Blount County News

Blount County News We report fair and balanced news to best serve the citizens of our area.

08/17/2025

What restaurant serves the best BBQ?

08/17/2025

What's the best breakfast spot in Blount County?

08/14/2025

CLARIFICATION: The AHSAA is not exploring the idea of NIL - just studying the effects in states where it has been introduced

📢 DEAL ALERT: Dollar General Summer Seasonal Sale!Starting today, August 14, Dollar General has marked Summer Seasonal i...
08/14/2025

📢 DEAL ALERT: Dollar General Summer Seasonal Sale!

Starting today, August 14, Dollar General has marked Summer Seasonal items 50% OFF! ☀️🌼

You’ll find deals on:
🪴 Garden décor & planters
🪑 Outdoor cushions & pillows
🏡 Home décor & rugs
💦 Pool noodles & kiddie pools
… and much more!

🛒 Items vary by store, so check your local Dollar General for selection.

📍 Where’s the first store you’re checking for these deals?

08/14/2025

Should someone who is in the United States illegally, but has never been to their homeland or learned their native language, be deported?

Former Blount County jailer found guilty of assaulting inmate; sentencing set for OctoberA former Blount County jailer h...
08/14/2025

Former Blount County jailer found guilty of assaulting inmate; sentencing set for October

A former Blount County jailer has been found guilty of second-degree assault and failure of duty after a violent attack on an inmate more than two years ago.

Joseph Ray Snow, 45, of Altoona, was convicted in connection to a December 3, 2022 incident inside the Blount County Jail. The victim, Jonathan Calloway, had been arrested by Oneonta police for public intoxication and transported to the jail without incident.

Prosecutors said security footage captured the altercation, which began after Calloway made a crude hand gesture toward Snow. The video showed Snow grabbing the inmate and hitting his head against the wall. The situation escalated when Snow threw a chair across the room, returned to Calloway, and kicked him in the face. The inmate suffered a broken nose and lost teeth in the attack.

Snow, who was booked into the Blount County Jail on August 13, is scheduled to be sentenced on October 21.

Cleveland VFD receives $5K grant from Nutella + NVFC 🥞🚒Congratulations are in order for the Cleveland Volunteer Fire Dep...
08/13/2025

Cleveland VFD receives $5K grant from Nutella + NVFC 🥞🚒

Congratulations are in order for the Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department in Blount County! The department has been awarded a $5,000 grant through the “Stacks for Giving Back” program, a partnership between Nutella and the National Volunteer Fire Council.

Cleveland VFD is one of only five departments nationwide to receive this year’s grant, which supports fire departments in their mission to serve and protect their communities.

This funding will help the department continue its vital work — from emergency response to community outreach. Thank you to the dedicated volunteers of Cleveland VFD for your commitment to keeping Blount County safe. ❤️

🚭 Alabama lawmaker pushes to ban va**ng in public spacesAn Alabama state senator wants to make it illegal to v**e in pub...
08/12/2025

🚭 Alabama lawmaker pushes to ban va**ng in public spaces

An Alabama state senator wants to make it illegal to v**e in public places — the same way smoking is banned now.

Sen. Gerald Allen (R–Cottondale) has filed a bill to expand the Alabama Clean Indoor Air Act, first passed back in 2003. The current law already prohibits smoking in most enclosed public spaces, like restaurants, retail stores, airports, hospitals, nursing homes, banks, and government buildings. Break the law, and you can face a $25 fine.

Allen’s proposal would update the law to include “the use of an electronic ni****ne delivery system” — essentially, va**ng — in the definition of smoking. This isn’t his first attempt; he sponsored the same bill last year, but it didn’t make it through.

A nod to history
When Alabama banned smoking in public spaces more than 20 years ago, it was one of the last states to do so. The change came after the EPA labeled secondhand smoke a known human carcinogen in the 1990s. The effort to pass the original law took Sen. Vivian Davis Figures (D–Mobile) six years, and Allen’s new bill would honor her work by renaming the law the Vivian Davis Figures Clean Indoor Air Act.

