INSIDE TODAY: • Arrests, 2 • Opinion, 4 • Events, 5 • Faith, 6 • Sports, 10
Weekend The Outlook
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892
December 29-30, 2018 Vol. 126, No. 256 www.alexcityoutlook.com 75¢
SPORTS, PAGE 10 Cats vs. Tigers on the hardwood
Arrest made in church incident Dadeville man charged with harassment, denies making threat By RON COLQUITT For the Outlook
A Dadeville man was arrested and charged with harassment on Wednesday in connection
with a Dec. 19 incident in which witnesses said a man entered Lighthouse Baptist Church in rural Tallapoosa County and threatened to return and kill everyone there.
Dadeville mayor likes position of city
Frank Steven Craven, 66, was arrested and released on $500 bond, Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett confirmed Friday. “The investigation is still ongoing,” Abbett said. “If there are any other individuals we feel merit warrants, we will execute those also.”
“I am a man of God, that’s why I went there to talk to, I thought, another man of God,” Craven said. Multiple witnesses told The Outlook last week at least three loud gunshots were heard just before two
When reached by The Outlook, Craven denied the charge, which is a misdemeanor. However, he said he went into the church, Craven located in the Buttston community.
Boat in troubled waters
Dadeville Mayor Wayne Smith said he and the city council are continuing to make progress, which includes reasonable annexation, improved infrastructure and taking better advantage of the city’s proximity to Lake Martin. Smith expanded on those views and more during a recent questionand-answer session with The Outlook. Q. Looking back on 2018, what are you proudest of accomplishing as a mayor and council and what didn’t you do that should have been done? A. 2018 has been a wonderful year here in Dadeville. I’m proud we were able to have a balanced budget. We were able to make some improvements throughout town and I’m proud of that. There is a feeling of optimism in the air here. People are proud to live in Dadeville. I can’t think of much we didn’t get done other than maybe getting some more demolition (of dilapidated property throughout town) done.
See SMITH • Page 3
Today’s
Weather
62 50 High
Low
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
484.54 Reported on 12/28/18 @ 2 p.m.
LACEY HOWELL 256.307.2443
laceyshowell@gmail.com 5295 Highway 280, Alex City, AL
6
54708 90050
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Riley Frances Boone / The Outlook
Flood waters washed an aluminum jon boat over the spillway at Russell Pond at about 4:15 p.m. Friday. The boat appeared to be empty when it hung nose-up on the dam face for more than 30 minutes. Shortly after this photo was taken the boat fell into Elkahatchee Creek and was last seen floating toward Lake Martin.
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
When Hurricane Michael made landfall in Florida on Oct. 10, the storm brought with it widespread destruction and devastation throughout the Florida panhandle, including the areas around Panama City, Mexico Beach, Port St. Joe and Apalachicola. Two and a half months later, See RELIEF • Page 3
Submitted / The Outlook
With devastation from Hurricane Michael still rampant throughout the Florida panhandle, several Tallapoosa County residents with ties to the Panama City and Mexico Beach areas are working to help clean up and asking for the public’s help in providing supplies residents of the affected areas are in need of.
Here + Pay Here + + CLEAN USED CARS
Midway Auto,Inc. (On Right Past the River Bridge)
256.825.9830
See UNEMPLOYMENT • Page 9
Lines have formed outside the Tallapoosa County Revenue Commissioner’s office as residents have waited to the last minute to pay property taxes. “It’s been busy,” Tallapoosa County Revenue Commissioner Eva Middlebrooks said Friday. “Taxpayers are pouring in.” Middlebrooks said her office mailed more than 22,000 property tax notices See DEADLINE • Page 3
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Cars• Vans• Trucks • SUV’s Off Hwy. 280 • Alexander City, AL
The state’s employment rolls continued to rise in November, according to the Alabama Department of Labor. In November, 2.1 million people were counted as employed, an increase of 46,330 from November 2017, according to the ADL. Wage and salary employment, which measures the number of jobs Alabama’s economy is supporting, grew to 2.069 million, representing a yearly increase of 35,400 jobs, the state said. Alabama’s preliminary, seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 4 percent, down from October’s rate of 4.1 percent and above November 2017’s rate of 3.8 percent, the state said. November’s rate represents 87,757 unemployed persons, compared to 89,745 in October and 81,970 in November 2017. “We are continuing to shatter employment records month after month,” Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington said. “Jobs are growing at a record 1.7
By CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
+ Buy
No Credit Checks
Employment gains continue in state
Property tax deadline Monday
Locals engage in hurricane relief
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USPS Permit # 013-080
See ARREST • Page 3
STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
By DONALD CAMPBELL Staff Writer
Q. What is your personal vision for where the city should be in 10 years? A. I think we need to grow at a good pace. I’m excited for the new tourism director. There are so many things around here that are still somewhat hidden. I certainly would like to annex more people and land
men entered the church on Dec. 19 while children were practicing for their Christmas program. No one was injured and no one said the men were armed when they came into the church. One of the men was about 30 years old and
Charles E. Bailey Sportplex
256.329.2910 • w w w. a c p r. m e