Schools join in suit to collect $6 million from city

A lawsuit seeking $6 million in past due money from Bessemer will go forward as the Board of Education has joined a parent in the action.

Circuit Judge Eugene Verin earlier said if parent Randy Scott could not find a partner in the suit he was inclined to dismiss.

With so much money on the line the schools decided to join in the suit.

Insiders at City Hall say that if the city loses it would probably force Bessemer into bankruptcy.

The last payment made by Mayor Ed May was in November 2007 when he took $1.2 million from the Library Fund.

—Tribune staff report

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City Hall gets new flag for Veteran's Day celebration

Yes, Martha, that was a brand new American flag flying atop Bessemer's City Hall this morning.

Mayor Ed May had it installed just in time for the Veteran's Day celebration inside the auditorium where about 25 people showed up.

It's been a year since City Hall has flashed Old Glory.

The "crowd" was on the smallish side because invites from the city didn't go out until a few minutes before the event -- which happened five days before Veteran's Day next Wednesday.

The event was scheduled for today so that the mayor and some City Council members could go to the annual National League of Cities meeting in San Antonio, Texas next week.

—Tribune staff report

Bessemer could face federal charges

Despite being told they're off base by a Circuit Court judge, Bessemer police have yet to follow up on the theft of about $15,000 by an employee from a bingo hall.

Robert White, who manages the Anchor Club, says police have still not contacted him about the theft even though he supplied Chief Nate Rutledge with a video of the crime that happened last month.

"Don't you think the police would track down the victim?" White said.

By offering selective justice the police chief could be facing a federal charge, say attorneys who spoke with the Tribune on Thursday.

Circuit Judge Dan King, who issued an injunction stopping BPD from closing the bingo hall, said the police need to work all other cases of criminal activity. He instructed the city attorney to tell the police to follow up on the crime.

—Tribune staff report

Thief hits bingo operator in his home

Robert White, who operates the charity bingo Anchor Club, woke up this morning to find a woman in his southside kitchen.

She was apparently trying to remove a safe from the home.

The woman escaped through a window, but Bessemer police caught up with her and brought her in.

Police had been under orders not to work cases at the bingo hall because they misunderstood a court order issued by Circuit Judge Dan King not to interfere with the bingo operations.

—Tribune Staff report

Judge: City wrong not to work crimes at bingo halls

Circuit Judge Dan King today said the City of Bessemer has misunderstood his injunction keeping the police and emergency responders out of a charity bingo club.

This comes after an employee of the Anchor Club was caught on camera last month stuffing between $11,000 and $15,000 into her pants.

After showing up to take a report, Bessemer police Capt. Danny Johnson told his officers to leave the club and not pursue the incident. 

King said his order "doesn't call for that." He said the city must do what is right and enforce the law.

He said he told Aaron Killings today, assistant city attorney, to inform Police Chief Nate Rutledge to enforce all other laws, including this crime.

—Tribune staff report

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May versus May

It is Ed May versus Ed May in Bessemer's wild bingo battle.

In the latest twist to the ongoing battle at City Hall, the City Council last night approved by a 4-3 vote the hiring of Edward E. May II to represent its interests in a lawsuit filed by Fairfield to stop District Attorney Arthur Green from closing the bingo halls.

As might be expected the decision was not easy during the marathon six-hour meeting.

The regular council attorney, Greg Harris, refused to represent the council in Judge Eugene Verin's court.

The bingo halls in the Bessemer Cutoff will operate at least until January when all parties return to Verin's court.

—Tribune staff report

BPD makes big drug bust

Bessemer police started early this morning rounding up drug dealers and drugs. Through midday about 18 arrests have been made and the posse is still scouring for another 14 bad guys.

Above, Det. James Jones, left and Det. Wayne Campbell show some of the product seized in the raids.

—Tribune staff report

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BPD refuses to arrest bingo thief

A Bessemer bingo parlor was ripped off by one of its employees of $11,000-$15,000 and the Bessemer Police Department refuses to make an arrest.

On Oct. 19 Anchor Club worker Kenyatta Hawkins was caught on surveillance cameras stuffing the money into her pants.

BPD came, but when higher-ups alerted investigators that the city is involved in a lawsuit with the club, nothing was done.

—Tribune staff report

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