HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAAY) - A 28 year old man is behind bars after an early morning break-in at a Huntsville school.

It happened just before 2:00 Thursday morning at the Academy for Academics and Art on Poplar Avenue. According to police reports, school security officers saw a man entering classrooms and stealing property on a surveillance camera.

Huntsville Police responded and a K-9 unit found the suspect in the school's auditorium. Jerrelle Gladden was arrested and charged with Burglary. He's awaiting bond.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAAY) - A Huntsville City Schools employee with a history of trouble is now facing DUI charges.

Huntsville Police arrested 46 year old Jeffery Ellis Wednesday night after he was involved in an accident. He was taken in on suspicion of driving under the influence. His bond has not yet been set.

Seldon is a Career Technical Educator at the Seldon Center, which caters to 6th-12th graders.

In October of last year, Ellis was suspended 20 days without pay for unprofessional behavior at the school. Officials say he provoked a fight in that incident.

UPDATE - Huntsville City School Superintendent Dr. Casey Wardynski is reviewing the matter and will make a decision on how to handle the situation in the near future, according to a schools spokesman.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAAY) - A woman wanted in Tennessee for Criminally Negligent Homicide was arrested late Wednesday afternoon in north Alabama.

US Marshals tracked 25 year old Heather Davis to a home in Madison County. Marshals raided the home and took her into custody at gunpoint.

She's being brought back to Maury County, Tennessee to face charges in connection with her boyfriend's death.

UPDATE - WAAY 31 has learned new details about Davis' case.

According to the Maury County Sheriff's Department, Davis called 9-1-1 on February 1st, 2012 to report her boyfriend, Jonathan Vernon, wasn't breathing. Vernon was pronounced dead when paramedics arrived. An autopsy named a prescription medication overdose as the cause of death.

Investigators believe that Davis contributed to Vernon's death and presented the case to a Grand Jury. The Grand Jury handed down an indictment on Criminally Negligent Homicide charges.

DECATUR, Ala. (WAAY) - Decatur Police have arrested and charged a man following an early evening shooting on Lakewood Drive.

The incident happened just after 7:00 p.m. Near the Sunnybrook Drive intersection. Police learned that one man, Javonne Sears, was shot multiple times. He was rushed to Decatur General Hospital in a private vehicle where he went into surgery. The shooter had fled the scene by the time officers arrived.

Witnesses told investigators what they saw, and the search for the gunman began. A description of the suspect's vehicle went out and a short time later, it was discovered on Kelly Avenue. Four people were taken into custody, including James "Jamie" Travers II. As the investigation went on, police began to believe Travers was the assailant, and charged him with Drug Possession, Tampering with Evidence and Assault.

ROGERSVILLE, Ala. (WAAY) - Rogersville Fire Officials say an abandoned home was a complete loss after a Wednesday evening fire.

The flames were first spotted just before 7:00 p.m. at a home on County Road 70.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Firefighters from Rogersville, Anderson, Clements, Elgin and Center Star were all involved in fighting the blaze.

WAAY 31 viewer Ron Threet captured the efforts to fight the fire on his cell phone and sent video to us. If you see news happening, send your pics or videos to newsroom@waaytv.com - or use our mobile app, available no on iTunes, Blackberry and Android.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAAY) - The April 24th Runoff election settled more than two dozen local races in north Alabama, but one remains in dispute.

The District 3 Republican race for the Madison County Commission between Eddie Sisk and Joey Parker is too close to call, with Sisk leading Parker by just 32 votes.

On Wednesday, the Madison County Republican Party agreed to have a recount. It'll take place on May 2nd.

However, Sisk is claiming victory. "I'm still the winner. I've talked to the Republican Party and they've declared me the winner and I feel like I'm the winner." Sisk told WAAY 31 on Wednesday. "I'm just going to keep going and I've got a Democrat to run against so I've got to keep my campaign going and its not going to concern me."

