Published: Thursday, September 02, 2010, 8:00 PM     Updated: Thursday, September 02, 2010, 8:02 PM

Two Birmingham men have been charged in connection to the armed robberies of a total of six businesses in Birmingham, Fultondale and Gardendale.

Torri Johnson, 35, of Birmingham on Thursday was charged with six counts of robbery by Birmingham police.

Those charges stem from the Aug. 9 robbery of O’Charley’s on Parkway East and the recent robbery of an EZ Pawn store on First Avenue North, according to Birmingham police.

Johnson was being held at the Jefferson County Jail Thursday on bonds totaling $550,000 in those robberies, according to a Birmingham police press release.

Fultondale police on Monday charged Johnson with five counts of robbery in the Aug. 18 robbery of a Chili’s Grill & Bar and the Aug. 27 robbery of an O’Reilly’s Auto Parts store.

Birmingham police on Thursday also charged Reginald Mitchell, 29, of Birmingham with seven counts of robbery in the O’Charley’s and EZ Pawn cases. Those cases have a combined total bond of $610,000, police said.

Gardendale police on Thursday charged Mitchell with four counts of robbery in connection with the Aug. 21 robbery of a Shoney’s and the Aug. 3 robbery of a Sonic, according to a press release.

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Published: Wednesday, September 01, 2010, 7:04 PM     Updated: Wednesday, September 01, 2010, 7:05 PM

MOBILE, Ala. — Two 16-year-old girls have been linked to at least 10 auto burglaries in west Mobile over the last month, Mobile police said.
 
Spokesman Officer Christopher Levy said warrants charging unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle have been signed against the girls, who are currently in the custody of juvenile authorities in Baldwin County in connection with a car theft in Daphne.

Levy said the girls are believed responsible for break-ins to cars at Country Club of Mobile, Providence Hospital, Mobile Swim Club and three west Mobile restaurants, all during August.

Levy said there may be others charged in connection with the break-ins.

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Published: Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 7:30 PM

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Published: Monday, August 30, 2010, 7:09 PM     Updated: Monday, August 30, 2010, 7:10 PM

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Published: Sunday, August 29, 2010, 8:00 PM

There is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms tonight, with gradually clearing skies expected Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

Tonight’s low will be around 72.

On Monday, it will be cloudy, with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. The sky will gradually clear to become mostly sunny, with a expected high near 87. Monday night calls for partly cloudy skies and a low around 69.

Sunny weather returns Tuesday, with a high near 90 and an overnight low around 69.

Sunshine is expected through the rest of the week, with sunny or mostly clear skies in the forecast. Daily high temperatures are expected to be in the low 90s, with overnight lows ranging from 68 to 71.

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The preliminary title report offers you an opportunity to review any impediments which could prevent a clear title from passing. So, when reviewing preliminary title report it is crucial to check the extent of ownership rights or interest that you would be acquiring.

Fee simple or just fee is one common form of ownership interest and it is also the highest form of interest the owner can have for their Huntsville Alabama real estate. Interests, restrictions and liens of others would also be listed in an order as exceptions.

Understanding title insurance

Title insurance basically covers the owners that they are obtaining marketable title for their property. Unlike casualty or health insurance policies which just insure against future events, this title insurance is rather designed to eliminate the loss or risk caused by title defects from previous events.

Moreover it also provides coverage only to title related problems which existed when the policy was issued. Title insurance in North Alabama is a contract policy of indemnity which guarantees that the title is reported, but if it is not then the owner could face damages at later stages. Therefore the title insurance policy offers coverage for the loss up to the face amount of your policy.

Title search

Issuing title insurance policy is quite an exacting and extensive process where companies work to eliminate the risk by performing a painstaking search for different public records and also in the title plan to the company, where public records, court decisions and laws pertaining to the property are maintained. It is mainly done to find out the current documented ownership and other matters of documents which can affect the title of the property.

After this title search is done, the Alabama title company would issue a preliminary title report that details the current status of the property title. This title report contains essential information which can affect the willingness and the ability of the parties to even close as escrow. This report indicates the type of title insurance being offered by the company and the exclusions form coverage based on the type of insurance policy.

If you are searching for a Huntsville Alabama real estate property or a Huntsville Alabama real estate residential or commercial to place on the market call Holloway and Associates: 256-852-3350

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Published: Saturday, August 28, 2010, 9:01 PM     Updated: Saturday, August 28, 2010, 9:05 PM

 
  Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies continue to search for a 57-year-old man suspected of shooting and seriously wounding a man in Graysville Friday night.
  
  Deputies found Raymond Carey, 32, in the 1000 block of Seventh Street Southeast shot in the chest shortly after 7:35 p.m. after responding to a call of a person down in front of the residence. Carey was taken to UAB Hospital, where he remains in serious condition tonight.
  
  Deputies said the suspect came over to the home and confronted Carey about a fight with the man’s cousin that occurred about a week ago. The suspect told Carey that if Carey wanted to fight him, he could. Deputies said the suspect got out of a maroon Ford Explorer and shot Carey once in the chest.
  
  The man left the area, possibly traveling to the Ensley area. Deputies searched the area throughout the night but did not find the suspect.
  
  Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 325-1450.
 
