SPORTS, PAGE 10
OPINION: IVEY‘S NO NONSENSE APPROACH SEEMS PROMISING, PAGE 4.
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BRHS’s Sassano is District II Teacher of Year Science teacher is now one of 16 finalists for statewide honors By MITCH SNEED Editor
Benjamin Russell’s Emily Sassano has been selected as the District II Secondary Teacher of the Year and is one of 16 finalists for statewide teacher of the year honors. The finalists were announced Wednesday by
the Alabama State Board of Education and the Alabama State Department of Education. Sassano was excited to hear of her selection “I am extremely honored,” said Sassano, who teaches Science at Benjamin Russell. “We have never had a district winner or a state winner from Benjamin Russell. I’m thrilled and proud to represent our school, our system and Alexander City
as the process moves forward.” Sixteen finalists emerged from a group of over 140 exceptional educators from the across the state who submitted applications for the Alabama Teacher of the Year Program, one of the oldest and most prestigious award programs for teachers. See TEACHER • Page 3 Sassano
Mental evaluation ordered for murder suspect
Police probe another shots fired incident Search for suspect continues
By MITCH SNEED Editor
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Yet another report of shots being fired in one of two neighborhoods that have been the targets of random gunfire in recent days is being investigated by the Alexander City Police Department. Alexander City Police Department Deputy Chief James Easterwood confirmed that Thursday morning at about midnight, residents reported hearing gunshots along J and N Streets in Alexander City. Police were near the area and responded quickly, but were not able to locate the shooter, Easterwood said. “They were able to recover some spent rounds in the area where residents said the shots were heard,” Easterwood said. “They were unable to locate any damage and no one was injured.” That incident came a day after the arrest of 21-year-old Jaylean Raymond Robinson of Alexander City on charges of reckless endangerment in connection with two separate incidents off J Street in Alexander City on Tuesday. At about 1 p.m. Tuesday, residents along J Street reported that as many as 13 shots were fired by a person described as a black male wearing a dark blue hooded
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Dr. Emerson Ware of Great Bethel Baptist Church presented the sermon for Thursday’s Lenten Lunch at St. James Episcopal Church as part of its Holy Week services. The final installment of the Lenten Lunch series will be today at noon.
LENTEN LUNCHEON St. James Episcopal finishes up Holy Week services By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
St. James Episcopal Church of Alexander City played host to the annual Lenten Lunch series of Holy Week services every day this week, as it has for approximately 30 years. Thursday’s service featured Dr. Emerson Ware of Great Bethel Baptist Church, who preached about real and authentic oneness.
See SHOOTING • Page 3
Weather
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See MENTAL • Page 3
Walmart celebrates renovations, updates at grand re-opening
Today’s
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“In order to have an impact on the world, we need to be seen as one unified body by the world,” Ware said. Reverend Robert St. Germain-Iler of St. James said Reverend Dave Stoner, who was rector at the church from 1985-1995, began the Lenten Lunch series. Initially a four-day long event, 2017 marks only the second year that Lenten Lunch will be held Monday through Friday. “This series is a reminder that we are really universally all one church, no matter our denomination,” Iler said. “We try to See LENTEN • Page 7
Judge Tom Young has ordered that an accused killer undergo a mental evaluation before the case proceeds. O’Hennessey Diomonta Wright, 18, of Alexander City is accused killing 28-year-old LaBrandon Lamar Herron of Kellyton. Reports indicate that Herron was shot multiple times in the early morning hours of Oct. 30, 2016 and died from his injuries. A second victim was also shot and Wright is also charged with attempted murder. That victim, whose name was not released, did not suffer lifethreatening injuries and was treated and released. Young’s order comes after Wright’s attorney Michelle Perez notified the court of an intent to “pursue a special plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.” Young wrote in his order: “the Court has received information indicating that the Defendant may lack sufficient
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walls have been removed, which opened up the area and allowed for more items to be displayed, The Alexander City according to Quick. Next Wal-Mart will celebrate its Grand Re-Opening at 8 to the bakery, new fixtures a.m. this morning, follow- were added in the produce ing a series of renovations section, including more refrigeration units. Just and updates that have like at the bakery, these been going on since the fixtures provide the space first week of February. for more fresh fruits and “We were thrilled to vegetables. be able to go through In the checkout area, this process,” said Chad Quick, the store manager. Quick was proud to “It gives the store a fresh- announce the installment of several self-checkout er look and allows us to be more competitive with scanners, six next to the grocery entrance and other stores.” another four at the pharAll of the changes, no macy entrance. matter how small, have “Having these will help made a big impact on the keep our checkout lines store’s appearance and layout. See WAL-MART • Page 3 At the bakery, the old
Donald Campbell / The Outlook
Above, the electronics department received an update with live displays and more interactive products in the Wal-Mart renovation, along with fresh paint throughout the store and new self checkout machines in the front entry.
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