Parker is waiting to see how the recount shakes out. "There's still hope out there and we're just waiting to see." Parker told WAAY 31. "We're here to fight for our supporters. They've worked so hard over the last six months and when you work as hard as we've worked and there is almost four thousand votes and it comes down to you've gotten beat by just 32 votes... It's a very hard pill to swallow."

Huntsville, AL- Former Oakwood University Dean Alma Fogle York spent much of her life educating others; until she was tragically killed February 9^th. Spokesman Tim Allston says the faculty, staff, and students at Oakwood took the news hard.
 
"When Dean York had died, had been tragically killed in a car accident, we were shocked. As a matter of fact in many respects we are still shocked,” he said.
 
York was struck by a car at the intersection of Pulaski Pike and Stringfield, at the time no charges were filed, but now Huntsville police have opened a negligent homicide case against the driver.
 
"As a University, because we are Bible based, we believe that justice will always prevail and we pray for justice at every level," said Allston.
 
Dean York was affiliated with Oakwood University, a Seventh Day Adventist University, for 15 years and now they have established an award in her honor.
 
"The Alma Fogle York Community Engagement Award, citing people in the community who give of themselves for the sake of the community at large."
 
He says the University is working to preserve her memory, honor her life, and hopefully see justice served in her death.
 
“Charges are going to be filed and there will be a hearing and there will be a jury and a judicial process. We are very pleased because we very much believe in the laws of God and also, where appropriate, the laws of man.”

The case has been given to the District Attorney's Office. The name of the driver has not yet been released.

PHIL CAMPBELL, Ala. (WAAY) - It was over in the matter of seconds, but the impact that the EF-5 tornado had on the small town of Phil Campbell is still being felt a year later.

Around 3 p.m. on April 27, 2011, an EF-5 tornado tore through Phil Campbell, destroying homes and businesses and taking lives.  The tornado's path was 132 miles long and up to 1.25 miles wide with winds exceeding 200 miles per hour.

"I've lived here all my life and I could be walking down the street and I would be lost," said Phil Campbell Mayor Jerry Mays.  "There were no landmarks left.  Everything was gone.  Everything had been blown away and totally destroyed."

Omar Mojica, a 7th grader at Phil Campbell school, was thrown from his home during the tornado.  

"There was this weird sound like a jet engine or train and everything was flying around and my ears popped," said Omar.  "Something hit me in the head and I passed out.  When I woke up, my youngest brother was there and there was a red truck driving by and two guys got out to help us.  I asked them not to leave my side because I was afraid something else was going to happen, so that guy stayed with me."

Omar was taken to Russellville Hospital then transported to Birmingham's Children's Hospital. As a result of his injuries, doctors had to amputate part of his leg. He woke up to learn that his mother, Claudia Mojica, and 9 year old brother, Edgar Mojica, had been killed.

Omar said that he often remembers the good times he shared with his brother and mother.

"It's been really difficult. I have a lot of memories, but I have to be strong," said Omar. "I know they're gone now, and I can't do anything about it but just keep going on with my life."

Omar said that he didn't expect to be walking around by himself without crutches on a prosthetic leg only a year later, but is very thankful for his progress.

"I'm really lucky to go through an EF-5," he said. "There's not a lot of people who make it through that type of disaster. I'm really lucky that God spared my life."

Twenty-seven people in the Phil Campbell area didn't survive the storm that day.

"At one time we had 12 bodies in a makeshift morgue in the back of our rescue squad," said Mays.  "It was very, very depressing.  Very sad.  Some of them were almost unrecognizable because they were torn up so bad. When the intensity afterwards took over, it just made you want to throw up your hands, but you had to keep going and keep fighting and keep digging for people."

Mays said that he's so thankful for the volunteers that came in that night to help with search and rescue or it could've been a lot worse.

As the road to recovery began, hundreds of volunteers swarmed the area the very next day.  They've continued lending a helping hand to those in need ever since.

