Wet/Dry Referendum Will Be on the City of Rainsville’s Municipal Election Ballot

The City of Rainsville, along with most cities and towns in Alabama, will hold their municipal election on Tuesday, August 25th. Mayor Rodger Lingerfelt and Council Place 4, held by Brandon Freeman, have no opposition. Races that are contested this year are (SEE SAMPLE BALLOT AT BOTTOM): Council Place 1: Arlan “Monk” Blevins Steve Fleming…

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Two Cherokee County Men Charged with Drug Distribution Resulting in Death

08/14/2020 According to Sheriff Jeff Shaver, two Cherokee County men were taken into custody on Friday after Federal indictments were issued for drug distribution resulting in death.  The investigation began in 2018, after the death of Cody Bleu Brewster at a residence near Cedar Bluff.  Brewster died as the result of ingesting illegal drugs containing…

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Flash Flood Results in River Channel Shift at Little River Canyon National Preserve

Fort Payne, Ala.—On the night of Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020, severe storms and torrential rains ravaged northeastern Alabama, including Little River Canyon National Preserve. The storms resulted in a flash flood at Canyon Mouth Day Use Area in Cherokee County.  The area is near the downstream end of the Preserve where the Little River…

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Phillips Selected For National Career Tech Advisory Council

DeKalb County Career Tech Supervisor, Jonathan Phillips, was recently selected by Dr. Linda Floyd, Director, Technology Centers That Work of the Southern Regional Education Board, to serve on SREB’s National Technology Centers That Work Advisory Council. The National Technology Centers That Work Advisory Council is made of career tech administrators and teachers from across the…

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List of Qualified Municipal Candidates For Dekalb County

DeKalb County Municipal Qualifying Candidates Collinsville Mayor – Johnny Traffanstedt Council District 1 – Kathy G. Jelks Council District 2 – Donna G. Jones Council District 3 – James David Bowen Council District 4 – Janet H. Osborn Council District 5 – William Jeffery “Rat” Chandler Crossville Mayor – Tera Fortenberry, Roger Dino Richards Council…

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Suspect arrested after Peak’s Corner Vehicle Break-in and Vandalism at Fyffe Park

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — Yesterday, DeKalb County Investigators and Deputies made an arrest regarding a car break-in at Dobson Cabinet Shop early Wednesday morning (July 22, 2020) and damage to gates at the Fyffe Town Park. Charges were also finalized on a suspect in unrelated car break-ins and a manhunt in Geraldine last week. Investigators…

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Central Board Approves AHSAA Return to Play ‘Best Practices’ Affirming Plans to Start Fall Sports as Scheduled

MONTGOMERY – The Alabama High School Athletic Association Central Board of Control approved the AHSAA’s Return to Play ‘Best Practices’ recommended guidelines Wednesday and reaffirmed plans to start fall sports on time, The action was taken Wednesday at its annual summer meeting in Montgomery.      Fall sports teams have the option to begin fall workouts on…

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Northeast Alabama Community College Announces Fall 2020 Semester Plan of Operation

Northeast Alabama Community College (NACC), following the lead of its parent organization, the Alabama Community College System (ACCS), has announced its plans for reopening campuses for the Fall 2020 semester.  NACC, to assure the safety and protection of its students and staff, will offer many online courses this fall.  In fact, all lecture and theory…

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DeKalb County EMA And County Commission Taking Extra Precautions Due To The Alarming Increase In Covid-19 Cases

DeKalb County Emergency Management Agency PRESS RELEASE: 7-1-2020 Based on the Governors announcement yesterday of the extension of the Safer at Home order relatedto the current Covid-19 pandemic, the DeKalb County Emergency Management Agency has recommended that the government offices remain vigilant and use all possible ways to protect both citizens and employees. Therefore, the…

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ADPH Releases A New Color Coded System For Covid-19

Public Health Guidance for Reopening The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) is using data and metrics to make recommendations to assist the Governor’s Office, partners, and stakeholders across the state in making decisions about safely reopening Alabama. COVID-19 remains very contagious and our data and metrics tell us that we should continue to take preventative…

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ALEA Troopers Remind Motorists to ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ during Fourth of July Weekend

MONTGOMERY – Alabamians of all ages love to celebrate the Fourth of July with family, friends, food and fireworks. However, all too often the festivities turn tragic on the state’s roads. In an effort to prevent such tragedies, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division will once again participate in Drive Sober or…

