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THE SOUTHERN TORCH / FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 2019 / VOL. 5, NO. 24 / $1.00
Don't miss "The Best Small Race in America" happening THIS SATURDAY, June 15! The race will begin at 8am at Broadway Baptist Church on McCurdy Avenue South in Rainsville. We'll see you at the finish line!
By Marla Jones Managing Editor
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — U.S. Senator Doug Jones (D-AL) recently announced the hiring of former Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Ron Sparks to his team. Sparks will serve as the Regional Director for the Middle District of Alabama, which includes Montgomery and Dothan.
Sparks will serve as Regional Director for the Middle District of Alabama on Senator Jones' team. (U.S. Senator Doug Jones) (Submitted Photo)
“Doug’s been a friend of mine for a long time, so certainly it’s an honor for Doug to ask me to do what he’s asked me to do,� said
Sparks. “The most important thing to me [is that] this is not partisan, we’ve got a lot of work to do to help people that need
Medical Marijuana BOE Holds
Moves Forward
in Alabama
June Meeting PHOTO BY ZACH HESTER
By Zach Hester Art Director
The commission created by Ivey's signing of the bill will study medical marijuana ahead of legislation likely being introduced in next year's session. (File Photo)
By Zach Hester, Art Director MONTGOMERY, Ala. — On Monday, Governor Kay Ivey signed into law the creation of a medical marijuana commission that will look at, study and draft legislation to be considered next year. The legislation will aim at legalizing medical marijuana in the State of Alabama. Members of the commission will be appointed by the Governor, President Pro Tem of the Senate, and House speaker. The bill also renews Carly’s law, which allows children who suffer from seizures to use cannabis oil legally. The original bill passed through both houses of the Alabama Legislature with some changes coming to the bill from the House, who passed it by a vote of 80-19. The Senate passed the bill 17-6. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, more than 30 U.S. states have some form of approved programs for medical marijuana.
DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — (Full Video on our Facebook) The DeKalb County Board of Education held their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, June 10 at 2pm. At the meeting, the Board approved CNP meal price increases in the following amounts: • Paid Student Meals from $2.10 to $2.20 • Board Employee from $3.55 to $3.65 • Visitors from $4.05 to $4.15 • Second Entree from $0.75 to $1.00 The following non-renewals, terminations, retirements, resignations, leaves of absence, transfers and
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placements were made. Non-Renewals/ Terminations • Amanda Hatley - Bus Driver at Crossville Schools (6/10/19) Retirements/ Resignations • Steve Street Supervisor at System (retirement, 7/1/19) • Brenda Vaughn - Bus Driver/Tech Route Driver at Ider High School (retirement, 7/1/19) • Jay Shankles Secondary PE Teacher and Coaching Duties at Crossville High School (resignation, 5/23/19) • Christa Blevins Junior High Cheerleader Sponsor (coaching duties only) at Crossville Middle School (resignation,
> BOE, P4
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it. That’s my goal. That’s the Senator’s goal and that’s what we’re going to do.� Sparks was born and raised in DeKalb County in Fort Payne, Alabama. He was first elected to public office in 1977 as a DeKalb County Commissioner. In 2003, he was elected Commissioner of
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HOMECOMING Don't miss LIVE MMA fights with the very best local fighters as well as high-level martial artists from around the country on Saturday, June 15 at the DeKalb County Coliseum! Doors open at 6pm.
Productive Week for
Drug Task Force
By Staff Reports FORT PAYNE, Ala. — From the Office of DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden: So far it has been a busy week for DeKalb Co. Sheriff’s Office DTF Agents and Deputies. Among multiple other arrests, agents have arrested a former police officer and in a separate incident, a suspect with several warrants after a car chase. On Monday (June 3, 2019) agents attempted to conduct a traffic stop on I-59. After attempting to stop the vehicle for several miles, the vehicle finally stopped. After talking to the driver, Crystal Pope (41 of Rainsville), agents observed alcohol within the vehicle. Pope was charged with Illegal Possession of Alcohol, Obstruction of Government Operations, and Resisting Arrest after she refused to comply with agents. Later in the day,
agents were working citizens’ complaints in the Henagar area, when they spotted a maroon Buick passenger car and conducted a traffic stop. After a search of the vehicle, agents recovered cocaine and marijuana. The driver of the vehicle, Jacob Smith (21 of Pisgah) was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana 1st Degree, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The passenger, Mariah Casey (19 of Pisgah) was charged with Possession of Marijuana 1st and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. On Tuesday (June 4, 2019) agents with the DeKalb County Drug Task Force arrested Ryan Evans (35 of Section). Evans is a former law enforcement officer who was previously employed at an area police
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SPARKS JOINS JONES' TEAM AFC2
RAINSVILLE
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