"We're fortunate enough to have neighbor helping neighbor and strangers helping strangers," said Mays.  "For instance, the Mennonite Disaster Group out of Pennsylvania have come in and built 20 houses by themselves in the Phil Campbell area.  That's just one organization, but they've been a leader.  If I had to list all the church groups that's come in and helped Phil Campbell, I would be here for a long while.  I don't know what we would've done without all these kind people.  They have been our most valuable asset in Phil Campbell, there's no doubt about it."

FEMA granted the town $3.8 million for debris removal and millions more to rebuild the 450 homes and businesses destroyed.

Portions of Phil Campbell High School were severely damaged as well. The junior high wing, band room and a majority of the auditorium were wiped out. However, school started back last fall in mobile units.

"I think the students have a new appreciation for weather and weather forecasting for sure," said Principal Cindy Davis. "They've also learned that life goes on after tragedy. That you do memorialize and remember things, but the episodes and events take on a new special meaning. There is cause for celebration and there's a time to mourn, but you do pick up the pieces and move forward."

Although the school is using borrowed facilities and equipment, the sports and band programs have been very successful this year.

"The tornado has not been an excuse," said Davis.  "They've looked at it as an opportunity.  I know a lot of people were affected very deeply because of the storm, but to turn that in to a positive and look for the silver linings has been a true blessing for me to witness."

The school will soon be demolished and starting this summer, a new building will be built in its place.

"The fact that we're getting a new school building is one of the most exciting things, because the school is the center of our community here," said Mays.

Hays said that although there's still a lot of work to be done, Phil Campbell is coming alive once again and will be better than it was before.

Harvest, AL- “I laid there for a minute thinking nobody was going to find us,” said Misty Cornwell as she remembered one of the worst days of her life. But on April 27^th after an EF-4 tornado hit her house in Harvest, someone did find her.

The first of several tornadoes to sweep across Madison County destroyed her parents’ mobile home, where she and her family were taking cover.
 
“The mobile home picked up, it slammed us real hard on the ground and we blew up and it was just the worst suction you could feel on your skin. We started losing hold of each other,” she remembered.

Moments later Cornwell awoke only to hear another storm approaching. She grabbed the loved ones she could find and ran to her home several yards away to take cover.

“I felt mine pick up but it sat us back down. When I came out the door to go after my dad and Katie, Chad was coming across the yard.”

Chad is Captain Chad Conner of the Harvest Fire Department. He was working on cleanup in Monrovia when he got word his neighborhood was in danger. While heading back to the fire station Conner found himself in the middle of a tornado.

“As we were returning back to the station is when it hit us. I actually had a brush truck and a fire truck in front of my personal vehicle and we were returning back to the station, we didn't make it back to the station,” he explained. 

He says after the storm passed his training kicked in--he started looking for people to help and he didn’t have to look very far. He received a phone call from his wife that their neighborhood was devastated and his neighbors the Cornwells were in a dire situation. Captain Conner says if there is one thing he will always remember from April 27th it’s what he found when he came upon the remains of the Cornwell’s homes on that terrifying day. 

“The memory Ill carry probably forever will be Katie Cornwell. I found Katie and there was just nothing we could do for her,” said Conner. 

Katie was the 15 year old daughter of Misty who died when she was ripped from her mother’s arms that day. Katie wasn’t the only loss the Cornwell family faced, Misty’s father fell victim to the storm as well. 

Misty remembers waking up and looking for her father--“It’s really hard to know that you can hear your dad but you can’t find him and then he goes quiet. And it’s real hard to know that your daughter is laying there and there is nothing you can do to help her.”

But Captain Conner helped in whatever way he could. 

“He found my dad he stayed with my daughter until the coroner came and picked her up,” said Cornwell. 

Misty says Chad would never let her thank him, claiming he didn’t deserve it, so she wrote him a letter instead. 

