South Alabama News

Staff Report The Call News received eight awards in the 2025 Alabama Press Association Media Awards announced on Friday, including three first places for Editor Jimmy Wigfield and a first for photographer Bonita Roberts. Wigfield won for Best Local Sports Column in Division C for the second straight year for his column making the case that former Saraland star Ryan Williams is the best high school football player in state history. Wigfield also won for Best Sports Single-Event Story for…

  Staff Report Two inmates from Citronelle’s municipal jail were captured Thursday evening shortly after they escaped, according to the Citronelle Police Department. Herles Bolden, 30, and Kentrell Creagh, 30, escaped at 6:47 p.m., according to the CPD. Bolden was charged with failure to appear on traffic violations and possession of drug paraphernalia while Creagh was charged with public intoxication, according to Citronelle police. Both were transported to Mobile Metro Jail and charged with escape, according to the CPD.

    By EMMETT BURNETT SARALAND — A murder suspect was hospitalized after the second shootout in Saraland in two days involving law enforcement. The incident at approximately 12:15 p.m. started at the Pilot Travel Center in Satsuma, where a U.S. Marshal’s task force located the suspect, who is from Florida. The suspect then fled to the Rouses Market in Saraland, where officers tried to stop the suspect and gunfire ensued, according to Saraland Public Safety Director J.C. West. The…

  By EMMETT BURNETT SARALAND — One man was killed Wednesday in a shootout with multiple law enforcement agencies in Saraland. Juan Jose Puente Jr. was shot and killed by officers after he fired at them first on two occasions, according to Mobile County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Lori Myles. The incident started when the MCSO’s Internet Crimes Against Children unit attempted to execute warrants on Puente at his home. Deputies pulled Puente over on Shelton Beach Road as he was…

    By ARTHUR L. MACK MOBILE — Gov. Kay Ivey announced Tuesday that museums, education facilities, aquariums and waterfront projects in Mobile County will receive about $17.5 million in Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) funds. “One of the main themes for this year’s projects is environmental and nature education and outreach,” Ivey said at the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico. “Teaching future generations about the importance of protecting Alabama the Beautiful and all her…

    By ARTHUR L. MACK SEMMES — The Semmes City Council unanimously voted Thursday to authorize a feasibility study to see if the city can form its own independent school system. The five-month study from Aug. 1 to Dec. 31 will help guide the city in the expansion of its boundaries and to help with census figures to confirm it meets the standard of a population of 5,000 as required by state law to create a city school board.…

    By ARTHUR L. MACK MOBILE — The Mobile County Commission will vote Monday on a $23.1 million bid to build the Mobile County Aquatic Center. If approved, Persons Services Corp. would receive $19 million from the county plus an additional $3.5 million from the City of Mobile and the Mobile County Public School System. The announcement was made during the county commission’s work session on Thursday. “It’s 12 to 18 months for the work to be completed,” said…

    By ARTHUR L. MACK MOBILE— The Mobile City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a $4.5 million contract with Sabra Demolition Corp. to tear down the Mobile Civic Center and Expo Hall. The vote gave the green light to demolish the 60-year-old structure, which is scheduled to begin on Aug. 15, and make way for a new facility. The base bid for the project was $2.367 million while an additional $1 million was allotted for removing a mural. Another…

    By ARTHUR L. MACK MOBILE — The builder of three hotels in downtown Mobile said tourism here isn’t doing well and questioned the need for a $1 occupancy fee. Mike Cowart of Birmingham, who has been in the hotel business for 45 years, the last 20 as a market consultant, said the leisure and convention demand in Mobile has never been tapped to its fullest potential. “I built those three hotels when other people weren’t taking chances in…

  Among the Call News’ first-place awards in the Alabama Press Association contest were, above, “The Value of a Foot” and below, “Golson creating a new MGM,” both by editor Jimmy Wigfield.     Staff Report The Call News won 11 awards, including five by editor Jimmy Wigfield, in the Alabama Press Association’s 2024 Better Newspaper Contest. The Call News’ honors came in Division C among the state’s largest weekly newspapers. Nearly 2,000 entries from 56 publications statewide were judged…