News

Police investigating homicide after witnesses say man was shot during robbery

Submitted by JoBeth Davis, Community Web Producer

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013, 4:20pm

Police investigating homicide after witnesses say man was shot during robbery

DOTHAN, AL (WSFA) - Dothan Police have confirmed they are working the scene of a homicide investigation following what a witness says started as a robbery off of Reeves Street.

All Dothan Police will say at this time is that they have initiated a homicide investigation at a location in the 1900 block of Reeves Street in Dothan. One person is dead and a person of interest is in custody.

A witness on the scene says he owns a business across the street from where the incident happened.

Robert Merritt says a man was trying to rob a clothing store known as "Yo Way Fashion."

Merritt says he heard gunshots, then looked outside and saw a pick-up truck crash into building taking out one of the building's support pillars.

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Houston County's unemployment rate for January

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer

Monday, March 18th, 2013, 9:36am

Houston County's unemployment rate for January

Governor Robert Bentley on Monday announced Alabama’s preliminary unemployment rate for January 2013 is 6.9 percent, marking the second month the state’s unemployment rate is below 7% when factoring in revised figures from December.

January’s rate represents 148,724 unemployed persons, compared to 145,613 in December and 158,040 in January 2012.

In Houston County, the unemployment rate for January was 7.6%, up from 6.5% in December and up from 7.2% a year ago.

“The long-term trend in Alabama’s unemployment rate is encouraging news,” Governor Bentley said. “We have seen a steady decline in unemployment over time. Dozens of industries are choosing to build and expand in Alabama, and the result is more people are going back to work. There is still much work left to be done, however, until Alabama reaches full employment, and our efforts to recruit more jobs will continue.”

The rate is up slightly from December 2012’s re

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IRS has over $13 million for Alabamians who have not filed a 2009 income tax return

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer

Friday, March 15th, 2013, 1:49pm

IRS has over $13 million for Alabamians who have not filed a 2009 income tax return

Refunds totaling over $13 million may be waiting for an estimated 16,000 Alabama taxpayers who did not file a federal income tax return for 2009, the Internal Revenue Service announced today. However, to collect the money, a return for 2009 must be filed with the IRS no later than Monday, April 15, 2013.

The IRS estimates that half the potential refunds for 2009 are more than $565.

Some people may not have filed because they had too little income to require filing a tax return even though they had taxes withheld from their wages or made quarterly estimated payments. In cases where a return was not filed, the law provides most taxpayers with a three-year window of opportunity for claiming a refund. If no return is filed to claim a refund within three years, the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury.

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Scholarships available to students in River & Wiregrass Regions

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer

Friday, March 15th, 2013, 12:36pm

Scholarships available to students in River & Wiregrass Regions

Through its scholarship funds, Central Alabama Community Foundation (CACF) helps area students attain their academic goals by offsetting their postsecondary educational expenses. The Foundation awards more than $100,000 each year throughout the River Region and Wiregrass communities. Qualifying criteria vary broadly by program, with the bulk of scholarship funds targeting graduating high school seniors.

The application is accessible online. Applications for students in Autauga, Elmore, Houston, Lowndes, Montgomery, and Pike counties are available via the “Scholarships” link at www.cacfinfo.org. The deadline to apply is April 1. For more information about the scholarships, please visit www.cacfinfo.org or call Caroline Montgomery Clark at 334-264-6223.

Source: Central Alabama Community Foundation

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Troy University provides scholarships to military personnel in wake of tuition assistance cuts

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer

Friday, March 15th, 2013, 12:07pm

Troy University officials today announced three new undergraduate scholarships designed to lessen the impact of nationwide cuts to the military tuition assistance programs.

The three scholarships will discount undergraduate per-credit hour tuition to $250 for active duty, Reserve and National Guard students who would otherwise be eligible for military tuition assistance.

“The University recognizes the hardship the sequestration has on service members, and this is our chance to make a difference,” said Dr. Lance Tatum, vice chancellor of the University’s Global Campus.

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Man arrested for trying to cash forged checks

Submitted by JoBeth Davis, Community Web Producer

Thursday, March 14th, 2013, 3:08pm

Man arrested for trying to cash forged checks

On March 13, 2013 the Dothan Police Department made a felony arrest following a recent investigation. Investigators say Hunter Middleton went to a local bank on two separate occasions and withdrew money from an account using checks that were unlawfully taken from a car on February 21, 2013. Officers made contact with Middleton at that bank and took him into custody.

Hunter Bryce Middleton, white male, 18 years of age, of Wicksburg, Alabama was arrested and charged with two counts of second degree Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument with bonds totaling $5,000. All persons arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Information Source: Dothan PD

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Arrest made in employee theft from Radio Shack

Submitted by JoBeth Davis, Community Web Producer

Thursday, March 14th, 2013, 3:06pm

Arrest made in employee theft from Radio Shack

On March 13, 2013 the Dothan Police Department made a felony arrest following a recent employee theft investigation. Investigators say Reginald Ingram was the manager at Radio Shack when on two separate occasions he took the nightly cash deposit and kept it for himself. Ingram’s arrest now brings this case to a close.

Reginald Wesley Ingram, black male, 31 years of age, of Sedona Lane was arrested and charged with two counts of second degree Theft of Property with bonds totaling $5,000. All persons arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Information Source: Dothan PD

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