The Walgreens Flu Index® is updated every Tuesday. Data released this past Tuesday shows the index reports Metro Columbus ranks number 10 nationally in flu activity. The number is down slightly from the week prior when Columbus was ranked six, but still shows the Fountain City and surrounding areas are seeing a higher than average number of flu cases.
1. Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen, Texas
2. Columbus-Tupelo-West Point-Houston, Miss.
3. Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas
4. Corpus Christi, Texas
5. Lafayette, La.
6. Houston, Texas
7. New Orleans, La.
8. Montgomery-Selma, Ala.
9. Mobile, Ala.-Pensacola (Ft. Walton Beach), Fla.
10. Columbus, Ga. (Opelika, Ala.)
“As we head into the fall and winter seasons, our data show significantly higher flu activity early this year when compared to other flu seasons and it’s increasing across the United States, especially in southern cities,” said Anita Patel, PharmD, vice president, pharmacy services development, Walgreens. “As we return to pre-pandemic activities and spend more time indoors without a mask or social distancing, we are more vulnerable to respiratory infections. To help reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses this season, the best thing you can do is schedule your annual flu shot and updated COVID-19 booster at Walgreens in one convenient stop.”
For more information or to track flu activity you can visit the Walgreens Flu Index®.
According to information released by the Troup County Sheriff's Office, an alleged rape occurred at around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 at a church located in the area of Roanoke Road and Pegasus Parkway in Troup County.
Information released indicates the victim in the case was entering the driveway of a church when a dark blue, large style pickup truck approached her. The truck which was of an unknown make and model was being driven by a white male, possible in his 50s. The male driver kept asking the victim if she needed a ride and when she continued to refuse, the male sped off in the direction of Roanoke Road towards Fling Road.
The victim reached the parking lot of the church and observed the blue pickup truck approaching her in the parking lot at a high rate of speed. Investigators say the male then exited the vehicle and began getting closer to the victim. As she continued to walk away the suspect grabbed her from behind and the incident occurred.
On Friday morning, the Troup County Sheriff's Office released a sketch of the suspect in the case. Investigators ask that anyone with information on the possible suspect or the if the description of the truck sounds familiar law enforcement wants to hear from you..
Anyone with information can contact the Troup County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation at (706)883-1616 or Crime Stoppers at (706)812-1000.
According to the Opelika Police Department, detectives with the agency have arrested 36-year-old Caleb Daniel Fuller of Auburn, Alabama. Detectives have announced Fuller is a teacher at Opelika Middle School has been charged with Electronic Solicitation of a Child, Sexual Contact with a student and luring a child someplace in order to perform or propose sexual acts.
Investigators state that the charges are related to an incident that does involved a child at the middle school where Fuller worked. The Opelika City Schools are fully cooperating with investigators in the case. Fuller has been placed on administrative leave.
The case remains under investigation according to police and additional charges are possible. Opelika police ask anyone with information to contact the OPD detective division at (334)705-5220 or the Secret Witness Line at (334)745-8665.
A debate has been ongoing since 2015 according to County Attorney’s on who is the rightful owner of the land in Downtown. The County will present a case before a circuit court judge to assert their ownership of the land. The county is basing its claims of ownership upon a deed from 1949 that states the park, which includes the statue was given to the United Daughters of the Confederacy for use as a park for white residents only and once the park is no longer used for that purpose ownership would revert back to the county.
County officials have also taken a stance based on the fact that the county cannot give public property to a private entity or organization. No timeline has been established for when the case will go before a judge. The case has been filed with the Tuskegee Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy listed as the defendant. However, county officials note this has been ongoing since 2015 and to this point they have not been able to find a local resident of Macon County who claims to be a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
The county says they are open to negotiate with members of the Daughters if they come forward. To date the only person claiming to be a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy was found to be a resident of Elba in South Alabama. Last month when repairs were made to the statue another individual was on the site who claimed to be a member of the United Daughters. However, County Attorney’s say in their conversations with that individual they claimed to be a resident of Auburn which is in neighboring Lee County.
