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PAGE 5A August 2026
16-year-old Pedestrian Killed Authorities are searching for suspect
Man Dies in Motorcycle Crash A two-vehicle crash at approximately 9:31 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, has claimed the life of a Phenix City man. According to authorities, Ray L. Burnham, age 63, was fatally injured when the 2014 Harley-Davidson FLHXS Street Glide Special motorcycle he was operating struck the 2000 Ford F-150 driven by Reid C. Giardina, age 18, of Woodland. Burnham was thrown from the motorcycle and pronounced deceased at the scene. The crash occurred at the intersection of Randolph County 65 and Randolph County 127, approximately five miles southeast of Wedowee, in Randolph County. Nothing further is available as Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate. Missing Boater Found Dead A single-vessel marine-related event was reported to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Marine Patrol Division at approximately 1:50 p.m. on Friday, August 14. The report resulted in a missing boater, who was later found deceased. Randall C. Gibbs, 76, of Hartselle, was last seen at approximately 7:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 14, on a 2001 Nitro NX750 fishing boat. After receiving the report, ALEA Marine Patrol Troopers responded and at approximately 2:30 p.m., and located the 2001 Nitro fishing boat. The vessel was found adrift near the mouth of First Creek on Wheeler Lake in Lauderdale County, however, Gibbs was not onboard. On Saturday, August 15, at approximately 1:47 p.m. the body of Mr. Gibbs was recovered near First Creek on Wheeler Lake in Lauderdale County. Gibbs did not have on a personal flotation device (PFD) at the time his body was recovered. ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance with search and recovery efforts: Joe Wheeler State Park Rangers, the Rogersville Volunteer Fire Department, the Florence Police Department’s Dive Team, the Killen Volunteer Fire Department, Crane Hill Rescue Squad, Limestone County Sheriff's Office, Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office, Alabama Department of Conservation Natural Resources (ADCNR) Wildlife and Fisheries, Colbert County Sheriff's Office, Colbert County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Lauderdale County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), along with ALEA’s Aviation Unit. Nothing further is available as ALEA Marine Patrol Troopers continue to investigate. ALEA Clarifies License Eligibility Requirements Under Taylor’s Law The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) has offered clarification regarding Alabama’s driver license eligibility requirements for students subject to school disciplinary actions. According to a news release, Section 32-6-7.4, Code of Alabama 1975, which has been referred to as “Taylor’s Law,” was enacted by the Alabama Legislature in 2009 as Act 2009-713 and has remained in effect since that time. Recent public confusion appears to have resulted from House Bill 33 (2026 Regular Legislative Session), which proposed reducing the age threshold associated with certain driver license eligibility provisions from 19 years of age to 17 years of age. While the legislation was approved by the Alabama House of Representatives, it was not passed by the Alabama Senate and therefore did not become law. Accordingly, no amendments to Section 32-6-7.4 became effective on August 1, 2026, and the statutory requirements currently administered by ALEA remain unchanged. Pursuant to Taylor’s Law, Alabama public and private secondary schools assess disciplinary points for specified disciplinary actions, including, but not limited to, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, placement in an alternative school, and expulsion. The accumulation of these disciplinary points may delay the age at which an eligible student may apply for a learner’s permit, driver license, or other applicable operator credential, as prescribed by Alabama law. Local education agencies, public and private schools are responsible for maintaining student disciplinary records, assessing disciplinary points as required by law, and reporting applicable information through the established process. ALEA’s Driver License Division receives the necessary eligibility information on an applicant’s DL-193 form certified by the appropriate educational authorities and determines license eligibility solely by applying the requirements established by Alabama Law. The DL-193 also confirms the student’s compliance with act 93-368 that requires attendance or graduation standards be met before an individual under the age of 19 may be issued a learner license or driver license. ALEA does not establish school disciplinary policies, assign disciplinary points, or modify statutory eligibility requirements. The Agency’s responsibility is to uniformly administer the licensing provisions enacted by the Alabama Legislature. For additional information regarding Alabama’s driver license laws, visit www.alea.gov.
