By Stephen Dawkins

With the council chambers inside the Jemison Municipal Complex almost filled to capacity, the city’s council spent most of Monday’s meeting recognizing some of the community’s most outstanding members.

“I think this is the first time since we’ve been in the new building that we’ve had a packed house,” Jemison Mayor Eddie Reed said about the more than 50 people in attendance.

First up was Jemison Elementary School teacher Christin Starr Bashaw, who was named Chilton County Teacher of the Year. Bashaw was presented a plaque by the council.

Next was Tommy Lenoir, coach of Jemison’s 12-year-old Dizzy Dean baseball all-star team. The team over the weekend was invited to participate in the Dizzy Dean World Series tournament, a trip that Lenoir estimated would cost from $5,000-$8,000.

The council voted to donate $2,000, and state representative Jimmy Martin made contributions of both state funds and his own money.

“I have been astounded at how the community has responded to this,” Lenoir said. “We’re living a pipe dream, so we don’t want to come back with anything less than a World Series championship.”

Martin also presented a grant for $25,000 to the Jemison Police Department for the installation of e-ticket hardware in police cruisers.

After most of the 50 attendees had taken their leaves, the council got down to more pressing business.

Reed told three members of the Oak Grove community that roads in their area could be paved as soon as Friday.

Donna Bice presented a petition to the council that included the signatures of six residents on Railroad Street, asking that a speed breaker be installed on their road. The council voted to grant their request.

The council also approved Tammy Miller as court clerk/magistrate for Jemison Municipal Court and approved Shelia Hogge as the new city clerk, replacing Mary Ellison, who is retiring.

“We look forward to working with Ms. Hogge, and we would like thank Ms. Ellison for her years of service,” Reed said.

The council voted to approve a vehicle belonging to the police department as salvage. People now have the opportunity to place bids on the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria, which will be displayed near city hall.

Lastly, the council adjusted the water bill of Betty Adams before voting to pay the bills and adjourning.

The following is an activity report of the Jemison Police Department from Wednesday, June 30 through Tuesday, July 6, 2010:

Wednesday, June 30
•One vehicle accident on Chilton County 42 West and Alabama 191. One injury.

Thursday, July 1
•Theft of property   from the 12,000th block of Chilton County 42.
•Theft of property  and criminal trespass from the  300th block of Chilton County 132
•Served two warrants for failure to appear in court.

Friday, July 2
•Violation of protection order from the 600th block of Collum Street
•Property damage from the 100th block of Chilton County126
•Theft of property from the  200th block of Chilton County 854
•Failure to pay for gasoline at Sue’s Mart on Alabama 191.
•Two vehicle accident on I-65 South, exit 219 ramp. No injuries.

Saturday, July 3
•Arrest for public intoxication from U.S. 31 and Chilton County 44
•Served two warrants for failure to appear in court
•Two vehicle accident  on Chilton County 42 East.  No injuries.

Saturday, July 5
•Domestic violence and disorderly conduct  from the 15,000th block of Chilton County 29. One arrested.

Saturday, July 6
•Child custody dispute  from the 100th block of Chilton County 770
•Arrest for public intoxication on Chilton County 179
•Served eight warrants for failure to appear in court

The following is an activity report of the Jemison Police Department from Wednesday, May 26 through Tuesday, June 1, 2010:

Wednesday, May 26
•Five warrants served for failure to appear in court

Thursday, May 27
•Harassment: 2,200th block of Alabama Highway 191
•Property damage: 11,000th block of County Road 42
•Arrest warrant served for menacing
•Outstanding warrant served for failure to appear in court
•Theft of property/fraudulent use of a credit card: 8,000th block of County Road 42

Friday, May 28
•Shoplifting: Hayes Drug (one arrested)
•Theft of property: Sycamore Street
Saturday, May 29
•Felony assault: Dixon Circle (one arrested)
•Vehicle fire/property damage: 300th block of Sycamore Street
•Identity theft: 15,000th block of Chilton County Road 51

Sunday, May 30
•Unlawful breaking into a vehicle/theft of property: Padgett Lane

Monday, May 31
•Arrest for public intoxication: Atkinson Street and Webb Street
•Death investigation: 8,000th block of County Road 42 East
•Outstanding warrant served for failure to appear in court

Tuesday, June 1
•Harassment: 24,000th block of U.S. Highway 31
•Five outstanding warrants served for failure to appear in court

By Justin Averette

A 31-year-old man wanted for car theft was arrested Thursday following a brief manhunt in Thorsby.

Clanton Police arrested Mario Alberto Avalos following a one-and-a-half hour search around 2 p.m. Thursday.

Avalos fled into a wooded area as Clanton detectives and Thorsby police drove up to a home in the 1100th block of Indiana Avenue, according to Clanton Police Chief Brian Stilwell.