The statue has been a ongoing topic of debate in Tuskegee, which is a community that census data shows is 95 percent African American. Residents have taken the stance that the statue is offensive and a reminder of slavery. Residents have requested to have the statue moved to a different location rather than the heart of the city as residents state the statue is not a representation of the community.
The lawsuit filed by the county takes steps that local residents and some leaders have pushed for to get the issue of ownership in front of a judge to find out who is the rightful owner of the property. The United Daughters of the Confederacy have claimed ownership of the property while the county has also presented the same claim. The issue now comes before a judge.
The county or their legal council made no indication of what will happen to the controversial statue if a judge determines they are the rightful owner of the property.
Brand had been previously arrested on November 20, 2020, and charged with five counts of possession of child pornography. The arrest was a result of an investigation by Auburn Police and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's (ALEA) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force.
In early November 2020, information was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Organization that a resident of Auburn was possibly in possession of images of child pornography. Further investigation resulted in Brand being developed as a suspect. The pornographic images were confirmed to be those of juveniles not from the Auburn area.
In an interview on Friday, July 9, 2021, Ford spoke with a reporter from The Chattahoochee Voice. In the interview Ford said that his actions were not an act of vandalism because it was done in broad daylight. Ford cited actions of June of 2020 when a person vandalized the Confederate statue in the town square in the middle of the night with the words (explicit) the KKK. The action followed events of a previous evening when a cross was found burning over a freeway overpass along Interstate 85.
Ford says, "I was not trying to act on behalf of the total city of Tuskegee, but I acted on behalf of my legally constituted council district. Why, because the statue is located in my district." Ford explains that in his monthly June 30 district meeting, attendees voted to adopt a resolution stating that they wanted the statue down and wanted the county to perform the action. Ford closes that statement by saying, "If I waited on the city council to take action or if I waited on the county commission to take action, we would be waiting until hell freezes over. They have their reasons for not taking any action."
Ford says that he respects the opinions of other elected officials and cites that despite some reports that he has seen with some media outlets there is no animosity between himself or other elected officials and they are allowed to disagree respectfully. Ford continues as he states that his role as an elected official is to act on behalf of the people of his district and he must do so or else nothing would get done.
Ford says at this point he has not heard any information from law enforcement or the district attorney's office about possible charges. He says if it does come to that point he is ready to go to court and hopes to see the United Daughters of the Confederacy in a courtroom to put this issue to bed forever.
The Alabama Attorney General's Office has said that their opinion of the statue is that it legally private property and with that Ford's action would not fall under Alabama's law regarding the removal and destruction of statues. The Macon County District Attorney's Office and Macon County Sheriff's Office has been in contact with the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Ford could face a possible charge of Criminal Mischief along with the other unidentified individual for the actions of last Wednesday. The charge could be a felony or misdemeanor depending on the cost of the damage to the statue.
Ford calls the statue an insult to his community as it is a reminder of slavery and a period of oppression to a group of people that make up the majority of Tuskegee's population. Ford plans to continue his fight to have the statue removed from the town center. He is hopeful to have things worked out in court.
RELATED MEDIA:
Local politician among those involved in effort to cut down Confederate statue
On the afternoon of Wednesday, July 7, 2021, Tuskegee city councilman Johnny Ford, of District 2 went to the heart of the historic city and attempted to saw the legs off of a Confederate statue in the town square with at least one other individual. The two men were reported to have been seen in a lift style machine going up to legs of a statue of a Confederate soldier.
The individuals were able to cut through a portion of one of the legs of the statue before deputies from the Macon County Sheriff's Office were able to stop them. The councilman and another person halted their actions without hesitation upon the request of local law enforcement.
Ford who has served as mayor of Tuskegee on more than a half dozen different occasions was elected to the city council last year. Ford has prided himself on fighting for the residents of Tuskegee, which is a historically black community. He has argued on many instances that the statue which displays a Confederate solider and was erected in 1906 does not represent the people of Tuskegee.
Last June the statue was damaged in June by an act of vandalism. The statue has been vandalized on numerous other instances over the years. Shortly following that most recent vandalism incident Ford sponsored a march around the town square in which he ended the night in an epic way by covering the statue with a large tarp. That tarp has sat over the statue for more than one year.
