FOR SUBSCRIBERS: LAKE MAGAZINE INSIDE TODAY. VIVA CUBA! THURSDAY THE Since America’s Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
Latin neighbor reopened to tourists, U.S. residents pay visit.
May 5, 2016
Inside, pages 6-7.
Vol. 124, No. 90
www.alexcityoutlook.com
Armed gunman robs Camp Hill Dollar General
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
The Dollar General in Camp Hill was robbed by a lone gunman Wednesday afternoon. “A black male suspect, about 6 feet, 5 inches wearing long sleeves, a hat and sun glasses came
from the woods behind the store,” Camp Hill Police Chief Johnny Potts said. “He entered the store and took an undisclosed amount of cash.” The robbery was not the only crime committed by the suspect according to Potts. “As he was leaving the store, he
attempted to steal an automobile,” Potts said. “He took the keys from a female victim in the parking lot but was unable to start the car. After being unable to start the car he fled on foot back down County Road 89 near the store.” See ROBBERY • Page 11
Goodwater city clerk indicted on theft charges
Bro. Wayne Cowhick makes a plea to members of the Alexander City City Council and Mayor Charles Shaw, asking them to meet to air dfifferences and start a healing process for the city at Monday’s meeting.
Parker surrendered today at Coosa County jail STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
A former Goodwater City Clerk accused of rigging payroll to over pay herself thousands of dollars over a multi-year period has been indicted for theft. Former Goodwater City Clerk Leslie Shardae Parker, 27, of Sylacauga, surrendered today at the Coosa County Jail and is being held on $150,000 bond. Attorney General Luther Strange announced the multiple count indictment on the charges of theft and possession of a forged instrument. The AG’s Special Prosecutions Division presented evidence to a Coosa County grand jury, resulting in Parker’s indictment on April 29. Specifically, the indictment charges Parker with three counts of first-degree theft of property – each in excess of $2,500 – and with three See GOODWATER • Page 8
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Camp Hill police are investigating an armed robbery at the Dollar General on Highway 280 in Camp Hill.
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Hope and a prayer Alexander City’s elected leaders will sit down with a local minister to iron out personal differences and “clear the air” today at city hall. Bro. Wayne Cowhick of Alexander City Methodist Church made the offer to meet and pray with the mayor and all the council at Monday night’s meeting. All those at the meeting agreed to attend. The public is not invited to the meeting, which is set for 4:30 p.m. in the upstairs
Restitution agreement returns funds allegedly used improperly By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
conference room. While a normal business meeting of a government body is subject to the state’s open meeting laws, Alabama’s Open Meetings Law allows a quorum of a governmental body in private, provided no deliberations are conducted or any discussions of items that could be voted on in the future. The provision was made in the law so that elected officials could attend training, conferences or all gather at social functions such as retirement parties at the same
Two former Dadeville Dixie Youth Baseball board members, one of whom is a city of Dadeville employee, have repaid money to the organization allegedly was used for personal purposes. Scott Baker who served as president of the group and is the Parks and Recreation Director for the City of Dadeville and Regina Walker, who served as the group’s treasurer, have paid nearly $4,000 in restitution back to the organization for purchases made at local restaurants, gas stations in Dadeville and Knoxville, Tennessee, Walmart, a hotel in Biloxi and cash withdrawals between November 2014 and September 2015 according to documents given to The Outlook. The money was allegedly accessed through the use of an organization debit card as well as Dixie Youth checks. The irregular transactions were discovered
See COUNCIL • Page 3
See RESTITUTION • Page 3
Council, mayor to meet with minister to ‘clear the air’ By MITCH SNEED Editor
Pair repays money to Dixie Youth in Dadeville
Lake Martin
Group honors Cotney with scholarship By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
The Alabama Animal Control Association will never forget Kelly Cotney, the former animal control officer for Alexander City who died as the result of an automobile accident in December of last year. “We’re a very close group,” said a tearful Gina Jones, animal control officer for the City of Bay Minette, who served as a member of the AACA board with Cotney and keeps a photograph of her friend in her office. “And I was especially close with Kelly. If we were off somewhere at a meeting or at training, me and Kelly would always bunk together. “The whole association, we’re just a close group. If any of us had a meeting together anywhere, we would always call each other when we got home. Unfortunately, she wouldn’t have been
Lake Levels
able to call that day.” The AACA in April named a scholarship in Cotney’s honor. The scholarship will allow a member of the AACA who would not otherwise be able to afford it to attend the annual AACA Training Conference to do so and earn continuing education units to help the animal control officer improve his or her skills and perhaps further their career. “For example, this scholarship may be given to someone that’s new to the role (of animal control officer) so that they can get this training, which can be very beneficial to them,” said Rebecca Cotney, Kelly’s mother. The first recipient of the Cotney Scholarship, funded by the AACA, was Andrew Stubbs, animal control officer in Mobile County. As a result of his award, Special / The Outlook he was able to attend the 2016 training Alexander City Animal Control Offi cer Kelly Cotney died following conference, which included classes on an auto accident and has been honored by the Alabama Animal See COTNEY • Page 3 Control Association with a scholarship in her name.
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