DISTRICT ATTORNEY Paid political ad by Nick Jones, P.O. Box 5, Rainsville, AL 35986
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THE SOUTHERN TORCH / FRIDAY, April 8, 2022 / VOL. 8, NO. 14 / $1.00
Complaint filed against City
By Marla Jones Managing Editor marla@southerntorch.com
FORT PAYNE, Ala.-- A class action complaint has been filed against the City of Fort Payne in DeKalb County Circuit Court. The complaint seeks injunctive relief to stop a $3.1 million deal with Marathon Realty Corporation and the City of Fort Payne, through a
memorandum of understanding approved in February with a 3-2 vote. Those voting against the memorandum were Council members, John Michael Smith, and Johnny Eberhart. The matter was already filed in Circuit Court for an Alabama Amendment 772 hearing. The 2004 enactment of Alabama Amendment 772 (Alabama Act 2004-94) has
allowed local governments greater flexibility in the types of incentive packages that they may offer to entice retail businesses to locate or expand in their community. Marathon Realty Corporation is the parent company of grocery retailer, Food City. The retailer plans to build a new store in
>See FILED, P3
Conflict at the Council Meeting
Community Mourns the Death of Teen
By Marla Jones Managing Editor marla@southerntorch.com
GERALDINE, Ala.-According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, (ALEA) a DeKalb County teenager was killed in a hit-and-run accident over the weekend. ALEA reports that a 2003 Honda motorcycle, driven by Harley Lasseter, 14, was struck from behind
by an unknown vehicle, at approximately 10:20 p.m. The vehicle left the scene on Alabama Highway 75 near mile marker 68. Harley Lasseter played both basketball and football at Geraldine High School. He was in the 9th grade. “Harley was an outstanding young man. He was an everyday example of honor and integrity. His
>See TEEN, P3
Grimes Appointed as
Municipal Judge at Rainsville By Marla Jones Managing Editor marla@southerntorch.com
RAINSVILLE, Ala.--(FULL VIDEO ON SOUTHERN TORCH FACEBOOK) The City of Rainsville conducted its regularly scheduled meeting on April 4. Mayor Rodger Lingerfelt and Councilmember Brandon Freeman were absent. The Council voted to appoint Dana Grimes as the new Rainsville City Municipal Judge. Grimes will replace Glen Shedd, effective April 4. Council President, Rickey Bryrum announced that work on Chavies Road had started and that the contractor had (40) working days to complete the project. Bryrum went on to state those days did not include weekends or rain days. The Council voted to empower Mayor Lingerfelt to sign the Alabama Department Environmental Management (ADEM) Grant application which will rehaab the
By Marla Jones Managing Editor
“Mr President, I object to the agenda as presented. I asked for a couple of articles to be on here and marla@southerntorch.com they are not on here.” You sent me an email that the FORT PAYNE, Ala.--(FULL VIDEO Mayor was covering this in his report ON SOUTHERN TORCH and it’s not on here either.” FACEBOOK) The Fort Payne City The items that Councilmember Council held their regularly Smith wanted placed on the agenda scheduled meeting on April 5. were the purchase of a piece of At the beginning of the meeting, Council member, John Smith, objected to the agenda.
>See Council, P7
>See GRIMES, P3
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