SECTION B - Check out our fun photos on page 3B of last week’s 4th of July celebrations
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Authorities responded to a garbage truck that went through a home in Madison on Friday morning. Page 2A
Monitor your credit
State Education Superintendent Eric Mackey informed the public last Wednesday that the Alabama State Department of Education website was hacked, possibly exposing the personal information of education employees across the state. Page 3A
Author Sarah Crouch
Sarah Crouch of Madison is receiving rave reviews for her first book, “Middletide,” set in the Pacific Northwest where she grew up. Page 5A
Sounds of Summer
The motto for Calypso Vision, the featured group at “Sounds of Summer” on July 11, reveals their music’s genre and the band’s outlook...“A Better Attitude from Another Latitude.” Page 6A
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By JEAN COLE news@themadisonrecord.com ATHENS — When a beloved 91-year-old woman says a hotair balloon ride is one of the last items on her “bucket list,” others try to make it happen. That’s what the friends and family of Jo Putney did last Sunday in Limestone County. As soon as the sun peeped over the horizon, Putney and her entourage had gathered in Athens at Majestic Metals field. They waited patiently as the balloonists from Bluff City Balloons of Memphis inflated Mischief. The baby blue, hot-air balloon is covered with blooming flowers, appointed with a butterfly and hummingbird, and topped with the Tennessee state flower — the blue iris. Inside the wicker basket of the balloon was a special safety chair for Putney, who uses a walker, so she could sit through the flight and be buckled in. Putney, of Madison, had always wanted to fly. “When she was a little girl, whenever a plane flew over, she would run outside and watch it go over,” said her daughter, Jan Edmunds. Putney retired from a career in finance with Huntsville City Schools, but the debits and credits of accounting didn’t quench her thirst for flight. By the time the balloon and wicker basket began their slow ascent from the field about 7 a.m. Sunday, Putney’s smile was so wide it filled her face. Edmunds, who was also a passenger, looked a little nervous at first. Pilot Skip Durham was drenched in sweat from the already oppressive heat and from manning the propane See PUTNEY Page 8A
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MPD seeks information after man killed in Madison shooting
91-year-old Madison woman gets bucket-list balloon ride
Jo Putney, seated, prepares for her hot-air balloon ride Sunday in Limestone County. The 91-year-old had the ride on her bucket list. At left is Putney’s daughter, Jan Edmunds.
MADISON – The Madison Police investigated a shooting last week that left a man dead. Police investigators were asking for the public’s help after a man was killed last Wednesday night near Horizon Elementary School. The shooting happened on Miller Blvd near the intersection of Old Madison Pike around 11:30 p.m. According to WAFF, when officers arrived, they found a man suffering from several gunshot wounds. Officers were on the scene within two minutes and attempted lifesaving measures until paramedics arrived. HEMSI took the man to Huntsville Hospital where he died from his injuries. His identity had not been released at press-time. Authorities said there is reason to believe the victim and the shooter knew each other and that this was an isolated incident. Madison Police is asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the department at tellmpd@madisonal.gov or 256-772-5658.
Fireworks accident claims man’s life By STAFF REPORTS news@themadisonrecord.com
Skip Durham of Bluff City Balloons in Memphis, prepares to help 91-year-old Jo Putney experience her bucket list adventure.
MADISON – A fireworks accident claimed the life of a 20-yearold man early Friday. HEMSI spokesman Don Webster told WHNT News 19 they responded to a call about a fireworks-related accident just after 12:00 a.m. on Friday in the area of Nick Davis Road and Pettus Road. When they arrived on the scene, they found an injured man. Webster said he was taken to Huntsville Hospital Trauma Services, where he later died from his injuries.
“Mr. Baseball” Braden Booth awards grant to Miracle League of Madison By STAFF REPORTS news@themadisonrecord.com MADISON - Braden Booth, who was instrumental in Bob Jones High School’s state baseball title win this spring, was named Gatorade Alabama Baseball Player of the Year. With that honor, he was given a $1,000 grant to gift to a non-profit organization of his choice. Booth gifted the Miracle League of Madison with the $1,000 grant to help accomplish its goal of building a topnotch, all-inclusive field and complex
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at Madison’s Palmer Park in order to provide opportunities for children with disabilities to play baseball. “It means everything to me to be put in this position to give back to the community and I believe anybody, no matter their life circumstances, should be able to play the game,” Booth told WHNT News 19. “I grew up here playing. The community here is amazing and it taught me everything I know.” Booth started his baseball career at a young age, playing tee ball at Palmer Park, which is why it was the first See BOOTH Page 8A
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Recently named “Mr. Baseball” Braden Booth of Bob Jones was also named the Gatorade Player of the Year receiving a $1,000 grant which he chose to donate to the Miracle League of Madison. Booth, left, presented the donation check to Michael McKay in an effort to secure a state-of-the-art Miracle League facility in Madison. Photo by Andrew Noles