WEDNESDAY
THE
SPORTS, PAGE 10 Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 OPINION, PAGE 4 Wildcat soccer takes to the pitch
April 18, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 77 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Family files $5 million civil rights lawsuit
Two busted after Task Force raid in Jacksons Gap By MITCH SNEED Editor
A search warrant executed Monday at a Jacksons Gap residence led to the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of meth, marijuana, a handgun Royer and cash. On April 16, 2018, the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force, Jackson Hubbard Gap Police Department and Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at a residence off Main Street in Jackson’s Gap. Investigators had conducted controlled buys from the residence, which was suspected of distributing methamphetamine. The search yielded approximately 61 grams of meth, 59 grams of marijuana, a 9mm pistol and $4,966 in cash. Both of the suspects were arrested and transported See BUST • Page 3
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Auburn Opelika Tourism Bureau Director John Wild speaks with area leaders about the role of a tourism bureau and what it can do for a community.
Talking Tourism Auburn Opelika officials gives lesson in attracting visitors By MITCH SNEED Editor
Tallapoosa County is home to one of the largest and most pristine lakes in America, a network of hiking trails, rivers for canoeing and kayaking, incredible sports complexes and several sites with significant historic importance. Despite that long list of attributes, there
is no organization dedicated to promoting tourism in the area. At least not yet. John Wild, Robyn Bridges, Brooke Harris and Cat Bobo of the Auburn Opelika Tourism Bureau were featured guests at the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Luncheon entitled “Talking Tourism.” The group gave the 49 area leaders and See TOURISM • Page 3
Alexander City’s Tapley takes on opioid makers for Arkansas cities and counties By MITCH SNEED Editor
A lawyer who grew up here in Alexander City is leading the legal charge as the Association of Arkansas Counties and the Arkansas Municipal League announced that 75 counties and 215 cities there have filed a lawsuit against the drug firms that make and market opioids. The lawsuit names 65 defendants, including several retailers, pharmacists and physicians. In addition to the cities named as plaintiffs, attorneys said 195 other cities have signed agreements supporting the lawsuit.
Flowers: Legislature has the purse strings in Montgomery
“This is an attempt by the counties and cities to hold the people they allege are responsible for the Arkansas opioid epidemic to account for the epidemic and to pay to clean it up,” said Jerome Tapley, a lawyer with private firm Cory Watson Attorneys who is representing the counties and cities. “The damage that has been done, it’s hard to say how much that has cost our communities. What this suit does is to make the people who helped make the mess pay to clean it up.” The lawsuit accuses drug manufacturers of using deceptive statements to File / The Outlook market opioids and failing See TAPLEY • Page 3 Jerome Tapley looks over law books in his Birmingham office.
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A local man and his siblings are suing the Alabama Department of Human Resources, one of its employees, the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department and Submitted / The Outlook a medical center The family of Larry Pulliam has for $5 million, fi led suit stating his commitalleging that ment in 2013 was handled their late improperly and now they are father’s rights seeking $5 million in damages were violated when he was committed to a home four years ago. Gregory A. Pulliam, Melvin D. Ross, Sandra Taylor and Larry Pulliam filed a complaint in March on behalf of the estate of the late Larry A. Pulliam, alleging that the late Larry A. Pulliam was not properly evaluated before being committed and the Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department allowed an off-duty deputy to transport the man to a home without proper paperwork. The complaint also alleges that Coosa See LAWSUIT • Page 3
New Site changes its alcohol ordinance to encourage restaurants By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Restaurants in New Site could be one step closer to being able to serve alcohol on their premises following an ordinance repeal and amending approved during Monday night’s meeting of the New Site Town Council. Following a second reading of Ordinance No. 2018-112, which repealed three sections of a 1992 ordinance regarding the process for applying and obtaining a liquor license within town, as well as amending a section of a 1991 ordinance specifying the amount of a licensing fee, a motion was made by Councilman Mickey Carter, seconded by Councilwoman Bree Walton, and unanimously approved by the council to pass this new ordinance. See COUNCIL • Page 3
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