South Alabama News
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By ARTHUR L. MACK Ground was broken Wednesday for Heroes Plaza, which will feature statues of sports hall of famers from Mobile, including Hank Aaron and Satchel Paige. Aaron and Paige will be memorialized with nine-foot-tall statues in front of the Mobile Convention Center along with fellow Baseball Hall of Fame members Billy Williams, Ozzie Smith and Willie McCovey, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Robert Brazile. “This is about honoring our hall of famers, the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of…
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By JIMMY WIGFIELD Saraland City Schools Superintendent Dr. Aaron Milner expressed dismay over what he called a tepid response from fans at Spartans football games and implored them to not take the team, band and cheerleaders for granted. “Our community loves the students of Saraland City Schools,” Milner said. “With this understood, it has become evident the adults in the stands are unaware of the gratification our kids get — and frankly deserve — when our fans are on their…
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By ARTHUR L. MACK MOBILE — Despite concerns about the cost, the Mobile City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a $9.66 million transfer from the city’s general fund to the capital improvement fund to pay for the Civic Center parking facility. The original projected price for the project, a six-level parking facility with just over 1,000 parking spaces for the redevelopment of the Civic Center, was just over $30 million. However, White-Spunner Construction had the lowest bid of $38.16…
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By ARTHUR L. MACK A Semmes woman killed her two young children Thursday before committing suicide, Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said Friday. The Semmes Police Department and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office found the bodies of Mia Johnson, 5, Jacob Johnson, 2, and Nancy Johnson, 37, in a home at 9863 Evergreen Court, just off Snow Road, Thursday afternoon. Johnson’s estranged husband, Derek Johnson, found the bodies and called 911. The couple had domestic issues and both had…
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By ARTHUR L. MACK Two young children and their mother were found murdered in a home off Snow Road Thursday and the estranged husband was taken in for questioning, authorities said. The Semmes Police Department and the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office found the bodies of Mia Johnson, 5, Jacob Johnson, 2, and Nancy Johnson, 37, in a home at 9863 Evergreen Court, just off Snow Road. Johnson’s husband, Derek Johnson, found the bodies and called 911 to report the killings.…
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Staff Report The Citronelle Police Department is investigating a forgery case which occurred at Andrews Hardware in Citronelle, according to police chief Chris McLean. A female purchased several items from the store using a check later determined to have a fake name and address and a stolen account number, McLean said. Surveillance photos show a female who made the purchase and a male subject with her at the time of the purchase. An investigation determined the female used another check…
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Semmes Mayor Brandon Van Hook said the city’s resources must be prioritized for those living in the city limits. (Call News file photo) By ARTHUR L. MACK SEMMES — The Semmes City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to roll back the city’s police jurisdiction to a half mile beyond its city limits. The new police jurisdiction will take effect on Jan. 1, 2024, and reduce the one which currently spreads 1½ miles past the city limits. Semmes joins Saraland…
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By ARTHUR L. MACK Three of four areas targeted for annexation by the City of Mobile voted on Tuesday to become part of what is now Alabama’s second-largest city. The Cottage Hill Corridor, King’s Branch and Orchard Estates areas voted to be annexed while the Airport Boulevard area voted against joining the city. As a result, Mobile will have a population of 204,689, trailing only Huntsville and moving ahead of Birmingham. “This is an exciting night for the future…
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By EMMETT BURNETT Chickasaw Public Safety Director Keith Miller was fired Tuesday night by the city council after a hearing in a three-hour executive session which was closed to the public. After emerging from the closed-door session, the council publicly voted 4-1 to remove Miller, with many in the packed chambers shouting their disapproval during the roll call. “That man you just let go has done everything for this town,” Bill Vallon told the council during the public comments…
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By ARTHUR L. MACK A longtime Africatown dream became reality Friday as dignitaries and descendants of slaves brought to Mobile on board the Clotilda gathered for the dedication of the Africatown Heritage House. The Heritage House, which officially opens Saturday, contains artifacts from the Clotilda, the ship that brought 110 Africans from the west African country of Benin to the shores of Mobile in defiance of laws outlawing the slave trade. The ship, commanded by Capt. William Foster, was burned…
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