Law enforcement in Tallapoosa County saw an increase in the amount seized of two popular drugs in 2010. According to numbers released by Sheriff Jimmy Abbett, the amount of marijuana seized by narcotics agents in 2010 increased to 10,631 grams compared with only 2,058 grams seized in 2009. The amount of methamphetamine seized also increased from 32 grams in 2009 to 597 grams in 2010, according to the report. Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force Coordinator Sgt. Jay Turner said the production of methamphetamine in the county has "exploded" due to a simplification of the process by which the drug is created. [continues 213 words]
Dear Editor, Much has been written recently about the dire financial circumstances the Alabama Department of Corrections is currently in. According to a recent story in papers across the state Commissioner Richard Allen said there will be a $15 million shortfall in 2010, which could lead to early releases and layoffs. The state's General Fund is ailing and it isn't likely the $15 million will come from there. However, I have a simple plan that would provide the $15 million with gobs of money left over. [continues 184 words]
Dear Editor, Recently, there's been a lot of discussion about legalizing marijuana and the amount of tax revenue it would generate. There was even a poll on the front page of the Outlook. In California, it's estimated that legal marijuana would bring $1.4 billion annually. I crunched the numbers to see how much Alabama might rake in if we also legalized marijuana. The current number of marijuana users in Alabama is estimated to be 392,032, or 11.25 percent of the voting-age population (as of 2006.) Divide that by the current number of marijuana consumers in California, which is estimated at 4,183,136. These numbers are according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Census data. [continues 128 words]
After years of court battles, U.S. Marijuana Party founder Loretta Nall of Alexander City was cleared Friday of drug possession charges in a Tallapoosa County circuit court. "I'm almost speechless," Nall said. "It's been a long time coming." The Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force arrested Nall in a November 2002 raid on her house where 0.87 grams of marijuana was discovered. She was convicted of misdemeanor marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia in district court in February 2004. Nall appealed the conviction to circuit court, seeking to suppress the evidence used to obtain the search warrant for the raid on her house. [continues 248 words]
Loretta Nall was officially recognized as the Libertarian Party's candidate for governor of Alabama Saturday, two days before her court appearance to appeal a 2004 drug conviction. The announcement was made at the party's annual convention in Montgomery. Although others were nominated at the convention, Nall was the only person who was officially vying for the nomination, she said. Nall, who is the founder of the Alabama Marijuana Party, appeared in the Tallapoosa County Circuit Court Monday to continue her appeal. The day was a chance for her to accept a plea offer by the state. [continues 346 words]
The Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force had a record year in 2005 with an 85 percent arrest rate and 11 drug trafficking cases. "This is one of our biggest years," said narcotics task force investigator Jay Turner. The task force consists mainly of members from the Tallapoosa County Sheriff's Department and the Alexander City and Dadeville Police Departments. "It's a cooperative effort ... to address illegal drug activities in the county," said Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett. Recently, the narcotics team released statistics on their operations for the last 10 years. This is the first time the task force has ever released such statistics, Turner said. [continues 421 words]
Thanks to a grant secured by Rep. Mike Rogers, the Tallapoosa County Sheriff's Department will get a much-needed upgrade on its communications and radio systems. The $50,000 grant will be used to purchase this the equipment and was announced by Rogers' office Thursday. "This is not a matching grant," Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett said. "Sometimes we don't have matching monies available in our county and Rogers recognizes that." In the press release announcing the grant, Rogers said the money will be used to combat the growing methamphetamine problem in Tallapoosa County. [continues 222 words]
In the midst of a three-year battle with the local judicial system, Alexander City resident Loretta Nall announced she was running for governor of Alabama in 2006. Nall, a 31-year-old wife and mother and founder of the Alabama Marijuana Party, appeared at the Alexander City Courthouse Tuesday to continue the appeals process for a 2004 misdemeanor marijuana possession conviction. The case, which Nall claims violated her constitutional rights, helped form the basis for Nall's campaign for governor in 2006. Nall is seeking nomination from the Libertarian Party and among the top issues of her campaign are drug policy and prison reform, she said. [continues 544 words]
Another concerned citizen's tip has led to a drug arrest in Kellyton. Coosa County Investigator Chris Vinson said a search warrant was served at a home in Hillside Trailer Park that led to the arrest of Miranda Jane Hutchins Sunday night. Hutchins, 30, is charged with possession of the controlled substance crack cocaine, possession of marijuana in the second degree and possession of drug paraphernalia. "The search produced 14.6 grams of crack cocaine with a street value of $1,500, a small amount of marijuana valued at $20 and drug paraphernalia," Vinson said. [continues 82 words]
