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THE SOUTHERN TORCH / FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020 / VOL. 6, NO. 49 / $1.00
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>> It's Christmas Parade Season in Northeast Alabama! >> Upcoming Events in DeKalb
Locals Decorate D.C.
Christmas Coverage Coming Three DeKalb Natives Help Decorate White House at Christmas Soon! were completed, First Lady "It was an honor to be By Marla Jones Managing Editor marla@southerntorch.com
Southern Torch will provide live coverage of several local Christmas parades across DeKalb and Jackson counties. (Shop Local Raleigh)
By Zach Hester Reporter zach@southerntorch.com DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — If you're unable to head out to your local Christmas parade this holiday season, don't fret! Southern Torch will bring live coverage of several local festivities across DeKalb and Jackson counties for you to watch from the comfort of your own home. On Saturday, December 5, Southern Torch Managing Editor Marla Jones and DeKalb County Superintendent Dr. Jason Barnett will co-host live coverage of the Rainsville Christmas Parade beginning at 11 a.m. The following week, join Marla and Mike Griggs of the Fort Payne Licensing Office will co-host the Fort Payne Christmas Parade on Friday, December 11 at 6 p.m. Marla will also be live and judging floats at the Scottsboro Christmas Parade on Monday, December 7 at 6 p.m. This year's sponsors for our live Christmas coverage include: Twin City Used Cars, First State Bank, PuroClean, South State Realty, the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, and the DeKalb County Commission. Be sure to tune in for your chance to win some Christmas cash!
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Three local women were among those to participate in decorating the White House for Christmas this holiday season. Starr Mitchell, along with Alice Pettyjohn of Alice Circle and Connie Cochran, submitted her name and was selected to join hundreds of others in the decorating process. "This was definitely an experience I will never forget," said Mitchell. "It was absolutely surreal to be in the White House decorating for the First Family this Christmas." After the decorations
Melania Trump held a reception for all the participants. "Going in to this, I thought we were only decorating The White House for Christmas," said Pettyjohn. "When we arrived there, the gravity of what we were doing hit me. We were trusted with the honor of spending four days, in the most secure place I’ve ever been, getting ready for one of the largest events that occurs at The White House." This year's Christmas theme at the White House was "American The Beautiful." The centerpiece of the decorations is an 18 1/2 foot Fraser Fir from West Virginia.
trusted to decorate the People’s House," said Cochran. "From coast to coast, the bond that all Americans share is an appreciation for our traditions, values, and history, which were the inspiration behind the decorations this year," said First Lady Melania Trump. "Thank you to all of the staff and volunteers who worked to make sure the People’s House was ready for the holiday season." Last year, this same lucky trio also won a contest to open a pop-up shop in Auburn, rent-free throughout the 2019 Christmas season.
Wanted Felon Apprehended Search Continues for Police Chief in Deer Head Cove
By Southern Torch Staff
FORT PAYNE, Ala. — From the Office of DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden: Early last Wednesday morning (November 25, 2020) while most of the community slept, a violent felon from Georgia was arrested on multiple felony warrants in the Deer Head Cove area (County Road 792). At approximately 3 am, two deputies were working extra patrol in the area while utilizing the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Substation at the Cartersville Fire Department on Highway 75. While on County Road 792, the deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle traveling into Deer Head Cove. After activating emergency lights, the vehicle continued to travel
Timothy Shumate (DeKalb Co. Sheriff's Office)
on County Road 792; eventually stopping approximately halfway down the mountain. While attempting to identify the three subjects in the vehicle, the deputies determined that one subject was providing false information. After further investigation, the subject was identified as Timothy Shumate (35 of Conyers, GA) who had outstanding warrants for Armed Robbery, Home Invasion, Assault 1st Degree, and Probation Violations with Rockdale and Putnam
County Sheriff’s Offices (Georgia). Ider, Sylvania, and Henagar Police Departments soon arrived on scene to assist with the apprehension. Shumate was taken into custody without further incident and is currently being held in the DeKalb County Detention Center awaiting extradition to Georgia. DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden said of the arrest: “This was a fantastic job by our deputies in their effort to curb crime in the far North end of the county. Their vigilance helped get a violent offender out of our community and behind bars where he belongs.� “I’m also glad that we have a substation in the area for our deputies to utilize. Cartersville and Deer Head Cove are
>> CRIME, P4
PICTURED (L to R): Locals Connie Cochran, Starr Mitchell, and Alice Pettyjohn attended a reception with the First Lady after assisting in decorating the White House for Christmas.
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By Marla Jones Managing Editor
marla@southerntorch.com FORT PAYNE, Ala. — (Full Video Below) The Fort Payne City Council held their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, December 1. Council President Walter Watson welcomed everyone to the meeting. He personally addressed the Fort Payne Police Officers who were in attendance, stating “we are on board with you, if you hear any rumors out there about anything, just come to the council meetings or ask one of us, we will be sure to let you know and be reassured that we stand behind you guys.� Watson’s statement comes as the Fort Payne Police Chief position has remained open for several weeks. A panel of police chiefs throughout Alabama will narrow the list of
candidates to three for the Council to review on December 10. If the Council does not approve of the candidates the panel submits, they can choose from the pool of those interviewed. In the meeting, the Council terminated the lease to the FOP shooting range. “Fort Payne Police Department will have access to the shooting range just like every other town or municipality,� according to Councilmember John Smith. “If not, we will build
>> CHIEF, P3
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