“Chad doesn’t look at anything he did as above and beyond that night but he lost his home too and he dropped everything and came over to us.”

In fact, none of the men and women who helped save lives that day would admit to any extraordinary bravery.  Harvest FD Deputy Chief Jeffrey Scottswaim watched the storm from his grandmother’s house. 

“I was out there watching and spotting, and all of the sudden it got real quiet and stuff started falling out of the sky and it was pretty much time to get inside because it was pretty much on top of us,” recalled Scottswaim. 

Once the storm passed he sprang into action. 

“Adrenaline takes over so you pretty much just do what you got to do to get people out.”

Rookie Fireman Jesse Kistler, then 18 years old, survived the storm basically unscathed and then went out to find those that weren’t so lucky.
 

“I knew it was going to be bad I knew we had to go out there and do something because I knew it was bad so we wanted to get out there and get to work and help as soon as possible,” the young firefighter remembered. 

Once the danger from the storm itself passed, dangers of a different sort lay ahead for the first responders. Falling debris, unstable buildings, and downed power lines were just a few of the obstacles that the rescuers had to overcome. 

“I was walking up people driveways waste deep in water and trying dodge power lines down, not knowing what you are stepping on…hopefully you stay in the driveway and don’t go in the ditch and just drop under the water. It flooded bad,”  said Kistler.

When he got to one house, what he found were victims, desperate for his help, a heavy burden for an 18 year old to bear. 

“Opened the door and this old lady answered and it was her and her husband completely stuck. What I saw was her ceiling caved in on them, every window blew out. There were pieces I don’t think are supposed to be in a house in their house.”

But Kistler braved the danger and went inside to get the two to safety. Seeing the devastation at such a young age has affected Jessie emotionally but he says he never once though of leaving the department.

“Its just one of those things that you see and your like, I want to forget it, but its always going to be in the back of your mind, what happened.”

All the heroes from April 27^th will be honored at Panoply 2012. Friday April 27^th is officially First Responders Day.

LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala (WAAY) - Patty Bullion said she had no idea how big her Facebook page would get, all she wanted to do was help.

After the April 27th tornado outbreak, Bullion said she immediately got on Facebook to see if her family was ok. One of her friends commented that is was raining pictures. That was when bullion took action and created the Facebook page; Pictures and Documents found after the April 27, 2011 tornadoes, to help people find missing pictures and documents that were blown far away from home.

Because of Bullion’s page, over 2,000 pictures and documents were returned home.

“It’s touched a lot of people’s lives and it’s just an amazing feeling,” Bullion said.

Many of the pictures flew hundreds of miles. A picture found in North Carolina was even returned to a family in Mississippi.

“These are real people. Everybody has birthdays, everybody has wedding’s and Christmases and just everyday moments. So this made (the tornados) really real to a lot of people,” said Bullion. 

But Bullion says it’s time to take the site down. 

“It’s just time for it to move on. Someone suggested taking it down on the one year anniversary as a sign of hope and recovery and life moving on. And I like that idea so that is what we are going to go with,” Bullion said. 

Bullion says the pictures will not be thrown away because they mean something to someone. 

“This is people’s lives. I just don’t feel like it needs to be on display forever. It’s served its purpose and it’s time to move on,” Bullion said. 

Now Bullions spends her time as a full time photographer. She mostly photographs weddings, engagements and children. She says it’s her dream job, on that she might not have discovered if not for April 27, 2011. 

“I just feel like that was God’s way of using me and opening another door for me. He had other plans for me,” said Bullion. 

If you want to look through Bullions collection she encourages you to email or call her. 

E-mail: pbull35@hughes.net
Cell: (256) 777-4893

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAAY) - It's been a year since the April 27th tornadoes, and the Red Cross is still helping victims with long term needs. They've partnered with 14 Long Term Recovery Committees (LTRCs) across the state. Through these committees, the Red Cross has assisted more than 40 families with home rebuilds and repairs.

