A2 / NEWS A3 / NEWS California wildfire Bold hopes for sparked by device to virus antibody tests reveal baby’s gender still unfulfilled Daily Mountain Eagle “The newspaper that cares about Walker County” MOUNTAINEAGLE.COM TUESDAY, SEPT. 8, 2020 75 CENTS WALKER COUNTY Officials: Provisional ballots can be SHERIFF’S OFFICE cast over doubts about mailed absentees Murder By ED HOWELL ballot directly to her or simply mail in advance of the Nov. 3 General suspect Daily Mountain Eagle in the ballot as early as mid to late Election. September. While Alabama does not have Secretary of State John Merrill President Trump’s remarks about regular mail-in ballots, it does have nabbed in and Walker County Circuit Clerk going to the polls after mailing absentee ballots. Due to the corona- Susan Odom say an absentee ballot has led to some virus, Merrill has allowed a method absentee voters confusion and criticism across the so people afraid of getting the virus Jasper who feel unsure nation. While elections officials here at the polls can vote by mail. As a their mailed offered little criticism, they indicat- result, practically anyone can use From Staff Reports absentee ballot ed voters can safely mail or turn in absentees this year, checking off the John arrived can cast absentees safely, and have simple reason on the application, “I have A Sipsey man wanted as a a provisional vote-but you can also methods to make sure their vote is suspect in a homicide in Jef- Merrill call Odom to find out, turn in the counted -including a phone call long See BALLOTS, A5 ferson County was captured in Jasper Monday morning. Dalen E. Gaines, 23, was taken into WALKER BAPTIST BOAT PARADE HONORS NATION’S VETERANS custody MEDICAL CENTER by Walker County Sheriff ’s Lyerly: Depu- ty Cory Colon cancer, Franks after a tip testing was called in to law happening enforce- Dalen E. ment about Gaines Gaines’ earlier whereabouts. Gaines, who was wanted By ED HOWELL for capital murder in Jeffer- Daily Mountain Eagle son County, was arrested in The death of “Black Panther” West Jasper after a tip called and “42” star Chadwick Bose- in to law enforcement led man recently from colon cancer them to him. at age 43 has renewed focus Jasper police and oth- on one of the leading causes of er sheriff’s office deputies death, and a assisted Franks in taking local spe- Gaines into custody. cialist said Gaines was taken to the guidelines are Walker County jail and was now suggest- awaiting extradition to Jef- ing people ferson County to face capital get tested murder charges. earlier for the The second Veterans disease. Appreciation Parade was Two arrested, charged Dr. Ralph held Saturday beginning after CH search T. Lyerly Jr., at Duncan Bridge Marina Dr. Ralph T. warrants executed a gastroen- on Lewis Smith Lake. The terologist Lyerly Jr. Last Wednesday, Narcotics at Walker parade was sponsored Investigator Krimson Cul- Baptist Medical Center five by the Rotary Club of verson’s lengthy investigation days a week, said recently he Jasper and was a pub- resulted in the execution of expects now a “flurry of people” lic event, with everyone a search warrant on Second who might have put off screen- encouraged to enter and Avenue Northeast in Carbon ings but now want to be seen Hill. decorate boats and boat The Walker County Sher- because of this high profile case. docks to honor veterans. He pointed out the American iff’s Office K-9, Narcotics, Cancer Society (ACS) posts the Photos Special to the Eagle See ARRESTS, A5 following on its website: “The ACS recommends that people at average risk of colorectal (colon and rectal) cancer start regular screening at age 45. This can be Summer of COVID-19 ends done either with a sensitive test that looks for signs of cancer in with health officials worried a person’s stool (a stool-based test), or with an exam that By JEFFREY COLLINS heroes or sci-fi characters for the looks at the colon and rectum Associated Press annual Dragon Con convention met (a visual exam). ... People who online instead. Huge football stadi- are in good health and with a The Lost Summer of 2020 drew ums at places like Ohio State and life expectancy of more than 10 to a close Monday with many big the University of Texas sat empty. years should continue regular Labor Day gatherings canceled Many Labor Day parades marking colorectal cancer screening across the U.S. and health author- the unofficial end of summer were through the age of 75.” ities pleading with people to keep called off, and masks were usually Lyerly said nationwide, their distance from others so as not required at the few that went on. particularly for the past decade to cause another coronavirus surge “Please, please do not make or more, there has “been an like the one that followed Memorial the same mistakes we all made increasing trend to see younger Day. on