TUESDAY
THE LOCAL, PAGE 10
Fine Arts Showcase displays city students’ artistic talents
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April 17, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 76 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Lake Martin Living inside
More than 30 criminal cases cleared by pleas By MITCH SNEED Editor
Despite having a capital murder case continued, more than 30 cases were settled with plea deals and several others saw action as well in the first week of the spring trial term in Alexander City. “It has been one of those unusual
terms where for a lot of reasons, we just didn’t have a trial that materialized,” Fifth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jeremy Duerr said. “We were prepared to call three different cases for trial. The first two were called and the defendants decided they wanted to plead guilty and not have a trial. The third case we were prepared to call, the defense attorney did not appear for trial.
“In the first week we have disposed of 31 cases that we had prepared to call for trial and had witnesses subpoenaed. We had 10 that were issued failure to appear warrants for not showing up to court, and five were dismissed by the victims coming before the court and telling the judge they no longer wished to pursue the matter. That’s close to 50 days of trial time saved.”
Some of the more notable cases that were plead out included Roderick Kelley who pled to Robbery 3, Eric Rogers and Terrance Stovall who both pled to conspiracy to commit Robbery 2 and James Owens who pled to possession controlled substance with intent to distribute. Charles Moon pled guilty to domestic See CASES • Page 3
Luncheon to explore tourism potential
Rezoning for new business center approved By MITCH SNEED Editor
STAFF REPORT Alexander City Chamber staff
The Alexander City Chamber of Commerce will host a luncheon today focusing on the importance of tourism as a piece of the economic development puzzle for the Lake Martin area. The luncheon will be held at CACC’s Betty Carol Graham Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will feature presentations from John Wild, President of the Auburn and Opelika Tourism Bureau, and members of his staff. As staff members of the Alexander City Chamber have traveled the state networking with and learning from others involved in chamber work or economic development, the question has been asked many times, “Does Alex City/Lake Martin have a tourism bureau?” The answer to that question is, unfortunately, “No.” But, with an abundance of outdoor recreational activities provided by Lake Martin, the Tallapoosa River the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex, Wind Creek State Park, Horseshoe Bend National Military Park, and many others, it’s obvious that our area has assets to leverage that would attract visitors and capitalize on the tourism industry, which in turn can bring outside dollars into the community to support our local
PUTTING ON QUITE THE SHOW Photos by Mitch Sneed
T
he Benjamin Russell High School Drama Department staged the high school adaptation of the play “Chicago” over the weekend and the performance drew rave reviews from attendees. “Chicago” is a musical with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. Set in Prohibition-era Chicago, the musical is based on a 1926 play of the same name by reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins about actual criminals and crimes she reported on. The story uses satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and “celebrity criminals.” The BRHS production featured Aubrey Culver as the mistress of ceremonies, Emily Jones as Velma Kelly, Bea Graves as Roxie Hart, Za Stowes as Fred Casely, Ryan Green as Amos Hart, Megan Harris as Sgt. Fogarty, Jaion Kelly as the lawyer Billy Flynn, Ashley Wilson as “Mama” Morton; Lorebeth Keeble as reporter Mary Sunshine and Cheyenne Haggerty as the court clerk. Lillian Parker, Deanna Silver, Tess Staples, Adeline Treadwell and Ann Marie Waldrop made up the ensemble of “Merry Murderers,” while Paris Burdick, Kathryn Crutchfield, Jessie Culver, Jarekia Judkins, Bexley Knight and Anna Riley were the ensemble of dancers.
See TOURISM • Page 3
Keebler Park holds successful Spring Festival
Clean Community Partnership launches all-out attack on litter April 21 cleanup will kick off massive effort to keep lake community beautiful
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
By MITCH SNEED Editor
A crowd of more than 100 people joined in the festivities at Keebler Park Saturday, taking part in the first ever Spring Festival at the park. The brainchild of local resident Dianna Porter, the celebration had a little something for the whole family to enjoy. “We had at least 100 hot dog lunches sold, so I would
Donald Campbell / The Outlook
See KEEBLER • Page 9
Today’s
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Members from Calvary Baptist Church make sure their spring-themed table is ready for the decorating contest, while one provides entertainment, playing religious music on a banjo.
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.16
Reported on 04/16/18 @ 5 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443 6
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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After no objections were raised at a public hearing, the Alexander City City Council approved a rezoning request for a planned mixed-use development on 60 acres that runs from U.S. Highway 280 to Washington Street. The six parcels, owned by Dion and Angela James and D James Andrew Thomas, sit J next to Walmart and fronts Highway 280 and runs back to Washington Street. The partnership D&A Investments hopes to develop a multi-phase, multi-use development that will be unlike any other in the area. Preliminary grading has already ttaken place there. The project that has been nnamed Lake Martin Village will ffeature a Highway 280 outparcel ssuitable for a larger retailer or restaurant and 14 business storefronts in the first phase that will occupy about 11 acres of the property. In the second and third phases about 47 acres will be home to single-family residential homes and professional offices. Alexander City Community Development Director Al Jones explained that the property would go from light industrial to general business. “The rezoning shouldn’t be a big deal at all because it’s not that much of a change,” Jones said. “Since the property around it is similar, it’s not like it would have an impact of residents around the site.” The council voted 5-0 See COUNCIL • Page 9
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
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Trash walks, massive lake cleanups and initiatives by companies and small groups to rid the area of litter over the years have helped the problem, but a group of residents and leaders from across the Lake Martin Community are now joining forces to raise awareness and wage war on the problem. A series of meetings and planning gave birth to the Clean Community Partnership, a united group dedicated attacking the litter problem through action and awareness. Now, the group See CLEANUP • Page 3