THE RECORD Serving the Dadeville & Lake Martin area since 1897
WWW.THEDADEVILLERECORD.COM
VOL. 118, NO. 52
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2015
Rain causes major issues Road issues, localized flooding and swollen lake levels result from heavy rains By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
With the rainfall received in the last week already pushing Lake Martin levels above where Alabama Power Co. officials expected they would, dock and boathouse construction crews have been amazed by the speed
with which the water has risen. And Alabama Power officials say it will get higher. “People who are trying to work on seawalls and other repairs (that) don’t have the equipment that people like us who do it all the time have, I imagine it has shut some of them down for
now,” said Larry Swindall of Docks Unlimited. “It hasn’t it hurt us too bad, because we do so much of our work from the water anyway. We’ve had a few we have shuffled around, but for the most part we are still very busy. We probably have 30 or 40 jobs on the
Cliff Williams / The Record
The road leading to a small park near the Dadeville See WATER • Page 7 Schools was washed out by the week’s weather.
Arrest made in Sunday store shooting Two injured by gunfire, Dadeville man now facing charges By MITCH SNEED Editor
Cliff Williams / The Record
Sgt. Scott Fuller with the Dadeville Police Department approaches a car recently. Law enforcement will be looking for impaired drivers this holiday weekend.
to $2,000 and an additional $100 fine assessed for Impaired Drivers Trust Fund. A mandatory 90-day license suspension and DUI school attendance are also awaiting all convicted first-time offenders. Both Barbour and Robinson say that drivers should plan ahead. One local business is even offering to help you and your car get home safely. Lake Martin Garage is participating in the AAA Safe Holiday Program for the second year to help those that might have too much too drink at New Year’s Eve parties.
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 firstdegree assault. Barber said that officers were called to the Citgo convenience store at 18363 Highway Johnson III 280 at 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning. Johnson is suspected on being involved in that incident. The call was reported as several 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 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
See DUI • Page 7
See ARREST • Page 2
Officials will be out in force to combat DUIs By CLIFF WILLIAMS and MITCH SNEED Staff Writers
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. Local law enforcement officials say they will be out in force over the 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 G. Robinson said that the dangers of drunk driving far outweigh any incon-
Weather
3 more employees arrested in store theft investigation
56 43 High
Low
Cliff Williams / The Record
Dadeville’s Michael Mason hands the bell off to Donna Pitts as they seek donations at the Dadeville Foodland for the Salvation Army last week.
Mann
By MITCH SNEED Editor
Lake Martin
Lake Levels
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
488.25 Reported on 12/30/15 @ 4 p.m.
LAKE AREA REALTY Broker ®
venience 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 influence – you simply do not have the same judgment. “In addition to the dangers, if you get caught and are proven guilty, it is an expensive mistake. You could find yourself in jail, your vehicle impounded and lose your driving privileges. That’s not a chance anyone should take.” In Alabama, you are guilty of driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level of .08 or greater. A conviction on the first offense can carry a sentence of up to one year in jail, a fine of $500
“Selling Lake Martin”
Rhonda Gaskins, Cell: (256) 749-3644 rhonda@lakearearealty.net 440 N. Broadnax Street Q Dadeville, AL
Rosser
By DAVID GRANGER Staff Writer
See THEFT • Page 7
It’s Easy!!
Red Kettle drive sees donation increase
Singleton
Little Lambs
Tabatha Glassburn would like to say a personal thank you to all the Salvation Army’s volunteers and all those who dropped their change or stuffed a bill in a red Salvation
& Ivy
DAY SCHOOL
Place your vehicle in our classi¿eds until it sells! $ 00
49
Ad includes photo with a description. (20 word limit)
Call Today
256-277.4219
“A STATE TATE LICENSED ICENSED LEARNING EARNING CENTER”
ork!
6:30a.m.. - 5:30p.m 6:30a.m 5:30p.m.. • Monday-Friday
W iҕeds in less thaend s s a l V C work our R
548 Cherokee Road Ƈ Alexander City, AL
s “Sold . Classifiedey will for k r h t e a we r me and ricia Coope fo – Pat o!” you, to
Ŷ ® ¦ ¡ ထ ª ¡£
• Ages 6 weeks to 12 years • 2 to 5-year-old learning curriculum • Breakfast and lunch program • Trained and CPR certified teachers • After-school & summer fun programs
580 E. South Street • Dadeville, AL • 256-825-9415
Army kettle during the holidays. Problem is, there’s not enough room in this newspaper. “I would fill up the paper if I said a personal thank you to everyone that I’d like to thank,”
Starting Friday: Star Wars 3D – PG-13 Daddy’s Home – PG Alvin and the Chipmunks: Road Chip – PG
See Kettle • Page 2