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Today’s News Headlines from Alabama 810 News

• Sheriffs Department faces budget crunch
• JSU trustee appointment confirmed by Senate
• Airport to receive grant

Sheriffs department faces budget crunch    

Faced with rising fuel costs, Calhoun County Sheriff Larry Amerson said he may have to start laying off deputies if things don’t improve.The Calhoun County Commission told Amerson this week that effective immediately, the county would not honor any request for overtime pay.  County Commissioners said overtime costs combined with high gas prices in the Sheriff's Office has pushed them about a half million dollars over budget. Costs for the Sheriff's Office could increase even more if the city of Anniston pulls its police officers out of jurisdictions beyond the city limits. Sheriff's deputies would then be responsible for patrolling and responding to calls in those areas. Under Alabama law, city police departments can patrol certain areas outside their limits. Anniston's current jurisdiction extends three miles outside the city in unincorporated areas and halfway between Anniston and nearby cities, except for Oxford because the cities' borders adjoin. Anniston collects taxes in the police jurisdiction and a portion of the money pays for police protection. The city collected nearly $900,000 last year, according to figures from AlaTax, which administers those taxes. Which officials say should be given to the sheriffs department, however, Anniston officials say it is unlikely that will happen.

JSU trustee appointment confirmed by Senate 

The Alabama Senate this week confirmed the appointment by Gov. Riley of Tuscaloosa Investment Adviser Thomas W. Dedrick Sr. to the Jacksonville State University Board of Trustees to fill the vacancy left by the late Gladys Carlisle. The 49 year old Dedrick,  is a 1981 graduate of Morris Brown College in Atlanta, where he was an All-Conference football player. Signed by the Seattle Seahawks upon college graduation, the Greensboro native failed to make the team in 1982 and then embarked on his career in investment management. Dedrick has served as Vice President and Wealth Management Adviser for Merrill Lynch since 1982 acquiring more than 25 years of experience providing financial and wealth management advice and services.JSU President William Meehan said, "The University looks forward to having the opportunity to work with Mr. Dedrick in the future and to benefit from his years of experience in the finance industry and community service."  Dedrick's appointment is for a 12-year term.  

Airport to receive grant 

U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee has announced that the Department of Transportation has awarded $1,994,458 to the State of Alabama for infrastructure improvements at six local airports, including the new Centre , Piedmont ,Cherokee County Regional Airport, where the funding will be used for the construction of a taxiway and to conduct a miscellaneous study. Senator Shelby stressed the importance of a strong transportation infrastructure when attempting to attract new businesses and industry to the state of Alabama, calling local airports an important development tool for our state’s rural communities, adding that the grant is designed to provide funding to allow smaller airports the opportunity to make much-needed improvements benefiting local communities and businesses.
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