Latest news with #LauderdaleCountySchools
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Street renaming to honor Stephen Perkins moves forward
DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — A neighbor of the late Stephen Perkins is leading a push for Decatur city leaders to rename his former block from Ryan Drive to Steve Perkins Drive. Perkins was killed by police in the early morning hours of Sept. 29, 2023, following an incident surrounding a vehicle repossession. Former Decatur Police Officer Mac Marquette is charged with murder in Perkins' death. Handle With Care Alabama program implemented in Lauderdale County Schools Sharonda Acklin lives on Ryan Drive, where the Perkins family was raising their children. Acklin describes Steve as a great community leader, and she wants the city to rename the block in his honor. 'The significance is the remembrance of a life that was ultimately taken entirely too soon,' said Acklin. The house is where Catrela Perkins, the widow of Stephen Perkins, said they had planned to spend the rest of their lives. 'Ryan Drive has a significant meaning to the Perkins family and to me and Steve and the girls,' she explained. 'When we got married, we lived on Ryan Drive, so it holds a lot of weight in my heart.' MCSO leading investigation into death of John Scott Jr., Decatur police say During its regular session on Tuesday, all eight members of the Decatur Planning Commission agreed with Acklin and voted unanimously to move the process forward to rename. The planning commission says that 75% of the homeowners on Ryan Drive would have to approve of the name change. Acklin said that through a petition, she is three names away from approval. 'Steve was an asset to the community and going out and taking a consensus of how the people that live on Ryan Drive feel, we have a super majority,' said Acklin. 'They feel the way that we feel and are honored to remember his legacy in this manner.' The Decatur City Council is set to meet for a work session on Monday April 28, before the measure is up for a vote at the next council meeting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Handle With Care Alabama program implemented in Lauderdale County Schools
LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — Safety and well-being are the two biggest priorities for Lauderdale County Schools, after recently welcoming the 'Handle with Care' program. Lauderdale County Sheriff Joe Hamilton explained to News 19 what this new program is all about. Madison County Commission reviews feasibility study for new courthouse 'It's a way for us to notify the school system that this child has been involved in something and make them aware of it,' the sheriff said. 'So when that child comes to school the next day and they may not be acting they're their normal self, or… their homework not finished, or they may be in the same clothes, they will have a heads up of something has happened in that child's life.' The program is under the National Children's Advocacy Center, and Hamilton said often times, deputies are called to domestic, drug and even search warrant situations where children are a witness or sometimes a victim. Hamilton also said this program ensures the care and safety of the child while at school. 'All officers seem to really care about that, and it's just the way that we can help even after we clear off the call, we can still help that child along the way,' Hamilton said. It's a pretty simple system: if a deputy is on a call where a child is involved, that deputy will log into a portal, type the child's name and school in, and it will then alert the school right away. 'Our Planet Our Power': Earth Day and clean energy in Alabama News 19 sat down with the Lauderdale County School system's spokesperson, Whitney Coates, who told us the next step. 'Our counselors do a great job of saying, 'ok, do I need to go to the home? Do I need to make a home visit? Do I need to check on this student? Do we need to make a phone call?'' she said. 'So, having our counselors be ready to do that is something that is technically, probably, not in their job description.' The program applies to all 17 schools in the Lauderdale County School System, grades K-12. 'It is such a blessing for our communities to know that it's not taking away from something else, it is truly just a benefit, and that's really what handle with care is for our students, it's just a benefit,' Coates said. Other schools in the area that have this program are Muscle Shoals City Schools and Madison City Schools. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
