Greg [email protected]
While many teens are spend-ing the summer lounging at thebeach, one group of youths isusing its time to help residentsand service organizations in theWiregrass.
Now in its second year, Wiredis a one-week program allowingteens from churches through-out the Wiregrass to volunteerfor service on a local level.
“It costs the kids less, andthey’re still involved,” saidSharon Sizemore, marketingdirector for Wiregrass HopeGroup, which Wired has helpedthroughout the week. “Money istight. You can take 35 youth anddrive to Texas and spend twodays on the road and thousandsof dollars to go to there, or youcan stay right here and benefityour own community.”
Last year, 230 teens volun-
teered for the program. Thisyear, that number is up to 600.
“It really put a taste in thekids’ mouths to want to do volun-teer work in their own communi-ty,” said Susan Anderson, a vol-unteer at Wiregrass Hope Groupwhose husband, Mark, helpedfound Wired last year. “Thesekids paid $99, which includes all
their housing, so it’s a lot cheaperthan some mission trips. Most ofthe churches are from theColumbia Baptist Association,but two are from Jacksonvilleand one is from Birmingham.”
Half the volunteers arehoused at Mount Gilead BaptistChurch, while the other half areat Ridgecrest Baptist Church.
The volunteers chose betweenthree different team types.
Social teams worked at nurs-ing homes, adult day care cen-ters, Mama Tina’s Kitchen, theDothan Rescue Mission, Wire-grass Hope Group and othersocial service organizations.
DOTHAN EAGLEdothaneagle.com Real people. Real news. 75 cents
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Lance [email protected]
CHIPLEY, Fla. — Distraughtand apparently frustrated overa broken truck and lawnmower Tuesday, police believean angry John Henry TurnerJr. went inside his mobile home
at Spanish Trail Park, picked uphis newly purchased 12-gaugeshotgun and blew a hole in histelevision.
If he had stopped there, yel-low crime scene tape would notsurround the residence andanother one nearby. Forensictechnicians would not be gath-
ering evidence. His neighborsmay have been shaken but notstunned and baffled.
Three people would not bedead.
But Turner didn’t stop there.Based on a Washington CountySheriff’s Department investiga-tion and interviews with neigh-
bors, investigators believe thisis what happened:
Turner’s girlfriend RoselynJackson, 50, who also lived at the residence, confrontedTurner after he shot the televi-sion. Three children betweenthe ages of 5 and 11, believed tobe Jackson’s grandchildren,
were present. They fled thehome and began running toanother neighbor’s home whenthey heard a gunshot and ascream. Police believe that’swhen Turner shot and killedJackson.
Ebony [email protected]
DALEVILLE — Six U.S.Army UH-1 “Huey” medevachelicopters, at least one ofwhich was used during theVietnam War, will be phasedout over the next two yearsat Fort Rucker to a moremodern model for medicalsupport.
Military personnel on thepost welcomed the arrival ofthe first three of eight UH-72“Lakota” helicopters at CairnsArmy Airfield in Dalevillearound 1 p.m. Wednesday.The UH-72s were flown fromColumbus, Miss.
Lt. Col. Joseph Matthew,
commander of the 1-223Army Regiment Battalion atFort Rucker, said the plan tophase out the UH-1 was anArmy-wide initiative tostreamline its fleet.
The estimated cost of eachaircraft is about $5.5 million,according to a press releaseby the Washington, D.C.,National Guard unit that
received UH-72s in March.According to the press
release, the new helicopter isa twin-engine, fully automat-ed aircraft and can carryloads up to 3,777 pounds atspeeds up to 142 knots.
Lt. Col. Kyle Patterson ofthe Fort Rucker MedevacFlatiron Company said theUH-72 is faster than its pred-
ecessor by about 30 to 40knots and has a more modernavionics package.
“The gauges are glass. Therescue hoist in no longer inthe cabinet. There are just alot of benefits to the new air-craft that can maybe help insaving lives,” Patterson said.
“We’re going from thebeloved, reliable, durableaircraft we trust to a newsports car with the latestelectronics and gadgets andthat’s also reliable, so it’sbittersweet.”
Officials said the UH-1s onFort Rucker have an averageof 6,500 flight hours, with atleast one in excess of 10,000flight hours.
Ebony [email protected]
OZARK — Alcohol may have been afactor in a two-minute scuffle between ateenager and a veteran Ozark police offi-cer who was shot at sever-al times early Wednesdaymorning, according toauthorities.
Ozark Police Chief TonySpivey said the officer,whose name was notreleased, stopped to ques-tion why Bryan Bowman,19, was walking in the roadat the intersection of East Andrews Avenueand West College Street around 12:30 a.m.Spivey said it is protocol for an officer toquestion anyone walking that early in aresidential area or business district.
Spivey said Bowman became combat-ive. When the officer attempted toretrieve a Taser, Spivey said Bowmanreached into his waistband for a handgunand fired at the officer three to five times.
At least one bullet hit the officer’s patrolvehicle, but none struck the officer, Spiveysaid. The officer did not return fire becauseBowman fled into a residential area.
Matt [email protected]
The Midland City Police Departmenthas one less officer working the streetsafter the police chief was relieved of hisduties Tuesday.
Bob Brogden, an Ozarkattorney who representsthe town of Midland City,said Keith Rinehardtresigned as police chiefafter he refused to followan order handed down byMayor Virgil Skipper andthe town council.
Tom Brantley, who represents Rine-hardt, said his client did not quit andplans to contest how he lost his job.
“He was accused of using his police vehi-cle for personal use by going to work anoth-er security job at BamaJam,” said Brantley,who represents Rinehardt through thePolice Benevolent Association. “It was nota resignation. It was a termination.”
Rinehardt said Midland City hired himas police chief in November 2008. He pre-viously worked as a K-9 officer for theDale County Sheriff’s Office.
Brogden said Rinehardt resigned afterhe refused to follow an order by MayorVirgil Skipper to change the unmarkedvehicle he drove as police chief to look likea patrol car. Brogden said for some rea-son Rinehardt said he would not markhis car and quit.
“He resigned, and they’re not going tolet him come back,” Brogden said. “Hejust got all irate and mad and told themayor he would not drive a marked unit.
JohnTurner Jr.
BryanBowman
KeithRinehardt
Danny Tindell / [email protected] crews look over the new UH-72 “Lakota” medevac helicopters at Cairns Army Airfield on Wednesday afternoon.
Braves shut down Cubs in4-1 win
Today:
High 91°Low 71°
Partly cloudy40% chance of storms
1BNorth Korea blamed for cyber attacks
8A Stricter labeling urged for bottled water 7A
Volunteersparticipatingin WiredWeek 2009organize agarage at theWiregrassHope Group,Wednesdayafternoon.
Max Oden /[email protected]
Three dead in apparent murder-suicide
SO LONG, HUEY19-year-old chargedwith attempted murder
See MURDER, 3A
See SHOT, 3A
See JOB, 3ASee GROUP, 3A
Police sayteen shotat officer
Midland City police chiefout of a job
New medevac helicopters arrive at Fort Rucker
“We’re going from the beloved, reliable, durable aircraft we trust to a new sports car with the latest
electronics and gadgets and that’s also reliable, so it’s bittersweet.”
Lt. Col. Kyle PattersonFort Rucker Medevac Flatiron Company
Group helps youths give back to the community
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