The Macon County Commission has been exploring legal options to have the statue remove and working with The Daughters of the Confederacy who is believed to be the owners of the statue on a relocation. Commission members and members of the Tuskegee city government have hoped to reach an agreement with the Daughters of the Confederacy to have the statue preserved and moved to an alternate location. However, to this point those efforts have not resulted in the removal of the century old landmark.
Census data shows Tuskegee is about 95 percent African American, which has presented an argument that the statue does not properly represent the demographic makeup of the community. Ford along with members of the community have hoped to remove the statue and replace it with one of the more well known historic citizens of Tuskegee-Macon County such as; Rosa Parks, The Commodores, Lewis Adams or the Tuskegee Airmen.
Ford along with others including the one person in the lift machine with him went to the statue shortly after the noon hour on Wednesday and used a concrete cutting style saw and attempted to remove the statue. The individuals were able to remove the tarp over the statue and saw more than midway through one of the legs before they were stopped by deputies from the Macon County Sheriff's Office. There has been no confirmation from law enforcement on who was operating the saw.
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A cut is visible on one of the legs of the Confederate statue. |
Macon County Sheriff Andre Brunson arrived on the scene and spoke with Ford in private. Ford st
On Monday, July 5, 2021, Whataburger opened the doors to its first location located at 2501 Gateway Drive in Opelika. The restaurant is adjacent to the Tiger Town shopping development located near Interstate 85.
Whataburger announced plans in January to open a location in Opelika. Work began quickly on the location that was formerly an O'Charley's restaurant that closed its doors last year.
The excitement and expansion of Whataburger in the Opelika-Auburn area did not end there in April it was revealed that Whataburger was planning to construct a restaurant Auburn. The location will be located near Toomers Corner in downtown Auburn in the former Pieology building located at 101 North College Street. The 4,658 square foot building is located just feet away from the campus of Auburn University.
WhataBurger is a well-known burger chain throughout parts of the country primarily in Texas. The company finds its origins dating back to 1950, when Harmon Dobson opened his small burger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. Today the chain has grown to include more than 800 restaurants stretching from Florida to Arizona.
In recent years the chain has expanded it presence in Alabama. Prior to this year the chain operated its nearest location in the city of Clanton located on Interstate 65 between Montgomery and Birmingham. However, just weeks before the opening of the Opelika location Whataburger opened a location in Montgomery. The chain now has 21 stores across the State of Alabama.
Whataburger has been on the taste buds of residents of Columbus and Phenix City for sometime and has appeared on numerous business wish lists by residents. Residents in the Auburn and Opelika area similarly wanted Whataburger in their community and started a Facebook page to track the want and progress to the Lee County area.
Whataburger joins a growing list of businesses that have recently opened their doors in the Auburn and Opelika area or are presently under construction.
According to a release from the Tuskegee Police Department, on Thursday, April 15, 2021, Tuskegee Police made another arrest in reference to discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling and capital murder. The arrest is connected to the February 13, 2021 shooting that occurred in the 500 block of Pleasant Springs Drive in Tuskegee.
The shooting claimed the life of 4-year-old Davion Tarver, who was struck by a bullet while sitting inside of a residence on Pleasant Springs Drive. Tarver was transported to a hospital in Montgomery and transferred to Children's Healthcare of Alabama in Birmingham where he died of his injuries days later.
On Sunday, February 14, 2021, Tuskegee Police made their first arrest in connection to the case. Officers arrested 18-year-old Joshua Washington and charged him with attempted murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling. Days later Tarver succumb to his injuries and passed in Birmingham. Charges against Washington were upgraded to murder.
Tuskegee investigators continued their investigation and made a second arrest on Friday, February 26, 2021. Officers arrested 18-year-old Emanuel Howard Jr., on charges of discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling and attempted murder.
