Aug 12, 2017 Alex City Outlook

Page 1

Weekend OPINION, PAGE 4: EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE ON TUESDAY

The Outlook

SPORTS, PAGE 12 Jennings is potential starter for Alabama

Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892

August 12-13, 2017 Vol. 125, No. 160 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢

INSIDE: Police Reports, page 2 Opinion, page 4 Calendar, page 5 Religion, page 6 Classifieds, page 7 Sports, page 12

Drug busts, manhunt make for busy week Task Force announces 14 arrests on drug-related charges

Local lawmen help apprehend Ohio attempted murder suspect By MITCH SNEED Editor

The Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force and the Alexander City Police Department helped track down and arrest an Ohio man accused

of the attempted murder of a child Thursday. The Task Force received information that 21-year-old Leon Edwards may be hiding at a residence on Rocksprings See EDWARDS • Page 11

methamphetamines, prescription drugs, drug paraphernalia, weapons and cash were seized as a result of the busts, according to Sgt. Fred White of the Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force. • Aug. 10: Four suspects were arrested Aug. 10 after the TCNTF and Alexander City Police Dept. Criminal See ARRESTS • Page 11

STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

Edwards

was arrested on charges of attempted murder.

The Tallapoosa County Narcotics Task Force has seen a busy start to the month of August. The multi-agency group announced on Thursday the arrest of 14 people in the first 10 days of the month on a myriad of drug charges. In addition to the arrests,

Potts is chief for the third time in Camp Hill By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer

Johnny Potts is once again the Camp Hill Police Department police chief. “I make a motion to bring back Johnny Potts as police chief with a six-month probationary period,” Camp Hill Mayor Ezell Smith said at a special called Camp Hill Town Council meeting Friday morning. Council members were pleased with the idea. “I think under the circumstances, that is sensible,” Council Member Dean Bonner said. The council, including Smith, unanimously agreed to the motion. Potts had been demoted by Smith July 24 to sergeant before being reinstated by the council at their Aug. 7 meeting. Smith then terminated Potts after that meeting. Once again Potts is being brought back under a six-month probation period, something that was discussed at the Aug. 7 meeting and again Friday. Some of the things the council is considering during the probation period is behavior and following procedure. At both meetings, the council emphasized being kept informed about any and all problems wanting Smith and Potts to come back to the council at the first sign of conflict. The council also voted to offer Danny Williams the position of lieutenant and investigator at a salary of $37,500. The salary for police chief remains at $43,000. This now leaves Camp Hill with Potts as chief, Williams at lieutenant and three officers. One of those officers is Lt. Derrick Coley who was terminated by Smith July 24. Coley’s preliminary hearing was taken up at the Aug. 7 meeting but continued until the Aug. 21 meeting for more evidence to be presented. The Camp Hill Town Council also approved an ordinance to make Thompson Street one-way.

File / The Outlook

Luther Strange, top left, Mo Brooks, top middle, and Roy Moore, top right, are considered the front-running Senate candidates for the Republican party. Doug Jones, bottom left, Robert Kennedy, bottom middle, and Will Boyd are considered the frontrunners on the Democratic ballot.

DON’T FORGET TO VOTE Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug 15. Check your voter registration card to determine your location to vote. Jones

Kennedy

Boyd

WHO’S IT GONNA BE?

Learn more about all of the Senate primary candidates STAFF REPORT TPI Staff

Citizens across Alabama will be heading to the polls on Aug. 15 to vote in the primary for a special election to fill the Senate seat formerly occupied by Jeff Sessions. Luther Strange was appointed to the seat by former Governor Robert Bentley, who also scheduled a special election for the seat during the 2018 election cycle. This was changed by

Governor Kay Ivey, who expressed the belief that this vote should be had as soon as possible. Currently, there are 16 candidates on the primary ballot, nine Republicans and seven Democrats. Here’s a brief breakdown on the candidates and where they stand: REPUBLICANSJames Beretta: A private practice physician from Pelham, he has also held leadership roles with some of

the top hospitals in the Birmingham area. Beretta’s website states that he wants to:

1. Repeal Obamacare and the McCarran-Ferguson Act in order to make the insurance market more open, including allowing the purchase of insurance plans across state lines, as well as restructuring Medicaid. 2. Restructure taxes with a fair tax system, though with a stratified flat tax based on gross income.

See SENATE • Page 10

Construction begins on new DHR building By MITCH SNEED Editor

Cliff Williams / The Outlook

Site clearing has already begun for the new Department of Human Resources building in Dadeville on Highway 49 South.

A drive down Highway 49 in Dadeville shows a sight many in Tallapoosa County have been waiting on for a long time. Site work is well underway for a new Department of Human Resources Building on Highway 49 in Dadeville. County Administrator Blake Beck said that work is a very welcome development in what has been a lengthy process. “It took a little while to get to this point, but seeing the actual work beginning is very encouraging,” Beck said. “I

spoke with the construction company earlier this week and they feel sure that the construction process will be completed in no more than 12 months. That means that this time next year, we should be in the building.” The need for a new building was first raised in July 2015 and the commissioners began the search for a piece of property. After one site was turned down, the focus moved to the Highway 49 parcel. After being given the thumbs-up from the state, the commissioners purchased the property in May 2016. See DHR • Page 3

Today’s

Weather

89 73 High

Low

Lake Martin

Lake Levels

490.46

Reported on 08/11/17 @ 5:30 p.m.

LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443

laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL

6

54708 90050

8

USPS Permit # 013-080

We Care About You and Your Loved Ones!

•Home-like Environment • Specialized Dementia Care Unit •Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Services

A DAMS HEALTH & REHAB 1555 HILLABEE STREET • (256) 329-0847

FIRMLY ROOTED IN LAKE MARTIN AND HERE TO STAY.

FREE CONSULTATIONS

Evening & Weekend Appointments Available Upon Request

256-329-1313 • 217 Madison Street, Alexander City, AL “We are a Debt Relief Agency. We help people file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 under the Bankruptcy Code. Alabama State Bar requires the following in every attorney advertisement, “ No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.”


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.