 

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Published: Friday, August 27, 2010, 7:37 PM     Updated: Friday, August 27, 2010, 7:49 PM

There is a 20 to 40 percent chance of rain in the Birmingham area this weekend as high temperatures are expected to drop from the upper 90s to the low 80s, according to the National Weather Service.

Here is a look at each day’s forecast:

Tonight: 20 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms before midnight with a low around 70.

Saturday: A 20 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms after noon. Partly cloudy, with a high near 91.

Saturday night: A 20 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.

Sunday: A 40 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 88. 

Sunday night: A 20 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.

Monday: A 30 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a high near 87.

Monday night: A 20 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.

Follow developments in the al.com Weather Center.

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Published: Thursday, August 26, 2010, 7:01 PM

MOBILE, Ala. — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating Monday’s ammonia leak on the Theodore Industrial Canal, a local health officer said today.

Dr. Bert Eichold, health officer for the Mobile County Health Department, said his agency is working with the CDC to look at “the human impact and procedures regarding the effects that the anhydrous ammonia leak caused.”

A giant plume of ammonia escaped from a roof pipe at Millard Refrigerated Services on Deer River Road just after 9 a.m. Monday, forcing nearby residents to take shelter.  More than 120 people were sickened by the release.

Dozens of people went to emergency rooms, complaining of respiratory problems, dizziness and burning eyes. Only one Millard employee reported injuries.

Today, at least six people remained hospitalized, with at least one in intensive care, hospital officials said.

Millard Refrigerated Services, based in Omaha, Neb., prepares chicken for worldwide shipment at its 250,000-square-foot Theodore warehouse with five freezers. Ammonia is a key ingredient in refrigeration.

Eichold said CDC officials will survey records from hospitals and police and fire departments to examine the communitys response and preparedness, including what time a 911 call was made to notify authorities of the leak.
   
Someone at the company called 911 about 20 minutes after the leak was detected. Warning sirens were turned on by the Mobile County Emergency Management Agency about 20 minutes after that, according to emergency responders.

Michael Evans, EMA deputy director, said that after the 911 call, firefighters went to the facility and then contacted EMA with an assessment of the problem.

He said the agency uses what first-responders see on the scene to make a decision about what to do, such as order a shelter in place, sound alarms or evacuate.

The EMA also sends out alerts to be broadcast on TV and radio stations.

“We never hit the alarm system without sending an emergency alert system (message), which is a message that goes to all the media stations,” Evans said.

The sirens are supposed to alert people to turn on the TV or radio to learn more about the emergency.

He said he couldn’t comment on the 20 minutes between Millard detecting the leak and calling 911.

According to the company, detection of the leak occurred at 9:05 a.m., and workers had to find the source on the roof, shut it off and evacuate the facility. A 911 dispatch center received a call from the plant at 9:25 a.m.

Company officials said this week that their response was timely. Officials declined further comment Thursday until the investigations have concluded.

Firefighters notified the Emergency Management Agency at 9:30 a.m., officials said, and the EMA sounded sirens 15 to 20 minutes later.

Evans said some of the sirens used Monday were purchased about 15 years ago by industries along the canal and handed over to EMA.
 
The sirens used both alarm noises and a voice message, warning people to take shelter indoors, he said, and he wasn’t aware of any problems with them.

“We sounded them, and they went off,” Evans said, adding that it can be difficult for people to understand the voice message if they’re farther away from the siren.

The U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency also are investigating Monday’s incident.

Kurt Petermeyer, OSHA area director in Mobile, said that while his agency has standards for emergency responses in the workplace — such as protective equipment, training and timely evacuations — he’s not aware of any timetables imposed on companies.

He said he couldn’t comment on how long it took Millard to call 911, because the incident was still being probed.

OSHA will focus on what caused the pipe to split open, such as whether the pipe had degraded or had to too much pressure, he said. The pipe will be removed and studied.

At the University of South Alabama Medical Center, five patients injured by the leak were still being treated this afternoon, with one remaining in intensive care, said hospital spokesman Bob Lowry.

At Infirmary West, which was closest to the leak, one person was still being treated following the ammonia leak this afternoon, according to hospital spokeswoman Lauren Giddens.

(Staff Reporter Casandra Andrews contributed to this report.)

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Published: Wednesday, August 25, 2010, 7:31 PM

A 70-year-old man has been charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of his wife of 50 years, Thomasville police said.
 
Investigator William C. McNair II identified the suspect as Johnnie McKinley, who was in Clarke County Jail Wednesday night.  Bail was set at $75,000.

Thomasville police had been called to make a welfare check at the home at 1622 Tallahatta Springs Road on Sunday afternoon.   Officers found the body of 71-year-old Shirley McKinley in a bedroom at around 4:30 p.m. McNair said she had been shot with a shotgun.

McNair said her husband was not at the home when police arrived.  Police found Johnnie McKinley at a Thomasville apartment complex later in the day and detained him.

McNair said McKinley confessed after being served with a warrant for murder.

McNair said police had been called twice recently to the home to investigate domestic trouble, but in each instance internal reports were written with no charges being filed.

McNair said the incident was the first murder case handled by Thomasville police in 14 years. The McKinley home is outside the city limits but in the city’s police jurisdiction, McNair said.
 

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