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TUESDAY
THE CHAMBER PULSE
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
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April 25, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 81 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Suspect arrested for attempted murder Suspect also awaiting trial for child abuse case in Tallapoosa County, Duerr seeking bond revocation By MITCH SNEED Editor
An Alexander City man who was awaiting trial for willful abuse of a child in Tallapoosa County is now facing bond revocation after he was arrested in Calhoun County for he alleged involvement in an incident where a woman was beaten, hung and left to die. Matthew Aaron Hammonds, 36, of Alexander City was due in court today for a status hearing in a case where Hammonds is accused of beating a child under the age of 18, where the victim suffered injuries. But Hammonds was arrested Thursday in Calhoun County along with Anthony Scott Coffee, 36, and David Brian Pearman, 57. All three have been charged with
attempted murder and kidnapping and are being held in the Calhoun County Jail on $300,000 bond each. The three could face additional charges. Calhoun County Sheriff Matthew Wade said that a motorist reported finding a woman who was badly beaten with an electric cord that had been made into a noose around her neck beneath a bridge over Choccolocco Creek along Mellon Bridge Road in unincorporated Calhoun County. Investigators believe the beating happened at a Golden Springs trailer, with each man taking turns beating the woman over several hours. The woman was beaten because the men apparently suspected her of stealing drugs, Wade said. She was then driven to the site in a borrowed vehicle and left, officials said in published reports.
A meth lab was found at the trailer where officials believe the attack took place. In the case here in Tallapoosa County, Hammond was scheduled to have a mental evaluation to consider his competency as part of a possible insanity defense. Instead of a status hearing District Attorney Jeremy Duerr said he will likely seek bond revocation due to Hammonds Hammonds latest arrest. Hammonds has been free on a $27,000 bond since his arrest in the child abuse case. “We will inform the judge of the latest developments and will move to have his bond revoked,” Duerr said.
Lake Martin Innovation Center to hold grand opening
Illegal alien charged with sex abuse Williams to be sentenced today in abuse case
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
By MITCH SNEED Editor
A 29-year-old illegal alien who has been living in Alexander City is in the Tallapoosa County Jail after he was arrested by Alexander City Police for sexual abuse of a child. Officials confirmed that Maximino DeJesus Hernandez, 29, was arrested last Tuesday, April 18 and charged Hernandez with sexual abuse of a child under the age on 12 years old. Bond has been set at $300,000. Hernandez, who is also known as Elias Jesus Botello, remained in custody as of late Monday afternoon. “The charges stem from allegations that he had inappropriate sexual contact with a young girl who lived in the same apartment complex,” said Alexander City Police Department Deputy Chief James Easterwood. “The case is still under investigation, but that’s about all we can release at this time.” According to the police report, Hernandez is in the country illegally. See ABUSE • Page 11
hosted its grand opening, featuring an open crawfish boil and a nearly-full menu, which the locals were happily eating up. “This is the first (crawfish boil) I’ve ever been to, but I just wanted to check it out and see what it was like,” Shay Cooper said. “It was great. Spicy but good.”
The Lake Martin Innovation Center will host a grand opening and ribbon cutting today from 4-6 p.m. The event is open to the public and will include catered food, drinks, live music and tours of the facility. Conveniently located off U.S. Highway 280 in Alexander City, the 17,000 square foot facility will function as a business incubator, complete with office suites, high-speed fiber internet and co-working space targeted to professionals that work from home, travel through the area to do business or reside full-time or part-time on Lake Martin. The project is a partnership between the building’s owner, USAmeriBank, and the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce, which will have office space inside the Innovation Center and oversee operations. In addition to offices for the Chamber of Commerce, the facility features individual office suites for up
See BISTRO • Page 3
See INNOVATION • Page 3
Lizi Arbogast / The Outlook
Wade Woodard, right, serves crawfish and vegetables to Michelle West during Saturday’s grand opening of the French Quarter Bistro in the Broad Street Plaza. The bistro officially opens May 1.
TOUCH OF SPICE French Quarter Bistro hosts grand opening By LIZI ARBOGAST Staff Writer
If you were driving through downtown on Saturday afternoon, you probably noticed a crawfish boil in the parking lot of the Broad Street Plaza. That’s because the French Quarter Bistro
River Bank and Trust opens in new facility
BRHS music students present spring concert series this week
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
The Benjamin Russell High School music department will present their spring concert series across two separate evenings this week. The freshman and concert bands will take the stage on Tuesday evening, while the symphonic band and the percussion ensemble will perform Thursday evening. “The three concert ensembles will present standard concert band fare: marches and fanfares, along with other types of music to present a very diverse array. The percussion See CONCERT • Page 3
Submitted / The Outlook
Peggy Smith was the first customer in the lobby of the new building and was given a gift card by Jessica Locke.
Today’s
Lake Martin
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Weather Lake Levels High
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LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443 6
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
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River Bank and Trust is finally in its new building after operating a full service bank on Highway 280 at Elkahatchee Road for the last year – and yes there were homemade cookies in the bank’s ‘living room.’ A smiling Randy Dawkins was proud of the new facility being in use despite a few last minute odds and ends being taken care of. “It is like moving into a
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house,” Dawkins said. “It never seems to be done. They are putting up blinds today. We still have some art to put up. There is a fancy ‘R’ going up on the feature wall there.” Dawkins was even showing off new technology in the building. “We have smart windows,” Dawkins said. “By just flipping a switch the windows turn opaque to give privacy in the offices.” And there is more work to be done outside. “The trailer will be moved See BANK • Page 3
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