Riders find body in wooded area in Alabama - and more Chattanooga region news

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

IDER, Ala. - Riders on horseback found a body Sunday afternoon in a wooded area near Ider, Ala., according to a news release from the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff Jimmy Harris said the body, found at about 4 p.m., may be that of a missing man but it has not been positively identified.

Investigators from the Dekalb County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene and started processing it for evidence. The body was sent to the Alabama Department of Forensics in Huntsville for examination.

Investigators from the Center for Applied Forensics helped process the scene and remove the body, Harris said.

"We had people working all night on this case," he said. "I hope we can get a positive ID soon and follow up on some leads developed so far."


Body of woman found in lake ID'd

WOODSTOCK, Ga. - Authorities have identified a deceased woman who was found floating in Lake Allatoona as a Marietta woman.

Officials late Sunday night identified the woman as 33-year-old Sheila Ann Carlotta.

A boater found the body Sunday morning, prompting an investigation by the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. Police estimate the body was in the water for less than a day.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the body was located near the beach of the Kellogg Creek Day Use area.

Detectives told WSB-TV that Carlotta's family and friends told them she was swimming in the area Saturday.


City bans pawn, payday lenders

MARIETTA, Ga. - Kennesaw has banned new pawn shops and payday lenders from opening for one year.

The Kennesaw City Council approved the temporary moratorium during a meeting this month. It will not affect businesses already operating within city limits.

Kennesaw Mayor Mark Mathews said officials realized Kennesaw's restrictions on lenders were laxer than those of other cities.

Councilwoman Cris Eaton-Welsh said citizens told her they were tired of seeing the lenders at entrances into the city.

Authorities said the moratorium was proposed so city officials have time to research new rules.


Two killed in biker club battle

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - At least 40 rounds were fired during a gun battle outside a Birmingham motorcycle club that killed two people and wounded two others, police said.

The shooting happened shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday outside the Showstoppers Motorcycle Club, Birmingham police said. Investigators believe the battle stemmed from an argument between members of two different motorcycle clubs.

Potential witnesses were not cooperating with detectives, Birmingham police Lt. Sean Edwards said Monday afternoon.