The Anniston Star from Anniston, Alabama • A04

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PRICE $120 MUST PRESENT COUPON COUPON GOOD FOR ONE TIME USE EXPIRES 6-30-17 the governor had an affair with a top married staffer and tried to use state police to hide it. "His loyalty shifted from the state of Alabama to himself," special counsel Jack Sharman told the House Judiciary Committee in impeachment hearings Monday. Long-simmering scandal Bentley's administration has been in crisis since March 2016, when the governor fired former state law enforcement director Spencer Collier. Collier accused Bentley of an affair with Rebekah Mason, a married political staffer who once was a state employee but later served on the governor's staff while being paid through campaign funds and by a nonprofit that doesn't disclose its donors. Many in Montgomery believed Mason's pay arrangement might have gotten the governor in trouble with state ethics officials, but it was the affair allegation that riveted the public's attention for a year.

Bentley was caught in lewd talk with Mason in a recording that was leaked to the press. Sharman Monday said it was that tape more specifically, Bentley's attempt to find and hide it that caused Bentley to cross into impeachable behavior. is important is that the relationship explains the Sharman said. He said the issue at stake not a burlesque of text messages but rather power and its Sharman in the Monday hearings said the recording was made by the governor's former wife, Dianne, who suspected an affair. Bentley on hearing of the recording tried to send law enforcement officers to investigate the first lady's aide Heather Hannah, whom he believed had made the recording, and sent them to obtain copies of the recording from others who supposedly had it.

"Gov. Bentley became focused, and then obsessed, on the existence of the tapes," Sharman said. Sharman said the Bentley affair was less like the impeachment of President Bill Clinton a sex scandal and more like the resignation of Richard Nixon, accused primarily of a coverup. The committee abruptly recessed around 2:30 p.m. as rumors of a pending resignation grew.

The deal, the exit By 5 p.m., the Montgomery County Jail had posted a mugshot of the smiling governor, along with confirmation of his arrest on misdemeanor charges. Under his plea deal, Bentley will pay more than $7,000 in fines and fees, repay more than $8,900 to his campaign and render 100 hours of community service in his old profession as a physician. He also agreed never to seek or serve in public office again. The charges seem to stem from a ruling last week by the Alabama Ethics Commission, which found probable cause that Bentley misused state resources, made an illegal loan to his campaign to pay his and legal costs and accepted an illegal campaign contribution when he allowed the Republican Governors Association to reimburse his campaign for a trip with Mason to a convention in Las Vegas. critics said the House, spurred on by growing public disaffection with Bentley, would have voted for impeachment given the chance.

glad to see that he did the right said Rep. Ed Henry, R-Hartselle. wish he would have done it resignation moves Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey into the office, making her the second female governor in the history.

State Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh, R-Anniston, will take role as president of the Senate, but no provision in the state constitution for replacing a lieutenant governor in mid-term. "The Ivey administration will be open, it will be transparent, and it will be honest," Ivey said after her swearing-in, an hour after Bentley announced his resignation. Ivey announced no new plans in her brief speech, talking instead about an orderly transition of power. She entered and left the Old Senate Chamber to loud applause. Troubled term Bentley was popular in his first term, so much so that in 2014, The Washington Post listed him as one of a handful of governors who were popular enough in their own states to consider a run for president.

Bentley at the time thought he'd have a shot at president if he did run. vote on emotion and on gut instinct, if in the ballpark of common he said at the time. But the governor's popularity began to crumble even before news of the affair broke. Within weeks of his election, he acknowledged a major shortfall in the state budget and proposed more than half a billion dollars in new taxes to fill it. The proposal was at odds with his 2014 campaign slogan "More jobs, less government, no new taxes" and he lost clout with fellow Republicans because of it.

The former Tuscaloosa doctor never collected a salary as governor. He pledged not to take pay until Alabama reached roughly the same numbers the state saw before the 2008 recession. The state did recover, but job growth lagged behind most other states. One success for Bentley was an expansion of the state's pre-kindergarten program, which he saw as a cure for many of the state's educational ills. He successfully sold lawmakers on expansion of the program every year after he took up the cause.

