First News at Eleven http://www.waaytv.com/news/content/newsateleven/default.aspx First News at Eleven en-us Copyright 2012 Huntsville All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sun, 27 May 2012 00:00:01 -0500 Sun, 27 May 2012 05:10:08 -0500 News at Eleven / WAAYTV.com - Huntsville, Alabama http://www.waaytv.com/news/content/newsateleven/default.aspx 50 50 15 Summertime heat returns this Memorial Day Weekend http://www.waaytv.com:80/news/content/newsateleven/story/Summertime-heat-returns-this-Memorial-Day-Weekend/7c1JrTlNKUmbB1XRaak9Xw.cspx?rss=3057 http://www.waaytv.com/s/7c1JrTlNKUmbB1XRaak9Xw.cspx HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAAY) - Summertime will be felt in the Tennessee Valley this weekend.

Moisture flowing into the region over the next few days will make a late May weekend feel more like July or August thanks to an increase in afternoon humidity.

Dew points will continue climbing into the 70's for this afternoon and the weekend making for heat index to average near 100 degrees.

While hot, summertime weather is welcome by many residents, it's never too soon to begin adhering to traditional heat safety tips.

Check on the elderly, make sure you're well hydrated if outside for an extended period of time, apply sunblock while being outdoors, and take the opportunity to ensure outdoor pets have plenty of water.

The upper 80's and 90's are here to stay for the foreseeable future therefore enjoy Summer weather safely.

Tune to WAAY 31 FirstNews today at 4, 5, and 10 for updates on the heat wave forecast with weather information available 24/7 on tnvalleywx.com.
]]> newsateleven Fri, 25 May 2012 11:44:00 -0500 Alabama Jubilee starts this Weekend http://www.waaytv.com:80/news/content/newsateleven/story/Alabama-Jubilee-starts-this-Weekend/wxo6YNUim0Ov1FZp8np0hw.cspx?rss=3057 http://www.waaytv.com/s/wxo6YNUim0Ov1FZp8np0hw.cspx DECATUR, Ala. (WAAY-31)- The Alabama Jubilee starts Saturday morning at Point Mallard Park in Decatur. The biggest staples of the event are the hot air balloons.

Over 60-balloons from all across the country will be featured.
The owner of black magic balloons, Ken Garner, says that he looks forward to the Alabama Jubilee every year.

“You've got a kaleidoscope of colors in the air. You have got something very unique, something that Decatur is very blessed to have. We've had it for 35 years now. It's free of charge to come to the event, so it's cheap family entertainment,” Garner said.

Garner adds that the Jubilee is an interactive event where you and your family will be able to really get up close and personal with the balloons.

On Sunday evening, many balloons also offer free tethered rides.

But the event isn’t all about the balloons.
Games, live stage acts, art and crafts, all kinds of food, a car show and more will be featured.

The event is free of charge and runs through the weekend.
The best time to see the balloons fly is early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

Click HERE to find out more.

]]> newsateleven Fri, 25 May 2012 10:45:00 -0500 Alabama Jubilee starts this Weekend Burglar strikes Limestone grocery store http://www.waaytv.com:80/news/content/newsateleven/story/Burglar-strikes-Limestone-grocery-store/jU02NUdImUuBd73vCQEuyA.cspx?rss=3057 http://www.waaytv.com/s/jU02NUdImUuBd73vCQEuyA.cspx ATHENS, Ala. (WAAY) - Limestone County Sheriff's Investigators are hoping that a surveillance tape will lead them to a burglary suspect.

The security camera at K&S Grocery on Highway 99 captured the man breaking into the store early Friday morning, carrying two laundry hampers with him. The man heads behind the counter and loads up several cartons of cigarettes into the hampers, then runs out. The crime is over in about 45 seconds.

Police believe this is the same suspect caught on tape robbing the same store earlier this month. 


Investigators say there is a posted reward for information leading to the arrest of the criminal.

The surveillance images of both crimes are remarkably clear. If you recognize the man in the videos, call Limestone County Sheriff's Deputies at (256)232-0111
]]> newsateleven Fri, 25 May 2012 10:08:04 -0500 Burglar strikes Limestone grocery store Focus on Faith: It's a God thing http://www.waaytv.com:80/news/content/newsateleven/story/Focus-on-Faith-Its-a-God-thing/TlEqpbjr20e5xc5wKk1Tyw.cspx?rss=3057 http://www.waaytv.com/s/TlEqpbjr20e5xc5wKk1Tyw.cspx Meridianville, AL -- It's a God thing. That's the only way the youth group at First Baptist Church in Meridianville can explain the incredible success of their Clean Water Project. It started in August, when youth pastor David Hutto challenged them to raise $50,000 in one year to buy five water filtration systems for people in Guatemala.

