Calling the findings &uot;significant,&uot;

Sheriff Chris Curry reported Friday on the arrest of five people in connection with

the seizure of methamphetamine,

firearms and thousands in cash from a methamphetamine lab in Columbiana.

After receiving an &uot;investigative lead,&uot; the Shelby County

Sheriff’s Office reported that last Thursday at about 4:30 p.m.

Shelby County deputies responded to the 400 block of Yorkshire Road in Columbiana and discovered a methamphetamine lab.

Assisted by Drug Enforcement Agency investigators, Curry reported that 16 firearms, $11,000 in cash and more than 300 grams of methamphetamine were seized.

Curry said the lab was in an out-building in the back.

Present at the location and charged, according to the Sheriff’s Office were Danny Lee Hendrix, 50, of Yorkshire Road, Columbiana; Mary Frances Hendrix, 42, of Yorkshire Road, Columbiana; Christopher Lynn Thompson, 36, of 21st Avenue, Calera; Ed Oneal Whaley Jr., 49, of Yorkshire Road, Columbiana; and Sheila Diane Norrell, 48, of Veterans Memorial Parkway in Lanette.

Danny Lee Hendrix was charged with trafficking methamphetamine and with manufacturing a controlled substance in the first degree with bonds totaling $20,000.

Mary Francis Hendrix was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia with bonds totaling $6,000.

Thompson was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia with bonds totaling $3,000.

Whaley was charged with conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance in the first degree with a bond of $15,000.

And Norrell was charged with

conspiracy to manufactured a controlled substance in the first degree with a bond of $15,000.

According to Capt. Chris Corbell of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, all have made bond except Norrell, who remained in the Shelby County Jail as of

presstime Tuesday.

Curry said of the weapons, which included a sawed off shotgun, &uot;That is a significant number of guns to come out of one house.&uot;

While charges in connection with the seizure are state charges to date, Curry said a federal charge may come from the recovery of a sawed-off 16-gauge shotgun among the weapons seized.

The sheriff also said the more than 300 grams of methamphetamine could be valued between $35,000 and $40,000.

&uot;I’m proud of our narcotics unit. I think this is significant,&uot; Curry said.

Curry said methamphetamine production is volatile, &uot;explosive&uot; and &uot;puts everyone in the community at risk … not only the individuals who take it.&uot;

He said two years ago, two methamphetamine labs were encountered in Shelby County.

He said the lab found Thursday marked the 12th lab his department has been involved with this year.

Curry asks the public with knowledge about meth labs or the use of methamphetamine to contact local law enforcement.

He said the arrest on Thursday arose from &uot;relatively new information.&uot;

He also stressed, &uot;Now we are dealing with drugs made in our county and neighborhoods.&uot;

Curry said methamphetamine uses go for days without sleep, hallucinate and become dangerous