His plans for the state's overcrowded prisons didn't fare as well. This year was Bentley's second try at passing a major building plan for more penitentiaries to replace prisons that are at about 170 percent of their built capacity. Lawmakers rejected the bill last year, citing a lack of detail in the plan. A new version of the bill now awaits approval in the House, but lawmakers optimistic about its passage. Bentley is the third major Alabama official to leave office within a year.

House Speaker Mike Hubbard was convicted on felony ethics charges last year and Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore was suspended from office for defying the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage. Capitol and statewide reporter Tim Lockette: 256294-4193. On Twitter: RESIGNS Continued from Page 1A the national anthem and a set of old-time songs, Choo and and among them. One by one, the veterans filed out of the civic center amid a chorus of applause and cheers.

Most of the veterans who boarded the bus for the interstate ride to their Roswell hotel were from Calhoun County (17), with a smattering from Etowah, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph, St. Clair and Jefferson counties, plus one from Georgia Nick Nixon, who resides in Bremen and whose nephew and guardian, Randy Otwell, lives in Anniston. All told, 33 veterans make up the Calhoun County group. Like all good efforts, this one began with an idea 18 months ago not with a plan, just a simple idea passed between a few local veterans like Hall, who eventually made pitches to veterans groups in Calhoun County. Could they raise enough money? Could they gin up enough interest? Could they pull it off? Committees formed.

Volunteers stepped up. Sponsors followed. Eventually, looked like we were going to do this said co-chair Ken Saunders. As it turned out, if they had had more time to secure the necessary NPS permit, the Calhoun County group could have filled a chartered plane with local veterans. The flip side is enough seed money remains out of the raised $70,000 to jumpstart a potential future trip.

anything you do the first time, you have to always educate the community, and Hall said. is a good learning experience for Once their Atlanta-based charter lands in Washington, organizers will shuttle the veterans and their guardians through a seemingly never-ending road trip. visit the World War II memorial and tour the memorials for the Vietnam and Korean wars, as well as the Lincoln Memorial. Next comes a brief stop at Arlington National Cemetery and the Iwo Jima Memorial. Last on the agenda is the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which the veterans will attend.

Organizers unsuccessfully tried to arrange for a veteran from each of the wars to lay a wreath at the tomb. Time, more than personal desire, is the driving cause for these Honor Flights. Census and Department of Veterans Affairs data show an average of 372 World War II veterans die nationally each day. In 2016, fewer than 8,000 were still alive in Alabama and fewer than 700,000 nationwide. The numbers for Korean and Vietnam war veterans are larger but are expected to decline at a similar pace in coming years.

Since 2011, roughly half of the World War II veterans alive that year have died, according to the VA. And Frank Buckles, last surviving World War I veteran, died in 2011. Dan Mor rison, 81, served on four Navy ships during the Korean War the USS Lectron, Vesuvius, Ranier and Fletcher. (He also worked on the Apollo space program in Huntsville.) He now works maintenance at Faith Christian School in Anniston. on the trip.

not what to expect, he said Monday. never been (to the memorial), but excited about seeing some of the men that were over there. There are a lot of folks I know who make it Bobby Joe Ledford, roommate on the trip, is 85 and lives in Eastaboga. He, too, served in the Army during the Korean War. So is Howard Waldrep, a Korean War veteran and longtime Wellborn High School principal.

And a host of others whose own stories are as compelling as the rest. Before the group left Oxford, Vietnam veteran Joel Denny, the retired U.S. Army colonel who served for years as the commander of Anniston Army Depot, gave the veterans an order. The words and allowed on this trip, he said. want to hear anyone say, was just in for four or was just in an he said.

you did was serve your Phillip Tutor ptu is The commentary editor. Follow him at Twit ter.com/PTutor_Star. VETERANS Continued from Page 1A have time for a retreat. a busy Little said. send his budget recommendations to other council members in writing, he said.

Another recently discussed topic arose once more during meeting. Councilwoman Millie Harris suggested that the council consider requiring Anniston bars to close two hours past midnight. Doing so would make the city safer, and bring it in line with most other cities, Harris said. A recent assault at a bar after 3 a.m. the only Anniston incident that caused Harris to be concerned over bars remaining open past 2 a.m., she said.

