INSIDE: Obituaries, page 2 Religion, page 6 Local, Page 7 Classifieds, page 8
Weekend
OPINION, PAGE 4: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN POLITICIANS FORGET CHILDREN
The Outlook
SPORTS, PAGE 11-12
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
BRHS soccer teams showdown
April 29-30, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 85 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
Brothers arrested for armed robbery
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Two local brothers have been arrested and charged in connection with an armed robbery of a local convenience store. Alexander City Police Department Deputy Chief James Easterwood said that David Jones, 19, and Derrick Lamont Norris, 22, have been arrested and charged with first-degree robbery. Both men have Alexander City addresses. “At about midnight on Tuesday, two men car-
Edward Bell students place high in state competition
rying guns entered the Hillabee Quick Stop,” Easterwood said. “They demanded money from the clerk, but he refused to give them anything. After a verbal altercation the two men fled the store.” The store was equipped with surveillance cameras and through other means the two were identified as persons of interest. Det. George Long was the lead investigator in the case and he along with others executed search warrants locally and at a residence in Sylacauga. Easterwood said as a result of those searches, the brothers were taken into custody Friday.
Court records indicate that Norris was arrested for armed robbery in 2014 and also has arrests for burglary and receiving stolen property. “Investigators did a good job of working through all their sources to identify the suspects quickly,” Easterwood said. “They may not have gotten away with anything, but when you use a firearm and attempt to rob a person, the charges are still the same.” Both Jones and Norris remained in custody Friday afternoon and bond had not been set. See CRIME • Page 10
BUY ME A BOAT
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Several groups of students from the Edward Bell Career Tech Center in Camp Hill made the trip up to Birmingham last week to attend the Skills USA 2017 Alabama State Leadership and Skills Conference. During the convention, they competed in events related to the field they are studying at the tech center. “Law enforcement, industrial maintenance and welding were the three main areas our students competed in, with different groups within these overall areas,” Edward Bell Principal Chad McKelvey said. In order to reach the state competition in Birmingham, the students had to See TECH • Page 3
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
On-Site Boat Care’s Micky Griggs moves a boat at The Ridge Marina Thursday as the company cleans all the boats in preparation for this weekend’s boat show. Alex City Marine is also having a boat show at the River Bridge.
In-Water Boat Show already a success By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Donald Campbell / The Outlook
Reeltown junior Thomas Motes works with a hand grinder in the welding shop at the Edward Bell Career Technical Center.
Traffic stop turns into drug arrests
The Ridge Marina kicked off its annual In-Water Boat Show on Friday, and the event has been a huge success so far. “It’s started out good. We’ve had nice weather today, and it’s predicted we’ll have good weather tomorrow and Sunday too,” said Russell Marine President Dave Commander. “We’re already doing better than last year,” he added. Throughout the weekend, visitors to the show will have the chance to see different
models and layouts from companies like Key West, Nautique, Sea-Doo and Sea Ray. “There are close to 60 boats and 10 personal watercraft in the water, and around 70 boats and 30 personal watercraft displayed on land as well,” Commander said. For those who love water sports, one of the nearly 200 craft on display is the SeaDoo Spark Trixx, designed specifically for performing tricks while also utilizing the latest technology to make the Spark Trixx a more intelligent vehicle. There are also demonstrations showing how to surf behind some of the latest models from See BOAT • Page 7
A routine traffic stop led to the arrest of three people on drug trafficking charges. A unit from the Alexander City Police Department initiated a traffic stop on 11th Avenue Tuesday night. Officers saw activity that led them to believe that the three adults inside the car may be involved in drug activity. Agents with the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force were called to the scene and a search of the vehicle found methamphetamines, illegal prescription drugs and drug paraphernalia, according to Alexander City Police Department Deputy Chief James Easterwood. “A search of the vehicle found three baggies that contained meth,” Easterwood said. “The meth had a value of approximately $2,400. Prescription drugs were also found in the search. As a result of what was found, all three of the subjects in the vehicle were arrested on felony charges. According to Easterwood: • Robert Dlayne Brown, 50, of Goodwater was arrested for See DRUG • Page 10
Honey bee swarms continue to flutter across area By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Honey must be in Keith Robinson’s blood – the retiree and Dadeville resident has been a beekeeper since a child. “I got it in my blood and cannot get it out,” Robinson said. “My great aunt when I was a teenager had (bee) gums. I asked her about them and she told me that is where honey bees live. She started showing me about them.” That obsession lead to his first honeybees while still in middle school. “Over the course of the next year I fell in love with them,” Robinson said. “She gave me four gums.” And the teenager did not just let the bee gums sit idle. “I had them when I went to high school and then when I went to school in Brewton,” Robinson said.
“I had to leave them with my parents when I went to Auburn.” Robinson’s mother was proud to take them over. “Mom was happy,” Robinson said. “They took my four gums and turned them into 30 hives over time.” Then Robinson had to give up the bee business for the military and an arts job in Virginia. “A year after I retired I got my first two boxes again,” Robinson said. And he got some of his bees back from his parents. “They had one hive when I retired and I turned into three,” Robinson explained. “I just kept getting two more a year.” Robinson got his start with bees in Butler County but finds honey more plentiful here. “I had lived in Butler County
She’s Back! Shelby Patterson is back at work and ready to cut, style or color your hair.
GENESIS I HAIR SALON 256.329.8924 3333 Hillabee Road Alexander City, AL
See BEES • Page 3
Today’s
Weather
87 69 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
490.44
Reported on 04/28/17 @ 6:19 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
Submitted / The Outlook
Keith Robinson removes a swarm from a fire hydrant at Jack’s in Dadeville with his bare hands Friday.
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54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
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