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THE SOUTHERN TORCH / FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020 / VOL. 6, NO. 8 / $1.00
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THIS WEEK IN SPORTS
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THIS WEEK IN POLITICS
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• And Then There Was One... • Red Devils Falls to LaFayette
• Public Notices • See Who's Featured in Our Spotlight!
• POLL: Close Race for U.S. Senate • Council Discusses Budget Adjustments
• CONTINUED: Baine Runs for Mayor • DeKalb County Upcoming Events
Whitmire to Run as Independent By Marla Jones Managing Editor marla@southerntorch.com
DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — In a letter from Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill provided to Southern Torch, confirmation was given to DeKalb County District Judge Steve Whitmire regarding his certification to run as an independent on the November ballot. In order for a candidate to qualify as an independent in the State of Alabama, the
law, “requires that an independent candidate must file a petition containing signatures equaling or exceeding at least three percent of the qualified electors who cast ballots for the Office of Governor in the last general election in the county, district, or other political subdivision for which the independent candidate is seeking ballot access.� According to numbers provided by Deputy Secretary of State and Chief of Staff David A.Z. Brewer, 1,700
Baine Announces Run for Fort Payne Mayor
signatures were received on Whitmire’s petition. Of those 1,700 signatures, 104 signatures were rejected and 1,596 were accepted. Southern Torch reached out to Judge Whitmire for a statement, but at the time of press, we have not received one. In his initial campaign announcement, Whitmire stated, "This office provides a special opportunity to serve our community by reaching individual citizens, young and old,
By Zach Hester Reporter zach@southerntorch.com FORT PAYNE, Ala. — Fort Payne City Council President and longtime community volunteer Brian Baine has announced his candidacy for Mayor of Fort Payne. “After careful thought and prayer with family and friends, I would like to announce
that I will be running for Mayor of Fort Payne in the upcoming election,� said Baine. Baine has served on the Fort Payne City Council as Council President since 2016. Baine is engaged to his fiance, Jackie, and is a dedicated member of Fort Payne Church of God. Throughout his
>> BAINE, P3
By Marla Jones Managing Editor marla@southerntorch.com
GROVE OAK, Ala. — At approximately 1:45 pm on Sunday, February 16, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) was notified by officials at Buck’s Pocket State Park that search crews had located a missing vehicle that went off into South Sauty Creek. According to senior trooper Chuck Daniels of the ALEA, at 2:30 pm, a
diver confirmed that the missing motorist was also with the vehicle. At 4:22 pm, the body of Raymond Edwards, 82 of Scottsboro, was recovered. Edwards went missing on February 5 after high floodwaters swept away his vehicle on the bridge at Buck’s Pocket. Following Edwards’ disappearance last week, the DeKalb County Commission began steps toward building gates at the bridge. District 2 Commissioner Scot
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DeKalb County District Judge Steve Whitmire will appear on the ballot as an independent in November. (Submitted Photo)
Car & Driver Found at Buck's Pocket
(hikingtheappalachians.com) Baine is the first candidate to announce his candidacy for Mayor of Fort Payne. (Submitted Photo)
on a daily basis. That's what I've tried to do, and what I will continue to do. I only ask for the opportunity to carry on serving you and our county as District Judge." Whitmire was first elected to his position in 2002 as a Democrat. Last year, Whitmire attempted to switch to the Republican Party but was denied ballot access by the Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP). The general election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
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Westbrook noted the importance of the gates, given that two fatalities have occurred in this location within the last 12 months. “I know for a fact that we are going to put some gates up on the DeKalb County side, that should hopefully deter drivers from trying to cross that bridge when it has water on top of it,� said Westbrook. “It is my understanding that Jackson County is also considering something along those lines.� Westbrook
emphasized the danger of standing water on roads, reiterating the well-known saying, “turn around, don’t drown.� As a result of the flooding across the state, on Tuesday, Governor Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency. Ivey also activated the Alabama Emergency Management Agency State Emergency Operations Center and impacted or potentially impacted Alabama Emergency Management Divisions.
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