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April 27, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 84 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Great Bethel trial suspended to examine evidence Testimony outlines bylaw debate, improper use of funds, fraudulent housing payments By MITCH SNEED Editor
Emotions ran high at times in the trial in a civil lawsuit involving former leaders at Alexander City’s Great Bethel Baptist Church and the church’s longtime minister Rev. Dr. Emerson Ware Jr. began Thursday in Alexander City before Judge Ray Martin. The suit, which was filed on behalf of a group of the church’s board of directors on Oct. 12, 2017, seeks to recover nearly $100,000 as well as complete records and accounting of charges dating back to
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Rev. Dr. Emerson Ware Jr. makes his way out of the Tallapoosa County Courthouse Annex following Thursday’s trial in Alex City.
2001 made using a business credit card issued in the church’s name. The suit also asks the court to determine which set of bylaws are legally the ones by which the church is governed, citing changes made last summer by Ware to bylaws that have been in place since 1980. Court documents show the suit was filed by plaintiff’s attorney Mitch Gavin on behalf of the group. Named as plaintiffs in the suit are Calvin Broughton, Jimmy Brock, David Dexter, Willie George Robinson, Jimmy Boleware, Robert Boleware See BETHEL • Page 9
FAIR GOES ON AFTER FATAL FALL Officials identify victim; fairgoers share thoughts following recent tragedy By MITCH SNEED and DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writers
Kimberly Lugo, 4, of Alexander City takes a leap on bungees at the fair Thursday night. Ironically, the bungee jump ride was the one operated by Eugeny Kovalevsky who offered to inspect the Ring of Fire, shown behind, when he fell and lost his life Wednesday.
A day after a tragic fall claimed the life of a carnival worker, the victim was identified and the fair opened after federal investigators visited the scene and the rains cleared. Alexander City Police Department and officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were at the Charles E. Bailey Sportplex on Thursday. Their site visits were part of the ongoing probe into the death of a man who was identified as 45-yearold Eugeny Kovalevsky by Tallapoosa County Coroner Mike Knox. Kovalevsky, originally from Belarus, had been inspecting a part on the Ring of Fire ride at the fair and had climbed without safety gear to a high level on the ride, according to Knox and Alexander City Police Department Chief Jay Turner. When another man came to handle the inspection, he asked Kovalevsky to come down and that’s when officials See FAIR • Page 9
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Today’s
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73 49 High
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Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.38 Reported on 04/26/18 @ 5 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
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54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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Dadeville Kiwanis hears from former DHS agent
ACT II presenting one-act murder mysteries
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Retired Department of Homeland Security agent Joe Wright was the special guest speaker at Thursday’s meeting of the Dadeville Kiwanis Club, talking about his time in law enforcement and his recent travels around the world to assist in counter-terrorism measures. With more than 30 years of serving in some form of law enforcement to his credit, Wright talked about his experiences with the Border Patrol and serving alongside the armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan as a counter-terrorism specialist. He described how he once managed to intercept a shipment of 10 See KIWANIS • Page 7
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STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Donald Campbell / The Outlook
Retired Department of Homeland Security agent Joe Wright speaks to members of the Dadeville Kiwanis Club at its weekly meeting Thursday afternoon. Wright shared stories with the crowd about his time in law enforcement and his recent travels around the world to assist in counter-terrorism measures.
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Alexander City Theatre II will present two one-act murder mystery comedies by Michael Druce at the Dadeville High School Auditorium April 27 through 29. “And Then There Was One – a Spoof,” will be directed by Alexander City’s Patti Smith and Susan McCrispin. The production features local actors as guests at a mansion on an See PLAY • Page 7
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