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Solar Eclipse 2024

The Shoals area was not excluded from the viewing path of the 2024 eclipse as many gathered outside making memories for years to come. Referred to as “Syzygy” where the sun, moon and earth temporarily align was truly an amazing sight to see.

Shoals Kidney and Hypertension viewing eclipse
Shoals residents viewing the eclipse in downtown Florence
UNA family and friends
UNA students
UNA Theatrical Students Gather together to view the eclipse

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AUTHORITIES IDENTIFY MAN WHO DIED IN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING

Officer involved shooting

Lauderdale County Sheriff Joe Hamilton has identified the person who died after Monday’s officer-involved shooting on Walnut Street.

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RAPE AND SODOMY TRIAL OF FORMER KILLEN POLICE OFFICER POSTPONED UNTIL AUGUST

Jarrod Gailen Webster
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FORMER CONVENIENCE STORE EMPLOYEE ARRESTED FOR THEFT

A former employee at the Shell Quick Mart at 901 Florence Blvd. stands accused of taking money from the cash register over a 90-day period.

Vera Margie Vaughn

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AUTHORITIES RELEASE IDENTITY OF MAN FOUND DECEASED AT BUDGET INN

Authorities have released the identity of a man who was found deceased at a Florence motel and is the subject of a death investigation.

Last Saturday, on March 23, 2024, at approximately 10:45 a.m., Florence Police responded to Budget Inn on Florence Boulevard to the report of an unresponsive person.

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AUTHORITIES RELEASE IDENTITY OF DECEASED MOTORCYCLIST STRUCK BY KELLER AMBULANCE

Helen Keller Accident

A two-vehicle crash involving a Keller ambulance that occurred at approximately 9:25 p.m. Saturday, March 23, has claimed the life of a Blountsville man.

According to State Troopers, Sidney L. Canada II, 33, was fatally injured when the disabled 2003 Honda VT600 motorcycle that he was on was struck by the 2017 Ford T250 Ambulance.

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FORMER SHEFFIELD RESIDENT PLEADS GUILTY TO SEXUAL ABUSE

A former Sheffield resident pleaded guilty Thursday in Colbert County Circuit Court to two sexual abuse charges in exchange for a 24-month prison sentence.

According to court records, John Thomas Sledge, 70, of 385 Jones Road in Russellville, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse in the first and second degrees with the sentence to run concurrently.

John Thomas Sledge

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RUSSELLVILLE CITY SCHOOLS HIRES NEW SUPERINTENDENT

Dr. Tim Guinn

At a special called meeting Friday afternoon, the Russellville City Schools Board of Education officially hired Dr. Tim Guinn as the next superintendent of Russellville City Schools.

Guinn is no stranger to Russellville or to Russellville City Schools. While Guinn is currently serving as superintendent of Satsuma City Schools in South Alabama, where he has been superintendent for the past two years, he was at Russellville prior to that post. Guinn came to Russellville in 2002 and served as the Assistant Principal at RHS from 2002 to 2009 before moving to the principal position for the next seven years. In 2016, Guinn accepted a position at the RCS Central Office as an administrative assistant, which is the position of assistant superintendent. He served in this capacity until accepting the superintendent’s job at Satsuma in January 2022.

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MAN PLEADS TO MURDER IN 2019 SHOOTING DEATH

On Tuesday March 19,2024 Colbert County Circuit Court, Richard Kevin Hester, 59, the man accused of killing John Thomas Call, 34, back in 2019 pleaded guilty to murder in exchange for a plea deal that allows him to serve 4 and a 1/2 years in prison to run concurrent with a prior sentence on a drug conviction that he still has 7 years left to serve. Hester must serve the 7 years on the drug conviction.

Richard Kevin Hester

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POLICE MAKE ARREST IN VEHICLE BURGLARIES

During the morning hours of Wednesday March 13, police received multiple reports of vehicle burglaries in the area of Ford Avenue to West Edison Avenue. During the course of the burglaries, multiple debit/credit card(s), and other sensitive instruments and documents were stolen. Utilizing leads developed during the hours that followed the burglaries, officers arrested a suspect.

