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Help Pay Our Johnson versatile weapon in Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 Firefighters Tigers’ arsenal. August 10, 2016 Vol. 124, No. 160 www.alexcityoutlook.com Sports, page 8. Salaries!
Feds probe church theft case Secret Service agents meet with Alexander City Police Department investigators By MITCH SNEED Editor
Federal investigators with the Secret Service met with Alexander City Police Department officials this week to compare notes in a probe of theft allegations at a local church. A criminal complaint was filed by members of Great Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in early July alleging a
pattern of theft and misappropriation of church funds that spanned several years. Alexander City Police Detective Commander Lt. James Easterwood confirmed that agents were in Alexander City and said there is no timeline for when the investigation may be complete. “They have the information that we had and they met with us and we talked about where we are,” Easterwood said. “We have gathered what we can and now
they are doing their part. We will wait to see where it goes from there.” Easterwood would not comment on the amount of money alleged to have been part of the reported theft and no information has been released as to the parties who are believed to be involved. Because the allegations are in the investigative stage, Easterwood said that there isn’t much information that can be released.
Lake Martin Auburn Club to formally announce Phillips Scholarship fund
Electronic recycling drop-off set for Thursday
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Do you have an ancient computer that needs to go? Have a television that has been replaced? Is your garage filled with string after string of Christmas lights that may or may not work? Well Thursday is your chance to get rid of that stuff. Middle Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership and Alexander City Public Works will hold its monthly electronics recycling drop-off event Thursday at the Public Works headquarters at 824 Railey Road in Alexander City. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday and on the second Thursday of every month, residents can bring all types of electronics including: computers, TVs, phones, toys, CDs/ DVDs, batteries, small household appliances, Christmas lights, extension cords, cameras and See RECYCLE • Page 7
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LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
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The Outlook was alerted to the allegations by calls from church members asking if the newspaper planned to investigate after the questions over use of funds were raised at a meeting at the church late last month. Police were also called on July 17 to a reported burglary at the church located at 692 Jefferson St. in Alexander City. At the time of that report, Easterwood See CHURCH • Page 7
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Andrew Salinas holds a counterfeit $20 bill that he received while he was selling hot dogs in Rockford Tuesday. Investigators say that people should beware of bills that look and feel different.
BOGUS BILLS Local businessman receives counterfeit $20 bill By MITCH SNEED Editor
Check your wallets – a local small businessman has reported that counterfeit money has again turned up in his daily receipts. Andrew Salinas, who owns and operates Sonny’s Hot Dogs, said he was surprised Tuesday when he took the cash
he had taken in during his lunch sales near Rockford and the teller at the bank returned with a $20 in hand. “They told me that it was counterfeit and I needed to report it to the police,” Salinas said. “I have no idea who may have given it to us. My son was working with me taking See COUNTERFEIT • Page 7
The Lake Martin Auburn Club will formally announce its establishment of a scholarship in honor of the late Jimmy “Red” Phillips at the club’s annual meeting and fall rally, set for Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. at The Ridge Club, located at 40 North Ridge. The club will also celebrate a rebirth of sorts, according to local attorney Larkin Radney, president of the Lake Martin Auburn Club. “In the 70s, 80s and 90s, there was a very active Auburn club up here,” said Radney. “It was called the TallapoosaCoosa-Clay Auburn Club and the way the (Auburn) alumni association does it is they divide the state up into geographical areas and that’s your club area. For whatever reason, sometime in 2005 or so we became inactive and the alumni association deactivated our charter. “Several of us got together last year and decided we need to reactivate ourselves. We found out it wasn’t that easy, that you have to go through the alumni association and they have a very strenuous program you have to follow. We were on probation for a year and we just received our charter in June of this year.” See SCHOLARSHIP • Page 7
Camp Hill candidate forum slated for Thursday By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Once again the Tallapoosa County Chapter of the Alabama New South Alliance is hosting a candidate forum in Camp Hill to facilitate communication between candidates and the community. “We did this the last municipal election,” chapter president Sam Alexander said. “Mainly it’s a forum to get the people together with candidates. We want to give the community a chance to ask questions of the candidates about concerns they have in the community.” The forum will be Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m at the Camp Hill Public Library in downtown Camp Hill. Samuel Harris will moderate the forum. Each candidate will be given the chance for See CAMP HILL • Page 7
Mitch Sneed / The Outlook
Unattended pan on stove prompts fire call
Firefighters were called to Mason Street to an apartment in the Azalea Place apartment community on reports of smoke coming from an upstairs unit in the H Building. They had to force the door open and found the apartment filled with smoke that was caused by a pot left cooking on the stove with no one home. They used fans to clear the smoke and the pot was taken outside.
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