Memorial Day weekend. Wear AP Photo/Eric Risberg people with colon cancer.” Downtown Atlanta was quiet as your masks, watch your distance He said the tests and screen- the 85,000 or so people who come People eat ice cream outside a shop Saturday in dressed as their favorite super- See SUMMER, A5 See LYERLY, A5 Sausalito, Calif. DEATHS WEATHER INDEX SOCIAL Sara Catherine Kidd Guthrie, 83, Jasper Cashword ...................... A6 LEFT Jerry Aldridge, 76, Jasper Classifieds .................. A11 James David Colburn, 52, Nauvoo ON Comics .......................... A8 RED Theodore Williams, 62, Carbon Hill Use your Dear Abby ..................... A8 James Micheal Fikes, 76, Jasper phone to Opinion .......................... A4 Find us on your Mary Louise Thompson, 72, Jasper High Low quickly sign Sports ............................ A9 favorite podcast Jack Hamilton “Tuffy” Willis Jr., 62, El- up for our streaming 91 66 weekly e-mail platforms. OBITUARIES / A2 newsletter One section, 12 pages A2 — DAILY MOUNTAIN EAGLE Jasper, Ala., Tues., Sept. 8, 2020 www.mountaineagle.com Today’s weather DEATHS & FUNERALS Forecast for Tuesday, September 8, 2020 TENN. Oxford 90/69 Huntsville Sara Catherine Mary Louise Thompson ARK. 89/66 June 12, 1948‑Sept. 3, 2020 Kidd Guthrie Mary Louise Thompson, 72, of Jasper, passed away May 19, 1937‑Sept. 4, 2020 GA. Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020, at Walker Baptist Medical Sara Catherine Kidd Guthrie, 83, of Jasper, passed Center. Greenville Birmingham away Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, at Rid- 94/69 90/69 The family will receive friends today, Sept. 8, 2020, geview Health Services. from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Collins-Burke Funeral Mrs. Guthrie retired from First Home. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. in the National Bank of Jasper with 43 Collins-Burke Chapel. years of service. Jackson Montgomery Mrs. Thompson was preceded in death by her 93/71 92/71 Funeral services were held Sun- father, Henry Ingram; mother, Trevia Ethel Ingram; day, Sept. 6, 2020, at 2 p.m. at Oak husband, James Thompson; and brothers, Sam In- Hill Cemetery. David Byrd offici- Brookhaven Hattiesburg gram and Jimmy Ingram. 91/72 91/71 ated. She is survived by her daughter, Laura Thompson Mrs. Guthrie was preceded in of Jasper; sisters, Betty Krauss, Dot Fields and Linda Mobile death by her father, Leo Kidd; 90/72 FLA. Adams; brother, Johnny Ingram; grandchildren, LA. mother, Lula Black Kidd; and husband, Loal F. Guth- Briana Ward and Nicholas Stevens; and great-grand- rie. children, Karlie, Caroline, Elijah and Jaycen. She is survived by her godson, Terrell A. Martin (Stephanie); grandchildren, Graham Martin and Collins ‑Burke Funeral Home, Jasper; 205‑384‑5571 Drew Martin, all of Jasper; brother-in-law, Charles W. Guthrie (Catherine); niece, Teressa Rowland (Gar- ©2020 AccuWeather, Inc. ry); and nephew, Timothy Guthrie, all from Jasper. The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorial Jack Hamilton donations be made to Gideons International in her ‘Tuffy’ Willis Jr. memory. Jack Hamilton “Tuffy” Willis Jr., 62, of Eldridge passed away Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, at his residence. California wildfire Collins ‑Burke Funeral Home, Jasper; 205‑384‑5571 Jack was born on Sept. 12, 1957, in Bessemer, Ala., a son of Jack Hamilton Willis Sr. and Mavis Bratvold sparked by device to Willis. He grew up and lived in the Eldridge area most of his life and was a 1975 graduate of Carbon Jerry Aldridge Hill High School. He worked as was a truck driver Jerry Aldridge, 76, of Jasper, passed away Satur- reveal baby’s gender and drove for several different companies over the day, September 5, 2020, at his residence. years. He was a member of Berea Church of Christ. Arrangements will be announced by Collins-Burke He had a wonderful smile, was full of kindness, and LOS ANGELES (AP) — A couple’s plan to reveal Funeral Home. their baby’s gender went up not in blue or pink smoke touched the lives of many. He was always willing to give to those in need, even when he didn’t have it to but in flames when the device they used sparked a Collins ‑Burke Funeral Home, Jasper; 205‑384‑5571 wildfire that burned thousands of acres and forced give himself. He loved his family most of all, and his people to flee from a city east of Los Angeles. girls and grandbabies where his pride and joy. The fire prompted evacuations in parts of Yucaipa, a He was preceded in death by his father and a spe- city of 54,000, and the surrounding area. Water-drop- James David Colburn cial niece, Abigail Dodd. ping helicopters were brought in but the fire has James David Colburn, 52, of Nauvoo, passed away Jack is survived by his wife, Cyndy Willis of proven stubborn — it grew to 11.5 square miles by on Sunday, Sept.