With only around 60 students in grades 7-12, it was a lofty goal for the Madison County teens. But just nine months in, the group has already topped the $53,000 mark. Hutto says, "we realized early on that God was in this, and that as we joined God, we just saw God open up doors."

The students pledged their own money, sold t-shirts and organized fundraisers - like the holiday bake sale that far exceeded all of their expectations. They had hoped to raise $400 to $500 dollars. By the end of the night, they'd collected around $8,000.

Three water purification systems have already been installed in Guatemala, but the youth group has no intention of stopping anytime soon. Plans are already in the works to install a system in an African village this September. Hutto says, "from our perspective, clean water is just part of it, because we are seeking to share the living water of Jesus Christ with them." To learn more about the effort or to contribute, visit 50kyouth.org. ]]> newsateleven Wed, 23 May 2012 18:26:38 -0500 Focus on Faith: It's a God thing WAAY to Grow : Invincible Spirit Hydrangeas http://www.waaytv.com:80/news/content/newsateleven/story/WAAY-to-Grow-Invincible-Spirit-Hydrangeas/Y0_WXDTOk0SjDQYEo_Vu8Q.cspx?rss=3057 http://www.waaytv.com/s/Y0_WXDTOk0SjDQYEo_Vu8Q.cspx HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAAY) - Today's topic is a special Hydrangea known as an Invincible Spirit. It's a very rare pink version of the popular flower, and sales of the flower benefit the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. 

Harvey's Tips of the Week : 
- Apply Bacillius thuringiensis to all needle evergreens to control bagworms

- Prune side shoots of climbing roses back to 6-8 inches long after flowering – this will promote more flowering shoots for next year

- Be on the lookout for Blackspot on roses and begin a regular spray program on Hybrid Teas – or plant low maintenance shrub roses that are more disease resistant


]]> newsateleven Wed, 23 May 2012 13:48:25 -0500 WAAY to Grow : Invincible Spirit Hydrangeas Several cars, garages broken into in Madison http://www.waaytv.com:80/news/content/newsateleven/story/Several-cars-garages-broken-into-in-Madison/xFblrfM9l0O9NzlpZkW6yw.cspx?rss=3057 http://www.waaytv.com/s/xFblrfM9l0O9NzlpZkW6yw.cspx MADISON, Ala. (WAAY) - Police in Madison have their hands full investigating a series of break-ins that targeted the Liberty Knoll area late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.

According to officers on the scene, 26 cars and one open garage were broken into. Investigators believe the thief or thieves simply walked up to cars and tested the doors to see which were unlocked. Three locked vehicles were broken into if valuables were in sight, but others were apparently left alone. 

No homes were entered.

One homeowner we spoke with says his daughter's purse was stolen from her car. The homeowner says that her credit card was used early this morning at a gas station in Huntsville. Police tell us they are reviewing surveillance tape from that gas station and plan to broadcast photos of whoever used the card in hopes of identifying the suspect.
]]> newsateleven Wed, 23 May 2012 10:28:40 -0500 Two plead not guilty in Lauderdale Co. murder http://www.waaytv.com:80/news/content/newsateleven/story/Two-plead-not-guilty-in-Lauderdale-Co-murder/OomI_u0orky-Pis5bwNI7w.cspx?rss=3057 http://www.waaytv.com/s/OomI_u0orky-Pis5bwNI7w.cspx FLORENCE, Ala. (WAAY) - A man and woman indicted on capital murder charges entered not guilty pleas on Tuesday.

30 year old John Junior Minton and 21 year old Jessica Lynn Nunley appeared in Lauderdale County Circuit Court before Judge Gil Self. The two are accused of stabbing a wheelchair-bound man to death in May of 2011. Attorneys Heath Trousdale and Tony Hughes were appointed to represent Minton. Chris Childers and Charlie Bottoms were appointed to represent Nunley.

50 year old David Pennington was stabbed more than 70 times with a knife. His body was found inside his home on May 3rd. Police say the motive for the crime was a simple robbery.