A single-vehicle crash involving a pedestrian at approximately 4:10 a.m. on Thursday, August 13, 2026 has claimed the life of a Huntsville Juvenile. According to Alabama State Troopers, the teenage pedestrian, a 16-year-old, was walking in the roadway when fatally injured after being struck by what is believed to be a black Toyota 4Runner. The 16-year-old teen was pronounced deceased at the scene. After striking the teen, the 4Runner left the scene and the driver of vehicle had not been identified at the time of the news release. The crash occurred on Capshaw Road near the Rustic Cedar Lane, approximately one mile north of Huntsville, in Madison County. Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) ALEA Highway Patrol Division are asking the public for assistance with identifying/locating the vehicle, which is believed to be a 2003 to possible 2009 black Toyota 4Runner. Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to contact the ALEA’s Decatur Highway Patrol Post at (256) 540-0071, once connected, please press #2. Nothing further is available as Troopers with ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.
Photo Courtesy of ALEA
Fort Payne Police Report The following crime report was provided by the Fort Payne Police Department. All persons are presumed innocent until his or her guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. July 27, 2026 Incidents • Theft of Property – Occurred at 3200 Hixon Road NW, a lock box was taken, valued at $25.00 Three Arrests • Brandon Eugene Graham, age 41 of Fort Payne, was arrested on a Warrant for Outside Agency • Chyanne Nichole Hearn, age 38 of Henagar, was arrested on a Warrant for Failure to Appear • Jacob Clark Goza, age 39 of Fort Payne, was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia One Accident with No Injuries July 28, 2026 Incidents • August 3, 2026 No Incidents and One Arrest • Terry Joshua Couch, age 38 of Fort Payne, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence of any Substance Two Accidents with No Injuries August 4, 2026 Incidents • Damaged Property – Occurred at 151 5th Street NE, a restroom vanity was damaged, valued at $400.00 • Fraudulent Use of a Debit Card – Occurred at 100 Grand Ave S, charges of $2391.17 were made without authorization • Duty Upon Striking an Unoccupied Vehicle – Occurred at 308 Greenhill Blvd NW, a rear quarter panel on a 2026 Hyundai was damaged, valued at $500.00 •
Damaged Property – Occurred at 150 Play Core Drive SE, rear driver side damaged occurred on a 2025 Toyota Camry SE, valued at $2000.00 One Arrest • Kyle Heath Ayers, age 39 of Dawson, was arrested for Burglary Four Accidents with No Injuries August 5, 2026 Incidents • Seized Counterfeit Currency – Occurred at 500 Gault Ave S, a hundred-dollar bill was counterfeit No Arrest One Accident with No Injuries August 6, 2026 Incidents • Damaged Property – Occurred at 158 8th Street NE. a door on a 2017 Toyota Rav4 was damaged, valued at $500.00 Two Arrests • Jessica Dale Willingham, age 36 of Fort Payne, was arrested on a Warrant for Outside Agency • William Tony Walker JR, age 48 of Gadsden, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance Five Accidents with no Injuries August 7, 2026 Incidents • Fraudulent Use of a Debit Card – Occurred at 5011 Martin Ave NE, transaction of $30.00 was made without authorization Three Arrests • Miguel Tomas, age 36 of Fort Payne, was arrested for DUI • Charles Lee Marler, age 45 of Fort Payne, was arrested for Public Intoxication • Scott Robert Frigiola, age 51 of Fort Payne, was arrested for DUI Four Accidents with One Injury • An accident occurred at Gault