On Thursday, April 15, 2021, the U.S. Marshals Task Force arrested 18-year-old Tremont Jerido Jr. Police say Jerido was taken into custody in the 1900 block of Lee Road 197 in Phenix City. Jerido was transported back to Tuskegee and booked into the Macon County Detention Facility on charges of capital murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling. He is being held without bond on the murder charge and has a bond of $15,000 for the discharging a firearm charge.
Tuskegee Police continue their investigation in the case and ask anyone that may have information on the case to call the secret witness line at (334)727-9865 or crime stoppers at (334)215-STOP.
RELATED MEDIA:
East Alabama community holds vigil for slain 4-year-old boy (February 19, 2021)
According to information released by the Valley Police Department's Major Mike Reynolds, on April 5, 2021, officers from the Valley Police Department were called to King Ford located at 615 Fob James Drive in Valley in reference to a burglary and theft.
When officers arrived to the business they discovered that the first employee on the scene discovered the business had been forcibly broken into. As employees checked through the dealership they discovered seven vehicles were missing from the lot.
Police state the missing vehicles included a 2021 Dodge Charger SX, a 2021 Doge Charger, 4 Ford F250 4x4's, and a Dodge Ram Laramie 3500. Police indicate the loss totaled over $400,000.
Officers turned the scene over to investigators from the Valley Police Department. Investigators ask anyone who may have information on the theft and burglary to contact Valley Police at (334)756-7422 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at (334)215-STOP. The case remains under investigation.
On the evening of Thursday, April 1, 2021 police responded to the area of Alabama Avenue and Avenue B in Tuskegee. Upon arrival in the area police discovered human remains.
Police have not released an identity of the individual as of yet and are still working to confirm the identity which police suspect is a male. Police have also not yet released details of a cause of death. The remains have been sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery for additional information and a possible identity of the remains.
The investigation into the discovery continues at this time. Anyone with information can contact Tuskegee Police at (334)727-0200.
The discovery comes as police have been searching for 22-year-old Marquez Duncan Jr., a missing student from nearby Tuskegee University. Duncan was last seen and heard from on February 23, 2021. Central Alabama Crime Stopper issued a reward of $1,000 in March for information leading to the location of Duncan.
Duncan is described as a 22-year-old black male, standing 6' tall and weighing around 185 lbs. Duncan is a student at Tuskegee University and his home of address is linked to the Douglasville, Georgia area. Anyone with information on the disappearance of Marquez Duncan can all (334)727-0200 or Crimestroppers at (334)215-STOP.
This is a developing story and we will update new information as it becomes available.
Davion Tarver more commonly known as "Dae Dae" was wounded in a shooting on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021 at an apartment in Tuskegee. The 4-year-old boy was sitting in the apartment watching cartoons about 5 p.m. CST when an incident outside led to a bullet being fired into the apartment and striking the unsuspecting child.
Davion was transported to Baptist South Medical Center in Montgomery but later transferred to the Alabama Children's Hospital in Birmingham and placed in their Intensive Care Unit. Young Davion succumb to his injuries on Monday, Feb. 15, 2021 at 10:43 a.m. CST.
The tragedy shocked the closely knit Tuskegee community. The senseless act of violence lead to a number of tips to police from the community. Less than one day after Davion was wounded police arrested 18-year-old Joshua Washington in connection to the shooting. Washington was transported to the Macon County Jail and charged with attempted murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling. Those charges have since been upgraded to murder charges. Police continue their investigation into the shooting and are seeking additional arrests in connection to the shooting.
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Balloons were distributed for the vigil in honor of Davion Tarver on Thursday evening. |
Despite the arrest of Washington hundreds of residents filled Tuskegee's Courthouse Square at 5 p.m. on Thursday evening to show their support to the grieving family and send a powerful message that the Tuskegee community would not stand for this type of violence in their community in the form of a candlelight vigil and balloon release.
Community leaders including Tuskegee City Manager Derrick Swanson spoke during the event. "My heart is heavy this could have been anyone's child. I'm proud of what law enforcement in our community did. I'm proud of what they did and that person we have one and hopefully we get more. To the family we are going to do everything we can to make sure that justice prevails," said Swanson.
