INSIDE: n Obituaries, page 2 n Local events, page 5 n Classifieds, page 9 nBenjamin Russell vs Dadeville, page 12
Weekend OPINION: HELP UNITED WAY REACH THEIR GOAL, PAGE 4.
The Outlook
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
December 10-11, 2016 • Vol. 124 • No. 247 • www.alexcityoutlook.com
Today’s
Weather
49 30 High
Weather This weekend, locals can expect sunny skies with low temperatures, and a bit of wind at around 5 mph. Sunday the trend continues and we get a little warmer with a high near 56, but still prepare for that wind chill .
Local Briefs HOLIDAY FUN TO GET INTO THIS WEEKEND: CHRISTMAS PARADE: The town of Camp Hill will have a Christmas Parade at noon Dec. 10. CHRISTMAS GALA: New Style Baptist Church is hosting its annual Christmas Gala at the New Style Fellowship Hall Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. Admission is $20 and includes dinner. For more information call 256-496-4244 or 256496-4067. CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK: Alexander City Parks and Recreation Department will host Christmas in the Park Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Sportplex from 2 p.m to 9 p.m.
December 11
CHRISTMAS CANTATA: Liberty United Methodist Church Choir is presenting a Christmas Cantata “The First Noel” Sunday, Dec. 11 at 5 p.m. A fellowship meal will follow. The church is located at 1630 Liberty Road 2.5 miles north of Hackneyville. CHRISTMAS PARADE: The Dadeville Christmas Parade will start at 3 p.m. Dec. 11 and follow travel Lafayette Street before making its way to the courthouse square. CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: The Faith Temple choir and music ministries will present “Let Us Adore” Sunday, Dec. 11 at 10:30 a.m.
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
483.36 Reported on 12/09/16 @ 5 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
6
54708 90050 USPS Permit # 013-080
Famed traveling bear killed By MITCH SNEED Editor
Low
8
Half of all local taxes pays for public safety
The male black bear that kept residents in five area counties captivated last summer as zigzagged across wooded areas, rivers, lakes and towns has been killed illegally in the Talladega National Forest. Alabama Conservation Officer Sgt. Michael East confirmed that a 300-pound black bear that still had one of the tags it
was given last summer was killed in the Talladega National Forest last week. Matthew Gage Stewart, 22, of Talladega has been arrested and charged with shooting a black bear, a Class A misdemeanor after reportedly shooting the bear while hinting with a crossbow. Since there is open season on bear in Alabama, the man faces a Feb. 7 hearing in Clay County where if convicted he could face up to a year in jail See BEAR • Page 3
Candis Birchfield / The Outlook
Arrest made in Goldville donkey killing
City updated on missing funds investigation By MITCH SNEED Editor
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Officials have arrested the jackass they believe is responsible for shooting a Towne donkey to death in Daviston. The Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department announced Friday the arrest of 18-year-old Ethan Christopher Towne of Dadeville on charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and discharging a firearm from, upon or across a public road. Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Department deputies along with an Alabama Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer were called to Highway 49 near Goldville on the
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
READY FOR THE ICE?
Above, Trence Russell and Tammy Lumpkin sort skates as they get ready for ice skating at the Alexander City Parks and Recreation Department’s Christmas in the Park. The ice skating starts today at 2 p.m. and continues through next Saturday daily from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Alexander City Mayor Jim Nabors said he has been briefed by investigators from the office of Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange on its investigation into possible criminal activity involving money missing from city’s Lakewinds Golf Course deposits. Nabors said investigators did meet with him late last month, but did not give any indication of when they may complete their probe into the possible theft of city funds. “I did meet with them and they confirmed that they are still investigating,” Nabors said. “They didn’t tell us anything about what they have done or who they may have interviewed or if there was a timeline for completion of what they are doing.” Questions into missing golf course funds were raised by resident Wendell Scroggins at a council meeting on Jan. 25, alleging that a number of checks that patrons had written for goods and services at Lakewinds seemed to have been lost in the process, never clearing the patrons’ banks. While the checks were never located, it was determined cash earmarked for deposit was missing. The exact amount is unknown, but estimates range between $22,000 and $120,000. Nabors said that the city had been considering asking residents who had checks that never cleared that were See FUNDS • Page 3
See DONKEY • Page 11
United Way nearing fundraising goal By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
The annual campaign for the United Way of the Lake Martin Area is off to a great start. “At this point this year, we are ahead of where we were last year,” Executive Director Sharon Fuller said. “We are at 83 percent of goal now and last year at this time we were at 80 percent.” The agency looks likely to reach its $535,000 goal for its “Picture a Brighter See UNITED WAY • Page 11
The bear that caused a stir traveling through Tallapoosa County this summer, left, was killed in the Talladega National Forest last week.
Chamber Christmas Parade set for Monday STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Cliff Williams / The Outlook
Director Sandra Fuller, Ken Cowart of the Alex City Rescue Squad and Diane Lemmond, campaign chair address the crowd at the campaign update Friday mornig.
Riverbend Convenience Store
After a one-week delay due to rain, the sounds of the season will take to the streets Monday night as the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce hosts the Hometown Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. The theme for this year’s parade is Christmas Carols. “We try to pick a theme that everyone will enjoy,” the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce’s Kim Dunn said. “We think that the Christmas Carol theme will draw both the religious and non secular groups.” The parade will follow the same route as in the past few years with line up starting on Comer Street coming up Cherokee Road to See PARADE • Page 11
We Care About You and Your Loved Ones!
•Home-like Environment • Specialized Dementia Care Unit •Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Services
9120 Hwy. 280 • Alex City
256-825-6065 Non-Ethanol Gas • Live Bait & Tackle
A DAMS HEALTH & REHAB 1555 HILLABEE STREET • (256) 329-0847