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ALEA Resumes Normal Driver License Operations; Record Number of Alabama Citizens Served

MONTGOMERY – Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Driver License Division has continued to serve the citizens of the state of Alabama while resuming face-to-face operations and making safety a top priority. The division closed its offices to the public on Friday, March 27; however, employees continued to provide services to…

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Awakening Events Announces A Third Tour Package To Be Added To Live Concert Drive-In Theater Series

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Christian music icons MICHAEL W. SMITH, STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN, and MAC POWELL join forces for “Triple Feature” tour package. Nashville, TN – In response to overwhelming demand Awakening Events is thrilled to announce an additional tour package has been added to the Drive-In Theater Tour Concert Series. Building off the momentum of…

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Nine Northeast Dual Enrollment Students Receive High School and College Diplomas Simultaneously

Northeast Alabama Community College (NACC) is thrilled to announce that nine dual enrollment students are receiving both a two-year degree and a high school diploma this year. Despite being faced with the unique challenge of the coronavirus pandemic, all nine students successfully completed the requirements needed for graduation. Several local high schools are represented with…

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Campbell Reappointed To The Jackson County Economic Development Authority Board

Dr. David Campbell, President of Northeast Alabama Community College, has been reappointed to the Jackson County Economic Development Authority Board.  Senator Steve Livingston (R-District 8) made the appointment. “I am honored and pleased to serve on the EDA Board again,” Campbell stated.  “With Northeast and the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) involved in so much…

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Tourism to Little River Canyon National Preserve Creates Economic Benefit

Fort Payne, Ala. – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 650,000 visitors to Little River Canyon National Preserve in 2019 spent $38.7 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 598 jobs in the local area. The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane…

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Rainsville Ministerial Association makes statement concerning what is happening in our nation and to support our police force

Media Release: Rainsville Ministerial Association, June 10, 2020 We grieve the death of George Floyd and the truth that it reveals about us. His death was so tragic and meaningless. We recognize there is a difference between a march and a riot. We support our constitutional rights to peaceful protest by marches or other means….

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22 Narcotics Cases Made, Multiple Stolen Cars Recovered | WVSM Digital News

The DeKalb County Narcotics and Interdiction Unit has made and assisted with 22 drug cases in the last several weeks. Two stolen vehicles have also been recovered in suspected drug related crimes.On Friday, May 22, deputies and an interdiction agent went to the residence of Melvin Christopher Moss (30 of Valley Head) on Highway 11 in Hammondville…

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Statement from ALEA’s Secretary Hal Taylor on the Death of Moody Police Sergeant Stephen Williams

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — “We are deeply saddened to hear of the loss of yet another law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty. Sergeant Stephen Williams bravely committed 23 years of his life to protecting and serving his community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and fellow officers of the Moody…

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The Rainsville Chamber of Commerce Announces 2020 Scholarship Recipients

The Rainsville Chamber of Commerce announced their 2020 scholarship recipients today for Plainview High School. Each recipient with receive $1,500.00 to use toward college expenses. Money raised for this scholarship program comes from the annual golf tournament held each August. This years winners were: Abrie Blair Catherine Clines Steven E. Cornelius II Averi Evans Samantha…

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NACC Students to Receive Assistance from CARES Act May 16, 2020

Approximately 1,000 Northeast Alabama Community College (NACC) students will be receiving $500 each from the federal CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.  The funding is designated to assist students who have been negatively affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.  Students were forced to move their courses from on-campus instruction to an online delivery when NACC…

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NACC’s Dr. David Campbell and Ms. Andrea Okwu Participate in ACCS Listening Tour

Northeast Alabama Community College is always looking for new ways to connect with our community and show what a unique opportunity it is to become a student. Recently, two of NACC’s very own employees were given the opportunity to provide valuable feedback for the Alabama Community College System during a recent Listening Tour in ACCS’s…

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In Person Hearings Will Not Resume Until June 2, 2020 | WVSM Digital News

This morning, a new local Administrative Order was issued by Presiding Circuit Judge Jeremy Taylor regarding in-person hearings.  Because of the increase in infection rates in the circuit, in-person hearings will NOT resume until Tuesday, June 2nd. During the next two weeks, many cases will be handled through virtual hearings. Also new today, by Order…

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The Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office Reports Human Remains found near Mentone | WVSM Digital News

