County hires new EMA director

Chilton County Commissioners hired a new Emergency Management Agency (EMA) director on April 14.

Commissioner Joseph Parnell said after conducting a second interview with the top two candidates, he wanted to make a motion to offer the job to Derrick Wright at a pay rate of $42,050 per year.

Commissioners Allen Caton, Shannon Welch, Parnell and Joe Headley voted in favor of the motion with Greg Moore, Heedy Hayes and Bobby Agee opposed.

The motion carried with a vote of 4-3.

In November 2013, commissioners accepted current county EMA Director Bill Collum’s intent to retire.

On April 15, Collum said he was pleased with the commission’s decision to hire Wright who will start his job at the end of April.

“Derrick is a really good kid,” Collum said. “It was a close vote with the commissioners, and I think the reason it was so close was because the two candidates that made it to the final decision were really good guys and either one of them would have been great for this position. I think it came down to personal preference.”

Osgood sentenced to death in capital murder case

Chilton County jurors found James Osgood guilty on two counts of capital murder May 9.

Jurors deliberated one hour before arriving at the verdict.

The two counts of capital murder involve murder in commission of rape in the first degree and murder in commission of sodomy in the first degree.

The addition of the sex charges with the murder allegations elevated the potential punishment to the death penalty.

Chilton County jurors recommended a death sentence May 12 in the penalty portion of James Osgood’s capital murder trial.

The 12-member jury had the choice to recommend a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or a death sentence.

After deliberating for more than 30 minutes May 9, the jury returned a vote of 12-0 in favor of the death sentence.

Osgood appeared in court in a bright pink prison jumpsuit with chains around his wrists and ankles, showing no emotion as the recommended death sentence was read aloud.

Jurors found Osgood, 44, of Shelby, guilty on two counts of capital murder May 9 in the Oct. 13, 2010, death of Tracy Brown.

Brown was brutally murdered in her trailer off County Road 24.

Osgood and Tonya Vandyke, 43, attacked Brown in her bedroom, forcing Brown at gunpoint to perform sexual acts on both of them before Osgood slashed Brown’s neck several times with a knife or knife-like object and later in the back twice before she died on her bedroom floor.

Vandyke, a co-defendant in the case, was Osgood’s girlfriend. She faces two counts of capital murder but is being tried separately from Osgood.

Chilton County Circuit Judge Sibley Reynolds sentenced Osgood to death on two capital murder convictions June 13.

Students honored at 33rd Special Olympics

Taylor Bradberry waited patiently under a tent and smiled May 8 as a steady flow of people approached him for a quick word or picture after his speech at the 33rd annual Chilton County Special Olympics.

Family members, classmates and former teachers congratulated Bradberry on a job well done, and some confessed they couldn’t hold back tears.

Bradberry, a senior at Thorsby High School, was one of dozens of special needs students participating in track and field events at Clanton City Park on May 8.

During the opening ceremonies, he spoke to his peers about accomplishing their goals, no matter what limitations they face.

“I encourage all of you to go out and have fun,” Bradberry said. “You can do it. Good luck to everybody, and God bless.”