolitan areas, particularly in Atlanta, GA, and See Polar Vortex Continues, Page 30
Axalta Racing Paint Scheme Wows Fans in Charlotte, NC, Fans Treated to Brilliant Flames for Charity
SS race car, driven by fourtime NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, last week at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, NC. When the cover was removed, there were gasps, claps and even an “awesome” could be heard from the crowd. Motorsports announcer, Winston Kelley moderated a panel discussion comprised of Rick Hendrick, Jeff Gordon, and Nigel Budden pictured race car driver Jeff Gordon; with No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet SS VP Axalta Coating Systems Axalta Coating Systems officially unand Head of North American Business veiled the 2014 Brilliant Flames paint Nigel Budden; and Hendrick Motorscheme on the No. 24 Axalta Chevrolet See Axalta Racing, Page 17
VOL. 5 ISSUE 1 MARCH 2014
Perry, FL, Dealership Shot Up by Long-Term Employee, Sheriff’s Deputy Still in Serious Condition
Earl Edward Clauge, Jr., 51, an employee of Timberland Ford in Perry, FL, crashed a vehicle into the front of the dealership, exited the vehicle, and began shooting, at about 10:30 AM Wednesday, February 5. Taylor County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Lundy was in the dealership having his car serviced when Clauge smashed through the glass in his black Nissan truck. On Wednesday, Clague had called in sick, but showed up a short time later, when he crashed through the front window with his truck and opened fire. An employee of the store ran to get Lundy, who was having his patrol car fixed in the service center. Lundy responded by firing his service weapon and Clauge was killed by Lundy’s action, but not before
Clauge hit Lundy with a shotgun blast. Clauge also shot two other employees, said Gretl Plessinger with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Two civilians were shot and are recovering at local hospitals while three additional victims suffered minor injuries. In addition to the Remington 12gauge semi-automatic shotgun he shot Robert Lundy and two other employees with, Clague had another fully loaded pump-action shotgun in his truck as well as a fully loaded rifle. Additional ammo was found on his person and in his truck. FDLE spokeswoman Plesinger said: “The shooter has been confirmed as 51-year-old Earl Edward Clague, Jr. We know that he’s from Taylor County, and he was a current employee of the dealership. We don’t have a motive yet.” See Dealership Shooting, Page 13
Mobile, AL, MSO, Cockrell’s Body Shop, Steps Up to Help the City During Winter Storm Leon “I heard Mobile’s first responders’ overtime budgets were used up [during Winter Storm Leon that blanketed the Southeast],” said Greg Cole, district manager who oversees six of the 15 Cockrell’s Body Shop locations. “I thought, ‘What can we do?’” Cole was well aware of the impact of the storm. Cockrell’s Auto Body saw between 30 and 40 vehicles at their six locations as a direct result of the storm. Local media called other shops and heard similar numbers. Cole said most of the damage has been superficial. “A lot of the cars that have been brought in have just been small bump and dents,” Cole said. “We’ve had a few tow-ins that spun around on the road and had some suspension damage so they couldn’t drive. But most of them are just small bump and dents.” Thankfully, Cole says no one was hurt in any of the vehicle accidents
Greg Cole of Cockrell's Body Shop stands next to Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson in front of one of the shop's 12 locations along the I-65 Service Road. Cole announced the donation of $12,000 toward helping to pay for overtime costs. (Credit John Sharp/jsharp@al.com)
Cockrell’s serviced.“We can fix the bodies on the cars, but we don’t want anybody to get hurt,” Cole said. What Cole realized was being hurt was the budgets for the responders. The city needed help. Cole approached his manager Jody Johnston, with an idea to use some of the company’s savings to help support the city’s overtime budgSee Cockrell’s Helps Out, Page 8
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