Community leaders from city and county government bodies also spoke during the vigil including Norma Jackson, a life long Tuskegee resident and educator who serves on the Tuskegee city council as the councilperson for District 1. Jackson spoke to the family and said, "When one of us hurts all of us hurt. I just want to encourage all of us to let this tragedy bring something good forth. Let us wrap around what we can do for our children what we have not done."
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Candles are lit during the vigil for Davion Tarver on Thursday evening in Tuskegee. |
Similar remarks came from Orlando Whitehead, Tuskegee city councilman for District 3. Orlando Whitehead is also a Captain in the Macon County Sheriff's Office. "My condolences to Tarver and Cannon family. This is a tragedy that should have never happened. We need to put the guns down people. We have to come together as a community and stick together as a people," said Whitehead.
Acting Tuskegee Police Chief Loyd Jenkins spoke during the event and asked the community to continue to support the family. Jenkins spoke during the vigil and announced one arrest with more to come hopefully. The chief stated that this type of violence will not be tolerated in Tuskegee and the showing of people at the event shows the community will not stand by and accept this type of violence.
Macon County Commission Chairman Louis Maxwell was present and spoke during the event. Maxwell thanked law enforcement and the community for coming and standing together. Maxwell called upon those at the event to stand shoulder to shoulder and stand up against violence and crime in their community.
The mood of the vigil took a somber turn as tears and screams briefly filled the audience as a relative of Davion Tarver held up a Spiderman toy with a recording of the final heart beats of the Davion. Many offered comfort to the mother of the victim as tears rolled during the moments of reflecting on Davion's life.
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Somber remarks were delivered by family members of Davion Tarver as they played a recording of his final moments of life during the vigil. |
Members from throughout the community including the District Attorney's Office and the King Head Start Center were present to offer their support and condolences to the family.
After remarks were made hundreds of people lit candles in Davion's memory and released balloons in his honor over the landscape of Downtown Tuskegee.
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Representatives from the King Head Start speak during the vigil for Davion Tarver on Thursday evening. |
The investigation into the case continues. Anyone with information can contact Tuskegee Police at (334)727-0200 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at (334)215-STOP (7867).
According to a release from the Lee County Sheriff's Office authorities have arrested Marcus Okeef Wigley, 35, of Auburn and Taharra Jaquay Brunson, 41, in connection to the death of Thomas Anthony Green, 18, of Auburn last September.
According to investigators on September 5, 2020, at 1:30 a.m. CST, 18-year-old Thomas Anthony Green was walking near the area of Foster Street and Clark Avenue in Auburn, when he was assaulted and abducted by three males.
Witnesses told investigators that three males put Green in the back seat of a dark colored Sports Utility Vehicle and drove away. Days later on September 10, 2020, the body of Thomas Green was found in a wooded area in the Waverly community in northeastern Lee County. The teen had suffered multiple gunshot wounds according to the Lee County Sheriff's Office.
Witnesses on the scene were able to identify Taharra Jaquay Brunson and Marcus Okeef Wigley as individuals seen taking part in the kidnapping and assault. Police were able to arrest both suspects last September. Brunson and Wigley were charged with kidnapping, 1st degree, by Auburn Police. The two men posted bonds totaling $50,000 each and were released. Brunson was again arrested on September 17, 2020 due to a probation violation charge and has remained in the Lee County Detention Facility since.
On February 17, 2021, at 9:21 a.m. CST, Marcus Okeef Wigley was apprehended in the 1200 block of Amy Court in Auburn by members of the United Stats Marshal Service, Lee County Sheriff's Office, and Auburn Police. Wigley was arrested on a charge of Capital Murder in connection to the death of Thomas Green.
Lee County investigators have announced in the course of the homicide investigation, evidence was obtained that linked both suspects to the shooting death to Green. The evidence was key in allowing investigators to secure arrest warrants for capital murder against both suspects. The two suspects are now both being held in the Lee County Detention Facility without bond.
The case remains under investigation and more charges and arrests are expected according to investigators. Anyone with information regarding the case are asked to call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at (334)749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at (334)215-STOP (7867).