The Alabama Legislature’s 2025 session kicks off January 13, and this bill will be one to watch.

08/12/2025

If you had to recommend a bank to a friend, which one would it be — and why?

Scam Alert: “DOJ Agent” Phone Scam Targets Alabama and Texas ResidentsA local woman narrowly avoided falling victim to a...
08/11/2025

Scam Alert: “DOJ Agent” Phone Scam Targets Alabama and Texas Residents

A local woman narrowly avoided falling victim to a deceptive phone scam after receiving a call from someone falsely claiming to be a Department of Justice (DOJ) agent.

The scam unfolded recently when the caller—claiming a package of illegal substances from Mexico was linked to the woman—used personal details, including her Alabama and Texas addresses, to sound legitimate.

“They told her she lived in Alabama and also had an address in Texas,” the victim’s family shared. “She thought he was with the DOJ because he knew her addresses.”

Although the caller supplied a name, badge number, and callback number (initially an Alabama number, later switching to a Washington, D.C. number), suspicions were raised. The call recipient wisely declined to provide any information and said she would verify the claims before proceeding.

Her quick thinking paid off when a family member called the real DOJ in Washington. The agency confirmed the call was fraudulent—DOJ agents never call individuals to request personal details or make claims like those described. Official communication would come via written correspondence on official letterhead, not by phone.

⸻

Here’s What You Need to Know
• Government agencies rarely initiate contact by phone. The DOJ, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and similar agencies typically send official letters, not unexpected calls. 
• Phone spoofing makes scams harder to detect. Scammers often falsify caller ID information to appear more credible—even using real names or badge numbers. 
• Common red flags include urgent threats, personal information, and requests for immediate action. Scammers may resort to intimidation or claim legal consequences. 
• Never share personal info or payment over the phone. Agencies won’t ask for this. If you’re uncertain, hang up and contact the agency using publicly listed phone numbers.  

⸻

Expert Advice & Preventative Steps
• Hang up and verify. Don’t engage with unsolicited calls claiming to be from government agencies. Instead, call the agency directly using their official contact information.
• Report suspicious calls. You can report these scams to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You’re allowed to remain anonymous. 
• Educate and share. Warn family—especially seniors or others who might be vulnerable—and encourage them to be skeptical of unsolicited calls and to verify identity independently.  

⸻

Bottom Line

This recent incident is a stark reminder: if someone calls claiming to be from the DOJ—but asks for personal details or pressures you—it’s almost certainly a scam. Stay calm, stay cautious, and always verify using trusted, official channels.

08/11/2025

📣 From a follower: Can y’all please help me out? I’m looking for after-school care options in the area. I’ve posted before but haven’t had any luck finding anything. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Help Find Tyler Shoemaker or His Family! While browsing a thrift store in Decatur, AL, Martha Needham came across this b...
08/09/2025

Help Find Tyler Shoemaker or His Family!

While browsing a thrift store in Decatur, AL, Martha Needham came across this beautiful framed piece of childhood art. It stopped her in her tracks — not just because of the bright colors and heart, but because it clearly has a story. 💛

It was created by Tyler Shoemaker, an 8-year-old 3rd grader at Silverlake Elementary in Pearland ISD for the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo School Art Program. His teacher at the time was Lorie Hinshaw.

The piece, titled Prairie Sky, feels like it belongs back with Tyler or his family — a keepsake from a moment in childhood that should be treasured, not sitting on a thrift store shelf.

📢 Please share this far and wide — especially with friends in Pearland, Texas or Houston area school art circles. Let’s see if the internet can work its magic and bring Prairie Sky home.

Because some art belongs in a gallery — and some belongs in the heart of the family who made it. 🖼️💛

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About Blount County News

We report fair and balanced news to best serve the citizens of our area with accurate and factual journalism.

Politically, we support who and what we believe to be the backbone of America: police, fireman, military, and all those in public service who work to protect us each and every day. We stand firm with the constitution and are proud Americans.

Altogether, it’s all about working to create an even better area for people to visit, and keeping you informed on what’s happening in around the great place of Blount County, Alabama!