Teen remains in critical condition

CHEROKEE — UAB Hospital officials said Tuesday that Cherokee teenager Kimberly Pounders remains critical after being burned in a house fire Sunday morning.

Jennifer Ashley, a spokeswoman for UAB Hospital, said Pounders is being treated in the facilities' burn center.

Pounders, 19, who suffers from autism, was critically injured when she was trapped inside a fire at her residence early Sunday, officials said.

State Fire Marshal Ed Paulk said Pounders, 86 Moody Lane, Cherokee, suffered severe burns and was flown to UAB Hospital's burn center.

Family friends said Pounders has burns to 40-50 percent of her body and that her lungs were severely burned.

Firefighters said Pounders was asleep in her bedroom, while her parents and some friends were outside the manufactured home talking.

Emergency personnel at the scene said the fire was between the door and the girl's bedroom.

Officials said the girl's father, Freeman Pounders, used an ax to knock a hole in the side of the trailer and managed to rescue her.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Police investigate car burglaries

ROGERSVILLE — Police are asking for the public's help in trying to determine who burglarized several cars late Friday or early Saturday morning.

Rogersville Police Chief Terry Holden said five car burglaries were reported at residences on Rhodes Street, just north of downtown off Alabama 207.

"We believe this happened sometime between 11:30 p.m. and early Saturday morning," Holden said.

He said the thieves took electronics, including GPS units, and damaged a car grill.

The police chief said none of the cars were locked.

"It was like they were going from door to door looking for cars that were unlocked and looking for whatever they could find," Holden said.

Anyone with any information is asked to call 256-247-5446, extension 202, or Shoals Crime Stoppers at 256-386-8685.

Police: Athens woman stabbed

ATHENS — Athens police released new details today about the killing of a 32-year-old woman, saying Sharon Wellington was stabbed to death.

Wellington, whose body was found in her home at Elmwood Apartments about 7 p.m. Friday, suffered multiple stab wounds, Police Chief Floyd Johnson said.

Police were initially tight-lipped about the manner of her death. An autopsy was conducted Monday.

"Our department does have a person of interest in this case; however, I cannot make any comments about this person," Johnson said in a statement.

He said police are following up on information they have received.

Wellington was a writer and a member of Southside Church of Christ in Rogersville. She apparently had no family locally.

Her body was discovered when another member of the church who lives in the apartment complex became worried after not hearing from her for a few days.

REPORTS

Colbert County sheriff

Burglary

A 48-inch television, Xbox 360, PlayStation3, three controllers, 20 games, a laptop and a computer were taken from a residence in the Colburn Mountain Road, Tuscumbia.

Lauderdale County sheriff

Thefts

A 1996 white Chevrolet Monte Carlo was taken from Central Auto Body on Alabama 20.

A 1992 Jeep Cherokee was taken from a residence in the 100 block of Ellis Street, Rogersville.

Several rolls of wire, a table saw, light, a bag of tools, cable and a tool kit were taken from a residence in the 1500 block of Lauderdale 107, Killen.

A dog was taken from a residence on Mauldin Road, Florence.

Florence police

Breaking and entering

A CD player was taken from a 2005 blue Chevrolet Impala parked in the 500 block of High Street.

Change was taken from a 2011 black Ford Fusion parked in the 1300 block of Bradshaw Drive.

A car stereo and flash drive were taken from a 2001 white Chevrolet Tracker parked in the 1000 block of Kinnard Street.

A trolling motor, various fishing equipment, including rods and reels, and a .12-gauge flare gun with flares were taken from a 1991 white Ford F-150 truck parked in the 100 block of South Fulton Street.

A laptop was taken from a car parked on Seminary Street near Alabama Street.

Criminal mischief

A residence in the block of East Tombigbee Street was damaged.

Walls of a storage building at Forest Hill Elementary School were damaged.

Burglaries

Ten steaks were taken from a business in the 3000 block of Hough Road.

Four bottles of prescription medication and 100 syringes were taken from a residence in the 100 block of South Blair Street.