A LABAMA L EDGER
PAGE 6 www.AlabamaLedger.com
JULY 2023
Snead State Community College is working to ensure students wishing to pursue a four-year degree can transfer to the college of their choice with ease and are adequately prepared for the next level. College officials recently held a news conference to highlight the institution’s latest transfer success. “Today, the primary purpose of this press conference is to announce that we were notified by the system office that recent data shows Snead State has the highest rate of transfer students of any community college in the state,” said Snead State President Dr. Joe Whitmore. “And to the negative news media that talks about transfer rates for community colleges being around 30 percent or less, Snead State’s transfer rate right now is tracking at 67 percent.” Whitmore also announced Snead State was one of only three community colleges to see an increase in the number of students who have transferred since the COVID years. “So, the question is, what are we doing? How are we bucking these national trends to get such healthy numbers?” Whitmore said. "It’s attributed to our faculty and staff and the hard work that they’ve put in to help students complete their degrees here, to help them get on track to transfer to the school of their choice with the least possible number of disruptions. We offer and encourage all of our students to take advantage of one-on-one advisement, individually meeting with our faculty on a semester-by-semester basis to make sure they are staying on track. They don’t all use that opportunity, but we do offer it.” Additionally, Whitmore pointed to the Alabama Transfers (formerly known as the STARS) Guide and DegreeWorks as tools that aid in preparing students for the transition to four-year institutions. Jacksonville State University President Dr. Don Killingsworth voiced his gratitude to Snead State and all of Alabama’s community colleges during the event. “At JSU, we recognize the important role our state’s community colleges play in transforming the lives of Alabamians,” Killingsworth said. “We are proud to partner with our state’s two-year schools to ensure a seamless transition to JSU for those who wish to continue their studies and pursue a four-year degree. More than 40 percent of students attending community colleges in Alabama matriculate to a four-year university. While we accept students from community colleges throughout the system, we currently have a special transfer pathway with 11 schools, including Snead State. “At JSU, we are passionate about making a four-year degree attainable to Alabama Transfer students, and we’re proud to partner with all of Alabama’s community colleges. We also value our relationship with Snead State … Out of the 24 community colleges in Alabama, Snead sends JSU the second-highest number of transfer students. … Our partnership with Snead State sets the bar real high.” In addition to the college’s transfer success, Whitmore announced a strengthened partnership with JSU that assists Snead State students wanting to pursue careers in education, criminal justice and forensics investigation. The Transfer Prep Program at JSU, established in Fall 2022, allows students to be concurrently enrolled in an Alabama community college while taking ED302, CJ225, or FI204 courses at JSU. The tuition at JSU for these three courses is discounted by 50 percent for students who are part of the Transfer Prep Program. JSU has committed to offering ED302 during all semesters (fall, spring, summer) in an online format for students. Education majors at a community college have often been delayed at least one semester at JSU due to this required prerequisite course for the education program. The Transfer Prep program resolves that obstacle for students. There are currently three courses that are eligible for this program: • Teacher Prep: ED302 (Intro Foundations in Teacher Education) – student must have earned at least 30 semester credit hours before taking this course (i.e. student must be in sophomore year at Snead State) • Criminal Justice Prep: CJ225 (Criminal Courts) – student must have completed CRJ100 (Intro to Criminal Justice) at Snead prior to enrolling at CJ225 at JSU • Forensics Prep: FI204 (Intro to Forensics Investigation) – student must have completed CRJ100 (Intro to Criminal Justice) at Snead prior to enrolling at CJ225 at JSU Whitmore and Killingsworth signed a Financial Aid Consortium Agreement between SSCC and JSU that allows Snead State students to utilize federal financial aid (Pell Grant, etc.), if eligible, to apply toward the costs of one of these three JSU courses while students are concurrently enrolled in an education or criminal justice program of study at SSCC. World’s Longest Yard Sale Each year, bargain hunters, yard sale connoisseurs, treasure seekers and those who like to haggle make their way through northeastern Alabama for the biggest yard sale shopping spree in the world. The World’s Longest Yard Sale, also known as the highway 127 Yard Sale, is a once-a-year, 690-mile shopping trip. This year's event is set for August 3-6. The World’s Longest Yard Sale offers everything from antiques, collectibles, furniture and dishware to fresh local produce and homemade jams and jellies, as well as food vendors and live entertainment. The annual event begins at the southernmost start point in Gadsden, taking the scenic Lookout Mountain Parkway to Chattanooga, Tennessee and following Highway 127 all the way north through six states to Addison, Michigan. It is estimated that more than 1,000 yard sale vendors are set up each year along the trail in Alabama alone. For directions, information, and a list of single locations and/or small areas with a minimum of 25 vendors each in Alabama, visit the web site www.127yardsale.com. Created to help get travelers off the interstate and into towns and communities located off the beaten path, the World’s Longest Yard Sale takes visitors on a shopping excursion through some of the country’s most scenic areas. The 93-mile Lookout Mountain Parkway has been touted “A Must See” by Reader’s Digest, the National Geographic, and Southern Living magazines, providing a beautiful backdrop to the thousands of roadside sales. Along with shopping, treasure hunting, and bargaining, there is plenty of sightseeing to do along the North Alabama yard sale trail that begins in Gadsden near Noccalula Falls, which is a 250-acre public park that features a spectacular 90 foot waterfall. Visitors can experience a slice of real Americana, true southern hospitality, a variety of locally owned restaurants and accommodations and a world of nature, including majestic waterfalls, canyons, scenic brow vistas, unique towns and villages, state and national parks and preserves. Snead State signs Agreement with JSU for Transfer Prep Program Yard sale vendors are typically up and running by 8 a.m. and usually operate until late in the evening each day of the event. Shoppers are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes, insect repellent and sunscreen and to bring plenty of hand sanitizer and water. For lodging information, directions, road closures and more information, visit https://visitlookoutmountain.com/worlds-longest-yard-sale/ or call DeKalb Tourism at 888.805.4740 or Greater Gadsden Area Tourism at 888.565.0411.