Officers were going to the address to arrest Avalos on theft of property charges for allegedly stealing a car from Inverness Drive in Clanton.

“His home was at the end of the road, and he saw the police officers coming,” said Stilwell. “I am sure he knew why they were there.”

Chilton County sheriff’s deputies and police officers from Thorsby and Jemison responded to the area, while the sheriff office’s tracking dog began following the suspect.

While the dog was tracking the suspect, a Jemison city employee saw a Hispanic man run out of the woods off Ellison Road, Stilwell said.

The employee contacted Jemison police. Jemison officers, Clanton detectives and sheriff deputies responded to the area.

Avalos was arrested following a brief foot pursuit into the woods, Stilwell said. He is currently in the Chilton County Jail on $20,000 bond.

Avalos was traced back to the Thorsby address from information collected from a car junkyard in another county.

Stilwell thanked Thorsby PD, Jemison PD, and the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office for their help in catching Avalos.

“We are glad he is off the street and in jail, and no one got hurt, Stilwell said.

By Stephen Dawkins

Two recent Jemison burglaries, and subsequent arrests, should show businesses the importance of an up-to-date video surveillance system, city Police Chief Shane Fulmer said.

The press box at City Park was broken into on April 25, and a vehicle was broken into at a convenience store near Interstate 65 Exit 219 on April 28. Because video footage was available to investigators, arrests were made within five days of the crimes in both instances.

“The video in both of these cases allowed us to track down these individuals,” Fulmer said. “Many businesses don’t have video at all, and some have systems that are out of date.

“I can’t stress enough the importance of these systems.”

Jose Rodriguez, 24, and Joshua Crumpton, 21, both of Montevallo, were arrested on April 30 and charged with felony burglary and criminal mischief.

The pair allegedly broke into the park press box and damaged a metal box—which turned out to be part of the park’s surveillance system.

Officers were still able to recover the footage.

“We’ve been having some problems at the park, but the officers have been doing a great job keeping that in check, making extra patrols,” Fulmer said.

Brandon Blankenship, 26, of Jemison was arrested on April 29, one day after he allegedly entered a woman’s unlocked vehicle at a fuel station and took her purse while she was inside the store.

Blankenship was charged with breaking and entering a vehicle and second-degree theft of property, both of which are felonies.

The following is an activity report of the Jemison Police Department from Wednesday, April 21 through Tuesday, April 27, 2010:

Wednesday, April 21
•Property dispute: 1,000th block of County Road 921

Thursday, April 22
•Assault: 25,000th block of U.S. Highway 31

Friday, April 23
•Recovered property: Dixon Circle

Saturday, April 24
•Theft of property: 12,000th block of County Road 42

Sunday, April 25
•Domestic violence: Princeton Lane
•Harassment: 300th block of Brent Boulevard
•Burglary and criminal mischief: Brenda Lane (City Park)
•Two-vehicle accident: intersection of Pine Hill Road and Second Street (no injuries reported)

Monday, April 26
•DUI arrest: U.S. Highway 31
•Arrest warrant served for failure to appear in court
•Two-vehicle private property accident: post office parking lot (no injuries reported)
•Two-vehicle accident: Hotel Street (two injuries)
•Two-vehicle accident: intersection of County Road 29 and County Road 42 (no injuries reported)

Tuesday, April 27
•Drug-related arrest made during traffic stop: 219-mile marker of Interstate 65
•Four arrest warrants served for failure to appear in court

By Stephen Dawkins

Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer hopes his department’s five new vehicles will help give the city its own “signature look.”

One of the five vehicles is already being used for patrols, and the others need only to be striped with the city’s unique design. All are 2010 models and feature a new gray color.
“That was the thing, for them to be more identifiable,” Fulmer said.
The vehicles are replacing some 2005 models in the city’s fleet that are nearing or have surpassed the 100,000-mile mark.
“That’s a lot for a patrol unit,” Fulmer said. “When you get there, your maintenance costs increase. The cars aren’t as safe. They just get worn out.
“It’s not a smart thing to do financially to spend the taxpayers’ money on the increased maintenance.”
The vehicles, which include three Ford Crown Victorias and one K-9 unit, were acquired through a three-year lease agreement. The city will make three annual payments of $59,000 and then take over ownership of the vehicles.
The Jemison City Council voted on Dec. 7, 2009 to allow for the purchase of the vehicles.
Also included in that amount is the latest technology.
The state will soon require that all patrol units be equipped with e-citation hardware. Fulmer said the new units will meet that requirement.
“We’re right where we need to be with the current demands–and for future demands that we will see,” Fulmer said.

