YEAR IN REVIEW: Evidence tech arrested for theft, Chestnut wins House seat, credit union taken over

Published 6:42 pm Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Through Saturday, the Times-Journal will be looking back at the top stories of 2017. Here’s a look at memorable stories from April-June.

SELMA GETS LIT

The Selma City Council approved a contract with Alabama Power Company in April to replace city street lights with LED bulbs. The new lights were put up on heavily traveled streets first and then continue to be put into neighborhoods.

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TEEN DIES IN ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING WITH STOLEN GUN

A Dallas County 19-year-old was allegedly accidentally shot and killed by another 19-year-old on April 14. Rufus Williams Jr. was pronounced dead at the scene. Ratravious Sanders was charged with murder. The gun used in the shooting was later determined to be stolen from the Selma Police Department evidence room.

CHESTNUT WINS — AGAIN

Prince Chestnut won a general election for Selma Mayor Darrio Melton’s seat in the Alabama House of Representatives with 95 percent of the vote. Chestnut faced Independent candidate Tremayne “Toby” Gorden, who qualified to run on the day of the primary election in January.

SOLDIERS HONORED AT CAHAWBA

While this year’s Battle of Selma reenactment was canceled, soldiers from the war, particularly those housed at Cahawba’s prisoner of war camp, were honored at a special service in April.

BROAD STREET REPAVED

The Alabama Department of Transportation started a project to pave Broad Street from the Edmund Pettus Bridge to Highland Avenue in late April.

SPD EVIDENCE TECH ARRESTED

An evidence technician with the Selma Police Department was arrested for allegedly stealing guns and jewelry from the department’s evidence vault. Adrianne Michelle Canterbury, was charged with theft and tampering with evidence.

IN SHAPE FITNESS BUYS VAUGHAN FITNESS

David Johnson and his business partner Julius Talton purchased Vaughan Fitness Center from the hospital. The building now serves as the main hub for Johnson’s In Shape Fitness.

MAN SHOT IN YARD WHILE LEAVING FOR WORK

A 62-year-old Selma man was robbed and shot to death on May 5. Charlie Sanders was found shot to death in his driveway on Tremont Street. The case remains unsolved.

HARVILL NAMED BOY OF THE YEAR

Morgan Academy’s Greyson Harvill was named the 68th Paul M. Grist Boy of the Year during a ceremony at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center.

MANGUM PUT ON LEAVE

Angela Mangum, superintendent of Selma City Schools, was placed on administrative leave for allegedly breaching her contract for applying for another job without telling the board of education. Mangum and the board later agreed to a $60,000 settlement.

COMMERCIAL FLIGHT MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING

Two people suffered minor injuries after an American Eagle made an emergency landing June 23 at Craig Field.

The flight was traveling from New Orleans to Washington, D.C. Passengers were taken by bus to Montgomery and continued on another flight to D.C.

RIVERDALE CREDIT UNION PUT INTO CONSERVATORSHIP

Riverdale Credit Union was taken into conservatorship by the National Credit Union Administration due to “unsafe and unsound practices” in June.

The credit union was later liquidated and its assets were taken over by a credit union based in Louisiana.

FOUNDATION AWARDED $3 MILLION TO FIGHT RACISM

A Selma foundation was awarded $3 million to fight racism. The grant was part of $24 million given out by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to 13 cities and one state. The Black Belt Community Foundation was awarded the money for Selma.