Crews have begun demolishing the former O'Charley's location at 2501 Gateway Drive in Opelika. The property located in front of the Lowe's just off of Interstate 85 and across the road from Opelika's bustling Tiger Town Shopping Center now sits encased in fencing with signs announcing coming soon is WhataBurger.
WhataBurger is a well-known burger chain throughout parts of the country primarily in Texas. The company finds its origins dating back to 1950, when Harmon Dobson opened his small burger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. Today the chain has grown to include more than 800 restaurants stretching from Florida to Arizona.
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Crews are busy demolishing the former O'Charley's in Opelika to make way for a new WhataBurger. |
WhataBurger has had a presence in Alabama for several years now with 18 operating locations. The chain is well represented throughout the Birmingham market and has recently announced a new store coming to a shopping development in East Montgomery. The new Montgomery store broke ground earlier this month and when it opens is expected to employ 125 people.
There has been no word on the number of hires the Opelika location will bring with it or plans for further WhataBurger locations in East Alabama or possibly West Georgia. The Opelika location is expected to open in the summer of 2021.
On Tuesday, crews had began gutting the former O'Charley's building to make way for the WhataBurger.
According to the Auburn Police Division, on October 22, 2020, at about 7:15 p.m. Auburn Police responded to an assault in the 700 block of Monroe Drive, the residence is located in The Oaks neighborhood.
Officers and medical personnel located two victims at the residence in need of medical attention. A third person was also located near the scene and determined to be the suspect in the assault.
Emergency medical officials transported the two victims from the scene. Auburn Police have said the preliminary investigation indicates that the assault was not a random act. The victims and the suspect were known to one another.
Police state Zhuobin Wang, 21, of Auburn is suspected of forcibly entering a residence in the 700 block of Monroe Drive and stabbing a male and female inside the home. Wang is confirmed to be an acquaintance of the victims, and the crime was not random.
Police state the male victim passed from his injuries overnight on Thursday, October 22, 2020, at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika. The female victim remains hospitalized and is listed in critical condition.
Wang was taken into custody and transported to the Lee County Detention Facility where he was further processed and is being held without bond. Wang is being charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of criminal attempt to commit murder. The case remains under investigation by the Auburn Police Division and anyone with information is asked to contact the Auburn Police Division at 334.501.3140 or the Tip Line at 334.246.1391.
According to the Auburn Police Division, at 1:10 a.m. officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Bragg Avenue in reference to a person being struck by a westbound CSX train.
Officers arrived and discovered a 21-year-old male injured near the tracks. Police and fire officials administered first aid on the scene to the victim. The victim was airlifted to Piedmont Midtown Medical Center in Columbus, GA by helicopter for treatment.
Medical personnel continued to attempt to stabilize the individual but the victim died of their injuries a short time later. Police have notified family members. The identity of the victim was released later in the day on Wednesday as, Paul W. Claborn, 21, of Guntersville, Alabama.
The incident is being investigated as an accident, but Auburn police continue to investigate with assistance from the State Medical Examiners Office and the Lee County Coroners Office.
The City of Auburn has announced temporary lane closures are expected to begin on August 20 and run through August 28, as a contractor will begin work on the new decorative crosswalks.
According to city officials, the contractor will work on one lane at a time to allow two-way traffic to continue at all times on Glenn Avenue and Toomer Street. A portion of Toomer Street will remain open to allow access at all times on the one-way road.
Sidewalks in the impacted area will remain open, but the crosswalks on Glenn Avenue and Toomer Street will be closed during the work. Traffic control measures will be in place to alert drivers.
The work is expected to wrap up on or around August 28.
Opelika police announced the arrest of 22-year-old Cordell Jakari Cannon, of Opelika on charges of shooting into an occupied vehicle and one count of shooting into an occupied dwelling.
Cannon and another male that police have not yet released the identity of are suspected of firing shots into an unmarked police vehicle as a detective sat inside the vehicle conducting a follow-up investigation around 1:40 p.m. on Monday afternoon.
