Bessemer records 10th homicide

Bessemer police are investigating the city's 10th homicide of the year.

The shooting of a 19-year-old man on Dartmouth Avenue and 24th Street happened Friday night.

Dead was Jimterrius Peterson from a gunshot wound, according to the Jefferson County Coroner's Office.

Apparently there is still some discussion over whether or not the shooting was a homicide or an accident.

But this is how police are handling the investigation.

—Tribune staff report

Bessemer's jobless rate unchanged

Bessemer's unemployment rate in September remained unchanged from August at 15.5 percent, according to figures release today.

The state unemployment rate actually spiked during the month to 10.7 percent.

The Birmingham-Hoover metro area rate in September was 10.2 percent, unchanged from August.

Madison County had the lowest jobless rate at 7.5 percent, followed by Shelby's 7.6 percent. 

Wilcox had the highest jobless rate at 25.6 percent.

—Tribune staff report

McAdory residents to fight home burglaries

There have been so many home burglaries in the McCalla area that the community is holding a meeting tonight at the McAdory Fire Station on Pocahontas Road at 6 p.m.

Initial plans are to establish a neighborhood watch to supplement a shortage of patrols by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

Most of the break-ins happen during the day when people are not home.

—Tribune staff report

Closed-door meeting on Camp Bessemer

Bessemer City Council members met before closed doors this week to discuss past due bills for the Camp Bessemer summer operation for the city's poorest children.

None of the bills have been paid and little is know of what went on in the secret session.

The council has been critical of the camp because it was run by one of Mayor Ed May's relatives.

Among the complaints are high costs for electricity and other unauthorized expenses.

—Tribune staff report

Bond proposal falls on deaf ears

The subject of floating bonds was brought up again at the Tuesday planning session of the Bessemer City Council.

But the proposal by Mayor Ed May fell on deaf ears.

May jumped into a discussion about flooding problems in the Pipe Shop.

May wants to combine road paving and replacing storm pipes into a bond issue.

The council is soon expected to award a $1.3 million bid to have three downtown streets.

—Tribune staff report

ON NEWSSTANDS NOW

Bingo is back in the forefront and Alabama Power is becoming an evil company in the recession...