Workers and a manager from a downtown bar at a council meeting last Monday cautioned against forc ing bars to close early, stating the businesses would lose money as a result. me, this is not an issue of revenue. an issue of right and Harris said, adding that her research into the matter shows that in Alabama only Alabaster, Daphne and Anniston allow bars to remain open past 2 a.m. stand by this. a matter of safety for this Harris said.

Mayor Jack Draper said Alabama cities with the three largest public universities all require bars close at 2 a.m. Beach has a 2 a.m. closing time. Gulf Shores has a 2 a.m. closing Draper said.

Councilman David Reddick said closing the bars at 2 a.m. would hurt city bars financially, and would be an on these think this is the thing to do right Reddick said, adding that if the city were sued by bars over a required 2 a.m. closure on their behalf, if they want me Councilman Jay Jenkins said that he agrees with Harris, but also shares some of concerns over potential financial effects from the early closure time. Reddick asked Anniston police Chief Shane Denham during the meeting thoughts on the matter. Denham said the decision is one for the council, but that he believes a 2 a.m.

closing time would be reasonable. Denham said he say for certain whether bars staying open past 2 a.m. have a negative impact on the city, I know how it could have had a positive impact Staff Writer Eddie Burkhalter: 256235-3562. LITTLE Continued from Page 1A long career in government, said after the oath. Ivey administration will be open, it will be transparent, and it will be Efforts were unsuccessful Monday afternoon to reach Ivey through her staff.

Her first priorities as governor, she said during a short televised speech, are to the and to improve image. Ivey took no questions from reporters Monday but swore no interruptions in state operations or services, saying soon meet with members of administration to ensure a smooth transition. She characterized that transition as a for Alabama. also the final step on an unconventional path to the office for the one-time schoolteacher and bank treasurer. After a failed bid as a Democrat for state auditor in 1982, Ivey in 2002 became the first Republican since Reconstruction to be elected state treasurer.

After two terms, Ivey qualified to run for governor in 2010. She later agreed to switch races, eventually unseating then-lieutenant governor and Democrat Jim Folsom Jr. As allegations swirled around Bentley last year, Ivey was characterized as a politician ready with a plan should she be asked to step up. Ivey said Monday been prepared to become governor since her first day as second in line, but that. Her roots lie in Camden, the tiny Wilcox County city of 2,000 where she grew up, and where friends who now find they have the new personal cell phone number believe up to the task of tackling state troubles.

still kind of hard to said Bill Albritton, vice chairman of the Wilcox County Commission. Ivey in 2013 wrote him a recommendation for the job. course we are really he said. going to have a full said former U.S. Rep.

Jo Bonner, also a native of Camden. He led Ivey through her first oath of office in 2003. Both men praised Ivey as being experienced and honest, patriotic and religious. Both acknowledged that face big problems overcrowded prisons, budget negotiations and Medicaid expansion among them. will prove more than Bonner said.

Ivey enters office with detractors already, though, carrying over from her time as state treasurer. She was meant to oversee the Prepaid Affordable College Tuition program, or PACT, and garnered much of the blame when it lost nearly half its value after the Great Recession. a little said Suzanne Clemons, a high school math teacher in Alabaster. Clemons paid into the PACT program for her son and her daughter, and says that now getting what we paid hope she do to the state what was done to that Clemons said. IVEY Continued from Page 1A Stephen Anniston Star Daniel Morrison gets ready to board the bus during the send-off for the 2017 Calhoun County Honor Flight.

Office investigating robbery in Oxford; victim arrested on outstanding warrants BY CHRIS NORWOOD The Talladega County Office is investigating a reported robbery that allegedly took place inside a car on Gunnells Lane in Oxford on April 5. According to Investigator Sgt. Mike Jones, the victim said she was driving along when she spotted the suspect, who she recognized, walking along the side of the road. She offered him a ride, which he accepted. Once he got in the car, he began according to the victim.

Jones said the victim, a 38-year-old woman, reported the suspect grabbed a brown Prada purse valued at $600, bailed out of the car and ran. Jones added the victim was arrested on outstanding warrants from Anniston after filing the report on the alleged robbery..