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The Tallassee Tribune DEDICATED TO THE GROWTH AND PROSPERITY OF THE GREATER TALLASSEE AREA
TALLASSEE, AL 36078
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December 21, 2016
TALLASSEETRIBUNE.COM
VOL. 117, NO. 49
Tallassee teen charged with murder
By DAVID GRANGER Managing Editor
Malik Johnson, 18, of Tallassee is being held in Elmore County Jail on charges of murder and robbery in the Sunday death of Stephvon Adams, 26, also of Tallassee. Johnson was arrested Monday night after Adams’ body was found in the road near the intersection of
New Quarters and Taylor Roads near Tallassee. “When deputies found Mr. Adams, it appeared that he had several gunshot wounds to the upper torso,” Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said Monday morning. “There was also a good amount of blood in the road and it was unclear whether he had been struck or that was from the gunshots.”
Franklin said the only thing found on Adams was a set of keys in his pockets, which turned out to be crucial to his identification when at about 10 a.m. authorities received a call that a vehicle was partially blocking the roadway near the Friendship community, approximately five miles from the original scene. Noticing that the vehicle in the roadway was a Jeep
and that the keys found in Adams’ pocket were Jeep keys, deputies tried to pop the trunk with the key’s remote and, according to Franklin, “it popped right open. We knew then that this vehicle was involved.” Franklin said after deputies and members of the narcotics task force worked the case most of the day, Johnson was picked up at about Johnson See MURDER • Page 2
Crime rate escalates during holidays
Judge gives Thomas life for kidnapping, strangulation
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Hibbet Sports on Gilmer Avenue in Tallassee was robbed Monday afternoon when three suspects took merchandise and threatened an employee of the store. “According to the witnesses, on the way out of the door one of the subjects said to the clerk that he was going to harm him if Munsch he called See CRIME • Page 3
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CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune
Chuck Isebell, with APEX roofing and restoration, offered supplies and manpower in order to reroof the concession stand at Tallassee’s Softball Complex Thursday. Left to right: Chuck Isebell, Rick Golden and Tallassee Mayor Johnny Hammock.
APEX Roofing lends a helping hand By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Chuck Isebell moved to Tallassee in 2008 and the support he has received from the community moved him to give back. So Monday, Isebell and his crew from Apex Roofing
made a trip to the girl’s softball complex to roof the concession stands at no cost to the city. “My daughter grew up playing softball over here and I know the challenges Rick (Golden) has and I know where his heart’s at,” Isebell said. “He wants
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After years of uncertainty, Hotel Talisi owner Wylie Troupe said he is ready to take the hotel in a different direction. When Troupe bought the hotel and laid the plans to reopen the well-loved business, he said he would not cut his
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ponytail until the doors were open for good. Here it is, almost eight years later and Troupe has continued to let his hair grow over the years. The long silver tail trails over 12 inches now and Troupe says it is time to go. Troupe had Gloria Woodall at Headlines Salon in Tallassee do the See HOTEL • Page 3 Carmen Rodgers / The Tribune
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Wiley Troupe originally said he wouldn’t cut his ponytail until he reopened the Hotel Talisi in 2009. While the hotel remains closed, Toupe says he is taking the hotel in a different direction starting with a fresh cut.
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Hotel owner looks in new direction By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
THURS: HIGH 49 LOW 29
to make sure that our city moves forward.” Rick Golden is the director of the Tallassee Recreation Board and he says this new roof is greatly appreciated. While Golden is thankful for the contribution, Isebell is thankful See APEX • Page 3
Fifth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Tom Young Jr. sentenced Eddie Donnell Thomas to life Monday after his conviction on charges from a Tallassee burglary, kidnapping and strangulation. “This is the most vio- Thomas lent thing I have ever seen,” Young said of the video presented at trial while sentencing Thomas. “It is a nightmare for anyone to see. The victim was still terrorized by it when she testified here. The only thing that could have made it worse was if you killed her.” Much of the May 3 incident was captured on a nanny cam in the home where the victim was watching an elderly woman
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