Area News In Brief

Fair worker found dead in motel room

Morgan County Coroner Russ Beard has sent the body of a fair worker to a forensic lab for an autopsy.

Beard said he received a call Saturday at 8:30 a.m. to the Ramada Limited on Alabama 67. Sean Patrick Dunphy, 34, was dead in his motel room.

He said Dunphy had a Florida address but traveled as a fair worker.

He currently was working at the Morgan County Fair. The fair opened last week and is to continue through Saturday.

Beard said there were no visible wounds, and the death may be drug-related.

Holly Hollman

Firefighters to sell Bean Day tickets

ATHENS — Athens firefighters will be at Wal-Mart on Saturday selling tickets for the 11th annual Bean Day.

Bean Day will be Oct. 5 at the Beasley Center next to Station No. 1.

The event raises money for local charities, including Shop With A Firefighter for Christmas.

Tickets are $5. The meal includes white beans and ham, slaw, cornbread and drink.

Firefighters will be at Wal-Mart on U.S. 72 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets also will be available at the center the day of the event.

Holly Hollman

Ardmore High grad is AFF Star Farmer

ARDMORE — An Ardmore High graduate is a top notch farmer, according to the Alabama Farmers Federation.

AFF named Ben Raby, 19, of Toney, a Star Farmer for winning the soybeans division in the annual Outstanding Young Farm Family Awards Program.

Raby is the sixth generation of the Raby family to farm. His ancestors moved from Lynchburg, Tenn., to the Ardmore and Toney area in 1906.

“I’ve wanted to farm all my life. That’s all I’ve ever known,” Raby told AFF for a story in its Neighbors magazine. “I just want to make a living at something I know a little bit about.”

He plans to attend Auburn University to study agriculture.

Holly Hollman

Woman charged with hitting mother

ATHENS — An Athens woman allegedly attacked her mother, sending the mother to the hospital, an investigator said.

The investigator, Athens police Lt. Floyd Johnson, said Beverly Carol Stark, 46, of 1405 Coleman Ave., allegedly hit her mother, but there are different stories about what occurred.

“I don’t want to release too much information until I can talk to some other folks about what happened,” Johnson said.

Police charged Stark with first-degree domestic violence. The district attorney’s Worthless Check Unit also had warrants for 10 counts of negotiating with a non-negotiable instrument.

Stark is in the Limestone County Jail on $15,000 bond.

Her mother is at Athens-Limestone Hospital.

Holly Hollman

Horse throws man in Lawrence County

DANVILLE — A man thrown by a horse Saturday went by ambulance to Decatur General Hospital.

According to the Lawrence County Emergency Management Agency, a neighbor saw the horse throw the man and called for help.

EMA did not have the man’s name or age but said the accident occurred at 1:32 p.m. on Lawrence County 203 in the Danville/Speake area.

Holly Hollman

Bad-check amnesty to end Thursday

ATHENS — If you’re wanted for writing worthless checks in Limestone County, your stay-out-of-jail grace period is about to end.

The amnesty period will end Thursday. To avoid arrest, pay your bad checks by that day.

The district attorney’s office, the Sheriff’s Department, Athens police and other agencies will begin making arrests Friday.

Those who have warrants already in the National Crime Information Center database cannot receive amnesty and are subject to arrest at any time.

For more information, contact investigator Chris Slaton at 233-6489.

Holly Hollman

Senior Services to honor Matthew

Alabama’s Department of Senior Services will award Ronald Matthews with the Golden Eagle Honorary Award on Sunday.

The award, presented by the Alabama Senior Citizens Hall of Fame, recognizes individuals who contribute to the lives of senior citizens.

As the executive director of the North-central Alabama Regional Council of Governments, Matthews oversees the agency’s services for senior citizens, which include seven senior centers in Morgan, Lawrence and Cullman counties. The centers provide seniors with hot meals and social interaction.

“Working at NARCOG provides me with a unique opportunity to increase the senior’s quality of life,” Matthews said.

Catherine Godbey

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