Ave N and 2nd Street NE, Alexis Jade McCullough, age 23 of Fyffe, driving a 2024 Ford Bronco, struck pedestrian Barbara Akins Henderson, age 83 of Fort Payne. Henderson was transported to Dekalb Regional by Dekalb Ambulance August 8, 2026 Incidents • Damaged Property – Occurred at 219 Gault Ave S, a bumper on a 2013 Toyota Sienna was damaged, valued at $500.00 Three Arrests • James Stephen Hunko, age 29 of Albertville, was arrested for DUI • Devon Markel Batson, age 29 of Fyffe, was arrested on a Warrant for Failure to Appear • Jeffery Allen White, age 33 of Attalla, was arrested on a Warrant for Failure to Appear Two Accidents with One Injury • An accident occurred at Martin Ave NE and Oakview Lane NE, Deven Lamont Adams, age 26 of Fort Payne, driving a 2011 GMC Yukon, left the roadway and struck a tree. Adams was transported to Erlanger. August 9, 2026 An accident occurred at Desoto Pkwy NE and Ruby Lane NE, Cathy Gunnells Brown Hall, age 70 of Mentone, driving a 2011 Chevrolet Express, struck Danny Lee Gerrad, age 71 of Fort Payne, driving a 2022 GMC Sierra. Both drivers were transported to Dekalb Regional by Dekalb Ambulance Service. No Incidents and No Arrests Six Accident with two Injuries •
Damaged Property – Occurred at 107 Gault Ave N, 4 tires on a 2024 Chevrolet Corvette were damaged, valued at $2100.00 • Burglary – Occurred at 31 Stewart Court SE Apt 254, miscellaneous items were taken, valued $50.00 • Scam – Occurred at 610 Glenn Blvd SW, $212.48 was taken through a phone scam No Arrests One Accident with No Injuries July 29, 2026 No Incidents and One Arrest • Ciara Brianna Frazier, age 47 of Fort Payne, was arrested on a Warrant for Outside Agency at 8:47 pm Three Accidents with No Injuries
July 30, 2026
Incidents •
Theft of Property – Occurred at Wal-Mart, miscellaneous merchandise was taken, valued at $2692.86 Three Arrests • Kevin Duane Faulkner, age 49 of Fort Payne, was arrested on Six Warrants for Outside Agency • Nathan William Brisendine, age 48 of Fort Payne, was arrested for Domestic Violence and Interference with a Domestic Violence Emergency Call • Michael Christopher Bailey, age 52 of Section, was arrested on Two Warrants for Failure to Appear Three Accidents with One Fatality • An accident occurred at Gault Ave N and 2nd Street NE, Patricia Ann Weaver, age 78 of Collinsville, driving a 2004 Toyota Highlander, left the roadway and struck a pole. Weaver was transported to Dekalb Regional by Dekalb Ambulance and later pronounced deceased. July 31, 2026 Incidents • Damaged Property – Occurred at 403 13th Street NW, a fence was damaged, valued at $1,000.00 • Theft of Property – Occurred at Wal-Mart, miscellaneous items were taken, valued at $12.12 Three Arrests • Samuel Thomas Haston, age 28 of Henagar, was arrested for DUI • Bryan Lynn Phillips, age 34 of Valley Head, was arrested on a Warrant for Failure to Appear • Martha Pedro Pascual, age 30 of Fort Payne, was arrested for Domestic Violence and Four Warrants for Failure to Appear Four Accidents with No Injuries No Incidents and Two Arrests • Rachel Ann Gentry, age 31 of Fort Payne, was arrested for Disorderly Conduct • Zackary Lea O’Tinger, age 27 of Rainsville, was arrested for Public Intoxication Two Accidents with No Injuries August 1, 2026 No Incidents and Three Arrests • Carla N Ellis, age 37 of Valley Head, was arrested for DUI • John Cruz Matias Andres, age 20 of Fort Payne, was arrested for Underage Consumption of Alcohol • Nicholas Bryan Machado, age 28 of Fort Payne, was arrested for Domestic Violence Two Accidents with No Injuries August 2, 2026
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