According to his mother, Daniel Bryan Kelley will never be the same after spending a little more than two months in the Coosa County Jail. "The damage that was done to Bryan can't be undone," Wanda Kelley said. Citing abusive and harassing treatment which caused permanent physical injury as well mental and emotional injuries while in the Coosa County Jail, Bryan Kelley filed a claim against the Coosa County Commission Dec. 1. "It is under investigation," Coosa County Sheriff Rickey Owen said. "There are always two sides to every story." [continues 628 words]
In the midst of the soaring rhetoric of last week's Democratic Convention, more than one speaker quoted Abraham Lincoln's first inaugural address, invoking "the better angels of our nature." Well, there is an especially appropriate task awaiting those heavenly creatures - a long-overdue reform of our disastrous "war on drugs." We should begin by recognizing its costly and inhumane dimensions. Much of the nation, in one way or another, is victimized by this failure - including, most notably, the innocents, whose exposure to drugs is greater than ever. [continues 575 words]
Loretta Nall, Alexander City resident and founder of the Alabama Marijuana Party, was convicted on Tuesday for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia charges. Tallapoosa County District Judge Kim Taylor sentenced Nall to a 30-day suspended sentence over 12 months and a year of unsupervised probation. Nall has already appealed the conviction and her case could be heard by a jury trial in an upcoming court session. Nall's conviction stems from the November 2002 raid of her Pearson Chapel Road home by the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force where Taylor said they found marijuana seeds, a scale and rolling paper. [continues 317 words]
Law enforcement officials seized and eradicated 39 marijuana plants, which are worth $78,000, Tuesday afternoon. The Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force, Marijuana Eradication Team and members of the New Site Police Department and Alexander City Fire Department found the plants in helicopter fly-overs Tuesday and Wednesday for the second time this year. "The 39 plants were found off of Highway 22 and Hillabee Creek," said Narcotics Investigator Jay Turner. "We had gotten information about some plants up there. We found about five plants that were 10 to 11 feet tall and the smallest plants were 5 feet tall." [continues 132 words]
Alexander City students will benefit from a new D.A.R.E. curriculum this year, giving them the most recent information about drugs and providing them more ways to say 'no.' According to Alexander City Police D.A.R.E. Instructor James Orr, the new D.A.R.E. curriculum will be implemented this year to remain up-to-date and give students new learning opportunities. "To have a good curriculum you have to have a changing curriculum, because as we know, everything is always changing," Orr said. "This curriculum will be more fun, group work is geared more towards facilitation and learning." [continues 422 words]
Due to hazardous home visits, the Alabama Department of Human Resources is going to train social workers on how to deal with dangers and outfit them with bullet proof vests. Social workers throughout the state are in danger because of the growing number of crystal methamphetamine users, and while no social workers have been injured yet, according to the DHR Commissioner, Bill Fuller, action needs to be taken. Marsha Hanks, County Director for Tallapoosa County DHR, said social workers are trained to deal with dangerous situations by leaving the scene. [continues 324 words]
Due to hazardous home visits, the Alabama Department of Human Resources is going to train social workers on how to deal with dangers and outfit them with bullet proof vests. Social workers throughout the state are in danger because of the growing number of crystal methamphetamine users, and while no social workers have been injured yet, according to the DHR Commissioner, Bill Fuller, action needs to be taken. Marsha Hanks, County Director for Tallapoosa County DHR, said social workers are trained to deal with dangerous situations by leaving the scene. [continues 319 words]
Area law enforcement combined efforts to recover 256 marijuana plants valued at $512,000 from wooded areas in Alexander City and New Site this week. According to Alexander City Police Capt. Wade Miller, the plants were found between Coley Creek Road and Scott Road and at the end of Young Road off of Sixth Street Extension, both in Alexander City and off of Chapel Road in New Site. "Every year we fly and look for marijuana," Miller said. "Of course we use information and tips provided during the year when we go to fly. While flying we check those locations and check other locations. Sometimes we fly two times a year, depending on our manpower and funds." [continues 158 words]
By Joan Gandy Spots on the first D.A.R.E golf tournament are starting to fill up as businesses and individuals realize the benefits children in the city schools receive when they go through the program. A maximum of 22 teams, with four players each, will compete in the tournament May 22. The funds raised from the $240 per team entry fee will go 100 percent to supplement the D.A.R.E. program's budget. "We are funded by the United Way," explained D.A.R.E. officer James Orr. "We are needing to supplement those funds. What our money goes to is purchasing supplies for the kids and officer training." [continues 179 words]
Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett was just one of the county law enforcement officials this week who took prisoners to the state penitentiary to relieve his own overcrowded jail. A day later a circuit judge upheld the sheriff's actions but made future drop offs to be announced with 72 hours notice. The recent actions highlight a growing problem that will continue to fester unless current Gov. Don Siegelman, the Alabama Legislature and/or new Gov. Bob Riley take immediate action. [continues 292 words]
