Four people were arrested late last Thursday night on meth making charges, according to the Russell County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies Clete McAninch and Kenny Brown responded to a residence at 5109 W. Hwy. 76 to conduct a welfare check on a person reported to be there at the request of a family member.

The welfare check soon led to officers discovering an alleged meth lab as well as precursors and other items used in the methamphetamine manufacturing process.

Arrested at the residence and charged with manufacturing methamphetamine-first offense, were Darrell Scholl, 47, Joyce Asberry, 47, Carla Humes, 46, and Chasidy Weddle, 22. All four were lodged in Russell County Detention Center.

Deputy Lee Smith also assisted in the investigation and with the arrests.

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Russell County Hospital is now a tobacco free health care facility, according to Teresa Spaw, the hospital’s administrative assistant and medical staff services coordinator who is in charge of marketing and public relations.

The facility went tobacco free last Monday, May 2 after more than a year of planning for this day, Spaw said.

“Our commitment to the community is to provide quality health care and we’re certainly health conscious and that is one way of definitely becoming tobacco free,” she said.

While the hospital does employ several smokers and visitors have been allowed to smoke on the grounds, Spaw said she hopes folks will take to the new rules without incident.

“The committee that has been over this for the past year has decided it’s everyone’s job to encourage and that’s the approach we’re taking,” she said. “We’re taking the carrot instead of the stick approach.”

The committee was comprised of Spaw, Facilities Management Director Mike Egnew, Teresa Bricker from Quality Risk Management, Jennifer Dykes from Human Resources, Dr. Rick Miles, Respiratory Therapist Paula Mann as well as three other associates who are smokers.

She said she didn’t anticipate compliance on day one but hopes as time goes on and folks are reminded about the new policy that they will come to appreciate what it’s for.