The following is an activity report of the Jemison Police Department from Wednesday, March 10 through Tuesday, March 16, 2010:

Wednesday, March 10
•No documented activity

Thursday, March 11
•Unauthorized use of motor vehicle
•Missing persons report filed (County Road 5)
•Domestic violence (County Road 42, I-65 Exit 219)

Friday, March 12
•Theft of property (100th block of Hotel Street)
•Criminal mischief/vehicle damage (Jemison Middle School parking lot)
•Two-vehicle accident (U.S. Highway 31 South; 1 injury)

Saturday, March 13
•Harassing communications (16,000th block of County Road 51)
•Theft of property (300th block of County Road 132)
•Two-vehicle private property accident (Jack’s parking lot)

Sunday, March 14
•Drug-related arrest during routine traffic stop (Interstate 65)

Monday, March 15
•Two-vehicle accident (County Road 42 East; no injuries)

Tuesday, March 16
•Burglary (2,000th block of County Road 153)
•Theft of property (8,000th block of County Road 42)

The following is an activity report of the Jemison Police Department from Wednesday, Feb. 3 through Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010:

Wednesday:
•Served arrest warrant for illegal distribution of drugs
•Served warrant for failure to appear in court

Thursday:
•No documented activity

Friday:
•Runaway juvenile – Pineview Drive (person located)
•Theft of property – Pineview Drive
•Breaking into a vehicle, theft of property – County Road 1003
•Animal complaint – 300th block of County Road 858
•Served warrant for failure to appear I court
•Served arrest warrant for illegal distribution of drugs
•One-vehicle accident – County Road 42 East (two injuries)

Saturday:
•Harassing communications – County Road 939
•Drug arrest during traffic stop – County Road 44 and County Road 51

Sunday:
•Served warrant for failure to appear in court
•DUI arrest – County Road 42 and County Road 44
•One-vehicle accident – County Road 42 East (one injury)

Monday:
•One-vehicle accident – County Road 42 (no injuries)
•Harassing communications – 700th block of County Road 71
•Vehicle damage caused by deer – 1,000th block of County Road 48
•Burglary – Debra Street

Tuesday:
•No documented activity

The following is an activity report for the Thorsby Police Department for the month of January 2010:

Misdemeanor offenses: family violence assaults (2), motor vehicle thefts (1), burglary (2), theft (3), criminal mischief (3), alcohol-related (3), possession of illegal drugs (2), possession of drug paraphernalia (2).

Felony offenses: theft (4). Total reported offenses: 22.

Service calls: alarms (6), animal control (35), citizen-assisted (6), disturbances (4), juvenile-related (4), public service (3), suspicious activity (4), threats/harassment (6), traffic-related (1), other (27). Total calls for service: 27.

Arrests: misdemeanor (6). Total arrests: 6.

Traffic enforcement: speeding (26), no tag (3), no insurance (7), no driver’s license (2), warnings (23). Total citations: 61.

Motor vehicle accidents: accidents with no injuries (1). Total accidents: 1.

Investigations/cases: new cases (5), cases cleared (2), inactive cases (3).

By Ben Flanagan

Jemison City Council took time Monday night to thank the city’s police and fire departments for the hard work they do every day.
“We just can’t thank you enough,” Mayor Eddie Reed said.
The council passed a resolution to repay Regions Bank a loan of $495,000 that paid for the construction of the city’s new city hall building.
While thanking Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer, Reed said they were fortunate that nothing had been stolen during the construction.
He said earlier this week there was a theft outside of the new city hall.
A man stole a cement mixer but was apprehended by police officers approximately five minutes after he committed the crime, Reed said.
Fulmer expressed his gratitude toward the council and other city officials who attended the  meeting.
“We’re glad to be a part of it,” he said. “I feel blessed to be here.”
The council also passed a resolution to purchase playground equipment to be built and placed in a local park.
The council passed a resolution to purchase flood insurance for areas in the city subject to flooding or mudslides.
Reed said the Federal Emergency Management Agency recommended the insurance, and the resolution was passed to become eligible for it.
The council also passed an amendment to an ordinance regarding setting fees and rates for alcohol sales in Jemison.
Another amendment was passed on an ordinance to adjust the present rate of business license fees to include alcohol sales.
Chief Fulmer said the Alabama Beverage Company says those who wish to apply for an alcohol sales license can do so now.
The final resolution the council passed was to give Chilton Leadership $500 for a two-part project involving revising the 10-year-old county video advertising the municipalities and attractions in the area.
Rex Bittle appeared on behalf of the organization and said the current video is only available on VHS but will soon be adjusted with new video and photos and available to store and distribute on DVD, flash drives, SD cards and the organization’s Web site.
The council also approved producing a new advertisement for Minooka Park.