CLEVELAND, Tenn.
Two men charged in HVAC thefts
Bradley County sheriff's deputies have arrested and charged two men with theft after heating, ventilation and air conditioning units were taken from a commercial building heavily damaged in last week's storms.
Keith Marion Sewell, 47, of Dowdy Road and Frank Walter Weathers, 56, of Greendale Place each was charged with theft of more than $500. They posted bail of $5,000 apiece and have been released, according to a news release.
The sheriff's office release stated that about 7 p.m. Monday deputies were at Springplace Village at 2260 Springplace Road in response to a report about looting. Deputies watched Sewell and Weathers loading air conditioning units and materials into a truck, and they said the two told them they had permission to take the items, the release states.
The report stated the person the men said had told them they could take the property denied doing so, and the property owner agreed.
GADSDEN, Ala.
Area airmen killed in fighting
A Gadsden, Ala., resident was identified Tuesday as being among eight airmen killed April 27 by gunfire at Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan.
Maj. Jeffrey O. Ausborn, 41, of Gadsden, was assigned to the 99th Flying Training Squadron based at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
Also killed in the same fighting was Lt. Col. Frank D. Bryant Jr., 37, of Knoxville, assigned to the 56th Operations Group out of Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.
CHICKAMAUGA, Ga.
Mansion tours coming Saturday
The Friends of the Gordon-Lee Mansion, along with the city of Chicka-mauga and the Chicka-mauga Historic Preservation Commission, will host tours of the mansion Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission of $3 per person includes the chance to visit a recently restored historic log cabin that houses a new video presentation on the history of Crawfish Springs, now the city of Chickamauga.
Light refreshments will be served.
Proceeds will support the friends group and its mission to promote, preserve, enhance and foster public awareness and appreciation of the mansion's historical significance.
For more information, call Jim Staub at 423-774-6784.
MONTGOMERY, Ala.
Bill gives schools leeway on days
A bill to give school systems more flexibility in making up days lost to storms has moved a step closer to final passage in the Alabama Legislature.
The House Education Policy Committee approved the bill allowing systems that had to cancel classes because of last week's storms to make up those days by adding hours to school days.
The House sponsor, Rep. Ed Henry, R-Decatur, said students would be able to make up the lost time by staying in school longer each day rather than having to go to school on weekends or extending the school year.
The bill passed the Senate and now goes to the full House for debate.