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THE SOUTHERN TORCH / FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2019 / VOL. 5, NO. 22 / $1.00
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MAN DROWNS AT DeSOTO FALLS PHOTO BY MARLA JONES
By Marla Jones Managing Editor
DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — On Monday, DeKalb County Coroner Tom Wilson confirmed the death of 40-year-old Joseph Nicholas Cantrell of Rome, Ga. around 11:15am at DeSoto Falls State Park. Wilson stated that Cantrell attempted to jump off the cliff into the water, but did not survive
the jump. DeSoto Falls State Park superintendent Josh Hughes stated that this is the first incident like this at the Park in three years. The incident is believed to be an accident. The recovery operation was carried out by Alabama State Park Rangers, the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, DeSoto Rescue and Fort Payne Rescue.
COUPLE HONORED 18-WHEELER RELAY FOR LIFE Lawmakers
BY COMMISSION WRECKS ON INTERSTATE
Approve Teacher Pay Raise
By Marla Jones Managing Editor
The Commission recognized May 28, 2019 as "Walter and Christine Brooks Day" in DeKalb County in honor of their 71 years of marriage. (Marla Jones | Southern Torch)
By Marla Jones, Managing Editor DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — At this week’s meeting of the DeKalb County Commission, Walter and Christine Brooks were recognized for celebrating their 71st wedding anniversary. The Commission proclaimed May 28, 2019 as “Walter and Christine Brooks Dayâ€? in DeKalb County. Road Department Superintendent Tom Broyles delivered a maintenance update regarding mowing, chert, herbicide, and work on a Collinsville property. Broyles also requested that Nick Harvey be hired to fill the open position left by Donny Lee. He also asked that Harvey’s temporary position be posted to be filled as well. The Sheriff’s Office requested the following personnel changes (all were approved): • Hired Jimmy Gibson as full-time dispatch to replace two part-time employees • Hired Katie Hamilton as a training officer to replace Blakely Moore • Hired Renee Singleton to replace Krista Ferguson The Commission acknowledged the weekend of July 19-21, 2019 as the annual Back to School Tax Free Holiday in DeKalb County. Cynthia Hancock of the DeKalb County Public Library updated the Commission on the library’s summer reading program, which is entitled “One World, Many Stories.â€? The program will be expanded beyond what it normally is and include a special reading from Helen Keller’s grandniece, Keller Johnson-Thompson on Thursday, June 13. The Commission approved the following: • A pay upgrade for Cindy Ballinger at the DeKalb County Revenue Commission from 7 to 7A to handle abatements • A speed limit resolution for County Road 485 from CR27 to CR121 at 35mph The next meeting of the DeKalb County Commission will be held on Tuesday, June 11 at 10am.
DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — On Wednesday, May 29, traffic was shut down on Interstate 59 due to a wreck that occurred at the Alabama state line involving an 18-wheeler. The vehicle hit the overpass on I-59 and resulted in the shutting down of the interstate at the Sulphur Springs exit. According to Public Information Director of the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) Seth Burkette, traffic will be diverted at Exit 239 and the Highway 140 overpass was closed until the damage could be assessed by ALDOT engineers. At the time of press, the team of engineers are in the process of evaluating the damage. The identity of the driver was unknown at the time of press. At this time, the overpass was still closed to traffic and no other information was available. Southern Torch will continue to moniter and keep our audience updated regarding this developing situation via our Facebook and our website at www. southerntorch.com.
(Relay For Life | American Cancer Society)
By Zach Hester, Art Director
By Marla Jones Managing Editor
DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — The DeKalb County Relay for Life will be held on Friday, May 31 at the DeKalb County VFW Fairgrounds. According to their website, the Relay For Life movement is the American Cancer Society's signature fundraiser dedicated to helping communities attack cancer. Through funds and time donated along with raising awareness, communities are teaming up to make a difference. The ceremony will begin at 6pm with local artists and vendors. The Survivor Speaker will be at 9pm and the luminary ceremony will follow at 9:15pm. In support of the Relay for Life, a Survivor's Dinner on Tuesday night, where the Fort Payne Fire Department and the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office officers were "celebrity servers." "The Survivors Dinner is always a blessing to me to get to be a part of. We were proud to have the Fort Payne Fire Department sponsor this year's dinner," said Fort Payne City Council President and Survivors Dinner Chairperson Brian Baine. "DeKalb County is a great community and we have lots of great folks attend this event every year. It truly is a night to celebrate our survivors!" The money that the Fire Department used to sponsor this year's dinner was raised by selling pink tee shirts last October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — On Tuesday, the Alabama House of Representatives approved a 4% pay increase for teachers and other public school employees. The pay raise passed the House unanimously by a vote of 103-0 with no member of either party dissenting. If passed by the Senate and signed by the Governor, the increase would make the starting pay for teachers who hold a bachelor’s degree, $40,873 per year. The raise is part of a proposed $7 billion education spending plan over the next fiscal year, which would be the biggest in the history of the State of Alabama. The pay raise bill will now go to Governor Kay Ivey for her approval.
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