College Street Players present Peter Pan Jr. Page A-3
Lady Tigers advance to Northwest Regionals Page B1
Hometown newspaper of Billy Tillman- since 1933
Hartselle Enquirer
50 CENTS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2024
VOLUME 91, NO. 7
ff By Eric Fleischauer For the Enquirer A homeowner shot and killed a burglar breaking into his home early Saturday
morning, according to the Limestone County Sheriff ’s Office. At 4:20 a.m., Limestone County sheriff ’s deputies responded to the 17000 Block of Morris Road in
Elkmont on a report of a burglary in progress. The homeowner reported that he was awakened by someone violently attempting to gain entry into his residence.
The homeowner armed himself and awaited the deputy’s arrival, the Sheriff ’s Office said, but before deputies arrived, the offender kicked in the homeowner’s door and entered the resi-
dence. The homeowner shot him, the Sheriff ’s Office said, and the burglar left the house and died outside. Investigators identified the deceased as Christopher Jason Hovis, 44, of
Hartselle. “This investigation is ongoing; however, preliminary results indicate this is a justified shooting, and there are no charges at this time,” the Sheriff ’s Office said.
Alleged shooter in murder-for-hire case to stand trial in October kind of working from that theory at this point.” Bond attempts Bond for capital murder The alleged shooter in a cases is rare in Alabama. 2020 murder-for-hire plot Nevertheless, attorneys for that left a Hartselle man Skuce and Howard have dead is expected to be the tried to secure bond for their first, among five clients. accused, to stand In a 2022 trial on Oct. 16, motion to set according to his bond for Howard, defense attorney. attorney Carl Cole Logan Delp, 39, said his client was is charged with being held withcapital murder out bond solely in the shootbecause he had ing death of been charged Anthony Larry with capital murSheppard, 41. der. Delp Hartselle police Cole wrote “that found Sheppard the allegations dead inside his residence the made against this defendant same day he was supposed to are that he served as a ‘lookappear in court to hash out out.’ It is undisputed that he custody and visitation issues did not pull the trigger. In with the mother of his child, fact, it is undisputed that he Jaclyn Skuce, 41. was not at the scene of the Skuce is accused of paying crime.” Delp $30,000 to kill ShepAt the time, Anderson said pard after she found Delp the prosecution did not arbithrough a fake Facebook trarily charge Howard with a account, according to inves- capital offense, and that the tigators. She’s charged with charge should preclude his capital murder. release on bond. Three others accused of In her court order regardbeing accomplices are also ing the bond motion, Howcharged with capital mur- ell listed several reasons for der: Angela Stolz, 37; Aaron denying Howard bond: He Howard, 42; and LaJuhn has a criminal history includSmart, 27. ing drug possession and an All five have remained in out-of-state conviction for Morgan County Jail without assault with a dangerous bond while awaiting trial. weapon; Delp told investigaOn Wednesday, they shuf- tors that he used Howard to fled with shackles into Cir- “get girls and bring them to cuit Judge Jennifer Howell’s (him),” thereby indicating a courtroom for a status con- criminal reputation; Howference on the cases against ard’s co-defendants said he them. was paid for assisting in the A court order to schedule crime; and the probability the trial had not yet been of a conviction. filed as of Thursday afterIn Skuce’s case, her attornoon, according to court neys in 2022 attached sevrecords; however, Delp’s eral letters in support of her attorney, Brian White, said character, mainly from comthe parties decided to begin munity Christian organizajury selection on Oct. 16 at tions with whom she appar9 a.m. ently took classes while “Then we’ll begin the trial incarcerated. in earnest on Oct. 21,” he Most notably, her oldsaid. est daughter wrote a letter District Attorney Scott addressed to Howell. Anderson said the case “The last time I got to see looks to be in “a good pos- her was in our living room, ture” to proceed to trial. over two years ago, in the “With capital murder middle of the night with my cases, everyone has to mother in handcuffs,” the take extra precaution to letter reads. “Our family has make certain that all the been torn apart …. She is a i’s are dotted and the t’s are wonderful mother, and all crossed,” he said. “If they she has done is protect and aren’t, then we have to back love us.” up and make sure that we Howell ultimately denied have everyone and every- the bond. thing in place.” “There is strong circumRobert Tuten, one of Stolz’s stantial evidence regarding attorneys, said his client is motive, the co-defendants looking forward to the case who were captured on video moving along. shooting Sheppard impli“You know, the evidence is cated the defendant, and the shaping up to look like she’s defendant admitted that she not as directly involved as sought out profile pictures everyone first thought when with guns to find someone everyone was first arrested,” to contact and that she paid he said. “Apparently, she was someone to help her,” Hownot present when the actual ell wrote in her ruling. person was killed, so we’re
By David Gambino For the Enquirer
Obituaries • Darrel Ray Phillips • Charles O. Nolen • Cody Allen Pump • Irvin ‘Irv’ Howard Dingus • Ronald Eugene Hood, Jr. • Naancy Porter Copeland • Mary Fowler Maxwell • Tammy Alred Bruton • Vera Nell Sivley Steelman
For full obituaries, see page A-2
• Tina Drinkard Briscoe • David Test • Lucille Fowler Cobbs • Michael E. Garner • WyVaughn Trent ‘W.T.’ Smith • Stephen Brown • Kimberly Hughes • Linnette ‘Linn’ Golden • David Test • Michael E. Garner • Katherine AWoods Collier
Special to the Enquirer The Hartselle Tiger Paws Dance Team is the high school competition dance team that focuses on Jazz, Kick and Pom Technique. The dancers perform at many events throughout the year, including pep rallies, football games, basketball games, Depot Days and other community events. The past two weekends, the Tiger Paws competed in regionals, state and the National Dance Team Championship. The Tiger Paws walked away as winners in all competitions. The UDA (Universal Dance Association) Magic City Regionals were hosted by Thompson High School on Jan. 27. The team won regionals by earning first place in both JV Kick and JV Pom. They also won Best Overall Choreography. Spain Park hosted the DTU (Dance Team Union) Alabama State Championship Jan. 28. The team won the state title in both categories; JV Kick and JV Pom. The performance team also earned second place in Jazz. Six dancers competed in the solo competition category and Mattie Reynolds was crowned Solo State Champion and Mollie Haskins placed third. This past weekend, The Tiger Paws competed at The National Dance Team Championship at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Fla. There were more than 500 teams in attendance. It is the largest and oldest dance team championship in the dance world. The Tiger Paws competed in the JV
High-kick and JV Pom preliminaries and advanced to finals in both. They competed on Sunday in finals and were crowned JV High-Kick National Champions. The team also finished ninth in the nation in JV Pom. The competition team is made up of nine dancers and two alternates in seventh through tenth grades including captain Avery Delaney, co-captain Kaitlyn Moore, Sarah Westbrook, Gracie Exum, Maggie, Beth King, Mattie Reynolds, Mollie Haskins, Anna Grace DeLucenay, Aubrey Lott, Pressley Berry and Hailey Scott. Additional performance team members are Katilee Alexander and Charlee Blanton. Team coaches are Jenny Faulk and
Tisha Bates. “We are so proud of this very young team,” Faulk said. “They are hard-working and truly love to dance together. It has been pure joy to watch them grow as dancers and young ladies this year.” “This team is a true example of hard work and dedication,” she added. “They practice 3-4 days a week after school for three hours a day and their 7th period athletics class. They are great students and are involved in many other activities at school as well.” This year, Mary Elizabeth Adams also helped with technique classes. Adams was one of the original Tiger Paws when the team was founded in 2017.