Thanks to the Central Alabama LTRC, almost 400 Birmingham area families are back in their homes and on the way to full recovery from April 27, 2011, tornadoes. The other partner organizations that make up Central Alabama LTRC, have supported 100 home repairs and rebuilds and provided assistance with payments for rent, mortgage, utilities, transportation and medical needs.

LTRC support is awarded to individuals and families after case managers work with survivors to review the potential for support through all available resources and after making a plan for recovery.

Graphic - Your Red Cross Donations at work :

Blue - Direct Services to Victims (Including food, shelter, health & mental health services, recovery assistance planning, and financial support)

Red - Logistical Support for 100 ERVs (remote feeding and supplies)

Green - Fundraising and other operational expenses associated with supporting over 2,600 Red Cross workers for 63 days.

Purple - Support to other community disaster relief partner organizations

* Based on Red Cross expenses as of July 15, 2011.


One year ago, Alabamians dealt with the effects of a historic disaster when more than 60 tornadoes caused destruction across our state. As we approach that solemn anniversary, we want you to know what a difference you made during the past year through your generous financial support of the American Red Cross.

Last April, more than 13,000 homes were destroyed or suffered major damage from the tornadoes. With your help, your neighbors appreciated the safety and comfort of more than 8,000 overnight stays in one of 35 shelters operated by more than 2,600 Red Cross Volunteers.

You also enabled us to provide more than 400,000 meals and distribute almost 1 million snacks, as well as 1 million clean-up and recovery supply items to Alabama storm victims.

HARVEST, Ala. (WAAY) - A community that sits a top the hills of Harvest, Alabama; known for its beautiful and classic style homes.. Anderson Hills is one of the Tennessee Valley’s most well-known, prestigious communities. But, where classic beautiful homes reside so to do the remnants of April 27th’s fury.

April 27th 2011 is a day that will go down in history as one of the deadliest tornado outbreaks all of time. The EF3 Tornado that marked it is path through Anderson Hills showed no signs of sympathy as it roared through homes demolishing everything in its path.

Brent Thompson is a resident of Anderson Hills. This was his first experience having his home hit by a tornado and he says it is a day that is hard to forget. Brent was not at his Anderson Hills home when he got word from a neighbor that his community had in fact been hit. He describes moments leading up to driving though his destroyed community and the feelings he felt when he first saw his home.

Brent has spent the last 11 months going through the process of rebuilding. He salvaged what was left after the tornado and says he stored most of his belongings at his father’s home which he would later learn would also be hit by the March 2 EF2 tornado that tore through Buckhorn High School this year.

Anderson Hills has been hit three times since the early 1980’s, the first during the April Tornado outbreak of 1989, then another in May of 1996 and lastly, April 27th 2012. Anderson Hills is a hot spot for long track tornadoes and when asked if that ever made him reconsider his decision to rebuild here, he simply replied, “No. This is home.” Brent also takes great pride in his neighborhood and is proud at how everyone pulled together in the moments following the storm. He says there are plans in place for the neighborhood to come together in memory of April 27th.

The Community of Anderson Hills is forever united from their experience and remains stronger today than ever before.

Huntsville, AL- When singer Stephen Mobley saw the damage left behind after a tornado struck Limestone County he was inspired to help in any way he could.

“It hit home and I really wanted to help them recover because I know what it’s like to go through something like that,” explained Mobley. He has faced personal tragedy as well and says music helped him through the hard times.

Preston Pylant, a poet, was also inspired. He wrote a poem about the volunteers and the spirit of community he encountered in the days following the twisters. Mobley heard the poem and loved it.

“I saw that it was really good and I figured it would make a really good song,” he said.

A month later “Southern Thing to Do” became a reality. Mobley says he hopes hearing his song will help storm survivors mentally and emotionally just as music helped him when he was in need.

“It’s kind of a memorial to the victims and those who were affected by the tornadoes,” he said.