Man arrested for 20 counts of Child Pornography The investigation is still ongoing and additional charges are a possibility.
DeKalb County authorities have arrested a Collinsville man for possession of child pornography. Following a joint investigation involving the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Leesburg Police Department, the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and the University of Alabama Police Department, a search warrant was executed at the residence of Ricky Herndon, age 40 of Collinsville. Herndon was charged with Possession of Child Pornography (x20) and Pistol Possession, and Violent Felon. A Gadsden pharmacist has been convicted of drug distribution conspiracy and tax crimes. Nathan Thomas Carter, age 41, of Gadsden, has pled guilty before U.S. District Court Judge R. David Proctor to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and three counts of filing false federal income tax returns. According to the plea agreement, between 2015 and 2021, Carter conspired with others to distribute controlled substances including oxycodone and hydrocodone. A vehicle Shooting in North Fort Payne has led to several arrests. According to Fort Payne police Chief David Davis, at approximately 2:46 p.m. on July 19 a call came into Fort Payne Police Dispatch that shots had been fired in the area of 16th Street NW and Gault Avenue North. Officers responded and started gathering information on two vehicles that were reported to be involved in the incident. A BOLO was issued and after canvasing the area, officers located two possible vehicles that were believed to be involved. Authorities later learned that a 16 year old juvenile female was shot during the incident. The juvenile female was a passenger in one of the vehicles. She was taken to a hospital by family members with none life threatening injuries. Also, during the course of the investigation five people were arrested on various drug charges.
“This case is another example of the great teamwork and dedication of every agency and organization, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, across the country coming together to combat child pornography," commented DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden. “The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated in attempting to make the internet a safer place for everyone," he added. earned about $150,000 in illicit income, per year, which he failed to report or include on his income tax returns in 2019, 2020, and 2021. According to the plea agreement, during the execution of a search warrant at Carter’ house, authorities found more than $110,000 in cash. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances is twenty years in prison. The maximum penalty for each count of filing false federal income tax returns is three years in prison. DeKalb County. Additional charges for Mr. Moore include Shooting into an Occupied Vehicle and Assault 1st stemming from the vehicle shooting. At the time of the news release, Moore was being held in the DeKalb County Detention Center on a $231,000 bond. Chief Davis expressed his gratitude to all the responding Officers and Investigators for their hard work and tireless efforts in resolving this case in a swift manner. Chief Davis also added that this was an isolated incident where the party’s involved were familiar with each other. During the same time as the vehicle shooting, authorities received another call about a possible shooting at a residence. Davis said that the call was unrelated to the aforementioned incident and was being investigated by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department. No additional info was provided about either incident.
Ricky Herndon
Law Enforcement said that Herndon was suspected of sharing child pornography via the internet. During the search, there was digital evidence found containing child pornography.
Gadsden Pharmacist pleads guilty to Drug Distribution and Tax Crimes
The following were arrested and charged with: • Misaia Trion Moore, age 24 of Lithonia, GA, Possession of Marijuana Second Degree and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia • Shyheim Hassan Moore, age 23 of Lithonia, GA, Possession of Marijuana Second Degree and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia • Tierek Kenya Stanford Dennis, age 24 of Fort Payne, Possession of Marijuana Second Degree and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia • Johneil Alonna Steadman, age 21 of Gadsden, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana First Degree, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia • Zeke Nathaniel Dupree, age 18 of Fort Payne Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana First Degree, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Shyheim Moore has made his initial appearance before the District Judge of Between February 2018 and 2023, Carter worked as the pharmacist in charge at Midtown Pharmacy in Gadsden. Between 2018 and 2021, records reflect, Midtown Pharmacy ordered at least 80,000 more dosage units of oxycodone 30 mg than the pharmacy dispensed to patients. Carter diverted opioid pills from the pharmacy and sold those pills to other drug distributors. He regularly took distributor bottles from his pharmacy to his house, where he repackaged the pills in plastic bags for resale. The defendant
Teenager injured In vehicle shooting
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M. Chris Kuykendall Business: 256-845-4984 ⚫ Fax: 256-845-7509 1827 Gault Ave. North ⚫ Fort Payne, AL 35967
8563 US Hwy 431 Albertville, AL Office: 256-878-1000
Tracy Honea 256-302-2590 For All Your Real Estate Needs Call Mike Gentry 256-506-3319 Best wishes to all for a great school year!
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