This morning around 7:25 am, Dodge City Fire Dept, and Good Hope Fire Dept were dispatched to a two-car accident with rollover on I-65 Northbound near mile marker 296. During the clean-up of the accident on I-65 members of the fire dept came across a rattlesnake on side of the interstate.
Category: News
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DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO RECYCLE?
A reminder from the City of Cullman Sanitation Department. Please share this to help get the word about what can and cannot be placed in residential curbside recycling bins. If you have questions, please call the Sanitation Department at 256-737-7560 or email [email protected].
From Cullman City Sanitation Department
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REMEMBERING A HERO
It was a Tuesday…the 141st day of 1985. School was ending with Summer knocking on the door. It was 14 years before we ever heard of Columbine. It was that Tuesday in May 1985, that many believe Deputy William “Bill” Biles gave his life preventing a possible school shooting.
At 8:28am Deputy William “Bill” Biles interacted with a vehicle with the tag 47U-3818 near A.P. Brewer High School. The vehicle left the area.
At 1:16pm Deputy Biles noticed the same vehicle from earlier back around the school. He radioed in that he was looking into the suspicious vehicle with the tag 47U-3818.
Four minutes later he radioed for assistance and stated he had been shot.
In those four minutes…. Deputy Biles stated that he had “stopped the Ford Mustang automobile and was approaching the driver’s side to ask for the driver’s identification when he saw the barrel of a gun. He attempted to grab the barrel and push it toward the driver and away from his head. As he reached for the barrel, he heard a “click” but did not know if it was the safety or the hammer on the weapon. Just as he touched the barrel, he heard the weapon fire and felt his chest burn.” He returned fire, striking the vehicle several times, with one striking the gas tank.
An hour later, a couple who had been listening to the scanner notified a Cullman County Deputy that a car matching the description was at Hebron Church. The Cullman County Deputy, joined by a Blount County Deputy approached the vehicle, now out of gas, and directed the subject to throw out the weapon and exit the car. He eventually did.
The subject was arrested dressed in camouflage with a Colt AR-15 semi-automatic rifle; 284 rounds of 9 mm ammunition; 88 rounds of 223 caliber ammunition; two rifle clips and a knife.
The subject, a juvenile and former Brewer student, dealing with mental health issues was convicted of capital murder but committed suicide in prison in 1989. We will never know his true intentions. Those that were there and students from that time credit Deputy Biles with saving lives that day.
Deputy William “Bill” Biles succumbed to his wound two days later on May 23, 1985. While being treated at Hartselle Hospital, he stated “please take care of Dot(his wife)and those kids”. We pray that we have!
Deputy Biles is a hero. Each May, the Biles family joins us at the memorial that bears the name of the Husband, Father they lost on that 141st day in 1985…it was a Tuesday.WeRemeber #EndOfWatch #FallenNotForgotten
From:MCSO
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LET’S GO SAILING
Second-grade students at East Elementary School have recently been reading the children’s classic Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, which finds a young boy taking a sailboat on a fantastical adventure. To help float a few of the finer points, students had a chance to build their own tiny boats to see if their design ideas might hold water, too.
Students used small pieces of pool noodles cut into different shapes and sizes to design their own boats to see if they would float and move in a small pool of water without tipping over.
“We talked about sailboats and the basics of how they work and move. The criteria were simple: their boats had to float and when they used the straw to create wind it had to move along the water without tipping over,” East Elementary second grade teacher Sarah Martin explained. “I was pleasantly surprised how successful each group was on the first build.”
In addition to learning about the concepts of buoyancy and balance, Martin said the project was also a team-building exercise, as students had to work together and share their different ideas for how their boats should work.“
The students were learning to cooperate with a partner to create the sailboat even though each person had a different idea,” she said. “They also learned wind power is necessary for sailboats to move. For example, one group had the sailboat tip over and they realized that the boat was not balanced. So they needed to change the design for it to work properly.”
Martin said students were ecstatic to get a chance to play in the water a bit and build their own sailboats, and it was a perfect way to incorporate some Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) concepts for the end of the year.“
The energy in the room was electric. The students did an amazing job of creating sailboats that were very unique. Some students decorated the boats with faces and named them,” she said. “There were a few that had multiple sails and long hulls. The discussions were wonderful, too. The students were able to identify design flaws during the testing phase and then ‘go back to the drawing board’ to redesign a more successful idea.”