The song is expected to be out on iTunes later this week but can currently be heard on YouTube.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- Thanks to a trip to the BCS National Championship game in New Orleans, La., three University of Alabama students have come up with a way an affordable and safe way to enjoy the nightlife.

The innovative trio of Nick Neveu (Madison, Ala.), Benjamin Gordon (Madison, Ala.) and Matt Staples (Florence, Ala.) are college guys who are interested in the Tuscaloosa bar scene, not only that but an affordable bar scene.

“We're college students so we want to know where the best deals were if they had any,” Neveu said. “We just decided why don't we make an app for that?”

The app is called "Red Cup", and is available for several different cities. The group, now a company called Subvert, did not stop there.

“After that one, people were getting drunk and we knew we wanted to look out for them,” Neveu said.

Logically the next app is called "Get Me Home!", a quick access to local taxi service. The app originated when the guys went in New Orleans and needed an easy way to navigate the Big Easy.

“Honestly, it's just one step,” Gordon said. “Just open it up and press a button you're able to get home.

“When you're drunk and using the app, you don't want to go through ten screens. It’s not worth the effort.”

The trio is not looking to make any money right now because all of their apps are available to you for free. But later, they are looking to cash in.

“We want the most people to have our app as possible,” Gordon added. “Especially since ‘Get Me Home!’ is a service related app. Good for people, you don't want to charge for that.”

“Hopefully businesses will see what we're doing,” Neveu said. “Apps are the way of the future, web sites are something old, commercials, that kind of thing.”

Subvert recently unveiled their new app, called "Tip Accurately", which is an easy way to calculate how much you should leave for a particular service.

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (WAAY) - Hundreds gathered at Guntersville High School Sunday for a memorial service honoring a student killed in a car wreck.

 

The life of 17 year-old Kevin Yoder was tragically cut short on April 20th.  When the accident happened, he was heading to a pole-vaulting camp in Arkansas.

 

Kevin’s track coach, Chris Bashaw, says hearing the news felt surreal: "The young boy that was with him, that wasn't hurt, he called back and he told me.  And I asked him five times to repeat himself, and all five times he told me the same.  My heart just sunk."

 

The death of the football player and pole-vaulter was a shock to the student body.  Kevin’s football teammate, Nick McAnally, says, "It was bad.  The first couple days, no one said a word, everyone was crying."

 

Now, more than a week after his death, students, parents and faculty gathered at Guntersville High School's football stadium to memorialize Kevin and support his family.  His coaches, principal and pastor all gave emotional speeches, relying on religion to cope and build strength.

 

Bashaw says, “[God] says He'll never leave us nor forsake us, and there's comfort in it."

 

Another way the track team is trying to cope: wearing t-shirts to remember Kevin.  Fellow track team member Anna Beth Watson says, “We had sectionals Friday and Saturday, and we got them made to honor him at our track meet.”  Bashaw adds, “Trying to run for him, that's, I believe, part of the healing process for them."

 

The memorial service offered some closure, especially as Kevin's mom released balloons into the air.  McAnally says, “I think it allowed a lot of people to say goodbye, and finally maybe sunk in for a few people."

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

For some, thinking about Kevin isn't easy, but it's also a comfort.  His track coach recalls, “He just went out and gave his 100% effort.  As a coach, it's those kinds of kids you want to be around, because they'll just go out and lay it on the line, and he was that way."

 

Another student and an assistant coach also suffered injuries in the wreck.  The coach is facing multiple surgeries.  We're told the other athlete could be released from the hospital as early as Monday.

Huntsville, AL -- Local congregations played a vital role in the days and months following the April 27th tornadoes. Some organized food drives. Others raised money, and many pitched in with the cleanup.