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FLORENCE MAN ARRESTED AFTER DRUGS FOUND IN SEARCH OF HOME

On Friday, March 8th, Agents with the Lauderdale County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 30 Rainbow City Drive. A search of the residence revealed approximately 8 grams of Fentanyl pills, a gun, a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

The street value of the Fentanyl was approximately $ 1,200. This according to drug agents.

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CLOVERDALE

MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER IN WIFE’S DEATH

Authorities have arrested a man in the shooting death of his wife.

On Tuesday, at around 8:00 a.m., Lauderdale County deputies responded to the 4000 block of County Rd 10, north of the Cloverdale community on a welfare check.

Once on scene deputies located a deceased female inside a residence. The female had died of an apparent gunshot wound. This according to Lauderdale County Sheriff Joe Hamilton.

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MAN ARRESTED ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES

Hunter Borden Child Pornography

Authorities have arrested a Lauderdale county man after he was indicted by a grand jury on five counts of possession of child pornography.

According to court documents, Hunter Cole Borden, 25, of County Road 277 in Florence, was arrested last Thursday and booked into the Lauderdale County detention center.

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Northwest Shoals Celebrates Success of Upward Bound student Soraya Fonseca

NWSCC Celebrates Success of Upward Bound Sonya Fonseca

Northwest Shoals Community College (NWSCC) Upward Bound Phil Campbell Project participant Soraya Fonseca has been awarded the prestigious QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship.This will secure her place at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, upon her graduation from Russellville High School in 2024.

The QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship is a testament to Fonseca’s hard work, academic excellence, and commitment to serving others. This four-year full scholarship to Dartmouth College, one of the esteemed Ivy League institutions, recognizes her exceptional achievements both inside and outside the classroom.

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TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO THREE ARREST

ALEA ARREST JOHN BORELLI
ALEA ARREST Darious Braden
ALEA ARREST Cortae Davidson

Authorities arrested three people after finding a cache of contraband during a traffic stop.

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Wanted for Domestic Violence

NEWS ALERT 🚨 FLORENCE

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN OR KNOW OF HIS WHEREABOUTS?

The Florence Police Department is asking the public for help in locating this suspect.

Philip Payton is wanted for multiple domestic violence criminal charges.

If you or someone you know has any information on his whereabouts please contact Detective Brian Berry at the Florence Police Department at 256-760-6504.

Fraud Charges , Skimming Conspiracy

Six Defendants Plead Guilty to Fraud Charges in Multi-Million-Dollar, Nationwide Skimming Conspiracy. One Shoals area credit union was hit in the scheme.

Six defendants indicted for defrauding credit unions across the country have pleaded guilty to bank fraud conspiracy and identity theft charges, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton L. Peeples, and United States Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis.

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Man Missing in Sheffield

NEWS ALERT 🚨 SHEFFIELD

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN OR KNOW OF HIS WHEREABOUTS?

Family members are asking for the public’s help in locating Christopher Austin Williams, 25, of Sheffield, who hasn’t been seen or communicated with family in two weeks. Austin was last seen on Robertson Blvd. off of Hatch Blvd. in Sheffield two weeks ago.

If you know of his whereabouts, you’re asked to call his father at 256-710-3110.

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Human Remains Found in Lauderdale County

NEWS ALERT 🚨 LAUDERDALE COUNTY

HUMAN REMAINS FOUND IN WOODED AREA

Authorities confirmed to Shoals Insider that human remains have been found in a wooded area South of the Cloverdale Community off of Lauderdale County Road 6 west of Lauderdale County Road 9.

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Trial set for Attempted Murderer

NEWS ALERT 🚨 FLORENCE

JURY FINDS SEELEY COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL

According to a Lauderdale County jury, Kyle Kyn Seeley, 36, it is competent to stand trial. Seeley is accused of attacking his family with a machete.

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