The Lee County Association of REALTORS Awarded over $13,600 to two local charities at there June 13 REALTOR Luncheon and Business Meeting.  Pictured are representatives from the Lee County Association of REALTOR and the two local Charities, Food Bank of East Alabama and Mercy Medical.

From Left to right:  Sylvia Paul - President Lee County Association of REALTORS, Kathy Overfelt – Community Service Lee County Association of REALTORS, Deborah Lee & Rheta Branch with Mercy Medical, Martha Henk with the Food Bank of East Alabama.

Information Source: Lee County Association of REALTORS 

The Alabama Department of Education has released graduation rates for the 2011-2012 school year. The state of Alabama had a graduation rate of 75%. Lee County's total graduation rate was 83% The graduation rate for individual schools in the county is as follows: 

• Beauregard High School - 83%
• Beulah High School - 82%
• Loachapoka High School - 79%
• Smiths Station High School - 84%

 Source: Alabama Department of Education 

MONTGOMERY – Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees announced today that the Department has successfully prosecuted several Alabamians for unemployment compensation fraud. The following individuals were charged with violating the Alabama Unemployment Compensation Law by making false statements in claims for benefits:  Sylvester Phelan, of Shorter, was tried in Macon County District Court on May 8, 2013. An investigation by Labor’s Benefit Payment Control Section determined that Phelan received a total of $1,285 in benefits to which he was not entitled. Phelan pled guilty and was sentenced to six months in jail, which was suspended. He was also fined $100 and ordered to pay court costs and restitution in the amount of benefits received illegally.   Thomas M. Allen, of Montevallo, was tried in Chilton County District Court on May 23, 2013.