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OPINON: STATE SENATE STRUGGLES WITH SIMPLE CONCEPT, PAGE 4.
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August 27-28, 2016 • Vol. 124 • No. 173 • www.alexcityoutlook.com
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Troops of 214th heading home Local National Guard Unit set for welcome home ceremony next Saturday By MITCH SNEED Editor
Alexander City’s own Alabama National Guard 214th Military Police Unit is coming home. The 136 soldiers who have been training and deployed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba since last October are already
on American soil, but will roll into Alexander City next Saturday, Sept. 3. Alexander City’s Bill Young, who has remained in touch with members of the unit while they have been on assignment, said it is scheduled to arrive at 6 p.m. at the Sportplex where a simple welcome ceremony will be held at the stadium.
“We really want to get a big crowd out to show them how much we missed them and how much they are appreciated,” Young said. “Whether it be standing on the side of the highway, holding signs, waving our beautiful American flag, or just waving at the soldiers as they come by, we would love for everyone to take part.
Transmission line failure causes power outages
Indictment returned in Goldville murders
By MITCH SNEED Editor
A large chunk of Tallapoosa County experienced a power outage Friday, with some seeing service back within 15 minutes while others were without power for several hours. Officials with Alabama Power and Alexander City Light and Power said transmission line failure was to blame. In Alexander City, most of the city was left without power for about 12 minutes with the transmission line that feeds the substation on Highway 280 failed at about 10:15 a.m. “Alabama Power was making a repair and when they were switching, they had a failure in that unit,” said Ricky Waller of Alexander City Light and Power. “But they were able to get it up pretty quickly. That was good news considering that the hospital and most of the city was hit for a while there.” See POWER • Page 9
Today’s
Weather
91 72 High
Low
Lake Levels
488.89 Reported on 8/26/16 @ 6 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
6
54708 90050
By MITCH SNEED Editor
8
next firefighter/EMT training class. Recruits will go through an extensive 15-week training program that includes firefighting and emergency medical technician education and officials are looking to begin forming classes in the next few weeks. “This is a career that comes complete with an education,” ACFD Training Capt. Jeff Brewer said. “We have an extensive training
The man accused of shooting and killing a brother and sister he shared a mobile home with last October in the Goldville community has been indicted by a Tallapoosa County Grand Jury. Dean Carl Stevens, 50, saw two indictments for capital murder presented earlier this week in the shooting deaths of Dianna Mitchell Sharpe, 48, and Robert Wayne Mitchell. The brother and sister were shot to death in the mobile home they shared on Pate Road in the Goldville Community Oct. 8, 2015. Authorities said shortly after the shootings, that Stevens, who was Sharpe’s boyfriend, admitted to shooting the two after surrendering to New Site Police. Stevens, who is represented by Alexander City attorney Charles Gillenwaters, admitted to shooting Sharpe and Mitchell. Stevens also stated that he had been depressed and had not taken his Paxil in several days, in a statement to Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Bill Hough on the day of the shootings. According to WebMD, Paxil is used to treat depression, panic attacks and
See FIRE • Page 2
See INDICTMENT • Page 2
Submitted / The Outlook
Alexander City Fire Department recruits go through a 15-week training class that includes training in firefighter and emergency medical technician skills.
CALL OF DUTY Alex City Fire Department seeking new recruits By MITCH SNEED Editor
Looking for a job, where extensive training is provided, that could lead to a career filled with exciting tasks and the satisfaction of helping others? If that sounds like you, the Alexander City Fire Department wants to hear from you. ACFD is seeking recruits to be a part if its
PATH kicks off county-wide ‘Let’s Move’ initiative By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
Lake Martin
“Please do everything that you can to be a part of this wonderful homecoming. Spread the word and let’s make this a homecoming to remember.” While the unit has been deployed, there has been one positive development. It appeared at the time of their departure that budget cuts would force See 214TH • Page 2
If you’re kicking off a “Let’s Move” program, you better set a good example. That’s why the first thing that Dorothea Walker, PATH’s director of the Tallapoosa County “Let’s Move” initiative, had the task force that met to kick off the effort do was the “Hokey Pokey.” “If we’re going to be leaders in this program, then we have to move ourselves,” Walker told the group gathered Friday at Central Alabama Community College’s Betty Carol Graham Technology Center. After the task force had
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“shaken it all about,” Walker turned serious, giving the group a brief introduction of the “Let’s Move” program and challenging them as “playmakers” who can “make a difference.” “’Let’s Move’ is a comprehensive initiative launched by First Lady Michelle Obama six years ago to solve the growing problem of childhood obesity,” Walker said. “It’s about putting our grandchildren and our children on the path to a healthy future, providing parental support and creating environments where our children can learn healthy David Granger / The Outlook habits.” Walker noted that childhood Lindsay Lewis of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Region 4 speaks to the Tallapoosa County “Let’s Move” Task Force at the group’s kickoff See PATH • Page 3 meeting Friday at the Betty Carol Graham Technology Center.
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