TOURNAMENT CHAMPS
OPINION: PREPARE TO HAVE A SAFE NEW YEAR
THE
THURSDAY
Wildcats win Lake Martin Slam Fest, Reeltown defeats Dadeville. See Sports, Page 12.
Lighting the way for Alexander City & Lake Martin since 1892 December 31, 2015 Vol. 123, No. 261 www.alexcityoutlook.com
Officials brace for impaired drivers Getting behind the wheel not worth the risk, wrecker service offers ride and tow By MITCH SNEED and CLIFF WILLIAMS Staff Writer
If your New Year’s Eve plans include alcohol, local law enforcement has some advice for you – don’t risk getting behind the when while impaired. Cliff Williams / The Outlook Local law enforcement officials No driver wants to a sight like this in their mirror, particularly say they will be out in force over the if they have been drinking.
G. Robinson said that the dangers of drunk driving far outweigh any inconvenience that may come from finding an alternate way home. “Driving under the influence can be a deadly decision,” Robinson said. “It’s not worth the risk. There are all kinds of statistics, but there is no question that if you are under the See DUI • Page 3
holiday in an effort to make sure that all area residents have a safe start to 2016. “While it’s a holiday for some, it’s not for us in law enforcement,” Dadeville Police Chief David Barbour said. “We will be out in force making sure that people are safe on our roads.” Alexander City Police Chief Willie
Police probe shots fired in Spring Hill Tuesday incident was area’s 2nd ‘drive-by’ in recent weeks By MITCH SNEED Editor
Carmen Rodgers / The Outlook
Water rushed through the spillways at Thurlow Dam near Tallassee. Officials say that the 2-plus inches of rain experienced Wednesday should push the water level at Lake Martin to full summer pool.
Wednesday’s showers push water levels higher By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
In the last week, Alexander City has received almost eight inches of rainfall at Russell Airport, according to the city’s Department of Public Works. Since Dec. 23, Public works has reported a total rainfall in Alexander City of 7.75 inches. Alexander City Council member Bobby Tapley reported two inches of rainfall at his home off Jefferson Street in the 24 hours at 5 p.m. Wednesday. All considered, that’s enough to cause lake levels to continue to rapidly swell. Since Monday, Dec. 21, the level of Lake Martin at Martin Dam has
Today’s
Weather
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Low
risen from 480.23 feet to 488.25. That dramatic jump and more rain on Wednesday has forced Alabama Power to take precautions at area dams, including opening two gates at Martin Dam at approximately 10 a.m. Wednesday morning. According to Michael Sznajderman, coordinator of media relations for Alabama Power, the power company expects the lake to rise to a peak of 490 mean sea level on New Year’s Day. “Right now, barring any changes in the weather outlook, we are expecting to the lake to reach a peak of 490 feet mean sea level of about a foot below summer pool,” Sznajderman said Tuesday. “Once it peaks, we do expect to start drawing the level down a little
3 more employees arrested in store theft investigation
Arrest made in Sunday shooting Two injured by gunfire, Dadeville man now facing multiple charges Mann
By MITCH SNEED Editor 6
54708 90050
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USPS Permit # 013-080
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
488.24
Reported on 12/30/15 @ 7 p.m.
Linda Shaffer, REALTOR® C: 256.794.4641 • W: 256.329.5253 shaffer@lakemartin.net 5295 Highway 280, Alexander City, AL
An ongoing investigation into employee theft at a Dadeville discount store has netted the arrest of three more employees. Dadeville Police Chief David Barbour said that Jessie Howard Mann, 20, of County Shop Road in Dadeville, Ashley Nicole Singleton, 20. of Horseshoe Bend Road in Dadeville and Robert Scott Rosser, 19, of County Shop Road in Dadeville were arrested Tuesday. Barbour said that the arrests were a direct result of the investigation See THEFT • Page 6
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more toward the winter pool of 484 feet mean sea level.” Tallapoosa County Emergency Management Agency Director Jason Moran said that as of Wednesday evening, two roads in the southern part of the county remained closed – South Mosses Flat, where a culvert had washed out, and Hayes Mill Road, where a bridge had washed out. There is currently no timetable for repair and reopening of either of those roads, Moran said Wednesday. Finley Road required a repair over the weekend, but is currently open. Moran urged residents who don’t have a NOAA weather radio to get one and said those with weather radios See RAIN • Page 3
For the second time in about three weeks, Alexander City Police investigators are looking for answers after residents reported shots being fired from a passing vehicle. Alexander City Police Chief Willie Robinson said that officers responded to a call in the area of County Road in the Spring Hill community just after 5 p.m. Tuesday evening. He said that witness accounts varied, but the constant was that several shots were fired. “We responded with several units after several callers reported multiple shots being fired,” Robinson said. “We did not locate any suspects or a victim, but we did find a bullet hole in a vehicle. No injuries were reported.” Robinson said that witnesses gave conflicting descriptions of the vehicle that was involved. A bulletin was placed with agencies from surrounding areas, but as of Wednesday evening, no one had been taken into custody, Robinson said. “It’s an active investigation and we are still checking out several leads and going through information that we have received,” Robinson said. He added that there was some evidence discovered in the area that could See DRIVE-BY • Page 6
Rosser
Singleton
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Dadeville police have made an arrest in an altercation at a Dadeville convenience store early Sunday morning ended with gunfire and two people suffering from gunshot wounds. Dadeville Police Chief David Barbour confirmed Wednesday that Cleophus Lajerle Johnson III, 20, was arrested and charged with carrying concealed weapon without a permit and two counts of first-degree assault. Barber said that officers were called to the Citgo convenience store at 18363 Highway 280 at 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning. Johnson is suspected on being involved in that incident. The call was reported as sever-
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256-277-4219 See ARREST • Page 2
al subjects fighting in front of the store. When officers arrived they found two individuals suffering gunshot injuries. “Information gathered on the scene suggests that during the Johnson III fight, two individuals began shooting at each other in the crowd,” Barbour said. “Preliminary indications are that the two that were injured were bystanders who got caught up in the gunfire.” According to Barbour, Laquez Maurice Minniefield, 23, of Camp Hill was transported to Lake Martin Community Hospital then air lifted to See ARRESTS • Page 6
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