INSIDE: n Police Reports, page 2 n Religion, page 6 n Classifieds, page 7 n Calendar, page 5
Weekend
SPORTS, PG 11
The Outlook
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
August 11-12, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 159 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Generals end week of practice with first day in full pads
Three arrested and drugs seized in bust By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Three Alexander City residents are off the streets after a Friday morning drug bust on Willow Drive. Investigators had received numerous complaints about the residence and started looking into it. “After weeks of physical surveillance and controlled buys, investigators developed enough probable cause to obtain a search warrant,”
Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force Fred White said in a release. “During a search of the suspected crack house, investigators recovered approximately five grams of crack cocaine, 155 grams of marijuana and ten Ecstasy pills.” The search of the residence by the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force, the Alexander City Police Department K-9 unit and Special Response Group and the U.S. Marshal Gulf Coast Fugitive Task warrant also resulted in the arrest of three individuals. See BUST • Page 10
Special Response Group officers keep an eye on suspects after making arrests on Willow Drive Cliff Williams/ The Outlook
House 81 candidates taking part in town hall forum
County commission to decide fate of sales tax
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Funds helped county schools build reserve By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
The repeal of the 1-cent sales tax levied by the Tallapoosa County Commission three years ago is on the agenda for Monday’s commission meeting. The motion to repeal the tax is being brought by Commissioner T.C. Coley, who voted for the tax three years ago. It is an effort to generate discussion on the topic of long-term funding for education in Tallapoosa County, especially since the tax was passed to help the Tallapoosa County Board of Education, who was in a financial crunch at the time. “The primary goal of the sales tax three years ago was to get the Tallapoosa County Schools their one month operating expense reserve that is required by the state,” Coley said. “It was done because without the reserve, the state could have taken over the system. County schools could not find a way to meet the requirement without extra funding at the time. It was meant to be a shortterm fix. We are out of crisis mode now and trying to figure out how best to move forward.” See TAX • Page 9
Today’s
Weather
89 71 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.42
Reported on 08/10/18 @ 5:00 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
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Cliff Williams/ The Outlook
Firefighter recruits help with the fire hose in the Alabama Fire College fire trailer set up at station 2.
IN TRAINING
Alex City Fire Department trains new recruits in town By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
A group of new firefighter recruits will graduate this week and go on to serve Alexander City and other surrounding communities. Thanks to the planning of many in the
See TRAINING • Page 3
See FORUM • Page 10
Police need help identifying robbery suspect By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Dadeville Police Department is hoping the public can help it solve a Highway 280 convenience store robbery that occurred early Wednesday morning. “We are searching for a suspect who committed an armed robbery at Citgo,” Dadeville Police Chief David Barbour said. “A man entered the store about 1:20 a.m. Wednesday.” Barbour said the man was wearing a white mask, dark green jacket and tan pants. After entering the store, the suspect approached the clerk. “The cashier said the suspect’s tone of voice was low but trying to talk deep as if to disguise it,” Barbour said. Barbour said the suspect left with an See ROBBERY • Page 9
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local firefighting community, the nineweek Firefighter 1 and Firefighter 2 training takes place at the Alexander City Fire Department’s Station 2. “This is the first one we have done in a year and half,” Alexander City Fire Department Captain Jeff Brewer said. “The
The Lake Martin Young Professionals will host its second Access to the Issues event with a Town Hall Forum for the candidates running to represent Alexander City and District 81 in the Alabama House of Representatives. Democrat candidate Jeremy Jeffcoat and Republican candidate Ed Oliver will take part in the event scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 16 at 5:30 p.m. at Valley National Bank’s Highway 280 branch in Alexander City. The forum will give each candidate a chance to share with the audience the ideas and vision they intend to take to Montgomery in an effort to help advance the priorities of District 81 and the state of Alabama. The format will include five minutes for each person to deliver prepared opening statements, followed by a 60- to 75-minute period of moderated questions that each candidate will have three minutes to respond to. Local residents can also get involved by submitting suggestions for questions
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
The Dadeville Citgo at the intersection of Highway 280 and Lafayette Street was the scene of a robbery early Wednesday morning.
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