In Madison County, some congregations got involved on a more individual basis. The Interfaith Mission Service, which is made up of around 40 congregations representing a wide variety of faiths, asked its members to "adopt" families that had been devastated by the storms. IMS Chief Administrative Officer Jeannie Robison says, "we were sort of the conduit behind finding the people who were most needy and the congregations that were willing and able to help."

Robison says the congregations were asked to commit to at least three months of financial and emotional support. She says that included, "helping them get their houses rebuilt, helping them pay rent if they had to move out of their houses, helping get them back and forth to the doctor, bringing them food." Back to school items for the children and Christmas gifts were also supplied.

For some, especially those who were uninsured, there would have been no recovery without the assistance. "A number of the families that were hit lived close to the edge anyhow, and when they lost their job and lost their home and lost their transportation, it pretty much almost put them on the street," Robison says.

The program has since ended, but many of the relationships that were formed still remain. The congregations have remained in touch with the families that were helped, and Robison says there's a real feeling of pride in their resiliency, adding, "we're so proud of people for hanging in there, getting their lives back into some normalcy."

Bo knows fund raising. Organizers say Bo Jackson's 300 mile bike ride raised more than $413,000 for long-term tornado recovery efforts in Alabama. Jackson and a group of cyclists began the trip on Tuesday, April 24th in the Dekalb County town of Henegar. They finished up Saturday in Tuscaloosa.

Along the way, they visited with some of the people hardest hit by the tornadoes of April 27th, 2011. Hundreds joined Jackson for the trip, which coincided with the first anniversary of the storms. Celebrity riders included Lance Armstrong and NBA star Scottie Pippen. Each of the five bikes Jackson rode during the journey will be auctioned off to raise more money for the cause. Contributions are also still being accepted online at www.bobikesbama.com

Decatur, AL -- Decatur police are searching for an armed robber who held up a convenience store early Sunday morning. Investigators say around 4:45 a.m., a white man, wearing a mask, walked into the Chevron at 14th Street and Central Parkway. Armed with a handgun, he reportedly stole the cash register before taking off in a vehicle that was parked on the east side of the building. Anyone with information about the case is asked to please call Decatur police.

Mobile, AL -- The University of South Alabama went on lockdown Sunday evening, after reports a gunman had been spotted on the Mobile campus. An alert on the university website warned students someone armed with a weapon had been seen in the housing area and advised them to remain inside until further notice. As of 6:30 p.m., a university spokesman said the campus alert was still in effect. Keith Ayers said the warning was prompted by an armed robbery, adding, "no one was hurt." A dispatcher for the USA police department said she was unaware of any shots being fired.

RAINSVILLE, Ala. (WAAY) - Hundreds gathered in Rainsville Saturday afternoon to witness the unveiling of a new stone monument.  It pays tribute to the DeKalbCounty residents who perished last April.  For many, Saturday's emotional ceremony offered the chance to reflect.

 

Henegar Baptist Pastor David Hairston experienced a nightmare on April 27th, 2011.  He found his 90 year-old mother dead, buried under her own home.  He recalls, "I got out of our house and saw hers was gone.  I went and found her about 200 to 300 yards up in a field with part of her house turned over on top of her.  So sad when I saw my little mom laying there, it just breaks your heart."

 

Now, her legacy will be immortalized, thanks to a new memorial unveiled a day after the tornado's one-year anniversary.  On one side of the monument, Violet Hairston's name is inscribed in stone, along with 33 other DeKalb County residents who perished on April 27th.  The other side features an inspirational quote and depiction of a tornado.

 

Monument planning committee member Lisa Chandler says, "In the beginning, there was someone who said, I don't know why you would memorialize a tornado because of the devastation, but that's not what we're doing.  We are memorializing the lives and celebrating the lives of those who are no longer with us."

 

Members of the community, first responders and officials were on hand to see the unveiling, and to support family members of the victims.  As each victim's name was read aloud, family members placed red roses on the monument, to honor their loved one.

