News

Auburn students launch campaign to save local park

Frances Gunnells: freshman in pre-graphic design, hands out information about the preservation of Shell Toomer Parkway on the Concourse Wednesday afternoon. Kendra Carter / NEWS EDITOR

Art class projects. T-shirts. Chewacla State Park. What do all of these things have in common?

The students in two of Debora Myles’ art classes have taken up the issue of the preservation of Shell Toomer Parkway for their final projects in the classes.

“It was all really their idea,” Myles said.

Myles asks her classes to complete a protest piece before the end of the semester. She said the students asked if they had to do it on the war or some other obviously controversial topic so she began to tell them about something in which she was involved.

“I wanted to do a topic that was more locally based so it would have more of an impact,” said Katie Gonzalez, a sophomore in pre-graphic design. After the students heard about the interest of construction on Shell Toomer Parkway and the possible effect it would have on Chewacla State Park, it became a group effort.

The U.S. Supreme Court determined April 16 that Kentucky’s lethal injection protocol, which is similar to that of Alabama, does not violate the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits “cruel and unusual punishment.”

A bill removing the 4 percent sales tax from groceries was passed in the Alabama House of Representatives last week and was approved by the Senate Finance and Taxation-Education Committee.

The proposed constitutional amendment passed 63-38 in the house, gaining the exact number of votes needed. It passed 7-0 in the senate committee.

	Percentage of Vote	Popular Vote
Hillary Rodham Clinton	55%	1, 258,245
Barack Obama	45%	1, 042,297

Clinton the victor, the race for the Democratic nomination continues

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton saw a tremendous and much-needed boost after her campaign declared victory in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary late Tuesday night.

“I’m in this race to fight for you,” Clinton said in her victory speech to supporters in Philadelphia. “You know you can count on me to stand up strong for you every single day in the White House.”

Clinton won by a 10-point margin, giving her a substantial amount of Pennsylvania’s 158 pledged delegates.

Life in Auburn is good, according to local residents.

The 2008 Citizen Survey, conducted by the City of Auburn, reported high levels of satisfaction in several areas as well as improvement in a number of categories over last year.

The city scored a 95 percent satisfaction rate on whether Auburn was a good place to live; 94 percent surveyed thought it was a great place to raise children. 90 percent were satisfied with the city schools and 90 percent thought Auburn was a safe place to live.

Assistant Police Chief Tom Dawson: sits in his office at the Department of Public Safety on Ross Street. Dawson has been a member of the local police force for more than 20 years. Kyle Cooper / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

He mourned while students mourned and lost sleep just as worried parents did for the safety of their children.

In the wake of the Lauren Burk murder, Assistant Police Chief Tom Dawson stood like a pillar of strength as the primary spokesperson for the Auburn Police department.  

Dawson, an Auburn native, has become known for his role in investigating the murder of the 18-year-old Auburn student, Lauren Burk.

But, beyond the Burk case, Dawson has always been concerned for the safety of the Auburn community. For 21 years, in fact, he’s dedicated 12- hour days to just that.

“We’re lucky to have people like Tom Dawson,” said Lt. Jerry Sparks, who has known Dawson his entire life.

“His whole life is here, and his family goes back seven generations of Auburn residents. A lot of people leave after college, but he stayed. I’m glad we have him, and the University and the city should be, too.”

April 16, Wal-Mart- Theft reported. Three bags full of various items valued at $174 were reported stolen.

April 16, Mary Lane- Theft reported. One pair of Citizen jeans, one pair of Seven jeans, one pair of Hot Topic jeans, one B.B. dress, one flat hair iron, seven CDs and one yellow jacket were reported stolen.

April 16, Sears- Theft reported. Two tank tops and two pairs of shorts were reported stolen.

BIRMINGHAM — Convicted serial killer Daniel Siebert, 53, died Tuesday from pancreatic cancer while on Alabama’s death row. Siebert was sentenced to death separately for the murders of five people, including the Feb. 19, 1986 murder of his girlfriend Sherri Weathers, 24, and her two sons, ages 4 and 5. 

GREENVILLE — Former Gov. Fob James’ son Tim James is planning to run again in 2010 for governor, a position his father held for two terms. Tim James lost the Republican nomination to Gov. Bob Riley in 2002, four years after his father’s second term ended.

April 9, Exxon on East University Drive- Gasoline theft reported. Ten gallons of gas valued at $30 were reported stolen.

April 9, Big Cat- Gasoline theft reported. Fifteen gallons of gas valued at $54 were reported stolen.

April 9, Broun Residence Hall- Theft reported. One purple mountain bike valued at $100 was reported stolen.