The vehicle stopped a short distance away and one suspect was taken into custody as well as a female driver. Police have announced the female was arrested without charge. One suspect was apprehended at the scene after a brief foot pursuit. Cannon was taken into custody at a later time.
Police have announced the second suspect will face the same charges as Cannon. Neither of the detectives on the scene was injured in the shooting.
Moton Field is the historic airport in Tuskegee, Alabama, located about 40 miles west of Phenix City. The Airport which is a national historic site also still serves as the community airport.
The airport was also home to Moton Field in the 1940s, which trained the first African-American fighter pilots during World War II. One of those pilots was Herbert E. Carter. One of 10 children from Amory, Mississippi.
Carter came to Tuskegee University to follow his lifelong passion of being a veterinarian but was inspired to follow his second life passion and become a fighter pilot. The Tuskegee Airmen flew 77 combat missions over Europe during the war before returning home and calling Tuskegee home and even working briefly at the university he loved. Carter passed away in Opelika at the age of 93 in 2012.
On Friday, local and state officials gathered at Moton Field to officially dedicate the new terminal at the airport in honor of Col. Herbert E. Carter. His final two surviving siblings were on hand for the dedication as well and cut the ribbon to open the airport.
The inspirations of the Tuskegee Airmen live on for their missions in the war and accomplishments back home which were instrumental in the integration of the United States armed forces. Two men who followed in the footsteps of Carter were on hand including Col. (Ret.) Roosevelt Lewis and Col. (Ret.) Palmer Sullins Jr. The two men spoke highly of Carter and his accomplishments and the inspiring role he played in their U.S. Air Force careers.
The impacts of the Tuskegee Airmen live on today as following the dedication and ribbon-cutting members of the Red Tails Scholarship Foundation performed a flyover at the airport. The organization is made up of young pilots that run a flight training school at the airport, which offers scholarships to young men and women who are interested in learning to fly.
Moton Field is located off of Interstate 85 in Tuskegee, Alabama. The airport is used for mostly non-commercial service.
According to a release from the Opelika Police Department on Monday, August 10, 2020, at 1:40 p.m. detectives from the Opelika Police Department were conducting a follow-up investigation in the 100 block of Chester Avenue near the intersection of Clifford Street.
Two detectives were on the scene with one inside of the residences speaking with a resident and the other was outside in an unmarked police vehicle.
Police indicate a four-door car rode by the unmarked police cruiser and began firing shots at the vehicle and detective inside. The detective was able to exit the vehicle safely as the suspect vehicle began to flee.
Police were able to stop the vehicle a short time later. However, following the stop, two males fled the scene on foot. Police were able to apprehend one of the suspects after a brief foot chase, but the second suspect escaped custody. The driver of the vehicle identified as a female was also taken into custody.
Police are withholding the identities of the suspects that were taken into custody at this time as formal charges are still pending. Police ask anyone with information on the incident to call (334)705-5220 or the Secret Witness Line at (334)745-8665.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office is investigating the Tuesday morning officer-involved shooting in which a deputy had to fire his weapon, but did not injure either of the two suspects.
According to information released by the Lee County Sheriff's Office, a 911 call was received at 11:21 a.m. on Tuesday reporting a domestic disturbance that involved two brothers fighting on Lee Road 147.
When a deputy from the Lee County Sheriff's Department arrived he observed two males fighting, one of the men had a knife. The deputy ordered the two men to stop fighting using verbal commands. Despite the commands of the deputy the two men continued to fight and the responding deputy used his taser to try to end the altercation.
The taser shot had not effect on the two fighting individuals. Further information released indicates one of the men was able to gain control of the knife and attempted to stab the other male. The deputy fired a single round in the direction of the armed man but did not hit him. The suspect dropped the knife. The two men stopped fighting and were placed in custody.
The two men sustained only minor injuries which were listed as minor lacerations. EMS treated the two at the scene and they were transported to the Lee County Detention Center.
An investigation is ongoing by the Lee County Sheriff's Office and Opelika Police Department on the officer discharging his firearm.