A third person, Tiffany Nunley, was charged with the crime, but those charges were later dismissed. The judge in the case cited a lack of evidence as the reason for the dismissal. Tiffany is Jessica's twin sister. Prosecutors say there is still another person being sought in connection with the crime, but they declined to identify that person.

Both suspects could face the death penalty if convicted. A trial date has not been set. ]]> newsateleven Wed, 23 May 2012 09:37:14 -0500 Two in custody following early morning robbery http://www.waaytv.com:80/news/content/newsateleven/story/Two-in-custody-following-early-morning-robbery/E3qmL4eIKU-bOA-2gSpSTA.cspx?rss=3057 http://www.waaytv.com/s/E3qmL4eIKU-bOA-2gSpSTA.cspx HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAAY) - Huntsville Police have two suspects in custody following a Tuesday morning robbery at Kompound Productions on Jordan Lane.

It happened around 8:15 a.m.. Police say Steven Rice and Kirsten Joiner entered the store and took an undisclosed amount of money. 

Rice and Joiner are both charged with First Degree Robbery.

Officers got a description of the vehicle and were able to track it down to the Econo Lodge on University Drive. There, they found the two suspects and took them into custody.


]]> newsateleven Tue, 22 May 2012 10:19:17 -0500 Teachers, Principals reassigned and fired http://www.waaytv.com:80/news/content/newsateleven/story/Teachers-Principals-reassigned-and-fired/9OdrAkgKbUmyFaH6lKpz_Q.cspx?rss=3057 http://www.waaytv.com/s/9OdrAkgKbUmyFaH6lKpz_Q.cspx HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAAY) -   A special school board meeting started at 8:00am Monday morning, where the biggest thing discusses was the reassignment of school principals, and the cancellation of contracts for 29-teachers.

121 teachers are seeing their contracts terminated and will no longer be able to teach in Huntsville City Schools.

Dr. Casey Wardynski says the process of decided what teachers would be awarded tenure was rigorous and thorough.

“It might seem like we are doing a lot of things at the end of the year, but it is on purpose. We don't want their attention diverted to a different situation that is going to occur next year. We need to educate this year's kids this year,” said Dr. Casey Warsynski.

Principal reassignments are happening at; Columbia High, Westlawn Middle, Mountain Gap, Whitesburg School, Farley Elementary, James Dawson Elementary, McDonnell Elementary, Montview Elementary, Ridgecrest Elementary and Rolling Hills Elementary.

New principals are being assigned to; Davis Hills Middle, Ed White Middle, and Hampton Cove Elementary.

Dr. Wardynski says that he is operating the Huntsville City School system under a corporate model to gain corporate strength.

Some exciting news was also shared in the midst of all the reassignments and terminations.

11,000 new HP laptop computers will be granted to Huntsville City School students from the 4th grade up. The schools will be leasing the equipment so that they easily update the computers when needed.


]]> newsateleven Mon, 21 May 2012 11:25:00 -0500 Huntsville Police : Standoff suspect also responsible for credit union robbery http://www.waaytv.com:80/news/content/newsateleven/story/Huntsville-Police-Standoff-suspect-also/adb4ALlxVECJdHScq5F0QA.cspx?rss=3057 http://www.waaytv.com/s/adb4ALlxVECJdHScq5F0QA.cspx HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAAY) - Huntsville Police say the man arrested Sunday evening after a stand-off on Greenside Drive is no stranger to law enforcement.

31 year old John Patrick Dudley was arrested around 8:45 p.m. Sunday after holding police at bay for several hours. The standoff began when he allegedly robbed the pharmacy at the Wal-Mart on South Memorial Parkway.

Huntsville Police now say that Dudley is also the man responsible for holding up the North Alabama Educator's Credit Union on Friday.

Dudley was released from the Madison County Metro Jail on May 9th after being filed with Breaking & Entering a Vehicle on April 27th. He was also arrested on Robbery and Promoting Prison Contraband on September 7th of last year. 
Dudley also has several arrests dating back to 2000 for passing bad checks. He is now facing two additional charges of 1st Degree Robbery in connection with the Credit Union and pharmacy robberies. He's also facing Criminal Trespassing charges in connection with the stand-off.

In both cases, Dudley claimed to have a handgun. That weapon has not yet been recovered by police. The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed.


]]> newsateleven Mon, 21 May 2012 09:22:58 -0500 Huntsville Police : Standoff suspect also responsible for credit union robbery