From Cullman City Schools
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GOVERNOR IVEY SIGNS BILL BANNING VACCINE PASSPORT IN ALABAMA
Since the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, both Dr. Harris and I have said that we would not mandate vaccines in the state of Alabama. I am supportive of a voluntary vaccine and by signing this bill into law, I am only further solidifying that conviction.
I made the choice to get the COVID-19 vaccine and glad for the peace of mind it brings. I encourage any Alabamian who has not gotten their shot to roll up their sleeves, and if you have questions, consult with your health care provider.
Alabama Public Health -
NOTE OF LOVE FROM LENNON GRACE
Cullman Police Department Officer Hunter Potts, Sgt. Joey Duncan, Officer Brandon Patterson, and Officer Shannon Cheatwood received a wonderful surprise this week. Miss Lennon Grace wrote a note on a napkin expressing her love for the police officers and presented it to them while they were eating at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store. The napkin and photo will be framed and displayed in the traffic unit office. Thank you, Lennon Grace, for your kindness and your love and support of the Cullman Police Department!
From Cullman Police Department
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Meet our Deputy of the Year Celese Sharbutt.
My name is Celese Sharbutt, some of you may know me as “speedy”. I am 26 years old and I grew up on the west side of morgan county graduating from Danville High School in 2012. After high school I took my education to the next level at Wallace State Community College where I played basketball and studied criminal justice. I am the first in my family to ever pursue a career in law enforcement.
I began my career with Morgan County in January 2018 as a corrections officer with one goal in mind…. become a patrol deputy for the Sheriff’s Office. Eager to learn, I quickly joined the Reserve Deputy program where I spent most of my time riding on patrol with Captain Shands after working my 12-hour shift in the jail. This allowed me to see firsthand what life was like on patrol. It did not take long to know that this is the career I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
January 2019 is when my dreams came true and my life changed forever. After months of hard work, I got the wonderful news that I had been selected to go to the Law Enforcement Academy. I spent 13 long weeks in Tuscaloosa at the Law Enforcement Academy and graduated in July 2019.
I knew coming into this career as a female that it wasn’t going to be easily worked to be up for the challenge since day one. After completing my Field Training Program I began work the night shift on patrol.
I quickly discovered an interest in narcotics and saw their destructive grip on families and aware of those that seek to take advantage of addiction. On just my fourth night of patrol after initiating a traffic stop and seizing a little over 18 grams of methamphetamine. Some say it was beginner’s luck but I didn’t let that stop me. I continued to make several felonies and misdemeanor drug arrests eventually finding myself being the 2nd in drug arrest in just my first year. Although it is nearly impossible to confiscate all the drugs in the county any amount makes a huge difference to me as I grew up seeing their negative affect on people’s lives.
I am a firm believer in proactive policing and although narcotics has been a focus, it’s not the only thing that excites me about the job. I am eager to go to work everyday and answer every call for service to the best of my ability. I am truly passionate at what I do and it’s very exciting to be able to make even the slightest difference. I love serving the people of Morgan County and I will do so with honor and integrity for the remainder of my career.
Many calls for help, arrests, vehicle and foot pursuits, later I am thankful to be here and I am so blessed that God has given me the skills, ability and opportunity to serve and protect Morgan County. I am and will forever be grateful.” -Celese Sharbutt Deputy of the Year
📸Heather Whitt
From Morgan County Sheriffs Office -
ATTENTION! THE EMERGENCY BROADBAND BENEFIT PROGRAM CAN SAVE YOU $50 PER MONTH
The Emergency Broadband Benefit program can save you $50 per month towards your broadband service. If you are on free or reduced lunches, had a documentable job loss in 2020 with substantial loss of income, or received a Pell Grant in 2020, go apply at http://getemergencybroadband.org.
After you have qualified, go to cyberbroadband.net to signup for local broadband access. All the info you need is on their website. Cyber Broadband serves almost everywhere in Cullman County. Give us a call at 2567341077 for local broadband access.
Cyber Broadband Inc. is your locally owned Internet Service Provider in North Alabama
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CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT
Cullman County Road Department Equipment Operator David Tucker is retiring after 10 years of service. Thank you David, and enjoy your retirement. Pictured with Commissioner Kerry Watson.
From Cullman County Commission -
BRONTAE HARRIS DRAFTED BY THE LA RAMS
Congratulations to former Cullman bearcat football and UAB standout Brontae Harris for being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams UAB Athletics.
From Cullman High School
Photo from LA Rams