East Alabama Medical Center which has campuses in Opelika and Valley report on Thursday, both hospitals had the lowest number of individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 since July 18. As of Thursday, EAMC and EAMC-Lanier reported 49 combined patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
The 49 patients represent the lowest number of patients hospitalized since July 18, when the hospitals reported 50 patients. EAMC saw its peak number of hospitalizations on July 22, when there were 62 confirmed cases. While the numbers dropped on Friday, EAMC does report the number rose to 52 on Friday, July 31, 2020.
“We feel like this could be the trend we have been waiting on since the mask mandate went into effect on July 16,” stated John Atkinson, EAMC spokesman. “Knowing the mask mandate has been extended through August 31 gives us hope that the virus can once again become somewhat contained. Of course, there are still many unknowns at play with schools at every level returning in August and the uncertainty of how athletics at various levels could impact the level of disease in the community.”
In addition to seeing some positive results in hospitalizations, EAMC also reports the number of calls to its 528-SICK line has declined since the mask mandate by Governor Kay Ivey went into effect.
As of Friday evening, Lee County reported 2,430 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since cases began appearing locally. Chambers County reports 806, while Russell County reports 1,161 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
The Macon County Courthouse and Courthouse Annex in Tuskegee, Alabama announced it would be closed temporarily after an employee at the facility tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend.
County officials noted that multiple agencies are working together to assure that the COVID-19 related incident is being mitigated per the proper protocol established by the Macon County Commission.
Macon County's Emergency Management Director Frank Lee has announced the county is working diligently to take the necessary mitigation procedures to ensure employees and citizens are safe after the reported incident. Lee did confirm that one essential employee at the facility did test positive for the virus and employees impacted by the exposure are required to have a COVID-19 test done. The county has set up arrangements to get those impacted employees tested. The courthouse is being cleaned per the protocol of the county.
Officials did not provide a possible date for the courthouse to reopen.
According to John Atkinson, spokesperson at EAMC, hospitalizations of patients with COVID-19 has decreased over the past two days after peaking at 62 positive cases and one pending case on Wednesday.
As of Friday morning EAMC in Opelika and EAMC-Lanier in Valley, reported a combined total of 54 positive COVID-19 cases, with nine patients on ventilators. “We’re encouraged by this development and will watch to see if it continues in the days ahead,” John Atkinson, EAMC spokesperson said Friday afternoon.
“From a hospitalization standpoint, it’s probably still too early to draw a direct correlation to the statewide mask mandate that went into effect late last week because symptoms take a while to progress before requiring a patient to be admitted. Testing-wise, we have received fewer calls the past couple of days to our 528-SICK call center. Because we have been scheduling out a day or two, testing has not dropped off yet, but we’re hopeful it will early next week.” The call center will be open from 8 a.m. – 12 noon on Saturday and the drive-through testing site will be open as well.
EAMC is the largest hospital in East Alabama and has 314 beds. The hospital reports the total number of COVID-19 patients at the hospital at this time is not a problem for the hospital to handle. As of Friday afternoon, Lee County is reporting 2,194 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began with 40 deaths. Chambers County is reporting 759 cases with 37 deaths.
The funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission will be used to complete the final phase of a downtown revitalization project designed to reinvigorate the once-thriving commerce district.
“When the textile industry closed in the Lanett area as it did elsewhere in Alabama, it posed a serious economic challenge that the city was determined to overcome,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am so proud of the people of Lanett and the accomplishments that they and the city have achieved in making a comeback. I am pleased that these grant funds will help further their efforts through downtown revitalization.”
The city will use funds to build or renovate sidewalks, install curbing and gutters and add new lighting and landscaping along First Street between Third and Sixth Avenues and on the east side of North Lanier Avenue.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers the ARC program in Alabama.
“The Appalachian Regional Commission was created to help communities and people rise out of difficult situations, and I can think of no better example of that than what the city of Lanett has undertaken,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA is pleased to partner with Gov. Ivey and the city of Lanett in this project.”
ARC is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments. The agency’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.
Thirty-seven Alabama counties, including Chambers County, are part of the ARC region and eligible for funds.
ADECA manages a range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, recreation, energy conservation and water resource management.