Emergency Management officials in several counties are reporting scattered and sporadic damage spawned by a potent weather system that moved across southwest, central and southeast Alabama early this morning. Thunderstorms spawned powerful winds in the Ansley and Shellhorn communities in Pike County where EMA officials say several trees uprooted and one road is blocked. In Russell County, thunderstorm wind damage is also reported in the Seale community where trees and power lines are down near Firetower Road and Alabama Highway 165 in Cottonton. Storm damage also is reported in Washington County in southwest Alabama, homes and power lines are down in the town of Chaton and St. Stephens community. There have been no reports of injuries.
Plans to Unionize
Employees at a sprawling copper plant in Wilcox County have voted to unionize, rejecting a request by Governor Robert Bentley to reject the union. The Montgomery Advertiser report that workers at the Golden Dragon Copper Plant in Pine Hill voted 75 to 74 to join the United Steel Workers. The vote was taken November 7th. The newspaper said an objection was filed with the National Labor Relations Board which oversees union elections.
Teenager Arrested
A 17-year-old male from Montgomery is accused of stealing thousand of dollars from an 89-year-old woman. The teen, Phillip Pelham, was arrested on a charge of financial exploitation by deception of an elderly person and 15 counts of forgery. Montgomery County District Attorney Darryl Bailey said Hazel Brown noticed checks totaling more than $2000 had been cashed in her name without her knowledge and reported it to police. Pelham, who lives on Pelzer Avenue, is accused of forging Brown's signature. He is being held on bonds totaling $40,000.
Double Dipping Law
A Montgomery County judge has scheduled a hearing for December 4th to hear a lawsuit challenging a state law that prohibits legislators from having a second job. Democratic Representative Dexter Grimsley of Newville filed the suit after being re-elected November 4th. Grimsley, a juvenile probation officer in Henry County, is seeking a preliminary injunction against the "double dipping" law that took effect the day after the mid-term elections.