Baldwin County, Alabama News and Discussion
February 3rd, 2009 — Crime, Silverhill
A Baldwin County judge denied bond Monday for Keshjuan Betts who’s charged with capital murder and arson in connection with the death of Bob Aitcheson.
Aitcheson was stabbed to death Wednesday. His mobile home was then set on fire in an attempt to cover up the crime.
Police arrested Betts, Aitcheson’s 16-year-old son Ian and 19-year-old Danny Weaver. All three are charged with capital murder and arson.
Aitcheson and Weaver were denied bond Friday afternoon.
January 31st, 2009 — Crime, Silverhill
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday, Jan. 30 the arrest of three suspects in the death of Robert Paul Aitcheson
The body of Robert Paul Aitcheson, 51, was found Wednesday morning when his mobile home on Holston Street near Silverhill caught fire.
Ian Aitcheson, 16, the victim’s son, and Danny O’Neil Weaver, 19, both of Robertsdale were arrested and charged with capital murder and arson in the first degree the morning of Jan. 30. Another man, Keshjuan Betts, also from Robertsdale according to the Sheriff’s office, was arrested Friday at 1 p.m. on the same charges.
January 29th, 2009 — Crime, Silverhill
The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office is now investigating the death of a Silverhill man as a murder.
51-year-old Robert Aitcheson’s body was found Wednesday morning in what was left of his mobile home on Holston Street. An autopsy shows Aitcheson was dead before the fire.
January 29th, 2009 — Silverhill
Investigators with the state Fire Marshal’s office sift through what’s left of Robert Aitcheson home.The 51 year old Silverhill man died in this fire. His body found among the ash and debris.
“His body has been take to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science for autopsy. We’ll investigate this along with the state fire marshal until we know exactly what happened,” says Baldwin County Sheriff’s Major Anthony Lowery.
The fire was called in at one o’clock this morning. By three o’clock, it was out and their worse fear confirmed.
January 24th, 2009 — Silverhill
The Silverhill Town Council met Monday at Town Hall with all council members present.
The council again met with a short agenda, voting first to rezone property on Sixth Street.
Property owner Eloise Head came before the council Monday night, requesting that the property, which includes the business Silverhill Antiques.
January 15th, 2009 — Silverhill
Walk in to Summerdale Town Hall and right away you see it. Bullet proof glass now separates the public from the ladies that work here. “We felt pretty safe here in a small town,” says Court Clerk Jenny Gipson, “but something like that happens and makes you think and start to worry a bit.”
A threatening phone message greeted employees when they got to work one day. “I had a message on the phone that was very intimidating, scary, threatening to kill us,” says Gipson.
The caller was later identified as Marcus Brown and he was pretty easy to find. His phone number showed up on Caller ID and he left his name on the message.
“He said that he was bored and wanted to call somebody,” says Gipson.
According to police, Brown picked up the phone, deliberately dialed Summerdale Town Hall and left profanity-laden messages threatening murder and other violence.
December 21st, 2008 — Silverhill, Taxes
Council members voted 4-1 to pass Resolution 415 which would provide for the assessment of fees on all new development within the town’s planning jurisdiction.
For residential property within town limits, the town will collect a 1 percent impact fee, provided that the fee does not exceed $4,881.25 per unit. For non-residental property within the town’s planning jurisdiction, the town will collect $99.57 per 1,000 square feet on homes up to 100,000 square feet.
Council member Bert Jones voted against the measure. Mayor Tim Wilson abstained from voting with council members Steve Brooks, Jared Lyles, Rodney Criswell and Shirley Stephens voting for the measure. All council members were present at Monday’s meeting.
Silverhill council conducts business
Fees, license, permits…different names for the same thing: taxes.
December 9th, 2008 — Silverhill, Taxes
The Silverhill Town Council split on several issues coming before the council’s regular meeting on Monday at Town Hall.
First, the council narrowly voted to approve an impact fee ordinance for the town. The ordinance will allow the town to impose a 1 percent fee on all new construction in the town.
Then they voted for council members and other town officials to have their fee to attend the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet paid and to give $300 to Silverhill Elementary School in support of the school’s honors program. The measure passed unanimously with Criswell and Wilson abstaining.
December 5th, 2008 — Silverhill
A large black suitcase full of clothes and personal effects caused Silverhill Elementary School to go into lockdown today, authorities said. Students were bought into classrooms and all doors at the school were closed for an hour and a half until the case was deemed harmless.
The suitcase had been found at the Silverhill Post Office, which is near the school.
Suitcase causes lockdown in Silverhill
November 18th, 2008 — Silverhill
A new facility to help troubled teens will be on display to the public today with an open house for the Baldwin County Youth Services Girls Group Home in Silverhill.
The home, at 22280 Ninth St., will be open for the dedication from 4 to 6 p.m., said Janice Hendrickson, Youth Services coordinator-counselor. The home will replace a smaller facility in Silverhill that opened in 1985.
The center, like the Youth Services facility for boys in Robertsdale, provides a place where teens can receive counseling and a home environment, Hendrickson said
November 9th, 2008 — County Government, Foley, Silverhill
Three previously approved large subdivisions have been given two more years to complete infrastructure that complies with county regulations.
September 19th, 2008 — Silverhill
According to “A History of Silverhill Elementary School” written by Carl E. Johnson, Esther Anderson was asked to conduct a school in the summer in a barn for eight or nine children back in 1898.
The original classroom quickly became too small, so a two-room schoolhouse was built with donated labor in 1905.
Fast forward to 2008. Today, some 441 children from Pre-K to Grade 6 spend August through May at Silverhill Elementary. The school now has 22 home room teachers and 11 other teachers. Catherine A. Rogers is now the principal. She is beginning her 12th year at Silverhill, so she’s seen some of the students she greeted then graduate.
September 8th, 2008 — Silverhill
The only item on the agenda was the gas contract with Riviera Utilities. Mayor Tim Wilson told Council members that he would sign the contract if no objections were raised. None was offered at Tuesday’s meeting.
The council approved payment for the town’s natural gas distribution system from Riviera Utilities in the amount of $175,000 at the council’s July 21 meeting.
Will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Sept. 8 to discuss impact fees. The Council also decided to discuss the budget at the Monday meeeting.
September 5th, 2008 — Silverhill
An election night fight resulted in the arrest of a Silverhill Town Council member on assault charges.
George Michael Allegri was booked into the Baldwin County Corrections Center shortly after 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29. He was charged with third-degree assault, and was released after posting a $2,500 bail. According to a Baldwin County District Court clerk, who refused to give her name, no trial date has been set.
It is alleged that Allegri was fighting with Mark Crowson after the election Tuesday, August 26. Allegri lost his bid to continue as Place 1 council members to Bert Jones by an unofficial vote of 156-117.
August 30th, 2008 — Silverhill
A Silverhill Town Council member who lost his seat in Tuesday’s election was arrested Friday after a neighbor said the official attacked him after vote results were announced, authorities said.
George Michael Allegri Jr., 44, was booked into the Baldwin County Corrections Center at 4:04 p.m. on a charge of third-degree assault, according to jail records. His bail was set at $2,500.
Baldwin County deputies responded to a call on Silverhill Avenue on Tuesday night that Allegri and Mark Crowson were fighting, according to a Sheriff’s Office statement. Silverhill police had first been called to the scene, but asked the county to handle the case because the incident involved a municipal official.
