DISTRICT ATTORNEY Paid political ad by Nick Jones, P.O. Box 5, Rainsville, AL 35986
THE SOUTHERN TORCH / FRIDAY, February 11, 2022 / VOL. 8, NO. 6 / $1.00
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DA Accepts 2nd Dalton Plea By Marla Jones Managing Editor
Dalton will serve 6 months in County Jail
marla@southerntorch.com
FORT PAYNE, Ala.--Former Fort Payne Teacher, Donavan Dalton, 29, entered a plea of guilty to School Employee Having Sexual Contact with a Student Under the Age of 19 years of age on Monday in Circuit Court at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Fort Payne. In Novenber 2021, Dustin Dalton, Donavan’s brother, was charged with three felony sex offenses and sent to State Prison for 10 years. He will be required to serve (3 ) years, serve (5) years supervised probation and register as a sex offender. On October 9, 2021, Donavan Dalton was arrested and tendered his resignation. His
resignation was accepted at an emergency meeting of the Fort Payne Board of Education. Due to the fact that Dalton was an employee with the Fort Payne School System and the juvenile victim was within a school system, Dalton was charged with two counts of School Employee Engaging in Sexual Contact With A Student Under The Age of 19 years of age and 2nd Degree Rape. Dalton, who appeared before Ninth Judicial Circuit Judge Andrew Hairston on Monday for a pre-trial meeting, accepted the plea deal that was presented by the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office. As part of the plea agreement, he was sentenced to an
>See PLEA, P6
Fort Payne Honors Rainsville to Apply for EMA Grant Hometown Hero By Marla Jones Managing Editor
marla@southerntorch.com
McPherson, a graduate of Fort Payne High School, was a fifth-round pick, in the 2021 draft, marla@southerntorch.com for the Cincinnati Bengals. He received the key to the City of FORT PAYNE, Ala.-- Fort Fort Payne, after the draft. Payne, known for being Wildcat McPherson has set the record Country, is turning orange and black in preparation for the Super for the most kicks by a rookie kicker in league history. He also Bowl on Sunday. received the Rookie of the Year Local businesses are decorating their storefronts with Award by the Pro Football Writers Cincinnati Bengals signs honoring of America. one of their own, Evan McPherson.
RAINSVILLE, Ala.-- The Rainsville City Council held its regular monthly meeting on Monday, February 7. Rainsville Fire Chief Willimac Wright informed the Council that a (100) Person Facility Grant, which is a competitive grant through EMA, was potentially available for the City. This could be used for various things such as a storm shelter or voting precinct. This would be a 75/25 split grant in the amount of $300,000. The Council voted to send a letter to EMA stating their intention to apply and their agreement in a long-term lease with the County. Chief Wright also requested that the City make the annual renewal of the ESO Reporting System in the amount of $4,200. This emergency
By Marla Jones Managing Editor
>See HERO, P3
Rainsville Fire Chief Willimac Wright informed the Council of a possible grant
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>See GRANT, P5
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