Yesterday (May 12, 2020), a contractor doing work on a home near Mentone discovered human remains in a wooded area off of County Road 948. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office was notified, and immediately began an investigation. Additional remains were located by investigators later in the afternoon. Early this morning, DeKalb County Investigators were assisted…

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Dekalb County Schools Move Graduations Back To May, With Short Notice | WVSM Digital News

Dr. Jason Barnett, Dekalb County Schools Superintendent, announced today that all Dekalb County School Graduations will be moved back to May. On May 5, 2020, Dr. Barnett released an update that graduations for Dekalb County Schools would be held starting July 16th through July 25th of this year. Now, today, May 12, 2020, it was…

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Burn BAN Is In Effect For Dekalb & Other Counties | WVSM Digital News

According to (ADEM) The Alabama Department of Environmental Management burn bans are in effect for the following counties in Alabama: Baldwin Dekalb Etowah Jefferson* Lawrence Madison Mobile Montgomery Morgan Russell Shelby Talladega Under ADEM regulations, non-agricultural burns are not allowed during the months of May, June, July, August, September, and October. In an effort to…

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Governor Moves To Re-Open Alabama, Allowing Restaurants, Hair Salons & Churches To Open

Montgomery, Al. – Alabama Governor Kay Ivey updated the citizens of Alabama on COVID-19 and relaxed closures in the state. In the updated order, which takes effect Monday, May 11, 2020, Churches, Hair Salons, Barber Shops, Gyms, and Athletic facilities may open while maintaining the recommended 6 ft. social distancing. The updated order removes the…

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Alabama Governor’s Updated “Safer-At-Home” Order Allows Some Businesses To Reopen

MONTGOMERY, Al. – Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey will allow Alabama’s economy to reopen, beginning Thursday, April 30, 2020 at 5:00 pm. This will allow for the reopening of the state’s economy through a phased-in approach. This new update, issued today, Tuesday, April 28, 2020, will ease some of the restrictions in the State of Alabama…

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Large amount of Meth, Marijuana, and Cash seized | WVSM Digital News

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — On Monday night, DeKalb County Deputies and Narcotics agents conducted a search on County Road 1000 (near Hammondville) resulting in a large amount of narcotics being seized. The investigation stemmed from information received that several juveniles were purchasing marijuana from other residents in the area. After tracing it to the source,…

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Governor Ivey Announces Auto Insurers Return More Than $100 Million in Premium to Alabama Policyholders

MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey announced today that automobile insurers are returning premium totaling to date more than $100 million, to more than two million Alabama policyholders during the ongoing crisis brought on by COVID-19. Because most drivers are following the governor’s stay-at-home order, there are fewer miles being traveled resulting in fewer accidents. As…

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Facilities to be named in honor of Sheriff Reed and Commission President Charles Bell

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Administrative Office and Detention Center are to be named in honor of former Sheriff Cecil Reed and former Commission President Charles Bell. The two were instrumental in building the new facility. The process started back in 2001, when Sheriff Reed approached DeKalb County Commission President Charles Bell…

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ALEA Reminder Federal Government has Extended STAR ID Deadline to October 2021

MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Law Enforcement reminds the public the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, at the direction of President Donald J. Trump, has extended the STAR ID enforcement deadline to Oct. 1, 2021, in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). STAR ID, which stands for Secure, Trusted and Reliable Identification, is Alabama’s version of the federal…

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SEVERE Weather Possible Thursday, With Violent Tornadoes Possible Again

Another “Major TORNADO” outbreak is possible, this Thursday, April 23, 2020, across the South. Currently, models are showing the possibility of a significant Severe Weather Outbreak this Thursday, including the chance for VIOLENT STRONG LONG TRACK TORNADOES again. As of today, The Storm Prediction Center already has a large portion of the South in an…

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SEVERE Weather Forecast Again This Sunday | WVSM Digital News

Severe Weather is forecast for the South, again this Sunday. Current models show the outlook area for the highest threat of Severe Weather will cover Central and Southern Alabama. The threat extends from Eastern Texas through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, The Florida Panhandle, and South Carolina. The Storm Prediction Center says all forms of Severe…

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Two Rainsville Men Arrested For Large Amount of Narcotics | WVSM Digital News

FORT PAYNE, Ala. — Last Tuesday (April 7, 2020) the DCSO seized a large amount of illegal narcotics in Rainsville. The investigation was initiated after receiving numerous complaints from the community regarding possible drug activity on Hancock Drive in Rainsville. Through the course of the investigation, a search warrant was obtained for the residence. Deputies…

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