 

Hairston says, "When I'm gone, the folks who didn't know my mom like I did can come by and read the name, and understand what happened to her.  It'll be a good time just to come by and reflect."

 

After the roses came white doves, released into the open sky.  They served as an uplifting reminder of DeKalb County's unity after the storms, and for those 34 victims who will never be forgotten.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- There's a new fitness studio in town that caters specifically to women.

Black Diamond Studio offers alternatives for those who want anything but the usual.

“Can my eight year old pole dance?” pole dance instructor Mia King said. “Don't really want to go down that road, just keep it to adults.”

Eighteen and older, that is the rule for the studio’s pole dancing classes.

King and Ashley Nelson brought the new fitness craze to the Tennessee Valley after vacationing in Atlanta.

“When we got back from vacation, we tried to find something like that here. We couldn't find anything,” King said. “We took it on like ‘Field of Dreams’, if you build it they will come. It might be easier to create a pole dancing studio where women can feel the same way we did.”

“We are in the south and everyone is kind of conservative,” Nelson added. “But the perception of it has been awesome.”

The ladies began "releasing their inner diva" on Huntsville six months ago. They say that an hour long class can burn up to 500 calories.

“We build upper body strength, lower body strength. We build it all,” Nelson said. “Once you jump on it, you won't want to get off.”

For more information, visit http://blackdiamondstudioshsv.com

Huntsville, AL- A nice bottle wine can be a good addition to an evening meal but sometimes it can be a waste. Currently in the state of Alabama if you do not polish off your bottle of vino it does not go home with you. A law that annoys some customers according to restaurant owner James Boyce. Boyce owns Cotton Row, a downtown restaurant, and says not all customers realize they can’t leave with their goods.  
 
"When they don't finish it they want to take the bottle with them," he says.
 
But that may soon change. House Bill 325 would allow restaurants to re-cork wine for customers who do not finish their bottles, meaning you could take your wine home and enjoy it later. Restaurant and bar patrons say the bill could potentially save them money.  
 
"I would be in support of it because it is less expensive to buy a bottle of wine than several glasses," says Amendment XXI customer Erica Trapp.
 
In addition to the corking law another bill being considered would allow open containers on city streets in designated entertainment districts.
 
"I think it’s ideal for downtown because we want that foot traffic to be able to go from restaurant to restaurant," says Boyce.
 
And patrons agree the changes could potentially boost the local economy.
 
“Maybe instead of having one glass of wine they would buy the whole bottle of wine and support that restaurant,” says Trapp.
 
Both bills need Senate approval and the signature of Governor Robert Bentley.

Athens, AL-Eating greasy foods will soon be celebrated in downtown Athens. City officials are preparing for the first ever Grease Festival.

The festival will feature all types of fried foods such as: chicken, fried green tomatoes and many more tasty dishes. Organizer Trisha Black says this event can be enjoyed by all. "Oh its going to be fun, I would encourage everybody to come out and drive over for the day and we'll have music, kids activities and food and its just going to be a great day in Athens" Black said.

Fifty vendors will have booths set up all around the courthouse square. The spirt of Athens group is hosting the event. Trisha Black says she expect this event to boost the economy. "You know anytime we can bring people into our city and encourage them to spend money here and stay here that is going to have a great economic impact on our city".

The event in downtown will take place on Saturday September 29th.

MONTGOMERY, Ala.- (AP) - The Alabama House is expected to spend much of Thursday debating a bill that makes changes to Alabama's immigration law.

The bill was the first issue on the House's work agenda for the day. The bill makes changes to the law that supporters and opponents have called the toughest crackdown on illegal immigration in the nation. The bill is being pushed by the Republican leadership in the House and Senate. It is mostly opposed by Democrats. Opponents say the new bill doesn't go far enough to address inequities in the immigration law, which they say encourages racial profiling by police officers.

Debate on the bill immediately stalled early Thursday when opponents began using delaying tactics to keep the House from adopting a work agenda that included the immigration bill.