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Alabama Power warns customers of bill scam

Submitted by MyFoxAL Web Staff on Wednesday, May 22nd, 11:08 pm

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Alabama Power is warning customers about a phone scam.

Officials say someone is calling customers, telling them their power will be shut off at a certain time if they don't pay. The customers are told to go an buy a reloadable debit card and are given a deadline to pay. When the customer buys the card and calls back with the information, the card is quickly emptied.

Alabama Power officials say, unfortunately, some people have already been duped.

"The thing we want to remind our customers is: that's not the way we do business. If you have every have any question...hang up the phone and call [the utility company]," Ike Pigott said.

If you have questions about your power bill or you've received a scam call like this you are encouraged to call Alabama Power at 1-800-245-2244. Read more about avoiding scams on the Alabama Power news page.

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Autopsy shows missing race fan died of accidental drowning

Submitted by Dixon Hayes, Fox 6 News Reporter, East Alabama Bureau

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013, 6:38pm

Nick Bower. Source: Talladega County Sheriff's Office

TALLADEGA, AL (WBRC)- Preliminary autopsy results show that a Talladega race fan who went missing died of an accidental drowning.

Nick Bower went missing the weekend of May 4. His body was recovered from a nearby creek May 14.

Wednesday, the Talladega County Sheriff's Office host an appareciation luncheon for the many law officers, rescue workers and others who helped out in the search.

Sheriff Jimmy Kilgore says the search involved tough terrain. The FBI became involved as they tried to find traveling race fans with information in the case.

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Sylacauga man's body recovered after apparent drowning

Submitted by Melynda Sides, Digital Content Producer

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 3:08pm

SYLACAUGA, AL (WBRC)- The body of a Sylacauga man was recovered from Lake Howard on Tuesday evening, Sylacauga police said this morning.

The victim was identified as 36-year-old Steven Heath Lowery, a Sylacauga Utility Board employee and well-known member of the community, police said in a Facebook post.

Police responded to the reported drowning at Lake Howard off of Oldfield Road in Sylacauga around 5:30 p.m. May 14. Witnesses told police Lowery had been using SCUBA gear and was "checking some netting when a problem developed and he went under."

First responders recovered Lowery's body and he was transported to the Coosa Valley Medical Center. The Talladega County coroner later pronounced him dead at the hospital.

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Family of missing race fan tweets: 'Nick's body has been recovered'

Submitted by Melynda Sides, Digital Content Producer

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013, 7:21pm

TALLADEGA, AL (WBRC)- The Talladega County Sheriff has confirmed that the body found near the Talladega Speedway is that of missing race fan Nick Bower. His family confirmed the fact through Twitter as well.

The body was discovered near a campground along Jackson Trace Road. Sheriff Jimmy Kilgore says Bower's body was recovered in the Choccolocco Creek at the Jackson Shoals area, downstream from an old dam. He says searchers spotted Bower while searching the area in a helicopter.

Deputy Coroner Larry Seals said the body was taken to a forensic science lab where the cause of death will be determined. Sheriff Kilgore says no foul play is suspected.

Nick Bower's family set up a Twitter account and website to help in the search for him. This tweet was sent out around 5 p.m. Tuesday afternoon from the account:

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Website aims to locate missing race fan

Submitted by MyFoxAL Web Staff on Monday, May 13th, 4:37 pm

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- A website is now up and running to help find a man who vanished during Talladega race weekend. Loved ones created the site to help draw attention to Nick Bower's disappearance.

Friends, family and law enforcement have spent the past week searching the speedway grounds and nearby bodies of water, but there have been no signs of the 28-year-old.

Bower was last seen sitting in a lawn chair near his camp site in the South Park area around 11 p.m. May 4.

Bower's girlfriend says she hopes this website will help keep attention on bower and show people what kind of person he is. The website is called findnickbower.com.

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Ala-based firm to combat cyberattacks

Submitted by Melynda Sides, Digital Content Producer

Monday, May 13th, 2013, 12:03pm

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - A new company is being launched in Birmingham to combat computer-based attacks.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham is starting an intelligence company called Malcovery in a public-private partnership.

The director of UAB's computer forensics office, Gary Warner, will serve as the company's chief technologist while remaining in his role with the university.

Warner says the company provides real-time intelligence to identify cyberattacks as they occur worldwide. Malcovery is an outgrowth of Warner's work identify computer security threats.

Malcovery is based jointly in Birmingham and in Pittsburgh, Pa.

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